Description

Tommy Gavin is a lifesaver. Whether he is pulling survivors from fiery high-rise infernos or the twisted steel of a subway collision, Gavin takes great pride in leading the heroic but often overwhelmed firefighters of New York City's Truck Company 62. Gavin (Denis Leary) is also a man drifting between sorrow and anger over a recent separation from his wife (Andrea Roth) and three kids, and recurring memories of comrades and New Yorkers fallen victim. Leary and multiple Emmy Award-winning writer-producer Peter Tolan (The Larry Sanders Show, Murphy Brown), the team behind the critically-acclaimed cop drama The JobRescue Me. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

The BEST!
We have all 13 episodes on vhs and dvd and STILL I am buying this DVD that's just come out. My husband and I have watched Rescue ME over and over again and I think he has it memorized by now. We've been dying to see what the second series will bring, just can not wait! Denis Leary has brought comedy and drama together so well. We cried, we laughed and went into deep thought over this show. We've always had respect for the firemen/woman in the past, but Rescue Me has caused us to respect them even more now. It's really made me stop and think.
Good job Denis leary! We will never forget!

THIS SHOW ROCKS
I really liked this show.It's not something you wanna watch with your kids around, but it's good for adults.I started watching half way through the season, so I need to get the season to get caught up.What sucks is that the first season gets released on 6/7 and the second season starts on 6/21.

Rescue Me - The best show on TV
I've been waiting for Season.1 to come out on DVD since the season ended.This is BY FAR THE BEST SHOW ON TV!Cant wait for season 2 to start. Resue Me does not get enough credit it deserves.This show has a perfect mix of hillarious and serious moments.Definetally picking this up.

Leary's ode to firefighters
After the sad demise of Denis Leary's The Job on ABC, the scathing comedian turned his sights on the lives of firefighters in Rescue Me.Created for Fox cable channel FX (the home of smash hits the Shield and Nip/Tuck), executive producer Leary stars as Tommy Flannigan, a firefighter overwrought with personal demons and guilt who's life slowly spins out of control because of his actions.His fellow firefighters have their own personal dilemmas, but the main focus of the show revolves around Tommy and what appears to be his road to self destruction.Leary is surprisingly good in the lead role, being better than anyone would expect from his film roles.The grittiness of Rescue Me is nothing new, considering this show would not be on FX were it not for the path the Shield made for it and other programs as well.Though it really offers nothing new on the perspective of firefighters and the lives they lead and the consequences of their profession, this is a great beginning of a new series which by the end of season one, leaves Tommy at a crossroads which will either lead him to redemption, or continue his road to self destruction.

Fantastic! (Oh and I'm British too!)
Don't believe a word anyone says about it not being good especially if they try and compare it to Londons Burning!

This show was the business, I laughed out loud atleast twice every episode!

Admittedly at times there are elements which the hypercrytical would sneer at but essentially this is a very funny and occasionally genius show!

I buying as soon as it out I can tell you that!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) is a super (and super sexy) spy, fighting nefarious villains and working for the good guys--or so she thinks. Recruited as a college freshman for espionage work, Sydney found her true calling with SD-6, a secret division of the CIA. When her hunky doctor-boyfriend proposes to her, she decides to let him in on the truth she's not supposed to tell anyone: she's not a grad student with a demanding job for an international bank, but a secret agent who constantly puts her life on the line for the free world. But when SD-6 discovers her security breach, her fiancé is brutally assassinated, and Sydney suddenly finds herself face-to-face with the truth: she's been working for the bad guys. Deciding to become a double agent for the CIA and bring down the evildoers, Sydney gets one more surprise--her estranged father (Victor Garber) is also working for SD-6, and the CIA as well. Welcome to the family, Syd!

Confusing? This is all just in the first episode of Alias, the brainchild of Felicity creator J.J. Abrams that plays like a cross between Buffy the Vampire Slayer and James Bond. With its double-edged tension (how long can Syd play double agent?) and one heck of a MacGuffin (the dreaded Rambaldi device, the mythic creation of a Renaissance genius), the show leads its viewers from episode to episode with visceral, compelling action, not to mention the nascent romance between Syd and her CIA handler, Vaughn (Michael Vartan), and her clashes with her heretofore distant father. Sharp, smart, and always suspenseful, Alias' center was held by the gorgeous Garner, a stellar action heroine and an even better actress who could pull off Sydney's exotic undercover missions and conflicted emotions with equal dexterity. By the end of this first season, which concludes with a breathtaking cliffhanger, you'll be seduced into Alias' world with, happily, no desire to escape. --Mark Englehart ... Read more

Reviews (257)

An excellent show, with one crippling flaw...
I'm sure a lot of people are surprised that I'm not giving this DVD and show five stars. Don't get me wrong, I love "Alias". The acting is great, the show is really well-shot, the action is heart pounding and there is a twist in every episode. I was extremely excited to buy this DVD. But then I figured something out. Let me clarify.

