Dragon Hill (2010) Reviews

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I like dragons, I like animated movies, and I like the Spanish language, so the made-in-Spain "Dragon Hill" seemed like a natural fit for me. Disappointingly, not only is the North American release by Eagle One Media a pretty substandard treatment, the movie itself leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to storytelling and animation quality.

The storytelling flaws take a while to become apparent, but eventually they're the biggest problem the film has. The overlying plot involves an evil wizard from the dark ages attempting to return to the human world from his prison in Dragon Hill a mystical land populated by intelligent dragons, where humans sometimes end up for unexplained reasons by summoning an ambitious young kitchen boy through time and space to help him secure the key to the interdimensional gateway. Somehow, the movie manages to pad itself to the point that the actual meat of the conflict doesn't occur until the last twenty minutes of the movie. A lesser plot involves an adolescent dragon called Elfy testing out a flying machine built by an inventor from the 21st century; Elfy's more or less a supporting character, but he's shoved to the forefront of the movie (and the DVD cover) even though he doesn't gain genuine storyline importance until the final act of the picture. The movie feels extremely rushed towards the end, and I can't help but think that it's supposed to act as an immediate companion to its sequel, The Magic Cube.

The animation is a mixed bag. Director Angel Izquierdo had a storied career of many international cartoons behind him when he made this movie, and his experience and talent shows in the animation of the dragons: they're not at Don Bluth-level, but at least that of a higher-quality Land Before Time sequel. The human characters look a bit blander and wonkier, but the real disappointment here is the amount of computer animation that was shoved in alongside the 2D stuff. Although the sequel would make an even bigger mess of this, the computerized backgrounds and add-ins make the movie look cheap. In all, "Dragon Hill" would be a TV-quality production if it had been made in America, but I do my best to remember that European studios usually don't have the technological strength of US counterparts.

The DVD treatment doesn't help the movie's look. A relatively low-quality transfer results in a frequently static picture; and at least on my copy, the bottom right edge of the frame was constantly stuttering. Much to my dismay, there is no Spanish language track on this DVD. The English track, while not godawful, features at least a few annoying voices and, oddly, doesn't feature the American voice actors in the credits. On the other hand, the single musical number translated surprisingly well. There are no bonus features here to speak of.

I'm not a huge fan of How to Train Your Dragon, but now that that one has been released, there's really no need to investigate "Dragon Hill" unless you're a particular fan of the art style. Younger kids, naturally, might enjoy it a bit more, but since I couldn't even enjoy any of the characters, I'd say this one's age appeal stops before ten. Watch out.

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Best Red Dragon - Director's Edition (2002) Deals

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When I first saw Michael Mann's adaptation of Thomas Harris' novel "Red Dragon", I was blown away; I'd never encountered a character as evil and wiley as Hannibal Lector (Played by Brian Cox.)....Years later, I read Red Dragon and The Silence of the Lambs back to back, and was blown away again. Especially by Red DragonThe end of the book was SO powerful and dark that upon finishing the book, I sat in stunned silence for the rest of the train ride home. How could they have NOT used that end in Manhunter???

Well, here's more of the same....Red Dragon is perfect in nearly every way, except for the ending, which, while retaining the same setting, opts for a more "Crowd-pleasing" finale...and loses that punched-in-the-gut feeling that the novel gives.

The cast is top-notch, as one would expect from actors the caliber of Harvey Keitel, Emily Watson, Mary-Louise Parker, Philip Seymour Hoffman (Especially good as the loathsome Freddie Lounds..), etc. Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes, and Anthony Hopkins are all spellbinding in their respective roles as Fed, Serial Killer, and Imprisoned Cannibal, and the actual depiction of the capture of Lector, as well as his infamous dinner party is a real treat. I just couldn't get past that ending, though. Ever since Hannibal came out, I've been looking forward to the promised "Faithful" adaptation of Red Dragon. This isn't it. It's a well-made thriller with a cop-out ending. See the movie, by all means; If you liked the previous Hannibal films, you'll like this. But then do yourself a favor and read the book, to see the TRUE finale to the Will Graham/Tooth Fairy saga.

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Based upon the wonderful, well-written novel "Red Dragon" by Thomas Harris, this is a superior and chilling thriller. Grim and gripping, it features Edward Norton in the role of troubled, retired FBI agent, Will Graham, who is called back to service in order to track down a bizarre serial killer, known as the "Tooth Fairy". It appears that Graham has the uncanny ability to get into a killer's mindset and figure out what his next move might be. It is as if he and the killer become one. In his preparation for this, Graham even consults the imprisoned Hannibal Lecter (yes, THE Hannibal Lecter), deliciously played by Anthony Hopkins. Unfortunately for Graham, Hannibal has not forgotten that Graham was responsible for his changed circumstances.

It is Hannibal Lecter, after all, who was the catalyst for Will Graham's retirement. The viewer is treated to scenes of Lecter's life, before he was revealed to be Hannibal the Cannibal, one of the sickest serial killers ever to strike. The viewer sees the renowned psychiatrist in his milieu as an erudite, cultured, and wealthy patron of the arts. A noted gourmand, Dr. Lecter liked nothing better than to give intimate dinner parties for the favored few. Of course, some of the ingredients used for his dinners were best left unsaid. It was nice to see the always excellent John Rubenstein in the small role of a dinner guest, heaping accolades upon Hannibal for his dinner parties.

The movie is compelling and, at all times, gripping. Anthony Hopkins reprises his career defining role and steals the show (Really, Hannibal Lecter has become all but a cottage industry for him!). With a twinkle in his eye, he is, in his low key way, deliciously malevolent. Edward Norton, one of the best young actors around, gives a decent and sensitive portrayal of Will Graham, the angst ridden former FBI agent and profiler, but lacks the grittiness and hard-edged veneer that the role really demands. He also simply looks too young and soft for the role. Ralph Fiennes gives a fine performance as the tormented Francis Dolarhyde, but his portrayal is hampered by the fact that too little is revealed in the film about what makes him tick.

Emily Watson affectingly plays a blind woman who becomes romantically involved with Francis Dolarhyde. It is her involvement with him that helps bring the film to its stunning conclusion. Moreover, Ms. Watson is a wonderfully talented British actress who manages to get her American accent down pat. Good performances by Harvey Keitel, as Graham's former boss, and Mary Louise Parker, as Graham's wife, round out this fine, ensemble cast.

This film is a taut, unnerving psychological thriller that is subject to comparison to its 1986 predecessor "Manhunter". Having seen both, I call it a draw. This current version had a bigger budget, so obviously it has better production values. Also, the opening scenes in the current version are more interesting than those in the 1986 one. Music, however, was used to much better effect in the earlier version. Moreover, the final scenes in the earlier version were much better than in this later version, as they were much more suspenseful. Both films, however, are well worth watching. Do yourself a favor and view both. Then, judge for yourself.

Best Deals for Red Dragon - Director's Edition (2002)

The debate has raged long and hard as to which of the adaptations of Thomas Harris's novel Red Dragon is superior with most people plumping for whichever version they saw first. For this is the problem with remakes (or watching a movie having already enjoyed the novel) and particularly with thrillers, where it's the twists and turns that dictate just how much viewing pleasure and excitement there is for the audience. So at the end of the day being objective about which movie is better and how to rate each one is very difficult (and perhaps all that serves to prove is the pointlessness of the debate) but for what it's worth here goes...

In a third outing as the world's favourite cannibal Anthony Hopkins returns in this prequel to "The Silence of The Lambs", complete with a ponytail in a new and very clever opening sequence that pits Hannibal Lecter against the FBI's special agent Will Graham (Edward Norton). Directed by Brett Ratner, (a surprise choice given that his last two outings were The Family Man and Rush Hour 2), Red Dragon sets out to recapture the tension of Jonathan Demme's multi-oscar winning "Silence of The Lambs" and to this end the sets of Hannibal Lecter's prison cell have been expertly recreated. Anthony Heald makes a return as the disgustingly sleazy asylum boss, Dr Chilton and Anthony Hopkin's part is inflated from both the novel of its origin and Manhunter. For make no mistake, this is (unlike Ridley Scott's Hannibal) not a Hannibal Lecter film, just as it was never a Hannibal Lecter novel. Instead the focus of Red Dragon is actually Will Graham's showdown with his own inner demon's and another serial killer, Francis Dollarhyde, christened the Tooth Fairy by the movie's tabloid press and played expertly by the ever excellent Ralph Fiennes, complete with a body toned by months of lifting weights and an enormous tattoo, (present in the novel but absent from the book) of the eponymous Red Dragon, covering his entire back.

But is it any good? Well, I genuinely believe that how much you enjoy this movie wholly depends on whether or not you have previously seen and enjoyed Michael Mann's original cult movie of the same novel, because for the most part both movies follow the same path and in places the same script. Being objective, and trying to put aside the baggage of having both seen and enjoyed Manhunter (I own it on VHS), I have to admit that this is by Hollywood standards a superior thriller with an excellent cast. As previously mentioned, to my mind Ralph Fiennes is both the star and strength of this movie. However, despite being an enormous fan of Edward Norton's previous work (Primal Fear, American History X, Fight Club, The Score etc.), I would have to say that he was miscast as special agent Will Graham in that his appearance is too preppy and his portrayal seems to lack the inward depth of a man tortured by his own thoughts and the mental scars of his previous (mental and physical) duel with Dr Lecter. Don't get me wrong Edward Norton's performance is fine but it just lacks that spark and charisma of his other roles, which I cant help but feel is partly as a result of being miscast and partly as the result of some uninspired by the numbers direction by Brett Ratner. As for Anthony Hopkin's, he is surprisingly forgettable. His part is little more than a cameo, where he only just steers clear of hamming it up and fails to chill in the same way as he did in his Oscar winning performance back in 1991's Silence of The Lambs. Harvey Keitel meanwhile is as reliable as ever as Graham's FBI boss Jack Crawford but although fine (scant praise for such fine actors) Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Emily Watson are only required to sleepwalk through their parts on cruise control. This is perhaps because they have small and undemanding roles with not enough character development or screen time to get their teeth into the parts. That aside there is also much to recommend Red Dragon, other than Ralph Fiennes excellent performance. The pre-credits sequence for example and the finale are both very thrilling and very enjoyable and there are several other scenes throughout the movie, particularly those featuring Francis Dollarhyde's character development, that were absent in Manhunter but more prevelant in the novel, which positively add to the viewing experience.

The debate will no doubt rage long and hard but in the end which one is better is a pointless argument and a moot point. The best way to watch either movie is with an open mind but once you have seen either version its probably best to avoid the other, as your perceptions of the plot, the characters and their appearance will in all likelihood be indelibly set, thus spoiling your enjoyment of any other version. I'm scoring this one a draw, four stars ****.

