Point of No Return / Domino / The Long Kiss Goodnight (Triple Feature) (2006)

I'm not going to review or rate the movies, that's what IMDB is for.

As far as the product itself: The quality is good. I like it that they take up less space in this format though it does make it harder to organize your DVDs. Even if you don't happen to love all 3 movies it's still a really good price.

The 5 stars is for the product, not the movies. (They would all rate differently, of course.)

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Sex and the City: The Movie (2008)

I was initially against a continuation of the runaway hit HBO series, Sex and the City The Complete Series (Collector's Giftset) I felt that the season finale was perfection and any other stories to be told would only spoil it. Once the movie started though, I was drawn in and it felt great to see these "familiar" friends again: Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Samantha (Kim Cattrall), Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), and Charlotte (Kristin Davis). Carrie and Mr. Big (Chris Noth) decide to tie the knot, and the movie revolves around how their relationship takes the next step. Meanwhile, Miranda and Steve are dealing with Miranda neglecting their relationship. Samantha has become an L.A. housewife and is none too happy about continually playing second-fiddle to Smith. Charlotte...well, she is just living a perfect life with adopted daughter and husband Harry. The movie continues the vision of the series: insightful, witty, and extremely well written. Jennifer Hudson has a nice supporting role as Carrie's personal assistant; she brings sass to her role and definitely leaves the door open for a possibility of a "next generation" of young hopeful women to hit New York City. My gripes? I felt that fashion played too much of a role; in the TV series, it was a nice semi-silent costar. In the movie, it was a little "in your face" and over the top. I also felt that Samantha's storyline seemed a little out of character and contrived; her supposed weight gain was minimal and for her to ever stay in the background for Smith just seemed out of step. Many original cast members returned for the movie, although some were absolutely wasted as they were relegated to non-speaking cameos. For some reason, Stanford & Anthony are now close friends (possibly even more), which is totally against how they were in the series. Obviously, much has happened in the years since we last saw them; it left a feeling that an explanation scene or two must be on the cutting room floor. Removal of some of the fashion stuff and putting back in more of the witty dialogue would have benefitted the movie greatly.Speaking of putting back in...yes, this version is an extended cut. Many scenes have been lengthened, and it definitely helps give the movie a more finished feel and explains much that I thought was missing in the theater. Extra fun is Carrie's fashion show in her apartment, where she tries on many of her 1980's bad outfits for the girls, who rate whether the outfits should be kept or tossed. In the extended cut, ALL the girls (including Charlotte's daughter Lily) join in the fun and try on the outfits. This is especially wonderful as SJP does not necessarily deserve the lion's share of credit for this successful series; it is definitely an ensemble cast. The restored Halloween scene of Harry as The Addams Family's Uncle Fester is not to be missed, either!

I saw it twice on the big screen thoroughly entertained both times, and hoping for a follow-up!

Bonus features for 2-Disc Special Edition DVD:

DISC 1:

* Audio Commentary by director Michael Patrick King

DISC 2:

* Additional Scenes restored to the actual movie as well as a separate section with deleted scenes that feature commentary by Michael Patrick King as to why they were cut.

* A Conversation with Sarah Jessica Parker and Michael Patrick King: a nice look at the movie with SJP and MPK, giving further insight into many of the choices made for the movie.

* The Fabulous Fashion of Sex And The City: Excellent featurette with Patricia Fields discussing how she finds all the different fashions for the character. Not one to get caught up in labels, her talent is for mixing up totally different looks and creating magic.

* Fergie in the Studio: watch a hit in the making as the singer records Labels or Love for the movie soundtrack, interspersed with Fergie fawning over the original TV series. A short featurette but cool to watch nonetheless.

UPDATE: You might want to hold off on buying this version, as an Sex and the City: The Movie (Ultimate Collector's Edition) with approximately 4 more hours of extras is due to be released on December; so far, no Blu-ray version of this set has been announced.

If I had known the series was as enjoyable as the movie, I would never have missed a single episode, but that's the beauty of a favorite series on DVD. "Sex and the City--The Movie" was such a fabulous fantasy with such a great ending that I must see the series now.

Four women who actually care about each other--now there's a new concept, but they actually do, genuinely, sincerely, and apparently for all time. Other reviewers have called the wedding dress a fifth character; some say New York or Manhattan itself. I say the fifth character has to be all those clothes Carrie wears, each dress costing hundreds, I'm sure. As a writer, she could afford such clothes? Wow.

However, anyone with eyes must include Chris Noth's Big character. He is such a hunk! A major element that stands out for me in this movie is the respectful attitudes Carrie and Big show for each other. They are attentive, caring, and considerate (except for --well, I best not say). Anyone can make a mistake.

A huge theme is forgiveness as it plays out in both Carrie's relationship and Miranda's, and in their mutual friendship. Meanwhile, Samantha learns that she is not being true to herself, an issue I just don't want to deal with. I have no idea if she is right or wrong concerning her decision.

The only character without problems is Charlotte, who does seem to lead a charmed life.

Overall, this is a story that reflects real life: problems in love, friendship, living arrangements, doing the right thing, and taking chances. That this movie ends well perhaps bodes well for the viewer, too. You think? Maybe...

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SEX AND THE CITY THE MOVIE SPECIAL EDITION won't satisfy all of the fans of the show. You either love it or hate it. Sure the movie had its pitfalls like the "will Big & Carrie marry or is this the final break-up?" etc., but for the most part it gives us fans one last hurrah. I guess the movie could be seen as the cherry on top of an already luscious and decadent sundae.

Did we need the movie? Probably not, but I'm glad the powers that be decided to make it. And just like that cherry, the movie is just a lovely garnish that topped off a really wonderful television series.

Here's what's on the SATCTM DVD Sp. Ed.:

DVD #1

***Extended Version of the movie--(Run Time 151 mins)--I think the extended scenes show Carrie, Charlotte, Harry and Lily on Halloween (I don't remember that scene in the movie)

***Commentary By Director/Writer Michael Patrick King

DVD #2

***Digital Copy of the Movie--To play on computer/ipods etc., w/out dvd

***Conversation W/Sarah Jessica Parker & MPK--24-minute featurette with director MPK and star SJP discussing various scenes

***The Fabulous Fashion Of SATC--18-minute Featurette with Costume Designer Patricia Field(who should win the Academy Award)--takes viewers on a behind-the-scenes of the fab wardrobe, shoes, bags and jewelery used in the movie and includes shots of the cast while filming

***Additional Scenes w/director commentary--Four additional scenes not in the movie or extended cut and MPK discusses each one

***Additional Scenes w/out commentary--the four above scenes w/out MPK

***Fergie In The Studio--Two-minute thing w/Fergie and the recording session for the song "Labels or Love" for the soundtrack

All in all a pretty good DVD set for fans of both the show and the movie. Seeing it the second time around, I do see things that I missed when seeing it in the theater. One of them being the over riding theme of "Cinderella." But, the friendship between the four women is still what makes SATC/SATCTM so special...at least to me.

Read Best Reviews of Sex and the City: The Movie (2008) Here

While it is -frustratingly -the third in a "triple dip" (following the theatrical DVD and extended cut DVD), if you are a "Sex and the City" collector / completist, then you cannot be without this set.

Discs One and Two are essentially the same as they are on the Extended Cut DVD release -BUT!! -Disc Two is *expanded* with three more featurettes that were obviously held back from the previous release so hard-core fans would have incentive to buy this package.

One featurette focuses on how they brought the movie to the screen, the second is about on the four leading ladies and the third is the HBO First Look program, "The Making of *Sex and the City.*"

On Disc Two of the extended cut release and this package, a conversation between Michael Patrick King and Sarah Jessica Parker takes place. Disc Three features the full conversation, greatly expanded. It plays as a "video commentary" (with many split screens and zooms in and out) to the theatrical cut of the film. Disc Three also adds a feature on the DVD release party and the day Sarah Jessica Parker did the scene with all the wedding gown changes.

Disc Four is a music disc that is worth it for me because of two additions. As a major aficionado of film scores, I am excited to find Aaron Zigman's "suite" (really two pieces from the film) on the disc and a notation that his score will soon be available on CD. I am also pleased to find the "alternate" version of "Labels and Love" on the disc. This "alternate" is what plays underneath the opening of the film.

Jennifer Hudson's song is also here, as are four songs "inspired by" the movie and the Pfeifer Bros. version of the SATC theme that is featured on the first volume of the movie soundtrack.

The box, designed like the wedding invitation to beat all wedding invitations, comes with a Certificate of Authenticity (only 85,000 of these things exist) and a slim hardcover book with pictures and quotes not only from the screenplay, but the "love letters from great men" referenced in the movie.

Overall, this is a FANTASTIC package both in terms of design and content.

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I'm not going to review the movie, I'll leave that for everyone else. All I can say is that I am SO happy that Warner Brothers changed the digital format that comes free with their DVDs. I had bought last Harry Potter DVD for the digital version, only to discover it was not compatible with i-pods. This version is! If you are going to spend the money and want the option of it for your i-pod, get the Special Edition.