For starters, let me just say that the packaging of this box set is really great. The carboard box holds three snap cases (like what a normal DVD comes in) each with two discs in it. I prefer this format to the fold out format used in other box sets (like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Friends"). The menu is easy to use. The picture quality is outstanding. The only thing I disliked about the DVD itself is the fact that each episode begins with the background information about Sydney and the "Previously on Alias" section. I got really sick of both of these.

Now, for the reason I took away a star. It has to do with "Alias" as a show. I've already told you that I really love this show. We all like how the plot is continuous and important twists are revealed in every episode. But that's sort of a problem. The episodes are so laced into the overall series arc (backstory, missions, Sydney as a double agent) that no single episode is better than any other. They're all good, but none are excellent. No individual episode is a classic. My three favorite shows- "Buffy", "Angel", and "Friends"- all have individual episodes that you can go back and watch as a stand alone. "Alias" doesn't have this. After you watch the whole season, you won't be going back and saying "I'm in the mood to watch ENTER A SPECIFIC EPISODE HERE". You sort of have to watch the whole season to keep up the effect of the action in each episode. They are completely reliant on each other.

Still, this is a great show and you should buy it, by all means. I just wanted to voice my opinion.

Alias
Alias is the best show EVER!!! It's all about Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) and how she is a double agent for the CIA working under cover at SD-6, an evil corperation dealing with weapon sales and inteligence posing as the CIA. SD-6 director Arvin Slone (Ron Riffcin) is a part of much larger corperation called the aliance. Sydeny's father, Jack Bristow (Victor Garber) who she was never that close to, also works as an under cover agent. She joined the CIA after SD-6 murdered her fiance. Sydney's hot CIA handler Michel Vaughn (Michel Vartan) watches out for her and is secretly in love with her (I Think). Sydney tries to live a normal life and hang out with her friends Francie and nosey reporter Will Tippen, but it's hard.
Near the end of last season you learn Sydney's Mom (Lenna Olin), presumed dead after a car crash 20 yrs. ago,is a secret agent for the bad guys. Also, you learn that she killed Vaughn's dad!!! Meanwhile Will is investigating her fiance's death and learns about SD-6. In the season ender, Will is captured by the organisation Sydney's mom runs and Sydney, Jack, and Vaughn try to go and rescue Will. While Jack gets Will, Sydney and Vaughn go inside the building to destroy a device called the Circumference. Along the way Sydney and Vaughn split up. The device is filled with water so when Sydney destroys it, it floods the building. As she runs for her life through the hall ways of the building with water gushing behind , Vaughn shows up. Now they are both running Vaughn barely behind Sydney. The only door out is automatically closing, Sydney slips through but Vaughn isn't that lucky. And that's how it ends!!! Watch Alias Sunday's at 9 to find out if he lived.
Alias is adicting with fast paced music,a great plot, and Vaughn!!!

Everything that entertains
The first season of Alias was the best season of any drama in television history. Packed with adventure and plot twists it has enough action to keep you on your seat. But what really makes it great is the integrating of Sydney's personal life with her secret double life. Each episode is filled with enough entertainment value and suspense to have you look forward to the next, and with 22 episodes they earn the value of your dollar.

HOW CAN PEOPLE WATCH THIS S***
OKAY I LOVED DARK ANGEL AND BUFFY WAS ALRIGHT BUT I HATE ALL THESE DRAMA GIRLS KICK ASS SHOWS. THEY'RE SO ALIKE AND BORING. CAN'T WE EVER GET GOOD TELEVISION. AND LIKE SHE WOULD BE HITTING ON SOMEONE AFTER HER HUSBAND DIED. IT IS A USELESS SERIES WITH USELESS GRAPHICS AND ACTING. I COULDN'T EVEN WATCH THE WHOLE SERIES, IT WAS SO BAD. I ENDED UP SELLING THE COLLECTION TO MY FRIEND FOR 15 EURO AFTER BUYING IT FOR 150 EURO. WHAT A RIP OFF. BETTER OFF WITH DARK ANGEL ANYDAY

I'M A NEW FAN!
Just got this DVD set. I had never watched the show on TV, but it always looked good. I watched the first 2 episodes, and now I can't stop watching the rest of the season! I have seen 8 episodes already in 2 days. I cant wait to finish this season and get Season 2 and 3. ... Read more

Reviews (81)

Toy Story
1995's "Toy Story" was the first feature length film generated entirely by computers, and Pixar's first dive into theatrical films. The movie opens as young Andy turns 7. The undisputed leader of Andy's toys, a 50's cowboy doll named Woody (Tom Hanks), finds himself challenged by the new toy on the block, "space ranger" Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen). When Woody's plan to get rid of Buzz backfires, the two find themselves lost in the suburbs. Woody and Buzz relize they have to work together to get back to Andy's, and they eventually become the best of friends. The humor and animation is terrific, and a great start for Pixar. This lead to several other successes, such as A Bug's Life and Finding Nemo.

