James Bond Blu-ray Collection Six-Pack (Dr. No / Die Another Day / Live and Let Die / For Your Eyes Only / From Russia with Love / Thunderball) (Amazon.com Exclusive) Review

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(More customer reviews)I use a PS3 as my Blu-ray player. I had no problems starting these disc, using the bonus features, nor did I have any problems while viewing the video, your results may vary. If you have problems, check your manual for instructions on updating your firmware.
This is Volume 1 and 2 wrapped together, it is nothing "special" the only thing special is the lower price.
When I ordered this, I was not expecting what I got. I thought the movies were in standard blu-ray cases and put in a box, but I was wrong.
When you get your movies, you have a nice 007 plastic slipcase, when you take that off you have the box (which you see in the image) and inside is a very nice "book" that houses your discs.
Each movie is presented on 1 disc, and each volume has 3 movies.
I own the James Bond Ultimate DVD collection. I'm going to assume you may own that version as well, and want to know if the blu-ray is worth the upgrade or not (these movies are over 40-50 years old mind you).
When I got the ultimate dvd collection last year, I was shocked at the quality of Dr NO. This is a very old movie, and it looked better than some blu-rays I owned (and this was on DVD!), the same is true for these blu-rays.
Dr No Looks better than the majority of blu-rays I own. Every scene is sharp. No scene looks soft, or bad. The restoration done on these has to be seen to be believed.
When you watch the blu-rays some of the bonus features explain the process behind the remastering (which is very interesting).
I must warn you. If you're the type who likes to watch trailers (of the film you're about to watch) prior to watching the movie, do not do so here. As they are almost all full of spoilers. Think of the trailer as a recap, and rejoice in the over the top trailers of back in the day.
Now on to rating the specifics.
Video Quality
5/5 Easy. Top Notch. Each scene is so vibrant, so sharp, you will be soo furious with other blu-rays sitting on your shelf, because they wont look half as good as Dr No. (even modern movies shot last year)
Audio Quality
4/5. This is tough to rate really, some of the movies were filmed in mono (and we get the mono track, which as with the dvds, I much prefer), but here we also have a surround mix to go along with it. Obviously this is not going to be as good as any modern movie soundtrack, but it is as good as the movies have ever sounded. Also I must comment, the only part of these movies that make you aware that the movie was indeed shot back in the 60's is the audio. The gun shots and other special effects are.... weak by today's standards, but it is faithful to the source, and that's all that matters.
Supplements
5/5 When the ultimate collection was made, we got the movie, then a disc full of extras. Thanks to the power of blu-ray, we have all those extras and the movie on the same disc. All this is seamless.
Packaging
5/5. If you read some of my reviews on other "sets" I really hound studios. I have wasted 100's of dollars on "gift sets" that are rendered useless when they arrive due to scratching, broke discs, stuff falling out, luckily that is NOT the case here.
The design that houses the discs are similar to the way they are presented on Battlestar Galatica Season 1 (on HD-DVD) (only these actually work, and have none of the issues that set did). Meaning you open up the wonderful book (vibrant, and full of color, I will be posting pictures tomorrow) and the discs look as though they are floating on the case. The best way to get them off is to "twist them".
I really like the packing, its like a really fancy case, it exudes style. I personally love Volume 1 more, the blue is soo suave.
Value
4/5
Ok, I can understand a LOT of work went into making these videos. But the hardwork was already done when you remastered the video from the negatives to make the ultimate dvd sets a few years back. Those videos came with 5 movies, with the bonuses, and now you can buy 2 of those volumes for the price of one of these (which only contains 3 movies per box). Or all 4 for the price of these 2 volumes (20 movies versus 6) all of which are basically the same.
Now, I'll admit, the quality is better, and the packaging is amazing. But you have to ask yourself. Would you prefer having the whole set on DVD or 6 movies on Blu-Ray. (as it amounts to the same price)
At this rate the price for the whole set will run you around 350 dollars (with amazons VERY LOW price) not retail, retail would be 550 and that's for 18 total. I guess you can guess they will triple dip Casino Royale, and make the set a close 700 dollars. I hope they start either dropping the price, or adding a movie or 2 per set.
With all that said, would I buy this set again? Sadly, yes. They are just too good. And the packaging is something that has to be seen to be believed.
If you're choosing, should I buy the single blu-ray releases, or get the box sets. I would say buy the box sets (and save yourself some serious money and buy this "collection" on amazon) The boxes are amazing, and the quality is very high, and it is cheaper to buy 1 volume than 3 discs (though I'm sure there might be some movies you do not want, but if you want the whole collection, its cheaper to just buy them all now)
Last, but NOT least, you get another bonus, that is not advertised, free tickets to the new Bond movie (actually each box has 2 tickets, so you get 4 if you buy this set) that's 40 dollars in value there.
If you own the DVD's and want to know, should I buy the blu-rays, or just keep watching my ultimate series upconverted, that's harder to say, if the money is no problem, you will enjoy the new set. If you're buying this for your boyfriend or husband, he will love the packaging (I do) as it looks very nice.
When volume 3, and 4 come out on blu-ray will I buy them? Without hesitation. Just be sure to give me Goldeneye.
Oh, if the only versions of Bond you own, are not from the Ultimate Collection DVD sets, these blu-rays are going to be night and day for you, as they have been painstakingly remastered from the original negatives (the film that was actually used in the camera) and all flaws have been removed, making these movies as good or better than the latest big budget blockbuster.
If you're new to Bond, and not sure if you want to invest in this series, be sure to take a look at Casino Royale (Two-Disc Collector's Edition + BD Live) [Blu-ray], It is one of my favorite movies by far, and easily a favorite bond film. (also highly recommended prior to watching the new QOS movie, which you get tickets for when you buy this set)

