Amazon.com

Return to the Big Island for more adventure with Tom Selleck’scharmingly roguish detective hero, Thomas Magnum, courtesy of thisthree-disc set, which compiles the entire second season (1981-1982) ofMagnum, P.I..The 22 episodes included here (among them thetwo-part "Memories Are Forever") crystallize the key to the series’success: an appealing blend of action, drama, mystery, and comedy,cemented by Selleck and his likable castmates, especially JohnHillerman, who would earn a Golden Globe for his work on Magnumin ’82.Highlights of the season include Magnum’s attempt to stop aninternational assassin ("The Jororo Kill," with Tyne Daly), the arrivalof Hemingway-esque author Mad Buck Gibson (Darren McGavin) in theepisode of the same name, and the aforementioned two-parter, whichreunites Magnum with a woman he thought to have died after marrying herwhile serving in Vietnam. The usual array of classy guest stars arealso on hand for this season; in addition to the aforementioned actors,there are turns by Mimi Rogers, Vic Morrow, Vera Miles, Jill St. John,and Elisha Cook Jr. (who plays a much different character than hisrecurring role as "Ice Pick" in future seasons). And Magnumobsessives should note early appearances by Gillian Dobb, who playedAgatha Chumley in numerous subsequent episodes, as well as one ofHiggins’s colorful, estranged half-brothers in "The Elmo Ziller Story." It’s unfortunate that the set itself doesn’t match the quality of theEpisodes--extras are limited to second-season episodes from KnightRider and The A-Team--but Magnum fans should bepleased to have all the episodes in a single set, and best of all,commercial-free. --Paul Gaita ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Thee best show, disappointing DVD set up
Again, I have to say this is my favorite show of all time . . . I was just hoping to see some extras.You can't beat bloopers.If you don't have bloopers, have some interviews or something.Knight Rider?Blah!I smile every single time I hear the theme at the beginning . . . and I watch the intro on every episode.There will never be another Higgins.

Higgy-Baby!!!
The best duo on TV in the 1980's (and since) was Selleck and Hillerman. How could a show go wrong with those two? The funniest part of this show was when Selleck would look into the camera whenever something crazy or ironic would occur. About the lack of extras: get over it. At least they fixed the annoying problem of getting the discs out of their holders. It costs money to compilate interviews, bloopers, and photos, and Universal isn't willing to spend the money. Cest la Vie.

I know what you're thinking...
I know what you're thinking ... but Magnum P.I. has held up really well over the years, and it's SO much better without all the commercials. I almost feel a guilty rush watching as one scene segues right into the next! Basically, Magnum has never looked better.

The core charaters - Magnum, Higgins, Rick and T.C. - had a real chemistry, and you could watch the show just for their banter and friendships. The guest star performances haven't aged as gracefully, maybe because the characters only have 45-48 minutes to develop, and the plots are only as sophisticated as that time allows.

But, every time I watch an episode, it's like a trip back to Hawaii in 1981. It all works together. The depth of the main characters, and the writing, is several notches better than anything else I remember on television, and the setting has its own charm. The Ferrari still looks great, and the Robin Masters estate is timeless. I don't think I would willingly watch any of the other shows of that era now, but now I realize what solid actors Selleck and John Hillerman were/are.

Highly recommended - and the packaging for Season Two is a lot better than Season One (Those discs are hard to remove and the plastic retaining pieces broke right away - the separate plastic cases for Season Two are really the way it should be done).

And if you want to see how bad everything else was, check out the Simon and Simon episode in Season One and the A-Team episode here.

Who Needs EXTRAS?
When I Buy A Dvd Set It Is For ONE Reason...The Show!!! I Have Watched & Enjoyed This Set!!! Tom & Co. Are Terrific, Everything About The Show Was Wonderful!!! I Don't Need Photos Or Interviews....I Need The Rest Of The Seasons!!! As For The Cases I Like Them...I Don't Mind The Double Sided DVDs Too Much...But Would Rather Have Five Or Six Disc Sets Over Double Sided!!! Lets Get On With Season Three!!!!

Very Dissapointed
Okay, I'm going to give you the real dirt on this one.I have never ever reviewed a DVD set on Amazon, but felt that someone needed to print a honest review about this set and not the series itself.I think I speak for most diehard magnum fans, when I say that I had the entire series on VHS tapes for many years before this series even came out on DVD.After season one came out, I threw away all my tapes so that I could watch the series in all it's DVD glory! I was hoping for tons of extras, behind the scenes, and photo's, interviews...whatever!!!!After watching season one and anxiously waiting for season two, I reluctantly went out and bought it after reading it's dustjacket.I went home and opened it,read it, and watched it and found it very lacking. I just wish someone would write about whats in the DVD package other than the TV series itself for a change. Okay, first of all, this series was on top of the Nielson ratings for years.It has a huge following here in the U.S. as well as the rest of the world.It is still being played on cable, and many parts of the world.It played for 8 years and there must be tons of things that they could have put into this dvd package.Let me say that the extras that you get in this dvd set are, an episode of the A-Team and an episode from KnightRider....two shows that I hate!If I had wanted to watch either one of these two lame shows, I would have gone out and bought them on dvd.I did not want them but I'm stuck with em..never even watched em. There are ABSOLUTELY NO OTHER EXTRAS in this set.At least season one had a couple of extra episodes that I could enjoy.No pictures, no interviews, no "making of"....NO NOTHING!Second, the DVD's are on back to back dvd's, meaning you have to go and flip the darn dvd over to watch the other episodes in the season (yeah, minor point cuz you would have to get up anyway, but it looks cheap)...what's up with that?With the cost of dvds so low now, they couldn't even make each section have it's own dvd? There isn't even any design on the dvds themselves, it's only a plain silver dvd.Third, the dvd's are boxed in a separate dvd case for each section.(at least the first season has a foldout pictured case)..for a total of 3 dvd's, back to back.The plastic cases look like the ones you see at walmart, housing the $1.00 dvd movies...THIS SET LOOKS AND FEELS SOOO CHEAP!!!I don't know, maybe it's me, but I really expected more from this set. If I'm going to drop $40.00 on this set, then why couldn't they have put in some extras and stuff.Okay there you have it, this set sucks.I wish I hadn't had thrown away my VHS tapes.I have been loyal and bought this set cuz I love the series so much, but am REALLY THINKING ABOUT NOT BUYING THE THIRD INSTALLMENT.If anyone that matters is reading this, please take it to heart and make some changes...you have GOT TO HAVE ACCESS TO EXTRAS FOR THIS SERIES, it was on the top for so many years.I feel that it is doing this series a great disservice, and I feel that it's tainting the reputation of MAGNUM P.I. after all, I can't believe that Tom Selleck or anyone at Universal would have given approval for this DVD set.My low rating is not for the show, after all I've seen every episode at least 20 times, but for what this is, a DVD set. Most people buy DVD sets for the extras, but buyer beware on this one, you may consider sticking to your VHS tapes. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

I hope it gets the star treatment
I hope that the studio gives these films the treatment that they deserve. I grew up watching these great film noir classics and I was excited when they released "The Thin Man" on DVD a few years back but I really wanted to have the complete set.It would be great if they have loads of extras but I will still be happy with the films themselves. I am going to go out on a limb and give it five stars just because I am hoping for a crisp transfer that will allow me to enjoy some pictures that I have not seen in several years.

