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:$11.49
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』
price:$5.49
New Line Home Video
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Fantastic Spanish Movie) 『The magic realism in this movie is so touching, you can't help but feel for the little girl struggling to cope with her surroundings. There is one monster in this movie that is so freaky, only a great mind can make up such a thing! A must have in your collection of foreign language dvds!』
(Must-have for your Blu-ray Collection!) 『I have watched this amazing movie before on regular DVD quality, and even then it was mesmerizing and entertaining to watch. Watching it on Blu-ray @ full 1080p/24hz quality makes it exponentially better to rewatch this mature fairy tale!
Excellent buy, and above all excellent movie!』
(Pan's Labyrinth Review) 『Great Movie ! Shipped very fast but the price could of been better since Best buy had it cheaper that same day but my mistake was not to check best buy first !』
(Dark fairy tale for adults (customer images misleading!)) 『The story in this movie is original, creative, intense, startling, and beautiful. Definitely not for most kids. I can't express fully how much I loved this film. The subtitles did not bother at all. I prefer that to dubbed. I am actually writing this review because I found the customer images for this particular DVD to be very misleading. There are barely any special features on this DVD. There's a video prologue and commentary by the director. That's all.』
(PURCHASE OF PANS LABYRINTH) 『I was very happy purchasing this item. Recieved it fast and I am a huge fan of this movie and also another one by him entitled The Orphanage :) Look forward to new works!!』 『Following a bloody civil war, young Ofelia enters a world of unimaginable cruelty when she moves in with her new stepfather, a tyrannical military officer. Armed with only her imagination, Ofelia discovers a mysterious labyrinth and meets a faun who sets her on a path to saving herself and her ailing mother. But soon, the lines between fantasy and reality begin to blur, and before Ofelia can turn back, she finds herself at the center of a ferocious battle between good and evil.
DVD Features: Audio Commentary Theatrical Trailer
』 『Inspired by the Brothers Grimm, Jorge Luis Borges, and Guillermo del Toro's own unlimited imagination,Pan's Labyrinthis a fairytale for adults. Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) may only be 12, but the worlds she inhabits, both above and below ground, are dark as anything del Toro has conjured. Set in rural Spain, circa 1944, Ofelia and her widowed mother, Carmen (Ariadna Gil,Belle Epoque), have just moved into an abandoned mill with Carmen's new husband, Captain Vidal (Sergi López,With a Friend like Harry). Carmen is pregnant with his son. Other than her sickly mother and kindly housekeeper Mercedes (Maribel Verdú,Y Tu Mamá También), the dreamy Ofelia is on her own. Vidal, an exceedingly cruel man, couldn't be bothered. He has informers to torture. Ofelia soon finds that an entire universe exists below the mill. Her guide is the persuasive Faun (Doug Jones,Mimic). As her mother grows weaker, Ofelia spends more and more time in the satyr's labyrinth. He offers to help her out of her predicament if she'll complete three treacherous tasks. Ofelia is willing to try, but does this alternate reality really exist or is it all in her head? Del Toro leaves that up to the viewer to decide in a beautiful, yet brutal twin toThe Devil's Backbone, which was also haunted by the ghost of Franco. Though it lacks the humor ofHellboy,Pan's Labyrinthrepresents Guillermo Del Toro at the top of his considerable game.--Kathleen C. Fennessy』
price:$6.49
20th Century Fox
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Ice Age Purchase) 『The product that I received was claimed to be in "like new/good" condition, yet every 5-10minutes the media cannot be read from the disc. It's very frustrating when my 15mo old daughter gets bored waiting for it to re-read the disc. I also checked to make sure it wasn't my dvd player by watching around 20 other movies in it with no problem.』
(ice age) 『if you enjoyed the ice age on dvd, then you will love it on blu-ray. all the colors are bright and sharp, and i don't have a lcd yet. i play all my blu-ray with my ps3.
the only thing is, now i have to replace almost all my dvd with blu-ray.』
(Great family fun!) 『"The little squirrel-like critter is soooo cute!"
"The sloth is hilarious!!"
"The mammoth is very brave and cool!"
...says my 5 yr old.』
(Great movie! The kids love it!!) 『Our kids loved the 3rd Ice Age that came out this summer. We looked several places for this one before finding it on Amazon. This one has lots of special features. Highly recommend.』
(Ice Age) 『Good price and fast delivery...The product was in very good condition. The movieis full of laughs and the grandkids loved it. I would recommed it..』 『They came... they thawed... they conquered the hearts of audiences everywhere in the coolest animated adventure of all time! Heading south to avoid the bad case of global frostbite, a group of migrating misfit creatures embark on a hilarious quest to reunite a human baby with his tribe. Featuring an all-star voice cast, including Ray Romano, John Leguizamo and Denis Leary, ICE AGE is "a pure delight" (New York Daily News) for all ages!』 『Just asA Bug's Lifewas a computer-animated comedy inspired by Akira Kurosawa'sThe Seven Samurai, the funny and often enthrallingIce Ageis a digital re-imagining of the WesternThree Godfathers. The heroes of this unofficial remake (set 20,000 years ago, during the titular Paleolithic era) are a taciturn mastodon named Manfred (voiced by Ray Romano), an annoying sloth named Sid (John Leguizamo), and a duplicitous saber-toothed tiger, Diego (Denis Leary). The unlikely team encounters a dying, human mother who relinquishes her chirpy toddler to the care of these critters. Hoping, against all odds, to return the little guy to his migrating tribe, Manfred and his associates need to establish trust among themselves, not an easy thing in a harsh world of predators, prey, and pushy glaciers. Audiences that have become accustomed to the rounded, polished, storybook look of Pixar's house brand of computer animation (Monsters, Inc.) will find the blunt edges and chilly brilliance ofIce Age--evoking the harsh, dangerous environment of a frozen world--a wholly different, and equally pleasing, trip. Recommended for ages 4 and up.--Tom Keogh』
price:$109.99
MGM
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Check you Discs on purchasing) 『The Series is great, if we could get past Season 1 Disc 1! Our sealed box set was missing Season 1 Disc 2 and has two of the Disc 1 instead. In contacting Amazon, they are no longer selling the product and cannot offer replacement, only a refund of what is a third of what other sellers will list it for. When you get your set, just be sure to check every disc as soon as it arrives!』
(Stargate Atlantis the complete series) 『Stargate Atlantis is the best of the Stargate franchise. If you like S.G.1 then you will love Stargate Atlantis. It has the perfect blend of sci-fi, humor, and romance. Stargate Atlantis has also has an awesome group of actors who have really great onscreen chemistry and it's nice to watch people who are believable. What I loved most about the series was that it has all the good sci-fi stuff but without it being to serious all the time...the humor makes it!』
(Solid Show&Price Keeps Improving) 『Despite considering myself a bit of a science fiction connoisseur, I was a very unlikely candidate for Stargate Atlantis fandom. How come? Well for starters I could only go as far as labeling the 1994 feature film Stargate, the one that started it all, as merely an average effort. I went to the theater opening week, owned the VHS then DVD incarnation but there was never any real danger of it dethroning such classics as my Star Trek collections. Then there was SG-1, which I considered entertaining enough whenever there wasn't anything better on the tube. It carried on with many of the finer moments of the film, perhaps going as far as improving upon several of them. While it was solid enough for broadcast television, I fear a lack of connection with the characters made it not quite compelling enough to warrant purchase of the colossal 10-season&multiple-movie dvd releases.
