Amazon.com

Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) is a super (and super sexy) spy, fighting nefarious villains and working for the good guys--or so she thinks. Recruited as a college freshman for espionage work, Sydney found her true calling with SD-6, a secret division of the CIA. When her hunky doctor-boyfriend proposes to her, she decides to let him in on the truth she's not supposed to tell anyone: she's not a grad student with a demanding job for an international bank, but a secret agent who constantly puts her life on the line for the free world. But when SD-6 discovers her security breach, her fiancé is brutally assassinated, and Sydney suddenly finds herself face-to-face with the truth: she's been working for the bad guys. Deciding to become a double agent for the CIA and bring down the evildoers, Sydney gets one more surprise--her estranged father (Victor Garber) is also working for SD-6, and the CIA as well. Welcome to the family, Syd!

Confusing? This is all just in the first episode of Alias, the brainchild of Felicity creator J.J. Abrams that plays like a cross between Buffy the Vampire Slayer and James Bond. With its double-edged tension (how long can Syd play double agent?) and one heck of a MacGuffin (the dreaded Rambaldi device, the mythic creation of a Renaissance genius), the show leads its viewers from episode to episode with visceral, compelling action, not to mention the nascent romance between Syd and her CIA handler, Vaughn (Michael Vartan), and her clashes with her heretofore distant father. Sharp, smart, and always suspenseful, Alias' center was held by the gorgeous Garner, a stellar action heroine and an even better actress who could pull off Sydney's exotic undercover missions and conflicted emotions with equal dexterity. By the end of this first season, which concludes with a breathtaking cliffhanger, you'll be seduced into Alias' world with, happily, no desire to escape. --Mark Englehart ... Read more

Reviews (257)

An excellent show, with one crippling flaw...
I'm sure a lot of people are surprised that I'm not giving this DVD and show five stars. Don't get me wrong, I love "Alias". The acting is great, the show is really well-shot, the action is heart pounding and there is a twist in every episode. I was extremely excited to buy this DVD. But then I figured something out. Let me clarify.

For starters, let me just say that the packaging of this box set is really great. The carboard box holds three snap cases (like what a normal DVD comes in) each with two discs in it. I prefer this format to the fold out format used in other box sets (like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Friends"). The menu is easy to use. The picture quality is outstanding. The only thing I disliked about the DVD itself is the fact that each episode begins with the background information about Sydney and the "Previously on Alias" section. I got really sick of both of these.

Now, for the reason I took away a star. It has to do with "Alias" as a show. I've already told you that I really love this show. We all like how the plot is continuous and important twists are revealed in every episode. But that's sort of a problem. The episodes are so laced into the overall series arc (backstory, missions, Sydney as a double agent) that no single episode is better than any other. They're all good, but none are excellent. No individual episode is a classic. My three favorite shows- "Buffy", "Angel", and "Friends"- all have individual episodes that you can go back and watch as a stand alone. "Alias" doesn't have this. After you watch the whole season, you won't be going back and saying "I'm in the mood to watch ENTER A SPECIFIC EPISODE HERE". You sort of have to watch the whole season to keep up the effect of the action in each episode. They are completely reliant on each other.

Still, this is a great show and you should buy it, by all means. I just wanted to voice my opinion.

Alias
Alias is the best show EVER!!! It's all about Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) and how she is a double agent for the CIA working under cover at SD-6, an evil corperation dealing with weapon sales and inteligence posing as the CIA. SD-6 director Arvin Slone (Ron Riffcin) is a part of much larger corperation called the aliance. Sydeny's father, Jack Bristow (Victor Garber) who she was never that close to, also works as an under cover agent. She joined the CIA after SD-6 murdered her fiance. Sydney's hot CIA handler Michel Vaughn (Michel Vartan) watches out for her and is secretly in love with her (I Think). Sydney tries to live a normal life and hang out with her friends Francie and nosey reporter Will Tippen, but it's hard.
Near the end of last season you learn Sydney's Mom (Lenna Olin), presumed dead after a car crash 20 yrs. ago,is a secret agent for the bad guys. Also, you learn that she killed Vaughn's dad!!! Meanwhile Will is investigating her fiance's death and learns about SD-6. In the season ender, Will is captured by the organisation Sydney's mom runs and Sydney, Jack, and Vaughn try to go and rescue Will. While Jack gets Will, Sydney and Vaughn go inside the building to destroy a device called the Circumference. Along the way Sydney and Vaughn split up. The device is filled with water so when Sydney destroys it, it floods the building. As she runs for her life through the hall ways of the building with water gushing behind , Vaughn shows up. Now they are both running Vaughn barely behind Sydney. The only door out is automatically closing, Sydney slips through but Vaughn isn't that lucky. And that's how it ends!!! Watch Alias Sunday's at 9 to find out if he lived.
Alias is adicting with fast paced music,a great plot, and Vaughn!!!

Everything that entertains
The first season of Alias was the best season of any drama in television history. Packed with adventure and plot twists it has enough action to keep you on your seat. But what really makes it great is the integrating of Sydney's personal life with her secret double life. Each episode is filled with enough entertainment value and suspense to have you look forward to the next, and with 22 episodes they earn the value of your dollar.

HOW CAN PEOPLE WATCH THIS S***
OKAY I LOVED DARK ANGEL AND BUFFY WAS ALRIGHT BUT I HATE ALL THESE DRAMA GIRLS KICK ASS SHOWS. THEY'RE SO ALIKE AND BORING. CAN'T WE EVER GET GOOD TELEVISION. AND LIKE SHE WOULD BE HITTING ON SOMEONE AFTER HER HUSBAND DIED. IT IS A USELESS SERIES WITH USELESS GRAPHICS AND ACTING. I COULDN'T EVEN WATCH THE WHOLE SERIES, IT WAS SO BAD. I ENDED UP SELLING THE COLLECTION TO MY FRIEND FOR 15 EURO AFTER BUYING IT FOR 150 EURO. WHAT A RIP OFF. BETTER OFF WITH DARK ANGEL ANYDAY

I'M A NEW FAN!
Just got this DVD set. I had never watched the show on TV, but it always looked good. I watched the first 2 episodes, and now I can't stop watching the rest of the season! I have seen 8 episodes already in 2 days. I cant wait to finish this season and get Season 2 and 3. ... Read more

Reviews (81)

Toy Story
1995's "Toy Story" was the first feature length film generated entirely by computers, and Pixar's first dive into theatrical films. The movie opens as young Andy turns 7. The undisputed leader of Andy's toys, a 50's cowboy doll named Woody (Tom Hanks), finds himself challenged by the new toy on the block, "space ranger" Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen). When Woody's plan to get rid of Buzz backfires, the two find themselves lost in the suburbs. Woody and Buzz relize they have to work together to get back to Andy's, and they eventually become the best of friends. The humor and animation is terrific, and a great start for Pixar. This lead to several other successes, such as A Bug's Life and Finding Nemo.

Now on to "the vaults". Disney is trying to squeeze every last penny out of the cash cow, and have the two Toy Story films under lock and key, no doubt so they can sell millions of "Special Editions" in five years. Once again, Disney appalls me with their unmatched corperate greed. In conclusion, Toy Story is an excellent film and a true must-see.

The Secret Lives of Toys Revealed
"Toy Story" is a modern fairy tale created with appropriately modern computer animation. Its snappy dialougue will appeal to adult viewers, the spectacle of fantastic toys coming to life will appeal to children, and adults may wax nostalgic about the toys they enjoyed as children, several of which are featured in this movie.
The story revolves around a cowboy doll named Woody, and his imminent replacement as the favorite toy of his owner, Andy, by Andy's new Buzz Lightyear doll, a multigadgeted gift that Andy receives for his birthday.
Tom Hanks'personality shines through in the persona of Woody, and Tim Allen's voice lends the right amount of charisma to Buzz.
In the process of forming an eventual friendship, the characters go through a lot of antagonism and a lot of other real human emotions. As they prepare for life in a new home, they are imperiled by the sadistic kid next door named Sid, into whose clutches they fall by accident.
It's entertaining to watch the toys interact with each other.
Buzz gradually learns that he is simply a child's plaything and not the noble space crusader he fancied himself to be in the beginning, and Woody learns to share his special place in Andy's heart. A great supporting cast including Annie Potts as Woody's sweetheart, Bo Peep, Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head, Jim Varney as Slinky, Wallace Shawn as Rex, John Ratzenburger as Ham, and Laurie Metcalfe as Andy's mother help fuel this tale.
Seeing this innovative film made me want to buy dolls of Woody and Buzz as collector's items. But I am content with just a copy of this movie. The second installment of the "Toy Story" saga is an enhancement of the first one, and just like the first, nothing short of delightful.

