Ray (Widescreen Edition)

Starring:Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Regina King, Clifton Powell, Harry J. Lennix, Bokeem Woodbine, Aunjanue Ellis, Sharon Warren, C.J. Sanders, Curtis Armstrong, Richard Schiff, Larenz Tate, Terrence Howard, David Krumholtz, Wendell Pierce, Chris Thomas King, Thomas Jefferson Byrd, Rick Gomez (II), Denise Dowse, Warwick Davis
Director: Taylor Hackford
Studio: Universal Studios
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Product Description
Jamie Foxx (Collateral) stars as the one-of-a-kind innovator of soul who overcame impossible odds to become a music legend. Ray is the triumphant and remarkable story of one of America s true musical geniuses, Ray Charles. From his humble beginnings in the South through his meteoric rise to the top of American music charts, Ray s inspirational journey is a tale of hope, redemption and the power of the human spirit. "Ray is Electrifying" hails Peter Travers of Rolling Stone. Witness the incredible true story of a musician who fought harder and went further than anyone could imagine.

BONUS MATERIALS:
Feature Commentary with Director Taylor Hackford
Deleted Scenes
Extended Musical Scenes
Stepping into the Part
Ray Remembered
A Look Inside Ray
Theatrical Trailer
Cast and Filmmakers

System Requirements:

Running Time 153 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE
Amazon.com
Jamie Foxx's uncannily accurate performance isn't the only good thing about Ray. Riding high on a wave of Oscar buzz, Foxx proved himself worthy of all the hype by portraying blind R&B legend Ray Charles in a warts-and-all performance that Charles approved shortly before his death in June 2004. Despite a few dramatic embellishments of actual incidents (such as the suggestion that the accidental drowning of Charles's younger brother caused all the inner demons that Charles would battle into adulthood), the film does a remarkable job of summarizing Charles's strengths as a musical innovator and his weaknesses as a philandering heroin addict who recorded some of his best songs while flying high as a kite. Foxx seems to be channeling Charles himself, and as he did with the life of Ritchie Valens in La Bamba, director Taylor Hackford gets most of the period details absolutely right as he chronicles Ray's rise from "chitlin circuit" performer in the early '50s to his much-deserved elevation to legendary status as one of the all-time great musicians. Foxx expertly lip-syncs to Ray Charles' classic recordings, but you could swear he's the real deal in a film that honors Ray Charles without sanitizing his once-messy life. --Jeff Shannon

Amazon.com

As of its release in early 2007, Planet Earth is quite simply the greatest nature/wildlife series ever produced. Following the similarly monumental achievement of The Blue Planet: Seas of Life, this astonishing 11-part BBC series is brilliantly narrated by Sir David Attenborough and sensibly organized so that each 50-minute episode covers a specific geographical region and/or wildlife habitat (mountains, caves, deserts, shallow seas, seasonal forests, etc.) until the entire planet has been magnificently represented by the most astonishing sights and sounds you'll ever experience from the comforts of home. The premiere episode, "From Pole to Pole," serves as a primer for things to come, placing the entire series in proper context and giving a general overview of what to expect from each individual episode. Without being overtly political, the series maintains a consistent and subtle emphasis on the urgent need for ongoing conservation, best illustrated by the plight of polar bears whose very behavior is changing (to accommodate life-threatening changes in their fast-melting habitat) in the wake of global warming--a phenomenon that this series appropriately presents as scientific fact. With this harsh reality as subtext, the series proceeds to accentuate the positive, delivering a seemingly endless variety of natural wonders, from the spectacular mating displays of New Guinea's various birds of paradise to a rare encounter with Siberia's nearly-extinct Amur Leopards, of which only 30 remain in the wild.

That's just a hint of the marvels on display. Accompanied by majestic orchestral scores by George Fenton, every episode is packed with images so beautiful or so forcefully impressive (and so perfectly photographed by the BBC's tenacious high-definition camera crews) that you'll be rendered speechless by the splendor of it all. You'll see a seal struggling to out-maneuver a Great White Shark; swimming macaques in the Ganges delta; massive flocks of snow geese numbering in the hundreds of thousands; an awesome night-vision sequence of lions attacking an elephant; the Colugo (or "flying lemur"--not really a lemur!) of the Philippines; a hunting alliance of fish and snakes on Indonesia's magnificent coral reef; the bioluminescent "vampire squid" of the deep oceans... these are just a few of countless highlights, masterfully filmed from every conceivable angle, with frequent use of super-slow-motion and amazing motion-controlled time-lapse cinematography, and narrated by Attenborough with his trademark combination of observational wit and informative authority. The result is a hugely entertaining series that doesn't flinch from the predatory realities of nature (death is a constant presence, without being off-putting), and each episode ends with 10-minute "Planet Earth Diaries" (exclusive to this DVD set) that cover a specific aspect of production, like "Diving with Pirahnas" or "Into the Abyss" (the latter showing the rigors of filming the planet's most spectacular caves, including the last filming ever officially permitted in the "Chandelier Ballroom," a crystal-encrusted cavern found over a mile deep in New Mexico's treacherous Lechuguilla, the deepest cave in the continental United States.)

With so many of Earth's natural wonders on display, it's only fitting that the final DVD in this five-disc set is devoted to Planet Earth: The Future, a separate three-part series in which a global array of experts is assembled to discuss issues of conservation, protection of delicate ecosystems, and the socio-economic benefits of understanding nature as a commodity that returns trillions of dollars in value at no cost to Earth's human population. At a time when the multiple threats of global warming should be obvious to all, let's give Sir David the last word, from the closing of Planet Earth's final episode: "We can now destroy or we can cherish--the choice is ours." --Jeff Shannon

More Planet Earth

Planet Earth on HD DVD
Planet Earth on DVD
More BBC DVDs

Stills from Planet Earth (click for larger image)

Description

With an unprecedented production budget of $25 million, and from the makers of Blue Planet: Seas of Life, comes the epic story of life on Earth. Five years in production, over 2,000 days in the field, using 40 cameramen filming across 200 locations, shot entirely in high definition, this is the ultimate portrait of our planet. A stunning television experience that captures rare action, impossible locations and intimate moments with our planet's best-loved, wildest and most elusive creatures. From the highest mountains to the deepest rivers, this blockbuster series takes you on an unforgettable journey through the daily struggle for survival in Earth's most extreme habitats. Planet Earth takes you to places you have never seen before, to experience sights and sounds you may never experience anywhere else.

Customer Reviews:

WOW WOW WOW.......2007-07-05

This is a great series period. However, add the clarity of Blue-Ray and it is an entirely different experience. I put it on with at a gathering of friends, just as a background distraction, and the entire room stopped down and watched it for 2 hours!

Consider this your Blu-Ray demo disc........2007-07-05

The series is very informative and entertaining, but it also serves as the perfect demo disc to show off the "Blu-Ray Experience".

WOWSER!.......2007-07-05

You think you know Planet Earth? Think again. This is the most indepth, unbelieveable presentation ever of our natural world. In Blu-Ray HD, it is beyong breathtaking. I am 57 years old and a nature show enthusiast, but many scenes were of such beauty and majesty that I was left gaping like some little child seeing his first circus ever. This is a must-have for anyone who loves this planet and its innumerable wonders. Many will come away from viewing this series and feel small by comparison. I came away feeling priviledged to be a part of the great mystery, majesty, miracle that is our home - Planet Earth.

Planet Earth--Complete BBC Series in Blue Ray.......2007-07-05

Finally I received the complete collection in 1080P in Blue Ray narrated by David Attenborough--The only way to see it is via HDMI 1000 Cable connection.On my Sony 60 inch SXRD the images were life like and the surround sound very 'enveloping'.Good job BBC for the series and Sony for the TV.
Would love to see the BBC embark on a series about the great train journeys around the world in Blue Ray.(Contact me for some possible 'journeys')

A GREAT HD DVD.......2007-07-04

AWESOME DVD,DOESN'T HAVE ALL THE EXTRAS LIKE THE REGULAR DVD,BUT THE PICTURE IS AMAZING,AS IS THE SOUND. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS TO ANY ONE WHO LOVES THE WILD OUTDOORS, AS WELL AS NATURE ITS SELF.WATCH THIS A DVD AND IT SHOWS WHAT A WONDERFUL PLANET WE LIVE ON,AND WE SHOULD TAKE CARE OF WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE ITS GONE FOREVER..

