IPhone 3G used's review (Well-made but blood-soaked and depressing mood piece from the Coens) 『The Coens return to "Fargo" territory with a blood-soaked tale of local yokels coming up against big city criminals, however, this time the result is completely reversed. Javier Bardem is creepy as a "grim reaper" type and Josh Brolin is excellent as an opportunist who gets in way over his head. Tommy Lee Jones and Woody Harrelson have small but telling parts as an old cop and "fixer", respectively. The only thing that detracts from this film - and the same is true of all Coen films - is the frequent and unnecessary brutality that the Coen's enjoy wallowing in.』
(One of the WORST movies of ALL time!!!) 『This movie had so much hype and looked like it should be a great movie! I can't believe I sat through the whole thing! I just kept telling myself "oh it will get better this is just the boring begining." But it just never happened and I now lost 2 hours of my life that I would have rather spent in prison. This is one of those artsy fartsy movies that is so bad that people think it is good. There is no soundtrack at all and most of the time your TV will be silent except for the wind or gravel crunch of someone's shoe as you watch them walk for 5 mins towards a deer. So if you like mild action scenes mixed with a lot of conversations that have absolutly nothing to do with what is going on with the movie, than this is the summer lackluster for you!』
(Violence, violence, evil and violence) 『This was a well told story, with excellent acting and enough suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat, but from start to finish, this movie is loaded with violence, so much so that I actually had nightmares after watching it.
Outstanding performances were given by Josh Brolin as Llewelyn Moss who stumbles upon a drug deal gone bad, also by Tommy Lee Jones as Sheriff Bell, and Kelly MacDonald as Llewelyn's wife. However, of special note was the Academy Award worthy performance by Javier Barden who absolutely personified evil as Anton Chigurh, the cruel, sociopath with his own twisted sense of honor, hired as an assassin to recover the stolen drug money.
You won't get very far into the film before you begin to lose count of the murders, and the bloodbath continues for about two hours in high def blu-ray clarity. It's a bit overwhelming.
I almost gave this a rating of 3 stars due to the extensive violence, but the acting was so well done I had to bump it up to 4.
』
(Another Great From the Coens!!!) 『I always find the Coen Brothers films remarkably appealing. With "No Country for Old Men" they have again created another enjoyable and well made film which works on many levels. Both scary and funny, it is well acted and explores questions of human morality and mortality without becoming morose. The story combines with the visual metaphors and Tommy Lees character to provide some thought provoking material and make this much more than the simple story of good versus evil, though it works wonderfully on that level too. I find my own understanding differs from what some reviewers have written regarding the "meaning" but that ambiguity is expected. Good art is open to individual interpretation. I like the tag line from the box..."There are no clean getaways"!』
(Warning: This movie is missing an ending) 『This is two hours of your life that you'll never get back. Absolutely riveting until the credits roll and you realize the Coen brothers must have run out of money and said, "Just ship it. Whatever the last scene was that we shot, we'll call that the ending." I'm really surprised they bothered with credits at all. I wouldn't want my name on this pointless mess.』 『When a man stumbles on a bloody crime scene a pickup truck loaded with heroin&2 million dollars in irresistible cash his decision to take the money sets off an unstoppable chain of violence. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 12/26/2008 Starring: Tommy Lee Jones Josh Brolin Run time: 122 minutes Rating: R』 『The Coen brothers make their finest thriller sinceFargowith a restrained adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's novel. Not that there aren't moments of intense violence, butNo Country for Old Menis their quietest, most existential film yet. In this modern-day Western, Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) is a Vietnam vet who could use a break. One morning while hunting antelope, he spies several trucks surrounded by dead bodies (both human and canine). In examining the site, he finds a case filled with $2 million. Moss takes it with him, tells his wife (Kelly Macdonald) he's going away for awhile, and hits the road until he can determine his next move. On the way from El Paso to Mexico, he discovers he's being followed by ex-special ops agent Chigurh (an eerily calm Javier Bardem). Chigurh's weapon of choice is a cattle gun, and he uses it on everyone who gets in his way--or loses a coin toss (as far as he's concerned, bad luck is grounds for death). Just as Sheriff Bell (Tommy Lee Jones), a World War II vet, is on Moss's trail, Chigurh's former colleague, Wells (Woody Harrelson), is on his. For most of the movie, Moss remains one step ahead of his nemesis. Both men are clever and resourceful--except Moss has a conscience, Chigurh does not (he is, as McCarthy puts it, "a prophet of destruction"). At times, the film plays like an old horror movie, with Chigurh as its lumbering Frankenstein monster. Like the taciturn terminator,No Country for Old Mendoesn't move quickly, but the tension never dissipates. This minimalist masterwork represents Joel and Ethan Coen and their entire cast, particularly Brolin and Jones, at the peak of their powers.--Kathleen C. Fennessy』
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WB Television Network, The
IPhone 3G used's review (Very pleased) 『I am very pleased with this product, and will not hesitate to buy from this seller again. Thanks!』
(Great Buy) 『ariived way faster than i expected it to. I am very happy with this purchase.』
(I finally have all 7 seasons) 『Each season is exceptional in it's own way. I'm very sad that the show ended, but now I have all 7 of the seasons to watch any time I want to keep Stars Hollow alive. I enjoyed this season because I had missed this entire season when it first aired on the WB; so I loved watching how Stars Hollow came to life. Then there is Max, wow he is an amazing guy. Now I know what the Friday night dinners are all about. The blind date was hilarious. There's Gran, wow what a character. Then Dean, yep the Dean, he is such a wonderful boyfriend to Rory (he is every mother's dream boyfriend for their daughter).』
(This Magic Is Forever) 『Whatever happened to Gilmore Girls in later seasons? I don't know. But whatever did was NOT a problem in Season 1. If you're thinking of giving the show a chance because you've heard so much about it, go ahead! Jump, take the dive, it's perfectly safe.
