Rudy (Deluxe Edition)

Starring:Sean Astin, Jon Favreau, Ned Beatty, Greta Lind, Scott Benjaminson, Mary Ann Thebus, Charles S. Dutton, Lili Taylor, Christopher Reed, Deborah Wittenberg, Christopher Erwin, Kevin Duda, Robert Benirschke, Luke Massery, Robert J. Steinmiller Jr., Jake Armstrong, John Duda, Joseph Sikora, Gerry Becker, Robert Swan
Director: David Anspaugh
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
This 1993 film by David Anspaugh (Hoosiers) is slowly building a reputation as a minor highlight of '90s movies. Based on a true story, Rudy stars Sean Astin as Rudy Ruettiger, a blue-collar kid whose father (Ned Beatty) worships Notre Dame football but who would never dare to dream that any of his sons could be a part of the team. The film is entirely about Ruettiger's ceaseless if sometimes wavering commitment toward that goal, despite tremendous obstacles in physical stature, education requirements, the dismissiveness of coaches, poverty, his father's envy, and endless delays of one kind or another. This is the sort of film that looks back on a life and says the battle was its own reward, not the glory. Astin is very moving as a boy who becomes a man and watches his world change, often in unexpected ways, through painful determination. Great support from Beatty, Lili Taylor as a hometown girl, and Robert Prosky and Charles S. Dutton as two valuable mentors. --Tom Keogh

Mel Gibson's Apocalypto (Widescreen Edition)
Average customer rating:

Mel's Done It Again!

Great director

Gruesome

Superb

Mel Gibson Really Outdoes Himself With this One!

Mel Gibson's Apocalypto (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Rudy Youngblood , Dalia Hernández , Jonathan Brewer , Morris Birdyellowhead , and Carlos Emilio Báez
Director: Mel Gibson
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Touchstone
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000NOKFHQ
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Amazon.com

Forget any off-screen impressions you may have of Mel Gibson, and experience Apocalypto as the mad, bloody runaway train that it is. The story is set in the pre-Columbian Maya population: one village is brutally overrun, its residents either slaughtered or abducted, by a ruling tribe that needs slaves and human sacrifices. We focus on the capable warrior Jaguar Paw (Rudy Youngblood), although Gibson skillfully sketches a whole population of characters--many of whom don't survive the early reels. Most of the film is set in the dense jungle, but the middle section, in a grand Mayan city, is a dazzling triumph of design, costuming, and sheer decadent terror. The movie itself is a triumph of brutality, as Gibson lets loose his well-established fascination with bodily mortification in a litany of assaults including impalement, evisceration, snakebite, and bee stings. It's a dark, disgusted vision, but Gibson doesn't forget to apply some very canny moviemaking instincts to the violence--including the creation of a tremendous pair of villains (strikingly played by Raoul Trujillo and Rodolfo Palacias). The film is in a Maya dialect, subtitled in English, and shot on digital video (which occasionally betrays itself in some blurry quick pans). Amidst all the mayhem, nothing in the film is more devastating than a final wordless exchange of looks between captured villager Blunted (Jonathan Brewer) and his wife's mother (Maria Isabel Diaz), a superb change in tone from their early relationship. Yes, this is an obsessive, crazed movie, but Gibson knows what he's doing. --Robert Horton

Beyond Apocalypto

More films directed by Mel Gibson
Apocalypto soundtrack by James Horner

Stills from Mel Gibson's Apocalypto (click for larger image)

Description

From Mel Gibson, director of THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST and the Academy Award®-winning BRAVEHEART (Best Director, Best Picture, 1995) comes the thrilling historical epic APOCALYPTO. This intense, nonstop action-adventure transports you to an ancient South American civilization, for an experience unlike anything you've ever known. In the twilight of the mysterious Mayan culture, young Jaguar Paw is captured and taken to the great Mayan city where he faces a harrowing end. Driven by the power of his love for his wife and son, he makes an adrenaline-soaked, heart-racing escape to rescue them and ultimately save his way of life. Filled with unrelenting action and stunning cinematography, APOCALYPTO is an enthralling and unforgettable film experience.'

Customer Reviews:

Mel's Done It Again!.......2007-07-04

A powerful commentary on the strength and weakness of society and religion.

Without giving too much of the plot away, one sees a stark contrast between the beauty, parity and unity of a humble tribal village and the prejudice, oppression and fear that rules the grandiose Mayan empire.

As has come to be Mel style, there are layers of meaning and powerful parallel relationships that have didactic purpose (kind of like the Father and Son theme that ran throughout Braveheart). One can see the other parallels he draws between today's 'Superpowers' and their attendant ostentation, control and fear mongering.

He manages to make concentric layers of meaning from the individual to the family the tribe and the nation and their indivisibility.

The ending will stun you, awaken you and make you question the status quo as well as Gibson's intentions when one considers his own religious background. It made me respect Gibson as a man who can see the the broader picture of what really matters in life and faith.

The imagery is stunning and, without knowing the historical accuracy, one is brought to a time and place without the Hollywood fanfare. Despite it's intensity Gibson manges to make you laugh as much as you cringe.

Well worth it.

Great director.......2007-07-04

The movie was done so well - a little too violent, but Mel Gibson did an excellent job.

Gruesome.......2007-07-03

I enjoyed the historical aspect of this film but felt it portrayed only the gruesome side of the civilization.

Superb.......2007-07-03

the movie was fantastic in the theater and just as wonderful at home . a Great DVD , a must have .

Mel Gibson Really Outdoes Himself With this One!.......2007-07-02

The Amazon "Plot Synopsis" above asserts that this film should only be watched "by people who enjoy exaggerations of history," but the only thing that Mel Gibson is guilty of, with regards to historical accuracy, is a blurring of Mayan and Aztec cultures. It was the Aztecs, not the Mayans, who were kidnapping, enslaving and sacrificing minority tribesmen in the years before the Spanish conquest. The Mayans had been gone for centuries by the time Cortez arrived.

The human sacrifices that are depicted in Apocalypto are not an "exaggeration" of history. The law of the Aztec Empire, for example, mandated a thousand human sacrifices to the god Huitzilopchtli in every town with a temple, every year. The largest mass sacrifice that was documented by the Aztecs themselves occured in 1487, just a few years before the arrival of the Europeans: On the occasion of the dedication of the immense Temple of Huitzilopochtli in Tenochtitlan (what is now Mexico City), eighty-thousand men were killed over a four-day, four-night period. By all accounts, sacrifice victims had their "heart torn out while still beating and held up for all to see," and their "body was kicked over the edge of the temple platform where it bounced and slithered...down the steps." The only detail that Mel Gibson leaves out is the cannibalism.

But Apocalypto is about a lot more than the slavery and genocide that preceded the European conquest. It is an action adventure thriller like no other.

When a Central American village is raided for slaves and sacrifice victims by Mayans, one of the villagers, Jaguar Paw, hides his pregnant wife and child in a deep hole in the ground. Jaguar Paw must then escape from his captors and return to save his wife and children before they die from exposure and starvation.

