Bernard & the Genie

Starring:Lenny Henry
Studio: Jef Films Inc.
Product Type: DVD

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

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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:

It becomes steadily sillier...
Season 5 Better than Ever
Review of 24 - Season Five DVD set
Same Ole Jack!
Wow - another great season!

24 - Season Five
Starring: Kiefer Sutherland , Mary Lynn Rajskub , Kim Raver , Jean Smart , and James Morrison (II)
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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24 - Season Four
24 - Season Three
24 - Season Two
Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Alias - The Complete Fifth Season

ASIN: B000ICLRKC
Release Date: 2006-12-05

Amazon.com

Arguably the series' best season to date, season 5 of 24 literally starts with a bang and never lets up, with an intricate executive-level conspiracy to control Central Asia's oil supply. Piling crisis upon crisis in an escalating series of deceptions, twists, and deeply hidden agendas, the day-long ordeal begins with a devastating political assassination connected to a disgraced former CTU agent (Peter Weller) and a radical group of Russian separatists (led by British actor Julian Sands) threatening to release lethal nerve gas in Los Angeles to protest a U.S./Russian treaty about to be signed by President Charles Logan (Gregory Itzin). As Logan's unstable wife Martha (Jean Smart), Secret Service agent Aaron Pierce (Glenn Morshower), and chief of staff Mike Novick (Jude Ciccolella) gradually uncover the conspiracy, CTU maverick Jack Bauer (series star Kiefer Sutherland) emerges from self-imposed exile to aid his CTU colleagues in a life-threatening quest for the truth. Meanwhile, CTU chief Bill Buchanan (James Morrison) is thwarted by an inexperienced, overbearing superior (Sean Astin) and an executive takeover of CTU led by Homeland Security chief Karen Hayes (Jayne Atkinson), forcing Bauer and his CTU loyalists to "go dark" and work independently to honor the memory of a slain friend and leader. Also figuring in are CTU's resident hacker-nerd extraordinaire, Chloe O'Brian (played to perfection by Mary Lynn Rajskub)

, Bauer's estranged daughter (Elisha Cuthbert), and his beloved CTU colleague Audrey Raines (Kim Raver).

Pivoting on a declaration of martial law and a mysterious cabal of unnamed conspirators, "Day 5" shocked even loyal 24 fans with a high body count including several important supporting characters. It all adds up to an exceptional season that earned Sutherland a well-deserved Emmy (for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series), equally deserving Emmy nominations for Itzin and Sharp, and an Emmy win for co-executive producer Jon Cassar's direction of the riveting season premiere. And while the breathtaking twists of 24 don't always hold up to intense scrutiny, these 24 episodes (running about 43 minutes each) are tightly written and flawlessly directed with an involving emphasis on thriller plotting and dramatic focus on the complex and operatically tragic relationship between President Logan and his traumatized wife. Add it all up, and you've got an addictive reason to look forward to season 6. --Jeff Shannon

On the DVDs
Discs 1-6 contain four episodes each, with several episodes including optional viewing of extended or alternate takes of selected scenes. A total of 12 full-length episode commentaries are provided by 24's primary cast and crew, allowing listeners a comprehensive appreciation of the series' extended "family" of talent, along with a wealth of production anecdotes, revealing observations about plotting and character, and a welcome overview of individual personalities and contributions. Disc 7 is packed with features, beginning with a season 6 prequel that offers a tantalizing glimpse of things to come, with an interrogation and escape scenario set seven months after the events of "Day 5"; by comparison, the season 6 trailer offers little more than a recap of season 5. The featurettes are all well-crafted and worth a look, beginning with a "Supporting Players" profile of 24's extended cast (including some surprising glimpses of their off-screen hobbies and activities); a detailed documentary about 24's innovative and hard-working camera crew; a profile of music composer Sean Callery, who demonstrates his versatile mood-setting techniques; a detailed exploration of the "Presidential Retreat" set with production designer Jonathan Hodges and colleagues; a "100th Episode Reel" with tightly-edited clips from seasons 1-5; and a sampling of cast and crew photos from 24: Behind the Scenes, a picture book published in November 2006. Kudos to Sparkhill Productions for continuing to provide 24 bonus features as well-made as the series itself. --Jeff Shannon

Beyond 24: Season 5

More "Edge-of-your-Seat" TV DVDs
24: Seasons 1-5
24: Behind the Scenes (Paperback)

Stills from 24: Season 5

Description

Eighteen months after faking his own death, Jack Bauer is forced to return to Los Angeles when it becomes apparent that the only four people who know he is still alive are being systemically targeted for assassination. The assassinations coincide with the signing of an anti-terrorism treaty between Russia and the U.S., leading Jack to suspect a link between the assassinations, the treaty, and a group of Russian terrorists. But as events slowly unfold it becomes apparent that the day's horrific events were originally set in motion by someone within our country's own administration - an individual with the power and resources to thwart Jack's every move.

Customer Reviews:

It becomes steadily sillier..........2007-06-28

I caught some episodes on TV. When I saw Jack going into an atmosphere of NERVE GAS (which acts on skin and therefore needs full suit protection) merely holding his breath, I lost interest. It still seems as cliff-hangerish as always, but I find that, in spite of this and the appealing characters (big Chloe fan!), I can't overlook the silliness.

Season 5 Better than Ever.......2007-06-11

Season 5 is better than ever. Although I sometimes wonder why we alsways needto have a spy in the White House, it certainly makes the plot easier.As Usual Jack Bauer is excellent and no one can play him better than Keifer Sutherland. Good Series. Can't wait for Season 6 to become available.

Review of 24 - Season Five DVD set.......2007-06-01

In great shape, received it timely, and love the content!

Same Ole Jack!.......2007-05-31

I'm going to cut out your right eye, and then I'm going to cut out your left eye, and I'll keeping cutting to you tell me what I need to know!

Wow - another great season!.......2007-05-26

Jack Bauer does it again. This season keeps you on the edge of your seat with every episode. Thoroughly enjoyable for all 24 fans (and a season that can get any newbie addicted!

