The Greatest American Hero - Season One (1981) Review

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(More customer reviews)Although it's now fashionable to watch a superhero struggle with his or her abilities in movies and TV, it wasn't always the case. William Katt played Ralph Hinkley an ordinary guy who is left a gift from aliens from outer space-a suit that gives its wearer the ability to fly, super strength, invisibility and much more. Suddenly, he had all these super powers but lost the owner's manual to tell him how to use it correctly. Ralph ends up flying into walls and generally having as many mishaps as a superhero could possibly have. Befriended by FBI agent Bill Maxwell (Robert Culp) Hinkley partners with him and decides to fight for good. These first eight episodes (including the two hour pilot ) made up the first season of the series. The two hour pilot soars with nice comedic touches by Katt, Connie Selleca and the perfect straight man in Culp. In fact, Culp plays it so seriously that it comes off almost as a parody of a government agent.
With an exceptionally good transfer, "The Greatest American Hero" looks almost as if it was invulnerable to the ravages of time. The transfers look very nice with solid blacks and color reproduction. Considering the show is twenty five years old, there are few of the flaws that one might expect. The image is occasionally soft but and has some minor analog imperfections (such as dust, dirt particularly during the effects shots) on the whole, Anchor Bay has done a meticulous job in transferring this series to DVD. The sound while limited by the technology of the time (it was broadcast in mono) has good presence with the dialogue very clear. Some minor background hiss crops up from time to time. Although the box says this is in stereo it sounds like mono to me.
We get a pilot for a spin off entitled "The Greatest American Heroine". While only one episode was shot, what we have is quite good and promising. Sadly, no network picked up the spin-off so, until recently, it has sat on the shelf. In the spin off Hinkley hands off the suit to a young woman and she takes up where he left off. We also get interviews with stars William Katt, Robert Culp, Connie Selleca and writer/producer/creator Stephen J. Cannell. Culp provides some interesting tidbits in his interview. For example, the reason Bill Maxwell comes across so intense and humorless is because Culp decided to play the role that way. He figured that there with others playing for laughs, presenting his character as serious would provide an anchor to reality and prevent the show from becoming too tongue-in-cheek. With over an hour of interviews, this portion of the set is extremely generous. No commentary tracks from anyone but, really, the interviews do make up for that. Hopefully in future sets we can have commentary tracks on key episodes by the actors and Cannell.

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Believe it or not, he’s walking on air! William Katt is back as reluctant flying crime fighter Ralph Hinkley, who would know exactly how to use the red superpower suit given to him by aliens if he hadn’t lost its instruction manual. In this season, Ralph pitches in the World Series, prevents World War III, suffers amnesia, joins the circus, battles bad bikers, voodoo vengeance, a fast-food mascot and much more, all with the help of his attorney girlfriend Pam Davidson (Connie Selleca) and FBI agent Bill Maxwell (Robert Culp). Who could it be? Believe it or not, he’s THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO!This collection features all 22 Second Season episodes with such guest stars as Markie Post, Joe Mantegna, Barbara Hale, Keenan Wynn, Dixie Carter, Don Drysdale and more, plus all-new Extras that include revealing and fun career-retrospective interviews with creator Stephen J. Cannell and music composer Mike Post.

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Walt Disney Treasures - The Chronological Donald, Volume Three (1947 - 1950) (1948) Review

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(More customer reviews)Yea! The Walt Disney Treasures are back after all! This one contains all 30 Donald Duck cartoons from 1947 through 1950. Here's the list:
From 1947:
* Straight Shooters
* Sleepy Time Donald
* Clown Of The Jungle
* Donald's Dilemma
* Crazy With The Heat
* Bootle Beetle
* Wide Open Spaces
* Chip An' Dale
From 1948:
* Drip Dippy Donald
* Daddy Duck
* Donald's Dream Voice
* The Trial Of Donald Duck
* Inferior Decorator
* Soup's On
* Three For Breakfast
* Tea For Two Hundred
From 1949:
* Donald's Happy Birthday
* Sea Salts
* Winter Storage
* Honey Harvester
* All In A Nutshell
* The Greener Yard
* Slide, Donald, Slide
* Toy Tinkers
From 1950:
* Lion Around
* Crazy Over Daisy
* Trailer Horn
* Hook, Lion And Sinker
* Bee At The Beach
* Out On A Limb
Bonus features include a retrospective of Donald's movie cameos and an interview with Ruben Procopio, a Disney character sculptor. Like the other Treasures box sets, these tins are individually numbered and come with both a certificate of authenticity and a collectible lithograph, this time a reproduction of the poster art for 1948's "Inferior Decorator." Also like before, the discs are hosted by movie critic and historian Leonard Maltin.

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Donald\'s prolific career as leading duck marches on with more of his solo-starring shorts. In this collection we follow our hot-headed hero\'s escapades from 1947 through 1950 as he continues to endear himself to people all over the globe. Among the treasure trove of gems in this volume are three of Donald\'s Academy Award(R)-nominated Best Shorts -- "Chip An\' Dale" (1947) "Tea For Two Hundred" (1948) and "Toy Tinkers" (1949); the outstanding "Donald\'s Dilemma" from 1947; and a brand-new retrospective of the cranky quack-up\'s complete movie career THE MANY FACES OF DONALD DUCK. It\'s no wonder his webbed feet are immortalized in cement at Grauman\'s Chinese Theater. Featuring exclusive introductions by film historian Leonard Maltin this is a timeless collection from generations past for generations to come.System Requirements:Running Time: 263 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre:CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating:NR UPC:786936740806

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Babylon 5 - The Complete Fifth Season (1994) Review

