Safe [DVD + Digital Copy]

Quality Statham
You're a man with no friends left in the world thinking about doing yourself and your enemies a favor and ending your life. Moments before you can carry out your plan, however, you see a young girl in need of your help. Do you go to her aid? If your answer is no, you just shortened this movie by about 98%.

When we first meet Luke Wright (played by Jason Statham), he's won a mixed martial arts bout that the Russian mob "encouraged" him to lose. An easy enough task given the fact that he already had a losing record. After they assault him, he believes the worst is behind him. That proves to be false when he returns home to find members of the same Russian mob have killed his girlfriend (or wife, I'm not entirely sure and the information sources I've checked are silent on the matter). Rather than kill him, he's left as the prime suspect in the homicide and told to leave the mob's territory. On the other side of the world, a ten year-old Chinese student named Mei (played by...

YOU'RE A CRAZY MAN, BUT NOT SO STUPID..
The film opens with Luke Wright (Jason Statham) as a Jersey ring fighter. While fighting an Internet sensation, Statham was supposed to take a dive. He hit the guy once and put him into a coma to the dismay of the Russian mafia who then kills his family and anyone who talks to Statham. While contemplating suicide, Jason espies a Chinese girl attempting to avoid the same Russian mafia. With nothing to lose, Jason springs into action.

The girl (Catherine Chan) has memorized a safe combination for the Chinese mafia, which the Russians want. In order to save the girl, Statham must battle the Russian mafia, Chinese mafia, and the crooked NYPD who are on the take. Jason has a past that makes him more than qualified to take them on.

The movie has numerous chase scenes, shoot outs, fights, and general tough guy stuff. We get a glimpse of Statham doing some compassionate acting (he actually sheds a tear) and let me say... "It ain't pretty." The heartless cold calculating...

If you love statham, you'll love this
This is a very good film. Very entertaining. And if you are a fan of Jason Statham this movie will not disappoint.

This is an action film. Pure action. So if you're looking for a drama piece, go somewhere else.

It starts with Statham's character witnessing his wife get killed and then being allowed to live by the Russian mob only so they can torment him. He runs into a little girl that has been forced to work for the Chinese mob. He saves her and all hell breaks loose. Suddenly, the cops, the Chinese, and the Russians are all after him and the combination to a safe that the girl holds in her head.

The movie is fast paced and never slows down. Action packed and explosive. Yeah there are a lot of unreal moments in it, but this is a movie after all. However, it is not meant for children. The plot is solid an dI love how he sticks it to everyone that is chasing him in the end.

Watch it. You'll be glad you did.

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Face the Music

Funny and Heartwarming
A must have for your DVD collection. The main character goes through lengths to achieve success. Without spoiling the plot, you will find yourself enjoying his transformation along the way. The movie moves quickly with laughs all the way through. You won't be disappointed.

Great Date Movie!
This is a sweet, entertaining movie. Great to curl up with your honey and watch on a date night--both guys and girls will appreciate it.

Funny and Romantic and...did I mention FUNNY?
This is one funny, charming film!

Reminds you of a great old Howard Hawks comedy.

Would love to see a sequel ;-)

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Fingerprints

Great Series!
I teach Forensic Science in high school, and these videoes are a perfect compliment to our curriculum! And they are so interesting too!

Just Ok
As someone who likes history - this is interesting from that perspective. Where do the forensic tools that our police use come from. But, it moves a little slow and just doesn't ever really get going.



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Adventures Of The Wilderness Family Part 3

ROBERT LOGAN IS THE BEST!
the entire 'wilderness family' series, plus 'across the great divide' are wholesome family entertainment, without getting sappy. they are interesting for everyone, including adults.
i remember robert logan from '77 sunset strip' and was happy to see him writing such wonderful stories.
these movies are timeless.

luv, miss josh

Great show with family values
This is a great show and a reason we don't watch much broadcast TV. what is on TV anymore is just garbage with no moral values like this show. We will be buying all the episodes and not worring about our children watching them as much as they want.

Great family movie!
The series was a great movie to watch with my kids, we all loved them!! I would recommend these to any family.

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Mr. Bean's Holiday

Great Compilation!! *and a warning to parents about content on an extra*
I viewed all the episodes and they seem to be in working order. Glitch free and the picture looked good. Sound was fine. I report this because it seems that a lot of dvd releases of tv shows are done crappily that there are lots of justified complaints.
The extras on the 3rd disc of the tv show series were worth viewing. The documentary about how Mr. Bean started was especially cool to see. **The warning to anyone who would like to know, especially maybe for parents, is that the documentary has shots of female frontal nudity that come up without warning.** That footage is from an opening from a comedy series Rowan was a part of in his earlier career. Thought I'd mention it since no other reviewer commented on this. And no, I don't need someone getting smart at me about how other countries are liberal with their tv programming and nudity. I know. I just didn't expect that material on a Mr. Bean dvd set and thought others might like to know.

They used to make them like this
The Dick Van Dyke Show. The Lucy Show. The Odd Couple.

What on earth do these wonderful old T.V. shows have to do with Mr. Bean's Holiday?

Well, not a whole lot thematically, but there is one very significant tie between them. The classic shows mentioned above were not children's programs. They were prime-time comedy series aimed at adults. They were clean as a whistle for the most part, as shows then tended to be, but the subjects of the shows revolved around divorce, marital troubles, problems at the office etc.

Unfortunately, modern entertainment equates "adult" with sex and violence. In other words, the word adult has been appropriated. Nothing could possibly be funny, clever, inventive or exciting if there isn't at least some sex or controversy right? It's a pretty sad state when "adult" has come to mean "15 year-old boy" :/

Now before you roll your eyes, I am as far from being a prude as you can get. I own and admire scores of R-rated...

Paradise for Mr. Bean Fans
"Mr. Bean: The Ultimate Collection" is a seven-disc box set featuring the antics of Rowan Atkinson's alter- ego, the long-legged, goofy-looking guy who manages to create comic mayhem wherever he goes. Mr. Bean, whom Atkinson describes as a child in a grown man's body, was created when Atkinson was a student at Oxford University. Borrowing from silent film techniques, Bean never speaks, relying instead on facial expressions, sight gags, and slapstick to milk laughs. Atkinson is Chaplinesque in the way he sets up gags, plants them, and then illustrates his mortification at how badly things have gone. We feel sorry for his sad-sack ineptness, but still manage to laugh at his constant penchant for getting into awkward, frequently embarrassing fixes. I was reminded of Buster Keaton and even Lucille Ball, two folks who knew how to incorporate and use props comically. Atkinson cites Jacques Tati's earlier character, Mr. Hulot, as another influence.
The box set contains all...

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A Happy Event

(3.5 STARS) French Romantic Comedy with a Difference
"A Happy Event" ("Un heureux événement") is a French romantic comedy with a difference. The story centers on a young couple, Barbara (Louise Bourgoin, "Les aventures extraordinaires d'Adèle Blanc-Sec"), a graduate student of philosophy, and Nicola (Pio Marma

Wild Bill and Rancho Deluxe (Jeff Bridges)

Classic Jeff Bridges
Rancho Deluxe like Thunderball and Light Foot is a classic "going no where" yarn 70's film with Jeff Bridges at his best. It's the reason he took up residency in Montana well before the hedge fund other out of state big Montana Ranch wannabees started to move in to Paradise Valley ruining the real dream of the simple life with simple beauty that the film portrays.

Rancho Deluxe is SO FUN
Just a fun, campy, interesting movie with two fantastic actors in their youth. Beautiful scenery of Montana as well. It is no surprise they both went on to do great things in their craft.

double feature
great double feature.. One of my favorite Jeff Bridges movies.. Rancho deluxe!! And another great performance in wild Bill! Great idea packaging these two together!

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My Tehran For Sale

Outstanding!
Outstanding film with a sad ending. It might be a bit too cerebral for the average American, but if you are an average American and you want an education into what people from Iran are willing to endure to escape the mullahs...watch this film.





