Monday, September 30, 2013

Asylum of the Daleks Prequel



Needed a few tissues for this one
I will say this for BBC's reboot of Doctor Who -- the show does both its Hello's and its Goodbyes very well. It will be difficult to write much in this review without offering spoilers. I really, really enjoyed this episode. It kept me guessing. It had Moffat's usual riddles and it had the depth of emotional drama one saw in the best of Russell T. Davies' episodes. I've been missing the old romance and panache of Amy & Rory's relationship for the past few episodes, and this episode brought it back in a huge way. Some depth added to the relationship between River Song and the Doctor, as well.

My favorite line from the episode:

"We're changing the future. It's called marriage."

God, that hit home. As both a married man and as a viewer who has really invested in Amy and Rory, this one hit home.

What else to say? The Weeping Angels were back. They weren't quite as chilling as in "Blink," but there were several intense moments that recalled that...

The Question That Must Never Be Answered
For the dedicated Doctor Who fan, it isn't a matter of whether this is less or more than "Blink". The deliciousness lies in this season's beginning ending with "The Question That Must Never Be Answered" - just a sly HINT of where we're going on this year's roller coaster ride with the Doctor. And WHO is there among us who could POSSIBLY resist that?!?

The story is amazing. Touching. Human. And humane. "Subtract love, add hate." That is the formula that makes a monster of any human. How strong must be the love that keeps us human in the face of our worst fears!

"Asylum of the Daleks" is a GEM - one of the greatest "Who's". EVER.

Loved it.
I have it very very rough these days. There aren't a lot of things for me to look forward to anymore. But I can look forward to Doctor Who.

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Quick



(3.5 stars) "Quick" is a popcorn action/comedy film with a slick presentation and really cool stuntwork and visual effects.
From JK Films, makers of popcorn action films such as "Tidal Wave" and "Sector 7″ are back again with the 2011 South Korean action comedy titled "Quick".

Directed by Beom-gu Cho ("Bar Legend") and written by Soo-jin Park, the film would star actor Min-ki Lee ("Romantic Island", "Oishii Man"), actress Ye-won Kang ("Tidal Wave", "Hello Ghost") and actor In-kwon Kim ("Tidal Wave", "My Wife is a Gangster 2″).

The film did well in South Korea and was released in the U.S. via Blu-ray and DVD courtesy of Shout! Factory and CJ Entertainment in Sept. 2012.

VIDEO:

"Quick" is presented in 1080p High Definition (Anamorphic Widescreen). If there is one thing I an say about "Quick" is that the film looks beautiful, stylish and slick! Featuring warm to cool colors, there is a good amount of tweaking to the overall video to showcase colors. Where skintones look very sharp, black levels are nice and deep and for the most part, everything looks...

Yes
This film is awesome. Wait till you find out who the bad guy really is in this movie. The action sequences chases are incredible to watch.

Shut off your brain, this one's all about the action and comedy ... and it WORKS BEAUTIFULLY
South Korea has produced some of my favorite films - and QUICK is no exception. If you turn down watching some of these films, even this one, due to subtitles or the film being foreign, you're seriously missing out. 'Quick' in particular is so much fun, a pure adrenaline ride that will also make you laugh; it's the perfect blend of action, mixed with comedy in all the right places.

Han Gi-soo is a former motorcycle gang member who now works as a bike messenger on his BMW bike, who one day delivers a small package to an office ... and, moments later, barely escapes with his life when that very office is blown to bits via a bomb. It never occurs to Han that the bomb was in the very package he delivered, but when he takes a last-minute job to pick up a female Korean pop music star, rushing her to meet with corporate sponsors, not only does Han realize the young gal is his former girlfriend ... but the girl, insisting upon wearing the one and only helmet Han has for safety,...

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Christmas Tail



Good Quality movie
I am a grandmother and this was a great movie to watch with my granchildren. The movie had a variety of animals in it. This is a movie that parents can feel comfortable having their children watch without any inappropriate language or scenes. The scenery was beautiful.

It's like Home alone and Look whos talking now combined
Do not believe the other reviewer that hated this movie. I think the other reviewer had a bad day or some other irritating thing going on in his life when he wrote the review. This movie is basically about a boy interested in having a dog for christmas but can not as his family is financially strapped and as a dog is huge responsibility . This frustrates the 12 year old boy a little bit to the point he gets upset with his mother which is where the other reviewer got the annoying I want a dog thing from. It was a ten second scene that quickly gets calmed down when his mother calls him out for bad behavior and points out he has a lot to be thankful for. What happens next is that the boy figures out a way to get a wish come true by wishing for it at midnight from the Christmas star he gets the idea from a traveling kind professor. But as the boy wishes for a dog a bee passes by and he says he wants to bee a dog. So as the boy walks from he feels something happening then he wakes up a...

One Word - STUPID!
OR 2 WORDS ANNOYING. THIS IS COMING FROM SOMEONE WHO DOES LOVE SAPPY CHRISTMAS MOVIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH DOGS. BUT THIS ONE IS AWFUL. EVERY CHARACTER IS SO ANNOYING, ESPECIALLY THE NARRATOR. THESE FILMS SHOULD HAVE SOME KIND OF MORAL LESSON TO THEM, BUT NOTHING IS LEARNED FROM THESE SELFISH PEOPLE EXCEPT GIVE ME WHAT I WANT WHEN I WANT IT. I HATED THIS MOVIE WIT A PASSION. DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND SKIP IT, WATCH HE 12 DOGS OF CHRISTMAS INSTEAD.

