The Rose

Starring:Bette Midler, Frederic Forrest
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Based on Katherine Paterson's young-adult novel and filmed in picturesque New Zealand, Bridge to Terabithia has lessons to impart about empathy and self-expression, but the tone is never heavy-handed. Jesse (sleepy-eyed Josh Hutcherson, Zathura), a fifth-grade loner, lives in the country with his parents and four sisters, including pesky May Belle (Bailee Madison), who adores him. His strict father (Robert Patrick, The Terminator 2) works in a hardware store. Money is tight and classmates make fun of his hand-me-downs, so Jesse finds refuge in running and drawing. Everything changes when two writers and their daughter Leslie (wide-eyed AnnaSophia Robb, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) move in next door. Leslie is faster than all the boys, which initially puts Jesse off, but the two soon bond over their love of make-believe. In the forest, they find a creek that can only be crossed by rope. Leslie names the land on the other side Terabithia, where they imagine themselves rulers of the kingdom. Jesse and Leslie also connect with their unconventional music teacher, Ms. Edmonds (Zooey Deschanel, Elf), who encourages their creativity. Despite the tension at home, Jesse's personal life is finally coming together when the unthinkable happens. Will he revert to his anti-social ways or will he grow from the experience? Though aimed at all ages, pre-school students may find Terebithia's creatures frightening. For grade-school kids and up, however, there's much to savor in this smartly written, sensitively acted film. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews:

I preferred the Wonderworks version.......2007-07-05

The two main complaints about this film seem to be that a) it's depressing and b) the marketing campaign mislead audiences. Well, yeah. It's based on a book, and if they hadn't been faithful to the book's plot, there would have been just as many people complaining bitterly. So in a way, the filmmakers were in a double bind. That said, at least separate the film from the way it was marketed. Give the marketing people two stars and a spanking, since they led lots of people to think the movie was a lighthearted fantasy - but can we try to examine the movie on its own merits?

Many children and young adult classics feature a death, either of an animal or a human. Particularly if the book is a Major Award Winner, it doesn't just show how fun it is to be a child but grapples with serious issues. That's partly why it won the award and acclaim in the first place. The Narnia books are far from lighthearted fantasies either, although they can be read that way. They, too, examine friendship and betrayal. But they are set in a magic land, while "Terabithia" is set in the real world.

The actors in the new version of "Terabithia" all do a fantastic job, particularly the young ones, like Bailee Madison as Jess's spunky younger sister. The movie's storyline stuck so closely to the book that the invented scenes felt a little out of place. Perhaps that when it deparated from just showing the developing of two children's friendship, and put in special effects, it felt false. Even if they were brief, they seemed out of place, like the movie makers were trying to placate their young audience, who would presumably be unhappy without special effects.
The montages also grated on me, because they were so Hollywood and unnecessary. Why must every movie character break into an impromptu song and dance routine? And why did the treehouse have to look like set designers were competing for an Oscar? I don't know if kids still make treehouses anymore, but mine as a kid sure looked primitive in comparision.

In conclusion, it's a lot better than most kids' movies today - with nary a fart joke - but that's not saying much. There's no cussing or drinking, but there is the aforementioned death, which may upset sensitive viewers. I'd recommend talking over the movie with your kids afterwards if they seem upset.

a potentially epic movie that was very badly made, should have been done as "big fish" was.......2007-07-05

now having read the book, i expected to be seeing something along the lines of "Big Fish" or "Hook"..... full of vast fantasy visuals, heartwarming moments and the tear jerker ending.... unfortunately this one really didnt deliver like the others were able to.

the audience was conned into thinking this was the "never ending story" meets "chronicals of narnia". and if done correctly (or atthe very least with an extra half hour of fantasy world), it would have been both visually stunning and one to leave you with a warm feeling in the heart.

...unfortunately it was very badly adapted and as a result EXTREMELY dissapointing. and it fell short on both points

the fantasy aspects consisted of only 20 minutes (generously approximated) of footage spread throughout the middle of the movie in short 3-5 minute incriments.

they simply did not put enough emphasis on the fantasy aspect as you would be led to believe by all the press, and even the disney channel's "commercial break, behind-the-scenes" stuff only focused on the fantasy of it without giving the audience a fair chance to save the 7 bucks.

all they needed to make this movie to the top of the pack was an extra 30 minutes of fantasy footage and a "sensitive content" warning to spare families from the transformers movie fiasco of the 1980's (when the kids left the theater early, crying at the death of optimus prime)

now, it gets credit for following the book fairly closely, but it was without explaination,

they seemed to put in the key elements of the book without giving any exlaination as to why things were the way they were (ie: the teacher bringing him on the spontainious field trip).....they should have made up sometihng like "the kid had been failing and this was extra credit..."etc. instead of making it a sketchy, grey area, uncomfortable situation. in the book there was no question.

i had to explain alot of things to my finacee who had not read the book, and both of us were dissapointed with the whole movie. i was expecting something more along the lines of "big fish" or "hook"

but all we got from it is a potentially epic movie that really was badly made

and a distrust causing me to pay an extra $2 to rent a movie before purchasing it

i only gave it 2 stars for the actual meaning behind the book/movie

A remarkable film.......2007-07-05

I watched "The Bridge to Terabithia" on a whim with my wife and daughter with little foreknowledge of the plot. I'd never read the Newbery Award-winning book by Katherine Paterson, and I'd seen only one trailer for the film, which left me with the impression it would be a Narnia knock-off. It's not.

I'm not dissing "The Chronicles of Narnia," which in its way was a remarkable film. But "Terabithia" didn't deserve the CGI-laden marketing campaign it received; far from a fantasy blockbuster, this is a deep and thoughtful movie that places substance over sparkle -- a rare treat in the sprawling field of youth-oriented theater. It ranks up there with one of my favorites, "The Secret of Roan Inish," which accomplished more with no special effects than most family-friendly movies could with a billion-dollar budget.

But I just can't shake "Terabithia" from my head, a fact owed mostly to the performance of AnnaSophia Robb. As Leslie, a spirited young girl with a fiery imagination and endless good cheer, AnnaSophia captured my heart. She's the kind of person you want to know when you're a child and, as my wife remarked midway through the film, she's the sort of young woman you'd be happy to see your daughter grow up to be.

An outsider despite her youthful good looks and family wealth, she finds her perfect match in Jesse (Joss Hutcherson), another outsider who has withdrawn into his art to escape a chilly home life and his own problems at school. Together, they discover a secret getaway that might seem like a fairly ordinary patch of woods to most people; to them, it's a magical world replete with fantastic creatures, hidden dangers and amazing triumphs. It's here the special effects intrude more than accentuate the film; the story would have benefited from a vaguer sense of Jesse and Leslie's own wonder. We don't need to see CGI creatures to believe that these two children do.

