Shanghai Noon / Shanghai Knights (2-Movie Collection)

"Shanghai Noon" has long been one of my favorite American Jackie Chan films, featuring not only classic Chan combats but also a partnership with a non-Asian actor that is lively and enlightening instead of depressing and demeaning; it was directed by a JC fan who was invested in presenting the Hong Kong Jackie persona that the world loves in a more Hollywood format that American audiences were comfortable with, and Tom Dey absolutely got it right.

With a witty "fish out of water" story that pays homage to the great Westerns (from glossing "High Noon" to naming Chan a Chinese sound-alike for John Wayne) while playing havoc with the genre's conventions, and a great cast from both East and West (supporting standouts include HK martial arts actor Yu Rong-guan using an array of Chinese weaponry, American Roger Yuan playing an Imperial villain, and Xander Berkeley as an ethically challenged lawman), the film manages to be exciting, endearing, amusing, and really quite amazing.

"Shanghai Knights," while not as good a film, and with a lesser director, is still a worthy second outing. As with most sequels, there is a bit of reaching in order to unpin the happy ending of the first film and reunite the protagonists in a new adventure, but the lack of a more original and compelling script is made up for with some eye popping action (including two sequences that morph the classic bits of Harold Lloyd's "Safety Last" and Gene Kelly's "Singin' In The Rain" into brilliant Chan martial mayhem), and a battle with rival Hong Kong martial arts star Donnie Yen. Best of all, the odd couple chemistry of fast talking Owen Wilson and fast moving Jackie Chan remains a highlight. It'a a pity they didn't do more films together.

The combination of both films into a single Blu-ray Disc works fine, due to the increased ability to hold information, and all the special features of the individual DVDs are included as well. The upgrade in image is substantial, and the price is reasonable, so if you really like either or both of these films, the Blu-ray is worth getting.

these films are good owen wilson is funny jackie chan can kick ass lucy liu is cute the first one is better I love westerns

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Good standby movie when you can't find just the right thing to watch. Fun extras. Love the outtakes from each movie.

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Owen Wilson and Jackie Chan are a great team. Owen Wilson is great in any movie he is in. Jackie Chan is funny and does some great things with the rope and other fight spots. The shot with them in the tubs was great and very funny.

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If you enjoyed the theatrical films at the movies, you'll be pleased with the transfers. The movies are very enjoyable for the entire family.

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Where Eagles Dare

Quite simply one of the greatest war movies ever made. A top notch thriller loaded with action, espionage and double crosses, "Where Eagles Dare" is the kind of movie that Hollywood just doesn't make anymore. This isn't some politically correct drama steeped in reality. No, this is good guys vs. bad guys. This is pure unabashed fantasy which keeps the audience on the edge of its seat. This is just darn good entertainment!

Richard Burton is absolutely cunning as the British agent who leads an elite group of soldiers behind enemy lines and into a seemingly unpenetrable German castle to rescue an imprisoned American General. A young Clint Eastwood is the only American on the mission. Clint is his usual cool and calm self. However he, like the audience, isn't sure who to trust. Somebody's a double agent, but exactly who is anyone's guess. Don't worry about figuring it out, just sit back and enjoy the drama. You'll love the growing tension and suspicion between Burton and Eastwood.

The journey into the castle is classic heart-stopping drama. Even better is Burton's fight with a German soldier high atop a ski lift -truly one of the most riveting action sequences ever filmed. Bullets are flyin' and bombs are blastin' throughout. In the end, heroes emerge while evil perpetrators get their just due. Classic, absolutely classic!

And yes, as several reviewers have noted, the stunning scenery and beautiful cinematography in this film would greatly benefit from a widescreen DVD treatment. So, how 'bout it, I want my DVD!

If you want action and scenic Austrian locations, this film has it. Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood star in the movie adaptation of Alistair MacLean's novel (MacLean also wrote the screenplay). From the beginning of the film with agents parachuting out of an original German Junkers 52 to the life or death pursuit at the end of the film, this video is jam-packed with action.

Expect much of the usual MacLean storyline in this film as a handful of agents, plan gone awry, destroy a large contingent of the German Army while challenged by double agents in their midst. Much like "Force Ten from Navarone" and " The Guns of Navarone," a World War Two buff might wonder why so much of the Wehrmacht was located somewhere other than the front. No matter.

The cinematography is excellent and the locations stunning in Winter beauty. The film's musical score by itself is wonderful. The DVD release is very high quality. By the way, the soundtrack CD is also available. It's the perfect thing to listen to on a snowy day.

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Back when I was a teenage Alistair MacLean fan, I remember staying up all night reading this novel, which was actually adpated from the film (MacLean wrote the movie first!). It was probably MacLean's most exciting book: non-stop intrigue, obfuscation and action, and it is a replica of the movie. So that tells you what to expect here. Plus, we have the added pleasure of watching the screen's oddest couple of all time in Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood. Burton, in an action movie for a major change, does a great job with his fight scenes, and carries the twists and turns of the plot with aplomb. Eastwood, little more than a hired assassin here, is at his steely and cool best, straight out of Leone's Italian westerns. Throw in a couple of sexy female agents, incredible stunts on a cable car, plenty of machine gun fire, explosions, car chases, and a stirring, heart-pounding music score, and you have the perfect Saturday afternoon popcorn movie. What more could you ask for? You'll be on the edge of your seat the whole time, continually asking, "What the heck's really going on here?"

Read Best Reviews of Where Eagles Dare Here

As far as World War II action films are concerned, they don't get much bigger & better than this nail biting, thrill a minute, nearly three hour ride into espionage, escapism & excitement !!

From the pen of Alistair McLean came the book...and then director Brian G. Hutton has done a superb job in truly capturing onscreen the pulse pounding thrill ride of the novel. The movie is like a grenade with the pin pulled out...you never know when the next explosion is coming !

Clint Eastwood (Eastwood said "Let Richard do the talking") and Richard Burton (Burton said "Clint acts with a type of dynamic lethargy") lead a group of Allied paratroopers on a daring raid to the Schloss Adler in Bavaria to rescue an American general held prisoner high in it's snow covered towers. However, all is not what it seems...the commandos are dying one by one and it soon becomes quite obvious that there is a traitor in the ranks. The film then becomes an exercise in espionage and double cross as Eastwood & Burton seek to ferret out the truth behind every man's identity....but not before Burton totally confuses Eastwood to the point where Clint remarks "Major, right now you have me about as confused as I ever hope to be !"

The movie is filled with incredible stunts, fiery shootouts and battle sequences as Eastwood & Burton seem to lay waste to regiment after regiment of German troops trying to stop their mission. Just suspend your disbelief (just like the cable car), and sit back and enjoy good old fashioned, grand scale entertainment.

Over the thirty years since this movie first came out, I must have watched it dozens of times...and I can't see myself tiring of it in the future either ! Just when the heck is it finally going to come out on DVD with a few extra goodies thrown in ??

If you don't own a copy of "Where Eagles Dare"...what are you waiting for...a true "must have" movie for any fan of big screen adventure films.

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This movie, filled with drama, action, and a complex plot that will make your head spin, has it all. Richard Burton is dashing as the cold plotting secret agent who is leading his team on a mission to save D-Day from disaster. Clint Eastwood, here little more than a teenager, is wonderful as the somewhat befuddled American army ranger who cannot figure out why he is even on the mission.

Any attempt to go into detail about the story would ruin some of the fun. Suffice to say that you will be riveted both by the action and the performances. One note though, Burton's monologue is amazing.

If you like WWII movies and have not seen this one, you don't know what you are missing.

Predator Collection (1 & 2) (2010)

This double feature Predator/Predator 2 Blu-ray (Own the Moments) was released by Fox home Entertainment in May 2012. It initially contained the 2010 Ultimate Hunter Edition Blu-ray with the modern MPEG-4 AVC video codec and several special features and extras, including a trailer for Predators. Several purchasers of the double feature have confirmed this on various forums. NOTE: This review does not apply to the Predator Collection released in October 2010. That release has always contained the Ultimate Hunter Edition of Predator.