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For the Love of Money



ONE WRONG TURN AND YOU CAN CRASH
Izak (Yehuda Levi) and Yuni (Joshua Biton) are young cousins in Israel with big plans. Yuni has a brother Levi, who robs banks. Izak's family owns a bar that allows illegal gambling in the back room with unsavory characters. When their lives are threaten in Israel,by a hothead named Tommy (Edward Furlong), they head to the LA to live the American dream. While in America, they manage to step on the toes of a drug czar, Mickey (James Caan) while fixing his car. When Levi gets out of prison and rejoins the family, his criminal ways haven't ended.

The film is based on a true story, and during the final credit run they show us actual photos of the characters with spellings such as "Izak" as opposed to the traditional "Isaac." I found that the story bordered on being exciting, but lacked the Hollywood glitz and drama style to put it into that thriller category.

The movie holds your interest, but just when you think it will grab you, it lets go. My biggest complaint is...

For the love of money
This movie was way over rated. The idea was fun and a few of the characters were ok but overall wait for Netflix

All around good movie
Great movie/cast amazing that this was a true story.

Highly Recommend, had a great movie night with all the family and friends.

"Sometimes doing the right thing can land you in a whole pile of trouble"

Great quotes from the movie

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Spartacus: Vengeance Unleashed [HD]



Spartacus Still Deadly
First, for those that may not have seen Spartacus on Starz and are looking to get into the series via DVD based on its popularity, Spartacus: Vengeance is season 2 of the show but technically the third season. After the excellent 2010 5-star season premier under the title Spartacus: Blood and Sand, Andy Whitfield who played the lead role of Spartacus tragically died of cancer. Whitfield embodied Spartacus; he was a believable, imposing, rough, tough character that made viewers feel like they were watching the real guy from circa 70 BC. His untimely illness left the studio scrambling to decide how to or if the series would continue. Ultimately the studio decided to produce a prequel that ideally would give Whitfield time to recover after treatment, but sadly Whitfield relapsed and passed shortly after production of the prequel.

The prequel was called...

By Jupiter's.....beard, they've done it again
Fans of Spartacus: Blood and Sand and the prequel Gods of the Arena: Draw near, that I may break words with you.

Know this in advance: there are parts of this second season (or third, depending on how you're counting) of the Spartacus saga that _you will not like_. But the gods do not favor such thoughts! WE are for Spartacus: Vengeance, preferably on Blu-ray, which has had noticeably better picture and sound quality than the Starz broadcasts. Bend ear, and I shall give good reasons to make purchase:

- The story is on a par with, possibly even better than, Blood and Sand. It's different - how could it be otherwise? - but more complex and on a much grander scale. The same goes for the setting. Spartacus has always featured impressive camera work and CGI, and this time around it is, at times, literally jaw-dropping and...

Did you see that!
I've not bought the blu-ray of season 2 yet but I will. I have the prequel and season 1. I'm a big fan and was devastated when I heard Andy Whitfield was ill and then died. He was perfect for this role. He was awesome. The new guy is doing ok. If he was the original Spartacus I'm thinking we'd all be saying he's awesome but Andy set such a high bar I don't think anybody could have matched or bettered him. Anyway. Season 2 in my opinion is a little different to season 1 for me. I liked seeing the gladiators being trained, fighting in the area and seeing the twisted plots unfold in the house of Batiatus. Now that season 2 is out in the open with so many different locatnions it's obviously not the same. However, season 2 has got better and better with each episode. Last Fridays.... I think episode 5... was the best episode yet! I was yelling OMG! and my girlfriend was screaming!!! really she was. When Ganacus comes back and enters the arena only to fight against....????? I...

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Battlefield America



If you love children dancing hip-hop - this is for you!
This movie is just okay for me. It's really just like any other dance movie about hip-hop dancing, but very little kids do the dancing. You also get a love story, actually two love stories. And it has an absent father, dying mother, and finding ones true selves all thrown into one movie!

The dancing itself is just okay, it's not going to blow you away like other dance movies, because little kids can only do so much. Also, a lot of moves are shifted from camera to camera so fast that you don't really see much of them dancing and more of their faces and expression. Then, there a lot of crowd shots right before and after they do every other pose. I didn't really like them doing that so much, so I wouldn't like this as a dancing movie, but the other parts of the movie I did like. So, if you just want to see great hip-hop dancing, don't even get this, you won't like it.

If you like kids and expressed by little kids doing hip-hop this is your movie. If you want to see...

fan of street dancing.
I enjoyed watching movies and i have yet to have any problems with what im watching. keep up the good work..

Dance Movies
Enjoyed the movie, story line was basic but the dance moves were why I really purchased the movie. It did not show as much dancing with the kids as I thought but it was liked with my children

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Sunday, September 29, 2013

Winslow the Christmas Bear



Beautiful selections...
The songs on this CD are beautiful when arranged correctly, so it has a wonderful selection. But, the vocals sound strained, flat, especially on the piece "Noel Nouvelvet". The instrumentation on "O' Christmas Tree" is a little too loud and does not blend well. "The Seven Joys of Mary", "Away in a Manger", "O Come Emmanuel", though, and "Morning Has Broken" are gorgeous. This most likely would be a good one to use on the computer, if you edit the playlist. The price is well worth these songs themselves.





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Scenes of the Crime/Relentless/No Mercy/Where Sleeping Dogs Lie



Four StrangeTales
This trio of movies was OK to me because of their diversity. "Scenes of the Crime" is a tight drama based on a true event. Jeff Bridges stars as a kidnapped crime boss held by a would-be criminal in way over his head. This one has more twists than a snake and keeps you guessing will Bridges convince his captor to free him or not. There are a couple of jokers in the deck: the kidnap victim's partner, another ruthless criminal wanting to move in, the wanna-Be's girlfriend and a locker key to a fortune in the mix. "No Mercy" stars Richard Gere as a cop after the killers of his partner and Kim Basinger as an uneducated Louisiana back-country girl and the property of the villain. The plot runs from a brutal murder in Chicago to a chase through the swamps of the delta and the showdown where no one escapes unscathed. "Relentless" stars Judd Nelson. His portrayal as a quietly sadistic serial killer is both fascinating and unnerving. Robert Loggia as the apathetic...





