The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)

This remake of Hitchcock's unremarkable 1934 version is substantially better. As he said in his own words, "Let's say the first version is the work of a talented amateur and the second was made by a professional."

Naturally there are some events that may be commonplace in the mid 1950's that you would never do today with your child. Specifically, hand him off to a stranger you had just met. In this version the child is a boy of about 9, where the original featured a girl of about 13. I guess it doesn't matter, but I wonder why that character was changed.

This movie also features Doris Day in a rare dramatic role, although she plays a former professional singer and does get to exercise her voice in the movie. At least a plot point supports her doing so. The climatic scene at Albert Hall is retained very close to the original and is equally well done. The film is a good one, although it doesn't reach the heights of "Rear Window," "Psycho," "North by Northwest," "The 39 Steps," and other Hitchcock classics.

The Blu ray version is currently available as part of the "Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection" and will be available individually in the near future. The film is transferred with a 1080p resolution and a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Frankly, the quality isn't quite as good as other films in the collection. My biggest issue is with the color. It looks washed out much of the time and I noticed some damaged sections of film. It doesn't appear much correction of the original print was attempted. Don't get me wrong, the movie is an improvement over the DVD, especially some of the detail but it could have been better. The audio is DTS-HD Master Audio Mono (over 2 channels) and is very good. It is clean and focused. The extras include a 35 minute reflection with Pat Hitchcock O'Connell, associate producer Herbert Coleman, screenwriter John Michael Hayes, production designer Henry Bumstead and others. Included also is a trailer and some production photos.

Save 43% Off

Austin Powers Collection (International Man of Mystery / The Spy Who Shagged Me / Goldmember) (2008)

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

I picked the set up for a price that came to about $15 per film so I think its a very good value.

Finally, there are subtitles for "Austin Powers In Goldmember" as I could not get Closed-captioning to work on the DVD version.

Note: Be careful opening the package as the set is shrink wrapped very tight and might cut the loose page on the outside that you might want to keep. (The real box has Austin Powers & Dr. Evil on each side.)

Buy Austin Powers Collection (International Man of Mystery / The Spy Who Shagged Me / Goldmember) (2008) Now

It's hard to believe almost 10 years have gone by since we first saw Mike Myers' Austin Powers character for the first time. These are among the funniest films made at the close of the 20th Century. For the most part, they are chock full of sightgags and silly puns and give Mike Myers ample opportunity to wear funny costumes and try out as many joke accents as possible. Myers rises to the occassion each time out, eventually playing 4 characters at once ala Peter Sellers.

As introduced in the first film (International Man of Mystery), Austin is swinging 60s' superspy who thinks he's a lot hipper than he really is. Think Sammy Davis Jr trapped in Davy Jones' body and you'll have an idea of what Austin is like before seeing him. Also introduced in the first film is Dr Evil (also played by Myers), a cross between Blofeld and Ed Sullivan. If anything, Dr. Evil has even better lines and gags than Austin himself.

The three films primarily spoof the James Bond series. The first film has strong overtones of both 'Diamonds are Forever' and 'Casino Royale' but Myers goes totally bonkers in the second film (Spy Who Shagged Me), in which 'Star Wars' and 'Moonraker' are yanked in for a well-deserved ribbing. The second film doesn't break as much ground as the first, but is arguably the funniest of the three as leading lady Heather Graham is the perfect partner in crime to Mike Myers' Austin character. Graham is the funniest of Austin's three leading ladies. Unfortunately, the third film (Goldmember) declines after a very strong start, coming across as a stitched-together effort to wring the last bucks out of the Powers franchise. If the series has a flaw, it's that few of the characters seem drawn from life, rather than pieced together as parodies.

If you like one Austin Powers movie, you'll like all three to various degrees. At this price, this is a good time to replace your battered VHS copies with nice, fresh DVDs.

Read Best Reviews of Austin Powers Collection (International Man of Mystery / The Spy Who Shagged Me / Goldmember) (2008) Here

This trilogy is worth your money and will give you one hell of a good time. There isn't really much for me to say about them though. The plots are very simple and pointless but the movies are absolutely hilarious.

Mike Myers is genius and makes the movies funny because he plays Austin Powers, Dr. Evil and Fat Bast***. That's lots of talent!

Beware because if you didn't know, these movies are very silly and dumb but will definitely make you laugh your head off.

This is how I rate the three:

Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery4 stars

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me4 and 1/2 stars

Austin Powers: Goldmember3 and 1/2 stars

Want Austin Powers Collection (International Man of Mystery / The Spy Who Shagged Me / Goldmember) (2008) Discount?

I purchased the "1-3 Collection" on DVD. I know enough about the other versions that I can compare/contrast. If you're looking for information about the movies themselves, look elsewhere I'm not going to mention the plots, the cast, etc. in this review.

First, the "Austin Powers 1-3 Collection" on DVD. You get two DVD's. The first and third movies are on a 'flipper' disc, with the second movie on its own disc. A little strange, perhaps, but no biggie.

Comparing it the the Blu Ray collection, other than packaging difference (3 blu rays in their own slim cases instead of two dvd's) the contents are identical. All movies are in 2.4:1 aspect ratio. Each movie features commentary, deleted scenes, etc. And while the DVD transfer is perfectly acceptable, I can see how these movies would really "pop" in HD. If you like these movies enough, spend the extra $ for blu ray.

Comparing it to the first release of individual DVD's, note that (1) the first movie is presented in its proper 2.4:1 aspect ratio here, but not on the individual DVD (I don't know what aspect ratio was used, but it was wrong) and (2) that the extras on the individual discs are less. Since you can easily find the "1-3 Collection" for about $8 shipped, I recommend purchasing the "1-3 Collection" if you choose to buy on the DVD format.

Save 26% Off

Little Lord Fauntleroy: Kino Classics Remastered Edition (1936)

If you are like me, and really fond of this old gem, do yourself a favor and get this version. It is vast improvement on any other version I have seen, having been made from an original studio archival print, apparently. It is not perfect, but is close. There is some tiny sparkle in a few scenes, and one or two short damage places that should have been fixed. Far too many public domain versions have been released over the years that are pretty dismal in quality. Lots of talented performers in this film, and the camera work shows the care that was taken on many of the old black & white classics.

In the late 1800′s, there was one book that was so popular, it led to the popularity of velvet. The book was "Little Lord Fauntleroy", written by English playwright and author Frances Hodgson Burnett and was originally published in St. Nicholas Magazine between Nov. 1885 through Oct. 1886 and later followed as a book.

The book was quite elaborate when it came to the details of the young Fauntleroy's clothing that its impact on American fashion, primarily with children as parents would dress their kids in suits and away from skirted garments which were favored at the time.

Considered as the ultimate "rags to riches" story at the time, the book would receive several film adaptations from 1914-1995. The best known versions were the 1921 film starring Mary Pickford, a 1980 version starring Alec Guiness, Rick Schroder and Eric Porter but the best known adaptation is the 1936 film starring Freddie Bartholomew and Dolores Costello.

The film was directed by John Cromwell ("Of Human Bondage", "Since You Went Away", "Made For Each Other", "The Prisoner of Zenda") and a screenplay by Hugh Walpole ("David Copperfield", "Vanessa: Her Love Story", "Kind Lady") and the film would make Freddie Bartholomew as one of the most highly sought after child actors and also the second paid child actor after Shirley Temple. Which unfortunately, also became a double-edged sword for Bartholomew as the success of the film would lead to his long-estranged birth parents trying to gain custody and control of his fortune, a seven-year-battle which took a toll on Barthlomew and his career.

But despite the legal troubles and hardships that Bartholomew would experience after 1936, he will forever be remembered for his performance in the film "Lord Little Fauntleroy". And now, the film will be released on Blu-ray and DVD in 2012 courtesy of Kino Lorber.

VIDEO:

"Little Lord Fauntleroy" is presented in 1080p High Definition and was mastered in HD from an original nitrate 35 mm print, preserved by the George Eastman House Motion Picture Department. With that being said, first thing I need to remind those who are not familiar to Kino Blu-rays is that unlike other companies that spend a lot of money on restoration (which is very expensive), Kino does not do the restoration, they release the original transfer on Blu-ray in the best quality possible.

And when it comes to films that were originally on nitrate, I'm usually expecting worse for wear. Primarily because most films filmed on nitrate are now lost (because they were highly flammable and would spontaneously catch on fire) or was severely damaged. Fortunately there are films that were taken care of, transferred to a better medium but during that time, the priority was saving the film not removing defects, specks, etc. They were direct transfers that were not cleaned up.

With the release of "Little Lord Fauntleroy", one can expect to see scenes with white specks, scenes that have some aging. That is a given! But the positive news is that for a film that was derived from an original 35 mm nitrate print, despite the specks and aging, this film looks very good on Blu-ray. It looks like the original negative was not tampered as much, thus less damage. I didn't notice any acid or nitrate burns or excessive flickering or darkening. If anything, this film looks very good for its age and considering where it was taken from.

While the video quality may not be as good as some of Kino's Buster Keaton titles on Blu-ray, for those who have followed the David O. Selznick collection releases, should be happy with the overall release. Especially since this is the best version of the film out on video to date.

