Winnie the Pooh - Sing a Song With Pooh Bear (1998) Reviews

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This Pooh Video Sing Along is perfect for entertaining kids. My 2 year old daughter loves this and never gets tired singing to "The Kangaroo Hop", "Winnie the Pooh", etc. The tunes are catchy and danceable. In fact, my daughter sings AND dances to the music!

My personal favorite is "The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers", fast and lively! I've almost memorized this song.

Recommended for kids 2 to 92!

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I purchased this video for my 20 month old son. He is in love with it. He would like to spend his every waking hour watching "pooh". We have purchased some of the other Winnie the Pooh series videos, but he won't even sit through 3 minutes of them and cries until we put the Sing A Song with Pooh video in. I'v logged on here now to purchase a new copy, my sons love for the video has lasted longer than the tape could. Great Job Disney!

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Our 16-month child requests this video several times every day. She requests this video whenever she sees a blank television screen or computer monitor. She names the characters and dances the kicks with the chorus line at the big finale. The adult in me wanted better animation and more traditional Pooh songs but the parent in me is just thrilled to see such joy in my daughter's face every time.

Discount Who Framed Roger Rabbit: 25th Anniversary Edition (Two-Disc

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Filmmakers have been combining animation and live action since the days of silent film--but 1988's WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT not only bested everything done previously, it set a standard that is unlikely to be surpassed. Although it has been available on VHS and in a mediocre DVD release for quite a few years, the film finally gets the star treatment in this "Vista Series" double DVD release, which includes the film in both pan-and-scan and letterbox formats and an assortment of extras, many of which are quite interesting.

The concept and story are well known: cartoon characters are not drawings, but are living entities who work in the film industry, and when Maroon Cartoon star Roger Rabbit is accused of murdering Marvin Acme (Stubby Kaye), he turns to private detective Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins) for help. Trouble is, Eddie hates "Toons." After all, one of them offed his brother, and Eddie hasn't been sober since. The concept is a clever one, and the story could have gone in any number of directions--but ROGER RABBIT hops down a completely unexpected trail. Set in 1947 Los Angeles, the film uses classic "noir" elements (and references everything from THE MALTESE FALCON to CHINATOWN); it also makes considerable sly social commentary on racism, with the "Toons" performing in a Cotton Club-like nightclub, literally working for peanuts at the studios, and more or less confined to living in "Toontown," which might easily be read as social ghettoization. And all of these sidelights are interesting and entertaining. But the most attractive thing about ROGER RABBIT is that it is just plain fun to watch.

Part of that fun comes from the marvelous performances of Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd (as the evil Judge Doom), and Joanna Cassidy (Valiant's sidekick Delores), who lead the live action cast. Another chunk of the fun is the way in which the film cameos a host of famous cartoon characters, ranging from Betty Boop to Bugs Bunny and the Warner Bro.s gang to Dumbo--and animation buffs will love the fact that Betty Boop and Bugs Bunny, to name but two, are voiced by the artists (Mae Questel and Mel Blanc) who created the character voices in the first place. But the big deal here is the extremely believable way in which the "Toons" fit into the real world. They rendered with astonishing detail and remarkable three dimensionality. It's just an amazing thing to watch.

The overall DVD package is a bit odd, for it offers less in the way of bonuses than one might expect. The first disk includes a pan-and-scan version of the film, three Roger Rabbit/Baby Herman shorts, a kid-friendly documentary, and a CD-ROM game; the second disk offers the letterbox film with extras that will appeal to more mature viewers, most particularly on-set shots and a nifty documentary called "Behind the Ears." The upshot is really a one-disk release that has been expanded to two by the trick of cramming both pan-and-scan and letterbox versions into a single package. That's annoying--but even so, this is easily the best release of this film to date. It at gives the rabbit some justice at last, and I give it five stars on that basis.

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One of the great joys of movie-going is to see a concept, that on-the-face-of-it is so goofy and off-beat that it should never work, but, in the end, does work and works in spades! So it was for me with Who Framed Roger Rabbit. This Vista Series DVD brings the film to us with a crisp & clean picture, THX sound, and a beautifully packaged set of extras that include a very clever interactive menu, plus loads of goodies presented smartly, with humor and surprises.

Seeing the film again reminded me how impressed I was with the audacity and accomplishment of Bob Zemeckis and his collaborators on bringing off with care and intelligence, a sharp & funny film that plays to both children & adults. Who would have thunk it?

Taking a Chinatown-like story of early Los Angeles with some basis in fact (destroying the Red Line to make way for freeways) complete with murder & intrigue & marrying it to the screwy conceit that cartoon figures, aka Toons, actually lived and worked as live actors and inhabited a section of LA called Toontown is such a manifestly dopey idea that it would take enormous inspiration, intelligence and attention to detail to make it even nominally work. All of those qualities were present, as the extras demonstrate, in abundance here, and the result was movie magic.

Made prior to CGI coming into its own, the characters were brought to the screen brilliantly. As one of the animators pointed out, even early CGI was rejected because the film-makers wanted the characters to maintain their cartoon look, only brought into 3 dimensions. The hows and whys of what they did to achieve this magic are worth a look.

Anchored by the great casting of Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd and Joanna Cassidy and Charles Fleischer, brilliant technical work, and a clever story strung through with great good humor, dialogue and jokes for kids and adults, this film has some cherished, favorite lines, from Baby Herman's "That's my problem, I've got a 50 year-old lust, and a 3 year-old dinky.", to Jessica Rabbit's: "I'm not bad, I'm just drawn that way.", to Eddie on the wayward bullets "Eh, Dum Dums!" This is great stuff.

"Toons, gets em every time!" Some kind of classic here, and well worth your while.

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"Who Framed Roger Rabbit" was a huge hit when it was released in 1988 and made Bob Hoskins a star. It successfully combined live action with animation and featured a strong and funny cast of characters and an entertaining storyline.

To best describe this film to the uninitiated would probably require a comparison with "L.A. Confidential" (with PG-friendly/cartoon violence) and a Looney Tunes movie. It is fun, boisterous and entertaining with memorable performances by Bob Hoskins (as Eddie Valiant), Christopher Lloyd (as Judge Doom), Roger Rabbit (as himself) and that sultry scene-stealer Jessica Rabbit (as herself and voiced by Kathleen Turner). A veritable who's who in animation, this film features cameos by Mickey & Minnie Mouse, Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, Daffy Duck, Goofy and Betty Boop, to name a few.

The VISTA SERIES is especially impressive given the many, many special features that are included. The packaging alone with a case that looks like a detective's portfolio/folder is a treat. Add to that the following:

1) Audio commentary by the filmmakers led by director Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump)

2) Facts and trivia

3) "The Pig Head Sequence" deleted scene

4) "Before and After" split-screen comparisons

5) 2 behind-the-scenes documentaries, including an new, exclusive in-depth featurette

6) A DVD game

7) 3 animated shorts

and more!!

The film itself is well worth the price of the DVD. Add to that the wealth of special features and this promises to be one of the best DVDs of the year. Animation, action/adventure and comedy fans will find this a special treat and I highly recommend this family-friendly (PG) film to everyone!

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I have not seen this film on DVD, as nearly every review I have read has advised otherwise, but I can say that to release a featureless disc of one of the most technically significant films of all time is nothing short of travesty. I'm ignoring the fact that Disney actually removed footage from this film, and we're not talking about the infamous laserdisc edition. Is it possible for Criterion to get their hands on this? They did do the super edition of "Armageddon", now let's see them work on a film that actually deserves it. I don't care if it costs $60, issue a two-disc set with commentaries (by Zemeckis and Richard Williams, the great animation director who was completely screwed over on his labor of love, "The Thief and the Cobbler), an extensive documentary, every piece of promotional material, an anamorphic transfer, a guide to all the cartoon characters who appear, and, while we're at it, how about those three "Maroon Cartoons" (Tummy Trouble, Rollercoaster Rabbit, and Trail Mix-up) that were until recently available on video and laserdisc before the Mouse house decided to pull them off the market. All right, I've ranted long enough. The point is, put out an edition of this film that truly does justice to the film itself and people will spend the necessary currency to obtain it. May the dream of an ultimate "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" DVD one day become a reality!

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I have loved this film ever since it was first made, but this DVD really does not do it justice.

Despite being called a 'special edition', it contains not a single extra feature. The widescreen format is not anamorphic, which means that the MPEG aspect ratio is 4:3 and the picture resolution of the viewable area is lower than it should be. The quality of the film print used is poor and contains scratches and white speckling. The film has also had some bits edited out, so I suppose you could say it contains a negative number of special features: i.e. some normal features taken out. This is a shocking misuse of the format because the DVD standard contains the possibility for having optional scenes which can be shielded from young viewers, so why wasn't this used?

I doubt it will be long before the next version comes out, the 'collector's special edition' or whatever they will call it, so my advice would be to wait for that.