Average customer rating:

Shirley Valentine
reality
So good to see again
Shirley Valentine
Great chick flick

Shirley Valentine
Starring: Pauline Collins , Tom Conti , Julia McKenzie , Alison Steadman , and Joanna Lumley
Director: Lewis Gilbert (II)
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Notes on a Scandal
The Queen
A Month by the Lake
Becket
Music and Lyrics (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000MGBSIU
Release Date: 2007-05-01

Amazon.com

British actress Pauline Collins repeats her stage success as the character Shirley Valentine, a married woman who decides in her middle years that she wants more out of life. Leaving her spouse behind, she heads to Greece, where she grows close to a low-key, local bloke (Tom Conti). Collins and director Lewis Gilbert (Educating Rita) choose to let the character, as she did in the play, speak directly to the audience at times, and the gamble works in terms of creating a gentle, intimate atmosphere. Conti is a bonus, a warm presence and funny to boot. --Tom Keogh

Stills from Shirley Valentine (click for larger image)

Product Description

In the role that won her Broadway's acclaimed Tony Award, Pauline Collins is the hilariously endearing Shirley Valentine, a wisecracking, completely unpredictable English housewife who proves it's never too late to recapture your dreams. Bored with her suburban life, Shirley takes a chance on adventure when a friend invites her on a vacation to Greece. Within no time she's back to her rebellious teenage roots, saying yes to a wild fling with a handsome rogue (Tom Conti) and the life she's always wanted.

Customer Reviews:

Shirley Valentine.......2007-07-05

I forgot how good this movie is and the meaning of keeping your identity throughout your life. Even though you are married and have a family.

reality.......2007-07-01

I first saw this movie in 1989 - there is something for most women who have become less than themselves by taking care of everyone except themself. You can identify with the husband/wife , girlfriends and mother/child relationships. So if you need to get away - even though it is through Shirley - do it. This is a wonderful story of a 40'ish English woman who finds herself again - and has a good time on the way. I am so glad it is finally out in DVD - I have been looking for it for years.
I have to honestly say that this is my favorite movie!

So good to see again.......2007-07-01

Watch this movie any time you feel sad for a real pick me up--I laughed till I cried!!!!

Shirley Valentine.......2007-06-27

This movie is a wonderful suprise. It's about women who have lost their identity. We are someone's mother and someone's wife, but what happened to us, our hopes, our dreams. Shirley Valentine is about a woman who takes a chance by traveling to another country and discovering herself along the way.
The movie is funny with lots of British humor, the characters are people you know and it shows the Shirley she was, the Shirley she is and the Shirley she wants to be. It's a must have for any woman over 35 who feels old, dreams of running away from everyday life, work, children and what to fix for dinner again. I've bought multi copies for women in my family and friends.

Great chick flick.......2007-06-27

This great old movie is one that all women past the age of 40 can relate to and share together. I watched it with my 87 year old mother and she liked it as much as I did. My good friends recommended it to me and I plan to pass it on to others.

Average customer rating:

A Different Storyline From Seasons 1 & 2, But it Works
Maintains the standard
Another great year
Brilliant
Amazing

24 - Season Three
Starring: Kiefer Sutherland , Carlos Bernard , Reiko Aylesworth , and Dennis Haysbert
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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24 - Season Four
24 - Season Two
24 - Season One
24 - Season Five
Lost - The Complete Second Season

ASIN: B0002XVQSU
Release Date: 2004-12-07

Amazon.com

There's not one cougar to be found in 24's dynamic third season, and that's good news for everyone. After Jack Bauer's daughter Kim (Elisha Cuthbert) survived hokey hazards in season 2, she's now a full-time staffer at CTU, the L.A.-based intelligence beehive that's abuzz once again--three years after the events of "Day Two"--when a vengeful terrorist threatens to release a lethal virus that could wipe out much of the country's population. Jack (Kiefer Sutherland) attempts to broker a deal for the virus involving drug kingpin Ramon Salazar (Joaquim de Almeida), whose operation Jack successfully infiltrated at high personal cost: to maintain his cover, he got hooked on heroin. That potentially deadly triangle--drug lords, addiction, and bioterrorism on a massive scale--sets the 24-hour clock ticking in a tight, action-packed plot involving a potential traitor in CTU's midst; the return of TV's greatest villainesses in Nina Meyers (Sarah Clarke) and former First Lady Sherry Palmer (Penny Johnson Jerald); a troubled romance between Kim and Jack's new partner Chase (James Badge Dale); and a scandalized reelection campaign by president David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert), who monitors CTU as they struggle to (literally) save the day.

The intricately woven subplots that are 24's greatest strength are masterfully developed here, and character arcs are equally strong, especially among CTU staffers Tony (Carlos Bernard) and his wife Michelle (Reiko Aylesworth); CTU director Ryan Chappelle (Paul Schulze), who is season 2's tragic bargaining chip; and the annoying but well-intentioned Chloe O'Brian (Mary Lynn Rajskub), who makes pivotal contributions with by-the-book efficiency. It's 24's superior casting that overcomes the series' occasional lapses in credibility, and season 3's twists make marathon viewing a nerve-wracking delight. By the time it's all over, 24 once again leaves you gratefully exhausted. As always, Sutherland anchors the series in the role he was born to play. When Jack takes a private moment to release 24 hours' worth of near-fatal tension and psychological anguish, Sutherland proves that 24's dramatic priorities are as important as its thriller momentum. DVD extras include behind-the-scenes featurettes (about the prison break sequence, climactic F-18 Hornet air-strike, and real-life bio-weaponry) that pay welcome tribute to the series' hard-working crew, who create Emmy-worthy television under pressures as intense as 24 itself. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

A Different Storyline From Seasons 1 & 2, But it Works.......2007-06-11

Anyone who's tired of Kim Bauer running around, don't worry. She's pretty much done with that here. I know a lot of fans of the show were sick of her after Season 2, if not already from Season 1. While she does have a very minor storyline here, it's small enough to not really have an impact on the rest of the plot. Thank God!

Season 3 introduces a new storyline and plot. I think you'll find that it is not like what we found in the first two seasons. This is good. I think the writers of 24 realized that they needed to come up with something different, and they also needed to add a new dimension to the character of Jack Bauer. There is also more of a "shock" element in this season, which is why I actually liked this season better than the first two. The surprises caught me off guard, and, for the most part, the story didn't wander into the bounds of the "oh, come on, that wouldn't happen," which is good. The story is more even as well.

The first two seasons, we saw Bauer doing some amazing things, but here, you may start to question if he's doing more harm than good on this mission. Bauer puts himself in a situation that might have you quickly asking, "what is he doing?!?" I know I did. I won't say more than this, because to do so would give away a key plot-point. In any case, you'll see Kiefer Sutherland add more characterization to Jack. He has more depth in this season as he has new struggles and issues to deal with. The question now being, can he deal with it? Or is Jack Bauer finally in over his head?

The plot in this season has to do with a deadly virus. This is mentioned on the back of the box in the synopsis, so I know I'm not giving anything away here. Everyone in the world knows the seriousness of biological warfare. This was a good direction for 24 to go in. You figure that after the threat of a nuclear bomb in Season 2, the most logical place to go next would be the threat of a deadly virus.

