Product Description
Racing superstar John Force is the winningest Hot Rod driver of all time. These days, with the three Force daughters following in Dad's tracks, reconnecting with family is John Force's number one priority. DRIVING FORCE chases after 22-year-old Ashley, 19-year-old Brittany, and 16-year-old Courtney as they burn serious rubber in the male-dominated world of drag racing. But once their helmets are off and they're back at home, the Forces are a family like any other. From the turmoil of a terrifying crash to the excitement of a high school dance, and the sweetness of helping Dad get ready for a date with Mom, life is never slow when you're the fastest family on the block. 2 Disc Set
Amazon.com
From heated arguments at home to thunderous runs down the quarter-mile stretch, Driving Force is an entertaining, warts-and-all portrait of the first family of drag racing. As a 30-year veteran with 14 National Hot Rod Association Funny Car championships to his credit (as of late 2006), John Force is a drag-racing legend, widely regarded as the NHRA's most colorful personality since the two Dons (Prudhomme and Garlits). But as Force confesses in this A&E reality series (which premiered July 17, 2006), nothing could have prepared him for the challenge of raising three girls while juggling his thriving career and the corporate empire he runs out of the wealthy Orange County suburb of Yorba Linda, California. For better or worse, Force is a bossy, selfish, belligerent, foul-mouthed S.O.B. who hollers like the rest of the world was stone deaf, and as these 14 fast-paced episodes unfold, there are many occasions when you just want to throttle the guy and put him out of his (and our) misery. But just as often, you see how Force truly loves his family, which consists of 55-year-old wife Laurie (still married to Force but living separately with their daughters); 23-year-old Ashley, the most focused and promising heiress to Force's drag-racing legacy; rebellious 19-year-old Brittany, a competitive but not-always-devoted racer of Super-Comp dragsters; and 17-year-old Courtney, a former cheerleader struggling (like Brittany) to balance school with her new and still-uncertain racing career.
Like their devoted mother (who understandably grew apart from John while supporting his career), the Force girls are gorgeous, headstrong, and more than a little spoiled, but they form an irresistible team even when they act like trendy "O.C." girls of limited intelligence (as when debating the definition of "original"). With father John as (pardon the pun) a Force to be reckoned with, these young, attractive women hold their own with solid family values, emerging as a close-knit clan more than ready to tackle the everyday challenges of a very demanding sport. From meetings with corporate sponsors to finding time for boyfriends (a topic which gives poor Dad no end of worry), this all-American family enjoys the luxurious perks of success (including three plush homes, limousines, and a very affluent lifestyle), but they're also managing more high-pressure responsibilities than many adults. As siblings, they ultimately prove to be admirably savvy young women who've clearly benefited from the sensible and grounded upbringing that Laurie gave them (indeed, Mrs. Force is the quiet presence that keeps Driving Force from careening out of control), especially since John Force readily admits that "this dad thing doesn't come natural." And while Driving Force serves as an excellent introduction to the dynamic sport of drag racing, it primarily functions as a funny, serious, occasionally toucing and never-boring portrait of a splintered yet close-knit family that anyone can relate to--fast, occasionally furious, anything but perfect, and full of genuine love. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews:
MUST SEE - FOR JOHN FORCE FANS.......2007-07-20
THIS DVD IS A MUST TO SEE FOR ALL DRAG RACING FANS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO LIKE JOHN FORCE. WE HAVE WATCHED IT 3 TIMES NOW WITH DIFFERNT PEOPLE AND EVERYONE SAYS THE SAME THING " THIS GUY IS AWESOME!" LIKE HIM OR NOT YOU WILL LOVE THIS SERIES!
Just as described.......2007-07-03
I received the dvd and John Force book in record time. I've enjoyed both and will be looking for future items by this seller.
Better than Ozzie!.......2007-06-20
Though not enough of the actual racing makes the cut, the reality of family life comes through! As a Dad with two daughters (we're not in the racing business!) I can relate to the story line. They are an American icon family. and it's great to see that they have been documented on film. Better than your average flick. I would highly recommend seeing them race in person, and recommend this DVD to those who have seen them in action. A great look into a real family, as harsh as it may seem. Go Force Racing!
Bloody Entertaining.......2007-02-19
Well presented, enjoyable romp with the Force family. John is a madman! The girls tolerate the well meaning old bugger....and I bought this from Australia, and was delighted with Wolfmother's opening theme!
A lot of fun...and with the racing thrown in, even better!
my husbands favorite movie.......2007-02-07
this is my husbands favorite racers and loved he's heros movie
Average customer rating:
- Once the shooting starts, it's great
- Excellent
- Piece of cake is good realism
- Thinking about the war 30 years on
- Squadron life
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Piece of Cake
Starring:
Tom Burlinson ,
Neil Dudgeon ,
Jack McKenzie ,
Tom Radcliffe , and
George Anton
Director:
Ian Toynton
Manufacturer: Bfs Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
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Dark Blue World
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ASIN: B00004W5P1
Release Date: 2000-10-01 |
Customer Reviews:
Once the shooting starts, it's great .......2007-06-12
If I could describe "Piece of Cake" in a single phrase I would use "off-centered." As noted by other reviewers, a good deal of the story unfolds in the Phony War period. This is not altogether boring, but frankly, the series should have concentrated on the 1940 Battle of France and the Battle of Britain (the latter of which gets dealt with rather peremptorily).
