Shaun T's Rockin' Body - Disco Groove Set - Includes 4 Workouts - by Beachbody (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)Always set on stage w/lights & audience
Mark, Move & Groove - 15 min
6 dance moves, mostly marches, shimmy, hand movements w/standing crunch, 2 taps out, grapevine, 2 steps & cha cha, all dance, a quick & easy workout. Only bad thing is an annoying LOUD BEEP to let you know when to start the move after Shaun teaches it. Drove me NUTS.
Disco Groove - 35 min
This is pure dance that really works the obliques, even tough I don't normally like disco, they really made this a lot of fun.
Party Express - 25 min
Mostly dance w/some regular hopping & running in place.
Shaun T's Dance Party - 43 min
This is mostly dance as well w/a bit more regular hopping & hand jives, though has a great cool down. I didn't like this one as much for some reason.
As always, he breaks down every move so you are first just stepping side to side, then adds more, then the upper body, then the style, Always easy to follow & he always has fun & demands you have fun too & not dance half-heartedly. I love how he has fun, though sometimes he talks to the camera too long when you're doing step touches before learning a new move or after finishing a "routine," though maybe those few seconds are for grabbing some water.
I would love for him to do a straight dance workout that incorporates more complicated dance moves.

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Shaun T, creator of the best-selling Hip Hop Abs®, has helped millions get flat abs without a sit-up or crunch. Now he's back with a revolutionary new program to burn the fat off your ENTIRE body!You'll feel like you're center stage in Shaun's live rock show, where there's even a live audience to cheer you on. 4 Workouts Includes: (1) Mark, Move & Groove - Even if you don't think you can dance, Shaun will have you dancing and sweating with his breakthrough Mark It and Move It technique. You'll be grooving like the pros in no time. (15 min); (2) Party Express - Give Shaun 25 minutes and he guarantees a workout-without sacrificing results! Perfect for when you're short on time, so now you never have to miss a workout with Shaun. (25 min);(3) Disco Groove - Hit the dance floor and shake your groove thing in this off-the-hook workout guaranteed to burn some serious calories. (35 min); (4) Shaun T's Dance Party - It's a calorie-burning dance party in your living room with tunes like "Holiday" and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough." (45 min).

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Trapped in the Closet: Chapters 13-22 (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)again, for those who don't get it, this is meant to be a comedy. yet it's still smart and i would argue, well acted. the lip syncing is flawless and just adds to the humor. coming from a non-R. Kelly fan, trust me, it's good stuff.

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R. Kelly has created a cultural phenomenon of which no one has seen before. His truly original and fresh urban operetta Trapped in the Closet earned him numerous accoloades, including a Grammy nomination. The media and the world were captivated with each episode as a new cliffhanger unfolded with every word in this unique rhyming soap-opera sung to a melody. Now the tale continues with Chapters 13 to 22 - featuring brand new characters and plot twists that are sure to capture the imagination of the public once again. Recap of Chapters 1-12 Chapters 13 - 22 Trapped Behind the Scenes - a sneak peek from the setAll chapters available in 5.1 sound All footage shot and edited in Hi DefinitionBonus features are unrated

