price:$5.00
Shout! Factory
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (the stepfather) 『I love the stepfather one of my favorite movie, i was so glad to see it made it on dvd it was so hard to find...』
(Skip the remake and watch the original!) 『Terry O'Quinn (Lost) stars as a psycho looking for the perfect family. When they prove to not be what he's looking for.....he murders them. A year after killing a family, he has moved on to a widow (Shelley Hack) and her troubled daughter Stephanie (Jill Schoelen).
Stephanie doesn't like him from the start and thinks there's something wrong with him. The mother thinks he's perfect though of course. But when Stephanie proves to be what he's not looking for in a daughter, he's ready to kill and move on.
Yes, the film is a B-Movie but O'Quinn and the hot Jill Schoelen make the film worth watching. O'Quinn perfectly balances his performance. By that I mean in one scene he's so good at being a nice guy that you forget that he's a total nut. Then of course there's scenes where he's believable as a mad man.
I thought I had the movie pegged. I thought the family dog would be the first to go. But the movie is a little less predictable than I expected. The only problems I had with the film is that some of the violence is corny and Shelley Hack is awful. Other than that this film didn't have to be remade and the remake certainly isn't as acclaimed but that shouldn't be a surprise. I mean when does a remake ever get more acclaim than the original ??』
(Who's Your Daddy?) 『If you decide to watch this movie, I recommend that you don't watch it alone. Not because it's scary, but because then you won't have anyone to make nutty comments with.
There are two reasons this film is worth watching.
1. Terry O'Quinn (Locke, of Lost fame) is simply a fantastic actor. His portrayal of the demented stepfather is so spot on, you don't miss or need any of the clunky exposition most modern horrors would include to give you an idea of why he's so messed up in the head.
2. The rest of the film is unintentionally hilarious. How so? Oh, let me count the ways! (Beware: key plot points are revealed ahead.)
-- O'Quinn's acting is so great, it makes everyone else look like barely credible puppets. -- O'Quinn's stepfather is a man obsessed with the perfect family, and when his family (like most) proves to be flawed, why he simply murders them and moves on. The brother of his most recent victim is the only one pursuing him (a year after the fact), and he goes after him with the zeal of a junkie hunting down his next hit. One wonders why he's in such a rush, when he's waited a full year to go looking for the guy. Then, when he finally confronts the stepfather, well, you'll see. It's bloody hilarious. -- O'Quinn's new stepdaughter absolutely hates him for no apparent reason. I mean, we all know he's a killer from the first scene of the film, but she seems to suspect him only because it gives the plot some necessary tension. Taken at face value, she seems to WANT him to be a psychopath. -- The stepdaughter is so troubled, she has regular visits with a counselor/psychiatrist/psychologist who is so unprofessional, I kept expecting the movie to reveal that he had an inappropriately intimate relationship with the girl. Not so. He's just a really crappy doctor. -- Every once in a while the movie shows characters playfully gadding about in leaves or having humourous fake fights with each other. These moments are so contrived and fake, they completely void the character development they are meant to portray. -- There are at least a dozen scenes that add absolutely nothing to the story and are bizarrely placed. You'll know them when you see them.
Scary? No. Fun? Sure. One great actor and a bunch of accidental laughs don't make for a spectacular film, but they do add up to a good night with your friends.』
(If you are a fan of the x-files...) 『There are at least six actors who have roles or bit parts in this film that appeared on the X-Files (and Millennium) TV series. Since I am a fan of the X-Files series, it made watching this film all the more fun. If I'd known that, I would've gotten a drinking game started! I hadn't seen The Stepfather since I rented it on videotape back in the 80's. It still holds up well and is quite entertaining, though the quality of this DVD transfer shows that this film is in serious need of a restoration. I hope somebody gets around to it so that it can be transferred to hi-def blu-ray. If Night of the Creeps can get the kick ass royal hi-def treatment, why can't The Stepfather?』
("YOU KNOW?! .....FAMILY?! ....HOME SWEET HOME?! .....ALL THAT C R A P ?!") 『Finally on DVD!'The Stepfather' is an 80's horror thriller that is a lot of fun! Terry Quinn (unknown at the time) gives a chilling and comical performance as the title character in this low budget, but effective chiller. The movie score is like a bad 80's TV movie and the acting is a little stiff at times, but overall this film is very entertaining and quick paced. The blood and gore are dialed back a bit, but it is handled well and is effective. Overall this is a decent horror thriller from the time period and is a lot of fun, especially watching Quinn in his unnerving and cheesey performance as "The Stepfather! ......remember "Father Knows Best"!
The DVD has a nice clean transfer and there is a commentary and a new feature-ette with some of the castincluding Jill Schoelen.』 『Jerry Blake (Terry O Quinn,Lost) is a man obsessed with having the perfectAmerican Dreamlife: including the house with the white picket fence in the suburbs, an adoring wife and loving children. He believes he has found it when he marries Susan Maine and becomes the stepfather to her 16-year-old daughter, Stephanie. But Stephanie gets an uneasy feeling when she is around Jerry with hisFather Knows Bestattitude: she can see that there is a darker side behind his cheerful exterior. Could she just be going through the typical teenager rebellion against her new stepfather, or is he actually the same man who brutally murdered his family just one year earlier?
Bonus Features:
* Audio Commentary with director Joseph Ruben *The Stepfather Chronicles: An all-new retrospective featuring interviews with director Joseph Ruben, producer Jay Benson, actress Jill Schoelen, author Brian Garfield and others on the making of the film and its enduring legacy.』
price:$8.49
Universal Studios
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Fa Sho!) 『Item came quicker than expected,&exactly as described.