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

While "Little Lord Fauntleroy" does look good for a film nearly 80-years-old, sound-wise, it's a different story. The film is presented in 2.0 monaural and while the dialogue can be heard quite well, there is also quite a few moments of pops and clicks and during the musical moments of the film, especially for the intro or ending of the film, the sound seems a bit too loud and loses its clarity. But those scenes are short and the good news is that the film does sound good and dialogue is clear for the majority of the film.

There are no subtitles.

SPECIAL FEATURES

"Little Lord Fauntleroy" comes with no special features.

JUDGMENT CALL:

"Little Lord Fauntleroy" is a heartwarming classic that showcases American pride but also love for family. In many ways, this is the kind of film that would be commonplace in America for the next two decades despite the focus on the middle-class family, we have a proper middleclass family with a boy with the heart of gold.

John Cromwell's 1936 version of "Little Lord Fauntleroy" is probably the best film adaptation for the mere fact that Freddie Bartholomew plays the character of Ceddie Errol with complete efficacy. He embodies the style and mannerisms of what one would think of Little Lord Fauntleroy that even Frances Hodgson Burnett would have been happy with his performance.

One has to bare in mind that 1930′s, many child stars depicted on the big screen were kids who managed to get in a bit of trouble but yet they were fun to watch and full of spunk. May it be Hal Roach's Little Rascals (Our Gang) to The East End Kids, even Little Rascals star Sid Kibrick makes an appearance in this film, as did a younger Mickey Rooney.

But one can see why the storyline was so popular when the novel was released in the late 1800′s. This was a rags-to-riches story but also an inspiring story of love between a young boy and his mother, but yet treated everyone with kindness and respect. Many parents can hope their kids could be as happy, kind like Ceddie and even in Cromwell's film, Ceddie is the boy that many parents would love to have (or hope their kids could as well-mannered).

And then you have the pro-American, not-yet apple pie mentality with Ceddie telling his English grandfather that he is American, because he was born in America, despite his grandfather insisting that he is English. And of course to show that even this little angel has his tough side as the local kids gang up on him and call him a "sissy" because of his clothes and he speaks proper English, and we see how this young boy is not afraid to defend himself and fight.

But as you have a film with so much humor, what literally wins you over is the film's heart. It's relationships from Ceddie and his mother, as any one can understand the pain it is for a young boy to be separated from his mother but yet, he is able to keep a brave face for his grandfather. And of course, to see his grandfather change with being around Ceddie and we see the transformation of this "grinch" who eventually becomes more and more compassionate.

With solid costume design and impressive performances by its cast, John Cromwell and Hugh Walpole were able to give incredible life to Frances Hodgson Burnett's beloved novel. But once again, it's Freddie Bartholomew who makes this film work. As Jackie Cooper was able to bring this heartwarming emotion to his character Dink in the 1931 film "The Champ", Freddie Bartholomew was able to knock the ball out of the ballpark with this performance that featured grace but fine attention to subtlety. He embodies the character of Little Lord Fauntleroy and once you see him perform, you can understand why he was one of Hollywood's most popular and famous child actors at that time.

And while Mickey Rooney was child actor who had appeared in many films by 1936 and was already well-known, for silent film fans, "Little Lord Fauntleroy" would also feature silent film actress Dolores Costello (who was married to silent actor John Barrymore) in one of her few talking films and the film would also star C. Aubrey Smith, who was an actor in Hollywood during the '30s and '40s, also best known for creating the Hollywood Cricket Club and also for his height at 6'4″.

As for the Blu-ray release, as mentioned earlier, you're not going to find anything pristine for this film and for how good it looks considering it was mastered in HD from an original nitrate 35 mm print and is nearly 80-years-old. While I wish there were special features such as audio commentary or even an interview with Mickey Rooney, then again, not many film from the 1930′s on Blu-ray or DVD come with any.

Overall, "Little Lord Fauntleroy" is a charming, heartwarming film that showcases an amazing performance from its cast, especially from the young Freddie Bartholomew. If you enjoy positive, upbeat, classic Hollywood films from the 1930′s, "Little Lord Fauntleroy" is recommended!

Buy Little Lord Fauntleroy: Kino Classics Remastered Edition (1936) Now

This story has been filmed several times through the centuries. Each brings with it the strengths and weaknesses of the time period in which it was made. A few examples are:

1914 Gerald Royston Cedric Erroll

1921 Mary Pickford Little Lord Fauntleroy/Dearest

1936 Freddy Bartholomew Cedric `Ceddie' Erroll

1976 Glen Anderson Lord Fauntleroy

1980 Rick Schroder Lord Fauntleroy (Ceddie Errol)

1995 Michael Benz Cedric Errol

2003 Aleksei Vesyolkin Cedric

As with any story, everyone has their favorite interpretation. This is a review of the 1936 version.

Ceddie (Freddy Bartholomew) is a well meaning kid, which is wise beyond his years and very well mannered. He lives alone with his mother Dearest (Dolores Costello Barrymore.) He is the product of his environment (America depression era) where he is mentored by a wise grocer (Guy Kibbee,) and befriended by others such as the shoe shine boy (Mickey Rooney.)

Turns out that he is the long lost grandson of the Earl of DorinCourt (C. Aubrey Smith,) and heir to an estate in England. So he is "Little Lord Fauntleroy." He is removed from the only home he knows and whisked off to England. There he does not realize that his grandfather can not stand his mother (they never met) so she has to stay in another house.

All is going swimmingly until the "Real Little Lord Fauntleroy" the son of the other brother shows up. Now what will happen? Is `Ceddie' destined to be second fiddle? Will his mother go back to America? What do his old friends think when they find out? Looks like curtains for everyone.

Read Best Reviews of Little Lord Fauntleroy: Kino Classics Remastered Edition (1936) Here

This is an excellent film with a great cast. It's something you'll want to watch over and over. Very good print, but no cleanup work has been done.

Want Little Lord Fauntleroy: Kino Classics Remastered Edition (1936) Discount?

This is what media should be used for. Watched it with the wife and all 6 boys. Wonderful, uplifting story about change and how good can change. Just a simple, friendly boy who changes hearts and minds by being himself and brings joy to others. Just get it.

Save 26% Off

The Warlords (+ BD Live) (2010)

THE WARLORDS (2007) is an ambitious film directed by Peter Chan, one of Hong Kong's known filmmakers. This film has a very impressive cast in Jet Li (Fearless), Andy Lau (Infernal Affairs) and Takeshi Kaneshiro (Returner). This period epic is loosely based on Chang Cheh's classic; BLOOD BROTHERS. I've seen a lot of Chinese epics and thankfully "The Warlords" is not a part of the colorful, overindulgent film geared towards U.S. audiences. Truly, this film is darker and grittier than most Chinese epics, but still has massive commercial appeal and will no doubt be popular to international audiences.

The Taiping Rebellion has plunged the country in chaos. General Quing-yun Pang (Jet Li) is the lone survivor of a massive battle between the Christian Taiping and the Qing dynasty under command. That evening, he finds comfort in the arms of comely Lian (Xu Jinglei) but she disappears the following day. Pang encounters a group of bandits led by Er-hu Zhao (Andy Lau) and Jiang (Kaneshiro) who are having difficulty in survival. As fate would have it, the three takes a blood oath to join the Qing army to quell the rebellion.

The Taiping rebellion is among the bloodiest civil war ever recorded in history. The body count rivals the ones during World War II. The Taiping rebellion has a lot to do with religion and cultural ideology, and those powerful issues have been downplayed in favor of the theme of brotherhood, love and war. The film fails to take advantage of its historical context. Quite disappointing really, apparently, the producers presume that the usual theme of brotherhood and loyalty are more universal and more appealing to international audiences. I looked up the details of the Taiping rebellion, and I have to say, even though "The Warlords" is in no means a bad film, it's full potential hasn't been achieved. Rather, the rebellion is only used as a backdrop and not really the film's main premise.

As for the battle scenes, it may well be the bloodiest I've seen so far in Hong Kong cinema. Limbs are severed and there are a few gruesome beheadings. The sequences still have the martial arts influence, but no hints of wires are shown. U.S. audiences may need hints of Chinese history to be able to fully grasp the proceedings, there's a lot of commentary to China's tumultuous past and there is some effective human drama in the brothers' contrasting ideas regarding war and righteousness. Pang is a realist while Er-hu is an idealist, I'm pretty certain you have an idea how two opposing ideologies cannot coexist. Sadly, the missing cultural impact of the war minimizes the film's depth, making the horrors of war less involving.

Jet Li gives the performance of his career since "Fearless". The man can indeed act, and now I understand why he wants to leave the shadow of Wu Shu. There is quite a lot of "manly" tear-jerking moments, and the existing love triangle between Pang, Er-hu and Lian seems to be minor plot devices in an attempt to relate to its audiences. The film is successful as a costume epic, and definitely has a lot of ambition. The style feels a little bit like a Hollywood production; expensive, huge and indeed loud. There are some emotional complexities inherent in its characters and conflicts but it becomes a little too predictable. The film is indeed large but somewhat hampered by its commercialism. Big name Asian stars, expensive production values (I heard that it surpassed "Curse of the Golden Flower" in dollar expense), drama and a China-friendly aversion to sensitive themes.

