Amazon.com

Will Smith's easygoing charm makes Hitch the kind of pleasant, uplifting romantic comedy that you could recommend to almost anyone--especially if there's romance in the air. As suave Manhattan dating consultant Alex "Hitch" Hitchens, Smith plays up the smoother, sophisticated side of his established screen persona as he mentors a pudgy accountant (Kevin James) on the lessons of love. The joke, of course, is that Hitch's own love life is a mess, and as he coaches James toward romance with a rich, powerful, and seemingly inaccessible beauty named Allegra (Amber Valetta), he's trying too hard to impress a savvy gossip columnist (Eva Mendes) with whom he's fallen in love. Through mistaken identities and mismatched couples, director Andy Tennant brings the same light touch that made Drew Barrymore's Ever After so effortlessly engaging. As romantic comedies go, Hitch doesn't offer any big surprises, but as a date movie it gets the job done with amiable ease and style. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (71)

2.5 stars...what a waste
This is one of the most overhyped movies out there. I admit, this movie started of strong, but after the 1st hour or so...it just spiralled downhill.

It is about Alex Hitchens, this date doctor who basically helps big-hearted losers to get noticed by their dream girls. In his words, he creates the opportunity for them. One of these guys happens to be Albert who has a thing for Allegra, the rich and beautiful multi-millionaire. Meanwhile, Alex meets Sara who's a gossip columnist and sparks fly. What happens next? I'm sure anyone with a brain would know.

I have nothing against romantic comedies. The thing with this kind of movies is the story. We all know how it's gonna end, so the writers should thrill us with the ride there. A good romantic comedy should evoke some kind of emotions. Unfortunately, even with the talented cast they have here, it's all gone to waste with a lousy and utterly predictable script. The starting 10-15 minutes was great, and I was actually looking forward to the movie. Then Will Smith gave me laughs when trying to woo Sara, played by sexy Eva Mendes. But other than this, there's nothing else that entertained me. And most of the funny scenes are actually in the movie trailer.

Kevin James, who I really like in King Of Queens is underused here. And his chemistry with Allegra (played by Amber Valleta) seems kinda dead. He doesn't really seem that infatuated with her. Will Smith tries to salvage this movie for all he can, but there's just so much a guy can do. The second half of the movie really was pretty boring because of it's predictability and it seemed like I was watching a mixture of other romantic comedies (How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days and Notting Hill comes to mind).

This movie might be good to watch with your partner, but even then...just rent it, it's not worth buying. This movie fails because of the script, the actors bring all they can to their roles but it just isn't enough. If you want good romantic comedies, get Hugh Grant's movies...they're predictable of course but you'll have a hell of a good time watching the story unfold.

Will Smith as Cupid in Terrific Comedy...
Cupid flutters around spreading happiness with his arrows of love and affection.These arrows strike each target with one single attempt, as the person falls in love after the single moment when the arrow strikes them.Love changes everything, as it means commitment, trust, and mutual affection when the love is answered.Hitch (Will Smith) is the human cupid, as he works his magic as a partner consultant that helps men get noticed by the woman who is the target of their love.Everything around Hitch oozes of class as nothing is cheesy, cheap, or corrupt. He is a true gentleman that helps others find their opportunity with love by shooting his arrows of affection.

Hitch ended up becoming a love consultant due to an incident in college when he suffered from a broken heart.Now he focuses on helping guys like he once was, as he helps them strategize their upcoming encounters and dates.Carefully Hitch helps the men with how to approach the women, what to say, and how they must behave around the woman they love.Everything is thoroughly planned, as it all comes down to one moment - the first kiss.

When Hitch meets his freshest client Albert (Kevin James) he senses a disaster.The problems increase when he finds out that Albert loves Allegra Cole (Amber Valletta), a famous and incredibly rich woman.Nonetheless, Hitch believes that he can pull it off by creating a masterpiece.Simultaneously, he meets Sara (Eva Mendes), a relentless gossip columnist, with whom he falls in love.This affair turns into a greater mess than expected for Hitch who finds himself kicking women, having severe food allergies, while Sara finds it difficult to combine personal life and professional life.

Hitch is a warm comedy about love, affection, and the connection between people.Will Smith is perfect for the role as Hitch, as he easily drifts into the gentle and cool character.His performance is well balanced with the supporting cast, and Kevin James complements Will Smith by making the two look like contemporary Laurel and Hardy.In the end, Hitch will offer an easy comedy with some great laughs, but also an interesting notion in regards about the opportunity of love.

Great Romantic Comedy
Will Smith has so much charm and charisma; it's hard to understand why he hasn't been in more romantic comedy roles. In this movie, he plays Alex Hitchins, "Hitch", a date doctor who helps guys with two left feet shape up so that they can make a good impression on the women they want to win. It's a Cyrano story, but in this case the handsome man is supplying the smooth words and actions for the bumbling Romeos-to-be. Eva Mendes is smart and feisty as Sara, who is supposedly a predatory gossip columnist. The film has two (well, three) intersecting sub-plots; Hitch's attempt to help Albert (Kevin James) win the rich socialite of his dream, and Sara's pursuit of dirt on this same socialite (and Sara's best friend has a bad run-in with a rejected Hitch client). The film rolls along really well until the ending, which seems forced and unbelievable.

Funny movie
Will Smith has done it again. It is amazing how this guy can pull off any role, even in a non-action one like the one in "Hitch."

Hitch is a funny and watchable movie.

Smith is a "date doctor" who helps people sort out their romantic problems and he has his formula pat down successfully. But, you know that a formula can have a successful run only for a certain period of time and then it is bound to hit a bump. In this case, Smith's succesful dating formula starts to unravel when his client's successful love life becomes the talk of the town. His client Kevin James,, who plays a bumbling tax consultant is in love with a widowed heiress, and somehow it leaks out that James's success is the handiwork of a "date doctor." And the person who is responsible for getting Smith's life out of control is Eva Mendes, who plays a society gossip columnist.

Eva Mendes and Kevin James did a fantastic job in their respective roles. I really liked James in this movie, and his dance moves are a definite highlight of this movie.

It is a great film to catch on a girls night out. My husband would definitely label this as a chick flick.

Life is the moments that take your breath away
"You is a very fluid concept right now", states "Hitch", a dating consultant, who calls himself the "dating doctor".Will Smith plays the lead in a role designed for him. The premise is as follows; "Hitch" is a dating consultant whose business is helping men sweep women off their feet.He helps a variety of guys meet the love of their life by setting up circumstances to help get them noticed and on dates, and the rest is up to them.The results are often hilarious.One day "Hitch" meets a woman who sweeps him off his feet, and then his well designed strategies for others fail in some of the most memorable ways.

While the movie is funny, and Will Smith is his typical self, this one has some real relationship depth to it.The characters likable, and the courtships and dating are at times awkwardly realistic.I think every man who watches the movie can relate to many of the awkward moments and cringe and laugh along.

Of course the ending is a bit too easy, but still, it works.This movie is not a masterpiece by any means, but it is enjoyable from the opening credits to the end.In this day and age where most comedies have to resort to crass and offensive humor, this one is a gem.Enjoy.
... Read more

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The imagination never flags in Episodes XIV-XXVI of Samurai Jack, Genndy Tartakovsky's Emmy-winning comedy-adventure. The artists skillfully employ design, color, and pattern to compliment the directors' use of deft cutting and split screen imagery. The resulting visuals are sharp, fresh, and appealing.

As Jack continues his quest to return to the past and destroy the evil shape-shifter Aku, the tone of the adventures shifts from dramatic to farcical and back again. In Episode XX, Jack proves his determination by climbing treacherous Mount Fatoom with three highly trained monks. The clerical trio consists of little more than pentagons with stylized faces, but their geometric simplicity plays effectively against the jagged facets of the mountain. The warriors who battle mechanical minotaurs in Episode XXV reflect the look of Greek vase paintings, filtered through the work of modern illustrators and graphic novelists. In lighter moments, Jack helps the Scotsman rescue his battleaxe of a bride from a nest of demons in Episode XVII, then plunges down a rabbit hole to visit a neon-bright Wonderland in Episode XXIV. That adventure reaches new heights of absurdity when Jack appears in drag as a princess.

