Description

From Alan Ball, the Oscar(r) winning writer of "American Beauty", comes a series that digs where others fear to tread. When a bus kills Nathaniel Fisher, owner of the Fisher & Sons Funeral Home in Los Angeles, the tragedy casts a pall on the homecoming of his prodigal son Nate. Together with with mother Ruth, brother David and sister Claire, they must address the family business, and the many more personal matters that arise when your life is Six Feet Under.

(c) 2003 Home Box Office.All rights reserved.HBO(r) and The Six Feet Under(r) are service marks of Home Box Office, Inc. ... Read more

Reviews (127)

frantic fan
This has to be one of the best series ever made for television. It follows the everyday lives of a family run funeral home. It has a great cast. Micheal C. Hall is great as David Fisher. Peter Krause is also great as Nate Fisher, who has come home after the untimely death of the Fisher patriarch, Nathanial Fisher, Sr., only to find out that he has been left half of the business in his father's will. Rachel Griffiths shines as Brenda Chenowith, a far cry from the role she played in the movie "The Rookie" last summer. Claire Fisher is played by Lauren Ambrose. I had seen her in the movie "Psycho Beach Party" and this show solidifies her talent. The character I enjoy the most is the role of Ruth Fisher, the mother, brilliantly played by Frances Conroy. Her expressions alone leave me laughing hysterically one minute, touched and tearful the next. I have watched this show from it's beginning and was hooked. I suggest that anyone who hasn't seen this series buy this DVD along with the future seasons I'm sure will follow. You will not be disappointed!!

Best TV script ever.
Sorry my title mimics that of others, but that's what I've been saying about it for a long time.

Like the Sopranos, this is a series the hype for which I didn't give in to orginally. Then I saw some reviews by one of my favorite Washington Post critics that teased me. So I watched, probably close to half way through the first season. It hooked me instantly.

First, as others point out, the acting is incredible. My spouse and I are wondering each episode who's the best actor. In one of the DVD episodes tonight, I felt it was Frances Conroy (Ruth) who I usually do. I've always been in love with Lauren Ambrose (Claire). All right, I have many friends with daughters older than she. What I mean is, I envy the kid. She's got a great future with her acting talent (and her expressions which will break you up!) The others are all fabulous too. Jeremy Sisto (Billy Chenowith) really does convince you that he's absolutely nuts...a change from his portrayal of Jesus in a TV movie a few years ago! And I've never seen his sister Brenda (God help me, I can't think of the actress's name) slip into her New Zealand accent. Again, they all vie for best actor/actress each episode!

There is an uncannily good mix of humor and drama. That's why I say it beats anything else on the tube. If I thought of getting rid of HBO, it's this series...and maybe The Wire...that would keep me. For months in advance my wife and I talk about the coming season; we can't wait for it.

It's risque without being gross. The gay issue is intelligently handled. Oh, and I've always wondered if Peter C. Marshall (David) and Matthew St. Patrick (Keith) were straight in real life. Among the extra features of the DVD set is that you learn that they are.

Another feature of the DVD set is the discussion among all those responsible for the opening sequence and theme music. Then there's the discussion with cast members as to their favorite scenes. (My favorite is also Lauren Ambrose's, when she's lethargic about being in love. A gem!)

It's a fabulous series that can't be beat. Well, my inlaws wouldn't like it. And don't show it to any of your guests or relatives who are prudes. I got in trouble with some family members at the beginning of one in the second season. And some of the gay scenes while, again, not gross, are threatening to people not accustomed to gay scenes. But it covers oh so many subjects you don't normally see covered...too many to even mention here. The scripts are brilliant, the acting the best. And the added benefits of the DVD series are well worth the cost of the set, in addition to having those superb episodes to watch again and again. They'll never bore you, believe me.

Another gem from HBO ...
American Beauty and Twin Peaks rolled into one, this series offers black humor, twists and turns and more character development than the first three seasons of Sex and the City. I will not go into detail as many reviewers have already done so. Only one thing: What's with that price? I bought it in Europe with four different language soundtracks and subtitles for only EUR 39.99 ! I would suggest boycotting until the price gets lowered, but die-hard fans will buy it anyway. I must admit, it's still worth it :-)

HBO broke the mold, when they made Six Feet Under
Six Feet Under is one of HBO's outstanding programs, as well as others such as Sex and the City and The Sopranos. The Complete First Season features a 4 disc set of all First Season episodes including "Pilot", and special features including a 15 minute special on the making of the title sequence and a exclusive preview with interviews from the cast on seasons 1 and 2. Six Feet Under is brilliantly casted featuring: Peter Krause, Michael C. Hall, Frances Conroy, Rachel Griffiths, Lauren Ambrose and Richard Jenkins along with others.

The disc features the following episodes:
Disc 1:

Pilot
The Will
The Foot

Disc 2:
Familia
An Open Book
The Room
Brotherhood

Disc 3:
Crossroads
Life's Too Short
The New Person

Disc 4:
The Trip
A Private Life: Finale Part I
Knock, Knock: Finale Part II

Buy this! You'll be glad you did! HBO at its best!

Another diamond series on HBO
Six Feet Under is one of those shows that will suck you in and become highly addictive by the end of the first episode. The show revolves around the Fishers who operate a family owned funeral home. All of the characters stand out and develop greatly on this show. Sometimes you will watch this show and you will laugh up a storm other times you will watch it and the emotion makes you want to cry.

Six Feet Under is written by Alan Ball and he directed American Beauty. American Beauty is one of my favorite movies and there are a few similarities in between both. When I say similarities I mean that both American Beauty have a great sense of dark humor and great drama. I found both of Alan Ball's works to be one that make you sit back and reflect on life. After watching American Beauty you look around for the beauty of things on earth and in life. The same applies with Six Feet Under but questions are brought up like "Why do we have to die". I liked American Beauty and I felt right at home with Six Feet Under.

The characters in this show are relatable and even though they have a different way of making a living I still found them relatable. The main characters I would say are Nate, David, Ruth, Claire, & Nate Sr. Of course they are the Fisher family who own the funeral home. Another few huge character on this show are Brenda and her brother Billy. Of course there are other big characters but I can't name everyone.

In the pilot episode the Nate Sr. dies in a horrible bus accident and he has to hand over the funeral home to his two sons Nate and David Fisher. Even though he his dead Nate Sr. watches over his family and communicates with his family. Alot of the scenes he appears in are hilarious. Oh ya did I mention he is dead! His sons both have good developing characters who are very different in their own ways. David Fisher is a cool character who is very businesslike and is also gay. He has a boyfriend named Keith is a cop. You will find there relationship evolve as the season goes on. The other brother Nate, has never worked a day in the funeral business because he left for Seattle to pursue his own life. Nate is a pretty cool character but his world is in a blender with the passing of his father and his relationship with his newly met girlfriend Brenda. His girlfrend Brenda in my opinion is the star of the show. She is full of crazy/cool energy and always has an appetite for sex. You never know what to expect with her character. The mother, Ruth Fisher is kinda of a control freak who seems very depressed, worn out, and saddened over the loss over her husband. She snaps very quickly and she is too a memorable character. Finally the Claire Fisher is another cool character. She is the youngest of the bunch and she is a teenager in high school. She is somewhat of a loner but she has alot of character and she is far from ordinary. She drives a freakin hearse to school!!! Enough about the characters I can't spill everything out or I will spoil the season for you.

I know what your thinking. Your like well ok thats great Adam but you know what, if I come home with this the wife will have my head on a platter. I will admit it is pricey but I think Six Feet Under is a great enough show to where the quality over shadows the price. It is on HBO so there is alot swearing, sex and other stuff you would never see on regular television. I think HBO produces great television shows. Just watch The Sopranos, Sex & The City, Oz or many of there other series. You know it is quality and they are great television. Well guess what Six Feet Under plays on that same field. I find it to be my 3rd favorite television show behind 24 and the Sopranos.

