Freeman (Broadway Theatre Archive)

Starring:Richard Ward, Chip Fields, Louis Gossett Jr., Paulene Myers, Dick Anthony Williams
Director: Lloyd Richards (II)
Studio: Kultur Video
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com Essential DVD

There is greatness in film that can be discussed, dissected, and talked about late into the night. Then there is genius that is right in front of our faces--we smile at the spell it puts us into and are refreshed, and nary a word needs to be spoken. This kind of entertainment is what they used to call "movie magic," and there is loads of it in this irresistible computer animation feature. Just a picture of these bright toys reawaken the kid in us. Filmmaker John Lasseter thinks of himself as a storyteller first and an animator second, much like another film innovator, Walt Disney.

The 10th anniversary edition of the landmark film repackages most of the extras found in the original Ultimate Toy Box set plus a few more. Two keen retrospectives are new, one with an assortment of talents including Roy Disney and Peter Jackson chiming in on the film's impact. The other is a roundtable with Lasseter and three of the creators simply talking about the experiences without--thankfully--any cutaways to noisy film clips. There's a load of other extras since the Ultimate Toy Box was one of the first and best DVD sets. Missing (besides the second film, which will be released separately) is the effects- and music-only tracks. Added is a whopping DTS soundtrack along with a remixed Dolby 5.1 track. The DVD has a higher transfer bit rate for a better picture, but only high-end enthusiasts will notice it. Since the film is a digital-to-digital transfer, both versions are eye-popping. A must-have set unless you have the Ultimate Toy Box.

Lasseter's story is universal and magical: what do toys do when they're not played with? Cowboy Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks), Andy's favorite bedroom toy, tries to calm the other toys (some original, some classic) during a wrenching time of year--the birthday party, when newer toys may replace them. Sure enough, Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) is the new toy that takes over the throne. Buzz has a crucial flaw, though--he believes he's the real Buzz Lightyear, not a toy. Lasseter further scores with perfect voice casting, including Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head and Wallace Shawn as a meek dinosaur. The director-animator won a special Oscar for "the development and inspired application of techniques that have made possible the first feature-length computer-animated film." In other words, the movie is great. --Doug Thomas

The Pixar Feature Films

Toy Story, 1995
A Bug's Life, 1998
Toy Story 2, 1999

Monsters, Inc., 2001
Finding Nemo, 2003
The Incredibles, 2004

Description

Experience a hilarious fantasy about the lives toys lead when they're left alone. Woody (Tom Hanks), an old-fashioned cowboy doll, is Andy's favorite. But when Andy gets Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) for his birthday, the flashy new space hero takes Andy's room by storm! Their rivalry leaves them lost with a toy's worst nightmare -- Sid, the toy-torturing boy next door. Woody and Buzz must work together to escape, realizing along the way that they've got a friend ... in each other! Now, in a magnificent special edition, TOY STORY shines even brighter. With an all-new enhanced picture and a spectacular home theater mix as well as exclusive bonus features, including deleted scenes and a retrospective special with director John Lasseter, this modern classic is one you'll enjoy to infinity and beyond.

Customer Reviews:

Pixar's First and Best To Date!.......2007-06-26

TOY STORY is one of those classic movies that should be around for generations. Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear and Cowboy Woody are two of the most lovable and fully developed animated characters ever created. The movie is hilarious throughout though there are also many poignant moments (like Buzz's "I Will Go Sailing No More" song). Many talented actors contributed their voices most notably Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Jim Varney, John Ratzenberger and Don Rickles and the movie includes three memorable songs - "You Got a Friend", "Sailing No More" and Strange Things. And like all good stories it has some important themes including the meaning and value of friendship. Nothing scary for the little ones except perhaps some brief scenes of mutated toys and Syd's threatened violence toward Woody. This is a clever movie with heart that everyone should see.

Toy Story.......2007-06-12

A boy named Andy had a cowboy doll named Woody . Andy loved and had a good time with Woody ,until Andy's birthday . Andy's mom decided they were going to move . Andy got many toys even a Buzz Lightyear action figure for his birthday and everything changed . Andy stopped playing with Woody, and all of the posters , wallpaper, and many other things changed too. Everything changed into Buzz Lightyear.
Woody got angry , so he pulled a trick on Buzz . Buzz had to dodge a globe and flying thumbtacks and he had to jump out of the window. All of Andy's other toys blamed Woody. They said he pushed Buzz out of the window.
Andy's mother took Andy, his little sister, and Woody to Pizza Planet. Woody found Buzz in the car. Buzz was very mad, too. They stopped at the gas station. Wood and Buzz tustled out of the car and began to fight. Andy's car drove away and left them there, luckily they hopped into the Pizza Planet truck. They were driven to Pizza Planet where they find Andy, but Buzz has a different idea. Buzz and Woody hop into a crane game. Six, the crazy neighbor wins an alien, Woody, and Buzz in the crane machine and takes them home.
Six gets a big firework in the mail and attaches the rocket to Buzz. Woody and Sid's broken toys help Buzz out. They miss Andy's car but they get into the moving truck. Sid's dog, Scud, takes Buzz away but Woody takes Andy's remote control car and finds Buzz.. They race for the moving truck but the race car runs out of battery, so Buzz lights the firework and Woody and Buzz go flying in the air and land right into Andy's car. Andy finds them and they all live in a new home together as friends.
I love this movie. This has been my favorite movie since I was little. I think it is a very good movie for all ages to enjoy. I love all the adventures of Woody and Buzz.
I recommend this movie for people of all ages and people who love thrilling adventures.

One of my favorite movies.......2007-06-04

and I got it half price on here. What a deal! I actually bought it to watch with my kids, and they love it as much as I do. If you don't have a copy, you're missing out.

All Time Favorite!.......2007-05-16

I first saw this movie at the theatre while I was in college. I never DREAMED I would be watching it with my kids, and it would still be a favorite 12+ years later! This movie is destined to be on the all time classic list. The lessons learned in this movie are great for kids of all ages, while still being enjoyable for adults to watch. My kids can quote whole blocks of dialogue from the movie, love to re-enact scenes, and still ask for toys from this movie. We first had it on VHS, and had to replace it because we literally wore out the tape. Now you would think that we must watch a lot of TV in our house, but we don't!! We have a movie night once a week as a family, and this is one they would watch almost every time if I let them. It's a great movie for the whole family.