The picaresque blend of comedy and adventure makes Samurai Jack one of the most significant cartoon series of recent years. Extras include a biography-scrapbook of Tartakovsky, a partial pitch for Episode XVII and a creators' commentary for Episode XXV. (Unrated, suitable for ages 10 and older: stylized violence, minor gross humor) --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The artistic subtleties
Samurai Jack is the cutting edge of creativity.There is no doubt that on some episodes, such as the farting dragon episode, there is a different tone and direction.However, it shows that Tartakovsky is willing to go out on a limb.He is daring to do something different from other shows (cartoon or not).This difference is the divide between Samurai Jack and Naruto.Don't get me wrong, I love Naruto, but it lacks what nearly every T.V. show, or even movie lacks-risk.Tartakovsky is creating a legacy much like Tarantino and Zhang Yimou (Director of Hero and House of Flying Dagger).Make no mistake, Samurai Jack, in every season that will be released, will be impressive and different from each other.I personally cannot wait until the third and fourth seasons however, the Spartans episode, Emikandi Hunters, Jack Naked, Jack and the Ultra Robots, and Jack Remembers the Past offer up some of the most diverse Samurai Jack episodes.And it only gets better from here.

More Samurai Jack...Definetely Worth It
Samurai Jack in my opinion has to be one of the best animated series ever created. It combines humor and non-stop action into one neatly rolled package...and the second season is definetely better than the first.

Samurai Jack follows a Japanese warrior who is transported thousands of years into the future by the evil sorcerror and tyrant, Aku. Apparently, Aku has now taken over the world and the majority of (If not all) lives under his rule. Jack now is struggling to find a method of transporting him back to the past where he can undo Aku's tyranny. The first season was summed up in one word: Great. But the second season is summed up in another word: Awesome. The DVD set includes 13 episodes in total, each one magnificent works of artwork and animation.

Some of the best episodes of the set includes one where a gang destroys Jack's sandals and he goes after them for revenge, while trying to find the right footwear. It's wittingly humorous as Jack emerges to battle the gang and ends up being laughed at for his ridiouculous footwear.

Another nice episode is one which explores Jack's past when he comes to the ruins of his own village, ravaged thousands of years ago. Its touching as Jack remembers his past. Another nice episode is where Jack is forced into battle against a group of samurai robots, each wielding different weapons and abilities, such as flamethrowers and shruikens. Jack is eventually outfitted with a robotic arm and the battle is undeniably gritty and intense.

Well, anyway, I seriously reccomend purchasing the second season, however, also keep your eyes out for the third season, which in my opinion is much better (It includes an episode where Jack battles a trio of Egyptian shadow-warriors and must call on the god Ra in order to rescue himself and a two-part battle between Jack's father and Aku which is also awesome).

Jack finds his footing - then he begins to soar.
Samurai Jack, the groundbreaking animation series by Genndy Tartavosky that follows the young samurai stranded in the future, searching for his arch-nemesis, Aku, and a way back to the past, continues in the fantastic second season.

In the last DVD we were introduced to Jack, the shapeshifting wizard Aku, and many allies and foes. In Samurai Jack: Season 2, Jack's journey continues through some of the best episodes ever produced (as well as a couple that never should have been). But the good far outweighs the bad as Jack meets old friends, explores his past, and is fully realized as a warrior of honor, skill, and some good old fashioned luck.

The action reaches its peak in episodes such as XVIII (Jack and the Ultra-Robots), XXII (Jack and Imakandi), and XXIII (Jack vs Demongo, the episode that officially hooked me as a lifelong fan). Arguably some of the best action episodes of the series (out of quite a bunch!), these episodes have Jack fighting (or running) for his life before delving into his resourcefulness and inner strength for the means to defeat his foes.

Jack's almost overwhelming valor in these episodes might make for a rather two-dimensional character, but we also see moments of his vulnerability in such episodes as XIX (Jack Remembers His Past) and XX (Jack and the Monks), one of my personal favorites. In the twentieth episode, after losing yet another chance to return to the past, a disheartened Jack follows three monks up the seemingly endless, nearly impossible Mount Fatoom, only to discover anew the reasons behind his journey.

It's hard to decide whether Season 2 is the best of the series. But it is certainly a gem to be treasured, its mix of high-voltage action and personal reflection paving the way for some of Jack's greatest triumphs and worst moments of despair in the stunning Season 3.

Great series keep getting better
What can be said more. One of the greatest animation series of all time keeps getting better. I am so looking forward to these episodes:

XXXI (Jack and the Scarab)
One intense fighting episodes
XXXV (Jack and the Haunted House)
Great artistic switch to pencil and shadow drawing in the demon world
XL (Samurai vs. Ninja)
Fantastic martial art showdown
XXIV (Jack is Naked)
One trippy psychedelic episode

Season 2...It's about time!!!
It has been much too long between the DVD releases of Samurai Jack Season 1 and Season 2 (due out May 24, 2005). Season 2 has some of the very best Samurai Jack episodes, including:

* Episode 14 - Jack learns to "jump good" thanks to the help of an ape-man and a tribe of his fellow apes. This has some great scenes of Jack in training and as Jack in turn teaches his new friends to defend themselves.
* Episode 18 - Jack has to battle a posse of assasin robots. Once again, Jack must prove - to himself, more than anyone - that his heart is greater than any enemy Aku can throw at him.
* Episode 19 - Jack stumbles upon his ancestral land, now in ruins. This has some heartwarming flashbacks of Jack's life as a little boy.
* Episode 20 - Jack and the Mountain. Jack joins three monks in a death-defying climb up a mystical mountain. Are these the spirits of the monks who created Jack's samurai sword? : )
* Episode 22 - Jack battles three lion-men...the greatest wild-game hunter team in the galaxy. The stalker-prey chase gives Jack his toughest challenge of skill to date.

So why the 4 stars? There are a few other episodes that fall too short of Samurai Jack at his best. In one episode in this series Jack encounters a village cursed with a vile smell. The episode is strange, gross, and just a little offensive. In another episode, Jack takes part in three so-so fairy tales amongst his many journeys. This episode just lacks the umph you come to expect from Samurai Jack.

However, just the episodes listed above (especially Episodes 18 & 19) make this DVD worth the price. I've been waiting for these episodes since the release of Season 1. Finally, it's almost here. ... Read more

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The most famous episode in franchise history, "The Trouble with Tribbles," is one of the highlights of the second season of Star Trek: The Original Series.A deserved classic, the humorous story centers on an ever-expanding mass of furry creatures that memorably rain themselves down on top of Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and into the middle of a Federation-Klingon showdown. It inspired one of the most memorable episodes in the spin-off series Deep Space Nine, "Trial and Tribble-ations."Also in the second season, the Vulcan culture of Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) is fleshed out in "Amok Time" (in which Spock is faced with the possibility of killing his captain and friend) and "Journey to Babel" (introducing Spock's father, played by Mark Sarek, in what would turn out to be a long-recurring role).A new character, navigator Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig), was introduced; his Monkees haircut was intended to appeal to the younger audience, but he was also a Russian, which at the height of the cold war reflected Gene Roddenberry's optimistic vision of a more enlightened future.Other social-commentary opportunities presented themselves in "The Omega Glory," "The Doomsday Machine," and "Assignment: Earth," the last also one of those periodic opportunities to scrimp on the budget by time-traveling to an earlier version of Earth.Another example was "A Private Little War," a comic episode set in the Roaring Twenties and memorable for, among other things, Kirk's teaching a made-up card game called Fizzbin.In other significant episodes, "I, Mudd" saw the return of the bounder from season 1, "The Changeling" was the original inspiration for the first Trek feature film a decade later, "Wolf in the Fold" (penned by the author of Psycho) provides an example of the series' great writing, and "Mirror, Mirror" introduced the concept of the parallel universe inhabited by vicious, amoral counterparts of the regular crew, another theme later borrowed (more than once, and to good emotional effect) by DS9.

