Clarks Blog

Watch John Wayne - An American Icon Collection Movie Online. Movie Title: John Wayne - An American Icon Collection Average customer review: John Wayne - An American Icon Collection is available for streaming or downloading. Click Here to Stream or Download John Wayne - An American Icon Collection

“John Wayne - An American Icon Collection” may be the most mismatched collection of the Duke’s most offbeat starring roles available on DVD, but each film has some merits (even “The Conqueror”), and if you only know Wayne from westerns or war movies, you are in for a surprise!

Buy,Download, Or Stream John Wayne - An American Icon Collection! Click Here

“Seven Sinners” (1940), offers Duke’s first teaming with the legendary Marlene Dietrich, with whom he’d have a brief but torrid off-screen affair. An atmospheric drama set at the ‘Seven Sinners’ bar on an exotic Pacific island, Dietrich is, as usual, a sultry chanteuse, loved and lusted after by every man who meets her, especially ‘bad boy’ Antro (played with finesse by screen veteran Oskar Homolka). When the Fleet arrives, however, and ‘Golden Boy’ officer Wayne sets eyes on her, she falls hard, and he is willing to sacrifice his career for her. Of course, the ‘Higher Good’ prevails, but not before audiences get a healthy dose of romance!

Co-starring Broderick Crawford, Anna Lee, and a surprisingly sympathetic Albert Dekker, the Dietrich-Wayne chemistry would prove so potent that they would make two more films together.

Buy,Download, Or Stream John Wayne - An American Icon Collection! Click Here

“Pittsburgh” (1942), the third and last Dietrich-Wayne pairing (following the Alaskan epic, “The Spoilers”), does a flip-flop in the characterizations from the Gold Rush tale, making Randolph Scott the ‘good guy’, and Wayne an opportunistic heel, willing to ‘walk over’ anybody, even his love, Dietrich, to get rich in the steel industry (although he’d redeem himself, by the finale). Playing a victim was uncharacteristic of the tough actress, however, and, while Wayne would eventually prove an excellent ‘anti-hero’, audiences wouldn’t accept Wayne so ‘out-of-character’ at this point in his career. The film would not do well at the box office, ending the Dietrich-Wayne pairings…but has gained a devoted following, over the years!

“The Shepherd of the Hills” (1941), Wayne’s first teaming with director Henry Hathaway (who would direct Duke to his only Oscar, 28 years later, in “True Grit”), was also the first color film in Wayne’s career. A tale of life in the Ozark Mountains, Betty Field, as moonshiner Wayne’s love interest, ’steals’ the film, but it does offer the novelty of screen legend (and Wayne friend) Harry Carey playing Duke’s long-absent father. Occasionally involving, but the Duke seems a bit out-of-place in the proceedings!

“Jet Pilot” (filmed in 1950, released in 1957), marked Wayne’s first film for producer Howard Hughes (yes, THAT Howard Hughes), in a cartoonish anti-Communist ‘epic’, as Air Force officer Duke converts Soviet pilot Janet Leigh to the joys of America (while she ‘lures’ him to defect, leading to a Wayne sojourn to Russia, and his easily stealing Red technology for the West). This film is truly awful (which was why it was ’shelved’ for seven years), with Hughes’ signature emphasis on long, lingering views of Leigh’s top-heavy figure (while Josef von Sternberg is credited as the director, Hughes was clearly in charge). “Jet Pilot” is better known as the film where the legendary Chuck Yeager (who first broke the sound barrier, in 1947), was nearly killed performing the aerial stunts (while on ‘loan’ from the USAF). The aerial footage is, certainly, the most impressive aspect of the film.

“Jet Pilot” could have been the worst film of Duke’s career, but Hughes had bigger plans, and topped even this epic with…

“The Conqueror” (1956), the infamous showcase of John Wayne as Asian warrior Temujin (who would eventually be known as GENGHIS KHAN). This film is so summarily awful, and has so many legends associated with the production (shot in the radiation-drenched sands of the Atomic test range in Utah…with many of the cast and crew eventually dying of cancer), that by notoriety, alone, it should be an ‘essential’ for any Wayne fan collection!

Directed (with a straight face) by the usually reliable Dick Powell, between the flowery dialog, the clunky costumes, and Susan Hayward as the least desirable red-headed princess you’ll ever find, enjoy the campier moments, like Mexican Pedro Armendariz and short, roly-poly William (”Cannon”) Conrad as Wayne’s BROTHERS; veteran actor Thomas Gomez as ‘Wang Khan’ (that really IS his character’s name); and the climactic moment when the Duke, surrounded by enemies, hisses the immortal words, “Come and TAKE me, mongrels - if you DARE! While I have fingers to grasp a sword, and eyes to see your cowardly faces, your treacherous heads will not be safe on your shoulders. For I am Temujin, the Conqueror! No prison can hold me, no army defeat me!” (Seriously, LAURENCE OLIVIER couldn’t deliver those lines believably…maybe Sylvester Stallone could…)

Whether you’re a John Wayne fan, or not, this collection offers plenty to talk about, at a very reasonable price! I promise, you’ll never get a better opportunity to see the Duke as you’ve NEVER seen him before!

Want to see John Wayne a little differently, buy this set. This is a collection that I would guess most people, other than die hard Duke fans, have not seen. Pittsburgh is a great movie with a great supporting cast. Marlene Dietrich, Randolph Scott and even an appearance by Shemp Howard of Three Stooges fame. If you expect Duke to take all, be surprised. Seven Sinners is another romance with Dietrich. Jet Pilot is famous for some really great aerial shots. Chuck Yaeger of sound barrier fame did some of the stunt flying here. Shepherd of the Hills is a beautifully shot movie with Wayne living with a curse. No barroom brawls here nor gunfights from horseback, just good dramatic story telling. The Conqueror is probably the most famous of the movies in this collection. John Wayne is Genghis Khan. You have to see this one to believe it. If you like John Wayne or don’t know him that well, buy this collection to see something different from the Duke.
mafia wars strategy guide | mafia wars hack | mafia wars cheats
Watch March Madness Online | Watch NBA Playoffs Finals Online | Watch NASCAR Online
DVD to converter | DVD to mpg | dvd to psp

Watch American History X Online. Movie Title: American History X Average customer review: American History X is available for streaming or downloading. Click Here to Stream or Download American History X

How terrifying is it while listening to some of Edward Norton’s rants in this movie….that you actually begin to understand his point of view on things? That’s a very important aspect of this film. The hatred spewing from his mouth along with statistical evidence and insightful rhetoric places the viewer amist what seems to be an actual white supremicist rally. It becomes easy to see how so many fall into crowds like this with characters like the fictional Derrick Vinyard preaching to the masses. Many people don’t like the way the world around them is. They’re looking for a change. People like Vinyard offer a path to that change.