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In The Eyes of a Killer



Good story and good thriller movie
When I first saw this movie, I knew nothing about it and didn't know what to expect. It turned out to be a good thriller (and eventually killer) movie. A university teacher who is blind receives donated eyes and is able to see, but he slowly takes on the characteristics of the donor who, you guessed it, was a killer. Louis Mandylor does a good job in the title role while Gwendolyn Edwards is very good as his loving/sympathetic/concerned and finally frightened for her life newlywed. The supporting cast is also quite good, especially Sherry Weston and Petri Hawking-Bryd (Judge Judy's bailiff). The issue of taking on not only the physical but also possibly psychological characteristics of an organ donor, while extreme in this movie, is thought-provoking.

Two Thumbs Up *****
I'm not a big fan of horror movies but this is definitely an exception It was action-packed and had me on the edge of my seat.

Awesome!
I really enjoyed this movie! I recommend it to anyone who likes thrillers with a twist! It is also a good horror movie.

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The Babymakers



Good Movie
This is a pretty good movie for the buck. It is not a high budget blockbuster, but it keeps your attention throughout the movie and has a great plot.

Very funny

Amusing movie that switches comedic styles in midstream
This is two movies seeking to be one. It begins as an insightful yet funny look at how infertility affects a comedy. The couple have a delightful relationship where they solve the simpler problems well, which may be positive to watch yet lacks the conflict sought in many films, although the fertility issues looks with growing intensity. There is a long focus on this relationship with some laugh out loud hilarity among a serious examination of how infertility affects people.

The movie then shifts into a weird digressions as a slapstick comedy with much silliness. It sinks to racial humor. Overall, there is enough humor to make this a fun movie, The viewer should be prepared for an unorthodox cinematic journey.

It wouldn't even get one star...
If I had the option, it wouldn't even get one star. I couldn't even get through the beginning. Is this what they call rated R now a days??? It was none other than a porno with a longer story line. Animals included in human sex is not my idea of a good joke. Its demented and perverted.

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Horton Hears a Who



A TRUE CLASSIC!
20the Century Fox has just released a big-screen version of the Dr. Seuss classic Horton Hears a Who, but did you know the story actually made its debut on the small screen nearly 40 years ago? In 1970 the story came to TV in a half-hour animated special produced by legendary Warner Bros. director, Chuck Jones. Responsible for some of the best Bug Bunny cartoons ever produced, Jones was no stranger to the works of Theodor Geisel, AKA Dr. Seuss, having directed another Seuss classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas a few years earlier.

I recall watching the special when I was a kid but had nearly forgotten about it until Warner Bros. released the special on a brand new deluxe DVD that also features several other cartoon shorts based on Dr. Seuss' books. Horton is a friendly, imaginative elephant that is the only one who can hear the voices coming from a spec of dust, the tiny world of the Whos. Berated and made fun of by other inhabitants of the jungle, the courageous...

Pay Attention...
I mistakenly purchased this DVD instead of the film version; I've seen these stories on televison before. At any rate, the older-style annimation suits the Seuss stories, and the three extra stories ('Maize-daisy','The Butter Battles' and 'Horton Hatches a Who') are well-worth my mistake. This is a fine and classic addition to a DVD library.

See this movie with your children
Bond with your little ones as you relax with them to view this movie. The child in you will thank you for it. This is not a movie to see without children. Give the DVD as a gift to a little one but let the children enjoy it. Everyone is important, no matter how small is a message that sinks into you as you watch this movie.

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Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!: The Best of Wubbzy, Vol. 1



Episode Listing
This DVD contains seven episodes from the Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! cartoon. Amazon doesn't always do a good job on their DVD episode listings so here are the episodes that are included on this DVD:

1. Follow The Leader
2. The Wubbzy Shuffle
3. Wubbzy The Star
4. Tooth Or Dare
5. Wubbzy's Makeover
6. Wubbzy Bounces Back
7. Wubbzy The Hero

Cute compilation
Fans voted on the official Facebook page & this is the result. All the favorite episodes in one place so you don't have to change discs for your kid to watch their favorites. Wish there was some season 2 episodes on it, but that's what the fans voted.



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Do-Deca-Pentathlon



Slice of Life
Two brothers, each pushing middle age, and each with their own set of baggage, breathe new life into an old and unfinished piece of business at a gathering at Mom's house (the old family home) for a family birthday party. The Do-Deca-Pentathlon is an epic battle of strength and mettle, and is comprised of a series of 25 quasi-sports events (ping-pong, skeeball, arm-wrestling, air hockey, breath-holding, push-ups, laser tag, go-kart racing, etc.). The game ends after 13 of the 25 games are won, and the prize is the the coveted "Best Brother" title. And so it goes.

I loved this independent film: it was not unnecessarily complicated (a breath of fresh air), the characters and the situations were wholly relatable, and for the most part, everybody was nice to each other, even when they didn't want to be. At just over an hour long, the story never lagged. I am very happy I took a chance on this quirky film I'd never heard of...and so will you, I'd wager.

great
The acting was great and the editing was fantastic. it's a story about sibling rivalry and life expectation gone wrong. sometimes the only way to tell someone you love them is to have a not so friendly competition to find out who is the best at life.

