MTV's Pimp My Ride - The Complete First Season (2004) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I disagree with Amazon's reviewer, this might be your mothers TV show too. My wife and I stumbled on this series one weekend last year. We were impressed how this hardcore looking rapper Xzibit chose people who didn't have the means to fix up there cars to pimp. After watching a couple episodes on TV I was hooked. The people they helped seemed like good people that deserved a break. I couldn't believe the transformation of these cars from mostly wrecks to major eye catching street machines. Now let me first point out that my wife and I are in our fifties and neither of us are fans of rap. It was Xzibits hysterical warm personality, the West Coast Customs unusual and funny crew, and the premise of what MTV and West Coast Customs were trying to accomplish that got our attention and kept it. Sure this is a TV show, but you can't help thinking they really are trying to do somehthing nice. I have even considered buying one of Xzibits CDs.
Does this show give Xzibit, MTV, and West Coast Customs good PR? You bet, but it goes a bit further. For example when one kids car was so bad off it was unsafe to pimp, they didn't say sorry we can't help you out, they bought him a new car and pimped it out. Perhaps this is all just an attempt for ratings, but a part of me wants to think they are really having fun and they enjoy helping people in the process. This first season set comes in a small neon green case and the DVDs are in very slender cases. Several extras, most which are fun to watch except for the one deleted scene of the car being driven around without doors for what seemed forever. I recommend this set to anyone young or old with an interest in cars. That or anyone it warms to see some broke student get their car customized to the tune of about $20,000 and not cost them a dime.
Now if we can just get them to do a spin-off where they pimp the rides of middle-class to upper income families on the East coast. I think they should call it "Pimp My Ride Too" or "Pimp My Parent". I realize my wife and I have good incomes in the computer and pharmacy industry, but we do help others and I'm sure our friends and children would tell you we are nice people. If you want to widen the audience base, you need to widen your demographics and selection of rides to pimp. I have a 2002 Grand Prix GTP that is in good shape so it shouldn't be as hard to fix up. Please Xzibit, "Pimp My Ride Too"!

Click Here to see more reviews about: MTV's Pimp My Ride - The Complete First Season (2004)

In each episode of PIMP MY RIDE, rapper-turned-host Xzibit surprises an owner of an old, beat up car by telling them he’s going to "pimp their ride" and transform it into something completely different.Joining Xzibit are the West Coast Customs crew, consisting of founder Ryan, manager Q, accessories man Big Dane, interiors specialist Ish, creator of off-the-wall electrical concepts Mad Mike and wheel and tire expert Alex.Exteriors are painted flashy colors, holes in upholstery are replaced with brand new seat covers, installation of DVD players and video game systems, a goldfish tank, an espresso machine, a ping-pong table, a bamboo floor, and a karaoke machine are only a few of the crazy things that make each car unique.With the crew’s hard work and creative and original ideas, old, rusty cars are transformed into one-of-a-kind masterpieces.No longer ashamed to drive on the road, the owners drive in style in their uniquely customized rides.

Get 20% OFF

Click here for more information about MTV's Pimp My Ride - The Complete First Season (2004)

Twin Sisters Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Trying to catch up on some of the significant international cinema of the last few years, I stumbled across the Dutch epic "Twin Sisters." Based on an enormously popular bestseller, this is a much honored film that represented the Netherlands at the 2004 Academy Awards. While set largely during World War II, and having much to say about the subject, this is first and foremost a study of sisterly love and commitment. For even though the characters are separated through the bulk of the picture, the loss and the bond that these sisters have infuse every scene and every decision that they make.
The film starts with a brilliant setup. When two young girls are left orphans in Germany, they are wanted by two different sets of in-laws. The German in-laws are a poor farming family who need free labor, while the rich in-laws live in the Netherlands and want to bring the girls up properly. A concession is made that pleases neither, but eliminates further debate. Lotte, who has consumption, is given away to the Dutch family who can try to cure her and Anna, the healthy one, is kept on the German farm. It is that random--the course of your whole existence decided in a split second. It's an interesting and thought-provoking topic.
Lotte is cured and leads a life of privilege. Playing the piano, luxuriating on yachts, and finding romance and engagement with a family friend--you can't help but envy her lifestyle. Anna, meanwhile, is kept from school by being declared "retarded," worked, and brutalized on the farm. The two girls lose complete track of one another, their "parents" have each made independent decisions that it is best if they don't communicate. Eventually realizing they are each still alive, they reconnect--but much has changed, including the rise of Nazism. The film looks at Anna's life as a German, she is a maid and supports her country. And the film examines Lotte's life. While still a German, she sees things from the outside--and, in fact, her fiance is Jewish.
The beauty of "Twin Sisters" is that you see these girls evolve as products of their environments. Each has much to be admired, but each makes terrible mistakes. Your allegiance flip-flops back and forth as you inevitably get caught up in their stories. The cast is impeccable. Through different ages, and through a narrative flashback structure, there is a lot of story to be told here. Occasionally, I wished to be able to spend more time in a certain sequence--to really feel its import. But there is no question that the film packs an emotional wallop. I respected "Twin Sisters," it's a serious minded film for people who like adult entertainment. The ultimate moral dilemma is posed, what if things were different? What if the roles had been reversed, would the outcome have been the same? Good stuff. KGHarris, 01/07.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Twin Sisters

