Reviews (2)

More!
Things are still developing, new villains are coming, Momoko's life is changing as she grows closer with Yousuke and learns new things about her mother, while strengthening friendships with the other love angels. I can't wait for the next DVD in July!

excellent series far surpasses sailor moon
this dvd only has 5 episodes but they are the best yet several major plot points end and begin and momoko and yosoke grow closer together and plue makes his exit as the main villan this dvd is not to be missed get it now and enjoy wedding peach ... Read more

Amazon.com

Want to get at the heart of the Pokémon craze? Fast-forward tothe end of this video to see the video exclusive Pokérap, a music video that listsall 151 collectable Pokémon. That's right: 151 creatures to collect. Think of them as the starting lineup of all the NBA teams. Instead of knowing a player's stats, Pokémon fans have to memorize creature typesand a Pokémon's certain strength.

This video contains three episodes from the animated Pokémon TVseries. Our intrepid heroes Ash and his friends continue their quest, collecting Pokémon along the way. In "Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village," the heroes stumble on to a Pokémon health spa where injured Pokémon creaturescan take in a little R&R.The courageous Bulbasaur that defends the spa does not takekindly to Ash's desire to be his trainer (and keep him in his Pokéball storage container). "Charmander--The Stray Pokémon" finds the cute title character abandoned on a rock awaiting a new owner. The poor critter will die if his tail light ever goes out. What will he do in the upcoming thunderstorm? The title characters in "Here Comes the Squirtle Squad" are water-spouting beasts with Jack Nicholson sunglasses and a one-word vocabulary ("squirtle, squirtle" is heard in a dozen different variations). Of course, Team Rocket is there to foil our heroes and steal Ash's valuable Pickachu. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (55)

The plot progresses in an odd way. Still good though.
So, our "hero" Ash got lost on his ay to the 3rd gym.Doesn't really surpise me.. Anyway, after stumbling through a bunch of traps, he finds the Hidden Village (TM), a spa for abandoned pokemon. It's protected by a Bulbasaur since pokemon thieves would certainly like to catch all these injured pokemon. Of course Jessie and James show up, and Ash decides to help Bulbasaur to beat them. Melanie, Bulbasaur's trainer, asks Ash to take Bulbasaur along on his journey so he can grow stronger. So there we have another pokemon.
Later, the group finds a Charmander on a rock in the woods. It's waiting for it's trainer, so Ash can't really catch it. A bit later, at the pokemon center, he overhears Damian, Charmander's trainer, brag about how he abandoned his pokemon. After Brock beats up Damian, Ash and the others save the pokemon. The next morning, Charmander is gone again, but it returns to save Ash and Pikachu from Jessie and James, who have appearantly used their heads for a change, and donned electric-proof suits. They weren't fireproof though. Damian returns and want Charmander back, but Charmander burns him and goes with Ash instead.
Even later, the group meets a gang of Squirtles who are terrorizing a nearby town. After teaming up with Meowth, they kidnap Ash and the others so Jessie and James can get Pikachu. Jessie has other plans, and decides to bomb the Squirtle Squad to death with a lot of bombs dropped from their balloon. Meanwhile, Ash tries to save Pikachu by getting a Super Potion, but is knocked out by Gary. When he returns, Jessie and James have started their attack. Ash saves the leader Squirtle when he breaks his leg in the battlefield (and is unable to run from the bombs) and together they destroy the balloon and puut out the fire. The Squirtle leader decides to go with Ash.

Well, certainly a decent batch of episodes, even though it seems a bit silly that Ash catches all three starter pokemon at once. But if he didn't, I'm sure we would've gotten a bunch of ... filler between these episodes, so it's okay. But he really should get to the 3rd gym soon. In the Charmander episode it appears he's headed North of Cerulean, which means he's been walking in a circle for 3 episodes. Hm.

New Pokemon all over!
This DVD introduces you to three Pokemon that will play a major role throughout the entire season and beyond. Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle are their names, and get ready for an hour of nothing but them (in a good way):

Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village - The three heroes find a trainer, Melanie, who spends her time in a small cabin, caring for injured Pokemon until they can go back into the wild. But when Team Rocket come to cabin, will both Ash and Melanie's Pokemon be enough to defeat them?

Charmander: The Stray Pokemon - Ash, Misty and Brock find a weak Charmander on a Mountain path. When the Pokemon refuses to be caught, the team decides that it is waiting for someone. But they later discover that its trainer abandoned the Charmander. Can Ash rescue the Pokemon before its flame goes out?

Here Comes the Squirtle Squad - When a group of Squirtle stops Ash from getting closer to Vermilion City, Pikachu gets hurt. Ash runs for a healing potion, but will Pikachu still be okay when he gets back?

All that with the full-length Pokerap at the end! With good video/audio, the only bad thing here would be if you didn't like the show. Followed by "Thunder Shock!".

Enjoyable series but too expensive
Pokémon is the story about Ash Ketchum and his friends, Misty Williams and Brock Harrison. Ash's goal is to become a Pokémon Master. Misty's goal is to be "the best at everything" but, more specifically, a Water Pokémon Master. Brock's goal is to be the world's best Pokémon breeder. Pokémon are the animals that inhabit their world. They come in many different species (mouse, cat, dog, etc.) and types (electric, grass, water, fire, etc.). Each Pokémon trainer trains his or her Pokémon to battle other Pokémon and win badges to compete in Pokémon Leagues. Ash, Misty, and Brock must deal with Jessie, James, and Meowth of the evil Team Rocket, who want to steal Ash's first Pokémon, Pikachu, and usually other Pokémon as well. This Japanese animation series is an advertisement for the Pokémon video games, and the episodes' plots are usually simple, but this is actually an enjoyable series. Common themes are friendship, not giving up, parting ways with a dear friend, and other good morals. Parents and guardians that are concerned about the violence need not worry. Yes, the kids have their pets fight each other, but they also must learn to take care of and love their pets. Girls will find a strong female role model in Misty. Overall, this is a fun, simple, warm-hearted, rather repetitive series. However, despite how much I like the anime, the DVDs are not worth your money. Each episode is probably less than twenty minutes long, and there are only three episodes on each DVD. You would be paying the price of this DVD for around one hour of Pokémon. That's ridiculous. They don't even include the Japanese vocal tracks with English subtitles or the fun music videos from the TV airings. You can rent these same English-dubbed episodes on VHS. If you really want this series on DVD, my advice to you is to buy the movies and the special, "Mewtwo Returns", and wait for box sets of the series.

This is the best Pokemon Movie ever!
I really like this video.Ash ends up catching all the starting Pokemon that he could have gotten from Prof. Oak. In Bulbasaurs hidden village Team Rocket attemps to steal Pokemon from a place for pokemon to recover in the forest. In Charmander:The Stray Pokemon Ash and his freinds have to save a abandoned Charmander. In here comes the squirtle squad Team Rocket has convinced a gang of squirtles to help them but Ash,Misty,and Brock manage to convince them that Team Rocket are the bad ones.

not my fave
altho i usually like pokemon, this video was never my favorite. it does introduce 3 important pokemon, squirtle, charmander, and bulbasaur, but the cartoons are fairly boring, esp. the 1 about bulbasaur. the srtay charmander is kinda cute, and the squirtle squad aint so bad, but cuda been better. ... Read more

Description

A Bite to Remember: Max takes a particular liking to a Poochyena, but will he see it evolve before they move on?The Lotad Lowdown: Team Rocket is on the hunt for the Lotad bunch in the lake.What will Brock and his quirky Lotad friend do to save the day?All Things Bright and Beautifly!: May gets an opportunity to assist in a glamorous Pokémon contest.Will she enter a contest herself one day? ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Poochyena, contest battles, and more
This DVD contains five episodes, two of which will not be included on the VHS version. They are:

A Bite to Remember: Ash and co accidentally stumble into a Pokemon preserve. There, they meet Katrina and her pack of Mightyena. They also meet Katrina's Poochyena, which hasn't evolved into Mightyena yet. Max is intrigued and is determined to help this Poochyena evolve. This is a great episode, and it's one of my favorites over the entire season so far.