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Face The Music

Funny and Heartwarming
A must have for your DVD collection. The main character goes through lengths to achieve success. Without spoiling the plot, you will find yourself enjoying his transformation along the way. The movie moves quickly with laughs all the way through. You won't be disappointed.

Great Date Movie!
This is a sweet, entertaining movie. Great to curl up with your honey and watch on a date night--both guys and girls will appreciate it.

Funny and Romantic and...did I mention FUNNY?
This is one funny, charming film!

Reminds you of a great old Howard Hawks comedy.

Would love to see a sequel ;-)

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James Bond

Get it And Love It
If you are interested in movies that say "true story", you should like this show. I'm surprised how many movies have a story behind them & I had no clue. Try this out you should like it quite a bit.

new material
Good production value that reported the real story of how Capone was charged by the government. I was familiar with the prohibition period but did not know the details on how Capone was brought to justice.



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Frankenweenie

An excellent short
Frankenweenie is a funny and well made spoof or parody of several 1930s horror films using contemporary time. Tim Burton did a wonderful job of telling his story in less than 30 minutes. It is really too bad that the studio has not rereleased this very funny film. I'll be sure to get it when it becomes avalable.

A dog with nine lives
This "Frankenstein monster" film by Tim Burton is a perfect model of compact and compelling storytelling; it brilliantly distills into thirty minutes what normally takes two hours. Frankenweenie is about love, acceptance, and redemption, and it's got a good moral. It's in black and white (which looks great!), it's funny, and, for younger children, even a little scary. Frankenweenie is my hero! (P.S. See if you can spot the clue that Frankenweenie has nine lives)

Early Burton as a glimpse of things to come.
Tim Burton always has such a clear vision in all his movies, from the photography, to the story, right down to the music, -and this one is no exception. If you ever get a chance to see this short film, DO SO! It's classic Burton even though it was made before he became a well known and deservedly well respected director. Tim Burton is the only film maker that made me uncontrollably cry in a public theater EVER. That was for Edward Sissorhands. All his movies get to me emotionally. Frankenweenie always tears me up at the end, but fear not, it does has a happy ending. I don't want to give away too much of the story, but I tell you, SEE THIS FILM if you ever can. You'll totally love it! Thanks Tim, for being such a dedicated and consistent visionary!

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Tovarisch, I Am Not Dead

surprising, fascinating
A WWII story that is more nuanced than the stories of Nazis, refugees, heroes or death camp victims. It was fascinating. I will definitely be watching again.





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Megamind

What happens when the supervillain unexpectedly wins?
Megamind is something of a mix, but a good one. On the one hand, it takes the existing traditional tropes of comic-book superhero and supervillain and works within them, but at the same time it ventures into territory that one rarely sees, going one step beyond the traditional to answer two questions: (1) What really makes a supervillain truly 'bad'? and (2) What happens when the supervillain unexpectedly wins?

The film starts off with a traditional hook - Megamind apparently falling to his doom - and then flashes back to the beginning, with the origins of the two classic protagonists, superhero Metro Man and supervillain Megamind, each sent out as an infant in a spacepod from their respective doomed homeworlds. From there, however, things begin to take a twist. Megamind is the supervillain, but more from bad luck than anything else (Metro Man's pod lands in a mansion where he is adopted by rich parents who give him everything, Megamind's pod on the other hand lands in a...

3D Review by a 3D Connoisseur
My ratings are based mainly on the QUALITY OF THE 3D, not the video content.

There are about 173 out of screen effects that extend about 10% of the way, from the screen to the viewer. 22 made it to 15%, 19 out to 20%, 36 more at 25% and 2, 30-35%. That's a lot of OOS effects. In addition there are quite a few quick 25-40% effects piled near the title scenes but the 3D in them is a somewhat flawed. However, very few 3D flaws elsewhere in this film. I would have to say my favorite effect is the baby juggling / drooling sequence around 30% approximately 10 minutes into the film.

This movie earned a 4 way tie for the # 2 position on my shelf. For 3D quality and humor, it ranks right up there with the 3 other animated greats, Open Season, Rio and Ice Age.

*** Another Must see ***
*** Add it to your list ***

MY 3D RATING = EXCELLENT (poor, fair, good, very good, excellent)

Note: As far as the percentages go, everyone's eyes...

A complex plot with an exciting ending...
"Megamind" is the story of good vs. evil - or is it? The movie starts out with a very cute blue baby being sent to earth in a rocket by his parents to save the infant from the destruction of the planet. As the little blue child is rocketing toward earth, a another child (who is very handsome) is also heading toward earth in a similar rocket. Both children crash land on earth, but to different fates. The beautiful child crash lands on a big estate where he is adopted by a rich family and given everything. While the little blue child crash lands in a prison and is adopted by the prisoners who teach him the ways of evil. Both children are highly intelligent, but due to their circumstances, one grows up to be a superhero -Metroman (voiced by Brad Pitt) and the other a supervillain - Megamind (voiced by Will Ferrell).

Metroman and Megamind spend their lives locked in the classic battle of good vs. evil with Megamind always losing and ending up in jail. Until one day, Megamind's...

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Cookie Jar Halloween Cartoon Collection

I had high hopes, but it just wasn't any good.
I was very excited when this showed up on Amazon, and counted down its release date. When I received my copy I put it in the DVD player immediately. I managed to sit through every cartoon on the disc, and how I was able to do that, I have no idea. The cartoons are horrible, and very few actually have to do with Halloween. Most are just spooky-themed episodes, and even then they aren't entertaining. The Richard Scary toon has a stupid story about a neighbor who looks like a witch, and is followed by another short about learning how to count. Yes, on a Halloween DVD. I was hoping Bump in the Night would save this, but even it was horrible and the audio messed up during most of the viewing. Ultimately, this DVD was a great idea that was poorly executed. With all of the Halloween cartoons over the years that have not been released on DVD, THESE are the ones they selected?? Even at the low price of $6, it isn't worth it.

JAM PACKED DVD
WOW. THIS DVD IS JAM PACKED WITH HALLOWEEN MOVIES. MAKES A GREAT GIFT. MY GOD-DAUGHTES ENJOY THIS EVEN WHEN IT IS NOT HALLOWEEN! LUV IT! =)

Is every dvd copy defective?
The "Bump in the Night" episode has a different audio track. What the heck is up with that. The company that made the dvd should have checked that before they shipped them out don't ya think.
DON"T BUY THIS!BUYER BEWARE!

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Roosevelt and Rufus: Educational Edition

Roosevelt & Rufus: Great video about St. Augustine, the history, and human interest!
We got this video recently and really enjoyed it. St. Augustine is our favorite vacation spot and we have been going there for over 30 years. When we saw Roosevelt and Rufus, the video about the tour guide and his horse and carriage, we were amazed at how it really captures the magic of the many tours we have taken in St. Augustine. It is clear that Roosevelt and Rufus both know the Ancient City well and enjoy sharing the stories with visitors. Bruce Merwin has caught the pair on his video and brings them to life for all of us to enjoy. The carriage tours are such fun that people do not mind doing them many times. With this video we can even enjoy the tour when we are at home and imagine the fun we will have when we return to St. Augustine. This will help keep the story alive for years!

Jerry

A Celebration of the American Spirit
"Roosevelt and Rufus" is a love letter to character and tradition. It honors a man and a city. It gives us the joy of seeing someone making a living at something that brings HIM joy. In its own way, this film salutes the American dream.

Roosevelt Upshaw is a horse-and-carriage tour guide in the small, history-rich town of St. Augustine, Florida, the country's oldest city. In the first half of this 66-minute documentary we learn about how he came to his position, his relationship with his horse Rufus, and much inside information about his trade.

The second half highlights the actual tour that Roosevelt provides to his patrons. We quickly discover he is a gifted raconteur with a talking rhythm that is as easy on the ear as the beauty of this "ancient" city is easy on the eye. The filmmaker Bruce Merwin takes full advantage of his medium by enhancing the tour with numerous close-up images described by our engaging guide. That alone would make this film worth...

