Reviews (2)

I say thee, YEA!
I just wanted to add my two cents to the review written by Mr. Marold of Bethlehem, PA.I agree with nearly everything Mr. M had in his review, with the exception of his comment about the episode where Bartlett stepped aside while his daughter was being held captive.I believe that was an entirely plausible situation and it was presented in an accurate manner.

Be that as it may, I have a different reason for enjoying "The West Wing".I too came to the show late in it's run and somewhat reluctantly.I thought, given the cast, that they would be laying on the liberalism with a heavy hand.Being an independent and a moderate, I have some liberal tendancies, but I do think of myself as a conservative and the thought of Martin Sheen and company preaching at me for an hour was too much with which to cope.However, once I saw the reruns on Bravo and some of the new episodes, I began to warm up to the show.I found that 95% of the time, the liberal cant is handed out in managable portions.The other 5%?Well, I can live with that because I found another overwhelming reason for loving this show.They...make...me...LAUGH OUT LOUD!The banter back and forth amongst the staffers gets to be hilarious and the President will joke with anybody from his aide, Charlie, to Adm. Fitzwallace, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.I cannot think of an episode that I watched where there wasn't something that made me burst out with laughter.Maybe the "Zoe kidnapping" episodes.

Watch "West Wing" for the political machinations and the insight into our political and constitutional systems.But also for the humor and wit.You will be well rewarded on all fronts.

Major Entertainment and Civics Class, all in one!
This DVD set includes all available `The West Wing' seasons in a single package and it represents the least expensive way of acquiring all four seasons, if you do not already own one or more seasons on DVD.

I am late in coming to appreciate this show, as my attention over the last four years has primarily been on retiring, learning to cook, and religiously following the careers of my various Food Network heroes. I have just recently started watching this show when the Bravo network started running `The West Wing' marathons and showing episodes on most weeknights.

The very first criterion I have for buying a DVD might be called `rewatchability'. There are certain movies and certain shows that are so rich that you are still detecting nuances after the fourth or fifth viewing. Compared to a show like the CSI incarnations, `The West Wing' easily retains its power on a third or fourth or fifth viewing. `CSI', except for those with a big element of office politics in the plot, loose their punch after you remember who the perp is as soon as you know what episode it is you are watching. Once the rush from listening to the great `The Who' intro passes, so does the thrill.

`The West Wing' has gotten lots of praise and awards for the quality of its writing and acting, but I am almost willing to believe it has gotten less than it deserves. I have never been moved so much by a scripted television show since some of the very best `All in the Family' episodes. Amid the flood of reality shows, I am even tempted to say that between `The West Wing', `CSI', `Law and Order' and all of the various spin-offs of these shows constitutes a golden age of scripted television drama, especially in this twilight of the great comedies of the past decade.

The quality of `The West Wing' for me lies primarily in the accuracy with which it portrays the realities of American politics and, beyond that, the realities of politics in general. In doing so, I believe the show can help to explain to most Americans why political `horse trading' is essential to the way our policy making works, why raw power is not always effective on the international stage, regardless of how seductive the use of that raw power may be. It also highlights that most important political virtue, loyalty. I have not read James Carvell's book on this subject, but I suspect that he would say that without party loyalty, government would simply be impossible, or at least much more difficult than it is now. As so many stories show so well, political loyalty works two ways. An elected official must be loyal to his constituents or the representative will not get reelected. An elected official must also be loyal to his party, or he will get no political largess bestowed on the people in his constituency. I can thing of no more dramatic example of this than in the change in benefits coming Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley after the election of Ed Rendell to be Pennsylvania governor, replacing Tom Ridge. Ridge and most other governors in my lifetime came from outside the Philadelphia sphere of influence, into which the Lehigh Valley falls. Thus, it almost seems as if Harrisburg suddenly discovered that the Lehigh Valley was now a part of Pennsylvania when Rendell was elected.

The third energy, after politics and international crises which drives the plots of `The West Wing' are the particular strengths and weaknesses of the principle characters, starting with President Bartlett and his remitting MS weighed against his great intellectual ability and accomplishments. For other major characters, it is part of the great genius of this show that while they are riddled with human frailties, they are sustained and succeed in high government positions due to their loyalty to both Bartlett and basic American and Democratic ideals. The chief of staff is a brilliant politician with alcoholism, the head of White House communications is a sour puss who is rarely wrong on principles, the assistant chief of staff is a little boy in a grown up body who has a great imagination for political tactics, the White House press spokesman has a father with Alzheimer's and a passion for women's issues which she sometimes needs to control if it conflicts with White House policy. The assistant head of communications is a brilliant writer with a weakness for inappropriate liaisons. The first lady is an important, talented medical doctor who compromises medical ethics to care for her husband and his political vulnerabilities.

One of my greatest pleasures is the fact that while I share the political priorities of the Democratic Bartlett administration, the Republicans, who are written to control both houses of the Congress, are not represented as straw men with positions which it is easy to dismiss. The tactics of the Bartlett team would not be nearly as believable if the House and Senate Republicans were cardboard caricatures. It almost seems like the writers intentionally make House and Senate Democrats and members of the cabinet as ornery and as difficult to work with as the Republicans.

If I have any difficulties with the plots of these stories at all, it is with the suspicion that a real modern president would not get involved in a lot of small details such as in the episode when two American girls were arrested in central Africa for prostylicizing for a Christian church. In real live, it seems this would reach no higher than an assistant Secretary of State. Another implausibility is when Bartlett stepped down from the presidency temporarily, handing it over to the Republican speaker of the house, while Bartlett's daughter was kidnapped by Arab terrorists. But then, we would not have had the pleasure of watching John Goodman play president for three episodes!

This show is great and parts should be required watching in high school civics classes.
... Read more

Amazon.com

Glamorous Maddie Hayes (Cybill Shepherd) is an ex-model with a problem--her accountant just ran off with her money. Granted, he did leave her with a few broken-down businesses. One happens to be a detective agency run by charming loudmouth David Addison (Bruce Willis). Her attempt to shutter the agency fails when they stumble across a crime and David convinces Maddie to help him solve it. And with that, one of television's most popular partnerships was born. Moonlighting made a star out of newcomer Willis and turned Shepherd (Taxi Driver), who had already found fame through fashion and film, into a bona fide TV star.

Created for ABC by Glenn Gordon Caron (Remington Steele), the romantic comedy/detective drama was a mid-season replacement that quickly became a hit. There were only six episodes in the first season, including the two-part pilot, but 18 were produced for the second. Rhyming receptionist Agnes DiPesto (Allyce Beasley) was a regular from the start, while Herbert Viola (Ray’s Curtis Armstrong) wouldn’t hit the scene until the third season (as with Paul Sorvino and Mark Harmon). The first two seasons attracted an eclectic array of guest stars, including Tim Robbins ("Gunfight at the So-So Corral"), Beasley's husband Vincent Schiavelli ("Next Stop Murder"), Dana Delany ("Knowing Her"), Richard Belzer ("Twas the Episode Before Christmas"), and Whoopi Goldberg ("Camille"), who earned an Emmy nomination for her performance. The most notable guest was surely Orson Welles, who introduces the black and white noir spoof "The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice." It would be his final TV appearance. Moonlighting ran for three more years. While the Emmy-winning Willis would abandon TV for the big screen, Shepherd found subsequent small screen success with Cybill. Caron, meanwhile, would launch another mid-season replacement series which became a surprise hit: NBC's Medium with Patricia Arquette. --Kathleen C. Fennessy ... Read more

Reviews (20)

At Long Last
Moonlighting was one of the most clever and stylish shows on television. I am so thrilled that it is finally available on DVD. The chemistry between Cybill Shephard and Bruce Willis is unmatched, which is odd considering the rumors that befell them regarding their apparent strife behind the scenes. This discord is not apparent watching the episodes, in which their chemistry is phenomenol.