Would buy from seller again.』
(Great Gift) 『Got this package as a gift (to myself) , order was delivered early and in perfect condition price was a few dollars on the competitive side... all in all a great deal and easy delivery』
(GREAT COLLECTION FOR A DINO LOVER!) 『Purchased as a good boy gift for my 4 year old son. He is a dino lover. There is no other movies like this set has. Highly recommend it.』
(good fun) 『its cheap its good and it has the three of the jurassic park movies. they are good movies what can i say?』
(Very Pleased) 『The Jurassic Park Adventure pack is very nicely packaged, easy to access the movies and choose which of the three movies you want to watch. i bought the set for my grandson is loves Jurassic Park. He loves the special features even on all three of these dvd's.』 『Contains: jurassic park the lost world: jurassic park jurassic park iii Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 11/29/2005』 『Jurassic Park Steven Spielberg's 1993 mega-hit rivalsJawsas the most intense and frightening film he'd ever made prior toSchindler's List, but it was also among his weakest stories. Based on Michael Crichton's novel about an island amusement park populated by cloned dinosaurs, the film works best as a thrill ride with none of the interesting human dynamics of Spielberg'sJaws. That lapse proves unfortunate, but there's no shortage of raw terror as a rampaging T-rex and nasty raptors try to make fast food out of the cast. The effects are still astonishing (despite the fact that the computer-generated technology has since been improved upon) and at times primeval, such as the sight of a herd of whatever-they-are scampering through a valley.--Tom Keogh
The Lost World - Jurassic Park In the low tradition of knockoff horror flicks best seen (or not seen) on a drive-in movie screen, Steven Spielberg's sequel toJurassic Parkis a poorly conceived, ill-organized film that lacks story and logic. Screenwriter David Koepp strings along a number of loose ideas while Jeff Goldblum returns as Ian Malcolm, the quirky chaos theoretician who now reluctantly agrees to go to another island where cloned dinosaurs are roaming freely. Along with his girlfriend (Julianne Moore) and daughter, Malcolm has to deal with hunters, environmentalists, and corporate swine who stupidly bring back a big dino to Southern California, where it runs amok, of course. Spielberg doesn't seem to care that the pieces of this project don't add up to a real movie, so he hams it up with big, scary moments (with none of the artfulness of those inJurassic Park) and smart-aleck visual gags (a yapping dog in a suburb mysteriously disappears when a hungry T-rex stomps by). A complete bust.--Tom Keogh
Jurassic Park III Surpassing expectations to qualify as an above-average sequel,Jurassic Park IIIis nothing more or less than a satisfying popcorn adventure. A little cheesier than the first twoJurassicblockbusters, it's a big B movie with big B-list stars (including Laura Dern, briefly reprising herJurassic Parkrole), and eight years of advancing computer-generated-image technology give it a sharp edge over its predecessors. While adopting the jungle spirit ofKing Kong, the movie refines Michael Crichton's original premise, and its dinosaurs are even more realistic, their behavior more detailed, and their variety--including flying pteranodons and a new villain, the spinosaurus--more dazzling and threatening than ever. These advancements justify the sequel, and its contrived plot is just clever enough to span 90 minutes without wearing out its welcome.
Posing as wealthy tourists, an adventurous couple (William H. Macy, Téa Leoni) convince paleontologist Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and his protégé (Allesandro Nivola) to act as tour guides on a flyover trip to Isla Sorna, the ill-fated "Site B" where all hell broke loose inThe Lost World: Jurassic Park. In truth, they're on a search-and-rescue mission to find their missing son (Trevor Morgan), and their plane crash is just the first of several enjoyably suspenseful sequences. Director Joe Johnston (October Sky) embraces the formulaic plot as a series of atmospheric set pieces, placing new and familiar dinosaurs in misty rainforests, fiery lakes, and mysterious valleys, turningJP3into a thrill ride with impressive highlights (including a T. rex versus spinosaurus smack-down), adequate doses of wry humor (from the cowriters ofElection), and an upbeat ending that's corny but appropriate, proving that the symptoms of sequelitis needn't be fatal.--Jeff Shannon』
price:$15.49
Warner Home Video
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Favourite movie, favourite blu-ray) 『Seen this countless times and in 70mm, this film is why I bought a blu-ray player and is pretty much the only one that I watch repeatedly. Best picture quality and sound out of all the releases, including the DVD limited box set with the film strip. It looks so much better here, as it clearly should. High Recommendations for this one, and Keir Dullea is prime cool here』
(Once you get past the first 30 minutes or so...) 『That first half-hour is very long and very boring, but having said that, it is an essential part of the storyline, with the proto-humans discovering the Monolith and not understanding what it stands for.
Once you get past that, it is a well-paced film, with special effects that are nothing short of incredible for the time that the movie was made. The effects look even better on the blu-ray version!
You can't go wrong with this sci-fi classic...』
(2001 Blu-ray: reawakens the awe and majesty) 『In my opinion, the best motion picture ever made. The epic sweep of the story, the framing of images, the poetry of motion, the long moments of silence, the vastness of the heavens, the beautifully posed and unanswered questions...all captured in original glory. Some of the behind-the-scenes extras spoil my suspension of disbelief, but still enjoyable. This is the reason I bought my LG 55LH90 HDTV.』
(unbiased first time watcher) 『This movie is incredibly boring, content-less and primitive. I bought blu ray edition based on 990+ mostly positive reviews on Amazon. Now I am puzzled - how could this movie ever get 5 stars? The only explanation I have it was kind of cool in 1969 and people who watched it back then are nostalgic. Nowadays I do not find it's cool to watch black screen for 5 minutes wondering if my disk/player/projector are OK. That is right - movie has black scenes with nothing for minutes (kudos to "Black Square" Malevich?), accompanied by a most terrible psychedelic music (?) ever. I really had to mute and fast forward it quite a bit. On the other hand movie is somewhat OK if you want to fall asleep, which I did twice (here comes one star from me). Few bright moments of light/action/dialog in the universe of boredom barely occupy a few minutes of footage continued by hours of rotating still images and annoying Windows Media Player type of visual kaleidoscope. You would see all kind of nonsense: Pan-Am waitresses doing a lot of baby steps in circles; pen flying for minutes; annoying "monkeys" jumping and crying for half an hour; repetitive scenes of "space ships" flying up close (one hour?); somebody breathing heavily for 10 minutes into microphone, twice; eating miserable colored humus-like space food for 5 minutes; etc. Sparse dialogs are not nearly as deep as some suggested and reminded me naive baby talks: "[Mummy], please, I will never do it again, I promise", "Hal, do you hear me? Please answer me, please.. (repeated 5-10 times)", "I can not talk about it right now", ... I guess if this extreeeeeeemely long chewing gum is compressed into 10 minutes cartoon for kids if would become average. Otherwise, total waste of my money-time continuum. 』
