Amazon.com

Two years after 1963's The Great Escape thrilled movie audiences with a tale of Allied soldiers working cooperatively to flee a World War II-era prisoner-of-war camp, CBS found a hit situation comedy in the loosely similar Hogan's Heroes. Initially dismissed by critics as being in poor taste, the half-hour show starred Bob Crane (previously known for a supporting role on The Donna Reed Show) as Colonel Robert Hogan, leader of a resourceful band of French, British and American guests of the German Luftwaffe. Rather than sit out the war with his fellow captives, Hogan essentially used the POW camp, Stalag 13, as a base for sabotaging Nazi operations whenever possible, helping important prisoners escape, supporting the Resistance, gathering intelligence for the Allies, and generally screwing up enemy battlefield plans. The work was always dangerous, but Hogan's crew had a number of advantages: a network of underground tunnels beneath the camp (some leading to a nearby town), a flair for disguises, the complementary talents of Hogan's key staff, and the reliable idiocy of camp Commandant Klink (Werner Klemperer) and willful ignorance of lead officer Sergeant Schultz (John Banner).

Season one of Hogan's Heroes found all of these elements securely in place and the series balancing farce with suspense. Typical storylines include "Hold the Tiger," in which the boys smuggle a new German Tiger Tank into the camp, disassemble it to construct a blueprint, and then reassemble it under Klink's nose. "The Prisoner's Prisoner" finds Hogan kidnapping a Nazi general, sneaking him into Stalag 13, and tricking him—a la Mission: Impossible--to reveal troop plans. In "The Prince from the Phone Company," one of Hogan's most-trusted confederates, radio operator Kinchloe (Ivan Dixon), disguises himself as an African prince trying to secure money from the Third Reich. Half the fun of these shows is watching Hogan thinking quickly on his feet whenever things start to go wrong, or when one of Klink's more intelligent superiors becomes suspicious that not everything at Stalag 13 is as under control as it seems. Besides Dixon, the other players making up Hogan's elite squad include Richard Dawson as the slightly disreputable Newkirk (with a talent for thievery), Larry Hovis as chemistry whiz Carter, and Robert Clary as the charming LeBeau. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (46)

Great series ... DVD quality is poor
Hogan's Heroes is one of those series which you just can't stop watching.There is always a great laugh.

Unfortunately the DVD quality leaves a lot to be desired.DISCs 1 and 2 are mis-labeled.DISC 2 suffers from technical problems in the remastering.One of the worst tracks on DISC 2 was Happiness is a Warm Sergeant.The episode tended to jump back in a loop during certain parts, the sound would go in and out, and some other annoying glitchs.

It is a shame that the quality control for this release is so poor.

Wonderful for all ages
Hogan's Heros (along with Green Acres) was my favorite show when I was a kid, and now I watch this DVD set with my own children. I have three boys, 11, 8, and 7, and they love it.A Nazi prison camp may seem like a "mature" theme for small children, but they love Schultz, the friendly guard dogs, the tunnels, and all of the craziness of Stalag 13 (tanks getting stolen, planes taking off, etc).
A great series for bringing families together.

Good Set - One Error RE: Disc Labels
The set was as advertised except that disc one and disc two had their on-cd labels swapped i.e. disc one was actually disc two and vice versa.

Excellent old show that brings back fun memories for me :)

Return to childhood..
The Hogan's Heroes DVD collection has been a wonderful bit of entertainment and nostalgia for me.I find that I can repeatedly play these old classic episodes and still be fascinated and laugh out loud at the plots and stories.

There are other reviews that go into far more detail than I care to as far as individual episode titles and various trivia.

I will simply say that this DVD set will provide hours of entertainment for anyone who grew up watching these old shows in syndication.

I gave the set 4 of 5 stars for one and only one reason.Though the set clains to be "full length season one episodes" the reality is that there are missing scenes.Most are minute and do not affect the flow of the shows but to someone who as a kid watched them over and over in repeats, they are noticable..

HOWEVER this will not keep me from adding the second season to my collection the moment it comes out...

Short and simple review
I don't want to go on with this review, so I will capsulize my comments with one word:"Excellent" ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A Collection Worth Ice Skating Uphill For!Blade Delivers!
The Blade Collection is finally here!For moviegoers, it all began back in the summer of 1998:


BLADE (1998) 1 Disc Rated R (2.35:1) - Talk about a movie experience! From the opening shots, you are literally sucked in (no pun intended) to the world of the vampires. Wesley Snipes completely embraces the role of the title character and plays him to the hilt, with just a bit of dry cocky humor that is very refreshing.As we first meet Blade at a Vampire techno club (which uses a great remix of a song called "Confusion" by New Order) we just know he's a force to be reckoned with as he slices, dices, burns & just plains blows up every vampire he gets a hold of (including Traci Lords, in a very memorable cameo). Kris Kristofferson plays Whistler, Blade's mentor and creator of the various weapons at his disposal, including guns & knives, bombs, & more. ("We have a good arrangement. He makes the weapons, I use 'em"). But it's Stephen Dorff as the bloodthirsty Deacon Frost that helps catapult the film from average action fair to the stuff of comic book legend. With most actors, this would be a one or two dimensional performance, but in the hands of Stephen Dorff, he turns the character of Deacon Frost into something much more multilayared. The interaction he has with Blade as well as his other fellow vampires give off this feel of someone we should not underestimate. Because a truly great villain is a huge key to a movie's success.The whole mythos of vampires in this film moves the genre in a very interesting direction. According to Blade, pure silver, garlic & sunlight are the main tools to combat vampires. ("Crosses don't do d***, so forget about what you've seen in the movies") But the fact that the pure blood vampires are personified as old & disposable, while the nonpure vampires are young and virile, looking to take over and run things, can really be looked at as a depiction of our society, with the old guard being kicked out by the new one, lest anarchy ensue.A Classic.Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. 120 MIN.


BLADE II (2002) 2 Disc Rated R (1.85:1) - Part 2 begins in Prague, with Blade searching for the location of Whistler, who has been turned into a Vampire and subsuquently tortured. The action sequences are even more elaborate than the first, with the camera actually following jumps and flips in a spiral fashion. By now most of you know the story, which involves a new breed of vampire called Reapors, that are trying to take over their predecessors and eventually enslave the world. The vampires turn to Blade for assistance in helping them wipe out these vicious beasts. In a sort of "Dirty Dozen" meets "Aliens" tradition, Blade teams up with an elite group of vampires, who, turns out, were originally put together to hunt him down. They instead work together to seek out the Reapors to destroy them, but find that killing them is not as easy as they'd hoped.The film gives Wesley Snipes more range to show some drama this time, with a subplot involving a female vampire named Nyssa, who's a pure blood, working for her father. Twists and turns abound in this comic book action thriller that gives off a nice feel of energy while at the same time making sense. There's plenty martial arts action to make anybody happy, as well as some much needed dry humor from Snipes and company. All in all a satisfying experience that will leave most moviegoers in an upbeat fashion.Dolby Digital 5.1 & DTS 6.1 Surround Sound. 117 MIN.


BLADE: TRINITY (2004) 2 Disc Unrated & R rated versions(2.35:1) - In the final installment, Blade teams up with the Nightstalkers, a ragtag group of vampire hunters lead by the sexy Abigail Whistler (Jessica Biel) & the quickwitted Hannibal King (Ryan Reynolds) who are out to track down and kill the vampire of all vampires: Dracula (played by the musclebound Dominic Purcell).Watch out for Parker Posey, as the scene stealing Danica Talos, the equivalent of a vampire constantly tripping on acid.Snipes has less to do this time out as Blade, with the newer characters taking up much of his screen time.But when he's onscreen, he still shines and plays the character perfectly.A shame that there was turmoil between him and director/screenwriter David S. Goyer (notice, for example, Snipes's unwillingness to contribute to the audio commentaries for the movie even though he had done so for the first two films).And seeing Dominic Purcell's performance as Drake makes one wish that the Stephen Dorff character of Deacon Frost could somehow be resurrected in order to show these guys how playing a first-rate villian is really done.Still, with all it's flaws, the film still works, just not as well as most fans would've liked.The new footage in the unrated version is interesting, as well as the slightly different ending, that many fans may find much more preferable to that of the theatrical version.Worth having.Dolby Digital 5.1 & DTS 6.1 Surround Sound. 113 MIN & 122 MIN.


