Description

What does a clumsy but well-meaning Blissey have to do with Jessie's secret past?Then, Ash finally reaches town with the next Pokemon gym, Violet City, only to face Team Rocket and a pint-sized Pikachu thief.Plus, the Violet City Gym Leader uses his flying Pokemon to save Pikachu from the grips of team Rocket, but that won't stop Ash from battling him to win the Zephyr Badge! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Best You'll Find of the Pokemon TV Series
Just another video about pocket monsters? Well, yes and no. The first episode of this volume, "Ignorance Is Blissey", actually contains a story about one of the main characters of the series - Jessie - and I found this episode to be much more dramatic and entertaining than the usual Pokemon series material. It begins with Ash, Misty, and Brock arriving at Happytown in the middle of the night and looking for something to eat. At the Pokemon Center they are greeted by Blissey, the evolved form of Chansey, who turns out to be very friendly but very inept. The resulting cascade of cataclysms finds Ash so injured that he needed to be wrapped head to toe in bandages. Switch to the next plot, Jessie, James, and Meowth break into the same Pokemon center looking for a bite to eat and anything else they can get their hands on. What they find instead is Blissey, who turns out to be an old friend of Jessie's. What follows next is a delightful little anime that tells the story of their friendship in the Pokemon Nurse School. Several times over the course of this TV series there have been flashbacks showing Jessie's past before she joined the nefarious Team Rocket, but this time we see her live the events as she was before - a decent human being. Here Jessie is warm, pleasant, and sincere as she helps her friend (then Chansey) graduate from school even though she herself flunks out and leaves in a touching parting scene. Back to the present, Blissey willingly gives Team Rocket all of the food in the center's storage pantry out of friendship, only to get caught on the security tape the next day. Watching from a distance, Jessie sees that her old friend is now in trouble and Team Rocket decides to help out by claiming responsibility for the theft and remove the guilt from Blissey. What happens next is probably the strangest Pokemon battle I have ever seen. Team Rocket puts up a false battle against Blissey, a real battle against Ash & Co. and Jessie fights turmoil within herself all at the same time; you have to see it to believe it. In the end, Blissey is exonerated, Team Rocket gets blasted off again, and Ash, Misty, and Brock finally get something to eat. I found this episode very interesting because it brings up several issues with the series. First, what happened to the character Jessie? What cruelty could change such a decent person into the nasty shrew she is now? Next, near the end of the movie Pokemon 2000 Team Rocket doesn't just cooperate with the good guys, they actually sacrifice their own well being to help someone else. They do it again in this episode which, to me anyways, seriously ruins their credibility as the villians of this show, but in the next episode they are back at their dirty old tricks again. I find this lack of consistancy somewhat annoying. Last issue, certainly the Pokemon TV series was born of the desire to sell Nintendo game products, essentially a half-hour long commercial. However there have been some episodes like this one and the movie Pokemon 3 that clearly demonstrate a potential to evolve beyond the original purpose into a real anime series that has a life and spirit of its own. Sadly, I doubt this will ever happen as long as Nintendo and Game Freak retain control of this TV series. The second episode of this volume "A Bout with Sprout" is more like the standard Pokemon material. Ash, Misty, and Brock finally arrive at Violet City and start to look around for the gym. Before you know it a boy and a girl try to kidnap Pikachu, but surprise, it's not Team Rocket this time! It's Zack and Lizzie, two students at Earl's Pokemon Academy, a place with more than a little silliness. Zack, unbent by Ash's ownership of Pikachu, continues to persue the little guy into the woods, where Pikachu is seemingly caught in a Pokeball. At this point Ash and Zack are caught in one of Team Rocket's pitfalls and Zack finds out he actually caught a bellsprout when tries to unleash a thundershock on Team Rocket. The real Pikachu arrives in time to give Team Rocket a good zorch and blast them out of the picture yet again. Ash and Zack continue on to meet the academy class at the Sprout Tower, an unusual building supported by a single large swaying beam. At the tower they are met with a Team Rocket encore - another attempt to catch Pikachu, but with the help of Zack and his new friend bellsprout, our heroes save the day and send Team Rocket on their way again. In the end Zack learns a good lesson - that you don't need to be strong and powerful to be a hero. This episode has some pretty good laughs and silliness to go along with the good lesson at the end. In the third episode of this volume, "Fighting Flyer With Fire", Ash finally makes it to the Violet City Gym. There he encounters two officials from the gym that insist on examining Pikachu. Only after they abscond with the little guy do our heroes recognize the officials as Team Rocket (although it is very obvious to the viewer - I kind of miss some of the really good disguises they used years ago). Very soon a new character shows up riding a hanglider and rescues Pikachu from Team Rocket and sends them on their way. Ash thanks him for his help and they become friends only to find out that this new guy is Faulkner the Gym leader Ash has come to battle. If you're really into Pokemon battles this one is a very good demonstration of type and level mismatches, and some strategy for beating a stronger opponent. Faulkner seems friendly enough on the street, but in the arena he turns out to be a fierce competitor, and doesn't give Ash any easy breaks. In the end Ash is forced to use his head to win, he doesn't win by luck this time. Not a lot of laughs or silliness in this episode, but a great Pokemon battle.