Now, this doesn't mean that "The Warlords" is a bad film, it is actually a VERY good one. The elaborate costumes, decent battle sequences, awesome set designs and the excellent performance by my boy; Jet Li does make the film a real note-worthy experience. It is just both a success and a victim of its own commercialism. For the most part, Peter Chan and company knew what they wanted to do with this film; a film that can please almost everyone (except maybe those who love happy endings) and has mass mainstream appeal for both Chinese and international audiences. The film's historical trappings feel more like a setting rather than a sense of history. Still, a lot of viewers will not be disappointed, the film is not subtle in execution, the melodramatic battlefields and the great performances by its actors are sure to please many. It may be a bit hollow in spirit but definitely solid and safe in the power it exudes.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! [4 stars]

NOTE: The U.S. release (region 1) of "The Warlords" has lost more than 15 minutes of original footage when compared to the Hong Kong release. It loses a lot of its emotions and dramatic impact. If you have multi-region capability, get the uncut Asian release.

Jet Li as a villain is quite a remarkable piece of casting, and everyone really holds their own in this action epic set in 1860s China. The title in English is Warlords but in Chinese it was Blood Brothers, and features three men who are doing their best to survive in a wartorn land.

Jet Li, a great general in the Imperial army, is betrayed and the only man in his army to survive. His resurrection from the dead is both fascinating and appalling to watch as his desire for power obliterates all before him. Andy Lau gives the performance of a lifetime as the head of a band of brigands, who first follows Jet Li but later becomes disaffected by what he sees and tries to turn back from the collision course the ambitious general has set them all on.

Takeshi Kaneshiro as the youngest of the three strong male leads is remarkable in terms of both his battle prowess and how loyal he is to both men, until he is forced to choose sides. Complicating matters still further is the fact that Li's character unintentionally fell in love with a woman on the road, who turns out to be the wife of Lau's character. The inevitable ending is anything but as each man meets his fate.

The action and battle sequences, music, costume, and above all, the depiction of warfare at the time, including trench warfare, makes this an Asian All Quiet on the Western Front, where there is no glory for anyone, only more bloodshed for the sake of ruthless territorial ambitions. I have watched it several times now, with a variety of friends, and everyone LOVED it, even as they were completely shocked by it. If you like action films, there is plenty to recommend Warlords, but the sheer depth of this epic is remarkable. This is a GREAT film in the true sense of the word.

Buy The Warlords (+ BD Live) (2010) Now

Great film. Great actors. Great directing. Ho-Sun Chan is in top form here. But, once again, just like with "Iron Monkey" and "Suriyothai" we get these "American" cut versions. WHICH SUCKS!!! I am a film school student and have studied films for over 20 years and I despise it when a foreign film is cut "supposedly" to our western liking. Who asked Magnolia to cut 13-14 minutes of the film anyway? Surely fans of foreign films did not ask for this. Read the dvdbeaver comparison to find out what is missing in the "American" cut. Magnolia, you dropped the ball on this one. I bought your versions of "Haeundae" (interestingly renamed "Tidal Wave". Haeundae does not mean Tidal Wave. It is the town in South Korea where the tsunami hits), "Chocolate", "Ong Bak 2", "Let The Right One In" (except for the subtitle complaints) and others and I am pleased with them. But, remember this, true film fans want the "director's vision" of a film, not the version that you "think we would want"!!! I am importing the Region A Megastar version with no "cuts" to the film. MAGNOLIA PLEASE DO NOT MAKE "CUTS" TO THE SOUTH KOREAN FILM "MOTHER" THAT YOU ARE RELEASING ON BLU-RAY JULY 20TH. I saw "Mother" and it is amazing just the way it is. No need to cut ANYTHING from that film. Stay true to your fans and supporters and we will always buy your releases.

Read Best Reviews of The Warlords (+ BD Live) (2010) Here

Like Red Cliff, The Warlords is a martial arts movie in a different sense of the word. While there are a couple scenes with Jet Li dishing out some wushu, the bulk of the action consists of large scale battles, sieges, and raids.

That said, there is definitely a rock hard moral core at the heart of this movie that fits with what I like about more typical martial arts movies: the sense of honor and the importance of male bonding over personal gain. What gives this movie its heart is that the brotherhood created by the characters played by the three male leads spins apart and leads to tragic consequences.

A little background on the Taiping rebellion, even a blurb from Wikipedia or the like, would be a good thing to read as the movie clearly assumes we know a bit about it. By and large though, this information would make the film richer but not knowing it does not impair your ability to follow the story. The position of each male protagonist is a little vague at the start of the film, but this again is a minor issue.

The battle scenes in this movie are astounding. Some really shocking shots with limbs being severed, etc. It's graphic, but not gratuitous. Despite all the effects and costumes and such, the film never loses its emotional core. I was surprised how much I came to care about the brotherhood of these three men in under two hours. That said, there were a few scenes that did drag a little, and this would be another slight flaw with the movie.

Of course, the length of the movie brings me to the major problem with the US release. From what I understand, 15 minutes has been cut from this film for the US release. why? Why? WHY??? Other reviews suggest the cut footage as was the case in the US version of Fearless eliminate scenes that enhance the emotional power of the story. In the case of Fearless, I luckily obtained and watched the full director's cut of the international release so I was able to see the intended version of the movie. However, no such option is available for us Yankees with The Warlords, and I have no doubt that the film suffers from the missing footage.

I find it increasingly irritating that I have to be careful to purchase or am simply unable to purchase the unedited version of so many films from overseas. DVDs and blu-rays can store a lot of information on them. There is not reason not to release a movie with the original cut as well as the 'for dopey Americans' cut. Let the viewer decide if it's going to kill them to spend 15 more minutes with the film!

Anyway, while the pacing is a little slow at times and some of the details of the story are sketchy given the lack of historical background and the missing footage (most likely), I enjoyed watching The Warlords, though I wish I had the real movie not a cut version for my DVD collection. I can't give the DVD release for the film more than 3 stars due to this poor packaging decision.

Want The Warlords (+ BD Live) (2010) Discount?

General Pang Qing Yun is the sole survivor of his entire battalion. The Ching army was taken out against Taiping rebels in Hechuan. A woman named Lian spends the night with Pang and leaves before he wakes the next morning. Jiang Wuyang, one of the bandits that rides into the town Pang currently finds himself in, is impressed with Pang's fighting skills and introduces Pang to Zhao Er Hu. Jiang and Er Hu take Pang to their village where Pang is reunited with Lian who just so happens to be Er Hu's wife. The bandits from the village overthrow a passing food convoy and that is thought to be a resolution to their current desperation until the imperial army invades and usurps the food that they stole. Pang, Er Hu, and Jiang take a blood oath to become blood brothers before joining Lord Chen's army. With the odds against them, their 800 soldiers get the upper hand on Shu City's 5,000 as plans are put into motion to overthrow Suzhou and Nanjing, the capital. The brothers soon begin to fall apart on their rise to the top. Er Hu tends to be loyal with his word and his brothers no matter what as Pang will sacrifice anyone and even make deals with his enemies just to win while Jiang is stuck in the middle.

This movie is phenomenal. The battle sequences are stunning, the cinematography is brilliant, and the acting is top notch. The Warlords took everything that was fantastic about Mongol and made it just a little bit better. Jet Li deserves a mention. After seeing Unleashed and Fearless, it was nice to see him actually show his acting chops again. The desire to see him at that acting capacity was high, so it was quite a treat to see him at that caliber once again. After The Forbidden Kingdom and his rather stale performance in that, it's become a bit difficult what to expect from him other than him displaying how talented he is at martial arts. Fortunately, he did a great job in this as he showed just about every emotion in this film at some time or another. His fight scenes were also incredible, but that is kind of a given. Andy Lau also deserves a nod. His character is just so passionate about being honorable and loyal that when things go wrong, his reaction is just explosive. He has some really powerful scenes where he's fighting for what he thinks is right. There's a scene where a play is mocking him and his brothers while he's eating dinner. He begins to laugh, which leads to him crying uncontrollably, and then he begins laughing again. He just managed to pull it off flawlessly and it was incredibly impressive.

The battle scenes didn't pull any punches either. Blood flies across the screen as limbs roll on the ground. It's truly fantastic. They are the highlight of the film as the first half seems to not pull away from the battlefield. The film is also extremely colorful. Every scene is stunningly vibrant. There are so many memorable scenes from the film and half of that is due to how they were shot. There's a scene where Er Hu runs into a coliseum where there are just hundreds of dead bodies lying on the ground and the camera does a 360 degree motion around him capturing his emotions and the devastation that lies around him. It's amazing.

The Warlords is one of the best Chinese war epics I've ever seen. Not that I've seen too many of them, but even in comparison to feudal Japan films, it's one of the best. If you were a fan of films like Mongol: The Rise of Genghis Kahn, The Last Samurai, or Seven Samurai, then this comes highly recommended. It's the type of film that shouldn't be missed by anyone.