This being said, the flight scenes and combat are first-rate. For me, a particularly haunting bit was the last flight of the squadron commander Rex. The notion of a badly wounded man high as a kite on morphine trying to lead a squadron of fighters into the buzz saw of the Luftwaffe is sobering and pathetic to say the least.
So for anyone who rents or buys this, I would say if you get bored in the first several hours start fast forwarding it to the combat. You won't be bored watching that.
Excellent.......2007-05-28
I recalled watching this series many years ago and am delighted I now own the set of episodes. All WWII aviation buffs need to see this series.
Piece of cake is good realism.......2007-05-14
Let me say it was good - and why. I thought it was a movie and found it was a collection of a series of stories set in WW2. The realism was excellent in that it was not a modern day romance, but factual in how people related to one another a half a century or more ago.
Friends who have watched the movie with us liked it too...even though one said that she probably wouldn't.
My husband's only critic of the movie was that the Spitfires that they used were Mark 9's and not Mark 1&2's..as was the case in the time period of the movie.
The air combat scenes were excellent.
Thinking about the war 30 years on.......2007-02-13
Years ago I had a boyfriend whose dad had flown with the RAF. As we were in the midst of the VietNam War I'm ashamed to say that I viewed his stories with disdain. Thirty years and a lot of experience later, I realize that he and his companions sacrificed a lot and movies like Piece of Cake show that, while they were by no means paragons of virtue, what they did deserves our admiration and yes, our thanks. Like others, I was fascinated by the storyline and with every episode I tried to figure out who out of the original squadron was still left. And again I was reminded of my friend's dad and the few friends that he said came home with him. I agree with the person who wrote how frustrating it was not to be able to figure out who was shot because we often weren't sure, outside of the main characters like Rex and Moggy and Fanny and Chris, who was who. I do have one question which is who was the other flyer who was left? I think it was 'Haggis' but I thought that Haggis had been shot down in Episode 3 or 4. Oh and thanks to the reviewer who mentioned that 'Flash' became 'Inspector Lynley'!! It had driven me crazy trying to think where I'd seen him before!
Squadron life.......2007-01-11
A nice serie. Can enjoy the life of a Squadron in the times of War. Different caracters enjoyable. Flew Spitfires a little too early in time.
Average customer rating:
- stephen king
- love this series
- Kingdom Hospital 5 Stars
- Check out the Danish version of this series
- Quirky good!
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Stephen King Presents - Kingdom Hospital
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
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ASIN: B00000F3SB
Release Date: 2004-10-12 |
Amazon.com
Kingdom Hospital is horror novelist Stephen King's adaptation of Danish director Lars Von Trier's cult miniseries The Kingdom, geared very much for an American audience. The story unfolds across 15 hours, telling the story of a hospital in Maine that's been built on the site of a 19th-century mill fire that killed most of its young occupants--themes that King fans will be familiar with. In the present day, Kingdom Hospital is haunted by the ghost of 10-year-old child worker Mary and, even more bizarrely, a fearsome giant anteater-like creature called Antubis. It falls to the ace doctor Hook (Andrew McCarthy), the paraplegic artist Jack Coleman (Peter Rickman), and the hypochondriac psychic Sally Druse (Diane Ladd) to enlist the help of a surreal assortment of hospital staff and patients to help Mary and save Kingdom Hospital itself from certain doom.
Fans of Stephen King will probably enjoy the blend of black comedy, spectral horror, and general weirdness, which owes a big debt to previous television series like Twin Peaks and even ER. But too often, Kingdom Hospital seems to be trying too hard to make itself into a cult series, something which King is just not a subtle enough writer to carry off. But Kingdom Hospital looks good, especially the CGI Antubis, who steals every scene in which he appears. Generally, though, the series is more of an entertaining experiment than a cult-in-the-making. --Ted Kord
Description
Kingdom Hospital is the first television series written and produced by Stephen King, the legendary master of horror. Kingdom Hospital is not like other hospitals - it is built on the wreckage of two horrific fires. The first fire, during the civil war, burned down the gates falls mill where small children toiled away under nightmarish conditions - nearly all of the long-suffering children were trapped and died in the fire. The second fire destroyed the "old Kingdom," a creepy hospital where an evil doctor performed hideous experiments on patients. The "new Kingdom" is the site of strange, paranormal phenomena, where the unquiet dead still roam.
Customer Reviews:
stephen king.......2007-08-23
I am very impressed with the way my order was handled even after a slight glitch. Thank you.
love this series.......2007-08-07
the quality and layout of the dvds was excellent. and the special features were well worth the price.
Kingdom Hospital 5 Stars.......2007-08-05
I love this movie my husband got it for me on DvD & I just love it.
Stephen King always has the best movies. This one is very long but it is worth watching!!!
(BIG THUMBS UP)
God bless
RebelReader
Check out the Danish version of this series.......2007-03-22
I watched the Danish version (the title is "Kingdom") first and I love it. The characters, plot, and music are just great! My boyfriend loves the Danish version better, too. Whether you like Stephen King's version or not, if you haven't seen the original series, you should definitely check it out(but the DVD available on Amazon is only the first part). It's more creepy and the music effect is way better.
Quirky good!.......2007-03-10
This DVD set definitely is not for everyone! It is very quirky and you will need to appreciate King's sense of humor to enjoy it. I don't think this mini-series even made it through its entirety on T.V. before being cancelled, but not sure. At any rate, if you are looking for some light-hearted dark humor with talking ant-eaters, bumbling doctors and two Down's Syndrome cuties that just about out-wit the docs, this is the one for you.
