Boys

Starring:Winona Ryder, Lukas Haas, John C. Reilly, James LeGros, Skeet Ulrich, Matt Malloy, Spencer Vrooman, Charlie Hofheimer, Bill Sage, Marty McDonough, Wiley Wiggins, Russell Young, Vivienne Shub, Christopher Pettiet, Catherine Keener, Maddie Corman, Andy Davis (II), Jessica Harper, Chris Cooper, David Newsom
Director: Stacy Cochran
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Product Type: DVD

Description

It's the world's greatest teen super-sleuths to the rescue as Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys return in 22 hour-long episodes of The Hardy Boys Nancy Drew Mysteries Season Two! Based on the hugely popular books and starring teen idols Shaun Cassidy, Parker Stevenson and Pamela Sue Martin, these thrilling episodes follow the determined detectives on spooky mysteries in Dracula's Castle, at Mardi Gras in New Orleans and even in the Bermuda Triangle! Contributing to the fun and excitement are seven hit songs from Shaun Cassidy that made him a pop music sensation, including "That's Rock `N Roll" and "Hey Deanie." Also, along for the chase in Season Two are such special guest stars as Casey Kasem, Rick Springfield, Melanie Griffith and Valerie Bertinelli. Follow the clues to fantastic music and adventures with TV's most famous teenage detectives!

Customer Reviews:

Surprisingly Good...but Nancy Drew out..........2007-07-01

The second season dvd set of THE HARDY BOYS/NANCY DREW MYSTERIES started off with a bang! "The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Meet Dracula 1 & 2" began season two with Parker Stevenson, Shaun Cassidy, and Pamela Sue Martin joining forces to solve a mystery in Dracula's castle. The trio also got together in Hollywood for another two-parter during this season called "The Mystery Of The Hollywood Phantom." Again, the story lines are exciting with plot twists and fun filled adventures, but something becomes noticeably different in season two.

It seems that Nancy Drew (Pamela Sue Martin) was being relegated to a supporting character to the Hardy Boys. The shows were now focusing more on Frank and Joe Hardy, and Nancy Drew would be a guest star. Even the number of Nancy Drew episodes dropped from an equal number in the first season (7-to-7), to only three shows(not guest starring with Hardy Boys) in this season.

Maybe the reason for this change was because of Shaun Cassidy's (Joe Hardy) huge popularity as a pop singer during that time, but something made the show's creators focus on the Hardy Boys. Even the regular characters on "Nancy Drew," namely "George" and "Ned," were replaced with other actors in season two. I'm not sure if the "Ned" character played by Rick Springfield in the episode "Will The Real Santa Claus..." was supposed to be the "Ned" character from season one, but the "George" character was definitely the same, but played by a different actress.

Anyway, the changes aren't too jarring until you get half way through the season when Pamela Sue Martin steps out as Nancy Drew and is replaced by Janet Louise Johnson(?) in another Nancy Drew guest-star/two-parter called "Voodoo Doll." And even though Johnson(?) isn't bad as ND, Martin was perfect. I don't know why this happened, but whatever the reason it was a little unsettling. It would be like Lynda Carter being replaced as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman half-way through the season of "Wonder Woman."

Although I didn't like this change in casting, I gave this set 5-stars because the shows were pretty good...even if they were mostly "Hardy Boys" episodes. The episode called "Arson and Old Lace," the second to the last on this season, was a little corny where Nancy Drew gets kidnapped by this old man and held for six months. There's this scene where Frank and Nancy are climbing up an elevator shaft; they reach the top of it and all of a sudden they're outside on the roof. So suspension of disbelief was really being stretched there.

But I'm glad I bought this set. The picture and sound quality are good and this time the episodes are on five single-sided dvds. There's also a bonus feature called "America's Top Sleuths" that says it's the Sleuth Channel's countdown of top sleuths on tv and film. Another thing I enjoyed on this set, that was also on season one, was the voice over at the beginning of each show saying, "Tonight on the Hardy boys/Nancy Drew..." and the episode title.

Wow!! GREAT season 2 disc set!!.......2007-06-30

While I have NOT seen the entire season as of yet, I did watch 5 episodes and they are GREAT! Crystal Clear picture and sound.

I was a bit upset that they decided to Include Pamela Sue Martin in with The Hardy Boys episodes because it would mean that there won't be any more Nancy Drew episodes on her own and I LOVE Nancy Drew. What is also scaring me now is that the girl who replaced her made the character look STUPID. Or should I say the writers.

The Character of Nancy Drew IS detective and she shouldn't be made into a dimwit. I love Pamela Martin's portrayal of the Young, sexy and SMART detective because she really DID show the Boys (The Handsome Parker Stevenson and Shaun Cassidy)what she could do and didn't need a man to come to her rescue. So it will be hard for me to get used to the New Nancy.

I also can NOT wait for season 2 of Dynasty as I have already have season1 which also starred the great Pamela Sue Martin as Fallon Carrington the conniving and seductive daughter of Blake Carrinton played convincingly by John Forsythe who voiced the Charlie Townsend character on the Cahrlie's Angels the most popular tv series of ALL time.

All I need now would be the Bionic Woman seasons 1-3 and Police Woman season 2 and One Day at a Time season 2 and I will be very happy.

I also have Cagney & Lacey on dvd.

Nancy and the Boys.......2007-06-28

It is amazing that NICK at NITE hasn't brought back these great show's from the 70's. Alot of great actors at the beginning of there career's and wow YOUNG!!!!