Classic Comedy Gold Mine on DVD
FINALLY!! One of the Premiere classic comedy series of films is finally making its way to DVD from Warner Brothers. Warner Brothers DVD sets have been an embarressment of riches lately and one hopes that this Powell-Loy series will have the full treatment it richly deserves. Powell and Loy's Nick and Nora Charles are one of the silver screens most memorable duos and these films stand up to repeated viewing. I cut my classic film buff teeth on these films and have worn out all VHS copies. Wow, first the Marx Brothers see two wonderful box sets and now this. Can Laurel and Hardy be far behind in a quality set?)
Now - here is some details about features I was able to gather from various web sources:
1. Each film DVD case features the studio film poster
2. There are 7 DVDs in all- 6 for the films and a bonus 7th disc entitled "Alias Nick and Nora" which features two documentaries on William Powell and Myrna Loy.
3. It appears that the "Warners Night at the Movies" feature is here also. All film DVDs feature comedy, musical, and mystery shorts as well as classic cartoons. Could not find out titles.
4. Other features are to include: two radio adaptations of the series. I own a Lux theather radio adaptation of "The Thin Man" which had not only Powell and Loy reprising their rolls but features some narration and introdution by Van Dyke. Lux theater adaptations were common and excellent productions. To have both the main stars and the director was a first rate show. ALSO: the pilot episode of the TV series.
IN short- if the informaton is correct this is a DVD set that should be on the shelf of every film buff... and another triumph in the recent exellent DVDs from Warner Brothers. BUY IT NOW!All I can say is the Classic film buffs motto:
"Thank Goodness for Turner Classic Movies and thank goodness for Warner Brothers DVDs"

Wow! this is a great series..finally in a dvd set! Bravo!!
I am so happy that warner decided to release this dvd box set..I suppose writing to them to release a boxed set pays off! Now the dreaded wait for the release begins =)

Thank you Warner Bros.!!!! The Thin Man has arrived!!!
Finally, the excellent Thin Man series is coming in a definitive set!!! I have been waiting for this release for a very long time. William Powell and Myrna Loy are absolutely fantastic in these films and in my opinion, are one of the greatest of the onscreen duos (right up at the very top with Hepburn and Tracy). Their chemistry together is pitch perfect and these films are a delight to behold. The best, I think, is the second entry in the series: After The Thin Man. This is an excellent sequel and probably the best of all of them (though each is great in its own right).
Well, enough said, order this great box set right now and treasure these classic films for years to come!!
(Also, Thank you to Warner Brothers for realizing the importance of releasing classic films on DVD. You're doing a great job with your releases and are catching up to Criterion quite quickly).

"Baby, You've Arrived!"
The most delightful series in the history of film is finally coming to DVD with all six sparkling diamonds included. Since the quality of the VHS version of all six films is crisp and quite excellent, so will the DVD follow suit. Most film buffs already own these films and certainly have seen them many times, but the anticipation of having them all on one collection, and on DVD as well, has been almost palpable. Sugar is sweet, but this is sweeter.

It is impossible to tabulate how many millions of people have been entertained by these witty and sophisticated mysteries. The huge success of The Thin Man, the origional 1934 film based on Dashiell Hammett's fine novel of the same name, prompted MGM to break new ground by producing an "A" picture sequeal, and follow that with four more "A" pictures featuring William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles.

The origional film introduced the sophisticated and fun couple we all have come to love over the years. The Thin Man was set over the Christmas holiday and was the first time audiences got to enjoy the banter of Nick and Nora, as ex-detective Nick was pushed into action, martini in hand, by his better half. Nora had the money and Nick had the know-how. Clyde Wynant, portrayed by Edward Ellis, as nearly everyone knows, was actually Thee thin man. But the tag stuck to Nick Charles and the rest is, as they say, screen history. A very pretty Maureen O'Sullivan was a standout in the origional film as the young Dorothy Wynant.

What delighted audiences, however, was the playful fun between Nick and Nora as they solved the mystery. Nothing in the movies has even come close to being this wonderful in the seventy plus years that have followed. When Powell and Loy returned as Nick and Nora a couple of years later, the magic that had surrounded the origional was still there, where it would remain through the last entry in this brilliant and ground breaking series of films.

After the Thin Man was nearly as much fun as the origional, as Nick and Nora, to Nora's delight and Nick's dismay, became involved in another mystery set immediately following their adventures in the origional. All the fun was still there as was the mystery. Nora told reporters in the film: "Nick was sober in Kansas City!" Their dog Asta was back again as well, and became a houshold name. A young Jimmy Stewart got to star in this one also.

While the first two films have been widely available, some of the others are more difficult to find and those who have not been fortunate enough to see them will have that rectified now. They were quite teriffic indeed, beginning with-------

ANOTHER THIN MAN

Dashiell Hammet's Nick and Nora were once again perfectly portrayed by William Powell and Myrna Loy, and this third entry, like the other two, is a breezy and fun comedy mystery done with style, class and top drawer production values from MGM at it's zenith.

In this one, little Nicky Jr. is a year old and proud parents Nick and Nora are having a ball. Nick is trying to get out of going to Long Island because Colonel McFay (C. Aubrey Smith) only wants him to go over financial reports and other mundane matters that might interfere with Nick's drinking. But there is also a threat on the Colonel's life and Nora wants a quiet weekend in the country, so off they go. It turns out anything but quiet, of course, and Nick has to solve another murder.

A sharp and clever script with snappy dialog keep this one moving along nicely. Pretty Virginia Grey is the Colonel's daughter Lois and Ruth Hussey plays little Nicky's nurse, Dorothy. Lois wants to marry Dudley Horn (Patrick Knowles), much to the chagrin of the Colonel and his secratery, Freddie (Tom Neal), who is in love with the lovely Lois as well. It seems some of the Colonel's business dealings have been just a little on the shady side since the death of Nora's father, his business partner. Phil Church (Sheldon Leonard) may have been on the wrong end of one of these shady deals and with all this going on you can guess what happens next.

The interplay between Nick and Nora about their quiet little weekend is a lot of fun. A body in the road and a pool house fire get things moving quickly in this light and breezy entry in the series. Nat Pendelton is along as Lt. Guild this time and Marjorie Main has a nice turn as a very funny landlady. Muriel Hutchison also has a nice role as Church's girlfriend, Smitty, in a mystery a little more complicated than you might think.

This time the gathering of suspects, including Don Costello as Diamond Back Vogel, takes place at a bithday party for Nicky Jr. thrown by Nick's old pals. Shemp Howard has a funny role as Whacky, as does Harry Bellaver as Creeps. Otto Kruger is on hand as A.D.A. Van Slack when Nick suprises everyone with the killer's identity.

One of the highlights in a film with many fine moments is a scene at The West Indies Club. Nora learns a little more about Nick's past there than he would like! This is a fun film to watch, and there is a magic here which can never be duplicated. This is five star entertainment you don't want to miss.


The series continued with------

SHADOW OF THE THIN MAN

The most fun and sophisticated series in the history of film continued with Maj. W.S. Van Dyke's 1941 entry, Shadow of the Thin Man. William Powell was back, of course, as Dashiell Hammett's greatest creation, Nick Charles. Myrna Loy was back as his better half, and needless to say a shaker of martinis and a lot of witty banter was sure to follow as Nick and Nora got involved in yet another murder mystery. Nora has a new du in this one and is cuter than she's ever been. Nick is busy in the park reading a fairy tale to Nicky Jr. which sounds suspiciously like a racing form, and it isn't long before Nick and "Mummy" are off to the track.

A jockey has just been murdered by the time they arrive with a police escort and it appears to be tied in with a gambling syndicate. Nick does his best to avoid getting roped into real work but when another murder occurs at a wrestling match and a reporter who's an acquaintance of theirs is fingered for the job, Nick sort of saunters into action. A third murder occurs before Nick can get it all sorted out and when Nora gets one of the clues first, a trap is set for the killer. Nora is adorable and she ends up "saving" Nick's life once the denouement scene rolls around.

An attractive cast of MGM players which includes a funny turn by Louise Beavers as the Charles' maid and a very young and pretty Donna Reed as the girlfriend of the accused, make this one easy to watch. Nick gathers the suspects all together as usual, and it's quite a suprise when he fingers the real killer. A gun hidden in a drain pipe, an expensive bracelet used as payment for blackmail and a ledger worth killing for all play a part in the mystery portion of this one.

But the Thin Man films were always about how much fun the audience could have watching Nick and Nora interact as she pushed Nick into action, drink in hand. There is a very funny scene where Nick is shamed by little Nick into drinking a glass of--gulp--milk! Both Nick and Asta get dizzy on a carousel and Asta starts a brawl in a restaurant as this entry moves along at a nice pace. And I'd be remiss not to mention a turtle race on a bar counter which adds to the fun.

This entry is a fun breath of fresh air. A great one to own and watch over and over now that it will be on DVD.


Sanwiched between Shadow of the Thin Man and Song of the Thin Man was-----

THE THIN MAN GOES HOME.

While still keeping the fun and wit of the other films, this entry has its critics. I am not one of them. Nick goes home to Sycamore Springs and has eased up a bit on his social activities (getting tight) and Nora seems more the traditional wife. This is normal and in keeping with the story of a wife visiting her in-laws. This one was still a lot of fun and taking issue with such minor nuances is unfair to the film. It was five star entertainment that while a tick below the others, was stillfar above anything else. I'm sure this entry is the favorite of someone and it definitely is worth owning so the collection will be complete.


The final entry was------

SONG OF THE THIN MAN


Starting with "The Thin Man," William Powell and Myrna Loy were Nick and Nora Charles, Dashiell Hammett's greatest creation. This series stood apart from others in that it was a class "A" production all the way, MGM giving these wildly popular films their best contract players and their finest behind the scenes people to create something unparalleled in American film history.