Now on to "the vaults". Disney is trying to squeeze every last penny out of the cash cow, and have the two Toy Story films under lock and key, no doubt so they can sell millions of "Special Editions" in five years. Once again, Disney appalls me with their unmatched corperate greed. In conclusion, Toy Story is an excellent film and a true must-see.

The Secret Lives of Toys Revealed
"Toy Story" is a modern fairy tale created with appropriately modern computer animation. Its snappy dialougue will appeal to adult viewers, the spectacle of fantastic toys coming to life will appeal to children, and adults may wax nostalgic about the toys they enjoyed as children, several of which are featured in this movie.
The story revolves around a cowboy doll named Woody, and his imminent replacement as the favorite toy of his owner, Andy, by Andy's new Buzz Lightyear doll, a multigadgeted gift that Andy receives for his birthday.
Tom Hanks'personality shines through in the persona of Woody, and Tim Allen's voice lends the right amount of charisma to Buzz.
In the process of forming an eventual friendship, the characters go through a lot of antagonism and a lot of other real human emotions. As they prepare for life in a new home, they are imperiled by the sadistic kid next door named Sid, into whose clutches they fall by accident.
It's entertaining to watch the toys interact with each other.
Buzz gradually learns that he is simply a child's plaything and not the noble space crusader he fancied himself to be in the beginning, and Woody learns to share his special place in Andy's heart. A great supporting cast including Annie Potts as Woody's sweetheart, Bo Peep, Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head, Jim Varney as Slinky, Wallace Shawn as Rex, John Ratzenburger as Ham, and Laurie Metcalfe as Andy's mother help fuel this tale.
Seeing this innovative film made me want to buy dolls of Woody and Buzz as collector's items. But I am content with just a copy of this movie. The second installment of the "Toy Story" saga is an enhancement of the first one, and just like the first, nothing short of delightful.

Original and fun for the whole family!
This movie took me by storm when I saw it back in the summer of 1995 at the theatres and let me tell you, this movie is still one of the best computer animated movies of all time. In fact this movie shattered new grounds back in 1995 by not using drawing cel animation and instead this movie is the first of an unbroken chain of computer generated animated movies that has continued to date with "Finding Nemo".

The plot is absolutely joyful and stunningly original. The story revolves around the quiet family home of a quiet town where a boy owns numerous toys with his toddler sister. The toys however, are almost like beings of their own and are 'living' as well but stop 'moving' when the boy comes back into his room. However, a cowboy named Tim is the most popular 'toy' in the boys bedroom and is kept by the pillow almost every night until on his birthday, he gets a fancy astronaut toy named Buzz Lightyear who has many 'gizmos' and in time takes over the toy cowboys place as the most popular toy and Tim gets enormously jealous of this. However, after a botched attempt to remove Buzz, the cowboy himself along with Buzz end up in the hands of a punk teenager who takes joy in blowing up toys with firecrackers and or other means like burning, breaking, or smashing them and/or even taking them apart and re-assembling their parts to create 'mutant' toys and now the clock is ticking for Tim and Buzz to escape from the boys house before they end up being blown to molecules.

This movie is absolutely fun and original even by 1995 standards. The computer generated special effects are innovative and unbelievable especially considereing the fact that this movie came out nearly a whole decade ago. The whole tone of the movie is just fun and charming and is for the entire family. Not only that but this was what put the then newcomers Pixas right into the front seat of movie animation and would be the start of an unbroken streak of excellent movies from this dynamite team.

Computer animation wow. 16th april 2004.
The toys are great, the graphics and scenery is too. The collectables are boys mostly but the film is ace for anyone. The 3D toys look real, the colors are excellent[like finding nemo]. The talking toys are all friends, and they live with their owner andy.

Hit Me With Another One!
Give me another Toy Story and while your at it lets go for a 5th. Wow lets see...Tom Hanks and Tim Alan...Pixar and Disney...Go get it or miss out! ... Read more

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

Reviews (13)

a show worthy of all the praise and mostly a 3RD SEASON
in season two of one of the best shows of the last 15 years , it did something that no other show on showtime did , it
taught ! it showed compassion .. it entertained..it did something that NO OTHER SHOWTIME SHOW HAS EVER DONE , IT MADE YOU THINK !!! george and crew , mason , rube , roxie , delores
herbig , as in her big browne eyes , and the rest of the best
ensemble cast since"seinfield" , made you stop and think about
your own life , how you live it and most importantly made you
see how we all treat our fellow human beings...
the show could make you cry two ways , one laughing so hard
you would double over in stomach cramps and the other from
remembering the day the love of your life walked out on you or
the day your dog had to be buried..but always finding a middle ground to do it in .. a way to smile over the memories ..
this show has heart..something showtime never had .. thats why
they will always trail hbo...they can the one great show they had..ive canned my showtime and we all should... maybe i related to this show..so i will leave you the way the showtime
series left....."its not so bad , being dead like me."