Special features are a bit lighter than on the season 1 set, but they do feature such contributors as Shatner, Nimoy, George Takei (Sulu), Koenig, Nichelle Nichols (Uhura), and editor-writer D.C. Fontana. Of chief interest are "To Boldly Go," a 20-minute season recap; " Kirk, Spock & Bones: The Great Trio," discussing the interplay among Kirk, Spock, and Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley); "Star Trek's Divine Diva," shining the spotlight on the development of Nichols's character (she was originally considered to play Spock); and "Writer's Notebook: D.C. Fontana," discussing her various roles in the series (she used her initials to avoid the anti-female bias in science fiction at the time).--David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Second Complete Season in an 8-DVD Set! Fantastic!
When Paramount Home Video first started to release the original series of "Star Trek" in 1999, I was aghast at the fact that only one DVD with two episodes per DVD were being released one DVD at a time at a very high cost. The cost to own all 40 volumes (DVD's) was staggering. Of course, this doesn't even address the amount of shelf space required for all 40 DVD's.

Now, with this repackaged version, all 26 episodes of the second season are being released together on 8 disks. This is the packaged version of the original "Star Trek" that I fully intend to purchase because even at full list price, the cost of owning the second complete season is less than half the cost of owning its earlier cousins on an equivalent 13 DVD's. Also, the packaging itself has been designed similarly to the packaging used for other "Star Trek" series released in complete seasons, meaning that it will only require a small amount of shelf space. It is also possible that extra documentary and commentary material not released originally will be included in this complete second season box set.

The original series of "Star Trek", that ran for three complete seasons between 1966 and 1969, started a franchise that has included six television series and ten big screen motion pictures. The main original characters of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), Lt. Commander/Commander Spock (Leonard Nimoy), Dr. Leonard H. 'Bones' McCoy (DeForest Kelley, 1920-1999), Lt. Cmdr. Montgomery 'Scotty' Scott (James Doohan), Lt. Hikaru Sulu (George Takei), Lt. Nyota Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), Ensign Pavel Chekov (Walter Keonig from 1967-1969), Yeoman Janice Rand (Grace Lee Whitney from 1966-1967) and Nurse Christine Chapel (Majel Barrett) have become an inseparable part of Americana. Though series creator Gene Roddenberry (1921-1991) was not able to keep the original series alive for five seasons as originally envisioned (it was cancelled after its third season), he, along with the countless series fans, was able to resurrect it in the form of six motion pictures beginning in 1979 and the first series spin-off, "Star Trek: The Next Generation" in 1987, which ran for seven years and had spin-offs of its own. There was also a 22-episode animated version based upon the original series that ran from 1972 to 1974.

The most memorable episodes of the second season include "Amok Time" (Spock's Vulcan mating ritual), "The Changeling" (the inspiration for the 1979 film "Star Trek: The Motion Picture"), "Mirror, Mirror", "The Apple", "The Doomsday Machine" (with guest star William Windom as Commodore Matthew Decker, the father of the character Capt. Willard Decker (Stephen Collins) in the 1979 film "Star Trek: The Motion Picture"), "I, Mudd" (with returning guest character Harcourt Fenton 'Harry' Mudd, as played by Roger C. Carmel, 1932-1986), "Journey to Babel" (which introduces Spock's parents: Ambassador Sarek as played by Mark Leonard (1924-1996) and his human wife Amanda as played by Jane Wyatt), "Friday's Child", "The Deadly Years", "Obsession", "Wolf in the Fold", the fan-favorite "The Trouble with Tribbles", "A Piece of the Action", "The Immunity Syndrome", "A Private Little War", "Return to Tomrrow" (with guest character Dr. Ann Mulhall as played by Diana Muldaur, who also played the unpopular character Dr. Katherine Pulaski in the second season of "Star Trek: The Next Generation"), "By Any Other Name", "The Ultimate Computer" and "Assignment: Earth". The were no truly awful episodes during the second season, but there were a few that had rather weak plots, including the ancient-Greek-inspired "Who Mourns for Adonais?" the gothic "Catspaw", the Nazi-inspired "Patters of Force" and the twentieth-century version of the Roman Empire in the episode "Break and Circuses". The episode "The Omega Glory" was rather good until the final scenes that are somewhat corny.

Overall, I rate the 8-DVD set of "Star Trek: Original Series Season 2" with an anticipatory 5 out of 5 stars. Clearly, this is how Paramount should have released the original series to begin with. Thank you Gene Roddenberry for taking all of us "where no man has gone before".

The pinnicle of TOS
After barely getting renewed for a second season, ST came back the next year in full force.The biggest hero was not Captain Kirk himself,but Gene Coon.The executive producer who contributed some of the best episodes, as well as set the tone for the show which inspired future Trek's as well.
One of the prime factors for the second season's brilliance was the charater's themselves as the actors found the tone of their characters.And the famous trio of Kirk-Spock -McCoy were finally established at the focal point of the show.The remaining supporting characters performed admirably as well, even with the introduction of Paval Chekov (Walter Keonig). Many classic episodes came from season two(Mirror,Mirror, Amok Time, Doomsday Machine, Deadly Years,Trouble With Tribbles, A Piece Of The Action, Journey to Babel).
As brilliant as season two was, it was not enough to get high numbers in the Nielsons.Thanks to a letter campaign by fans led by Bjo Trimble,ST was renewed for a third season.But with Coon's departure from the show after the second season,the third season suffered and even the fans couldn't save it. ... Read more

Reviews (431)

A solid action/espionage movie that does not insult the mind
I did not see this movie when it first came out as I am getting tired of the summer extravaganzas that try to outdo one another with how many more explosions they can generate than what is playing in the next theatre. Notwithstanding, I decided to give it a shot as I loved the energy and pacing of director Doug Liman's "Go," and also liked the comedic edge and freshness that he brought to his debut ("Swingers"). I was still somewhat apprehensive as taut and original action thrillers are very hard to come by as most current movies couple the violence with buddy comedy elements that take away from a genre that has only been successfully executed by Steven Spielberg in his wildly entertaining "Minority Report". But I digress.

Since I hate it when reviewers give too much away, I will only say that Matt Damon stars as Jason Bourne (or is he?), a barely alive amnesiac with a pair of bullet wounds in his back, pulled from the Mediterranean by Italian fishermen. The scene itself is very exciting and draws you into it's web. Bourne's only clue to his own identity is a bank account number etched on a capsule implanted in his body. What follows gets very complicated and keeps you on the edge of your seat as other summer extravaganzas seem to fail to. Like its summer "cousins", the movie has action scenes, guns, explosions, an awesome car chase (that relies more on execution than on how many cars can explode), a potential love interest, and many of the usual suspects, BUT it entertains and I did not feel like checking my watch every 5 minutes. Is it Oscar material? Heck no, but within its own genre its one of the year's best.

Matt Damon, who I never quite appreciate, would seem to be miscast to play this type of character, but he is actually quite perfect is he tones it down and makes Jason Bourne almost seem like an everyman who slowly discovers that he has skills he never knew he had. The casting department should be proud of itself as it cast Franka Potente (from "Run Lola Run") as the main female protagonist. The actress is not your cookie cutter beauty nor has the marquee appeal that I am sure the producers would have liked to have a "name" for the role; but someone realized that her acting chops and international background would give the movie some grounding as her character is supposed to be a European gypsy woman who I could not see being played by say Julia Roberts.

The director does a great job in both action and character driven scenes and manages to bring excitement to a gray winter European exteriors and drab interior settings. With the exception of the first fight sequence (which is makes Damon look like he has superhero powers) and later what would seem to be a physically impossible shoot out, everything feels real and the violence is not stylized. The story is incredibly well paced and even the smaller roles are well cast. The only exception is Julia Stiles, who I hope was only a victim of some scenes winding up on the cutting room floor, as she's a talented actress who brings not a thing to this movie.

In a nutshell, this movie is about international intrigue and one man's refusal to be a pawn in some sinister, global chess game. Many things feel improbable but never less than engrossing. Also, the basic premise is not played for laughs (which I enjoyed as I am sick of tongue in cheek homages that use humor as a cop out) and the plot (once fully exposed) for once does not involve a "brilliant" psychopath with either a desire to take over the world or get even for ______ (fill in the blank with your favorite cliché). This movie solidly earns its 4 stars as a nice version of what I'd like to see in summer extravaganzas.