Mel Gibson usually makes great movies, but he really outdid himself with this one. Apocalypto is his geatest film to date. It is sad that many will miss this film because of the unfortunate drunk driving incident. Many are intent to boycott Mr. Gibson, and, in a free country, we should be free to watch or not watch movies for any reason we choose. But if you don't watch this one, for any reason, you're really missing one of the most affecting and exhilarating films of all time.

Average customer rating:

Take a Trip in a New World
I enjoyed watching this movie in hi-def
Blu-Ray Heaven
Greatest movie since Lord of the Rings and Star Wars
Decent movie, great presentation

Mel Gibson's Apocalypto [Blu-ray]
Starring: Raoul Trujillo , Fernando Hernandez , Gerardo Taracena , Rudy Youngblood , and Dalia Hernandez
Director: Mel Gibson
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Touchstone
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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

General | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video
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Planet Earth - The Complete BBC Series [Blu-ray]

ASIN: B000NQQ4ME
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Product description

From Mel Gibson, director of The Passion Of The Christ and the Academy Award® winning Braveheart (Best Director, Best Picture, 1995) comes the thrilling historical epic Apocalypto. This intense, nonstop action-adventure transports you to an ancient South American civilization, for an experience unlike anything you've ever known. In the twilight of the mysterious Mayan culture, young Jaguar Paw is captured and taken to the great Mayan city where he faces a harrowing end. Driven by the power of his love for his wife and son, he makes an adrenaline-soaked, heart-racing escape to rescue them and ultimately save his way of life. Filled with unrelenting action and stunning cinematography, Apocalypto is an enthralling and unforgettable film experience.

Customer Reviews:

Take a Trip in a New World.......2007-07-03

That Movie gives you a New Experience in watching a Movie. Soon this Move brings you to a never seen before World. Everything seems to be real as you watching the Movie. Sound and Picture are how Blu-Ray should be...
Take the Trip....
But beware, if you don't like Movie's in Original Language(Maya) with English Subtitel...but give this Movie a try

I enjoyed watching this movie in hi-def.......2007-07-03

This was the first time I have seen this movie. It has a good story line, and the battles were realistic. I would recommend this movie to anyone.

Blu-Ray Heaven.......2007-06-29

Absolutely pristine video transfer and audio transfers make this a reference BD title.

I was not sure if I wanted to see this movie due to it being in Mayan dialogue with english subtitles. However as strange as this may sound I actually understood most of what was being said with only minor glances at the subtitling. Truely an awesome movie, if you want to see a Mayan Rambo then check this movie out.

May I just add that anyone who has put off seeing this movie because of Mel Gibson then I would respectfully suggest that in this instance you are doing yourself an injustice. I am sure Mel had a hand in this film but in all honesty after watching the extras on the disc I think even Mel would acknowledge that there were many, many people who made this film what it is. This truely is a masterpiece when it comes to engaging a predominantly english speaking audience into a non english speaking movie.

I had a couple of friends over tonight to watch it, knowing full well that they are both very anti Mel. They watched the movie and were blown away by it to be honest, the comment that I thought was interesting was when they said that they had deliberately not watched it due to Mel's involvement. However, they thanked me for putting it on as they thought it was a wonderful movie and very thought provoking for them with their beliefs.

Greatest movie since Lord of the Rings and Star Wars.......2007-06-28

Just watched this movie on standard def DVD - didnt know if i was going to like it at first but after 20 minutes in- I was TOTALLY HOOKED!!!!!!!! I cant wait to see it on Blu-Ray! Im buying this tonight!

Decent movie, great presentation.......2007-06-27

Since others have focused on the movie itself, I ask you to read their reviews for a review of the content. I want to focus on the quality of the encode instead.

For a short review of the film, I will say that it is action packed and nicely done, though I found the story slightly sparse; like the action took precedence over story.

It's also pretty violent in places, which is fine by me, but may not be everyone's cup of tea.

As far as the disc is concerned, the Blu-Ray presentation is phenomenal.

For video encoding Buena Vista chose to use the AVC/MPEG4 format. The encode is what you'd expect from HD; crisp and clear. There are no compression issues or any other perceptible visual anomalies present. It just looks darn good! The only real issue is the use of different film stocks. What you have is more grain in some areas due to the use of certain film stocks, while in others you have crisp clarity. This is as the movie is supposed to be presented, but if you don't realize why the change in "quality" it can be a bit confusing.

As far as audio is concerned, I commend Mel Gibson for his use of authentic languages on his films. The LPCM 5.1 audio (uncompressed) is absolutely clear and problem free. The channels have good separation when needed and it works really well in the Mayan language. There is also a more compatible Dolby Digital 5.1 track, listed as English, though this is not the case. There is only the Mayan language available on this release; no English language dub. You have to watch with subtitles, so if subtitles aren't your thing, look elsewhere.

Extras are presented in standard DVD resolution (480p). This is somewhat disappointing, but my guess is that the footage was shot on digital and not digital HD equipment. Hopefully in the future companies will record things in HD and present the entire package, not just the film, in HD. The film is what really matters, but standard def extras are slightly disappointing.

Over all I am happy with this release. The movie itself was good, but not "great" for me, while the technical aspects make the Blu-Ray presentation shine.

Average customer rating:

Justice in a Small Room
Minus 1 star for script/believability - the other four for acting alone
A Classic !!
A good film
Excellent

12 Angry Men
Starring: Martin Balsam , John Fiedler , Lee J. Cobb , E.G. Marshall , and Jack Klugman
Director: Sidney Lumet
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Inherit the Wind
To Kill a Mockingbird (Universal Legacy Series)
The Grapes of Wrath
Judgment at Nuremberg
Witness For the Prosecution

ASIN: B000056HEC
Release Date: 2001-03-06

Amazon.com essential video

Sidney Lumet's directorial debut remains a tense, atmospheric (though slightly manipulative and stagy) courtroom thriller, in which the viewer never sees a trial and the only action is verbal. As he does in his later corruption commentaries such as Serpico or Q & A, Lumet focuses on the lonely one-man battles of a protagonist whose ethics alienate him from the rest of jaded society. As the film opens, the seemingly open-and-shut trial of a young Puerto Rican accused of murdering his father with a knife has just concluded and the 12-man jury retires to their microscopic, sweltering quarters to decide the verdict. When the votes are counted, 11 men rule guilty, while one--played by Henry Fonda, again typecast as another liberal, truth-seeking hero--doubts the obvious. Stressing the idea of "reasonable doubt," Fonda slowly chips away at the jury, who represent a microcosm of white, male society--exposing the prejudices and preconceptions that directly influence the other jurors' snap judgments. The tight script by Reginald Rose (based on his own teleplay) presents each juror vividly using detailed soliloquies, all which are expertly performed by the film's flawless cast. Still, it's Lumet's claustrophobic direction--all sweaty close-ups and cramped compositions within a one-room setting--that really transforms this contrived story into an explosive and compelling nail-biter. --Dave McCoy

Description

Eleven jurors are convinced that the defendant is guilty of murder. The twelfth has no doubt of his innocence. How can this one man steer the others toward the same conclusion? It's a case of seemingly overwhelming evidence against a teenager accused of killing his father in "one of the best pictures ever made" (The Hollywood Reporter).