BUY SEASON TWO , LET SHOWTIME KNOW , ENJOY !!!

GET HOOKED ALL OVER AGAIN !

LET THEM KNOW WE ALL MISS " DER WAFFEL HAUS "



on a more personal note ,
CYNTHIA STEVENSON is my dream lady.
[...]

Why would the cancel a show this good?
I just got done watching an episode from the first season that I have on DVD because I miss the show so much and was looking forward to the third season that I thought would start this July when I came here to see if the second season came out on DVD yet. The good news is it did, finally, but then I find out that they canceled the show from the other reviews? Why? This is such a great show and the second season was much better then the first! They were on a roll! This is one of my favorite shows and I suggest it to anybody. If you don't get Showtime then buy the first and second season on DVD. It is worth the money, every penny.

What is replacing Dead Like Me
Showtime is a very poor decision maker. They scrapped Dead Like Me because of poor ratings (even though the DVDs have sold record numbers) and they are replacing it with a TV show based on the "Barbershop" film series. There won't be any of the cast members from the films and it is only on Showtime, so I don't know how they are expecting it to do better than Dead Like Me, but they are. Its worse than most other cancellations this year, but it might be nice to remember that if they fail with Barbershop, they may return to Dead Like Me...

DLM Watcher
Season Two was great and I can't wait to buy it.It's a shame the show won't be back for season three.I guess we need to find out what shows the DLM writers will be working on next and hope that they don't let one idiot (or board of idiots) who don't know a good show when he sees one extinguish their creative fire!

dead like merocks
when i started watching the showtime series dead like me i was instily hook on this show so when i heard that they cancelled it really upset me the dvd has tons of behine the seens footage this is the must have dvd ... Read more

Reviews (663)

Watch Out For That Wascally Wabbit...
Donnie Darko has quickly become one of my all time favorite movies. How can I describe it? It is strange, dark (of course), cool, mysterious, enigmatic, scary, funny, serious, sarcastic, bleak yet hopeful, mystical, and even charming. Jake Gyllenhaal is Donnie, who is absolutely believable no matter what he says or does. Time travel? No problem! A seven-foot rabbit named Frank who predicts the end of the world in 28 days? No problem! Donnie's earnestness is mesmerizing. The rest of the cast is an incredible ensemble of big stars in small, crucial roles. Drew Barrymore (E.T., The Wedding Singer, Charlies Angels) plays the only teacher in Donnie's school who seems to realize that what's being passed off as an "education" is actually a long, dull course in mind-numbing mediocrity (hmmm... sounds like my highschool). Noah Wyle (ER) is the science teacher who has wild theoretical conversations with Donnie about time travel, then cuts him off competely when Donnie asks if God might be involved. Donnie's mom is played by Mary McDonnell (Dances With Wolves, Grand Canyon). She loves him while being frustrated and afraid of his condition. Katharine Ross (The Graduate, The Stepford Wives) is Donnie's psychiatist, trying to probe his mind and help him. Patrick Swayze (Dirty Dancing) plays Jim Cunningham, tele-guru and local self-help author, who is exposed by Donnie (and Frank) for who / what he REALLY is. Jena Malone is Donnie's new girlfriend Gretchen. She's got problems enough of her own. Together, this cast of characters orbits perfectly around Donnie's dark center of gravity. Do not expect the typical hollywood bucket of swill here! Donnie Darko took actual thought to create. It's style and story are unique. I had never even heard of it due to a less than half-hearted ad campaign (I'm a TV addict, yet saw not one DD commercial). I just happened to see the DVD on the shelf and took a chance. You should too...

Gyllenhaal is outstanding in this haunting film
How to describe "Donnie Darko," the dark psychological drama written and directed by Richard Kelly? After seeing it I thought of the film as a sort of "Ordinary People" meets "Being John Malkovich," with a touch of "Pi" and "American Beauty" thrown in. But ultimately that equation is unfair; "Donnie" is, in the end, a true original.

The film takes place in 1988. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as the title character: a troubled, sleepwalking teenager who has recurring, frightening visions. Donnie is a quest to understand the forces that are affecting his life and sanity.

Gyllenhaal's outstanding performance helps to hold the film together. He is a quirky, offbeat leading man; at times frightening, at times appealingly vulnerable. Gyllenhaal's work is superbly complemented by that of an eclectic ensemble cast which includes Katharine Ross, Drew Barrymore, and Noah Wyle. I was particularly impressed by Patrick Swayze's turn as a creepy, oily motivational speaker.