Original and fun for the whole family!
This movie took me by storm when I saw it back in the summer of 1995 at the theatres and let me tell you, this movie is still one of the best computer animated movies of all time. In fact this movie shattered new grounds back in 1995 by not using drawing cel animation and instead this movie is the first of an unbroken chain of computer generated animated movies that has continued to date with "Finding Nemo".

The plot is absolutely joyful and stunningly original. The story revolves around the quiet family home of a quiet town where a boy owns numerous toys with his toddler sister. The toys however, are almost like beings of their own and are 'living' as well but stop 'moving' when the boy comes back into his room. However, a cowboy named Tim is the most popular 'toy' in the boys bedroom and is kept by the pillow almost every night until on his birthday, he gets a fancy astronaut toy named Buzz Lightyear who has many 'gizmos' and in time takes over the toy cowboys place as the most popular toy and Tim gets enormously jealous of this. However, after a botched attempt to remove Buzz, the cowboy himself along with Buzz end up in the hands of a punk teenager who takes joy in blowing up toys with firecrackers and or other means like burning, breaking, or smashing them and/or even taking them apart and re-assembling their parts to create 'mutant' toys and now the clock is ticking for Tim and Buzz to escape from the boys house before they end up being blown to molecules.

This movie is absolutely fun and original even by 1995 standards. The computer generated special effects are innovative and unbelievable especially considereing the fact that this movie came out nearly a whole decade ago. The whole tone of the movie is just fun and charming and is for the entire family. Not only that but this was what put the then newcomers Pixas right into the front seat of movie animation and would be the start of an unbroken streak of excellent movies from this dynamite team.

Computer animation wow. 16th april 2004.
The toys are great, the graphics and scenery is too. The collectables are boys mostly but the film is ace for anyone. The 3D toys look real, the colors are excellent[like finding nemo]. The talking toys are all friends, and they live with their owner andy.

Hit Me With Another One!
Give me another Toy Story and while your at it lets go for a 5th. Wow lets see...Tom Hanks and Tim Alan...Pixar and Disney...Go get it or miss out! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Return to the Big Island for more adventure with Tom Selleck’scharmingly roguish detective hero, Thomas Magnum, courtesy of thisthree-disc set, which compiles the entire second season (1981-1982) ofMagnum, P.I..The 22 episodes included here (among them thetwo-part "Memories Are Forever") crystallize the key to the series’success: an appealing blend of action, drama, mystery, and comedy,cemented by Selleck and his likable castmates, especially JohnHillerman, who would earn a Golden Globe for his work on Magnumin ’82.Highlights of the season include Magnum’s attempt to stop aninternational assassin ("The Jororo Kill," with Tyne Daly), the arrivalof Hemingway-esque author Mad Buck Gibson (Darren McGavin) in theepisode of the same name, and the aforementioned two-parter, whichreunites Magnum with a woman he thought to have died after marrying herwhile serving in Vietnam. The usual array of classy guest stars arealso on hand for this season; in addition to the aforementioned actors,there are turns by Mimi Rogers, Vic Morrow, Vera Miles, Jill St. John,and Elisha Cook Jr. (who plays a much different character than hisrecurring role as "Ice Pick" in future seasons). And Magnumobsessives should note early appearances by Gillian Dobb, who playedAgatha Chumley in numerous subsequent episodes, as well as one ofHiggins’s colorful, estranged half-brothers in "The Elmo Ziller Story." It’s unfortunate that the set itself doesn’t match the quality of theEpisodes--extras are limited to second-season episodes from KnightRider and The A-Team--but Magnum fans should bepleased to have all the episodes in a single set, and best of all,commercial-free. --Paul Gaita ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Thee best show, disappointing DVD set up
Again, I have to say this is my favorite show of all time . . . I was just hoping to see some extras.You can't beat bloopers.If you don't have bloopers, have some interviews or something.Knight Rider?Blah!I smile every single time I hear the theme at the beginning . . . and I watch the intro on every episode.There will never be another Higgins.

Higgy-Baby!!!
The best duo on TV in the 1980's (and since) was Selleck and Hillerman. How could a show go wrong with those two? The funniest part of this show was when Selleck would look into the camera whenever something crazy or ironic would occur. About the lack of extras: get over it. At least they fixed the annoying problem of getting the discs out of their holders. It costs money to compilate interviews, bloopers, and photos, and Universal isn't willing to spend the money. Cest la Vie.

I know what you're thinking...
I know what you're thinking ... but Magnum P.I. has held up really well over the years, and it's SO much better without all the commercials. I almost feel a guilty rush watching as one scene segues right into the next! Basically, Magnum has never looked better.

The core charaters - Magnum, Higgins, Rick and T.C. - had a real chemistry, and you could watch the show just for their banter and friendships. The guest star performances haven't aged as gracefully, maybe because the characters only have 45-48 minutes to develop, and the plots are only as sophisticated as that time allows.

But, every time I watch an episode, it's like a trip back to Hawaii in 1981. It all works together. The depth of the main characters, and the writing, is several notches better than anything else I remember on television, and the setting has its own charm. The Ferrari still looks great, and the Robin Masters estate is timeless. I don't think I would willingly watch any of the other shows of that era now, but now I realize what solid actors Selleck and John Hillerman were/are.

Highly recommended - and the packaging for Season Two is a lot better than Season One (Those discs are hard to remove and the plastic retaining pieces broke right away - the separate plastic cases for Season Two are really the way it should be done).

And if you want to see how bad everything else was, check out the Simon and Simon episode in Season One and the A-Team episode here.

Who Needs EXTRAS?
When I Buy A Dvd Set It Is For ONE Reason...The Show!!! I Have Watched & Enjoyed This Set!!! Tom & Co. Are Terrific, Everything About The Show Was Wonderful!!! I Don't Need Photos Or Interviews....I Need The Rest Of The Seasons!!! As For The Cases I Like Them...I Don't Mind The Double Sided DVDs Too Much...But Would Rather Have Five Or Six Disc Sets Over Double Sided!!! Lets Get On With Season Three!!!!

Very Dissapointed
Okay, I'm going to give you the real dirt on this one.I have never ever reviewed a DVD set on Amazon, but felt that someone needed to print a honest review about this set and not the series itself.I think I speak for most diehard magnum fans, when I say that I had the entire series on VHS tapes for many years before this series even came out on DVD.After season one came out, I threw away all my tapes so that I could watch the series in all it's DVD glory! I was hoping for tons of extras, behind the scenes, and photo's, interviews...whatever!!!!After watching season one and anxiously waiting for season two, I reluctantly went out and bought it after reading it's dustjacket.I went home and opened it,read it, and watched it and found it very lacking. I just wish someone would write about whats in the DVD package other than the TV series itself for a change. Okay, first of all, this series was on top of the Nielson ratings for years.It has a huge following here in the U.S. as well as the rest of the world.It is still being played on cable, and many parts of the world.It played for 8 years and there must be tons of things that they could have put into this dvd package.Let me say that the extras that you get in this dvd set are, an episode of the A-Team and an episode from KnightRider....two shows that I hate!If I had wanted to watch either one of these two lame shows, I would have gone out and bought them on dvd.I did not want them but I'm stuck with em..never even watched em. There are ABSOLUTELY NO OTHER EXTRAS in this set.At least season one had a couple of extra episodes that I could enjoy.No pictures, no interviews, no "making of"....NO NOTHING!Second, the DVD's are on back to back dvd's, meaning you have to go and flip the darn dvd over to watch the other episodes in the season (yeah, minor point cuz you would have to get up anyway, but it looks cheap)...what's up with that?With the cost of dvds so low now, they couldn't even make each section have it's own dvd? There isn't even any design on the dvds themselves, it's only a plain silver dvd.Third, the dvd's are boxed in a separate dvd case for each section.(at least the first season has a foldout pictured case)..for a total of 3 dvd's, back to back.The plastic cases look like the ones you see at walmart, housing the $1.00 dvd movies...THIS SET LOOKS AND FEELS SOOO CHEAP!!!I don't know, maybe it's me, but I really expected more from this set. If I'm going to drop $40.00 on this set, then why couldn't they have put in some extras and stuff.Okay there you have it, this set sucks.I wish I hadn't had thrown away my VHS tapes.I have been loyal and bought this set cuz I love the series so much, but am REALLY THINKING ABOUT NOT BUYING THE THIRD INSTALLMENT.If anyone that matters is reading this, please take it to heart and make some changes...you have GOT TO HAVE ACCESS TO EXTRAS FOR THIS SERIES, it was on the top for so many years.I feel that it is doing this series a great disservice, and I feel that it's tainting the reputation of MAGNUM P.I. after all, I can't believe that Tom Selleck or anyone at Universal would have given approval for this DVD set.My low rating is not for the show, after all I've seen every episode at least 20 times, but for what this is, a DVD set. Most people buy DVD sets for the extras, but buyer beware on this one, you may consider sticking to your VHS tapes. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

