Wimzie's House: Growing Up (2006) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This was a great series, and it is so cute. The main setting is a daycare of Muppet-like creatures who grapple with issues a three, four, or five year old might encounter. Nice, not annoying (to me, anyway!) and faintly educational in terms of social development. Fun, cute, and good for the car!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Wimzie's House: Growing Up (2006)

Click here for more information about Wimzie's House: Growing Up (2006)

Reunion Show (2006) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)GROWING UP I SPENT MANY OF MY HIGH SCHOOL NIGHTS AT THE FIERSIDE BOWL. THIS VIEDEO SHOWS THE TRUE FIERSIDE BOWL. SLAPSTICK IS ONE OF THE BEST PUNK/SKA BANDS TO COME OUT OF CHICAGO BY FAR. I HAVE SEEN THEM LIVE MANY OF TIMES. IF YOU WANT THE TRUE FELLING OF WHAT IS WAS LIKE TO SEE SLAPSTICK GET THIS VIDEO. BANDS LIKE THIS ONLY COME ALONG ONCE IN AWILE.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Reunion Show (2006)

SLAPSTICK was one of the biggest punk rock bands to come out of Chicago. They broke up in 1996, when every major label wanted to sign them and certain stardom would have followed. On November 23rd 1997, SLAPSTICK reunited to play one more show. The only reason was to raise money for a family in need. Over $7,000 was raised. This is a video of the 2nd of two shows. Hopefully you can share in the experience of one of the great bands to come from Chicago. Bonus pictures, commentary, interviews, and two unreleased audio tracks.

Get 8% OFF

Click here for more information about Reunion Show (2006)

Girlfriends - The Complete First Season (2000) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)For years now I've been out of touch with the "Girlfriends" TV show. For one, they kept moving it from Monday to some other day, then from one time to another, so I'd never know when to set the VCR. Whenever I could finally catch it, I'd never know what was going on, since "Girlfriends", like another show I'd like to see, "Providence", was serial in nature, in that it had a running story line. I finally gave up trying to watch it on TV, in fact, I've given up watching TV, period. However, I never really gave up wanting to just start over with the show, either through syndication or other means. I'm very happy then, that the DVD of the first season of "Girlfriends" is here at last.
I've just finished the first season through the four DVDs sent to me by Netflix rental. It left with quite the cliffhanger, giving me the feeling that things aren't going to be quite the same between the four women from here out. The writing for this show is great. It's about the lives of four black women of varying socioeconomic and marital status who have managed to forge a great relationship with each other: Attorney Joan, her best friend from childhood, Toni; their friend from college, Lynn; Joan's secretary Maya, and Joan's colleague William is there to offer the male perspective.
Tracee Ellis Ross, as Joan, is a fantastic comic actress; I love those segments where she thinks out loud to the audience! That she's the daughter of a show business legend makes for a good Jeopardy question, however the younger Ms. Ross has carved out a niche of her own as one of the new queens of comedy! And don't we all know people like Joan, the peacemaker who's always trying to fix someone's problems, with the best of intentions. Golden Brooks, as Maya, is a beautiful actress who gives her character a spiritual groundedness as the thus-far only married character. Maya may be lower on the totem pole socially than her boss and Toni, but she brings to the table a pride and intelligence that's not often considered from a secretary, and I like that about this character. On the other hand, Jill Marie Jones' Toni Childs brings all sorts of issues to the table, from skin color to the fact that the way to her heart is through her wallet; and haven't we all known, either personally or otherwise, someone whose sheer gall gets them into trouble and whom we feel obligated to rescue because we've know them so long? Persia White plays the striking young drifter who can't seem to reconcile with life outside of college. Lynn seems to be the flower child who is a couple of decades too late.
I wish I had a posse like this...without the drama, of course! Seriously, the writers have created four very believable women and put them in very believable situations, some of which are very serious, and still there's room for humor. I don't think there's another show like it, and it doesn't hurt that the executive producer of the show is Frasier's Kelsey Grammar.
"Girlfriends" is the best thing to happen to network television, and I hope this is the first of all seven seasons to be released to disc. It will be interesting to see how the show and the characters evolve from here. One thing I would like to see on future sets, is some commentary, either from the main actors or the guest artists or the director of each show. Don't just put the shows on and that's that; this is the only thing that was disappointing There should be extras for a show like this. Surely there were outtakes and other things that didn't make it to broadcast. I would have liked to have seen something on how "Girlfriends" came into being in the first place. This would have been good for a first DVD, but since we didn't get that I'm hoping subsequent releases will be more interesting.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Girlfriends - The Complete First Season (2000)

GIRLFRIENDS is a sophisticated comedy series that invites viewers into the lives of four professional African American women living in Los Angeles who are struggling with the weighty issues of life - men, love, money -- and more men. As they search for happiness in all its elusive forms, the four girlfriends rely on each other for support, reality checks, advice and for the laughter that everyone needs to make it in this crazy place we call the modern world.