I received an email from Amazon customer service that states this double feature now contains the 2008 release, which has no extras or special features and uses an older, inferior MPEG-2 AVC video codec. I sent an email to Foxconnect asking them to verify the version of Predator that is currently included in this double feature release. I will post their response here if I receive definitive information. (EDIT) 2/14/2013. I have exchanged emails with Foxconnect, the contact for Fox Home Entertainment. I detailed the differences between the 2008 and 2010 releases of Predator for them and asked which release this double feature contains. They refused to tell me anything, other than it was a Blu-ray of the 1987 movie Predator.(EDIT) 3/11/2013. Please read the comments for additional information. Everyone who has commented has received the 2010 Ultimate Hunter Edition with this double feature.

At this point, my conclusion is that they may have been using this Own the Moments release as a vehicle to get rid of some unsold inventory of the 2008 Blu-ray release. Since everyone who has commented on this review has confirmed that they have received the Ultimate Hunter Edition, the email from Amazon customer service was probably incorrect. The most recent response from customer service regarding this issue is that they relied on information from their inventory dept.

There are strong opinions on which of these two releases is superior. Before purchasing this item, be sure to check the reviews of the individual releases for the 2008 and the 2010 before you take a chance on purchasing this double feature.

Frankly, you are better off buying the individual releases, to guarantee that you are getting the version you prefer.

I gave this review one star because of the conflicting information on content. It does not reflect my opinion of the individual releases.

These are the two-disc versions of both Predator and Predator 2 (4 discs total) in slim cases with the cover shown on Amazon. The best of both worlds, and a small package for more valuable shelf space.

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I saw this item advertised and decided to look into it. I wanted the 2 disk versions of each movie and thought this would be a good option..particularly because other reviews indicated it was packaged in a slim case (my shelf needs some room, so consolidation and smaller size, without sacrificing content is attractive to me). Each one of the special editions of these two movies goes for around $13-$15 a piece so it seemed like a good enough deal.

I picked this up and when I first got it in my hands, I started to doubt my choice. As advertised, the slip case contained only 2 slim dvd cases. I wondered if each one of those actually contained contained 2 disk, or did I in fact get the old, bare bones versions? And the fact that there are no specs on the outer slip as to the contents didn't make me feel any better. I slid the snap cases for each film out of the slip case and grew more aggrevated as the back of each case showed the features listed on the "bare bones" versions only. I opened the cases and to my relief, it was indeed the 2 disk versions, with a disk on the inside of each door. So it looks like someone at Fox messed up, or was just lazy, because this is the 2 disk version of each film, in the bare bones boxes.

So rest assured, you are getting the 2 disk special editions for a decent price and in a more compact package. (search around...I found mine for a heck of a price elsewhere).

As for the movies, I'm sure you have seen them. Predator, despite a few small moments, still holds up well. I Can't say as much for Pred 2. The movie is dated, and some of the things that made it a bit silly originally, shine even bolder here. Still, when Kevin Peter Hall is onscreen in a Stan Winston designed Predator suit, it is enteratining.

As for the features, there is some real fun stuff here. The cast of both films is entertaining to watch in enterviews..particularly the first film. The first film had a big group of testosterone driven guys and you can tell it was a fun boys club on set. I mean, you have 2 future governors in that cast, both with super competitive personalities bigger than life. As for the second film, I have two words...Gary Busey.

If you don't own the Predator films and are thinking about getting them, this is the way to go...as long as you can overlook the mis-packaging.

Read Best Reviews of Predator Collection (1 & 2) (2010) Here

The original predator is a must have for any Sci-fi fan. And the sequel is worth it just to see Bill Paxton and Danny Glover in action. These are worth having on Blu-ray. Recommended.

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I love this which in my has best looking blu-rays of both movies!Great transfers,sound and fantistic buy for a great space critter that loves to hunt!Good shipping speed!Must have!

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Maximum Risk (+ BD Live) (1996)

This is ONE "GREAT" Action Film. A must have in your collection of Action Films.

This was a made from a comic book. I usually try to avoid this type of movie, however; I did not find it offensive or objectionable.

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Hanasaku Iroha ~ Blossoms for Tomorrow DVD/Blu-ray Set 1 Premium Edition (2011)

One of the most endearing and delightful series presently on the market,this is the story of Ohana Matsumae,the never-say-quit 16 year old daughter of a irresponsible single mother who is,in turn,the estranged daughter of a resort owner whom Ohana has never met. When mother decides to go on the lam with her latest boyfriend to escape his creditors,Ohana is sent to stay with her grandmother. After a long train ride and a steep walk up to the top of the hill she is so delighted to see how magnificent the hotel is she immediatly begins to pull the weeds she thinks are cluttering up her view...except they aren't weeds but wild rocamboles,an ingrediant used by the trainee-apprentant to the assistant chef,another 16 year old employee at the spa...and her new room mate. Just as the squabble begins,an old woman from an upper widow calls out for Ohana to hold out her arms. It is her grandmother and instead of getting a warm welcome,Ohana is tossed a bucket and told to get to work. Thus starts a fast-paced and rich story,filled with the arcs of the several major players but mostly that of a delightful and persistenly up-beat girl bent on setting things to right.

The character designs are well above average and some of the background artwork,especially around the train stop,is near-superphoto realistic.

An exceptional and fast paced series,best for teens and young adults and worthy of the highest of recommendations.

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ARN The Knight Templar - The Complete Series (2010)

At long last,after the travesty of the heavily edited 139 minute film,and the issue,in Europe at least,of the 'Extended Edition'200 minute version,we have the 265 minute TV series.

Having now had the opportunity to view the,region free,Blu-Ray 2 disc set,I have to say it has been well worth the wait.

The picture quality,despite the Aspect Ratio being altered from the original 2.35:1 to 1.78:1,and sound quality are excellent.

I don't propose to go into the plot details,as these will be well known from reviews on the earlier released disc.

The 265 minute series is divided into 6 episodes which are used to excellent effect to not only detail the logical progression of the lives of Arn,and Cecilia,but also provide depth to other strands of the storyline.

The extra run time provides greater depth to ancilliary characters,and to their portrayal by the uniformly excellent supporting cast.

Cecilia is played by Sofia Helin who is so superb as Saga Noren in the thoroughly recommended series 'Broen'('The Bridge').

Joakim Natterqvist is excellent as Arn.

The director,Peter Flinth is to be commended for this full length version which sustains the viewer's attention throughout.

All credit to the Cinematogapher,Eric Kress,to Tuomas Kantilinen for his original music score,and last,but not least,to Hans Gunnarsson for a really intelligent screenplay which does justice to the novels of Jan Guillou.

This full length version is definitely the one to buy,and is thoroughly recommended.

I had the unsubtitles Swedish releases, and the first American releasewhich I was disappointed in because the deletion of background material in the compilation.

This new release is AWESOME!!!!

A must have for Arn fans and those of Kingdom of Heaven!

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Much better then the movie, glad I ran into this while I was scanning amazon. I saw the movie a year or so ago on Netflix, but it doesn't compare to the series and plan to order the books soon as well.

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Wow, what a great movie/series. Mini-series would seem to be the appropriate term. I can't believe I'd never heard of it before. Thank you Amazon for having such an extensive collection! Usually I just ignore their suggestions. Sure glad I didn't this time.

This little Scandanavian gem blew me away with its storyline, acting and cinematography. I love it when a movie is both entertaining and educational. After watching it I had to hit wikipedia and learn more about the subject matter because it was so interesting. Arn of course is a fictional character used to tell the story while actual history unfolds around him.

Anyway, the story begins in 12th century Sweden with our hero Arn as a boy. We see dynastic feuding between his clan (the Folkung) and the evil Sverkers amid the snowy Swedish landscape. We follow him as he learns both the spiritual and martial arts. He finds love, then has it taken from him. As penance he travels to the Holy Land where he becomes a respected and feared Knight Templar. He protects the pilgrims and fights the Arabs. Then he comes back home to fight injustice and reclaim his love.

This is obviously just a short summary that does no justice to the story. Its got everything: battles, love, loss, redemption and Swedish! Its such a fun language to listen to. Subtitles are provided for those of us who don't speak it. This was a big budget undertaking for the Swedish film industry, and I think it outdoes anything Hollywood has made for a long time in this genre. If you enjoy crusader/medieval films you will love this one, and will learn many things about this period of Swedish history(I know I did).