Enter Stargate Atlantis, a spinoff of a spinoff and at five seasons, precisely half the size of SG-1. Somehow I was able to avoid catching a single episode in its wildly successful broadcast history and hadn't even really considered buying the Complete Collection on DVD except for the simple fact that with every scifi DVD purchase I made of late (Star Trek Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Enterprise, Farscape, Battlestar Galactica Complete Collection and so on), this collection was recommended. And so without so much as a single episode to draw from, took a gamble and purchased the Stargate Atlantis: The Complete Series Collection.
First the facts: This set contains all five complete seasons (100 episodes) of the show spread across 26 discs with a 27th disc full of bonus material (which in this case contains two new featurettes: Mission 100: Stargate Reaches a Milestone&Stargate Atlantis: A Retrospective). It should also be noted that all of the extras from the original season releases are retained here. The region 1 release is presented in widescreen format with the default language being English as was the case with the broadcast version. Additional language options are available in the form of subtitled text.
The story goes something like this: set in present-day, a military team from Earth led by John Shepard (Air Force Major then Colonel later on), along with two dozen other teams from various nations, venture to the lost city of Atlantis in the distant Pegasus Galaxy.
They use the title-inspired device known as a Stargate to make the trip, which just so happens to be located in an abandoned "Ancient" outpost in Antarctica. Atlantis, it turns out, exists underwater on an aquatic planet labeled "Lantea". The technologically advanced city was built tens of thousands of years prior by one of the most advanced races of the Stargate universe: the Ancients.
After a plague in the Milky Way Galaxy some ten thousand years ago, the Ancients were forced to set up shop in the Pegasus Galaxy with Atlantis operating as their home base of operations. There they populated life on countless worlds just as they had done in the Milky Way. Things were going great until a threat known as the Wraith awoken and stopped the poor Ancients in their proverbial tracks with a brutal war that lasted some hundred years and ended with the Ancients getting their butts handed to them and ultimately having to submerge their central base of Atlantis beneath Lantea's ocean to hide it from their brutal adversary.
After ten thousand years of dormancy, the city of Atlantis is reactivated due to the aforementioned visit by Shepard and company. The tale links seamlessly with the SG-1 thread that introduced it back in Season 7 and the flow is such where even the most fair-weathered viewer of SG-1 (ahem, me) can pick it up and follow along.
As is often case even in the most revered of science fiction franchises, the first two seasons struggle to find their rhythm. The case of earthlings immediately expands to include several humans from Pegasus Galaxy worlds that were reached through Gate jumps. It also doesn't take long for the Wraith, which have been in a state of hibernation, to become awakened by this sudden increase in activity. No pushovers, these Wraith, as the crew quickly discovers. Looking a bit like a veiny vampires with long wispy white hair and a penchant for leather, these creatures feed by literarily sucking the life force from human prey through a slit in the palm of their hands. Borrowing a bit from the ALIEN franchise, they live in hives led by a single queen. However, and not to give any spoilers, the Wraith are certainly more intelligent in this comparison and, as revealed in the later seasons, not entirely the evil feeding machines as initially perceived.
Yes there is quite a bit of cool technology scattered about but unlike the mechanical bits of say Star Wars or Star Trek, much of the spacecraft, weaponry and locales of Atlantis have a decidedly organic slant to them thanks in no small part to having been designed by the very same Ancients who brought us the Stargate.
The crew spends a lot of time exploring neighboring worlds throughout the course of the program ("offworld" as it is known here) but be forewarned that every single one of them is identical to earth. Now before you get bent out of shape by saying obviously, since earth is where the show is made, I'm not talking about the deserts of Dune, swamps of Dagobah, or icy tundra of Hoth here. I'm talking every environment is basically a forest with a sun, a village, breathable air, lakes, clouds and so on. The logic here is that since the Ancients populated these worlds initially (presumably as they did with earth), the environments would have to be similar to sustain life. Fair enough but they certainly could have pushed the boundaries a bit here with foliage, native creatures, cultures and so on. Perhaps some CG to create a different colored skyline or an earth-like atmosphere where the inhabitants live in floating pods. You know- typical scifi gags.
As it stands, however, most offworld voyages are basically Middle Ages earth visits with water wheels, windmills, and some incredibly well endowed native women. The space scenes on the other hand are generally very well done with high budget CGI, great sound effects, and plausible physics.
The show's not without some cast discrepancies as well. Some characters you'll spend dozens of episodes getting to know die off without warning while others still die, come back to life, die again and so on. It becomes a bit wearisome later on once the whole concept of death not being final sinks in. Worse still, there are far too many cheap threads that do little more than serve to allow the cast members from SG-1 a chance to make a cameo appearance. While I'm sure fans of SG-1 were delighted, it does kind of make the viewer feel like the show's development didn't have complete faith in their new cast's ability to draw ratings.
The show's format isn't entirely linear in its progression either. The early shows followed a system where our heroes went offworld, encountered a problem, solved it, then returned to Atlantis all within the 48- minute runtime. The third and fourth season shifted to massive story threads with ongoing battles of epic proportions. In my opinion these larger threads (against the Wraith, Replicators, Genii and so on) represent the show's greatest moments and I was quite surprised (disappointed) to discover that the 5th and final season went back to the beginning format with basically a bunch of self-contained episodes.