Yellowstone National Park (1993) Reviews

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There is no diologue on this dvd only natural sounds and music. So if your looking for narration this is not the dvd for you, but if you want to relax, watch, listen, remember or just see what it looks like this is the one to get. I must say this was all I expected of the video, however, my expectations were exceeded. To hear the elk call, the geysers blow, the mountain scenes, the rivers matched perfectly with soothing music. The production of this DVD is top notch and well thought out and gives a good overall view of Yellowstone as well as Grand Teton National Park. For those that have been to the Yellowstone National Park and or Grand Teton National Park get ready for a mental trip when you walked Americas Oldest National Park. Those that have not been you will want to go when this is over so pack your bags, thats how good this DVD on Yellowstone is in my opinion. All thats needed of this video are the different scents that make Yellowstone, Yellowstone...

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I was hoping for a documentary with some commentary, but it was just all music. YAWN!!!!! I do have to admit, however, that the scenery shots were excellent. I prefer documentaries with commentary so I know what I'm looking at. Yellowstone is such a dynamic place, close to my home, and I wanted a DVD that enhanced my experiences with it. This one just didn't do it.

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THIS DVD WAS EVEN MORE THAN ADVERTISED. IT IS A WONDERFUL TOUR OF YELLOWSTONE WITH ALL THE SIGHT AND SOUNDS. HOWEVER, NOT LIKE A TOUR GUIDE OR TOO COMMERCIALIZED. IT SHOWS ALL 4 SEASONS AND REALLY MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE THERE. BOUGHT FOR SOMEONE THAT IS DYING OF CANCER WHO HAS ALWAYS WANTED TO GO THERE. IT IS JUST NOT POSSIBLE NOW, BUT HE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED IT.

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Showed lt to a group of Seniors in a Senior Care Vented. They LOVED it !!! Will deflnltely show it again

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This has become a favorite of mine to watch while I walk on the treadmill. I love the wildlife and landscaping, watching Yellowstone go through the seasons. It has a nice classical soundtrack and tons of beautiful and fun to watch scenery. I recommend this to anyone who has gone to Yellowstone or wants to see some of its beauty.

Reviews of Swan Lake: Matthew Bourne

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Thought Mathew Bourne's rendition was brilliant. Loved the ballroom scene with the black swan. Was a little long and too psychotic at the end.

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No lover of ballet should miss this stunning production. It's a pity that it will not be released in 3D as it was recently in the cinemas.Matthew Bourne is one of the most brilliant ballet directors in the world today.The high price of the bluray may put people off buying it however. There have been numerous productions of SWAN LAKE but nothing compares with this one. It is even better than the Chinese SWAN LAKE ACROBATICS ballet which is also on dvd and worth watching if you can get get a copy from China.

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. I watch it over and over. Beautiful and a must see. The main dan cer is amazing. I hope the show comes to the U.S.A.

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Scenes 15-23 "A City Park" featuring the magnificent Richard Winsor and the stunningly masculine and superbly trained and technically spot on male ensemble is worth the price of the DVD by itself. Beautiful cinematography enabling the incredible choreography to be enjoyed to its fullest. The Pas de Quatre scenes are fabulous to behold. This is a must have for anyone who loves Matthew Bourne's masterpiece.

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I cannot wait to own my own copy, i have never felt so many overwhelming emotions during a movie as I felt watching this. And I work in a video store, I felt myself gasp,numerous times, and the beauty and respectfulness of the story and dance had me completely mesmerized.I was shattered that I could not see it again, until now. I cannot describe how I felt when I left the cinema. Maybe "Changed " is the only word. Beautiful ,Masculine , Touching, Intimate. thank you for listening. Elle

Buy Star Wars: The Prequel Trilogy (Episode I: The Phantom Menace

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Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Episodes I-VI) [Blu-ray]

I'm a first-generation Star Wars fan since 1977, having seen the original versions of the original three films in the theater one time each as a child, then falling in love with them all over again on VHS in 1987. And I've been a huge fan ever since. The Star Wars Saga is the ultimate epic space opera and film series.

This isn't actually a review of the movies most of you reading this will have seen one or more versions of dozens of times, although this review will discuss some of the changes made to the films.

I actually own the six-film Star Wars Saga blu-ray set linked above, and I reviewed that. The movie discs in this product are 3 of the same discs from the larger Saga set, so I thought I would edit that review down to only discuss the prequel trilogy discs themselves and post it here. This is meant to be an overview with personal observations and select commentary thrown in.

DISC PHYSICAL QUALITIES

The discs themselves are heavy-duty, yet smooth and well-coated with scratch resistance the best available in retail products I've seen. The discs themselves do not have any images they are light grey with blue trimmings. The discs have the previously used logos of STAR WARS with the episode subtitle underneath, both on top of the episode number in the form of a large Roman numeral.

THE FILM DISCS

This is as good a place as any to mention that there are two audio commentary tracks for each of the films of blu-ray. There are the same ones from the previous DVD versions of these films, and then new commentaries compiled from "archival interviews with cast and crew". I don't enjoy listening to commentaries while watching adventure films, but I will force myself to listen to the new tracks once (as I did for the original DVD commentaries).

As I have only had one frame of reference for viewing the blu-ray films, I thought I should first specify what that is, in case my experiences are in any way relative to my equipment and viewing conditions. This may mean more to you than it does to me. My blu-ray player is a Sony BDP-S350. My HD TV is a Sony Bravia KDL-40V4100, a flat-screen LCD with a diagonal of a little over a meter. My blu-ray player and TV are both almost 3 years old. My line of vision is exactly 90° to the plane of the TV screen, and my eyes and ears are at a height equal to about 1/3 up from the bottom edge of the screen. I'm sitting such that the distance of my head to the TV screen is a little more than the width of the Death Star's thermal exhaust port.

The Films on Blu-ray

All three films sound and look awesome in HD! Even Revenge of the Sith, which had the least room for improvement, is substantially better. All three films sound and look awesome in HD! I fully appreciate all the effort that had to go into improving the resolution of over 6 hours of high-quality sci-fi entertainment, frame-by-frame. Coruscant from space is breathtakingly gorgeous!

There is one significant exception in the HD upgrade. A very logical and fitting artistic choice was made in the rendering of the holograms of characters. Throughout the all six movies, it looks like the holograms were not upgraded to HD, now looking somewhat pixilated compared to the surrounding "reality" they are projected into. This of course is easily explained in-universe as they are just not high-resolution transmissions, and I feel this actually works to improve the illusion of the entire scene seeming real. The holograms are now an intentional vestige of the analogue age, left behind to honor the origin and evolution of the Star Wars films themselves which began as motion picture projections but have now become the ultra-realistic-looking digital media. A very nice touch. And the hologram effects also seems more unified between the two trilogies now.)

A significant improvement that the HD upgrade also provides is a solution to a common criticism I have ran into since 1999. Over the years I have heard many Star Wars fans express that the addition of GC characters and objects into the films seems unrealistic, in not only the updated versions of the classic trilogy but even the prequels. Ironically, these fans seem to have no trouble accepting the un-reality of rubber muppet characters, but CG is somehow unacceptable in their vision of the Star Wars universe. Well, now muppets, rubber masks, human actors and CG characters can all exist in visual harmony together, thanks to the wonders of HD. The increase in resolution seems to have unified the apparent realities of them all. Now the real-world elements of the scenes have been "raised" to the same level of visual reality of the CG elements, resulting in the CG elements seeming to much more naturally blend in with their surroundings. This adds in a whole new level of visual realism to the films, perhaps being the greatest achievement of these new blu-ray versions of the films.

Now I'll go into more detail about some of the blu-ray enhancements and changes specific to each film.

Episode I: The Phantom Menace

The effect for the Jedi Knights speeding away from the droidekas on the Trade Federation ship has been improved. The original effects error of the two-headed pod race announcer's hand passing through his vest was fixed.

The big change that even the die hard purists don't seem to mind so much is the complete and utter removal of that awful imitation Yoda muppet. The TPM muppet bore a vague resemblance to the original muppet from the sequels, but I thought that the TMP muppet could at most pass for Yoda's crazy spice-addicted brother. I know some fans that feel the CG Yoda model from AotC and RotS was not as good as the original muppet, but even they would agree that the prequel CG model looks a lot more like the original muppet than the TMP muppet did. And in blu-ray the CG Yoda in all 3 prequels looks more realistic now, so I'm very happy with this change.

Episodes II: Attack of the Clones & Episodes II: Revenge of the Sith

These mostly only had minute editorial tweaks like the exact transition between scenes, moving a couple reaction shots and dialogue lines to a slightly different part of a scene. The only really somewhat significant change is adding a line of dialogue in AotC where Anakin is having a nightmare about his mother while staying on Naboo. Shmi Skywalker's voice is now heard pleading for Anakin's help with the echo effect (signifying it is a thought or dream in Anakin's mind). It does accomplish the addition of a little more urgency to the drama of the film.