The origional "The Thin Man" was a masterpiece of light and witty comedy mystery that has never been equaled. For that reason it is unfair to compare the five films that followed with the first one, and once that is set aside, each of the five was charming, witty and classy, the perfect way to solve a mystery and be entertained at the same time. This was the last entry and was just teriffic, as "The Thin Man" went out in style.

Manhattan meets the hip jazz scene in this one as Nick and Nora are involved in solving another delicious murder, with nice touches from Nicky Jr. and, of course, their dog Asta. It begins when Nick and Nora have a night out on the gambling ship "S. S. Fortune."

The film opens with a young and stunningly beautiful Gloria Grahame singing "Your Not That Easy to Forget" and only gets better. As Nick and Nora rub shoulders with the elite and a few of Nicky's old pals a chain of events leads to murder, discovered the next morning when the chief suspect stops by with his fiance to ask for Nick's help. Nick turns him over to the cops for his own safety when he is shot at but the deal is sealed when the bullet hits a bottle Nick had been saving for a special occasion, and as he puts it, "An old friend of mine went completely to pieces."

There are no shortage of suspects as Nick and Nora start nosing around, aided by a young Keenan Wynn as one of the hip band members. It's very funny as Nora begins to pick up the lingo of Wynn and his jazz friends, who seem to have a language of their own. The victim seemingly had no end of enemies. He was deep in debt to a dangerous gambler, had been cheating on his girlfriend, was running out on a contract to play at the "S. S. Fortune" for greener pastures, had publicly humiliated Grahame's former boyfriend Buddy Hollis (Don Taylor), and more.

Before it's over, Nick and Nora will walk in on another murder, and Nick will stage a suprise back on the waters, gathering all the suspects back on the swanky "S. S. Fortune" to trick a killer. Patricia Morison, Jayne Meadows, Dean Stockwell, Ralph Morgan, William Bishop and Marie Windsor all offer fine support to make this closing chapter one of their best. Some nice family moments (Nick and Nora style) with Asta and Nicky Jr. are put in the mix as well, Nicky Jr. seemingly a chip of the old block.

The same carefree and fun loving ambiance that was a staple of every entry is here and a good atmospheric mystery to boot. There is nothing shabby about "Song of the Thin Man." It is a bar that many have attempted to reach when making a light comedy mystery but these films have endured because of their wit, fun and charm. Nothing has ever come close to them and you won't want to miss this one, or any of the others.


IN SUMMATION----


There are only a handful of screen couples who quite deservedly rivaled William Powell and Myrna Loy in the hearts of moviegoers. But Fred and Ginger, Bogie and Bacall, Ladd and Lake, and Gable and Harlow all portrayed different characters from film to film. This places Powell and Loy in a separate category, all by themselves. Perhaps that's the way it should be.

Everyone will want in on the fun early so I suggest pre-ordering this wonderful Thin Man collection if possible, or at least placing it on your wish list to purchase the second it becomes available. The term "must have" was created for releases like this one..... ... Read more

Amazon.com

Although it didn't fare well on the Fox Kids network (where it played in an edited format), Escaflowne has a large, loyal following, perhaps because this sprawling fantasy offers the ingredients of classic mecha, sword-and-sorcery, and magical girl adventures. After psychic teenager Hitomi has a vision of a man battling a dragon, Prince Van of Fanelia and a dragon materialize. He slays the monster and transports Hitomi to the mysterious world of Gaea. An odd mixture of advanced technology and medieval culture, Gaea has links to ancient Atlantis. A typical romantic triangle develops, involving Hitomi, diamond-in-the-rough Van, and ideal knight Allen Schezar. The saga attains a byzantine complexity when Zaibach emperor Dornkirk--who is actually Sir Isaac Newton, captures the trio. He's at work on a machine that will enable him to create alternate destinies for Gaea. At times the story by Hajime Yatate and Shoji Kawamori seems to be careening out of control, as Hitomi whines and the supporting characters appear, disappear, and undergo radical personality changes. The most serious flaw is the failure of any of the heroes to defeat the evil Dornkirk, who has dispatched murderous doppelgangers, conducted sadistic experiments on kidnapped children, and attempted to subjugate an entire planet. But the combination of teenage romance, fantastic robot-suits ("guymelefs"), elaborate battles, histrionic villains, and a world-threatening challenge has made the 26-episode series a favorite among otaku. A feature film, released theatrically in the U.S. in 2002, repeated much of the story. Rated 13 and up for animated violence. --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (64)

very good
As you may or may not know, The Vision of Escaflowne is an anime series from Japan. In my opinion, it is an extremely good series. The Vision of Escaflowne combines elements of fantasy with mecha, romance, sci-fi, and just about every other anime genre in between.

Escaflowne follows the life high school freshman Hitomi Kanzaki as she is transported from Earth to a mystical world called Gaia. Hitomi teams up with the young prince Van and the gallant swordsman Allen. Prince Van has lost his kingdom to an attack from the evil empire of Zaibach. Allen is a knight of a nearby country. Allen wishes to oppose Zaibach but the king of his country does not wish to bring Zaibach's wrath upon the kingdom. From this point in the story, viewers are lead on a whirl-wind journey of love-triangles, mecha fights, character drama, and a mystery about the real origins of Gaia. Each character (there are several) is given plot time to show their pasts, their dreams of present, and their general personalities. And though there are quite a few bloody fight scenes and some weird happenings, Escaflowne is a fairly clean work of anime. One thing to think about is that Hitomi does an awful lot of fortune telling and such work. I was somewhat unhappy about this because I do not enjoy such things but I overlooked it. Anime fans should find no problems here.

Having watched the series twice, I would recommend it to almost any anime aficionado as well as many sci-fi and fantasy fans. You will be treated to a wonderful story full of wonderful characters that presents itself in top-of-the-line artwork and has an AMAZING score. If you are seriously considering buying this WHOLE series, I can practically gaurentee you won't be disappointed. If you're not sure, try buying or renting the first volume and see if you get sucked in.

An Anime For Otakus
I am doing a premature review of this product seeing that I have only watched episodes contained on discs 1-4 of this 8 disc set.

Escaflowne is a well-thought out story with excellent animation and character development. I love the music by fabu-musician Yoko Kanno too. Her use of strings really sets the mood for the dramatic moments.

Escaflowne begins (to whet your appeitite for more) one fateful day when high school sprinter Hitomi Kanzaki experiences a disturbing vision of another world and discovers from her best friend that Amano (the track team star she has a crush on) is about to go abroad. On an impulse, she asks him the next day for her first kiss -- if, she can sprint 100 meters in thirteen seconds. But then, a young warrior prince and a dragon appears before Hitomi during the run ... that's when Hitomi's world gets turned upside down as she is transported to the warrior prince's homeworld of Gaia!

This Limited Edition Boxed Set comes with a beautiful Black Escaflowne figurine and tons of special features.

Dialogue is offered in both English and original Japanese with English Subtitles.

This is an anime series not to be missed by an Otaku of any level of experience.

Has to be one the best Series out on Anime
I have seen a lot of Anime series, but only a few have come close to this fully complete story. It has a lot of good fighting scenes including massive battles. The only series that I have seen that comes close is Evangelion series. I give Evangelion a 3.5 becuase of the ending. It just went out the window when I saw that ending, but Escaflowne does not have that flaw. It has a good beginning and draws you in with good character development. 3 different love triangles with a whole bunch of enemies and a whole bunch of killing. Most important it has GOOD ANIME none of those cheesy faded colors and x out eyes when someone gets knocked out. Or sweat coming down the side of the cheek when someone messes up or gets angry. The ending was also pretty good. The only flaw I give this series is when the intensified luck soldiers come into play. That was dumb. You'll see what I'm talking about if you see it. Well that's all for now untill next time

Just a 'heads up' re: the Limited Edition Boxed Set...
For Escaflowne fans looking to purchase the Limited Edition set, be aware that many vendors listed as selling this item are actually offering the Escaflowne "Perfect Collection"... Though both contain all 26 episodes of the series, the latter will not provide you with a numbered "Collector's Box" or the extra features advertised for the former.

To differentiate between the two, check the number of discs/DVDs that are said to be included in the set. The Limited Edition set will contain 8 DVDs, while the Perfect Collection is said to contain only 3.