Average customer rating:

Eastern religion re-packaged for Western consumption
How the Other Half Lives
Awesome film
Great film that follows the book
"Take Out The Trash Dan" ~ There's No Higher Purpose Than Service To Others

Peaceful Warrior (Widescreen)
Starring: Scott Mechlowicz , Amy Smart , Nick Nolte , Ray Wise , and Karen Landry
Director: Victor Salva
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000QEIOSU
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Customer Reviews:

Eastern religion re-packaged for Western consumption.......2007-07-04

While it was nice to see Nick Nolte working in front of a camera again instead of speeding down the highway blitzed out of his mind on drugs. And equally as nice to see Amy Smart acting more civilized this time instead of being humped like a dog in front of a horde of people on a public street as she did in the movie Crank. This movie, while fun to watch was nothing more than a load of Eastern religious "Self Realization" teachings presented in a way to be palatable to the Western mind. I didn't like it.

If you are into Buddhism and New Age religions. You'll probably eat this up.

How the Other Half Lives.......2007-07-03

Dan Mellman (Scott Mechlowicz) was a golden boy. Having the world at his feet, he enjoyed being the star gymnast on a star team for The University of California, Berkeley. But there was something missing. Going through girlfriends, including stealing his best friend's, Dan had a cocky attitude that kept him empty and up at night. Fortunately, his three A.M. sojourns for snacks at an all-night gas station lead him to a mysterious, older man sarcastically nicknamed Socrates (Nick Nolte) who seems like Yoda, but in all seriousness. In his peace arsenal is the ability to startle someone by getting up on the garage roof when no one is paying attention. Here they meet, and the sage man offers wisdom that is only greeted with a sneer and Dan's smart mouth. Offering more than change for snacks, he also tries to relieve insomnia. ("People are afraid of the inside--That's where everything important is.") The meetings recur, but so does Dan's dream life that bring omens of misfortune. In some of those dreams we see impressive confrontations from two forms of Dan. (One I believe represents his ego, and the other is his spirit, and the unsettling division presented show us the split of a person yearning for the whole.) Dan needs to "let go of his ego". Tragedy then does visit as his unconscious foretells, and he must deal with it. But his recuperation needs more than crutches, he needs a steady guide to cope with his inner fracture as well.

'Peaceful Warrior' is a unique and excellent adventure. It could have been a good as an inspiring sports' film, but it goes beyond that. The sparring between Dan's ego and Socrates' wisdom creates another whole venue, complete with scenes that show Dan coming to grips with himself. Nolte plays Socrates with grizzled beard and gravelly voice, but shows us a peace warrior who is no wimp. Confronting Dan quietly, he gives him the strength to confront himself. Some of the joy of this movie is listening to Dan and Socrates espouse their wisdom, like Greek teacher and student. 'Peaceful Warrior' could have been a hokey failure, but they really deliver in this refreshing film choice. (Based on Mellman's autobiographical account.)

Awesome film.......2007-07-03

I love this film and the book. There should be more movies made with this kind of message and wisdom. This is an ageless coming of age story and it has so much to teach all of us - especially people who are "coming of age," which I think most of us are most of the time! You will love it - whether you read the book or not. It is awesome.

Great film that follows the book.......2007-07-02

Nick Nolte was superb in this film as was the entire cast. The film follows the book and gives a good account of a wisdom not often found in our contemporary culture. As Nolte notes in the film "there is no higher purpose" than service to others. This type of wisdom is not something one finds in the modern world where the bottom line generates astonishing selfishness and promotes an attitude best characterized as 'Get yours while the getting is good!' This film is inimical to that standard, so if you are looking for something that puppets the American Dream, this film is probably not for you.

Millman's book advocates for an engaged spirituality and empowered life without rationalizations or excusses. What you will find in the film is more of the same. Nolte's character Socrates refuses to hold Millman's hand, as Millman navigates these mysterious contours of spiritual awareness found in the depths of the human pysche.

When the book came out over twenty years ago it asserted itself as "a book that changes lives." To what extent this is true is difficult to say. As someone whose life was radically changed, I suspect the effort to embody the wisdom teachings had more to do with change, than simply reading the book. But if you take these propositions to heart and embody them into your lives, I suspect you will find significant tremors of change emerging out of the depths of your own unconscious.

These types of changes rarely provide comfort - at least at first blush. A threshold must be passed through, but it is in the passing that the attributes of a warrior emerge into the light of day and take hold of the personality. The film demonstrates the passage of transformation which - in my view - makes it entirely worthwhile and timely to our contemporay moment. In this sense, the film presents a right-of-passage that these propositions hold for a contemporary audience.

What could be more important?

"Take Out The Trash Dan" ~ There's No Higher Purpose Than Service To Others.......2007-07-02

Based on allegedly actual events chronicled in Dan Millman's book `Way of the Peaceful Warrior' the film `Peaceful Warrior' released in `05 takes the audience on a shamanic spiritual journey in the most unlikely of places, a twentieth century urban center, more precisely, Berkley, California.

Synopsis: Dan Millman is a top gymnast at U. C. Berkley yet despite his many successes he feels empty and incomplete inside. Plagued by dreams of failure Dan is unable to sleep and finds himself wandering the streets in the early hours of the morning. When he stops at an all night gas station and service mart he meets a man of unconventional wisdom who begins to instruct him on the process of clearing his mind of all the useless garbage it contains in order to view himself and the world around him in a brand new way.

`Peaceful Warrior' is one of those rare films that both entertains and teaches without sacrificing one for the other. The production values are high, the dialogue believable and the performances strong. Scott Mechlowicz was definitely the right choice to play the role of Berkley gymnast Dan Millman and Nick Nolte delivers one of his best performances in years as the mysterious Socrates, garage attendant and "New Age" Zen Master. Add to the mix Amy Smart as Dan's love interest Joy and you have a little romance as well. I did find the film to be slightly uneven here and there, the best moments taking place whenever Nick Nolte (Socrates) is on screen. However the message is so well presented and the actors so amiable any minor gliches are forgivable.

My Rating: 4 1/2 Stars.

Average customer rating:

Exciting and entertaining
Intelligent Dialog
Very Well Made
I appreacited the way the movie doesn't provide a pat answer about Hanssen's motivations
To Catch a Spy

Breach (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Chris Cooper , Ryan Phillippe , Laura Linney , Dennis Haysbert , and Gary Cole
Director: Billy Ray
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000OYAT3U
Release Date: 2007-06-12

Customer Reviews:

Exciting and entertaining.......2007-07-04

We rented this movie just to have something to watch over the weekend. It was fantastic. We loved it so much that we watched it again the next day and then went out and bought a copy. Chris Cooper is phenomenal. I highly recommend it.

Intelligent Dialog.......2007-07-03

This movie is an excellent charecter study of two men: the spy and the clerk who help bring him down. The dialogs are intelligent. The whole sting operation to catch Hanssen is good. All the performances are top notch. Cooper potrayed Hanssen very well. Not much real action happens during the movie. The suspense is whether spy Hanssen will figure out the sting before they can catch him in the act.

The movie does not give easy answers to the motivation of Hanssen, which is very good. The man has complexes on top of his complexes. O'Neill's motivations are complex as well. He wants to protect his wife, serve his country, but he has some respect for Hanssen as well. Hanssen has many dark sides, but his wife and his grand kids love him. Hanssen is honestly concerned about O'Neill career and marriage.