Nominated for an Academy Award® (Best Foreign Language Film, 2003), TWIN SISTERS (DE TWEELING) is the emotional and provocative story that tells the tale of two sisters who must come to terms with their fate amid the heat of World War II. Lotte and Anna become orphans by the age of six. One is sent to live a life of privilege with wealthy relatives in the Netherlands, while the other stays in Germany to face a harsh existence on her uncle’s farm. When they reconnect years later, they not only discover that their lives have taken drastically different paths but, following Germany’s invasion of Holland, they find themselves pitted on opposite sides of the war. Powerful and thought provoking, this award-winning motion picture earned worldwide critical acclaim!

Get 10% OFF

Click here for more information about Twin Sisters

Startup.Com (2001) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)"Startup.com" is a fascinating, but slightly flawed documentary following the lives of several men who founded a dot-com in 1998. (Work leading to its creation had started months earlier, but wasn't included in the documentary.) The principal dot-com founders were Kaleil Isaza Tuzman, Tom Herman and Chieh Cheung. Kaleil and Tom were high school friends. Shortly after the company's official launch, Chieh's involvement was terminated after Kaleil and Tom decided to buy him out. They believed Chieh wasn't doing enough, in spite of Chieh's time, work and money invested prior to the company's official launch.
For the most part, the first third of documentary is devoted to Kaleil's efforts to obtain venture capitalist (VC) investment into the new company. The combination of his efforts and unbridled VC risk-taking of the 1990's succeeded in Kaleil securing $50-million in VC investment. At the company's launch, it had eight employees. After several months of hard work and the hiring of a lot more staff, the company's website was finally launched. Within about a year, the company's total employment exceeded 200 employees, but the joy didn't last long. Personality conflicts between Kaleil and Tom lead to some unpleasant consequences. Also, like most of the dot-com's created in the 1990's, the amount of money earned through the company's website paled in comparison to the amount of invested capital and the money squandered by the company.
Sadly, the creators of this documentary (Chris Hegedus and Jehane Noujaim) focused far too much on Kaleil, not enough on Tom and very little on Chieh. The quality of the documentary would have been far better had more time been devoted to Tom throughout the film, and more to Chieh at the beginning (prior to the company's launch). No narration was provided in the documentary. Instead, it was shot much like a reality television show using small hand-held cameras, but occasional subtitles provide the viewer with time references and employee counts. Highlights in the documentary include an actual CNBC interview with Kaleil (when the company was worth $50-million with venture capital) and his brief meeting with then U.S. President Bill Clinton.
The real value of this documentary is fourfold:
(1) The eagerness of 1990's venture capitalists to willingly invest millions of dollars into companies with unsubstantiated and exaggerated business plans.
(2) The squandering by dot-com's of millions of invested dollars
(3) The strain put on long-term friendships when money and cutthroat business practices get involved.
(4) Seeing some of the faces and narcissistic egos behind dot-coms.
For these reasons, I rate this documentary with 4 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend it to any former or current dot-com employee, to anyone that invested and subsequently lost money in a dot-com or to anyone that wants to form his/her own company.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Startup.Com (2001)

Get 33% OFF

Click here for more information about Startup.Com (2001)

Fast & Furious 4-Movie Collection Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I was so excited to be able to get this collection for my hushband at a great price. The first movie was just what you would expect but half way into the second movie it started skipping. My hushand being the moive buff he is took it out and cleaned the dvd thinking that would take care of the problem. Sad to say it did not so he asked me to return for exchange. After checking the return policy I found that they only will take back with a 50% credit. I have enjoyed shopping with Amazon but will not purchase DVD's from them. I should have checked the return policy before I made my purchase but since I did not then I am out one movie.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Fast & Furious 4-Movie Collection

The Fast & Furious 4-Movie Collection is filled with heart-pounding racing sequences, mind-blowing stunts and intense full-throttled action. It all begins with The Fast and the Furious in Los Angeles, where an undercover cop infiltrates the city’s infamous street racing subculture. Adventure takes an explosive turn with 2 Fast 2 Furious in Miami as an ex-cop is forced to bring down an international drug lord. Halfway across the world, American street racing collides with the Japanese underworld in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. Then, from big rig heists to precision tunnel crawls, Fast & Furious takes you back into the high-octane world to race through crowded city streets and across international lines!