The Lotad Lowdown: Ash and co take a break at a lake to swim. They learn that this lake is inhabited by playful Lotad that can use Water Gun. Brock is drawn to one Lotad that can't quite do everything right. They also meet three girls who run a flower ship: Rita, Nicole, and young Natalie. Then, Natalie goes missing and Team Rocket tries to steal the Lotad! Can Brock and his new Lotad friend save the day?

All that's Bright and Beautifly: Ash and co have finally arrived at Rustboro City, and they find out about a Pokemon contest being held at Rustboro Hall. They also meet trainers Chaz and Janet with their Pokemon, Chaz's Venomoth and Janet's Beautifly. May falls in love with the world of Pokemon Contests. Meanwhile, Chaz tells Ash about an attack that will come in handy at the Rustboro Gym, Iron Tail. Ash and Pikachu struggle to master the attack in time. This is another great episode, Hoenn's Pokemon contests are just as exciting as battles and are one of my favorite features from the Ruby and Sapphire video games.

All in a Day's Wurmple: While walking through a forest, May is frightened by a caterpillar-like Pokemon called Wurmple. However, when her brother Max tells her that they evolve into Beautifly, May instantly wants it. Unfortunately, Jessie also wants a beautiful Beautifly. While May is out searching, Ash meets a young trainer named Forrest who challenges Ash to a Double Battle, in which each trainer uses two Pokemon at once. Ash, of course, accepts the challenge. Can May catch the Wurmple she desires, and can Ash master the challenge of a double battle?

Gonna Rule the School: Ash, Brock, May, and Max find a lost Poliwag in Rustboro City. They return it to its owner, Roxanne, a teacher in a Pokemon school near the gym. They also find that Roxanne is the gym leader! Before Ash can have his match, she has to finish teaching her Pokemon class, so they accept. Max is excited by the class and Roxanne lets him attend it for a day.

This is a great DVD, I give it 5 stars - mostly for containing episodes like "All that's Bright and Beautifly" and "A Bite to Remember." However, if you want the last two episodes, don't get the VHS version. Only the DVD has these two episodes. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Well, well, of all people to be rescued by--Simon Templar." From Berlin to Nice, our man Simon is always in the wrong place at the right time to get involved in "a bit of adventure." This two-disc set contains seven episodes presented in the order they were first broadcast in 1966 and '67. These entertaining adventures are "more cloak than dagger," but do have some vicariously nasty, Bond-type thrills. Roger Moore is ideally cast as the unflappable Simon, the original international man of mystery created by Leslie Charteris. Whether foiling a counterfeit operation ("The Counterfeit Countess") or masterminding the escape of a Russian spy ("When Spring Is Sprung"), Simon accepts each "extraordinary proposition" with aplomb. This collection also includes "Simon and Delilah," in which a "consistently nasty" screen siren is kidnapped. Lois Maxwell, best known to 007 fans as Miss Moneypenny, costars as the publicist. Speaking of James Bond, there's a nifty little Goldfinger joke in "The Island of Chance," in which the body count rises as an increasingly desperate scientist races to complete a serum that would end all illness. The cold war heats up in "The Gadget Lover," in which the Russians appear to have embarked on a spy "death campaign" using explosion-filled gadgets. "A Double in Diamonds" involves the theft of a priceless necklace. Which is real, and which is the fake? Only Simon may know for sure. Like "The Death Game" in Set 3, "The Power Artists" is bizarre enough to be an Avengers episode. It marks the return of criminal mastermind Adolf Vogler (see "The Death Game" in Set 3) and also includes some hysterical hippie caricatures. Appearing with greater frequency in these episodes is Ivor Dean as the Saint's long-suffering nemesis, Chief Inspector Claude Eustace Teale ("the pride of Scotland Yard") who reluctantly relies on the Saint's cunning to solve these complex capers. --Donald Liebenson ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The Saint - Set 4 Videocassette contents
There seems to be some confusion as to the contents of "The Saint - Set 4" on videocassette. This video set contains the following episodes: "Little Girl Lost", "Paper Chase" and "Locate and Destroy". While all of these are good, do not look for this version to contain the same material as the DVD.

Good, but could be better
This 4th DVD set of The Saint adds another 7 episodes to the collection. The positive side of the set is that the picture quality is -as always with A&E- good and the fact that there are 7 instead of the usual 6 episodes on the two disc set. The negative side is the fact that the extras are rather disappointing as they are completely identical as the ones of set 1 and 2 except for the episode trailers. I hope this is not a sign that set 5 and 6 that will follow later this year, will be identical as well. Any respectable fan of The Saint or Roger Moore will of course buy them, but there is so much material available to add as extra features on the DVD sets it's a shame to let this opportunity pass.

Hello, fellow Bucaneers...
Every Hero has a following; on the 'Big' screen, Saltzman and
Broccoli made a fortune iterpreting Ian Fleming's 'Ernst Stavro
Blofeld's' seemingly endless but always foiled pursuits of Bond,
James Bond. On the other hand, we who 'follow' the adventures of
Simon Templar, are treated to a huge gang of 'Blofelds' in each different episode. Always good episodes, each one very entertaining.
(...)

A&E Should Be More Careful
There are all sorts of positive things to say about this series on DVD (good prints, clear picture) but I have problems with a number of the DVDs released on the A&E label, and this set is no exception.

For one thing, there are no subtitles. Generally, with The Saint that is not a problem - except when the music drowns out certain key dialogue, or an actor does not speak clearly (star Roger Moore is known for his lazy drawal), and of course there are often times when a character will phrase something in British slang with which American audiences may be unfamiliar.

But worse than that, there are mistakes on the boxes. Take Set 4. The box says there is a photo gallery and a history of the Saint included. There is not. Perhaps it is just as well. That History of The Saint is included on Set 2. Now I can't be misinterpreting it - it says "...nearly 100 Saint novels and stories followed, half of which have never been translated into English..." Huh? Are these people crazy or just incompetent? I have all the Saint books and stories and they are all in English. I am sure they were written in English. If they think they were written in some other language, why don't they identify what it is?

And they also play fast and loose with the facts in the Roger Noore biography and filmography they provide. Do yourself a favor and just watch the shows and ignore their extra "bonus features". They are no bonus. _

Thank you, and keep them coming A&E...
Simon Templar, AKA the "Saint" is back, in the fourth boxed DVD set of his adventures from A&E. These episodes are from the 1967 season, and this time you get a bit more for your money, as there are seven episodes instead of six. Volume 7 has three episodes and Volume 8 contains the bonus fourth episode. Here's a quick take on the episodes in this set. These episode ratings are on a scale from one to five (best).

VOLUME 7:

The Counterfeit Countess (4)
In this tale, the Saint is on the trail of a gang of counterfeiters. Following the clues, leads Simon from London to Paris, and then to the Countess's country mansion for the final showdown. This is an excellent example of a classic "by the book" Saint adventure, with Simon investigating alone and then taking on the gang in the heart of their lair.

Simon And Delilah (2)
In Rome, while visiting a movie set, Simon gets involved when the stars of the picture are kidnapped right off the set in their trailer. The Saint, suspects an inside job, and sets about proving it. There is a lack of suspense here, and a bit too much is played for laughs. And the resolution to the case, doesn't play fair with the audience.