Action plus romance on the run
Greek sailors find a man floating in the Med sea, take him in, and their doc finds a couple bullet holes in his back, as well as a laser capsule in his leg with a Swiss bank account number. The man recovers, but suffers from amnesia. Thus begins his quest to regain his identity. Only, when he opens the security box in Switzerland, he discovers passports from half a dozen countries, wads of cash in various currencies, loads of cool spy gear, and a gun.
Soon the chase is on, from Zurich to Paris, as our man Bourne enlists the help of the German gypsy Marie (charming Franka Potente) and eludes the operatives sent by his CIA superiors until a stunning conclusion when he returns to Paris.
What I liked:
Great setting details of Europe, especially Paris. There were a number of key action sequences, including a car chase involving a Mini taking on French police, and the wildest stairway descent I've ever seen on film. I also thought Matt Damon and Franka Potente had good screen chemistry. There was also a moving scene where Bourne confronts one the assassins on his trail, the professor, played by Clive Owen in a small part.
What needed work:
The hero with amnesia card has been played before, and I would have liked a little more development of Damon's character other than him realizing he had all these drilled in spy skills. We never do get a sense of his likes and dislikes. I liked the film ending over the alternate version, but both could have been better.
This is a movie I would watch again.

Bourne Conspiracy
Okay, I'm writing this because I feel that I've been burned. I just purchased the 2004(?) re-release of this DVD and I was very disappointed. The package describes an "explosive extended edition" and "includes an all-new beginning and ending". I've got to admit that I loved the movie when it was in the theatres, and am happy that it is now in my collection, but I never would have bought it had I known the hype was so lame. The 'explosive' new beginning and ending were NOT, and really add nothing to the movie (I won't 'spoil' the 'surprise' for those die-hard fans). Plus they couch the reasons for excluding them from the theatrical release in some 9/11 mumbo-jumbo that was not clearly defined enough to understand. I think it's just a marketing ploy. If you're looking for a major addition to the original in this new release...please say, "I wasn't Bourne yesterday!"

Thrilling, Exciting, Spies Among Us!
Robert Ludlum wrote "The Bourne Identity" in the 1980's and it is the quintessential "spy" story. It is a thriller and the characters are so rich and well drawn.

A man is dragged from the sea. He has two bullet wounds and a "chip" embedded into his body. These are removed; the man recovers from this ordeal. He does not, however, remember anything, His name, where he is from from and his entire identity has been lost. He takes the chip and goes in search of himself. In a bank in Zurich he finds his identity- Jason Bourne and several other passports and lots of money. Enough information for Jason Bourne to change his identity whenever he needs to. But what does this mean? It appears to mean that many people are after Jason Bourne, that he has information that many people want or they want this information to die!! Around every corner is danger and there is no one that he can trust. He meets up with two CIA analysts who appear to be trustworthy, but are they really? He travels all over Europe and changes identities at every turn. He meets very interesting people at every turn. His life is full of risk and danger. Jason Bourne is an important person with so much hidden information that he doesn't remember. But as time goes on, the people he meets share some of what he is missing, and he is beginning to put the pieces together. He begins a love affair, and he thinks this is what he has been looking for. Why can't he be happy as a single man leaving the "spy" profession and finding his true love?

The movie stars Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, and he does a credible job. The action filming is wonderfully done. The car chases and the flights on foot and in trains are very real and I felt I was amongst them. I was part of the action!! Franke Potente plays Jason Bourne's love interest. Chris Cooper is the enemy and as always is a star- a cruel man who completes his job. The scenery is fantastic and brilliant. What I did miss in this movie that was not transposed from the book, is the storyline of Carlos, The Jackal. This is an important part of the book, and is not in the movie at all. Jason Bourne and Carlos have much admiratiion for each other even though they are sworn enemies. This is a significant loss, and the movie does not have the drama, background and richness of the book. This is, however, a movie to be enjoyed- I understand the sequel, "The Bourne Supremacy" is out this week. A Must See. prisrob

It Got Bouring At Times.
First off let me silence the critics, Matt Damon was very good in this movie. I don't always care for the " cat and mouse" routine plotted into movies. This movie is not any acception. The pace is very long and dry, and when there is an action sequence, it is very brief. The plot itself is very good, but very herky-jerky. You could get lost if you miss some of the movie. The ending is fair, and I doubt that I will go and see the next segment to this series "The Bourne Supremacy." A fair time filler, but nothing to write home to mommy about. ... Read more

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As the sixth season of Star Trek: The Next Generation went into production, everyone knew that attentions would soon be permanently divided by the debut of Deep Space Nine. Sure enough, that meant crossovers ("Birthright"), guest stars, and references back and forth. The sense of baton-passing drew the TNG family closer, however. Directorial debuts begun in season 5 allowed for repeat group-huddle ownership of several shows. Jonathan Frakes bettered "The Quality of Life" by "The Chase," which finally offered an explanation why most races in the Trek universe are humanoid with knobbly foreheads. Patrick Stewart crowbarred a Western into the franchise in "A Fistful of Datas." LeVar Burton introduced the far more exciting Riker clone Thomas in "Second Chances." But here we still find an inability to follow through a good idea, since it was intended for the clone Tom to replace the real Will. Barclay outstayed his welcome with a lackluster "Ship in a Bottle" (despite a hammy cameo from Stephanie Beacham) after he'd injected creepiness into "Realm of Fear." The same happened with Q and the painfully weak "True Q" contrasted by the philosophically challenging "Tapestry," in which Picard faced the decisions of his youth.

Yet ultimately the year provided more memorable moments than either year 5 did or year 7 would. There was the fun of a pint-sized Starfleet in "Rascals," the shocking comment on political torture in "Chain of Command," the endless Matrix-like guessing game of reality in "Frame of Mind," and even a jokey genre nod often called "Die Hard Picard" instead of its official title, "Starship Mine." The two biggest attention-drawing moments came via stellar cameos. There was the bittersweet sight of James Doohan revisiting the original Enterprise bridge on "Relics," then a quick contribution by Stephen Hawking in the cliffhanger "Descent." Both were attempts at keeping TNG the connoisseur's Trek incarnation of choice. --Paul Tonks ... Read more

Reviews (27)

The Season Of The 2 Parters
The 6th season of Star Trek-TNG began on right foot with some really exciting episodes. Then in its latter half got a bit muddled. This season had the most 2 parters, of any TREK series to date. Aside from the usual resolution to the cliffhanger from the previous year, and the cliffhanger at the end, there were two more multipart stories. Some of the remaing shows were true clunkers. For the most part. TNG kept its cool though, even as the next spin-off, Deep Space 9, made its debut.

Early on, yet another original series character, bridged the generation gap. "Relics" saw the return of Captain Montgomery Scott (James Doohan) What a great episode that was. Picard's first nemesis Q (John De Lancie) made up for being absent last year with 2 appearances "True Q" and the wonderful "Tapestry" saw the charater raise the stakes a bit. Fan favorites Barclay (Dwight Shultz) and Ensign Ro (Michelle Forbes) made return trips as well. The best 2 parter though was called "Chain Of Command" It saw the Enterprise being commanded by Captain Edward Jellico (Ronny Cox) and Picard (Patrick Stewart in his best performance in the series) being kidnapped and tortured by an evil Cardassian (the great David Warner) Semi regular character Miles O'Brien (Colm Meaney) departed for DS9, while actress Whoppi Goldberg ended her episodic tenure as Guinan with only 3 episode appearances A "crossover" with DS9's Doctor Bashir (Alexander Sidig) fell kind of flat in "Birthright Part 1" while the 2nd half saw a klingon mishmash The year's cliffhanger missed the mark as well. Actor Levar Burton, joined fellow cast members Jonathan Frakes and Stewart, and got a directing gig with "Second Chances" Finally Leonard Nimoy's Son Adam, got a chance to follow in dad's footsteps and directed the clever "Rascals" and "Timescape"

The 7 DVD box set has about an hour's worth of feturette that discuss the 6th year in depth. The extra stuff is fashioned in the same way as it was on the other sets in the collection. Mixing old and new interview footage, nothing you see or hear on the documentaries should suprise you, if you are already a fan of the show.

Thanks to some strong shows at the start and a couple towards the end of the season, this is another recommended box set. Then again, if you have all of the other sets in the series, you didn't really need me to tell you that, did you?

Stewart's Season
By the sixth season of Star Trek: TNG, the characters had gone through many changes- and the writers, through many ideas. I thought that season six would contain the decline of the quality of the episodes, and that new, unique ideas would be thrown to the wayside as writers focused their efforts on Deep Space Nine. Instead, Star Trek: TNG managed to continue being one of the best shows on television, largely due to the excellent performances of Patrick Stewart.