I hope it gets the star treatment
I hope that the studio gives these films the treatment that they deserve. I grew up watching these great film noir classics and I was excited when they released "The Thin Man" on DVD a few years back but I really wanted to have the complete set.It would be great if they have loads of extras but I will still be happy with the films themselves. I am going to go out on a limb and give it five stars just because I am hoping for a crisp transfer that will allow me to enjoy some pictures that I have not seen in several years.

Classic Comedy Gold Mine on DVD
FINALLY!! One of the Premiere classic comedy series of films is finally making its way to DVD from Warner Brothers. Warner Brothers DVD sets have been an embarressment of riches lately and one hopes that this Powell-Loy series will have the full treatment it richly deserves. Powell and Loy's Nick and Nora Charles are one of the silver screens most memorable duos and these films stand up to repeated viewing. I cut my classic film buff teeth on these films and have worn out all VHS copies. Wow, first the Marx Brothers see two wonderful box sets and now this. Can Laurel and Hardy be far behind in a quality set?)
Now - here is some details about features I was able to gather from various web sources:
1. Each film DVD case features the studio film poster
2. There are 7 DVDs in all- 6 for the films and a bonus 7th disc entitled "Alias Nick and Nora" which features two documentaries on William Powell and Myrna Loy.
3. It appears that the "Warners Night at the Movies" feature is here also. All film DVDs feature comedy, musical, and mystery shorts as well as classic cartoons. Could not find out titles.
4. Other features are to include: two radio adaptations of the series. I own a Lux theather radio adaptation of "The Thin Man" which had not only Powell and Loy reprising their rolls but features some narration and introdution by Van Dyke. Lux theater adaptations were common and excellent productions. To have both the main stars and the director was a first rate show. ALSO: the pilot episode of the TV series.
IN short- if the informaton is correct this is a DVD set that should be on the shelf of every film buff... and another triumph in the recent exellent DVDs from Warner Brothers. BUY IT NOW!All I can say is the Classic film buffs motto:
"Thank Goodness for Turner Classic Movies and thank goodness for Warner Brothers DVDs"

Wow! this is a great series..finally in a dvd set! Bravo!!
I am so happy that warner decided to release this dvd box set..I suppose writing to them to release a boxed set pays off! Now the dreaded wait for the release begins =)

Thank you Warner Bros.!!!! The Thin Man has arrived!!!
Finally, the excellent Thin Man series is coming in a definitive set!!! I have been waiting for this release for a very long time. William Powell and Myrna Loy are absolutely fantastic in these films and in my opinion, are one of the greatest of the onscreen duos (right up at the very top with Hepburn and Tracy). Their chemistry together is pitch perfect and these films are a delight to behold. The best, I think, is the second entry in the series: After The Thin Man. This is an excellent sequel and probably the best of all of them (though each is great in its own right).
Well, enough said, order this great box set right now and treasure these classic films for years to come!!
(Also, Thank you to Warner Brothers for realizing the importance of releasing classic films on DVD. You're doing a great job with your releases and are catching up to Criterion quite quickly).

"Baby, You've Arrived!"
The most delightful series in the history of film is finally coming to DVD with all six sparkling diamonds included. Since the quality of the VHS version of all six films is crisp and quite excellent, so will the DVD follow suit. Most film buffs already own these films and certainly have seen them many times, but the anticipation of having them all on one collection, and on DVD as well, has been almost palpable. Sugar is sweet, but this is sweeter.

It is impossible to tabulate how many millions of people have been entertained by these witty and sophisticated mysteries. The huge success of The Thin Man, the origional 1934 film based on Dashiell Hammett's fine novel of the same name, prompted MGM to break new ground by producing an "A" picture sequeal, and follow that with four more "A" pictures featuring William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles.

The origional film introduced the sophisticated and fun couple we all have come to love over the years. The Thin Man was set over the Christmas holiday and was the first time audiences got to enjoy the banter of Nick and Nora, as ex-detective Nick was pushed into action, martini in hand, by his better half. Nora had the money and Nick had the know-how. Clyde Wynant, portrayed by Edward Ellis, as nearly everyone knows, was actually Thee thin man. But the tag stuck to Nick Charles and the rest is, as they say, screen history. A very pretty Maureen O'Sullivan was a standout in the origional film as the young Dorothy Wynant.

What delighted audiences, however, was the playful fun between Nick and Nora as they solved the mystery. Nothing in the movies has even come close to being this wonderful in the seventy plus years that have followed. When Powell and Loy returned as Nick and Nora a couple of years later, the magic that had surrounded the origional was still there, where it would remain through the last entry in this brilliant and ground breaking series of films.

After the Thin Man was nearly as much fun as the origional, as Nick and Nora, to Nora's delight and Nick's dismay, became involved in another mystery set immediately following their adventures in the origional. All the fun was still there as was the mystery. Nora told reporters in the film: "Nick was sober in Kansas City!" Their dog Asta was back again as well, and became a houshold name. A young Jimmy Stewart got to star in this one also.

While the first two films have been widely available, some of the others are more difficult to find and those who have not been fortunate enough to see them will have that rectified now. They were quite teriffic indeed, beginning with-------

ANOTHER THIN MAN

Dashiell Hammet's Nick and Nora were once again perfectly portrayed by William Powell and Myrna Loy, and this third entry, like the other two, is a breezy and fun comedy mystery done with style, class and top drawer production values from MGM at it's zenith.

In this one, little Nicky Jr. is a year old and proud parents Nick and Nora are having a ball. Nick is trying to get out of going to Long Island because Colonel McFay (C. Aubrey Smith) only wants him to go over financial reports and other mundane matters that might interfere with Nick's drinking. But there is also a threat on the Colonel's life and Nora wants a quiet weekend in the country, so off they go. It turns out anything but quiet, of course, and Nick has to solve another murder.

A sharp and clever script with snappy dialog keep this one moving along nicely. Pretty Virginia Grey is the Colonel's daughter Lois and Ruth Hussey plays little Nicky's nurse, Dorothy. Lois wants to marry Dudley Horn (Patrick Knowles), much to the chagrin of the Colonel and his secratery, Freddie (Tom Neal), who is in love with the lovely Lois as well. It seems some of the Colonel's business dealings have been just a little on the shady side since the death of Nora's father, his business partner. Phil Church (Sheldon Leonard) may have been on the wrong end of one of these shady deals and with all this going on you can guess what happens next.

The interplay between Nick and Nora about their quiet little weekend is a lot of fun. A body in the road and a pool house fire get things moving quickly in this light and breezy entry in the series. Nat Pendelton is along as Lt. Guild this time and Marjorie Main has a nice turn as a very funny landlady. Muriel Hutchison also has a nice role as Church's girlfriend, Smitty, in a mystery a little more complicated than you might think.

