Baby Signing Time Volume 1 DVD

More 'Baby Signing Time' Please!
I have been signing a handful of words with my 8 month old daughter for about two months now. She's been very attentive when I've been signing, but until we started watching 'Baby Signing Time' she hadn't really attempted any sings on her own...However, we've had the DVD for less than a week and she's already started signing 'milk.' I'm not claiming that this DVD is a miracle...I think my efforts to be consistent with the signing, in combination with her evolving developmental maturity have a lot to do with the fact that she is starting to communicate non-verbally. However, I really think this engaging video has helped. I find this DVD to be very age appropriate and entertaining, as well as educational. The music is upbeat and the songs are catchy. The repetition may be boring for some adults, but for babies repetition is an effective teaching tool...my daughter has plenty of time to hear each word and she gets to see each sign multiple times. I think she really enjoys seeing...

Not as good as the original Signing Time
I bought this because my 11-month-old daughter loves Signing Time Volume 1 of the original series and I thought the baby version might be even better for her. I was wrong - she's just not into this one. The original Signing Time (vol. 1) is much simpler and just shows kids in natural environments doing the signs. This baby version has more cartoon content and is much more "high-energy" which seems to turn my daughter off (and is less enjoyable for me as well). This might be great for some babies, but mine prefers the simple, low-tech version.

Original Signing Time is MUCH Better
We too were so impressed with the original Signing Time that we decided to try this one for our nearly one-year-old baby. While we're not fans of TV for children under two, the first Signing Time was so straight-forward and simple that we were comfortable watching it with our child. It took only a few times of watching it before she was using the signs all the time!

So we were excited when the Baby version came out and ordered the first two volumes. But these are way too "produced" in comparison to the original one, and the cartoon graphics and music are annoying and distracting. We let the baby watch it and she sat like a zombie, which worried us, since she'd been so engaged by the original one. But Baby Signing Time was far less effective in terms of teaching her than the low-budget/realistic original one.

If you're looking to start your child on the path to learning ASL, I strongly recommend you stick with the original Signing Time series. The Baby version is...

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Harry Potter Hogwarts Collection (Blu-ray + DVD + UltraViolet) (Amazon Exclusive)

Very good product, but a couple of comments
I'm actually very pleased with this product! It's very cheap, and very good quality. There are, however, a couple of things that I feel I should point out.

First, the case that it comes in is a standard mass production case that most multi-disc sets use. Don't expect a lavish collectable case, especially for the price. The case is still very durable, and allows all of the movies to be stored in a small amount of space.

Second, the films in this set ARE NOT THE SPECIAL EDITIONS. They are standard edition, as if the first disc from each movie was put in here. While there are some special features, there are not a lot.

Next, the discs themselves appear to be great quality. All of mine worked extremely well, and there were no defects whatsoever, save one thing. The disc that I received for Deathly Hallows Part 1 is missing a cover. The disc is all black, and the title and copyright information are on there, but there is not picture. This, however does not...

A cheap package with all eight movies... the way I like it.
I like how a lot of fans are slamming Warner Brothers for offering up a box set containing all eight films in one compact package. They accuse how WB constantly does this for the Harry Potter franchise, and to be fair, WB has been doing incomplete Potter boxed releases for years, starting with "Prisoner of Azkaban" onwards. But when the WB actually makes a nice package with all eight films included, they still complain because there's hardly any bonus material. WB did this for their first four Batman movies before the glorious Batman Anthology came to be, so those fans have been waiting a long time that as well.

The set will just have a repressing of the initial releases, and the first three movies include their respective trailers, while "Deathly Hallows Parts 1 & 2" have deleted/extended scenes, so the "no extras" claim doesn't hold as much water. They have some, as opposed to none. Not to mention the quality of the past three Ultimate Editions' bonus features have...

Just use amazon.co.uk
amazon.co.uk has the three different HP movies 1-8 sets
just go to the site and type in "harry potter 1-8"

ALLL BLU RAY CUSTOMERS can order, as these are region free and with HD media, there is no such thing as PAL encoding.
"Harry Potter - The Complete 8-Film Collection [Blu-ray] [2011][Region Free]"
and "Harry Potter: The Complete 1-8 Film Collection - Limited Numbered Edition (Blu-ray + DVD) [2011][Region Free]"

I live in philly, i ordered the regular set, its going to come to around 40 bucks i believe
the special edition version will be way less than 100 and far surpasses this version sold here

the dvd set is SUPER cheap but it is not region free and it IS in PAL. so most americans wont be able to see it

this is true for most of amazon.co.uk 's inventory. as far as blu ray, as long as it says region free, it will work in america, and it only takes a week to get here, and it is ALWAYS cheaper. and they have WAY more...

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Come To The Stable

Beautiful depiction of a Nun's faith and inner soul
Loretta Young, one of Hollywood's most respected actresses had one of her greatest roles as the assured and determined Sister Margaret in Twentieth Century Fox's 1949 "Come to the Stable" a beautiful story of two women's determination and sheer belief in the rightness of what they are seeking in their work for others. Loretta Young, a staunch catholic in real life is one of those rare actresses in a league with the likes of Ingrid Bergman, Deborah Kerr and Audrey Hepburn , that seem totally convincing as nuns whether it be in their displays of humility in portraying their characters or just by the total immersion that they undergo when taking on the nun role.

"Come to the Stable" tells a very simple but extremely moving story based on a short story by Clare Booth Luce, of the journey that two nuns, one American and one french, make to fulfill a solemn vow made during World War 2. Resulting from the fact that through prayer to St. Jude, the Patron Saint of lost...

Back To The "Good Old Days"
In the late 1940's and into the 50's, there was a decency and innocence which existed that has all but disappeared today. This movie is a simple, wonderful story about innocence and blind faith, played beautifully by Loretta Young and Celeste Holm in the form of 2 French nuns. Using their charisma, they manage to get a children's hospital built in an affluent area, in which the people eventually are won over by these charming nuns. It is a "feel good" movie of the first magnitude, and, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful films ever made.

Can Amazon help us get a DVD copy of Come to the Stable?
This is another great movie by both Loretta Young and Celeste Holm. I have noticed a number of other Loretta Young movies, some I've not even heard of, available on DVD. THIS one SHOULD be out on DVD and it's not. Based on the reviews here, there is obvious love for this movie, and there should be. It's funny, great and heartwarming. I'll bet if Amazon started collecting email addresses from those of us interested in getting a DVD copy and let the owners of the movie know how much interest there is, they would eventually do it ! Please, all those who want a DVD copy to preserve this movie in your home libraries, let Amazon know!!!

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Telescope: Hunting the Edge of Space: The Mystery of the Milky Way [HD]

Tragedy at 35,000 feet
**This review is on Nova Volume 6, Ep. 10 "Crash of Flight 447"**

On June 1, 2009, Air France Flight 447 fell out of the night sky over the Atlantic Ocean killing all 216 passengers and 12 crew members on board. In this program "Nova: Crash of Flight 447" broadcast on PBS on February 16, 2011, investigators piece together available weather and radar data as well as automatic electronic messages from the airplane transmitted through the airwave, in an effort to reconstruct the tragic event and the possible cause of the crash. It is an aviation detective story. I found the program riveting.

**Spoiler Alert** The rest of this review may contain spoilers.
SYNOPSIS - The crew of Flight 447, with the limited range of the on-board weather radar, apparently flew the airplane into a severe thunderstorm over the Altantic Ocean at 35,000 feet, unable to detect it visually in the pitch darkness of the night. Then the three Thales pitot tubes of the air-speed...

NOVA is programming we can all be proud of.
They are not afraid to do a program that is controversial either. There are few programs I can compare NOVA because it is a standard of excellence that I associate with NOVA. I have to laugh when I hear about funding cuts to public broadcasting. NOVA is proof of how programming like this is some of the best way to spend education dollars. If you do not like or agree with an episode in this format skip to a different one that is why on demand works

Indepth and fascinating
There is nothing like NOVA. I grew up with NOVA. Remember Leonard Nimoy? Well, NOVA has evelved since those days. There are those documentaries on The Science Channel but they just don't cover stories quick like NOVA. NOVA has the special touch and dives deeper than any other documentary media source.

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Pilot

A Guardian With Edge
4.5 Stars... Be warned, the character Simon Baker plays in this series is edgier than his character in The Mentalist and slightly more abrasive. However, that being said the first season of this legal drama was the strongest. At the time, Baker was billed as a new face with edge from Austrailia and the series got good critical reviews its first year. Baker's seens with Dabney Coleman were amazing to watch as he struggled between goodwill legal work and the call of "the rich firm" run by his father. Alan Rosenberg was good though the character he played was less rich than his characters in other series (Cybil, L.A. Law, Civil Wars). If you like Simon Baker in The Mentalist, and you don't expect him to always play the same exact character, you'll probably enjoy this first season and if like legal shows this series will also be enjoyable. So what happened in the remaining seasons? They retooled the premise to broaden their viewing audience and it watered down the show but this first...