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(More customer reviews)Like the other four seasons, "Season Five" will be in widescreen anamorphic format and Dolby Digital 5.1. It includes all 22 episodes and runs for 968 minutes. For the final season, fans are expecting some special extras. Here is a list of the scheduled extras:
=>Introduction to Wheel of Fire (Season 5 of Babylon 5) by series creator, J. Michael Straczynski
=>Two audio commentaries by J. Michael Straczynski
=>Movements of Fire and Shadow commentary by cast members Bruce Boxleitner, Peter Jurasik, Patricia Tallman and Tracy Scoggins
=>Digital Tomorrow - a featurette about making the special effects for the series
=>Beyond Babylon 5 - a featurette focusing on the fans, their reactions to the show and available Babylon 5 merchandise
=>The Universe of Babylon 5
=>Personnel Files; Data Files; Gag Reel; Episode previews
=>Easter Egg: Marcus Cole: Dead or Frozen
=>Additional and Extended Scenes
Unfinished from prior seasons, the telepath situation is still at issue. The post-war era still has many other problems to be resolved.
Episode Guide:
1. No Compromises (Babylon 5 has a new commander. The telepaths ask to form a colony on Babylon 5.)
2. The Very Long Night of Londo Mollari (Londo has a heart attack. Lennier decides to become a ranger.)
3. The Paragon of Animals (Garibaldi wants to form an intelligence unit consisting of telepaths.)
4. A View from the Gallery (cowritten by Harlan Ellison. Savage aliens attack the station shown from the viewpoint of two crew members.)
5. Learning Curve (A racketeer tries to take over Downbelow.)
6. Strange Relations (Londo evades an assassination attempt.)
7. Secrets of the Soul (The Downbelow citizens don't like the increasing number of telepaths. Franklin discovers an old secret.)
8. Day of the Dead (The Brakiri conduct a religious ceremony where the dead supposedly return. Zooty's voice is done by Harlan Ellison.)
9. In the Kingdom of the Blind (Byron uses blackmail to try to get a homeworld of their own for the telepaths.)
10. A Tragedy of Telepaths (Lochley asks that the telepaths be removed, due to rising tensions and violence.)
11. Phoenix Rising (The situation with the telepaths worsens, resulting in several deaths.)
12. The Ragged Edge (G'Kar becames a religious figure after his book is published. There may be a witness to an attack on an Alliance ship.)
13. The Corps is Mother, the Corps is Father (Bester shows two PSI Cop interns how he works when he tries to capture a rogue telepath.)
14. Meditations on the Abyss (Lennier investigates the possible Centauri involvement in the shipping line attacks. Vir becomes the Centauri ambassador to Babylon 5.)
15. Darkness Ascending (Lennier continues to investigate the Centauri. Lyta tries to find a homeworld for the telepaths.)
16. And All My Dreams, Torn Asunder (Evidence against the Centauri is presented to the Alliance.)
17. Movements of Fire and Shadow (The White Star fleet is authorized to participate in the war. Tensions with the Centauri worsen.)
18. The Fall of Centauri Prime (The Drakh force Londo to help them. Londo is crowned emperor of the Centauri Republic.)
19. The Wheel of Fire (Earthforce orders Lyta's arrest. G'Kar worshippers cause problems.)
20. Objects in Motion (cowritten by Harlan Ellison. Michael and Lise are warned that an assassin has been hired to kill them.)
21. Objects at Rest (Many are leaving Babylon 5. Alliance headquarters move to Minbar.)
22. Sleeping in Light (Sheridan invites old friends for a final gathering. Takes place 20 years later. In this final episode, J. Michael Stracynski writes, directs, and makes a cameo appearance as the crew member shutting down the station.)
Although this is the final season, it is not the final DVD set. A collection of the television movies is planned for release in Spring or Summer of 2004. (jmsnews.com has a small amount of information about two DVD sets following the release of B5 Season 5.)

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From the beginning, both were running out of time. The space station that was the last, best hope for peace was sooner or later certain to be eclipsed by new political coalitions and technical advances. And John Sheridan, who guided the massive freeport through its most tumultuous days, knew that his own fate had been inalterably prophesied. Now both storylines converge in a 22-episode final season (with dazzling Exclusive DVD Extras!) whose events also include Sheridan's attempts to wage peace for the Interstellar Alliance, the tragic fate of the telepaths and the ultimate fireball destruction of the outmoded station after it is declared to be a spaceway navigational hazard. You are cleared for final approach to Babylon 5.

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Walt Disney Treasures - Mickey Mouse in Living Color (1937) Review

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(More customer reviews)First the good:
This is by far the best compilation of Mickey shorts available to the public to date. Disney produced 87 Mickey shorts in the 30's - by far the most prolific period of Mickey Mouse Cartoons (there were only 120 made from 1928 to 1953). 27 of these shorts are contained on this disc, which constitutes more than half of the color Mickeys made. He was already a sensation before he went to color; these shorts firmly established him as an American icon. To the animation fan, it can be argued that this disc contains some of the best cartoon "acting" of the golden age of animation. By no means should a serious fan avoid this disc.
The not so good:
These shorts have not been remastered. I'm not even sure they come from the best available print. Some of these shorts have looked better on the "Ink and Paint Club." The cartoons in this package contain flaws that some could consider unacceptable, or at least annoying - colors going out of register (albeit probably not noticeable to the casual viewer), a few sound problems (rare, but a bit annoying), dust and dirt. Watch the "Brave Little Tailor" in the scene where Mickey kills the seven flies. The amount of film debris present is alarming - it almost looks like it's snowing. Some have said that the recent remastering of Snow White has resulted in an ultra-clean presentation that takes away from the period animation. Well...this disc certainly doesn't present THAT dilemma. It's not unacceptable as the good far outweighs the bad. But I would have thought Disney to spend a bit more time on presenting the best possible versions of these pieces.
Overall:
An absolute must for the animation collector. Concerning the comments about the mastering - it's highly unlikely that Disney will remaster these shorts in another package. Grab it while it's available as this is supposedly a limited release of 150,000 copies....

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A collection of twenty-six animated shorts in color starring everyone's favorite, Mickey Mouse, released between 1935 and 1938. Introduction by Leonard Maltin. Cartoons: The Band Concert, Mickey's Garden, Mickey's Fire Brigade, Pluto's Judgement Day, On Ice, Mickey's Polo Team, Orphan's Picnic, Mickey's Grand Opera, Thru the Mirror, Mickey's Rival, Moving Day, Alpine Climbers, Mickey's Circus, Mickey's Elephant, The Worm Turns, Magician Mickey, Moose Hunters, Mickey's Amateurs, Hawaiian Holiday, Clock Cleaners, Lonesome Ghosts, Boat Builders, Mickey's Trailer, The Whalers, Mickey's Parrot, Brave Little Tailor.

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The Amazing Race: The First Season (2001) Review

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(More customer reviews)I am happy that the show finally found an audience that made the producers of the show decided to release the first season on DVD. I think of all the reality series, this one will hold its own best in "repeated viewings" and on syndication. Unlike other reality series, even if you already know who wins or who gets eliminated in a particular episode, it doesn't ruin the quality of the episode. But of course there's still nothing compared to seeing these episodes for the first time.
It is a revolutionary reality series that has a concept that was probably very hard to pull off on paper (can you imagine the reactions of the TV executives when they first heard about the concept of the show). But amazingly, they did pull it off! It is very evident that the producers treat each episode as "special episode" because can you just imagine the logistics and the number of people (across the globe) involve in producing this show?
There are some aspects of the show that were later on in the succeeding seasons were changed mostly for improvements. Example of this is that in the first season, Phil only received the teams who came in the last place (a person from that particular country receives those who came in before the last team). Part of the fun is watching the reactions of the racers anticipate whether they were eliminated or not. Because in the first season the racers already know if they came in last, we were not able to see those kinds of reactions.
Some of the most memorable teams were Team Guido (you won't believe the extent they were willing to do to get ahead), Lenny and Karyn (the original fighting couple, but their fight looked real and not some deliberate attempt to gain screen time. When Karyn said "Disappointing", you believe her!), Nancy and Emily (even though Emily acted like a brat, Nancy just radiates with motherly innocence in the race), and Kevin and Drew (the original funny guys)
When the winner finally cross the finish line at the finale, with all the eliminated teams cheering for them, you just can't help but feel like being a part of the race.