I have one small problem. They keep talking about all the technology they are using to catch Hanssen and really, they did not use it to catch him. However, they don't show any whiz bang stuff in the movie. I mean one episode of CSI has more technology exhibited. This is a very small point. Somebody mentions Hanssen mumbles a lot, which thwarts their use of all their monitoring equipment set up in the office.

The movie is thoughtful look into the world of spies. It is very reminscent of the "The Falcon and the Snowman." and is on that level.

Very Well Made.......2007-07-03

While this may not have the glamour of a Bond-esque spy adventure, this will certainly be regarded as an important and possibly classic spy movie. While I wont go into detail about the story line, which is easily found on the back of the cover, I will say it was paced perfectly and didnt drag on with filler and useless B.S. It is true that you kind of know what happens even before you put in the DVD, however the fun with this movie is watching to see how we get there. I gave this only 4 stars simply because I dont regard it as a "perfect" movie, and for the $20 price tag. I rented this for a buck at redbox and although I liked it, it wasnt enough to compell me to "have" to own it.

I appreacited the way the movie doesn't provide a pat answer about Hanssen's motivations.......2007-07-02

While all movies based on historical subjects must fictionalize events and compress timelines, it is how they do so that matters. Do they still tell the underlying truth of the story? Do they distort the substance of the story? Do they dumb it down so much that it transforms the story into something else? If it does any of these things, I tend to dislike it to the extent it does so. While this movie does make up scenes that never happened and puts actions into the hands of people that didn't do them, it still tells the truth of the story quite well for a Hollywood movie. You can read about the reality and the movie at chasingthefrog under their reelfaces link for this movie. It is quite interesting.

The movie is told through the eyes of the FBI operative who was put close to Hanssen and who was very important during the last two months of the investigation that finally caught him. This person is quite real and his name is Eric O'Neill and is played very well by Ryan Phillippe. The focus of the movie is the spy and traitor Robert Hanssen. The performance given here by Chris Cooper is superb and I hope it is recognized when awards are handed out. Chris Cooper is a fantastic actor whose range of characterizations in his many performances is breathtaking. Not only in the type of character, but their ages, in how they look, their intelligence, their moral make-up. He has it all and I enjoy everything I have seen him do.

Hannsen's wife, Bonnie is played very well by Kathleen Quinlan, and it is her devout faith that adds such a contradiction to Hannsen's character and motivation. It would be easy to paint Hannsen as using his religion cynically. However, while he certainly violated the tenets of his faith, it is clear that he holds his faith close, even while engaging in many seriously bad and compromised behaviors (beyond the spying). O'Neill's immediate superior and FBI handler Kate Burroughs and played very well by Laura Linney. She is tough enough to use O'Neill unsympathetically and yet has enough sense to know when she is pushing too hard and when to take a different tact with her inside guy.

I enjoyed this movie very much. It is smart and doesn't cheat by giving us a simple answer to the puzzle. Just as in real life, we do not know Hanssen's true motivations. Even Hanssen may not understand them. We do know he cost real people their lives and compromised the United States in profound ways. He is justly spending 23 hours per day in solitary confinement.

To Catch a Spy.......2007-07-01

Powerful performances by Cooper and Phillippe bring this rather intense film to life. Based on a true story, it offers a glimpse at the behind-the-scenes operation to catch one of the most dangerous spies in recent history.

When Eric O'Neill (Phillippe) is assigned the job of spying on his new boss Robert Hanssen (Cooper), he at first believes that he is digging up the dirt on the man's deviant tendencies, but eventually learns that Hanssen is in fact a spy for the Soviet Union, and later Russia for the last fifteen years.

Cooper is extremely believable as the devout Catholic FBI double agent who is transferred to headquarters on the pretext that he is heading a department to ensure the confidentiality of classified information. O'Neill and Hanssen eventually develop a mutual respect, but when the latter gets up close and personal with O'Neill's personal life, O'Neill finds himself taking the heat both at home and at the office.

Recommended for fans of espionage movies and thrillers, but may be a little slow for action/adventure buffs.

Here's a summary to the tune of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" by The Beatles

Picture O'Neill as a mole on a mission
With off the rack suits and nondescript ties
FBI calls him, he answers quite slowly
His role's to go ferret out spies

Surveillance cameras always on the scene
Panning right over his head
Look to the boss for the secrets he hides
But there's none

Hanssen is a spy for Russia
Hanssen is a spy for Russia
Hanssen is a spy for Russia

Follow him down to a church with a steeple
Where Hanssen communes with deities high
Everyone smiles as he meets with the family
There's no way this guy is a spy

Agent Kate Burroughs appears at the door
Takes him and shows him the way
Goes in the room with his head full of clouds
Now they're gone

Hanssen is a spy for Russia
Hanssen is a spy for Russia
Hanssen is a spy for Russia

Picture O'Neill with his role in the mission
With downloaded folders from palm pilot files
Suddenly Hanssen suspects that it's over
Gets ready to say his goodbyes

Hanssen is a spy for Russia
Hanssen is a spy for Russia
Hanssen is a spy for Russia

Amanda Richards, July 1, 2007

Average customer rating:

Childhood memories
Can we get these released faster please?!
TIMELESS TV
Perry Mason --- Second Year
Great Courtroom Entertainment

Perry Mason - Season 2, Vol. 1
Starring: Ray Collins , and Karl Held
Director: Francis D. Lyon , Gerald Mayer , Jerry Hopper , Jack Arnold , and John Peyser
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

Television | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Perry Mason - Season 1, Vol. 2
Mission: Impossible - The Second TV Season
Perry Mason - Season 1, Vol. 1
Ironside - The Complete First Season
Columbo - Mystery Movie Collection, 1989

ASIN: B000O59A52
Release Date: 2007-06-19

Amazon.com

There's something about Perry! Perry Mason, as a canny 14-year-old remarks in the episode "The Case of the Pint-Sized Client," is "the best lawyer in town." Here's the evidence. In 15 chronological second-season episodes from the classic series by which all lawyer shows are judged, Los Angeles attorney Perry Mason successfully defends a host of clients so seemingly guilty that Nancy Grace would have had them incarcerated by the first commercial break. Created by Erle Stanley Gardner, Mason was already a popular character in books, films, and radio before coming to television in 1957, and Raymond Burr, usually typecast as a heavy in feature films, did Mason justice (Mason was ranked 28th on the Bravo network's list of television's 100 best characters). Punctuating his sentences with that dramatic intake of breath, Burr's Mason exudes gravitas and expertise. He gets capable support from Barbara Hale as his secretary, Della Street, and William Hopper as private detective Paul Drake.

In what may be television's most thankless role, William Talman costars as district attorney Hamilton Burger, who nearly every week loses what looked to be an open-and-shut case, usually as the result of some dramatic surprise witness (in one episode, a parrot!), an unorthodox legal maneuver, or a cross-examination courtroom confession ("I didn't mean to kill him, your honor"). There is no delving into Mason's private life, although one episode hints at Mason being something of a ladies man. When Della suggestively tells him a new client is in his waiting room, he replies, "Blonde or brunette?" Cleverly plotted, and infused with a palpable noir sensibility , Perry Mason holds up as more than TV Land nostalgia, although it is fun to see such familiar faces as Jesse "the Maytag Repairman" White, Edgar Buchanan (Petticoat Junction), and Joseph Kearns and Herbert Anderson from Dennis the Menace. No extras, but these entertaining episodes will definitely please the court. --Donald Liebenson

Customer Reviews:

Childhood memories.......2007-07-04

Growing up I enjoyed Perry Mason and still watch the Hallmark movie series. Even though the shows are black and white, you don't really notice as you watch how Perry solves some of the most bizarre cases on record - like the one of the perjured parrot.