"Donnie" defies genre classification. It blends together elements of serious family drama, 80s period piece, horror, satire, and science fiction. In a sense, it is a deconstruction of the whole 80s teen movie genre. The script makes intriguing use of 80s pop culture.

"Donnie" has scenes of weirdness and absurdity, and is often punctuated by bizarre dialogue and strange, frightening imagery. And there are some really moving scenes that tap into the universal experience of human loneliness and the need for love. If there was ever a movie that had all the elements to make it a cult classic, it's the haunting "Donnie Darko."

Undoubted young talent produces pretentious film-making
I have high hopes for Richard Kelly as his talent, ideas, motivation, enthusiasm and everything you need for a good career in directing is evident in this movie.

Sadly, this time around, its a painful experience for the viewer, unless you are so into puzzles, sci-fi, symbolism and finding out what a movie means AFTER watching it that you can forgive what is, after all, really poor storytelling.

Hint - A really good movie doesn't need multiple websites stacked with backstory and explanations.

And, as usual, its all the fault of the script, which isn't a film script at all. Its a / Philosophy/ Religiousy / Science Fictiony puzzle (although I left out a few things there). This puzzle unfolds as a series of vignettes masquerading as scenes, related by Kelly's 'themes' but little else.

The majority of the characters are little more than pawns whose job is just to move the puzzle plot on... nice..... and.......... slowly (with the odd music montage and cute-dialogue sketch thrown in, as if they were ad breaks).

The main character was ok and most of the actors did well with what little they had to work with, but the MAJORITY of them should have been cut from the finished film, they are so redundant.

There is no drive in the film and little sense of progression. We know loosely what the main character is ultimately facing, but never immediately so there is never any sense of anticipation, suspense, hope or fear for the viewer. We are simply passed more information and explanations to debate and question later with our fellow sci-fi-symbol buffs.

I'm not saying you sit there waiting for things to happen because things do happen (to be fair some of the "scenes" are entertaining in their own way). But you do sit there waiting for a STORY to develop so you can start experiencing something (which is what we pay our money for, isn't it?).

But there is no drama, no connection and NO STORY.

All you get is a cool song and a plot twist (explained). Some people are happy with that I guess

Lagomorph Odyssey
The young Richard Kelly, director of this film, graduated from USC Film School in 1997. This was his first feature film. He has spun a dark multi-layered vision, part dramatic comedy, part science fiction, part fantasy and allegory. The movie almost needs to be classified as three genres stirred gently. He set the world of the film as autumn 1988. It is, in part, a story of adolescent teenae angst, the familiar turf of a John Hughes project, but actually it is more like John Hughes meets David Lynch meets Steven Spielberg. Kelly has put several interesting twists into the high school yarn. It is like a hip FERRIS BEULLER'S DAY OFF.

Jake Gyllenhaal, from MIDNIGHT MILE & OCTOBER SKY, played Donnie Darko brilliantly. He was a young man smarter than his teachers, his parents, and his friends. An intrepid curious lad who could ask those questions very few wanted to answer. He is a kid who is being treated for mental illness, even though he may not have been clincially ill. He was outspoken, outrageous, and socially boorish...like most smart teenagers. Roger Ebert wrote," Donnie is appealingly smart yet sarcastic, more quixotic than eccentric, more curious than frightened.

The film's prologue is bang on target. A bright sunrise on dark foothills, suddenly interrupted in the frame by the insertion of the black silhousette of a young man's head. Donnie Darko, there on the hard ground near his bicycle, far from home. After he cycles home, his arrival is treated as familiar behavior; sleep sojourns, adventurous forays into the darkness. That very next night, we witness him roused from his slumber by someone calling his name. He slips outside and we meet the presence that has beckoned him...a medium longshot of someone in a rabbit suit...someone named Frank. But this rabbit, tall as HARVEY, is not a benign companion. Its face is twisted into a demonic death mask. With Darko away from the house, we see an accident happening. Something has fallen out of the night sky, and crashed directly into Donnie's bedroom; a 707 jet engine. If he had been there when the engine came acallin', he would have died instantly. Frank sends Donnie off to do devilish chores; flooding the school, and burning down a house.

Nothin is linear or logical in Darko's dreamlike world. His parents are too understanding. His new girlfriend, Jena Malone, is really too easy to get to know. Physical laws, like an axe being buried in a bronze statue, are tweaked and violated. The film can only approach some level of cohesiveness if one is able to conjure up a premise, a through line. For me, most of the characters presented are probably actually a part of Donnie's
"real" life, but as they were mostly presented in the bulk of the narrative, they were peopling his "dream" life. One possible explication for the whiplash lunges from drama to comedy to satire to science fiction and fantasy, was that most of the film's narrative occurred from the time Donnie was awakened in his bed, either by Frank's voice, or the faint sound of the 707 engine whistling and plummeting down toward his bedroom. Time was compressed, like in THE INCIDENT AT OWL CREEK BRIDGE on the Twilight Zone, a sort of Alice through the Looking Glass dream squeezed into those precious elongated seconds.