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Umineko When They Cry Volume 1 - Limited Edition Bluray (2008)

When the Ushiromiya family patriarch's health declines, his family gathers on his private island to discuss the division of their inheritance. Soon after everyone arrives, a typhoon hits, trapping them on the island. Then the youngest member of the family, 9 year old Maria, delivers a strange and disturbing message to the family and people start dying. The killer claims to be the "Golden Witch Beatrice" and that the murders are preformed using magic. Battler Ushiromiya doesn't believe in magic. He is determined to prove that every murder was carried out using mundane means and thus track down the killer. Out of the 10 family members, 5 servants, and the personal physician, who is the real murderer?

From the creator of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (When They Cry), Umineko follows a similar pattern everyone dies horrible, bloody deaths, then everything is reset and they do it again. This series has four arcs total. They are connected in that, after the first one, Battler and Beatrice spend the rest of the series playing a game to prove or disprove magic. So after a murder occurs, the story might pause and Battler try to prove it wasn't done with magic. Each arc focuses on a different set of characters. Battler is the main character, but he isn't really the focus of the series.

I really enjoyed Umineko. I liked Higurashi, but in the end I couldn't really figure out what the point was. Umineko has a much better overall story and the mystery is more compelling. The art is also quite beautiful at times (Beatrice's golden butterflies come to mind). Up until the end, this series was a solid 5 stars. Then it ended. Why?! Why must anime producers taunt us like this?! In the end, nothing is resolved. And right before it ends, another puzzle is introduced. Closure is completely absent. You do learn various things over the course of the series, but the big questions about Beatrice are pretty much all unanswered. I happened to know a few answers, through accidentally reading a spoiler right before starting the series, so I was waiting for those answers to be fully explained. But nope, nothing. I was so disappointed, since I really liked the show. I still recommend watching it, but I don't think that I will be able to justify the $104 purchase for the whole series. :(

Set specs from NIS America's site:

Release Date: December 4, 2012

Genre: Murder Mystery, Fantasy, Metafiction, Psychological Thriller

2 Blu-ray disc set

Total of 18 episodes

Approximately 23 mins/episode

Features original Japanese voice acting / English subtitles

Premium box with bonus item: A full-color, 28-page hardcover art book, which will provide a deeper understanding of the series with an in-depth story analysis, detailed character bios, and character sketches.

The second set contains the last 8 episodes. Both sets can be purchased on NIS America's website, the first one for $64 and the second for $40 (at the time of this review, prices will almost certainly change over time). If you buy both sets together, you don't save any money, but you do get a bonus card game (while supplies last).

The series is already almost three years old in Japan, and the source material is already older. I'm willing to bet most people looking to buy this are probably already familiar with Umineko.

For those who are not, the story makes use of a strange story telling mechanic that takes some getting used to. Like its predecessor, Higurashi, Umineko makes use of the "Fragments"; parallel universes in which similar events unfold, but ultimately lead to same conclusion: everyone's death. However, unlike Higurashi, half of the story is in a Meta-World, as the characters themselves watch the events and argue about what is actually going on on the "gameboard". It can be a little difficult to follow if one is not prepared for it.

The anime was adapted from a Visual Novel. Just like what happens when a movie is adapted from a book, many details from the Visual Novel were lost. For a piece from the mystery genre such as this, obviously this can cause problems if these details happened to become very important later on. The anime did not do so well in Japan because many people don't believe that the adaptation was faithful enough.

However American fans have the opportunity to experience the anime in a different way. Included in the package comes a "case file", with character sketches and bios, similar to the TIPS from the visual novels, as well as detailed tips about the various mysteries and puzzles. As someone who has played through both halves of Umineko (the anime only adapts the first) I know that these tips in the case file can definitely help fill in the gaps that the anime created and will point out the details that the viewer should be noticing and thinking about. It is just as filled with red herrings and it answers its own questions with more questions, so while it doesn't give away the truth, it helps one get there.

The animation is pretty and well done, and the voice acting is amazing. Ohara, the seiyuu for Beatrice, does an excellent performance which really helps the viewer connect to her character, the center of the mystery itself. The rest of the cast are all-stars, and will probably be familiar, especially to those who have seen Higurashi.

This item can be enjoyed by those who are fans of the source material, and those who are picking it up for the first time. Even those who have been put off by the japanese broadcasts of the anime can enjoy it with its new presentation. However, those watching this must not be opposed to having to think while watching the television. It is a murder mystery. The anime is based on "the question arcs" and so the anime asks a lot more questions than it answers. Those who prefer the killer be caught in an hour long episode will be dissapointed, but those who are willing to pursue the truth on his or her own will have a great game to play with this. However, I would very strongly reccommend picking up Umineko When They Cry Volume 2 Limited Edition Bluray which contains the last Fragment and 8 episodes of the series, which, while doesn't answer almost anything, at leasts tie all those mysteries together into one complete series.

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Tigerland (2000)

I bought the Video because of its title and subject matter. As a graduate of Light Weapons Infantry Advanced Individual Training (AIT), A Co, 6th Battalion, 3d Brigade (Tigerland), Ft Polk in Sep '67, I guess I looked at this film with a very critical eye. There was a whole lot of Hollywood fiction and stereotyping in the film. This was NOT how it was! The few things the film did right was to capture the types of characters who were being drafted and sent to that cannon fodder school... a course in camping, shooting, survival and sleep deprivation. I could see the faces of my fellow trainees in some of the characters in the film. I don't know where the trainees got the time to go party as they did in the film. Our duty day started around 02:30 or 0300 and went until 24:00. What little time we had off (usually Saturday afternoon and Sunday if we were not on guard duty or kitchen police) was spent sleeping and cleaning our gear.

The drill instructors in the film were depicted as either totally insane and sadistic or as "tough but fair" professionals. In reality, 99% of the DI's were in the "tough but fair" professionals category. The few sadistic types who slipped through the screening process did not last very long at all.

Another bad fact in the film was the name of the final training phase. "Tigerland" was the name of the entire training area of Fort Polk for Infantry AIT. "Tiger Ridge", or just "The Ridge", was where we went through our final field exercise, which was a lot tougher than depicted in the film.

The main character did a great job of acting. The story was entertaining, but largely fictional. If there was a competent military "technical advisor", present, the director must have totally ignored his advice. Overall the film was entertaining and it reminded me of many of the brave souls I served with.

Sam Carlson

Captain, US Army (Retired)

After I watched this movie I really thought about why it was so good. The conclusion I arrived at was that it put a very original twist on a very documented subject; the Vietnam War.

The film focases on a group of young men in infantry training for combat. Quickly the film introduces it's central character, a rebelious private named Bozz(Coilin Ferrell). Bozz was drafted and does not believe in the army and he will do whatever it takes convey that point except desert. At first nobody likes him because he causes problems for everyone in his platoon. In particular the drill sargents and another private named Wilson(Shea Whigham) despise Bozz. However the rest of the men really start to warm to Bozz and his cause. He makes frinds with Paxton(Matthew Davis) and helps out some other soldiers which gains him favor among the others. Eventually Bozz becomes the leader of the platoon just before thay are sent to Tigerland, which is the name the army has given their mock Vietnam.

Tigerland is different from most war movies in that the soldiers in this film are never shown going to war. Instead the film is all about the training of the soldiers before they actually were sent to fight and the effects it had on them. Essentially not a whole lot happens in this film event wise, but the character study of the young men faced with war is masterful. The performances from the whole cast are excellent. Collin Ferrell is quite exceptional as Bozz. He is clever, funny, objectional, loyal and troubled, which gives the character a lot of depth. Matthew Davis, Clifton Collin Jr, and Shea Whigham all turn in wonderful supporting roles as well. Director Joel Schumacher(The Lost Boys, The client, 8mm) has crafted a beautiful film. His direction is quiet and subtle. His use of hand held cameras with 16mm film gives the movie a unique, documentary feel.

While I was watching this film I had a interesting revilation about it's message. The film actually points out that the men who fought in Vietnam came from different backrounds and had very different opinions about what they were doing there. To many, honor and duty were arbitrary when it came to the war because, like Bozz, it had nothing to do with them. For others it was all that mattered, and for still more they were just there. But for all of them the fear and reality of war was present. Additionally I really got the feeling these men had no idea what they were even preparing for. I would be willing to wager just from watching movies on the Vietnam war such as Platoon, Full Metal Jacket, and Apocalypse Now, that I have a greater understanding of what was happening in Vietnam at the time than these young men did before they were sent. They were trained to fight a enemy they had never seen, half way around the world, and all they really knew was that people were dying. So how could they really be prepared.

I urge people to see this film. It was very well done and worth the time. I am surprised it did not have a wider release in the theatres. It was one of the better films of 2000 and a worthy addition to the chronicles of war pictures. This movie was real.

