Dream A Little Dream 2

Product Description

With dreams like these who needs reality? The Two Coreys return as Dinger and Bobby in this hilarious sequel. When the roommates receive a box containing a matched set of sunglasses, they soon find that one pair lets that person control the actions of whoever is wearing the other pair. Their mundane lives in L.A. turn crazy in this fantasy comedy.

Average customer rating:

Great Fun For Mystery Fans
I loved it!
Nancy Drew Grown Up
Charming Bookstore Sleuth

Mystery Woman: Mystery Weekend
Starring: Kellie Martin , Clarence Williams III , Nina Siemaszko , Casey Sander , and Julianna McCarthy
Director: Mark Griffiths
Manufacturer: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000EWBO7W
Release Date: 2006-05-02

Product Description

She's an avid mystery lover and bookseller, for whom crime has been comfortably confined to the pages of her favorite novels -- until a real-life murder turns a weekend of fun and games into a chilling whodunit... The quaint mystery bookshop bequeathed to Samantha Kinsey may be struggling, but the idea she's concocted for the weekend should drum up some killer publicity -- a book signing by three very popular and very competitive mystery writers; Maura Hobbs, Angela Cooke, and the reclusive Clare Beckman. Unbeknownst to Sam, Clare is using this "mystery weekend" to make the shocking announcement of her retirement. Just as Clare poses for a final career photograph, an ear-shattering gunshot rings out. Clare manages to dodge the bullet, but later falls victim to a cleverly planted poison. Wading through a long list of suspects and motives, Sam manages to uncover a convoluted plot of blackmail, greed, and deceit -- a real-life mystery that would have thrilled Clare...had she lived to see it unfold.

Customer Reviews:

Great Fun For Mystery Fans.......2007-02-01

This series of films from Hallmark Entertainment is delicious fun for mystery lovers and Kellie Martin fans. Martin is Samantha Kinsey, the owner of the Mystery Woman Book Store who finds herself involved in her own favorite pastime. There is a warmth and sense of fun to the story in this one and a fine atmosphere just right for light entertainment.

Samantha is making plans for a "Mystery Weekend" for her avid customers sure to please them. At her weekly "Thursday Night Mayhem" event, however, the very reclusive and prolific mystery writer, Clare Beckman, just misses being shot. Samantha's close friend and Assistant D.A., Cassie (Nina Siemaszko), is shot in the arm instead, and the mystery begins.

One of Samantha's elderly customers is the obvious suspect, at least to Chief Connors (Casey Sander), but Samantha has other ideas. There are two other female mystery writers present at the shooting whose jealousy is hardly masked. And when bee venom is used by someone to finish the job, Clare's trophy boyfriend might have motives also.

There is a real sense of fun as Samantha starts questioning people to get to the bottom of things. Clarence Williams III of "Mod Squad" fame is simply terrific as Samantha's pal, Philby, with a past so mysterious he has access to the Prime Minister! Pretty Nina Siemaszko is endearing as Samantha's best friend, helping her best bud and getting into hot water while fending off a hunky lawyer trying to romance she and Samantha at the same time.

It's all tied to a 30 year old murder. And as Samantha knows, everybody loves a murder. Mystery lovers won't be able to get enough of Samantha and her buds sluething around. Martin looks fantastic and it's great to see her find a fun project like this one. It's a great premise executed with just the right sense of mischief. A great find.

I loved it!.......2007-01-08

I happened to see this DVD at the library today and thought it looked interesting and I was right! What a great mystery! I am now looking to purchase the entire set. It's a good, clean, fun show. Loved it!

Nancy Drew Grown Up.......2006-09-19

This movie is a little bit too Nancy Drew. The characters are stock suspects, and the action is rather contrived. "Mystery Woman" is anything but edgy. Whatever edge the plot may have had was neatly gone over with pinking shears. So we end up with good, clean family entertainment that some might relegate to the pile of "chick flicks."

Nevertheless, it was a relief to get out of the rawness and irresolution of daily life and to spend some time in this polished hardwood mystery-fans bookstore. And it was good to see Clarence Williams III on the screen again.