FINAL WORDS

You may not agree with all the opinions I expressed here, but if you are reading this then you must be a Star Wars fan of some kind on some level. If so, then do yourself a favor and watch all six films on blu-ray at least once, even if you have no intention of ever owning them. You'll see much more than I could possibly ever hope to describe in words. And if you wish to criticize the blu-ray versions after viewing them, at least you'll then have an educated opinion for doing so.

In my first viewing of Star Wars: The Complete Saga, the rich Star Wars multiverse has deepened in a way I couldn't have even imagined before seeing the films on blu-ray. While still not perfect, my favorite films have just gotten an incredible amount better. As impossible as it previously seemed, I'm somehow now even more of a Star Wars fan than I was before. But this blu-ray release has also reminded me that EVERY version of any Star Wars film is awesome!

If you have any questions, please feel free the ask. If you have also seen the blu-rays and want to comment on them with respect to my review, please also feel free. May the Force be with you.

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I am baffled by some of these reviewers who are climbing a soapbox about the industry and Lucas. For those of us who are patient, a box set with cost saving and a SPECIAL BONUS!! Slim cases so shelf space is minimized!

EXCELLENT!!

About a rush to market, snatching up media related to STAR WARS as soon as it hits the shelf. If you don't like the movies themselves or the packaging or the recording quality that is one thing. Whining about your own gullibility is quite another. Let me clue you in. If Lucas makes or includes special features, enhancements and the like ... he will not fail to promote that. Investigate the product before you buy. And to those of you who didn't even buy any products but are just looking for places to gripe, this is not the appropriate place.

This is the excellent product that I anticipated to the point of not buying any of the movies when they first released to video. It is as much as it promises to be. (I expect the same to be true of the other volume containing ep. 4-6.) If you like space saving box set bundles without a lot of extra bells and whistles, this is for you.

These sci-fi movie fantasy adventures, though a bit juvenile in their scripts and exhibitions, have become family classic adventure movies that inspire the imagination and adequately entertain a growing audience. A series of perennial favorites well on there way to becoming "timeless" classics.

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A good opportunity to get all three films at slightly less than buying them separately. There's nothing new here, so it's only good for those who don't own any of the three films already.

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I really just want to take a few paragraphs to let you know what this product is.

Basically, each of these movies got a 2-disc release when they were released on DVD. This box set has taken those 2-disc sets, and packaged them into a smaller case so in order to minimize shelf space. The "Original Trilogy" (Episodes 4-6) slimset is a debatable purchase, because it doesn't include the bonus disc that came with an earlier deluxe set. But this "Prequel Trilogy" is a better deal if you're planning to buy these movies.

As for the extras:

* I love "The Phantom Menace" content, especially the 90-minute making-of documentary that shows everything from cast readings to sandstorm carnage to special effects meetings to George Lucas quietly beginning his "Episode II" writing. And say what you will about the quality of the movie, but Fox and LucasFilm did an excellent job of advertising this movie. Even its promotional extras are worth watching.

* "Attack of the Clones" is another solid batch of extras. They mostly focus on the special effects, but there are some good interviews and behind-the-scenes stuff with the cast. Another all-around strong package.

* I'm slightly disappointed with the "Revenge of the Sith" extras. The main documentary is producer Rick McCallum going through the different departments of the cast & crew. He even talks about the caterers! Now, this is a fascinating way to explore the making of a movie, but the problem is most of the content (especially the special effects clips) focuses on the Mustafar sequences. I would've loved to see more on the opening space battle, not to mention Kyshhykk (sp?) or General Grievious. The bonus disc is good enough, but a huge stepdown from the other two prequels' material.

So, if you want to buy the "Prequel Trilogy", this is the way to go. Sure, you can probably find some cheaper copies of the original releases, but why bother?

Oh by the way, "YES! I LIKE THE PREQUEL TRILOGY. I PREFER EPISODES 4-6, BUT 1-3 WERE QUITE ENTERTAINING FOR ME.

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For all the flaws that the Prequels may have, they're still highly enjoyable films, with just as many memorable scenes and quotes as the Original Trilogy. I think it's great that they're keeping the movies out there for any new generation to purchase (not that DVDs are that hard to come by of course), and really it's nice to have a convenient box set. So it's a good deal, if, you don't have the movies already. Otherwise, it's just another stepping stone in the journey towards the much wanted "Ultimate" box set with all six films. We can only hope!

Review of The Great Gatsby (2012)

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No one can ever accuse Australian auteur Baz Luhrmann of playing it safe! Subtlety and restraint are not qualities that the director embraces. In fact, his motto appears to be "the bigger, the better." His previous pictures (both good and bad) are chaotic, frantic, excessive and over-the-top in every way imaginable. I don't necessarily mean that as an insult. I enjoyed both "Strictly Ballroom" (a lot) and the anachronistic "Romeo + Juliet." But it was "Moulin Rouge" that really stole my heart. I appreciate this musical mash-up so much because it simply shouldn't work. It's too much, everything about it. Yet for all its ADD attitude, it's a dazzlingly original piece of work with real heart and passion. It was my favorite film of 2001, while his follow-up "Australia" was my biggest disappointment of 2008. Expectations were high when Luhrmann announced a re-imagining of F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby." The prior film interpretation, with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow, was a lavish production that never fully connected with me on an emotional level. It was faithful enough, to be sure, it just lacked a bit of life.

Well LIFE (with a capital LIFE) is something that Luhrmann's version doesn't lack. For literary purists, this spectacle may not resemble Fitzgerald's classic in anything but basic plotting. In many ways, this is NOT Fitzgerald's "Gatsby." Instead, this is unquestionably Luhrmann's creation. And for that, you will likely love the movie or hate it. While I didn't think it was a perfect film, I ended up embracing it and loving it. If nothing else, it is not like any other project you'll see in movie theaters in 2013. In this day of homogenized sequels and cookie cutter copies, this experience explodes from the screen as a true original. The use of fantastic 3-D filming, the opulence in set and costume design, the visual trickery of the special effects, the massive cast (the party scenes alone seem populated by thousands) and the effectively anachronistic soundtrack all create a distinctly unique impression. The sheer magnitude of the production is almost overwhelming! To keep up with it all, you might just feel exhausted after watching "The Great Gatsby."

The story, as I mentioned, stays largely intact from the source material. Recounted from the modest perspective of Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire), an unlikely tale of friendship, mystery and tragic love unfolds at a frantic pace. While it is dizzying to begin with, just settle in and things calm down as the movie progresses. This is a common element to Luhrmann endeavors, it takes a while for the manic energy to subside. Taking a small cabin next to the palatial Gatsby estate, Carraway has a strong curiosity about the enigmatic Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio). When he gets a personal invitation to a gala, it seems that the great man reciprocates this interest with his new neighbor. Carraway is seduced into a new world of luxury and excess. His wealthy cousin Daisy (Carey Mulligan) lives across the bay with her volatile husband (Joel Edgerton) and Gatsby seems especially fascinated by her as well. Is he just using Nick to connect with Daisy? What exactly does he want?

As much as anything, this iteration of "The Great Gatsby" plays up the mystery elements of the story. The secrets of the past are slow to surface, but they are powerful and vivid when they do. When played for drama and even tragedy, the movie does strike an strong emotional chord. The tone, however, throughout is somewhat scatttershot. An early meeting between Gatsby and Daisy, for example, is played as awkward comedy and feels decidedly less than real. But I still loved the movie. DiCaprio is especially strong as Gatsby. Maguire is also good, if a little old to be so wide-eyed and innocent. But for me, the star of the production is the production itself. Absolutely spellbinding from a visual perspective, I won't soon forget this "Gatsby!" I'd recommend the 3-D version as this was intended to be seen in that format (it wasn't converted after the fact to cash in like most other movies). Maybe not for everyone, Luhrmann took a classic American novel and developed one of 2013's most unique films. KGHarris, 6/13.

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Though this is supposed to be a product rating and not a movie review, I wanted to comment on Matthew's review titled "Old Sport." as a separate review because commenting on his post would merit less views, and I don't like misconceptions.

So yeah, rap probably wasn't the music Fitzgerald had in mind for Jay Gatsby's parties, but that doesn't mean that kids in school studying the novel this movie is based on won't find this movie helpful. In fact, it might be more helpful than any movie adaptation made before it, for this reason: it is largely contemporary. I think it sticks to the story quite well. It is only told differently that is, it doesn't attempt to stiffly adhere to some notion of antiquity. It tells the story in a way people today, and probably especially those the adolescent age of students studying the book in school, will understand. Maybe jazz in the 20's evoked a feeling different from what it evokes now. And so the soundtrack used in the film expresses what the novel means (while still playing along with the Jazz Age theme, entertainingly) lavish, badass partying, scandalous forbidden love, intense hope, for example and isn't that what's important?

