Smallville - The Complete Sixth Season

Description

DVD Features:
Deleted Scenes
Featurette

Customer Reviews:

Smallville - all are superb.......2007-09-16

Although I haven't viewed season 6 on DVD yet, I did watch the season on television, so it has to be just as excellent. I own all seasons of Smallville and they are all superb! Smallville is a GEM of a show.

Smallville, Prison Break, CBS's Cold Case with Danny Pino and Kathryn Morris and Supernatural are all excellent shows with extremely talented actors and actresses.

jimmy

Smallville Season 6.......2007-09-15

I think that Clark and Lois should have more on an intertwining story line. If falling in love is where it is going to eventually lead to, then lets get to it already. Lana is played out. I don't understand why they want the audience to invest hope in a relationship that we know is not going to come happen, well that is assuming the shows intention is to follow the real superman saga. Also Tom Welling is the hottest thing on the planet earth!!!Smallville - The Complete Sixth Season

DC Comics Characters look terrible in Live Action.......2007-09-15

This was the most awful apperance of superheroes in live action ever. Never mind the casting. They all acted wooden and made the kind of acting you see on AS THE WORLD TURNS look like fine art. Then there was the outfits, on the comics page it's colored cartoon underwear, on this show, I will not dignify it with comment, but to say that it's laughable would be too kind.

I knew that this show was a joke, but now I am more convinced then ever that this show, as well as the CW network, DC Comics, Warner Brothers and everyone who work there are among the most untalented fools in Hollywood.

Smallville is still the best........2007-09-11

I just discovered this series last year and now it's probably my favorite show on T.V. When a co-worker told me it was his only "can't miss" show I rented Season One. I was totally hooked and now OWN every season.

Since I watched the whole series in order, the character/plot progression has been fascinating. The relationships and character development really MAKE the show.

Lex and his slow slide to the dark side is more interesting because we see how it happens... how twisted and tragic his upbringing was. Clark's rich relationship with his parents is such a great contrast to Lex and Lionel, (I really missed Johnathan) and his growth toward his "destiny" has been so real (relatable even) and compelling.

Smallville has put it's own unique spin on Clark Kent/Superman and that's ok... In fact, it's been great. It seems like some people are so obsessed with the "Superman myth" they know, that they can't let go and enjoy... Too bad.

It's been a great ride and I want to see where THIS story goes. Clark and Lana have so much on screen chemistry that I'm halfway expecting my T.V. to start smoking every time they're in the same room! Wanting to see them get together STILL keeps me watching. At this point, it's going to be a tragedy if they DON'T wind up together... and knowing the way that Superman's story is "supposed" to go... It's really TOO BAD.

Chloe is a great character that is also unique to Smallville and I love her as Clark's "sidekick" and hope she continues to develop. Lois... is an interesting character too, but as Superman's future soul-mate, she's weak. Clark's relationship and SMOKING HOT chemistry with Lana is so much stronger, I'm really not feeling it with Lois at all. Which is is ok... because this is another unique "take" on the story.

But I'm sure at some point they will feel compelled to force these characters into their traditional roles and I'm not sure how they will get there from here.

Having to stomach seeing Lana with Lex was difficult in season six, but I can't think of one episode that I didn't want to watch again. There are very few T.V. series I can say that about.

It gets a "meh...".......2007-09-09

Smallville is the only television show that I watch on a regular basis that is still on air. Seeing as that is the case, it would be nice if the episodes and characters were consistent. This is sadly not the case in season 6. While there were some very, VERY good episodes in this season ("Zod," "Justice," and "Promise" ["Promise" actually got me to the point of tears it was so good] being the ones that stick out) the rest of the season was lackluster at best. I loved the episodes featuring the Green Arrow - they brought a much-needed alternate perspective of right and wrong, and were just plain cool (nice outfit, man). Other than those few nice episodes, the rest seemed to be repetitive and similar to the "freak-of-the-week" episodes of the terrible first season. I have to say the most dissapointing aspect of this season was the unbelievable, often sporradic character of Lana Lang. She seemed to change from episode to episode, with no real justice to the Lana I used to love from previous seasons. There was also the introduction of Jimmy Olsen who is played by Aaron Ashmore. The acting on his part wasn't too bad, but it seemed that his relationship with Chloe seemed forced at times, and the fact that he only showed up when the writers were in need of a love triangle situation made him seem like a poorly used plot device rather than a fully developed character. The dialogue often caused groans to erupt in the room (from myself AND friends who watch it with me). The poorly developed plot and horrible guest stars (sorry to say, but let's face it, pro-wrestlers aren't great actors and we have TWO this season...) and the hardly bearable change in characters in this mainly character-driven show made this season one of the worst in my opinion. The good episodes were good enough to keep me watching, but the rest either had me laughing at the ridiculous situations and dialogue or groaning at the repitition of it all. All in all, the good ones were really good, the bad ones were really bad, and it just seems to me that there were more bad ones than there were good ones. I still love Smallville, I just really hope that the next season has a little bit of consistency to it...

Average customer rating:

Brilliant Season
Best show on TV
If being LOST is wrong, I don't wanna be right.
The Best Run of Episodes LOST Has Ever Had....
Begins with a blast and ends with a whimper...that you'll never forget

Lost - The Complete Third Season
Starring: Matthew Fox , Evangeline Lilly , Josh Holloway , Dominic Monaghan , and Terry O'Quinn
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

ASIN: B000P6YNSE
Release Date: 2007-12-11

Studio description

Find the answers you've been looking for in the explosive third season of the show USA Today calls "the most gorgeous, audacious, expansive series on network TV." As the power of the island to both heal and destroy comes into sharp focus, the lines between good and evil are blurred and loyalties are challenged when the survivors of the crash become tangled within the lives of the Others. Plan your escape, and immerse yourself in all 23 episodes of Season Three. Go deeper than ever before in this seven-disc DVD box set, complete with hours of never-before-seen bonus features, including secrets from the world of the Others, behind-the-scenes featurettes, unprecedented access to the Lost writers room, and so much more.

Beyond Lost

Lost: The Complete First Season
Lost: The Complete Second Season
The Lost Chronicles : The Official Companion Book by Mark Cotta Vaz

Lost: Music From the ABC Television Series by Michael Giacchino
Lost: Season Two Soundtrack by Michael Giacchino
Bad Twin by Gary Troup

Stills from Lost (click for larger image)

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant Season.......2007-09-03

This season of Lost is, in my opinion, the best season yet! It contains some of the most brilliantly crafted and acted episodes of the series so far. The first six episodes pick up where Season 2 left off and tells the story of what happened to Kate, Sawyer and Jack while being held by The Others. They are all solid episodes but when Lost returned from it's hiatus in February, this show started to heat up like nothing you have ever seen. WOW!!! Some of the Season 3 episodes are likely to go down as some of the BEST television episodes OF ALL TIME! When Season 3 finally reaches it's conclusion with the MIND BLOWING FINALE, you can't help but be profoundly affected.

On a personal note: Desmond, I LOVE YOU! I will look for you until the END OF TIME! Do not give up hope.

Best show on TV.......2007-08-28

Another fantastic season of Lost! The best show on TV pretty much just keeps getting better. Although the third season arguably starts out a little weak, it really picks up in the second half (exactly like season 2 did...) and finishes with a bang.