Get 56% OFF

Click here for more information about Girlfriends - The Complete First Season (2000)

The O.C.: The Complete Third Season (2003) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)December 1, 2006 Addition: I wanted to add a note responding to my own question in my original headline: Can it rebound in Season Four? The great news is: Yes! If there were an Emmy given for "The Comeback Show of the Year," THE O.C. after its first five episodes would have to be a leading candidate. I will be honest: I initially tuned in just to verify that THE O.C. in its 4th season was as bad as it was in its 3rd. I was going to watch two or three episodes and then give up on it. The great news is that it has completely returned to form and is now as good as it has been since it first started. This was not expected! The main reason is has been so good has been that it has gotten back to enjoying the characters, instead of introducing a string of unlikable ones that no one can stand. So far this season, not a single irritating new character! I was afraid that they would make Caitlin into the new Marissa, but so far she hasn't been too bad. The biggest surprise has to be Taylor. I assumed that she would no longer be a part of the show this season, but they not only have brought her back, they've made her vastly more intersting and sympathetic than I would ever have imagined. She is actually now a character I like. Who'd a thunk it? Right now the show is as strong as it was in Season One. One of the best turnarounds I've ever seen a show make.
The third season of THE OC was an almost unbelievable come down from the first two fun seasons. The things that made people enjoy the show the first two seasons were largely pushed to the side, while the more irritating features of the first two seasons were brought to the fore and made the center of the show. On several occasions both I and my good friend who also watches the show debated about whether we were going to stop watching it. There is a point where the displeasure is watching the show threatened to overwhelm any pleasures it brought. Then, after a season of one unpleasantness after another, the show ended on a shocker. Normally one would require a Spoiler warning for this, but unfortunately Mischa Barton herself spoiled the ending by announcing on national TV a few days before the season finale that her character was going to die on the show. Why she did this has been debated. Was she trying to hurt the show? Was she just being stupid? Whatever the reason, what would have been one of the most shocking endings in recent TV history was common knowledge even before it aired.
What went wrong in Season Three? Well, the same things that went wrong in Seasons 1 and 2 but that played a smaller role each year: the introduction of exceedingly unpleasant and irritating characters who dominate the course of the show's narrative. In Season One this was mainly restricted to Oliver, one of the worst characters I've ever seen in a TV show. My guess is that the show's creative team misinterpreted what made the show popular in Season One. Instead of the fun alchemy between the younger members of the cast along with the narratives centering on the adult cast members--which I think was about 99% of the reason people liked the show--they imagined that the chaos injected into the show by Oliver's character was what people loved about it. My own belief is that people liked the show DESPITE Oliver and the chaos he created, not because of him. I'm sure the show's producers imagined that Oliver was a character that viewers loved to hate, instead of merely hating him, which was the actual case. So, in Season Two, the show's producers and writers gave even more characters that we merely hated (instead of loved to hate), the unlikable Alex (who was unlikable not because she became Marissa's lover but because she was merely unlikable) and Trey, Ryan's older brother.
Because the producer's misunderstood what people were liking about the show--people liked the main characters, not the situations generated by the minor, intensely unlikable characters who upset the show's chemistry--they flooded the third season with terrible characters. It started early on in the rehab facility, where we were introduced to the duplicitous Charlotte, a role on which they wasted the wonderful Jeri Ryan. Luckily, Charlotte didn't stay on the show very long, though she was extremely unpleasant while she did. Also early in the season was the terrible Dean Jack Hess, another thoroughly unlikable and wildly implausible character who seemed to have a personal vendetta against Ryan and Marissa. He too disappeared fairly early on. But by then we had been introduced to Johnny, a semi-professional surfer at the public school Marissa was forced to attend after she was kicked out of her private school (her dismissal being merely one more of a host of unbelievable developments). Now, in Johnny's defense, he was not for the most part a terrible character. But his crush on Marissa and Marissa's ongoing inability to do the commonsense things to protect her relationship with Ryan was part and parcel of the stupidity on the part of all the major characters that almost caused the show to unravel. But even with all these irritating characters, the show's producers weren't done. Taylor Townshend was not really a character but a cartoon of a character, someone determined to take over as the school's social leader with the departure of Marissa and as Seth's girlfriend. Now, I will concede that she did become less unlikable as the season went on, and I liked that the show tried to turn her from a bad to a good character. But throughout she remained intensely annoying. There were numerous other unpleasant characters, but the crown for the title of King of the annoying characters of the third season clearly belongs to Vollchek, Johnny's surfing competitor, petty thug, briefly Marissa's lover, and all around annoying guy. He is also the guy who causes Marissa's death. While he doesn't come up to the annoying level of Oliver, he is close.
As a result of this endless parade of unlikable characters and stupid behavior on the part of the main characters (except Summer, who seems to be the only character immune to occasional idiocy--her aside, there were numerous occasions when you wanted to smack all of the major characters aside the head and yell, "Will you get a grip!"), fan discontent grew and grew and ratings of the show fell precipitously. After the end of the season there were rumors that FOX was so displeased with the show that they considered canceling it. In the end, they agreed to bring it back for 16 episodes, starting it much later in the season's schedule and running it without repeats, with the possibility of adding additional episodes if the ratings recover and if it turns out that people watch the show with Marissa off the show. It may well turn out, however, that the terrible Season Three was the beginning of the end for THE OC.
My central complaint with the show--even more than the parade of awful guest characters--is that the show more and more abandoned what made the show fun in the first two seasons: the interplay between the central characters. I hated Oliver and Trey and Alex and Vollchek and Johnny et al. but loved Sandy standing up for his principles, the wonderful interplay between Summer and Seth, Ryan and Marissa's mutual attraction despite their backgrounds. Everything else I put up with so I could enjoy that part of the show. But more and more this all retreated to the background. To be honest, pretty much the only reason I continued watching the show throughout Season Three was to enjoy the improbable relationship between Summer and Seth. As unhappy as I was with Season 3, I will probably at least start off watching the show in Season 4 just to see how they are doing. But my interest in the show is at this point on life support.
No question that the single biggest development in the entire run of the show was the death of Marissa. As much as some fans want her to come back, she is definitely dead and definitely won't be back. Mischa Barton's departure from the show seems to be a mutual decision. As the show's highest profile character (she has appeared on numerous magazine covers the past three years), she has undoubtedly been contemplating leaving TV for the movies for some time, a move accelerated by her well-publicized financial obligations owing to a break up. Even if she and the producers wanted her back, she is already tied to several movies projects and unable to do so. There are many fans who watched the show just to see if Ryan and Marissa would get back together. For them her departure could be fatal to their interest in the show. But the fact is that almost all of the horrible characters I noted earlier were connected to the show via Marissa. Almost all of the worst things in the show were narratively tied to Marissa. So, there is a real chance that the show could develop in different and better directions. But I am fearful that the writers and producers will continue in the direction the show has gone, bringing in one awful character after another, having the main characters engage in self-defeating or self-destructive behavior. When I first started watching the show, it was largely because of elements it shared with a show like THE GILMORE GIRL (on which Adam Brody was a character). I was hoping for a comedy with dramatic subplots, but instead the show has descended more and more into melodrama with less and less comedy. But I'm hoping that in Season 4 they can shift the focus more onto Summer and Seth and thereby emphasize the comedic elements that made the show so much fun in the first two seasons. But, I'm prepared to be disappointed.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The O.C.: The Complete Third Season (2003)