Besides the gripes about the 3rd film, the real disappointment with this wonderful collection is that the original Blade movie is not presented as a 2 disc Platinum Edition with DTS 6.1 Surround Sound the way its sequels are.It truly deserves the much needed upgrade.The Box itself is very nice to look at, with a very nicely done 3-D front cover.For the most part, this is what every Blade fan has been waiting for since that summer of 1998 when one of the best comic book franchises began its journey.This is definately a collection worth ice skating uphill for!


Blade Trilogy: The Ultimate Collection - Bloodsuckingly Brilliant!


"Blade.Ready to die?" - Dominic Purcell as Drake

"Since the day I was born." - Wesley Snipes as Blade

Great Buy!!
I brought all these movies seperatly when they came out but if you missed out on them this is a great buy and it has the all the bonus discs. All the movies are great, 2 & 3 even have 6.1 DTS, Blade is a great franchise! Thank you Wesley Snipes, Marvel and everyone else, spectacular work!

Good, but flawed
Would be perfect if it wasn't for the ignorant 3rd (and last) blade movie which was the worst blade movie ever made. They should give you a discount on the price just for that alone

Buy This If You're A Blade Fanatic!
I own this collection also and just want to give my opinion of why you should and shouldn't buy this.
I do think this collection is a little over priced.If people have patience, it'll go on sale by ten dollars at certain stores.I know because this is how I buy a lot of my dvd's.Waiting until they go down to ten bucks each.
You would think it's better to buy the duo pack of the two Blade movies, for the price of $21.50.Then buying the third Blade movie for $20 getting everything together for only $40.Personally I didn't think Blade Trinity was all it could've been.
It's sad that the Blade duo pack was ruined.Since Blade 2 wasn't in its original aspect ratio... losing a lot of the picture of what you really get to see.I recommend that you don't buy the double pack, at all.
If you've never seen these, and not once in your life purchased them... it doesn't mean this set will be for you.I know a lot of people who don't like the Blade movies, and who loved it's original comic Blade character more.You have to be a die hard fan of Blade in order to buy the great trilogy.The two extra discs and comic book are great for any collector to cherish.This 5 disc box set is the best thing to go out and buy for any real Blade fan.

From a reviewer who actually owns the set.
You may now ignore the other reviews, which were written before the set came out, and which were based on Amazon's description and some supposition.The first thing you should know is that Amazon got the number of discs wrong.This is a 5 DVD set, not a 3 DVD set.The first disc is the Platinum Edition of the original Blade.The next two discs are the Platinum Edition of Blade 2.The final two discs are the unrated Platinum Edition of Blade 3.In addition to the movies, the set includes a limited edition Marvel comic book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Now firmly established as the top-rated television drama, by its third year CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is a show positively glowing with confidence. Even when individual cases seem either too contrived or too easily resolved, the indefatigable night shift at the Las Vegas PD crime lab always look the part, solving conundrums and discovering microscopic damning evidence while, apparently, never shedding their own loose hair or skin cells all over the supposedly quarantined crime scenes. In reality, Catherine Willows's flowing blonde locks would contaminate any evidence she collected, but in the world of CSI only the bad guys leave body parts behind--the CSIs themselves are so good they're positively pristine.

The 23 episodes of season 3 on this five-disc set present more deliciously bizarre situations for the problem-solving sleuths: cannibalism, snuff movies, dwarfs, death while drag racing, bodies falling from the sky, and various dismemberments all tax the team's acumen. These are all double or multiple-case episodes, though in a characteristic trick of the writing sometimes apparently unrelated murders turn out to be connected (or vice versa, as in "Blood Lust," in which a road-accident victim is not what he seems, and the death of the driver at the hands of an angry mob is made all the more tragic). The mix of genuine forensic science with the glossiest Jerry Bruckheimer production values, plus the virtues of a good ensemble cast headed by William Peterson's modern-day Sherlock Holmes, remains as compelling as ever. --Mark Walker ... Read more

Reviews (20)

CSI's Still On Top!
Being an extreme CSI fan, I couldn't pass up the chance to buy season 3 to add to my growing collection. I saw probably a little more than half the season and it was just as good as the other two seasons and I wanted to see all that I missed. The plot with Grissom's hearing problem kept you watching to see how he handled it and what would happen. Once again, there's 23 episodes on 6 disks. The episodes are as follows: (Episodes appear in the order of original airdate)

DISK 1:
*Episode 302: "Revenge is Best Served Cold"
**Episode 301: "The Accused is Entitled"
Episode 303: "Let the Seller Beware"
Episode 304: "A Little Murder"

DISK 2:
Episode 306: "Abra Cadaver"
Episode 305: "The Execution of Catherine Willows"
***Episode 307: "Fright Night" (Emmy Award Winning Episode)
^Episode 308: "Snuff"

DISK 3:
Episode 309: "Blood Lust"
Episode 310: "High and Low"
Episode 311: "Recipe For Murder"
Episode 312: "Got Murder?"

DISK 4:
+Episode 313: "Random Acts of Violence"
Episode 314: "One Hit Wonder"
~Episode 315: "Lady Heather's Box"
Episode 316: "Lucky Strike"

DISK 5:
Episode 317: "Crash and Burn"
Episode 318: "Precious Metal"
Episode 319: "A Night At The Movies"
Episode 320: "Last Laugh"

DISK 6:
Episode 321: "Forever"
Episode 322: "Play With Fire"
Episode 323: "Inside The Box"

*- Featuring audio commentary by Danny Cannon and Anthony E. Zuiker

**- Featuring audio commentary by Ann Donahue, Elizabeth Devine, and Ken Fink
***- Featuring audio commentary by Richard Lewis and naren Shankar
^- Featuring audio commentary by Ann Donahue and Ken Fink
+- Featuring audio commentary by Danny Cannon and Karen Shankar
~- Featuring audio commentary by Richard Lewis, Anthony E. Zuiker, Naren Shankar and Josh Berman

Along with 23 episodes, the DVD features the following bonus materials:

The CSI Tour: Police Station
The CSI Shot: Making It Real
The Writers' Room
CSI Moves Into Season 3
Crime Scene Field Kit

(All bonus materials combine into a total of approx. 5 hours)

You get so much for the price! Some DVD sets can break 100 but this is much less. With 5 hours of Bonus Material and the 23 episodes, you can't possibly complain! I recommend any CSI lover out there to buy this DVD set. If you are a true fan of CSI, you won't be disappointed!

CSI gets better every year
Having watched this series from the pilot episode, I've not missed one episode. I have them all on videotape, and now that they've been released on DVD, all the better! I have all 3 seasons, and can't wait until season 4 is released. This is a fantastic show with realistic crime scene depictions, often taken off the front pages of today's newspapers. The twists and turns make it fun to try to solve the crime before it shows you at the end, and some cases I find truly baffling! The tools are real, and I've gotten to the point I have a deep interest in forensic science. I've even thought of going back to school for it because of this TV SHOW! I think this is my favorite show EVER..even above ER, Third Watch, and Crossing Jordan! If you haven't seen it yet, you're missing something truly unique! Furthermore, I like the original CSI in the Las Vegas setting, and don't much care for the spinoff of CSI: Miami. CSI: New York is beginning in the fall, and I'll give that a couple episodes before I decide. I'm a CSI fanatic, I can't help it!