With that said, however, either should provide you with a complete collection of episodes from the series. I don't see how you can go wrong with that =P...unless, of course, you're a serious collector =)... As for a comparison on the quality of the two, well, I don't own either, so I honestly have no idea.

Sorry for being a somewhat unknowledgeable reviewer, but I just wanted to add the above bit of info to hopefully prevent customers from obtaining something other than what they desired.

Cheers!

Some of the best nonetheless
Do I really need to ring Escaflowne's praises for you? Most everyone who is into anime has already seen this series but for those of you who are not but may have seen and like movies like Princess Mononoke this is the series to pick up. It is by far the most accessible of any anime series I have seen and is perfect for a budding anime guru. In fact this is the very series I will show to my friends who have yet to see any anime they think is worth watching.

Visually, Escaflowne is pretty remarkable for a TV series that shows obvious signs of extremely high production values. The story may not be the most intricate in the world of anime but it more than suffices. What is most impressive about Escaflowne is the characters. Van and Hitomi are some of my favorite characters ever and are both completely believable in their respective places; Hitomi as the fish out of water teenager and Van as the young kind thirsting for revenge. I also enjoyed many of the supporting characters such as Dilandu and Folken; even the bad guys were given a proper history and motivations rather than simple blind obedience to whatever evil scheme might be in style. In fact evil itself is somewhat grayed as no character is truly evil, only misguided doing what they believe is right and just.

I would recommend Escaflowne to anyone and everyone; it is a series that can have appeal to the very young and old alike. Truly masterful work.

Note that anyone who has seen this series on Fox Kids has been watching a kiddied down version of a show that wasn't really meant for children to begin with. Don't let that Escaflowne-lite ruin your opinion of the show. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Each of the snazzy 25-minute installments from the most popular Japanese animated TV series of 1998 is a satisfying adventure tale about a futuristic hipster bounty hunter. This is an elegant action-comedy anime, with smoothly integrated CGI space-flight elements, gorgeous graphics, blues harmonica and sax riffs on the soundtrack, and a no-sweat post-Tarantino attitude. Despite occasional eruptions of gun-fu Asian-action violence, and some intimations of heavy-duty drug use (in the first of 26 episodes, one especially noxious narcotic is administered as an aerosol spray straight onto the user's eyeballs), the tone is surprisingly convivial. None of the generic tough elements are grim or mean-spirited. Lanky antihero Spike Spiegel is a planet-hopping freelance hunter with an ex-cop sidekick named Jet, a loopy fellow hunter named Faye, a teenage computer hack, and a genetically enhanced Welsh corgi assistant in tow. The emphasis is on clever twists of plot in an episodic short-story format with as many wisecracks as punches being thrown. Unrated (suitable for ages 13 and older): violence, nudity, profanity, alcohol and tobacco use, occasional ethnic stereotypes. --David Chute ... Read more

Reviews (336)

best anime ever
An interesting twist on traditional anime, Cowboy Bebop is at once fresh, original, and wildly entertaining. It injects new life into a classic genre.

I first discovered this series on Cartoon Network's adult swim late-night block, and quickly began to really like it. The fight scenes are beautifully animated, the 26 episodes (each of which stands on its own) are well written and perfectly paced.

Speaking of which, the episode structure is very unlike most anime, where you have to see every episode or you don't understand it at all. The episodes in Bebop are all tied together with a common theme: Spike Spiegel and company travel throughout space in the near future, looking for bounty, their own backstories unraveling bit by bit. This formula works very well.

Bebop also conveys an atmosphere that sometimes changes but is always well done with each episode. It is, for the most part, either gritty and violent (Episode 5: Ballad of Fallen Angels) or goofy and sometimes laugh out loud funny (Episode 12: Toys in the Attic). Director Watanabe is great at really drawing the viewer in so that often you forget about what else is happening around you.

Bebop is not without flaws, however. Sometimes the episodes seem to have filler or are WAY too slow paced. This is mainly only a problem with Episode 20: Boogie Woogie Feng Shui. Half the episode is almost all dialogue, with hardly any real movement. It just doesn't feel like the rest of the series.

That one very small shortcoming aside, however, Bebop is amazing, and well worth it whether you enjoy anime or not. This is something anyone can appreciate.

You've got to see this...
The future isn't always bright and happy, but at least its presented in a spectacular series like Cowboy Bebop. Following the crew of the Bebop, each episode takes on new challenges everytime and new feelings. Moods for each episode is never consistent, as they change from action-packed (Gateway Shuffle) to somber (Speak Like A Child) to sadistic (Pierrot La Fou) to comedic (Mushroom Samba). Each episode has its own unique flavor, which will satisfy all types of people.

The main character is Spike Spiegel, an ex-member of a crime syndicate and a bounty hunter. With his tall, lanky, slacker-look about him, he easily throws people off guard when they first meet him. His cool demenor and level-headedness are an excellent cover for a master of hand-to-hand and ranged combat, as well as being quite skilled in piloting his starship, Swordfish II.

The lead female character, Faye Valentine, is very similar in many respects to Spike, which causes some friction throughout the series as they both hunt for bounties. Although she may look like she is in her early 20s, Faye was suspended in a cryo-genic freeze for 54 years following a space accident. Her past is a mystery (Episodes 15, 18, and 24), but she keeps her cool and is confident and daring all at once. If Spike is ever in the middle of a fight, she'll usually wander in to help. While she is definitely a sexy woman, her charms tend to work on every man other than Spike and Jet. In addition, she has her own little starship, Redtail, which she uses to get herself out of whatever trouble she finds.

Jet Black is a former member of ISSP (InterStellar Space Police) on Ganymede, where he shortly retired after losing his left arm. He is partnered with Spike as a bounty hunter, and is the captain of the Bebop and his own personal ship, the Hammerhead. However, most of the time, Spike is on the frontlines while Jet provides support through information or backup.

Ed's real name is Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivrusky 4th, but Ed is 13 year old female who is an expert computer hacker commonly known as "Radical Edward." Although she may sound serious, this couldn't be further from the truth. She may be extremely intelligent and a prodigy, but don't let her wacky antics and crazy talk fool you. She may not be able to take life too seriously quite yet, but she is a force with which to be reckoned.

Ein is a Welsh Corgi dog who was apart of an experiment at an early age. Consequently, he's smarter than the average dog now, and when Ed joins the crew of the Bebop, they're instant friends. Often times found eating, sleeping, or accompanying Ed, he's the one character that no one argues with (except for Faye).

The year is 2071 A.D., and mankind has spread throughout the Sol system after a tragic accident on Earth. The crew of the Bebop hunt down criminals for bounties, all the while, trying to survive the harshness of space. Spike and Jet are the original crew members of the Bebop, and while Ein, Faye, and Ed become apart of the "family," conflicting pasts and perspectives often times drive each of them away to solve their problems, but they always come back for one reason or another.

The plot? Excellent. The characters? Great. The animation? Great. The series? Flawless.

An additional note, I'm not positive, but I do believe that all of the music (with exception for the beginning and ending tracks) are never repeated. You'll watch TV and anime series, and often times, you'll find a particular piece of music being repeated for certain situations to help clue you into the mood for that scene. However, in Cowboy Bebop, that isn't so. For one episode, you'll have a unique set of music tracks that are never repeated throughout the rest of the series. For example, the music track "Ballad of a Fallen Angel" is never repeated outside of the cathedral scene in the episode "Ballad of Fallen Angels."

I can't think of anything else that I was more pleased with after buying than Cowboy Bebop. : )

Note- I'm reviewing the bootleg
Although it may be unAmerican, and surely it's a rip-off from potential money going to Bandai, (...)I was really worried about what I'd be receiving. The truth is, the package was awesome- the DVD quality if FANTASTIC (there's a little digital blurring during a ship-flight scene), and the dub is exactly the original American dub seen on Adult Swim (the English subtitles disagree somewhat). There are even a few special features, including music videos and such- nothing important really. I'm a little hesitant, as some may have had different experiences... I'll say that the copy I got is 3-CD, from Singapore, in a brown/gray cardboard-flip case that has Spike in a subway or something, standing next to a blonde woman. The inside has a bit of art as well. It's not the cover, with the black on top and bottom and all the characters, shown on Amazon.
Your experience my differ, and granted, this set isn't exactly perfect, with a little digital blurring. But for 30 dollars, my experience, at least, was an awesome deal.

