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

Amazon.com

Truth, identity, and responsibility are the cornerstones of Smallville's exceptional third season. When viewers left Clark (Tom Welling) at the end of season 2, he was feeling his oats in Metropolis with the help of a red Kryptonite ring, but by the opening of season 3, he must return to Smallville to not only help his parents save their farm, but seek some resolution in his relationships with Lana (Kristin Kreuk) and Lex (Michael Rosenbaum), who's returned from his abandonment at the conclusion of the previous season. Lex himself must deal with some shocking revelations regarding his relationship with his sinister father Lionel (John Glover, magnetic as always), and Lana becomes involved with a new figure in town, the mysterious Adam Knight (Lost's Ian Somerholder), who may or may not be a certain caped crusader. And speaking of heroes in disguise, the season's finale introduces Kara, a young woman with powers similar to Clark's--could she in fact be his sister, known best to comic book fans as Supergirl? Season 3 is chock full of such intriguing moments, including an appearance by future Daily Planet editor Perry White (Michael McKean, the real-life husband of series star Annette O'Toole) in "Perry," helmed by Supergirl film director Jeannot Szwarc; the return of villains Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Shawn Ashmore, and Jesse Metcalfe from seasons 1 and 2 (in "Asylum"); the departure of series regular Samuel L. Jones; and a intrigue-fraught final turn by Christopher Reeve as Dr. Swann ("Legacy").

The boxed set matches the high quality of the season with some terrific extras, including commentary on three episodes by series creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, along with Rosenbaum, Allison Mack (Chloe), and Glover. Gough and Millar also contribute commentary to a battery of deleted scenes, and Mack's "Chloe Chronicles" returns for another go-round. The supplemental features are rounded out by a behind-the-scenes featurette, an amusing gag reel, and an Easter egg with Rosenbaum conducting some offbeat interviews. --Paul Gaita ... Read more

Description

Disc 1:The Matrix
New digital transfer
A written introduction by the Wachowski Brothers
2 new commentaries by philosophers and critics
ROM feature

Disc 2:The Matrix Revisited
A feature-length mind-expanding look at The Matrix from conception to phenomenon
17 behind-the-scenes and making-of featurettes
Music-only audio track

Disc 3:The Matrix Reloaded
New digital transfer
A written introduction by the Wachowski Brothers
2 new commentaries by philosophers and critics
ROM feature

Disc 4:The Matrix Reloaded Revisited
Go to the second chapter's furthest reaches
21 behind-the-scenes and making-of featurettes
23 extra scenes shot for Enter the Matrix video game

Disc 5:The Matrix Revolutions
A written introduction by the Wachowski Brothers
2 new commentaries by philosophers and critics
ROM feature

Disc 6:The Matrix Revolutions Revisited
The cataclysmic final confrontation is chronicled
29 behind-the-scenes and making-of featurettes

Disc 7:The Animatrix
9 short films from pioneering anime directors exploring the world of The Matrix

Disc 8:The Roots of the Matrix
Cinematic, historical, philosophical and technological inspirations are explored
2 insightful new documentaries

Disc 9:The Burly Man Chronicles
Probe the society of actors, craftspeople, and filmmakers who shaped the movie trilogy and Enter the Matrix video game
21 featurettes

Disc 10:The Zion Archive
Production assets developed for The Matrix Universe
Concept artwork
Storyboards
Drawings
Music videos
TV spots and trailers ... Read more

Reviews (8)

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


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


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


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


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


Blade Trilogy: The Ultimate Collection - Bloodsuckingly Brilliant!


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

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

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

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

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

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

Description

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

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

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

Reviews (26)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amazon.com

The 2004 Appleseed feature is a reworking of the earlier video based on the manga by Masamune Shirow (Ghost in the Shell). In 2131, most of humanity has withdrawn to the glittering city of Olympus after a devastating war. When the curvaceous Deunan Knute comes to Olympus, she encounters her former comrade Briareos, now a cyborg, and the lovely android Hitomi. The fate of Hitomi, Olympus, and humanity rest on the lost "Appleseed" technology that Deunan's mother helped to develop. A standard series of chases, mecha battles, and confrontations leads to a predictable ending. When the original Appleseedappeared in 1988, it felt like a summary of anime's past, while Akira pointed the way to the future. This new version feels like a mishmash of Ghost in the Shell, Akira, Jin-Roh, Evangelion, and other, more exciting works. The motion-capture CG is typically weightless, and the mecha look oddly squat. (Rated R: violence) --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (19)

The best Anime movie of all time
Graphically speaking, this is the best anime movie of all time. And they had a limited budget. The story is magnificent, and the dialogue is ok. The city driving in a hover car was the best and most colorful part of the movie. Plus the beginning of the movie with the gruesome head crushing and blood mist in the air-WOW. This anime is better than great, Its Magnificent.

Distopia
This animation is based on a comic by Masamune Shirow, a master of depicting distopian futures in which humanity must struggle with technology for its survival.In this case, much of the world has been destroyed by war, but one oasis of humanity exists, Olympus.Thanks to its balance of human and android inhabitants, it has been able to maintain a peaceful existance.However, there are those with prejudices who want to disrupt this balance.Can Olympus surivive?

An attempt was made to maka a fully 3D animated feature like Pixar.However, there was a conscious effort to stick closely to the style common in anime.It's interesting to see the 2D world of anime come to life in full 3D.However, it was not an entirely successful transition.The characters are oddly weightless, so at times, it looks like dolls moving around on screen rather than flesh and blood (or steel!) characters on screen.In fact, this looks mostly like the intro to a game stretched out over 2 hours.For this, a take away one star, but it's still worth checking out. A good effort was made, and I hope we get more along this line, with better animation of course.

beautiful
A great movie all around. Great animation, lots of action, a thought provoking plot and a great adaption of Shirow's orriginal Appleseed manga.

The Limited Edition Collector's Tin is well worth it too. An extremely nice case, very impresive.