Senior year. Prom. Graduation. College visits. Old friends. New problems. And plenty of Korean popstars. Ryan's savior complex becomes a recipe for disaster. Seth and Summer's relationship hits the rocks thanks to Seth's compulsion to edit the truth. As Kirsten attempts to put her life back together, Sandy assumes leadership of the Newport Group and finds himself the heir-apparent to Caleb Nichol's legacy of scandal. Marissa spirals out of control after little sis Kaitlin - a Julie Cooper in the making - returns home to stir the pot. And speaking of Julie Cooper, she's cast out of her Palace - into the slums of the OC.DVD Features:Music Video:Making of The Subways music videoFeaturette:What's In a Name?Featurette:From Script to Screen - The Party FavorGag ReelOther:Pass The Remote - Scene surfing Commentary.

Get 65% OFF

Click here for more information about The O.C.: The Complete Third Season (2003)

Doctor Who: Image of the Fendahl (Story 94) (2009) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Elaborately balanced between horrific and comedic, "Image of the Fendahl" comes in near the midpoint of Tom Baker's tenure as the Doctor, a justifiably classic phase of the series when those responsible for its making seem confident but not complacent that their efforts will entertain a wide segment of the BBC audience. That is, while a bit murkier and edgier than prior years, this is still "Doctor Who" as the quintessential family show--somehow working on several levels at once. On the simplest and most tangible level we have big slug-like monsters (and, this being the olden days before CGI, I think we should stop a moment and appreciate the inventive craftsmanship that endowed them with a mouthful of squirming writhing tentacles). On an equally thrilling if less visceral level, we have a finely-scripted tale of suspense and mystery. On yet more sophisticated levels yet, all of this is framed and informed by a complex and intriguingly speculative science fiction premise of astronomical scale spanning eons--which might feel overly remote if it didn't all come to a crisis within the familiar context of rural England in the 1970's. And yet all these levels cohere in harmony rather than jarring and grating with each other, which takes astounding storytelling skill if you think about it.
It seems natural to characterize this story as the last gasp of the so-called "gothic" tendency seen in the show in the mid-70's. Certainly this is apt in that for all intents and purposes "Image of the Fendahl" follows the plot logic of a good horror story (in some ways it rather reminds me of John Carpenter's 1987 film "Prince of Darkness", in fact). It also works the old reliable "Doctor Who" alchemy of reinterpreting standard horror motifs in a science fiction idiom: the pentagram is a "neural relay", the inability to move as something wicked approaches (a prototypical nightmare) is due to some sort of psychic force, a pinch of salt to ward of evil works because sodium chloride "prevents control of localized disruption of osmotic pressures" and so on. For all that, though, this story is somewhat atypical. In such beloved classics as "Pyramids of Mars" and "the Brain of Morbius" and such, the scientific technical interpretation straightforwardly replaces the supernatural one, utterly displacing and invalidating it--a well-intended nod anyway to the show's original mandate to encourage an interest in science (and history) among its younger viewers. Here things are not so simple, however. The premodern, pre-scientific, indeed pre-Christian manner of explaining these phenomena, especially as they are articulated by the local wise woman/"witch" Martha Tyler, are portrayed not as backwards, ignorant, and wrong but merely as different, as an alternate frame of reference every bit as functional when the Fendahleen are slithering towards you down the hall. You know things are getting weird when the Doctor reels off three mutually-conflicting explanations for what's happening as if all three are equally valid and equally invalid. That's surely eccentric even by the Fourth Doctor's standards. But for those of us who suspect that a little epistemological doubt is healthy, it's also rather refreshing.
Multiple levels of significance and sophistication would mean little if not for the wonderfully varied cast of characters we have here though, all of them saved from the brink of stereotype and brought to life by impeccable acting of the first order as well as a superb script sensitive to the finer points of characterization. One actually cares what happens to them, and that's the ultimate sorcery that makes or breaks a tale.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Doctor Who: Image of the Fendahl (Story 94) (2009)