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The Wackness (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)Yo! Don't be whack!
The award winning film (Sundance Audience Award) "The Wackness" is now out on DVD and it's definitely one of the coolest and more pleasant coming-of-age films to come out in a long while and a DVD with features that embraces that non-traditional style courtesy of writer/director Josh Levine.
"The Wackness" stars well-known legendary award winning actor Ben Kingsley and "Drake & Josh" actor Josh Peck who appears to have shed his young teen Nickelodeon image for the character of 18-year-old Luke Shapiro. Both playing roles so different from what we have seen of them and both delivering an exceptional performance.
The year is 1994, A high school teenager in New York who doesn't have any friends but spends his time selling marijuana using his disguise as a person who sells ice in the park, while saving up all his money.
But all is not cool in the life of Luke, his parents are having some financial problems and in danger of being evicted, his mind is on getting laid and losing his virginity and the only person he can communicate his emotions to is one of his clients, Dr. Jeffrey Squires (Ben Kingsley). He wants some anti-depressants but Squires tells him to embrace his pain and more or less, he needs to find a girlfriend and get laid.
Dr. Squires is not exactly a role model for Josh. He's a product of the 60's, loves doing cocaine and marijuana and somehow, is able to connect with Luke and provides him professional advice for drugs. But like Luke, his life is not at all going that great. His relationship with his wife Kristin is not at all going so great and all they have is their memories of sex and doing drugs. Meanwhile, he notices that his step-daughter Stephanie (Olivia Thirlby, "Juno") is getting closer to Luke. But realizes that it's not love that she has for Luke, it's just a sexual fling.
Luke doesn't have much experience with people, love and thus he discovers himself while hanging out with Stephanie. Dr. Squires as a father doesn't want his stepdaughter to be around a drug dealer but at the same time, as his psychiatrist, he doesn't feel that Stephanie is good for Luke. But after their passionate time together, he develops feelings for Stephanie so strong that when he says the words of "I Love You" to her, Stephanie realizes that this fling has gone so far and ends their romantic fling and all communication with Luke. Around that same time, Dr. Squires wife Kristin decides to leave her husband.
Both men are obviously heartbroken but somehow, they find comfort in talking with each other and thus Luke and Dr. Squires form a friendship that would interestingly introduce Dr. Squires to Luke's world and for Luke, getting the needed therapy from his shrink. So, the story pretty much focuses on a young man (Luke) who is guided by an older man (Dr. Squires) but then the story starts to shift of the younger guy guiding an older man.
VIDEO & AUDIO:
The film is featured in anamorphic widescreen ala 2:35:1 ratio. The film is shot in different parts of Tokyo but oviously scenes such as the Twin Towers had to be put into the film. When you do a period piece, especially if it's 1994, with a busy city like New York, unless you have a huge budget, you got make do what with what you have. And thus a lot of the scenes are shot indoors but you do have some outdoor scenes with Luke and Stephanie at the beach or areas where Luke is dealing drugs.
As for audio, you get a English and French 5.1 Dolby Digital track and the film is primarily a dialogue driven film. But audio-wise, what makes this film shine is the fact that it's 1994 and the old school songs, especially the hip-hop songs of that time are what comes blaring out your speakers. Bass and all courtesy of artists such as Notorious B.I.G., a Tribe Called Quest, KRS-One, Nas, Biz Markie, etc.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
The DVD shines in its amount of special features offered. Included are:
* Commentary with Director Jonathan Levine and Actor Josh Peck - A very casual and cool commentary and you learn important tidbits about the film. From Ben Kingsley giving advice to Josh, having to work with Mary-Kate in the amount of hours they had to work with her and how hard it was for Josh Peck to do his lovemaking scene with Olivia Thirlby. Levine and Peck have cool and fun commentary talking about blunts, the music, it's typically a commentary that is like hanging out with friends. Especially at the end when they talk about hanging out after the commentary and playing XBOX 360, you don't hear that on director's commentary, so it's all good.
* Keeping it Real: A Day in the Life of Writer/Director Jonathan Levine - For this eight minute feature, Jonathan Levine is traveling around the country and London to promote "The Wackness" at film festivals and interviews at radio stations. Jonathan is joined by the cast and his girlfriend, production designer Annie Spitz and his brother and his girlfriend.
* Time in a Bottle: Behind the Scenes of The Wackness - An 18-minute featurette featuring behind-the-scenes on the making of the film. Levine explains that the film is not 100% autobiographical and a screenplay that was based on an idea he had during filmschool. Also, featuring Levine's staff and how they were able to get that 1994 setting.
* The Luke Shapiro Show Episode 1 & 2 - These are five minute short episodes that were created for cable access featuring Luke Shapiro and his doorman Miguel. The first featuring Luke, Miguel (on keyboards) and his super Tony. The second featuring Luke, Miguel (on keyboards) and a dancer.
* Deleted Scenes - This scene features four deleted/extended scenes from the film. The total amount of deleted scenes is about five minutes long featuring "Luke Works in Cap and Gown", "Extended Squires Vacation", "Squires in Stephanie's Room" and "Dad's Walkman Scheme".
* The Wackness Trailers - Featuring all five theatrical and teaser trailers
I have to say that "The Wackness" is a pretty cool coming-of-age film and yes, there have been many of these type of movies but a definitely, unique film. Having the film set in 1994, having the main character as a drug dealer, having his psychiatrist as one of his clients and also a hardcore drug user and just how everything just comes together is quite enjoyable.
But the performances by Ben Kingsley and Josh Peck was well done. Two roles by talents that I would never see coming. Ben Kingsley in so many serious roles in "Ghandi", "Schindler's List", "Rules of Engagement" to name a few and then Josh Peck who stars in the Nickelodeon teen show "Drake & Josh", these two taking on roles so different and to see them drinking alcohol and doing/dealing drugs, definitely it's quite a bit of a surprise. But the unique thing is that these two talents had tremendous chemistry and everything worked out quite well.
And there are also a good number of talent in this film. Olivia Thirlby did a great job as Squire's daughter Stephanie and Luke's love interest. Did a great job playing a sexual teen and then you have Mary-Kate Olsen as a pothead who just makes out with Ben Kingsley. Famke Janssen as Dr. Squires sexy wife, Method Man playing the character "Percy" as Luke's supplier and much more.
There are just these small moments in the film, from mannerisms to the small things that a character does, it really makes this film seem quite realistic and make it all work. Of course, the early 90's nostalgia and the music plays a big part in the film. When Luke and Olivia are making love, R. Kelly playing on the boom box to Luke playing Zelda on his NES, these small things are what many people who grew up at the time and listened to the music can related to. So, definitely a nice touch!
And the DVD, just makes you love the film even more with cool commentary, the featurettes and more. It's not all business-like and professional. You have Levine and Peck quite casual and as I mentioned in the commentary section, it's like hanging out with a few friends and just everyone having a good time.
Now granted, perhaps I may be a bit biased having grown up with the pop culture of the 90's and hearing the songs and the style from those years boosting my appreciation for the film but for an indie film, I have to admit that the overall presentation was quite non-traditional. Again, there are a bunch of "coming-of-age" films out there but this one was really thinking outside of the box and instead of getting a "revenge of the nerd" happy-feel good storyline, each of these characters have flaws but it's all about discovering one's self.
All in all, a solid DVD with a lot of humor, a lot of soul and all out fun!

