Hollywood Homicide / Hudson Hawk (Double Feature) (1991)

Two great movies one low price. Only minor issue is that they are both on the same disc, besides that everything was great.

Hudson Hawk is a underrated gem. They may have spent a small fortune on the making of this movie, and the budget may not be reflected on screen, but what does remain is a fun, brainless romp. Hollywood Homicide, on the other hand, is a dreadful bore. Blu-ray picture quality on both is very good.

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This is a good Blu-Ray Transfer I loved Hollywood Homicide very funny film that gets so much hate from people it's sad. This is not a terrible film I've seen a lot worse. This was just a fun film that both Harrison Ford & Josh Hartnet enjoyed doing. As for Hudson Hawk that was a very bad Bruce Willis film I mean damn. Get this simply for Hollywood Homicide.

Read Best Reviews of Hollywood Homicide / Hudson Hawk (Double Feature) (1991) Here

this arrived 5/4/2013. i could hardly contain my self.after tea i settled down.which to watch first.i settled for hollywood homicide...harrison ford it's been a long time but after a slowish start with them both developing their persona's the movie started to take off.going at a fair clip of knot's chasing bad cops.gangsters. killers.until the madcap chase at the end,i was quiet breathless

but really enjoyed the journey well worth a visit. NOW FOR SOMETHING ELSE hudson hawk bruce willis this is black comedy at is best ably assisted by a hoard of stars danny aiello.andie macdowell (beautiful)richard e grant.sandra bernhard james coburn and a appearance by caruso.from the moment bruce steps in front of the camera its his movie to the end.with help from all of the above

they played it to the hilt. absolutely non stop.there was swearing (a lot) but the film was so outlandish it didn't matter (no little ones)

a good double but im glad i saved bruce for the second choice if you haven't seen it where you been 5 stars

Want Hollywood Homicide / Hudson Hawk (Double Feature) (1991) Discount?

This is a blu-ray two-fer of action/comedies from the folks at Mill Creek.

I really enjoyed both Hudson Hawk and Hollywood Homicide, but I enjoyed Hudson Hawk with Brice Willis more.

But Hollywood Homicide with Harrison Ford was fun as well.

The PQ and AQ are great with this release, both are in thier correct aspect ratios.

Recommended!

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Grand Duel / Keoma (Spaghetti Western Double Feature) (1976)

The print used for the transfer is titled "The Big Showdown". Like many spaghetti westerns The Grand Duel has many titles. I think the first time I saw it on VHS it was called "Storm Rider".

This version is longer than the previously released Wild East DVD. While I have not done a complete side by side comparison, I did notice a scene on the blu-ray that I have often seen in the trailer, but never in the actual film on DVD; the scene where the dying old man wipes his bloody hand on Adam Saxon. I am sure there are many more.

The presentation on this blu-ray far exceeded my expectations. Admittedly I was worried at first as the background for the blu-ray menu showed an intentionally scratchy washed out print.

The print is pristine and blemish free. It looks to be pulled from the original negative and not a interpositive based version as there are subtle jumps occasionally in between cuts. As an original negative is literally glued together between cuts, over time the print will reveal these "bumps". Not a huge deal.

Color is solid throughout, and film grain is well defined without being distracting. Details are are very sharp on the extreme close ups.

The audio is nothing spectacular, but is clear. There are some serious sync issues. For example in the scene where LVC spins around and says "I never kill for money", was out of sync, which was not a problem in the Wild East version. These type of sync issues are probably in 50% of the movie, and seem to occur in large chunks of run time. I know Spaghetti Westerns are known for their dubbing, but the English should match! Bummer.

Aside from the audio sync issues, I feel it is a great disc. I popped in the Wild East DVD afterwards and found it to be unwatchable (but I am a Blu-ray snob).

Full review at

Mill Creek is really doing some superb releases lately, add this Spaghetti Western dbl feature starring Lee Van Cleef (Grand Duel/aka The Big Showdown) and Franco Nero (Keoma).

The 2.35 anamorphic transfers are very clean, the sync of the sound is a tad off, but that is a minor quibble.

And its available at a nice afforable price tag.

The Big Showdown looks the better of the two films, but considering the tight budgets these had, they look DARN good!

The theatrical trailers for each film are also included for good measure.

This is a great release for fans of the spaghetti western genere.

Very recommended!

Buy Grand Duel / Keoma (Spaghetti Western Double Feature) (1976) Now

I was surprised how good these two films looked considering the price. A must buy if you are a fan of Spaghetti Westerns.