So much is learned about the 'Others' in season 3, and Michael Emerson steals the show as Benjamin Linus, the best character on the show. Tons of mystery, surprises, action, drama, heartache, humour, etc. Pick this up as soon as you can... but watch first 2 seasons first.

If being LOST is wrong, I don't wanna be right........2007-08-28

Let me just start by saying i have never liked movies about being stranded on an island. Blue Lagoon, Castaway etc etc, i avoid those movies like the plague, why? Lets just say growing up in Chicago i have become used to urban enviroments and movies in general with a lot of stuff going on. How much can possibly go on when stranded on an island, fish? Swim away from sharks? Building a fire? Don't get me wrong, i like character development as much as the next person (never seen a lord of the flies movie but i read the book and did enjoy it, but thats the only stranded scenario i have ever gotten into) but i just couldnt buy the old grass huts and spear fishing cliche over and over again.

So what made me start watching Lost, i hate to say that into the third season i saw a commerical with Evangeline Lily in it and thought to myself, a show with a girl that fine in it has to be at least decent, if anything maybe i could catch some rainy scenes with her in it. So i downloaded the season premiere of season 3, a tale of 2 cities. When i saw the airplane going down after the others (didnt know at the time) came out of their houses i was just blowned away. For one, i thought it was just about a deserted island, instead i get people walking out a neigborhood that looks like surburbia in any ol city. So i thought to myself after watching the episode only one thing....."I have to get the first 2 seasons Now".

Now after being completely won over by the cast of lost for 2 seasons i jumped right back where i left off, the second episode of the 3rd season. Now i heard many reviews about how weak the first 6 episodes are. While it was nothing compared to the second half of the season, it was just basically giving a little insight into who the others really were. The whole dynamic between Jack and Julia is particularly fascinating, simply because Jack never truly falls for Julia like he has fallen for Kate, Julia however falls head over heels for Jack. The fact that they shared the most important bond (getting off the island) drew them closer together.

I enjoyed the episode when Ben shows jack the footage of the world series with Boston winning and the Look on Jack's face is probably the most stunning/revealing Look on the entire run of the show, You feel Jack's Pain that he can't get home but he realizes the world is still going on and it fuels him to do whatever is neccesary. The season picks up like a runaway train with the return of Lost that came on at 10:00pm est. Now, Lost is one of the only shows that can get away with coming on so late..10o'clock at night on the east coast, i am usually in bed by 9:30 and you want me to stay awake till 11:00pm. But you know what...i did it anyway, they could show this show at 3:00am and i would set my alarm clock to watch this outstanding show. Honestly, in my humble opinion their was not one weak episode in the whole season, even the episode "expose" which people seem to loathe for some reason i found enjoyable, sure not as much as others but the ending alone made a chill just go up my spine.

Lost is like crack to me, if i miss an episode i am downloading it the next day just so i can watch it, i am addicted and i will be addicted until my friends get off that darn island, and when they do, thats when i'll be in tears because this show that has brought me so much entertainment will finally be over.....thank goodness for dvd's.

The Best Run of Episodes LOST Has Ever Had...........2007-08-24

Even though the first 6 episodes of Season 3 are rather slow, it is more than made up for with the episodes that follow. Starting with "Not In Portland" (and ignoring "Stranger In A Strange Land") you will not find a better run of episodes in ANY Lost Season. Fantastic stand-outs such as "The Man From Tallahassee", "Par Avion", "Flashes Before Your Eyes", "The Man Behind the Curtain", and especially "The Brig" are just absurdly entertaining and gripping hours of television.

There was a lot of griping over this show in the beginning of Season 3, which unfortunately means a lot of people missed out on the absolutely stellar second half. Pick this up now if you are even remotely interested in the show, and if you are someone who stopped watching early on, I cannot even express how badly you need to see this season. 5 STARS.

Begins with a blast and ends with a whimper...that you'll never forget.......2007-08-15

Another masterful season of "Lost" has come to a crashing, and enigmatic end. For fans (like me) drawn to the show's thrills and riddles, Season 3 didn't disappoint. Like Season 2, you can't just get into the show, but "Lost" more than rewards those who can start from the beginning.

ARE YOU LOST: "Lost" follows the trauma-filled lives and back-stories of the survivors of Oceanic Ft. 815, which crashed on a mysterious island enroute from Sydney to LA. As time passed, and hopes for an immediate rescue dimmed, the survivors realized that they would have to come to terms with their new home, even as (we see in flashbacks) none have proved capable of coming to terms with their flawed lives. We met jack Shepard, a doctor obsessed with fixing whatever's broken, except for his own family. We also met Sawyer, the conman and heroic anti-hero. Kate is the woman between the two of them, a criminal on the run for murder. Locke (Terry O'Quinn) is a man with a long and complicated past - one that crippled him physically as well as emotionally, until he came to the Island, and found himself mysteriously bonded to it.

Then there are The Others. Hinted at until the end of the 1st season, we find by the end of Season 2 that the others inhabit an organized commune on the island. Their purpose and the bizarre strains of their society are slowly pealed away like an onion. At the climax, the Others blackmailed Michael into helping them kidnap Jack, Kate, Sawyer and Hurley. (Hurley was released with orders to warn the rest of the survivors to keep away from their half of the island.) Who are the others, and what is their connection to the shadowy "Dharma Initiative"? And what about "Fake Henry Gale"? Revealing himself as Ben Linus doesn't quite begin to explain his knotty soul - Ben proves to be as trustworthy, a politician of sorts adept at using fear and hatred to manipulate others. (For politically minded viewers, the opening scene of Season 3 will raise disturbing parallels with 9/11, and its principal players.) But in the end, the Others are perfectly drawn because, like the Island, they have a perfectly maintained air of mystery.

In Season 3, Jack must confront the others, find out why he was singled out, and maneuver between them to get Sawyer and Kate to safety. New characters get the Lost treatment, with flashback episodes for Ben, Desmond (the crazy guy found by Locke in The Hatch) and Juliet, a doctor among the others used by Ben to manipulate Jack. We see Locke struggle through a crisis of faith over the island, while Hurley attempts to defeat "the numbers curse" (another great Hurley episode). Returned to the good graces of Claire, Charlie learns that he is marked for a grim fate. These and many other character plot twists abound in Season 3, as "Lost" shows that it's lost none of its momentum. The inertia continues right up to the end of the season finale, which has all the thrills and mystery of the rest of the season and something that the other shows don't - a flash-forward.

Pirates of the Caribbean - At World's End (Two-Disc Limited Edition)

Average customer rating:

Pirates 3 = great movie!
Writer Commentary??
This Is Why Pirates Suck
Why many people hate this movie
Pirates 3=Worst Movie of ALL TIME!