Customer Reviews:

Justice in a Small Room.......2007-06-22

1957's "Twelve Angry Men" is the story of a jury confined to a small room on a hot, humid summer night to decide the fate of a young man accused of knifing his father to death. The jury's initial poll has eleven jurors for guilty, one for innocent. The ensuing drama revolves around the struggle by the dissenting juror, an architect played with characteristic understated determination by Henry Fonda, to convince the other jurors of the presence of reasonable doubt.

The outstanding cast, a collection of experienced 1950's movie and tv actors who may not be familiar to today's audiences, each bring their particular insights and prejudices to the debate. An elderly man, played by Joseph Sweeney, sides with the Henry Fonda character because he admires the younger man's grit. Lee J. Cobb has an outstanding role as an angry father who sees his estranged son in the actions attributed to the young man on trial. E.G. Marshall plays a confident businessman who gets a lesson in the limits of memory from the Henry Fonda character.

The confining atmosphere of the jury room adds to the tension. Sidney Lumet's brisk but deliberate direction allows each man a turn in the spotlight to examine his conscience as well as the case in front of the other jurors. The end result is a tense, insightful drama about the nature of man and justice.

This movie is highly recommended to viewers looking for an outstanding example of the movie art and a different slant on today's crime dramas.

Minus 1 star for script/believability - the other four for acting alone.......2007-06-13

All the stars I gave was for the acting alone- superb all around though that old man was pretty annoying at times esp with the close ups on him. But the story itself wouldnt last 10 minutes in real life. It begins with Fonda pleading the boy is only 18 (dont we send 18 years olds off to war? 18 years olds can kill?) But the surreal part is when Fonda pulls out that concealed switchblade in the jury room (gov property), sticks it in the table, and tells everyone how he went into the boys neighborhood and found a store and bought it there (AKA doing your own research); all of this HIGHLY illegal; in real life, someone would have told all of this to the bailif, got Fonda arrested and hauled off, and an alternate or a mistrail would have taken place. End of movie right there. One other thing, Fonda kept mentioning "Is it possible"; Possible is not probable, and a million possibles does not equate to one possible, much less a "Reasonable" doubt.

A Classic !!.......2007-05-27

What a great movie!! I haven't watched it in years, but for some reason i watched it tonite. Wow, as good now as ever!!

A good film.......2007-05-18

Though I did think it to be ever so slightly predictable, I found this movie to be a great murder mystery without all the blood, guts, gore, and horror.
The movie begins with a the jury trying to decide whether or not a eighteen year old boy is guilty of brutaly killing his father. they put it to a vote, and find that all but one of them feels that the boy is guilty without giving it so much as a second thought. The one that refused to say the boy is guilty doesn't necessarily think that he is innocent, he just thinks there aught to be more thought put into it. As the story progresess, you see how everyone's personal intersts, background and prejudices get intangled as they try to decipher between right and wrong.
This movie is well worth watching, and deserves to be in anyone's collection.
And I really have to add that I think Henry Fonda's preformance in this movie is great!

Excellent.......2007-05-09

12 Angry Men is an awesome example of how groups work. It is very useful in demonstrating all the points of group interaction that I teach in my Sociology class. The students liked the movie and were able to quickly tie the movie to concepts taught in class. Excellent plot and follow through in developing the story line.

Average customer rating:

The Godfather
The Godfather
One Of The Best!
IMHO, closer to the reality
The movie that started the modern American mafia genera

The Godfather (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Marlon Brando , Al Pacino , James Caan , Richard S. Castellano , and Robert Duvall
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001NBNB6
Release Date: 2004-05-11

Amazon.com essential video

Generally acknowledged as a bona fide classic, this Francis Ford Coppola film is one of those rare experiences that feels perfectly right from beginning to end--almost as if everyone involved had been born to participate in it. Based on Mario Puzo's bestselling novel about a Mafia dynasty, Coppola's Godfather extracted and enhanced the most universal themes of immigrant experience in America: the plotting-out of hopes and dreams for one's successors, the raising of children to carry on the good work, etc. In the midst of generational strife during the Vietnam years, the film somehow struck a chord with a nation fascinated by the metamorphosis of a rebellious son (Al Pacino) into the keeper of his father's dream. Marlon Brando played against Puzo's own conception of patriarch Vito Corleone, and time has certainly proven the actor correct. The rest of the cast, particularly James Caan, John Cazale, and Robert Duvall as the rest of Vito's male brood--all coping with how to take the mantle of responsibility from their father--is seamless and wonderful. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

The Godfather.......2007-07-05

Long before "The Sopranos," a young Coppola transformed our understanding of the relationship between organized crime and corporate American profiteering with this operatic ode based on Mario Puzo's acclaimed novel. Moody and violent, with Gordon Willis's Technicolor photography adding a sepia-toned period look, "Godfather" combines a bullets-blazing mobster film with a gripping family saga. And what a cast: Pacino, Robert Duvall, James Caan, and Diane Keaton are all superlative. Brando, of course, achieved yet another level of cinematic fame with his iconic portrayal of the title character. Coppola fought with Paramount to achieve his personal vision, but ultimately triumphed, winning the 1972 Oscar for Best Picture.

The Godfather.......2007-06-21

The greatest movie ever. It can teach you all you need to know about life in 180 minutes. There you go, life in 3 hours

One Of The Best!.......2007-05-15

What can I say, this is a fantastic epic! In my opinion, it is one of the best movies of all time. A+++

IMHO, closer to the reality.......2007-04-15

It's sad to see the mafia or cosa nostra portrayed as a couple hundred thugs in New York hustling up money. The mafia is a worldwide organization and in the overall evaluation performs many good deeds and must benefit others more than it harms (Aquinas - "The greatest good for the greatest number"). The governmental systems in all countries always leave people behind and there must be some underground that picks up these people and helps them survive. Also, it seems to prove useful to have an underground which is at least somewhat prepared to fuel revolutions. Frequently, the mafia within a given country can prove a great asset to its government since they are usually privy to intelligence that escapes the ears of the government's agencies.

Everyone knows this movie, I would point out that I really liked the development of the expansion of the Cosa Nostra and in the sequels the international expansion.

The movie that started the modern American mafia genera.......2007-04-14

The Godfather set the American Mafia movie genera. A good plot line with a tight scrip, superb direction and well acted. There are many murders, after all this is about gangsters but why it's rated "R" is beyond me. It's way less gruesome with less disturbing violence than Casino and many modern MA films are much more violent.

The power plays, honour and business scheming between the Mafia families give the framework of the film with personal trial and tribulations providing more depth for the character development that echo throughout the genera ever since and make The Godfather repeatedly watchable.

I wanted a copy for a present and after spending months looking for a copy in the retail shops without success, I found this widescreen version at a great price on Amazon within seconds and, I ended up keeping it.

Looney Tunes - Golden Collection, Volume One

Average customer rating:

Whoopy Goldberg?
Buy It "For the Kids," Watch It For Yourself
Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 1
My favorite
My girls love it!