Neat idea
Cute video. Gotta love Roosevelt. My kids were amused by him. The best part of the tour is early on, when he shows us the fort and city walls.

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Hawaii/Norway

DVD Review: "Scooby-Doo! Laff-A-Lympics: Spooky Games"
Warner Bros. is on a mission to release every piece of Scooby-Doo film it owns. They put out a new animated full-length movie every six months to a year now. The time is here for "Scooby-Doo! Laff-A-Lympics: Spooky Games" to arrive for classic cartoon fans of the crime-solving canine. Not only do Mystery, Inc. enthusiasts get 12 original episodes of the series, but there's a brand new one entitled "Spooky Games" included.

This collection has the Scooby Doobies in competition with the Yogi Yahooeys and the Really Rottens in international races and events that take place in France, Australia, Hawaii, Norway, Japan, and many other exotic locations. Star-studded contests pit everyone from Captain Caveman, Fred Flintstone, Jabberjaw, and Huckleberry Hound to Dread Baron, Mumbly, and Mrs. Creepley against each other.

"Spooky Games" only features the Scooby Gang. They find themselves investigating a 1,000 year old statue which came to life. It's intent on ruining the...

reminds me of sat morning cartoons when I was a kid
I would recommend this to all 40 + year old kids second child hood can't afford an Aston Martin so this will do.

Scooby-Doo: Laff-A-Lympics - Spooky Games
I bought this because i like scooby doo cartoons & laff-a-lympics as well. I bought the first & the second volumes so i wanted to see them. If you get this be warned that it does show a couple of duplicates of cartoons from volumes one & two.

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Chairman Of The Board

Not since "Becket" have I seen such an earnest endeavor
I have one word to describe the experience of seeing this movie - floored. Not since "Becket" with Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole (chronicling the unsteady friendship between Henry II and the Archbishop of Canterbury in 12th century England)have I been so impressed with performances by two actors. Larry Miller plays the antagonist with such deft nuance a lesser critic would swear he couldn't act, until the climax arises wherein he chews scenery until his gums bleed. Carrot Top steals scenes and hearts with a continuous stream of hijinks, tomfoolery, and shinanigans that makes us laugh until we realize at the end of the movie that he's also taught us how to love. I've seen this movie 74 times and I asked my wife to marry me during the museum scene the 4th time we saw it in the theater. I named both of my children Larry Miller. I can recommend nothing higher, not religion, not culture, not world peace, nothing.

An artist at his peak
I have been lucky enough in my lifetime to see Michael Jordan at his peak, Tiger Woods at his finest and Ralph Macchio in Karate Kid. It is a special feeling when you know you are a witness to greatness at a historical level. This movie gives you that chance. Carrot Top is just brilliant and gifted. I think we can all agree on that fact. His prop gigs have revolutionized high level comedy at a level on Gallagher and Jeff Foxworthy can relate to. I've seen his stand up act 231 times and never fail to lose control of my bladder. That being said, Carrot Top on the big screen given an oscar level screenplay is just heavenly. Courtney Thorne Smith continues her trend of dating top level leading men like Jim Belushi and Lewis from Revenge of the Nerds. I bet a lot of ladies wish they had her agent. Larry Miller is, well, Larry Miller. Nothing more needs to be said. He's in that Hanks, Gibson, Freeman pantheon of great actors of our lifetime.

This story is just gripping and takes...

Praise for Carrot Top in "Chairman of the Board"
Carrot Top once again proves that he is at the top of his form with this hilarious, and equally devastatingly funny film entitled Chairman of the Board. In it, 'Top' plays a kid who has just inherited a multi-national company from a complete stranger. Those who enjoy deep, meaningful comedy will delight with the antics as Carrot Top struggles to maintain control of his company while all around him people plot to topple him from his rightfully earned position. The camera is perfectly positioned to catch each one of Carrot Top's now trademark prop gags. I was delighted to take my niece to the premier screening and it is a delight to own this DVD. What's more interesting are the subtle themes of revenge, destiny and ironic comedy woven into the fabric of this movie - a modern day Hamlet.

Truly a delight!!

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Picturing the Presidents [HD]

Great teaching tool
I use this episode to prepare a group of middle school students for their trip to Washington D.C. It's incredibly handy.

president ial collection
it was an awesome movie to learn history .I learned things I never knew watch it very goodvery very good



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Happy Birthday

excellent effort
I would like to rate this higher than 2 stars, but I couldn't hear half of it. The producers need to work on their sound recording technique. It was still a great movie, though, I watched it all the way through, even though I missed half of the dialogue, because it was captivating and different. I found the visual effects distracting, at first, but I started liking them after a few minutes, because they really added to the other-worldly aspect of the film. It is worth the rental price, and to tell you the truth, I hope these guys make more horror movies, because I think they have something interesting to say, and they really add something unique to the genre.

Piece of crap
You have got to be kidding me. What a picec of crap. Can I give it a -5 stars? This is the worst movie I have ever seen. Stupid, ridiculous photography, ugly untalented actors. You name it, it is soooo bad. Give me my money back.

Well done old chap!
Ya know a first I wasn't sure about renting a low budget... Unknown Movie... But after I did... It Turned out to be a good purchase. The movie was Low budget and fun. Support the small guys!

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A Hero's Climb

Way good... really enjoyed this movie.
I thought this might be a very boring movie, but decided to take a chance. Glad I did. This was very entertaining and exceeded my expectations. It is a very straight forward yet hearthwarming story, and will make you smile, and maybe shed a tear here and there. Great actors and story.

So Glad I Took a Chance on this Movie
Great movie, very different in theme and message from most of what is out there. I thoroughly enjoyed it, well worth giving it a try!

About kids... NOT for kids
Well I made the mistake of quickly scanning over some reviews and upon reading one reviewers comment calling it a "sweet movie" I decided to rent as I'm so tired of trying to find a movie without guns, violence, foul language, nudity. For some reason I thought I could sit back and relax with our 11 yr old during this.... WRONG! It includes bullying, alcohol, guns, inappropriate sexual conduct, suicide.... at one point the (2 main chracter's) old man asks a young boy why isn't he "porking" girls yet cause that what he did at his age???? WHAT??? I really found nothing sweet about it and definitely not for young kids to watch.

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From The 50 Yard Line - Marching Band Movie

Beyone the 50 yard line
This movie was amazing. It was great to see the work these dedicated kids do to prepare a 10 minute show. As a band director I understand how the kids and director live and die with every performance. Make sure you see this if you are in, have been, or thinking about getting into band.

50 Yard Line Review
Good presentation of actually performing in a marching band! Ny daughter related very well with many of the performers in the movie. Great presentation for school agers who are curious about what performing in a band is like as well as identifying with issues school agers confront in school. Good personal insights of the band members.

Incredible Movie ! I Laughed, cried and learned something !
This is an incredible movie !! I bought it for my son who is in the marching band because I thought he would like it. Not only did he love it, but I also loved it as well. It helped me to understand what he is experiencing, since I was never in the marching band. I was surprised how I got so caught up in the story being told. It's not just a regular documentary with facts being spewed, it tells a story and I found myself laughing out loud, and even getting choked up and tears at the end. (And I'm an ex Football guy). This film is super-entertaining for everyone, whether you are in band or not. 2 Thumbs way up!!

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Working Noon To Five

Guilty Pleasure....
I really like this adorable little show about a pair of 18-year-olds - Tom and Jessie - who get married. After all, they've been best friends forever, and they're next-door neighbors. And, they really are in love.

Of course, they're completely at a loss as to how to actually be married. They live in the attic of his parents' house, and get into fights because they're so young and have no idea how to be married. And of course, everyone tells them they're crazy for getting hitched.

Besides Tom and Jessie, who really ARE adorable, the other characters are fun as well. Tom's parents: uptight, thinks things should be a certain way; after all, his dad is a judge. Jessie's parents: hippy free-thinkers who aren't actually married. Their best friends, Ava and Carter. Tom's older and younger siblings. And "the refugee", who lives with Jessie's parents, but we never actually learn his name or where he's fled from.

Yes, the show's a bit "Dharma & Greg", but...

