Felicity - Sophomore Year Collection (The Complete Second Season) (1998) Review

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(More customer reviews)I am a huge Felicity fan - I was not a big tv viewer prior to its pilot and never real got into the whole WB thing (hated dawson's creek - do any teenagers really talk like that? Please!)
Felicity was great because I started watching it as a freshman and I know it's corny but I almost felt like I was growing up with her, because it was SO real and true. It so closely resembled things in my college experience and my friends' college experiences. I felt like each season we saw her grow and change into a new individual (loved the change of theme song in season 3).
The first season was new, innovative, hopeful, inspiring. It was like being in college - lots of doors were opened and everyone wanted to see which way she'd go.
Season two is great because you start to see the other characters come to life. Ben develops, starts to become a person who actually deals with his problems rather than ignoring them and being a jerk. Some people think that season 2 became too relationship/love-centered - but that's life, for sure, and when ISN't life about love and falling in and out of it!?
Season 2 picks up where 1 left off and just keeps getting better! Check it out!

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Studio: Buena Vista Home VideoRelease Date: 12/26/2008

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Return to Halloweentown (Ultimate Secret Edition) (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)I thought this movie was good although I agree that Kimberly was missed. I too was disappointed.. But the new girl (Sara) did alright--> big shoes to fill don't you think? As far as Debbie goes she could get as much screen time as she wants.. She obviously did not want anymore than what she had. Remember she is really up in age now.. I know I am 50.. I have watched her movies since I was a little girl.. I very much missed her too in this movie.. I was more disappointed that "Sophie" did not a part in this but I was glad "Dillon" did.. All in all I liked it.. I hope to see more of Halloweentown with Young Sophie...??

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Witches, warlocks and haunted hijinks are just routine as Halloweentown nears its 1000th Anniversary.This year Marnie Piper and lil’ bro Dylan return as students at the prestigious Witch University. Marnie's cauldron of trouble immediately starts bubbling over. Not only must she deal with the pranks of three wicked witch classmates - the Sinister sisters- but someone is plootting to use Marnie's magic to take control of Halloweentown forever.

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Blue Mountain State: Season One Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a great show. Its very man-centric but I'm a girl and I love it. I can't believe they get away with airing some of this stuff on TV. What else can I say? If you're looking for a new comedy give this a whirl.

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Nothing is out of bounds in the first season of this SPIKE original comedy. At the center of the action are the Blue Mountain State Goats, the team with the nastiest sacks in all of college football. With a freshman lineup that includes a backup quarterback who’d rather party than play, a star running back who can’t score with the ladies, and a team mascot who redefines "personal foul," will they be able to juggle football, girls, class and nonstop hazing? Blue Mountain State: Season One is the rudest, dirtiest comedy to ever hit the field.

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Greek: Chapter One (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)A little Animal House, some Van Wilder, a dash of American Pie, and a pinch of Gilmore Girls-esque drama, Greek is the kind of premise that could have easily gone cheesy and overdone. Fortunately, it doesn't; whether it's depictions of life in the Greek system are accurate or exaggerated, it manages to find a happy medium between alcohol-drenched party scenes and actual character-driven drama.
It's the characters, while mildly stereotypical, that really make the show; anyone who was awkward as a college freshman, whether they were in the Greek system or not, will identify with Rusty, the dorky physics major who longs to be in a fraternity; his older sister Casey may at first glance play the perfect blonde sorority princess, but she has plenty of flaws and problems to work through. Her current high-society boyfriend Evan, while definitely arrogant and a little flaky, also seems to have a sensitive side; but it's Casey's ex, ringleader of the Animal House-esque Kappa Taus, aptly-nicknamed Cappie, who steals the show. A funny, fast-talking, goofball with a heart of gold (which gets broken entirely too often), he's the kind of character you can't help but love (unless your Evan Chambers, anyway). The supporting characters, too, are surprisingly well-developed (Dale, Rusty's Bible-thumping, physics nerd roommate is hysterical, and Casey's archenemy Rebecca is the girl everyone loves to hate), and the show even tackles such issues as gays in the Greek system. However, the main theme of the show seems to be the importance of brotherhood, family and friendship. All in all, a great show, definitely worth a look.

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From ABC Family comes the fresh and addicting comedic drama, Greek: Chapter One. Take an unforgettable journey with the students of Cyprus-Rhodes University as they build friendships, shatter stereotypes and discover that life s most important lessons are learned outside the classroom.Go Greek with the hippest young cast on TV. Experience all 10 episodes of the show s sensational first season, complete with chart-topping music and never-before-seenbonus features in a three-disc box set. Pledge today and get Greek: Chapter One on DVD.