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WACKNESS - DVD Movie

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Kelly Peters: Make It Happen - Hip Hop (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have rented every single dance video for breakdancing, hiphop, and krump available on Netflix (about 30) and bought the rest(another 10). This one is the best for hiphop. Most hiphop videos teach you a routine that requires about half of a large room by yourself to do and no way would help you in any social situation. This video teaches you moves that can be done in little space like in a typical party. Most of the videos also have lots of jazz type moves that are a little ridiculous. Not this one. Finally, the instruction is slow and paced so you can actually learn the move rather than watch the blurr and try to decipher it with the various slow motions of the DVD player (which is too time consuming). I love this DVD.
If you like this one you might also like "Breakdancing Fundamentals" as it is another well put together DVD, albeit with a different style of dance. There are some other good breakdancing videos out there, but nothing decent in the hiphop genre that is practical and wellmade.
I beg Kelly Peters to come out with volume 2!!

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If you want to learn Hip Hop, Kelly Peters will Make It Happen for you! Kelly’s "One Step at a Time" teaching method introduces new production techniques that make it easy to learn even the hardest moves. It’s simple to follow because he reverses the picture, so it’s just like looking at a dance studio mirror. As a result, when Kelly says "Go right", he moves to your right! He also takes time to break the movements down, very slow, so you don’t have to keep rewinding and he uses lots of close ups, slow motion, and split screen so you really get the details of the moves. Kelly teaches the building blocks of true Hip Hop which you can use to make your own combinations. He also explains the elements and history of Hip Hop culture. Kelly is joined by his crew of real kids who help demonstrate dances like The Freak, The Prep and the Bus Stop. The DVD includes special features and three bonus moves: The Harlem Shake, The Wave and The Baby Freeze.

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Breakin' It Down With Laurie Ann Gibson (2005) Review

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(More customer reviews)The dvd is set on a industrial looking space with Laura getting help from dancers. It comes in 5.1 as well as regular stereo.
First she shoes a music video for a minute that only had a few moves of the ones you'd be learning.
She introduces the dvd for 3 min & then there's a very short warm-up (if you can call it that) for 3 min. of just head rolls, hip bumps, arm circles & side stretches.
The beginning moves is only 13 min. with 6 male & female backups. She shows you the moves with music real-time first, then goes slower time & breaks it down move by move w/o music. She doesn't give that many cues, but she uses good analogies. She will go through each move 1-3x depending on complexity. This is not meant to be an exercise video, just instruction with her knowing you can always rewind if you forget quickly. After 2-3 moves, she will ask you to try them together calling out the names of the move as you do them to music sometimes. Then she breaks down another 2-3 & then you put those together with the first 3. She only goes from the top at the end only one time with music.
The Intermediate is only 10 min. with 4 male & female dancers which again, she shows you how it looks first, then breaks it down like I said above.
The advanced moves she says if you can do it, you should be a dancer. This is also only 10 min with 2 guys as backup.
This makes a total of about 36 minutes of warm-up & dancing. After is 4 minutes superstars & freestyle where they show a couple examples of how to take some of the moves you learned & add it to your own dancing at a club.
The music was great, too bad she didn't have it playing softly in the background as she taught. I didn't have a problem with her voice or speaking style. I didn't find the moves that complex, I got a few easily the first time, but to get it down would take practice of course. She does cue your left & right, but I'm so used to mirroring anyhow. The only thing I could wish was more repitition (cheaper for them to tell you just to rewind) & a few more cues when breaking down each move.
There's another menu choice called "club remix" after the "class selection" where they show how to move to House music for 4 min, Reggae with teaching 3 moves for 6 min & Salsa for 3 min in a club. Mostly it's very talented dancers showing off & giving you ideas if can do it just by watching.
There's a trailer at collagevideo com

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Laurie Ann Gibson, one of the world’s top choreographers and star of MTV’s Making the Band 3 presents this new dance instructional sensation.Over the course of the program, Laurie Ann takes you step-by-step through a variety of dance routines. From basic through advanced moves seen only in today’s hottest music videos and movies, Laurie Ann will give you the style, skills and confidence to dance just like a superstar.