Cute Show
Enjoyed watching it. First purchased it because I saw that Michael Seater was in it and remembered him from The Zack Files that was on Discovery Kids USA when I was a kid. I think that teens would enjoy this show, too bad it ended in Canada after two seasons though. Do wish that season two on Amazon Instant Video was cheaper though, especially for a show that did not even air in the US.

I wanted to love it (or even like it), but I couldn't.
I heard from several friends that this was one of those shows that should be checked out. I didn't necessarily think it would be an Emmy-worthy comedy, but maybe something of a guilty pleasure. Admittedly, I was intrigued after I found out Stacey Farber was the lead, and I'd be lying if I said Degrassi isn't a major guilty pleasure of mine (at least the first few seasons; I can't speak on what it has become). Alas, I gave this several solid efforts, and it just didn't do it for me. There was just something off tonally with the series. So many of the jokes that should have produced genuine laughs (or, at the very least, chuckles) missed, and missed badly. The camera would stay close on someone's face after their joke, as if to ask, "Are you laughing yet?" I think both Farber and Michael Seater are undeniably talented. But the writing lets them down time after time, and I'm anxious to see them in shows or films that complement their skills more appropriately.

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Brain Fitness Frontiers [HD]

Life changing experience
This video is truly a potential life changing program of how to improve your mind and potentially change the remainder of your life. I am 69 and now have a firm belief that by following the lessons shown, I can make a major improvement in the quality and duration of the rest of my life.

Richard Kanehl

Awesome Video
Great Video - needed to study for a class on fitness and aging but telling others about it as well.

Great
Can never learn enough about the human body, when it come to the brain well enough said, when you look at people and think "what are you thing??"

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Storyland Yoga: Yoga for Kids and Families (ages 3 to 8)

Weird!
I bought this DVD for my 4 year old daughter who often tries to do yoga along with me. I thought it might be fun for her to have her own yoga dvd that is geared towards kids. While this does have a storyline to help keep the kids interested, it really doesn't focus enough on the yoga. The instructor tells a strange and disjointed story about saving animals while trying to integrate some actions and poses. He occasionally takes about 1 second to actually describe the pose, but usually just jumps from pose to pose without much description of what he is doing, and there is rarely even a good camera angle to see what to do. My daughter followed along with the story but mostly just danced around the living room because she couldn't tell what anyone was doing and by the time she got something going, they were on to a new one! In the second story, I showed her each pose and described what to do so she could at least try to keep up. While she generally seemed satisfied, I thought the...

A DVD I can't live without!
Storyland Yoga is a Must Have for every parent with children between the ages of 3 and 7! I was a little skeptical at first that my 3 year old's attention would hold out through the entire yoga session--each of the two sessions is about 20 minutes. I did the yoga alongside him, and, though the story was interesting and cute, he left off following the instructor about 2/3 of the way through. HOWEVER, about 15 minutes after Save the Whale (the first session) ended my son asked to watch it again. So we did it again...and again. Each time he watched he did more and more of the yoga moves that Ahmed taught. Since then my son requests his yoga DVD everyday! He now does all of the yoga positions, and has become so good at listening to the instructor and is very proud of himself for it. I love it! Storyland Yoga is something I can feel totally good about him watching! What is even better is that I love doing it alongside him! It is wonderful! It is helping him expand his imagination...

So Much Fun!! Great surprise!
I already had and enjoyed the Gaiam Yoga Kids DVDs but my kids needed something new. Story land Yoga was awesome! They act out stories through yoga with two adventures to choose from. What a brilliant idea! I would love to see more like this. If there was a series of several episodes, I would buy it. PBS should pick up a kids show like this. Fun, educational, and entertaining! Doesn't get better than that! :)

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The Crow: City Of Angels

What's everyone's problem with this movie??
I continue to read reviews for this film calling it everything but the actual antichrist itself. I personally found no problem with it other than one line, that's right only one problem with this movie and it's one line. When Ashe pursues Spider Monkey he calls himself "all your worst nightmares rolled into one". Whatever inspired writer David Goyer to sink to 80's horror dialogue I don't know, but anyways on with the review.

This film had incredible production design, great costumes, a superior instrumental score (by Graeme Revell) and an overall gothic feel. I'm not saying it's better than the first film, I am merely saying that if this film had not received so much hype before it's release and people had not panned it for not being Brandon so much than maybe it would have been better received. I for one enjoy this movie very much and hence give it 5 stars

Disgrace of a Memory
This film is straight up horrid. By creating this film, the memory of Brandon Lee, as well as the reason for writing The Crow in the first place, have both been utterly tarnished. The storyline follows that of the first film - a man is killed horribly along with a loved one, and returns from the dead to exact his revenge. I couldn't even bring myself to pay to see this one. I waited until the local library had it and borrowed it for free. Kids, heed my warning and take the advice of one who has seen this trash...avoid this film no matter whatever else you do in life! Let Brandon Lee retain some dignity, and stay away from this one.

Disgrace to Brandon Lee
This movie is a complete insult to Brandon Lee who starred and died in the making of The Crow. The main character is a wimp. He is scrawny and not very intimidating. This movie is a complete insult to the original and should not even be associated with The Crow. Do not buy it! Do not even bother watching it!

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The Substitute 4: Failure Is Not an Option [HD]

Sub-4 Will Take Your Breath Away!
Wow. First off, I just want to say that this movie is truly a significant achievement in the history of filmmaking. Treat Williams stars in this thrilling drama, that sends a humble mercenary into the very heart of a Neo-Nazi conspiracy. Set in the late 1990's, our mercenary-hero (armed with high-explosives and a Ph.D. in modern literature) becomes a substitute at a military academy, only to discover it's been overrun by Nazi-thugs and a world-class exterminator. Peppered with megabuck special effects, including a scene in which the intolerant Nazis blow up a minority owned power plant, this movie proves itself to be a treat (no pun intended) for the eyes, as well as the soul. You'll truly feel like you're part of the action as Treat crushes his students with a bulldozer, beats ass in the classroom with chalkboard erasers, and kills the Nazi-principal as he screams in desperation for "racial purity". Put the children to bed for this one! "Substitute 4: Failure Is not an Option"...

Well, it's no "Substitute 3"
Part four in what is arguably this decade's finest educator-themed action franchise. Treat Williams goes undercover in a Nazi military academy to root out the evil plot that lies within, battling an evil school commandant, brainwashed Nazi students, and a Korean guy whose presence is never adequately explained. You'd think a movie willing to go with a premise that ludicrous would have to be entertaining, but most of it is pretty dull. The movie tends to drag- there's far too many talky scenes about how much the evil white supremacist commandant (palyed by a sort of poor man's John Malkovich) hates atheistic multicultural liberals and not nearly enough action. The ratio of liberal sermonizing to buttkicking is badly miscalculated.

It gets two stars instead of one for a couple of good action sequences (I especially liked the death by bulldozer) and the presence of Treat Williams, who's much too good for this sort of thing. Overall, though, I wouldn't bother unless it's...

Not too bad (as far as sequels go)
As a big fan of The Substitute series (which explains the four stars), I didn't think it was that bad. Treat Williams gives his third performance as Karl Thomasson, and in this film he goes undercover(as usual) in a military academy to infiltrate a Neo-Nazi group. Lots of action, hand-to-hand combat (only to be expected from the Sub), and Angie Everhart provides some pleasing eye candy. If you're not too big on The Sub, this might not be the movie for you. If you are, it ain't that bad.

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Lantana

Something close to a masterpiece
In this starkly realistic examination of love and infidelity among the thirtysomething crowd from down under we learn that you may desire to cheat on your spouse, but it's better if you don't.

Leon Zat, a police detective played with an original and striking demeanor by Anthony LaPaglia, cheats on his wife and finds that his adultery compromises not only his marriage but his performance on the job. He becomes irritable and flies off the handle at things of little importance, and becomes consumed with guilt.