Once again, the supporting cast is tremendous. Dennis Haysbert as President Palmer is back and seeking a second term in office. However, something comes up that might threaten his chances of staying in office. D.B. Woodside plays Wayne Palmer, David's brother. He's also the Chief of Staff. I know it's stepping outside the boundaries to have your own brother as the second most powerful man in the government, but just go with it. You'll find that this relationship is not all that's cracked up to be, and David turns to an unlikely ally to help him. Will it work? Or will it backfire? The answer might surprise you.

Carlos Bernard is back as Tony Almeida. I like Almeida because there is a lot of depth to his character. Almeida is much like Jack as far as dedication goes, but just how far is Tony willing to go? What is he willing to give up? These are questions that will plague him during this season. Tony is now the director of C.T.U Los Angeles. His second-in-command is his wife, Michelle Dessler, played by the lovely actress, Reiko Alyesworth.

Reiko does a great job with Michelle. She's able to find the balance between being sensitive and compassionate, and being tough and gritty. She'll do what it takes, and her focus never really strays. Aside from Jack, she's the one person you want helping you in a crisis.

Kim Bauer is back in this season, but she's got a job at C.T.U. as a computer analyst. I know, I know...you have to wonder about this. Trust me, just let this story arc go. She's basically been relegated to a much more secondary role than before. Also, this story takes place three years later from season 2, so one could argue that she's acquired the necessary training. Kim also has a new love in her life, Chase Edmunds.

Chase Edmunds is Jack's partner, played by actor, James Badge Dale. He does a good job with the part. Jack already has issues with Kim becoming involved with a field agent.

Season 3 is very effective because there are several surprising events that take place that I doubt you will see coming. One of the things that I like so much about 24, is the willingness of the writers to do anything. These guys are not afraid to kill off main characters or instill severe tragedy into the storyline. In short, nothing is untouchable as far as their concern. They are always willing to push the envelope further and further. 24 is a show where anything can happen. And much like the first two seasons, the episodic power of the show is still intact. In other words, you simply can't stop with one episode. You HAVE to find out what happens next! And it's this element that keeps 24 aloft as one of the best shows in television.

Maintains the standard.......2007-05-26

I'm just nearing the end of this series and can say without doubt that this is as good as the first 2 series and I have no reservation in strongly recommending it.

The plot is a little hard to believe, but the whole thing is so well done that whether you believe whats happening could really happen doesn't matter in the least. As always there a number of different subplots running to keep you on edge and most of the main characters you have grown to know from the first two series are back in place. The story grabs your attention right from the start.

Of course Jack Bauer is still the main man, but there are some real surprises in this series that you won't be expecting. So this is really high quality entertainment thats well worth getting - especially if you can find the boxset cheap!

Another great year.......2007-05-26

Season 3 definitely made up for Season Two, which is still the worst season on record. 24 just keeps getting better!

Brilliant.......2007-05-25

It's been a couple of years since I saw Season One, and I'd forgotten how addictive it is.

Three slightly niggling things. There seemed to be endless "moral dilemma" debates (should you do X or Y). Also, the theme of "are you fit to work if something bad happens to you?" probably came up a dozen times or so. And finally, people move around and things happen much faster than they would do in real time, but I can't really complain about that, it keeps the show fast paced.

Despite those minor points, overall it's fantastic!

Amazing.......2007-05-23

Another excellent performance by Kiefer Sutherland and the entire "24" cast. The drug addiction storyline was compelling. Each episode had me on the edge of my seat. I still can't believe all that action takes place in one day.

Average customer rating:

24 - Season Two
Real disappointment
24's WORST SEASON
So 24 had a miss this season
I have become addicted to the show 24

24 - Season Two
Starring: Kiefer Sutherland , Carlos Bernard , Reiko Aylesworth , Sarah Wynter , and Dennis Haysbert
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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24 - Season Three
24 - Season One
24 - Season Four
24 - Season Five
Casino Royale (2-Disc Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B00008YGRU
Release Date: 2003-09-09

Amazon.com

Jack Bauer is having another one of his "very bad days" in the second season of the groundbreaking real-time thriller 24. Once again the hours are ticking by with more guaranteed cliffhangers than a convention of mountain climbers. Holed up in a Los Angeles condo and estranged from his daughter, Jack is no longer on the government payroll; unfortunately for him, this small fact doesn't seem to matter to President David Palmer and the NSA, who call him back in to the CTU and give him 24 hours to infiltrate a terrorist organization that is planning to detonate a dirty bomb in the city of angels. All Jack wants is to get his daughter out of the city, unfortunately Kim's new employer, the abusive father of the child she is nannying, has other ideas.

Fans of the original won't be disappointed, as there are more than enough shock moments in the first few hours to hint at the climactic build-up to come, while newcomers can quickly get involved in the lives of Jack and his family. There are some new characters to bolster the veteran cast and, interestingly (although not surprisingly), Jack's character has taken an altogether darker, more psychopathic turn. The danger the characters find themselves in also has a much more global, not to mention topical, impetus, grounded as it is in the war against terrorism. Although the territory is more familiar this time around, this second season is just as much a high-tension, taut, adrenalin-fuelled ride as the first, and one that will have you glued to your TV for the next 24 hours. --Kristen Bowditch

Description

Various

Customer Reviews:

24 - Season Two.......2007-06-27

24- Season Two, was excellent, The service at Amazon. Com was great, and timely. This DVD was addictive and great. I searched the internet for the best prices and Amazon beat everyone.

Real disappointment.......2007-06-25

2.5 stars. I'll admit that most of what was going on in season 1 really stretched the envelope of believeability, but it was still wildly addictive. Season 2--really felt like a group of writers who had already shot their load. The whole storyline with Kim Bauer, as most of the reviewers have reported, had absolutely nothing to do with nothing and was nowhere in the realm of believabilty. Plus,was it just me, but did the story just fold in on itself after the bomb went off in like episode 16? The Warner storyline was the most interesting-but again, after the explosion, even that went away. I like the actor Dennis Haysbert (Are you in good hands?) but the whole 25th Amendment angle was laughable. I hear the seasons get better after this one, so I'm going to continue trudging on, but I don't know if I could go through another season like this one.

24's WORST SEASON.......2007-06-08

It's been rightly said of 24 that it's "not good, but never boring". I think that's true of the first 2 seasons, but by the 4th it had actually become good, and still never boring. I was surprised that season 2 is as "not good" as it is.