Honest reviews on Red Dragon - Director's Edition (2002)

The movie going public is obviously well acquainted with the most famous serial killer, cannibal, in cinematic history, Hannibal Lecter. In 2002's 'RED DRAGON,' Hannibal is back with force and vengeance, thanks to the brilliant portrayal of Sir Anthony Hopkins and inspired writing of screenwriter Ted Tally. He's got some of the best lines in the business. 'RED DRAGON,' for the most part is a remake of Michael Mann's 1986 'Manhunter.' Obviously there isn't a lot of variation between the two since they are both adaptations of Thomas Harris' book 'RED DRAGON.' But that is were the simularity ends. Sure, some scenes are structed the same, but to be fair this latest installment is closer and more true to the novel. For those that read the book or saw 'Manhunter,' it's no surprise that Hannibal had a rather small role. Ted Tally took some license and beefed up the character for some crucial scenes, adding a very interesting and inventive twist. From the onset, we see the capture of Hannibal by FBI Agent Will Graham, played flawlessly this time around by Edward Norton. We are also privy to a rather more intense Lecter, anger and resentment for being caught and put away. Hopkins doesn't need to do much to convey his distaste for Graham, the true talent of an excellent actor. Lecter is not over the top as many say he was in the third film 'HANNIBAL.' But this is really not a Lecter story. It is focused more on Graham and the new killer on the block, Francis Dolarhyde (played to an eeriely perfection by Ralph Fiennes). One not of advisement, if 'The Silence Of The Lambs', or 'Hannibal,' gave you nightmares, you may not be prepared for 'Dragon.' It is absolutely brutal in it's visuals and psychological mind games. Dolarhyde, aka the 'Tooth Fairy' is a brutal serial killer who has killed two families and may be on the hunt for a third. It is this that brings Jack Crawford (Harvey Keitel) on the quest to seek out a retired Graham. Reluctantly, Graham decides to help with the investigation. Graham does possess a certain gift, he can think like the killer. But it does cause a dilemma. The one person that could really give our detective the insight he needs is the one man who tried to kill him, Lector. As Clarice in 'Silence' Graham must once again delve into Lecter's world of the asylum. Frederick Chilton is back as the head of the asylum, again played by Anthony Heald

(the 'old friend for dinner' guy). Heald is an absolute delight in a awkward sort of way. He's definetly a one off. Basically, he's not nearly as smart as he thinks he is. Possibly the most disturbing character of the film is played by Fiennes. He is essentially a sympathetic killer, and yet you really want to see this guy go down. Fiennes is stunning in this role and adds his own spark to the role. Emily Watson plays Fiennes uninformed love interest who happens to be blind, lucky for her. Philip Seymour Hoffman is the sleazy tabloid reporter who in time is destined to get his comupance. It is really unfortunate that the Academy Awards does not hand out status to ensemble casts. If they did, 'RED DRAGON,' would probably be the only nomination in the catagory. There hasn't been a cast like this in many years. There is an equal balance between the three main characters, Lecter, Graham, and Dolarhyde. Lecter was in it just enough to keep it constantly fresh and on edge. Dolarhyde takes it over the edge and Graham brings it subtly back. Brett Ratner as the director did an excellent job in setting the scenes, the creepy atmosphere, and letting the actors do what they do best. This film is a winner all the way around. If any thriller were put up against 'Silence,' this may be the one that could surpass it in regards to thrills, chills and just plain excellent storytelling. Though the 4 movies are destined to be lumped together, 'Manhunter,' 'The Silence Of The Lambs,' 'Hannibal,' and now 'The Red Dragon,' which is completely understandable, 'Dragon' stands on it's own. And does so extremely well. This movie is obviously not for everyone. There is graphic violence that is disturbing. Yet in this vehicle it is not overplayed as say, your average slasher movie. If you're going to plunk down your hard earned cash for a movie, 'Red Dragon,' is the one. It is a good solid interesting movie that never lets go. Once it's got you, it's got you. And that ride starts as the lights in the theater go down. There's not too many movies that can boast that.

Tina Mrazik

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If you close your eyes and simply listen, the first precise five minutes of Red Dragon are divine. Rattner tells you what the rest of the film is going to be like instantly with a few credits and then with out any fading or build up, throwing you onto the stage of the Baltimore Orchestra House, with the Philharmonic (actually the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra) playing a beautiful rendition of Mendelssohn's Scherzo from A Midsummer Night's Dream. Ratner makes the shots of the musicians last slightly longer than you would like so as to make you wonder exactly why your watching this, but then the camera begins to float up to the conductor, past him, towards the stage lights and slowly down into an audience full of heads. And there, slightly more well lit than the other members of the audience sits one of the most infamous killers in cinema history, hanging on every note of the ill fated flautist, Benjamin Raspail. The opening scene featuring Edward Norton capturing Anthony Hopkins' Lecter is amazing, especially as it was completely up to Ted Tally to come up with it, given Thomas Harris never really created an appropriate scene. The opening titles, accompanied by Elfman's dark and sickening score is incredibly useful and fulfilling, showing a series of newspaper clippings charting the capture of Dr Lecter up until his trial and life imprisonment.

The films low point is clearly after this, the initial set up and the dialogue between Kietel and Norton. The scenes of Norton wandering around the victims homes is very nerve-racking and tense, always having you on the edge of your seat and some of the scenes are disturbing, especially Norton's flashes of the female victims.

As an avid fan of Thomas Harris' greatest creation, it is great to see Hopkins return to portray Hannibal Lecter for what is presumably and hopefully, for the sake of not ruining a great trilogy, the last time. The only thing disappointing is Ratner has made such an effort to make Fiennes scenes and any other scenes not featuring Hopkins so serious and violent that whenever Hannibal Lecter is on screen, the audience just laugh at every line he says. An audience watching The Silence of the Lambs (1991) eleven years ago would have been silent during every word he says but unfortunately, due to his lack of boundaries during Hannibal (2001), Lecter has become a sort of caricature and is now considered a somewhat humorous figure.

The story picks up pace the moment the note from Fiennes is discovered in Lecter's cell, and the scenes in particular especially between Dolarhyde & Reba and also Dolarhyde and Lounds are incredibly tense and frightening. The twist at the end, sticking to Harris novel much more, is hard to see coming unless you have read the book and are familiar with the general story. The final showdown between Norton and Fiennes is also just as good as any other scene in the film, although the additional finale with Hopkins is the perfect send off if this really is Lecter's final big screen adventure.

Ratner and Tally have broken several rules however and one scene in particular which annoyed me is the part in which Lecter is cooked a gourmet meal in his cell as this just ruins the mood and atmosphere. The fact that Lecter gets to walk around the exercise room once a week goes against Silence of the Lambs (1991) when he tells Clarice Starling that he has been in the same room for eight years and he will never be let out. And also one of the final scenes shows beautiful sunlight in Lecter's cell, which obviously destroys the romance of the one thing Lecter longs for, a window.

It is not worth people trying to compare Red Dragon to any other films. It is not worth trying to compare it to Manhunter, because it is not in affect a remake, it is a second adaptation of Harris's novel. It can be compared to Silence, but this film doesn't make an attempt to scare you mentally, it is about using sudden cuts and Elfman's demented score to make you literally jump in your seat and make your heart skip a few beats. The only time you feel scared by Lecter is when he is being carted back to his cell and he sees the forensic gloves in the cleaners pockets.

If you must compare however, it would be completely wrong to make your comparisons against Hannibal (2001) because it is a completely different set up, the previous films are not about Hannibal, especially Red Dragon. Hannibal, hence the title, is about Hannibal and is about culture, romance and freedom, and seeing as the

Timing is not particularly important to Ratner. The film begins in 1980 and the subitle following Hannibal's capture reads "Several years later. Red Dragon takes place over about three weeks and it ends directly with a link to Clarice waiting upstairs. When he speaks to Clarice in Silence of the Lambs (1991) he tells her he has been incarcerated for 8 years and it should be 1991. Which should mean the subtitle reading "Several" should be "10 years later".

As an avid fan of Lecter, Hopkins, Bach, and Harris this film is brilliant.

Best Dragon Ball Z: Season Nine (Majin Buu Saga) (2009) Deals

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This long awaited ninth boxed set will finish up Dragon Ball Z on DVD. It's been just over two years since I excitedly bought the season one set and I have anxiously awaited this ninth one, but at the same time it's weird to feel like this series is ending for me all over again. Nevertheless these episodes are action packed and a fitting ending for one of the most loved anime of all times. This set contains the Fusion and Kid Buu sagas in these final 38 uncut episodes:

254 The Evil of Men_____________ 255 Buu Against Buu

256 Empty Planet_______________ 257 Time Struggle

258 Super Moves of Gotenks_____ 259 Trapped in Forever

260 Feeding Frenzy_____________ 261 Gotenks is Awesome

262 Unlucky Break______________ 263 A Whole New Gohan

264 Search for Survivors_________ 265 Majin Buu Transforms

266 The Old Kai's Weapon________ 267 Ready to Fuse?

268 Union of Rivals______________ 269 Meet Vegito

270 Rip in the Universe___________ 271 Vegito...Downsized

272 The Incredible Fighting Candy__ 273 The Innards of Buu

274 Mind Trap__________________ 275 Visions of Deadly

276 Evil Kid Buu_________________ 277 End of Earth

278 True Saiyans Fight Alone______ 279 Battle for the Universe Begins

280 Vegeta's Respect____________ 281 Minute of Desperation

282 Old Buu Emerges____________ 283 Earth Reborn

284 Call to Action_______________ 285 People of Earth Unite

286 Spirit Bomb Triumphant_______ 287 Celebrations with Majin Buu

288 He's Always Late____________ 289 Grandaughter Pan

290 Buu's Reincarnation__________ 291 Goku's Next Journey

These episodes are all for the most part entertaining and a lot of them are fan favorites. The stakes really get raised as everyone on the planet is put in immediate jeopardy soon after followed by the possible destruction of the planet earth itself. The final Kid Buu episodes are great and find the entire existence of life in the universe being threatened ratcheting everything up to it's highest possible levels. The final episodes should be truly pleasing for fans to rewatch or experience for their first time.

I've said before that I appreciate how these sets were made with an overall theme across the nine that line up well and look good together on a shelf. A well made booklet comes in each of these sets containing brief character bios and episode descriptions. The video is always well restored and in excellent condition, presented as Widescreen 16:9 Aspect Ratio. The audio is great with three different options:

American English Voice Track with American Music

American Voice Track with the Original Japanese Music

Original Japanese Voice Track with the Original Japanese Music.

The only extras on these sets have been trailer's for other Funimation productions and textless opening theme and ending credits.

These episodes are not just the final saga to the Dragon Ball Z series but also to the Dragon Ball series that began it all. The storylines here aren't just full of the science fiction and hard hitting fights Dragon Ball Z was known for but also the elements of magic, fantasy and off beat humor that Dragon Ball was known for. Looking at these episodes now, they are the perfect ending to such an entertaining series that artfully managed to constantly escalate things through a seemingly natural course of events. After these episodes it seems hard to imagine more epic storylines for these particular character's than what we're given here.