The strength here, besides outstanding performances from the two lead actors, is the impact of a story that knows no amount of fantasy can prevent real-life tragedies from occurring. And the tragedy here -- it's hard to write about it without giving it away -- slams into unsuspecting viewers like a sudden kick to the gut.

Parents of younger viewers should be prepared to have a long and serious talk with their children after this movie, but that's not a recommendation to avoid it. "Terabithia" deserves to be seen, discussed and seen again. (Although use some discretion; very young children should wait before seeing this.) My thanks to director Gabor Csupo, as well as writer Paterson, for giving kids something honest and real rather than another serving of high-energy fluff.

by Tom Knapp, Rambles.(n e t) editor

Very Emotional. Surprising. Not About Fantasy, But About Loss and Relationships.......2007-07-04

This movie can be very surprising and possibly an emotional tearjerker if you are not familiar with the story or book it was based on. If you don't mind your young children learning about "loss" and the sadness surrounding it, this will also be an uplifting movie that shows the positive nature of fostering good relationships. I thought I was getting a "fantasy" movie to watch with my son -- it was short on fantasy, and was heavy on the theme of "loss" but was still a good movie overall as it really brought out the emotions it intended to bring out. Many parents may argue whether the movie should be watched by their children (depending on what you are willing to teach your children about early.) As an adult, I found the movie of value and entertaining and also feel it is necessary to be present if you allow younger children watch it.

A beautiful story with something to say.......2007-07-04

I have been wanting to write a review for this film since I saw it for the first time, back in February. Though the main praises and controversies surrounding the story have been well covered by previous reviews on this site, this movie holds a personal significance that prompts me to share my own thoughts--although I must admit, I wasn't quite sure what to say about it at first.

I am a huge movie fan and have seen a generous number of them over the years, and for some reason, "Bridge to Terabithia" is--in all genuine honesty--the very best, most beautiful, most heartwrenching work of art I have ever seen. Even if it might sound silly to regard a Disney film as something that profound and meaningful, it is certainly true that this particular movie had more time, effort, and sensitivity put into it than most others from the infamous Walt Disney empire.

After watching this movie a good 13 or 14 times (the sad thing is, I'm not even joking), it is difficult to pinpoint exactly why it has moved me in a way that no other film has. Yes, it has a powerful message, a well-executed emotional undercurrent, and some truly impressive acting, but I have seen other movies with similar qualities. I don't even remember being a HUGE fan of the accompanying book by Katherine Paterson, although my fourth grade teacher did read it to our class twelve years ago, and what I remember of it is the strong development of unique, positive characters who--at the tender age of 11 or so--receive a thing or two to think about concerning the "realities of life," as several of us would call them.

Countless children's books have been adapted for the big screen over the years, among them including "Because of Winn-Dixie," "Madeline," "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," and "Shiloh." When you are transferring stories like these to film, it is so crucial to do it the right way, and sometimes, the end result doesn't really do much justice to the original author. One of the reasons I enjoyed "Bridge to Terabithia" so much is because it did not feel the need to conform the movie script to the things that today's society often deems as important, such domineering special effects and technology-driven means of having fun. This film allowed the main characters to highlight some of the personal creativity that all of us can take a lesson from, without making it too saccharine or unrealistic.

I have read in previous interviews that Katherine Paterson (who, again, penned the original book of the same name) was concerned about how her story would be portrayed on screen once she signed the rights over. To achieve the goal of making her tale shine through in the movie, it was only fitting that her son David Paterson--a producer of the film, a co-writer of the script and the real-life inspiration for the Jess Aarons character--take part in making it all happen, and he was surely the perfect person for the job.

I don't really want to hash over too much of the actual plot, since I was a little late in writing my review and, as a result, have a slew of reviews before mine that provide those details. However, since the acting in this film was so powerful and memorable, I would like to comment a bit on that. There are very few actors who command a role so well that you cannot imagine another person as that character, but Josh Hutcherson was about as incredible in this movie as anyone could have possibly been. I saw him for the first time in "Little Manhattan" and thought he was a cute kid with a fresh face in the booming child star industry, but he has since metamorphosized into this amazing, amazing young actor. Simply put, he just seems to know what he is doing when he gets in front of the camera, and let me tell you, that can't be taught (and in fact, Hutcherson did not take any acting classes when he started out at the age of 9, and his career launched because he was basically a talented kid with a gift for portraying different characters). I've heard about actors who can indicate so much emotion with just their eyes and facial expressions, but Hutcherson absolutely has it down cold. I give him a lot of props for what he did with his character, and I predict he is going to do extremely well in his career (which should easily extend into adulthood, for a 14-year-old with this much natural talent).

As for the critical role of Leslie Burke, it has been said that child star sensation Dakota Fanning was allegedly offered the role first. I admit that I can envision her as the character (though many of you might disagree), but I also feel that the casting director's final choice was for the best, given the remarkable performance by AnnaSophia Robb. Always capable of delivering a strong acting job, Robb used her trademark charisma, beautiful smile, and ever-sparkling eyes to lend all the right elements to this dynamic character. Watching Leslie's strengths and personalities unfold in the plot, she reminded me so much of a friend I had back in grammar school, who was constantly making up stories and thriving in a rambling imagination that did not require a television set, an I-pod, or just hanging around indoors. You know the actors are doing their craft well when you can compare their characters with figures from real life, and for that, both Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb are outstanding up-and-coming stars for being so young. (The obvious close friendship that they have off-screen is also clearly a contributing factor to what they created with Jess and Leslie in the movie.)

Also noteworthy in the cast is young Bailee Madison, whose performance as Jess's younger sister May Belle is about as refreshing as you could ask for in a movie. To see what I mean, just take a second to think about all the 5-year-old children you have seen in the movies over the years, and then ask yourself how many of them actually act like real kids. With her sweet, boisterous, pesky yet affectionate personality throughout the film, Bailee paints a nearly flawless image of any child her age that I would see in my own life, and I give her a lot of credit for that. In some cases, it's far better for a kid to just be herself in a movie, rather than acting too mature and ten years older than she really is, and that is what brings a sense of magic to Bailee's performance (not to mention the fact that you will be hard-pressed to find at least one scene of hers that doesn't make you well up, especially in the film's last thirty minutes). Zooey Deschanel, too, is worth mentioning for the incredibly positive portrayal she gave of a young, vibrant teacher who gets the very best from her students by being compassionate, energetic, and creative. It's the Miss Edmonds-type of educators in our world that make a difference with these kids, as you can see by the impact that Deschanel's character has in the movie.