Well let me conclude by saying you will be satisfied with Season One of Six feet Under. I haven't seen the other seasons of this show but I will definetly be buying Season 2 when it is released in June. If you like quality acting, drama, and dark humor give this show a shot. ... Read more

Reviews (125)

As Homer Simpson might say, "Holy Macaroni!"
Okay, so the oversized Cylon-head box won't fit neatly on a shelf with other "regulation sized" DVDs. This is to be expected for a DVD set of Battlestar Galactica: a show which forged a path all its own.

This DVD set includes the complete original series. No, this doesn't include "Galactica 1980," as if anyone would want it to. Instead, it includes all 22 episodes of the original series, before ABC-TV pulled the plug in April 1979. Each of the six discs is two-sided, meaning essentially 12 discs for the 22 episodes. This leaves room for the episodes and a slew of extras.

Extras...? How about an audio commentary for the pilot episode, including Dirk Benedict (Starbuck) and Richard Hatch (Apollo)? How about tons upon tons of deleted scenes for 15 of the episodes...? Granted these deletions are very "raw cut" though that's what makes them so cool. Someone literally must've scrounged the cutting room floor for all of this lost footage. Featurettes include an interview with series creator Glen A. Larson, a look at the robot "Daggit," a look at the upcoming video game (which stars Terminator 3's Kristanna Loken), and the new Sci-Fi Channel Mini-Series.

The best extra is a 45 minute reunion special, on the final disc (fitting enough). All the original cast and crew are present, with the exception of Jane Seymour, Lorne Greene and Maren Jensen. This is a nice addition. They obviously had a lot of fun starring in this show. That's only fair. I had a lot of fun watching them!

Battlestar - A Galactic DVD Hit
I have just received my complete Battlestar Galactica DVD collection in the mail from Amazon.com with lightning speed. I have waited months for this set with great anticipation and must say that after having watched a few of the episodes, discovering the nearly 15 minutes of deleted and alternate scenes/takes/bloopers/FX shots for EACH episode, the entertaining 45 minute retrospective documentary that interviews many of the original cast, directors and living guest stars today, this collection is nothing short of AMAZING. Each episode also comes with its preview/teaser, chapter search, an episode description, and is in 5.1 dolby digital. The picture is pristine, although the opening theme intros are slightly grainy. The sound is rich and full. I did not notice any substantial channel seperation on the 5.1, but they DO register as 5.1 digital. There is a distinct improvement on the music and dialog. The Cylon case in which the fold-out box of discs is stored is a fun collector's piece, however, the eye portion is not very exciting. A beautiful 8.5 X 11(approx.) booklet with rare illustrations and episode info is included. Universal did a Fantastic job in restoring and archiving this popular 1970's scifi show. This Battlestar Galactica DVD collection, all 24 hours of the original series, including the uncut Pilot, "Saga of a Starworld"(with commentary by Hatch, Benedict), not seen in its entirety for years, plus hours of extras make this a Highly desirable DVD set for the Galactica fan.

wooohooo!!
this is the holy grail of fun fi folks!! ya got cylons, baltar, hatch, daggits, starbuck, vipers, ben cartwright, lucifer, scary pat mcnee, hot babes, more hot babes, some human eatin' big bug people...all in a plastic cylon head!! grab this before it's gone! 'nuff said!

Galactica 80 is not included, but that's okay by me!
This is the complete BATTLESTAR GALACTICA series. GALACTICA 80 was a different series. I bought this for the complete original series and I've got no complaints about it. There are two versions of this set: one comes with a cylon head shaped box, but the other one just comes in a smaller box that is shaped like a smaller box. I'm glad I got the one shaped like a cylon. Some folks would like the box shaped box. We got two boxes of all 24 hours of the original Battlestar Galactica to pick from so life is good. God Bless America and Galactica!

five stars
Over the past few months I have begun watching the Battlestar Galactica televison program for the first time. I was never much of a science fiction fan and had limited access to televison while growing up. I didn't see the Battlestar Galactica televison series until my husband purchased the complete series on DVD.

I became an instant fan after Saga of a Star World. I then began reading my husbands collection of Battlestar Galactica books by Richard Hatch. Both the books and the series have flaws (what doesn't?), but they also have wonderful characters, heart, imagination, and warmth. There's a special charm to Battlestar Galactica. Watching the episodes and reading the books has been five star experience for me. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Charmed: The Complete First Season recaptures a period when television's WB network was particularly keen on series about the supernatural and specially powered characters. The original home of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and future launch pad for Angel and Smallville, the WB debuted Charmed in 1998 with many of the same intriguing ironies that made those other shows click. Specifically, the greater a character's powers, the more vulnerable he or she becomes; the more superhuman, the more painfully obvious one's lonely, fragile humanity. The Halliwells, a trio of witch heroines and siblings at the center of Charmed, is a case in point. Phoebe (Alyssa Milano) returns to her San Francisco family home after losing her job, and moves in with her older sisters Prue (Shannen Doherty) and Piper (Holly Marie Combs). On her first night back, Phoebe finds the Book of Shadows in the attic and recites a spell giving all three women unique powers they were always meant to have: Prue suddenly has the gift of telekinesis, Piper can make time stand still, and Phoebe can see into the future. All well and good, but along with those extraordinary abilities is a new awareness of dark forces in the world from which mortals need protection. In some cases, those forces have been plotting a long time to steal the Halliwell's magical legacy once they awakened to it--and now they will never let up.

Evil warlocks, demons, ancient curses, Grimlocks, and Wendigos (the last two are best left explained by their respective episodes), however, are only half the battle on this sexy dramedy, in which more ordinary matters of emotional and real-world survival also preoccupy the Halliwells. An important ally, Inspector Andy Trudeau (Ted King), is Prue's ex-lover, a delicate detail that mixes pain with duty as the couple rekindles their troubled relationship while solving otherworldly crimes. In "Dead Man Dating," Piper falls for the ghost of a murdered man who needs help, and later competes with Phoebe for the attention of a handyman, Leo (Brian Krause). Jobs and money are always an issue, too. At one time or another, Phoebe works as a psychic, Piper as a caterer, and Prue finds a job at an auction house. As with Buffy, the engine of Charmed is the seamless, sometimes-comic, sometimes-tender way in which all these dynamics in the magic and non-magic worlds blend together, presenting young adult challenges that are both unique and somehow terribly familiar. It is particularly fun to watch this series grow, deepen, and experiment during its first year. The season's true highlight is probably "That 70s Episode," in which the Halliwells go back in time to meet their younger selves. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (362)

A MUST HAVE
The Popular TV series Charmed with Shannen Doherthy, Alyssa Milano, Holly Marie Combs ,Rose McGowan will be soon available On DVD. Its gonna be all complete season 1 including (22 episodes)

1. Something Wicca This Way Comes
2. I've Got You Under My Skin
3. Thank You For Not Morphing
4. Dead Man Dating
5. Dream Sorcerer
6. Wedding From Hell
7. The Fourth Sister
8. The Truth is Out There... and It Hurts
9. The Witch Is Back
10. Wicca Envy
11. Feats of Clay
12. The Wendigo
13. From Fear To Eternity
14. Secrets and Guys
15. Is There a Woogy in the House ?
16. Which Prue Is It, Anyway ?
17. That '70s Episode
18. When Bad Warlocks Go Good
19. Blind Sided
20. The Power of Two
21. Love Hurts
22. Deja Vu All Over Again .

Magical
Charmed, now entering its seveth season on the WB, will soon be released on DVD. The show stars Alyssa Milano, Holly Marie Combs, Shannon Doherty, Rose McGowan, and Brian Krause. The episodes from the first season were:

1. Something Wicca This Way Comes
2. I've Got You Under My Skin
3. Thank You For Not Morphing
4. Dead Man Dating
5. Dream Sorcerer
6. Wedding From Hell
7. The Fourth Sister
8. The Truth is Out There... and It Hurts
9. The Witch Is Back
10. Wicca Envy
11. Feats of Clay
12. The Wendigo
13. From Fear To Eternity
14. Secrets and Guys
15. Is There a Woogy in the House ?
16. Which Prue Is It, Anyway ?
17. That '70s Episode
18. When Bad Warlocks Go Good
19. Blind Sided
20. The Power of Two
21. Love Hurts
22. Deja Vu All Over Again .