Get 43% OFF

Click here for more information about Fast & Furious 4-Movie Collection

License to Drive (Special Edition) (1988) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)LICENSE TO DRIVE is a fast-moving teen comedy from the 80s starring the comic duo of the two Coreys - Haim and Feldman. Anyone who remembers a time when all our idols were named COREY will love this trip back down memory lane. First off - great cast with Heather Graham in an early role as dream girl Mercedes Lane and Carol Kane as the pregnant mom. It's a typical comedy, but the director provided enough style and zip to make it all work well. The driving exam scene is classic, and there a lot of good one liners "Who would have thought a Mercedes could fit in the trunk of a Cadillac?". The DVD includes a deleted sequence with an ALTERNATE CLIMAX. The whole thing runs about 20 minutes, and shows you how the movie could have ended. Also you get a funny commentary with the director and writer, and some current intereviews with each Corey separately. The transfers and audio are top-notch as well! Great price for a great DVD.

Click Here to see more reviews about: License to Drive (Special Edition) (1988)

For teenager Les Anderson (Corey Haim),the two most important things in life are getting his driver's license and getting together with the hottest girl in high school (Heather Graham in one of her first film roles). But when Les fails the exam, he 'borrows' the family's prized '73 Cadillac for his big date. An innocent girl.A harmless dirve.What could possibly go wrong?Try a fearless best friend (Corey Feldman) with an insane plan, a high school hottie with too much to drink, angry drag racers, crazed militants, a police roadblock, a crash course in car theft, a very angry father (Richard Masur), a very, very pregnant mother and much more!

Click here for more information about License to Drive (Special Edition) (1988)

The Fast and the Furious - Tokyo Drift (Widescreen Edition) (2006) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Loud, Brash, Noisy, Sexy, Morally Murky, Bursting with Energy and Guts, Justin Lin's (the terrific "Better Luck Tomorrow") take on episode 3 of the "Fast and Furious" franchise is a great way to spend a hot Summer afternoon along with a gallon size soft drink and a tub of Popcorn.
Here Lin is in Tokyo with the stoic, deadpan line reading Lucas Black (as the booted out of the US to avoid Juvenile detention, Shane Boswell...a car nut addicted to driving fast and grinning like a Cheshire cat) who, of course finds the local car culture and its inhabitants by way of a school pal, Twinkie played by the appealing Bow-Wow. And he just as quickly falls in with the "wrong crowd" consisting of Han, a sort of Sensei to Shane (the enigmatic and excellent Sung Kang from "Face" and "Better Luck Tomorrow"), and the villain of the piece, Yamata played with his face crunched and a constant sneer by Sonny Chiba. Then there is the lovely Neela (Nathalie Kelley...a dead ringer for FFI's Jordana Brewster): like Shane and Twinkie a High School (!)student with very, very permissive parents.
Lin directs this piece to within an inch of its life: your eyes and ears are never bored, never without something to feast your eyes upon or pop your fingers to.
Lin never judges his characters, we never feel that he is slumming...he always respects the material he is given to direct and he always puts his personal stamp on everything that he does.
I wish he were given something as meaningful and heartfelt as "Better Luck Tomorrow" to direct but he's young and he has many many movies to make before he is through.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Fast and the Furious - Tokyo Drift (Widescreen Edition) (2006)

FAST AND THE FURIOUS:TOKYO DRIFT - DVD Movie

Get 17% OFF

Click here for more information about The Fast and the Furious - Tokyo Drift (Widescreen Edition) (2006)

Tucker - The Man and His Dream (1988) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This 1988 movie, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by George Lucas, has good acting from Jeff Bridges, Martin Landau, Frederic Forrest, and Joan Allen in the larger roles. Smaller supporting roles were also handled well by Christian Slater, Jay O. Sanders, Nina Siemaszko and Mako.
As reflected by the DVD cover, the movie is filmed in a splashy 1940's advertising style, and uses warm gold and sepia tones and some impressive camera work to tell the tale of the development of the "Tucker 48" automobile, also known as the "Torpedo" after its sleek lines (for the times), of which only about 50 were made. For its time, it had many innovative features, including a rear-mounted engine, seat belts and padded dash, push button controls, and a third central headlight that would turn when steering. The large, 4,800 pound behemoth got about 20 MPH.
In a somewhat dichotomous framework, the movie shows the result of American "Yankee ingenuity" coupled with the eventual demise of the Tucker due to pressure by the Big Three automaking competitors. Taken to court for fraud with the accusation that he would not deliver on the promise of producing a car, Tucker in fact is found not guilty, and had actually produced about 50 cars, though his business was effective ruined.
Tucker had other successes however. Just before World War II, he developed an armored car that was so fast at 80-plus MPH, the Army did not want it because they thought such vehicles should only go about 35 MPH. However, the rotating gun-turret used on top of the vehicle, the "Tucker turret", was used on American bombers, such as the B-17 and B-24, thoughout the war.
Although his business partner Abe Karatz (Landau) is quite upset that the car business folded, Tucker tells him..."It's the idea that counts, Abe, and the dream." Tucker died in 1956 from lung cancer at age 53.
The reasonably-priced DVD has the wide-screen movie, an excellent original 15-minute long 1948 promotional film made by the Tucker company (with or without commentary by FFC), a mediocre short "making of" collection of cast/crew interview clips mostly from 1988, a decent commentary by FFC, and the usual setup features.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Tucker - The Man and His Dream (1988)

THE STORY OF PRESTON TUCKER, THE MAVERICK CAR DESIGNER AND HISILL FATED CHALLENGE TO THE AUTO INDUSTRY WITH HIS REVOLUTIONARY CAR CONCEPT.