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Everybody Hates Chris: The Final Season Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the last and final season of Everybody Hates Chris. I can't believe it's come to a end so fast. This season is funny as ever and still filled with lots of laughs from all the characters. The quality of the episodes are still excellent and presented in widescreen format as the previous seasons were. You get some funny bloopers and gags from the bouns material and behind the scenes of this season episodes. So this show has finally come to a end, but I believe it went out strong and glad to own them all!

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Inspired by his childhood experiences, comedian Chris Rock narrates the hilarious, touching story of a teenager growing up as the eldest of three children in Brooklyn, New York during the early 1980s. Uprooted to a new neighborhood and bused into a predominantly white middle school two hours away by his strict, hard-working parents, Chris struggles to find his place while keeping his siblings in line at home and surmounting the challenges of junior high. This responsible, resilient adolescent brings a distinct, funny spin to his everyday trials and traumas in this single-camera comedy.

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Hood 2 Hood: Blockumentary, Vol. 2 (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)This dvd starts showing who went to jail or passed away after being filmed in the first release of 2005 "Hood 2 Hood - The Blockumentary".
Also it begins with a funeral with religious rite in the Vallejo's hood (CA); during the time after the vol.1, some actors passed away ! So you'll see who was in the Vol.1 and passed away.True soldiers of the ghetto streets ! R.I.P.: very impressive !!!!!!!
Rich Kid Entertainment did is again, following their hugely popular Hood 2 Hood they just released Hood 2 Hood, The Blockumentary Part Two which is an action packed DVD that takes viewers on a graphic detailed journey through the highest crime ridden neighborhoods in the United States of America. It contains exclusive interviews with real gang members, drug dealers pimps and killers.
Cities included are Miami FL, Baton Rouge LA, New Orleans LA, Louisville KY, Vallejo CA, Oakland CA, San Diego CA, Omaha NE, Milwaukee WI, Chicago IL, Yonkers NY, Washington DC, Atlanta GA, Baltimore MD, Brooklyn NY, Bronx NY, Birmingham AL, Chicago IL, Compton CA, Detroit MI, Gary IN, Harlem NY , Houston TX, Jackson MS, Kansas City KS, Kansas City MO, Las Vegas NV, Little Rock AR, Los Angeles CA, Memphis TN, Philadelphia PA, Queens NY, Richmond CA, Sacramento CA, San Francisco CA, ST. Louis Mo, and Richmond VA.
The neighborhoods included in the journey are those of some of today's hottest Rap and R&B stars such as Kanye West, Lil Boosie, Webbie, Gucci Mane, Eminem, Jay-Z, Nas, Nelly, Juvenile, T.I., Suge Knight, Mac DRE, 3-6 Mafia, Cash Out Quis, Rick Ross, E-40 and Mary J. Blige just to name a few.
Viewers be prepared to witness controversial never seen before footage. This is reality TV at its best !!!!
Running Time: 3 hours
Produced & Directed by: Aquis Bryant
Edited by: Aquis Bryant, Brian Bradley & Omar Wicker
Hood 2 Hood- PART 2, The Blockumentary is an action packed film that takes you on a tour through America's highest crime rated neighborhoods. Rich Kid Entertainment contacted all the underground hood connections from hoods across the country from California to New York, to the South and Midwest. Their connections opened the doors to their hoods and allowed them to capture the day-to-day actions of life in a crime-infested neighborhoods. Film crews have never had access to footage like this, that includes everything from several pounds of marijuana and kilos of cocaine, fully automatic assault rifles, beatdowns, and thousands in cash earned in drug sales.
They traveled to over 20 different cities and neighborhoods that included the actual neighborhoods of today's top rap artists. Viewers be prepared to witness controversial and violent never seen before footage. Hood 2 Hood, The Blockumentary is reality T.V at it's best!!!!!!
DVD with 3 HOURS of footage!!
Showing Hoods In:
Atlanta, GA
Los Angeles, CA
Oakland, CA
Richmond, CA
Sacramento, CA
San Francisco, CA
Vallejo, CA
Baltimore, MD
Brooklyn, NY
Bronx, NY
Birmingham, AL
Chicago, IL
Compton, CA
Detroit, MI
Gary, IN
Harlem, NY
Houston, TX
Jackson, MS
Kansas City, KS
Kansas City, MO
Las Vegas, NV
Little Rock, AR
Memphis, TN
New Orleans, LA
Philadelphia, PA
Queens, NY
St Louis, MO
Running Time: 5 hours
Produced & Directed by: Aquis Bryant
Edited by: Aquis Bryant, Brian Bradley & Omar Wicker

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Hood 2 Hood, The Blockumentary is an action packed film that takes you on a tour through America's highest crime rated neighborhoods. Rich Kid Entertainment contacted all the underground hood connections from hoods across the country from California to New York, to the South and Midwest. Their connections opened the doors to their hoods and allowed them to capture the day-to-day actions of life in a crime-infested neighborhoods.