The mystery is solved! Intelligent family programs DO still exist and all clues lead to this excellent DVD set..........2007-06-25

There are many DVD sets in my collection and not one of them was as anticipated as this one. I'm pleased to say that Season Two of The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries does not disappoint.

To put Season Two in perspective I must first say a few words about Season One. Released on DVD in March 2005, the first season episodes beautifully capture the essence of The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew novels that have been a staple in children's literature since the 1920's. Frank, Joe, and Nancy helped solve mysteries around their hometowns, often assisting their fathers on important cases. In Season One the guys and Nancy are just getting started with their crime solving, sometimes making mistakes here and there. This could be debated but Nancy made far fewer mistakes than the boys ever did! In both seasons Nancy is a young woman who mostly works alone and gets the job done right the first time. Pamela Sue Martin's portrayal of Nancy was perfect. No one else could ever BE Nancy, then or now.

Nearing the end of Season One a phenomenon helped to transform this great children's series into "must-see-TV" for teens and pre-teens everywhere: The Brothers Hardy - wonderfully portrayed by Parker Stevenson and super singer Shaun Cassidy - became teen idols. And so began Season Two...

Though it has been done in print many times since, the first episode on this Season Two set has the characters of Frank, Joe, and Nancy meeting for the first time ever. The brothers are hardly ever home this season, though they do still assist their dad on occasion. The second season takes the guys to exotic lands and the danger quotient is slightly increased over the previous year. If you're a fan of The Hardy Boys Casefiles (novels written in the late '80's) this season is for you!

Many guest stars lend their talents to this season too, including Lorne Green, Valerie Bertinelli, Edd Byrnes (77 Sunset Strip), Troy Donahue, Fabian, Tommy Sands, Deborah Walley (Gidget), Melanie Griffith, Ray Milland (veteran actor from the 1920's through the 1980's), Linda Dano (One Life to Live), Rick Springfield (General Hospital), Jaclyn Smith (Charlie's Angels), Robert Wagner (Hart to Hart), Casey Kasem (radio personality), Dennis Weaver (McCloud), and many more.

I'm proud to say I've been a fan of this series for 30 years, though I didn't watch it regularly until the end of season two. My memories of watching "The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries" take me back to edited reruns on snowy, low-powered UHF TV channels during the television days B.C. (Before Cable). Needless to say, this set is a joy to watch; the episodes are complete and beautifully restored. They are presented on five neatly packaged single-sided discs. New generations will watch this and get acquainted with three super sleuths who value friendship, perseverance, independence, respect, hard work, brotherly love, and so much more that's missing from today's television landscape. Three decades have passed but parents and children can still enjoy this show together. That is the sign of a true classic.

Finally, I must salute the cast - Shaun, Parker, Pamela, Janet Louise Johnson as Nancy Drew, Edmund Gilbert (the ONLY Fenton Hardy and the perfect Hardy dad!), and William Schallert as Mr. Drew. Without you this series would not be the classic that it is. The evidence - this DVD set - proves it!

The mystery of the Perfect Hair.......2007-06-23

Looking back at the Hardy Boys episodes, it is amazing that they could get by with such poor scripts and mediocre acting. But one has to remember that the entire success of these shows was based on the teen idol appeal of Shaun Cassidy and Parker Stevenson. These boys weren't acting; they were performing acts of S & M (standing and modeling). As long as those blow-dried, pouffed-out hair don'ts were perfect with every hair in place, nothing else mattered. It is amusing to note that the boys still had perfect hair after deep sea diving, laying comatose in a hospital, and having the %$# kicked out of them. The vision of Shaun running through a fire engulfed room with soot on his face and perfect hair stretches credibility to the limit. What is even more ridiculous is how the Hardy Boys were crammed into very tight pants, leaving NOTHING to the viewers' imagination. Even the most brain-dead preteen could quickly figure out that Shaun dressed to the left and Parker dressed to the right. (And neither boy had anything to be ashamed of in that department.) The Nancy Drew episodes were less popular in their day, but the acting and writing was far superior to that of the Hardy Boys. Unable to play the teen idol card, Pamela Sue Martin actually had to act, and her talents in that department were almost as sizeable as what the Hardy Boys were not hiding in their pants. Pamela was also much less preoccupied with perfect appearance. She actually allowed her clothes to get dirty and her hair did occasionally get messed up. But Martin's most astounding feat was climbing up ladders, running down alleys, and jumping across rooftops in 3-inch heels. This makes her a much bigger super-heroine than Wonder Woman.

Average customer rating:

Had my sons' interest for 2 minutes
we have potty power!
Entertaining and helpful
Worked right away!
Awesome, it was like magical....... Totally worth it....!!!!!

Potty Power - For Boys & Girls
Starring: Potty Power
Manufacturer: Consumervision
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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General | Children's Music | Styles | Music

General | Instructional | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B0002B55DO
Release Date: 2004-06-08

Customer Reviews:

Had my sons' interest for 2 minutes.......2007-06-30

If I did not sit there with him for the whole 2 minutes he would have left the room. Really really cheesy, not entertaining, annoying to the parent, and well my son would have rather played in dirt.

we have potty power!.......2007-06-29

My 2 1/2 yr old loved this video. It helped us in potty training. She would go to the potty to have potty power! The songs also stick w/the child(& mom too). We would sing "no more diapers for me".Even now after months of being fully trained she still asks to watch this video.
(Worked better than Elmo's potty also). Good luck!
Christy W~

Entertaining and helpful.......2007-06-27

This video is very helpful for potty training an older child. My daughter is 3 and would only occaisonally sit on the potty. And although we are still in the works of potty traing her, this movie has truly motivated her to be a "big kid"!