Possibly One of the Best Legal Dramas Ever Aired
When I graduated from law school, I came very close to practicing the type of family law the main character, Nick Fallon, has been sentenced to, so I may be a bit biased. With that having been said, I thought this was a terrific series.

The most important ingredient of this series' success is the understated (and unfortunately, criminally underrated) performance of Simon Baker. Because of the manner in which he plays Nick Fallon, you can see how the cumulative strain of:

(1) Fallon being sentenced to thousands of hours of community service in most trying, heartbreaking area of family law --destitute, abandoned and defenseless children;
(2) while struggling to stay productive at his tough-as-nails father's white-shoe mergers and acqusitions law firm and
(3)remaining sober

is (incrementally) tearing his character apart.

I strongly recommend this series to anyone who is tired of the melodramatic and overwrought nature of other legal...

A great, underrated show
I discovered this gem on a local channel while living abroad (granted, the episodes were not current). It was fascinating watching the challenges of Baker's character as he worked for his father's uptight law firm, while also performing mandated community service as a court-appointed guardian for kids with extraordinary difficulties in their lives. At first, I thought Baker's character too cold and unlikable, but eventually realized he was meant to be very complicated. However, it was the acting of Alan Rosenberg, and particularly Dabney Coleman, that made the show stand out for me. I had never appreciated what a fine dramatic actor Coleman is. The show can be raw and difficult to watch at times, but the writing and the guest actors are excellent, and I highly recommend it.

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The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey Two-Disc Special Extended Edition

What we can expect in the EXTENDED EDITION.
WHAT WILL WE SEE IN THE EXTENDED EDITION:

1. More of DALE, including the BLACK ARROWS. Director Peter Jackson mentions a previously unseen character: "Girion, who is defending [the city of] Dale using black arrows against Smaug. And the black arrows play a part in an ongoing story, for they are the one thing that can pierce the dragon's hide."

2. More king of the wood elves; THRANDUIL. Peter Jackson: "There are also issues with Thranduil. We get some of the reason why he and the dwarves had a falling out - to do with these white gems..."

3. More of HOBBITON. Producer Phillipa Boyens: "You are going to get more of Hobbiton. We always wanted to wend our way through Hobbiton, but in the end Bilbo has to run out of the door."

4. The OLD TOOK'S PARTY: In which we see a younger Gandalf meet Bilbo Baggins as a young child, convincing the wizard of the young hobbit's bravery and courage. I won't spoil it for you, but it involves a dragon and a bit...

The Hobbit Amazon Exclusive Extended Edition
The packaging is great, the slipcase is thick and sturdy and the back features an embossed acorn emblem of Bilbo's waist coat buttons. The case that the Blu-Ray discs are in is black, just like the Lord Of The Rings Extended Edition Blu-Ray set. Not a blue case like most other Blu-Ray movies which I think makes this version cohesive with the Lord Of The Rings set, which I as a fan appreciate the continuity. The special features are as follows:

-The Filmmakers' Commentary - Director/writer/producer Peter Jackson and writer/co-producer Philippa Boyens provide their perspective and stories on creating the first film.

-New Zealand: Home of Middle-Earth - From Matamata to Queenstown, travel with Peter Jackson and his team across the stunning locations of New Zealand, transformed by the filmmakers into Middle-Earth.

-The Appendices Part 7: A Long-Expected Journey - A 14-part chronological history of the filming of An Unexpected Journey, covering...

Wait until Chrismas 2013
Almost clicked the order button, but due to my love of the extended versions of the original trilogy, I decided to do a little research before I made that mistake. in doing so, I discovered that the Blue-Ray/DVD set for release on March 19th will contain only the theatrical version of the movie. Warner Bros is including a teaser trailer containing Dragon Smaug with this version in order to entice people to buy it. The extended version of 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' will be released in time for Christmas 2013. As with the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Warner Bros. is trying to stick it to the consumer again by hoping people will buy both versions. Sorry, WB... I can wait another nine months. In the meantime, I'll rent a copy to satisfy my urge to see it sooner.

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John Carter (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

John Carter Excceded My Expectations!
I went in to "John Carter" filled with trepidation. I often avoid these big, splashy CGI spectacles that never live up to their promises and I was sure that this film was going to be nothing more than lots of cinematic eye candy and short on substance. Added to that there was a lot of lackluster critical reviews. Well, all I can say is that this was a grand entertainment and I am so glad I caught it on the big screen!

I've heard some critics say the plot was a mess and overly convoluted. Really? My suggestion to them is "don't text while watching a movie, you might miss something". I found the plot fairly well done and actually made sense (if only the last Star Trek film had that going for it) and was interesting to boot.

I also read that the look of Barsoom (Mars to you and me) was dull and uninteresting. Hmmm, never been an admirerer of the stark and raw beauty of the American southwest I guess. Personally I found Barsoom to be beautiful, alien, exotic...

John Carter is an Epic Win Despite Horrible Marketing and Insane Critics
John Carter captures the spirit of the original ERB books very well. I'm not going to give a thorough review of the movie because so many other reviewers have already done that. I will, however, say that everyone involved in the production of this movie should be commended. The film takes Burroughs' "A Princess of Mars" and combines elements of the second book "Gods of Mars" (adding a few tweaks along the way) to create what can be called a mini-masterpiece. The story is well-written, the characters are fleshed out, the FX enhance the story not overshadow it, and the acting is excellent. The stunning Lynn Collins steals the show with her performance as Princess Dejah Thoris, Taylor Kitsch is admirable as Carter, and Willem Dafoe is perfect as the Thark leader Tars Tarkas. Andrew Stanton did a great job directing, the score is memorable, and the visuals are breathtaking.

If you haven't read the original books (which are absolute classics), you'll enjoy this movie...

Incredible Story
Former Confederate Civil War soldier, Captain John Carter has nothing left to fight for when he finds himself transported to a desert planet. Suddenly among a warrior tribe of four-armed aliens and a beautiful princess, Carter ends up in the middle of another war. But when faced with the chance of returning home to Earth, Carter may have found a cause worth fighting for in Princess Dejah and the people of Barsoom.

Taylor Kitsch stars as John Carter, the bitter and destitute man who cares for nothing but his found cave of gold. Kitsch has a young face and stoic countenance, perfect for the role of the ageless John Carter. He's a believable fighter and a great straight man to plenty of humor. Princess Dejah is played by Lynn Collins, who has terrific chemistry with John Carter, and is just as strong and smart as her male counterparts (if not more). Mark Strong and Dominic West are fantastic villains, especially West as a surprisingly charming and attractive (though na

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (Two Disc Combo: Blu-ray / DVD + UltraViolet Digital Copy)

"HILARIOUS, FUN-FILLED, AND HIGHLY ENTERTAINING!"
After viewing Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs, we all anticipated the arrival of this hilarious movie. As in the first showing, the animation is fantastic, and there is laugh-out-loud moments, presenting a delightful comedy for the family. Flint thought he saved the world, when he destroyed his machine that turned water into food, as we watched cheeseburger rain, and spaghetti tornadoes. However, his invention survived, and is now creating food-animals. Flint and his friends, embark on a dangerous mission to battle foodimals, to once again save the world. The colorful characters come to life, and the intriguing story has your attention from start to finish. Adults enjoyed it as much as the children, and the sound effects are awesome. Since I saw so many children enjoy this movie as much as they did, I will be gifting the DVD to friends and family for the holidays. The animation is breath-taking, and many families would find this fun-filled, for quality-time entertainment. There is...

CAN YOU CHANGE THE WORLD?
If you missed the first film, you get a quick recap. Flint Lockwood and his friends leave their island but then return after it has been turned into a "Jurassic Park" with living food creatures. The soundtrack includes a smart blend of old 60's tunes redone and modern songs. For the older crowd there is the classic "Butter/ Parkay" line that the kids won't get. It also has some fun lines such as "The jungle is no place for a monkey!"

This is a good family film. The food "horror" sequences are brief and are later turned around. There is also a "Soylent Green" segment near the end of the film, which like the evil food segments may be scary for younger kids.

'Cloudy 2' eye appealing & pleasantly entertaining
In 2009, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs was a massive hit for Song Pictures Animation. The film pitched a unique idea of a secluded island that was deprived of any food - other than nasty, slimy sardines. Along comes the troublesome Flint Lockwood and his talking monkey, Steve, and suddenly an endless amount of hysterical and excitement ensues. There was so much excitement that the animated feature went on to gross $243 million worldwide in 2009, quickly prompting the question not if there will be a sequel, but when? Flash forward four long years, and the adventure of Flint Lockwood and his rag-tag group of friends finally continues - in the highly anticipated sequel, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2.