It was certainly a worthwhile addition to my movie library and would be to yours as well.

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This movie is based on my favorite trilogy, and now, seeing it in its entirety, I love it. I watched the two hour version when it was first released, with the subtitles only in Arabic (I was stationed in Iraq at the time). And even though I could only understand short parts where English was spoken, like when Arn was in the Holy Land, I still managed to partially follow the story. At least enough so that I bought and read the books. Two years later it was released in the US with English subtitles. I picked it up the day it was released. But after having read the books a realized a lot of the story was missing. It was still good. Like I said, I watch in Arabic my first time and was captivated, even though I didn't understand what was being said for most of it.

Fast Forward to now, the entire miniseries was released in English. I re-watched it. Now, almost all of the blank spaces are filled in. There are still a few places that were modified, and some that were left out, but most of the complete trilogy is there, and definitely worth watching.

Arn: The Templar Knight has just replaced Shogun as my favorite mini series

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The Road (2008)

Someone asked me if I liked The Road, upon watching it. I had no answer. The Road is just one of those films that is too hard to describe. Is the movie good? Well, yes it is-that is a far easier question to answer. I have read the book and must say that the film really does it justice. It is bleak, dreary, utterly depressing and flawlessly acted.

Viggo Mortensen is a man with no name, who, alone with his son (also no name) is attempting to survive what seems to be some sort of apocalypse. We never see what transpired-we only see the aftermath. We are not given a timeline, though you can judge for yourself how long man and son have been attempting to 'live'. Mortensen carries the entire film on his weathered and weary shoulders. I cannot gush enough about his performance-in any film really. But here, you only have to look into his eyes-so full of soul and despair to realise that not only is this man acting, he is really and truly transformed. Just incredible really.

The atmosphere is grainy and desolate, without color of any kind and as you watch, you slowly go mad envisioning what you would do in such a situation. The film features horrors that include cannibalism and at one point, you see the father teach his son how to properly kill himself if anything should ever happen to him. Very disturbing.

By film's end, you are mentally exhausted. This is not a fast-paced film at all. It is purposefully slow-going and I believe that was done with the intent to transport you inside the film itself, and in my mind, it succeeds. After the credits started to roll, I found myself depressed for the rest of the day. This is probably one of the most desolate films I've ever seen, so I would avoid it if you like your films with satisfying ending-because this isn't it.

I wasn't sure if I should give this movie one star or five...

I settled on four.

.......(shaking head)

I've never read the book so all I knew about the movie was a guy and his kid survive the end of the world and that was about it.

They never say what it was that ended the planet. I'm guessing it was some kind of bomb but all that's left is man.

No animals.

No crops.

No trees.

Nothing.

Within the first ten minutes of the movie I was in tears and I knew I'd be in for a rocky ride.

I WAS NOT prepared for what this movie threw at me.

Ok, the good.

Why would I give the movie five stars?

Excellent acting, incredible score.

The movie sucks you right in and doesn't let go.

The direction is brilliant.

The pacing is slow but deliberate and very effective.

The movie is a masterpiece except for....

The bad?

Why would I give one star?

Umm....I don't know how many of you have played the Resident Evil video games but when you stumble upon a big scary mansion looming in the mist, RUN THE OTHER WAY.

Chances are said mansion will have scary, icky things in it.

And the mansion part of this movie will haunt me for years to come.

YUCK!

Not that this part of the movie is gory, it kind of is.

It's the mental impact of what is happening in the mansion and really all over the Earth.

This movie is the darkest, most depressing, desolate thing I have ever seen and I never want to see this movie again.

I settled on four stars.

The movie is a masterpiece and one of the scariest movies I've ever seen.

It's not even technically a horror movie but that's what kind of impact it had on me.

I guess what really scares me the most is the fact that this entire scenario is possible.

Funny....that great thing we call the mind of man is what has elevated us from the club wielding/rock throwing days to where we are now as a species.

It will be the same mind of man that reduces us right back to where we originated, maybe even worse if this movie is any indication.

I pray the bombs never fly during my lifetime but if they do.

I know where fallout shelters are...

I won't be going.

I'll go right outside and welcome the end with outstretched arms.

Even if you did survive, what kind of life would be left for you or your loved ones?

Is that really something you'd wish on them or yourself?

If the end really was as bad as this...

My prayers for the survivors.

Imagine a planet filled with Ted Bundy's and Jeffrey Dahmers running around in gangs.

For those who say "This could never happen".

It already has.

Go read about Holodomor in Ukraine. People can and will revert back to their most absolute brutish ways in very little time under the worst circumstances.

...Maybe this wasn't the best movie for me to watch.

I cry during car commercials if the music is sappy enough.

This movie will stay with me for years to come.

Excellent job by Mortensen, Theron and the boy.

Do I recommend this movie?

If and that's a HUGE IF you can stomach the subject matter of a post apocolyptic world filled with murdering cannibals, then yes.

Otherwise I'd say for sensitive viewers, don't watch it.

It's a masterpiece of utter brutality, desperation and hopelessness.

There is no happy ending here.

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Agree with and can't really add to what other reviewers have said here. This is serious stuff. It does follow the book very closely and most scenes are exactly as I had envisioned them. It is a very dark, lonely, depressing story, BUT -with a strong underlying element of hope and love. Specifically, that which makes us human, why we press onward when all seems lost. For what? In this case, a fathers love for his son. The mood expressed is not an especially popular one for a major motion picture and as such, is one of the reasons I bought it on Blu-ray, not because it is something I want to watch repeatedly, but because I have a LOT of respect for and want to support filmmakers that are willing to go against the trend of only producing light, pop-culture, feel-good, easily digestible "product".

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If you're looking for a standard action-packed hollywood movie, or a thriller, or shallow fun, you might hate this. This is a super heavy, dark, grim, intelligent, dreadful post-apocolypse film. You REALLY need to know that, and be in the mood for it.

If you loved "Blade Runner," or are in the mood for something slow and deep and grim and meaningful and dark as hell, or just love well-made apocalypse movies, this is it.

Not a kid's movie whatsoever. A very realistic, adult, educated, and hideous view of what it would be like after a real all-out global war & the aftermath.

It is NOT about PLOT. It's about REALITY. It demonstrates what our lives would be like in this scenario: painfully plotless. If you're student of film or literature or any kind of intelligent culture, you'll probably get this; if you're not, you probably won't.

The acting, production, direction, writing, ambiance, and everything else is excellent.

The message of the film is as deep and powerful as the movie is grim and dark. Which is what it's about. Not just shallow entertainment or meaningless fluff, but the exact oppositte of those. It takes you into a world of overwhelming desolation, and then explores what really matters in such a world... and the world you might be in already.

That said, I consider this one of the best Apocalypse movies around, and deeply meaningful.

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As of this writing, we are not living the horrors of a post-apocalyptic event, as portrayed in this film. However, all of us who are parents still face the same issues, so painfully faced by this father. What will become of our children if we are no longer able to watch out for them? Who will really have their best interests at heart, watch out for them, and protect them, if we are unable? The world, as it exists today, is often a cruel, terrible place with thieves, con-men, murderers and vile beasts passing themselves off as human. Thankfully, there ARE some good people, even strangers, who will do what is right in the face of the most terrible adversity. There are also those who will descend into the most heinous existence, doing what they must to survive regardless of the horrors they might inflict on others, even children.

This film is absolutely outstanding, and does a great job at capturing some of the themes central to Mr. McCarthy's novel. The acting is amazing.

Both the novel and the movie end on a promising note, but we have to wonder if that was simply Mr. McCarthy showing a little mercy for his readers by throwing them a thin glimmer of hope. The novel and the movie could have just as easily ended as we all feared they might. The innocent, sweet child could have fallen into the wrong hands, and died the most terrible death.

In our non-post apocalyptic world, people (even children) die every day as victims of another person's inhumanity. Watch this film, not to enjoy but to reflect. The Man says, "I'm trying to prepare him for when I am gone." I guess that is what all of us who love our children are trying to do.

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Dark Command (1940)

DARK COMMAND is a good, old-fashioned western. The movie takes places in Kansas on the eve of the Civil War. Not just anywhere in Kansas, either the movie's set in bloody Lawrence, the hotbed of guerilla activity during that war. Perhaps no guerilla leader was more notorious than Kansas's William Quantrill, the school teacher turned raider who fought against the Union until his death in 1865.

