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The sixth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer followed the logic of plot and character development into some gloomy places. The year begins with Buffy being raised from the dead by the friends who miss her, but who fail to understand that a sacrifice taken back is a sacrifice negated. Dragged out of what she believes to have been heavenly bliss, she finds herself "going through the motions" and entering into a relationship with the evil, besotted vampire Spike just to force her emotions.Willow becomes ever more caught up in the temptations of magic; Xander and Anya move towards marriage without ever discussing their reservations; Giles feels he is standing in the way of Buffy's adult independence; Dawn feels neglected. What none of them need is a menace that is, at this point, simply annoying--three high school contemporaries who have turned their hand to magical and high-tech villainy. Added to this is a hungry ghost, an invisibility ray, an amnesia spell and a song-and-dance demon (who acts as rationale for the incomparable musical episode "Once More, with Feeling").

This is a year in which chickens come home to roost: everything from the villainy of the three geeks to Xander's doubts about marriage come to a head, often--as in the case of the impressive wedding episode--through wildly dark humor. The estrangement of the characters from each other--a well-observed portrait of what happens to college pals in their early 20s--comes to a shocking head with the death of a major character and that death's apocalyptic consequences. The series ends on a consoling note which it has, by that point and in spite of imperfections, entirely earned. --Roz Kaveney ... Read more

Reviews (301)

A Mixed Bag (but still wonderful in my eyes)
Buffy Summers died saving the world at the end of the fifth season of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, so the sixth season had a lot on its hands when it started up the next fall.

Season 6 spends much of its time delving into the darker sides of the characters. Buffy has to deal with being alive and suddenly having the responsibilities of family caretaker. Willow finds out just how addiction can ruin a life. Xander and Anya realize that they're not as ready to be grown up as they thought they were. Spike lets his worser half get the better of his love for Buffy. Dawn explores her bad girl side by shoplifting and sneaking out ever more.

In some ways, this darkness gets a little too big for the show. It's the dark sides of the characters themselves that turn out to be the Season 6 "Big Bad", not the Geek Trio of Andrew, Warren and Jonathan. (The geeks are amusing if you enjoy seeing geeks extensivey mocked, however, they do start to grate as the season progresses.) The season follows the depression of the characters. At the beginning, before things start to fall apart, it's interesting to watch. Almost every one of the first 8 or 9 episodes of the season are at least good, peaking with the amazingly underappreciated (at least by the Emmy powers that be) musical episode, "Once More, With Feeling". The problem is that after that, the season plunges into the steaming pile of dung that makes up the middle of Season 6. (This contains two of my least favorite episodes EVER, "Doublemeat Palace" and "Normal Again". "Hell's Bells", however, is a worthy exception to the rest of the mid-season rubbish.) Things pick back up with "Entropy", and the season manages to redeem itself through an amazing, if heartbreaking, turn of events in the end (which I'm trying hard not to spoil with this review).

However difficult the middle of the season is to watch, this DVD set will be worth it for "Once More, With Feeling" alone. It's Joss Whedon's (BUFFY creator and ruling lord) masterpiece. With little to no music writing experience, he manages to write a 50 minute musical that plays to the strengths of his non-musical cast. The cast, ever the troopers, sing and dance their way through with enthusiasm and finesse. It's often clear that they are not singers or dancers by trade, but they are all so charming (especially Emma Caulfield as Anya) that it's easy to forgive them their occasional off-key notes and missteps. And then there's Hinton Battle, the demon villain of the episode. He dances. He sings. He's probably the most charismatic thing to hit Sunnydale since Spike crashed into town in Season 2. It's a shame that he only got to have the one episode, but what an episode to have!

There are other gems in the season. Check out "Tabula Rasa" and "Life Serial" for some of BUFFY's funnier moments. It's a shame that the middle of the season is so hard to stomach, but I think that it all pays off in the end.

A Masterpiece
Season Six of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, is, simply put, a masterpiece. Season Six is different; it is dark, edgy, scary, a far cry from the earlier, but equally impressive, previous seasons. I applaud Joss Whedon and Co. for taking this incredible series to different places, exploring new story arcs and aspects of the multi dimensional characters. The writing, directing, and acting are up to par with the best shows and movies out there, in many instances surpassing them. Sarah Michelle Gellar provides an incredible performance as Buffy dealing with her resurection, being pulled out of heaven by her friends, and having to deal with what she feels is a hell on Earth. The scenes where she expresses her distress over dealing with the emptiness inside her are truly moving. Alyson Hannigan also gives an incredible performance as Willow, dealing with her "addiction" to magics, and the consequences her problem causes with herself and her friends. James Marsters also gives a great performance as Spike, a souless vampire trying to understand love and human emotions eventhough he is spiritually unequiped to. Sure this season contains its duds (Doublemeat Palace for example), but the great episodes of this season far out shine the bad: Bargaining Parts One and Two, Tabula Rasa, Life Serial, Seeing Red, Two to Go, Grave, and ESPECIALLY the musical, Once More, With Feeling. The genius of Once More, With Feeling is reason enough to buy this set. I will say this again, Buffy Season Six is different, it is very dark, almost disturbing in some cases, it is scary, and very emotional, but this change is welcome and wonderful. It works, and season six is incredible

what is everyone talking about?
ok i just bought season six(but ive already seen all the eps)
and everyone has their own opinion but this season kinda sucks. But i am basing this on one thing: spike and buffy relatioship! the two characters i once loved i cant stand! they are so bitter! anyways a good season for all the other characters especially willow. besides for spike and buffy its watchable.

Cinderella, one past midnight
With this season, the magical carraige that was "Buffy" turned back into a pumpkin. It's no surprise, really: five years is generally the point at which a show starts to show signs of exhaustion, and while season five was a definite thumbs-up, there were a a number of sure signs of trouble to come:

1) Dawn. Adding a "baby" to a family is an old sitcom device to shake things up. It worked because of the clever writing and, obviously, Michelle Trachtenberg.
2) Glory. Upping the ante in the villain department every season is a good idea, but how do you top a God?
3) Spike. Changing a character's basic nature from evil to good (or good to evil) is an old soap-opera trick ("What, he's good now?")
4) Buffy. She died. Again. Since death is the ultimate sanction, undoing it takes the finality of death away, and stops us from caring if future characters are killed, because they can always be brought back.

Season Six dealt with the problem of topping Glory by going the opposite route, and creating the Triad, three hapless nerds who in no way were worthy successors to the Master, Angelus, bad Spike & Dru, evil Faith, etc. It was often hilarious, but not really strong enough of an idea to sustain over a whole season. The Triad would have made a very funny three story arc, but beyond that, their limitations were obvious.

It also made the fundamental mistake of pushing suspension of disbelief right over a cliff (that shark-headed gangster demon boss was just the worst idea in history....what were they thinking?). Also of betraying some signs of insecurity about the things they had done in season five and in six as well, and then trying to cover it up with clever humor, such as when the shrink tells Buffy that the retro-active addition of a sister (Dawn) into her alredy established family is a "ridiculous plot device" or that the Triad were "pathetic" villains. Tongue-in-cheek is one thing, farce is another. The episode where they allude that Buffy is in fact in a mental institution and everything you have seen in the previous 100 episodes is nothing more than the fever dreams of a schizo nut case is the classic "Bobby Ewing" mistake...."That last season? It was only a dream!" This was just insulting to the audience.

I also felt the middle episodes suffered badly from the absence of Giles and from an overdose of Spike. Sometimes the best thing you can do with a great actor/character is hold him back a little bit, so as to leave the audience hungry. Spike is a great character and James Marsters a great actor, but sometimes less is more.

This is not to say there were not some truly good moments in the season, such as Riley showing back up (didn't realize I liked this character until he left) the crotchey old Doublemeat Palace demon ("You may want to flail your limbs while you still have time"), the musical episode, the capricious and brutally violent way that Tara is killed off, or the fact that ordinary Xander finally got to save the world when all the super-powered people failed. But overall, season six left me feeling a bit like Buffy after her ressurection: down, disappointed, and ungrateful. Five out of six ain't bad.

Not the Buffy We Fell in Love With, but Still Damn Good TV
Season 6 is kind of the dark horse among Buffy fans, and having watched the show during its initial UPN run I can understand why. Heck, even I was turned off by the dark, relentlessly depressing nature of the season, the lack of a traditional big bad, and the network's sporadic airing of new episodes. Thank God for DVD, because thanks to this set I have a whole new appreciation for Joss Whedon, his writers, and the highly talented actors.

