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Compare Prices on Lost: The Complete Collection

• Amazon Sales Rank: #350 in DVD
• Released on: 2010-08-24
• Formats: AC-3, Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: French, Spanish
• Number of discs: 38
• Running time: 5074 minutes

Clarification: ALL seasons included.
Contrary to some confused reviewers, all six seasons will be included in this collection. Since the newest season is not yet complete, they can not list a synopsis in the product description. That being said, Lost is the most original and creative television series of all time, and I’m sure this collection will be bursting with easter eggs and plenty of behind the scenes info for die hard fans. I love Lost!!

Great deal
In my opinion LOST is one of the greatest shows ever made. On the surface it is great cinematography, dialogue, and action providing great entertainment. Beyond that deep character development and a mysterious, intricate plot adds so many more levels of enjoyment. It is the only show I’ve ever watched that has really made me think about such topics as philosophy and mythology and inspired me to crack open academic books I probably never would have otherwise. LOST is a show I think anyone can enjoy. Additionally, at a little less than $25 per season of hour long episodes (for the dvds, about $32 for the blu-rays) this box set is quite a steal.

the best show, ever?
i know this is a pre-review, but, barring some glaring technical glitch, this will be a truly great set. LOST is a show unlike any other in the history of the medium. not only is it a great show, with inspired acting, inspiring music, gorgeous photography, and trippy storylines… not only does it have deep characterizations and an even deeper mythology… not only is it cinematic in scope yet intimate in the smallest character moments… not only is it, like, totally addicting. it’s also the first time (at least here in the u.s.) that a t.v. series has a complete beginning, middle and end, just as the creators intended it.

so many shows start out brilliantly, chug along for a while on that inspiration, then start to peter out somewhere along the way and then… stop (twin peaks). or, are episodic in nature and don’t have the burden of having to *end* properly. but LOST started off with a bang, settled in with the characters and their predicament, started to repeat itself *just* a bit, then decided that it needed to end at a certain point and started it’s long steady march toward it’s denouement. and it’s been nothing but greatness ever since.

it’s often said that movies are like short stories, and t.v. is more like a novel.

well, we have our first truly great novel.

Electric Cigarette

24: Seasons 1-7 Description:

• Amazon Sales Rank: #345 in DVD
• Released on: 2009-05-19
• Format: NTSC

Customer Reviews:

Great buy overall - missing 5 star as set did not include Redemption DVD
Enjoyed the series greatly. Wife & I watched it together over a few weeks/months. It is awesome to be able to watch the series in such a way without having to wait weeks for the TV show to develop. Did not give 5 Stars as the 24 Season 6/7 Redemption DVD was not included. Somehow, should have known it was not included, but having series 1-7 not include the movie in between series 6 & 7 keeps it from having 5 stars.

An all time great!
From the very first season until last episode of the seventh, 24 will keep you on the edge of your seat. I personally, can not get enough. For anybody who hasn’t seen it, you won’t stop until you watched it all and you’ll want more. And while you have to wait, you want to watch these seasons over and over again. Jack Bauer is a true american hero. 24 should will go down as one of the all time greatest shows. I can’t wait for season 8. You can pretty much find a synopsis about the show anywhere but if you’re reading this, I’m sure you’ll buy the show. Ask yourself,”What would Jack do?”

24-Greatest Show in the History of Television
24 is by far the best thing to come out of a television in the last 30 yrs and before that I wouldn’t remember. The character of Jack Bauer never lets you down and you can always expect him to do something, or anything. I bought this set for 150.00 and it is a great value for the amount of entertainment on it. The only drawback with this particular set is the discs do not have the breakdown of episodes on the disc face, it only tells you what season and the number of that disc. This is a minor thing to complain about and it doesn’t take away from the show of course. It will be a sad day when this show ends.

Ecigarette

Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Granada Television Series 12 DVD Description:

He is known as the Greatest Detective Who Never Lived. Written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and transferred from the original negatives, Sherlock Holmes comes alive on film in this landmark 1980s television series starring Jeremy Brett.

All the classic tales are here, as the Great Detective and his faithful companion, Dr. Watson, tangle with the terrifying Hound of the Baskervilles, the beautiful adventuress Irene Adler, and the dastardly villains Colonel Sebastian Moran, Charles Augustus Milverton, and the Napoleon of Crime himself, Professor James Moriarty.

Disc 1
A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA, THE DANCING MEN, THE NAVAL TREATY, THE SOLITARY CYCLIST

DISC 2
THE CROOKED MAN, THE SPECKLED BAND, THE BLUE CARBUNCLE, THE COPPER BEECHES

DISC 3
THE GREEK INTERPRETER, THE NORWOOD BUILDER, THE RESIDENT PATIENT, THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE

DISC 4
THE FINAL PROBLEM, THE EMPTY HOUSE, THE ABBEY GRANGE, THE MUSGRAVE RITUAL

DISC 5
THE SECOND STAIN, THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP, THE PRIORY SCHOOL, THE SIX NAPOLEONS

DISC 6
THE DEVIL’S FOOT, SILVER BLAZE, WISTERIA LODGE, THE BRUCE-PARTINGTON PLANS

DISC 7
THE DISAPPEARANCE OF LADY FRANCES CARFAX, THE SIGN OF FOUR

DISC 8
THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES, THE PROBLEM OF THOR BRIDGE, THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY

DISC 9
THE ILLUSTRIOUS CLIENT, SHOSCOMBE OLD PLACE, THE MASTER BLACKMAILER

DISC 10
THE LAST VAMPYRE, THE ELIGIBLE BACHELOR

DISC 11
THE THREE GABLES, THE CREEPING MAN, THE DYING DETECTIVE, THE GOLDEN PINCE-NEZ

DISC 12
THE RED CIRCLE, THE MAZARIN STONE, THE CARDBOARD BOX

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2117 in DVD
• Brand: MPI
• Released on: 2007-09-25
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 12
• Running time: 2580 minutes

Features

• He is known as the Greatest Detective Who Never Lived. Written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes comes alive on film in this landmark 1980s television series starring Jeremy Brett. All theic tales are here, as the Great Detective and his faithful companion, Dr. Watson, tangle with the terrifying Hound of the Baskervilles, the beautiful adventuress Irene Adler, and the dastardly villain

Customer Reviews:

Jeremy Brett was the Definitive Sherlock Holmes
This review has been updated on Sept. 18. I received my Sherlock Holmes set from MPI today and as I hoped, it looks and sounds FANTASTIC! I already have watched a lot from the set. You won’t be disappointed! I have been sending e-mails for a few years now to MPI Home Video, asking that they remaster this series and make it available on DVD. I am so glad they finally have. Two episodes in their original release of “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes,” notably “The Dancing Men” and “The Naval Treaty,” had audio problems in some of the soundtrack music. They have remastered this series from the original Granada tapes in England. This resulted in an awesome picture and sound quality. Thank you MPI! What more can be said about Jeremy Brett? Many people, including myself, consider him to be the definitive Sherlock Holmes. His manner, gestures and overall portrayal shows us clearly that he read Conan Doyle and became very well acquainted with his alter ego. The stories are great and this series had that fortunate combination of great acting, writing, music, and production value. How nice to be able to own the entire series in one set. For twelve discs, including bonuses, the price is fair. If you like this series or simply enjoy Jeremy Brett, you should purchase this set.