Island Of Chance (4)
A cable from a friend brings the Saint to the British West Indies. When that friend is killed, Simon is plunged into another adventure, aided by a pretty reporter. The pair soon find themselves in at the laboratory of an eccentric scientist obsessed with his work. The good doctor and his partners have a secret, and are willing to kill to preserve it. Somewhat typical for his adventures in the Third World, this episode is a bit more violent, with an ending that does leave you wondering a bit about the Saint's moral compass.

VOLUME 8:

The Gadget Lovers (3)
The cold war is heating up. Various electronic spy "gadgets" are malfunctioning, resulting in a number of dead Russian agents. The Saint steps in, collaborating with the Russians, impersonating "Colonel Smolenko" to find the source of the sabotaged devices. This adventure veers close to the far end of a credible Saint story, and approaches a poor imitation of "James Bond". One must after all, know one's limitations.

A Double In Diamonds (3)
A bit of concentration is required to follow this story revolving around a valuable diamond necklace. The jewels disappear in the middle of a fashion show, and a copy is found in its place. Simon is along for the ride when the ransom for the necklace is being delivered. The Saint pulls the old "switcharoo" with the jewels more than once, in order to come out on top. This story is a bit complicated, and features a very untidy car crash, that leaves some gaping logical holes in the plot.

The Power Artists (2)
In the Saint's own words, this is a "strange tale", one that goes a bit over the edge. Someone has been impersonating the Saint, setting him up to take a murder rap. Who? Well, not to give it all away, but let's just say that it is an old enemy. In addition, the story features eccentric artists, helpful hippies and large dose of Simon's buddy, Claude Eustace Teal of Scotland Yard. Writer John Kruse's interpretation of the Saint is often not in harmony with the established spirit of the character. This story is a good example of missing the mark.

When Spring Is Sprung (4)
In this adventure, the Saint acts in the interest of the British government, to arrange the escape of a double agent (John Spring) to Russia. Simon must outwit the zealous Inspector Teal, in order to "spring" Spring. The Russians learn an expensive lesson when they try to play the Saint for a fool.

The Saint, Set 4 is a collection with some good stories, and others that are not so well written, but are still entertaining. While there are some fine moments, I would rate Set 3 or 2 above this one. Still it is a must have for any big time fan of the "famous Simon Templar".

What about future releases? I believe there are two episodes from 1967, six from 1968, and thirteen from 1969 left to be released. These include the two part features, "The Saint and the Fiction Makers" and "Vendetta for the Saint". It will be interesting to see how they are packaged. There are also 71 black and white episodes yet to be released on DVD as well. I hope the folks at A&E will keep working hard to ensure that, The Saint will be back! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

4* for the print! Goodtimes version is the best yet on video
Abbott & Costello made only two color movies and most circulating copies have variable color quality (sometimes so bad that the video is released in black-and-white instead). But this version of "Jack and the Beanstalk" is the best I've seen, and Goodtimes Home Video deserves a round of applause for issuing it on DVD. The original "Super Cinecolor" (less expensive and impressive than Technicolor) is generally very good indeed; I noticed a few instances of Costello's green costume shifting to blue-green, probably owing to different surviving film elements. Goodtimes did a fine job restoring this, and this DVD offers excellent value for the budget price.

The movie itself is a pleasant children's story with music. After a "modern" prologue in monochrome, Bud and Lou adapt their usual sharpie-and-patsy roles to colorful fairytale settings, and Buddy Baer is an excellent foil as the fearsome giant. (Listen for cartoon-voice Mel Blanc playing several roles in the "I Fear Nothing" song.) Makes a nice kiddie matinee, best for small children but older A & C fans will enjoy it, too.

Bud and Lou in the classic fairy tale
Perhaps I'm a bit biased here, but this film was my first exposure to Abbott and Costello, and I've loved them every since. My parents bought the VHS tape of this when I was very young and I was instantly mesmerised -- those guys were the funniest team of comedians I'd ever seen. They still are, really.

In retrospect, this may not be one of their greatest films (it's not on par with Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, for instance), but it's a fun retelling of the classic Jack and the Beanstalk story, casting Lou as Jack and Bud as the crooked butcher who swaps him magic beans for a cow. Transplanting the boys into the fanciful setting works, and although some of the stuntwork and sets seemed pretty threadbare at times the story and the comedy still click well. This is also one of the few films the boys ever made that could be classified as a musical.

For completists who love Abbott and Costello and are still impatiently waiting for the rest of their films to come out on DVD, this is a must-have. Also recommended for folks with kids -- it's a wonderful movie for the young.

Horrible video and audio transfer!
This was a gift. I knew enough to stay away from Madacy products. The quality of the print is just awful with lines, missing frames, terrible contrast, fuzzy focus, washed out color, and the worst sound I 've ever heard on a DVD. I wish I could recommend a good copy of this movie but I don't know where to get one since it's public domain.

Kids enjoy the show, but it's a poor transfer.
You know the story... the film is a faithful retelling. Costello dreams himself (as Jack) and fellow movie characters into the story. The narrative device recalls Dorothy's dream in The Wizard of OZ; it plausibly lands Lou and Bud in character. Be advised that in addition to annoying film artifacts, my Madacy disc was defective (a series of small depressed circles in a ring concentric with the spindle hole) and in the Passport edition, the video is worse still and then is poorly synched with the audio! Stay away from both if you can find better transfers.

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK A CLASSIC
I REMEMBER SEEING THIS MOVIE BACK WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG. IT WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE MOVIES AT TIME. AND VERY RECENT I SAW THE LAST 10 MINS OF THIS CLASSIC MOVIES AND I CAN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT IT. I THINK THIS MOVIE IS GREAT FOR KIDS AND ADULTS I JUST WANTED TO WRITE A GOOD REVIEW AND RECOMMEND IT TO ALL MOVIE LOVERS OUT THERE. YOU WON'T BE DISSAPPIONTED WITH THIS FILM IS HAS GREAT HUMOR AND SONGS ANY GENERATION WILL LOVE. THANKS FOR LETTING ME EXPRESS MY OPINION WITH ALL OF YOU. ! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Underrated political splatter film
I managed to stumble across this film when I went around searching for an "intelligent film with gross-out gore". And that's what I got when I ordered this cheap DVD. The film starts out following this 17 year old that feels alienated in his upper class home. Everything seems perfect but nothing is what it seems. There are a series of revelations the protagonist (Billy) discovers as his curiosity grows. Unraveling the truth was no easy task because of "Society's" many conspiracies and cover-ups.

The movies political voice lambasted against shallow people only worrying about social status and popularity (as illustrated with Billy's ex-girlfriend in the beginning). It also shows how the rich, literally, feed off the poor. This reminds me of how back in the Roman Empire, the peasants were heavily taxed, which was one factor of the Fall of Rome, where the poor revolted. There were clever puns thrown in that some people might have missed. The rich would eat and tear a person (well just one person) in an erotic orgy zombie-like attack, "rich feeding off the poor" - get it? There lots of references about how everyone would be "contributing to society" too.

Society has the oddness of "Jacob's Ladder" and "Nick of Time", the social satire of "American Psycho", and the gross effects of "Bad Taste" and "Re-Animator", only more emphasis on slimy repulsive sludge. Some people got dismembered in ways beyond my imagination. It wasn't bloody but it was gooey, I felt like some of the goop splattered on my face, as I stayed glued to the screen. This bizarre part makes up about the last 20 minutes of the film. Searching for answers made up most of the movie.

Other stuff I should mention: There's a little love story on the side mixed in. Film might feel like it ended a bit prematurely. Some nudity and sex scenes. A fat lady is thrown in for comic relief. You will see someone have an actual butthead. The music is pretty good and fits the movie's tone. The box says it's unrated, not rated R.

