Buy Spiders (3D/2D Blu-Ray) (2013)

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Spiders. Creepy and crawly and one of my least favorite things. So when I saw this title I decided to give myself a shiver and rented it, even though there were no reviews posted. I hope others will read this review first and save themselves the pain and lost time that I suffered. Simply put, this movie is an abomination. Horrible acting, directing and writing. From soup to nuts this film is the worst piece of trash I've ever had the misfortune to have to sit through, and I DID sit through it (with judicious use of the FF). Do yourself a favor and find a less painful way to spend an hour and half. Like root canal.

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If you like and are entertained by B movie creature features.This movie delivers on suspense,acting,creature effects and action.For those of us who like the genre?It's good entertainment!So either rent or buy.Either way,break out the popcorn sit back and enjoy!

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It's a shame this movie had to have been released in theaters in this day and age. Had it come out in the 90's it would have been more well received, and typical of the creature features of the time: Lake Placid, Anaconda, Deep Blue Sea, The Relic, etc. If it had premiered on SyFy it would be considered the greatest TV movie ever. Unfortunately, neither happened, so I can easily see why it let many people down. It's a creature feature stuck in limbo. It's too good for SyFy, but not good enough to play in today's theaters. The spider effects are quite good, while the occasional digital rat would have looked OK ten years ago.

The budget does not allow for the massive scale attack on the populace of New York that people were hoping for. Instead the city is evacuated before the spiders surface (at the climax) so it's just a handful of civilians and the military that are left. Judging it as a low budget typical creature feature it's great. As a theatrically released spiders-attack-New York movie from 2012 it's a major disappointment. I give it 4 stars because I like creature features, even SyFy originals, and it is better than any of the direct-to-video/made-for-TV movies I've seen. A direct-to-disc release would have turned it into a cult hit, instead of the flop it is now considered. Fans of this stuff should really give it a chance, but forget how recently it played in theaters.

One thing's for sure, no one should be disappointed with the blu-ray transfer. The video quality is on par with most Hollywood blockbusters.

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Was a real dud for 7.99... "Eight Legged Freaks" was 1000 times better. I want my money back for this one LOL.

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i expected horrible animation and a horrible plot as is the rule with giant creature movies.

the spiders looked real and the plot was not nearly as bad as expected.

Reviews of HD MOODS: AQUARIUM - Blu-Ray (2008)

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This product is exactly what it claims to be a colorful, mostly high quality blu ray of a couple of aquariums. Of course it's no substitute for the real thing, but I have my 52" LCD built into a cabinet and it definitely gives the ambiance of having a built-in aquarium. It injects a sense of calm into the room while we're sitting around talking or reading.

The shots are all fixed no panning, no zooming. Each shot is a portion of an aquarium that stays fixed for a few minutes, then it cuts to another portion of the same aquarium.

It's 1080p so it fills your 16x9 screen with no bars at the top or side.

There are 3 scenes to choose from:

Tank 1 a colorful tank with various types of coral and a dozen or so tropical fish that make appearances at various times.

Tank 2 a more natural setting with more muted colors. There are some flourishes of fish, but mostly the fish population is fairly sparse throughout most of this one. The camera cuts to a slightly different view after a few minutes showing more of a close up of the large sea anemone but putting the coral in the background pretty out of focus. It's probably intentional, but a little distracting if you're staring at it certainly not a scene to use to show off your HDTV. Like the others, after a few more minutes it cuts to another view of the tank with quite a few colorful fish in this one.

Bonus Tank a closeup on a conch shell in what appears to be Tank 1, with a few Nemo fish hanging out. It's ok, but I don't see myself using this much, if at all.

I find Tank 1 to be the best very relaxing with lots of color, and fish on the screen at all times.

It automatically switches from tank 1 to tank 2 with about 5 seconds of black screen between the two, so if you want just one tank, you'll need to set your player to repeat the chapter you want.

As far as audio goes, there are 3 soundtracks available in either 5.1 surround or 2 channel stereo:

Natural aquarium bubble sounds. This is for ambience so the sound is mixed way in the background.

Calm relaxing spa type electronic music. Ok, except for the drone that enters and exits once a minute or so that sounds like an airplane flying through your media room strange.

Slow more spa type new agey music with a synthesizer loosely mimicking air bubbles.

The music is ok, but not my taste. Fortunately you can set it to natural and just listen to the bubbles or set your receiver or TV to play another music source.

All in all, especially considering the low price, I'm pleased with this one.

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I was worried about the video quality after reading a few reviews, but this has lived up to my expectations. I am using on a 46in Samsung 1080p television, and it looks really sharp. This is exactly what I wanted for ambiance at parties...where you don't want overly distracting content playing on the TV. It really is nearly convincing enough to make you believe this could be a real aquarium.. The bubbling sound effects are good, although I plan to play my own music when using this. The "spa" inspired sound tracks are not really my thing. Also, there are 3 tank scene options, but the only one I really like is the first (default) one...the second one is ok, but the third one is too zoomed to be believable. It wasn't really clear to me at first that I had to activate the "popup menu" via my Sony Blu-Ray remote in order to access scene and sound options...that probably should have been in some form of instruction on the package.

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I found no problems with the video quality of this disk. It is filmed very well, very high quality, looks great using my blu-ray player and 1080p TV which I believe also has upscaling.

I found all three of the "tanks" to be entertaining and exquisite, the music is relaxing and interesting. The tropical tank is probably the best, but they are all good the more natural tank is certainly not boring, and the last bonus tank is more of a closeup so you see the fish more clearly.

This really will look like a real fish tank if you have a wall TV.

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This blue-ray is very clear and has a great picture. It shipped very fast also. The reason for the 3 stars is that the camera for the video is to close to the fish. I thought i was getting an aquarium type video and what this is is shoots of parts of the aquarium up close. I want to look at my TV and think it is a real aquarium, not a video of fish up close. its worth $4 but i will have to keep looking for a video with an aquarium from edge to edgetop to bottom.

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If you're not happy with this aquarium scene video, maybe you need to look at your home theater! Beautiful, nice bubbling water sound, looks great on my 42" wall mount. As far as people saying it's boring, what were they expecting? Buy a copy of "Shark Week", or maybe "Jaws"?

Reviews of Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows PART 1 & PART 2 (Blu-Ray 3D)

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I picked this up early at Target (thanks to the other reviewer who mentioned it was available there) -a bit more expensive than Amazon, but the long and short of it is I was getting tired of waiting.

First, kudos to WB for including parts 1&2 in one set, and not making us buy another ginormous case for our shelves (although I guess it means one less set of collector cards and books, but I doubt anyone is buying the Ultimate Editions for those). And kudos for not making this only available with the super deluxe, super expensive, re-released set of all the movies AGAIN, which was my fear for a long time.

