Reviews (6)

Mobile Suit Gundam Seed series
A treat for all anime fans! Gundam seed is a deep and exciting series that all Gundam Wing and robot fans will love! Buy the series! Gundam Seed is great!

A great finale to a good series
Gundam Seed at first seemed to me an affront to the Gundam series. That completely changed about a third of the way through the series. This is not a kiddie Gundam. The majority of deaths that occur involve young pilots in a manner unlike anything I've seen in any other Gundam series. The last five episodes are especially characterized by this. The setup is familiar to every Gundam series, something big is supposed to attack the earth and a big fight erupts in orbit. But Seed concentrates more on what the pilots are doing than the overall threat to earth. The emotional aspect makes this series' end great. Ultimately I liked the music (no annoying bits of techno or drum machines), the characters, the non-cg gundams, and the bittersweet end. The final frame left me wanting more because it is very open ended, but that of course is why this year we'll probably be seeing Destiny in one form or another. I've been a long time Gundam fan and rate this one with the Original, 0083, and Gundam Wing. But I would best describe Seed as the opposite of Wing with a steadfastly emotional anti-war feeling throughout and then a reluctant acceptance that sometimes fighting is the only rationale way to save something. Hail Zeon.

A fitting finale
Those of you who stayed up late to watch it on TV, rejoice! The final part of Gundam SEED is almost here, uncut and commercial-free. Now we can all get some rest while we wait for "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: Destiny" to arrive on our shores...

The last stand
This last (possibly) last episode of gundam seed in my opion it was the best one yet the last stand with the Earth Fedaration and Zaft forces. if you haven't seen this yet i strongly suggest you order it what about Kira and Authrn only one way to find out
Get that DVD!!!! And watch the last stand It's a date with destiney!

havent seen it but now it will be great...
This dvd will be truly awesome because not only its the end of a great epic but it will feature some really great fights and off course the music will be jaw dropping (big music fan here lol), can't wait for this dvd, obviously buy the 9 dvd's before this.

The day of destiny: May 10th\m/ ^_^ \m/ ... Read more

Reviews (8)

This is mine!
I can't believe that this is finally coming out on dvd format.I have not seen this show in syndication and could not figure out why.Now that doesn't matter.

I'll be counting the days until this gets released.

I've been waiting my whole life!!!
This will be mine the day of its release!!!! Awesome!!!

The Finest of Cartoons!
Warner Bros. continues to be the leader and pioneer for bringing out so many fine rare films and TV show gems.It was Warner Bros who basically pushed the DVD format back in 1997.Many other studios are supportive but cautious in their releases.Basically any show's chances of coming out on DVD are greatest if the rights are owned by Warner Bros. Anyways, one of the finest half-hour cartoons on television was the Thundercats!!Fans of the show are HIGHLY anticipating the release!

Keep 'em coming Warner Bros!!

SHOCKED!!
I'm absolutely shocked that Thundercats is finally being released on DVD. My only hope is that nothing goes wrong down the line with the releases and ALL what is it...127 episodes? Get released. I was on the brink of buying the entire set off of some website that some guy had made up until i happened to stumble across the info. on amazon that the set was finally being released. Truly a great day for anyone that grew up on this stuff. Its amazing how true it is when you hear people talking about how pathetic cartoons are today compaired to what was released in the 80's. Thundercats was a prime example of one of i'd say the top 5 series of all time, and although it took quite some time for it to come out its refreshing to see it on the way.

I couldn't tell you how many times i've gone to Best Buy, Target , or whatever the case may be and would see a "new" box set of some old school series and said to myself how in the hell is this out in the stores yet NO THUNDERCATS!! Sure to be a crowd pleaserThundercats is finally on the way....Now only if we could get theentire X-Men series on the move as well which had 96 episodes? Don't quote me on that...I'd be a happy happy boy!

Finally Coming to DVD
I can't wait until this set comes out.But I just had one thing why does bestbuy.com say its a collector's edition with 6 disc's and amazon.com has it at 3discs also I noticed another site had it at 3 discs double sided.But anyways I'm buying this the day it comes out since I grew up with Thundercats just like everyone else did. ... Read more

Reviews (50)

3 stars for format...
4 stars for the movie, 3 for the DVD.

Love the movie. Remember it from my youth. Highly recommended for young aspiring kings and princes. It's a laughter-filled romp, and Disney at his best for great storytelling, and great character development.

However, this DVD gets only three stars from me because it is in Full Screen format, when the original was widescreen. As usual in these cases, in the tiny print at the bottom of the box, the dreaded words for any 16:9 TV owner:

"This presentation has been modified from the original. It has been formatted to fit your TV screen".

You'd think by now, the studios would get a clue, ESPECIALLY Disney, and release either the original with letterbox, or put both on the disc like so many do... Does anyone here like "Pan and Scan"?

My complaint ends there. It is otherwise a wonderful film to share with your kids... I enjoyed watching it again after so many years, this time with my four-year-old son. We laughed and marvelled together over the antics and magic of the Wizard Merlin, and the adventures of young "Wart". He was ready to see it again as soon as it ended.

Another must-have Disney classic!
I remember the first time I saw this movie. I've always loved Arthurian legends, and in its usual style, Disney puts aside many historical facts in favor of a more entertaining movie, fun for the whole family. Sword in the Stone ranks up in the top 3 of my favorite Disney movies of all time. The characters are well done, Merlin is hilarious, and the artwork and colors are beautiful, making this movie great scenery for the younger kids, and great, enriching fun for the older ones.

A Classic Disney Film that is sometimes overlooked.
This may not be as iconic as some of the other films that the Walt Disney company has made, but it is definately a classic. This gives us a more lighter whimsical look on Camelot. The voice talents are great. The animation is in the classic 60s style that Disney was into at the time. The whole movie is fun. See it, it is not a masterpiece landmark of an animated film but very very good indeed.

My #2 Favorite Disney Movie!
This is my #2 favorite Disney Movie.Sleeping Beauty is My #1 favorite,but just because it is my second favorite does not mean it is not a good movie,because this movie is absolutely great Especially Merlin.He steal's the show with his hilarious Magic spells and his extream intelligence.Merlin's wise talking pet owl Archimedes (who is voiced by the same person as rabbit on winnie the pooh) also is very funny who helps Wart (Future king Arthur) during movie,especially when Merlin turns him into a fish .This is a very good movie your whole family will enjoy.

Disney's 18th Animated Masterpiece!
This 60's Disney film was the last one that Walt Disney cooperated in all the way throughout it's making and theatrical release, he died in the middle of the making of The Jungle Book. The film is really great, and highly entertaining, although not a film I would personally watch over and over. This is the story of Merlin, a kind but a bit grumpy enchanter, on a quest to teach young Arthur that intelligence and strategy are more powerful than brutal strenght, and to teach him about science and math and how to read and write so that someday he'll become the greatest king in England.

The DVD is pretty decent, although the bonus features don't really relate to the film, I have to say that they are just enough to make this DVD acceptable. ... Read more

Description

There's thumbthing for everyone in this 6 DVD box set from writer/director Steve Oedekerk (Kung Pow: Enter the Fist, Jimmy Neutron, Ace Ventura)! Includes "Bat Thumb" (2001, 28 min.) - Super hero Wuce Bane and his sidekick Blue Jay must save Gaaathumb City from the evil, despicable, and poorly dressed "No Face." "The Blair Thumb" (2001, 28 min.) - A clever tale about three thumbs who encounter terror during their search for the truth behind The Blair Thumb. "Frankenthumb" (2002, 32 min.) - Gasp as a deceased Thumb is brought back to life in this outrageous spoof of the gothic horror classic. "The Godthumb" (2002, 31 min.) - A gripping tale of true crime mixed with sensationalistic falsehoods and wrapped in vicious mobster stereotypes. Don't fuhgeddaboudit! "Thumb Wars" (1999, 29 min.) - Reluctant hero Loke Groundrunner and his tasty companion Princess Bunhead battle Black Helmet Man and the Evil Thumbpire! "Thumbtanic" (1999, 27 min.) - They thought nothing on earth could come between them. Then, they hit an iceberg... ... Read more

Reviews (13)

thumb are good
Everyone loves a parody, but no parody surmounts to a cast of dressed-up thumbs with goofy animated faces. And once the initial awe of this wears off, the movies pack a lot of off-the-wall humor and clever dialogues to boot. If you aren't a fan of stupid or bizarre humor, this may not be for you. Also, being a boxed set, you're going to get some great movies and some terrible movies in one. Hey, they can't all be good, right? So if you want my humble opinion, buy Thumb Wars and enjoy. If you're itching to get your hands on more, then slowly go down the list until you find the one that makes you mad.