The show's conclusion, though satisfying, does instill a feeling of unfinished business in several near-forgotten story threads throughout the show's run. Of course by this point in time it was pretty well known that the creative forces behind Atlantis (&SG-1) had been commissioned to work on an all new incarnation of the franchise, Stargate Universe.
While I certainly felt that the characters were a step-up from SG-1, the show's biggest fault lies in its conservatism. Like the environments of the worlds, we're basically given a hodge-podge of humans (either military or scientist) to follow along with. Though there are a few cool races out there (the Asguard, Wraith, Replicators), these are all few and far between compared to the incessant sniveling of guys like Dr. McKay and Beckett.
In all the show does entertain, which I suppose is the aim of any fictional property. There are a few too many annoyances to consider it top tier science fiction but it certainly, in my opinion, manages to continue to improve upon the tradition started back in the early 1990's. Amazon is selling The Complete Collection for $92.99 (free shipping) these days (down from $233.99 last week), making the set a literal steal when compared to the price of some of the other shows I mentioned above (Complete Star Trek TNG or Battlestar Galactica to mention a few). In that line of thinking, it's money well spent and the perfect means of eating up many a cold, dark winter's night.』
(Horrible Manufacturing of DVD's) 『I had already seen most of the TV series, it's great, no complains on it. I'm a huge SG fan and have the full 10 season SG-1 set as well, in addition to the DVD release movies.
The disks are in bad shape, I noticed scratches on some but they played fine. Got to 3rd disk, and it had defects so bad it was unwatchable. I'm in the process of sending it back now, hope my replacement is in better shape but I don't have my hopes up.
Packaging looks nice, but as others mentioned it's not handy for using the disks, the gel center holders make it hard to get the disks in and out.
I'll edit in any further issues I come across, hopefully the replacement will be better. Quality control utterly failed somewhere in the manufacturing process of these disks. I heard similar complains about my SG-1 disk set, but the one I got was fine, maybe eventually I will get a second run of sets with better quality standards eventually.
EDIT: Got replacement set, these don't appear to be as bad as the others, but still some scratches. 1st Season seems to be the worst, however I have not found a disk that does not play well yet.』
(The show is amazing... this set is not.) 『Before I begin I would like to point out that this review and star rating is for this set and its packaging ONLY. The show itself is great and would get a 7 out of 5 stars from me, but before your mouth starts watering over the "Collector's Edition", hear me out.
Pros: The outside package and photos used are nice and add something you wouldn't get by buying the seasons individually. The episodes "Vegas" and "Enemy at the Gate" come in both the extended versions and broadcast versions. There is a bonus disc that has two featurettes that come only with this Complete Series set.
Cons: Where do I begin? I was appalled to find some of the discs were scratched and has smudges on them (most notably the season one discs and the bonus disc). One disc had errors, even though there were no apparent scratches on it. The 26 disc are divided up into seasons, and those individual seasons are housed in thick glossy paper with slits in it for the discs. The discs are supposed to be held in by rubber knobs... it was very hard to get the discs onto these knobs, and when you pulled a disc off of one, sometimes little pieces of the knob would come off with it and the knob would often smudge the disc. The Season One folder would ALWAYS catch on a tab just inside the packaging when you pull out the "drawer" to get a disc (a way around this is to lay down the season one folder on it's side; the rest can stay upright).
Although this isn't really a pro or con, I was a little disappointed that they reused the discs put into the individual season sets. The discs still mention the volume numbers, which don't apply in the complete set; this is confusing to some. I thought they (the people who designed this) would take more pride in their product than they apparently did.
So, to summarize, Stargate Atlantis is a great show that everyone should see and consider investing into all five seasons... but you'll need to be a very patient and sympathetic person to be satisfied with this set.
P.S. - This isn't an isolated incident... I put in an order for an exchange and the new set had almost identical problems. (It should be noted that, as of yet, Amazon has been good to work with.)』 『Now for the first time you can own all five seasons of this groundbreaking science-fiction series in this 26-disc set, including a bonus disc with exclusive, all new special features.
Atlantis build thousands of years ago by the highly evolved Ancients, is home base for an elite expedition team from Earth. These courageous military commanders and scientists leap through the city’s Stargate to explore the wondrous Pegasus Galaxy and battle the treacherous Wraith, who seek control of Atlantis – at any cost.
Includes all the bonus features from the season set DVD releases PLUS a bonus disc with two all new behind-the-scenes features and the broadcast version of the last two episodes of the series.
price:$4.99
Lions Gate
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Great series) 『To bad only one season. This show never made it?? with all the other trash on? Very good!! I watched it several times and friend I lent it to also raved about it. Read the books, watch the series you'll not regreat it.』
(Been looking for this DVD) 『We've been looking of and on for the is DVD for some time now... remember watching it on the Sci Fi channel some time ago, but it just left the air without any warning or explanation. Now that we are all caught up with season 1, it's too bad they didn't see the wisdom in making season 2. Highly recommend the book series!』
(Excellent Quality for the Price) 『This product was still in the package and was priced at a very reasonable price!! I am very happy with my purchase.』
(The Dresden Files) 『This was a series that suffered from two main problems -- it only ran for 12 epsidoes, and it was cancelled after the first season.
This was a fun and entertaining show. The "hero" - Harry Dresden had painted on his front door "Harry Dresden / Wizard" and of course, there were jokes about Harry Potter from one or two of the characters.
Harry was the reluctant hero. Mostly he just wanted to be left alone, but somehow he was always dragged into some problem or crime that was supernatural in nature - vampires, demons, werewolves, etc.(similar to some of the storylines of "Charmed").
There was the obligatory attractive female detective, Lt. Connie Murphy (played by the very capable Valerie Cruz), that he had to keep from finding out about the supernatural world while solving the crime of the week.
And there were other interesting characters, such as Bob, a ghost who was cursed to live in his own skull for trying to raise his lover from the dead, and served as Harry's advisor. And there was Morgan, a Warden of the High Council, which is the governing body of the wizard community.
For the price - less than $15, this is certainly worth the money. The only downside is that it will make you wish there had been a second, a third, and even a fourth, season.』
(One worth adding to the collection.) 『Loved the Dresden Files when it was on the tube... I still can't believe it didn't get another another season or two! It's amazing how many partial season TV shows I have in my collection... stuff the Networks just didn't give a chance: Wonderfalls, Firefly, and Dresden Files to mention only a few.
Fun to also see Joanne Kelly, currently playing Myka Berin on Warehouse 13 in 3 episodes as Bianca, the hot vampire! I'm totally voting her, best upper lip on any actress!
