Bad Girls - The Complete First Season (2005) Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm an American who has been in a BBC programming mood lately. Bad Girls was actually recommended to me by Amazon UK after purchasing a few other series.
I wasn't sure what to expect and went in basically knowing nothing about it, except that it was very popular in the UK and a few of the actresses up for parts in Footballers' Wives were initially looking to get into Bad Girls.
Once I popped in the dvd, I was hooked. In one day, I watched ALL of season one. Yes, it is *that* good! Yes, there are lesbians, but the nice thing is that the programme is MUCH deeper than that, and the viewer can actually gain insight into the characters. Sexuality is not the premise for this show.
If you enter the show with certain preconceived notions, you will be surprised. Everyone has a story and it is not as simple as a shag here or there, as Oz was. This is not nearly as dark as Oz, but well written, nonetheless.
The interviews with the cast are a nice bonus as well.
Now if I could only wait the two weeks for my seasons 2 & 3 of Bad Girls to show up from the UK.
For those who are unaware, there are many US dvd players which can play Region 2 (UK) dvds. While Season 2 and later is not yet released in the US, it is available through Amazon.co.uk and they DO ship to the States!

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BAD GIRLS is a powerful drama series set in the closed world of an English women’s prison, HMP Larkhall.BAD GIRLS has hard-hitting, heart-wrenching stories that get down and dirty with life behind bars, never shying away from the gritty side of life.On the inside they must negotiate their place in the prison’s hierarchy and sometimes make new sexual choices.

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Girls on Film 2 (Lesbian & Gay) Review

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(More customer reviews)This DVD contains 4 short films.
The first film, DEBS, is about 7 minutes long and was the most entertaining of the bunch (two very gorgeous girls making out in the middle of a gun fight between the goodies and the baddies).
The middle two films left me cold. One short was about a lesbian couple who goes to visit one of the partners sister who is transgendering into the man. Amanda Bearse (sp?) plays the sister who is a furious bitch to her tranny sister. This film was a major downer and I didn't see the point of it.
The third film was about a little girl who wants to fly and lives with her trailer trash mom and older sister. The girl is basically ignored unless she does something wrong. She runs away to a neighboror who everyone thinks is freak and they have a brief but touching discussion. I didn't see what this film had to do with lesbians and I was very disappointed because of this fact.
The fourth short film is a series of scenes taken from about a dozen famous films but with a gay spin (example: From Here to Eternity has two women making out a beach, Casablanca has Rick saying goodbye to his very femmy boyfriend, Young Frankenstein has a big gay monster doing it to the effeminate guy in the hay loft and so on.) Most of these short movie scenes were very enjoyable.
What I object to regarding this DVD is that it did not have a lot of lesbians and/or lesbian action, and/or the films were depressing. This DVD was not worth $25 but would be worth renting at Netflicks since you can bet your sweet bippy this DVD ain't ever going to show up at Blockbuster or Hollywood Video.

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GIRLS ON FILM II:
GIRLS ON FILM-II is another groundbreaking compilation featuring the best lesbian-themed shorts made by POWER UP members. These films have delighted audiences at festivals worldwide, including Sundance and Berlin. The DVD contains films including D.E.B.S., Give or Take an Inch and Fly Cherry, which were produced through POWER UP s film grant production program.
D.E.B.S. - 2002 POWER UP GRANT FILM, the breakout hit comedy written and directed by Angela Robinson, starring Tammy Lynn Michaels(Popular) and Clare Kramer (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), soon to be a major motion picture. Running time: aprox. 11 min.Official selection of the Sundance Film Festival and Berlin International Film Festival. jury award best Short Big Bear Lake International Film Festival HONORABLE MENTION Cleveland International Film Festival BEST SHORT FILM AUDIENCE AWARD Dublin Gay & Lesbian Film Festival AUDIENCE AWARD Hamburg Lesbian & Gay Film Festival BEST SHORT FILM Newfest/New York Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (sponsored by Advocate) BEST SHORT North Carolina Gay & Lesbian Film Festival BEST SHORT FILM Outfest/Los Angeles BEST SHORT FILM AUDIENCE AWARD Philadelphia Gay & Lesbian Film Festival BEST SHORT Planet Out Film Festival GRAND PRIZE WINNER Queer Identities Vienna BEST SHORT FILM AUDIENCE AWARD Seattle Gay & Lesbian Film Festival AUDIENCE AWARD USA Dallas Short Film Festival. Official selections of over 100 film festivals.
GIVE OR TAKE AN INCH - 2002 POWER UP GRANT FILM, written by Erin Eckles and directed by Lee Friedlander (The 10 Rules) stars Amanda Bearse (Married with Children) and Michele Greene (LA LAW). Runningtime: aprox. 14 min.WINNER Madrid Gay & Lesbian Film Festival SPECIAL RAINBOW AWARD.Official selections of over 40 film festivals. BEST SHORT & AUDIENCE CHOICE Denver Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.
FLY CHERRY - 2002 POWER UP GRANT FILM, written by Michele Greene, directed by Jessica Sharzer, student Academy Award winner (Wormhole), and stars Sharon Lawrence (NYPD BLUE) and Shirley Knight (Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood). Running time: aprox. 15 min. FINALIST BEST SHORT Dallas Short Film Festival.
Plus Bonus Tracks:BEHIND THE SCENES - the making of the POWER UP 2002 grant films. GAY PROPAGANDA (Running time: aprox. 18 min.)- The complete collection includes; The Gay Breakfast Club - dir. by Jessica Zweiman, Casablanco - dir. by James Quinn, Goodfaigolas - dir. by Lynnette Myers, The Gay Graduate - dir. by Meredith Kadlec, From Queer to Eternity, Reservoir Dykes, Taxi Lesbian & Gay Moonstruck- dir. by JD Disalvatore, Gay on Golden Pond - dir. by Kadlec, Polterqueer & Hung Frankenstein - dir. by Kurt Koehler.BEST SHORT Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Film Festival AUDIENCE AWARD Reel Pride, Fresno Gay and Lesbian Film Festival JURY AWARD Fresno Gay and Lesbian Film Festival BEST SHORT Prague Gay and Lesbian Film Festival BEST SHORT Los Angeles Actorbone Film Festival TOP TEN SHORTS OF 2002 American Cinemateque TOP TEN QUEER SHORTS OF 2002 Official Selection of over 25 festivals.