HOLY CRAP, THAT WAS AWESOME!I'm no anime fan, but...
"APPLESEED - DVD"

I'm no anime fan but if they look this good and have this kind of amazing action I'm soon to be a huge one. I can't get over the fantastic action sequences and the way a cartoon movie had such a realistic look and feel to it. Also, the characters were very interesting. So much so, it made me want to care about them. The CGI is nothing short of incredible and when these huge vehicles come crashing towards the screen...well it's nothing short of amazing, too. I just can't say enough good things about this movie.
I was reeled in the entire time and I can't remember the last time I could say that about any movie. I tried to get into anime once before by watching the COWBOY BEBOOP movie but I just didn't get a feel for it. Now, after watching APPLESEED, I can't help but feel I may really be missing out on something.
FAN or NO FAN of Anime, if you like ACTION and tons of EYE-CANDY then don't hesitate to own "AppleSeed". I can't imagine anyone not loving this movie. It's nothing short of amazing. I only wish I'd purchased the 2-disc version first, so I could have saved a few bucks, because I must see the extras for this movie.

TWO THUMBS UP and a huge MUST SEE!!!

Some of the best CGI ever
This is, hands down, some of the best CGI anime ever made.Movement is smooth as silk, and realistically rendered; character interaction with background and surroundings is perfect.The storyline is well-written and the characters are rounded and believable. Even the dialogue, a perennial weak point for anime, is excellent.

The only thing that lags here is the voice-over work, another area in which anime suffers as a whole.Perhaps this is because all the development money on these project is typically spent on artists and rendering equipment. The work of anime voice-over actors (especially English ones) is of generally poor quality and Appleseed is no exception.

Appleseed instantly became a top-5 item for me, equalling and in some respects, surpassing the Ghost in the Shell saga. ... Read more

Amazon.com

As the triumphant start of a trilogy, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring leaves you begging for more. By necessity, Peter Jackson's ambitious epic compresses J.R.R. Tolkien's classic The Lord of the Rings, but this robust adaptation maintains reverent allegiance to Tolkien's creation, instantly qualifying as one of the greatest fantasy films ever made. At 178 minutes, it's long enough to establish the myriad inhabitants of Middle-earth, the legendary Rings of Power, and the fellowship of hobbits, elves, dwarves, and humans--led by the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and the brave hobbit Frodo (Elijah Wood)--who must battle terrifying forces of evil on their perilous journey to destroy the One Ring in the land of Mordor. Superbly paced, the film is both epic and intimate, offering astonishing special effects and production design while emphasizing the emotional intensity of Frodo's adventure, and ends on a perfect note of heroic loyalty and rich anticipation.

After the breaking of the Fellowship, Frodo and Sam journey to Mordor with the creature Gollum as their guide in The Two Towers. Meanwhile, Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Legolas (Orlando Bloom), and Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) join in the defense of the people of Rohan, who are the first target in the eradication of the race of Men by the renegade wizard Saruman (Christopher Lee) and the dark lord Sauron. Fantastic creatures, astounding visual effects, and a climactic battle at the fortress of Helm's Deep make The Two Towers a worthy successor to The Fellowship of the Ring, grander in scale but retaining the story's emotional intimacy.

With The Return of the King, the greatest fantasy epic in film history draws to a grand and glorious conclusion. The trilogy could never fully satisfy those who remain exclusively loyal to Tolkien's expansive literature, but as a showcase for physical and technical craftsmanship it is unsurpassed in pure scale and ambition, setting milestone after cinematic milestone as Frodo and Sam continue their mission to Mordor to destroy the soul-corrupting One Ring. While the heir to the kingdom of Men, Aragorn, endures the massive battle at Minas Tirith with the allegiance of Legolas, Gimli, and Gandalf, Frodo and Sam must survive the schizoid deceptions of Gollum, who remains utterly convincing as a hybrid of performance (by Andy Serkis) and subtly nuanced computer animation. Jackson and cowriters Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens have much ground to cover; that they do so with intense pacing and epic sweep is impressive enough, but by investing greater depth and consequence in the actions of fellow hobbits Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd), they ensure that The Return of the King maintains the trilogy's emphasis on intimate fellowship and remains faithful to Tolkien's overall vision. By ending the LOTR trilogy with noble integrity and faith in the power of imaginative storytelling, The Return of the King, like its predecessors, will stand as an adventure for the ages. --Jeff Shannon and David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (105)

An epic for our times
J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy was considered unfilmable for a very long time -- the story was too big, too fantastical. But in the late 1990s, New Zealand director Peter Jackson got the green light to shoot the "Lord of the Rings" movie trilogy. The rest is film history.

"The Fellowship of the Ring" introduces us to the hobbits. Eccentric old Bilbo Baggins (Ian Holm) leaves the peaceful Shire at his 111st birthday, leaving all he has to his young nephew Frodo (Elijah Wood) -- including a golden Ring that makes the wearer invisible. But the grey wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) reveals that it's actually the One Ring, which is the source of power for the demonic Dark Lord Sauron. Horrified, Frodo and his best pals leave the Shire and join a band of elves, men, and dwarves to take the Ring to the only place where it can be destroyed.

"The Two Towers" picks up immediately after "Fellowship" ends. Frodo and Sam (Sean Astin) are lost on the path to Mordor. Worse, they're being stalked by Gollum (Andy Serkis), who owned the Ring for centuries and is enslaved to it. But because he knows safe ways into Mordor, Frodo lets Gollum come along. Elsewhere, Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Legolas (Orlando Bloom), and Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) make a desperate stand against the orc armies with the kingdom of Rohan....

"Return of the King" brings the trilogy to a head. Frodo and Sam's friendship is threatened by Gollum's trickery -- and Frodo is led into a deadly trap. Elsewhere, Gandalf rides with Pippin (Billy Boyd) to Gondor, the kingdom that Aragorn is heir to. Aragorn summons an army of ghosts and attacks the heart of Mordor -- as Frodo and Sam arrive at the volcanic Mount Doom, where the Ring was forged. But can Frodo bring himself to destroy the Ring?