Can we get these released faster please?!.......2007-07-03

I waited for years for "Perry Mason" to be released on DVD and I'm ecstatic that Paramount Home Video has finally begun to do it! These box sets are beautiful and the remastered picture and sound quality of the show is so much better than the episodes that are broadcast on my local TV station. Now, my only request is that PHV speed up the releases. If they're going to continue with the 2 volumes per season sequence and release only 1 season per year it's going to take 9 whole years to completely release this great series. I can't wait that long! Please Paramount, how about releasing two box sets at a time, meaning two seasons per year? Universal did this with Seasons 3 and 4 of Miami Vice and it was great.

TIMELESS TV.......2007-07-02

With all of the cast excepting Della now dead, it is pleasant to return to those times. I began watching Perry Mason on TV when yet in high school and after military service and college he was yet on TV!

After purchasing the first two DVD sets can still feel happy about purchasing them, and will get this one too. I not only watch the shows but read the books, just recently finishing The Case of the Caretaker's Cat. The Persian cat of that book was named 'Clinker' but none of the TV shows, however, can be called that!

Great TV from long ago, and for me growing up in the 1950's, it's fun to revisit a world of cars, clothes, and people that other than in these shows, no longer exist. Perry and the gang are than actors and in many ways seem to have become our welcome friends.

Semper Fi.

Perry Mason --- Second Year.......2007-06-27

My wife's favorite and she can't wait until the second half of year 2 comes out. Good production values and the programs have aged well. Outstanding entertainment IF you are a fan of the series.

Great Courtroom Entertainment.......2007-06-27

Perry Mason - Season 2, Vol. 1 picks right up where the last set left off.
Contained herein are 15 episodes from the second season.
In my humble opinion the first few seasons of Perry Mason where the best of its run and this set doesn't disappoint.
There's plenty of great noir drama and courtroom action. Needless to say, Perry's client always gets off the hook!
The quality of the prints used for the transfer and the transfer itself are excellent.
My only complaint is that I feel the entire season should have been released in one set.

Average customer rating:

A great cast makes this a great movie
Funny - Good for men & women
Great Movie!
Great Movie
Fun for some

Wild Hogs (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Tim Allen , John Travolta , Martin Lawrence , William H. Macy , and Ray Liotta
Director: Walt Becker
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Touchstone
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Comic Action | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Ghost Rider (Two-Disc Extended Cut)
Shooter (Widescreen Edition)
Zodiac (Widescreen Edition)
Night at the Museum (Widescreen Edition)
Premonition (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000QFCD7W
Release Date: 2007-08-14

Description

Tim Allen, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence and William H. Macy star in Wild Hogs, the hysterically funny comedy about four weekend-warrior friends who decide to rev up their ho-hum suburban lives with a cross-country motorcycle adventure. They don their leathers, fire up their hogs and throw caution and their cell phones to the wind as they hit the open highway. A lot can happen on the road to nowhere, including a run-in with the bad-to-the-bone Del Fuegos, a real biker gang who don't take kindly to the wannabes. Filled with hilarious misadventures, screwball situations and madcap mayhem, this laugh-out-loud comedy is a movie your whole family will go hog wild over.

Customer Reviews:

A great cast makes this a great movie.......2007-06-28

Wild Hogs is a typical midlife crisis movie. Four men, who have been friends for years and who suit up in leather and ride to the local bar and grill regularly to hang out, suddenly wonder what happened to their lives. They all realize, one by one, that they've hit middle age and fallen into a rut, and they decide to take a cross country trip on their bikes to get out of it.

This is one of the more entertaining movies I've seen in a while. What made it for me, however, was not the plot or even the comedic moments but rather the excellent performances by a great cast. John Travolta plays the cool-guy-in-a-midlife-crisis role perfectly, and Tim Allen pulls off his when-did-my-life-get-so-bland part flawlessly as well. Throw in great performances by Martin Lawrence, a man desperate to get out from under his overbearing wife's thumb, and William H. Macy, a geek who hopes he can FINALLY do something that will make him cool, and you've got a great group of main characters.

Macy's performance is probably the most surprisingly good of the bunch. He's downright hilarious in this movie as the 'rebel nerd.' And Ray Liotta is excellent as the villain, the antagonist who tries to refuse this group of "Wild Hogs" their right to ride on the grounds that they're not real bikers.

This is a very funny movie and is sure to keep you entertained. With a relatively unoriginal plot this may not have been a great film if not for the excellent cast, but these guys will have you cheering for the middle-aged suburbanite and longing for the open road yourself.

Funny - Good for men & women.......2007-06-26

My husband and I don't often agree on movies - he tends to like horrors (too gory for me) and war movies (same problem) while I like comedy and sci-fi (okay, he likes SOME sci-fis, too) but I never would've thought I'd like a biker movie! This one I did. It's funny and it's manly but not so much that a woman can't appreciate it, as well. My favorite part is when some average (overweight) middle-aged man starts singing "Don't you wish your girlfriend was HOT like ME?!" Histerical!

Actors include: Tim Allen, John Travolta, William H. Mac, Ray Liotta, Martin Lawrence, and others.

Great Movie!.......2007-06-22

I loved this movie. I saw it twice; the first time with my friend who is a Harley man and the second time with my daughter, Both laughed all the way through. I can't wait to buy the movie. My Harley friend is also waiting to buy it to watch with his fellow biker friends.

Great Movie.......2007-06-19

I Loved this movie. this movie is about four friends (Tim Allan,John Trovlta, Martin Lawerence and William H. Macy) who love riding their Motorcycles. Now all four of them are stressed out and are having personal problems and they are being told that they are not real bikers and they are old. so they deside to take a road trip on their bikes and that is where the adventur starts. you will have to get the movie to find out what happens....

Fun for some.......2007-06-17

When this movie first appeared, I read the review by N.O.Scott, in the New York Times. He blasted it (in a very funny way.) Then a friend of mine seconded his opinion, claiming it was dreadful. She mentioned that the 12 yr old boy she brought to the film thoroughly enjoyed it. One of the readers of the NYTimes, a jr. high teacher, said he found the movie to be perfectly geared to a jr. high audience.

So....I waited till it came to the dollar theater, not expecting a whole lot. I think that expectations are important...I have found that if I expect a lot I'm often disappointed, and vice-versa. So I offer this review saying that if you don't expect High Art, and are not bothered by politically incorrect homophobic jokes, you might like this. (I also advise you to read the review here by Mark Eremite, which I think is quite intelligent.)

So, expecting not-much, I bought my very cheap ticket and joined the crowd at the Sat. afternoon show at the cheapest theater in town. I actually enjoyed it! Not a huge amount---but my attention never left the screen from beginning to end. With the exception of a really tacky episode with a gay cop, there's nothing really offensive. And that says a lot for movies these days.

I think that the success of the film (and it was a huge box office smash) is due to the very capable and attractive cast. John Travolta is strong and charismatic. While I wouldn't call him exactly handsome, he certainly is hunky and not bad to look at. He doesn't seem to take the role terribly seriously but maybe that's ok. Martin Lawrence is very funny and endearing. His facial expressions are terrific and he excudes a sweet vulnerability as the hen pecked plumber.

William H. Macy, a fine actor, brings a touch of class to what could have been a very dopey character--the computer nerd. He embues this girl-shy guy with an innocence and simplicity that is really touching. Even with his rumpled face and tendancy to self-destruct, he wins the prettiest girl in town, which I found truly touching.

Tim Allen's performance, as the dentist, was the most lack-luster, in my opinion. He does have a nice moment near the end, when confronting the "real" bikers, telling them that they, are really the posers. That won points for me.

The big surprise is the cameo appeaance of the archetypal film bad-biker, Peter Fonda! He is appropriately adorable with his grey curls under his bandana, eclipsing all of the other bikers, and wannabes with his presence. A nice touch, for those of us who remember him cruising through the same New Mexico territory in Easy Rider.

Under all the silliness, there are some nice lessons and the good guys really do win out. Just read the reviews here, see who you most resonate with, and make that your index of how much you'll like this movie.

Average customer rating:

sweet niblets
I know the episodes here!