Click here for more information about Tucker - The Man and His Dream (1988)

The Italian Job (1969) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)There are few genres as enduring in the movie biz as the heist and they don't come any more entertaining than this one. Michael Caine is at his best as a fresh-out-of-jail, small-time crook who decides to pull the job of the century. To achieve this, he sets about finding someone to bankroll the enterprise, in the person of Noel Coward. Coward, a big time syndicate boss is still running his business from jail and after some persuasion, agrees.
Caine then sets about assembling a cast of idiosyncratic no-hopers to carry out his bold plan, among them Benny Hill, an electronics wizard with a fondness for fat women. After much practicing, three teams in Mini Coopers (driven by "chinless wonders") set off for Italy with a bus-full or two of supporters all dressed as soccer fans. The arrival on the scene of the Mafia does little to dampen their enthusiasm and the fun really starts.
The climax of this action/farce is the car chase through the streets, sewers and even the skyline of Turin. Plenty of action, plenty of laughs and all very well paced. If anything, it's probably too short (though I don't mean the ending...) but I guess that just makes you appreciate it that much more. An old favorite which is hard to beat. Know wot I mean, Guv?

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Italian Job (1969)

No Description Available.Genre: Feature Film-Action/AdventureRating: GRelease Date: 29-DEC-2004Media Type: DVD

Get 20% OFF

Click here for more information about The Italian Job (1969)

2 Fast 2 Furious (Widescreen Edition) (2003) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Fueled by the libidinous gas of Tyrese and Paul Walker, John Singleton's sequel to "The Fast and the Furious," "2 Fast 2 Furious" proves that Fast Cars, Fast Guys and Fast Women can still equal a pretty good movie. We're not talking "The Hours" or "Talk to Her" here, but I can think of several more expensive to make and/or bigger star vehicles that don't have this movie's charisma and charm.
"2F2F" is shot in Caribbean, super bright primary colors and the Car race and chase scenes are as outstanding as those in "Ronin" and that is saying a lot. And even though some of the line readings are dull and non-ironic, Tyrese definitely emerges as a genuine talent.
If there are any Drive-ins left in the world (and I hope there are)...this is the perfect drive-in movie: take a date, buys some dogs, popcorn, good-and-plenty and a vat of Soda and enjoy.

Click Here to see more reviews about: 2 Fast 2 Furious (Widescreen Edition) (2003)

2 FAST 2 FURIOUS - DVD Movie

Get 17% OFF

Click here for more information about 2 Fast 2 Furious (Widescreen Edition) (2003)

Entourage: The Complete First Season (2004) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Fame, fortune, luxury, and letting it all go to your head; agents, managers, publicists, and everyone else that will lie, cheat, or steal to get a piece of you; and remembering your real friends. These are all key ingredients that make "Entourage" thoroughly entertaining, as well as freighting when you think about how it's based on reality.
I take the show as a cautionary tale; the entertainment industry is where I have just barely started to get my feet wet. There is a lot of truth in this fictional show: either everyone wants a piece of you or no one knows your name and can't spare a minute of their time. From my limited time spent dealing with people of the industry, on either coast, I have already found more jerks and egos-out-of-control than I care to recount. "Entourage" does an excellent job of exposing the dangers of the L.A. lifestyle, while simultaneously managing to present them in a thoroughly enjoyable manner.
The superficial world that is the entertainment business is navigated successfully through the four different personalities that make up the entourage. The four personalities of the Rising Star, Has-Been, Bum, and Level-headed Average Guy balance out the cast and provide a character for everyone to enjoy or relate to. Their friendship and their dependence on each other make the characters a success, as well as a success in the world of the show.
Jeremy Piven's role as agent to rising star, Vincent Chase, is thoroughly entertaining as well as aggravating. He's not quite the villain, but the perfect embodiment of the guy you don't want working against you. His quick one-liners and perfect delivery make it a joy to watch the show, whereas a real-life encounter with a guy such as him would probably make you want to deck him.
"Entourage" is rife with inside jokes, but not enough to lose the average viewer. Instead, the average viewer might just see the show as a bunch of losers whining about the good life and living high off the hog without really working. I enjoy it, but it's certainly not for everybody. I see it as another example of why I don't, and never want to, live in Los Angeles.
Show business is unlike any other business: they work by their own rules and decide who to let into their little clique. It's about as safe as sleeping in a pit full of vipers, but our glimpse at what it's like to live on top is good a one.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Entourage: The Complete First Season (2004)