But this story is mainly about redemption. The redemption of the character in question, Derrick Vinyard. Only after he loses everything can he begin to see the horrible path that he has beaten for his younger brother who is speedily chasing after him. The unlikely friendship with a black prison inmate and the tutalage of his former principle are what helps him return to his humanity. The simple yet distanced solution to all the hatred and anger that he’s felt most of his life comes like an epiphany: “It’s just not worth it.” A point that he vehemently drives into those around him.

Be forwarned, this is not a happy story. The ending is tragic yet depressingly real. Hatred becomes a vicious circle.

This is one of the movies that touched me more than any others have in quite a long time. It puts a human face on skinheads, not glorifying them yet showing how a young person can be warped by a racist father and what racism can do to a family. Derek Vinyard had to learn the truth about racism the hard way by being betrayed in prison and he began to question his beliefs after a black man is the only person who befriends him. He begins to understand how futile and destructive hatred is only to pay for his mistakes in the end. At times this movies is difficult to watch but I think it is important for everyone to see. Ed Norton definitely deserved the oscar for this film and was cheated. Anyone who watches this will see how racism only destroys families, hurts others and destroys one’s self in the end. It is brutal yet honest and it is what good filmmaking is all about it. I would give it ten stars if I could. Simply brilliant.
Avex DVD To AVI, MPEG2, 3g, mp4, PSP, Ipod Converter Software…Hurry!
mafia wars cheats | mafia wars strategy guide | mafia wars hack | mafia wars
Avex DVD To AVI, MPEG2, 3g, mp4, PSP, Ipod Converter Software…Hurry!

Icons of Horror: Hammer Films (2-disc) Movie Streaming. Movie Title: Icons of Horror: Hammer Films (2-disc) Average customer review: Icons of Horror: Hammer Films (2-disc) is available for streaming or downloading. Click Here to Stream or Download Icons of Horror: Hammer Films (2-disc)

First, allow me to discuss the DVD presentation. The only extra features are: theatrical trailers and English subtitles for all four movies. We who are hearing impaired thank Sony for the subtitles. Commentaries would’ve been nice, especially for those who have a favorite film in this collection. The restoration is superb and the audio is strong and clear for all four features. “The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll” and “The Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb” are presented in widescreen with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1; “The Gorgon” and “Scream of Fear” are presented in 1.66:1. Except for “Scream of Fear,” all features are in beautiful color. The black and white print is clear and sharp for “Scream of Fear.” Too bad it wasn’t in color. Overall, the DVD presentation is very good. Now for the review:

Buy,Download, Or Stream Icons of Horror: Hammer Films (2-disc)! Click Here

Hammer Film Productions was famous for their gothic horror films. This is a superb collection and introduction for anyone unfamiliar with Hammer. Horror icon Christopher Lee (most famous for his role as Dracula) is in three of the films. Other horror legends include Peter Cushing, Barbara Shelly, Susan Strasberg, and Oliver Reed. All four movies involve monsters, primarily humans who have become monsters, whether physically or intellectually. Also, in these films, the viewer doesn’t know who the real monster is. (The films are rife with betrayal.) A monster can be anyone. Sometimes they are normal in appearance. I promise you no plot spoilers as I briefly describe the monster scenario in each of these highly rated classic gems.

“The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll” - Aging Dr. Jekyll drinks his potion and becomes a younger, more handsome man who wishes to be free of all responsibility for his amoral actions. (Don’t we all wish we could live like that? Isn’t there a monster in all of us?) Masquerading as Dr. Hyde, Dr. Jekyll learns that his gorgeous wife and best friend (Lee) are traitorous monsters.

Buy,Download, Or Stream Icons of Horror: Hammer Films (2-disc)! Click Here

“The Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb.” - Ra, the Egyptian Prince, has been resurrected by an evil person who possesses an amulet. Who are they and why are they seeking to destroy everyone around them? The real monster is the one who is controlling the unfortunate mummy.

“The Gorgon.” Both Lee and Cushing star as a doctor and a professor, respectively, who are seeking to destroy the monster who turns innocent villagers into stone with their gaze. Unfortunately, the monster may actually be a respected member of the community.

“Scream of Fear.” This “Hitchcock”-like thriller stars Susan Strasberg as a crippled young woman; for the first time in ten years, she is visiting her wealthy father who lives on the French Riviera. Someone in the household is a monster who is trying to drive her insane. Quite a good mystery with many surprises.

In fact, all four films are mysterious, gloomy, creepy, and shocking. I’m surprised these haven’t already been released on DVD in America. They are truly excellent horror classics. I can’t tell you which one is my favorite. For having been made in the 1960s, these films contain violence that is surprisingly graphic and shocking. Also, certain scenes in “The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll” had language and sexual innuendoes that were hilarious.

This collection is a must have for fans of gothic horror from Hammer Film Productions. I’m very glad I bought it. Try to take it away from me and I’ll turn into a monster.

The packaging on this set is atrocious. The cover shot looks as if somebody ran wild with (Adobe) Illustrator and Photoshop. It looked like the work of one of those labels whose ‘best available source material’ was a badly worn VHS tape. There are no special features except for the original theatrical trailers. If it hadn’t been for the “Columbia” and “Sony” logos on the rear jacket this one would have stayed on the shelf.