If you missed this series when it was actually on the tube and your a fan of this kind of stuff... get it and start enjoying, The Dresden Files!』 『Based on Jim Butcher's best-selling novels, "The Dresden Files" chronicles the cases of no ordinary detective. Harry Dresden (Paul Blackthorne) is a wizard, the only one listed in the Chicago phone book. He's got a handle on the crimes that can't be solved by anyone else. Paranormal? No problem. Dresden deals in all matters of supernatural threats. If you need a little hocus pocus or some other worldly advice, Dresden's your man.』 『The Dresden Filesis about a wizard named Harry. "Good marketing," a cynical observer notes in one episode from the Sci-Fi Channel's one-season wonder based on the books by Jim Butcher. "Couldn't you come up with something a little more original?" Actually, this series manages to be plenty original despite echoes ofThe X-Filesand the 1970s cult classicThe Night Stalker. Paul Blackthorne stars as Harry Dresden, a scruffy Chicago private eye whose gift comes in handy for children menaced by skinwalkers, or for offering Lt. Murphy (Valerie Cruz) of the Chicago police "an unconventional point of view" concerning grisly, bizarre cases involving werewolves, vampires, and other decidedly unfriendly spirits.The Dresden Filesis a paranormal noir (para-noir?) that deftly balances genuine scares, hard-boiled moxie, and tongue-in-cheek humor, delivered with panache by "Bob" (Terrance Mann), an ancient English spirit who resides in a skull and gives.Harry supernatural assistance. Harry's backstory--magician father, wizard mother, treacherous uncle--is revealed over the course of these 12 episodes. The eighth broadcast episode, "Things That Go Bump," was reportedly intended as the series pilot, and may be the best place to start. But Harry's world-weary voice-over in the classic tradition ("If you're a wizard and you fail, people can end up dead") keeps viewers oriented. Low ratings madeThe Dresden Filesdisappear, making this DVD set welcome for the series' hardcore fans who mounted the ultimately unsuccessful letter-writing campaign to saveDresdenfrom the "Brilliant, but Cancelled" files. But even those who are unfamiliar with Butcher's books or are not on the Sci-Fi Channel's wavelength will be charmed.--Donald Liebenson』
price:$3.49
20th Century Fox
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Ellie the Mammoth/Possum Shows Up) 『"Ice Age the Meltdown" (2006) is the second computer-animated film in a so-far three movie saga about a family of animals of all sorts of species. In it we see Manny (voice of Ray Romano), the mammoth, who believes he's the last of his species on Earth. Sid, the sloth (John Leguizamo), the lead character of the series, is joined by Diego, the glum saber-toothed tiger. The ice is melting at a fast pace, a prehistoric global warming, so all of the animals have to flee, looking for dry ground before the deluge. At one point they get on a huge hunk of bark that reminds us of Noah's ark. As interludes in the movie there are short, separate cartoon sequences about Scrat, the saber-toothed squirrel who keeps wrestling with that infernal acorn. Of course in the third movie of the series, he'll find a girlfriend who can fight with him over that acorn. Manny is delighted to meet another mammoth, cute Ellie (Queen Latifah), but the trouble is she's been brought up by two possums and thinks she is a possum. She even tries to hang from trees with her tail, but her weight gives her problems. There's a lot of funny dialogue between Manny and Ellie. The movie has some sly adult humor that grown-ups will enjoy, and the kiddies will probably not latch onto. The movie has real lessons to teach youngsters and oldsters as well: the importance of belonging to a family or a group, loyalty to your friends and family, helping out friends. Diego, the tiger, learns that even though he fears the water and is convinced he cannot swim, a loyal and brave gesture on his part, an effort to save his friends, forces him to overcome his fears and win over adversity. There are musical numbers, and at one point Sid becomes an object of worship to hundreds of sloths. It's a lot of fun, easy-to-take entertainment, told with originality and skill. The third movie in the series is more action-oriented with more thrills for kids. This one will seem tamer and milder after you see Number Three. 』
(Ice Age 2: The Meltdown... On the Rocks) 『Ice Age 2: The Meltdown: 5 out of 10: Global Warming comes to the Ice Age clan. Now before you get any idea that this is An Inconvenient Cartoon, keep in mind that global warming in this case is presented as a fairly benevolent event (After all they are in an Ice Age) and by definition not man made (though with all the fart jokes I think Woolly Mammoth flatulence may be a contributing factor.)
Possibly controversial political hot potatoes aside, this is a very attractive and quite empty headed CGI cartoon.
The movie is simply drop dead gorgeous. The water effects alone are almost worth a view. The other highlight of Ice Age 2 is simply the finest English orphan vulture musical number ever put on film.
Other than that Oliver Twist twist, the jokes seem kind of flat. The characters have no spark (Denis Leary's Saber Tooth tiger in particular seems neutered.), and there is some Noah's Ark imagery that at best seems misplaced.
I'm sure the kids will love it and I have often felt the first Ice Age was under-appreciated compared to similar Pixar offerings. The sequel alas is a bunch of gags barely strung together with a go from point A to point B storyline occasionally interrupted by that scene stealing pre-historic squirrel, Scrat.
Most of the gags are pleasant enough but, except for the vulture musical number, there is nothing inspired in the whole film.
