John Kay & Friends - Live at the Renaissance Center

Starring:John Kay & Friends
Studio: Rainman
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

There's something about Perry! Perry Mason, as a canny 14-year-old remarks in the episode "The Case of the Pint-Sized Client," is "the best lawyer in town." Here's the evidence. In 15 chronological second-season episodes from the classic series by which all lawyer shows are judged, Los Angeles attorney Perry Mason successfully defends a host of clients so seemingly guilty that Nancy Grace would have had them incarcerated by the first commercial break. Created by Erle Stanley Gardner, Mason was already a popular character in books, films, and radio before coming to television in 1957, and Raymond Burr, usually typecast as a heavy in feature films, did Mason justice (Mason was ranked 28th on the Bravo network's list of television's 100 best characters). Punctuating his sentences with that dramatic intake of breath, Burr's Mason exudes gravitas and expertise. He gets capable support from Barbara Hale as his secretary, Della Street, and William Hopper as private detective Paul Drake.

In what may be television's most thankless role, William Talman costars as district attorney Hamilton Burger, who nearly every week loses what looked to be an open-and-shut case, usually as the result of some dramatic surprise witness (in one episode, a parrot!), an unorthodox legal maneuver, or a cross-examination courtroom confession ("I didn't mean to kill him, your honor"). There is no delving into Mason's private life, although one episode hints at Mason being something of a ladies man. When Della suggestively tells him a new client is in his waiting room, he replies, "Blonde or brunette?" Cleverly plotted, and infused with a palpable noir sensibility , Perry Mason holds up as more than TV Land nostalgia, although it is fun to see such familiar faces as Jesse "the Maytag Repairman" White, Edgar Buchanan (Petticoat Junction), and Joseph Kearns and Herbert Anderson from Dennis the Menace. No extras, but these entertaining episodes will definitely please the court. --Donald Liebenson

Customer Reviews:

The case of the defense lawyer that skirts the law.......2007-07-08

This is a series of programs based a character in the writings of Erle Stanley Gardner. The CBS TV series stretched form 1957 through 1966.

Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) is a defense lawyer who is always thought of after it is too late for him to save the defendant from being accused of murder. Supporting Perry is his trusty more than friendly but professional secretary Della Street (Barbara Hale). And their trusty and sneaky privat investigator Paul Drake (William DeWolf Hopper, Son of the actress-turned-gossip-columnist Hedda Hopper). On the other side of the courtroom is the district attorney Hamilton Burger (William Talman) assisted by the not so neutral Homicide Lt. Arthur Tragg (Ray Collins).

You wonder how they get away with manufacturing evidence and the defendant usually has foot in mouth. Then there are the signature courtroom demonstrations.

Be sure to re-watch these programs as you can then see at even in TV programs they can sprinkle in subtle clues.

The was a mad magazine mock that had a boy scout immediately confess from the back of the courtroom upon seeing Perry mason.

Many of the subsequent programs allowed many TV actors of the time to become different characters and even replace the Burger and Tragg characters. You find yourself not only trying to outguess Mason but also saying "Hey I saw that actor in..."

Even though the characters are from Erle Stanley Gardner the actual programs are written by many different TV writers of the day.

I have on occasion read some of the Erle Stanly Gardner Mason's and they are closely related. The TV version has a few less characters and has to write in some of our favorites.

The DVD's themselves usually have four episodes with a glaring lack of the extras that are so popular nowadays. The plus is that there are no advertisements.

Childhood memories.......2007-07-04

Growing up I enjoyed Perry Mason and still watch the Hallmark movie series. Even though the shows are black and white, you don't really notice as you watch how Perry solves some of the most bizarre cases on record - like the one of the perjured parrot.

Can we get these released faster please?!.......2007-07-03

I waited for years for "Perry Mason" to be released on DVD and I'm ecstatic that Paramount Home Video has finally begun to do it! These box sets are beautiful and the remastered picture and sound quality of the show is so much better than the episodes that are broadcast on my local TV station. Now, my only request is that PHV speed up the releases. If they're going to continue with the 2 volumes per season sequence and release only 1 season per year it's going to take 9 whole years to completely release this great series. I can't wait that long! Please Paramount, how about releasing two box sets at a time, meaning two seasons per year? Universal did this with Seasons 3 and 4 of Miami Vice and it was great.

TIMELESS TV.......2007-07-02

With all of the cast excepting Della now dead, it is pleasant to return to those times. I began watching Perry Mason on TV when yet in high school and after military service and college he was yet on TV!

After purchasing the first two DVD sets can still feel happy about purchasing them, and will get this one too. I not only watch the shows but read the books, just recently finishing The Case of the Caretaker's Cat. The Persian cat of that book was named 'Clinker' but none of the TV shows, however, can be called that!

Great TV from long ago, and for me growing up in the 1950's, it's fun to revisit a world of cars, clothes, and people that other than in these shows, no longer exist. Perry and the gang are than actors and in many ways seem to have become our welcome friends.

Semper Fi.

Perry Mason --- Second Year.......2007-06-27

My wife's favorite and she can't wait until the second half of year 2 comes out. Good production values and the programs have aged well. Outstanding entertainment IF you are a fan of the series.