This time the gathering of suspects, including Don Costello as Diamond Back Vogel, takes place at a bithday party for Nicky Jr. thrown by Nick's old pals. Shemp Howard has a funny role as Whacky, as does Harry Bellaver as Creeps. Otto Kruger is on hand as A.D.A. Van Slack when Nick suprises everyone with the killer's identity.

One of the highlights in a film with many fine moments is a scene at The West Indies Club. Nora learns a little more about Nick's past there than he would like! This is a fun film to watch, and there is a magic here which can never be duplicated. This is five star entertainment you don't want to miss.


The series continued with------

SHADOW OF THE THIN MAN

The most fun and sophisticated series in the history of film continued with Maj. W.S. Van Dyke's 1941 entry, Shadow of the Thin Man. William Powell was back, of course, as Dashiell Hammett's greatest creation, Nick Charles. Myrna Loy was back as his better half, and needless to say a shaker of martinis and a lot of witty banter was sure to follow as Nick and Nora got involved in yet another murder mystery. Nora has a new du in this one and is cuter than she's ever been. Nick is busy in the park reading a fairy tale to Nicky Jr. which sounds suspiciously like a racing form, and it isn't long before Nick and "Mummy" are off to the track.

A jockey has just been murdered by the time they arrive with a police escort and it appears to be tied in with a gambling syndicate. Nick does his best to avoid getting roped into real work but when another murder occurs at a wrestling match and a reporter who's an acquaintance of theirs is fingered for the job, Nick sort of saunters into action. A third murder occurs before Nick can get it all sorted out and when Nora gets one of the clues first, a trap is set for the killer. Nora is adorable and she ends up "saving" Nick's life once the denouement scene rolls around.

An attractive cast of MGM players which includes a funny turn by Louise Beavers as the Charles' maid and a very young and pretty Donna Reed as the girlfriend of the accused, make this one easy to watch. Nick gathers the suspects all together as usual, and it's quite a suprise when he fingers the real killer. A gun hidden in a drain pipe, an expensive bracelet used as payment for blackmail and a ledger worth killing for all play a part in the mystery portion of this one.

But the Thin Man films were always about how much fun the audience could have watching Nick and Nora interact as she pushed Nick into action, drink in hand. There is a very funny scene where Nick is shamed by little Nick into drinking a glass of--gulp--milk! Both Nick and Asta get dizzy on a carousel and Asta starts a brawl in a restaurant as this entry moves along at a nice pace. And I'd be remiss not to mention a turtle race on a bar counter which adds to the fun.

This entry is a fun breath of fresh air. A great one to own and watch over and over now that it will be on DVD.


Sanwiched between Shadow of the Thin Man and Song of the Thin Man was-----

THE THIN MAN GOES HOME.

While still keeping the fun and wit of the other films, this entry has its critics. I am not one of them. Nick goes home to Sycamore Springs and has eased up a bit on his social activities (getting tight) and Nora seems more the traditional wife. This is normal and in keeping with the story of a wife visiting her in-laws. This one was still a lot of fun and taking issue with such minor nuances is unfair to the film. It was five star entertainment that while a tick below the others, was stillfar above anything else. I'm sure this entry is the favorite of someone and it definitely is worth owning so the collection will be complete.


The final entry was------

SONG OF THE THIN MAN


Starting with "The Thin Man," William Powell and Myrna Loy were Nick and Nora Charles, Dashiell Hammett's greatest creation. This series stood apart from others in that it was a class "A" production all the way, MGM giving these wildly popular films their best contract players and their finest behind the scenes people to create something unparalleled in American film history.

The origional "The Thin Man" was a masterpiece of light and witty comedy mystery that has never been equaled. For that reason it is unfair to compare the five films that followed with the first one, and once that is set aside, each of the five was charming, witty and classy, the perfect way to solve a mystery and be entertained at the same time. This was the last entry and was just teriffic, as "The Thin Man" went out in style.

Manhattan meets the hip jazz scene in this one as Nick and Nora are involved in solving another delicious murder, with nice touches from Nicky Jr. and, of course, their dog Asta. It begins when Nick and Nora have a night out on the gambling ship "S. S. Fortune."

The film opens with a young and stunningly beautiful Gloria Grahame singing "Your Not That Easy to Forget" and only gets better. As Nick and Nora rub shoulders with the elite and a few of Nicky's old pals a chain of events leads to murder, discovered the next morning when the chief suspect stops by with his fiance to ask for Nick's help. Nick turns him over to the cops for his own safety when he is shot at but the deal is sealed when the bullet hits a bottle Nick had been saving for a special occasion, and as he puts it, "An old friend of mine went completely to pieces."

There are no shortage of suspects as Nick and Nora start nosing around, aided by a young Keenan Wynn as one of the hip band members. It's very funny as Nora begins to pick up the lingo of Wynn and his jazz friends, who seem to have a language of their own. The victim seemingly had no end of enemies. He was deep in debt to a dangerous gambler, had been cheating on his girlfriend, was running out on a contract to play at the "S. S. Fortune" for greener pastures, had publicly humiliated Grahame's former boyfriend Buddy Hollis (Don Taylor), and more.

Before it's over, Nick and Nora will walk in on another murder, and Nick will stage a suprise back on the waters, gathering all the suspects back on the swanky "S. S. Fortune" to trick a killer. Patricia Morison, Jayne Meadows, Dean Stockwell, Ralph Morgan, William Bishop and Marie Windsor all offer fine support to make this closing chapter one of their best. Some nice family moments (Nick and Nora style) with Asta and Nicky Jr. are put in the mix as well, Nicky Jr. seemingly a chip of the old block.

The same carefree and fun loving ambiance that was a staple of every entry is here and a good atmospheric mystery to boot. There is nothing shabby about "Song of the Thin Man." It is a bar that many have attempted to reach when making a light comedy mystery but these films have endured because of their wit, fun and charm. Nothing has ever come close to them and you won't want to miss this one, or any of the others.


IN SUMMATION----


There are only a handful of screen couples who quite deservedly rivaled William Powell and Myrna Loy in the hearts of moviegoers. But Fred and Ginger, Bogie and Bacall, Ladd and Lake, and Gable and Harlow all portrayed different characters from film to film. This places Powell and Loy in a separate category, all by themselves. Perhaps that's the way it should be.

Everyone will want in on the fun early so I suggest pre-ordering this wonderful Thin Man collection if possible, or at least placing it on your wish list to purchase the second it becomes available. The term "must have" was created for releases like this one..... ... Read more

Reviews (663)

Watch Out For That Wascally Wabbit...
Donnie Darko has quickly become one of my all time favorite movies. How can I describe it? It is strange, dark (of course), cool, mysterious, enigmatic, scary, funny, serious, sarcastic, bleak yet hopeful, mystical, and even charming. Jake Gyllenhaal is Donnie, who is absolutely believable no matter what he says or does. Time travel? No problem! A seven-foot rabbit named Frank who predicts the end of the world in 28 days? No problem! Donnie's earnestness is mesmerizing. The rest of the cast is an incredible ensemble of big stars in small, crucial roles. Drew Barrymore (E.T., The Wedding Singer, Charlies Angels) plays the only teacher in Donnie's school who seems to realize that what's being passed off as an "education" is actually a long, dull course in mind-numbing mediocrity (hmmm... sounds like my highschool). Noah Wyle (ER) is the science teacher who has wild theoretical conversations with Donnie about time travel, then cuts him off competely when Donnie asks if God might be involved. Donnie's mom is played by Mary McDonnell (Dances With Wolves, Grand Canyon). She loves him while being frustrated and afraid of his condition. Katharine Ross (The Graduate, The Stepford Wives) is Donnie's psychiatist, trying to probe his mind and help him. Patrick Swayze (Dirty Dancing) plays Jim Cunningham, tele-guru and local self-help author, who is exposed by Donnie (and Frank) for who / what he REALLY is. Jena Malone is Donnie's new girlfriend Gretchen. She's got problems enough of her own. Together, this cast of characters orbits perfectly around Donnie's dark center of gravity. Do not expect the typical hollywood bucket of swill here! Donnie Darko took actual thought to create. It's style and story are unique. I had never even heard of it due to a less than half-hearted ad campaign (I'm a TV addict, yet saw not one DD commercial). I just happened to see the DVD on the shelf and took a chance. You should too...