Worked right away!.......2007-06-18

The very first night my son saw the video, he said " NO MORE DIAPERS". IT has been that way since. He is in the potty and said that he has Potty power. I love the video. Thanks!

Awesome, it was like magical....... Totally worth it....!!!!!.......2007-06-01

It was absolutely awesome, it was like magical...
all I know is it worked for my 2.5 year old daughter
when nothing else did. I am proud to tell EVERYONE about
this. Why struggle. Just plan on watching it alot the first
few weeks. Totally worth it !!!!!

Average customer rating:

Some plays should just remain in the theater
Rubbish (Well, it is an English movie!)
Excellent film--but let's clarify something
Makes one think of Dead Poet's Society
Love it!

The History Boys
Starring: Samuel Anderson , James Corden , Stephen Campbell Moore , Richard Griffiths , and Frances de la Tour
Director: Nicholas Hytner
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000NIVJFO
Release Date: 2007-04-17

Amazon.com

The play's the thing in The History Boys. Unlike most stage-to-screen transitions, Nicholas Hytner assembled the entire original cast for the celluloid version of Alan Bennett's award-winning work. (The two previously joined forces for The Madness of King George.) As in Hytner's National Theatre production, a group of Sheffield sixth-form boys, Timms (James Corden), Lockwood (Andrew Knott), Rudge (Russell Tovey), Scripps (Jamie Parker), Crowther (Samuel Anderson), Akhtar (Sacha Dhawan), Posner (Samuel Barnett), and Dakin (Dominic Cooper)--the latter two standouts--spend an extra term in 1983 preparing for their Oxbridge exams. Hector (Richard Griffiths) and Dorothy Lintott (Frances de la Tour) are their regular instructors (both performances garnered Tony Awards), while Irwin (Stephen Campbell Moore, Bright Young Things) is the enigmatic new history teacher. The Headmaster (Clive Merrison) brings him on board to lend the precocious lads "polish." Irwin, however, is more interested in encouraging them to think creatively--not merely to recite facts. The boys just want to get into Oxford and Cambridge. If that means withstanding the occasional grope from Hector and harsh word from Irwin, so be it. In the end, which boy gets in where isn't insignificant, but Bennett's greater concern is what they learn along the way. If Hytner isn't always successful in reconciling the intellectual with the more earthbound, The History Boys is one of the funniest films yet about Britain's educational system--and education in general. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Stills from The History Boys

Description

From award-winning playwright Alan Bennett (The Madness of King George) comes this delightfully witty comedy of eight boisterous-yet-talented schoolboys hoping to gain admittance to England's most prestigious universities. They're aided on their quest by two teachers, a shrewd young upstart and an inspiring old eccentric, whose opposing philosophies challenge the boys to confront the true meaning of education and the relative values of happiness and success.

Adapted from the original Tony Award winning play and starring the original Tony Award winning cast, The History Boys is an engaging, thought-provoking, and wickedly funny look at history, the pursuit of knowledge, and the utter randomness of life.

Customer Reviews:

Some plays should just remain in the theater.......2007-06-29

I thought this movie was okay and could have been better even with its funny and touching scenes (brief encounter!). Set in Yorkshire, England in 1983, and centers around a handful of boys in their final year of high school. The boys represent a rather interesting and eclectic mix: there's one who's gay, another who loves sports more than school, and another who is the valedictorian but who acts more like the class bully. Nevertheless, they're all brilliant students who are particularly apt scholars of history and the French language. When news circulates that they have a chance at getting into Oxford and Cambridge, the headmaster (Clive Merrison) hires a young Oxford graduate (Stephen Campbell Moore) to temporarily teach the kids for the "big test" and make them more well rounded students and optimum choices for acceptance, all while intruding upon their favorite History teacher's (Richard Griffiths) class time.He's obese, challenging, and eccentric. He also rides a motorcycle and endlessly quotes great poetry. He firmly agrees with A.E. Houseman who wrote: "All human knowledge is precious whether or not it serves the slightest human use." If Hector were around today he might be on the endangered species list. But Hector also has a dark side. He seems to get a sexual charge out of taking students out for intimate rides on his motorcycle, and his inappropriate behavior eventually becomes an issue in the film. His job is to prepare some promising but uncouth students for Oxford. He uses creative teaching methods and actually encourages them to think for themselves.

"The History Boys" is also very hip to British pop culture, with numerous '80s rock songs throughout, and very intellectual, with poignant poetry found in nearly every scene. Those two points alone should give anyone a solid idea what to expect going in. There's even a metaphor about relationships and sex in relation to war in history. The focus of the film is purely on the linguists and dialogue in order to drive the story and does not call on any physical or visual imagery at all; this is great on stage, but ineffective on film. The film winds down by telling a lengthy story instead of ending when it should have. Although it gets into the lives of the students and teachers well, it is not as deeply gripping as a film like this should have been.