(2001 - A Classic) 『'THE' original Sci-Fi Flick. 2001 has been used as a template for almost all future movies such as Star Wars, Star Trek, Alien etc...etc.. 1960's Special effects are better than many current movies. HAL is the real star. Only drag is the hallucinogenic scene - it is too long.』 『A space mission that could reveal man?s destiny is jeopardized by a malfunctioning shipboard computer. A dazzling journey that tops them all ? and showed the way for other effects-packed films that followed.』 『When Stanley Kubrick recruited Arthur C. Clarke to collaborate on "the proverbial intelligent science fiction film," it's a safe bet neither the maverick auteur nor the great science fiction writer knew they would virtually redefine the parameters of the cinema experience. A daring experiment in unconventional narrative inspired by Clarke's short story "The Sentinel,"2001is a visual tone poem (barely 40 minutes of dialogue in a 139-minute film) that charts a phenomenal history of human evolution. From the dawn-of-man discovery of crude but deadly tools in the film's opening sequence to the journey of the spaceshipDiscoveryand metaphysical birth of the "star child" at film's end, Kubrick's vision is meticulous and precise. In keeping with the director's underlying theme of dehumanization by technology, the notorious, seemingly omniscient computer HAL 9000 has more warmth and personality than the human astronauts it supposedly is serving. (The director also leaves the meaning of the black, rectangular alien monoliths open for discussion.) This theme, in part, is what makes2001a film like no other, though dated now that its postmillennial space exploration has proven optimistic compared to reality. Still, the film is timelessly provocative in its pioneering exploration of inner- and outer-space consciousness. With spectacular, painstakingly authentic special effects that have stood the test of time, Kubrick's film is nothing less than a cinematic milestone--puzzling, provocative, and perfect.--Jeff Shannon』 『When Stanley Kubrick recruited Arthur C. Clarke to collaborate on "the proverbial intelligent science fiction film," it's a safe bet neither the maverick auteur nor the great science fiction writer knew they would virtually redefine the parameters of the cinema experience. A daring experiment in unconventional narrative inspired by Clarke's short story "The Sentinel,"2001is a visual tone poem (barely 40 minutes of dialogue in a 139-minute film) that charts a phenomenal history of human evolution. From the dawn-of-man discovery of crude but deadly tools in the film's opening sequence to the journey of the spaceshipDiscoveryand metaphysical birth of the "star child" at film's end, Kubrick's vision is meticulous and precise. In keeping with the director's underlying theme of dehumanization by technology, the notorious, seemingly omniscient computer HAL 9000 has more warmth and personality than the human astronauts it supposedly is serving. (The director also leaves the meaning of the black, rectangular alien monoliths open for discussion.) This theme, in part, is what makes2001a film like no other, though dated now that its postmillennial space exploration has proven optimistic compared to reality. Still, the film is timelessly provocative in its pioneering exploration of inner- and outer-space consciousness. With spectacular, painstakingly authentic special effects that have stood the test of time, Kubrick's film is nothing less than a cinematic milestone--puzzling, provocative, and perfect.--Jeff Shannon』
price:$11.99
Warner Home Video
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Hilarious Comedy) 『This movie is deservedly a classic, but to me it's one of the great comedies of all time. I saw it in the theater when it was released, since on TV. I first saw it with 2 Catholic close friends. They were terrified. But when Linda Blair's head started spinning around, I just could not stop laughing. They looked at me and wondered, "What's wrong with him?" There are films I find really scary, most of which my wife is too afraid to watch (Hitchcock's Psycho, Jaws, Halloween, Alien), but The Exorcist always makes me laugh.』
(Scariest Movie..) 『Scariest movie yet Inaccurate and Offensive(antiCatholic-nasty scene) loosely based on a true story about a boy many years before. Lots of profanity and vomit, Yet yes it is very Creepy and Scary.』
(The scariest movie ever, reviewed on the scariest night of the year) 『Well, considering it's Halloween night and this is the last of my "31 Reviews For 31 Days of October" review-fest, I figure I'll end this countdown with one of the absolute most well-known horror movies of all time, and certainly one of the most horrifying, "The Exorcist". Although many quotes, stunts and ideas from this movies have been taken and parodied ("The power of Christ compels!" comes to mind.), this movie nevertheless has the power and terror that basically defines the horror movie genre.
Watching "The Exorcist" all the way through is more like an experience than watching a movie. For one thing, the general idea of the movie is a plausible concept, and having been to a paranormal speaker just last night, who ironically spoke of and showed a video of an exorcism for which she witnessed, this sort of thing is not entirely impossible, although it almost never happens. I don't want to dwindle on this part too much, but also regarding that I'm Roman Catholic, this movie definitely hits home with me.
But back to the movie itself. It kicks off with a scene that takes place in Egypt if I'm not mistaken, on an excavation dig with the foreign scenery setting a mood and atmosphere that carries throughout the whole movie. Starting the movie like this is an interesting idea, and a concept that hasn't been done too much by other movies, even though it works here. The acting throughout is phenomenal, alongside the special effects, which goes without saying. The whole movie plays out like a terrifying, dark, atmospheric nightmare and never loses its intensity or interest, even in the slower moments. I must say, even though I personally sometimes find it tedious to sit through a movie that goes over two hours long, I think "The Exorcist" definitely has the hudspah (spelling?) to make it pull you in for the whole thing. As dark and terrifying as this movie is, it most certainly still packs a brilliance, alongside talented writing and directing that makes it worth the watch.
In short, "The Exorcist" is a film that's just as horrifying as it is both groundbreaking and vastly interesting. Such a movie deserves to go down as one of the greatest horror movies ever made, and considering I'm a guy who's seen countless horror movies, I agree with that statement. Well, the review's about up, but for those that haven't seen such a heart-pounding, groundbreaking, interest-stirring movie yet, this is very highly recommended. And before you sleep, say some prayers just for safety!!! Happy Halloween, everybody, I'm off to smother myself in Halloween candies, household props and going around all evening in my pajama pants. Thanks for the time, and peace.』
(Try sleeping at night after watching this . . .) 『It's really hard to name every single horror film that's ever been made. Many deal with zombies, ghosts, serial killers, classic monsters like Frankenstein, and mutated species. Some are classic, others are mediocre, and several are ridiculous and dull. Out of all of them, only a few have been recognized as the greatest in the genre. The Exorcist, Psycho, and The Shining have been rightfully praised for the terrors that they have conveyed. Dozens of others have never topped them ever since they were released. While my favorite horror film of all time is actually The Shining, I can perfectly understand why The Exorcist is considered the best. First of all, is has an unusual storyline (back in the 70's, at least). Instead of ghosts or zombies or werewolves, it's demon possession. The body of a young girl is being controlled by a spirit from Hell. With every medical analysis being inconclusive, the mother has one last chance of bringing her daughter back. She brings in Father Karras, who has a crisis of faith, and Father Merrin, who has seen this sort of prediction when he visited Iraq.
So why is it that this is considered the scariest movie of all time. Well, the shock effects may be outdated to some, but it's the eerie atmosphere and the thought of being possessed that makes it truly horrifying. The silent, quick shots of the infamous "Captain Howdy" are also an addition to this ghoulish nightmare. You don't need loud and abrupt music or hardcore gore, all you need here is a creepy environment, a slow pace, and some fiendish dialogue from Regan/the demon. Mind you, there are some great modern horror films (such as Rec, The Evil Dead series, and the original Thai version of Shutter), but The Exorcist, The Shining, and Psycho are in top form when it comes to scaring the s*** out of you. The Exorcist, especially, is one that is truly scary because of its controversial subject matter. The finest, no doubt.
Grade: A+』
(Blu ray , In her soul ???!!!!) 『Ive watched the original VHS tape in 1991 , and then i saw the movie on dvd digital remastered , and thought there would be nothing better or could spread my heart ou like this dvd version .