London’s Only “Consulting Detective.”
In his foreword to Bantam’s “Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Novels and Stories,” Loren Estleman called the relationship between Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson literature’s warmest, most symbiotic and most timeless: rightfully so. Not surprisingly, film history is littered with adaptations of Conan Doyle’s tales and Holmes pastiches (using the protagonists but otherwise independent storylines). Yet - and I’m saying this with particular apologies to the fans of the Basil Rathbone/Nigel Bruce canon - none of these prior incarnations can hold a candle to the ITV/Granada TV series produced between 1984 and 1994, starring Jeremy Brett as Holmes and first David Burke, then, beginning with the second (”Return of Sherlock Holmes”) cycle and in near-seamless transition, Edward Hardwicke as a refreshingly sturdy, pragmatic, unbumbling Dr. Watson.

Jeremy Brett was the only actor who ever managed to perfectly portray Holmes’s imperiousness, bitingly ironic sense of humor and apparently indestructible self-control without at the same time neglecting his genuine friendship towards Dr. Watson and the weaknesses hidden below a surface dominated by his overarching intellectual powers. The series takes the titles of its four cycles of shorter episodes - “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes,” “The Return of Sherlock Holmes,” “The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes” and “The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes” - from four of the five short story collections featuring London’s self-appointed only “consulting detective” (published 1892, 1905, 1894 and 1927, respectively); thus nominally omitting the 1917 collection “His Last Bow,” which is, however - but for its title story - completely represented in individual episodes spread out over the other four cycles. While the grouping of instalments doesn’t necessarily correspond with Conan Doyle’s original story collections, and the series’s premise - Holmes’s and Watson’s shared tenancy of rooms at 221B Baker Street - was no longer true even at the beginning of the “Adventures,” this excellently produced series is a must-have for any mystery fan. This is particularly true for the first two cycles (”Adventures” and “Return”) and the movie-length versions of the novels “The Hound of the Baskervilles” and “The Sign of the Four,” which alone makes this set well worth the purchase; even if the movie-length dramatizations of the short stories “The Eligible Bachelor” (a/k/a “The Noble Bachelor”) and “The Last Vampyre” (a/k/a “The Sussex Vampyre”) are less than faithful to Conan Doyle’s originals: in fact, their quality rests almost exclusively on an already ailing Jeremy Brett’s shoulders (as well as in “Vampyre” on the extraordinary guest performance of Roy Marsden in the episode’s title role), thus emphasizing even more the significance of Brett’s achievement.

This set contains (in “volumes” or episodes grouped on discs as originally released):

THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
* A Scandal in Bohemia
* The Dancing Men (from “Return”)
* The Naval Treaty (from “Memoirs”)
* The Solitary Cyclist (from “Return”)
* The Crooked Man (from “Memoirs”)
* The Speckled Band
* The Blue Carbuncle
* The Copper Beeches
* The Greek Interpreter (from “Memoirs”)
* The Norwood Builder (from “Return”)
* The Resident Patient (from “Memoirs”)
* The Red-Headed League
* The Final Problem (from “Memoirs”)

THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
* The Empty House
* The Abbey Grange
* The Second Stain
* The Six Napoleons
* The Priory School
* Wisteria Lodge (from “Last Bow”)
* The Devil’s Foot (from “Last Bow”)
* Silver Blaze (from “Memoirs”)
* The Bruce-Partington Plans (from “Last Bow”)
* The Musgrave Ritual (from “Memoirs”)
* The Man With the Twisted Lip (from “Adventures”)

THE CASEBOOK OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
* The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax (from “Last Bow”)
* The Problem of Thor Bridge
* The Boscombe Valley Mystery (from “Adventures”)
* The Illustrious Client
* Shouscombe Old Place
* The Creeping Man

THE MEMOIRS OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
* The Three Gables (from “Casebook”)
* The Dying Detective (from “Last Bow”)
* The Golden Pince-Nez (from “Return”)
* The Red Circle (from “Last Bow”)
* The Mazarin Stone (from “Casebook”)
* The Cardboard Box (from “Last Bow”)

THE FEATURE FILMS
* The Sign of Four (adaptation of the 1890 novel)
* The Hound of the Baskervilles (adaptation of the 1901 novel)
* The Last Vampyre (adaptation of the short story “The Sussex Vampyre” from “Casebook”)
* The Eligible Bachelor (adaptation of the short story “The Noble Bachelor” from “Adventures”)
* The Master Blackmailer (adaptation of the short story “The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton” from “Memoirs”)

For completion’s sake, this leaves only the first and last Holmes novels (”A Study In Scarlet,” 1887, and “The Valley of Fear,” 1915) as well as the following short stories unrepresented in this series:

From THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES:
* A Case of Identity
* The Five Orange Pips
* The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb
* The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet

From THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES:
* The Adventure of Black Peter
* The Adventure of the Three Students
* The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter

From THE CASEBOOK OF SHERLOCK HOLMES:
* The Blanched Soldier
* The Lion’s Mane
* The Veiled Lodger
* The Retired Colourman

FROM THE MEMOIRS OF SHERLOCK HOLMES:
* The Yellow Face
* The Stock-broker’s Clerk
* The “Gloria Scott”
* The Reigate Puzzle

From HIS LAST BOW:
* His Last Bow

Also recommended:
The Complete Sherlock Holmes: All 4 Novels and 56 Short Stories
Sherlock Holmes: A Baker Street Dozen
Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street
Bending the Willow: Jeremy Brett As Sherlock Holmes
Dr. Bell and Mr. Doyle - The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes
Murder Rooms - The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes
The Life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Conan Doyle, Detective: The True Crimes Investigated by the Creator of Sherlock Holmes
Arthur and George

They should have replaced the “as” with “is”
To a great number of Sherlockians-or Holmesians, if you prefer-Jeremy Brett’s performance as the world’s first consulting detective was the definitive portrayal. And while this series has its flaws and deviations from the original text, it is still arguably the best filmic representation available.

I have seen the original MPI releases, as well as a Japanese/Chinese collection, and without question, this new set features the best picture and sound quality. (Perhaps the PAL version released a couple years earlier in the UK is slightly superior, but I doubt anyone could really see the difference.) The uniform menu screens and the sharp design of the packaging are also an improvement upon previous releases.

My complaints are few and rather inconsequential, but they are as follows:
1) There are no additional special features, but in fact *fewer* special features than the original DVD releases.
2) The pictures on the faces of the DVDs were chosen somewhat haphazardly, e.g. Hardwicke is featured on Disc 1 where surely Burke belongs. And
3) as to the series itself, during the second half of its run, more and more stories were merely “based” on Conan Doyle’s work, and with questionable results. “The Last Vampyre” is a prime example.

In short, if you already own the original DVD releases and you are satisfied with that picture quality, you may want to pass on purchasing this set. For all other admirers of the series, this is a must have.

Amazon.com

Stills from Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Granada Television Series (click for larger image)

Review
Jeremy Brett is considered to be “the best portrayal” of the character as originally written. -MPI Home Entertainment

Review
This British series is true to the original stories and is a must-have for all Sherlock Holmes fans. -MPI Home Entertainment

Portable Displays

The Wire: The Complete Series Description:

The Wire- Complete series, BRAND NEW factory sealed, ready to ship, only two left at the GOOD BUY STORE!

• Amazon Sales Rank: #261 in DVD
• Brand: HBO HOME VIDEO
• Released on: 2008-12-09
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Color, DVD, Closed-captioned, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, French, Spanish
• Number of discs: 23
• Running time: 3600 minutes

Customer Reviews:

Don’t forget why people avoid “The Wire”
On the basis of previous reviews, you’d never know that this series was on the verge of being cancelled at least twice, that it never made satisfactory numbers for HBO, or that it was almost universally ignored by award committees despite it’s fervid following.

