Naked City - Prime of Life (1958) Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm kind of hesitant to give five-stars to four episodes of one old television series, but NAKED CITY: PRIME OF LIFE presents a strong sampling of a remarkable series. If it matters the episodes on this dvd aren't presented in chronological order.
The first is `Prime of Life' (originally aired Feb. 13, 1963) and features Paul Burke as Det. Adam Flint, a New York City policeman out of the 65th Precinct, who has been summoned to witness his first execution by electrocution. This episode is filled with a lot of interior monologue provided by Det. Flint, who isn't sure he wants to witness an execution, and is peppered with flashback scenes of the violent crimes committed by the man sentenced to die. `Naked City' was, famously, shot on the streets of New York, and that quasi-documentary quality gives this one a lot of body, as well as guiding the cast and crew to keep it as natural as possible. Much of `Prime of Life' takes place in an execution chamber, probably a set, but it has a real feel to it. Det. Flint, we learn early on, is a sensitive individual who doesn't necessarily relish the idea of watching a vicious criminal put to death. A nice, in-depth exploration of the death penalty seen from a cop's point of view. This episode also includes a very young Gene Hackman, in a small role, as a court reporter/reluctant witness.
Robert Duvall plays Francis L. Childe in `The One Marked Hot Gives Cold,' (March 21, 1962.) Duvall plays a troubled young man who's chased by the police after stealing records and files from the orphanage he was raised in. Duvall, as you'd expect, gives an intelligent and sensitive portrayal of a violent man who befriends a young girl (Laurie Heineman) while searching for the father who'd abandoned him (Edward Andrews.)
One of the oddest entries is `Hold for Gloria Christmas' (Sept. 19. 1962.) Burgess Meredith plays the mad/brilliant Greenwich Village poet Duncan Kleist who, over time, has sold the original drafts of his poems to bartender Stanley Dorkner (Herschel Bernardi) to pay off his prodigious bar tab. Now the destitute Poet wants them back, and the Bartender doesn't want to give them to him without getting $500 in cash in return. Young star spotters will want to keep their eyes open for Alan Alda in a small role, and a blink-and-you'll-miss-her appearance by Jessica Walter.
Diahann Carroll plays a teacher of pre-teen, visually impaired children in `A Horse Has a Big Head - Let Him Worry!' (Nov. 21, 1962.) The boys from 65th Precinct are called on the case when one of Carroll's `legally blind' children slips off an inner-city bus and gets lost in New York City.
As narrator Lawrence Dobkin tells us at the end of each episode, there are 8 million stories in the naked city. These shows tell those stories by taking the viewer to the real streets of a real city, and besides the stories it's a blast seeing what the place and people looked like forty years ago. It also tells the stories by getting under the characters' skins and into their heads, dragging Freud along with them in the process. Writing, acting, photography, are all top-notch. If you're a fan of police procedurals with heavy emphasis on the human element, this is a can't miss.


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Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blue Belt Requirements: Fundamentals for All Review

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(More customer reviews)Roy Dean has done a commendable job with this set, and the production level of the video is unsurpassed. This is an excellent, excellent instructional set. The DVD covers many of the most common "basic" (do not confuse "basic" with "low-percentage") BJJ techniques one would learn at any BJJ Academy. Each technique is covered in a very basic step-by-step manner, with Roy explaining very clearly what is going on in the technique, then applied at a faster and more realistic speed from 4 different camera angles.
Perhaps the greatest thing about this set is that its focus is on helping students understand both the journey from white to blue belt, and getting them along the right path and mindset to learn BJJ. Roy deliberately includes the why of doing a technique a specific way (and includes some variants for good measure) instead of just stating "do it this way." A great set if you're either starting out in BJJ or want to brush up on your basics to make your ground game airtight.
For those interested, some of the techniques included in this set: Escapes (mount, sidemount, sweeps), Guard passing, Submissions (numerous Gi chokes, 4 different armlocks, and 4 leglocks), and takedowns. Also included are commentaries on BJJ, basic skillsets (where to grab, positioning, etc), along with some discussion on breakfalls and some video demonstrations.
I cannot rave highly enough about this set to anyone practicing BJJ, whether a novice white belt or higher belt levels looking to improve their technical game. I train at an American Top Team gym in South Florida, and say again this is an OUTSTANDING DVD set for ANY practitioner! Excellent job!