"Chain of Command, Parts 1 and 2" contain what I consider to be some of the best acting from Stewart ever. Picard is tortured for days by the Cardassians, and Stewart plays the role of the victim perfectly. Not only did Part 2 contain some of his finest performances, but it actually managed to convey a message as well. It focuses mainly upon the roles of the characters. The Cardassian who tortures Picard and tries to break his will is left himself a broken man at the end of the episode, while Picard attains true victory by never giving in. An entertaining, powerful episode.

However, this was only one of the many amazing episodes that season six showcased. "Relics", which featured the return of Scotty from the original Trek, was great. "Schisms" put an eerie but interesting spin on the whole "alien invaders from another dimension" idea. "Tapestry" was another episode that made use of Stewart's amazing ability as an actor. John de Lancie guest starred as "Q" in that episode, and forced Picard to relive events in his life. "Face of the Enemy" finally gave the Romulans some action again after being shadowed by the Borg and the Cardassians. "Starship Mine" was probably the most "action-packed" episode of the season, and "Timescape" was another interesting episode involving being stuck in a moment in time. Finally, "Descent, Part 1" lacked the bang of most season finales, but wasn't all bad - after all, it did involve the Borg.

Overall, season six had episodes that really shined, despite suspicions that it might not.

Improvement on Season Five
In the sixth season, Star Trek: The Next Generation decided to go off in some new directions and new ideas. The season opens with the conclusion of the cliffhanger Time's Arrow. The second adventure is better than the first...a great way to finish the story. We revert again back to the Original series a bit with "Relics" which contains James Doohan guest starring as "Scotty". Humor came through in "A Fistful of Datas" and we saw Patrick Stewart give arguably his best performance of the series in "Chain of Command". The sixth season contains my personal favorite sequence of the series which is Data's dream sequence in "Birthright, Part I". I think the sixth season was when Star Trek: The Next Generation was at its best. It was the climax of the entire show. It ends with Descent...probably the best cliffhanger since "The Best of Both Worlds".

Personal Favorite Episodes:

Time's Arrow: Part II, Relics, Schisms, True Q, Rascals, A Fistful of Datas, Chain of Command: Parts I and II, Face of the Enemy, Tapestry, Birthright, Part I, Starship Mine, The Chase, Frame of Mind, Timescape, and Descent: Part I

As Nice as Previous Seasons
Like the previous five seasons, this one has the same physical look and layout, four episodes per disk, six disks full, and the last two episodes on the seventh, special features disk. I have to confess the purple of this box is probably my favorite colour, and it really looks nice stacked up with the other DVDs.

They changed the clip format for this box set, choosing to go with one screen showing clips of the four episodes back to back. While this allows you to focus your attention on only one screen, it can also be annoying. Season six seems to be in heavy rotation on television, and if you've seen a lot of the episodes the wait can be annoying, but it's worth it.

Bring back Wesley Crusher
Wesley Crusher was the best character on any Star Trek series. Since his departure TNG hasnt been the same. He was the ultimate SciFi hero. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Season 4 of Star Trek: The Next Generation seemed like the year of family. After quickly resolving the breathtaking cliffhanger of "The Best of Both Worlds," the show took pains to show some of what the Federation was fighting for. We meet Picard's brother, Data's father, Tasha's sister, and Worf's adoptive human parents, plus an old flame with a surprise son in tow. The Klingon heritage subplot that begins here and builds to the cliffhanger finale ("Redemption") would continue to the show's end and through into Worf's reappearance in Deep Space Nine.

The year also explored the implications of Data, Lwaxana Troi, Geordi, and Dr. Crusher being in love, while Miles O'Brien (given a first name at last) married Keiko. There were old friends revisited: the ubiquitous Q in a hilarious Robin Hood romp ("Qpid"), perennial screwup Reg Barclay ("Nth Degree"), and even the mysterious Traveler from season 1's "Where No One Has Gone Before" (played by Eric Menyuk, who was nearly cast as Data). There were new races introduced who would have an important bearing on Trek's destiny: the Cardassians and the Trill. Most of all, though, there were the one-off stories that impressed: "Clues," with its memory-loss mystery; "Night Terrors," with some genuine frights; and "Identity Crisis," with possibly the only time Trek technology really helped Geordi solve a puzzle. Then right at the end, reinforcing the year's familial theme, Denise Crosby returned as her own half-Romulan daughter! --Paul Tonks ... Read more

Reviews (28)

TNG Fourth Season...The Best Continues.
The fourth season of TNG begins with the rescue of Picard from the Borg collective, and ends with Worf leaving the Federation to join his people during the Klingon Civil War. In between these two landmark shows, lies a fourth season drenched with superior stories and consistently good character development. Star Trek really established itself in the third season and it never looks back as we go forward through the fourth. I liked this season only slightly less than the third, only because of a couple of episodes I didn't care much for. I didn't like "Remember Me," and "In Theory." Data falling in love was good for a subplot, but not the main story. Still, we get top-notch entertainment as the crew continues to explore places no one has gone before. High-lights include, "Reunion," "The Drumhead," "Qpid," "The Mind's Eye," "First Contact," "Clues," and "Future Imperfect." We meet Tasha Yar's sister in, "Legacy." We meet Data's father in, "Brothers." Also, while the Klingons and Romulans still play vital parts, we finally meet the devious Cardassians in, "The Wounded," where O'Brien finally has his moment to shine. All and all, this is a superb DVD set and I highly recommend it to any fan, whether you are a diehard Trekor or just getting started.

Television Entertainment At Its Finest
What can I say that hasn't already been said about how wonderful Season Four was? But with the weight of such episodes as The Best of Both Worlds Part II, one might hear a collective gasp from Trekkers who find that there's actually someone who enjoyed another episode more than the gripping conclusion to Season Three's nail-biting cliffhanger.

I love The Drumhead - it is my favorite episode of this season. An excellent courtroon drama directed by Jonathan Frakes with a style reminescent of Stanley Kramer's "Judgement At Nuremberg" and penned by veteran series writer Jeri Taylor, The Drumhead is an intelligent and often thought-provoking exercise in the dramatic.

After an explosion aboard the Federation flagship Enterprise, a Klingon exchange officer is found guilty of spying on behalf of the enemy, the Romulan Empire. Once cleared of being involved with the explosion, Admiral Satie (Jean Simmons) begins a witch hunt for a saboteur and finds him in crewman Simon Tarses (Spencer Garrett) on the grounds that Tarses' paternal grandfather was a Romulan.

This is television entertainment at its finest; on par with the best of Law & Order and JAG. Expertly directed with fine performances all around and presents a fine message that holds true especially today. The Drumhead is an excellent episode and one not to be missed, even if you're not a fan of the television series.

Continuing excellence
The third season of Star Trek: The Next Generation laid a new foundation for the series and season four does nothing but continue right where season three left off with more great plot development and story telling. In season four we saw the return of K'Ehlyr accompanied by Worf's son. Season four continued to elaborate on plot elements concerning the Klingon empire that were laid down in Sins of the Father in season three. The season built up to the major conflict with the episodes Reunion, Data's Day, The Mind's Eye, and brings it all to a climax in Redemption: Part I. This season also has a direct effect on many of the plot elements in Deep Space Nine in the episode "The Wounded". There is also a new villain introduced that has yet another direct link to season three, however, that is not brought to light until the second part of the season ending cliffhanger in Season five. A huge underlying theme in the fourth season is family. A great season of continued excellence and not the last.

Personal Favorite Episodes:

The Best of Both Worlds: Part II, Family, Brothers, Reunion, Data's Day, The Wounded, Clues, The Nth Degree, QPid, The Drumhead, The Mind's Eye, Redemption: Part I.

Danger Will Robinson!!!!!!
Dr. Zachary Smith is a great character. Nobody on The next generation even comes close!!!!

Season 4 - TNG Running at Warp 9.8!
Regarded by most fans of The Next Generation as the series finest hour. Everything about this season seems to gel incredibly well.

This is the season to show non-Trekkies (Trekkers for the purists), and those who say "They never will enjoy it" - I have converted a few myself *grin*

Starting off with the conclusion to the shocking Best of Both Worlds and ending with Redemption Part I, this season is packed full of action, character development and some first rate stories.