"We Want Charmed!"
Considering the fact that there's DVD Series out now that hadn't even begun filming until after Charmed Season 1 was broadcasted - I really don't understand why there's such a delay here! The fans want Charmed now. And who knows - a year or so from now (or whenever they finally release it) fans might not want it so bad. Does anyone know why it is that there's such a delay? I heard it had something to do with TNT owning a part of the show and that they didn't want to release it but, if I'm correctly informed, they own part of Angel too and that's already begun releasing either season 2 or 3 (not exactly sure...)

Anyways - whatever happened to "the customer's always right"?! The customer's want Charmed on DVD!!!

Love the show, love the cast... and I'd really love to bring it home to watch again and again!

What happened to "give the customer what she wants"???
When I was in grad school, Marketing 101 taught us to give the customer what they want. So why don't you GIVE US CHARMED ON DVD !!!!!!! Right NOW!

This show ROCKS!!!
I really don't get why Charmed isn't on DVD already. It's such a popular show, and we all want to own the series' on DVD! Charmed rocks! I love Alyssa, Rose and Holly! ... Read more

Amazon.com

A gradual shift in overall style, character homecomings and departures, and evolving on- and off-screen roles for the major players are among the attractions of the seventh season of Stargate SG-1. Spread out over five discs, these 21 episodes are ample indication that changes notwithstanding--and admittedly, not all of them are for the better--the series remains arguably the best-made, most compelling sci-fi program on television.

Perhaps most noticeable is the reduced role of star Richard Dean Anderson, who opted to limit his number of trips to Vancouver, where Stargate SG-1 is filmed. But that's not a bad thing. The show's ability to poke fun at itself has always been a strong suit, and while Anderson still brings a welcome sense of humor to his portrayal of wiseacre and loose cannon Col. Jack O'Neill, his act is getting a little smug by now. What's more, the other principal cast members have taken up the slack, both behind and in front of the camera: Michael Shanks (Daniel Jackson, who rejoins the cast in episode 1) wrote one episode and co-wrote another; Christopher Judge (Teal'c) wrote one as well; Amanda Tapping (Lt. Col. Samatha Carter) directed episode 19, "Resurrection"; and even Corin Nemec (Jonas Quinn, who appears in just a few episodes) contributed one story.

The seventh season also finds the series somewhat more earthbound than in the past; indeed, there are episodes in which the Stargate (the "wormhole" our heroes use to travel to different worlds) doesn't appear at all. On balance, the stories are more personal, and more political--especially the final two, with the newly elected U.S. President (William Devane) struggling to decide the fate of the Stargate program (and, of course, the fate of the entire known universe as well!). And then there's the ultimate villain, Anubis, who makes perennial nemeses the Goa'uld (of which Anubis is one... sort of) look tame. He's a combination of Star Wars' Darth Vader and evil Emperor, but hey, at least these guys borrow from the best.

Stargate SG-1's production values remain first-rate. The bonus DVD features are also much better than they once were, with audio commentary (mainly by directors and writers) for every episode, as well as director profiles and "Beyond the Gate" featurettes focusing on individual characters.--Sam Graham ... Read more

Reviews (4)

More SG-1!
Stargate SG-1 is simply amazing: after seven seasons it still is the best show on TV. I am writing this having watched both the two-part season-8 premiere and the Atlantis pilot. The season 8 premiere was a very good conclusion to the season 7 cliffhanger. I am more dubious about Atlantis: the concept of SG-1 is that you go to another solar system, and then you are back home for dinner. With a completely off-world based plot, Atlantis will be much harder to sustain. Still, while not totally convincing, the pilot was entertaining enough. I'll keep watching. And so should you. This is one of the reasons why you really need this DVD set: the plot of the SG-1 series is so complicated that you really need to watch all episodes to keep up. Several times.

The other reason to own the season 7 set is that, while it might not be up to the very best seasons, it still has a number of unforgettable episodes. The late two-part episodes "Heroes" and "Lost city" are among the best of the entire series, but I liked "Evolution", "Grace" and even "Chimera" a lot. These three episodes show the diversity of the plots of SG-1: "Chimera" is an entirely Earth-based episode, "Grace" is almost entirely based on the spaceship Prometheus and "Evolution" has action going on both in the jungle of Nicaragua and on Anubis' planetary base.

"Lost city" was originally planned as a feature movie, a la "X-Files Fight the Future". I am happy that the movie route was not taken: while the special effect budget would have been bigger, the movie would have broken the continuity of the series. As it is, "Lost City" is both a spectacular episode on its own and a great introduction to SG-1 season 8 and to Atlantis.

Another great season
After 6 great seasons of Stargate, season 7 doesn't disappoint. While any of the episodes are better than the average television show, a few are simply spectacular. The season opener is decent and the ending is absolutely wonderful. However, I found the most powerful episode to be "Grace." It is simply amazing. "Heroes" is also an amazing two-parter that any Stargate fan will want to own. These episodes are the reason this DVD collection deserves five stars, though it is a little overpriced. This is also a good season to watch if your a fan of Carter, Teal'c or Daniel. O'Neill spent less time in the spotlight this season and it appears that this will also be the case for season 8, the last of the series. Even if you are a fan of Anderson you will still like both seasons 7 and 8 along with the new Stargate Atlantis where he will make several appearances. Overall this is the most amazing television series I have ever seen and this season continues the legacy.

My Second favorite season!
What more would make this set worth the money than the 2-parters "Heroes" and "The Lost City"? IMO, all the other episodes a good (maybe except Space Race) but these four episodes here make me almost want to call this my favorite season. Daniel's back, which most fans might take as a positive note, and Anubis is brought up front and center as the baddest guy in the series' history.

The Lost City, as I said before, is want shines the most in this set. Originaly planned as a feature film movie after season six, it was slightly transformed into a series finale after the renewal. But then StarGate got renewed again, so again they tweaked it once more, making it a cliffhanger. Many other episodes make the set worth the money, especially the two-part opener, Heroes, Orpheus, and Birthright.

I would recommend this set to anyone who liked any of the first six seasons. This is definitely a departure from the previous seasons, with far less team based episodes, but the overall experience is just as great as the others.

Daniels Back
I never saw a problem with daniel coming back. He was always one of my favorite characters. This season starts with fire, goes dull for a couple of episodes, then gears back up for a grand finale. After seeing the season premiere for season 8, I cant wait to get my hands on season 7 to enjoy all over again. Season 8 looks to be amazing as well as Atlantis... Thank god for stargate! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The second season of Farscape expands upon and develops the characters introduced in the ambitious first season. John Crichton's new nemesis is the deadly Scorpius, replacing Crais, who has taken the living ship Moya's offspring on a voyage into the unknown. Moya's regular crew--Aeryn, Zhaan, Chiana, D'Argo and Rygel--remain as divided and suspicious of each other as ever, yet somehow manage to pull together at times of crisis. The writers continue to exploit the show's gift for surprising as well as emotionally convincing character development, while the CGI effects, prosthetics and state-of-the-art puppetry--courtesy of Jim Henson's Creature Shop--continue to make Farscape the most original-looking sci-fi show on TV. The witty scripts, peppered with post-modern pop culture references and movie in-jokes, are also a breath of fresh air. Despite some wildly erratic shifts in tone, this is exceptional TV science-fiction that continually pushes the accepted boundaries of the genre. --Mark Walker ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Finally? It makes sense...
So many people are saying "finally they released a boxed set". In the forums it's "ADV told us they wouldn't release a box set, so I'll just buy the individuals".

Okay people... ADV wants to make money. They know all the hardcore fans of Farscape want the episodes, especially since the cancellation. So they released one volume at a time and everyone bought them. Now they release a box set hoping that the same people will buy it. Every movie company does this... can you say "highly anticipated DVD release of Lord of the Rings"? and then a month later the same movie with bonus footage... It's [something] that they pull all the time to make money.