Directed by Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 once again stars the voices of Bill Hader as Flint Lockwood and Anna Faris as Sam Sparks. After the devastating food storm in the first film, the island of Swallow Falls must abandon their...

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Scandal: The Complete Third Season

Scandalous, Scandalous, Scandalous
Scandal delivers exactly what its title promises. The story of Olivia Pope, madly in love with the married President Fitzgerald, is captivating from week to week as she navigates through deadly personal issues. The things going on between not only her and the president, but her and her father and the president are things of legend. Everything seems to connect back to everything else. Not only is the story rich with romance with erotic undertones to it, but also mixes in the suspense of political intrigue that shapes our country's leaders (USA). An edge of your seat watch, Scandal leaves you begging for more and more each time. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys espionage, romance, politics and legal dramas, as well as anyone who enjoys looking into the sometimes chaotic lives of the rich and powerful.

BEST SERIES ON ANY CHANEL ANYWHERE!
I have NEVER dvd a series next to Law & Order: SVU and All My Children and AMC for me was Greg and Jenny, Jessie and Angie, Tad and Dixie but Baby Olivia & The President ....not a hotter couple on TV prime, local or otherwise. Mom in the picture, Hawk casted Quinn from the Gladiators and still got to wait til February 27, 2014. It is so worth watching.
MUST HAVE SCANDAL COLLECTION,!!!!

Slam-bang-crazy fun
The way this series is going, you'll need to invest in a defibrillator. Scandal will have you on your feet screaming "WHAT?!" at your TV at the end of every episode. The plot twists and turns are so ingenious that just when you think Shonda Rhimes can't possibly take it any further, she pulls out another trick that stops you dead in your tracks. The acting continues to be excellent, with special mention to Kate Burton as the Jesus-freak Vice President Sally Langston and Joe Morton as the diabolical Rowan/Eli Pope. I can't begin to imagine the direction in which Shonda Rhimes is taking this show, and I don't want to know. All I'm looking forward to is being blown out of my shoes every Thursday night, and Shonda hasn't disappointed yet.

Judy Lind

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VeggieTales: LarryBoy and the Fib from Outer Space

Great for kids, fabulous for adults
This one, of the whole Veggie Tales series, is my personal favorite. There's a lot here to love. First, it teaches youngsters a valuable lesson about telling the truth both in its wholesome story and in the larger metaphor that first you control the lie but in time the lie controls you. Second, it's amazingly clever in its dialogue and concept and design, from the Larrymobile with its suction cup wheels to the way Larry-Boy, always the consummate nerd, screams "I--AM--THAT--HERO! " But best of all, adults can watch this video and be entertained as well as the kids, as the creators gleefully spoof Batman and superheros in general, bad sci-fi monster flicks, the Franklin Mint, pop culture and, in the final segment, music videos. All the Veggie Tales series are very funny, but this one makes you laugh so hard you'll have to rewind it in spots to re-watch the stuff you missed while recovering from cracking up. This deserves to be a classic. If the gang from Big...

Another VeggieTale movie to add to your collection!
Larry the Cucumber and Bob the Tomato are again hosting another VeggieTales video, this time giving a lesson in telling the truth (John 8:32b "The truth will set you free"). The story begins in the small town of Brumblyburgwhere Jerry and Jimmy are 'supposed' to be monitoring the area for aliens. And when an 'unidentified object' lands, it's up to Larry-Boy (aka Larry the Cucumber) to find out what it is. But Junior Asparagus is the first one to find it; it's an alien called Fib. And when Junior gets into some trouble, Fib gives him the perfect solution; to tell a little lie which of course wouldn't hurt anybody! Junior soon finds out that his little friend can become a HUGE problem! It's up to Larry-Boy and his Larry-Boy Mobile to save the day... if everything goes well...

Totally hilarious, I find this Veggie Tale to be thoroughly enjoying. With great Christian values, they're perfect for kids, teenagers, and even have adults interested with the wry humor, catchy and fun songs,...

Mom and Dad Love This One As Much As The Kid Does!
Larry Boy Rules! My husband and I love watching this video as much as our toddler does. Larry Boy is a SuperHero after our own hearts - so comically inept and so very well intentioned! The music is great in this video and the story is superb. Junior Asparagus learns the hard way that a little fib can turn into a big problem - my daughter adores this show! So many children's videos start to drive me nuts after a couple of viewings, but the VeggieTales videos are so clever and funny that I never tire of them - and I catch something new every time I see them too. Larry Boy would be a wonderful addition to any home video library!

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RVBX: Ten Years of Red vs. Blue Box Set [Blu-ray]

Great for people who haven't bought any of the DVDs yet!
While people who have many of the Red vs. Blue DVDs may not be enticed into dropping money on the Blu-Ray version, for someone who doesn't have any of them yet, being able to get them all in one box set is a great opportunity. The content is great regardless of what format you watch it in, but if you have the extra cash, you might as well get the best quality available for one of the best shows out there.

lost husband
I bought this for my husband as he is a huge fan since the begining. it was an aniversery gift. I watched some of it with him and saw why he was so hooked on it. it is very cleaver and well done. my only problem lies in the fact that I have not seen my husband for 3 days except when he is hungry as he is unable to resist watching the whole series. to any other fans of red Vs blue. this is well worth buying. very good quality and lots of little extras.

Everything you want and more!
This award winning show comes packed with award winning supplemental material. A true fan of RoosterTeeth and RvB, like myself, will absolutely love it. Gorgeous HD episodes and tons of bonus material make this a great buy.

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The Cosmic Comet

Buy the power! Feel the magic come alive!
Season 1 - Volume 1: He-man & the Masters of the Universe! The classic 80s cartoon FINALLY arrives with all its memorable characters, stories & fantasy, digitally remastered with extras! This fall - mark the date! October 18th! Part 1 of 2, Season 1, this set is chock-a-block with amazing extras. The hit cartoon adventure series brought to life the adventures of Prince Adam & his alter-ego, the mighty He-Man battling the evil Skeletor to protect the secrets of Castle Grayskull. Son of King Randor and Queen Marlena of Eternia, his faithful sidekick was the cowardly green & orange pet tiger, Cringer. "By the power of Grayskull!" Adam's cry in times of danger, together with his magical 'Sword Of Power' transformed them into the mighty He-Man and the ferocious tiger, Battle Cat. Aided by Man-At-Arms, Duncan (the slightly older scientist and Adam's mentor), his adopted daughter Teela (Captain of the Guards and Prince Adam's aide), the quirky & comic Orko (the little floating magician) &...

Arguably one of the MOST IMPORTANT Cartoon series ever on TV
Why this outrageous statement??? Originally cartoons were shown on Saturday morning only. He-Man was the first show to be syndicated through a network other than the big 3 (ABC, NBC and CBS). What this meant was that an episode was shown every afternoon instead of just on Saturday mornings. Wow... 65 episodes were made per year instead of only 13 that were normally produced for a typical Saturday show and this made for an incredible following. Who didn't watch this show? Even parents would comment about it when they asked what I did for a living and I mentioned I was an animator on He-Man. This was one of the last shows done entirely in the U.S. as most of the animation work was being sent overseas by the early 80's. Lou Scheimer was the founder of Filmation Studios and made a vow to keep the work in the U.S. and was true to his word until it became impossible to compete with the wages being paid overseas and, sadly, the studio closed in '86 but not until after the successful runs of...

Finally
When I saw this on my computer screen that He-Man had finally come out on DVD, I couldn't believe it. Finally the original was out to be seen again. I was one of those kids who had all the He-Man figures, and Castle Grayskull. My cousins and I loved playing with these toys and watching the cartoon. I was upset when it went off the air, and even more upset when they tried to replace it with sub-standard forms. I still have all those figures stashed away to hopefully play with my son someday, and now I have the show I loved as boy to also share. Oh the cartoons I watched as a boy, this is the only one I thought was worth putting in my DVD collection. Thanks for finally allowing me to once again enjoy a part of my childhood.

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Much Ado About Nothing [HD]

Teacher Review
I'll make this simple:

I teach 11th Grade Shakespeare.

Upon announcing we were watching this, my kids were fairly excited. We brought in popcorn, soda, etc.--made it a special movie day.

Besides a slew of their gasps, and laughter--they were SILENT the whole time: enthralled, and captivated.

We had such a great time, they were so appreciative of the interpretation, had so many opinions to voice, and finally understood Shakespeare.

Five Stars!!

A magical delight from beginning to end.
Joss Whedon's modern-dress version of "Much Ado About Nothing"--filmed in black and white, in twelve days, in his own Los Angeles house--actually manages to exceed Kenneth Branagh's version of twenty years ago. Branagh's version, to be sure, may have Roger Lanser's glorious color cinematography of a sumptuous Tuscan villa, as well as magnificent performances by Emma Thompson and Branagh as Beatrice and Benedick. But Whedon's version, though slightly claustrophobic, feels more unified than Branagh's, and Whedon's ensemble cast is more consistently excellent than Branagh's.