Average customer rating:

A Heartwarming Story About Freindship
Great Movie!
wonderful movie
Sweet and Fun
Charlotte's Web

Charlotte's Web (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Julia Roberts , Steve Buscemi , John Cleese , Oprah Winfrey , and Cedric the Entertainer
Director: Gary Winick
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000NA6CPE
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Amazon.com

E.B. White's classic tale gets a Babe-like makeover in Charlotte's Web, a delightful and well-made film that is sure to become a family classic. Directed by Gary Winick (13 Going on 30), the new version eschews the musical numbers of the 1973 cartoon and mixes CGI with live-action animals. Dakota Fanning brings the right amount of chutzpah to Fern, the young farm girl who rescues a runt, Wilbur, from death and visits him every day at her Uncle Homer's farm. But it's Wilbur's friendship with Charlotte the spider (voiced by Julia Roberts) that ultimately saves him from the "smoke house" (a kid-friendly alternative term to the slaughterhouse), for Charlotte's talent for weaving praiseworthy words about Wilbur into her web turns the Zuckerman farm into a tourist attraction. The more tragic elements of the book are handled sensitively by Winick, working from a script by Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich), and Roberts' soothing, maternal voice (who knew it would work so well?) makes it all go down easy. It turns out to be just one of many perfect celebrity voice-casting choices, for the farm animals, voiced by an all-star cast including Oprah Winfrey (the goose), Robert Redford (the horse), Steve Buscemi (Templeton the rat), and John Cleese (the sheep), lend plenty of sharp humor. But it's two corn-hungry crows, voiced by Thomas Haden Church (Sideways) and OutKast's Andre "3000" Benjamin who steal the show. (Ages 4 and older) -- Ellen A. Kim

Beyond Charlotte's Web

Other Children's Book Adaptations on DVD
Charlotte's Web by E. B. White
The Original 1973 Charlotte's Web Cartoon

Stills from Charlotte's Web (click for larger image)

Product Description

The classic story of loyalty, trust, and sacrifice comes to life in this live-action adaptation. Fern (Dakota Fanning) is one of only two living beings who sees that Wilbur is a special animal as she raises him, the runt of the litter, into a terrific and radiant pig. As Wilbur moves into a new barn, he begins a second profound friendship with the most unlikely of creatures - a spider named Charlotte - and their bond inspires the animals around them to come together as a family. When the word gets out that Wilbur's days are numbered, it seems that only a miracle will save his life. A determined Charlotte - who sees miracles in the ordinary - spins words into her web in an effort to convince the farmer that Wilbur is "some pig" and worth saving.

Customer Reviews:

A Heartwarming Story About Freindship.......2007-07-03

My Oppinion: Charlotte's Web is an excellent movie very entertaining for all ages.

About the film: The movie is about a spider who bfriends a young pig and tries to save his life by writing on her web's and the two becomes good friends.

My Oppinion 2: This movie is a great story about friendship. this was a very good film, they didn't change much from the animated version which is great.

f you like this movie then check out the soundtrack to the movie, then the original animated movie.

Great Movie!.......2007-07-03

I loved watching this with my children. They kept rewinding it back to their favorite parts. Dakota Fanning really brings Fern's character to life, and Templeton was hilarious. This movie, taken from the classic by E.B. White, should be both read and watched, for, although most of the main characters are animals, they personify something significant about the human spirit. Some pig, some movie! Enjoy it!

wonderful movie.......2007-07-02

wonderful movie , and great adaptation of the book, great for the whole family, my 2 nieces love it

Sweet and Fun.......2007-07-02

Charlotte's Web, based on the classic tale, is a sweet adaptation of the classic novel. It is becoming increasingly rare that the entire family can sit down together and enjoy a movie together. This is one that is perfect for families to enjoy as the movie dislpays the importance of acceptance, friendship, and sacrifice. The voice work here is outstanding, especially with Julia Roberts as the voice of Charlotte. Dakota Fanning is charming as usual. This is a sweet and fun film well-worth 4.5 stars. Enjoy. My family sure did.

Charlotte's Web.......2007-06-22

Great, great, great! I cried the whole time because the animals are just soooo cute! The picture was colorful, and the community where the town folks lived reminded me of home in Louisiana. Wish I could move to that farm when I retire. All should watch it and learn a lesson from the animals about being different but having the same idea about helping a friend in need.

The Parent Trap (1961) and The Parent Trap II (1986): 2-Movie Collection (2-Disc Set)

Average customer rating:

the parent trap
Thisney movies which I watched in childhood
Very good Movies
The Parent Trap 1 and 2
I Like the Original

The Parent Trap (1961) and The Parent Trap II (1986): 2-Movie Collection (2-Disc Set)
Starring: Hayley Mills , Maureen O'Hara , Brian Keith , Cathleen Nesbitt , and Charles Ruggles
Director: David Swift (II) , and Ronald F. Maxwell
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0009X75QU
Release Date: 2005-09-27

Description

Hayley Mills, Special Academy Award(R) winner for 1960's POLLLYANNA, lights up the screen in Disney's fondly remembered release of THE PARENT TRAP. Mills stars as Susan and Sharon, identical twins separated at birth. Neither twin knows the other exists until a simple twist of fate finds them at the same summer camp. Then, realizing who they are, they plan a little twist of their own. They switch places with high hopes of getting their parents back together. This delightful and heartwarming comedy will have your whole family doubling up with laughter. First time on DVD! In the full-length sequel THE PARENT TRAP II, Hayley Mills returns to reprise her roles as identical twins Sharon and Susan. Now all grown up, Sharon is a single mom whose 11-year-old daughter Nikki is just as mischievous as she was! During summer school Nikki and her new friend Mary turn into scheming matchmakers when they try to get Sharon and Mary's widowed father together. Not quite able to make it happen, they turn to the one person who can really help -- Sharon's twin Susan!

