A Christmas Story (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Is this reissue worth it?
Released this fall, the "Christmas Story" collector's edition is really a 20th anniversary version of the classic. First, let me say I can't believe it's been out for 20 years. I thought 12, at the most 15. Wow.

Briefly, for readers who may not be intimately acquainted with the film, I strongly encourage you to purchase "A Christmas Story" and make it a regular part of your holiday routine. It will grow on you with each viewing and you'll soon find its one-liners making their way into your everyday vernacular. Which version should you get? That's why you're reading this review.

The original DVD release of "A Christmas Story" had no extra features. Nothing. No commentaries, no interviews, no documentaries. Just the movie. This was greatly disappointing, since I'm a big fan and was interested in the making of the film, what the actors are doing now, etc. So naturally I was looking forward to this special edition.

Well, I can't say I'm too satisfied with the reissue.

1. The...

Ultimate Collector's Edition mainly for collectors and those who don't have the movie on DVD/Blu-ray yet
Amazon has combined the reviews for the Blu-ray and standard DVD versions of this set, which aren't exactly the same in their features. This review is for the Blu-ray version. My review of the standard DVD version is here too, so be sure you're reading the one you're interested in.

The movie is excellent, a Christmas classic (see below). Should you upgrade to the new Ultimate edition if you already have the 2006 Blu-ray edition? That depends on how much you like memorabilia. The new edition is a repackaging of the 2006 edition, with a couple new non-DVD extras:

-- a collectible retro Christmas cookie tin (the container for the set)
-- a strand of leg-lamp Christmas lights (Blu-ray exclusive)

Those look like fun, if you're into that kind of stuff. Amazon has a photo of the tin and a second photo that shows the tin and the leg-lamp lights. (The announcement for this set said that the items from the standard DVD set...

Hurrah for movie, Shame on DVD
This is a must-see, completely charming, wonderfully acted (and I usually don't like child actors), heart-warming without being too mushy, Holiday Season story.

But they made the DVD in Pan&Scan (except the opening credits, which are in widescreen). SHAME ON THE DVD PRODUCER!

The whole idea of DVDs was that there's ample space for both widescreen and pan&scan versions. P&S (now called "Full Screen Format" -- to make you think it's a good thing) makes movies look like made-for-tv shows, with no vistas and too many closeups.

How about an un-modified version of this terrific movie?

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Planet of the Apes 40th Anniversary Collection (Planet of the Apes / Beneath the Planet of the Apes / Escape From / Conquest of / Battle for) [Blu-ray]

A Truly Exeptional Collection Arrives on Blu-ray in STYLE!!!
I have loved this series ever since I was a young boy who saw the original movie on TV. When the TV series came out, I was glued to the set for every episode, and then the cartoon series became a part of my regular Saturday morning viewing. This is one of the few movie franchises that I loved growing up that has not lost any of its charm with me now as an adult. I first bought the Limited Edition Evolution collection on DVD a few years ago, and followed up with my purchase of the Ultimate Collection that came enclosed in a bust of Caesar. When I first heard of the arrival of this series on Blu-ray, I thought they would simply transport the DVD versions I already owned onto a Blu-ray platter. BOY was I wrong!!!!!

I will not go into the details of the story line for this series, since so many have already done a great job at that. What I will focus on is the Blu-ray 40th Anniversary Collection.

I had seen pictures of the collection, and was very excited to...

Grab The Planet Of The Apes Evolution Soon!
This set is wonderful! All 5 films plus a bonus documentary hosted by the late great Roddy McDowall, Behind The Planet Of The Apes is a 126 minute making of which shows the origins and the ideas that lead to the filming of the saga which began in 1967, thru the rest of the films 'til 1973 as well as the two television series (live action and animated) and the rereleasing of the films and marketing. But you have to buy this set soon because after the first 100,000 are sold, the next sets will not, I repeat, will not include the Behind The Planet Of The Apes documentary, which, to me, is the best special feature you get with these movies. The lowdown on the films is this: Planet Of The Apes is a classic. Trust me, if you don't like this one you won't like the rest. The ending is historic. Beneath The Planet Of The Apes is a good second effort. I just wish Charlton Heston would've starred in the entire picture instead of the beginning and ending. (note: the trailer...

THX Goes Ape!
This upgrade of the August 21, 2000, Fox "Evolution" APES boxed set is a significant improvement over that release. All of the films are now available in 16x9 anamorphic transfers, but more importantly each film has been remastered with improved picture and sound quality.

The first, and best, film PLANET OF THE APES (1968) is here actually a reissue of Disc 1 of the 2-Disc "35th Anniversary Edition" Fox released on February 3, 2004 (the extras-loaded 2nd disc has not been included in this set), with the same menu screens and sparse commentary tracks (thankfully one from the late, great Jerry Goldsmith), but it's a fine picture transfer of this important film, with the original 4-channel stereo soundtrack elements remixed in both Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS, and sound is very good for recordings that are over thirty-five years old. (The DVD picture upgrade from Fox's original non-anamorphic one isn't perfect though, with some flicker and scratches visible. Hopefully Fox...

