Description

Philadelphia, 1976. The city of Brotherly Love is waging a successful war against crime led by its tough-talking mayor, Frank Rizzo (Paul Sorvino). But a maverick investigative reporter, Jonathan Neumann (Rob Morrow), has heard some troubling rumors: stories of innocent people victimized by a "goon squad" of law enforcement officers.With his reluctant partner, Phil Chadway (Randy Quaid), and a beautiful colleague (Cynthia Preston), Neumann follows a twisting, turning trail of leads pointing to a cache of records documenting hundreds of brutality cases. When Neumann begins to receive death threats, he realizes he is perilously close to uncovering a corruption scandal - one that reaches all the way to the mayor's office. With his time running out, Neumann risks everything to learn the truth - and break a shocking story that will reverberate through the nation. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great Newspaper Thriller!
If you like fast-paced thrillers that rely more on brains than brawn, this one's for you. Based on the true story of a pair of newspaper reporters in Philadelphia during the Bicentennial, it is in the vein of great films like Watergate. Jonathan Neumann (Rob Morrow) arrives in town to find prisoners routinely showing up in court with all sorts of painful bruises. When he questions why, he's told it's "jailhouse lawyering", where prisoners get together and beat each other prior to their appearances in court then claim police brutality, just to get their arrests thrown out. The problem is, from what Jonathan sees, none of the arrests are being thrown out. So he begins to suspect it is something more. In the end, he goes up against the most powerful man in Philadelphia, the former police chief and now Mayor, Frank Rizzo. It is a really exciting and thought-provoking film, with great camerawork,lightning and directing.

Enjoyable enough straight-to-video journalism tale
Frank Rizzo made a stamp as Phildelphia mayor in the 1970s; he cleaned the streets of crime in a way Rudy G. could have only dreamed in New York. But how he did it -- well, people whispered, and police carried big sticks. Not unlike the LAPD of the mid-90s, the force spiraled out of control, feasting on violence and hubris, removing lines so it didn't have any to cross.

The Phildelphia Examiner exposed the brutality, won a Pulitzer Prize, and stopped Rizzo's runaway train before he could change the city charter and run for a third term. "The Thin Blue Lie," a painful title, revisits the time and chronicles the reporters (Rob Morrow and Randy Quaid)who busted the story. The camerawork is a little cheap and the soundtrack is little too omnipresent, but the movie's a quick, dirty, 90-minute pleasure for a lazy day.

Morrow is a go-getter and new in town. Quaid is the good-natured newsman who wants to get his two stories a day and go home. As usual, the go-getter reveals the good natured sort as a victim of blind apathy, and the two combine forces, so to speak, to ferret out brutalized victims, as well as a [tough] cop who likes to go to work on suspects with a pair of handcuffs. There's even a lifesized white rabbit involved.

Morrow has the arrogant...schtick down cold. And Quaid broadens his range. Paul Sorvino has a cup of coffee as the tantrum-throwing Rizzo. Aside from G.W. "Proctor!!!" Bailey -- longtime "Police Academy" villain -- the supporting clan are actors I don't know, but have sufficiently big 1970s hair.

I like newspaper movies, usually because they're based on true stories -- aside from the ludicrous "The Pelican Brief" -- and because they cover familiar-yet-enjoyable ethical questions. Morrow's character is confronted by other reporters who make it clear Rizzo's regime lets them safely walk the streets at night. Morrow hasn't been around long enough to know the difference. In that detail, you sense how complacent a newsforce can become in the wake of a powerful leader, and how a fresh pair of eyes can see the injustices others have let fall through the cracks. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

it all comes back!
Bonanza was the first series I watched on tv and it's great to see it back. This is a real good buy: eight episodes of good image and sound quality. The stories are a bit too simple for these times, but these episodes sling you right back forty years ago when you were a twelve year old kid. Great! Everything seemed clear and simple then. Hum. Curious but fun.

Bonanza Episodes.
This dvd has two discs with a total of 8 episodes. A snap case and double sided.[Brentwood home video] Episodes are,Disc 1 side A.1. Escape to Ponderosa.2. The Ape.Disc 1 side B.1. The Bloodline.2. Death at Dawn.Disc 2 side A.1. Blood on the Land.2. Badge withouit Honor.Disc 2 side B.1. Day of Reckoning.2. Desart JusticeThe sound and picture is very good you can hear clearly and see clearly but the bad thing is how many times are they going to re..release the same episodes over and over again???Features are simple....play,choose sceen and the story of Bonanza.If you don't have these episodes on dvd or vhs do buy this one, because of the picture and sound it's worth the money.I bought this in a video store just a short time ago and I couldn't pass it up so I thought I'd pass some info to other amazon buyers. ... Read more

Description

Although they grew up in the same Brooklyn neighborhood, Diane Giacalone (Lorraine Bracco), the new Assistant U.S. Attorney, is determined to prosecute John Gotti, its most famous son, the "Dapper Don" (Anthony John Denison).Uncooperative FBI agents and bureaucrats will not deter the driven young prosecutor.Her quest culminates in the memorable and controversial trial of a Mafia boss and the principles that govern their lives. ... Read more

Description

Passion. Betrayal. Murder. Three different stories. Three different lies. Jeff Fahey (White Hunter, Black Heart) stars with Bridget Fonda (Aria, A Simple Plan) and J.T. Walsh (House of Games) in this steaming psychological thriller. After buying out a depressed "rust-belt" steel town, an arrogant Japanese tycoon is assaulted and nearly killed. It's soon revealed that the wealthy foreigner is entangled in a deadly, erotic triangle involving his own ravishing American wife and a young, out-of-work ex-steelworker who sees his hometown heritage being destroyed. "Iron Maze" is a gripping examination of cultures and passions in collision. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Iron Maze - Who?
The time - the late 80s.