Best of the Lot
The title tells all I think this was the best series so far.
really enjoyed the 90min special 'lady heathers box'

Can't wait for season 4

bring it on

Great show (and cute George Eads)
Even if you don't like this programme (how could you not???), it's worth buying simply to watch George Eads the whole way through. He's so hot. The combination of a good looking cast and interesting (if not often creepy) storylines, keeps me watching this show each and every week and I could watch all of these episodes over and over. Go out and buy this now.

completely entertaining
With stand alone stories, you could walk right into season three no problem. So much better than Alias or anything else in it's class. My only beef is that occasionally I can see the "dead" bodies breathing and in one case twitching. It's happened 5 or 6 times and is the only flaw. I like to pretend that I'm watching Will Grahem (aka Gill Grisom) as Manhunter 20+ years later still catching bad guys. Worth every penny, all three seasons were watched in a month. AWESOME and RARE TV. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

BERSERK - BEST ANIME EVER
This would have to be the best anime I have ever seen, there is no comparison. The story is so good that once you've watched one episode, you can't to wait to see the other. It is not a predictable story unlike most other anime, where you can almost guess what's going to happen. The characters are the best, everyone has their special attribute, mostly Gatts and Griffith, Gats with his huge sword cutting through anything that gets in his way, and Griffith with his confidence and unmatched leadership. This anime is very realistic, not with too much violence but it shows you more that it is a violent world. I would probably say that this has to be the best series I have ever seen even comparing to regular tv shows and movies. You will not regret one penny you paid to buy it and one second of your life you watched it.

One of the Most Unique and Powerful Series Ever.
Berserk is one of the most unique animes, and just plain one of the most unique stories around. It has a flow and style of plot and character development all its own. The characters are all very realistic and never seem flat or predictible. Guts, himself, is a very different manner of hero. He's far from a moral character, yet not really what you would call an antihero. The story is very subtle at times and does a nice job of juggling action and helping further the narrative, with bits of dialogue that never seem stilted or generic.
The ending, as many reveiwers have already said, is very brutal and quite cruel. Some may be turned off by this, but I found the ending quite a bold move, and upon watching the last two episodes over again, prefer it to a more upbeat one. One of the most standout points I found throughout the series was its music. It's quite beautiful and matches the tone of the series perfectly, especially in the latter episodes. Perhaps the most surprising to me was the brialliant use of cuts and edits the series employs. Whether it goes to its commercial bumper or just recaps the events of the previous episode in the prologue, the series has a sharp eye for cliffhangers and last-minute revelations. Treat yourself to something fresh in the anime world and watch Berserk, you shouldn't be dissapointed.

Berserk is just simply a masterpiece!
ok this won't be a typical review like you peoples usually read. Ghetto wit style is this 1. Now here is the way I interpreted the story of ...............................

~Berserk~ The characters in this show ain't like nothin you ever seen. They have DEPTH! The most I have ever seen. But it is only 3 that has this DEPTH.

~Griffth~
~Guts~
~Caska~

because of the DEPTH to these 3 great characters is astonishing, everything these 3 characters do will be interpreted diffeerntly with every viewer that watches these 3 characters interact.

Here is a list of many things I mean............................

* Is Griffith and Guts really gay?
* Does Casca really love Griffith or is her judgement clouded for another man, maybe Guts?
* What caused Griffith to become gay?
* Who is the smarter man Griffith or Guts?
* Why is Casca always complainin?
* Does Guts want Griffith or Casca? Is he bisexual?

and there are many more. This series is everything just get it.

Oh and if you get this collector's Box of War set then watch the outtakes on every dvd cause they are very, very funny. Also in a interview the director or artist mentioned somethin bout that there may be a 2nd season! Hope so!

Holla at ya boi!!!

frustrated
i watched the whole series and must say i enjoyed most of it, but i think saying it has a bad ending is an understatement. i have never felt more frustrated about any ending more than this one. i never have felt i wanted more resolution in an aime most the time i like less but in berserk there was no resolution. i would have been satisfied if they atleast hinted in the end what happened but there was nothing.its not only the ending. the whole story has loads of foreshadow that kept me watching but in the end it combined almost none of it. i was really disapointed by it. guts is a little too invicible for my taste also.

Wow! and... Wow...
This is such a cool anime. You will understand a lot more if you read the manga as well. I'm just waiting for the 4th manga to be printed in English.
The consept of this anime is amazing in the fact that it shows the lengths a person will go to be at the top: the people that will be used, the people that will die, and the people who are really 'nothing'- just stepping stones. Wonderfully done! ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Color or B&W
When the series started the majority of the television owner had B&W TV Sets.My family didn't get a color TV until 1966.In the fall of 1966 is when almost everything on the NBC, CBS and ABC Television Networks were shown in Color.So, these previous episodes were done in B&W because it was cheaper and the majority of the public still own B&W TV's.

Now, when it comes to "The Dick Van Dyke Show" the producers and the actor had pointed out that they want the show to remain in B&W.I don't know about the original "Twilight Zone" Series but maybe it and the original "Outer Limits" should remain in B&W.These stories and how they were photograph were meant to be in B&W.

Yet, "Gilligan's Island", "Bewitched" and several other TV series were only film in B&W because of the mass media.If they have found a way to colorize these programs then go for it.Keep the original B&W episodes for those who want it for good old memory but do not deny the rest of us the color.Besides, why are you all making a fuse out of this when the studio is offering the series in both versions?

The Bonus Features
The bonus features for this boxset, as well as the colourised boxset include:

Featurette: Magic Unveiled
Bloopers: Magic and Mishaps
Full length Bewitched Theatrical Trailer

A More Colorful Samantha
To see the first 2 years of Bewitched in color is like a dream come true.You'd have to be a complete phoney-baloney to not want to admit to wanting to see the whole series in color.Now thanks to the marvelous new colorizing technology your dreams of seeing the beautiful Sam twitch her schnoz in beautiful color are finally a reality.I've seen the colorized Bewitched DVDs and they are a real work of beauty.All individual colors assigned to different picture elements in the frame, the complete picture and all details in it are accurately colorized.This isn't the old days of colorizing from the late '80's when everything was shades of brown and blue, now colorizing technology has improved vastly so you can't tell a color picture from a colorized picture.In fact the colorized Bewitched looks better than the color episodes of Bewitched.Only your politically correct snob friends will be admitting to preferring the drab lifeless dated looking b/w pictures over the wonderful colorful present day looking beautiful color picture you can get with these great looking colorized DVDs.Let your snob friends who pretend to prefer b/w over color buy the dull b/w versions, you stand tall and proud as you buy the excellent color version.I proudly proclaim, I LOVE COLORIZED MOVIES AND TV SHOWS over the dull lifeless b/w image.I only wish ALL b/w programs were in beautiful colorized versions.Imagine the wonderful world it would be to see I Love Lucy, Superman, & The Honeymooners all in living color!!!Let's hope the powers that be will make these dreams come true too.

The Black and White Episodes are My Favorite!
The first season of Bewitched premeired on TV about a year before I was born but as child in the 70's I grew up watching the reruns of the color episodes and when I finally saw the first season in black and white I loved it and as much as I liked the seasons where Bewitched was filmed in color I actually prefered the black and white seasons that I watched on Nick at Nite and TV Land and I think Elizabeth Montomery and Dick York were great as a witch named Samantha and her mortal husband Darrin. I see that they are offering the first season in two different sets, one in it's original black and white and the other where the episodes have been colorised and I for one will only buy the black and white set! Like some other reviewers I also prefer Dick York as the original Darrin to his replacement Dick Sargent. Dick Sargent was okay as Darrin but I think Dick York was better and had more chemistry with Elizabeth Montomery. I also preferred Alice Pearce as the original Gladys Kravitz and Irene Vernon as the original Louise Tate. BTW: I have to agree with the reviewers who said that if they wanted to add a color option to the first season DVD set that perhaps they should have put them on the flip side of the discs instead of offering two different sets. Like for example, the black and white episodes on the A side of the discs and the colorised episodes on the B side.

the first season was shot in black and white
I have not seen the DVD and this is not a review of the DVD set of a show I love and will definitely buy. However, I wanted to clarify something that seems to be confusing people about the first season.

The first season of the series, like so many of the series of that era, was filmed in black and white -- on black and white film stock. IT WAS NOT FILMED IN COLOR. It does not exist in color. Period.

What the studio has done here is "colorized" the black and white film to appear to be color. Not the same thing. And you will notice the difference.

We've all seen those old Ted Turner colorizations and they are horrible. What his company did to the first season of "Gilligan's Island" (bad colorization) brought an outcry from series purists.

I am willing to believe that advancements in technology over the years might have improved what was almost unwatchable 10 or 15 years ago.

But be aware, it's not like the producers of this set unearthed some rare never before seen footage of the shows in color. They have manipulated the original black and white film to look color.

Knowing that means I'll be buying the black and white version offered for sale.