Save 35% Off

Sanjuro (The Criterion Collection) (1962)

This movie speaks for itself. It's pure cinematic artistry from Akira Kurusawa himself. This movie is gorgeous. It's the best looking black & White film I have ever seen. The plot is very interesting & quite humorous despite the characters being faced with death at every turn. GREAT cinematography. When you observe what Kurusawa was able to do back in 60's without modern tech, it really puts most modern directors to shame. Toshiro Mifune is an extraordinarily well rounded actor, and this is my favorite roll of his that I've seen so far. Brilliant.

I love all the works of Akira Kurosawa and his collaboration with Toshiro Mifune. I have always found

this movie to be fun to watch. The acting is great and their are some funny lines throughout. A most

entertaining film.

Buy Sanjuro (The Criterion Collection) (1962) Now

Movie 4.5

Alright, my third Kurosawa film! Here we have the continuing adventures of Sanjuurou in the self-titled movie, which amply reflects a good majority of the elements that made Youjimbou so successful. We're essentially presented with the same mix of comedy and drama (albeit, of a lighter nature), tantalizing swordplay (much bloodier), and a still very appealing protagonist, though not quite to the magnitude of its predecessor. However, what Sanjuurou lacks in overall bravado, it makes up for in some great character development and complexity. After listening to the very insightful commentary, I found that a lot of the elements in this movie helped to fill some of the character gaps and actually compliment Sanjuurou to make him a more complete person. Furthermore, the screenplay also differentiates itself from the previous film with the whole "unsheathed sword" analogy and its message on the brutality of violence, as opposed to its necessity in the former, and its focus on traditionalism, as opposed to Youjimbou's take on modernism. Instead of glorifying the bloodshed we were led to believe as a necessary, almost obligatory, catalyst for change in the first film, we learn here that even if killing is required, living with it is the hardest part of all. We're also exposed to the softer side of Sanjuurou here, as seen in his interactions with the rebel samurai. His brash and eccentric nature has always been a part of his charisma, though we get to see him display a little more compassion, maybe even a kind of paternal instinct for those young men. This complimentary piece to the tale of Sanjuurou is much more light-hearted, but at the same time adds a more intimate and subtle look to the man.

Video 4.5

The video isn't quite as striking as it is for Youjimbou, but Sanjuurou still looks relatively good. Contrast, black levels, and overall sharpness show about the same level of excellence as its predecessor, though it does have a few moments of inconsistency. Images appear fuzzy, contrast or blacks are too high/low, and some shots even show instances of film damage, but only on occasion. Facial features and object detail still look amazing for a movie filmed in b&w, and I was particularly surprised at some of the shadow delineation in some of the night scenes.

Audio 4.5

While the video transfer isn't as good, the audio is. The 3.0 DTS-HD track offers a clear and presentable effort with no loss of quality in the dialogue, music, or sound effects. Ambiance is as good as its predecessor with center and front side speakers engaging in their respective elements. Of special note, there are more instances of sword slash and flesh-cut noises as opposed to the wind effects and emphasis of the score in the previous film. The running water sounds also create a pretty pleasant atmosphere.

Extras 4.0

More of the same as in Youjimbou: 35-minute behind-the-scenes featurette, a very in-depth commentary by Stephen Price, and a nifty little book with essays about Kurosawa and his work. I actually found the b-t-s feature a little less interesting than Youjimbou's. It tends to focus more on the writing/acting aspects and effects departments, but not so much on the filming process itself. Some of the cinematography was cool to look at, and it would've been nice to hear about the shooting locations as well. However, the commentary makes up for it a good deal, showing that Mr. Price, yet again, really knows his stuff.

Overall 4.5

Sanjuurou is a great complimentary piece to Kurosawa's Youjimbou. It's not really a "sequel" in the structural sense, but more so a spiritual one. We get to see more of what makes him the man, as well as getting a few life lessons from his words and actions. While it's probably not quite as captivating as its first incarnation, this makes a fine addition to any Kurosawa or samurai fan's collection. Highly recommended.

Read Best Reviews of Sanjuro (The Criterion Collection) (1962) Here

Even the title is interesting, ichro is the first son and inherits all the property, nichro is the second son and normally helps his older brother manage the property, and sanjuro the third son is hung out to dry. In the movie the title character is wonderfully acted and the mixture of comedy and drama is well done. Sanjuro is very real and plot twists are very good indeed. The head of the village who is saved is a wonderful surprise and last scene is incredible. One of my all time Japanese movie favorates and having spent six years in Japan I have seen a few. Get it.

Want Sanjuro (The Criterion Collection) (1962) Discount?

He's a nameless, grizzled man who wanders through 1800s Japan. Think Clint Eastwood with a topknot.

And the sequel to Akira Kurosawa's classic "Yojimbo" is very different in tone -rather than a straightforward grizzled-anti-hero-cleans-up-the-town tale, it's a comic story about the unnamed hero getting stuck on a ship of fools, and having to unravel a small-time political conspiracy. While it's Kurosawa's lightest samurai movie, it's still a solid action/drama flick with plenty of comedy sprinkled in.

A gang of idealistic young nobles are gathered in a decaying house, talking about how they are trying to battle local corruption. Suddenly a scruffy warrior (Toshirô Mifune) who calls himself Sanjûrô Tsubaki (basic translation -30-year-old camellia... going on forty), appears and tells them who is lying and who isn't -and that after confiding in the treacherous superintendant, they're being set up for an ambush.

After he saves their butts and drags the none-too-bright young men into hiding, he begins concocting a plan to save one young man's uncle, who is being held as a political hostage. After rescuing the lord's wife and daughter, Sanjuro and his band of fools continue with their plots to save him from the evil superintendant -and he teaches his bumbling co-conspirators that exalted social position isn't what keeps you alive...

Kurosawa isn't known for having made goofball comedies -he tended more towards action and tragedy - but there's a definite comic flair to "Sanjuro," from the pampered prisoner offering nuggets of wisdom ("Get back in the closet!" one of his captors yells) to the silent "happy dance" that all the young noblemen do. At the same time, there's a poignant note to Sanjuro's regrets about the men he's killed -including men much like himself.

Even steeped in comedy, Kurosawa's knack for action and vibrant creativity is still intact -to give the feel that people are running, he shows short, rapid shots of several young men running down different streets. Every action scene is a pared-down, sharp-edged affair, and he juggles the complex plot threads easily. There are a few flaws (a lot of people get cut down without a speck of blood) but these are just minor quirks. And the finale is a shatteringly brutal scene, reminiscent of a western shoot-out, where you almost expect Sanjuro to put on a white cowboy hat and spit.

Mifune is wonderful as the grubby, grumpy samurai who is like an "unsheathed blade," and who has more brains than his little gang. He gives the character a lazy, languid air, sort of like an unexploded land mine. His followers are well-acted, though they don't have much individual personality -think the best buddies of Bertie Wooster, except with topknots and katanas. And small supporting roles -like the kindly, prim noblewoman and the friendly prisoner in his little closet -are very well-drawn.

As for the Criterion blu-ray edition, it has pretty much the same extras as the original DVD edition: improved subtitling, a behind-the-scenes stills gallery, theatrical trailer and teaser, an audio commentary track by a Kurosawa scholar named Stephen Prince, and a half-hour excerpt from "Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create" about "Sanjuro."

Lurking under the comic flourishes is an intelligent film with likable characters, solid writing, and plenty of action. "Sanjuro" is as good as the film before it, though in a slightly different way.

Save 24% Off

Cover Girl (1944)

This musical/comedy is the story about Rusty Parker (Rita Hayworth) who decides to take a chance at becoming a cover girl. But she knows that her boss and boyfriend, Danny McGuire (Gene Kelly) believes that the easy way to stardom is not the way to happiness. At first, Rusty goes to audition for being the cover girl but when a jealous friend and co-worker Maurine Martin (Leslie Brooks) tells her to act 'animated', she blows her chance in front of Cornelia 'Stonewall' Jackson (Eve Arden). So when Cornelia and her boss, John Coudair (Otto Kruger), go to 'McGuire's Nightclub' to see Maurine, Coudair immediately takes a fancy to Rusty instead! The reason is because she looks exactly like Coudair's someone long ago whom he loved, Maribelle Hicks (also played by Rita Hayworth). He finds out that Rusty is Maribelle's granddaughter then makes her his cover girl and she is suddenly flung into the world of stardom and fame! But Danny and great friend Genius (Phil Silvers) try to get Rusty back on her feet when she starts getting high and mighty ideas. On the other hand, Coudair and producer Noel Wheaton (Lee Bowman) want to give Rusty all that they think is happiness; money, fame, and stardom. But could Rusty ever be happy without the one most important thing she needs, love?

A truly dynamic movie with terrific dance numbers, hilarious humor, romantic romance, and dramatic drama. Who can't help but hum along when Kelly and Hayworth sing the lovely song, "Long Ago and Far Away", laugh when the three main stars do their 'come on pearls' bit, sigh in happiness whenever Kelly and Hayworth kiss, and be in agony at the part where Hayworth realizes her mistake? If you haven't seen this movie, I can only say that you're missing out on a lot!