One of the best Disney's movies ever!.......2007-03-14

The 3D animation is awesome, in fact it was the first movie using this technology so it made history because of that. The story is very funny but also teaches a lot of good values to kids and adults, like loyalty work team and friendship. the bonus and dvd box is great too.

Aladdin (Disney Special Platinum Edition)

Average customer rating:

Excellent
Aladdin
Aladdin
Perfect Disney DVD for just about anyone...
A Fun Children's Story Inspired by One Thousand and One Nights

Aladdin (Disney Special Platinum Edition)
Starring: Scott Weinger , Robin Williams , Linda Larkin , Jonathan Freeman , and Frank Welker
Director: Ron Clements , and John Musker
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Adventure | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Fantasy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

Feature Films | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

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

The Little Mermaid (2-Disc Platinum Edition)
Cinderella (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Platinum Edition)
Lady and the Tramp (50th Anniversary Edition) (Platinum Edition)
Bambi (2-Disc Special Edition) (Platinum Edition)
Alice in Wonderland (Masterpiece Edition)

Accessories:

Betty Boop Girl's Crystal Accented Bracelet Watch #BB-W103A
Betty Boop Girl's Crystal Accented Bracelet Watch #BB-W104A
Betty Boop Girl's Crystal Accented Bracelet Watch #BB-W105A
Betty Boop Girl's Crystal Accented Bracelet Watch #BB-W132A
Betty Boop Girl's Red Crystal Acccented Leather Watch #BB-1020RED

ASIN: B0001I561E
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Amazon.com essential video

Disney's 1992 animated feature is a triumph of wit and skill. The high-tech artwork and graphics look great, the characters are strong, the familiar story is nicely augmented with an interesting villain (Jafar, voiced by Jonathan Freeman), and there's an incredible hook atop the whole thing: Robin Williams's frantically hilarious vocal performance as Aladdin's genie. Even if one isn't particularly moved by the love story between the title character (Scott Weinger) and his girlfriend Jasmine (Linda Larkin), you can easily get lost in Williams's improvisational energy and the equally entertaining performances of Freeman and Gilbert Gottfried (as Jafar's parrot). --Tom Keogh

Description

Soar away on a magic carpet ride of nonstop thrills and fun in the most spectacular adventure of all time! Now meticulously restored and enhanced -- experience the wonders of ALADDIN like never before, from the Academy Award(R)-winning music (Best Original Song, Best Original Score, 1992) to the unforgettable moments of sidesplitting comedy and soaring adventure. In the heart of an enchanted city, a commoner named Aladdin and his mischievous monkey, Abu, battle to save the free-spirited Princess Jasmine. Aladdin's whole life changes with one rub of a magic lamp as a fun-loving, shape-shifting Genie appears and grants him three wishes, setting him on an incredible journey of discovery. Through his adventures, Aladdin proves that he is a prince where it truly matters most -- on the inside!

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-06-29

One of Disney's best movies! Very funny. Robin Williams does an outstanding job.

Aladdin.......2007-05-16

It is the best and only Arabian movie that I watched when I was younger and I still enjoy to this day. It has great action,

Aladdin.......2007-05-06

I feel lucky to count myself among those who grew up watching modern masterpieces such as "Aladdin", "The Little Mermaid", "Beauty and the Beast" and the like. Nowadays they just don't make 'em like that anymore. Sad but true. (I'm not keen on the Pixar flicks, sorry). I vividly remember going to see each and one of them (starting with "Mermaid" in the spring of 1990) on the big screen. Those were scarce moments of true childhood innocence. Times that you take with you forever, and Disney has done just that to almost every kid in the world during the last 70 years. "Aladdin" came out at the peak of Disney's third golden age that started in 1989. The company released a number of films which broke new ground in animation and were huge artistic and commercial successes as well. Although it broke a few records when it came out on video in 1993, for some odd reason, this DVD release sold a meager amount of copies, catching everyone at the studio by surprise. Nevertheless, "Aladdin" remains as enjoyable as ever and much better than most of its successors.

Perfect Disney DVD for just about anyone..........2007-05-01

I got this as a gift for my niece and she adores the DVD every time she puts it on. Story is told well with great songs/music to sing along to. Production work is A+. Makes a very nice gift for kids or the kid in the adult.

A Fun Children's Story Inspired by One Thousand and One Nights.......2007-04-28

The story of Aladdin, from a collection of stories dating back more than a millennium, has been filmed dozens of times in dozens of variations. However, none was ever filmed as creatively, humorously and family friendly as Disney Studios did in 1992. The success of the movie owes much to the talents of Robin Williams, whose manic impersonations and characterizations propel this movie along at a frantic pace. Disney also kept the story of Aladdin and Princess Jasmine simple, helping the appeal of the movie.

This story is relatively simple, cutting out much of the detail from the original story. Aladdin (voiced by Scott Weinger), is a teenager trying to find enough to eat in Baghdad. Though Aladdin steals food and is a bit of a rogue, he also has a sense of fairness, honor and innocence, a "diamond in the rough" that evil Grand Vizier Jafar (voiced by Jonathan Freeman) needs to enter the Cave of Wonders to steal the magic lamp.

Aladdin enters the cave and finds the lamp, but uses the lamp to escape and become Prince Ali in an attempt to win the heart and hand of Princess Jasmine (voiced by Linda Larkin). As we learn early in the movie, Princess Jasmine wants nothing to do with phonies and princes; she is looking for someone to whom she can give her heart, someone who will understand and love her. Prince Ali is not that person.

Jafar wants the power of being the Sultan of Baghdad. His plan is simple, get the lamp, gain absolute power, marry Jasmine, and take over the world; not necessarily in that order. I would be remiss if I failed to mention Jafar's trusty adviser Iago the Parrot, voiced by the always obnoxious and, certainly in the case of this movie, funny Gilbert Gottfried. Perhaps if Jafar had not had a parrot as an advisor, things might have turned out different for him.