Hope this helps. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Complete James Dean Collection includes two-disc special editions of the three major films Dean made during his meteoric career: East of Eden (1955, never before available on DVD), Rebel Without a Cause (1955), and Giant (1956).In addition to new transfers, the films collect new and vintage documentaries, commentary tracks, publicity materials, and even the infamous "Drive Safely" commercial spot Dean filmed shortly before his death in an auto accident.

East of Eden is an acknowledged classic, and the starring debut of James Dean lifts it to legendary status. John Steinbeck's novel gave director Elia Kazan a perfect Cain-and-Abel showcase for Dean's iconic screen persona, casting the brooding star as Cal, the younger of two brothers vying for the love of their Bible-thumping father (Raymond Massey) in Monterey, California, at the dawn of World War I. Massey is a lettuce farmer, striving for market domination with an ill-fated refrigeration scheme. Having discovered that his presumed-dead mother (Oscar winner Jo Van Fleet) is a brothel owner in nearby Salinas, Cal convinces her to finance an investment that will restore his father's lost fortune, but neither money nor the tenderness of his brother's fiancée (Julie Harris) can assuage Cal's anguished need for paternal acceptance that comes nearly too late. Kazan's oblique camera angles and Dean's tortured emoting may seem extreme by latter-day standards, but their theatrics make East of Eden a timeless tale of family secrets and hard-won affection.

When people think of James Dean, they probably think first of the troubled teen from Rebel Without a Cause: nervous, volatile, soulful, a kid lost in a world that does not understand him. Made between his only other starring roles, in East of Eden and Giant, Rebel sums up the jangly, alienated image of Dean, but also happens to be one of the key films of the 1950s. Director Nicholas Ray takes a strikingly sympathetic look at the teenagers standing outside the white-picket-fence '50s dream of America: juvenile delinquent (that's what they called them then) Jim Stark (Dean), fast girl Judy (Natalie Wood), lost boy Plato (Sal Mineo), slick hot-rodder Buzz (Corey Allen). At the time, it was unusual for a movie to endorse the point of view of teenagers, but Ray and screenwriter Stewart Stern captured the youthful angst that was erupting at the same time in rock & roll. Dean is heartbreaking, following the method acting style of Marlon Brando but staking out a nakedly emotional honesty of his own. Going too fast, in every way, he was killed in a car crash on September 30, 1955, a month before Rebel opened. He was no longer an actor, but an icon, and Rebel is a lasting monument.

Giant got its name because everything in the picture is big, from the generous running time (more than 200 minutes) to the sprawling ranch location (a horizon-to-horizon plain with a lonely, modest mansion dropped in the middle) to the high-powered stars. Stocky Rock Hudson stars as the confident, stubborn young ranch baron Bick Benedict, who woos and wins the hand of Southern belle Elizabeth Taylor, a seemingly demure young beauty who proves to be Hudson's match after she settles into the family homestead. For many the film is chiefly remembered for James Dean's final performance, as poor former ranch hand Jett Rink, who strikes oil and transforms himself into a flamboyant millionaire playboy. Director George Stevens won his second Oscar for this ambitious, grandly realized (if sometimes slow moving) epic of the changing socioeconomic (and physical) landscape of modern Texas, based on Edna Ferber's bestselling novel. The talented supporting cast includes Mercedes McCambridge as Bick's frustrated sister, put out by the new "woman of the house"; Chill Wills as the Benedicts' garrulous rancher neighbor; Carroll Baker and Dennis Hopper as the Benedicts' rebellious children; and Earl Holliman and Sal Mineo as dedicated ranch hands. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Icon Who Never Gets Old
On Sept. 30, 2005, we mark the 50th anniversary of the death of James Dean.While baby-boomers may find that incredible, what's even more incredible is that throughout those 50 years, Dean's status as the icon of disaffected youth and rebellious adolescence has not only held up, but burnishes itself anew every time it is displayed before our eyes.
In a film career which spanned only 16 months and included only three films, James Dean defined the disorientation of disaffected youth, as one strives to carve out one's identity, separate from one's parents, and discover what values truly define and shape that identity and self.The remarkable thing about his movie roles is that they did this not only for his generation, but speak for each succeeding generation down to the present day.In no small part due to his tragic death at the age of 24, he never ages, and therefore remains the icon of all that is cool to all generations, whether you identify with Elvis, the Beatles, Sting or Kurt Cobain.Onscreen, James Dean remains the Real Thing in a way few other movie stars have ever been.
Bringing what Marlon Brando called "a subtle energy and a sense of intangible injury" to each of his roles, Dean created a cinematic presence which was so compelling, it had few, if any equals.He became at once the gravitational center and the propulsive force of every scene he was in.It did not matter if he was acting with Raymond Massey, Julie Harris, Natalie Wood, Rock Hudson or Elizabeth Taylor.For each and every moment he was onscreen, you could not take your eyes off him and what he was doing.
In the process, Dean managed to encapsulate and project all the conflicts and contradictions of youth in a manner and to a degree which remains unparalleled.Dean's characters were full of hurt and hubris, anger and uncertainty, confidence and vulnerability... all at once.Other young actors are merely young, and maybe heartfelt.Dean's characters are young with an experience which defies their years, thereby expressing an intensity of feeling and inner conflict that no one else could match.
This collection of all three of Dean's starring vehicles providessomething of serious value to everyone who cares about movies and American culture.The DVD transfers are first rate, and it's hard to believe, for instance, that "East of Eden" has been unavailable to viewers in any format for the past 10 years.Take advantage, movie fans!Even 50 years later, James Dean remains as compelling, as fascinating and as powerful as he ever was, and... HE NEVER GETS OLD.

It's About Time!!!
James Dean will have been dead for 50 years on September 30th, 2005, and seeing that death has only enhanced his iconic image, even if Dean only starred in three studio pictures, I don't think it too much to ask that these films finally get the recognition they deserve. In fact, fans have had to wait so long for a "Dean Collection" that these discs better be flawless as the films themselves almost are. "East of Eden", "Rebel Without A Cause", and "Giant" will be included in this set and the first two mentioned really are screen burners in every aspect.

James Dean made his starring debut in "East of Eden", based on the best-selling John Steinbeck novel which retells the Adam and Eve story, and he was a star from then on. Dean plays Cal Trask, the "Cain" character, to glorious, brooding perfection. In fact, when Steinbeck himself met Dean, he told director Elia Kazan "He is Cal".

"Rebel Without A Cause", probably Dean's best-known film, is a landmark of method acting. Dean as Jim Stark, a pseudonym of James and Trask (as in Cal Trask from Eden), is not the quintessential teenager that everyone paints him. He is so much deeper and older than he appears. "Rebel Without a Cause", directed by Nicholas Ray, is truly a magnum opus of a film. A must see!

"Giant" is a very lush and grand film. Perhaps a bit overdone, but entertaining none the less. Edna Ferber, who wrote the novel, also said Dean was a wonderful choice to play Jett Rink, a common salt of the earth man, who rises to great heights, only to be ruined by his own demons. Dean is the most fascinating thing about "Giant" and easily steals every scene he is in. "The Complete James Dean Collection" is long overdue in any format, let alone DVD. Now, a new generation will be able to experience the myth that is James Dean. ... Read more

Amazon.com

While the first season of The X-Files introduced us to Scully and Mulder, the second season finds the show confidently hitting its stride. Building on its earlier success, the show evolves, and in these 25 episodes, a glimpse is shown of a longer-running story line (which will continue through subsequent seasons) that is woven into the usual stand-alone episodes of the paranormal. These so-called mythology episodes hint at a global conspiracy involving sinister government agents, UFOs, alien abductions, genetic engineering, the ever-lurking Cigarette Smoking Man, and Fox Mulder's father. Season 2 fleshes out Mulder's family history, including the childhood abduction of his sister Samantha, an event that would shape him for life. Actress Gillian Anderson (Scully) became unexpectedly pregnant during season 2, but series creator Chris Carter managed to dance nimbly around her absence and even integrate it into the show. As in season 1, Mulder and Scully are surrounded by a strong supporting cast, which adds a suspicious new agent named Alex Krycek, an informant named X, and a seemingly indestructible alien bounty hunter.