Flying Ace
Another video featuring the pocket monsters and the trainer battling to the ... yada yada yada. You know all that. So let's get on with it! This video is a rare occurance, as all three episodes featured on this tape are highly recommended! The first, Ignorance is Blissey, starts off with Ash and Co finding a Pokemon Center with a happy Blissey wanting to make them as happy as possible, but everything it does, ends up with Ash getting hurt until he is completely wrapped in bandages. But the real story begins when Team Rocket sneaks in during the night to find some chow and Jessie runs into Blissey, who turns out to be a friend of hers! Jessie tells James and Meowth how they both attended nursing school when Blissey was a Chansey, but Jessie was flunked out. Blissey, knowing how hungry Team Rocket is, gives them all the food in the center, but how will Ash react when there's nothing for breakfast? Next, in A Bout With Sprout, the group stops by Earl's Pokemon Academy (and Dance School) to show the kids their Pokemon, but one little brat is determined to steal Pikachu! But even if Ash can stop the little boy, he'd better prepare for double trouble as Team Rocket is out to capture Pikachu too! Finally, in Fighting Flyer With Fire, we FINALLY get to see a Johto Gym Battle! Gee, and it only took 15 episodes to get here too! But Pikachu should have no problem against Flying type Pokemon.... right?

The king of Kids' WB! Is there a doctor in the house?
Even though Nintendo Power is no longer selling the Pokemon comics anymore, I'm goin' to love this volume just like you told me. They contain the following:

"Ignorance is Blissey", featuring Blissey, a really happy nurse pokemon that is the evolved form of Chansey. This episode reminds of when I saw certain patients in a hospital. But that's OK.

"A bout with Sprout", featuring the sprout tower, which reminds me of going to school.

And the ultimate episode of volume 5, "Fighting Flyer with Fire" featuring the first gym leader of the Gold and Silver video games, Falkner. This episode is a total blast!

The reason why I'm goin' to love this ultimate volume is because of the following:

1. It reminds me of going to a hospital.

2. It reminds me of going to school, regardless of grade number.

3. Falkner is the first gym leader-he uses flying type pokemon in his battles.

Once again, thank you for your cooperation on what to rank. Good luck to all pokemon trainers out there. ... 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

Amazon.com

A trio of action adventures from the popular Pokémon TV series finds our indomitable heroes Ash, Misty, and Brock persevering in their quest to rid the world of evil. In the first episode, "Clefairy Tales," Ash is on his way to Viridian City to compete for his eighth, and final, badge when he finds himself witness to a rash of alien abductions--or are they? Worse yet, Pikachu has been kidnapped for use in an enemy space launch. Can Ash's Bulbasaur save the day? Undoubtedly yes, and just in time for Ash to begin his Earth Badge competition in "The Battle of the Badge." Does Ash really have what it takes to join the Pokémon League? It's showtime in Viridian City's gym against the fearsome gym leader and his "ultimate Pokémon." Let's hope Ash doesn't quit when Team Rocket attempts to subdue him once and for all, especially since Ash and cohorts are due to visit Pokémon Circus. In the last episode, "It's Mr. Mime Time," a supremely fierce Pokémon gives Ash, Misty, and Brock a three-ring performance they'll never forget. Though there's nothing profound here, the formula is pure Pokémon, with enough mischief and general tomfoolery to please fans ages 4 to 10. Followed by The Po-ke Corral. --Lynn Gibson ... Read more

Reviews (7)

GIOVANNI REVEALED!!!
After months and months of waiting, we finally get to see the face of Giovanni, the mysterious evil leader of Team Rocket! Up until the episode of the Viridian Gym, he had always hid his face in the shadows and used one of those voice-changers to disguise himself. This is the first time we ever see his whole face and hear his real voice. Even though he has a pretty small role overall in the anime, he is one of the coolest characters of all just because he is so mysterious. And then of course there's the appearance of Mewtwo, but come on: you just have to admire that Giovanni for being the only human who was ever able to control Mewtwo.

Final Badge+Mewtwo Kicking Gary's Butt=Awsome Episode
I had to get this movie! It's so cool! In the first episode of this video, Clafairys have built a space ship and they plan to take Pikachu with them! The part I like the most is when Jigglypuff and the Clafairy have a slapping contest because the Clafairy took Jigglypuff's marker/microphone. In Battle of the Final Badge, we get to see Mewtwo kick Gary's butt with no effort! Of course, Mewtwo is in its armor and looks so cool! Giovanni leaves Jessie and James in charge because he has to go to an emergency accident. When Ash battles them he soon finds out that the platforms are rigged and when his Pokemon get hurt, he feel their pain too! The next episode shows a lazy Mr. Mime that will not obey the trainer. Can Ash and Co. get the Mr. Mime to perform again? These are my favorite episodes in the entire seires! The Clafairy one is so funny!