But, that’s where the bad news ends. The films have been re-mastered in high definition. The images are pristine. The colour is vibrant. The audio tracks have been re-mastered to stereo. Even the trailers have been cleaned up. The menus are easy to navigate. The set features two gems and a pair of enjoyable films. The price works out to about six bucks per film.

This is a good set and a good value.

Scream of Fear ****

This film evokes images of Hitchcock’s better work. Jimmy Sangster’s story has plenty of twists and turns. The acting from the principle players is superb. Susan Strasberg delivers a riveting performance. Ann Todd’s performance is wonderfully subtle. Christopher Lee shows the range that made him an icon of the genre. Ronald Lewis is both chilling and charming as the man sympathetic to Strasberg’s plight.

The technical side of the picture is strong also. Director Seth Holt kept Sangster’s narrative moving at a brisk pace. The cinematography and lighting are excellent. The black and white photography is stunning. The score, by Clifton Parker enhances the mood of the film extremely well.

This is an excellent piece of work.

The Gorgon ****

The Gorgon is a wonderfully crafted motion picture. Director Terrence Fisher regarded it as his finest or one of his finest works and he was probably right. It’s true that the snakes on the Gorgon’s makeup look bad but the blame (likely) lies with the amount of money the crew had to work with. The rubber snakes aside, this film breathtakingly beautiful to watch. The cinematography of Michael Reed is excellent. The design of the production by Bernard Robinson is gorgeous. The lighting (which is uncredited) casts one stunning highlight after another. The colour (by Technicolor) is glorious. J. Llewellyn Devine’s story, and John Gilling’s adaptation of it, gave the crew plenty to work with.

(Terrence) Fisher’s directing knits this web together perfectly. Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee both give fine performances. Barbara Shelley delivers an engaging turn as Cushing’s assistant. Michael Goodliffe and Richard Pasco deliver strong characterizations. Even the Village Police Inspector played by Patrick Troughton avoids being a completely one-dimensional figure. There are a few backdrops that aren’t convincing and the aforementioned snakes’ heads look a little silly but those are small complaints.

This is an example of the genre at its most poetic. It’s not to be missed.

The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll **

The take that writer Wolf Mankowitz gave to (Robert Louis) Stevenson’s classic is intriguing enough but the narrative never lives up to its original promise. The story bogs down periodically and the characters are often weak. Jekyll’ is overwrought and self-righteous. Hyde is an intellectual version of pure evil who can be really stupid. Jekyll’s wife is an unsympathetic character. Hyde’s lover seems bent on her own destruction. They’re all one-dimensional.

Terrence Fisher and the actors around him do what they can but that’s limited. Paul Masse does well with the roles of Jekyll and Hyde but he couldn’t do the impossible. ‘Hyde’ is intriguing enough but ‘Jekyll’ is flat. He spends most of his screen time acting as if he’d be a lot of fun at funerals. Dawn Addams never evokes any sympathy over being caught in a loveless marriage. Norma Marla does pretty well in the role of the women who falls in love with Hyde but she was limited by the script. The only character that’s fleshed out thoroughly is the one played by Christopher Lee. He plays the part of an unprincipled leech brilliantly. It’s a credit to his talent that he could do so much with limited material.

This isn’t a bad film. The story-line is thought provoking and there are some good moments. But, it’s inconsistent. And when it’s dull, it’s dull.

The Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb **

This film has plenty of faults. The makeup job on the Mummy is awful. Its head looks like it’s made of soggy cardboard. The best parts of the script were borrowed from their first version of the story. The characters are all stock. There’s an intrepid academic who bores his girlfriend. There’s a bored girlfriend who falls for the charming intellectual. Of course there’s a charming intellectual. There’s the obligatory Egyptian who warns about the dangers of ‘defiling the dead’ (who in Egypt always have curse ready for people who do that). And, naturally, there’s a huckster in there. How could there not be?

But this crew does a decent job with it. Ronald Howard is wonderfully dull as the academic who’d rather woo women with hieroglyphics than moonlight. Jeanne Roland is a perfect Doe-eyed ingénue. Her character isn’t the brightest bulb on the screen but she bats her bonny browns deliciously. Terrence Morgan is slippery, suave, charming and happy to show her the poetry of life. And Fred Clark is delightfully dollar-happy as the promoter looking to put the Mummy under lights. Director and Writer Michael Carreras had the sense to throw in a few surprises. And he did it in ways that don’t seem contrived.

When the cardboard-headed Mummy finally does run loose there are some chilling moments. The pace set by Carreras is brisk one. His story, though not particularly original, seldom drags. The cinematography and production design by Otto Heller and Bernard Robinson are good. The action scenes are convincing.

This isn’t a great film (or even a particularly good one) but it has one thing going for it: it’s fun.
mafia wars strategy guide | mafia wars hack | mafia wars cheats
Avex DVD To AVI, MPEG2, 3g, mp4, PSP, Ipod Converter Software…Hurry!
mafia wars cheats | mafia wars strategy guide | mafia wars hack | mafia wars

Stream The Simpsons - The Complete Eighth Season Online. Movie Title: The Simpsons - The Complete Eighth Season Average customer review: The Simpsons - The Complete Eighth Season is available for streaming or downloading. Click Here to Stream or Download The Simpsons - The Complete Eighth Season

Season 8 may be the last above average season of The Simpsons. It would not be long after this season when I stopped enjoying The Simpsons as much. Their story lines became increasingly over-the-top and the shows were often to intent on focusing on the celebrity of the week. This season starts to go in that direction with some way-out episodes, but is not quite there yet. Season 7 is my favorite but Season 8 has many gems including “The Homer They Fall,” “Burns, Baby Burns,” “Lisa’s Date with Density,” “Hurricane Neddy,” “Homer Vs. The Eighteenth Amendment,” and “In Marge We Trust.”