Customer Reviews:

the parent trap .......2007-05-19

we love the movie and it is brand new
We received it on time!!!
thanks

Thisney movies which I watched in childhood .......2007-05-12

I was impressed to be able to watch the movie which I watched again in old days. I was sorry that there were not Japanese subtitles.If there are some@Thisney movies which I watched in childhood else and finds them, I want to try to buy it again.

Very good Movies.......2007-04-19

I Love the Parent Trap movies. For people who have never seen these movies, you have know idea what you have been missing. The Parent Trap movies start with Hayley Mills who I Love. Hayley plays twin sisters who are seprated at a very young age because their parents get a divorce only to meet for the first time when they are both sent to the same camp for the summer. There, after they discover that they are twins, they come up with the plain to get their parents back together by switching places so the parents after meet face to face to switch them back.
Partent trap II is about Sharon and Susan again played by Hayley Mills, are now grown up with families of their own. you will have to see it to find out what happens. i love this movie the best.

The Parent Trap 1 and 2.......2007-04-13

Excellent family entertainment. Of course I have watched them both already but had to have them for my collection. I have seen the newer Parent Trap 1 with Dennis Quiad, it's good but doesn't compare to the original with Hayley Mills. Simply wonderful for the entire family.

I Like the Original.......2007-03-30

Still one of my favorite movies. This movie is in my collection of 'what to watch when at home sick.' Great quality.

Average customer rating:

Oldie But Goodie
You CAN Become Important Playing Video Games
Great nostalgia from my 80s childhood
A Good Movie Back Then, Today, Alittle Rusty In Intertainment...
Blast from the past which still entertains even now

The Last Starfighter
Starring: Kay E. Kuter , Dan Mason (III) , Lance Guest , Dan O'Herlihy , and Catherine Mary Stewart
Director: Nick Castle
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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

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ASIN: B00000IQW3
Release Date: 1999-06-08

Amazon.com

At the time of its original release in 1984, this modestly budgeted sci-fi excursion had the distinction of offering some of the first examples of purely computer-generated animation, an apt (and frugal) special-effects solution for a movie with a plot line rooted in computer games. Both the computer-generated visuals and the arcade game now look quaint, but writer-director Nick Castle's affable, good- hearted adventure holds up nicely, thanks to a clever premise--the title game is actually a test for prospective starship pilots, planted by embattled aliens under siege from an evil invader. When a restless teenager (Lance Guest) racks up an impressive score, he finds himself spirited away to the besieged planet and thrust into the midst of an intergalactic war. Apart from Castle's skill at contrasting his extraterrestrial settings with the mundane details of his hero's earthbound life, the movie gets lift-off from two thorough pros, Robert Preston, who makes the alien recruiter, Centauri, a planet-hopping cousin to The Music Man's Harold Hill, and Dan O'Herlihy, the alien copilot, who suggests a scaly Walter Brennan. Older fans will snicker, but kids and young teens will find this rite of passage absorbing, while their folks will savor Preston's brash charm. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews:

Oldie But Goodie.......2007-07-02

Really gets the imigination going. Like Star Wars in away, but more on a kid level. Good movie.

You CAN Become Important Playing Video Games.......2007-06-24

Alex Rogan (Lance Guest, "Halloween II" and "Jaws: The Revenge") seems to have a dead-end life. He lives in a trailer park and helps keep things in the trailer park running. His life is not his own. The only fun he has is playing a video game, which he is very good playing. One day Alex achieves the high score on the video game and life changes.

A bizarre individual by the name of Centauri (played by the late, great Robert Preston) appears, looking for Alex. Centauri is an agent for the Star League, recruiting potential Starfighters. Centauri's tool for discovering the potential to be a Starfighter is the video game.

Though Alex has longed to escape the trailer park, he struggles with the opportunity to be a Starfighter. Alex thinks of his girlfriend Maggie (lovely Catherine Mary Stewart), his mother and the people he has helped in the trailer park. Eventually Alex realizes that his life has already changed and that sometimes a little risk can yield great gains. Alex heads back to Rylos and the Star League with Centauri, only to discover that he is the last Starfighter. The end of this movie is all fun and excitement.

This movie was released the year after "Return of the Jedi." The Star Wars movies were very serious and contained a lot of depth. This movie avoided the angst of Star Wars and focused on the fun of shooting evil aliens. This movie is a video game with a plot surrounding it. This movie contained significant computer generated affects that helped the movie a lot, and those special effects increased the video game feeling of this movie.

Though this movie relies a lot on special effects, the acting is generally quite good. Robert Preston is awesome as Centauri, and I recommend this movie highly to Robert Preston fans. Lance Guest, Catherine Mary Stewart and the late Dan O'Herlihy as the lizard-like alien Grig are also fun to watch.