My favorite dance/song numbers are:

"Long Ago and Far Away": The romantic dance number with superb Kelly and Rita Hayworth.

"Who's Complaining?": Phil Silvers is just totally hilarious!

"Alter Ego": Gene Kelly is the best! Want proof? Watch this number where he dances with himself!

"Put Me to the Test": Both versions are wonderful. One is with Kelly and Hayworth, the other one is a much funnier version with Kelly and Silvers.

"Tomorrow": And who can forget this number with all three main characters Danny, Rusty, and Genius?

Here are some of my other favorite musicals/comedies which I highly recommend. "Silk Stockings", "Take Me Out to the Ballgame", "Bandwagon", "Tea for Two", "Singin' in the Rain", "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers", "The Barkleys of Broadway", the three "That's Entertainment" videos, and "Guys and Dolls". Of course there's plenty more!

If you can get past the zany (and tiresome) antics of Phil Silvers and the corny, cliched script, there's a wonderful Technicolor musical here called "Cover Girl". Gorgeous Rita Hayworth is Rusty Parker, a nite club chorine who becomes the toast of Broadway overnite when she's chosen to be the cover girl of Vanity magazine---albeit to the chagrin of the club's owner Danny McGuire (Gene Kelly) who's her boyfriend and her catty co-workers. Hayworth is absolutely beautiful and dances with the most natural grace and elegance ever captured on screen as far as I'm concerned. Gene Kelly's acting is stiff but HIS dancing is what you're watching here as well. Boy, could he dance! He has a great solo number on an empty street where he dances with his reflection from an empty store window. Absolute artistry in motion. Eve Arden, as a talent scout, brings much needed relief to the tired script with her right-on-the-money delivery of brittle comebacks and one liners. She's also outfitted in the most outre' chic costumes and hats Hollywood ever laid out. All the costumes (by the great Travis Banton) are something to behold. But it's the Technicolor that brings things to life and Hayworth who brings the Technicolor to life. In her Broadway debut, she comes running down a seemingly endless elevated platform in a flowing gold gown like a goddess descending from the heavens---her long red hair cascading behind her. Then, after a dance number with chorus guys, she runs back up the platform through a downpour of shimmering sparkles and into a cloud of pink smoke. Sheer Technicolor movie magic. "Cover Girl" isn't the best musical ever made, but as a showcase for one of the most beautiful actresses ever photographed in Technicolor and a very nice song called "Long Ago and Far Away" it gets 5 stars from me. When you watch this, you can see there was only ONE Rita Hayworth and her grace, talent and beauty are captured in splendor on this DVD print.

Buy Cover Girl (1944) Now

Probably one of Rita Hayworth's most memorable movies. This movie has it all, and was made to showcase Hayworth's multitude of talent. There is humor, amazing well-choreographed dance sequences, and the singing, ohhh the singing! It is hard to choose what is better. Gene Kelley gave a wonder performance as always, but Rita Hayworth shines. I never realized what a phenomenal dancer she was. It is a shame that she never received the recognition she deserved.

Read Best Reviews of Cover Girl (1944) Here

This Columbia musical may be something of an artifact now, but it was designed to showcase Rita Hayworth. It does it so professionally that the movie is still a lot of fun to watch. The story is almost irrelevant to the movie. Rusty Parker (Hayworth) is a talented dancer working at a struggling dinner theater, Danny McGuire's Place, in Brooklyn. Danny (Gene Kelly) and Rusty love each other, and Danny is determined that one of these days his talents as a choreographer, dancer and showman will lead to the big time with Rusty. But Rusty gets noticed by John Coudair (Otto Kruger), a wealthy, high society publisher, and he makes Rusty the cover girl of one of his most popular magazines, Vanity. And the rest is history. Rusty becomes the hit of New York; a theater producer wants her for a show and wants to marry her. And Danny, seeing this happen, reluctantly decides he can't stand in her way. There's another story going on, too. Forty years ago Coudair had fallen hard for a showgirl, Maribelle Hicks. Despite Coudair's riches and position, Maribelle left him at the last minute to marry the poor piano player she really loved. Rusty doesn't know this story...and it turns out she was Maribelle's grand daughter. What will Rusty do? Well, watch the movie if you're in any doubt. The movie, however, is worth watching for several other reasons.

First, is the performance by Rita Hayworth. In fact, just the presence of Hayworth. She really was a beautiful creature with those long legs, red hair and a perfectly natural and friendly personality. She also was a first-rate dancer. Betty Grable once said Hayworth could dance rings around her. Many critics agree that Hayworth was the best dance partner Astaire ever had. Even when doing a fast tap routine, Hayworth could carry it off with great grace and look completely relaxed, as if she were having great fun. Check her out, for instance, in the Shorty George tap routine with Astaire from You Were Never Lovelier. She gives that same feeling of joy in dancing while working with Kelly.

Second, are the songs by Jerome Kern and Ira Gershwin. Long Ago and Far Away was the big hit, but the entire score is one classy song after another, including Make Way for Tomorrow, Cover Girl, Sure Thing and The Show Must Go On. Long Ago, in fact, was the biggest money earner for Gershwin, bringing in considerably more than any of the songs he wrote with his brother. He said several times that he didn't think the lyric was as good as it could have been. One of the songs, Put Me to the Test, has a lyric that Gershwin originally wrote for a song with his brother. It never went anywhere, so when he had some trouble with the idea he mentioned to Kern that he had a lyric that had already been set to music by George. He said he didn't know whether Kern would be offended, but Kern just laughed and asked to see the words.

Third, are some nice performances by the supporting players. Phil Silvers, as the best friend of both Rusty and Danny, plays comic relief and matchmaker. He does a nice job of it. Otto Kruger as usual plays a smoothie, but he has a few subtle double takes he handles skillfully. He also, of course, does the right thing by Rusty. He manages to show regret and affection. And it is always fun to see Eve Arden, once again as the sardonic, wise-cracking side kick, this time to Coudair. She was so type cast in granite that I always wonder how well she could have managed in a few really serious roles. I don't recall ever seeing her in one.

Fourth, is the glossy, professional, Technicolor sheen of the movie. Everything, the sets, the costumes, the lighting, the makeup is handled with the kind of Hollywood studio perfection that isn't seen anymore. Even when the showgirls are putting on their makeup, they're perfectly made up.

Kelly does a good job, especially with the alter ego dance he does with himself and which is often highlighted in specials about his career. But Cover Girl remains very much Rita Hayworth's movie.

The Dvd transfer is excellent; Technicolor never looked better. There are no extras.

Want Cover Girl (1944) Discount?

COVER GIRL'S importance lies not in it's originality as a book (it's the backstage Cinderella story extrordinaire), as much as it does in what happened to each of its stars. Gene Kelly was 'loaned out' to do CG, when MGM boss L.B. Mayer didn't have much use for him at his own studio. His performance in this film, coupled with the ground-breaking 'Alter Ego' dance solo (duo?) was so successful that it made MGM take him seriously at last and allowed him to flourish with the yet-to-come hits of "On The Town," "An American In Paris," etc. (he was never loaned out again). Likewise for Rita Hayworth; Columbia had been grooming her for years, but she had done mostly B-level films (except for the occasional musical). CG showed her off as a lead in glorious Technicolor, and paved the way for GILDA, her signature role. Here she and Kelly make a sweet couple, and are at their most romantic in the "Long Ago and Far Away" duet. Another standout number is the title song, which pays tribute to all the well-known American magazines and their cover models. Hayworth is a siren in a gold dress, running down a curved runway, with her flaming mane billowing. An absolute dream in Technicolor.

Stargate: The Ark of Truth/Stargate: Continuum (2009)

The ending of the "Stargate SG-1" TV show left some threads dangling -the last Goa'uld System Lord was still in hiding, and the Ori were still threatening the world.

Fortunately those threads are more or less tied up in the two direct-to-DVD movies that followed: "Stargate: The Ark of Truth" and "Stargate: Continuum." While they don't quite have the unique flavour of the TV series, these movies do bring back all the favorite characters (and some departed villains) in a double finale to its winding stories.

"The Ark of Truth" is an Ancient device that brainwashes people -and SG-1 is searching for it, where they run into Vala's ex-hubby Tomin (who ends up teaming up with them). But soon they have a lead on where the Ark might be, and head for Celestis in the hopes of finding a bloodless method of stopping the Ori once and for all.

Unfortunately they have a slew of new problems -Ori motherships are approaching Earth with the intent to convert or destroy, a nasty IOA rep has created and loosed a very familiar enemy on the Odyssey, and Vala's malevolent daughter Adria has gained godlike power. Fortunately SG-1 has a powerful ally of their own.

And once again, there is time-twisting with "Continuum." SG-1 and General Jack O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) are watching the execution and extraction of Ba'al... but unfortunately, it's not the real Ba'al. The real Ba'al has time-traveled and altered the timeline, causing Teal'c (Christopher Judge), Vala (Claudia Black) and the Tok'ra to vanish, and resulting in Jack's death.