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Kill Bill - Volumes 1 & 2 (Amazon.com Exclusive) Review

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(More customer reviews)I think a lot of reviewers are forgetting the fact that Kill Bill vol 1 and 2 are great movies. $40 for two great movies in high def isn't a bad deal.
Back when this was released on DVD years ago people kept howling not to buy it because you should wait until The Whole Bloody Affair comes out. Well guess what, years later it still hasn't come out on any format. Stop holding your breath for it. Its supposed to be what, 5 hours long?
Also, these are the theatrical versions and i'm fine with that. I own the japanese versions and theres not much difference. Definitely not enough to miss out on owning such a great movie.

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Chungking Express (The Criterion Collection) (1994) Review

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(More customer reviews)Located in the heart of mainland Hong Kong, the Chungking Mansions loom huge and ramshackle over Nathan Road. Wags and scoundrels haunt its gates, along with a ragged assortment of Indian touts, whores and long-term transient workers from Africa. Restaurants, tailors, psychics and a whole host of other occupations - some undoubtably illegal - infest the bottom floors in tiny, grimy compartments. Chungking is also the backpacker ghetto of Kowloon: guesthouses offer rooms as cheap as $10 a night, and the loose, chaotic atmosphere is appealing to the more adventurous traveler. When I visited Hong Kong for a week in 2002, there was no other realistic option, for finance concerns and the `lust for life' drive, than the infamous Chungking: intrigue seemed to lurk around every corner. While staying there, my guesthouse manager suggested I rent and watch the *Chungking Express*, a 1994 film by Won Kar Wai, loosely connected around the building. I never got around to it...until three years later...and in a way I'm glad I waited to watch this delicious romp about love, obsession and betrayal, for it sparked the nostalgia cylinders and left me in that awed, giddy state that only the best of films can do.
Made on the quick by Won Kar Wai as a means of rejuvenating his creative energy, *Chungking Mansions* originally consisted of three interlocking stories, but one met the axe (to resurface as its own film) to give proper attention (i.e. running time) to those that remained. Of the two stories, only the first has any relation with the Chungking Mansions: a hard-luck dame scours the sleazy corridors for drug-mules, and I must say that the general ambience of the Mansions is faithfully captured. The second story occurs in Kowloon and on the Island, and is connected to the first by one chance encounter (~a brilliant means of transitioning chapters) and the underlying themes of loneliness, disconnection and desire.
In the first tale, undercover cop He Zhiwu (Takeshi Kaneshiro) broods over the disintegration of his relationship with `May,' pining for his lost love with a rather unrealistic `period of absence' scheme and, after a time, seeking comfort from any chance encounter. "I'll fall in love with the next woman I see," Zhiwu vows in a fit of desperation; and who should come along but Brigette Lin, a mysterious figure whom we've already seen in dire straights in the bowels of Chungking. This story has the visual glamour of noir - red-lit bars, blur-motion fragments of violence, a femme fatale betrayed and subsequently `saved' by the gentleman Zhiwu - yet the dialoge really makes it stand above more typical entries into the genre, especially Zhiwu's internal narration, which ranges from clueless to insightful to downright hilarious. Slight but charming, with enough visceral action and mystery to keep the pace from flagging.
The second story is by far my favorite of the two, and most audiences agree on this, taking into consideration critical acclaim and the reviews on this page; it is easy to see why. A cop (Tony Leung) stops at the same deli every day for his coffee and chef salad, where he meets and slowly develops a relationship with Faye (Faye Wong), a not-quite-sane nymphet who promptly falls in love with him. Acquiring a key to his apartment, Faye begins to sneak in and rearrange her secret love's living quarters while he is gone. Leave it to the Chinese to make stalker-obsession cute and poignant! Yet it works, due in large part to the natural sounding and psychologically keen dialogue of the script, and therein made effective by the acting of the two leads. Faye Wong, perhaps the biggest pop/rock star in China, makes her screen debut here, and what a debut! It is practically impossible to not fall a little in love with her furtive, wild-at-heart character. Wong articulates more with a mere look or throwaway gesture about the titanic struggle of repressed desire than most professional actors seem capable of. Tony Leung, a veteran of Hong Kong's silver screen, shines as usual as the lonesome, half-oblivious cop, and his energy with Wong feels right, so natural. This is very important in the later climax of the film, when the director stretches the tension to a breaking point and even manages to milk some well-earned trauma from these circling, faraway (so close) lonely souls.
Watching *Chungking Express* brought back a lot of memories. In the background and seeping through the surface, Hong Kong glitters and roars, and the film itself eventually feels like an organic growth of the city, in tune to its rhythms and real-life atmosphere. But one not need be acquainted with the City of the Nine Dragons to appreciate the quality of *Chungking Express* - this is movie magic in its finest form, infectious and reflective, a paramount example of Asian cinema at its most illuminating. Five stars.