The seven-disc boxed set includes some interesting background material, but again, the heart of the set is the episodes themselves. Among them are standouts such as "The Host," "Duane Barry/Ascension," "Humbug," "Dod Kalm," "Colony/End Game," and "Anasazi." These episodes are a powerful reminder that The X-Files, like no other show on television, can span horror, suspense, mystery, romance, drama, and comedy, sometimes all in the same episode, and always with the production values of a major feature film. --Eugene Wei ... Read more

Reviews (84)

Great episodes - disappointing extra features
Unfortunately, Fox hasnt understood it yet that DVDs are here to offer some real extra features. What we do get on this otherwise fantastisc DVD collection is a mere disappointment:

1) Fox TV episode trailers: they are so short it takes you more time to click through the menue to get to the trailer than to watch it. Whats good about that? Why would i care to watch the trailer anyway, if I have the whole episode on DVD?

2) Deleted Scenes: There arent many of them and they are terribly short. Some are simply pointless and thats exactly the reason why there were deleted. Only interesting were to discover that X was in the first reason a woman and an additional funny scene from "Humbug".

3) Special effects: Ouch! 3 of them and one shorter than the next. If I remember well, Carter has exactly the time for one sentence until the the special effects clip is over. A disappointment. X-Files would have so much to offeron that ground.

4) Behind the Scenes elements: Yeah, well, the one with Gillian Anderson chewing an insect was funny, the rest useless.

5) 15-minutes documentary: quite ok, but nothing really new.

6) Behind the Truth elements: well, copied from the TV, not really spectacular

7) Comments by Chris Carter: they were already on the Video collections by Fox available in Europe.

I give it a four star because after all, the main elements are the episodes themselves which of course are great and worth the price! There is absolutely nothing to complain about those.

Maybe in the 3rd season collection we will finally find some really decent special features!

Can't wait for season 3
Fox is doing an excellent job bringing us the X-Files on DVD. I like having a complete season in one box and not to buy every other episode separately (which is the case with Star Trek...).

Anyway, in the 2nd season, the X-Files really got going with the big arc story of the big conspiracy hiding the truth about aliens (which is also used in order to handle Gillian Andersons pregnancy at the start of the season, she gets abducted... nevertheless Gillian looks quite different before and after giving birth). This makes for the really good two-parters of the season "Duane Barry/ Ascension", "Colony / End Game" and the cliff-hangar "Anasazi" (can't wait for Season 3!).

The extras on disc 7 are nice in itself, especially the commentaries by Chris Carter. Would have been nice if these were a little bit longer.

A must buy for every fan of the X-Files, go and buy it!

Holy Crap
Did the X files ever get a budget boost in this season. The show looks great all of a sudden. this series really starts to lay the ground work for later seasons, more so than the first. They develope the characters and story arcs much fuller in this series. Great series, but still better seasons to come. Buy this.

The season that really started it...
As great as season one was and as much as I love it, season 2 is the one that really jump starts this show. Season 2 is where an actuall mythology really gets developed and used throughout the entire season that helps link episodes together and get an ultimate story underway. This season also starts the use of comedy in the series (ex. 'Humbug') and contains, my favorite episode of the x-files 'Duane Berry'.
The DVD set packs quite a few extras and is better quality then youll get on TNT or SCI-FI, and you can watch all your episodes in order. If you were only going to buy one season of the x-files I'd recommend season 3, but if you were going to buy two seasons, I'd recommend seasons 2 and 3.

The first of a string of exceptional seasons
With the second season "The X-Files" raised the bar and managed to maintain a series of excellent seasons through the sixth. After that, the distraction from the production of the movie and Carter's other lesser series ("Millenium" which borrowed the look and texture of "Seven")began to take its toll. Nevertheless, even season seven was far above average.

The story arc involving the alien conspiracy kicks into high gear and all the major players are in place by the time of the second season. Season two starts off with "The X-Files" closed down. Mulder and Scully have been reassigned nevertheless, "X" is Mulder's friend inside the FBI. Eventually, the X-Files are reopened and Mulder & Scully discover far deeper mysteries than they ever imagined during season one. The highlight of season two, for me, is "Duane Barry" and "Ascension". Production values are up as well during this season which means that the effects and sets improved. It's clear that Fox released they had a hit on their hands.

We get all the original broadcast episodes with the addition of Chris Carter's commentary on nearly half of the season. There's also international clips (which are always good for a chuckle)and also a number of great extras. What matters is whether or not the set is worth it based on A) The quality of the episodes and B) The quality of the transfers.

A) The writing establihed a benchmark that all other series (from "CSI" to "Buffy")benefited from. While Carter may have been inspired by "The Night Stalker" television series, he way beyond that series with drama that could hold its own with the best of mainstream television.
B)The transfer by Universal Studios is quite good. The compression technlogy used to create the DVDs does suffer a bit from all the dark sequences. The picture isn't always as clear as it could be but, again, we've got nearly 4 hours of complex images on one dual layer disc.

The set comes with a twelve page booklet that details every episode and gives the general production info. It also includes a picture from these which, if you're like me, helps because I can never remember the title of many of my favorite episodes.
While I didn't like the accordian style presentation of the DVDs at first, they're pretty well put together and, when compared to those for other sets, are well designed with a great deal of care put into the art direction. Overall, it's a classy package and the price has never been better. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The 34 episodes in this eight-disc set make up the "Kyoto" arc of the popular martial arts adventure-comedy. The tone of the narrative has darkened since the introductory story (Rurouni Kenshin: Wandering Samurai). When the forces of the Tokugawa Shogunate were defeated by the Imperialists 10 years earlier, Kenshin Himura abandoned his identity as Battousai the Manslayer. Makoto Shishio succeeded him as the country's deadliest assassin. Government agents captured Shishio, and although he survived a botched execution, an attempt to incinerate his body left him hideously scarred. Shishio has assembled a private army to overthrow the Meiji government and make himself ruler of Japan. Can Kenshin keep his oath never to kill again, or must he once again become a murderer to prevent a civil war? Kenshin's internal struggle is complicated by Seiko, his arrogant former sensei; Aoshi, the ex-commander of the Oniwaban; and Saito, a police officer who may be a friend, rival, and/or enemy. The drama and violence are played against the broad comedy of the cast of friends Kenshin made in Tokyo in the previous continuity: Kaoru, Yahiko, Sanosuke, Megumi. Yahiko tries to emulate Kenshin, clobbering an opponent as he shouts, "Hiten Mitsurugi style--or close to it, anyway!"

Director Kazuhiro Furuhashi stages the sword fights and martial arts duels with panache, using rapid cutting, split-screen, and reversed colors to heighten the excitement. But the filmmakers stress that the spiritual aspects of the samurai tradition of bushido outweigh mere physical skills. Kenshin's inner nobility triumphs over Shishio's commitment to a misguided social Darwinism.The emphasis on internal conflict demands nuanced performances from the vocal cast. As Kenshin, Richard Hayworth finds subtle transitions between the warm, slightly goofy Kenshin and the implacable warrior who once terrified Kyoto. This depth and complexity of characterization gives Rurouni Kenshin a resonance lacking in animation that pits blandly virtuous heroes against cackling villains. The Legend of Kyotoset makes it clear why Rurouni Kenshin remains one of the best-loved anime continuities of all time. (Rated 13 and older: violence, alcohol and tobacco use) --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (15)

rurouni kenshin!!
the rurouni kenshin series are by far my all time fave anime, the second series legend of kyoto in my opinion is one of the best, though it is smilar to the first series it is also much darker, the story is gripping, though i feel some fight scenes do go on longer than necessary, yet it still oes not detract from the story as is the case with some anime. the characters in this series are fantastic and well developed especialy since they star throughout the entirity you really get to know them. fantastic anime

One Of The Best
It has been said that Kenshin is a series with many highs and lows, this story arc is most certainly the high point and one of the best stories in all of anime. I first discovered Kenshin in the dark and very well done ova, however I found it very hard to watch the of the tv series. It was very lighthearted compared to the ova, but once I discovered this part of the series I liked it, loved it, and adored it, even more now than ova. Although it's not as dark or violent it has a truly brilliant narrative. Not only has the tone changed from the wandering samurai arc but it seems that the direction has changed significantly, but it has a whole new musical score that fits the tale like a glove. Not only that but there is so much more to the characters, in the first arc Kenshin only has to rely on his skills as a wanderer but now with the fate of Japan on his shoulders and enemies greater than himself he has only two choices: once again become the Battousai or complete the training he gave up to fight in the revolution. As for his enemies this is what really makes this story shine. Shishio Makoto is perhaps the greatest villain in all of anime, his right hand Sojiro is sure as hell no push over either. I must say I've been waiting for this collection for some time, and believe me it's worth the cash. This series is must for any and all anime fans.