The GREATEST anime series of all time
This is the best anime series I've ever seen and I've seen alot of them including movies. When it comes to anime there is a few names people know. Akira, Macross, Ghost In The Shell, Trigun, Ninja Scroll. Cowboy Bebop is right up there. I love this anime because it is real and it doesn't pull any punches. It is classic yet new age. It's a sci-fi space thing yet it's like a western yet like an epic. It is everything that is good. I own the Limited Edition Box and the 3 disc Hong Kong import. The story is based on 5 characters who all have their own interesting backgrounds and somehow life as it happens has these five come together. Spike Spiegel and Jet Black are bounty hunters using a commercial fishing ship(spaceship this is the future) as their mode of transportation. In this bounty hunting is very lucritive as there is even a tv show that updates them on new bounties. Along the way they meet three other characters that join the crew at Spike's displeasure and Jet's indifference. There is far too much for me write of in the epic of anime greatness. I really felt like I knew and shared in their journey by the end. All this and probably one of the best soundtracks ever produced. Eclectic is the word...it is a jazzy, blues inspired rock techno organism of music that plays well with the story. All I say is rent, buy or borrow and watch this is you are an anime fan and you have not yet, for some God awful reason, seen this. Now the nice collection you see with the entire series is not the Limited 7 disc set which includes the soundtrack...if you find the big box it will be at least $200 dollars but probably more than that as it is a limited numbered to 15,000. The 3 disc collection containing all 26 episodes is the import Hong Kong version which can be played here. This is usually around $30 dollars or so. It has great video and sound quality and doesn't suck compared to the U.S. releases as some would say. Either way it is a great series and all anime fans should have this one.

Pure Masterpiece...
Cowboy Bebop. The jazzy series that has anything I could possible want in an anime. This is the kind of thing you'd like to watch after you invite a few friends over to spend the night, play Nintendo, talk about boobs, indulge all the junk-food you have, and then watch this late at night. It's one of those movies like Young Frankenstein that is funny in a way that makes you think. Not like sooo much bubblegum-anime on the market today that just tries to be funny by making bad puns, and saying retarded things. I enjoy the factor that the cast of characters is such a dysfunctional motley assort of people. The story is as good as I expected it to be, I like every bit of the storyline and how it sometimes purposly went out of context.
I like how it went like a duality of two faces: Sweet, and Sorrow. First the Sweet lures you into the story and makes you happy. Then when your inside, The Sorrow stabs you with a knife making you sad.... (My analogies rock!). This anime is for everybody, even (some) adults like it! I'm going to buy the soundtrack when I get enough money, It's like Hellsing which has a kick-ass soundtrack! Jazzy and up-beat. Yet melodic and sadening. The ending ephisode is heart wrenching to me atleast.
This anime is for everyone and anyone! Get it, you won't be dissapointed! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Drama ruled in a big way on the third season of Queer as Folk, as the gay men and women of Pittsburgh rode a roller coaster of emotional and personal upheavals that would make a regular soap-opera cast blanch. Budding comic book artist Justin (Randy Harrison) finally left longtime lover Brian for a chance at ecstasy--and not a bit of agony-–with a charming violin player. Emmett (Peter Paige) finally came face-to-face with his affection for friend Ted (Scott Lowell), only to have Ted's growing drug habit get in the way of their happiness. Lesbians Melanie (Michelle Clunie) and Lindsay (Thea Gill) decided to have another baby, whose father would be... Michael (Hal Sparks), whose nesting with hunky Ben (Robert Gant) is rudely interrupted by runaway Hunter (Harris Allan). And as for Brian (Gale Harold), the man everybody wants but can't ever have? Just when it seems he's gone to work for the enemy--a homophobic mayoral candidate-–it turns out he might be the savior the Pittsburgh gay community never knew it needed.

Snaps to the makers of QAF for trying to bring their characters into the grown-up world – Michael, Emmett, and Ted started their own businesses; Justin finally cut loose from Brian-–but too many melodramatic plot twists and turns impeded a lot of the character development this show worked hard at during its first two seasons. Still, most of the cast was topnotch, including Harrison, whose Justin finally came into his own, and the always dependable Harold, who made Brian a fascinating creature through all his steamy travails and over-the-top encounters. --Mark Englehart ... Read more

Reviews (52)

Another great season, great character development
Everyone has a strong opinion on this show. I for one thoroughly enjoyed season 3. My review, without spoilers:

Scott Lowell's performance as Ted addicted to crystal meth is outstanding. Peter Paige also does a spectacular job as Emmitt, Ted's boyfriend, trying to deal with the addition. This saga within the series is one of the best parts of season three.

That being said, I could have done without Hunter: was he added to the show simply to have a twink on hand now that Justin is maturing? Also, I would love to see just ONE episode where it isn't necessary for the cast to get their freak on at Babylon, the disco.

I cringe when I see the illicit, casual sex and casual drug use on the show. I will respect the writers' decision to include it, as it's part of gay life. But the writers could be more inclusive of the diversity of opinions in the community by adding a character that is opposed to casual sex and recreational drug use. They do exist!

Shame that it's so short!
Recently released on DVD, Queer As Folk's third season continues to be a powerful and moving series. Our beloved friends and characters have moved on in their lives, and this season is a turning point for many of them. I do not want to spoil the plot for those still waiting to see this, but be prepared to see a changed Brian, a fun-loving but tougher Justin, Emmett and Ted's turmoil and a new life for the lesbian duo. Of course, this show would be incomplete without Debbie, dinner-diva. There is also a new character on the scene, young Hunter, who brings about a much-needed improvement to Michael's worrying wallflower attitude.

The season spans over the duration of a political campaign for a new mayor of Pittsburg, and the lives of all characters are directly and indirectly affected by the ex-police chief and running candidate Stockwell. Interspersed with serious themes and events are charming scenes, nightclubs, sex, drugs, love, work, school and all the other things that form part of daily life. Of course, the sex is what stands out for a lot of people, but after the first two episodes, this becomes more like background music and the camera hones in on the characters.

Certainly, the sheer abundance and exposure of sex and drugs is what makes this show edge and "out there". The producers are careful, however, to show the unglamorous aspects as well as the glamorous ones and don't view the world through rose-tinted glasses. It's realistic, it's in-your-face and it's powerful.

It's really too bad that there isn't more of it. Season 1 and 2 had at least 20 episodes, this one has only 14 - so you're getting less for your money, although the quality remains high (and the music fantastic). The box set does come with lots of extras, both for the DVD and computer. You get to see some documentaries and other surprises.

Highly recommended, but a health warning: you WILL get hooked, so try to watch this over a weekend, rather than sitting up through a week night and facing the consequences of having to go to work the next day!

Finally, Ted is actually interesting
Definitely better than season 2. Ted becomes interesting, finally! And Kinney gets a heart. A surprising new role (or two) for Michael, Justin refuses to settle but then settles again...how long will that last, though? The characters are moving forward in life, and it's a good thing. The bar scene is still active, but no longer the center of it all. These people actually have lives.

Kill your television!
What's worse than bad television? Answer: bad gay television. After three and a-half seasons of QAF I still can't figure out why so many in our community have embraced this show. Is it because we feel we have nothing else on tv that gives us a voice? What about HBO's Angels in America and Six feet Under? And don't forget the first installment of Tales of the City. These shows prove that we can have quality programming if the people behind them have a creative, honest and caring voice for our community. Instead, Showtime serves us this. Every character on this show is not only a stereotype but a cliche. And how about hiring actors who can act? What QAF gives us are "line-readers" who can whine on cue. Debbie's potty mouth becomes unbearable after about ten seconds and Brian's one dimentional character leaves me scratching my head in disbelief. The actor who plays Ted is so bad that when he's on screen I can't hit the mute button fast enough. I enjoyed season one and hoped that what followed would only get better. It didn't. This is un-reality television at its worst. I don't know anyone as queer as these folks.

More Emmett and Melanie please...
Alright now we're at Season Three, enough has been said of how SHOWTIME had come this far to make this totally queer, bold, or whatever awesome gay drama for the America's television - and also the gossips intercontinentally - I strongly feel the story has slowly lost its grisp to constantly "thrill" the constantly demanding DVD audience (especially those who spent 4 times utterly higher than the people earning DOLLARS in the states).

It's as if we've come to know Brian Kinney (more than enough as the number of smack bottoms he took back to his bourgeois loft), his (...) lucky pal Michael Novortny who seems to have it all, his custody shared longtime friend Lindsay and her absolutely perfect lesband Melanie, and his oh-so-predictable one-and-off whatevership with so called brighter-than-sunshine but bored-than-britney Justin Taylor. Enough crystal drama for the newly coupled Ted and Emmett, and definitely a big enough mouth for enough fabulous mama Debbie. Season Three also tend to consolate the gay activists by creating a win-win result over a election campaign, and add one more new member to the Diner's family, a teenage street hustler named Hunter, who came around a little rather imaginative for the storyline. However, not enough has been explored on a few members of this family.