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The whiplash, double-pronged Chungking Express is one of the defining works of nineties cinema and the film that made Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar-wai an instant icon. Two heartsick Hong Kong cops (Takeshi Kaneshiro and Tony Leung), both jilted by ex-lovers, cross paths at the Midnight Express take-out restaurant stand, where the ethereal pixie waitress Faye (Faye Wong) works. Anything goes in Wong s gloriously shot and utterly unexpected charmer, which cemented the sex appeal of its gorgeous stars and forever turned canned pineapple and the Mamas and the Papas California Dreamin into tokens of romantic longing.SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES: New, restored high-definition digital transfer DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Audio commentary by noted Asian cinema critic Tony Rayns U.S. theatrical trailer New and improved English subtitle translation PLUS: A booklet featuring a new essay by critic Amy Taubin and excerpts from a 1996 Sight and Sound interview with Wong by Rayns More!

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Dragon's Lair Review

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(More customer reviews)This BluRay version is INCREDIBLE. I have read some of the reviews that people have posted so far, but I find they are quite innacurate.First of all, it LOOKS amazing. It is crystal clear, and in widescreen format. I don't have a surround sound set up, but it sounds great through stereo. It DOES have the little BEEP and BOOP sounds to let you know if you did the right action, just like the arcade.Secondly, the concerns of the first reviewers are pretty inaccurate, because their complaints can be fixed by adjusting the 6 or 7 settings that can completely change the gameplay experience. I haven't gone through all of them, but here is what I have found so far: HOME vs ARCADE: I haven't gone in depth yet, but when I had it on Arcade mode, it didn't start at the moat/drawbridge scene. On Home mode it DOES start there, which is how I'm used to it, so that is how I have it set. I assume that there are other differences in scene order, although aside from the beginning scene, the scenes are random. EASY vs HARD I starded the game on easy, and it seems like you don't really have to bother that much with timing, and it is more forgiving with mistakes. Hard is VERY time specific, and you can't really make many mistakes before hitting the right button, just like the original. Fantastic. I'm getting my butt kicked. :)SIGNALS You have an option to turn on visual clues. Haven't bothered with this yet.There are some other settings like unlimited lives verses 5 lives, and other stuff I don't remember at the moment, but basically they drastically change the playing experience. You can tweak it to be exactly like the Arcade, or maybe taylor it more to the version you like best.Somebody claimed that the game was not true to the arcade version because if you failed a level, it just skipped it and you never would get to try it again. Well that reviewer jumped the gun because although it skips it right after you die, you eventually must come back to all the levels you died on, and it will NOT let you pass the second time until you finally get them right. This is true when it is on HOME mode at least, but I haven't played it on ARCADE mode enough to know how it handles failed levels.The timing between clips is great on my PS3. About 95% of the time there is no pauses or anything, but usually, on the scenes where you make a mistake, there is a slight, split second pause before the death scene.This is the best version of the game available. It made my whole week better just being able to play it in all of it's glory.

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You control the actions of Dirk the Daring, a valiant knight on a quest to rescue a fair princess from the clutches of an evil dragon. Fight your way through the castle of the wizard who has enchanted it with treacherous monsters and obstacles.

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Austin Powers Collection: Shagadelic Edition Loaded With Extra Mojo (International Man of Mystery / The Spy Who Shagged Me / Goldmember) (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)I enjoyed this series of films very much. The "Goldmember" film a bit less but overall a very creative and funny pop culture feast! One of the big bonus's for me anyway is to finally have the original Austin Powers movie in the proper 2:4 aspect ratio after years of having to watch it on 1:85 on normal DVD. This may not mean much to some viewers but to those interested in seeing what they did at the theater it does. The other two films came out in proper 2:4 aspect ratio on DVD previously so why the original was formatted a bit off was always a mystery to me. The films look great on Blu-ray ...and while they don't have any NEW bonus features to my notice..at least they did import all the old ones and music videos (some blu-rays are coming out WITHOUT the previous bonus features).
I picked the set up for a price that came to about $15 per film so I think its a very good value.

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Item Name: Austin Powers Collection: Shagadelic Edition Loaded With Extra Mojo (International Man of Mystery / The Spy Who Shagged Me / Goldmember) [Blu-ray]; Studio:New Line Home Video

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Foo Fighters - Live At Wembley Stadium (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)I dare any Foo Fighter's fan to watch this concert video without getting a major case of goose bumps! If you've ever had the distinct pleasure of seeing Dave Grohl and company perform live, you will cherish every moment of this show. Wembley is a very grand, and fitting venue for one of the greatest live rock bands out there today. And after an hour and a half of non-stop, blood-pumping live jam, they bring out Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones for the encore...are you kidding me??! Gotta go...I'm still watching!