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The key to effective Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) is a solid understanding of the fundamentals. In this instructional 2 DVD set, Roy Dean outlines his blue belt requirements for BJJ. Mount escapes, sidemount escapes, armlocks, chokes, leg locks, guard passes and takedowns are all clearly detailed. Also included are perspectives on the journey from white belt to black belt, a look at BJJ combinations, competition footage, and 3 dynamic blue belt demonstrations.

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The Fast And The Furious Review

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(More customer reviews)O.K. But only to just pass the time or just for a collection. BB

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House on Haunted Hill / Return to House on Haunted Hill (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)The only thing good about this DVD is watching Andrew-Lee Potts try to keep the California accent going... :-)

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The Best of Saturday Night Live: The Best of John Belushi (1975) Review

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(More customer reviews)I was happy to get a videotape that included some of the best and funniest moments in John Belushi's brief but brilliant career as a member of the Saturday Night Live cast. However, I was disappointed in the selection of material. Whoever chose the performances evidently feels that Belushi had as much or more to offer the world as a singer than he did as a comedian. This is a mistake, I think. Belushi was adept at imitating well-known performers like Joe Cocker and Roy Orbison, but this type of "appreciative imitation" does not hold long-term viewer appeal, really. This preoccupation with Belushi's musical talents carries over in an overexposure of Belushi and Ackroyd's "Blues Brothers" act. This was amusing in its time, with its accompanying social justice subtext (e.g., "Hey, we middle-class white guys can really appreciate the unheralded music of our soulful black brothers"). But twenty years later, it sounds hackneyed and overexposed. The Blues Brothers were good amateur blues musicians, but they were, in fact, amateurs, and not worth listening to/watching repeatedly.
There are some funny Belushi skits on the tape, including his Brando imitation as "The Godfather" and one amusing "Samurai" episode. But some of the greatest Belushi classics are missing. For example, if one Samurai episode was to be included, it surely should have been "Samurai Night Fever," which featured co-star O.J. Simpson (who, whatever his crimes and human weaknesses, was a dynamite SNL host). There also should have been a good Belushi commentary that included his famous "But nooooooooo!"
At the end of the tape there is a "montage" sequence in which are included snippets of a number of very funny Belushi skits that would have been better than some of those included in this tape. Maybe there should be a "More of the Best of John Belushi" sequel. I hope so. END

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Freddy's Nightmares: Dreams That Kill (1988) Review

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(More customer reviews)I never knew that Freddy Krueger had a TV series, until I found an episode in the store. As an avid Freddy fan (though Michael Myers is still my #1 fav!) I gave it a chance, and wow! Though not as intense as the movies (which is to be expected from 1980's TV), Robert Englund still manages to deliver his creepy, yet riotous, performance as Freddy Krueger. Many people say he became less scary as the movies went on, but I say his twisted ripoffs of one-liners makes him even better. James Bond pulls a similar stunt in all of his movies, so let's give Freddy a break and stop complaining about the movies. Robert Englund deserves a standing ovation for playing the same character for almost 20 years! In this particular episode, when a TV talk show host does an investigation into dreams that kill, Freddy attempts to stop the show, or else he won't have anyone to play with anymore! But the show goes forward, and Freddy puts the talk show host in the hospital. There's a truly great Freddy moment when he performs surgery on his patient, ripping off even more great oneliners. This is Freddy at his best! Although not as good as the movies, the TV series is still worth checking out, especially if you love Freddy! You are all his children now!