A lot of people were nervous when first hearing that "Lord of the Rings" was being translated onto the big screen. There were just too many things (goofy scripting, bad special effects, mutilated characters) that could go wrong. Those fears turned out to be pretty much unfounded. Some characters are different from what they are in the book (Faramir and Arwen, for example), and some are gone altogether.

Jackson and Co. outdid themselves with nearly every aspect of the films. The scripting is impeccable, a good balance of dark and light, humor and horror. The sets and New Zealand landscapes are breathtaking. The battle scenes are bloody and exciting. All the trappings -- clothes, jewelry, even beer mugs -- are realistic. And the special effects are almost entirely convincing-looking, especially the gruesome Gollum. He's the first fully convincing CGI character!

Elijah Wood is outstanding as Frodo Baggins. He runs the emotional gamut: fear, pain, horror, happiness, resignation, rage, love, lust and emptiness. Sean Astin is equally good as the steadfast Sam, Frodo's best friend. Supporting hobbits Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd get to grow up into mature hobbits, and Ian McKellen is excellent as the grandfatherly wizard Gandalf. Viggo Mortensen, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Liv Tyler, John Rhys-Davies, Orlando Bloom and Sean Bean are only part of the amazing supporting cast, all of whom give excellent performances.

The movie adaptation of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy has been accepted by most fans and critics alike. Why? Because the trilogy is among the best movies ever put to film. A stunning achievement.

The Best Book Trilogy Becomes the Best DVD Trilogy!
LOTR is without a doubt the best trilogy ever created. Each movie, FOTR, TTT, ROTK, are excellent on their own and as a united piece are unstoppable. None of the movies have major faults, like bad acting or Ewoks or crappy plot, but stand on their own as amazing features. Really meant to be watched as one very long epic, the Lord of the Rings is the best thing to ever happen to cinema. No more Hollywood garbage, but instead passionate filmmaking from both cast and crew. The eternal themes of JRR Tolkien are fleshed out, and as opposed to other recent trilogies, the amazing special effects (which garnered three academy awards) do not distract from the storytelling, but augment it. Peter Jackson and his crew spent seven years doing a phenomenal job bringing to life the unimaginable. The casting was perfect. The ensemble shines on screen. Ian McKellen and Viggo Mortensen are particularly magnificent. Sean Astin does a superb job throughout the trilogy going from sidekick to heartfelt hero in the final installment. Elijay Wood does an exceptional job portraying a peaceful, happy hobbit descending into madness, ultimately ending up in a conflicted state where his former peace is gone. There is a reason why all three of these movies are in imdb.com's top 10 films of all time. No sane person would want to miss out on the movie adventure of our time.

Boring *3
Fine, the movies of LOTR are really beautifully done. Beautiful scenes and breathtaking angles. Its all so beautifully dont, with costumes and effects but you can't help feel bored with each movie. Its like well, sometimes someone in the film cries. You take pity right? Well you won't after 20 minutes of crying. It gets boring. Its not really action packed and just goes monotonously in a straight line. Unlike the better series for me Harry Potter, which is not boring at all but very engaging and climactic. The lord of the rings series is so unticlimactic i often pray for it to end quickly in the cinema. And Elijah Wood is so over acting with the eye flutter an all. And at the end he won't just let go of the ring into the volcano. Its all boring. With this special bundle pack, its boreddom times three

The Lord Of The Rings - The Motion Picture Trilogy to own!
The Lord Of The Rings - The Motion Picture Trilogy is a beautiful box set that showcases these three amazing films: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. From the captivating story to the gorgeous cinematography this trilogy sweeps you off of your feet and takes you along for one heck of a journey. The Lord Of The Rings - The Motion Picture Trilogy has to be one of the most anticipated DVD releases ever. I encourage any one who appreciates great movies to purchase this wonderful box set. This is what great movies are about!

Finally The Trilogy Comes to a Close
The Lord of the Rings should be the yardstick on which all other fantasy epics should be measured on. 8 years in the making this movie did not dissappoint. Masterfully directed, this trilogy has it all, it will make you laugh and it will make you cry. I reccomend this set for all. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Everything good about the first season of The Shield is intensified in the second. For detective Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) and his amoral strike team, these 13 episodes follow "the money train," a stockpile of Armenian mob money ripe for the taking. Mackey's team plots to steal this criminal fortune while under pressure from Capt. Aceveda (Benito Martinez), whose political campaign is threatened by a civilian auditor (Lucinda Jenney) assigned to uncover corruption in "the Barn." The uneasy alliance between Aceveda and Mackey provokes the suspicion of Wyms (CCH Pounder), whose by-the-book vigilance is rewarded while Dutch (Jay Karnes) endures a slump that worsens the Barn's sullied reputation. After being horribly disfigured by Mackey, a vile Mexican druglord (Daniel Pino) plots a territorial coup, prompting the strike team's finest police work while Mackey struggles to save his failing marriage. Post-9/11 tensions erupt when beat cop Danny (Catherine Dent) justifiably shoots an armed Arab civilian, and newlywed Julien (Michael Jace) copes with (literal) gay-bashing following his church-sponsored sexual reorientation.

As always, The Shield supports these plotlines with gritty casework, including a brutal kidnapping, homicide, and gangland warfare. Every episode (shot in grainy 16mm) meets the series' high standard of excellence, but "Greenlit," "Homewrecker" (featuring the death of a recurring character), and "Dominoes Falling" are standouts, while the controversial "Co-Pilot" offers a retrospective look at the Barn's volatile origins. Writing and direction are consistently superb, and Pounder deserves honorable mention among the brilliant cast, striking a stoical balance of world-weary wisdom, procedural diligence, and righteous indignation.