There’s a number of things for the faint-hearted or first time viewers to know about The Wire before you jump in:

1. There is no denouement, no simple, clear resolution at the end of every episode ala CSI, NCIS, or any other typical police drama. On the contrary, The Wire is the epitome of the “slow build”, it takes episodes to get started, much less finished. As in life, there are rarely any easy, clear resolutions at the end. Unlike the black and white worlds of network tv, The Wire is all gray.

2. There is not a simple, single story line. Rather The Wire is characterized by complex, multiple story arcs that can extend over more than one season. It demands (and rewards) concentration, rather than escape. Redemption and revenge are possible, but not in one episode or one season. The Wire requires patience.

3. There are no clear cut heroes and villains (this is the anti-”Heroes” tv show.) There are only human beings, all flawed. McNulty, a hero, is an alcoholic who cheats on his wife. Even Marlowe, the apparently soulless villain, grapples with very human issues of loyalty and pride.

4. Though there are great, fully realized characters (almost too many for escapist viewers to follow), and though to some degree Baltimore, the city, is a central character, the abiding presences in The Wire are Baltimore’s institutions and organizations: courts, city government, educational system, labor unions, police, newspapers. Even gangs are seen as just another organization. Unlike any other show I’ve ever seen, The Wire demonstrates how institutions are built from a complex web of relationships and motivations and seem to have an existence independent of those who participate in them. And it does so in such a subtle way that it’s not automatically obvious. It doesn’t appear to be about institutions, but it is. That’s subtlety.

That’s only a start. There’s more that makes The Wire a challenge for viewers: it’s non-linearity (it’s more like a spiral), it’s bleak view of cities and urban institutions; the seeming randomness of so many events that impact lives, etc., etc., etc.

All that said, The Wire, for those willing to make the investment of time and attention, is a transcendent, moving experience. However downbeat it’s subject matter, it is, in the end, a true work of art, a masterwork, and as such ultimately enobling and uplifting. And just a thrill to watch.

The Simplest Title for The Most Complex TV Series Ever — “Perfection”
Imagine a show that every critic on the planet loves. Imagine a show so deeply layered that it makes every other drama seem simple. Imagine a show where each character is equally important. Imagine a show that reinvented itself every season, yet still felt like it was part of the world it created from the outset. Imagine a show so complex that you will always discover something new the next time around.

Doesn’t this sound like perfection to you? Trust me, it is, in more ways than you can fathom.

THE WIRE is a show so meticulously crafted and executed that it would take me a dozen reviews to scratch the surface of what makes it great. After catching the very first episode on HBO, I immediately bought the 1st season. The rest, as they say, is history.

I’m so afraid to ruin anything that I don’t even want to give away characters’ names. To even let you go in expecting certain traits from a character would spoil the fun. So instead, I’m deliberately being vague about what occurs. If you’ve never heard about this series, you deserve go in cold.

But I’ll give you a few details, starting with the very first scene. THE WIRE begins when a detective is questioning a young hoodlum who witnessed a murder. The detective asks why the guy and his friends allowed the victim to continue rolling dice, after he’d been known to snatch the money & run. The scene closes when the kid says, “Got to, man. This America.”

Then the show begins its title sequence, in which The Blind Boys of Alabama’s cover of “Way Down In The Hole” plays over a montage of seemingly random clips of police activity & urban life. But as you’ll learn the more you see this title sequence (and song), this montage is actually filled with clues, both literal and metaphorical. The greatest crime dramas throw clues in your face without telling you how important they are. Believe me, L.A. CONFIDENTIAL, one of the greatest films of all time with its labyrinthine plot, has nothing on THE WIRE. And we’re only just getting started.

What you’ll also notice from the opening scene is the dialogue. It actually took me two viewings to find out what the detective and the dice-roller were saying. As if that wasn’t enough, I eventually had to turn on the English subtitles just to find out what each character was saying. The dialogue flows so naturally that THE WIRE never feels like a TV drama. There are no scenes where the characters recap what happened in the previous episode, unless the characters would actually take a moment to remind each other. This sounds like a challenge, and indeed it is. THE WIRE requires (and deserves) your undivided attention. Pause if you have to. Rewind if you have to. Use the subtitles if you have to. Many have called THE WIRE “a visual novel”, and they couldn’t be more right. You see how much attention I’ve given to just the first few minutes? Guess what, the entire series clocks in at 63 hours.

So, what’s the premise of the series? The first season’s main story begins when a team of Baltimore police is assembled to take down one of the city’s high-profile drug dealers. The investigators and surveillance teams endure what real cops would endure: long hours, cold trails, bad weather, tedious paperwork, crummy offices, and worse…smart criminals. THE WIRE gives the justice officers an equal amount of screen time as the targets they pursue. The dealers aren’t delightfully vicious or glamorous in the least. Sort of like the Corleone Family or the protagonists in GOODFELLAS, THE WIRE portrays its criminals as guys who either can’t do anything else for a living, or refuse to do anything else for a living. The series goes even deeper, as we’re engaged in the lives of judges & lawyers, homicide detectives & their office-dwelling superiors, drug kingpins & their corner workers, and even the homeless. Calling this “epic” is an understatement. If you’re as interested in the urban drama as you are in the police procedural, then you’re on the right track. Don’t worry, you will get to see the cops bust a few doors and arrest a few thugs, but just be aware each event it treated as ordinarily and naturally as anything else in THE WIRE. To the characters, these events are just another day.

Now bear in mind, I’ve only given a little info on the first season! I won’t give away any details, but Season Two continues in the exact opposite way you’d expect a sequel to. The cops and criminals shared equal halves of TV time on Season One, but for the seasons that follow, they share equal parts with a completely new side of Baltimore. Just wait until THE WIRE continues through its next few seasons, it gets even more deliciously complex. If you think Season One sounds like a beastly Rubik’s Cube, wait until you get a load of Season Two, not to mention the seasons afterwards. After all, you can’t predict how a single story is going to proceed if you’re too blindsided by how it begins. One of the most interesting aspects is that slowly over time, THE WIRE becomes more than a crime drama — the series evolves into a multi-layered epic, where crime is only part of the picture. Each of the five seasons feels like its own individual story, but naturally connects with the season that comes before and after it.

I don’t want you to be discouraged by this onslaught of convoluted storytelling. There is a method to the madness. Audiences (including me) are too used to knowing where we are at every given point of the story. THE WIRE purposefully refrains from the kind of clarity we’re used to. This challenge that will stimulate your mind in ways that no other TV show has. In so many ways, it’s the kind of entertainment we’ve always wanted: Surprising yet Natural — isn’t that always the goal?

THE WIRE is so great that everyone is going to take something different from it. This show can be interpreted in a million ways. Nobody is right, and nobody is wrong. How can that be? Well, creator David Simon is to be credited for this neutrality. Simon is as hands-on as any other TV series producer, writer, or creator. Every single aspect of the show is exactly what he wanted it to be. THE WIRE was never the victim of a writer’s strike, or cancelled seasons, or poor broadcasting schedules, or any other excuse. If there is a character or story arc you don’t care for, it isn’t Simon’s fault; your personal taste just doesn’t mesh with it. Sure, I have one or two nitpicks about what THE WIRE should’ve been in my eyes, but not once did I believe it was for a lack of focus. For example, one particular season takes a more didactic approach to the series. We witness moral dilemmas with an ambitious mayor, unethical cops, and newspaper staff — all tackle the immortal question, “Do the ends justify the means?” This more black-and-white angle is exactly what David Simon wanted to use. I preferred a more gray-shaded tale, but Simon decided that this tale needed a more direct statement. Now, even though this isn’t my preference, I overlooked my own criticisms because this season was built this way. There are a couple of other little things that might not sit well with some viewers, notably how the “star” of the show’s cast disappears for most of one season (don’t worry, you’ll know it’s coming before it happens). The point is that THE WIRE never once strayed from its intended path.