Buy,Download, Or Stream The Simpsons - The Complete Eighth Season! Click Here

“Treehouse of Horror VII”: (a) The Thing and I: Bart finds out he has an evil Siamese brother Hugo; (b) The Genesis Tub: Lisa conducts experiments with her fallen baby tooth and creates a mini society. When she is zapped into miniature size, she warns the little society against the “Dark One” (Bart); (c) Kang and Kodos come to earth posed as Bob Dole and Bill Clinton. Of course, with the two-party system, one of them has to win.

“You Only Move Twice”: Homer begins working for Hank Scorpio who is a pleasant and fun boss despite his plans for global terrorism and extortion.

“The Homer They Fall”: Homer becomes a boxer with Moe as his manager. All goes well until he has to fight Drederick Tatum. Great Mike Tyson and Don King characters.

Buy,Download, Or Stream The Simpsons - The Complete Eighth Season! Click Here

“Burn, Baby Burns”: Mr. Burns finds out he has a long-lost son (voiced by Rodney Dangerfield) who becomes bosom buds with Homer. Love the line: “This place is emptier than a Scottish pay toilet.”

“Bart After Dark”: After Bart damages property at an spooky old house, Homer forces Bart to work at the house which turns out to be a burlesque house.

“A Milhouse Divided”: Milhouse’s parents get divorced and his dad decides to becomes a [bad] singer.

“Lisa’s Date with Density”: Lisa develops a crush on bully Nelson Muntz and thinks she can change him. I love the scene where Nelson throws a rock at a window and tries to tell Lisa the cops are chasing him and he needs a hideout only to have Homer open the window to tell him Lisa’s room is the next window over. I also love the auto-dialer sub-story.

“Hurricane Neddy”: One of my all-time favorites. Ned Flanders’s house is the only one destroyed in a hurricane and he begins to question his faith. In a flashback, we find out how he started saying doodily, diddily, as a why to hold in rage.

“The Mysterious Voyage of Homer”: This is a weird one. Homer eats a bad pepper at a chili cook-off and hallucinates about a coyote who urges Homer to find his soul mate.

“The Springfield Files:” X-Files take-off.

“The Twisted World of Marge Simpson”: After being booted out of the Investorettes club for being too conservative, Marge buys a pretzel franchise but keeps hitting stumbling blocks to success. Homer decides to recruit the services of Fat Tony.

“Mountain of Madness”: This one is also a little odd. During a survival retreat for the nuclear power plant, Mr. Burns and Homer are snowed-into a cabin and eventually start hallucinating.

“Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(”doh!”)cious”: The Simpsons need a nanny and hire Mary Pop..,uh,…Shary Bobbins.

“The Itchy and Scratchy and Poochie Show”: Homer becomes the voice of a new cartoon character who doesn’t go over very well.

“Homer’s Phobia”: Homer meets a funny guy who runs a collectible shop “Cockamamies” (gotta love that name) named John and is shocked when he discovers John, uh, prefers the company of men. Worst of all, Homer thinks John is influencing Bart.

“Brother From Another Series”: (Great title). Sideshow Bob is released from prison and joins forces with his brother Cecil (voiced by David Hyde Pierce, of course, Sideshow Bob is voiced by Kelsey Grammer–get the title?). Could Bob actually be the good guy in this episode???

“My Sister, My Sitter”: Lisa becomes Bart’s baby sitter and Lisa is afraid she’s killed her brother after knocking him down the stairs. This one is a little over-the-top.

“Homer Vs. The Eighteenth Amendment”: One of my all-time favorites! Prohibition starts up again in Springfield and Homer assists Moe in creating a speakeasy. Can Homer out-fox Rex Banner?

“Grade School Confidential”: Principal Skinner and Mrs. Krabappel start a romance and create controversy at Springfield Elementary. The Skinner is a virgin thing was a little much.

“The Canine Mutiny”: Bart gets hold of a fake credit card and buys all kinds of stuff including a pedigree collie, Laddie. When repo-men come to collect the stuff, Bart gives them Santa’s Little Helper instead of Laddie and soon regrets the decision.

“The Old Man and the Lisa”: Mr. Burns, who’s recently lost his fortune, joins forces with Lisa to create a recycling plant. Of course, Mr. Burns could never turn this plant into an evil operation…yeah, right! I love Moe’s line about the “Little Lisa” logo: “Ah, isn’t that cute. It makes Little Debbie look like a pile of puke.”

“In Marge We Trust”: Marge becomes the “Listen Lady” and burned-out Mr. Lovejoy is worried she has become more popular than him with his flock.

“Homer’s Enemy”: Frank Grimes is the new employee at the nuclear power plant and, unlike everyone else, he doesn’t accept Homer’s incompetence. A very dark episode.

“The Simpsons Spin-off Showcase”: A 1970s-style variety show take-off of The Brady Bunch. Just as Jan refused to participate, Lisa is replaced by an actress who looks just like her…yeah, right!

“The Secret War of Lisa Simpson”: Bart is forced to enlist in military school and, impressed by the discipline which seems odd since Lisa is such a free thinker that one would not think she’d be attracted to the unquestioning soldier’s life, she decides to join, too. And all the boys accept her…uh, no.

I looked forward to buying the next released season of The Simpsons on DVD every year, however, getting season eight this year is going to be a bittersweet occasion. Of course, I add yet another solid gold season of The Simpsons to my collection, but this in turn will result in the end of my Simpsons collection. Yes, like many other reviewers of this DVD set on Amazon, I share the same sentiment that this is the last season worth buying. From season 9 and onward, the show grew progressively worse in the long run, and lost what made it worth watching in the first place.

Basically, this is the last season of The Simpsons that retained its witty sense of humor, and didn’t resort to outlandish storylines and throwing in celebrity guest stars week after week. Episodes like “You Only Move Twice” (I love the 007 scene), “A Milhouse Divided”, “The Twisted World Of Marge Simpson”, Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(ANNOYED GRUNT)cious”, “The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show”, “Homer’s Phobia”, and the classic “Homer’s Enemy” exudes the shows last ounces of genius from script to screen. The storylines of these episodes are enjoyable, and captivating from start to finish. The witty humor of the past seasons is well retained in season eight with many side splitting moments of hillarity to prove it. In addition, season eight showcases further development of favorite characters, as well as the introduction of unforgettable new favorites like Frank Grimes and Poochie.