The place - a Pennsylvania steel town in the grips of a recession.

Against this less-than-pleasant backdrop is set a story of jealousy and violence. Who did what to who? Why did who do what to who? Who is telling the truth about what who did what to who and why who did what to who?

Although this movie should have been good, it comes across as mediocre. The acting is so-so, some sections of the movie seem to wander, it leaves you with the feeling that it should have been better.

Ah well, that's show business!!! ... Read more

Description

Brock rejoins Ash and Misty to explore the brand-new world of Johto!New towns, new people, an best of all, new Pokemon!But all is not well in Johto!A Totodile is kidnapped before it can become the partner of a young trainer - it looks like Team Rocket has struck again!Can Ash and his friends get it back?Then, Ash and Pikachu must show a young baseball fanatic what being a Pokemon trainer is all about.And, why are the Heracross destroying the forest?Ash and his friends have to solve the mystery before the forest disappears! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Brock is back and the gang see a new pokemon!
Ash, Misty,and Brock start on the Johto League. In the first episode, the gang helps Officer Jenny get a stolen Totodile back before the trainer comes to pick it up. In the second episode, Ash teaches a baseball-pokemon trainer that being friends with your pokemon isn't just bossing them around. And in the third episode the Pincher start invading the Hercross forest.

You Got Your Poke, You Got Your Mon
My brother and his friends like this show so badly, they have the pokemon cards, why they even saw the movies, so I give it 5 stars.

Cool!
This is Ashes first time in Johto!!!
He meets Professor Elm,Casey, Woodruff.
All people in Johto are cool!!!!

Love those new starter pokemon!
I like this video because it shows all the new starter pokemon in this video and their voices too. Cyndaquil had a really cute voice^_^. Now let me tell a bit about these episodes. "Don't Touch That 'Dile" features Totodile, a water type pokemon. And also features Cyndaquil, a fire type and also features the legendary pokemon, Suicune! There is big trouble at Prof. Elm's lab, a Totodile has been stolen! Ash, Misty and Brock have to be detectives to solve this mystery. "The Double Trouble Header" features a new pokemon, Chikorita, a grass type. This time Ash has to battle a trainer named Casey, who is a big fan of the
Electabuzz Baseball Team. Casey has a Chikorita! Ash and Casey wanted to battle against each other. Casey loses and starts to cry. She runs in the forest and bumps into Team Rocket. Team Rocket tells her that Ash was cheating in the battle. Casey and Ash have a rematch. In the middle of the battle Team Rocket comes and steals Chikorita and Pikachu! Will Ash and Casey get their pokemon back? "A Sappy Ending" is about a pokemon called Heracross, a bug type pokemon. Ash and Friends go into a forest where the Heracross lived. A guy named Woodruff tells them that the Pinsir forest had been invaded by some bandits. Ash and Co. has to figure what has been bothering Pinsir in the Pinsir Forest. The Pinsir started to invade the Heracross Forest. Ash and Co. have to be detectives to figure out yet another problem? I hope when you buy this video you'll love it a lot.

Worse than a Virus, -100 stars
Bad animation, suicide-inducing voice characterizations, no real plot, and a crass commercial overtone. That describes Pokemon perfectly. This stuff is just terrible, the old Speed Racer show was better. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Ash Ketchum continues to work toward his goal of becoming a champion Pokémon trainer as he challenges a trio of synchronized swimmers in "Cerulean City"; A.J., a stern trainer, in "League"; and the conceited champion of a posh prep school in "Hard Knocks." Assisted by Misty and his friend Brock, Ash also overcomes the inept villains of Team Rocket and learns lessons about modesty, honesty, and sportsmanship.Although Ash initially feels that A.J. drives his Pokémon too hard in "League," he discovers how deeply he cares for them when Team Rocket tries to kidnap Sandshrew, his favorite. In "Hard Knocks," Ash defends a smaller boy from bullying upper classmen, and shows the snobbish students that training Pokémon isn't an academic exercise, but a way of life based on friendship and mutual affection.Viewers not caught up in the Pokémon craze may find the idea of fighting high-tech duels with these cute little animals incongruous. But millions of kids in America and Japan embraced it, and they've given the Pokémon a higher profile than such earlier product-characters as My Little Pony, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, and Herself the Elf. --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Ash tries to get another badge but his opponent is a FRIEND!
I really liked this movie because it was full of pokemon battles. Water pokemon took the Cerulean City Gym by storm. Ash also finally loses a match!!! My favorite part was when Ash fights Shazel at Pokemon Tech. Misty also loses a match. Shazel is better than a person with 3 badges. But Picachu makes an attack without electricity and wins. I give this videp two thombs up.

9000,000,000,000,000,000 stars (or more)
GO PIKACHU,GO PIKACHU this movie is much better than i chose you pikachu its even a little better than squrtle squad! ash meets A.j and team rocket captchures A.j's sanshrew if you don't watch this on T.V you should its so so so so so so so ect.cool way to go pikachu! most people turn pok'emon down because of how pok'emon look but if you try it you'll like it trust me ask your mom and dad for it (or save up your money) even try to get 5 dollars a weak! this movie is not only a DVD so don't worry if you don't have DVD go to toys R' us or any toy/video store maby they have it if you can't find it don't give up! did i say this movie is a lot of laughs? we'll it is p.s can you say pika pika chu?

A cool game series spawns a disappointing anime...
In the early-mid nineties in Japan, the Pokemon video game series was created. This series became an instant success overnight, and it's no surprise that Nintendo wanted to try their luck with the series in America. In late 1998, Nintendo ported the video games to America, as well as the animated series based on it (in America, the animated series actually arrived BEFORE the games, believe it or not!) Read on for my review of this, a DVD containing the first three episodes of the Pokemon series.

