Reviews of I Am Legend (Ultimate Collector's Edition) (2008)

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"I Am Legend" is not a film that sticks closely to it's source material. While that is it's biggest flaw, it is also where it shines. If you ha told me two years ago that I'd get misty-eyed watching Will Smith sing "Three Little Birds" in a big budget motion picture I'd have laughed myself silly, but this adaptation of Richard Mathson's untouchable novel that -while itself being a vampire storyinspired the entire zombie film genre as we know it takes the story we all know whether we've read the book or not and turns it into an exceptionally personal affair for all of us. One man. One dog. A familiar metropolis deserted by day, but crawling with death by nightfall. This is our setting and it's one that never gets old for me.

The plague that wipes out Robert Neville's world is never fully explained, simply inferred to be the result of some sort of failed cure for cancer. Gone from the novel and the original Vincent Price classic, The Last Man on Earth, is the long struggle of Neville to save his ill daughter, his wife's tranformation, and the shocking actions of the US government to contain the plague. What it left is simply one man, alone trying to maintain his sanity and hopelessly searching for a cure to a disease that has already wiped humanity off the face of the earth and left the "survivors" as rabid vampiric horrors. It's sad, it's pathetic, and it's perfectly human. Will Smith has a penchant for picking terrible, schmaltzy films to star in, but no one can deny his talent and charisma as a leading man. Naturally, this is a film he must carry single-handedly and he does an awesome job of it; he's dramatic, he's relateable, and at times, he is funny. The humor is that of the dark and inappropriate kind, but in a world like his, that is all there is left.

The vampires/zombies/infected in this are all CG and more than a bit reminiscent of Gollum from The Lord of the Rings. I'm not a fan of these kind of effects when practical would have been more effective and was acutely aware of the fact that I watching computer-generated monsters, but they worked nonetheless. The infected prove to be terrifying foes for Neville to face, combining suprising cunning, inhuman strength, and impossible agility (hence the CG). Their only weakness is that sunlight kills them almost instantly. Neville plays a game of cat-and-mouse with them, gathering supplies, researching cure, and searching for survivors by day while making sure to get back to his fortified apartment before nightfall when the creatures come out to hunt for his hiding place. More than a few shades of 28 Days Later are present in this film, which is funny considering the book and it's film offspring are largely what provided the elements of that film. So I guess the genre has officially come full circle now.

Ultimately, it's the personal touches that make "I Am Legend" such a treat. Bob Marley provides both the soundtrack to Robert Neville's day and the inspiration for his work, which is both ironic and uplifting at times. This may sound strange for a horror flick, but if you are a fan of Marley (himself a Legend) it makes all the sense in the world as you watch. Watching Neville attempt to interact with mannequins he's set up as he returns the movies he rents (in alphabetical order, one at a time) and seeing him snap when one of the figures is moved is both amusing and, at times, intensely disturbing. When relief finally comes, Neville finds he has lost the ability to interact with other humans at all and is relegated to performing lines from "Shrek", which is playing on his television at the time. The ending is a complete 180 from the book which is disappointing, but not as corny as it could have been. The novel I Am Legend has one of the most brilliant and darkly ironic endings ever put on paper, but director Francis Lawrence didn't ruin it by go for the happy ending either. The result is a compromise between the pitch blackness of the book and the cloying cheese that many Will Smith fans love. It turns out a bittersweet and hopeful conclsion that should satisfy both while not thrilling either. But I left the theater with "Redemption Song" still ringing in my ears and a satisfied feeling. If only every movie could do that for me.

"I Am Legend" fails to adapt the book of the same name to the big screen, but succeeds in so many other ways. I can't give it a perfect score, but I will give it a very hearty recommendation to fans of Will Smith, zombies, vampires, and Bob Marley. Enjoy.

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I Am Legend can't get a fair shake. This Will Smith-led production is the third attempt Hollywood has made to adapt the brilliant novel. None of the adaptions have truly done the novel justice (which is a shame), but this version has come the closest.

Here we have a brilliant beginning; footage of a scientist (played beautifully by Emma Thompson) saying humbly that she's discovered a way to cure cancer. Fast forward a few years, and New York is utterly devoid of human life, save for Robert Neville (Will Smith). As the first half of the film progresses, we learn about his meager living, spending the day harvesting and trying to discover a cure, even now, while spending the night huddled in his protected home as creatures prowl.

His only companion, a wonderful dog named Sam, protects Neville as Neville protects him. They have a friendship based on loneliness and the human need for someone or something to hold onto. Sam is Neville's only connection to the past and the only way to represent what little humanity is left, either in the world or Neville himself. This period in the movie is pitch perfect, puncuated by one or two terrifying sequences that instill genuine horror.

Unfortunately, the last half of the film deteriorates into an action movie that completely changes the meaning of the words "I Am Legend." Don't get me wrong, it's mostly done really well. Constantine director Francis Lawrence has a good handle on the action and delivers some good scenes. But, it becomes muddled and veers off completely from the novel. My biggest complaint, though, is the use of CGI. Instead of using real flesh and blood actors, all of the creatures are created with CG and they look incredibly fake when lined up next to real people. In the beginning, it's not a problem but as you see more of them (and you will) it's glaringly obvious. And annoying.

All of this I was expecting going in, though. Considering that the film was co-written by Akiva Goldsman who also wrote I, Robot, I knew this version would stray from the source material just as I, Robot did. As a movie, it's genuinely thrilling and creates the perfect balance of tension and action through most of its entirety. And, surprisingly, Will Smith shows that he's a really good actor as he has to not only tackle many conflicting emotions during the two hour run time but he also has to do so without having much of anyone to react to. Spending a good hour or so without another single actor for Will Smith to work with was a gamble and it paid off.

Your enjoyment of the film is entirely based on what you bring to the table. If you're coming to this film expecting to see the book come to life you'll be sorely disappointed. However, if you're looking for a good action movie that actually has a good story and a human aspect, you'll be hard-pressed to find one as thrilling recently.

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This third incarnation of Richard Matheson's masterpiece is superior to its predecessors in every way, but in spite of that achievement the film is still lacking and comes across as a disappointment in too many ways.

I can't bear to rehash the plot as nearly everyone knows this story by now, and if you are one of the few unfamiliar with this story, then please read Amazon's well-written synopsis or Trashcanman's excellent review in the Spotlight review section. I just plan to hit what I enjoyed about this film and what was so disappointing.

The Hits:

(1) Another top-notch, winning performance by the ever reliable and likable Will Smith.

(2) Outstanding set designs combined with CGI effects of a desolate and abandoned New York City make this film seem more important than it is.

(3) Best adaptation of Matheson's highly influential novel (even if it isn't the most faithful to the story in a literal sense --it captures the spirit of his work extremely well).

The Misses:

(1) The most glaring problem with this film, in my view, is the CGI effects for the vampire-like survivors of the plague. They are too cartoonish for me and appear far too much like video game villains. A good example of this for me is the early scene where Smith's character enters a building to get his dog and finds some zombies hiding in a corner. They are real people, not CGI, and they are frightening; however, later, when he's attacked by CGI zombies, it is unintentionally humorous as they appear like Gollum from LOTR on acid. The CGI effects are either not believable or just too over-the-top, thus, the scenes with them lose their punch.

(2) Uneven pacing of the story is a problem here. The opening segments give the impression that we are going to see a masterpiece here, but the second half of the film never matches the first half and it feels very rushed. It has that "hey, guys, we just ran out of money, so we have to wrap up this film up this week" feel to it. In a film with a deliberate and nearly dignified opening to fall into a shoddy rushed finale severely hurts this film and leaves a bad taste in one's mouth.

The film is still solid entertainment in spite of its obvious and significant flaws. It is probably one I will even buy when it becomes available on DVD later, but it is rather disappointing for a film that seemed to have so much going for it. Its box office receipts may reinforce that perception as it set opening weekend records with a take of about $77 million, but by its third weekend it only grossed about $15 million and that is a severe drop off. For a film that reportedly cost $150 to make it has grossed a disappointing $228 after a month at the box-office. That doesn't even qualify it has a hit with a mere $78 million dollar profit at this point. I do think it will be a hit after it's been released world-wide.

BTW: Some may ask, "What is a hit by today's standards?" That's a good question with really no one set answer, however, Hollywood traditionally likes to see a film generate double what it cost to make in order to classify a film as a hit. This film with a cost of $150 million to make is expected to earn $300 million to be considered a hit, but certain stars, like Will Smith, are expected to bring in better than double the cost of the film (hence, why this may end up being considered a "disappointment" at the box-office even if it hits the magic $300M mark).

Honest reviews on I Am Legend (Ultimate Collector's Edition) (2008)

Richard Matheson's book has a 'hook' that has never been exploited in any adaptaptation (although the Vincent Price version is the closest) and that is the variation on the 'One-Eyed Man in the country of the blind...'

The Vampires have taken over there is no cure

Accept it they have

And that's the point. When you are the only odd one in a world that has been turned topsy turvey night is day and day is night then you are the monster and the monsters are normal. Civilization continues in the hours of darkness, and mankind somehow adapts. It is perfectly logical that they would try to destroy the creature that's killing them while they sleep, and that they would fear him. Neville's final words in the book "I am anaethema I am legend." sums it all up. When mutation is normality the normal man is a monster to be feared and destroyed.

Someday, some screewriter and director will figure this out and tell Matheson's story.

This isn't it.

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Richard Matheson's novel "I Am Legend" has been made into at least three motion pictures -"The Last Man on Earth" (Vincent Price), "The Omega Man" (Charlton Heston), and "I Am Legend" (Will Smith) -and has served as inspiration for dozens of others. The story combines science fiction and horror in a bleak, pessimistic view of the future of mankind.