The bookstore is the kind of business we all dream about having; and Clarence Williams is the kind of business partner we all wish we could have. He's smart, mysteriously well-connected, and supportive. After each draining homicidal attack, Mr. Williams is ready to go brew a tea for himself and his partner. For many of us, that is the ultimate wish fulfillment.

What more could you ask out of a "cozy?" A bookstore, a dead body, and a cup of tea...

Charming Bookstore Sleuth.......2006-06-05

Samantha Kinsey owns the Mystery Woman Book Store, and occasionally runs into murder mysteries of her own. During Mystery weekend, a chance for fans to gather and meet their favorite writers, writer diva Clare Beckman puts in the first appearance in almost fifteen years. No one knows why she's avoided the limelight. Arriving fashionably late, Clare immediately seizes everyone's attention, makes the announcement that her latest book is her last, and is promptly nearly murdered. Samantha ends up on the suspect list, alongside her most treasured patron. In short order, things go from bad to worse as the mysterious killer succeeds in killing Clare Beckman. With the police certain they've got the killer in custody, it's up to Samantha, her partner Philby -- who used to be a spy, and her assistant district attorney friend Cassandra to track down the real murderer.

This is the second entry in Hallmark Entertainment's MYSTERY WOMAN movie series. Kellie Martin stars as Samantha Kinsey, bringing a lot of experience as an actress as well as directing some of the series' entries. Created by Michael Sloan -- who's created or written for HARRY-O, COLUMBO, THE HARDY BOYS/NANCY DREW MYSTERIES, McCLOUD, THE EQUALIZER, and LA FEMME NIKITA, the series is off to a promising start.

Samantha Kinsey is an enjoyable sleuth. She's an everyday woman, with just a touch of something extra. Her curiosity about mysteries is a deeply rooted passion, and in her movies she's given a good chance to exercise it. Although there's no real drama involved in this movie, there is a good storyline that will keep avid mystery fans guessing up until the final moments. The story plays fair with the clues and the background to solve the murder. Doubtless, the writer, Joyce Burditt, wound the plot largely around British mystery maven Anne Perry's real life, which only came to public light in the last few years. The dialogue is quick and fast-paced, and the subplot involving Samantha and Cassandra's interest in the new lawyer in town is great fun.

The only real drawback to the DVD version is the lack of extras. These days all DVDs come with a little more than the movie, and interviews with the cast would have been a nice addition.

MYSTERY WOMAN: MYSTERY WEEKEND is highly recommended for the armchair sleuthing couples who want to while away a lazy hour and a half over the weekend playing guessing games with each other. This series doesn't have the intensity of something like FOYLE'S WAR, but it is an engaging effort well worth the visit.

Average customer rating:

GOOD SERIES
Mystery Fun With Old Friends
Another Charming Whodunit

Mystery Woman - Sing Me a Murder
Starring: Kellie Martin , Clarence Williams III , Nina Siemaszko , Casey Sander , and Brad Rowe
Director: Stephen Bridgewater
Manufacturer: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
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ASIN: B000ION276
Release Date: 2006-12-05

Customer Reviews:

GOOD SERIES.......2007-05-29

I LOVE MYSTERIES, COMPARED TO MOST THIS IS PRETTY TAME. BUY IT I KIND OF NICE TO HAVE A WHOLESOME CRIME SOLVER FOR A CHANGE.

Mystery Fun With Old Friends.......2007-05-14

Samantha and the gang are back for more mystery fun in another good entry from this movie series created by Michael Sloan and starring pretty Kellie Martin. Samantha Kinsey (Martin) runs the Mystery Woman Book Store with help from her pal Philby (Clarence Williams III). Philby's mysterious past with the government always comes in handy when she goes snooping into murder, as does her friend Cassie (Nina Siemaszko) in the D.A.'s office.