Although DARK COMMAND is a work of fiction, it doesn't try hard to hide its sources. DARK COMMAND is adapted from a novel by the talented and prolific W.R. Burnett, whose Hollywood credits include either the based-on novel and/or screenplay for such action classics as Little Caesar, the original Scarface, The Asphalt Jungle, High Sierra, and dozens of others. John Wayne plays a roustabout Texan named Bob Seton who's traveling through with dentist/barber/sidekick Andrew `Doc' Grunch (George `Gabby' Hayes.) While in Lawrence Seton meets and immediately falls for pretty Miss Mary McCloud (Claire Trevor), local belle and daughter of the president of the town's bank, a Virginian (where you were from counted a lot in Kansas prior to the Civil War.) Seton's competitor for the affections of pretty Miss McCloud, and a bit later for the office of town marshal, is schoolteacher William Cantrell (Walter Pidgeon.) That the real life Quantrill was also a Lawrence, Kansas schoolteacher is, well, probably something more than a coincidence.

Of course, Cantrell loses both the election and the heart, if not the hand, of Miss McCloud to Seton. As filtered through the Hollywood lense that's more than enough justification to embark on a campaign of pillage and murder, which Pidgeon's Cantrell proceeds to do with a certain amount of righteous dignity. Raoul Walsh, whose last movie before this one was the classic gangster movie `The Roaring Twenties,' directed DARK COMMAND with his usual relentless flair. Also in 1939, the young John Wayne had finally broken through to the a-list after playing the Ringo Kid in John Ford's `Stagecoach.' `Stagecoach' co-star Clair Trevor is billed above Wayne on the credits, but this is very much a John Wayne movie. The two principals, director Walsh and star Wayne, were at strong points in their careers and this movie did nothing to derail them. Wayne wasn't an icon yet but he had the moves down he's shy and awkward around the women folk, toweringly commanding with men. One of the text extras on the film quotes Walsh's observation that `Wayne had learned to walk and talk' by the time DARK COMMAND was filmed, and if you watch some of Wayne's earlier b-movies you'd have to agree with Walsh's shrewd assessment.

I've seen a handful of Raoul Walsh movies in the past year and enjoy them tremendously. Pidgeon's Cantrell seems to be a prototypical Walsh heavy he's erudite, urbane and refined, and, we suspect, substantially smarter than the hero. If Hollywood was about to fall in love with Freud Walsh definitely wasn't leading the charge. Even the presence of a maternal housekeeper, played in American Gothic style by Marjorie Main, doesn't do anything to explain what makes Cantrell tick. Cantrell is a Walsh villain, which means he's evil because he's evil and that's that. We'll have to understand him through action rather than introspection. In lesser hands this would leave us with a scowling, carpet-chewing bad guy. But DARK VICTORY'S script is tight, Walsh was a master at action dramas, and Pidgeon is too good an actor he never drops Cantrell's courtly façade, and he's all the more a menace for it.

Fans of old b-westerns will get a kick out of seeing a (very) young Roy Rogers and `Gabby' Hayes together in the same movie before they became cinema trail mates. Hayes' slightly mush-mouthed `gol-durn-it' routine can be grating, but Walsh uses him as a relatively subtle comic foil to good effect. If you've watched a few too many b-westerns chances are you'll find oddly touching the one scene between Hayes and Rogers. Rogers is in mortal danger and Hayes is his best and only hope. Hayes drops the Gabby act and lets George take over. It's a nice way for Walsh, through Hayes, to turn the tension up a notch and let us know that this is important. It's been my experience that Walsh's movies are filled with such nice touches, and it's one reason why I like them so much. DARK COMMAND has more than enough going for it to rate a strong recommendation. The script is good, performances are uniformly strong, and Walsh is a master at keeping things moving. It's a great early John Wayne western.

This movie solidified Wayne's place as a western star after Stagecoach. It is a rollicking fun western that has plenty of action. A really amazing cast was assembled for this film starting with Claire Trevor (of Stagecoach) and Walter Pidgeon. Gabby Hayes and Roy Rogers round out the stars of this movie. This is just a joy to watch. The pace never falters and it delivers plenty of fights. Find out if the illiterate cowboy from Texas can overcome the learned teacher who becomes the leader of a vast outlaw band during the Civil War. Will John Wayne get the girl? Forget that I asked. Get this movie.

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I wouldn't boar y'all with talking about the four movies, other reviewers have done that in a wonderful way. I just purchased this collection and I love how they fine tuned it, the enhancements are great. I have loved " Dark Command " since I was a boy and now I have a great copy. Well worth the price.

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"Dark Command" is a rip-roaring, entertaining 1940 John Wayne western with plenty of excitement, romance, and comedy, and it offers one of his most engaging pre-WWII performances, as illiterate but straight-shooting Texan 'Bob Seton', wooing Claire Trevor while defending Lawrence, Kansas as the Civil War erupts.

The film is significant in Wayne's career, as it acknowledged his emergence as a major star by the studio (Republic Pictures) who had produced the bulk of his 'quickie' westerns over the previous decade (in their previous incarnation, 'Lone Star' films). With the success of John Ford's "Stagecoach", Wayne's value to the young studio increased dramatically, as a commodity that could be 'loaned out' to major studios for a tidy profit, but without 'quality' Wayne films of their own, his 'bankability' wouldn't last, so Republic mounted a major production, with a top director (Warner's Raoul Walsh, who had helmed the Duke's ill-fated 'starring' debut, "The Big Trail", nearly a decade earlier), a first-class cast (including Trevor, in her third pairing with Wayne in less than two years, and MGM star Walter Pidgeon), and a terrific screenplay (based on a story by respected author W.R. Burnett). Wisely including their most popular character actor, Gabby Hayes, for comic relief, and rising star Roy Rogers (who, surprisingly, doesn't sing!) in support, the end result would not only build upon Wayne's rising status as a major star, but would give the studio credibility within the industry as more than a 'B' picture factory.

While the history covered in "Dark Command" is largely fabricated (with infamous mercenary William Quantrill reinvented as a more urbane, if equally dangerous 'William Cantrell', portrayed by Pidgeon), Walsh never lets the 'facts' interfere with the action, and the end result certainly delivers!

Definitely a 'keeper'!

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This was director Raoul Walsh's second film with Wayne as the male lead. The first, "The Big Trail", was Wayne's first big film role, having just acquired his new stage name. Unfortunately, this very expensive film, as one of the first talkie westerns, was a box office bomb, with Wayne unfairly shouldering most of the blame. The present film is a mixed western-Civil War drama set in bleeding Kansas. Wayne has plenty of support from a cast of well known actors in this well paced drama/comedy.

Claire Trevor is actually given top billing as the belle around which Wayne, Walter Pigeon and a young Roy Rogers revolve. It seems highly implausible that Wayne, as illiterate drifter Bob Seton, should become infatuated with prim snobbish Claire Trevor, nor that she could ever consider him husband material. Wayne's persistence in promoting this union, even after her marriage, is a recurring source of comedy and drama. Initially, another source of comedy is the recently established working partnership between Wayne and immimical Gabby Hayes, a one time doctor, reformulated as a traveling dentist, barber and whatever else he can fix for you. Character actor Raymond Walburn also provides comedic touches as the bug-eyed stammering stuffed shirt of a judge and apparent mayor of Lawrence, Kansas. Roy Rogers looks rather incongruous as the frustrated brother of Claire, under his father's overbearing thumb, who yearns for the excitement of being a cowboy or soldier. His hot head nearly gets him strung up or otherwise killed. Wayne, on the other hand, with the backing of Gabby, changes from an apparent hot head into an honest coolheaded sheriff. Walter Pigeon is the eloquent-speaking legally literate but financially struggling rival of Wayne for the affections of Claire and for the office of sheriff. The striking contrast in personalities and skills of Wayne and Pigeon in their various competitions is another recurring source of comedy and drama throughout the film. We wonder why Pigeon, with his obvious gift for oratory and knowledge of law, is a poorly paid schoolteacher instead of a lawyer. We suspect that he has been a lawyer, but was forced to resign for some transgressions. In engineering Roger's murder defense, we see for the first time the snake that he is under all that eloquence. From his mother's comments, we are led to believe that the desire to do unethical things is a family trait he inherited or was taught.