Grade: A

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The premiere season of THE AMAZING RACE sees 12 teams race around the globe to 'amazing' locations including Thailand, China, Tunisia, India, Italy, France, Alaska and Zambia for a $1,000,000 prize in the end.

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The Fall Guy: The Complete Season 1 (1981) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is one of my favorite Action/Adventure series. I love the Theme "The Unknown Stuntman" by David Somerville, Gail Jensen, and Glen Larson. The theme sung by Lee Majors.
The hallmark of this series was the spectacular stunt work. For Lee Majors the show was his fifth successful show. Majors played the role as Hollywood stuntman Colt Seavers, who by using his special skills to track down and capture bail jumpers picked up a little extra money. Helping out were Colt's inexperienced but eager younger cousin, Howie, and stunning stuntwoman Jody. The team took thier assignments from Samantha Jack, a sexy bail bondswoman named "Big Jack".
Each episode started with one of Colt's daredevil movie stunts(usually in high-speed)and then shifted to his pursuit of the bail jumper, often using the same stunts he had used in the movie.
The Fall Guy first aired on November 4th, 1981 until May 2nd, 1986 for a total of 5 seasons and 113 episodes, which I wish to own.
The First season was up there with the best 30 TV shows, ranking 26th in its first appearance and getting 19% of viewers according the Nielsen rating (The Nielsen rating is the percent of all TV-equipped homes tuned to the program on an average night, as measured by Nielsen Media Research).
The cast for this show were:
Colt Seavers..........................Lee Majors
Howie Munson........................Douglas Barr
Jody Banks........................Heather Thomas
Samantha"Big Jack"Jack(1981-1982)...Jo Ann Pflug
Terri Shannon/Michaels(1982-1985)....Markie Post
Pearl Sperling(1985-1986).............Nedra Volz
The First season consisted of 23 episodes and they are as follows:

1 The Fall Guy (1) 11/4/1981
2 The Fall Guy (2) 11/4/1981
3 The Meek Shall Inherit Rhonda 11/11/1981
4 The Rich Get Richer 11/18/1981
5 That's Right, We're Bad 11/25/1981
6 Colt's Angels 12/2/1981
7 The Human Torch 12/9/1981
8 The Japanese Connection 12/16/1981
9 No Way Out 1/6/1982
10 License to Kill (1) 1/13/1982
11 License to Kill (2) 1/20/1982
12 Goin' for It 1/27/1982
13 The Adventures of Ozzie and Harold 2/3/1982
14 Soldiers of Misfortune 2/10/1982
15 Ready, Aim, Die 2/17/1982
16 Ladies On the Ropes 2/24/1982
17 The Snow Job 3/3/1982
18 Guess Who's Coming to Town? 3/17/1982
19 Child's Play 3/24/1982
20 Charlie 4/7/1982
21 Three for the Road 4/14/1982
22 The Silent Partner 4/28/1982
23 Scavenger Hunt 5/5/1982
I hope all of the remaining 4 seasons will be released shortly after this season.
Thank you very much for reading my review and have a nice day :)

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Lee Majors stars as the Fall Guy, Colt Seavers, a stunt man moonlighting as a bounty hunter who uses Hollywood stunt tactics to capture criminals.

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Full House: The Complete Fifth Season (1987) Review

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(More customer reviews)Full House is great! It's one of those shows you can watch over and over. Here is an insite on the episodes in this season.
1.Double Trouble
Becky and Jesse go to the doctor and find out that they're going to have more than one baby.
2.Matchmaker Michelle
(Will you marry my daddy?) Michelle sets out on a journey to find Danny a wife so she can have a mommy. Jesse tries to change the image of his band which takes a wild turn. The Tanners are stuck with Kimmy when a school project is for 2 people to switch houses for a day.
3.Take My Sister, Please
DJ makes a plea to the guys for her to get her own room. But the decision is almost overturned when Michelle decides she doesn't want to live with Stephanie either so Steph moves into the bathroom. Jesse tries to survive Becky`s pregnancy hormones. Jesse and Becky begin taking birthing classes.
4.Oh Where, Oh Where Has My Little Girl Gone
A girls reputation can be made or broken with one small lie. DJ finds this out the hard way when a boy she wouldn't kiss starts spreading rumors about her.
5.The King and I
Family should always come first. Jesse forgets this when gets wrapped up in trying to write a song. He looses his temper and doesn't join the family in their annual picnic.
6.The Legend of Ranger Joe
Tap shoes and bear hugs are the key in this episode. Michelle inherits a pair of tap shoes which she won't stop tapping in. And Joey is going for a job and when he gets it he sends a hug-a-gram to the man who hired him not knowing the guy is afraid to be touched.
7.The Volunteer
DJ befriends a elderly man in a nursing home that she volunteers at. When she brings him home he gets confused and DJ doesn't understand why.
8.Gotta Dance
Many times a child has a dream, but once they get into the process of fulfilling that dream it turns out its not what they want any longer as Steph learns in this episode.
9.Happy Birthday, Babies (1)
The Tanners remind Michelle just how special she is to them when anxiety sets in for Michelle because her baby book is now done when she turns 5.
10.Happy Birthday, Babies (2)
Dino (Also known as Danny) has to fill in for Jesse during Becky's labor as he is taken away for surgery himself. Feeling disappointed because everyone left her on her birthday for the birth of the twins, Michelle realizes that she isn't the baby anymore.
11.Nicky and/or Alexander
Does it make you a bad dad if you can't tell your twins apart? Taking the booties off the twins makes Jesse not able to tell Nicky and Alex apart.
12.Bachelor of the Month
Being (Bachelor of the Month) goes to Danny's head and has a negative effect on the Tanner household.
13.Easy Rider
("If at first you don't succeed try, try again") That is the lesson for Michelle when she it trying to learn to ride her bike without training wheels.
14.Sisters in Crime
DJ takes Stephanie and Michelle to the movies with her and Steve. She has Kimmy lie for her, and when they get sent home, has Stephanie and Michelle lie so she doesn't get in trouble.
15.Play It Again, Jess
Jesse has to learn the hard way that he and Becky are a team and no matter what they are in it for the long haul. Even if it means Jesse has to be a stay at home dad.
16.Crushed
Stephanie freaks out when she sees Tommy Page at her birthday party. Too bad he likes DJ more.
17.Spellbound
Stephanie advances to the finals for best speller in her class. After she comes in second place, she challenges the winner to a rematch.
18.Too Much Monkey Business
Danny's sister shows up at the Tanner household with her pet monkey. Joey finds himself attracted to her but Danny isn't happy about the whole thing.
19.The Devil Made Me Do It
Michelle starts to learn that she cannot break the rules without some sort of consequence. This is hard for Michelle to understand so she runs away. Meanwhile, D.J. tries to help settle an argument between Kimmy and Stephanie.
20.Driving Miss D.J.
Teaching DJ to drive is no easy task for Danny. That means he has to face the fact that DJ is growing up. He's not quite ready to let go yet.
21.Yours, Mine and Ours
Nothing is more embarrassing to DJ then being seen out on a weekend night with her family. And the Tanners get plenty of exposure on this night out.
22.The Trouble with Danny
Danny finds out how the family feels about his cleaning obsession and has to take a hard look at his life.
23.Five's a Crowd
A drive in Movie isn't meant for a date and their 3 dads. This is what happened to DJ when she went on a date to a drive in. Jesse, Joey and Danny show up in the back seat of the van.
24.Girls Will Be Boys
Michelle feels left out because she is not one of the boys. Jesse is seen wearing a lumberjack outfit and DJ threatens to get back at Stephanie for eavesdropping.
25.Captain Video (1)
Sometimes selling a record recorded the wrong way is not worth selling. Jesse is stuck on his career path so the Beach Boys come over to the Tanners to see if they could help out.
26.Captain Video (2)
When Jesse turns down Fat Fish Records to record "Forever" as a fast dance number instead of a ballad he gets some help from a very special member of the Tanner family to make that choice.