This is just as feature-rich as the other Ultimates (minus extended versions of the films, but that is a subject already covered exhaustively in all the other sets' reviews). I wasn't keeping track, but there are at least 2-3 extras lasting 40+ minutes, plus a bunch of approximately 4-minute featurettes. Thankfully, they for the most part avoid being redundant (apart from Hermione and Ron's kiss, which if I never again hear how awkward and difficult it was for them, it will be too soon). (However, is it too much to ask for a "play all" button? It exists on the Deleted Scenes section so I know they've heard of it. It gets extremely tiresome returning to the menu after every single 4-minute segment. Also, no "resume" function on these discs, which is hard to believe in this day and age.)

The other reviewer Paul J. Mular is correct: What is NOT included is the 47-minute doc "When Harry Left Hogwarts" that can be found in this "Target exclusive" set: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (4-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo UltraViolet Digital Copy Edition with Bonus Disc). This is fascinating maybe only for truly hardcore fans, and probably worth the used purchase price if you want to get a feeling for what it was like on the set of HP. I swapped out one of my DVDs for the bonus disc in my Ultimate case, making it truly "ultimate."

They've again included on both movies a "Maximum Movie Mode," where the film is interrupted with little pop-up featurettes, again miraculously somehow rarely repeating what is included in the other features. For part 1 this adds another 20 minutes of extras. For part 2, it's over 35 minutes, but don't get too excited--Most of this is "Remember this character? Let's go back to the other 6 films and look at what they did." Really boring and unnecessary I think for anyone who is a big enough fan to buy the Ultimate Editions. In addition, there are even more "Focus Points" which have to be manually selected. Hint: These are also included in their own section of extras if you don't want to keep one hand on the remote.

Also in Maximum Movie Mode, on part 2 they have inserted the deleted scenes back into the movie -albeit surrounded by a big frame reading "DELETED SCENE," and sometimes preceded by a brief featurette explaining the scene--but still apparently as close to an "extended version" we're going to get.

One last tiny quibble: The sound mixing on the extras is horrible, and the "background" music almost completely drowns out the voices. I also experienced this on my "American Werewolf in London" Blu-ray, and it's enormously irritating. Don't they have fancy mixing boards to make sure this doesn't happen?

I'm glad I bought this, since I couldn't very well live with just the first six films. I'm also glad to be off the HP movie buying train, because it hasn't always been a pleasant ride thanks to bottomless studio greed and double dips. But I don't want to end on a down note. This set is great! Buy it!

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**Note: This is for the 6-disc Ultimate Edition release of year 7, NOT the 2-disc year 7 release. Amazon is mistakenly combining reviews of all year 7 versions***

We all know the movies, so i will just review this re-packaging. And YES I do have this in-hand for reviewing, I got the early retail release.

The two big disappointments are 1) NO 3-D and 2) NO EXTENDED VERSIONS. O.K., stretching the book into two movies means no extended versions, but there are DELETED SCENES that you can watch outside of the movies.

Even though both movies were filmed in 2-D, Part 2 was released to theaters in 3-D with all of the CGI effects produced in 3-D. So I do consider it an official 3-D movie and a 3-D version should have been included, instead of the DVDs of the same movie. The DVDs do not include the two "Creating The World Of Harry Potter" documentary discs, and that means those collecting this Ultimate series on DVD will lose out.

For those who bought the limited edition 4-disc sets of the individual releases of Part 1 & Part 2, you may find yourself with another dilemma.

The 4th disc Bonus Documentaries in Part 1 were "Part 1: Behind The Magic" and "Harry Potter On The Road" and they ARE INCLUDED HERE on the Creating the World Bonus Disc for Part 1 as well as a wealth of additional bonus material.

The 4th disc Bonus Documentary in Part 2 was "When Harry Left Hogwarts" and there is nothing by that name in this new set and I have not found it under any other name. At 44 minutes, this documentary would stand out, there is nothing running that long in this new set. This "Fly-On-The-Wall" type of documentary about the filming of Deathly Hollows captures the actors out of costume casually talking about their experience. Also interviewed are the carpenters & stage crew as well as the extras. You will find out just how tightly the props were watched over so that extras did not take home souvenirs. You will also experience the tension on set before the live explosions.

All Bonus Material from the previous 3-disc combo sets are included here, with the second Blu-ray disc bonus contents expanded. Some previous documentaries are presented in extended versions, while new documentaries have been added.

Since the big difference is in DISC #2 for each movie, here is the run-down of NEW material not on the old 3-disc sets:

PART 1

Part 1 Behind The Magic (previously on the 4-disc limited release)

On The Road (previously on the 4-disc limited release)

The Return of the Order

Seabor and Greyback

Dobby's Farewell

The Look of Bill Weasley

The Weasley's

The State of Evil

The New Guys

One Book, Two Movies

The Wizardly Prop Shop

PART 2

J.K. Rowling interview and "Hogwart's Last Stand" have been extended.

Part 2 Behind The Magic

The Great Hall of Hogwarts

Ron and Hermoine's Kiss

That's A Wrap Harry Potter

Nevill's Battle Makeup

The Gringotta Disguises

Harry's Death, The Courtyard Confrontation

The Magic Behind the Movies Revealed: The Secrets of Flight

Footage from the London Premier

The Love Life of Ron Weasley

The Weasley's, a Look Back At Harry Potter's Favorite Family

Dumbledore and Harry: A Look Back

Favorite Lines with the Cast

Favorite Props and Costumes with the Cast

Riding Along Memory Lane

Finding Launa, A Dream Come True

A Tribute to Dobby: The Beloved House Elf

A Special Message to the H.P. Fans

The Cast of H.P. Say Goodbye

Sadly missing from the previous 4-disc special edition: "When Harry Left Hogwarts" 44 minutes.

While the collectable book is nice, I found the color photos inside to be a bit grainy.

The packaging places two discs together, one overlapping the other. I decided to put the two DVDs underneath as I would not be watching them. I only have trouble getting to the bonus disc for Part 2.

**DVD Update**

It is not announced anywhere on the packaging, but the standard DVD for PART ONE (single disc) does include 5 deleted scenes as a bonus.

The standard DVD for PART TWO (single disc) contains 8 deleted scenes as a bonus.

There are also 7 minutes of commercials encouraging you to buy Harry Potter Ultimate Editions on Blu-ray, buy Harry Potter Video Games, visit Pottermore, and just buy Warner Brothers movies on Blu-ray for better picture quality.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

You will need to keep your 3-D copies if you have them, and at least the second limited edition 4-disc release of Part 2 as these contain material not in this set.

If you don't have these earlier deluxe sets, then you will have a total replacement.

Blu-ray fans will get hours of new documentaries. Sadly the DVD fans are left wanting to buy a Blu-ray player as Warner Home Video has not created DVD bonus discs.

Some of these new documentaries are only 6 minutes long, so it is questionable if it is worth spending more money if you have the Blu-ray combo sets.

I had a hard time giving this four stars, in some ways it is only a three star set.