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If you want to watch a war movie that shows death, blood and gore this is not the movie you. Instead this movie accuratly portrays the life of US Army soldiers in training before they head off to Vietnam and an uncertain fait. All the actors are excellent and really capture the human drama as these soldiers deal with the probability of dying in the jungles of Vietnam. A plus is the accuracy of the time period such as the uniforms, vehicles and even the military lingo used back that era. If you are a stickler like me for accuracy then you will like this movie. I recommend it to those who are more interested in the human aspect of war and not just the blood and guts.

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It doesnt take explosions and firepower to make a gripping Vietnam movie. As a matter of fact, Joel Schumaker proves it doesnt even take Vietnam to make a gripping Vietnam movie. All you need is a moving tale and a flawless performance from your lead actor. Tigerland has both.

Colin Farrell is Bozz, a renegade private in training before he sets out for the battlefields of Vietnam. His flamboyance and disrespect has him hated by those who would train him and awed by those that would serve with him. His character proves to be more than a rebel. Through a brilliant job of acting Farrell shows Bozz to be scared, anxious, compassionate, and intelligent. The setting of the story revolves around army infantry training that culminates in a mock Vietnam setting called Tigerland. Throughout the movie we are exposed to the emotion of those that fear Vietnam and would do almost anything not to go, and the lunacy of those that welcome the carnage with open arms. The film has many moving moments and the good guy vs. bad guy sub plot that we all love. (The bad guy being a Private Wilson another fine bit of acting)

Tigerland is full of great imagery and even shot with a grainy texture that gives it a documentary sort of feel. The effect is profound in its pseudo dating of the film, adding an air of authenticity. While this is not an action flick, the acting and flow of the movie are flawless and a great five star tale results.

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Normally when you get a two'fer like this, one film is so bad that bundling it with a decent film is the only way they can get people to buy it. I bought this DVD for 'The Edge' and was pleasantly surprised to find that 'Tigerland' was no slouch either.

Both films have plenty of action but their real strength lies in their examination of the human will and the psychological strength required to survive adversity.

Of the two, Tigerland is more contemplative and philosophical, focusing a majority of its energy on the ruinous aspects of state sponsored violence, i.e. warfare. Some will find it preachy, but Ferrell turns in an engaging performance and the supporting cast is strong.

Edge is less complicated but certainly more intense. A classic tale of survival, it pits Hopkins and Baldwin against a fearsome man-eating grizzly in the remote wilds of Alaska. The physical menace is paralleled by a growing sense of distrust between the two even as they rely on each other more and more to survive. Hopkins does a great job as always, but Baldwin is outclassed by the Bear.

A good bargain for two well matched and well made films.

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The Assassins (2012)

First, the description provided by Amazon and Well Go USA (on the packaging of the DVD) confused me when I first started watching the film. Both descriptions reference the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC 24 AD), and in reality, the film was based upon events at the end of the Eastern or Later Han Dynasty (25 AD 220 AD) and the very beginning of the Three Kingdoms period. Added to that, the film seemed to be geared towards an audience familiar with this period of time and the major players (dead and alive). As such, I spent a lot of time figuring out who was who and how they fit into the overall story. If you are not too familiar with the story either, I would suggest you briefly educate yourself on Cao Cao and Xian, Emperor of Han, making note of how Dong Zhou fits into the picture. I anticipate this will help you better engage with the characters and enhance your enjoyment of the film.

From a cinematic perspective, I thought cinematographer, Zhao Xiao Ding's, use of muted colors along with bright colors to capture the mood was particularly well done. And as a directorial debut for Zhao Lin Shan, the film was good, but not quite on par with films like 'House of Flying Daggers' or 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'.

Finally, 'Assassins' would have benefitted from a better developed romance between Mu Shun and Ling Ju, particularly as it relates to Mu Shun's role. However, from a political intrigue perspective, it was quite well done. I also liked the inclusion of Chinese opera, it added an emotionally poignant punch at the end.

I think 'Assassins' is probably worth watching at least once, but not a film you will come back to again. (3 1/2 stars)

I love Chow Yun Fat, so when I saw that he had a new movie out, I immediately rented it. The newer movies from China are noticeably more beautiful so I was expecting no less from this movie. I was not disappointed in the least about the cinematography. It was extremely crisp and clear and the use of colors and scenery were wonderful. The costumes were also visually stunning. Unfortunately, that was the highlight of the film for me.

This movie is about the story of Cao Cao, played by Chow Yun Fat. I've watched a couple of movies regarding the Three kingdoms of China so I sort of picked up some of the history between the movies and reading what I can about it. The last movie that I saw that showed Cao Cao in a negative light was Red Cliff (by the way, an excellent movie to watch if you like this time period ) so for some reason I had that mental picture of Cao Cao in my mind for this movie. This movie spun off a different view of Cao Cao which had me rooting for him. Interesting since I was predisposed to disliking him based on what I knew. Chow Yun Fat, was as always, amazing an that was probably what got me. He is such a gifted actor that I'm always blown away by how he interprets and portrays the characters that he is playing. He IS the character and I forget that he is just Chow Yun Fat in a costume. Very multi-dimensional picture of his characterwhich for me kept me interested in his acting more so the movie. There was also a great supporting cast. I've seen a lot of Crystal Liu Fei in her mainland television series and most of her movies so I wasn't particularly very surprised by her performance. The others I was unfamiliar with but I can't say that I was disappointed at all with the cast.

I have to admit, the movie jumped around a little bit so if you don't pay attention, you'll miss some things. And there are some areas where you'll wonder what happened, because there isn't much explanation to what goes on. I found myself with my eyes glazed over at some parts simply because this movie was super slow in areas. I really think some parts could have been cut out and no one would have noticed. Movie was a couple of hours long so be prepared to be in one place for awhile. Also, if you're expecting a lot of actionyou'll be disappointed. This movie is more about the story of Cao Cao and his reign of power and what he had to do to stay on top rather than swordplay and battles. There are some fighting scenes, but again, it's not some Donnie Yen movie where there is advanced choreography. This is more of a history lesson with a storyline. Speaking of whichthe storyline outside of Cao Cao's life progression seemed to be input to create some drama conflict to make it more interesting, but I really felt it didn't add a whole lot to the movie. Rather, I found myself tuning out that part of the story to focus more on Cao Cao's plot. It almost felt like it didn't belong. I give this movie three starsokay, but not one I will watch again. Chow Yun Fat's performance is worth watching but only if you want to give up a couple of hours. If you want a wuxia movieI'd skip this one.

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Nice to see CHO CHOs future after Red Cliff. Gives a different perspective of him. lkNice to see a love story without sex.

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Chow is wonderful and the other actors support him beautifully. All about the days of warlords their life, their loves, their fears, and their destinies. The story is true to the bone. Thumbs up!!!

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This movie has a lot more character development than most asian martial arts/war movies. I love Chow Yun Fat's interpretation of his part.

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The Fast and the Furious (Blu-ray + Digital Copy + UltraViolet) (2001)

Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) rules the streets with his "team" in the world of illegal street races. Running a luncheonette and a garage, Dominic makes money to pay for the mortgage on his house, and keep his sister (Jordana Brewster) in school, but that money alone is not enough so he resorts to the illegal ways to keep the cash flowing. Vowing to kill himself before returning to prison, Dominic stays one step ahead of the police until he meets Brian (Paul Walker), an undercover cop investigating a series of bizarre truck heists.

The FBI believe Dominic and his crew are behind the robberies, and it's Brian's job to find enough evidence against, but putting together the case against this crew will prove to be difficult because Brian becomes friends with Dominic and starts to understand his difficult life, and at the same time he is falling in love with his sister. To make matters worse, Dominics rival Johnny Tran drops in to settle some old scores, and the list of suspects in the robbery case is growing larger.

`The Fast And The Furious' is top-notch entertainment. Containing serious action sequences, and a thrilling mystery of the robberies, `The Fast And The Furious scores on many levels. The action scenes are some of the best filmed racing sequences I have ever scene, and the pulsing soundtrack keeps things at a high energy level.

The performances from Walker, and Diesel are right on the money, and the supporting cast of Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, Chad Linberg, Johnny Strong and Ted Levine bring life to the characters they play.

Great action, and a pulsing soundtrack will keep you glued to your seat for two hours of entertainment.

Look. I know that most who've seen this movie (especially the teeenage boys) will automatically tell you "Yea man! It rocked! It's the best movie ever!"

Personally, I'm a tunerhead. I love suped up cars, and the whole street racing scene. I can't say how this movie can relate to the real midnight street racers, but I'm sure it's been Hollywooded up enough to go overboard a little.

But, I was expecting to see terrible acting, a bad script, a bad plot, but cool cars. In reality, the acting is very well done. The script isn't corny, the plot is entertaining, and, well...the cars speak for themselves. (Vin Diesel's Mazda RX7 in the movie just went up for bid on Ebay!) This movie, whether you're into cars, or not, is a must-see. My friends who get bored even when I mention cars and racing still loved the movie for its other aspects. I thought it was awesome, but, hey, to each his own. Why don't you go and see it to check it out?