Looney Tunes - Golden Collection, Volume One
Starring: Mel Blanc , Arthur Q. Bryan , June Foray , Richard Bickenbach , and Stan Freberg
Director: Robert McKimson , Friz Freleng , and Rudy Larriva
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B0000AYJXS
Release Date: 2003-10-28

Amazon.com

For years, animation buffs have waited impatiently for the Warner Bros. cartoons to appear on DVD. The Warner shorts never commanded the budgets and prestige of the Disney and MGM films, and won fewer Oscars than they deserved. But decades after the best ones were created, they remain the quintessential Hollywood cartoons: brash, fast-paced, aggressively funny and uniquely American. Virtually everyone in the U.S. under the age of 60 grew up on these films, in theaters and on TV. The 56 cartoons in the set (out of a studio output of over 1,000) were transferred from good prints--which means the viewer can see dust, scratches, and occasional mistakes by the cel painters. The films are all presented uncut, in defiance of the killjoys who have insisted on censoring alleged "violence" in the versions shown on television. Warner Bros. is obviously testing consumer response with this set. Although the erratic selection includes many classics, purists will argue (correctly) that it offers neither a fair representation of the directors' oeuvres, nor anything approaching a coherent history of the characters or studio style. (Nearly half the films were directed by Chuck Jones; only three are by Bob Clampett, and there's nothing by Tex Avery or Frank Tashlin.) But it seems petty to carp about omissions and biases when the discs offer excellent, uncensored prints of some of the funniest films ever made in the U.S.--or anywhere else. (Rated G, suitable for all ages: cartoon violence) --Charles Solomon

Description

They're the crown princes of animation. They're the international ambassadors of cartoon comedy. They're the fabulously funny friends you grew up with! And now, 56 of the very best animated shorts starring the very wackiest Warner Bros. cartoon characters have been rounded up on DVD for the first time ever in The Looney Tunes Golden Collection! Just barely contained in four special edition discs, each specially selected short has been brilliantly restored and re-mastered to its original, uncut, anvil-dropping, laughter-inducing glory! Featuring some of the very earliest, ground-breaking on-screen appearances of many all-time Looney Tunes favorites, it's an unprecedented celebration for cartoon-lovers eager to re-live the heady, hilarious, golden age of Warner Bros. animation! Sparkling with one unforgettable, landmark animated marvel after another, there's that icon of carrot-crunching aplomb, Bugs Bunny, in a dazzling assortment of his very best classic shorts. Also highlighted in their own delightfully zany series of cartoon gems: the ever-flustered Daffy Duck and eternal straight-man Porky Pig. Plus, all the rest of the beloved Looney Tunes lineup starring in some of the most wildly imaginative cartoon shorts ever created! Including an array of exclusive bonus DVD features from expert commentaries to insights into the evolution of these classic characters, this is the ultimate animated experience for anyone who's ever thrilled to the timeless query: "Ehhh? what's up, Doc?"

Customer Reviews:

Whoopy Goldberg?.......2007-06-13

I love these old cartoons but as I popped my DVD in Whoopy Goldber shows up on my screen talking about how evil and racist these cartoons are. And how they weren't altered so we can see how evil they are.
Political correctness has become a mass cult that has saturated our lives and is completely absured.
I'd easily give these DVDs 10 stars but having to associate Whoopy Goldberg with my most beloved cartoons is a major turn off. What happened, was Al Sharpton too busy?
What's next, Tom and Jerry with an introduction by Rosie Perez?
Isn't enough that "these people" are destroying our country, must they destroy our memories too?

Buy It "For the Kids," Watch It For Yourself.......2007-06-05

One of the many great things about Looney Tunes, of course, is that they're usually even funnier to adults than to kids. Unlike most cartoons today, these were made with intelligence, relentless humor, and an assumption that you, the viewer, also had a brain. Of course, they bring back fun and carefree childhood memories, too. Memories you would be smart to pass on to your own kids.

Kids aside, though, if you need an excuse to buy Bugs Bunny, here it is at it's best. The other collections are great, too, of course, but this is where it all started, so they're fun to watch not only for the cartoons themselves, but also to see many of the core characters, catch phrases, and storylines in their infancy. If you start at the earliest ones in the set and just keep watching, you'll see Bugs, Daffy, Elmer Fudd, the other "stars," and even many of the recurring secondary characters develop and evolve.

It's simple - get this set today. You'll love it.

Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 1.......2007-05-12

absolutely fabulous DVD set. all the favorites are on this with great extras too.

My favorite.......2007-05-12

This one is my favorite because it has more of the Daffy/Bugs escapades I love as a kid.

My girls love it!.......2007-05-10

I purchased this collection for my 3 and 6 year old daughters. They absolutely love it! And my husband and I also enjoy watching the DVDs because we grew up watching Looney Tunes on television.

Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends - The Complete Third Season

Average customer rating:

The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show
Wanna see me pull a rabbit outta my hat?
rocky and bulllwinkle 3d season
any word on release of season 4 and 5?
May the Pun be with You

Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends - The Complete Third Season
Starring: Bill Scott , June Foray , Paul Frees , Edward Everett Horton , and Daws Butler
Director: Jim Hiltz , Rudy Zamora , Gerald Ray (II) , William T. Hurtz , and Ted Parmelee
Manufacturer: Classic Media
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Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends - The Complete Second Season
Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends - The Complete First Season
Looney Tunes - Golden Collection, Volume Three
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The Best of Mr. Peabody & Sherman, Vol. 1

ASIN: B000A2X0KU
Release Date: 2005-09-06

Customer Reviews:

The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show.......2007-05-24

Old time favorite cartoons - with an edge of adult humour.

Wanna see me pull a rabbit outta my hat?.......2007-05-09

When Rocky & Bullwinkle first aired on network television, I was young enought that I didn't understand the idea of episodic story-telling. --Which really is just as well since R&B's cliff hanger story format tended to stretch a 3 minute story to half a season's worth of shows.

It was only upon watching the full prime-time shows stuck end to end on DVD that I realized that one cliff-hanger did actually lead to the next episode. I just thought it was a bunch of disconnected silly scenes with silly questions and puns used to end an otherwise unending series of gags.

Silly me! It all makes sense now!

And in spite of the frozen background art and clunky animation, R&B are a pleasure to watch and re-watch. The real star of these shows is the writing. It's smart, clever, genuinly witty -- and full of grown-up jokes that match the kid-aged jokes laugh for laugh.

The Fractured Fairy Tales, Mr. KNow-It-All segments, Dudley Do-Right (who has a horse that's more handsome than he is) and Snidley Whiplash, Aesop's (really funny) Fables and their dubious "moral to the story" jokes, the "Way-Back" time machine's history lessons, and the cold war spy vs. spy characters are as sharp and sharp-tongued as they ever were.

And sharper for me now that I'm old enough to follow the plot.