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Those interested in this 2 disc set supposedly featuring both parts of The Deathly Hallows may want to wait until a problem I've encountered is resolved (or try buying elsewhere). I ordered a copy from Amazon, received it and found that both discs have bonus material only on them---no feature film. I checked the size of content on each disc and they are only 6gb and 8gb--so obviously no hidden feature anywhere on the disc. I ordered a replacement from Amazon and noted it came from a different location but received the identical set of bonus materials...

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I ordered this item and was disappointed to see that when it arrived, the discs did not match the box. The box says it is for Harry Potter Year 7 feature film part 1 & 2. The discs are Harry Potter Year 7 special features only part 1 and part 2. One disc actually is labeled special features, but the other says it is the full film, yet it is not.

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Harry Potter Ultimate Edition: Year 7.

If you already own the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1 & 2 on Blu Ray, I will say that this is certainly not for you. There's a couple of new features such as the case, the book, and cards that come along... but other than that, it's the same exact layout and DVD/Blu Ray that you have at home. It's a waste of money, to say at the very least.

Now if you don't own it on Blu Ray already, or have the other Ultimate Editions Years 1-6, then this is a nice little bookend to your collection. I was originally under the impression that ALL OF THEM would be director's cuts and I went out and bought all of the editions; The Sorcerer's Stone and Chamber of Secrets are INDEED Extended and wonderful, but the others on the other hand are NOT. Which is quite silly due to the fact that ABC family has at least released the first 4 films with additional scenes on television. I can never truly understand why they do this, but in the end of things it boils down to half-@$$ed work and stealing more of your money.

All that aside, I purchased this at Target, and it is indeed only a Target Exclusive; they can probably be found here too, but it's limited, and you would be paying over $50 alone having that it's been targeted only for 1 store franchise and it's limit would appear to be far more rare that the others you can find. So it's pricey, but not uncalled for due to it's rarity. And it's pretty well put together, overall; a nice dust cover box, Blu Ray set is in a nice case that has a slight magnetic hold, and the artwork inside and out is truly wonderful.

But as I've said: Don't bother getting this if you already own the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1 & 2. If you don't own it and are looking into investing on some decent Harry Potter sets, I would recommend this one, along with the other Years 1-6. Getting these is equivalent to the Wizard's Collection that recently came out, which isn't BAD, but has many flaws to count if you're a Harry Potter geek like me; at least with those you get a few more goodies! I have all the rest of the Ultimate Editions, so it's a decent collection of have.

If you want to save your money and get the Harry Potter set we fans deserve, it's going to be awhile, so the choice is yours; get these or just the standard discs. HELL, record them on tv if you can and at least you'll see the first 4 films with extended scenes.

Reviews of The Conjuring (Blu-Ray + DVD + UltraViolet Combo Pack) (2013)

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James Wan is a horror director that might have finally peaked with this one. His first SAW film was the best of the bunch and while Insidious had flaws, it also had some great scare moments and visuals. The Conjuring is a near perfect ghost/demonic possession movie. The scares are not cheap and they are 90% effective. A couple felt a little forced, but overall this is one the creepiest movies I have seen in theaters.

Based on a "true story" that takes place in 1971, a family becomes the victim of some evil forces in their new house. Two paranormal investigators are brought in to gather evidence. They are based on the famous couple that also investigated The Amityville Horror years later.

The acting is great all around from the kids and adults. I like how they didn't use any big name actors. Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson and Ron Livingston are relatively well known, but thankfully no huge star power here to completely take you out of the film.

Very little gore, no foul language or nudity in a horror movie? Believe it or not, this thing earned the R rating for pure scares alone. Now don't get too overhyped or anything. I personally didn't jump in my seat or want to cover my eyes (though many scenes are quite chilling), but plenty of people around me did.

This is the first movie that has made me want to review it in a month. The Lone Ranger (2 and 1/2 out of 5 stars) and Pacific Rim (3 and 1/2 out of 5 stars) didn't surprise me enough to warrant my time reviewing them.

The Conjuring is my favorite film so far this year. Let's leave it at that.

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Gut wrenching, beautifully filmed and perfectly paced, THE CONJURING isn't just one of the best supernatural chillers of recent years it truly deserves a place next to "The Exorcist," "The Innocents" and "Poltergeist" as one of the more memorable cinematic excursions into the paranormal ever produced. That may sound like high praise, but walking out of director James Wan's stunning thriller, I was hard pressed to think of other horror movies that have captivated me from start to end as much as this one did.

Chad and Carey Hayes' screenplay takes the true story of a Rhode Island family's haunting in the early `70s and embellishes it into a film that grips you from its earliest frames, while Wan the director who single-handedly launched a decades worth of gory "torture porn" pictures with the original "Saw" here demonstrates a far greater command of the screen with what many have already called a directorial tour de force. In fact, Wan utilizes a documentary-styled approach that's closer to William Friedkin's 1973 classic than any other supernatural film I can recall, and expertly works with John R. Leonetti's cinematography and a masterful sound design to create one of the more brilliantly directed pictures this genre has seen in years.

The Perron family led by parents Lili Taylor and Ron Livingston move into their home in northern Rhode Island and quickly notice standbys of any film haunting: bumps in the night, unseen forces that cause their dog to bark, and an occasional chill that permeates the air. Their five young daughters, though, are quickly put into the crosshair of a supernatural entity that wants more than to just make its presence known, physically announcing itself by grabbing the girls and causing bruises to Taylor that she believes are just the result of an iron deficiency. Ultimately, the Perrons call in paranormal experts Lorraine and Ed Warren (Vera Fermiga and Patrick Wilson), the earliest "Ghost Hunters," who soon realize the family isn't suffering from a noisy oil burner on its last legs causing a ruckus.

"The Conjuring" carries an R rating but the film's violence is minimal and its profanity nearly non-existent. Wan eschews the gratuitousness of his past works in favor of a less is more approach that's just as scary for what you don't see as what you do (particularly when young Andrea Perron first encounters a ghost, standing in the corner of her room but only visible to her not the audience). At first, it might be easy to resist the movie's familiar structure, but as the story unfolds, it's nearly impossible not to get wrapped up in the family's plight as the supernatural occurrences increase. The effectiveness is all due to Wan's direction and the uniformly believable performances of Taylor, Fermiga and Wilson, not to mention the unaffected young actresses playing the tormented Perron girls. Yet even with all the chilling moments, you come to care about these people, and the emotional catharsis that closes the picture is something few films in this genre have been able to duplicate (kudos to Joseph Bishara for a moody, effective score as well, with Mark Isham contributing a poignant "family theme" that plays a significant role in the film's concluding moments).

"The Conjuring" is at a disadvantage compared to other films in its genre because it's had to follow classic films like "The Exorcist," "The Haunting" and "Poltergeist." For viewers resistant to horror films in general, there's probably little here they haven't seen before, and one could argue the more explicitly visceral elements of the haunting are its weakest asset. Nevertheless, Wan's movie grabs you and doesn't let go until the credits have rolled and even then, you might be checking the rear view mirror, just to make sure nothing's followed you home. That's frightful filmmaking at its finest, and "The Conjuring" is unquestionably the most effective cinematic haunt of this generation.