Hannah Montana - Pop Star Profile
Starring: Miley Cyrus , and Billy Ray Cyrus
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000OLGCFC
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Amazon.com

Stardom can be a heavy burden for a teenager, but Miley Stewart (Miley Cyrus) has always risen above the temptation to flaunt her fame, and firmly resolved to keep her true identity as teen rock star Hannah Montana a secret from her classmates, in favor of being perceived as a typical teenager. Miley's resolve begins to falter in this foursome of episodes when famous television star Jake Ryan (Cody Linley) suddenly shows up as a new student in Miley's class. Initially assuming that Jake is just another snooty superstar, Miley's distaste quickly turns to confusion and jealousy over all the attention her fellow students, including her smitten best friend Lilly (Emily Osment), are lavishing on him. Miley's inner turmoil results in an impulsive confession of her true identity to Jake and a local reporter. Miley's father Robbie Stewart (played by Miley's real-life father and famous country musician Billy Ray Cyrus) helps convince the local reporter that Miley is just another drama-loving teenager with grandiose dreams and typically wacky schemes. A visit from Aunt Dolly (played by country music icon Dolly Parton) helps Miley realize the importance of taking chances and reaching for her dreams. In the end, everyone learns an important lesson about being open-minded and staying true to one's goals and beliefs. Bonus features include a "Nobody's Perfect" stage performance video and a brief "The Real Miley Cyrus" featurette in which Miley talks about her childhood, home life, and relationship with her co-stars. (Ages 7 and older) --Tami Horiuchi

Description

You've got an all-access pass to the exciting life of a celebrity in HANNAH MONTANA: POP STAR PROFILE! Relive Hannah's drama when another big star comes on the scene and shakes things up. Plus, meet Miley Cyrus's real-life family and experience Hannah live in concert! There's a new kid in town, and he might just be more popular than Hannah Montana! Not only is Jake Ryan (Cody Linley) a hottie, he's also a famous actor and the star of his own TV series. While "Miley" tries to keep her superstar identity (and her secret crush) under wraps at school, "Hannah" winds up guest starring on his show -- with an on-screen kiss! As usual, her friends and family come to the rescue, but not before she makes her way through all sorts of hilarious adventures and learns not to judge people -- especially celebrity-type people -- by appearances alone. Y'all are gonna love being insiders in Hannah Montana's rockin' world!

Customer Reviews:

sweet niblets.......2007-05-18

Hannah Montana is a cute show about a 14 year old girl living a double life. By day she is Miley Stewart, an average teen girl living an average life, but by night she's Hannah Montana, teen pop sensation. Miley usually likes to keep her second life on the down low but in this collection she is tempted to throw caution to the wind and reveal her secret to the world.

Jake Ryan, a famous TV actor, enrolls at Miley's school and unlike her he absorbs all the attention. Jake gets everything his heart desires while Miley starts to get shafted (her locker is even moved to the basement to make room for Jakes mega star locker). Miley gets really irritated with the way everyone drools over Jake when she is just as (and maybe even more) famous then he is. Later on, however, she starts to see another side of Jake Ryan and a little crush develops.

This collection contains four episodes all revolving around Miley and Jake's relationship:

The New Kid in School:
Jake Ryan enrolls at Miley's school. She gets irritated with the way he gets special treatment.

More Then a Zombie to Me:
Hannah Montana gets a role on Jake's TV show. Miley discovers that she really does like Jake.

Good Golly, Miss Molly:
Miley loses a video tape of her confessing her love for Jake. Somehow it ends up in his possession. She needs to get it back.

People Who Use People:
Miley and Jake 'date' other people to make each other jealous. Jake and Miley confess their feelings for each other and become a couple, for a few minutes anyway.

There are two bonus features:

The Real Miley Cyrus:
An exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the star of "Hannah Montana" and her real-life family including her superstar dad, Billy Ray Cyrus.

Nobody's Perfect:
A concert performance of one of Hannah's new songs, from the upcoming second season of the hit series

I love this show but these are no where near my favorite episodes. So I'm not sure whether or not I'll be picking up the collection myself but if these episodes appeal to you or yours by all means buy the DVD.

I know the episodes here!.......2007-04-09

I know the episodes on this DVD. There are 4 of them and a bonus all new episode:

Schooly Bully
The Idol Side of Me
Cuffs Will Keep Us Together
Me and Rico by Down THe Schoolyard
Bonus: When You Wish You Were The Star

Average customer rating:

Lossless PCM 5.1 and cheaper price - the best choice for 300 in HD.
Do not listen to the ignorant comments of those who bash either format
HD-DUD IS A DEAD FORMAT!!!!!!!
This rating system is a joke
Buy the HD DVD Combo instead

300 [Blu-ray]
Starring: Gerard Butler
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

General | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video
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Mel Gibson's Apocalypto [Blu-ray]

ASIN: B000Q6GX5Y
Release Date: 2007-07-31

Description

The epic graphic novel by Frank Miller (Sin City) assaults the screen with the blood, thunder and awe of its ferocious visual style faithfully recreated in an intense blend of live-action and CGI animation. Retelling the ancient Battle of Thermopylae, it depicts the titanic clash in which King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and 300 Spartans fought to the death against Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) and his massive Persian army. Experience history at swordpoint. And moviemaking with a cutting edge.

Customer Reviews:

Lossless PCM 5.1 and cheaper price - the best choice for 300 in HD........2007-07-04

This Blu-ray version of "300" is not only the cheapest way to get 300 in high definition, but also has a lossless uncompressed PCM 5.1 track in addition to a Dolby TrueHD lossless track.
For those of you who want the best audio and video on your main picture, this is the best choice.

Do not listen to the ignorant comments of those who bash either format.......2007-07-04

Don't let people sway your opinion with their ignorant comments about HD DVD or Blu-Ray. Buy the format that you prefer and be happy with it.

I have both Blu-Ray and HD DVD and find that they are exactly equal in picture quality. In cases like "300," and a few other titles, the HD DVD has more features or unique features, but that doesn't matter to many people. If you read the specifications for the disc and find that you really believe that the extra features make one format or the other more attractive, then you should go with that disc.

The HD DVD version of "300" has some sort of blue screen, no CGI, feature or something... I won't be watching that at any time, as I just don't care about it. For me it just comes down to price. I will buy whichever format has the movie I want at the best price. The Blu-Ray version is $4 cheaper than the HD DVD version right now... if the extra features on the HD DVD are worth $4 or more, buy the HD DVD version. If the extra features on the HD DVD version are not worth $4, buy the Blu-Ray disc.

THE PICTURE AND SOUND SHOULD BE IDENTICAL. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE SHOULD BE THE EXTRAS.

If you only have a player for one format, be happy with that format and leave the other alone. All of you on BOTH sides of this bashing stuff are acting like little children who want to be big bullies and I find it ridiculous. I refuse to pick a side, as I benefit from BOTH sides and purchase contents for BOTH formats.

There are two formats and it is going to stay that way. Universal players will be released soon enough and those of you who don't have players will be able to buy a single player to play all content. That is the solution to this ridiculous bickering; co-existence.

HD-DUD IS A DEAD FORMAT!!!!!!!.......2007-07-04

The only way to buy this excellent movie is on BLU-RAY disc-Best picture and Best sound, and the HD format of the now and future. There are many superb BLU-RAY players by Sony, Pioneer, Panasonic, Samsung, Denon check them out. Only Toshiba makes hd-dvd and that are all inferior and troublsome-Be Wise go BLU for HD Video-You will love it.

This rating system is a joke.......2007-07-03

This rating system is so stupid. Half of the people are rating this movie a 1 just because they are HD-DVD fanboys and are mad because HD-DVD is on its last leg and on its way out. They rate it a 1 without even seeing the movie on BD, just because they are anti-BD. That is not a review, its just some moron commenting on stuff he doesnt know anything about

Buy the HD DVD Combo instead.......2007-07-03

Don't buy into the BD hype! The movie on HD DVD (combo) is a far better deal for most people that own both HD and SD players. The Bluray fanboys would have you believe that Bluray is superior in every way... that is just NOT TRUE! HD DVD is a fully supported and finished format PLUS with the HD DVD version, you will have many interactive features such as choosing your own endings and web connectivity. The Bluray version is, well, just the movie.