He is not alone. The marriage of John Knox (Geoffrey Rush) and psychiatrist Valerie Somers (Barbara Hershey) is falling apart as Knox seeks something from the outside and Somers is torn apart with the suspicion that he is having a homosexual affair, perhaps with one of her clients. Meanwhile Jane O'May (Zat's adulteress played by Rachael Blake) finds that she needs a man, or maybe two, other than her estranged husband. Even Sonja Zat (Kerry Armstrong)...

Subtle, Affecting Drama
One of the defining characteristics of the human condition is the inevitability of change, both physically and emotionally. Though most would deny it, one is not the same person at forty years of age that they were at twenty; the emotional growth one undergoes over a period of time dictates that it cannot be so. Unlike the changes one experiences during puberty and adolescence, however, that emotional growth is unceasing. It may be said, in fact, that "change" within that context is the only real constant in life; and the effects of this perpetual state of flux on any particular individual is determined by that individual's experiences and derived from a personal frame of reference. And the challenge of coping with the changes in our own lives forms a common thread that binds us together as a species, and it is those challenges and the ways in which we respond to them that forms the basis for director Ray Lawrence's affecting drama, "Lantana," in which he explores the disparate...

C O N N E C T I O N S
The year 2001 will go down in film history thus far at least, as the watershed Year of the Adult Thriller and "Lantana" is the latest example of this sub-genre. Others this year would be "Burnt Money," "In the Bedroom," "Dinner Rush," and "L.I.E." to name several.
All the Adult Thrillers have one or more of the following in common: a crime (usually a murder), several plot lines, mis-connection among the various characters, though they may be connected by marriage or birth and literate scripts involving adult material.
"Lantana's" central character, Leon Zat (Anthony LaPaglia) is a police detective conflicted about his impending middle age, his marriage and his recent affair ("2 night stand") with Jane (Rachael Blake) who has just broken up with her husband. Leon's wife,Sonja (Kerry Armstrong)knows something is wrong and is seeing a psychiatrist, Valerie Somers (Barbara Hershey) who turns up missing one...

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Challenge To Be Free

Challenge to Be Free
This is an excellent true story, one of the gems of mountain man folklore, set in 1930's Northern Canada. This Mike Mazurki version is however, a rather sterile version, of the story. Made in a style akin to an early Walt Disney movie.

When you get passed the large animal cast. It's still a passable enough version of the mystery of the "Mad Trapper".

Outstanding
I have watched many many movies but this one, I've watched over and over again to the point of almost wearing out my VHS tape..

Here is a story about a man who just wanted to be left alone, to live his way, as god intended, but was interrupted by someones greed.. Put yourself in this man's place and see what you would have done...

This is an EXCELLENT movie to watch...

An all-time classic
As much hype and hoopla movies like A Bug's Life and Alladin carry with them ... movies like Challenge to be Free tend to fall to the side as unimportant figments of a different decade. This movie is not unimportant by any means ... it takes you on a wonderous journey ... leaving you in the end to realize the importance of trying to respect and understand the ways of not only the people around us, but the people we identify as our foes.

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Botched

Not My Genre, But So Funny I Bought It!
I saw this late one night on cable. I stopped to see it for Stephen Dorff, but soon recognized other actors and kept watching. This is so not my genre, but it was so far fetched and absolutely hilarious that I ended up watching the whole thing! Then I got online and purchased a copy. My friends and sis laughed their heads off! It's a spoof of all those other horror films you've either seen (or in my case, heard of).

Damn funny stuff!!!
It seems there has been a lot of bad reviews about this film. I think most of the reviewers here wanted a classic, instead got a lemon instead. I never heard of it, until I bought it for $3.00 at Big Lots on a whim. And it was worth it. This film is funny as hell and just as over the top. Sure, this film is B-movie level, but it is fun to watch. I have been watching horror films for 30 years, and I've seen many bad movies... and "Botched" is not that bad. Somewhat cheesy, but still worth a view and a few chuckles... Check it out, you won't regret it!

Don't Bother if You Don't Have a Sense of Humor
First off this movie isn't to be taken seriously. It's a quirky, silly horror-comedy so if you expect something serious then you don't need to bother with this film.

Botched is about an American thief in Russia (Stephen Dorff) who teams up with two Russian brothers to rob a highrise. They soon get trapped by who they think are the cops but when heads starting flying off and people start getting hacked they realize they've made a mistake.

While trying to devise a plan of escape the three robbers meet up with an elevator of people who they take hostage. After that some of the hostages are picked off one by one by a crazed barbarian serial killer and from there this cute comedy springs some surprising and hilarious twists.

I was shocked I enjoyed this movie because I didn't expect much. I love to laugh and this film got some good chuckles from me. It's not award-winning material of course but it keeps you entertained. This is one of those films just to...

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The Mighty

Learning Disabled Students Can Relate
My class of fifteen "learning disabled" students read the book "Freak the Mighty". These are at risk students who for the most part, could care less about reading anything. They absolutely loved the book! Every day at bell time I would hear, "No, we can't stop here!" Some even wanted to take the book home and read ahead! While watching the film, I noticed some 6th grade boys with tears in their eyes and the girls were simply dissolved in tears. This is a wonderful movie for people of all ages but particularly for those kids who sometimes feel like they walk in Max and Freak's footsteps every day. We also read the sequel, "Max the Mighty" and found it equally as absorbing. We are hoping there is a movie sequel! Thank you Rodman Philbrick for writing such a beautiful,memorable story! Kudos to the cast of "The Mighty" for their performances. I intend to buy a copy for myself and several for gifts.

The once and future...Freak the Mighty!
How in the HELL did this movie get lost in theatres? Why didn't every critic in America tell the world to see it?

I remember when I first heard that this book, FREAK THE MIGHTY (by Rodman Philbrick), was going to be made into a movie and that Gillian Anderson was going to play a small role. Well, I went ahead and read the book because (a) I'm an X-Files fan, and (b) I wanted to know what so drew her to the project that she was willing to play a less than a major role.

The book just tore me apart-- it wasn't just that I'd been a misfit myself in my youth, but the fact that it dealt with sometimes amazing, sometimes painful situations in such a clear-eyed way, never pandering to or underestimating the intelligence of the reader.

This film, while not adhering to the book to the letter (but damned close) kept the SPIRIT of the book intact, and for that I credit not only the director and screenwriter but the cast. Everyone involved seems to be most concerned with truth-- not is it...

Buy This Film Now!
I had seen the theatrical trailer for this film when the working title was "Freak the Mighty." I suppose someone thought the term 'freak" to be deragatory; however, after seeing this sleeper, I'd be proud if someone thought I had those rare and wonderful characteristics Kieran Culkin's character, "Freak," displayed in this film. I don't ever remember this movie coming to Honolulu (so much for the "Coming soon to a theater near you" slogan!), but I was thrilled when it was released on DVD. I rented, and sat at home alone watching it one evening after work. I rented it again three days later when my girlfriend was over so she could see it, and loved it even more the next time. I've ordered the DVD from Amazon (it should be here tomorrow!), and plan on sharing it with as many of my friends as possible. This is as touching and heartwarming a film as I've seen in years. It is destined to become a classic -- it has lessons that all our...

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CA$H: The Root of All Evil [HD]

An actual review of the film CA$H and not Amazons streaming service
My love for independent film, and great actors drew me toward this flick. Sean Bean always delivers..and in this one it's twice as nice. Sean Bean plays a set of brothers (possibly twins but one looks shorter and skinnier than the other.) One of whom has been recently incarcerated after a 'job' that took in over five hundred thousand dollars. The incarcerated one calls his brother, also Sean Bean to find retrieve, and split the money with him. The money was thrown out of the window during a police chase and the only thing they know is that it hit a white station wagon with wood panel siding.
The writing in this movie is not the most original, but Sean Bean, Chris Hemsworth, and Victoria Proefeta turn in excellent performances that draw you into the sometimes unbelievable situation and give you free reign to suspend your disbelief. Cash at it's core is a story of personal morals, survival, and humanity that is wrapped in the vestiges of luck violence and fear. I enjoyed...