Thumb-tastic
Contains the six "Thumb" movies as originally released, original case, artwork, and all, each of which remains available seperately. There is no new content in the box set, but this makes a great gift or starter collection (especially at the... price)and each of these films is a must-have for lovers of parody and offbeat humor. After you're done watching the films, be sure to catch the "cast interviews" and additional features, many of which are as funny or more so than the films.

Frankenthumb is the BEST!
This is a great series. Sometimes you just need a laugh, and this package will deliver. Frankenthumb is fantastic. Be sure to watch the cast interviews and other special features. These are often as good as the feature.

The Thumbs of New York
When are we thumbfans going to get another dose? Wouldn't Steve and his thumbs turn The Gangs of New York into a thumbtastic The Thumbs of New York? Daniel Day Lewis's character New York is already wild enough...imagine him as a thumb!

Thumb
These are the funniest movies I have ever seen. After seeing it I told all my freinds about it and they said it was very funny too. So if you need a good laugh by this DVD. Now! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Ariel and her husband, Prince Eric, have a little problem with their daughter, Melody, in the sequel to Disney's landmark The Little Mermaid. Melody is threatened by Morgana, the evil sister of the sea witch Ursula (both voiced by Pat Carroll). Before you can say "Briar Rose," Melody's parents decide to keep their daughter's roots a secret, forbidding her to learn about the ocean while Morgana is around. Now the budding teenager secretly frolics in the sea with Ariel's old friends, Sebastian and Scuttle. When she learns the truth from Morgana, Melody becomes an unknowing pawn in her scheme--and Mom has to take to the sea again to help.

As with Disney's other made-for-video sequels, The Little Mermaid II looks and sounds wonderful (and reunites much of the same vocal talent). Four- to nine-year-olds who grew up with the original will certainly enjoy seeing the friends again. A new set of artists has come up with four catchy tunes and some fun new characters, including Tip and Dash, a pensive penguin and his blubbery walrus friend. Yet, where Beauty and the Beast had a deliberate Christmas-themed sequel, and Pocahontas told the tale of her historical trip to England, the plot here is very forced. It is pretty much a rehash of the first film with different characters. Tip and Dash are a reincarnation of Timon and Pumbaa, and Morgana is exactly like her sister, except thinner. Besides the stellar music, this unneeded sequel also misses another important aspect of the original--heart. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (126)

Ariel's like a different person!!
They RUINED the main characers. Eric sounds like a different person! Couldn't they have found someone who sounded just a little like the original Eric?? And I found it very disconcerting to see Flounder as a fat adult with a bunch of kids. He had such a cute, clumsy, little-kid charm...that's who he was. Now, most disturbing of all, was seeing Ariel transformed from a spunky and spirited, independent teenager to a very motherly..."old" character. What happened? They turned her into her father, exactly! That's not who she is, at all.

Otherwise, the movie was adorble. The film was entertaining and fun thanks to Melody and her friends. I didn't think I'd like Melody but she's a mettlesome little daydreaming mermaid with alot of personality. I just love Sebastian no matter what! And the penguin and walrus she meets along the way are a really cute and funny pair! If they'd just elimate the original Little Mermaid characters this would be worthy of five stars!

Sequel
Obviously, the sequel isn't going to be as good as the first. They never are. This is no different, the storyline is similar with all the characters resembling each other as well. Basically, Melody is Ariel, only in a much younger perspective wanting to be a mermaid (just like Ariel wanted to be a human in the first), Morgana is Ursula, only skinnier with her pet shark who is the eels. Tip and Dash are basically Flounder and Sebastian. I enjoyed Tip and Dash a lot, especially compared to the annoying Flounder. All the original characters make appearances, Sebastian is the crap that used to look after Ariel for King Tritan but now he's supposed to look over Melody for Ariel and Eric. Flounder is still around, yet fatter and his voice is more annoying, King Triton is now the worried grandfather instead of just the worried father. The real downfall here is Prince Eric, who is rarely in the movie but his voice is different and for the worst. He looks a bit different too, he has like blue eyes in this one which makes him look strange.
The storyline as I said is similar. Melody wants to explore the sea, she's an OUTCAST on land and SNEAKS out by going under the wall between the castle and the ocean. She meets Morgana, an EVIL OCTOPUS who has the POWER to TRANSFORM her into a mermaid (hint: with help from Ursula) and she can REMAIN a MERMAID if she STEALS the "pitchfork" (sorry I forget its name) from her grandfather, yet she doesn't know he's her grandfather. Melody captures it with the help of Tip and Dash and returns to Morgana. All the while Ariel has transformed back into a mermaid in hope to find Melody in the sea while Eric looks on land. Morgana TURNS on Melody and transforms her back into a human and keeps her underwater until she drowns. The shark crashes into the ice barrier and Melody is free, Ariel and Melody chat then realize that Eric and the rest of them are in trouble. Melody saves the day. That is basically the whole storyline.
Though very similar to the first one, this is still a good watch and would be a nice movie to show your little kids, especially since they probably wouldn't care if the first one is the original. It's a fun movie, not as romantic or as funny as the first but still fun. If you collect Disney movies or really enjoyed this one if you saw it, buy it. Other than that I'd just suggest you rent this one.

Rent it, Dont buy it.
I was ten years old when the Little Mermaid came out, and I loved it. I seriously wanted to be Ariel, I just loved the songs and the color.

Recently, I rented both the Little Mermaid and its sequel, the Little Mermaid II. WHile I am pleased that there is at least something out there for little kids these days, I was disappointed with the movie. I did not connect with Melody, and Ariel was like nothing I remembered. The only thing pleasing (and, I must say, humorous) was the presence of Sebastian. He alone retained the charm of the first film.

Of course, maybe the reason I didnt like this movie is that I am now an adult. But I gotta tell you, when I re-watched the original, it was still the magical movie that it was for me 15 years ago.

The Little Mermaid 2 - Return to the Sea
What if you learned you were half mermaid? You'd probably want to test your flippers. Melody, the daughter of Ariel and Prince Eric, certainly does! Disobeying her parents' warnings to stay away from the sea, Melody sets out to find adventure and make new friends. But danger looms when she becomes a pawn in the evil Morgana's plot to control the Seven Seas. Lively songs enhance this sequel to Disney's animated favorite The Little Mermaid.

Return to the Sea...WHY BOTHER?!
(as posted on IMDB.com.)