Season 1 is the story of the Gilmore family, Lorelai and Rory, mother and daughter, and all the people they include daily in their lives. Wether by blood or by experience, the Gilmore family is a big and fun one.
Season 1 deals with how Lorelai and Rory got to that point in their lives. It deals with Rory growing up, having her first boyfriend; with Lorelai slowly coming to terms with her parents and her expectations for her daughter and their world.
The Gilmore girls are not perfect, but they're charming and quite interesting. One of the highlights of the season is Rory's developing relationship with Dean Forester. I think Dean is usually underrated, but to me, he was Rory's best boyfriend and in this season, while they're still so young, they're still a romantic and warm couple.
There are little DVD extras and the ones included are not exactly riveting or revealing. I would have loved a few commentaries and a gag reel, but you buy this set for the episodes, because they're wonderful.
It is a beautiful season. It is a beautiful show.』
(gilmore girls first season) 『This show is amazing!! I didn't watch it when it was on television, but picked it up on netflix and watched all 7 seasons that way. I loved it so much that I had to own it! My husband watched a few episodes with me and enjoyed it so much, now he has started the series over with me and our plan is to buy all 7 seasons. We laugh so much and completely enjoy the witty banter as well as the quirky characters. Awesome show! My new favorite!』 『People often mistake Independence Inn's manager, headstrong single mom Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham) and her equally willful teenage daughter, Rory (Alexis Bledel) for sisters. Lorelai and Rory cope with the same emotional ups and downs, including Lorelai's overbearing, old-money parents and the joys and frustrations of the male gender. But when Rory's attention turns from dreams of private school and Harvard to thoughts of boys and adolescent self-reliance, single mom Lorelai begins noticing more of her own rebellious youth-only 16 years ago-in Rory. This heartfelt, humorous drama appeals to young and old alike with its blend of traditional family issues and hip, contemporary attitude. Reacquaint yourselves with television's most appealing mother-daughter duo in this collectible six-disc DVD set, which contains all 21 episodes from the first season including the pilot episode.
Gilmore Girls has been honored with an AFI Award and two Viewers for Quality Television Awards, and it was named New Program of the Year by the Television Critics Association. Series star Lauren Graham ("Townies," "NewsRadio," and "Bad Santa") was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series and received two consecutive nominations for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series from the Screen Actors Guild. Graham has also won two Family Television Awards. In addition, series star Alexis Bledel ("Tuck Everlasting") has won a Young Artist Award and a Family Television Award. The series, Gilmore Girls, won a Family Television Award for New Series and was named Best Family TV Drama Series by the Young Artist Awards, which also honored series star Keiko Agena in the supporting young actress category.
Gilmore Girls is the first series to make it to air supported by the Family Friendly Forum's Script Development Fund. An initiative between some of the nation's top advertisers and The WB, the program is intended to offer a greater array of compelling family programming on network television. The strong, loving, mother-daughter relationship portrayed in Gilmore Girls reflects the growing reality of this new type of American family.』
『Averyatypical mother-daughter relationship is at the center ofGilmore Girls, a comedy-drama that immediately set itself apart from the herd with smarter-than-smart dialogue and an endearing mix of whimsical comedy and family drama. Set in the Capra-esque burg of Stars Hollow, where everybody knows everyone and eccentrics abound,Gilmore Girlswas less a mother-daughter show and more of a screwball buddy comedy in which the two buddies happened to be parent and child. Pregnant at 16, Lorelai (Lauren Graham) left her rich parents to bring up her daughter Rory (Alexis Bledel) on her own terms; when Rory herself turns 16, Lorelai wants to send her academically gifted daughter to the prestigious Chilton school. The catch is, Lorelai can't afford it on her own, and rather than let Rory go without, the elder Gilmore girl brokers an uneasy truce with her parents (Edward Herrmann and Kelly Bishop), who finally get a chance to bond with their granddaughter while financing her education.