This is not an HD DVD fanboy rant, it is telling the truth.

Star Wars - Episode I, The Phantom Menace (Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

"I'm a person. And my name is Anakin."
hmmm...give my baby nephew this i will (smiles)
I've discovered something revolutionary!
Star Wars I
The best of the new

Star Wars - Episode I, The Phantom Menace (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Pernilla August , Kenny Baker , Brian Blessed , Ralph Brown , and Anthony Daniels
Director: George Lucas
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Accessories:

Star Wars Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast
Star Wars Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast Collectors Edition

ASIN: B00003CX5P
Release Date: 2005-03-22

Amazon.com

"I have a bad feeling about this," says the young Obi-Wan Kenobi (played by Ewan McGregor) in Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace as he steps off a spaceship and into the most anticipated cinematic event... well, ever. He might as well be speaking for the legions of fans of the original episodes in the Star Wars saga who can't help but secretly ask themselves: Sure, this is Star Wars, but is it my Star Wars? The original elevated moviegoers' expectations so high that it would have been impossible for any subsequent film to meet them. And as with all the Star Wars movies, The Phantom Menace features inexplicable plot twists, a fistful of loose threads, and some cheek-chewing dialogue. Han Solo's swagger is sorely missed, as is the pervading menace of heavy-breather Darth Vader. There is still way too much quasi-mystical mumbo jumbo, and some of what was fresh about Star Wars 22 years earlier feels formulaic. Yet there's much to admire. The special effects are stupendous; three worlds are populated with a mélange of creatures, flora, and horizons rendered in absolute detail. The action and battle scenes are breathtaking in their complexity. And one particular sequence of the film--the adrenaline-infused pod race through the Tatooine desert--makes the chariot race in Ben-Hur look like a Sunday stroll through the park.

Among the host of new characters, there are a few familiar walk-ons. We witness the first meeting between R2-D2 and C-3PO, Jabba the Hutt looks younger and slimmer (but not young and slim), and Yoda is as crabby as ever. Natalie Portman's stately Queen Amidala sports hairdos that make Princess Leia look dowdy and wields a mean laser. We never bond with Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson), and Obi-Wan's day is yet to come. Jar Jar Binks, a cross between a Muppet, a frog, and a hippie, provides many of the movie's lighter moments, while Sith Lord Darth Maul is a formidable force. Baby-faced Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) looks too young and innocent to command the powers of the Force or wield a lightsaber (much less transmute into the future Darth Vader), but his boyish exuberance wins over skeptics.

Near the end of the movie, Palpatine, the new leader of the Republic, may be speaking for fans eagerly awaiting Episode II when he pats young Anakin on the head and says, "We will watch your career with great interest." Indeed! --Tod Nelson

Description

Feature-Length Audio Commentary
The creators of Episode I give you insight into the film like no one else can. Hear from: writer/director George Lucas, Producer Rick McCallum, sound designer and film co-editor Ben Burtt, ILM animation director Rob Coleman and ILM visual effects supervisors John Knoll, Dennis Muren and Scott Squires.

"The Beginning"
Making Episode I Documentary Film
Culled from over 600 hours of behind-the-scenes footage, this all-new hour-long documentary film takes you inside Lucasfilm and Industrial Light & Magic during the making of The Phantom Menace. Sit in on the film's production process including: pre-production, casting, principal photography, editing, rough-cut reviews, visual effects meetings and other events that few people have had access to before.

Exclusive Deleted Scenes and Documentary
All-new documentary featuring George Lucas, Rick McCallum and guests discussing the painstaking process every director must go through in determining what scenes make the final cut. View seven exclusive deleted sequences that were created specifically for this DVD and learn why they were eliminated from the final version of the film.

Multi-Angle Animatics
Discover the amazing techniques used to create two memorable sequences (Submarine and Podrace Lap 1) from storyboards to animatics to final composites.

Featurettes
Five mini-documentaries give you an insider's look at The Phantom Menace's Storyline, Design, Costumes, Visual Effects and Fight sequences through behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the cast and filmmakers.

Web Documentaries
Originally released on starwars.com during the production of Episode I, this award-winning twelve-part web documentary series gives you a fly-on-the-wall perspective into the making of the film as it was happening.

Exclusive Production Photo Gallery
Scroll through a never-before-seen gallery of candid cast and crew shots, each with captions.

"Duel of the Fates" Music Video
One of the most popular music videos during its release in May 1999, the "Duel of the Fates" video intertwines live footage of John Williams conducting the London Symphony Orchestra with behind-the-scenes clips and dramatic footage featured in Episode I.

Posters and Print Campaign
Examine the Episode I theatrical posters (Teaser and Launch) and the International Outdoor advertising used to support the release of Episode I around the world.

Trailers and TV Spots
Watch the theatrical teaser and launch trailers, plus seven TV spots (including the five original "Tone Poems" along with "The Saga Begins" and "All Over Again").

"Star Wars: Starfighter-The Making of a Game" from LucasArts
This featurette offers insight into the making of the popular flight action combat game along with information on other Star Wars games from LucasArts.

Exclusive DVD-ROM Content
Your Episode I DVD is a key that unlocks exclusive Star Wars content only available through a special DVD-ROM website.

Customer Reviews:

"I'm a person. And my name is Anakin.".......2007-06-22

STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE would have had to have been beyond perfect to survive the almost twenty years of fan anticipation and the avalanche of hype it was met with. When released in 1999, reactions to THE PHANTOM MENACE were very mixed. Disappointed (even embittered) fans claimed that George Lucas had created THE PHANTOM MENACE merely to cash in on the STAR WARS franchise---as if he needed to "cash in" on what had already become a multibillion dollar enterprise. As a result, the whole "prequel" trilogy got a bad reputation, none worse than this film.

Revisiting it years later, after all the shouting has died down, THE PHANTOM MENACE seems far better than it did upon its release. It doesn't measure up to any of the films of the original trilogy. It may in fact be the weakest film of the sextet. THE PHANTOM MENACE suffers from the same mistaken approach that George Lucas has adopted toward his "improved" versions of the original films. THE PHANTOM MENACE has most of the same shortcomings, particularly the (very common) sci-fi bugaboo of using a film to showcase special effects. Lucas gave us a truly Shakespearean tale in the first trilogy, and incidentally set it "a long, long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away." The spaceships, the ray guns, and the alien life forms propelled the story, but they were NOT the story.

Lucas wants to show us all kinds of new, colorful, and beautiful visions in THE PHANTOM MENACE, and he does, but at great expense to the storyline, which meanders all the way from Point A to Point A Prime in this installment.

There's even greater expense to the characterizations. We could relate to Luke, Leia, Han, See Threepio and Artoo Detoo in the first trilogy because they were like us in so many ways. Han Solo especially served to ground the STAR WARS universe in familiarity. Han's "scoundrel" energy was very central to the success of the original movies.

There isn't a lovable scoundrel in THE PHANTOM MENACE. Lucas does give us some truly interesting new characters, but they're alien (both literally and figuratively) and we hardly get to know them.

The young Queen of Naboo, Padme Amidala (played by Natalie Portman, one of the beautiful new visions in this film) is oft-times regally remote, and somewhat mysterious. Her lookalike decoy is played by Keira Knightley (another beautiful new vision), and it is truly difficult to tell them apart at times.

Although Portman's Amidala shows herself to be clearly a warm, open, and sympathetic character, by the end of THE PHANTOM MENACE we know much less about her than we do about her cinematic daughter, Princess Leia, in A NEW HOPE.

Young Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) is a slave-child on Tatooine. An inventor and a gifted pilot even at the age of eight, he is so bright-eyed and kindhearted ("Someday, I'll come back here and free all the slaves") that it is difficult to reconcile this gentle little boy who cries for his mother with the horrific Darth Vader he eventually becomes.