I bought all of season one, one DVD at a time. Then the boxed set was released. I figure I spent about $200 for the individuals and then a nice compact boxed set is out for around $125. I decided to wait for the season 2 boxed set. Here it is... now please, everyone, save your money and WAIT for the season 3 boxed set. It WILL come out.

ADV rips everyone off again
OK, here's my complaint. ADV released all of these individually for fans to buy. Everyone paid $30.00 for these already. NOW they are releasing them as a boxed set. So fans that purchased the second season already basically got ripped off by about $35.00 when all is said and done.

That doesn't effect the quality of the series nor the DVD transfers or extras. This is a great boxed set but ADV needs to get their stuff together and do right by fans of the show. You tick them off and they will stop buying your product. Personally, I'd tape the rest of the seasons at this stage I'm THAT FED UP WITH ADV.

This was the best science fiction show on television. It was among the best written and wittiest. Sure, it could have gross out episodes and mundane ones as well but the best episodes stand up to Trek, B5, DS9, SG-1, etc. I'm just annoyed that, yet again, a company has chosen to take advantage of the fan base that supports their product. Maybe this type of stuff is why pirated CDs and DVDs have taken off. It's not that fans feel they shouldn't pay, it's that they feel they've paid again, and again and again and again and again as companies keep repackaging stuff.

Love the show, hate the DVD production.
As a loyal SciFi fan, I believe Farscape to be among the best and the most imaginative shows to ever grace the screen and would give it 6 stars if I could. But the production of DVDs by ADV films of which I own both Farscape seasons, Andromeda & Beastmaster, leaves much to be desired (as usual). They are slow to release the shows in box set so they can milk the individual sets. The transfer is at times terrible. The packaging is as cheap as they come (compare that to Babylon5, Hercules, Xena or even Stargate's packaging and you'll see what I'm talking about.) No extras to speak of. And they want way too much for the individual DVDs and the box sets. I for one will not waste any more money on ADV film's slow, half hearted and less than adequate productions.

New viewers are in for a huge treat
It just doesn't get better than this. Farscape is easily one of the best series to ever grace the tv screen. Even if you're not a regular sci-fi fan, I guarantee you will enjoy the intelligence, wit, superb acting, and sheer beauty of each episode. Farscape has it all: adventure, drama, suspense, and a romance unlike any other. It's an unforgetable roller coaster ride, and this dvd edition is exceptionally high quality with numerous special features.

You will NOT regret buying this! Welcome to crack tv. :)

The foundation is set.
With the first season it blew us away with the style and originality that the crew behind farscape had. Now they are given a budget and start to get serious with the addition of a bigger budget and a more defined plot that they started at the end of season one. Plus they added a new regular character and each member of the crew has their own agenda that they start to explore.

Crichton has information in his head he wasn't aware of, now Scorpius is dead set on finding him. An enigmatic creature that is a deadly adversary. About all that is revealed about him in season 1 is that he is a high ranking member of the Peacekeepers, which in itself is odd. The Peacekeepers are a group of totalitarian fanatics and believe in the purity of their species. You find out that he is crossbred with a species that is considered the biggest threat to the Peackeepers. John is justly terrified of him as he will do anything to achieve his goals and has horrid memories of the Aurora Chair.

D'argo is searching for his son and revenge. He had a child with a Sebacian, something they frown on, and his wife was murdered by her brother for it, he was placed with the blame.

Chiana is escaping her people, a group that believes in enforcing appropriate behavoir through mind cleansing. Why they are so interested in her is the question.

Aeryn shows how unstable she is emotionally. She has never dealt with emotions before always relying on duty. She is an outcast from her people and no longer has her duty to rely on.

Moya's child Talyn shows to be more than they expected and forms an unusual bond with the recently outcast Crais, who becomes the ships advisor.

Some of the best episodes are as follows.

Taking the Stone: Chiana discovers the "lost children", except they are a strange group that pops mushrooms and drinks all the time. They also have a strange ritual called taking the stone, that makes certain they never get "worn out".

Crackers Don't Matter: They pick up a strange alien that offers to help them. But they all start acting strangely and get increasingly paranoid.

Out of Their Minds: Funny episode where bodies are swapped.

A Look at the Princess 1-3: This was my personal favorite. A breakaway sebacian colony that is a monarchy, ruled by an empiress. They visit during coronation where people kiss with a special fluid that tells if they are genetically compatible to have healthy children. All goes well until Chriton kisses the princess and next in line to the throne and finds he is the only male compatible with her, and is pulled into a power struggle.

Liars Guns and Money 1-3: Aptly named, the crew finds where D'argo's sun is and resort to thievery, hiring mercenaries from past episodes, and use outright force to get him back. Nothing seems to go right and they have some great sets and bring back some characters from past episodes.

Die Me Dichtomy: They find that something was put in John that can control him to a degree. They find someone that can help him, but not before a member of the crew is killed. One of the best cliffhanger episodes in sci fi. ... Read more

Description

The cops.The cars. The clothes.From executive producerMichael Mann (Heat, Collateral) comes the first season of the explosive,groundbreaking detective show that redefined the word "cool."Set against the seamy and steamy Miami underworld, ride shotgun with suave Vice cops Sonny Crockett (Golden Globe winner Don Johnson) and RicoTubbs (Phillip Michael Thomas) as they battle a never-ending gallery ofcriminals, drug dealers and lowlifes.Set to Jan Hammer's electrifyingscore and featuring a soundtrack of rock legends exploding in 5.1 sound,including Glenn Frey, Phil Collins, U2 and Peter Gabriel, every episodecrackles with excitement and stylish flair.Also starring Emmy(r) andGolden Globe winner Edward James Olmos and a powerhouse roster of gueststars including Ving Rhames, Jimmy Smits and Bruce WIllis.See why Timemagazine called Miami Vice "TV's hottest and hippest cop show." Includes all 22 first season episodes. ... Read more

Reviews (38)

miami vice volume 1 & 2 on dvd
I was a big fan of miami vice during it's release in the 80's. It's great to see it on dvd but it's such a shame that the episodes are not in order on the dvd release.I wish they would also bring out the rest of series so I can collect the lot.
Miami vice is still as good as it seemed in the 80's cool music, fast cars and wow! Don Johnson yea, He's still very tastey.

Just be patient and understand!
The long running series, Miami Vice, was truly an outstanding show of its time, even to the point of starting a new dress style!

Unfortunately, due to the greed of some people, it is very unlikely the TV series will ever be released and if it ever is, it will NOT be in its original format (with all the original soundtrack music intact). Recent statements from the show's producers said they are dying to get this series on DVD, but considering the current demands from the original artists and the soundtrack, the cost of a single season of Miami Vice would sell between $900 and $1200!

What is being considered is to replace the original soundtrack with other songs or equivalent like music. This was done with the TV series Roswell and personally I believe they pulled it off quite well in that case. I don't know if I could accept a new soundtrack with Miami Vice though, as in most cases it is what made the episode.

Steve C.

All the fans can now breathe again
From what I have heard to date, Universal is prominently featuring Miami Vice in their promotional materials for TV-series releases to DVD. They have good reason to do so. There are plenty of fans out there who are ready to experience this amazing show again. Thank you Universal, this news is a great relief...let the excitement begin!

Season One Out End of 2004
Universal has spent $2.5 million to clear all the music rights (at least for seasons 1 and 2) and will release Season 1 at the end of 2004. Universal is already issuing trade brochures and other marketing materials confirming that Miami Vice IS indeed set for DVD release, so the official word IS out. Season 2 is slated for an early 2005 release.

All sources indicate that the entire series will be issued by season (every 6 months or so) so sit back and get ready to re-live your 80's Friday nights all over again with one of the most ground-breaking shows of the era.