Without the weeks or sometimes months between new episodes (God bless UPN for keeping Buffy alive, but couldn't you have shown new episodes closer together?), the narrative structure of the season works so much better. It is much easier to watch and appreciate the growth and change experienced by the main cast, all of who slowly grow up throughout the season until they are nothing like the group of high schoolers we first met. The writers did a wonderful job of providing a distinct arc for each character, and the actors did a brilliant job portraying the evolution of the characters.

Sarah Michelle Gellar is once again stellar as Buffy Summers, whose emotional problems this season make all the angst up until now seem like kiddy stuff. I'm so glad Joss and company made the effort to earn Buffy's resurrection instead of simply reviving her and then letting everything immediately go back to normal. They took the much more difficult and ultimately more rewarding path of having Buffy slowly readjusting to her life, not fully reintegrating herself into Sunnydale until the end of the season.

All the other actors actors are equally fine, but Emma Caulfield deserves special recognition for her charming and underappreciated Anya. Consistantly hilarious, Caulfield takes a character who was clearly added to the show's roster as comic relief and makes her multi-dimensional and surprisingly human. By the end of the heart-wrenching "Hell's Bells," Anya shows an emotional depth that makes her possibly the most tragic character of the season, and Miss Caulfield handles the part beautifully.

And of course, season six of Buffy gave us the much lauded musical episode "Once More, With Feeling." I'm not ashamed to admit that it is my FAVORITE episode of the entire seven season run, encapsulating just about everything that makes Buffy special. It's smart, well written, irreverant, and packed with a surprising amount of emotional resonance. No, most of the cast won't be going to Broadway anytime soon, but bravo to the entire cast for handling their own singing, which actually only serves to make the episode more charming.

Season six of Buffy brought the characters to new low points in their lives, the show to new heights as far as writing and storytelling go, and produced some of the most entertaining adversaries the show's every seen (maybe I'm a nerd, but I find the Trio to be absolutely hysterical). If you've been watching the show since day one, now certainly isn't the time to stop, and if you've never seen the show, you're missing out on one of the most consistantly excellent programs of the last decade. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It was a family affair in the second season of J.J. Abrams's wonderfully inventive Alias, as super secret agent Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) came face-to-face with the mother of all super secret agents--her own mother, Irina Derevko (Lena Olin), a former KGB agent presumed dead but alive and more dangerous than ever. After shooting poor Syd, Irina later shows up at the doorstep of the CIA, offering to turn herself in and work for the good guys. But can she be trusted? Alias set up so much duplicity in its second season that it might have been hard to keep track of who was doing what to whom, but thanks to a great ensemble cast, fast-paced writing and direction, and some cannily cast guest stars, Alias rode a stunning emotional roller-coaster and never broke its momentum, even when halfway through the season, the show reinvented itself. With episode 13, "Phase One" (which aired after the Super Bowl to the show's biggest audience), Syd's original nemesis (and employer) SD-6 changes forever, yet the kick-butt agent still finds herself going up against the malevolent leader Sloane (Ron Rifkin) and his ever-changing set of henchmen. Action fans got plenty of fighting, while romantic Alias watchers swooned as Syd and the dashing Vaughn (Michael Vartan) finally consummated their unrequited love.

The critically acclaimed show owed a debt to Buffy the Vampire Slayer for its mix of action, romance, mystery, and moral quandaries, but in this season Alias truly came into its own--with a climax that came as a total shocker and prepped the show for an emotionally volatile third season. Guest stars included the phenomenal Amy Irving as Sloane's wife, Faye Dunaway as a nefarious bigwig, Christian Slater as a kidnapped scientist, and Ethan Hawke as a fellow CIA agent (or rather, two of them), but it was the dysfunctional nuclear family of Syd, Irina, and father Jack (Victor Garber) that gave Alias its heart and its strength, whether the three perfectly cast actors (all Emmy nominated) were just bickering or undertaking deadly hand-to-hand combat. And you thought your family had problems! --Mark Englehart ... Read more

Reviews (81)

Best Show on TV Last Season
Season two of Alias was awesome. That's one of the best ways to describe it. I picked this DVD up on a Friday, and watched it over the next two days. I couldn't turn it off. The show has all the right twists in all the right moments, all the drama at exactly right time. This season we see the end of the Alliance, in one brilliant assault at the same time across the globe. Thus, Rambaldi becomes the focus of the CIA for the remainder of the season. There are many plot twists and dramatic moments which made me scream at the screen. If the first season of Alias was the build-up, then the second season is definitely the downward slope of the roller coaster. The episodes are:
1. The Enemy Walks In
2. Trust Me
3. Cipher
4. Dead Drop
5. The Indicator
6. Salvation
7. Counteragent
8. Passage (pt. 1)
9. Passage (pt. 2)
10. Abduction
11. Higher Echelon
12. Getaway
13. Phase One
14. Double Agent
15. Free Agent
16. Firebomb
17. Drak Turn
18. Truth Takes Time
19. Endgame
20. Coutdown
21. Second Double
22. The Telling

The Best Show of the Season
Season two of Alias was awesome. That's one of the best ways to describe it. I picked this DVD up on a Friday, and watched it over the next two days. I couldn't turn it off. The show has all the right twists in all the right moments, all the drama at exactly right time. This season we see the end of the Alliance, in one brilliant assault at the same time across the globe. Thus, Rambaldi becomes the focus of the CIA for the remainder of the season. There are many plot twists and dramatic moments which made me scream at the screen. If the first season of Alias was the build-up, then the second season is definitely the downward slope of the roller coaster. The episodes are:

1. The Enemy Walks In
2. Trust Me
3. Cipher
4. Dead Drop
5. The Indicator
6. Salvation
7. Counteragent
8. Passage (pt. 1)
9. Passage (pt. 2)
10. Abduction
11. Higher Echelon
12. Getaway
13. Phase One
14. Double Agent
15. Free Agent
16. Firebomb
17. Drak Turn
18. Truth Takes Time
19. Endgame
20. Coutdown
21. Second Double
22. The Telling

Alias is AMAZING
I would just have to say that this season is great. I picked up Alias during the second season, which was a bit rough trying to keep up with things that I had no clue about, but it is a great season. It is full of things that keep you thinking through each episode.

Quite simply the best!
This show is quite simply the best that Tv has to offer currently. You can't help, but get involved in the story and characters. The casting is brilliant and Jennifer Garner is incredible as the heroine Sydney Bristow. This is a must have for the intellegent TV watcher. Great acting, a great story and a wonderful interwoven storyline that keeps you guessing. GREAT SHOW and a GREAT DVD!

Still Addicted
The second season of Alias is even more addictive than the first. I am rationing out the viewing of the episodes, waiting for the release of the third season on Sept 7th. ... Read more

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Cue the Henry Mancini music and watch out for Cato--the gist of the Pink Panther series has been gathered in a six-disc boxed set. At the center of it is Peter Sellers's incarnation of inspector Jacques Clouseau, a hopelessly bumbling detective with a genius for resting his hands in the wrong place (on the surface of a spinning globe, for instance) and mangling the English language.

Writer-director Blake Edwards cast Peter Ustinov as Clouseau in The Pink Panther, but Ustinov dropped out just before shooting began. Edwards (who recounts this story in a spotty commentary track included here) and Sellers bonded over their affection for Laurel and Hardy, and immediately transformed the character of Clouseau into a walking sight gag. The first film has a delicious swinging sixties vibe, while jewel thief David Niven, Claudia Cardinale, and Capucine occupy as much screen time as Sellers.Sellers really hits his stride in A Shot in the Dark, an elegantly funny tale of Clouseau sleuthing out a murder investigation. This one introduced Herbert Lom, as the increasingly frazzled Inspector Dreyfus, and Burt Kwouk, as Clouseau's houseboy-nemesis Cato. Sellers and Edwards, whose relationship was stormy, put Clouseau aside for over 10 years, until a trilogy of mid-1970s comedies restored the character to commercial (and dare we say cultural) primacy.