"No one will ever defeat the Pokémon that I saw." -Gary Oak
Unlike my other reviews, this one will be relatively short. This video contains my favourite episode of the series. Not only does it have the real first appearence of Mewtwo, but... GARY GETS WHUPPED!!! Mind you, I happen to like Gary. He is one of my favourite Human characters aside from Brock and Team Rocket. But the look on his face when he gets his pride handed to him in "Battle of the Badge" is PRICELESS! Aside from the enjoyment of seeing Gary lose and thrusting him into reality, showing him that he cannot win EVERYTHING, I still wonder about Giovanni's "special assignment". Was his car impounded? Alas, viewer... we shall never know... Not even the movie will answer that question. We will have to resort to thinking up that assignment.

In short, this video is great. Now, after Mewtwo came and went in the first series, we will all just have to sit back, relax, and await his return in Johto.

"But still..." Gary's voice dropped to almost a whisper, a slight tremble in his countenance. "No one will ever defeat the Pokémon that I saw..."

pokemon the final badge
Ash and his frinds go for an ice cream break and Team Rocket cames as people from outer space and takes pikachu and then a pokemon comes and takes Pikachu Ash goes for his earth badge but Gary goes in first and lost to the leader by a pokemon who noone but the leader knows and Ash faces Team Rocket and they were both in a tarap for the badge by shocking them when there pokemon get hit. The last one is when Ash, Misty, and Brock go back to Pallet Town and Ash and Pikachu Ran into a wall that they can't go though and they go see a Pokemon Show and Ash's mom has a Mr.Mime.

The Final Favorite Of His Badge Journey
In the final badge where Ash gets the last Pokemon Leuge Badge, Not Orange League, Team Rocket is in charge of the gym back in Viridian City. WHat they don't know is that team rocket has buby trapped it so ash will be electricuted when his pokemon get hurt. Can aSH sURVIVE tHE tHE fINAL bADGE. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

No Ranger retires perpendicular
Nasty and corrupt Mayor Nard Lundy (Edward Andrews) is challenged by idealistic Jeff Rose (Ricky Nelson) in an upcoming election. Lundy has Sheriff Clyde Barnes (Jack Elam) rough the young upstart up some. Rose's visiting father-in-law, retired Texas Ranger Captain Oren Hayes (Pat O'Brien) sends an urgent telegraph to three of his former command (Walter Brennan, Chill Wills and Edgar Buchanan) to come to Boulder immediately and help him clean up the town.
THE OVER-THE-HILL GANG is a 1969 made-for-television movie that was popular enough at the time to lead to a sequel a year later. For old movie fans it's hard to beat the appeal of this veteran character actor laden movie. It's fun to see them play off each other and confront a situation that their advancing years have forced them to deal with more with guile than brute force. What's not so much fun is seeing them saddled with this tired, predictable plot.
Brennan and Buchanan shine brightest in this one; Brennan as the gun slinger who's lost a bit of speed on his quick draw and Buchanan as the scout who's eyesight has deteriorated to the point that he's drawing his guns on stuffed and mounted bears. With a better script, and a more delicate and penetrating examination of what it feels like to suddenly find yourself old and in the way, this one could have been a classic for the ages rather than an amusing piece of fluff.
The print transfer to dvd is so-so. Some of the night scenes are muddy and it's hard to make out what's happening. The dvd also comes with the Little Rascals' short "Hooky Spooky."
Fans of old movies should enjoy the veteran character actors in this, although they may agree that the folks in front of the camera in THE OVER-THE-HILL GANG deserved far better.

One more chance to see some ol' western stars
The technical part of this review refers to the Brentwood Home Video or BCI Eclipse version.

From the Aaron Spelling stable of TV movies comes this tale with Ricky Nelson (and his wife Kris Nelson) as an idealistic couple. Ricky is running for Mayor of a small western town against Edward Andrews who plays a corrupt town boss. Jack Elam is his Sheriff and Andy Devine is his Judge, both firmly entrenched in his back pocket.

Pat O'Brien comes to town as Ricky Nelson's father-in-law, a retired Texas Ranger who rounds up his old partners (Walter Brennan, Edgar Buchanan and Chill Wills)!!! Throw in Gypsy Rose Lee as the owner of the local saloon and you got yourself a pretty good (for TV) rip-snorting western. You know how it's going to play out, but watching the all these stars in action makes up for a sub-par script.

Unfortunately the transfer is from a well-used print that looks like it was recorded in long play mode. At times, scenes taking place at night are almost unwatchable. But the chance to see these stars of westerns in their later years is a treat you should not miss if you're a fan of the western genre.

Brentwood/BCI put in their usual extras, six chapter stops, a DVD dictionary, trivia game and a short subject (Hal Roach's "Little Rascals"). This movie is also in a 10 pack of westerns at about triple the price for this one film from Brentwood Home Video called "The Wild West" and is available from Amazon.com.