Unfortunately, this alternate timeline becomes more perilous after a year -Earth is being threatened by the supreme System Lord Ba'al, his queen Qetesh (in Vala's body) and his First Prime Teal'c. But when Qetesh and Ba'al clash over his past on Earth, the altered SG-1 must band together to find and destroy Ba'al's time machine, and somehow restore the timeline to what it once was.

"Stargate: The Ark of Truth" and "Stargate: Continuum" are basically intended to wrap up loose ends, and as such they're not quite as satisfying as the television show was. "Ark of Truth" sometimes feels rather rushed and has a somewhat out-of-the-blue solition, and "Continuum" may need multiple viewings to keep up with the time-bouncing plotline.

But as finales they're solid pieces of work -lots of action, space battles, mysterious artifacts, and a way bigger budget that a TV episode would ever have allowed. And they both have everything that you'd expect from "Stargate SG-1" -pop culture homages ("Star Wars"!), some recurring characters (Apophis!), and alien nasties with overwhelming power. There's even some subtle moral dilemmas about belief and fighting the Ori followers.

It also has excellent scripting: plot threads drawn from the TV series, witty dialogue ("That is, after all, why we've come. Why we had to endure all of that singing. Get rid of the last bad guy and then there's cake"), and some nice quiet moments, such as Teal'c talking with Tomin about their bloodstained pasts. And they manage to throw some interesting twists at the audience, such as a shocking revelation about the Ori.

And seeing the actors as their SG-1 characters is like putting on a comfortable old shoe. Amanda Tapping and Michael Shanks are suitably brilliant and courageous, and Ben Browder gets to shine especially in "Continuum" as a strong, slightly quirky soldier. Christopher Judge gets to shine in "Ark of Truth" as a powerful, wise warrior, and Black gets to be both funny and emotional.

And of course, Richard Dean Anderson utterly steals the show whenever he appears ("Hey, have you ever tried to find a bathroom in a pyramid?") and Tim Guinee has a good smallish role as Tomin.

It's a little sad to see the main storylines of the Stargate universe end, but "Stargate: The Ark of Truth" and "Stargate: Continuum" are well worth seeing. Nice finales.

I'll be the first to admit I wasn't looking forward to the straight to dvd stargate movies. While I enjoyed the show, I wasn't expecting much from them. But it turned out Stargate prospered with the bigger budget! The first, ark of truth is the conclusion to the ori story. Though it started slow, it really picked up, and turned into a monstrously entertaining movie. Though I wish it could have been a few episodes (or instead a full season), what they did was very good, and a good conclusion to the Ori story.

As to Continuum, I was suprised with how much fun it was. Given the time travel nature of the story, I thought the fact that the show brought back feelings from so many seasons was a great effect. They also brought back old characters, including Goul'd Lords, who I haven't seen in years. Though the story was full of holes (like most time travel pieces) it was very interesting. For those wondering the difference between this and the seperate releases, there are none. They just put the discs in one new case, so if you have them both, you don't need to buy it again.

Buy Stargate: The Ark of Truth/Stargate: Continuum (2009) Now

The ending of the "Stargate SG-1" TV show left some threads dangling -the last Goa'uld System Lord was still in hiding, and the Ori were still threatening the world.

Fortunately those threads are more or less tied up in the two direct-to-DVD movies that followed: "Stargate: The Ark of Truth" and "Stargate: Continuum." While they don't quite have the unique flavour of the TV series, these movies do bring back all the favorite characters (and some departed villains) in a double finale to its winding stories.

"The Ark of Truth" is an Ancient device that brainwashes people -and SG-1 is searching for it, where they run into Vala's ex-hubby Tomin (who ends up teaming up with them). But soon they have a lead on where the Ark might be, and head for Celestis in the hopes of finding a bloodless method of stopping the Ori once and for all.

Unfortunately they have a slew of new problems -Ori motherships are approaching Earth with the intent to convert or destroy, a nasty IOA rep has created and loosed a very familiar enemy on the Odyssey, and Vala's malevolent daughter Adria has gained godlike power. Fortunately SG-1 has a powerful ally of their own.

And once again, there is time-twisting with "Continuum." SG-1 and General Jack O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) are watching the execution and extraction of Ba'al... but unfortunately, it's not the real Ba'al. The real Ba'al has time-traveled and altered the timeline, causing Teal'c (Christopher Judge), Vala (Claudia Black) and the Tok'ra to vanish, and resulting in Jack's death.

Unfortunately, this alternate timeline becomes more perilous after a year -Earth is being threatened by the supreme System Lord Ba'al, his queen Qetesh (in Vala's body) and his First Prime Teal'c. But when Qetesh and Ba'al clash over his past on Earth, the altered SG-1 must band together to find and destroy Ba'al's time machine, and somehow restore the timeline to what it once was.

"Stargate: The Ark of Truth" and "Stargate: Continuum" are basically intended to wrap up loose ends, and as such they're not quite as satisfying as the television show was. "Ark of Truth" sometimes feels rather rushed and has a somewhat out-of-the-blue solition, and "Continuum" may need multiple viewings to keep up with the time-bouncing plotline.

But as finales they're solid pieces of work -lots of action, space battles, mysterious artifacts, and a way bigger budget that a TV episode would ever have allowed. And they both have everything that you'd expect from "Stargate SG-1" -pop culture homages ("Star Wars"!), some recurring characters (Apophis!), and alien nasties with overwhelming power. There's even some subtle moral dilemmas about belief and fighting the Ori followers.

It also has excellent scripting: plot threads drawn from the TV series, witty dialogue ("That is, after all, why we've come. Why we had to endure all of that singing. Get rid of the last bad guy and then there's cake"), and some nice quiet moments, such as Teal'c talking with Tomin about their bloodstained pasts. And they manage to throw some interesting twists at the audience, such as a shocking revelation about the Ori.

And seeing the actors as their SG-1 characters is like putting on a comfortable old shoe. Amanda Tapping and Michael Shanks are suitably brilliant and courageous, and Ben Browder gets to shine especially in "Continuum" as a strong, slightly quirky soldier. Christopher Judge gets to shine in "Ark of Truth" as a powerful, wise warrior, and Black gets to be both funny and emotional.

And of course, Richard Dean Anderson utterly steals the show whenever he appears ("Hey, have you ever tried to find a bathroom in a pyramid?") and Tim Guinee has a good smallish role as Tomin.

It's a little sad to see the main storylines of the Stargate universe end, but "Stargate: The Ark of Truth" and "Stargate: Continuum" are well worth seeing. Nice finales.

Read Best Reviews of Stargate: The Ark of Truth/Stargate: Continuum (2009) Here

This set comes as two separate blu-ray disc, one for each movie. They do not have any more extras than appear on the individual DVD sets. The transfer quality was excellent for "The Ark of Truth," a bit less so for "Continuum." However, even "Continuum" looked decent on my HDTV. Sound quality was good for both movies.

Let me say a word about the movies themselves. I loved "The Ark of Truth." I found it's storyline and ending deeply satisfying. It had an interesting plot, was visually stunning in blu-ray, gave a number of the actors nice scenes, and tied up all the loose ends and unanswered questions in a really nice way. Is there anything I disliked in the film? A few things. I would have shortened the long helicopter intro and cut out at least half of Judge's character walking, walking, and doing more walking. However, there's more a lot more right with the movie than wrong with it. Michael Shanks, in particular, has a remarkable scene when his character Daniel Jackson finally reaches his breaking point. His despair is appropriate given the circumstances he is in -jailed in another universe, abandoned by his ship, with one of the team thought dead, and tortured for no other reason than to make him suffer. His loss of hope, and how he finds the strength to move forward again, is all the more powerful because throughout the series, Daniel has always been tenacious and insanely optimistic. His crisis of faith is beautifully filmed and deeply moving. Shanks really brings it home, and it has become my favorite scene in the movie. All in all, I'd give "The Ark of Truth" more than 5 stars if I could.

"Continuum" is another matter. It is really hard to pull off a good time travel story. This does a fair job, has some nice moments, but on my first viewing, I felt it didn't quite pull it off, despite a wonderful scene where the survivors of SG1 meet the alternate universe Jack O'Neil. I also liked Michael Shank's scenes of finding a book written by his alternate self, and his attempt to encourage that other him by a long-distance phone call (I wished we'd seen the alternate him's reactions there). Shanks had some good lines, including "Are there any grown ups I can speak to?" to a Russian soldier. The actor, William Devine, who plays the US president is also excellent. My rating? I would say 3 and a half stars if seen by itself, and 4 stars if viewed after listening to the commentary track.

I need to say a word about the extras. They were disappointing to say the least. No deleted scenes. No bloopers. No alternate endings (although these were mentioned in the commentary tracks). "The Ark of Trust" had the worst commentary track I've ever heard. Really, really boring. They should NEVER have had the director of photography and director do the commentary. Perhaps they thought adding Christopher Judge would help. It didn't. All they did was talk about the camera lenses they used, the cost of the shots, etc. while Judge congratulated them on what a great job they had done. Hardly a word about the story, actors, or things that happened on the set. I kept thinking that sooner or later they HAD to talk about something more interesting...but there were only about 5-10 minutes worth of it that wound up worthwhile. The alternate track for "Continuum" proved to be the opposite, despite not involving any actors. In this case, the Director and author of the script provided a lively, fun, and insightful commentary, full of interesting anecdotes. It actually made the movie more interesting, so that when I watched it again, I realized "Continuum" was better than I'd felt the first time. The only other extra I enjoyed was the mini-summary/series review that you could run before "The Ark of Truth," which caught you up to date on what had happened up to that point. It was very well done and came out great on blu-ray.