Although the climax in "Bridge to Terabithia" packs a punch and will leave older audiences with a question or two to answer for the younger viewers, the culminating themes presented are anything but dark and depressing, as some other reviewers here have indicated. Since when is it not completely uplifting to watch kids overcome emotional hardship, recognize the impact of the friends around them, and use what they have learned to make efforts that they may not have considered before? I don't believe for a minute that Jess would have made the decision he did at the end of the film if it weren't for the "close your eyes, but keep your mind wide open" ideal that Leslie introduced to him in their friendship.

And so it goes. Many people have criticized the phenomenon of false advertisement and the unsettling plot threads that changed the film's originally perceived direction in a matter of seconds. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and their differing feelings about the movie are valid, but it's the idea of this being an inappropriate children's film that makes me want to ask the question: What exactly do we want to be teaching our kids, if not courage and compassion in the face of adversity? If we don't want them exposed to certain things, and if we want to protect them from what might be potentially sad or painful, then what opportunity is there to help them learn some of the life lessons that Jess Aarons did at the conclusion of the story? Yes, I understand that it's just a movie, and no kid is going to have a fully developed concept of reality simply by watching "Bridge to Terabithia." However, before we claim that the chosen themes are too much for children and should be replaced with something more along the lines of "The Chronicles of Narnia," we should consider what Katherine Paterson and the filmmakers are trying to communicate with a story like this. Trust me, the message is intended to be a positive one, achieved by working through the tough stuff and discovering a level of happiness that is different, but every bit as valuable.

This isn't to say that I would recommend showing this movie to a preschooler and eagerly filling her plate with all these ideas, but for a kid around the age of 9 or so, it is very much a "children's film" that can be enjoyed by the whole family and appreciated for occasionally uneasy but always important messages it shares. In addition, I am not trying to speak negatively of "Narnia" kinds of action films for kids. Those are also good movies with positive qualities of their own, and if that's what you like, then there is absolutely no problem with it. For the purpose of this particular tale, however, and what it is trying to say to contemporary audiences, I am just saying that it deserves a shot, and if you are looking for a film with kids who are good role models and creative ways of thinking that are encouraged, "Bridge to Terabithia" is worth your time. If you watched it and didn't like it, or if you were upset by the marketing choices that the studio made with the preview trailers, then hey, what's the worst thing that happened? You spent some money on a movie theater ticket, a video rental, or maybe even a DVD purchase that you weren't completely satisfied with--or maybe you watched it with your kids because you were expecting something else, and you had to have a conversation afterward that you weren't exactly thrilled about. Even then, though, in a situation like that, there are far more positive things than negative to derive from the film's ending.

With that in mind, I would like to give this film my strongest recommendation for at least a movie rental. Setting the plot aside, the DVD does have a nice set of special features, including a commentary by Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb--as well as one of the film producers Lauren Levine--that is both sweet and interesting to listen to, especially if you are a fan of these two stars. There is another commentary by the director, writer and producer; a short featurette about the special effects; and a second featurette where the cast teams up with educators and elementary school administrators all over the country to discuss some of the best reasons to add this book to today's classroom curriculums. Lastly, there is a music video for the song "Keep Your Mind Wide Open," performed by AnnaSophia Robb and sprinkled with some scenes from the movie. Although her actress-turned-singer approach is similar to what young movie starlets like Hilary Duff and Lindsay Lohan have done in their careers, AnnaSophia is a beautiful girl who, to her credit, appeared to give it her all with this song. Regardless of anything else, it is a nice tune, with lyrics that correlates perfectly with everything that this movie is about. In the above mentioned commentary, AnnaSophia discusses this experience and acknowledges that she isn't planning a singing career, but even so, it is a fun music video to watch, and there's no doubt that she will find great things in her future.

I am writing this because this film has reached me in a way that NO other movie has, and there is just something about it that makes me literally want to watch it over and over (which I have essentially been doing ever since I purchased the DVD). If you have not seen it, or if you are debating whether or not it is the right material for young ones, I really hope that you will at least rent it and give it a chance. Just because it is the best movie I have ever seen does not mean that I expect everyone else to agree, but if nothing else, it is a film with an impeccably chosen cast--a group of actors who obviously grasp the movie's purpose and play it out so effortlessly. When she wrote the book in the 1970's, Katherine Paterson wasn't sure if children could deal with the emotions of the story, but her editor knew that kids could, and she was right on target. Paterson did base the plot on a difficult experience that she encountered with her 8-year-old son many years ago, and after all, what hits home harder than a story that is true?

Average customer rating:

Changed, Different, But...Home!
Final season of charmed
Perfect Ending
Not What We Wanted
Where was Billie?

Charmed - The Final Season (Season 8)
Starring: Alyssa Milano , Holly Marie Combs , and Rose McGowan
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

Television | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Charmed - The Complete Seventh Season
Charmed - The Complete Sixth Season
Smallville - The Complete Sixth Season
Charmed - The Complete Fifth Season
Supernatural - The Complete Second Season

ASIN: B000OIOPHC
Release Date: 2007-09-11

Customer Reviews:

Changed, Different, But...Home!.......2007-07-04

I always feel, when it comes to watching "Charmed: Season 8", that I am watching something I shouldn't be. What with the drama and finality of the Season Finale of Season 7, and then the rumours that were spun in the summer of 2005 (that "Charmed" could very possibly NOT be returning for an eighth season), it really seemed like that was going to be it - the sisters had defeated one of their deadliest enemies, fled The Manor and relinquished their lives as Halliwells and The Charmed Ones. They had faked their deaths, left it to the next generation and disappeared off, in disguise, with Leo. Daryl's reaction to this appeared to be a satisfied one, and Prue's ghost - it is believed - had shut The Manor door one last time (an apt end to the series).
This, however neatly tied up, just didn't seem right though. Of all the endings, renouncing their heritage and giving up on life as they knew it was just not satisfying enough. When I watched the finale to Season 7, although it was not confirmed that the show would continue, something inside me knew that it would. The feel that episode left the viewer with was an uneasy one...like this was not the end, regardless of what the network was saying. It never really felt that "Charmed" was to conclude like that.

And indeed, it didn't. As Season 8 opens in "Still Charmed And Kicking" you feel almost honoured that you are allowed to see what happens next, after the threat that The Halliwells would not return as The Charmed Ones again. The viewer gets to see HOW the characters get out of the mess that they seem to have created for themselves.

Season 8 is not the best of seasons, but it is yet another superb one. It begins by revealing The Halliwells are back in The Manor, living with their father Victor. Only they are posing, in magical disguise, as The Bennetts, pretending that they are three cousins and that Victor is in fact their uncle.
The opening episodes of Season 8 hold a nostalgia that reminded me of Season 1 - the music and themes of it. "Charmed" has always had an underlying tragic feel to it, with the constant loss and sacrifice the sisters have had to experience over the years, both before and after they were witches; and a season that opens at the funerals of the three principle characters dwells on this further. Although we know that they are not really dead, there is a morbid feel to it - a morbid fascination nonetheless.

