The Facts of Life: Season Four Review

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(More customer reviews)It has been nearly four years since Sony Pictures have released The Facts of Life: The Complete Third Season on DVD. Today, January 26, 2010, Shout! Factory has announced the next installment: The Facts of Life: The Complete Fourth Season to be released May 4th, 2010 on DVD. Not only does the 4 disc set contain all 23 full length episodes, but one of the special features will include The Facts of Life: Goes To Paris 2 Hour Movie, which, was aired on NBC only days before the fourth season premiered in the fall of 1982.
This marks the last season of the show at Private School Eastland Academy, where the 1983-1984 season starts the beginning of a new era for the show: Edna's Edibles. But let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet. Guest Stars for the fourth season include Eve Plumb (Brady Bunch), Jimmy Baio, David Ackroyd, Gary Hudson, Geri Jewell, Chip Fields (Kim Fields 'Tooties' mother). Mrs. Garrett and the girls learn more about the Facts of Life during Blair and Jo's senior year at Eastland. The season finale featured a double-length episode where Blair and Jo graduate Eastland Academy only to enroll in Langley College in near Peekskill, New York. This season also marks a memorable episodes where Natalie wears her infamous lightning bolt hat in the pillow fight episode, Take My Finals Please!
These episodes are great, the first couple seasons seemed not to quite find it's niche and the writing was very 'cheesy'. As the girls grow up, the subject matter also tends to mature. It just get's better from here on.EPISODES ON 4 DISCSThe Facts of Life Goes To Paris: Parts 1-4 Ain't Miss Beholden
Although Jo's scholarship is ending, she won't accept aid from Blair's family foundation.
The Source
Natalie won't reveal her source for an article on a schoolmate's secret abortion.
The Sound of Silence
Tootie refuses to get help for a hearing problem that's affecting her behavior and grades.
The Oldest Living Graduate
After Jo interviews the oldest alumni, she changes her mind about donating money to the school.
Different Drummer
Blair motives are questioned when she tutors a handsome but mentally retarded young man.
Dearest Mommie
An upset Natalie searches for her natural mother.
A Woman's Place
Jo's workplace boyfriend is upset when she is promoted over him.
Daddy Girl
Blair faces an embarassing tax audit when she signs a return prepared by her dad.
The Big Fight
A cadet asks Natalie to watch him in a boxing match.
For the Asking
Natalie's anti-chauvinist principles compel her to boycott the Sadie Hawkins Day dance.
September Song
Mrs. Garrett's jogging partner proposes, but the girls protest that he's too old for her.
A Royal Pain
A new, royal student is a chronic runaway who is already planning her next escape.
Magnificent Obsession
Blair alienates everyone when she tries everything to please a new boyfriend.
Under Pressure
The girls try to ease Mrs. Garrett's blood pressure by lying about anything that might upset her.
Teacher's Pet
Jo becomes angry when she learns that a favorite teacher is leaving.
Let's Party
A night out at Tootie's brother's party teaches the girls a lesson about drunk driving.
Best Sister (1)
Blair's sister declares she is becoming a nun.
Best Sister (2)
Jo comes back from the retreat saying she too wants to be a nun.
Guess What's Coming to Dinner?
Mrs. Garrett tries to entertain French visitors who speak no English.
Who's On First
Natalie's preoccupation with her new boyfriend excludes Tootie.
Help from Home
Jo decides to forgo college after a visit home reveals what a financial hardship it would be.
Take My Finals, Please
The girls study all night for final exams one last time.
Graduation (1)
Jo and Blair prepare to leave Eastland for college.
Graduation (2)
Natalie and Tootie try to adjust to Jo and Blair's leaving, even though they won't be far away.Visit http://www.televisionhits.com/factsoflife for The Facts of Life Website!

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The Facts Of Life Season Four: All 24 Original Episodes!Blair (Lisa Whelchel), Tootie (Kim Fields), Natalie (Mindy Cohn) and Jo (Nancy McKeon), are back in school under the guiding hand of their housemother and dietitian, Mrs. Garrett (Charlotte Rae), at the Eastland Academy for Girls. Season Four highlights include a marriage proposal for Mrs. Garrett, an eye-opening lesson in drunk driving for the girls, and Blair and Jo heading off to college! Dishing out quick-witted humor and big laughs, the girls literally grew up right in front of millions of viewers each week. Bonus Features * The Facts Of Life Goes To Paris: The two-hour television special that aired on September 25, 1982 just prior to the premiere of Season Four. The girls and Mrs. Garrett embark on a Parisian adventure where they encounter new friendship and love

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Picture This Review

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(More customer reviews)I saw the premire of this movie and although it is girl likes jock, popular girl declares Jock hers and tries to kill girl socially. It was a really cute father daughter (or parent letting go) movie. As a HS guaduite, I thought this was a great movie to watch with my mom, and i was right. Shes been having seperation issues, like Ashley's Dad, and it was a fun movie to watch and connect with. Even my teenage brother thought it was a hilarious movie, watching all the things Ashley has to go through. From phone punking her Dad to convincing an audience to pretend to be a DVD movie.
I thought it was a really good movie!
Great job Ash!
Oh one more thing I really liked about it is the main character stayed true to herself. She didnt let the guy use her.