This film does feature some incredible performances such as Rudge (Russell Tovey), who is the one with the most troubles and breaks the most bounds, also stands out the most. He's supported strongly by Posner (Samuel Barnett), an incredibly talented actor and singer who plays the homosexual boy, and Dakin (Dominic Cooper), who is the cigarette-smoking, sporty, attractive guy you don't want to mess with. The rest of the boisterous cast of students have amazing chemistry, but look like they are acting on stage and not for the camera. One last thing--I really have to mention Frances de la Tour (plays Mrs. Lintott), is practically the only woman in the film with a speaking part. She adds a lot--even more acerbically in the film. Her character has a lot to say--and anyone seeing the film would be wise to listen very closely to her precise words. Other then that, "The History Boys" should have been left untouched in its natural on-stage format and not converted to the screen.

Rubbish (Well, it is an English movie!).......2007-06-25

This movie was totally, mind-numbingly, boring! The movie was a study in character (and motives), and the relationship between teacher and student. I get that. Please don't high hand me with your intellectual reprovals. The movie was littered with references to high brow literature and poetry (most of which I have read and enjoyed) to the point that it came off sounding like an intellectual version of name dropping. I don't think the comparison to Dead Poets Society is accurate. Dead Poets Society was a much better film, in my opinion.

Anyway you slice it, though, the movie was long, laborious, and boring. I won't even go into the weird sexual overtones.

Excellent film--but let's clarify something.......2007-06-16

I've watched this film twice and enjoyed every minute of it and the finely tuned performances. Still, I feel compelled to respond to the reviewer here from England. Your review is well written and astute--until you get to slamming Dead Poets Society. To be blunt, you don't seem to grasp the reality of that milieu any more than the Americans who don't "get" History Boys. DPS presents a very accurate depiction of the claustrophobic environment at an all-boys boarding prep school in the East in that period of American history. The film accurately depicts the obsession with control and tradition at snobby, East-Coast prep schools and the teenagers' rebellious, atavistic response. It is NOT a Hollywood fabrication. We have a suicide at the end and the loss of the boys' only inspiring teacher--made a scapegoat by the administration and parents: if you think that only happens in Hollywood, you're sadly mistaken. Also, while I like History Boys a great deal, Weir has crafted a much more artistic work in DPS; it has a beautiful, at times haunting, aesthetic. The druidic scenes in the woods alone are worth the price of admission. And it may be a vehicle for Williams but even he is real, the inveterate performer loved by the students but resented by his colleauges. At the end he too is nothing but a victim of the school's warped value system and inabilty to progress. Two fine films--very different--each capturing a moment in history and both doing an excellent and entertaining job of it.

Makes one think of Dead Poet's Society.......2007-06-14

A literate drama with generous doses of wisdom and amusement. There are lines of dialogue to be savoured, quoted, and discussed. There are moments of exquisite sensitivity and drama as the underdog students attempt to earn their admission amongst the academic elites. This is not a film for those who take their movies in shopping centre theatres. The film considers the conflict between substance and style, education versus knowledge, and appreciation against exam preparation. In these days when too many movies seem to be the product of focus group marketing History Boys is a rarity - a film made for an educated and literate audience.

Love it!.......2007-06-06

This is truly a brilliant film, I have not watched the stage version although I have read the play (and screenplay) and the stage version does seem more fleshed out, but that does not mean that the film is 'lousier' in any way. I won't bother with the usual themes of homosexuality, education etc. as I feel that most reviews have already mentioned this. Rather I have been reading a lot of reviews about this film (I love this show) and I thought I'd just share my opinion of some of the problems that others have raised about The History Boys.

One thing raised was the apparent lack of direction in the film. If you're looking for a film that raises questions about education, or homosexuality etc. etc., forget this show. I don't think this is Alan Bennet's objective in writing the film. Unlike, say, Top Girls by Caryl Churchill which she wrote to raise questions about feminism and socialism (just an example), The History Boys isn't so much raising points about controversial issues but experiencing it. This isn't a show with a definite objective, it does not seek to judge but rather, ponder. Something like an intellectual bildungsroman.

Many people were also offended by the apparent nonchalence at Hector's indecent groping. I think to be hung up over this issue is to fail to see what the story is driving at. This isn't really a play about homosexuality. Homosexuality within the context of the film is really just another one of life's problems and issues, not much different from socially disadvantaged boy trying for oxbridge. I don't think the boys were ever 'exploited' by Hector, in fact they seem to have the emotional upperhand over him. They treated his groping of them with disinterest, boredom and an attitude of couldn't somewhat care less distaste.

Apart from Posner I don't think the other characters are truly 'homosexual' in the context of the word. Hector is just plain lusty. Irwin and Dakin are really more pansexual than homosexual. They're attracted to one another because of the chemistry they spark off one another, gender was never really a consideration.

The film though, is set in a rather unbelievable context and has the characters spout lines that you don't hear spoken on a normal basis by normal people, but that shouldn't detract you from enjoying the show. However if you're not the typical anglophile this show may be quite hard to follow due to the multiple cultural references and the wry british wit (the latter of which seems very unappealing to americans, although I can never understand why, slapstick never seemed funny in the least.) I remember reading an article where Samuel Barnett said most of the audience at broadway didn't understand the part about sheffield (when Posner is confiding in Irwin).

Lastly the cast had an excellent chemistry and camaraderie. I'm a bit sorry I never had the chance to watch the stage play with the original cast so it would be nice if the producers release a DVD of the original stage play.