Funny And Entertaining
This is a very entertaining film which I enjoyed thoroughly. It is smart in an unobtrusive way and funny, too. But mostly, The Do-Deca-Pentathlon is a poignant drama which explores the estrangement of filial love gone terribly wrong. The immediate theme which is developed with great humor and insight is competition and who's better. The struggle (which takes place over 25 grueling tests of physical exertion) is one of honor as much as of prowess. The mystery of what's ultimately at stake propels the narrative forward. The Do-Deca-Pentathlon is a very male film. The woman characters are depicted as wretched and helpless in the face of hormone-driven adolescence run amok in middle aged men. This is a deftly constructed film from the Duplass brothers whose always interesting work seems to be maturing quickly.

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Golden Winter



Golden Winter
Great movie for families to watch. This one movie that is very interesting to watch and enjoy by yourself or with someone.

Great movie
My 8 year old grandson loved this movie. He said it was very funny. He watched it with his mom and she thought it was cute.

Cute movie
Since I love Golden Retrievers so much this is a feel good movie for sure. I will enjoy watching it often.

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Casino / Carlito's Way Double Feature



2 Undersung Gangster Films In One Set.
Like the previous reviewer I was nervous when I opened this set after purchasing it. If it was a flip disc I would be annoyed. My all-time favorite movie Goodfellas I own on flip disc and it's annoying having to get up and turn the DVD over at the midway point.

Luckily there was a separate disc for each film and some special features with each.

I purchased the set when I want into my local Barnes and Noble looking for Carlito's Way. They had the subpar direct to video sequel. But not the 1993 original. I mentioned this to the cashier and he found this set. Seeing as I like Casino yet had not acquired it on DVD I figured I might as well go for it.

Now on to the films themselves.

In a way it's appropriate that Carlito's Way and Casino ended up bundled together in this set. Both are films by master directors at the top of their game and both exist in teh shadow of a more highly regarded film by the same director.

Casino is often...

Great Deal!
The product description wasn't clear if this is really a two-dvd set, or another two-movies-on-one-disc flipper. (I'd rather spend the extra money and have the movies on seperate discs) Well I took a chance and bought the Casino/Carlito's Way Double Feature to find out for myself.

It IS a two-dvd set!

Each movie is on a single-sided DVD. The top of each disc is black with the title in silver.

Both movies have been released multiple times on DVD, and judging by the Amazon reviews, some versions are better than others. I can't tell which versions these are, but I've watched both DVDs and they look beautiful. Vibrant colors, clear picture and clear sound. Fully animated title menus with music. Both movies are in widescreen (anamorphic 2.35:1) and are complete (both have the correct running times--3 hours for Casino, 2 1/2 hours for Carlito) Also, even though this set was released in October 2012, the copyright date on both discs is 2009. I don't...



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General Education



Low budget comedy
The movie was okay and had some funny scenes, but at best, it was just okay. I should have waited until it came on public TV.

GENERAL EDUCATION Is Generally Awful
Hollywood likes to openly proclaim that it embraces American values, but, if GENERAL EDUCATION is any indication, I'm not entirely certain Tinseltown even recognizes what sentiments average Americans embrace any longer. Granted, children are always going to have some `secrets' they hold out on their parents, but why glamorize it? Also, parents are always going to want something better for their children, but do they seriously force them to pursue dreams that'll more likely drive their kids into bankruptcy instead of having a life of personal fulfillment? I could go on, but methinks I don't want to spoil too much of this political claptrap in the first paragraph!

(Note: the following review will contain minor spoilers necessary for the discussion of characters and plot. If you're the kind of reader who prefers a review spoiler-free, then skip down to the last two paragraphs for my final words. However, if you're entirely accepting of some hints at things to come, then...

"General Education" is a teen comedy/coming-of-age film that is neither good or bad...it's average...
Tom Morris has worked on quite a few films as a camera operator and has even written and directed several short films. But this time Morris joins writers Elliot Feld and Jaz Kalkat as co-writer and director of the coming-of-age comedy "General Education".

The film would star veterans Larry Miller ("Pretty Woman", "10 Things I Hate About You", "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang"), Janeane Garofalo ("24″, "Mystery Men", "Ratatouille") and feature Chris Sheffield ("Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon", "The Rookie"), Maiara Walsh ("Switched at Birth", "Cory in the House", "Desperate Housewives", "Mean Girls 2″), Skylan Brooks ("Seven Pounds", "Our Family Wedding") and Elaine Hendrix ("The Parent Trap", "90210″, "Superstar").

VIDEO:

"General Education" is presented in 1080p High Definition (2:34:1). Outdoor scenes are quite vibrant showcasing wonderful contrast while indoor scenes were good. For the most part, "General Education" does look very good...

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Bad Karma



Excellent straight to video
This is a straight to video movie and in that context a strong 4 star. My bias here is I consider Ray Liotta one of our best and most honest actors. I think he is vastly under-rated and now just keeps working (like Sam Jackson) rather than waiting for that "big" picture to come along. He never phones it in and raises the level of each flick he makes. Here we have a typical plot: man into the bad stuff, has an event, changes his life and the past comes back to violently haunt him and his love. You can figure it from that. Actually enjoyed it more than the big deal production "Savages" which I saw the day before. Although that movie had a theatrical release, this is a full star better in terms of entertainment if not production values. Well worth seeing.

Pleasant (if quick) Australian crime drama
"Bad Karma" (2012 release; 85 min.) is an Australian crime drama. In the introduction of the movie, set in Sydney, we see Molloy (played by Ray Liotta) and Mack (played by Dominic Purcell) living hard and getting ready for a heist. For reasons too long to explain here, Molloy at the last minute skips out from the actual heist. Mack on the other hand gets arrested and is sent to jail. Fast forward three years: Molloy is now living in beautiful Gold Coast, drug-free, working a regular job, and in a serious relationship. Then one day out of the blue Mack shows up, having been released from jail. He immediately pressures Molloy to join him in a stick-up of the local convenience store. Will Molloy give in? Can he convince Mack to leave him alone? To tel you more would ruin your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

Couple of comments: this is a tough crime drama and several scenes may be too violent and/or too upsetting for the faint of...