WOOOOOOOW Bluray???? did we just saw the exorcist on blu ray , cant you imagine how it would be in Full HD with up to 7.1 surround and DTS true hd ?????
nope me too , just cant wait to see the blu ray version , yes yes dont miss it』 『Something beyond comprehension is happening to a little girl on this street in this house. A man has been called for as a last resort to try and save her. That man is the exorcist. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 09/13/2005 Starring: Ellen Burstyn Linda Blair Run time: 132 minutes Rating: R Director: William Friedkin』 『Director William Friedkin was a hot ticket in Hollywood after the success ofThe French Connection, and he turned heads (in more ways than one) when he decided to makeThe Exorcistas his follow-up film. Adapted by William Peter Blatty from his controversial bestseller, this shocking 1973 thriller set an intense and often-copied milestone for screen terror with its unflinching depiction of a young girl (Linda Blair) who is possessed by an evil spirit. Jason Miller and Max von Sydow are perfectly cast as the priests who risk their sanity and their lives to administer the rites of demonic exorcism, and Ellen Burstyn plays Blair's mother, who can only stand by in horror as her daughter's body is wracked by satanic disfiguration. One of the most frightening films ever made with a soundtrack that's guaranteed to curl your blood,The Exorcistwas mysteriously plagued by troubles during production, and the years have not diminished its capacity to disturb even the most stoical viewers. Don't say you weren't warned!--Jeff Shannon』
price:$5.99
20th Century Fox
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Attack of the special effects.) 『This film looks amazing on DVD. Since it was shot digitally, there is absolutely no grain or color saturation, and on a high-end system it will simply knock you out of your seat, from a visual and audio standpoint. Unfortunately, the slim plot and, more importantly the never-ending onslaught of visual effects will leave you numb by the film's end. George Lucas has never been one to skimp on the effects, but even by his standards this one is just saturated with creatures, ships, buildings, lights, small unindentifiable alien things just buzzing all over the place. I found it exhausting and actually distracting at times. Do not flame this review, as I realize this is a minority opinion and will probably grossly offend true Star Wars fans. These films still are good pop sci-fi, although so far the original trilogy has held up much better for me than their 90's counterparts.』
(Seems To Be With Every Prequel, It's Anakin's Actor That Ruins the Film) 『This time its Hayden Christensen who ruins it for me but its not only him. The performances in the "romantic" scenes between him and Natalie Portman are as wooden as the government, which I blame on Lucas. The original Star Wars and episode 1 had no romantic scenes, so I'll give those some slack but when it came to the burgeoning romance between Han Solo and Princess Leia in episodes 5 and 6, someone else wrote the screenplay while Lucas developed the story. Why he felt he needed to write the whole thing for this I'll never know. But alas those are the only negative points of this film. Ewan McGregor's Obi-Wan is now a Jedi Knight and teacher to Christensen's Skywalker. Christensen portrays Skywalker as a complaining brat, and it astounds me that THIS is the man who became the most feared warrior in the galaxy. I know its supposed to show that the character is impatient and wants to move ahead in his training but to me that's how this guy's acting comes across to me. McGregor is still good as Obi-Wan, starting to show some of the elements that Alec McGuinness portrayed in the original film. Portman is good as Padmé (its just the romance scenes that I don't like), able to portray a woman torn between her duty and her feelings. Christopher Lee joins the franchise as Jedi turned Sith Count Dooku (a possible reference to his time as Dracula). He pulls off the charisma and charm that he's known for and I admireand he's pretty good with a lightsaber for the scenes in which he fights (I mean the REAL actor, NOT his stand-in). Yoda is now a digital character, which doesn't bother me as much, seeing as how the character finally gets to fight. Samuel L. Jackson, like Yoda, has more to do and is the first Jedito have different colored lightsaber blade. I like the aspect of someone wanting to kill Senator Amidala in order to provoke a war between the Republic and the Sepratists. And since nobody likes Jar Jar anyway, he gets the blame for giving the Chancellor emergency powers to create the Clone Army, thus being inadvertently responsible for the creation of the Empire and the destruction of the Jedi. The action sequences are excellent, the fight at Geonosis and the fights that follow being the best. John Williams provides another excellent score, providing a haunting, melodic love theme for Anakinand Padmé.』
(STAR WARS EPISODE II (FULL SCREEN)) 『If your a fan of star wars like me you will want to get this movie. nuff said!』
(Excellent Story) 『Buying this is worth the investment if you even remotely enjoyed the movies. It's hard to keep track of a story line and characters over 3 decades and my original, lukewarm reviews were unwarranted. But, as you watch seemingly unfinished, abrupt endings; you understand that Lucas had a single, LONG movie in his head and simply broke it up into 6.
Once you experience all 6 in a shorter period of time; the story jumps out with excitement and you realize how good this series turned out. It helps to have your kids present to explain the story behind each character.
It's a wonderful, intriguing and relevant story.』
(painful dialogue) 『This is an action~packed and extremely visually impressive movie, with great music and sound effects, but the screenplay is just awful. I know I should expect that from a movie entitled "Attack of the Clones", but the whole "I don't like sand because it's not soft and smooth like you" thing is beyond the pale. While you are trying to appreciate the great FX work, you are pulverized by the surreally bad dialogue. Fast~forward whenever a non~British actor starts talking and it's a great movie.
Ivan Rorick』 『The STAR WARS saga continues on DVD with Episode II Attack of the Clones. Anakin Skywalker has grown into an accomplished Jedi apprentice, and he faces his most difficult challenge yet as he must choose between his Jedi duty and forbidden love. Relive the adventure the way it was meant to be seen in spectacular digital clarity, including the climactic Clone War battle and Jedi Master Yoda in the ultimate lightsaber duel. Experience this 2-disc set that features over six hours of bonus materials, and see how Episode II unlocks the secrets of the entire STAR WARS saga.』 『IfThe Phantom Menacewas the setup, thenAttack of the Clonesis the plot-progressing payoff, and devotedStar Warsfans are sure to be enthralled. Ten years afterEpisode I, Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman), now a senator, resists the creation of a Republic Army to combat an evil separatist movement. The brooding Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) is resentful of his stern Jedi mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), tormented by personal loss, and showing his emerging "dark side" while protecting his new love, Amidala, from would-be assassins. Youthful romance and solemn portent foreshadow the events of the originalStar Warsas Count Dooku (a.k.a. Darth Tyranus, played by Christopher Lee) forges an alliance with the Dark Lord of the Sith, while lavish set pieces showcase George Lucas's supreme command of all-digital filmmaking. All of this makesEpisode IIa technological milestone, savaged by some critics as a bloated, storyless spectacle, but still qualifying as a fan-approved precursor to the pivotal events ofEpisode III.--Jeff Shannon』
price:$13.96
Sony Pictures
Not yet released Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Witty&wry - just forget the tired cliches) 『My first impression about a quarter way into this movie, was "Oh, NO! Another aliens-as-racial-minority metaphor!" Yes, yes, I know all that, I just wanna be entertained- that theme's been done, then done again, then again ..ad nauseum. I was thinking the only way to save the plot line was to have the aliens relocated to Chicago as new Obama voters. Then I was pleasantly surprised.