The animation in this edition of the movie is marvelous. The colors are bright and images are quite clear. This movie is excellent to watch on your big screen television.

Another wonderful feature of this movie is the music. The standout song is "A Whole New World," but I also liked "Prince Ali" and "One Jump Ahead." Alan Menken's score and Tim Rice's music garnered an Oscar for Menken and an Oscar for Menken and Rice. In fact, this movie won 22 significant awards and was nominated for another 15.

Aladdin is a good guy trying to survive in a tough world. Princess Jasmine is naïve and innocent. Aladdin's love for Jasmine is pure and teenage and children and teenagers everywhere will identify with Aladdin's angst. The song and dance routines of the Robin Williams' Genie keep the overall tone of this movie light, which is necessary to help balance the evil of Grand Vizier Jafar (voiced by Jonathan Freeman).

I recommend this movie for all members of the family except for the very youngest members, who may be frightened by the images of Jafar and the Genie is a couple of the scenes. Most children ages 4 and above should be able to watch this movie with little difficulty.

Enjoy!

Ghost In The Shell - Solid State Society (Limited Edition)

Average customer rating:

The Right Mindset
Surely they could've done better...
Argueably the Best GIS yet
Full English Version
True to the Series

Ghost In The Shell - Solid State Society (Limited Edition)
Starring: Michael McCarty (III) , Dean Wein , Yutaka Nakano , Takashi Onozuka , and Joshua Seth
Director: Kenji Kamiyama
Manufacturer: Manga Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Anime & Manga | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

Ergo Proxy, Vol. 4: Wrong Way Home
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Volume 2 ( Limited Edition)
Ergo Proxy Vol. 3-Cytopropism
Ergo Proxy 5: Terra Incognita (Ws)
Black Lagoon Volume 2 Limited (w/ Dog Tag)

ASIN: B000PMGNK4
Release Date: 2007-07-03

Amazon.com

The television movie Ghost in the Shell: Solid State Society (2006) continues the adventures of the cast of Stand Alone Complex, the TV series based on Mamoru Oshii's watershed feature. It's been two years since Major Kusanagi left Public Security Section 9 and struck out on her own. Batou pursues only investigations that interest him. Togusa is in charge of the Section, largely by default. All three characters, plus Chief Aramaki and the Tachikoma robots, join in the investigation of a string of suicides by agents of a foreign general. The trail leads them to a terrorist plot involving micro-machines created to release a deadly virus, and to the master-hacker known as the Puppeteer. The depiction of a corrupt politician using resources earmarked for the care of an aging population for his own ends reflects recent scandals in Japan. But Solid State Society feels derivative. The plot borrows heavily from the "Laughing Man" storyline, and the general lack of inspiration is evident in the failure to resolve the mystery satisfactorily.

The Limited Edition includes a music CD and a second DVD of extras, among them notes on designing the futuristic vehicles in the film, and an interview with Mitsuhisa Ishikawa of Production I.G., all packaged in a metal box. (Rated 13 and older: violence, grotesque imagery) --Charles Solomon

Customer Reviews:

The Right Mindset.......2007-07-05

So, the first thing I have to say is yes, I am glad I bought it. However, don't make the same mistake I made... I, for no good reason, assumed that the team who created GITS: Innocence created GITS: SSS. Wrong!!! Do not expect the same dramatic, philosophical, and artistic depth and sophistication found in GITS: Innocence.

The team that created this film is the same team that generates the series. As a matter of fact, this film has a "made-for-TV" feel about it. It seems as if two individual stories were grafted together as one which may account for some of the disharmony. It also felt somewhat episodic, as if filmed so that it could be easily serialized. (As an aside...The involvement of Nissan makes me a little nervous for the future, hopefully the studio doesn't lose their artistic vision and swing too far to the commercial side. The concept cars were cool but they weren't anything the art team couldn't have created on their own. With the exception of one scene, the cars simply were not integral to the film.)

Now, with all of that said, I love the series. This film is on par with caliber of the 2nd season. The art, audio, general plot, English dubbing, etc. is top notch. (Writing? Well...the continuity people responsible for ensuring that the story flows smoothly could have tightened things up a bit.)

If you love the series, you'll love this movie.

So, yes, I'm glad I bought it and I'll probably watch it again today!!

Surely they could've done better..........2007-07-02

Ghost in the Shell's success has always been a bit of a fluke, as it was to be Appleseed that was Shirow's magnum opus. I really wanted to like Solid State Society, I really did, but just found it to be very lacking.

The first season of Stand Alone was amazing, as it managed to capture some of the feel of the comic: counter terrorist ops fighting terrorists and drinkin a cold one afterwards. Second season was passable, grasping at straws to develop characters meant to be nothing more than a talking head or plot device, plus the inclusion of a Mary Sue villain.

Still, I'd hoped that all the money that the GitS property has made studio IG over the years could've produced something better than what was essentially an almost two hour episode of Stand Alone with at most three minutes of amazing action animation.

Had they simply retold the classic Puppet Master story from the comic using the Stand Alone characters, it could've been a much better movie. The further GitS breaks from the original source material (specifically the original comic run), generally the weaker it becomes. I can't help but think that by borrowing more heavily from Man Machine Interface (particularly the whole rogue Motoko and Motoko's split consciousness bit), Solid State Society lost the potential to be an action packed thriller to wrap up the series in a hail of gun-fire and car chases. It all felt rather unsatisfying.

After the unyieldingly convoluted, pandering, and nearly unreadable debacle that was Man Machine Interface, I hope, as a Shirow fan, that the Ghost in the Shell franchise can be laid to rest with some of its dignity in tact; a solemn procession that should not end with a 21 gun salute, but rather a crudely drawn Batou going colon "d" while firing a miniature shoulder mounted rocket into the air.

Argueably the Best GIS yet.......2007-06-16

Not since they pulled out the concept in the first GIS movie that the build up of information at nodes in the sea of information could result in a self maintaining/regulating entity have I been so blown away by an idea in an Anime film. Batou, Togusa, and the whole gang are on the job, but where is the Major? Some hard hitting criminal is up to something with people dying or disappearing or simply just being erased from the sea of information. The Major is missing AND their is a new criminal about, who could it be?