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This movie is so far the best movie I've seen all summer. But, most may not agree.

The people that won't like it: People who don't know a thing about cars/engines. (i.e. People who think a TUNED Toyota Supra can't beat a "Mid-life crisis" Ferrari) People that are expecting more from the movie than just fast and furious driving, which it delivers! and delivers well.

People who will like it: People who have a passion for cars and the technology behind it. People who appreciate high tech DOHC horsepower rather than the "bigger is better" approach that powers most OHV American vehicles. Oh, and any girls who like Paul Walker.

So if you are looking for a intense, fun, highpowered ride of your life, see this movie. But if you are looking for a wonderfully scripted Oscar winning drama, go rent "The Piano" and try to keep from falling asleep.

Read Best Reviews of The Fast and the Furious (Blu-ray + Digital Copy + UltraViolet) (2001) Here

Who doesn't like to drive fast? I'm pretty sure everyone does. Those guys in the movies are crazy, but it makes me want to drive like they do, and not get killed. Vin Diesel is his best in the movie. It's a very moving and interesting movie to watch.

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Lifting the plot directly from Point Break (1991), The Fast and the Furious is a turbo-charged ride with hot women, outrageous stunts, loud cars, and an equally loud soundtrack. Director Rob Cohen seems to be playing it safe relying on the sure-fire formula of said girls and cars after the critically-mauled The Skulls(2000). And the film indeed does work well with all the elements that make a no-brainer movie like this a winner with audiences. Vin Deisel makes a stand-out performance as the main man of the late-night drag racing, and Michelle Rodriguez provides enough eye candy for all the pre-pubescent boys. The story, as it is, is basically the same as Point Break, with Paul Walker as an undercover cop attempting to infilltrate the late-night speeders, then joining theit unique culture. The sub-plot involving gangsters fells like it's been tagged on to create more of a plot, but who cares? Rob Cohen knows what audiences want in an action flick like this, and it suceeds admirably. Turn up the volume, set your brain to half-mode and this is a winner.

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Iron Man 1 & 2 Double Pack

40$ is what i spent on this set, However This Movie is epic and yea most people have these 2 movies, But nobody i know has this collector set. Does have cases for each movie. 3+ Hrs of bouns foottage, But i havnt watched it. If I could go back I would of just bought Iron Man for around 15 bucks and then bought Iron Man 2 on sale for 7.99. Would of saved me roughly 10 to 15 bucks but all in all Im still hapyt I bought this pack.

I like action movies and anything that Robert Downey Jr is in is good. The special effects is great and what they have come up with on the technology is great. Can't wait for Iron Man 3 to come out.

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After taking so long to receive them, they won't play in dvd player nor computer.

I would appreciate a refund.

Read Best Reviews of Iron Man 1 & 2 Double Pack Here

Schindler's List (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet) (1993)

Steven Spielberg finally got the long awaited respect he deserved as director when he won the Oscar for his 3 hour 16 minute epic. And now this excellent 20th Anniversary Blu ray finally arrives. Spielberg shot in black and white because he says that is how he pictures all the events in his mind. As a kid he had seen some photos and they were B & W. With a splash of color at the beginning and end, he also tosses in an effective shot of a little girl walking through chaos wearing a red coat.

Brilliant movie making but certainly not a movie that can be casually watched. Nor is it a film that requires regular viewing. Frankly it is difficult assignment most of the time. In spite of the upbeat aura of Schindler's great good, the film also accurately depicts the horrors the Nazis bestowed upon Jews throughout Eastern Europe. As one might expect, we see superb performances especially by Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley and Ralph Fiennes. A masterpiece for all time.

This Blu ray transfer includes a 1080p resolution and a 1.85:1 aspect ratio that matches the original. Spielberg personally supervised the high definition transfer and the lossless audio (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1) restoration of the film from the 35mm film original negative. Special features include:

Voices from the List: Documentary featuring a number of testimonies and stories from men and women who survived the Holocaust thanks to Oskar Schindler.

USC Shoah Foundation Story with Steven Spielberg

When watching a movie like "Schindler's List", there are so many ways that it can be appreciated. It's a history lesson, an intense drama, and a gripping character study all at once. For me, however, the film really hits home with the realization of the difference that one person can make in the grand scheme of things.

For a basic plot summary, "Schindler's List" focuses on Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson), a high-ranking member of the Nazi party during World War II. When the German Nazis invade Poland and begin rounding up Jews into ghettos, Schindler sees it as strictly a business operation, opening up his own pots-and-pans factory using Jewish labor. While raking in the dough on the backs of the Jews, however, Schindler begins to see the escalating brutality of the Nazis and is eventually appalled by their treatment at the concentration camps. Thus, he creates a list of workers that he ultimately hopes to protect from the brutality.

As a history-based epic, "Schindler's List" manages to capture the essence of the moment AND yet still be subtle about it at the same time. Director Steven Spielberg strikes the perfect balance between drama and realism. The acting performance from Ralph Fiennes as the Nazi Commandant is especially shocking for its ability to depict the brutality of those camps. Essentially, this is a movie that should be shown to American high school students at least once during their education for its ability to show the true horrors of the holocaust.

Perhaps the true hallmark of the movie, though, is the character evolution of Mr. Schindler. He starts off as nothing more than a ruthless businessman, but over time (and it quite literally takes almost every minute of the film's 3+ hour runtime to come to fruition) he begins to realize not only the horrors transpiring around him, but also that he has the power (and thus the responsibility) to do something about it. To me, that was the most endearing message that I took from the overall experience.

Thus, I consider "Schindler's List" to be a masterpiece of American cinema (although, what should I have expected from Mr. Spielberg?!). It is compelling on both a historic and personal level simultaneously. Even though it is quite long, there are very few wasted moments.

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I see Schindler's List as one of those movies that everybody should watch at least once in their lifetime. It might be difficult movie for some to watch, due to how disturbing and sad it is, but it is important that the Holocaust doesn't repeat itself (those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it). It's a movie that everyone at the high school I went to views before they graduate, and I hope that there are many more schools that do the same.

The fact that the film is in black and white (for the most part) really draws the mood of the movie; sad and somber. If Spielberg filmed it in color, I do not think the mood would have been captured as well. Schindler's list while sad tells the incredible story of how one man stood up to one of the most evil regimes in world history and did what was right. Saved lives. I won't get into how he made money off it it, because it's not as important as saving the lives of innocent people. Once again I hope this is a film everybody sees at least once in their life. Taking a class about the Holocaust in high school, I became an advocate in hoping people take tie to learn about the Holocaust so such horrific event never occur again and watching Schindler's list is a piece to that puzzle.

Read Best Reviews of Schindler's List (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet) (1993) Here

Shindler's List is not for the faint of heart yet it is a movie everyone should see. Whether Mr. Speilburg makes a commentary on his work or not doesn't make any difference to me. What he has done is tell a story of one man who although a scoundrel in his ways, was a man who was not afraid of his inner heart. A man who with the world around him standing by watching people being murdered, people being shipped off to be murdered, was brave enough to do all he possibly could to save human lives. A real hero, if I may say. The film is graphic certainly but it is truthfully graphic...the way it should be. Openly honest. Sadly there are still people who claim the Holocaust never happened. How or why they can say that is beyond me. Millions died...because they were Jewish...or Russian...or Polish...or Gypsies...of French....or Dutch....or Hungarian....yet non beleivers still say it never happened. I see a little child in a red coat walking along among the crowds being forced to their deaths and know it happened...over and over again. This movie is a masterpiece of epic proportions! Thank you Mr. Spielburg and all the actors who worked on this greatest story ever told!

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"Schindler's List" is a difficult movie to watch. I can't say it's something you want to repeatedly view for entertainment because it's so tragic and downright depressing. The last time I watched it was in 1993. If it wasn't for the release of the movie on Blu-ray for its 20th anniversary, I quite possibly would've never seen the film again. All that being said, I'm glad I did. It was a reminder of the unspeakable events that unfolded during World War II and how easily they can happen.

Oskar Schindler is an industrial businessman and member of the Nazi Party. He uses his factory as a means of employing Jews and keeping them from being sent to the concentration camps. As he continues his crusade to save as many Jews as he can, he comes dangerously close to having his true intentions discovered by the Nazi officials he must act like he's aligned with.

To say "Schindler's List" is one of the most important films of the 1990s would be an understatement. It's quite possibly one of the most significant ones of the entire 20th century. It captures the best of both worlds when it comes to filmmaking. Director Steven Spielberg used all the modern tools at his disposal and crafted a movie that looks timeless and will never be considered irrelevant in any decade to come.