Great Family Western Comedy!!
In this film a group of retired Texas Rangers(Walter Brennan,Edgar Buchanan,Pat O'Brien and Chill Wills)take on a corrupt small Nevada town relying on their brains not brawn.Also co-starring Ricky Nelson,Kris Nelson,Edward Andrews and Jack Elam.It's a great family western comedy!! ... Read more

Description

Team Rocket has taken control of Police-officer Jenny's Arcanine corps!? What will Ash and his friends do? Then, shake hands with Snap, the world's best Pokemon photographer! Later, Ash learns that he can enter the Pokemon league if he paasses a Pokemon exam! How much Poke-trivia does Ash really know? Plus, meet Team Rocket members Butch and Cassidy! Do Jessy, James and Meowth have even worse enemies than Ash? ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Can't we all just get along? PKMN Snap preview included.
Well, the video/DVD seems to focus on new character Snap/Todd. Snap/Todd also appears in the game Pokemon Snap, so consider these episodes a preview.

What I didn't like was that J+J can't get along with B+C. Luckily, my fanfics fixed that.

Has one of the best episodes of all time!
I bought this tape solely because it contains one of my favorite episodes, "The Breeding Center Secret." I'm a Team Rocket fanatic and the new members Cassidy and Butch in this are sooo cool! The other episodes aren't bad either.

Me gusto!
El video este, era bein entretenido. A mi me encanta el Team Rocket! Este video es absolutamente maravilloso!

smile and cheese
smile and cheese becuse snap is the number 1 pokemon masker (master) on film hes a nice kid. who got a shot of aerodactail on film and the shot had ash on its hands . and meet new team rocket members.on our way to cinabar island. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Las Vegas: Then And WOW!
This DVD has three separate sections, each lasting approximately 45 minutes. "Stories From The Strip" begins with a brief history of Las Vegas, from the legalization of gambling and prostitution, to the era of Benjamin 'Bugsy' Siegel and the Flamingo Hotel. This is followed by the arrival of Howard Hughes, which began the era of the corporate takeover of the casinos. Steve Wynn began buying properties and opened the Mirage in 1988, among the first of the hotels with a specific theme. Later he opened Treasure Island, a more family friendly casino. Steve Wynn's latest creation is the beautiful Bellagio, the most opulent casino in the current era of the megaresort. Speaking of megaresorts, the Venetian hotel is also profiled. A brief mention of adult entertainments and the proliferation of wedding chapels nicely completes this section.

"Destination: The Strip" also beings with a brief history of Las Vegas. This is followed by a brief history of Sin City's world class entertainers, including the always popular showgirls. The swinging era of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis, Jr. (the Rat Pack) is followed by the greatest entertainer who ever lived, Elvis Presley. Wayne Newton, Siegfied and Roy, Lance Burton (an excellent magician) and Danny Gans (a great comedian and impressionist) are also mentioned. The Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, Circus Circus and the Rio Hotel are featured for their unique offerings to visiting tourists. A visit to the natural beauty of Red Rock Canyon makes a nice contrast to the glitz and glamor of Las Vegas. "Thrill Rides, Las Vegas Style" is the bonus feature. It shows the Big Shot ride on the top of the Stratosphere tower, as well as the roller coaster outside of the New York, New York casino. Bungee jumping, water slides and helicopter rides are among some of the other thrill rides featured in this section. It's an interesting extra to go along with the main sections of this well made DVD. ... 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 a lot of unimportant (and self-important) people.

Waters comes across as an intelligent and surprisingly normal guy, and it's interesting to learn how his moviemaking style evolved, but the constant references (by others) to his important role in moviemaking history is mostly bunk. The guy made crudely-produced gross-out movies. Nothing wrong with that, if that's what you wanna watch, but Fellini he ain't. Definitely worthwhile for hardcore Waters fans; of marginal interest to everyone else. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Soap Opera in the Cornfield
Lum & Abner (Chester Lauck and Norris Goff) were a popular radio team for 25 years beginning in 1931, and they moved to the big screen in 1940 for DREAMING OUT LOUD, which was popular enough to lead to half a dozen sequels (the last, a belated fare-thee-well, was produced in 1956). It is one heck of a strange film, part backwoods comedy, part heart-tugging drama; it's as if a soap opera broke out in the cornfields of HEE-HAW.

Proprietors of the Jot `em Down General Store in Pine Ridge, Arksansas, Lum Edwards and Abner Peabody have a nice perch with which to comment on the goings-on in town (what goings-on there are, if any) and get involved as Mary Worth-type helpers to young lovers, kids with dark secrets, the town drunk, and anybody else stumbling through. (Note that Lauck and Goff were in their mid-30s when this film was produced, but were made up to appear 30 to 50 years older).

The first third of the picture is pure corn, as our heroes discuss changing the signs in front of the store (one says "Fall Clearance Sale", t'other says "Spring Sweep Sale", and they finally decide to leave `em both up in case'n they ever decide to have another one of either). There's a shiftless gentleman who sleeps by the stove all day; Abner explains that he has been tryin' ter get a position as steamboat captain on a riverboat. "There ain't no river near here," Lum retorts. "He'll wait," Abner responds. Perhaps the funniest scene has the two of them playing checkers; when Lum quits, Abner decides to go right on playing checkers by his lonesome, only he gets in a big argument when he accuses himself of cheating.