The physical comedy in Moonlighting simply doesn't exisit in today's television programs. The writing is quite humorous and the supporting cast is genuinely talented. Even the storylines surrounding the supporting cast members are enjoyable.

All in all, a fantastic show and a welcome addition to my DVD collection.

All Good Things Come To Those Who Wait
There were 5 seasons of Moonlighting, and there were a few "glitches" during that time (namely, the one where some goofus thought it would be "interesting" to have Maddie marry a less-than-sexy guy), but oh, the good times were twice as good, by comparison.I have been writing TPTB regularly, seeing the other TV shows that have already made it to DVD, and I fully expect to buy each and every one as they're released.(I've never forgotten the film noir story, or their take-off of Taming of the Shrew, and I can't wait to see it all again.) Thank you, to whoever finally made the right decision.I can't wait for the end of this month!!!(Bruce Willis, with a full head of hair......hubba, hubba, hubba!)

Yay!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I've been waiting for this for a loooong time.I watched Moonlighting when it was on (probably part of the reason my grades in highschool weren't so hot) and I have all the episodes on Beta tape. I can't find anyone to fix my Beta player and I've been without Moonlighting for way too long.This show started my almost 20 year love of Bruce Willis (and I'm only 32!).
Moonlighting was and always will be one of the most clever and well written romantic comedies on tv.I've never seen anything come close and have missed it desperately.My fiance thinks I'm crazy since I've now asked for this for a wedding present!I found out about it coming out on dvd from an ex-boyfriend who called from two states away to tell me (he remembered my obsession!)

It's amazing--buy it!
Just got the DVD boxed set. It's amazing, with crystal clear picture and sound, all the music intact, and a nice selection of extras. To my pleasant surprise, apart from some corny moments, it stands up as one of the best and most inventive shows of the 1980s. After years of waiting, I can finally throw out those slowly disintegrating old tapes! Highly recommended, and can't wait for the third and fourth seasons.

a Great show
ths show came along at the right time in tv land.Cybill Shepherd truly blew up&fit Her role to a "T". Bruce Willis seemingly came out of nowhere&Fit right into His role as well. there Chemistry was truly One of the best on the Small screen. this show had wit,charm,Drama&alot of charisma that truly made it a must see show.the music was cool to it as well. ... Read more

Description

All four of Carmen Electra's sexy Aerobic striptease DVD's together in a collectable box set! Includes the original "AerobicStriptease," "Fit To Strip", "Advanced Aerobic Striptease," and "The Lap Dance & Hip Hop." ... Read more

Reviews (44)

electra-fying Genius!
These workout videos have changed my life!

I got them for my wifey and now she is dedicated to
working out with them, and I am dedicated to watching her
work out with them!

All of this physical conditioning has really helped our
relationship, and we have put a couple of our other amazon
aquisitions to good use as well, namely the dvds "GODDESS WORSHIP"
and "NEW SEX NOW."

NOT WORTH IT
I bought the bloody dvd set and it is the worst thing I have ever bought.It gives no credence wha has been promoted about it.It has no substance and completely a waste of time.I would rather work one the old Cindy Crawford Videos compared to this.

Awsome
I just received my DVD yesterday and I'm about to buy discs 1 & 2 today! The lap dance was a little strange (I wasn't prepared with the right chair!) but it is a good warm up for the next disc. The Hip-Hop workout was awesome! I definitely worked up a sweat and I am pretty sore today. Carmen makes it look so easy to be sexy while doing this, but I did not exude the same confidence and found myself laughing at my own attempts to look sexy! It was really fun, though, and she takes the time to carefully explain each step. This makes it easy for the non-dancer types such as myself! After I got the steps down (I had to replay the disc several times!), I would rewind just until the last part which is when you go through the whole routine with the music. This is when I really started to get pumped up! I think this is a great workout program, and once I get the steps down well-enough, I think I may be able to feel more sexy while doing them!

So Much Fun!!!
Before I tried this series, I was convinced that Carmen Electra was just another mindless pretty face.Now, however, I really respect her for her talent at leading a clear workout that otherwise might be frustrating. Although these dvds don't quite provide a thorough workout and require a bit of coordination (I'm far from a dancer), I use them on the light days that I alternate with my heavier cardio.The workouts are light and fun, and Carmen's demeanor and instruction emphasize that the workouts are meant to be relaxed. I felt slightlly idiotic starting out, but I discovered that after a few workouts I began to feel sexier as I was dancing.These dvds are also GREAT if you want to have a few girlfriends over for a "learn to dance for your boyfriend" party!

not worth the money
I have all 5 of these "workout" DVDs let me tell you it is not worth it at all the only one worth buying is fit to strip. Its a workout. all of the DVDs could have fit onto one DVD they are lioke 15 min each. and she really doesn't teach you to strip. I couldnt wait to learn to lapdance and trust me this is not worth it ... Read more

Reviews (39)

NOT the original version of the show - music edited
If you are one of those idiots who says "oh shut up and stop complaining, it's just the music, waaa waaa", take your DVDs and BURN them. You know nothing about what it means for the music to be an important part of the show and are just a complete moron (I can't express in words the anger that goes through me reading someone go "it's just the music"; it's NOT just the music!!!, it's the SHOW that is screwed up!!!)
Quantum Leap is one of those shows where the music is crucial aspect of show; the music is not just some background noise; it sets the mood. The show is completely ruined and is not worth a cent without the original soundtrack. Awful job on the part of Universal.

excellent series
No matter what this series is excellent. Anyone griping about the music must remember its better to have the series on dvd rather than not available at all. Hopefully season 4 will come out soon as its my favorite!

Hey, Universal, call me when you come to your senses.
Having read that Universal once again mucked up the music, I won't be buying Season 3 of Quantum Leap.There are some shows in which the music doesn't really matter - Laverne & Shirley's first season, for example, mentions on the box that the music is different, but the songs in Laverne & Shirley are merely incidental, background sounds.In QL, the music was a major part of the show, helping to set the time period, helping to set the mood.

I have read some of the reviews from people who claim that the change in music makes no difference (generally such comments are written in a boorish, bumptious, hectoring tone, a fact which I find rather interesting and quite telling).No?Close your eyes and imagine the Lord of the Rings movies with elevator music instead of the soaring splendor of its real score.Ponder "American Graffiti" with the sort of synthesized slop that has replaced the original music in QL. Then try to tell me that music doesn't matter.

The choice is not these travesties or nothing for most QL fans; it's a choice of a poorer-quality taped-from-TV video with the real music, taking up more shelf space than a DVD set; or a better-quality picture with no commercials that has had much of the atmosphere stripped from it. I'll take my tapes, thank you very much.If Universal comes to its senses and releases QL in unmangled form, even if it costs more, I'll buy it. Until then, count me out.