Read Best Reviews of Grand Duel / Keoma (Spaghetti Western Double Feature) (1976) Here

These are not legendary Spaghetti Westerns...but very good ones and this BR disc contains two very good prints at a tremendously low price which makes this a solid 4 star value in my book. If you are a fan of Lee Van Cleef or Franco Nero or Spaghetti Westerns (see copycat Sergio Leone) this double bill will reward you with some good action, cringe inducing moments and overall a reasonable time. I would say only order this AFTER you check out The Man with No Name Trilogy (A Fistful of Dollars / For a Few Dollars More / The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly) [Blu-ray]Once Upon a Time in the West [Blu-ray] as all four of those movies are highy recommended!

Mostly I wanted to inform the curious that this budget priced twofer is solid.

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Like the other reviewers I was a little skeptical of a Mill Creek Blu Ray but was pleasantly surprised of this bargain priced gem. The movies are classic spaghetti and the transfer was better than expected. If you like spaghetti westerns, decent transfers, and bargain prices than this one is for you. I can only hope Mill Creek keeps up the good work.

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Deep Blue Sea / The Long Kiss Goodnight / Snakes on a Plane (Triple Feature) (2012)

This triple feature of Blu-ray movies focuses on actor Samuel L. Jackson and includes three interesting flicks of his.

Deep Blue Sea: Director Renny Harlin ("Cliffhanger") brings us to a lavish and expensive lab out in the middle of the ocean, where some scientists lead by Saffron Burrows ("Wing Commander") and others experimented with gene therapy to increase the brain mass of sharks. This is so a protein can be harvested that would lead to a cure for alzheimer's in humans. Well that would be all fine and dandy except for the fact that the increased brain activity and mass breeds a new, smarter shark. Jackson plays an investor who has his own past and meets an untimely demise (leading to one of the films both funniest and shocking moments) and Thomas Jane ("The Punisher") also has a good showing. Probably the funniest and most surprising turn here was from LL Cool J who proved back then he was a good actor, much like he is now.

As for the movie itself, there's the expected disaster cliches, once the sharks band together and start causing destruction to the expensive and fragile underwater lab (I mean who could've predicted genetically engineered sharks would want to wreak havoc on their human experimenters?). There's enough good jolts and escapes from the sharks to keep most action/thriller fans interested, the humor by Jackson, LL and others is good (though some of the stuff by Michael Rapaport feels forced). It's nothing if not very predictable but at least it's fun to watch. **1/2 out 4 stars.

The Long Kiss Goodnight: Once again director Renny Harlin ("Die Hard 2") is at the helm with this action flick where Geena Davis ("A League of Their Own") is a mother and living a happy life, but soon memories start flooding back and she realizes she was a former assassin. Jackson plays a detective who keeps helping Davis piece together her memory and they both keep trying to evade agents out to get them. At least this is a different type of role for Davis as she actually looks somewhat convincing in the action sequences, Jackson is his usual funny and cool self. It's a pretty basic action flick though, with some twists and turns (most if not all are expected), but it's decent enough and a breeze to sit through. **1/2 out of 4 stars.

Snakes On A Plane: So Jackson is an FBI agent escorting a key witness on a flight so he can give a testimony that would land a mobster in jail for a good long while. So this mobster does the logical thing, which is hire a hitman and have him sneak on the plane to kill the witness... wait no, he has a woman pose as a flight attendant who then kills the witness by slamming her drink cart into his head over and over. No, he has a guy sabotage the plane so it crashes an hour into taking off. Actually what he does is the most logical, he has a bunch of snakes put into the plane so they will come out, bite and kill this witness.

I mean really, that's what the movie is, but then again would a movie called "Snakes On A Plane" be something anyone would think those involved in put a lot into? I mean the title alone is the selling point, Jackson even said once in an interview he insisted the movie's title not be changed from "Snakes On A Plane" or he would pull out of the project. As for the film, it's beyond cheesy in every sense, the snakes look silly, the "plot" is thin and basic, Jackson utters the best line in the movie, which will have you laughing quite loudly. "Snakes On A Plane" won't win any awards and it shouldn't but as far as fun flicks go, it's fun more often than it isn't. ** out of 4 stars.

So again this triple feature is well worth the money, Samuel L. Jackson is one of my favorite actors and these films while not great are at least fun and Jackson is a blast to watch in them all.

despite some marginal reviews, I always liked Deep Blue Sea and had the DVD. Also had the DVD of Long Kiss Goodnight.

Upgraded to BluRay and picked up Snakes on a Plane at the same time. Haven't viewed Long Kiss Goodnight yet but I thought

the PQ on the other two was fairly good. Only drawback for me, saw it was on sale at Fry's for 12.99 vs the 19.99 I paid.

Oh well, it's all in the timing.