In the latest version, "I Am Legend," Smith stars as Robert Neville, a scientist who was unable to halt the spread of an incurable, man-made virus. Immune to the fatal virus, Neville is the sole human survivor in what remains of New York City and possibly the world. His only companion is his dog, Samantha. But mutant plague victims -the Infected -lurk in the darkness, watching Neville's every move and waiting for him to make a fatal mistake. Day to day, Neville is driven by a single mission: to find a way to reverse the effects of the virus. To do so, he must use his own immune blood.

"I Am Legend" is by far the most ambitious of the three screen adaptations of Matheson's novel. The opening scenes, showing a deserted Times Square overgrown with vegetation, are spectacular, and Smith manages to keep the story flowing in the early scenes even though he's the only person we see. Flashbacks illustrate the stages leading up to the present near-obliteration of humanity and are elaborately staged by director Francis Lawrence. The film's third act resorts to a fairly routine formula of the hero versus the monsters but, overall, "I Am Legend" is an impressive effort.

The "I Am Legend Ultimate Collector's Edition" is just the thing for sci-fi and Will Smith fans. The three-disc box set contains two versions of the movie, one with a controversial ending; a digital copy of the film; four animated comics; 12 never-before-seen deleted scenes along with filmmaker's commentary; a 44-page concept sketch book; a lucite commemorative piece featuring images from the movie; and hours of featurettes covering filming on the aircraft carrier Intrepid, canine training, making New York City look deserted, assistance provided by the U.S. Military, and the integration of CGI images with live action footage.

Discount Ben-Hur (50th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition) (2011)

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William Wyler's Oscar-winning BEN-HUR (1959), produced by Sam Zimbalist (who died of a heart attack near the end of filming) and based on a best-selling late 19th Century novel by Lew Wallace, is one hell of a movie experience. Watching a brand-new, pristine camera negative copy, I could not believe that the opening Nativity scene and the Resurrection finale were the same movie. There is just so much here. This remake of the 1925 silent epic, runs 3 hours and 45 minutes, including powerful roadshow bookend music by Miklos Rozsa. It takes its leisurely time in telling the story of a Jew (Charlton Heston) and a Roman (Stephen Boyd), raised as best friends, who become bitter enemies in the Holy Land of Jesus Christ's life. Director Wyler was always known as a painstaking perfectionist who would exhaust cast and crew by doing take after take after take of every scene. But the result for the audience is enthralling.

Wyler had never made a Biblical epic before and wanted to work in every genre; his BEN-HUR is the one with a literate brain. It is hard to believe it had major writing problems, multiple writers, and scenes written the night before they would be filmed. It flows beautifully and is continually engrossing, despite its near four hour length. The cast is impeccable, including Martha Scott, Cathy O'Donnell, Jack Hawkins, lovely Haya Harareet, and Oscar winner Hugh Griffith.

If you are looking for the sea battle (directed by Andrew Marton), it is about 70 minutes into part one. If you are seeking out the greatest chariot race in movie history (choreographed and directed by Yakima Canutt), it is about ten minutes after the intermission. The Christ scenes are handled with taste and subtlety; we see only his back or his hand and never hear his voice. In fact, non-Christians might have a difficult time understanding what is going on in those scenes with Jesus, including an impressive Sermon on the Mount near the movie's end. The art direction and costumes are absolutely gorgeous, and Robert Surtees' use of ultra wide-screen Camera 65 is masterful. Most of all, Miklos Rozsa contributes the music score of a lifetime. Everyone won Oscars for their distinguished work. No wonder this BEN-HUR won eleven Oscars the same year as SOME LIKE IT HOT, NORTH BY NORTHWEST, and ANATOMY OF A MURDER. It is a masterpiece. The audio commentary, by scholar and author Gene Hatcher and Mr. Heston, is thoughtful and insightful.

The 1925 silent version, starring Ramon Novarro as Ben-Hur and Francis X. Bushman as Messala, is on disk three of the new and magnificent four disk set. In some ways it is even more impressive than the remake. Novarro and Bushman give performances of a lifetime, the 143 minute length is a good 75 minutes shorter than the 1959 version, the color tinting is very beautiful, the sea battle and chariot race are sensationally good by any standards, and the silent version has far more Jesus Christ scenes and in two-color Technicolor. Carl Davis' orchestra score is outstanding, as always.

The disk four bonuses include two major documentaries, one for the 1994 tape version and one brand-new for this 2005 DVD restoration. We also get "BEN-HUR: A JOURNEY THROUGH PICTURES", several 1959 movie theatrical trailers, and a gallery of vintage newsreels heralding the arrival and covering the premiere of the lavish remake in 1959. This $40 DVD set is a work of art and deserves a place in every library, even if it takes you a while to see all four disks of material. Amazon.com has it for $30, not much more than the cost of a family of four going out to a new movie at night. With both the 1925 and 1959 versions included in flawless prints, this DVD set gets my highest recommendation.

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I WOULD GIVE THIS RELEASE 10 STARS if Amazon allowed me to!

Ben-Hur is one of my all time favorite films. It is probably the single greatest performance ever given by Charlton Heston and the greatest epic ever filmed until the Lord of the Rings trilogy came along but still it holds it's head high and remains a timeless classic, just as good as it ever was, maybe better today!

Much has been written about the film itself, so my review will just cover the actual Blu Ray presentation and the included extras.

Many sets have been released with much ballyhoo and assorted trinkets and swag included in the box. Much of it is useless stuff you look at once, then put away and never see again. This is NOT the case with the Ben-Hur boxed set. Everything you get in this box set is of high quality and compliments the film itself. Speaking of the box itself, it is a very VERY nice embossed keepsake box that is protected by an outer covering and when opened reveals the film along with two books. The three included discs are housed in a nice glossy fold out container with full color high quality printed photographs both inside and outside. The presentation is gorgeous, a real head turner.

You get the film, Ben-Hur spread over two BD 50GB discs for maximum quality and zero compression artifacts and presented in it's original aspect ratio of 2.76:1. This is basically the widest of the wide screen formats, filmed in luscious 70mm with 65mm used for picture information and the remaining 5% used for the original 6 track magnetic soundtrack. Ben-Hur was painstakingly restored, in fact it took them so much time that the actual 50th Anniversary of Ben-Hur was missed by a few years in order to provide us with the BEST picture and sound possible. Yes, we have all heard those words before, but in this case it is REALLY true!

I have owned Ben-Hur on VHS and then all the various DVD releases. It has always lacked in the video quality department and I am happy to say that is no longer the case. This Blu Ray release of Ben-Hur gives us Bold and Crisp NATURAL color (NO TEAL tint anyway in sight), NO signs of DNR, NO signs of edge enhancement , beautifully lush and focused cinematography that may even perhaps afford the home theater enthusiast with a better visual presentation than most theater goers got back in 1959.

It is a 1959 film to be sure, but is is ALSO reference quality in every sense of the word. This is what REAL film looks like, no digital enhanced crapola! This is a beautifully filmed epic and the Blu Ray transfer faithfully represents the finished product from 1959, looking more like something filmed recently. The investment in both money and time by Warner Home Video was well worth it, showing all of us what Blu Ray releases COULD look like, if the proper care was shown prepping and transferring the original film elements.

The time and money spent on restoring and rescanning Ben-Hur is obvious from the very beginning of the film. The resulting transfer is a singular achievement in home video entertainment. I have only a few negatives to mention, namely a few places that exhibit 'jump cuts' where a very small number of frames in a scene are missing or were damaged beyond repair and needed to be discarded to keep from spoiling the mostly pristine look of the rest of the film. At one point during the start of the big race I noticed a few white blips or print tear marks and an actual hair on the left side of the screen. I thought I imagined it so I went back and watched in slow motion. Yeah, they were there alright, but they were gone very quickly, never to return. Luckily the audio does NOT suffer in these instances and there are very few OF them. This is NOT a transfer that in any way requires an apology (such as The Godfather, pt.1) or needs to be prefaced by saying "It looks good for the films age". This IS a classic film from the tail end of Hollywood's Golden age, and as such has the look of a classic film. The color timing and lighting choices, the types of special effects used (no CGI back then) and the sometimes very noticeable dialogue looping are all byproducts of the way films were made then. I guess what I am trying to say is this is NOT 100% perfect, but then again, no film is or ever was. The only way Ben-Hur could look any better is to print this new scan at it's full resolution and then project it the old fashioned way.

Even with a few missing frames I easily give Ben-Hur on Blu Ray 10 stars for the video quality alone!!!!

As a nice bonus this disc is NOT Java encumbered and as such your 'disc resume' feature WILL work, which is a boon for a title of this length if you can't sit still for the entire run time and need a few breaks.

The audio is pretty much just as great as the picture. Presented in DTS HD Master Audio 5.1 , this might be the very best Ben-Hur has EVER sounded, then or now. Nothing gimmicky about the surrounds, the dialogue is perfectly rendered, no clicks, pops or blatant flaws, no screechy sounding music. During the big race the crowd sound effects coming from my rear surrounds were distorted a bit. This might have been how they were originally recorded but as the race progresses some elements of the audio mix suffer a bit, the louder things get, the more certain sounds break up. It isn't my system, I can blast the LOTR trilogy with no ill effects. You need a good ear and decent speakers to notice this, but for those that are picky I will admit that it is there.