This film poses more questions than it offers answers for. There are theories that we, as spiritual entities, can sustain more than one version of our "Self" in parallel dimensions similtaneously. Somehow, it seemed that Donnie called on one of his alternate selves to swing through those last few brief moments, those seconds that stretched out into 30 days. Perhaps time is relative, and does not exist on the other side. I think this movie requires several viewings to begin to be fully appreciated. It is an original vision, bizarre yet strangely familiar, and immediate with it's punch to the emotional gut. It is eccentric, yet appealing.

AMAZING
i didn't know a movie could change your life, 'till i saw donnie darko. this movie is stunning, it grabs you, i highly reccommend it. unbelievable soundtrack too, gary jules, joy division, echo in the bunnymen, 5 stars. see it. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

What would we do without Sheri?
Not only did we enjoy this DVD for
it's sincere and human approach by
a warm and dedicated instructor, Sheri
answered all, and I mean all of our
questions and concerns regarding
what was ultimately a life changing
experience. Her knowledge, cheerful communication
style and innate charisma allowed us to watch
with ease and clarity. Whether you have had
private instuction already, or are using this
DVD as your main instructional source, you
will be
thrilled with what you come away with. We know that
this video prepared us both physicallly and emotionally
in order to participate and witness the gift of
creating life. It doesn't get better than that!

Disappointed
I ordered this video because we are living overseas and couldn't find a live class in English. I'm giving it 2 stars because it's better than nothing, but I wouldn't recommend it otherwise. The production quality is quite low - the volume fluctuates and there are are very few visuals. It's just a film of the instructor talking to about five couples on a bare stage. Both my husband and I found the instructor annoying, especially her whiny impressions of women in labor. Putting together a DVD class is a great idea but could have been done much better, especially considering the price.

good basic info
This dvd provides good basic information if you cannot attend childbirth classes from a hospital. But the instructor is annoying, and the person with the camera is too. It was worth the annoyances for me, though... cheaper and far more flexible than the hospital classes.

I was hooked from the first minute!
Sheri has a fantastic way of mixing humour with an incredible amount of knowledge.She is not wasting your time.Every moment is filled with important information so sometimes I had to pause and take a breath...
I could feel myself starting to relax and feel confidence replace my questions and worries.
This video is everything you need to understand it all very clearly!

Great Expectations Delivers!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this DVD! We watched this DVD a couple of weeks before our delivery and are so glad that we did. These classes had us so well prepared that when things in the delivery room didn't go exactly according to plan,we understood what was happening and knew how to deal with it. The tools Sheri Bayles gave us allowed us to have the birth experience everyone hopes for! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Amazing Series
Nip/Tuck season two is a continuation on the first season of one of the most compelling serieses on TV, and is just as good.The best show on TV.

They are who we want to be, with flaws.Buy It!!
The plot turns are amazing.You fall in love with the characters and it feels like you have a stake in the decisions they make.Each episode leaves you wanting more.They can't make them fast enough.I got hooked while in serving in Abu Ghriab prison.My wife in Germany sent me season one.Four of us sat in our cell around a TV and my playstation 2 to play the movie, mortars were exploding just outside our sector and we were hoping that they wouldn't hit the generator so power would stay up and we could finish the episode.The mixture of graphic surgery, sex, relationships and amazing plot twists keep you hooked.You feel it.This is the most amazing series I have ever watched!! Buy it!!

At last my addiction has come to my collection
If you like edge of the seat drama once you begin viewing the first cd of season one its so addictive you won't want to stop to watch. The best series in my book, from 1 to 10 it's a 10+.

Best TV Around
Over the last 5 years TV has become a wasteland of rubbish shows leaving people wondering weather it is even worth watching TV anymore but there is some shows that give us light at the end of the tunnel and Nip Tuck is one of those shows. From amazing storylines to one of the best cast in any TV show. The show is based around the two doctors Dr Sean McNamara (Dylan Walsh) and Dr Christian Troy(Julian McMahon) who acting skills have been shown throughout the 2 series to be superb. Also staring Joely Richardson as Sean's wife Julia McNamara. Also great performances from John Hensley (Matt McNamara) and Kelly Carlson (Kimber Henry). Series 2 is full of shocks and heartbreaking moments and a cliff-hanger to end it all. It is compulsive viewing. In series 2 the secret of Matt's pertinently is revealed which has a big affect on Sean, Christian and Julia. There is a custody battle for Christian and Sean has to face life at 40. Matt meets and begins an affair with Ava (Jamie Frankision) the life coach that Sean met and employed for his wife. On top of that there is 'The Carver' on the loose a maniac that wishes to make all the beautiful people ugly. There are a wide range of shocks, horrors and heart warming moments that make this TV show a true winner. This show has everything you could want from a TV show and more. The only bad thing i have to say about series 2 is the lack of appearances from Liz Cruz (Roma Maffia) who is a true credit to the show. I would advise anyone who wants to watch a TV show that really is magic then this is it. Nip Tuck DVD is worth every penny as it will take you though every thought provoking subject there is.
One of the best TV shows around is now out on DVD so get a copy now it will restore your faith in TV shows.