I think that’s what I’m going to take away most from this show: It tells every story it wants to tell. It answers every question it poses, unless we’re meant to ponder. It forces us to sympathize with those we’d normally condemn, and to relate to those we’d usually ignore. This television drama is a masterful work of art, from the page to the screen.

I’m going to close with this:
Despite my review title, spending a large amount of money on a complete TV series without seeing a few clips is clearly irresponsible. I didn’t type this review expecting you to drop a couple hundred by my words alone. So, let’s be sensible about this product. If you can, rent the first few episodes from a videostore, or try to find the show in a library, or maybe even go on YouTube to find a few Season One scenes.

There is so much more I want to share with you, but it’s time to use a lesson David Simon taught me:
I will say only enough, and make it your responsibility to discover the rest. Enjoy!

It’s not TV, it’s not even HBO, it’s better
A tortured, alcoholic detective (Det. McNulty/Dominic West) who care more about putting criminals away than he does about departmental rules or, even himself. A homosexual modern day-Wild West gunslinger (Omar/Michael K. Williams) who robs and kills drug dealers and lives by a strict moral code of his own. A drug dealer (Stringer/Idris Elba) trying to become legitimate, taking economics classes while starting up his own company. A middle school boy (Michael/Tristan Wild), struggling to take care of his little brother and his addict of a mother, all while trying to resist the allure of the game and the corner.

These are a few examples of the incredibly diverse cast of characters and actors that make up The Wire. Just like the real world each of these characters (as opposed to caricatures) show signs of both virtue and vice, redemption and damnation. This realism is incredibly important and effective in conveying the reality of the post-industrial city and its devasting effects on people and institutions. Each season of The Wire focuses on different aspects of the city, following a different theme each season.

Season 1 effectively examines the danger of being an individual in an organization, using Detective McNulty and a drug dealer (D. Barksdale/Larry Gilliard Jr.) who both struggle against the reins of their respective employers. This issue develops against the thrilling backdrop of the drug war and an investigation into druglord Avon Barksdale (Wood Harris).

Season 2 shows the death of work in the post-industrial world, particularly the loss of blue collar jobs. This is shown through the port of Baltimore and its workers who start illegally importing items and dealing drugs to keep afloat.

Season 3 artfully reveals why reforming these institutions never works. Again this issue is examined through both a cop (Major Colvin/Robert Wisdom) and the drug dealer Stringer. Specifically, Colvin makes his district a drug-free zone to combat other crime, while Stringer tries to go legitimate in addition to trying to eliminate violence from drug-fueled gang wars.

Season 4 illuminates how kids fall through the cracks in schools, largely as a result of their hostile environment. The tagline, beautiful in its simplicity, for this season points to the political nature this story by sarcastically claiming that this country pursues a policy where “No corner [is] left behind”.

Bringing this whole story full circle, Season 5 ties all of these problems together and argues that the media skews our perspective away from these important mattters to sensationalistic stories. This storyline revolves around a perceptive, noble editor (Gus/Clark Johnson)
and one of his deceitful writers (Templeton/Thomas McCarthy) who is more concerned about Pullitzers than real news. This season ends by showing how these issues create a circle of explotation and victimhood, a point made by showing how these drug dealers, cops, addicts, and even modern day gunslingers get killed, retired, and reform only to have their places taken by the next victim and predator.

Throughout the entire series The Wire pursues and achieves a level of quality, insight, and empathy never before reached in any television series or episode. It truly is the equivalent of a televised novel. It is the first Great American TV Show.

The acting is suberb across the board, from bit players to protagonists and antagonists (although these very terms are called into question throughtout the series). Particualarly engrossing to observe are the can’t watch, can’t look away descent of Dominic West as Det. McNulty in addition to the admiration and disappointment of Michael K. Williams as he mesmerizingly displays Omar’s singular moral code and actions. Even the child actors that play the middle schoolers in Season 4 manage to deliver performances finer than most adult actors.

As already seen, the story achieves both high entertainment and high art. Although each season starts off slowly in terms of pacing, even the slowest episode has several major events that affect the entire season and series. Sometimes these events don’t seem important when they happen but, just as in every great novel, these events eventually are revealed as the earthquke they originally were with aftershocks that cannot be ignored.

As if incredible character development, acting, and plotting were not enough, The Wire also excells in terms of production. Similar to any HBO show, the series receives a budget clsoer to a movie than a network TV show. This is reflected in the superb direction, fanciful cinematography and essential soundtrack.

The series is even bookended by director Clark Johnson (Gus from Season 5), a symmetry that can be seen in the parallel shots seen in the first and last episodes. An example of this is the simple use of an elevator camera in both episodes to highlight the theme of constant surveillance pursued throughout the series. These shots also show the incredible and varied cinematography at work throughout the entire series.

Finally, the soundtrack to The Wire creates the perfect atmosphere by highlighting these themes with a cross section of genres, subjects, and musical tastes. Most of the time throughout the series there is no score other than the many different sounds and songs of the real world, heard only when you would really hear it, such as a song playing for the brief moment a car passes by with its radio blaring. At the end of evey season, however, a song plays that captures the tone of the season, its rare appearance making the song and moment more emotionally effective and intellectually insightful. Even the theme song perfectly complements and adds to the series. Each season has a different band cover the theme song “Down in a Hole” in a different style that reflects the seaoson and it’s thematic concerns. Although it’s not the best version, the 4th season features a song by a trio of adolescents, a choice that aligns perfectly with the No Corner Left Behind theme.

Quite simply, The Wire is an entertaining, thought provoking, artfully acted, perfectly produced show that rewards (some might say even requires) multiple viewings. It’s a shame that this show did not receive the praise or attention that The Sopranos, for instance, enjoyed. Of course, this is only fitting since the show is so far ahead of its time and its cable competitors.

The Dick Van Dyke Show - The Complete Series Description:

Trip into the living room of comedy writer Rob Petrie (Dick Van Dyke) along with his lovely wife, Laura (Mary Tyler Moore), wisecracking co-workers and nutty neighbors. Consistently ranked among the top TV comedies of all time and renowned for its top-notch cast and stellar writing, this groundbreaking series is now available in one special collectible box set, presented fully restored and uncut! All Episodes Digitally Remastered for Unsurpassed Video and Audio Quality!

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22579 in DVD
• Brand: Image Entertainment
• Released on: 2005-05-24
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Black & White, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 25
• Dimensions: 5.20 pounds
• Running time: 3950 minutes

Customer Reviews:

The TV-On-DVD Boxed Set To End All Boxed Sets!
If you’re looking for a super-sensational, tantalizingly-terrific, and spectacularly-massive DVD set containing some of the greatest comedy moments in TV history, then look no further than this colossal 25-Disc DVD set containing every last episode of “The Dick Van Dyke Show”, the multiple Emmy Award-winning CBS-TV comedy series which ran from 1961 to 1966.

This Complete-Series mega DVD collection houses all five seasons of the very funny and perpetually-entertaining Van Dyke Show, encompassing 158 total episodes, all restored and remastered by Image Entertainment and Paul Brownstein Productions, with each episode exhibiting darn-near perfect video and audio quality. And every single episode is complete and unedited. Not a single second of any show has been cut out. Average running time per episode is a shade more than 25 minutes.

All 158 shows have been bundled together here to form one gigantic and money-saving ‘Complete-Series’ collection. Each of the twenty-five discs gets its own individual “ThinPak” (slimline) plastic case. Each case has unique and nicely-designed cover art (featuring a different publicity still photograph on every one of the 25 cases). Additional photos grace the back cover of each case, as well as more Van Dyke Show pictures (and a complete “Scene Selections” list for each of that platter’s 6 or 7 episodes) on the inside of every case. (These plastic cases are the “clear” type, so you can read the “Scene” listing on the inside front covers right through the plastic.)