Things get a lot more serious and complicated as the story progresses. Pigeon,as William Cantrell, knows he is a natural leader of men. Frustrated in obtaining a prominent position in the legal establishment of Lawrence, he organizes a large band of outlaws, posing as Confederate soldiers, as did his historical counterpart, William Quantrell. The film title may suggest this evil gang of thieves and murderers, or it may equally suggest the fact that most of the violent and smuggling confrontations occur at night. Pigeon faces the difficult task of trying to justify or hide from his new wife his rapacious activities. The continuing back and forth relationships between Rogers, Wayne, Pigeon and Claire provide much of the continuing drama of the film.

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A Man Betrayed (1941)

Ordered a bad copy of this movie. Paid more but worth it for the difference in quality. Very very satisfied.

There is no star like Wayne. Anything he is in is good. Only John Ford could have made this better.

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Like it when John Wayne does movies other than westerns. If you like John Wayne you will like this movie.

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Identity (2003)

Sick and tired of those ordinary thrillers that are all fluff and very little substance? 'Identity' may be the answer that you're looking for, as it is a clever and dark thriller with a solid story, a terrific cast and a great look and feel to it all. The film revolves around ten strangers who end up at a little motel due to a horrible storm. All of them have been brought there by chance... or, is it a little more complicated than that? They think they're out of the woods until people start getting butchered left and right, in a countdown fashion. What appears to be nothing more than a murderer on the loose having his or her fun ends up being something a lot more sinister and threatening. Have these ten individuals been picked at random, or have their fates been sealed from the very beginning?

When I started watching this, I thought to myself, 'Oh boy, I bet you I know exactly how this is going to end.' I was wrong. The film takes a lot of clever and unexpected twists that really goes to show you how great a thriller can really be if the right brains are behind it all. It has some great suspense and frightening moments, an intriguing plot that likes to play around with your mind, and it delivers a very confident presentation. You'll recognize a good majority of the cast, as some of them include John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet and Rebecca DeMornay. All are great, especially Cusack who proves that he can be a successful lead role in a top-notch thriller.

The DVD has some cool goodies to offer. You can watch it in widescreen or fullscreen, depending on which is your preference. You also have the choice to watch the theatrical cut, or the extended version (not to be mistaken for a 'director's cut'). I must be honest and admit that the extended version is really not worth it. The added scene does nothing to enhance the movie and the so-called 'alternate ending' isn't alternate at all, as it is merely extended by only a few seconds. It was interesting to watch, but again it really doesn't do anything special for the film. Stick with the theatrical version, then watch the extended version if you're still curious. Trust me, the theatrical version is the way to go. Other bonuses included on the DVD are deleted scenes, commentary, storyboard comparisons, theatrical trailer, filmographies and a behind the scenes featurette. The film looks and sounds great.

'Identity' is definitely something that should be checked out by those who are tired by the usual flops that dare to call themselves 'thrillers.' This is a successful and smart thriller that offers chills along with an impressive script and cast. Just be sure to give it a chance. You may think you have it all figured out when it starts, but trust me when I tell you that this movie will play around with your brain until the ending credits. A more than well-done thriller that doesn't disappoint and is worth re-watching again and again. -Michael Crane

This is so reminding me of Brian DePalma (I remember commenting the first ten minutes into Identity). There is no doubt that director James Mangold is drawing heavily on a DePalma influence, or perhaps tapping into a Hitchcock vein. Whatever the case, this thriller is just the fix I've been after without even realizing it.

I admit to being partial to the cast. John Cusack (Ed the limo driver with a past) is an actor I will go out of my way to see any time; needless to say, he is brilliant here too. Amanda Peet, playing a hooker trying to turn her life around, brings her trademark tough smarts to the role and does a great job as always. Ray Liotta plays his usual sinister-guy-posing-as-normal character, but here it fits nicely. Rebecca DeMornay's washed-up TV star part is brief enough to nearly qualify as a cameo, but memorable. The rest of the crew complement this roundup as the assorted bunch that arrive together at the isolated motel on that fateful stormy night that a murderous evil runs amok somewhere outside or is it inside?

Never fear, this is no mere slasher flick. This *is* a deliciously creepy Whodunit with an added slice of suspense. It is also a real psychological thriller in the old school sense. In true Hitchcockian tradition there is an underlying plot that manages to bring together the seemingly random people and events that clash so chaotically. The little clues that are dropped here and there are just intriguing enough to give us a taste for the twist that we just know is coming (why is there blood on the back of Ray's shirt just before he covers it up with his jacket? What's up with the Indian tombs outside?) Naturally, there is also a false lead or two. By the time the real killer is revealed we can click those puzzles pieces together with great satisfaction and wonder at how we didn't see the big picture all along.

If I had to compare Identity to another recent film, I would say Memento is the closest in style and quality. In any event, I'd recommend Identity to anybody who enjoys this classic thriller subgenre.

-Andrea, aka Merribelle

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"Identity" is one of those psychological thrillers where you really have to pay attention or you get lost. It's an engrossing mix of creepy murder thriller and character study that draws you in quickly and doesn't let up. A group of disparate strangers winds up at an eerie run down motel in a brutal rainstorm and find themselves being picked off one by one by a mysterious killer. Meanwhile, a schizophrenic mass murderer is scheduled for execution but his psychiatrist is arguing for an insanity reprieve. The stranded strangers discover that they have odd things in common. And then there are the motel room keys left as macabre clues. A truly great cast includes John Cusack as a limo driver, Ray Liotta as a cop, Amanda Peet as a call girl, Clea Duvall as an unhappy newlywed, John Hawkes as the loopy motel "manager" and Alfred Molina as the psychiatrist with Taylor Pruitt Vance as the schizophrenic and Rebecca DeMornay in an all too brief role as a hotheaded TV star being driven by Cusack. Other actors in the cast are good too. Director James Mangold keeps things moving with no room for draggy spots and each character has secrets---their own "baggage" so to speak. How the two plots come together is truly bizarre and beautifully handled. I found the ending to be a let down, but actually it made sense in a frustrating way. So I recommend "Identity" for those who enjoy a genuinely spooky story and murder mystery with a twist. Watching the cast alone is worth watching the movie for. Good extras on the DVD, too.

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A solid script backed up by a great cast, John Cusack, Ray Liotta, John c. McGinley, Alfred Molina, Amanda Peet and more, are all outstanding. Brilliantly directed by James Mangold who also directed Copland, Girl Intrerupted and Walk The Line, this is one of the best thrillers I have ever seen. To say too much about the script would possibly give it away, but in the style of the Agatha Christie's novels 'Ten Little Indians' and 'Murder on the orient express', where people start dying in suspicious circumstances and later they find out they are all connected in some way. In this movie we have ten complete strangers stranded at a desert motel for the night. Sure enough people start getting killed, there is a lot of finger pointing and plenty of twists along the way to keep the audience engaged. The music score is excellent and perfectly captures the mood of the whole movie. Special features include bonus trailers, an on the set documentary and 2 very informative and interesting commentaries. One by the director and one by the writer, the latter being the better of the two. The disc features both cinema and DVD versions, although the DVD version only includes 2 extra scenes that last no longer than 30 seconds each. The only fault I have of the movie is that it seems too much time was spent in the first half of the movie bringing the characters together and laying a foundation forcing the ending to seem rushed through to conclude the movie within the 90 minutes, instead of the film being possibly edited longer. All up though, one of the best thrillers you will ever see. I have seen it many times and it is still good even when you know the ending.

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My son brought this film home from the local rental place and, though having never heard of it, I decided to watch it on the strength of the cast, which is stellar. I must say that it is a highly entertaining, atmospheric, and intriguing thriller that focuses on ten people, ostensible strangers to each other, who, through a seeming twist of fate, meet one dark and stormy night at a seedy motel in the middle of nowhere.

There, a strange fate begins to over take them, as one by one they meet up with a mysterious killer. No one knows who amongst them is the killer. No one knows who is next. Yet, there is apparently a link that binds them all. There is also a parallel story involving a convicted killer that opens the film and continues to be interjected at odd moments throughout the film. It is a story that is also interesting and becomes more so as the film continues.