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College Road Trip (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)College Road Trip [Theatrical Release]
College Road Trip is a slap-stick comedy that is a great movie to take your kids to, as long as they are young. The main criticism I have of this movie is about the marketing, since most kids that are college bound are probably too old for this. The jokes are very predictable humor. If your kids are older than 14, they will probably find this style of humor too childish for their tastes. In that way this movie is a missed opportunity for Disney to expand their market to all the older Martin Lawrence and Raven fans.
If you've seen the trailers, you pretty much know the entire story. Dad (Martin Lawrence) takes daughter (Raven) on a road trip to check out colleges. Antics ensue.
Martin's character is a very over-protective police chief who is a bit of a control freak. His daughter has long outgrown being daddy's little girl. He wants her to stay local for college, but she wants to go away.
There's a genius younger brother and a pet pig to add the cute factor. There must be a lot of young geniuses out there because little brothers never have normal intelligence in movies or TV anymore, but I digress. Raven's friends are cliched teenaged valley girls who aren't even from the valley.
Most people who initially may be interested in seeing the movie are either Raven fans or Martin Lawrence fans. Yet this movie was made for an audience of much younger kids.
I am a huge Martin Lawrence fan and I think Raven is very talented and funny. But both of them were under used in this movie. Martin Lawrence is frequenty upstaged by his co-stars, and Raven does a good job but doesn't have the best lines. In fact, Will Sasso, Donny Osmand, his daughter, and the pig are the highlights of this movie. And they don't have enough scenes to make this movie really funny for adults.
Young kids from 5 to 12 or 13 will love the jokes. College bound kids will find themselves wondering why they called this "College Road Trip" when it's clearly designed for kids that aren't even out of grade school.
Overall, this movie is somewhat disappointing. It could have been so much more with the cast that they collected here. If you've got a group of young kids and want to take them to a fun and wholesome Disney movie, this is it. If you're kids are college bound, or even high school sophomores, they probably would rather see something else.
Enjoy!

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COLLEGE ROAD TRIP stars Martin Lawrence as Chicago cop James Porter, an overprotective father who wants to keep his college-bound daughter, Melanie (Raven-Symone), close to home. When the smart, assertive Melanie declares her intention to attend Georgetown instead of Northwestern, James insistently sets out with her on a cross-country car journey to Washington D.C., hoping to dissuade her along the way. En route, of course, plenty of hijinks ensue, including scenarios involving a precocious pig and, oddly enough, Donny Osmond, who turns up as an eeriely cheery dad also on a college-touring campaign.