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There are two new additions to the Tanner family and tons of laughs! Join the Tanners once again for another hilarious season of Full House. Watch as Danny is bachelor of the month, DJ learns how to drive, Michelle turns five, Stephanie moves into the bathroom and Becky and Jesse have twins! Don't miss the latest antics of the Tanners in the complete fifth season for the first time ever on DVD!

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Walt Disney Treasures: Davy Crockett - The Complete Televised Series (1956) Review

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(More customer reviews)Davy Crockett is one of Walt Disney's most endeared and remembered live action characters. He was presented to American audiences by Walt Disney on the Disneyland TV Show in 1954. He was personified by Fess Parker beloved ever after by his sincere portrayal. This colorful and entertaining character was first seen in three episodes from the TV show ("Davy Crockett, Indian Fighter," "Davy Crockett Goes to Congress" and "Davy Crockett at the Alamo"). Parker, with his coonskin cap and homespun drawl and witticism created a nationwide phenomenon in 1954. Who can forget "The Ballad Of Davy Crockett" composed by George Bruns and Tom Blackburn. Buddy Ebsen played his sidekick George Russel, whose adventures take them from Tennessee to Washington, D.C. to the Alamo in the first three episodes. The series' third episode focusing on the defense of the Alamo, though well remembered, is somewhat labored until we see the final image of Davy Crockett passing into legend and glory. This straightforward and beautifully photographed series expounds the virtues of honesty, integrity and bravery. The country could not get enough of Davy so he and George Russel returned in 1955 for two more episodes ("Davy Crockett's Keel Boat Race" and "Davy Crockett and the River Pirates"). For Davy Crockett's second season on television the show was retitled "The Legends of Davy Crockett." The necessary title change came about because we had seen Davy come to his end defending the Alamo and Walt Disney wanted to continue bringing us his adventures. "Davy Crockett's Keel Boat Race" is about a riverboat race between Davy and another American folklore hero Mike Fink. "Davy Crockett and the River Pirates" is about Davy's attempt to stop an Indian uprising with Mike Fink's assistance. In some ways these two episodes are the best. Davy Crockett appears less the frontier fighter and more the good-natured peacemaker in these episodes. The riverboat race with Mike Fink is very entertaining and a high point in Disney's American frontier live action adventures. I don't even think John Ford could have filmed this sequence any better. Kenneth Tobey, who worked with John Ford, is excellent in a great comedic part (Fess Parker made note of Tobey's performance in a supplemental interview on the DVD). Walt Disney gave this actor a chance to demonstrate his great versatility and range as an actor. Also, Mike Fink's boats may look a little familiar since they are the basis for the riverboat ride at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. That's a nice nostalgic tie in! Bert Glennon's cinematography is beautifully picturesque as ever and is matched seamlessly with some very effective glass shot special effects by Peter Ellenshaw. This is one of the best DVDs to come from the Disney vaults. Walt Disney introduces each of the five episodes exactly as they were originally presented on the Disneyland TV Show. The Supplemental Features on this DVD are above and beyond what I had expected. Most of Disney's DVD extras seem to concentrate on the technical aspects of the feature presentation. This DVD focused more on the phenomenon that the legend of Davy Crockett created and the affect it had and continues to have on those who were brought up in those times. There are two exceptional Features: "A Conversation with Fess Parker" and "The Davy Crockett Craze." "The Gallery" of photos and memorabilia is also excellent. "A Conversation with Fess Parker" really hit home with me. Fess Parker appeared to be the genuine article that he was. In a world of eroded morals filled with dirt and filth everywhere you turn it was more than comforting to hear Fess Parker's fond recollections of his portrayal and the ideals that Walt immortalized through the tales of this legendary character. If your eyes feel a little watery its because your remembering a time not so long ago when our heroes were real heroes. This is one of the best and should help keep the legend alive for those that lived it, those that loved it and for those that will someday be touched by it.

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All 5 episodes of Walt Disney's Davy Crockett series chronicling the adventures of the King of the Wild Frontier. Beginning with Davy Crockett, Indian Fighter and featuring Davy's adventures all the way up to the Alamo, these classic adventures are fun for the whole family. Introduction by Leonard Maltin. Episodes: Davy Crockett, Indian Fighter; Davy Crockett Goes to Congress; Davy Crockett's Keelboat Race; Davy Crockett and the River Pirates; Davy Crockett at the Alamo.

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The Truman Show (1998) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have never been a huge fan of Jim Carrey movies, so when The Truman Show came out, I quickly wrote it off as not one I was going to rush out to see. I shouldn't have. Fortunately, I got the chance to see it at a friend's house, and I can honestly say that it left me speechless and amazed at the brilliance of the film. First of all, Jim Carrey excells in this role. I find him to be a very funny man in real life, but his wacky roles in previous movies (Ace Ventura, Dumb & Dumber...you know them) don't appeal to me at all. BUT, in this role, he shows that he is way more than a go-to weirdo or funnyman. The emotion and the vulnerability he brings to the naive Truman Burbank only improves as the movie goes on. Watching this man crack as the only world he knows begins to slowly betray him and the intensity of his attempts to discover what else is beyond his hidden cage is moving in a way that few movies can convey successfully.
This movie is more than just about watching Truman Burbank find out the truth of his televised life, but it is a stunning portrayal of humanity. Truman's world was created by Christof (the always wonderful Ed Harris) to be what is considered "perfection." Christof is like God in the Seahaven world. He makes every choice for the world, including the weather and even Truman's fears...but Christof cannot change the one thing that noone can manipulate--Truman's thoughts. Truman is given the perfect wife, a brotherly bestfriend, a steady job, and a life in a world that exists without pain, sadness, or evil. But the world is a cage. The movie shows that stability is not perfection, ignorance is not bliss, and a life without ALL emotions--including sadness, fear, and pain--could never exist. Even without knowing that he is trapped, Truman feels the need to escape his "perfect" life and to see what else there is beyond the utopia that is Seahaven Island. It is a perfect display of our quest for the unknown, unsatisfaction with just mundane existence, and our interest in what normality really is.
When you watch this movie, you will become just like the viewers in the movie who are watching Truman. You will root for him, cry for him, and laugh with (or at) him. His is truly a reality show that I hope that never is created for real...but we ARE humans, so who knows how we'll try to play God next...
P.S. The score to the movie is absolutely gorgeous.