Well, this film take political science fiction to its height, and also does very nicely with the technology and action aspects. And the ending is friggin phenomenal. Sure the GIS has always been wonderful with its ability to paint the world in shades of gray, or at least to say that sometimes the black is the better choice over the white, but in this story, the viewer will find it impossible to make a judement call on which side was fighting for the greater good.

BTW, watching these movies in English is pathetic because they choose voices that seem appropriate for Children's Cartoons. Be serious, GIS is absolutely not for children, if, IF, they can comprehend the concepts being thrown around, there is no way they can actually appreciate them.

Full English Version.......2007-06-12

I saw this movie for the first time on Sci-Fi Channel's Ani-Monday. I was getting ready to call it a night when this was advertised as being next and had to stay up and watch it. It's a very well done movie with a lot of feeling of the first movie that was brought to the series. Alot of things have changed, alot of feelings are different, but it's all very good. I think I saw an edited version but for the most part it was very well done. All the original cast has returned to do the voices so there's no problem with the english subtitles or with dubbing. Overall it was a good movie.

True to the Series.......2007-06-11

This film is one of the best things that I have seen come out of the GITS franchise. I have watched the movie several times, each time enjoying even more. I would give a description of the plot, but I will not ruin it for you. My only complaint about Solid State Society is that it borrows ideas from both of the feature-length movies. If you liked GITS: SAC, and most specially 2nd GIG, you will enjoy this movie.

Note: It is dubbed in English, unlike Innocence. Amazon just has that fact incorrect

The Shawshank Redemption (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Shawshank brilliance
The Shawshank Redemption
Great Movie
Hope
Great move

The Shawshank Redemption (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Tim Robbins , Morgan Freeman , Bob Gunton , William Sadler , and Clancy Brown
Director: Frank Darabont , and Andrew Abbott
Manufacturer: Castle Rock
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

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

The Green Mile
Forrest Gump (Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition)
Braveheart
Good Will Hunting (Miramax Collector's Series)
Schindler's List (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B0002J4ZWS
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Amazon.com essential video

When this popular prison drama was released in 1994, some critics complained that the movie was too long (142 minutes) to sustain its story. Those complaints miss the point, because the passage of time is crucial to this story about patience, the squeaky wheels of justice, and the growth of a life-long friendship. Only when the film reaches its final, emotionally satisfying scene do you fully understand why writer-director Frank Darabont (adapting a novella by Stephen King) allows the story to unfold at its necessary pace, and the effect is dramatically rewarding. Tim Robbins plays a banker named Andy who's sent to Shawshank Prison on a murder charge, but as he gets to know a life-term prisoner named Red (Morgan Freeman), we realize there's reason to believe the banker's crime was justifiable. We also realize that Andy's calm, quiet exterior hides a great reserve of patience and fortitude, and Red comes to admire this mild-mannered man who first struck him as weak and unfit for prison life. So it is that The Shawshank Redemption builds considerable impact as a prison drama that defies the conventions of the genre (violence, brutality, riots) to illustrate its theme of faith, friendship, and survival. Nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, Actor, and Screenplay, it's a remarkable film that signaled the arrival of a promising new filmmaker--a film that many movie lovers count among their all-time favorites. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Shawshank brilliance.......2007-07-04

If you've not seen this movie, you're long overdue. It's a wonderful movie with moving performances by terrific actors. There are lots of good extras on this Special Edition.

The Shawshank Redemption.......2007-06-08

Order was received sooner than expected ... in excellent condition. Was very pleased.

Great Movie.......2007-05-28

I bought this movie because I read the book Differnt Seasons (by Stephen King) that has this story in it. The book was great and so was the movie. The plot is the same but the story is a little differnt in the movie. This is one of the few movies as good as the book. My only complaint is that the movie would mot play on Windows Media Player on my computer, instead I had to install InterActual Player. I personaly did not see the point of that.

Hope.......2007-05-23

As Tim Robbins' character writes in this movie "Hope is a good thing...", and this movie gives us hope that intelligent movies might still be made in Hollywood.

Great move.......2007-05-16

Hd to get it in DVD I had vcr put there out dated. This is one move we can watch over and over thank you

Back to the Future - The Complete Trilogy (Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

Back to the Future
Back To The Future
Excellent movie for all family
The Source of Oedipal Complexes Throughout the 80s
Back to the future trilogy

Back to the Future - The Complete Trilogy (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Michael J. Fox , Christopher Lloyd , Lea Thompson , Crispin Glover , and Thomas F. Wilson
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

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

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

Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

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

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

The Adventures of Indiana Jones - The Complete DVD Movie Collection (Widescreen Edition)
Ghostbusters 1 & 2 (Double Feature Gift Set)
Jurassic Park Adventure Pack (Jurassic Park/ The Lost World: Jurassic Park/ Jurassic Park III)
DIE HARD - THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION (DVD MOVIE)
Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

ASIN: B00006AL1E
Release Date: 2005-01-25

Product Description

Experience theiComplete Trilogy!

Presented by Steven Spielberg, directed by Oscar® winner Robert Zemeckis and starring time travelers Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd, the phenomenally popular Back To The Future films literally changed the future of the adventure movie genre. Now, this unprecedented Back To The Future DVD Trilogy immerses you in all the breathtaking action, outrageous comedy and sheer moviemaking magic of one of the most brilliantly inventive, wildly entertaining motion picture triumphs in Hollywood history!