DOCTOR WHO:EP 94 IMAGE OF THE FENDA - DVD Movie

Get 42% OFF

Click here for more information about Doctor Who: Image of the Fendahl (Story 94) (2009)

Kung Faux - Vol. 1 (2003) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)There's no doubt that you will almost die laughing while watching these Kung Faux DVDs. They're smart, witty, and so unexpected. However my main complaint is that there are COMMERCIALS! Yes, commercials! Advertisements for various products run two to three times within one episode and then there's about 5-10 minutes of commercials between each episode. Another problem is that there is only two episodes on each DVD, which would be extremly pricey if you paid the full $17.99 Amazon asks for each of the 5 DVDs. I suppose you could say the many extras on the disc make up for there only being two episodes but spending $90 to own the complete series is outrageous!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Kung Faux - Vol. 1 (2003)

The "Kung Faux" TV series can be described as a "REMIX" of classic kung fu films from the 1970's which have been cut down to half hour length then re-combined with new music and voice over dialogue from classic hip hop artists & pop culture icons.

Click here for more information about Kung Faux - Vol. 1 (2003)

Charlie and Lola, Vol. 1-8 (2008) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Okay, so I loved Charlie and Lola the first time we flipped on Disney for Baby Jane, but if it's possible, I have fallen further in love with this show since I bought the first two seasons in boxed set. Here's why:
***The children are thoughtful and kind to one another (no bratty sass);
***Charlie and Lola are loving brother and sister in an age where siblings are rivals;
***They work through their problems together;
***They use their imaginations, in fact, the show's foundation is based on using the imagination;
***The kids are adorable, realistic to their ages, and have wonderful senses of humor.
16-month old Baby Jane watches an episode before bedtime with a big grin and smiling eyes, and I feel good about what she's absorbing. Heck, it's even soothing to have on in the background while I'm doing dishes. We've watched through volume five, and so far picture and sound quality has been excellent. I'll be watching this show when I'm fifty, it brings such a good feeling of love and humor into our home.
Thank you Lauren Child. You must have a beautiful heart.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Charlie and Lola, Vol. 1-8 (2008)

Item Name: Charlie and Lola, Vol. 1-8; Studio:BBC Warner

Get 51% OFF

Click here for more information about Charlie and Lola, Vol. 1-8 (2008)

Best Years: Complete Second Season (2008) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The first season was soooo amazing! It was my favorite show and I couldn't wait for the second season. But it took over a year for it to come out and when it did it was awful! The characters acted like they weren't even them, the show became really stupid. Too bad, because the first season was awesome.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Best Years: Complete Second Season (2008)

Samantha Best (Charity Shea) returns to Charles University feistier, wiser and ready to take on her sophomore year. With new \'frenemies" to watch out for as well as two romantic interests competing for her attention, it\'s going to be a year to remember.

Get 40% OFF

Click here for more information about Best Years: Complete Second Season (2008)

SpongeBob SquarePants: SpongeBob vs. the Big One (2009) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This DVD contains my favorite episodes: SpongeBob vs. The Big One, The Splinter, Slide Whistle Stooges, A Life in a Day, Sun Bleached, and Giant Squidward. I haven't seen "Spongebob vs. The Big One" or "Slide Whistle Stooges", but "The Splinter", "A Life in a day", "Sun Bleached", and "Giant Squidward" are my fav eps! When this DVD comes out i'm gonna buy it!
Here's the episode descripitions of each episode:
* SpongeBob vs. The Big One - SpongeBob and his friends are suddenly swept away out of Bikini Bottom after a big wave hits. Now to get back home, SpongeBob and his friends must ride the big wave. Guest starring Johnny Depp as Jack Kahuna Laguna.
* A Life in the Day - After Larry publicy humiliates Spongebob and Patrick on the beach claiming they never do anything dangerous, Patrick takes up daredevil stunts so he can be "living like Larry". But will his stunts get him hurt, or worse?!
* The Splinter - This episode is very similar to the Season 1 episode "Suds". After Spongebob gets a splinter in his finger, he's afraid to tell Mr. Krabs because of the "If a worker is injured, he goes home" policy. So he asks Patrick to remove it, but Patrick only makes it worse.
* Sun Bleached - Spongebob and Patrick try to get tans so they'll be invited to a beach party, but when Spongebob stays under the tanning booth too long, he becomes "sun bleached".
* Giant Squidward - After Spongebob and Patrick spray Squidward with "growth spray", he becomes 50 feet tall. And the Bikini Bottom residents fear him thinking he's a "monster".
* Slide Whistle Stooges (unaired episode) - SpongeBob and Patrick get new slide whistles and keep playing them, much to the annoyance of Squidward. He is getting so annoyed of it until he buys one and begins to like the toy himself.