My thoughts
To who concerns: To not release Miami Vice series on DVD is a shame. It marked an era for most of us. Universal: do whatever you want with the music but leave intact the original soundtrack from Jan Hammer and maybe the songs by Phil Collins. The rest can go away and replaced with nice music, just remember that sometimes the music MADE the episode... one of the best things of Miami Vice series was the music... Many of agree to pay more to have it as it has being originaled aired... One season for something around a thousand bucks will be outstanding if you leave all the original music. I'll be waiting for the DVD release for sure. One more thing... think in all the fans you have and includes as many extra subtitles as you can, or even better language tracks, at least English, Spanish and French. I'll purchase the entire series if it includes Spanish language track and/or subtitles, otherwhise I'll pass on this. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The sixth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer followed the logic of plot and character development into some gloomy places. The year begins with Buffy being raised from the dead by the friends who miss her, but who fail to understand that a sacrifice taken back is a sacrifice negated. Dragged out of what she believes to have been heavenly bliss, she finds herself "going through the motions" and entering into a relationship with the evil, besotted vampire Spike just to force her emotions.Willow becomes ever more caught up in the temptations of magic; Xander and Anya move towards marriage without ever discussing their reservations; Giles feels he is standing in the way of Buffy's adult independence; Dawn feels neglected. What none of them need is a menace that is, at this point, simply annoying--three high school contemporaries who have turned their hand to magical and high-tech villainy. Added to this is a hungry ghost, an invisibility ray, an amnesia spell and a song-and-dance demon (who acts as rationale for the incomparable musical episode "Once More, with Feeling").

This is a year in which chickens come home to roost: everything from the villainy of the three geeks to Xander's doubts about marriage come to a head, often--as in the case of the impressive wedding episode--through wildly dark humor. The estrangement of the characters from each other--a well-observed portrait of what happens to college pals in their early 20s--comes to a shocking head with the death of a major character and that death's apocalyptic consequences. The series ends on a consoling note which it has, by that point and in spite of imperfections, entirely earned. --Roz Kaveney ... Read more

Reviews (301)

A Mixed Bag (but still wonderful in my eyes)
Buffy Summers died saving the world at the end of the fifth season of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, so the sixth season had a lot on its hands when it started up the next fall.

Season 6 spends much of its time delving into the darker sides of the characters. Buffy has to deal with being alive and suddenly having the responsibilities of family caretaker. Willow finds out just how addiction can ruin a life. Xander and Anya realize that they're not as ready to be grown up as they thought they were. Spike lets his worser half get the better of his love for Buffy. Dawn explores her bad girl side by shoplifting and sneaking out ever more.

In some ways, this darkness gets a little too big for the show. It's the dark sides of the characters themselves that turn out to be the Season 6 "Big Bad", not the Geek Trio of Andrew, Warren and Jonathan. (The geeks are amusing if you enjoy seeing geeks extensivey mocked, however, they do start to grate as the season progresses.) The season follows the depression of the characters. At the beginning, before things start to fall apart, it's interesting to watch. Almost every one of the first 8 or 9 episodes of the season are at least good, peaking with the amazingly underappreciated (at least by the Emmy powers that be) musical episode, "Once More, With Feeling". The problem is that after that, the season plunges into the steaming pile of dung that makes up the middle of Season 6. (This contains two of my least favorite episodes EVER, "Doublemeat Palace" and "Normal Again". "Hell's Bells", however, is a worthy exception to the rest of the mid-season rubbish.) Things pick back up with "Entropy", and the season manages to redeem itself through an amazing, if heartbreaking, turn of events in the end (which I'm trying hard not to spoil with this review).

However difficult the middle of the season is to watch, this DVD set will be worth it for "Once More, With Feeling" alone. It's Joss Whedon's (BUFFY creator and ruling lord) masterpiece. With little to no music writing experience, he manages to write a 50 minute musical that plays to the strengths of his non-musical cast. The cast, ever the troopers, sing and dance their way through with enthusiasm and finesse. It's often clear that they are not singers or dancers by trade, but they are all so charming (especially Emma Caulfield as Anya) that it's easy to forgive them their occasional off-key notes and missteps. And then there's Hinton Battle, the demon villain of the episode. He dances. He sings. He's probably the most charismatic thing to hit Sunnydale since Spike crashed into town in Season 2. It's a shame that he only got to have the one episode, but what an episode to have!

There are other gems in the season. Check out "Tabula Rasa" and "Life Serial" for some of BUFFY's funnier moments. It's a shame that the middle of the season is so hard to stomach, but I think that it all pays off in the end.

A Masterpiece
Season Six of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, is, simply put, a masterpiece. Season Six is different; it is dark, edgy, scary, a far cry from the earlier, but equally impressive, previous seasons. I applaud Joss Whedon and Co. for taking this incredible series to different places, exploring new story arcs and aspects of the multi dimensional characters. The writing, directing, and acting are up to par with the best shows and movies out there, in many instances surpassing them. Sarah Michelle Gellar provides an incredible performance as Buffy dealing with her resurection, being pulled out of heaven by her friends, and having to deal with what she feels is a hell on Earth. The scenes where she expresses her distress over dealing with the emptiness inside her are truly moving. Alyson Hannigan also gives an incredible performance as Willow, dealing with her "addiction" to magics, and the consequences her problem causes with herself and her friends. James Marsters also gives a great performance as Spike, a souless vampire trying to understand love and human emotions eventhough he is spiritually unequiped to. Sure this season contains its duds (Doublemeat Palace for example), but the great episodes of this season far out shine the bad: Bargaining Parts One and Two, Tabula Rasa, Life Serial, Seeing Red, Two to Go, Grave, and ESPECIALLY the musical, Once More, With Feeling. The genius of Once More, With Feeling is reason enough to buy this set. I will say this again, Buffy Season Six is different, it is very dark, almost disturbing in some cases, it is scary, and very emotional, but this change is welcome and wonderful. It works, and season six is incredible

what is everyone talking about?
ok i just bought season six(but ive already seen all the eps)
and everyone has their own opinion but this season kinda sucks. But i am basing this on one thing: spike and buffy relatioship! the two characters i once loved i cant stand! they are so bitter! anyways a good season for all the other characters especially willow. besides for spike and buffy its watchable.

Cinderella, one past midnight
With this season, the magical carraige that was "Buffy" turned back into a pumpkin. It's no surprise, really: five years is generally the point at which a show starts to show signs of exhaustion, and while season five was a definite thumbs-up, there were a a number of sure signs of trouble to come:

1) Dawn. Adding a "baby" to a family is an old sitcom device to shake things up. It worked because of the clever writing and, obviously, Michelle Trachtenberg.
2) Glory. Upping the ante in the villain department every season is a good idea, but how do you top a God?
3) Spike. Changing a character's basic nature from evil to good (or good to evil) is an old soap-opera trick ("What, he's good now?")
4) Buffy. She died. Again. Since death is the ultimate sanction, undoing it takes the finality of death away, and stops us from caring if future characters are killed, because they can always be brought back.

Season Six dealt with the problem of topping Glory by going the opposite route, and creating the Triad, three hapless nerds who in no way were worthy successors to the Master, Angelus, bad Spike & Dru, evil Faith, etc. It was often hilarious, but not really strong enough of an idea to sustain over a whole season. The Triad would have made a very funny three story arc, but beyond that, their limitations were obvious.

It also made the fundamental mistake of pushing suspension of disbelief right over a cliff (that shark-headed gangster demon boss was just the worst idea in history....what were they thinking?). Also of betraying some signs of insecurity about the things they had done in season five and in six as well, and then trying to cover it up with clever humor, such as when the shrink tells Buffy that the retro-active addition of a sister (Dawn) into her alredy established family is a "ridiculous plot device" or that the Triad were "pathetic" villains. Tongue-in-cheek is one thing, farce is another. The episode where they allude that Buffy is in fact in a mental institution and everything you have seen in the previous 100 episodes is nothing more than the fever dreams of a schizo nut case is the classic "Bobby Ewing" mistake...."That last season? It was only a dream!" This was just insulting to the audience.

I also felt the middle episodes suffered badly from the absence of Giles and from an overdose of Spike. Sometimes the best thing you can do with a great actor/character is hold him back a little bit, so as to leave the audience hungry. Spike is a great character and James Marsters a great actor, but sometimes less is more.