Amy Acker and Alexis Denisof may not be as golden-throated in speaking the Bard's verse as Thompson and Branagh, but they are just as adept in portraying Beatrice and Benedick's emotions, and they are the superior physical comedians. In fact, Whedon's cast is wonderful straight down the line: Reed Diamond as Don Pedro, Clark Gregg ss Leonato, and especially Nathan Fillion as Dogberry. Fillion's masterful...

Wonderful version
This film was a delightful adaptation of a most entertaining play. Whedon captures the screwball nature of Beatrice and Benedick's romance, as well as the dark thread that is the Hero and Claudio plot. Very approachable for Shakespeare, the dialogue is generally fairly straightforward to follow. Terrific performances. It is astounding that so much could be achieved on the barest minimum budget and in such a tight timescale. It was filmed in 12 days with little longer than that in preparation. One of the leads was only signed on the day before filming began and had to master his lines and performance between shooting. Unbelievably good in those circumstances!
Watch it. You won't regret it.

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The Complete Collection of Sweatin' to the Oldies

Just Get It!
Paraphrasing American Pie*
o/~ A long, long time ago, I can still remember when this music and exercise used to make me smile o/~ and work out with Richard and his diverse crowd of fellow exercisers on VHS.
Now the folks at Time/Life have released the full set of the first 4 on DVD.
But wait!
There's more!!
A motivational and "Get back on the wagon!" never-before-released bonus DVD!!!
I looked through the blurbs and reviews, but didn't find a handy-dandy list of the included tunes to which to sweat, so here it is:
Original
1.) intro
2.) Dancing in the Street
3.) Beyond the Sea
4.) On Broadway
5.) It's My Party
6.) Peggy Sue
7.) Great Balls of Fire
8.) Wipe Out
9.) He's a Rebal
10.)Personality
11.)Ain't No Mountain High Enough
S2tO - 2
1.) intro
2.) The Locomotion
3.) Fever
4.) My Boyfriend's Back
5.) Breaking Up is Hard to Do
6.) Windy
7.) Big Girls Don't...

The purchase that will pay you back for years to come!
Richard Simmons' charming personality and know-how make Sweatin' to the Oldies a classic of the 80s rage for exercise videos. The music is great, and will appeal to people of every age, and I've enjoyed just listinging to it for inspiration while working around the house.

As an added plus, Sweatin' to the Oldies rates mega-stars as a fabulous family activity that not only entertains, but gets us off the couch for some very real health benefits. Don't be fooled by the simplicity of the routines. There's some serious exercise here.

The Complete Collection of Sweatin' to the Oldies is a tremendous value!

Affordable exercise thats alot of fun...
Everyone laughed at me when I told them I was purchasing these DVDs... Now everyone is doing the exercises with me, including my husband who is a bit of a "REDNECK" and made the most fun of the thought of me getting them and of course Richard Simmons...
But, no one is laughing now... My hole family has been doing these exercises for almost a month and we love them. You really do alot of sweating... For the price and the convenience that you have to be able to do them at home on your own time this is a good deal. I have seen other offers but you only get 2 or 3 DVDs for the same price.

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The Expendables 2 [Blu-ray + Digital Copy + UltraViolet]

The Boys are BACK!
Let's get one thing straight. You don't go into a movie like The Expendables without knowing what you are getting yourself into. If you've seen the first film and enjoyed its larger-than-life salute to big 80's action stars then you know exactly what you should expect from the sequel. It's more of the same formula: Big on star power machismo, ammunition, and one-liners and simple on plot, exposition and intelligence. The bottom line is; you don't watch The Expendables expecting any Academy Award winning performances. If this doesn't sound like kind of movie that you would normally enjoy watching then you came to the wrong party.

The Boys are BACK: Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross, Jason Statham as Lee Christmas, Dolph Lundgren as Gunner Jensen, Terry Crews as Hale Caesar, Randy Couture as Toll Road and Jet Li as Yin Yang while Mickey Rourke is out as Tool but the testosterone meter is still off...

Big, Bloody, Blow-'Em-Up FUN!
When Sylvester Stallone dreamt up the original EXPENDABLES film, it was designed to be a throwback to the cheesy 80's shoot-'em-up spectacles that were low on plot and character and high on action and adrenaline and combine many of cinema's greatest (or at least somewhat famous) action stars in one film, and it succeeded in some ways and failed in others. The biggest problem that I had with the original is that there were too many patented Stallone-As-Screenwriter moments when he tried to make the film more serious than it EVER needed to be. But when the action was on, it was really glorious to watch all of the over-the-top silliness explode like a Wile E. Coyote cartoon on crank. Fortunately we're treated to much more of that silliness and much less of the seriousness in the Simon West (CON AIR, LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER) directed EXPENDABLES 2.

As the film opens with a terrific opening set piece of an assault on a fortified bunker, we are reintroduced to our team of...

The Best Worst Best Worst Action Movie
Expendables 2 is rife with gun play, stabbings, explosions and fun one-liners. Frankly, this is exactly what the movie presented it to be. If this comes across as indicative of the kind of movie that of movie entertains you then please note that Expendables 2 a genre archetype.

If you expect a deep plot and a layered story then look elsewhere. Frankly, it's hard to imagine someone that would look for this approach here. Such criticisms that speak to this are unfounded as they do not actually review the product as advertised.

I don't want to spoil the film. Let me just say though that Chuck Norris plays a Messianic figure a la Judah Maccabee (obviously not like the suffering servant Yeshua Messiah). He has an almost otherworldly indestructible attribute. This alone made the movie worth a viewing.

Bottom line: If you are an American male with a good amount of testosterone in you veins you will enjoy this film.

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The Warlords [HD]

A Remake of Chang Cheh's Classic Is a Rousing Epic!
THE WARLORDS (2007) is an ambitious film directed by Peter Chan, one of Hong Kong's known filmmakers. This film has a very impressive cast in Jet Li (Fearless), Andy Lau (Infernal Affairs) and Takeshi Kaneshiro (Returner). This period epic is loosely based on Chang Cheh's classic; BLOOD BROTHERS. I've seen a lot of Chinese epics and thankfully "The Warlords" is not a part of the colorful, overindulgent film geared towards U.S. audiences. Truly, this film is darker and grittier than most Chinese epics, but still has massive commercial appeal and will no doubt be popular to international audiences.

The Taiping Rebellion has plunged the country in chaos. General Quing-yun Pang (Jet Li) is the lone survivor of a massive battle between the Christian Taiping and the Qing dynasty under command. That evening, he finds comfort in the arms of comely Lian (Xu Jinglei) but she disappears the following day. Pang encounters a group of bandits led by Er-hu Zhao (Andy Lau) and Jiang...

Outstanding in every respect
Jet Li as a villain is quite a remarkable piece of casting, and everyone really holds their own in this action epic set in 1860s China. The title in English is Warlords but in Chinese it was Blood Brothers, and features three men who are doing their best to survive in a wartorn land.
Jet Li, a great general in the Imperial army, is betrayed and the only man in his army to survive. His resurrection from the dead is both fascinating and appalling to watch as his desire for power obliterates all before him. Andy Lau gives the performance of a lifetime as the head of a band of brigands, who first follows Jet Li but later becomes disaffected by what he sees and tries to turn back from the collision course the ambitious general has set them all on.
Takeshi Kaneshiro as the youngest of the three strong male leads is remarkable in terms of both his battle prowess and how loyal he is to both men, until he is forced to choose sides. Complicating matters still further is the fact that...

Gonna get the Megastar import version instead.
Great film. Great actors. Great directing. Ho-Sun Chan is in top form here. But, once again, just like with "Iron Monkey" and "Suriyothai" we get these "American" cut versions. WHICH SUCKS!!! I am a film school student and have studied films for over 20 years and I despise it when a foreign film is cut "supposedly" to our western liking. Who asked Magnolia to cut 13-14 minutes of the film anyway? Surely fans of foreign films did not ask for this. Read the dvdbeaver comparison to find out what is missing in the "American" cut. Magnolia, you dropped the ball on this one. I bought your versions of "Haeundae" (interestingly renamed "Tidal Wave". Haeundae does not mean Tidal Wave. It is the town in South Korea where the tsunami hits), "Chocolate", "Ong Bak 2", "Let The Right One In" (except for the subtitle complaints) and others and I am pleased with them. But, remember this, true film fans want the "director's vision" of a film, not the version that you "think we would want"!!! I am...