Buy Deep Blue Sea / The Long Kiss Goodnight / Snakes on a Plane (Triple Feature) (2012) Now

This triple feature includes three magnificently cheesy movies. They make for a fun Saturday on the couch, and if that's what you expect going in, there's no reason for anyone to be disappointed. The first and last are two decent B-movie-esque features. Deep Blue Sea and Snakes on a Plane require no explanations. One is 'sharks in an underwater research facility', and the other is...well, duh.

The Long Kiss Goodnight is the center film, and that position is perfect to me because it's the glue that holds the entire package together. It's the best film of the three by a decent margin, mostly due to Shane Black's signature wit, but the other two are equally fun and over-the-top. Well, maybe it doesn't get more over-the-top than Snakes on a Plane. Nevertheless, if you're looking to veg out and kill a boring day, pop in one of these, or make it a Sam Jackson marathon.

The picture and audio are nothing to write home about, but WB delivers more than serviceable transfers for all three. One of the best things about the package is that it can be had for decent prices from pretty much any retailer, so I would definitely recommend picking it up.

Read Best Reviews of Deep Blue Sea / The Long Kiss Goodnight / Snakes on a Plane (Triple Feature) (2012) Here

Are these movies "bad?" Not really, but they are definatley movies that grew on me like a fungus.But in a good way. There's absolutely nothing wrong with this triple shot of Sam Jackson (even if he doesn't make it to the end credits of one of them.). Plenty of check-your-brain-at-the-door action, cheesy one-liners, and a little eye candy make this triple pack my go to on days when I want to watch something, but I don't know exactly what I want to watch.

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Family Plot (1976)

This was Alfred Hitchcock's final film, and he was already in his late seventies when he made it. I think that at this point in his career, after fifty years of movie-making, he KNEW he no longer had to prove himself; his place was already set in history. Therefore, instead of making a film along the lines of Psycho, Vertigo, or Rear Window, he made a fun, lighter film along the lines of To Catch A Theif or The Lady Vanishes. The script of Family Plot was written by the same guy who wrote North By Northwest, which means there is a lot of clever, witty dialogue. The California locations are also a typical Hitchcock touch, and the fun car chase scene in the California hills is a classic. People expecting a SUSPENSE film will be disappointed, but I always felt that the "Master of Suspense" was a misleading title for Hitchcock, because his films are about much more than just suspense. Even so, Family Plot is not a masterpiece, but a treat for Hitchcock buffs. Hitchcock didn't go out with a bang, he went out with a wink, and this a great final "slice of cake" from a director who never took himself as seriously as we take him now.

FAMILY PLOT has earned a place in cinematic history simply because it turned out to be Alfred Hitchcock's last production. While the film was a financial success, like most Hitchcock pictures, it got mixed reviews because many found it too comic in tone and not "suspenseful" enough to have been directed by the Master. It is true that FAMILY PLOT is far from being one of Hitchcock's best films, and it is not the "great" movie one might have expected from this director after the spine-chilling and sordid FRENZY, FAMILY PLOT's immediate predecessor it is not an ambitious production. However, although the tone of the film is the lightest and funniest of any Hitchcock movie since THE LADY VANISHES in 1939, this does not mean that FAMILY PLOT is free of some disturbing undercurrents which linger in the mind and demand repeated viewings. Like all the characters in the movie, FAMILY PLOT is not what it seems to be. On the surface, we have a light, comic thriller involving a psychic (Blanche/Barbara Harris) and her cabbie/actor boyfriend, Lumley (Bruce Dern) who have been hired by a rich old woman to find her missing nephew, the heir to a huge fortune. The missing nephew turns out to be the thouroughly repellent Arthur Anderson (William Devane), a sociopath who, with the help of his girlfriend Fran (Karen Black), kidnaps important people and holds them for ransom. But Anderson is not just a thief he is also a killer. When he realizes Blanche and Lumley are trying to find out information about him, and that they know of his hidden identity (which I won't reveal here), he assumes that they are undercover agents looking to expose him as a kidnapper. Of course, Blanche and Lumley know nothing about this, and thus put themselves in great danger without realizing it. The plot of this film is very complex and I won't say any more about it for those of you who haven't seen it. The comic tone of the film is belied by some exteremely dark moral undercurrents. The dominant characters, Blanche and Anderson, are very similar to one another although in dramatic terms one is the heroine and the other the villain, and this put us in an uneasy relationship with all the people in the film. Anderson is a liar, a thief, and a con artist. Blanche (a fake psychic who bilks lonely old women out of their money) is also a liar, a thief (she essentially steals from the women she "consults" by faking her "powers") and a con artist motivated by greed. Both heroine and villain also dominate their lovers Blanche uses her sexual hold over the rather dumb (but loving) Lumley to get him to adopt all sorts of identities to further their plans, and Anderson does the exact same thing to Fran, forcing her to assume a false appearance in the course of furthering his kidnappings. Although one couple is labelled as "good" and the other as "bad", morally, they are not so far apart from one another. Indeed, everyone in the film has manipulated and lied to others to achieve none-too-pleasant ends. Even old Julia Rainbird, whose guilt over ostracizing her dead sister and the girl's illegitimate child sets the story in motion, has used and deceived others for her own selfish goals. The vision of humanity in this film is essentially dark people are monsters of greed and deceit, willing to use anyone and everyone, and even risking the lives of those they love in the process. This makes the film's undeniable humor even more disturbing what are we really laughing at when we laugh at these sad and confused people? The performances by the four principals are top-notch, especially by Harris as the ditzy "psychic" who isn't the dumb blonde she appears to be, and by Devane as the evil killer who presents himself as a respectable businessman. Although there are no spectacular Hitchcockian "set-pieces", a scene where Blanche and Lumley are trapped in a speeding car is scary and funny at the same time, and the movie is filled with little Hitchcock touches that are simultaneously amusing and fetishistic (as when Karen Black idly throws the blonde wig she uses to disguise herself into a bin in the refrigerator I don't know why, but this struck me as uproariously funny in context). This is a greatly underrated film which may not be the "masterpiece" people were hoping for from Hitch, but I think that reviewers have done this movie a disservice by comparing it to earlier films and not judging it on its own, considerable, merits. Hitchcock always gave us what we didn't expect, and FAMILY PLOT is no exception.