』
(Fast Shipping, Perfect Item) 『This DVD arrived very quickly and in perfect condition. Movie is hilarious, my grandsons really like it!』
(Ice Age - The Meltdown is "NO" meltdown) 『This movie is just as good (if not better) than the first ICE AGE. The three main characters from Ice Age 1, are still with us. And with the addition of two crazy opossums and one Mammoth, who thinks she is a opossum, adds to the enjoyment of the movie. The is a great movie for the entire family, even my teenage grand kids liked it.』
(A must-have for any blu ray collection) 『Just when you thought the DVD was impressive, the Ice Age blu ray movies are spectacular! The story was enjoyed by family members of all ages. The extra features are as entertaining as the movie!Ice Age: The Meltdown [Blu-ray]』 『Your favorite sub-zero heroes are back for another incredible adventure in the super-cool animated comedy Ice Age the Meltdown! The action heats up?and so does the temperature?for Manny, Sid, Diego and Scrat. Trying to escape the valley to avoid a flood of trouble, the comical creatures embark on a hilarious journey across the thawing landscape and meet Ellie, a female woolly mammoth who melts Manny's heart. With its dazzling animation, unforgettable characters and an all-new Scrat short, Ice Age: The Meltdown is laugh-out-loud fun for the whole family!』 『The love life of a woolly mammoth--handled with G-rated delicacy--drives this sequel to the first computer-animated romp in the age of prehistoric mammals. While the firstIce Agetook a delightful premise and suffocated it with a formulaic plot--in which a mammoth named Manfred (voiced by Ray Romano,Everyone Loves Raymond), a sloth named Sid (John Leguizamo,Moulin Rouge!), and a sabre-tooth tiger named Diego (Denis Leary,Rescue Me) helped an abandoned human infant return to its tribe (basically,Three Mammals and a Baby)--the sequel takes the now-familiar setting, gives it a shapeless, episodic storyline, and yet somehow becomes pretty darn entertaining. Faced with the threat of a flood from melting ice, our heroic trio are on the run to escape from their blossoming valley. On the way, they meet a female mammoth (Queen Latifah,Bringing Down the House) who thinks she's an opossum and get menaced by some freshly defrosted carnivo! rous fish. Add into the mix a herd of lava-worshipping mini-sloths, some Busby Berkeley-style vultures, and more ingenious slapstick featuring the acorn-crazed Scrat, andIce Age: The Meltdownwill amuse even jaded adults. --Bret Fetzer
BeyondIce Age: The Meltdown
Ice Age - Super Cool Edition
Ice Age&Ice Age 2: The Meltdown - (DVD 2-Pack)
Funtastic Adventures Collection Box Set (Ice Age / Robots / Fern Gully / Once Upon a Rainforest)
Stills fromIce Age: The Meltdown(click for larger image)
price:$3.49
Starz / Anchor Bay
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Very dependable seller) 『The seller was very dependable. The item I order arrived a week after it was ordered and it was in great shape like they stated. Would order from them again in a minute.』
(Halloween.The Definitive Horror Movie-A Classic.) 『Halloween Parts 1 And 2, Are Definitive Horror Movie Classics,It is disturbing yes, Disturbing as you would see On any night of News Coverage on Television,or as Disturbing as People's everyday Declining Morals,But the movie is What Horror Movies Should be, Not meant to Glamorize Crime,but that there is Evil In the World sadly. This movie is not the typical Gore Zombie Movie,But it will creep you out!Not to mention the Eerie track!Donald Pleasence is awesome as is a Beautiful Jamie Lee Curtis Before she ruined her hair!』
(Fun To Watch) 『The first Halloween to me has a special meaning to me in that it was probably the first Horror movie I remember seeing. We used to watch this and laugh and quote scenes, and it was indeed frightening also don't get me wrong...but it had such a sense of humor and such lovable characters, there was more to this than just a slasher film.
Watching it as a grown up reveals so many flaws, we all know it was shot with a low budget by a young crew for the most part. Right from near the beginning when Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) is walking down the street you see trees that have green leaves on them all around, and then there's the mysterious rain that fell on Lauries block only apparently. Also Annie picks up Laurie at 6:30 p.m. when it's still pretty light outside, when in fact as I type this in Illinois it's only 6:15 p.m. and it's pretty dark outside. I am always hoping not to see a palm tree in the background, or the Hollywood Hills or something. Too bad they couldn't have shot the film at least in the midwest where it was set..today it was about 50 degrees and windy on Halloween, the trees that haven't shed all their leaves are a beautiful mix of yellow, orange, and red. The ground is littered with dead leaves wind blown or raked into piles on every street. It is a very amazing atmosphere in the fall with the changing of seasons. At least in the movie they are wearing sweaters and jackets to make it seem like there is a chill in the air.
Other than those minor issues perhaps, the film itself is really pretty good I think, the opening scene is the tragic night that started it all in 1963 as a young Myers stabs his sister to death. It then skips ahead to 1979 when Michael is locked up right before Halloween, and of course he manages to escape...which is a classic moment when the wonderful Dr. Loomis played by Donald Pleasance of course has had it up to here with excuses and why he was allowed to escape in the first place, Loomis is a nervous wreck throughout the film, with good reason. Him and the skeptical Sheriff are an oddball team at times trying to put a dent in Myers' rampage. Fav moment is Loomis staking out the old Myer's place and little Lonnie on a dare walks up to the front door and Loomis yells from behind the bushes...cracks me up every time I see it, and then while Loomis is enjoying his small victory, the Sheriff proceeds to scare the daylights out of Loomis.
A very interesting look at high school life in the late 70's also, with the trio of Laurie, Linda, and Annie. Laurie is the brains of the bunch, and one Ben Tramer is the object of her secret desire...but we never really see this character, can't help but think Ben doesn't know what he's missing in a smart, beautiful, shy...yet somewhat rebelious (smoking pot with Annie) Laurie Strode. Linda (played by P.J. Soles) is a favorite character also, a wild child, who smokes, lusts after boys, drinks beers, and says "totally" about a dozen times in the film. Just another reason to love this movie.
There's some violence of course, Micheal watches his victims, stalks his victims, and overpowers all that get in his way. To me it comes together with suspense and horror, plus a dash of comedy sprinkled in that make this one entertaining and totally fun to watch I think. Halloween just wouldn't be Halloween without seeing this one every year IMO.』
(Awesome) 『The video was new and in great shape. It arrived in a timely manner and the price was great. I would order from them again.』
(John Carpenter's movies are so awful) 『As a teenager I was enamored with films, particularly sci-fi and good horror. Everytime I saw a horror film and hated it, it was none other than directed by Carpenter. I don't care about the transfers, or the 1080 or the HD, I am basing this review on the film itself. Save the amazingly talented Donald Pleasence, perhaps in its day, this was terrifying. But when I saw it as a child, perhaps not too long after it was out, I was laughing at most of the film, on really how ludicrous it was. Absolutely terrifying to me is 'The Shining' or of course 'The Excorcist', this is just uniform B horror, and even that is giving it accolades it doesn't deserve. You can argue till the GOP find's a talking head not full of themselves that this was a unique approach to horror films which showed what you can do with a extremely minimal budget, a great score, and awful acting...use really grade school, first person type camera shots, and audience edge of your seat trickery...mehhh...give me 'Blair Witch' anyday....