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Soul Surfer

Outstanding!!! Good Can Come Out of Difficulties
I just went this afternoon to the matinee, and wow what a good movie!! A main theme of the movie is that good can come out of bad. Also, it shows how we can help others through our personal tragedies and that life is not over when bad things happen to us. There is a plan for everything. I was very impressed with all the acting, special effects and the family friendly tone. There are zilcho swears. Even in the characters' darkest moments, there are no typical overused omg's or anything that would indicate they were angry at God or anyone else. They don't shy away from Christian references but present it accurately, the way the family and Bethany responded in the situation. I was impressed that the faith message that was natural, but not preachy. Also, the Bible verse quoted was from Jeremiah 29:11 and really if you were of another faith you wouldn't be offended by it I don't think. In the credits they show interviews with the real Bethany and she mentions Jesus there. However, that's...

Yes, it has an overt Christian message, but read on.
This movie was wonderful! The cinematography was beautiful. I especially loved the shots filmed through the pipeline as she surfed and the scenes shot looking up through the surface of the water. I scuba dive and love to look up through the water. It adds dimension and energy to the scenes. The special effects were just awesome. The actress really looks like her arm is missing. Just incredible. The acting was top-notch. It is everything I am looking for in a good movie. Drama, warmth, realism, up-lifting. This young girl is a real inspiration. There are those who might not want to watch because the message is overtly Christian, but I would ask the question, "Have you seen the movie, Ghandi? Or Seven Years in Tibet?" Did you avoid them because they were overtly about their religious beliefs? Watch with an open mind and be inspired by this young girl and the God who gave Bethany such courage and perseverance.

A MUST SEE..!!
This is one of the best movies I have ever seen.. Period. It is a movie you can take your whole family to and not be afraid of them being exposed to any kind of crude jokes or bad refrences. There is not one curse word in the movie and it's hard to get that these days, even in cartoons.! It is a wonderful movie of faith, family, and never giving up.! So inspirational and just a great all around movie.! They also did a good job staying true to Bethany's story.! Loved it and would see it again in a heartbeat! Can't wait until it comes out so I can buy it.! =)

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Day Of The Dumpster

Great show but stick with the original version
Okay, so the original Power Rangers is a wonderfully cheesy show. It's full of bad acting, ridiculous enemies, goofy moments, and of course the always lovely Pink Ranger. If you like B-movies, you'll like the Power Rangers. That being said, go with the original version instead of this "special season" version. They've added in extra frames which clash horribly with the show.

Grandsons loved it
My grandsons loved watching this. I loved how quiet the house was for a little while & also I like amazon prime 😉

Good and Clear Pictures
Nice movies with good and clear pictures. My kids really enjoyed all the movies they watched from the Season 1

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Boardwalk Empire: The Complete Fourth Season

"Farewell daddy blues"
BOARDWALK EMPIRE's 4th season adds even more brutal violence (yes, it was possible) and brilliant character-study with several supporting cast dominating screen-time (Chalky, Agent Jim, Mr. Purnsley, Will Thompson and the twitchy Dr. Narcisse). Even so, Steve Buscemi remains the #1 reason to follow the show religiously. Lots of fun time is spent in Florida and, of course, in Chicago focusing on the rise of Al Capone (A role and accent mastered by British actor, Stephen Graham).

Overall, the finest gift of the EMPIRE is its dedication to realistic-fiction with spot-on set-pieces, costumes and exquisite jazz along with our anti-heroes believable story-lines over the years. BOARDWALK is a gorgeous, potent, harrowing concoction of the bleak, gang-land 20's. To the lost . . .

BOARDWALK EMPIRE THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON
The Boardwalk Empire TV series on HBO is justifiably noted for its good acting (especially from Steve Buscemi as the shrewd but conflicted 'Nucky' Thompson) and its excellent costuming and period set decorations. The series primarily covers Atlantic City, New Jersey in the 1920's with its emphasis on the rise of organized crime during the Prohibition era. Although the history of the period is sometimes distorted for dramatic effect, the character development in the series is well done. Again, Buscemi's performance alone is worth the price. Arnold Rothstein, Lucky Luciano, Al Capone as well political 'luminaries' of this era (such as Andrew Mellon, Secretary of the Treasury under Coolidge) all make recurring appearances. This is one of HBO's best dramatic series.

Outstanding Period Piece
Boardwalk Empire is some of the best TV ever made, exactly what I would expect from HBO which has brought us Band of Brothers, Game of Thrones and The Pacific. Watching this show puts you back into the 1920's with incredibly accurate sets, costumes and locales. The casting is impeccable and the scripts keep your attention completely. The actors all do an incredible job making the characters deep, complex and relatable in their flaws. It can be brutal at times, but it is a series about the rise of the mobs. This is a signature achievement in TV. Enjoy

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Beasts of the Southern Wild

A Beautiful Elegy to a World That is Dying
I am a coonass. I am from Southwest Louisiana and am a part of the joie de vivre culture of South Louisiana. This world has embraced me and rolled up in its cocoon of love of place, of family, of celebration all my life. Beasts of the Southern Wild comes the closest of any movie I have ever seen to expressing the truth of the sheer beauty of life in the swamps. Through the devastation of hurricanes, the opression of the wealthy, and the well-meaning of outsiders, we survive. And yet our world is dying. We know it as surely as we can see the trees dying on the marshes as the salt water moves further inland, because our buffers are dissappearing. We know it when we drive the roads and watch the waves lap against our tires or roar against the sides of our cars. We know it when we fish and see the open water where once there was land.

This movie, better than any other, cherishes these truths and films them. I'm grateful that Zeitlan chose not to embrace Cajuns in this...

Everything you hope for in a film
A good film is a confluence of many variables. A good director orchestrates these variables into a finished form. Beasts of the Southern Wild is such a film and Behn Zeitlin is such a director. And the brilliance of Zeitlin is that he manages to take all manner of seemingly contradictory elements and make them,as a nameless boat captain says in the film, cohesive.

One such variable is story. Hushpuppy is a six-year-old girl who lives with her father on the wrong side of a levee in a fictitious Southeast Louisiana town called The Bathtub. The film follows her point of view, and the world of her active imagination and the real world around her often intertwine on screen. The film is your standard coming of age story, but it is this unique perspective of Hushpuppy and her understanding of the world around her that is the foundation of the film and its magic.

Another variable is music. The director worked closely with his friend and composer Dan Romer in creating the...

Like 'Whale Rider', a Powerful Performance from a Child in a Great Film
BOTSW is easily the best movie of 2012 so far (although I loved 'Moonrise Kingdom' too), and the stars should get ready for Oscar season. The pacing may be off-putting to some, but if you can handle artsy fare, you're sure to love it. The story tells the tale of eight year old Hushpuppy, who must save her father, friends, and herself from mysterious beasts in what may or may not be the end of the world. The lines between fantasy and reality are very blurry, which makes this movie a great discussion piece for a group. One thing I will note is that while everything about this movie is exceptional, the score is one of the best I've heard in a long time. I went to a screening with the film's director and two stars, and they spoke to how organic the entire film process was, and how elements in the script were rewritten for each of the leads so the dialogue would sound authentic to the deep south. Every detail is watched carefully, and this is truly a must-see.

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Warehouse 13: Season Four

Warehouse 13 Ups the Ante
Warehouse 13 is fast becoming one of the most intriguing science fiction shows on television and one of the most fun to watch. The steampunk artifacts of the warehouse were and are fun, but now the ante has been raised with consequences for the characters based on their choices. Artie and Claudia are on the front lines of these new choices as both have "used an artifact to set things right". In Artie's case, the entire world and in Claudia's case her own part of the world. And the viewer knows that both will be made to pay double for trying to avert a tragedy. Watching this happen and the choices that may make them better or worse as people is riveting viewing. Highly recommended sci-fi show that is maturing before our very eyes. I look forward to a stunning season.

Great New Season
A lot of series end a season with a dramatic cliffhanger, then resolve it too quickly and easily in the new season premiere. I remember old Saturday morning serials where we see the hero fall off a cliff, but when we come back next week, it was really a steep incline and he rolls to safety. Not the case here. The Warehouse team had to work hard to restore things, and there were sacrifices and consequences. It took them two episodes to recover, and there are still consequences showing up in this third episode. I won't go into any more detail because I don't want to spoil it for people who haven't watched yet. There are teasers that other characters are sensing the secrecy, so hopefully that arc won't be dragged out too long. The characters are still themselves, despite the guilt and the dark secrets some of them are bearing. Pete is as funny and boyish as ever, Claudia as sarcastic, Artie as irrascible and dedicated, and Myka - well, she's grown; she no longer only puts up with...

Wow!
If you've SEEN this show then you have seen a family that work --- and occasionally play --- together.
There's something for everybody in this series. Don't know WHY it's not on Blu-ray, but the DVDs, through
a Blu-ray player, upscales QUITE nicely. The special effects are top notch, along with writing and acting.
I was more specific about what I like about this show with the previous season. Only one word for THE series:
____

Wow!
____

PLEASE support the show... all the SciFi shows that
I
like usually get cancelled before season 5!