Unfortunately, the very funny comeback picture, Return of the Pink Panther, is absent from this set due to rights issues with the studios involved. The Pink Panther Strikes Again has Dreyfus going bananas and targeting Clouseau; Revenge of the Pink Panther puts Clouseau in a hilarious series of disguises, climaxing in a wonderfully mounted sequence in Hong Kong. (Throughout the series, the calm, classical staging of gags by Blake Edwards reminds you of what a lost art this has become.) Trail of the Pink Panther looks better now than it did when originally released in 1982, shortly after Sellers's death; it's a batch of unused Sellers routines from previous pictures, strung together with a loose plot. In other words, it's a "deleted scenes" extra, and quite funny at times.

Subsequent efforts Curse of the Pink Panther and Son of the Pink Panther are neither included nor mentioned. A half-hour documentary gives pleasant memories from Edwards, but feels incomplete. The cartoon Panther gets his own 11-minute mini-doc, plus six cartoon shorts including the Oscar-winning "The Pink Phink." --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (32)

the best: peter sellers, blake edwards?, not so sure
I loved most of the pink panther films, I own this collection and the movie of Sellers that is left (Return of the...), but what it really fascinate me was the extras, there is a complete documentary about Sellers work and life that it is simply the best of my tv journey, not so funny, except from the abstracts of his movies, but very appealing in order to understand the great comedian and man he was.

About the movies, loved the first two classics (Pink panther and Shot in the dark), Return, which is not included, I dunnot miss, can't say i liked that one; Strikes Again it is one of my favorites, Revenge was worth of a good laugh and about the Trail I didn't see the Edwards necessity to do that films besides the need of money, everyone in this days could have save to see that sort of tribute (there is no real story there) and watch the delightful lost and new scenes (at that time) of Sellers in another extra of this collection, but, what is done is done and I can't really complain, this movies are great fun and this set? one of my favorites.

Fabulous Value, Great Films, Mediocre Extras
The Pink Panther Film Collection consists of 5 Panther films and 1 bonus disc. Only 4 of the films are worthy ('Trail of the Pink Panther' is a train wreck of a film - it's a film made of outtakes and clips from previous films tacked together two years after Peter Seller's death), and it's also missing a major Panther film ('Return of the Pink Panther') which was the first Sellers-Edwards collaboration immediately following the hiatus after 'Shot in the Dark'.

The 4 worthy films, though, shine as comedy classics, fully display Sellers' genius, witness the evolution of the Clouseau character, and feature the talents of Seller's surroundings casts and Edwards' direction. Many can argue which is the best film; I personally prefer 'The Pink Panther' followed by 'Revenge of the Pink Panther'.

The bonus disc has one documentary about the Panther films, one documentary about the Panther animation, and 6 Pink Panther cartoons. The main documentary has some good info about the Panther series, but is not nearly as comprehensive as it could be. There is no mention of the thought process behind 'Trail' and scant detail about the other films.

'The Pink Panther' has audio commentary by Blake Edwards, a trivia feature, a photo gallery, and the original trailer. The other films have only the photo galleries and trailers.

Deep insight into the Pink Panther series is missing in this collection, but it's also an excellent value for four great comedies.

Like Old Friends, They're Always Great To See!
Having been a fan of "The Pink Panther" series from childhood, I was ecstatic that this set was being released, as the films are otherwise out of print on DVD (although luckily I still have my trusty VHS copies in reserve). I am tempted to give the set five stars simply because it is a wonderful day to see these films back in print, but realistically I had to take it down a notch as there a couple of negative considerations, the most obvious of which, of course, is the absence of "Return of the Pink Panther" from the collection, ostensibly because of legal hang-ups. Whatever the cause, the absence of the first of the 1970s-era "Panthers" is sorely missed. The other minor negative is the relative absence of special features on the movie DVDs, although the original "Pink Panther" has a wonderful trivia track. I would have really loved commentary tracks with Blake Edwards and some of the actors. I am somewhat ambivalent on the extremely unusual packaging the set comes in. It is hard to adequately describe the case, but suffice it to say that removing half of the DVDs is annoyingly difficult, although it looks very stylish.

On the positive end, you get four great "Panther" movies and the bodged-together "Trail of the Pink Panther", plus a disk of extras. Some people have dismissed the extras disk as inconsequential, but I rather enjoyed it. I particularly liked the documentary "The Pink Panther Story" which was heavy on interviews and insight. I had no idea that Sellers hated "A Shot in the Dark", whereas I (and many others) think it is a perfect movie in every way. I knew that Sellers could be somewhat Mercurial to work with, but I had no idea, for instance, that he had certain colors that he would not tolerate around him, and in fact made the producers of one of the movies once repaint a train because he couldn't stand the color! Also on the disk is a documentary about the animated Panther, which is quite interesting, as well as several of the short subject cartoons, which seem selected at random. They did include the Oscar winning "Pink Phink", the first cartoon short of the Pink Panther, which was an excellent choice. "Psychedelic Pink" included an annoying laugh track, and "Pinkfinger" was one of the weaker of the cartoons, which I have great recollection of from childhood. Interestingly enough, there are two related subject cartoons, one each of the Ant and the Aardvark, and The Inspector (in a fairly weak episode) to round out the extra disk.

This is a great set overall, with just a couple of things bringing it down to a four rating. I recommend it to all "Panther" fans everywhere, and to anyone who loves to laugh.

great, but what about return of the pink panther?
i think its great they decided to put these classic films into a set finally. but what about return of the pink panther? even though it isnt as popular as the others, its still a part of the series, and i think its a great one as well. as someone else said they should've put all 8 films in a set. that would be awesome, but all the same, this is a must have dvd set.

Massage, anyone?
MGM's "Panther" set wastes no time in showing off its quality once the menu queues up, as the tenor-sax notes of Henry Mancini's eternally cool theme song slink out of the speakers. Director Blake Edwards delivers a delightful solo commentary on the first and best film, "The Pink Panther."

The DVDs' fine (5.1) audio is complemented by the vivid widescreen images on the first "Panther," a gorgeous relic of the swinging '60s. The reproduction allows contemplation of detail such as the amazing topography of David Niven's hair. There's a lot for the Technicolor to take in -- fabulous clothes, beautiful people and to-die-for European locations.

A half-hour docu on the "Panther" films checks in with the series' surviving principals. A brisk DVD documentary tells the tale of the Pink Panther cartoon character, found money for Blake and his partners. A bonus disc collects the Panther's animated adventures.

The five original "Panther" films collected in this set range from the nostalgic pleasures of the first to the sludge of "Trail of the Pink Panther" -- a barely watchable collection of Sellers outtakes borne along by a why-bother story -- but with Peter Sellers onscreen the laughs never completely faded away. DVD viewers are both warned and encouraged. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Like a groovy Family von Trapp, The Partridge Family arrived in 1970 with matching velvet outfits and wholesomeness bursting from every pore. Watching it now, you expect little more than kitsch--but the show, though certainly a sitcom representation of the world, is curiously fresh and appealing. This sheer likeability comes partly from the cast--Shirley Jones (The Music Man) looks foxy in miniskirts while still being the cool mom everyone wishes they had; teen idol David Cassidy is unexpectedly engaging as an actor (his charisma is all the more apparent when another teen idol, Bobby Sherman, makes a wooden appearance); and Danny Bonaduce's child-star rise sprang not from cuteness but his genuine comic timing. It doesn't hurt that many of the troubles the characters faced--swelled heads, rivalry, groupies (!)--were undoubtedly problems the actors were facingas their show became a hit.

Sure, there are utterly ridiculous episodes, such as when Danny is tutoring a mob boss's girlfriend about the stock market and the gangster, not knowing Danny is only 10 years old, gets jealous--but most episodes feature ordinary show business conflicts or straightforward family issues, like how the kids cope when their mother starts dating or how teenager Laurie (Susan Dey, who later went on to L.A. Law) feels ugly when she gets braces. This simplicity, combined with some classic vaudeville-style humor, proves surprisingly durable. Plus, the list of guest stars ranges from Ray Bolger (best known as the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz) to a young Richard Pryor, as well as other soon-to-be-famous folk like Charlie's Angels' Farrah Fawcett and Jaclyn Smith and a pre-Star Wars Mark Hamill. The first season collection includes a bonus CD with four of the Partridge Family's actual radio hits; their sound, a fusion of the Monkees and the Mamas and the Papas, is pure pop sugar (created by a host of Brill Building songwriters like Neil Sedaka). If the Mondrian-inspired paint job on the Partridge Family bus gives you childhood flashbacks, you'll happily regress when you watch this box set. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (28)

A Great Way to Escape Back to An Easier Time.
You know why the Partridge Family is a good show?Because the Brady Bunch makes this family look like a love-in.Sure, this show had its saccharine and unbelievable moments, but you can forgive them next to Marsha Brady's "oh my nose!" episode.Usually, this show is quite believable in the family's music business predicaments, and also the writing is quite good.