Okay, as a long time Disney fan, I really -hate- direct-to-video Disney sequels. Walt HIMSELF didn't believe in them. He believed in "AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER" being the end of it. But this one...REALLY ticked the taco. There were so many ripoffs of other Disney films in this, it wasn't funny. Quick summary, if you don't already know...: Melody, the daughter of Ariel and Prince Eric, is born. Ursula's sister, Morganna (who basically looks like Ursula, if she were to dye herself green and go on the Ally Macbeal starvation diet) shows up and, after trying to do the newborn tyke in, and failing, prophesizes (sp?) doom for the characters. After that ordeal, Ariel goes into a lapse of being like her father, and refuses to tell Melody about her mermaid heritage, and later on, forbids her to go near the sea. Well surprise surprise. Melody finds out, being the stubborn brat she is, and runs away, then makes a deal with Morgana to become a mermaid, in exchange for something. (Gee does THAT sound familiar?) She becomes one, but in her half of the bargain, has to retrieve her granddaddy's Trident and bring it back to the sea witch. While doing THIS, she runs into a couple of outcast animals, a penguin and a walrus named Timon and Pumb--huh? wait...no! that's not Timon and Pumbaa! or is it? Could of fooled me. Anyway, i'd like to reveal more, but pretty much anything that could be guessed to happen does. OK so...long story short. This movie "borrows" too much from other (better) Disney films...and does it horribly. Come on...Tip and Dash? Why not just make Dash obscenely flatulent and make it an even more obvious ripoff! Ugh. Not to mention, the total character butchery of Ariel's persona. She's gone from being a freespirited, headstrong woman, to a clone of her father. Not good at all...they're basically telling us the sweet, firey little mermaid we've known to grow and love is dead. Plus Melody herself isn't such a great character either...she's damned annoying! And bratty! Not to mention what they've done to Flounder. Ugh...anyway if you decide to see this piece of created-mainly-for-profit-reasons, no-imagination, Eisner-sponsored crapfest, I suggest maybe waiting 'till its on the Disney channel or some other tv station. Because, it's not even worth the price of a rental. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Based on a line of robots from Takara that was licensed to Hasbro,Transformers sparked a craze for metamorphic toys in the mid-'80s. Eachrobot-character could be reconfigured to form a car, a tank, a plane, etc. TheTransformers series (Tatakae Cho Robot Seimetai Transformers or FightSuper Living Robots Transformers) was written in America, but animated inJapan. The 24 episodes in this collection, which ran between October 1985 andJanuary 1986, conclude the second season and lead up to Transformers2006. Each episode forms a self-contained story, with little in the way oflarger character arcs or plot developments tying them together. Although the casthas expanded, the Autobots remain the good guys who defeat the bad guyDecepticons, and no one expects anything else. Although the character designs andanimation are Japanese, the direction is pure American Saturday morning: insteadof creating effective transitions, the filmmakers just cut to a shot of thelogo--a standard practice in Hanna-Barbera kidvid. Web sites, role-playinggames, fan fiction, and a brisk commerce in the original toys have keptTransformers alive in the hearts of its fans. But like Robotech,Transformers will appeal most strongly to nostalgic adults who watched the show askids. (Unrated: suitable for ages 6 and older: robot vs. robot violence)--Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Transformers Season 2 Part 2
The God Gambit
The Core
Make Tracks
The Autobot Run
Golden Lagoon
Quest for Survival
The Secret of Omega Supreme
Child's Play
The Gambler
The Search for Alpha Trion
Auto-Bop
Prime Target
The Girl who Loved Powerglide
Triple Takeover
Sea Change
Hoist Goes Hollywood
The Key to Vector Sigma, parts 1 and 2
Aerial Assault
Masquerade
Trans-Europe Express
War Dawn

Cosmic Rust
Kremzeek!
Starscream's Brigade
The Revenge of Bruticus
B.O.T.

I must say I was a bit disappointed with Season 2 part one. The one episode was completely unwatchable because it kept freezing up so I ended up taking it back to exchange it only the store didnt have any copies so I am still without season two part one but will eventually buy it again. I am looking forward to season 2 part 2 even more because I loved the episode about Omega Supreme and he seems to be in more episodes here. I am a big Omega fan. Also the Key To Vector Sigma episodes have the introduction to the Aerialbots which are also among my favorite autobots.

Golden Lagoon is one of my favorite all-time episodes. It was just good fun but also with a good message. The animation during this season was fantastic. The first season was well animated but this season was awesome with Omega Supreme and some of my favorite autobots taking the spotlight. I wished the Transformers focused more on two of my favorite autobots Sideswipe and Sunstreaker.

Optimus Prime is of course my favorite and displayed his leadership abilities at all times. If you planned to buy only one season so far I recommend season one but if you planned to buy two I recommend season one and season two part 2.

I can't wait for future seasons though so I can see hot rod and rodimus prime on dvd. I highly recommend this season though. Enjoy!

I love Transformers season 2 part 2!!!
I Love Transformers Season 2 partv 2!!! This is the second half on the Transformers cartoon' second season. Many of the post-movie characters are still here like Optimus Prime, Megatron, Ironhide, Starscream,Prowl, Brawn, and Ratchet. I like this season because it's not the post-movie episodes after the movie. The episodes before the movie have good animation and story telling. (...) the episodes I like in this season are The Golden Laggon, The Secret of Omega Supreme, Kremseek!, Triple Takeover, Prime Target, The Search for Alpha Trion, The Girl Who Loved Powerglide, The Key to Vector Sigma parts 1 & 2,War Dawn, Cosmic Rust, Starscream's Brigade, Revenge of Bruitus, and Masquarade. Buy it! Highest Possible Recommendation!

Season 2 part 2
You know, this is just about nostalgia, and it's presented here at its best in the DVD format. Watching this 2nd part, has made me realize just how much I forgot, and just how cool some of these episodes really are. As a kid, I wasn't analyzing the stories and characters, now that I'm older it's taken on a different feel. Some episodes are great, well written and animated, others made me think they simply ran out of time, but in all its great stuff to watch.

The DVD presents the episodes as if they are brand new. Though, there arn't any good extra bonus features. I don't know where all the creators are for this great series, but they are either busy, dead or not interested. I'm surprised there isn't more behind the scenes or just more interviews about this epic. Perhaps Rhino just hasn't done its homework?? And though they attempt to add new sounds, it just doesn't work. It passes, sure, but it once again just alters the series. Heck, even the opening number isn't the original! You can actually hear the original on Hasbro's website dedicated to the transformers. Pretty lame. I don't know who said "Hey, lets' change the opening theme song, and add in a bunch of sound effects! They'll love it!" uh. . . no.

Nevertheless, its the series and you get a chunk of them per set, and that is nice. So pick it up, its great, worth the money for 5 DVD's, I loved them, and even now, my toddlers know all the names and love it too. Now if I could just find Thundercats on DVD!

SEASON 2 PART 2
SECOND HALF OF THE BEST TRANSFORMER SEASON EVER GO OUT AND GET THIS SEASON WHILE THEY STILL HAVE THEM. WE SEE THE AIERALBOTS JOIN THE AUTOBOTS AS WELL AS THE STUNTICONS JOIN THE BAD GUYS.

season 2 part 2
I really like season 2 part 2. The episodes got a lot more creative and had a lot more variety than the earlier ones. The "key to vector sigma", (the concept that explains how Transformers are created) are key episodes to the series and seeing female Tfs, as well as going to space to new found planets are very exciting and innovative. I personally think the new sound effects are cool. I really like season 3 a lot because it is so sci fi and epic, but season 2 has very entertaining interesting personalities. Possibly the most entertaining ones so far. More lighthearted than season 3 but with lots of cool storylines (I think child's play is brilliant). It's nice to also have characters introduced one at at time which the first half of season 2 part 2 does nicely. Transformers usually likes to introduce a 100 characters at once and one of the reasons that the characters are so much fun and more developed I think is because they're introduced on a slower basis. (that goes for the second half of season 2 part 1-if you follow me). Hoist, tracks, warpath, powerglide, seaspray, smokescreen and more each get their own episodes starring only them, with possibly another transformer. They have extreme and fun personalities. The smokescreen episode introduces Defcon a runaway autobot who fled cybertron only to end up on another planet other than earth. (defcon looks like a cross between kup and blurr, but maybe that's me). This is the best season to buy before the movie. It's the most developed and interesting.
I thought tf was animated in america. Any thoughts? what on earth happened to these characters from season 2 part 2 during the movie I have no idea. Some of them you never see again. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Record of Lodoss War began as a serialized role-playing game in Comptique magazine in 1986. The story was adapted to novelizations, audio books, and video games, followed by a 13-part OAV (original animation video) series, which was released in two parts in 1990 and 1991. Five years later, the 27-part broadcast series was completed. Although some characters, settings, and incidents appear in both continuities, the OAV and broadcast versions of Lodoss War were made independently, and the discrepancies in their sword-and-sorcery narratives can't be reconciled.