Season 8 carries the "faked death" theme throughout the first few episodes, not simply throwing the plotline away. And to great effect too. Their reasons for returning to their old lives are believable and well-planned, as is the way in which they eventually reveal to the world that they are still alive (the excuse that they have been working for the government). The best part of it is that they return to being Halliwells, allowing us to feel satisfied that "Charmed" will not end with the sisters forsaking their legacy.

This season introduces the character of Billie who seems unnecessary at first. She does, however, grow on the viewer and becomes integral to the outline of the season. Her story progresses into a great one and her character is worthy of the magnitude it markets. She is essential to the final battle that the girls have to face, as is her sister, Christie, who is forever shrouded in intrigue.

I shan't divulge exactly what happens, though shall reveal that Season 8 contains plots that involves Paige and marriage, the brief return of The Source and ANOTHER separation of Piper and Leo (probably the most tantalising of the entire series).

The finale of the season is spectacular! The battle The Halliwells have to face is superb, incorporating an assortment of various different elements from plotlines-past, such as The Hollow and The Triad. These are not used repetitively though, only to highlight the weight of this ultimate fight.
The explosion in the basement of The Halliwells' home, which occurs in the Season 7 finale, seems minuscule in comparison to the event that takes place in the penultimate episode: The Manor actually totally blows up! This occurrence is literally phenomenal.
"Charmed: Season 8" is a terrific final season. There are, indeed, "silly" episodes, such as "Mr. and Mrs. Witch" and "Battle Of The Hexes"; and why the writers insisted on throwing a leprechaun-related episode into every season since Season 5 is beyond me!
The title track that plays to the opening credits has also been inexplicably altered, which may displease fans (although it does grow on you actually). I was also irritated that, although discussed, Prue was not given nearly enough acknowledgment as the series she helped found came to a close. But aside from these minor flaws, Season 8 charts a perfect end to a show that risked throwing in the towel when one of its leads left the series at the end of Season 3. Not only did "Charmed" survive the death of Prue and the introduction of Paige, it endured the uncertain finish to Season 7, only to pave the way for a touching, enjoyable and rewarding end to the show. "Forever Charmed", the final episode, is the perfect mix of action, nostalgia, characters old and new and, most importantly, it renews our faith that The Halliwells will continue their birthright on into the future.

Highlighted by DVD extras (including an exciting look at the original unaired Pilot which didn't feature Alyssa Milano as Phoebe) this season is outstanding. From the gratifying turn of events of "Forever Charmed", to the glimpse into the future at the very end (something which is much more satisfying to see than The Charmed Ones faking their deaths) to the inspired last-ever closing of The Manor door - Season 8 is quite simply the perfect end to this radiant series.

Final season of charmed.......2007-07-02

I thought that the final season of charmed was good, not as good as the other seasons, but I still cried at the finale. I think that for the finale they should of shown Phoebe and Paige with Piper together all old and grey not just Piper and Leo. But it was still a good episode. It was kind of slow moving through some of the episodes.

Perfect Ending.......2007-06-29

This season is a must buy if you have all the other seasons, and if you are a Charmed fan. I will definatly be buying it. I loved this season and thought it was well done. I loved the fact that new characters were introduced and new ideas. I thoughly enjoyed it. Yes, it was sad to see that there was no photo of Prue. No one will ever know the real reason for that, but it's ok. This season was a perfect ending to a great series.

Not What We Wanted.......2007-06-27

Having watched this show from the very first episode, I was very disappointed in the final season. I know I am repeating everyone else, but having to watch Billie and Kristy just made me not want to watch my favorite show. The "ultimate power"? I thought that the "Power of Three" was the ultimate power - not 2 teenage blondes. Budget cuts ousted Darryl and Leo from the show, but they found money to pay these 2 girls (not to mention FBI agent whatever his name was, the Triade and Dumain). The fans did not need Billie to draw them to the show the same way they used Chris in season 6. Was this done to keep younger people interested in the show as the 3 sisters were aging themselves? OK, so maybe they were going for the possible spin-off idea with a show about Billie. But still.....the whole 8th season? All the fans ever wanted was the 3 sisters. Billie could have been added at the start to get the sisters back into their destiny after the end of season 7. But the whole season did not have to be devoted to these 2 new sisters. The best part about season 8 was the final show - showing the lives of Piper, Phoebe and Paige going on. That was done rather nicely. I never was a fan of Prue as so many were BUT I did feel that on that wall of pictures there should have been that one photo of the original 3 sisters that Grams took in the yard that magicaly pushed the sisters together. Buying this boxed set means I will have all 8 of them. I am buying this set for that reason. Other than that I would not purchase this season as I have the last 2 episodes already recorded on a DVD. My ranking of the seasons is: 4,5,6,2,1,7,3 and then 8.

Where was Billie?.......2007-06-21

When I first saw the series finale, I was most moved by Billie's grief over her lost sister. Billie's final scene, so I had thought, was when the spotlight focused on her alone, on her knees wailing in extreme grief.

The thought occurred to me: Was there ever a reconciliation between her and the sisters thereafter?

I had to watch the series finale three times on TNT before I got my answer. And the answer was -- YES. Billie was shown briefly in the final scene with Phoebe's voiceover reminisces, helping to take care of the growing brood of kids.

In a Charmed episode which must remain to our imaginations since it will never be written (save in a future novel?), I can vividly imagine the poignancy of the reconciliation and forgiveness that had to have occurred so that Billie could be included into the final scene.

It was a MARVELOUS ending to an overall great series. So much to be left to our imaginations!

As a number of other correspondents have noted, it's regrettable that Prue (Shanon Doherty) could not have participated in the series finale, not even as a photograph on the wall. One wonders why. Did Aaron Spelling ever even contact her to raise the possibility? If so, did she decline, and if so, why?

Well, that's show biz!

Altosackbuteer

Average customer rating:

Great show except for one character
Great show... my favorite
just plain awesome
finally, a show that gets u high
Terrific drama

Weeds - Season Two
Director: Lee Rose , Burr Steers , and Tucker Gates
Manufacturer: Lionsgate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

Weeds - Season One
Dexter - The First Season
Heroes - Season 1
Desperate Housewives - The Complete Third Season
Nip/Tuck - The Complete Fourth Season

ASIN: B000Q6GUKW
Release Date: 2007-07-24

Description

Funnier, darker and more daring, the second season of this acclaimed Showtime series reaches a higher ground. Golden Globe winner Mary-Louise Parker stars as Nancy Botwin, the soccer mom who had to learn how to deal - pot, that is - after the death of her husband. Now, her business is a hit. But keeping up with the neighbors in this suburban utopia isn't easy. She's joined up with a few of her closest friends, and together they're facing life's highs and lows - because even in paradise, nobody's perfect. Don't miss WEEDS, an addictive comedy, the highest grade TV has to offer.