ENTOURAGE:COMPLETE FIRST SEASON - DVD Movie

Get 38% OFF

Click here for more information about Entourage: The Complete First Season (2004)

Gone in 60 Seconds (2000) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Gone in 60 seconds is story about a retired car thief who is forced back into the business when his kid brother ends up on the wrong side of a psychotic gangster. Nicolas Cage's assignment is simple enough, for $200, 000 he must steal 50 cars ... or his brother dies.
This movie was blasted by every critic that I saw, however, I think that the critics were overly harsh. Gone in 60 seconds is a high adrenaline, car chase film that requires the viewer to use the same powers of "willing suspension of disbelief" that are necessary for most of Nicolas Cage's action films. Nicolas Cage and a fairly impressive supporting cast (including Robert Duvall, Delroy Lindo, Angelina Jolie) give decent performances despite a script that under used them. Giovanni Ribisi is perfect in the role of Nicolas Cage's over confident younger brother.
Great acting, however, is not what this film is about. This film is about fast cars and lots of action, which it delivers. After a brief introduction to the characters, we get to watch how the thieves stalk the individual cars, a part that I found interesting. After this point, it is pretty much a none stop car chase scene, which was fairly well filmed and has a pretty good soundtrack to keep your adrenaline pumped.
This may not be the most original or deepest film out there but it is another good action film that is worth renting.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Gone in 60 Seconds (2000)

Academy Award(R)-winners Nicolas Cage (1996 Best Actor, LEAVING LAS VEGAS; ADAPTATION, MATCHSTICK MEN) and sexy Angelina Jolie (1999 Best Supporting Actress, GIRL INTERRUPTED; LARA CROFT TOMB RAIDER) ride an unstoppable wave of speed and adrenaline in this hot, egdy action hit from high-octane producer Jerry Bruckheimer (PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL, PEARL HARBOR). Legendary car booster Randall "Memphis" Raines (Cage) thought he'd left the fast lane behind -- until he's forced out of retirement in a do-or-die effort to save his kid brother (Giovanni Ribisi, LOST IN TRANSLATION, TV's FRIENDS) from the wrath of an evil mobster! But with speed to burn and attitude to spare, Memphis hastily reassembles his old crew -- a rogues' gallery including Academy Award-winner Robert Duvall (1983 Best Actor, TENDER MERCIES; OPEN RANGE) -- and floors it in a full-throttle race to pull off the ulimate car heist: 50 exotic beauties in 24 hours -- and the cops are already on to them! Directed by Dominic Sena and written by Scott Rosenberg, GONE IN 60 SECONDS is an action-packed thrill ride that comes out fast and never slows down.

Get 27% OFF

Click here for more information about Gone in 60 Seconds (2000)