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Anyone and Everyone - Documentary Review

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(More customer reviews)Over the years I have seen many coming out films, dramas, comedies, short films, and documentaries. Each of these have had one thing in common: they have told our stories, the stories of gay men and lesbians on their personal journeys. Susan Schutz had produced a coming out film that breaks out of this mold by telling us the coming out journey of the parents of gay and lesbian children. Each family in the film has a unique story -- Schutz has included families from all across the nation covering a variety of ethnic and religious backgrounds. When I first saw this DVD I was totally blown away by the honesty and openness of each family. I laughed, I cried, I was moved. This is truly an amazing film. It should be seen by anyone and everyone.

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Connected by having a son or daughter who is gay, parents across the country discuss their experiences in the documentary Anyone and Everyone. In it, filmmaker Susan Polis Schutz, depicts families from all walks of life. Individuals from such diverse backgrounds as Japanese, Bolivian, and Cherokee, as well as from various religious denominations such as Mormon, Jewish, Roman Catholic, Hindu, and Southern Baptist, share intimate accounts of how their children revealed their sexual orientation and discuss their responses. The parents also talk about struggling with the pain of their sons and daughters dealing with not being accepted by relatives or friends, and being ostracized by religious congregations. "It was so evil and so bad that we almost couldn t talk about it... You just had the idea it was so terrible that it was unspeakable," said a Mormon mother in the film. "Having heard all these awful things and what homosexuality was and then having a member of your family, a person that you have seen, a child that you have seen since the child was born, a person that was absolutely wholesome, good, kind, gentle and that put together with the word lesbian didn t add up," said a hispanic mother. This film is especially important since up to 26% of gay teens who come out to their parents or guardians are told they must leave home. Of the approximately 1.6 million homeless American youth, 20-40% identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. Nearly 40% of LGBT (GLBT) students report being physically harassed. In a 2001 Department of Health study of youth in Massachusetts, about 40 percent of gay and lesbian students attempted suicide, compared to about 10 percent of their heterosexual peers.

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Xena: Warrior Princess: Season One (1995) Review

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(More customer reviews)"In a time of ancient gods, warlords, and kings, a land in turmoil cried out for a hero. She was Xena, a mighty princess forged in the heat of battle. The power. The passion. The danger. Her courage will change the world."
If you don't recognize the above, you've been in a distant land since at least 1995, and this review isn't really for you. But you should buy this collection immediately, because you're in for an entirely novel treat.
Xena: Warrior Princess is a spin-off series from "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys", which followed 5 "Action Pack" (don't ask) Hercules movies. The Hercules and Xena stories are revisionist tales of antiquity. Most of the names are right ("Hercules" instead of "Herakles", and the Roman "Cupid" instead of Greek "Eros" are notable exceptions), but anachronisms abound. We first see Xena sitting on her horse, complete with stirrups (1000 years before their invention) and saddle horn (2000 years early). Xena's sword is bronze, but steel implements abound in an era when Indian Wootz steel was a commodity valued above gold. The wet countryside of New Zealand doubles for the dry Mediterranean clime of Greece. And barbarian warriors look suspiciously like Maori. Obviously the emphasis is on entertainment rather than historical accuracy. It's a good thing, too, because the entertainment value is outstanding.
The premise of the series is that Xena was a teenager living in the Greek village of Amphipolis when it was attacked. She rallied her neighbors to mount a successful defense. Then she took the surrounding towns to have a defensive perimeter. One thing led to another, and Xena was a warlord terrorizing the countryside. But, true to her original intent, she spared defenseless women and children. When her underlings thought that made her soft she broke from them, and began an epic quest for redemption. Soon after this she met Gabrielle, a young villager whose community is raided. With ambitions exceeding her small town's reach Gabrielle decides to follow Xena on her travels.
Xena is a mythic hero. Lacking the godly strength of Hercules, she nevertheless matches him in battle by virtue of superhuman agility. Plus, as she says, "I have many skills" -- including tactics, strategy, eastern martial arts, horsemanship, medicine, and singing. Xena is at the top of her form when we first see her. In sharp contrast to this we watch Gabrielle as she transforms from quick-witted but unsophisticated villager to wannabe bard to reluctant warrior.
Lucy Lawless got an early entry into the Hercules/Xena universe; she played Lysia in "Hercules and the Amazon Women", the very first of the movies that preceded the "Hercules" series. In fact this earlier role was a strike against her when trying out for the part of Xena in the "Hercules" series. But hair dye, boots with lifts, and skin bronzer transformed Lucy Lawless (5' 10 1/2", light brown hair, pale skin) to Xena (6' tall, brown-black hair, olive complexion). Add in a passable American accent, and this native New Zealander carried off the role of an Americanized Greek mythic hero with aplomb. When you see Xena riding at the gallop or trading blows with a foe that's really Lucy Lawless; when Xena is tumbling through the air it's a stunt performer.
Renee O'Connor also got an early start; she played an earlier version of Deianeira, Hercules' wife, in "Hercules and the Lost Kingdom", the second Hercules movie, before landing the role of Gabrielle. In the first season of X:WP O'Connor is listed as "also starring", after the title; only Lawless gets "starring" billing.
Various continuing characters from "Hercules" appear in Season One of X:WP:
- Kevin Smith as Ares, God of War
- Kevin Sorbo as Hercules
- Michael Hurst as Iolaus (Hercules' sidekick); also as Charon
- Robert Trebor as Salmoneus, mercurial merchant
- Bruce Campbell as Autolycus, King of Thieves
- Erik Thomson as Hades, God of the Underworld
Season One of Xena introduced a number of new faces that would become familiar:
- Danielle Cormack as Ephiny, Amazon warrior
- Paul Norell as Falafel, food stand vendor
- Karl Urban, who would appear again in seasons 2+ as Julius Caesar
- Hudson Leick as Callisto, nemesis extraordinaire
- Ted Raimi as Joxer, bumbling would-be warrior
More notable one-shot guest stars from Season One included:
- Kate Hodge as Celesta, Goddess of Death
- Galyn G"rg as Helen of Troy
- Tim Thomerson as Meleager the Mighty
- Peter McCauley as Talmodeus
Season One of X:WP was shot on 16mm film to keep production costs down, so the DVD video transfer is no better than you'd expect. The audio is quite a bit better, including outstanding music by Joseph LoDuca. The Xena theme, in particular, is a wonderful mix of bouzouki, french horns, and strings to mix traditional Greek sounds with the stirring European classical melodies we've come to associate with inspirational themes.
The 7-disc Season One collection is remarkable mostly for what it DOESN'T have. There are NO extras in the Season One DVDs AT ALL. Each of the 24 episodes is 44 minutes 15 seconds or less. There are no DVD or CC captions. There are no extra chapter stops; each episode has 5 or 6 chapters. The 7th disc is a CD-ROM, with rather unremarkable content. There are no printed guides in the set.
6 DVDs, with 4 episodes each; 24 total episodes
1 CD-ROM:
- Screensaver
- Cast & Director bios
- "Scrolls" - episode cast lists, guest stars ("mortals" and "gods"), search through the scrolls text
- Season One trivia game
Xena: Warrior Princess is a fun, butt-kicking action series. It's a shame that the DVD collection of Season One is both low on extra content and high on price.