So what does save this movie and transcends it beyond the predictable racism-is-bad, apartheid-is-bad "message", what saves it is that ultimately it doesn't take itself seriously, at which point the movie becomes immensely entertaining. The matter of fact story telling absorbs the viewer to accept the premise despite one's common sense. Looking like something I ate at last summer's clambake, the alien CGI is nearly flawless.
Best of all, the witty screenplay has such wry humor that it leaves nothing and no one unscathed. From the Afrikaner elites, to the S.A. Blacks ( who, themselves victims of cruel apartheid, display the same sentiments to these new arrivals), to the aliens themselves portrayed more like insects with a gusto for cat food and tires, advanced technology notwithstanding. Not to mention the proverbial military-industrial complex (always a good villain). Even political correctness is mocked as we follow that dolt of a protagonist's rise via nepotism to a position of authority. His adventures inspecting the District is a rich example of sarcasm as mockumentary.
Of course the tired apartheid-alien message continues throughout the movie: segregated slums, Nazi inspired experiments, sham laws, forced mass evacuations, one from the "majority" transforming into one of the "minority". But as the movie progresses this theme becomes so cliche that it barely rises to consciousness and renders it meaningless. And that is a good thing. There's a world of serious cinema dealing with that subject more worthy to explore than a movie such as this. At best, maybe use it as a teaching tool on your middle-schooler about the lessons of apartheid.
So to all initially put off about this film, I say give it a view. It won't disappoint.』
(Totally Unexpected) 『This was a totally unexpected movie... the greatest Sci Fi I've seen in a long time. It was so unexpected that I made the mistake of sitting very close to the screen. One advice, if you go see it, sit in the back row, or you will get dizzy... But nevertheless it was GREAT!!!』
(Great scifi) 『A really good science fiction movie. The beginning is a little rough, but you cannot stop watching and by the end you realize that you have just seen a damn good movie. The symbolism is so transparent, but watch the movie for entertainment purposes and you won't be disappointed.』
(Terrible) 『I saw this movie when it came out in theatres. I fought the urge to get up and leave thru the entire movie and when the end came I really wished that I had left. That is two hours of my life I will never get back. Don't waste your time on this movie the whole documentary style filming was just irritating and distracting. If you have two hours to waste I would use it doing something else.』
(district 9) 『a first time director with a 10,000 budget created this eye popping and jaw dropping movie. the movie is hitting the millions in profits. one of the best movies that i have ever seen as a critic and one of the most intense metaphors ever putted on motion. must see』 『From producer Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy) and director Neill Blomkamp comes a startlingly original science fiction thriller that "soars on the imagination of its creators" (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone). With stunning special effects and gritty realism, the film plunges us into a world where the aliens have landed... only to be exiled to a slum on the fringes of Johannesburg. Now, one lone human discovers the mysterious secret of the extraterrestrial weapon technology. Hunted and hounded through the bizarre back alleys of an alien shantytown, he will discover what it means to be the ultimate outsider on your own planet.』 『A provocative science fiction drama,District 9boasts an original story that gets a little lost in blow-'em-up mayhem. Set in Johannesburg, South Africa,District 9begins as a mock documentary about the imminent eviction of extraterrestrials from a pathetic shantytown (called District 9). The creatures, it turns out, have been on Earth for years, having arrived sickly and starving. Initially received by humans with compassion and care, the aliens are now mired in blighted conditions typical of long-term refugee camps unwanted by a hostile, host society. With the creatures' care contracted out to a for-profit corporation, the shantytown has become a violent slum. The aliens sift through massive piles of junk while their minders secretly research weapons technology that arrived on the visitors' spacecraft.
Against this backdrop is a more personal story about a bureaucrat named Wikus (Sharlto Copley) who is accidentally exposed to a DNA-altering substance. As he begins metamorphosing into one of the creatures, Wikus goes on the run from scientists who want to harvest his evolving, new parts and aliens who see him as a threat. When he pairs up with an extraterrestrial secretly planning an escape from Earth, however, what should be a fascinating relationship story becomes a series of firefights and explosions. Nuance is lost to numbing violence, and the more interesting potential of the film is obscured. Yet, for a whileDistrict 9is a powerful movie with a unique tale to tell. Seamless special effects alone are worth seeing: the (often brutal) exchanges between alien and human are breathtaking.--Tom Keogh
price:$9.50
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Great Disney Classic) 『This was one of my favorite Disney movie when I was a child. Now, that I'm grown up and I 'm glad that it is now on DVD. 』
(disney movie) 『i loved this movie when i was growing up, very touching family film. Kids of all ages will watch over and over again.』
(GREAT MOVIE!) 『My 3 year old granddaughter loves this, and it's fun to watch it with her...definitely a 5 star for everyone!』
(Pure Enjoyment) 『I received this product in excellent condition and in a timely manner, as promised. The DVD brings back memories and happy times as well as enjoyment for those too young to have seen the movie the first time around. GOOD FAMILY MOVIE.』
(A Child's Best Friend) 『My children were in elementary school when I took them to see "Pete's Dragon". It soon became one of their favorite Disney movies. There was something unique in their response to this movie as compared with other Disney features. In most Disney features my children loved the hero or heroines. In this one, they were enthralled by the villains and the supporting characters. My children were enthralled by the villains (the Gogans and Dr. Terminus). They took great delight in singing these characters songs and imitating them. They laughed at the antics of those great character actors: Mickey Rooney ("Lampie"), Red Buttons ("Hoagy") and Jim Backus ("The Mayor"). My children are now in their thirties, we traded in our old VHS Recording of this film and purchased this DVD. Hopefully, we will continue to enjoy it with them and my grandchildren for years to come.』 『Get ready for a magical adventure filled with friendship, fun and heartwarming songs in the new Special Edition DVD of Walt Disney's classic family film Pete's Dragon, now with dazzling new bonus features! It's a Brazzle Dazzle Day when an orphan named Pete and his best friend, Elliott, an invisible dragon, wander into the seaside village of Passamaquoddy. Although Pete befriends the lighthouse keeper, Nora and her salty old father , the townspeople think he is behind the hilarous accidents that keep happening. But after a daring rescue, everyone believes in Pete's fire breathing buddy. Featuring an all-star cast, Pete's Dragon is a timeless classic every member of your family will love.