This is not to say there were not some truly good moments in the season, such as Riley showing back up (didn't realize I liked this character until he left) the crotchey old Doublemeat Palace demon ("You may want to flail your limbs while you still have time"), the musical episode, the capricious and brutally violent way that Tara is killed off, or the fact that ordinary Xander finally got to save the world when all the super-powered people failed. But overall, season six left me feeling a bit like Buffy after her ressurection: down, disappointed, and ungrateful. Five out of six ain't bad.

Not the Buffy We Fell in Love With, but Still Damn Good TV
Season 6 is kind of the dark horse among Buffy fans, and having watched the show during its initial UPN run I can understand why. Heck, even I was turned off by the dark, relentlessly depressing nature of the season, the lack of a traditional big bad, and the network's sporadic airing of new episodes. Thank God for DVD, because thanks to this set I have a whole new appreciation for Joss Whedon, his writers, and the highly talented actors.

Without the weeks or sometimes months between new episodes (God bless UPN for keeping Buffy alive, but couldn't you have shown new episodes closer together?), the narrative structure of the season works so much better. It is much easier to watch and appreciate the growth and change experienced by the main cast, all of who slowly grow up throughout the season until they are nothing like the group of high schoolers we first met. The writers did a wonderful job of providing a distinct arc for each character, and the actors did a brilliant job portraying the evolution of the characters.

Sarah Michelle Gellar is once again stellar as Buffy Summers, whose emotional problems this season make all the angst up until now seem like kiddy stuff. I'm so glad Joss and company made the effort to earn Buffy's resurrection instead of simply reviving her and then letting everything immediately go back to normal. They took the much more difficult and ultimately more rewarding path of having Buffy slowly readjusting to her life, not fully reintegrating herself into Sunnydale until the end of the season.

All the other actors actors are equally fine, but Emma Caulfield deserves special recognition for her charming and underappreciated Anya. Consistantly hilarious, Caulfield takes a character who was clearly added to the show's roster as comic relief and makes her multi-dimensional and surprisingly human. By the end of the heart-wrenching "Hell's Bells," Anya shows an emotional depth that makes her possibly the most tragic character of the season, and Miss Caulfield handles the part beautifully.

And of course, season six of Buffy gave us the much lauded musical episode "Once More, With Feeling." I'm not ashamed to admit that it is my FAVORITE episode of the entire seven season run, encapsulating just about everything that makes Buffy special. It's smart, well written, irreverant, and packed with a surprising amount of emotional resonance. No, most of the cast won't be going to Broadway anytime soon, but bravo to the entire cast for handling their own singing, which actually only serves to make the episode more charming.

Season six of Buffy brought the characters to new low points in their lives, the show to new heights as far as writing and storytelling go, and produced some of the most entertaining adversaries the show's every seen (maybe I'm a nerd, but I find the Trio to be absolutely hysterical). If you've been watching the show since day one, now certainly isn't the time to stop, and if you've never seen the show, you're missing out on one of the most consistantly excellent programs of the last decade. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It was a family affair in the second season of J.J. Abrams's wonderfully inventive Alias, as super secret agent Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) came face-to-face with the mother of all super secret agents--her own mother, Irina Derevko (Lena Olin), a former KGB agent presumed dead but alive and more dangerous than ever. After shooting poor Syd, Irina later shows up at the doorstep of the CIA, offering to turn herself in and work for the good guys. But can she be trusted? Alias set up so much duplicity in its second season that it might have been hard to keep track of who was doing what to whom, but thanks to a great ensemble cast, fast-paced writing and direction, and some cannily cast guest stars, Alias rode a stunning emotional roller-coaster and never broke its momentum, even when halfway through the season, the show reinvented itself. With episode 13, "Phase One" (which aired after the Super Bowl to the show's biggest audience), Syd's original nemesis (and employer) SD-6 changes forever, yet the kick-butt agent still finds herself going up against the malevolent leader Sloane (Ron Rifkin) and his ever-changing set of henchmen. Action fans got plenty of fighting, while romantic Alias watchers swooned as Syd and the dashing Vaughn (Michael Vartan) finally consummated their unrequited love.

The critically acclaimed show owed a debt to Buffy the Vampire Slayer for its mix of action, romance, mystery, and moral quandaries, but in this season Alias truly came into its own--with a climax that came as a total shocker and prepped the show for an emotionally volatile third season. Guest stars included the phenomenal Amy Irving as Sloane's wife, Faye Dunaway as a nefarious bigwig, Christian Slater as a kidnapped scientist, and Ethan Hawke as a fellow CIA agent (or rather, two of them), but it was the dysfunctional nuclear family of Syd, Irina, and father Jack (Victor Garber) that gave Alias its heart and its strength, whether the three perfectly cast actors (all Emmy nominated) were just bickering or undertaking deadly hand-to-hand combat. And you thought your family had problems! --Mark Englehart ... Read more

Reviews (81)

Best Show on TV Last Season
Season two of Alias was awesome. That's one of the best ways to describe it. I picked this DVD up on a Friday, and watched it over the next two days. I couldn't turn it off. The show has all the right twists in all the right moments, all the drama at exactly right time. This season we see the end of the Alliance, in one brilliant assault at the same time across the globe. Thus, Rambaldi becomes the focus of the CIA for the remainder of the season. There are many plot twists and dramatic moments which made me scream at the screen. If the first season of Alias was the build-up, then the second season is definitely the downward slope of the roller coaster. The episodes are:
1. The Enemy Walks In
2. Trust Me
3. Cipher
4. Dead Drop
5. The Indicator
6. Salvation
7. Counteragent
8. Passage (pt. 1)
9. Passage (pt. 2)
10. Abduction
11. Higher Echelon
12. Getaway
13. Phase One
14. Double Agent
15. Free Agent
16. Firebomb
17. Drak Turn
18. Truth Takes Time
19. Endgame
20. Coutdown
21. Second Double
22. The Telling

The Best Show of the Season
Season two of Alias was awesome. That's one of the best ways to describe it. I picked this DVD up on a Friday, and watched it over the next two days. I couldn't turn it off. The show has all the right twists in all the right moments, all the drama at exactly right time. This season we see the end of the Alliance, in one brilliant assault at the same time across the globe. Thus, Rambaldi becomes the focus of the CIA for the remainder of the season. There are many plot twists and dramatic moments which made me scream at the screen. If the first season of Alias was the build-up, then the second season is definitely the downward slope of the roller coaster. The episodes are:

1. The Enemy Walks In
2. Trust Me
3. Cipher
4. Dead Drop
5. The Indicator
6. Salvation
7. Counteragent
8. Passage (pt. 1)
9. Passage (pt. 2)
10. Abduction
11. Higher Echelon
12. Getaway
13. Phase One
14. Double Agent
15. Free Agent
16. Firebomb
17. Drak Turn
18. Truth Takes Time
19. Endgame
20. Coutdown
21. Second Double
22. The Telling

Alias is AMAZING
I would just have to say that this season is great. I picked up Alias during the second season, which was a bit rough trying to keep up with things that I had no clue about, but it is a great season. It is full of things that keep you thinking through each episode.

Quite simply the best!
This show is quite simply the best that Tv has to offer currently. You can't help, but get involved in the story and characters. The casting is brilliant and Jennifer Garner is incredible as the heroine Sydney Bristow. This is a must have for the intellegent TV watcher. Great acting, a great story and a wonderful interwoven storyline that keeps you guessing. GREAT SHOW and a GREAT DVD!

Still Addicted
The second season of Alias is even more addictive than the first. I am rationing out the viewing of the episodes, waiting for the release of the third season on Sept 7th. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Cue the Henry Mancini music and watch out for Cato--the gist of the Pink Panther series has been gathered in a six-disc boxed set. At the center of it is Peter Sellers's incarnation of inspector Jacques Clouseau, a hopelessly bumbling detective with a genius for resting his hands in the wrong place (on the surface of a spinning globe, for instance) and mangling the English language.