From this urbane, witty photoplay we slip right into the crisis, when the spunky young daughter of the town's drunk becomes the victim of a hit-and-run driver. The drunk sobers up and becomes the town's assistant constable, and Lum and Abner help him look for the man who hit his daughter. They also assist the town doctor who's had a stroke, advise the doctor's son in his romance with the town's beautiful young postmistress, and try and talk the town's mean old rich lady into donating some much-needed medical supplies. I was sitting there thinking, "Gosh, if only somebody would burst out into song, this movie would be perfect." Within seconds, Frances Langford (the aforementioned postmistress) begins warbling "Dreaming Out Loud", thereby giving the film its title.

The best thing about this mishmash is the supporting cast; you'll find Frank Craven (SON OF DRACULA), much-used character actor Irving Bacon, Clara Blandick (Auntie Em in WIZARD OF OZ), Robert Wilcox (MYSTERIOUS DR. SATAN), and Phil Harris! Director Harold Young also gave us THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL (1934) and a trio of Universal horrors, THE MUMMY'S TOMB (1942), THE FROZEN GHOST (1945) and JUNGLE CAPTIVE (also 1945).

DREAMING OUT LOUD and some of its sequels are available on DVD from Alpha. DREAMING's print and transfer are okay, a bit jumpy and seeming to be missing a little footage, but quite acceptable if you're really in the mood for a Lum and Abner festival.
... Read more

Description

The Secret of Pokemopolis. Ash and his friends dig up some unusual artifacts that come from an ancient culture, but can anybody stop the gigantic Gengar they have awakened? Then, the training is over, and it's off to the Indigo League, but Ash can't take part if somebody steals his Pokemon badges! Plus, the Indigo League has a long tradition of carrying the torch with the undying flame, but Team Rocket is determined to put it out! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Ash enters the Pokémon League
This is when Ash finally get into the Pokémon League! These episodes are very detailed, and great! There's really not much to say about it, good or bad, but these episodes are really exciting! I recommend this DVD!

this is the best
this tv show rocks I do not even like pokemon and I saw this on the tv and this rocks tou have to buy this dvd. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Not a bad Bronson film
I liked the film and luckily I was able to get a pretty decent DVD copy from Amazon. To me Bronson dominates the screen in this film, he even outshines James Mason who is one of the most respected actors. This is one of the films Bronson made when he first went to work in Europe. Most of his films up to the late sixties he was always a supporting actor or an anchor as he himself called it. But if you like to watch Bronson on the screen you should check it out along with "Violent City". In Cold Sweat the plot is much easier to follow. The European films were where Bronson started to become a worldwide star and finally get the star billing he worked long and hard to achieve. ... Read more

Description

An incompetent magician is using Exeggicute to hypnotize his audience into thinking he is world-famous. Ash and his friends have to teach the magician right from wrong before they get hypnotized too! When a kind, beautiful girl cures Meowth's sickness using her own home-made remedy, it falls for her and tries to help her evolve her cowardly Paras. Can Meowth be a hero even though it's a villain? Finally, Jigglypuff puts on a concert in the "Town That Never Sleeps!" ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Pokemon's neurotic pop star
Of the myriad Pokemon, I think Jigglypuff is the funniest. Its first appearance, in "The Song of Jigglypuff", is especially hilarious, as the poor Pokemon wanders the earth looking for an audience that won't fall asleep when it sings. (Needless to say, it never finds one.)

The pattern is always the same: Jigglypuff begins its song, everybody falls asleep, Jigglypuff gets upset that nobody stayed awake to hear the entire song, out comes the marker ... PUFF! It's priceless.

My one complaint is that a collection of Jigglypuff episodes hasn't been released. Its later appearances are just as funny, especially in "Attack of the Prehistoric Pokemon" (where we even see Jigglypuff's fantasies of stardom). But "The Song of Jigglypuff" is still well worth seeing.

Love that Jigglypuff!
Ah, sweet irony. A sad Jigglypuff only wants someone to appreciate his singing, but everyone keeps falling asleep. Even the doofy Psiduck can't stay awake! Ash has the answer, and soon Jigglypuff puts on a concert in "The Town that Never Sleeps." A great episode featuring my favorite Pokemon. The second half doesn't appear to be on the next DVD.

The other episodes include a fake magician using Eggsecutor to hypnotise people, and Meowth falling in love. All good Pokemon fun.

Enjoyable series ...
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 ...

I grew outta this phase a long time ago
I don't hate this series. I just saw too many shows sickeningly similar to Pokemon. I call this genre the mons. Too many mons.
More originality please.

Jigglypuff Rocks!
Jigglypuff is the most precious Pokemon (next to Wigglytuff) that I have seen (with Togepi and Pika a close 2nd & 3rd). In Jigglypuff Pop we are introduced to Jigglypuff. Whom Misty falls in love with and attempts to capture her. Only to find out that poor Jigglypuff can't sing. Misty, Brock and Ash try to help Jiggly with her singing. Then Brock finds a fruit that can cure a throat if it is sore. Jigglypuff takes a bite, and voila! She is singing in no time. But, Jiggly's lullabye puts her new found friends to sleep and she becomes a little upset at this. So she sneaks into Ash's bookbag and takes out a marker, and begins to give them all a new facial. Much to Jigglypuff's (and my) delight. And of course our favorite foes Team Rocket try to cash in on the action. I highly recommend this to all fans of Pokemon. You just can't help falling in love with a little pink balloon-type Pokemon who is a Diva. :-) ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Best so far!
In this DVD, you meet new devils like Pajama who is adorable! And the girls get a mascot! This is my favorite so far. Everything is really developing well; the characters, the story. Still a little annoyed by the wedding dresses, but getting used to it...