The movie is as graphic as the subject matter demands it to be. The atrocities committed by the Nazis against the Jews need to be seen to pound home the horrific acts they unleashed upon them. Is it a bit too much for some people to see? Of course it is. If you think seeing it onscreen is tough, just think about how it was to live it.

My only problem with "Schindler's List" is its scenes of sexuality. They are a distraction from the real purpose of the movie and give parents a reason to not allow their teenagers to view it. In a nutshell, they limit the amount of people who will be exposed to the movie.

I completely understand the nudity when it comes to the Jews having to strip down naked and run around the camp. This shows the sort of humiliation they were put through and helps the audience identify with it. There's absolutely nothing sexy or sensual about that.

The 20th Anniversary Blu-ray edition of "Schindler's List" was painstakingly restored and supervised by Steven Spielberg. The audio and video transfers are absolutely flawless. The picture is black and white with tiny splashes of color here and there throughout. The 5.1 surround sound uses the quiet of hiding and the noisy chaos of the Ghetto and concentration camps to properly put audiences in the middle of the circumstances unfolding on film.

The special features for the Blu-ray version of "Schindler's List" will probably disappoint most consumers. There's a 77-minute documentary entitled "Voices from the List" in which director Steven Spielberg interviews Holocaust survivors and their descendants. He also shares background on the organization he founded through the 5-minute featurette "USC Shoah Foundation Story with Steven Spielberg." A promotional spot for the online application IWitness is also included.

"Schindler's List" will go down in history as one of the most important films ever released in all of human history. Thanks to its cinematography and classic black and white format, it maintains a timeless feel that will serve it well in the decades to come. It is a welcome and essential addition to every home entertainment library.

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Graceland (+ Digital Copy) (2012)

Not your typical Filipino Movie. Not Corny, and there was actually a plot that you needed to pay attention to. There are some disturbing truths in the movie.

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Pride and Prejudice (1995)

Today we received on its release date, the newly restored version of Pride and Prejudice with Collin Firth and Jennifer Eyhle. And we are delighted. The colors and complections are healthy and vibrant. The sound is clear and offers extra enjoyment for the dance and singing scenes. And special mention must be made of the detail that is now available to be ejoyed. It is a historic costumers delight now, since the fine fabrics and textures can now be appreciated it is far clearer and better detailed than the earlier versions of this spectacular mini-series.

And no advertising at the beginning put it in and it starts.

I think they did a fantastic job restoring this, and this version has addressed the earlier complaints of the yellow or washed out color palate. I have also not noticed the deletion of any scenes from the original on video when it was first released. This is definately the version the collectors to keep.

FOR SOME REASONE AMAZON IS ATTACHING THE REVIEWS FOR THE 2001 DVD EDITION. THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE NEWLY RESTORED VERSION OF APRIL 2010.

There aren't enough superlatives in the English language to adequately describe the brilliance of this production. As a student and teacher of Literature, Theatre, and Film I can confidently and categorically state that this is the finest film adaptation of any classic novel ever produced. The screenplay is remarkably faithful, the art direction spellbinding, the costuming and settings are breathtaking, while the casting showcases the strongest ensemble of actors I have ever witnessed. Bear in mind that this is all coming from someone who has never seen an adequate film version of any classic novel, to the extent that I no longer thought it possible. Ladies, beware Colin Firth as the definitive Darcy for he is guaranteed to make you swoon. Jennifer Ehle, as Lizzy, stole my heart. Please don't tell my wife but I have never been so deeply in love with any actress. Her elegant and powerfully understated portrayal of Elizabeth Bennet does Austen's scintillating satire of manners great credit. In the context of recently produced Austen films I would say that Roger Michell's production of Persuasion was endearing, Emma Thompson's Sense and Sensibility was a treat for both, but Simon Langton's production of Pride and Prejudice is the most sublime, definitive, and unparalleled production of P&P yet produced. It is just pure Austen. Both First and Last Impressions remain the same on this one, it is a true classic. An absolute MUST for all Jane Austen fans. Yes, Virginia I have two copies. The 1996 edition and the 2001 Digitally Remastered "Special Edition." Although the audio is somewhat better on the remaster I would argue that the color and resolution are richer on the original. I wonder if the 2010 "Restored" Blue Ray version would be a good excuse to buy a third copy? Hmmm....

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This A&E/BBC miniseries is a true masterpiece, bringing Jane Austen's most popular novel to life in a near perfect production. It has everything: authentic Regency Period atmosphere, costumes, settings, a beautiful musical score, excellent performances by a well-chosen cast. Andrew Davis's script does full justice to Austen's original. Colin Firth is excellent as Mr. Darcy, but Jennifer Ehle just takes my breath away with her magnificent performance, which catches every nuance of Elizabeth Bennet's character exactly right in every scene. It is a pleasure to watch all 4 1/2 hours straight through again and again. As a longtime devoted admirer of Jane Austen's works, I am very critical of any movies based upon her novels, but this has to be one of the very best adaptations of any major literary work.

Read Best Reviews of Pride and Prejudice (1995) Here

"Pride and Prejudice" is one of the top 10 novels ever written. The BBC miniseries with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle is the finest adaptation to date. The actors are superb. The screen play is accurate, comprehensive, parsimonious, and entertaining. The dialogue is beautiful and preserves much of Jane Austin's witty and wry commentary. The cinematography is superb. The film was shot in authentic locations all over Britain.

I thought the film adaptation by the BBC and A&E was so fine, I bought the VCR tapes when they were released, then I bought the lazer disk version, and then I bought the DVD version. The DVD version is a big fat disappointment. The quality of the DVD transfer is NOT good.

First, the colors appear faded and with the Regency English palette of beige-greens, browns, ambers, and taupes, this is a serious defect. It makes the clothing look worn, the grass and trees look sunburned, and some places, the complexions look downright washed out. The film appears to have been shot in Arizona at high noon instead of England.

Second, for some bizarre reason, the DVD processors nipped and tucked some of the original material. The clipped portions might not bother one who has never seen the original--but I noticed. There was no need to edit this film. Four of the 50-minute sections are crammed on disk 1 (where the editing takes place) and the other two were recorded on disk 2. I guess it would have made too much sense to record three episodes on each disk? Seems like poor planning to me.

For the price of this 2-disk DVD package, more care should have been taken with the transfer process. My lazer disk version cost less, holds more, and has beautiful resolution.

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I am a huge lover of Pride and Prejudice. I lost track of how many times I've seen the VHS version (I taped it off of A&E and then bought the tape set). It is a superb production; the acting, production, screen play and scenery are fantastic.

The problem with the VHS versions is that the one taped from A&E has a lot of the scenes cut out, and the box set keeps you switching tapes and fastforwarding through the commercials every 50 minutes. The DVD is much more convenient and even includes extra scenes (more like extra lines to a few scenes, something only a huge fan would notice).

It is true that the DVD contains no subtitles, which is a big disappointment, because there is a line or two where I never could figure out what is being said. I didn't notice the sound difficulties pointed out in other reviews, but the color is washed out. I had to adjust the "picture mode" on my television and it's still faded somehow. The DVD extras are nothing special, and I was disappointed not to find any interviews with the main characters (I wanted to see how they look "normally.")

In spite of these small problems with the DVD, I highly recommend it for all P&P lovers. The convenience of only having to get up once (and you probably don't watch the whole thing in one sitting anyway) plus the 5 minutes or so of extra footage make this DVD a must. Factor in that it is actually cheaper than the VHS set, and there's no question. Simply adjust the settings on your television before watching, and settle in to 2 hours and fifty minutes of continuous Jane Austen.

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Dirty Harry: Ultimate Collector's Edition (Dirty Harry / Magnum Force / The Enforcer / Sudden Impac

Warner Home Video has announced the details of new releases of all five Dirty Harry movies with new special features. They'll all be in their original widescreen formats only.

They will be available on standard DVD in this 7-disc Ultimate Collector's Edition, or separately in Special or Deluxe editions. ("Special" is better than "deluxe" here--only Dirty Harry gets a 2-disc Special Edition, the others will all be on single discs, but all will have new special features.) Links for the separate DVDs are below.

They'll also be on Blu-ray in a 5-disc Ultimate Collector's Edition. Only the Dirty Harry Special Edition will be available separately on Blu-ray. The other four movies will only be available on Blu-ray as part of the complete set. (They won't be available in HD, which Warner officially discontinues at the end of May.)

Assuming the transfers are good (update: everyone says the transfers are good, better than the old ones), this looks like an excellent set. Whether those with older DVD releases will want to upgrade will be a matter of personal preference, but I personally find the new commentaries and features very attractive.

Here's a bit about each film and the special features, contained in both the separate releases and the sets. The Ultimate Editions will also include some additional features, listed further below.

Dirty Harry Special Edition

Dirty Harry is generally regarded as a classic, the beginning of a second larger-than-life persona for Clint Eastwood (after The Man with No Name). It's the source of the famous "Do you feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?" (The actual quote is "... you've got to ask yourself a question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?" but the original doesn't quote as well out of context.)