System Requirements:
Starring: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Crispin Glover, Elisabeth Shue, and Lea Thompson.
Directed By: Robert Zemeckis.
Running Time: 344 Min. (Total), Color.
These films are presented in "Widescreen" format.
Copyright 2002 Universal.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com essential video

Filmmaker Robert Zemeckis topped his breakaway hit Romancing the Stone with Back to the Future, a joyous comedy with a dazzling hook: what would it be like to meet your parents in their youth? Billed as a special-effects comedy, the imaginative film (the top box-office smash of 1985) has staying power because of the heart behind Zemeckis and Bob Gale's script. High schooler Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox, during the height of his TV success) is catapulted back to the '50s where he sees his parents in their teens, and accidentally changes the history of how Mom and Dad met. Filled with the humorous ideology of the '50s, filtered through the knowledge of the '80s (actor Ronald Reagan is president, ha!), the film comes off as a Twilight Zone episode written by Preston Sturges. Filled with memorable effects and two wonderfully off-key, perfectly cast performances: Christopher Lloyd as the crazy scientist who builds the time machine (a DeLorean luxury car) and Crispin Glover as Marty's geeky dad. --Doug Thomas

Critics and audiences didn't seem too happy with Back to the Future, Part II, the inventive, perhaps too clever sequel. Director Zemeckis and cast bent over backwards to add layers of time-travel complication, and while it surely exercises the brain it isn't necessarily funny in the same way that its predecessor was. It's well worth a visit, though, just to appreciate the imagination that went into it, particularly in a finale that has Marty watching his own actions from the first film. --Tom Keogh

Shot back-to-back with the second chapter in the trilogy, Back to the Future, Part III is less hectic than that film and has the same sweet spirit of the first, albeit in a whole new setting. This time, Marty ends up in the Old West of 1885, trying to prevent the death of mad scientist Christopher Lloyd at the hands of gunman Buford "Mad Dog" Tannen (Thomas F. Wilson, who had a recurring role as the bully Biff). Director Zemeckis successfully blends exciting special effects with the traditions of a Western and comes up with something original and fun. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Back to the Future.......2007-07-05

I bought it as a gift for my son. He watches it all the time. It's great to find bundle packs for good movies.

Back To The Future.......2007-06-14

The product was received sooner than the promised date, and came in exactly as expected based on the description.

The packaging and items were received in excellent condition.

I would recommend a purchase of this type to others.

Excellent movie for all family.......2007-06-08

I've watched all films when they where first released more than one time.

They depict the adventures of michael j. fox's character in a light and (nowadays) naive way.

The effects are good even tough pretty simplistic for today's standards.

The extras worth the price!

The Source of Oedipal Complexes Throughout the 80s.......2007-06-07

This was Hollywood magic all the way. With the direction of Zemeckis, the handling of Spielberg, and the comedic talents of Fox, how could you go wrong? Yes, parts 2 and 3 lost a bit of the luster of the series, but part 1 was genius. Who wouldn't want to have known what their parents were like at their age? Original storytelling with heart, Hollywood could do some refresher courses on how to make movies by reviewing this one. I fear the day Spielberg retires.

Back to the future trilogy.......2007-05-30

I gave the movie 3 stars because the third part was scratched. BUt I give Amazon 5 stars for their cutomer satisfaction, they sent me a brand new trilogy.

Average customer rating:

Laugh out loud funny!
No shaun
Laugh out loud
Top Banana

Hot Fuzz [HD DVD]
Starring: Jim Broadbent , Kenneth Cranham , Timothy Dalton , Julia Deakin , and Patricia Franklin
Director: Edgar Wright
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

Action & Adventure | HD DVD | Formats | DVD | Video

General | HD DVD | Formats | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Shaun of the Dead [HD DVD]
The Bourne Identity [HD DVD]
300 (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD) [HD DVD]
Heroes - Season 1 [HD DVD]
Shooter [HD DVD]

ASIN: B000RJO58M
Release Date: 2007-07-31

Customer Reviews:

Laugh out loud funny!.......2007-07-03

This movie makes my top ten favorite flicks ever, joining the likes of Super Troopers and Harold and Kumar Go to Whitecastle. An instant classic!

No shaun.......2007-06-30

Loved shaun of the dead. This one left me cold. Lousy script and halfwitted jokes. Too bad.

Laugh out loud.......2007-06-27

A hilarious buddy-cop film with Britain's best buds, Pegg and Frost. Set in a perfect sleepy country town, the action and edge to the film couldn't be more surprising. Hilarious-and-yet-sinister locals, straightman cop, you have to laugh out loud at the interaction. If you liked "Shaun of the Dead," you will love this latest feature by quite a creative team.

Top Banana.......2007-06-12

Nicholas Angel is the finest cop London has to offer, with an arrest record 400% higher than any other officer on the force. He's so good, he makes everyone else look bad. As a result, Angel's superiors send him to a place where his talents won't be quite so embarrassing - the sleepy and seemingly crime-free village of Sandford. Once there, he is partnered with the well-meaning but overeager police officer Danny Butterman. The son of amiable Police Chief Frank Butterman, Danny is a huge action movie fan and believes his new big-city partner might just be a real-life "bad boy," and his chance to experience the life of gunfights and car chases he so longs for. Angel is quick to dismiss this as childish fantasy and Danny's puppy-like enthusiasm only adds to Angel's growing frustration. However, as a series of grisly accidents rocks the village, Angel is convinced that Sandford is not what it seems and as the intrigue deepens, Danny's dreams of explosive, high-octane, car-chasing, gunfighting, all-out action seem more and more like a reality. It's time for these small-town cops to break out some big-city justice.

Average customer rating:

What a wicked movie! (kids review)
Pretty good movie, unless you expect it to be like the original book
Not one of his best movies!
Classic!
Beautiful

Howl's Moving Castle
Starring: Chieko Baisho , Takuya Kimura , Akihiro Miwa , Tatsuya Gashuin , and Ryunosuke Kamiki
Director: Pete Docter , Rick Dempsey , and Hayao Miyazaki
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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

Feature Films | Anime & Manga | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Anime & Manga | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

Feature Films | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

My Neighbor Totoro
Whisper of the Heart
Spirited Away
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
Princess Mononoke