I think watching this movie will enhance the understanding of anyone who reads the novel.

Otherwise, whether you are studying the novel, reading it for pleasure, or not reading it at all, this is a great movie worth watching. Superb acting, gorgeous costumes for each body that appears, music that makes an impact, and brilliant retelling of a timeless story.

Gorgeous.

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...I would not have watched this movie. Personally the original movie, with Mia Farrow and Robert Redford, was qualitatively better. If one was to ask an older generation, I am sure that the original would prove to be quantitatively better as well. I did not care for most of the music in the film, though a couple of the renditions were okay. Also, as a fan of the book, there was a particular dialogue that made the book and the original movie that was critically altered in this film, "rich girls don't marry poor boys" (Daisy to Gatsby in the book and in the 1974 film). In the new film this line was muttered by an insignificant character to Carroway in reference to his crush on Ms. Jordan Baker. Also, the relationship between Gatsby and Daisy is a bit skewed. In all, I gave the film three stars because of the things mentioned above and because the direction was not stellar, nor was the cinematography (which was jerky and disorienting at times). As a long time fan of Leo DiCaprio, I hate to give a film he stars in a less than stellar review. I would urge everyone who has not read the book or seen the 1974 film to do so and judge for yourself. As a warning to students looking for an easy way out...read the book!

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Boring dialog, weird music. More like a cartoon than a movie..

That was such a magical period in history but it did not come thru in the movie

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As a huge fan of this book, I can say that this movie does not disappoint. It is entertaining and offers a new perspective on this beloved tale of decadence and woe.

Best Dishonored (1931) Deals

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To be honest, the only reason I got this film was for its star, Marlene Dietrich. I knew it was only her second american film, and her third for Josef Von Sternberg. To see her early in her career, before Hollywood really worked with her, is interesting.

As for story, there really isn't much to it, as it is basically a retelling of the Mata Hari story, Dietrich-style.

She begins as a 'lady of the evening', discovered by a member of the Austrian Secret Police during World War one. Plucked from the streets and turned into a secret agent, she completes a mission or two, then goes after a top spy for the Russians, whom Austria is fighting. He eludes her, but falls under her spell.

Later, they meet again, only he has the upper hand this time. She slips him some sleeping powder and vanishes with some vital enemy info, after a night of passion.

Due to the success of the information she stole, the Austrians win a big victory, and the Russian spy is captured. Seeing him in line, she volunteers to interrogate him herself. Taking him to the back, she acts careless, and lets him escape, committing the arch sin of treason for the man she has come to love.

The film's last section has her in detention, awaiting the firing squad, which she meets with calm dignified grace.

If it all sounds hokey, well, it is. But Dietrich's calm, measured diction and regal posing give a sense of fate and meaning to all her scenes, and the final firing-squad sequence was filmed in an airplane hangar, to catch the unique sound of echoing rifle shots, which earned the film an academy award for sound. Dietrtich's final close-up, just before the fateful shots, is glorious, and saves the film's ending from silliness.

Really, this film isn't the best of Dietrich's seven films for Von Sternberg, not even second best, but it still is something to behold, and worth having in your collection.

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The third movie of the classic Dietrich-Sternberg pairing has everything for the fan. Rousing adventure,mystery and the legendary combination of sex and decadent elegance of miss Dietrich herself. Don't take the plot too seriously,it is rather silly but the cinematography is excellent

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Dietrich is a fascinating and riveting actress to watch. The way she moves, her voice, her sultry cat-like quality...and in this film her constant companion is a black cat, said to be "for luck".

The character is loosely based on Mata Hari, and she's asked to be a spy because they need "a woman who can deal with men", and she gets them all under her spell.

She also plays the piano. The music, and the way it's interpreted, is an essential part of the plot.

One of my favorite songs, "Anniversary Waltz", is the main theme, but "Moonlight Sonata" is also played, as well as a more modern piece that's a "code".

They wanted Gary Cooper to play the part of the Russian colonel (and how wonderful he would have been), but after "Morocco", he had no desire to work with von Sternberg again, so Victor McLaglen got to be her adversary and love interest.

Though there are moments of dumb plot and script, it's highly entertaining, beautifully photographed, and of course, has the mesmerizing Marlene.

The last scene is terrific. The look, the subtle smile...one of those unforgettable "great moments of film".

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Once you get past the sorely-miscast Victor McLaglen, DISHONORED really comes to life as one of Marlene Dietrich's better early vehicles. This was her third major starring role under the direction of her mentor, Josef Von Sternberg (following "The Blue Angel" and "Morocco"). The story is slight, but Von Sternberg fills it with his usual bewitching mix of moody shadows, romantic lighting and slow camera dissolves.

Dietrich plays Marie Kolverer, a comely widow/streetwalker who is assigned to become a spy for Austria's Secret Service. Agent X-27 (as she comes to be called) seduces important figures in the Russian forces, and relays vital military secrets via morse-code tunes played on a piano. All goes well until she falls heavily for Colonel Kranau (Victor McLaglen), a Russian flyer who ruffles her feathers and later catches onto her game...

It's no masterpiece, but DISHONORED will be a real treat for Marlene Dietrich fans; and I think she delivers an adorable performance. Gary Cooper (Dietrich's "Morocco" leading man) was to have again co-starred with her in this movie, but refused to ever work with director Josef Von Sternberg again. Victor McLaglen, with his buffoonery and inane meerkat grin, is a less than worthy substitute.

Arguably the least appreciated of all the Dietrich/Von Sternberg collaborations, DISHONORED is well worth another look.

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DISHONORED is not a first-rate picture, but it is a fairly intelligent one, and, in its day, a semi-important one. The best thing that can be said for this story is that it presents a uniquely subtle sort of love, and presents it quietly. Concerining the story of a spy who, after many difficulties, finally manages to trick one of the enemy Secret Service, only to forfeit her own life by setting him free, writer/director von Sternberg wrote neither very well nor wisely. Most interesting is the camera work and sound montage of the film. The alliance of skillful director and one of the finest cameramen of the era, Lee Garmes, resulted in a movie always worth looking at. DISHONORED is an interesting antique flick which was written and directed by the legendary Josef von Sternberg. This film marked von Sternberg as an outstanding craftsman in the use of sound and in the use of lights and shadows. Although sound and speech had been employed by films for three or four years, there were few directors who made them more than adjunct to the films of which they really should have been an integral part. The most obvious use of sound in the film is that of making a piano almost one the protagonists. It is used to project the emotion of the person playing, usually the star, and in one sequence, it makes a transfer by which you understand that the code message, written in music, spells the death of the enemy, a sequence ending in the sound of war.

Review of David Copperfield (1935)

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Dickens, with his vast humanity and that amazing vitality of his which created a whole world of characters, contains inexhaustable riches for the screen, though his long rambling plots are the despair of scenerio writers. His people--types, caricatures, or whatever you choose to call them--are distict and individual in appearance, actions and speech--and are rare parts for good actors. The trick in getting Dickens effectively on the screen was an enormously difficult one of selecting and condensing--keeping enough to satisfy the Dickens lover who complains bitterly when any favourite character or episode is left out. Some may find Dickens as being overlong, overly sentimental and often more than a bit tedious; at any rate, however, this is excellent Dickens! Good intentions and imposing ambitions are plentiful enough in the making of movies, but woefully rare are the instances where technical excellence, good taste and judgement and an intelligent sense of the rightness of things combined to bring thowe intentions and ambitions to a successful issue. DAVID COPPERFIELD is one of those rare and happy successes. It met every reasonable expectation competently and generously, and the film was highly praised by the critics and public alike back in 1935. This filmed version of the classic novel by Dickens, is remarkably faithful to the source rich in atmosphere and fine characterisations. David himself is played ideally by both Freddie Bartholomew and Frank Lawton; they miraculously seem to be the same person at different ages! If Frank Lawton seems less interesting, its only because his adventures are so mild compared with those of Bartholomew. W.C. Fields' whole career seemed to have been a preparation for his role as Micawber; he is magnificent in his off-beat role. Edna May Oliver and Jessie Ralph give flawless pictures of Betsey Trotwood and Peggotty. The black villainy of the Murstones is done in just the right spirit by Basil Rathbone and Violet Kembell Cooper while Roland Young makes you actually feel the dampness of Uriah Heap's hands! The film is a splendid picture-book of the novel, custom made for those who admire the splendid novel by Dickens.

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There are so many adaptations of Charles Dickens, but many of them in and after the 1950s are actually made for television like BBC mini-series. The golden era of the Dickens FILMs was the 1930s and 40s, when David Lean's `Great Expectations' and `Oliver Twist' were produced in England. Before these classics, however, Hollywood also made two great films based on Dickens in the same year from the same studio: MGM's 1935 version of `Tale of Two Cities' and `David Copperfield.'