Tough cop "Dirty" Harry Callahan has his own simple, commonsense rules for dealing with crime, based on a strong sense of right and wrong and an impatience with needless details and constraints. The latter gets him into continual trouble with the system which, as portrayed in the movie, is more about politics and bureaucracy than doing what needs to be done. This reflected well the frustrations and fears of Americans in the '70s that criminals were taking over the streets and that the law was powerless to stop them because the "criminal-coddling" courts were holding them back. I personally value the Fourth Amendment and other such niceties and shiver to think of some of the political and moral ramifications of this movie (some of which are still very much with us), but whatever one's politics, Dirty Harry is very effective as a police-action thriller, largely because of Eastwood's unique persona. It's hard not to admire and root for him even if you think he's not always right. There are also the standard gunfights and car chases, and high suspense, all well done.

In the films that followed in the series, Harry became a somewhat more balanced, complex or confusing character, depending on your point of view, coming down clearly on the side of the law against rogue vigilante cops, for example, and learning to appreciate a female cop as a partner, but the basic idea of Harry standing strong despite the corrupt, wimpy system remained.

I'm pleased to see that some of the new special features in the set deal with the "issues" raised by the Dirty Harry films. I look forward to seeing what others make of them.

The special features:

-new commentary by filmmaker and Eastwood associate/biographer Richard Schickel

-new featurette "The Long Shadow of Dirty Harry," on the influence and legacy of Dirty Harry

-"Dirty Harry: The Original," with Clint Eastwood and the film's creators looking back at the creation of the Dirty Harry character

-"Dirty Harry's Way," a promotional short focusing on the toughness of the movie's main character

-interview gallery, with Patricia Clarkson, Joel Cox, Clint Eastwood, Hal Holbrook, Evan Kim, John Milius, Ted Post, Andy Robinson, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Robert Urich

-"Clint Eastwood: The Man from Malpaso," a 1993 TV program on his life and career, including scenes from his work and interviews with friends, fellow actors and crew members

-trailer gallery: Dirty Harry, Magnum Force, The Enforcer, Sudden Impact and The Dead Pool

Magnum Force Deluxe Edition

As the sequel to a classic film, it suffers some from the let-downs typical of sequels, but it's still Clint Eastwood being a tough guy, which is enough to carry the merely average plot and script and make it good entertainment for Eastwood fans. I'd say that applies to all four sequels.

In this installment, Harry, the cop frustrated by the rules that hold him back, shows he has his limits when he goes up against wicked vigilante cops killing criminals without any due process. As in the first movie, there's plenty of action, a car chase, suspense, people getting shot, etc.

Special features:

-new commentary by director and Magnum Force screenwriter John Milius ("in this gritty, entertaining commentary, legendary Hollywood screenwriter Milius discusses Eastwood, the world of Dirty Harry and the rugged resilience of crime drama in American cinema")

-new featurette "A Moral Right: The Politics of Dirty Harry," with filmmakers, social scientists and authors on the politics and ethics of the Dirty Harry films

-"The Hero Cop: Yesterday and Today"

-trailer gallery

The Enforcer Deluxe Edition

In this installment, Harry, the renegade cop with some old-fashioned attitudes and no desire to be tied up with a partner, gets stuck with a female partner, well played by Tyne Daly. Surprise surprise, he learns to respect and rely on her as they make hamburger of a group of domestic terrorists. As in the first two movies, there's plenty of action, suspense, people getting shot, etc., but with a chase on foot in place of the usual car chase.

Special features:

-new commentary by Enforcer director James Fargo

-new featurette "The Business End: Violence in Cinema"

-"Harry Callahan/Clint Eastwood: Something Special in Films"

-trailer gallery

Sudden Impact Deluxe Edition

Sudden Impact inspires very mixed reactions, but it's still Clint Eastwood in a classic role, this time with Sondra Locke, his partner in several films and off-screen. Some people hate Locke, but I think she's good with Eastwood. (I liked them even more in the Dirty Harryish Gauntlet and the very un-Dirty-Harry Bronco Billy.)

Harry is on forced leave for being his usual trouble-making self while getting the bad guys, but still finds himself in the middle of a string of murders that he undertakes to stop. As in a couple of the others in the series, this movie includes a story line where extralegal justice is an issue, as Locke's damaged rape victim seeks revenge. With the usual action, shootings, and a high level of violence, with women getting their share.

This one is the source of the famous quote, "Go ahead, make my day." It was directed by Eastwood.

-new commentary by filmmaker and Eastwood associate/biographer Richard Schickel

-new featurette "The Evolution of Clint Eastwood," on the film in the context of Eastwood's career as a director

-trailer gallery

The Dead Pool Deluxe Edition

The Dead Pool was pretty well received, considering its place in the series. It has a convoluted plot about a game in which bets are taken on the deaths of celebrities, including Harry, with young Liam Neeson playing a questionable film director who's playing the game. Issues of the celebrity-enslaved press are mixed with romance as Harry dates a reporter. As always, there's plenty of action, suspense, gun play, and, this time, a unique and hilarious car chase with a very small but dangerous car.

-new commentary by Dead Pool producer David Valdes and Dead Pool cinematographer Jack N. Green

-new Featurette "The Craft of Dirty Harry," including the cinematography, editing, music, and production design of the Dirty Harry films

-trailer gallery

The Ultimate editions will contain all of the above features, plus some:

-the feature-length documentary Clint Eastwood: Out of the Shadows (which has been and is available separately)

-40+ page hardcover book

-wallet with metal badge and removable ID card

-five 5" x 7" lobby poster reproduction cards and an exclusive Ultimate Collector's Edition card

-"Scorpio: Portrait of a Killer" 19" x 27" map of San Francisco detailing Harry's hunt for the killer in the first film

-never-before-seen production correspondence

The Out of the Shadows documentary is a substantial bonus (87 minutes) for the Ultimate edition. You can get it separately pretty cheap used, though. There's an Amazon page for it, with reviews, here.

The November 2001 'Collection' release should please Dirty Harry

die-hards a great deal. Look up the individual titles for more detailed comments from me.

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DIRTY HARRY (1971) 4Stars

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A very well made genre film that holds up very well and remains

a pretty violent and gritty film. Directed by Don Siegel and featuring one of Eastwoods finest and most charismatic performances, this is the one that set into stone one of the most enduring formulas for action films. A formula still in use today.

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Magnum Force (1973) 3 1/2 stars

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the first Harry sequel is a film for action movie and or Eastwood junkies to appreciate. It softens Dirty Harry's character however and actually makes more political type statements than Dirty Harry does. It's not a great genre film but it mostly holds up pretty well and is entertaining.

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THE ENFORCER (1976) 2 1/2 stars

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The Enforcer really changed Harry Callahan's character. On one hand he's a bad-(...) quick with the quips kind of a guy... but he's really quite a softie. The film turns Harry into a kind of fish out of water dinosaur. When it was made, that variation on the Action film hero wasn't as cliché'd as it is now, but it still feels forced and insincere. It's watch-able but don't have high expectations for this one. Lalo Schiffrin didn't do the score for this one unfortunately and he's missed. This is also John (one year younger brother of Robert) Mitchum's last Harry film (he played Detective

'Fatso' DiGeorgio in the first three Harry's). * * * *

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SUDDEN IMPACT (1983) 3 1/2 stars

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This is probably the best Harry sequel, and though it doesn't quite offer as much visceral fun as the other Harry's it's one to catch if you're an Eastwood/Harry fan. This is the only Dirty Harry that Eastwood directed.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

DEAD POOL (1988) 2 stars

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Dead Pool undoubtedly looked great on paper for several reasons. Unfortunately it plays out like

A very desperate, tired film with ideas that are more silly than clever.

DVD STUFF

Nearly all of the films in the Dirty Harry Collection of DVD's are presented in Anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen The exception would be The Dead Pool (1.85:1). The original Dirty Harry is not a re-release of the original DVD from a couple of years ago. This time out a sterling print was found and restored and digitally transferred. The original Dirty Harry has never looked better.

Most of these 5 Dirty Harry films are presented at their best with colors vibrant, black levels strong and few technical problems present. Sudden Impact's quality is slightly less and there's a couple of moments where print damage glitches are very noticeable. Minor stuff over-all thankfully. The Enforcer and Dead Pool are the two films that are not Dual Layered, but in the case of The Enforcer that doesn't seem to affect the quality at all. Dead Pool's presentation is a few links down the chain from the others. It's the newest film but has the most flaws visible. It's a little less crisp and sharp than even the original Dirty Harry and has more print damage visible than the others.

All of the films have been given a complete audio over-haul and the engineers have done a superb job on all the films. The older films in particular have been improved a great deal with a very well done sound re-design. I suspect some re-recording of some foley type effects took place because some of the sound effects sound utterly free from distortion which you would expect to crop up in loud sound effects from 30 years ago. All of the films have a Dolby 5.1. track that has been masterfully presented. Dialogue is easy to hear, and the sound effects

And music effectively use the surround capabilities of all the speakers without over-doing it .