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In a time of ancient gods, ruthless warriors, and capricious kings, a land in turmoil cried out for a hero.She was Xena, a mighty Warrior Princess forged in the heat of battle.Relive the power, the passion, and the wild adventure of international icon Lucy Lawless's first season as Xena, a season that swept up audiences the world over and completely redefined the role of the female action hero.Season 1 on DVD includes the 24 jaw-dropping episodes that changed the world.
Episodes: Sins of the Past, Chariots of War, Dreamworker, Cradle of Hope, The Path Not Taken, The Reckoning, The Titans, Prometheus, Death in Chains, Hooves and Harlots, The Black Wolf, Beware Greeks Bearing Gifts, Athens City Academy of the Performing Bards, A Fist Full of Dinars, Warrior...Princess, Mortal Beloved, The Royal Couple of Thieves, The Prodigal, Altered States, Ties That Bind, The Greater Good, Callisto, Death Mask, Is There a Doctor in the House?

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Family Fundamentals Review

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(More customer reviews)This documentary covers three sets of homophobic people and their homophobic relatives. I think many people will relate because the gay people state, "I hate my relative's bigotry, but I still love them." and the homophobes say, "I hate my relative's sexuality, but I still love them."
It is scary to me that there is an anti-PFLAG in existence. But I credit the homophobic relative for speaking openly to the camera.
While this documentary showed a gay male couple, I was very please to see two single gay men. The Ellen coming-out episode ends with her not getting a girlfriend, but most media account show people coming out one second and happily-partnered the next. That may happen over the rainbow, but in the real world, good partners are hard to find.
Unfortunately, and as much as I love Arthur Dong, this was the weakest film of his that I have seen. In his previous documentaries, he interviews many people and they are more than happy to share their thoughts and concerns. In this work, two homophobic groups in the dyads refused to be interviewed. Dong is off-screen constantly raising questions because interviewees on both sides are reluctant to speak. Yes, this is a touchy subject, but I imagine that he could have found more willing participants, especially as much as Americans of all sexualities and religious views loving being in front of the camera.
This is an interesting piece, but I highly doubt that warring factions in families will watch it together.

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FAMILY FUNDAMENTALS - DVD Movie

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The L Word - The Complete Fifth Season (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm a huge Tibette fan!! I never seen any other actors/actresses who have the best chemistry on screen, like JB and LuH. So after all the drama, the heartache, FINALLY my favorite coupLe in the show are BACK TOGETHER! And hope this time it'll stick! Lots of Laughter this season which I Love! and much more Tibette's Love this season as well! I can't wait to own this DVD! Most importantly, can't wait for the new season, which sadly would be the Last one. I don't know what I'd do when the show ended, although there will be a spin-off, but still don't know which character. Love the L word! :)

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L WORD:COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON - DVD Movie

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Heavenly Creatures (1994) Review