Could it be any more contrived? Take for example the way the hero's daughter, Kim, manages to find her way into a different dangerous situation in just about every hour of this long day. The father of the child she is nannying happens to be a psychotic killer; She's in a city that's about to get nuked; she gets falsely accused of kidnapping and murder and is arrested; she gets in a car wreck; she is threatened by a cougar while alone in the woods; She's taken prisoner by a love struck hermit/survivalist; While hitch-hiking she has to pull a gun to stop an attacker; She's taken hostage in a liquor store; and then just when you think she's finally safe, she has to kill or be killed in the final episode. And these threats are mostly unrelated to each other and totally unrelated to the main action of the series. The only thing that connects her to the story at all is that she just happens to be Jack Bauer's daughter, and all the while he's mostly unaware of any of her crises. This is all FILLER. Not just not good, but boring.

Most of the suspense this season is caused by the unimaginable incompetence and poor judgment of people in the highest positions of the US government. Most of the urgency in the second half of the season is due to their ridiculous insistence that the US must retaliate NOW--by the end of the day because to wait even another few hours would show weakness and lose the element of surprise. Come on. How long did it take the US to go to war in Afghanistan after 9/11? Months. Did that show weakness? Did it matter? Then why are we supposed to believe it would matter so much to so many otherwise intelligent people in this series?

Here's the screenwriter's recipe for this series. Always put prisoners and codefendants in the same cell so they can plot and plan and create drama. When Jack tortures someone, let him do it in full view or at least in ear shot of someone not accustomed to Jack's ways so they can lose faith in Jack or at least object. Have CTU employees bring their relatives right into the office to create drama. Have rational characters become suddenly irrational; once the damage is done, they can become rational again. Have bickering CTU employees risk world destruction just to spite each other.

So 24 had a miss this season.......2007-05-26

After a spectacular Season 1, 24 was back with one good story line and a bunch of really silly ones. How many stupid decisions can Kim (his daughter) make in one 24 hour period? Come on - escaping from the police, only to be caught in a trap and hunted by a mountain lion?! It was amazing just to see what she was going to do next. Watch it for the humor, but if this is your intro to 24, please know what every other season kicks this one's butt!

I have become addicted to the show 24.......2007-05-14

This show is much better when you can watch the 24 episodes in a row-took me about 10 days.

Average customer rating:

Funktastic!
AWESOME
FINALLY !!!!
Why can't TV shows STILL be this great!
Finally on DVD

CHiPs - The Complete First Season
Starring: Robert Pine , and Larry Wilcox
Director: Charles Bail , Phil Bondelli , Nicholas Colasanto , Richard A. Colla , and John Florea
Manufacturer: Turner Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Fall Guy: The Complete Season 1
Emergency - Season Three
Airwolf: Season Three
The Hardy Boys Nancy Drew Mysteries: Season Two
The Streets of San Francisco - Season 1, Vol. 1

ASIN: B00005JO3Z
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Description

Where the rubber meets the road and the bad guys meet the badge -- that's where you'll find California Highway Patrol motorcycle officers Jon (Larry Wilcox) and Ponch (Erik Estrada). Set in the sun-drenched sprawl of Los Angeles, CHiPs combines action, heroics and fun in 22 Season One episodes whose event-packed storylines range from freeway gridlock (let's use a circus elephant to tow that broken-axled truck!) to wild roadway pursuits (who's that beautiful woman lead-footing a Rolls Royce?), from spilled onions (crying time, fellas) to pure venom (an overturned van loaded with...sssnakes!). Attention all units: Report now for arresting entertainment!

DVD Features:
Introduction:Introduction and Trivai Tidbits with Erik Estrada on select episodes.
Introduction:Introduction and Trivia Facts on select episodes by Erik Estrada.
Introduction:Introduction and Trivia Facts on select episodes by Erik Estrada.
Introduction:Introduction and Trivia Facts on select episodes by Erik Estrada.
Introduction:Introduction and Trivia Facts on select episodes by Erik Estrada.
Featurette:The Ride Out of Spanish Harlem: A Retrospective Featurette with Erik Estrada
Introduction:Introduction and Trivia Facts on select episodes by Erik Estrada.

Customer Reviews:

Funktastic!.......2007-07-05

This show is an adrenaline thrill ride. I watched it as a kid and it gets better as time goes on. I flipped my truck goofing off on a dirt road in high school and unconcerned of my injuries I quickly climbed out of the passenger-side window. For some reason all I thought of was this show and how almost every time a car flipped over it blew up! Hahaha. Finally on DVD! The Ponch intros to each episode are hilarious. In retrospect this show is one long chase set to funk music. Want to have a good time? Then buy this DVD set.

AWESOME.......2007-07-03

Finally they released this classic show and it its awesome myself bieng a big 70's and 80's TV Show fan. Now let hope all the seasons get release and we don't have to wait a year for the next season

FINALLY !!!!.......2007-06-27

I was glad to finally be able to purchase this on DVD. I watched CHiPs growing up and I loved it. One thing I noticed was that in not one episode did they ever draw their weapons. These were great movies to watch and portrayed a positive image of law enforcement. I think the major networks have missed the boat by taking these types of movies off the air and putting the junk they now call shows on. I am eagerly awaiting season two coming out.

Why can't TV shows STILL be this great!.......2007-06-21

Wow, so I finally hear Chips was coming out on DVD and I thought to myself it's about time! I bought my season one and got it in the mail and let's just say VERY HAPPY!

1. The Box set.. 4 slim slipcases each include 2 disks. The holders are very well made, they keep the discs in place and nice and secure, but at the same time they are very easy to pop out, unlike some other DVD sets I have purchased in the past. I would have liked to maybe have had more liner notes about the series included, which are very little included. All and all though I'm very pleased with the box set itself.

2. Whats on the discs? Well all time classic TV thats what. :) I sat down and watched the first episode that started it all. Whats amazing to me is that after all these years since I last seen Chips on TV when I was much younger (I'm 35 now) many of the scenes in the first episode came back to me just like BAM! The scene in which Ponches bike gets stuck in the glue lol I remember that like it was yesterday! So fun to watch and I must say, they just don't like TV this good anymore in the 2007 times. Yes there are some good shows here and there, but you always have to worry about some foul language, or some offencive scene involved. Here with Chips you have just good clean fun comedy, with a positive messege for kids today and adults as well. If you want to watch some classic TV that you will enjoy years later, as well as TV that you can have your kids enjoy for years to come. Get CHIPS! I can't wait for the other seasons.

Micah.

Finally on DVD.......2007-06-20

It has been a long time, ten years for me, since I saw this show the last time. Therefore I was surprised that the show played in the late 70s. I always assumed that it played in the 80s. The introduction to selected episodes by Erik Estrada are great but I would have liked some commentaries by the cast on select episodes. I am really glad however that they got Erik Estrada to sit down and talk about the show. There are so many older and even a few more recent shows like Charmed being released on DVD without any extras. The picture quality for a show this old is ok in my opinion.