So if you want gross splattastic effects used in a film that mocks greedy shallow rich people that think they're better than us humans (the rich weren't human?!) in a cynical imaginative manner, "Society" is good choice.

Can I give it a NEGATIVE amount of stars?!?
This is on the top of my list of THE WORST movies of all time!!! It is so disgusting, weird, and pointless that I don't understand how it can even exist! Don't get me wrong, I fully enjoy and appreciate horror movies--I've lost count of how many I've seen and I'm not too picky--even rather terrible horror films I've seen (such as "R.S.V.P.", "Real Killers," or "Slashers") are infinitely better than this schlock. The movie is sort of "normal" at first, your typical pathetic horror movie with poor acting and no plot, but all of the sudden there's incest amongst the main character's family which escalates somehow to some town-wide conspiracy/cult/freaky- completely-messed up group (which only he and a friend have managed to avoid) who all get together to... I don't even know what--have sex while eating each other?! or... something. Please do yourself a favor and DO NOT waste an hour and a half of your life watching this piece of trash!!!

Not for everyone but decent effects
I rented this movie while living in Japan several years ago and was struck by two things: interesting effects and I paid too much.

The story focuses on a young man discovering a horrible secret about his family when they host a party of flesh melding, limb swapping madness for a bunch of mutants (or something like that) and then discovers his true purpose there.

The story is weak, the acting is third-rate, but the effects of joined bodies and malleable flesh are not bad. I've seen worse excuses for a horror movie, but then I've also seen many better. This is a good example of a movie where the story is written to match special effects thought of in advance.

Poor attempt at satire
This is one of those movie's that can't really decide what it wants to be. On the one hand it could be seen as a satire on the capitalist, greedy society. On the other it is a silly teen movie with big ideas that it doesn't pull off. The plot has a teenage jock listening to a tape of his sister talking to their parents in a way that suggests incest. The next thing you know, the guy that played the tape is killed in a tragic road accident. Is he imagining it or is something really happening right under his nose?

This plays out as a typical teen movie, with a gorgeous cast that the camera ogles at every opportunity. Given what is to happen later the almost constant sexual references are perhaps relevant. However, given the fact that there isn't a solid ending in sight and the sheer gratuity of much of what's here, it's hard to concentrate on any message that Yuzna may have been trying to get across. Indeed, even if its basic message of 'society will devour itself' is a fine central idea but if a movie is going to serve up incest then it should at least explore it.

The acting isn't important, with a lot of bland yet beautiful faces on display. There are some truly eye-popping special effectsn though and nobody will forget the gross-out finale due to how distasteful it is. It's definitely an interesting film but purely because of its ending. Apart from that there's little of note.

the rotten side of the upper class
I loved this movie from the first time I saw it. It is striking in its ruthless attak on the rotten universe hidden below American conformist and consumarist society. I hope everybody will spread the news about this highly underestimate gore movie. Enjoy! ... Read more

Description

This widely acclaimed motion picture features outstanding performances from Renee Zellweger (JERRY MAGUIRE, BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY) and Julianna Margulies (TV's ER, THE NEWTON BOYS). Sonia (Zellweger) is a young woman who always did just what was expected: she married the right man, moved to the right neighborhood, and had a beautiful baby. And yet, when she discovers an exciting world beyond her tightly knit community, it sparks a growing desire for independence that threatens the security of the perfect life she knows. See A PRICE ABOVE RUBIES for yourself, and learn why critics and audiences nationwide have praised this passionate movie gem! ... Read more

Reviews (42)

Zellweger Shines in Ethnic Drama; Divergent Viewpoints
...

A carefully and compellingly rendered drama of a contemporary woman's stirring discovery of self, "A Price Above Rubies" is set in the context of a Hasidic Jewish/American community. Beautifully photographed, this film's acting sparkles -- and renders a reasonably accurate portrait of an easily caricatured community.

Renee Zellweger establishes herself as a talent of unlimited possibilities. ...

The film's feminist perspective is gracefully realized without belittling all guys -- which greatly enhances the film's power! (And lowers my blood pressure!)

Production design is exceptional!

Those Orthodox Jewish critics who are angered by this film's portrayal of Jewish Orthodoxy might have us believe that the world of Orthodoxy is monolithically benign. It is not. ...

Traditional thought and practice -- orthodoxy in many settings -- has its beauties and strengths and -- like most things human-- it has its dark, shadow side as well. "A Price Above Rubies" depicts the delicate balance gone awry.

For a very different, also wonderful film which depcts both light and shadow sides of Ameriocan Jewish traditionalism, but less critically of Orthodoxy, try "The Chosen" (1982) (adapted from Chaim Potok's book), with Robby Benson (quite good in this film, to my surprise), Rod Steiger and Maximillian Schell -- available on VHS, not yet on DVD. For me "The Chosen" is a five star, among my all-time top 10 films!

Zellweger Shines in Ethnic Drama; Points of Comparison
REVISED from my earlier review:

A beautifully rendered drama of a contemprary woman's stirring discovery of self, "A Price Above Rubies" is set in the context of a Hasidic Jewish/American community. Beautifully photographed, this film's acting sparkles -- and renders a reasonably accurate portrait of an easily caricatured community. Renee Zellweger establishes herself as a talent of unlimited possibilities. (I wrote these words of promise when the film was 1st released, long before Renee's fame via the fluffy "The Diary of Bridget Jones" and the incredibly wonderful "Chicago"! Now I saw hor on the cover of Cosmo!) The film's feminist perspective is gracefully realized without belittling all guys -- which greatly enhances the film's power! Production design is exceptional!

Those Orthodox Jewish critics who are angered by this film might have us believe that the world of Orthodoxy is monolithic. It is not. In my own family and beyond, many people experience forms of Jewish Orthodoxy which are fulfilling and wonderfully peaceful. On the other hand, abusive conduct does creep in to parts of this world, as exemplified most vividly by the 1999 Amos Gitai film, Kadosh -- a terrifying portrait of the worst side of Orthodox Jewish patriarchy, which makes "A Price Above Rubies" seem like a fairy tale. In my own community, we have learned of an attempted horrific Orthodox shunning and boycotting of a wife and doctor after she reportedly sought a divorce alleging substantial physical abuse. (Who can say whether the woman's charges were true! The vengeful letter writing and attempted boycott are fact, however.)

Traditional thought and practice has its beauties and strengths and -- like most things human-- it has its dark, shadow side as well.

AN INTENSE TALE OF EMANCIPATION. NOT ABOUT RELIGION.
Beyond a touch of sensationalistic Hollywoodisation (over-simplifying the perceived orthodoxy of Jews) the movie is about a woman who is stifled in her relationship with a fanatically devout husband, and in that it etches an intermittently sharp portrait of a subculture caught between a rich historical legacy and a changing contemporary world.

To me, the movie was NOT about the Hasidic way of life. I could see this film holding just about as relevant even if I replaced the community potrayed in it with any other. It is about the marital suffering of two people who are very different in their moorings.

Renee Zellweger, the pivot, does a very convincing job of showing the desperation in a young woman's personal search, Sonia, who embarks on a search for not only herself but also her place in the world -- for the duration of the film Renee gave Sonia the precise dignity and emotion that the role deserved.

The supporting cast were strong, Juliana Margulies certainly showing that she's doesn't always play the 'nice girl'. Christopher Eccleston was convincingly wicked and Glenn Fitzgerald puts in a credible performance as Mendel, the husband, capturing the essence of the role commendably.

Bordering sometimes on being a chick-flick, the movie generally deals with feminine issues, and I would think that the emotional dominion would have it seldom appeal to a male audience. Which is quite evident in the other belittling reviews here.

I recommend this film highly, although it is an intense one and perhaps not for every Joe Blogg. Make sure you're in the mood.