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(More customer reviews)For those who wondered how the director of "Bad Taste" and "Brain Dead" got to direct "The Lord of the Rings," this 1994 film from director Peter Jackson supplies the answer. In 1954 two teenage girls brutally murdered one of the their mothers in what must be the most sensational murder in New Zealand history. "Heavenly Creatures" tells the strange story of these two girls and their unique relationship. If you think this is just a reality based splatter flick, then you are going to be much more than surprised and impressed by what Jackson has accomplished.
Pauline Rieper (Melanie Lynskey) is a simple and rather dull young girl who is totally dazzled when Juliet Hulme (Kate Winslet) enters her life. Juliet is impressed as well, because Pauline has a scar on her leg from an operation. Juliet declares that: "All the best people have had chest and bone disease! It's all frightfully romantic!" Eventually both the romance and the frightfullness of it all reaches a tragic conclusion. In their all consuming friendship Juliet and Pauline create a "Fourth World," better than heaven (because it has no Christians), inhabited by the clay figures they have fashioned to represents their friends and where the music of Mario Lanza, the greatest tenor on earth, is always in the air.
Jackson brings this fantasy world alive, which allows him to explore the pivotal theme of juxtaposition throughout the film. This comes into play most notably at the beginning and ending of "Heavenly Clouds." Jackson begins with a 1950s newsreel about Christchurch, New Zealand, which is interrupted by the appearance of the two screaming and bloodied girls, thereby symbolizing the way this sensational case shocked the nation. Even more effective is the film's conclusion, where the murder is inter-cut with what the girls think will happen if they do not find this way of saving themselves.
With any film based on historical events there are omissions, alterations, substitutions, and the like, and "Heavenly Creatures" is no different. On the plus side of the ledger Jackson attempted an almost morbid verisimilitude. Almost all of the locations used for filming were the real locations where events occurred, including the tea shop where Honora Parker ate her last meal, which was torn down a few days after the shooting ended. However, the cast and crew found the actual murder scene uncomfortable and moved further down the path. All of the journal voice-overs come directly from Pauline's diary, as are the characters in the girls' make-believe world. However, since the two filled up fifteen notebooks and hundreds of letters devoted to their fantasies, the movie actually underplays these elements.
However, having familiarized myself somewhat with the actual "facts" of the case, and the recollections of the woman one of the girls grew up to be, the key point of dispute is the motive. But if Jackson is guilty of becoming fixated on the idea that these two young girl committed a murder because they could not bear to be separated and have their fantasy world unravel, then he can be hardly faulted for finding that a fascinating interpretation of the evidence (the girls never testified or were examined in court, but Pauline's diary was seen as providing all the answers). More importantly, Jackson does not seem guilty of taking liberties, merely with offering a valid interpretation of the evidence. For example, the murder sequence greatly reduces the number of blows, but the effect is still horrific, so it seems trivial to complain about any inaccuracy.
From an artistic standpoint his interpretation is more than justified, especially at the end. In addition to the information we receive between the final scene and the closing credits that tells what happened to Pauline and Juliet, Marzio Lanza sings "You'll Never Walk Alone," which is as perfect a choice of a song to play at the end of a film as you will ever hear, forcefully underscoring the film's thesis. Jackson says this is "a murder story about love, a murder story with no villains," and it is hard to argue with this idea after watching his film.
"Heavenly Creatures" received an Oscar nomination for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen for Jackson and Frances Walsh. The film won every award for which it was nominated in the New Zealand Film and TV Awards, including Best Actress for Lynskey and Best Foreign Performer for Winslet (both of whom were perfectly suited for those roles), and earned film festival awards in Venice and Toronto. This is a striking and unforgettable film, both creative and thoughtful. Those who are drawn to it because it was directed by Peter Jackson might be shocked by the subject matter, but they will not be disappointed with the results.

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A Family Affair (2003) Review

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(More customer reviews)So what do you need to know about A Family Affair? I saw this film last week and today I am ordering three copies (two for friends).
This is a great film with a fresh look. No longer do we have those dull badly acted lesbian movies where we watch for hours people telling us their philosophy about life or filled with angst, waiting for them to get to the point. No longer do we watch a film with actors who can't act or scripts that will put you to sleep. In other words A Family Affiar is different. This is a great movie that happens to be about lesbians! The actors can act, the script is funny, and the actresses are nice to look at for 2 hours. And of course there are sex scenes. So everyone gets what they want in this film. Truly this is a GREAT film. It is about relationships and choices, the kind we all deal with in our lives and it is the kind of film you will talk to your friends about long after the film is over.
I like this film so much I went to the web site of the movie for those interested. Anyway at the site I learned they are making a film with an erotic edge for lesbians!!!! Finally a company that understands what we want are great films and ones that interest us in every form.
Anyway see this film, it will be a treat. A Family Affair is a not to be missed lesbian cinematic treat!

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The course of true love doesn’t always run straight. Died-in-the-wool New Yorker Rachel (Helen Lesnick) moves to San Diego looking for a new life and a new romance. That’s where her supportive PFLAG parents live. Rachel is surprised to find how they’ve adapted to the laid back California scene, and totally shocked when her mom (Arlene Golonka) wants to set her up on a blind date. At first, Rachel refuses, but eventually Rachel lets her mother introduce her to Christine (Erica Shaffer). Soon, Rachel finds herself in a real romance, but just when the two women begin to plan their wedding, Rachel’s old flame Reggie (Michele Green) makes a comeback attempt . . .