ASIN: B000CDGVOE
Release Date: 2006-03-07

Amazon.com

Like a dream, Howl's Moving Castle carries audiences to vistas beyond their imaginations where they experience excitement, adventure, terror, humor, and romance. With domestic box office receipts of over $210 million, Howl passed Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke to become the #3 film in Japanese history, behind his Spirited Away and James Cameron's Titanic. Based on a juvenile novel by Diana Wynne Jones, Howl's Moving Castle marks the first time Miyazaki has adapted another writer's work since Kiki's Delivery Service (1989). Sophie, a 19-year-old girl who believes she is plain, has resigned herself to a drab life in her family's hat shop--until the Witch of the Waste transforms her into a 90-year-old woman. In her aged guise, Sophie searches for a way to break the Witch's spell and finds unexpected adventures. Like Chihiro, the heroine of Spirited Away, Sophie discovers her hidden potential in a magical environment--the castle of the title. Using CG, Miyazaki creates a ramshackle structure that looks like it might disintegrate at any moment. Sophie's honesty and determination win her some valuable new friends: Markl, Howl's young apprentice; a jaunty scarecrow; Calcifer, a temperamental fire demon; and Heen, a hilarious, wheezing dog. She wins the heart of the dashing, irresponsible wizard Howl, and brings an end an unnecessary and destructive war. The film overflows with eclipsing visuals that range from frightening aerial battles to serene landscapes, and few recent features--animated or live action--offer as much magic as Howl's Moving Castle. --Charles Solomon

The Many Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki

The works of Miyazaki
The Book
The Art of Howls' Moving Castle (book)

Stills from Howl's Moving Castle (click for larger image)

Description

In Hayao Miyazaki's latest animated masterpiece, journey beyond imagination and enter a "breathtaking fantasy world" (Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times) filled with adventure, humor and heart. Sophie, a quiet girl working in a hat shop, finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is literally swept off her feet by a handsome but mysterious wizard named Howl. The vain and vengeful Witch of the Waste, jealous of their friendship, puts a spell on Sophie. In a life-changing adventure, Sophie climbs aboard Howl's magnificent flying castle and enters a magical world on a quest to break the spell. Featuring the voice talents of Jean Simmons, Christian Bale, Lauren Bacall, Blythe Danner, and Billy Crystal, Miyazaki's artistry comes to life on DVD with inventive characters, unique storytelling and richly detailed animation. (c) 2004 Nibariki • GNDDDT

Customer Reviews:

What a wicked movie! (kids review).......2007-06-20

i thought this movie was an awesome movie! It was one of my favorites out of all the myuzaki movies. Well almost. And what a spectacular ending. Usually the characters wouldn't kiss at the end but in this one it shocked me. I'm fourteen and do not think kissing was disgusting.

Pretty good movie, unless you expect it to be like the original book.......2007-06-18

First of all, I need to mention that the three-star rating has more to do with my frustration with the extra features and interviews on this disc, than with the movie itself.

The movie itself is visually great, as are all of Miyazaki's movies. I was a bit taken aback since I'd read the book the movie was based on (more on this later) about 2 months before seeing the movie. It was as if Miyazaki just read the first third of the book, then put the book down and wrote his own story. The second two thirds of the movie bear no resemblance to the book whatsoever, either in plot or characterization. In some ways, I think this is a good thing - some aspects of the book's plot wouldn't translate too well to movie format. I did like the book's plot better, although it was enjoyable watching Howl the bird. :)

Then I started watching the interviews, and sat through a half an hour of Miyazaki getting praised for coming up with such ORIGINAL ideas (like a girl who comes into her own after being cursed with age, or a moving castle, or a door which opens to different cities depending on the way the doorknob is turned). While Miyazaki did take a LOT of creative license, and the movie is definitely a Miyazaki work... all of the specific ideas that I just listed SHOULD have been credited to Diana Wynne Jones, who published the book in 1986. I sat through interview after interview, waiting for SOME mention of the fact that these creative ideas had come from a children's book by the same name, but it never happened. It's as if the movie makers are completely unaware that there had been a book before the movie. And I just don't like it when credit is not given where credit is due.

If it weren't for my frustration with the interviews, I probably would be giving this DVD four stars instead of three... I did enjoy the movie, and once I accepted the fact that Miyazaki had taken the basic story elements from the book and then written his OWN plot, I thought that there were many good things about the movie. It wasn't my favorite Miyazaki movie, but it was still pretty good.

Not one of his best movies!.......2007-06-12

I have mixed feelings about this film. I'm not a big fan of Howl! The film had plenty of action and drama but I couldn't swallow some aspects of this film. It strives to be real concerning the but ends up naseauting toward the end!

I think when anime tries to make it's characters more real it seems more surreal! I love the visuals I just couldn't stomache the characterization. Definitely not his best film!

Classic!.......2007-06-03

We went to the movie theater to see this premier, and it was even more mind blowing then. This is not a simple story, like Disney. The story gets very complicated, but in the end it's all worth it. Billy Cristal as a fire was genius! We fell in love with this movie.

Beautiful .......2007-06-01

Howl's Moving Castle was the third movie that I watched of Miyazaki's movies I believe. Every one of his movies has touched me in some way and I love them all. This one in particular is very beautiful. I guess being of his newer ones, it's visuals and stunning art is astounding. It took me a couple of times of watching to actually grasp the whole plot of the story and to understand what was going on. This movie is surely a Miyazaki classic and will catch the hearts of children and adults. If you love Miyazaki films you won't be disappointed.

Average customer rating:

Fun story but ...
Must see
Loved Love Actually...
Previews: Be Warned
I actually love LOVE ACTUALLY

Love Actually (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor , Colin Firth , Gregor Fisher , Martin Freeman (II) , and Jill Freud
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

Love Actually
Notting Hill (Collector's Edition)
Bridget Jones's Diary (Collector's Edition)
About a Boy (Widescreen Edition)
Four Weddings and a Funeral

ASIN: B00005JMFQ
Release Date: 2004-04-27

Product Description

"Get ready for fun!" (Leah Rozen, People) with the "feel good movie of the year!" (Clay Smith, Access Hollywood) Love Actually is the ultimate romantic comedy from the makers of Bridget Jones's Diary and Notting Hill. Funny, irresistible and heartwarming, an all-star cast (Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth and Emma Thompson, to name a few!) will take you on a breathtaking tour of love's delightful twists and turns. Fall under the spell of Love Actually and share the laughs and charm again and again.