Bonus features comprise a virtual film school for anyone seeking a career in television. While the commentaries explore the nuts and bolts of series development, the "Directors' Roundtable" (with creator Shawn Ryan, Scott Brazil, Peter Horton, and Paris Barclay) is a revealing, frequently hilarious study of the rigors of fast-paced production; "Sound Surgery" presents a track-by-track analysis of sound, music, and dialogue; and "Wrap Day" is a celebratory tribute to the series' hard-working cast and crew. It's all good, and guaranteed to stoke anyone's appetite for Season Three. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (44)

Cable TV at it's best
Despite what many critics stated about the second season of FX's The Shield, this season proves to be better than the first by pushing (and even breaking) the limits of what can be seen on television. The main story running throughout this season is corrupt cop Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) and his Strike team learn of a money train and plan to hit it, but not without a few snags in the way. Julian (Michael Jace) denies his homosexuality and gets a quick marriage before he is revealed to his fellow officers, Dani (Catherine Dent) loses more and more her grip on her job and her state of mind, while Shane (Walt Goggins) forms a closer bond to Vic. Season highlights include Carl Weathers guest starring as Vic's old partner, the introduction of a drug dealer named Armadillo that would have a profound impact on the show, and a flashback type episode in which we see Vic and the Strike team join together for the first time, and we witness Vic's first corrupt act as a cop. Even though Chiklis gets most of the press for his performance on the show, the standout of season 2 was undoubtadly CCH Pounder who slowly learns the truth about Vic and his team, the culmination of which finds her in line for Aceveda's (Benito Martinez) job; the culmination of which will come to a head in the upcoming third season of the show. I had feared that after a breakout first season The Shield would become a cliche, corrupt cop drama a la NYPD Blue, but creator Shawn Ryan pulls no punches and up's the ante for on screen violence and brutality, while weaving an incredible web of story. All in all, this is cable TV at it's unprecidented best.

I had my doubts...
To be honest, I never thought that The Shield could live up to the expectations set by the premier episode. I was so incredibly wrong. The first year of The Shield completely blew my doors off. Non stop action, great plotting, dialogue and the acting was top notch. Other than the birth of my sons, those thirteen hours were the best I spent that year. It had to go downhill though, right? The second season would be the one where Ryan and company would resort to the tired conventions of police drama and my new favorite show would lose it's edge. Happily- Wrong again.

Season two developed the characters of Mackey and his crew to new levels. If you haven't seen the show I won't ruin anything for you, but everyone is put through the wringer in these thirteen episodes. We get political intrigue, interoffice machinations, great police drama with healthy doses of sex and violence. Unfortunately that's what most people focus on.

Chicklis deserved the Emmy for the quiet moments as well as the brutal ones. This actor has got a slow burn like no other. There are moments where he says nothing but we can tell all the alternatives he is running through his head by simply looking at his eyes and physicality. This season brings Mackey to a crossroads where he has to make some serious decisions about where his life is headed and we feel every emotion he is going through thanks to this beautiful, bald man.

That having been said, this is not a series for the faint of heart. There are scenes of physical torture, violence against women, hostage situations and raw sex. You are forewarned.

If your stomach can take a brutal, skillfully written, brilliantly acted police drama there is no better way to take up space in your DVD player than The Shield.

Addicting!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have never seen such an action packed show since the "Sopranos". My husband and I are totally addicted to this show. What makes it better is their stories really happens in real life. They did such an amazin job with this show. Everytime we watch this show, there's always something shocking going on. It deals with life's hardcore issues. Politics, power, money, sex, infidelities... you name it, they deal with it! I hope the STRIKE TEAM will keep on strikin' Absolutely wonderful!!!! You have to see this series!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vic Mackey's Gang Keeps Jammin'
I often miss the televised episodes of The Shield, so it was a great 13-hour marathon watching the second season DVD last weekend. If you're a fan, this is a must see; if you haven't caught an episode yet, get the first AND second season DVD's and you won't be disappointed. Without giving away plot lines, Vic Mackey, as head of the LAPD's "Farmington" division Strike Team (remember the Ramparts division scandals?) is a complex, almost Shakespearean character,played impeccably by Michael Chiklis. Rooting for him and his corrupt yet noble team feels a lot like cheering Tony Soprano and the Jersey boys, except the Soprano family rarely, if ever, brings down the hardened criminals...they just compete with them. The supporting cast are no slouches either; CCH Pounder is awesome as the righteous yet street-wise Lt. Claudette Wyms. This is cop-drama at its absolute best.

Amoral victory for season two!
The Shield's second season did something nobody expected-achieved higher greatness than the first season. Absolutely phenominal series, a must-own boxset. ... Read more

Reviews (431)

A solid action/espionage movie that does not insult the mind
I did not see this movie when it first came out as I am getting tired of the summer extravaganzas that try to outdo one another with how many more explosions they can generate than what is playing in the next theatre. Notwithstanding, I decided to give it a shot as I loved the energy and pacing of director Doug Liman's "Go," and also liked the comedic edge and freshness that he brought to his debut ("Swingers"). I was still somewhat apprehensive as taut and original action thrillers are very hard to come by as most current movies couple the violence with buddy comedy elements that take away from a genre that has only been successfully executed by Steven Spielberg in his wildly entertaining "Minority Report". But I digress.

Since I hate it when reviewers give too much away, I will only say that Matt Damon stars as Jason Bourne (or is he?), a barely alive amnesiac with a pair of bullet wounds in his back, pulled from the Mediterranean by Italian fishermen. The scene itself is very exciting and draws you into it's web. Bourne's only clue to his own identity is a bank account number etched on a capsule implanted in his body. What follows gets very complicated and keeps you on the edge of your seat as other summer extravaganzas seem to fail to. Like its summer "cousins", the movie has action scenes, guns, explosions, an awesome car chase (that relies more on execution than on how many cars can explode), a potential love interest, and many of the usual suspects, BUT it entertains and I did not feel like checking my watch every 5 minutes. Is it Oscar material? Heck no, but within its own genre its one of the year's best.

Matt Damon, who I never quite appreciate, would seem to be miscast to play this type of character, but he is actually quite perfect is he tones it down and makes Jason Bourne almost seem like an everyman who slowly discovers that he has skills he never knew he had. The casting department should be proud of itself as it cast Franka Potente (from "Run Lola Run") as the main female protagonist. The actress is not your cookie cutter beauty nor has the marquee appeal that I am sure the producers would have liked to have a "name" for the role; but someone realized that her acting chops and international background would give the movie some grounding as her character is supposed to be a European gypsy woman who I could not see being played by say Julia Roberts.