There are subtle clues along the way that point the viewer in the right direction, in terms of what is really going on. The viewer, however, will generally realize this in hindsight, which is, of course, always twenty/twenty. The pace of the film is relentless. The tension is palpable. The acting is top notch. The direction is first rate, and the ending screams out, "Gotcha!".

This is a surprisingly effective psychological thriller that all those who love films of this genre should enjoy. There are enough twists and turns in the plot to keep even the most jaded viewers on their toes. While the performances of the entire cast are uniformly excellent, special kudos go to John Cusack for a truly powerful, memorable performance. Bravo!

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Bodacious Space Pirates (2012)

Marika is a pretty average high school gal. She is a member of the school yacht club and she works part time at a cafe called Lamp House. One day she finds out that the Father she never met has died from food poisoning. What's more, he was a pirate ship captain. It is tradition that the captain's position was taken over by his oldest child. So now, Marika has to choose whether to be a space pirate or to keep on living her quiet life. She has a very interesting experience on a yacht club cruise, and decides to add pirating to her busy schedule.

After barely getting settled into her new position, she gets a stowaway aboard her ship, The Bentenmaru. Her stowaway is a royal princess. Princess Gruier from the Serenity Planet System has a job for the Bentenmaru. Find a ghost ship that has been causing some trouble for the Serenity military. This job is a little fishy. There seems to be some strange behavior from the Serenity Royal Court and the military. Marika and her crew may be in over their heads.

This series is a lot of fun. It has great animation, voice acting, soundtracks; lots of cool characters, plenty of action, and some comedy. Many series nowadays rely on fan service and perverted situations to keep people interested. This series surprisingly doesn't have any of that so far. I'm not knocking that stuff, but I had the impression that this was gonna be that kind of show; given the name of the series and the product description.

This anime is well thought out. The backdrop is a really giant interstellar world, with lot's of history, nations, and possibilities. The production quality is top notch, as I mentioned before. There are lots of great voice talents. Luci Christian, Chris Patton, Hilary Haag, Monica Rial, and Brittney Karbowski are all among my favorite voice actors, and play major roles in this series. I must admit that I didn't expect too much substance from this anime. I have actually used my brain a little bit while watching. the story and mystery are pretty interesting and kept me wanting more.

I think that this anime will probably get even better in the 2nd volume that comes out in a couple months. I'm looking forward to it, and I think that most every anime fan will enjoy Bodacious Space Pirates. I highly recommend it and I hope you enjoy it.

On a future world where space travel is common, a high school girl named Marika Kato discovers her father has died. She also learns that he was a space pirate, and that she must take over his ship and crew. Her mother has groomed her all her life for this, and combined with her natural talent and hands-on experience through her school's yacht club, she actually gives it a shot. It turns out she's very good at it...which is good because they have to engage in privateering at regular times to retain their official letter of marque that sanctions their livelihood. But she also wants to graduate from high school, so she has to juggle two sets of responsibilities as best she can: one set as a civilian student; the other as a pirate captain.

While the weird anime fixation on high schoolers doing unbelievable stuff continues here, it makes it fun and engaging. It starts with likeable characters, from the lead to her crew to her classmates. Even though the piracy is sanctioned and largely benevolently applied (they often raid cruise ships who request them to do so as a show for their guests), there are regularly developing dangers for Marika to overcome on the job while she gets a handle on things...all while maintaining her grades, club activities, and part-time job on the ground.

The visuals are animated quite well for a television series, with nice ship design and character art. Although most of the girls sort of blur together to start with due to numbers, they begin to be used more towards the end of the run, so it's not a problem. If you're wondering, there's not a lot of fan-service here, which is appropriate for the majority of ages depicted, so don't look to this show for that.

I didn't expect to care for this series too much, but I really enjoyed it and look forward to it continuing. They are making a movie to expand on the conclusion, and I hope it proves successful enough that they shoot for a second season.

TL;DR version: Bodacious Space Pirates is a whole lot of fun. Highly recommended.

P.S. I find the Editorial Review for this series to be a gross mischaracterization of the series. The first two paragraphs aren't bad, despite a bit of exaggeration regarding a minor plot point. But the last line? "Sexiest pirate's chest ever"? In case you are wondering, the main character is a 15 year old girl. This otaku-flavored dreck is a disservice both to casual browser who might be put off by such objectification, and to actual perverts whose sad interest would lead only to disappointment.

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The story evolves around a teenage girl who one day is all of a sudden faced with the decision whether she wants to take on her deceased father's job as a captain of a pirate cruiser or if she wants to remain an honor student at an elite high school. She takes on her father's job and becomes a so called legal pirate.

There are some enjoyable characters in this show but all in all you have your stereotypical Japanese anime characters. The main protagonist has deeper emotions and ambitions. She is talented and a born captain.You do get pumped up when the opening starts playing and it's possible to ride that high for a little while. But, eventually, you either enjoy the events that are unfolding or you don't. The important thing is that you want to stick around long enough to find out whether you'll like it or not. Sometimes, you get bored out of your skull. Other times, you're hooked from beginning to end. That inconsistency can easily threaten your enjoyment of the show.You have your typical anime stereotypical relationships.

The Anime has very pretty visuals, from the shots of Marika's Elaborate University High to all the little things like the omnipresent computer displays that float in the air wherever they might be summoned.The bridge crew of the Bentenmaru are all unique, each with their own quirks and all with very nice character designs that set them apart from each other

This series is likely to be high on nearly everyone's list of anime that they've enjoyed. Moretsu Pirates/Bodacious Space Pirates is going to be around for awhile, and not watching this series is missing out on something that kicked off the 2012 anime season.Likable characters, carefree and enjoyable story, with a lot of action and nicely done artwork and visuals. Even the side characters are alive and enjoyable.

Overall quite a fun series, also there Movie is planned coming soon for this series due 2013

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But gets a little unbalanced after halfway. When this series starts it has a lot going for it. One of the best theme songs and a space pirate storyline. The show begins very slow and sets up a rich backstory set in a universe after a great war happened where pirates roamed freely. The perils of space travel are apparent and the show, while SciFi, tries to remain grounded in reality to a degree. It is an odd play on things. But unfortunately, the show doesn't remain there. Where this show really could pick up and get good, it squanders and flounders about with moronic side stories and a poor supporting cast.

Till about halfway of this show, it will have you hooked well. The potential of the universe it is set in is huge. While being a mostly all female cast anime, it doesn't screw it up much till then. But then this show suffers. It starts to bring in wild ideas and it goes into story arcs which just fit girls into silly costumes and have no real point. This series goes to great lengths to build a serious atmosphere, then ruins it by making it too lighthearted.

Unfortunately this is why all girl anime shows generally aren't that good. They always suffer from the same issues. Symphogear is another great example. The background and story behind it all is good, but the characters are just beyond generic. You can predict it and they spoil the potential of the show. Scenes that can be used for rich character building moments are generally lighthearted and silly. Even if horrific battles happen, characters rarely die.

In the end, Bodacious Space Pirates delivers a good opening and a very memorable theme song. But it's potential bottoms out towards the end. It is worth a watch, but by the end, you might just stop caring. I personally, cared more about the events that happened before this show than I did for Marika. The backstory involving the war seems so much richer than this show. Overall this is interesting till you realize they are not real pirates. These are just entertainers. The final nemesis doesn't really fit the universe as it is set up in the beginning and isn't that interesting. It wraps everything up in a nice neat girly style ready for another school day *rolleyes*.

3 stars is harsh but 4 stars is a bit too generous for this. The show fits between the two. It was good enough to have me anxiously waiting each week for a new episode. But the faults that appeared later in the series completely undid that feeling by the end. Give it a shot, rent it if you can. You might like it. I'm just giving you a heads up to not judge the second half based on the premise of the first half.

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I Like this series. This is an odd story, that grows on you as the captain, her crew, and her classmates develop together.

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The Legend of Drunken Master (1994)

In 1978, Jackie Chan's "Drunken Master" (or Jui Kuen) was an exciting film that is considered a classic and help popularize the drunken boxing style of martial arts which has been copied on various video games and other films. Over 16 years later, Chan returned for "Drunken Master II" (Jui Kuen II) which was not a direct sequel but followed the character with the same name, Wong Fei Hung.