Truly great TV
The second season of FX's Nip/Tuck went above and beyond the conventions set during it's first season, with plenty of shocks and surprises for all involved.Beginning with Christian (Julian McMahon, soon to be seen as the villainous Dr. Doom in Fantastic Four) fighting for custody of the son he knows isn't his, while Sean (Dylan Walsh) ponders over hitting the big four 0.Eventually, Sean comes across a mysterious "life coach" (Famke Janssen) who soon begins a dangerous affair with Sean's oldest son.This leads to a shocking revelation for Sean, Christian, and Sean's wife Julia (the teriffic Arly Jover) that soon becomes one of the most gut wrenchingly heartbreaking moments on TV today.But it doesn't end there.Christian comes face to face with the possibility that he might be HIV positive, and Sean comes face to face with a knife wielding masked would be killer after he does some pro bono work for victims mutilated by him.All this ends in a season ending cliffhanger that will have you salivating for season three, which hopefully, will be just as surprising.The personal demons of Sean and Christian are what really drive Nip/Tuck, while the incredibly realistic plastic surgery scenes will either help draw you in or completely repel you.Over the course of these episodes, the characters are deconstructed more than one could ever think possible, but the great cast and twisty storytelling will keep you addicted.All in all, Nip/Tuck really became something special in it's second season (there's a reason it's garnered so much acclaim and accolades), and this is definitely the definition of must see TV. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Sam Fuller's The Big Red One was already one of the best films of 1980, despite the fact that the version released to theaters ran barely half as long as the director's cut. Fuller had been America's ballsiest B-movie auteur, an ex-newspaper reporter of the hardnosed breed who made fiercely personal, radically stylized, and politically outspoken films between the early '50s (The Steel Helmet, Pickup on South Street) and the early '60s (Shock Corridor). The Big Red One was his long-dreamt-of account of World War II as experienced by his own squad of the 1st Infantry Division, USA, from the first shot fired (by a dead man, on the coast of North Africa) to the last (in a concentration camp in Czechoslovakia).

Even in the studio-truncated version, there was no shortage of astonishing moments and sequences: the squad choking on dust in a bat-filled cave in North Africa as German tanks clatter past the entrance; Fuller's cold-blooded distillation of the D-Day slaughter on Omaha Beach, with a wrist watch on a dead arm in the surf marking time as the water slopping over it grows redder; the rifle squad delivering a Frenchwoman's baby in a German tank on a battlefield full of corpses; a commando-like raid on Nazi troops bivouacked in a Belgian insane asylum. A quarter-century later, film critic Richard Schickel and Warner Bros. executive Brian Jamieson succeeded in restoring 15 never-seen sequences and fleshing out 23 others to create The Big Red One: The Reconstruction, a "new" film nearly an hour longer.

Above all, BR1: The Reconstruction has a rhythm the 1980 cut lacked. The arc of years, battles, and battlegrounds is so much more satisfying. Greater play is given to Fuller's feeling for children caught up in the sidewash of history and atrocity. And the 2004 cut puts sex back into the movie, not orgiastically but as a fact of life and a rarely forgotten driving force. We can see now that Fuller touched, bluntly and shockingly, on the phenomenon of infiltrators--English-speaking German warriors who donned GI khaki and moved among their enemies waiting for a chance to strike.

It's also apparent, as it was not in 1980, that Lee Marvin as the eternal Sergeant leading the young squad is magnificent. This was Marvin's greatest role, rivaled only by his walking dead man in John Boorman's Point Blank. Just beneath the masterly implacability, we glimpse the tenderness, rage, dark humor, experience, and wisdom beyond guilt that have enabled him to survive, to preserve others and to soldier on. His performance, like Fuller's film, is a masterpiece. --Richard T. Jameson ... Read more

Reviews (54)

THE BIG RED ONE - THE RECONSTRUCTION.
Like other reviewers, I saw the film when it first appeared and liked it. But I also felt that it also lacked some missing features which the novel supplied. Fortunately, a reconstruction has now occurred with the "missing footage" making an accomplished film more like the masterpiece Sam Fuller intended. Thanks to DVD, one does not have to live in a major city to see films like this. The 2 disk reconstruction is amazing and the restored footage is really where it belongs. This is a major work of cinema which needs to be widely disseminated.