Also, for those with 'Golden Ears' you WILL hear the occasional hiss that the digital noise reduction didn't get rid of and you will also hear a bit of low frequency hum and rumble at times which sounds mechanical in nature to me but it is on the track and on the disc. Most people will never notice it, but I tend to watch and listen with critical eyes and ears the first time around. All in all it is simply a stunning job of remixing and remastering the original magnetic sound elements. Put this together with almost perfectly restored picture quality and you have an epic presentation of an epic film. The good far outweighs the bad in regards to the sound.

The Bonus features are superlative. A keepsake quality book of glossy production photographs, an exact reproduction of Charlton Heston's personal production diary, two full length documentaries, screen tests, original movie trailers, a wonderful 'Music Only' track that highlights Miklos Rozsa's beautiful Oscar wining score , Newsreel footage and even Oscar Highlights from 1960 when Ben-Hur swept the awards with a record 11 Oscars, not topped EVER and not equaled until Titanic and then Lord of the Rings. Add to all this the original Silent version of Ben-Hur from 1925 and you have enough bonus features to fill all the chariots in the big race.

This Ben-Hur Boxed set totally exceeded any and all my highest expectations. The best presentation imaginable for one of the best films ever made. Ben-Hur (50th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition) is a MUST OWN for all classic film lovers and fans of Charlton Heston. I think it is THE BEST Blu Ray release of this year, easily outshining Star Wars and even the LOTR trilogy. I cannot recommend it highly enough!

WORD OF WARNING!!(contains spoilers)--- Make sure you hit the STOP button on your Blu Ray player IMMEDIATELY following the "The End" title card , otherwise you will be inexplicably treated to a censors approval screen from India and then directly into the FBI threatening to put you in prison if you bootleg or share your discs. It REALLY spoiled the mood I was in after such a wonderful movie and just a beautiful ending. Judah Ben-Hur has his Mother and Sister back and Leprosy free, he got the girl, Masala was ripped apart and Judah Ben-Hur has just been converted to Christianity by Jesus (In Person!!), The music swells to a crescendo and it says "The End" .. Great! Then less than 10 seconds later you get this other weird stuff and I can't for the life of me figure out how this got past the disc authoring stage and onto my disc! GRRR! ANYWAY, you might wish to avoid that mood killer by remembering to hit STOP as soon as the end title card fades out. Like Gilda Radner liked to say, "It's always SOMETHIN'" !!

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Great movie. My primary concern when I ordered was the movie would be cropped to 1.77:1. Based on information from other sources, I took a chance. Fortunately, the product details above are wrong. The back cover says the aspect ratio is 2.76:1, not 1.77:1. On my TV, it measures out around 2.65:1. It looks like this is discs 1 & 2 from the Ultimate Edition, so if you can forgo the books, nice case, and the special features on disc 3, this is a low cost alternative.

Honest reviews on Ben-Hur (50th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition) (2011)

This film when it was released in 1959 saw it's studio MGM teetering on the edge of bankruptcy and the fact that this film cost in 1958 close to $15 Million dollars was most assuredly a make or break film for the studio.

William Wyler the film's director, in order to make this film unique as if a running time close to four hours was not enough, filmed it in an aspect ratio of 2.76:1 using what was called MGM Camera 65, an Ultra Panavision process.

This film was one of only two films that were filmed in that process which is the widest of processes used in film to date.

Filmed utilizing 8000 extras, 300 sets, and over 100,000 costume changes this film epitomizes the word grand and released a few years after the Ten Commandments, it helped quench the public thirst for Biblical films.

This new DVD release is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and the LFE channel(Low Frequency Effects) is apparent on two standout scenes, the Sea Battle scene, and the now infamous chariot scene which last close to 11 minutes.

There are quite a few special features on this DVD release most of which appear on side two of this disc including a documentary, Ben Hur: The Making Of An Epic, which is just under an hour long.

There was an open casting call for the lead role in this film and they have included on this DVD the original screen tests by Leslie Nielsen, and Cesare Danova which are interesting to see even though the quality of the audio and video are not up to the level of the film itself.

Also included are storyboard art and posters as well as film biographies of the cast with pictures of them in character from the film.

Overall this film is an incredible piece of work and presented in it's original aspect ratio with the enhanced sound combines to make an experience that should not be missed.

This film on the small screen does lose a little bit of it's lustre especially if your television is under 27 inches in size but this film begs to be seen in it's broad presentation, so even if you would normally shy away from widescreen presentations, this is the only way to view this film in my honest opinion.

On a rating scale of Bronze to Platinum...This film receives my highest rating.....Platinum!!!! Run don't walk to pick this DVD up!!!

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OK, let me get my review of the film itself out of the way first. FLAWLESS in every aspect!!!! You just don't see films like this anymore. Enough said.

Now I will get down to the specifics of this Blu-ray edition:

Outer Box:

About the same size as Wizard of Oz and Gone With the Wind collections. You slide the slipcover off to reveal a GORGEOUS black box with the title in bronzed bas relief on the top. This is not a flip up case like Wiz and Gone, but a box with a removable lid. The artwork of the title is truly beautiful. It looks like bronze with the statues from the arena of the big chariot race bookending the title BEN HUR. You immediately get the feeling that what you're holding in your hands is something of high quality.

Inside the Box:

Lift the lid off the box and you see the hardcover book with a black ribbon underneath to help lift it out of the box. The book also has the title in bronzed raised text with a wonderful picture of Heston in the iconic chariot race. The book itself is filled with gorgeous quality images where the colors just pop off the page. The gold background on some of the pages adds a touch of class to this book.

The Discs:

The three Blu-ray discs are housed in a very study try-fold disc holder that is very similar to that used in the recent Taxi Driver Blu-ray. Each disc is very sparse in its presentation. The background of the try-fold is a color image of Heston in the chariot race. The discs themselves are very classy with solid black and the text on the discs in a dusty gold. Nothing flashy here, which adds to the ambience of class that oozes from this set. What's on the discs is just breathtaking. Warner Bros. has outdone themselves with the restoration of Ben Hur on Blu-ray. The image is so crisp and clear that I noticed things in the far distance of some scenes that I had never noticed before. e.g.) In the opening of the film when we see a Roman garrison walking across the landscape, I now notice a tiny line of red capes in the far distance moving. I have never seen them before, because I never saw the red robes that are easy to spot now. While Blu-ray could easily hold the full content of this epic on one disc, it was a wise decision to spread it over two discs. Thus allowing the film to be presented in the most pristine image and sound ever!! The bonus disc has the original silent version of the film, along with tons of extras. One of the new extras is a documentary of Heston as he was filming Ben Hur. This documentary is worth the purchase alone. The Heston family has allowed the inclusion of family films and pictures, which really present Heston as a truly loving family man. While the silent version does not seem to have received any major restoration, it is still an upgrade to the image of the previous DVD version.

Heston Journal:

Have you ever bought a collector's edition of a movie and thought, "Why would they include this in the box???" There are no cheap chachkis here. I really wasn't really enthused about this journal, until I actually read it. First of all the journal is a beautiful reproduction of Heston's personal daily journal as he worked on this film. It opens with an introduction from his son Fraser, and then you turn the page and see Heston's personal daily journal pages that have been reproduced so that you actually feel like you're looking at the real thing. The hardcover is designed to look like a stitched leather journal with the bas-relief image of one of the arena statues from the chariot races on the cover. The name Charlton Heston is stamped in gold at the bottom. it is really interesting to see what Heston was thinking on a daily basis of filming one of the greatest films of all time. There are some reproductions of photos, tickets, and other items that are actually taped into the journal to make it seem more realistic. At the end of the journal, we are presented with some personal photos showing Heston with his family around Rome and the movie set. The last image of him walking away on the ancient streets of Rome dressed in a suit while holding his sons hand who happens to be dressed in Roman soldier garb is truly touching. To my surprise, we are also treated to some of Heston's sketches from the movie set. I had no idea he was such an artist! Finally, the journal closes with a brief biography of Heston. This journal is captivating, and engaging to read. What a wonderful extra to put in this collection. No collectible watches, no stacks of cheaply produced post cards, just simple memorabilia of this historic film.

I previously had the 4-disc collector's edition DVD, and I was quite happy with it. However, seeing the love and attention that Warner Bros. has put into this edition, I can strongly urge you to upgrade to this new Blu-ray edition. The sound and image is better than you've ever seen before, and the extra items in the box are well worth keeping. Oh, and did I mention you can get all of this for a fraction of the price you may have paid for previous collector's editions??? This is a no-brainer.......Add it to your cart right now!!

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If you're an "extras" hound like me, "Toy Story & Toy Story 2 The Ultimate Toy Box" is the promised land. Hands down the best goodies of any DVD to this date. Oh yeah, and you get two excellent movies too! :)

I won't spend time on the movies themselves, except to say that they're two of the most entertaining films ever made. Instead, let's focus on why to get the 3-DVD set instead of the 2-DVD set.

The third DVD is truly impressive. You'll find fully-animated deleted scenes; funny & interesting interviews with cast, crew, animators, etc.; an absolutly hysterical debate on "Who's the best character?" with Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and the whole cast; some very detailed explanations of the techniques used to create the movies; and so much more. I've spent over three hours on Disc 3 alone so far, and there's a lot more to go!

There are even cool hidden features. For example, on Disc 3 choose 'Toy Story 2.' Under the 'Story' section, choose 'Jesse's Song.' On the next screen that appears, press the 'Left' arrow key on your remote control & you'll see a question mark. With the question mark highlighted, hit 'Enter' for a outtake with an introduction by the directors.