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Naked City - A Death of Princes (1958) Review

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(More customer reviews)There are eight million stories in the Naked City and here is your opportunity to view some of the best. Don't miss watching this series of hard hitting dramas, all filmed in New York City in the late 50's and early 60's! Many poignant stories that will break your heart or warm it. Realistic story lines and fantastic acting by many stars who went on to "make it big." A New York City that still exists in our memories is the real star of this series. One can only hope that more episodes will be released as they are uniformly incredible.

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Gritty and realistic, this is one of television's best police dramas. Filmed on the streets of New York City, this ever-popular series puts a human face on crime, going beyond a simplistic portrayal of good vs. evil to delve into the complex personal dramas of the people involved. Filled with swift-moving action, the stories are often violent and tragic, but also contain their share of humor, absurdity and even fairy tale romance. Paul Burke stars as Detective Adam Flint, the young, handsome detective who manages to hold on to his ideals, and Horace McMahon is his crusty older boss, Lt. Mike Parker. Because of the critically-acclaimed series' outstanding reputation, the series attracted many top film and television actors for its guest-starring roles. Episodes: "Death of Princes" (Ep. 40, October 12, 1960) - A crooked detective (Eli Wallach) blackmails a cashier, a prizefighter (George Maharis) and a playboy into helping him steal the proceeds from a charity boxing match. "Debt of Honor" (Ep. 46, November 23, 1960) - A gambler (Steve Cochran) gets in deep trouble with an underworld crime syndicate, triggering his wife (Lois Nettleton) to run away after she learns about his unsavory connections. "The Man Who Bit a Diamond in Half" (Ep. 48, December 14, 1960) - A man (Walter Matthau) discovers that his wife is involved with a gang of jewel thieves who plan to steal the world's largest uncut diamond. "Murder Is a Face I Know" (Ep. 50, January 11, 1961) - A model husband and father (Theodore Bikel) massacres the crew of a cabin cruiser. Now his wife and son (Keir Dullea) must face the fact that he's secretly a hitman for a gang lord.

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WRITTEN on the WIND (NTSC All Region Import) Rock Hudson, Lauren Bacall, Robert Stack, and Dorothy Malone, Douglas Sirk (1956) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a rare movie and would be mediocre with the wooden performances of Rock Hudson and Lauren Bacall. However, the supporting cast gives the best performances of this movie. Robert Stack and Dorothy Malone blow this movie away with their above averages performances. The plot of the movie revolves around a New York secretary, Bacall, who marries a rich alcoholic insecure son, Robert Stack, of a Texas millionaire. Also included, there is a family friend, Rock Hudson, in love with Bacall and a nyphomanic sister of Stack's, Dorothy Malone, who is in love with Hudson. This is clearly Dorothy Malone's movie, which she won a best supporting actress Oscar award and rightfully so. Malone proves she can act and is more than a mother figure as Constance Mackenzie in Peyton Place. Enjoy this above average movie.

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Mutiny (1999) Review

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(More customer reviews)If a movie could be made about Rosewood, Florida, why not have one about the ship explosion that took place in the Bay Area in the 1940s? I hope someone makes a movie about the middle-class, Black town in Oklahoma that was also destroyed. I think Colin Powell's success in the military has made many forget how racist the United States military has been historically. This film captures how white military brass could care less if African-American enlisted men lived or died.
This movie was not as strong as "A Soldier's Story." It had much in common with "Tuskegee Airmen," though that too was a superior film. Still, if you like movies about African Americans in the military, then this may be for you. This film was filled with many unknown actors, but they had beautiful, chiseled chests. The ending was a bit anti-climactic, but it was following a true story, so I can't complain much.
I wonder if this was made for theaters or for television. It had a movie rating and followed trailers for other films. However, the film would stop at points which seemed like it was intentionally meant for commercial breaks.

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Bugsy Malone (AU) Review

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(More customer reviews)The DVD that is being shipped is an import from Hong Kong, and was marked for all zones, so it should play anywhere. Very nice copy with a good clean picture and dolby 5.1 sound.
Titles are in english and chinese, but there are no annoying subtitles on the screen when you play it. I have been waiting for years for this to come out in DVD and I am very happy with the DVD.