DVD EXTRAS:

Dirty Harry has by far the most extras of any DVD in this series. I have reviewed Dirty Harry Separately but a heres a quick run-down of its extras: * * * *

This new Dirty Harry release boasts several features including the all new 30th anniversary Documentary Dirty Harry:The Original. A 29 minute puff piece celebration of all things Harry Callahan that Dirty Harry fans will enjoy. Not a hint of controversy is mentioned and not a discourage word is uttered. Those interviewed recently for the documentary include: Clint Eastwood, Andy Robinson,John Milius, Evan Kim, Hal Holbrook, Patty Clarkson and Harry fan: Arnold Schwarzenegger. Robert Urich (who was in Magnum Force Dirty Harry 2) hosts the puff piece as he visits the sites of several of the films' original locations. Lots of clips from the Harry films are included. You also get a separate Interview Gallery which shows slightly longer and sometimes different interview sound bites of all of the above participants.

The original promo piece from 1971 is under 7 minutes, called Dirty Harry's Way and is fun to watch containing a few Behind the scenes shots and glimpses of Siegel and company at work making the movie.

Magnum Force gets the 8 minute featurette entitled The Hero Cop: Yesterday and Today and was made as part of the promotional campaign for film in 1973. It has some behind the scene snippets of Ted Post directing Eastwood. The original trailer is not in very good shape on this one.

The Enforcer gets a short featurette used as publicity in 1976 that looks at the celebrity of Eastwood and of Dirty Harry. A few shots from behind the scenes are included.

Sudden Impact and Dead Pool are nearly bare bones with a couple of production notes, memorable lines, list of cast and main crew and their original theatrical trailers included on the DVD.

There's nothing of any real substance to any of these extras, but if you're a fan of any of the films you'll enjoy what there is of them.

BOTTOM LINE:

If you're big fan of all things Dirty Harry you take the plunge and buy the boxed set of all 5 films. It will really 'make your day' but be careful or they might 'blow your head clean off."

Christopher Jarmick, is the author of The Glass Cocoon with Serena F. Holder (...).

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Since the plot of these five movies has been discussed over and over again by other reviewers, I thought it best to comment on the transfers of this Blu-Ray collection.

Let me start off by stating that these classic movies have never looked better. Each movie after Dirty Harry just keeps getting better and better in terms of sharpness, contrast, and color. Dirty Harry showed the most grain out of the five movies but it was minimal and only in certain scenes. Also, it's to be expected considering its age. It isn't until you watch Sudden Impact and The Dead Pool where the 1080P resolution really starts to show its magic.

Anyway, if you're Dirty Harry fan, go out and buy this set. And when you do sit down to watch these classic detective movies, watch them all during a rainy weekend. Bad weather really brings out the grittiness that is Harry Calahan.

By the way, the only reason I didn't give this amazing collection five stars is because of the way the discs were packaged. They are staggered in a way that makes it a bit difficult to remove, but not impossible. I may be picky here so you'll have to judge the packaging on your own.

Read Best Reviews of Dirty Harry: Ultimate Collector's Edition (Dirty Harry / Magnum Force / The Enforcer / Sudden Impac Here

If you're a fan of the Dirty Harry films, and you have a Blu-Ray player, this is a no-brainer. A lot of Blu-Ray transfers are disappointing, particularly in older films. However, Warner has pulled out all the stops, and every one of these films, even the oldest, looks and sounds utterly spectacular.

The original DIRTY HARRY features a lot of aerial photography of San Francisco, as some of the earlier action takes place on rooftops. The detail in these distance shots is staggeringly clear. The colors are rich, vivid, and bold, and the remixed soundtrack is shatteringly good for a film of this vintage.

The four sequels look equally good (the fifth, THE DEAD POOL, suffers only because it was not shot in true widescreen ) and all films are supplemented with a wide selection of new extras. The box even includes a personal message from Clint Eastwood, encouraging you to sample the new bonus features.

I watched all five films in less than a week and I'm ready to watch them all again. It's about time older films started receiving this kind of treatment in High-Def; hopefully this is a harbinger of things to come for classics films of the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Go ahead, make your day and buy this box.

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I just got this last week on the 16th with the preorder delivery. It is a nice assortment and is for people who don't watch all the extras that are packed into a disc, like me. The disc quality is excellent and is the same ones that come in the larger pack. It is simple, the movies look great, but if you want extra features get the ultimate collection and if you're interested in the movie only get this version.

Ocean's Eleven (2008)

"Ocean's Eleven" is a Ferrari of a movie: cool, stylish, and classy. And if, like a Ferrari, it doesn't always work, that's OK who will complain when it's so stylish?

The premise is lifted right out of the 1960 Rat Pack original: Danny Ocean (George Clooney, suave as hell) is released from prison, and plots to steal over $163 million from the vault of a Las Vegas casino during a heavyweight fight. He recruits his old buddy Rusty Ryan (Brad Pitt), and they put together a dream team of crooks, each of whom has a specialty. There's a computer geek, a demolition expert, a con man, a pickpocket, and so on.

And, of course, there's Danny's ex-wife, Tess (Julia Roberts), who's now involved with the manager (Andy Garcia) of the casino Danny intends to rob. So, Danny's not only after money he wants his girl back as well. But she's having nothing of it, as evidenced by this neat dialogue piece:

Danny: "I've paid my debt to society."

Tess: "Funny, I haven't gotten my check yet."

Dialogue like that is one of the great pleasures of this movie; watching it delivered by the likes of Clooney, Roberts, Pitt and the stellar supporting cast (Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Carl Reiner, Elliott Gould, et al) is the other.

And, in fairness, it's a good thing that the dialogue and acting is so good, because as a pure caper flick, "Ocean's Eleven" is, to be charitable, a little thin. In the best caper movies ("The Heist" comes to mind), the theft itself is the star of the movie the intracicies, the backup plans, the intrigue. In "Ocean's Eleven," we're expected to believe that a casino with over $150 million in its vault wouldn't have a backup power generator, or that the vault's security system wouldn't have a motion sensor.

But criticisms like that are akin to nitpicking that red Ferrari 575 because it has a small trunk the point isn't realism, it's style, and like a Ferrari, "Ocean's Eleven" has it in droves.

Below is a review of this product: 4 Film Favorites Ocean's Collection. Amazon may display this review on the page of another version of this product, for which this review may not apply. After reading this review, please click on the link so that you can be assured that the product this review applies to is the same one you thought it was for.

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### ABOUT THE 4 FILM FAVORITES SERIES ###

Warner Brothers/New Line's "4 Film Favorites" is a line of two-disc sets consisting of four films that are part of a series/franchise or center around a common theme. Each disc is dual-sided, with the contents of each side being a bit-for-bit copy (a "disc image") of a previous DVD release. Usually the very first DVD release of a film is used as the master for each side, which could be either single-layer or dual-layer. If the DVD master that is used first came out at the infancy of DVD production (the late 1990s), there may be little to no extras, and even a poor film transfer when compared to a later re-release. Also, if that original release was a two-disc set, or a dual-sided disc (see: Lethal Weapon 4), only Disc 1 or Side A will be used. The "4 Film Favorites" line is priced with the budget-conscience consumer in mind, with Target having the lowest price at 9.99 each (occasionally on sale for 8.99). Other stores will inevitably be priced higher, though I don't recommend paying more than ten dollars for each two-disc set.

### ABOUT THE OCEAN'S COLLECTION ###

OCEAN'S 11

* Year: 1960

* Runtime: 2:07:17

* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen

* DVD Production Date: September 10, 2001

* Region: 1

* Layers: 2

* Audio Languages: English, French

* Subtitle Languages: English, Spanish, French

* Extras: Commentary by Frank Sinatra Jr. and Angie Dickinson, Interactive Las Vegas Then and Now Map Casino Vignettes, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Excerpt Featuring Guest Host Frank Sinatra and Angie Dickinson, Cast & Crew Filmographies (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, Angie Dickinson), 2 Theatrical Trailers.

* Easter Eggs: (1) On the Special Features menu, press LEFT to highlight a poker chip on the pile. Press Enter to view a clip about the Las Vegas Gambling Museum. (2) On the "Map Of Vegas" menu, watch The Sands casino video. After viewing the video, select it again to see a different video showing the implosion of the casino in November 1996.

OCEAN'S ELEVEN

* Year: 2001

* Runtime: 1:56:27

* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen

* DVD Production Date: March 7, 2002

* Region: 1

* Layers: 2

* Audio Languages: English, French

* Subtitle Languages: English, Spanish, French

* Extras: Commentary by Matt Damon and Andy Garcia and Brad Pitt, Commentary by director Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter Ted Griffin, "The Making Of Ocean's Eleven" Featurette, "The Look Of The Con" Featurette, Cast Filmographies (George Clooney, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts), 3 Theatrical Trailers, "Are You In Or Out?" DVD-ROM Game.