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The Courier



THE GATEWAY TO UNDERSTANDING IS PAIN
The Courier is similar to "Transporter" with maybe a touch of "The Usual Suspects." The Courier(Jeffrey Dean Morgan) lives and works in New Orleans and appears to live well below his means. He does have a magic Hollywood watch that makes countdown noises only when a camera is on it.

The Courier is made an offer he can't refuse. He has 60 hours to deliver a case to Evil Sivle a notorious hit man people said had died and was brought back to life by voodoo so he can take back what was once his. His whereabouts is unknown. The Courier is aided by street smart Anna (Josie Ho) who is not his usual partner.

Mickey Rourke plays Maxwell a man connected to Evil Sivle, whose face is obscured for most of the film. Morgan comes across as scruffy Morton Downey jr.

As the plots develops and the body count increases, the Courier discovers this is not an easy task as Evil Sivle is "the last face that men see". Evil is just a state of mind we are told.

The...

Misplaced Opportunity Hamstrung By A Ho
I'm ticked off. Angry because this had so much potential. The opening sequence was flat-out amazing! Unfortunately, it just petered out after that.

Not that this was entirely bad. But this production had the heart of being another 'Transporter' with a heavy dose of 'The Usual Suspects' and a drop of 'Angel Heart' blended into the mix, but failed to capitalize on that initial explosive energy. Director Hany Abu-Assad utterly wasting that fantastic entrance and exited with a flat and uninspired shuffle.

Am a fan of Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Ever since his incredible work on 'The Watchmen' and 'The Losers' - I've found myself really enjoying his excellence at the craft. Hopefully, this...

great!
considering some of the reviews
this was an entertaining movie with nice twists throughout
plus the price was reasonable
only downside was buying it used and having to use our professional cleaner/polisher
on it to get it to play

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Universal Soldier: The Return/Knock Off/Second In Command/The Hard Corps - 4-Pack



The Van Damme Pack
I grew up watching countless action flicks during my childhood, some off of basic cable and others my parents rented. Since the first Expendables came out, I have been buying a few of the action movies that I watched as a kid, such as Cyborg, Cobra, Commando, Raw Deal, Kickboxer, etc. So naturally I was excited to review this four movie Jean-Claude Van Damme collection, courtesy of Mill Creek Entertainment and Tower PR in exchange for an honest review.

Universal Soldier: The Return is set several years after the events that occurred in the first film. Luc Devereaux (played by Jean-Claude Van Damme) is no longer a Universal Soldier, but he does run the new advanced program for the government. The new soldiers are stronger and faster. They are controlled by an advanced computer program called S.E.T.H. When the government wants to shutdown the program, S.E.T.H. takes control of building and the soldiers. Luc Devereaux is the only one that can shut down the program, but...

A Quick Breakdown of the Set for Interested Fans
Very good audio/video quality. Very sturdy, durable packaging. 2 DVDs, 2 movies per disc. No two-sided discs. Universal Soldier: The Return and Knock Off on Disc 1, Hard Corps and Second in Command on Disc 2. No "play all" option. No subtitles. No special features. Basically, these are bare bones presentations. The films do have scene selections and their own animated menu screens. Overall, a good deal for 4 of Van Damme's less popular films. A great deal for completists that can save you some money, shelf-space, and complete your collection at the same time. A definite recommend for Van Damme fans.

big fan
I enjoyed watching movies and i have yet to have any problems with what im watching. keep up the good work..

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Saturday, September 28, 2013

The Cottage



A Silly Straight-To-DVD Endeavor: A Potentially Interesting Story With Sloppy Execution
I like David Arquette and he is certainly the best thing about "The Cottage," but that's about the only endorsement that I can give this low-budget chiller. The story at the heart of this film might have been creepy and provocative had it been explored with any sort of depth, but the end result is more cheesy and comical than scary or disturbing. I love that the DVD cover proudly proclaims that "The Cottage" is "based on a harrowing true story" because the screenplay is about as far from plausible as you can imagine. That still might have been OK if the sordid tale had not taken itself so seriously. With a bit more humor, this might have been redeemed as campy fun. But as is, it's just another "thriller" that is completely dependent on every character making the dumbest choices possible at every moment. And with so little thought to writing identifiable protagonists, I didn't much care what evil fate befell this rather lifeless brood.

"The Cottage" starts with a surreal...

Not good at all...
--- SPOILERS ---

The amount of times people were captured without a weapon or real threat was unbelievable, if you tried to kidnap me that way you would be dead. Then the husband and daughter go missing, meanwhile the mother keeps calling the cell phones casually asking where they are, she then thinks someone is in the house so decides to walk the house IN THE DARK.. Hmm, two members of my family have gone missing, and I have a crazy tenant, let me turn all the lights off, leave my baby and walk around the house with no weapon. SO UNREALISTIC.

Also you wouldn't leave your baby for a second if you felt under threat, yet the baby was constantly left alone to get kidnapped 3 times, you didn't learn the first time around? Then the car the baby is in which is driven by a teenager with no weapon at 5 miles an hour drives by you, and instead of chasing the car you scream and cry as if it's hopeless, really??

I want my $3.99 back, I want the 2 hours of my life...