Pirates of the Caribbean - At World's End (Two-Disc Limited Edition)
Starring: Johnny Depp , Orlando Bloom , Keira Knightley , Geoffrey Rush , and Jonathan Pryce
Director: Gore Verbinski
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

( P ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00005JPFX
Release Date: 2007-12-04

Amazon.com

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End is a rollicking voyage in the same spirit of the two earlier Pirates films, yet far darker in spots (and nearly three hours to boot). The action, largely revolving around a pirate alliance against the ruthless East India Trading Company, doesn't disappoint, though the violence is probably too harsh for young children. Through it all, the plucky cast (Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom, Geoffrey Rush) are buffeted by battle, maelstroms, betrayal, treachery, a ferocious Caribbean weather goddess, and that gnarly voyage back from the world's end--but with their wit intact. As always, Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow tosses off great lines ; he chastises "a woman scorned, like which hell hath no fury than!" He insults an opponent with a string of epithets, ending in "yeasty codpiece."!

In the previous Dead Man's Chest, Sparrow was killed--sent to Davy Jones' Locker. In the opening scenes, the viewer sees that death has not been kind to Sparrow--but that's not to say he hasn't found endless ways to amuse himself, cavorting with dozens of hallucinated versions of himself on the deck of the Black Pearl. But Sparrow is needed in this world, so a daring rescue brings him back. Keith Richards' much ballyhooed appearance as Jack's dad is little more than a cameo, though he does play a wistful guitar. But the action, as always, is more than satisfying, held together by Depp, who, outsmarting the far-better-armed British yet again, causes a bewigged commander to muse: "Do you think he plans it all out, or just makes it up as he goes along?" As far as fans are concerned, it matters not. --A.T. Hurley

Description

Just when he's needed most, Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), that witty and wily charmer of a pirate, is trapped on a sea of sand in Davy Jones' Locker. In an increasingly shaky alliance, Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) and Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) begin a desperate quest to find and rescue him. Captain Jack's the last of the nine Pirate Lords of the Brethren Court who must come together united in one last stand to preserve the freedom-loving pirates' way of life. From exotic Singapore, to World's End and beyond, from Shipwreck Island, to a titanic battle, this adventure's filled with over-the-edge action, irreverent humor and seafaring myth and magic. Everything has led to this twisting, turning, wild swashbuckling ride in this final chapter of the Pirates Of The Caribbean trilogy

Customer Reviews:

Pirates 3 = great movie!.......2007-09-11

I have to admit.....when the first Pirates came out I was one of those people saying it would be stupid and I would never watch it, but after some persuasion from my sister-in-law, thought I would give it a chance and you know what....I LOVED IT! I was hooked. I loved Dead Man's Chest and I could not wait until At World's End came out. It turned out to be just as adventurous and fun as the first 2! I am now PIRATES OBSESSED! And I loved that they kept the same characters through all 3 movies. I recommend this movie and the first 2 to everyone!

Writer Commentary??.......2007-09-06

All I have to say is that I sure hope this DVD has feature-length writer commentary from Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio like the previous films did, as it truly turned out to be a MAJOR highlight with those DVDs. I've read that they have not yet recorded any commentary, but they give so much needed insight (needed especially for this film in particular) that their commentary is a MUST. It would be a bit of a disappointment without.

This Is Why Pirates Suck.......2007-09-05

Pirates have always made a terrible theme for a movie. You don't see a lot of big hits based on them do you? I enjoyed the first installment of the trilogy. The second took a sharp dive in the wrong direction. Now, if you took someone who had never seen the movies and told them to watch part one and then watch part 3 right after that, they would be disgusted with how awful the acting has gotten and worse how dull and dry the dialog as well as the story-line had gotten. If you watch all 3 in order you would hardly notice this, take out part two and it becomes more evident that the creators were in a rush to finish a story and get their pay checks.

Why many people hate this movie.......2007-09-04

I think that i know the reason that many people say that the 3rd pirates movie was horrible. I think that it is because people don't watch after the credits!!! After the credits in the 1st movie it shows the monkey grabbing a coin from the chest, and becoming immortal, after the second movie it shows the dog on a throne with a crown, and a big bone in his mouth plus all of the island people are worshipping him!! and of course after the 3rd movie it shows Elizabeth walking towards the beach with her nine or 10 year old daughter, and then it shows Will appearing on davy Jone's (sorry if i spelled that wrong!) ship, and meeting Elizabeth and his daughter. SO IT ISN'T A SAD ENDING LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT IT IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! also if people couldn't follow the plot then maybe they should pay more attention!!!

Pirates 3=Worst Movie of ALL TIME!.......2007-09-04

After being truly engrossed by the first two Pirates movies I was all set for the third movie but I could never have anticipated the letdown. I was stunned at the utter lack of a story in this truly awful movie. The Pirate Lords???? Hallucinatory Jack seeing multple Jack Sparrows??? Swann as Pirate King???? Keith Richards never looked so uncool and silly. What trash. Don't listen to the people who start their reviews of this movie with "I don't care what people say, I loved this movie" It's a lie. Nobody could love this movie and I was a HUGE fan of the first 2. I have never got up and walked out of a movie but I never came closer than this garbage. I couldn't wait for it to be over it was so stupid. Not only will I not buy this DVD to complete the trilogy, but At World's End was so horrid it actually lowered my opinion of the first two. Stay away and hope Depp & Co. actually try with the next one.

Average customer rating:

Sci Fi Channel could use some Serenity
Basically a good review, but with some caveats
Serenity Collector Edition
Great new edition of one of the best movies ever.
One of the best Sci-fi movies to come out in years!!!

Serenity (Collector's Edition)
Starring: Nathan Fillion , Gina Torres , Alan Tudyk , Morena Baccarin , and Adam Baldwin
Director: Joss Whedon
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

ASIN: B000Q9IZ5C
Release Date: 2007-08-21

Studio description

Serenity, the action-packed event that delivers thrilling non-stop adventure, incredible battles in dangerous worlds and spectacular visual effects, is now available in a Special 2-Disc Collector's Edition containing all-new bonus content and never-seen-before footage! With over 30 minutes of all-new special features and special collectible packaging, the Serenity - Collector's Edition is a must own for all true Sci-Fi and Joss Whedon fans! All-new 2-disc edition will include 6 completely new bonus elements including cast & filmmaker commentary. Will also include all bonus features from previous release.

All New Bonus Features:
-Extended Scenes (6:45)
-Take A Walk on Serenity (4:00) Cast and Crew take us on a special tour of the Serenity space ship
-A Filmmaker's Journey (19:49) Take A Journey with Joss Whedon from script to the big screen
-The Green Clan (3:03) An expose on Cinematographer Jack Green and his team
-Sci-Fi Inside: Serenity (21:41) Hosted by Adam Baldwin, an in-depth look at the film that was resurrected from a cancelled television show, as well as its supportive culture.
-Session 416 (7:52) These internet pieces document a portion of River's participation in a psychological study and her interactions with her therapist.
-Feature Commentary with Director Joss Whedon and Cast Members Nathan Fillion, Adam Baldwin, Summer Glau, and Ron Glass

Customer Reviews:

Sci Fi Channel could use some Serenity.......2007-09-17

Folks! Words cannot describe the quality science-fiction to be found
in this film and its parent TV Series Firefly. Next to Farscape, Stargate and Stargate Atlantis, why the Sci-Fi Channel refuses to invest money into a series like this for public consumption leaves one boggled! The writing, acting, effects and direction is superior! You make the right decision in purchasing the Firefly/ Serenity series/ film. You'll be thirsty for more, unfortunately no one will give you that drink!