The broadcast series is divided into two linked adventures involving the supernatural treasures hidden by the last rulers of the Kingdom of Sorcerers 500 years earlier. The first tale (eight chapters) centers on Parn, the honorable Free Knight, and his High Elf companion Deedlit, the heroes of the OAV series. With some help from an assortment of allies that includes King Kashue of Flaim, an annoying grass sprite, and a berserker mercenary, Parn defeats the megalomaniacal knight Ashram, who seeks to rule a united Lodoss with the Scepter of Domination. The second adventure takes place 10 years later and focuses on Spark, a young Knight-in-Training at the court of King Kashue, who idolizes Parn. Spark and a veritable army of secondary characters battle the evil sorcerer Wagnard, who plots to resurrect the destroyer-goddess Kardis. Kardis will destroy every other living thing in Lodoss, leaving Wagnard to rule an eternal Kingdom of the Dead. From these adventures and Parn's counsel, Spark learns what it means to be a true knight; he wins the respect of his men and the love of his lady. Unfortunately, the story line breaks down in the later episodes, when writer Katsumi Hasegawa seems to lose track of the plot and many of the characters. Ashram returns--despite having fallen into a lava pit in episode 8--but as a noble and prudent ruler. Karla, the ancient gray witch, opposes Wagnard, then allies with him. Several "dei ex machinae" appear at the last minute to save situations. The lapses in the storytelling may help to explain why many fans prefer the shorter OAV series, although both versions offer plenty of ancient prophecies, spells, dragons, duels, star-crossed romances, and apocalyptic threats. The individual episodes are separated by "Trailers," odd little segments in which child versions of the main characters make fun of each other and the story. Unrated. Suitable for ages 13 and up: minor nudity and profanity, considerable violence and grotesque imagery. --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (34)

Best Fantasy Anime Ever
In terms of fantasy anime, you cant beat this. The music is good, the characters are well developed, the story is awesome, and once you get caught up in the story, upon series end you'll become depressed over the fact that there are no more episodes to watch. This anime also features one of the best endings in any anime/movie Ive seen in quite some time. As a bonus, the extras are also well worth the purchase, not to mention the Lodoss Island comedy skits that air after each episode will having you laughing for hours, while still providing and entertaining story of their own. All this, plus Ashram, one of the coolest characters in the history of mankind, makes this dvd set a must own for any fan of anime, Lord of the Rings fan, or anyone looking for a good and very entertaining storyline.

Wonderful Series, An Anime Must
This is one of two Lodoss War boxed sets. This is the TV series, which consists of 27 episodes. Story wise, the two Lodoss series are wonderful (though I can't say as much for the odd Crystania offshoot series). If you like Final Fantasy, Lord of the Rings, or Dragon Warrior and the like, I'm sure you'll enjoy this series, with it's incorporation of magic, elves, dwarves, humans, dragons, and other fantasy elements. This story picks up where the OVA left off (for the most part, there are a few story discrepancies that can be traced to the comic series.) Although very long, this is one of the best anime series I've seen. If you're familiar with the OVA, this picks up with the story of Parn, and continues to a new hero. If you liked this set, check out the 2 DVD OVA series, but most who see the TV series have already seen the OVA.

One of the best animes I've seen
I first saw this series on the cartoon network website. However, right before I saw the ending episodes, they took it off their website. I was very distressed by this because I had gotten hooked the series and really wanted to see how it ended. So I decided to get the DVD (it's better to see it on TV than on your computer anyways). It's a 3-disc set, each disc containing around 10 episodes on it. There are no extras (most animes don't have extras anyways, so it's not that big a setback).

This is definitely one of my favorite animes (I'd put it at #1 if it weren't for Cowboy Bebop).
The characters are all very intriguing and interesting. They all have their own little history to learn about. The plot is compelling and it's always interesting to learn about the history of Lodoss. I haven't seen the OVA so I sometimes feel like I'm missing out on parts of things. However, this never really affects the plot. I do like the first section of the series better (with Parn and Deedlit) better than the second one (with Spark and Neese), but they're both really amazing. The animation quality is quite high and the music is compelling.
This is overall a great series. So if you're a fan of fantasy and anime, then this is definitely the series for you.

Not as good as the OVA, but fine fare for LODOSS fans.
No, this isn't a sequel to the fabulous OVA series, but rather a remake of the events that occured after the death of Ghim (and the disappearance of Woodchuck). It is also more accurate to the novels that inspired this wonderful series, which is why characters (namely Orson and Shiris) are reintroduced, and why the story may seem slightly different to those used to the OVA. (The booklet included in the set provides excellent answers to such questions, as do various online sites.) The first eight episodes of this 27-part TV series focus on the fateful battle at Demon Dragon Mountain. The remaining 19 episodes introduce us to Spark, a blue-haired knight wannabe who identifies with Parn, and his ragtag team of misfits as they attempt to stop the Dark Wizard Wagnard from resurrecting Kardis the Destroyer.

While it isn't quite the equivalent of the original LODOSS WAR (we all love the finale where Parn saves Deedlit from Wagnard, don't we?), this TV follow-up is still great fun for fantasy fans. Even if the animation is limited (and a step down from the artistic streak of the first LODOSS), this 27-part series has much to offer. Irresistable characters, engaging storyline, magic, romance, and a superb fantasy soundtrack scored by Kaoru Wada of NINJA SCROLL, make this an enjoyable experience.

This 4-DVD set by Central Park Media has a disappointingly mediocre visual transfer -- the picture is rather jumpy, and there are moments where it almost looks like a videotape with a hole in it - that is, I saw a few static lines every now and then. It's not a terrible transfer by any means - the picture still looks pretty good in spite of its shortcomings - but I've seen far better transfers than this, particularly on the PRINCESS MONONOKE DVD. But what the video quality may lack in clarity, this DVD set certainly makes up for on every other level. The audio quality on the English language track (which I listen to a lot of the time) sounds every bit as good as the Japanese language track (which I only heard bits and pieces of), despite occasional static pops. The sound mix is very big and boomy, and a solid experience of truly experiencing the magical atmosphere of LODOSS. There are also plenty of DVD-ROM features, including the dub script and cast credits.

The English dub, made in 1999-2000, has a lot of the same qualities that made the OAV dub so memorable, but is less polished than its predecessor. It was great to hear the old cast return, but it took me a while to get used to Billy Regan's take on a more mature sounding Parn. His voice came off as a bit grating for the first eight episodes (and some anti-dub fans immediately dissed the dub because of it), but by the time Spark and company take the stage, I found his voice better matched when he gets "older". Also, not everyone from the OAV dub returns. Jayce Reeves only voices Wagnard (terrifically) for one episode; he's replaced by Pete Zarustica for the whole show, who gives a gravel-voiced, but still over-the-top and malevolent performance. Anthony Cruise as Kashue, on the other hand, sounds a little too old and out of it for the first episodes, but he gets better after about five episodes or so. Oliver Gregory is probably the most effective as Orson.