This show is a must buy.

Average customer rating:

Buyer beware
The military infotainment complex strikes again.
All that's new this season is that Kim is gone.
Multi-layered Plot Makes Season 4 One Heck of a Ride!
Kim is OUT (why'd it take so long?) But a Kimless 24 doesn't necessarily make it worth 40 bucks

24 - Season Four
Starring: Kiefer Sutherland , Carlos Bernard , Reiko Aylesworth , Kim Raver , and Mary Lynn Rajskub
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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24 - Season Three
24 - Season Five
24 - Season Two
24 - Season One
Lost - The Complete Second Season

ASIN: B000B837XI
Release Date: 2005-12-06

Amazon.com

Oh boy. Here we go again! Just another exciting day in the life of 24 super-agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland). The season kicks off with a deadly terrorist strike resulting in the kidnapping of his new boss, the U.S. Secretary of Defense James Heller (William Devane). Although a fired, ex-employee of the Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU), it is no surprise who is going to shift into full gear to bring the terrorists to justice. However, it doesn't take the super-agent long to discover the kidnapping of his boss is part of a much larger plan, master-minded by Habib Marvan (Arnold Vosloh) the middle eastern terrorist cell leader the US government has been trying to track down for years. Considered by many to be the best season of the first four, 24 - Season 4 is a definite departure from the first three seasons. First, the cast is almost entirely new. Second, the pacing of each episode does not seem as frantic. There appears to be a shift from the reliance on plot-shifting cliff hangers (which in some ways dragged down the quality of Season 3), to a focus on complex, over-arcing, multiple storylines, albeit very violent. What may be missing in superficial action clichés is definitely compensated for in a richer plot. That's not to say the show has slowed down; it's still amped up beyond anything else on TV, but compared to the previous seasons, 24 has gotten a lot smarter, and in turn, better. --Rob Bracco

Description

Emmy nominated for Best Drama series, 24 Season 4 is considered by fans and critics to be the best season yet. Starring Keifer Sutherland in his Emmy nominated role as Jack Bauer, 24 Season 4 received the highest broadcast ratings of the series' 4 year history.

The loaded 7-disk set includes a ground-breaking extra, shot on location during Season 5 production, which bridges Season 4 with Season 5 and gives clues about what is to come. 24 Season 4 on DVD is the only place to follow every moment of suspense, mystery and action of this worldwide smash hit television show!

Customer Reviews:

Buyer beware.......2007-06-27

Beware of the quality of this set of DVD's. Three of the discs were defective, froze up, skipped, unviewable. And amazon would only refund 50% of the cost. Beware!

The military infotainment complex strikes again........2007-06-21

I guess people get excited to watch Jack Bauer run around, and everybody else running around saving us good people from the bad people coming to do harm to our good and godly military empire. "24" offers a lot of people running around to an emotionally manipulative soundtrack, and lots of cell phones beeping (maybe the cell phone industry paid for the endless product placement), and Arab people plotting our destruction. The storyline runs like a press release from the Pentagon. I wouldn't be at all surprised if people in the bowels of the Pentagon were writing the script. There is an entire book about how the Pentagon "shapes and censors" what comes out of Hollywood. Operation Hollywood: How the Pentagon Shapes and Censors the Movies
So, I take offense to this show. Programs like "24" advance the delusion that the U.S. is just some sort of innocent global superpower trying to protect itself from the axis of evil. I'd like to see a show where there is a Jack Bauer type of character in some part of the Global South trying to defend his country from the endless assault of the US military, the CIA, and the economic hit men of transnational corporations. Confessions of an Economic Hit Man But a show like that wouldn't be "entertainment," it would be a real-life documentary.
Fidel: The Untold Story
I only watch this series to learn some Spanish. The discs offer a Spanish dubbing option. This season has been particularly awful. It was such a drag to see two actors who were in the excellent HBO drama "Six Feet Under" having to lower themselves to "24" to land an acting job. Six Feet Under - The Complete Series Gift Set

The producers of "24" are now doing some lame right-wing comedy news show on Fox, with appearances by America's Humpty Dumpty - Rush Limbaugh, among other servants of the power elite.
People who enjoy this sort of show (it probably appeals to many people who have careers in the NSA, FBI, DHS, ICE and other parts of our growing state apparatus) should at least warn their kids that it is propaganda in the service of big money interests.
If people are interested in learning of an honest effort to save this country from evil doers, look no further than this revelatory DVD Manufacturing Consent - Noam Chomsky and the Media

"If you're not careful, the media will have you hating the people you should love, and loving the people you should hate." -Malcolm X

All that's new this season is that Kim is gone........2007-06-13

Ah, How refreshing that Jack's daughter is out of the show. Unfortunately she isn't dead. She really is the Jar Jar Binks of 24 (albeit an much better looking one), and it would be just as satisfying seeing her killed as it would have been to see him beheaded by a lightsaber. Maybe they won't think to bring her back, or if they do maybe Mark Hammil could guest star as a washed out stick up man, and shoot her in a robbery gone bad.

Without going too much into the plot, this show has all the elements of 24 that make it good, cliff hangers, violence, torture, infltration of CTU, superiors that are disagreeable, plot twists, immunity papers, good presidents, bad presidents, Tony (who by the way has always reminded me of Moe on the Simpsons) etc. Unfortunately, all these things were used in other seasons. At least Jack isn't usning the "H" any more.

I was also starting to like agent Castle. He was shaping up to be the "Wedge" character that survived all the episodes, but didn't really have that large of a part. Unfortunately, he was killed giving in to a terrorist. I would like to see somebody tell one of the bad guys NO, and just get shot, rather than help the villans and die later.

There really is nothing new here, infact you could skip many of the middle episodes, and just watch the previews and probably be as satisfied. I did also enjoy watching the son of the Secretary of Defence (aka the man Ted Kennedy always wanted to be) repeatedly tortured.

I am giving this season 4 stars because I guess 3.5 rounds up. It is entertaining, however the ending could be better in that Jack would have stayed dead and they revived him at the start of the next season, or had a special summer episode where he came back to life again.

My recommendation is that if you are still watching this show after last season, you will be satisfied renting this one.

Multi-layered Plot Makes Season 4 One Heck of a Ride!.......2007-06-12

All Jack Bauer wants is to enjoy his new job as an advisor to Secretary of Defense, Heller. He's even become seriously involved with the secretary's daughter, Audrey. He's been out of CTU for 18 months after the new director fired him because she didn't trust him after his heroine addiction. Jack is obviously happy with his new job and new relationship. However, one has to ask, is this really the kind of life that Jack Bauer wants? It might be. But even he realizes very quickly that he's much better at something else: stopping terrorists. Right from the get-go, Jack is visiting CTU to discuss the budget. There is a situation brewing, and Jack can't help but give his input on a mission. Someone during these season says that "Jack is the best at what he does."