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Before I get started on this review, I want everyone to ignore that infamous little phrase that gets attached to films like this. You know which one I'm talking about: "Based on a true story." I could go on about the trustworthyness of the Warrens or the lack thereof, but the best thing to do with this film is to ignore all of that. If you go into this with the idea that the Warrens are shameless hucksters, then you'll miss out on enjoying all that this film has to offer. If you go into this thinking that every frame is true or trying to explain to someone how all of this could've happened, you'll suffer the same fate. Just enjoy this for what it is: one of the first mainstream horror films released to the theaters in the summer in a long while.

Now on to the proper review.

I was thoroughly impressed by this movie. Supposedly this did insanely well when they ran this through test screenings and I can see why. The Conjuring had a lot to offer and didn't try to fill its running time by checking off every box on the horror movie cliche checklist. There are some tried and true formats here to be sure, but they're fairly well executed. The movie makes use of a lot of jump scares, so if you're irritated by those I would probably wait until this hits the rental sites. They're all done in good fun and are for the most part genuinely spooky, although I'll say that the jump scares were far more effective in the beginning of the movie.

The acting was excellent in this and whomever thought to hire Lili Taylor should get a huge pat on the back. She's probably the strongest actor in this piece, second only to Vera Farmiga. The ladies genuinely rocked this movie fairly hard. The guys were good as well, but let's not pretend that they were there for anything other than to be played off the women.

Now as far as story goes, this was decent. It's actually a fairly simplistic story line when you get down to it. There wasn't a lot of gussying up of the subject matter, although there was somewhat of a side story that surrounded the Warrens' daughter, the demon, and a doll from the beginning of the movie. I do have to admit that I'm not sure what I felt about that part. The doll's acquisition was shown at the beginning of the movie and largely had nothing to do with what the Perrons went through, except for showing up in one scene. The scare surrounding this scene was decent, but I kind of feel that it was one of the two weakest scenes in the film. The other weakest scene? I hate to say it, but it was the showdown in the end. I liked it well enough and it was entertaining, but it also felt slightly anticlimactic. Most viewers won't feel let down by the scene, although my friends and I all agreed that although this was an incredibly strong horror movie, the ending did sort of leave a little to be desired in comparison with the rest of the film.

In the end though, the concerns are all fairly minor quibbles. This will still be an excellent film to go see in the theaters and something that I'd recommend for horror fansespecially those who love the older stuff. The director took great pains to make the opening and ending feel like something you'd have seen in the older days of horror, which I greatly appreciated. I'd say that this film is good enough to where it's something I'd outright own when it releases on DVD and assuming that the sequel will be as well done as this was, I'll be there on the opening weekend for whatever other movie they make.

On a side note, if you can, see this with a more full theater. I was lucky enough that my fellow theater goers were excellent companions to watch a movie with. They reacted at all the right times, which made everything in the movie that much more scary for myself and my friends.

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Based on a true story, the film opens with an incident in which Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) Warren explain the difference between ghosts and demonic possession, both being similar to owning cats. Ed has a room full of artifacts that would make "Riley's Believe it or Not" museum green with envy. Hey don't touch the monkey!

Meanwhile the Perron family has moved into a house in Harrisville, RI, in 1971 BF (before flashlights). They discover their basement door has been boarded over, because God knows spirits can't pass through wood. The Perron family has a pack of screaming daughters, just right for a horror flick.

Needless to say the plot and subplot come together with wonderfully horrific results. Like most films the creepiness builds to a climax. This particular film has some minor religious overtones to it as one would expect with an exorcism type production. Good film to watch in the dark. Take the kids. Zombie soundtrack.

Parental Guide: No f-bombs, sex, or nudity. WARNING: Does use the word "groovy" and "The Brady Bunch" is on TV in the background.

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This film is what i would call one of the best films of 2013. Filled with fear,terror, and a new faith in God. I have never been more frightened in my life. A true story that shows a family coming together, through this supernatural horror. Vera Farmiga does an excellent job in her portral of Lorrianne Warren. This movie is a great movie! NOT FOR KIDS!! Dont watch this with anyone under the age of 15! Very scary, yet so good!!

Review of Shark Night 3D Blu-Ray + 2D Blu-Ray Combo (Region A) (Hong Kong

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The sharks (except for maybe 1-3 shots) were all CGI and all looked like CRAP. Perhaps in theater 3D it looked good, but not in 2D at home.

The movie had potential. But the silly reasoning behind why the sharks were there combined with the bad CGI just made this movie bad. The first 30-45 minutes weren't all that bad and it was semi entertaining. I just wish we could have been invested in these characters, gotten to actually know them and like them. Its just a shame that it ended up being as bad as it was.

If you can get passed the awful CGI you might like this movie.

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Country gal Sara, wants to show her city classmates what small town life has to offer. Rounding up 6 of her bestest friends she takes them to her family's sprawling remote lake house for a weekend of debauchery. Cell phones don't work, of course. The gang have a great old time drinking, boating, and having sex (I made up the last part, there is NO sex or boobs in this movie) but things take a sudden turn for the worse when football hunk, Malik, gets his arm torn off by an enormous shark while waterskiing (!). A shark, in a lake, you ask? Yes, a shark in a lake. We are informed that it is a salt water lake, silly goose. As Malik clings to life the classmates try to figure out a way to get him to safety and the only solution appears to be by boat. Adding to their troubles are Sara's former, shady, hillbilly friends who seem to delight in the gang's predicament. We eventually learn that the hillbillies have stocked the lake with many different breeds of shark in order to film people being eaten for a "Faces of Death" like movie they are preparing for a web show (I'd watch it).

Shark Night 3D is just so...dumb. The hillbillies are as stereotyped as they come (one is even named "Red") and the college kids are a bland mix of interchangeable actors. The director attempts to crow bar in some "romance" between the characters but you won't care because soon most of them will be chum anyway. The PG13 rating guarantees no boobs or gore so the entire fare ends up being a big tease. Even with padding the entire film is only 1:17 minutes long.

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Shark Night 3D was not what i was expecting at all. I thought it was going to be like Piranha 3D but that was not the case.Shark Night 3D took a different route and it worked, very suspenseful. I really enjoyed the movie. The 3D was AMAZING!! the sharks looked so real it was freaky. The hammerhead in particular looked so real that combined with the 3D element i felt as though i was face to face with the shark and it gave me some chills. I'am hoping for a sequel so in the meantime i will wait for its blu-ray release. I recommend for you all to see it :)

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Okay first off if you are not a cheesy horror buff you will probably not like this movie. The main reason i liked this movie was because of the great 3D effects it had in it.Seeing it was shot in 3D seemed like a win all around and i was very excited for this to come out on 3D blu-ray. The problem is there is no news of this being released right now on 3D only 2D. I can not begin to tell you all the great effects you are being robbed of by not offering a 3D version of this film. The movie itself was very plain and generic and is like a kiddie up version of piranhas in 3D. (except shark night had even better 3D effects.)