This final set is full with equal amounts of the fighting fans expect as well as the elements of humor and fantasy that make this series so loved, fusing the two perfectly. Akira Toriyama ended his long running story fittingly and satisfactorily for fans with these sagas all ending with a final nod towards the Goku we were introduced to way back at the start of Dragon Ball, a Goku that looks at everything as a challenge and adventure.

I can't wait until this set is released in May, thanks for your time.

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There will always be those that give this series bad reviews, but the fact remains it was one of the closest-to-script adaptations with some of the coolest voices from the cast of Funimation (as far as the English dub is concerned).

YES some supposedly 5 minute fights are dragged out over 10 episodes or more

YES Toriyama-san wanted to stop at the Freeza saga but the fans wanted more so it was pushed all the way to Buu saga

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT??? It has a solid story and solid action, great fights, great characters and development, and AWESOME villains. This anime gets an 11 out of 10!

Best Deals for Dragon Ball Z: Season Nine (Majin Buu Saga) (2009)

I ordered this in November when it was $11.99, didn't open til this week January 2012. I was surprised it was missing the Character bio/Episode guide Booklet. Also, the plastic thing holding the disc were chipped and cracked. It seemed like I got a used copy but sold as new. Contacted Amazon they did a replacement 1 day shipping. Got it today and opened it up. YES, it was Brand NEW no scratches no cracked or anything.....BUT NO BOOKLET AGAIN. I went on amazon reading the latest reviews and people are not getting the BOOKLET either. Strange I got booklet for all the other ones except this one. I thought Amazon got a faulty batch or something. So I emailed ProductConcerns@funimation.com

Within an hour I get this reply

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

"XXXXXXX,

In the interest of going green we are no longer including printed versions of the episode & character guides in our packaging for Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball GT, and Dragon Ball Z season sets. However, we understand your desire to obtain these and have made them available via PDF download in the following locations (each season set has its own page, and the guide booklet download link can be found in the summary section):We have informed our retailers that this item is no longer included in the season sets.

Thanks,

Product Concerns

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So there is your answer folks, they don't include them anymore. So if you plan on buying it on amazon get it used that comes with it or something. Not sure about the other season sets because I got those booklets.

I talked with amazon support and let them know and they kindly refunded me partial credit ($3 from $11.99) So its all good I guess.

Honest reviews on Dragon Ball Z: Season Nine (Majin Buu Saga) (2009)

Dragon Ball Z's Final Chapters!

The Z fighters Battle, To Take The Formidable Majin Buu Down In This Finale Of The Buu Saga. IT'S INDEED THE BEST Action Pack Season Set, Which Ends The Series OF DRAGON BALL Z!

Finally Funimations decide to be nice to us by releasing another Season Set and including all the remaining episodes of DBZ.

I still remember A couple years back, when I spent almost $50 dollars just for the 5 DVD Set that only included the Kid Buu saga, Not only were the Old DVD's expensive and almost impossible to find, there were also a total space waster. Season nine set is A must have! Not only is it cheaper, It's a non-stop fierce action show, that never stops to take it up to the next level, not even to the every End. (It also helps that the size of the Set doesn't take up a lot of room like the Pervious 1999-2003 Sets.)

So, finally having the Funny Guys at FUNImations releasing very easy to find Season Sets at $30 price range, make me want to slap my self for even attempting to collect over 80 DVD's of DBZ.

I really wish they would of released these Season Sets a long time ago and The way they take there sweet A$$ time to re-release this Series makes me wonder if there going to Re-re-release them again on (blu-ray) or try to release them like they did in Japan, with the Dragon Box which included all 291 Episodes in Two Large Box Sets and also included a large amount of DVD EXTRAS!!! Hmm.... Funimations! the ball's in your court!

Description:

Majin Buu Has Cut a Path of Destruction Across The Earth, Leaving Nothing But Devastation, It Could Even Be Beyond The Power of The Dragon Balls To Repair. The Z-Fighters Have But One Final Hope Against Majin Buu, The Fusion Techniques! But For This Plan to Succeed, Goku MUST Join Forces With His Oldest Rival, Vegeta! Can These Warriors Put a Stop To Majin Buu Once and For all? The Final Battle Begins.

Season Nine Contains The Complete FUSION and KID BUU Saga's of Dragon Ball Z, in The Following 38 Uncut Episode's (254-291)

Fusion Saga:

254. The Evil of Men

255. Buu Against Buu

256. Empty Planet

257. Time Struggle

258. Super Moves of Gotenks

259. Trapped in Forever

260. Feeding Frenzy

261. Gotenks is Awesome

262. Unlucky Break

263. A Whole New Gohan

264. Search for Survivors

265. Majin Buu Transforms

266. The Old Kai's Weapon

267. Ready to Fuse?

268. Union of Rivals

269. Meet Vegetto

270. Rip in the Universe

271. Vegetto

272. The Incredible Fighting Candy

273. The Innards of Buu

274. Mind Trap

275. Visions of Deadly

Kid Buu Saga:

276. Evil Kid Buu

277. End of Earth

278. True Saiyans Fight Alone

279. Battle for the Universe Begins

280. Vegeta's Respect

281. Minute of Desperation

282. Old Buu Emerges

283. Earth Reborn

284. Call to Action

285. People of Earth Unite

286. Spirit Bomb Triumphant

287. Celebrations with Majin Buu

288. He's Always Late

289. Grandaughter Pan

290. Buu's Reincarnation

291. Goku's Next Journey

Like The Previous Season Sets, They Are Released In a 6 Disc Box Set, Digitally

Re-Mastered in High Definition Transferred From The Original Japanese Film Masters and Presented in Widescreen Format (16:9). Also Contains, Both The Japanese and English (Dub) Language with Optional Subtitles. (Region 1, 2, 4)

(Special Note: So far, None Of The Season Sets Contain The 4:3 Full Screen Format)

Extra Features Include:

24-Page Booklet Filled With Episode Summaries and Character Descriptions.

Revised English Dialogue Over The Original Japanese Music.

Anime/Movie Trailers.

And The Marathon Play.

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this is the end of the best anime series ever, and what a way to end it

if youve gotem all to this point no reason to stop now

Review of Dragon Ball Z Kai: Part One (2011)

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A lot of people don't seem to understand DBZ Kai, and I'm here to explain it. But first, let me say I've been watching Dragonball (in general) since about 1987-1988, when I was completely hooked on it. I actually thought Gohan was Goku (because he was drawn the same as Goku in the DB) when I first watched DBZ.

For some reason, I picked DBZ up when Goku was training with King Kai, rather than starting from the beginning. I watched it through to the start of the Buu arc (after skipping a good portion of the Cell arc because it was JUST SO LONG) and gave up because the pace was just so slow I couldn't take it anymore.

Having said that, here's the reason why DBZ was paced so slowly: DBZ aired year round in Japan. It didn't have seasons or repeats. Every week (barring interruptions for special events, which happened a few times a year) for 7 years. DBZ was being produced faster than the manga was. They didn't want to deviate from the source, so they had to pad out what little they had until they could get new material from the manga. This is why they talked so much and brought a lot of the episodes to a painful halt. This is why inconsequential subplots were introduced, so they had more filler. I remember the Freiza battle being particularly painful, where Frieza and Goku would talk for the entire episode about how much they wanted to kill each other while only doing 2 or 3 moves that entire episode. I almost abandoned the series then honestly, but managed to hold on.

So, enter Dragon Ball Z Kai. This has been recut to fit the pace of the original manga. This is what DBZ _should have been_. This matches the manga. This is how Akira Toriyama wanted it to be. The subplots eliminated were not part of canon, so to speak. Read the manga and see that it moves just as fast as Kai. (I know because I have.) Gohan always fought very reluctantly as, as mentioned early on, he wanted to be a scholar, not a fighter. DBZ made him look like some kind of gung ho fighting machine, which he wasn't.

Overall, this is probably a better series. Recommended highly.

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Ok so I'll list my likes and dislikes about this, starting with dislikes

Dislikes

1. Starting with the box set before we get to the anime. Funimation, would you please care about your product as much as we the consumer does. I mean come on! You screwed up by putting vegeta on the cover of disc 1 and raditz on disc 2; he's not even in disc 2. Gez.

2. The opening sequences, "commercial" breaks, closing sequences are amazing animation. I wish they would of done it that way, I didn't even know what to expect, I thought it was going to be that type of animation like the 1 for that dbz movie with vegetas little brother table. But oh well I guess they didn't want to. It would've put a whole new feel to it and would of been like watching a brand new dbz.

3. it's Watching dbz in fast forward. Which is fine and all but its kinda weird from watching the original so many times to this.

Likes

1. If you don't have time to watch all of the episodes normally, this is a great way to get your fill and fix.

2. Dying for a dbz fix, want to watch that amazing fight sequence, you won't have to look far and skip through scenes and episodes just to get to the beef of the action, it's pretty much here.

3. Feels like the manga is being flip booked for me with dialogue and action nd everything.

So all in all ill take the good with the bad, its dbz there's not much to ever hate about it. (Except for you gohan who decides to turn ink saiyaman and not be a major bad ass like we know you could of been.) Anyways, lol in the end dbz is dbz an ill take all I can get from the 20 + old series.

Best Deals for Dragon Ball Z Kai: Part One (2011)

Let's face it. As fun and nostalgic as Dragon Ball Z is, it's always had a bad habit of dragging on forever, to the point where even the most patient among us get fed up and yearn to see the villains' defeat and the start of the next saga. The series aired year round in Japan and Toei had to use filler so it wouldn't get ahead of the manga, which was still being published alongside it. So they inserted many side stories and diversions to keep the episodes going until there were more manga chapters to adapt, resulting in a very bloated, drawn out series.

I was a big fan of DBZ back in high school, when it aired on Toonami in the afternoons. I became an even bigger fan when FUNimation started releasing DVDs with original Japanese audio and subtitles. But somewhere along the way (I think it was when the first `orange brick' season sets were being released, where the picture was cropped to the point of distraction) I lost interest and moved on.

Then Dragon Ball Z `Kai' came along, and renewed my interest in the series. Here was DBZ with a new approach: all of that extra filler (like Princess Snake, Hell, the robot, the dinosaur, Fake Namek, the orphan children, the Ginyu Force on King Kai's planet (*shudder*) Garlic Jr. (*vomit*) etc. etc.) was removed, leaving behind only what was originally in the manga (well, I say `only' but there are a few exceptionsGregory, for example). Now I could watch the series without it taking forever to get to the good parts. Some people miss the extra material, but I think the series is better off without it. The old filler scenes are not only pointless and tedious, they sometimes create huge plotholes (like Goku's old spacepod being destroyed but being intact later to take him to Namek, or again, the Garlic bloody Jr. saga, which creates a movie/series continuity problem).