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Monster (2004) Review

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(More customer reviews)I watched Monster without any expectations, save knowing that it was a movie about two women. At the end of the screening, i was totally blown away. One, Charlize Theron gives a spectacular performance as 'serial killer' Aileen Wuornos. Her facial expressions and bodily movements strongly resemble that of the actual person (based on what i read). Secondly, the 'human' aspect of Aileen was brought out in the film, and despite her brutal killings, one can symphatise with aspects of her life which brought her to this point of no return when she started killing her johns. Thirdly, although Monster is primarily about Aileen the killer, yet the viewer is treated to a love story between Aileen and her lesbian lover. This is in many aspects, the driving force of the film and which makes the film memorable. Some prison psychologists had diagnosed Aileen as having Borderline personality disorder, which explains her behaviour of wanting to keep Selby Wall, her girlfriend (in real life, the girl's name is Tyria Moore) at all costs, despite the fact that Selby was at times a selfish, immature person who ultimately betrayed Aileen. The final scene of the 'confession' phone call (which basically nailed it for Aileen) is heartbreaking. Aileen basically took the fall for everything and absolved Selby of any blame. Even though the audience may sense a taste of Hollywood drama here, one must remember that in real life, Aileen did take the blame for everything, and even went to the extent of sending Tyria money while she was on death row. Perhaps this is a glimpse into a rare aspect of her life (which traditional documentaries on her never cover), which shows us that at the end of the day, she is a human being like the rest of us and despite her heinous crimes, she too longed to be loved and feel love. The betrayal scene will stick in my mind for a long time to come. I welcome emails on this film as i am interested to know more about the film as well as Aileen and her lover.

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A SHOCKINGLY MOVING FILM THAT BURROWS DEEP BENEATH THETABLOID-SIZED HEADLINE STORIES OF AILEEN WUORNOS, THE MAN-HATING SERIAL KILLER EXECUTED LAST YEAR IN FLORIDA.

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Xena Warrior Princess - Season Two (1995) Review

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(More customer reviews)[Summary: Just over 4.5 stars; a big step up from Season One's DVD collection]
Note: Just in case you haven't already watched X:WP Season Two, this review contains NO SPOILERS.
Xena: Warrior Princess Season Two DVD collection summary:
- 6 DVDs, with 4 episodes each except for 2 in the last; 22 total episodes.
- 1 CD-ROM, with largely useless content.
- Video: MUCH better than the grainy 16mm film transfer of Season One.
- Audio: Dolby Digital throughout (a big step up from the Dolby Stereo of Season Two).
- DVD Extras: Good-quality stills, plus audio and video commentary on three episodes. Season One included zip - nada - bupkus. MUCH better!
- CD-ROM: Same old junk as was included for Season One. Why?
- Price: Lower than Season One, for better quality. Yay!
- Episodes: 22. Season One had 24. The only comparative downside.
Season One rated just over 3.5 stars. Season Two is worth a bit over 4.5 stars -- a major step up.
Disc 1: Portrait of Gabrielle on label
- Orphan of War
- Remember Nothing
- The Giant Killer
- Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Disc Extras:
- Still Gallery
- Weblink to www.xenadvd.com
Disc 2: Portrait of Joxer on label
- Return of Callisto
"Return of Callisto" extras: Audio and video commentary by Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor
- Warrior ... Princess ... Tramp
- Intimate Strangers
- Ten Little Warlords
Disc 3: Picture of Xena on label
- A Solstice Carol
- The Xena Scrolls
- Here She Comes ... Miss Amphipolis
- Destiny
"Destiny" extras: Audio and video commentary by Rob Tapert
Disc 4: Picture of Xena (as "Miss Amphipolis") on label
- The Quest
- A Necessary Evil
- A Day in the Life
"A Day in the Life" extras: Audio and video commentary by Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, and Rob Tapert
- For Him the Bell Tolls
Disc 5: Picture of Xena and Draco on label
- The Execution
- Blind Faith
- Ulysses
- The Price
(No extras.)
Disc 6: Picture of Cupid on label
- Lost Mariner
- A Comedy of Eros
(No extras.)
Disc 7 (CD-ROM): Picture of Xena and Gabrielle on label
- Screensaver
- Cast & Director bios
- "Scrolls" - episode cast lists, guest stars ("mortals" and "gods"), search through the scrolls text
- Season Two trivia game
The audio commentaries are the usual option, easily available through the menu for each of the three episodes. The video commentaries are a subset (about 40% in each case) of the audio commentaries, with images of the commentators sitting in front of a wide-screen TV watching the episodes. The same set (except for number of chairs) is used in all three video commentaries.
X:WP Season Two contains performances by the following recurring characters from the Hercules/Xena world:
- Ted Raimi as Joxer, bumbling would-be warrior
- Hudson Leick as Callisto, nemesis extraordinaire
- Kevin Smith as Ares, God of War
- Robert Trebor as Salmoneus, mercurial merchant
- Bruce Campbell as Autolycus, King of Thieves
- Danielle Cormack as Ephiny, Amazon warrior
- Michael Hurst as Iolaus (Hercules' sidekick)
- Tim Thomerson as Meleager the Mighty
- Alexandra Tydings as Aphrodite, Goddess of Love
- Karl Urban as both Julius Caesar and Cupid (son of Aphrodite) ) (should actually be "Eros"; "Cupid" is his Roman name)
- Jay Laga'aia as Draco
More notable one-shot guest stars from Season Two included:
- Lisa Zane as Miss Skiros
- Mindy Clarke as Velasca
- Rachel Blakely as Penelope
- Tony Todd as Cecrops
More butt-kicking fun in the Hercules/Xena world. Get your copy, make some popcorn, and have a party!