Cars Gift Set (Combo Pack with DVD) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)"Cars" is definitely a popular Disney/Pixar classic and in terms of quality, has received the highest of rankings when it was released on Blu-ray back in 2007. In 2009, the "Ultimate Cars Gift Pack" comes with the Blu-ray plus the original DVD and 2 exclusive cars (Cruisin' Lighting McQueen and Rescue Squad Mater) with custom Ransburg paint. These items are highly collectible and If you are looking for a holiday gift, especially for someone who owns a Blu-ray player, a die-hard "Cars" fan and loves Disney/Pixar films, you can not go wrong with this gift pack! Definitely recommended!
In 2006, the seventh Disney/Pixar film "Cars" was released in theaters. Needless to say, the film was a major hit as it was nominated for two Academy Awards, has made over $461 million worldwide.
In fact, the film was so popular that merchandise is still sold in department stores today and the cars have been popular toys that have made over $5 billion in sales.
Needless to say, "Cars" was not just a box office success, it is one of Disney/Pixars biggest money making titles that is loved by critics and fans that easily ensured a sequel for a planned release in 2011.
In 2009, in time for the holidays is the release of "Cars - Ultimate Cars Gift Pack" which is a great release for those who have now jumped aboard in purchasing a Blu-ray player and a Blu-ray which was released in 2007 and has received nothing but magnificent reviews.
"Cars" is a film directed by John Lasseter ("Toy Story" films, "A Bug's Life") and co-directed by Joseph Ranft ("Monsters, Inc.", "Finding Nemo", "A Bug's Life", "The Incredibles") and features a screenplay by Lasster, Ranft, Dan Fogelman ("Bolt", "The 12th Man"), Kiel Murray, Phil Lorin and Jorgen Klubein ("A Bug's Life", "Mulan", "Pocohontaas", "The Lion King").
The film revolves around a popular rookie named Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson, "Bottle Rocket", "Marley & Me") who races in the Piston Cup stock car racing competition.
Lightning McQueen is quite arrogant and not much of a team-player. He doesn't trust his pit crew and sure enough, when he gets into a 3-car tie, the race would be determined a week later at the Los Angeles International Speedway.
While on the road to practice in California, he pushes his big rig Mack to travel all early morning but when a group of cars start becoming reckless around Mack, Lightning McQueen rolls out of the back of the big rig and ends up in the countryside.
When Lightning McQueen goes to find Mack, he ends up in a small town of Radiator Springs. But when he gets into a problematic situation with the local Sheriff (he tears up the main road), Lightning is arrested and put in jail.
The town's judge and doctor Doc Hudson (voiced by Paul Newman, "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", "The Hustler", "Nobody's Fool") wants him out of town but the local lawyer Sally Carrera (voiced by Bonnie Hunt, "The Bonnie Hunt Show") insists that Lightning to do community service.
And thus, Lightning must spend time with the locals of Radiator Springs where he gets to learn more about himself, making new friends such as Mater (voiced by Larry the Cable Guy, "Blue Collar TV"), Ramone (voiced by Cheech Marin, "Lost", "Born in East LA", "Race to Witch Mountain"), Luigi (voiced by Tony Shaloub, "Monk", "Wings") and many more. But also Lightning possibly discovering love.
"Cars" is an exciting, hilarious and well-cast film featuring beautiful animation from Pixar and looks and sounds incredible via HD on Blu-ray!
VIDEO & AUDIO:
"Cars" on Blu-ray is presented in 1080p High Definition (2:39:1) and the picture quality of the film is absolutely vibrant. Colors are absolutely beautiful as you can see the nice sheen of the cars and the reflections of the cars. You can see the detail on the rust stains on Mater and for the most part, if you put in your DVD, you can see how much of a difference the film looks in HD via Blu-ray over its DVD counterpart. Vibrant colors, more detail and overall, a beautiful video transfer with no blemishes, compression artifacts whatsoever.
Audio is presented in English 5.1 (uncompressed, 48 kHz/24-Bit) and the racing segments really utilize the surround channels but also the LFE. It's one thing to have the nice clear dialogue and music through the front and center channels but to hear the cars speeding on the raceway and zooming and hearing through the surrounds is fantastic. Crashes bring out the booms and the audience on the race track can be heard on the surround channels. Overall, a solid lossless audio soundtrack!
Subtitles are in English SDH.
As for the DVD, the DVD is featured in widescreen (2:39:1) and is enhanced for 16×9 televisions. Audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound EX and Dolby Digital 2.0. Subtitles are presented in English SDH.
SPECIAL FEATURES
"Cars - Ultimate Cars Gift Pack" contains the original Blu-ray released in Nov. 2007 but also comes with the original DVD plus 2 exclusive cars (Cruisin' Lightning McQueen and Rescue Squad Mater) with custom Ransburg paint.
The Blu-ray special features are presented in 1080p and 1080i High Definition and also 480i Standard Definition with English 5.1 and 2.0 Dolby Digital. Also, with English subtitles.
DISC 1:
* Cine-Explore - Cine-Explore allows the viewer to watch the film with interactive audio commentary by director John Lasseter. You can see storyboards during the commentary and also see the shorts and deleted scenes as well.
* Cine-Explore Documentary Shorts: Included in this feature are:
- Radiator Springs - (5:23) Behind-the-scenes of Pixar and trying to make the world of "Radiator Springs" seem believable.
- Character Design - (6:06) Director John Lasseter talks about the details that he wanted to see in the film. From the reflections to the dirt being kicked up on the tires and more.
- Animation and Acting - (5:15) Scott Clark and Doug Sweetland (both have the title of Supervising Animator) talk about the character animation and how the characters must have a soul.
- Real World Racing: Getting Geeky with the Details - (5:29) Those who love "Cars" talk about how they love the details in the film since so many other films tend to not cover car racing that well. So, director John Lasseter (who loves cars) made sure that the details were right on the film and professionals talk about how happy they were that Lasseter wanted to get the details correctly for an animated film.
- Hudson Hornet - (2:44) Director John Lasseter talks about his first impression of the Hudson Hornet and how it was the fastest car of its day and then realizing how innovative, how powerful and how fast this car was. Others talk about how significant the car was.
- Graphics - (3:34) The various graphics and product stickers used on the film for each car. Graphic designers talk about the various logos that were used from brands, food, restaurants, products, etc.
- Darrel Waltrip Museum Tour - (7:13) Director John Lasseter visits the Darrel Waltrip Museum and takes a look at the various cars in the museum and learn some of the history behind those cars from Darrel Waltrip.
* Carfinder Game - A game in which you select the cars at a bottom row while watching the film and try to get the best score.
* Deleted Scenes - (14:00) Five deleted scenes which includes: Community Service, Top Down Truck Stop, Lost, Motorama Girls and Traffic School featuring opening commentary by director John Lasseter. Deleted scenes are from pre-production sketches (created 3-4 years before the film was released in theaters) are shown.
* One Man Band - (4:33) Featured in HD, this featurette is a Pixar animation of a man with many instruments (ala a One Man Band) and competes with another musician in order to get the coin of a young boy who wants to donate.
* Mater and the Ghostlight Short - (7:09) Featured in HD, this story features Doc Hudson telling a story of "The Ghostlight" to Lightning McQueen.
* Epilogue - (4:20) Featured in HD, this is the ending of "Cars" without the ending credits.
* Boundin' Cars - (:46) Featuring Mater and Lightning McQueen at the Drive-in watching a short film.
* Movie Showcase - (6:34) Certain scenes that showcase the ultimate in High Definition in picture and sound such as the sequences: Crash, Drive with Sally, Doc Racing and Neon
* The Inspiration of Cars - (16:02) John Laseter talks about his love for cars and wanting to bring his love for cars to animated format. A Behind-the-Scenes look at the making of the film and the crew taking a trip on Route 66.
DVD:
The DVD contains the "Mater and the Ghostlight" short, "One Man Band" short, inspiration for "Cars", deleted scenes and more!
JUDGMENT CALL:
"Cars" was definitely an amazing animated film when it came out back in 2007 and in 2009, the film is still a classic and its so popular that toys for "Cars" are still being offered in department stores which is rare to see for an animated film.
I loved the film when it first came out and the film still holds up today and continues to be quite entertaining. The picture and audio quality of "Cars" in High Definition is still magnificent but of course since the original Blu-ray was released in 2007, the lossless audio soundtrack is presented in English 5.1 uncompressed (48 kHz/24-Bit) instead of the current 5.1 or 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio lossless soundtrack that Pixar films are offered in today's Blu-ray releases. But still, it's uncompressed audio...Read more›