I really don't get why you would shoot a movie in 3D and then not even sell it as a 3D movie. I still feel bad for all those who haven't been able to see avatar or legends in 3d. these flicks where ment to be shot this way and so did shark night......IN 3D!!!! I know 3D isn't for every one but some movies really have benefited from the technology and this movie is a good example.

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"Shark Night" is the tale of vacationers whose fun weekend at a lake house turns into a nightmare when they become victims of a series of shark attacks. When Sara (Sara Paxton) and her pals arrive at her parents' Louisiana lake house, the party is in full gear. Everyone is having a wild time until Malik (Sinqua Walls) loses his arm in what initially appears to be a tragic water skiing accident.

Concerned with getting him to the nearest hospital as quickly as possible, it isn't until they're far from shore that they realize the lake is teeming with hungry sharks and a small speedboat isn't about to stop them from getting their next meal. In addition to the sharks, Director David R. Ellis ("Snakes on a Plane") has thrown in some backwoods "Deliverance"-style rednecks and inept law enforcement.

The film has its share of "Jaws"-inspired scares, but lacks the polish and genuine fright factor of the Spielberg classic. The plot device is improabable at best and serves only to offer up a number of bloody shark attacks every few minutes to keep us from dozing off. The Blu-ray edition contains several featurettes and a Digital Copy.

The Child's Eye 3D Blu-Ray (Region A) (English Subtitled) 2D and 3D Review

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The movie itself I would say is OK.....the 3d is pretty good. If u collect 3d movies like me (187 3d blu rays) I would recommend

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This is a decent horror flick , that can be a little hard to understand at first but the story is wrapped up at the end so that's ok. This was shot in 3d and you can tell that it was too. there are a few ghosting scenes but mostly the 3d is OUTSTANDING. The depth is exceptional and there are some great effects in this flick. The film concerns six chinese people who get sucked into a spooky hotel. They meet a dog monster , a killer and a ghost. The ghost doesn't pop out at you as much as you would think. This has also got some great 3d cgi effects. I did notice only two scenes with ghosting , but perhaps that was just my eyes. I was afraid when I bought this it would be a disaster 3d wise like 'shock labrynth' but it wasn't , it was actually quite good in that regard. There are many scenes that utilize 3d in a creative manner. The acting is well done , but the story is more average than some other pang movies that I have seen. It's worth owning this for the 3d though. There are several featurettes too and cast interviews. The picture looks outstanding because this is a 2011 movie and that's not old film stock by any means.

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Childs eye 3D is the first movie to be shot in 3D in Thailand. The film itself is not that bad at all. It's nothing new from what you would expect from the Pang brothers. It's just your normal asian suspense horror. But I will admit this one does carry a little bit more gore to it than what I am used to seeing from the Pang Brothers.

To give a quick brief review of the story, A group of friends are on vaction in Thailand when a big riot hits and the group of friends are stuck at a random hotel in the mean time cause they cant get to the airport due to the riot. At some point one of the girls in the group see's a group of kids that look out of place and tries to be friend them. On the way they find out the kids arent what they seem to be and the man who does handy work in the hotel may have more to him then what meets "the eye"...get it? oh never mind i was never good at humor any way. aside from that there is a big twist to all this that i wont lie seems to be out of place for this story but hey that's what makes some of these movies fun though right?

Now for the 3D!!!!!!

For this being the first 3D movie to be done and shot in Thailand I felt they did a pretty good job. There isnt a huge amount of pop outs in this movie but they do have a few fun ones in the mix. One that sticks out in my mind was in the begining of the movie during the riot scene a cop shoots off a gas bomb that goes flying out of the tv and stops about 15 inches away from your face!!!(kind of cool huh?)There was definitly added depth throught the whole movie (not avatar/hugo/tranformers depth but still plenty of good spacing between objects none the less) and from what I can remember there was very little to no ghosting/shadowing that some 3D movies seem to suffer from and seeing I watch 3D on an active plasma 3D that really says some thing.

To sum it up, If you like asain suspense horror with some mild gore and above average 3D effects I think you will probably enjoy this. I would also recomend you watch "Sector 7 3D" that has great 3D and is a really fun asian creature feature to watch as well!!!

The Hole (2009) (2D+3D) (2 Blu-Ray) (2010) Review

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THE HOLE is one of those "kid-friendly" horror films that's light on gore and other R-rated entrapments. Helmed by Joe Dante (GREMLINS), the story focuses on two brothers who discover a strange ominous hole in the basement of their new house. We soon learn there are nasty beings dwelling in the hole...can't tell you more to avoid spoilers.

The movie looks like it was a 3-D flick, but my copy isn't officially 3-D.

The acting is average, with Chris Massoglia and Nathan Gamble as the brothers, Hayley Bennett, cute neighbor....Bruce Dern is the town looney and Teri Polo once again plays the harried single mom.

THE HOLE would make a good rental for a kids Halloween party but adults may find it a little lame.

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Joe Dante has always had a touch with horror, making it funny as well as scary, and he has always had a way with young people in his movies as well, treating them as adults instead of idiots. Both of the director's skills are on ample display in a horror movie that is aimed at the 8 to 16 year old set. The movie itself remains intelligent and even challenging while being age appropriate. That, my friends, is a rarity today.

'The Hole' is as much about a dysfunctional family struggling through hard times and facing new challenges as it is about horror. Gore hounds will be disappointed with the plot, but there is plenty of creepiness, suspense, and shocks to satisfy all but the most jaded. Special notice must be given to Bruce Dern's cameo in the movie, which absolutely warmed my heart.

So if you are in the market for a decent scary movie that isn't rated R, 'The Hole' is perfect. The acting, especially by the three young leads, is excellent, and the plot builds up a credible threatening situation with an extremely satisfying conclusion that may actually teach a lesson. Talk about a throwback to a different era!

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It's like a much improved upon 80's/90's thriller. I was surprised its rated PG-13 since it is a lot scarier then today's r rated thriller/horrors. Instead of focusing on random nude scenes that distract from how terrible the movie is, like most of today's horror films, they decided to focus on the actual story. I really enjoyed it.

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NICE to see Dante back in the groove again, this picture deserves a much wider audience. It's simply a rock solid preteen scare flick with great humor, design, and efficiency. Would have loved to see it in 3D, but even flat it is a terrific treat. If you like Saw, avoid. If you like Explorers, come on in.

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I grabbed this film to watch because of Joe Dante's past directions (which I've enjoyed his "Gremlins," "Explorers," "Innerspace," and "The 'Burbs"). I used to watch most of the horror movies in the 80s and "The Hole" is very cliché and an old-school scare for today's standard.