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The L Word: Season One (2004) Review

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(More customer reviews)Museum director Bette Porter (Jennifer Beals) and executive Tina Kennard (Laurel Holloman), a committed couple for 7 years, are planning to start a family.
Their next-door neighbor is swimming coach Tim (Eric Mabius), who is preparing for his girlfriend, Jenny ( Mia Kirshner),a talented young writer, to move in. Soon after mixing with Bette and Tina's circle of lesbian friends, Jenny learns that her Midwest background may not have prepared her for what she will soon learn about life, lust and love in Los Angeles.
Bette's sister, Kit (Pam Grier) is battling with her alcoholism and trying to keep her music career going. Dana (Erin Daniels) struggles with her identity as a closeted lesbian while advancing in the world of professional tennis.
Shane (Kate Moennig), an assistant hair stylist by day and resident player by night, always keeps the women satisfied. Writing for a local magazine, Alice (Leisha Hailey) makes sure she's in the know about everyone and everything. Their lives and loves are discussed and played out at the local coffee shop/club, The Planet, run by Marina (Karina Lombard).
The L word is most definitely one of my favorite shows. I can't wait to own it on DVD. The story is well written, the characters engaging. This first season also has excellent guest stars including Ossie Davis, Holland Taylor, Lolita Davidovich, Rosanna Arquette and many more. This series gets my highest recommendation.
As for the DVD itself:
The episode list:
1.1 Pilot
1.2 Let's do it
1.3 Longing
1.4 Lies, lies, lies
1.5 Lawfully
1.6 Losing it
1.7 L'ennui
1.8 Listen up
1.9 Luck, next time
1.10 Liberally
1.11 Looking back
1.12 Locked up
1.13 Limb from limb
Extra DVD features include:
- An Original Puppet Show Performed by the Cast
- Photo Gallery
- Audio commentary by Ilene Chaiken and Jennifer Beals on the pilot episode

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Set in the chic world of Los Angeles, this humor-laced dramatic series explores the lives of a group of lesbians, their friends, family and neighbors, The series take a smart, sexy and fun look at hopes, dreams and lives of these people as they deal with things like career struggles, relationships issues and the pressures of tying to start at family. The show provides a fresh look at everyday life, told with passion, frankness and humor.

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Loving Annabelle (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)This movie is fantastic. You don't really realize how great it is until after its over though. It is a great story. A Catholic Boarding School teacher falls in love with her female student. That's right, it is about lesbians and homosexuality. However, if you are just looking for "lesbian action" don't waste your time with this, its not a sex movie. If on the other hand, you are mature enough to handle such a plot, you'll love it. So after an hour of the student pursuing the teacher and the teacher being wary and afraid to be with her.....well I can't tell you how it ends. What I will say, though, is why it is so great. It does not openly debate, discuss, or point out anything about homosexuality being right, wrong, good, or evil. What it instead does is tell a wonderful tale of romantic, yet forbidden pursuit, and no matter what your stance is on homosexuality in general, you cannot help but hope for a happy ending, and get wrapped up in this love drama. After the movie is over, you think of how bittersweet the story is and poor this and at least that and then it hits you - You have been focusing on love, passion, heartache, and beauty....but NOT about Straight or Gay relationships. That's the beauty of this film. It captures you into a world of pure love drama and you forget that it is about a controversial subject at all. Regardless of your stance in this controversy, all you can focus on while watching is a love story between two human beings. Watch it, you'll love it.

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Rising star Erin Kelly (Waking Madison) is Annabelle, a precocious Senator's daughter who falls for her Catholic school teacher, Simone (Diane Gaidry, The Dogwalker).After Simone is assigned to control the rebellious student, she instead finds herself drawn into Annabelle's world. As their attraction builds, the two women must cope with the reactions of those around them. Writer-Director Katherine Brooks unveils this smoldering tale of forbidden love with intelligence, wit and sensitivity.

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South of Nowhere: Season One (3-Disc Set) Review

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(More customer reviews)This series is simply the story of two best friends that fall in love with each other.
Spencer Carlin, a genuinely sweet 16 year old girl, moves from Ohio to LA with her family and finds herself trying to deal with her instant interest in Ashley Davies (A rebellious, rich daughter of a rock star)
The two embark on a realistic journey together that rivals any other love story on film or television. You will find yourself rooting for the pair in every episode leading up to the finale.
Innocent touches, shy glances, head tilts, and flirting, make Season 1 the best of the series.
Oh yeah. There's the token bitchy cheerleader, Madison, to stir up some drama for the should-be/might-be/could-be couple. The adopted black brother to teach us about racial identity. An overbearing mother. A shirtless boy to keep the straight audience happy. And a father any teenage girl would be envious to have.
But when all is said and done, this show is entirely about Spencer and Ashley.
It is too good to be cancelled before it's time. Watch Season 3B on October 10th at 9pm and Save Spashley!

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Embark on the journey of self discovery with the Carlin Family in season 1 of South of Nowhere. This 3 disc DVD set includes all 10 episodes from South of Nowhere season 1 including the 2-part series premier, Secret Truths. As Spencer and her family adjust to their new life in LA, they find themselves unprepared for the fast paced, ethnically rich, "anything goes" environment. It's about growing up and taking responsibility for your choices, your beliefs and your heart.
This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.\r\n
This disc is expected to play back in DVD Video "play only" devices, and may not play in other DVD devices, including recorders and PC drives. \r\n

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Kissing Jessica Stein (2002) Review