And in that aspect, Kai delivers. It covers a lot of ground very quickly. It starts off slow, with the arrival, fight with, and defeat of Raditz taking three episodes, but that's understandable. By episode 13, the last episode in this set, Goku has already started fighting Vegeta; in the original version he hadn't even made it to King Kai at that point. The story moves much faster, and it really feels more like an animated adaptation of the manga.

DBZ Kai also has a brand new English dub, which is far more accurate than the old FUNimation `Z' dub. Although I prefer Japanese with English subtitles, I'm glad I can finally watch the dub without feeling embarrassed. FUNimation no longer turns every character into a goofy comedian with lame jokey lines and puns, and the voices and acting are actually tolerable! Granted, King Kai still sounds like he is full of blubber, and the dub does kind of veer off in its own direction at times. Like when Kami is telling Mr. Popo that he knows Piccolo is no longer a demon. In the original manga and Japanese version (you can see it in the subtitles) he can tell because after Piccolo killed Raditz, his soul went to the afterlife instead of hanging in limbo forever. In the English version, Kami says Piccolo is obviously no longer a demon because he was a swell enough guy to train his archenemy's son. Um, what? Too supernatural for English audiences? They could have just changed that for the Nicktoons, or (God help us) 4kids versions. But it's a minor inconvenience. I'll take a few small changes over the entirety of the old Toonami dub and especially the old Saban era dub.

And in another first for a FUNimation Dragon Ball dub, there is actually mild swearing! Okay, so overall it doesn't make a difference to me either way whether there is swearing or not, but it certainly moves the dub away from American afternoon animation block territory, and makes it a little more grown up and realistic besides. A fight with invincible intergalactic supervillains that have the power to blow up entire cities would naturally include a lot of "Damns," "Hells," and "Bastards," don't you think?

The episodes in this set are uncut, meaning they haven't been edited for American audiences. However, because of new television broadcast standards in Japan, Toei already had to make its own (mild) edits to this new version before it was even brought over here. There's a little bit of blood and (male) nudity missing that was in the original Z. It's no big loss, because the show's violence and action are still intact. Punches still connect, bones are still broken, and limbs are still lost. And that's good enough for me!

The new music is enjoyable. It's not the original Japanese soundtrack from the old `Z', but it will do. I'm just glad that the English dub track no longer has a synthpop soundtrack blaring the entire time, including over moments that are supposed to be silent. Of course, there's the whole matter of Kai's composer being fired for plagiarism and all of Kai having the original Japanese `Z' score reinstated in Japan. FUNimation's newer Kai releases have episodes with the old `Z' music, but there's no word yet whether previous American DVD/Blu-Ray releases will be revised in the same manner.

Overall, `Kai' on DVD/Blu-Ray is worth checking out. It's a fresh revision of an old franchise, and a good way to introduce newcomers and younger viewers alike to the series.

Honest reviews on Dragon Ball Z Kai: Part One (2011)

I liked the new openings and beginnings. I also like that there wasn't tons of filler episodes, but I was disappointed that they began to censor everything. All of the great animes don't have to be for children you know!

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I love Dragon Ball Z Kai it is just as good as Z. Kai is good because it is all about action. No filler. I like the filler though but I also enjoy it without filler. That is why I'm getting both Z and Z Kai.

Cheap Dragon Hunters (2008)

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I have to admit that my first reaction to seeing this on the video rack was suspicion that this might be another Aero-Troopers, the Plan-9-from-Outer-Space-awful, worst computer animated film ever made I wasted 90 minutes of life I can never get back upon the last time I took a chance on a computer animated film I'd never heard of before. However, despite some eerie similarities in world construction, this turns out to be one of the BEST computer animated films ever made, one I can recommend without hesitation.

To begin with the world of Dragon Hunters is simply gorgeous, a world of islands floating around in the sky, upon which gravity works oddly when it works at all. But this beautiful world is threatened to varying degrees by the dragons of the title, which range in degree of threat from annoying crop stealers to terrifying world devourers, thus the necessity for hunters of same.

Twenty years ago Lord Arnold lost his sight and his health trying to stop the World Gobbler's last rampage, now he impatiently and all but hopelessly awaits the return of the knights he dispatched to try and stop his pending rampage. So his fairy tale loving niece, Zoe, decides to lend a hand by sneaking out and finding some noble knights like those in her fairy tales, but what she finds are our two hapless heroes. Can a little girl's belief in them inspire a couple of two-bit, fly-by-night, down-on-their-luck dragon hunters into succeeding where a troop of noble knights failed, into stopping the most horrifying dragon this world has ever seen?

Well, the answer is obvious, but the fun is in how we get there.

Gwizdo and Lian-Chu make for a hilariously mismatched pair, whose widely differing reactions to Zoe, the dragon hunter groupie who is not quite as naive as she appears, threaten to tear their partnership apart,...

assuming of course that anyone survives this fiasco.

Note: Some retailers package this DVD with a free Dragon Hunters comic book, which is little to get excited about IMHO; Sergio Aragones did this sort of thing much better in Groo the Wanderer. The first 17 episodes of the first season of the animated TV show, which this movie is a prequel to, have been released on DVD: Dragon Hunters: Vol. 1 It's A Dragon's Life (ep. 1-4), Dragon Hunters: Vol. 2 Dead Dragon Walking (ep. 5-8), Dragon Hunters: Vol. 3 There's No Place Like Home! (ep. 9-11), Dragon Hunters: Vol. 4 Don't Look Now (ep. 12-14), and Dragon Hunters: Vol. 5 Unwelcome Guests (ep. 15-17).

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I watched what I could of the original cartoon. And when I saw that a movie was made, I though it was going to be quaint and cute. But I didn't think it was going to be great. I thought just like many cartoon CG movies, it was going to be amusing but that's about it. Once the menu loaded up, I got the first impression that something different was going on. The sound quality was thick and the surround sound even on my cheep speakers was gripping. Then the actual movie started, and all preconceptions fell to the ground. The movie is DE-TAILED. And beautiful! The vision of the backgrounds of the show were amplified by the merciless CGI.

Another thing in this movie is a great beating heart. Care is all over this picture. Most CG animated DVD movies get the job done, but there is not much to get attached to. This move is detailed even between the lines.

Forest Witaker did a great Lian Chu. His deep voice fit. This is an AWESOME movie. Not just for kids, anyone, open to it, would enjoy this movie to pieces. Absolute recommend.

Best Deals for Dragon Hunters (2008)

An underdog of a film, but the question of how the Blu transfer would turn out was being asked since the announcement this year. In brief summary, it turned out great.

We have a story of fantasy, peril, comic relief, bravery and action all set against a beautiful world where gravity has a much different outcome. The picture clarity looked amazing. There are brief blips in the motion here and there, but overall the quality turned out vivid, crisp and articulate. Reference the wide pan shots where the characters are extremely small; on the DVD they were little blips, on the Blu they were distinguishable with arms and legs.

The sound was outstanding. All five channels are used extensively, and it appears no imagination was spared on how to make these floating villages and action sequences surround you.

The special features are catered to the kids who follow stories like this with trading cards and such. The Universe of DH, Character Biography and Dragon Gallery options can be surfed through like reading a book on all the creatures and locations we just watched. The Interview With Forest Whitaker lasts less than five minutes and shows the production process of recording in studio.

I have not watched the original series, but I hope they continue with more films of this quality and story. For the parents wondering on content, the PG rating on language is for fart stuff, the fantasy action and scary images will most likely be scary for 6 and under. But between the music, scope of pictures and action I was noticing kids younger than that loving it as it played today.

Honest reviews on Dragon Hunters (2008)

I have never even heard of this movie until last week from watching the STARZ network (being that it's free for a year with their anniversary). I don't want to sound like a nerd but I cannot believe I have never heard of this animated movie before! I thought I have seen all the good ones (mainly Disney/Pixar, animes, etc) but this one really amazed me. Even my husband who usually isn't into animated films unless he has to watch one with our 4 yr old was very impressed. The story is pretty neat and similar to most "kill the dragon save the world" stuff. What sets it apart was that it was truly visually amazing ( comparable to Avatar ) especially in HD and the musical score that accompanies it was quiet perfect. This movie had some heart, although the side-kick character tended to annoy me some, but Forrest Whitaker was great. I loved it so much I had to go buy the Blu Ray IMMEDIATELY ( you really can't beat the price of below $10!!!) and I cannot wait to eventually share it with my daughter and the rest of my family. I really do think it's a must BLU RAY/SURROUND SOUND/minimum 52" 1080 screen...just for the WOW factor alone! Ok, that's it for my nerd rantings. Simply a must-see

UPDATE:

P.S. I don't think this is for the kids (as in 10 and under). A lot of the dialogue are a little bit too mature for the younger ones, and the story line will probably bore them some. When I saw this movie, I had no distractions, therefore it helped me enjoy it a bit more than I normally would.

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My 6 year old son borrowed this movie from my brother and I was a bit skeptical, assuming it would be a second rate children's animated movie. We started watching it and I was immediately impressed with just the images. Beautiful, creative and fantasy like. The story was great, the characters lovable and had a very nice message that wasn't delivered with too much sugar.

I am certainly purchasing this dvd for our family collection!

Review of Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker (Blu-ray/DVD Combo) (2012)

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First off, I would like to state that yes, I am a woman, and a fan of the game series. That led me to purchase this title from amazon. I had no real idea about what the film would be like, apart that it was set in the world of Dragon Age.

The aninmation style was very different that what I was expecting. Every image had an almost ethereal glow. It made everything almost too pretty, but after a bit, I got used to it.

The story itself could have been taken from Dragon Age Origins, and I liked that. It should fit in that well.

The bad guy was pretty 2 dimensional, though, I wish we'd had at least a minute or two of backstory on how he became so hideous looking, apart from the whole "I are a blood mage! RAR! I kill you all!" thing.

Would I recommend this to people who have not played the games? Yes. The story is easily accessible, and enjoyable.

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I saw the premiere of the English version of this at PAX East on April 7th 2012. I found it to be pretty entertaining. The story takes place between Dragon Age and Dragon Age II and the plot was good (no spoilers). I know some people didn't care for it, but I thought the voice acting and animation were just fine as well. Towards the end of the movie things get a little far fetched, but it's all in good fun, and hey, this is Dragon Age so some crazy heroics are expected. All in all the movie works because it doesn't take itself too seriously. It's funny at times, dramatic at others, and moves along at a good pace. Well worth the preorder price for sure.

Best Deals for Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker (Blu-ray/DVD Combo) (2012)

Let's face it, it's a video game inspired movie. It isn't something that is going to be up for Academy Awards in the US.

That said, it is definitely on the good end of the spectrum for a Video Game movie.

Personally, I like the animation style, though I can see where some might not care for cell-shaded animation.

It is definitely better than Dragon Age Redemption, though I do not fault Felicia Day or Knights of Good for the limitations of that production. Dragon Age is simply something that cannot be done on a limited budget as a live action production.