The back of each of these slim cases provides quick at-your-fingertips info about each show on that disc — such as: Full episode titles; Film dates; Original CBS-TV air dates; Brief episode descriptions; Plus some crew credits (”Written by” and “Directed by” notations). The 158 episodes are arranged here by “Production” (or “Film Date”) order, instead of an “Air Date” chronology.*

* = With one (very wise) exception being Episodes 157 and 158. “The Gunslinger” was actually the last (158th) Van Dyke episode to be filmed; with “The Last Chapter” being the final episode that was aired, in June 1966. So, for proper continuity sake, Image Entertainment has flipped the order of these two episodes on the last disc of Season #5 — with “The Last Chapter” being presented as the final show of the series.

More Packaging Notes — The 25 individually-cased discs in this Mega-Set are placed side-by-side inside a large outer “slipcase” box.

Image Entertainment distributed five separate season-by-season “Dick Van Dyke Show” DVD boxed sets in 2003 and 2004, with each of those five sets featuring a 5-Disc slipcase box. However, those individual seasonal slipcases from each of the previously-released Van Dyke seasons are NOT included in this Mega-Set.

Many, many supplemental bonus features are also included on these twenty-five Digital Discs, including: Audio Commentary tracks for many episodes, along with cast interviews, original TV commercials, Emmy Award snippets, documentaries, featurettes, photo galleries, behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage, Easter Eggs, trivia games, CBS-TV promos, and gobs of other little interesting extra tidbits besides! A 12-page booklet, packed with interesting info about the series, is also a part of this Dick Van Dyke Show bonanza too.

There are even full-length TV-show bonuses included on selected discs, including a complete episode of “The Danny Thomas Show” (which has Van Dyke Show character “Buddy Sorrell” popping up).

Other complete TV-show extras include the original “Pilot” episode for “The Dick Van Dyke Show” (called “Head Of The Family”); plus a full-length 46-minute CBS-TV documentary made in the mid-1990s (”The Dick Van Dyke Show Remembered”); and an absolutely-outstanding and ultra-fun-to-watch TV game show entitled “Stump The Stars” (aka: “Mike Stokey’s Pantomime Quiz”), which has several Van Dyke Show cast members playing a lively charades game. Great, great fun!

If you want to know the full details regarding each and every little bonus extra you can expect to find on these 25 discs, you can seek out my extensive reviews for each of the separate Van Dyke Show boxed sets here at Amazon.com. If you type in “VAN DYKE SHOW SEASON” while searching under “DVDs” here at Amazon, you’ll get a convenient and handy search result that places links to all five of the Van Dyke seasonal sets on just one webpage for easy reference.

Pull out any one of these 25 discs and you’ll have some great shows, including all of Rob Petrie’s inimitable physical comedy bits — not to mention Dick Van Dyke’s unsurpassed ability to act out a “one-way telephone conversation” (which always amazes me when I see him do this — and there are many such “telephone” moments during the series). Then, too, via this amazing boxed set, you’ll also get every one of Laura Petrie’s (Mary Tyler Moore) “crying jags”, plus all the standout “Rob & Laura dancing and singing” scenes. And don’t forget about all those “Buddy insults Mel” gags (which must number in the hundreds over the course of the series).

Just suffice it to say that I love this television program. …. Its humor is timeless. The characters seem “real” and “non-phony”. And the writing is remarkable. And you’ll be able to see why when you pop in any of these wonderfully-restored Digital Versatile Discs.

“THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW: THE COMPLETE SERIES” DVD collection is, without fear of argument, a “complete treasure”.

The Dick Van Dyke Show was to prime-time television …
… what the Beatles were to pop music! Already available on DVD as separate seasons, this boxed set puts the entire 158 episodes under one roof. It’s no exaggeration to state that THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW came as close to perfection as situation comedies could be. Any way that you want to look at it, this show was state-of-the-art! The cast was brilliant without exception, from the Petrie family (Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Larry Mathews) to Rob’s co-workers (Morey Amsterdam, Rose Marie, Richard Deacon), their neighbors, and a who’s-who of guest stars (Don Rickles, Greg Morris, Jerry Van Dyke, etc.) who contributed to the humor without upstaging the regulars.

Not to mention Carl Reiner, who not only was effective on-screen but very creative behind-the-scenes. He merely invented the show, for one. In fact, another ingredient that places the show on a pedestal is the quality of the writing. Amazingly, there is a consistency over the thirty-plus episodes (multiplied by five years) that makes me hard-pressed to think of even one subpar show in this series (”The Twizzle,” maybe?). Sure, some shows stand out: the walnut episode, Alan Brady’s wig disclosure by Laura, the “wrong baby” episode, and so on. Yet every show is a delight to watch again and again. The humor is genuinely witty and most of the topics are still relevant even today. In fact, I sometimes think that watching the way Rob and Laura realistically dealt with a wide range of human emotions (jealousy, etc.) and marital situations (misunderstandings, etc.) was probably an effective early form of marital counseling for many viewers.

Yes, the show is of its time: you’ll find yourself dropped right in the center of the early-1960s, right on the brink of changing attitudes regarding gender, race, marriage, etc. Rob and Laura slept in separate beds? Yeah, right. Not to mention Laura wore the capri pants in the family. Yet the show’s overall vision elevated it to timeless status. The series’ style may be dated to the era in which it was created, but the substance remains relevant and laugh-at-loud funny even four decades after their original broadcasts. Other reviewers have remarked on all of the DVD extras, great video quality, etc. All of that is important, but the bottom line is the greatness of the show itself. It seems as if every t.v. show that ever existed is being reissued on DVD, moreso than anyone could possibly have time to watch. You’ll want to make time for THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW, though!

Wonderful!
Although I was too young to see the Dick Van Dyke Show when it aired originally, I’ve enjoyed the re-runs on satellite TV for years.

I bought a few of the “best of” DVD’s from a department store and, much to my surprise, my 7 year old son loves the show, too! So when I saw the complete series out on DVD, I immediately put it on my Amazon WishList.

Once our tax refund came in, guess what I purchased?

My son and I LOVE this box set! There are 5 seasons, and each season has 5 discs which are in their own slim case (157 episodes in all). Each case features 6 or 7 episodes that are color coded. All the Disc 1’s are blue/green, all of Disc 2’s are red, all of Disc 3’s are dark blue, etc. A black and white scene from one of the episodes are on the front of each case, as well. There’s also a neat holographic insert that comes with the series.

I happened to see an episode on TV the other day, and what struck me was how much better the quality of the DVD’s are! They really cleaned up the episodes for the DVD box set. I could tell a bit of fuzziness on the TV version.

Each episode is numbered and titled with original film/air dates and a brief synopsis…making it easy to find your favorite episodes. Although I haven’t finished watching them all yet, my favorite is the one with Dick Van Dyke’s real life brother…who plays Rob’s brother Stacy in several episodes. The sleepwalking ones with the banjo are HILARIOUS. To this day, when I see them, I laugh so hard I cry!

Other great features are different vignettes, interviews and behind-the-scenes moments-such as Dick Van Dyke singing the theme song (you didn’t know there were words to the song, did ya?), an interview with Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore about “the good ol’ days”, and other intersting show elements. (It was wild to see “Millie” as an older woman talking about the show…still having that whiny voice!)

Highly recommended if you’re a fan of the show!