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(More customer reviews)"Kissing Jessica Stein," directed by Charles Herman-Wurmfeld, tells the story of a young, single, Jewish professional woman in New York City (the Jessica of the title, played by Jennifer Westfeldt). She's fed up with men after a series of bad experiences. Intrigued by a "woman-seeks-woman" personal ad, Jessic decides to give lesbianism a try. The object of her often clumsy affection is Helen (Heather Juergensen), a sexy art gallery manager.
This movie hooked me from its outrageous opening scene, in which Jessica, her mother, and her grandmother bicker and gossip about men during a Day of Atonement service. "Jessica" is a wonderfully funny and sweet film, filled with witty dialogue and some genuinely touching moments. The ensemble cast is superb. Westfeldt and Juergensen shine in the lead roles. Westfeldt, who looks remarkably like Lisa Kudrow, is reminiscent of a young female Woody Allen in this quirky, neurotic role. Juergensen brings an irreverent sensuality to her role. The two are delicious together. Although the whole supporting cast is great, I was particularly moved by Tovah Feldshuh as Jessica's loving mother.
I'm sure people will be tempted to pigeonhole "Jessica" as a "lesbian" movie, a "New York" movie, and/or a "Jewish" movie. It's certainly all of these, but its charm and universality also transcend all categories. It's about love, family ties, friendship, self-knowledge, and other issues that are relevant to everybody. And the film is populated with a wonderful group of characters -- male and female, Jewish and gentile, straight, gay, and "bi-curious" -- who are treated with affection and respect by the filmmakers. My advice: whatever your own preferences, prepare to kiss "Jessica" and love it.

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Sex and the single girl gets a fresh new spin in this "very funny movie"! (Joel Siegel, Good morning America) Fed up with her fruitless search for "Mr. Right" and tired of blind dates from hell, attractive journalist Jessica Stein whimsically responds to a classified ad - from Helen! Making and breaking new rules of dating as they go, the two women muddle through an earnest but hilarious courtship that blurs the lines between friendship and romantic love in this "smashing romantic comedy" (Rolling Stone)

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The Haunting (1963) Review

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(More customer reviews)The story has, by now, been imitated endlessly. Four people on a haunted house just to study it. But this is just the premisse.
The great Robert Wise sets up the most perfect, most classic haunted-house film ever made. The screenplay is built on the principle that you don't have to see it (the gore, the blood, etc.) to feel the fear. So, this is one of those great films where the tension is constructed upon the things you hear... the things you know are there.
In the pre-CGI era, you really had to create something out of what you had. So, Mr. Wise had a great script (years ahead of its time), great characters, great actors, a great cameraman, and settings that are a wow!
This is what makes this film so much better than any other (not to mention its remake - who clearly goes for the predictable cheap-trick CGI effects).
The story is told in the most perfect classic form. From beginning to end, you follow the story in the most careful pace. Beat by beat. From the prologue to the conclusion, the story is peerlessly told.
The characters and actors are great to watch: Julie Harris is the perfect troubled woman haunted by inner ghosts, while Theodora (the beautiful Claire Bloom) is the perfect icy clairvoyant who may or may not be a lesbian (everything is constructed with such taste...). Richard Johnson is great as the Doctor who must keep control of the experiment. Russ Tamblyn is also great as the non-believer who's in just for the adventure. As we will discover, all of them have weak points the house will explore. So it is possible to say that this is one film where the set (in this case the house itself) is one character just like the others.
The house has personality. It's not that unbelievable-monumental-lifeless-overdone-cathedral we see in the remake. This one is more realistic. We all know (and are fascinated by) houses like this one. It has style, visual integrity, proportion and it also puts into the film a nice touch of claustrophobia. As long as the characters are there, they are at its mercy. This "house character" is always present. Trying to get in. Banging at the walls and doors, trying to make itself graphically visible through the shots...
...This is where we get to the camera work - certainly one of the best ever made. In a house so rich with character, the distorted wide-angle lenses (let's not forget that Wise worked with Orson Welles) add much to the final effect. Corridors, statues and other objects are always there to remind you the house is present. They actually keep surprising the characters as if they were saying "we are here". This is why this film is so much superior than its sequel: you don't have to see the statues move... for you know they do when you are not there. In fact, this film constructs a state where you know the things that happen when you don't see them happen. That's pure film magic.
I wonder why nobody does films like this any more. Why do they always go now for the CGI obviousness...
I just love the wide-angle lens that smoothly move through the rooms... the time we are allowed to see those beautiful sets. and all the uncontrolled fear that invades the characters. The soundtrack is another great element. The film is constructed in an almost silence (which is very confortable at the beginning). So much that the noises made by the hauntings are almost unbearable when the things get rough.
This is one of those films that were meant to be seen ONLY in widescreen, for the compositions inside the shots make great use of it (in fact I never saw it in a Pan&Scan version - I cannot imagine how awfull it must be). This DVD edition has a great commentary audio track by the actors and director but lacks any kind of documentary about how it was made (which I'd love to see). But we can't have it all...
If (like me), you love the genre, you will love this film, which is a one-of-a-kind effectively constructed cinematic work. Just don't watch it alone... in the dark... in the night...

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A group is introduced to the supernatural through a 90-year old New England haunted house. Be prepared for hair-raising results in this classic horror film!

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The L Word - The Complete Third Season (2004) Review