Has the feel of "Hand That Rocks The Cradle". Movie is OK, but worth watching for Arquette, very creepy in this. I say B+.
"You left the door unlocked you obviously wanted me to come back in." After the tenant that Chloe (Dalton) and Michael have set for their cottage falls through romance novelist Robert (Arquette) answers the ad. After meeting him the family thinks they have the perfect person to move in and are excited. But like most things in life some things are too good to be true. This is true in all genres but I think that casting in horror movies has a lot to do with how creeped out you get watching. I have always wanted to write a "Silence Of The Lambs" type movie starring Roma Downey (from Touched By An Angel), to me that would be creepy just because of who she is. Most people know David Arquette has a comedic actor in movie like "Eight Legged Freaks" and "See Spot Run" which is why he comes off so creepy in this. He gives a very laid back performance and the movie has the same vibe as "Hand That Rocks The Cradle" or "Fear". The movie itself isn't that original and if it weren't for Arquette it...

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The Real Magic City



A Sumptuous Starz Series Looks Terrific, Has Enormous Potential, But Still Needs To Find Its Own Unique Voice
On the surface, the Starz original drama "Magic City" would seem to have everything. It's not hard to imagine the pitch when creating this adult oriented mob drama: Let's combine the period detail that works so well in "Mad Men" with the gritty gangster vibe that made "The Sopranos" such a success. I'd like to say that I made up these comparisons, but both were used in the aggressive advertising campaign that Starz used to launch the show (so clearly it's a side-by-side that they are comfortable with). But that's part of the problem. Instead of crafting a unique product to wow the audience, "Magic City" is covering some pretty familiar territory with its central themes. The primary plot points are so similar to dozens of other mob related stories that it's almost impossible not to make comparisons. Don't get me wrong, there are tons of great elements within "Magic City" and I think it has the potential (should it return) to develop into something quite grand. As of Season One,...

Love, Love, Love
I'm slightly obsessed with this era anyway, so add great storylines and JDM and I'm sold! One of the things I love most is how they've added in historical figures without actually showing them. It gives the show more mystique. If you tried to show them, the Kennedys for instance, it would be very hard to pull off so it speaks to the show's credit that they involve these characters the way they do. An amazing show and my new favorite!

A Sumptuous Starz Series Looks Terrific, Has Enormous Potential, But Still Needs To Find Its Own Unique Voice
On the surface, the Starz original drama "Magic City" would seem to have everything. It's not hard to imagine the pitch when creating this adult oriented mob drama: Let's combine the period detail that works so well in "Mad Men" with the gritty gangster vibe that made "The Sopranos" such a success. I'd like to say that I made up these comparisons, but both were used in the aggressive advertising campaign that Starz used to launch the show (so clearly it's a side-by-side that they are comfortable with). But that's part of the problem. Instead of crafting a unique product to wow the audience, "Magic City" is covering some pretty familiar territory with its central themes. The primary plot points are so similar to dozens of other mob related stories that it's almost impossible not to make comparisons. Don't get me wrong, there are tons of great elements within "Magic City" and I think it has the potential (should it return) to develop into something quite grand. As of Season One, though,...

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Red Lights (DVD + Digital Copy)



`the whole playing with your mind thing'
In the film a psychologist and paranormal investigator, played by Sigourney Weaver, and her physicist assistant, played by Cillian Murphy, investigate a famous psychic.
This movie attacks the tired old idea of 'is ESP real? With those who need to believe as opposed to those that see naivety at best, or a down right con at worst' with new dynamism, new concepts and explanations. Not a single shot of the movie is redundant or a 'filler' shot. There are none of the 'excessive scary movie' theatrics to keep you on edge of your seat.
It has the right narrative, with what I believe to be the right actors and the right scenes to take you where it wants to take you. There is misdirection and the odd McGuffin peppered here, and there has some clever twists in the tale.
This is a 'clever' movie, doesn't spell out everything for you, and makes you want to watch it carefully so as to not miss a thing. I had not heard much about this before it came out, and I was enticed by the...

Riveting Command of Your Attention from Start to Finish
You know how when you are watching a magic trick or slight of hand how your focus is heightened watching like a hawk for each nuance to catch how they did that? Red Lights (DVD + Digital Copy) compels the viewers attention to that heightened extent from beginning to end. Not one second is boring. One dare not turn one's attention elsewhere for one second.

The acting I found to be top notch. I think this is Robert DiNero's best acting ever and each and every other actor delivered some of their best performances.

Action.

Suspense.

Is there such a thing as paranormal or can it all be debunked upon close scientific examination? To know the answer in really examining this and its possibilities in other humans, one must first examine and know oneself (according to DeNiro, Weaver, and Murphy's characters) which is dangerous in itself...

The most underrated film in years.
Let me start this review by saying I went into this movie thinking it might be pretty good, I was excited to see Cillian Murphy because I love the man, but coming out of this film I was in complete shock at how good it was.

The thing that makes this thriller so great, is that unlike most of the movies made under the genera, the first half doesn't suffer to make the final half that much more shocking/amazing. This movie had me hooked from the start until the end without wasting a moment. Each scene was tense and did its job. The concept alone was enough to get me interested but they throw curve ball after curve ball to keep you that much more invested and it worked without fault. Nothing in the movie felt at all cheesy or forced. It had a very natural flow about it.

Now if you have heard anything about the movie you probably know that some people are loving the ending and others are hating the ending. I am without a doubt one of the people who love it. Not just...

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Episode 7



Great fun
It was really fun to watch. There really is no storyline to go with but you'll see different sides of characters as you keep on watching and sides you wouldn't even expect to see.

not bad at all.
fun korean drama. the actress is very good looking to say the least. as an american it is a little difficult to see korean morality reflected in these dramas. it takes 10 episodes to tell someone you like them. it is agony waiting for them to say it. anyhow as korean dramas go this was one of the more enjoyable.