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Alfred Hitchock's Family Plot is not only his last movie, but highly enjoyable and the final chapter to a career full of brilliant filmmaking.

Barbara Harris shines as Blanche Tyler, a phony psychic who hits it big when one of her wealthy clients offers her $10,000 to track down her dead sister's adopted child who is the last remaining heir to the millions she will pass along. With the help of her boyfriend George (Bruce Dern), the two set out to find the nephew, going by the name Arthur Adamson (played brilliantly by William Devane), who has blossomed into a prominant jeweler, diamond thief, and murderer. Eventually Blanche and George track down Arthur and his girlfriend Fran (Karen Black), but with a chilling conclusion that is pure Hitchcock magic.

The film delights with its strong lead performances and witty dialogue. Although obviously not Hitchcock's best work, the film is solid, and keeps the viewer enthralled throughout.

The DVD contains a digitally remastered version of the film, with improved audio and video from its original state. The bonus features on the disc include an imformative 48-minute documentary entitled "Plotting Family Plot," which chronicles the making of the film from pre-production to casting and filming. It also includes behind-the-scenes footage and stills as well as interviews with cast members Bruce Dern, Karen Black, William Devane, composer John Williams, and Hitch's daughter Pat Hitchcock O'Connell. In addition, there are two original theatrical trailers for the film, some storyboards for the car chase scene, and production notes, photographs, and posters.

Read Best Reviews of Family Plot (1976) Here

As a child growing up I was consumed with a passion for film, which has continued to this day and one of my all time favorite directors of film is Alfred Hitchcock.

The film Family Plot came was released in 1976 and for a young teenager growing up in Southern California, this was my first and only opportunity to see a Hitchcock film in it's initial release.

The plot in this film is sort of silly in spots, it concerns a phony psychic who while working as a medium is hired to find a missing heir to her family's fortune. The only problem is that the missing heir is now a jewel thief who faked his own death years ago and wants no part of being located once again.

Bruce Dern plays a cabbie who is also a boyfriend to the psychic, played by Barbara Harris, the jewel thief is played by William Devane, and Karen Black plays his accomplice/love interest.

Mr Hitchcock on this film employed many of the people who had made his subsequent films so successful including screenwriter Ernest Lehman, who penned North By Northwest amongst others for Hitch, Edith Head multi Academy Award winning costume designer, as well as Henry Bumstead who handled the fabulous set designs.

This DVD release is quite impressive for one of the least impressive films of Alfred Hitchcock, but the features make this a worthy addition to your collection nonetheless.

The disc is released in anamorphically enhanced widescreen which is presented in it's original aspect ratio of 1:85.1 and looks vastly superior to the old LaserDisc and VHS copies of this film that I have viewed over the years.

The soundtrack is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0 mono and the composer is John Williams in a subdued but effective score.

There is a very nice documentary on this DVD as well entitled, "Plotting Family Plot which runs a little under 50 minutes and covers just about the whole production of the film and has interviews with assisstant director Howard Kazanjian, set designer Henry Bumstead, and actors Bruce Dern, Karen Black, William Devane.

There all also the standard addition of trailers two to be exact, as well as production photos and some behind the scenes photos as well.

Overall Alfred Hitchcocks 54th and final film is not something that film historians will be citing as a milestone in his career, however I think that anyone who is a film collector or Hitchock fan should add this to their DVD collection. I give this DVD release on a Bronze to Platinum rating scale.... a SILVER rating.