BASIC PLOT:
The basic plot of the Pokemon animated series is simple. Ash, a new Pokemon trainer, wants to become the best Pokemon collector/battler in the world. The series follows him as he finds new Pokemon, new allies, and enemies alike. On his journey he is joined by Misty, who tags along since Ash destroyed her bike, and Brock, who wants to be a Pokemon breeder. As the three travel, they frequently battle members of Team Rocket - an organization that wants to capture rare and valuable Pokemon. Most episodes of the series follow the same basic plot.

SERIES OPINIONS:
Although an amazing series of Game Boy RPGs inspired this game, the series is subpar. Every episode is pretty much the same. The crew is traveling, Team Rocket appears and says their same lines in every episode, the good guys and bad guys battle, and the good guys always cause an explosion that sends Team Rocket flying away. Also, the characters are paper thin. Most of them appear in one episode and never again. Even the main characters are pretty one-dimensional. Also, the dub gives the series too much of an "Americanized" feel. To make things worse, in America, the TV series featured Pokemon that weren't yet in any American Pokemon game, which led to hundreds of in-game rumors. The TV series also makes up several locations that aren't in the games - another big mistake. Take my advice - steer clear of this series - just play the Game Boy games instead.

DVD:
THE DVD HAS NO JAPANESE LANGUAGE TRACK!? When you do anime DVDs, it is an unwritten rule that you include both a sub and a dub, and this DVD violates that unwritten rule. Likewise, the extras are severely lacking - the Pokerap is just plain stupid. And let's not forget that DVDs cost more than VHS tapes. Take my advice - just tape these episodes off your local channel that shows the series if you want to see them that bad.

OVERALL:
Overall this was a good idea for an animated series, but it just falls flat when compared to all the other animes out there. If you want good animes that have characters that aren't paper thin, check out Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon, or Gundam Wing. If you want Pokemon, just stick with the games.

Three great episodes on one disk
From Cerulean City and beyond, Ash and his friends continue on their Pokemon adventure, all the while staying one step ahead of Team Rocket, who is still chasing Pikachu. The DVD had three episodes on it (not many for the price, but if you love the show, it's worth it), as well as the full-length Pokerap:

The Waterfowers of Cerulean City - Ash arrives at the Cerulean City Gym, but when he enters it, there does not seem to be any sign of a Gym Leader. In fact, a water ballet is being preformed! Will Ash find the Gym Leader and earn his next badge?

The Path to the Pokemon League - Heading for Vermilion City, Ash stops by an unauthorized Gym, with a leader who has won 98 matches in a row! Can Ash beat this powerful trainer? Either way, he learns an important lesson about Pokemon.

The School of Hard Knocks - The three friends stop while in a deep forest for a rest, when Ash finds a group of boys bullying another. Ash later learns that these boys go to the Pokemon Seminar School, the most well respected Pokemon School in the region. But can Ash figure out why so many of the students are so unhappy?

The video/audio is no more, no less than you could ask for on a TV show. Overall, a great buy for a fan of the series. Followed by "Poke-Friends".

I don't like Pokemon as much anymore but...
I used to absoulutely love pokemon when I was eight(no not when it was a fad,I actually hated it then). On my ninth birthday,I had a fun sleepover with my friends and we watched this. It was neat,and the episode the vidio got its name from is my second favorite episode. I recomend this one over JigglyPuff Pop,witch is pretty boring. I wish I still liked pokemon that much... ... Read more

Reviews (1)

New Pokemon, New Friends, New Adventures
This DVD, the first of the new Pokemon Advanced set, contains five episodes: Get the Show on the Road, A Ruin with a View, There's No Place Like Hoenn, You Never Can Taillow, and In the Knicker of Time.

Get the show on the Road - Ash and Pikachu arrive in their destination: Littleroot Town! Unfortunately, Pikachu is ill. Ash and Professor Birch try desperately to save it. Finally, Ash meets a new friend and companion, a girl named May with her new Torchic. It's a good start to a good season.

A ruin with a view - Ash and May stop in Oldale Town to rest, and are intrigued by some old ruins. A mysterious team interferes, and they hurry to save the Pokemon Center and the ruins from this mysterious Team Magma. Team Aqua and Magma are one of the reasons to even watch this season, and though they don't quite reveal their intentions yet, they will soon enough!

There's no place like Hoenn - Ash and May finally arrive in Petalburg City - site of the first Hoenn Gym! Ash can't wait to challenge the gym leader, but May is nervous and stays away from the gym. Ash wonders if she knows the Gym Leader, but shrugs it off and goes to battle! There, he meets a boy named Max, an expert on Pokemon despite his age.... and a gym leader! Shortly before the battle, he finds out that Max is May's younger brother, and the real gym leader is May's father Norman. He can't battle in a gym match yet, because he has only one Pokemon, but after a practice match, May's Torchic is stolen! Can Ash and his new friends recover it? This is a wonderful episode, and though battle fans will find the lack of real gym match disappointing, Pikachu and Vigoroth's battle is very satisfying.

You never can Taillow - Ash and his new friends May and Max end up in a forest inhabited by many Taillow. Ash immediately wants to catch one of the plucky flying-types, but so does Team Rocket! Meanwhile, they also meet an old friend of Ash's: Brock! This is a fun episode and now Ash's group is complete.

In the knicker of time - Ash and friends meet a boy named Nicolai, who disguises himself as Pokemon to make it easier to capture them. He wants to catch a Zigzagoon, but first battles May and defeats her. Deciding that the gym leader Norman will be easy if his daughter is easy, he rushes off to catch Zigzagoon. However, his comments severely offend Max and May, and May's brother decides to sabotage Nicolai's Zigzagoon trap. He ends up in a sticky situation surrounded by Zigzagoon! Everything turns out right in the end, and it's a great and funny episode. May and Max quarrel a lot, reminiscent of Ash and Misty, and provide a lot of laughs during this episode. My favorite on the DVD.