George Cukor's `David Copperfield' respectfully treats the immortal characters Dickens created. The original's plot was never changed drastically, and you still feel that this is a Hollywood film Hollywood in the 1930s when the name of producer David O. Selznick appears on the screen AFTER the director's name. Then the film shows a book cover, and someone slowly turns over the page. No one makes films like this today

The film starts with the delightful turn of Edna May Oliver as Aunt Betsy Trotwood, one of the juiciest roles in this film, and she never disappoints us. Beautiful Elizabeth Allan (then on contract to MGM, also seen in `Tale of Two Cities') effectively plays the young mother of David, too young and maybe foolish. Basil Rathbone as chilling Murdstone makes a great contrast with her sunny personality that is destroyed by his cold heart.

Cukor's `David Copperfield' is usually associated with W. C. Fields's Mr. Micawber, which is surely convincing and funny without overacting, but as I have pointed out, there are so many good actors besides Fields (who actually replaced Charles Laughton after the shooting had started). MGM's studio system sometimes damaged the career of the talented actors such as Buster Keaton who was often miscast during his MGM era, but as far as `David Copperfield' is concerned, every player is put in right place. Watch angelic Maureen O'Sullivan as the endearing and doomed heroine Dora, and you know what I mean. Well, I want more Lionel Barrymore and Elisa Lanchester, but I admit the film is near perfect.

Of course nobody is perfect, and so is George Cukor. No matter how he tries, the film's location never looks authentic, and at one scene an obviously painted backdrop stands for the city of London. By today's standard this is unacceptable, but as I said, no one makes films like this today. Enjoy the world of Dickens, and Hollywood when it was making real Hollywood films.

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Charles Dickens, like Jane Austen, is a 19th Century writer whose stories translate very well to the cinema. It is because of the strength of the characters and the fact that most of the stories have a happy ending and the baddies end up properly punished.

David Copperfield, while somewhat faded in the physical quality of the video itself, as a film is a perfect example. It's full of wonderful character actors who seem to be having the times of their lives in their parts.

Basil Rathbone is at his villanest, as the evil stepfather, Mr. Murdstone. Roland Young is particularly effective as the slimey Uriah Heep. And the great W.C. Fields personifies the always hopeful Mr. Micawber. Dickens would have loved his interpretation of the wonderful mountebank.

The only clinker in the whole cast is Freddie Bartholomew, who often comes across as a whiney twit. I'm sure Fields would have liked to have given him a kick in the pants, like he did Baby LeRoy in The Old-Fashioned Way.

I recommend the film heartily for young and old. You will certainly recognize the same virtues and vices in people you see today. Unfortunately, good and evil nowadays don't always result in the same outcomes as in Charles Dicken's time.

When you've finished this film, move on to Great Expectations with Alec Guiness, Jean Simmons and John Mills; Oliver Twist with Alec Guiness, Robert Newton and Anthony Newley and A Christmas Carol with Alastair Sim. If you aren't dripping with good will and cheer by then, let's face it you're either dead or Scrooged.

Happy Holidays!

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When Warners announced that the original nitrate camera negative had been found for George Cukor's 1935 DAVID COPPERFIELD and that it would digitally remaster the film for DVD, I was delighted. However, the results are so disappointing that I really doubt any restoration was ever even attempted.

The print on display here is in pretty wretched condition, with a plethora of marks, scratches and other blemishes on almost every frame. True, this is a 70 year old film, and one must make allowances but if the original negative WAS available, then much could have been done to minimise the damage of time and restore the image.

I think that Warners didn't want to spend the money, which may explain why the DVD slipcase makes no mention of digital remastering or original negatives at all...!

What a great pity and a missed opportunity.

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One of the major problems that any Hollywood director faces in transferring Dickens from the printed page is selectively deleting extraneous plot and character so that Dicken's original vision can be encompassed within a two hour time frame. In DAVID COPPERFIELD, director George Cuckor succeeds admirably in catching the flavor of a vast panorama of characters and subplots without losing Dickens' sense of horror at the then widespread brutalization of children. The result was a richly deserved nomination for Best Picture of 1935

David is played in the first half by Freddie Bartholemew, and in the second by Frank Lawton. David is a sweet, unassuming boy who loves his doting mother to the point that the audience early can guess that his happiness is soon to be blighted by nasty adults, the most insidious of whom is Mr. Murdstone, whose rapid sense of diction is matched only by his ability to use that diction as a precursor to pummeling David. David is thoroughly traumatized by Murdstone's sadistic comments such as, "David, do you know how I break a horse? I beat him." And all the while the audience is screaming for his mother to intervene and throw out this bum of a husband. But she does not, and David's debasement continues until her death when Murdstone inherits her property and banishes David to live with distant relatives. In many of Dickens' novels, he portrays women as falling into one of two categories: the sweet but essentially helpless women who are no more able to control their lives than a young David is able to control his. His mother and Dora (Maureen O'Sullivan) whom he later marries are typical. The other kind of woman is the rompin stompin in your face female played by Edna May Oliver, who steals the movie as Aunt Betsy, who stands as a rock of refuge for the tormented David. It is she who drives away the hated Murdstone, who comes to reclaim the runaway David.

The first half of the movie is far more of interest than the second. It is almost as if Dickens used up most of his creative juices in delineating the character of a David whose youthful helplessness far exceeds the interest generated by Frank Lawton, who plays David more as wimpish Phillip Carey from OF HUMAN BONDAGE than the introverted but tormented Heathcliffe from WUTHERING HEIGHTS. The second half drags as David attempts to sort out the women in his life. He marries the child-woman Dora, only to rage against a childishness that he should have spotted long before their marriage. Equally unbelievable is his one-sided relation with Agnes (Madge Evans), who somehow falls in love with the articulate but socially fumbling David. Both halves of the movie are carried by the extraordinary talents of the supporting cast. Edna May Oliver's loud voice and broomstrokes mark her as a stalwart defender of youthful innocence. W. C. Fields as Micawber adds comedy and pathos in a gravely base voice as only he can. Roland Young makes the most of his screen time as the weasily and slimy Uriah Heap whose 'Umbleness' tagline stamps him as yet another unforgettable Dickens creation. By movie's end, the audience can see that Dickens did not believe in the fairy tale happy ending. Sometimes the bad guys (like Murdstone) got away with their villainy. And sometimes (like Heep) they did not. The Dickens of both book and screen both agree that life is most often a gamble, but if one has true grit and a loud protective female presence somewhere in the background, then all might turn out well. Sort of like real life.

Discount Cars Toon: Mater's Tall Tales (Two Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) (2002)

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For those of you who do not have the Disney Channel, Mater's Tall Tales are five minute CGI animated shorts based on characters from Pixar's Cars. They are about the tow truck, Mater, regaling his friends on his numerous (and outrageously unrealistic) adventures such as meeting a UFO, being a world famous bullfighter, professional wrestler or daredevil, and other crazy situations. These shorts always fall back on the same joke where Lightning McQueen challenges Mater's tale as being true and Mater replying with, "Don't you remember? You was there too", which ends with McQueen being in the thick of the tall tale.

The animation quality is on par with the movie. Plus you get appearances of other Cars characters like Sally, Red, Mia and Tia and more. They even get just about all of the original actors to do the voiceovers with the notable exception of Owen Wilson as Lightning McQueen (replaced by veteran voice talent Keith Ferguson). All in all a fun little cartoon to fill time between shows on Disney.

This Blu-Ray collects all of the shorts ever released and a couple that haven't come out yet. This totals nine cartoons, so it's not exactly a large amount of content at about 40 minutes. You do, however, get about 50 minutes of additional features to whet your whistle. Here's a list of the bonus stuff:

Paths to Pixar Similar featurette to the ones on other Pixar collections this has interviews with Pixar artists, editors and such and gives insights on their experiences and other career details.

Studio Stories: McQueen Has No Hands The challenges of manipulating a map when your character doesn't have any hands.

Mater: Bumper to Bumper Goes into detail about the creation of Mater and how he is animated.

Making of Mater's Tall Tales Self Explanatory. Documentary on creating the Mater shorts from conception to finished product.

Unmade Tales Some of the ideas that didn't make it to production. Each one has an intro by Director Rob Gibbs and are pitched by the story artist. Tales include Runway Mater, Stunt Mater, Backwards to the Forwards, Car-nival and Import Mater.

Cars Toons Story Reels Mater the Greater, Unidentified Flying Mater and Mater Private Investigator all shown in their conformed storyreels shown against the final audio track. You also have a picture in picture option to see both the reel and the finished product.

Cars Land Sneak Peek Just as it says you get to see the upcoming Disney California Adventure attraction Cars Land. Mainly behind the scenes stuff.

If you love the movie Cars and/or the Mater shorts then of course this is the disk for you. Makes me wonder if they will re-release the Toy Story Treats that were done in 1996 somewhere on a Blu-Ray collection. Just keep in mind you are paying for about 90 minutes of content including all of the bonus features. It's a short disk.