Everything you want in a anime series.
This season of Rurouni Kenshin takes off where the first season endid a guy from the Shinsengumi named Saito pays a visit to the Battousai's living area the Kamiya Dojo and this is where stuff get's intresting. Another guy, thought to be Kenshin's succesor Makoto Shishio is trying to take over Japan. So Kenshin has to stop before the nation will be troubled.

For any Rurouni Kenshin fan this is a must bought kind of thing, I mean thios has everything you want in a action anime series. It has Action, Drama, Some Comidic Humor, Emotions and a whole line of stuff. Plus it is sort of a low price instead of buying the Legend of Kyoto DVD's one by one you can get this easy. The price is $149.99 so stop reading all the reviews and get this already.

Absolutely Fantastic, a moral and motivational journey!!
This is not an indoctrination or anything like that, but rather the show provides you with hope that there is always hope and the determination to carry on. TRY TRY TRY. The basic Japanese theme for most movies and anime!!

wow...
I love this show, and this is by FAR the best arc in the story. It's fantastic (although the battle with Shishio is a little drawn out...) in every way. If you like Rurouni Kenshin, then this is definitely worth your money and time. GREAT! ... Read more

Description

He is the ultimate high-seas hero: a man of unshakeable courage, unwavering principles and extraordinary skill. Joining the Royal Navy at the outset of the bloody Napoleonic Wars, Horatio Hornblower rises quickly from raw recruit to seasoned sailor, and his exploits become the stuff of legend.

A&E's lavish adaptations of C.S. Forester's classic novels charmed millions of viewers with their swashbuckling action, broadside battles and below-decks intrigue. This expansive set brings together the complete, Emmy-winning Hornblower saga for the fist time. Ioan Gruffudd (Black Hawk Down, Titanic) gives a star-making performance as the dashing hero, and the stellar supporting cast includes Robert Lindsay (Me & My Girl) Jamie Bamber (Band of Brothers) and Paul Copley (Queer as Folk).

All six feature-length Hornblower films: The Duel, The Fire Ships, The Duchess and the Devil, The Wrong War, The Mutiny, Retribution. Extensive DVD bonus features include The Making of Horatio Hornblower featurette and two full-length programs: England's Royal Warships and Sail 2000: Aboard the Eagle. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Outstanding films of adventure!
Nothing like great naval adventures at sea featuring the English Navy of old! The Horatio Hornblower series are so well filmed! The acting is great, the stories are excellent and the photography is always perfect. I thoroughly enjoyed these movies featuring mutiny, battles, facinating characters and the rough life of being at sea for the English Navy. The series follows Ioan Gruffudd on his naval military career as Horatio Hornblower and each movie is an adventure all by itself! This set completes the series and is put together very well. I can't wait for more movies to come out!

Just fabulous!
Although the Horatio Hornblower DVDs derive from an A&E "made for television" miniseries, all of the episodes are of movie quality. The acting is just great, the stories are wonderful, and each one stands very well on its own, although the episodes are best if watched sequentially. The sets and effects are very well done.
For those who don't know, the Horatio Hornblower series of books was written by British author C.S. Forrester, and deals with the career of a fictional British naval officer during the Napoleonic Wars. The series is somewhat faithful to the books, but significantly departs from the books in a number of places. But this is all to the good--purists (such as myself) will not be offended by this.
This is a "must have" for anyone who likes war movies. Each episode contains a solid storyline and chronicles Hornblower's growing leadership abilities. These are tails of adventure, leadership, hardship, and war. Very little gratuitous violence--young children and adults alike will enjoy this series.

Hornblower is number one!
I first saw these movies from the library and loved them so much I had to beg my parents to get them for me (no easy task). I have all eight movies and I watch them at least three times a week. I am a HUGE fan of anything relating to the 17th century british navy, and enjoy watching Hornblower rise from a nervous midshipman to a high ranking officer. You don't need to see them in order, though it would help if you are watching them for the first time. A thousand times better than masters and commanders. Lots of action! Good humor. An absolute must see! You'll love them as much as I do!

Fantastic...!
This is a great production... It's a gift to society. Great story and loveable characters, and great acting...! The music score is lovely... (keep forgetting the composers name) but it's lovely! Must say that next to "Band of Brothers" this is the best TV show ever made...!

Beat to Quarters!
Before Patrick O'Brian (who is justly due all accolades) there was the Hornblower series by C.S. Forrester, which has screamed for big screen treatment for decades. Before A&E tackeled the series, the best we have had is the old B&W Gregory Peck version caled "Captain Horatio Hornblower" which merges several of the middle books (the oldest ones) together. It was a good movie, but standard Hollywood stuff.

The A&E series starts with Book 1 "Midshipman Hornblower" and works up from there. The charcterizations are good and the screenplays, while taking inevitable liberties, are more or less faithful, especially in the characters of Hornblower and Bush. (My favorite was "Lieutenant Hornblower", Forrester's most complex novel in which Hornblower is caught up in a mutiny against a paranoid captain, and then has to extemporize an assault on a Spanish fort. The A&E series is at its best in this story, and keeps us guessing, as does the book, whether the ambitious Hornblower pitched his captain down the larbord stairs to save his neck and that of his fellow officers.)

Ioan Gruffudd (not a household name, although he had a small part in Titanic) is a supurb young Hornblower. There is strong support by the Kennedy and Bush characters, as well as Captain Pellew.

There will be inevitable comparisons with "Master and Commander," which I deem unfair. By the time "Master" begins, Cameron Crowe's Jack Aubrey is already a seasoned captain. In "Hornblower", we see Gruffudd's Hornblower evolve into his rank, making mistakes and learning. The Aubrey-Maturin novels are more complex, but Hornblower is one of the finest characters ever developed in the genre, and the success of the A&E series is how this is captured.

The A&E series was not a theatrical release and is not nearly as big on scale or special effects. None of ships actually used in the Hornblower series are particularly large, and do not match their historical counterparts.

Recommendations: I loved both the Foerrester and O'Brian series, and re-red them from time to time. They are like Port and Madiera, each have their use. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The first season of Profiler gives fans and newcomers a fresh opportunity to view this popular TV series at its best. Premiering on September 21, 1996, the series lasted four seasons as part of NBC's Saturday-night "Thrillogy" lineup, attracting a predominantly female audience drawn to its lead character, FBI profiler and single mother Samantha "Sam" Waters, played by Ally Walker. As the pilot begins, Sam's living with her daughter (Caitlin Wachs) and roommate (a thankless role for Erica Gimpel), still traumatized by her encounter with Jack (a.k.a. "Jack of all Trades"), a psychotic genius who killed Sam's husband three years earlier. Sam's mentor and leader of the Atlanta-based Violent Crime Task Force, Bailey Malone (Robert Davi), convinces Sam to rejoin the Bureau, where her VCTF colleagues include former cop John (Julian McMahon), computer ace George (Peter Frechette), and forensics expert Grace (Roma Maffia). Taking a cue from The X-Files' "mythology," Profiler tracked Jack's killing spree for two seasons, challenging Sam in an extended subplot as the VCTF pursued weekly cases of murder and mystery, aided by Sam's uncanny ability to "profile" unidentified killers.