This is a great intro to the Hoenn Region, and contains five good episodes. My favorite on this DVD is "In the Knicker of Time," but the other four are also good.

The VHS version leaves out two episodes, so I'd recommend getting the DVD. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Rondo Hatton had appeared briefly in such Hollywood classics as The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Ox-Bow Incident, but his later status as a cult icon is kept alive by his roles in low-budget B thrillers. His massive, misshapen head, gigantic hands, and towering presence were the result of acromegaly, a disease that causes bones to be enlarged and misproportioned. The Brute Man was Hatton's last film and only headlining role--he died soon after filming. He stars as the Creeper, a mysterious killer taking his revenge on those he holds responsible for the accident that disfigured him, but whose heart is softened by a blind girl who befriends him--kind of a twisted take on Beauty and the Beast. The slapdash production suffers from an underwritten script and lackluster performances, but director Jean Yarbrough manages to inject some mood and a little style into the production, and even pulls a few surprises out of the otherwise mundane script. Tom Neal, who appears as the Creeper's next target, made his cult reputation with Detour. Hatton was never much of an actor, but he makes a startling presence shuffling through fog-shrouded streets and ducking around corners, and even elicits a little sympathy for a character so filled with hate that he becomes the monster he resembles. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Rondo Hatton at his "best".
Rondo Hatton was a victim of acromegaly whose deformed face (and voice) were tastelessly exploited in several films of the Forties. This one has two distinctions -- it was Hatton's last film (he died before its release) and it was the only Universal horror film which Universal did not bother to release, but rather sold to the ultra-low budget studio PRC for release, altho the film still begins with the Universal logo. The plot involves a handsome college student whose face becomes deformed due to a laboratory accident. Since Hatton actually was handsome and athletic in his pre-acromegaly period, the film has a bizarre parallel with his own life. (But it is difficult to accept that this type of deformity could be caused by a splash of acid.) The nouveau ugly man becomes a brutal killer, proving it is possible to be grotesque on the outside and rotten on the inside, too. He befriends a young blind woman who believes blind people have good character judgment, yet she never suspects he is a brutal killer. This grim, depressing film is interesting in a perverse way.

And now, the DVD technical review
Another customer review very nicely covers the movie itself, so just let me chime in with a few quick words about the technical quality of the DVD release.

You might think that this disc would be grainy, or soft, or with poor contrast, particularly since it's from the legendary poverty row studio PRC, and a few other PRC videos are so-so. Truth is, although the film was released by PRC, it was produced by Universal Studios!

You'll be exceedingly happy to discover that the transfer to DVD is outstanding. Contrast is excellent, and the image is sharp and clean. This is a Criterion-level transfer here! Sound is nice and clean too. Of course, the disc hasn't anything in the way of extras. Running time is just about an hour, the case is a snapper.

If you're interested in the related films, this one is the last of the "Creeper" films. The Creeper is Rondo Hatton's "signature role" begun in 1944 in the Rathbone/Bruce Sherlock Holmes film PEARL OF DEATH, followed by 1946's HOUSE OF HORRORS, and finally THE BRUTE MAN (which was indeed Hatton's last film).

Below-par B thriller of historical interest only
The Brute Man was the last film of Rondo Hatton, an acromagly sufferer whose disfigured looks were exploited by Hollywood in a series of movies in which he played a psychopathic back-breaker called The Creeper (although none of the movies, including the Sherlock Holmes thriller Pearl of Death, has any link and were not part of any series).

This cheap PRC production has Hatton hunt down the people responsible for his disfigurement (an explosion in his college lab) and also murder various others who get in his way. The victims include a nosy shop assistant and a jeweller who insists that Hatton pay for a broach. Meantime, he falls in love with a blind woman but she eventually betrays him to the police and he tries to kill her too.

One of the amusing things about this movie is that there's supposed to be a huge Dragnet out for Hatton but he's always walking down the street openly despite his looks and appearance. He actually doesn't give a bad performance. Deapite his reputation as The Ugliest Man Alive his looks aren't really bad enough to warrant the screaming reaction he gets from some of his victims. Film is padded out by some silly footage involving the investigating police (at one point playing cards when the Commissioner comes in and then taunting him). A pretty silly script and a general lack of style. ... Read more

Description

Ash meets a wild Chikorita that is so stubborn that Ash has to save it from both Team Rocket and itself! Then, a Quagsire steals Ash's precious GS Ball! What would a Pokemon want with the special Poke Ball? Plus, Ariel, an amazing Pokemon trainer, has trained her Ledyba to do complicated maneuvers at the sound of her whistle. But when Team Rocket steals the whistle, can Ash and Pikachu help stop a case of grand-theft-Pokemon!? Pokemon The Johto Journeys Vol. 42 - Snow Rescue(Contains 3 Episodes).Featuring the New Pokemon from the Pokemon GOLD and SILVER for the Nintendo Game Boy.

Special Bonus!Exclusive Pokemon Motion Card Included (while supplies last). Gold and Silver foil packaging! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Cool SHow
Good show! Over priced merchandise, Don't waste your money. Tape it off of TV and Buy the movies.