This boxed set should be top of your list to purchase - ideally this season and seasons 6 3 and 5, unless you are determined to go in chronological order.

All in all fabulous! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Star Trek: The Next Generation's third year was an important development in syndicated television. After two shaky years, Paramount nonetheless decided the franchise still had plenty to do. Their confidence was bolstered by two significant factors. First, cast uncertainties were finally settled: Gates McFadden (Dr. Crusher) was back for good; Denise Crosby (Tasha Yar) regretted her first-year departure, and so contrived a return in the Emmy Award-winning "Yesterday's Enterprise"; and Whoopi Goldberg happily continued her actor's-scale contributions.

Second, after the show had survived the previous year's writers' strike, new writing blood revitalized both characters and ideas: Data experienced fatherhood ("The Offspring"), Worf's Klingon heritage kick-started a huge story arc ("Sins of the Father"), and Picard got a saucy vacation ("Captain's Holiday"). There were memorable star cameos: John de Lancie played more mischief alongside Corbin Bernsen ("Déjà Q"); Dwight Schultz played truant in a gentle warning about addiction ("Hollow Pursuits"); and pleasing fans even more was Mark Lenard as Spock's dad ("Sarek"). The strongest evidence that TNG would continue for some time was the trend-setting cliffhanger finale. Fans and critics still agree that "The Best of Both Worlds" (properly introducing the Borg) was one of the greatest tricks ever pulled on TV to make audiences come back for more. --Paul Tonks ... Read more

Reviews (46)

Excellent Season
Season Three of Star Trek: TNG was full of spectacular episodes, from the philisophical "Who Watches The Watchers?" to the humorous "Deja Q", and the thrilling "Yesterday's Enterprise" and "The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1". In other words, this season contains something for everyone.

The seven disc DVD set contains 26 episodes, with the special features available on the seventh disc. Special features include both character and episode analysis, which is entertaining. Unfortunately, not every episode is reviewed in the special features, making them seem a bit empty.

Aside from that minor flaw, fans should find plenty to enjoy about this season. Even if you only want the set for the amazing cliffhanger finale (and I would imagine some do) even casual viewers of The Next Generation will find hours of entertainment in this set.

ST TNG 3
This third release of Star Trek The Next Generation on DVD contains all of the episodes of its third season. During the third season we see Dr. Crusher return to the series, we see Sarek (Spock's Father) and a favorite of many the Borg are back.

All 26 episodes are contained on 7 disks.

Evolution - The crew assists Dr. Paul Stubbs in a research experiment. Wesley accidentally releases nanites and the ship is plagued by serious malfunction and possible disaster.

The Ensigns of Command - Data is sent to Tau Cygna Five to evacuate the human settlers there before the Sheliak come to destroy them.

The Survivors - The Enterprise finds two survivors on Delta Rana IV, an old man and his wife who refuse to leave. Troi is being driven mad by music in her head, and Picard wrestles with an elusive alien vessel in orbit.

Who Watches the Watchers - Riker and Troi masquerade as Mintakans, in an attempt to find a missing anthropologist. Picard is seen and believed him to be a god.

The Bonding - An archaeologist is killed on an Away mission, leaving behind his young son. Picard must play a game of wits with a powerful alien force that wants to raise the boy.

Bobby Trap - The Enterprise becomes ensnared in a 1000-year-old booby trap.

The Enemy - Marooned on Galorndan Core with a Romulan crash survivor, Bochra, Geordi and he must learn to put their differences aside in order to survive.

The Price - The Enterprise is host to the negotiations of the rights to the Barzan Wormhole. But a Ferengi DaiMon has plans to sabotage the conference, and Troi learns a dark secret about Devinoni Ral.

The Vengeance Factor - The Enterprise attempts to assist in the cease-fire between the Acamarians and the Gatherers.

The Defector - The Enterprise plays host to a Romulan defector who insists that the Empire will wage a war to regain the Neutral Zone in 48 hours.

The Hunted - A genetically altered veteran of a planetary war, escapes and brings his case to the Enterprise.

The High Ground - On Rutia Four, Dr. Crusher is kidnapped by a group of terrorists waging a war for independence.

Deja Q - While the Enterprise is on a mission to rescue a planet from an incoming asteroid, Q returns, deprived of his powers, and forced to live life as a mortal.

A Matter of Perspective - The Tanuga Research Station mysteriously explodes and Riker is accused of the destruction. The holodeck is used to recreate the events preceding the explosion from each witness' point of view.

Yesterday's Enterprise - A temporal rift caused by the Enterprise-C creates an alternate reality where the war-torn Federation is losing to the Klingons and Tasha is still alive. Picard must trust Guinan's intuition that history has been changed, even at the cost of his own life.

The Offspring - Data creates a child android called Lal, whom he adopts as his own, but Starfleet has its own, designs on her.

Sins of the Father - Worf's long-lost brother joins him on a personal mission to the Klingon home world, where Worf must challenge a ruling against his late father - one that condemns him as a traitor to the Klingon race!

Allegiance - Captain Picard is kidnapped by aliens who replace him with a duplicate.

Captain's Holiday - Picard's holiday on Risa is interrupted by an enigmatic young woman and a Ferengi, whom are looking for a legendary treasure

Tin Man - The Enterprise escorts a Betazoid named Elbrun to meet Tin Man, a life form in a remote system that only wants to die.

Hollow Pursuits - The Enterprise is stricken with a strange chemical affliction and an introverted crewmember becomes addicted to the holodeck trying to escape reality.

The Most Toys - Data is kidnapped by a ruthless alien trader named Fajo and made his prize possession in his collection of stolen treasures.

Sarek - Sarek, Vulcan Ambassador (Spock's Father), comes aboard the Enterprise for a meeting with the reclusive Legarans, but when an outbreak of sporadic violence is linked to Sarek, the mission is in jeopardy.

Menage A Troi - While on shore leave, Riker, Troi, and Troi's mother are kidnap by the Ferengi, set on learning the truth about Betazoid telepathy.

Transfigurations - The Enterprise aids the lone survivor of a ship crash, an amnesiac with remarkable recuperative powers.

The Best of Both Worlds (Part 1) - The Enterprise engage the Borg.

TREK AT IT'S BEST
THE THIRD SEASON OF STAR TREK THE NEXT GENERATION IS PROBABLY THE BEST OF THE SERIES.THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF CHARACTER DEVELOPEMENT AND THE STORIES ARE VERY WELL WRITTEN.
BEING A LONG TIME STAR TREK FAN FROM THE OLD DAYS, I MUST ADMIT I WAS SCEPTICAL ABOUT TNG, BUT I WAS VERY IMPPRESSED WITH
IT, AND THE THIRD SEASON IS A DELIGHT TO VIEW!

One of the best rebounds you'll ever see!
Let's face it...the Second Season for Star Trek: The Next Generation was by far the weakest of the seven, but it did manage to keep the show moving. It introduced the BORG, a villain that would remain a part of Star Trek all the way through Voyager and even into Enterprise. At the end of the second season you saw only 22 episodes due to a strike by the writing staff. Everyone was wondering how the third season would shape up and if the show would rebound. Boy did it rebound! The third season began with a brand new writing staff including Ronald D. Moore and Michael Pillar and began the series on its final five SUPERB seasons. In the third season we saw the return of Denise Crosby and Tasha Yar and we got a deeper and more personal look at the BORG. Season three also marks the return of Gates McFadden and Dr. Beverly Crusher (GREAT MOVE!). Season three truely ushered in a new era of Star Trek Storytelling.