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Greek: Chapter Three Review

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(More customer reviews)The life of those who belong to a fraternity and sorority, the third chapter of "GREEK" continues the fun, crazy and also the dramatic life of GREEK fraternity and sorority life but also the challenges that students face but also adding the love triangles, dramas, relationships and the rivalries that exist.
"GREEK" is an ensemble type of drama series with each character having their main storyline, although many of the storylines center around the sorority and fraternity lifestyle of Casey and Rusty Cartwright.
The episodes focus on the following characters:
Casey Cartwright (played by Spencer Grammer) - The interim president of Zeta Beta Zeta. The primary character is a sorority sister who has to lead her sorority after a scandal nearly ends their sorority. Casey has her own problems as her ex-boyfriend Cappie is now dating Rebecca Logan in her sorority (who she can't really stand) and her current relationship with Evan Chamber is not going quite well.
Rusty Cartwright (played by Jacob Zachar) is a Kappa Tau Brother. Very intelligent, nerdy and sometimes doesn't fit in with his partying fraternity but nevertheless, he admires his sister Casey and is the little fraternity brother of Cappie. He is good friends with Calvin and defends him.
Cappie (played by Scott Michael Foster) is Rusty's fraternity big brother, the president of Kappa Tau Gamma and ex-boyfriend of Casey and starting a relationship with Rebecca Logan. He still has some feelings for Casey but now is in love with Rebecca.
Evan Chambers (played by Jake McDorman) is the newly elected president of Omega Chi Delta. Former best friends with Cappie and now in a rival fraternity.The two don't care for each other and Evan started dating Casey, still in love with her but knows that Casey has moved on. But gets very jealous when Casey is with another guy.
Calvin Owens (played by Paul James) is a brother at Omega Chi Delta and best friends with Rusty. Life has been different for him since he has been outed that he's gay. A good friend to Ashleigh.
Ashleigh Howard (played by Amber Stevens) is Casey's best friend, sometimes ditzy and a member of Zeta Beta Zeta. A good friend of Calvin and really cares about him (and possibly liked him) but accepts him being gay and sometimes tries to but into his affairs.
Dale Kettlewell (played by Clark Duke) is Rusty's roommate. A nerdy guy, straight edged and believes he can cure Calvin being gay. Started his own group U-SAG (University Students Against Greeks).
Rebecca Logan (played by Dilshad Vadsaria) is a sister at Zeta Beta Zeta, a senator's daughter, dating Cappie and because of that, really doesn't like Casey.
Frannie Morgan (played by Tiffany Dupont) is Casey's Big Sister, the former president of Zeta Beta Zeta but was kicked out due to a scandal. Trying to establish a relationship with Casey and the sisters again but her return may be less sincere as she secretly hooks up with Evan.
"GREEK - CHAPTER 3' on DVD features the following episodes (spoiler-less summaries):
DISC 1:
* EPISODE 1 - Brothers and Sisters - It's the annual "Greek Week" competition and there is more pressure on Rusty and Calvin's friendship since they are from opposing houses. As for Rebecca, after the stripping scandal from Spring Break, she now must face punishment from Zeta Beta Zeta.
* EPISODE 2 - Crush Landing - Casey and her best friend and sorority sister, Ashleigh realize they are attracted to the same man.
* EPISODE 3 - Let's Make a Deal - Casey and Rusty develop a plan to help Ashleigh with her debts. Meanwhile, Rebecca wants more from her relationship.
* EPISODE 4 - Gays, Ghosts and Gamma Rays - Rusty uncovers a possible spy in Kappa Tau. Meanwhile, Ashleigh wants Calvin to have more gay friends.
DISC 2:
* EPISODE 5 - Pledge Allegiance - Kappa Tau is tired by the way they are being treated and decide to fight back.
* EPISODE 6 - See You Next Time, Sisters - Casey, Ashleigh, Frannie and Lizzie attend the Zeta Beta Zeta National Convention in Orlando and Frannie wants to overturn a rule that prevents her from becoming a president again. Therefore Casey and Frannie go against each other in getting votes.
* EPISODE 7 - Formally Yours - It's time for the ZBZ Formal and Casey goes with Max and Ashleigh goes out with... Rusty?
* EPISODE 8 - The Popular Vote - Rusty and Cappie take part in a speed dating event, meanwhile Casey and Ashleigh discover a cassette tape in Frannie's room.
DISC 3:
* EPISODE 9 - Three's a Crowd - Ashleigh becomes the new ZBZ President, while Casey and Frannie get into another competitive squabble. Meanwhile, Rusty finds out a secret in regards to Dale's high school friend.
* EPISODE 10 - Hell Week - The new pledges must go through hell week, meanwhile Casey agonizes over Max going to Cal Tech for grad school. Frannie drops a major bombshell on the Zeta Beta Zeta sorority.
VIDEO & AUDIO:
Video is featured in Widescreen (1:78:1), enhanced for 16×9 televisions. There are a lot of outdoor and indoor shots and the series does have quite a bit of grain but nothing too distracting.
Audio is featured in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, the show is mostly dialogue-based but there are quite a bit of music featured in the episodes, but the audio is pretty much front and center channel driven and audio is clear and understandable.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
"GREEK: CHAPTER THREE" comes with the following special features:
* Disc 1: Audio commentary for "Brothers and Sisters" with commentary by executive producers Shawn Piller and Anne Kenney, executive story editors Jessica O'Toole and Amy Rardin and actors Dilshad Vadsari and Jake McDorman.
* Disc 2: Audio commentary for "Popular Vote" featuring commentary with Executive Producer Lloyd Segan, writer Matt Whitney and Actors Amber Stevens and Paul James.
* Disc 3: Features the following special features:
- 20 Questions with the Cast of GREEK - (16:20) The cast of "GREEK" are asked 20 questions and answer them in their own fun way.
- Blooper Reel - (3:10) "GREEK" bloopers!
- Audio Commentary - View "Hell Week" with commentary by Executive Producer/Show Creator Patrick Sean Smith, Writer Roger Grant and actors Spencer Grammer, Scott Michael Foster, Jacob Zachar and Michael Rady.
Similar to the last DVD releases, you can definitely expect lively, fun and enjoyable commentary in this latest release.
JUDGMENT CALL:
"GREEK - CHAPTER THREE" continues to up the ante in regards to new pledges joining the fraternities but even more so for the problems that Casey and Ashleigh have to face in the Zeta Beta Zeta house courtesy of their sister, Frannie. Whereas the first two chapters featured multiple love triangles and angst, the characters are much more well-grounded this time around but still face major challenges within their fraternity and sorority. Also, "GREEK - CHAPTER THREE" delves deeper into more character development and the various friendships but still maintaining the GREEK events on campus.
It's important to note that similar to the release of Chapter One and Chapter Two on DVD, "GREEK" will more than likely continue to be released not as a full season set but half season sets therefore going by "chapters". Chapter 3 focuses on the ten episodes that aired in the Fall of 2008.
Overall, "CHAPTER THREE" definitely revs up the Casey vs. Frannie storyline and by episode 10, Frannie's bombshell definitely sets the stage for a more competitive Chapter 4 between the two women. Both Spencer Grammer (Casey) and Tiffany Dupont (Frannie) do a solid job and also an interesting reversal for the character of Rebecca Logan (Dilshad Vadsaria). Ashleigh fans will be happy to see there are more episodes utilizing her character. Also, Rusty Cartwright (Jacob Zachar) receives major development from being the meek teenager to a guy who is starting to come out of his own shell. Cappie (Scott Michael Foster) will always be Cappie and the series also further explores Calvin's (Paul James) homosexuality but also trying to fit in like a regular pledge member to a fraternity.
It was also fun to see "Buffy the Vampire" and "Angel" starlet, Charisma Carpenter again, playing the character of Tegan Walker. It was also great to see Carol Potter (who played Cindy Walsh, the popular mother from "Beverly Hills 90210') once again. And I also enjoyed seeing Ms. Manners - Lizzi (Senta Moses) coming to the aid of Casey once again.
As for the DVD, similar to the previous DVD releases, you get the upbeat and enjoyable commentary tracks and a few other special features. But for the most part, for fans of "GREEK", this latest chapter is another solid DVD release and definitely hooks you in and makes you wonder how explosive the episodes are going to get for Chapter 4. Especially for the Zeta Beta Zeta sisters as things are no longer going to be the same.
Overall, "GREEK - CHAPTER THREE" continues to get better and manages to balance of portraying those in a frat or sorority but for those who are wanting more character development, you definitely get that with this latest chapter on DVD. Definitely worth checking out!