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Alfred Hitchcock was a grand tease and the more he teased the more his audiences loved it. The operative word was suspense and The Master had a genius for milking the action to maximum effect, keeping his faithful audience on the edge of its collective seat.

Hitchcock bowed out on an interesting note by concluding his brilliant career with "Family Plot" in 1976. He was mightily assisted in his efforts by one of Hollywood's most skilled screenplay authors, Ernest Lehman. It was the second time they had teamed up, the earlier effort being one of Hitchcock's most successful films, the 1958 classic "North by Northwest" starring Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint and James Mason.

In "Family Plot" Hitchcock's grand tease was built around a variation of the theme that helped make "Vertigo" perhaps the director's finest effort. That impressive 1957 release was structured around a bogus effort on the part of mastermind criminal Gavin Elster, played by Tom Helmore, to convince retired policeman James Stewart that his putative wife, played by Kim Novak, was under the possessive influence of prominent nineteenth century San Franciscan Carlotta Valdes. Stewart is led on a bogus chase around San Francisco that includes a phony suicide attempt as Novak jumps into San Francisco Bay.

Hitchcock, a film genius who knew how to make the most of a good theme, used this basic concept from "Vertigo" in the basic plot of "Family Plot" with one essential difference this time the con artist was not seeking a foolproof way to kill his real wife by having a fall guy reduced to useful fodder in a criminal enterprise. On this occasion Barbara Harris played the role of a fake psychic who, upon receiving valuable information during a "reading" concerning a relative that a wealthy older woman, played by Cathleen Nesbitt, would like to leave with her large inheritance.

Bruce Dern, a cab driver who hopes to eventually catch a break in his acting career, has nothing but scorn for Harris's séance performances, but is enticed along on a journey to find the prospective heir when it is revealed that the wealthy older woman Nesbitt will provide them with $10,000 for a successful effort. The story then spins into a two-part focus in which William Devane, who has changed his name and gained his freedom by killing his adopted parents, has embraced a life as a jeweler moonlighting as a kidnapper, and who receives expensive jewels as payment from his victims. He also has a girlfriend, Karen Black, who is a reluctantly partner like Dern. She goes along with the kidnappings but hates to even consider the idea of killing anyone, an element that Devane as a pragmatic and ruthless opportunist is willing to resort to in fulfilling his objective to become a wealthy man.

The ingenious story spins into dual efforts where Devane knows that the persistent pair of Harris and Dern is pursuing him, but he is in the dark as to the reason. He believes that they are aware of his criminal activities.

Hitchcock teases viewers into wondering with increasing anticipation what will happen when the two parties ultimately meet. He places plenty of the familiar Hitchcock obstacles and dodges in the road during the interim.

"Family Plot" is the polished effort of one of Hollywood's most imaginative directors pooling forces with one of the industry's most skilled scriptwriters. Hitchcock and Lehman prepare a delicious stew for audiences to savor as the last feast of a master of film.

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Stargate - The Ark of Truth (2008)

This review is spoiler free!!

I have to preface this review with the statement that I am an avid Stargate fan, and as such, my review may be biased (but I think not!)

After enduring season 4 of Atlantis this year, it is nice to get back to the show I truly love, Sg-1. Opposed to Atlantis, SG-1 takes place on earth, spends time on the explorations, and takes into account ancient mythologies, opposed to Atlantis, which is more action oriented, with dumbed down dialog, and shooting anything that moves.

I have been awaiting this release since it was announced, it finally came to my home yesterday, I watched the movie, then the extras (comic con conference which was really cool! and a behind the scenes which was great as well (this is almost 1 hour of material), I then watched the movie again, this time with commentary (again, I love SG-1).

This dvd has a "prelude" which basically goes over everything you need to freshen up on to fully enjoy and prepare for this viewing. As someone who has seen each episode of stargate countless times, I found this prelude a great review, as it has been a while since I watched it all.

The movie then follows, and it is a great movie. The scenery in this movie is astounding, it looks much better than we are used to seeing on the TV show. The pacing is slower, more akin to when the show aired on Showtime, which works well, as the aspect of stargate that i enjoy most, is the interactions between the characters, the explorations of new worlds and civilizations, and how everyone reacts to the culture.

This brings the conclusion to a satisfying end. I think several of the cliffhangers are drawn out a bit much (putting a tad too much tension near the end), but all in all, I enjoyed the movie.

This reminds me of why I love this show, I know they are coming out with another movie soon (this one will have Richard Dean Anderson in it), and word on the streets is, it should arrive this July.

I truly hope people are not just downloading bootleg copies of this dvd, and I really hope everyone will buy this dvd, and the next one. I really want this show to continue on, if the studios do not get the results they are looking for, this could be the end.