Amazon.com essential video
Before The Dick Van Dyke Show, suburbia was never portrayed on television as a haven of sophistication. We never followed Ozzie Nelson to work. And we never, ever fantasized what Ward and June Cleaver did behind closed doors. But Your Show of Shows veteran Carl Reiner’s groundbreaking series broke the staid, sitcom mold. Just consider Mary Tyler Moore’s Laura Petrie, the ravishing wife of Dick Van Dyke’s comedy writer, Rob Petrie. “I’m just a housewife,” she proclaims in the episode “To Tell or Not to Tell,” just before breaking into an incendiary bossa nova in the Petrie living room. In “The Return of Happy Spangler,” she is jokingly identified as Jackie Kennedy. But the comparison is apt. She’s got style (those capri pants scandalized the show’s sponsors!), she’s got grace, and when Moore came into her own as a gifted comedienne, she took her stock character to dizzy new heights. The Dick Van Dyke Show boasted a peerless ensemble, gold-standard writing, and characters who became icons: Son Ritchie (played by Larry Matthews), man-hungry Sally Rogers (Rose Marie), old school “human joke machine” Buddy Sorrell (Morey Amsterdam), and tyrannical boss Alan Brady (Reiner).

Incredibly, the show was nearly canceled after its first season. Executive producer Sheldon Leonard championed the series, and CBS moved the Petries to follow the top-rated Beverly Hillbillies. The rest is television history. Unlike the high-concept Hillbillies, the more sophisticated Dick Van Dyke Show’s appeal was in its more grounded situations and three-dimensional characters, each of whom were given ample opportunities to shine. Rob’s deft and daft juggling of his glamorous career and harried home life inspired some of the best episodes, but at the heart of this series’ timeless appeal was the palpable chemistry between Rob and Laura, as witness their sudden embrace at the moving conclusion of “The Square Triangle.” A pop culture benchmark, The Dick Van Dyke Show is must-own television. -Donald Liebenson

Smokeless Cigarettes

Planet Hulk Product: Planet Hulk Review. List Price: $19.98 Amazon Price: $11.99 Click Here To See Amazon Sale Price Add to cart to see low price@ Availability: In Stock Usually ships in 24 Hours Free Shipping Available

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HE WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL & TOO DANGEROUS TO IGNORE. SO EARTH’S MIGHTIEST HEROES EXILED HIM INTO OUTER SPACE. NOW THE INCREDIBLE HULK HAS CRASH-LANDED ON A DISTANT ALIEN PLANET, RULED BY THE TYRANNICAL RED KING & HE MUST BECOME THE PLANET’S MIGHTIEST GLADIATOR IF HE WANTS TO SURVIVE.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10265 in DVD
• Brand: Planet
• Released on: 2010-02-02
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: AC-3, Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish
• Dubbed in: Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 81 minutes

Marvel’s animated DVDs go to the next level.
In the first decade of the 21st century, Marvel’s had big success in comics, on film, and in animated television programs; the one area where they have really lagged behind DC has been in the animated DVD market, where Bruce Timm’s productions have been more numerous and generally more successful. The recent “Hulk vs.” DVD was a step in the right direction, providing some great action and good use of Marvel characters, albeit in two shortened segments that neither of them possessed a full story. “Planet Hulk”, an adaptation of the Marvel Comics storyline of the same name by Greg Pak (who is involved in the production), is a full-length story, and it is by far the best thing Marvel Animation’s DVD program has done, and ranks with my favourite DC DVDs. Again starring the Hulk, but this time way out of his normal element, it delivers action and heart. Some spoilers follow.

We’re dropped right into the story, as the Hulk (voice of Rick Wasserman) awakens to find himself traveling through space, with a video from the Illuminati (Iron Man [Marc Worden, reprising his role from various other Marvel DVDs], Mr. Fantastic, Dr. Strange, and Black Bolt) explaining that his constant destructive rampages have forced them to send him away to a peaceful world where he can at last be left alone. Nice idea, but the Hulk doesn’t take this well, and destroys the instrumentation, sending the ship careening into a wormhole and crashlanding on the planet Sakaar. Captured and forced to fight in gladiator games for the entertainment of the despotic Red King (Mark Hildreth), he finds himself the unwilling companion of the Warbound, a collection of fellow-gladiators. Many come to see the Hulk as the Sakaarson, the saviour of the planet, but others, including the Red King’s lieutenant Caiera (Lisa Beley), insist that the King himself fulfills that role. And the Hulk himself doesn’t have a lot of interest in it…

If it sounds a bit like the movie “Gladiator”, it is. But it’s “Gladiator” with the action quotient increased to eleven. The story is a fairly faithful condensation of the original epic (which ran for over a year in the comics), with a few character roles and plot elements shifted around. Most notably, for those who have read the original, Beta Ray Bill has been substituted for the Silver Surfer, which works extremely well, and is a tremendous little depiction of the character. The voice actors all do a good job with their parts, including Wasserman as the Hulk, who is far more talkative here than general audiences will be used to (in the comics, he’s been typically sentient since the 1980s). And for those who like their cartoons a bit bloodier than they’ll show on Saturday morning, this is your story. There are some truly brutal action scenes here, and the Spikes are depicted like creatures from a horror movie.

Fans of the comic will also be familiar with the followup story, “World War Hulk”, which the end of “Planet Hulk” leads into. As I had suspected prior to watching, the DVD stops just short of the comics ending, wisely not presuming that there will be a followup DVD; Pak has spoken of plans for one in the near-future, where the sad fate of Sakaar can be played out in the opening sequence. After this excellent film, it will be a truly sorrowful thing to see.

Recommended.

Not for Kids. PG rated Planet Hulk Better than Most
If you like the Hulk this movie is for you. It takes all the elments that make the character attractive and improves upon them. The story is essentially Savage Hulk liberates planet. He’s asked to leave by the Avengers. I would have liked to have seen that battle in animated form. For all intents and purposes it was worth wait. While some liberties were taken with the story it was entertaining. How about a sequel with World War Hulk? This one at least has Hulk with Banner’s brain.

It’s a thinking man Hulk kind of movie. If you are a fan of the comics or just like this type of animation, you won’t be let down. It’s worth watching a few times. the extras do add quite a bit in the making of this saga. If Marvel reads these reviews, I have to say, how about a Spidey animated film?

On a historical note: back in the 1970’s, Roy Thomas adapted Harlan Ellison’s plot, “Brute That Shouted Love at the Heart of the Atom”. In this other dimension; Hulk found the second love of his life, Jarella. Too bad this story wasn’t incorporated into the film. Ironically he was not the intellegent version. In the 70’s his character was of the “Hulk Smash” mentality. Artist Herb Trimpe was the quintessential Hulk artist at the time. I only wish he had input in the modern interpretation of the character.

Best Marvel Animated movie to date
After the incredibly disappointing Ultimate Avengers films, I had low expectations for anything Marvel Animated and especially Planet Hulk. But this Hulk really grabbed me and pulled me in to one of the best Hulk adventures I have ever experienced. It begins with a video of Iron Man and the Illuminati explaining to Hulk that he has been exiled to another planet. Hulk starts smashing up the spaceship and it crashes on the planet Sakaar, ruled by the Red King. Hulk is captured and forced to fight in gladiatorial arena, where he rises to fame and bonds with a unique group of slaves who call themselves The Warbound. Hulk must decide to challenge the Red King or seek a path of isolation, because unlike the Earthlings, the desperate people of Sakaar believe a monster is just the hero they need.

Planet Hulk is a Hulk you have never seen before. All the other Hulk stories feature the struggle of Bruce Banner. Then when Banner loses control, the character development is over, the story is over, he just transforms into Hulk and a giant slug-fest ensues. But Bruce Banner isn’t even in Planet Hulk, and we get to see how deep and conflicted the character of Hulk can really be. It’s not a journey of man into monster, it’s the journey of a monster into a hero. It isn’t Banner’s struggle, it’s the Hulk’s struggle. But the character-work doesn’t stop there, the Warbound group is a very interesting and well handled group of gladiators.