Gyllenhaal is outstanding in this haunting film
How to describe "Donnie Darko," the dark psychological drama written and directed by Richard Kelly? After seeing it I thought of the film as a sort of "Ordinary People" meets "Being John Malkovich," with a touch of "Pi" and "American Beauty" thrown in. But ultimately that equation is unfair; "Donnie" is, in the end, a true original.

The film takes place in 1988. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as the title character: a troubled, sleepwalking teenager who has recurring, frightening visions. Donnie is a quest to understand the forces that are affecting his life and sanity.

Gyllenhaal's outstanding performance helps to hold the film together. He is a quirky, offbeat leading man; at times frightening, at times appealingly vulnerable. Gyllenhaal's work is superbly complemented by that of an eclectic ensemble cast which includes Katharine Ross, Drew Barrymore, and Noah Wyle. I was particularly impressed by Patrick Swayze's turn as a creepy, oily motivational speaker.

"Donnie" defies genre classification. It blends together elements of serious family drama, 80s period piece, horror, satire, and science fiction. In a sense, it is a deconstruction of the whole 80s teen movie genre. The script makes intriguing use of 80s pop culture.

"Donnie" has scenes of weirdness and absurdity, and is often punctuated by bizarre dialogue and strange, frightening imagery. And there are some really moving scenes that tap into the universal experience of human loneliness and the need for love. If there was ever a movie that had all the elements to make it a cult classic, it's the haunting "Donnie Darko."

Undoubted young talent produces pretentious film-making
I have high hopes for Richard Kelly as his talent, ideas, motivation, enthusiasm and everything you need for a good career in directing is evident in this movie.

Sadly, this time around, its a painful experience for the viewer, unless you are so into puzzles, sci-fi, symbolism and finding out what a movie means AFTER watching it that you can forgive what is, after all, really poor storytelling.

Hint - A really good movie doesn't need multiple websites stacked with backstory and explanations.

And, as usual, its all the fault of the script, which isn't a film script at all. Its a / Philosophy/ Religiousy / Science Fictiony puzzle (although I left out a few things there). This puzzle unfolds as a series of vignettes masquerading as scenes, related by Kelly's 'themes' but little else.

The majority of the characters are little more than pawns whose job is just to move the puzzle plot on... nice..... and.......... slowly (with the odd music montage and cute-dialogue sketch thrown in, as if they were ad breaks).

The main character was ok and most of the actors did well with what little they had to work with, but the MAJORITY of them should have been cut from the finished film, they are so redundant.

There is no drive in the film and little sense of progression. We know loosely what the main character is ultimately facing, but never immediately so there is never any sense of anticipation, suspense, hope or fear for the viewer. We are simply passed more information and explanations to debate and question later with our fellow sci-fi-symbol buffs.

I'm not saying you sit there waiting for things to happen because things do happen (to be fair some of the "scenes" are entertaining in their own way). But you do sit there waiting for a STORY to develop so you can start experiencing something (which is what we pay our money for, isn't it?).

But there is no drama, no connection and NO STORY.

All you get is a cool song and a plot twist (explained). Some people are happy with that I guess

Lagomorph Odyssey
The young Richard Kelly, director of this film, graduated from USC Film School in 1997. This was his first feature film. He has spun a dark multi-layered vision, part dramatic comedy, part science fiction, part fantasy and allegory. The movie almost needs to be classified as three genres stirred gently. He set the world of the film as autumn 1988. It is, in part, a story of adolescent teenae angst, the familiar turf of a John Hughes project, but actually it is more like John Hughes meets David Lynch meets Steven Spielberg. Kelly has put several interesting twists into the high school yarn. It is like a hip FERRIS BEULLER'S DAY OFF.

Jake Gyllenhaal, from MIDNIGHT MILE & OCTOBER SKY, played Donnie Darko brilliantly. He was a young man smarter than his teachers, his parents, and his friends. An intrepid curious lad who could ask those questions very few wanted to answer. He is a kid who is being treated for mental illness, even though he may not have been clincially ill. He was outspoken, outrageous, and socially boorish...like most smart teenagers. Roger Ebert wrote," Donnie is appealingly smart yet sarcastic, more quixotic than eccentric, more curious than frightened.

The film's prologue is bang on target. A bright sunrise on dark foothills, suddenly interrupted in the frame by the insertion of the black silhousette of a young man's head. Donnie Darko, there on the hard ground near his bicycle, far from home. After he cycles home, his arrival is treated as familiar behavior; sleep sojourns, adventurous forays into the darkness. That very next night, we witness him roused from his slumber by someone calling his name. He slips outside and we meet the presence that has beckoned him...a medium longshot of someone in a rabbit suit...someone named Frank. But this rabbit, tall as HARVEY, is not a benign companion. Its face is twisted into a demonic death mask. With Darko away from the house, we see an accident happening. Something has fallen out of the night sky, and crashed directly into Donnie's bedroom; a 707 jet engine. If he had been there when the engine came acallin', he would have died instantly. Frank sends Donnie off to do devilish chores; flooding the school, and burning down a house.

Nothin is linear or logical in Darko's dreamlike world. His parents are too understanding. His new girlfriend, Jena Malone, is really too easy to get to know. Physical laws, like an axe being buried in a bronze statue, are tweaked and violated. The film can only approach some level of cohesiveness if one is able to conjure up a premise, a through line. For me, most of the characters presented are probably actually a part of Donnie's
"real" life, but as they were mostly presented in the bulk of the narrative, they were peopling his "dream" life. One possible explication for the whiplash lunges from drama to comedy to satire to science fiction and fantasy, was that most of the film's narrative occurred from the time Donnie was awakened in his bed, either by Frank's voice, or the faint sound of the 707 engine whistling and plummeting down toward his bedroom. Time was compressed, like in THE INCIDENT AT OWL CREEK BRIDGE on the Twilight Zone, a sort of Alice through the Looking Glass dream squeezed into those precious elongated seconds.

This film poses more questions than it offers answers for. There are theories that we, as spiritual entities, can sustain more than one version of our "Self" in parallel dimensions similtaneously. Somehow, it seemed that Donnie called on one of his alternate selves to swing through those last few brief moments, those seconds that stretched out into 30 days. Perhaps time is relative, and does not exist on the other side. I think this movie requires several viewings to begin to be fully appreciated. It is an original vision, bizarre yet strangely familiar, and immediate with it's punch to the emotional gut. It is eccentric, yet appealing.

AMAZING
i didn't know a movie could change your life, 'till i saw donnie darko. this movie is stunning, it grabs you, i highly reccommend it. unbelievable soundtrack too, gary jules, joy division, echo in the bunnymen, 5 stars. see it. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Amazing Series
Nip/Tuck season two is a continuation on the first season of one of the most compelling serieses on TV, and is just as good.The best show on TV.

They are who we want to be, with flaws.Buy It!!
The plot turns are amazing.You fall in love with the characters and it feels like you have a stake in the decisions they make.Each episode leaves you wanting more.They can't make them fast enough.I got hooked while in serving in Abu Ghriab prison.My wife in Germany sent me season one.Four of us sat in our cell around a TV and my playstation 2 to play the movie, mortars were exploding just outside our sector and we were hoping that they wouldn't hit the generator so power would stay up and we could finish the episode.The mixture of graphic surgery, sex, relationships and amazing plot twists keep you hooked.You feel it.This is the most amazing series I have ever watched!! Buy it!!

At last my addiction has come to my collection
If you like edge of the seat drama once you begin viewing the first cd of season one its so addictive you won't want to stop to watch. The best series in my book, from 1 to 10 it's a 10+.