Danny Bonaduce and Dave Madden had great chemistry as a comedy team, but they were also quite close off the set of the show as well.The two youngest kids are cute, if stiff, as actors, Susan Dey was good as budding teenage feminist Laurie, and Shirley Jones has always been a pleasure in most any venture she's undertaken.Must I really mention that, just like every other little girl and teenager back in the early 70's, I had a crush on David Cassidy?I was also at the right age to develop a crush on younger brother Shaun a few years later.

If you grew up with this show like I did and wish they'd run it on cable somewhere, this box set should be quite pleasing.My favorite episodes, to name a few, are the pilot, the incident with the skunk, and when Laurie gets braces.After all these years, I can admit the songs aren't so bad either.

Extras include music performances, interviews, two episodes of the short-lived Saturday morning cartoon, and Shirley Jones commenting on one of the best episodes.The Partridge family is 25 episodes, and then some, of good clean fun for the entire family with a lesson generally involved.It will take you back in time where, ironically, you will recognize some of the popular clothing and hairstyles as part of your own wardrobe now.It's a good time to be had by all, so get aboard that multicolored bus and, come on, get happy!

Bought the DVD
I've waited for years to see this wonderful show on DVD. Finally that day has arrived. My only complaint being, Shirley Partridge was the not the ideal mother we thought her to be! This woman picked up hitch-hikers, let strange men share beds with her sons, and horror of horrors, allowed her beautiful boy Keith to sleep in a prison with horny criminals. If you think I'm lying, just check out this DVD. What seemed like innocence now seems like child endagerment.

Memory lane re-visited!
First of all, my 12 year old son loves this show...what does this mean? Maybe seeing a more innocent era of life on the screen? Well, for whatever reasons he likes, I know why this 50 year old woman loves it...David Cassidy!! Watching these episodes again took me right back to Friday nights as a 15 year old and swooning over Keith Partridge. I loved the show then and I love it now. It's fluff at it's best. Sure, there are things that annoy me about the show, like why isn't EVERY episode about Keith...lol...but this is inexpensive enough to be what it is, a sitcom from the early 70's. As others have said, it's been fun to see who showed up in guest spots on the show and in addition to those previously mentioned, Jaclyn Smith shows up in one, too! The Partridge Family is what it is...a harmless family show with laughs, music and one hot teen idol. No more, no less. Enjoy watching it!

A Little Slice Of Childhood Breaks The Surface!
I was one year old when the show premiered, but I watched The Partridge Family in syndication from as far back as I can remember.The quaint nostalgia still holds pretty strong when viewing the first season."Come On Get Happy" the theme to The Partridge Family show has not yet evolved from "When We're Singin'" but that's okay.The writing was pretty sharp and Danny Bonaduce is hilarious as the midget businessman of the family.Some of the shows strain a little, especially when they deal with more grown-up problems, but overall it's is good to bring the Partridge's back into my living room.Different house and different mind, but still a warm and funny show.Rox!

Great!But being a purist. . .
Almost everything about this set is perfect.And for the cost I'm truly amazed at what went into it.My only complaint, as mentioned before, why delete the Screen Gems logo closing after each episode??For nostalgic buffs like me it should have been included.Hopefully someone at Sony will get wind of this when it comes to releasing future sets of "Bewitched" and "I Dream of Jeannie".Otherwise, Sony thanks for an excellent package. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It's a good bet that any American kid growing up in the '70s or '80s learned some elementary lesson from the seminal musical series Schoolhouse Rock!. Airing from 1973 to 1984 (and often revived), the ABC Saturday morning shorts effortlessly introduced kids to grammar, science, multiplication, money, and American history--three minutes at a time. In one smart, comprehensive 2-disc set, all 46 songs and plenty of extras are collected. The four creators developed the series slowly, a welcome diversion from their advertising agency jobs, and ended up taking home four Emmys over the years. The background material includes 10 audio commentaries and a making-of feature for the new song, "I'm Gonna Send Your Vote to College." The DVD subtitle option is a great bonus for those who need to know every word from such favorites as "Three Is a Magic Number," "Interjections," "I'm Just a Bill," and "Conjunction Junction." (Ages 3 and older) --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (108)

This Is So Cool--Facts can be Fun!!
And it's even educational! I was so pumped (now that I have a DVD player) to hear that they were releasing a big-time anniversary edition of Schoolhouse Rock in its entirety. I've had four of the videos for years, but this set is so much better. Disc One has all of the original songs--you can play them in order, randomly, just the top ten--and an all-new song about the Electoral College (inspired, no doubt, by the 2000 presidential election). The way you can navigate your way through any and/or all of the songs is very easy and great for when you don't just want to hear about grammar (or history, math, etc. . .).

What really puts this over the top, though, is Disc Two, with a bucket load of extras: the lost "Weather Show," a new computer three-song set, a making-of feaure, top 20 countdowns, an interactive trivia game, music videos by contemporary artists, audio commentaries, Emmy Award footage, etc. . . . I can't wait to explore even more than I got to last night! This will be such a great tool for my 21-month-old daughter (who will know how a bill becomes a law and how to use a conjunction in a sentence!) and a ton of fun for me in the process.

The video quality isn't MONSTERS, INC., but it doesn't have to be. The old animation holds up just fine, as does the audio, which audiophiles could probably complain about if they want to poop the party for the rest of us. What really stands up to the test of time, aside from the basic content, is the music. These guys (primarily) did some really good arranging, little of it in the rock 'n roll genre, ironically. Jack Sheldon delivers some spectacular jazz vocals on several of the more famous tunes. Complicated yet catchy melodies are the strength--that's why we all remember "I'm Just a Bill" and "Conjunction Junction"--with great backing vocals and instrumentation to boot. The contemporary artists' renditions didn't hold up to the originals, but they were pretty interesting to hear. The interactive stuff will be great for kids hearing these songs for the first time. The interviews and commentaries are really interesting, especially in hindsight. Great new additions, discoveries, and formats all add to the charm of the original forty-six songs. How they managed to get all of that factual information into essentially a music video, while keeping the kids (and me) entertained, is still a mystery to me.

Bottom Line: You'll be hard-pressed to find a better combination of education and entertainment. If there are any factual inaccuracies, they are minor enough to overlook and could actually spark interesting conversations. The basic content is right on-the-money. The fact that they'll actually be talking about and be interested in the grammar, history, science, and economics is important enough to overlook any minor flaws.
The fact that my daughter, who two years (and a couple of months) old, actually knows that "Wow!" is an interjection, a fact that most of my juniors (I'm a teacher) wouldn't know off the top of their heads, speaks volumes. . . !

Schoolhouse Rock totally rocks!
I'd been waiting to see if I'd get this for my birthday, but I couldn't wait anymore. I bought it today and had to pop it in. These great animated shorts helped kids learn multiplication, science, grammar, american history and money. You want an explanation of our national debt? - watch Tyrannosaurus Debt :-).

The first DVD has all the original shorts categorized by groups, you can play them by group, or play them all in order or play them all or shuffle. If you choose a particular group, you can pick the ones you want to play in the playlist or select the Play All button. I was having a blast seeing remembering how many of these I could still sing.

The 2nd DVD is the Extra Credit portion of the set. You can watch with Captions or Audio Commentary. I really had fun with the "Earn Your Diploma" Trivia and the Arrange A Schoolhouse Rock song. The Earn Your Diploma gives you a set of questions to answer to each group (Science, Money, etc). When you get them all right, you get a clue which when you solve all the groups you can then solve the Master Jumble to become a Schoolhouse Rock Graduate. The Arrange A Schoolhouse Rock Song has 3 of the Schoolhouse rock songs mixed up and its up to you to get the lyrics in order. When you get them right, the song clip will play. The music videos section was funny - the first 3 had the original animated shorts but the music/voices were redone by Better Than Ezra ("Conjunction Junction"), Lemonheads("My Hero Zero") and Deluxe Folk Implosion("I'm Just A Bill"). I didn't care for the last one by Goodness ("Electricity, Electricity"). That was just a music video but that one doesn't take away from the rest of the DVD.