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The whole world is watching--literally--every time Truman Burbank makes the slightest move. Unbeknownst to him, in this hauntingly funny film by Peter Weir, his entire life has been an unending soap opera for consumption by the rest of the world. And everyone he knows--including his mother, his wife, and his best friend--is really an actor, paid to be part of his life. In this intriguing and surprisingly touching 1998 film, writer Andrew Niccol imagines an ultimate kind of celebrity, then sees it brought to life with comic intensity and emotional honesty by Jim Carrey in what may be the performance of his career. Carrey has exceptional support from Laura Linney and Ed Harris, but it's his show, in a portrayal that demonstrates just what kind of range Carrey is capable of. "--Marshall Fine"

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Broken Embraces (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)In "Broken Embraces", Pedro Almodovar rehashes a lot of themes and devices from his earlier films to create a pastiche that is pleasant enough but not as strong as his more daring and original works. Harry Caine (Lluis Homar) is a blind screenwriter who had been film director Mateo Blanco before he lost his sight. Now he dictates screenplays to his assistant Diego (Tamar Novas), the son of his longtime manager Judit (Blanco Portillo), who wishes Harry would write scripts for more popular genres. One day as aspiring filmmaker (Ruben Ochandiano) proposes that Harry collaborate on a script about a son who avenges himself on his detested father posthumously. That inspires Harry to tell Diego the story of how he fell in love and lost his sight 14 years earlier, a subject of which he has not spoken in all those years.
In 1994, Harry met Lena (Penelope Cruz), the beautiful mistress of financier Ernesto Martel (Jose Luis Gomez), when he directed her in her first film, a comedy called "Girls and Suitcases". They fell in love and incurred Ernesto's wrath. The film shifts back and forth, between 1994 and 2008, as Diego takes in the story, and Judit grows wary of what Harry might tell him. Harry and Lena's affair is deliberately clichéd, but I waited for Almodovar to give it his unique spin. Unfortunately, it never quite delivers. Lena seems more an object than a fully realized character, which might be fitting, as she is in Harry's memory. But as a main character, she is underwritten. Jose Luis Gomez is perfect as a man in the grip of obsession for Lena, so much so that I wish Ernesto had a more prominent role.
Sometimes Pedro Almodovar has a stroke of brilliance. And sometimes he seems to make movies because he likes making movies, even if he doesn't have anything fresh to contribute. I've seen too much of "Broken Embraces" in his other films, and it just never engages the audience. Harry and Lena's love has no spark. I could see the "surprises" coming a mile away. Some actions seem to lack motivation. Penelope Cruz is luminous. There's never any doubt as to why she's a movie star in Almodovar's films. Jose Luis Gomez is very good, and so Blanco Portillo would be if the writing for her character were a little better. I think those familiar with Almodovar's work are going to find this one stale. But I can't really recommend it to those new to Almodovar, as you would be better off seeing the great "All About My Mother" (1999) or, if you want noir, the labyrinthine noir homage/spoof "Bad Education" (2004). In Spanish with optional subtitles.
The DVD (Sony 2010): Bonus features include 3 deleted scenes, a theatrical trailer (2 min), and 4 featurettes. "The Cannibalistic Councillor" (7 min) is a scene from the fictional "Girls and Suitcases" movie, in which Chon, a woman of conservative politics and Councillor of Social Affairs, goes on about her sexual obsession and foot fetish. This is pure, hilarious Almodovar and not to be missed. There is another scene from the fictional movie among the deleted scenes. "Pedro Directs Penelope" (6 min, English subtitles) shows us what Almodovar is saying offscreen while two actresses play a scene. "On the Red Carpet: The New York Film Festival Closing Night" (3 min) has a few brief interviews. "Variety Q&A with Penelope Cruz" (6 min) is an interview of Cruz by Todd McCarthy. Subtitles are available for the film in English and French. Dubbing available in French.

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A luminous Penélope Cruz stars as an actress who sacrifices everything for true love in Broken Embraces, Academy Award -winning filmmaker (2003, Best Writing, Original Screenplay, Talk to Her) Pedro Almodóvar's acclaimed tale of sex, secrets and cinema. When her father becomes gravely ill, beautiful Lena (Cruz) consents to a relationship with her boss Ernesto (José Luis Gómez), a very wealthy, much-older man who pays for her father's hospitalization and provides her a lavish lifestyle. But Lena's dream is to act and soon she falls for the director of her first film - a project bankrolled by her husband to keep her near. Upon his discovery of the affair, Ernesto stops at nothing to ruin Lena's happiness.