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I Got the Feelin': James Brown in the 60's (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)May I respectfully say, "James Brown Live At Chastain Park", take a rest.
Here we have two transcendant excursions into Soul Music history, 1968 concerts made within about two weeks of each other, one at the Apollo, the other at the Boston Gardens, and whether or not the proverbial floodgates will be opened, at this point it doesn't matter. The concerts are amazing: Soul Brother Number One at the very top of his form, a singing, dancing, band-directing, audience mesmerizing phenomenon. His renditions of the ballads "Try Me", "Bewildered", the gospel-jazz expositions like "Get It Together", "There Was A Time", and "Cold Sweat" are of course the best out now on DVD.
The earlier TV Special called "Man To Man" appears to be the final TV cut, no extras. The video quality is not what it should be for an artist of his stature, though let's remember that it was done on videotape by Metromedia in New York, not by a network. The viewer should not be upset with some of the trendy kaleidoscope effects, and some hard edits.
We have the much-discussed, much-requested concert from Boston, telecast one day after the assassination of Doctor Martin Luther King. The atmosphere is naturally tense, involves Mayor Kevin White, who delivers a powerful speech.
As ticketholders were offered a refund so as to stay at home and watch the taping, the audience is comparatively sparse. Yet the consummate showman is still able to elicit audible screams on his passionate, intense, sometimes whispered, sometimes belted "It's Man's, Man's, Man's World". He's also able to excite those patrons...the initiated already know the story of those who rushed the stage on a night that all were asked to remember Doctor King and enjoy James Brown in Peace. It was on outpouring of Love but the camera lens can distort. And Brown knew it.
There are two songs live from the Olympia, 1966 and 1967, though the jacket says 1968 and 1967. The latter was totally unexpected by this Brownologist: the Live At The Apollo, Volume Two arrangemet of "It's A Man's....World"! Not gonna give it all up at this juncture - suffice to say, it's way better on this DVD than on the recent, expanded CD reissue.
The Documentary on Disc Three is surely worth an Oscar.
The bits and pieces of that 1968 concert now form into an amazing whole, which the Documentary Producer duly notes was long, long overdue for commercial release. To support his backstory, is the sensuous Marva Whitney, his 1967-1970 Diva (Disc Two should have included some of her performance); and Charles Bobbitt, his Manager, who tells the story of how he became James Brown's Manager - and how he had to watch the turnstiles that night...and the safety of his friend and client.

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I Got the Feelin': James Brown in the '60s is the definitive look at JB's on-stage prowess, including an acclaimed documentary, two previously unreleased concerts, and more. With full-length versions of many classics, including"I Feel Good," "Out Of Sight," "Cold Sweat," "Try Me," "I Got The Feelin'," "It's A Man's Man's Man's World," "Bewildered," and "Please, Please, Please," I Got the Feelin': James Brown in the '60s is an essential part of any music lover's collection. DISC 1: THE NIGHT JAMES BROWN SAVED BOSTON Features the director's cut of the acclaimed VH1 film The Night James Brown Saved Boston, which tells the story of a 1968 concert that not only averted riots in Boston in the aftermath of MLK's assassination, but also set James Brown on a revolutionary new path.Includes additional interviews with members of James Brown's band, friends and colleagues, plus a panel discussion from the film's premiere in Boston. DISC 2: LIVE AT THE BOSTON GARDEN Features the historic 1968 Boston Garden concert as originally broadcast by WGBH. Contains additional audio from the radio simulcast of the concert. DISC 3: LIVE AT THE APOLLO '68 Features Man to Man: James Brown Live at The Apollo Theater 1968, a TV special taped the week before the Boston show and unseen for 40 years! Plus bonus performances from 1967 and 1968 shows at L'Olympia in Paris, AND the legendary version of "Out of Sight" from The T.A.M.I. Show (1964).