The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries - Season One

Average customer rating:

Great Fun!
THE HARDY BOYS-NANCY DREW MYSTERIES-SEASON 1
Quite the DVD set
For all Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys Fans
Not as good as my youthful mind remembers

The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries - Season One
Starring: Pamela Sue Martin , Ruth Cox , Gary Springer , Janet Julian , and Phillip R. Allen
Director: Fernando Lamas , Alvin Ganzer , Dennis Donnelly , Ivan Dixon , and Don McDougall
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B0007CNY54
Release Date: 2005-03-22

Product Description

Follow the clues to mystery, adventure and thrills as Season One of the The Hardy Boys Nancy Drew Mysteries comes to DVD for the first time ever! Teen sensations Shaun Cassidy, Parker Stevenson and Pamela Sue Martin star as brave super-sleuths in 14 spooky episodes loaded with spellbinding action and smash-hit pop songs, including Shaun Cassidy s #1 hit Da Doo Ron Ron. Inspired by the hugely popular books and with an amazing lineup of guest stars, including Jamie Lee Curtis, Mark Harmon, Bob Crane, Rick Nelson and more, it s no surprise that The Hardy Boys Nancy Drew Mysteries is an open-and-shut case for fun!

System Requirements:

Running Time 682 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

The Hardy Boys Mysteries and The Nancy Drew Mysteries began in 1977 as separate series alternating in the same time slot on ABC. Early the following year, the casts combined, and in the fall of 1978 the Nancy Drew thread was dropped and The Hardy Boys Mysteries continued on alone. This Season One boxed set captures the twin-series idea at its most ambitious, with adolescent brothers Frank and Joe Hardy, created by author Franklin W. Dixon, sleuthing for clues one week and Carolyn Keene's Nancy Drew investigating crimes the next.

Actually, as fans of the books know, Dixon and Keene were both pen names used by Edward Stratemeyer when he created those characters in 1927. Just as the young detectives have been updated in print every so often to accommodate successive generations of readers, so too did the TV show present Joe (Shaun Cassidy, brother of David Cassidy of The Partridge Family), Frank (Parker Stevenson), and Nancy (Pamela Sue Martin) as thoroughly 1970s kids. The boys are outfitted with motorcycles, Joe enjoys a retro-pop singing career, and Nancy has a certain freedom of movement only the hippest of dads in a permissive age would allow. Hardy Boys finds the always-amicable siblings following in the footsteps of their father, Fenton (Edmund Gilbert), a private detective, as they untangle capers that take them from haunted houses to Hawaii. The Hardy episodes make for brisk, family viewing, much better than the bubblegum reputation that built up, undeservedly, around the series. Slightly less interesting are the Nancy Drew programs (despite a more entertaining supporting cast), but only because the heroine is less focused and distractingly man-crazy, and the storylines are less exotic. An emphasis on the supernatural and science-fiction themes lends a Scooby-Doo vibe to several programs in both series, though the best stories are the ones with straightforward, meat-and-potatoes detective work. Among the directors on either series are Jack Arnold (The Creature from the Black Lagoon), Winrich Kolbe (Star Trek: The Next Generation), and actors Vince Edwards and Stuart Margolin. --Tom Keogh

The Hardy Boys Mysteries and The Nancy Drew Mysteries Trivia
• Jamie Lee Curtis and Robert Englund, who played the biker couple Mary and Gar in an episode of this series, started acting in horror films during this era.

Customer Reviews:

Great Fun!.......2007-07-01

It took me some time to decide and buy the first season of THE HARDY BOYS/NANCY DREW MYSTERIES on dvd. I remember the show including the opening theme music and of course Parker Stevenson, Shaun Cassidy, and Pamela Sue Martin as the Hardy boys and Nancy Drew, but I couldn't recall any specific episode. So I figured that either the show wasn't that good or I would change the channel right after the opening (because something else would come on at the same time).

Anyway, I decided to buy it along with the season two release. And I have to say that I was surprised. The story lines are intriguing and held my interest throughout the set, which was pretty good considering the plots are really G-Rated. No violence or gore, and there's only the slightest hint of bodily injury to either the Hardy boys or Nancy Drew when they investigate cases...but the episodes are still exciting to watch. Great for the whole family or when you just want a break from the real world.

The 14 episodes are on two double-sided dvds and no extra features. From what I understand, when THE HARDY BOYS/NANCY DREW MYSTERIES show was airing they would alternate the two shows from week to week. One week would feature the Hardy Boys and the other would feature Nancy Drew. On this dvd set all the Hardy Boys episodes are on one dvd and Nancy Drew is on the other. The picture and sound quality are pretty good and it's fun to see the hairstyles and fashions of that period.

One thing that did get on my nerves was Shaun Cassidy's singing. I liked his songs back then, but now I felt like the show was really exploiting the singing thing. Cassidy has a nice voice and they did keep the song numbers to a minimum, but they kept popping up with regularity throughout season one. But that's my only gripe!