It sounds like a premise potentially fraught with angst and trauma, but in realityGilmore Girlswas one of the freshest, airiest, most enjoyable shows to air on the perpetually melodramatic WB network, critically praised once viewers got hooked on its unique brand of humor. Rory's growing-up adventures, including her acclimation to snooty Chilton and romance with townie dreamboat Dean (Jared Padalecki), gave the show a teen-friendly feel, butGilmore Girlswas anchored in the adult by the luminous Graham, a brilliant comedic leading lady who could turn dramatic on a dime and never break stride. The show's hallmark was its rat-a-tat, whipsmart dialogue, delivered perfectly by Graham and Bledgel, as well as a host of wacky supporting characters who would go on to become invaluable cast members. The first season allowed the show--and its lead actresses--to bloom gracefully and establish a deep, humorous rapport that lent itself perfectly to weekly travails both comedic and dramatic.--Mark Englehart』
IPhone 3G used's review (Vigilante Justice) 『The meaning of the titles of the 33 episodes is usually not obvious as to their relationship to the story - with this episode the title is an excellent choice. Cain was a murderer, and it follows, if he had off spring, they could very well be murderers too; an author's literary privilege. The three "daughters" are Brenda Brooks, her daughter, Kay, and Julia Stevens; all three are heavily involved in the plot. Morse must sort through many tangents: suicide, drugs, spousal abuse, on call ladies, a terminally ill character and the tangled world of university fund raising versus morals and academics. Back at headquarters Superintendent Strange has his hands full with a massive budget cut which affects Lewis' pending promotion. Strange assures Lewis how valuable he is - which is small solace for Lewis. The tale involves many participants and is quite involved but results in a first class mystery. This is a five star addition to the series. At # 30, chronologically, its rating is on a level with most of the later episodes. Listen for strains of the prelude from the first act of La Traviata which seem to run as thematic material when Julia Stevens is present.』
(Daughters of Cain) 『Great one, that I don't remember having seen before. They just don't make them like that anymore!』
(Charming. Intricate. Brain-Teasing. Fun.) 『Our loveable curmudgeon, Inspector Morse, finds himself outsmarted in this intricate, twisting story of love, intrigue, and revenge. An abused housewife, a stunningly beautiful step-daughter, and a smart friend with a terminal brain tumor combine wits to give Morse and Lewis a run for their money.
The backdrop of the story is Oxford, England and Oxford University, in particular. But the ivy covered halls of academia are home to murder. Ted Brooks, the bad-tempered, abusive lout was sacked by the University amid hushed-up scandal involving drugs and a student suicide. Now he is bitter and vile tempered, beating his mousy wife.
In one of the more alluring side stories, Kay Brooks, the winsome step-daughter charms Inspector Morse and he finds himself captivated by her dalliances. She is the most beguiling young lady and expert in her line of work.
Poor Sergeant Lewis is aching for a promotion but the budget-conscious bureaucracy has tightened up and there is little encouragement for him. In fact, in this episode, he faces a dilemma of honor versus pragmatism.
A wonderful mystery and delightful show.』
(justice frustrated) 『This entry in the series focuses on the conspiratorial efforts of three women to exact vengeance upon Ted Brooks, a thoroughly repulsive character who is a murderer, drug dealer, and abusive husband. The mystery opens with the murder of a popular academic who was particularly adroit at fundraising for the colleges. In fact, university fundraising is repeatedly satirized in this episode, as one aspect of this drama involves the tendency of college officials to conveniently abandon higher principles (such as an obligation to report suspected criminal activity) if it might discourage potential financial donors. In any event, the professor's murder acted to cement an alliance among the three women, an alliance undertaken for the purpose of ensuring that Ted Brooks paid for his transgressions. The organizer of the conspiracy is a terminally ill teacher, who realizing she has very little to lose, resorts to various measures (including seduction of a teenage student) to accomplish the trio's objectives. Predictably, Ted Brooks is murdered during the course of the episode; however, the viewer is presented with several possible combinations of suspects before the crime is solved. This episode includes numerous details (student suicide, an allegedly stolen bicycle, and an apparent museum theft) which add interest to this mystery and facilitate plot development. The teacher who organized the conspiracy was described as "clever." Just how clever she was is illustrated by the manner in which this drama ends-- with two of the three conspirators escaping justice. Despite (or perhaps because of) the unusual ending, this entry in the Morse series is very entertaining and satisfying.』
(More than just a who-done-it) 『The highlight of this episode is Phyllis Logan. She does a good job of being an ordinary person. You never "see" Lady Felsham in her character. One amusing part of the story is the ceaseless lampooning of academia using the theme of fund raising at Oxford. The basic detective story involves multiple murders and the ways the murderers use to escape justice or receive it themselves by what could be judged as divine guidance of the affairs of mortals.』
IPhone 3G used's review (Super Fast Service!!) 『I received the DVD so quickly! I was really surprised at how fast it got to me! I had absolutely no problems. The set was in perfect condition. Great Seller!』
(A thundering disappointment after Season One) 『Not since Season Two of TWIN PEAKS has a good show fallen so sharply off in quality as HEROES in Season Two (and unfortunately, as of this day, Season Three). And never has a series so completely belied its name.
The fundamental problem with HEROES is that there are no heroes. There are people with super abilities, but no one acts especially heroic. There are no clearly demarcated good guys and no clearly delineated bad guys. Instead, characters are apparently good for a while and then apparently bad. In other words, the fundamental conception of the show is just a mess.
The problem with Season Two is twofold. First, it fails to build on the promise of Season One. The best long narrative shows of recent years (and HEROES apparently bills itself as a long narrative show) continuously and clearly moves the story alone. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA clearly and brilliantly tells a story. LOST (the draggy Season Two aside) tells a story. BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER clearly and inevitably told a series of stories. But even well into Season Three it isn't clear that HEROES has a story to tell. There are markers and signs that they think they have a story to tell, but things remain dark and murky. Watching the show in Season One I assumed that the show was showing how a group of people with remarkable abilities was going to come together, perhaps to team together for good. But at this point in the series no one seems to really be finding their way. Few have had epiphanies. No one is becoming truly heroic.
Frankly, at this point I don't have much hope for the show, though out of habit I've made myself keep up. One thin that truly great shows like BATTLESTAR GALATICA and LOST and BUFFY have in common is individual narratives of responsibility and redemption. Apart, possibly, for Sylar, we've had no such narratives in HEROES. Even Sylar might slip back to his evil, evil ways.