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Full House: The Complete Seventh Season (1987) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the Episode list for season 7
1. It Was a Dark and Stormy Night
When his daughters return from an extended summer camp, Danny is disappointed to learn that they didn't seem to miss home too much. Later, when everyone learns that Michelle brought a wild rabbit home in her duffel bag, the girls happily ride back to the camp grounds with Steve to set the animal free. Unfortunately, when a severe thunderstorm hits, this unexpected little visit back to their "home away from home" becomes a little freakier than anyone expected. Meanwhile, Jesse and Becky's nightmares have been taking place before they fall asleep, because their rambunctious twin boys refuse to sleep in their own beds.
2. The Apartment
Danny feels very uncomfortable with DJ going to Steve's new apartment. And to make matters worse DJ and Steve fall asleep watching TV. When they have no place to go to be alone to talk they climb into the cement truck that is in the backyard because Jesse and Joey are putting in a new driveway. Steve accidentally hits the lever that moves the shut and turns on the cement.
3. Wrong Way Tanner
While Michelle is delighted to be playing on Coach Joey's soccer team, it is evident that she is not the natural athlete that her older sisters were at her age. Determined to see his little girl succeed, Danny pushes Michelle to practice her skills--only to cause further problems when Michelle unintentionally scores the winning goal for the other team. The youngest Tanner is prepared to quit soccer for good now, and it might require a team effort from the entire family to help her through her embarrassment. Meanwhile, Stephanie--who is putting together a special home video for school--uses her trademark sneakiness to catch each family member at some of their most humiliating moments.
4. Tough Love
When kids are out of control it's time to say NO. That is what Becky and Jesse face when the boys are acting any way they want and nobody is telling them NO. Their behavior is effecting the whole Tanner household. Vicky fixes dinner for the family for the first time.
5. Fast Friends
Stephanie makes a new friend, Mickey. But Mickey's friends smoke and Stephanie is pressured to too. Will she?
6. Smash Club: Next Generation
Jesse has just inherited the Smash Club. He gets inspiration from the kids as to what to do with it. But not having very good business sense Jesse struggles to try to get a loan to fix it up.
7. High Anxiety
Realizing your last baby is growing up is a hard thing to let go of. Danny is going through this in this episode when Michelle wants to start making decisions for herself and Danny has a hard time with this.
8. Another Opening, Another No Show
Cappuccino machine not working, REM is not the REM they were expecting, Jesse is locked in the storage room... with Kimmy, Kimmy grabs Jesse toush, and a food critic. All on opening night at the Smash Club. What else could go wrong?
9. The Day of the Rhino
No matter how old or young you are its never wrong to speak your mind when you have been ripped off by false advertising. This is the case for Michelle and all the other kids who sent away for a big Action Rigby toy and received a small plastic one that does nothing.
10. The Prying Game
Many people say things they regret later when they are angry. This was the case for DJ when she finds Stephanie and Kimmy hiding out in Steve's apartment. Stephanie's intentions were good but her actions were wrong. DJ says some mean things to Steph but later realizes her errors.
11. The Bicycle Thief
A bicycle watch group is formed when Michelle reports that her bicycle is stolen. In a strange turn of events Danny, Jesse and Joey turn into the thieves by mistake.
12. Support Your Local Parents
You can't hide things from Danny. He has the "nose" of a bloodhound. When DJ gets a ticket she tries to cover it up but Steph and Michelle find out and use this against DJ to get what they want. Meanwhile Jesse and Becky finally realize that they need help with the twins.
13. The Perfect Couple
As the new host of a couple's game show, Joey enlists the help of Jesse, Becky, Steve, DJ, Danny, and Vicky to be the contestants for a trial run episode. When Vicky cannot make it, Danny is paired with the loudmouthed Estelle. Juicier and more entertaining television is sought by causing the couples to argue in front of the camera, but the fun and games are over when, upon Vicky's return, she and Danny make a devastating decision about their engagement.
14. Is it True about Stephanie
Pursued by a cute boy at school, Stephanie faces a problem with fellow classmate Gia, who also likes the same guy. In her refusal to put up with the girl's threats, Stephanie faces humiliation when Gia spreads a vicious rumor about her. Stephanie manages to plot quite an impressive comeback, but its impact on Gia makes the revenge less than sweet. Meanwhile, Danny--who is miserable without Vicky and desperate to avoid the painful memories--disrupts the natural flow of the household by rearranging everything.
15. The Test
Dreams can seem so real as in the case for DJ who is worried about her SAT's. The test has her so nervous that she has a nightmare about the test.
16. Joey's Funny Valentine
Being a comedian can sometimes be a challenging job as people expect you to be funny all the time. Roxie, Joey's new girlfriend tries to make a good impression on the Tanner family. Things don't go exactly as hoped.
17. The Last Dance
When Jesse's beloved grandfather Papouli arrives from Greece for a visit, the man fills the entire house with his loving and lighthearted perspective on life. The family is crushed when he dies in his sleep, but no one is more impacted than Jesse and Michelle, who are both struggling to reveal their true emotions. The bond between them is stronger than ever, however, and in the wake of this devastating tragedy, they just might be able to help each other heal.
18. Kissing Cousins
Who appears to be somebody can totally be the opposite. This is the case with Stavros, Jesse's cousin from Greece. Jesse can see no wrong in Stavros but the rest of the family see's right through him. It's just a matter of showing Jesse who Stavros really is.
19. Love on the Rocks
Don't expect to pull off a prank when you label a tape prank on Joey. DJ is growing up and begins to comprehend that life shouldn't revolve around a boyfriend. If it does you miss out on so much other things.
20. Michelle a la Cart
Soapbox Derby's are not just for boys any longer. Michelle proves this as she wants to enter the race. She not only wants to enter but she wants to win. Grownups must remember what they say even in a kidding manner that younger kids might take what they say to heart as Michelle did when Jesse, Becky and Danny were making jokes about a girl building a car.
21. Be Your Own Best Friend
Michelle learns a valuable lesson in this episode. She learns you can't buy friendship. She also learns you can have more then one best friend.
22. A Date with Fate
It's not when you celebrate "Mothers Day" when you are a kid its the thought behind it. DJ and Danny end up dateless at a restaurant that they both ended up at.
23. Too Little Richard Too Late
Joey points out at a PTA meeting in which he is running for president in that it's not who gives birth to the kids its the ones that are there for them when they are sick or sad. When they nightmare or need help with homework.
24. A House Divided
The family face a tempting situation when a wealthy old man--who lived in the Tanners' home many years ago--offers them a tidy sum of money for the house. While everyone is thrilled about getting a bigger place, Michelle is upset over the idea--especially when Jesse, Becky, and Joey talk about branching out and buying their own houses. Determined to keep her family together, it will take all the sneaky tricks this 7-year-old possesses to reverse Danny's plans to sell.

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Fun and games, love and laughs - all under one roof! Full House is back for a sunny seventh season with 24 episodes full of remember-when joy. This time around, Jesse inherits the Smash Club, the venue where his band used to play. Joey falls for a comedienne who's into insult humor (sooo unTanner.) And Danny wins a perfect-couple contest with an unlikely ?fianc?e.�he girls are busy, too: Michelle enters a soapbox derby. D.J. sweats the SATs and Stephanie starts a new school and makes a surprising new friend. But the biggest surprise comes last, when Danny gets an offer on the Tanner house at double its value. With the house so full and lives so busy, could it be time for everyone to split up and move on?

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Madea Goes to Jail (The Tyler Perry Collection) (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)I went to see this play in Portland, Oregon. It was totally outstanding. For the person that said he takes us back in years, sometimes you have to go back down memory lane to remember where you came from so some the things you encountered you know not to encounter them again. Tyler Perry is a vessel used by God, the messages in his plays have changed and inspired many lives. Keep doing what you do, their are always going to be critics but it is more critical that you continue to let God use you. This is one of the best plays he's done.

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Madea's about to be sent to the only place she won't be able to talk her way out of...jail! From acclaimed playwright Tyler Perry comes a spectacular new play performed live onstage and brilliantly captured for home presentation. Uplifting and uproarious, this tale of everybody's favorite Southern matriarch overflows with all the heartwarming laughter, and down-home wisdom synonymous with thename Madea.