Personal favorite episodes:

Evolution, The Bonding, Booby Trap, The Enemy, The Defector, Deja Q, A Matter Of Perspective, Yesterday's Enterprise, The Offspring, Sins of the Father, Sarek, and The Best of Both Worlds

For God's sake
If you need to get a Star Trek buy Deep Space NINE or wait for Voyager. Your best bet is to get the Farscape sets or Babylon 5. I have to admit Wesley Crusher is a great character!!! LOL ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

East of Eden is an acknowledged classic, and the starring debut of James Dean lifts it to legendary status. John Steinbeck's novel gave director Elia Kazan a perfect Cain-and-Abel showcase for Dean's iconic screen persona, casting the brooding star as Cal, the younger of two brothers vying for the love of their Bible-thumping father (Raymond Massey) in Monterey, California, at the dawn of World War I. Massey is a lettuce farmer, striving for market domination with an ill-fated refrigeration scheme. Having discovered that his presumed-dead mother (Oscar^® winner Jo Van Fleet) is a brothel owner in nearby Salinas, Cal convinces her to finance an investment that will restore his father's lost fortune, but neither money nor the tenderness of his brother's fiancée (Julie Harris) can assuage Cal's anguished need for paternal acceptance that comes nearly too late. Kazan's oblique camera angles and Dean's tortured emoting may seem extreme by latter-day standards, but their theatrics make East of Eden a timeless tale of family secrets and hard-won affection. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (44)

A true classic!
I can't wait until May 31, 2005..I have this film on VHS tape and have practically worn it out..This is one of my alltime favorite films!I think after I saw this film for the first time I immediately became a big fan of James Dean's and had to read and find out everything about this young actor who died tragically at the young age of 23.I hope the special edition DVD will contain interviews with the principals involved with this film..that would be very interesting!

This film is still very powerful today and the scenes that stand out the most for me are the scenes with the lovely Julie Harris..Julie was the perfect choice to play Abra and her innocence and tenderness toward Dean's character in the film really drove the film for me..The chemistry between the two actors was amazing and I keep thinking if Dean had lived this could have been a great screen pairing!

This film showcased the talents of a wonderful actor and influenced generations of actors to come..Dean was amazingly gifted and was fortunate to catch the eye of Elia Kazan who knew talent when he saw it..What a wonderful film!It is a joy to see this film finally being released on DVD!

James Dean's debut
This is a good film (arguably Dean's best), and is very worthy of having in your dvd collection.

A masterpiece finally arrives on DVD! This is James Dean!
EAST OF EDEN is truly, and undoubtedly one of the greatest films ever made. Timeless. Brilliant...and unavailable to buy for over a decade due to legal squabbles...

At last, all has been settled, and in time to commemorate the sad, tragic premature death of James Dean.....

To those unfamiliar with the film, it is as vital and relevant (and painful) as the day it was made...

To those who know the genius here, I can only share in the celebration that the best home video company (WB) has cut through the legal red tape to get this film out (finally) on DVD, and I'm sure it will be as exceptional a presentation as any of their other exceptional releases.

This is filmmaking at its height, acting at its greatest, and writing at its most subtly exceptional. Do not pass over the miracle of John Steinbeck's amazing story & this perfect film!

A Long Overdue DVD Classic
Taken from us so soon James Dean with only 3 great films is an icon of America Cinnema. Unfortunatelly, on this great clasic, directed by the great but controversial Elia Kazan. Still awaits it's "Full Restoration Great DVD Release."

Wonderful acting by James Dean and Jo Van Fleet.
East of Eden is a great, sprawling American novel by nobel prize winning author John Steinbeck.The film East of Eden, directed by Elia Kazan, dramatizes only a small part of the magnificent book.However, what the film does, it does exceptionally well, thanks to the riveting performances of James Dean and academy award winner Jo Van Fleet.

Much has been written about Dean as an actor and what is certainly true is that when he is on screen, you can't take your eyes off him.As young Cal Trask, Dean vies for the attention and love of his father, Adam, Raymond Massesy, with his twin brother Aaron, Richard Davalos.Cal is a loser, no matter what he does, and Dean portrays sensitively the conflict Cal feels as he grows to manhood unloved and uncared for.

The rivalry between Cal and Aaron for their father's love as well as the affections of Abra, Aaron's girlfriend played by Julie Harris, generates much of the action and dramatic tension of the film. All Cal's gifts are rejected by his father, in contrast to Aaron, whose presents are appreciated and valued.

Like Cain in the Bible, Cal has a dark side which he thinks comes from his mother Kate, who abandoned him at birth and whom he has discovered runs a brothel in Salinas, California, a short train ride from the Trask ranch.Cal introduces himself to Kate, played to perfection by Jo Van Fleet, first to try to learn about himself, who he is and why he experiences his inner rage and frustration.Later he will borrow money from her to invest in order to help his bankrupt father.Cal's investment in bean futures, just prior to America's entry in World War I,pays off, but his father rejects his money in a confrontation which moves us toward the dramatic conclusion of the film.

The scenes with Dean and Van Fleet are the highlight of the film and a treasure of American movie making.Both actors are electric with Dean drawing from his inner uncertainty and fire and Van Fleet, the consumate professional, using all her skills and intelligence.They approach one another gingerly, each testing the response of the other, not trusting themselves and their own emotions, and finally becoming frustrated with their inablility to connect with one another.These scenes are wonderful to watch.We should not expect a happy ending and we don't get it.

East of Eden, released in 1955, justly takes its place in a small list of fine American films, not just because of the great performances of James Dean and Jo Van Fleet, but also because it dramatizes timeless themes in a most convincing fashion.Those viewers who love the film and like to read will almost certainly enjoy the novel on which the film is based. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Nothing? Seinfeld is a show about everything! It's about the appeal of the posse and coma etiquette. It's about importing and exporting. It's about sneaking a peek, and seeing the baby. It's about this, that, and the other. TV Guide ranked Seinfeld the best TV series of all time. It has become the master of its syndication domain. Its most devoted fans can quote each episode chapter and verse; their absorption of each scene's minutiae anything but a trivial pursuit. With such fervent devotion to the show, and demand for its DVD release, series creators Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David could have easily just OK'd a bare-bones set containing nothing but the episodes. Not that there would have been anything wrong with that, but instead, the creative team came together to create extensive and encyclopedic features that make this four-disc set buy-worthy. The candid and revealing audio commentaries and interviews, deleted scenes and original episode promos, and optional "Notes About Nothing" pop-ups are as irresistible as a Drake's coffee cake.

It's always fun and instructive to return to the humble beginnings of a series that became a pop culture benchmark. Here are Kramer's first not-so-grand entrance, Jerry's first contemptuous "Hello, Newman," and Elaine's first "Get Out!" shove. But what is most revelatory about these episodes from the first two seasons is what Jason Alexander, during his commentary for the episode "The Revenge," calls a "sweet quality" that somehow redeems these characters' more base instincts. Consider the scene in which Jerry gives a freshly unemployed George some career guidance, or Jerry and Elaine's palpably affectionate banter throughout. The "Inside Look" episode intros offer fascinating insights into this singular show that subverted sitcom convention with such now-classic episodes as "The Chinese Restaurant," in which Jerry, George, and Elaine wait in vain for a table. We learn, for example, why movie tough guy Lawrence Tierney, who guest starred in "The Jacket," never reprised his role as Elaine's father. All of this, of course, is yadda yadda yadda to Seinfeld fans, whose patience for the show's DVD debut has been amply rewarded. As Elaine screams in the third-season episode, "The Subway," "It's not nothing, it's something!" --Donald Liebenson ... Read more

Reviews (186)

Seinfeld Box Set Seasons 1 and 2 for November!
In case you didn't know, there were disputes for years over whether or not to pay the 3 co-stars residuals for doing extra material on the sets (interviews, commentary about the episodes, etc). The arguments dragged on, Yada Yada Yada, they're making the sets now. The first set will have Seasons 1 and 2 (17 episodes), including the pilot. It will have tons of extras, unlike the Curb Your Enthusiasm sets. The release date is set for November, but chances are it will be pushed back until December to get more sales.

Myself and other Seinfeldians have been waiting for this since the Spring of 1998. It will be soooooo great.

Here is a list of episodes that will be included in the first set:

Season 1:
Pilot (Good News Bad News)
The Stakeout
The Robbery
Male Unbonding
The Stock Tip

Season 2:
The Ex-Girlfriend
The Pony Remark
The Jacket
The Phone Message
The Apartment
The Statue
The Revenge
The Heart Attack
The Deal
The Baby Shower
The Chinese Restaurant
The Busboy

I know these aren't the best episodes of the show, but it is a start.

Seinfeld DVD advertisement in "50 First Dates"
I thought I'd just add that prior to viewing "50 First Dates" on DVD, they were advertising a Seinfeld DVD set slated to "be in stores soon". I believe it's a "Best Of", but they didn't specify it in the advertisement. Take what you will from this. All it did was get me excited.

details of DVD
If you want to buy the DVD now on the internet, it is 205 dollars. There are 23 discs with 8 episodes on each one. Im pretty sure that they are low in quality and there will probably be a lot of other stuff messed up, so im gonna wait untill it comes out in stores.