Which leads me to the fights. The idea of making the Hulk a gladiator on an alien planet is such a good concept for his character that I can’t believe this wasn’t thought of sooner. It gives Hulk ample opportunity to pummel a host of unique foes. There’s some really memorable fight scenes and powerful moments here. Due to copyright issues, they could not feature the famous fight between Hulk and the Silver Surfer that’s found in the comics. Instead, they used Beta Ray Bill from Thor and tied it in with the events of Hulk vs. Thor. The end result is a pretty incredible match.

I highly recommend Planet Hulk as a great exploration for Hulk’s character, and Marvel Animation’s best film to date.

Electronic Cigarettes

Kaw Description:

No Description Available.
Genre: Horror
Rating: R
Release Date: 23-OCT-2007
Media Type: DVD

• Amazon Sales Rank: #61666 in DVD
• Brand: Sony
• Released on: 2007-10-23
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: French
• Dubbed in: French
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds
• Running time: 85 minutes

Features

• ISBN13: 0043396199040
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Customer Reviews:

Unexpected Gem
Yes, it’s another animals-on-the-attack movie, this one molded from Hitchcock’s “The Birds” (and even featuring Rod Taylor)…but a tightly wound, well directed, and surprisingly suspenseful addition to the genre. Here ominous black ravens are in attack mode, for reasons the movie sketchily provides, and it’s up to a seasoned cop (Flanery) to save the day. Yes, it’s a B-Movie, but it’s still exceptionally well done. For starters, it’s never boring, moving along at a quick pace. And while dreaded CGI is incorporated into the effects, they also managed to use real ravens with the CGI, to minimalize use of CGI. Truthfully, the effects work is pretty seamless, and just right for this type of film. The performances are more than adequate, and while there’s never really a truly frightening moment, this is still ions more entertaining than most straight-to-DVD horror drivel. And refreshingly, the accent is less on needless gore and more on suspense, something seriously lacking from today’s horror fare. KAW may not be the Hamlet of horror movies, but should be noteworthy for what it is: an edgy, moody, no-frills humdinger of a horror flick.

Mad Crow Disease
“Kaw” is not Hitchcock, but it’s not bad either. The similarities between “Kaw” and “The Birds” are self-evident, although they are denied vehemently in the interviews with cast and crew: the film even features Rod Taylor, from the Hitchcock masterpiece.

Parts of “Kaw” are contrived and stretch the imagination, but who isn’t expecting that with a film about hyper-intelligent ravens spawned by the carelessness of antisocial Mennonites? There are typical B-movie plotpoints: it’s the last day of work for the chief of police; there are children stranded and exposed to the birds; there’s a crazy old gun nut in town, etc.

For no apparent reason ravens start banding together to attack people in a small town (this was actually shot in Canada), leaving the hero cop, Wayne (Sean Patrick Flanery), and the crusty town doctor (Rod Taylor) to figure out a strategy to combat them. In the midst of this is a subplot about Mennonites, who are extremely disagreeable, and who obviously know too much about these happenings for it to be a coincidence.

The special effects were enacted using 11 trained ravens from the Czech Republic, and very good CGI techniques. The extras on the DVD are surprisingly interesting and explain the CGI techniques and show the trained ravens. (Also worth watching are the interviews, especially with Rod Taylor.) Some of the plot is hokey, and several of the situations are fairly ridiculous: the beautiful cop’s wife down a horrific well at the Mennonite’s farm; the basketball team stuck in the bus (which hearkens back to the skiing team in the bus in “Ice Spiders”); and the lame (and predictable) child rescue from the street come to mind. Still this film is much better than I expected given the genre and budget, and is far more entertaining than most of its contemporary creatures-gone-amok peers.

Although I won’t reveal the final plotpoint supplied by the Mennonites, it’s a safe bet that it will make your eyes roll, as it did mine. Still, though, for a contemporary nature-goes-wild drama, “Kaw” is actually pretty decent.

IT’S YOUR KAW
This retake on the claasic Hitchcock’s THE BIRDS even features the 1963 movie’s hero, Rod Taylor, although this time around the durable actor plays the town’s loveable doctor. In the ‘63 film, all kinds of birds were the predators; this time around, it’s just the ravens, who have been infected by feeding on the carcasses of diseased cattle.
The special effects are pretty decent and while there’s not a whole lot of new ground broken, the film succeeds in entertaining those of us into the attacking animals venue. Sean Patrick Flanery takes a leave from his villainous role on THE DEAD ZONE and plays the stalwart sheriff.
KAW won’t receive raven reviews, but it’s a pleasant enough diversion.

Quit Cigarette Smoking

Michael Flatley - Gold Description:

Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 01/09/2007 Run time: 130 minutes Rating: Nr

• Amazon Sales Rank: #52436 in DVD
• Brand: Universal
• Released on: 2001-10-30
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish, French
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 130 minutes

Customer Reviews:

An Excellent Addition to Your Collection
I must disclose that I am a bit of an overeager fan of Irish Dancing at least in the form of Lord of the Dance, Feet of Flames, and Riverdance. I have seen all of the shows several times and had the fortune of going backstage after a Lord of the Dance performance to meet a few of the dancers (who were quite friendly and generous with their time). And, I listen to the music as I work out. I have all of the shows on DVD and video and to this day watch them almost daily.
As such, I was very happy when I learned of this new DVD title, Gold. Michael Flatley cerainly is not shy and is known for his “confidence,” but this new DVD is extremely entertaining. I do not necessarily buy the sometimes manufactured sounding humility in this production and his “accent” seems to vary depending upon his audience, but we overlook the shortcomings in those we admire, right?
The DVD contains highlights from the original Riverdance show and Michael Flatley’s two shows including dance peformances of Feet of Flames in Budapest.
The DVD is arranged in a long interview format interspersed with performances in a chronological order. Included are clips from his days with the Chieftans, dancing at the Kennedy Center, performing at Eurovision, Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, Feet of Flames, and rehearsals for what may be an upcoming movie/video. The Budapest Feet of Flames performances contain short interviews with some of the dancers. The DVD is arranged in a home moview/documentary format begining with pictures of Michael Flatley’s family and childhood all the way through and including performances and photographs from the present.
There also is a very interesting “making of” Feet of Flames which is included as well. One really can get a sense of what it was like making the “one off” show. In addition, you get to meet a number of the dancers.
Certainly this DVD will entertain and delight the loyal fan base, but it is extremely well done, and as with the other DVDs and videos, it can be watched repeatedly. I do not know how long the Irish Dancing craze will last, but I get the feeling its twilight may be near. Any additional worthy videos and performances, therefore, are treasured.
You will enjoy this one for years to come.

Michael Flatley: Gold
I found this DVD to be extremely entertaining, if not a bit long. (2hrs, 10 mins.) The only concern I have is that though the film is not rated, some parents might find a couple of the scenes objectionable for viewing for young children. I saw the Feet of Flames World Tour live here in L.A. when it came through. Personally it was very enjoyable, but I was downright embarrassed in the Stolen Kiss scene when Flatley stripped that girl and she jumped on him. It reminded me a bit of some trashy Vegas show, complete with seductive guitar riffs. There were YOUNG children in that audience!

Yes, Flatley is a genius, and as an Irish dancer I am in awe of what he has done for my sport, but I felt he could have left his midlife crisis out of an otherwise wholesome performance. If as a parent you are concerned about what your child will be watching, I would recommend watching the DVD first or skipping tracks. Otherwise, Gold is a rare treat that can’t be passed up!