All 3 seasons are as bright and refreshing as their first run on television. Thank heaven for DVDs! Even the nonsense lead-ins to commercials are here -- great stuff!

rocky and bulllwinkle 3d season.......2007-01-04

This is an excellent collection with very good quality reproduction and sound. Well worth it for the true fan and the novice as well.

any word on release of season 4 and 5?.......2007-01-01

Love this show and want to finish my collection but I'm turning old and gray just waiting for season 4 to be released.

Come On! Release, Release, Release...

May the Pun be with You.......2006-01-21

The puns are punnier and the stories are zanier as Rocky and Bullwinkle enter their fun filled third season. It consists of 33 episodes with everyone's favorite animated moose and squirrel as well as their friends and enemies.

The central focus of the show is the continuing exploits of Rocky the Flying Squirrel and Bullwinkle J. Moose. Each episode features two segments of the current serialized story, and there are four of them this time around.

Missouri Mish Mash finds Bullwinkle and Rocky caught in the middle of a feud being run by Boris Badenov, their arch nemesis. However, when Bullwinkle finds a special hat, things really start to get interesting.

Lazy Jay Ranch finds our heroes moving to Wyoming after they buy a ranch. Turns out it's a worm ranch, and Boris has plans of his own for those worms.

The Three Moosketeers brings our heroes to the country of Applesauce Lorraine after the rightful king is replaced by the scheming Francois Villain. (Something tells me he's a bad guy.) Of interest, this is the first Rocky and Bullwinkle story to not feature Boris and his sidekick Natasha Fatale.

Topsy Turvy World finds the world's axis shifting. With the new North Pole on the Equator, it's up to Rocky and Bullwinkle to right the world before Boris gives Santa a bad name.

Of course, each episode also includes several special features. Either a Fractured Fairy Tale or an Aesop and Son (a fable like you've never heard before), Bullwinkle's Corner (poetry and nursery rhymes for laughs) or Mr. Know-it-All (Bullwinkle shows us how NOT to do something), and Peabody's Improbably History (a dog makes sure history goes as recorded) or Dudley Do-Right (a spoof of melodramas set in Canada.)

These shows are absolutely hysterical, if you can stand a good pun. The writers seem to be at the top of their game, with the puns coming so fast you just might miss one. It breaks all the rules of TV with the characters often talking directly to the audience or making references to their TV show, but it only adds to the laughter. While kids will enjoy watching, it's the adults that will get the word play and the now dated historical references.

Of course, being an animated show from the 60's means the animation isn't up to today's standards. Still, it does a good job of getting the story across and holds up to some of today's TV animation.

I was disappointed to recognize many of the Bullwinkle's Corner and Mr. Know-it-All segments this time around. They are recycled from earlier seasons. I don't know why this is, but I hope the fourth season contains new material.

This set consists of four single sided DVD's. The picture and sound are great, although the occasional bit of dust or grain does betray the show's age. Unfortunately, Sony still sees a need to include the clear R&B logo in the lower right hand corner for a minute of each segment. I hardly notice, but when I do it is annoying.

The set this time has a circus theme to the box, booklet, and menus. The booklet contains a funny biography of villains Boris and Natasha. Also this time around, the booklet contains information on the Bullwinkle's Corner and Mr. Know-it-All segments, something that's been missing in previous sets.

Extras are light. They include some third season intros from the Bullwinkle puppet (including the infamous one where he tells kids to rip off their TV's knobs so they won't miss the next episode), a preview of the next season, and some "best of" moments from the season.

While the extras aren't a reason to buy the set, the shows themselves are still as punny as they were over forty years ago. Anyone with a fond memory of the show and a strong constitution for puns will love it.

Average customer rating:

Early Brando reveals full-blown genius
Redemption and rage.
Life on the Docks
Pretty dated now, but still fine performances...
A Great Film...

On the Waterfront (Special Edition)
Starring: Martin Balsam , Don Blackman , Rudy Bond , Marlon Brando , and Lee J. Cobb
Director: Elia Kazan
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00003CXBU
Release Date: 2001-10-23

Amazon.com essential video

Marlon Brando's famous "I coulda been a contenda" speech is such a warhorse by now that a lot of people probably feel they've seen this picture already, even if they haven't. And many of those who have seen it may have forgotten how flat-out thrilling it is. For all its great dramatic and cinematic qualities, and its fiery social criticism, Elia Kazan's On the Waterfront is also one of the most gripping melodramas of political corruption and individual heroism ever made in the United States, a five-star gut-grabber. Shot on location around the docks of Hoboken, New Jersey, in the mid-1950s, it tells the fact-based story of a longshoreman (Brando's Terry Malloy) who is blackballed and savagely beaten for informing against the mobsters who have taken over his union and sold it out to the bosses. (Karl Malden has a more conventional stalwart-hero role, as an idealistic priest who nurtures Terry's pangs of conscience.) Lee J. Cobb, who created the role of Willy Loman in Death of Salesman under Kazan's direction on Broadway, makes a formidable foe as a greedy union leader. --David Chute

Customer Reviews:

Early Brando reveals full-blown genius.......2007-06-27

Superb performances by Marlon Brando and Karl Malden and Eva Marie Saint in this raw, gritty classic of union corruption on the NYC waterfront, offers a study of Brando's profound ability to become the tormented "Terry" with every subtle change of expression a reflection of the inner man. The film is as fresh and gripping today as it was 50 years ago and bears watching again and again for anyone who claims to be a student of acting, cinemantography or just plain great films that don't need to rely on special effects for their impact. - A. Madsen, Baltimore

Redemption and rage........2007-05-27

On the Waterfront (Elia Kazan, 1954)

"I coulda been a contender!" That's the line everyone knows from On the Waterfront. It's funny, because to me, Marlon Brando's truly great scene in this movie comes about five minutes later, amid the fallout of the contender conversation. He's desperately trying to keep from breaking down, barking orders to his girlfriend while getting ready to start a one-man war against the city's crime bosses. It's great stuff. And here I was, having seen the contender excerpt at least a thousand times, thinking it was a movie about a washed-up boxer. Well, it is, but that's only the tip of the iceberg.

Terry Malloy (Brando) is a longshoreman, an ex-boxer who's been taken under the wing of union leader Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb). As the movie opens, Terry is seen having a brief conversation with his acquaintance Jimmy, who is soon pushed to his death from the roof of a tenement building. Terry, disturbed by this, goes back to the bar out of which the union operates, protesting that he just thought "they were gonna lean on him a little." This begins Terry's long and painful journey from a longshoreman who follows the "deaf and dumb" code of the union to a man proud enough to stand up for himself and his fellow workers against the corruption at the higher levels of the union.

Man, this must have been a tough film to get through McCarthy's goons...

Amusing political peccadilloes aside, On the Waterfront really is a great movie. Kazan was at the height of his directorial power, and Brando was never better as an actor. Karl Malden, as a meddling priest willing to stand up for the little guy, does a fantastic job as well, and most of the rest of the cast range from good to great. (There are a few minor characters who seem to be there just for amusement's sake, but they don't get enough face time to really do much damage to the quality of the overall film.) If you haven't seen it, well, it's not just a movie about a washed-up boxer, that I can tell you. ****

Life on the Docks.......2007-05-13

This was the first AFI movie we saw en masse as a family and we loved it! Many generations of eyeballs were glued to the black and white images on the screen, following Brando as he went from a lowly mob thug to someone who stood up for what was right. The acting is phenomenal, and the environment is very down-to-earth and gritty. You really do feel that these people struggle to survive on the docks, to do what is right in a world full of greed and backstabbing.