Obsessive Compulsive --CA$H
Obsessive compulsive behavior can be hazardous to your health even if you're a bad guy like Sean Bean. This is one of the oldest crime story ever told i.e. the straight guy ends up with the bad guys money and the bad guy wants it back. This one,however, has a twist: the bad guy is a number guy who has O.C.D. and will not settle for anything less than every penny he is owed. In the process he turns the straight guy and his wife into bad guys like himself. I really liked this movie even when it slowed down a little in the middle, because it was a trick they played on the audience. They were setting us up for a big change in the straight couple's character and a surprise ending. There were little flaws in the movie like; Bean practicing Yoga and smoking like chimney,calling the Illinois DMV the Chicago DMV,and a cop-out repayment plan to some of the victims especially to their jerk of a banker. But, by and large this is a very good crime movie with an exceptional ending.

Good twist, but some annoying, weird, sloppy and undeveloped elements...
I had to suspend disbelief quite a few times to be able to get into this movie. There are so many movies and novels about "found money" that I can't imagine that many couples would be stupid enough to quit their jobs, and start spending it immediately and without regard on a $70K Range Rover and a house full of new furniture. Everyone knows to lay low and spend it slowly and not attract attention. The bad guy is able to track them though the presumption that they would immediately buy a new car, and even though he is new to town somehow finds another bad guy who not only sells guns but also happens to have the keys to the DMV(!!!) (What!?!) so he can pull the records on all recent "cash" vehicle purchases. And for some reason the couple gives the wife's mother half the money in a Christmas box for safekeeping!?! Why? Never heard of safe deposit boxes? Floor safes? Jeez.

I still don't get why they couldn't get another actor to play Sean Bean's brother. Stunts like that just...

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One-Eyed Jacks - Digitally Remastered

Great movie, Horrible transfer!
Can't say enough about this movie. It is a favorite of mine. Brando's portrayal of the old western gunfighter is classic. This transfer on DVD is the worst I have ever seen. You dont buy a DVD player to watch movies like this. Better transfers are out there. Cable has aired crystal clear versions of this film in letterbox format, another weakness of this rendition. The video store was kind enough to refund my money. Buyers beware, if you haven't already you will soon discover not all DVDs are created equal. You may think 10 bucks is a steal for a DVD movie only to find when you get home the video tape is much better. I am still waiting for the definative DVD rendition of this film from Paramount.

Transfer hurts great film
One-Eyed Jacks is a very good movie. Unfortunatly it is a very poor DVD. I have actually bought this film twice. The first time I bought it on VHS and I was very disappointed with the picture and sound quality. When I found it on DVD I should have realized that the inexpensive price meant another poor version, but I thought since it was on DVD it must be remastered. It is not and was not. In fact this is the worst DVD I have ever seen it terms of picture and sound quality. It is too bad because Marlon Brando, in the only picture he ever directed, has created a film worth seeing. Hopefully some company will realize this and give us films fans a version we can enjoy.

Awful Picture Quality
The picture quality on the Entertainment One "Blu Ray" disc is awful. Don't waste your money on it. To date, the best image quality for ONE EYED JACKS remains the Tgg Direct DVD released in 2003.

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The Snapper

"We all do stupid things when we're drunk, don't we?"
Soon after a wild night at the pub, twenty-year-old Sharon Curley (Tina Kellegher) finds herself expecting a little "snapper" by a man she loathes. Her refusal to name the father sets in motion a family drama involving her three brothers, two sisters, and her parents, along with her employers and all her friends. Kellegher, playing the role as a coarse, earthy, yet remarkably sensible young woman (with the exception of her excessive drinking during her pregnancy) soon discovers who her friends really are, as some people tease and torment her, some make remarks to her siblings, some force her father to take direct action in her defense, and all spread gossip.

Des Curley (Colm Meaney), Sharon's father, shows the whole world in his face, his emotions ranging from outrage toward Sharon for embarrassing the family to tender concern as her time draws near. As the eight-member family trips all over each other emotionally (ironically symbolized in their battles for the one...

Wickedly funny
Based on the second book in Roddy Doyle's Dublin trilogy, The Snapper is a wickedly funny glimpse into the lives of a working class Irish family. The eldest daughter of a large family becomes pregnant and refuses to name the father. Not your traditional comic premise, but in this case it works beautifully. The characters are fully developed and presented in such a manner that you care deeply about them, and experience their pain as well as their joy. Veteran actor Colm Meaney (Star Trek DS9), who appears in the other two films that make up the trilogy (The Commitments and The Van), masterfully carries the story as the father of the unruly brood. He comes across as a good man who tries to do the right thing and loves his family, but is painfully human at every turn. The rest of the cast is mostly unknown but very believable and capable. I highly recommend this film (and the books, too). It may be the closest you ever get to Dublin without actually crossing the...

A realistic view into an Irish home.
No other film has ever captured the zeitgeist of Irish life as well as the snapper. Roddy Doyle was teaching in a North Dublin working class school when he wrote this book. Much of the dialoge that you hear in the film is directly out of the mouths of his students.

What you see in this film is as close as an outsider is ever likely to come to an understanding of working class Irish life. The unmarried daughter giving birth accounts for 1 in four of all children born today in Ireland. This is as real a situation as you can have. The language, the wit, the sarcasm and the lifestyle are all iminently recognised by Irish people as being true to daily life.

The bonus of the Snapper is that you get a bellyaching laugh at the same time. There are few films as funny as this.

Absolutely brilliant!

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CA$H: The Root of All Evil (Director's Cut)

An actual review of the film CA$H and not Amazons streaming service
My love for independent film, and great actors drew me toward this flick. Sean Bean always delivers..and in this one it's twice as nice. Sean Bean plays a set of brothers (possibly twins but one looks shorter and skinnier than the other.) One of whom has been recently incarcerated after a 'job' that took in over five hundred thousand dollars. The incarcerated one calls his brother, also Sean Bean to find retrieve, and split the money with him. The money was thrown out of the window during a police chase and the only thing they know is that it hit a white station wagon with wood panel siding.
The writing in this movie is not the most original, but Sean Bean, Chris Hemsworth, and Victoria Proefeta turn in excellent performances that draw you into the sometimes unbelievable situation and give you free reign to suspend your disbelief. Cash at it's core is a story of personal morals, survival, and humanity that is wrapped in the vestiges of luck violence and fear. I enjoyed...

Obsessive Compulsive --CA$H
Obsessive compulsive behavior can be hazardous to your health even if you're a bad guy like Sean Bean. This is one of the oldest crime story ever told i.e. the straight guy ends up with the bad guys money and the bad guy wants it back. This one,however, has a twist: the bad guy is a number guy who has O.C.D. and will not settle for anything less than every penny he is owed. In the process he turns the straight guy and his wife into bad guys like himself. I really liked this movie even when it slowed down a little in the middle, because it was a trick they played on the audience. They were setting us up for a big change in the straight couple's character and a surprise ending. There were little flaws in the movie like; Bean practicing Yoga and smoking like chimney,calling the Illinois DMV the Chicago DMV,and a cop-out repayment plan to some of the victims especially to their jerk of a banker. But, by and large this is a very good crime movie with an exceptional ending.

Good twist, but some annoying, weird, sloppy and undeveloped elements...
I had to suspend disbelief quite a few times to be able to get into this movie. There are so many movies and novels about "found money" that I can't imagine that many couples would be stupid enough to quit their jobs, and start spending it immediately and without regard on a $70K Range Rover and a house full of new furniture. Everyone knows to lay low and spend it slowly and not attract attention. The bad guy is able to track them though the presumption that they would immediately buy a new car, and even though he is new to town somehow finds another bad guy who not only sells guns but also happens to have the keys to the DMV(!!!) (What!?!) so he can pull the records on all recent "cash" vehicle purchases. And for some reason the couple gives the wife's mother half the money in a Christmas box for safekeeping!?! Why? Never heard of safe deposit boxes? Floor safes? Jeez.

I still don't get why they couldn't get another actor to play Sean Bean's brother. Stunts like that just...

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Ryder, P.I.