It s coming soon
If you watch the beginning of 50 First Dates, they show add of Seinfeld on DVD. They will have a lot of extras on it and all they say it is being released soon. I have heard around the Christmas time frame.

Every Generation
Every Generation had its great comedy series, from Milton Berle, to Lucy, to the Dick Van Dyke show, to Taxi (my favorite, out in Oct), to Seinfeld. And as time went by it seems like the writers got better. Seinfeld is one of those great timeless classics that will be with us for a long time and will be hard to beat . . . Thank you Larry David ! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The seventh and final season of Star Trek: The Next Generation will always remain a curiosity in TV sci-fi history. Despite the end being definite, despite Deep Space Nine taking over, despite knowing there'd be a movie six months after the series' end, and despite Babylon 5 starting that year with its predetermined story arc, there is nothing here to suggest things were coming to a close. Wesley finally gets dispatched ("Journey's End"), but everyone was waiting for that anyway. Some continuity was attempted: there's a sequel to season 1's "The Battle" ("Bloodlines"), Alexander follows the Klingon soap saga through ("Firstborn"), the Maquis and the Cardassians are mentioned several times, and there are final installments for Lwaxana Troi, Barclay, Lore, Guinan, and Ro Laren. None of this brings any form of resolution, however.

The one-off story lines seem to throw out ideas that beg for development. "Force of Nature" suggests frequent high-warp travel is damaging the very fabric of space/time. "Parallels" has Worf experiencing multiple realities, including one in which the Borg won at Wolf 359. "Lower Decks" finally introduces some secondary crew from the more than a thousand supposedly supporting Picard and company. There are even hints at some romance at long last between Dr. Crusher and Picard as well as Worf and Troi. In the long run, even after terrific guest spots from Trek alumni Armin Shimerman and Robin Curtis, and from Paul Sorvino and Kirsten Dunst, there's one thing for which the final year is remembered: "All Good Things..." is a near-perfect denouement for the show. With terrific production values and FX, not to mention standout performances from all concerned, it was an amazing surprise to have Q suggest there'd been a story arc right from the get-go. If only this final script had been fully conceived earlier on, The Next Generation might not have been overshadowed by the glut of TV sci-fi that followed in its wake. --Paul Tonks ... Read more

Reviews (44)

"I LIVE FOR THIS [STUFF]
This season of STAR TREK the NEXT GENERATION was NOMINATED for an EMMY award, BEST DRAMA.
total EMMYs won for this series, 27.

Plus it highly influenced the blockbuster movie XXX,(just kidding)

But it did influence many syndicated Science Fiction shows in later years.

& If I was forced to destroy all but 1 episode in this season, I would spare "GAMBIT",
seeing CAPTAIN PICARD and CMDR RIKER beet the [stuff]out of each other is awesome.

If I was forced to destroy all but 2 episodes, I would spare "ALL GOOD THINGS...?",
My 2 all time favorite episodes are "Best of both Worlds" & "All good things"(this one)
seeing all life saved at the last minute is phenomenal.

If I was forced to destroy all but 3 episodes, I would spare "MASKS", NO IM KIDDING![.],
It would have to be "PREEMPtIVE STRIKE",
Without this episode, there would be NO "Voyager" (& That was a good show)

Another great episode is "BLOODLINES"
It was just..... COOL![.]

I will reccomend the ENTIRE Star trek the next Generation series,
Get em b4 its too late,

& Dont forget DEEP SPACE NINE coming out in FEBRUARY,

& by the way, Dont listen to anyone who recommends DEEP SPACE NINE over Next Generation, Next Generation is a WAY better show.

Some good episodes but some bad ones too.
Season 7 of STTNG suffers from the "too many episodes" malady with STTNG and STDS9 making 52 episodes per year. ... Halfway through the season,STTNG hits it's stride with an eccellent group of episodes in "Attached,Inheritance,Parallels,Homeward,Lower Decks and Thine Own Self",but as no writers were called for the last seven episodes(to save money),the show peters out right at the end with some truly dreadful episodes in "Journeys End,Masks and Emergence",but other good episodes like "Pre-emptive Strike and Genesis" make it worth buying.I was disappointed with "All Good Things" because they recreated the awful mankind on trial plot from the pilot.that idea should have been rejected.Overall,the poorer episodes didn't deter me from having every box set as the good episodes of STTNG are always worth having.This is truly the best Star Trek series with the best cast and the documentaries complete the box sets.What a pity though that they didn't give the show the send-off that it deserved.

Oh no! It's all over!
The seventh season of Star Trek: The Next Generation would be its last. A hectic time for Star Trek with so many things going on at once. Everyone knew going into the seventh season that it would be the last. We saw some great episodes in this season, however, the only sense of closure we got was in "All Good Things..." This was a fantastic show and all seven seasons are worth every penny. It had great writers all the way through and the seventh season is no different. It's great to see how the show ends its journey. Great show...great season...It's too bad that it's over. BUT. Don't fret...the Next Generation crew returned to the bridge of the Enterprise in four feature films. Congratulations Star Trek: TNG. You never dissapointed me.

Personal Favorite Episodes:

Descent: Part II, Gambit: Parts I and II, Phantasms, Inheritance, Parallels, The Pegasus, Lower Decks,Masks, Eye of the Beholder, Genesis, Journey's End, Emergence, Preemtive Strike, and All Good Things...

All good things must come to an end...at least the series went out on the highest note possible!

The final season of Star Trek: The Next Generation rounds ou
The final season of Star Trek: The Next Generation rounds out the collection nicely. All seven seasons look great on a bookshelf, and this season has the same layout and quality of the first season.

Season seven has the same interior layout as seasons one and six, with the single screen playing clips of all four episodes. The most interesting feature is noticing that you get a fly-by view of the captain's ready room and the screen he uses to receive transmissions there. It's a variation on the other seasons, which included the communications panels, holodeck, and sick bay.

final season of Star Trek's greatest captain
So what if the story left open plot lines and never came together like in the ethereal final season of Deep Space Nine. That is not what this show was about. Patrick Stewart and his memorable band of space cowboys continued to have new and fresh adventures as in previous seasons, a few episodes including the last one were amazing, and the entire product, the season in general, was some of the best TV you will ever see. ... Read more

Description

The railroad's got to run through the town of Rock Ridge.How do you drive out the townfolk in order to steal their land?Send in the toughest gang you've got...and name a new sheriff who'll last about 24 hours.But that's not really the plot of Blazing Saddles, just the pretext.Once Mel Brooks' lunatic film many call it his best gets started, logic is lost in a blizzard of gags, jokes, quips, puns, howlers, growlers and outrageous assaults upon good taste or any taste at all.Cleavon Little as the new lawman, Gene Wilder as the wacko Waco Kid, Brooks himself as a dimwitted politico and Madeline Kahn in her Marlene Dietrich send-up that earned an Academy Award nomination all give this sagebrush saga their lunatic best.And when Blazing Saddles can't contain itself at the finale, it just proves the Old West will never be the same! ... Read more

Reviews (207)

The Quintessential Comedy Movie
I love this movie! From the opening scene, where Cleavon Little sings the negro work song, "I Get a Kick Outta You", ala Nat King Cole, and he is corrected by the white men shoing him how to sing "Camptown Ladies", to the absurd surrealist ending (when was the last time you've seen a movie burst out of the movie, this is beautiful comedy.

Sight gags flying by at the speed of light, you will have to watch it hundreds of times to get them all, one liners that would make the Marx Brothers proud ("Bart, I heard you was hung." "You heard right!) This is absurdist comedy at is best (A toll booth on the William J LaPetomaine Freeway). The Mel Brooks choreography is wonderful when Lili Von Schtup sings "I'm Tired." When was the last time you saw German Soldiers tango with their rifles. This movie is filled frame to frame with humor, and no one gets away not insulted (Okay, we'll take the Irish too!)

The cast was perfection, either just over the top, or way over the top Harvey Korman is hilarious as the nefarious Hedley Lamarr. Cleavon Little is fantastic as he makes fun of his own stereotypes, it is absolutely one of the funniest movies ever made by humans on the planet earth.