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The fun and the friendships continue in the engaging ABC Family original series GREEK. School's back in session for the winning college drama says Damian Holbrook of TV Guide. CHAPTER THREE brings a new year with new pledges and new challenges. Rusty's life takes some interesting twists as he climbs the fraternity ladder, and Casey finds herself torn between two very provocative offers. Enjoy all the infectious fun of GREEK: CHAPTER THREE. Featuring exclusive bonus features, including an inside look at your favorite characters, GREEK is even better on DVD!

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St. Elmo's Fire (1985) Review

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(More customer reviews)A forerunner to Friends and a Brat Pack movie with the most...Brat Packers, St. Elmo's Fire was a romantic comedy that bowed out to theatres in 1985. Seven of the eight stars were in the enviable "Brat Pack" group, young and precocious actors and actresses that were considered the best of the best of their generation. While St. Elmo's Fire is often considered a mellow and almost overblown teen romcom by the starchiest of critics, it's a favorite of many 1980s film lovers.
Summary in 13 words:
Seven college graduates try and struggle with real life, some succeed, some don't.
DVD Details
2.35 Anamorphic Widescreen
5.1 Dolby Digital Surround (English),
2.0 Dolby Surround (Director's Commentary)
English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Thai, Korean Subtitles
Release Date: 1999
Single-Sided Single-Layered Disc
Suggested Retail Price: $14.99
Black Amaray Keepcase
Video and Audio
The video is remarkably clean. The film was issued in the early years of DVD, when most transfers looked more like cable TV quality, but the video here is exceptional. Presented in its original widescreen is always a good thing, and the print quality is great. The colors are vibrant and accurate, and there's little to no grain or dust. One minor complaint would be the main titles, in its unsettling red font, but other than that, the video is great.
Audio is offered in English, but the subtitles are in so many languages that if you wanted, you could learn Chinese by reading the film enough times. It's pretty balanced in terms of dialogue vs. background noise/music.
Bonus Features
A commentary by Joel Schumacher is one of the many audio tracks given on this disc. He does a pretty good job talking about making the movie, including various tidbits about the actors and the story (which he wrote). The guy's pretty good with a microphone. If only he could have done a commentary for his film The Phantom of the Opera in 2004.
A faded and dirt-filled 8-minute EPK about the making of the film is also presented, made at the time the film came out. It has quick interviews with the cast and director, with a narrator talking during much of the behind the scenes footage. Is it an exhaustive documentary? No. Is it a useless 8 minutes of your life taken away? No. It's pretty rewatchable, though a longer more substantial featurette would be welcoming.
"Man in Motion" is the music video that uses the St. Elmo's Fire theme with lyrics. It's got a real 80s look to it, and features most of the cast as well as video clips from the film.
There are four trailers: St. Elmo's Fire, About Last Night, Groundhog Day, and Jerry Maguire. The trailers for St. Elmo's Fire and About Last Night are not the best video-quality-wise, while Jerry Maguire is not the best movie-quality-wise. Groundhog Day is okay for what it is.
There are also cast/director biographies and filmographies up until 2000.
Closing Thoughts
Perhaps the second best brat pack movie of the 80s (The Breakfast Club, of course, is THE best), St. Elmo's Fire is a wonderful "coming-of-age...now what?" kind of film that is best enjoyed in the company of your closest friends.