Very high price of individual freedom
What a movie! At the end I had goosebumps and was trying hard to hold back the tears. What a fantastic performance by RZ!

The movie starts off as a slow-as-molasses slice-of-life story about an orthodox Jewish family in NYC. But it ends as the heroic struggle of a Jewish woman yearning to be free -- free of paternalistic controls, free to decide on her own fate, free to pursue beauty in life, a rebellious street-smart and hard-headed woman who wants to be free enough even to judge the wisdom of God, an ultimate heresy for the social milieu she was raised up in. She goes through hell, but at the end she hangs on to her dear freedom. And that has a "price well above rubies" and diamonds.

RZ is a star! She is burning with talent and heart.

Dark Side
Despite the Orthodox Jewish background this movie is really about a womens life and her ways of reaching what she has always wanted. See the movie with an open mind and all will be well. ... Read more

Description

Ash's Totodile falls for a singing Azumarill, but totodile's dancing fails t o impress the cuddly Aquarabbit Pokemon. Next, Ash tries to capture a rare Noctowl, but constantly gets outsmarted!While Pokemon outsmarting Ash is no surprise, everyone is in for a shock when a thundering herd of Ursaring forces Jessie to team-up with Ash and Mistyto join Team Rocket!Will anything ever be the same? ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Misty joins Team Rocket!
1st episode:
Ash's Totodile falls in love with a singing Azumaril.
2nd episode:
Ash tries to catch a Noctowl, but he keeps getting confused.
3rd episode:
Thanks to and Ursaring group, Misty joins James and Meowth, and Jessie joins Ash, Brock, and Pikachu.

Totodile and Azumarill?
If you're a fan of Ash's journey to the Johto League, you should like these three episodes. I'll describe each of these three episodes to you sepreately since I like each of them differently.(I actually like only the first of these three episodes.)

Episode 3-48: Love, Totodile Style: Ash and friends take a break at a lake. After Ash and Misty let out all their water Pokémon, Ash's Totodile notices and falls in love with this Azumarill. However, Azumarill doesn't feel the same way about Totodile. At the same time, Ash, Misty, and Brock are about to have some of Brock's beef stew when they notice a Golduck in the bushes. Misty gets ready to try to capture it, but then it's trainer, a woman with red hair, green eyes, a blue half-shirt, tan pants, a green braclet, red shoes, and a blue bow in her hair, appears. As usual when this happens, a smitten Brock runs up to the concerned girl and introduces himself to her (just like Totodile was with her Azumarill). The woman tells him that her name is Trixie. After Misty pulls Brock back by the ear, Ash asks the Trixie what she and her Golduck were looking for. The 23-year old explains that she was looking for her Azumarill, which then runs up to her, followed by Totodile. Later, we find out that Trixie manages this Pokémon circus and that Azumarill is the star of the show. After the show, Brock decides to give Totodile a few love lessons. However, Team Rocket appears and snatches Azumarill, then wait for Ash to have Pikachu try to stop them, only for Pikachu to be snatched as well. After telling Trixie what happened, she'll help our friends find Team Rocket and get their Pokémon back.

Episode 3-49: Fowl Play: Ash and friends are in a dark forest and find a middle-aged professor who is looking for a Noctowl with an unusual color. They'll all find out that this particular Noctowl will be very difficult to catch.

Episode 3-50: Forest Grumps: After Team Rocket try to snatch all of Ash, Misty, and Brock's Pokémon. What happens then is these Ursaring appear and start chasing all of them. The result, Jessie ends up with Ash and Brock and Misty ends up with James and Mewoth. Both sides will have to avoid the Ursaring who keep appearing.

Why I like these episodes:

Love, Totodile Style: I like seeing Azumarill as well as Totodile falling in love with it. I'm okay amitting this, I also think Trixie is a pretty woman that's in her early twenties and I really like her.(You'll agree when you see her.)

Fowl Play: This episode's okay, but not one of my favorites.

Forest Grumps: This episode's okay, but not one of my favorites.

This DVD is a highly recommended purchase for anyone that likes Pokémon.

Enjoyable series but...
Pokémon is the story about Ash Ketchum and his friends, Misty Williams and Brock Harrison. Ash's goal is to become a Pokémon Master. Misty's goal is to be "the best at everything" but, more specifically, a Water Pokémon Master. Brock's goal is to be the world's best Pokémon breeder. Pokémon are the animals that inhabit their world. They come in many different species (mouse, cat, dog, etc.) and types (electric, grass, water, fire, etc.). Each Pokémon trainer trains his or her Pokémon to battle other Pokémon and win badges to compete in Pokémon Leagues. Ash, Misty, and Brock must deal with Jessie, James, and Meowth of the evil Team Rocket, who want to steal Ash's first Pokémon, Pikachu, and usually other Pokémon as well. This Japanese animation series is an advertisement for the Pokémon video games, and the episodes' plots are usually simple, but this is actually an enjoyable series. Common themes are friendship, not giving up, parting ways with a dear friend, and other good morals. Parents and guardians that are concerned about the violence need not worry. Yes, the kids have their pets fight each other, but they also must learn to take care of and love their pets. Girls will find a strong female role model in Misty. Overall, this is a fun, simple, warm-hearted, rather repetitive series. However,they don't even include the Japanese vocal tracks with English subtitles or the fun music videos from the TV airings.

Totodile, Noctowl, and Ursaring!
You know how it goes, three episodes from the hit anime series about a boy and his Pikachu...
First up, in "Love, Totodile Style", Totodile falls head over heels from a female Azumarril, but she wants nothing to do with him. Perhaps Brock can give Totodile a few pointers... well, maybe not. And how does a Golduck figure into all this? Next, in "Fowl Play", Ash and company come across a super-smart, shiny Noctowl! This clever Pokemon has eluded capture for a long time; will Ash be the one to snag it? Finally, in "Forest Grumps", the kids and Team Rocket find themselves trapped in a forest filled with grumpy Ursaring! Even worse, Jessie finds herself with Brock and Ash, and Misty is stuck with James and Meowth! Can't they all just get along... at least long enough to survive a pack of Ursaring??
All of the episodes featured on this DVD are pretty top notch, which is rare, especially for Season 3. Totodile's antics in the first episode provide plenty of laughs, and Noctowl's antics in the second are a hoot. And 'Forest Grumps' provide a more human view of our favorite trainers as they overcome their differances and get along. All and all, a very well recommended purchase.

The king of Kids' WB! The biggest heartbreaker!
Even though Nintendo Power will no longer sell the Pokemon comics any more, I'm going to love this volume just like you told me. They contain the following:

"Love Totodile Style". In this romantic-action-comedy episode, Totodile wants to find a Pokémon to fall in love with, but the Pokémon he found was Azumarill. Suddenly, Azumarill runs away. How unfair! But that's not all. Team Rocket not only steals Azumarill, but they also capture Pikachu and Totodile at the same time to send them to the boss. How will these 3 Pokémon escape?! It's up to Ash and the gang to come to the rescue! By the way, I knew this episode all along, that when Azumarill was rescued, she falls in love with Totodile, but huh? Totodile was completely heartbroken! Wah!

"Fowl Play!". In this action-packed episode, the only thing I know about this episode is that Ash Ketchum captured Noctowl before Pokémon 3: The Movie began, right? But I just can't tell what else happened in the episode!

And finally, "Forest Grumps". In this action-horror episode, a trap falls from the sky and swoops down to capture all those Pokémon in the forest. This is where Ursaring is lurking by to destroy the trap immediately!