Basically a good review, but with some caveats.......2007-09-16

A friend had given me the plain edition of Serenity knowing I loved all things Whedon, so I didn't mind paying for the souped up edition. However, I shouldn't have bothered. Not that the extras aren't fine, but they aren't worth a second purchase if you already have the original. Nonetheless, it's still a remarkable pleasure to watch any version of this film.

Serenity Collector Edition.......2007-09-15

So many things good here:

One of the TRULY great films and hardly anyone even knows about it. My highest recommendation for this edition or the original. For this edition:

1) A package so much better than the original release.

2) Bonus material above and beyond the original release.

Still worth getting if you have the original release - I have MULTIPLE copies of BOTH.

Great new edition of one of the best movies ever........2007-09-14

Anyone who hasn't seen Serenity and Firefly, the TV show that preceeded it, doesn't know what they are missing. Really well developed characters, great dialogue, great story, great acting. Joss Whedon writes some of the best female characters around. No idiodic portrayals of a woman dying of a broken heart and leaving her twin babies motherless like someone in a more famous sci-fi movie. These people could be real and they are all characters that are flawed, but have a lot to be admired for too.

One of the best Sci-fi movies to come out in years!!!.......2007-09-14

Whether you have seen Firefly or not, I think there is something anyone can enjoy about Serenity. I actually saw this movie before watching the Firefly series. I was so intrigued by the story I wanted to see more and believe me, I was not disappointed. Firefly is now one of my favorite TV shows of all time with Serenity being on of my favorite movies.

If you have seen Firefly, there probably won't be any need to tell you how good this movie is. I'm sure you will buy it anyway. But if you are a hardcore fan, there are more extras in this collector's edition that I'm sure you won't want to miss.

For those of you who are just looking for a decent science-fiction film, look no further. This movie has great action, humor, and special affects and it truly cares about its characters. Please please please see this movie!!!

The Jungle Book (Two-Disc 40th Anniversary Platinum Edition)

Average customer rating:

A review for parents
A Gem Repolished!!!!

The Jungle Book (Two-Disc 40th Anniversary Platinum Edition)
Starring: Phil Harris , Sebastian Cabot , Louis Prima , George Sanders , and Sterling Holloway
Director: Wolfgang Reitherman
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

Feature Films | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

All Disney Titles | Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment | Stores | DVD | Video

ASIN: B000OLGCI4
Release Date: 2007-10-02

Amazon.com

A classic 1967 Disney animated film that's loosely based on Rudyard Kipling's book of the same name, Jungle Book tells the story of a young boy Mowgli who was raised by animals in the jungle. When tiger Shere Khan threatens to return to their part of the jungle, the other animals decide that Mowgli must return to the man village in order to ensure his safety. Panther Bagheera has difficulty convincing Mowgli to follow him to the man village and recruits the help of a big lovable bear Baloo. Mowgli's journey is one of wit, song, and many surprises. A timeless film populated by strong characters bursting with personality, great music like "Bare Necessities" and "I Wanna Be Like You," and inspiring animation by Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, and other master animators, Jungle Book captivates audiences of all ages.

This Platinum Edition includes everything from the standard bonus features like interactive games, music videos, and deleted songs to exciting and sometimes rare commentaries by everyone from modern day animators to Walt Disney himself, multiple featurettes about specific aspects of the film and its production, and a lengthy deleted scene featuring lost character Rocky the Rhino. Especially interesting for adults and Disney fans are "The Bare Necessities: The making of The Jungle Book" featurette, which explores Walt Disney's commitment to developing strong characters and his insistence that writers, animators, and song writers create a light version of Jungle Book that followed his own personal interpretation of the story, and the "The Lure of The Jungle Book" featurette, which discusses Frank Thomas' and Ollie Johnston's amazing contribution to the film as prolific animators and the inspiration and influence that their work provided for future animators including Brad Bird (The Incredibles), Andreas Deja (Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King), Sergio Pablos (Tarzan), Will Finn (Home on the Range), and Eric Goldberg (Fantasia 2000). The full length commentary by Bruce Reitherman (voice of Mowgli), animator Andreas Deja, and composer Richard Sherman with its interspersed archival commentary of Disney greats from the original creative team (Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, Woolie Reitherman, and others) is also very interesting and insightful. --Tami Horiuchi

Description

One of the most popular Disney films ever, THE JUNGLE BOOK is a song-filled celebration of friendship, fun, and adventure set in a lush and colorful world. Inspired by Rudyard Kipling's "Mowgli" stories, Disney's 19th animated masterpiece was the last animated feature that had Walt Disney's personal touch. The jubilant adventure begins when Mowgli, a little boy raised by wolves, is urged by his friend Bagheera, a wise old panther, to seek safety in the man village. Feeling very much at home in the jungle, Mowgli resists and runs off. Much to Bagheera's dismay, Mowgli meets a new friend with a happy-go-lucky philosophy of life -- Baloo the Bear, a lovable "jungle bum." Together, the three buddies find the journey back to civilization anything but civilized! They encounter a crazy orangutan, the hypnotic and sly snake Kaa, and the menacing Shere Khan! Fully restored for this 30th anniversary edition, this enduring classic swings with jazzy toe-tapping music, including the Academy Award(R)-nominated "The Bare Necessities," and the freewheeling "I Wan'na Be Like You"! A thrilling story for all ages, THE JUNGLE BOOK is an absolute necessity for your video collection.

Customer Reviews:

A review for parents.......2007-07-17

With so many Disney DVDs to choose from, is "The Jungle Book," even a new "Platinum" version, really a must buy?

Absolutely. Just 64 minutes long, this unpretentious adventure is full of imaginative characters, charming song and dance routines, interesting themes and innocent good humor. Unlike many Disney films, "The Jungle Book" doesn't strive to be high art and has no groundbreaking special effects, but it's still one of the company's best animated films. And now the film has now been "digitally enhanced," with a brighter contrast and cleaner colors. I've seen some clips from this new release, and they really look good.

Telling the tale of Mowgli, a human boy brought up in the jungles of India, the movie is a freewheeling adaptation of some Victorian-era short stories by British writer Rudyard Kipling. Rescued as an infant by a protective panther named Bagheera, the boy is raised by wolves and adopted by a carefree bachelor bear, Baloo. Disney punches up the stories with Western jokes and music (the pop soundtrack includes Baloo's and orangutan King Louie's infectious scat duet "I Wanna Be Like You" and Baloo's perky prickly pear primer, "The Bear Necessities"), but wisely eliminates Kipling's patronizing overtones.

"The Jungle Book" teaches children a number of good life lessons. It demonstrates that the world includes enemies as well as friends, and that enemies sometimes disguise themselves as friends. It argues that though its fun to pretend you're someone you're not, it's best to accept the person you are. Finally, the film teaches young viewers two lessons about love. First, as Baloo learns when he realizes he must finally return Mowgli to the "man village," that true love is unselfish. And second, as Mowgli learns in the final scene, that the ultimate male fulfillment is romantic love -- or, as some cynics view the segment, the pursuit of a cute, wide-eyed flirt.

Parents can take note of a classic Disney touch: the acceptance of both religion and science. The film begins with the infant Mowgli lying in a basket along a riverbank, a reference to Moses that's not in the Kipling stories. Later, however, there's a nod to Darwin, as the orangutan King Louie greets the human boy with an outstretched hand, saying "Shake hands, cousin."