Classics never get old!
I have been waiting for this season for a long time now. The series reached its peak with episodes like "The Leap Home" and "The Boogie Man". Scott and Dean do their best work when the story really gives them the chance and the episodes of the third season really give them the best chances of the entire five-year run! It is pure pleasure to watch them perform. It is a shame that they only got five years! They could have gone on for many more!!!
(BTW, if anyone is confused by the other reviewers complaints about the change in the music, don't worry about it. What you heard on TV is what you get. They didn't change the music for the DVD release - which is exactly what I thought they were complaining about!) So buy this DVD set! You won't regret it!

Forget It
Music replacement abound, once again.A truly great show is being given the shaft by Universal, who only percieves it's formidable fan base as an open wallet.Boycott.Don't listen to the soulless collectors who only want to line their DVD shelves.QL without the original music arrangements is a travesty. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

California, here we come again!
The second brilliant season of "The OC" is true to form and typically blends halarious comedy with its at times controversal drama. Though perhaps not as consistant as its first flawless season, "Season Two" is nevertheless a compelling watch.

Picking up where we left out awesome foursome: Ryan Atwood (Benjamin McKenzie) is back in his hometown of Chino; Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton) has been blackmailed into living with her mother, for whome she has much hatred; Seth Cohen (Adam Brody), distraught and lost after his best friend's departure, has run away to Portland; leaving his girlfriend Summer ROberts (Rachel Bilson) behind in Newport.

Following the resolutions of these situations, come many more situations! These include: A long lost relative of the Cohens, a lesbian relationship, an ex-con coming to stay, a drug overdose, a near-rape, a divorce, a death and a shooting! Enough? 'Course not! I've merely skimmed the surface!

This season, perhaps a bit more than "Season One" takes note on some very prominant issues in teenagers' lives. Issues including, homosexuality, rape violence are explored. I love that "The OC" goes into these relavant issues, as the majority of viewers are teenagers whome must face them in real life.

Having said that, I also like how "The OC" always manages to have that comical edge to it. The screenplay, by Josh Schwartz, is full of more fantastic one-liners and wonderfully funny scenes, bringing out that "OC" style of never taking itself TOO seriously!

Finally, the music as per usual, is fantastic. This is particularly thanks to the addition of "The Bait Shop," a regular hang-out spot for the gang where bands perform live. It adds that extra "OC-ish" element to the show. The music definately has more of a prominant role in bringing out emotion and other moods to their full.

And without giving too much away the finale of this 24-episode is, in my opinion, is the best "OC" episode ever made. THe ending left me utterly paralysed and craving for the third season!

I thouroughly enjoyed this second season. My only criticism would maybe be that it started out a little dull, by it regained itself and finaled to a truly stunning finish! Through its great script-writing to the contagious music, "The OC" will be around for a little while yet!

The last 6 episodes WOW!
The first half of this season was boring but the last 6 episodes are some of the best in the series. The last episode was probally the best in the series the last 5 minutes were shocking about Marissa and Trey. But because of the first half of this season I can only give it 3 stars but the last 6 episodes get 5 stars. Also Kelly Rowan deserves an Emmy nomination for the last episode

THE OC ROCKS!
The OC is the best show ever! You get really into it! It is also reallly exciting because I live in Newport Beach and I have seen most of the places in Newport they film on the OC. It is the best teenage show on TV ever!

Just Horrible

This must stop now. This is not a good show and this is the reason why I never watch TV. Season 2 is also bad and the acting this time is even worse. Dumb and boring show for people with no lives. Please make it it stop.

THE OC 2nd SEASON WAS GREAT!!
I must say that I loved the 2nd season of The OC and I can't wait to have the DVD set so I can watch it whenever I want!!! I was very excited to find out that The OC will bo into season 3!! OH doing happy dance!!! I can't wait!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

T.V Needs more of these
One of the funniest shows, on T.V, in my opinion. It brings classic humour, and pushes the envelope, without going over. T.V has lost the abilty, to make new shows, for the life after Sienfeld, Friends, Fraser, but this one has a chance to be that. I would tell anyone to buy this DVD set, if they enjoy a comedy, that they want to watch over, and over. I can't wait for it to come out ... Read more

Amazon.com

The 2003 debut of Chappelle's Show on Comedy Central marked a high point for the cable channel, and now the entire, wildly creative first season can be seen, with hundreds of bleeps removed. That's not to say Chappelle's Show is perfect entertainment: there are too many moments among the 12 episodes here that descend into pointless scatology and booty fever. But for the most part, Chappelle, a talented comic slowly growing into greatness, is trying to push the sketch-humor envelope and succeeds at surprising us with original concepts and merciless execution.

The merely clever material includes "National Geography's Third World Girls Gone Wild," basically an update on those topless-native-women gags of yore, and Chappelle's "Educated Guess Line," in which the sage comic eschews psychic powers to logically deduce racial insights from his callers' questions. Far more wicked is an in-your-face satire on such autobiographical film fare as Antwone Fisher and 8 Mile, in which Chappelle plays himself ascending from street hustler to rapper-comedian to bona fide savior of America. The best thing here, however, is a parallel-universe version of The Real World, in which the usual racial proportions on MTV's workhorse series are reversed, thrusting a token white guy into a Hoboken houseful of crazy African Americans. There are also laughs in "Ask a Gay Guy with Mario Cantoned," as well as a sketch about an "inner-thoughts cam" and a nasty piece about Chappelle's Make-a-Wish visit to a dying child, which decays into a cruel video game competition. Overlooking the series' weaker material, this is outstanding television comedy. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (142)

Best cross over comic since Murphy! Now on DVD!
When I heard about Dave getting his own show last year I was so happy. I was impressed with his ability to stay "ghetto" and have that "white" humor that many may not get.
His strong point is that he can cross between the two and pull in both audiences. It's not 100% all the time. Especially when he's injecting his politics.
Other than that he is able to poke fun at everyone. Just like Chris Rock, no race or gender is safe. His sketch comedy routines voice the things that one race may not like to say about another. Most importantly, it voices the things races feel about themselves. His show just allows you to laugh at them in a playful manner.
Best features are the "Great Moments In Hook Up History" complete with stats and that great NFL Films-esque voice over.
There is also the infamous "Piss On You" video and the following remix.
The second seems to be another classic, but, that's for the next DVD set.
Twelve episodes seems to few to enjoy. But, it's worth the price.

Chapelle's Show First Season DVD REVIEW
Perhaps the most underrated comedian in the industry today, Dave Chappelle brought his racially-charged brand of comedy to Comedy Central in 2003 with hilarious results. While the first season was somewhat of a mixed bag and certainly not Dave's best material, the two-disc "uncensored" collection of all twelve original episodes has plenty to offer. With such memorable sketches as Clayton Bigsby, a blind KKK publicist who happens to be black, "Great Moments In Hook-Up History" and Dave's take on a number of classic movies, "Chappelle's Show" offers countless laughs. Not only does this DVD restore all the stuff that was censored out on cable but it includes tons of bonus footage like a bloopers reel and more of "Ask A Black Dude" with Paul Mooney. While I didn't think the show truly found its voice until the second season, the first season definetly had more than its share of side-splitting moments.