The sound & picture quality on all three discs are the best I've seen on DVD. Helps when the whole movie was CREATED digitally, eh? :)

All in all "The Ultimate Toy Box" is the best DVD set around, bar none. Well worth the extra money!

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This is a beautifully packaged collection! Get one while supplies last, it may prove as valuable as a vintage Woody doll. Pixar really came up with something wonderful in these two stories, both provide such engaging accounts of one's [longing] for toys of the past. My kids treasure these two movies and the dialog is witty enough to draw parents into the stories. Toy Story II builds on the former, introducing a wider range of characters and offering a light-hearted parable on the collection mania in America. One too many out of the frying pan and into the fire situations for my taste, but the action keeps kids enthralled throughout. Hanks and Allen lend great voice to the battling lead characters, and there are many other wonderful voices as well. The only drawback (and it is a mild one) is not mixing Pixar toys with real family members. I think that would have made the stories even more compelling.

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This 3-Disc Set is truly the 'Ultimate' set for the fans of Toy Story and Toy Story 2. If you havent seen one or both movies, They each are made with kids AND adults in mind, and there are plenty of in-jokes to look for while watching (Spoofs include Airplane, 2001, Star Wars, Spinal Tap, Close Encounters, and Die Hard just to name a FEW). There are even some funny gags from the second movie that play off the first. If your afraid the second falls into the category of 'typical animated sequel,' you'll be pleasantly surprised to find a movie I consider better than the first. The set is a veritable treasure chest of extras -Toy Shorts from ABC Saturday morning ads, faux onscreen interviews, full-length commentary on both movies, isolated music and fx tracks, Dolby surround, International dubbing sampler, making-of featurette (not a shabby one either), a lesson on how they took a distinctly american transition from the second movie and tweaked it to suit international audiences, 2 animated shorts, and much, much more. I can't recommend this highly enough.

Honest reviews on Toy Story (Ultimate Toy Box Collector's Edition) (1999)

I am a Toy Story lover for many reasons. I love high quality animation, and used to go to animation festivals all the time to watch the craft grow and mature. To see the amazing results of the first-ever true full length movie done solely by computer, and to have its means of creation pale to its incredible storyline, character depth, and general quality of production, is something not often seen in today's motion picture industry.

These two movies (Toy Story 1 and 2) are great for kids. You have themes children can easily relate to jealousy, losing something you love dearly, dealing with friends, apologizing and making up when you have been mean to someone, you name it. Where a sequel is usually worse than the original, Toy Story 2 again breaks the mold by coming through with a fantastic storyline, as Woody is stolen by a selfish toy collector who wants to sell him for a fortune, to be trapped in a museum forever.

For adults, the series shines as well. The wealth of in-jokes is simply phenomonal. There are references to Star Wars, to old westerns, to literature, you name it. A whole book could be done on the ways in which these movies appeals to the older movie watcher.

The voice actors are all well known Don Rickles, Tim Allen, Tom Hanks, etc. etc. and they do a stellar job. You really become attached to these toys, which are very dimensional and believable. You understand their failings and applaud their triumphs.

Just getting the two movies on DVD might be enough but then they made a THIRD DVD which is stuffed full of amazing extras!! How about a guide to the hidden jokes? Reviews of each character, each character's actor, and sketches and history of how they changed over time?

The DVD explains with great video clips how a storyboard is made, how the sound is mixed, how the animation is done, and they even have special features where you can mix the sound YOURSELF to see how effect noises and music affect the movie. Plus SO much more.

I would pay more than the movie DVD cost to get this extra DVD, because it is a superb way for both adults and children to learn a wealth of information about making movies and how things are done. Who knows, after watching the special DVD, your kids might suddenly decide to become a sound magician, or a lighting expert, because they see how these roles can have a huge impact on a film like this.

I highly recommend that every household with a DVD get your hands on this three-pack, and if you don't have a DVD player, this is the perfect reason to get it. Even if you have the video copy, give that away to your local library and buy this. It is priceless.

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As good as the "Bug's Life" special edition DVD was, this wonderful 3 disc set is even better. I loved the original "Toy Story" from the first time I saw it. I was very happy to see that the same care and attention to story was put into the sequel. And I was overjoyed at how great this DVD set is.

Like any good special edition of an animated film, this DVD has piles of artwork of everything from Woody's origins as a ventriloquist's dummy to the anthropomorphic female cactus that became Jessie to the layout of Andy's room to the toys on the shelves at Al's Toy Barn. The original plot of the first movie is available for reading. Storyboards run alongside completed scenes or outline abandoned concepts. One particularly odd feature lets you look at a few rendering glitches which result in characters' body parts being switched or misplaced, giving lie to the idea that having an animated film "done with computers" makes things significantly easier. The commentary alone is worth the price of this whole set. The head honchos of Pixar talk about their film with an enthusiasm which shows the time and care that went into their making.

I can pretty honestly reccomend this DVD to just about anyone. There's so much stuff supporting these two great films that you're bound to find something you like. Probably a whole lot of somethings.

Review of How to Play Blues & Blues Rock Guitar: The Ultimate DVD Guide (2009)

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There's almost nothing not to like about this DVD. It probably would not go over well with a real beginner. To really get in to this DVD you kind of need to have the pentatonics drilled in to you sonically so you can pick up the notes by ear in one or two passes. It helps immensely if you've already started scale based improvisation and know the I-IV-V song structure by feel. That's kind of true of almost all "blues" DVDs though outside of the very beginner variety, and is not a shortcoming of the DVD. It had always been hard for me to look at the tab while following the DVD anyway. If you're just building your foundation, this would not be a good choice. An intro book, I think, would be better (I like the Musicians Institute series of books). I think this DVD targets "intermediates".

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this is NOT for beginners not at all,,other then that it is a good DVD to practic with, and to improve with your guitar, playing the blues ,,,

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Without TAB's or fingerboard diagrams of the demonstrated material it is very difficult for a beginner to pick up the licks and techniques. The close up of the hands does not adequately define the strings being fretted nor the strings being picked. All in all it is probably pretty good for someone who can pick up these things from watching a guitarist in concert.

Honest reviews on How to Play Blues & Blues Rock Guitar: The Ultimate DVD Guide (2009)

The Guitar World DVD's are a great way to study the guitar. I have a degree in music performance (percussion), and have taken to the guitar recently. These lessons are a great way to study to style, with a teacher who is very solid. Andy saves me from wandering from teacher to teacher, and these are very cost effective ways to get the information.

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Great for tips to my own teaching. It could have been less styles and it could have been used more time for each style.

Buy IMAX: Ultimate G's - Zac's Flying Dream (Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray Combo)

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I got this thinking it was only 3D IMAX shots, but was actually incorporated a story to make it a sort-of movie. Yes, the actors are average (and unknowns) and the story is cheesy but the 3D is absolutely incredible especially if you like flying. Just don't expect too much and you will be pleased. Oh, and the surround sound is top notch too, but IMAX movies have been good at that. A plus it that it is something the kids will enjoy (and is G rated).

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I recently picked up a couple of the newer IMAX 3D releases, and also had a chance to get an advanced copy of "Ultimate G's: Zac's Flying Dream." I truly had no preconceived notions going into the film--with the title, I expected plenty of flying, stunts, and aerial vistas. While my experience with these films has ranged from great (The Ultimate Wave: Tahiti) to fair (Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs) to not-so-good (Dinosaurs: Giants of Patagonia), nothing had prepared me for this foray into a fiction based narrative. I know we're starved for exciting 3D adventures, but this one is serviceable for the kiddies only. Dramatically inert and inept, no amount of 3D flying can save this lackluster love story--yes folks, this one's a romance!

Narrative: For curiosity factor alone, a pre-teen Michael Cera is certainly an interesting draw. He plays a young boy who yearns to fly and, with the help of his steadfast gal pal, builds some disastrous mechanisms of flight. Before we can charge the parents with child endangerment, however, the story fast forwards to the present. The two are still friends and fly together in prop planes, but a boyhood rival tries some suave moves on the girl and a flight competition is staged for manly boasting rights. Then there's flying--finally! And love, too. The story is so wooden and stiff, it's almost painful. And I don't know what kind of message the film goes for as it makes the rival, an armed forces pilot, a cheater as well. Pretty distasteful actually.

Features: This is actually the first of the IMAX 3D films I've gotten with no special features. Granted, the features can be underwhelming--but this one only has trailers for other better looking films!

3D: OK, I know this is all anyone really cares about--but I'm telling you, you'd have to be pretty hard up for 3D to overlook the narrative deficiencies of this film. This is natural and clear 3D. Nothing is attempting to pop you in the face. The aerial sequences over the Grand Canyon, however, are lovely and the extra dimension does provide a singular beauty. The flying scenes, absent from the first half of the picture, are the only really effective use of the 3D technology. But mind you, there is no flying in the first 20 minutes of this 40 minute film and all the aerial shots are done from a small prop plane--so I don't really get the "Ultimate G" title which might have led me to believe in a speedier or more powerful mode of transport. Altogether unimpressive, I'm not even sure this would hold a child's interest without liberal use of the fast forward button. KGHarris, 3/11.

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Do not expect to see those three Extra 300 aircraft flying in formation in the movie! I bought the movie for that but it is for the cover only, 3D is good, actual flying and the landscape gorgeous, theme and acting terrible, I think they built the movie around those two flying scenes, a waste of money.

Honest reviews on IMAX: Ultimate G's - Zac's Flying Dream (Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray Combo)

I love flying (have a few ratings). I love 3-d (have lots of 3-d movies). I bought this even though the ratings were low, all I can say is they weren't low enough. (1 star is too much)

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In 2d........forget it!