OCEAN'S TWELVE

* Year: 2004

* Runtime: 2:05:10

* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen

* DVD Production Date: February 8, 2005

* Region: 1

* Layers: 2

* Audio Languages: English

* Subtitle Languages: English, Spanish, French

* Extras: Theatrical Trailer.

OCEAN'S THIRTEEN

* Year: 2007

* Runtime: 2:01:59

* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen

* DVD Production Date: August 29, 2007

* Region: 1

* Layers: 2

* Audio Languages: English, Spanish, French

* Subtitle Languages: English, Spanish, French

* Extras: Additional Scenes, "Vegas: An Opulent Illusion" Featurette, "Jerry Weintraub Walk And Talk: The Producer Takes Us On A Casino Set Tour" Featurette.

Buy Ocean's Eleven (2008) Now

This package is an exceptional deal. You get all four Ocean films for less much less than the price of a single copy of Ocean's 11 on Blu-Ray! What more could you ask for?

Read Best Reviews of Ocean's Eleven (2008) Here

I've got to admit, half the fun of this movie is the star-gazing. George Clooney is great as a convict recently released from jail, Brad Pitt is Mr. Suave as his right-hand man, and Julia Roberts plays the icy ex-wife beautifully. Throw in Matt Damon as a pick-pocket and Andy Garcia as a casino mogul and you've got the gist of this movie's star power.

The plot is pretty simple: Danny Ocean (Clooney) organizes a group of eleven highly skilled criminals to simultaneously rob three of Vegas' biggest casinos. Their plans are over the top and outrageous-and you can't help but smile watching them put into action. There are also some really memorable touches in the movie: including Brad Pitt teaching Shane West and Topher Grace how to play poker. This movie kind of serves as a who's-who in Hollywood. "Oceans" probably won't spark any deep conversations or teach you any life lessons, but it's fun watching the celebrities interact onscreen. If you want something deep and thought-provoking, this probably isn't your movie. But if you want to watch something purely for entertainment, this is a great and fun film.

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Yeah, it's impossible, it's ridiculous, it's contrived, but you gotta love the acting and the chemistry between the actors. Only Julia Roberts' role was maybe a mismatch, and that's difficult for me to say as she's one of my favorites.

The 1960's original version with Frank Sinatra and the infamous Rat Pack was fun, too, but this contemporary one makes full use of all the modern cinema techniques that make action/adventure films such fun to watch.

The whole setup (a plan to rob several Las Vegan casinos owned by a guy who has `taken possession' of Danny Ocean's ex-wife) is convoluted and sometimes difficult to follow and frankly, rather than hit replay and try to figure it all out, I'd just advise suspending disbelief and going with the flow.

It's a hoot.

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A Turtle's Tale 2: Sammy's Escape from Paradise (DVD/Blu-Ray/3D Combo)

My family truly enjoyed the first A Turtle's Tale, so we were very excited to watch this sequel. A Turtle's Tale 2: Sammy's Escape from Paradise has many of the same lessons as in the first story, that teach children about sealife, caring for the environment, teamwork and friendships. In this story Sammy and Ray are now much older and the adventure includes their adorable grandkids named Ricky and Ellen. Being the loving and caring grandfathers they are, they work to protect them from the dangers of the big wide open sea and in the end when Sammy and Ray need them the most, their grandkids are their for them.

This was another adventure with Sammy my whole family was able to enjoy together as a unit. Sometimes, some animated films fail to attract the attention of my whole family, A Turtle's Tale is definitely not one of them. I found the animation to be even better than the first film and the music is beautiful and so much fun. I would recommend this DVD for all ages and any family looking to share in Sammy's new adventure as he escapes from paradise with his grandkids.

This is the best in your face 3d movie ever! I ordered my movie from oversea for twice as much as Amazon is currently selling it and I have no regrets. The 3d is spectacular. This is a fun and cute movie to watch with the family. If you like watching 3d movie as much as I do, you would definitely love watching this movie. Also if you haven't given 3d movies a try, this should be your first! Only thing is this might ruin all other 3d movie for you!

Buy A Turtle's Tale 2: Sammy's Escape from Paradise (DVD/Blu-Ray/3D Combo) Now

Ajami (2009)

Since the previous reviewer gave such a good synopsis of this film I will simply say it's a wonderful achievement that's definitely worth your time. Through its various plot lines it reveals several examples of the extremely complex workings of Palestinian society and its troubled intersections with Israeli police. This is not a happy film, but it is engrossing. And might I suggest you stick with it from start to finish, because if you engage in chatter while viewing it, or get up to take a restroom break, you may miss essential elements of the story that will leave you completely in the dark for the remainder of the film (which happened to a friend of mine who accompanied me to a theatrical screening he took a restroom break for five crucial minutes of the convoluted story and was completely lost when he returned).

Finally, the previous reviewer said this film was co-directed by two Israelis, but I was told that one of the directors is Israeli and the other Palestinian (which would make for a far more interesting point-of-view rather than the more singular point-of-view of two Israelis).

In the genre of the great Brazilian urban films City of God and City Below, and genius Italian neo-realism cinema of Rosselini and DeSica, this is a gripping Israeli neo-realistic crime art film that explores the tensions of life amongest the ethnic melting pot that comprises the population of Israel: Jews, Muslim and Christian Israeli-Arabs. Steering away from Middle East politics for a welcome change, all groups are portrayed with great humanity and understanding played by an excellent cast of non-professional actors trained for this film in a very unique style shown in the Special Features section. Interestingly, these Israeli-Arabs, residents of a Jaffa slum bordering Tel Aviv speak Arabic richly laced with Hebrew words and phrases. Excellent film that I recommend highly. Other than I Love You Rosa, this is probably the best film to come out of Israel, at least in the past 20 years, and it's too bad it didn't win a well deserved Oscar for Best Foreign Film. I loved it both times I saw it: in the theater and on DVD.

Buy Ajami (2009) Now

I rented "Ajami" because it was a recent Best Foreign Language Oscar nominee which has been about as good a recommendation as I can think of for a film. "Ajami" lived up to those expectations and then some. The film, as I understand it, is about Palestinians living in or near Israel. I understand from other reviews that this is an Israeli film which gives me pause to consider. I cannot speak to the authenticity of its' portrayal of the different communities so I leave those potential criticisms to more authoritative reviewers. For me, I was drawn into a sense of reality that I readily accepted. In doing so, I was able to truly enjoy "Ajami". Most every character in "Ajami" has their own shortcomings. There are no good guys vs. bad guys although there are some better and some worse. The life style we see in "Ajami" is problematic on many levels and I concluded that revealing these challenges is the purpose of the film. At times there are unfinished issues in the movie while at times there are issues revisited with a twist.

The situation regarding Israel and her Arab neighbors is one of the worlds biggest dilemnas. Many offer varied solutions but the reality is that, uless all sides find a way to get along together, there will only be winners and losers. That merely continues the problem. "Ajami" gives me a better focus on the humanity of trying to get by day to day in a powder keg.

Read Best Reviews of Ajami (2009) Here

Sort of the Middle East version of the film "Crash", where the lives of individuals of various hostile ethniciites eventually collide and lead to unforeseen outcomes. This movie was apparently produced as a cooperative effort between members of two nationalites chronically at war with each other, and it relied heavily on ordinary people and very appealing non-professional actors as well. The results are actually stunning in their dramatic value and sense of reality conveyed. This is a long subtitled film, so some patience is required.

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SPOILER ALERT:

This powerful movie takes place within the Israeli Arab community, mainly within the Ajami neighborhood of Jaffa. It's in a mixture of Arabic and Hebrew -sometimes the two blend within the same sentence. It begins with a gangland killing and ends in a tragic shootout.

It takes some time to realize that the film is broken up into separate chapters that we the audience do not see consecutively. Thus only when the final chapter is complete does the whole picture come into focus. A fascinating addition to the DVD is a short documentary showing how the directors found the amateur actors who populate this movie and how they were able to coax such convincing performances from them, often working without a script.

There are many interesting subtexts within this movie. We see the complicated interplay of different factions within the Palestinian community. A love affair between a Palestinian Christian girl and Muslim boy becomes a kind of doomed, Romeo and Juliet relationship. The Israeli Arabs and the Palestinian "undocumented workers" who sneak in from the West Bank view each other with mutual distaste. An Arab in a relationship with an Israeli Jewish woman from Tel Aviv is seen by his friends as a traitor. All these people live side by side -but separately.

An Israeli police officer, effectively portrayed by a former policeman, seems to behave with inexplicable brutality -until it becomes clear there is a reason for that too.

There is something almost Shakespearean about this movie. The characters are trapped in a sequence of events that none of them can stop, leading to an inevitable tragedy. Everyone behaves with perfect logic from their own viewpoint -and the outcome is terrible.

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