Philby is broken up about the passing of his old friend and Samantha decides to let a folk group from the 1960's her mom loved kick off their comeback outside the Mystery Woman. Before long both will be knee deep in mysteries which eventually intersect. The mystery, as usual, is a bit tame, but the fun is the continuing characters, who've become like old friends to fans. Philby might even have an admirer in the very pretty owner of the local Bed and Breakfast, Bonnie (Tina Lifford).

Some hi-tech bank robberies and some secrets from the past hold the clues to why someone was killed and, of course, Chief Connors (Casey Sander) is his usual lovable self, annoyed at Samantha's interference. Though Samantha initially butts heads with Connors, in the end he may not be far off the mark as to who commited the murder.

There is a really nice moment between Samantha and Philby at the end of this one, showing the special charm which always makes a visit with the gang as welcome and arresting as the wisteria covered trellace outside the Mystery Woman. Quaint fun for mystery lovers and Kellie Martin fans.

Another Charming Whodunit.......2007-01-24

Kellie Martin returns as Samantha Kinsey, the owner of the Mystery Woman Bookshop and part-time snoop. The MYSTERY WOMAN series has a charming quality about it because the murders aren't heinous or particularly violent. My wife appreciates that fact about them, and I get to play detective with her as we watch.

The pacing is both familiar and relaxed enough that we get to take turns pointing out clues (some we get, and some aren't clues at all but are our overactive imaginations) and put in our votes for who we think the killer is prior to the solution. The cast of characters are likewise familiar, but they're well rounded and just deep enough that watching them work together is fun.

As owner of the bookstore, Sam seems to know everyone in town. Philby (Clarence Williams III) has a mysterious background of his own. Sam thinks he was once a spy, and everything in the series seems to indicate that as well. He maintains a small office space inside the bookstore and keeps a clandestine group of friends.

In this mystery, a folk rock group from the 1970s called the Ramblers have reunited for a series of fund-raising concerts that will help fight world hunger. They're managed by a young PR guy who ends up getting killed, setting the murder investigation into play.

Before the dust has settled on the murder, the band members are fighting among themselves, and Carly -- one of the members -- confesses to the murder. However Carly has a long history of mental breakdowns and is soon ruled out -- at least for the moment -- as the murderer.

In the meantime, Philby is pursuing a case of his own. Bank robbers have started hitting banks using cutting edge technology. Even though he's retired from whatever it was that he used to do, he's brought in to consult. Before long, Sam and Philby discover that all the cities that had bank robberies were also on the tour list of the Ramblers. What's the connection? And who committed the murder?

Granted, some of the writing and characterization is simple, but simple is what you need so you can work on figuring out whodunit. I love watching the characters go through their familiar routines as they work out the puzzle. The town, though I've never heard it named, seems like a great place to live (except for the periodic murders!) and I'd love to wander through the aisles of the Mystery Woman Bookshop.

If you want a quiet mystery filled with dialogue and a little action, a fiesty grown-up version of Nancy Drew, and without the romance element that can get in the way of the puzzle, the MYSTERY WOMAN DVD movies are great. I've bought and watched all three that have been released so far and have enjoyed all of them.

Average customer rating:

Good For a Rainy Day
"I think we need to hire a plumber..."
Great afternoon movie
Solid Entry

Mystery Woman: Snapshot
Starring: Kellie Martin , Clarence Williams III , Nina Siemaszko , Casey Sander , and Patty McCormack
Director: Georg Stanford Brown
Manufacturer: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
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ASIN: B000FDEVAC
Release Date: 2006-06-13

Customer Reviews:

Good For a Rainy Day.......2007-09-11

Mystery Woman is a nice series which proves you can have a crime series without people firing rounds of bullets, offensive language, and lewd behavior. It is a tribute to Kellie Martin, whi is known to play strong and wholesome charecters. She is the type of person you would want to bring home to meet the parents and the parents would like her.

"I think we need to hire a plumber...".......2007-04-24

Kellie Martin fans will love this warm and fun series of mystery films. "Snapshot" is a good entry with just the right balance of whimsy and murder. While they are a bit pedestrian, the look and setting of the series and a great cast make for an enjoyable time.