The story is predictable, and some of the voice acting isn't that great; but, again, it's a straight to DVD/Blu-Ray (atleast in the US) videogame movie made by a Japanese Studio based on a Western RPG and then dubbed with english speaking voice actors.

In the end, you probably know whether you're going to like the movie before you even read any reviews. If you're not familiar with Dragon Age, or tend to not like movies based off video games, or don't like anime you should probably skip this movie. Otherwise, you probably won't regret watching it at least once.

Honest reviews on Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker (Blu-ray/DVD Combo) (2012)

Disc 1 of this set contains the English language version of the film with optional subtitles for the hearing impaired and all of the special features. Disc 2 contains the Japanese language version of the film with optional translation subtitles.

The opening of the film has a brief history of the major religion, the Chantry. For anyone interested in the Japanese version do not panic when you put it in and this opening is in English. The rest of the movie is in Japanese after the narration is over. I don't know why they did it this way. I found it completely unnecessary and lazy. This movie was shown in Japanese theaters, so I find it hard to believe they had an English opening there.

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As long as you aren't expecting spectacular graphics, the very best in English voice acting (didn't get a chance to see this in Japanese), nor a half-decent storyline. I got a chance to see this at the Sakura-con anime convention recently. I'll admit, this isn't very best. But then, I wasn't expecting the very best.

What this movie did offer was the following:

Lots of action

An okay storyline

Good voice acting

And a few amusing scenes

I expected mindless action with amusement here and there and to be honest, it delivered and I was very entertained.

Dragons: Riders of Berk Volume 1, Ep. 1 "How to Start a Dragon Review

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We received "Dragons: Riders of Berk" today. It is just 4 episodes, but only 10 episodes have actually aired to date. It's still 88 minutes of awesomeness. We had watched a few of these on Cartoon Network and found that it was impressive for a TV series.

Episodes on this DVD:

How to Start a Dragon Academy

Viking for Hire

Animal House

The Terrible Twos

This DVD came with 5 trading cards with the main dragons featured and included fun facts about them. Those were a big hit with my child who is crazy about dragons. You can, also, use the Dream Works APP on them where it "brings the dragon cards to life" which I have yet to do.

Bottom line: If your child is a How to Train Your Dragon Fan and/or you're looking for a little side gift for the holiday season then this is a winner (if you can get it for the $9.99 price).

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Dragons: Riders of Berk Part 1 picks up following the events of the feature film How to Train Your Dragon (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Dragon Double Pack) [Blu-ray] and the holiday special DreamWorks Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury / Book of Dragons Double Pack (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Online Video Game). Luckily many of the original voice cast from the feature film return to voice their characters in this Cartoon Network TV Series. The few voices that had to be recast are masterfully done to where they sound very much like their feature film counterparts. Beyond the voice acting, the stories & animation present in this 1st season are top-notch and are a great way to pass the time until the 2nd feature film due out in 2014. One touch I like is how Hiccup narrates the beginning & end of the episodes as he did in the original film.

Part 1 consists of 2 discs with the 1st 11 episodes of season 1; each episode running approximately 22 1/2 minutes. Each disc features a "play all" function for the episodes. The dvd case comes with a slipcover and has two slips inside: one is a code for the Ultimate Battle Pack to be used in the online/mobile game School of Dragons (limited time offer); the other is a coupon good for $3 off on a new Defenders of Berk Action Dragon Toy (coupon valid from 7/30/13 to 1/31/14). The final 9 episodes of season 1 can be found on Dragons: Riders of Berk Part 2

I personally am very pleased with the video & audio presentation of the episodes. The audio is available only in English with Dolby Digital 5.1; subtitles are available in English, Spanish, and French. As with most, if not all, DreamWorks releases one of the special features is the World of DreamWorks Animation which features sneak peeks into other DreamWorks animation properties. Another Sneak Peeks section also includes some other animation theatrical trailers as well as a look at the Dragon toys for which the included coupon can be used. "Dragon Tracker Part 1" provides an overview of the 4 new types of dragons introduced in the included 11 episodes. "Evolution of Thunderdrum" is a behind the scenes look at the creation of one of these new dragons. The final bonus feature is a music video titled "Heavy Metal" Dragon Mash-Up.

The actual episodes on the 2 discs are as follows:

1) How to Start a Dragon Academy

2) Viking for Hire

3) Animal House

4) The Terrible Twos

5) In Dragons We Trust (part 1 of a 2 part episode)

6) Alvin and The Outcasts (part 2 of a 2 part episode)

7) How to Pick Your Dragon

8) Portrait of Hiccup as a Buff Man

9) Dragon Flower

10) Heather Report Part 1

11) Heather Report Part 2

Unfortunately for purchasers of the Dragons: Riders of Berk dvd premiere, the 4 episodes on that disc are repeated here; on the plus side that single disc release did include 5 exclusive dragon trading cards.

Regarding my rating of 4 stars, I based it mainly upon a semi-weak selection of bonus features. It would have been nice to see much more substantial behind the scenes features on the animation & voice talent behind this wonderful series along with possibly some deleted/abandoned scenes/story ideas and some episode commentaries. Offering the series in Blu-ray would have been good, too, as well as a single full season release vs 2 separate volumes.

The series, itself, I rate 5 stars and highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the original film. And while it would have been great to have a single full season release, don't let that stop you from picking up this terrific series; the pricing is reasonable enough to allow for purchasing both volumes. Plus you'll want to get ready for the start of season 2: Defenders of Berk which begins in September. And if you haven't seen the original feature film yet, why not??? It's definitely recommended viewing and should be seen before beginning the TV series; trust me: you'll love it!

Best Deals for Dragons: Riders of Berk Volume 1, Ep. 1 "How to Start a Dragon

If you enjoyed the fist movie in this series, How To Train Your Dragon, or have been reading the book series by the same name, you will love this new addition to the mix. This DVD has some great episodes filled with both adventure and fun. I have to say that I was not even aware that they had made this into a series until I was able to review this DVD, and after seeing it, I wish I had knows, as the episodes were great(and so funny).

You also have the opportunity to see and interact with some amazing new dragons that were not in the movie, which was a lot of fun as I am always impressed with the characteristics and personalities that the artists at Dreamworks have come up with, as they are all so unique which make watching this series and the original movie so much fun to watch.

Overall though this DVD is worth watching, as it adds much to the overall How To Train Your Dragon series, and I, for one, hope that they will continue this series in the future!

Honest reviews on Dragons: Riders of Berk Volume 1, Ep. 1 "How to Start a Dragon

My children loved the How to Train Your Dragon movie and they were so excited to see the legend would carry on with the new series, Dragons, Rider of Berk. Join Hiccup and Toothless through four all new adventures on the small screen. You'll see your old favorites, but you'll also get to meet some fun new characters, including new dragons. So far, the series has started out with a bang. I love how the show is loaded with excitement and adventure, but contains minimal violence so the series is appropriate for kids of all ages.My son has watched it at least five times in the week since it arrived.

Episodes on this DVD include:

How to Start a Dragon Academy

Viking for Hire

Animal House

The Terrible Twos

The DVD set also comes with five cool trading cards that kids can collect and that work along with the free app that was mentioned above. All in all, a this DVD is an awesome deal and fun for the whole family.

***I received a copy of this film in exchange for a fair review. All opinions are my own. See more reviews on my blog, New Age Mama***

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This "exclusive DVD premiere" is a great preview of the television series Dragons: Riders of Berk. The series is based on the film "How to Train Your Dragon" and is set after the special "Gift of the Nightfury". This DVD contains 4 episodes from the television show as well as an in depth special about the live spectacular. The voices of Hiccup, Astrid, Fishlegs, and Tuffnut are the same actors from the movie, which to me made this even better. For the character's whose actors couldn't do the television series, I couldn't even tell the difference. I like that this series features all of the teens more and we also learn about new dragons, in preparation for the announced movies planned for 2013 and 2016.

Because this is a premiere, it does not contain all of the episodes of the first season. They haven't all aired yet on tv, so I feel this is to test the waters. When the first season has aired, I would certainly consider buying it on DVD.

Best Flying Swords of Dragon Gate with English Subtitle (2011) Deals

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Dragon Inn is one of my favorite movies (Maggie Cheung!). This is a sequel of sorts with much of the action taking place in the same inn. References are made to the first film, and there are some similarities in the plots. I'm a great fan of HK martial arts films, and this one satisfied in every respect, story, cinematography (3D!), acting and action. Tsui Hark directed. Jet Li did much of the heavy lifting in the action department, but all of the actors and actresses made significant contributions. The ladies are very lovely and very lethal. (Would we want them any other way?) This is being billed as the first HK actioner in 3D, and the 3D is used very effectively. The same 3D cameras James Cameron uses were used filming this apparently. Another first I'm sure is a fight sequence inside a tornado. I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like that before. So, to sum up, the film is highly recommended if you're into this kind of movie or if you're looking for a good addition to your 3D collection.

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It's been 23 years since Jet Li has worked with Tsui Hark and you'd expect something with better results or at least a final product that doesn't feel so cluttered. At times, it's difficult to distinguish the difference between the heroes and the villains. During the time of the Ming Dynasty, the emperor's eunuchs came into power and divided themselves into the East Bureau and the West Bureau. Eunuchs in both bureaus abused their power and were notorious for being some of the most corrupt individuals around, but the West Bureau was the more feared of the two. Stuck in the middle is a vigilante named Zhou Huai'an (Li), a skilled swordsman who rejects both Bureaus and desires order to be restored to the royal throne.

That summary doesn't sound all that complicated, but once Dragon Gate and its innkeepers are introduced along with Zhang Xiao Wen (Kwai Lun-mei) and her tribe and the wandering Gu Shaotang (Li Yuchun) and her traveling partner Wind Blade (Chen Kun) who looks exactly like the head of the West Bureau Yu Huatian (also played by Chen Kun) all while a mysterious woman named Ling Yanqiu (Zhou Xun) does her best to hide a former palace maid who's now pregnant and on the run named Su Huirong (Mavis Fan), things get more than a little convoluted very quickly.

The wuxia film isn't without its strengths though. The cinematography is stunning and is nearly as beautiful and as colorful as "Hero" at times. Colors, specifically reds, blues, and greens, leap off the screen and the extremely elaborate detail of the palace walls or the designs on someone's armor look only better in high definition. Wheat fields by the water, the sepia and dry tones of the desert, and its massive impressive landscapes are just a few examples of the film's incredibly absorbing camera work.

There are at least portions of the screenplay that are well-written; its best moments are in the first half of the film when someone is being threatened with their life. "Give me some wine. Time to taste some pickled body parts," and Yu Huatian's speech about how he'll fix the East Bureau's botches are just a few examples.

All of the film's strengths are bogged down by its weaknesses though; the most guilty culprit being the wuxia itself. Most wuxia films are out of control as everyone is flying around with superhuman abilities that just leap over the line that divides the possible from the impossible. Many of the action sequences come off as goofy and extremely overzealous. If that isn't enough, the special effects will get to you.