I saw one review here getting a little too deep in reviewing the american group. I say, don't worry about it - these were meant to help kids learn and I can say they definitely did me good. This collection was well done and it's worth the price :-)

School House Rock
I learned more from this as a kid than in school. To expensive on Amazon, I got it cheaper at my local Vons grocery store.

Wow! Hurray! Hey! Hallelujah!
Yes, I'm using all the Interjections from SchoolHouse Rock to sing it's praises. I grew up with Schoolhouse Rock, but to be honest I thought about it only when my husband and I laughed nostalgicly about memorable songs like Conjunction Junction. Then, he bought the 30th anniversary edition for our daughter (he was trying to qualify for free shipping when he was buying the Tripletts of BelleVille!). So, it can be said that neither of us anticipated how fantastic this DVD would be -- STILL! My 3 year old LOVES it, and I can't say enough great things about the creative lyrics that teach grammar, numbers and how the body works (maybe I should reach into my bag of adjectives, which my daughter charmlingly calls "magictives"). It is the one DVD we own that I don't feel any apprehension about evil or scary characters, dark plots or questionable character influences (which are startling present in many videos for preschoolers).

If you're wondering about getting this video, wonder no more. It is a timeless winner that won't disappoint (unless you're looking for dark plots and questionable character influences!)

Re: Jason James Taylorville, KY
Mr. James I hope you have learned a valuable lesson from this experience. Read the product information before you buy it. You can look at the picture and see that it's animated/a cartoon. Come on don't trash the video because you didn't bother to read the product information before you bought it. I'm sure that you saw the cover on the DVD after you took it out of the package. I can't believe you opened it and actually watched it. Well, to each his own. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Season 2 of I Love Lucy includes two of the most famous half-hours in television history. "Job Switching," originally broadcast mid-September of 1952, is the crazy, battle-of-the-sexes episode in which husbands Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz) and Fred Mertz (William Frawley) trade roles with wives Lucy (Lucille Ball) and Ethel (Vivian Vance), culminating in the men making a shambles of domestic chores while Lucy and Ethel take disastrous work at a chocolate factory. That's right: This is the show where the ladies have a Chaplinesque experience with a too-fast factory conveyor belt, forcing them to hide candies in their mouths, in their hats, and down their blouses lest a tough forewoman fire them for incompetence. A half-century later, the scene is still so fresh and funny it would grace any current sitcom. "Lucy Goes to the Hospital," which received an amazing 71.7 rating on January 19, 1953, is the historic episode featuring the birth of Little Ricky and a load of wonderful slapstick. Other television series (The Dick Van Dyke Show) and movies (Nine Months) have tried to top Lucy's time-to-go-to-the-hospital shenanigans, but there's nothing like the sight of Ricky and Fred falling all over themselves or Ricky showing up at the maternity ward (direct from a voodoo-themed show at the Tropicana) in witch doctor makeup.

The other 31 episodes included in I Love Lucy: The Compete Second Season have choice moments, too. "Lucy Becomes a Sculptress" finds the ever-ambitious redhead falling for empty flattery at an art-supply store and commencing an ill-advised career working in clay. Ricky agrees to bless this new endeavor if an art critic says she has talent, but Lucy tries to increase her chances by posing as a bust of herself--resulting in mayhem, of course. The usual running themes in I Love Lucy--Lucy's misguided desire to be a part of Ricky's musical career, and her penchant for disguising herself to investigate something--are all over The Complete Second Season. "Ricky Loses His Voice" is a delightful piece in which Ricky's laryngitis inspires Lucy, the Mertzes, and an aging chorus line to put on a Tropicana spectacle, and "Ricky Has Labor Pains" finds Lucy and Ethel going undercover as male reporters to find out what happens at a stag party.Lots to enjoy here, and the special features include bloopers, information about the guest cast, and snippets from Ball's radio show. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (4)

I Love Lucy is the best!
I'm sixteen but I absolutly love I love Lucy. I started watching them when the DVD's for the first season came out. I am so excited to be getting the next season all at once and at half the price of season one. Season Two has some of my favorite episodes like Job Switching, Lucy is Enceinte, and Lucy Goes to the Hospital

Here are 32 More Reasons We Love Lucy ...
THE sitcom of all sitcoms -- the one show where you could watch many episodes 1,463 times (as most of us have) -- and they'd still be funny as hell, the Queen Mother of all sitcoms finally gets its 2nd-season release on August 31st - at a MUCH more reasonable price than season one, thank God!! This is classic Lucy, while the gang was still in New York and Lucy was very much still trying to get into the act.

Here's how Season 2 breaks down, in all its glory:

1. The Anniversary Present - Ricky enlists the aid of a beautiful neighbor to buy Lucy pearls for their anniversary ... and Lucy thinks he's having an affair!

2. The Handcuff - The Ricardos get cuffed together before Ricky has to do a big show.

3. The Operetta - Lucy's women's club stages an operetta, "The Pleasant Peasant," with Lucy writing a post-dated check to pay for everything (Lucy as the Queen of the Gypsies ... HYSTERICAL!!)

4. Job Switching - THE famous "candy factory" job episode!

5. The Saxophone - Lucy pretends to have another love to keep Ricky from going on the road with his band.

6. Vacation from Marriage - The Ricardos and Mertzes take a break from their in-a-rut marriages ... and find they are miserable.

7. The Courtroom - The Ricardos & Mertzes end up in court over a busted television.

8. Redecorating - Lucy is desperate to win a home-decorating contest.

9. Ricky Loses His Voice - Lucy takes over the show at the Tropicana when Ricky gets laryngitis.

10. Sales Resistance - Ricky demands Lucy ... a sucker for any sales pitch ... return a vacuum cleaner she was talked into buying.

11. The Inferiority Complex - Lucy feels inferior when no one laughs at her jokes or wants to play bridge with her.

12. The Club Election - Lucy and Ethel's campaigning against each other for the Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League presidency gets way out of hand.

13. The Black Eye - No one believes Lucy really got her black eye from Ricky tossing a book to her.

14. Lucy Changes Her Mind - When Ricky complains that Lucy never finishes anything, Lucy reconnects with an old beau to get even.

15. Lucy is Enceinte - the beautiful, exceptional episode where Lucy struggles to find the right time to tell Ricky she's going to have a baby (touching ending!).

16. Pregnant Women are Unpredictable - Lucy feels neglected when Ricky seems to give all his attention to the upcoming baby.

17. Lucy's Showbiz Swan Song - Lucy fails to get into Ricky's Gay Nineties Review ... until she sneaks in on the barbershop quartet number.

18. Lucy Hires an English Tutor - Hans Conreid guests (hysterically) as an English tutor Lucy hires so that the baby will be surrounded by adults who speak properly.

19. Ricky Has Labor Pains - Ricky develops his own labor pains when jealous of the baby's attention; Lucy has Fred throw him a Daddy Shower that turns more into a stag party ...

20. Lucy Becomes a Sculptress - Lucy takes up sculpting so the baby will learn about and appreciate art.

21. Lucy Goes to the Hospital - The episode that beat out President Eisenhower's inauguration in the ratings; Lucy gives birth to Little Ricky.

22. No Children Allowed - A crotchety neighbor, Mrs. Trumble (in her first appearance on the show), complains about the baby's crying ... as babies are not allowed in the building leases!

23. Lucy Hires a Maid - Exhausted with caring for the baby, Lucy is talked into hiring a maid, who turns out to be a cantankerous biddy Lucy nor Ricky then have the nerve to fire!

24. The Indian Show - Baby or no, Lucy is going to get into the act at an Indian-themed show at the Tropicana.

25. Lucy's Last Birthday - A sad Lucy thinks everyone has forgotten her birthday ... and her (TRIVIA: This was the one and only time the lyrics to the "I Love Lucy" song were heard).

26. The Ricardos Change Apartments - Lucy convinces Ricky they need a bigger apartment, now that Little Ricky has arrived.

27. Lucy is Matchmaker - Lucy causes the usual disaster by trying to match a friend of friend of the Mertzes ... a lingerie salesman who thinks Lucy is hitting on him!

28. Lucy Wants New Furniture - Lucy buys new furniture without Ricky's consent, and tries hiding it until she can work up the nerve to tell him.