Click Here to see more reviews about: SpongeBob SquarePants: SpongeBob vs. the Big One (2009)

SPONGEBOB VS THE BIG ONE - DVD Movie

Get 12% OFF

Click here for more information about SpongeBob SquarePants: SpongeBob vs. the Big One (2009)

The Beat: Legendary R&B and Soul Shows From 1966, Vol. 3 (Shows 10-13) (2005) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Every once in a while a premium priced DVD set comes along that it worth every dime of its list price. Such a set is The !!!! Beat, a long-forgotten music show from 1966 that is absolutely unbelievable in its scope and quality. The DVD's of this important series are released by Bear Family Records, long known for their quality re-issues of entire catalogues of some of the most revered artists in roots music.
The !!!! Beat, which followed hot on the heels of The Night Train, the first all-black music television show, began production in January 1966, and was the brain-child of famed radio disc-jockey William "Hoss" Allen. The !!!! Beat did The Night Train one better; it was produced in full-color, and guest-starred a who's-who of national and regional stars from the world of Blues and R & B. The six-volume DVD series contains all 26 episodes, and was shot at WFAA in Dallas Texas, one of the few Southern stations to have color facilities at the time. Interestingly, all of the performers were recruited from one of four cities; Nashville, Dallas, Chicago or New Orleans. Most of the performers were managed by "Hoss" Allen or his associates.
The video quality is generally excellent, although there are some imperfections in the source tapes due to the age of the materials. Each DVD contains 4 or 5 half-hour episodes; the performers range from some of the biggest names in R & B or Blues of the time to relative unknowns. Even so, the performances are generally spirited and of the highest artistic quality. Although a number of the performances are lip-synched to any given artist's hit records, many songs were taped "live" with the show's excellent house band. According to the notes in the 20-page booklet which accompanies each DVD, "live" takes outnumber the lip-synched performances about two to one. Each booklet contains the fascinating story behind the show, and a brief bio of each artist! Take a chance on any one volume, and you may find yourself buying the whole series, which is exactly what happened to me.
Volume Three includes performances by Jimmy Church, Wanda Rouzan, Gatemouth Brown, Louis Jordan, Charles "Charlie" Hodges, Howard & the Commanders, The Mighty Hannibal, Little Gary Ferguson, Johnny Taylor, The Beat Boys, The Dolls, Bobby Powell, Rodge Martin, Maurice & The Radiants, and The Poppies.
Highly recommended.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Beat: Legendary R&B and Soul Shows From 1966, Vol. 3 (Shows 10-13) (2005)

Once THE !!!! BEAT show was only a legend. Fans and collectors heard that there was a T. V. show in the mid-1960s that captured the very best of the soul and R&B singers of the day. Some said it was made in Nashville and some said that it was made in Dallas. Now, nearly 40 years later, Bear Family has all the answers. All the episodes still exist! It really was in color! And whereas once just fragments of the shows made their way onto bootlegs, now the entire series is available in first-generation quality. This DVD of The !!!! Beat T. V. program contains shows 10 through 13, recorded in 1966. Features Jimmy Church, Wanda Rouzan, Gatemouth Brown, Louis Jordan, Charles 'Charlie' Hodges, Frank Howard & The Commanders, The Mighty Hannibal, Johnny Taylor, The Beat Boys, The Dolls, Rodge Martin, Maurice & The Radiants, Bobby Powell, The Poppies and others.

Click here for more information about The Beat: Legendary R&B and Soul Shows From 1966, Vol. 3 (Shows 10-13) (2005)

ABC Primetime - Mel Gibson's Passion (2004) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If you're a fan of Gibson and "The Passion of the Christ" (like I am), buy this DVD. It's worth it to hear Gibson explain his reasons for making the film and to hear him discuss his personal beliefs.
However, the interview is also a testament to the media's incredible anti-Christian bias. Diane Sawyer did not even bother to veil her bias. The scowl on her face throughout the interview is shocking, considering journalists are supposed to be objective. It was clear she was furious with Gibson for "daring" to make a Christian film. (A true journalist, she is not. If one can decipher where a journalist falls on an issue, that journalist has absolutely failed his/her profession.) For that reason, I gave the DVD 4 stars instead of 5 stars.
Diane Sawyer also manages to give screen time to a funny-looking renegade former priest who does nothing but make a fool of himself. Why is this man qualified to speak and what does he have to do with the movie??? I'm sure Sawyer thought the fact that he's a priest (never mind that he's a FORMER priest), the fact that he makes offensive comments about Jesus Christ, and his criticizing the movie was enough to include this man in the interview. How low will Diane Sawyer sink? Moral of the story: claim that you're Christian, say some mean things about Jesus Christ, and you'll get screen time!!
Notice the incredibly antagonistic questions she throws at Gibson as compared to the soft-ball questions she throws at the movie's critics.
Overall, the interview will upset your fairness sensibilities but it's worth buying the DVD to listen to Gibson. I'm also looking forward to having this DVD around in future years when I want to recall what this controversy was about. What a hero Gibson is to have endured all this persecution, merely for making a movie about Jesus Christ that portrayed Him in (shock!) a positive light.
Hats off to you, Mel!
Diane Sawyer, go back to journalism school.