Click Here to see more reviews about: Cars Gift Set (Combo Pack with DVD)

Disney/PIXAR's CARS, the high-octane adventure comedy from the creators of TOY STORY, THE INCREDIBLES and FINDING NEMO, now looks and sounds better than ever in this Blu-ray disc created from the original source file. Hotshot race car Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is living life in the fast lane - until he hits a detour and gets stranded in Radiator Springs, a forgotten town on Route 66. There he meets Sally, Mater, Doc Hudson (Paul Newman) and a heap of hilarious characters who help him discover there's more to life than trophies and fame. Go deeper into the world of CARS than you ever dreamed possible in eye-popping visual clarity. Feel the sound of roaring engines and rock to the rhythm of some smokin' roadhouse riffs with audio enhancement that puts the pedal to the metal! Experience CARS for the first time on Disney Blu-ray -- Magic in High Definition.

Get 19% OFF

Click here for more information about Cars Gift Set (Combo Pack with DVD)

Top Gear: The Complete Season 12 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Yes, the mad men of Top Gear are back again- engaging in the insanity that the world of car lovers (and British comedy lovers) have joined in for years. This set contains the full Season 12 of the show (fall/winter 2008)... or does it?
Although the cuts generally aren't as bad as they were in Season 10's DVD release, they are there. As with the Season 11 set, Top Gear Stuntman is totally absent. Fortunately, other cuts are apparently quite minor- with every episode retaining both its News and Star in a Reasonably Priced Car segment.
The box advertises numerous extras... but don't be fooled. Half of the extras are confined to the Director's Cut of the Botswana Special (re-released here after its prior Season 10 set printing). The other extras are scattered- I didn't find the extended Boris Johnson interview or uncut Cool Wall on disc 2 until the second viewing, for instance. Take out Botswana (which was Season 10, not 12), and the extras are rather meager... although, it must be admitted, ANY extras are more extras than the BBC has put on the other Top Gear American releases.
The best bit of this set, of course, is the massive Episode 8- the Vietnam special. Unfortunately, one of the minor annoyances of the set as a whole cripples a major portion of the humor in that episode- specifically, the alteration of music from broadcast version to DVD version. The BBC have, apparently, decided to cheap out on getting clearances for the music used in the show, with the result that a LOT of the music you heard on the televised version has been replaced by public-domain and/or BBC Archive music tracks.
This results (I apologize for any spoilers, but if you're looking at this you've almost certainly seen the show anyway) is that the Bruce Springsteen bike (a Stars and Stripes bedecked motorcycle used as a punishment threat, should our heroes break down during the Vietnam trip) no longer has "Born in the USA" blaring from its iPod. It's been dubbed over with the Star Spangled Banner. This required one series of jokes to be cut entirely (so the ep, though a little longer than broadcast on BBC America, is NOT uncut) and other jokes, including the one immediately in response to the first playing of the music, to make absolutely no sense whatever.
This minor maiming of the Vietnam special wipes out any extra bonus points that the Director's Cut of the Botswana Special might have won the set. The same problems that bedeviled the Season 10 release- not uncut, annoying auto-play trailers, and no skip points within each individual film- also infest this release. There are also incidents of misspelled or mistranscribed words in the subtitles- and even at least one misspelling in the scene-selection menus. (The name is TESLA, not TELSA. And no, it's not a town in Oklahoma, that's TULSA.)
Don't get me wrong. You WILL love this. If, like me, your only dose of Top Gear usually comes from the extremely edited BBC America broadcasts, you'll discover all sorts of little extra bits you've never seen before in this set. You'll want to laugh again and again at the crazies driving anything from Vespas to muscle cars to the near-worshipped Bugatti Veyron. You'll see the definitive test of what kind of buses should be used in London... a race on an oval that's just one step above demolition derby. You'll see a Ford Fiesta chased by a sports car through a shopping mall.
And through it all, you'll see three car nuts bickering at each other, mocking the failures of the auto industry, and sharing a deep love of cars and the use thereof.
But it's not a perfect release, and so I can't give it a perfect score. Sorry, BBC- try again, and next time don't pinch the penny so hard.
(Note: Edited when I found some more extras on a second viewing of the set. Makes it a little better, but still not five stars.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Top Gear: The Complete Season 12