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Afro Samurai (Director's Cut) (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)There's no doubt that Afro Samurai has a cool and simple concept and a very bloody style. In this future world of feudal Japan nothing seems to matter but two headbands that represent the two best fighters. To get to the number one fighter you must go through the number two and to get to the number two you must go trough everyone else. This way of life that nobody should have to live especially a child who has nothing but the headbands and revenge on his mind. As a child Afro saw his father who was the number one fighter at the time get massacred by a man named Justice. After the fight is over Justice takes the number one headband off of the head of Afro's father, which was not too far away from his body. Justice tells Afro something similar to what Uma Thurman said to Vivica A. Fox's daughter in Kill Bill, that if he wanted revenge he would fight him when he came for him.
Afro took those words very seriously and took a few things of his fathers including his very cool Katana. Afro immediately went from an innocent child to an almost emotionless man with a ton of weight on him as he begins his vengeful journey. Afro Samurai is a unique anime or story for that matter. You don't see too many people willing to put out a story with basically nothing but very bloody fight scenes for about two episodes before a really good story starts up. Especially in a 5 part series where the episodes are only between 20 and 30 minutes long. I can't lie because I love stuff like that and it made Afro Samurai all the more tempting to finish watching. The second is that this was a pricy anime to make costing $1 million per episode so I'm sure a few viewers from the Hip hop community were expected to watch this. Even if you're an action film fan you have to admit when there's too much action and not enough story Even in a revenge tail like Kill Bill with a certain scene that this anime could relate to 88 times over it had a mystery and story.
Afro was on the verge of being in the too much and not enough category and then a cool story hits you somewhere around the end of episode two. Flashbacks of Afro's life are showed, you see him as a kid again and the people who took him in and gave him his gritty skills. All throughout the 5 part series you see that the money was well spent because the animation is amazing and beautiful. The things that Afro does with his skills are crazy and this animation was a giant step up for anime samurai fight scene, it was flawless. The voice actors are great including Sam Jackson who is great for co-producing this and putting his foot in it.
I think it would have been cool to actually give Afro a real name, it's cool for people that take him on to call him Afro but I think he should have had a name for his other life before he became the Afro Samurai. In other words I kind of wish the story went just a bit deeper with a little bit more complexity. I think that Afro Samurai is a great series that everyone should see especially to view its beautiful quality.

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Ice Cold Soul and a Jones For Revenge
Afro Samurai (voiced by Academy Award® nominated Samuel L. Jackson) is an epic tale of a black samurai's hunt for Justice (voiced by Ron Perlman: Hellboy Alien Resurrection ) who murdered his father. With music score by The RZA ( Kill Bill Wu Tang Clan) Afro Samurai blends traditional Japanese culture, funky technology and hip hop to create a brutally fresh entertainment experience.
Director's Cut features:
15 MINUTES OF NEVER BEFORE SEEN FOOTAGE
Exclusive Manga art from Afro Samurai Creator, Takashi Okazaki
In the Booth with RZA - Music Production Tour
Director's Cut Edition of Afro Samurai is a 2-disc set with over 170 minutes of action!
All the cool action at a hot new price!

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Notorious B.I.G.: Bigger Than Life (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)Prolific hip-hop documentarian Peter Spirer (Thug Angel, Beef) delivers another fast-paced and stylish piece. The high points--rare home video footage of B.I.G. in candid moments; Memories by Matty C, Method Man, Easy Mo Bee and several childhood friends illuminate exactly what made him such a legendary emcee. and strictly UNBELIEVABLE footage of B.I.G.'s caravan leaving the Peterson Automotive museum literally seconds before he was shot. The downside is that there is absolutely NO MUSIC BY BIGGIE in the film at all. Interviews with Diddy and Ms. Wallace are glaringly absent. The bulk of this film is made up of outtakes of B.I.G. from the superior Rhyme and Reason. Even the bonus feature, LIVE FROM BEDFORD STUVESANT shows other kids freestyling, but whenever B.I.G. reaches for the mic, it fades to white. It seems likely that they have their own film projects in the works. So if you are a true Biggie fan, you will definitely want to cop this. Spirer definitely has the chops and cred to pull off the definitive documentary of Biggie, but without the participation of Bad Boy and Biggie's estate, it's impossible to give this 5 mics.

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The Notorious B.I.G. is no doubt on every Hip-Hop fan's short list of the greatest rappers of all time. Most importantly, B.I.G. was respected and revered by his peers in the game. Everyone from Jay Z to Tupac became captivated by his velvety flow and unparalleled rhyme style. He left behind a legacy that reached mythic status. Now for the first time the real Notorious B.I.G. is revealed in this fascinating film. Hear the stories firsthand from his closest friends and some of the biggest names in Hip-Hop -- Diddy, Method Man, Easy Mo Bee, Matty C, E-40, Raekwon and many more. See raw, uncut footage of B.I.G. freestyling on the streets of New York, rare home video footage, a never-before-seen interview done with Biggie shortly before his death and undisclosed footage from the night of his murder. Directed by renowned Hip-Hop documentary filmmaker Peter Spirer (the Beef series, Tupac Shakur: Thug Angel), this comprehensive film is definitive proof that the Notorious B.I.G. will always be Bigger than Life.

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Insane Clown Posse: Big Money Hustla$ - The Movie (2000) Review

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(More customer reviews)What's up, Juggalos? Well, first of all, if you're not a Juggalo or a Jugalette, then just get out, because your chances of enjoying this movie are something like zero, because you'll not get the Juggalo humor.
So what's this Juggalo humor after all? I thought it was the type of things I listened in ICP skits, and between the songs... But it looks like it's not. This movie's jokes are waaaay more stupid than the jokes in ICP's songs. The movie is so stupid, I hated it the first time I watched. But then I watched it again, and I started to feel it. And now it gets better and more hilarious every time I watch it.
As a spotlight review said, this version Amazon sells has only the movie. Ok, it's worth your money, but you can get a better version paying almost the same. The extras in the other edition, the one I own, are the amazing videoclips Let's Go All The Way (from Bizzar) and Tilt A Whirl (from Bizaar) and the hilarious commentary by Violent J, Rude Boy and Alex.
Overall, as I said in the beggining, this is a movie for juggalos. You may like this movie if you're not a juggalo, but chances are minimal. But in cae you're a member of the family, just put that DVD in your shopping cart and insert that disc on your DVD player, and be ready to laugh as you never did before.