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A high school girl is invited to a party by the most popular boy in school -- only trouble is, she's grounded!

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Barbie & the Rockers Vol. 1: Out of This World Review

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(More customer reviews)its was barbie and the rockers that made a barbie collector. the story is not as good as Jem & the holograms but if you love barbie iam sure you will love this video, i only wish they release it on dvd iam sure you will love the part were Barbie sings reachin for the stars thats the best song on the video buy it now this is sure a collectors item.

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Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper (2004) Review

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(More customer reviews)When my wife called me to ask if I minded her getting this video for my three-year-old daughter, I of course told her that it was fine. I knew I would be stuck watching it over and over because my little girl loves to watch things with her daddy. We sat down before bedtime and popped it in the VCR, and I committed myself to being a good daddy and to spending some quality time with my little one. The movie opened with a rip-roaring musical number, and the quality of the computer animation was very impressive. Being a Mark Twain scholar (I did my thesis on Twain), I was expecting a goofy, silly movie adaptation of the story. After all, Barbie is about as interesting to me as fly vomit. However, what I found was a wonder. The story was excellent, but the songs were the best part of the film. The quality of the musical numbers rivals that of any Disney production. The VHS tape came with a CD with all of the major songs on it. My little girl sits and sings them to me and even asks her dad to join in on the "boy parts" of the song. What struck me about the movie most was the excellent character development in this short film. It was, I have to reluctantly admit, wonderful. Princess Annaliese, Erika, King Dominick, Julian, and the two cats are wonderfully portrayed. However, the stand out character is most definitely Preminger. This is a top-notch villain because he dosen't fit the established mold. He is prissy, vain, and feminine. However, he is also sly, conniving, and cruel hearted. His musical number "How can I refuse?" is among the best "villain songs," I have ever heard...bar none. There is also a great subplot involving the cats. Even the minor characters stand out. I've watched the film over and over with my little girl, and I have to admit that I enjoyed it every time. And I don't feel a bit unmanly at all.

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Singing In Her First Musical Movie!This adventure tells the story of a Princess and a pauper who were worlds apart in lifestyles yet identical in looks! When chance brings them together it becomes the beginning of a great adventure and a friendship that will last a lifetime. When Anneliese is captured Erika must pretend to be the Princess to help find out what has happened and to save her. In the end the magic of love and friendship triumphs and the kingdom is saved!Format: DVD MOVIE Genre:CHILDREN/FAMILY UPC:012236161516 Manufacturer No:A017367

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Barbie Presents: Thumbelina Review

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(More customer reviews)This movie is drastically different from the other Barbie movies. They are trying to do their good deed by making a movie with an environmental message. This appears to be a calculated move from a marketing standpoint, rather than genuine concern for the environment since the only effort Mattel has made is with the items associated with this movie (recylced packaging for the toys, etc.). Nothing makes blatant commercialism stand out like a sore thumb like trying to package it as anti-commercialism. We all know that the Barbie movies are commercials for their toys (like the TV cartoons we grew up with), but as parents we've tolerated it with the Barbie movies because they've so far done alright at putting good moral lessons into them and making them relatively entertaining. This movie is not on the same level as the previous movies in a few ways. The writing, particularly in the dialog department, is very weak and stilted. They have built everything around their obviously half-hearted attempt at "doing a good deed for the environment" and it shows in that every element involved in the "green theme" is poorly executed. The dialog in these parts is atrocious, cringe-worthy jargon. It sounds more like a cheap PSA than movie dialog. The premise is horribly flawed that they would be trying to build a factory so far out of the way that they have to attack a field of flowers that nobody ever goes to. That they transplant a section of the flowers from the field to Makena's room using an excavator (and apparently so quickly and cleanly that the twillerbees inside have no idea where they are or what has happened) is positively laughable. I've had more to explain to my daughters of how things wouldn't happen the way they depicted in this movie than any other Barbie movie, and we have all but the Diaries and Fairytopia ones.
The animation is not up to par on this movie either, and I suspect it is because they are trying to churn out more movies this year than any previous year. They seem to have caught on that the movies are very effective at selling toys, so they're trying to hit us with a non-stop barrage. What happens then is that they are trying to slap these things together in maybe a quarter of the amount of time they used to have. Thus now the lifelike characters move like hollow rubber tubes, and the main characters aren't even attempted to look lifelike. Oddly enough, they look like the Sweet Streets dolls from Fisher Price... I also noticed several times during the movie that the image will pixellate and become grainy, so the finish is seriously lacking. Also noteworthy is the small role Kelly Sheridan has been playing lately. She got to mostly sit out of Mariposa, Christmas Carol, and Thumbelina and only had a starring role in the Diamond Castle movie.
I guess I've been lucky about the brattiness of the girls in this movie, as my daughters have not tried to emulate them. In fact the only comment I've received so far is my oldest asking "Why doesn't she say anything other than 'Ch-ya'?" which has given me the opportunity to point out that she doesn't have anything valuable to add so she just says something stupid. I also point out at the end that her part was so insignificant that nobody is credited for her. Frankly I thought the part was hillarious as a representation of the stupid things snobby people will say when they can't just be silent, but that is beside the point since I'm old enough to not be influenced by cartoons.
All of this aside, I will say that the weird looking characters can grow on you. Usually I like the villain characters in the Barbie movies because they tend to ham things up and totally upstage the heroic characters (particularly Martin Short's Preminger- classic!), but in this one, I think Thumbelina's ditzy friend, Chrysella steals a lot of scenes. Also the construction workers (not counting the crazy foreman) provided a few good laughs, although they would have a hard time keeping a job with the way they spend most of their time eating lunch and smelling the flowers. A good crew would have had the job of blading the ground done before lunch on the first day. Poor little pixies would never have known what hit them... All in all, the depiction of construction workers was pretty bad showing them to be lazy and more than a little weak in the head, and the foreman was the primary villain. In that respect, the environmental message skews the story into the very turbulent waters of over-generalization. It reminded me of a book that was just banned from the schools for trying to generalize Loggers as evil polluting critter killers. They tried to soften it by making it only the foreman who is really trying to tear the place up, but by doing that they made doofuses out of the workers. Way to go guys. Some kids watching this may have parents who work in construction, or other relatives, and now they are going to have to explain to these kids that they don't go around trying to destroy pixie homes... Does it also need to be pointed out that there is plenty of good that can be said in favor of green practices and environmental causes without having to involve magic and make-believe situations (which only dillute the message)? Since there aren't any pixies in the homeless shelters, trying to save their habitat is kind of pointless, you think?
This movie is mildly amusing and my daughters enjoy it immensely, but I think it has the worst dumbed-down plot of all of them. The parts about understanding what true friendship is are good, and that goes back to what most of the Barbie movies are good at, self-esteem stories. They need to stick to those motifs if they're going to do rush jobs on these movies.
And if you think this one was bad, the next one features four Barbies riding horses in mini-skirts waving swords around. That ought to get all of us parents up in arms!