Description
Years into the future, aliens and humans try to live in peace and harmony -- but can they? While Earth opens its doors, the Power Rangers open an academy to develop the next generation of highly trained peacekeepers. It's none too soon when a planet-conquering alien force turns its destructive attention to Earth. When A Squad goes missing, B Squad must rise to the occasion. To join the fray they must join forces, using teamwork, intergalactic weaponry, and light-speed Zord vehicles to battle evil. All that stands in the way of Earth's demise and the fall of our universe is the newest breed of Power Rangers: S.P.D. -- Space Patrol Delta!
Customer Reviews:
Example That The Power Rangers Have Officially Jumped The Shark.......2006-03-13
I remember when I was a kid, the Power Rangers were incredibly popular. The monsters, fight scenes, villains, costumes, what wasn't to like? Then, the show went into over time. Zeo, Turbo, Space, Lost Galaxy, Time Force, and more came. Soon, the show became even bigger. But then, the quality decreases. I viewed Ninja Storm and Wild Force to see why people younger now like it less. I could see why. The characters were no longer interesting, they tried to be more violent with the thirty minute time, but always looked silly. And unlike the really awesome Lord Zedd, these new villains were incredibly bad(an evil wrestler a villain does not make). So I just forgot all about the series until the next one, Dino Thunder, got promising reviews. So I saw it. Surprisingly, Dino Thunder was fairly good. So, I was ready for SPD. The costumes looked amazing, the idea of humans and aliens was neat, and the fight scenes looked like they'd be cool. So, then the anticipated series appears. It begins well enough, but then becomes a cheesy and dull saga. Piggy had no reason to be there, since he was as annoying as the irritating Boom. Grum was pathetic compared to ACTUAL villains, sadly leaving Broodwing little screentime. Though Sid and Z were, may I say, hot, they were not that impressive in character. The retro music got old fast as it was reused. The action started off incredibly but then became the dreaded "same old thing".
So overall, this saga just shows how bad the series got after a while. At least this new series, Mystic Force, is showing progress over the dark ages of SPD.
power rangers, necessary evil .......2005-08-16
As far as Power Ranger movies go, this one ranks right up there......according to my 5 year old son. If you need to get the dishes, laundry or cleaning done, this one will keep your son glued to the tv for at least an hour! I'm not really a fan, but he is and it is one thing that I know will keep him occupied with no complaints!
power rangers spd 1.......2005-08-11
yes go review but dont opening the dvd power rangers bye
The best Power Rangers DVD to date. .......2005-06-22
Let me start this review off by saying that if you've been disappointed in the past with the lack of Power Rangers DVDs, their content, and the quality, you have no need to fear any longer.
The plot: The year is 2020 and Earth is now home to humans and aliens alike. While 99% of the aliens live in peace, there's always 1% that can't. To deal with them, Earth enlists the help of a "Galactic Police Group" known as S.P.D., or "Space Patrol Delta." Early on S.P.D. is faced by an invasion force, and sends their A-Squad to the front lines, leaving only their B-Squad cadets to defend Earth.
As one would assume, the B-Squad Cadets are then given Ranger powers and the real story begins...
The show is well done from both a technical and artistic point of view, especially for a Power Rangers series. In the first episode simply titled "Beginnings" which is an hour long, we see three cadets who are still green behind the ears. These guys are not your perfect little Power Rangers the way they were in the older shows. One is fairly nervous, one is a bit ditzy, and one is naïve and obnoxiously arrogant. Likewise the final two Power Rangers aren't even your standard "goody-goody civilians" as in past years - they're street thieves! Clearly this group has its' vices, and they make the character's seem more realistic.
Following "Beginnings" (a 2-part episode) we see episode #3 which is called "Confronted." This episode is probably one of the weaker entries into the series, but it does have some high points, such as the Red and Blue Rangers' constantly locking heads. I mentioned an arrogant and naïve character before; that's Sky, the Blue Ranger. While his counterpart in Red isn't quite perfect either, he's far less obnoxious.
The next episode is called "Walls." While I find the episode interesting, and highly enjoyable, I repetitively find myself wanting to scream the words "SHUT UP SKY!" at my TV. Apparently this was the director's intent as the final scene of this episode has him scrubbing the outside of the Ranger's base with a toothbrush a la boot camp. I enjoyed that scene quite a lot, especially after Sky's constant kvetching about not being the Red Ranger.
The last episode on the disc is titled "Dogged." While it had the potential to be the worst episode of the season, it's just the opposite. It's funny, it's tragic, and it's one of the most well filmed and well-written episodes in the shows' history. The moral too the story is done in a very subtle way and looks more like a plot from "Star Trek" than from Power Rangers.
Technical Features: The menus on this DVD are better than that of past Power Rangers DVDs. Last season's menus were probably the worst I've seen in awhile. Disney owed us and they came through. The motion menus on this disc rival those of major motion pictures, including the new Star Wars Trilogy DVD Box. The average DVD Collector would be pleased.
In addition the Disc is encoded with Dolby Surround Sound. Playback on my TV through an S-Video cable using 4.1 THX Certified Speakers really pulls the surround sound to the foreground and shows how well this disc was made.