I found a lot of my favorites in the new cast of characters, including Crispin Freeman (Spark, Maar, Garrack -episodes 16-27-), Roxanne Beck (Little Neese), Meg Frances (who voices Pirotess in the OAV but also voices Ryna -- excellently -- as well as Karla) and especially Angora Deb (who rocks as Leaf the Half-Elf). The rest of the cast isn't terrible by any means, but a little more uneven than the OAV dub. Some voices are OK (Hobb, Aldonova, Greevus) while others are lackluster (the guards, etc.) and few were awful (Rabido and Astar). In fact the lack of aural continuity (some cast members get new voices for some unexplained reason by the time we get to some of the later episodes) is one of the problems of the dub. Others include less memorable and more awkward sounding dialogue, uneven synchronization, and finally (I apologize in advance to the fans of this) the LODOSS ISLAND segments. These offbeat, super-deformed interludes at the end of each episode will either amuse or drive you batty. Admittingly, I at first found them to be a major nuisance, but they sorta grew on me after a while. (Besides, there are some showstoppingly hilarious lines such as "I'm King Kashue, and this is my CASHEW! I'm REALLY quite a nut!") These flaws do hamper an otherwise decent English dub, ranking it a notch just below the OVA dub.

If you're wondering if the Japanese language track is better than the English on CHRONICLES, well, guess what? The Japanese language track has its good points and bad points, too. While some voices are less annoying than the English language track, I found others to be less appealing than the English equivalents. Plus, I should mention that the Japanese cast is NOT THE SAME AS THE OVA. Because the series was made seven years after the original, all but one (Sho Hayami) of the cast members are replaced by new ones. Although they do a respectably good job, it may be a major annoyance for those who were used to the Japanese OVA cast. Shows that not everything in Japanese is better than English, eh?

Despite its flaws, CHRONICLES OF THE HEROIC KNIGHT is still a fine series which deserves to hold its own ground. Even if there are some occasionally rough spots, there are enough good points to counter the bad.

Not without faults, but lives up to the Lodoss fame!!
A quick note to those of you who have previously watched the excellent Lodoss OVA series (or for those of you who are giving this TV series a "try" by renting the first disc somewhere).... DO NOT BE PUT OFF BY THE POOR QUALITY OF THE ANIMATION ON THE FIRST DISC!

The art direction and the overall quality of animation of the first six episodes (which comprise the first disc of four) are rather sub-par even for a TV series, especially when you consider the Lodoss name and the fact that it was made in 1998. However, starting from the seventh episode (on the second disc), the art quality picks up drastically. And although the art quality fluctuates a bit from episode to episode (due to the fact that different episodes are subcontracted out to different animation houses), you can rest assured that the rest of the episodes will look much better than the dismal-looking first six. So even if you are disappointed by the look of the first disc, be patient and continue onward to the second disc. Personally, I found episode # 7, 20, and 27 to be the best-looking of the bunch, near-OVA quality. Too bad that the series couldn't have the look and quality of the opening and ending sequences, which are jaw-droppingly beautiful.

Speaking of which, the opening and ending songs are quite awesome too. (The opening theme is written by Yoko KANNO, of Cowboy Bebop and Escaflowne fame.) It's amazing how theme songs to an anime series can be harmonically and rhythmically more creative and interesting than most of the pop stuff out there.

As for the story, it's a kind of a retelling of the story from the original OVA series. (Actually, the DVD says that this TV series is a more faithful rendition of the original Lodoss novel.) So while the continuity may seem weird at first to those of you who've watched the OVA series, it doesn't really detract from the enjoyment of the series. In fact, I felt that this TV series had a much better ending than the OVA series. For fans of Lodoss and the fantasy genre, Chronicles of the Heroic Knights series is easily worth watching.

My couple of very minor gripes: I really couldn't care less about the cutesy, super-deformed comedic sequences at the end of each episodes. I didn't find them to be funny most of the time, and they took me out of enjoying the main storyline. But then again, I guess some people enjoyed it, and the advantage of DVD is that I can easily skip them.

Which brings me to my second gripe: the chapter divides are done quite poorly. Instead of the opening sequence, the first and second halves of the story, the ending theme, the preview, etc each getting their own chapters like usual, one episode is divided by only two chapters. The first contains the opening theme and the whole episode. Then the second clumps the above-mentioned comedic sequence, the ending theme, the preview, and the American credit roll together. It's still functional, but it's not very convenient. I have no idea why the Central Park Media chose to do it this way. But, like I said, these are all very minor gripes. I just thought I'd mention it. :)

In any case, to many anime fans who came to revere the Lodoss name, this series will not disappoint. People have, and will continue to argue whether the original OVA or this TV series is better. I'll take both. Highly recommended. (^_^)b ... Read more

Reviews (38)

Kick's Disney's butt
What gives? This is a sweet, endearing, lovely story with great animation--so why do so many people dislike it? Heck, after watching this movie, *I* daydreamed about being Thumbelina. Admit it, wouldn't you like it?

The traditional Hans Christian Anderson story: A woman who wishes for a daughter is blessed with one in a flower--and she's about six inches tall. But this doesn't matter to Mother or her array of barnyard animals, who love Thumbelina dearly. However, soon a handsome fairy prince named Cornelius arrives and is smitten with Thumbelina. After taking her on a ride on his pet bumblebee, he has to leave but promises to come back.

That night, Thumbelina is kidnapped by a family of singing frogs, but as she escapes with the help of a French swallow, she ends up in deeper and deeper trouble.

Some things in this movie are rather cloying--the jitterbugs, for example--but they're too small a part of the movie to be noticeable. Thumbelina is not a macho heroine, so don't expect her to act like one--she's a lost, frightened girl who's been sheltered all of her life. She shows remarkable strength and I got the feeling that the Thumbelina at the end was very different from the girl at the beginning.

Cornelius remains my favorite character. Our first glimpse of the adolescent fairy is after he escapes from a royal parade, where he is forced to sit on *snicker* a white butterfly. He's strong, funny, interesting, lifelike, and... dare I say it?... sexy.

Ten to one your kid will adore this movie.

Eye Candy with a Gorgeous Love Song
I have to admit it once and for all--I am a romantic at heart. That said, I must also admit that my favorite Disney movie is, you guessed it, The Little Mermaid. Imagine my surprise when I popped Thumbelina into the tape player and heard my favorite voice again in a new incarnation. I absolutley love Jodi Benson's voice--something about it as a child captured my imagination and I couldn't stop singing "Part of Your World...." and I still do. That said, I think that it's wonderful to have Jodi singing again, even if I absolutley detested this particular character.

Of course everyone knows the familiar story of Thumbelina, so I won't belabor it, except to say that I really didn't care for Don Bluth's additions to the story. I'm sorry, but the jitterbug nightclub? Where did that one come from? Most of the "new" characters simply annoyed me, rather than seeming cute, like those from The Little Mermaind (Flounder, anyone?). And to tell you the truth, I couldn't get past those little...things...on the side of Thumbelina's head--what the heck are they? Yes, I know they're hair, but how can a fairy prince fall in love with someone with hair that ugly? I suppose I'm simply used to the Esmeraldas and Jasmines of the animated world, perfect in every way. But though you may call me shallow, I prefer that my animated characters look as beautiful as I would like to look in real life, not dorky, thank you very much. So that was a terrible dissapointment and colored my entire movie experience.

So what did I like about this movie, you ask in puzzlement. Well, as I already said, I'm an incurable romantic, and my favorite part, of course, is when Cornelius shows up and sweeps Thumbelina off her feet. That love song is so pretty and man, can he sing! I also adore that final scene where Thumbelina uses her voice to make the snow melt and the flowers bloom...and to bring the fairies out (hope I'm not ruining any endings for anyone...). It is just so magical and I confess to rewinding the movie a few times to those places. But other than that, I only midly tolerated the rest of the movie.

In any case, I would recommend this movie to two groups of people only--those with young children, and those who love Jodi Benson's voice and have already memorized The Little Mermaid. And if you aren't in one of those groups, go see The Little Mermaid instead!

Excellent movie, even for the older set!
This is an incredibly cute movie that I would gladly watch over again. The story flows pretty well, the animation is way above par (even though I spent the entire movie thinking how much Cornelius and Thumbelina resembled Fox's Dimitri and Anastasia), and the voice acting was wonderful. I liked all of the voices chosen, but I of course had a hard time separating Thumbelina and the Little Mermaid (cause they share the same voice actress). Anyway, this is a great movie, and I recommend all see it, no matter what your age!