System Requirements:

Running Time 135 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

With no fewer than eight couples vying for our attention, Love Actually is like the Boston Marathon of romantic comedies, and everybody wins. Having mastered the genre as the writer of Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, and Bridget Jones's Diary, it appears that first-time director Richard Curtis is just like his screenplays: He just wants to be loved, and he'll go to absurdly appealing lengths to win our affection. With Love Actually, Curtis orchestrates a minor miracle of romantic choreography, guiding a brilliant cast of stars and newcomers as they careen toward love and holiday cheer in London, among them the Prime Minister (Hugh Grant) who's smitten with his caterer; a widower (Liam Neeson) whose young son nurses the ultimate schoolboy crush; a writer (Colin Firth) who falls for his Portuguese housekeeper; a devoted wife and mother (Emma Thompson) coping with her potentially unfaithful husband (Alan Rickman); and a lovelorn American (Laura Linney) who's desperately attracted to a colleague. There's more--too much more--as Curtis wraps his Christmas gift with enough happy endings to sweeten a dozen other movies. That he pulls it off so entertainingly is undeniably impressive; that he does it so shamelessly suggests that his writing fares better with other, less ingratiating directors. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Fun story but ..........2007-07-05

I saw this movie on TV with several scenes edited out. I loved it and thought it would be worth buying so I ordered it. My wife and I watched it when it arrived - the edited version was so much better! There were a couple of scenes that were close to soft-core pornography.

I really liked the theme of several couples and the people they love; Hugh Grant did a great job - the concert at the end was a wonderful scene. Liam Neeson and his son were so charming - especially the running through the airport! And the man and his housekeeper who couldn't speak the same language was my favorite of them all.

I like the movie, but I wish it had been toned down just a bit with the unnecessary nudity.

Must see.......2007-07-05

Should have been nominated for best picture. Well written and acted. Very funny and touching.

Loved Love Actually..........2007-06-19

This is a VERY good movie! The music is good, the movie is good, the cast it good...

It is definitely a MUST see... you'll be glad you did!!

Previews: Be Warned.......2007-06-18

Ten minutes or more of previews, and the viewer is "prohibited" from fast-forwarding, even though the option to do so is stated on the disk. Who makes these decisions? I would not have bought the disk had I known.

I actually love LOVE ACTUALLY.......2007-06-17

What is not to love about this movie? I am a huge Hugh Grant fan. His charming, self-depreciating humor, mixed with his accent is always a win for me, I honestly did not know he was in it when I saw this movie by accident the first time. Love Actually is a story with a lot of moving parts. There are about 8 different stories going on at once, different types of love, of love stories....siblings taking care of one another, new love, infedility, unrequited love, loss of a spouse, first love....and all the stories are intertwined in a perfect quilt of a story. It won't lose you though....don't worry about that. It's easy to watch, and funny, and true. The cast is amazing, Hugh Grant, Collin Firth, Keira Knightley, and more. They way people relate to each other is odd, true and striking, and it just seems to resonate the love people feel for each other above anything else. Love actually is....all around.
Besides, who doesn't like to see cute Hugh Grant shaking his tail to the 80's hit " Jump"?

CAUTION- there are some partly nude scenes in here. I've had some friends tell me they let their kids watch not realizing. It's otherwise a great movie, it's a shame for the nude scenes because it's otherwise a good movie for the family. But, the nature of the nudity is pretty funny...just probably not the best thing for young viewers.

Average customer rating:

Sci Fi At It's Best
Campy Drama / Sci-Fi Classic
One of the best sci-fi movies of the 50's
The Day the Earth Stood Still
The Earth Stood Still This Movie Moves On

The Day the Earth Stood Still
Starring: Frances Bavier , Marshall Bradford , John Burton , Wheaton Chambers , and James Craven
Director: Robert Wise
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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

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

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

Alien Invasion | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

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

Science Fiction | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

Forbidden Planet (Ultimate Collector's Edition)
The War of the Worlds (Special Collector's Edition)
When Worlds Collide
The Thing from Another World
Invasion of the Body Snatchers

ASIN: B00005JKFR
Release Date: 2003-03-04

Amazon.com essential video

A hallmark of the science fiction genre as well as a wry commentary on the political climate of the 1950s, The Day the Earth Stood Still is a sci-fi movie less concerned with special effects than with a social parable. A spacecraft lands in Washington, D.C., carrying a humanoid messenger from another world (Michael Rennie) imparting a warning to the people of Earth to cease their violent behavior. But panic ensues as the messenger lands and is shot by a nervous soldier. His large robot companion destroys the Capitol as the messenger escapes the confines of the hospital. He moves in with a family as a boarder and blends into society to observe the full range of the human experience. Director Robert Wise (West Side Story) not only provides one of the most recognizable icons of the science fiction world in his depiction of the massive robot loyal to his master, but he avoids the obvious camp elements of the story to create a quiet and observant story highlighting both the good and the bad in human nature. --Robert Lane

Description

The Day The Earth Stood Still depicts the arrival of an alien dignitary, Klaatu (Michael Rennie), who has come to earth with his deadly robot, Gort (Lock Martin), to deliver the message that earthlings must stop warring among themselves--or else. After being shot at by military guards, Klaatu is brought to a Washington, D.C. hospital, where he begs a sympathetic but frank Major White (Robert Osterloh) to gather all the world's leaders so he can tell them more specifically what he has come to warn them about. Losing patience, Klaatu slips into the human world, adapting a false identity and living at a boarding house where he meets a smart woman with a conscience and her inquisitive son. Both mother and son soon find themselves embroiled in the complex mystery of Klaatu, his message and the government's witch hunt for the alien.

Customer Reviews:

Sci Fi At It's Best.......2007-05-18

This movie earned a Golden Globe and it's message still holds true today.

Campy Drama / Sci-Fi Classic.......2007-05-12

Who knew that actress Patricia Neal and good old Francis Bavier (Aunt Bea from Mayberry fame) would ever appear together, along with Michael Rennie, in this sci-fi-cult screamer of a black-and-white classic, and that we will forever remember the line: "Gort! Klaatu Barada nikto!" This item is worth having just as a peerless piece of 50's memorabilia! Get it, watch it... and Wikipedia it for little known factoids!