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Superstar [HD]

A super star for "Superstar" !
I love this movie! I bought it so I could watch it whenever I need a good laugh. It doesn't have a dull moment in the whole movie. Superstar is definately a "LOL" film. The characters are well chosen, and play their parts great. And who could refuse yet another movie with Will Ferrel?! All in all, I give "Superstar" a Super Star! No pun intended!

Best comedy I've seen in awhile -- a keeper
I'm not usually a fan of the comedy genre -- especially the Hollywood variety. Yet for some reason, I love this movie, and have seen it three times in the week I've rented it. Molly Shannon is absolutely brilliant, and her performance is genuinely funny and at times, touching. Even though this movie does rely on Hollywood conventions (like mawkish, one-dimensional romance) and is silly beyond its own goal (that ridiculous God spectacle that "guides" Mary), it redeems itself through the hilarious tree-smooching scenes, which are priceless, as well as many others. I'd recommend this film to anyone who wants to chill out and have a laugh -- even if you think Hollywood comedy isn't for you. This is a keeper.

Definately The "SuperStar" of My Collection!!!
You've gotta see this dvd!! It is the GREATEST!!! It stars the hliarious Molly Shannon and Will Ferrel from Saturday Night Live. It is a movie about a geeky and very clumsy Catholic school-girl who has all her life wanted to be a superstar so that she could get a "big fireworks hollywood type kiss". So she trys out for a talent contest at school to try and meet her goal. I don't wanna give anything away, but that's basically what it's about... Anyway, I think it's a GREAT movie. I schedule my time to watch it every night at least 4-5 times a week! It's a MUST-HAVE for ALL comedy lovers!!! Gives you PLENTY of laughs!!! :)

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Apollo 13 - Collector's Edition

A fine release with a few wrinkles
First off, this is easily a five-star film. It's handsome, taut, and thoroughly engaging.

For picture and audio quality, this Blu-ray is obviously superior to prior releases. There is moderate film grain to the transfer, giving it a natural feel. The special effects (i.e. the launch sequence) receive the greatest benefit and the clearest visuals, but on the whole the film is beautifully rendered and, for these benefits, the Blu-ray is worth picking up.

I do concur, however, that this disc has some slight issues. It takes too long to load -- I timed it at roughly two minutes on my slim PS3. This is mildly annoying but comparable to other Universal and Disney releases. I was more annoyed that after waiting for the BD-Java to load, selecting "English," waiting for more loading, waiting for the menu to animate, and selecting the film that I was treated to a "social BLU" splash page asking me if I wanted my Facebook status updated. What aggravated me was that...

Don't buy anything but the Special Edition DVD
Others have remarked well enough on the virtues of _Apollo 13_ as a film. What makes the Special Edition DVD worth its purchase price, however, are the tons of extras that you get. The story of the making of _Apollo 13_ is at least as interesting, if nowhere near as harrowing, as the actual moonshot itself, and this DVD gives you hours of material to walk you through that process.

Anyone who's interested in filmmaking will be riveted by both the Ron Howard running film commentary and the hour-long "Making of" documentary. Perhaps even more intriguing is the Marilyn and Jim Lovell audio track, in which you get to hear how Lovell feels about Howard and Hanks made his movie. This is made all the more interesting and informative for the filmmaking student in that _Apollo 13_ wasn't just the retelling of Lovell's real-life experience, it's also the film version of his book. Getting his perspective both as narrative object and storyteller is fascinating, as are...

Good movie, good extras, nice price
"Failure is not an option!". So says mission-control director Gene Kranz, played by Ed Harris, as mission control devises a way to get the astronauts safely home. Although initially viewed as a disaster (explosion in spacecraft which forces cancellation the the moon-landing mission), in reality it is a story of success due to resourcefulness. The astronauts must return to earth and splash down safely with only enough electrical power to run a coffee pot.

Probably the best of director Ron Howard's movies, it is well acted by stars Tom Hanks (as Jim Lovell), Kevin Bacon (Jack Swigert), and Bill Paxton (Fred Haise) as the three space-bound astronauts, Gary Sinise (mission-bumped astronaut Ken Mattingly), Ed Harris (mission control Gene Kranz), and Kathleen Quinlan (Marilyn Lovell). The movie was nominated for 9 Oscars including best picture, writing, supporting actor (Harris), supporting actress (Quinlan), music, and visual effects, and won for editing and for sound.

There...

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A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

The forgotten Peanuts holiday special
While people often gush -- and rightly so -- about the Charlie Brown Christmas and Halloween cartoons, I often feel like this is the "lost" Peanuts holiday special that doesn't quite get the attention of its more popular siblings.

Charlie Brown, through no fault of his own, gets roped into preparing a Thanksgiving dinner for Peppermint Patty and all his friends. And this from a boy who can barely make cold cereal and toast. Snoopy and Woodstock lend a hand in the kitchen with predictably silly results.

While it's not as iconic as some of the other Peanuts specials, it's a good story that really grasps the characters very well. This DVD also features "The Mayflower Voyages," one of several specials that cast the Peanuts characters as participants in American history. It's a good educational tool for the kids, mixing in some of the harsher facts of life at Plymouth Rock with the softer, happier mood of the Peanuts gang. Together, these two cartoons are well worth the DVD.

Heart warming. Takes you back to being a kid
This video takes me back to being a kid and being able to stay up and watch the specials that came on TV for the holidays. This is just a great simple cartoon for kids and parents alike. You will never be disapointed with any Charlie Brown cartoon. From Lucy's contant quest to never let Charlie Brown never kick the football,to Charlie Browns deep thoughts on life. You will always love this one.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving you've just got to have!
This is a classic. Even though Charles Schultz hated it when he first saw it, it has become one of the most beloved Charlie Brown caroons of all time. People get very antsy if their networks don't put it on every year. As usual, Charlie Brown has his trials and tribulations as he tries to prepare a Thanksgiving dinner for kids who have invited themselves to dinner. Even Snoopy and the bird get into the act.

This cartoon is great even for the little ones. It doesn't matter if you are 3 or 93. It's a treat for the whole family.

Enjoy it, Thanksgiving or any time of year!

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On the Jones

The end is near...
The sixth season of FX's The Shield can be considered the penultimate season of the gritty crime drama. Beginning with the aftermath of Lem's (Kenny Johnson) death, Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) swears vengeance, unbeknownst to him that his partner Shane (Walton Goggins) is responsible. In the meantime, Vic faces a forced retirement, more so when younger, possibly brasher detective Kevin Hiatt (Moonlight's Alex O'Loughlin) is brought onto the Strike Team as Vic's successor. With Kavanaugh (Forest Whitaker) still lurking in the shadows and still trying to bring Vic down once and for all, things reach a boiling point as Vic comes closer and closer to learning the truth, and the reprecussions that come and are going to come in the upcoming final season. Other plot developments of this season include Claudette (CCH Pounder) adjusting to an illness, Dutch (Jay Karnes) in developments that you won't see coming, Aceveda (Benito Martinez) once again forming an uneasy alliance with Vic, and...

The Shield doesn't step aside, it steps up
For all its hard-edges and testosterone-fuelled machismo, The Shield never fails to paint its principal characters as touchingly human, even if the moments are few and far between that we get to glimpse these more tender parts, and this is one of the elements of its success at being the most emotionally cathartic, intense, adrenaline-rush on the telly.

The Shield, in my albeit humble opinion, is the single best product ever recorded to celluloid with the intention of playing it back for entertainment purposes: bar nothing. It's the best thing that's ever graced my TV screen, and makes other top-drawer productions look pedestrian and even lame by comparison.

Season six is full-throttle, pedal to the metal in the style we've become accustomed to, but due to events leading up to the start of the season, the protagonists seem to be in the full throes of a ravaging tornado this season, even more than others.

Walt Goggins serves up the convincing...

Great set up for the last season
In Season 6, this fantastic show does a great job setting the viewers up for what will surely be a truly shocking end to a truly great gritty cop drama.

First, the plotlines. Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) is going to be forcibly retired. But before he goes, he is determined to find out who killed fellow Strike Team Member, Lem (Kenneth Johnson). Menawhile Shane (Walton Goggins) is falling into a downward spirl, from which he may never climb out. His guilt over his actions, plus trying to keep his family safe and Vic in the dark, has him acting irrational (joining up with Franka Potente and the Armenian mob) and even suicidal (watch the scene when he locks himself in a room with an armed hostage taker). Meanwhile, Claudette (CCH Pounder) finds herself under fire from her superiors. And when the "big crime of the season" happens (the San Marcos murders, a slughter of 12 Hispanic people in a hotel), the case takes all sorts of twists and turns. Once again, Aceveda and...

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The Greatest Game Ever Played

A stirring slice of golf history, well-rendered on film
One doesn't have to have read Mark Frost's book (he adapted his book for the screenplay) to enjoy this movie. Obviously, the book contains much more detail regarding the personal histories of Harry Vardon, Francis Ouimet, JJ McDermott & others leading up to (and following) the 1913 US Open, and there was no way that Frost could have included all of the minute detail without at least doubling the length of the movie. One also misses the discussion of the technology available to the turn-of-the-century golfer, as well as some of the geo-political forces that led to Vardon & Ted Ray making their tour of the United States.