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Freddy's Nightmares: Lucky Stiff (1988) Review

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(More customer reviews)Lucky stiff is an episode of Freddy's Nightmares taken from the second season of the series. It deals with a woman whose husband won the lotto-- but she only learns of it after his death. The ticket is missing and presumed to be in the jacket she buried him in. One of the duller eps of the show, Freddy is not a central character in the story, as he is in the other 4 videotapes that were released.

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Viva Riva Review

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(More customer reviews)Viva Riva is sprinting from the opening shot and never slows down; it is a riot of color that revels in the utterly corrupt marketplace of Kinshasa that ensconces local criminals, military commandants, religious figures, and seemingly every innocent bystander in the city within a corrosive web that would be depressing if it weren't one of the most entertaining films of the year. Djo Munga crafts a film with a remarkable propulsive energy that shies from nothing - violence, sex, drugs, and self-destruction are not something shown with any apology. Kinshasa is one of the largest cities in Africa (over ten million) with one of the highest murder rates in the world (112 per 100,000). It is infested with powerful gangs, a large population of street children, and cheap guns at the root of a region that has been more or less at war since the mid-1990s with every surrounding nation contributing to a smouldering conflict. This is one place where a film with brutal violence and a high body count makes complete sense. Towards that end, one could see Munga's film as exploitation if it were not so well made.
Rather, it captures a tone of brash honesty, avoiding any hand-wringing about its subject matter. This is a work about self-destructive people in one of the most dangerous urban centers on Earth, and their driving force is the internal need for security, wealth, and sex. Life is short in Kinshasa, and it behooves the young to take foolish risks; and who needs a secure future when the world is on fire anyway?
Small time thief Riva (Patsha Bay Mukuna) steals truckloads of gas from an Angolan crime boss, and returns home to throw around some cash, put away liver-bending amounts of beer, and live like a bigshot. He is the man with the fuel, and in a fuel shortage that man owns the town. He hungers for Nora (Manie Malone), the enigmatic and dangerous trophy girl of local crime boss Azor. The charismatic Riva runs from the Angolans while pursuing Nora, who is an en fuego femme fatale. Graphic sex scenes, cruel violence, and an amoral crowd willing to sell out for any price creates a diseased melange that captivates for its lack of criticism. It is what it is, and defies the audience to pretend they would do differently in the same rotten place. On the battlefield where men compete for money, women compete for men, each compete for the spoils of love and war, caution can be as foolish as recklessness.
Viva Riva amuses itself with the plasticity of societal roles. Riva is the most generous and identifiable, looking to enjoy what may be a brief time on top of the pile. Nora is more than willing to help push him off, and he even seems to enjoy the fall - so would anyone with a woman that lethal. His Angolan boss quotes scripture, struts like a pimp, and murders with ease; he substitutes for a nonexistent authority in this town, and makes all the rules. A commandant is an enforcing legal agent, but the Angolan corrupts her quickly, as the free market corrupts the government to do its will. The Church has an interest in the gas that Riva has secured, though it is less for fueling the saving of souls and more for increasing its power in the city. Men may pursue sex, but women call their own shots when it comes to partners - they are figures of power as often as men. The comic and tragic are welded together incongruously, just the way they should be.
The soundtrack thumps with a driven urgency that neatly weaves clubs and streets as minor transitions. The cinematography creates a luminous picture of a city in utter decay, as if there is too much entertainment to be had to worry about the problems. Munga brings a bombastic craft that sweeps along the audience, cynic and idealist alike. All the while, there is a undercurrent of danger, as though all souls will fall sooner rather than later. To take on a crime boss is to flirt with a near-suicidal level of risk, although a life of menial labor scarcely seems preferable. Viva Riva pulsates with an uncommon energy that announces a new and important voice for African directors - Djo Munga will be one to watch.