Truly, Season 8 is indeed the end of an era of what was the most brilliantly inventive series on television. Fortunately, it will live infinitely on DVD to be respected and enjoyed by core fans and casual viewers alike.
Watch March Madness Online | Watch live sports 2010 | College Basketball Final Four
Watch March Madness Online | Watch NBA Playoffs Finals Online | Watch NASCAR Online
Avex DVD To AVI, MPEG2, 3g, mp4, PSP, Ipod Converter Software…Hurry!

Streaming Tenchi Muyo GXP Box Set Online. Movie Title: Tenchi Muyo GXP Box Set Average customer review: Tenchi Muyo GXP Box Set is available for streaming or downloading. Click Here to Stream or Download Tenchi Muyo GXP Box Set

It might just be an isolated incident, but when I got my copy I discovered that disc 2 was mislabeled and actually contained some Spanish movie. So I returned it with a note asking Amazon to check their stock and will be reordering shortly. If you do order this series you might want to just check the start of each disc to make sure it’s correct.

The show is good, GXP is funny, and belongs in the Tenchi world; however, this box set is really subpar. It drops the ball in so many levels of packaging that it’s a shame. First, the whole thing is paper, that’s right cardboard paper. No plastic, just paper with paper sleeves to protect the disk. That does not work out too well, being out of the box, I got scratches. There is no plastic to be found on this box set, to protect your DVD investment. I am giving the show 5 stars, because it’s funny and well done. I would stay clear of this box set thou; I believe that they came out with another set, so buy the other. This one is not worth the 44 dollars. Also, 44 Dollars? I bought this for 29.99 OFF OF AMAZON!!! So why the price jump? So stay clear of this release, I have it, and it’s fine. I won’t return it, because the disks are fine and the episodes are all included, just the Box set is not what you think it would be.
nc homes for sale | nc real estate | wake forest 27587 nc homes for sale
mafia wars cheats | mafia wars strategy guide | mafia wars hack | mafia wars
DVD to converter | DVD to mpg | dvd to psp

Stream The Turandot Project Online. Movie Title: The Turandot Project Average customer review: The Turandot Project is available for streaming or downloading. Click Here to Stream or Download The Turandot Project

Although “Turandot” was always my mother’s favorite Puccini opera and, as a result, I grew up listening to it, I never quite understood it as I understood the other “simpler” works like Butterfly and Tosca (my personal favorite). But when I saw “The Turandot Project” on the Sundance channel this morning, all of a sudden everything became clear and I rushed to the computer to find the DVD.

While the production itself is spectacular (300 extras, 50 ballet dancers, a contortionist from the Beijing Opera, and 300 soldiers from the local Chinese Army garrison), the documentary of what was involved in making the production actually happen is fascinating. I counted at least four languages (English, Italian, and Mandarin for most, but let’s not forget the Viennese sound director with his own Mandarin/German translator) and a nearly unlimited number of egos.

At the end of the documentary, while we hear Puccini’s gorgeous music, the film cuts between the the actual production and the earlier shots of the various problems and rehearsals. I swear, watching that, I got actual goosebumps.

In all, the production is the culmination of an astonishing effort dedicated towards one goal: the production of Puccini’s masterpiece in its perfect setting, the Forbidden City. The production is a triumph of human dedication and cooperation and makes you think that maybe, in the end, there’s hope for us all.

Memorial of a historical musical event.
The tremendous challenge of getting Chinese,Italians and experts from other nationalities to come together in understanding to create a spectacular version of Turandot with authentic Ming dynasty costumes, scenery in an ancient Peking theatre is portrayed in an exciting way by the same director who won an Oscar for “From Mao to Mozart” with Isaac Stern in 1979.

The Italian choirmembers stop singing when the clock strikes 5 (union rules). The Chinese director is worried that the Chinese stagehands (who have had no exposure to western opera) will make a mistake in moving the complicated set and make China look bad in the eyes of the world.

The costumes are fantastic, the singing and acting great (The suicide scene of Christina Gallardo as Liu was brilliant.)

But most interesting of all are the transcultural communication issues. Recommended viewing for project managers, in whatever branch.
Avex DVD To AVI, MPEG2, 3g, mp4, PSP, Ipod Converter Software…Hurry!
mafia wars strategy hacks cheats facebook myspace godfather
nc homes for sale | nc real estate | wake forest 27587 nc homes for sale

Stream Army of Darkness Movie Online. Movie Title: Army of Darkness Average customer review: Army of Darkness is available for streaming or downloading. Click Here to Stream or Download Army of Darkness

Confused by all the Army of Darkness DVD releases (some in print, some out of print, some lingering halfway between)? I know I was. But I’ve done some research and figured it out, and here’s how it breaks down:

Buy,Download, Or Stream Army of Darkness! Click Here

1. The original DVD release– was the original theatrical version of the movie with few extras. Good picture, good sound, S-Mart ending. If you just want to watch the best available version of the movie, you might get this one (if you can still find it; it’s out of print now). It also has the familiar movie poster cover with an overly muscled Bruce and the hokey “Low on gas” slogan.

2. The director’s cut– with the silly Molly Hatchet cover and the original ending. There are many minuses: key lines are changed (not necessarily for the better). Much of the footage looks really horrible, including the entire concluding battle. All the deleted scenes have the feel of an eBay-purchased bootleg. Bottom line: AOD fans will like to see the material, but this is hardly the movie’s best presentation. It’s still circulating but they’re not making any more of them.

Buy,Download, Or Stream Army of Darkness! Click Here

3. The special edition– probably the best DVD release of the movie to date. The 2 disc version (which, like the director’s cut, is nearing the end of its availability) is great. It features both the watchable theatrical version and the borderline-unwatchable director’s cut. It has commentary, unlike every other release, although the commentary is only available when viewing the director’s cut. It has a making-of featurette.