Best TV Around
Over the last 5 years TV has become a wasteland of rubbish shows leaving people wondering weather it is even worth watching TV anymore but there is some shows that give us light at the end of the tunnel and Nip Tuck is one of those shows. From amazing storylines to one of the best cast in any TV show. The show is based around the two doctors Dr Sean McNamara (Dylan Walsh) and Dr Christian Troy(Julian McMahon) who acting skills have been shown throughout the 2 series to be superb. Also staring Joely Richardson as Sean's wife Julia McNamara. Also great performances from John Hensley (Matt McNamara) and Kelly Carlson (Kimber Henry). Series 2 is full of shocks and heartbreaking moments and a cliff-hanger to end it all. It is compulsive viewing. In series 2 the secret of Matt's pertinently is revealed which has a big affect on Sean, Christian and Julia. There is a custody battle for Christian and Sean has to face life at 40. Matt meets and begins an affair with Ava (Jamie Frankision) the life coach that Sean met and employed for his wife. On top of that there is 'The Carver' on the loose a maniac that wishes to make all the beautiful people ugly. There are a wide range of shocks, horrors and heart warming moments that make this TV show a true winner. This show has everything you could want from a TV show and more. The only bad thing i have to say about series 2 is the lack of appearances from Liz Cruz (Roma Maffia) who is a true credit to the show. I would advise anyone who wants to watch a TV show that really is magic then this is it. Nip Tuck DVD is worth every penny as it will take you though every thought provoking subject there is.
One of the best TV shows around is now out on DVD so get a copy now it will restore your faith in TV shows.

Truly great TV
The second season of FX's Nip/Tuck went above and beyond the conventions set during it's first season, with plenty of shocks and surprises for all involved.Beginning with Christian (Julian McMahon, soon to be seen as the villainous Dr. Doom in Fantastic Four) fighting for custody of the son he knows isn't his, while Sean (Dylan Walsh) ponders over hitting the big four 0.Eventually, Sean comes across a mysterious "life coach" (Famke Janssen) who soon begins a dangerous affair with Sean's oldest son.This leads to a shocking revelation for Sean, Christian, and Sean's wife Julia (the teriffic Arly Jover) that soon becomes one of the most gut wrenchingly heartbreaking moments on TV today.But it doesn't end there.Christian comes face to face with the possibility that he might be HIV positive, and Sean comes face to face with a knife wielding masked would be killer after he does some pro bono work for victims mutilated by him.All this ends in a season ending cliffhanger that will have you salivating for season three, which hopefully, will be just as surprising.The personal demons of Sean and Christian are what really drive Nip/Tuck, while the incredibly realistic plastic surgery scenes will either help draw you in or completely repel you.Over the course of these episodes, the characters are deconstructed more than one could ever think possible, but the great cast and twisty storytelling will keep you addicted.All in all, Nip/Tuck really became something special in it's second season (there's a reason it's garnered so much acclaim and accolades), and this is definitely the definition of must see TV. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Each of the snazzy 25-minute installments from the most popular Japanese animated TV series of 1998 is a satisfying adventure tale about a futuristic hipster bounty hunter. This is an elegant action-comedy anime, with smoothly integrated CGI space-flight elements, gorgeous graphics, blues harmonica and sax riffs on the soundtrack, and a no-sweat post-Tarantino attitude. Despite occasional eruptions of gun-fu Asian-action violence, and some intimations of heavy-duty drug use (in the first of 26 episodes, one especially noxious narcotic is administered as an aerosol spray straight onto the user's eyeballs), the tone is surprisingly convivial. None of the generic tough elements are grim or mean-spirited. Lanky antihero Spike Spiegel is a planet-hopping freelance hunter with an ex-cop sidekick named Jet, a loopy fellow hunter named Faye, a teenage computer hack, and a genetically enhanced Welsh corgi assistant in tow. The emphasis is on clever twists of plot in an episodic short-story format with as many wisecracks as punches being thrown. Unrated (suitable for ages 13 and older): violence, nudity, profanity, alcohol and tobacco use, occasional ethnic stereotypes. --David Chute ... Read more

Reviews (336)

best anime ever
An interesting twist on traditional anime, Cowboy Bebop is at once fresh, original, and wildly entertaining. It injects new life into a classic genre.

I first discovered this series on Cartoon Network's adult swim late-night block, and quickly began to really like it. The fight scenes are beautifully animated, the 26 episodes (each of which stands on its own) are well written and perfectly paced.

Speaking of which, the episode structure is very unlike most anime, where you have to see every episode or you don't understand it at all. The episodes in Bebop are all tied together with a common theme: Spike Spiegel and company travel throughout space in the near future, looking for bounty, their own backstories unraveling bit by bit. This formula works very well.

Bebop also conveys an atmosphere that sometimes changes but is always well done with each episode. It is, for the most part, either gritty and violent (Episode 5: Ballad of Fallen Angels) or goofy and sometimes laugh out loud funny (Episode 12: Toys in the Attic). Director Watanabe is great at really drawing the viewer in so that often you forget about what else is happening around you.

Bebop is not without flaws, however. Sometimes the episodes seem to have filler or are WAY too slow paced. This is mainly only a problem with Episode 20: Boogie Woogie Feng Shui. Half the episode is almost all dialogue, with hardly any real movement. It just doesn't feel like the rest of the series.

That one very small shortcoming aside, however, Bebop is amazing, and well worth it whether you enjoy anime or not. This is something anyone can appreciate.

You've got to see this...
The future isn't always bright and happy, but at least its presented in a spectacular series like Cowboy Bebop. Following the crew of the Bebop, each episode takes on new challenges everytime and new feelings. Moods for each episode is never consistent, as they change from action-packed (Gateway Shuffle) to somber (Speak Like A Child) to sadistic (Pierrot La Fou) to comedic (Mushroom Samba). Each episode has its own unique flavor, which will satisfy all types of people.

The main character is Spike Spiegel, an ex-member of a crime syndicate and a bounty hunter. With his tall, lanky, slacker-look about him, he easily throws people off guard when they first meet him. His cool demenor and level-headedness are an excellent cover for a master of hand-to-hand and ranged combat, as well as being quite skilled in piloting his starship, Swordfish II.

The lead female character, Faye Valentine, is very similar in many respects to Spike, which causes some friction throughout the series as they both hunt for bounties. Although she may look like she is in her early 20s, Faye was suspended in a cryo-genic freeze for 54 years following a space accident. Her past is a mystery (Episodes 15, 18, and 24), but she keeps her cool and is confident and daring all at once. If Spike is ever in the middle of a fight, she'll usually wander in to help. While she is definitely a sexy woman, her charms tend to work on every man other than Spike and Jet. In addition, she has her own little starship, Redtail, which she uses to get herself out of whatever trouble she finds.

Jet Black is a former member of ISSP (InterStellar Space Police) on Ganymede, where he shortly retired after losing his left arm. He is partnered with Spike as a bounty hunter, and is the captain of the Bebop and his own personal ship, the Hammerhead. However, most of the time, Spike is on the frontlines while Jet provides support through information or backup.

Ed's real name is Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivrusky 4th, but Ed is 13 year old female who is an expert computer hacker commonly known as "Radical Edward." Although she may sound serious, this couldn't be further from the truth. She may be extremely intelligent and a prodigy, but don't let her wacky antics and crazy talk fool you. She may not be able to take life too seriously quite yet, but she is a force with which to be reckoned.

Ein is a Welsh Corgi dog who was apart of an experiment at an early age. Consequently, he's smarter than the average dog now, and when Ed joins the crew of the Bebop, they're instant friends. Often times found eating, sleeping, or accompanying Ed, he's the one character that no one argues with (except for Faye).

The year is 2071 A.D., and mankind has spread throughout the Sol system after a tragic accident on Earth. The crew of the Bebop hunt down criminals for bounties, all the while, trying to survive the harshness of space. Spike and Jet are the original crew members of the Bebop, and while Ein, Faye, and Ed become apart of the "family," conflicting pasts and perspectives often times drive each of them away to solve their problems, but they always come back for one reason or another.

The plot? Excellent. The characters? Great. The animation? Great. The series? Flawless.

An additional note, I'm not positive, but I do believe that all of the music (with exception for the beginning and ending tracks) are never repeated. You'll watch TV and anime series, and often times, you'll find a particular piece of music being repeated for certain situations to help clue you into the mood for that scene. However, in Cowboy Bebop, that isn't so. For one episode, you'll have a unique set of music tracks that are never repeated throughout the rest of the series. For example, the music track "Ballad of a Fallen Angel" is never repeated outside of the cathedral scene in the episode "Ballad of Fallen Angels."