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Item Name: Big Money Hustlas; Studio:Island

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Breakin' Collection (Breakin' / Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo / Beat Street) (1984) Review

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(More customer reviews)It's time to put your headband and parachute pants on and break out those Grandmaster Flash records for the holy breakdancing trilogy of films. These movies were made pre-Gangsta rap when disputes were settled either on the dance floor or on the mic. Breakin', its sequel, Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo, and Beat Street were all released in 1984 and are a fantastic time capsule of their times in all of their cheesy (and in one case not so cheesy) glory.
Looking at it now, Breakin', with its laughably cheesy dialogue ("Blond, brunette - if they're looking for hair why don't they look for gorillas?"), horribly dated `80s fashion (skinny ties! headbands! parachute pants!) and wooden acting, is a harmless, cartoony look at a more innocent time. And let's be honest, that is part of the film's charm.
After the surprise success of the first Breakin' movie a sequel was quickly rushed into production and the result is Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo (great title, btw). Special K, Ozone and Turbo are back and this time out our heroes have come together to save an inner city community centre from a greedy developer who wants to knock it down and put up a shopping centre. They have 30 days to raise $200,000.
Beat Street is the East Coast answer to Breakin' that was grittier, edgier and therefore not as successful but definitely more authentic. Shot on the dirty, grungy, pre-Giuliani streets of New York City, it follows Kenny (Davis), an up-and-coming rapper/DJ who is buddies with Ramon (Chardiet), a gifted graffiti artist who uses the subways and sides of buildings as his canvas.
Unlike Breakin', this is how the hip hop scene really looked and sounded back in the day. Parties take place in the basements of burnt-out buildings in the slums of the city. These guys are all young, poor and hungry to make it out of the ghetto anyway they can. Beat Street also trumps Breakin' in the number of cameos by pioneers of the genre, featuring the likes of DJ Kool Herc, Kool Mo Dee, Doug E. Fresh, Afrika Bambaataa and Melle Mel. This also results in a great soundtrack that shows many of the influences on early hip hop: calypso, salsa, jazz-all thrown into the mix.
Beat Street is everything that the Breakin' films aren't: gritty, cold, gray with characters that swear and even die. It is a fascinating example of the polar ends of the spectrum and this box set collects all three movies for one to immerse themselves in early '80s culture.
MGM has basically repackaged these three movies and so we have Breakin' and Breakin' 2 presented in crappy pan and scan with nothing more than a trailer as an extra. Beat Street can be seen either, pan and scanned or widescreen with a trailer included.
Included exclusively with this box set is a DVD of extras. Sadly, they have almost nothing directly to do with the three films which is a big disappointment. Surely, they could have gotten Shabba Doo and Boogaloo Shrimp back for some new extras? What's Rae Dawn Chong done lately? And where's the deleted scene of Kadeem Hardison cut from Beat Street?
Instead, the focus is on the hip hop culture itself. First up, is "The Culture of Hip Hop" which traces the genre's origins. There is a surprising lack of commentary from celebrity pioneers like DJ Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash and others. Instead, more obscure (to those not in the know) people talk about the basic elements of hip hop and b-boy culture.
"The Elements of Hip Hop" breaks it down into four components: graffiti, DJing, breakin' and MCing. This is a pretty decent introduction to the basic components of the culture and a nice companion piece to the first featurette.
"Beat Street Battle: Rock Steady Crew vs. New York City Breakers" is the only extra that has anything to do with the films in the set and it is just a scene lifted from Beat Street.
"Shout Outs" is basically a montage of people who were interviewed in the first two featurettes giving thanks to all the people who inspired and supported them over the years.
Also included is a music video for "Will Not Be Destroyed" by the Living Legends with loads of nice breakdancing footage.
Finally, there are small galleries with stills from each of the three movies from the set.

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Quickfix - Cardio Hip-Hop Workout Review

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(More customer reviews)This video is very fun and keeps up my heartrate. It might be a little difficult for people with "two left feet" or who haven't done much dancing or aerobics. The instructor was great and I thought she broke it down well, not so slow that your heartrate went down, but not to fast to get lost. I highly recommend this tape if you love dancing and want a good workout!

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If you have 10 minutes you can burn fat and enjoy dance moves like you see in today's music videos regardless of your dance or exercise experience! Quick Fix Cardio Hip Hop Workout uses specially designed combinations that are fun and easy to master. Each routine begins with a "dance lifeline" - one simple move you can always go back to should you ever lose your way. As you learn each sequence, you can use your life-line to keep up the intensity of the workout and not miss a single minute of calorie burnin time.