I do not regret buying this set, although I'm glad I paid Amazon's discounted rate for it. Of the two, I really enjoyed the first movie more than the second, and may never watch any of the "extras" again. I really can't help thinking they could have at least given us a deleted scene or two and the alternate ending they nearly did for "The Ark of Truth." I don't see that it would have been that hard. Now days, every movie knows not to toss that footage out. I also would have liked a commentary by Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, and some of the other actors. As it is, the extras come across as really poor for something on blu-ray. Because of that, I'm giving it 4 stars.

Want Stargate: The Ark of Truth/Stargate: Continuum (2009) Discount?

As a major Stargate fan and owner of almost all episodes of the series, I was slightly disappointed with both of these titles. As regular episodes, I believe they were great but to set them out as separate movies really created expectations that they did not live up to. I was really looking forward to seeing Richard Dean Anderson in the Continuum but he may have been on screen for a total of 15 minutes. Continuum focused on Sam, Daniel and Cam mainly leaving the other characters as occasional images in the story. As a time travel story it was good but as with most stories using that tool it leaves you questioning how it could have happened that way. Ark of Truth overall was a better story and helped complete the series as it should have been done. Overall, both movies had great action, team work and continued the story lines where they ended from the TV series. I would recommend it for fans of the series but those of you who have never seen the series will probably be lost and not enjoy it nearly as much.

Save 32% Off

Happy Feet (2007)

First of all, this is simply a great movie. The narrative is brought to life with humor, action, important life lessons, and conservational commentary. The voice actors all give 5-star performances and the animation is incredible.

But, this being the Blu-ray disc, I'm going to focus on the picture and sound.

The animation by itself is simply breath-taking; easily one of, if not the best looking CGI feature to date. But in HD, it's brought to life even further. Every feather on the penguins is apparent, every flake of snow falling through the air and I'd almost go so far as to say every molecule of water! This is the best looking animated feature you can get on Blu-ray now. It's definitely the show-off piece when people ask "How much better does HD look?". The leopard seal was particularly mind-blowing to me.

Another hook is the sound. While I wouldn't say this is the best sounding movie on Blu-ray, it definitely puts sound to good use and ranks pretty high. All five channels are used when appropriate, but Happy Feet does not utilize them as much as other films. Still, crank up the sound and the action scenes will blow you away.

All in all, this is an excellent movie made even better on Blu-ray. At this time, this is the Blu-ray disc to own for giving people lessons about HD.

South polar-izing in this case, but it's hard to miss the fact that some people really love this movie and some really...well...don't.

I just saw this movie twice over the past three days, and here's my take on it, with the upsides and the downsides.

The upsides were:

The animation technology! Some of the animation, especially the backgrounds, was drop dead gorgeous. I don't even have HD, and I was mesmerized by how beautifully done some parts of this movie were.

The misfit becomes a hero. It hit sort of close to home for my wife and I because we have a special needs child and have often felt like Memphis and Norma Jean. What went wrong? We sigh a lot and wonder what will become of him. I quietly hope he will develop some great talent some day. We'll see.

An environmental message that wasn't too heavy handed. The humans are not presented as evil, just as being who didn't know what they were doing. Once they discovered the penguins, they helped them out. At least this movie didn't stoop to the now very tired "man is bad" cliche message.

Interesting symbology. The "Memphis" character was obviously Elvis, and Norma Jean was Marilyn Monroe? The two icons of the 1950's give birth to a misfit who revolutionalizes music among a sort of authoritarian theocratic paternal oligarchy. Is this supposed to be something like what happened when rock 'n roll took America by storm in the late 1950's and early 60's? The fundamentalists preached against rock 'n roll, and the kids just wanted to have fun.

The music itself. I found it varied and rather enjoyable. I've never liked that "Somebody to Love" song by Queen, but I genuinely enjoyed the way it was rendered by the penguin choir.

Finally, extrapolating on the fact that penguin couples can identify each other out of the masses of penguins because each has a unique call. This I assume was the inspiration for the idea that penguins mate when they find "their song".

Now the downsides:

I found the adult penguin characters to be designed in a way that didn't make them particularly endearing to look at. I thought the penguins in Surf's Up (which anyone who likes this movie should see too; it's brilliant) were designed to look more fun and loveable. The hint of breasts on the female penguins just made them look sort of weird.

One dimensional stereotype characters. There's the overbearing authoritarian fundamentalists, the holy roller preacher, the "five amigo" wise guys, the skua bird gang, etc. There just wasn't much depth anywhere in the character department.

Very little genuine humor. A lot of what was supposed to be humor seemed forced, Disney Style. I was entertained throughout the movie, but I only really laughed two or three times.

And, one big helping of subliminal vulgarity. I read it elsewhere and so out of curiosity I freeze framed through the sequence where Gloria and Happy Feet emerge from their first swim and tumble through the snow, and yes it lookes like they went through the catalogue of sexual positions. That was crass, but then this movie is rated PG for a reason. I mean, what parent would think that a fuzzy little cute baby penguin on all the artwork would mean that they should allow their young children see it? Who would get that idea anyway?

So, a solid three stars for a movie that pretends to be for the little ones but richly deserves a PG rating and perhaps PG-13. Now, my happy keys gotta stop clickin'. Tippity tippity tap tap click!

Buy Happy Feet (2007) Now

I loved the movie, it had me swaying to the music and singing right from the beginning. I loved the characters.. I chose to get it in full screen version due to I'm not a big fan of the wide screen version.. I loved the movie from beginning to end.. I watched it along with my parents and they're a tough bunch when it comes to movies, But my mother loved it especially, I think she must have laughed and kept a smile through the whole movie.. My fathter, whose an even tougher critic to watch movies with enjoyed it also.. I even him him laughing a few times and saw him smile, so all and all, it was worth the buy.. Thanks amazon!

Read Best Reviews of Happy Feet (2007) Here

When I saw this movie, I was struck by two things how it looked and how it felt.

It sounds obvious, but I couldn't help but be struck by the artistry of the film's animation. "Happy Feet" had the appearance of a nature documentary, and I mean it in a good way. The filmmakers made a conscious effort to study penguin movement (maybe by watching "March of the Penguins?") as well as how the enviornment interacts with them. Simple backgrounds work as well, as they are able to capture the splendid vistas of an admittedly minimalist natural environment.

Now, it also was meant to be a "message" film, and those can always be tricky. I'm not a big fan of them because, when moviemakers attempt one, I get the feeling they assume the watchers are too stupid to get what they're saying without clobbering us about the head with them. It's worse when it's done with a "children's" film. There are two here taking care of the environment and not casting out those that are different and yet they're handled in a truly cool way. Yes, the uberconservatives may get in a bit of a snit when they see the forces against Mumbles are cast to appear like mean-spirited religious zealots, however this IS a great plotpoint. Outcasts (I speak from experience here) sometimes feel just that way beat on and thrown out simply because we're running against the popular tide. And the environmental point is handled, I truly believe, in a way non-humans would look upon it. Humans really ARE "aliens" in this world, and they aren't being necessarily "mean" in how they act toward animals. They may be just clueless to the harm they're doing.

A top-notch voice cast helps bring this off. Elijah Wood may yet be one of the most overlooked actors in Hollywood because he's able to bring off a tender, desperate Mumbles with only his voice (although the animators also gave him Wood's piercing blue eyes). We don't get to see often enough Hugh Jackman's verstility with accents, and here we are hearing him do a cross between Curly from "Oklahoma" (I strongly suggest anyone who hasn't yet see the filmed Royal Shakespeare version with him in it to do so) and Elvis without it seeming forced or artificial. There are really too many performances to list, and they're all first rate.

The tapdancing too is great. We only see a cartoonish replication of Savion Glover's moves, but he really sends off on sound as well. A carryover from his days on "Stomp."

The final verdict is an enthusiastic "buy it." Unless you don't happen to like penguins.

Want Happy Feet (2007) Discount?

First, this movie may be appreciate by kids, but its really made for big

kids, which will understand and appreciate it more. Great music, great

characters will entertain you with this eye candy of a movie. I did'nt

know what to expect, and viewing it at 23:00 it had to be good. By the

time the movie ended, i could'nt go to bed...cause my feet were dancing.