The single disc version (now the primary version of AOD available) is only a slight downgrade; basically, it’s the theatrical release, lookin’ and soundin’ fine, with the original ending as an extra, and the making of featurette also included. (The commentary is sadly missing.)

In summary: You can’t go wrong with the single disc special edition or the even better double disc special edition. Avoid the director’s cut unless you already own the original DVD and just want to see all the new footage in all its grainy glory. The original DVD is a fine purchase if you just wanna watch the movie, already.

2009 edit: to clear up some confusion in comments on this review, I wrote this eight long years ago. “Army” probably has five new DVD editions since then, and I’m sorry to report that I don’t care enough to keep buying and comparing them. My experience so far has been that they keep releasing new versions with little regard for what people really want. In my eyes, a definitive version would be:

1. The main feature would be the theatrical version, fully restored and anamorphic.

2. Deleted scenes and the alternate ending would be cleaned up and well-presented as extras - I know this is possible because I own an Australian DVD of the movie that has them looking a lot cleaner than I’ve seen on all the older American versions. It would be also great if they had a menu option to watch the theatrical cut with some of the deleted scenes added back in - in particular the longer (and more cohesive) windmill battle with the mini-Bruces should never have been trimmed down; I’d love to see that in full as part of the movie. There’s a cut that plays on some TV channel (AMC maybe?) that includes this scene, but unfortunately other parts are changed to their detriment - not a great trade-off. I think most fans of the movie prefer the original version of the movie - the S-mart ending, the original one-liners, etc. - but don’t mind seeing some additional scenes thrown in.

3. Commentary, making-of featurette, etc. all included. The track record of this stuff on previous releases has been very spotty.

4. And finally do it right - put this version (probably a 2 DVD set) in print and get rid of the other ones, and KEEP it in print. Fans are tired of re-buying this movie just to find out that it’s the same damn thing with a line or scene changed… if that. Let’s tie a neat bow on this thing and be done with it. I’m as big a fan as they come and I stopped buying the new DVDs a couple versions ago.

For the sake of clarity, I just want to say that there is no way I could review any version of Army of Darkness without giving it five stars. It is a modern classic which I can watch over and over again. Seeing the Tiny Evil Ashes take on Ash causes me to laugh out loud with every “My fair lady.”

Having said that, I can’t imagine why they are releasing yet another SE DVD set of it. I own the 2-disc Limited Edition which came out a few years ago. I can’t find anything different about this new “Boomstick Edition” that isn’t on the old Limited Edition. Both have the original theatrical release and the director’s cut with 15 additional minutes of footage. Both have the Men Behind The Army featurette. Both have the Raimi, Campbell, Raimi commentary. The only thing I’ve noticed so far is that the Boomstick edition comes with some kind of 10 page collectible book which my LE set didn’t have. But unless they made some drastic changes to either the video or audio to clear up imperfections which I never noticed in the first place, I couldn’t justify buying this new edition. But if you don’t yet own Army of Darkness, don’t be a primitive screwhead. Click on the Buy It Now link and get it.
Watch March Madness Online | Watch NBA Playoffs Finals Online | Watch NASCAR Online
Watch March Madness Online | Watch live sports 2010 | College Basketball Final Four
mafia wars cheats | mafia wars strategy guide | mafia wars hack | mafia wars

Scrubs - The Complete Second Season Movie Streaming. Movie Title: Scrubs - The Complete Second Season Average customer review: Scrubs - The Complete Second Season is available for streaming or downloading. Click Here to Stream or Download Scrubs - The Complete Second Season

Turn on your TV. Watch the same formulaic comedies day after day on the networks. Watch your intelligence quotient begin its downward spiral. Scared? Ok, now turn on Scrubs. Every so often a show comes along that breaks the network formula, and brings a richness to a genre that is sorely lacking in originality. Scrubs is that show, and has been for several years running.

Buy,Download, Or Stream Scrubs - The Complete Second Season! Click Here

Scrubs hooked me with the very first episode I ever saw. At first I was skeptical. Medical comedy, hmm Ok, there is going to be bad sophmoric humor and haven’t we seen medical shows about a million times? Five minutes in, it hit me. This show was actually brilliant; Intelligent, quirky, and sometimes wacky humor coupled with real drama and tearful emotion and writing that continues to amaze week after week. At that moment, Scrubs inherited the void left by Seinfeld’s departure as TVs best comedy.

The quirky nature of the writing, especially JD’s fantasy sequences, improves in Season 2. Zach Braff, Donald Faison, and Sarah Chalke are far better, and far more comfortable, in their respective roles as JD, Turk, and Elliot than in Season 1. John C. McGinley is bar none the best actor on TV today as Dr. Cox. He becomes a more understandable and likeable character as this season progresses. And of course, Neil Flynn and his fantastically offbeat humor as JD’s Janitor nemesis.

Buy,Download, Or Stream Scrubs - The Complete Second Season! Click Here

The season 1 finale left a lot of questions in the air. Would Carla and Turk resolve their problems and find happiness? Would JD and Elliot fall in love for real or are they destined for friendship? Most importantly, woud the father-son relationship between JD and Dr. Cox ever be the same? Season 2 resolves these questions fairly early, leaving the majority of the season devoted to pure laugh out loud moments and amazing guest stars like Heather Locklear, Tom Cavanaugh, Rick Shroeder, Jay Mohr, and the gorgeous Amy Smart as Tasty Coma Wife. The show seems to be successfully moving away from the gimmicky plot twists and each episode is a neatly comprehensive show. With shorter dramatic arcs, the humor and acting are center stage and the cast and crew sparkle. This set is a solid winner, with plenty of entertaining extras, and is an absolute must have for any Scrubs or TV comedy fan.