On the whole Richard Schickel and the restorers have done a good job. On the audio-commentary, Schickel mentions that the reason Fuller's work is now relevant to today (rather than his more illustrious Academy Award winning contemporaries) is because it reflects the insecurity of life and rejects any false sense of complacency. The film contains one of Lee Marvin's best performances supported with sterling performances by those young actors who play the Four Horsemen to say nothing of those other great performances by Stephane Audran, Serge Marquand, Siegfried Rauch, and Christa Lang Fuller herself in a restored scene. I have one hesitation to record. Both Shickel and the restorers often refer to cinematic cohesion. However, Samuel Fuller would always bend or break the rules at times. That is what made his films so iconoclastic and revolutionary in the same way that his absurd dialogue such as "If you die, I'll kill you" had great emotional reverberation. It is a shame the voice-over was not removed entirely because it is really redundant. The excellent acting and relevant silences speak for themselves in the best manner of silent cinema. Somne "deleted" sequences such as the Vichy officer debate could have been restored.

But, in the last analysis, these are really minor points and we should be really grateful for this restoration which really should stimulate a Samuel Fuller Collection on DVD containing not only his most well-known works but others such as CHINA GATE (in restored letterbox form), VERBOTEN, THE CRIMSON KIMONO, and WHITE DOG to show the real diversity of this man's talent and the valuable cinematic heritage he has lef for future generations to appreciate.

Truthful, brutal and magnificent
This film commences with a hard hitting statement that is unmistakably Sam Fuller. "THIS IS FICTIONAL LIFE, ABOUT FACTUAL DEATH". From that moment, he grabs the audience by the scruff of the neck and takes them on a fascinating, ballsy, unsentimental ride through WWII as he saw it. The film is refreshing for it's determined 'survivor's' point of view. He does not judge with emotions in the simplistic way that so many war films do. Instead he puts you in the state of mind you need to actually survive a war, and given Fuller himself survived WWII, he might just be on to something. The art in this film is all in the contradictions of real life and the perverse pleasures that can arise in even the most horrific of settings. A scene in Italy where the rifle squadren liberate an asylum is magnificently chaotic and amoral in it's presentation. In the midst of this madness Griff (Mark Hamill) somehow enjoys a transformative sexual experience with a psychologically damaged woman. We are reminded time and again that these men are only human, with needs that make little sense in the context of war. Fuller shows the straightforward machine you need to become to survive a war. If you know someone in your platoon is going to die, don't bother getting to know them too well. Harsh, but that, according to Fuller, is how you make it through. Lee Marvin's performance, commented upon here by many reviewers is an engine house of repressed humanity. And it's not overdone - you wouldn't even know the humanity was there. Watch this performance then watch Liam Neeson in Schindler's List. With respect to Neeson, he is playing a character. Marvin is playing a man.

Surviving is part of the fight in reconstructed classic
Surviving war is the most challenging part of it. Whether it be surviving the physical and psychological rigors of war or it's sometimes nasty aftermath "The Big Red One: The Reconstruction" is one of the finest movies made about World War II. Fuller ("Shock Corridor" among many other films)made a lot of exploitation films during his long varied career but it's clear that here Fuller had found his best story to tell.

Lee Marvin gives a terrific performance (and one of the best of his career)as the leader of a group of young soldiers. Most of the cast does an exceptional job as well (particularly Robert Carradine essentially playing Fuller). The film has its minor flaws certainly (some of the performances are a bit stilted)but film critic Richard Schickel a long time admirer of Fuller and this film has done a marvelous job of restoring Fuller's masterpiece to its original projected length. Schickel used the original script, production notes and the memories of some of the production participants to help recreate the film Fuller intended to release in the first place.

The new version runs two hours and forty two minutes with the first disc devoted to the film. The second disc has alternate scenes; "Anatomy of a Scene" looks at the film both before and after the restoration. I haven't had time to watch "The Real Glory:Reconstructing The Big Red One" or the War department reel "The Fighting First" yet but the qualtiy of the documentary on Sam Fuller and the rest of the material is quite good.

War Classic -HORRIBLE PACKAGING MATERIALS!
Great film, DVD done right, package LOOKS good, but when I went to open it up it took ALMOST A HALF AN HOUR AND EVEN THEN THE LOW-GRADE SUPER-STICKY TAPE ON ALL EDGES OF THE CASE RUINED THE COVER! Whoever made choices contributing to this fiasco needs to be shot! Or at least fired and drummed out of the industry. Didn't help matters that on the fancy black slip cover Best Buy had slapped a big ugly price sticker that wouldn't come off all the way, even after I heated the glue up with a hair dryer. Hey, I hope you slobs responsible for these stupid choices are reading this because you are a bunch of incompetent unprofressionals. Still, buy this DVD, anyway.

Pretty good aswar movies go
As a kid I enjoyed this movie very much.It has some pretty good action sequences and in some parts, you can have true actual feelings for what soldiers go through when in battle.It has a very good ending and I feel it is definitely worth watching when you have the time.One of my favorite war movies. ... 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 p