Now, thank you all once again on your cooperation on what to rank. However, in "Love Totodile Style", don't feel heartbroken if Totodile can't find anybody to fall in love with, like Azumarill for example. In "Fowl Play", watch out for owls that will swoop down and attack you throughout the forest. And in "Forest Grumps", try your best to avoid tripping the traps. Just remember that if the episode "Love Totodile Style" in Chapter 13 is making you feel heartbroken, the other 2 episodes will make you feel a lot better, so don't worry about it. Have fun, and good luck! ... Read more

Description

Based on the big hit Nintendo Gameboy! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Indigo End-Game
If you liked playing Pokemon Stadium, this volume of the anime should be right up you alley. The final battles of the Indigo league, the final show down between friends, and a big good-bye to Gary Oak who won't be seen again until Johto.

Basically these eps have little plot, and mostly go into Pokemon vs. Pokemon, trainer vs. trainer as those who've won eight badges of the Indigo league must participate in a cross between the Olympics and pro-wrestling. Usually a moral will be worked in, and we get to sometimes see a different side to Team Rocket, but that's about the only high points. Very good if you like watching sports, but if you love Pokemon for the comedy & adventure ... well look at it this way, the next Vol. after this issues in the Orange League series ^_^. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Like a Greek tragedy
The title character, a peasant sold as a concubine to a cruel old man, is played by the beautiful Gong Li, one of the great actresses of our time who followed this brilliant work with spectacular performances in The Story of Qiu Ju (1991), Raise the Red Lantern (1992), and Farewell, My Concubine (1993). Li Wei plays her master, Yang Jin-shan, the childless owner of a dye mill in the agrarian China of the 1920s. Li Wei's fine performance combines craftiness with iniquity reminding me a little of the late great John Huston with scruffy beard. The third character in the tragic triangle is Jin-shan's nephew, Yang Tianqing, a modest man who does most of the work in the dye mill. The pent-up intensity of Li Baotian, who plays Tianqing, recalled to me at times the work of Ben Kingsley. Ju Dou falls in love with Tianqing almost by default, and it is their ill-fated love that leads to tragedy.

In some ways this visually stunning, psychologically brutal film about paternity and the old social order of China was Director Zhang Yimou's "practice" for the making two years later of his masterpiece, the afore mentioned, Raise the Red Lantern, one the greatest films ever made. The theme of patriarchal privilege is similar, and in both films Gong Li portrays a young concubine required to bear a son and heir to a cruel and ageing man of means. Even though the setting in both films is China in the twenties before the rise of Communism, both films very much annoyed the ageing leadership of Communist China and were censured (Ju Dou was actually banned), ostensibly for moral reasons, but more obviously because of the way they depicted elderly men in positions of power.

Ju Dou is the lesser film only in the sense that Sirius might outshine the sun were the two stars placed side by side. Both films are masterpieces, but for me Ju Dou was difficult to watch because of the overt cruelty of the master, whereas in Raise the Red Lantern, Yimou chose to keep the more brutal aspects of the story off camera. In a sense, then, Raise the Red Lantern is the more subtle film. It is also a film of greater scope involving more characters, infused with an underlining sense of something close to black humor. (The very lighting of the lanterns was slyly amusing as it ironically pointed to the subjugation.)

In Ju Dou there is virtually no humor and the emphasis is on the physical brutality of life under the patriarchal social order. Ju Dou is beaten and tortured while we learn that Jin-shan tortured his previous wives to death because of their failure to bear him an heir. The terrible irony is that it is Jin-shan who is sterile. He feels shamed in the eyes of his ancestors because the Wang line will die out with him. But a child is finally born through Ju Dou's illicit affair with Tianqing. (Note that this conjoining in effect saves Ju Dou's life.) Jin-shan thinks the infant is his son and briefly all is serenity. However, while two may live happily ever after, three will not. Notice too that now that Jin-shan has an heir, nephew Tianqing will inherit nothing.

Will they kill Jin-shan? Will fortuitous events put him out of the picture? Will they find happiness? Will the boy learn the truth about his paternity? Yimou's artistry does not allow superficial resolution, you can be sure.

Note the two significant turns the film takes early on. One comes after Ju Dou discovers that Tianqing has been spying on her through a peep hole as she goes about her bath. At first she is mortified, and then sees this as a chance to show him the scars from the torture she endures daily, and then she shows him her body to allure him. The other turn comes as the child pronounces his first words by calling the old man "Daddy." Instantly Jin-shan, now confined to a wooden bucket that serves as a wheelchair, divines a deep psychological plan to realize his revenge. He embraces the child as his own, hoping to turn the boy against the illicit couple.

The strength of the film is in the fine acting, the beautiful sets, the gorgeous camera work, and in the unsentimental story that does not compromise or cater to saccharin or simplistic expectations. Yimou is a visual master who turns the wood gear- and donkey-driven dye mill of the 1920s into a tapestry of brilliant color and texture. Notable is the fine work that he does with the two boys who play the son at different ages. He has them remain virtually mute throughout and almost autistically cold. Indeed part of the power of this film comes from the depiction of the character of the son who grows up to hate who he is and acts out his hatred in murderous violence toward those around him.

Zhang Yimou is one of the few directors who can bring simultaneously to the silver screen the power of an epic and the subtlety of a character study. His films are more beautiful than the most lavish Hollywood productions and as artistically satisfying as the best in world cinema. The only weakness in the film is perhaps the ending which is played like a Greek tragedy for cathartic effect. One senses that Yimou and co-director Yang Fengliang in choosing the terminus were not entirely sure how this tale should end and took what might be seen as an easy way out.

A tragic Chinese love story starring Gong Li
I would hesitate to qualify "Ju Dou" as erotic in the traditional Western sense of the word, but that may just be because the tragedy of this tale overwhelms the sensuality. The title character, played by Gong Li, is married off to the brutal owner of a dye mill in rural China in the 1920's who treats his wife as badly as he treats his nephew. In their misery the pair turn to each other and when Ju Dou is pregnant and bears a son, they have to pretend the boy is her husband's. However, their hidden love is just a tragedy waiting to happen and even the death of the old man does not provide any real happiness. "Ju Dou" is essentially a horror film, whose middle act happens to be a romance. But the way the uncle treats his nephew and how the nephew and Ju Dou pay for their love, will stand out in your memory more than the supposedly erotic middle section.

I am not sure I am willing to call "Ju Dou" director Yimou Zhang's best film (co-directed by Yang Fengliang), but like all of his films it is fascinating to watch. It does make the best use of the Technicolor equipment China bought from the U.S., especially as they work on dying all that fabric. The bright colors are truly spectacular. Although "Ju Dou" was the first Chinese film to be nominated for the Best Foreign Film Oscar, it was banned in China by the government. The assumption is because since the film is about an impotent old man ruining the lives of those under him the people would see it as a metaphor for a nation ruled by a bunch of old men. This is one of those take it or leave it levels of symbolism since the film is obviously not didactic.

WHAT IS THIS ,
WHAT IS THAT,THE MOVIE IS VERY GOOD ,THE BEST OF THE YEARS.

JU DO ,MY FAVORITE
JU DO ,MY LOVE ,I HAVE SEEN THE MOVIE 5 TIMES ,I NEVER SEE MOVIE LIKE THAT.THIS IS VERY GOOD,GREAT WORK.IT IS GOOD TO HAVE.