If nothing else, adults can enjoy identifying the distinctive character voices (Kaa is voiced by Sterling Holloway, already known as the "Alice in Wonderland" Cheshire Cat and soon to be famous as Winnie the Pooh), laughing at the chorus of Beatle-like vultures (one looks just like Ringo), or wonder just what a large, furry bear is doing in a tropical jungle in the first place.

If you're a fan of the story you may also want to check out Disney's live-action (and non-musical) version, 1994's Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book. Though it's a little violent for younger kids (one soldier is sucked under a pond of quicksand and dies a slow death), this PG film is not really scary and quite the exotic adventure. Its stars include Sam Neill and, in a bit part, John Cleese.

-- By Julie Neal, author of The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World.

A Gem Repolished!!!!.......2007-03-27

It cant get any better than this. Disney beloved animated classic "The Jungle Book" finally gets the long overdue Platinum treatment. This new 40th Anniversary release will include an all-new digital restoration of the film and for the very first time ever, this release will feature the movie in 1.75:1 widescreen aspect ratio (Please be aware that "Jungle Book" was filmed in 1.37:1 aspect ratio and was cropped for its theatrical screenings. The movie loses a little from top and bottom here in this restored version so think twice before selling off your old copies which featured the movie in its original fullscreen ratio). Along with a 5.1 Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mix soundtrack, this edition includes a restored original theatrical soundtrack too. French and Spanish language tracks will also appear on the disc. According to dvdtimes, extras on this platinum edition will include:

Audio Commentary - Combines comments from current animators with audio from the original creative team who made the film

The Lost Character: Rocky The Rhino - For the first time ever, the near-sighted, short-tempered rhinoceros named Rocky is brought to the screen using original storyboards and original voice recordings by Frank Fontaine.

The Bare Necessities: The Making of The Jungle Book - A comprehensive look at the last animated film that Walt Disney produced using existing archival footage in addition to new interviews with Richard Sherman, Brad Bird, Glen Keane, Eric Goldberg, James Baxter, Will Fi'nn, Andreas Deja, Burny Mattinson Ted Thomas, Bruce Reitherman, John Culhane, John Canemaker and Neal Gabler--plus a never-before-seen collection of artwork and treatments from the film

Disney's Kipling: Walt's Magic Touch on A Literary Classic - A discarded film treatment from 1963 includes scenes from Kipling's "Mowgli Stories" and more are used to illustrate Walt's interpretation of the literary masterpiece

The Lure of The Jungle Book - Many of today's biggest names in animation were inspired to pursue their careers after seeing The Jungle Book; this feature examines this phenomenon and features new interviews with Brad Bird, Andreas Deja, Sergio Pablo, Will Finn and Eric Goldberg.

Mowgli's Return to the Jungle - Learn about nature filmmaking and the experience of making The Jungle Book firsthand from Bruce Reitherman, the voice of Mowgli.

Baloo's Virtual Swingin' Jungle Cruise - Join everyone's favourite bear in this set-top and DVD-ROM game on an adventure through the jungle: enjoy fun activities and musical challenges, but keep an eye out because there's no telling what's on the other side of the river bend!

English Learning Feature
Still Frame Art Gallery

Like all other Platinum editions, even this one will be available for a limited time only. So bring home Mowgli, Baghira, Baloo and Shere khan and all the lovable characters we've all grown up with, before they go back to Disney vault again!

Average customer rating:

warm & fuzzy
Sweet movie...
A movie for all ages.
Excellent movie
The Ultimate Gift

The Ultimate Gift
Starring: Drew Fuller , James Garner , Ali Hillis , Abigail Breslin , and Lee Meriwether
Director: Michael O. Sajbel
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000QUU7KC
Release Date: 2007-08-21

Amazon.com

The Ultimate Gift is a tale of one man's tumultuous journey toward personal growth and fulfillment. Surrounded in life, and death, by avaricious family members fueled by a sense of entitlement, billionaire Red Stevens (James Garner) wants to bequeath at least one member of his extended family "the ultimate gift": something he perceives as immensely more valuable than material wealth. Red's arrogant grandson Jason (Drew Fuller) holds a deep-seated hatred for his newly-deceased grandfather, so he's surprised to learn from his grandfather's friend and lawyer Mr. Hamilton (Bill Cobbs) and assistant Miss Hastings (Lee Meriwether) that he's been mentioned in his late grandfather's will. Far from a straightforward gift of cash, land, or stock, Red's bequest comes in the form of a series of mysterious recorded instructions, the first of which requires Jason to hop on a plane for Texas the very next morning without a hint of the trip's purpose or the nature of the gift that awaits him. Dropped into a life of hard physical labor on a ranch in the middle of nowhere, Jason's bad-tempered fury eventually turns to resignation and he finds himself engaged in, and even taking pride in, the first real manual labor he's ever done in his life. Unbeknownst to him, his journey toward claiming the ultimate gift has only just begun. When he returns from Texas, Jason finds his home cleared out, his car confiscated, and instructions to produce one true friend. While Jason is reduced to sleeping in the park, a young child name Emily (Abigail Breslin) and her mother Alexia (Ali Hillis) make his acquaintance and lead him to re-examine his personal prejudices and perceptions of what's truly important in life. Jason's journey of self-discovery continues throughout a series of other trying experiences and, in the end, Grandpa Red's "ultimate gift" of life lessons profoundly and permanently improves the quality of Jason's life. What's more, Jason's new perspective of his place in society has a very positive affect on the larger community. This very powerful film is funny, heartbreaking, and intensely thought-provoking. --Tami Horiuchi

Stills from The Ultimate Gift (click for larger image)

Description

When his wealthy grandfather dies, trust fund baby Jason Stevens inherits his grandfather's crash course on life: 12 tasks-or gifts-designed to challenge Jason in improbable ways. The "course" sends Jason on a journey of self-discovery that forces him to reevaluate his priorities and determine what he thinks the most important things in life really are.

Customer Reviews:

warm & fuzzy.......2007-09-16

This is one of those movies that leave you with something positive, and with a warm, fuzzy feeling after watching it. James Garner is doing more of this type of movie. Other movies of his you might also enjoy are "The Notebook" and "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood".

Sweet movie..........2007-09-16

A family movie for everyone. Not only is it entertaining but tries to give a reason for watching the movie. A young man that seems bent on doing nothing that isn't in his best interest comes head to head with his dead grandfather. Through a series of "gifts" he learns to care about other things than himself. Funny with just the right amount of drama.

A movie for all ages........2007-09-15

The Ultimate Gift is a wonderful movie. How refreshing, to watch a movie which is not only entertaining, but is appropriate for people of all ages to watch. There's a good lesson to be learned here. I dare anyone to watch The Ultimate Gift without getting teary eyed one minute and bursting out in laughter the next.

Excellent movie.......2007-09-15

One of the best movies I've seen.Great story,great message..You don't have to be religious to enjoy this movie..You only have to have a heart !!

The Ultimate Gift.......2007-09-15

Wonderful! Beautiful story. Great life lessons. Great for kids and adults alike. I hope to see more of Drew Fuller!