excellent and quick moving
the plot thickins and a new enemy is introduced wedding peach moves faster than sailor moon and the plot is not quite as dark as sailor moon this series surpasses sailor moon because the plot moves faster and the enemies actually can be quite evil such as putting a person to sleep so that they will not wake up or freezing them in time so they cant move so if you are a fan of mahou shojo anime wedding peach is a good title for you

Gotta love magical girls!!!!!!!
This is a great series. Its like sailor moon in alot of ways. So if your into Shoujo style anime like me then get Wedding Peach. This is the best volume so far. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Sci-Fi and Laughs
"My Favorite Martian" is for Science Fiction what "Bewitched" and "I Dream of Jeannie" are for Fantasy: a sitcom based in a fantastic scenario. Bill Bixby (later Doctor David Banner in "The Incredible Hulk" TV series) is Tim O'Hara, a journalist in which roof a flying saucer fells. The occupant of the saucer is a Martian with retractile antennae and the capacity to became invisible and levitate objects. Stranded in Earth, the alien is forced to disguise himself as O'Hara's Uncle Martin. For then on, O'Hara and Martin lives in a "Odd Couple" situation. The Martian's unfamiliarity with Earth customs provided much of the comic situations. The high point of "My Favorite Martian" was Ray Walston's characterization of Uncle Martin. The chemistry between Walston and Bixby was a decisive factor to the success of the series. Walston can be seen in 1999's big screen adaptation, as Uncle Martin's (Christopher Lloyd) fellow countryman, stranded here in Earth since the sixties. The series opened in 1963. The first two seasons were in black and white, and the third in color. ... 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

Reviews (3)

Beautiful! Awesome!
When a small, struggling acting troupe purchases a fire-damaged opera house, little do they realize that the opera house is haunted by two ghosts, one Sung Danping, a famous singer, and his lover Du Yuyan, daughter of a rich local merchant.

When the bank threatens to foreclose upon the troupe after an unsuccessful performance, the young actor Wei, encounters the ghost of Sung Danping. Sung Danping (in the tradition of Phantom of the Opera), teaches him to sing. Can Wei save the opera house before the bank forecloses? And what about the mysterious Sun Danping?

Phantom Lover was partially inspired by Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'phantom of the opera' but I liked this one a lot better, because it was set in China, and Sung's love for Yuyan was eternal. The musical score was simply beautiful, and Wei was convincing as a young naive actor, down on his luck.

I recommend this movie for fans of Chinese romantic movies. You won't be disappointed!

Grand melodrama on an epic scale - a masterpiece!
Teen idol Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing toplines Ronny Yu Yan-tai's superb Gothic melodrama "The Phantom Lover" (Ye Boon Goh Sing, 1995) as a famed actor in 1920's China whose affair with the daughter (Wu Chien-lien) of a scheming industrialist is opposed by their respective families, culminating in a terrible disaster which consumes the magnificent theater in which Cheung made his fortune. Ten years later, an impoverished theatrical troupe restores the now-derelict building, and the principal actor (Huang Lei, from Chen Kaige's "Life on a String" [Bian Zhou Bian Chang, 1991]) stumbles on the phantom-like Cheung, hiding amongst the ruins as a disfigured recluse. But the villainous factions which drove the ill-fated lovers apart are still active, and history begins to repeat itself, with potentially tragic consequences...

"The Phantom Lover" arguably ranks alongside John Woo's "Bullet in the Head" (Dip Huet Gaai Tau, 1990) as one of the crowning achievements of Hong Kong cinema. With spectacular Gothic sets designed by the late Eddie Ma Poon-chiu and swooping camerawork by world-class cinematographer Peter Pau Tak-hei (whose expansive images demonstrate the full potential of the Panavision frame), this sublime masterpiece represents a sensational marriage of old-fashioned storytelling with cinematic technique. The fast-moving narrative is heightened constantly by director Yu's operatic filmmaking style, a style which he perfected two years earlier in his acclaimed fantasy "The Bride With White Hair" (Baak Faat Moh Nui Juen, 1993), providing a near-perfect combination of plot, characterization and technical virtuosity. The script (by Roy Szeto Cheuk-hon, Raymond Wong Pak-ming and director Yu) is essentially a reworking of "Midnight Song" (Ye Bang Ge Sheng, 1937), an early effort by pioneering Chinese horrormeister Maxu Weibang, though Yu's film emphasizes atmosphere and melodrama over outright horror, and the film's central section - the heartbreaking disintegration of Cheung's relationship with Wu - is played to perfection by an attractive cast, and nicely underscored by Chris Babida's melancholy score. The only false note is sounded by Cheung's contribution to the soundtrack, a handful of feeble songs which struggle unsuccessfully to convey an appropriate sense of heartache and tragedy. Such blatant insincerity may help to explain his less-than-flattering appraisal of the film since its initial release.