"The Hole" is a story about a single mother with her two sons moving into a new house, and the older son meets a next-door girl. All three have discovered a closed hole in the basement to which they have naïvely opened. Nothing was seen and a "bottomless" pit is all that they could discover. Then, soon and slowly, things started to happen to each of the trio.

From a psychological perspective, I thought this film is pretty good with an idea of opening a "hole" (or a door), one must face their worst fears and victories would be achieved when their fears are defeated. If not, death would ensure their fate.

Personally, it's a pretty good story yet cliché. I would think that Teri Polo would have a better developed role than a naïve mother.

Roller Coasters in the Raw HD Volume 1 Blu-Ray (2010) Review

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This dvd is exactly as advertised-nothing but AWESOME first-person footage taken from the front seat of some of the best coasters in the world! The footage is in crystal-clear HD and is not the least bit shaky, even on the rough wooden coasters. You literally feel like you're on the ride. Specs are also given for each coaster, as well as several minutes of off-ride footage, making this the next best thing to actually being in the park and riding them in person. Disc is a burned copy (produced entirely by Theme Park Review) but works perfectly and is guaranteed by the sellers. A+++ product! Can't wait for future volumes!!!

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Great coasters! Great video! No cheesy background music! A must have for any coaster fan.

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What an experience! Being new to this kind of Blu-Ray I wanted to give my God-Children a thrill when they come to stay later on in the 'summer', particularly if the weather isn't going to be up to visiting theme parks in person. There is no doubt that this disc provides plenty of thrills!! I've tried it in 3D on the 2D-3D tv, it's not always fantastic but occasionally adds even more to the experience! Great, thank you!

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At this writing, Roller Coasters in the Raw HD Volume 1 Blu-Ray, has 4.5 stars. And it should. All the great things others have mentioned is true indeed. So, no sense talking about how great something is when everybody else already has raved about it.

My review is for those with projectors who are considering this blu-ray.

In one word; AMAZING! But there's a little secret.

My screen is a professional 9' diagonal. My projector is no big deal, but it does have HD capabilities and Texas Instruments DLP. I'm using a Sony blu-ray (I hate Sony, but it's all Costco was carrying). The projector does not have HDMI. It has VGA. So my cable goes from VGA to the Sony Blu-Ray via component. Because of the VGA to component, I'm only capable of 720p.

Because of the previous reviews, we know the HD on this roller coaster Blu-Ray is very nice. One thing I wanted was to try and get more depth when watching the disc. And boy, did I find a way. It's called the "Pulfrich Effect" If you don't know what the Pulfrich Effect is, I suggest you Wikipedia it and read up. In short, it's a poor man's 3D, needs nothing special but a pair of glasses with one clear lens and one tinted (like a faint sunglass) lens. And it looks very impressive on this disc. Is it as good as the big theaters blockbuster 3D movies? Well, no.....but it looks pretty dog gone cool, I'll tell ya that much.

I purchased a bunch of Pulfrich 3D glasses on-line for cheap. NOTE: NOT ANAGLYPH. Do not get the red/blue or cyan/magenta, etc. You need the Pulfrich Glasses. Just Google or eBay Pulfrich 3D glasses. Lots of places to get them. The trick to assure that all your guests actually experience the 3D effect using the Pulfrich glasses is that it's important to get the paper glasses because the tinted lens should cover the viewers dominant eye. While the glasses only come with a clear left lens and a tinted right lens, even if a guests dominant eye is the left eye, simply flip the paper glasses around and bend back temples at the hinge. Some guests would say they couldn't see the 3D effect. But once they flipped the glasses around....wah-lah!

Another thing I did was seat the guests very close to the screen. We're talking the first row of guests was about 8 feet from the screen, then the next row behind butted right up against the front row. Basement room was pitch black, Bose system on 7, and just a few minutes into it I have guests actually getting queasy. It's a smash hit!

If you got a projector and thinking about getting this DVD, do it! And try the "Pulfrich Effect 3D".

I think you'll really like it. I know all my guests do.

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This HD video is everything I hoped it would be, and far more. Obviously, an enormous amount of labor and expense went into the production, which was filmed all over the world. You'll take each ride, from end to end, in the front seat. Additionally, you'll see the cars whiz by from various vantage points on the ground or from elevation. The production values are of a very high order: great sharpness of detail, perfect lighting conditions, minimal camera vibrations, and excellent sound recording, not only of the screamers but of the machine noise. And there are so many rides to take! It just goes on and on and on. If you have any doubts about getting your money's worth, dismiss them. The producers of the video did everything right. When they repeat the adventure in Imax, I'll buy it too.

This video required the enthusiastic cooperation of many amusement park managers, which obviously was obtained. If you'd like a realistic preview of any ride you've not yet experienced in the flesh, you'll find it here. This video would make a great gift for anyone who loves to ride roller coasters.

Il Grande E Potente Oz (Blu-Ray 3D+Blu-Ray) (2013) Reviews

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UPDATE (6/14/2013): Refrain from buying the single 3D-disc version, because you have the option of purchasing the 3D disc for $5.99 on DisneyRewards.com with the combo pack. I discovered this when I went online to get the digital copy with my combo pack. It is for a limited time though, so keep that in mind.

WARNING: ***SPOILER ALERT*** Some things discussed in this review could potentially spoil some of the film for those who have not yet seen it. Therefore, if you have not seen it, read onward at your own choice.

Okay, first thing is first: This review is NOT about the packaging decisions made by Disney for this set or their decision to sell the 3D version separately. I agree with most that it is corporate greed and is quite despicable, but that is not what I am here to review because most everyone can come to that conclusion themselves without people ranting about it endlessly in the reviews. No, this review is an actual critique of the film, so if you are here to get a sense of whether the film's (and thus this set's) actual content is something you're interested in, this review is for you. Naturally, I saw the film in theaters and am writing this review based upon my viewing of the film and observations made during that viewing. I shall attempt to go over the positives and negatives associated with the film in a fair way that can allow others who have not yet seen the film to draw their own conclusions from hopefully.

Before I get into specifics, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize that, given the material the film is coming from and the ENORMOUS shadow it had to work in from the 1939 film, one should not judge this film overly harshly. I think we all know that no Oz film is going to ever fully eclipse the much-beloved and universally cherished 1939 film with Judy Garland and Margaret Hamilton. Hence, to even try to overcome such a monumental production is a fool's errand, but so too is the idea of judging any new effort to reboot the Oz saga by comparison to the 1939 film alone. I myself have been a lifelong lover of the 1939 film, ever since I was a small child, and it remains one of the most beloved movies in my collection to this day. I came into this film knowing going in that it would not likely overcome the sheer splendor and magic of the 1939 film, but I also came into it with an open mind and a curiosity to see how they could potentially bring the Oz story into the 21st century. This is how I would suggest all who have not seen it yet to go into it: go in with an open mind and with no preconceptions about the film as best you can.