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165,000 tickets sold and more than four hours of music later, FOO FIGHTERS have now immortalized their biggest ever headline stand: FOO FIGHTERS: LIVE AT WEMBLEY STADIUM, an 18-song Blu-ray disc that documents their two sold out Wembley Stadium shows.The Wembley concerts, which took place Friday and Saturday June 6 and 7 of this year, sold out within 24 hours, making them the biggest headline performances of the band's illustrious career--as well as the biggest rock shows staged at the new Wembley Stadium to date.FOO FIGHTERS: LIVE AT WEMBLEY STADIUM is a career-spanning live opus, drawing on all six of Foo Fighters' studio albums, featuring Dave Grohl (vocals/guitar), Taylor Hawkins (drums/vocals), Nate Mendel (bass) and Chris Shiflett (guitar) ripping through classics "Times Like These," "Everlong," "Monkey Wrench," "All My Life" and "Learn To Fly" as well as new live staples including "Long Road To Ruin." Elsewhere the core FF four are joined by co-founding FF guitarist Pat Smear, keyboardist Rami Jaffee, violinist/cellist Jessy Greene and percussionist Drew Hester on the disc’s blazing opener "The Pretender" as well as a semi-acoustic mid-set section featuring intimate versions of "My Hero," the Grohl-penned Nirvana B-Side "Marigold," Hawkins' lead vocal turn on "Cold Day In The Sun" and more.Like the Wembley weekend, FOO FIGHTERS: LIVE AT WEMBLEY STADIUM concludes with a triumphant and highly emotional "Best Of You" with a closing chorus of 85,000 fans leaving Grohl visibly moved.Blu-ray Disc Tracklisting1.The Pretender2.Times Like These3.No Way Back4.Cheer Up, Boys (Your Make Up Is Running)5.Learn To Fly6.Long Road To Ruin7.Breakout8.Stacked Actors9.Skin And Bones10.Marigold11.My Hero12.Cold Day In The Sun13.Everlong14.Monkey Wrench15.All My Life16.Rock And Roll17.Ramble On18.Best Of YouAudio/ VideoFull 1080p24 High Definition PicturePCM (uncompressed) StereoPCM (uncompressed) 5.1 Surround Sound (48kHz/24-bit)Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound (640 kbps)

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Die Hard Collection (Die Hard/ Die Hard 2: Die Harder/ Die Hard with a Vengeance/ Live Free or Die Hard) Review

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(More customer reviews)First, let me start by saying I love the Die Hard movies. So when I saw this collection on BD, I just couldn't refuse!
You already know the movies, so let's get to the overall package.
Positives:
+ DTS MA on every movie that really reinvigorates the films
+ Good set of extras, not a single feature from the standard DVDs is left out, making you think these are the definitive versions to have
+ Special box saves you space on shelf and keeps discs safe. It's a little bigger than the Planet Earth - The Complete BBC Series [Blu-ray] boxset (without the slipcase).
+ Exactly the same discs as individual releases, so you're not getting gimped versions of the already released BD movies --they're the same.
+ Live Free or Die Hard is a total show-stopper, demo material, A+ reference disc. Both in terms of video and audio, this is one of the best movies to showcase what High Definition is all about (and the movie itself is a great ride, btw)
Negatives:
- In the first three movies, both subtitles and dubs in spanish are CASTILLIAN, not Latin American. Why on earth did FOX included castillian dubs/subs on an AMERICAN, region locked disc, goes beyond me. They should know by now that most latin people HATE the castillian dubbing, specially when these movies have such great voice acting. Granted, I always prefer to watch movies in their original languaje w/subs, but there's always the chance to borrow or watch the movie with people that prefer to hear it in their own language. Even the regionalized castilian subtitles are distracting. This is not a problem on the 4th movie. The voice acting and subs are the way they should be for an american release.
- The first 2 movies look downright awful, to the point it seems you put the SE DVD and upconverted it. Time is totally not an excuse: just look at the impressive video quality of Batman: The Movie [Blu-ray]: a 40 yo movie that looks absolutely fantastic (more than it deserves, if I may be so bold). And that flick is probably just being released to make a quick buck on the batman fever, so FOX, you're telling me you couldn't give a AAA movie such as Die Hard a proper transfer? Come on...
- The 3rd movie looks way better, but still does not compare to the visual blast that is Live Free or Die Hard.
- The 4th movie is the theatrical, PG-13 version, not the UNRATED one. Again, what's going on here! Simply put, FOX could have put both version on the same disc via seamless branching. This has been a reality since the days of DVD, and there are a couple BD that have this feature already, so NO excuse.
- The special features on every disc are Standard Def. only to the point most of them look like VHS (this is no exaggeration). Not a single drop of remastering love (let alone HD treatment) has been poured on even the alternate endings.
Bottom line? This is looking like a future double dip. If you don't care for extras or hearing the movies in a language other than English, this will probably suit you fine, even without the unrated cut of Live Free or Die Hard.
However, this is far from being the Definitive version of the movies to have, to the point of getting me wondering if FOX actually knows the fact that this edition of the movie should be the one for all the american continent. Moreso, I'm left guessing if they care about what their public wants: both their High Definition users and their non-north american audience.

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Disc 1: DIE HARD BLU-RAY Disc 2: DIE HARDER BLU-RAY Disc 3: DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE BLU-RAY Disc 4: LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD BLU-RAY

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The Godfather - The Coppola Restoration Giftset (The Godfather / The Godfather Part II / The Godfather Part III) Review

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(More customer reviews)For those crying for the "Godfather Saga"/"Godfather Epic" versions, you are missing the point. Restoration expert Robert Harris (and countless others) worked for over a year from the best available print materials (as the original negatives are badly damaged and faded) to restore the first and second films to their original theatrical glory, which is something these iconic films of American Cinema deserve. That is the point of restoration.
If you are looking for a "wow" disc to show off your Blu-ray home theater sound and video, this is not it. If you are looking to experience modern American Gangster cinema in its 1970's glory, this is as close as you are ever likely to get, muted sepia-esque color, film grain and all.
These were not done exclusively for the home market. The priority was that they were restored for theatres, because that is where they would be judged the most critically, and all indications are that they do not disappoint. Never watch these films in your living room with the lights on. Watch them like you do in the theater, lights out, to appreciate the effort that went into these films.