There are many kinds of science fiction movies. This movie is fun in the tradition of Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon. There are spies and evil aliens. There are spaceships that twist and turn and it is clear to the audience that Rylos is worth fighting for. Lance Guest makes a lovable protagonist. In addition to fans of the actors I listed above, I highly recommend this movie to science fiction movie fans.

Enjoy!

Great nostalgia from my 80s childhood.......2007-04-19

I have a soft spot for this movie, and when it came out on DVD I immediately bought it. I must have watched it dozens of times when it was on HBO in the 80s. Watching it again so many years later, it still retains its heart and charm. Sure, the effects may seem very dated but the film stands out as as one of the first to use CG-created ships and environments. Everyone in the film does a great job as well. Robert Preston is excellent as the smooth-talking alien, Centauri. Dan O'Herlihy has a great time playing navigator Grig, and star Lance Guest has two roles, one of disenchated teen Alex Rogan and the other an android double that takes his place while Alex is taken into space to train as a Starfighter. Guest seems to have a lot more fun with Beta, the android role, but makes Alex believable as someone trying to break free of the trailer park where he grew up. (Don't forget Catherine Mary Stuart as the love interest).

The specials features are a welcome addition for fans. I watched every special feature on this DVD the day I got it, and enjoyed learning about the making of the film from the documentary.

This movie is a great bit of nostalgia with a lot of heart.

A Good Movie Back Then, Today, Alittle Rusty In Intertainment..........2007-04-16

Some 80's movies I can watch over and over and still want to watch it again, like The Terminator, but this movie is ok, but I doubt I will want to watch it over and over like some of my other movies. I remember seeing it in the 80's when I was around 15 years old. Today at age 32, it not really that shiny anymore. But its still a good movie. The CG graphics are pretty impressing for the early 80's. Its worth watching once, if you've never seen it at all.

Blast from the past which still entertains even now.......2007-03-26

The Last Starfighter was a nice little sci-fi action movie which was revolutionary when it was released due to it's use of an early version of CGI-effects. For 1984 the special-effects was quite new and showed just what was possible in the years to come.

The movie itself was a fun and simple sci-fi actioner which owes alot to the arcade shooters which were popular during the 80's. Even the main plotline of the film is pretty much about a video game sent by a benevolent space-faring Star League looking to find a few good Starfighters to save their federation from the danger that is Zur and the Kodan Armada. Lance Guest plays Alex Rogan whose only past-time at the trailer-park where he lives with his mother and younger brother is his girlfriend Maggie Gordon (played by 80's genre favorite Catherine Mary Stewart) and constantly playing a video game called The Last Starfighter. Alex's expert skills in beating the game brings about a new wrinkle in his hum-drum life which seems to be going nowhere. A seeming con-man of a salesman by the name of Centauri (played with gusto and energy by Robert Preston) comes out of nowhere and gives him an offer and opportunity that is out of this world.

The rest of the film brings about Alex's reluctance to join the Star League as a Starfighter and pilot of the Gunstar fighter. He thinks its all a mistake and that he wasn't signing up for some sort of intergalactic war that may just kill him. Like most action movies Alex will have an epiphany of what his role and destiny must be and, with some reluctance, finally takes the challenge by the controls and goes off to fight Zur and the Kodan Armada with his lone Gunstar and his trusty navigator and all-around lizardman mentor, Grigg (played with equal parts seriousness and fun by Dan O'Herlihy).

For those like me who grew up during the 80's and enjoyed watching these simple but fun sci-fi movies The Last Starfighter is quite the blast from the past which still delights and entertains despite the corny dialogue and cheesy effects. The CGI-effects of the Gunstar and the Kodan Armada looks dated but I still can't take my eyes off the screen whenever these early looking CG effects come on. The acting is pretty standard B-movie quality with everyone seeming to have fun with the premise and giving it their all. There's nothing to write the Academy about but in the end the performances do just enough to make the audience like the characters.

The Last Starfighter is quite the underrated scifi action movie which should've done better than it did when it first came out. It's since gained a cult following on video and always a welcome sight whenever it comes on cable. The movie may seem dated compared to the super advanced CGI-effects laden blockbusters we have now but it still entertains the people who grew up watching it as kids and who have grown up since.

Average customer rating:

For older kids
Excellent Animated Film With Several Important Themes
Good Movie - Still
Fine for watching with older friends
Awesome Movie- needs more advertising!

The Iron Giant (Special Edition)
Starring: Jennifer Aniston , Harry Connick Jr. , Vin Diesel , James Gammon , and Cloris Leachman
Director: Brad Bird
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00009M9BK
Release Date: 2004-11-16

Amazon.com essential video

This gentle reworking of Ted Hughes's 1968 novella was the unseen gem of 1999. Hogarth, a young boy who lives in the Maine woods during the cold war, befriends a giant robot. As with E.T., the iron giant is a misunderstood outsider who becomes a child's best friend, and Hogarth does his best to hide the massive figure from his mom (voiced by Jennifer Aniston) and the local scrap-yard beatnik (Harry Connick Jr.). Soon the suspicions of neighbors and a government agent (Christopher McDonald) spell trouble.