While famous for Marlon Brando's famous line of "I coulda been a contender!" there are actually many lines of dialogue in here that stand out. The cinematography, the scenery, the faces of the men and women as they go about their lives, it really draws you in to the tough life they led. This definitely deserves to be in the top 10 of all films and is a great film to watch with friends and discuss afterwards.

As an aside, we were all intrigued by the metal tokens that the dock workers held in their hands as they waited on the docks, and it was amazing that in a room of 10 people of all ages, we didn't have any "real" knowledge of what was going on. We could of course make some educated guesses! But here is what I found.

As far back as the 1800s, dock workers were given metal tokens saying they were "signed up properly" to be able to work on the dock. This was to keep riff-raff and untrustworthy thieves off the docks, as well as making some money for the local guild or union. The workers would sign up beforehand and be given these metal circles, that were stamped with the local sign and in essence said "this man is a valid worker to choose".

Then each day as the ships came in, a certain number of gangs would be needed to haul the boxes. This could be only 10 men on a quiet day, or 200 men on a busy day. So each morning, all of the men who wanted to work would show up on the docks. The bosses would call out or list on a board what the day's requirements were. Then they would look out over the group and choose whoever seemed best suited. Each man would have to show his metal token as he went in to work, to prove he was in fact currently paid up and eligible.

In On the Waterfront, certain men were also giving coded winks and nods. These would be those men closest with the mob - the ones who had friends and who should be chosen first.

Pretty dated now, but still fine performances..........2007-03-31

Brando and Steiger and Malden and Cobb and Eva Marie Saint. Directed by Elia Kazan, who was on the right-wing side of the blacklist. A tale of corrupt unions and mobsters when American goods were imported and exported by ships which made New York a regular port of call. The story just wouldn't work the same if set in Houston or New Orleans or Los Angeles. You can tell this is 50 years old, but there are still acting lessons by the cargo-hold-ful visible on the screen. Everyone who claims to like movies needs to see it at least once.

A Great Film..........2007-03-15

Everyone knows about "On the Waterfront" and many people who have never seen a frame of the film can quote some of its dialogue. It's on many people's top 10 list of the best movies of all time, it's in the top 10 of the American Film Institute's Top 100 (#8). It's a legendary film, featuring one of the best screen performances of all time by Marlon Brando. The film is directed by Elia Kazan (reunited with his "A Streetcar Named Desire" stars Brando and Karl Malden) and is, apparently, as much his story as it is a work of fiction. Brando plays Terry Malloy, an ex-prizefighter that works on the mob run waterfront. After playing a small role in the death of a local kid whom ratted on Terry's boss Johnny Friendly, Terry begins dating the dead boy's sister Edie (Eva Marie Saint). When another man dies for ratting, Terry's conscience kicks in and he begins to consider ratting himself. Problem is, Terry's brother Charley (Rod Steiger) is one of Johnny's right-hand men. When Charley is killed, Terry decides to step up and avenge his brother's death...But he may get himself killed in the process. This all leads to a brilliant climax, where else, on the waterfront. Ask anyone about "On the Waterfront" and they'll associate it with "I coulda been a contender." For years, I was under the impression this was a boxing movie because of that line. Since I don't like boxing movies, I just never bothered to watch this film. Seeing it now, I realize what I've missed out on for so long. This is a brilliant piece of filmmaking, no matter what the motives for making it were. Oddly enough, the 'contender' line isn't even in the best line in the movie (my nomination would be "Conscience. That stuff can drive you nuts."). While watching the film I began to wonder...Would this film have been as good without Brando? For a man who gave so many incredible performances over the years, it's hard to say which one is the best. But you really got to take a look at "On the Waterfront" and the way Brando recites many of the lines. Would the line "I coulda been a contender" have as much poignancy and be as familiar to Americans had it not been Brando who recited it? What if Frank Sinatra had been cast in the role, as he was originally planned to be? "On the Waterfront" has a great script and great direction, it would've made a damn fine movie without Brando but I highly doubt anyone besides the biggest cinephiles would remember it today. "On the Waterfront" is a rare "great" film, in the sense that it's more likely to be enjoyed by the masses than another great film like "Pandora's Box." This is a movie you can show to the average teenage kid and they'll enjoy it. "On the Waterfront" is, in two words, a masterpiece.

GRADE: A

Average customer rating:

Do yourself a favor and get it
Motown disappointment
FANTASTIC!
I never really liked Motown...
Standing In The Shadows of Motown

Standing In The Shadows of Motown
Starring: Richard 'Pistol' Allen , Jack Ashford , Bob Babbitt (II) , Benny 'Papa Zita' Benjamin , and Eddie 'Bongo' Brown
Director: Paul Justman
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
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Standing in the Shadows of Motown: Deluxe Edition
Standing in the Shadows of Motown
The Temptations
Standing in the Shadows of Motown: The Life and Music of Legendary Bassist James Jamerson
20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Funk Brothers

ASIN: B00008J2HC
Release Date: 2003-04-22

Amazon.com

Standing in the Shadows of Motown is a must-see film for any fan of the Supremes, the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, or any other classic Motown stars. This swinging documentary celebrates the Funk Brothers--the team of studio musicians who powered dozens and dozens of hit Motown songs--by combining reminiscences, reenactments, and clips from a recent concert put on by the Funk Brothers, featuring singers like Chaka Khan, Ben Harper, and Joan Osborne on classic tunes like "What's Going On," "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," and "Heatwave." This crafty gang of elderly musicians will charm your pants off with a slew of entertaining anecdotes. Though it seems that there's a lot of dirt they're declining to dish, the movie deftly outlines the history of Motown, surely the most significant music label in American history--the label that turned segregated "race music" into chart-topping success. A soulful delight. --Bret Fetzer

Description

Detroit, Michigan, 1959. Berry Gordy gathers the best musicians from the city's thriving jazz and blues scene for his new record company: Motown. For the next 14 years these players are the heartbeat on "My Girl," "Baby Love," "Ooo Baby Baby," "Bernadette," "I Was Made To Love Her," "I Heard It Through The Grapevine," "Dancing In The Street," and every other hit from Motown's Detroit era. By the end of their phenomenal run, the unheralded group of musicians plays on more Number One hits than the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, and The Beatles combined, making them the greatest hit machine in the history of popular music. They call themselves the Funk Brothers. But no one knows their names...this is their story.