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THE GODFATHER: Popularly viewed as one of the best American films ever made, the multi-generational crime saga The Godfather (1972) is a touchstone of cinema: one of the most widely imitated, quoted, and lampooned movies of all time. Marlon Brando and Al Pacino star as Vito Corleone and his youngest son, Michael, respectively. It is the late 1940s in New York and Corleone is, in the parlance of organized crime, a "godfather" or "don," the head of a Mafia family. Michael, a free thinker who defied his father by enlisting in the Marines to fight in World War II, has returned a captain and a war hero. Having long ago rejected the family business, Michael shows up at the wedding of his sister, Connie (Talia Shire), with his non-Italian girlfriend, Kay (Diane Keaton), who learns for the first time about the family "business." A few months later at Christmas time, the don barely survives being shot by gunmen in the employ of a drug-trafficking rival whose request for aid from the Corleones' political connections was rejected. After saving his father from a second assassination attempt, Michael persuades his hotheaded eldest brother, Sonny (James Caan), and family advisors Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall) and Sal Tessio (Abe Vigoda) that he should be the one to exact revenge on the men responsible. After murdering a corrupt police captain and the drug trafficker, Michael hides out in Sicily while a gang war erupts at home. Falling in love with a local girl, Michael marries her, but she is later slain by Corleone enemies in an attempt on Michael's life. Sonny is also butchered, having been betrayed by Connie's husband. As Michael returns home and convinces Kay to marry him, his father recovers and makes peace with his rivals, realizing that another powerful don was pulling the strings behind the narcotics endeavor that began the gang warfare. Once Michael has been groomed as the new don, he leads the family to a new era of prosperity, then launches a campaign of murderous revenge against those who once tried to wipe out the Corleones, consolidating his family's power and completing his own moral downfall. Nominated for 11 Academy Awards and winning for Best Picture, Best Actor (Marlon Brando), and Best Adapted Screenplay, The Godfather was followed by a pair of sequels.
THE GODFATHER PART II: This brilliant companion piece to the original The Godfather continues the saga of two generations of successive power within the Corleone family. Coppola tells two stories in Part II: the roots and rise of a young Don Vito, played with uncanny ability by Robert De Niro, and the ascension of Michael (Al Pacino) as the new Don. Reassembling many of the talents who helped make The Godfather, Coppola has produced a movie of staggering magnitude and vision, and undeniably the best sequel ever made. Robert De Niro won an Oscar®; the film received six Academy Awards, including Best Picture of 1974.
THE GODFATHER PART III: One of the greatest sagas in movie history continues! In this third film in the epic Corleone trilogy, Al Pacino reprises the role of powerful family leader Michael Corleone. Now in his 60's, Michael is dominated by two passions: freeing his family from crime and finding a suitable successor. That successor could be fiery Vincent (Andy Garcia)... but he may also be the spark that turns Michael's hope of business legitimacy into an inferno of mob violence. Francis Ford Coppola directs Pacino, Garcia, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, Eli Wallach, Sofia Coppola, Joe Montegna and others in this exciting, long-awaited film that masterfully explores the themes of power, tradition, revenge and love. Seven Academy Award® nominations, including Best Picture.

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Rush Hour 3 (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have a question, why are people giving this movie bad reviews that state themselves they didnt even really like the other two movies to begin with? Im not gonna go write a review about harry potter or something I hate and trash talk it cuz my opinion is irrelevant. If you liked the other two movies then this one will not be disappointing. This movie was supposed to be a comedy with some martial arts action poured on top and thats exactly what it was. Chris Tucker was hilarious in it and if he annoys you then dont watch the movie. I was in a completley packed theater and every person was laughing so hard people were losing their breath. So obviously SOMEONE thinks Chris Tucker is funny. All the haters need to back off of this post.

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When a Chinese criminal mastermind flees to Paris, there¹s only one culture-clashed, crime fighting duo for the job. Ready to raise hell in the city of lights, Chief Inspector Lee (Chan) and Detective Carter (Tucker) instead get caught in an explosive battle between French police, the Triad gang and two gorgeous femmes fatales! With everybody kung-fu fighting to the top of the Eiffel Tower, this one-two punch of hilarious action doesn¹t let up to the final heart-stopping au revoir!

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Paramore: The Final Riot Review

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(More customer reviews)First off, let me point out the video and audio are fine! There is not a lag issue with this concert. What they do is during most songs about once there is a two second delay. For example, Haley will jump off this little step on the stage and the video creators of this dvd/blu-ray (blu-ray on the review) purposely made the jump down go slower on the screen. It is always during the cool moments like jumping, head bobbing, instrument solos, etc. It is not a bad thing. I loved it. The audio is great and sounded just like they do in person. I know, I attended their 2009 Kansas City concert a few months back. The video is a 9.5/10. It is not bad and looks amazing. There are a few scenes that are very dark with mild dark blue lights on haley during an intro. Those can have a very very tiny bit fuzzy, but I really think it is a camera limitation or dvd creation tool is not amazing in dark scenes. 92% of the time the lights are blaring and the video is spot on. This is one of my favorite blu-ray concerts I own an I have quite a few. The special features are a mix bag. I love they have two additional songs. One song is in hd audio with a stable picture in the background. I have a lcd, but I turned it off during the song. I know I should be safe, but I don't want any potential for burn in. (burn in is where the image burns into your tv and you can never remove the sceen. It would be like having a mild whitish transparency over everything you watch in the future) They should have had a slideshow going, but it is minor and this is an extra feature. This is not why you bought the movie. It does include the new paramore song decode from twilight and it sounds amazing. The video is obviously too small for the size they tried to expand it to. It feels squished into the middle and it is a tiny tiny bit blocky. Some scenes worse than others. I would have rather had a second disc on dvd with this video. My playstation 3 can upscale and would have looked much better than this video that is stuck in the blocky form at a hd resolution. There is also a video about their group and planning the concert. I just skimmed this video, but it is a interesting extra if you want to know more about their group. Definitely a great blu-ray and worth the purchase if you like paramore or a couple of songs. This group is growing on me more and more. Thank you twilight for helping me discover this group as it is now in my top 3 favorite groups for 2009.