Scrubs season two came out on DVD where I live yesterday (Australia) and I have to say that the quality of this box set actually managaes to surpass that of season one. Once again, the special features are entertaining and informative without being too lengthy (perfect for my short attention span). The best short doco is one which features many of the on-set jokes between cast and crew - you really get the feeling that these people don’t just turn up and make a sitcom for the money.

While it’s disappointing that there are only 22 episodes in season two, as opposed to the 24 from the first season, what is lost in quality is made up for in quantity. Once again we see the janitor (my absolute favourite character) do his best to make JD’s life hell, while getting choked up when JD gives him a new mop (of all things!). Music also features heavily in these episodes, with the return of ‘Ted’s Band’ seeing a fantastic rendition of the theme song from ‘Charles in Charge’. Check out the extras to see these guys do their own special cover of the Scrubs theme song.

Even the menus are exciting - containing the entire Scrubs theme song, which is seriously catchy (sings) …but I know, I’m no Superman… (all right I’ll stop now). In the episodes themselves, the picture is very clear and the sound is great too, and excellent transfer from the source material. Considering the terrible pattern in which these shows screened in Australia, it’s nice to be able to watch them in order as intended. All in all, this is a fantastic set at a great price - where I’m from it’s about half the cost of (for example) Simpsons and Frasier box sets. And because Scrubs is just one of those shows you can watch over and over again, it’s well worth every cent.

mafia wars cheats | mafia wars strategy guide | mafia wars hack | mafia wars
Eliminate Credit Card Debts | Get Rid of Credit Card Debt Now | Credit Card Debt Consolidation
mafia wars strategy hacks cheats facebook myspace godfather

Watch Shane Online. Movie Title: Shane Average customer review: Shane is available for streaming or downloading. Click Here to Stream or Download Shane

Often mentioned as one of the greatest westerns ever, it is easy to see why. This film stands as a masterpiece of the art, even more so since it was filmed so long ago. It starts with a great story, the story of Shane (Alan Ladd), a quiet gunslinger who is trying to escape his past and befriends a pioneer family that has settled out west. He attempts to settle down and become a hired hand to Joe Starrett (Van Heflin) and his wife Marian (Jean Arthur), but the ranchers who need to drive cattle through the homesteaders’ property are attempting to drive them out. Shane tries to stay out of the disputes, but keeps being drawn in and is finally compelled to put his six shooter back on when the ranchers hire Jack Wilson (Jack Palance) a noted gunfighter to intimidate the farmers.

This story is outstanding in so many ways. It is a classic battle of good and evil. It has its share of fist fights and shoot outs, but this film is more about principles than action. It exemplifies principles and values that unfortunately have become outdated in today’s society such as, character, integrity, loyalty, pride in accomplishment, persistence and the willingness to fight for what is right. It is also an excellent human interest story and succeeds in getting the viewer to love the homesteaders and hate the ranchers.

George Stevens directed this film late in a notable career and does a splendid job. The locations were breathtaking, shot with majestic mountains in the background of almost every scene. The cinematography was stunning, and the color rich despite the fact that it was filmed almost 50 years ago.

The acting was superlative. Van Heflin wins us over almost immediately with his high minded principles and unshakeable character. He actually has far more lines than Ladd, who was more of an icon of strength than a vocal character. Jack Palance is the archetypal western villain and went on in his career to become the most prominent and enduring villain in movie history. His sneering arrogance and haughty gait made him the villain we loved to hate for decades.

Elisha Cook, as Stonewall Torrey, had a prolific career as a supporting actor, with over 150 appearances in film an TV that spanned almost 60 years. This is one of his best an most memorable roles as a fearless, proud and petulant former confederate that gets goaded into a gunfight with Jack Palance.

Brandon DeWilde as young Joey, gave a compelling performance. One of the best scenes in the movie was when he asked Shane to shoot at a small rock and Shane shot it 5 or 6 times and hit it every time. The wide eyed look of surprise was terrific. Though he went on to do about a dozen mostly minor films, he was never able to capitalize on his success in this role.

Finally, there is Alan Ladd. I’ve often heard criticisms of his performance of being too low key. I could not disagree more. His understated performance made him loom large as an imposing figure in the film. It created an almost godlike presence. This strong silent portrayal is very attractive adding humility to his many positive qualities. This unassuming style is also what made Gary Cooper so popular.

This film is on my top fifty list of all time. It is a magnum opus that the film industry can be proud of. It combines great filmmaking, direction and acting with a memorable and morally instructive story. This should be required viewing for any serious film buff. A perfect 10.

Alan Ladd starred in one of the most spare and beautiful westerns ever captured on film in George Stevens’ portrait of a lonely gunfighter and the bond he forms with a family of homesteaders under seige out west. Jack Schaefer’s very good western novella was lofted to greatness by Ladd’s quiet performance as the gunfighter Shane, who gets a glimpse of the life he would have preferred rather than the hand he was dealt.

Buy,Download, Or Stream Shane! Click Here

A story and film which sounds simple, and is often described as such, is really anything but, its complexity hidden by its scope and the subtle manner in which it is told. Shane is the mythic figure, riding in on the horizon and staying to help a family fend off a rancher trying to drive the farmers off their land. It is a story of changing times and complex relationships.

Shane forms a bond with farmer Van Heflin and becomes his friend because of his decency and acceptance of Shane, even though Shane’s gun and his readiness to draw at the slightest sound reveals a past and a way of life Shane would like to live down. Shane knows he is on the way out as the west changes and it is ironic that he chooses to help the family trying to build a town and a community, the very things that will be his demise.

Buy,Download, Or Stream Shane! Click Here

Brandon De Wilde is excellent as the young boy who needs a larger than life hero to look up to and finds him in Shane. As he and Shane form a bond, an inevitable confrontation between a deadly gunfighter hired to get rid of the homesteaders will force him to put on his gun and live up to everything the young boy feels in his heart for Shane.

Jean Arthur gives a wonderful and often overlooked performance as the wife who loves her husband and son dearly, but can not deny the feelings she has for Shane. There is a point in the film where she tells her husband to just hold her and not ask any questions; everyone who has been watching knows why she does this. It is a platonic love for Shane she would never act on but it is still there.