I can't think of anything else that I was more pleased with after buying than Cowboy Bebop. : )

Note- I'm reviewing the bootleg
Although it may be unAmerican, and surely it's a rip-off from potential money going to Bandai, (...)I was really worried about what I'd be receiving. The truth is, the package was awesome- the DVD quality if FANTASTIC (there's a little digital blurring during a ship-flight scene), and the dub is exactly the original American dub seen on Adult Swim (the English subtitles disagree somewhat). There are even a few special features, including music videos and such- nothing important really. I'm a little hesitant, as some may have had different experiences... I'll say that the copy I got is 3-CD, from Singapore, in a brown/gray cardboard-flip case that has Spike in a subway or something, standing next to a blonde woman. The inside has a bit of art as well. It's not the cover, with the black on top and bottom and all the characters, shown on Amazon.
Your experience my differ, and granted, this set isn't exactly perfect, with a little digital blurring. But for 30 dollars, my experience, at least, was an awesome deal.

The GREATEST anime series of all time
This is the best anime series I've ever seen and I've seen alot of them including movies. When it comes to anime there is a few names people know. Akira, Macross, Ghost In The Shell, Trigun, Ninja Scroll. Cowboy Bebop is right up there. I love this anime because it is real and it doesn't pull any punches. It is classic yet new age. It's a sci-fi space thing yet it's like a western yet like an epic. It is everything that is good. I own the Limited Edition Box and the 3 disc Hong Kong import. The story is based on 5 characters who all have their own interesting backgrounds and somehow life as it happens has these five come together. Spike Spiegel and Jet Black are bounty hunters using a commercial fishing ship(spaceship this is the future) as their mode of transportation. In this bounty hunting is very lucritive as there is even a tv show that updates them on new bounties. Along the way they meet three other characters that join the crew at Spike's displeasure and Jet's indifference. There is far too much for me write of in the epic of anime greatness. I really felt like I knew and shared in their journey by the end. All this and probably one of the best soundtracks ever produced. Eclectic is the word...it is a jazzy, blues inspired rock techno organism of music that plays well with the story. All I say is rent, buy or borrow and watch this is you are an anime fan and you have not yet, for some God awful reason, seen this. Now the nice collection you see with the entire series is not the Limited 7 disc set which includes the soundtrack...if you find the big box it will be at least $200 dollars but probably more than that as it is a limited numbered to 15,000. The 3 disc collection containing all 26 episodes is the import Hong Kong version which can be played here. This is usually around $30 dollars or so. It has great video and sound quality and doesn't suck compared to the U.S. releases as some would say. Either way it is a great series and all anime fans should have this one.

Pure Masterpiece...
Cowboy Bebop. The jazzy series that has anything I could possible want in an anime. This is the kind of thing you'd like to watch after you invite a few friends over to spend the night, play Nintendo, talk about boobs, indulge all the junk-food you have, and then watch this late at night. It's one of those movies like Young Frankenstein that is funny in a way that makes you think. Not like sooo much bubblegum-anime on the market today that just tries to be funny by making bad puns, and saying retarded things. I enjoy the factor that the cast of characters is such a dysfunctional motley assort of people. The story is as good as I expected it to be, I like every bit of the storyline and how it sometimes purposly went out of context.
I like how it went like a duality of two faces: Sweet, and Sorrow. First the Sweet lures you into the story and makes you happy. Then when your inside, The Sorrow stabs you with a knife making you sad.... (My analogies rock!). This anime is for everybody, even (some) adults like it! I'm going to buy the soundtrack when I get enough money, It's like Hellsing which has a kick-ass soundtrack! Jazzy and up-beat. Yet melodic and sadening. The ending ephisode is heart wrenching to me atleast.
This anime is for everyone and anyone! Get it, you won't be dissapointed! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A must-have for any Monk fan!
Season 3 was my favorite season. My mom was really sad that Sharona left the show, but Natalie is just as good. The season finale, Mr. Monk and the Kid, was a huge disapointment.Why?, because they didn't reveal anymore clues about Trudy's murder. The best episodes of the season were: Manhattan, Panic Room, Employee of the Month, Monk Takes his Meds, and Las Vegas. The double simation thing on "Cabin Fever" was clever, but annoying. Expect these episodes to be on this dvd set:

01)Mr. Monk Takes Manhattan
02)Mr. Monk and the Panic Room
03)Mr. Monk and the Blackout
04)Mr. Monk Gets Fired
05)Mr. Monk Meets the Godfather
06)Mr. Monk and the Girl Who Cried Wolf
07)Mr. Monk and the Employee of the Month
08)Mr. Monk and the Gameshow
09)Mr. Monk Takes His Medicine
10)Mr. Monk and the Red Herring
11)Mr. Monk V.S. the Cobra
12)Mr. Monk Gets Cabin Fever
13)Mr. Monk Gets Caught In Traffic
14)Mr. Monk Goes to Vegas
15)Mr. Monk and the Election
16)Mr. Monk and the Kid

Expect season 4 to start sometime in June.

Best show on TV!
I first started watching Monk when the second season aired on TV, and from the first few minutes of the episode I was watching I could already tell that this was a show I was going to be watching for a long time!I've never laughed more in my life.Season three was even more fun than the first two.It's true that this is the season where Bitty Schram's character Sharona leaves the show; while sad it hardly makes a difference.Her replacement Traylor Howard, who plays Natalie Teeger, is not as comical a character as Sharona Fleming, but it is a minor thing.The true focus of the show is Tony Shalhoub and his hilarious portrayal of Adrian Monk.I myself suffered from a minor case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and while it was not as extreme as Monk's case I can still relate to the character in a way.I cannot wait to own these episodes on DVD. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Pooh's Heffalump Movie introduces a lovable new character to the Hundred Acre Wood. When mysterious noises spook Pooh, Piglet, and the others, Rabbit explains that everyone will have to band together to track down the dreaded Heffalump. Well, everyone, that is, except Roo, who's too small for the task. Not surprisingly, it's Roo who makes first contact, and he quickly finds out that first impressions aren't always true. You can see the Big Messages coming from a mile off (Xenophobia is bad! Don't underestimate little kids!), and one moment of mischief curiously passes without even requiring an apology. But kids will be charmed by the Heffalump and may even connect with the empowerment/maturity themes. Among the voice cast, Jim Cummings does knockout impressions of Sterling Holloway and Paul Winchell as the voices of Pooh and Tigger, respectively, and Carly Simon's songs are at their best when she sings them herself.--David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (23)

LOVE THIS MOVIE!
I liked this movie! I read the review A roo movie and i liked it. I love this movie!

A Roo Movie
This is the most adorable movie. And the first theater movie we took our daughter to...I had to buy this one as a keepsake. Amazing after not seeing this what these little ones remember...we couldn't get her away from watching it!!!
I realy think the title should have been "A Roo Movie"!!!
If your little one likes Pooh this is a must have!!!
I bought ours at Walmart as a combo with a Pooh CD ROM/coloring book and a DVD Sample of Little Einsteins for under $20.00

Great Toddler Movie!
This is the first movie we took our 3 year old to and she loved it.Usually movies have something that seems a little too scary for the little ones, but this one didn't.Nothing too intense or too serious.A great addition to the other Pooh classics.

Pooh's Heffalump Movie
I took my 4 year old daughter and 4 year old nephew to see this movie. It was incredible, the best Pooh movie I've seen in a long time. The kids sat through the whole thing very well and really enjoyed it. It had some very valuable lessons.

One of the best Disney movies ever...
This is an awesome movie! Disney has really out done themselves with this Winnie the Pooh movie. This is my favorite out all of them. Why? 1.It adds 2 new characters to the One-Hundred Acre Wood which I was hopin the tigger movie would do. 2.It teaches alot of great lessons. 3.Lumpy is the cutest character ever! Im 13 and I enjoyed this movie. Other 13 year olds will say "Hes done seeing that movie" but even when I turn 110, I will Love Winnie the Pooh. Lets hope the next movie will be even better! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Carmela to Tony: "Everything comes to an end." True enough, Mrs. Sope, but on The Sopranos, the end comes sooner for some than others. Though for some the widely debated fourth season contained too much yakking instead of whacking, and an emphasis on domestic family over business Family, what critic James Agee once said of the Marx Brothers applies to The Sopranos: "The worst thing they might ever make would be better worth seeing than most other things I can think of." And in most respects, The Sopranos remains television's gold standard. The fourth season garnered 13 Emmy nominations, and subsequent best actor and actress wins for James Gandolfini and Edie Falco as Tony and Carmela, whose estrangement provides the season with its most powerful drama, as well as a win for Joe Pantoliano's psychopath Ralph. The season finale, "Whitecaps," was a long-time-coming episode, in which Carmela at last stands up to "toxic" Tony, and "Whoever Did This" was the season's--and one of the series'--most shocking episodes.