PROS:

1) BRIDGING IDEAS FROM THE 1939 FILM WITH IDEAS FROM THE BOOKS: This film did an excellent job of paying homage to the original 1939 film in several ways (i.e. scenes in Kansas were in black and white while Oz was in full color, hints at Dorothy Gale's heritage and eventual coming, the presence and familial relation of the Wicked Witch of the West and the Wicked Witch of the East, foreshadowing the Wicked Witch of the West's weakness to water, the classic green-skin variation of the Wicked Witch of the West's look made popular by Margaret Hamilton, Glinda's use of bubbles for transportation, foreshadowing the presence of Dorothy Gale's three friends in Oz, the Wizard's illusions that allowed him to use a projection of his head to speak with authority, etc.) while also addressing several things that were absent from the 1939 film and yet present in the original novels (i.e. Dainty China Country, mentioning of the former King of Oz, Quadlings, Winkies, etc.)

2) ACTING: This is something that cuts both ways, as some actors/actresses were well-suited to their roles going in, while others clearly needed some time to grow into their roles. Examples of the former include Mila Kunis and Rachel Weiz, who give absolutely stunning performances as the Wicked Witch of the West (Theodora) and the Wicked Witch of the East (Evanora) respectively. I must take my hat off to Mila Kunis especially, who had HUGE shoes to fill in taking on the role of Theodora, the eventual Wicked Witch of the West, a role which had previously been immortalized by the performance of Margaret Hamilton in the 1939 classic. Kunis put a stupendous modern spin on the character while also paying homage to the foundations for the character that were laid by Margaret Hamilton more than 70 years ago, portraying Theodora in a way many girls like her today could empathize with initially while eventually transitioning her into the classic green-skinned Wicked Witch of the West we all know so well. The same goes for Weiz, who finally gives screen-viewers some insight into the character of the Wicked Witch of the East. She is portrayed as the elder and quite deceitful sister of Theodora who was adviser to and later murdered the last King of Oz so as to take control of Oz herself while framing his daughter, Glinda the Good Witch of the South, for the crime. Both delivered compelling performances that left me wanting to see more of them in the films to come, as did Michelle Williams, who also gave an outstanding performance as the Good Witch Glinda as well as her counterpart in Kansas, Annie, who is foreshadowed to be the mother of Dorothy Gale. I suppose the biggest test any actor or actress faces in portraying a character is leaving the viewer with the desire to see more of them in films to come, and I can definitely say these three more than cleared that bar definitely.

3) VISUALS: This film WOWED me with the visuals and bright colors shown throughout the film. Just as its great predecessor did before it, the film showed the contrast between black and white filming with colorized scenery, and the result couldn't have been more appealing. The bright colors and scenery of the Land of Oz nearly jump right out of the screen at you, and the effect will likely have kids oooing and ahhing over it for sure. The picture quality is simply amazing (see the China Girl for a prime example of this).

4) CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: While some may disagree with this, as an Oz enthusiast for over 25 years, I was pleasantly surprised and pleased by the character development over the course of the film. Some of the biggest and most well-done examples of character development in the film are that of Oscar Diggs (the Wizard) and Theodora (the Wicked Witch of the West). The film does a good job of showing the Wizard's transition from a petty con-man to the great and wonderful Wizard of Oz we were introduced to in the 1939 film. For example, we are shown that Oscar was originally a womanizing con-man and illusionist that had a dubious set of ethical standards. Over the course of the film, we see him mature and learn from his mistakes and their consequences (the hard way in some cases i.e. the transformation of Theodora). The other biggest example lies with the character of Theodora herself. We are shown the HUGE contrast with how she was originally compared to the version of her we are all most familiar with. In the beginning, we are shown she is a compassionate, beautiful young witch who has the best interests of Oz at heart. Having fallen in love with the Wizard upon his arrival in Oz, Theodora's heart is broken when her sister deceives her and convinces her that he has tried to court all of the three primary witches in Oz. It is at this moment of utter heartbreak that Theodora's tears leave burning scars on her face (foreshadowing her weakness to water that would one day be exploited by Dorothy Gale) and she is deceived into eating a green apple that her sister promises will remove all her heartache. This is however proven to be a deception, as the apple's effects cause Theodora's heart to rot and die, eventually disintegrating altogether. As a result, her face is distorted and her skin is turned a bright shade of green. Donning her now all-black attire including a black pointed hat, she assumes her new identity as the Wicked Witch of the West. Mila Kunis delivers a stunning performance to bring this character development to life for us, and it is a real treat to behold. These are just a couple of examples of the good character development over the course of the film.

CONS

1) ACTING: As stated above, this cuts both ways. While the bulk of the cast did outstanding, I will say there is one example where this was lacking in particular. That rested with the titular character (Oscar Diggs) and its actor (James Franco). There were times throughout the film that one could tell Franco was perhaps not the best choice to portray the role of the Wizard. Some examples include over-the-top moments of dialogue ("Zim-zala-bim! Begone coward! Fear my greatness!") and his at times awkward moments in the role. However, I do feel that by the end of the film, Franco had found his stride and was finally comfortable in the role, especially by the time of the film's climax in the battle for control of the Emerald City. The biggest times I noticed this awkwardness/woodenness was earlier in the film, and it is true that initially I felt that perhaps another actor may have been better suited to the role of the Wizard. But by the end, I do feel Franco has grown comfortable and competent enough to continue in the role and perfect his handle on the character.

2) LACK OF A CENTRAL MORAL TO THE STORY: Whereas there was a clear lesson we learned alongside Dorothy during her experience in the Land of Oz depicted in the 1939 classic, it wasn't as clear in this film that there was a central moral to be learned from the story. Whereas Dorothy learned to appreciate and cherish what she already possessed in life, it is unclear what moral Oscar was to learn from his initial experience in Oz. I suppose we may learn that even though some of us may not feel important or powerful, our own personal strengths can make up the difference if we put our minds to it. Beyond that, I was left wondering what we as an audience were supposed to learn from Oscar's experience. It is clear he became a better man and finally learned from his mistakes in the end, but the overall lesson he was to learn was not entirely clear.

3) USE OF STRENGTHS: One of the biggest gripes I had with the film was not in what it lacked, but in what it did possess but which it did not use enough in my estimation. A very big example of this was with the character of Theodora. While we are given a decent amount of screen time to get acquainted with her in her original form as Theodora The Good, we are not given nearly as much time to see her in her classical form of the Wicked Witch of the West. Mila Kunis gave such a wonderful performance as Theodora, and yet when she was at her best and clearly having the most fun with the role (that of her wicked form), we were not given nearly as much screen time to see her fully in action. While Evanora and Glinda have their face-off, Theodora simply flees the city to the West on her recently-acquired broomstick. While it is clear we will see them all again including the Wicked Witch of the West, I still wish they would have given her more screen time to further demonstrate her effectiveness in the role of the witch. This was not the only example of this, but you get the picture.