Ridiculous. How many times is he going to come back to life, over and over and over and over and over and over again. The ending showing still shots of the house, some of the rooms in the house, MM's old house and heavy breathing......oh please...I know 14 year old's who make better cut films on their Hi-8's.』 『Fifteen years ago, Michael Myers brutally murdered his sister. Now, after escaping from a mental hospital, he's back to relive his grisly crime again, and again...and again. This is Halloween like you've never seen or heard it before! Halloween has been fully restored under the supervision of Lucasfilm's THX digital mastering Services. The DVD was transferred by the award-winning colorist Adam Adams (Terminator 2, Titanic) from a new 35mm interpositive (made from the original camera negative) and approved by the film's cinematographer Dean Cundey (Jurassic Park, Who Framed Roger Rabbit). The new Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack was created by Chace Productions in association with Alan Howarth using the original 16-track music studio master and the recently discovered original 35mm magnetic dialogue and effects tracks.』 『Halloweenis as pure and undiluted as its title. In the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois, a teenage baby sitter tries to survive a Halloween night of relentless terror, during which a knife-wielding maniac goes after the town's hormonally charged youths. Director John Carpenter takes this simple situation and orchestrates a superbly mounted symphony of horrors. It's a movie much scarier for its dark spaces and ominous camera movements than for its explicit bloodletting (which is actually minimal). Composed by Carpenter himself, the movie's freaky music sets the tone; and his script (cowritten with Debra Hill) is laced with references to other horror pictures, especiallyPsycho. The baby sitter is played by Jamie Lee Curtis, the real-life daughter ofPsychovictim Janet Leigh; and the obsessed policeman played by Donald Pleasence is named Sam Loomis, after John Gavin's character inPsycho. In the end, though,Halloweenstands on its own as an uncannily frightening experience--it's one of those movies that had audiences literally jumping out of their seats and shouting at the screen. ("No! Don't drop that knife!") Produced on a low budget, the picture turned a monster profit, and spawned many sequels, none of which approached the 1978 original. Curtis returned for two more installments: 1981's dismalHalloween II, which picked up the story the day after the unfortunate events, and 1998's occasionally grippingHalloween H20, which proved the former baby sitter was still haunted after 20 years.--Robert Horton』 『Halloweenis as pure and undiluted as its title. In the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois, a teenage baby sitter tries to survive a Halloween night of relentless terror, during which a knife-wielding maniac goes after the town's hormonally charged youths. Director John Carpenter takes this simple situation and orchestrates a superbly mounted symphony of horrors. It's a movie much scarier for its dark spaces and ominous camera movements than for its explicit bloodletting (which is actually minimal). Composed by Carpenter himself, the movie's freaky music sets the tone; and his script (cowritten with Debra Hill) is laced with references to other horror pictures, especiallyPsycho. The baby sitter is played by Jamie Lee Curtis, the real-life daughter ofPsychovictim Janet Leigh; and the obsessed policeman played by Donald Pleasence is named Sam Loomis, after John Gavin's character inPsycho. In the end, though,Halloweenstands on its own as an uncannily frightening experience--it's one of those movies that had audiences literally jumping out of their seats and shouting at the screen. ("No! Don't drop that knife!") Produced on a low budget, the picture turned a monster profit, and spawned many sequels, none of which approached the 1978 original. Curtis returned for two more installments: 1981's dismalHalloween II, which picked up the story the day after the unfortunate events, and 1998's occasionally grippingHalloween H20, which proved the former baby sitter was still haunted after 20 years.--Robert Horton』
price:$7.99
Warner Home Video
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Only problem - they set the bar too high for the future) 『Public Enemies was a reasonable close adaptation of the graphic novel. The artwork evoked the feel of the comic book, and the dialouge was straight out of the book in a lot of important places (Best byplay/accuracy: check out the scene where Superman is shot and Batman is trying to get the Kryponite out of him quickly. No spoilers here) And getting the actors who did Batman, Superman, and Luthor to return to the roles from the TV series added to the fun, experience tells after all. Now the only issue is that future DCU movies will not likely use actors who have popularized the characters from the TV shows for these DVDs and after Having Conroy, Daly, and Brown it may be a little disapointing. DC - take a cue from your competation. Hugh Jackman is now Wolverine, Robert Downey is Iron Man, etc. Too late for the Crisis on two Eaths DVD I know(and the preview for that was fun), but future DVDs can use actors that have made these characters familiar to our ears. 』
(Superman/Batman: Brokebat Mountain) 『I had high high expectations for Superman/Batman: Public Enemies when I ordered it from Amazon earlier this month. The previous Bat-film in the DC animated collection Gotham Knight was a fairly impressive series of adult-oriented vignettes. This is basically an extended Saturday morning cartoon. If that is what they were going for, why bother to include the very brief "crude comments" which warranted it receiving a pg-13 rating? It seems as if DC was hemming and hawing over whether to make it for kids or adults.
Batman and Superman's actions are often strangely homoerotic, they keep being placed into situations which require hand-holding and manly grunting. In addition, what was probably intended to be friendly banter seems like (as one reviewer already pointed out) awkward first-date conversation. The score is bland and vanilla, and the animation blocky. Perhaps I am a bit biased, as I find most Bats/Sups team-ups suck, because the Superman cast is invariably the one most utilized. Batman's rogues and allies are far more interesting, and far less lame.
On the plus side, there are a few nice touches in the fight sequences (Batman vs Lady Shiva was pretty bad-ass), the few crude comments that were in there were fairly humorous, and Power Girl looked drop-dead sexy. Not a complete waste of money to watch with your child, or if you are a diehard who collects everything Bat or Supes related. Rent it though, don't waste $15 on 67 minutes of mediocrity.
P.S. (SPOILER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The very end of the film is unintentionally hilarious as it seems like Superman is asking Batman out on a date. The Dark Knight declines, leaving Superman to make out with Lois. One can't help but think Supes is thinking of his pointy-eared companion while he lip-locks with his female sweetie.)
』
(Another great movie in the Timmverse) 『Superman/Batman: Public Enemies is a really nice presentation of the graphic novel in animated format. While we don't get to see as much action as in the comic itself, we do get the meat of things and still get to see some of the great matchups between these two heroes and their cohorts.
Taking off with the election of Lex Luthor to the Presidency, things quickly progress to Lex taking advantage of his position to turn public animosity against his hated nemesis Superman. With a dire threat looming over the entire Earth, he instead chooses to pursue his personal vendetta. Batman is caught in the crossfire, never branded with the same label that Superman receives, but certainly unwilling to bend a knee before Luthor in pursuit of the obviously innocent Superman.