Spectacular Chinese cinematic experience
Ju Dou showcases the talents of both Zhang Yimou, its director, and Gong Li, its female protagonist. This was the first Zhang Yimou movie that I saw and it created a taste in me for more of such films. Zhang Yimou deals with complex human issues that has no easy resolution. Your patience with reading the subtitles will be rewarded. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Pokémon Master-in-training Ash Ketchum experiences further ups and downs, with Misty teasing him and the practical Brock advising him."Mystery at the Lighthouse" recalls Ray Bradbury's short story "The Fog Horn." The single, forlorn specimen of a huge seagoing Pokémon comes to a lonely lighthouse seeking companionship, but the villains of Team Rocket drive off the unique creature before "Pokémon scholar" Bill can study it.Moving on to Vermilion City, Ash wins a Thunder Badge in a match against the local champion, whose no-holds-barred tactics have sent more than a dozen Pokémon to the hospital. Ash and Pikachu prove that speed, agility, and friendship can overcome brute strength.At their evil boss's bidding, Team Rocket lures a crowd of Trainers onto the St. Anne ocean liner as part of a plot to seize their Pokémon.Ash leads a counterattack that defeats the bad guys, but the episode ends on an unusually ominous note, with Ash, Misty, Brock, and Pikachu trapped in the sinking ship.Even more ominous for parents is Bill's statement that there may be no limit to the number of Pokémon beyond the known 151. --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (32)

some of the best of Pokemon
think Pokemon is cool? of course you do. well Electric Shock Showdown and Battle Aboard the St. Anne are some of the best. for true pokemon fans it was very exciting to see Pikachu vs. Raichu. Team Rocket begins to worry after the first match that pikachu lost, that Pikachu wasn't as valuable as they thought and should persue other villainess deeds, but in the end with an ability not known to Raichu, Pikachu, the underdog, comes out on top again. When Team Rocket henchmen try to capture a ship load of pokemon trainers' pokemon, the trainers join forces putting charmander with charmander and geodude with geodude to force Rocket off the ship but then a storm results in the evacuation and capsizing of the ship Ash must find and get back his first captured pokemon, butterfree, and James to get back a Majikarp he squanderd his and Jesse's money on,however the ship sinks with him and his friends trapped in side...

The battle of the Century!
Now, before I say the good part, I'd like to say why this lost a star. The first episodes plot was a bit slow, and didn't have a lot of action. But "Electric Shock Showdown" was great. At last, Pikachu vs. Raichu. The plot was good, and the famed Team Rocket "Pika-cheer" was hilarious. And the third episode was the tip of the iceberg, with a good plot and lots of action. And Team Rocket finally looks likes a formidable orginazation. Not to mention James gets conned, and takes Jessie's money with him!

Enjoyable series but too expensive
Pokémon is the story about Ash Ketchum and his friends, Misty Williams and Brock Harrison. Ash's goal is to become a Pokémon Master. Misty's goal is to be "the best at everything" but, more specifically, a Water Pokémon Master. Brock's goal is to be the world's best Pokémon breeder. Pokémon are the animals that inhabit their world. They come in many different species (mouse, cat, dog, etc.) and types (electric, grass, water, fire, etc.). Each Pokémon trainer trains his or her Pokémon to battle other Pokémon and win badges to compete in Pokémon Leagues. Ash, Misty, and Brock must deal with Jessie, James, and Meowth of the evil Team Rocket, who want to steal Ash's first Pokémon, Pikachu, and usually other Pokémon as well. This Japanese animation series is an advertisement for the Pokémon video games, and the episodes' plots are usually simple, but this is actually an enjoyable series. Common themes are friendship, not giving up, parting ways with a dear friend, and other good morals. Parents and guardians that are concerned about the violence need not worry. Yes, the kids have their pets fight each other, but they also must learn to take care of and love their pets. Girls will find a strong female role model in Misty. Overall, this is a fun, simple, warm-hearted, rather repetitive series. However, despite how much I like the anime, the DVDs are not worth your money. Each episode is probably less than twenty minutes long, and there are only three episodes on each DVD. You would be paying the price of this DVD for around one hour of Pokémon. That's ridiculous. They don't even include the Japanese vocal tracks with English subtitles or the fun music videos from the TV airings. You can rent these same English-dubbed episodes on VHS. If you really want this series on DVD, my advice to you is to buy the movies and the special, "Mewtwo Returns", and wait for box sets of the series.

The perfect combination of Funny and cool!
I've never seen the movie it's self,but I saw it on Kids WB once and really liked it! Although Ash lost to Lt. surge at first later he figured out Lt. Surges Raichu never learned the evasive attacks(Agility and Double team)when it was still a Pikachu so Ash's Pikachu kept Dodging Raichu so Raichu eventually ran out of attacks and Ash's Pikachu quicky knocked it out!!! One of the funniest things about this episode was Team Rocket was constantly cheering Ash's Pikachu on because they knew if it could beat it's evolved form,Raichu it would be worth stealing(not that they ever could steal it)!

Another Poke triumph!
The episode "Battle Aboard the St. Anne" has really made me wonder about James ... I think he needs therapy. Then again, he wouldn't be half as funny as he is if he were well-adjusted.

And of course, for you Pikachu fans, he and Raichu mix it up in "Electric Shock Showdown", the best episode on this DVD. Lt. Surge isn't letting our little yellow guy win easily, but as usual Pika's brains (not Ash's) save the day. (In this one, James and Jesse get weird again with their "Pika cheer". Disturbing yet funny. Maybe these two just didn't get enough love when they were children.)

The third episode, "Mystery At the Lighthouse", is eery and delightfully chilling.

This DVD belongs in every Poke fan's collection! ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Maybe not 4ever...
After a short, limited release in theaters last year, Pokemon 4Ever is finally coming to video courtesy of Miramax. And while it's not the vast improvement to the previous Warner Bros DVD releases we were hoping for, it is still a decent offering.
The story, basically, is that Ash and company come across a boy named Sam and a Celebi, who have traveled 40 years from the past. But before Celebi can bring Sam back to his own time, it is captured by the Iron Mask Marauder, who captures Celebi using a Dark Ball, and transforms it into a destructive monster. While the Marauder and Celebi destroy the forest, Ash and Sam must try and save Celebi. There are some surprisingly emotional scenes in the movie, especially towards the end as we find out the fate of Celebi and Sam's relationship with Ash.
The DVD offers trailers for this movie and the Japanese trailer for the fifth movie, as well as previews for other Miramax titles. Fans will be pleased to know that the Pikachu short has been restored for the DVD, and as usually, it's pretty funny and features plenty of cute Pokemon. It also a multi-angle animation progression feature, but the footage shown is very brief; each of the four segments clock in at barely under a few seconds, if that. One major complaint about this DVD is that despite the fact that this is the fourth Pokemon feature, it is still only presented on DVD in FULLSCREEN. There are many instances in the movie where a character is speaking, but you can't see him or her, since they are cropped off the screen. I'd hoped this unfortunate tradition was left behind with Warner Bros, but the curse follows the series to Miramax. Listen up, Miramax, we don't mind the black bars on the screen, we really don't. This problem is even worse when compared with the Warner releases, because the picture seems to be zoomed in a bit more and after repeated viewings, you actually begin to notice that the screen is constantly wobbling. A very poor transfer.
Another complaint, though not as major, is the commentary featuring the producers and the cast. While it's fun to finally hear what the actors really sound like, they don't really react to anything on-screen; it's more like a Q&A session. While it does answer some interesting questions, it would have been better off to leave it as a separate feature and keep a regular commentary with just the producers. The commentary track also only runs under an hour, so it cuts off with about 20 minutes of the movie left to go. Hopefully they won't do this with movie 5, since the commentaries are my favorites part of the Pokemon movies.
Otherwise, it's a solid film, and fans will be pleased that the movie sticks very close to the original Japanese script. It won't convert any Pokemon haters, but then again, nothing probably would.
Just please, Miramax, when you release movie 5 on DVD, please do so in widescreen.