In 3d, "Ultimate G's" is watchable, but its just not as special as movies like "Haunted Castle" or "Alien Adventure". There are some pretty cool flying sequences, but the 3d effect of watching planes flying in the air just isn't as thrilling as some of the "rollercoaster" affects in the two movies previously described.

Ultimately, the 3d version of "Ultimate G's" doesn't cross the barrier into adult entertainment. It's good to watch once or so in 3D, but kids will probably find it more satisfying than adults (especially for repeat viewings).

I'm glad to have this movie in my 3d collection, even if its not the best. If you are looking for an AWESOME 3d movie and haven't seen any of the mentioned films in this review.....I would suggest "Alien Adventure" and "Haunted Castle".

"Ultimate G's" is good-just not great. The computer and digitally animated 3D movies (Ultimate G's is a live story with real actors, planes, etc..) are really where the ultimate action is at!

Review of The Ultimate 3-D Collection (Haunted Castle / Alien Adventure

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The i-glasses system included in this package is not compatible with digital TV's. The system is only able to sync up with the old style analog TV's (which most people own). If you have an HDTV or an HDTV ready TV, this system simply won't work.

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I've always been fascinated with the idea of 3-D movies. I remember my first experience was when a TV station broadcast one of the red/green 3-D films when I was a child, and I convinced my folks to go get the silly cardboard glasses at the store that was promoting it. With great anticipation, I sat down at the appointed time, put the glasses on over my own, and squinted at the TV.

Didn't work. Not at all.

Still, I couldn't get away from the idea. Some folks have eyes that are more easily fooled by this sort of 3-D, but I don't.

Then one day many years later, I saw that IMAX was advertising a 3-D movie, and I thought I'd try again. This time, I was handed special glasses that had LCDs that alternately blocked out the vision of either eye, to ensure that only the correct images got through.

Wow! It worked!!! I was finally able to experience the true 3-D effect, and it was great.

Believe it or not, this product actually includes two pairs of glasses (that my own glasses comfortably fit over) with the same LCD technology, a simple box that connects between the Video Out of your DVD player and the Video In of your TV (using the simple RCA jack connections) to synchronize your glasses to the DVDs, and three different DVDs to get you started (Encounter In The Third Dimension, Alien Adventure, and Haunted Castle). The DVDs even have director's commentary tracks! In addition, the first of these three titles provides a fun introduction to the history of 3-D in still photography and film.

If you have any interest at all in 3-D, you have to own this. The people at Slingshot Entertainment have managed to put this product together and make it work in your home, and I have to say that I have NEVER been happier with any DVD purchase I have ever made (and I've made a few.)

This would be a wonderful gift for anyone that loves DVDs, 3-D, the technology of film, or all of the above. There's nothing even remotely like it. Buy it--you won't be sorry.

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Turn out the lights, don your 3-d glasses, and get ready for an AMAZING experience that is unlike anything you have ever seen in your living room! Let me start out by saying the glasses are top-notch technology...complete shutter 3-d glasses...no old-fashioned red and blue cardboard here! And for those of you that are amusement-park goers, darkride fanatics, and basically fans of blockbuster entertainment...you will LOVE this box set!! Start off with the introduction to 3-d with "Through the 3rd Dimension" and let your eyes relax and start focusing on how 3-d brings the illusion to reality! Although it's got some corny dialog and b-movie acting, you'll be treated to oldtime movies and clips from when 3-d was invented, some clips from theme park attractions like T2 and Mine Cart, and a whole simulator ride that lasts for a few minutes!! Next you've got "Haunted Castle", a 3-d visual darkride! Now ignore the pointless story and look at the incredible visuals because this is an adventure that truely brings you INTO the scene...once you step through the door after hearing the "devil" give you his offer of fame and fortune GET READY for breathtaking graphics, loud 5.1 surround sound, and twists and turns that take you through everywhere from haunted churches, spooky caves, and dungeons filled with 3-d realistic skeletons that are locked in cages that actually LOOK like actual cages...the depth is there and everything!! Over 25 minutes of dropdead 3-d visuals and maybe 10 minutes of lame filler...still an AMAZING RIDE!! And then last but not least is "Alien Adventure" where once again the story is stupid but the actual simulator rides are INCREDIBLE! You are treated to 4 different rides at this new high-tech amusement park...an Artic ride that shoots you down a crazy tobaggan ride through the snow...a Magic Carpet ride that takes you through a magical journey inside of dark tunnels and Indiana Jones-type passageways complete with incredible 3-d effects and splendid music...a simulator ride on a kid's roller coaster that he built in his room complete with toys, loops, MASSIVE details, and lift hills with realistic inclines and stomach churning drops...and finally an underwater ride that is complete amusement park real! Starting in an actual amusement park complete with lights, a ferris wheel, carousel music, and signs on both sides of the car! After dropping into the water you'll experience a trip through a pirate ship, bubbles that can FEEL, a tiki island with a roller-coaster-like hill, and 3-d DETAILS that bring you into the scene...there is so much amazing visuals on these dvds that you can watch them over and over and see different little details you missed before!! PLUS all in computer-generated 3-d theme park style!! It's quite an amazing journey and the glasses just make it even better...if you lift them during one of the rides and take a look at the screen you'll see just how flat the regular tv screen looks! This is a 3-d adventure that everyone out there should experience and it's somewhat pricey but the visuals you'll watch more than make up for it!!! Pick this up and get ready for an INCREDIBLE 3-D RIDE EXPERIENCE!!!!

Honest reviews on The Ultimate 3-D Collection (Haunted Castle / Alien Adventure

I first saw "Encounters..." at the local Imax 18 months ago and was so impressed by the 3D that I swore that "one day I would have this at home". Now I have and (apart from not having a 3 storey high TV) am thoroughly satisfied. It is a bonus that the kit works with more than the supplied DVDs :)

The movies are little more than a showcase of the talents of a 3D ride company which is openly acknowledged in the extras. Accepting the nature of the software, you can't fail to be impressed by the quality of the mainly CGI images rendered in screen popping 3D.

But where is the scene with the owl and the police car from the Imax "encounters..."?

One tip I will offer...

Most people sit quite close to the screen to get a more immersive feel after all exceeding your field of vision is the whole idea of the Imax originals.

Everyone I've shown this to has agreed that the 3D improves with distance. So get a headphone extension lead, dim the lights and sit further back. Yeah the picture is smaller, but it's also deeper ;)

Six to Eight Foot (two to three metres) works brilliantly on my 28" TV.

Incidentally, one addendum to the review by megadume and the comment on the official site of the glasses that shutter glasses Don't work with 100hz and/or digital TVs.

I own a Sony KV-28WSU 100hz Digital Plus TV (it says so on the front) and the 3D works brilliantly the above comment delayed my purchase by a few weeks until I had checked it out.

A brilliant pack, a brilliant price, now we need more films!

P.S. There is another.... Ultimate Gs is the fourth 3D DVD

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If you are a fan of 3-D, then get this package!! First off this is not the ORDINARY 3-D you know! There are no flimsy cardboard glasses with the RED and BLUE lenses here. They are shutter-glasses. These glasses are STATE-OF-THE-ART technology! The hook up is very easy. Even if you own a Playstation 2! Make sure you are in a well-darkened room. The reason is you will notice a flicker from the glasses in a lit room. So remember the darker the better...LOL! The 3-D is SPECTACULAR!! And it WORKS!! Now don't let the price fool you.....THIS IS A SERIOUS PIECE OF 3-D HARDWARE! The SOUND is like .....WHOA!!! You have to have Dolby Digital Surround Sound system in order to get the FULL effect of being immersed in the synthesis of the 3-D! Also another suggestion is get a projector! It heightens the effect GREATLY!!!

To begin your 3-D journey I suggest you watch the DVD's in this order:

1)Encounter In The Third Dimension

2)Alien Adventure

3)Haunted Castle

Why? Well, because it will keep you, the viewer, wanting more! And you will want more even when its over...lol The effects in each of the DVD's are AWE INSPIRING!

The first DVD, Encounter In The Third Dimension with Elvira, is a sort of HISTORY of 3-D. This gives you an orientation as to what 3-D is and how it came about. Although the storyline and the acting is terrible, the 3-D massively makes up for it. The opening sequence is astounding! Check out that part where the title comes on.....you'll LOVE IT!! There is also a snippets form amusement park rides. Look at the Terminator-2 3-D ride snippet where the liquid metal mechanized droid blows up and the fragments of it seem to be suspended in mid air! VERY COOOOOL EFFECT!!

The second one, Alien Adventure, goes a step further. The effects in this one are much better! And it shows off more of what this type of 3-D can do! You the viewer are put on various types of simulated rides with your green little partners. There is a rollercoaster, which is very gut-wrenching, a magic carpet ride, and a few more! Hey, I don't want to spoil for ya!! there are some funny moments in it too. The aliens almost look like the ones from the movie Mars Attacks!

Now, the last one, Haunted Castle, is by far THE BEAST out of all 3!! Visually its BEAUTIFUL!! I actually jumped on some sequences!! Absolutely mind blowing! One thing for you to pay close attention to is....once again, the opening title sequence with the bird on the tree! Look at the DETAIL!! You'll know what I mean when you see it!!

Be the envy of all your friends and own this sophisticated 3-D hardware! You can get more DVD's on the web-site printed on your instructions. Your skepticism will be a thing of the past!! BUY THIS.....NOW!!!