Customer Reviews:

Do yourself a favor and get it.......2007-07-04

This might be the best 10 bucks you'll ever spend if you like Motown or heck if you like music. It leaves you wanting to know more and many of us who grew up with this music should know more. While some of their stories are heartbreaking it was a pleasure to see Pistol Allen smiling behind the drums even though he was so sick he would die shortly after the completion of the film. It was a sad moment too when two of the surviving brothers describe their last encounter with James Jamerson who would die the day after their visit. But there is fun too, fun for the Funk Brothers and fun for us as we are honored to hear these guys play and play they still can. The band is still very tight and very good. The vocalist do an admirable job of interpreting the hits. It would have been nice to have been graced with Marvin Gaye's and David Ruffin's presence but this is about the Funk Brothers and I for one am damn glad I got to see it.
Thanks to Dr. Lick's for putting this together.

Motown disappointment.......2007-06-27

I was looking forward to seeing the actual footage of the singers. I do appreciate the story of the fellows behind the artists but still, I think the video would have been more enjoyable had they included the actual singers.

FANTASTIC!.......2007-06-18

I rented this from Blockbuster,and immediately bought it. It's sooooo good and informative, I can't describe it. I loaned it to someone who stayed up until 2:00 a.m. to see the whole thing. There are absolutely great live performances from: the late Gerald Levert, (His "Shotgun" is outstanding) Me'shell Indegeocello (sp.)(who sexes up "You Really Got A Hold On Me"), Bootsy Collins, ("Cool Jerk"). Joan Osborne does a great ("What Becomes of the Broken Hearted") and Ben Harper all sing 2 songs. (The only performance I HATED was Ben Harper's "Heard it through the Grapevine"). Chaka Khan, Montell Jordan & Tom Scott also appear. The remaining "Funk Brothers" musicians who played behind the Motown groups,tell funny stories about each other, how they met, Berry Gordy and the label's performers. They even go to "Hitsville" where it all started. There are reinactments, and old photos. It's so good I've seen it at least six times. You will almost cry at the finale when they introduce everyone, even the musicians that have passed away. Their photos are on stage with the remaining members. There is a second disc of extras that I have yet to finish, but the movie itself is wonderful. I've watched it with Black and White people, young and old, and everyone loves it. Go get it. Now.

I never really liked Motown..........2007-05-25

...and the Motown sound. I saw it as a saccharine, watered-down parody of Soul for mass consumption.

This DVD changed all that for me.

The story of the Funk Brothers and their different personalities --personal and musical-- was fascinating and a revelation. The music is top-notch and the modern vocalists they got for this film and for the excellent soundtrack --buy it, even if you think you don't like the Motown sound-- bring out the magic of those famous tunes I dismissed at an earlier age.

Maybe the current crop of singers have more soul or more influences to draw on than the originals artists, or maybe the engineers/producers sucked some of the guts out of the original tracks... I don't know, but these songs sound great!

What is more or less the same is the line-up of the Funk Brothers, finally getting a very small measure of the recognition they deserve.

The filmmakers and the the artists featured in this film turned me from detractor to a fan of the Motown sound. I can't give a better review than that.

If you like music documentaries and you haven't seen this one, you're missing one of the best!

Standing In The Shadows of Motown.......2007-05-14

Excellent documentary brings to light the artists behind the music that was the "Motown Sound".

Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends - The Complete First Season

Average customer rating:

Funnier now than 40 years ago
rocky and bullwinkle joy
Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends - complete first season
Same old Moose and Squirrel
This was an enjoyable purchase.

Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends - The Complete First Season
Starring: Bill Scott , June Foray , Paul Frees , Edward Everett Horton , and Daws Butler
Director: Jim Hiltz , Rudy Zamora , Gerald Ray (II) , William T. Hurtz , and Ted Parmelee
Manufacturer: Classic Media
ProductGroup: DVD
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Underdog Boxed Set (Collector's Edition/Chronicles/Nemesis)

ASIN: B00009PJT0
Release Date: 2003-08-05

Amazon.com

Now here's something you don't see everyday, Chauncey. It's the complete first season of one of television's smartest, savviest, and most subversively funny animated series, ranked by TV Guide as one of the top 50 series of all time. Like the animators at Warner Bros.' Termite Terrace (birthplace of Porky, Daffy, and Bugs), producer Jay Ward, his partner Bill Scott (the voice of Bullwinkle), and the cracked writing staff did not write down to children. The dialogue is witty and sharply satiric. Characters break the "fourth wall" between the screen and the audience. They make sly references to the show's creators and the television network. They hurl barbs of mass destruction at Washington, D.C. politicians. And then there are the godawful puns. This four-disc set contains the series' first two serial adventures. "Jet Fuel Formula" is a cold war-era blast, as Rocky (voiced by June Foray, the Queen of Cartoons) and Bullwinkle frantically race to re-create a rocket fuel recipe (actually Grandma Bullwinkle's recipe for mooseberry fudge cake), while being menaced by those no-goodniks Boris Badenov and femme fatale Natasha. "Box Top Robbery" reveals that the basis for the world's economy is not gold and silver, but cereal box tops.

Linking these cliffhanging episodes are such hilarious segments as "Fractured Fairy Tales," which upend familiar storybook favorites (Red Riding Hood, for example, is a predatory fur merchant after the unwitting wolf), "Mr. Peabody," the canine genius who travels through time in the company of his boy, Sherman, and forthright Dudley Do-Right of the Mounties, who must contend with his own horse for the affections of sweet Nell. Bullwinkle gets extra credits as Mr. Know-It-All and as the host of Poetry Corner. And watch him pull a rabbit out of his hat! These cartoons are as fresh and funny as when they first aired more than four decades ago. Boomer-era adults will be amazed at the jokes that no doubt soared over their heads as children. --Donald Liebenson

Customer Reviews:

Funnier now than 40 years ago.......2007-03-21

The purists can argue the merits of the changes until they're blue in the face, I've been too busy laughing my tush off to worry about it.

The irreverent humor and biting political commentary, both of which have only improved with age make this more fun for me than it is for my 8 y/o who thinks Rocky and Bullwinkle are the greatest animation on the planet.

rocky and bullwinkle joy.......2007-01-12

This is one of the finest DVD set that I have. The obscure references, the pun's, and the characters are some of the best of early sixties cartoons. One of the best features is that the episodes are shown complete as they were aired. Have already bought season two and am planning on buying season three as soon as I get done with season one. Buy and enjoy!!

Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends - complete first season .......2007-01-11

PURCHASED THIS FILM FOR MY BROTHER-IN LAW WHO IS A BIG FAN OF ROCKY & BULLWINKLE. WE SAT AND WATCHED IT WITH HIM AND ENJOYED THE SHOWS AS WELL AS THE MEMORIES. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE PURCHASE OF THE SECOND SEASON LATER ON. IT GIVES A LOT OF PLEASURE TO MY BROTHER-IN LAW AS WELL AS MY FAMILY.

Same old Moose and Squirrel.......2006-10-30

I purchased this set as a gift for my husband. It's a great way to watch all of the old cartoons we both watched as children. We are second generation fans, and being so neither of us realized there is a story line to follow with each of the short skits. It's been wonderful watching them in the order they were made and understanding the whole story. Plus, the humor is even more interesting now that we are older and understand some of the political implications and satire we missed as kids. Two thumbs up.