The director does a great job in both action and character driven scenes and manages to bring excitement to a gray winter European exteriors and drab interior settings. With the exception of the first fight sequence (which is makes Damon look like he has superhero powers) and later what would seem to be a physically impossible shoot out, everything feels real and the violence is not stylized. The story is incredibly well paced and even the smaller roles are well cast. The only exception is Julia Stiles, who I hope was only a victim of some scenes winding up on the cutting room floor, as she's a talented actress who brings not a thing to this movie.

In a nutshell, this movie is about international intrigue and one man's refusal to be a pawn in some sinister, global chess game. Many things feel improbable but never less than engrossing. Also, the basic premise is not played for laughs (which I enjoyed as I am sick of tongue in cheek homages that use humor as a cop out) and the plot (once fully exposed) for once does not involve a "brilliant" psychopath with either a desire to take over the world or get even for ______ (fill in the blank with your favorite cliché). This movie solidly earns its 4 stars as a nice version of what I'd like to see in summer extravaganzas.

Action plus romance on the run
Greek sailors find a man floating in the Med sea, take him in, and their doc finds a couple bullet holes in his back, as well as a laser capsule in his leg with a Swiss bank account number. The man recovers, but suffers from amnesia. Thus begins his quest to regain his identity. Only, when he opens the security box in Switzerland, he discovers passports from half a dozen countries, wads of cash in various currencies, loads of cool spy gear, and a gun.
Soon the chase is on, from Zurich to Paris, as our man Bourne enlists the help of the German gypsy Marie (charming Franka Potente) and eludes the operatives sent by his CIA superiors until a stunning conclusion when he returns to Paris.
What I liked:
Great setting details of Europe, especially Paris. There were a number of key action sequences, including a car chase involving a Mini taking on French police, and the wildest stairway descent I've ever seen on film. I also thought Matt Damon and Franka Potente had good screen chemistry. There was also a moving scene where Bourne confronts one the assassins on his trail, the professor, played by Clive Owen in a small part.
What needed work:
The hero with amnesia card has been played before, and I would have liked a little more development of Damon's character other than him realizing he had all these drilled in spy skills. We never do get a sense of his likes and dislikes. I liked the film ending over the alternate version, but both could have been better.
This is a movie I would watch again.

Bourne Conspiracy
Okay, I'm writing this because I feel that I've been burned. I just purchased the 2004(?) re-release of this DVD and I was very disappointed. The package describes an "explosive extended edition" and "includes an all-new beginning and ending". I've got to admit that I loved the movie when it was in the theatres, and am happy that it is now in my collection, but I never would have bought it had I known the hype was so lame. The 'explosive' new beginning and ending were NOT, and really add nothing to the movie (I won't 'spoil' the 'surprise' for those die-hard fans). Plus they couch the reasons for excluding them from the theatrical release in some 9/11 mumbo-jumbo that was not clearly defined enough to understand. I think it's just a marketing ploy. If you're looking for a major addition to the original in this new release...please say, "I wasn't Bourne yesterday!"

Thrilling, Exciting, Spies Among Us!
Robert Ludlum wrote "The Bourne Identity" in the 1980's and it is the quintessential "spy" story. It is a thriller and the characters are so rich and well drawn.

A man is dragged from the sea. He has two bullet wounds and a "chip" embedded into his body. These are removed; the man recovers from this ordeal. He does not, however, remember anything, His name, where he is from from and his entire identity has been lost. He takes the chip and goes in search of himself. In a bank in Zurich he finds his identity- Jason Bourne and several other passports and lots of money. Enough information for Jason Bourne to change his identity whenever he needs to. But what does this mean? It appears to mean that many people are after Jason Bourne, that he has information that many people want or they want this information to die!! Around every corner is danger and there is no one that he can trust. He meets up with two CIA analysts who appear to be trustworthy, but are they really? He travels all over Europe and changes identities at every turn. He meets very interesting people at every turn. His life is full of risk and danger. Jason Bourne is an important person with so much hidden information that he doesn't remember. But as time goes on, the people he meets share some of what he is missing, and he is beginning to put the pieces together. He begins a love affair, and he thinks this is what he has been looking for. Why can't he be happy as a single man leaving the "spy" profession and finding his true love?

The movie stars Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, and he does a credible job. The action filming is wonderfully done. The car chases and the flights on foot and in trains are very real and I felt I was amongst them. I was part of the action!! Franke Potente plays Jason Bourne's love interest. Chris Cooper is the enemy and as always is a star- a cruel man who completes his job. The scenery is fantastic and brilliant. What I did miss in this movie that was not transposed from the book, is the storyline of Carlos, The Jackal. This is an important part of the book, and is not in the movie at all. Jason Bourne and Carlos have much admiratiion for each other even though they are sworn enemies. This is a significant loss, and the movie does not have the drama, background and richness of the book. This is, however, a movie to be enjoyed- I understand the sequel, "The Bourne Supremacy" is out this week. A Must See. prisrob