Review of Black Adder (Remastered Ultimate Edition) (2009)

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Finally, it's all here in one place. There are even a few seconds of cut dialogue added in. If you've memorized the VHS version, you'll find a phrase added here and there that wasn't there before. For example, when Baldrick saves Blackadder the 3rd by untying him on the "grassy knoll." Blackadder sputters "BBaldrick... Baldrick! Thank you for introducing me to a genuinely new experience." Only the last "Baldrick!" made it into the VHS version.

There are interviews with almost everyone you might care to listen to. But I've noticed that people have a tendency to mumble both in commentaries and in interviews. This is especially annoying in the commentaries where, if you turn it up to hear the murmuring of comments, then the feature audio is too loud when it fades in at times. Hey, audio guys, there is a knobby thing labled "levels" somewhere on your hardware or software mixer. Please use it next time.

I'd only seen the Baldrick Diaries once before and it was great to have it along side of the Cavalier Years, Blackadder Christmas Carol, and Back and Forth. And since my VHSs have succumbed to age, repeated play and the occasional film-eating player, this came just in time.

I was also touched that the Blackadder staff all felt as deeply about the Fourth series as I did. I've never been able to watch the last episode of Blackadder the Fourth unless I was ready for an emotional time of it. If you haven't seen it, I'll give you a hint. This is historical comedy and the Fourth series is set in WWI, and at the end, a battlefield turns into a sea of poppies. Watch it and try not to choke up. Rarely does a comedy offer genuine deep feeling as well as tomfoolery.

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Rowan Atkinson was funny as Mr. Bean, but he was downright hilarious as the Black Adder. He had such a talent for playing the sharp-tongued rogue I'll never figure out why he decided to start doing comedy in which he hardly spoke. The premise of this British comedy series is that the central character, "The Black Adder", shows up at different points in history in various incarnations distorting historical events and poking fun at various British historical figures and situations along the way.

Lots of people don't like Black Adder I, in which the title character, Edmund, is the younger son of a brutish man consumed with thoughts of war who actually becomes king of England through Edmund's own bungling he arrives late for the Battle of Bosworth Field and winds up chopping off the head of Richard III, thus saving the life of Henry Tudor. Throughout this first season he plays the buffoon, often having the expression of a deer caught in the headlights. This is the only season in which the Black Adder takes on the persona of a weak effeminate person. Especially funny is Edmund's mother who is a proper noble woman sitting around doing embroidery and indifferently waiting for the next marauding army to pass through.

The second season takes place early during the reign of Elizabeth I, with the Black Adder confident, handsome, and even a favorite at court. A young Amanda Richardson plays the role of Elizabeth I, who comes across as Betty Boop, just not as intelligent. Although more cunning in this season, Black Adder still comes up the loser in just about every episode. My favorite is "Bells", in which Blackadder finds his new servant, Bob, curiously pleasant company. Afraid for his reputation at court, Blackadder searches for a "cure" which of course involves leeches, until Bob conveniently reveals that she is in fact a girl called Kate. Their wedding is disrupted by the profane Lord Flashheart, who, although he is the best man, winds up stealing the bride.

The third season takes place in the eighteenth century during the reign of George III, and will be a favorite of all fans of "House, M.D." due to the presence of a young Hugh Laurie. Here, Black Adder plays the manservant of the Prince Regent, George, played by Hugh Laurie. George is the dim-witted target of Black Adder's many schemes to enrich himself by taking advantage of his cushy position in George's household, and this often means having to save the Prince Regent's pension and position in the kingdom, which is largely controlled by Parliament.

The fourth season takes place during World War I, with Edmund Blackadder as a captain in the British army whose company is trapped in one of the trenches that gave everyone in Europe such a distaste for warfare between the two world wars. Blackadder's aim in this season is to stay alive by staying in that trench until the war ends. His stunts include shooting a carrier pigeon when it arrives with orders to advance, and joining the Royal Flying Corp "the twenty minuters". Unfortunately, the name comes from how long they are expected to live once in the air, not how much time they work each day, as Blackadder had originally thought.

This show has several interesting plot devices. First, most of the main characters show up in different periods of time with the same name but different roles. Hugh Laurie is always "George", Tony Robinson is always "Baldrick", Stephen Fry is always "Melchett", and Tim McInnerny is always "Percy". Since each season was shot in alternate years (1983, 1985, 1987, 1989) the cast must have been having a terrific time in order for them to be regathered after such long intervals in order to make filming this series possible. Secondly, everyone in the cast, including the Black Adder, always dies in the final episode of each season. It is somewhat like the South Park stunt of Kenny being killed at the end of every show only to reappear in the next episode as though nothing had happened.

Do note that there are only six episodes per season. If you liked "Red Dwarf" or "Fawlty Towers", you'll probably like this series too.

As for extra features, disc five contains the specials. The Cavalier Years has Stephen Fry as King Charles and Warren Clarke as Oliver Cromwell. There is also Blackadder's Christmas Carol and Back and Forth. Christmas Carol is pretty funny, but I've never cared for Back and Forth.

Disc six contains the documentary Blackadder Rides Again, a 90-minute special with the behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage from the fourth season included. There's also a look back at the costumes used in Costumes Revisited, along with extended interviews and audio commentaries with the key actors. As for the audio commentaries, Rowan Atkinson, Stephen Fry, Ben Elton, Richard Curtis, Tony Robinson, Tim McInnerny and producer John Lloyd have all contributed to these.

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This collection has all of the episodes of the Black Adder series, with Rowan Atkinson at his best. The price of this collection is lower than that of other Black Adder collections, but the video is superior and this has EVERYTHING the Black Adder fan will appreciate.

Honest reviews on Black Adder (Remastered Ultimate Edition) (2009)

Here is a run down on each series:

THE BLACKADDER

It's a long time since I saw the first series of Blackadder, which I remembered as being somewhat dull compared to subsequent ones. On re-watching, however, it proved to be funnier than I expected. The best episode is probably 'The Queen of Spain's Beard', which deals with Blackadder's attempts to get out of marrying an extremely ugly Spanish princess. Worth mentioning is Brain Blessed, who is hilarious as the fictional King Richard IV.

'The Blackadder' has surprisingly high production values and special effects compared to later series. Another key difference is Blackadder himself, who is far less intelligent than his descendants. Baldrick, on the other hand, is more intelligent...indeed he is almost normal! One of the best things about watching the series' sequentially is seeing the lead character's cunning and sarcasm develop, just as his social status goes down from Prince to Captain.

While still the least effective of Blackadder's various incarnations, this opening series is definitely worth watching, and if you are new to Blackadder you should probably watch it first, as it sets the scene for much of what follows.

BLACKADDER II

In this second series Edmund Blackadder really came into his own as a character. Instead of the rather snivelling Edmund of the first series, we are presented with the amoral, selfish and cynical (but brilliantly witty) Blackadder we all know and love. Baldrick, who was almost intelligent in the first series, now reveals himself as a turnip-obsessed dimwit who would become even stupider as time went on.

The most memorable thing about 'Blackadder 2', however, is Miranda Richardson, who is unforgettable as the psychotic Queen ("Oh Edmund, I love it when you get angry...sometimes I think about having you executed, just to see the look on your face..."). Patsy Byrne is great as the Queen's old nurse ("A sad old woman with an udder fixation," as Edmund calls her), and Stephen Fry is on top form as Lord Melchitt, a man as Machiavellian and calculating as Blackadder, but with less self esteem.

There are some great cameos, too, notably from Tom 'Dr. Who' Baker as a demented sea captain, and Rik Mayall as the womanising Lord Flashheart (he would reprise this role to even greater effect in the fourth series).

Probably the funniest episode is 'Beer', when Blackadder's fanatical puritan relatives the Whiteadders come round for tea, but Blackadder forgets he had also arranged a debauched drinking session for the same night. He then has to keep the two events running concurrently without the Whiteadders suspecting what is going on, which leads to hilarity as he tries to come up with explanations for the drunken roars emerging from the next room.

Another great episode is 'Head', where Blackadder is made Lord High Executioner, but then changes the execution schedule to give himself half a week off. This leads to the premature execution of a nobleman, whose wife then gains permission from the Queen to visit him. Blackadder and his companions must try and impersonate the dead man, somehow keeping up the pretence that he is alive.

Other good episodes include 'Chains', where Blackadder and Melchitt are taken hostage by a crazed German, and 'Money' where Blackadder is pursued by the baby-eating Bishop of Bath and Wells to collect a debt he owes to the Black Monks.

BLACKADDER III

In this series Blackadder has declined in status since the Elizabethan days of series two and is now a mere butler to the Prince Regent (during the French Revolution/Napoleonic era). 'Blackadder 3' is worth watching just for Hugh Laurie's hilarious performance as the air-headed Prince George (he would also appear as the equally air-headed Lieutenant George in series four).

Perhaps the funniest episode is 'Duel and Duality', in which the Prince and Blackadder swap roles, and the highly aggressive Duke of Wellington (Stephen Fry) proceeds to beat the Prince senseless for talking back to his betters. Those who like sadistic slapstick comedy in the British tradition will find this is up there with Basil Fawlty's treatment of Manuel in 'Fawlty Towers'.

Another standout episode is 'Ink and Incapability' where Robbie Coltrane guest stars as Samuel Johnson (who anachronistically is also friends with Byron, Shelley and Coleridge). When Baldrick admits he threw the only copy of Johnson's 'Dictionary' on the fire, Blackadder must rewrite the whole thing from scratch.

'Dish and Dishonesty' is another really funny one, concerning Blackadder's attempts to influence the outcome of a British election, in order to defeat Pitt the Younger (and his brother Pitt the Even Younger). Unfortunately Baldrick spends all the bribe money on a gigantic turnip.