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Riva is a small time operator who has just returned to his hometown of Kinshasa, Congo after a decade away with a major score: a fortune in hijacked gasoline. Wads of cash in hand and out for a good time, Riva is soon entranced by beautiful night club denizen Nora, the kept woman of a local gangster. Into the mix comes an Angolan crime lord relentlessly seeking the return of his stolen shipment of gasoline. Director Djo Tunda Wa Munga s Kinshasa is a seductively vibrant, lawless, fuel-starved sprawl of shantytowns, gated villas, bordellos and nightclubs and Riva is its perfect embodiment.

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Starsky & Hutch - The Complete Third Season (1975) Review

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(More customer reviews)Starsky and Hutch: Season III
(Out of 5 stars)
The Scale
(5 classic, 4 very good, 3 good but flawed, 2 at least S&H were good!, 1 Voodoo Priest)
Murder on Voodoo Island: 1 and 2: Seems like a good idea on paper... and even a slight recreation of Season Two's getaway theme "Murder at Sea", sadly this doesn't contain the same magic, and throw in an overzealous "Voodoo Priest" and you've got a real mess. Part 1: 3 stars Part 2: 1.5 stars
Fatal Charm: I'll admit, after the above episodes I was concerned... somewhat. I'm somewhat new to S&H but owning both the first Two Seasons, I know what this show is capable of and this episode solidly hit's the mark. I have a "thing" I guess for these "stalker-type" stories and this one is actually quite chilling. I'm taking a half star off b/c the "hooker undercover" part of the story was weak. And did I hear a "boing" when the axle came off? Sheesh. 4.5 stars.
I Love You, Rosey Malone: If you can look past the silly title you'll find a decent episode. The brightest spot being the chemistry between Rosey and Starsky. 3.5 stars.
Murder Ward: This one has its moments and considering it was cast for TV I think they did about as good a job as they could. This one gives Paul Glaser an excellent vehicle to ham it up. 3 stars.
Death in a Different Place: This one is interesting. Some here seem to rave about it, and while I think it is fair to midland, the interesting aspect is seeing how the term "gay" is "homo-sexual" and how people in general, as far as the show dealt with the subject matter. The end bit, "tag" if you will, was telling:) 3 stars.
The Crying Child: I'm sorry but this subject matter is so typical 70's-After-School-Special that almost by default the episode sank. The problem with a show like S&H trying to tackle this concept is there are NO KIDS on the show so the audience is thrown a "kid" and we are supposed to sympathize and say "Ahhh..." Quincy Season Two has a similar episode that is far better. And excuse ME, but why does this episode begin with a hold-up sequence from a PREVIOUS SEASON?? Is this the Twilight Zone? Also, the plot is just too predicable, would have been better if they would have had the TEACHER beating the kid. 2 stars.
The Heroes: Ok, back on track. There is some great dialogue here and the message about being politically correct couldn't BE more relevant than right now. The "competition" between S&H for the hand of the lady reporter was excellent! Love the scene where they RACE up to the station in hopes of being first! HA! Plus, the casting for this show and junkies, is a bit eerie because the lady that they got truly looks to be strung out on something. 4 stars.
The Plague 1 and 2: I'm kinda starting to get a bad feeling about this Season. Hopefully you can recognize I love David Soul and Paul Michael Glaser, so any critique I have is almost NEVER directed at them... instead as was the case with the last quarter of Season 2, Season 3 just has scripts that are literally all over the map, and some, like this two parter are mixed at best. I've never seen a series with such a penchant for "two parters" when the "one parters" are hard enough to be consistent with. 2.5 stars
The Collector: Here we go again... middle of the road. Again, not terrible but just not memorable either. The thing I loved about Season 1 seems absent in many of these scripts; the BANTER between S&H. It is sprinkled about but just too sparingly. Beyond that, the story is interesting but a lot of the steam is removed when you realize the new collector could just shoot the dog and the child star and make off with the money. 2.5 stars