Average customer rating:

Nebulous but Picturesque Look at Irish Struggle for Independence & Identity.
A Powerful movie
Disappointing but Admirable Effort
4.5 Stars. One of the best films of 2007 showing us the high price of freedom.
Brutal but honest and necessary

The Wind That Shakes the Barley
Starring: Cillian Murphy , Padraic Delaney , Liam Cunningham , Gerard Kearney (II) , and William Ruane
Director: Ken Loach
Manufacturer: Ifc
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000OCY7JO
Release Date: 2007-09-04

Amazon.com

Winner of the Palme d'Or at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, this gripping drama by Ken Loach (Raining Stones) is set during the early days of the Irish Republican Army, when British occupation of the Irish radicalized many a citizen and caused some to take up arms. Cillian Murphy plays Damien, a medical student on his way to London when he witnesses a couple of atrocities committed by British troops. Instead of becoming a doctor, he turns into a leading and respected figure in an IRA division led by his brother, Teddy (Padraic Delaney). The film provides some fascinating historical insight into the nascent resistance movement as it was in 1920, and Loach brilliantly conveys the profound emotional transition young men had to make to become saboteurs and killers. Loach's realistic style is absolutely mesmerizing, with many scenes built around the dynamics of large groups: contentious meetings, torture sessions, battles, celebrations, and the like. One has the sense of history as a pool of energy, and one also develops a kind of Renoiresque appreciation for the fact that different people on opposing sides of a life-or-death issue have their reasons for believing what they believe. As the story moves along, subtle shifts in the perspectives of men and women who had once agreed to be absolute in their fight for freedom results in a tragic yet understandable schism among Irish patriots. The final half-hour of The Wind That Shakes the Barley says a lot about how the Irish, including people who had known one another all their lives, turned their wrath on one another for so many decades. This is an outstanding film, featuring the best performance yet by Murphy (Red Eye). --Tom Keogh

Description

Driven by a deep sense of duty and a love for his country, Damien (Cillian Murphy) abandons his burgeoning career as a doctor and joins his brother, Teddy in a dangerous and violent fight for freedom. As the Irish freedom fighters bold tactics bring the British to a breaking point, both sides finally agree to a treaty to end the bloodshed. But, despite the apparent victory, civil war erupts and families who fought side by side, find themselves pitted against one another, putting their loyalties to the ultimate test.

Customer Reviews:

Nebulous but Picturesque Look at Irish Struggle for Independence & Identity. .......2007-09-16

Director Ken Loach trains his signature "social realism" on the Republic of Ireland's turbulent formative years in "The Wind that Shakes the Barley", which follows the Irish War of Independence and subsequent Civil War in the early 1920s through the experiences of two brothers, Damien and Teddy. Damien (Cillian Murphy) is a medical student looking forward to completing his studies in London. Teddy (Padraic Delaney) is committed to the Irish Republican Army's fight for Ireland's independence from British rule. When a young friend is murdered by the brutal "Black and Tan" military police, Damien decides he must stay and fight. He joins Teddy in one of the IRA's flying column guerilla units, immersing himself in a very dirty war.

Barry Ackroyd's photography of the lovely Irish countryside makes a strong impression. The rest of the film is superficial in comparison. It doesn't delve into political complexities. The circumstances are what they are at any given moment, and characters react accordingly. But we never get to know the characters enough to understand their motives. Why does someone give up a comfortable life with a person he loves to oppose the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, when neither he nor his family are personally threatened by it? There must be a reason. These characters are distant and elusive. The script seems insufficient to support the implied gravity. But I think the greater fault lies in a directing style that continually creates separation between the viewer and the characters. "The Wind that Shakes the Barley" isn't a bad film, but it's inconsequential.

The DVD (IFC 2007): There is a theatrical trailer, a featurette about Ken Loach, and an audio commentary. "Carry On Ken: A Look at the Work of Director Ken Loach" (48 min) discusses Ken Loach's directing style, humor, character, and career through interviews with the director himself and many artists who have worked with him. The audio commentary is by Ken Loach and historical advisor Donal O'Driscoll. The commentary is not continuous and does not provide a background or great detail of the Irish-British conflict. But it does add some useful explanations, and Loach contributes his recollections about filming the movie. Subtitles are available for the film in English SDH and Spanish.

A Powerful movie.......2007-09-08

A story description has been written about this movie. I just wanted to add my 2 cents. This movie was recommended to me by an Irish lady while touring Scotland and Ireland. I have waited almost 2 years for it to show up here in the USA. A powerful and strong story of the fight for freedom in Ireland not unlike our own fight for freedom. The landscapes are beautiful and the characters ring true.

Disappointing but Admirable Effort.......2007-09-08

I looked forward to this film as I do to any that attempts to shed light on the struggle of the Irish for freedom from England. The movie is beautiful cinematically and the acting very convincing, although I did think Cillian Murphy somewhat miscast as Damien, the young doctor who is reluctantly converted to the IRA cause by the British brutality he witnesses. However, overall I found the movie disappointing for somewhat the same reasons as reviewer Pouliot. If the viewer does not have a pretty good background in Irish history, especially of the 1910-1922 years, he is likely to have difficulty understanding what is going on and why. The film is narrowed so sharply to one small group of guerilla fighters in Cork County that I don't know how an average viewer could put the action in perspective with the 1916 Easter rebellion, the nationwide struggle going on, the direction and control being exercised by IRA leaders in Dublin and the overall scope of the fight against the British. The biggest plus of this film, to my mind, and it is a very big plus, is that it shows graphically the kind of savagery being engaged in by the British soldiers (the "black and tans" who were sent in to support the regular British forces in Ireland) and the galvanizing effect it had on the Irish populace. It also shows the tragedy that befell Ireland when the independence movement came apart after the Treaty was signed and the die-hard Republicans refused to support the new Irish Free State, feeling that it was a sell-out to accept anything but complete freedom for the whole island. The movie does a good job of showing how the two sides could differ so drastically and still each have legitimate reasons for taking the stance they did. It also drives home how devastating the Civil War was in the final wrenching scenes of what devotion to their beliefs cost the two brothers. This was certainly a singularly Irish story, as another reviewer said, and it leaves you feeling very melancholy to realize what their independence ultimately brought the Irish, i.e., families torn apart forever, scars much deeper than any the British left and a shadow that hangs over the land even today. A haunting if not fully satisfying film.

4.5 Stars. One of the best films of 2007 showing us the high price of freedom........2007-09-07

The Wind That Shakes the Barley is a beautiful looking film made in Ireland by director Ken Loach. It took home the Palme D'Or in 2006 at the Cannes Film Festival and deservedly so.

Loach tells a sympathetic and political tale of war and the birth of the I.R.A through two brothers Damien played by Cillian Murphy who is solid in pretty much every film I have seen him in and Teddy played by Padraic Delaney who equals Murphy's performance with a great one of his own. Damien a med school graduate headed to a London hospital to further his training decides against it after witnessing one to many atrocities on his people at the hands of the British Black and Tan soldiers and joins a guerrilla squad of the Irish Republican Army headed by his brother Teddy to fight and prevent such atrocities.