'Blackadder 3' is one of the best Blackadder seasons, and is almost on a par with the superlative fourth series. Hours of laughter guaranteed.

BLACKADDER GOES FORTH

This is the last and greatest series of a brilliant British comedy. Set in the trenches of World War One, it features everything that made the first three seasons so great, but refines things to a new level of hilarity.

Nearly all the regular actors from earlier seasons crop up. Besides the obvious Blackadder (now a Captain), and Baldrick (a private) Melchett reappears as a General, and Tim McInnery who played Percy in the second series crops up as the obnoxious Captain Darling. Hugh Laurie reprises his role as the dimwitted George (now a Lieutenant) and is even funnier than in series three. Miranda Richardson plays a nurse, and even Rik Mayall makes a hilarious comeback as conceited fighter ace Lord Flashheart (with Adrian Edmundson playing his rival the Red Baron).

All the episodes are good, with standouts being 'Corporal Punishment', where Blackadder is court-martialled for shooting General Melchett's favourite pidgeon; 'Major Star', where George is convinced to go drag as the 'leading lady' in a variety show, which presents problems when the General develops a crush on him/her; and Private Plane, where the aforementioned Rik Mayall appears as the outrageous Lord Flashheart.

The final episode 'Goodbyeee' goes beyond comedy in its ending, giving a poignant reminder of the utter waste of World War One, a fratricidal conflict that should never have happened. Blackadder's character has developed to the point that, even though he is a selfish prick, we feel genuinely sorry for him when he is ordered 'over the top' by the bureaucrats in charge of the war.

'Blackadder Goes Forth' is the perfect ending to a classic comedy, which far from making fun of British and European history, actually pays tribute to it, and in a most entertaining way.

BLACKADDER'S CHRISTMAS CAROL

'Blackadder's Christmas Carol' is a one off special, and not really up there with the four series proper. It does have an interesting premise, though. Ebenezer Blackadder undergoes a reverse transformation to that of Ebenezer Scrooge in the Dickens story 'A Christmas Carol'. Blackadder, the nicest man in England, is so nice that everyone takes advantage of him. Then he is visited by the Spirit of Christmas (Robbie Coltrane), who shows him what lies in store for his descendents if they continue to be nice. As a result, Blackadder becomes a sarcastic rogue like his ancestors. Unfortunately for him, this leads to the loss of a peerage and a large sum of money. So maybe the 'moral' is: don't be too nice, but don't be too bad either!

THE CAVALIER YEARS

This is a 15 minute sketch filmed for charity, and is comparable in quality to series two and three. Amusingly, Stephen Fry plays King Charles I as a send-up of the modern day Prince Charles.

BLACKADDER: BACK AND FORTH

As the title implies, this special (sometimes referred to as 'Blackadder 5') involves a great deal of time travel, as a contemporary Edmund tries to impress his friends by building a time machine and bringing back historical artifacts, but also causes a few unfortunate changes to history in the process. It features most of the Blackadder regulars like Tim McInnery, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry and Miranda Richardson. Rik Mayall also reprises his Lord Flashheart role, this time as Robin Hood. Amusing in parts, but not as good as classic Blackadder.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Black Adder (Remastered Ultimate Edition) (2009)

This review is in reference to Black Adder Remastered: The Ultimate Edition

Most people here are probably already aficionados of the show. I love it for its intelligence, clever lines, and history (as well as the puns and bad jokes), and the fact that it shares aspects in common with a really good play.

I agonized for months over whether to "duplicate" my purchase of the previous boxed set with this one. When it went on sale again, I finally took a chance and bought it and in my case am quite glad I did! I already knew I loved the material, and I read the general opinion that the remastering was good but not necessarily good enough to buy the set. It turns out to be a pretty high quality box set, both in "build quality" (if you will) and content.

The set comes in a comparatively solid outer box (pictured on the product page), into which the disc set slides like a book. The discs themselves are in a "booklet" of thin but sturdy plastic disc holders (which securely hold the discs but the discs are not too difficult to get out) and "bound" in a nice cardboard cover with an etching-like picture covering Edmund through series I to IV. The outer cover folds out into "Baldrick's Family Tree" which contains "Primeval Soup," "Worms," "Viagra," and the like, and a lot of "Baldricks." The discs also look nice and are clearly labeled with their contents. After having purchased some quality shows with really flimsy disc packaging, this was a nice surprise.

But the real treat is the new content. These are the extras labeled on the respective discs; and most of the discs have extras.

Disc One: The Black Adder [ no extras listed ]

Disc Two: Blackadder II, Audio Commentaries on Bells, Money, and Chains

...(Bells: Ben Elton, Richard Curtis, and John Lloyd)

...(Money: Tony Robinson and Tim McInerny)

...(Chains: Stephen Fry)

Disc Three: Blackadder the Third, Audio Commentaries on Ink & Incapability, Amy & Amiability, Duel & Duality

...(Ink & Incapability: Rowan Atkinson and John Lloyd)

...(Amy & Amiability: Ben Elton, Richard Curtis, and John Lloyd)

...(Duel & Duality: Stephen Fry)

Disc Four: Blackadder Goes Forth, Audio Commentaries on Major Star and Goodbyeee

...(Major Star: Tony Robinson and Tim McInerny)

...(Goodbyeee: Rowan Atkinson and John Lloyd)

Disc Five:

...Blackadder's Christmas Carol

...Blackadder The Cavalier Years

...Blackadder Back and Forth

...Baldrick's Video Diary

Disc Six

...Blackadder Rides Again

...Exclusive Extended Interviews & Costumes Revisited

EDIT:

I am working my way through the set; and I have to say I am very glad to have it. It might be just because I have old equipment, but the remasters look a lot better than the previous edition on my setup. I love having the book format instead of the fold-out; it's easier to find the disc I am interested in and get it out. I love the commentaries so far (have just listened to series 2 and commentaries). For some reason they didn't do any commentaries on series 1, which I found a big disappointment. As it wasn't one of my favourite series, I was really interested in what they thought about it, and what it was like making it. I enjoyed the commentaries for series 2, although for some reason when they mixed "Money" with Tony Robinson and Tim McInerny, they mixed the episode full-volume and you couldn't hear them half of the time, so that was disappointing. I still love the set and am quite glad I got it.

Discount Iron Man (Two-Disc Ultimate Edition + BD Live) (2008)

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The first disc features 11 deleted and extended scenes. There's more of the opening ambush with Tony Stark being more proactive. We also see more footage of Rhodes and it quickly becomes apparent that he was the character with the most scenes cut from the film. We also see Tony and Pepper Potts attend another party.

The second disc starts off with the impressive "I Am Iron Man," a 108 minute making of documentary that can be viewed in seven segments or altogether, taking us through various aspects of the production. For example, we are taken step-by-step through the construction of the Iron Man armor with Robert Downey Jr. cracking jokes while being fitted for it. It's amazing how much of the suit is practical and looks really good in person. This is due in large part to the genius of the late-great Stan Winston and his company. Also included is plenty of soundstage footage of scenes being filmed.

"The Invincible Iron Man" is a six-part documentary on the comic book, tracing the history of the character. Stan Lee says that he modeled Stark after Howard Hughes, for the most part. He also mentions that he was never fully satisfied with the look of the armor hence its many changes over the years. This doc also covers various key characters and storylines in excellent detail with several people who worked on the title over the years talking about their contribution to the mythos. This is a very well done overview of the comic book.

"Wired: The Visual Effects of Iron Man" examines the CGI work that went into realizing Iron Man's powers, like flying, his repulsors, and so on. Director Jon Favreau says that he likes to use practical effects whenever possible, which is wonderfully refreshing to hear, and in this film he mixed the practical with CGI.

"Robert Downey Jr. Screen Test." Incredibly, the actor had to do a screen test because the studio deemed him a risky proposition and this footage shows that he had a handle on the character very early on.

"The Actor's Process" features fascinating footage of Jeff Bridges and Downey rehearsing a scene with Favreau. It's great to see these guys at work and offers insight into how they put together a scene from the film from an acting point-of-view.

"The Onion's Wildly Popular Iron Man Trailer to be Adapted into Full-Length Film" is a funny satire where a newscaster "breaks" a story of how the Iron Man trailer will be made into a film that pokes fun at the rabid nature of the hardcore fanbase of the character.

Finally, there are "Galleries," featuring concept art, technology stills, behind-the-scenes photographs, and poster art.

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This is a great superhero film that the whole family can enjoy.

If you are wondering what the special features on the 2-disc DVD are, here they are:

The IRON MAN Ultimate Edition two-DVD set is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, French 5.1 Surround and Spanish 5.1 Surround with English, French and Spanish subtitles. Total runtime is 125 minutes. Bonus features include:

Disc 1:

Feature film

Deleted/Extended Scenes

Disc 2:

I Am Iron Man

-The Journey Begins

-The Suit that makes the Iron Man

-The Walk of Destruction

-Grounded In Reality

-Beneath the Armor

-It's All in the Details

-A Good Story, Well Told

The Invincible Iron Man

-Origins

-Friends & Foes

-The Definitive Iron Man

-Demon in a Bottle

-Extremis and Beyond

-Ultimate Iron Man

Wired: The Visual Effects of Iron Man

Robert Downey Jr. Screen Test

The Actor's Process (scene rehearsal with cast)

The Onion "Wildly Popular Iron Man Trailer to be Adapted into Full Length Film"

Image Galleries

Best Deals for Iron Man (Two-Disc Ultimate Edition + BD Live) (2008)

There was a big question mark looming over the theatrical adaptation of Marvel's Iron Man property. It was in the guise of director Jon Favreau. Now, don't get me wrong, I love the Favs, but when I heard he was helming a big budget comic book flick...let's just say I was a little worried. Once his cast was set and the fanboys started humming across the internet I started to ease into the decision with high anticipation. Thankfully, after finally seeing the finished product, I was not disappointed in the least. With a great mix of the professionalism and stakes seen in both Spider-Man and X-Men and the comic wit and sheer fun of Fantastic Four, Iron Man shows how a comic can be brought to the screen successfully without all the added drama and weight. We finally have a film with the essence of what makes these picture books so popular, the action and mythology along with a sense of adventure and humor. Favreau never bogs us down with overwrought emotions nor speaks down to us with gags and poorly written jokes. Instead he delivers on his promises and gives us a solid initiation into what could be a great trilogy or more.