Writer-director Blake Edwards cast Peter Ustinov as Clouseau in The Pink Panther, but Ustinov dropped out just before shooting began. Edwards (who recounts this story in a spotty commentary track included here) and Sellers bonded over their affection for Laurel and Hardy, and immediately transformed the character of Clouseau into a walking sight gag. The first film has a delicious swinging sixties vibe, while jewel thief David Niven, Claudia Cardinale, and Capucine occupy as much screen time as Sellers.Sellers really hits his stride in A Shot in the Dark, an elegantly funny tale of Clouseau sleuthing out a murder investigation. This one introduced Herbert Lom, as the increasingly frazzled Inspector Dreyfus, and Burt Kwouk, as Clouseau's houseboy-nemesis Cato. Sellers and Edwards, whose relationship was stormy, put Clouseau aside for over 10 years, until a trilogy of mid-1970s comedies restored the character to commercial (and dare we say cultural) primacy.

Unfortunately, the very funny comeback picture, Return of the Pink Panther, is absent from this set due to rights issues with the studios involved. The Pink Panther Strikes Again has Dreyfus going bananas and targeting Clouseau; Revenge of the Pink Panther puts Clouseau in a hilarious series of disguises, climaxing in a wonderfully mounted sequence in Hong Kong. (Throughout the series, the calm, classical staging of gags by Blake Edwards reminds you of what a lost art this has become.) Trail of the Pink Panther looks better now than it did when originally released in 1982, shortly after Sellers's death; it's a batch of unused Sellers routines from previous pictures, strung together with a loose plot. In other words, it's a "deleted scenes" extra, and quite funny at times.

Subsequent efforts Curse of the Pink Panther and Son of the Pink Panther are neither included nor mentioned. A half-hour documentary gives pleasant memories from Edwards, but feels incomplete. The cartoon Panther gets his own 11-minute mini-doc, plus six cartoon shorts including the Oscar-winning "The Pink Phink." --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (32)

the best: peter sellers, blake edwards?, not so sure
I loved most of the pink panther films, I own this collection and the movie of Sellers that is left (Return of the...), but what it really fascinate me was the extras, there is a complete documentary about Sellers work and life that it is simply the best of my tv journey, not so funny, except from the abstracts of his movies, but very appealing in order to understand the great comedian and man he was.

About the movies, loved the first two classics (Pink panther and Shot in the dark), Return, which is not included, I dunnot miss, can't say i liked that one; Strikes Again it is one of my favorites, Revenge was worth of a good laugh and about the Trail I didn't see the Edwards necessity to do that films besides the need of money, everyone in this days could have save to see that sort of tribute (there is no real story there) and watch the delightful lost and new scenes (at that time) of Sellers in another extra of this collection, but, what is done is done and I can't really complain, this movies are great fun and this set? one of my favorites.

Fabulous Value, Great Films, Mediocre Extras
The Pink Panther Film Collection consists of 5 Panther films and 1 bonus disc. Only 4 of the films are worthy ('Trail of the Pink Panther' is a train wreck of a film - it's a film made of outtakes and clips from previous films tacked together two years after Peter Seller's death), and it's also missing a major Panther film ('Return of the Pink Panther') which was the first Sellers-Edwards collaboration immediately following the hiatus after 'Shot in the Dark'.

The 4 worthy films, though, shine as comedy classics, fully display Sellers' genius, witness the evolution of the Clouseau character, and feature the talents of Seller's surroundings casts and Edwards' direction. Many can argue which is the best film; I personally prefer 'The Pink Panther' followed by 'Revenge of the Pink Panther'.

The bonus disc has one documentary about the Panther films, one documentary about the Panther animation, and 6 Pink Panther cartoons. The main documentary has some good info about the Panther series, but is not nearly as comprehensive as it could be. There is no mention of the thought process behind 'Trail' and scant detail about the other films.

'The Pink Panther' has audio commentary by Blake Edwards, a trivia feature, a photo gallery, and the original trailer. The other films have only the photo galleries and trailers.

Deep insight into the Pink Panther series is missing in this collection, but it's also an excellent value for four great comedies.

Like Old Friends, They're Always Great To See!
Having been a fan of "The Pink Panther" series from childhood, I was ecstatic that this set was being released, as the films are otherwise out of print on DVD (although luckily I still have my trusty VHS copies in reserve). I am tempted to give the set five stars simply because it is a wonderful day to see these films back in print, but realistically I had to take it down a notch as there a couple of negative considerations, the most obvious of which, of course, is the absence of "Return of the Pink Panther" from the collection, ostensibly because of legal hang-ups. Whatever the cause, the absence of the first of the 1970s-era "Panthers" is sorely missed. The other minor negative is the relative absence of special features on the movie DVDs, although the original "Pink Panther" has a wonderful trivia track. I would have really loved commentary tracks with Blake Edwards and some of the actors. I am somewhat ambivalent on the extremely unusual packaging the set comes in. It is hard to adequately describe the case, but suffice it to say that removing half of the DVDs is annoyingly difficult, although it looks very stylish.

On the positive end, you get four great "Panther" movies and the bodged-together "Trail of the Pink Panther", plus a disk of extras. Some people have dismissed the extras disk as inconsequential, but I rather enjoyed it. I particularly liked the documentary "The Pink Panther Story" which was heavy on interviews and insight. I had no idea that Sellers hated "A Shot in the Dark", whereas I (and many others) think it is a perfect movie in every way. I knew that Sellers could be somewhat Mercurial to work with, but I had no idea, for instance, that he had certain colors that he would not tolerate around him, and in fact made the producers of one of the movies once repaint a train because he couldn't stand the color! Also on the disk is a documentary about the animated Panther, which is quite interesting, as well as several of the short subject cartoons, which seem selected at random. They did include the Oscar winning "Pink Phink", the first cartoon short of the Pink Panther, which was an excellent choice. "Psychedelic Pink" included an annoying laugh track, and "Pinkfinger" was one of the weaker of the cartoons, which I have great recollection of from childhood. Interestingly enough, there are two related subject cartoons, one each of the Ant and the Aardvark, and The Inspector (in a fairly weak episode) to round out the extra disk.

This is a great set overall, with just a couple of things bringing it down to a four rating. I recommend it to all "Panther" fans everywhere, and to anyone who loves to laugh.

great, but what about return of the pink panther?
i think its great they decided to put these classic films into a set finally. but what about return of the pink panther? even though it isnt as popular as the others, its still a part of the series, and i think its a great one as well. as someone else said they should've put all 8 films in a set. that would be awesome, but all the same, this is a must have dvd set.

Massage, anyone?
MGM's "Panther" set wastes no time in showing off its quality once the menu queues up, as the tenor-sax notes of Henry Mancini's eternally cool theme song slink out of the speakers. Director Blake Edwards delivers a delightful solo commentary on the first and best film, "The Pink Panther."

The DVDs' fine (5.1) audio is complemented by the vivid widescreen images on the first "Panther," a gorgeous relic of the swinging '60s. The reproduction allows contemplation of detail such as the amazing topography of David Niven's hair. There's a lot for the Technicolor to take in -- fabulous clothes, beautiful people and to-die-for European locations.

A half-hour docu on the "Panther" films checks in with the series' surviving principals. A brisk DVD documentary tells the tale of the Pink Panther cartoon character, found money for Blake and his partners. A bonus disc collects the Panther's animated adventures.