Fun n Silly
Don't expect any Hi tech big buck movie..but do expect to smile n laugh over this movie..this is just a fun movie to watch...its not meant to be taken seriously...dumb n silly are the words of the day for this one..just have some fun!





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On-Back Tai Chi Therapy

wasn't what i thought it would be.
I thought there would be talking to tell you what to do, but you would already need to know what to do.

Excellent
It's easier than I thought it was going to be. He explains each motion and then does it repeatedly before moving on to the next one.



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Aristide and the Endless Revolution

A fine report on the lead up to the ousting of Aristide
This film effectively takes apart the Bush Administration's rationale for supporting the February 2004 coup in which democratically-elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was removed from Haiti in what Aristide describes as "a modern-day coup". This film eschews the false "objectivity" of corporate news (which is careful to avoid anything which might offend the powerful), and it definitely has a point of view: its sympathies lie with the poor majority of Haitians who since their homeland became the first independent black republic in 1804 have repeatedly been screwed by the superpower to the North (see Paul Farmer's excellent history "The Uses of Haiti", the seminal book on the US exploitation of Haiti). The film lets the facts speak for themselves, and lets anti-Aristide hardliners in the Bush Administration like Roger Noriega argue their case for supporting the removal of a constitutional government. The arguments are about as convincing as the various excuses for launching the...

Aristide and the Endless Revolution
Rossier's film vividly chronicles the rise and fall of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, Haiti's first democratically elected president; from Catholic priest to demagogue; from liberation theologian to cult figure; from populist president to political pariah.

Through even-handed interviews with high-powered supporters and opponents of Aristide, Rossier is able to remain objective. However, recent revelations about the CIA, the Haiti Democracy Project, and the International Republican Institute's involvement in Haitian politics buoy the film's integrity to a level of clairvoyance, helping us understand the events precipitating Aristide's removal from office.

By interweaving Haiti's history throughout the film, Rossier blends context with current events. In the end, we clearly see Haiti as a nation so depleted of resources, it can no longer press for justice in the international arena. The film is a must-see for anyone unfamiliar but intrigued with the process by which the...

A Stunning Documentary
Director Nicolas Rossier tells the story of Haiti's struggle for independence in his brilliant feature documentary. Interviews with leaders on both sides of the fence and historical background going back to the French conquest weave a compelling and well-balanced narrative. "ARISTIDE and the Endless Revolution" is a must see for anyone interested in how politics, human rights, and justice can be manipulated and undermined.

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Pole Dance Fitness

Sensual Dance
The video is a excellent choice for beginners. The instructors were on point for the beginner and showed techniques that were workable. I really enjoy my video.

Short video, very few moves taught
I bought the video to learn more moves, but it has a very short instruction section. It has a warm up, a section with a couple moves taught and a workout section. I wasn't looking for a regular workout, I wanted a workout on the pole by learning more moves and techniques.

WTF?!?!
I am PISSED I HAD to give this video a star, ICK!! I purchased this video, honestly, because I was being cheap! And when being cheap you know the saying, "YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!!!" OMG this video has to be a damn JOKE! The instructor goes through each move really fast, spending only about LITERALLY 1 minute per move, and the audio quality is HORRIFIC so you barely understand what she is saying!!! I am TRULY a beginner, meaning I have never been on a pole until now and I would NOT recommend this pole to a beginner! The only move I learned was a knee spin (unsure of name.) This video does nothing but sit in my DVD player, and I only remember I have it when I turn on the DVD player to watch something else! I just paid the $32 to get a Jamilla Deville DVD so I could REALLY learn moves.. Do NOT buy or you will be disappointed!!! ICK!!!

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Chinese Health Qigong: 5 Animal Frolics for Beginners

Not as good as Luohan 13 forms and 8 pieces of Brocade.
Great instructor but not much to these exercises. See the other dvds from Jesse Tsao for much better exercises. Recommend trying those first.





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The All-Star Christmas Show

Ah, those were the good old days.
This is a special show, or rather series of shows, that was put together for our troops in the fifties. There are numerous great stars (at least 50) from the period of time when Hollywood still had its glitter and glamour. Danny Kaye, Bob Hope, Rhonda Fleming, Bing Crosby and many more make this a real delight.

One Star Christmas Show
I am being generous (the Xmas spirit) giving this DVD
even 1 star !!

This show is NOT a television "spectacular".
What this is, is a compilation of approx. 3 minute
"skits" from a vast variety of 1950's performers
(most of whom you WILL NOT KNOW).

This was spliced together for a 1958 USO tape that
was sent to 750 military bases around the world.

Visual quality is poor at best, and very little
Christmas theme throughout.

There are MUCH BETTER "Christmas DVDs" offered at
lower prices. Very disappointing.

Good 1950's variety show
My father is 90 years old and remembers all the details of the entertainment acts of the 1950's. Of course the quality is not HD but it is very watchable. There was a nice variety of music and comedy acts from the era collected and spliced together smoothly. Many of the acts had little or nothing to do with Christmas but were packaged together to help the troops overseas enjoy the holiday. Judging my my father's happy reaction, it was a great trip down memory lane and I enjoyed it also.

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Henry Steinway [HD]

Odd but interesting
As a member of the Steinway family, I found this film utterly fascinating. The combination of talking heads, actors, and footage was unique, certainly.

Pioneers Turned Millionaires
Interesting stories, but not as polished as the History Channel's The Men Who Built America series. Still a good watch.



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The Grifters

ELEVATOR TO HELL
Produced by Martin Scorsese and directed by Stephen Frears, THE GRIFTERS is a winner. With three top actors, Anjelica Huston, Annette Bening and John Cusack, Frears invites us to a non-stop ride to hell.

Caught between his mother and his girl-friend, John Cusack will have a hard time to survive and become a man. You can almost touch the hate those two women feel for each other. Their last encounter is really a scene you will remember : set in Phoenix, in a motel, in a subtle variation of PSYCHO's first murder, it is a moment of great cinema.

Cusack is outstanding as the gentle grifter, Frear's cinematography is first class and Anjelica has never been so devilish. No doubt about it, THE GRIFTERS is a masterpiece of the film noir genre.

A DVD that bleeds.

Nice Special Edition of a great movie
A fantastic movie about con artists. The tone of this movie is perfect: utterly unsentimental, deadpan, cool and calculated. Great score, great performances (not just the three leads, there are tons of bit parts that are very memorable), great dialogue. The pacing is snappy. I'm not going to say the movie is flawless, but honestly I can't think of anything particularly negative to say about it.

The DVD is a modest collector's edition. Some may say the extra features are a bit spare, but what is here is very useful and informative. The commentary track is consistantly listenable. There are four participants: the director, the screenwriter, and stars Cusack and Huston. The four were recorded separately and edited together seamlessly to make an entertaining and insightful track. Also here are two short but well-made featurettes, one covers the making of the film and the other sheds some light on the work of the author who wrote the book upon which the film is based.

Superb
I've never been a John Cusack fan, but he's utterly riveting in the role of a coming-of-age grifter caught between two indelible women. Annette Bening, at least here, is a pure force of nature, a sexy tsunami overwhelming everything in her path. And Anjelica Huston??? Her entire career has been one splendid performance after another, and this is one of her finest. You simply cannot take your eyes off her. The interaction of these three is one of the best examples of ensemble acting outside of an Altman film. And the little subtleties around these three -- from the brilliant set piece of the orange scene to the almost-identical dresses worn by Lily and Myra to Elmer Bernstein's moody score -- make The Grifters a compelling experience. The only disappointment is that the CD has NO extras at all, but you could certainly make the case that this is a movie that can stand completely on its own.

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Botched (Uncut)

Not My Genre, But So Funny I Bought It!
I saw this late one night on cable. I stopped to see it for Stephen Dorff, but soon recognized other actors and kept watching. This is so not my genre, but it was so far fetched and absolutely hilarious that I ended up watching the whole thing! Then I got online and purchased a copy. My friends and sis laughed their heads off! It's a spoof of all those other horror films you've either seen (or in my case, heard of).