Overall, there are few Hong Kong films as deserving of a two-disc special edition as "The Phantom Lover", but Tai Seng's region-free DVD (which runs 101m 47s) is a mixed bag. Whereas the 'modern' sequences (set in 1936) should have been sepia-toned with splashes of color - a deliberate artistic choice by the filmmakers - this DVD drains them to the verge of near-total black-and-white, and the full-color flashbacks pale in comparison with earlier laserdisc/DVD editions from the Far East (compare the clips in the accompanying featurette with the corresponding scenes in the film itself). The results are often drab and unappealing. Similarly, Tai Seng were unable to afford a new anamorphic transfer, so the image is merely letterboxed at 2.35:1, with optional subtitles in the lower masking. Though released in Hong Kong with a dubbed Cantonese soundtrack (included here, in 5.1 surround), viewers are urged to select the original sync-sound Mandarin track (also in 5.1), an effective remix of the theatrical DTS version. There's also an English track in 1.0 mono which is fairly sensitive to this particular film's demands.

Two separate commentaries are provided by the chief architects of the film's artistic success (Yu and Pau, respectively), and it's here that one learns the film's final cut was assembled in TWO WEEKS (!!), an astonishing revelation which is a testament to the remarkable skills of editor David Wu Tai-wai. By contrast, an equivalent Hollywood movie would have taken several MONTHS to work its way through the editing process! The second disc is a major disappointment: Three featurettes are promised, but they all turn out to be the same documentary repeated in English, Cantonese and Mandarin! In itself, it provides a fascinating glimpse into the filmmaking process, but the packaging seems to indicate three distinctly separate items, which is misleading. Trailers, photo galleries and biographies round out a pretty meager package. Tai Seng are to be commended for treating the film with due respect, but this two-disc set fails to meet expectations. Perhaps a single-disc arrangement (minus two of the three featurettes) might have been a wiser move?

Despite its flaws, this ambitious 'collector's edition' ultimately represents the best version of "The Phantom Lover" on home video to date, and is therefore highly recommended to anyone who loves the thrill of Pure Cinema. After all, it's the presentation which falls short of the mark, not the film itself.

No more eyestrain!
For years the various home video incarnations of Ronny Yu's sumptious follow-up to his popular 'Bride with White Hair' have been notorious for their miniscule subtitles, so Tai Seng has done fans of Hong Kong cinema a major service with this remastered release. Indeed, they've put together one of the most impressive and respectful packages any Hong Kong film has received in this country, including commentary tracks by Yu and cinematographer Peter Pau ('Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'), a "making of" featurette, trailers for Yu's previous films, and an isolated music score.

Both the original synch-sound Mandarin soundtrack and the Cantonese dub sound great (lead Leslie Cheung's real voice is heard on both). The visual transfer, howeer, is not quite as impressive as I was expecting, as the image sometimes seems a bit fuzzy and drab, lacking the clarity one associates with DVD. Still, it looks better than most U.S. homevideo releases of Hong Kong movies (I'm particularly thinking of Columbia's recent 'Once Upon A Time in China' disk), and some of the "drabness" may be due to deliberate choices on the parts of Yu and Pau, with them favoring a softer image that doesn't work as well on disk as on the big screen.

But what about the movie itself? Although engrossing, it didn't bowl me over like 'The Bride with White Hair' did. The story is partially inspired by Gaston Leroux's 'Phantom of the Opera' (it's a remake of 'Song at Midnight,' a classic 1930's Chinese that was in itself a semi-remake of the silent 'Phantom' with Lon Chaney). Leslie Cheung's character is clearly meant to be the most sympathetic (and least murderous) Phantom in any version of this story, but he also comes across as cold and narcissistic, needlessly cruel to the woman (the luminous Chien-lien Wu of "Eat Drink Man Woman') who was supposedly his One Great Love. Cheung is a great actor and an accomplished singer, but I find his vocals a bit treacly, and the music isn't nearly as stirring as the score for 'Bride with White Hair.'

Still, I much prefer this to the Andrew Lloyd Weber musical or to any of the various sound versions of Gaston Leroux's original novel. If nothing else, director Yu and cinematographer Pau are amazing visual stylists (it's almost insulting that, after doing this, the only U.S. gig they could get was 'Bride of Chucky'). ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Kimagure Orange Road series centers on a teenage romantic triangle: Hikaru and Madoka were best friends until they fell for Kyosuke, an understated hero with psychic powers. In 1991, the 19-year-old Kyosuke is struck by car and propelled three years into the future, where he tries to understand the changes that have taken place in his world. Madoka and Hikaru have grown up to become a promising songwriter and a student of drama and dance, respectively; the older Kyosuke is a student-photographer on assignment in Bosnia. The problem of two Kyosukes coexisting is played for laughs, including a sequence where the 22-year-old Kyosuke counsels his younger self. The filmmakers expect the viewer to know the characters from the OAVs, although designs have been changed. The result is a Pax-style romantic fantasy, rather than a sci-fi adventure. Suggested rating is 15+: nudity, sexual situations, alcohol and tobacco use. --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (12)

EXCELLENT: One of my very favorite anime movies.
Picking up where the OVA and first movie left off, the new KOR movie has our hero jumping in time, it neatly shows what the future will hold for Kyosuke. The character design is not by Akemi, which is a bit of a negative, but the story is excellent and KOR fans should definitely pick this up. Once you begin watching KOR most other anime series will never seem quite as good. The entire KOR series is the best of all the comedy/romance anime's I have ever seen. KOR is a romantic comedy about a love triangle of one guy and two girls. The guy happens to have psychic powers but you hardly remember it. The most important thing in the series is the relationships among people. It also has the most beautiful girls you'll ever see. The entire KOR series, TV, OAV's and the two movies are a must watch for all anime fans.