This was an enjoyable purchase........2006-10-28

I do not have much to say other than this was a great purchase. I got this dvd set on a whim because I really liked the way the packaging looked. I was not that familiar with R&B but I knew enough. After watching all of the episodes I was amazed, this is a great show and I would recommend it for anyone! Plus the packaging is really nice :^) I have season two and plan to begin watching it as soon as I can. Buy this set if you love clever stories and dialogue with wonderfully bad animation. That sounds cheesy but this is fun cheese.

Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends - The Complete Second Season

Average customer rating:

Be proud, fellow baby-boomers!
Rife with happy nostalgic, wholesome fun
Rocky and Bullwinkle Season 2 and 3
Nothin up my sleeve
Rocky & His Friends

Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends - The Complete Second Season
Starring: Bill Scott , June Foray , Paul Frees , Edward Everett Horton , and Daws Butler
Director: Jim Hiltz , Rudy Zamora , Gerald Ray (II) , William T. Hurtz , and Ted Parmelee
Manufacturer: Classic Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends - The Complete First Season
Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends - The Complete Third Season
The Best of Mr. Peabody & Sherman, Vol. 1
The Best of Fractured Fairy Tales, Vol. 1 (1961)
The Yogi Bear Show - The Complete Series

ASIN: B0002ABU5C
Release Date: 2004-08-31

Amazon.com

Set your WABAC machine for 1960, and the further misadventures of Rocket J. Squirrel and Bullwinkle J. Moose, the most illustrious citizens of Frostbite Falls, MN (population: 48; and that's during the summer rush). This four-disc set contains seven full-length serials, several of which loom large in the Rocky & Bullwinkle canon, including "Upsidasium," "Metal Munching Mice," and "Greenpernt Oogle," with the rare, reclusive oogle bird (sorry, you'll have to wait until the release of season 3 for the Kirwood Derby).

Perhaps emboldened by what they were able to get away with in season 1, producer Jay Ward, writer and the voice of Bullwinkle Bill Scott, Queen of Cartoons June Foray, "and a host of others," gleefully further broke with television convention. Rocky & Bullwinkle was at once very silly (for the kids) and slyly satirical (for mom and dad). Characters broke the fourth wall ("Don't look at me," a villain insists at one point, "I'm not giving up the plot"). Corporate America (television executives in particular) was mocked. In "Metal Munching Mice," news that robotic rodents are devouring television antennae causes panic when it is realized that the public are unable to watch commercials. And then there are the subversively funny "Fractured Fairy Tales," in which Puss 'n Boots gets skinned, Red Riding Hood is devoured, and no one lives happily ever after, and the time-travel adventures of cultured canine Mr. Peabody and his boy Sherman, in which historical figures are revealed to be boobs. Just for laughs, there is the faux melodrama of forthright Mounty Dudley Do-Right, and the Bullwinkle segments, "Bullwinkle's Corner" and "Mr. Know It All." Still crazy after all these years, Rocky & Bullwinklerises like the anti-gravity Upsidasium above mere nostalgia. Like The Simpsons, this series rewards viewers who pay attention, and invites repeat viewings to catch all the jokes you missed. --Donald Liebenson

Customer Reviews:

Be proud, fellow baby-boomers!.......2007-06-29

Even in this age of tremendous animation geared specifically not for children, (Simpsons, King of the Hill, Family Guy, etc. . . .) The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show still has to be rated as one of the all time great adult cartoons. Creator and master-mind Jay Ward had a unique sense of humor that was two-part silly surrealism and one part subtle-yet-caustic sarcasm. He did not seem capable of writing down to a cartoon audience, and he always assumed everyone got the joke (and, amazingly enough, tons of baby boomers did, along with their Korean-War generation parents).

The animation was, to be kind, stylized (not even quite as good as the "limited animation" of the great Hanna-Barbara cartoons of the 1960's), but what these cartoons lacked in lush graphics and great backgrounds, they more than made up for in great comic writing and imagination. Season Two had some of the most memorable flights of brilliance like "Metal Munching Mice" - a 16-episode jaunt that had six-foot metal "moon mice" bent on destroying America by devouring television antennas. "Upsidasium," another season-two classic, spanned a whopping 36 episodes and revolved around the anti-gravity metal, Upsidasium, sought after by all governments of the world (a tremendous and playful riff on the nuclear paranoia of the late 1950's and early 1960's). And what baby boomer didn't love all the additional special features ("And now here's something we hope you really like.") like Fractured Fairy Tales, Dudley Do-Right, Aesop's Fables, and (my personal favorite) Peabody's Improbable History.

Yet, finally, what made these cartoons historic in their greatness was the staggering alignment of vocal talent. Bill Scott was the voice of Bullwinkle and June Foray (the all time champ of female voice actors) supplied the voice for not only Rocky but also for Natasha, Nell Fenwick, and many and many additional voices. Then there was the great Paul Frees doing Boris, Captain Peachfuzz, Cloyd the Moon Man, and Inspector Fenwick.

The list goes on: Hans Conried (Snidely Whiplash), Walter Tetley (Sherman), Charles Ruggles (Aesop), and Jullie Bennett (all the odd female voices in Fractured Fairy Tales that Foray didn't do, like The Fisherman's Wife). This show even had the greatest vocal talent ever, Daws Butler, on board doing the voice of Aesop Jr. in the Aesop`s Fables feature.

All in all, the greatest alignment of vocal talent ever assembled. Do not miss it. Any season of this classic television treasure will do. --- Mykal Banta

Rife with happy nostalgic, wholesome fun.......2007-03-14

These DVDs are of excellent quality and value, hours and hours of the pun and double entendre filled humor this truly innovative kids' program brought to early TV audiences. I watched the shows 50 years ago and enjoy them as much today as my parents did then. Why, you ask? The humor was bi-level in age appeal. Kids enjoyed the good guy-bad guy antics of Rocky and Bullwinkle vs. Boris and Natasha while parents reveled in the creative, wholesome and usually silly parables. The additional episodes of Fractured Fairy Tales, Dudley Do-right of the Mounties, Mr. Peabody and Sherman (A Dog and His Boy), who time travel to experience improbable history lessons make this collection priceless. You'll definitely want the first season as well.

Rocky and Bullwinkle Season 2 and 3 .......2006-11-04

I just missed seeing them since the 70's and 80's when I loved every week sitting in front of the TV waiting to see what happened next. It is a Great DVD to revisit your Childhood. And even good clean Cartoons for kids today instead of all the Viloince and Rudeness they seem to play. Hope everyone young and old checks these DVD's out they are great for the Decade they were made.

Nothin up my sleeve.......2006-04-17

These old R & B cartoons are the best. The DVD's are very clear and have all the episodes in order. Jay ward was at his best here. I wish they would release his other stuff on DVD like george of the jungle with super chicken and tom slick. I would buy those as quick as I did the R & B seasons. I also have season 3 and its great too. Can't wait for season 4. Come on guys give us george of the jungle too.

Rocky & His Friends.......2005-10-09

I've got all three complete years. I'm enjoying them all over again & my grandkids are loving them also. Buy these.

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