Funnier the second time around.
Dave Chappelle keeps showing why he is the funniest, maybe not the most talented, but still the funniest comic of our generation. Chappelle allows you to join in his skits by showing his genuine enjoyment of making them. This is a man who enjoys his work and the audience feeds on his enthusiasm. These skits are first rate, but be aware they can be very crude, albiet funny at the same time. Rick James........:)

Funny Show
Dave Chappelle is a good comic.

Player's Haters Ball & the R. Kelly Piss On You Remix
I don't think I could have laughed harder... ... Read more

Reviews (75)

Excellent Series
When investing in any DVD, especially a boxed set, you might ponder the question, "How often will I watch this?" Let me say that your purchase of The World at War will offer you endless viewing opportunities! Besides the 26 original episodes, all of the extra features that were produced afterwards are included in the set. There is so much information generated in over 30 hours of material that you will discover something new with each repeated viewing. Each episode will hold your attention from first to last, and they are efficiently indexed so you can easily review a map or replay a speech. Along side the emotional impact of the pictorial images, you have Carl Davis' moving score, a judicious use of period music, personal accounts from all the major powers, and Sir Laurance's strong narration, making this the most comprehensive documentary on the subject. Now if we can only have World War I, narrated by Robert Ryan, available, we would have the documentary bookends to the two most devastating wars in the 20th century.

The Finest WWII Documentary Ever Produced
For History buffs and those who have a keen, deeply felt interest in World War II beyond just the military events, the World at War, produced by Thames Television (1981) and released earlier on VHS by Thorn/EMI, is a 26 episode documentary set apart from all other documentaries about WWII. No other, with the exception of Walter Cronkite's CBS series, comes close to an unbiased, analytical perspective of a War that cost perhaps 50 million lives and took an emotional and philosophical toll we are still trying to comprehend today.

Narrated by Sir Laurence Olivier and covering all aspects of the war, this definitive series is used by many colleges and universities as a source for History and Documentary Film courses. There is an incredible depth of archive footage used; skilfully woven with interviews of major figures in the War from Britain, US, Canada, Europe and Japan. Many major eye-witness leaders and ordinary people who were still alive in 1981 contributed sometimes surprising, sometimes incredible, and sometimes haunting interviews. Yet, for all its skilful editing and historical sophistication, it is clearly presented and emotionally compelling. In my opinion, it is, along with Kenneth Clark's "Civilisation", the best ever produced British documentary.

What makes this a stellar and overpowering account of the War is Olivier's narration. Never blustery, patriotic, or theatrical, Sir Laurence delivers pointed, thoughtful analysis with his incredible command of English and oration. Music for the series was composed by Carl Davis and even the opening credits set an unforgettable tone in a haunting image of a child in a photograph, dissolving in flames. This series is for those trying to make sense of a 6 year period when the world went mad. Five Stars PLUS.

Very good. Probably THE documentary set to own
This kept me going for months (in one hour segments at a time). There is so much material presented here and I learned a lot.

I wanted to give 4.5 stars and only knock a half off for the sometimes annoying menu (it could have been presented in a more orgnaized fashion, I thought), or other small problems, but half points aren't allowed on the system. Very close to perfect!

Buyer Beware
This was a wonderful documentary as originally broadcast, but I'd avoid this product if I had it to do over again: the maker's quality control is awful. Disk 1 skipped badly. And I the same problem others have reported: two copies of one of the five disks (with me, disk 5), and one disk (disk 4) entirely missing.

"Remember"
This is an excellent, extensive, British-made documentary about events leading up to, and including, World War II. With 26 episodes, there is quite a bit of material covered. Excellent narration by Laurence Olivier, and a memorable score.

If you are a war buff, particularly WW2, this is the set to have. Can't say enough good things about it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The remarkable first season of Deadwood represents one of those periodic, wholesale reinventions of the Western that is as different from, say, Lonesome Dove as that miniseries is from Howard Hawks's Rio Bravo or the latter is from Anthony Mann's The Naked Spur. In many ways, HBO's Deadwood embraces the Western's unambiguous morality during the cinema's silent era through the 1930s while also blazing trails through a post-NYPD Blue, post-The West Wing television age exalting dense and customized dialogue. On top of that, Deadwood has managed an original look and texture for a familiar genre: gritty, chaotic, and surging with both dark and hopeful energy. Yet the show's creator, erstwhile NYPD Blue head writer David Milch, never ridicules or condescends to his more grasping, futile characters or overstates the virtues of his heroic ones.

Set in an ungoverned stretch of South Dakota soon after the 1876 Custer massacre, Deadwood concerns a lawless, evolving town attracting fortune-seekers, drifters, tyrants, and burned-out adventurers searching for a card game and a place to die. Others, particularly women trapped in prostitution, sundry do-gooders, and hangers-on have nowhere else to go. Into this pool of aspiration and nightmare arrive former Montana lawman Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant) and his friend Sol Starr (John Hawkes), determined to open a lucrative hardware business. Over time, their paths cross with a weary but still formidable Wild Bill Hickok (Keith Carradine) and his doting companion, the coarse angel Calamity Jane (Robin Weigert); an aristocratic, drug-addicted widow (Molly Parker) trying to salvage a gold mining claim; and a despondent hooker (Paula Malcomson) who cares, briefly, for an orphaned girl. Casting a giant shadow over all is a blood-soaked king, Gem Saloon owner Al Swearengen (Ian McShane), possibly the best, most complex, and mesmerizing villain seen on TV in years.Over 12 episodes, each of these characters, and many others, will forge alliances and feuds, cope with disasters (such as smallpox), and move--almost invisibly but inexorably--toward some semblance of order and common cause. Making it all worthwhile is Milch's masterful dialogue--often profane, sometimes courtly and civilized, never perfunctory--and the brilliant acting of the aforementioned performers plus Brad Dourif, Leon Rippy, Powers Boothe, and Kim Dickens. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Description

Standup comedian Ray Romano stars as Ray Barone, a successful sportswriter who deals with his brother and parents, whohappen to live across the street. Patricia Heaton ("The Goodbye Girl"), Peter Boyle ("While You Were Sleeping"), Doris Roberts ("Remington Steele"), and Brad Garrett ("Gleason") round out the stellar cast. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

GET IT NOW..........................

THIS IS THE BEST TV COMEDY TO CAME OUT OF THE USA IN A LONG TIME

ALONG WITH king of queens, THESE ARE THE BEST SHOWS ON THE TV.

I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS DVD AND THE SERIES 1 AND 2 AS WELL.

I THINK THE SHOW HAS NOW STOPPED AFTER 210 EPISODES,

STILL THE FUNNIEST NEW SHOW ON TV
Raymond to me is the heirapparent to Seinfeld...a show that started out somewhat slowly and built itself into a juggernaut.Much like Seinfeld it's a show that is going out while still being at the top of its game and I really can't believe the show has been on for nine years.But the show will be one that will survive for years in re-runs.It's that smart and that funny.That makes a good sitcom is great characters and Raymond had them hand over fist.I think it will be a long time before I ever get tired of watching this show.Here are some of my favorite episodes from the third season:

"The Invasion"The opening episode has Ray and family forced to move in with his parents when their home is being cleaned for termites.Ray and Debra decide to give Marie and Frank a taste of their own, butt-insky treatment.