Thumbs up!
Despite the very mixed reviews, we decided to give this one a try.
My 3 1/2 year old loves it and it has become her new favorite movie. She loves Thumbelina and is delighted she has the same voice as Ariel (The Little Mermaid). The music is upbeat and catchy (and I'm NOT a big fan of Barry Manilow). OK, Thumbelina is a bit wimpy but not much more so than any other fairytale princess. A charming movie parents won't mind watching with their kids.

An under-rated Don Bluth production
I didn't see "Thumbelina" until I was in my 20's, but since I love animation, it didn't make much difference. I love this movie and finally got it on DVD a couple days ago. Jodi Benson did another great job lending her voice to the lead character and the music was great too. The only complaints I have about the movie, to echo other reviewers, is that some of the animals in the farm were very strange looking. Also, I couldn't help but notice that Thumbelina was constantly losing her balance no matter where she was standing. Still, I think Don Bluth did an excellent job on "Thumbelina" and that it deserved much more recognition. I admit, I'm a softy for fairy tales, and I actually love her innocent, naive personality. It was great to see her make the right decision at the end though, even knowing she might be alone. Unlike what some reviewers have said, I think that makes her a great role model. We all have to go through a learning process. But without being silly and over analyzing the film's psychological effect on society, it's just a fun and enjoyable movie that I would recommend for any young girl or adult who's young at heart. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Beastmaster:The master of all shows!!
Beastmaster is one of the best tv shows I've ever seen(following Andromeda and Mutant X)in my life.This is what every show would have:A great masterpiece!!!!

Excellent! Party Time!
I am writing this review mainly to counteract another reviewer who gave the dvd 1 star because it did not have English subtitles. That's wrong!!

Anyway, season two of Beastmaster is good, not as good as the first I think, but it's pretty good. In the end of season one, Tao decides to travel to his home in the Middle of the World. So, in this season they travel there, and they finally get there in episode 5 or 6 or somewhere in there. Before that they meet Arina, portrayed by Marjean Holden. I don't know where they found her, but she is amazing, exotic, and looks like a true warrior, not like that wannabe Lucy Lawless from New Zeland or something. She has some hidden agenda, and the Sorceress gets suspicious. Well that hidden agenda is to help a dude with really white hair to overthrow Zed, because she wants revenge for Zed's past transgressions. When they finally get to Xinca (it is the city in the Middle of the World, Tao's home), Tao raves how it is civilized. Well Dar does not want anything to do with civilization after they leave. Some monks try to kill them and stuff. They pay a few more visits to Xinca later on, however and I think this is where the finale takes place, if I am not mistaken.

The dude with the white hair, by the name of Voden, is the king of the Nords, and he is to replace Zed as the ruler of the Territories and nearby regions. He wants the Beastmaster for some reason. The Sorceress helps Zed escape, and he vows to come back, with better weapons, in the season finale.

While Zed builds up an army, the Beastmaster has to deal with Voden, who is really annoying in that he wants the Beastmaster to command and army of animals for him. Voden is portrayed with exceptional intelligence (as opposed to Zed's brute force, not that Zed was not intelligent ...) and I don't know why he keeps insisting on this ridiculous idea, especially after the Beastmaster explains to him that he cannot control the animals, just ask for their help. It is the animal's choice whether to cooperate. Well Voden is stubborn, and in the end I am still unclear on his motivations.

The budget for the show isn't exactly "through da roof" if you know what I mean, so if you have never seen the show, don't expect a lot in terms of special effects, but the show still looks very nice. It is just that getting an elephant to storm a wall of a city (in the finale) was a huge thing for them. It looked ridiculous, but still inpressive. I don't think they have ever had an elephant on the show before that, well maybe once. Also the show's trade mark "morphing effect" is really annoying. If you can overlook these minor annoyances, however, and come to appreciate its simplicity, you will immerse yourself ... aah forget it, just buy the DVDs.

Stinks!
It does not have English subtitles! It is not even closed-captioned. Not recommended.

Great Series never a dull moment. Trekkies: try this out :-)
I was very sceptical when I bought the first series thinking I would hate a series based on a muscle bound Tarzan like man. I am an avid Trekkie and have watched every Star Trek episode made, up to and including the 2nd season of Enterprise. What could I possibly see in a Jungle based series with no scientific implements or space exploration.
The very first episode blew my mind with it fabulous cinematography and excellent sound effects. Once I got into the series it started to look very similar to the original Star trek. With Dar replacing Captain Kirk and Tao as his right hand man the thinker (Spok without the Vulcan ears). They are out to explore the world and right its wrongs. Amusingly the sourcerers even have their own version of the "Prime Directive" which prohibits them from interfering in human affairs.
The special effects are great, the costumes are wonderful and the setting absolutely spectacular.
I found season 2 to be even better than season 1. I can't wait to get my hands on season 3. ... Read more

Description

The Genomex Corporation conducted radical genetic experiments on humans, which gave them powerful abilities.Genomex now ruthlessly hunts them down in an attempt to cover up its blunder.And only Mutant X can stop them! ... Read more

Reviews (18)

"Mmm...64 slices of American Cheese" Homer's midnight snack
The Simpsons DVD sets so far have been jam-packed with extras, commentaries, and creative menu pages, which may be the reason the seasons are fairly slow in coming out. I am getting a bit antsy because the next 7 seasons or so are so great, but good things come to those who wait. Season five has some of my favorite episodes. Some were pretty rare to see in syndication and now almost impossible to see as the current reruns seem to concentrate on the later seasons. Here are my season five highlights:

"Homer's Barbershop Quartet" with an appearance by George Harrison. This parody of the Beatles is very clever, especially Barney's girlfriend, "the Japanese conceptual artist."

"Rosebud" is in my top 10 Simpsons episodes ever. Mr. Burns is obsessed with finding his boyhood teddy bear Bobo. It is one of the funniest shows I've ever seen. The best part is when Smithers dresses like Bobo to try to, uh, cheer up Burns.

"Bart's Inner Child": Self-help guru Brad Goodman is impressed by Bart's "do what you feel like" attitude. Springfield puts together a "Do What You Feel Festival," a welcome change from the "Do As We Say Festival" (started by German settlers).

"Boy-Scoutz in the Hood": Another favorite of mine. A sugar high causes Bart to join the junior campers, lead by Ned Flanders. Enduring Homer's constant teasing, Bart dreads telling Homer about the father-son rafting trip (Homers response: "Ha, you don't have a son."). Ernest Borgnine guest stars.

"Homer and Apu": Apu gets busted for selling tainted meat and loses his job at the Kwik-E-Mart. At one point, Apu and Homer travel to India so Apu can seek forgiveness from the Keik-E-Mart CEO who resides in not the most conveniently located convenience stores. James Woods guest stars.

"Lisa Vs. Malibu Stacy": Lisa is on a rampage when her talking Malibu Stacy doll says things like "Don't ask me, I'm just a girl." She meets with the doll's creator Stacy Lovell to design a more politically correct doll. Lovell had been forced out of the company because her ideas were not cost effective (oh, and she was also "funneling profits to the Viet Cong"). It is hilarious. Smithers' start-up page on his computer is a must-see.

"Deep Space Homer": A classic where Homer goes into space. Buzz Aldrin and James Taylor are guests.

"The Boy Who Knew Too Much": Bart plays hooky and witnesses an incident that causes a trial against Mayor Quimby's nephew Freddy. On the jury is Homer "how many s's are in innocent" Simpson.

"Secrets of a Successful Marriage": Homer feels important teaching a class on marriage but Marge is not happy with his "tell all" lesson plan.