I personally feel Melanie and Emmett are actually two potentially very explorable characters among the gang that would give the directors a good run of scripts. Melanie's coming strong in-your-face dyke attitude should be treated with a little extra indepth focus and Emmett's flamboyant outshell may as well worth a closer look. Just ask yourself, if the entire characters in the show were your real life friends, how much do you know about Melanie and Emmett after watching the Season One, Two, and Three? Do you know where they come from? The answer is no, see. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Bearing Witness To History
Watching the 9.5 hour documentary Shoah one goes through a plethora or emotions: sadness, anger and finally triumph. Shoah is living history one that we will no likely to be able to repeat as time goes on.

Claude Lanzmann gives us a history of the Holocaust from the point of view of the participants. The survivors, the guards, the townspeople who witnessed the Final Solution firsthand. The thing that makes the film amazing is that we do not see the grisly images that were so prevalent in films like Renais Night and Fog. We simply hear voices and see faces.

The interview technique is what makes this film so important. We are forced to look into these people's faces as they tell their stories. And they do have important stories to tell. Also we literally visit the places of destruction as they are now. We see green meadows that were once killing grounds like Sobibor or Chelmno. We see the village of Grabow now reduced of its Jewish population; we bear witness to the railside horrors of Treblinka, and the haunting desolation that was and is Auschwitz.

The startling thing is that the people of the film have been able to rebuild their lives and go on. This is the triumph of the film. We hear horrible things to be sure but these people are true survivors.

The DVD does not offer many extras, but then not many are needed. The end result is a sort of numb silence and this prevades the viewing. The transfer could have been a little clearer but I feel that this was more of a flaw in the source footage than a problem in the DVD creation. The only real problem with my set was on the fourth disc where there were numerous sound fall outs.

All in all Shoah is not an easy film to watch. It takes patience and careful listening if one is to truly understand but it should be regarded as essential viewing for any would be student of history.

Powerful, devastating testimony
I saw Shoah on PBS around the mid-80's and have never forgotten the experience. The documentary was shown in weekly installments. At first, I was just curious, but then I was drawn by the powerful testimony I was witnessing. I remember that while watching the last installments, I was weeping over the depravity and evil that was discussed by the aged survivors. At that time I was a Staff Sergeant with 15 years military service. We are tempted to turn away from the horrendous images and ignore the Holocaust as an anomaly or as something best left in the past. We want to move on. But listening to the stories and watching the faces of the survivors I knew that I must listen very carefully. I must not miss one moment of their testimony. Neither can you. Listen, watch, and learn what evil men can do to fellow man. It's a long, long film but it must be seen in its entirety.

The Best Documentary about the Holocaust
This first aired on PBS sometime in the early to mid eighties. I was in my first couple of years of college at the time. As many of you can relate, I had lots of fun in school (especially after classes)and didn't watch much TV. For whatever reason I was at home when the first installment aired and I was hooked. Being in college, I wasn't too much of a history buff and knew little about the Holocaust. I would come home early from parties just to get to see the next installment. Since that time I have always wanted to see the documentary again and now can say I have bought it and will watch it (this time with my wife) soon.
I had the opportunity to visit Munich some time back and didn't miss the chance to visit Dachau. Wow! What an experience... one that I shall never forget. I think watching the show this time will mean so much more than before. Make sure you get lots of Kleenex before you sit down to watch a segment.

Amazing document !
A very important, powerful, strong and
not an easy watch Holocust documentary.

The best made movie about the Holocaust
It's been 17 years since I watched this movie in a hotel room in Munich on German television. Since that time Hollywood has made their own Holocaust movies, the latest being "The Pianist." By far , "Shoah" is the most meaningful movie that was made about the Holocaust. The shear hypocrisy of the Nazi's false promise to every death camp inmate of "Arbeit Macht Frei" is revealed through the words of the apathetic hypocrits who watched from the sidelines.

It answers the question: Why could this global tragedy happen? It also answers the question: Who were these people who committed the atrocities and where were all the people who bore witness?

The movie asks these questions of the real people who we want to know the answers from. Mr. Lanzman interviews the wife of a concentration camp commandant. Her attitude and her carefully chosen words speak volumes for what she doesn't say. She embodies evil to the nth degree. Her lack of empathy and gross disdain for the 10,000s of Jews that her husband murdered makes you sick to your stomach. And yet she is not guilty of anything more than being an accessory to mass murder and she has never spent a day of her life paying for the sins of her husband. She complains that her life after the war has been hard on her. She wants our pity.

Mr. Lanzman interviews a peasant who lived along the rail line to Birkenau and Auschwitz. The jolly old peasant was proud of how he gesticulated to the hapless souls in the packed railcars how they would have their throats slit soon enough. The peasant made fun of how he convinced many a desparate Jew to throw him their jewelry in exchange for a cup of water - only to not give the Jew the promised water.

There is no ray of hope. There is no triumph of good over evil. There is only the sheer will power and determination of the few survivors that now live in comfortable flats in Israel, the United States and other parts of the world. After the war, they picked themselves by their bootstraps and mentally blocked the horrors that befell upon them by the Nazis and they succeeded to live their lives.

The conclusion I draw from this movie is to remain forever vigilant. Evil is banal. Evil can be overwhelming. Only a clear conscience, an open mind and a consistent collective voice against the darkness of evil will we keep men like Adolf Hitler from propagandizing his fellow countrymen and women into similar acts of atrocity. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Carmela to Tony: "Everything comes to an end." True enough, Mrs. Sope, but on The Sopranos, the end comes sooner for some than others. Though for some the widely debated fourth season contained too much yakking instead of whacking, and an emphasis on domestic family over business Family, what critic James Agee once said of the Marx Brothers applies to The Sopranos: "The worst thing they might ever make would be better worth seeing than most other things I can think of." And in most respects, The Sopranos remains television's gold standard. The fourth season garnered 13 Emmy nominations, and subsequent best actor and actress wins for James Gandolfini and Edie Falco as Tony and Carmela, whose estrangement provides the season with its most powerful drama, as well as a win for Joe Pantoliano's psychopath Ralph. The season finale, "Whitecaps," was a long-time-coming episode, in which Carmela at last stands up to "toxic" Tony, and "Whoever Did This" was the season's--and one of the series'--most shocking episodes.

Other narrative threads include Christopher's (Emmy nominee Michael Imperioli) descent into heroin addiction, Uncle Junior's (Dominic Chianese) trial, an unrequited and potentially fatal attraction between Carmela and Tony's driver Furio, and a rude joke about Johnny Sack's wife that has potentially fatal implications. Other indelible moments include Christopher's girlfriend Adriana's projectile reaction to discovering that her new best friend is an undercover FBI agent in the episode "No Show," Janice giving Ralph a shove out of their relationship in "Christopher," and the classic "Quasimodo/Nostradamus" exchange in the season-opener, which garnered HBO's highest ratings to date. Freed from the understandably high expectations for the fourth season, heightened by the 16-month hiatus, these episodes can be better appreciated on their own considerable merits. They are pivotal chapters in television's most novel saga. --Donald Liebenson ... Read more

Reviews (70)

The Rise and Fall of Tony Soprano continues its way
Tony Soprano is almost a Shakespearean tragic hero. His meteoric rise through the first season has been matched by a slow descent. Through the fourth season, we continue to see this, as those who Tony relied upon (in business, or emotionally, or otherwise) fall away through death, or abandonment (by Tony or the other person).

This DVD set contains the 13 episodes of the fourth season, together with commentary from writers, actors, and David Chase. Unfortunately, only a few of the episodes have such commentary, and the choice of episodes is open to question (episode 4-11, with Tony's dreams, needs interpretation from an authoritative source). The "trailers" at the beginning and end of each episode are also included (i.e., "Previously on the Sopranos", etc.)

All of the regular actors shine, and the bit players are, as always, very well cast.

The quality of most of the episodes is high, perhaps higher than any but the first season. But as the number of planned seasons has gone from four, to five, and now to six, I wonder if the purity of David Chase's vision has not been invaded by fluff. Well, we won't know until the series ends, I suppose.

Highly recommended.