Extras: If you bought the early Power Rangers Ninja Storm DVDs, you probably scoffed at the extras, which were a bit of a joke, even for the target demographic. If you bought the Power Rangers Dino Thunder DVDs you probably felt the same way and wondered why two episodes of the previous season were deemed "extras" rather than a new disc. With Power Rangers S. P. D. however, the extras are pretty good. The first is based on those old "Join the ARMY" PSAs, and relates to joining S. P. D. - Disney includes a website URL for anyone interested. This is fairly humorous and I confess, I did enjoy it. The second extra is a "Zord Simulator," which is similar to an arcade style video game. Most people will probably complain that we still don't have deleted scenes, or "standard" extras, but given the target audience, this is probably a nice extra, and it beats the Dino Thunder virtual trading cards that couldn't be traded with anyone.
Packaging:
This is admittedly this DVDs weak spot; the packaging isn't even on par with what some fans have done for their collections. It looks like a five minute Photoshop job and for such a well-done DVD I would have expected better. In addition my first copy of this Disc (I purchased two of them.) was loose in its' case, a common problem with Buena Vista Home Entertainment DVDs. Especially Power Rangers DVDs which I've had to return on five occasions due to the disc not being pushed all the way into the center hub and being scratch upon purchase. Disney should fix this on future releases. Shake the case when you get the disc or you may find a nasty surprise when it's all scratched up as you open it. (Disney will replace the Discs for free though if you call them and pay for the shipping as well so it's not so much a loss as it is a nuisance.)
Additional notes:
When watching this DVD, long-time Power Rangers fans should be ready to look for some serious "in-jokes" - younger fans will appreciate them too if they view the Power Rangers Generations block on ABC Family. Here are a few things to watch out for:
- The A-Squad Power Rangers have the helmets from Power Rangers in Space with a slight modification made to them.
- Fans of the shows' Japanese counterpart will recognize the character of "Doggie Cruger" as a nod to his Japanese counterpart, "Doggie Kruger."
- The same man who wrote the original Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers theme song, Ron Aaron Wasserman, composed the theme song.
The Good: Five episodes on the first DVD for once. The show is excellent, and the DVD is better than I expected.
The Bad: Disney is still making "Mini-movies" rather than standard episode. The opening and ending credits have been lifted from every episode with the exception of Beginnings (opening credits) and Dogged (ending credits) having one set of credits. This is really a style issue, but it annoys me.
The Ugly: A packaging issue that has been a problem since Prelude to a Storm was release is still plaguing Power Rangers DVDs. I seriously hope Disney is trying to fix this, as it's a pretty common flaw.
Final verdict: If you're a Power Rangers fan, buy this DVD. If you're a parent, you won't be disappointed and you may find yourself enjoying this disc as well. DVD Collectors will most certainly have mixed feelings on this disc though, while young children and teenagers will most likely enjoy it. This is the best Power Rangers DVD release to date, satisfying younger and older fans alike. If you like this series, I recommend checking out Power Rangers Time Force which amazon.com also has for sale. It's only on VHS, but it's similar in style to Power Rangers S.P.D.
Interesting Power Rangers series.......2005-06-14
I was a fan of the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers back in the day. Once that version ended, and was turned into Power Rangers: Zeo, I quickly lost interest. With each following version, I made it a point to check out at least one episode out of curiosity, but didn't really see anything about them which interested me (though I've since come to appreciate the version known as Time Force).
Last year, I was drawn back in with the return of Jason David Frank as Tommy for Power Rangers: Dino Thunder. I found that version to be quite entertaining. Especially given all of the little in-jokes and references to the past. I was sad to see that version come to an end.
During Dino Thunder's time on the air, I was also introduced to Power Rangers' Japanese counterpart, Super Sentai. Among the SS shows I managed to track down was what was then the most recent version, Tokusou Sentai DekaRanger. This show was absolutely fantastic. I loved the idea of a team who was charged with protecting the planet from hostile extraterrestrial intelligence (and done in a much better fashion than the less than stellar Men in Black films).
With the end of Dino Thunder, it was time for the new version of Power Rangers to debut. This time it would be derived from, you guessed it, Tokusou Sentai DekaRanger.
Power Rangers: S.P.D. (Space Patrol Delta), maintains the basic premise of DekaRanger, but gives it its own unique spin. For example, they maintained the idea of their leader being an alien dog creature, Doggie Cruger (I believe the spelling is slightly different between the Japanese and U.S. versions). However, rather than being a soft, furry dog alien, as he is in DekaRanger, Cruger is a hard, scaly, almost reptilian looking alien dog creature.
Another example is in the maintaining of the different Rangers having unique powers (such as the ability to read minds) when not morphed into their Ranger forms. Though, again, what the powers are is not necessarily the same as the ones in its Japanese counterpart.
For me, though, the best part of the American "S.P.D." is the action. This version of Power Rangers is absolutely slick in its action content. I would say the fight sequences/choreography is on par with such aci-fi action series as Mutant X (i.e.: quite excellent, esp. given its low budget). Though in some sequences, it does fall prey to the obvious stunt doubles (something which even high quality genre shows like Star Trek, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer have fallen prey to as well).
On the downside, there is at least one character among the Rangers themselves who is rather annoying. That being Sky, the Blue Ranger. Between all of his prattling on about how he would be best suited to be named the Red Ranger, and then his whining upon being named Blue, I wanted to strangle him by the end of the DVD.
On the whole, though, whether you are a Power Rangers fan or not (though I can't imagine why you'd be looking at this item if you're not a fan already), I would very much recommend checking out this title. As far as Power Rangers goes, it really is quite excellent.