It Got Bouring At Times.
First off let me silence the critics, Matt Damon was very good in this movie. I don't always care for the " cat and mouse" routine plotted into movies. This movie is not any acception. The pace is very long and dry, and when there is an action sequence, it is very brief. The plot itself is very good, but very herky-jerky. You could get lost if you miss some of the movie. The ending is fair, and I doubt that I will go and see the next segment to this series "The Bourne Supremacy." A fair time filler, but nothing to write home to mommy about. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The venerable Superman mythos gets a 21st-century updating in this imaginative and engaging television series from the WB Network, and series fans can celebrate the ratings success of Smallville with a DVD set that offers a chance to revisit the origins of the characters and their numerous plotlines, as well as view deleted scenes and other bonus features. The premise of Smallville--Superman as a teenager--takes up just a few pages in Superman's very first comic book appearance, but series producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar flesh out that period by portraying young Clark Kent (Tom Welling) not as the noble Superman-in-waiting, but as an average teen with some not-so-ordinary supernatural powers, including incredible strength and heat vision. Clark's desire to fit in with his peers and make sense of his extraordinary abilities ground him in very realistic and identifiable terms for the series' primarily under-25 audience, as does his appealing and tentative romance with Kristen Kreuk as Clark's dreamgirl Lana Lang. But Smallville also strikes gold when it takes a turn towards more comic book territory, as evidenced by the parade of shape-shifting killers and other outlandish antagonists (many generated, in one of the series' most ingenious notions, by the same devastating meteor shower that brought the infant Clark to Earth) that Clark must harness his powers to face and defeat. Gough and Millar, along with their capable cast (which includes Michael Rosenbaum as a young and already bald-pated Lex Luthor, and Annette O'Toole and John Schneider as the Kents) manage to pull off the precarious high-wire act of combining science fiction with coming-of-age drama to create this highly watchable program. Smallville: The Complete First Season offers a very complete and attractive DVD package that is rounded out by some highly desirable extras for longtime series fans.

For many fans, the series truly hit its stride in its second season, when it shifted focus from traditional comic book conflicts to one of self-discovery for its hero, a teenage Clark Kent (Tom Welling). Whereas season 1 focused on Clark using his powers to combat a host of menaces, season 2 delved into Clark's past and the extent of his super powers, most notably in the back-to-back "Heat," in which he discovers his heat vision, and "Red," in which red kryptonite in the high school class rings uncorks Clark's less-than-upstanding side. Other plot developments from the season that pull the series in interesting directions include the arrival of Dr. Helen Bryce (Emanuelle Vaugier), who becomes involved with Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum), but the season's most significant moment comes during episode 17, "Rosetta," in which Clark learns of his Kryptonian origins courtesy of a scientist, who, in an effective bit of casting, is played by Superman film star Christopher Reeve. The complexity of the writing and issues dealt with in season 2 marked Smallville as a series with depth and drama worthy of its considerable fan following as well as a second boxed set; fittingly, the supplements in this set are more expansive than on the first one.

Truth, identity, and responsibility are the cornerstones of the exceptional third season. Clark must return to Smallville to not only help his parents save their farm, but seek some resolution in his relationships with Lana and Lex, who's returned from his abandonment at the conclusion of the previous season. Lex himself must deal with some shocking revelations regarding his relationship with his sinister father Lionel (John Glover, magnetic as always), and Lana becomes involved with a new figure in town, the mysterious Adam Knight (Lost's Ian Somerholder), who may or may not be a certain caped crusader. And speaking of heroes in disguise, the season's finale introduces Kara, a young woman with powers similar to Clark's--could she in fact be his sister, known best to comic book fans as Supergirl? Season 3 is chock full of such intriguing moments, including an appearance by future Daily Planet editor Perry White (Michael McKean, the real-life husband of Annette O'Toole) in "Perry," helmed by Supergirl film director Jeannot Szwarc; the return of villains Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Shawn Ashmore, and Jesse Metcalfe from seasons 1 and 2 (in "Asylum"); the departure of series regular Samuel L. Jones; and a intrigue-fraught final turn by Christopher Reeve as Dr. Swann ("Legacy"). The boxed set matches the high quality of the season with some terrific extras, including commentary on three episodes. --Paul Gaita ... Read more

Description

Megalomaniacs. Spies. Thieves. Phantoms. Mad scientists. The world is full of dangerous people. But don't fear -- Wonder Woman is here! Lynda Carter returns as Wonder Woman for all 24 episodes of the third and final thrill-packed season of the series. Teamed with flint-jawed government agent Steve Trevor (Lyle Waggoner) and using the alias of Diana Prince, Wonder Woman whips out her bracelets and lariat to battle evil. And what a battle it is. Her foes include a time traveler from the year 2155, a brain with no body, a dating service that's serving up death, bazillions of hungry ants and a sculptor whose statues come to life and become his partners in crime. Wonder Woman saved the best adventures for last! Episodes: My Teenage Idol is Missing, Hot Wheels, The Deadly Sting,The Fine Art of Crime, Disco Devil, Formicida, Time Bomb, Skateboard Whiz, The Deadly Dolphin, Stolen Faces, Pot of Gold, Gault's Brain, Going Going Gone, Spaced Out, The Starships are Coming, Amazon Hot Wax, The Richest Man in the World, A Date with Doomsday, The Girl with the Gift for Disaster, The Boy Who Knew Her Secret part 1, The Boy Who Knew Her Secret part 2, The Man Who Could Not Die, Phantom of the Roller Coaster part 1, Phantom of the Roller Coaster part 2. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

final year great
lynda carter shines in final season. She seems at home and comfortable in part and th show
is a blast

Your the wonder, wonder woman! The final Season, yes!
Ok, now I am really excited! I will have the complete Wonder Woman Series! Season 3 was good, I hope they have the final one hot wonder episode without Steve Trevor! I will buy this final season for sure! I am impressed with this series, I loved it when I was a kid, and I still love it now! With the exception of her pre-Madonna Wonder Bra! Enjoy, hope this review helped! Here is the episode guide... JM!
1- The Starships Are Coming
2- Phantom Of The Roller-Coaster Part 1
3- Phantom Of The Roller-Coaster Part 2
4- Disco Devil
5- The Richest Man In The World
6- A Date With Doomsday
7- The Girl With The Gift For Disaster
8- Stolen Faces
9- Hot Wheels
10- The Deadly Sting
11- My Teenage Idol Is Missing
12- Time Bomb
13- Skateboard Wiz
14- The Deadly Dolphin
15- Pot Of Gold (Christmas)
16- Gault's Brain
17- Going, Going, Gone!
18- Spaced Out!
19- Amazon Hot Wax
20- The Boy Who Knew Her Secret Part 1
21- The Boy Who Knew Her Secret Part 2
22- The Man Who Could Not Die! (Finale)