Season 4 is great. You will realize it soon enough!
A lot of these so called Sopranos fans have an IQ of 4 when it comes to realizing what happend over the 13 episodes of season 4. For the first time in the series history we were left with a cliffhanger. If you notice in seasons 1,2,and 3 the story line for the season ended in the season finale. For season 4, Its going to carry over to next year. Dont you people get it? Season 4 was a setup. If you think about it all that happend in the season finale has to be resolved next season. For example, Paulie has been ratting out to new york and will probably get whacked, Adriana has ratted out to the feds and will probably get whacked, and if Tony finds out who really set the fire at the stables thier going down too!! And do you honestly belive that Tony and Carmela will get divorced? PLEASE! The way Tony is, hes going to do everything humanly possible to make up with her, that should be cool to see. And with the news reports of Steve Buscemi and Robert Loggia joining the cast, I think alot of Sopranos fans will quit whining when they see how season 4 was a setup to what looks to be a bad-... season 5

Another Brilliant Season
Above all other seasons, the forth in this groundbreaking series focuses on the complex enigma that is Tony Soprano. Creator David Chase allows Gandolfini's character to go places rarely reached in television or film. Traveling through these thirteen episodes with Tony, a viewer will get to experience utter joy, limitless rage, and the unequaled pain that accompanies an acknowledgment of personal culpability in creating one's troubles.

Tony comes to realize how others truly see him in the early episodes of Season Four. He laughs at his friend Artie and his cronious cohort Councilman Zellman when they nervously try to discuss different requests. He does not understand why they should be so afraid. But soon, he validates their concerns and sees the monster inside that drives away the closest people in his life.

His marriage is also falling apart, a plotline most associated with this season. Gandolfini and Falco provide career performances, particularly in the finale's blow-up scene. But Tony's most powerful moments concern two important losses in his life. Sudden news of the passing of an old acquaintance sends an unstable (and violent) Tony back to therapy and another tender relationship with an animal (remember the ducks) ends with Tony out looking for blood.

Chase loves to allow small incidental moments to provide the genesis for much of the show's conflict, a comment on the fragile nature of life. In the first season, the jokes about Junior's acquired "taste" of his girlfriend drive the wedge between he and Tony that causes many to get whacked. In this season, a throw-away line made about the weight of a tangential character builds and festers animosity all season. Plot built in such a masterful way is just another example of why The Sopranos is television's finest hour.

Click the order button!
Frankly I think they need to make the sopranos a couple more seasons. This season is just as good as all the other ones except for the fact they they jump to conclusions. If you're looking buying this season then that probably means you've already seen the first 3. Anyone who needs to read weather the Sopranos are good from this point has something seriously wrong with them. Go ahead and finish it up already! Why would you stop now!

WARNING ! If you buy this you won't be able to switch off
I've always loved the Sopranos, mainly for its subtle humour and incredible writing and story plots. I always thought The Sopranos would make a good book, because it would sure to be a page turner. Season four is no different. We start the series revitalised and ready for any new troubles that may face Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini better than ever).

The economy is down and the mob business is slow. That can only mean one thing. All the guys are going to have to work twice as hard to make more money. As this happens on Tony's mob side of life, it becomes clear he's also facing troubles at home - amazing acting takes place between Edie Falco and James Gandolfini in the incredible final episode.

This is one of the best things ever to come off of TV, and each episode is almost like a mini movie, action - drama - twists and turns. The only problem is, you buy this DVD, you're guaranteed to call in sick for work the next morning to carry on watching. You may even find yourself dropping the words 'BADA BING, BADA BOOM' into a conversation unknowingly... ... Read more

Amazon.com

Having battled a hellish vampire master, an evil boyfriend, a rogue slayer, a giant man-eating demon-snake thing, and a particularly nasty high school principal, Buffy Summers embarked on one of her biggest challenges in the fourth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer: college. With boyfriend Angel out of the picture (and on his own show) and Sunnydale High destroyed, new horizons were to be tackled for Buffy and the rest of the Scooby gang. There were cute guys (Buffy's new boyfriend Riley), cute girls (Willow's new girlfriend Tara--yes, Willow's gay!), frat parties, irritating roommates, harsh professors, and, oh yes, a secret military initiative that was experimenting on the demon population (Riley's part of it).

Buffy truly hit its golden years in the fourth season--just when you thought this show couldn't get any better, Joss Whedon and his creative team pulled out all the stops and took Buffy and co. into rich new territory. By far, the highlight of the season (and the entire series) was the Emmy-nominated "Hush," a nearly dialogue-free episode in which the creepy "Gentlemen" rob Sunnydale of its collective voice, and Buffy and Riley finally come face to face with each other's hidden identities. While Frankenstein-esque monster Adam wasn't the show's best villain (you'll have to wait until next season's Glory for that), he was a worthy adversary for the biotech age, and the military milieu was a nice contrast to Buffy's previous gothic outings. Season 4 also marked the return of blond vampire Spike (who developed a crush on Buffy), the ascension of vengeance demon Anya to full-time cast status, and the brief return of bad slayer Faith (in a fab two-part body-switching episode). Throughout, the entire cast, headed by the unparalleled Sarah Michelle Gellar, worked television magic of the kind rarely seen on the small screen. This is Buffy at its best. --Mark Englehart ... Read more

Reviews (246)

Buffy goes to college in solid season 4
The 4th season of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER proved to be a matter of transition for both cast and crew. For one thing, the show had removed itself from the high school setting when Buffy and her gang blew up the school fighting the demonized Mayor in season 3. Also, David Boreanez's moody vampire-with-a-soul Angel had moved on to his own series, taking with him a major plot point that helped drive the series. For the most part, BUFFY rebounded quite well with some of the best single episodes on the show to date. Of particular mention is the classic "Hush," where Sunnydale is under a spell of silence. Its inventive use of the lack of dialogue just reaffirmed the show's growing reputation as one of the best TV had to offer. However, there were uneven moments as well. The "Big Bad" of the government-run Initiative was too much of an X-FILES rip-off. The cyborg-demon Adam lacked the flair of the Mayor or the Master, and commando Riley, despite an ernest portrayal by Marc Blucas, seemed a poor substitute for Angel as Buffy's beau. Also, beloved characters like Giles and Xander were pretty much adrift that season as the college setting put more emphasis on Buffy and Willow. Overall, though, the season still had its share of entertaining and funny moments, while introducing former villian Spike (the always-solid James Marsters) as an uneasy ally/comic relief. The DVD features, while still on the skimpy side, are upgraded in quality with solid audio commentaries on key episodes including creator Joss Whedon's take on "Hush," with actor Seth Green (the werewolf Oz) joining him in "Wild at Heart." As always, BUFFY still manages to entertain, thrill and provoke its audience, which is a mark of great TV....making this DVD set definitely one worth recommending.

a breathtaking series with an unforgettable cast
by far the best show in the world to me, its hip, sexy, funny, scary, addicting and dramatic. This season takes place in college and Buffy(Sarah Michelle Gellar), Willow(Alyson hannigan, and OZ(Seth Green) attend. Xander(Nicholas Brendon) is not in college and Giles(Anthony Stewart Head) conducts buisness from his pad. Seth Green who plays the kick ass werewolf Oz, leaves 6 episodes into the fourth season and comes back at the end for 2 episodes. We get to know Spike(James Marsters) more in this season and see how he was kidnapped by The mysterious Initiative, led by Professor Walsh(Lindsay Crouse), and that Buffy's new hubbie Riley Finn(Marc Bluca) is a soldier in that organization. Hush would have to be the best ep in that season and it did win an Emmy. We see the return of Faith(Eliza Dushku) and Jonathan(Danny Strong). Walsh(Crouse) makes an ultimate killing machine, half demon, half human, half of everything named Adam(George Hertzberg)... also theres 2 episodes Angel(David Boreanaz) return to and that episode where Angel kicks the crap outta Riley was cool. Xander gets a new girlfriend, Anya(Emma Caulfield), Willow turns lesbian and has Tara(Amber Benson) and choices her over Oz(Green) but she still thinks about him in her dreams and we see that from the end episode Restless. I've seen every episode more than 5 times and its good because i'm an addictive fan of the show and when it ended in May I was like damnit, hey but theres still Angel and Spike is going and thats the best part, so this is a masterpiece of a show and it'll live in my life forever.

Great Episodes, Bad Villan
Now, when I first bought this DVD set I got it only to further the completion of my Buffy collection. I thought that the 4th season wasn't any good...but was I wrong! Even though Adam was not a very good villian, the overall arch was very good. I love how Willow and Tara get together, and I also love Riley. Xander and Anya are histarical, as is Giles and his girlfriend, Olivia. Season 4 has some of the best episodes...EVER!! My 3 favorites are "Pangs" (Angel's in it!!), "Hush" (Silently creepy!), "Girl of the Year" (Faith is back and is FUNNY AS HELL!!!), and "Who Are You" (Part 2 of the Faith comeback). The DVD cover discribes this season. With the dark background and Sarah's lost-in-space Barbie look can be related to almost all of the episodes.