These are my favorites of this DVD set. Other episodes include: Cape Feare (starring Springfield's criminal mastermind Sideshow Bob), Homer Goes to College, Treehouse of Horror IV (where Homer sells his soul for a donut), Marge on the Lam (a Thelma and Louise parody), The Last Temptation of Homer, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Legalized Gambling, Homer the Vigilante, Bart Gets Famous (Bart as the "I didn't do it" boy), Homer Loves Flanders, Bart Gets an Elephant, Burn's Heir, Sweet Seymour Skinner's Baadasssss Song, and Lady Bouvier's Lover (with a parody of The Graduate).

HAIL ANTS!
I won't go over individual episodes since several people already have, but rest assured - seasons 4-7 were the show's peak. Season 4 firmly established a groove for the series, and season 5 keeps it going with outstanding episodes galore. "Rosebud" (where Burns wants his old teddy bear back) is arguably the best Simpsons episode ever, and it is in this set. Other outstanding episodes include "Burns' Heir" (Bart gets angry at his family and is adopted by Burns), "Bart Gets Famous" (the "I Didn't Do It" one), and "Deep Space Homer" (Homer joins NASA and goes into space).

If you are new to the DVD sets or (gasp) new to the series, and you can only pick up one season set....well...get season 4, as it is the pinnacle. But as soon as you're done watching that you're going to want more, and that's what season 5 provides.

Simpsons RULE
I started watching the Simpsons when I was about 7-8 years old. Then I stopped watching it, and just recently have I got back into the craze for the show. What I don't get is all the DVD sets they have out now are from around the time I was born, and why is it they can't put the seasons straight out on DVD once the season is already been aired. Sorta like the Sopranos series. But not matter what, I am a dedicated Simpsons fan who owns all four seasons. May God Bless Ya

Definitely worth the wait!
I know it's a pain to have to wait so long between Simpson releases, but if they were cranking out feature-only versions every month it wouldn't be worth it at all. I appreciate all the thought and work they put into the releases. The commentaries are all very interesting, as are the extras relating to the particular seasons. P.S. those who say the show has been "slipping" of late are liars--and not true Simpsons fans at all. The show has gotten wilder at times but hey, welcome to the 21st century! I think they've tapped into new levels of creativity. It's called evolving with the times. I hope they last for 10 more seasons...at least!

Four great years wasn't too bad before a shark jump
I don't want to promote someone elses website here, but I couldn't think of a better title, or a more appropriate one. Sitting down to watch the show back in Fall of 93 I sat down with eager anticipation to see HOMER GOES TO COLLEGE. Boy was I dissapointed, I actually said "I'm never watching the show again!" I couldn't beieve what a dip in quality there was compared to the other seasons and what stupid jokes they had, this wasn't the SIMPSONS that I remembered. It wasn't just this episode but several others that followed it in the season. I knew that the show would never be the same again. Now of course I have seen some more of the show after that incident, but I don't watch with the same zeal that I did. I read online that the writers recently were going to try and pull back and fix the show so that there is less Homer, (a once great character, but a primary offender in recent years) and focus on other characters like Bart again. Lets hope so.

Like with all things bad, there are good points. $PRINGFIELD has Mr. Burns building a casino in Springfield to try and boost a struggling economy and having Marge slowly turn into a gambling adict, never coming home for a break while gambling. THE LAST TEMPTATION OF HOMER has Homer being attracted to a sexy new employee at the powerplant who shares all of his sloth like habits, while Bart copes with a new nerdy appearance brought on by corrective glasses and shoes. BART GETS AN ELEPAHNT has Bart passing on the obvious money prize on a radio contest and requesting the joke prize, a full grown elephant. Once the elephant arrives, paying it's bills quickly proves to be difficult. BOY SCOUTZ IN THE HOOD has Bart realizing he signed up for the boy scouts while on a suger high, and finding out he actually enjoys himself, until Homer comes along for a river rafting trip. There are some other episodes that have great jokes or moments (Rapp'in Ronnie Regan tape from HOMER LOVES FLANDERS or the "Star Trek combat scene" from DEEP SPACE HOMER both jokes usually left out of syndication I might add). The rest though is nothing I can really recomend. Thankfully some of the pieces would be picked up in season 6 and 7 and the show would return to some of the splendor. Season 5 is for a Simpson completeist only, and that is something I wish I never had to say.

Oh, by the way before I go, and this is to you suits at FOX. I like many people watched and recorded the show for many years and memorized shamelessly jokes and scenes from whole episodes. It is because of this that I do not watch the syndicated Simpsons because I know that scenes and jokes are missing, good ones too. I like many people were disheartened when we all saw that you left the edited "rabies" line in the "MARGE GETS A JOB" episode. For syndication thats fine, but for a "COMPLETE UNCUT" DVD set that we fans pay our hard earned money for and wait even longer for due to those sub par commentaries that you put into every show (and then don't even bring up the edited line in your commentary) It is PURELY unacceptable. We are the fans and we want our show the way we remember it. Don't be afraid of the letters of 8 people who refuse to watch your show if you don't do something about what they were offended by, because you have about another 7 million plus who will watch. FAMILY GUY could get away with it because it doesn't stay in the hearts like the Simpsons did (at the time it was running anyway). The Simpsons deserve better, so start treating it the way it should be. ... Read more

Reviews (133)

Best Disney Movie since "The Lion King"
Hercules restored my faith that Disney can still make fun, engaging animated movies (this one's much better than the more recent disappointing Road to El Dorado or The Emperor's New Groove). The animation is dazzling (from the makers of Aladdin and The Little Mermaid), the music is a new take -- gospel, and the characters are funny. The voices include a cast of famous names, such as Tate Donovan and Danny DeVito as Hercules and his goat-man sidekick. The plot is predictable and the storytelling of the Greek myth may be a bit off, but after all, it's Disney. The DVD includes a documentary ("The Making of Hercules") and a Ricky Martin music video (for the song "I Can Go the Distance"), and most Disney DVDs hardly have any extras. I wouldn't call this movie a must-buy, but it's a welcome addition to Disney's family of great cartoon movies... and kids will certainly love it, too.

The World's First Super Hero
Disney adds a new twist to the story of the mythological strongman in the funny animated feature "Hercules". Hercules (Tate Donovan), the son of Zeus, is kidnapped and turned mortal by the sinister god Hades (James Woods). Now, with his amazing strength and the help from his fly stallion Pegasus and trainer Phil (Danny DeVito), Hercules journeys to regain his place among the Gods of Olympus. Though not as memorable as previous Disney animated films, "Hercules" is a lighthearted fun-filled fantasy adventure. The story is fresh and funny, and the animation is stylish and colorful. The film contains some clever humor and amusing scenes including a thrilling battle between Hercules and the fierce hydra. James Woods shines as the voice of the sly Lord of the Underworld Hades and Susan Egan is amazing as Grecian beauty Meg. The voice cast also includes Bob Goldthwait, Matt Frewer, Paul Shaffer and Rip Torn. The animated tale is presented in its THX certified 1.66:1 widescreen format. The DVD contains a very detailed video transfer and a rich 5.1 Dolby Digital sound. Its supplemental material features "The Making of Hercules" featurette and a music video with Ricky Martin. Despite the lack of interesting extras, "Hercules" earns a "B-".

Great teaching tool
Precisely BECAUSE of the complete disregard for the original mythology, this movie is a superb teaching tool for middle schoolers. After a unit on Mythology, the kids can identify for themselves the many creative changes Disney opted to make, and even better, they can figure out for themselves why Disney made those choices. It makes the kids savvier media consumers, they enjoy spotting the "mistakes," and the music is terrific and holds their attention. We all enjoy the fact that nearly every time the Muses sing "and that's the Gospel truth!" they're referencing something completely FALSE. And the group scene at the christening makes a great "test" of those symbolic identifiers--the kids like being able to identify the gods and goddesses based on the clues in their appearance.