For those not familiar with the name Wong Fei-hung (or Hong), the real man lived from 1847 through 1924 and was a master of the no-shadow kick, drunken boxing, the lion dance and Hung fist. The character has been explored in a number of films which include the Jet Li "Once Upon a Time in China" films and for Jackie Chan in the "Drunken Master" films

The film revolves around a man named Wong Fei Hung who travels with his father (a doctor) and a student named Tsao via train after obtaining more medicine to bring back home. But because they must pay duty fees for the items they bring with them, Wong would rather not pay for them (despite his father telling him to) and hides his items through one of the non-Chinese travelers luggage, hoping to retrieve it later on the train (the non-Chinese and the rich Chinese are separated in a luxury style train cabin away from the Chinese travelers who happen to be packed in like sardines.

But as Wong Fei Hung goes to retrieve the item, he discovers another man trying to take the item out of the luggage. We then see that the item the man takes, looks exactly like the item that Wong had. A fight ensues and the older man who is a Chinese loyalist named General Fu (Liu Chia-liang) manages to easily dodge and defend all of Wong's attacks and even calls Wong a traitor (which he has no idea why he is being called that).

Eventually, after the chaos ensues, Wong is able to retrieve the item but it appears that the old man accidentally took Wong's item (a ginseng root) and Wong took the item that the old man was trying to get, which appears to be an old Chinese ancient artifact and now the foreign traveler who own the luggage along with Chinese military are searching the whole train for it. Fortunately, a Counter Intelligence Officer (played by Andy Lau) manages to save Wong from being caught.

We learn that the artifact is part of Chinese traditional artifacts being taken by the British Consul and Chinese gangsters out of the country and now they are after Wong and want the artifact back.

Meanwhile, back at home, we get to see how Wong's stepmother (played by Anita Mui) tends to bail her stepsons from trouble but when those looking for the artifact steal from his mother's friend and even hit his mother in the face, Wong must used the forbidden fight of Drunken Boxing and also drinking alcohol which helps boost his attacks. But when he break his promise to his father, he learns a lesson by being beaten by his father and thrown out to the street when intoxicated, the Chinese gangsters beat him up to send a message that the want the artifact.

Will Wong be able to protect his family, his friends and even his land from the enemies without breaking his father's ultimatum of never to fight or get drunk again?

VIDEO & AUDIO:

"The Legend of the Drunken Master" is one of those releases that one will either love or really hate. First, let's discuss the picture quality. Picture quality is probably the best that this film has ever been seen. The High Definition 1080p (2:35:1) definitely brings out the film with much clarity but by no means is it perfect. You will see occasional dirt and scratches and there are some scenes where either there was change in camera lens but sometimes the film is not consistent at times. With that being said, fans of the film will definitely enjoy learning of how good the picture quality is and because the first version of this film that I owned was a VHS and then an uncut HK VCD, it's great to see the film with so much detail. But for those expecting the best from Blu-ray, you may not exactly be pleased but it is an upgrade from the original DVD release.

As for the audio quality, this is where things begin to look murky and it all depends on the viewer. Audio is provided in English 5.1 DTS-HD (48kHZ/24-bit) and French 5.1 Dolby Digital and Spanish 2.0 Dolby Digital. For the most part, lossless audio definitely shows major improvement during the action sequences and utilizes the surround channels. Meanwhile, the English voice dubbing can be understood but Jackie Chan's English voice over is sometimes hard to understand. But the biggest surprise is that there is no Cantonese/Mandarin audio track. So, for those who prefer to watch Asian films in their natural language will be upset to know that it was not included.

Second, it's important to let people know that this is the edited version of the film done back in 2000. The music was changed, the special effects were changed and the original ending had a significant scene cut out.

With that being said, for those who don't mind the English dub, were familiar with the 2000 DVD release and don't mind that the film was edited for the US, will definitely find the picture and audio quality to be much, much better than the original DVD release. The picture quality is shows quite a bit of detail and despite the film being made in 1994, there is no sign of excessive DNR (digital noise reduction), the film looks way better than it ever has. The audio is also much better than the previous DVD and there is a good use of the surround channels. But if you want the original Chinese audio, unfortunately, you will not find it on this release.

Subtitles are presented in English SDH, French and Spanish.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

"The Legend of Drunken Master" comes with the following special feature:

* Behind the Master: An Interview with Jackie Chan (6:35) Jackie Chan talks about how he always wanted the film to come out in the US and talks about the stunt choreography of the film.

JUDGMENT CALL:

"The Legend of Drunken Master" is absolutely vintage Jackie Chan at his very best. Jackie Chan is literally amazing to watch as the Smooth, fluid choreography is just outstanding and absolutely wonderful to watch in High Definition. But those battle sequences are just amazing to watch and the fight scenes, especially earlier in the film with Chinese loyalist General Fu (Liu Chia-liang) was just incredible.

Also, impressive was to see the latest Anita Mui (who was the equivalent to music artist Madonna in Hong Kong) and both she and Jackie Chan had awesome chemistry onscreen, even in this film despite Chan being much older than Anita, but everything seems to work quite well. As for Andy Lau's appearance, it was quite a short role. And for Shaw Brothers fans, you can catch the veteran Ti Lung playing Wong Kei-ying.

Again, I want to make it clear that this film has its best looking transfer to date on Blu-ray. Picture quality is very good but not great. But what it all comes down to is the viewer and what they want are expecting from this film.

For those wanting the 2000 English dubbed dialogue, you're going to get an awesome lossless track on Blu-ray as the film's lossless audio is utilizing the front, center and surround channels quite well during the action scenes.

But for those who have been waiting for the uncut release, let alone a release that would include the Cantonese or Mandarin audio, you're not going to get it on this Blu-ray release. And this is a major blow for those who have been hoping that with a Blu-ray release, they would be getting the version they have waited so long for. Even watching the final scene, a viewer is left wondering why it ends quite suddenly with no appearance from Jackie Chan but the truth is that Dimension cut that scene out (the original ending with Jackie Chan is a bit shocking but I'm not going to spoil it for you) because it was deemed in appropriate.

So, needless to say...it's going to be a love or hate release among fans. As a fan of the film, one can either wait and hope that an import uncut release of the film makes it to Blu-ray. Or perhaps maybe purchasing this latest release with the better picture quality, better lossless audio but for the most part only in English, French and Spanish (no Chinese audio dialogue) along with the revisions made back in 2000.

Personally, I want an uncut version with its original Chinese language (ala lossless audio) included and unfortunately, I didn't get it with this release. Otherwise, for those who don't mind the revisions or the English dub, this Blu-ray release of "The Legend of the Drunken Master" is the definitive version to own for now.

I know some of you will disagree and say that Bruce Lee's "Enter the Dragon", or Jet Li's "Fist of Legend" was the best ever made but I would have to disagree. While Bruce Lee was the best Martial Artist ever, his movies were average in regards to their fight choreography.No one could ever touch him in his films. The fight choreography in "Drunken Master 2" was incredible. It was realistic because there were almost no wire stunts involved and the fight scenes were fantastic. The fight scene with Jackie and Liu Chia Liang (Lau Kar Leung) in the beginning was pure poetry in motion. The final fight scene was fifteen minutes of pure adrenaline pumping action. Unique choreography makes this movie a classic. Unlike Jet Li's characterization of Wong Fei Hung, Jackie makes Fei Hung seem more human and vulnerable. Nobody could ever touch Jet Li in the "Once Upon a Time in China" series. Plus some of the moves just look so ridiculously fake. "Fist of Legend" is Jet's best movie because it isn't as fake and he actually has to fight hard to win. However, it is still only the second best film ever made. Not to criticize any other reviewer, but since when does the ability to do 540's and 720's and Butterfly kicks make a martial art film great? I have been involved in Martial Arts for over a 20 years and would love for someone to try to fight me using those kicks. While they look fancy in forms competition, they mean nothing in a real tournment fight and even less in a real street fight. This film is without a doubt the best Jackie Chan film ever and the best ever made. (At least until Jackie and Jet team up to do a film as has been rumored)

Buy The Legend of Drunken Master (1994) Now

Where to begin... It's difficult to put into words the disappointment I felt after watching the first few minutes of this US release of Drunken Master 2 (The Legend of Drunken Master).