Pokemon Perfection
This DVD is a crisp blend of of Poke Perfection! The episodes all fit together to make an awesome DVD! Make sure you order this, because it is a must for all Poke Maniacs like me!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Not really what dreams are made of!
"Black Tights" belongs to an exciting part of my childhood which helped create a great love for ballet, opera and film art. So naturally, a DVD presentation of this rare - and at least for me - almost mythical film was something to look forward to! But unfortunately, this KINO presentation leaves much to be desired. I guess that this film is now a public domain title, which means that a negative or at least a perfect print might not be available anywhere. But the print used for DVD-transfer by KINO is often badly worn, especially at the reel change points appearing about every tenth minute - proof that a 70mm print was the base for the transfer. Considering this, the sound quality is surprisingly bad and the aspect ratio is not correct. (It should measure 2,2:1 if properly made.)Thankfully, the colors have not faded too badly (some reels display quite a gorgeous palette), but contrasts are weak, and scratches and dirt sometimes overwhelm the image to a point where you almost feel like throwing the disc in the nearest garbage can! But...it's still a rare and nostalgic film with lots of camp value and some very charismatic dancing stars, so it stays in the collection, if reluctantly. It will be interesting to see what the upcoming version from VCI will look like. I have no high hopes this time though! There surely must exist a better kept print somewhere in the world! Shame on KINO! They should have included a warning sticker on the package: For die-hard fans and fools only!

I expected more from Kino Video
I was really looking forward to the DVD version of this film. Too bad Kino didn't take the time to clean the picture and fix the audio. I guess I shouldn't complain. Ballet is so rare on DVD, I will grab any I can find. But a film with Cyd Charisse, Moira Shearer, Zizi Jeanmarie and Roland Petit deserves a better presentation. ... Read more

Amazon.com

As some artists worked on both Sailor Moon and Wedding Peach, it's not surprising that these "magical girl" series are very similar. Ditsy junior high student Momoko gets drawn into the struggle between Aphrodite, who strives to preserve love, and the evil Reine Devilla, who tries to destroy it. When she witnesses a battle between Devilla's servant Pluie and Aphrodite's lieutenant Limone, Momoko transforms into the Love Angel Wedding Peach. Her best friends Yuri and Hinagiku become Angel Lily and Angel Daisy. Depending onthe situation, the trio appear in bridal gowns or armor that resembles a schoolgirl's sailor suit. When they're not battling Devilla's plots, the girls moon over soccer star Kazuya, although Momoko and goalie Yousuke quickly begin a quarreling courtship. Wedding Peach will delight adolescent girls, but leave other viewers cold. (Rated 13 and older: cartoon violence, very mild risqué humor) --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Finally!
Glad to see this out. I bought the box set and got the inflatable beach ball! Definitly worth it. The anime is very cute and if you like magical girl anime, you'll like this. There will be 10 DVDs out and i'll be getting them all!

maho shojo at its finest
wedding peach is everything you would expect from a magical girl anime its funny sappy sweet and serious when the need arises this series so far exceds sailor moon in quality because it flows more quickly with fewer fillers and the characters have some good depth to them and they are funny to watch. if you are a fan of sailor moon ccs or tokyo mew mew wedding peach is one for you

It's been done, but still is fun....
[I would probably give this 4 1/2 stars, if it were an option]
At first glance, Wedding Peach seems to be a lower budget rip-off of Sailor Moon. The main character, Momoko, or Wedding Peach, is a clutzy junior high school girl who sleeps late and likes to eat. She uses a brooch to transform, and the transformation scenes and attacks are very reminiscent of Sailor Moon. However...
There is a reason why we liked Sailor Moon. It was cute, it was quirky, it was entertaining. Sure, we always knew what would happen...eventually, Sailor Moon would conquer the bad guys by joining together with her friends, and believing in the power of love. But we still watched it, and we still loved it. So why not love Wedding Peach as well? Different characters, slightly different plot (Raindevilla is out to destroy all of the love in the world instead of collecting rainbow crystals, or finding the imperium silver crystal, or the pure heart, or whatever the fourth season was about), but it is still the formula we love!
Although I've only seen the 1st DVD (which contains 6 episodes!!), it already seems to me that Wedding Peach will not be quite the same "enemy of the day" as Sailor Moon. Or at least, the enemy doesn't seem as if it will be presented in the same way every time. Also, the story line seems to move a little more quickly; we have already met THREE Wedding angels, seen Jama-P go from bad to good (we hope!) AND met Momoko's possible love interest. One of the things I always thought was a bit of a down side to Sailor Moon was that there were just SO MANY episodes, and the story moved SO SLOWLY!
All in all, if you liked Sailor Moon, or any other magical girl anime, give Wedding Peach a try. Otherwise, this won't be up your alley at all.

Gotta love girls who fight in wedding dresses...
...and attack with rings, lipstick, a watch, and a bouquet. Not your ordinary weapons, even for a magical girl series. But it's true. And actually works pretty well. But be expected to hear sap every few seconds. The heroines get their powers from the greatness of love and their dreams of getting married. The villains are demons looking to harness the power of love through the Sacred Four Somethings (which are four items that a woman is supposed to wear in a Western-type marriage--they will supposedly bring her happiness). Of course, once the demons have the Four Somethings, then they plan to destroy them and wipe out love altogether. Wedding Peach and her pals plan to stop that.

The colors in this are bright and cheery, and the dialogue can get rather childish and goofy at some points. Not that this is a bad thing--these girls are still in junior high, so they are making the transition out of childhood. The designs for the wedding dresses and the 'armored' outfits are top notch and gorgous to look at, which is a definite plus.

There are six episodes on this dvd; this is a bonus considering that many dvds only have two or three episodes for the same price. And while there are not many extras, just the usual clean opening/closing animation, I still felt I got my money's worth with this dvd.

I saw these episodes a few years back on fansub, and loved them. I had always thought that there must be more to the story, since the girls had not had a chance to do anything (and I knew that another heroine was coming), but the video store only had the two tapes. Imagine my excitement when I found out that there are other volumes after this one! So I am eagerly awaiting the second dvd, not just because it has new episodes I've never seen, but in the hopes that my favorite character will (finally) arrive....