Above everything I found this to be a political film and doesn't go into the brothers relationship in any detail although there are some powerful and painful moments between them that could bring tears to your eyes. Also there facial expressions and looks in there eyes say a lot which can be attributed to powerful performances and great acting all around.
Even a love interest between Damien and a strong willed Sinead is still a backdrop for there political cause which they share an equally strong if not greater love for, there real passion in this film is the cause they fight for.

A truce is declared but with of course many unacceptable terms as seen by Damien. And seen as a victory and a stepping stone to greater things as seen by Teddy, which inevitably divides the Irish against there own people and brother against brother.

I rented this film from Netflix but will now be purchasing, It is a good add to any film collection at a fair price and highly recommended, this is one of the best of 2007 I have seen so far.
Thanks for reading.

Brutal but honest and necessary.......2007-08-17

anyone who ever said 'gee why do the irish hate the english people so much?' ought to see this film. to those who lived it - some of my relatives - the thuggish behavior by the black and tans and other british soldiers turned loose to "teach the irish a lesson" is a disgrace that's yet to be appreciated over here. it's a stain on british history that the english government treated a proud and free people like this - but then, they did the same to every colony didn't they? american patriots who are proud of OUR revolution against england would do well to watch this and appreciate the irish version of the same thing

Average customer rating:

Stick with the video version
Hopefully as good as I remember...
Why does it take so long for the GREATEST shows to make it to DVD?
BEYOND Recommended!
One of the best historical mini series ever

Masada - The Complete Epic Mini-Series
Starring: Peter O'Toole , Peter Strauss , Barbara Carrera , Anthony Quayle , and David Warner
Director: Boris Sagal
Manufacturer: Koch Vision
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000S0KYTE
Release Date: 2007-09-11

Description

In first century A.D., Flavius Silva (Peter O'Toole), commander in Roman Palestine, leads his forces in combat against the remaining Jewish Zealots who have taken refuge in the seemingly impregnable fortress of Masada. There, the engineering and military might of Rome faces the passion and ingenuity of Eleazar Ben Yair (Peter Strauss) and his people. Based on the novel "The Antagonists" by Ernest K. Gann, this epic, 4-part mini-series was shot on location in Israel.

Customer Reviews:

Stick with the video version.......2007-09-17

Masada the mini-series on dvd was a waste of money for me. I have been waiting for a long time for the dvd version and when it came what a disappointment. It has no subtitles; the picture is out of focus in some spots. Streaks, flashes and dark spots appear in some of the scenes. The video version beats the dvd version by a long mile.
JN

Hopefully as good as I remember..........2007-09-09

I remember watching Masada when I was a nine-year-old child and loving it. I didn't understand all of the subtleties, but I understood the story. As a result, the story of the Jewish patriots standing up to the might of the Roman Empire has stayed with me all of these years. I am now a history teacher, and will be purchasing the DVD to show my students when we study the Romans later this month. The thing that has stuck with me the most all these years is the amazing soundtrack by Jerry Goldsmith, which I hope will be re-released in conjunction with the DVD, as the only copy on Amazon is available for $299...

Why does it take so long for the GREATEST shows to make it to DVD?.......2007-08-15

I saw this series when it originally aired in the 1980's and its impact has lingered with me all of these years. I managed to acquire a VHS transfer of the entire series just in time for my VCR to completely die - leaving me no way to enjoy this powerful drama again. After passing scores of copies of "Gilligan's Island - The Complete Series" and "Bosom Buddies - Collector's Edition" on the shelf of my local video store, I am exhilarated to find this one released at last!

Visually stunning (filmed on location) and dramatically riveting, the "Two Peters" duel on screen with searingly intense chemistry and vie for best performance, though O'Toole's ability to humanize his Roman commander makes this series so enticing. His final moments on screen as he comes to the full realization of the cost of Roman domination, is the stuff of legend. Barbara Carrera is positively luminous as a Jewess torn between her people and the man who controls her destiny.

A must see production, well worth the wait, and a demonstration of what "Event Television" was in the 1980's. They TRULY don't make them like this anymore!

BEYOND Recommended!.......2007-07-06

Masada is one of the most eagerly anticipated DVD releases of the year. This Classic TV 1981 miniseries is arguably one of the greatest ever produced in its genre, and garnered a lot of awards in its day. It is MORE than highly recommended!

It is well written and has a stellar cast that more than lived up to the script. The series, based on Ernest K. Gann's historical novel The Antagonists, is a dramatization of a documented revolt by nearly a thousand Jerusalem Jews against Roman oppressors in A.D. 72 to 73.

Epic in its scope, the actors bring nobility and pathos to the ultimately inspiring and tragic story. Following a city-wide siege by Rome's soldiers, Jewish Zealots move into a desert fortress in the mountains of Masada of Judea. It is from that remote location that they make their last stand against the tyrannical Roman Empire. Amazingly, their defensive battlement is strong enough to convince the enemy to negotiate after a two-year battle!

The brilliant Peter O'Toole, portrays Cornelius Flavius Silva, commander of the Roman legions, while Peter Strauss (who was cast in several miniseries in the 80's) portrays the Zealot leader Eleazar ben Yair, who end up developing an improbably respect for each other during the life-and-death struggle.

O'Toole, is fresh from the Roman conquest of Judea. Exhausted emotionally and physically, he has been affected by the constant warring, but remains the ruthless Commander of the elite Tenth Legion. He yearns to return home to Italy, but is prevented from doing so by a violent uprising of a small band of courageous Jews led by the volatile renegade soldier, Eleazar ben Yair (Strauss).

Silva is ordered to capture Eleazar and his followers. He is beset by internal strife because the brutal desert conditions have his legion teetering on the brink of mutiny, while he finds himself falling in love with a Jewess (portrayed with sensitivity by Barbara Carerra.) At the same time, Pomponius Falco, portrayed by David Warner, is working to steal his command.

Inside the fortress, Eleazar is struggling to keep his followers together. A diverse mix of defected soldiers, wanted criminals along with women and children totally about 900, they struggle to find enough food and water to survive their courageous stand against impossible, truly hopeless odds.

The actors leave nothing on the cutting room floor in their heart wrenching renditions of their unforgettable characters. Somehow, O'Toole brings humanity to his character, while Strauss is integrity, fury and courage personified.

Both of their characters believe the negotiations are real, and represent each side in good faith, struggling to find a way out of the deadly situation.

Unfortunately, neither realizes that Rome has no intention of yielding, but instead sends thousands of soldiers in a horrible seige of Masada resulting in one of the worst tragedies in Jewish history.

Masada was brilliantly directed by Boris Sagal (The Omega Man), and the musical score is unforgettably moving.