Samantha Kinsey (Kellie Martin) owns the Mystery Woman Book Store and seems to always get involved in some very real mayhem, much to the chagrin of Chief Connors (Casey Sander), who would rather not have her nosing around his cases. When her friend Barbara (Patty McCormick) claims to have been swindled out of half her brother's fortune upon his death, then is shot down while entering her home, Chief Connors thinks it was just a burglery gone bad.

Samantha, however, has other ideas, and with the help of her mysterious pal Philby (Clarance Williams III) sets out to discover why her friend was killed. A roll of film Barbara entrusted to Samantha with a picture of her brother's vintage Bently may hold the clue. Philby's mysterious past comes in handy, as does her other pal, Assistant D.A. Casandra (Nina Siemaszko).

Kellie Martin's abundant charm and a nice supporting cast drive this as much as the mystery itself. There is a fun side story and some amusing moments as Philby, for once out of his element, tries to fix some very old pipe problems in the store. George Stanford Brown, familiar to television fans as one of "The Rookies" way back when, directs this one quite nicely so that the most is made of what's here.

Created by Michael Sloan and written by Joyce Burditt, it's hard to go wrong with pretty Kellie Martin in the middle of it all. Mystery fans will find this a very pleasant distraction on a Saturday afternoon.

Great afternoon movie.......2007-01-24

I love these amature mystery sleuth movies. There's nothing complicated about this one in particular, which makes it perfect for a cold and rainy day (with lots of popcorn and butter!)

Great movie!

Solid Entry.......2006-06-21

MYSTERY WOMAN: SNAPSHOT details the murder of one of Samantha Kinsey's book club members. Barbara Sommers, one of the town's wealthy, has always been a conspiracy junkie, believing in UFOs and coverups. At the reading of her late brother's will, she finds out that she's left with none of the family company. Barbara insists that a conspiracy is in play, that she's being robbed of what's hers, and that her brother was murdered. After leaving a roll of film with Sam that Barbara tells her contains a clue to the murder, Barbara goes home and is murdered. Sam and Philby, the ex-CIA agent that was her father's friend and who shares her love of doing investigations that aren't quite legal, take up the chase for the murderer.

Kellie Martin (E.R.) stars as Samantha Kinsey. So far, A&E have made eight MYSTERY WOMAN movies, but not all of them have made it to DVD. The series was created by Michael Sloan, a staple in the mystery/adventure TV field. Georg Stanford Brown stars as Philby and even directs this one.

As a mystery, SNAPSHOT was so-so. There weren't enough suspects and the field narrowed pretty quickly once the initial murder kicked the play off. Still, Sam and her cronies are endearing characters and it was fun to watch them work.

Some of the usual confrontations with the local police was missing, and the stakes never truly rose above the solution of the murder. Philby even has his own little mystery to solve while he works on the pipes in the shop, but the solution comes out of left field and the viewer never had a chance at it.

MYSTERY WOMAN: SNAPSHOT is another great little mystery to watch in the casual comfort of home with a fellow sleuth. Perhaps the mystery will solve too quickly, with even the twists and turns telegraphed, but the characters are fun to watch and still worth the price of admission.

Average customer rating:

Ann Margret is still somethingto watch!
A sleek psychological thriller in the tradition of Alfred Hitchcock

Memory
Starring: Billy Zane , Tricia Helfer , Dennis Hopper , Ann-Margret , and Terry Chen
Director: Bennett Davlin
Manufacturer: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
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ASIN: B000NJMJHU
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Amazon.com

A cast of familiar and likable faces, as well as an early starring role for Battlestar Galactica's Tricia Helfer, brings star power to the medical/serial killer thriller Memory. Billy Zane is top-billed as a researcher who discovers that he's been dosed with a South American powder that causes one to relive the memories of their parents; said memories include visions of a masked figure abducting young girls and making plaster casts of their faces before killing them. Ann-Margret and Dennis Hopper are family friends with a long-buried secret, and Helfer is an artist with whom Zane becomes romantically involved. Written and directed by Bennett Davlin (who also wrote the novel on which the film is based), Memory is slick and professionally made, but lacks any real surprise (or more importantly, suspense) in its story or execution; the cast is equally game for the offbeat premise, but can do little with the well-worn material they've been given. The DVD includes interviews with the cast and crew, as well as outtakes and a making-of featurette. --Paul Gaita