Click Here to see more reviews about: ABC Primetime - Mel Gibson's Passion (2004)

In this episode of Primetime, ABC News' Diane Sawyer interviews filmmaker Mel Gibson about his highly controversial movie, "The Passion of the Christ."Gibson discusses his own religious beliefs with Sawyer and explains how his faith helped him overcome struggles with addiction and other personal problems at a spiritual low point in his life. These dark experiences ultimately led him to make "The Passion of the Christ." He responds to charges that the movie's portrayal of the Jewish role in the death of Christ will encourage anti-Semitism. He also elaborates on comments he's made about the Holocaust. In addition, he tells why he felt it necessary to exhibit such a graphic depiction of Christ's crucifixion on film, and discusses his decision to tell the story in both Aramaic and Latin. Sawyer also interviews Abraham Foxman, the national director of the Anti-Defamation League, who shares his views on thePassion of the Christ." Religious scholars, members of the clergy and others assess the film's potential impact. Critics, theologians and film aficionados won't want to miss this exclusive interview about one of the most emotionally charged movies of our time - "The Passion of The Christ." Approx. 40 mins.

Click here for more information about ABC Primetime - Mel Gibson's Passion (2004)

Devil's Diary (2007) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I feel the need to see all Alexz Johnson movies - she's one of my favorite actresses.
This one was a bit off in places - I found it amusing that the "popular" crowd was stereotypically cheerleaders and jocks again, but even funnier were the awkward nun-like cheerleader uniforms.
Alexz's character was by far the most likable because she is who she is and doesn't care what anyone else thinks. Her best friend is different and takes criticism from other students that have clear faults themselves, very hard. Not that anyone would blame her. She finds a diary in the cemeary and starts writing...soon after, the things she writes that she wished would happen DO happen. And it IS funny. Then the "popular girls" eavesdrop and find out what she's doing as Dominique (Alexz) gets worried about the journal making her friend dark and evil little by little. The journal gets stolen and carnage ensues as it travels to more ambitious aka more evil hands.
The ending "six weeks later" is a little strange and doesn't explain alot - there were others that saw what happened and knew about the book, but it seems Dom is on her own.
I wouldn't mind a sequel starring Alexz again, but it's probably not likely...
Some of the things that happen are a little - disturbing and extreme for a "Lifetime" movie, and pranks escalate to gruesome death pretty fast. Not recommended for kids.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Devil's Diary (2007)

In the hands of high school kids, even an innocent diary can cause trouble. But when a group of small-town teenagers finds the \'Devil's Diary," a book that embodies the evil of Satan by physically manifesting any evil thought that is written in it, all hell breaks loose. Unearthed after centuries of concealment, the Devil's Diary wreaks havoc and destruction on the high school students who found it, and their entire community. Can their town be saved from complete ruin?

Get 40% OFF

Click here for more information about Devil's Diary (2007)

Birds of Prey: The Complete Series (2002) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)After five long years of fans begging and pleading, the way too-short TV series Birds of Prey is getting a complete DVD release! The news is truly worth shouting about.
Loosely based on DC Comics and a variety of other sources with a touch of Marvel's the X-Men thrown in, the series continues the legend of The Batman.
We enter the future, dark and fantastic world of New Gotham City. Long after The Batman has driven himself into exile, his legacy lives on in the form of the Birds of Prey - Black Canary, Oracle, and the Huntress.
From the creators of the CW hit Smallville, Birds of the Prey was produced in 2002 for the now defunct WB, but had only 13 episodes before cancellation. Since then, its devoted fan base worked tirelessly to have the series released on DVD. It was a really exciting action show, breaking new ground because ALL of the lead characters were women.
This boxed set collects all 13 episodes and a never-collected-on-DVD before Flash-animated series "Gotham Girls."
Awesomely, it also includes the unaired pilot, which featured Sherilyn Fenn (Twin Peaks) in the role of Dr. Quinzel. Mia Sara was later cast as Quinzel in the series. She also appeared in the AIRED pilot. Interestingly, all of the scenes featuring the character in the AIRED pilot were reshot with Sara, word-for-word.
Also of note, the aspect ratio of the episodes in the set will be full frame, but will have dark bars on top and on bottom to mimic widescreen.
While normal citizens slept, the Birds of Prey flocked together to fight crime on the streets of New Gotham City. Several years after the city was abandoned by Batman, the awesome threesome of Huntress (Ashley Scott), Oracle (Dina Meyer), and Black Canary (Rachel Skarsten) was formed. Huntress is the daughter of Batman and Catwoman, and can smell danger from miles away. Black Canary has the gift of clairvoyance and Oracle leads the team through her cyber experience, despite being wheelchair bound by Batman's nemesis, the evil Joker.
When the series opens, we learn that New Gotham's Batman has disappeared leaving behind a daughter from his long-time love Catwoman. Her name is Helena Kyle, who transforms herself into the mysterious superhero known as "The Huntress." Helena has hypersensitive senses and agility, but uses her gifts selfishly. Fate brings her face-to-face with her choices as well as a wheel-chair-bound Barbara Gordon, the hero Oracle, who befriends her but agrees to train her only if she uses her powers for good.
She teams up with Barbara, who had been "Batgirl" prior to being paralyzed by the Joker. By day, Barbara is a teacher at New Gotham High, but by night she fights crime from her secret lair in the New Gotham Clock Tower.
The two meet a determined Dinah Redmond, a young woman who was drawn to New Gotham to learn more about her powers. Dinah is a touch-telepath and psychic who had terrifying dreams about Batgirl's brutal incident that resulted in her paralysis. The Huntress resists working with Dinah, but Oracle convinces her to give the younger woman a chance. Now, they must learn not only how to work together as New Gotham's protectors, but also as a family.
Special recognition goes to Mark "Star Wars" Hamill who briefly reprises his award-winning voice role as the Joker from the iconic classic, Batman: the Animated Series. In Birds of Prey, "Mister J" on-camera is portrayed by actor/stuntman Roger Stoneburner but Hamill's voice was dubbed over Stoneburner's performance.
During the course of the series, the women are often confronted with schemes masterminded by the Joker's on-and-off girlfriend, psychiatrist Dr. Harleen "Harley Quinn" Quinzel (Mia Sara), but they always prevail and eventually beat her at her own game.
Other characters of note are: Alfred Pennyworth (Ian Abercrombie), who serves Helena as heir to the Wayne estate, and Police Detective Jesse Resse (Shemar Moore), confronted with crimes and abilities he cannot explain.
A central feature of the series is the concept of metahumans: Individuals born with powers that cannot be explained. No two metahumans have the same specific ability (or set of abilities) and there exists a whole sub culture of metahuman society that the outside world knows nothing about.
It is this world that Detective Reese is drawn into, reluctantly teaming up with Huntress and the Birds of Prey to defeat metahuman criminals. At first, he is disapproving of Helena's vigilantism, even trying to arrest her, but eventually he realizes there is a need for the Birds of Prey to take down criminals the police can't handle.
Episodes in this four-disc collection are: the Pilot; Slick; Prey for the Hunter; Three Birds and a Baby; Sins of the Mother; Primal Scream; Split; Lady Shiva; Nature of the Beast; Gladiatrix; Reunion; Feat of Clay; and Devil's Eyes.
Very popular theme song "Revolution" was performed by Aimee Allen.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Birds of Prey: The Complete Series (2002)