The five original "Panther" films collected in this set range from the nostalgic pleasures of the first to the sludge of "Trail of the Pink Panther" -- a barely watchable collection of Sellers outtakes borne along by a why-bother story -- but with Peter Sellers onscreen the laughs never completely faded away. DVD viewers are both warned and encouraged. ... Read more

Amazon.com

What do you get when you combine the resources and ethos of the BBC with the literary panache of one of the world's best narrative historians? The answer is Simon Schama's History of Britain television series. In this well-written and thoughtfully crafted survey, Schama, the bestselling author of books on European cultural history such as The Embarrassment of Riches and Citizens, has managed to be both conventional and provocative. He tells the official version of Britain's story--Roman Britain, the Norman Conquest, the struggles of the Henrys and Richards, Elizabeth I, Scottish rebellions and the English Civil Wars, the American Revolution, the growth of the British Empire, Queen Victoria, the industrial age, and Winston Churchill. But while sticking to a script familiar to anyone who sat up and listened during history class, Schama brings it all alive with memorable prose and presence--Simon de Montfort's rebel parliament is described as inaugurating the "union between patriotism and insubordination"; with Henry VIII, Schama says, "you could practically smell the testosterone." Schama is also particularly enlightening on the symbolism of buildings, memorials, language, and ceremonies, and on the complex relations between England and its Celtic and Catholic neighbors. If history must have gloss, then let it be presented like this. --Miles Taylor ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Schama, A True Historian.
Thank you Simon Schama and everyone else involved in making these documentaries and releasing them on DVD. Five discs dealing with the history of Great Britain from 3100 BC to the 20th century. You get to find the true story behind the man Mel Gibson played in Braveheart. You get to know all about all the major kings and queens that shaped the UK. You get to know all about the invasions by the Roman Empire and the Vikings and what impact that had on the Britons. Winston Churchill, Oliver Cromwell and George Orwell are here. There's a documentary on the effect the Plague (Started in 1348) had on England. This is an awesome boxset and well worth the price thanks to Simon and company. I could not have asked for any better, But I wish Simon would do a three or four hour documentary that went into the details of the Falklands war. It would be cool if he did the same for the British side of the story of WWII and WWI. Anyways he did a superb job on this, I am just most fascinated with the conflicts of the 20th century. I don't like movies based on conflicts that happened so long ago but documentaries is a different story. Simon makes it so interesting. Thank you Simon for all your hard work in getting this job done. I really appreciate it. Cheers.

A Must for any Anglophile...
A History of Britain is a wonderful but pricey treat for any fan of British history. Some of the negative reviews complain that it is too superficial. How, I would ask, can you give a COMPLETE history of a country that spans 5,000 years? The collection consists of 15 hour-long documentaries starting from Britain's earliest past, five-thousand years ago. We see the still-standing stone communities where the ancient British dwelled.

Of course, Simon Schama must be selective in what he chooses to discuss. Each episode has a theme. Although all the major points of British history are touched upon, Schama will focus on the most interesting bits of each event - how and why they happened and what they meant. He tries to give us a sense of reasons behind historical events and not just dates and places. My favorite episode deals with Henry II - arguably England's greatest and most under-appreciated monarch. We see his troubles with Thomas a Beckett. Schama re-creates, in vivid detail, what the "Murder in the Cathedral" was like: Beckett was not a plaster saint, but a street-wise tough kid from the wrong side of the docks who fearlessly faced down his murderers.

Visually, the series shows some re-enactments with actors. There are many voice-over readings of historical documents. Schama is the only featured performer. He takes you to the various places and narrates in a very distinctive, clipped manner of speaking. Ultimately, it is the shots of the timeless Britain that are the most effective - the hills, the meadows, and especially the sea. These are the bits that have remained the same and convey the greatest feeling of history.

I can't imagine anybody not being fascinated by this program. They are very re-watchable. Having examined them, you will feel a much deeper understanding of British history - and indeed world history. Perhaps no other country has a story as fascinating, as rich, or as varied as Britain's. Watch this and you will know why.

Very good, covers a lot of ground.
I really don't understand the one-star reviews and their complaints about the series. Saying that the series focused on the gory details and sex is a plain exageration. The series leaves a lot of stuff out that's for sure, there is not a lot of coverage on the wars with Spain and France or the overseas expansion, but I am ok with that since I wanted a "quick" overview of the matter. If you want a detailed account you are going to need several thick books.
A must-buy for any amateur historian; informative and very entertaining.

Very Disappointing
With anticipated glee, we bought this DVD series as a Christmas gift for our family; however, as we went through each of the 5 DVD's, we became increasingly disappointed in Schama's "history." So much of his presentation seems to be "on the fringe" and not central to the mainstream of the basic history of Britain. Also, as others have pointed out, Schama seems intent on presenting the "gore" of battles, tragedies, etc. He also seems fascinated with sex and the eccentric too much. We just felt that we were not getting the fullness of the basic story of Britain's history. It was very disappointing, and we would not recommend it.

A rather uninteresting and pretentious overview of Britain
I purchased this series with high hopes and I found viewing it to be very disappointing. The host was annoying the images added nothing to the presentation and there was way too much time spent looking at peacocks and flowing streams.

I suppose that the history would have been OK if it weren't so scanty. This was very much a quick overview, which often left out key facts that would be vital to understanding the motivation for actions in later parts of the series.

I commend the idea behind creating a good series in the history of Britain, but I can only suggest that this one be avoided at all costs. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Here's where it all began. The first season of Survivor dominated the ratings in the summer of 2000, helped spur the reality-TV craze, and inspired countless water-cooler jokes about getting voted off the island.The first season established the formula that would continue, with sometimes surprising variations, over numerous subsequent seasons:16 people intended to represent the American mosaic are stranded far from civilization (in this case, the island of Pulau Tiga, off the coast of Borneo), struggle for food and shelter, compete in a series of physical and mental challenges, and at the end of each three-day episode vote out one of their fellow contestants.After 39 days, the one sole survivor who is able to outwit, outplay, and outlast the others wins a million-dollar prize.Because the Survivor craze preceded the craze for complete-season DVD boxed sets, the first season was represented on DVD and video by a 150-minute highlights package called Season One: The Greatest and Most Outrageous Moments.Now, all 13 episodes are available in a five-disc set (the fifth disc is ...Outrageous Moments) that contains every challenge, every political maneuver, every next-episode preview and previous-episode recap, every tribal council including the famous finale, and the reunion show.If you started watching Survivor in the Australian Outback or later, this is the perfect opportunity to see how host Jeff Probst, scheming Richard Hatch, tough truck driver Sue Hawk, ex-Navy SEAL Rudy Boesch, athletic Kelly Wiglesworth, and the others got the ball rolling.If you did watch the first season, here's your chance to relive it, and you also get an enthusiastic group commentary by host Jeff Probst (poking fun at himself) and contestants Hatch (talking the most, which should surprise no one), Boesch, and Gervase Peterson on the first and last episodes, plus some minor featurettes (seven minutes of footage of the contestants leaving L.A. for Borneo, David Letterman's Top 10 featuring the contestants, and 10 minutes of new interviews with Hatch, Boesch, and Peterson).Many reality shows have come and gone in the meantime, but in terms of staying fresh over a long run, Survivor has outwitted, outplayed, and outlasted them all.--David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (42)

Bring out ALL Seasons on DVD for Fans of the Show!!
I finally succombed to survivor fever back when it was first on tv during the merger episode. By then, I really didn't know enough from the earlier episodes to understand the moronic attitude of the anti alliance group, and to appreciate Hatch. I did not like him for years. However, I got my S1 dvd set this week and I am on disk 3 now. I LOVE THIS. What a great season.

Here are some observations.

Cheesy stuff they don't do anymore, that I think is great in these episodes:

1) the gong going to tribal council
2) the treasure chest full of "money" (my note: what happened to this money during the rainy tribal councils? They never show it soggy)

More on the filming:

During most of the challenges, you can see boats out at sea that are supporting the production. Most of the time, the cruise ship they used for the crew is parked at the horizon, clearly visible in the scene. I heard helicopter noise during the filming of the merger challenge, where pagong lost for the last time to make it an even 5.

It is VERY amusing to watch the voting after the merge. Pagong pagonged ITSELF. This is hilarious. I just finished the episode where Jenna gets voted on by her entire tribe, even though the alphabet voting put greg out.

Another observation: whenever Jenna was on a tribe, the tribe did happy things. Pagong was a happy tribe as was Chapera. I think Jenna is under appreciated as a player on survivor.

I miss them casting a wide age range of players. If they bring that back, it will make the dynamics more interesting. BB's game strategy was a train wreck. Sonja was a great lady. I loved her singing that funny song to hatch.

Gretchen was an interesting survivor, she understood the game, as did Greg. How come we don't hear about these contestants?

If you haven't watched the new dvd set, I recommend that you watch the first CD all the way through WITHOUT the probst