With no songs, no sidekicks, and no cheap ending, The Iron Giant is a refreshing change-- like an off-Broadway production compared to the glitz of Disney's annual animated extravaganzas. Director Brad Bird may have Family Dog and The Simpsons to his credit, but this film doesn't have that brand of scatological humor. As with the best family entertainments, there are gags that adults will howl at while the kids are watching something else (see Bird's interpretation of cold war propaganda). And the star is one cool piece of animated magic. Voiced by Vin Diesel (Saving Private Ryan's hulking Private Caparzo) and filled with more gadgets than a Swiss army knife, the giant is a grand thing to behold. And like another famous cinema tin man, our hero--and the movie--has heart. Superb entertainment for ages 5 and up. --Doug Thomas

Description

A young boy rescues a huge robot which has rocketed to earth from space - and tries to protect the genial giant from a nosey government agent and the military. A captivating animated feature that's part metal, part magic and all heart.

Customer Reviews:

For older kids.......2007-07-05

The down side: This is much too scary for young children. It's not a fluffy, sugar-coated, toy-robot flick.

The up side: Pretty much everything else. The pre-Pixar animation is beautiful (it will look primitive to those raised on digital animation, but the drawings are lovely). The human characters are adequate: I wouldn't say I particularly care about any of them, but the robot is what really matters and the humans--Hogarth in particular--do well enough in supporting roles. There are some goofy slapstick things but they are trimming on the bigger story. I saw one review complained about "toilet humor" but there are only one or two gags and they are much milder than anything Disney has released in the past ten years.

The robot-and-boy element will appeal to older children and the more complex elements will appeal to those of us who are old enough to remember the Cold War. The overall message is about violence and choice (it probably means more in 2007 than it did even in 1999, really).

Excellent Animated Film With Several Important Themes.......2007-06-16

This is a wonderful film that can be enjoyed by both adults and children. Though exciting in places the movie is never really scary since it soon becomes apparent that the giant is a friendly, helpful creation that needs to be protected by Hogarth not feared. The 1950's setting is well realized from the Cold War fears to the kids' obsession with superhero comic books. Several important themes are examined including the value of non-violence, the eternity of the soul and tolerance for beings that seem different. Some of these themes are presented subtly and others not so subtly. Despite the sometimes serious ideas presented there are many scenes that are "laugh out loud" funny.
The movie is welled voiced with Harry Connick Jr. perfect as Dean the beatnik/artist/scrap dealer and Jennifer Aniston as Hogarth's attractive mother. Hogarth is fully developed as a smart kid missing his dad, and enduring resentment from his less intelligent peers. The movie is adapted from Ted Hughes' children's novella of the same name and though both are well rendered they are vastly different from each other. As some other Amazon reviewers have noted this film is correctly rated PG not G for some mild cursing, intense moments and some humor involving a practical joke with a laxative.

Good Movie - Still.......2007-06-14

It's been a while since I watched this movie with my son - who is now 24. When I watched it with my two young God children (6 and 3), they had the same reaction he did. They did not from the tv.

This is a good movie - not violent, no profanity, just good and clean.

I wish they would make a sequel!

Fine for watching with older friends.......2007-06-04

I watched this flick three days ago after receiving the DVD.

I have to say that, compared to the silly pictures and cheapquels Disney was churning out during the same time period (except for the excellent Fantasia 2000), this is really good. It does not have talking animals, or stupid songs sung by the main characters, so it's safe to invite friends in their 30's or 40's to watch it.

It's true that it does have some violence, but it's not of the bloody kind, and most children won't be disturbed by it.

However, now that our minds are so used to eye-popping full-3D animation, and to much more action-packed animated movies, some might find this movie kinda slow and underwhelming. This was my case.

Awesome Movie- needs more advertising!.......2007-04-28

great movie! I don't know why it wasn't in the theaters. we just happened to run across a VHS several years ago and watched it for lack of something better. We found it was better than most! It's a fantastic story, with a hero's ending. A must see for adults as well as children. We're on our 2nd DVD (and we started with a VHS, this movie gets watched a lot!)

Average customer rating:

A Heartwarming Story About Freindship
Great Movie!
wonderful movie
Sweet and Fun
Charlotte's Web

Charlotte's Web (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Julia Roberts , Steve Buscemi , John Cleese , Oprah Winfrey , and Cedric the Entertainer
Director: Gary Winick
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

Happy Feet (Full Screen Edition)
Night at the Museum (Widescreen Edition)
Flushed Away (Widescreen Edition)
Eragon (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Peter Pan (2-Disc Platinum Edition)

ASIN: B000NA6CP4
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Amazon.com

Beyond Charlotte's Web

Other Children's Book Adaptations on DVD
Charlotte's Web by E. B. White
The Original 1973 Charlotte's Web Cartoon

Stills from Charlotte's Web (click for larger image)

Product Description

Customer Reviews:

A Heartwarming Story About Freindship.......2007-07-03

Great Movie!.......2007-07-03

wonderful movie.......2007-07-02

wonderful movie , and great adaptation of the book, great for the whole family, my 2 nieces love it

Sweet and Fun.......2007-07-02

Charlotte's Web.......2007-06-22

Average customer rating:

See It to Believe It
We happy few!
Maybe The Best Film Adaptation of William Shakespeare Ever Done
Branagh's Best
A Scotsmans opinion