I really hope the dvds do sell well, maybe they can continue to do movies throughout the year, and maybe even a mini series or another season. There are many aspects of the Stargate world that have gone unexplored, and unfinished.

I hope the producers read this review, and understand that what make stargate work is not the snappy dialog, the wonderful interactions, the brilliantly designed enemies, sound design, artwork, and constant tension, but the exploration of new worlds, the ability to learn something (ancient history, see ancient figures, the Egyptian gods) and the exploration of these foreign cultures. Something Stargate Atlantis completely misses, which is why I do not enjoy it as much.

I truly hope everyone will buy this dvd, enjoy it, and more get made.

I also must comment on the beautiful video quality and sound design, the show has never looked or sounded this good (they did use 35mm film) and it shows.

Please keep up the great work, and I hope everyone enjoys this fantastic dvd.

(note, if you are a fan of the movie, and haven't watched too much of the series (last 2 seasons--9 and 10) this dvd is likely not for you, do yourself a favor, and buy the complete series collection, and catch up, then enjoy this fantastic dvd, as you will not be able to understand much of what is going on)

Also, the creators of the show, are working on a third show, that deals with the ninth chevron, tentatively called "Stargate Universe" which is set in present time. I really hope this will be the return of intellectual Stargate, and I eagerly await its arrival on TV.

SPOILERS AHEAD....

Stargate has always had its homages to other genre shows and they are clearly on display here -the opening caption paraphrasing "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away", the peak-to-peak aeral shot just beging for Gondor outposts to light the signal fires, a Terminator-like rise from an explosion, ... (I'm sure folks can spot more).

The visual effects were lovely, and there were some really good bits of characterization. The converation between Teal'c and Tomin was wonderful, as was Tomin's final scene with Vala.

As for the rest...

While many a Stargate villain comes direct from Central Casting, Marrick (the IOA guy) is particularly ill-written in a series that brought us Senator Kinsey, Colonel Maybourne, and even the briefly-referenced Mr. Woolsey. In prior episodes where the IOA, NID, or Senator Kinsey were challenging the SGC often they had a legitimate PoV, even if they were wrong. Here, they are just wrong and profoundly stupid.

Similarly, Adria mostly gets to chew scenery in her scenes with Vala rather than have some character development before her inevitable defeat. (Itself a solution borrowed from Oma Desala's final battle with Anubis.)

Others have commented on problems with the Replicator subplot and Repli-terminator -one other aside -what did they make the walls and BLUs (blinkie-light-units, per the commentaries) out of?! Thousands of high-power rounds blasted around them, and not one bit of damage? Yet they bend when Mitchell is tossed into them? Yes, limits of CGIs, but might have been nice to show some collateral damage on a movie-scale budget.

The wounded Teal'c walking montage eventually blew my suspension of disbelief -particularly when it is apparently occuring at the same time as Carter and Mitchell's battle with the Replicators (who knew Teal'c could walk that fast!).

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I've watched every episode of Stargate. I even paid for Showtime just so I could see it, before it gated over to Sci-Fi. I very much hated the last episode for reasons I won't go into here. This should give my review a context.

Ark of Truth was good. Not great. I really like the actors and the characters they portray. The effects were up there and the interesting Ori story arc was closed nicely. HOWEVER, there was nothing new here. It was an extended episode. What was worse was the whole plot thread that seemed to be added by a fan of the Terminator. It was cheap and a waste. I can only guess their reasons for it but it was insulting to have to watch that to get to the real story.

The ending hints at more adventures to come and I'm glad for that. Maybe they can take the Ark over to the Pegasus galaxy...

Read Best Reviews of Stargate - The Ark of Truth (2008) Here

I had the privelege of watching a screener of "Ark of Truth" recently and I must say, quite simply, it's amazing. It exceeded my already high expectations. It excels in terms of character, story, and direction. Long live all things Stargate!

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I've been a Stargate Fan since the first movie, and loyally throughout all 10 seasons over both cable networks it was carried on. Stargate: Ark of Truth is a fun ride, a step up from the weekly show, but a disappointment in complete lack of story originality.

In this story, (AN EXACT CLONE OF THE REPLICATOR DEFEAT EPISODE IN SEASON 9) SG-1 discovers yet another ancient artifact that will destroy the nearly un-beatable near-omnipotent foe. Exactly as they defeated the replicators with Bal's help in season nine, with a convenient 'link' between all Stargates and this Ancient weapon, the Replicators were wiped out in a single stroke, all over the galaxy with a coded entry on an old stone control pad.

Guess what happens at the end of this movie? Well, without revealing everything, a convenient 'link' to all the ((blanks)) from an old stone/metal tablet Ark, wipes out all ORI believer's faith in one stroke once the critical coded pattern is stuck on the device. ORI defeated, as quickly and as unbelievably neatly as the replicators were way back when.