Bonus Features Include: Disney's Movie Magic a history of Disney's magical mix of live action with animation, narrated by Sean Marshall (Pete), deleted Story board Sequence Terminus&Hoagy Hunt Elliot, rare demo dialog track and storyboard sketches, Original Song Concept: Boo Bop Bopbop Bop (I Love You Too) first demo recording March 1976 with story sketches for an early concept of the song Pete sings to Elliot, Original Demo Recordings: Brazzle Dazzle Day, Every Little Piece, The Greatest Star of All (Deleted Song for Deleted Character), Promotional Record, Four songs are pop versions of the songs used to promote the music and originally released on one 7 inch record including Academy Award nominated Candle on the Water.』
price:$13.49
BBC Warner
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Review for the non-"fan") 『If I could give it less than one star I would.
Children of Earth was the first Torchwood I'd ever seen. I did not know much about the characters or have any previous attachment. And yes, at first I thought it was brilliant, I was on the edge of my seat. However, I realized that the action, violence, and shocking themes was *distracting* me from the poor writing and massive plot holes. It was all a smoke screen to cover up the mediocre script. All about the shock value. Now, I discuss the lame plot devices with others and have a good laugh over the stupidity of it.
In the UK they're selling a box set of series 1 and 2 for 10 pounds *more* than one that includes COE. They're paying people to take Children of Earth! That ought to tell you something.
So, I guess if you like action and violence and don't really care about good writing, you might enjoy COE. But if you want something that's well written too, don't bother wasting your money. 』
(Not perfect, but still a high for the show.) 『Over the course of five episodes, the surviving members of Torchwood, Cardiff battle both an alien menace and their own government to save...The Children of Earth.
Beginning decades earlier, a small group of children is bussed to a remote location in the hills. Herded by soldiers to aliens, one of the children escapes. Two facts are immediately suggested to Torchwood fans. First, the fugitive child has escaped nothing, and will be shown holding out in the slimmest form of asylum. Second, one of the uniformed men is our own Captain Jack Harkness - a bid for King and Country that will not be counted among his finest hours.
Years later, John Frobisher, a thoroughly British bureaucratic fixture of the Home Office, is called upon to shoulder an enormous burden - brokering an accord with the reappearing aliens. The beings - who announce their arrival through the minds and mouths of children around the world - are known only as the "4-5-6". Their motives not immediately publicized, it's difficult to avoid signs of nefarious intent. (On arrival, the 4-5-6 ambassador occupies a gas-filled bubble, in which he occasionally lashes out like some angry parakeet.) Eventually, 456 will deal to the world governments an especially painful and inescapable dilemma, a choice humanity dare not refuse. Rather than involve Torchwood, the governments prefer to eliminate it, and the individual members, beginning with Captain Jack himself.
"tell the indestructible man that someone plans to murder him."
Torchwood has always been a study in opposites, a pack of contradictions (fleshy characters, thin stories; great plot ideas, horrible realization; alternating between being genuinely adult and simply being childish and playing grown-up) and CoE is no exception.
(But we of the RottenReview love, so we'll start off w/the weaknesses of the story and finish on a high).
"Torchwood" forces us to accept both a moral issue and a sci-fi plot, but not at the same time. That is, our characters must face a horrible dilemma...but only until a sci-fi plot idea allows them an escape (admittedly a painful one - but still a smaller sacrifice than the one they had been facing anyway). The ending feels forced and undermines the horrible fate that hung over the previous four episodes. "Torchwood" always falls before the pay-off, and CoE is no exception.
WEY YOU MUST WATCH IT: After three seasons of aliens, gunfire, death and same-sex lip-lock, "Torchwood" comes as close as ever to being a genuinely mature show. Eschewing the frothy sexually-charged innuendo of the past seasons, we now get loss, pain and grim realization. "Torchwood" has never looked less like "Dr. Who" spinoff than it does in CoE. Best of all, CoE is populated by the series' most full-blooded characters: from Ianto's loutish brother (I'll never complain about Rhys again!!!), to the tragically Loyal Frobisher - and these aren't even the show's regulars. (Kneale gave us primordial martians and paranormal tape recorders, but nothing will prepare you for sight of Ianto's brother in bed - t'aint pretty!!)』
(Drama and depth) 『Children Of Earth brings the Torchwood saga to a new level of drama in this sometimes uneven series. The writers pull no punches; we are sometimes left gasping at what happens to the remaining members of the Torchwood team as yet another threat to humanity arrives, maybe not all that unexpectedly...(no spoilers!). Fans--enjoy! Newcomers may do well to catch up on previous episodes or you may miss some of the poignancy as Captain Jack is put to a heart-rending test.』
(WOW!) 『This Series of Torchwood was the most amazing thing I have ever seen on television. Sure it had some minor flaws at the end of day four I thought they really blew it. They redeemed it by the end brilliantly. I don't understand why everyone is so upset about Ianto. He really wasn't a plus in the show for me anyway. They made this series a real mature television series. I would be very happy if they would keep the 5day one week mini series format and repeat this amazing success next year.』
(A redemption after the horrible second season...) 『Torchwood season 1 was great, but season two drifted and wandered without any direction, with writers creating situations (Owen's condition) that further episodes had to deal with in a very taxing and contrived manner. It really seems like there is a struggle within the creative team as to whether Torchwood should be destroyed, and the team members killed off, or whether the show is too popular not to continue.
I'll buy one superhuman member in the team - since that is what Captain Jack has been from the (Dr. Who) beginning, but not more. Children of Earth avoids much of the inconsistent quality of season two by covering a single adventure, in depth. It also closes the book on Torchwood as we have come to know it, but leaves the possibilities of spin off series covering the surviving characters.
This season allowed viewers to see more about the personal lives and relationships of the team members - presenting a very believable same sex relationship ("I'm not attracted to men, just him") as well as adding depth to the only romantic relationship in the modern Dr. Who universe that isn't interracial or same sex, by including Gwen's husband in the action.』 『Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 07/28/2009 Run time: 300 minutes Rating: Nr』 『After two engagingly frothy seasons of action-packed science fiction TV, the Russell T. (Doctor Who) Davies-producedTorchwoodtakes a decidedly dark and thoughtful turn in its abbreviated third season miniseries,Children of Earth. Here, Captain Jack Harkness and the Torchwood Three team, still reeling from the deaths of two of its key members in the previous season, investigate a outbreak of hypnotic chanting by children across the globe. The phenomenon heralds the arrival of an invading alien force, the 456, who plan to destroy the human race if 10% of the Earth’s children are not given to them. Captain Jack and his cohorts must find a way to stop the 456’s plan, but encounter formidable obstacles along the way, including enemies in the British Home Office and Jack’s own past, which is intertwined with the 456. Penned in part by Davies,Children of Earthdoes an impressive job of bringing theTorchwoodcharacters and mythology into a more complex and mature storyline (which borrows and elaborates pleasantly on John Wyndham’s novelThe Midwich Cuckoosand its film adaptation,Village of the Damned). Dedicated fans of the series may decry some of Davies’ decisions regarding some of the show’s characters (and new ones are introduced here), but most should enjoy this attempt to bring weight and suspense to theTorchwooduniverse. The double-disc DVD contains all five episodes ofChildren of Earth(which were broadcast on consecutive nights on the BBC and its affiliated stations), as well as a 31-minute episode of its companion series,Torchwood Declassified, which addresses the season’s production (and under no circumstances should be viewed prior to watching the episodes).--Paul Gaita』
price:$7.99
Warner Home Video
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Black and white attack on Bush) 『The original Graphic novel this was based on is one of the smartest and best stories written last century. It's ig iea stuff examining the extremes of government and policies. It has no 2D characters but instead flushes out and makes you understand even if you don't like) all of them. It's timeless and never needs to be "updated" because it's about ideas that are still there today and were there long before the book was written.