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Straight from the Projects - Rappers that Live the Lyrics: Calliope, New Orleans (2002) Review

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(More customer reviews)mad respect to c-murder heres a guy with much paper and still living in a two bedroom apartment in the projects!ofcourse he got other pads but he actually lay his head there from time to time now thats real!im from the chi where the projects are plentiful but dam the jects in N.O are nothn nice!!i had to take a star because it was only 48 minutes but it was still a good look much respect to c-murder and the N.O them brothers bout it bout!! 4 sure

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C-Murder's music is all about where he grew up in Calliope 3rd Ward (CP3), one of the toughest projects in New Orleans, where poverty, drug abuse and violence are epidemic. For the first time, see his neighborhood uncensored: gunfire breaking out... children toting guns in their waistbands... the young men who died too early... as well as the warmth and camaradeire so vital to the neighborhood's survival. Also see dirty dancing at the Rhythm City nightclub and the music videos that the club inspired. Getting to know where C-Murder's from and his lifestyle is the only way to really get inside his music.

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The Up in Smoke Tour (DTS) (2002) Review

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(More customer reviews)If you was one of the unlucky ones that couldnt get tickets to one of the hottest rap tours ever, This DVD is the next best thing.. It puts you in the front row to one of the most exciting one of the most elaborate stage shows ever staged.. The DVD takes you on a 2 hour musical experience unlike no other you would witness in any genre of music.. The DVD also includes some behind the scene with the artists to give it that close and personal feel .. The Sound and picture quality is superb.. The Concert was film in Boston, Mass but there as other footage from other cities on the tour dealing with talkin with fans, People that work behind the scene during the tour etc.. All n All gives you a very in-depth look of the tour and what goes on behind the lights and music.. Highlites of the DVD Dr. Dre/ Snoop and Eminem.. Ice Cube portion of the DVD is also pretty good .. If there is a minor criticism to this DVD it would be that some of the performances were shortening.. But nevertheless if you are a fan of Dre, Snoop, Eminem, Ice Cube this is the DVD to get.. If you were lucky enough to attend the show you want to relive the excitement get this DVD you will not be disappointed

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Save the Last Dance 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)Paramount and MTV have released Save The Last Dance 2. The direct to DVD release arrives in stores October 10th. Izabella Miko stars in the film as Chicago native Sarah. She arrives in New York to attend Julliard with a firm love of hip-hop and a love of ballet. Shortly after arriving at Julliard she meets Miles. Miles is all about hip-hop and he takes an interest in Sarah and provides her with creative stimulation both inside and outside of the classroom. He is a Julliard drop out who now teaches at the school. Sarah isn't the greatest dancer in the world, but her mixture of classic ballet moves and modern hip-hop dance bring her fans, especially at the club when she wins a dance off up against the clubs hottest female dancer. Nightlife aside, Sarah has to keep up with a demanding ballet program all in efforts to become a prima ballerina. On top of that, her ballet teacher has a strong dislike of hip-hop culture. The "poignant, heart wrenching" aspect of the film comes with Sarah on a mission to find out why Miles dropped out of Julliard. She just can't understand why someone would give up on a Julliard education.
Save The Last Dance 2 is an entertaining film, although the storyline isn't as poignant or well written as the original film. Certain elements of the film will remind a true film buff of the 80's dance film Girls Just Want To Have Fun The Movie. Take Save The Last Dance 2 for what it's worth, 82 minutes of home entertainment. The film includes a hip-hop flavored soundtrack and a guest appearance from R&B sensation Ne-Yo. One thing I noticed is several times the actresses native accent slips through in a few scenes. Izabella Miko is a Polish native who moved to the United States to pursue a ballet career, so she is no stranger to the ballet world.
Save The Last Dance 2 is rated PG-13. As for the rating, there isn't much harsh language but there is a rather intimate bedroom love scene between the two lead characters which was pretty unnecessary.

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Continuing the story of the original film, Sara (Izabella Miko) follows her dream and becomes a student at Juilliard.As she is excels and becomes a star pupil, Sara becomes torn between her love for traditional ballet and her passion for the urban street rhythms of hip-hop, complicated further by her new love, hip-hop musician Miles (Columbus Short). When pushed to make a choice, will she follow the path of the tried and true or will she take a risk and dance into uncharted territory?

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Janky Promoters (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)While this film is watchable, I definitely would rate this as the least liked of the corroborations between Cube and Mike Epps. I would also say it falls towards the bottom when you throw in the Friday series, and the other movies he's played a hand in creating. As a big Cube fan, musically and theatrically, this is hands-down one of his worst (which explains why it was never advertised before being released to the theater, and then quickly released to DVD). It has its moments, but those expecting the same quality of work will be disappointed.

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Shady music promoters get into hot water when their chance to book a superstar rapper goes awry.

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