Henry V
Starring: Brian Blessed , Richard Briers , Fabian Cartwright , Patrick Doyle , and Ian Holm
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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Much Ado About Nothing
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ASIN: 079284615X
Release Date: 2000-07-18

Description

He ruled a massive empire...and fought a mighty war! Kenneth Branagh, Paul Scofield, Derek Jacobi, Ian Holm, Emma Thompson and Judi Dench star in this heroic, action-packed epic based on the timeless play by William Shakespeare. "Magnificent, passionate and steeped in powerful emotion" (The Washington Post), Henry V is a "stunning," (Leonard Maltin) OscarÂ(r)-nominated* adventure that takes its place amongst the greatest war films of all time.Having recently been crowned King of England, Henry (Branagh) commands a massive invasion to assert what he believes is his legal right to the throne of France. But a mighty army stands in his wayÂ...and the young monarch must rely on untested reserves of courage and cunning as he personally leads his outnumbered forces into a desperate battle for the honor and glory of the British Empire. *1989: Director, Actor (Branagh), Costume Design (winner)

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Very few films come close to the brilliance Kenneth Branagh achieved with his first foray into screenwriting and direction. Henry V qualifies as a masterpiece, the kind of film that comes along once in a decade. He eschews the theatricality of Laurence Olivier's stirring, fondly remembered 1945 adaptation to establish his own rules. Branagh plays it down and dirty, seeing the bard's play through revisionist eyes, framing it as an antiwar story. Branagh gives us harsh close-ups of muddied, bloody men, and close-ups of himself as Henry, his hardened mouth and willful eyes revealing much about this land war. Not that the director-star doesn't provide lighter moments. His scenes introducing the French Princess Katherine (Emma Thompson) are toothsome. Bubbly, funny, enhanced by lovely lighting and Thompson's pale beauty, these glimpses of a princess trying to learn English quickly from her maid are delightful.

What may be the crowning glory of Branagh's adaptation comes when the dazed, shaky leader wanders through battlefields, not even sure who has won. As King Hal carries a dead boy (Empire of the Sun's Christian Bale) over the hacked-up bodies of both the English and French, you realize it is the first time Branagh has opened up the scenes: a panorama of blood and mud and death. It is as strong a statement against warmongering as could ever be made. --Rochelle O'Gorman

Customer Reviews:

See It to Believe It.......2007-05-12

This is a film so good it is hard to review. Henry V is not a major Shakespeare play, but rather a strong cross section of who Shakespeare was in his own time, aiming to rouse and please an audience with memory of a universally loved hero-conqueror king, before the debacle of the war of the roses. It is all straight up heroism with no looking back, with bombast that only makes sense when performed, and loads of unabashed patriotism.

Branagh spectacularly made his entry into film here, having long directed Shakespeare on stage. In many ways it is his most defining moment; many think it his best, and it is hard to argue with them. The film is full of verve and gritty realism, Branagh having learned much from Orson Welles' depiction of medieval war in Chimes at Midnight. The plot is about as simple as you can get -- the young British king invades and conquers France, and gets a French wife in return for letting up. Yet I would disagree that this, like Chimes, is some kind of anti-war statement. This is the way the world once was folks, and there are no knowing winks to the modern audience or tongue in cheek ironies here. Branagh gratefully plays his Shakespeare straight, and we are supposed to cheer, not moan, when the king ruthlessly dispatches traitors and derelicts, including one of Falstaff's merry crew.

Of course, the new dimension of realism possible with the film camera makes some of the heroics incongruous to certain modern sensibilities -- Branagh in fact introduces the film studio in the opening chorus section, as if it is another character in the drama. This is directorily wise and shrewd, but Branagh's only concession to the present moment. Mano a mano is the game, both in the story line and in offscreen ambitions -- Lawrence Olivier being the offscreen shadow opponent. Branagh bested the master here, in this memorable and ever fresh production.

We happy few!.......2006-10-04

One of the great coming-of-age brotherhood of arms movies. Brilliant performances and stunning visuals give Shakespeare's words new life and excitement. This is the struggle up close and personal ringing with the crashing of swords and the rush of raining arrows. It's a bloody, muddy, messy fightthat ends with the greater part of glory.

Some have speculated that it is a pro-war movie while others have identified how it is an anti-war film. That it can be viewed either way is testiment to the filmaker's ability to draw out all the complexities and ambiguity of such a struggle. But the most potent message does not seem to be a commentary on war, it is a commentary on boys becoming men and bonding in a common fight for their cause and more, for each other.

Maybe The Best Film Adaptation of William Shakespeare Ever Done.......2006-09-19

As a purist, first, let me get it off my chest that the heroic king Shakespeare created for his play isn't entirely in keeping with the actual character of the sickly, violent, theocratic young man whose brief reign concluded nearly two-hundred years before this story was written. It also strikes something in my twenty-first-century American heart that this martial event we're roused to root for is actually a hostile invasion of a sovereign foreign nation carried out in the name of a tenuous, anachronistic claim. Also, if I were one of Henry's soldiers, outnumbered six to one and wading homeward waist-deep thru mud, I think I might've said, "I know we're English and we have a hard time keeping out of other countries' lands, but couldn't we sort of let the French keep France?" But noooo, so inspiring is Henry with his Saint Crispin's Day spiel that all the soldiers are positively leaping and cheering to be off about the battle, long odds or not. Good story, bad history. That said, as far as fictional constructs go, this play is beyond brilliant!