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Seven friends, recent college graduates, struggle to find meaning in \real life."Genre: Feature Film-DramaRating: RRelease Date: 29-JUL-2003Media Type: DVD"""

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Pyaar Impossible (New Hindi Film / Bollywood Movie DVD) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've always regarded Uday Chopra as a second hand leading man, but I may have to rethink things because of this movie, and maybe Uday's being so likable in this one is due partly to his having done the writing and producing along with the acting. But there's a lot of wish fulfillment in PYAAR IMPOSSIBLE! - if you ever were a nerd or if you've ever yearned for that special someone who never even glanced at you one time. Slackers like me, we dig movies like this. Even vanity projects like this.
Pity the poor unassuming nerd. Uday Chopra plays bespectacled college loser Abhay Sharma and he's deeply smitten with the beautiful Alisha (Priyanka Chopra, no relations, thank god). But the social status quo the way it is, Abhay never stood a chance. Didn't even matter that he saved her life one evening. She just never noticed him. And then she left college.
It's seven years later now, and Abhay still pines for Alisha, but he's moved on, sort of. A computer whiz, Abhay has over the past seven years been working on a revolutionary software and he's at last perfected it. But, in the midst of pitching his product to a prospective investor, his software is stolen. A distraught Abhay tracks the thief down to Singapore, where out of the blue, on the street, he sees... well, you can guess...
PYAAR IMPOSSIBLE! ("Love Impossible") is a romantic comedy that shouldn't really work, but does. The story is contrived, the situations are formulaic, I saw every plot twist coming, and it didn't matter. I still liked this movie a lot. With not much being original nowadays, it all falls on execution and the appeal of the actors. And this film benefits from slick direction and a very likable cast. Priyanka Chopra, who was amazing in WHAT'S YOUR RAASHEE?, has become a fine comedienne and she turns in another marvelous performance, seamlessly segueing from college party girl to responsible single working mother. The precocious and very adorable little girl, Advika Yadav, makes her debut and she is a born scene-stealer. And Uday Chopra comes across as so damn nice and sweet. His Abhay Sharma quietly dreams his big romantic dreams, way out of his league, and it's really hard to hate on him. It'd be like kicking a puppy. I wish, though, that Uday had pulled out more from his repertoire of expressions than just that one persistent goofily smiling, half-dazed look.
I liked the musical numbers - "Alisha," "10 on 10," "Pyaar Impossible," "Ek Thi Ladki (bada bada boom)," and "You & Me" - pretty much all the tracks are breezy and hummable. There are some really good laughs in this one, the best being the utterly sidesplitting "Thai tradition" scene and those moments when Abhay demonstrates his questionable nanny/housekeeping skills. You've got Abhay assuming a double life and then a triple life, and he's got his work cut out for him as he tries to keep this and that identity secret from various people. There's the corporate theft sub-plot and a dash of caper intrigue as Abhay tries to get back what's his. Mostly, though, it's about the unrequited love story and the comedy. Fine with me. It's nice to find out that, once all is said and done, pyaar is not impossible after all...