4) OVER-RELIANCE UPON CGI: One thing that the 1939 classic proved was that it is possible to be highly compelling and visually stunning without Computer Generated Imagery. While the special effects in the film were quite attractive to the eye, there were times (especially over the course of the Wizard's journey through Oz) that it bordered upon overkill. The beauty of the 1939 classic was that we didn't have to have a lot of fancy special effects from computers to make us fall in love with the film. Not that all computer-generated effects are bad, in fact many genuinely did add to the visual beauty of the film. It is just a small complaint when they seemed a little over the top, such as when the Wizard was swept into the twister and transported by it to Oz.

BOTTOM LINE: This was an excellent opening overall to a promising reboot of the Oz saga. As I noted in the beginning, no Oz-related film is ever going to fully eclipse the 1939 classic in the hearts and minds of the American public. However, considering the immense shadow cast over the film by the 1939 film, this film did a much better job than some would expect in measuring up in terms of quality and substance. It is easy to judge this film and others related to the Land of Oz by the standards of the 1939 classic, but that can at times seem a bit unfair, considering how monumental the earlier film is. If some are always looking for the perfection of the 1939 classic in every Oz-related film, I am afraid they will almost always be disappointed. If one can come into this with an open mind however, it is a HUGE treat indeed overall. For those that have not seen the film and are on the fence about it, I STRONGLY encourage you to give this film a shot. It puts a wonderful modern spin on Baum's classic stories, and that is something that is definitely to be celebrated. I am sure especially that somewhere, Margaret Hamilton is likely smiling about the new take on the character which caused her to be immortalized in cinema history.

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For those consumers like myself who want to own both the 3D and 2D versions of this film without spending a fortune, there is an easy way to achieve this goal. Simply purchase either the two disc 2D Blu-Ray + DVD + Digital Copy package (which has a yellow border and pictures a flying monkey, the Wizard, and three witches on the front) ... OR ... the single disc 3D Blu-Ray + Digital Copy (which features the Wicked Witch framed in the letter "O") at the cheapest price you can find from a retailer in North America.

Inside the case will be a special insert that contains information about a special OZ sweepstakes, and which includes a "Magic Code" that can be activated when you join or sign in to the DisneyMovieRewards.com website. This same insert also includes a special offer that will enable you to purchase whichever disc you are missing (either the 3D or the 2D) for $5.99. No additional shipping or handling charges apply. The extra disc should arrive at your home within 2 to 4 weeks in a plain cardboard shipper. (In some instances, the extra disc is arriving within a matter of days.) This offer expires on 10/31/13. Here are the links to the two qualifying combo packs:

http://www.amazon.com/Great-Powerful-Blu-ray-Digital-Copy/dp/B00C5W3SBE/ref=sr_1_2?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1370988234&sr=1-2&keywords=oz+the+great+and+powerful

http://www.amazon.com/Great-Powerful-Blu-ray-Digital-Copy/dp/B00C7JG0KG/ref=tmm_blu_title_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370988234&sr=1-2

PLEASE NOTE: the single disc 2D Blu-Ray + Digital Copy combo ... the one that features only the Wicked Witch on the cover ... DOES NOT include the special offer.

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Making a prequel for such an iconic fantasy and beloved film as the Wizard of Oz at first glance seems like just more grist for the Hollywood mill, but said assumption couldn't be farther from the truth.

Oz the Great and Powerful (aka Oscar Diggs) is a magician in a small, traveling circus who is good at fooling an audience, most of the time, and sweet-talking the local ladies. The latter becomes a source of trouble as an angry boyfriend, who just happens to be the circus strong man, prompts Oscar's hasty departure from the troupe via a hot-air balloon and bad luck turns worse when it flies right into the path of a tornado. By some twist of fate, or divine intervention, Oscar finds himself not only alive but in a strange and beautiful land where magic is more than sleight of hand and its local residents, including three lovely witches, mistake him for a heroic wizard and either a potential savior or threat, depending on the point of view. Many people found in a similar situation would probably stumble around in denial and disbelief but Oscar is a performer of the first order and subsequently cons his way through just about every fantastic or difficult situation thrust upon him all the while struggling to suppress the true hero buried deep within.

James Franco in the lead role brings his usual intensity with a hint of gravitas, a healthy dose of light-heartedness and a smile that lights up the screen; he's utterly convincing and captivating as both con-artist and hero and I believe this role was perfect for him. I thought the film seemed well-cast all around but let me just comment on another dual role I particulary enjoyed; that of Theodora/ Wicked Witch of the West (as portrayed by Mila Kunis) because this part was just so pivotal to the story and a remarkable performance really helped to buoy what at times edged towards a one man show. Cinematically, the land of Oz is a feast for the eyes and even more striking when set against the B&W opening (used to full advantage as with the original), the creature FX were stunningly perfect including the terrifying flying baboons as well as Oz's newfound traveling friend Finley the flying monkey, the wizard duel towards the end was brief but visually exciting, the finale was so creative and it demonstrates the solid writing behind this film and I just gotta admit that little China Girl completely stole my heart.

I have no doubt that many professional critics will write this one off as light fare but for me it's films like Oz the Great and Powerful combined with exceptional actors like Franco and innovative and distinctive directors like Sam Raimi that help to restore my faith in the modern, American film industry. In the end this movie just made me happy, I left the theater with a huge smile on my face... I really can't recommend it enough for people of all ages that enjoy a good fantasy-adventure or just great cinema. :o)

Honest reviews on Il Grande E Potente Oz (Blu-Ray 3D+Blu-Ray) (2013)

So most of the negativity is about the blue ray vs DVD, maybe that negativity should go somewhere else. As a movie this was phenomenal. It was every bit as Disney magic as they come. I mean I feel for you sad 2d-3d-blue ray-DVD unhappy people, but it really does cause a false flag having your comments with the movie reviews. People LOVE the actual movie. Even you say so. Is there some way Amazon can separate they "types" of comments from "Movie Review" , "Purchase Process", and "Purchase Delivery"? We can only hope...

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Il Grande E Potente Oz (Blu-Ray 3D+Blu-Ray) (2013)

The movie was good and very entertaining (but never quite understood where the china doll came from or fit in since it's not in the original movie). The theatrical release was a decent prequel and normally I'd recommend

...... BUT........

If what I'm seeing listed as buying choices on Amazon to be a 3D Blu-ray version WITHOUT a 2D Blu-ray version (never mind a DVD version) is just plain GREED from Disney I would have liked both and probably would have only seen the 3D version once anyway. My entire collection of Disney 3D is of the 2, 5 and 5 disc combo packs (many of movies I already had) but splitting the movies and not offering a 2D/@D combo pack now bothers me -enough to put an end to buying Disney format after format (VHS, DVD. Anniversary Edition DVD, Blu-ray, 3D blu-ray). Heck my kids dont even watch most of them but tend to get them for "my" collection. I think its now time to get off the Disney bus as the fare is too high for a ride I no longer need. Shame on you Disney for price gouging!