I have also read the translated manga, and I recommend that as well.

All in all, I suggest you get this dvd if you are into shows like Sailor Moon, Revolutionary Girl Utena, or any other type of magical girl show. You will not be disappointed. Both the dub and sub versions of Wedding Peach are good, though I tend to watch the Japanese version cause its what I saw first and think is better. But you can make your own decision.

Best magical girl series!
This is so addective. Its alot better then sailor moon, cardcaptor sakura and saint tail. There are 6episodes per dvd.
This deserves 10stars. ... Read more

Description

Inspired by a true story, Rocky Holeczek is a uniquely vibrant man, who at the age of 107, is the oldest employed baker in Pittsburgh.His roommate is his grandson, Michael, a 35-year-old surgeon whom he has raised since childhood -- and continues to guide into manhood.Their saga spans over 30 years, beginning when Rocky is 75 years old. During the course of their life together, Michael's world expands to include a wife, children, an overly attentive mother-in-law and a busy career in medicine. Through all the changes, one thing between them remains constant: Rocky's determination to stick around for as long as it takes to teach Michael what he needs to know about living. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Laughter through tears
Unfortunately, this gem is one of those movies where people look at the box and just pass up. A big mistake. Although "Roommates" starts out as what appears to be light comedy. Peter Falk's portrayal of a cantankerous old man is just great throughout. But as the movie progresses, and down-to-earth hardships such as the loss of family members becomes part of the story, the characters become deeper, and the truly touching love of an old man for his family, and the love of a man for his grandfather come through. It is a beautiful film that will make you laugh out loud, make you cry buckets of tears, break your heart and then repair it again. You cannot help but get absorbed in the characters and relationships in "Roommates". Recommended viewing!

An underrated, great family movie
It's a shame that this movie's largely overlooked by critics and audience alike. However, many people who happen to "stumble" across this movie will be pleasantly surprised. OK, I'm biased because I'm in the movie. But as an avid movie-goer, I have to say this is one of the better family movies in the past 10 years. The relationships are real and touching. Even though I knew -- from the filming -- how it was going to end, the tears that came down my cheeks caught me by surprise. I wish more people would see it and realize what a great movie this is. Peter Falk and D.B.Sweeney have great chemistry. You also get to see other great actors such as Julianne Moore (unfortunately, for some reason, they always fail to mention this film in her bios).

Great!
I am a fan of this movie because I am playing the nurse at the bedside! Loved doing the movie and everyone was great!

A movie which I am sentimentally attached too!
...The art of film-making distinguishes itself from other art forms
because it lends itself quite easily to being experienced by many people at one time. This
quality becomes greater when you experience a great movie with a loved one. That film
then becomes one of your fondest memories. For me, this is the case with "Room-mates."
I will forever remember the first time I watched this movie and who I watched it with.
There are certain movies where you quite willingly turn a blind eye to it's supposed
"imperfections" and enjoy it purely because it left you with a good feeling in your heart
and a memory you will forever cherish. It is very odd indeed that "Room-mates" would
fall into this category. Despite the fact that you know one of the film's saddest moments is
inevitable, it still affects you deeply. Even then, you are left with hope in your heart, and
know that these character's will endure. I love the subtle yet important messages it
imparts. As a small boy, the son has to contend with the old man's incessant snoring yet
when he finally is out on his own and free of it he finds he can not sleep for the lack of it.
(This proves, in a unique and unforgettable way that you do not appreciate what you have
until you've lost it.) Every member of the cast gives stellar performances without
exception. I even enjoyed the moments that some critics would argue went over the top.
Above all else I will remember what this film means to me personally. It was a rare sunny
day (my fellow Oregonians will appreciate the understatement.) My mother and I, refusing
to worship the sun decided to take in a movie. This was that movie, it is a rare gem that
manages to be genuinely heartwarming, without being sugary. It is a film I will never tire
of because it themes are universal. And it will forever be associated with the day my
mother and I shunned the sun, and saw a film that to us is unforgettable. It is a film I am
proud to have in my collection.

A Lovely little movie!
We watched this on a quiet night and didn't expect much. We were pleasantly surprised at how touching it was. I recommend it to anyone sick of blood, guts, sex, etc. but yet doesn't want to watch a Disney cartoon. ... Read more

Reviews (104)

Bullitt Hits The Mark
1968's Bullitt is best known for its classic car chase scene that is still considered by many to the best of all time. The movie is worth watching for that scene alone as Steve McQueen's fastback Mustang chases down a Dodge Charger for a tense ten minutes through the streets of San Francisco. Even without that memorable scene, Bullitt is a classic 60's film. Mr. McQueen's performance as steely police detective Frank Bullitt is one of his best and the forerunner of the anti-heroes that would dominate films of the 70's. The plot revolves around a seemingly routine job for Bullitt and his men to protect a mob informant (Pat Renella) who is set to testify before a Senate subcommittee. When two hitmen break into the safe house and fatally wound the informant and injury another detective, Bullitt begins to have questions and takes up investigating the case on his own with the help of fellow detective Delgetti (Don Gordon). Fighting them at every turn is ruthless and ambitious senator Chalmers played with unctuous smarm by Robert Vaughan. Jacqueline Bissett co-stars in one of her first roles as Bullitt's girlfriend and Robert Duvall has a bit part as a cabbie. Director Peter Yates crafts a gritty look to the film and editor Frank Keller won the Academy Award for his superb work.