Wonder Woman: The Final Set
How about that?2 weeks after my copy of Season 2 (or the first contemporary season for literalists) arrives in my mailbox, I get to place my pre-order for the final season and at the same price to boot.There are some who say that this season's villains are not as comic strip like, but it's a toughie to call.Some of the things you notice in this final collection.1) Charles Fox's music has been "jazzed up" a tad for during both the opening and closing credits, leaving Norman Gimbel's lyrics from both previous sets just a memory of the recent past.2) Steve Trevor Jr's unexplained rank of "Major" (his father's rank from the war series) said to him first by Andros in the next to last segment of part 2 of "Mind Stealers" just as inexplicably becomes "Colonel".As Diana says in, "Flight To Oblivion" "Congratulations you finally got a promotion".3) Some of the clips from the Opening Credits are different than in the last set (1 even includes the Rover).The clips with Lyle Waggoner are the same just showed in reverse of the way they were shown in set 2.They are completely removed in "The Man Who Couldn't Die" since he didn't appear in it (I still believe this was the finale despite the order these episodes will appear on disc), and replaced with clips from that episode (which were used in a previous episode as well). 4) The opening segments before the credits on some of these episodes are longer than on when they started using this format with "Man Who Made Volcanoes" in set 2 (the longest timewise I think is on "Deadly Sting" (which I still feel was the season premiere, listen to the music on the ending credits on this episode vis a vis any other in the collection and you'll hear why). 5)For the first time in the contemporary series, an actor reprises a role (in the war series Carolyn Jones played the Queen and Debra Winger plays Drusilla in both "Feminum Mystique" and "In Hollywood" making the only reprisal of a character by the same actor in the war series).Here Ed Begley Jr returns as Harold Farnum (the smitten college student in "Diana's Disappearing Act") in "Fine Art of Crime".However, forliteralists, his famous father has gone from being a "Congressman" (referencing the House of Representatives) to a "Senator".In this same episode you also see Rover is not as pesty as you think when you first meet him, when he locks Harold in a closet when he tries to secretly get to see Ira after Steve says no.Rover also comes in useful in "Formicida", a bravura "speaking job" by the then popular husband/wife "mime" team of Robert Shields and Lorene Yarnell".Ok enough disecting this final DVD set of 1 of my favorites tv shows.BUY IT AND COMPLETE YOUR COLLECTION (or if you haven't started already, order all 3 together). NOW!

All the world is waiting for season three
This last season of Wonder Woman continued the Amazing Amazon's adventures in 1970's America. 22 episodes comprise the 1978-79 season.

Notable episodes include "My Teenage Idol is missing" where Wonder Woman helps to crack the kidnapping-switching of a teenage singing idol with an impostor, while "Formicida has Wonder Woman go against another super powered woman who takes nature preservation to dangerous extremes through her insect control: bugs are being dispatched to stop the manufacture of a deadly pesticide because this person does not believe the pesticide is good for the Earth. This latter villian is different from some of the other people Wonder Woman has faced because good initial intentions only became warped through extremes.

Wonder Woman also faces a similar ethical issue in "The man who could not die" because she must save a newly-invincible man from being captured and exploited by dangerous groups. Having superpowers ultimately does not mean much if you are then vulnerable to exploitation from being a public (and 'everyday') citizen. Her secret identity as "Diana Prince" might be all that keeps Wonder Woman from facing similar peril.

"A date with doomsday" eerily foreshadows the then-upcoming AIDS pandemic. Wonder Woman must prevent a virus from spreading around the globe. The all-critical plot catch being this deadly virus was first created in a laboratory and the HIV virus is rumored to have been created in similar conditions. I wonder if anybody in this series's scripting department knew anybody affected with what became HIV when this was written?

Unlike a lot of other shows past and present, the series production team knew when to end the show lest their product become stale. The diving suit was cool, but the wonder skate and bike suits were pushing sci-fi fantasy into 1960's camp absurdity. I mourned the series cancellation as a young girl, but now understand the wisdom of the television executive decision, Wonder Woman is now timeless for countless generations because somebody knew when to say `enough'.

There's some playing around with the theme song (adopting a disco influence) but the overall pop culture influence on this series is tolerable and certainly not as bad as it could have gotten (even the "Disco Devil" is a cut above other disco-themed series episodes in this era just because Carter is a good actress period). Of her second suits, I think the wetsuit kicks ass.

Special guest stars this season include Leif Garret, Roddy McDowell, Ted Shackelford and Joan Van Ark. Special features include star Carter's own commentary on the enduring power of Wonder Woman and her singing (in an episode). When some other celebrities are loathe to continue being associated with their signature role, Carter's ongoing warmth to the fans and continued enthusiasm for all things Wonder Woman is really admirable.

I am also thankful that the studios have thoughtfully kept the price of the DVD set down around 20 dollars. I can pass on the Shazzam series (one episode is included on a special bonus disc), but having all seasons of Wonder Woman is a mandate from ParadiseIsland.

Considering how difficult it is to find Wonder Woman reruns on TV, the incomplete DVD release status of some other 70's series (Charlies Angels...etc) and the arm-leg cost of other TV seasons on DVD, this purchase is definitely worth it.

Season Three Is "Wonder"ful
The third and final season of Wonder Woman is ready and waiting for sci-fi fans everywhere to enjoy. In this great colorful season, 22 episodes (two of which are 2-parters) spotlight the Amazing Amazon from Paradise Island. As with season two, season three continues Wonder Woman's (aka Diana Prince) adventures in Washington D.C. working as a secret agent alongside the dashing Steve Trevor (Lyle Waggoner). The episodes included in this set are:

My Teenage Idol Is Missing - Singer Leif Garrett guest stars as a teen singer who is kidnapped for extortion. His agent finds a double to stand in for the missing singer's concert while Wonder Woman tries to track him and his kidnappers down. BONUS: Lynda Carter commentary

Hot Wheels - When a Rolls Royce is stolen with a secret microfilm, Wonder Woman whirls into action.