THE HARDY BOYS-NANCY DREW MYSTERIES-SEASON 1.......2007-05-29

Teen sensations Shaun Cassidy, Parker Stevenson and Pamela Sue Martin star as the famous super detectives in season 1 of this classic Glen Larson television series, which premiered in 1977. Based on the books by Franklin W. Dixon and Carolyn Keene, the charcters come to life in a unique and most original way.
Shaun Cassidy and Parker Stevenson star as Frank and Joe Hardy while Pamela Sue Martin portrays Nancy Drew. In the first season, the writers and producers really stuck as closely to the original books as much as they could,making it the best season of the entire series. Shaun Cassidy performs his hit songs "Da Doo Ron Ron, That's Rock 'N' Roll" and a couple of others as well.
Shaun Cassidy and Parker Stevenson's portrayl of the Hardy Boys was great and original, but Pamela Sue Martin's portrayl of Nancy Drew was even better. She fit the part so well-the clothes, the hair, her voice, her mannerisums, etc. Everything about her was pure Nancy Drew. Her stories were also much better and much more intruiging and suspensful than that of the Hardy Boys.
The prints are in very good condition and the audio is good as well(2.0), with the voice over at the beginning of each episode. All of the episodes are great, but my favourites are: "The Mystery of the Haunted House, The Mystery of Witches' Hollow, The Mystery of Pirate's Cove, The Secret of the Whispering Walls and The Mystery of the Solid Gold Kicker." There are no features of any kind in Season 1, but I am just so thrilled it as finally been released on DVD.
I Was 13 years old when this series premiered and I have such fond memories of sitting in front of the televison on Sunday nights watching the Hardy Boys-Nancy Drew Mysteries.

Quite the DVD set.......2007-03-29

I hope they come out with the rest of the series. My oldest daughter is big into Nancy Drew and would love to see them. My wife and I are also interested. Basically we grew up with Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys.

For all Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys Fans.......2007-03-14

I love this show. I grew up reading the revisionist era Nancy Drew books, and have loved collecting anything Nancy Drew related ever since. I was given this dvd set as a gift to add to my collection, and I have enjoyed watching and re-watching the episodes ever since. I am so excited that Season two is going to be released soon, and will purchase that set as well. This show is quality entertainment for the whole family. 5 stars for a superb show!

Not as good as my youthful mind remembers.......2007-03-11

I was rather disappointed in season 1. I never missed this show on TV and thought it was the best but what does a kid know? It just does not hold up after all these years. My husband and I were bored stiff watching these episodes. I would not recommend this to anyone unless like me you were obsessed with Shaun Cassidy back in the day. (I took my 3rd grade pictures in a tshirt with him on it). However I think we have all grown up and this just doesn't have enough to interest adults today.

Average customer rating:

Absolutely Timeless
Good for class
saving the banter and redundancies of previous reviews...
Breathing Life into School
a great and inspiring film......

Dead Poets Society (Special Edition)
Starring: Robin Williams , Robert Sean Leonard , Ethan Hawke , Josh Charles , and Gale Hansen
Director: Peter Weir
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Touchstone
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000B8QG1S
Release Date: 2006-01-10

Amazon.com essential video

Robin Williams stars as an English teacher who doesn't fit into the conservative prep school where he teaches, but whose charisma and love of poetry inspires several boys to revive a secret society with a bohemian bent. The script is well meaning but a little trite, though director Peter Weir (The Truman Show) adds layers of emotional depth in scenes of conflict between the kids and adults. (A subplot involving one father's terrible pressure on his son--played by Robert Sean Leonard--to drop his interest in theater reaches heartbreaking proportions.) Williams is given plenty of latitude to work in his brand of improvisational humor, though it is all well-woven into his character's style of instruction. --Tom Keogh

Description

In an age defined by crew cuts, sport coats, and cheerless conformity, he not only broke the mold ... he reinvented it. Academy Award(R) winner Robin Williams (Best Supporting Actor, GOOD WILL HUNTING, 1997) delivers an extraordinary performance in one of the most compelling motion pictures of all time. Williams stars as English professor John Keating, a passionate iconoclast who changes his students' lives forever when he challenges them to live life to the fullest and "Carpe Diem" -- seize the day! Keating's unconventional approach meets with irrepressible enthusiasm from his students, but the faculty at staid, exclusive Welton Academy prep school is, to put it mildly, not amused. Featuring a star-marking performance by Ethan Hawke and over three hours of never-before-seen bonus materials, this Special Edition of DEAD POETS SOCIETY will captivate and inspire you again and again.

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely Timeless.......2007-06-16

Some of the more cynical movie critics out there have been quick to slam 'Dead Poets Society', mistaking its beauty and idealism for over-sentimentality. In my view these critics simply need to open themselves up a little more.

The arrival of John Keating in a strict boys boarding school, blows open the lives and minds of all his young students. Perhaps this is where the film finds a place in the hearts of so many viewers. Many people will have spent their schooldays mired in tedium and waiting for someone to truly engage them. This is the gift that Mr. Keating bestows upon his students. The movie is a subtle, beautiful and moving examination of human relations.

The movie works heavily with the idiom that still waters run deep. Todd Anderson is new to the boarding school and extremely quiet. His shy nature is what guides him into the purview of Mr. Keating and allows him to become a sort of poetic protegé. The relationship between these two is one of the most touching parts of the movie and is sure to reach even the hardest of cynics out there.

To any potential viewer of this film, all I would say is open yourself up. This is a beautiful fim and will perhaps show what those schooldays could have been, given a little inspiration in the faculty.

Good for class.......2007-05-07

I used this in my class after reading several of the poems. Outstanding! Gave students a lot to think about.

saving the banter and redundancies of previous reviews..........2007-05-01

Unarguably, one of the finest films in the history of cinema.

Breathing Life into School.......2007-03-17

`Dead Poets' Society' feels like a classic from start to finish. The movie finds Robin Williams in a break-out role that transcends his earlier, comedic work. Which is not to say he isn't funny at times in this movie; it's just that he's more well-rounded. If we didn't care about the poor lads at Welton Academy, the whole film would fall apart. A boarding school with the highest academic standards, Welton is presented as the epitome of 1950's conformity and convention.