"The Sitter"Marie is insulted when Debra hires a young baby-sitter instead of asking her.They let the sitter go but then Marie finds out she can't keep up with the kids.

"Halloween Candy" one of my all-time favorites.Ray plans to get a vasectomy but backs out.He decides then to use condoms and buys a multi-colored pack that Frank mistakes for candy and gives out to the kids for Halloween.

"No Fat"Marie wants to eat healthier and puts Frank and herself on a diet right before Thanksgiving and even makes a tofu turkey, much to the family's horror.Ray orders a real turkey and catches Marie sneaking some of it later.

"The Toaster"A Christmas Episode.Ray gives family and friends a personalized toaster as a gift.he then finds out his parents returned the gift without ever opening it.

"Roberts Date" Robert hits it off with his new female partner who happens to be African-American.Robert then starts talking in slang and wearing yellow suits.

"Dancing With Debra"Ray encourages Robert to go dancing with Debra so he can get out of it.But his brother and wife are having just a little too much fun together.

Great show...Great Season!Relive the greatness that is Raymond!

One of the best shows of its time...
First telecast in the Fall of 1996, Everybody Loves Raymond became an instant favorite among TV audiences, a love affair that would last for nine memorable seasons. Following on the heels of a series of successful sitcoms starring stand-up comics - Seinfeld, Home Improvement, The Drew Carey Show, etc., Everybody Loves Raymond drew upon the comedic talents of Ray Romano who plays the role of the title character Ray Barone...

A successful Long Island-based sportswriter, Ray and his wife Debra (Patricia Heaton) enjoy a happy marriage and the company of their three children - daughter Ally (Madylin Sweeten) and twin sons Geoffrey (Sawyer Sweeten) and Michael (Sullivan Sweeten). But they also happen to live directly across the street from Ray's parents, Frank (Peter Boyle) and Marie (Doris Roberts), who take it upon themselves to enter their son and daughter-in-law's house whenever they wish (without knocking) and dispense advice and sometimes insults. Joining Frank and Marie is Ray's brother Robert (Brad Garrett), a divorced policeman, who periodically lives with Frank and Marie and is often jealous of Ray's idyllic life. Together, they create the perfect loving and dysfunctional family...

The Everybody Loves Raymond (Season 3) DVD features a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere in which Ray and Debra's house gets quarantined after they spray for termites. Moving into Frank and Marie's house along with the kids, they decide to give Ray's parents a dose of their own medicine, but quickly learn that it's near impossible to turn the tables on their annoying relatives... Other notable episodes from Season 3 include "Getting Even" in which Debra vows revenge on Ray for embarrassing her, prompting Ray to drive himself crazy in anticipation of her retaliation, and "Moving Out" in which Robert attempts to move out of his parents house and into a garage apartment only to realize that the couple he's now living with are clones of the very parents he sought to escape...

Below is a list of episodes included on the Everybody Loves Raymond (Season 3) DVD:

Episode 48 (The Invasion)
Episode 49 (Driving Frank)
Episode 50 (The Sitter)
Episode 51 (Getting Even)
Episode 52 (The Visit)
Episode 53 (Halloween Candy)
Episode 54 (Moving Out)
Episode 55 (The Article)
Episode 56 (The Lone Barone)
Episode 57 (No Fat)
Episode 58 (The Apartment)
Episode 59 (The Toaster)
Episode 60 (Ping Pong)
Episode 61 (Pants on Fire)
Episode 62 (Robert's Date)
Episode 63 (Frank's Tribute)
Episode 64 (Cruising with Marie)
Episode 65 (Ray Home Alone)
Episode 66 (Big Shots)
Episode 67 (Move Over)
Episode 68 (The Getaway)
Episode 69 (Working Girl)
Episode 70 (Be Nice)
Episode 71 (Dancing with Debra)
Episode 72 (Robert Moves Back)
Episode 73 (How They Met)

The DVD Report

I love *Everybody Loves Raymond*
I can remember being on a flight where episodes of ELR were being shown. At the time, I thought, "how boring" and read a book. Now, 2 years later, I am a devout ELR fan, and I never miss an episode, including all the reruns! I regret that I didn't watch ELR on the plane--it would've made the flight more enjoyable. My entire family enjoys this show, including my little sister who is 10 years old. I'm 22 and am in love with the show! It's truly something the whole family can enjoy. You just can't find comedy like this anywhere else. I am anxiously awaiting the release of the 3rd season! The DVD's have extra features that are also fun to watch. We'll miss you Raymond! :)

If it were that bad it wouldn't have lasted nine seasons...
Hey, the world is full of different sensibilities and everyone has their own feel for what's funny. I didn't begin watching this series until it made it to daily syndicated repeats, and once I started watching it I saw a lot of truth in the show...a lot of real life family situations, and while Ray Romano's delivery may not be everyone's style...Ray Barone is just a guy trying to deal with what his life has given him, in this case a brother who thinks he's playing second fiddle, a wife who's smarter than anyone gives her credit for and parents who are absolutely priceless. They simply couldn't have picked a finer group of people to play these characters. Sure, some folks say "What was the big deal about Seinfeld or Friends?" and the big deal was the way they all worked together and the way we all got to know their characters and their histories together, what worked out, what didn't. There's a chemistry unique to Everybody Loves Raymond that a lot of the critics completely miss when they say they think the show is boring...it's the ensemble working together that makes this show...made Friends what it was, Seinfeld, WKRP in Cincinnati...they made each other look great and you can tell they were having a great time doing it. The commentary in episode one on the first season collection explains it all: the title is said from the perspective of Robert, Ray's brother...that's how he feels: "Yeah, I bust my butt every day and I try to be the best I can...but EVERYBODY loves Raymond..." I look forward to season three on DVD, and the rest of them too. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Although it's not as bold as Oscar darling Chicago, The Phantom of the Opera continues the resuscitation of the movie musical with a faithful adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's blockbuster stage musical. Emmy Rossum glows in a breakout role as opera ingénue Christine Daae, and if phantom Gerard Butler isn't Rossum's match vocally, he does convey menace and sensuality in such numbers as "The Music of the Night." The most experienced musical theater veteran in the cast, romantic lead Patrick Wilson, sings sweetly but seems wooden. The biggest name in the cast, Minnie Driver, hams it up as diva Carlotta, and she's the only principal whose voice was dubbed (though she does sing the closing-credit number, "Learn to Be Lonely," which is also the only new song).

Director Joel Schumacher, no stranger to visual spectacle, seems to have found a good match in Lloyd Webber's larger-than-life vision of Gaston LeRoux's Gothic horror-romance. His weakness is cuing too many audience-reaction shots and showing too much of the lurking Phantom, but when he calms down and lets Rossum sings "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" alone in a silent graveyard, it's exquisite.

Read our CD buying guide

Those who consider the stage musical shallow and overblown probably won't have their minds changed by the movie, and devotees will forever rue that the movie took the better part of two decades to develop, which prevented the casting of original principals Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. Still, The Phantom of the Opera is a welcome exception to the long line of ill-conceived Broadway-to-movie travesties.