Having seen the original movie on the big screen (and also being the proud owner of a VHS copy), I was looking forward to this release on DVD. Unfortunately, I feel this US release destroys what must be one of Jackie Chan's top 5 movies.

The translated dialogue is terrible. Not just the translations, but the voice actors they recruited sound like Chinese actors speaking bad English. If this was a real US release of the movie for US consumption, why not make the dialogue intelligible? As someone who speaks both Cantonese and English, I found the dialogue difficult to follow and just blatantly wrong. They rob the subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) comedy which runs through the entire movie. If they couldn't get good script writers to translate it properly, at least they could have used people who spoke with an American accent. I would almost go as far to be insulted by the chop-soky English used in this release.

The soundtrack is also noticably absent. By robbing the fight scenes of their original score, they remove the excitement and drama from the entire movie. You may not always appreciate how much a soundtrack does for a movie, but this US release truly underscores this point.

Believe me, I wanted to like this movie. I was just so disappointed with what they had done to this movie.

I hope you do not buy this DVD. You should look for either the Hong Kong release of the VHS, Laserdisc, or DVD.

Read Best Reviews of The Legend of Drunken Master (1994) Here

This is completely ridiculous... I have been waiting TEN YEARS for a domestic release with the original cantonese and when they rerelease this CLASSIC they release the same horrid DUB. Why even bother to release this?

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This film has several formats. The VHS version from 1994 is the one you want to see! It is the perfect movie! It's also Jackie's perfect movie! This is a sequel, with 20 years between but Chan manages to look and act much younger. It is not difficult to accept him as being "young Wong Fei hung". The only connection between the two films is Jackie and drunken boxing. Ti Lung is his father and Anita Mui is "Mom" (actually Fei Hung's mother is dead). Anita darn near steals the show! This is a fantastic film! It is a period film, with unscrupulous people stealing as many Chinese treasures a possible. Chan accidentally gets involved in helping to stop the thefts and ends up taking on some major bad guys including Ken Lo in a steel factory. In my opinion the extended fight sequence is the absolute best, with

"Wheels On Meals" fight with Benny coming in a close second.

The final fight has Jackie battling a number of people before he squares off with Ken Lo. (Lo is a major talent in the kickboxing world and stands out as one of the best.) Jackie had some differences of opinion with the director and the final fight is designed by Jackie and it shows! It is powerful yet graceful..furious but with purpose. It is beyond excellent!

This film has something for everyone. In addition to Jackie's excellent fighting there are plenty of laughs, and more intricate plot than with many of his movies. There is a scene with Ti Lung and Chan that is poignant and feels very real. But it is the fight scene in the steel factory that will have you rewinding a dozen times. I have two MAJOR criticisms of the US release,primarily Disney's decision to throw out the the soundtrack and musical score! The music from the original is perfect and part of the whole feel of the film. There never was a valid explanation from Disney as to why they dumped the original score. Jackie dubbed his voice for Fei hung, but the dialogue is not the same! Some might be attributed to the difficulty in translation but in some scenes the dialouge has been radically changed. Disney also cut out the very end of the movie as they felt it was offensive. But that leads to an abrupt end to the film. I have no problem with cutting that scene though and it does not change the film.

One of my all time favorite movies! This one should not be missed!

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Boys in Company C

The Boys in Company C was not only released 10 years before Full Metal Jacket, but is 10 times better. R. Lee Ermey plays the USMC DI who whips a bunch of civilian misfits into a cohesive fighting unit that will have most of them going to Vietnam upon graduation. (Sounds familiar doesn't it Mr. Kubrick?). This movie gives the viewer a fantastic Who's Who of most of the cast before they even show up to "Boot Camp". From the concientious objector, to the high school jock, to the street-smart drug dealer, the first ten minutes of the movie gives you a solid understanding of why their characters do what they do throughout the movie. Although this movie is paralleled by FMJ, The Boys of Company C has a much better story line. After graduation, the ones chosen for Vietnam meet their new company commander on the transit ship and are exposed to an interesting concept of how to defeat the Vietnamese by playing soccer. The entire movie is excellent, well acted, and flows evenly without the viewer ever once having to "accept" something just because it happened. For any current or former military member, this movie is chock full of little treats that have you saying "Yes! That's just the way it is!" BOTTOM LINE: If you've ever seen "Full Metal Jacket", you owe it to yourself to see the original masterpiece.

The parallels between 'Full Metal Jacket' and this film, 'The Boys of Company C', could not fail to be noticed, even without the stand-out performance of R. Lee Ermey in both films as a Drill Instructor (DI), a role he fulfilled in real life prior to his acting career. This was Ermey's first film role, and made him a person to watch; ironically, Ermey is better recognised today that most of the other stars of the film. Stan Shaw gives one of the best performances of his career here as Tyrone Washington, the independent, out-for-himself recruit who, being a natural leader, is tapped to take charge, and finds his sense of duty and teamwork growing stronger as his time in the Marine Corps proceeds.

Other recruits followed include Billy Ray Pike (Andrew Stevens, in one of his early roles), a high school jock depressed because he has lost the glory of those days; Alvin Foster (James Canning), the aspiring writer who is hoping to turn the Marine Corps into a story for fame and fortune; Vinnie Fazio (Michael Lembeck) as a hot-to-trot Marine, looking to survive to the next sexual encounter; and Dave Bisbee, a hippie-turned-marine looking to survive as well.

The plot is realistic -there's no over-the-top play in either the Boot Camp or the in-country Vietnam scenes. The waste and futility of war comes through clearly without too much political overtones (more like one big snafu), and the run-of-the-mill situations of bureaucratic and leadership less-than-competence contrasts with the ground grunts' hope to live through it all and still carry on a valid mission.

The battle scenes are well choreographed without false glory and without false carnage. The base camp and boot camp situations are true to life in design, as are the situations; officers vs. enlisted, racial conflicts, American vs. Vietnamese. Small touches like letters from home and sub-plots such as the journal writing and drug-smuggling ideas also add to the strength of the film.

In a long tradition of Vietnam films and war films, this ranks among the better ones in many respects.

Buy Boys in Company C Now

The movie is a great movie. The movie itself I will heartily recommend to all Marines, and I guess other military enthusiasts. ;-)

BUT...

I thought I was getting a newly released DVD version from the parent company. I was wrong.

Choices advertised of this item are NEW and USED. I ordered NEW.

However, upon receipt yesterday, I discovered that while it was sealed in a box, it was not an original, but a copy of a VHS. While it may fit the bill as NEW because of a new DVD on which it was copied, it should not be advertised as such.

Yes, the plastic box was new, but that was all.

1. The DVD was a copy of at least a second generation VHS copy.

I own a 1st generation copy bought almost 20 years ago in Japan. My copy still higher quality than this DVD.

2. The artwork on the box is a poor scanned-in copy of the original VHS box and possibly clips cut from the movie.

I have since learned that the parent company with the rights to this movie have not yet released it on DVD. This means it could be an infringment of Copyright Laws. Be careful.

In any case, it should not be listed as "NEW"

It should list as a Copy, or preferably...

a "NEW DVD OF AN OLD VHS COPY".

Read Best Reviews of Boys in Company C Here

This was one of the neatest Viet Nam war films made. It is in my opinion, a precursor to Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket. The DVD itself however, is of the same quality as a VHS recording in the extended play mode. The marketplace seller's description mentions "PERFECT PICTURE." This is not the case. Given that this is the only production of this movie available on Amazon, buyers interested do not have a choice. I returned the DVD to the seller.

Bottom line: Great movie, but do not expect a high quality picture.

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The boot camp scenario alone is worth the price of admission.

Although this movie starred STAN SHAW it is clear to me the real star of this film is GUNNARY SGT. R. LEE ERMY. This was his film debut, you'll prabably remember him as the drill Sgt. in FULL METAL JACKET, This movie is one ot the better Vietnam War era film and it attempts to define the difference between Duty and Survival. It is clear, the difference is a fine line and this movie danced the line nicely.....

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