Profiler borrowed heavily from The Silence of the Lambs and The X-Files while cribbing its title sequence from Seven, but the series established its own dark identity through slick production values and gruesomely plausible plots. The miscasting of Walker reportedly troubled NBC executives despite her growing fan base, but Profiler earned respectable ratings, building its popularity on a compelling escalation of tension and terror. Walker's DVD commentary on the pilot episode repeats the official reason for her departure after two seasons (she'd grown weary of the show's humorless tone), while Davi's is refreshingly frank, citing on-set squabbles and network mismanagement as reasons for first-season hardship. Still, he's quite correct in stating that later, more successful shows (C.S.I., Without a Trace, and others) would not have existed without Profiler's stylishly trendsetting example. (Note: episode #4, "I'll Be Watching You," was omitted from this set due to prohibitively expensive music rights for the Police hit "Every Breath You Take," which featured prominently in that episode's plot.) --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Fantastic crime series with a fantastic cast.
Profiler is truly a magnificent series. Starring Ally Walker as Samantha Waters, a brilliant forensic psychologist with a unique gift for understanding the criminal mind, the show focuses on the Violent Crimes Task Force, an elite unit of the FBI that investigates the most violent of crimes, including those perpetrated by the infamous serial killer, Jack of All Trades.

The storylines in this show constantly surprise and delight and the on-going cat and mouse game between Sam and Jack is handled with great aplomb. The first season finale, 'Venom', is perhaps one of the show's best episodes, with an intriguing storyline and a shocking cliffhanger.

The cast always turns in stellar performances. Ally is superb and flawless in her portrayal of the tormented but strong Sam. Julian McMahon and Robert Davi are equally good, but mention must be made of the fantastic Peter Frechette and Roma Maffia, who may not be featured as much in the spotlight, but turn in some wonderful performances each week, anyway.

I'm really looking forward to picking up this set, as I've only ever seen "Into the Abyss" and "Venom", the last few episodes of season one. I also really look forward to season two.

The cover art for this set is gorgeous, and keeps very much in with the dark nature of the show.

Highly recommended. You won't be disappointed.

Sam Waters, trend setter/buttkicker
I'm so glad to find out this gem of a show is out on DVD (and season 2 is coming soon). When this show premiered, I was only 13, but loved it...I really loved the way a woman was portrayed as not just a damsel in distress. The 90s brought about great female characters like Dana Scully, Buffy, Xena, and Sam Waters...which were great role models for me as a pre teen. Before shows like theirs, men ruled everything, and women were relegated to partners being raped or shot or mamed (like on Hunter), but these women started a new trend, that shows like Alias and Dark Angel took a page from. Kudos for recognizing true genius in ground breaking shows like Profiler.

Review & Clearing-up Errors in Amazon's Staff Review
I have to take issue with Amazon's Editorial reviewer Jeff Shannon, and his review of Profiler Season I.

Mr. Shannon attempts to review not the DVD itself, but what he *thinks* are the behind-the-scenes truths of the Profiler production. One, he refers to the DVD commentary of Ally Walker - suggesting that she is in fact giving the reason why she left after only "two" seasons. (Psssst, Jeff... it was after THREE seasons - not to mention she headlines the opener of the fourth season).

Then he gives more of his "insight" when he suggests that NBC was troubled by the "miscasting" of Ally Walker. Well, not that I believe Mr. Shannon has any reliable inside information, but what does that have to do with reviewing this DVD? I tend to think that Shannon was insinuating his own feelings about Walker, and trying to use the NBC network - based on rumor - as a way to reinforce them. A more candid review would have read, "I wasn't terribly impressed with Walker, and felt she was miscast in the role."

But that probably wouldn't have held-up against the enormous fan-following of Walker on this show (or as Shannon understated in his review, "growing popularity"), nor would it have stood up well against the fact that after Walker left and was replaced by Jamie Luner, the ratings pretty much tanked.

Make no mistake about it: this is a GREAT show. You will esecially enjoy this Season I DVD. The isolated, episodic stories are each fantastic in their own right, and the Jack thread is very addictive. Ally Walker's performance is compelling, and she leads a solid cast - notably Robert Davi, Peter Frechette, Julian McMahon, and Roma Maffia. You'll watch Season I, and you will RUN to grab Season II.

Some Good Some Bad
I was not a viewer when Profiler was first run on network television but now I've seen the first season and I can see both strengths and weaknesses.

Things I liked:

1. Samantha's character and her relationship with her friend Angel in the first couple of episodes. Ally Walker did a great job with this character.

2. Some of the cinematography-- the way the pilot was shot was very good.

3. The way Samantha's flashes of insight where dealt with in the story.

4. The sexual zing between Samantha and Coop, especially when they first met on the series.

Things I found distracting or unfortunate:

1. A lot of scenes are played out in the dark but with glints of light off eyeballs and teeth. The watcher may not know what else is going on but is never in doubt as to where the eyeballs and teeth are in these scenes.

2. Angel was shoved from an artist who created metal sculpture with a blow torch to a baby sitter-- ok, she was teaching art to inner city kids or something, but she was seen most of th time watching Samantha's kid. Really a waste of a good character.

3. Icky saliva sounds that went with all of the love scenes.

Just as a side note the commentaries from Ally Walker and Robert Davi on the pilot are unintentionally hilarious. Unlike a lot of these tracks, these were recorded separately so there is no intereaction between the commentors. Ally tells us things like Robert Davi's infatuation with hair spray and a stetson hat. Robert Davi seems really upset that the series didn't last longer or at least that they didn't do a made for TV movie spin off because NBC owned the whole package.

My final impression was that this was a good idea, that it had some good characters involved but all of the really good ideas were used early or muted down for one reason or another.

Absolutely a must have
Very good if you liked the series, and a must have for anyone who wishes the series still played. I Can't wait for the rest of the seasons to complete my collection. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Television, nay America, needs more men like Hank Hill, a stalwart, decent "fella" who, he proudly proclaims in the episode, "Movin' On Up," "keeps his yard free of debris and pays his bills on time." But a world that just ain't right keeps testing his moral fiber. In the two-parter "Hanky Panky"/"High Anxiety," Hank finds himself embroiled in a scandalous case of sex, drugs, and murder. In "Little Horrors of Shop," Hank is outraged to learn that his son Bobby's school has turned shop class into a study hall ("All parents care about these days is zero tolerance, drug policies, and literacy," the dejected principal tells him). In "Transnational Amusements Presents: Peggy's Magic Sex Feet," his unwitting wife Peggy's 16 ½-inch feet become the featured attraction on an Internet fetish sight. Biology, too, continues to vex the buttoned-up Hank, as witness one of the season's best episodes, "Aisle 8-A," in which Connie, the daughter of Hank's contemptuous Laotian neighbor, Kahn, is left in the Hills' care, and Hank must deal solo with her first period. Hank has somewhat come to terms with his misfit, but well-adjusted son's desire to be a comedian. He can get behind Bobby's comedy troupe, "The Propaniacs," but he is mortified when he learns that Bobby is secretly performing as a rodeo clown in "Rodeo Days." Hank does, however, breathe a sigh of relief that Bobby likes girls after Bobby and Connie are caught in a compromising situation by Connie's strict and over-protective parents in "Naked Ambition."

In its fourth season, King of the Hill is really cooking with propane, I'll tell you what, as Peggy rebounds from her skydiving accident to win her third Substitute Teacher of the Year Award, pathetic Bill Dautereive reclaims his high school football record, and clueless Dale's wife Nancy ends her decades-long affair with John Redcorn.The guest voices this season are particularly impressive: Meryl Streep , Reese Witherspoon, Drew Carey, Don Meredith, Kathleen Turner, Heather Locklear, and, in "Peggy's Fan Fair," a stellar roster of country artists, including Vince Gil, Clint Black, Randy Travis, and, um, Tony Danza. --Donald Liebenson ... Read more

Reviews (15)

A kids eye view
I really liked the episodes, however, they need to include special features.I'd like any season of King of the Hill, butthe fourth season along with the third season might be King of the Hill's best. The episodes were outstanding. I love Mike Judge,I love Beavis and Butthead,I loved Office Space even though the language was pretty foul and I really don't care for the rap soundtrack. King of the Hill is just another notch on Mike Judge's list of successes.

Another great season, but no special features!
I received King of the Hill The Complete Fourth Season a few days early.This is one of those "what you see is what you get box sets" in that there are 24 KOTH episodes and nothing more.The series has gotten better with each new season, so this is another must have for your TV on DVD collection.