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NEW! Never Before Seen

1. Moon Mater

Mater is the first Tow Truck on the moon. His mission: Rescue the Impala XIII by giving him a tow and bringing him back to Earth. Lightning McQueen joins Mater and they are met with a hero's welcome.

NEW! Never Before Seen

2. Mater Private Eye

Mater is a private investigator working on a case of counterfeit tires when Tia rolls back into his life. She hires Mater to find her sister, Mia, who's been car-napped. Mater searches for clues and closes in on a major crime scene. Lieutenant Lightning McQueen arrives just in time to help bring the criminals to justice.

3. Monster Truck Mater

Mater is a professional wrestler who works his way up the ranks from amateur to World Champion Monster Truck Wrestler, wrestling all kinds of characters along the way. When faced with his biggest opponent yet, Mater tags in his "tag team partner," Frightening McMean.

4. Heavy Metal Mater

Mater is a rock star in a heavy metal band. He starts out in a garage band and rises to the top with his hit song "Dad Gum." Lightning McQueen joins him on stage in the middle of a huge concert and they rock into history.

5. Rescue Squad Mater

Mater is a fire truck that rescues Lightning McQueen from a burning building. When McQueen is rushed to the hospital, he discovers that Mater is a doctor, too.

6. Mater the Greater

Mater is a famous daredevil who does all kinds of stunts. And Lightning McQueen becomes an unwilling participant in Mater's greatest stunt ever.

7. El Materdor

Mater is a famous bulldozer fighter in Spain. He's so good, he's able to fend off multiple bulldozers at once. Lightning McQueen joins Mater in this Tall Tale just as things are at their worst.

8. Unidentified Flying Mater

Mater meets a cute little bucktoothed UFO named Mator, takes him out for a night of fun and they quickly become best friends. But when Mator is captured by the military, Mater and Lightning McQueen come to the rescue.

9. Tokyo Mater

A routine towing assignment lands Mater in Tokyo where he is challenged to a drift-style race against a nefarious gang leader and his posse of ninjas. With the help of his friend, "Dragon" Lightning McQueen, and some special modifications, Mater attempts to drift to victory and become "Tow-ke-O Mater, King of all Drifters."

BONUS FEATURES:

Unmade Tales

Mater Bumper-to-Bumper

Studio Stories: McQueen Has No Hands

All-New Mater Intros ("Play All" Selection)

And Much More!

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I bought this movie for my 4 yr old son's birthday. I specifically checked the run time of 90? minutes. Sunday he was watching it for the first time and before I got dinner ready it was over. I was like "Why did you turn it off?" Everyone said it's over. Do you really think my kids gonna be entertained by 1 hour of "out takes?" Um..No. Mater is funny don't get me wrong, but I wouldn't have bought it had I known the actual movie time is 38 minutes. :( HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED!!

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The detail of this DVD has been covered quite splendidly by previous reviewers; I really just want to add my 'aye' to the 4 and 5 star count, and to comment on the cost of the DVD, since a couple of people have mentioned it. I think that there are some movies out there that you pay a ridiculous amount for, as well as getting nailed for all the franchise stuff (cough, cough "Princess and the Frog"), and you walk away from the experience feeling as though you've been taken... this isn't one of them. Maybe it's because, as noted, it is a handful of short cartoons, but each one feels finished, and there's no "What, that's it?" at the end of the disc, which our household has suffered through with "Frog", "Marmarduke", even as far back as "Chicken Little". And don't even get me started on "Furry Vengeance"! And so, yes, it's short, if you want to get technical, but the quality of the product is absolutely great (Mater is my son's favorite CARS character, and so I buy alot of stuff having to do with the drawlin' haulin' guy), and I'd pay this same amount again for whatever the franchise has coming up next. Wait, am I supposed to admit that???

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Its Funny how they are coming out with collection, as my wife and I were talking about this a few months ago. We told each other how nice it would be if they would come out with a DVD with all the Mater Toons on it. My son loves these shorts, and since we had to reduce over TV package, he isn't able to see them anymore. Now, he will be able to watch them whenever he wants. They are so funny, and I can't wait to see his reaction when he sees this. He asks us about these toons everytime he watches Cars, so now I can tell him he can watch them again. Great idea by Disney to release this.

Best The Ultimate Wave: Tahiti Deals

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I recently picked up a couple of the newer IMAX 3D releases, but I was a bit wary going into "The Ultimate Wave: Tahiti." Why? Well I watched the other one (Dinosaurs: Giants of Patagonia) first. And while the 3D on that picture was perfectly serviceable, it lacked a unique or interesting narrative. That's right, folks--I want it all. I want a film that is attractive to look at, that utilizes 3D to good affect, and has an entertainment value. Well, I needn't have worried. "The Ultimate Wave: Tahiti" has all three expertly interwoven into its 45 minute presentation.

Narrative: The film introduces surfer Kelly Slater and a local legend named Raimana. They are our hosts as well as the subject of this feature. I had assumed that I was going to be watching non-stop surfing action, but that isn't the case at all. The documentary covers scenic landscapes, underwater life, local customs and legends, wave science and a myriad of water sports before kicking into a surfing frenzy within the last third. It is an extremely well balanced narrative which delivered far more variety than I expected. But most important, it was thoroughly entertaining.

Features: There are quite a few snippets to look at, interesting but not essential. There's a 5 minute travelogue highlighting Tahiti. In fact, I'm pretty much cooking up my next vacation now! There are a handful of vignettes providing more depth on the surfing stars, board designs, and waves principles. All are fine--brief but informative, but not necessarily a huge extra value.

3D: Well, of course, a film shot in Tahiti is absolutely gorgeous. The film has real texture in its panoramic landscape shots and its underwater vistas. This, unlike some other 3D features, isn't purposefully stunt-like (meaning it's not thrusting items into your face simply because it can). So this is more layered 3D as opposed to pop out all over the place. The film would be enjoyable and beautiful without the added dimension, but having it provides a extra element. It's crisp and assured and I appreciated how organic it felt. KGHarris, 3/11.

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OK, this Blu-Ray shows great 3D. Surfing photography has excellent traditions and techniques, and this movie uses them all. 3D cameras are placed underwater, at the surface of the waves, on the surfboards themselves, in helicopters, and in the faces of some beautiful women. The camerawork is top rate and the 3D production is as well. The material lends itself to 3D, as we are looking through the tubes of waves, down their crests, and through their glistening faces. The Blu-Ray also gives nice 3D graphic rendering of the science of volcanic island formation, and also of wave development, transmission, and breaking. Some of the most easily understood science, and made so by the advantage of 3D graphics.

This Blu-Ray will look better on a bigger screen, so a 3D projector would be best.

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My ratings are based mainly on the QUALITY OF THE 3D, not the video content.

There are about 15 out of screen effects that extend about 10% of the way, from the screen to the viewer and another 12 around 25% and 1 graphic makes it to 35% BUT, nothing special in the 3D department. Only 5 minutes of underwater fish scenes deserve a 3D applause.

*** Nice scenery and under water footage ***

MY 3D RATING = GOOD (poor, fair, good, very good, excellent)

Note: As far as the percentages go, everyone's eyes are different. What I see at 25% you may see at 15% or 35%. To fully realize how far something is out of the screen for you, pause on an effect and direct a partner with an extended finger to the tip of what you are seeing. You may be surprised.

Click on `' for the lowdown on other 3Ds

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This is a good example of nice and slow in your face 3d. Wife loved it most 3d are too fast to enjoy the content but this is enjoyable.Minimal ghosting and verry colorful.

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I'm not too much into surfing, but this dvd has some very good 3D effects, very powerful waves, pretty scenic also. I bought this not only for the decent price, but because it's one of the newer releases from IMax theaters. There are great surfers in this movie, kids & adults... this is a unique & different movie in my library, somewhat educational... I recommend.

Knights of the Round Table (1954) Reviews

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Well, folks, it was 1954. Not many of you were there, but speaking as someone who was 10 years old when he first saw this film, it was the "thing that dreams were made of." You have to look at films from the early fifties without reference to what you get today. Good special effects meant that he studio fans actually blew all of the costumes in the same directions. The studio system was about to die. Movies paid the bills with star's faces. A 10 year old went to see the story, and this is a great story. You can watch this movie. It isn't history, or fantasy. It is just a lot of fun from a time when you could set through it a second time for free if you called you mom and asked her not to come get you for two more hours. Put this in your collection and you can watch it once a year and enjoy it. And if you really want historical accuracy, this film is it. It is just exactly what films were all about in 1954 before TV came along and shrunk everything into one syllable.

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KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE is a movie about the classic tale of King Arthur, Sir Lancelot and Guinevere. Lancelot's ill-fated love for Guinevere is played out against a background of cavalry charges, fierce battles and pageantry. The plot is amplified by the rivalry between Lancelot and Mordred as well as Sir Percival's quest for the Holy Grail. Merlin appears in the film as an advisor to Arthur and Lancelot's wife dies while giving birth to the future Sir Gallahad.