Manchild on the Streets: I'm sorry, did I miss something? Who are these people!? I'm starting to see that "socially relevant" actually means "totally generic." How can S&H be such great friends with these people and we've never heard of them? Easy to see the "suits" have their hands all over this episode, David Soul directing or not. The performances for the most part seem "ok" but I just can't see how these people fit within the confines of Starsky and Hutch and the story really never develops. Plagues, racism, gays... whatever happened to crime fighting? 2 stars
The Action: Gambling!? Thugery?! I love it! This is a good "above par" episode that deals well with what the duo do best; undercover work with wacky personas. 3.5 stars
The Heavyweight: Being a Classic Trek fan I tend to gravitate towards all things Gary "Mitchell" Lockwood, however this episode doesn't deliver much of a punch... despite the subject matter. 3 stars
A Body Worth Guarding: Well it took awhile but I get my first 5 star episode of Season Three, and it was well worth the wait. You just never know what you are going to get judging by the description sheet inside the DVD set. On the surface it sounds dull... Ballerinas? Y-A-W-N. But what lies beneath is a Hutch performance for the ages, chemistry that won't quit, and some of the best comedic performances of the series. 5 stars
The Trap: The best part of this episode is without a doubt Starsky's new watch and all the ensuing chaos. Kristy McNichol has never really gunned my engine and the simple story of revenge is rather Ho Hum. 3 stars
Satan's Witches: Uh-Oh. Somebody saw 1975's Race With Devil one time too many... this is an interesting re-telling, right down to the rattlers! Aside from that, I actually like this one because of all the banter about camping. 3.5 stars
Class in Crime: This one almost seems like a Columbo. Well cast, well paced, and mimes! Ok, so maybe the mimes aren't too great. Whatever happened to mimes? Anyway, this Paul Glaser episode is his best directed yet. 4 stars
Hutchinson: Murder One: "On Paper" this looked to be a great one. Sadly, it's merely a "good one". Stiff key casting (Hutch's Ex) just didn't measure up to what could have been. Still I'm puzzled as to why the Voodoo Island led off Season Three when an episode like this would do so much more to inform viewers what the show was about. 3 stars
Foxy Lady: Unlike Season 2, this season is gaining momentum as it goes along. Well cast, plenty of humor, well written is some of the high points. I never cared much for the guest actress from the last legs of Three's Company, but she's all legs here. 4 stars
Quadromania: Did I say gaining momentum? This is definitely the "Spocks Brain" of this Season. It's almost fitting that nearly 4 minutes of footage is missing because it simply adds to the absurdity. Steel hands? Poor make-up? Hammy acting? Silly plot? It's all here for you, and more! 1 star
Deckwatch: Talk about your 180's! Big thumbs up to Paul Glaser for an excellent episode. Suspenseful, 3 dimensional dialogue, solid casting make this an excellent closer. The suspense created by something as simple as the tick of a clock was not lost on me and the ultimate climax and the way it was shot was stunning, making this the second 5 star episode of a wildly unbalanced season. 5 stars
Packaging/extras/price/picture/sound:
What happened to the beautiful artwork as seen in Season Two's set? The pictures were "groovy" and the disc artwork was fitting. With Season Three it looks like they just gave up and said "The hell with it... make it striped" Don't get me wrong I'm grateful to have this set but it's just so basic and RED with little detail. 3/5
Extras...? What are those? None to speak of. Actually, none to write about either. 0/5
Ahhh yes, the price point. I marvel at how there seem to be so many different price schemes for similar lengths. I paid about $37 for this... and it's over TWENTY hours of material. Star Trek, S1, S2, S3 (Original) is over a hundred bills for the same length. And Quantum Leap Season One is $30... For SEVEN hours. Now, I may not be a Vulcan math wiz but there do seem to be huge Leaps in price points. I for one, think this series is the perfect happy medium. 5/5
I'd say the picture is actually superb considering the age of the print, no complaints by me. People seem to forget 1977 is no longer merely ten years ago. 4/5
The sound is interesting. I had assumed the soundtrack would be the Gotcha Theme from S2, I was quite surprised to hear Mark Snows Theme. I liked Season Two's opening theme better but actually I love the closing Theme here in Season Three. Lastly, why didn't they spend some time and re-master these in 5.1? What is this... 1977, all over again? Don't we wish. 3/5
Now, where is Starsky and Hutch Season 4? The Rockford Files DVD sets? Can I get an Amen, Brother?