Disc One (Cover = Dale riding his lawn mower):

Side 1
1.Peggy Hill: Decline and Fall
2.Cotton's Plot
3.Bills Are Made To Be Broken
4.Little Horrors of Shop

Side 2
5.Aisle 8A
6.A Beer Can Named Desire
7.The Hank's Giving Episode
8.Not In My Back-Hoe
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Disc Two (Cover = Bill riding his lawn mower):

Side 1
9. To Kill a Ladybird
10.Hillennium
11.Old Glory
12.Rodeo Days

Side 2
13.Hanky Panky (Part 1)
14.High Anxiety (Part 2)
15.Naked Ambition
16.Movin' On Up
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Disc Three (Boomhauer riding his lawn mower)

Side 1
17.Bill Of Sales
18.Won't You Pimai Neighbor?
19.Hank's Bad Hair Day
20.Meet The Propainiacs

Side 2
21.Nancy Boys
22.Flush With Power
23.Transnational Amusements Presents:Peggy's Magic Sex Feet
24.Peggy's Fan Fair

The best season
Peggy falls out of a plane, debbie is shot and killed by a shotgun, cotton picks a burial plot, toilets don't flush right and on and on and on. This is by far the strongest season that king of the hill has had thus far. I am very much looking foward to this season coming out next week, if you are at all a fan of King of the hill, definately pick up this season.

Animated blue collar TV...
Initially aired following the 1997 Super Bowl, King of the Hill discovered an instant audience niche that has the followed the show loyally ever since. The brainchild of Beavis and Butthead creator Mike Judge (also known for the hit movie Office Space), King of the Hill is a unique animated series in that it doesn't rely on "cartoon" suspension of reality or outlandish antics. In fact, the show would arguably be just as successful if it were not animated at all. Nevertheless, it's Mike Judge (voice of Hank Hill) and his unique brand of humor that make King of the Hill a must-see TV series...

Set in the fictional town of Arlen, Texas, King of the Hill follows the life and exploits of Hank Hill and his traditional nuclear family. Hank is a red-state propane salesman who loves beer and apple pie, but he's constantly inundated with modern liberalism and grapples with the demands of political correctness. Hank is joined by his wife Peggy (a substitute teacher), his son Bobby (an awkward pre-pubescent youth), and a trailer park-like live-in niece named Luanne... Providing added comic relief to the series are Hank's off-the-wall friends Bill, Boomhauer (who is inaudible), and Dale (who believes everything is a government conspiracy)... Hank's Laotian neighbor Kahn (whose daughter Bobby is quite fond of) and his family live next door, providing Hank with a continuing dose of culture shock...

The King of the Hill (Season 4) DVD features a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere "Peggy Hill: The Decline and Fall" in which Peggy survives falling out of an airplane, but is nevertheless left in a full body cast. Meanwhile, Cotton and Didi have a baby, but rather than care for the child themselves, they push the task onto Bobby... Other notable episodes from Season 4 include "Bills are Made to be Broken" in which Hank convinces the local high school football coach to let Bill play one more game so that he can get back his old school record for touchdowns, and "Naked Ambition" in which Bobby accidentally sees Luanne naked, causing Joseph to eagerly seek his own peek...

Below is a list of episodes included on the King of the Hill (Season 4) DVD:

Episode 61 (Peggy Hill: The Decline and Fall)
Episode 62 (Cotton's Plan)
Episode 63 (Bills are Made to be Broken)
Episode 64 (Little Horrors of Shop)
Episode 65 (Aisle 8A)
Episode 66 (A Beer Can Named Desire)
Episode 67 (The Hank's Giving Episode)
Episode 68 (Not in My Back Hoe)
Episode 69 (To Kill a Ladybird)
Episode 70 (Hillennium)
Episode 71 (Old Glory)
Episode 72 (Rodeo Days)
Episode 73 (Hanky Panky)
Episode 74 (High Anxiety)
Episode 75 (Naked Ambition)
Episode 76 (Movin' On Up)
Episode 77 (Bill of Sales)
Episode 78 (Won't You Pimai Neighbor?)
Episode 79 (Hank's Bad Hair Day)
Episode 80 (Meet the Propaniacs)
Episode 81 (Nancy Boys)
Episode 82 (Flush with Power)
Episode 83 (Transnational Amusements Present: Peggy's Magic Sex Feet)
Episode 84 (Peggy's Fan Fair)

The DVD Report

"I have never poured out beer, even to put out a grass fire"
Whew!From some rumors I heard, I was afraid season four of King of the Hill would not be released on DVD.What a relief to see it on my Amazon home page with its cool cover (a great improvement from previous covers; especially season three-who wants to see Hank, Bill, Boomhauer, and Dale's bulging bellies?).It looks like the powers-that-be for KOTH are also making up for lost time by releasing season four much more quickly than prior seasons.Of course, season 3 was released way behind schedule (I think about 6 months later than advertised!) so KOTH fans are due!The main reason I am looking forward to this release so much is for my second favorite KOTH episode of all-time right behind (so to speak) Hank's Unmentionable Problem from season one; a.k.a. the constipation episode.It is Flushed With Power.In this show, the residents of Arlen are frustrated by the restricted water usage caused by a draught.New low flow toilets are supposed to be the answer, but Hank discovers they actually use more water because they require more flushes to "thoroughly dispose of solid waste" (in Peggy's case, six flushes).What follows is so much like the absurd reality of life it is brilliant.I sell paint in California for a living and it is a similar situation.We know a product is better but we cannot sell it due to govt. regulations.When Hank goes to the home improvement store and asks the clerk if they "have any of the good toilets?" and the older and wiser clerk replies, "Nope, we don't offer the good toilets, only the low flows, and even if I had a good toilet, it is illegal to sell it in this county," it hits hilariously close to home.

Season four also moves KOTH into some serious territory. In the two-parter Hanky Panky/High Anxiety, Hank's boss Buck Strickland finds himself in some heavy trouble when he is kicked out of the house by his wife who is finally fed up with his cheating and then his mistress is found dead.Hank is dragged into Buck's sordid life style.For an animated comedy series, these episodes are pretty heavy.The first two-parter Peggy Hill The Decline and Fall/Cotton's Plot that continues the cliff hanger from season three where Peggy's parachute fails while sky diving is also pretty intense.The always over-confident Peggy thinks her rehab after spending time in a body cast will be a snap, but then she finds she is too weak to accomplish the easiest of tasks.She needs motivation and requests the services of her father-in-law: the misogynist, drill sergeant Cotton.Seeing her suffer as Cotton ridicules her is alittle difficult to watch (even though I am not fond of the conceited Peggy).Her respect for Cotton is challenged when she discovers he has been lying about his war record.Hank then explains why he still respects his father even though he is a cruel son-of-a-gun.It is an interesting episode.

Other episodes include the following:
Bills are Made to be Broken: Bill doesn't have much, but he does hold the Arlen High football record for TDs in a season which is close to being broken.
Little Horrors of Shop: Hank is laid off and becomes a substitute shop teacher at Bobby's school.Will his popularity challenge Peggy's streak of Substitute of the Year trophies?
Aisle 8A: Connie stays at the Hills while her parents are away and males Hank confront some, well, feminine issues.
A Beer Can Named Desire:Hank can win a million dollars if can throw a football through a hole in a giant novelty beer can.He is torn between making the throw himself or choosing former NFL quarterback Don Meredith to do it for him.Meanwhile, The Hills and Bill stop at the Dauterive manor in New Orleans where Bill has a chance to get lucky with his, um, cousins and Bobby chooses [again] the wrong role model in the eyes of Hank.Great line: "I need a window seat because this flower is wilting."
The Hank's Giving Episode: The Hills and their neighbors become stranded at the airport.Highlight: Hank's prized turkey is taken for a bomb by airport security.
Not in My Back Hoe: Hank makes friends with a guy who shares a lot of his interests, habits, and moods [Drew Carey]much to the chagrin of Bill and Dale.
To Kill a Ladybird: Bobby finds a new friend in a raccoon he names "Bandit."
Hillennium: Great episode!Hank is as paranoid about Y2K as Dale.Unwilling to move into the New Millennium (well, actually 2001 marked the new millennium), Hank freaks out buying toilet paper and a grandfather clock to avoid the technological holocaust