Damn funny stuff!!!
It seems there has been a lot of bad reviews about this film. I think most of the reviewers here wanted a classic, instead got a lemon instead. I never heard of it, until I bought it for $3.00 at Big Lots on a whim. And it was worth it. This film is funny as hell and just as over the top. Sure, this film is B-movie level, but it is fun to watch. I have been watching horror films for 30 years, and I've seen many bad movies... and "Botched" is not that bad. Somewhat cheesy, but still worth a view and a few chuckles... Check it out, you won't regret it!

Don't Bother if You Don't Have a Sense of Humor
First off this movie isn't to be taken seriously. It's a quirky, silly horror-comedy so if you expect something serious then you don't need to bother with this film.

Botched is about an American thief in Russia (Stephen Dorff) who teams up with two Russian brothers to rob a highrise. They soon get trapped by who they think are the cops but when heads starting flying off and people start getting hacked they realize they've made a mistake.

While trying to devise a plan of escape the three robbers meet up with an elevator of people who they take hostage. After that some of the hostages are picked off one by one by a crazed barbarian serial killer and from there this cute comedy springs some surprising and hilarious twists.

I was shocked I enjoyed this movie because I didn't expect much. I love to laugh and this film got some good chuckles from me. It's not award-winning material of course but it keeps you entertained. This is one of those films just to...

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Bush League

At least three movies in one
Bush League is a movie about international development wrapped in a movie about soccer, and much more besides. The film alternates easily between the practical challenges facing a small soccer team and a discussion of classic development challenges like getting community buy-in for a project that serves one group more than another. Should be required viewing by Peace Corps volunteers and USAID staffers. Some of the footage -- including the funeral of a five year old -- is riveting, and the discussion of HIV is masterful for its subtlety.

if you like documentaries about other cultures, you'll love this
I saw this film in the summer of 2011 and was so impressed that I spent a lot of energy to get this screened at Rutgers. "Bush League" is a character-driven documentary that follows a peace-corps worker, a soccer player, a farmer and a HIV activist. I think it is a brilliant film.

On November 17, 2011, over 50 Rutgers students & staff watched the 72 minute documentary at the Rutgers Student Center. After the viewing, the director, Cy Kuckenbaker, and the peace corps volunteer, Jake Wilson, spoke about the film and answered questions about their experiences in Africa for over 90 minutes.

Jake Wilson is from Lebanon Township, NJ. He met Cy in Lithuania, where they both served in the peace corps for two years. Cy got a masters in film after his tour was up; Jake signed up for a 2nd stint and ended up teaching in Malawi for three years. Jake currently lives in Camden, NJ, where he is a middle school teacher at a Charter School. He is enrolled in the MPA program at...

if you like documentaries about other cultures, you'll love this
I saw this film in the summer of 2011 and was so impressed that I spent a lot of energy to get this screened at Rutgers. "Bush League" is a character-driven documentary that follows a peace-corps worker, a soccer player, a farmer and a HIV activist. I think it is a brilliant film.

On November 17, 2011, over 50 Rutgers students & staff watched the 72 minute documentary at the Rutgers Student Center. After the viewing, the director, Cy Kuckenbaker, and the peace corps volunteer, Jake Wilson, spoke about the film and answered questions about their experiences in Africa for over 90 minutes.

Jake Wilson is from Lebanon Township, NJ. He met Cy in Lithuania, where they both served in the peace corps for two years. Cy got a masters in film after his tour was up; Jake signed up for a 2nd stint and ended up teaching in Malawi for three years. Jake currently lives in Camden, NJ, where he is a middle school teacher at a Charter School. He is enrolled in the MPA program at...

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Sex 101 [HD]

Highly recommended especially for public library collections
Stories from the Vaults: Season Two is an eclectic, family-friendly collection of episodes that take viewers into the historical mysteries investigated by the Smithsonian Museum and its affiliates. From the wonders of the rainforest, to the quandary of trying to preserve sculptures made of chocolate and soap (and guess which inherently unstable substance is harder to preserve - no, it's not the one that guests try to eat!), to surprising true tales of some of America's most notorious criminals, Stories from the Vaults both entertains and edifies. Highly recommended especially for public library collections. The episodes are "Let's Eat!", "Nature's Vault", "Crystal Ball", "going, Going, Gone", "Sex 101" and "Villains and Rogues" plus bonus mini-featurettes. Approximately 200 minutes, available on DVD and Blu-ray.

One episode was enough
Dull, listless, one can fry a pork chop dinner and prepare an evening salad while listening to the drone as background noise.



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The Bourne Identity [HD]

Interesting and informative.
The movie "Casio" was Excellent and this added information on details was very interesting. I'm really glad I found it.

This is an amazing series
I'm really enjoying this series. I admit I'm only buying specific episodes at his time. But it's such a good show I'm getting interested in watching those I originally thought I wouldn't be interested in. There are several that I had no clue there was a "true story" behind it.

How did I not know about this stuff?
Some of things the CIA did were pretty creepy. This was a neat yet disturbing look into the secrets that part of the government kept hidden for so long. Totally worth the $2(?) per episode I paid.

The exorcist one was really good as well.

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Gimli Glider [HD]

I have seen better
The video Air Disasters is not bad for the price, however the more serious Aviation Enthusiast will catch the subtle factual errors through out video. There is good footage though, some I have not seen before. If I may reccomend the Survival in the Skies video box set also offered here at Amazon.com as an addition or alternative choice. This video series produced by TLC is rather accurate and very imformative!!

:::!You can watch the air disasters videos on youtube for free!:::
Great educational program, and...

I really like air disasters videos, its very educational, and weirdly gives you re-assuring mentality when flying.. Each disaster incident triggers a insanely detailed investigation that puts together all the missing pieces that contributed to loss of life. These are hard lessons, but all those poor souls that died is such horrific circumstances did not die in vain! Most high profile crashes that happened in the past do not happen again, so these videos will give you some assurance that air travel still is the safest means of travel! For the most part all crashes happen because of mechanical failures, lesser numbers for pilot errors, or combination of both! Currently there are more automation lessening pilot errors, and planes that are built from new composites making equipment more durable and lighter. Here are the staggering facts; each and every day there are approximately 85,000 to 90,000 flights a day!!!! Worldwide, there are 1000...

Good series, hope they release the others on Amazon Instant Videos
The investigations into the disasters are well covered and like while it isn't quite as good as Air Crash Investigation or Seconds From Disaster, it is still a good series. The accident and the causes are well covered and lots of information about what happened and how they changed aviation we know today to be safer.

If you are worried about flying, don't watch these before a flight. If you are keen to know how aviation got to where it is today and enjoy flying then this is definitely worth a watch.

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Santa Mesa [HD]

Moving meditation on a child adapting to a new culture
Santa Mesa is one of those films where you wish it could go on longer. It's quite an impressive debut for Ron Morales, a former camera/crew member on such films such as the Departed and Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. He clearly picked up some major soft skills as he explores the journey of 12-year-old Hector, born and raised in the US, to a strange new land - the Philippines - where he can't speak the native language (Tagalog) and lives with an older relative who can't speak English.

Morales successfully avoids the common cliches of culture clash and poking fun of differences. Rather, through Hector's eyes he gently takes us through a gritty new community where he must learn to survive by choosing his friends, mentors and relationships. One of the main characters is the background of poverty along the railroad tracks where Hector now must call home - a constant reminder of the challenges and noise that Hector must filter out and overcome.

The film's...

A MOVING STORY
This film was very touching and moving to me as it followed the life experiences of a young boy who left the only place he called home to be introduced to a world unknown on the other side of the planet. Many of us have been through experiences such as these at one point in time in our lives. I loved how the producers were able to make you place yourself in Hector's shoes, the star of the movie and feel many of the frustrations he learned to overcome.

To me, Santa Mesa was about making the best of what you have in life and where you are in life to grasp who you really are in this great, big world.

touching
A very touching coming-of-age story. Poignant without being melodramatic. Beautiful cinematography, terrific performances by the teenage actors. Recommended!

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