Product Description

Based on the best-selling novel by Bennett Davlin currently on book shelves nationwide; Bonus Features: The Making of Memory, Outtakes, Director's Commentary, Interviews with Cast and Crew

Customer Reviews:

Ann Margret is still somethingto watch!.......2007-07-01

I waited so long to see this film, finally it opened here in New York City and I rushed to see it! Had a hard time at first following the plot, but slowly it all came together, especially after veteran actress Ann- Margret comes on screen as Carol Hargrave. I have never seen Ann Margret in this type of role and she really does a great job! REally love the film, the DVD has some great extras for aspiring film makers too!

A sleek psychological thriller in the tradition of Alfred Hitchcock.......2007-06-28

Memory is a sleek thriller that starts off slow and quickly builds into a cascading tide of action. It's very much in the style of Alfred Hitchcock and is one of my favorite movies out this year.

Roughly, the plot is that a memory researcher is exposed to an unknown substance that causes him to start experiencing memories that happened before he was born. He sees a masked figure in a Burberry coat chasing through the woods. At first he thinks he's going insane, but when he realizes the masked figure could be a serial killer, he must do whatever is necessary to bring the decades old nightmare to an end. I can't say much more without giving spoilers :>

The main review on Amazon says there are little in the way of surprises. I disagree. There ARE twists and turns in the plot, and even in the ending. I normally can see where these movies are going, and this one managed to surprise me.

I absolutely loved this movie. Billy Zane is a strong, dramatic actor and his performance is a pleasure to watch. I also appreciated the lack of gore and nudity in the film. Lately, too many sloppy productions have attempted to mask their short comings with excessive gore or gratuitous nudity, but with few shortcomings, this movie has little to mask.

If you're a fan of Hitchcock mystery thrillers or in the mood for a psychological thriller, please give this movie a shot.

Highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

best for your money
Appreciate It For What It Is
"An acid-trip through hell..."
Nicely done on a low budget
A Bad Bad Movie

Salvage
Starring: Chris Ferry , Lauren Currie Lewis , Cody Darbe , John Miller , and Maureen Olander
Director: Joshua Crook , and Jeffrey Crook
Manufacturer: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
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ASIN: B000H6SXUG
Release Date: 2006-10-17

Product Description

Her Death Keeps Crawling Back to Haunt Her. Claire Parker Is Going To Die. At the hands of a sadistic and depraved killer, she will endure a terrifying, unimaginably brutal death--and it will all happen again. After being beaten, dragged, sliced, and stabbed, Claire awakens at work--where it all began--untouched and unharmed. But the hellish ordeal is far from over. The madman is back and he's ready for more blood... DVD Features include: Theatrical Trailer, Director's Commentary. Official Selection Sundance Film Festival 2006.

Customer Reviews:

best for your money.......2007-08-25

i happened to see this film at a friend's house one night. i wasn't expecting much b/c there is no one you would have heard of in it and it looked potentially cheesy. after seeing it i had to buy it. this film will keep you confused and guessing the whole way through. i lend the dvd to all my friends who like hooror and mystery

Appreciate It For What It Is.......2007-08-08

If you want to know what the plot is about just read the other reviews because I don't think this board needs another summary. Anyway, you have to appreciate Indy films to enjoy this movie. I watched it with a friend of mine who wont watch something unless it's a Paramount blockbuster and he never even gave it a chance. While it's true there's no voluptuous starlet being chased in a wet tank top or million dollar special effects this movie is still fun to watch. The characters (not the plot itself) are far more believable than mainstream slasher flicks. The main character reels you in and makes you root for her because she really is the cute college girl from down the street. That sort of thing. In closing if you can't appreciate low budget filmmakers trying to do their best with what they've got then don't bother watching this one. However, if you like to stray away from the mainstream and the subliminal Pepsi or Hummer commercials that come in them...I think you'd enjoy it.