It all begins when alumna, John Keating (Williams) replaces a deceased English professor at the aforementioned school. It's school motto is "Tradition, Honor, Discipline, and Excellence". It lives up to the standards, even if the emotional needs of the all-male institution don't seem to be met. Keating comes into the classroom, tearing at the textbook--literally, as well as metaphorically--while giving a context and a passion to find the meaning of poetry in their young lives. Digging out his old yearbook, they discover he was a decorated academic figure with a colorful past: He belonged to "The Dead Poets' Society," a secret, male-bonding organization off the school's extracurricular path. Wanting to emulate their "Captain, My Captain," as he takes from Walt Whitman, they reinstate his contraband club by skirting curfew and meeting in their teacher's former lair, a cave, where they perform pagan rituals of passion and enjoyment. Of course the whole affair is bound to bump heads with tradition and the administration, but the developments admirably keep our studied interest.

While columnist George Will has stated objections to the movie, noting that gratitude back then was higher and the tragedy presented in the film was far lower, the main mentor is a mouthpiece of caution. Good judgment is part and parcel to enjoyment of life. Who then can argue that pursuing one's passion is the goal and impetus to avoid making life "a life of quiet desperation," as he quotes Thoreau? In a separate column, Will did argue that the fifties weren't "The Dark Ages" they have been reported to be, significantly citing the advent of Alan Ginsberg, a Beat Poet, as his evidence. Nevertheless, 'Dead Poet's Society' supports a vision to grab the gusto in life and jealously guard one's dreams. Even though the actual cave scenes sometimes leave something to be desired, they are important for the development of the flow and the plot of the movie. They certainly are genuine. Making poetry a living art to try and match the soul is work of a real mentor. Even taken with a grain of salt, the movie's message is convincing and important.

a great and inspiring film.............2007-03-14

DEAD POET'S SOCIETY remains a very important film, to me. It reiterates the importance of being true to oneself in the face of conformity and alludes to the quote from scripture, "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust." Poetry teacher John Keating (Robin Williams), hired by Welton Academy Prep School (an all boys school) to teach their young students about Henry David Thoreau. His class leads to more than just a revival of poetry, but is also a visionary experience for the young men in Mr. Keating's course. The teacher inspires Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard), Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke), Knox Overstreet (Josh Charles), among others to Carpe Dieum ("Seize the Day"). The boys revive the Dead Poet's Society, a club that Keating himself belonged to in prep school. The study of poetry leads to the examination of their life's purposes and brings about a chain of important, life-changing events for all involved (I don't want to spoil the plot with any specific details).

Director Peter Weir (PICNIC ON HANGING ROCK) paints a compelling and sensitive portrait of the lives of young men, who were inspired and instructed by a truly visionary teacher. Not only do the actors deliver strong and engaging performances, but it also leaves the audience inspired.........

Average customer rating:

Private School DVD review
Brings back memories!
Typical Eighties teen comedy
THIS IS A GREAT MOVIE!!!
Teen madness

Private School
Starring: Phoebe Cates , Betsy Russell , Matthew Modine , Michael Zorek , and Fran Ryan
Director: Noel Black
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00049QJBG
Release Date: 2007-03-06

Amazon.com

Take Animal House, throw in a dose of television's Bosom Buddies and you get the Phoebe Cates/Matthew Modine sex farce Private School. The 1983 film was shot one year after Cates won fame in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (thanks primarily to her little red bikini), and two years before Modine won rave reviews for his work in Vision Quest. While neither star gives a stellar performance in Private School, both are appealing and likeable, even with the ridiculous premise. Chris (Cates) attends an all-girls private school, while horndog Jim (Modine) matriculates at the nearby all-boys school. In order to get close to her, Jim and his friend dress up like girls and befriend Chris and her hot posse. When Chris' sexy rival Jordan (Betsy Russell) tries to woo Jim away by riding a horse, Lady Godiva style, the stage is set for a catfight. Throw in a guest appearance by Sylvia Kristel of Emmanuelle fame and double entendres abound. The soundtrack is full of songs by '80s staples such as Rick Springfield, Vanity Six, and Bow Wow Wow, whose "I Want Candy" is played throughout a peeping shower scene. Though cheesy and intended for teenage boys, the film has an almost innocent charm compared to some of the current fare in theaters. --Jae-Ha Kim

Description

Private School is where kids leave parents behind, and learn what growing up is really about. It's a romantic comedy from the same people who brought you the hilarious Private Lessons. Starring Phoebe Cates, with a special appearance by sensuous Sylvia Kristel as the sex education teacher whose classes are the best attended on campus. Chris Ramsay (Cates) and Jim Green (Matthew Modine) are experiencing the joys and pains of first love. She goes to the Cherryvale Academy-he attends nearby Freemount. When Chris gets a rival for Jim's affections, it sparks off a battle royale of zany pranks that turn both schools upside down with laughter. Private School features a soundtrack of hits from artists like the Stray Cats, Vanity Six, Bow-Wow-Wow and Rick Springfield.

Customer Reviews:

Private School DVD review.......2007-07-05

I'm glad this finally made it to DVD. After watching it in all of its cheesy glory, I must say, it's still good! Ok, ok, maybe it's just because Phoebe Cates is a goddess and Betsy Russell is so freakin hot. Russell randomly prances around flailing her exposed breasts around like it's nobody's business. In fact, just watching her top come off while horseback riding is completely off the wall, ridiculous, and awesome at the same time. Get this DVD if you like a bunch of random nudity. If you're into the typical 80s fare like Back to School, and Fast Times then you'll dig this movie. You can't be the type of person who cringes at cheesy, dated movies. If anything, get it for Phoebe Cates having sex on the beach.