This film claims to be an update on said story. But aparently update means they must skew a balanced look at polotics as a concept into an onslaught on the bush campaign. On top of that they took all these full developed characters and turned them into the very black and white nazi liek characters Alan Moore intentionally didn't write in the book.
This is a terrible movie that degrades everything the book stands for.』
(Alan Moore was probably right) 『For a lot of people, tell them a film is based on a graphic novel -- a "comic book" -- and they immediately write it off as juvenile. Some of us know better, though. The fact that the story a movie came from appeared first in another graphic medium has very little to do with anything. You have to evaluate the film on its own merits. This one is a combination of adventure fantasy -- bigger-than-life hero vs. superbad villains -- and political cautionary tale. It's a couple of decades in the future, the U.S. has collapsed economically and politically and is mired in civil war, and England has fallen into an authoritarian, fascist nightmare, largely with the acquiescence of its own people. Into all this steps a man in a Guy Fawkes mask with a vendetta against those in power for what they did to him in his earlier life. In the book, V's cause is anarchy; in the film, it's English freedom. (Alan Moore loathed the change in theme as "Americanization," but revolution plays better in Hollywood if it's in support of democracy.) Though we never see the real, damaged face of V, the voice behind the mask is that of Hugo Weaving -- and a great voice it is, too. Natalie Portman plays Evey, the only survivor of a family that was wiped out piecemeal by the fascists, and the story also is about her climb up from constant fear. John Hurt is excellent as Sutler, the frothingly menacing Head Chancellor who glares out from an oversize TV screen like Big Brother in "1984." There are plenty of plot holes, mostly having to do with the ease with which V gets in and out of very high-security places to commit his executions. On the other hand, the Wachowski brothers also were responsible for the "Matrix" films, so you know the sfx are going to be above average -- especially the final shoot-out in the tube station and the destruction of the Houses of Parliament as witnessed by thousands of Londoners in Guy Fawkes masks. Not a bad flick, and it's obviously destined to be a cult film, but it would have been interesting to see what the Wachowskis could have done by sticking closer to the themes and details of the book.』
(Guy Fawkes Day Sci-Fi Wachowski Drama) 『With the feel of the graphic novel the film looks fantastic and has a story to match. I have watched it 5 times and it feels fresh! 5.1 sound is strong in dolbyhd as pic looks great. Review and screening on the 5th of November on Sony Denon Energy』
(STOP! GO BACK! ITS 2006) 『Accidentally it happens that an innocent and unsuspecting young woman is abducted by a masked terrorist who holds the nation's capital in his grip. That's it.
And this screenplay was written almost ten years before its release. The Warchawski brothers created THE MATRIX films first. And in them all, Hugo Weaving; quite a step up, here, in my opinion, from those interminable, overwrought English pixie movies in elfin-babble starring Elija Wood and everybody else but him.
No, I don't need to have read any of the Lloyd/Moore graphic novels, I think. There are so many of these masterpieces of literary comics around nowadays, and everybody's doing them. But, a movie is still just a shadowplay. Nevertheless, it is always an event to see John Hurt in anything: The inquisitive First Officer from ALIEN, or THE ELEPHANT MAN, or the distinguished seducer from LOVE AND DEATH ON LONG ISLAND, or HELLBOY's adoptive earth-father from the movie of the same name, or as the victim/narrator from 1984. That man's got something hardly any actor has; he can absolutely grip you and convince you of what he's doing within five minutes of any story. And you absolutely cannot forget him. Not even remotely attractive, but fascinating.
The movie V has (English) political and even historical overtones, based as it is on Guy Fawkes Day -- that's the annual holiday the English celebrate the attempted destruction of Parliament -- but the dotty Baroness Thatcher is gone, nonetheless, though not forgotten, and Britain is now Labor and the flow of cash out of England to Enron in Texas has ceased. One hopes. But nobody need be aware of any of that on first watching. V is very skillfully written, in that regard, so that whatever might slow things down to political mud wrestling is avoided, and the action is allowed to move at a brisk pace. All the elements of the story; the Dictator and his cronies; the police; the constabulary SWAT goons; the unintended female hostage/victim/accomplice (the sympathetic, winsome Natalie Portman) and her abductor/guru/hero (velvet-voiced Hugo, always in disguise) are in evidence and work as a team to reveal the story as it tightens and coils toward its inevitable end.
V is very easy to watch and understand. Exciting to look at, the story, it seems to me, is a meditation on this proposition: Cromwell liberated England from its Monarch and its aristocracy, but the Parliament, once it was free to do so sold the people to the nobility which has kept them enslaved ever since. The pertinent question is, what a nation would England be were the English people free to work for their benefit alone? And that causes us to wonder what a nation the United States of America would be, were this nation allowed to prosper for the benefit of all its citizens, equally? 』
(Awsome movie!) 『I love everything about this film except the overblown homosexual agenda. I don't take offence to it but I do have some problems with the militant issues implied. This aside, I found it patriotic and moving. Who ARE the terrorists really? Definatly see this film...Very well done.』 『Set against the futuristic landscape of totalitarian Britain, V For Vendetta tells the story of a mild-mannered young woman named Evey (Natalie Portman) who is rescued from a life-and-death situation by a masked man (Hugo Weaving) known only as "V." Incomparably charismatic and ferociously skilled in the art of combat and deception, V ignites a revolution when he urges his fellow citizens to rise up against tyranny and oppression. As Evey uncovers the truth about V's mysterious background, she also discovers the truth about herself - and emerges as his unlikely ally in the culmination of his plan to bring freedom and justice back to a society fraught with cruelty and corruption.』 『"Remember, remember the fifth of November," for on this day, in 2020, the minds of the masses shall be set free. So says code-name V (Hugo Weaving), a man on a mission to shake society out of its blank complacent stares in the filmV for Vendetta. His tactics, however, are a bit revolutionary, to say the least. The world in which V lives is very similar to Orwell's totalitarian dystopia in 1984: after years of various wars, England is now under "big brother" Chancellor Adam Sutler (played by John Hurt, who played Winston Smith in the movie1984), whose party uses force and fear to run the nation. After they gained power, minorities and political dissenters were rounded up and removed; artistic and unacceptable religious works were confiscated. Cameras and microphones are littered throughout the land, and the people are perpetually sedated through the governmentally controlled media. Taking inspiration from Guy Fawkes, the 17th century co-conspirator of a failed attempt to blow up Parliament on November 5, 1605, V dons a Fawkes mask and costume and sets off to wake the masses by destroying the symbols of their oppressors, literally and figuratively. At the beginning of his vendetta, V rescues Evey (Natalie Portman) from a group of police officers and has her live with him in his underworld lair. It is through their relationship where we learn how V became V, the extremities of the party's corruption, the problems of an oppressive government, V's revenge plot, and his philosophy on how to induce change.