The Jedi Council initially refuses to allow Anakin to be trained as a Jedi ("There is much fear in you, young one," says Yoda). We never really see his fear or feel it. Nor do we get much more than a glimmer of the rage and anger he must feel as a slave. Watto, his owner, is a straw boater wearing, comical-looking flying bumblebee/vulture who speaks with a vaudeville Italian accent. Simon Legree should not be doing stand-up. By making Watto a figure of fun, Lucas fails to either underscore the weaknesses of the Galactic Republic, or presage its descent into darkness.

Essentially, we have only the criticisms of the Jedi Masters to go on in consigning young Anakin to the Minus Column. It just isn't enough, especially when he wins the high stakes podrace that is the main act of the story (the stakes being his own freedom), and is eventually responsible for firing the well-placed shot that defeats the enemy in battle (like his cinematic son, Luke).

The oddly mismatched love between the prepubescent Anakin and the much older teenaged Padme comes out of nowhere, with hardly a forethought (Anakin's shy question to the girl at their first meeting---"Are you an angel?"---is the only indicator of what later blossoms).

Likewise, Lucas utterly wastes two of his most intriguing characters, the iconoclastic Jedi, Qui-Gon Jinn, and the truly satanic Darth Maul. Qui-Gon is wise. Qui-Gon is skilled. Qui-Gon should have been Obi-Wan's Obi-Wan and Anakin's ally. But although Qui-Gon is instrumental in freeing Anakin from bondage, he never develops a truly affectionate (Obi-Wan and Luke-type) relationship with the boy, seeming more interested in him as raw material for Jedi training.

The silent Darth Maul, (the evil lord of shopping centers) with his horned black-and-red face, twin-ended lightsaber, glowing sulfur-yellow eyes, kendo-style fighting technique, and flowing black robes is potentially a figure as memorable and frightening as Darth Vader, but both he and Qui-Gon die in battling one another; and so a fascinating second trilogy dynamic between good and evil dies with them.

Added to these missed opportunities are odd inconsistencies between THE PHANTOM MENACE and the original trilogy. See Threepio turns out to have been built by Anakin on Tatooine, but then why didn't the droid recognize Tatooine or the name "Skywalker" in A NEW HOPE? Although Ben Kenobi claims to have been trained by Yoda in THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, he is clearly Qui-Gon's student in THE PHANTOM MENACE. Tatooine is ruled by the Hutts in this film, but not in the original trilogy. Although Anakin's mother references Tatooine's twin suns, they're never seen together in the sky.

Clearly, Lucas couldn't have reworked the original films after 20 years to fit all these elements in THE PHANTOM MENACE. Their inclusion here is a sign of his hubris. Why not just be true to the original? Clearly, his desire to make these changes overrode any considerations of film continuity and audience expectations. George Lucas isn't really trying to give us a better cinematic experience here, he's just totally into playing with his favorite toys. It's a form of selfishness.

Possibly the worst of Lucas's new ideas is the Social Darwinist/Nazi race theory concept of a high "midichlorian" count giving rise to greater Force sensitivity. Anakin has a mythic virgin birth due to the midichlorians, a bad twist to the tale when one considers that Lucas could have underscored the horrors of slavery by having Anakin fathered by a freeborn man who exploited Shmi Skywalker's position as a slave. Here, once again, the film fails to foreshadow the lawlessness and unethical evils of the rising Galactic Empire.

STAR WARS isn't sociology, but it's insistence on touching universal themes is what made it so wildly successful. The first trilogy was constructed entirely upon the foundation of our shared collective subconscious. Lucas loses that thread in this film.

The inclusion of the midichlorian factor means that the Jedi are no longer a highly-trained spiritual fraternity. They've become racially superior to the rest of us. If ever he re-edits THE PHANTOM MENACE, the midichlorians must end up on the cutting room floor. Sorry, but as ideas go, this one just stinks.

And speaking of stinks, Lucas also brought us the ridiculous Jar-Jar Binks and his race of Rastafari amphibians, the Gungans (Ganja, anyone?). Jar-Jar Binks is a technically interesting additional character, being primarily a CGI character; but he adds nothing (and detracts much) from the film with his distracting brainless chatter, clumsiness, and utter stupidity. If Lucas thought that this duckbilled dunce would provide comic relief, he was wrong. See Threepio and Artoo Detoo serve that purpose in the first trilogy and should have continued to do so in THE PHANTOM MENACE. Jar-Jar merely irritates the viewer, particularly given that he appears throughout the film, not just in a few scenes. He's merely filler. As filler, he's a sign that Lucas wasn't imaginative enough to use THE PHANTOM MENACE's screen time to its best advantage by progressing the storyline.

Binks may be the only character ever that inspired a website advocating his destruction, the aptly-named www.Jarjarbinksmustdie.com. What was George Lucas thinking when he gave us the jarring Jar-Jar?

THE PHANTOM MENANCE is uneven and inconsistent and suffers from some poor scriptwriting and too many missed opportunities. These reduce the film, but do not ruin it. Despite its weaknesses and flaws, THE PHANTOM MENACE is a solid THREE STAR effort. It is essential to the telling of the tale, and leaves us considering what's next?

In that regard, THE PHANTOM MENACE is as successful as any film can be. It finally gives us the entertaining and engaging introduction to that long time ago and far away galaxy we've come to know and love.

hmmm...give my baby nephew this i will (smiles).......2007-06-21

yeah its was ok but definetly for the younger kids. i guess it goes along with the theme of Aniken Skywalker is also a kid. the next 2 are much better. there's just too much comic relief in this one for an adult.

I've discovered something revolutionary!.......2007-06-13

Hey, folks! I don't know about you, but I've realized something extraordinary! Yoda is a HERETIC! How is this possible, you may ask? Well, here's how. You see, in this highly-anticipated prequel, Quack-Gonn Jinn explains the force to Anakin Snobbwalker. He explains how the force is really just a bunch of microorganisms (similar to sweat) that live in your cells and boss you around. However, in Episode V, Yoda (who in Episode I looks like a monkey) claims that the force is something that surrounds every living thing (something like that). If Yoda is a heretic, that means he's bad. If he's bad, then why do you see him with the good jedi at the end of Episode VI? Meeesa have bad feelzing about this. Can you guess who meeesa is? Youssa right! Issa meeesa, I'mgonnahityouovertheheadwithajellyjar-jar-Bonks.

I am Qui-Gonn Jinn. I am a stone-faced, mature Jedi Master, yet I enjoy the presence of my friend Jar-Jar-Binks more than my audience.

Jar-Jar - Exqueese me! You saved my life! Meeesa your servant for life!

Qui-Gonn - Yes, Jar-Jar. If I were in my right mind, I would slash you with my lightsaber until I could see the individual atoms that you're made of. However, I'm never in my right mind, so I will bear with your company. What's more, I'll even take you with me, so that everyone aboard my ship will lose their minds when you crack fart jokes every five seconds.

Obi-Wan finally meets Jar-Jar. He would also slash him to pieces; however, that would mean he'd lose Jedi points, because destroying an unarmed creature is against the jedi rule. It's bad enough that Padme likes snobby, most-horrible-actor-in-the-world Anakin, but she likes Bonks. How is that possible? I think Jar-Jar is a Sith! How else could anyone like him, than by using Jedi mind tricks? How else could he not die, when thousands of battle droids are around him and none hear his ridiculous screams?

Finally, we see the villain of the movie! Darth Maul, who is not in it at all! What does he do in the movie? Except for some incredibly awesome lightsaber moves, he rolls his eyes! Probably an addiction he developed when going through the movie's storyline with Lucas.

Who is the hero of the movie?

JOHN WILLIAMS!!!!!!!