Favreau seems to have had an idea to get an origin story out while not boring us with long drawn out back story. His ability to give us dual information at once is nicely orchestrated, showing Tony Stark in his basement creating while the TV in the background explains what is happening in the outside world of the Middle East and inside his own company. We as an audience are allowed to put the pieces together amidst the witty banter of Stark and the wonderful special effects. By the end of the film it is quite amazing how much information you will realize you now know, all culminating in a decent final battle, but more importantly a segue into the inevitable sequel. We are allowed entrance into the character evolution of Stark as he goes from war profiteer to man of action and cause, all while seeing the technology improve and advance before our eyes. Much like Batman, we have a hero here that needs help in fighting crime. He has no superhuman abilities besides his brain and being able to see his thoughts go from paper to reality is a feat of magic. Every stage is shown, every failure and success. It's quite the ride in and of itself, but when you add onto it the threat of global war and destruction, it can only get better.

The real success here is in the bold move of casting an actor over-40 to be a superhero. This takes guts, because no matter how appropriate it is, most studios would have said, "no, change the story and make him younger so we can churn out as many of these babies as we can." I don't know how he did it, but Favreau got Marvel to get Robert Downey Jr. to play Stark, a sarcastic Lothario with the brain capacity of Einstein. I truly can't think of anyone better suited to the role and he proves it by nailing every single scene. I'm sure there was some ad-libbing, but even if not, his comic delivery and ability to switch on a dime to a sincere seriousness at will shows his masterful craft.

As for the rest of the cast, they all do well. Jeff Bridges plays the bombastic creature of villainy over-the-top, but appropriately so; Terrence Howard is nice as the friend and military liaison, not given much to do, but definitely sowing seeds for the future; and Gwyneth Paltrow is good as the sweet assistant Pepper Potts who at times seems a little underwritten and more female prop than anything else, but comes through with some nice moments in a very comic sort of way. I also really liked Shaun Toub as Yinsen, Stark's savior, and Clark Gregg as the head of S.H.I.E.L.D. Good to see Favreau giving another actor turned director props, (Gregg's directorial debut comes out later this year in the form of Chuck Palahniuk's Choke). I just wish he would have shied away from putting himself in the film. It's one thing to be seen split-second, (like Stan Lee), but its another to give yourself a thankless role with multiple scenes, just adding fuel to the fire on people's opinions of egotism stemming from the drinking game created off of the TV show "Dinner for Five" and how many references to Swingers was made each episode. I'll forgive, though, because, once again, I'm a big fan.

One can't forget that this is an action film above all else, so we can't just praise the actors; every effect is also quite brilliant. Those scenes of Iron Man flying amongst fighter jets in the trailer seemed really lame, but when in context they deliver. The suit itself is amazing as well, through every mach stage right to the end. My main highlight, however, was with the computer systems that Stark utilizes. The multiple screens, instant holographic reproductions, and ability to actually interact with those 3D representations is stunning. We can create them in fantasy, but it's just too bad we can't yet in real life.

Now Iron Man is not a perfect film, nor even a perfect comic book adaptation. What it is, though, is a fun, comic actioner that should light up the box office. The final showdown is a bit of a whimper in comparison to the back story and machine creation; a crucial element is saved from destruction in the one contrived bit of screen writing, (not quite utilized in the way I thought, although still for the same means); and some moments seem a tad campy rather than witty, but otherwise this is some topnotch cinema that should definitely be seen on the big screen. I can't wait to see how the story progresses in a couple years.

Honest reviews on Iron Man (Two-Disc Ultimate Edition + BD Live) (2008)

Reviewers who received advanced copies of the Iron Man Blu-ray release reported that the Dynamic Range Compression (DRC) flag was active on the Dobly TrueHD audio track, causing a less-than-stellar audio experience for customers who weren't savvy enough to adjust their player and amplifier to compensate.

The good news is that Paramount confirmed on September 25th that they had recalled all of the defective copies and replaced them with newly-authored discs that fix this issue.

This recall occurred prior to Iron Man's release, so no one should have wound up with a defective copy except for the reviewers who received their copies in advance. You can purchase with confidence without worrying whether your product is the corrected one, unlike with the Back to the Future DVDs and Pirates of the Carribbean I Blu-ray which still have defective copies unknowingly being sold by some stores despite having been re-authored after the initial batch.

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Once again I begin with a warning that you need to sit through the really, really long credits for what might be the best cameo appearance since Sean Connery showed up as King Richard the Lionheart at the end of "Robin Hood Prince of Thieves." That was the last time I remember people really applauding a cameo in a film, although I should point out that everybody left at the end of the first showing of "Iron Man" were True Believers who instantly recognized the actor and the character as soon as the first words were out of their mouth. Ironically, the cameo by Stan Lee in the film seemed to go right by the audience, because there was no reaction to what was a pretty good gag (it happens when Stark shows up at the big party).

Now that I have that bit of business out of the way, let me say that "Iron Man" is the best comic book superhero movie I have seen since "Spider-Man 2." I would say that the latter is better, mainly on the strength of Alfred Molina's wonderful performance as the villain and the great fight sequences between Spidey and Doc Ock that take place on the vertical as well as the horizontal axis, but "Iron Man" might be the more solid film (i.e., lower top but higher bottom). There was a point when the number of comic books that Marvel was putting out exploded (e.g., the New Universe titles) and I dispaired over all of the idiotic cloning with Spider-Man and was down to reading only two Marvel titles: Daredevil and Iron Man. This was back when Frank Miller was doing DD and Tony Stark was a full-blown alcoholic. Daredevil might have been cooler, but as Iron Man, Stark always had the advantage that he was a regular guy, by which I mean that he did not have any superpowers. He was just a really smart guy who could invent the gadgets that would make Iron Man work (eat your heart out Ned Kelly). That is certainly what we get with director Jon Favreau's pre-summer blockbuster, with the added angst of Stark growing a conscience and using his armored alter-ego to help restore balance to his own little corner of the universe at war.

Ultimately the best parts of the movie are the opening act, in which Stark is captured (Afghanistan today instead of Vietnam of the Sixties)and has to built the metallic grey Tin Woodsman on roids prototype armor, and the second act, where he works out the new suit. This movie has two or three of the best violent slapstick gags you have ever seen in one of these movies, which engenders some of the biggest laughs. The origin of the character is fairly faithful, for being updated, to what happened in "Tales of Suspense" #39, which was plotted by Stan Lee, scripted by his brother Larry Leiber, drawn by Don Heck, with a cover art by Jack Kirby (who created the character's original look, although it was Steve Ditko who first drew the red and gold armored version). There certainly is more than a touch of "Transformers" to the way Stark dons the Iron Man armor, but as much as I would give credit to the specific effects in this movie, attention must be paid to the screenwriting teams of Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby ("Children of Men") and Art Marcum & Matt Holloway. For all of the humor in the script, there is a strong thread of serious stuff extending throughout this film.

As Tony Stark, Robert Downey, Jr., a superb actor whose skills in the verbal repartee department were honed on "Ally McBeal," may well be the most glib superhero we have seen on the silver screen. Certainly he is more glib than we would every have suspected Stark to be, but of course Downey's personal life clearly echoes the character ark of his character (it is that resonance as well as his undeniable talents that make him perfect for the role). As Pepper Potts, Gwenyth Paltrow is more of a romantic figure for Stark than she was in the comic book, especially since Happy Hogan (director Favreau) has been relegated to a minor role as Stark's bodyguard to make room for the character of Jim Rhodes. However, the point is not so much potential romance as it is the fact that with Paltrow we have an actress who can go toe to toe with Downey in quick paced nuanced conversation (although many will think that Downey's best scenes are with his robotic assistant with the fire extinguisher). Besides, by have Rhodes instead of Hogan we not only get another acting talent on the level of the Downey and Paltrow with Terrence Howard, but as fans of the comic book know (and the movie acknowledges), one day down the road Jim is going to get to be in the red and gold suit.

Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) is set up as a godfather to Tony Stark and a regent to Stark Industries instead of being a rival munitions magnate, which provides a bit of Oedipal conflict to the proceedings and compels the big fight at the end to be with Iron Monger (I was actually hoping for Titanium Man even though I was half expecting the Mandarian). But most people who come to see this movie are not going to know any of this stuff, and even most of the comic book fans who will end up making repeat trips to the theater to see this one are not going to be old enough to remember the original Virginia "Pepper" Potts who ended up with Happy Hogan versus the "The Ultimates" version of the character. All that really matters is that the cast and characters are a perfect mesh and the people who put this movie together should be thinking not just about a sequel but about a series. With this launching platform, Iron Man could well replace Superman in the Big Three of comic book superheroes in the movies along with Spider-Man and Batman.