So the first major problem with HEROES in Season Two was the failure to move the story forward. Instead, they essentially did a reset and put thing back to where it was in Season One. All the work of Season One seemed for naught.
The second major problem is that too much of the season was spent on new characters, instead of developing the stories of established characters. I was happy to see Veronica Mars herself, Kristen Bell, join the show as the electrifying (literally) Elle, but there were simply too many new characters, several of them pretty unpleasant. We had a number of characters from Season One who were simply neglected to deal with the new characters.
I'm not sure that the show can be saved at this point. Sadly and tragically the show will certainly get some major help in the near future. ABC has stupidly canceled one of the finest shows on TV, PUSHING DAISIES. The only -- and I don't see this as much of a consolation prize given the loss of one of the most exhilarating shows in the history of TV -- upside to this abominable decision is that Bryan Fuller is now free to return to HEROES. Can Fuller turn the show around? One can only hope. Though Tim Kring insisted that all the writers worked on all episodes, I can't help but feel that it isn't an accident that Fuller was given writer's credit for what is hands down the best HEROES episode to date, "Company Man."
But if HEROES is to be saved, they first need to have the characters live up to the title, which at this point is more ironic than descriptive. Secondly, they need to force the story to start going somewhere.
NBC is very slow to give up on shows. On ABC or CBS or FOX there is little question that HEROES would have been cancelled by now. The show's viewership is now less than half of what it was in Season One. If it doesn't improve soon and begin attracting back its old viewers, it has little chance for a Season Four.』
(Heroes Season 2) 『Loved the show and this is an easy way to view the series without having to sit down at a certain time, taping it or putting up with the commercials, which I hate.
It is done well and I'm able to go directly to the show I want to see.』
(MUST HAVE!!!) 『Best show EVER!! Great season! Definitely gotta own it! Heroes just keeps getting better. I can't wait for season 3 to come out. I own season 1&2. I will own season 3 when its available!』
(YAY SEASON TWO IS ON DVD FINALLY! BLEH) 『FIND ANY OTHER WAY TO WATCH THIS SEASON THAN BUYING THE DVD SET!!! It's half the price because there are half the episodes. If you have seen season 1 then I know that you are going to want to watch season 2, and by all means do, otherwise when you watch 3 you will be lost because of how bad they ruined this show. Hopefully season 3 can fix the boo-boos and make it more interesting than, as one reviewer put it, "Clothes spining in a Dryer."
I gave this 1 star because that is all it deserved compared to season 1!』 『Rejoin the epic and suspenseful phenomenon as Heroes: Season 2 arrives on DVD! Experience all the new and exciting twists of the astonishing series in this 4-disc set that includes every gripping Season 2 episode. Plus, see what could have been with exclusive bonus features that reveal the untold stories that never aired and an alternate ending to the season finale, where the fate of humanity takes an ominous turn when Peter fails to catch the vial containing the deadly virus.』 『Don't believe the hype: though some critics and viewers decried the sophomore season of the hit fantasy seriesHeroes, the core of the program remained as strong as in its debut network run. To be sure, the 2007-2008 Writers Guild strike hobbled the show, and producers stumbled by stranding two of its most intriguing characters: Super-charged Peter Petrelli (Milo Ventimiglia) is taken out of the action after being struck with amnesia, while Hiro (Masi Oka) is sent to feudal Japan, where he encounters his own idol, Takezo Kenzei (David Anders). Both are overcomplicated story arcs, even byHeroesstandards, and their connection to the rest of the season occasionally requires some mental gymnastics. But the crux of the season--the Company's development of the power-draining Shanti virus and its potentially devastating effects on both average citizens and superhumans like Niki Sanders (Ali Larter), The Haitian (Jimmy Jean-Louis) and primary villain Sylar (Zachary Quinto)--is solid, gripping material. The introduction of new characters like the lethal Maya (Dania Ramirez) and Kristen Bell as the electrically charged (in both the literal and figurative sense) Elle Bishop also up the dramatic stakes, even if their presence may require a scorecard for some viewers. In short, the few kinks in the armor ofHeroes: Season 2ultimately don't detract from the show's drive and vision. Season two spreads its supplemental features across all four of its discs; chief among these are commentary tracks by the cast and crew on all eleven episodes. The participating talent ranges from creator Tim Kring and stars Ventimiglia, Oka, Quinto and Greg Grunberg to composers Lisa Coleman and Wendy Melvoin, which helps to provide a wide variety of information about almost every aspect of the show's production. Featurettes cover everything from the history of Takezo Kenzei to in-depth looks at scenes from the season, while "Untold Stories" explores storylines that were left unfinished due to the writers' strike. The key extras are, of course, the alternate ending to the season finale (which is unfortunately revealed by the rear cover-art text) and an info-heavy sneak peek at Season 3.--Paul Gaita
BeyondHeroes– Season 2on DVD
Get it on Blu-ray
Before They Were Heroes
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Stills fromHeroes– Season 2(Click for larger image)
IPhone 3G used's review (Almost perfect!!!) 『I'm an audiophile and videophile and my review is based on watching this collection on an ISF calibrated Pioneer Kuro. I'm not old enough to have seen many of these in the theater but this collection sure does give you the feeling that this is what it might have been like to see them when they were new. The video quality is impressive on all, with Live and Let Die being the worst in the set and Die Another Day the best. The color on the older films is ever so slightly over done (a bit too much red) but again this reminds me of what it might have been like to see these in a theater in the 1960s.