DVD Features
The two-disc edition of The Phantom of the Opera has two major extras. "Behind the Mask: The Story of The Phantom of the Opera" is an hourlong documentary tracing the genesis of the stage show, with interviews by composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, director Harold Prince, producer Cameron Macintosh, lyricists Richard Stilgoe and Charles Hart, choreographer Gillian Lynne, and others. Conspicuously absent are stars Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford. Both do appear in video clips, including Brightman performing with Colm Wilkinson at an early workshop, and Crawford is the subject of a casting segment. Other brief scenes from the show are represented by a 2001 production. The other major feature is the 45-minute making-of focusing on the movie, including casting and the selection of director Joel Schumacher. Both are well-done productions by Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group.

The deleted scene is a new song written by Lloyd Webber and Charles Hart, "No One Would Listen," sung by the Phantom toward the end of the movie. It's a beautiful song that, along with Madame Giry's story, makes him a more sympathetic character. But because that bit of backstory already slowed down the ending, it was probably a good move to cut the song. --David Horiuchi

More on The Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera (Special Extended Edition Soundtrack) (CD)	The Phantom of the Opera (2004 Movie Soundtrack) (CD)	The Phantom of the Opera (Original 1986 London Cast) (CD)
Evita (DVD)	Andrew Lloyd Weber: The Royal Albert Hall Celebration (DVD)	Visit the Andrew Lloyd Webber Store

... Read more

Reviews (659)

RJ from Blacksburg, VA
Excellent!!The movie is much better than the Broadway production - better character development, better acting, better singing.Madame Giry is a much more intriguing character in the film.Christine's attraction to the Phantom is more understandable and believable. Plus, we get to see the Phantom's past and why he is the way he is.

In response to the comment about the sword fight:The Phantom would know very little about fencing because he's lived alone beneath an opera house all his life.You must practice fencing to become good at it.

All of my family members (ages from 10 to 47) highly recommend the film version of The Phantom of the Opera.(good music, comedy, suspense, romance, lavish costumes and sets)

Beautiful film, great transfer to DVD
I am not going into a long detailed explination of the script, acting, or performances, they are all what the producers wanted, and it all works very well, the film is gorgeous to look at, and the transfer to DVD is the best I have seen so far, it even surpasses the Lord of he Rings trilogy, and that is saying something, the effect is so good it's three dimentional (an almost impossible task when viewed on a 73" screen), my one gripe, and it's a big one, is intelligibility. or rather the lack of it, there was a time when film studios and record companies went to great lengths to make sure every word could be understood, in recent years this is a rarity, this film has far to much of the massed voices recorded so that way to much of it can't be understood, considering the quality of todays recording equipment, I find this to be a disapointment, if not downright disgraceful, but at least there is an english subtitle track, which of course most likely means they know it's the only way to be sure that all the dialog is understood, complaints based upon seeing the stage production just don't fly with me, what works on stage rarely if ever work on film, if it did, Producers could save millions and just film the stage production, view stage productions filmed for PBS, of the many I have seen the only two that have been successful at it are The Merry Widow, and Oklahoma

Film rivals book!
*gasp*

Dare I say it?

Yes, Webber's production is much better than Leroux's novel.

Will everyone agree with what seems to be my very deluded opinion?Of course not!

Perhaps I think like this because while reading Leroux's novel, I couldn't imagine a horrifying, stenchy Erik aka phantom...
forgive me but I just couldn't.I tried, and I shed a couple of tears when Daae ripped off his mask and he taunted her with his ugliness, but that's because I felt sorry for him.

The kidnapping part in the film ROCKED! it had so much action and suspense! while in the book the lights simply go out...*yawn* The chandelier falls in the movie! it also does in the book but while Carlotta is belting out her toad voice.

He horrifies Daae in the book, while in the film he seduces her.Both make sense, and I really can't argue on behalf.

The ring Daae wears as a gift from the phantom should have been included in the film.This makes Erik less of a lunatic.
He actually gave her permission to leave him so long as she didn't take the ring off or lose it.

The sword fighting scene was awesome! it totally makes sense how the phantom would lose to the viscount Raoul de Chagny.
This guy was trained to swordfight, while the phantom's department is music.Yeah it probably makes him look like a sore loser but it makes sense...he loses christine what's losing to a swordfight right?

Now for what I thought about the casting.

Emmy Rossum did a very sweet and innocent Christine. She has a very sweet voice!no complaints except for 2 major details.
1)While Rossums voice could charm a bird out of its nest, it's hard to believe that with such a voice you're expected to believe this girl to be visited by the so-called angel of music who gives her free voice lessons.Don't get me wrong, Rossum has an exquisite voice, but to say that it sounds inhuman is impossible.
There are MANY women out there who are privileged to posess inhuman pipes.I expected something ethereal, haunting, beautiful, jawdropping, INHUMAN, as the book mentions.
2) Perhaps it's because she was only 16 when she filmed the movie, or perhaps she does need to improve on her acting.
I didn't believe for a second that she was hypnotized at the sound of Erik's voice (but then again, who would be listening to Gerard sing right?) I really wasn't convinced that she was Christine Daae, I merely saw her as Emmy Rossum.I think she did good, but I expected for the second star of the movie to be more believable, real.

Patrick Wilson may have the voice, but the guy needs to relax those shoulders and ACT.You'd think he'd know since he's done broadway but then again stage isn't the same as camera.
I forgive him.

*sings* As for our star Mr. Gerard Butler...lol
Let's just say that in my opinion, he BECAME the phantom.
He became Erik.I would've never guessed it!
While his singing leaves much to desire, his acting is among the best around!I was impressed! He delivers presence, emotion, mystery, charisma, sensuality, menacy...
The man is spell-binding in this film.He manages to seduce both Daae and most of the female audience! At the same time, he manages to inspire compassion and a tear here and there.
He's very real!

Webber failed to clue us in on the name! so what's the phantom of the opera's name? As if murdering cold bloodedly and having a disfigured complexion weren't enough to subtract from his humanity.Now he's nameless? he's not an IT you know.

Regardless, it's a very dark and seductive film.
I recommend it any day at any time.Now if you're like my buds who've turned it down for seeming too lovey dovey, weird, or just because it's a musical...you're missing out BIG TIME!

Beautiful and sad!!
Anyone who doesn't like this movie probably doesn't like much of anything.It is visually beautiful and full of emotion.I have the soundtrack of the original play with Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman; I also saw the play on Broadway with other actors.Frankly, I think the movie is better.Emmy Rossum sings like the innocent she is portraying and her voice is clear and sweet.Patrick Wilson has a nice tenor and is believable as her young suitor, ready to conquer the world for her. (Loved the hair!!)However, it is Gerald Butler who steals the show; he should be called the "Man of a thousand faces" and looks different in every movie I've seen him in.He freely admitted in an interview that he's not a singer; in fact, he had to take a crash course in vocalizing to sing the part.Given that bit of information, I think he did a fine job and his acting is superb. The only complaint is that it must have been hard to make him look bad, given his Scottish good looks. I was rooting for the Phantom for most of the movie, and I wouldn't mind if he wanted to lock me up in his dungeon. He is extremely seductive in the part, and I can't think of anyone in Hollywood who could have done a better job. With his mask, the Phantom is powerful, commanding, fearsome and magical.Without it, he is like most of the rest of us in the world--weak, vulnerable, and emotionally fragile.Minnie Driver was a bit of comic relief, as were the 2 owners of the opera, who made a fortune in "scrap metal" (junk). So far, I have watched the DVD 5 times since I got it, and I reach for the tissues at the end every time.I loved this movie!!!

LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Yes, I know the last exclamation mark is a 1

This film has taken its place among my top 3 favorite movies, the first 2 being The Lord of the Rings trilogy and the first Pirates of the Carribean movie (they're making a sequel).

First, let's talk about the music. The music is brought to the grand scale that Andrew Lloyd Webber had always dreamed of, now that it is being played by a full orchestra and not a pit band.

The production design is extraordinary. I was rooting for the art department to win the Oscar for Best Art Direction. The grand scale of the stage show has been elevated to new heights.

The treatment of the show itself is excellent. I loved the added touches of backstory and action and mystery. I personally preferred the sword fight in the cemetary because it works better on film than what actually happens on stage (the Phantom throws fireballs.) I also love how Schumacher gave the characters of Madame Giry and Joseph Buquet so much more to do than in the stage version. Frankly, they're just throwaway characters in the stage version but in the movie, we realize what Buquet is all about and we get to see that Madame Giry had a more vital role to play in the Phantom's life.

Now for the cast:

Emmy Rossum has the voice of an angel and is perfect for the part. She's the right age and has a young, crystalline voice.

Gerard Butler as the Phantom. I don't agree that his singing voice is the best in the world. I know he's not really a trained singer but they could have trained him just a tad harder. Then again, Schumacher did not want a pretty voice for the Phantom. So, I forgive him. To tell the truth, his voice isn't that bad.

Patrick Wilson has vocal chords made of gold, which is only right since he has done Broadway. He is perfect as the dashing, romantic, swashbuckling, and somewhat wimpy Raoul.

Minnie Driver is hysterical as La Carlotta (I 'ATE MY 'AT!!!!)It's a pity that she's not really an opera singer.

Miranda Richardson has an ok singing voice. She also puts on a convincing French accent. I've noticed that Madame Giry is normally the only member of the cast who has to do a French accent. She's less of a throwaway in the movie than in the stage version and more of a driving force. We see that she truly cares about Meg and Christine. So when the new managers are checking the two out, she's like, "Don't even think about it!"

Simon Callow and Ciaran Hinds (pronounced KEE-ran HINDS; long I) are hysterical as the two managers (this never happened in the junk business; scrap metal!)I feel that Simon Callow's singing voice rivals Ciaran Hinds by far.

Jennifer Ellison is a little delight as Meg Giry. And she's the first Meg I've ever heard who can sing. She's so petite and adorable that I thought Kristen Chenoweth was playing the part!

Victor McGuire as Piangi is wonderfully hammy and henpecked. He has a wonderfully exaggerated tenor which gets crappy in all the right places. (Sad to return to find the la-a-a-and we love).

I still don't understand why that midget was there all the time.

Kevin McNally as Buquet. Well, he's better than the stage Buquet, who was a total throwaway character. At least he has more to do (like trying to catch the Ballet Girls getting dressed)

The makeup on the Phantom was somewhat of a let down. It looked more like he had an encounter with acid as a young child. Then again, in the movie, it's never established that he was deformed from birth, so that may be what happened.

The guy who played Monsuier Reyer was also funny (UNDERSTUDY!? There is no understudy for La Carlotta!)

Just for the record, the horse in the title song is a homage to the original novel. The Phantom takes Christine to his lair on a horse.

And now the special features:

The featurette on the history of the musical was really cool. I especially liked the film clips of the Sydmonton production, the current production in England and clips from the music videos (the British DVD has the full, unedited music videos. Lucky dogs! Oh, well, they've had this show and Andrew Lloyd Webber longer.)

The deleted song, No One Would Listen, is lovely even if it is really the first draft of Learn to Be Lonely.

It's an awesome film and if the upcoming movie versions of Rent, The Producers, and Dreamgirls once again kill the movie musical which has barely been resurrected by Chicago and Moulin Rouge, this will be a reminder that this generation had its share of movie musicals. What can I say? I'm a sucker for movie musicals. I even liked Man of La Mancha. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It wasn't until the beginning of Stargate SG-1's fourth season that fans knew to take the Replicator threat seriously. The spidery nasties had only seemed like one of many new enemies introduced in previous years. But when the one seemingly omnipotent backbone of the galaxy was asking Earth for help, clearly we were in real trouble! In fact, the team's list of enemies expanded and got far more complicated this year. Proving without a shadow of a doubt that this is science fiction, the Russians reveal they have their own Stargate program and ask the Americans for help. This twist allows for exploration of all the political machinations occurring behind the scenes of the SG-C, all of which appear to stem from the embittered Senator Kinsey (Ronny Cox).

There were quite a few Earth-based stories in the year, but not all the new enemies were originally local. Willie Garson comically guest-starred as Martin, a geekily suspicious guy with too much knowledge of the Stargate. More sinister was an old flame of Daniel's turning into something far more painful than an old wound (thanks to an ancient Egyptian curse). Thankfully, the writers hadn't forgotten the importance of one-off storylines too. In "Upgrades" the team learns a lesson in abuse of power. In "The Other Side" (featuring DS9's Rene Auberjonois) they learn about blind trust. In "Scorched Earth" a dangerous claim for a planet's ownership means they learn to value Daniel's contribution to the group dynamic. If only this last lesson were learned better, season 5 might not have ended up as muddled as it did. --Paul Tonks ... Read more

Reviews (25)

SG-1 Season Four -- A Clear Triumph
I must say that Stargate SG-1 Season Four is, by far, my favorite season of them all. The year opens with a terrific conclusion to the climactic cliffhanger. "Small Victories" shows us just what a mess the Replicator bugs can be for Earth. "Window of Opportunity" is a delightful tale of time-travel with a unique twist where Jack and Teal'c can't get out of the same ten-hour cycle! "Tangent" shows us just what we get if we "slap a USAF sticker on the side of a death glider" and call it ours. Great acting by Richard Dean Anderson and Christopher Judge, though they are sitting down most of the time. Other top episodes from this season include "The Curse," "The Serpent's Venom," "Chain Reaction," "The First Ones," "2010," "Absolute Power," and the ultimate blowout for Apophis in "Exodus," which sends our heroes hurtling into their next adventure for a new year! Season Four is a definite triumph for the Stargate legacy, where stories are followed up and new ones are born. At this point the show had totally come into its own, and it is shown in the development of the characters, the top-notched scripts, stomach aches of laughs, and a plethora of absorbing and entertaining plot threads that will have viewers drooling for the next season. Plus, this is the first boxed set with commentaries! Hours of entertainment right there! Plus the usual special features. So fork over that tad bit of cash and plug in for Season four. Get ready for Sci-fi at its finest hour!

...

just that much better than the first three
So many good and entertaining things about the entire Stargate series make it my favorite television show I have ever seen. This season continues and expands on all these things through some truly amazing, humorous, in some cases powerfully emotional episodes, while at the same time adding something new to the mix: the annual super-whimsical episode. Season 4's is Window Of Opportunity.