Amazon.com
Top Gun gets the reality-TV treatment in American Fighter Pilot, a riveting seven-hour TV series that grants an all-access pass to the Air Force's most elite pilot training program. Produced immediately following the terrorist attacks on New York's World Trade Center on 9/11/01, this is a serious examination of Air Force culture and the profound responsibility of warriors-in-training. The glory and glamour of being an F-15 "Eagle Driver" is presented as a noble privilege, in addition to the sheer adrenaline rush of piloting the Air Force's most versatile jet-fighter killing machine. Coproduced by Top Gun director Tony Scott and his director brother Ridley, and created with intelligent focus by Jesse Negron, AFP follows every stage of a pilot's rigorous 110-day training course at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, where "Top Gun" hopefuls endure an intense regimen of academics, flight simulation, two-man flights with intensely critical trainers, solo flight tests, basic fighter maneuvers, weapons deployment, dogfight combat scenarios and, ultimately, the selection of a "Top Gun" pilot in each graduating class.
There's plenty of high drama and male bonding to accompany AFP's wall-to-wall soundtrack. Most of the series' appeal comes from its focus on three well-chosen pilots-in-training: A promising Top-Gun candidate with prior experience as a B1 Bomber pilot; a devout Christian and expectant first-time father; and a hot-shot maverick who learns there's more to being a fighter-ace than living the Tom Cruise lifestyle. Their different personalities give the series a perfect blend of style and substance, and the constant threat of failure gives each of them added depth and conviction that anyone can relate to. These are proud, respectable young men who are living their dream, but AFP never forgets the higher purpose to which they've been called. A basic "making-of" featurette shows how the series' amazing in-flight footage was achieved. --Jeff Shannon
Description
Complete Season One Set -- contains 7 hours of programming, plus bonus materials including "the making of" documentary, interviews with Tony Scott, Jesse Negron and Leon Malas, additional footage, effects and animation and much more!
Customer Reviews:
don't bother with this one.......2007-05-28
american fighter pilot , I might have watched it on free to air tv but don't bother buying it's a disapointment , I guess I hoped for more or some , actual inside plane footage , not just a Big Brother show that happened to include pilots ,
american top guns.......2007-05-13
Great documentary if you like fighter jets and what it takes to get there then this series is well worth it
A great program, polluted with some annoying editing.......2007-04-29
I originally found out about this program when viewing a Google Video trailer for a documentary that used to be called "Eagle Drivers". The trailer included various briefing shots, small insights about life in a squadron, and some vary nice aerial and flightline footage. I was thrilled that someone was going to release a documentary that actually went into some detail about the training procedures and life as an aspiring military aviator instead of a dull narrative dubbed to dated, stock footage of military flying.
I did a little bit of searching and discovered that the project had turned into a "reality" TV show which was unfortunately canceled after a few episodes had aired. I wasn't able to find any more footage online than just the trailer, and I was very intrigued to check out the show. I found it here and was a little put-off by some of the reviews, but I decided to take the plunge.
It is a 3 DVD set and spans 7 one-hour episodes an an hour-long interview. The show follows 3 Lieutenants who are beginning training at Tyndall AFB in Panama City, FL to fly and fight in the F-15C. A big part of what drew me to the program is how much I like that plane. 2 of the pilots, Todd Giggy and Marcus Gregory, are straight out of Undergraduate Pilot Training and only have a small amount of flying experience from the airframes there (the T-37 and T-38). The other pilot, Mike Love, has former experience as a B-1 pilot.
They are filmed during various briefings and debriefings, simulator and centrifuge training, at the squadron bar, at home with their families, and there are a lot of shots with comments and personal insights from the pilots themselves. There are also numerous commentary shots from instructors and family members of the pilots, and it is really a great way to get a personal view of what is going on.
There was a lot of great aerial footage in the trailer I watched, and I saw that great aerial footage again. The only problem was that this footage was all I saw in pretty much every flying scene. It becomes increasingly obvious with each episode that they had a small amount of aerial and cockpit footage and they had to reuse it in as many different ways possible, such as reversing the image, using high-contrast filters on some shots, etc.
There are also some staged cockpit shots in which the pilot jerks the stick and throttle around, complete with exaggerated "clanging" sound effects. It was a little cheesy, but it's understandable that the camera crew probably would not be allowed to film a ton of flying footage. However, there are a lot of great shots of the flightline at Tyndall, and it's a pretty awe-inspiring sight to see the groups of planes all taxiing together at Tyndall on a sunny day.
All this talk about the footage gets me to the complaint that I'm sure you've already read about numerous times. The editing. The show is edited in the cheesy, short-attention span MTV style. Camera angles change rapidly every few seconds and random parts of dialog are emphasized with cheesy echo sounds put on the voice and a caption of the words placed on the screen. Although it is disappointing, I can understand why this editing might be necessary on the flying scenes since they apparently didn't have a lot of footage, but it gets pretty annoying after a while. Some of it seems really unnecessary though, like the captions during simulated training missions stating whether each pilot passed or not, as if the viewer really couldn't tell by watching the show.
Although all of the episodes are abundant in this cheesy style of editing, it seems to cool down a bit after the first few episodes. There's a lot less of the "emphasis on a particular phrase" thing. The thing that disappoints me the most is just that I wish they would have spent more time in each episode on each particular part and not jump around so much, but this is understandable because most average television viewers would not be looking for a very in-depth look at what goes on.