Half the time, the people bouncing around the screen are completely computer generated and it's not even well done CG. Things like drops of blood and tables float in the air during the most heated battles. Add that along with everyone flying about and it's as if some weird anti-gravity setting was established for everyone but purposely left you in the dark about it. The entire second half of the film revolves around this massive sandstorm at Dragon Gate and these really bizarre looking yet menacing storm clouds. It sounds like it has potential, but nearly everything in the last hour is noticeably done in front of a green screen.

Having at least part of the final battle take place inside one of the several tornados caused by this sandstorm sounds pretty awesome, doesn't it? It turns out to be one of those ideas that sounds a hell of a lot better on paper as the execution comes off looking really cheap.The CG gets more and more heavy as the film progresses and it seems like things only get more and more ridiculous; not only visually but structurally as well.

In the middle of all this is this really bizarre, "let's play hard to get for three years and act like we don't need each other" love story between Zhou and Ling. Then the ending rolls around and just kind of leaves you hanging without much closure on most of the characters. Imagine hanging out with your best friend or significant other and your siblings, if you have any. The best friend tells you they're going to the store while your siblings say they're off to the park on the other side of town, but you never see any of them ever again. They're still at those locations and are still perfectly healthy. You just never bother seeing them ever again. Pretty crummy way to end a relationship, right?

"Flying Swords of Dragon Gate" looks spectacular during the scenes that were actually filmed traditionally, the screenplay at least seems to start off strong, and much of the action is extremely fast paced, so it's at least able to get your adrenaline pumping at times. Everything seems to crumble apart as soon as you try to compliment it though. The dodgy special effects really put a damper on everything as does the conclusion that doesn't really feel like it resolves much of anything. Although there is some enjoyment to be found in "Flying Swords of Dragon Gate," it's a wuxia film that is mostly very messy in every sense of the word.

Special features include Making of "Flying Swords of Dragon Gate" Part 1 (4:48) and Part 2 (9:16), Interviews with Cast and Filmmakers (20:21), Behind the Scenes (32:21), and the trailer. The only difference between the single-disc DVD and two-disc Blu-ray release of the film is the inclusion of the film in 3-D.

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I watched the original New Dragon Gate Inn a long time ago and that was a great film as well with excellent actors back then. Maggie Cheung, Brigitte Lin, Tony Leung, Donnie Yen...the original had an amazing cast with some solid actors that it'd be hard to outdo it. I wasn't sure what to expect with this version going in but I figured it wouldn't be exactly the same. I much prefer the story line of this one. It was similar in some areas but not really. There were characters in this version that wasn't present in the original but it was done well. The film was beautifully shot with some wonderful scenic views and was just pretty to watch. I had the Blu-ray so the movie was super crisp and clear. I didn't realize that this movie was filmed in 3d at first but the effects were still great in 2d. You can definitely tell how it will look in 3d in some areas but the CGI was done very well. I watched a ton of Asian cinema growing up since I'm Asian, and I love wuxia movies. I love face-paced sword fighting and there was a lot of that in this movie as well as a lot of knife throwing, which is my kind of movie . I watched pretty much all of Jet Li's movies and he does a great job as always in this one. He is probably the most recognized name, however, the supporting actors are all actors that i recognize In other movies from mainland China films so it was a great cast. This was directed by Tsui Hark so you know it's going to be a good film. It's definitely one of the better movies that have come out in 2011 and I was so excited to order it off Amazon. Definitely would recommend this as well as the original so you can compare the differences and enjoy them both!

Honest reviews on Flying Swords of Dragon Gate with English Subtitle (2011)

This is labeled as region free. I am in the US. I have a Panasonic 3D player and a Toshiba 3D tv. The main feature played fine. Trailer #1 played fine. I did not try trailer #2. When trying to play the other extras, such as behind the scenes/interviews, I got audio only, and the on screen message "unsupported video signal". Now I do have an Insignia player, a few years old, that I have been able to watch "region free" Dr Who and Torchwood blu rays on successfully. This did play the behind the scenes extras without any problems. So just be aware if you order this, there is a good chance that you may not be able to see the extras, depending upon your 3d player and tv.

As for the movie, it was great. The 3D effects were better than most US 3D movies I have watched, and I have seen dozens now. Looking forward to them making another one of these. Keep in mind that there is no English audio, however the show is just as watchable using the English subtitles, and I don't feel the subtitles detracted from the movie any anyway.

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Viewing Equipment: Epson 3010 3D PJ on a 92" Da-Lite screen. I just got done watching this and it blew my mind! The Chinese just schooled most American film makers and studios on how to really use 3D in a live-action movie. The only live action film that I have watched so far in 3D that this is comparable to is Avatar. Avatar has more jaw dropping visuals in 3D, but the action scenes in this film are truly spectacular and have to be seen to be believed. I would have loved to have watched this in Imax 3D. Holy smokes that must have been awesome!

The most negative thing about this movie is that the story telling is lacking at times leaving the viewer somewhat confused as to what is going on. The central premise of the plot remains the same throughout, so that helps. Unlike what the official Blu-ray.com reviewer alluded to; Jet Li has a solid supporting role in this film. He isn't the main star, but he is in a large portion of the film. This movie is very much an ensemble action piece. My big complaint with most 3D films is that they are conversions and aren't shot in native 3D. If you are going to charge a significant premium for 3D content than shoot the dang movies in native 3D, don't convert it! When I see Blu-Ray 3D conversions at retail stores and on-line being sold for $35-$40 I feel sick to my stomach. For every great conversion there are 10 that are just OK and nothing special. I have never understood professional reviewers who refer to pop-outs in 3D as gimmicky. 3D is all about utilizing the technology to tell your story and take it to a level that isn't otherwise possible and that includes scenes with objects that extend beyond the screen. Films that use the technology to only display depth are missing a real opportunity in most cases. Not taking advantage of what 3D is capable of is like having an exotic sports car and never testing its limits.

Once this movie got rolling I didn't want it to stop. Keep in mind that this movie is very much fantasy with characters flying around and doing things with super human strength very much like a comic book. Ghosting was an issue at times with the subtitles I was reading since the English dub just wasn't that great as usual so I left the English subtitles turned on for most of the film. The PQ, AQ, and 3D are an easy 5.0 on this release. If you own a 3D display, order this thing today! It's worth every penny and you will want to show it to your friends. It has a lot of replay value. Highly recommended!!!!!!!!

Buy How to Train Your Dragon (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Dragon

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How to Train Your Dragon is the latest from the stable of Dreamworks, but apart from the animation style, you'd never know it.

How to Train Your Dragon is the story of Hiccup, a Viking who feels out of place since he's not a fan of killing the dragons the Viking's world so revolves around in. But, when Hiccup captures the rare Night Fury Dragon and inadvertently injures it, the two become fast friends and attempt to bridge the gap of understanding between the Dragons & the Vikings. It may not sound like much, but things are deeper than they may seem here, and they are 3 reasons you need to go out and watch this movie right now.

1: Casting: Having seen Jay Baruchel as a geeky character in the film Fanboys, this film only solidifies for me the fact that Baruchel makes cliched characters feel real & brings traits out they wouldn't have otherwise, and this fact is very evident here. The same is true for the rest of the cast. In Shrek 2, Larry King was wasted in a long-running and painful transvestite joke. Here, Craig Ferguson is perfect in the role not only because he's Scottish, but he brings the appropriate mix of eccentric leadership needed for the right-hand man of Gerard Butler's character, who is also well cast. The same goes for the rest of the cast with the possible exception of Jonah Hill, who always feels out of place in almost every movie he's in.

2: Visual Effects & 3D: Now this may because the Viking environment hasn't been portrayed much on screen before, but the film is stunningly beautiful, and that's only reinforced by the 3D which is used better than Avatar in some cases, especially in the case of the flying sequences.

3: The Emotion/Uniqueness of the Film in Animation Today: The story gives way to many emotional moments in the film, all of which are played perfectly. And, not to give too much away, but at the end of the film something happens the to main character that was not only shocking to me, since I'd never seen something of its magnitude done in animation period, but to me it was also one of the most tear-jerking moments, especially in relation to what it does to the relationships & similarities between Hiccup & his dragon in the movie.

Overall, how do you train your dragon? With charm, love, understanding, amazing visuals & stunning 3-D flying sequences. This film ranks up there with Pixar's best, and if I had any criticism towards the movie, it would be the fact that it's made by Dreamworks, and with their quality lately, you don't have high expectation entering this film. Nevertheless, How to Train Your Dragon gets a fire-breathing 5 out of 5.

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I went with a total of 3 moms and 9 kids to see this movie in the theater last month. Every single one of the 12 of us loved this film, it's cute, heartwarming and a whole lot of fun. From the story of a father trying to know his son (and his son trying to know him) to the boy and beast learning mutual trust, it's full of feel good moments for the adults. From the silly antics to the cheesy jokes, it was full of entertainment for the kiddos.

This is well worth a watch and a great movie to watch with your kids you won't be bored and the kids will think you're the super cool parent that you are.

Me? I want my own dragon, darn it!

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I wanted to do a review not on the movie (which I loved) but on the Single Disc Blu-Ray itself so you can determine whether you want to buy the Single Disc or the Two Disc Blu-Ray/DVD Combo as it relates to bonus features since this info wasn't readily available when I was trying to make my decision.

Overall = 3 1/2 stars

Movie = 5 stars

Blu-Ray Single Disc Features = 2 stars

Like many reviewers of "How to Train Your Dragon," I loved this movie!! There were so many wonderful aspects of this movie that other reviewers have already noted (e.g. the unique take on the dragon story, the outstanding animation, the wonderful voice acting combined with the life-like expressions of the characters, the musical score, etc.), that I couldn't wait to get this on blu-ray when it came out. The issue was which version to get since I only wanted to see this movie on blu-ray, and didn't need an extra disc. Therefore, the easy solution would be to buy the Single Disc. However, I also wanted all the extras (such as the deleted scenes and the 17 minute extra short story, along with your other typical extras that are found on disc). The problem was that there is no description on what the bonus features would be on the Single Disc or what's missing. So, I did a little research of the reviewer comments, did a global search online and even called Amazon's customer service, all of which/whom had limited or conflicting information. I guess the safe thing to assume moving forward is that if it's not listed, there are probably very few extras.

However, I took a risk and purchased the Single Disc blu-ray since there was no conclusive info either way, and I didn't want to end up with a DVD I was never going to use (particularly given the $4.50 price difference between the Single vs. Two Disc Combo). When the Single Disc arrived, I checked the package and it alluded to extras but didn't contain a listing so I literally had to open the disc and play the blu-ray. Here is a list of what you get with the blu-ray that's contained in the Single Disc vs. the blu-ray contained in the Two Disc Blu-Ray/DVD Combo b/c they are quite different.