Brings back memories!.......2007-05-30

I received this DVD last night and ordered it because of Phoebe Cates, who I am still in love with! She is such a beautiful woman!

This movie is typical 80's fare, guys chasing women and trying to get some any way they can! That pretty much was a reflection of my own thinking at that time and loved these movies when they came out. Of course, throw in Phoebe Cates and potential skin shots, and I am there!

Realistically, its not that great of a movie, unless you love Phoebe! That's pretty much the only reason I bought this movie!

PS the sound is in MONO! I forgot that few movies were in stereo at that time!

Typical Eighties teen comedy.......2007-05-21

I gave this three stars because it is a typical eighties teen comedy whose most redeeming features are its female cast. The scene with Betsy Russell riding a horse though, is a scene not to be missed.

THIS IS A GREAT MOVIE!!!.......2007-05-07

THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE MOVIES SINCE I WAS A TEENAGER. IT'S ALL ABOUT COLLEGE SEX! GUYS WILL BE GUYS WHEN IT COMES TO SEX! SOME WILL LIE ABOUT WHO THEY HAVE DONE IT WITH JUST TO MAKE THEMSELVES LOOK LIKE STUDS AND OTHERS JUST DON'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IT! A BIG BUSTED GIRL TRIES TO BREAK A COUPLE WHO ARE REALLY IN LOVE UP AND MORE HILARIOUS SCENES THAT YOU'LL HAVE TO SEE FOR YOURSELF! I LOVE IT!

Teen madness.......2007-04-11

I found this an amusing movie starring Phoebe Cates. If you like the antics of teenage girls and boys and a weird parent, you might enjoy this movie.

Average customer rating:

Micheal and Sam
80's Classics
Full screen & Widescreen included
Guilty Pleasure
One of the Best Vampires movie if not the BEST!!

The Lost Boys
Starring: Jason Patric , Corey Haim , Dianne Wiest , Barnard Hughes , and Edward Herrmann
Director: Joel Schumacher
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: 6304779356
Release Date: 1998-01-28

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This 1987 thriller was a predictable hit with the teen audience it worked overtime to attract. Like most of director Joel Schumacher's films, it's conspicuously designed to push the right marketing and demographic buttons, and granted, there's some pretty cool stuff going on here and there. Take Kiefer Sutherland, for instance. In Stand by Me he played a memorable bully, but here he goes one step further as a memorable bully vampire who leads a tribe of teenage vampires on their nocturnal spree of bloodsucking havoc. Jason Patric plays the new guy in town, who quickly attracts a lovely girlfriend (Jami Gertz), only to find that she might be recruiting him into the vampire fold. The movie gets sillier as it goes along, and resorts to a routine action-movie showdown, but it's a visual knockout (featuring great cinematography by Michael Chapman) and boasts a cast that's eminently able (pardon the pun) to sink their teeth into the best parts of an uneven screenplay. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Micheal and Sam.......2007-06-21

Have move to Santa Calria where there is lots of vampires. Micheal thinks he i a vampire now.

80's Classics .......2007-05-23

If this movie could be rated Higher I would. Its just that great era where movies were just good, I love this movie a whole lot, I believe this movie got me into the whole genre of Vampire Loving. And of course the actors in this movie for a child growing up in that era were also hot. The soundtrack to this movie is off the hook and its a great summer time CD. I highly recommend this movie. It truly is the best movie ever of its time.

Full screen & Widescreen included.......2007-05-12

The great thing about this dvd is on one side is the 'full screen' version , and the other side is the 'Widescreen' (2:35) version. Its cool when dvds come with both versions!!

Guilty Pleasure.......2007-04-29

Reading these reviews, it's clear that "The Lost Boys" has some irresistable magic going for it; I've loved it ever since I saw it in the theater when it came out. The '80's trappings are at least authentic, as the film was made in 1986 when the splashy colors of Corey Haim's shirts were actually chic (believe it, kiddies, I was there).

But what really makes it work, I think, is the care the writer (or writers) took to get the details of vampire mythology - the "hellhound", the importance of inviting the vampire into the home - right even as they re-shaped it to fit the contemporary setting. The twists all work, and the ending is just brilliant ("..all the damn vampires"). It's a solidly entertaining and engaging horror film, possibly deserving a place in a "top ten" of the genre.

One of the Best Vampires movie if not the BEST!!.......2007-04-16

First of all, im not going to get into the history of who's in it and who isn't. Second, this movie is a DEFINITE! for Vampires fan. Third, Keifer Sutherland at his best, although Coreys are lame together, in this movie they did work together as best as they could. Fourth, the Movie, the plot, the action, and the look of the vampires, are all Cool. This movie is a must *HAVE* especially the 2 Disc Edition. The Fifth reason is just that, the bonus CD is extremely what EVERY "COLLECTOR'S EDITON" should be. This is the a great movie and a great buy any place for the price!

Average customer rating:

Wonderful Movie
Paradise Remembered
Love Love Love This Movie
Beach Parties...
Where the Boys Are - movie

Where the Boys Are
Starring: Dolores Hart , George Hamilton , Yvette Mimieux , Jim Hutton , and Barbara Nichols
Director: Henry Levin
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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