Unbeatable
Michael Flatley Gold is an absolute asset for ANY Irish dance fan!
The DVD is just amazingly done in every aspect which makes for a most spectacular watch for anyone, but even moreso, Flatley fans. It shows all about Michael and bringing himself up to the spectacle he is today, including half an hour of the Feet of Flames Budapest show, which you will see no where else.
Even if you arent a Irish dance fan, you will enjoy this because of Flatleys sheer power on stage.

Its hard to invision Irish dance coming this far, but it has, and this is the man to thank. In this escapade you will find that Michael is no arrogant dancer and as for his inflated ego? If you read into it, you can find he is a really nice person, and what you see is just alot of character coming out on stage.

Buy this DVD no matter the cost, you will not be disappointed.
Because boy oh boy, this guy can dance…

Amazon.com
For those who can’t get enough of Michael Flatley’s flaming feet, Michael Flatley: Gold may be the hottest ticket in town. It chronologically intersperses interviews with Flatley with scenes of his greatest hits, including Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, and other special performances. It’s still a little awe-inspiring that Flatley was able to help turn the humble Irish peasant step dance into a spectacle evoking Elvis, arena rock, George M. Cohan, WWF Smackdown, and Siegfried, if not Roy-but the man’s fans can’t be denied. Those who like their moves with a little less flash will appreciate the earlier scenes, including a 1987 performance at the Kennedy Center; Flatley’s passionate if preening reunion with the Chieftains in 1998 is also a thrill. -Anne Hurley

From the Back Cover
Gold celebrates the unique dance genius that is Michael Flatley. This exciting video contains all of Michael’s greatest hits, plus two sneak previews of exclusive dances recorded especially for this presentation on the set of Michael’s film. Also featuring five brand new dances and new versions of the classics filmed in Budapest where Michael thrilled an ecstatic audience of over 100,000 people.

In his own words, Michael tells the story of his phenomenal career in an intimate and revealing interview. For the first time, Michael takes us on a bedazzling journey where he opens up his personal photo album and reveals rare film footage filled with old and new dances. The Michael Flatley brilliance sparkles pure “gold.” 130 minutes.

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The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Classroom Edition Interactive DVD Description:

Based on the best-selling novel by John Boyne, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas highlights the secret friendship between two unlikely friends-the young son of a Nazi officer and the Jewish boy he encounters. The Classroom Edition of this Heartland Truly Moving Picture® Award-winning film features exclusive educational material including an exploration of the role propaganda played in WWII Germany. Includes printable educator’s guide and Public Performance Rights for classroom/educational use only.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20227 in DVD
• Released on: 2009-03-30
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 94 minutes

Customer Reviews:

Better than the Book?
I’m teaching The Boy in the Striped Pajamas to my lower level students this year. I absolutely loved the fable and thought it would be a great way to teach the students the literary term theme. I purchased this film to cover my state’s media standards. I’m so glad that a classroom edition was available. It has bonus material that will be great to show the kids to discuss propaganda (also a state standard). I’m usually a die-hard believer in “the book is better,” however, this film adaptation is incredible. I know it will spark a great discussion on the differences between print versus non-print. I’m excited to begin this unit with my students. I highly recommend using the film in your classroom. Plus, there are great teaching sources on the film available on the Internet (like a discussion guide).

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Compare Prices on R. Strauss - Elektra

• Amazon Sales Rank: #54372 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-11-08
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Classical, Subtitled, Color, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: German
• Subtitled in: German, English, Spanish, French
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 118 minutes

Friedrich shows how filmed opera is also an art
As an opera enthusiast, I tend to agree with those that argue that this is an art form that should be experienced live whenever possible. I am nonetheless grateful to those directors and producers who have committed great performances to video. Gotz Friedrich (and some other directors like him) are in an entirely different category, however. Friedrich has taken the multivarious art form that is opera/music drama - in this case, Strauss’s masterwork Elektra - and introduced it to the film medium. And, in this case, he has done it to perfection.

Elektra is not an easy opera to get right. It is a modern, expressionistic interpretation of Sophocles and, as such, demands not only great singers, but great actors. Freidrich had both in Leonie Rysanek, whose Elektra will knock your socks off. Watching her, one is amazed with what facility she communicates the detailed psychological patchwork of that tragic heroine, and manages the sudden shifts in mood and motivation. She is not merely an outraged spirt, caught up in single-minded pursuit of vengeance over the murder of her Father, but a woman who is all too aware of what she has sacrificed in the process. One sees this in every scene, but to get the full effect, watch Rysanek’s Elektra as she awaits Orestes’s dispatch of their Mother. In her face and voice, there is simultaneous determination and pain.

Rysanek is well matched by an equally great Klytamnestra in Astrid Varnay (herself once a celebrated Elektra), who holds all the power as the opera begins, but is apparently vulnerable, chiefly because of unrelenting torment and fear of her son Orestes. Varnay gives us a debilitated, but highly dangerous, Klytamnestra, ready to strike out in any direction to end her nightmares. The rest of the cast is uniformly excellent. Indeed, it is not possible here to name all of their virtues. I was particularly impressed by Hans Beirer as Aegisth, the effete decadent, who is so obviously the partner in Klytemnestra’s crimes. The scene where he questions and spars with Elektra, unaware that she is leading him to his death, is spine-tingling.

Wonderful as all of these performances are, the real star here is Friedrich - and one should add quickly - Karl Bohm, the legendary conductor of Strauss operas. Together, in every frame of this terrific film, they honour the genius of Strauss the composer and of Hoffmannsthall the librettist/playwright. As he did also with Strauss’s Salome, Friedrich shows how opera can be successfully treated in a cinematic medium (and there are plenty of examples out there of how this is done badly). In so doing, he and his performers have created a film that is guaranteed to move and inspire. Don’t dare miss it.

ABSOLUTELY PERFECT
It is rumored that Birgit Nilsson was very disappointed when Karl Bohm chose Leonie Rysanek and not Nilsson to play Elektra in this film. Although I love love love Nilsson I have to agree that Bohm made the right choice because Rysanek is absolutely incredible as Elektra. God knows she was no spring chicken when she made this film (56 to be exact) and yet she literally tears the place apart with her incredible interpretation of Richard Strauss’ demented Elektra. The voice is so solid, so dramatic and so damn perfect I can’t imagine anyone singing it any better. The voice never wobbles and Rysanek holds onto the climactic high notes so effortlessly and for so long, that I am sure if Richard Strauss were alive he probably would have slapped Rysanek across the face and said “SHUT UP!!! IT’S TOO GOOD!!! I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!!”. Not to be outdone Astrid Varnay is so amazing as Clytemnestra that she almost manages to steal the show away from Rysanek, which is no small accomplishment considering she is, by my accounts, 64 years old. The film too in absolutely perfect. Probably the best film of an opera I have ever seen. It all works so well, IT’S PERFECT DAMMIT! I can’t recommend this film enough but I imagine you already guessed that.

Awesome Elektra!
After reading a ton of reviews, I decided to buy this dvd presentation of my favorite opera. The sound is much more immediate than the Levine/Nilsson recording (thankfully).\ The orchestra plays this score so well. I enjoyed it as much as Abbado/Marton. Rysaneks singing is better than Marton.
The singers vary from ok (Varnay-a noticeable wobble) to near great (Rysanek-what an amazing high register). At times, she goes high on some of the pitches. The staging and acting were excellent, even knowing it was lip synced.
The only irritating thing was the number of screen shots of the actor that played Agamemnon.
In all, this is well worth the money. In high quality stereo sound and performance.
The extra dvd was quite interesting too.

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