Save 47% Off

The Descendants (Blu-ray/DVD + Digital Copy) (2011)

It seems hard to believe that it's been seven years since Alexander Payne's "Sideways" became the critical darling of 2004. Nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and winning Payne an Adapted Screenplay Oscar--that picture (along with Election and About Schmidt) signaled a talented filmmaker with an unorthodox worldview. Blending elements of comedy and drama, Payne has crafted complex characters simultaneously frustrating and sympathetic--but altogether real. In adapting Kaui Hart Hemmings' intimate novel "The Descendants" to the big screen, Payne demonstrates (once again) a deft balance of emotions to create a picture both funny and heartbreaking. I so admired how Payne made vineyards and fine wines a major component, an extra character really, in the sublime "Sideways." In much the same way, Hawaii is a principle character (and I would contend one of the most pivotal) to "The Descendents." It would be easy to imagine someone jettisoning much of this rich texture, but Payne has crafted a loving tribute to the state's heritage in addition to one of the year's most surprising family dramas.

George Clooney plays one of the titular descendants, someone whose family has great historical significance to the Hawaiian Islands. In fact, he and his many cousins own a great tract of undeveloped land that plays a major role in the film's fascinating side story. Front and center, however, is a more personal tale of family dysfunction and pulling together in crisis. When Clooney's somewhat estranged wife is incapacitated in an accident, Clooney must take charge of his troublesome teenage daughter (an astute Shailene Woodley) and his rebellious younger girl (an appealingly unexpected Amara Miller). With mom in a coma, Clooney is left to do his best to reconnect with the girls that he hasn't made enough time for. While this seems to be leading to some routine comic hijinks, the film takes a decidedly more serious turn as Clooney learns about his wife's true feelings. The rest of the movie walks the tightrope about how he and his daughters can channel these revelations and emerge stronger for it. And the film runs the gamut of emotions with anger, betrayal, love, and regret sharing equal time as the family embarks on a tumultuous journey together.

While I know this makes the film sound like a bit of a downer, there is much humor to be enjoyed as well. While I'm confident that many will reveal far more about the plot than I am willing to, I think that it is best to let the story unravel without expectation. This is very much an in-depth character study. As such, Clooney has one of his most rewarding roles. He goes through a lot, but he maintains a subtlety that always keeps the picture grounded (even in its more extreme elements). Woodley is a revelation and this is as far a departure from TV's "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" as she's likely to experience. I'm confident we'll be seeing more of her. Miller has a real ease and provides many well placed laughs and a few tears as well. Perhaps the film's biggest secret weapon is Nick Krause playing Woodley's friend. As a laconic and laid back surfer dude, Krause's scenes with Clooney have real impact. As an odd source of wisdom and support, he is a unique character in this piece.

"The Descendants," at the end of the day, is a quiet and thoughtful film. The film never plays up the huge emotional moments or strains for melodrama. It simply lets the characters exist as complex creations, with all their foibles and flaws in evidence. Its understated power, therefore, is all the more successful as it feels patently real. A treat for adult movie goers, 4 1/2 stars. KGHarris, 12/11.

I had missed this highly rated (by the critics) movie in theaters, so I finally got around to renting the Blu-ray over the weekend.

It's mostly a sad drama about a man slowly losing his wife after a boating accident, but there are a few comedic moments along the way that are realistic, rather than forced. The writing and the entire cast are great. I'm not the biggest George Clooney fan, but his work in Up in the Air and The Descendants has totally made me a believer in his acting talents when given the right material. The girl who plays his oldest daughter is very good as well. One of the better movies I've seen in 2012 and worth checking out.

Buy The Descendants (Blu-ray/DVD + Digital Copy) (2011) Now

Directed by the creator of the Oscar-winning SIDEWAYS, The Descendants starts when Matt King, a "back-up" father (his words) must slow down his career to take care of his two daughters (17 and 11) while his wife is in the hospital in a comma caused by a boat accident. Soon we learn, his wife, spurned by Matt's long absences and indifference, was having an affair. Matt and his older daughter decide to search for this man they never met dragging along the younger girl and the oldest girl's boyfriend, and, of course, the viewer.

The Descendants has many things going for it. George Clooney, for one, beautiful views of two of the islands of Hawaii, a strong story that does not shy away from reality and avoids the sugarcoating so prevalent in Hollywood movies, and great acting from all the actors including the aforementioned Mr. Clooney.

Yet, I cannot say I loved it.

Why? Because it is a realistic take on fatherhood and marriage and, after watching the trailer, I expected something lighter.

This is not the movie's fault. The Descendants is a serious movie and that's perfectly all right. I like serious movies. But not when I am expecting something else.

So, now that you know, please go and enjoy. It's worth seeing. Just don't go for the laughs.

Read Best Reviews of The Descendants (Blu-ray/DVD + Digital Copy) (2011) Here

The Descendants, a movie starring George Clooney, is the best film I've seen all year. It is adult-themed, realistic and poignant. The dialogue seems real, the acting is superb and the photography of Hawaii is spellbindingly beautiful. The story is about Matt King, descended from King Kamehameha many generations back. He and his family have inherited quite a bit of land for which Matt is the executor and they are in the process of selling it. The proceeds will go to Matt and his cousins. Despite having wealth, Matt has lived frugally, to the point where one might question his motives. His wife, Elizabeth, has just been severely injured in a boating accident and is comatose. It is unlikely that she ever will wake up and her living will is very explicit that she wants her life support pulled.

Matt has two daughters, Scottie and Alex. Alex is 17 and a handful. As the film opens, she is in a private school that may also be a rehab facility. Scottie, about 10, is acting out at school and at home since her mother's injury. Matt is clueless about how to raise his two daughters alone and has been very distant from his family spending most of his time working at his law practice. The crisis with Elizabeth is forcing him to be a primary parent and the film is excellent in showing Matt's development as a father.

Matt goes to the big island to pull Alex from school and bring her home. She is furious at her mother, having found out recently that she was having an affair. She tells her father and the two become co-conspirators in finding Joanie's lover and confronting him. Matt is flabbergasted about the affair. The marriage has not been going well but he had no suspicions that his wife loved another man.

George Clooney is excellent in his part as are the two girls. The movie poignantly shows how the family starts pulling together into a semblance of a loving unit. The dialogue is fresh and real, not for the faint of heart or for those who mind cursing. I have not read the book so I can't compare the two but on its own merits, this film is a real winner.

Want The Descendants (Blu-ray/DVD + Digital Copy) (2011) Discount?

This movie not only has great cast, but includes extra features we enjoyed seeing after the movie. The movie is based on a family with hardships and situations anyone could experience. Funny times and tear dripper times. A movie all should see when age appropriate. Glad we purchased it to see more than once and even again after we have had it a year.

Save 44% Off

Honey 2 (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet) (2001)

Honey 2 offers serious, serious hip-hop dancing. Despite of what everyone else says, I totally dig it. To me it is one of the best dance movies out there. Here are some reasons why:

1) The dancing and choreography are awesome. Check out the first solo by Kat, the main actor, for example. It is mind-blowing.

2) The second most important reason why I dig this movie is that the message it sends is deeper, better, and more realistic than in other dance movies. It's about dealing with problems by being constructive rather than destructive. (In many other dance movies, the message is pathetic.) In this category it beats all previous dance movies I've seen.

3) The movie is packed with dance scenes; I would say, it has more cumulative dance time than any other movie.

4) The actors are so cute and can actually dance. No doubles as in one of the most famous dance movies, whose name shall remain unmentioned here.

5) I just really like it, especially Kat and the girls, but really all of the HD group. The characters and lines of the girls actually make sense.

The absurd part is that this movie has received a lot of negative criticism. So bad in fact that it never made it to the theaters in North America but went straight to DVD. The ratings on this movie are bimodal. Many actually give it the highest rating, but others give very low ratings, which leads to a dismal average. I definitely belong to the first group. If you're looking for a blood-thirsty hyper-spectacular movie, you will indeed be disappointed. But I like awesome hip-hop dancing with a warm positive human story. In my humble opinion, Honey 2 is one of the best dance movies of all time.

This movie is the best i have seen kat graham in. the vampire diaries are good but this movie is good too. its funny and the dancing is great.

Buy Honey 2 (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet) (2001) Now

Honey 2 has many good dance sequences but falls short in every other department. As a movie, its too long and rather boring.

I took dance throughout high school, so I enjoy watching movies about it. But Honey 2 doesn't have a very interesting story, and the acting isn't good. The main character needed to be nicer, but instead she was very, I don't know...bitchy.

Other dance movies are much better, such as Footloose, Shall We Dance, Black Swan, etc..

Which proves you CAN have a movie with both good dancing and a good story.

Honey 2 just doesn't cut it. Movie: 1/5 stars.

The blu-ray has good video and audio, typical for a normal blu-ray release. Video and Audio gets 4/5 stars.

Overall: 2/5 stars. Watch it for the dance sequences but don't expect anything else. Fans of the film will enjoy the blu-ray release.

Rating: PG-13. Typical stuff here, some language and suggestive content, partying, and a few verbal fights. Much milder than the recent remake of Footloose, which seemed more mature. Ages 12 and up.

Read Best Reviews of Honey 2 (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet) (2001) Here

I liked the dancing and I liked that the star stood up to another sleeze bag. I liked that one woman supported another woman.

Want Honey 2 (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet) (2001) Discount?

Bought this as an xmas gift for my girlfriend and she really enjoyed the music and plot of this movie.

Save 25% Off