Wholly unnecessary, but reasonably fun for KOR fans.
Given that the original KOR movie ended the series pretty effectively, one would be forgiven for assuming that this followup would be nothing more than a wholly cynical exercise in dead-horse-beating. And it is, to an extent. The nominal premise of the film, in which Kyosuke gets displaced in time after being hit by a car, certainly feels forced. However, as it turns out, the film manages to aquit itself fairly well, and, most importantly, it doesn't compromise the source material.

It's an oddly paced piece of work, to be sure. The bulk of it works at the probably inevitable task of achieving some sort of reconciliation between Kyosuke and Madoka and Hikaru, and then, this accomplished, it suddenly veers jarringly off into 'Kyosuke really, really wants to get laid.' This first is done about as gracefully as one could expect; ie, fairly. It threatens to venture into well-trodden 'allegedly comic misunderstanding' territory at one point, but, surprisingly, it dodges this bullet, for once. Some may complain that the integrity of the events in the first movie is ruined by mitigating the quite violent breaking off of relations, but I don't really see that...it's only natural that, as time does its wound-healing thing, people should mellow out a bit, and, let's face it, Hikaru was treated pretty shabbily in the original; it seems only fair. Not that fairness is always warranted, of course, but in this case it's all good.

But then it just gets sort of weird; the material with Kyosuke wanting to have sex with Madoka feels very drawn-out and not a little pointless. Firstly, I find the idea that they didn't consummate their relationship in the two years between the first film and this one VERY hard to swallow, even if we ARE dealing with Anime Romantic Comedy Land, which is known to be inhabited by the most superhumanly restrained people in the universe. And secondly...well, so what? I suppose the creators wanted to finish off the whole enterprise with a bang (okay...poor choice of words), but it's such an inevitable formality that I had difficulty bringing myself to really care. And don't get me started on Kyosuke's impassioned, if not particularly coherent, little speech before the big moment. I found the kiss at the end of the TV series to be much more affecting, honestly.

What else to say...for unknown reasons, this film features new character designs. Less cartoony, perhaps. This doesn't bother me as much as I thought it would, but I still can't say I see the point, although the more mature-looking Hikaru is well-done, once you get over your double-take the first time you see her.

One thing that I found a bit disappointing was the lack of a number of characters from the show. Even if they weren't integral to the plot, it would've been nice to at least see them. I mean, come on, guys, it's not like we're talking great art here; a little pandering to the fans wouldn't kill you. Komatsu and Hatta make brief cameo appearances (which, let's face it, is really all one needs), but Yusaku--who I was quite curious about--is nowhere to be seen, nor are Kazuya or Akane (okay, so she was a minor character, but I still like her and wish she'd been in more than just a few OVAs), or, puzzlingly Kyoksuke's father. But the ultimate insult: no Umao and Uskiko! Come on, guys--get it together here.

I suppose you could watch and more or less understand this film without having seen the earlier material, although I have no idea why you'd want to. As for established KOR fans...well, what's the point in saying anything? Obviously, you're going to see it. And it is unlikely that you'll be particularly disappointed--it's not everything I could have hoped for, but it's not anything I would have dreaded, either. That's pretty good.

The pilot that made a nice end
This movie makes a beautiful end to the KOR saga, which is a bit ironic because I got the distinct impression that it was meant to relaunch the series.
It isn't really necessary to have seen the TV series or the OAV's to understand the movie, there is enough background given to give the new viewer an idea of the love triangle that existed in the past, but I do think that some familiarity with the franchise would be helpfull.
KOR, from the series to the movie, has quite a bit of subtle detail, which is why a single error regarding the family name bothered me a little. If you haven't seen the TV series, then you won't notice so I won't say exactly what it is. It's not that important and doesn't detract from the plot of the movie.
I highly recomend this movie to anyone, but be warned, if you're new to KOR it may spark an obsession.

Kimagure Orange Road, A DVD
Wonderful anime, this movie was brought to DVD. Kyosuke was hit by a car when he was 19 and supposedly was brought to the time 3 years after and he must go back if he is to survive. Great plot, but a little too much dialogue.

Loved the OVAs and the TV series, but love this movie more!
I've been a huge fan of KOR since college. I own the manga and DVDs of both the OVAs and the TV series. After watching this movie, I can't believe that the story can get even better. Maybe I'm just getting older, but I definitely prefer the New Kimagure over the original, which I thought was already perfect. I would strongly advise watching at least the OVAs before this movie since it would enhance your experience. ... Read more