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Veggie Tales: Saint Nicholas: A Story of Joyful Giving (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)Watching Saint Nicholas, one can only note how much better it is than most of the recent holiday specials, which try to have a moral to the story, but end up flat and heavy-handed. VeggieTales, on the other hand, go far beyond morals to express big ideas. The recent VeggieTales movie, The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A Veggie Tales Movie (Widescreen), was the sort of superior entertainment that, while it enthralls kids, also engages adults. It's hard to believe this featurette is only 45 minutes, because it runs the gamut from light laughs to moving pathos to profound finale, the same arc as a feature film. Adults who happen to walk by while it's on TV will probably find themselves drawn in. Kids will see something new every time.
Bob the tomato tells the true story of St. Nicholas, while Larry the cuke constantly interrupts with more conventional ideas of Santa Claus. The real saint threw bags of money down the chimneys of poor women to save them from being forced into brothels. In this kid-friendly version, young Nick saves the poor from going to jail. Either way, he becomes the patron saint of those who fight human trafficking. The DVD includes ways for kids and families to help a long-established charity called Samaritan's Purse, and a catchy video by Matthew West and Amy Grant, "Give This Christmas Away."
There's an intense scene when the young Nick's parents die, which might be disturbing for very young kids, like similar scenes in Disney films like Bambi. The film is filled with witty asides and references to holiday trivia and packed with well-performed, singable songs. There's even a pirate who makes an appearance from the recent feature film. Bonus features include "Sing Along with Larry", an art gallery, and "Give This Christmas Away" music video. The previews include trailers for current VeggieTales, as well as bits on Cure International, which provides medical help for kids in need, and MOPS, a support group for Mothers Of Pre-Schoolers.
VeggieTales are inspiring on many levels: CGI animation that is second to none, garden-fresh story lines, sparkling wit to laugh-out-loud humor, a rough ride to the happy ending denouement, and they make you feel better, not worse. But this DVD, linking, as it does, an entertaining story to tangible ways to help, may be the biggest idea yet for bringing joy to the world.

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When Junior Asparagus and his Veggie friends learn that Laura Carrot’s dad has lost his job on Christmas Eve, Bob the Tomato decides to tell the kids a very special story about giving. Using a big storybook and a little imagination, they all travel back to ancient Greece to meet Saint Nicholas — the world’s greatest giver.

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Race to Witch Mountain (Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy) (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)You'd think a Las Vegas cab driver had seen it all, especially with that UFO convention in town, right? Almost right, until two solemn children show up in his car. They have a wad of cash that they don't seem to understand very well, an urgent need to reach some desert destination, and a schoolbook way of speaking. It seems as legal as anything in Las Vegas and the money's green, so they're off.
So, a moment later, are the government goons in their black SUVs, in hot pursuit. The kids turn out to be something pretty special. The big bad gov guy calls them "illegal aliens," without stating just which laws they broke or just how alien. Then the chase is on with a few extras thrown in, like a killer robot and the only UFOlogist in the world who actually has a clue.
There's plenty of action, a bit of bloodless violence, some ominous but ambiguous threats against the kids, and a steady stream of one-liners to keep the mood from getting too grim. Maybe this isn't one for the ages, but it provides some popcorn entertainment where no one gets killed and everyone keeps their clothes on. Enjoy!
-- wiredweird

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Studio: Buena Vista Home VideoRelease Date: 08/04/2009Run time: 98 minutesRating: Pg

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Psych: The Complete First Season Review

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(More customer reviews)Actual detective shows are kind of hard to find now -- let alone a funny, well-written detective series with a hilarious twist. That's where "Psych" comes on, on the heels of "Monk." While it could use a bit more ironing, this clever series does a good job blending comedy and mystery, and gives us some lovably fradulent guys to follow the adventures of.
Shawn Spencer (James Roday) was trained to be ultra-observant and intelligent by his strict, humorless father Henry (Corbin Bernsen), who wanted him to be a cop. And though he is determined never to be a cop (he doesn't even have a steady job), Shawn can glimpse clues and details that nobody else notices -- even the police.
But it backfires when he reports his observations to the police, and is arrested as a suspect. To save himself, Shawn pretends to be a psychic -- and the gimmick works so well that he decides to do it professionally. So he drags his very reluctant pal Gus (Dulé Hill) out of a boring job, and they end up regularly hired by the police chief, despite the skepticism of Carl Lassiter (Timothy Omundson), who doesn't buy their act.
And so they set out into a variety of cases: death at a spelling bee, a haunting at a sorority house, a wedding tainted by theft and murder, a ghostly stalking, a cat used as a witness, Civil war reenactments, a comic book convention (where they mess with George Takei's head), alien abductions, speed dating, underground poker, and organizing a surprise birthday party for Lassiter.
Most shows aren't really able to strike a balance between comedy and mystery, but "Psych" does. The mysteries are light and fun, and the people making it actually seem to be enjoying themselves -- no hardcore crimes, gore and grimness. That's what makes it so enjoyable.
The mysteries are well done, but each one has enough funny dialogue ("My name is Ichabod Fletchman, Sticky-Icky to my boys") and kookiness to keep it from ever being dull. Between kooky mysteries -- usually with Shawn flailing around in his pseudo-mystical act -- we get to see what turned him into such a weirdo, and his current relationship with his sarcastic father.
There is a slight flaw, though -- a disproportionate number of the guilty parties seem to be pretty young women. Fortunately this starts lessening as the season goes on. The mysteries get progressively tighter, and the writing cleverer and funnier ("I'm never doing anything blindly with you again! I learned that at the Mexican border. Twice!").
Roday is hilarious and brilliant -- charming, funny, likable, pleasant, and completely devoid of any dignity ("IIIIII hear a voice!"), with some great full-body acting. Shawn is one of those people who is half luck and half talent; no matter how outragous he gets, things somehow always work out.
Hill is equally great as his intelligent, responsible, geeky sidekick who tries to keep them out of serious trouble, while the crusty Timothy Omundson and tentative love interest Maggie Lawson round off the cast. Corbin Bernsen also makes regular appearances as Shawn's dad, who considers his son a walking freakshow.
"Psych's" first season is a delightfully frothy mix of comedy and mystery, with solid scripting and likable characters. Definitely a good show to keep an eye on.

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Item Name: Psych - The Complete First Season; Studio:Universal Studios

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The Covenant (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)Heterosexual director Renny (DIE HARD 2, DEEP BLUE SEA) Harlin has inexplicably slipped over to the other side with his boy-band-of-witches saga, THE COVENANT. He has taken a bunch of Aberzombies, put them in some sort of prep school and given them supernatural powers, forced them to join the swim team, and thrown a few disposable girls in for good measure. And at no point does the plot of the film or the acting interfere with the camera's view of said Aberzombies' abs.