Steve McQueen scorches the streets of San Francisco
Arguably the best crime film of 1968, and certainly one of the most influential films of the genre...."Bullitt" established new directions in the mood and style of crime thrillers, and firmly established McQueen as one of the key anti-hero stars of the 60's. Based on the gritty novel "Mute Witness" by Robert L. Pike, this was the first, and only, time McQueen portrayed a police officer (albeit a maverick one) in his movie career. In 1968 Steve was then riding high on the success of his previous crime film, "The Thomas Crown Affair", and "Bullitt" just propelled his star even higher into the heavens !

The plot is tight, economical and well crafted....taciturn, moody Detective Frank Bullitt (McQueen) is charged with the protection of a key witness vital to an upcoming trial involving Mafia connections. Whilst hidden away in a supposed secure location, the witness and his police guard are brutally gunned down by unknown assailants. The heat is turned up on Bullitt by his tough Captain (Simon Oakland) and the manipulative, opportunistic politician Walter Chalmers (Robert Vaughn) to come up with the right answers fast ! Between the draining investigation, Bullitt struggles to maintain his relationship with his cultured, sensitive girlfriend, Cathy (Jacqueline Bisset)

Primarily coming from a TV series background, Englishman Peter Yates (directing his fourth movie) did a commendable job as director on "Bullitt"...producing a complex, intense crime thriller with a unique style that would ultimately influence many other films. Yates would later to go onto direct Robert Mitchum in the excellent "sleeper" crime film "The Friends of Eddie Coyle" !

And of course "Bullitt" is reknowned for it's now legendary car chase between Frank Bullitt's 390 GT Mustang and the two hitmen in their black, Dodge Charger 440 Magnum barrelling through the city streets and highways of San Francisco....just don't pay too much attention to how many times they pass that slow-moving, green VW Beetle !!

The DVD transfer is excellent in both sound and picture quality, and the Limited Edition Set with the extra goodies (Single sheet poster, shooting draft, lobby cards etc.) is a real bonus for keen film fans !!

One of my favourite cop thrillers....McQueen sizzles on screen !!

Put on a Sweater
This detective drama aimed to be the essence of cool, and succeeded, in fact it's a little too cool, can somebody turn up the thermostat? Barely anybody in the picture is allowed to show any genuine emotion, although one of the hoods looks a little upset before he's shotgunned. Director Peter Yates apparently planned to tell the whole story with action and came up with a near-classic. In fact his spectacular staging of McQueen's car pursuit of two Mob assassins is usually blamed for the countless imitation car chases that have blighted American movies ever since. It's certainly one of McQueen's signature roles, but why give him a hokey name like Bullitt?

McQUEEN COOL!
Ignore the paisley pajamas, Steve McQueen was an icon of cool and BULLITT is the proof. Peter Yates has a smart thinking man's cop drama, bolstered by (yes) the best chase scene on film. Great locations in San Francisco. Superior acting by McQueen, Robert Vaughn as a sinister U.S. Senator and Don Gordon, as McQueen's partner. Why didn't Don Gordon become a bigger star?

The good, the bad, and the pretty
"Bullitt" is highly regarded by many for either "the chase", or the drama.

The good and the bad: True, there is a high-speed car chase in part through the hilly streets of San Francisco. Is it "the best ever" chase? Depends on how you look at it. Plus - It was very high speed. Plus - It had a cool-looking Mustang fastback vs a big GTO. Negative - They pass the same VW 4 times, and another car 2 times (why? if not intentional, then very poor continuity) Negative - double-shifting or not, there are about 97 too many gear changes, and some of those are at top speed on the flat stretch near the end. Neg - the bad guys lose too many hubcaps. Still, it's fairly exciting. However, though not car vs car, I think the chase in "The French Connection" is as good if not better.

As for the drama, some of it seemed a bit drawn out. Lt. Frank Bullitt is supposed to protect the state's witness "Ross" against the Chicago "Organization". Ross and one cop are shot, and Ross is later killed in the hospital, where Bullitt is hanging out. Bullitt does not want the prosecutor who gave him the assignment (Robert Vaughan) to know Ross died, so he will have time to find the killers. Turns out Ross may not be who the cops think he is, and this leads to a good foot-chase across the airport runways and the airport itself.

Some of the police procedure as portrayed in the movie is rather shoddy - such as handling a lot of evidence, then asking for it to be fingerprinted, etc.

The pretty: Bullitt has a girlfriend played by Jaqueline Bisset, who gives him grief for his callous attitude. This sets up the final scene of the movie where Bullitt ambiguously questions his existence. Otherwise, her appearance in the movie is useless.

Good acting by McQueen and Vaughan. Look for Robert Duval, Georg Sanford Brown, Norman fell, Simon Oakland and a few other names.

The jazzy score by Lalo Schifrin sounds like a bad TV movie. Wide-screen movie has decent picture and sound quality. DVD extras include a short behind the scenes documentary, text-based cast/crew/location info, list of awards, and a trailer.

In short - Not the best cop movie, not the best McQueen movie, and not the best chase. Watchable but not a stand out. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Kung fu Hong Kong-style
It's probably a well-known fact that some of the best martial arts movies come from Hong Kong. CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON is a contemporary classic from Hong Kong. Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and Chow Yun-Fat are all martial arts legends who have made it big through the Hong Kong cinema. Cory Yuen (aka Yuen Woo Ping) has made himself a household name by staging the karate battles in such outstanding kung fu films as THE MATRIX, CROUCHING TIGER, THE ONE, CRADLE 2 THE GRAVE, THE TRANSPORTER, etc.