Even more lackluster, the ORI "were killed" and not just wounded by the device sent to kill them in the latter part of Season 10 where Daniel Jackson was a Prior deceiving old evil Audra. So, no better complexity of the Ancients versus the ORI, and how humanity can step in and fight is ever really explored. We'll just leave Jackson a new ancient buried wonder-device to take care of it in the end. With all of these perfect weapons laying around the universe in piles of desert dust, how in the world did the Wraith ever cause the ancients a sweat? The ancients could not have found all of this stuff when they needed it? Puhleeze!

Audra does little more than dance around in fiery steps, brag on about having all of the power, and wastes what could have been a nice scary scene with Claudia Black. Julian Sands has a cup of coffee as the head prior, and then does nothing. I was hoping for a bit more battle with the heavyweights!

The movie is fun, tosses in the predictable IOA manic official with poor judgment and an even poorer dialogue, but a terminator replicator he becomes, and of course Ben Browder will survive about 15 steel pounding hits without dying or being rendered inert. The logic behind the IOA guy's story for intentionally risking everyone's lives is silly, not even political paranoids could or would get away with his access and security passes.

We get some more astounding Canadian scenery, which is okay, the special effects are good, and the humor and dramatic elements are nicely brief and poignant for a change, so the movie moves well if the story lacks for any originality. Oh my, IRONY, with ORI and ORIGIN, you get NO ORIGINALITY. That point sticks with me badly I'm afraid.

The cast is sharp, but sadly, there is no pickup of Jackson's and Vala's destined romance, only Beau Bridges gets to deliver what is expected, and Tealc' is in good form.

I was shocked that I really did enjoy the show, about 2 hours 10 minutes of no boredom, but later as I rummaged the tale through my head, remembering it was little fun, so much potential missed, and a story completely cloned in the conflicting elements exactly to the old formula of beating the replicators, a similar track was used in older SG-1 episodes too. Let's hope Stargate Atlantis does not suffer from such story redundancy and writer's laziness. This copy-cat story transfer was a true shame, hope this writer did NOT GET PAID! Adding in Replicators is a transparent attempt to boost cheap excitment levels and raise kids hands cheering, but leaves any mature Sci-Fi senses flat on the deck of the Odyssey swimming in that replicator shrapnel.

Most of us could have written a far better screenplay. This was not bad at all, it is fun SG-1 show, worth the time, but the end-all story to a huge build-up from the past 3 seasons, had no merit, honor or punch in the end. Its a feel-good send-off to all SG-1 fans, but only if you're VERY generous on forgetting that they've done this to you time and time again.

The actors and the show deserved a better ending to the ORI storyline!

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North Face (2008)

There are so many good reasons to see the German production "North Face" that it becomes an easy recommendation. With the right focus, it might have been an instant classic in the genre. And truthfully, parts of it still come close! Based on an incredible true story about the struggle to scale the Eiger's North Face, the inherent drama in the real world events would make an absolutely unforgettable film experience. Almost everything that occurs in the climbing aspect of the movie is exquisitely tense and exceedingly well shot. Had the screenplay kept the viewer on the mountain, in the heart of the action, it would have been an intensely personal experience as the protagonists dealt with a situation that quickly started to spiral out of control. The main character of this piece, though, is not these climbers. It is the girl that is left behind. In an effort to make the movie more relatable, the focus is spent on developing a romantic subplot when none is needed. So instead of a harrowing survival drama, the movie shifts into far too much romantic melodrama.

The time is 1936 and the world is preparing for the Olympic games under the German Reich. There is a big political push to create German heroes, to prove supremacy and claim bragging rights in climbing the Eiger. The main competition boils down to Germans Toni (Benno Furmann) and Andi (Florian Lukas) and a pair of Austrians. As our daring heroes attempt the impossible, the film is absolutely mesmerizing. The camera work on the climb is dazzling and it is all choreographed with precision. When tragedy strikes, the journey is no longer about making it to the summit. No, instead, it is about making it off the mountain alive. The surrounding village is filled with reporters and rival climbers, but is there any safe way to provide assistance? Virtually alone in her devotion to a rescue mission, Luise (Johanna Wolkolek) doesn't want to let her man down! It's a love story for the ages as the entire movie shifts to Luise's shoulders as the rest of the world has already given up.

As I said, this story presented in "North Face" is a tremendous one. As much as I liked Wolkolek's performance (and she is quite convincing), I don't think that the movie should have been about her. As a spare and solid man versus nature adventure, "North Face" serves plenty of realistic action. The cast is solid, the effects are first rate, and the technical elements are terrific. Despite my reservations, I heartily recommend the movie. For my taste, however, the fictionalized efforts to make this more romantically inclined detract from the simple truth of the events. It's still hard not to be swept up with emotion, it just didn't have to be manufactured! A very good movie that had the potential to be great. KGHarris, 5/13.