Other narrative threads include Christopher's (Emmy nominee Michael Imperioli) descent into heroin addiction, Uncle Junior's (Dominic Chianese) trial, an unrequited and potentially fatal attraction between Carmela and Tony's driver Furio, and a rude joke about Johnny Sack's wife that has potentially fatal implications. Other indelible moments include Christopher's girlfriend Adriana's projectile reaction to discovering that her new best friend is an undercover FBI agent in the episode "No Show," Janice giving Ralph a shove out of their relationship in "Christopher," and the classic "Quasimodo/Nostradamus" exchange in the season-opener, which garnered HBO's highest ratings to date. Freed from the understandably high expectations for the fourth season, heightened by the 16-month hiatus, these episodes can be better appreciated on their own considerable merits. They are pivotal chapters in television's most novel saga. --Donald Liebenson ... Read more

Reviews (70)

The Rise and Fall of Tony Soprano continues its way
Tony Soprano is almost a Shakespearean tragic hero. His meteoric rise through the first season has been matched by a slow descent. Through the fourth season, we continue to see this, as those who Tony relied upon (in business, or emotionally, or otherwise) fall away through death, or abandonment (by Tony or the other person).

This DVD set contains the 13 episodes of the fourth season, together with commentary from writers, actors, and David Chase. Unfortunately, only a few of the episodes have such commentary, and the choice of episodes is open to question (episode 4-11, with Tony's dreams, needs interpretation from an authoritative source). The "trailers" at the beginning and end of each episode are also included (i.e., "Previously on the Sopranos", etc.)

All of the regular actors shine, and the bit players are, as always, very well cast.

The quality of most of the episodes is high, perhaps higher than any but the first season. But as the number of planned seasons has gone from four, to five, and now to six, I wonder if the purity of David Chase's vision has not been invaded by fluff. Well, we won't know until the series ends, I suppose.

Highly recommended.

Season 4 is great. You will realize it soon enough!
A lot of these so called Sopranos fans have an IQ of 4 when it comes to realizing what happend over the 13 episodes of season 4. For the first time in the series history we were left with a cliffhanger. If you notice in seasons 1,2,and 3 the story line for the season ended in the season finale. For season 4, Its going to carry over to next year. Dont you people get it? Season 4 was a setup. If you think about it all that happend in the season finale has to be resolved next season. For example, Paulie has been ratting out to new york and will probably get whacked, Adriana has ratted out to the feds and will probably get whacked, and if Tony finds out who really set the fire at the stables thier going down too!! And do you honestly belive that Tony and Carmela will get divorced? PLEASE! The way Tony is, hes going to do everything humanly possible to make up with her, that should be cool to see. And with the news reports of Steve Buscemi and Robert Loggia joining the cast, I think alot of Sopranos fans will quit whining when they see how season 4 was a setup to what looks to be a bad-... season 5

Another Brilliant Season
Above all other seasons, the forth in this groundbreaking series focuses on the complex enigma that is Tony Soprano. Creator David Chase allows Gandolfini's character to go places rarely reached in television or film. Traveling through these thirteen episodes with Tony, a viewer will get to experience utter joy, limitless rage, and the unequaled pain that accompanies an acknowledgment of personal culpability in creating one's troubles.

Tony comes to realize how others truly see him in the early episodes of Season Four. He laughs at his friend Artie and his cronious cohort Councilman Zellman when they nervously try to discuss different requests. He does not understand why they should be so afraid. But soon, he validates their concerns and sees the monster inside that drives away the closest people in his life.

His marriage is also falling apart, a plotline most associated with this season. Gandolfini and Falco provide career performances, particularly in the finale's blow-up scene. But Tony's most powerful moments concern two important losses in his life. Sudden news of the passing of an old acquaintance sends an unstable (and violent) Tony back to therapy and another tender relationship with an animal (remember the ducks) ends with Tony out looking for blood.

Chase loves to allow small incidental moments to provide the genesis for much of the show's conflict, a comment on the fragile nature of life. In the first season, the jokes about Junior's acquired "taste" of his girlfriend drive the wedge between he and Tony that causes many to get whacked. In this season, a throw-away line made about the weight of a tangential character builds and festers animosity all season. Plot built in such a masterful way is just another example of why The Sopranos is television's finest hour.

Click the order button!
Frankly I think they need to make the sopranos a couple more seasons. This season is just as good as all the other ones except for the fact they they jump to conclusions. If you're looking buying this season then that probably means you've already seen the first 3. Anyone who needs to read weather the Sopranos are good from this point has something seriously wrong with them. Go ahead and finish it up already! Why would you stop now!

WARNING ! If you buy this you won't be able to switch off
I've always loved the Sopranos, mainly for its subtle humour and incredible writing and story plots. I always thought The Sopranos would make a good book, because it would sure to be a page turner. Season four is no different. We start the series revitalised and ready for any new troubles that may face Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini better than ever).

The economy is down and the mob business is slow. That can only mean one thing. All the guys are going to have to work twice as hard to make more money. As this happens on Tony's mob side of life, it becomes clear he's also facing troubles at home - amazing acting takes place between Edie Falco and James Gandolfini in the incredible final episode.

This is one of the best things ever to come off of TV, and each episode is almost like a mini movie, action - drama - twists and turns. The only problem is, you buy this DVD, you're guaranteed to call in sick for work the next morning to carry on watching. You may even find yourself dropping the words 'BADA BING, BADA BOOM' into a conversation unknowingly... ... Read more

Amazon.com

Having battled a hellish vampire master, an evil boyfriend, a rogue slayer, a giant man-eating demon-snake thing, and a particularly nasty high school principal, Buffy Summers embarked on one of her biggest challenges in the fourth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer: college. With boyfriend Angel out of the picture (and on his own show) and Sunnydale High destroyed, new horizons were to be tackled for Buffy and the rest of the Scooby gang. There were cute guys (Buffy's new boyfriend Riley), cute girls (Willow's new girlfriend Tara--yes, Willow's gay!), frat parties, irritating roommates, harsh professors, and, oh yes, a secret military initiative that was experimenting on the demon population (Riley's part of it).

Buffy truly hit its golden years in the fourth season--just when you thought this show couldn't get any better, Joss Whedon and his creative team pulled out all the stops and took Buffy and co. into rich new territory. By far, the highlight of the season (and the entire series) was the Emmy-nominated "Hush," a nearly dialogue-free episode in which the creepy "Gentlemen" rob Sunnydale of its collective voice, and Buffy and Riley finally come face to face with each other's hidden identities. While Frankenstein-esque monster Adam wasn't the show's best villain (you'll have to wait until next season's Glory for that), he was a worthy adversary for the biotech age, and the military milieu was a nice contrast to Buffy's previous gothic outings. Season 4 also marked the return of blond vampire Spike (who developed a crush on Buffy), the ascension of vengeance demon Anya to full-time cast status, and the brief return of bad slayer Faith (in a fab two-part body-switching episode). Throughout, the entire cast, headed by the unparalleled Sarah Michelle Gellar, worked television magic of the kind rarely seen on the small screen. This is Buffy at its best. --Mark Englehart ... Read more

Reviews (246)

Buffy goes to college in solid season 4
The 4th season of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER proved to be a matter of transition for both cast and crew. For one thing, the show had removed itself from the high school setting when Buffy and her gang blew up the school fighting the demonized Mayor in season 3. Also, David Boreanez's moody vampire-with-a-soul Angel had moved on to his own series, taking with him a major plot point that helped drive the series. For the most part, BUFFY rebounded quite well with some of the best single episodes on the show to dat