Robert Taylor as Lancelot and Mel Ferrer as Arthur are both superb. Ava Gardner makes a beautiful Guinevere but her acting seems to be a little flat. The strong supporting cast includes Stanley Blake, Felix Aylmer and Robert Urguhart.

KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE received Academy Award nominations for Best Color, Art Direction and Sound. The main competition for Oscars in 1953 came from STALAG 17, ROMAN HOLIDAY and FROM HERE TO ETERNITY.

Richard Thorpe also directed Robert Taylor in IVANHOE in 1952.

Best Deals for Knights of the Round Table (1954)

"Knights of the Round Table" was MGM's first feature in the newly christened widescreen format of Cinemascope and the studio's inexperience with a 2:35:1 aspect ratio, in retrospect, is rather obvious. The audience is treated to drawn out battle scenes (that are thrilling) and lavish spectacle. But the whole look and feel of the film is very theatrical, like Shakespeare on stage. Robert Taylor, usually so natural, is uncomfortably stiff as Lancelot, while Mel Ferrer fairs slightly better as King Arthur. Ava Gardner is wasted as Gueneviere. Sets and rear projection are glaringly obvious. Over all, for its historical context in the early days of widescreen film, more than entertainment value, "Knights" is a worthwhile movie.

Warner Home Video has given us a generally good looking print. No attempt has been made to remove age related artifacts from the negative. Overall, the quality of the transfer is very smooth though, at times, it can seem somewhat digitally harsh. Exterior footage tends to suffer from a considerable amount of film grain while interiors are well balanced. Black levels are perhaps a bit weak and fine details are lost in the darker scenes. Close ups look gorgeous. Long shots suffer from pixelization. Fades between scenes tend to suffer from a sudden grainy quality that is customary for all Cinemascope film stock of this period. The audio is stereo surround and amply provided for considering the limitations in the original recording.

EXTRAS: Mel Ferrer comments on the film's production. There's a featurette movietone trailer and the film's original theatrical trailer too.

OVER ALL: Not a bad movie but an incredibly dated one, "Knights of the Round Table" nevertheless offers up a good example of vintage Cinemascope film making from the 1950's.

Honest reviews on Knights of the Round Table (1954)

Three cheers to fellow reviewers who identified problems discerning adults will have with this film: the miscasting, the dull acting of Robert Taylor, the AWOL acting of Mel Ferrer, the bad accents, the lost plot threads (what about that Holy Grail?).

But for watching with a little boy, plastic sword in hand, this is great stuff. It's good where it needs to be good: the action, particularly the battle scenes; the scenery; the costumes and weaponry. Moreover, the talk of honor is done seriously, and the Christian piety expressed is a very good thing (and a rare thing, too, in films these days). One can talk around the business of adultery and talk about trust and promises and love on the one hand, and gossip and intrigue on the other. Overall, a delightful film for the young; my six year old son and I will be seeing this a few times. Recommended.

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A very enjoyable movie about the legend of King Arthur, Lancelot and Guinevere. Robert Taylor is perfect as Lancelot... noble and chivalrous, although human at the same time. Colorful and full of heraldry, if you like stories of the age of chivalry, you'll enjoy this.

Reviews of G-Force (Three-Disc DVD/Blu-ray Combo +Digital Copy) (2009)

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It is my prediction--but what do I know?--that "G-Force" will NOT win an Oscar for Best Picture. It may not even pack 'em in the theaters the way "Cars" did. What it will do is entertain children--AND adults--and even teach a lesson or two.

It is a summer ritual that I take my great-nieces (2) and -nephew to see a movie at the theater. We all chose "G-Force" because of television ads. Prior to going, Carolina (age 5) went up to everyone she knew and quoted--with great voice intonation and perfect facial expressions--this line from the movie: "You put a bow on me, you lose a finger!" After we saw the movie Carolina added the second line: "You put a dress on me and you lose the whole hand!"

It won't be a bad spoiler, will it, if I say that not only does this character get a bow and a dress, but she gets lipstick as well! That's the final insult, but Juarez (the character), must play along to win her freedom.

And that's one vital point of the plot: Win their freedom. They've been sold as pets! Blaster and Juarez, guinea pigs--make that scientifically and genetically altered guinea pigs--are actually government agents trained by Ben (a human) to use sophisticated weapons to obtain secrets for the government. In short, they are spies with special talents.

Although the plot is fun and perhaps a little scary for wee ones (not my 5-year-old Carolina), the older crowd (5 and older) seemed to really enjoy the movie. Obviously, the humor is meant for all ages because I heard myself laughing--out loud (I'm grandparent age)! Even Carolina kept whispering, "This is awesome!"

Of course, Colby (the 9-year-old) loved Blaster. He always loves the "goofy" ones (because he considers himself a "goofy" one). Tracy Morgan wonderfully delivers this voice--and sometimes steals the scene. The main character, Darwin, the capable leader, is narrated by Sam Rockwell, and is deliberate, yet carefully heroic.

In fact, I was sure Nicholas Cage voices Darwin, but no, Nick plays the mole, the brilliant technology character. Who would have thought it?

But the real surprise is Juarez, voiced by Penelope Cruz! Juarez was my particular favorite, who plays the keep-'em-guessing governmental agent with exactly the right tempo--a little mild flirting, but focused concentration on the job at hand. It is this character with the "lose a finger" line. Delivered perfectly! Juarez is totally delightful!

However, the best thing about "G-Force" is the message. Bottom line: Everyone is special. Everyone has talents. It sometimes takes a skilled person to instill that self-confidence and bring out those talents. The scientist Sam is the one in the film. In "ordinary" life (there is much talk of being ordinary), it is often teachers who bring out these talents. It was a good lesson.

One neg about the movie: The poster accompanying this review is a very weak choice for advertisement (that little blue one next to the reviews). When the picture is small, the front guinea pig (Darwin) looks like an elephant or perhaps a Jewish man from the Old Testament. I know the poster depicts a brave scene, but I suggest replacing it with one of color that shows the courage and derring-do of these wonderful guinea pigs.

Note: Parents, please don't buy your child a guinea pig just because they are so cute in this film. Animal activists are worried about this. You know, the-bunny-and-chicks-at-Easter syndrome.)

You might also rethink your kitchen appliances! If you ask why, you might lose a finger...or a hand...or worse!

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Didn't see this on the product listing.

All details are according to Disney's official website for this DVD.

1-Disc DVD

*bare bones, movie only

2-Disc DVD

BONUS FEATURES:

* G-Farce Bloopers And Flubs

* Deleted Scenes

* Exciting Music Videos

-"Jump" By Flo Rida Featuring Nelly Furtado

--"Ready To Rock" By Steve Rushton

--"Go G-Force"

* Blaster's Boot Camp -High-Tech G-Force Training

* G-Force Mastermind -Producer Jerry Bruckheimer And CG whiz/Director Hoyt Yeatman Reveal The Inspiration Behind The Movie

* DisneyFile Digital Copy -Watch Your DVD In The Living Room And Your DisneyFile Digital Copy On The Go!

3-Disc Blu-ray + DVD

* Exclusive To Disney Blu-ray

-Cine-Explore With Darwin, Blaster & Their Creator

-Bruckheimer Animated: A Look Back At His CG Work

-Access Granted: Inside The Animation Lab

* G-Farce -Bloopers And Flubs

* Deleted Scenes

* Exciting Music Videos

-"Jump" By Flo Rida Featuring Nelly Furtado

--"Ready To Rock" By Steve Rushton

--"Go G-Force"

* Blaster's Boot Camp -High-Tech G-Force Training

* G-Force Mastermind -Inspiration Behind The Movie

* DVD Of Film

Best Deals for G-Force (Three-Disc DVD/Blu-ray Combo +Digital Copy) (2009)

I thought this was a really good and very funny movie! I thought the guinea pigs were cute. This movie is filled to the brim with action, suspense, and comedy! A team of super intelligent guinea pigs named Darwin, Juarez, Blaster, and Speckles infiltrate the residence of Leonard Saber, who has been under FBI investigation for years. Saber has a sinister scheme that is set to occur in 29 hours. When the G-Force are shut down by the FBI, they must band together to stop Saber by any means necessary. When the evil plot happens, the gang must stop an unlikely villain who has betrayed them. Will G-Force save the world? I highly recommend G-FORCE!!!

Honest reviews on G-Force (Three-Disc DVD/Blu-ray Combo +Digital Copy) (2009)

What happens when you take a secret government program of trained animals and combine them with the latest in high-tech spy equipment? The result is G-FORCE.