Good Korean soap opera with a few twists
Starts out silly but changes over time. The last episode wraps up everything neat and tidy. I enjoyed a glimpse into south korea's culture.

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Episode 4



A wonderful family comedy
This is a fun show for the whole family. The oldest sister of a family made up of adoptees has to take over raising her siblings when their parents are tragically murdered. She was immature in debt and has to grow up quickly. She moves into a household of three brothers working as a maid. A sneaks her siblings in each night to sleep. The brothers fall in love with her and hijinks ensue.

The first two episodes are slow and then the show picks up. Mostly a comedy but near the end it gets a little serious. Since this is a Korean drama the show is more like a miniseries with a satisfying ending. Very worth watching.

Heartwarming Drama - Pick up the Stars
I decided to rewatch Stars Falling From the Sky before going to camp this summer. I watched it 2 years ago and really enjoyed it. I realized that Amazon Prime streamed this show so I was super excited. This means I didn't need to watch commercials (as I had been doing on Dramafever.com and Hulu.) The lead character Palgang (Red in Korean) annoyed me at first, but as she adapted to her role as guardian of her siblings she became quite lovable. The show is about Palgang who has 5 adopted siblings age range 1-13 years old. Their names make up the rainbow but ending in -ng instead of -n. So Palgang = Red, JuHwang = Orange, Noran = yellow, ChoRok = Green, Parang = Blue, Nam = Indigo, and Bora = Purple/ Violet. Their parents die in a car crash and she must take care of them by being the maid at her former crush's house - the cold Attorney GongHa. The rambunctious family changes GongHa, his brother JoonHa and cousin TaeGyu. Really good show and it grows on you. Her brother Parang...

Nami and other children were amazing
From beginning to end, the story had so many twists, that I didn't want to miss a minute. Nami was outstanding as were the other children. The adults just followed along. The setting and scenery made the series even better.

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Friday, September 27, 2013

Episode 4



good series
I loved this series and would love to see the next season cant weight for the next one hope its released on the prime membership.

A compelling story of love
The acting is excellent. The story lingers in my mind. The music is brilliant. The direction is very well balanced, serious, fun, and intelligent at the same time. Each actor brings to the screen a different attitude about love, how to love, and how culture impinges on emotions. I will watch this many times over the rest of my life to remind me that there is hope in the beauty of love, innocence, and virtuosity. Great job everyone! You are all brilliant actors.

AWESOME K-DRAMA
First, I'm excited about being the first to review this K-drama and it is about time, Amazon begin to add K-Dramas to the Instant Download. Second, I have watched this drama twice. I never get tired of it. It's not difficult when it has two of Korea K-POP successful artists in it, Jeong Yong-hwa of CN Blue, and Jang Geun Seuk a talented singer; who I just adore on the screen. Put those two together, along with Korea top leading actress, Park Sin Hye and you have a top notch drama. I have watched just about every drama she has starred in (Lie To Me and Heartstrings also with Jeong Yong-hwa) to name a few, she never fail to deliver a top performance. This drama kept me interested from the beginning to end, it never slowed which some dramas are known to do. It made me laugh and cry. The supporting actors/actresses were just awesome in there roles. The story line is Park Sin Hye character fills in for her twin brother ( recovering in the hospital in the usa) in a successful boy band by...

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Episode 4



From tough to watch to tough to forget.
I have been watching a lot of K-dramas lately but this show, once I was in, drew me in more than any other show.

The main couple were fun, cute, frustrating, sweet, tragic, and beautiful. I couldn't get enough of them and was almost desperate to see where their story took them. Putting it lightly, I would have been okay with more than 16 episodes. On the other hand, the older couple, also sweet, were so very funny. The way their story seemed to playfully poke fun at this genre was so entertaining.

This show is worth picking up and definitely work sticking with through to the end. Though I mentioned it's tough to watch starting out, it is entertaining all the way through. I'm sad that it's over but so grateful for having watched it.

Great Tale! (no pun intended)
This is a really adorable fantasy. It is a light and refreshing series. It's not dark, nor jaded. It's delightful and will make you laugh!

I really have to compliment the Korean film makers. Many of the films coming out are just fantastic and in my opinion are far better than the films coming out of our own country. I have watched many movies coming out of Asia and Korea in the genre of the "supernatural" and they put the word "supernatural" back in the genre where it belongs; due to the atmosphere they create through their films. Unfortunately, it's an art Hollywood is forgetting...

I have only watched the first episode so far, but from what I have seen it is suitable for children. Through watching the audience may also learn from a different culture as well as realize that although cultures may seem different; the common thread of humanity runs through all...

Best fantasy series
Um this series is sooo goood. Very cute,very funny, if you pay attention teaches you some about Korean culture. but just a great concept of true love in this jaded world. Loved it

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Episode 4



City Hunter Fan
I'm a huge fan of K-Drama. This is my all time favorite. I keep searching for a drama, Korean or American, which can match it. It has a great blend of everything I want to see in a great show!

Korean Vigilante!
An infant stolen from his mother is raised to be the instrument of vengeance against the corrupt officials and business leaders in Korea who were responsible for the murder of 20 of their own troops. Unless you speak Korean you will have to follow along with the English subtitles but this series has a great mix of action and romance. A man whose entire life is based upon nothing but lies must try to find the truth and make the hard choices between vengeance and justice.

City hunter the best entertainment I have seen in years
I am now addicted to Korean series. The stories are excellent, the actors are adorable and excellent and when each episode ends you can't stop watching because they leave you wanting more and the romance is just that...romance not porn. How delightfully refreshing and truly entertaining because you cannot figure out what is coming next and it is always fascinating... If true romance, intrigue, drama, action with a little comedy is for you,City Hunter is it!