29. The Camping Trip - Lucy decides to pursue some of Ricky's interests, to show they have more in common.

30. Ricky's Life Story - Ricky's big feature in "Life" magazine resurrects Lucy's desire for a show biz career.

31. Ricky and Fred are TV Fans - Ricky and Fred are so glued to the TV for a fight, the girls leave the apartment, nearly get arrested -- and the men never even knew they were gone!

32. Never Do Business With Friends - An argument ensues when the Ricardos sell their old washing machine to the Mertzes ... and it breaks down.

At half the price of Season 1 (which needs serious re-boxing), Season 2 of "I Love Lucy" is not only affordable -- but necessary to anyone collecting classic comedy, as it has some of the best episodes of the entire series! Get yours fast -- and lets hope they sell well enough to make Paramount push out Season 3 right away!

Better format, better price, same dvd quality
Season 1 episodes on dvd have picture and sound quality that are unbeatable. The packaging, unfortunately, was done in a way to jack the price way up. Now we have season 2 in a more concise format, half the price, and most likely the same superior restoration and fun extras. This is the season with the chocolate factory episode, the baby episodes, and a lot of other hidden gems. Let's hope this one sells so well that we don't have too long for the rest of the seasons on dvd!

Lucy Ricky Fred & Ethel They Were The Best Ever.
I Have been watching Lucy for 42 years now. At least once a day. If she is on it doesn't matter what else is on WE watch Lucy! Some could say it's a cult. I say it is a time that I would like to have seen more of being born in 1960, I just missed the real deal. I cannot wait for the Second and All the other seasons. Does that sound good. I love Desi & Lucy JRS. too. They made me cry in their 50th anniversary special.
Anyway Enjoy The Show...... Rickrocksem ... Read more

Reviews (5)

1969?
awesome movie, very well written and acted, honest, touching.

An excellent debut
I was lucky enough to see "Garden State" at the LA Film Festival, where it was the centerpiece attraction, as it was at Sundance, where it won top honors.

As well it should have been. It is EXCELLENT.

This is Zach Braff's masterwork, a film that by all accounts should not have been made ("hi, i am the funny guy from "Scrubs," can you help me make a movie I have written, directed and want to star in?")

This is the story of Andrew Largemann (aka "Large" to his buddies) who has to fly across the country to attend the funeral of his mother.

(...) Just An Awesome Film
Zach Braff proves he's a master at both writing and directing. This film is so wonderful-- it's simply a great story. It's got the feel of other films that also tell great stories, like Lost in Translation or Pieces of April. All great.

This is the story of Andrew Largeman (Braff) who lives in L.A. as a wannabe actor. It's been nine years since he's been home, and the death of his mother is what takes him back to the garden state.

Braff plays this character with excellence-- fun, but perhaps misunderstood, with a lingering sadness. Everyone else in the movie is just as wonderful. Natalie Portman plays the eccentric Sam, who when they first meet, tells him to listen to a song because it will change his life. Peter Sarsgaard plays Largeman's partying friend-- talk about a scene stealer!

When this film comes to a theater near you, I highly recommend seeing it. It's the perfect movie to see when you need a break from the typical summer movies that you seem to see every year. Garden State boasts a fantastic script, great acting, awesome cinematography, and everything else someone could want in a wonderful film.

Not perfect, but highly recommended
As most of my moviegoing experiences these days have been, I sat in a room full of college students who lined up hours in advance to see The Garden State. And we watched in utter amazement, sadness, excitement, laughter...not even because it was THAT good, but because we were watching perfect reflections of ourselves on screen.

After the screening, Zach Braff (who had, he told us, been sitting behind the audience the entire time) talked to us about his film, answered some twenty-odd questions, and truly revealed why this film was a piece of art. Yes, Braff himself was almost as entertaining as the movie itself. But The Garden State still held its own.

Braff's debut film as writer, director and star, The Garden State involves the protagonists' (Braff) journey to re-find himself as he travels back to his home town in New Jersey. Previously defined by his tidbit roles as a Hollywood actor and his parentally diagnosed psychological illnesses, Braff rekindles old friendships and makes new ones along the way. Natalie Portman, who gives an outstanding performance, plays possibly the most well written female role I've seen in a long time. The energy exuded from her presence on screen is unmatchable and a wonderful contrast with Braff's underplay of his character.

The plot has its moment, but is nowhere near the dynamic adventure of an oscar winning story. However, the little things carry the film. Also, the music is AMAZING and Braff's choice of soundtrack is most certainly one of the success stories of his film.

The film is not without faults, such as lack of exploration in certain storylines (especially concerning the protagonist's father and the introduction of numerous characters who are never fully developed). However, the film's unique and intense direction and cinematography coupled with some brilliant acting make this film a must see. Especially for the college generation.

Not perfect, but highly recommended.

Self-indulgent and ultimately disappointing...
I saw an advanced screening of "Garden State" at a film festival. I was eager to see it since early buzz had been good. Although I give high points to Zach Braff for attempting a literary movie, I was ultimately disappointed by his egotism. More than once I was taken out of the movie by Braff's obvious attempts, as writer and director, to cast himself as both a comedian and leading man. The story, which could just as well be titled "When Anne Tyler met Harold and Maude" strains under too much contrivance and deliberate quirkiness. The basic problem with the movie is that is overdoes almost every element -- there are too many characters, too many pointless subplots and scenes, and the central characters, played by Braff and Natalie Portman (in an ultimately annoying performance), are given too much screen time. If "Garden State" had been edited down to 90 minutes, it might work. As it stands, at 120 minutes, it is overdone.

One reason to see the movie: Peter Sarsgaard. He steals every scene as a dirtbag high school friend of Braff's character. He is a great talent, and deserving of better movies than this one. ... Read more

Description

One of television's most popular series, the groundbreaking Combat! offers a gritty, unflinching look at American soldiers battling in Europe during World War II, confronting imposing odds and demonstrating remarkable levels of ingenuity and courage. Vic Morrow and Rick Jason head a stellar cast in the critically acclaimed long-running war drama, featuring an incomparable list of guest stars from Hollywood's Golden Age as well as top directorial talent. Episodes include: The Linesman, Main Event, Hear No Evil, Nine Place Vendee, Sudden Terror, Evasion, Finest Hour, Breakout, The Farmer, The Raider, Crossfire, Soldier of Fortune, The First Day, S.I.W., Luck with Rainbows, The Flying Machine ... Read more

Reviews (4)

nearly perfect
Image did a fine job on the Combat! dvds. However, it`s unfortunate they were unable to find prints that were not "time-compressed". Surely there had to be some available somewhere. It`s so irritating watching them in their slightly sped-up form. The dvds would have been perfect if not for this. They LOOK superb. I understand they will be releasing season 5 in "non-time compressed" prints. At least we will get one season at the correct speed.

HOLD ON A MINUTE, JP!
I must reply to JP Falcon's posted review of "Combat"(4/7/05) which lists the episode "The Farmer" as one of the worst.FOLKS, TAKE THE WORD OF A GUY WHO REGARDS "THE FARMER" as his PERSONAL FAVORITE of them ALL----IT"S TERRIFIC!

Amazingly sensitive and perceptive in its portrayal of the soldier whose main concerns are seeing that the tranquility and spiritual qualities associated with farming are not destroyed by the ravages of war.The peaceful, idyllic scene where the entire squad (except for Saunders) gradually join Weaver in planting the crops for an aging French couple who were chased off of their land is, in my opinion, the SINGLE MOST BEAUTIFUL scene that the series has to offer.And then, things start to go desparately wrong, as Weaver endeavors to save a baby calf from starving.Much excellently wrought conflict with Kirby and Littlejohn, as Weaver continually puts the squad in danger because of his convictions. And the final moments show a man who out of desperation and rage allows himself to be destroyed---all because of his fanatical devotion to preserving the sanctity of the earth and its creatures. Great closing speech by Conlan Carter.

FIRST-RATE!Get it and see for yourself.

****ALSO FABULOUS---- "S.I.W." with phenomenal direction (John Peyser) and performance from John Cassavetes. An epsisode wherein ALMOST NOTHING happens in terms of action---but the INTENSITY between characters is unbelievable. And the final resolution of the show is almost cathartic, as if all of the hatred and mistrust between Cassavetes and William Stevens has been purged--or cleansed.Brilliant.