The only disappointment is the soundtrack on ALL of them (compressed DTS as I can't currently decode uncompressed). The sound quality is excellent (again Live and Let Die the worst). My issue with the soundtrack is the fault of whomever remastered the audio. The effects are unbelievably loud (on a properly calibrated home theater) and the voices are quiet. You cannot solve the issue by turning up the center channel since much of the effect sounds are also present in the center channel information. I noticed the same sound issues when watching the HD broadcast of Die Another Day on SpikeTV today.
Gripes aside. I love this collection and hope the rest of the Bond films are released on Blu-Ray in the near future.』
(Dvd review) 『I have two blue ray players.
I have had problems getting these to work on my Sony BDP-s1 player even though I've updated the firmware four times.
On the other hand, they play just fine and look great on Sony's latest and greatest BDP-S5000 player. So, far the BDP-s5000 has played everything I've put into it.』
(CURIOSITY ALSO COST MONEY.NOT WORTH THE CHANGE) 『About 1 year ago, I bought the Ultimate bond collection on DVD&they looked great, 5 stars!!! So when the BD came out, I bought them, thinking how much better will they look? When I put that BD disc of DR.NO in my PS3, witch they all work fine BTW,&the menu came on that screen my face dropped of dissapointment.It was the same menu as the regular DVD's the only difference is that the special features are on the same disc,The video quality was the same as the regular DVD's. I was thinking those cheap S.O.B at MGM OR FOX !!! I'm sure all they did was a transfer from DVD to BD, just like the old days LASERDISCS TO DVD, sound familiar guys? The reviews from all those websites were great, but I guess they never compared them to the DVD's. I also have some issues with the boxes but whatever. Don't get me wrong they do look great, and if you never had the DVD's, sure go for the BD,but it will cost you,a lot more.
Steve H.』
(007 Blue Ray) 『Just received the discs yesterday finished watching volume 1 image is incredible at least 10 times sharper than the ultimate set that was released in 2006. Dr No is 46 years old (!) and it looks as if it was released today. Now I gave it 4 stars because of the load time issue that many people is experiencing is due to the BD-J coding that is in these discs check out [...] for a full explanation of what J-coding is. The load time issues are correctable just keep writing to the studios&manufacturers to remedy the problem.』
(Excellent) 『I would have preferred these in indivisual cases, but you can't go wrong with 6 Blu-ray discs of Bond at $64.9, which I picked up during Today's Deals. I've popped in From Russia and Thunderball and they play fine on PS3. PS3 is the way to go. Never had a disc that wouldn't play on PS3.』 『 Dr. No Amazon.com essential video Released in 1962, this first James Bond movie remains one of the best, and serves as an entertaining reminder that the Bond series began (in keeping with Ian Fleming's novels) with a surprising lack of gadgetry and big-budget fireworks. Sean Connery was just 32 years old when he won the role of Agent 007. In his first adventure James Bond is called to Jamaica where a colleague and secretary have been mysteriously killed. With an American CIA agent (Jack Lord, pre-Hawaii Five-O), they discover that the nefarious Dr. No (Joseph Wiseman) is scheming to blackmail the U.S. government with a device capable of deflecting and destroying U.S. rockets launched from Cape Canaveral. Of course, Bond takes time off from his exploits to enjoy the company of a few gorgeous women, including the bikini-clad Ursula Andress. She gloriously kicks off the long-standing tradition of Bond women who know how to please their favorite secret agent. A sexist anachronism? Maybe, but this is Bond at his purest, kicking off a series of movies that shows no sign of slowing down. --Jeff Shannon
Product Description This first in the series of james bond flicks pits 007 against a dabolical master criminal with plans to conquer the world. Studio: Tcfhe/mgm Release Date: 09/04/2007 Starring: Sean Connery Joseph Wiseman Run time: 110 minutes Rating: Pg
Die Another Day Amazon.com The 20th James Bond adventure,Die Another Daysucceeds on three important fronts: it avoids comparison toAustin Powersby keeping its cheesy humor in check, allows Halle Berry to be sexyandworthy of a spinoff franchise, and keeps pace with the technical wizardry that modern action films demand. Pierce Brosnan's got styleandstaying power as James Bond, now bearing little resemblance to Ian Fleming's original British super-spy, but able to hold his own at the box office. He's paired with American agent Jinx (Berry) in chasing a genetically altered North Korean villain (Rick Yune) armed with a satellite capable of destroying just about anything. John Cleese and Judi Dench reprise their recurring roles (as "Q" and "M," respectively); they're accompanied by weapons-laden sports cars, a hokey cameo by Madonna (who sings the techno-pulsed theme song), and enough double-entendres to keep Bond-philes adequately shaken and stirred. With clever nods to 007's cinematic legacy,Die Another Daymakes you welcome the familiar end-credits promise: James Bondwillreturn.--Jeff Shannon
Product Description When his top-secret mission is sabotaged, James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) finds himself captured by theenemy, abandoned by MI6 and stripped of his 00-license. Determined to get revenge, Bond goes head-to-head with a sultry spy (OscarÂ(r) winner* Halle Berry), a frosty agent (Rosamund Pike) anda shadowy billionaire (Toby Stephens) whose business is diamonds but whose secret is a diabolical weapon that could bring the world to its knees! Bristling with excitement and bursting with explosivespecial effects, Die Another Day is anadrenaline-pumping thrill-ride with "stunts and non-stop action [that] will astonish you" (Jeffrey Lyons, WNBC-TV)! *2001: Actress, Monster'sBall