One of the best sci-fi movies of the 50's.......2007-04-24

If ever a film could capture the very essence of syrupy conception while making us love it with utter devotion, this is it. The story is perfectly linear in construction, the characters neat and tidy. The story unfolds before you like a clean, speckled linoleum walkway. Just put on your high-tops and stroll along, glass of milk in one hand, cookies in the other. This is the film that reminds the peacenik in us that those higher powers, you know - the guardians of intergalactic peace we just know are out there, are watching, waiting for that single telltale act of malicious intent from homo sapiens that will bring down every last heat ray of righteous fury the outer space cops can muster and "leave our world a burned out cinder."

You'll love the fact that huge diamonds are the currency on the space cops' planet, and that he carries a few million dollars worth in the pockets of his borrowed woolen suit for change. You'll especially love the fact that just three little words, constructed of strangely Germanic phonemes, when spoken to a ten-foot tall robot awakened with a boy scout's flashlight, can belay its built-in command to destroy our world. Watch in bug-eyed awe as Michael Rennie's hands play over those big `ol light bulbs that double as his flying saucer's controls, waving this way and that, as he launches the most complex shipboard functions. Gasp agog as you discover that the cop's ship is made of material so tough that it's un-scratchable, un-filable and un-blowtorchable. Watch the space cop scribble the answer to a monstrously long mathematical equation on Albert Einstein's doppelganger's chalkboard to get the pipe-smoking professor's attention. It's pure poetry I tell you.

The Day the Earth Stood Still.......2007-04-04

This is the original classic movie that everyone should see. The props and the technology of film making has advanced but the differences in our world are the same. Man only does one thing well. He finds improved ways of killing each other. In this movie, though many years old, man is faced with a dilemma. Live in harmony or be eliminated by higher intelligence. Let's face it folks, no intelligent life form would want to have anything to do with a race of people that only excell at murdering each other and their own environment! It is a great movie.

The Earth Stood Still This Movie Moves On.......2007-03-19

After so many years this movie couldn't have been written better today than it was back then. A great theme ahead of it's time with a great cast. I wish they could still make movies today like they did back then. Unfortunately most of these older movies have lost their moral meaning throughout the 60's, 70's, 80's, and whatever was the 90's. It just goes to show that just because something is new doesn't make it better. Watch this movie and you will know what I mean.

Ghost In The Shell - Solid State Society

Average customer rating:

Sweet!
True to the Series
Delving into a detailed universe...
Another Star in the GitS Series
Much better than the serials

Ghost In The Shell - Solid State Society
Starring: Michael McCarty (III) , Dean Wein , Yutaka Nakano , Takashi Onozuka , and Joshua Seth
Director: Kenji Kamiyama
Manufacturer: Manga Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Anime & Manga | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

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

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, 2nd GIG, Volume 07 (Episodes 24-26)
Ergo Proxy, Vol. 4: Wrong Way Home
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, 2nd GIG, Volume 05 (Episodes 17-20)
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Volume 2
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, 2nd GIG, Volume 03 (Episodes 9-12)

ASIN: B000PWQPAC
Release Date: 2007-07-03

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Sweet!.......2007-06-12

Every instalment of this series leaves me in awe. It was great to see all the familiar faces and hear some new tunes from Yoko Kano.

True to the Series.......2007-06-11

Delving into a detailed universe..........2007-05-28

Solid State Society is hopefully a sign of what is to come in the world of Ghost in the Shell. After Stand Alone Complex's 2nd GIG, I was definitely left with a slightly bitter aftertaste. The pacing of the 2nd GIG felt uneven and the story felt more convoluted than tastefully complex, creating an adequate but not perfect addition to the GitS series. However, Solid State Society takes the best from the Stand Alone Complex series and in little under two hours presents a story as rich in detail and as lovingly complex as the series preceding it.

A huge plus of the movie is that instead of feeling like an overstretched episode, it feels more like a long arc of quality episodes stringed together while still feeling cinematic in its presentation. Solid State Society gives us everything we expect in a GitS story: a sci-fi universe that draws you in but never overwhelms, continuity in character development, rich and intelligent dialogue and plot that almost seems plausible down the road, and of course, some light philosophy and shades of grey. Even if you aren't an anime or a strict sci-fi fan, you might just enjoy this one.

Another Star in the GitS Series.......2007-05-17

This series just keeps getting better. Unlike the abysmal Cowboy Bebop movie that killed the franchise, Ghost in the Shell in all it's incarnations are well-thought out, engaging, topical, and state-of-the-art animation. Solid State Society is no different. It's all the little things that matter to the animation team from deep character development to the smallest of drawn detail.

Although I've only seen the Japanese DVD version, I assume the usual cast of American voice actors will be along for the State-side release (and in a way, I prefer them... the Japanese Motoko, while I'm told sounds like a traditional "sexy mama" voice is pretty darn husky), so the production value should be spot on.

Don't listen to that guy from San Francisco. I love the Tachikomas. If fact I bought the model and put one together myself. It's sitting here on my desk keeping my Talosian figurine company. My wife has the big plush version sitting on her desk as well. Hee Hee.

Much better than the serials .......2007-05-17

I assume that Production I.G. finally got tired of padding screen time with trite exposition and inane one-off subplots that contribute nothing to the story, as this film does away with all these things that so plagued its made-for-TV predecessors. The production values are nowhere near the levels of the last GITS theatrical release, but the story is at least as focused and drives straight ahead throughout. Taken at a distance, the plot seems somewhat derivative--there are child abductions (just like in "Innocence") and a mysterious computer network based consciousness known as the "Puppet Master" (sounds a lot like "Puppeteer") driving people to kill themselves ("Innocence" again), but the similarities are fairly inconsequential once you actually get into the story.

There are also far fewer squeaky voiced robots pontificating tediously, which is always a plus. Those kinds of things work OK in the sidebars of comic books, but translated into film... Ugh... I often felt as though the viewer's intelligence was being insulted by the television serials, but never felt that way at any point in this more streamlined offering (though the music is often intensely silly). Kudos to the writers for growing up. Boo for Bandai's delays and choice of cover art--it's not 1988 anymore, kids. Put the airbrushes down.

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

Cutey Honey - Collection 2

Scooby Doo - Vol. 1

Three Lives of Thomasina (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: The Devil's Keep

Creatures From The Abyss