One of the best historical mini series ever.......2007-07-02

Masada is one of the greatest historical mini series ever made. it tells the story of the jewish revolt in 70 AD AND it's destruction by the romans.
Masada is a movie full of passion and intense. peter o toul is awesome as the roman general who has to end the jewish revolt once and for all.
Masada is not to miss and here is presented in all it's glory (full 6 hours +...movie).
I Wish also a few more "roman" movies to be released in dvd and i'm talking about "dacii" // "the last roman" // "sign of the gladiator"

Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest [Blu-ray]

Average customer rating:

No HD DVD version
Disney delivers magic on Blu-ray
Solid movie with brilliant picture and crisp sound make this a must-buy for Blu-Ray owners!
Wow, amazing picture!!
Great Quality

Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest [Blu-ray]
Starring: Christopher Adamson , Lee Arenberg , Josie Dapar , Johnny Depp , and Spider Madison
Director: Gore Verbinski
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000N6UERU
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Product description

Charming rogue pirate Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is back to wreak hilarious havoc on the high seas on Blu-ray Disc®! Also starring Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightly, this swashbuckling joyride will amaze you as never before in this spectacular, "see-worthy" format! Jack's got a blood debt to pay: he owes his soul to Davy Jones, ghostly Ruler of the Deep. Get caught up in the whirlpool of Jack's misadventures as he schemes to avoid eternal damnation by seizing the fabled Dead Man's Chest. Thrill to the nonstop action, devilish humor, monstrous sea creatures and breathtaking black magic presented in astonishing 1080p and thunderous 5.1 48 kHz, 24-bit uncompressed audio. Experience oceans of fun with Blu-ray™ High Definition.

Customer Reviews:

No HD DVD version.......2007-08-23

If I were the same as all the Blu-Ray fanboys, I'd rate this movie 1 star and complain that it's not on HD DVD and say how Sony has Disney in their pocket etc and swear I'll never buy any version of this movie until it comes out on HD DVD and secretly go buy the standard def version and have it packaged in discreet brown packaging.

That being said, Dead Man's Chest was not as good as the Curse of the Black Pearl, and only slightly better than the 3rd movie.

Disney delivers magic on Blu-ray.......2007-08-06

This movie was simply amazing in picture quality and sound. I had already owned Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Man's Chest on standard DVD. When I compared the standard DVD with the Blu-ray version the Blu-ray outperforms on all levels. The scenes in the movie where you see the islands and ships sailing the ocean were very beautiful. Dead Man's Chest on Blu-ray delivers such sharp crisp picture quality. The people, plants, grass, and trees looked so real it was like you could reach out and touch them. Simply put everything looks life like in this Blu-ray movie. Also when watching Blu-ray scenes Davy Jones and his crew look very real. Unlike the standard version DVD you can actually tell Davy Jones crew have facial features. The sound quality of this Blu-ray movie was also very great as well. For all you Blu-ray naysayers when I compared watching the standard DVD versus Blu-ray the standard dvd looked like a bootleg movie. Yeah I couldn't believe myself but there it was. I could not believe how much I was missing out from the Blu-ray movie. Oh did I mention that I received an amazing Blu-ray experience with a outdated setup. I used my 1080i HDTV ,component cables, and Playstaion 3. Imagine how much better this Dead Man's Chest Blu-ray movie would look on a 1080p hdmi setup with surround sound! Overall this Dead Man's Chest Blu-ray was amazing and is the best Blu-ray movie out right now. I finally want to say that Disney you truly delivered a magical masterpiece on Blu-ray. Great job Disney keep delivering the Blu-ray magic : ) :) :)

Solid movie with brilliant picture and crisp sound make this a must-buy for Blu-Ray owners!.......2007-08-04

If you own a Blu-Ray player, this is a must-buy movie! If you're just a fan of great movies overall, this is a must-buy movie! Johnny Depp delivers in this non-stop action/adventure film, with loads of laughs as well. You all should know what this flick is about, so I will not go into details on that. If you are thinking of getting this movie on Blu-Ray but you already own it on SD-DVD, then that choice is up to you. The picture is pristine on BD-DVD, and the audio quality is very clean and crisp.

I own a very cheap HDTV and sound system that I purchaed for my 15-month tour here in Iraq and am blown away by the quality and differance compared to the standard-def version of this movie. Simply put, if you own this movie already, it is entirely up to you if you wish to purchase and view it in high-def. But for those of you who do not own any version of this flick then the decision should be a no-brainer-buy this now!

Disney did a flawless job with this one, loaded with extras and bonus material galore. I'm not really big on the extras and junk, but all Blu-Ray releases should be as jam packed as this one. Way to go Disney and I look forward to future releases from you guys in the future!

Wow, amazing picture!!.......2007-08-04

I did a comparison with my 720p HDTV with this in my PS3 and my original DVD in my DVD player, and the picture quality is amazing in this Blu-Ray release. I would find a screen with a lot of detail and pause it and flip back and forth, and I can see details on Blu-Ray of things that I just couldn't make out on the DVD release. Add that to the fact that the Pirates series is, to date, one of the biggest and best trilogies since 2000, makes this Blu-Ray release a must have for any owner of a Blu-Ray player. I am really glad that I repurchased this in HD format. Thanks for picking my format side Disney!

Great Quality.......2007-07-25

Much in the same way movies like Top Gun were "show off" movies for the DVD format this movie really shows the quality in Blu-Ray.

The difference is very apparant in darker scenes where on a DVD the picture might not show everything as well as it does on the BD.

Plus the extra disc includes very interesting stuff. The little thing that shows Captain Jack and explains every detail that went into making the costume really shows off what some of the people in the credits go through to make Jack look the way he does. And shows how much of a primadonna Johnny Depp is!

Beauty and the Beast (Disney Special Platinum Edition)

Average customer rating:

For Once, Disney Did a Fairy Tale Right.
One of my all time favorites
A "tale as old as time" breathes new life into Disney
A masterly musical rendering of the classic story
My favorite movie. EVER.

Beauty and the Beast (Disney Special Platinum Edition)
Starring: Mary Kay Bergman , Vanna Bonta , Jesse Corti , Brian Cummings , and Alvin Epstein
Director: Gary Trousdale , and Kirk Wise
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00003CX8Y
Release Date: 2002-10-08

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The film that officially signaled Disney's animation renaissance (following The Little Mermaid) and the only animated feature to receive a Best Picture Oscar nomination, Beauty and the Beast remains the yardstick by which all other animated films should be measured. It relates the story of Belle, a bookworm with a dotty inventor for a father; when he inadvertently offends the Beast (a prince whose heart is too hard to love anyone besides himself), Belle boldly takes her father's place, imprisoned in the Beast's gloomy mansion. Naturally, Belle teaches the Beast to love. What makes this such a dazzler, besides the amazingly accomplished animation and the winning coterie of supporting characters (the Beast's mansion is overrun by quipping, dancing household items) is the array of beautiful and hilarious songs by composer Alan Menken and the late, lamented lyricist Howard Ashman. (The title song won the 1991 Best Song Oscar, and Menken's score scored a trophy as well.) The downright funniest song is "Gaston," a lout's paean to himself (including the immortal line, "I use antlers in all of my de-co-ra-ting"). "Be Our Guest" is transformed into an inspired Busby Berkeley homage. Since Ashman's passing, animated musicals haven't quite reached the same exhilarating level of wit, sophistication, and pure joy. --David Kronke --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews:

For Once, Disney Did a Fairy Tale Right........2007-09-15

There a lot of Disney films based off of fairy tales; Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin, and The Little Mermaid to name a few. While, Cinderella and Snow White remain favorites to this day, Beauty and the Beast is probably the only one that is consistently funny, has good songs, and a great cast of characters.

If one has not seen "Beauty and the Beast", the basic story goes: Belle is a bookish woman who doesn't fit in, but as her name suggest, her beauty is unparalleled. Her father is an eccentric inventor and is trying to b

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