Zero to Hero
When the evil Hades, god of the underworld, learns that if Zeus and Hera's newborn son Hercules fights his world takeover plan, he will fail, Hades' idiotic helpers Pain and Panic kidnap the tyke in an attempt to turn him mortal and kill him. But before baby Herc could drink the last drop of the potion, a middle aged couple intersept. They take young Hercules in and raise him as their own. The only problem Hercules has is his god like strength, which he retained because he did not drink the last drop of the potion.

Hercules grows up feeling like he doesn't belong and goes on a journey to find his true identity. When he discovers that he is the son of Zeus, he is told that the only way he can regain entry to Mount Olympus is to become a true hero.

So with the help of Phil, a satyr, and Pegasus he begins training to become a hero. He ends up meeting Meg, a young woman who sold her soul to Hades, and falling in love with her. Meg is torn between loyalty to Hades and her growing love for "Wonder Boy".

When Hades strikes a deal with Hercules to give up his strength for 24 hours, Hades frees the Titans to take over Olympus. Due to one technicality in the deal, Hercules regains his strength and defeats Hades. But when he learns of Meg's death, he strikes a deal with Hades to rescue her and take her place in the underworld.

A little bit too modern for a story set in Ancient Greece but this movie contains all the essential elements of a true Disney classic.

From Zero to Hero
Hercules is a total knockout - for the first half of the movie. The second half falls flat. Hercules has one of the best animated film scores ever. To promote the film, Disney had a traveling "troupe" of singers in Greek costume perform at malls around the country. The executives apparently even appreciated the incredibly orignal gospel-style songs with witty and joyful lyrics. The rollicking songs get a big "Amen!" The fabulous Muses are wonderful creations.

The story involves Hercules as an awkward boy trying to fit in with the humans who have adopted him. After he inadvertently causes a disaster at the marketplace, Herc strikes out on his own, and is shocked to discover his Mt. Olympus heritage. Megara, the female romantic interest, is not very likeable as a fallen woman redeemed by love. You feel Herc deserves better.

Since Aladdin, Disney has used celebrities as character voices. Hercules in particular benefits from this, with James Woods ad libbing hilariously as Hades, lord of the underworld, and Danny DeVito, who brings heart and laughs as "Phil" the Satyr. ... Read more

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Disturbing, perplexing, sometimes infuriating, Ryutaro Nakamura's serial experiments lain covers some of the same themes as The X-Files and the films of David Lynch. When introverted 13-year-old Lain receives an e-mail from a dead classmate, she gains access to "the Wired," a virtual world that promises unlimited power to those who can exploit it. Gradually the borders between the real and the virtual blur, and Lain's own identity begins to fade and fragment. Her parents tell her that she is not really their child, her online self grows in power and independence, and shadowy organizations pursue her in both worlds. Finally she begins to realize that she is either reality's only hope, or its worst enemy.

Nakamura keeps the pace of serial experiments lain deliberately slow, imbuing the early episodes with a sense of mounting dread that pays off as the plot develops. The anime technique of panning across static images creates a meditative stillness that works perfectly, and the repetition of certain key images gives them a dreamlike significance. Viewers will either love or hate the complex plot, which seems intent on incorporating every possible paranoid conspiracy, from sinister nanotechnology to alien plots. However--unlike many other anime--it somehow hangs together, and frankly not understanding everything is part of the pleasure of this kind of story. Fans of action-heavy anime and people who like every loose end tied up should steer clear, but those who surrender themselves to the slowly unfolding mysteries of the plot will be amply rewarded. --Simon Leake ... Read more

Reviews (92)

"Hello, Navi."
How do I even begin reviewing a show like "Serial Experiments: Lain?"

To start with, this is one of the most visually amazing, compelling, twisted, sci-fi-ish, dramatic, different and confusing anime series I've ever seen. It all centers on Lain, who, in all respects, appears to be a normal, if not independent (read: loner) young girl. She doesn't have super powers, she isn't anime-style sexy, and she doesn't own or operate a giant mecha -- but she does wear the cutest little teddy bear outfit: ears, tail, and all.

The story begins with the suicide of one of her classmates. A short time later, she's emailed by this classmate, from "beyond the dead..." Lain, having likely never powered on her Navi (think future, voice activated Macintosh -- it even run's the "Copland OS"), clears off her desk and sets the machine up. And she's hooked. She asks her "Papa" for a new Navi, as her's is a little old and dated. With her wish granted, she's soon cruz'ing the Wired (the future Internet) in her brand new Navi. By chance (or is it?) she comes into posession of a Psyche Processor, and reads up on how to install it. That Processor is only the beginning, and soon her room is transformed into a dark cave of twisted wires and green, bubbling coolant.

The series, like I said, is confusing. If you had a hard time with "Eyes Wide Shut," you might pass on "Lain." It's difficult to review, because of everything that happens in it. True, there are only 13 episodes, but those episodes contain so much story line, that missing one is like missing two hours of a movie that's two hours and ten minutes long. Only until the last disc makes it into your DVD player do you begin to understand some of what's going on. And then, the story line changes on you again, and you're once again thinking, "Huh?"

If you've never seen "Lain," I wouldn't recommend this box set. I also can't recommend the purchase of just the first disc to "try it out," as the good, confusing stuff doesn't start happening until the next disc's episodes. You might want to try a rental store or friend, to give it a test drive. If you already own all the DVD's, there's really no reason to buy this box set, as all you'd be getting is a box (and, of course, a second copy of each DVD).

Repeated viewings of "Lain" are recommended. Personally, I think a little "viewer companion" for us American audiences would have been a nice touch. "Serial Experiments: Lain" should be watched by all anime fans, as it provides a different approach to anime, but some may come away feeling lost and dazed. Lain will do that to you.

Close This World
I happened upon Lain one day in a local comics store that rents anime and I was immediately drawn to the series by the art of the cover. Instead of your usual beautiful anime girl, Lain wasn't classically beautiful or sexy. Instead, she seemed sad, haunted almost. I rented the series and soon fell in love with it. I knew then, I had to buy the series.

Admitingly, this series can be confusing at times, but that's part of its appeal. On one hand, the plot seems simple; an introverted girl finds her way to the 'wired' and as she travels through this world, the lines between reality and imaginary began to blur. Sometimes, you find yourself not knowing whether what you are seeing is real or if you're just caught up in one of Lain's illusions.

I have seen the series about 5 times now and I still don't claim to understand all of it. Yet, every time I watch I find myself stumbling upon some idea I hadn't thought of previously. While Lain's main theme is that of reality within the 'wired' world, this series manages to question all basic human beliefs about life, death, religion, evolution, existance, etc. One second a character will make a statement that you'll immediately think is wrong but in the next second they'll say something you accept as a universal truth. The best way to watch this series is not trying to understand ever triviality, but journey with the characters as they search for the truth, yet it is up to the viewer to decide what this truth is.

To summarize, Lain is a beautiful, haunting series that asks everything yet explains little. It doesn't have a nice tight ending where all lose ends are tied up, but that would have ruined the series itself.

Disturbingly beautiful. Truly.
In the world of anime, for many people, Serial Experiments Lain holds the title as the most disturbing, most convaluted series of all time.

Quite frankly, I agree with them.

But there is also more to S. E. Lain than its mere "freakish-ness." Lain, like its fellow notoriously controversial self-analytical anime, Neon Genesis Evangelion, makes a point of taking typically over-played, over-used philisophical concepts and questions posed in many darker, psycho-analytical animes, and proposing them in a new light. Lain's analysis of the human condition and of human nature through the characters of the series is truly deserving of praise as well. As a matter of fact, when one watches Lain, they may get the feeling that the characters hold a purpose less as characters, and more plot devices used to embody and demonstrate the questions and concepts proposed by the series (as is especially evident with the character Alice/Arisu), as do many of the events that occur throughout the series as well. This is not neccessarily a bad thing, in that S. E. Lain is more a concept/analysis based than a plot based one. Yet, even in all of t