Customer Reviews:

Great show except for one character.......2007-07-05

(review based on season one) I love everything about this show EXCEPT the idiot brother-in-law. He is one of those occasional TV characters who is so worthless, so despicable, that it is beyond belief that she would continue to let him be in her life. I hope he will be written out of the show soon, but somehow I doubt it.

Great show... my favorite.......2007-06-12

My favorite or second favorite show currently on TV. Brilliant writing and acting.

And Mary Louise Parker is the MILFiest mom on TV...

just plain awesome.......2007-06-09

It's been a while since a made for paid show has been this good. The Soprano's has been...well...a bit boring. Yea, yea, Six Feet Under. But this, this is off the hook. Mary Louise Parker plays just the right tune and at first has you wondering if she is convincing. Doesn't take long until you are sucked into her dilemas. The pushy neighbor, out of control kids and the DEA boyfriend really get the imagination going on how dysfunctional all our lives are - in some little way. Even the brother & housemaid you love-to-hate have pulled my interest into what would be boring on "normal" TV. But, this is not normal. This is awesome. I hope they're shooting a 3rd season. I'd love to see it.

finally, a show that gets u high.......2007-06-08

this is literally one of the funniest shows on television, i cant wait 4 season 3 to come out in august, showtime produces some of the most outrageous premises, and i am proud to say, im addicted to weeds!

Terrific drama.......2007-06-06

Yes, it's a drama all right, despite the half-hour format. The tone of its second season reminds me more than anything of the venerable "Six Feet Under": it's extremely funny, and extremely smart, and it moves from ultra-dry sitcom territory into much darker places (and back) without warning or apology.

"Weeds" casts its satirical throwing stars in 360 degrees. While drug warriors get their well-justified comeuppance, we more libertarian types don't get off exactly scot-free. Just the right medicine when it comes to a debate that's been all but shut down in more mainstream circles.

Not that you need to have an opinion about pot politics to enjoy the razor-sharp dialogue or, failing that, Mary-Louise Parker's big brown eyes and diabolical deadpan delivery.

What the Bleep!? - Down the Rabbit Hole (QUANTUM Three-Disc Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Thought Provoking
Defective DVD from Amazon
Tripe.
Go for your Dreams
Very Deep

What the Bleep!? - Down the Rabbit Hole (QUANTUM Three-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Marlee Matlin , Elaine Hendrix , John Ross Bowie , Robert Bailey Jr. , and Barry Newman
Director: William Arntz , Betsy Chasse , and Mark Vicente
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

Feature Films | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

Documentary | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Drama | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Secret (Extended Edition)
Water Crystals in Motion- Messages From Water
What the Bleep Do We Know!?: Discovering the Endless Possibilities for Altering Your Everyday Reality
The Secret
The Law of Attraction: The Basics of the Teachings of Abraham

ASIN: B000FKO3JO
Release Date: 2006-08-01

Amazon.com

The unlikeliest cult hit of 2004 was What the (Bleep) Do We Know?, a lecture on mysticism and science mixed into a sort-of narrative. Marlee Matlin stars in the dramatic thread, about a sourpuss photographer who begins to question her perceptions. Interviews with quantum physics experts and New Age authors are cut into this story, offering a vaguely convincing (and certainly mind-provoking) theory about... well, actually, it sounds a lot like the Power of Positive Thinking, when you get down to it. Talking heads (not identified until film's end) include JZ Knight, who appears in the movie channeling Ramtha, the ancient sage she claims communicates through her (other speakers are also associated with Knight's organization). What she says actually makes pretty good common sense--Ramtha's wiggier notions are not included--and would be easy to accept were it not being credited to a 35,000-year-old mystic from Atlantis. --Robert Horton

Description

Proving once and for all that life can be an amazing journey—and a real trip—this all-new Quantum Edition release of What The Bleep!? Down the Rabbit Hole utilizes cutting-edge DVD technology to create a unique version of the film with every viewing! The possibilities are endless...and so is the fun! Academy Award® winner Marlee Matlin is Amanda, a photographer suddenly transported into a metaphysical world of quantum mechanics, odd science and mind-bending phenomena. Guided by the world's top physicists, engineers, biologists and mystics, she tumbles down the rabbit hole and gets a first-hand look at the fascinating links between science and spirituality in our everyday lives.

Customer Reviews:

Thought Provoking.......2007-07-02

This is an interesting visual and scientific exploration of the Hermetic Principle "The Universe is Mental". Or at least that's what I got out of it. I highly recommend it for students of metaphysics, occultists, magicians, and even people simply interested in theories about quantum physics. It's worth watching a few times.

Defective DVD from Amazon.......2007-07-01

I bought this DVD from AMAZON over 60 days ago so it is over the return policy date. It was a birthday present and I it bought early. I sent the item. It was returned to me becuase the DVD was defective. The picture ran but there was no audio. I have just emailed Amazon my request for a refund. I do not know if they will refund it or not. I am listing this not as a complaint but to state that I was given a defective DVD.

Tripe........2007-07-01

What the Bleep!? is nothing more than New Age tripe. A haphazardly directed B movie with laughable early 90s special effects, a schizophrenically discordant plot-line, pompous wanna-be quantum physics "experts" and one woman named JZ Knight who could probably be diagnosed with DID and delusions of grandeur, this "documentary" is nonsense and a waste of any serious person's time.

Go for your Dreams.......2007-06-30

Why not? Keep your head on straight enough to be healthy and love. However, why not go for your deepest dreams with everything you've got? You may not buy everything in this film, but hey, a closed mind gathers no knowledge. Give it a chance and take what you want and leave the rest for another moment.

Very Deep.......2007-06-30

I love this movie/documentary, althought I have to admit that it took me awhile to get into it, but once I did, oh boy, it was like a light bulb suddenly flashing in my head. It made me think about everything in life in a new way, my whole life perseptive change after viewing this movie. Don't miss it !!