Pokemon is the best!!!
I am pokemon crazy!!! It feels so good to know that pokemon is still popular. In Pokemon 4ever, I loved the part where James and Meowth were hanging on to a piece of string from the bottom of Whites blimp. I also really loved the part where Meowth told James, "We,re no match for that big twig monster." "I know, poor Jessie." In his heart, I bet James was worried about Jessie. To him, that was a nightmare. In the anime series of pokemon, i get the feeling that Jessie and James hearts beat as one. In Pokemon Shipwreck in the part where they thought they were going to die, it looked James was about to admit he loved Jessie. But then Misty ruined their moment. Jessie,s beautiful blue eyes seemed to look right into James soul. In that episode, I bet poor James could feel his heart pounding.

A pokemon movie even a Mom could love!!
Our whole family likes this movie. The story is well developed, interesting and creative. The focus of the story is good old fashioned, good vs. evil, without the gratuitous violence. I found myself surprised to be enjoying this movie. It's very creative and fun. What is even more remarkable is the open display of emotion towards the end of the movie. This is truly something rare, but needed, in movies that are generally for boys.

Even Mom gives this movie two thumbs up!

Good DVD Movie--Summary by an *erhm* 8th grader
Just another Pokemon movie...i guess...

If thats what you're thinking, you're wrong. Its a great movie for |children & POKEMON ADDICTS or Pokemaniacs & REAL anime lovers| only. Lets talk about literature you learned in grade school, OK?

First of all, the title is of course, Pokemon 4Ever, the 4 cleverly replacing the 'for' in the title and also representing the 4th movie made about Pokemon (notice: i didnt say 'by' because obviously Pokemon didnt make the movie). This movie is just about Celebi, a legendary Pokemon, who travels forward in time about 40 years. Sammy, a person who you know really well in the first episode (no im not giving who the person is away, you'll have to get it and see), travels along with Celebi and meets Ash. They do the usual "Hi! How are you?" and blah, blah, blah. SKIP BORING PART OF MOVIE --->
The climax and denouement are grouped together after 1 hour or so when Ash tries to feed Celebi. Since I come from an Asian background, the author and original artist of the drawing probably infered that Celebi had died when the berries dropped into the water. In Asia, esp Chinese and Japenese backgounded people say that when beads fall, you are dead. So, basically the berries symbolizes death. And ya, it isnt dead for long because it is revived by other Celebi, and Ash and Sammy depart. Ash is sad and thats the end of the story.

There was plenty of irony in the story, especially with Professor Oak. If you dont want me to ruin the story for you stop! Else Read on. Professor Oak is Sammy. And I know...WOW! what a transformation. But then the scientific aspect comes into view. What about that thing that said that you can't be in two places at once? Huh? There are lots of holes in the story if you're scientifically smart. But who gives...this is a definently good movie despite the holes. Although the denuement could be better, its an overall good movie to watch at MAX 3-4 times. It grows boring after the first time...trust me.

Pokemon IS 4EVER!
This title fits, because Pokemon will alway be forever!
This movie is Great I love it. I will always be a pokmon fan and this movie is totally brilliant. This movie same as the other movies had a great storyline. It teaches you that you WILL suceed and you CAN help the world. Just put one foot in front of the other and you CAN and WILL accomplish you're goal. This movie skyrockted and will make you believe. Get it you'll LOOOOVE it! ... Read more

Reviews (13)

A Very Detailed Documentary on John Waters
Although this documentary mainly focuses on "Pink Flamingos", it is still enterataining to watch and very thorough. The interviews are fantastic, and I learned a lot of things that I did not know about Waters and Divine. I would recommend this to any fan or anyone else who is interested in Water's work.

A Cause for Waters' Fans to Celebrate!
These days "sick and twisted" animation festivals are very popular around the country, especially in college towns. There's something subversive and anti-establishment about them. Well, John Waters was turning out sick and twisted entertainment years before it was fashionable, and he used live actors, not animated characters, to play out his acid-trip stories in his belovedly filthy Baltimore. "Divine Trash" is an extremely interesting and well made documentary following Waters, his cast and crew during the filming of the infamous "Pink Flamingos," the film in which Divine ingests dog excrement to prove she is "the filthiest person alive." It's fascinating to see Waters interviewed today, as a more grounded middle aged man, as well as then, as an obviously chemically altered young director without a care in the world other than getting his vision on film. Actors Mink Stole, David Lochary, Edith Massey and the late, great Divine (on set and in drag during "Pink Flamingos") are interviewed as are various crew members, friends, and even foes, most notably a board member responsible for viewing Waters' work before assigning it a motion picture rating. Many might dismiss Waters' films as talentless trash, but I stand in awe of a writer/director who can plumb the depths of bad taste and create hilarious dialogue for actors who are not quite actors playing characters we've never seen before and are surely never to see again. It's also interesting to see the grass roots beginnings of a film maker who would eventually go on to make more mainstream comedies like "Polyester," "Hairspray" and "Serial Mom." Waters may not be your cup of tea, but "Divine Trash" is fascinating for documentary fans.

A deep meditation on the nature of success
First let me say how pleased I was to find this DVD at my local public library!

From there I will go on to say what an impressive piece of work this is. Having long been a fan of the movie Hairspray, which raised my curiosity about Divine in the first place, a natural progression enabled my curiosity about John Waters. This is primarily his story, the story of his work, with plenty of interview time with him. What an intriguing individual! What a creative time and place he lived in! How fortunate for all freedom loving Americans that such explorations were possible in that time and place. I doubt they could ever happen today.

True, the films do seem to be in questionable taste, with little, if any, socially redeeming value. But look closer, and you may find your own reflection. What is the value of shock value? What are its drawbacks? What have we gained? What have we lost?

John Waters was not shallow, nor was he untintelligent. He was creatively inspired, and no matter how we react to his work, react we do. Such is the nature of art.

I feel like I got to know the man just a little, which is exactly what I wanted to do. I understood a little more about his work, and its success. Do I approve? I still don't know, but I do know that whether I approve or not doesn't matter.

I do approve of freedom. I believe that no one was hurt, and that violence was not empowered through the message, which makes many of today's movies filthy in comparison.

John Waters is an interesting individual. It would have been intruging to have been in his entourage. One could not have escaped coming out a changed individual. He created a cocoon, a chrysalis, where larvae were nurtured and outrageous butterflies emerged. They loved what they were doing, and they were successful.

If nothing else, it is a deep meditation on the nature of success in a country that considers it a superior export.

...geminiwalker

A Divine Homage to the Prince of Puke ! ! !
As a long time John Waters FANATIC, I found myself glued to this DVD straight through... Although the documentary seems to be nothing more than a film adaptation of Water's two PHENOMENAL books of biographical essays CRACKPOT and SHOCK VALUE (literally, the pages come to life, and many of the quotes and anecdotes) - - the footage is worth it. The documentary is intriguing and informative and has plenty of Pink Flamingos era behind the scenes rare footage. - - You even get to meet his parents. - - While the DVD is visually intriguing, the books are hillarious, making both the books and the DVD well worth getting together. - - For example, in his book Waters tells the story of how the dog that laid the golden egg (so to speak) was a bit poo shy... The documentary, in turn, catches the set up behind the scenes... In fact, it is fascinating not only to watch interviews with a young John Waters, but also to see his directing style in action - - (DVD extras won't blow you away, but still... you'll probably end up watching this film over so many times, it'll be worth getting a DVD, before the tape eventually rips and goes to shreds !) - - Incidentally, there has been a lot of criticism how the DVD focuses disporportionately on Pink Flamingos, however, considering that this was the film that broke him into the public eye and seemed to epitomize his style, I think it is very appropriate, and gives the film a focused point of reference to tell his story from.

Interesting, but a bit self-aggrandizing
I've seen only three of Waters' movies, which is plenty, and I enjoyed this documentary, but five stars? C'mon! It consists of clips from his movies, plus "talking head" interviews with