Who will stand up to villains now that a heartbroken Dark Knight has mysteriously vanished? Never fear, New Gothamites, a trio of champions is ready to take wing – and Helena, the daughter of Batman and Catwoman, is among them. She calls herself Huntress and crime is her prey. Teenaged Dinah is the youngest of the group, learning as she goes and gifted in clairvoyance. And overseeing the awesome threesome’s high-tech nerve center is Batgirl. Left wheelchair-bound by The Joker, she has reinvented herself as Oracle, the team’s cyber expert. Huntress, Dinah, Oracle: They are the Birds of Prey. Fighting together. Living together. And soaring into adventure together in 13 breathtaking live-action episodes.

Get 58% OFF

Click here for more information about Birds of Prey: The Complete Series (2002)

Power Rangers SPD - Zapped (Vol. 5) (2005) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Out of the whole S.P.D. series, I must say that Volumes 3 and 4 run a tie for the best. In volume 5, the powers rangers seem to have weakened a bit. When Grumm finally turns Morgana into her adult self, she is determined to become a child again, but she has to defeat the power rangers first. So she gets morphed up and seems to be able to take on all of them by herself. The power rangers seem to be taking one beating after another. Even Cruger is geetting his tail kicked.
And then comes Omega. He is actually a ranger sent from the future to help them out. If you have seen Vol 2 he was Sam, the boy who could make stuff disappear. He was also the little sparkly ball in Volume 4 that took out all the Krybots in "Perspective". Anyway, he is incredible, with all kinds of powers that they don't have. He is also a little arrogant, and has his own hero complex. Of course since his is the new guy, and can kick [...] the others, especially Sky, are jealous.
There are five episodes: "Messenger" Parts I and II, "Zapped" and "Reflection" parts I and II. The messenger episodes deal with the arrival of Omega on the scene who saves the day and then the other rangers get to help him out. He basically told them to stay out of his way with their outdated equipment which ticks them all off. Morgana enlists the help of two new creatures. "Shorty" and His brother "Devastation" who are hard to beat, not including her. In Zapped, Morgana enlists the help of a crooked magician to help her take down the PR, but is foiled again by omega and the others. The rangers get into trouble for disobeying Cruger and going on a stakeout that was assigned to omega. "Reflections focuses on Sky a little more. We find out why he wanted to be the red ranger so badly: His Father was a red ranger. For some reason, a bunch of theives that they have already battled seem to keep popping up, but they are still contained. Cruger sends Sky to question a criminal mastermind who is able to travel through any reflection. The criminal keys Sky in on who the real criminal is, and in exchange Sky must tell him his saddest memory. Sky tells him about his father who was killed in battle. When he starts crying, one of his tears hit the floor and the criminal is able to escape. Cruger left out an important factor about the criminal: he is the one responsible for killing Sky's father. Meanwhile, Jack has some new equipment that turns him into this ultimate unstoppable warrior that he lets Sky borrow to take the criminal down. If you saw the bonus episode "Wormhole" on vol 4 the you have seen this stuff. There was also a totally lame part about Piggy pledging his allegience to Grumm, he was been helping both sides and Grumm forces him to choose. Grumms new plans sort of leave you hanging. Like I said, not as good as the others, but a must have in the collection

Click Here to see more reviews about: Power Rangers SPD - Zapped (Vol. 5) (2005)

Everything is on the line when a message from the future forces our fearless team to stand tall! All seems lost when the Power Rangers encounter two alien rogues ready for action. In their hour of need, a mysterious Ranger from the future arrives onto the scene with the miraculous Omegamax Cycle. And, while an outlaw is on the loose, jealousy of the new Ranger threatens the team. In action-packed adventures that go to the mega-morphing extreme, only courage and determination will keep S.P.D. flying high!