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(More customer reviews)This show, including this season, is one that is groundbreaking and representative of many people who have not before been given representation. The focus is first and formost about women and the lives of women. There is love, loss, drama, and all that goes in between. It makes you laugh at times and cry at others, but life is not a fairytale and this show doesn't make it to be... that is what makes it so great. There a femmes and butches, a ton who are somewhere in the middle. It makes you reconsider the labels you place on people and realize there are all shades of gray. Whether you are a stay at home parent, trying to become a parent, happy in love, breaking up, sleeping around, or transitioning... from bed to bed or from female to male, you can see yourself in this show.
Some have been critical of Ilene Chaiken (not Irene as the misguided poster at top called her) claiming that the show isn't realisitc or that the writing is bad. We should remember that this show is about a group of lesbians, not all the lesbians in the world. It could be people we know but it might not be. To claim a show unrealistic because it isn't a story of your own life is to also say that every representation of every woman is only real if that woman goes through what you go through, that every reprentation of whatever race you are is only real if that person goes through what you go through, and given the wide variety of diversity in programming any reasonable person knows that to be untrue. So, no The L Word doesn't represent every lesbian on the planet but it does give a good account for a select group of us out there, it does venture to bring visibility to those of us who went unseen before, it gives us a voice, and it shows people that lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgered people love and hurt and face things in our life good and bad just like everyone else.
There is no other show out there that has done for lesbians what The L Word has. Seasoned actresses like Jennifer Beals and Pam Grier bring the show up a few levels, Jennifer Beals and Laurel Holloman have chemistry that is palpable... even when their characters are fighting they have tremendous chemistry. Rachel Shelley, Katherine Moening, Alexandra Hedison all have sex appeal through the roof in their representation of single lesbians on the show. Leisha does comedy like no one's business and she also had some amazing dramatic scenes. Erin Daniels was wickedly funny as well and broke our hearts with the huge part her character had in season 3. Daniella Sea is a new comer and she still has great strides to take. I wouldn't dare say she was the star as that would be a huge over-statment... she was far from it, but her character was like nothing we've ever seen before. Daniella took on her role like a champ and I was very excited to see her added to the cast, she is bringing visibility to an entire other part of the audience that had yet to be shown and in time I think she will be as comfortable as the other actresses. I certainly look foward to more from Max.
Also, despite what the initial reviewer had to say, I don't think there is any grounds for statements suggesting Ilene degraded, down played, or disrespected Danielle, the actress, or her character Moira/Max. If an actress is cast after promotions start then you cannot expect them to appear in all the promotional photos. Although Daniella wasn't in all the season 3 promotional photos she was in some of them, she is in those for Season 4 and she also did a great deal of in person promotions with Ilene to promote season 3. If Ilene wanted to down play and degrade Daniella she would not have made her the main guest star for most of the promotional events, she also would not have been so super secretive and hyped about Daniella's character on the show. There would be no transgendered character, or any butch type characters, or any kind of character we are fortunate to have on the show if Ilene was as horrible as this reviewer has made her out to be. Max and The L Word at large exists because of Ilene not in spite of her.
The one criticsim I have with the dvd itself and not the show... the dvd extras were lacking in any kind of special or additional footage that many fans like to see. There are no bloopers, no special interviews, nothing truly exciting to look foward to.
This is a great show. I definitely recommend it as a buy!!!

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The third season of the hit show, The L Word, follows a group of friends - both gay and straight - through stories of career, family, inner struggle, friendship and romantic relationships. Stars Jennifer Beals, Erin Daniels, Leisha Hailey, Laurel Holloman, Mia Kirshner, Katherine Moennig, Sarah Shahi, Rachel Shelley and Pam Grier.

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Imagine Me & You (2005) Review

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(More customer reviews)I loved this delightful little movie. Despite its girl-loves-girl plot, it shouldn't be pigeonholed as a lesbian romance. This is romantic comedy at its finest and can be appreciated by anyone, irrespective of orientation.
The film is an anglo-american-german co-production, filmed in England with a largely English cast. Piper Perabo does a good job with a creditable English accent which apart from an occasional slip, is largely believable. Rachel (Piper Perabo) is struck by a case of love-at-first-sight on her wedding day. Unfortunately it isn't for her handsome, sweet, kindly, husband-to-be but the female florist who's been hired for the occasion. Confused at first, she befriends the florist who does understand her feelings and reciprocates whole-heartedly. As she is now married, how can things end happily? In a way, they don't. Part of me was sad at how things turned out because these were all such lovable characters. But the producers make sure that no heart remains broken for too long. And like all rom-coms, this pedals crazily towards a happy ending, cheered on by the Turtles' "Happy Together."
Aside from Piper Perabo, everyone else is British. Look out for the supporting roles and cameos by various British actors. Lena Headey (The Brothers Grimm) plays Luce the florist, Matthew Goode (Match Point) is the husband, Anthony Head (Buffy) is Rachel's Dad, Celia Imrie (Calendar Girls / Love in a Cold Climate) is Rachel's Mom, Ben Miles (Coupling) is Heck's work buddy, Eva Birthistle (A Fond Kiss) is Luce's lesbian friend.
Like most rom-coms, there is extensive use of pop songs. The main one here is The Turtles' upbeat and infectious "Happy Together" whose first lines contribute the title of the movie. Other songs include, Dusty Springfield's "The Look of Love", Kelly Marie's "Feels Like I'm In Love" and Ottawans' D.I.S.C.O.
The double-sided DVD contains the original 2.35:1 widescreen version (anamorphic) on Side B and a Pan-&-Scan version on Side A. Picture quality is perfectly lovely, pretty much what you'd expect of a film made in 2005. The DD 5.1 track sounds equally fine with crystal clear dialogue mostly front-centered and lovely music reproduction. The Extras are split onto both sides of the disc. A Q&A session with director and cast is found on Side A while there are about 10mins worth of deleted and extended scenes with optional director's commentary as well as a "Personal statement by director Ol Parker" on Side B.

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Piper Perabo lights up the screen as Rachel, a blushing bride whose perfect nuptials take a surprising turn at the altar. An innocent glance between Rachel and an unexpected wedding guest is all it takes to spark a 'love at first sight' romance with a surprising twist -- the object of Rachel's affection is a smart and sensuous... woman! Their shocking romance causes quite a stir amongst her family and friends as Rachel is forced to choose between her husband and the girl of her dreams. Say 'I do' to the wonderfully witty film that Cosmopolitan calls "a refreshing romantic comedy."

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