Live and Let Die Amazon.com Roger Moore was introduced as James Bond in this 1973 action movie featuring secret agent 007. More self-consciously suave and formal than predecessor Sean Connery, he immediately reestablished Bond as an uncomplicated and wooden fellow for the feel-good '70s. This film also marks a deviation from the more character-driven stories of the Connery years, a deliberate shift to plastic action (multiple chases, bravura stunts) that made the franchise more of a comic book or machine. If that's not depressing enough, there's even a good British director on board, Guy Hamilton (Force 10 from Navarone). The story finds Bond taking on an international drug dealer (Yaphet Kotto), and while that may be superficially relevant, it isn't exactly the same as fighting supervillains on the order ofGoldfinger.--Tom Keogh
Product Description In moores first film as james bond 007 infiltrates a gang of narcotics smugglers leading him on a number of incredible chases. Studio: Tcfhe/mgm Release Date: 09/04/2007 Starring: Roger Moore Yaphet Kotto Run time: 122 minutes Rating: Pg
For Your Eyes Only Amazon.com After a ship sunk off the coast of Albania, the world's superpowers begin a feverish search for its valuable lost cargo: the powerful ATAC system, which will give its bearer unlimited control over Polaris nuclear submarines. As Bond joins the search, he suspects the suave Kristatos (Julian Glover) of seizing the device. The competition between nations grows more deadly by the moment, but Bond finds an ally in the beautiful Melina Havelock (Caroline Bouquet), who blames Kristatos for the death of her parents. The non-stop action includes automobile chases, thrilling underwater battles, and even a breathtaking tour over razor-sharp coral reefs. But all of this is merely a prelude to 007's cliffhanging assault of a magnificent mountaintop fortress.-- Robert Lynch
Product Description James Bond is thrust into one of his most riveting adventures in this jam-packed free-for-all of outrageous stunts, passionate encounters and exciting confrontations. Roger Moore portrays Agent 007 with lethal determination in a plot that finds him racing
From Russia With Love Amazon.com essential video Directed with consummate skill by Terence Young, the second James Bond spy thriller is considered by many fans to be the best of them all. Certainly Sean Connery was never better as the dashing Agent 007, whose latest mission takes him to Istanbul to retrieve a top-secret Russian decoding machine. His efforts are thwarted when he gets romantically distracted by a sexy Russian double agent (Daniela Bianchi), and is tracked by a lovely assassin (Lotte Lenya) with switchblade shoes, and by a crazed killer (Robert Shaw), who clashes with Bond during the film's dazzling climax aboard the Orient Express.From Russia with Loveis classic James Bond, before the gadgets, pyrotechnics, and Roger Moore steered the movies away from the more realistic tone of the books by Ian Fleming.--Jeff Shannon
Product Description James Bond 007 is sent on a mission to Istanbul to try and acquire a Russian cypher machine known as Lektor from a defecting Russian agent. However the Russians have no knowledge of this as it is a S.P.E.C.T.R.E. ploy to lure James Bond into a trap - a fitting tribute to their now- dead agent Dr. No.Run Time: 111 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: PG UPC: 027616066176 Manufacturer No: M106619
Thunderball Amazon.com James Bond's fourth adventure takes him to the Bahamas, where a NATO warplane with a nuclear payload has disappeared into the sea. Bond (Sean Connery) travels from a tiny health spa (where he tangles with a mechanized masseuse run amuck) to the casinos of Nassau and soon picks up the trail of SPECTRE's number-two man, Emilio Largo (Adolfo Celi), and his beautiful mistress, Domino (Claudine Auger), whom Bond soon seduces to his side. Equipped with more gadgets than ever, courtesy of the resourceful "Q" (Desmond Llewelyn), agent 007 escapes an ambush with a personal-size jet pack and takes to the water as he searches for the undersea plane, battles Largo's pet sharks, and finally leads the battle against Largo's scuba-equipped henchmen in a spectacular underwater climax. This thrilling Bond entry became Connery's most successful outing in the series and was remade in 1983 asNever Say Never Again, with Connery returning to the role after a 12-year hiatus. Tom Jones belts out the bold theme song to another classic Maurice Binder title sequence.--Sean Axmaker
Product Description The thrills never let up as James Bond dives into this riveting adventure filled with explosive confrontations and amazing underwater action sequences! Sean Connery brings his characteristic style, humor and magnetism to Agent 007 as he travels to Nassau
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IPhone 3G used's review (Exactly where Batman should have begun in the first place!!!) 『Finally Batman is being tributed as it should have been a long time ago. Batman Begins is where it should have really begun in the first place. The production is flawless, the portrayals keep you in disbelieve all thruoghout the movie...』
(As dark and rich as a good cup of coffee) 『I will preface this by saying that I might have glanced at a Batman comic book when I was a kid, but have never read one. I did watch the Michael Keaton Batman movie, but my main Batman experience, prior to this movie, was watching the television series, non-animated, as a kid. In short, I am not an expert, at all. I bought this movie because, when I was in the hospital, it was showing on cable television and, while I did not get to see the entire movie there, I liked what I saw.
When the title says "begins," it means exactly that. This movie portrays Bruce Wayne's privileged but traumatic childhood, his path toward becoming an agent of justice, and his unusual training. It then moves back to Gotham, Bruce's hometown metropolis, that has become extremely crime-ridden, corrupt, and impoverished, with the gains made by Bruce's parents having been just about wiped out. To address this, Bruce Wayne, in his new persona of Batman, must face a powerful crime-lord, and an even-more-powerful, albeit shadowy, figure, plotting to ride the world of Gotham's evils by eliminating Gotham itself.