A lot of people claim the show was canceled because of its editing style, but I disagree. A majority of the "reality" shows you see on major-networks have editing just like this and they seem to do fine. I think the show was canceled because the average viewer isn't too interested in military aviation to begin with, and because there actually isn't really a ton of drama going on throughout the program (which is what most of these average viewers want). It's a real shame, but at least those of us who do care about what happened can now purchase this DVD set.
Anyway, if you can look past the editing, there is a great program here. Although it is not the most in-depth look at it you could ever get, it does put things into perspective a bit and gives you a very good idea of what the pilots have to go through and it is very entertaining. I'd highly recommend this program to anyone who is at least moderately interested in military aviation.
The story is good but the editing is bahhh........2007-04-27
I brought this together with the following:
Blue Angels: A Year In The Life
Fighter Pilot - Operation Red Flag (IMAX) (2-Disc WMVHD Edition)
The Magic of Flight (IMAX) (2-Disc WMVHD Edition) D
IMHO the editing of the video is like a movie trailer and too much gimmick. There are far too many scenes of dialoges remix and flashy replays. It slow down the rhythm of the story needlessly. To a certain point I got a little frustrated and thought I was watching a Rap /Hip Hop MTV. I did finish watching the whole video and think one can get use to the editing if one makes it through the first episode.
Apart from the bad thing mentioned, I actually enjoy the story of the three student pilots, however it was a bit too dramatic to my taste. e.g. they all face disqualification crisis in the story but all made it pass on their last try. Nice (but only okay video quality) dogfight scenes. Most are played out in external 3rd person views, just don't expect to see any great cockpit action. I get better treat from my F-16 flight sim cockpit.
All in all it may worth your money if you are really into jet fighter stuff, since there ain't much choice out there when it comes to fighter pilot documentary.
A Great Inspiring Video Worth Your Money.......2007-04-01
A great story about patriotism and overcoming obstacles to achieve your dream. A lesson more Americans need to hear today. I used to fly with this squadron in the early 90's as a geek in the back seat of the I.P.'s jet when they were teaching these students and I can tell you that this video only covers a small portion of everything these pilots have to go through. Buy this video and show it to everyone you know.
Average customer rating:
- Three Sovereigns for Sarah
- Three Sovereigns for Sarah
- Worth buying and sharing
- Love Thy Neighbor
- The whole truth of the Salem Witch Hunts
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Three Sovereigns for Sarah
Starring:
Vanessa Redgrave ,
Kim Hunter ,
Will Lyman ,
Patrick McGoohan , and
Ronald Hunter
Director:
Philip Leacock
Manufacturer: PBS (Direct)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
General
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True Story
| By Theme
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Fighting the System
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| Video
Miscarriage of Justice
| By Theme
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Drama
| Kids & Family
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Bargen, Daniel Von
| ( B )
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Duffin, Shay
| ( D )
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Hunter, Kim
| ( H )
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Lyman, Will
| ( L )
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McGoohan, Patrick
| ( M )
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Plunkett, Maryann
| ( P )
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Redgrave, Vanessa
| ( R )
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Thaxter, Phyllis
| ( T )
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Leacock, Philip
| ( L )
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( T )
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All
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Similar Items:
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In Search of History - Salem Witch Trials (History Channel) (A&E DVD Archives)
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The Crucible
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The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege
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A Delusion of Satan: The Full Story of the Salem Witch Trials
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The Scarlet Letter
ASIN: B0009E32FM
Release Date: 2005-06-07 |
Amazon.com
This dramatization of a true story deals with one of the most troubling episodes in early American history, the "witch hysteria" that convulsed the village of Salem, Massachusetts, in the 1690s. Noted actress Vanessa Redgrave plays Sarah Cloyce, who years later, is seeking to clear the names of her sisters who were executed as witches. The historical basis for this drama is the fact that early in the 1700s the colonial government offered to pay reparations to the survivors of those who had been killed, but only if their relatives could somehow prove that the deceased were not in fact witches. Redgrave's character, in telling the story of her sisters' tragedy, shows the difficulties face by the accused, who really had no way to defend themselves against accusations that were, by definition, supernatural. Using actual transcripts of some of the trials as the basis for the dialogue, the production sacrifices some dramatic flair while striving to remain historically accurate, yet seeing how the peculiar madness of the witch hunt developed over time remains fascinating. Redgrave's performance, as might be expected, stands out, and she does a fine job of portraying how literally earthly concerns--paltry disputes over land ownership--eventually snowballed into a frenzy that saw 20 people executed and scores of others jailed on suspicion of witchcraft. --Robert J. McNamara
Description
This is a true story. Nineteen people were hanged and one old man pressed to death, while hundreds of others suffered in jail cells during the witch hysteria" of 1692. THREE SOVEREIGNS FOR SARAH is the most accurate portrayal yet. Each character you will see actually existed, actually spoke many of the words you will hear. Original transcripts of the trials are woven into the dialogue.
Customer Reviews:
Three Sovereigns for Sarah.......2007-01-31
Having been in Salem,Mass. We found this movie very interesting. We once had this movie, loaned it out, did not get it back, so I was very delighted to find it and again add it to our DVD Collection.
Three Sovereigns for Sarah.......2007-01-15
Received in the time promised. Have not viewed the DVD as yet but I have always been satisfied and I am sure that I will be satisfied this time, also.
Worth buying and sharing.......2007-01-10
Well done. Historically accurate. Realistic portrayal of true Christians.
Love Thy Neighbor.......2006-07-27
Although portions of this movie are fictionalized, all the characters are the same age an relationship to their real life counterparts. This dramatization of the Salem witch trials gives a satifactory explaination for both the actions of the girls "bewitched" and the reason common sense was ignored at the trials. I feel it's a story each generation needs to hear so that history doe not repeat itself.