However, what one does get is a beautifully filmed story that has the predictable feel-good nature one would expect from a Disney film, without being sappy. The principals bear a striking resemblance to the historical figures (right down to Eddie the caddie), and the historical match is accurately rendered. While one doesn't get the book's stroke by...

Beautifully crafted, heartwarming film: 5+
If you love golf, you'll love this movie. Even if you don't love golf, you'll enjoy it. The cinematography is phenomenal. The makers of this movie used a specially designed camera in many scenes to follow the ball from shot to stop. One of my favorite shots was Ted Ray's blast through the woods, between the trees, and onto the green with the camera following the ball all the way! As others have said, it's the best golf movie yet, largely because the camera work and film editing added much to the magic of this true come-from-behind story. I also think the close working relationship between director Bill Paxton and the author of the book, The Greatest Game Ever Played, Mark Frost, added to the movie's charm and authenticity.

Francis Ouimet and Harry Vardon had something in common. They were `common', according to the societal standards of their respective times. One is American, the other English, born a generation apart. Vardon grew up to become a world-renowned golfer, but...

Great family movie.
We watched this movie in the theaters with the whole family, including two kids under 10. I'm not a golfer, but my husband loves the sport. The movie has great story line, funny moments, a bit of romance and some thrilling episodes. It would make for a nice evening of quality family time.

Please note that the DVD is in widescreen format. That's the only reason I'm not buying it at this time, I'm hoping for a full screen version.

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Lifetime 12 Films of Christmas

Double sided discs
Just purchased this today as I'd seen some of the featured movies and liked them. It's a great deal getting 12 movies for $18. I just wasn't happy when I opened the case and saw the discs are double sided. I've purchased quite a few movies over the last 12 or so years and in my experience the double sided discs do not last long. I have found myself repurchasing movies that came on double sided discs.

Even though my dvd set was new when I opened it the discs had smudges and light scratching.

My advice would be to find the titles you like and purchase them individually or the lifetime movies that come 2-3 in a package.

Not widescreen as listed, Poor picture quality, they look better on TV.
These are all nice movies I look forward to every year. But don't buy them in this set because they all look like crap. Seriously, these movies are broadcast in HD and widescreen yearly and look much better than the old square TV ratio and awful low resolution on these cheaply produced discs. This is NOT a bargain. They look MUCH better when broadcast on TV. I fell for this same scam last year when a bunch of these movies were packaged and listed on Amazon as being in widescreen and they were all square and low quality. Amazon lists these movies as widescreen and 1.85 aspect ratio. Every one of them here is the old square 1.33 TV ratio. They're broadcast widescreen on TV but they're not here, and the picture quality is not as good either, so they look better on TV than on these discs. Don't waste your money.

Not widescreen as advertised
This is just a repackage of a set released a few years ago. They are NOT widescreen as advertised but Amazon do not update their description to correct this misdescription. At least one of these films is on dvd in widescreen in another pack and I am sure most others are broadcast in 16:9 as made. Why does the distributor insist on releasing them in 4:3 when most TV sets are now widescreen.

Having said that, quality is good and good value but would not have bought them if I' d realised it was not widescreen or repackaged under a new title.

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Army Wives: The Complete Seventh Season

What a Tearjerker!!
OMG!! I'm retired Army (MALE) and I teared up while watching with my wife-sad that she had to die on the show due to her "real life" alcohol problems. I hope she get's the help she so desperately needs and has a support group. Too early to cast our vote on the "new cast members". But the reality is that we get transferred approximately every 3 years-so the show is true to Army life! Hope the show continues (with good scripts) as it brings back memories of our 23 years in the ARMY (my wife gets much credit as she was my ROCK during many tough deployments). Gotta love Army Wives!!!!

I am hooked on Army Wives.
I spent 2 weeks watching seasons 1-6. Then I just HAD to go to Amazon to see the first 10 episodes of season 7, so I can start watching episodes as they air this Sunday! This series is absolutely addicting.

I've been watching from the start.
I was really worried after Claudia Joy died that the show would really suffer but I'm finally starting to like all the new characters in this season.

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Africa

One of the finest things ever created in the history of film
The title for this review seems a bit much, but let me quickly explain why it's not hyperbole or meaningless oversell. I help at my friends video store, which hosts a giant collection of Blu-ray features. I own many, but I should specify the only Blu-Rays I purchase, mostly due to replay-ability, are nature documentaries. My modest collection boasts over 75 Blu-ray nature documentaries: BBC, Nat-Geo, Discovery and other independent sources. I've been collecting nature Blu-rays since the evening I installed a compatible drive in my computer. The PC is linked via 1080p HDMI connection to a large LCD screen. The reason I'm telling you this personal information is so you know I'm serious about the genre. I'm critical. It takes a lot to blow me away since I've viewed so many astonishing, eye-popping nature documentaries over the years. Other people collect guns, stamps or shoes. Well, I collect nature documentaries.

This is, without question, the best nature documentary ever...

Once again, surprisingly superb
I've been watching nature documentaries for decades now, so I approach these newer ones with weary skepticism, especially since the wave of glossy 'remake-upgrades' started by Planet Earth. In this specific case, the topic is the wildlife of Africa, which has been covered in almost every major BBC documentary so far, as well as hundreds of other docs, and it has also been the focus of the very good 'Wild Africa' series (also by the BBC).

The one detail with 'Africa' that gave me hope was that it was produced by Mike Gunton, producer of arguably the best of the new breed of documentaries: 'Life'.

I am happy to report that this one is just as good as Life, if not better.

The approach here is to find footage of surprising, educational and entertaining animal behaviour not seen before and film it in dramedy style as with Life. In addition, the documentary masterfully combines summary information on the natural history and climate to provide a complete...

Another Incredible BBC Nature Documentary!!!!
Africa is the latest incredible nature documentary from the producers who brought us Planet Earth, Life, Frozen Planet, and Human Planet. Africa is narrated by the great Sir David Attenborough. Unfortunately the Discovery Channel airing of Africa used a different narrator. This Blu-Ray is the original uncut broadcast with Attenborough. The Discovery Channel cut out scenes for commercials during the hour long broadcast when it aired.

Africa is a 6 part series which includes: Kalahari, Savannah, Congo, Cape, Sahara, and The Future. Each episode is stunning. From forest elephants to kick-boxing frogs, the animals of Africa come to life in stunning high definition. The cinematography in Africa is amazing. This is definitely one of the best BBC nature documentaries to date. This Blu-Ray is a must have for anyone who enjoys nature.

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Spirit: Stallion of Cimarron

INCREDIBLE MOVIE!!!!
I took my 4 year old, and four 7 year olds to see this movie, and it made an impact on all of us. This movie is original. It is not Disney-ish and while I've appreciation for Disney, this movie did not have the "cutesy" factor of a Disney movie. Spirit captured my children's hearts and imaginations. This movie took the children through a full spectrum of emotions. They were elated at Spirit's courage, angry about his treatment, sad when he was sad and Rain was injured, and again thrilled when he was finally free! Isn't this what movies are for...to entertain our emotions? This movie beautifully depicted strength and courage. The animation was phenomenal and the music...Bryan Adams, what more can I say!!! My four year old was deeply impacted by this movie. She says it changed her life. When she went to get shots, she told me, "I will not cry, I will be brave like Spirit" and she didn't shed a tear! I highly recommend this beautiful and unique movie to anyone who wants to see or have...

Wonderful and uplifting family film...
I went to see this film in sneak preview with my 8 year old cousin.

I thought that it was incredible! It's the story of a wild stallion who's captured, first by US soldiers, and then by a young Native American... All through out though, Spirit's heart is with his herd, running the hills of the untamed west!

Since the horses didn't speak in the film, except for narration by Matt Damon as the voice of Spirit, the horses facial expressions became central, so they had some really fun to watch "conversations". This movie had one of the most touching mother/son relationships since Bambi, in my book, even without a word spoken between them!

It's a movie about being you are, and about never accepting defeat, and about soaring on wings of eagles... We can all stand to have a little of that untamed majesty beating in our hearts every now and then, so go see it, and let your self be taken away!

Marie

Unique and Breathtaking
After watching this movie, I have got to say that this is truly a unique theatrical experience. This is one of the many movies I have been wanting to see for a very long time, and I wasn't dissapointed. The presentation of Spirit is something to hold on to. The Brilliant Score of Hans Zimmer, the Exceptional Songs of Bryan Adams and the Superb Narration from Matt Damon is very Dazzaling. I can't say nothing bad about this movie because there really isn't anything to say.