Kenneth Branagh is a genius as a director and as an actor. He is a visionary and a man whose presence and range instantly wed him to the role of England's last great warrior king. Drawing all the elements together (while Branagh was still in his twenties) and turning out a film that got everything right, from Patrick Doyle's score---well worth owning in itself ---to the casting of one of the greatest acting troupes ever assembled, to somehow, miraculously, always getting the best shots for each scene, be it rain and mud and breaks of sunlight through clouds, to dismal forests, shadowy castle chambers and elegant royal halls, Branagh pulls it all together to the envy of directors everywhere.

This film works in so many ways and on so many levels. Its violent depiction of Medieval warfare is far more brutally tragic than that it was six years later in Braveheart or ever was before. Its courageous depiction of the dirt and muck of fifteenth-century daily life is striking in itself, as it is meant to be. It is a tale which draws on universal emotions and stirs an audience to blood-boiling readiness for the fight we know is coming, but which in its grittiness shocks us nonetheless. And most of all in giving the great, show-stealing Derek Jacobi the role of the chorus, here played as a modern, omniscient figure in a black trench coat and a Rod Serling-like capacity to be ever at-hand while remaining unseen in the shadows, Branagh achieves his greatest effect of all.

This film is one for the ages!

Branagh's Best.......2006-09-16

Kenneth Branagh gave "Henry V" the gritty,stirring interpretation it deserved.He also USED his immense acting talent,making King Henry into an all-too-human,conflicted man.His "Upon the king" soliliquy shows his loneliness,and the misery of war.It's no wonder his witty courtship with Princess Catherine at the end is a perfect,luminous counterpoint.

A very young Christian Bale plays a drummer boy,whose death in battle stirs wrath in Henry.

Brian Blessed&Ian Holm are excellent as warriors,and Ian Holm is great as a proud Welshman.

Patrick Doyle rightly said he considers his soundtrack for "Henry V" his best.It is stirring,passionate,powerful."Non nobis domine" will linger long after the movie is over.

"Henry V" is one of the best cinematic interpretations of Shakespeare,and must for anyone who's a fan of the Bard.

A Scotsmans opinion.......2006-08-06

Mr. Lunberg & Mr. Turnley............I am a Scot, think about that. Neither of you have the wit to understand the dialog of this moving work.
Even as a Scot, I can still recognise genious (albeit English) when I see it.

Average customer rating:

Just a great movie
Heartwarming film that pulls at your heart strings
entertaining
I'm Glad I Didn't Listen to the Critics
Simon Birch

Simon Birch
Starring: Ian Michael Smith , Joseph Mazzello , Ashley Judd , Oliver Platt , and David Strathairn
Director: Mark Steven Johnson
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0788815466
Release Date: 1999-05-18

Amazon.com

This screen adaptation of John Irving's novel A Prayer for Owen Meany was appreciated much more by audiences than by the majority of disapproving critics. Irving's books have fared only moderately well on film, and while The World According to Garp garnered critical praise, The Hotel New Hampshire was waiting in the wings to counteract the fanfare. Simon Birch is one of those nostalgic movies--determined to view the past in rose-colored hues--despite the fact that its protagonist, a dwarf named Simon Birch, is wholeheartedly unsympathetic. The film opens weepily, with Jim Carrey as the adult version of the film's main character and narrator, Joe Wenteworth (played as a youth by the serious young actor Joseph Mazzello). He's mourning at the grave of his best childhood friend, Simon Birch, with whom he had bonded instantly because both were misfits--one a dwarf, the other illegitimate. The deck is stacked from the beginning, especially when the camera dwells on Joe's luscious mom, Rebecca (Ashley Judd), who refuses to reveal the identity of Joe's father, which in turn urges Simon and Joe to embark on a quest to discover Joe's paternity. In a plot point that resembles The Scarlet Letter, the tide of fate turns on the "immoral" mom just as she's on the verge of finding true love with a decent fellow (played by Oliver Platt). Simon Birch ultimately descends into crudeness, though it asks the audience to continue to engage with its crass lead character. By the end, the film is reduced to drivel, cliché, and melodrama to tug our heartstrings into submission. All the things that should have been the film's focus--guilt, self-loathing, and redemption--remain elusive. --Paula Nechak

Description

A heartwarming and funny hit that's earned overwhelming critical acclaim, SIMON BIRCH features great performances from stars Ashley Judd (DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YA-YA SISTERHOOD, HIGH CRIMES, KISS THE GIRLS) and Oliver Platt (BICENTENNIAL MAN, DON'T SAY A WORD) in an outstanding cast! Even though Simon Birch is the smallest kid in town, deep down he knows that he was born to do something big! He's on a constant search to discover his destiny, but somehow manages to find nothing but trouble! Meanwhile, Simon's loyal best friend, Joe (Joseph Mazzello -- JURASSIC PARK, RADIO FLYER), is searching for the identity of his father, a secret his beautiful mother (Judd) has guarded Joe's entire life. Discover for yourself the undeniable charms of this uplifting and inspirational motion picture as these two share the hilarious, and sometimes tragic, ups and downs that will forever bind them together!