Don "The Dragon" Wilson, WKA World Light-Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion, stars in BLOODFIST V:HUMAN TARGET, a movie very much in the tradition of Hong Kong cinema. "The Dragon" plays Jim Stanton, a federal agent hell-bent on breaking up the arms-smuggling ring of Kwon, a nefarious Chinese criminal whose latest deal involves some stolen plutonium. Unfortunately, Stanton is shot in the head and left for dead by some of Kwon's meanies. He awakens in a hospital bed with his memory completely erased. Both Kwon and Stanton's superiors, who believe he's become a double agent, have him at the top of their hit lists, making his "wife" Candy (Denice Duff) his only ally.

There's no denying that HUMAN TARGET's martial arts sequences are lavish and flashy. One of the great things about Don "The Dragon"'s movies is that he's always given worthy opponents to go toe-to-toe with. In HUMAN TARGET, one of them is Steve James, whose been in such karate gems as the AMERICAN NINJA series. I rank him at the same level of all the best opponent's Don "The Dragon" stuck it out with, including Billy Blanks (BLOODFIST), Maurice Smith (BLOODFIST II), Gary Daniels (BLOODFIST IV:DIE TRYING), and Matthias Hues (BLACKBELT).

Still, it's Don "The Dragon"'s movie, all the way, and how better to showcase his astonishing kickboxing abilities than to put him in a Hong Kong-esque kung fu movie?

Out of nowhere!
I had no expectations when I popped in this video, which might be why I absolutely thought it was the greatest film since "Total Recall." Great twists and turns, and "The Dragon" was quite good. I appreciate his realistic fighting style rather than all this "wire work" that is so preposterous in movies like "The Matrix." This film really deserves attention. It is that good. I highly suggest getting this film.

Awesome kickboxing picture!
Move over Steven Segal. This picture has a great plot, filled with turns in the plot that keep you guessing, never knowing who to trust. Denise Duff is quite good in this. Who is she?! Usually, in a kickboxing film you only get long drawn out fights and little story. This film has terrific fights that don't outlast their welcome and a story that really works. Technical credits are solid. Writing and directing are top notch.

A great kickboxing action thriller!
The plot kept me guessing. Loved the twists and turns and the action. Fights were realistic...no absurd acrobatics like other flicks. Acting and tech credits were decent. Directing and writing impressed me. DVD looks fantastic. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

What A Wonderful Episode
This is an excellent episode.Hoss finally gets to meet his uncle Gunar who turns out to be a comanchero.Nevile Brand is great playing the long lost uncle who in the end is not what he appears to be after all. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Zombie Film with Humor
I thought the movie was entertaining and humorous. It was a typical zombie movie of the era (Caribbean Island with old house,and a sinster character controlling the zombies) with a plus--humor provided by Mantan Morland (he also starred in some Charlie Chan movies).

dull vintage horror movie, but Mantan MORLAND is fun
Although I am not a fan of vintage horror films I purchased KING OF THE ZOMBIES because of a very favorable review in a German movie magazine.
The plot has an US secret agent, a pilot and their black servant crashland on a small Caribbean island. It turns out that the island is ruled by a German expatriot, who has kidnapped an American general and uses black magic Voodoo Mumbo Jumbo to get some military secrets out of the unfortunate high ranking officer. Of course the zombies of the title are not the flesh-eating ghouls of todayÂ's splatter films, but the living dead of Voodoo magic, will-less slaves of the Nazi, who uses them for his sinister plans. Will our heroes succeed in thwarting the NaziÂ's evil plan? Well, I do not want to give it away, so watch for yourself...
Despite the unusual storyline involving espionage, a sinister Nazi, Voodoo and zombies, I found KING OF THE ZOMBIES rather dull and talky. (I am aware that fans of vintage horror will have a different view and likely rate it higher than I did.)
Despite the brief running time of a little over an hour it drags in places. However black actor Mantan MORLAND was fun and his many funny lines will make you laugh throughout. While I am usually not into comedy, I found his performance a real joy to behold. Be aware that KING OF THE ZOMBIES shows his age. This is evident not only in the choice of the baddie as a German (owing to the propagandistic needs of the time), but also in a few of MORLANDÂ's jokes, which are of a racial nature (like commenting his appearance, when he looks into a mirror, "the tropics sure gives a man a colour"). DonÂ't watch, if you dislike such jokes. However there is no doubt that MORLAND was a great actor. Were it not for him, this film would have been a complete waste of my time. I also liked actor Victor HENRY, who played the baddie. As usual in these films the heroes are bland and boring.
The DVD is a bare-bones release, with no extras whatsoever. And donÂ't expect picture quality to be as good as of a recent blockbuster movie. This is only natural given the filmÂ's age.

Get Zombified With Laughter!
When it comes to Poverty Row horror classics of the 1940s, King
of The Zombies has to rank right at #1, personally that is.
Yet King of The Zombies is not really "horror", it is actually
a comedy with Mantan Moreland as the TRUE STAR of this picture.
The Roan Archive DVD edition of this film is beautifully
restored to crystal clarity. Other DVD versions of this film
I have seen were either too dark or the source material was of
a bad VHS transfer to disc variety. Now, enjoy the film.

OK Copy?
One of the reviews for this DVD actually refers to another edition which was paired on a double feature with 'Revolt of the Zombies'.
I haven't heard any complaints about the print quality on this particular release.

king of the zombies
King Of The Zombies is a very fun movie for the entire family to enjoy...This film stars comedian Mantan Moreland who is one of the funniest men ever in movies...Although the film is very low budget it is well worth watching or buying just to see Mantan Moreland...Watching this film is time well spent and will make you feel better and laugh more than you ever have...I would advise any serious movie fan to watch this almost forgotten classic and enjoy it again and again...thanks...Jeff Johnson ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Very emotional Bonanza.
But fun. It's about a boy who's struggling to get over his father's death when Ben killed him in self defense. It's fun, emotiomal, dramatic, and many more adjectives I can't think of right now. ... Read more