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Join millions of Paramore fans around the world as they experience the magic of 'The Final RIOT!' on Blu-ray Disc. The Final RIOT highlights Paramore s entire 15 song live set filmed at Chicago s historic Congress Theatre during The Final RIOT! Tour - for what the band has called their 'best show ever.' 'The Final RIOT!' includes a tell-all documentary revealing the band in their most intimate moments on tour, with exclusive interviews, full access behind the scenes and on the bus, at sound check, at rehearsals, and more. ChaptersBorn For ThisThat's What You Get Here We Go Again Fences crushcrushcrush Let The Flames Begin When It Rains My Heart Decoy Pressure For A Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic We Are Broken Emergency Hallelujah Misery BusinessBonus Features 40 Days of RIOT! Documentary Decode Music Video I Caught Myself Audio

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Point Break (1996) Review

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(More customer reviews)Generally panned by critics upon its release, Point Break has gone on to enjoy something of a minor cult following among action film fans who enjoy its breathlessly choreographed action sequences involving daring bank heists, car chases, skydiving and, of course, surfing - one of the film's most important selling points. The film came along after Patrick Swayze's phenomenal success with Ghost and he went completely in the opposite direction with this film. Point Break also proved to be a warm-up for Keanu Reeves who would become a full-fledged action hero with Speed a few years later.
Point Break trots out and downright revels in stereotypes: Utah is the all-American good guy, Pappas is the burn out cop and they are constantly being chewed out by their jerk-off boss (McGinley) for their screwball antics. Surprisingly, it's Swayze's Zen master/surfer/bank robber that doesn't fall into an easy stereotype and comes across as the most interesting, charismatic character in the entire movie. And you have to give the credit to Swayze and his oddly fascinating performance. There is a nice scene where he tells Utah his philosophy of surfing, "It's a state of mind. It's that place where you lose yourself and find yourself." We find ourselves rooting not for Reeves' bland FBI agent but Swayze's thrillseeking surfer.
Point Break is the epitome of a guilty pleasure: to dumb to defend rationally but with action sequences too cool to dismiss totally. It's a big, loud comic book of a movie and it knows it and has the conviction to go for it. But is it worth purchasing on DVD if you already own a copy?
First up are eight deleted scenes that include more footage of Utah trying to surf. We also see him get more grief from his boss for his undercover work. There are other little bits of excised footage that doesn't really amount to all that much.
"It's Make or Break" is a retrospective featurette. Busey, Petty and Swayze all contribute new interviews for this DVD and talk about their experiences making the movie.
"Ride the Wave" examines the spirituality of surfing. The ocean is a double-edged sword - at once very beautiful but also very dangerous. This extra also takes a brief look at the surfer culture.
"Adrenaline Junkies" examines the exciting stunts staged in the movie. Like his character, Swayze was into skydiving but the studio did not want him to do it. However, if you look at the first skydiving sequence, he really jumped out of the plane!
"On Location: Malibu" is a more light-hearted extra as two of the Ex-Presidents (who were actual surfers) John Philbin and Bojesse Christopher take us on a mini-tour of key locations in Malibu used in the movie. They crack jokes and reminisce about key scenes.
Also included are three trailers and a behind-the-scenes stills gallery.

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Young FBI agent Johnny Utah (Reeves) goes undercover at the suggestion of his partner (Gary Busey) to learn if a group of wild surfers is actually a gang of bank robbers. He soon comes under the dangerous spell of the surfers' charismatic leader, Bodhi (Swyaze), a mystical mastermind who'll do absolutely anything for a thrill - and expects his followers to do the same.

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David Gilmour: Remember That Night - Live At The Royal Albert Hall (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)Literally worth five times the price and an equal in it's own way to PULSE, with intimacy and a freer feel offsetting the more minimal lighting (although enormously impressive in its own right.)
As the other reviewers have given an accurate overview I'll just mention one cut, that being "Comfortably Numb," which you and I know every second of by heart, it's in our blood.
This performance features David Bowie sharing lead vocals. Now the idea of anyone but Mr. Gilmour taking over vocals on this song is enough to make my hair catch on fire, but THIS WORKS. It actually becomes a Bowie song while remaining a Floyd epoch. It's thrilling, it's almost dreamlike to watch a singer of equal caliber and credibility to Mr. Gilmour share this song and to take it's inherent drama and mystery to another level entirely.
The DVD also points out what a superb disc "On An Island" is, sadly overlooked by too many Floyd fans for not being heavy enough (man.)
And it's in high def - you can almost reach out and shake Rick Wright's hand.
Extras are top flight, set is an incredible bargain and you'll have trouble turning it off and going to bed. Mr. Gilmour once again proves that he's in a class all by himself, a category of artist of which there is only one.