"An acid-trip through hell...".......2007-07-19

...is how one critic aptly described this movie. I recently watched this for the third time; it is excellent--a terrifying and intense thriller. The mostly ho-hum customer reviews have encouraged me to chime in with my thoughts. The story begins with a gorgeous young woman, Claire, who wakes up from a nightmare in which she is murdered by psychotic Duke, only to find the events of the new day disturbingly reminescent of her nightmare. This becomes a recurring and varying dream in which the means, but not the ends, change. Leonard Maltin beautifully describes the original "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" as "claustrophobic, sweat-inducing, terrifying," and I would use those same words for "Salvage." Like TCM, this movie develops an enveloping atmosphere of dread and sustains and amplifies it throughout, the nightmare building to a blistering fever dream as Claire's (and our) understanding grows. The heroine and the killer are both played beautifully; Lauren Lewis is excellent as Claire--a small-town community college student living a normal life who finds herself pulled into an increasingly horrifying reality (or is it?), and Chris Ferry exhibits a chilling charisma as the matter-of-factly brutal murderer. Hard-hitting and resonant, this is easily one the best films of the last decade.

Nicely done on a low budget.......2007-06-02

Low budget does not mean a film has to be bad. I really enjoyed this film and the ending was something I did not expect. I thought the ending was pretty clever if not a little cruel. I understood it but still... Anyway, Lauren Currie Lewis. who I had never heard of, gave what I thought to be a pretty credible performance, confused, terrified and helpless. Chris Ferry as the bad guy stalking her was really creepy. He was charming one moment then satanic the next. I also thought that John Miller as the sheriff did a better than average job in this film. He seemed to be concerned, caring, and competent even if he wasn't very helpful. I liked his character. My verdict on this one is that it is definately worth watching. Probably more than once. This is creepy and has one scene where I had to cover my eyes. An earlier reviewer said this one was closer to 3 and a half stars than four. That could be right. Four stars does seem a bit high, but 3 is for sure too low. Salvage is a good low budget film.

A Bad Bad Movie.......2007-05-27

Short and sweet, if you watch this movie, you will probibly become dumber. The terrible acting, pathetic filmography, non-existant plot, and the un-creative and untasteful score go together to create the most rediculus film since "Manos, the hands of fate". If you go ahead anyway and veiw, let alone buy this film, don't bring your regrets to my doorstep. As a film composer, if amazon.com had a lower rating than one star...I would have chosen it. One star gives more credit than deserved.

Average customer rating:

Raw Nerve
Starring: Sandahl Bergman , Randall "Tex" Cobb , Glenn Ford , Traci Lords , and Yvonne St. Ancil
Director: David A. Prior
Manufacturer: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
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ASIN: B000U34SUK
Release Date: 2007-10-02

Average customer rating:

Two Holmes Stories in One Don't Add Up To Much
Frewer's least successful effort

The Royal Scandal
Starring: Matt Frewer , Kenneth Welsh , Liliana Komorowska , Daniel Brochu , and Seann Gallagher
Director: Rodney Gibbons
Manufacturer: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
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ASIN: B000MTEFSM
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Product Description

Based on Arthur Conan Doyle's First Sherlock Holmes Story.

Customer Reviews:

Two Holmes Stories in One Don't Add Up To Much.......2007-04-20

Canadian Muse Entertainment's "The Royal Scandal" is the third installment of their Sherlock Holmes series, directed by cinematographer-turned-director Rodney Gibbons and starring Matt Frewer as the world's most famous detective, and Kenneth Welsh as his sidekick Dr. Watson. The company produced three more made-for-movies about Holmes so far with the same stars and director - "The Sign of Four" "The Hound of Baskervilles" and "The Case of the Whitechapel Vampire," but "The Royal Scandal" is probably the most curious entry in the series.