CTU is a different place now. Tony is gone. Michelle is now assistant director of Los Angeles Division of CTU. Kim is happily settled down with Chase. There are new faces at CTU now, and a new crisis that may very well be greater than anything they've faced before.

Jack faces the most cunning and dangerous terrorist to date. His name is Habib Marwan who is brilliantly played by South African actor, Arnold Vosloo. This is a plan that has been in the works for years. There are many terrorist cells involved, and they've got many attacks ready to go. However, as with many "24" plots, not everything is as it seems. It may take a good number of episodes to really grasp what the overall goal of the terrorists is, and what they're doing. I won't give away any details here about the different plots. It's important that viewer be given the fun and suspense of finding that out. But just when you think one crisis has been averted, a new one pops into place. But is there a connection between them? Or are they separate?

New faces here are Erin Driscoll, played by Alberta Watson, as the new director of CTU branch in Los Angeles. She's a hard woman who is not very bending or compromising on things. She is not at all comfortable with having Jack at CTU, and even less so when he becomes involved. But, even Driscoll can't deny that Jack is needed. She's a smart, professional woman, who seems seasoned and knows what to do.

Chloe is still at CTU as their top analyst, whose annoying personality is still fully present. She always manages to state the obvious at the wrong time, as if she's the only one who sees what everyone else already understands. Many of her interactions are funny, and she's still likeable because she's so good at her job. I'd hate to think how the terrorists would be stopped without Chloe at the helm of analyzing data and finding links.

A new computer analyst is Edgar Stiles, played by Louis Lombardi. I like Edgar because he represents everyone. He represents the common employee. This isn't to say he isn't good at his job, because he is. He is simply a bit naive to how things work. He doesn't know when to speak up sometimes or when to keep his mouth shut. Either way, Lombardi plays him with an almost child-like innocence; a man who is finally being baptized by fire during this crisis.

Season 4 pretty much starts right off and never lets up. This is a thrill ride that pauses only briefly before taking off again. When it's finally over, you almost have to remind yourself to breathe again. It's that intense, but in a good way! I don't think there is any other episodic television series that keeps the thrills, action, suspense, and overall intrigue going for 24 straight episodes. Season 4 is the same as other seasons of 24; once you start, you find it very difficult to stop. I don't know anyone who watches 24 on DVD and is able to stop after a single episode. You always feel that you HAVE to find out what happens next! The genius of the writing should be credited for that.

Once again, the performances of everyone, especially Kiefer Sutherland, is top-notch. Jack Bauer isn't the guy you want for a friend, but he is the guy you want in situations like this. The biggest reason for that is that he is willing to do whatever it takes, whether it be putting himself in a hornet's nest of terrorists, or risking the lives of those he cares about to save the country. Secretary Heller explains to his daughter, "we need people like Jack who will do whatever is necessary." Americans have truly found themselves a bonafide hero in Jack Bauer, and I think that's one of the reasons that people love to watch "24."

Kim is OUT (why'd it take so long?) But a Kimless 24 doesn't necessarily make it worth 40 bucks.......2007-06-10

Firstly, I want to thank the profit-maximizing, selfish, money-hungry producers of 24 for coming to their senses and writing Kim out of the show...entirely!

That is the best thing about this season.

Sadly, however, there aren't many other positive things that can be said about it. And when I say that, please don't misinterpret me: While there isn't anything flagrantly wrong with this season, there isn't a lot of things remarkable about it.

As some previous reviewers have said, the beginning is fast moving, clever, and exciting and so is the ending (probably the BEST ending to a 24 season ever). But the middle is the weakest because the writers recycled old ideas (and didn't execute them as well as in previous seasons anyways): As in Season 1, there's a mole in CTU. Like in Season 2, Arabs are the villains and nuclear technology is a part of their plan. As in Season 3, a spouse must decide whether to help save their loved one or do their job. And the president should realize by now that it will save some time if he simply gives Jack a bunch of immunity papers to put in his pocket and hand out as he captures the the bad guys who are (as always) only going to give information in exchange for immunity.

I don't think that the show has reached the bottom of the barrel just yet, but there's no denying that it isn't as fresh as it once was. Probably the most memorable thing to happen in the middle is Chloe briefly showing off her Rombo side (I won't spoil it and trust me, it's cool). And because the middle portion takes up the bulk of the time, I can't give this a high rating or recommend that you buy it.

(...)

I say this every time I review a 24 season, but THE only true season of 24 that is worth absolutely every penny is the first season. The rest are for die-hard 24 fans.

Average customer rating:

We Love It!
Great Family Viewing
old time beauty salon
Classic Waltons
GREAT DVD's set.

The Waltons - The Complete Fifth Season
Starring: Ronnie Claire Edwards , Nora Marlowe , Richard Gilliland , and Robert Donner
Director: Alf Kjellin , Gabrielle Beaumont , Richard Chaffee , Jack Shea (III) , and Larry Stewart
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

The Waltons - The Complete Fourth Season
The Waltons - The Complete Third Season
The Homecoming
The Waltons - The Complete First Season
Christy - The Complete Series

ASIN: B000MQ58WM
Release Date: 2007-05-08

Amazon.com

The Waltons: The Complete Fifth Season finds the Depression-era, Blue Ridge Mountains family a little more in touch with the outside world, largely because of the aspirations of the growing Walton children. The most dramatic example, over numerous epsiodes, results from the assertiveness of professional journalist John-Boy (Richard Thomas) as he insists on publishing national and international news in the small-circulation Blue Ridge Chronicle he writes, edits, and publishes. A lot of people in the county are mystified as to why John-Boy would want to bring Walton's Mountain closer to epochal events in Germany, or why he would choose to provide coverage of the Hindenburg zeppelin's aerial triumphs despite its link to the Nazis. Yet John-Boy is just as interested in his backyard as the world stage: In season opener "The First Edition," he stands up to strong pressure to kill a story about a judge whose drunk-driving offense causes costly property damage. In "The Fire Storm," locals are appalled when he prints excerpts from Hitler's Mein Kampf in order to make readers aware of what kind of madman the German chancellor is.