Click here for more information about Power Rangers SPD - Zapped (Vol. 5) (2005)

Ghost Hunters: Season Five, Part One (2009) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I agree with G. Kavanagh and Never Again. I missed the whole season, so I bought this and was TOTALLY disappointed. This show has gone downhill.
It's now got a circus-like atmosphere. They brand themselves as being "pros"-enough so that they can pass themselves off as training people in that "Survivor-style" joke called Ghost Hunters Academy (ugh. I lasted half an episode)--but it's suddenly okay to bring totally untrained celebrities on the show? And the untrained celebrities run around cracking stupid (no, not funny, cro-magnon level) jokes and giggling? What happened to "serious" and "scary"?
It is also no longer entertaining--in fact, I'd say it induces major ennui--having fallen into formula. I can sit there and just about recite everything they're going to say. I was hoping they'd get over that after Season 4, but it didn't get better, it got worse.
If you MUST see this season, get it somewhere for free or hit up YouTube and make up your mind before wasting the money. If you're used to Seasons 1 and 2, this is a travesty. Rest assured, I'll no longer be buying DVDs--if I feel at all compelled to check out Season 6, I'll be doing it without paying a dime.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Ghost Hunters: Season Five, Part One (2009)

The all-real supernatural adventures of Jason and Grant, plumbers by day and ghost hunters by night, get even scarier in the hit fifth season! Now one of TV's most popular shows returns as Jason, Grant and the rest of the TAPS team cross the country investigating paranormal claims youll never forget including the Betsy Ross House, Star Island, the Garden State Asylum, Essex County Penitentiary and even ghosts from the Civil War. Leave all the lights on -- the Ghost Hunters are back! Episodes: Betsy Ross House, Star Island, Edith Wharton Estate, Club Dead, Soul Searching, Titanic Terror, Crossing Over, Garden State Asylum, Inhuman Entity, I am Not Guilty, Civil Wars Spirits, Essex County Penitentiary.Stills from Ghost Hunters: Season Five, Part One

Get 54% OFF

Click here for more information about Ghost Hunters: Season Five, Part One (2009)

Code Monkeys: Season 1 (2007) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Originally airing on the G4 network, Code Monkeys is from the same minds behind Adult Swim's Minoriteam, which will either tell you right now if this is up your alley or not. Code Monkeys revolves around a crew of video game developers in the 80's, and the crazy hijinks that ensue when they get a new boss in the form of the gun-toting, money hungry Texan Larrity. The main characters the show revolves around are sissy-boy Jerry and the wisecracking Dave; who are among a crew that also features a role-playing nerd and the lone black employee. What follows involves the crew tangling with Hitler's descendants, taking a trip to prison, and getting the chance to make a game based on Steven Spielberg's E.T. (one of the absolute best episodes of the whole series). While Code Monkeys is often inspired lunacy with some great visual gags, there are a number of moments where no one will be laughing. However, the good very much outweighs the bad with Code Monkeys, and the show as a whole is very enjoyable, with enough old-school video game references to make any gamer smile. If you've never watched Code Monkeys before but dig much of the Adult Swim comedy programming, chances are you'll dig this as well.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Code Monkeys: Season 1 (2007)

Grab your joystick and press start for G4 s smash hit comedy of 8 bit proportions! Set in the 1980s at the dawn of the home computer era, Code Monkeys revolves around the video game company GameAvision and its two star programmers, Dave and Jerry. Together these two best-bud slackers are destined for dysfunctional greatness. From Adam de la Peña, the twisted mind behind Comedy Centrals I'm With Busey and creator of Adult Swims Minoriteam comes a new animated series that Wired magazine hails as veering into the wildly surreal. Bonus Features:A Look Behind the Scenes of Code Monkeys, Code Monkeys Daily Pranks, Original Barfight and Crosswalk Game Promos, Camera Tests, Gaming Tips From G4 s Kristin Holt, Original GameAvision Games, Downloadable Wallpapers and Posters

Get 20% OFF

Click here for more information about Code Monkeys: Season 1 (2007)

It's a Big, Big World: Be Healthy and Happy (2007) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have bought several of the Big, Big World DVD's, and my granddaughter absolutely loves them. She is one year old and sits to watch the DVD with a big smile on her face. She get excited during all the music portions of the show and dances. These DVDs are the best purchase I have made so far as a new grandmother! I would absolutely recommend purchasing them. I'm going for the whole collection, and will purchase some for gifts. I want to share them with everyone!

Click Here to see more reviews about: It's a Big, Big World: Be Healthy and Happy (2007)

Join in the adventures of Snook, the charismatic sloth who lives in the World Tree with his colorful animal friends! Together they investigate the world around them and discover how different things live, grow and change.

Click here for more information about It's a Big, Big World: Be Healthy and Happy (2007)