For "The Royal Scandal" is actually amalgam of two short stories by Conan Doyle: "A Scandal in Bohemia" and "The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans." Whatever the intention of mixing them together for one episode, the film is interesting in bringing together two memorable characters in the original's 60 stories - Irene Adler and Mycroft Holmes.

"The Royal Scandal" opens with a German Prince's request to retrieve a compromising photo of him and opera singer Irene Alder (Liliana Komorowska) who is actually a cleverest criminal. Holmes' investigation leads him and his partner Watson into the world of murder and international politics and conspiracies.

Anyone who is not a purist of Holmes canon would find the story a so-so entertainemt with a web of mysteries that keep us guessing even though you notice the plot is in fact a pretty generic one, with familiar plot devices that are seen in novels or films about espionage. The cast do their best, but they can hardly make us care what they do, or what they search.

As turning novels into films involve changes, we should not be too critical of the changes done to the source materials, but the fans of the original would resent the changes done in "The Royal Scandal." I'm not talking about the fact that they mixed two tales. I am talking about the fundamental nature of the characters. It is suggested that Holmes was, or still is, romantically attracted to Irene, and in the flashback he confesses his past events at the opera theater in awkward fashion. Even if the filmmakers ignore one of the original's premises, where for Holmes emotions are enemy to his ultra-rational mind - and they are entitled to change to create new image of the detective, I know - "Max Headroom"'s Matt Frewer is not the best choice to depict Holmes in romantic mood, let alone the best Holmes on screen.

Things do not get better with Mycroft, Sherlock's brother, who is reduced to a bureaucrat you meet in John Le Carre novels. Frankly I don't see the point of bringing in the character of Mycroft after erasing everything intriguing about his personalities such as his superb ability of analysis (as great as Sherlock) and his unique lifestyle. Here in this film he is just an overacting bore, with noting that interest us.

"The Royal Scandal" is not totally awful, but it is still true that it is not for those who have read the original books. Even though you haven't read Conan Doyle you know this is just an average mystery tale, which you would not likely watch again.

Frewer's least successful effort.......2007-03-04

Sherlock Holmes has been portrayed in at least 3 iconic series of films and TV productions: those of Wontner, Rathbone, and (best of all) Brett. Matt Frewer is known for his rather manic and off-kilter characters and characterizations. We might expect, therefore, that his performance of Holmes might treat the twilit (sic) lands between Baker Street and Bedlam. In this, he doesn't disappoint.

Anyone interested in purchasing this sitem should, however, be aware that it isn't exactly a new issue. It was originally part of a 4-item collection known appropriately as "The Sherlock Holmes Collection". Alas, this appears to be available through Amazon only from resllers and as of this writing at a rather excessive price. However, there are no doubt other sources, including used-DVD outlets (at one of which O secured my copy.

The third film in this collection is the current item, The Royal Scandal. This is actually a melding of "A Scandal in Bohemia" and "The Bruce Partington Plans" which does no particular favor to either. While some elements of the original plots remain, the resulting mish-mash converts 2 classically designed stories into an overly elaborated pastiche. Irene Adler, whom Holmes forever after referred to as "The Woman", becomes in this version a high-class blackmailer. In the film - not the original - he admires her because she had bested him on an other occasion (involving a sizeable theft). The photograph in question, instead of a relatively innocent formal photo of the King of Bohemia and Irene Adler, is made into a clandestine snapshot of a far more scandalous nature. Holmes is determined to obtain this for his client, now the Crown Prince of Germany, while his brother Mycroft wants to get it for his own purposes.

Holmes does his bit with the preacher disguise at Ms. Adler's house, in the end to no avail. As if Ms. Adler's character were not already sufficiently besmirched, her picture and negative found their way into the possession of Mycroft, who sees to it that the Germans receive copies that merely look like the originals - so, unlike "The King of Bohemia", she is unable to make the noble gesture of revealing her own marriage and promising never to use the photo. We may, I suppose, enjoy the joke on the Germans, inasmuch as the Crown Prince is presumably the future Wilhelm II (and is played that way), who is at the very least a right arrogant b*tch. And Holmes' name gets a bit of blackening by the fact that the film shows him stealing a photo of Irene Adler from her home, rather (as in the story) receiving it from the hands of the King of Bohemia as a reward.