While John-Boy stands up to popular opinion, brother Jason (Jon Walmsley), a talented musician, has to take a job playing piano at a roadhouse to make up for the loss of his college scholarship. The decision doesn't go down too well with the Walton women, but Jason's presence at the Dew Drop Inn allows for some interesting scenes over the course of the season, none more so than the unexpected visit of a fire-and-brimstone evangelist in "The Baptism." In that same show, father John Walton, played by Ralph Waite, notorious in his Christian community for eschewing church services, faces renewed pressure from wife Olivia (Michael Learned) to accept her faith, making for one of the most interesting episodes of the season. Meanwhile, John-Boy's sister, Mary Ellen (Judy Norton), is wooed by a couple of different men and hears wedding bells with one of them. She also pursues her nursing degree and misdiagnoses an ailment of Grandma Esther (Ellen Corby), resulting in long-term hospitalization and no end of grief for Grandpa Zeb (Will Geer). The other, increasingly restless Walton boys and girls grab their share of the spotlight, too, but The Complete Fifth Season is, once again, John-Boy's year, capped by dramatic developments in his career and vision of himself. --Tom Keogh

Description

Front-page news! The Blue Ridge Chronicle hits the streets, with publisher John-Boy Walton covering everything from a local break-in (Ben is among the suspects) to his eyewitness account of the crash of the Hindenburg. And, in a story filled with surprises and a ceremony filled with beauty, Mary Ellen becomes the first Walton child to marry. More adventures await, including Jason's job in a honkytonk, Grandma's set-to with the minister, and an exciting, heartwarming Christmas episode that's sure to become a holiday favorite with your family. And along the way old friends return, new friends arrive and the family bedrock of love endures in this 5-Disc, 24-Episode Season-5 Set of one of television's most enduring series.

Customer Reviews:

We Love It!.......2007-07-03

Thank you for providing access to these great family shows. I grew up watching all of these in the 70's, and I love seeing them again. My husband and I just had a baby, and we plan to show these DVDs to our child some day, as well. They just don't make the same quality t.v. shows the way they used to. I can't wait for the next season of The Waltons to become available... will you notify me?

Thanks!
Brenda P.

Great Family Viewing.......2007-06-27

I'm so glad there are DVDs of this best of all family programs. We need more shows like this to watch over and over again. It is nice to have the collection to view when there is nothing worth my time on TV.

old time beauty salon.......2007-06-17

As I am trying to recreate a 1930's beauty salon, I found that the episode, The Rebellion, was right on target. Not only is the beauty salon seemingly authentic, so is the perm machine that is being used. Steam was shown rising from the head! Seeing this helped me understand what I should see with my own perm machine for my videos. For those intrigued by beauty salons of days past, I highly recommend the 5th season of the Waltons, even just for this one episode!

Classic Waltons.......2007-06-17

The 5th season is the last with the full cast and it is very good. We are already about 12 episodes in and there have been many changes during that time. For one the kids all seem to be growing up rapidly and there has already been a marriage this season. It's a great joy to be able to view these again as the last time I saw them was with my grandparents when they were originally aired on TV. The Waltons is still one of the best shows ever to grace the TV screen. What can I say if you like The Waltons then go get it now; you won't be sorry.

GREAT DVD's set........2007-06-11

These are a great purchase for someone who was a Waltons fan. And even if you weren't it is a great addition to your DVD collection and very good for your children to watch.

The Third Man - Criterion Collection (2-Disc Edition)

Average customer rating:

The second coming of The Third Man
The Third Man
The Third Man
The Third Man
WOW! talk about Must-have!!

The Third Man - Criterion Collection (2-Disc Edition)
Starring: Nelly Arno , Leo Bieber , Hedwig Bleibtreu , Martin Boddey , and Siegfried Breuer
Director: Carol Reed
Manufacturer: Criterion Collection
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Brute Force (Criterion Collection)

ASIN: B000NOK0GM
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Amazon.com essential video

There have been few better movies in the history of the planet than The Third Man, and fewer still as brilliantly directed from second to second. Orson Welles played the title role, and his legend has tended to engulf the film. But it was directed by Carol Reed and written--except for a Wellesian riff on the Borgias--by Graham Greene, and the credit for this masterpiece is properly theirs. Theirs and Joseph Cotten's; for awesome as Welles is, his Citizen Kane second banana is onscreen about six times as much, and Cotten uses every minute to create one of the most distinctive--if also forlorn--of modern heroes.

You know the story. Holly Martins (Cotten), a writer of pulp Westerns and one of life's congenital third-raters, arrives in post-WWII Vienna only to learn that his old pal Harry Lime, the guy who sent him his plane ticket, is being buried. Everybody, from a cynical British cop named Calloway (Trevor Howard) to Harry's Continental knockout of a girlfriend (Alida Valli) and his sundry absurd/Euro-sinister business associates, feels that Holly should get on another plane and go home. He doesn't. Things come to light. Other deaths follow. The world lies in utter ruin.

The Third Man completed a sublime hat trick--an international critical and popular smash following upon the success of Reed's Odd Man Out ('47) and The Fallen Idol ('48). Although other filmmakers had begun to use war-ravaged Europe as a great movie set, The Third Man is so vivid in its canny mix of gray semidocumentary and insanely angular, Expressionist/Surrealist chiaroscuro that it seems to have imagined not only the postwar thriller but also postwar Europe itself singlehandedly.

What great movie moments: The throwaway details like a mourner who forgets to drop his wreath on a newly dug grave. The sly editing whereby thick-headed Sergeant Paine (Bernard Lee, once and future "M" to 007) goes on leafing through a magazine, knowing just the moment he must rise and subdue the nervy Yank who would take a punch at his boss. The way Anton Karas's legendary zither score seems to jangle in the very guy-lines of a bridge where, far below Robert Krasker's Oscar-winning camera, the Third Man calls a war council. The shadow of a dead man towering, big as Europe, over the nighttime streets of Vienna. --Richard T. Jameson

Studio description

Cynical pulp novelist Holly Martins arrives in shadowy Vienna to investigate the mysterious death of his old friend, black-market opportunist Harry Lime, and thus begins an ever-thickening web of love, deception, and murder that adds up to one of cinema's most immortal treats, as well as one of its trickiest. Thanks to brilliant performances by Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, and Orson Welles; Anton Karas's timeless, evocative zither score; Graham Greene's razor-sharp dialogue; and Robert Krasker's haunting deep focus shots, off-kilter angles, and dramatic use of light and shadow, The Third Man, directed by the inimitable Carol Reed, only grows in stature as the years pass.

Customer Reviews:

The second coming of The Third Man.......2007-06-30

The folks at Criterion never give up short of perfection. They've been reissuing some of their own material lately in newer, better versions, and while I *won't* get another Brazil just because they neglected anamorphic the first time (and I have an up-converting player/TV combo that helps somewhat anyway) I will gladly shell out more cash for improved prints of Seven Samurai, M and now this, The Third Man.