The whole truth of the Salem Witch Hunts.......2006-03-04
At no time in recent history was this film more important, given the current right wing bent on our political leadership in this country. This film shows the financial and controlling impetus that culminated in the deaths of so many people in Salem Mass, under the guise of witchcraft. While the acting is superb, and the cinematography and sets are wonderful, the true value of this film lies in the fact that the story was taken directly from the historical accounts of the actual experience.
This a not a novel come to film. This is history and should be viewed by feminists, activists and any progessive thinking people who want to understand the machinations of local government who are desirous of property. Especially now that we have the new laws on eminent domain.
Product Description
Hang on tight for legendary entertainment as the complete Dark Wish saga unfolds in this spectacular, full-length blockbuster DVD. The Power Ranger's heroic crusade for good vs. evil is put to the ultimate challenge when a wicked mystic army drains all color and hope from Earth. Now the five teens chosen to fulfill their destiny and become powerful, protective warriors have lost their power and must fight to restore it. Join the next generation of Power Rangers as their most thrilling, action-packed adventure is captured on screen with awesome special effects and extraordinary space creatures -- both good and bad!
System Requirements:
Running Time: 63 Minutes
Format: DVD MOVIE
Amazon.com
Since 1993's Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, the clan based on Japanese Super Sentai has changed twelve times, so it's tricky to keep up with characters and stories. Ultimately, Power Rangers fight evil, and in this new feature, Power Rangers Mystic Force: Dark Wish, the Mystic Force aims to do so by harnessing the awesome power of white magic. The Mystic Force so resembles Go-Bots and Transformers, in that they join together to form giant, unbeatable fighting beasts, that one wistfully remembers the great Japanese robot monsters dating back to Godzilla. In Dark Wish, Briarwood, the magic forest, is threatened by Imperius. He manages to steal the Power Rangers' genie cat, Jenji, to wish the Power Rangers erased from existence in the minds of all who knew them, thus negating their powers. A world of darkness ensues, portrayed in black and white, while the Power Rangers struggle to reclaim their powers. When they do, they come back as the all-powerful Mystic Force Legend Warriors, backed by the elements: Green Legend Warrior by Earth (played by Richard Brancatisano), Pink by Wind (Angie Diaz), Blue by Water (Melanie Vallejo), Yellow by Lightning (Nic Sampson), and Red by Fire (Firas Dirani). Spectacular fight scenes cancel out bad acting, and the villains have impressive costumes. Imperius's collar, for example, is a bird nest filled with colored plastic eggs. As in Lord of the Rings or in Princess Mononoke, Earth's beauty is at stake, connecting magic to its nature-based roots. With so many heavy battles and scary monsters, Dark Wish will thrill older kids, though its positive message is potent for kids of all ages. -Trinie Dalton
Customer Reviews:
Power Rangers Gets Better & Better........2006-09-15
Finally, Power Rangers that is better thought out & doesn't insult the intelligence of the youngsters.
the greatest power ranger adventure yet!.......2006-07-12
Jenji is captured by the forces of and evil. And his power is used to wish The Rangers never got their powers!( Which also means Madison never released Daggeron) And the whole world is stripped of its color and conquered by evil! The Power Rangers must convince the magical tribunal to give them their powers back in this full-length movie adventure!
Description
After an age-old curse is broken, followers of dark magic -- now freed from their underground world -- threaten Earth. An ancient legend foretells five mystic warriors will master magic to combat the looming darkness. The new recruits -- thrilled to be superheroes with magical powers -- team up to battle dangerous witches, wizards, trolls, and beasts . . . but not until one reluctant candidate embraces the Red Ranger role and saves the day. A lesson is learned that real heroes are born in the fight for freedom ... and the Mystic Force is destined to keep the peaceful planet out of evil hands!
Customer Reviews:
Power Rangers Mystic Force - Broken Spell (Vol. 1) review.......2007-05-13
This dvd shows how the Mystic Force Power Rangers first met and gained their powers, The special effects are alot better than earlier series of Power Rangers, but still have plenty of room for improvement although young children don't seem to mind. It has more of a medieval/fairytale feel to it than any other power rangers series with wands,dragons and witch/wizard type characters. My children and I have enjoyed watching it and look forward to watching the rest of the series.
Power Rangers Mystic Force Delivers a Magical Success!!!.......2006-06-09
While Power Rangers Mystic Force in my opinion is not as good as Power Rangers S.P.D. it still remains a great show to be seen. The special effects are the best the show has seen yet, and the music is fantastic. The actors chosen for mystic force are probably the worst the show has had.
power rangers mystic force: broken spell 1.......2006-03-15
I really like the show alot I do hope that power rangers will go on for a long time.
Mystic Force is real good it's even better power rangers S.P.D. I like all the Magic that they do.
Candy
A disappointing start to what seemed a promising season..........2006-03-09
Mystic Force is a mess of a show. This DVD proves that.
Mystic Force suffers from two problems: its pacing and its actors, the latter of which is a very serious problem. This cast is quite simply the weakest cast Disney has ever put together for Power Rangers. It lacks almost everything previous seasons did so well; with Ninja Storm, Dino Thunder and SPD, you felt that it was a group of friends that connected well with each other. You saw them enjoying each other's company. With Mystic Force, you're pretty much told they're friends, and you don't actually see the characters "hang out" like buddies.