Customer Reviews:

Just a great movie.......2007-07-03

Several emotions wrapped up in one fine movie. Sad, happy, wasrm hearted, funny. Just a great movie with exceptional acting. An enjoyable film for anyone...

Heartwarming film that pulls at your heart strings.......2007-06-14

this is a story about two 12 year friends who have the best times together, except one is about 2 foot tall, and seen as an outcast to the town. However, Simon Birch does not let that get him down, he has faith and believes he is "going to be a hero". Through many adversities, these gruesome twosome continue to do amazing things, and entertain you throughout the whole movie. you will laugh, and cry. At times, the "emotions" get a bit thick and artificial, but overall, the story is well developed. worth a viewing or two.

entertaining.......2007-06-12

I have an old VHS copy of this film which I have watched over and over again and also have lent to others who really enjoyed it. I am glad I can add a DVD to the collection. Also have the soundtrack and the songs are great.

I'm Glad I Didn't Listen to the Critics.......2007-06-08

This movie is a charmer. Funnier than you expect, more touching than you would think, an all around "cute" movie. Maybe you don't like cute movies. Okay. Then you should listen to the critics who slammed this film. This film has become one of our family favorites, we don't purchase many films since there are so few that we want to watch more than once. We purchased this one after renting it several times. We've watched it over and over, whenever we need a little laugh. It's grown up enough for adults and clean enough for all but very young children. There are some references to "boobs" and "balls" but that's about as graphic as it gets. Buy this movie, don't worry about the critics.

Simon Birch.......2007-05-23

Very heart warming movie, with several good messages and lessons to learn for the Christian veiwer... Good movie for the whole family. Nice change from all the Sex and Violence...

Average customer rating:

Perry Mason at his best.
Perry Mason - Season 1, Vol. 2
TV As It Should Be
Very Good!
Finally!

Perry Mason - Season 1, Vol. 2
Starring: Ray Collins , and Karl Held
Director: Francis D. Lyon , Gerald Mayer , Jerry Hopper , Jack Arnold , and John Peyser
Manufacturer: CBS DVD/ Paramount Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000IHYXJO
Release Date: 2006-11-21

Amazon.com

The second volume of season 1 of Perry Mason fleshes out the splendid entire first year of the show, a masterpiece of '50s film noir and crisp, savvy TV writing. Raymond Burr's unflappable defense attorney Perry Mason is equal parts P.I., father confessor, and yes, judge, jury, and executioner. The crimes include murder most foul, and lots of that sordid specter that haunted people pre-internet: blackmail. Everyone has a motive, and everyone in the harsh light of Los Angeles seems to have something to hide. The boxed set contains the remaining 21 episodes of the first season, with highlights like "The Case of the Lonely Heiress," in which detective and Mason sidekick Paul Drake tracks down a rich woman, who is then suddenly accused of the murder of the man who tried to find her. Some episodes haven't aged well (one involves Mason interviewing a "schizophrenic" woman on the witness stand, interviewing "both" her personalities). But overall, the writing and the assured ambience of the series, and Burr's commanding presence, make Perry Mason among TV's topnotch armchair crime series. --A.T. Hurley

Description

The defense never rests as Volume 2 of the classic series Perry Mason returns to DVD with 20 more episodes from the groundbreaking first season!

Customer Reviews:

Perry Mason at his best........2007-07-03

This is such a great series. The telephone in the cars going through the mobile operator, the Continental with suicide doors, Della in those heels, Paul's great sport coats and so much more. It is a well done series that has definitely stood the test of time. Perry solves the cases and puts Hamilton Burger and Lt. Tragg in their places in each and every episode.

Perry Mason - Season 1, Vol. 2.......2007-06-08

I have really enjoyed these DVD's! It takes you back to that time in the early 60's and is very well done! My daughter who is 23 and my son who is 21 also loved them! Great for family time together.

TV As It Should Be.......2007-05-13

Having just completed PM season 1, volume 2, I must say that I was thoroughly happy with this purchase. (I powered through season 1, volume 1 in early April--and loved it.) The storylines are all good here--a few are excellent. The acting is top-notch by Burr, Hopper and Hale. And I think Ray Collins (as Lt. Tragg) and William Tallman (as Hamilton Burger) also turned in good performances. What I like most about this first season of Perry Mason is the feeling it brings to the viewer--it is almost like being transported back in time to 1957. I was too young to watch these episodes on broadcast TV--and experiencing them now immersed me in a seemingly simpler time--when judgments about people and their actions were more or less cast in black or white, not in shades of gray. The dialogue moves along at a crisp pace. The guest stars are interesting, some are excellent supporting actors. Raymond Burr's character nuances are amazing (he is very good at using his facial expressions and authoritarian voice to convey attitude), and the quality of the video and sound is very good. Thankfully, you get the entire episodes--with the scenes that were edited or cut to make room for TV commercials--restored. I only wish that Paramount / CBS would put together a well-produced documentary on the Making Of Perry Mason. Even without this missing bonus feature, my plan is to purchase the next DVD set on June 17th. Wouldn't it be cool if, somehow, the producers and CBS-TV had filmed a special 2-hour episode back in the day--and having kept it a secret all these years--could NOW release it as a 100% new product on DVD? Certainly, it could bring in pl