Batman is known as the Dark Knight, and we clearly get that here. Christian Bale gives us a Bruce Wayne who is glib on the surface, troubled beneath that, and an avenging crusader at his core. The imagery, both real and computer-generated, is awesome and dark, and the musical score enhances the story well, without ever dominating it.
The supporting cast is amazingly good. Michael Caine as Alfred? Perfect! Liam Neeson as Henri Ducard, Bruce Wayne's teacher in the martial arts (and more), was also perfectly cast. Tom Wilkinson was chillingly ruthless as the crime boss. Katie Holmes gives us a Rachel Dawes, potential love interest for Bruce Wayne, who is equal parts silk, steel, and flower. I had not seen Rutger Hauer in anything in a long time, but he was very good as the cold, greedy, power-hungry businessman. Morgan Freeman did his usual excellent job as Lucius Fox, Wayne Enterprises engineer and Bruce Wayne's technical advisor. I also liked Gary Oldman as Inspector Gordon, and Cillian Murphy was coolly insane and cunning as Dr. Crane/Scarecrow.
Of course, Batman had to have some interesting toys. What makes him nearly invincible? Check out the suit. How does he fly? That cape is not just a fashion statement. The big toy, though, is the tank-like Batmobile. Wow! Just get out of its way, and watch!
As you can tell, I like this movie. I did not like having to be in the hospital but, at least, I found a good movie from the experience.
-- Chris McCallister, author of Coming Full Circle』
(it works) 『I suppose producers could not leave Batman alone in the course of the current revival of every possible cartoon figure, even if the last filmed series had already exploited most of the possibilities with one peak, the beautiful "Batman returns" with the superb Michelle Pfeiffer as the deadliest and most convincing Catwoman ever.
So, to find something new, we have here a "let's go back to the beginnings", hark! hark! such a novelty this is, trying to explore what was purposefully left unsaid by the creators of the character.
Curiously enough the result is not half as bad as it could have been. There is the usual sticky story of the poor soul wronged by men and fate who after a long wandering in the dark comes to know his real self, originally in the far east among kung fu teachers. There is the usual town corrupted to the core, where all people is desperate or desperately evil but where a group of righteous souls still works for the greater good ( taking an airplane to some more reasonable resort?)
Ethics are trite and commonplace, completely uninteresting, so is character development and interaction.
All above notwithstanding the movie works in a way. Christian Bale is as intense as parmisan cheese and so is Katie Holmes but one cares, a little, for the situations and the atmosphere is convincingly gloom and desolate. Side characters are good, each up to the not much required trying to give sense to the senseless lines they are given.
This film can be fun, just let yourself in the general atmosphere, the beautiful settings and turn off your critical self.』
(A unique take on the Batman saga) 『I have doubts this movie (or its sequels) fit in with Warner Brother's previous Batman series of movies (though there are some similarities). I also doubt it fits in with the TV series (which has far fewer similarities).
If there is a weak link, it is the time spent on the origins development. The comic books give the impression that Bruce Wayne trained after his parents' murder getting physically prepared for his role as Batman. The TV series didn't deal with the subject at all and the movie series barely touched on it. (The excellent animated series did deal with the subject to a small extent.) This movie dealt more with it, with some similarities to the Matrix in the process.
I will admit I had to adjust to Michael Caine in the role of Alfred. Of course Caine did a great job with the role -- we're talking about Michael Caine, after all -- but looks wise he did not fit my image of the role. Christian Bale did as good as anybody as Bruce Wayne, though Michael Keaton was my favorite Bruce Wayne.
One major difference is the description of Chill, who orphaned Bruce Wayne. This movie made him believable as a thug, and not as cold-blooded as the comic book crook or the pre-Joker Jack Napier of the previous series (both of which contemplated killing the boy, which Chill did not). I won't touch any more of the story to keep from spoiling it any further.
The one interesting thing was that it showed Jim Gordon in his pre-commissioner days. It developed the relationship between Gordon and Batman that was basically ignored in the previous movie series and taken for granted in the TV series. Another interesting thing was the insertion of the comic book/animated series villain Scarecrow as a minor villain.
In short, the acting was great -- in addition to Caine there are great performances by Liam Neeson (who I didn't recognize), Rutger Hauer, and Morgan Freeman. The action started slow but ended up on pace. The special effects were more spectacular than in the previous movies. I probably would not take children nine or under (an arbitrary age) to see it, and would accompany any minor before seeing it. To me, though, there seemed to be less sex than in the previous series, which was a plus to me.