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Episode 5



Awesome
There are many lessons to be learned from these characters. Compassion giving of ones heart. Please give us more of this type of drama.

Best Korean Drama
This is the best one so far. I am going to watch it again. I hope I do not cry too much this time. The acting is superb. It proves you can feel the deep love of the characters without flaunting sex. It is appropriate for all ages. I hope more like this will be made. Oh! They all have the most beautiful lips. :) - Jeri

A rememberable romantic comedy
This is a fantasy story about a rich man who falls in love with a stunt women while visiting his cousin on a movie set. However she is not interested at all. The story takes a fantasy twist when a body switch occurs. The woman starts to understand him better and he starts to win her heart through their trials.

The story moves pretty fast and has a satisfying ending. However there are a couple of side characters that I would have hoped had a clearing ending.

Overall I recommend this drama. It is clean for family viewing.

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Episode 11



Enyoyable
I thought the series was great. I was impressed with the story line and the actors and actresses as well. I was very disappointed in episode 11 that were not in subtitles.

No subtitles starting Episode 11
The show is primarily about a cancer patient who tries to live out her life to the fullest with a bucket list of 20 items. The show has been great so far but now that I am on Episode 11, turns out there are no English subtitles currently available as of February 8, 2013 (have not checked after Episode 11). Just a heads up before you devote several hours into this addictive Korean drama!

Love It
I loved this show. Heart warming and sad at times, but an awsome ending. Would recommend watching this for any one that is struggling with the loss of a loved one.

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Episode 13



Lie to Me based on real life work of Paul Ekman
When I saw the dismal review with one star rating about which was about Fox network and not the tv show Lie To Me, I had to write one. Lie to Me is loosely based on the real life work of psychologist Paul Ekman. I studied some of Ekman's work and read one of his books. I believe this show is very interesting and as true as it can be to deception expert training. I loved the real life footage they show from time to time to mirror the actor's micro-expression. Fascinating work. This show is a mix of fiction and non-fiction and it's quite a nice break from "reality" TV.

Excellent series!!!!
This TV series is excellent, the best thing on at present. Tim Roth brings superb acting skills to the complex character of Dr. Cal Lightman, an expert in lie detection, based on the research conducted by Paul Ekman, a renowned expert in the field of facial expressions and emotions. The Lightman Group is employed by various agencies to detect deception, whether it is in a life or death scenario finding trapped builders in a collapsing building, searching for kidnapped children or the nuances in romantic relationships. The series explains the science behind the concepts in an easy to understand manner in the first few episodes but doesn't molly-coddle the audience, expecting them to keep up as the series picks up speed and dropping the details explanations. Excellent characterisation, good plot lines, great acting. This show is very good. I await the release of the DVD with a great deal of impatience and hope the following series lives up to the impact the first one made.

If...

Most Fascinating Show on TV
This is one of the most unique shows to hit TV in a long time. "Lie to Me" defies so many trends and presents a fascinating show with no guns, no explosions, car chases or tiring cops/robbers drama, and delves into captivating psychology and stories loaded with twists and turns. You can't look away from actor Tim Roth who dominates every scene. One of the best shows overall to hit TV. I was so happy to hear that it's been renewed for a second season and can't wait for the DVD release.

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The Best Red vs. Blue DVD. Ever. Of All Time



The Best Red Vs Blue moment goes to. . .
In my opinion, a one of a kind Dvd that a RVB owner must own!

Its the Red Vs Blue Awards show introducing everyone including Sister,
Andy, and someone from the Grifball mini series. This Dvd shows all sorts of stuff like favorite quotes, favorite characters, and other moments from the past.

It also has new content that makes the whole thing complete, and why not get it, 5 bucks!??? THATS A STEAL!

Get it now...

Cockbite.

Ever. Of all Time.
There isn't really any new material on this DVD (which shouldn't surprise anyone) - but it is a one stop shop for many of the best moment of RvB. If you enjoy RvB, you'll enjoy the DVD. If you don't enjoy RvB, why are you reading this?

Even if you own all the seasons, get it.
Sup, Shisnos? They already released all 10 seasons on DVD. You may be asking yourself, "Why is it here?"

I already own all 10 seasons that are out now, but I bought it anyway. Only half of it is reruns, and a few things from the show are re-edited, like a Meta/Agent Maine epicness montage. Even though I've seen every season at least 3 times, I laughed like I was seeing the clips for the first time. However, very few clips from Season 9 made it in, and only one from season 10.

The award ceremony scenes between clips are nothing short of hilarious, especially if you know the series as well as I do. If you don't know the series, it's a good way to get hooked, and it's only $5. Come on. Plus, it includes the obscure Grifball miniseries "Expansion" exclusive to Halo Waypoint and the Recollection DVD set from RoosterTeeth (Amazon and Best Buy versions don't have it).

Anyway, it's a great way to introduce friends to the show, it's great if you...

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Episode 10



Hooked on K-dramas
Excellent story lines/characters/acting. Television on USA has degraded to bumbling fathers, manner-less children, horribly lurid story lines.....K Dramas are excellent family fare.

Protect the Boss
Loved it - very entertaining! Would also like to see more than 1 season of these Korean series. Enjoy the humor .

Street Smart vs Upper Crust - I loved it!
Street Smart working girl lands her dream job as a secretary in a dysfunctional family run Korean Multinational corporation. No surprise in a rom-com, she ends up pursued by the rich and handsome young cousins who compete for her attentions... while competing for the corporate helm.

Choi Kang-hee, the star, is absolutely adorable and makes this TV series work... you can really believe that this girl is tough as nails, smart as a whip and with a heart of gold. I fell in love with her myself! Perfect casting.

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