Bridge To Terabithia (Full Screen Edition)

Average customer rating:

I preferred the Wonderworks version
a potentially epic movie that was very badly made, should have been done as "big fish" was
A remarkable film
Very Emotional. Surprising. Not About Fantasy, But About Loss and Relationships
A beautiful story with something to say

Bridge To Terabithia (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Josh Hutcherson , AnnaSophia Robb , Zooey Deschanel , Robert Patrick , and Bailee Madison
Director: Gabor Csupo
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

All Disney Titles | Disney Home Entertainment | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Night at the Museum (Widescreen Edition)
Ghost Rider (Two-Disc Extended Cut)
Eragon (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Charlotte's Web (Widescreen Edition)
Happy Feet (Full Screen Edition)

ASIN: B000OYCM5I
Release Date: 2007-06-19

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

I preferred the Wonderworks version.......2007-07-05

a potentially epic movie that was very badly made, should have been done as "big fish" was.......2007-07-05

A remarkable film.......2007-07-05

Very Emotional. Surprising. Not About Fantasy, But About Loss and Relationships.......2007-07-04

A beautiful story with something to say.......2007-07-04

Star Wars - Episode II, Attack of the Clones (Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

A step up from Phantom Menace
"My soul is in torment."
I've seen a LOT worse
Another piece of the puzzle...
Star Wars II

Star Wars - Episode II, Attack of the Clones (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Ewan McGregor , Natalie Portman , Hayden Christensen , Christopher Lee , and Samuel L. Jackson
Director: George Lucas
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Sci-Fi Action | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Robots & Androids | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Space Adventure | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Cult Movies | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Star Wars - Episode I, The Phantom Menace (Widescreen Edition)
Star Wars - Episode III, Revenge of the Sith (Widescreen Edition)
Star Wars Trilogy (Widescreen Edition with Bonus Disc)
Star Wars Trilogy (Widescreen Edition Without Bonus Disc)
Star Wars Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B00006HBUJ
Release Date: 2005-03-22

Amazon.com

If The Phantom Menace was the setup, then Attack of the Clones is the plot-progressing payoff, and devoted Star Wars fans are sure to be enthralled. Ten years after Episode I, Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman), now a senator, resists the creation of a Republic Army to combat an evil separatist movement. The brooding Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) is resentful of his stern Jedi mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), tormented by personal loss, and showing his emerging "dark side" while protecting his new love, Amidala, from would-be assassins. Youthful romance and solemn portent foreshadow the events of the original Star Wars as Count Dooku (a.k.a. Darth Tyranus, played by Christopher Lee) forges an alliance with the Dark Lord of the Sith, while lavish set pieces showcase George Lucas's supreme command of all-digital filmmaking. All of this makes Episode II a technological milestone, savaged by some critics as a bloated, storyless spectacle, but still qualifying as a fan-approved precursor to the pivotal events of Episode III. --Jeff Shannon

Description

The STAR WARS saga continues on DVD with Episode II Attack of the Clones. Anakin Skywalker has grown into an accomplished Jedi apprentice, and he faces his most difficult challenge yet as he must choose between his Jedi duty and forbidden love. Relive the adventure the way it was meant to be seen in spectacular digital clarity, including the climactic Clone War battle and Jedi Master Yoda in the ultimate lightsaber duel. Experience this 2-disc set that features over six hours of bonus materials, and see how Episode II unlocks the secrets of the entire STAR WARS saga.

Customer Reviews:

A step up from Phantom Menace.......2007-07-05

I'm not a HUGE fan of episodes 1 through 3. However, I AM a huge star wars fan so I took that into account when viewing this movie. The fact is it's a better movie than part 1, plain and simple. You get to see Anakin becoming a jedi and taking his first steps toward losing himself. You learn about an impatient side to him that will ultimately be his undoing.

The movie itself focuses on Anakin's many relationships. That with his mother, with Padme, the Jedi Council, Obi-Wan and, of course, the man that would be Emperor Palpatine. For the importance of forwarding the plot, this movie was vitally important to the series. As a movie in general, I was not entirely impressed. I felt like Anakin was portrayed as way too immature for the man that would ultimately become Darth Vader. In episodes 4, 5 and 6, Darth Vader is ultimate Evil. Are we supposed to buy that ultimate evil was borne out of a whiney teenager?

On second thought, maybe that IS the source of the ultimate evil in the universe.

"My soul is in torment.".......2007-07-02

It is rarely remembered that the original title to the original STAR WARS novel was STAR WARS: BEING THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF LUKE SKYWALKER. Why George Lucas failed to subtitle his prequel trilogy STAR WARS: THE ADVENTURES OF ANAKIN SKYWALKER is a mystery, since that is exactly what he's given us. In point of fact, the six films together are the biography of the rise and fall and rise of Anakin Skywalker. After stretching twenty five minutes of storyline over 125 minutes of celluloid in STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE, in STAR WARS EPISODE II: THE ATTACK OF THE CLONES Lucas has successfully returned to his original source material, Joseph Campbell's work on myths and archetypes.

Taking place ten Earth years after THE PHANTOM MENACE, CLONES gives us the late adolescent Anakin Skywalker, now a Padawan Apprentice Jedi, and his older (but still young) mentor and teacher Obi-Wan Kenobi. Mythologically, the two are not only The Mentor and Student (Merlin and Arthur), they are also The Twin Companions (Castor and Pollux, Romulus and Remus, Damon and Pythias), as well as being The Rival Brothers (Cain and Abel, Isaac and Ishmael, Esau and Jacob). Lucas's decision to present these multiply-layered characterizations reflects the complexity of the plot in CLONES, by far the most ambitious of any STAR WARS film.

Anakin (Hayden Christiansen) is the most brilliant and talented Jedi ever, but he is immature, impatient, mercurial, and given to very typical adolescent bouts of angst and anger, all of which foreshadow his looming fate. Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor) is fast becoming one of the most accomplished Jedi masters. He is stolid, foursquare, reasoned and ultimately unimaginative, being, in the last analysis, unable to restrain his young apprentice.

The conflict between them is reflected on a galactic level. Separatists, led by Count Dooku (Christopher Lee) are taking star systems out of the Republic by the thousand, and the Jedi are at the forefront of trying to reunite the Republic. An increasingly marginalized Senate has voted Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) vast emergency powers for the duration of the crisis. More Hitler-like than Lincoln-like, the ambitious Palpatine has no intention of relinquishing those powers.

The Separatists have massed a huge army of (less than impressive, silly-looking, easily-destroyed, duck-faced) battle-droids (where are the Stormtroopers in white?) and an even more tremendous army of clones. The outnumbered Republic forces are forced to adopt the Separatist strategy of using droids and clones as well, until the two sides are virtually indistinguishable. What no one but the leadership realizes is that the two sides ARE indistinguishable; in fact, there are no sides. Palpatine is secretly the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, and Count Dooku is his apprentice Sith Lord, Darth Tyranus. Together, they have machinated the entire war to overthrow the Republic and establish Sith control of the galaxy.

At the center of this maelstrom (both personal and galactic) is Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman). Her crucial Senatorial vote is courted by the power-hungry Palpatine. Her life is threatened by Count Dooku. Her heart is in the keeping of Anakin, now assigned to protect her. At first resistant to his romantic attentions, the older Padme soon succumbs to the younger Anakin's overwhelming love for her. It is a tragic, jealous love which leaves Anakin's soul in torment and his thoughts consumed with the fear of losing her.

Despite his rigorous Jedi training, Anakin continues to be emotional and impulsive. Seeing his mother, Shmi, tortured in a vision, he returns to Tatooine to rescue her. When she dies in his arms, his rage explodes, and he kills the responsible community of Tusken Raiders down to the babies, his first true step toward the Dark Side of The Force.