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Slayers Next - The Complete Second Season Review

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(More customer reviews)"Slayers Next" is typically cited as the best season of this fantasy/comedy anime that should serve as a centerpiece to any animation collection. I've already gone over the show's basics on my review of The Slayers - The Complete First Season so I'll cut to the chase here. While the first season is my favorite, this is in no way an inferior outting for Lina and her band of merry misfits. Many new characters are introduced, all the favorites from season one are back, and the storylines continue to balance comedy reminiscent of the Three Stooges with an epic fantasy universe that seems to live and breathe on it's own.
This second season expands on that universe and manages to ramp up the tension as Lina Inverse is forced to learn more and more dangerous magics to keep pace with the chaos-worshipping demons that intend to destroy mankind. That's not to say that our heroine doesn't find plenty of time to fight over food (one of her passions), pick on bandits and other pathetic would-be villains (it's a hobby), and destroy a kingdom or two with her Dragon Slave spell. Her primary nemesis for much of this season is Martina, a princess displaced by Lina's aforementioned destruction who worships a monster named Zomoulgustar. Sound like a name an autistic kid would think up? Welllll....
Martina's usually poorly though out attempts at revenge provide plenty of comic relief throughout the season, but don't think that Gourry gets off the hook. He picks up an admirer of his own; a rogue swordsman who wishes to duel with him. But who has the time with all these apocalypses to avert? But the newcomer most beloved by fans is the mysterious priest Xellos; a character fond of dropping hints at crucial plot points and then, when asked for more specific information, declaring "That.....is a secret" with his pointer finger thrust upward for emphasis and then disappearing.
Who the hell is this Xellos guy? Will Martina ever get a life? What manner of beast could possibly challenge the mighty Lina Inverse at this point? Will the jokes about Lina's small breasts ever cease? All questions will be answered and there will be both dungeons and dragons aplenty for fantasy buffs. "Slayers Next" delivers exactly what fans of the first season would want: more of the same. More characters, more action, more madness, more magic, more slapstick, and best of all more Lina Inverse. If you dug season one, have no fear; this is exactly what you'd hope for in a sophomore season.

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"A time-honored fantasy parody…" --- Sci-Fi Magazine In a land beset by the forces of evil, a solitary light shines forth with the hope of salvation… but that's a far different story! Meet Lina Inverse, a spunky sorceress with a penchant for fire, who enjoys nothing more than liberating the unearned from those less deserving. Teamed up her strapping, yet strapped for brains, faithful sidekick Gourry, her ambitious young protégé, Amelia, and the ever-stoic Zelgadis, this ragtag team of misfit adventurers set out in search of a cure and end up on a quest to save the world. Together they find more trouble than they could possibly hope for, and nowhere near enough plunder! Season Two contains 26 remastered episodes

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Pride & Prejudice (2005) Review