But this is more than just a new transfer. Here you get a second disc of wonderful features. Well, one of the features could have been wonderful: it's a 90-minute documentary made a couple years ago that played at Cannes in 2006. While the information is fascinating, and will shed much light on this noir, the filmmaker's style is pretentious, and distracts from the content.

Other extras are the original U.S. trailer (grossly inappropriate for this movie, but probably closer to the type of film Selznick wanted to make), vintage footage of Vienna and Zitherist Anton Karas, and a photo album of the production--all also included in the prior Criterion release. There's also a mini-doc on the film--much more straightforward and to me more interesting--with all still photos. Even though it's all stills I found this short 10 minute presentation very riveting. Then there's a featurette that shows many of the scenes of German-speaking players with their lines translated (they were deliberately left untranslated in the film so that the audience would feel as confused as Holly), a UK vs. US comparison of the openings, several of the radio shows that used the Harry Lime character, and a profile of writer Graham Greene from a 1968 British television program. Oh, and did I mention there are two commentaries, one from filmmaker Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter Tony Gilroy and one from film distorian Dana Polan. Oh, and there's a very stylish 26-page booklet insert. And you know what? There's probably other stuff I've forgotten. These discs are cram-packed.

In short, this is a whole college-level course on The Third Man in a little box. It'll keep you watching for weeks.

In case Amazon ever deletes the first Criterion edition of this DVD from their site, here's a cut-and-paste of my original review of the film itself:

###
Reportedly Orson Welles replied to people who asked if he'd "really" directed The Third Man that Carol Reed didn't need his suggestions. Yet this feels very much like Welles in many ways. First of all there's the subject matter--like Citizen Kane, this film deals with money and power, shattered idealism, and an elusive figure everyone knows *of* yet few people know. Like Kane, the cinematography is striking (though in a different way) and an integral part of the plot. Like Kane, the music is memorable and tells much of the story, yet again in a different way. Like Kane, the film was greeted coldly by many critics on its initial release and had to be shelved for many years before people realized it was a masterpiece. And last but not least, like Kane, it stars the great Joseph Cotten.

The Third Man benefits enormously from being shot in post-war Vienna (in record time by using three crews simultaneously). You can taste the atmosphere. The locations are a "star" as much as any of the human players. Selznick wanted Reed to film on Hollywood back lots, and he wanted Jimmy Stewart to star. He objected to the zither music. He objected to the canted shots. (William Wyler reportedly gave Reed a level to put on his camera after seeing The Third Man!) Most of all, Selznick wanted a happy ending, where Holly gets the girl. But without Reed's vision, the film would have been a typical glossy Hollywood film now seen at 2 am on local UHF channels if at all.

Reed gave Welles one of the great entrances in screen history. Welles gave Reed a hard time by refusing to work in a sewer and returning to England, forcing Reed to build a sewer set there just for Welles' part. Welles says he only wrote the "Cuckcoo clock speech," but leave it to Orson to give us the most memorable dialogue in a movie filled with memorable dialogue.

Then there is the issue of The Woman. Often she will make or break a film like this, and here Alida Valli (or "Valli" as she preferred to be billed in the film...maybe it's an Italian thing that started long before Madonna) is the perfect choice, brooding and un-glamorous and yet all the more alluring because she's un-glamorous. It's easy to see how impressionable Holly would fall for her. It's harder to see why she would still defend Harry, but love is not always logical. Or is this just selfishness? There doesn't seem to be room for love in Reed and Greene's postwar Vienna...

Criterion has done a loving restoration of The Third Man. While not up to the standard of the Citizen Kane DVD (which is not done by Criterion, incidentally) it is superb considering how poorly prints of this film have been handled over the years. Criterion performed many computer-repairs of tears and splices that make once-damaged scenes play perfectly. The gray scale is finally restored! (So many prints of this film are stark and grainy black and white and nearly unwatchable.) There are some extras, such as footage of Anton Karas performing on his unique instrument, documentary footage of the real Vienna sewers, the original trailer, the re-release trailer*, the alternate American opening, and fascinating production photos and commentary. Once again Criterion hits a home run.
###

Make that a grand slam.

*Not included in this version.

The Third Man.......2007-06-29

Fantastic movie, every time I watch it I see something new. Great cinematography, acting is superlative and story is gripping

The Third Man.......2007-06-27

The DVD case was smashed-in like it had been stacked under some weight. Contacted Amazon and they sent me a replacement.

The Third Man.......2007-06-25

One of the all-time great mysteries, the excellence of this production is reflected in the talents of its key contributors: old Mercury Theatre colleagues Welles and Cotten, screenwriter Graham Greene, producers Alexander Korda and David O. Selznick, and director Carol Reed. Together, they create a haunting, intricate thriller, with corrupted souls inhabiting decimated Vienna like so many vultures. "Man" also features one of the best music scores in all film, with Anton Karas's original zither score adding to the ominous proceedings. Stunningly shot on location, this is a must-see.

WOW! talk about Must-have!!.......2007-06-18

I was reading Criminal,the Marvel comic series
by Ed Brubaker, who also wrote the Sleeper for DC/Wildstorm
(my all time favorite)...

and in the back of the issue, he talked about this movie.
being a big fan I had to see what it was about...

AND I'M SO GLAD I DID!!

its PERFECTION

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Full Screen Edition)

Average customer rating:

UNABLE TO SEE DVD
Lotsa Fun
Charming Musical with Humor and Fun.
A MOTORCAR THAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF.....
Excellent Family Movie

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Dick Van Dyke , Sally Ann Howes , Lionel Jeffries , Gert Fröbe , and Anna Quayle
Director: Ken Hughes
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

3-6 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

7-9 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

10-12 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Adapted from Books | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Music & Arts | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Family Films | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Widescreen Special Edition)

ASIN: 0792839749
Release Date: 1998-11-10

Amazon.com

This remastered, pan-and-scan 30th-anniversary edition of that kiddie-car caper is flawed but solid family fare. It retains a quaint charm while some of the songs--including the title tune--are quite hummable. A huge plus is Dick Van Dyke, who is extremely appealing as an eccentric inventor around the turn of the century. With nimble fingers and a unique way of looking at the world, he invents for his children a magic car that floats and flies. Or does he? The special effects are tame by today's standards, and the film is about 20 minutes too long--but its enthusiasm charms. The script was cowritten by Roald Dahl and based on the novel by Ian Fleming, best known for his James Bond adventures. --Rochelle O'Gorman

Description

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls start your engines. You're about to take an incredible ride with one of the most wonderful family films of all time! Now celebrating its 30t