Star Wars I.......2007-06-12

I think George Lucas has a wonderful imagination and not afraid to apply that imagination on screen. However, I find it hard to believe a boy that young (Anakin) could manuver a craft like that or for that matter, build one. None the less, I loved it and will watch it over again.

Rita

The best of the new.......2007-06-11

Of the 3 new episodes, this is by far the best one. It has a captivating storyline and never ceases to amaze with the fantastic CGI special effects at every angle. Many die-hard SW fans do not approve of all the CGI, but I believe that feeling goes hand in hand with the fact that they were around when the first SW came out, and that film was "theirs" so to speak and can never be duplicated. Something so magnificent as SW in 1977 must've captivated the mind and created such a frenzy that many opinions will be biased some 30 years later. I was not born yet when the first ones came out, but I'm a fan of all 6 and didn't really understand the SW buzz until I was able to watch the first 3 (newer ones) in succession followed by Episodes IV, V, and VI. Many fans have seen it the other way around, but I find the SW saga to still be enjoyable if you watch them in numerical order.

Of course, as a young buck myself, I will gladly say that Episodes I-III are great. A true treat to eye and a gem in fantasy/sci-fi land if you're in to that type of genre. Lucas could've not created anything better in my eyes. As I stated earlier, many old-school fans don't appreciate the new ones and that's completely understandable. For me and my generation, my Star Wars films were The Lord of the Rings trilogies. For me, I will go to my grave saying that LOTR was and is the best film of the genre. Hopefully they will make more as Tolkien wrote a lot, but I will not appreciate them as much as LOTR. That's just the way it is I guess.

Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest [Blu-ray]

Average customer rating:

Way to go Disney!
Great movie!
Blu-Ray Heaven
Rate the movie, not your firmware
FIRMWARE UPDATE

Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest [Blu-ray]
Starring: Christopher Adamson , Lee Arenberg , Josie Dapar , Johnny Depp , and Spider Madison
Director: Gore Verbinski
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

Action & Adventure | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

General | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

Comedy | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

Science Fiction & Fantasy | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl [Blu-ray]
Casino Royale [Blu-ray]
Mel Gibson's Apocalypto [Blu-ray]
Planet Earth - The Complete BBC Series [Blu-ray]
The Departed [Blu-ray]

ASIN: B000N6UERU
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Product description

Charming rogue pirate Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is back to wreak hilarious havoc on the high seas on Blu-ray Disc®! Also starring Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightly, this swashbuckling joyride will amaze you as never before in this spectacular, "see-worthy" format! Jack's got a blood debt to pay: he owes his soul to Davy Jones, ghostly Ruler of the Deep. Get caught up in the whirlpool of Jack's misadventures as he schemes to avoid eternal damnation by seizing the fabled Dead Man's Chest. Thrill to the nonstop action, devilish humor, monstrous sea creatures and breathtaking black magic presented in astonishing 1080p and thunderous 5.1 48 kHz, 24-bit uncompressed audio. Experience oceans of fun with Blu-ray™ High Definition.

Customer Reviews:

Way to go Disney!.......2007-07-02

The picture quality and sound quality of this movie are amazing on Blu-Ray! Way better than I had hoped, I show it to anyone who does not know what Blu-Ray is or ask me is there a difference on Blu-Ray!
The Uncompressed audio track is a Hundred times better than Dolby Digital, the movie comes alive!

Great movie!.......2007-07-01

I must say I like the second part better than the first one. The story and characters were amazing. Uncompressed sound is heaven so use a surround sound system! The graphics were pretty good and overall it's a great movie to watch and to collect on Blu ray.

Blu-Ray Heaven.......2007-06-30

The video transfer on this BD is definitely one that would be classed as reference material. I have watched it a few times now with my PS3 set to 1080P feeding my JVC HD1 1080P projector and the picture quality is the bees knees.

Even with my ageing Denon AVR-2802 I can quite clearly hear the quality of the audio. I am expecting to take delivery of the new Onkyo 875 in the next few weeks which I am sure will give me a better idea of how good the audio transfer really is. Suffice to say that with my current equipment I believe the audio transfer is up there with the best available.

Rate the movie, not your firmware.......2007-06-26

This movie is stunning, If you need a firmware update, do it, it's easy and free. Then rate the movie. The 2 pirate movies are outstanding. Disney did an excellent job and I can't wait for pirates 3!

FIRMWARE UPDATE.......2007-06-24

Well the second disc was reconised but the first one got stuck at 0:00,
All the other blu-ray movies I have did have no probs except this one............Sorry one star
I got the sony blu-ray player BWU-100A

Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl [Blu-ray]

Average customer rating:

Awesome!
Good Blu-ray
Must Have on Blu-ray!
Amazing picture and sound quality
Disney Obviously Loves Blu-ray and So do I

Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl [Blu-ray]
Starring: Lee Arenberg , Johnny Depp , Trevor Goddard , Kevin McNally , and Jonathan Pryce
Director: Gore Verbinski
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

Action & Adventure | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

General | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

Comedy | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

Kids & Family | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

Science Fiction & Fantasy | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest [Blu-ray]
Casino Royale [Blu-ray]
Mel Gibson's Apocalypto [Blu-ray]
Planet Earth - The Complete BBC Series [Blu-ray]
The Departed [Blu-ray]

ASIN: B000N6UERA
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Product description

Set sail for adventure with Disney's Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl on Blu-ray's high definition disc. This revolutionary new format brings the thrilling tale of the high seas to life like never before! Legendary pirate Captain Jack Sparrow and young sword-maker Will Turner join forces to rescue a governor's daughter from a band of bloodthirsty fellow pirates. Only Jack knows the dark secret the crew of the Black Pearl harbors. See the glint of each sword in eye-popping 1080p, and experience every cannon blast with spectacular 5.1 48kHz, uncompressed audio. It's entertainment quality so intense, you'll almost feel the sea mist in the air with the magic of Blu-ray high definition.

Customer Reviews:

Awesome!.......2007-07-02

The last time I saw this was when it first came out on DVD. Bought the Blu-Ray and all I can say is Wow!
The clarity of the picture along with the Uncompressed Audio track, I now use this Movie to show off my Home Theatre!

Good Blu-ray.......2007-07-01

This is a pretty good movie to start the Pirates series. I did notice that this movie was a little grainier than the second part since I own both movies. So as far as the graphics go, it's not too bad, but still a bit grainy. The uncompressed sound is always amazing, and will really rock if you have a surround sound system. By far, it's a collectible movie...so it's in my books.

Must Have on Blu-ray!.......2007-06-27

I scooped up this and PoC:Dead Man's Chest right before PoC:At World's End was released in theaters and WOW! The movies look fantastic Johnny Depp is great as Capt. Jack with all the oddities. Geoffrey Rush is brilliant as Capt. Barbosa. Keira Knightley is just stunningly gorgeous 1080p.
As stated before this blows the dvd away.

Ignore the low rating given by the other reviewer and his "hectic weekend" get a firmware upgrade if you need it and buy the movie.

Amazing picture and sound quality.......2007-06-26

Even if you own this movie on DVD, sell it and get this blu-ray disc! If you need a firmware upgrade on you BD player, it's easy and free to download and install.

This is by far one of the finest HD transfers to date. Thank you Disney, and I can't wait untill the Pixar movies start to show up.

I don't understand the person that gave it a low star rating, your rating the MOVIE not your player.

Disney Obviously Loves Blu-ray and So do I.......2007-06-11

Holy cow! What a release! Even for those like me who have seen this movie a dozen times, Disney found all kinds of new ways to make the movie fresh again.

First off:

Awesome Picture - one of the best I've seen on Blu-ray and I have at least 20 in my collection.

Awesome Sound - The foundation of my house was shaking!

Really cool special features! My favorite was the choice to have pirate facts pop up as you watched the film, and some of the facts could be banked so that at the end of the film, a documentary (that you have created by banking the facts you are interested in) plays. I mean, getting to custon make your own documentary? Only on Blu-ray my friends.

My family and I had a great time watching this film and I highly recomend it!

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