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Buffy hits its stride on a new campus
With Sunnydale High in ruins and the Scoobies freshly graduated, the gang embarks on the new adventure of college (well...except Xander...but he ends up populating the campus as opposed to the non-campus). After her initial misgivings about college, Buffy adjusts to her new life and fits in her Slayer duties...and notices a covert, underground military demon-hunting operation based beneath the university.

The Initiative, of which Buffy's new boyfriend, Riley, turns out to be part of, is a government-sanctioned demon-hunting organization that captures and experiments on the demon population. As she allies herself with the Initiative, Buffy discovers the threat of the mysterious 314 and a villain who unites all the demons of Sunnydale and divides the Scoobies against themselves.

Season 4 marks the return of beloved characters from seasons past, most notably Spike, the snide, leatherclad, chain smoking vampire, who is promptly neutered by the Initiative and forced to depend on the Scoobies for help. Ethan Rayne also returns to turn Giles into a Fyarl demon. And the rogue slayer Faith returns in a brilliantly executed two-part body-switching episode.

While often maligned (including on this website), Adam is, in my opinion, the show's best villain. A charismatic demonoid cyborg, he unites all races of demons and vampires in a quest to create others like him and overrun the earth. A modern update of Frankenstein's monster, he is chilling in his assertion that he is "aware". He uses Spike as a pawn to divide and conquer the Scoobies, who he sees as the only true threat to his plan. He knows that without each other, they cannot stop him.

The result is a very interesting spell and an very well-done climactic battle, as well as the prophetic and surreal season finale Restless. It is a fitting end to an awesome season.

Season 4 was an interesting change of pace, and marked the transition out of the familiar setting of Sunnydale High. A very well-done season, definetly among the upper eschelon of the show's achievement.

The Scooby-Gang's Surreal Season
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" had certainly hit its stride, long before seasn 4, so this season was more about experimentation. We see Buffy and friends dealing with college while still fighting evil. "Buffy" is unlike any other show of its kind, because unlike other scifi shows, "Buffy" revolves around its characters, not their experiences. Season 4 proves this when Buffy meets Riley. You hurt with her when she can not reveal her true identity to him. And you laugh with her when she does. You also feel the romance and shock between Willow's coming out. You love Tara, but still feel bad for Oz. Season 4 is alot more about the characters' personal problems: Willow being gay, Xander feeling useless, the Buffy/Riley love, Spike's chip, and Giles' reilization that he has no life. "Buffy" does an incredibly job at displaying the difficult transistions from high school to college while deepening its characters' own personal problems, but fails when compared to its other six seasons. But, however, we are taliking about the greatest show in the history of television, so you can still expect alot from this season. ... Read more

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They're still out and proud, and in their second season the boys (and girls) of Queer as Folk continued to break ground as the most gay-friendly show on television (sorry, Will and Grace). Some plot lines were a little over the top, others truly heartfelt, but they were never less than entertaining, even during their All My Children moments. Season two opened in the aftermath of the gay-bashing of Justin (Randy Harrison), the young artist who wondered if he'd ever be able to paint or draw again, and went on to face a variety of issues and plotlines as diverse as its characters. Some were timely (Michael negotiating a relationship with new HIV-positive boyfriend Ben), some romantic (lesbians Lindsay and Melanie tying the knot), some new to the show (Emmett embarks on a relationship with a--gasp!--older gentleman), and some, well, far-fetched (how many of you had to wrestle, like Ted did, with starting your own pornographic web site?).

While the writing tended to flail about a bit, thankfully coalescing by the season's end, the show continued to be anchored by stellar actors, especially Peter Paige's Emmett, who grew the most during the second season; Michelle Clunie's Melanie, the alternately wry and sweet lesbian who became the show's secret weapon; and, as always, Gale Harold's Brian, the lothario with a heart of tarnished gold. Frustrating, fascinating, exasperating one moment and charming the next, Brian perfectly summed up the guilty pleasures of Queer as Folk, where humanity peeks out every now and then from behind the curtain of fabulous comedy and drama. --Mark Englehart ... Read more

Reviews (77)

Worthwhile continuation of an essential TV drama
QUEER AS FOLK [Season Two] (2002): Following the violent assault which closed Season One, Brian (Gale Harold) takes Justin (Randy Harrison) into his home, where they develop a passionate - but open - relationship. Michael (Hal Sparks) falls in love with a hunky college professor (Robert Gant) who turns out to be HIV positive, leading to conflict with Michael's worried mom Debbie (Sharon Gless). Elsewhere, Melanie (Michelle Clunie) and Lindsay (Thea Gill) are troubled by a ghost from Mel's past, a vibrant free spirit named Leda (Nancy Anne Sakovich) who insinuates herself into their relationship in an unexpected way. Emmett (Peter Paige) falls in love with an elderly millionaire (Bruce Gray), and eternal wallflower Ted (Scott Lowell) finds success as an Internet porn baron! Then, sexy young violinist Ethan Gold (Fabrizio Filippo) enters the fray, turning Justin's head in a manner which has far-reaching consequences for all concerned...

Having exhausted plotlines from the original British TV series, the second season of Showtime's "Queer as Folk" strives to establish its own identity, and largely succeeds on its own terms. Despite the grim storyline surrounding Justin's recovery, the tone of the series is considerably lighter this time around, with an emphasis on character-based comedy and fruity one-liners, many of which appear to have strayed from a particularly filthy 'Carry On' movie! Comedy aside, however, the writers make room for a number of important social issues, including HIV and AIDS, barebacking, pornography, and the gay community's apparent indifference following the death of a young man who was killed by a stranger he picked up in a nightclub. The emphasis on drugs which characterized the opening season has been considerably downsized, and the simmering relationship between Michael and Brian no longer dominates proceedings, while Mel and Lindsay are brought out of the shadows to take their rightful place at the forefront of the QAF ensemble (the 'wedding' episode is a joy). Performances are uniformly excellent, though Gant's character (Ben) is basically consigned to the periphery. Former model Sakovich plays Leda with genuine relish (her brief scenes with Brian are a scream), and ultra-sexy Filippo turns up the heat as a gifted but lonely musician who throws Justin's world into disarray.

Overall, Season Two lacks the dramatic punch of its predecessor, and the lighter tone has led to accusations from some quarters that the show has descended into routine soap opera. Even if the criticisms were justified (and they're not), there's actually nothing wrong with 'soap opera', so long as it's done well, though Brian's stubborn refusal to acknowledge Justin's emotional needs results in a disappointing season finale, whose outcome is never in doubt. Inevitably, perhaps, it's the small moments which make the biggest impression: The profound, but unspoken, love between Brian and Lindsay whenever they're alone together; Justin listening to a CD recording of Ethan's music as he contemplates a life-changing betrayal; Michael breaking down in a hospital corridor as Ben falls prey to an opportunistic illness (Hal Sparks' distress in this scene is achingly realistic). Season two may not scale the same heights as its illustrious predecessor, but it's still as dramatic, funny and empowering as ever, an essential part of the American TV landscape at the beginning of the 21st century.

Showtime's region 1 DVD - which runs a total of 955m 10s - spreads all 20 episodes over five discs, with a sixth disc reserved for supplemental materials. The image is letterboxed at 1.78:1 (anamorphically enhanced), and picture quality is fine, though a little grainy in places. Dolby Surround is credited at the end of each episode, but the discs have been encoded in Dolby 5.1, which is only really noticeable during the nightclub sequences (love that HEAVY bass!). Closed captions are provided. The supplemental material is fun but superficial, with only minor contributions from the show's main cast. Brief snippets (less than a minute in most cases) have been included from what must have been longer interviews, though Gale Harold seems a little uncomfortable vocalizing his characters' motivations. By the way, viewers are advised that the previews of forthcoming episodes - listed as 'Next On' in the sub-menus of each instalment - contain some ill-advised spoilers (the preview for the season finale even gives away the ending!), so you may want to watch the previews AFTER you've seen the episodes in question...

All in all, a fair continuation of the lives, loves and adventures of these extraordinary characters, though slightly compromised by its lack of heavyweight dramatic fireworks. Brian remains the driving force behind the entire show, Mel and Lindsay are still the best l