The two heroes seek to save the Earth even while facing the opposition from cadres of villains after the reward for Superman and from well-meaning heroes deluded into following the letter of the law rather than its spirit. We get to enjoy the great Kevin Conroy as Batman's voice once again, along with Clancy Brown and Tim Daly reprising their roles as Luthor and Superman from the Superman Animated Series.
The second disc actually presents some nice special features. There is a good if typical feature on how they brought this graphic novel to the screen, along with an after-dinner gathering of creators and Conroy discussing the evolution of things from the early days of Batman the Animated Series through this film. There is also a nice preview of the Crisis on Two Earths movie that will be released next year, though why it has William Baldwin instead of Conroy as Batman is beyond me.
While I think they could have made a better single disc version by putting the specials from Disc 2 on Disc 1 in place of the rehashed features it has, the movie is worth getting. If you want to see the features, you'll need to get the two-disc set, since disc 1 has only features that have already appeared on other movies in this series.』
(OUTSTANDING!) 『I have to tell ya that I've never been a big fan of the Superman/Batman team ups. They just never really did much for me. But it's a cartoon movie where there are so few good ones nowadays (i.e. Superman/Doomsday GAG!), so I took a chance. This movie rocks! I cant say enough good things. First off they had all the voices from the series of the respective icons back for the show. I'm sorry but no one does a better voice over for Batman then Kevin Conroy, a better Superman then Tim Daly, or better Luthor then Clancy Brown. It's like the voice to Optimus Prime you just have to have THE guy that makes that character come alive. Secondly, the story was good, I mean making Batman/Superman bad guys?! How's that work? And i think for American animation it's quite good. I mean I love me some Anime and there's very few shows on this side of the pond to even hold a candle to that kind of detail but this works well mainly because of the animated series both of these characters had. You're just used to seeming them like this. Overall the only bad thing I could say about this show is there's only one of them! They need to get the exact same cast, writers, etc and do more! Enjoy!』
(Close, but no cigar.) 『This was fun to watch, but I wanted something else. I have the graphic novel and was ready for something closer to it. But, alas it was not to be.
For a feature presentation based on the two biggest stars in the DC Universe, it was strange that the film only lasted about an hour. Come on DC, these are your big guns! Give them their due.
I was a little annoyed by the way the plot was handled. Characters were under used and story lines were trimmed. Although I absolutely love Allison Mack as Chloe on Smallville, her Power Girl was silly. This definitely needed more back story to feel right. Also, most people wouldn't know who Captain Atom is and this version makes him look like a smuck. I get that he is the epitomy of the good soldier and always follows his orders patriotically. But its never explained why he would think Superman is an outlaw when everyone knows all the good Superman has done and all the bad Luthor has done. History is completely tossed on the trash heap with no explanation whatsoever.
Worst of all, I had a huge problem with one big plot hole. *Spoilery tidbits coming* When Luthor frames Superman for Metallo's demise, Supes looks towards Bats and says "You can't possibly believe this, you were with me the whole time." Now, technically, Batman wasn't. But, they WERE together when we (and they) last see Metallo alive. Why Batman so quickly questions Superman's integrity makes no sense? I understand the dynamics of their relationship, but, for whatever reason, that just bothered me.
On a side note, I did like what I thought was a nod to the old Composite Superman character from the 1960's (timewise I think). You'll know what I mean towards the end of the movie, if you are familiar with the character.
Even though I'm critical, I would say this is an above average movie. Voice acting of the main three is top-notch. I'll leave all the discussion about animation and the like to others. If you want to pass the time with some familiar heroes, you could do a lot worse than this. But if you have read the graphic novel, you probably won't like it as much.』 『A desperate solution for a troubled country: Lex Luthor for President with the Justice League in the service of the government. Only Batman and Superman stand against the new regime– and their disloyalty proves to be exactly what Luthor intended. Using their outcast status to instigate a scandal against Superman, Luthor finally tastes a victory in his vendetta against The Man of Steel. From Executive Producer Bruce Timm and voiced by the cast from both hit Batman and Superman animated TV series including Kevin Conroy, Tim Daly and Clancy Brown, this DC Universe Original Animated Movie of Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness’s popular graphic novel seethes with political intrigue and action-packed battles between heroes all believing they’re on the right side of the law.』 『Based on the six-issue comic-book arc by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuiness,Superman/Batman Public Enemiesfinds DC's stalwart heroes on the wrong side of the law. It's not too surprising, considering Lex Luthor has been elected President of the United States, and he sets up an elaborate scheme to frame his archenemy for murdering his henchman, Metallo. That puts a bounty on their heads that a horde of supervillains is determined to collect, and a good part of the movie is dedicated to all-out action against Gorilla Grodd, Captain Cold, and many, many others. And when it's not supervillains, Superman and Batman have to face off against heroes that Luthor has recruited to his administration, including Captain Atom, Power Girl, Katana, and Starfire. The movie is very faithful to its source material, reusing many of the dialogue lines, though without the internal monologues, and some of the situations toward the end of the book are missing.
At 69 minutes,Public Enemiesis fairly short for a DC Universe animated movie and perhaps because the original story is part of an ongoing series, it feels more like a string of episodes from one of executive producer Bruce Timm's TV series rather than an event likeWonder WomanorThe New Frontier. But it's entertaining to watch, and highlighted by the return of familiar voices Tim Daly (Superman), Kevin Conroy (Batman), and Clancy Brown (Luthor). Inside joke:Smallville's Allison Mack voices Power Girl.--David Horiuchi』
price:$9.19
Warner Home Video
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Blu-ray version very disappointing technical quality) 『My comments pertain only to the Blu-Ray version. The technical quality is very disappointing for me. The sharpness and detail does not compare to most of the other Blu-Ray titles I have watched. It is much improved over the DVD version, but that isn't saying much, because the DVD release of this title looked like a bad dub of a bad VHS tape. This Blu-Ray release is comparable to what the earlier DVD release should have looked like. The back indicates that it is released through the Turner and Warner Bros operations, so I suppose that says a lot. I wish that companies such as these would throw in the towel and turn this stuff over to companies that care at least a little bit about the quality of the product, as opposed to how much revenue it generates. They care only about how much revenue it generates, and for the most part could care less whether the technical quality is up to the standard for the media.』
(BD Review: Straight crap!) 『Let me start by saying that I love this film! I just gave away my DVD version expecting this to at least be up to standards on Blu-Ray quality, but it falls below standards.