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Features a live version of On An Island, David's long-awaited third and best selling solo album, in its entirety, Pink Floyd classics, guest appearances from Crosby & Nash, Robert Wyatt as well as David Bowie on "Comfortably Numb" and the Syd Barrett 1967 cut "Arnold Layne". On An Island debuted at #1 in UK and #1 on European Billboard Charts. The album also debuted #6 on the U.S. Billboard Top 200 bestselling albums chart giving the artist his first American Top 10 honors outside his work with Pink Floyd. Disc 2 features more than 2 hours 40 mins of bonus content, including 14 bonus tracks, 2 music videos, more than an hour of documentaries and a photo gallery. Includes the Pink Floyd guitarist's "Breaking Bread, Drinking Wine" documentary and the making of On An Island, plus the brand new track "Island Jam 2007." On An Island debuted at #1 in UK and #1 on European Billboard Charts. The album also debuted #6 on the U.S. Billboard Top 200 bestselling albums chart giving the artist his first American Top 10 honors outside his work with Pink Floyd. Filmed and presented in full 1080 high definition and featuring high fidelity Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround Sound. Blu-ray Disc Track Listing: 1. Speak To Me 2. Breathe (In The Air) 3. Time 4. Breathe (In The Air) (reprise) 5. Castellorizon 6. On An Island featuring Crosby & Nash 7. The Blue featuring Crosby & Nash 8. Red Sky At Night 9. This Heaven 10. Then I Close My Eyes featuring Robert Wyatt 11. Smile 12. Take A Breath 13. A Pocketful Of Stones 14. Where We Start 15. Shine On You Crazy Diamond featuring Crosby & Nash 16. Fat Old Sun 17. Coming Back To Life 18. High Hopes 19. Echoes 20. Wish You Were Here 21. Find The Cost Of Freedom featuring Crosby & Nash 22. Arnold Layne featuring David Bowie 23. Comfortably Numb featuring David Bowie Bonus Features - Disc 2 From the Royal Albert Hall: 1. Wot's...Uh The Deal 2. Dominoes 3. Wearing The Inside Out featuring Richard Wright 4. Arnold Layne featuring Richard Wright 5. Comfortably Numb featuring Richard Wright Special Features: Thirteen bonus tracks including "Astronomy Domine", "Dark Globe", "Wearing The Inside Out" and "Wot's...Uh The Deal" Three documentaries including tour and studio footage Two Music Videos Island Jam 2007 Photo Gallery Video/Audio: Mastered in High Definition PCM Stereo Sound (48kHz/24bit) Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround Sound (48kHz/24bit) Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound (512 kbps)

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The Da Vinci Code (Two-Disc Extended Cut + BD Live) (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)The Da Vinci Code is a movie that has been the object of critics' scorn since Cannes. Therefore when I went in my expectations were quite low. I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed this intellectual treasure hunt. Action sequences boldly intertwine with quieter scenes where codes and symbols are being deciphered to lead to the next clue. At times we get the back story of what has happened to a persecuted religious sect through out the ages. The flashbacks to ancient Rome are brief but beautiful. In addition there are some gorgeous locations for filming, among them the Louvre and Rosslyn.
Hanks and Tautou perform like the pros that they are--it is interesting that two actors known for their whimsical charms were cast in such serious roles. Generally actors starring in thrillers will be those known for their laconic delivery and quietly passionate intensity. However, Tom Hanks was playing a professor of symbology and as such he did a fine job.
The supporting cast reads like a list of international superstars: Alfred Molina, Ian McKellen, Jean Reno and Jurgen Prochnow--all were superb.
One of things I liked about this film is how it gave the audience the opportunity to view the world from the perspective of someone who is used to looking at symbols and their meanings, in particular of things that most of us don't even notice most of the time. It was an unusual and fascinating angle on perception.
This a movie that tries to pack some very deep concepts into the thriller/treasure hunt genre. Overall I think it succeeds rather well.

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Dan Brown's international bestseller comes alive in the film The Da Vinci Code, directed by Ron Howard with a screenplay by Akiva Goldsman. Join symbologist Robert Langdon (Academy Award® Winner Tom Hanks, 1993 Best Actor, Philadelphia, and 1994 Best Actor, Forrest Gump) and cryptologist Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou) in their heart-racing quest to solve a bizarre murder mystery that will take them from France to England – and behind the veil of a mysterious ancient society, where they discover a secret protected since the time of Christ. With first-rate performances by Sir Ian McKellen, Alfred Molina and Jean Reno, critics are calling The Da Vinci Code "involving" and "intriguing," "a first rate thriller."

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Wanted (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)"Wanted" is a mile-a-second action picture that never lets up. Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy) suddenly finds that his life as an ordinary office worker is over. A beautiful woman, Fox (Angelina Jolie), crashes into his life and introduces him to the Fraternity, a secret society of assassins led by the mysterious Sloan (Morgan Freeman). Wesley is informed that his long-lost father was murdered while working for the Fraternity and Wes has been chosen to target the rogue member who did it. Before he can complete his assignment, he must first uncover the dark secrets behind the Fraternity to understand why he was selected and how he figures in its plans.
The main attraction of "Wanted" is the amazing use of CGI special effects, from glass panes shattering as bodies fly through them to bullets redirecting their trajectory in mid-propulsion. Jolie manages to look as comfortable in action flicks as in serious dramas like the recent "Changeling." She is quite the action babe and easy on the eye. McAvoy, who showed his acting chops in "The Last King of Scotland" and "Atonement" seems an odd fit for "Wanted." He looks as if he's doing this one to pay for the new swimming pool. He's fine in the early scenes as a drone-like worker lost in a huge company, but his transformation into this almost-indestructible super assassin is harder to accept. Bonus extras on this two-disc DVD include an extended scene; behind-the-scenes featurettes on the film's stunts, visual effects, and origins in the graphic novel; and a making-of documentary.