******THE REAL SLEEPER EPISODE:"RUN, SHEEP, RUN".Even though this show, late in the season, is essentially a rehash of the first season's "The Medal", it ultimately stands on its own as a truly fine episode. The closing scene, as Dwayne Hickman admits his own cowardice to the squad, never fails to bring a tear to the eye (mine, that is).

FINEST HOUR is very good (even though it, too, is essentially a re-write [of the 1st season's "The Chateau").Great to see a (rare) performance by Louise Rainer.

And of course, "HILLS ARE FOR HEROES" is pretty amazing stuff.

THE END!

The Best COMBAT Episode has Arrived!! Part 1
We are now at the apex of the COMBAT series when the show reached its' peak as this season has the best episode ever produced. There are a few episodes that seem variations on previous Combat themes, but overall the fourth season holds up well...Of the cast members, Jack Hogan as Kirby does his best work in three pivotal episodes, especially in Hills are for Heroes which I consider one of the greatest war movies ever made. I will discuss this episode in the COMBAT SEASON 4 CONFLICT 2 review. For now, here are some of the hits and misses of season 4...

1. The Leader - Kirby must lead a group of disgruntled soldiers as they prepare for a German counterattack....one of the shows where Jack Hogan shines...

2. Retribution - Jack Hogan is 2 for 2 as Kirby, when he discovers that his future Brother-in-law was beaten to death by a sadistic German Officer. Hogan's acting is top notch as he seeks revenge.


3. The Raider - a tense drama as Saunders needs to discover which of the German prisoners is actually the Officer who knows the whereabouts of a captured Hanley.

4. Finest Hour -It is a treat to see the fine French actress Luise Rainer in a morality play regarding honor and sacrifice.


5. Main Event - Jack Carter plays the manager ofcontending boxer and tries to protect his "investment" from the dangers of war. Jack Carter is at his conniving and sleazy best.

6. The Old Men -Simon Oakland portrays an replacement with bad knees, as he and other older replacements join Saunders squad.


7.The First Day - Four "Green" soldiers are put in Saunders squad. If this seems familiar to THE OLD MEN, well, I guess it is, but it is still well done.



Those are a few of the fine episodes which are included in this season 4 compilation of COMBAT. There are however some, not so stellar episodes.

1. The Linesman -Jack Lord is a know it all radioman who accompanies Saunders squad on a mission. It is the overdone"Arrogant Officer Humbled" theme.

2. Hear No Evil -There are actually good portions of this episode where Saunders loses his hearing. The scene which illustrates how he became deaf is well done. There is a silly section involving a dog however which brings the episode down, and if you are a dog lover, you may become unsettled.

3. The Farmer - Dennis Weaver loves animals more than Humans. Just plain dumb.

So, should you buy this set?Yes, most certainly, for there is much to enjoy in this collection. If you are planning to buy both volumes of this season 4 DVD set, but are only planning to buy one at this time, then I advise you save buying SEASON 4 CONFLICT 1 for now and quickly purchase SEASON 4 CONFLICT 2 because, as I mentioned previously, one of the finest war movies was produced when HILLS ARE FOR HEROES hit the small screen. I will comment on this fantastic episode in the CONFLICT 2 review.

Recommended without reservation.

This program has unique introductory music
Many programs of the era had their own introductory music and this program was no exception; the music was by Leonard Rosseman.

They always start out with "staring Rick Jason and Vic Morrow." Instead of great sweeping epics this program focuses on a single squad with their trials and tribulation with confronting the Germans in WWII. Each episode is one hour and has to oppose a problem and a solution in that time. This was back in the time of professional privates.

In 1967-1968 Vietnam if you were lucky certain areas actually had TV broadcasting at 1600 hrs. You guessed it; this was one of the programs. I wonderer what the locals thought of the episode?

This would be a good series to own. Not just for the nostalgia, but the personal conflicts portrait in the program are still with us today.

If you are buying this item, I assume you have already purchased the first three seasons. And can not help but add to the collection and go on from her. I am also sure that by now you have your favorites marked for reviewing.
... Read more

Description

Angus MacGyver is a secret agent who refuses to carry a gun with him, but fortunately never needs one.Drawing on a vast practical knowledge of science, MacGyver is able to make use of anything around him to create solutions to any problem he faces.Underestimating MacGyver is a major mistake made by his enemies and always results in the destruction of their plans. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Absolutely Brilliant!
It is soooo frustrating! MacGyver is one of the best TV Series made in the 80's and 90's (You can put it in Line with the A-Team, Knight Rider and so one). And everyone in the USA will be able to purchase this brilliant DVD to sit at home and look at Richard Dean Anderson again and again and again.
It is really sad that this DVD is not available in Germany (Especially in the European Format). So, pleeease! Hurry up and bring it to Europe as well! I will buy it straight away!

Genius. Scientist. Sexy. What More Could A Girl Ask For?
As all true Angus Macgyver fans know, getting the series on dvd has been like pulling teeth. As one of the best shows ever on television, you would think it would be an easy choice. However, it is here, and I am overjoyed.It has something for everyone. For the girls, it has a hot star and the hero every girl wants to be there when they have a crisis. For the guys, it has action, adventure, bombs, and even some nail biting moments. During the second season, we see a little bit more about our reluctant, but always present hero. Give him a stick of gum and a wire, he'll make a bomb. To all those who are complaing about no extras...get over it! It was hard enough just getting the dvd. I am looking forward to this season because, my personal favorite character (besides Mac) Murdoch will be out in full force. Everyone will enjoy this dvd.

MacGyver finally on dvd.
yes the first season didnt have any extras and im sure this one wont either, but come on people this is MACGYVER finally out on dvd. my personal favorite show of all time this is and will be without a doubt a must have, even if youve never watched the show before-buy it, you will not be dissapointed and will be instantly hooked (not to mention impatiently waiting for the next season, and the one after and so on). I for one am extremely excited about the best tv series in the history of tv finally out on dvd. keep em coming.

What will MacGyver think of next?
A unique and different kind of TV action series, MacGyver made its television premiere in the Fall of 1985 to much fanfare. Audiences immediately responded to the title character and his unusual penchant for turning everyday items like chewing gum and paperclips into elaborate life-saving contraptions. In this way, it maintained a slight resemblance to The A-Team, and this recurring plot device helped MacGyver build a strong cult following...

Richard Dean Anderson plays the title role of MacGyver, an energetic employee of the fictional Phoenix Foundation for Research. An unorthodox hero by action series standards, MacGyver has a deadly fear of heights. A pacifist who refuses to use weapons, he relies heavily on his ability to use his brain and tinker with the various materials at his disposal. MacGyver's best friend, and the director of the Phoenix Foundation, is Pete Thornton (Dana Elcar). Pete often sends MacGyver on Foundation missions and sometimes comes to his aid (usually after MacGyver has saved the day). In addition, MacGyver is joined on a regular basis by his airplane pilot friend Jack Dalton (Bruce McGill), a man who constantly entangles himself in illegal activities and other troublesome situations. Between the usual slew of bad guys, the vendetta of archenemy Murdoc (Michael Des Barres), and his multitude of troublesome friends, MacGyver is always in the midst of interesting and dangerous events, and the show's true entertainment value derives from watching MacGyver's distinctive method of dealing with each one...

The MacGyver (Season 2) DVD features a number of action-packed episodes including the season premiere "The Human Factor" in which MacGyver and the Phoenix Foundation are called upon to test the security of a top-secret military installation. When MacGyver makes a bet with the security designer, Dr. Jill Ludlum, he successfully gains entry, but the automated system traps them both inside (with a dwindling supply of oxygen) where they're forced to race for their lives against a ticking clock... Other notable episodes from Season 2 include "The Road Not Taken" in which MacGyver encounters his former fiancée while helping a nun, and "Birth Day" in which MacGyver must guard a pregnant woman from her husband, who's out to kill her...