EXTRAS IN SINGLE DISC BLU-RAY

* Viking-Sized Cast

* The Technical Artistry of Dragon

* Filmmakers' Commentary

* The Animators' Corner

* Trivia Track

* Dreamworks Animation Video Jukebox

EXTRAS IN BLU-RAY CONTAINED IN TWO DISC BLU-RAY/DVD COMBO PACK

Blu-ray includes:

* Legend of the BoneKnapper Dragon: Hiccup and the gang return to search for a mysterious dragon in this all-new adventure

* The Animators' Corner Enhances the Movie-Viewing Experience through Picture-in-Picture Storyboards, Behind-the-Scenes Footage and Insightful Interviews

* Uncover More Dragon Fun Facts through Pop-Up Trivia

* Three Deleted Scenes are Revealed

* Author Cressida Cowell Shares Her Inspiration

* Learn to Draw Toothless

* Take the Viking Personality Test

* Race for the Gold in the Viking Winter Games

* Build Your Own 3D Dragons

And More Fiery Fun!

DVD Disc:

* Filmmakers' Commentary

* Viking-sized Cast

* The Technical Artistry of Dragons

So, if you're focused on getting a lot more extras on your blu-ray (like me), I would highly recommend getting the Two Disc version (vs. the Single Disc that I ended up buying). If you are mainly focused on the movie itself and a handful of extras, then go with the Single Disc. Hope this helps in your decision-making.

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The first Shrek and Kung Fu Panda were both very close to Pixar level in terms of storytelling, but How to Train Your Dragon is the best by far from Dreamworks. The animation is very high in detail, especially in IMAX 3-D, and the characters are not only likeable, but memorable. The main dragon, Toothless, is one of the greatest animated characters in a long time, and like Wall-E, he doesn't even talk. All of the other species of dragons also have unique looks and personalities. The flying sequences here really show the power of 3-D as a tool to put the viewer in the movie, not just a gimmick. I would say it's second only to Avatar when viewed through those funny looking glasses.

This film is more serious in tone than laugh out loud funny, much like the latest from Pixar (UP, Wall-E, etc.), but it does have quite a few laughs that come naturally, not forced. I'm so glad they stayed away from pop culture references. Both kids and parents will love How to Train Your Dragon equally and probably for much different reasons. The only thing that I didn't care for were the first 10 minutes or so. Not that they are bad in any way, but it felt a little rushed. Once the film settles and Hiccup (the boy viking) meets the dragon, everything begins to click. The only other negative is that every kid is going to want a pet dragon for their birthday. Good luck with that!

4 and 1/2 out of 5 stars

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Vikings are by all accounts burly, hairy, looming, and fierce, and that's probably just the womenfolk. Hiccup, the movie's sometime narrator, isn't your average tough and brawly Viking. Hiccup happens to be a hapless, noodly-figured, often scorned Viking teenager, and that his father is the intimidating village chief is maybe the sole reason why he isn't kicked more to the curb. Hiccup spends most of his days trying to prove himself to the warrior community. He only keeps on embarrassing himself. He's often relegated to the smithy, indoors and safe as the blacksmith's lowly apprentice.

Hiccup's village sits on a desolate island, and it's a bleak living, made even more arduous by frequent encroachments of ravaging, fire-breathing dragons. Hundreds of years have seen these battle-craving Vikings hunting down these dragons, and Hiccup is expected to step into this manly habit. Except that Hiccup, an outsider and more introspective than most, will sort of accidentally topsy turvy that age-old tradition. But that's only if he makes it thru dragon slaying school. And if he survives his efforts to befriend the elusive Night Fury dragon.

DreamWorks Animation still lags behind Pixar, but HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON goes a ways in garnering street cred for DreamWorks. It's real easy to get behind the story, its themes and philosophies, and the likable central character. The best things or, rather, my favorite bits about this film all have to do with Hiccup hanging out with his dragon and incidentally picking up invaluable insights in dealing with dragons. Toothless the Night Fury dragon is awesome and wonderfully expressive. Whenever Toothless springs into action, the film pulses with an exhilarating sense of adventure. These moments are when we're reminded that Toothless may be adorable but he's still very much a formidable presence. The message of tolerance and open-mindedness is naturally integrated into the story, so thankfully this doesn't at all feel like one of those very special Blossom episodes.

The animation is really excellent, with the CG artists opting for more playful, more exaggerated renditions of the human characters and the dragons. The most realistically rendered elements turn out to be the atmospheric land-, sea-, and skyscapes. The dragon flights in this film are as breathtaking as those we saw in AVATAR. It makes me wish I'd seen this in 3D. I don't know why these Vikings have burry Scottish accents, but it does give us a chance to listen to the always funny Craig Ferguson (Gobber), so it's all good. Gerard Butler, who plays Hiccup's bullish father, channels his roaring persona from 300.

So I've got the 2-DVD set. Disc 1 has the feature presentation and the following bonus stuff:

Audio commentary with Filmmakers Chris Sanders, Dean DeBlois, and Bonnie Arnold

"Viking-Sized Cast" has interviews with the voice actors (00:11:44 minutes long)

"The Technical Artistry of HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON" a focus on the film's state-of-the-art CG technology (00:10:13)

"Get Your Game On" previews the HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON and KUNG FU PANDA WORLD video games

Trailers to SHREK FOREVER AFTER, THE PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR, THE LAST AIRBENDER, and the upcoming MEGAMIND

The trailer to and a Behind the Scenes segment on SHREK THE MUSICAL

The second DVD offers the fun animated short, LEGEND OF THE BONEKNAPPER DRAGON. It runs at around 16 minutes long. Taking place some time after the events in the film, this one tells of how the blacksmith Gobber, Hiccup and his young Viking friends embark on a quest across the icy seas for the mythical Boneknapper dragon. But they end up stranded on a barren rock formation. This short also features moments of old school 2D animation (whenever Gobber is flashing back to one of his rather far-fetched stories). My biggest beef with this short: Toothless is barely in this one.

Bonus material for this second DVD:

3 Deleted Scenes from the feature film, done in rough storyboard sketches, with intros from Director/Co-Writer Dean DeBlois (total running time: 00:07:34 minutes)

"The Story Behind the Story" presents an interview with HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON author Cressida Cowell (00:07:40 minutes)

""Racing for the Gold" is a fun, quick, animated peek into four categories within the Viking Winter Games (bobsledding, speed skating, ski jumping, and snowboarding) and also the medal ceremony for that greatest of Viking sports, Dragon Training (the top medal is made out of ham)

Animator Gabe Hordos instructs on "How to Draw Toothless" (00:10:57)

"Take the Viking Personality Test" Take a multiple-choice survey to learn which of the characters in the film you're most like

"DreamWorks Animation Video Jukebox" allows you to click on songs from previous DreamWorks animated flicks: "I'm a Believer" (SHREK), "I Like To Move It, Move It" (MADAGASCAR), "Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting" (KUNG FU PANDA), "Rockin' the Suburbs" (OVER THE HEDGE), and "Here Comes the Sun" (BEE MOVIE)

"Dragon Activity Center" Insert this DVD into your PC and access the following DVD-ROM activities: "Build Your Own Dragons" (construct a life-size Toothless, a 3D Gronckle, a 3D Terrible Terror, and a 3D Night Fury) and "Viking Zone" (a peek at Viking Accessories, Viking & Dragon Masks, Flashlight Patterns, Growth Chart, Coloring Pages, and Stickers)

Buy The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

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When American filmmakers decided to put forth a second adaptation of the Swedish vampire/drama/horror film, "Let the Right One In", a mere two years after the first one had been released in Sweden, I was pretty angry. Like many other geeks who'd seen the original adaptation of the Swedish novel, I thought that not enough time had passed(2 years)since the release of the first film, and that there was certainly no justification for the second adaptation. Additionally, the Swedish "Let the Right One In" adaptation was an unbelievably well made film(a classic in my opinion)and I believed that an attempt at an American adaptation so soon after the advent of the original film was somewhat disrespectful. "At least allow the original film to occupy its place in the horror pantheon for at least a few years before some hack director is given permission to besmirch the legacy of the first film with his/her adaptation," is what I'd said to myself after becoming privy to the announcement of the new film.

After initially vowing never to see the American adaptation of "Let the Right One In", the relentless positive buzz that preceded the film's release date led to a change of heart. Immediately after watching the American adaptation I thought "Wow. I am so glad that I decided to watch this movie." The American adaptation was different from the Swedish adaptation in many ways. In fact, the American film had some good qualities that did not exist in the Swedish version. That said, I enjoyed both movies immensely. Each movie appealed to a distinct part of my whole personality, thereby engendering a richer experience for me. Most of the professional critics would probably agree.

Fast forward to December 21, 2011, and the movie going public is faced with a similar phenomenon. In 2009, a Swedish adaptation of the Stieg Larson novel, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", was released to critical and box office acclaim in Sweden. It was then transferred to the United States for limited release. The film became a critical and popular hit in the United States, made a star out of actress Noomi Rapace(who did a great job as the lead) and eventually made an American idol out of the novel's heroine, Lisbeth Salander. Again, a mere two years passes between the release of both films, and thankfully, the film's director is no Bret Ratner. He is David Fincher, the brilliant auteur who has directed seminal films such as "Seven", "Fight Club", and the "Social Network". With Fincher's name attached to the American Adaptation, it gains instant credibility. However, lovers of the first film are still skeptical. They are afraid that the new version will not live up to the standards of the original adaptation. Well, I'm here to say that the hand wringers can rest easy. David Fincher's version of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" is just as good, if not better, than the Swedish original.

Many of you who are reading this review are familiar with Stieg Larson's novel. It features a character named Lisbeth Salander, a 24 year old genius computer hacker whose life has been made very difficult because of the psychological/sexual/physical abuse that has been put upon her by male authority figures. Because of this abuse, Lisbeth comes to despise men. That is until she comes into contact with disgraced journalist, Mikael Blomkvist, with whom she teams up with to solve the 40 year old "murder" of Harriet Vagner, a relative of wealthy businessman, Henrik Vagner. As they investigate the disappearance of Harriet, Lisbeth and Mikael become involved in a sexual relationship, where upon Lisbeth develops feelings for the rakish reporter. They are able to solve the case together even as the relationship between Mikael and Lisbeth becomes complicated.

All of the actors do well for themselves in this movie adaptation, especially actress Rooney Mara, who really gives her all as Lisbeth. Noomi Rapace was great as Lisbeth in the Swedish version of "The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo". However, Rooney Mara's physical and psychological interpretation of the damaged Lisbeth really grabs you. Anyone who has read the book will tell you that Rooney Mara's Lisbeth fits more with their idealized image of Lisbeth; an emaciated, pale, sexy, and sometimes androgynous girl/woman with a really nasty streak if provoked. Rooney has already been nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance, and is predicted to get more attention during the upcoming awards season. Daniel Graig is solid as Mikael Blomkvist, and Stellen Skarsgard gives a scary, creepy performance as Martin Vanger. Oh, and special kudos to Yorick Van Waginengen, whose performance as Bjurman(Lisbeth's abusive social worker) really makes you despise his character. You will rejoice when he receives his comeuppance in a brutal scene.