The film became the first 3D film on the big screen by producer Jerry Bruckheimer ("National Treasure" films, "Pirates of the Caribbean" films, "The Rock, "Con Air" and "Top Gun") who teams up once again with Academy Award-winning visual effects master Hoyt H. Yeatman ("The Abyss", "Mighty Joe Young", "The Rock" and "Con Air") who directs the film.

The film about animals saving the world didn't go to well with the critics but at the box office, "G-Force" was quite successful as the film which was budgeted at $82.5 million made over $281 million worldwide.

Featuring an all-star cast, "G-FORCE" revolves around a secret US Government program using guinea pigs Darwin (voice by Sam Rockwell) as the squad leader, Blaster (voice of Tracy Morgan) as the outrageous weapons expert with attitude and Juarez (voice of Penélope Cruz) as the sexy martial arts pro and taking part in top secret espionage missions.

Joining the guinea pigs is star-nosed mole, Speckles (voice of Nicolas Cage), the computer and information specialist, the computer and information specialist and Mooch, the reconnaissance expert. Also, featuring pet shop layabout Hurley (voice by Jon Favreau) and territorial hamster Bucky (voice of Steve Buscemi).

The film also stars Bill Nighy as the sinister industrialist Leonard Saber, Will Arnett as Special Agent Kip Killian who is bent on shutting down G-FORCE, Zach Galifianakis as the creator and father figure of G-FORCE, Kelli Garner as the team's veterinarian and many more.

The "G-Force" Blu-ray release comes with the Blu-ray, a DVD and a digital copy.

VIDEO & AUDIO:

"G-Force" is featured in 1080p High Definition (2:40:1). The actual merging of CG animation and real characters actually works extremely well for this film. Sony Pictures ImageWorks did a wonderful job on the CG and special effects. A lot of good ideas were implemented in the film in terms of the animation of the G-Force team. Especially hair effects as you can see the detail of the animals when they are wet or dry. As usual with Disney releases on Blu-ray, picture quality is fantastic. Along with the details of the G-Force team, their surroundings are detailed and when outdoors, the colors are vibrant. Blacks are nice and deep and I spotted no problems with artifacting, banding at all.

Audio is presented in English 5.1 DTS-HD (48 kHz/24-bit) and French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital. Lossless audio is actually pretty well done. Good utilization of the rear channels for the action scenes, as explosions and glass shattering comes out quite clear from the surround channels. "G-Force" tends to use quite a bit of music from the Black Eyed Peas, Lady GaGa and Flo Rida, so the music is quite clear and contains quite a bit of bass. Subwoofer tends to utilize the bass of the music quite a bit. But overall, a solid lossless audio track.

As for the voice acting, I felt the talent did a good job. Nicolas Cage really surprised me with his squeaky, nerdy voice for tech master Speckles. Penelope Cruz as the voice of female guinea pig Juarez worked quite well. Although, Tracy Morgan sounds like Tracy Morgan but overall, the voice talent did a good job.

Subtitles are in English SDH, French and Spanish.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

"G-Force" contains several special features in 1080p or 1080i, English 5.1 or 2.0 Dolby Digital and with English SDH, French or Spanish subtitles:

* Cine-Explore with Darwin, Blaster and their Creator While watching the film, you can watch along with Darwin, Blaster and Directory Hoyt Yeatman. As you watch, the movie will pause when a video comes up, showing behind-the-scenes of the film. Unlike previous Blu-ray releases where the picture is picture-in-picture, Cine-Explore features the film in a stylized window while other G-Force related footage or facts are being shown on screen. Very cool feature!

* Blaster's Boot Camp (4:41) A featurette with Blaster (voiced by Tracy Morgan) explaining the training that one must do in order to become part of G-Force.

* G-Force Mastermind(4:13) Director Hoyt H. Yeatman talking about how the concept came from his five-year-old son. Young Hoyt talks about how the idea came about and his experience of working on the film.

* Bruckheimer Animated -(3:12) A featurette about Jerry Bruckheimer's involvement in CG work for past films. Featuring Jerrry Bruckheimer and Hoyt Yeatman and how the two worked together in "Armageddon", "Con Air", etc. and past films that Bruckheimer utilized animation and technology.

* Access Granted: Inside the Animation Lab (7:51) Utilizing Sony Pictures ImageWorks to do the animation and special effects for the film. A tour is given by Hoyt Yeatman of the headquarters and showing how various parts of animation were created (lighting, hair, etc.).

* G-Farce Bloopers (1:49) Bloopers from "G-Force".

* Deleted Scenes -(6:18) A total of six deleted scenes: March of the Cockroach, Mooch's Donut Regiment, B-B-Bunies, Undercover Pets, Hurley Under Attack, World Domination.

* Music Videos Featuring three music videos: "Jump" by Flo Rida feat. Nelly Furtado, "Ready to Rock" by Steve Rushton and "Go Go-Force".

* Learn How to Take Your Favorite Movies on the Go (1:04) A promo trailer for DisneyFile Digital Copy.

JUDGMENT CALL:

"G-Force" may not have been a popular film among the critics but for a family film, "G-Force" was actually fun. The idea of "G-Force" came from Hoyt H. Yeatman's five year old son at the time about wanting to use his animals to take on bad guys. And it's an idea that visual master Yeatman toiled around his head and six years later, became a feature film.

Special effects were done quite well and there are many big budget films where CG animation and real-life filmmaking just doesn't work but for "G-Force", it worked quite well (especially if it costs over $80 million to make, it better work well).

Parents may wonder why the film has a PG rating and there is mild action with the team trying to take on Saber's "weapons" but in terms of the rude humor, there is a lot of farting (courtesy of the gassy guinea pig Hurley) and scenes where the rodents are stuck in a sphere and you hear jokes such as "get your butt out of my face. No, you get your face out of my butt" type of jokes but that is the worst it gets. Now of course, there are scenes where a child puts one of the G-Force team members in a remote control car and crashes it into G.I. Joe action figures or tries to jump a ramp with it inside the car. And another scene where a girl plays dress up with the guinea pig and puts nail polish and lipstick on the animal. Of course, parents who have children with hamsters or guinea pigs will best explain to them not to do that at home despite seeing it onscreen.

As far as the Blu-ray release is concerned, you get a solid 3-disc release (Blu-ray, DVD and digital copy) and plenty of special features to keep the children busy during this holiday season. The "Cine-Explore" feature was especially well-utilized on this Blu-ray release.

In the end, this film is a enjoyable, action-packed family film targeted for the children. I've read many reviews by critics who just have a disdain of rodents saving the world via technology and look at it as a stupid concept. Granted, for some of those reviewers, I'm sure when they were children, the concept of Lassie, Flipper and Benji were probably regarded by critics of their time as a bit over-the-top as well. Granted, those animals were not hooked up to high tech devices and were used to save the world but granted, this is not the film to exactly take seriously. The same happened with the release of "Stuart Little" back in 1999 and critics had a hard time moving past the talking rodent but sure enough, that film inspired sequels and direct-to-DVD movies and was quite successful.

Overall, I felt it "G-Force" was a fun concept. Where "Stuart Little" was more of a happy film about family, "G-Force" was about camaraderie and trying to save the world. Sure, the concept is farfetched but if you're taking this film that seriously, you're not going to enjoy this film at all. I watched it along with my six-year-old and we both enjoyed it. And as a parent, I felt it was a fun film with action, hijinks and a lot of music from The Black Eyed Peas.

Definitely a family film and a Blu-ray release worth checking out!

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for G-Force (Three-Disc DVD/Blu-ray Combo +Digital Copy) (2009)

Ben (Zach Galifianakis) has spent his life working with rodents. And it's paid off. This FBI scientist has figure out a way to communicate with them and train them to go on covert missions. But his funding is about to be taken away. As a last second hail Mary, he sends out his crack team, consisting of a fly, three guinea pigs, and a mole, to infiltrate a house and get a file off a computer.

The mission is a big success, or so it appears. The next day, at the review, things go horribly wrong and the project is shut down. The rodents manage to escape to a pet store, but the FBI wants them to keep the entire project completely secret. Can the rodents escape and foil the plot they've uncovered? Or will the FBI track them down first?

I talked into seeing this movie by my roommate. The previews just never convinced me it would be great. And I was right.

Now don't get me wrong. There were some genuine laughs in the film. The mice we meet in the pet store stole the show, for example. I couldn't stop laughing at them. The effects were very well done, too. But the majority of the movie wasn't that great.

The plot was full of cliches from start to finish. That's not necessarily a deal killer for me, but the rest of the movie has to be good enough to make up for it, and it wasn't.

One of the big problems was that the movie just didn't feel like it was going anywhere. There were lots of jokes and pop cultural references, and I felt like they were designed to hide the fact that the plot was weak from us. Even the characters were flat and dull. And I really feel sorry for the humans in the movie who were little more than cardboard characters. Even the dialogue the characters had was so trite it was cringe worthy.

If you can see this movie for free, you'll find a few good laughs. But it isn't worth paying any money for.