Below is a list of episodes included on the MacGyver (Season 2) DVD:

Episode 23 (The Human Factor)
Episode 24 (The Eraser)
Episode 25 (Twice Stung)
Episode 26 (The Wish Child)
Episode 27 (Final Approach)
Episode 28 (Jack of Lies)
Episode 29 (The Road Not Taken)
Episode 30 (Eagles)
Episode 31 (Silent World)
Episode 32 (Three for the Road)
Episode 33 (Phoenix Under Siege)
Episode 34 (Family Matter)
Episode 35 (Soft Touch)
Episode 36 (Birth Day)
Episode 37 (Pirates)
Episode 38 (Out in the Cold)
Episode 39 (Dalton, Jack of Spies)
Episode 40 (Partners)
Episode 41 (Bushmaster)
Episode 42 (Friends)
Episode 43 (D.O.A.: MacGyver)
Episode 44 (For Love or Money)

The DVD Report

paramount *sigh*
Knowing paramount'a reputation for DVD releases, this will most likely be similar to MacGyver season 1 and have absolutely no extras and Paramount will get by (once again) with the bare minimum. Anyways, MacGyver is an awesome show, so if you don't care about Paramount's crappy DVD release policy they seem to have, pick this up. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The third season of ER had some of the series' most compelling and wrenching story lines.John Carter (Noah Wylie) is now an intern, but his surgical dreams continue to be thwarted by Dr. Benton (Eriq La Salle), a frustration shared by fellow student Dennis Gant (Omar Epps).Benton also torments former lover Jeanie Boulet (Gloria Reuben), who has tested positive for HIV.Because he has tested negative, he's free to badger her about the risks involved in her treating patients while moving on to his next potential conquest, a sexy waitress named Carla (Lisa Nicole Carson).Mark Greene (Anthony Edwards) continues to be one of the series' focal points, struggling to survive the bureaucracy of management and still feel like a doctor.And now single, he goes on bad dates as does Dr. Lewis (Sherry Stringfield), both ignoring the obvious until a seemingly casual vacation invitation sets a number of uncomfortable wheels turning.

The other focal point is nurse Carol Hathaway (Julianna Margulies), for whom things go from bad to worse. She has serious money problems, her career choice doesn't look so good anymore, and when a patient dies, she finds herself suspended.That sets the stage for one of the series' most memorable episodes, which takes place almost completely outside the hospital.Hathaway goes to the corner drug store, where she meets guest star Ewan McGregor, and things take off from there.She also wisely keeps her distance from former lover Dr. Ross (George Clooney), who may have really done it when he brings into the ER a one-night stand suffering from a seizure and has to admit he doesn't even know her name.

County General survives a closure scare, but instead has to absorb some new additions, including chief of staff Donald Anspaugh (John Aylward), intern Maggie Doyle (Jorjan Fox), and the best pediatric surgeon in Chicago, Abby Keaton (Glenne Headley), who attracts the attention of Benton and Carter for professional and/or personal reasons.But those additions are countered by two emotional goodbyes, and other gritty story lines, including a troubled teen (Kirsten Dunst) and an assault on a doctor, helped make ER's third season often tough to take, but unforgettable.

Special features consist of commentary tracks on two episodes; a 15-minute spotlight on the episode "Fear of Flying" with new interviews with Sherry Stringfield, Noah Wylie, and Glenne Headley; bloopers and outtakes; and a featurette on the ER's nurses with interviews of Yvette Freeman, Abraham Benrubi, Ellen Crawford, and others, but not Julianna Margulies.--David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (15)

New look for the cover art
I am so pleased to see Season Three of what has become one of the most respected and influential television programs.I am also pleased that episodes are released on a one-sided as opposed to two-sided discs.

Here's hoping we will see the DVD release of such popular medical shows as St. Elsewhere, Medical Center, Marcus Welby, M.D., Dr. Kildare, and Ben Casey, without which, there would certainly not have been an ER.

ER Third Season
It's ben a while but ER the complete third season is finally out!The day it came out I went straight from school to the store to pick it up.I went through the season in about three days....and wow...I am counting down the days until season 4. Although it was a great season there are some weak points and even a cast member leaves but I wont spoil it. The six disc set makes it easier to use although you find yourself pulling out a new disc every so often.Overall I give it five stars and with the great price it was worth the wait.....enjoy.

Better Layout
I have seasons One and Two and I think season Three is a better layout overall. I don't mind that Seasons 1 & 2 are double sided discs, what bothered me about them is they are not labled so you wouldn't know which side you are putting into the DVD player. However, season three is nothing like that. It's easier to deal with. Now I cannot wait until season 4 and I hope they keep the same layout and design.

Season 4 coming soon....
For those that are interested, Season 4 will be out in May in the UK. For some reason the UK releases, which were about 3 months behind the US for seasons 1 and 2, are now storming ahead with the next releases. Perhaps you guys in the US are more patient than us??!

If you just CAN'T wait
Seasons 1-8 can be found with some difficulty in Japan. They can be quite expensive! While the DVDs were created for the Japanese market, they can be played with the original English soundtrack if you have a DVD player that will play DVDs for that region (or software which will "liberate" the DVD.)

Don't ask me why they don't release them here first because I just don't know. Surely the demand is here.

The eBay DVDs appear to be knockoffs of the Japanese DVDs with the exception of season 4 -- where the bootleggers seem to have screwed up when they were making the copies. Caveat emptor. ... Read more

Reviews (176)

One, Two, this DVD's for you!
This set provides the essentials, the movies one through seven. However the Encyclopedia disc is simply PACKED with extras. I think there is nearly 2 or 3 hours of extras. With that, any Nightmare lover can see the entity of this movie in so much depth and detail. You'll also find, if you haven't already, that Robert Englund and Wes Craven are "Bloody" genius'. There is a reason why A Nightmare on Elm Street is simply the BEST horror movie franchise in existence, and this collectors box set gives you 8 reasons why. Unlike it's rivals, the Nightmare series travels, it covers so many aspects of the evil inside (without embarassing itself by traveling to space!).
If there is one thing I truly respect about this series is the sequels. Although parts 2-6 were not really scary, they did deliver what would become the quintessence of Freddy. The sarcastic, sometimes hilarious demon anti-hero who you can't help but cheer for. Also, it does something that no other horror movie franchise has. It's final part leaves the viewer just like the first one: terrified. I really feel that New Nightmare was so overrated yet so very well done.

If you love these movies, BUY THIS SET! Well worth the money!

Campy horror at it's best! A terrific DVD set.
The "Nightmare on Elm Street" series was, in my opinion, the only one that justified the number of sequels it had. It is also the most entertaining, original, and frightening of all the 80's "slasher" films. They may be a campy as a row of tents, but they are still among my favorite guilty pleasures.

The first three movies are without a doubt the best, with part 4 being okay, and part 5 being awful. "Freddy's Dead" capped off the series nicely, while "New Nightmare" found a brilliant way of making another movie as a self-parody, rather than a cookie-cutting of the older movies. Many don't consider it to be part of the series, but it defintely is in my opinion. I will always pick Freddy over Jason or Michael Myers for his devious sense of humor. Who can forget the classic line "You've got the body, and I've got the brains". Great line.

Collectors can enjoy a whopping 8 DVDs of Nightmare material, including all 7 films and a bonus DVD filled with behind-the-scenes extras, interviews, and other goodies. I enjoyed the book, but the extra DVD is a real bonus. It made the DVD set more enticing, considering the price tag.

Unlike the Friday the 13th or Halloween movies, which specialized in cookie-cutter sequels and little to no variation, the Nightmare series is the one that is worth owning on DVD. The originality, the chills, and the fun make the series stand out from all the other campy 80's horror series. I can join the rest of the horror movie fans in saying "They don't make em like this anymore".

Great Packaging of the Series
Each DVD in this set has special features and the like. All movies have similair menu formats meaning that they were designed for the set, which makes it consistant and enjoyable. There is even an extra DVD full of special features inclucing, interviews with freddy, music videos, cast and crew, and even Clive Barker himself. There is this cool way to find all sorts of hidden facts and videos in an interactive way. You control you way through a dark maze and solve riddles and unlock doors. Really great set!

Pretty fun fare, these "Nightmares"...
Since I've pretty much covered my thoughts on every 'Nightmare' flick in separate reviews-- and because I'm a lazy reviewer-- I'm just gonna talk about the bonus 'Nightmare Series Encyclopedia' disc that's included with the box set. If ya wanna know what I think about the movies, check out my reviews of 'em on their respective product pages-- they're posted in series order, from June 23 to June 30, 2004.

Anyhoo, here goes:

The Encyclopedia includes 'Prime Time', an hour-long documentary on the making of the first 'Nightmare', featuring musings from director Wes Craven, stars Heather Langenkamp and Robert Englund, and other people involved with the project. A few behind-the-scenes & technical things are shown as well. While I found some of the subjects' thoughts about the movie's significance and inf