The pro reviews got this one wrong - or they just let it off the hook. The picture quality looks as if it came from a 3rd generation print. It has tons of grain and scratches on it. It is clear that they just formatted it for BD and let it roll. I guess they look at box office performances and that decides if they should actually bring the film up to standards of the new medium. EVERY BD film should be what we expect it to be - 1080P HD!!
I almost regret giving away my DVD, but some scenes do show a little bit of HD, but most of the film is grainy, hazy, scratchy and shows a slime green hue on certain special effects like backgrounds. Maybe the budget on the film was not high to begin with, but this release should have maximized what it had. The sound on the other hand is really good with true surround sound! The sound out performs the picture by a mile and is the only thing that can trick you into thinking that the picture is decent.
They have been talking about doing a (another!!!) remake. I hate remakes and I see them as nothing more than Hollywood running out of ideas and a quick money grab. However, this one could use a remake (with non-British actors in AMERICA!!!!), as long as it is a part of the book series and follows the book and has the sequels as well.
If you gave away your DVD like I did waiting for this, then you must get it. If you did not, you can keep the DVD...』
(Straight from DVD to Blu-ray) 『I'm giving this 5 stars simply because of the movie. Logan's Run is one of the all-time Sci-Fi classics in my opinion. It tells the story of a civilization where there are no wants or needs, no disease, no jealousy, no anger, no sadness whatsoever. It is upotia. The catch is, and you knew there was one, that you have to die when you're 30. Just about all functions are controlled my a central machine (George Orwell would be proud) with discipline carried out by a police force called Sandmen, which are just the cream of the crop humans. Why does the perfect society need a police force? As you might have guess, some people don't want to die when they're 30, so the run and try to escape the city to a place called sanctuary. And that is the basic premise of the movie.
The story examines many concepts of how people react and behave in such a world. There of course is the Orwellian concept of central control. What is the price of pure, uninterrupted happiness? What will people risk to keep on living? Especially when they literally have nothing to lose. But the main thrust is what happens to a person when they find out that everything that they have ever been taught, everything they have ever believed turns out to be a lie. Can they accept it? Will they keep their beliefs when the truth is staring them straight in the face?
As for the blu-ray, it is a straight copy of the DVD, so there's no other goodies to go along with it. The problem is that there weren't that many goodies on the DVD. The only special feature is a commentary by Michael York (who place the title character), the director and producer. It was very interesting, don't get me wrong, but you could tell that the three had recoreded their commentary separately so there was no interaction between them, which is always nice.』
(A laughable waste) 『Gawd, what a disappointment. Somehow, I'd had fond memories from my teen years about this flick... I must have been pretty drunk or stoned (or both) at the time. Maybe I saw it at a drive-in on a hot date, and only really saw a few parts? Or maybe my teenaged libido just reacted to the then-rare excitement of seeing a brief glimpse or two of Jenny Aguttar's naked body, I don't know, but something possessed me to try to relive some past joys by buying this thing. What a mistake.
The only cast member who could even act his way out of a paper bag was Peter Ustinov, who must still be spinning in his grave to have ever been associated with this silly piece of tripe. And could that cardboard cutout really be the same Michael York who was so effective in Cabaret? Jordan and Aguttar... well, one never really expects much from them anyway. But it is actually painful to see Fawcett stumbling her way through this early movie role... you can almost hear the director yelling "look just like the poster, Farrah-- just smile, don't move!"
The props/effects are almost entirely laughable-- a "killer robot" who appears to be made from tinfoil, "energy guns" that look like halloween sparklers, fight and chase sequences that would fit right into any c-rated 60's Japanese monster movie, etc. The whole thing actually seems like more of a spoof on sci-fi flix; but sadly, it isn't... at least, not intentionally.
It's hard to believe this stinker came out the same year they were filming Star Wars, and the advent of the "new" sci-fi era... it really belongs back in the early 50's, with such "classics" as Invasion of the Green Saucer People from Another Planet. I guess this might serve as a pretty good party movie-- the guests could all get trashed and laugh their butts off at the sheer stupidity of the writing&acting.
With the exception of some of the "Washington in ruins" backdrops toward the end of the film, and maybe Ustinov's quirky character, the ONLY good thing about this movie is the wonderful score by Jerry Goldsmith-- one of the first real film composers to effectively use electronic effects merged with the usual orchestral arrangements. It would be worth it to search out this soundtrack on a cd, so's not to be distracted by the inanity of the movie itself.
Don't waste your time with this arfer. If you want to see some much better sci-fi's from that general time period, try Soylent Green, Rollerball, Planet of the Apes, or Silent Running (I won't even mention 2001-- that's in a class by itself). Hell, even Westworld and Zardoz were far better than this bit of shallow fluff.』
(WHERE ARE ALL THE EXTRAS???) 『Am I the only one who remembers the 3 Laserdisc CAV box set that came out in the late 90's with ALL THE MIRACULOUS Bonus features for Logan's Run? 100's of stills, 2 mini docs, stills and script from Deleted Scenes and a whole lot more. Warner owns the same MGM material, there's absolutely no reason for them NOT to release it on this Blu ray. Pathetic』 『Based on the 1976 science-fiction movie of a hedonistic society living in a huge bubble and taking for granted there is no life outside of it.』 『If you can stifle the urge to laugh at its pastel unisex costumes and futuristic shopping-mall décor, this extravagant science fiction film from 1976 is still visually fascinating and provocatively entertaining. Set in the year 2274, when ecological disaster has driven civilization to the protection of domed cities, the story revolves around a society that holds a ceremonial death ritual forall citizens who reach the age of 30. In a diseaseless city where free sex is encouraged and old age is virtually unknown, Logan (Michael York) is a "sandman," one who enforces this radical method of population control (but he's about to turn 30 and he doesn't want to die). Escaping from the domed city via a network of underground passages, Logan is joined by another "runner" named Jessica (Jenny Agutter), while his former sandman partner (Richard Jordan) is determined to terminate Logan's rebellion. Using a variety of splendid matte paintings and miniatures,Logan's Runearned a special Oscar for visual effects (images of a long-abandoned Washington, D.C., are particularly impressive), and in addition to fine performances by Jordan and Peter Ustinov, the film features '70s poster babe Farrah Fawcett in a cheesy supporting role. Jerry Goldsmith's semi-electronic score is still one of the prolific composer's best, andLogan's Runremains an interesting example of '70s sci-fi that precededStar Warsby less than a year.--Jeff Shannon』