Portman is the jewel of the piece as she was in THE PHANTOM MENACE, but Christiansen gives us a surprisingly powerful performance as the profoundly conflicted Anakin. Even his occasional stiffness fits the late-teenage character of Anakin, who like most adolescents does not know who he is or where he is going. Overly pressured by Jedi expectations to be "the Chosen One who will restore balance to The Force," Anakin lacks the maturity and insight to cope with this role thrust upon him too soon, and uses his powers too casually, too carelessly, and even destructively. He clings to the maternal Padme obsessively, and rages that "Obi-Wan is holding me back!" out of jealousy, but left to his own devices, accomplishes little but to confuse himself more. "Young Skywalker is in terrible pain," Yoda tells Master Windu (Samuel L. Jackson) but none of these wise and reverend Jedi seem to have the skill to help him. They can barely help themselves, needing to be rescued from Count Dooku in the end by the clones. Truly, their "ability to use The Force is diminished."

This, the middle, is the best installment of the second trilogy. In terms of story and action, it is on a par with THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, also the middle film of the first trilogy. ATTACK OF THE CLONES is also a crucial incremental step in the PARADISE LOST-like story of Anakin, who, like Lucifer, was the brightest of the angels but doomed to fall from heaven and become Satan.

Despite the fineness of this film it was not the critical success it should have been. This reviewer felt an inexplicable, vague sense of unease while watching it. Many others have said the same thing. It was not until a fourth or fifth viewing that the reason for this uneasiness struck home. ATTACK OF THE CLONES was created almost totally with digital filmmaking techniques. Although Digital and CGI have advanced technologically far enough along to give us an appearance of reality, they cannot substitute for reality. Thus, while most of the "inorganic" items in the film have a very real look, and the planetary city of Coruscant is absolutely intriguing to view, many of the "organic" backgrounds, the alien creatures, and sometimes even the droids and the sets, have an artificial feel to them, less seen than sensed, which disturbs we human beings on some visceral level. No matter how "natural" a computer can make a desert rock formation look, a computer is still a binary code machine, and it can only provide a "non-random randomness" to the scene. The stones are just an erg-fraction too sharp-edged, the mist is just a molecule too misty, the fall of the shadows is just a bit too angular, and it all lacks the subtle aliveness of an actual location.

At the end of THE RETURN OF THE JEDI, Lucas celebrated the victory of life over technology; by relying so heavily on special effects in ATTACK OF THE CLONES he undoes that victory.

I've seen a LOT worse.......2007-05-31

Between some of Lucas's questionable dialogue, not to mention the Geonosis C-3PO parts, and Portman's wooden performance, AOTC came way too close to being a disaster. I'm not sure what possessed George to hold back on showing Anakin as the powerful Jedi he was supposed to be but it was a bad decision. Anakin's duel with Dooku should've been better in content & directing. But again, there's few movies I'd rather watch than SW because of the good stuff.

Even though I still question the wisdom of killing off Maul in TPM, I love Dooku. He's the ultimate precise, smug second fiddle. And can you get a better henchman than Jango Fett? I loved the mystery surrounding him & Kamino as well as Geonosis. I get chills everytime I watch the first appearance of the future Stormtroopers. Anakin's first encounter with the Dark Side seemed very natural. It was nice to hear the `Imperial March' theme twice too. It was also a welcome scene to see Yoda go Jedi Master on somebody.

Another piece of the puzzle..........2007-05-25

Okay, I'm tired of all these people coming on here and complaining about how they hated this movie. The people who don't like the Prequel Trilogy are really missing out on the deeper and complete meaning of the Star Wars saga. They have to remember that this trilogy is set in a different era than Episodes 4, 5, and 6. This is the era of the Republic and the Jedi Order, which aren't present in 4, 5, and 6 because they were destroyed by the rise of Palpatine's Empire at the end of Episode 3. Episode 2 is very important because here we see Anakin's character development. Crucial events occur that will lead up to him turning to the dark side. The death of Anakin's mother, his marriage to Padme, and his friendship with Obi-Wan, as well as Anakin's strained relationship with the Jedi Council are all extremely important elements in the saga. Also present is Palpatine's manipulation and deception of politics in the galaxy and the guise of his grandfatherly-like relationship with Anakin. We need to see all these things in order to understand the story better. Star Wars is the story of Anakin Skywalker told in six episodes, and each one is important, because the story would be incomplete and not make sense if one episode was missing. This is a great movie, just like the other five. Any true fan of Star Wars would know that.

Star Wars II.......2007-05-17

This film fits in beautifully to the entire Star Wars saga. The acting is excellent -- the characters feel real as well as larger than life. As in all of the Star Wars movies, the special effects are breathtaking and fit seamlessly into the action.

Average customer rating:

Gets better with each episode
Highly addicting
Pretty good Soup Opera
Fun
AWESOME

Weeds - Season One
Director: Tucker Gates , Burr Steers , and Lee Rose
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Weeds - Season Two
Lost - The Complete Second Season
The Departed (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Entourage - The Complete Second Season
Huff - The Complete First Season

ASIN: B000FFJYE8
Release Date: 2006-07-11

Amazon.com

With its fantastic comedy series Weeds, cable network Showtime finally gave up its also-ran status to HBO and found itself with a controversial, buzz-worthy show that was as hilarious as it was dark, one about a truly desperate housewife. A recent widow with two growing sons, Nancy Botwin (Golden Globe winner Mary-Louise Parker) looks like a typical resident of the affluent Southern California suburb of Agrestic. She keeps a clean, upscale house (with the help of a live-in maid), attends PTA meetings, goes to her kids' soccer games, makes frequent stops at the local coffee franchise.... and sells marijuana in order to make it all possible. Left with no way to support herself after her beloved husband's fatal heart attack, Nancy turns herself into the "suburban baroness of bud," dealing to her neighbors in the area, with the help of her supplier Heylia (Tonye Patano) and point man Conrad (Romany Malco). Nancy's clients run from the local councilman (Kevin Nealon) to the just-barely-legal students at the local community college, but many in Agrestic are still in the dark as to how she keeps her family afloat, including her best friend, the sardonic Celia (Elizabeth Perkins), a wife and mother whose blistering, withering put-downs could make Dorothy Parker cringe in fear. But like many small-business owners, Nancy yearns for more success and cash, and like her workaholic neighbors, finds keeping a balance between work life and home life to be extremely precarious at best.