Heflin is also excellent as a solid man trying to hold the other farmers together even as a deadly gunfighter in black, symbolic of the good verses evil of the story, kills one of their own. He is no fool and senses the feelings between his wife and Shane, but knows that neither would ever betray him; Arthur because she loves him and Shane because it is not the kind of man he is.

Shane’s feelings for Arthur are not the threatening kind, but more a loneliness when he looks at her, as she represents everything he wanted but knows he will never have because he is a gunfighter. He tells Arthur that a gun is just a tool like an axe or a shovel, no better or worse than the man who carries it. We know Shane is the good man, and Jack Palance the bad man, quick on the draw and evil, but no match for the soft spoken but deadly Shane.

The way the inevitable gunfight comes about and the way this film ends continues the larger than life myth of the American gunfighter. There is a nice score from Victor Young and good support from Edgar Buchanan as a farmer and Ben Johnson as a rancher who changes his spots, won over by the kind of man Shane shows himself to be.

Shane is not only one of the great westerns, but one of the best films of any genre. It is an artistic portrait of a gunfighter and the changing landscape of the American west, as general stores and churches began to replace the lawlessness that had been settled by a fast and accurate draw for so many years.

If you do not own Shane, your film library is incomplete. Every serious film buff has a spot for this masterpiece on their shelf somewhere. Make one on yours.
Eliminate Credit Card Debts | Get Rid of Credit Card Debt Now | Credit Card Debt Consolidation
Avex DVD To AVI, MPEG2, 3g, mp4, PSP, Ipod Converter Software…Hurry!
mafia wars strategy guide | mafia wars hack | mafia wars cheats

Stream Nukes in Space - The Rainbow Bombs Online. Movie Title: Nukes in Space - The Rainbow Bombs Average customer review: Nukes in Space - The Rainbow Bombs is available for streaming or downloading. Click Here to Stream or Download Nukes in Space - The Rainbow Bombs

Since I’ve seen Mr. Kuran’s “Trinity and Beyond” I was anxious to see what restoration magic he had continued with his latest release. I wasn’t disappointed. For those who don’t realize it, much of the historical film of the 50’s through the 70’s is rapidly fading. Unique scenes that will never be re-enacted are dwindling in vaults everywhere do to time’s effect on the dye used in color film. Peter Kuran is a filmmaker and documentarian with several awards to his name. He has chosen what seems like a limited-interest field to apply state of the art restoration techniques to obtain quality film to tell his story. His use of Mr. William Shatner’s even-toned, non-judgemental reading of the script of this period of our nations’ history, combined with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra’s music is a wonderful match. Even though I’ve seen many of the clips shown in this film before, never have they had the clarity, color saturation or sharpness that Mr. Kuran has brought to this film. I’ve been aware of the work that is necessary to achieve this level of restoration, and his devotion to this film is remarkable. Tracing the history of the space race, saber rattling, and political posturing, the viewer is made aware of science and politics intermingling from a new perspective. A real concern about the damage the tests were doing to the world beyond our planet is retold by modern interviews with experts from that era. Of course the film is technically excellent, but as a true documentarian, Mr. Kuran leads us to consider the events of the time as neither evil or necessary, but just that they were a period we fortunately lived through without war. There are many new clips I’ve not seen elsewhere, and one brief (as is everything concerning the amazing Sprint antiballistic missile) a few seconds of this rare rocket accelerating at 100 G’s! The serious collector should own this film just for the restored archival material. Those who did not live through this nerve-racking time should view the film to obtain a flavor of the tense world situation that could easily have seen the use of these weapons in anger. Sure there are a few minor problems with the production (a muted background explosion is heard as a distant German V2 rocket hits some distance away, rather than having the necessary delay in arrival of sound), but overall the filmmaker uses good judgement in not flaunting all of the videographer’s toys, fades, wipes and special effects that mar other productions. My only concern is realizing that hundreds of thousands of feet of film lay slowly deteriorating, never to be subjected to Mr. Kuran’s magical process of restoration. Perhaps archivists and historians in charge of rare material will approach Visual Concepts to ask for their help in preserving this unreplacable film.

I bought Trinity and Beyond mostly based on customer suggestion, and liked it so much that I purchased the follow-up, Atomic Journeys. Both of these movies are awesome; for full information, read my reviews. For some reason, Nukes in Space lagged a little bit.

Nukes in Space is certainly a (slightly) more serious film: there isn’t as much footage of nuclear explosions, and there is more interview footage in this movie - Kuran presents the facts regarding America’s detonation of nuclear devices in the upper atmosphere in his usual, non-judgemental way. Viewers will agree, however, that Nukes in Space just doesn’t move at the same speed at the other films; it’s slower, and a little less exciting. Perhaps that is because we’ve become desensitized a bit to the horror of nuclear detonations through his other movies?

It is great that Kuran is preserving footage of these detonations, and doing it in a way that is entertaining and educational. I think, however, that VCE studios is beginning to produce films that are geared more for the nuke-oriented audience rather than the wider, documentary (information)-based audience. Yes, what you will see here is terrible. Yes, it is almost funny, if it weren’t true. But, the effect was achieved - almost with better results - in Trinity and Atomic Journeys.

DVD dirt -

Expect the same level of greatness as in the other Kuran DVDs. There is a full-length director’s commentary (not mentioned), and the footage and sound transfered probably a well as they could. Watch for those nuclear blasts to give your subwoofers a good workout. The soundtrack, as usual, is killer, and there are plenty of extra features of different nuclear detonations / Kennedy speeches / newsreel footage to keep interest going for another hour at least.

One more thing - Look for The Atomic Filmmakers and Nuclear 911 - Kuran’s latest efforts - on DVD in the next few months.
Watch March Madness Online | Watch live sports 2010 | College Basketball Final Four
Watch March Madness Online | Watch NBA Playoffs Finals Online | Watch NASCAR Online
homes for sale nc | nc real estate | durham 27703 nc homes for sale