This ended with a minor cliff-hanger (the introduction of the Joker, another sign of independence from the previous movie series), enough to whet a person's appetite for "The Dark Knight", but not enough to keep them from sleep.』
(Justice!) 『I'm very late in doing a review here. As a big fan of movies I have decided only just recently to start posting reviews (look for my first on 'DETERRENCE'). Batman Begins is so cooooooool. It destroyed all those cheeeezy films made before about Batman, especially when each one is played by a different actor, (nothing worse than sequels that do that) and they were just s**t anyway. Christian Bale is first class. Being English I shocked myself when I first realised he was English, (not American) he's an actor I'm not too familiar with but he is a true pro. Loved the movie, even Micheal Caine and I don't even like him, sorry Micheal, no offense. Morgan Freeman speaks for himself along with Gary Oldman, (Hhmm... an array of English actors here). All in all a first class movie. I especially loved the martial arts training scenes, it's one of those moments where you want to do it yourself. 5 star effort, no question about it. I will start now, after years of movie collecting and following, to post reviews. I am in a position to easily set up a contraversial website on movie debates, I'd love that and would challenge anyone on their points of view. let me know what you think and I will reply accordingly. agent.cross@yahoo.co.uk Look forward to it.』 『Batman Begins explores the origins of the Batman legend and the Dark Knight's emergence as a force for good in Gotham. In the wake of his parents' murder, disillusioned industrial heir Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) travels the world seeking the means to fight injustice and turn fear against those who prey on the fearful. He returns to Gotham and unveils his alter-ego: Batman, a masked crusader who uses his strength, intellect and an array of high tech deceptions to fight the sinister forces that threaten the city.
DVD Features: DVD ROM Features:Batman Begins Mobile Game Demo&Weblinks Documentaries:Genesis of the Bat: Batman Incarnations from the Mid-1980s to the Present The Journey Begins: Creative Concepts, Story Development and Casting Shaping Mind and Body: Fighting Style Gotham City Rises: Production Design Cape and Cowl: The New Batsuit The Tumbler: The New Batmobile Documentary:Path to Discovery: Filming in Iceland Saving Gotham City: The Monorail Chase Sequence Easter Eggs Featurette:Confidential Files Character/Weaponry Gallery Interactive Menus:INNER DEMONS COMIC: Explore the special features through an exclusive interactive comic book Other:Batman: The Man Who Falls - a classic story that inspired Batman Begins Batman: The Long Halloween - a chilling excerpt that also inspired the film Photo gallery Theatrical Trailer
』 『Batman Beginsdiscards the previous four films in the series and recasts the Caped Crusader as a fearsome avenging angel. That's good news, because the series, which had gotten off to a rousing start under Tim Burton, had gradually dissolved into self-parody by 1997'sBatman&Robin. As the title implies,Batman Beginstells the story anew, when Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) flees Western civilization following the murder of his parents. He is taken in by a mysterious instructor named Ducard (Liam Neeson in another mentor role) and urged to become a ninja in the League of Shadows, but he instead returns to his native Gotham City resolved to end the mob rule that is strangling it. But are there forces even more sinister at hand?
Co-written by the team of David S. Goyer (a veteran comic book writer) and director Christopher Nolan (Memento),Batman Beginsis a welcome return to the grim and gritty version of the Dark Knight, owing a great debt to the graphic novels that preceded it. It doesn't have the razzle dazzle, or the mass appeal, ofSpider-Man 2(though the Batmobile is cool), and retelling the origin means it starts slowly, like most "first" superhero movies. But it's certainly the best Bat-film since Burton's original, and one of the best superhero movies of its time. Bale cuts a good figure as Batman, intense and dangerous but with some of the lightheartedness Michael Keaton brought to the character. Michael Caine provides much of the film's humor as the family butler, Alfred, and as the love interest, Katie Holmes (Dawson's Creek) is surprisingly believable in her first adult role. Also featuring Gary Oldman as the young police officer Jim Gordon, Morgan Freeman as a Q-like gadgets expert, and Cillian Murphy as the vile Jonathan Crane.--David Horiuchi
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DVD Features
The first disc is filled out by the theatrical trailer and a Jimmy Fallon-starringBatman Beginsspoof from the MTV Movie Awards. The second disc consists of eight featurettes (about 105 minutes total) on a variety of topics. "The Journey Begins" covers the early stages of the movie, including the casting and how director/co-writer Christopher Nolan brought in co-writer David S. Goyer for his comic-book expertise. "Shaping Mind and Body" covers Christian Bale's fight training, and other featurettes discuss the sets (the Batcave is shown being constructed out of wood and sheets), the Batman costume, the Batmobile, the monorail sequence, and the hazards of filming in Iceland. All the behind-the-scenes featurettes are solid but somewhat routine, and while "The Journey Begins" is the widest overview, there's not really any centerpiece documentary (all are 8 to 15 minutes, and there's no Play All option). Interviewees tend to be the same throughout: Nolan, Goyer, Bale (the only cast member to get much face time), and other crew members (it's nice to hear from the stunt people).
Potentially more interesting to fans is "Genesis of the Bat," which covers the comic books that influenced the film, includingThe Long Halloween, Neal Adams's Ra's Al Ghul from the '70s, Dennis O'Neill and Dick Giordano'sThe Man Who Falls, and Frank Miller'sBatman: Year OneandThe Dark Knight Returns. Interviewees include DC Comics editor Paul Levitz and artist Jim Lee, but the latter's involvement eventually degrades the featurette into a pitch for DC'sAll-Star Batmanline. A nice bonus to the Deluxe Edition is a mini comic book (DVD case-sized) that has Batman's first appearance (Detective Comics#27),The Man Who Falls, and a 48-page excerpt fromThe Long Halloween. (Once you get a taste ofHalloween, you'll want to pick up the full-length, full-size version.) Filling out the disc are overviews of four gadgets and eight characters, DVD-ROM features, and a variety of poster-art concepts. To get to the features menu, you have to scroll through a multi-page Goyer-scribed comic book, which is a good read, but you can't skip it the next time you want to watch the second disc. Note that the comic book is also viewable in French, and the second disc offers a French menu and French (but not English) subtitles for the featurettes.--David Horiuchi』
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