While Desperate Housewives yearned to be a suburban satire with bite, Weeds was the real deal, skewering upper-middle class mores with a sharp eye, a keen wit, and a mostly forgiving heart. In episode after episode, the show's creative team (led by creator Jenji Kohan) pulled back the layers of Agrestic's superficiality to show what lies beneath the squeaky-clean exteriors and smiling faces; it turns out that hunger, fear, desire, and, yes, desperation aren't that far down. However, Weeds forsakes pulpiness and florid drama for biting yet affectionate humor--its heroine is a woman with sliding morals, but one you'll root for to the very end. The effervescent Parker, the only actress who can mix perkiness with morbidity in just the right amounts, anchored the show with her amazing turn as Nancy, who by the end of the first season had become a kind of soccer-mom version of Michael Corleone, entering a corrupt world with both trepidation and fascination--and totally enamored of the power it brought her. Also perfectly cast, Perkins found the role of a lifetime as the bitterly hilarious Celia, and entering the show in its fourth episode, Justin Kirk (Parker's co-star in Angels in America) proved to be a potent secret weapon as Nancy's brother-in-law Andy, a slacker who wasn't above peddling t-shirts to elementary school kids. As icky as these characters might appear on the surface, Weeds made them all immensely appealing and great company to be around. Don't say we didn't warn you: one hit and you'll be hooked on this show. The DVDs feature six episode commentaries with cast and crew, outtakes, original featurettes, a music video, and most enjoyably, Agrestic Herbal Recipes (for entertainment value only, we assume) and the "Smoke and Mirrors" marijuana mockumentary. --Mark Englehart

Customer Reviews:

Gets better with each episode.......2007-06-27

It started off a bit slow but I gave it a go and was really glad that I did........each episode is better than the last and now I can't wait for Season 2...........definitely a hit!

Highly addicting.......2007-06-18

When I first heard of this series, i thought it was a funny concept, but at the same time, i was skeptical. When i finally saw it, i was immediately sucked into the storylines, characters, and Weeds is now one of my favorite tv shows of all time, up there with buffy and six feet under. Worth the money, and worth your time.

Pretty good Soup Opera.......2007-06-01

I liked Weeds S1 it was interesting and kind of a novel idea, however overall I thought the acting was very wooden and contrived and some of the storylines were very unrealistic. This show seems like "Just Shoot Me" mixed with "The OC" with some drugs mixed in. I mean come on, no drug dealer is going to just have sex with a rival and back off, this is where the unreality becomes a little much, although the comedic nature of this series would explain this there wasn't much funny there. Overall the superficiality of this series is it's strength, otherwise we have another depressing journal of the death and destruction that is the real world of drugs that has touched everyone either directly or indirectly.

The best character is the drug dealing auntie who supplies the main character with her goods. I find the kids to be an uninteresting side story that are necessary to complete the setting only. The main character seems the least interesting to me, bumbling through it all with a blah attitude while things happen to her. The accountant is the most hilarious character coupled with the slacker brother in law, their adventures are the real comedy here. The chronicles of so called grown ups who are still teenagers is great.

This series is an above average one only because it's one of the premium channel series that can show anything it wants with no advertiser limitations. It's not particularly deep but is satisfying in its cliched "California" quirkiness and decadence that we all love to revel in. Yes this is the most decadent state in a decadent time, the great equalizing mediocrity that we are all a part of can only be laughed away so enjoy!

Fun.......2007-05-23

Take this for what it is, a time to relax and 'peek' into what might be. It begs the question, "Is there really a place like this?, knowing well that the writers might have patterned the series after a place and people (with some exaggerations) they had actually experienced. As indicated by my title, it is fun, it is something that could really happen to a young widow finding, suddenly, that she has to try to afford her two young sons the lifestyle to which they had become accustomed, basically just trying to make ends meet, missing having a father/husband around. However, every character, some more than others of course, has a funny edge. even the way it starts is funny, playing of the "sameness" of the residents of any real similar comunity.

AWESOME.......2007-05-23

This is one of the best shows on tv, I love it.....watch it over and over.

Average customer rating:

Phenominal
MORE GIVE ME MORE!
A Pretty Good Film
The Best Sci-Fi movie you've never seen!
SciFi Western

Serenity (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Morena Baccarin , Adam Baldwin , Chiwetel Ejiofor , Raphael Feldman , and Yan Feldman
Manufacturer: Universal Studios Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Sci-Fi Action | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Animation | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Futuristic | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Space Adventure | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Firefly - The Complete Series
Batman Begins [HD DVD]
V for Vendetta (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Serenity Official Visual Companion
Firefly (Original Television Soundtrack)

ASIN: B000BW7QWW
Release Date: 2005-12-20

Amazon.com

Serenity offers perfect proof that Firefly deserved a better fate than premature TV cancellation. Joss Whedon's acclaimed sci-fi Western hybrid series was ideally suited (in Browncoats, of course) for a big-screen conversion, and this action-packed adventure allows Whedon to fill in the Firefly backstory, especially the history and mystery of the spaceship Serenity's volatile and traumatized stowaway, River Tam (Summer Glau). Her lethal skills as a programmed "weapon" makes her a coveted prize for the power-hungry planetary Alliance, represented here by an Operative (Chiwetel Ejiofor) who'll stop at nothing to retrieve River from Serenity's protective crew. We still get all the quip-filled dialogue and ass-kicking action that we've come to expect from the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but Whedon goes a talented step further here, blessing his established ensemble cast with a more fully-developed dynamic of endearing relationships. Serenity's cast is led with well-balanced depth and humor by Nathan Fillion as Captain Mal Reynolds, whose maverick spirit is matched by his devotion to crewmates Wash (Alan Tudyk), Zoe (Gina Torres), fun-loving fighter Jayne (Adam Baldwin), engineer Kaylee (Jewel Staite), doctor Simon (Sean Maher), and Mal's former flame Inara (Morena Baccarin), who plays a pivotal role in Whedon's briskly-paced plot. As many critics agreed, Serenity offered all the fun and breezy excitement that was missing from George Lucas's latter-day Star Wars epics, and Whedon leaves an opening for a continuing franchise that never feels cheap or commercially opportunistic. With the mega-corporate mysteries of Blue Sun yet to be explored, it's a safe bet we haven't seen the last of the good ship Serenity. --Jeff Shannon

Description

A passenger with a deadly secret. Six rebels on the run. An assassin in pursuit. When the renegade crew of Serenity agrees to hide a fugitive on their ship, they find themselves in an action-packed battle between the relentless military might of a totalitarian regime who will destroy anything - or anyone - to get the girl back and the bloodthirsty creatures who roam the uncharted areas of space. But, the greatest danger of all may be on their ship. From the mind of Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel) comes a new edge-of-your-seat adventure loaded with explosive battles, gripping special effects and fantastic new worlds.

Customer Reviews:

Phenominal.......2007-07-04

This is a MUST have for anyone who is a FAN of the one season show Firefly. If you have seen this movie and wondered if there was more too it, then go buy firefly right away and you will fall in love with the characters as did I.