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In Ankert University, California, Alisha (Priyanka Chopra) is the name of that dream everyone wished came true. The most beautiful girl on campus, she makes hearts flutter like leaves in the wind. A snap of her fingers and a line of boys, waiting on her every whim. Everybody Loves Alisha! It is no surprise then that Abhay (Uday Chopra) loves her too. More than his computer programs and MAC stores he thinks of Alisha. Who is Abhay? Abhay is a nerdy, awkward, socially challenged, bespectacled geek of the college who is so far removed from her world that she doesn't even know that people like him actually exist.
This is a love story of impossible proportions, how can a man like Abhay ever hope to be with a woman like Alisha, and therein lies the story...
Abhay has quietly loved Alisha all his life. One day he musters up enough courage to go and express his true feelings to her and realizes that it is never gonna happen. He comes to terms with the fact that Alisha is a Princess and he is just a Geek. That is when their ways eventually part. Later, their paths cross again, as Abhay is busy trying to launch his career. Fate again brings him face to face with the woman of his dreams, Alisha.
Will Abhay have the strength to believe in himself and attempt to achieve what he never thought possible? Will Alisha ever be able to see the man behind those glasses, beyond what her idea of the perfect man is? Is everything fate or can one take destiny in their own hands? Is this possible or just Pyaar Impossible?

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Maxed Out Review

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(More customer reviews)The woman looks out at the camera while showing the audience her new home in the making. She tells us how the bank guaranteed her mortgage based on the projected increased value of the house from its original price, after completion. We are told this is the exact same accounting procedure that Enron used.
There are some facts that this DVD makes clear. America, once a country where people were forced to live within their means has become a nation of debtors. Our indebtedness has been encouraged and even exploited by politicians, and credit card companies who tell us they are everywhere we want to be. With the complicity of congress, credit card companies are sapping the financial vitality of the American family.
Almost all politicians have told us that we should continue to consume. If it isn't Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger telling us from the front of an auto dealership that we need a new car, it's George W. Bush who told us after 9/11, to hell with sacrifices--just buy (and get into more debt).
In the 1980's President Ronald Reagan encouraged deregulation. Banks, once unable to operate in other states or float credit cards could now do so. Knowing that we could have something now instead of later was tempting for too many people. As the DVD reveals, the banks found a master marketer who suggested that they have zero percent interest "come-ons."
Then, there was targeting the right population. College kids were especially targeted with free Frisbees, school tee shirts, or any other gimmick that was given just for filling out an application. Calculated in this decision was to lure kids with future income potential and limited current income to make them debtors for life. The full-time working, non-student, eighteen year olds were usually rejected because they were more likely to make the monthly payments.
Enter MBNA. They write the new bankruptcy law that the 109th republican dominated Congress will adopt. This Congress has its hands in the pockets of the banks and credit card companies, and they make it quite clear that their obligation is to represent their largest contributors rather than their constituents. In the words of Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah, the purpose of the bill is "to make Americans more responsible."
It's unfortunate that the good senator didn't feel the same way about the credit card companies, which were then allowed to charge rates once thought of as criminal e.g. 35% on delinquent credit card payments. (Just think. At that rate, one in three borrowers could default and the credit card companies and banks would still make money)! Additional "fees" are added for processing, lateness, etc. Providian, which tried to lure people with low interest rates, withheld deposit or simply shredded payments so they could charge late fees and raise interest rates.
Another genius decision was to maintain low monthly payment minimums. This will guarantee that a $10,000 balance would require payments of more than $18,000 to pay off. It would also lull the consumer into feeling that the burden was not too much to bear, and that the card could still be used.
But the banks were still not short on ingenuity in coming up with more ways to make money via credit cards. They could sell their debt to collectors who were ready to dun borrowers and take them to court for judgments and liens.
There is a heavy-handed part to this story that I was uncomfortable with. It was the tragedy of two mothers whose children committed suicide because they had acquired too many credit cards and could not pay them back the enormous amount of debt they accumulated. Obviously, this decision was driven by their own thoughts rather than by collection coersion. They tell their story to Congress asking them to change these laws as they face an array of bankers and lawyers. They knew nothing would happen, and nothing did. (But at least Congress did investigate the important stuff, like if Roger Clemens was using performance-enhancing drugs)!
The intentional irony here was a number of these bankers and company executives telling Congress: "We are sensitive to the needs of our customers."
And some day pigs will fly.
I recommend you see this or buy it. But, please--pay cash for it.Easter Monday
301 More Days and a Wake-Up
Thanks for the recommendation, Marc.November 5, 2009: The credit card companies that are so sensitive to the needs of their customers are raising interest rates up the maximum currently allowed by law. That means 29% and 30% for customers with outstanding credit.
As I said, some day pigs will fly.

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MAXED OUT - DVD Movie

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