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WANTED - Blu-Ray Movie

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Spider-Man - The High Definition Trilogy (Spider-Man / Spider-Man 2 / Spider-Man 3) Review

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(More customer reviews)...since the movies in the trilogy deserve their own reviews and have been done to death already. The low cost (even lower by $10 since I bought it) is what motivated me to buy this blu-ray disc set. I already have the special editions of all three Spiderman movies on DVD, so I wanted to see what blu-ray would bring to the home theater table, having recently bought a PS3. True, the picture quality is awesome and the audio certainly will blow you away. However, there are hardly any special features - only the third disc has any to speak of. This is an underwhelming effort, considering the massive amount of space availalble on blu-ray discs. Compare, for example, the featurettes and even mini-movies on "I Am Legend".
One thing I discovered about audio selection: if you choose PCM and your receiver is not capable of processing uncompressed signals (my Onkyo only does HDMI pass-through), all you'll get is simulated surround (e.g. Dolby ProLogic). So I ended up with 5.1 and although it may not be true HD, it's good enough for my 7.1 setup. But if you're an audiophile you would have known about this already.
My summary - HD picture quality: a strong 4 stars, audio quality and options: 4 stars, special features: a dismal 1 star - hence the overall 3 star rating. I guess for the price, this set is not too bad, but considering the wealth of possibilities for the Spiderman franchise, it fell short of my expectations.

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Studio: Sony Pictures Home EntRelease Date: 10/30/2007

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Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)When I saw this at the theater, I thought it was the best 3-D movie that I have ever seen. If you like amusement parks, this is the movie for you. It's good clean family fun! I was expecting it to be at least as good as Hannah Montana-Best of both worlds 3-D DVD but it blows that movie away. You use Red/Blue Anaglyph glasses for Hannah Montana but for Journey to the Center of the Earth you use Magenta/Green. WOW!!! What a difference on this movie. I tried using the red/blue glasses but they didn't work. I would say the 3-D effects (not talking about color) is as good as it can get without the huge screen. The things that are suppose to pop out at you really do. You can't expect the colors to be great because you are only using two color glasses so the colors won't be as good as the theater...but you don't notice it as much during darker scenes (when they are inside the earth) which is most of the movie. The surround sound was very good even though it does not have the TrueHD audio format...the rear speakers were very engaging. I will say that not everyone does well with 3-D some people get headaches but do those same people get headaches on amusement parks rides...if so this might not be good for you. For me, I love rides if it doesn't spin me around so for this DVD I highly recommend it on blu-ray.
*UPDATE* I now own a Samsung UN46C8000 3D HDTV and Samsung BD-C7900 3D blu-ray player and active shutter glasses...I can't wait until they come out with Journey to the Center of the Earth in real 3D blu-ray because the difference is beyond incredible. Now, I see full color and the clarity is amazing!!!

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JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH - Blu-Ray Movie

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The Lookout (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)"The Lookout" got overlooked when it was released earlier in the year. This unusual thriller directed and written by Scott Frank focuses as much on character as it does on the tense, moody atmosphere. Chris (Joseph Gordon-Levitt)had it all; he was a bright kid who also displayed talent in the hockey rink. Chris, his girlfriend and another couple are involved in a terrible car accident that leaves Chris brain damaged. He's unable to do anything more than simple tasks and can't even remember what change he should get back after buying a beer.
SPOILERS AHEAD**
When Chris gets sucked into a plan to rip off the bank where he is a janitor by smooth talking slime ball Gary Spargo (Mathew Goode), he finds himself over his head and with nowhere to turn. Initially Chris believes this will provide him with the start up money for a business he wants to start with his blind roommate Lewis (Jeff Daniels)but things spiral out of control and suddenly he has nowhere to turn.
END OF SPOILERS**
The film looks terrific with a crisp and detailed transfer to DVD. Audio sounds solid as well. The main extras we get here are a terrific commentary trackby writer/director Scott Frank discussing the making of the film and a 20 minute featurette that covers much of the same ground with cast and crew interviews. Scott discusses how the script had been shuffled from one studio to another as he watched in frustration eventually deciding he had better do it himself. Frank is rather blunt about his shortcomings as a director in the commentary track but honestly he did a terrific job on his first time in dual roles as writer & director.
We also get a 9 minute featurette with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and director Frank discussing the development of the character of Chris. Gordon-Levitt reveals that he did quite a bit of research prior to shooting the film on the mentality disabled.
You should be on "the lookout" for this fine film which got lost earlier amid some of the other films released at the same time. Although not perfect, "The Lookout" has strong performances and is well made by first time director Frank. I'm not surprised that the film got lost though as it isn't the type to lend itself to the hype machine of Hollywood as easily as, say, "Transformers" or other blockbuster films. "The Lookout" is well worth picking up not only for its well written script and deft direction from Frank but also from the terrific performances of everyone in the cast.

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LOOKOUT - Blu-Ray Movie

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