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(More customer reviews)Okay, I am a rabid Frith and BBC fan of the miniseries, but I was very impressed with this adaption and found it refershing in it's grounded, youthful take on the story.
For starters, there is a very grounded nature to the presentation of the story. Some Austenites got their knickers into a twist because they thought it made the family and their circumstances too drab looking. But I loved it! The Meryton Assembly basically sets the stage for this grounded approach-the dancing looks a little heavy footed, the girls look sweaty, and you can't help but think that someone needs to open a window cause it looks awfully sweaty! But at the same time,it made the story come alive, like you were a fly on the wall, peeking in on Lizzy and Darcy and the rest of the gang.
Lastly, I loved the youthful take on the story. I LOVE Firth and Ehle as the '95 leads. They had this chemistry and sensual tension that was electric! But their take was definitely from a mature standpoint-like the way I'd act now as a 33 year old woman. Whereas Macfadyen and Knightley? Theirs is a more youthful, innocent, first love take that I just took to. Great chemistry, Lizzy's a little less cocksure, Darcy's a bit more unbalanced by this attraction, and it felt right in terms of age and stage of development with the actual characters in the book.
Great adaption, brisk storytelling, and a wonderfully irreverent tone by a fun director who knew it was a good idea to knock the pedestal off from under our Lizzy and Darcy, and let them be seen in a more grounded light. And ps-I thought Macfadyen, even though he doesn't have that big of a part, was a great Darcy!

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One of the greatest love stories of all time, Pride & Prejudice, comes to the screen in a glorious new adaptation starring Keira Knightley. When Elizabeth Bennett (Knightley) meets the handsome Mr. Darcy (Matthew MacFadyen), she believes he is the last man on earth she could ever marry. But as their lives become intertwined in an unexpected adventure, she finds herself captivated by the very person she swore to loathe for all eternity. Based on the beloved masterpiece by Jane Austen, it is the classic tale of love and misunderstanding that sparkles with romance, wit and emotional force. Critics are calling it "Exhilarating. A joy from start to finish" (Carina Chocano, Los Angeles Times).

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Boots Malone (1951) Review

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.....There have been literally hundreds of racetrack films made and most of them have been pure hokem ala the implauseable although enjoyable "National Velvet".
.....As a former owner of racehorses I recognized immediately the authenticity of this film and its accurate portrayal of the gritty seamier side of life on the backside.
.....Bill Holden gives his usual great performance as the cynical jockey's agent with a tough guy exterior but a soft spot down deep.
.....Johnny Stewart as the rich kid who yearns to be a jockey and Basil Ruysdael as the oldtimer who has seen it all both turn in outstanding performances.
.....But the heart of the movie is Holden's struggle between betrayal and honor. This is without a doubt the most realistic racetrack movie ever made and one of Holden's most under rated performances.
.....If you like racetrack yarns you want this movie.

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The Last Voyage (1960) Review

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(More customer reviews)Disaster movies from this era are, in general, fairly forgettable, but "The Last Voyage" rises above the norm in several ways. The stars of this film are well cast with Robert Stack in fine form as the heroic husband out to save his wife, George Sanders excelling as Captain Robert Adams, and Dorothy Malone doing a generally good (though occasionally over the top) job as the imperiled heroine. Stack and Malone had worked together before, and have an excellent onscreen chemistry. While football star turned actor Woody Strode does an excellent job as a selfless crewman, the downside to the casting was Tammy Marihugh who played the daughter of Stack and Malone, and who is one of the most shrill and annoying child actors in memory. I gave this film four stars, and a good part of the reason it didn't get five was due to that one piece of casting.
The real star of the film, of course, was the "S.S. Claridon" which sank due to a fire, boiler explosion, and aged bulkheads. Most movies from the 1960s have poor special effects, but "The Last Voyage" is different because there are no real special effects here. The actual star of the film turns out to be no other than the beautiful art deco French Line ship, the "Ile de France," a ship more famous than most people realize. The "Ile de France" was the first ocean liner completed after world war one, and served through many years of service on the Atlantic (including as a troop transport during world war two.) Her most famous accomplishment, though, was coming to the aid of the "Andrea Doria" which sank in 1956: "Ile de France" was key to the rescue operation, but was retired and this film was made just four years later.
The film was shot onboard the ship, which is why the sets look so realistic and why the sinking is so realistic (she was actually sunk for the film.) While the plot itself is a bit contrived (really, an acetylene delivery by rowboat?) the story is generally well done and the shots of the ship are magnificent, although the mechanics of the funnel collapse might be questioned by marine architects.
I recommend the film as an above average suspense drama, and especially for the beautiful shots of a magnificent liner in her final days.

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