We have here reached the nadir of Frewer's four efforts. Any producer who can trash the good name of Irene Adler and even throw a little soot Holmes' way has certainly got the Tabloid Touch. And it was a clumsy job, with muddled motivations and rampant silliness all around.

My review of the whole collection should be available under that title.

Average customer rating:

The Only Witness
Starring: Kristy Swanson , Vincent Spano , Vladimir Kulich , Bruce Boxleitner , and Tony Todd
Director: Tom Whitus
Manufacturer: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000OIOPL8
Release Date: 2007-06-19

Average customer rating:

Great Story - Deserves to be Seen!
Possibly one of the poorest engineered DVDs I've ever gotten---Spoilers

Small Town Conspiracy
Starring: Zen Gesner , Jeanetta Arnette , William Morgan Sheppard , James Bates Jr. , and Patrick Cherry
Director: Ralph Clemente
Manufacturer: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
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The Good German

ASIN: B000MTEFSW
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Product Description

Based on a true account. In Pearl Harbor, no one saw it coming. In Florida City, one man did. When a Japanese woman is found murdered outside a small Florida town in December of 1941, police chief John Haleran sets out to unravel the mystery. The investigation leads him to a U.S. military base, where he uncovers a shocking government conspiracy...one that will forever change the course of American history.

Customer Reviews:

Great Story - Deserves to be Seen!.......2007-08-14

This is a great story -- beautifully written and well acted, but so poorly engineered that it is almost impossible to enjoy. I recently had the opportunity to speak with the screenwriters, and even THEY agree that it's just about the worst engineering job in the history of the world! The guy who released it should be taken out and shot. Unfortunately, he'll probably never read this, because if he cared at all about his film, he would never have allowed it to be released this way. Too bad, as it is some of the best work that Zen Gesner and Jeanetta Arnette (who you might remember from "Boys Don't Cry") have ever done, and it definitely deserves to be seen.

Possibly one of the poorest engineered DVDs I've ever gotten---Spoilers.......2007-06-17

"Small Town Conspiracy" is supposedly loosely based on a true story that the body of a murdered Japanese woman found in Florida City led to the discovery that the US military knew about the Pearl Harbor invasion in advance and were suppressing this information. That President Roosevelt knew of the attacks on Hickam Air Force Base and allowed them to happen to break the US out of their isolationism has been a popular--and persistent--rumor throughout history. I won't speculate on whether those rumors are true or not. I will sum up the movie's premise and mention its quality and allow you to make up your own mind as to whether you want to watch it.

The story opens in Florida City, December 1941. Police Chief John Halloran is called out to investigate the murder of a young Japanese woman. The town doctor mocks him--the Chief doesn't have a clue about what forensics and what the girl's body can tell him.

Worse, John Halloran is seriously encumbered by an alcohol problem. He struggles through the investigation and when he gets a lead, Halloran manages to involve the old chief. Together, they start chasing down a conspiracy that could change the face of the nation.

Halloran ultimately discovers the US military possesses foreknowledge of the Japanese invasion on Pearl Harbor. Halloran attempts to stop the invasion by sending a message to the War Department which was never received.

The film sounded like it'd be an interesting mystery when my husband and I rented it. "Small Town Conspiracy" might have been good had the quality of the DVD been sufficient. We noted several problems:

The soundtrack was out of synch with the speaking and action--particularly noticeable was when a gun was fired out of synch

The soundtrack volume was very poorly engineered. It was impossible to find a good volume level. Music was too loud, speaking was too low, and any gunfire or mechanical noises almost shook the floor.

All in all, I'm grateful I only paid $4 to rent the film. I doubt a purchased copy would be better and I personally would not choose to buy this DVD.

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