DVD Features: Audio CommentaryDeleted Scenes

Get 37% OFF

Click here for more information about Top Gear: The Complete Season 12

Out of the Blue (2006) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)For someone who grew up only a couple of hundred kilometres from the scene of the Aromoana shootings, it is difficult to write an unbiased review. Factually, "Out of the Blue" is as accurate an account as it is possible to bring to the big screen, and the acting, scenery, and atmosphere are flawless. The movie's relevance for a U.S. audience is as a societal lens that focuses on the many equivalent shooting tragedies that beset the United States year after year. That such alienation and hatred can be felt in a small town in a land far, far away amidst backdrops like those seen in "The Lord of the Rings," rather than at a U.S. university campus or a McDonald's is a reflection on the ubiquity of selfishness, sickness, and guns.
No one wants to see a hyper-accurate account of Cho Seung-hui in the days preceding the Virginia Tech massacre, but viewing a similar downward spiral and the resulting tragedy may be easier for many audiences at a distance of 10,000 miles as a small New Zealand town faces down a demon in the form of David Gray. The courage displayed by little old ladies crawling about under fire to help others can only give hope to us all, and the final scene where Gray is roughly shackled and the police smoke cigarettes while he bleeds out is a satisfying glimpse of Kiwi justice. ANZUS is the Australia, New Zealand, United States treaty alliance, a commonality written in ink; "Out of the Blue" is a commonality we share through tragedy. Is this a review of events or a movie- you may well ask- but sometimes the two are inextricable, and the only way to face down the incomprehensible is through the medium of film.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Out of the Blue (2006)

One horrific day, David Gray suddenly snapped. Based on the true story of a quiet, friendly town turned nightmare, Gray massacred those he'd known for all of his life, holding the whole town hostage through the night. A stunning portrait of a madman Out Of The Blue forces us to question the safety of our own communities and neighborly ties.

Get 45% OFF

Click here for more information about Out of the Blue (2006)

Cars (Widescreen Edition) (2006) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)When Cars first came out on DVD, I was a little disappointed because there weren't very many extras on it. I didn't understand why Pixar would take one of their most popular films and give it such a mediocre treatment. Well.....now that I have the Blu-ray version of this film, I think I know why. They were saving it all for Cars debut on hi-def. This has to be the best looking picture I have seen yet on a hi-def title. I looks almost like the entire film is in 3-D!!! I managed to catch part of this movie on a hi-def cable channel and thought I would compare the two pictures. After a little fiddling, I managed to get both screens at the exact same frame, and was blown away at how much clearer the Blu-ray picture is. The Cine-Explore feature on this is the best special feature I've seen on a hi-def title. It is almost sensory overload at the amount of material that continuously pops up across the screen while the film is playing. This disc will be the one I will pop in to show my friends what Blu-ray is capable of doing. Every Blu-ray owner needs to get this title. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Cars (Widescreen Edition) (2006)

From the acclaimed creators of TOY STORY, THE INCREDIBLES, and FINDING NEMO comes a high-octane adventure comedy that shows life is about the journey, not the finish line. Hotshot rookie race car Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is living life in the fast lane until he hits a detour on his way to the most important race of his life. Stranded in Radiator Springs, a forgotten town on the old Route 66, he meets Sally, Mater, Doc Hudson (Paul Newman), and a variety of quirky characters who help him discover that there's more to life than trophies and fame. Revved up with a sensational soundtrack, featuring Rascal Flatts, Sheryl Crow, John Mayer, James Taylor, and others, plus exciting bonus features, including the exclusive short movie "Mater And The Ghostlight," CARS is full of freewheeling fun for everyone.

Get 38% OFF

Click here for more information about Cars (Widescreen Edition) (2006)