This tale of the "Sons of Ipswitch", the gifted descendants of the founding fathers of Salem, moves along fairly briskly, with some decent effects and fun stunt work, but first and foremost, the real object of the film is to linger lasciviously upon the admirable assets of young, unironically-named Steven Strait. Seriously - the witchcraft, spiders, explosions, raves, and everything else take humble second-stage to loving shots of Strait rocking a tanktop, Strait rocking a tight v-neck t-shirt, Strait wearing a Speedo. We haven't seen male body-worship on this scale since Ryan Reynolds battled evil spirits that threatened to keep him wet and shirtless for Amityville Horror's entire running time.
Strait plays Caleb, a member of an elite band of underwear models who have gone undercover as witches at a prep school in Massachusetts. (You know, so as not to attract attention). Aside from Caleb, there's the long-haired one, the blonde one, and another one who evades description entirely, to the point that it's impossible to identify him in any group scenes. The Metrosexual trickle-down has apparently left our high schools populated by an army of pomade-enhanced, cap-sleeved man-boys who are so self-approvingly pretty that the girls in their lives can do very little to distract them from their vaguely homoerotic navel-gazing. (Whereas DAZED & CONFUSED presented teen angst in a haze of pot smoke, here it is clouded by an overabundance of Axe Body Spray.)
The plot of the film was summed up well enough in the commercials (and is ultimately too mind-numbingly simplistic to get into) -- the important thing is that in this teen witch story, the witches are the popular kids. Rather than your typical "supernaturally enhanced underdog" story (CARRIE, THE CRAFT ), here we watch four rich, white boys who clearly dominate their school and also happen to enjoy a gift that allows them to perform magic. But, watching these kids get everything they want is not nearly as compelling as watching someone who actually NEEDS this power to get back at their enemies or overturn the status quo.
The overwhelming homoeroticism of THE COVENANT includes a scene where Caleb and his best bud Pogue are talking on the phone, and both are shirtless, lying in bed, and drenched with sweat. We seriously expected the words "MEET LOCAL GUYS!" to flash across the top of the screen. There's also some locker room action featuring buns galore and a gay-baiting incident where another young man gets called a "fag" by a different long-haired boy (seriously, it's so hard to tell these guys apart...) and the young man beats his tormenter down - without actually denying the accusation. (Interestingly enough, he even makes reference to looking at the kid's manhood.) At another point an evil Aberzombie pins Caleb to the floor and kisses him on the face roughly -- In a FEAR NO EVIL kind of way, only with far more attractive men involved.
So if you are looking for a satisfying all-male companion piece to the excellent teen-witch thriller THE CRAFT, keep waiting. This isn't it... If - however - you are looking for a warm-up to wet your guests appetites as they arrive for All-Male Porno night, look no further - Renny Harlin has done an admirable job.

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In 1692, in the Ipswich Colony of Massachusetts, five families with untold power formed a covenant of silence. One family, lusting for more, was banished, their bloodline disappearing without a trace. Until now.

Four young students at an elite private school who are descendants of the original families who settled in Ipswich Colony in the 1600s, are bound by their sacred ancestry and special powers. When the body of a dead student is discovered after a party, secrets begin to unravel that threaten to break the covenant of silence that has protected their families for hundreds of years.

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Survivor - The Complete First Season (2000) Review

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(More customer reviews)In June 2000 the landscape of American television was starkly different than it is now; nearly all shows stopped production in the summer, and aside from a traditional game show fad that was beginning to subside, all programming was scripted fiction.
Then Charlie Parsons and Mark Burnett brought to CBS an idea that, while not entirely original in concept or design, was remarkably different than anything currently being aired in the United States. It was a "reality" show, based on the hit Swedish program "Expedition Robinson", in which a group of strangers were dumped on an island and forced to fend for themselves, and vote each other off one by one. They called their version "Survivor", and it kicked off a TV revolution that does not appear to be going away.
This first season of "Survivor" established all the rules which, eight seasons later, are considered gospel by fans and contestants alike: sixteen players are divided into two tribes where they must build shelter, find food, and compete in challenges. Lose the challenges and you face Tribal Council, where the tribe votes out one of its players, be they the weakest link, the bossiest leader, or the slimiest snake. Eventually the two tribes merge into one where the challenges become individual and the field is ultimately levelled to two remaining players who are judged by their fallen peers. One is left standing to claim the million-dollar prize and the title of Sole Survivor.
With these parameters, sixteen Americans volunteered to be the initial guinea pigs, and were marooned in Borneo. Some were there for the adventure, some for the fifteen minutes of fame, and some for the money. It was, in the end, a game, and those who sought the pot of gold proved the most ambitious. One of the only rules of Survivor is that you cannot conspire to share the prize money. The Pagong tribe, consisting of mainly younger players like Jenna Lewis, Colleen Haskell and Greg Buis, were quite content with this and opted to lay back and let the cards fall where they may. But the Tagi tribe (including Rudy Boesch, Susan Hawk, and, of course, Richard Hatch) discovered early on that you could bend the conspiracy rule without actually breaking it. If they all voted together as a bloc, they'd have the numerical advantage to ensure a slot in the final four or five. You could call it an arrangement, or agreement. They called it an alliance.
The alliance strategy ultimately proved the obvious way to go, and it was perhaps that one aspect of this first season which proved the most influential on the seasons which followed it; nearly every subsequent winner of the game has used a solid alliance to get them to the top. It is not always the ringleader, not always the strongest or smartest. No one person or personality is guaranteed victory in this wholly unique game, because the game is shaped by the people who play it, and no two people are the same. Survivor was an almost instant ratings smash, and the first season finale ranks among the most watched events in recent years, and this can be attributed not to its sex appeal or entertainment quotient, but its curiosity. Random people scheming and plotting to outlast each other in a democratic process. Survivor is, at its core, a microcosm of Western society and politics, a grand sociological experiment of the Pax Americana.
The DVD release of the complete first series allows many fans who have forgotten or did not see the original Pulau Tiga castaways to experience, or re-experience, the show that they fell in love with those four long years ago. And coming with the hindsight of eight sequel seasons (season nine is being cast as of this writing, and producer Burnett and host Jeff Probst are reportedly signed through season twelve), it is a real trip to go back and watch how it all started; when grubs were considered "gross food", sloppily-edited credits gave away future events (giving berth to the wild internet "spoiling" subculture), and "alliance" was considered a dirty word. Probst is shaky here; the job is new to him and there is no edge to his attitude. It is a new experience to him, as it is to everyone else. And all the great moments are here: Greg and his "coconut phone", Sean's alphabetical voting strategy, and of course Susan's infamous "snakes and rats" jury speech, often imitated but never duplicated.
Survivor fans will need a copy of Season One. Others may want to consider this as the perfect place to start catching up on what they've been missing.

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SURVIVOR:BORNEO - THE COMPLETE SEASON - DVD Movie

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