While the episode's overall plot is serious, and stellar even by Stargate standards, the episode goes beyond even the great humor of O'Neill's constant wisecracks when it explores the possibilities of what crazy things a person could do if they knew they could do anything they wanted for a day and soon afterwards everyone around them would not remember what they had done. Dang that General Hammond for yelling during O'Neill's backswing! (while driving a golf ball through the Stargate without permission...)

War and Politics in Outer Space
The Replicators. The Russians. The Aschen. These are only a few of the new enemies presented this year, in Stargate: SG-1 (okay, so technically, the Replicators were introduced last year). These new baddies made a lot of trouble this year for the SGC in what is definitely the best season yet. We learn more about the Replicators this year when Sam (Amanda Tapping) is brought to an Asgard-controlled planet to help defend the O'Neill, the Asgard's newest and most advanced ship ever. Also, the Russians retrieve the Giza gate from the bottom of the ocean from when Thor's ship, the Beliskner, crashed, while the SGC is now using the Antarctica gate. And, 10 years in the future, an advanced race, known as the Aschen, are quietly wiping out the human race by making humans infertile.
These are just a handful of the amazing new stories that occurred this year. It seems that Col. O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson), Maj. Carter, Dr. Jackson (Michael Shanks), and Teal'c (Christopher Judge) can never catch a break. This year, not only have their alien enemies become more powerful than ever, especially Apophis (Peter Williams), their enemies on Earth have truly become a threat. Senator Kinsey (Ronny Cox), the man who tried to shut down the SGC in Season 1, has been linked to the rogue sector of the NID, the civillian organization responsible for the theft of numerous alien technologies over the last few years.
The stories this year are better than ever, especially with an increasing number of arcs occurring. Episodes like "Crossroads" and "The Serpent's Venom" were expertly executed, and had immense emotional effects on our heroes. However, I have to praise the stand-alones this year, especially "Window of Opportunity" and "The Other Side", which have never been better.
I guess the only thing that I didn't like about this season is that the Asgard were only in one episode, and the Tollan and the Nox were nowhere to be found. Oh well.
If you have seen the previous three seasons and are still skeptical about this show, I urge you to watch Season 4; I guarantee your interest in this show will quickly increase.
Some other great episodes are:
"Small Victories", "Upgrades", "Watergate", "Point of No Return", "Tangent", "The Curse", "Chain Reaction", "2010", "Absolute Power", "Double Jeopardy", and "Exodus".

Purchase a set today!
While perhaps not as strong as season three, season four promises to entertain. I felt that there were very few episodes in this season that could be considered "okay" - most of them were either excellent or pathetic. Nothing in between. Fortunately for the viewers, most of the episodes were excellent.

New to the sets are director commentaries for each episode! While the extras on these boxed sets continue to disappoint, there is at least a little more to be found.

Definitely a must buy for both fans and newcomers to the show.

Good television 4 years running
I've always liked Stargate, 4th season is no exception although I did think it might be just a lilttle darker in tone at times. The writers/ producers continue to come up with a wide variety of plots, writing, great sets and some interesting characters.
The most unusual set was in the season opener "Small Victories" in which O'Neill and Teal'c do battle with the Replicators on board a Russian submarine, it really is a Russian submarine.
I thought one of the most unusual characters was that of the Goa'uld Osiris, portrayed by Anna-Louise Plowman (the best role I've seen her in). In this one a former colleague of Daniel Jackson's, Sarah Gardner, is finally revealed to have been posessed by the Osiris symbiote after examining some Egyptian artifacts at their University. Plowman does that role so well, its a shame we don't see her more often. You always have Richard Dean Anderson doing his oddball bit, the best guest oddball was Willie Garson in "Point of no Return", playing the part of a delusional little guy who thinks he's an alien, turns out he is. That story was fun but definitely not one of the more serious episodes of the season. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The definitive British sitcom is almost certainly Are You BeingServed?, which depicts the squabbles, misadventures, and flirtationsof the staff of Grace Brothers department store. The show was originallyconceived as a vehicle for an irreverent junior salesman named Mr. Lucas(Trevor Bannister), but it soon became clear that mocking a socialhierarchy isn't half as funny as taking it all too seriously. The showreally revolves around Mrs. Slocombe (Mollie Sugden), whose wildlychanging hair color and mercurial moods terrorize the rest of the staff,and cheerful but sly Mr. Humphries (the effervescent John Inman), one ofthe first gay characters on television treated with dignity--or at leastno more indignity than anyone else (the show makes some noise about notbeing sure if Mr. Humphries is gay or not, but no one in the audience willhave any question). But the rest of the cast is superb as well: FrankThornton as the elegant but leering floorwalker Capt. Peacock, WendyRichard as the sexy, impish Miss Brahms, Arthur Brough as cantankerous Mr.Grainger (who, sadly, died after the fifth season; other characters took hisposition on the sales staff, but never quite matched up), and NicholasSmith as the self-serving but incompetent manager Mr. Rumbold form a comicensemble that has rarely been equaled.

These characters, written withaffection and played with superb comic dash, endlessly jockey for statusand salary while simultaneously creating an alternative family (the corestructure for any sitcom on either side of the Atlantic). Are You BeingServed? deserves its devoted fan base, who will revel in thiscomprehensive 14-DVD box set (which includes specials about Inman, Sugden,and Richard, as well as other extras). --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (463)

If there was ever an offer you couldn't refuse, it's this!
Francis Ford Coppola and Paramount Home Entertainment held a press conference and street fair in Brooklyn, and yours truly was there! The exciting news, of course, was announcing the release of THE GODFATHER DVD COLLECTION on October 9, 2001! If the preview of the set is any indication, then I must say this will be the crown jewel in any DVD collection!

The three films will only be released together in this set. The Godfather and The Godfather Part III will each be on one disc, and The Godfather Part II will take two discs. The first of the good news? Francis Coppola has recorded full-lenth audio commentaries for all three films!

But wait, there's a fifth disc that will blow your socks off! Check this out -- the bonus disc contains 3+ hours worth of special features, including: > "The Godfather Family: A Look Inside" documentary > "Francis Coppola's Notebook", an inside look at taking the book to screen! > "On Location" with production designer Dean Tavoularis! > "The Godfather Behind The Scenes" 1971 featurette! > "The Cinematography of The Godfather"! > "The Music of The Godfather" -- two featurettes! > "Coppola and Puzo on Screenwriting"! > Storyboards from GF2 and GF3! > "The Corleone Family Tree" character and cast bios! > Academy Award® acceptance speeches! > Photo galleries with captions! > Theatrical trailers! > Filmmaker bios! > Corleone Family timeline, with real-life events mixed in! > Never-seen alternate opening of GF3! > And "all" of the extra footage found in the televised Godfather Saga!

The picture quality looked fantastic -- Coppola's American Zoetrope did a wonderful job restoring the films! From what I could tell, the sound quality was perfect, and the on-screen menus looked great. And the DVD packaging looks very nice.

All three films are in widescreen format with English 5.1 surround sound, French mono, and English subtitles.

Perhaps the only "bad" news I heard was that there were no plans at this point to release the chronological version on DVD. Francis said that the films were meant to b