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National Lampoon's Animal House (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) (1978)

Buyer Take Note! I've been a fan of this movie since its theatrical release in 1978 and give the movie five stars. However, National Lampoon's Animal House 30th Anniversary Edition (30AE) is simply a re-release, and the third dip on DVD, has nothing significantly new to offer from the previous release and my rating is for the 30AE release. The two documentary extras have been carried over from the 2003 Double Secret Probation Edition (DSPE). It does return the trailer from the 1998 Collector's Edition (CE). New to this release is a lame Scene It? game. Missing are two extras from the DSPE, the Shout music video and a text commentary of anecdotes. One improvement from the DSPE is that on the 30AE you are not forced to watch movie trailers before you get to the main menu. Universal appears to be repackaging this film every five years. The 30AE should have delivered all the previous extras and an audio commentary by the director, writers and cast. The trailer is amusing, but is it worth buying the 30AE if you already own the DSPE? The deciding factors appear to be whether you want the text commentary and everything on one disc or the trailer and the same contents spread over two discs. I would say skip the 30AE if you already own the DSPE. Maybe in five years we will get an ultimate edition of this movie on whatever video format is in use then. Here's a comparison of all three versions of Animal House on DVD:

1998 Collector's Edition:

The Yearbook: An Animal House Reunion

Theatrical Trailer

Cast & Filmmaker's Bios

Web Links

2003 Double Secret Probation Edition:

Digitally Remastered

Anamorphic Widescreen

Music Video "Shout" Remade By Hit Group MxPx!

Where Are They Now? A Delta Alumni Update

Did You Know That? Universal Animated Anecdotes About The Production Of The Film

The Yearbook: An Animal House Reunion

2008 30th Anniversary Edition:

Disc 1:

Digitally Remastered

Anamorphic Widescreen

Scene it? The DVD Game

Theatrical Trailer

Where Are They Now? A Delta Alumni Update

Disc 2:

The Yearbook: An Animal House Reunion

Universal has decided to shove advertisements down our throats. Viewers CANNOT skip past the advertisements. You cannot skip to the DVD menu/title, nor can you jump to any chapters until the long previews have been completed. This is insane. Boycott this DVD.

Buy National Lampoon's Animal House (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) (1978) Now

First off, I love Animal House. There is no reason for me to even explain the movie. Animal House and the Blues Brothers are the best Landis/Belushi movies of all time. There are some special features such as a "Where are they now" featurette featuring many of the original cast (except Belushi of course). But, even those features and this excellent movie cannot save this DVD from a one-star rating.

As others have stated, not being able to skip the adds at the beginning of the DVD is a poor marketing decision. They did the same with American Wedding, but at least, I can hit stop on my DVD player to stop the DVD, whereas with Animal House, I have to turn off my DVD player. Very poor.

I have already written to Universal Studios about my displeasure with their decision for both Animal House and American Wedding and have informed them that unless they change their tactics, I refuse to purchase another Universal DVD release and that hundreds of other purchasers feel the same, based on reviews at Amazon.com.

Stay away from this if you absolutely feel that not being able to skip the adds is wrong. Otherwise, be prepared to sit through 5+ minutes of commercials for other Universal movies. Your best bet is to go make some popcorn and come back. At that point, it should be done and then you can enjoy this excellent, funny parody of life in a frat house in the late 60s.

Toga! Toga! Toga!

Read Best Reviews of National Lampoon's Animal House (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) (1978) Here

I must have seen this movie 20 times as a kid.

Could not wait to watch the DVD:

HEY! What's with all the commercials?

WHERE did I leave the remote?

WHY isn't remote control working? SMACK, SMACK, SLAM, SMACK!

WAIT a minute, the remote is working. The DVD must be locked!

WOW! What jerk thought up this new torture?

It's one thing if you decide to watch the previews.

This is just cruel...

I wish I had read the other reviews before buying this DVD.

My excitement was dead by the time the movie started.

TWO THUMBS WAY DOWN ON THIS DVD...

Want National Lampoon's Animal House (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) (1978) Discount?

First of all I did not buy the Double Secret Probation Edition DVD of this film because #1 it had nothing more on it than my 1998 Collectors Edition had and #2 my 1998 version has the Original movie Soundtrack including the dont know much about history song when Bluto is having his Lunch, so i will keep my edition, if you are a purest and want the very best version (on dvd) then try to find the out of Production 1998 dvd, you will have to pay a higher price but it is worth it to get the original movie as it was meant to be, if you don't care about the originality of the music then buy the new version, it is cheap and easy to find.

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