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BARBIE PRESENTS THUMBELINA - DVD Movie

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Barbie as The Island Princess Review

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(More customer reviews)I once heard a definition of integrity as something you are when nobody's watching. I also once heard someone comment that there must be no honor among filmmakers because apparently nobody in a high-budget production cared that the movie made was terrible. Well, I have to say, this movie is yet another shining example of the Barbie movies' integrity.
They could get away with SO much--they don't NEED to put a plot or characters or even any kind of acting into this, honestly. BUT THEY DO. The reason I pick this movie out of the crop is that (a) it was just released, and (b) it's a great example of the integrity that is so lost among high-end studio productions these days. Why? Think--what movie is similar to this? Can you think of any parallels? Especially in the Disney array? It's a movie with striking similarities to the Little Mermaid.
BUT, instead of making the heroine a selfish brat and saving it with appealing sidekicks and great music, the characters themselves are likable (or hate-able) and they DON'T have to make the person trying to marry the prince a creepy person either. It's so great! The music, as in the Princess and the Pauper, is shockingly good; the animation and visuals just keep getting better and better; and the storytelling and character development are far above the par of the so-called "best" of Hollywood today.
If you have already started collecting the Barbie movies, get this one too. If not, start right now! Little girls and you(!) will ACTUALLY enjoy them together. This is a worthwhile movie to see, as are the other Barbie movies. Even the weakest of them (story-wise) is morally strong and is better quality than most Hollywood fare these days.
Enjoy this film integrity!

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It's time to set sail with Barbie as The Island Princess in this full-length, original musical featuring nine fantastic songs. After being shipwrecked on an island as a little girl, Rosella (Barbie) grows up learning to talk and sing with a family of loving animals:the red panda Sagi, the peacock Azul and the baby elephant Tika.But when Prince Antonio discovers their tropical paradise, curiosity about her past leads Rosella to journey with the prince to his castle.As she and her animal friends explore civilization,they uncover an evil plot to take over the kingdom!Through its heart-warming ending, Barbie as the Island Princess shows that when love guides you, miracles may be closer than you know.

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Barbie and the Diamond Castle Review

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(More customer reviews)I pre-ordered this and was pleasantly surprised to find it in the mail one day before it went on sale to the public. My girls, ages 3 & 5 1/2 immediately wanted to see it. This is one of the best Barbie movies, and we own them all. As another reviewer said the last couple movies haven't been as good, but still wholesome. Barbie always has beutiful music, a moral, beautiful costumes, and a handsome prince. In the diamond castle two best friends set out to defeat evil together. What more could a little girl ask for? These are movies I can sit through myself. You won't be sorry with this latest product from Barbie. Of course now we'll have to get the Barbies...

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Barbie™ and Teresa™ tell us the fairy tale story of Liana™ and Alexa™, best friends who shared everything including their love of music.One day their simple lives change when they are given an enchanted mirror and befriend the girl trapped inside!To save their new friend, Liana™ and Alexa™ embark on a dangerous journey to the hidden Diamond Castle that will put their friendship to the test.But through the power of song and with the companionship of two adorable puppies, the girls face their challenges together and learn that friendship is the true treasure.

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