On-top of that, the acting is really bad. Terribly bad, in the case of Angie Diaz (Vida) and Nic Sampson (Chip), who always seem to force their lines out of their throats. There's no flow in how they deliver themselves - a good example of this is the third episode, Code Breakers, where Vida and Chip try to do good deed in order to gain more power. It's a brilliant concept for an episode, but is completely spoilt by Diaz and Sampson, who play almost every line with too much enthusiasm. It doesn't sell the story one bit, and comes off as false. And both Vida and Chip ruin the scenes where Madison, a filmmaker, is filming her friends - Vida is a DJ, and she does this really cringe-worthy MC dance when she's on Madison's camera, exclaiming "yeah, wicked, yeah". It's really unbearable. On-top of that, Chip jumps around when Madison films him, knocking things over with no consideration of others. I know his character is meant to be childish to some degree, but not even a 12 year old would act the way Chip does.
The other problem is pacing - it's far too rushed in places, like the zord fights, and over-played in others (Episode Three's bike-fight is the worst offender). However, Mystic Force has some good aspects to it. The opening scene to the first episode has an impressive battle sequence, and it's great eye-candy. The show also has really good fight sequences, both original and Japanese (where the show originates from). Another good thing is the show hits the nail with its Nick, Madison, Xander, Udonna and Clare characters. They all seem natural, although Nick does seem a little weak for the Red Ranger position.
In conclusion, Mystic Force Volume 1 isn't nearly as good as previous seasons, and is definately a mixed bag. Where as last year's show started great and turned sour, this show has started poor. Perhaps it will develop into something great by Volume 2.
Customer Reviews:
Alexander the Pretty Darn Good!.......2007-07-07
For what it is -- an hour-long 1960s TV pilot -- this ain't bad at all! Productions values are okay, and the outdoor locations, though recognizably the American West, are nonetheless spectacular. John Cassavetes and Joseph Cotton turn in fine performances, and Shatner (who never looked better shirtless) shows why he became a worldwide star; he's a more charismatic Alexander than either Richard Burton or Colin Farrell. (Adam West's role is too small to register.) The story is fictional, not historical, but typical of the kinds of yarns that have been woven about Alexander in many lands for many centuries, a mini-melodrama of treachery and wartime intrigue. If only they had gone ahead and made a TV series...but then Shatner would not have made Star Trek, and West would not have played Batman! The bonus featurette, "Hollywood's Epic Films," is essentially a 40-mintue compilation of vintage trailers. All in all, this dvd is well worth the modest price.
Wonderful camp.......2007-06-12
Whether you rate this high or low depends on what you want out of it ... which is why the 3 stars. History? Bah. Not even close. But as a 1960s sword-and-sandals flick? It's a scream. I regularly show it in the class I teach on Alexander when we reach the final lecture, which is about the appropriation of Alexander in latter centuries as symbol and fiction. It's very interesting not for what it tells us about Alexander, but what it tells about American society in the early 1960s. In the West, Alexander is, arguably, the most famous (non-religious) historical figure prior to the 20th Century. He's been used, reused and used again for all sorts of things.
So if you want camp and commentary on US society, that's what you'll find here. History, not so much. :-)
But I will say that Shatner probably played one of the best on-screen Alexanders for both charisma and projection of self-certainty. I really like him better than Richard Burton's earlier portrayal and MUCH better than Colin Farrell's later portrayal. And later, of course, Captain Kirk was really just 'Alexander in Space.'
Quick someone shoot me!!.......2007-01-13
Ex-margarine commercial actor William Shatner as Alexander the Great!?!?
The real Alexander is probably turning in his grave (wherever it is by now)
I cringe at the thought of the acting here. Let alone his speeches. If William Shatner really did lead this army...the Greek and Hellenic world would be doomed from the start.
Bruce Hodson.......2006-11-10
Of its kind very watchable but a bit dated in presentation. However, I was glad to see it and found the direction and production of this movie attractive.
Customer Reviews:
Finally the real thing.......2007-05-16
Unlike the earlier mis-titled "Season 1" DVD that was released in the US a couple of years ago, this Australian import actually contains all the episodes from the real first season of Baywatch when it was an NBC network series. There's no Pamela Anderson or Alexandra Paul. Instead we have former Miss USA Shawn Weatherly, the beautiful Holly Gagnier, and the show's original Playboy playmate, Erica Eleniak. Long-time viewers who miss the flamboyant characters of the later syndicated seasons will have to console themselves with David Hasselhoff's extremely gay hairdo, which was in full bloom even at this early stage. The six-disk set offers absolutely no extras (the episode titles appear in an unnumbered list on the case, and the only way to tell which disk each one is on is to count them off in groups of four), but the hard-case package is good. The quality of the 4x3 video is adequate, but this collection will be a welcome addition to anyone who was interested in the first season of the show.
DVD:
- Dry Cleaning
- Experiencing the Soul: Before Birth, During Life, After Death
- Expresso Bongo
- Father Goose
- Fighting Tommy Riley
- Film Noir Vol. 1: The Stranger/Cause For Alarm
- Frantic/Presumed Innocent
- Fresh Horses
- From Boyhood To Manhood Vol 1
- Genealogies of a Crime
DVD
DVD
John Force: The Straight Story of Drag Racing's 300-mph Superstar
Heart Like a Wheel
Gene Simmons - Family Jewels - Season One
Back in the Day with Dale Jr. - The Complete Season One
Funny Car Summer