For a 15 year old guy, like me, I was very Satisfied to see that Dreamworks also thought of the Adults, with the story being strong, as it is, but also giving us the normal humor that we expect from a kids film.

From the Opening Scene to the Final Jump, Spirit is a film that Everyone should go out and see, because it will bring people closer together. For sure Spirit will be getting an Award for the Excellent work that each individual did on this movie. I can't wait to get this on DVD!

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Tyler Perry's Temptation

A must see
This movie was not what I expected. Based off the previews I had my pre
conceived notions about how the film was going to be. I was pleasantly
surprised with all of the different messages throughout the film. I
enjoyed the fact that it had its comedic moments as well as ones where
I did not want to blink just in case I missed something. This film will
suck you in as if you are the main character and leave you with a
feeling of are you making the right choices in your own relationship.

Temptation Review
This movie is an intense movie with lots of surprises! This is one movie I will want to earn and have as mine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Awesome too me
I went to see this movie "Temptation" on Friday opening day and this movie to me was "Awesome" Tyler Perry did a Awesome job and the cast in this movie was "Awesome" too, full of surprises make you think twice about things. "Temptation" is worth seeing and I can't wait to buy the movie.

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Planet Earth: The Complete Series

A new appreciation for the wonder that surrounds us! Show it to your children...
Never have I been so moved by a series to exclaim in wonder and actually shed tears of joy at the beauty that surrounds us on this wonderful planet.

I have been watching it on Discovery HD Theater when it premiered in March. The first episode "Pole to Pole" set the tone by showing the range of life and species that exist on this planet. The subsequent episodes delve into the habitats one by one. Mountains, Fresh Water, Caves, Deserts, Ice Worlds, Great Plains, Jungles, Shallow Seas, Seasonal Forests and Deep Ocean are the subsequent episodes. This is one series that has to be seen to be believed of what the intrepid cameramen of BBC/Discovery Channel have been able to capture through their sheer perseverance in remote locations. The HD technology has captured some scenes and images never seen before and some seen before but never with this clarity and beauty. 5 years, 62 countries and 204 locations is what it took to make this series, and the result is a lifetime TV...

Perfect series....with one very minor flaw
First off, let me say Thank you to Amazon for clarifying that the great David Attenborough is the narrator for this series. No Attenborough would have meant no purchase on my part. Simply put the most amazing documentary on life and animals and the world around us that I have ever seen. The clarity is simply breathtaking(and that was on my tv brodcast which was in 720P...the HD transfers are in 1080p!!!!).A huge tahnak you to the creators and producers for doing this for people like myself and many others who care deeply about the world around us.

My one minor complaint has to do with the fact that on the HD transfers, there is absent the supplemental material that is present on the standard defintion release. There is no 110 minutes of behind the scenes footage of what took place on these excavations to these wonderous places or interviews with the people, Attenborough or anyone for that matter. The other special feature not found on either the Blu-Ray or HD-DVD transfer...

Planet Earth is the "Titanic" of television nature documentaries!
Planet Earth was filmed on Seven continents. It took Five years and included a $25 million budget. Planet Earth is such an epic, that it earns comparisons to some of the biggest Hollywood blockbusters. I think High Definition Digest said it best "It's the Titanic of television nature documentaries - a work of great majesty, high ambition and huge financial risk (after all, this isn't a genre known for generating huge profits)." David Attenborough's narrates the series and does a great job at it. Planet Earth first started airing as an eleven episode series on the BBC in England late last year, and more recently on the Discovery Channel and Discovery HD here in the United States. With Planet Earth you will see beautiful landscapes of our planet, and amazing animal scenes all which will leave you either breathless, or at times put you on the edge of your seat. How some of these things were even able to be photographed by humans often makes you wonder. If you have a 1080p HD TV I highly...

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The Expendables 2 [DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet]

The Boys are BACK!
Let's get one thing straight. You don't go into a movie like The Expendables without knowing what you are getting yourself into. If you've seen the first film and enjoyed its larger-than-life salute to big 80's action stars then you know exactly what you should expect from the sequel. It's more of the same formula: Big on star power machismo, ammunition, and one-liners and simple on plot, exposition and intelligence. The bottom line is; you don't watch The Expendables expecting any Academy Award winning performances. If this doesn't sound like kind of movie that you would normally enjoy watching then you came to the wrong party.

The Boys are BACK: Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross, Jason Statham as Lee Christmas, Dolph Lundgren as Gunner Jensen, Terry Crews as Hale Caesar, Randy Couture as Toll Road and Jet Li as Yin Yang while Mickey Rourke is out as Tool but the testosterone meter is still off...

Big, Bloody, Blow-'Em-Up FUN!
When Sylvester Stallone dreamt up the original EXPENDABLES film, it was designed to be a throwback to the cheesy 80's shoot-'em-up spectacles that were low on plot and character and high on action and adrenaline and combine many of cinema's greatest (or at least somewhat famous) action stars in one film, and it succeeded in some ways and failed in others. The biggest problem that I had with the original is that there were too many patented Stallone-As-Screenwriter moments when he tried to make the film more serious than it EVER needed to be. But when the action was on, it was really glorious to watch all of the over-the-top silliness explode like a Wile E. Coyote cartoon on crank. Fortunately we're treated to much more of that silliness and much less of the seriousness in the Simon West (CON AIR, LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER) directed EXPENDABLES 2.

As the film opens with a terrific opening set piece of an assault on a fortified bunker, we are reintroduced to our team of...

The Best Worst Best Worst Action Movie
Expendables 2 is rife with gun play, stabbings, explosions and fun one-liners. Frankly, this is exactly what the movie presented it to be. If this comes across as indicative of the kind of movie that of movie entertains you then please note that Expendables 2 a genre archetype.

If you expect a deep plot and a layered story then look elsewhere. Frankly, it's hard to imagine someone that would look for this approach here. Such criticisms that speak to this are unfounded as they do not actually review the product as advertised.

I don't want to spoil the film. Let me just say though that Chuck Norris plays a Messianic figure a la Judah Maccabee (obviously not like the suffering servant Yeshua Messiah). He has an almost otherworldly indestructible attribute. This alone made the movie worth a viewing.

Bottom line: If you are an American male with a good amount of testosterone in you veins you will enjoy this film.

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Holes (Full Screen Edition)

Magical!
For the myriads of fans of the book, Good News! Author Louis Sacher did the screen adaptation, and Director Andrew Davis did an excellent job in creating the mood, leading his fine cast of young actors, and being faithful to the spirit and actuality of the book.

Stanley Yelnats IV (Shia LaBouf), is a hard-luck boy, not surprising seeing his great-great grandpa had a curse laid on him for eternity by Madam Zeroni (Eartha Kitt). The Yelnats have had a habit of failure ever since. Stanley's Dad, (Henry Winkler) is working (unsuccessfully, of course) on inventing a perfect shoe-deodorizer. Ironically, Stanley is falsely arrested for stealing a great athlete's shoes. He is given a choice of jail or Camp Green Lake. Stanley innocently notes he's never been to camp before so---you just know This Was Not A Good Choice. Camp Green Lake is on a parched and barren desert. The lake disappeared a century before. Stanley is indoctrinated by down-and-dirty bad Mr. Sir (Jon Voight) who...

Remains remarkably faithful to the book!
I read "Holes" several years back for a children's literature course I took in college. I highly enjoyed it! It was one of the best books I read in that class.

So when they introduced the movie, I was quite interested. Part of me was hopeful it would turn out well, the other part of me was skeptical that it would be anywhere near as good as the book. However, my fears were dashed. This movie was FABULOUS!

The story jumps back and forth a little between three different tales -- the story of Elya Yelnats, the main character's "no good, dirty-rotten, pig-stealing great-great-grandfather"; the story of Stanley Yelnats IV himself; and the story of a legendary outlaw, Kissing Kate Barlow. The three stories are interwoven quite ingeniously. In some cases, you aren't completely sure what the connection will be, but then when you find out, it fits perfectly.

The story IS slightly altered, of course, as most books-brought-to-movies tend to be. But it very much...

What's not to like?
Popular children's author Louis Sachar converts his most intricate book into a screenplay, and director Andrew Davis, in collaboration, brings it gloriously to the big screen! Although I'm surrounded by a sea of terrific young 11 and 12 year old reviewers, "Holes" is for everyone!

A young cast of actors, all talented, couples with Jon Voight as the over-the-top Camp Greenlake superintendent, "Mr. Sir".
Greenlake is a juvenile detention camp in the desert, and while conditions there are pretty oppressive, they are downplayed enough to make the movie safe for 9 and 10 year old viewers, as well.

The charm of the book, and also the movie, is to tell the tale of the Yelnats clan, revolving it around young Stanley Yelnats IV's incarceration for something he didn't do. Flashback is used to revisit the era that both Stanley's great-grandfather and grandfather lived in. These flashback scenes, amazingly, focus not on the Yelnats, but more on the women who inflicted the family...

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