The Deadly Sting - Professional football tampering causes the IADC to become involved.

The Fine Art Of Crime - Actor Roddy McDowell guest-stars as an art sculptor with a terrible knack of thievery. Will Wonder Woman be able to see through his deception?

Disco Devil - A disco owner is hypnotizing key officials. Diana Prince is soon on his trail.

Formicida - A strange woman environmentalist who controls ants terrorizes industrial companies who do not meet her eco-standards. Possessing ant-like abilities herself, she proves to be a match for even Wonder Woman!

Time Bomb - A fortune seeker from the future comes to the present to strike a name for herself. Wonder Woman and another future traveler try to stop her before catastrophy ensues. TRIVIA: This is the first time actors Ted Shackelford and Joan Van Ark work together, who are two of the best known actors in the later evening series Knots Landing.

Skateboard Whiz - Illegal gambling on the California coast causes Wonder Woman to don her very own Wonder Skate Suit and show off her skateboarding skills.

The Deadly Dolphin - When terrorists use helpless dolphins to attatch bombs to the bottom of boats, Wonder Woman spins into her diving suit to save them.

Stolen Faces - One of my favorite episodes! When Diana Prince learns that a Wonder Woman double was found unconcious, she ties her to a plot to steal wealthy Washington society patrons blind. TRIVIA: Contains one of the BEST Wonder Woman transformation scenes ever! Diana spins in mid-air when pushed off a building and lands as Wonder Woman. :)

Pot Of Gold - The luck of the Irish comes to life as Wonder Woman meets a real live leprechaun.

Gault's Brain - An evil telekinetic brain (you heard me right) proves to be a handful for Wonder Woman when it seeks a perfect body to reside in. TRIVIA: Appearance of the Wonder Wetsuit.

Going, Going, Gone - Submarine hijinks cause Wonder Woman to search for missing cargo.

Spaced Out - Diana Prince finds herself in the middle of a Sci-Fi Convention while investigating the disappearance of a special laser lens.

The Starships Are Coming - UFOs are spotted and Wonder Woman jumps into action. TRIVIA: Actor Tim O'Connor plays a government UFO expert, but earlier played an alien himself in the season one episode Judgement From Outer Space.

Amazon Hot Wax - Lynda Carter flexes her vocal talents in this episode as Diana Prince goes undercover at a recording agency. TRIVIA: Lynda uses her own voice, singing songs from her then recently released solo album Portrait. This episode was one of the few episodes not to be released on the Columbia House video collection due to a problem with music rights.

The Richest Man In The World - A top secret missile device is stolen. Enter Wonder Woman to save the day.

A Date With Doomsday - When a deadly virus is stolen Diana must get to the bottom of the case before a world-wide panic begins. TRIVIA: Appearance of the Wonder Bike suit.

The Girl With A Gift For Disaster - Is Diana's new aquatence just a clutz or is there something more to what is seen?

The Boy Who Knew Her Secret (Parts 1 & 2) - Aliens on the look for an evil inter-galactic shapeshifter track the escapee to Earth. Can Wonder Woman save the innocent humans who get in their way, or will she too become a victim of the alien battle?

Phantom Of The Roller Coaster (Parts 1 & 2) - A mysterious man living beneath an amusement part kidnaps a boy, but not all is as it seems. TRIVIA: The year this episode was made, the spotlighted rollercoaster shown debuted at the Warner Bros. owned Six Flags Magic Mountain theme park.

The Man Who Could Not Die - After a scientific experiment, a man discovers that he physically can not be harmed. Can Wonder Woman save him before he becomes a target for evil groups?

Along with these episodes a featurette focusing on Wonder Woman as a feminist icon will be given. More of the eternally beautiful Lynda Carter and crew's thoughts on the comic book heroine. You can't miss with this great, and final, Wonder Woman DVD set! ... Read more

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While 2003's Daredevil was a conventional superhero movie, the 2005 spinoff, Elektra, is more of a wuxia-styled martial arts/fantasy flick. Elektra (Jennifer Garner) has returned to her life as a hired assassin, but she balks at an assignment to kill a single father (Goran Visnjic, ER) and his teenage daughter (Kirsten Prout). That makes her the target of the Hand, an organization of murderous ninjas, scheming corporate types, and a band of stylish supervillains seeking to eliminate Elektra and tip the balance of power in the ongoing battle of good vs. evil.

As the star of Alias, Garner has proven that she can kick butt with the best of them, and some of the visual effects are impressive, but the action sequences tend to be anticlimactic, and there's not much to the story. Fans will notice numerous references to Frank Miller's comic books, but there's very little resemblance to Miller's cold-blooded killer (Elektra with an agent? Elektra referring to herself as a "soccer mom"?).

Is Elektra better than Daredevil? Not really, even with the distinct advantage of having all Garner and no Ben Affleck. That could be the spinoff's greatest disappointment: after Spider-Man 2 raised the bar for comic-book movies, Elektra lowered it back to Daredevil's level.Directed by Rob Bowman (the X-Files movie), and featuring Terence Stamp as the mysterious mentor Stick, Will Yun Lee (Die Another Day) as the chief villain, and NFL-player-turned-mixed-martial-arts-champion Bob Sapp as the immovable Stone.

DVD features
Ben Affleck's much-rumored cameo is one of the deleted scenes on the Elektra DVD.It's a one-minute throwaway, and while he's supposedly appearing as Matt Murdock (who romanced Elektra in Daredevil), the barrage of celebrity gossip makes it impossible to see him as anything other than Jennifer Garner's real-life boyfriend.There's also a making-of featurette, which is mostly promotional hype other than a few interesting effects shots; four editing featurettes; and Jennifer Garner's videotaped message to ComicCon.--David Horiuchi

More on Elektra

Elektra: The Album (Soundtrack CD)	Elektra: The Movie (Comic Adaptation)	Frank Miller Comic Books
Daredevil (Director's Cut) (DVD)	Jennifer Garner stars in Alias (DVD)	More Superhero DVDs