Based on the popular graphic novel by Alan Moore,V for Vendetta's screenplay was written by the Wachowski brothers (ofThe Matrixfame) and directed by their protégé, James McTeigue. Controversy and criticism followed the film since its inception, from the hyper-stylized use of anarchistic terrorism to overthrow a corrupt government and the blatant jabs at the current U.S. political arena, to graphic novel fans complaining about the reconstruction of AlanMoore's original vision (Moore himself has dismissed the film). Many are valid critiques and opinions, but there's no hiding the message the film is trying to express: Radical and drastic events often need to occur in order to shake people out of their state of indifference in order to bring about real change. Unfortunately, the movie only offers a means with no ends, and those looking for answers may find the film stylish, but a bit empty.--Rob Bracco
price:$13.99
DVD)
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (SG-1 season 9) 『Stargate SG-1 season 9 lets me relive the pleasure I had watching the show when it first aired. I have seasons 1 through 8 already and am planning to buy season 10. Highly recommended for all Stargate fans.』
(Stargate - Season 0) 『I have really enjoyed watching each season. I have all seasons right up to season 9 now. I really like going back to different seasons to see how the program has grown over the years.
』
(Not at all a fan of Richard Dean Anderson, then this is the season to start with.) 『If like me, you can't stand the acting of Richard Dean Anderson, but love the science fiction concept of the Stargate franchise, then this is the perfect season to start watching the series. The Ori storyline begins with the very first episode, continues through season 10 and concludes in the Ark of Truth movie. Despite not watching the first 8 seasons, I was quickly able to pick up on the background and history of the Stargate world and fit it into the Ori story arc. In the end, the whole viewing experience was one that was fun, engaging, and entirely entertaining. For me, the additions of Claudia Black (she is way awesome!) and Ben Browder in this season form a Stargate team that very nearly rivals the chemistry of the crew from Star Trek: The Next Generation. The overall look of the show is just great on my HD TV. While this is a review for season 9, I must add that season 10 is even better (because some of the non Ori arc episodes are outstanding). Yes, I'm sometimes tempted to watch seasons 1-8 to see more of Daniel Jackson, Samantha Carter and Teal'c. But I can't do it. I just can't seriously watch anything with Richard Dean Anderson in it.』
(stargate sg-1 Season 9 Boxed Set (Thinkpak)) 『Season 9 featuring the original SG-1 team and the addition of Colonel Cameron Mitchell (Ben Browder) in it's continuing fight against the Ori. Awesome special effects, commentaries and behind the scene videos for the Sg-1 fan!』
(Stargate SG-1 Season 9) 『Stargate SG-1 - Season 9 Boxed Set (Thinpak) This season was on par with previous seasons of the Stargate Series. I found it fairly entertaining.』 『The Stargate is an intergalactic gateway, developed by an ancient civilization, that links other planets from other solar systems to ours. The U.S. Air Force assembles a Stargate team for interstellar peace-keeping missions. Boasting incredible special effects sequences, rapid-fire pacing and awesome scenes of alien warfare, STARGATE SG-1™ is your gateway to pulse-pounding, sci-fi action!』 『Stargate SG-1soldiers on with this five-disc, 20-episode set from the sturdy franchise's ninth season (2005-06), incorporating numerous changes while continuing to distinguish itself as one of the television's best sci-fi shows. Longtime star Richard Dean Anderson makes only brief cameos these days, after seven seasons as Lieutenant Colonel and one as Brigadier General Jack O'Neill. Stalwarts Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, and Michael Shanks (as Samantha Carter, Teal'c, and Daniel Jackson, respectively), are still on hand, but with Season 9, Ben Browder (known to many genre fans for his lead role in the excellentFarscapeseries) takes over as leader of SG-1, the Stargate project's ace team in the field. As Lt. Col. Cameron Mitchell, Browder effectively projects the same kind of cocky irreverence that was Anderson's trademark, but he has a ways to go before he fully equals the latter's appeal. More engaging is fellowFarscapealum Claudia Black as Vala (Daniel Jackson's one-time love interest and a vixen, thief, and liar who becomes an integral part of the team during the several episodes in which she appears), while Beau Bridges is capable but uninspiring as Major General Hank Landry, who runs the show back on Earth.
Then there are the bad guys. With longtime nemeses the Goa'uld having essentially been eliminated, we now have the Ori, whose agenda of domination through religion provides the season's principal story arc. They're certainly a timely addition. With their "Book of Origin," rejection of free will, and goal of subduing all heretics and "unbelievers," the Ori resemble extreme fundamentalists of various stripes; on the other hand, when the U.S. military talks about crusades and "ridding the galaxy of evildoers," parallels to the Bush administration's war on terror are obvious and unavoidable. Problem is, while we know that the Ori are relentless, devious, and bloated with the pride that always attaches itself to false gods, we can't actually see them. They have semi-human apostles, called Priors, who spread "enlightenment" and bad mojo (not to mention plagues of carnivorous bugs) all over the universe. They have mighty ships that that leave the good guys in dire straits in the climactic battle that ends the season (typically, little is resolved, leaving viewers to salivate for Season 10). But the Ori themselves are kin to the all-knowing Ancients, who exist not in recognizable physical form but as energy; unlike previous villains, from the Goa'uld to the Replicators toStargate Atlantis' Wraith, when it comes to the Ori, there's no there there. Meanwhile, the writers' replacement of the ancient Egyptian iconography used in earlier seasons with various aspects of Arthurian legend (Merlin, Knights of the Round Table, sword in the stone) is sometimes cool, sometimes merely hokey.
As always,Stargate SG-1's production values and effects remain first-rate, even as the stories become more character-driven and less dependent on spectacular action sequences. The DVD transfers are excellent. Special features are similar to previous box sets: audio commentary on all episodes, featurettes focusing on sets, props, and special effects, and five "directors series" entries devoted to particular episodes.--Sam Graham』