David Fincher's version of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" moves much quicker than the Swedish version, even though the film runs almost 3 hours. Everything about Fincher's film is leaner/edgier than the previous version: the lead characters are younger and nastier, the editing is quicker, and the dialog is sharper. Much more of Stieg Larson's story is told in David Fincher's movie than in the previous version; and this allows the director to really develop the relationship between Lisbeth and Mikael. I also like the tone of this movie. It's a dark, cold and gray movie. I don't think that the sun ever shines in one scene, and given the subject matter of the film(female rape and murder)it would be wrong for the movie to be filmed in any other way besides the dark and gray.

So go watch this movie. You'll be sufficiently transfixed by it. And if you haven't seen the Swedish version of the film, watch that too. They are both wonderful movies, and the positive critical reception is nearly identical for both movies as well. A warning though. If you have not seen the first movie or read the books, prepare yourself for some disturbing content.

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The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo has a rather large fan following and for good reason. The 2009 Swedish film is incredibly solid and well-acted with just the right amount of wrong. The two sequels that followed had their own uphill battles (switching directors, lower budget, etc) and weren't necessarily bad, but just failed to capture that raw emotional tenacity the original film offered. When news of a remake began making the usual rounds, there was a fairly large uproar amongst the internet community (isn't there always?), especially when it was announced Noomi Rapace wouldn't be returning as Lisbeth Salander. Most American remakes aren't directed by David Fincher though and while it isn't vastly different in comparison to its Swedish counterpart, Fincher has at least improved upon what was already a fantastic piece of cinema.

The opening of the film was a bit unexpected. "The Immigrant Song" cover by Trent Reznor and Karen O plays over these really fluid visuals that are a bit hard to describe. Imagine the T-1000 from Terminator 2 made of motor oil or tar instead of metal and you have a pretty good idea of what to expect. It was just very different from other film credits from the rest of the year while also being very sleek, very stylish, and very David Fincher.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is extremely dialogue driven, so be prepared for a lot of talking. It feels very similar to Zodiac in that sense yet more captivating. Even though I had seen the original film and knew most of the major plot points, I still found myself getting sucked into the story. Even if you hate this version of the film and your loyalty remains firmly with the Swedish film, you can probably at least agree that Fincher's version is visually the better of the two. The cinematography is just brilliant. You've gotten teases in the trailers, but the coldest winter in 20 years for Sweden looks so bloody fantastic on screen; the amazing scenery, those long drives through the snow, feeling like you're on the back of Lisbeth's motorcycle as she roars through a tunnel, and the inner shot of a plastic bag among many other things. The film is just a joy to look at from beginning to end.

The score is also just as brilliant as the one for The Social Network, if not slightly better. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross seem to explore territory they didn't get to explore on The Social Network score. This one seems to feature more out of tune instruments, which is an interesting touch. The score hints at rising tension throughout the film always making you feel like there's always something else to the story lurking around the corner waiting for the right moment to strike. It's haunting, unnerving, and just spectacular overall.

Noomi Rapace was an exceptional Lisbeth Salander and with that said so is Rooney Mara. Just the amount of devotion she put into the role with the piercings being genuine, bleaching her eyebrows, cutting her hair, learning how to ride a motorcycle, using a very convincing Swedish accent, coming off as being just as messed up as her appearance lets on, and being completely nude is an incredible accomplishment. It's not out of the question to believe that a role this physical could get her nominated for best actress at the Academy Awards. The entire cast just seems like they fit their roles a bit better than they did in the Swedish film. This is one of the only performances of Daniel Craig's I can actually say I enjoyed while Stellan Skarsgård is just wonderfully demented. Then there's Yorick van Wageningen that's just downright despicable as Nils Bjurman. It doesn't seem like it's something as simple as "oh, you're showing favoritism towards a remake because it's in English now." That isn't the case at all. Fincher's attention to detail to the source material is practically Kubrick-like. It shows in every frame of the film.

Fincher's version also seems to feature a lot more of Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander being together. They have more sex and they're featured together more on-screen in comparison to the Swedish version. It was a nice addition that made the slightly altered ending a lot more impactful. The whistling doors in Martin's house were also amazing. I can't recall if that was in the Swedish version or not, but it brought a smile to my face with how something so small meant so much.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is obviously not going to be for everybody. It relies on extremely long discussions to drive most of the two and a half hour duration of the film. In between though, it becomes difficult to watch mostly with how Nils Bjurman handles giving Lisbeth more money and her response. Lisbeth's response will more than likely have you tiptoeing out of the theater as delicately as possible since you'll still be feeling it. With a phenomenal cast, incredibly rich cinematography, a brilliant score, and Rooney Mara's best performance to date, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is not only an improvement over the original but easily one of the best films of the year.

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After viewing the fairly well-produced and well-adapted "Girl" trilogy of films (based on the Millennium novels by the late Stieg Larrson) by director Niels Arden Oplev, the question, "Why see yet another version of this same story?" (even if it is done in English, Hollywood style) may just cross one's mind especially in a diminished economy where frugality renders duplication superfluous. However close to the perfection of the author's vision Noomi Rapace's performance might have been, Rooney Mara's incarnation of Lisbeth Salander seems more nuanced; she smolders with anger and vengeance like her predecessor, but withdraws in pretty silhouettes with a psychological vulnerability that endows her with even more antisocial magnetism and hints at the underbelly personal history yet to be revealed.

Even though easy-on-the-eyes Daniel Craig, as the intrepid journalist Mikhal Blomkvist, more than adequately portrays the likeable character with a winning, almost unconscious self-consciousness, he conciliatorily fades into the background when Mara is on the screen. As in the novel, Salander's edgy efficiency and genius works well against a backdrop of a seemingly well-oiled society equipped with high-speed trains and technology yet rotting from within with a moral corruptness that suggests repressed aggression. Mara's face mirrors both Lisbeth's fierce rebellion and the forever scars she wears like a tattoo of resistant resilience.

Director David Fincher deviates a bit from the gospel of the Larsson text--his Lisbeth admits her past openly to Blomkvist in a TMI scene that isn't true to the sensibility of the written character. Perhaps, Fincher, worried about the reception of this English version and concerned about executing its sequels, reveals too much to accentuate Lisbeth's misplaced sense of betrayal regarding Blomkvist's limited yet open promiscuity. Perhaps, his perception of her desire to please Blomkvist with her openness and her body even after brutal sexual subjugation underlines her role as woman and her place despite her genius and injured sensibility. This is, after all, a novel, that in Europe tellingly goes by the Swedish title "Män som hatar kvinnor" which translates into English as "Men who hate women." The novel's section headings are marked with statistics regarding the percentages of women brutalized by men which, along with key instances in the plotline describing women reduced to victim status due to the sadistic and masochistic actions of their supposed caretakers or loved ones, suggest that even with the seemingly blasé attitude regarding casual sexual relationships and equality amongst the sexes, there is indeed some disturbing issue that in this culture cannot be rectified by the actions of government or authority but by taking the matter into one's own very capable vigilante hands.

In addition, rather than have the duo work together as in the novel to eventually reveal the initiator of a forty-year-old crime, Fincher chooses to film parallel sequences of enlightenment set to the fast-paced sound of European motorcycles and the edgy organic music of the Oscar-winning team of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. This works to cut the overall time of what could have easily been a three-hour police procedural instead of a fascinating character study of an societal outcast and her soon-to-be crusading knight errant.

Fincher misses a key flashback scene opportunity where Lisbeth stands and watches the killer die as his car bursts into flames. Why not have his protagonist shudder with that remembrance from her own past and give the audience the thrill of mutual understanding? For those non-novel readers, why not an anticipatory frisson of what is to come in the next two installments? Maybe Fincher thought this would be a TMI moment.

Bottom line? Director David Fincher (The Social Network) compacts Stieg Larsson's rambling novel The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium Trilogy) into two hours and 38 minutes of intense film introducing to a mainstream English speaking audience the edgy pathology and survival of Dragon Girl--social misfit, rebel and genius, Lisbeth Salander. Be warned the film contains violent rape, the depiction of a mutilated animal and stills of misogynistic torture. The strength of Rooney Mara's portrayal of the lead character is more than enough reason to revisit this newer version. Recommended.

Diana Faillace Von Behren

"reneofc"

Honest reviews on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

All of these comments are modulo IMO only, personal taste will come through. I'm not rehashing the synopsis you already know it.

It was a faithful enough rendering of the Larsson story. I think Craig worked extremely well, I was pleasantly surprised by his subtle repertoire of gestures, movements and facial expressions that spoke volumes. Mara was fantastic but not as perfect a fit for Salander. The crucial scene imo was her `Terminator Mode' when attacking Bjurman, Mara was simply not ferocious enough.

Way too much talking and techno-explanation, no need to follow the book, everyone knew there was a camera there, all she had to do was turn on the TV done. On the other hand the fact that her laptop was broken is so easy to miss at the end of the subway shot. This, imo, was important in linking why she needed money.

The editing is absolutely top notch, it tells the story effortlessly, won the Academy I think. Photography and setting are perfect. Bits are changed from the book and some are borrowed from the second book, but no biggie. Great twist and deviation from the book -about Harriet near the end.

Coolest Scene: Salander is asking Craig 007 licensed to kill Blomkvist "May I kill him?" What do you think he said? ;)

Hardest to watch: Salander trying to shower after the brutality. In that few seconds scene is her entire character and Mara nails it. You can feel the horror and agony. (As I recall it's also the first time we get to see the dragon)

Sweetest scene: Blomkvist runs his hand up her back as she is lying face down hacking away, when he removes it she says, "Put your hand back on my back." 100% feminine. And Craig with the typical clueless duffus male lookdoes exactly as she instructs. Perfection.

Best technical moment: She is writing a query not typical system/app code to do a database search. That made me smile.

Most subtle: Everyone is using an Apple machine, except the killer, it looked like a PC monitor. (And no I hate Apple and their It's my way or the hiway. And yes the wife (aka the master) *made* me buy two iMacs)

Side comment: Salander is again IMO one of my favorite Science Fiction characters of all time The Stainless Steel Rat Jim DiGriz

Aside: The graphic novel Vol I. OMG I was almost physically sick.

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I just got done reading the book a week before this came out so I decided to watch the unedited Swedish version cause I heard how good it was and I figured that the Swedish version would probably be more accurate then the US version (Hollywoods track record of converting books to movies accurately isn't very good.) But I was very surprised the Swedish version changes too much I found myself saying "That didn't happen like that" alot.

So my expectations for this version were kinda low. Wow was I wrong. Someone in Hollywood discovered how to read the book 1st then make the movie. Sure they didn't get completely right but the changes were small for the most part and small enough to where they didn't bother me too much(Still did though).

Over all I enjoyed this version over the Swedish version and hope they decided to remake The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest as well.