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3 Ninjas Set (3 Ninjas Kick Back/3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain/3 Ninjas Knuckle Up)

The "REAL" 3 Ninjas Are Back!!
The original brothers return in this, the third installment in the 3 Ninjas Trilogy. Like a lot of fans of the series, I really enjoyed the first film a lot. It just had the perfect blend of humor, action and drama to make for a great adventure. Michael Treanor as Rocky, Max Elliot Slade as Colt, & Chad Power as Tum Tum really had some great chemistry together. Rocky was more of the sensitive thinker, while Colt was more of the aggressive type. And Tum Tum? Well, he was more a combination of comic relief as well as a way of letting smaller kids feel like they could be a ninja too. But like many fans, I was very disappointed with the 2nd installment, 3 Ninjas Kick Back, because Michael Treanor & Chad Power were replaced by two other actors. This was the biggest mistake in the world and it crippled the franchise as a result. Kids aren't stupid. They will notice when you change actors on them in a movie. Thankfully, Treanor & Power returned for the third installment, 3 Ninjas...

THIS MOVIE KICKS!!
This movie was not as good as the first one but was better than any of the other ones, especially the one made in '98. Michael Treanor and Max Elliott Slade and Chad Power are the best ninjas, especially the first two. (I like Rocky.) The karate stuff that they do is really cool. The dance scene they did was interesting. In a good way.

Great kids movie
My godson started watching this movie, which we bought when my 14 year old daughter was much younger. He loves this movie and is driving his parents crazy with it, so I have now ordered the other two so there will be a little variety. He is almost 4 and sometimes watches this 4 or 5 times a day (if he can get by with it). A great movie for your children!!

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Mojave Phone Booth

pick up the phone, you'll want to take this call
"Mojave Phone Booth" is the dramatization of a real phenomenon. Located in Mojave National Preserve, the phone booth became popular as strangers called to talk to the strangers who drove to the remote booth. Spread through the Mojave Phone Booth Project's web page, the experience brought together people from all over the world. The cult following is yet another testament to desert weirdness. Indeed, my curiosity in the film is based on an interest in the eccentric things that people do in dry places. As for the actual movie, I enjoyed it. Set in Las Vegas, the story brings together seemingly unrelated characters. Told in separate chapters, the stories ultimately tie together. In this respect, the plot's architecture is similar to "Crash." The story has a creepy, existential mood. The central theme is communication. The main characters all suffer from an inability to effectively communicate within their...

Surprisingly good
Smart, honest, good performances - a steal at $.99 - Far better than many that cost much more. An excellent illustration of how lives intertwine, how bizarre and simple life can be. Very intelligent film with heart, depth and humor.

Great Cast
I loved this film. Quirky...with a great cast...interesting storyline...set in Las Vegas...where all of this seems for some reason plausible.

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Gourmet's Diary of a Foodie

"We're Called Foodies!"
Make no mistake about it... a foodie isn't just someone who loves good food; a foodie is someone who finds eating an adventure and is always searching for entirely new food experiences (which is why The Food Network is the antithesis of everything foodie. They should just change their name to the Comfort Food Network - not that I have anything against comfort foods but there is a whole world of foods outside of the American diner experience!). Outside of The Iron Chef, Tony Bourdain's 'No Reservations' and Mark Bittman's 'Best Recipes in the World', there's very little TV-wise to stimulate us foodies, so this AMAZING gem that just popped from heaven like a truffle on your pillow really is nirvana. It's Gourmet Magazine 'live' with all the sights and sounds and yes, even the smells and tastes. It also crams in a global experience that subtly underlines the fact that food is a language and an experience that all cultures can share together and bond with. If you've been starving for...

Love to eat, you'll love this lengthy video
This foodie video is like a marathon. I watched it all one Saturday.

It is just fascinating. You'll want to cook & eat after watching, for sure.

Perfect for a foodie!
It's a great compilation of places and cuisines from around the world. It inspired to travel more and visit places in the video.

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Hellboy II: The Golden Army (Three Disc Special Edition)

Hellboy II - Back And Better Than Ever!
You know you're not watching a formulaic comic book film when one of the highlights is a drunken rendition of "Can't Smile Without You" by Hellboy and Abe Sapien. "Hellboy II: The Golden Army" is a more confident, assured outing than the first film and while it does not draw from Mignola's comics for its plot it is perhaps better off for it, lacking the usual burden of comparison and expectations. "The Golden Army" is more fantastical than the first film and is less sci-fi oriented but this is the sort of thing Del Toro does exceptionally well as a writer. He never lets the fantasy become the focus of the film, instead concentrating on characters and delivering action scenes that can only be described as, forgive the crass immaturity, kickass.

As entertaining as many comic book-to-film adaptations are it is a rare event when one can call one of these films a true artistic achievement. I am convinced without a shadow of a doubt that Guillermo Del Toro's entire career has...

Let me remind you why you once feared the dark
Guillermo Del Toro has become the new master of dark fantasy -- first with the quirky clockpunk "Hellboy," then with the Oscar-winning "Pan's Labyrinth." Not to mention forthcoming travels to Middle-Earth.

So you know he has the skills to pit Mike Mignola's scarlet anti-hero against an army of fairies and elves, and not make it silly. Instead, it's a spectacular dark fantasy full of humor, action, quirky appeal, romance, and some truly astounding special effects. But what really shoves this movie over the top is Del Toro's brilliant direction, and the stunning performance by Ron Perlman.

Decades ago, Professor Broom (William Hurt) told a small Hellboy a yuletide bedtime story about the Elf King Balor and his unstoppable Golden Army, and how the crown that controls the Army was split into thirds and divided among fairies and humans.

Well, you can't really expect that kind of power to never be revived.

Cut to current day. Hellboy (Perlman),...

Give `em Hellboy!!
Fans of dark fantasy movies will definitely like this one. If you take Pan's Labyrinth and add more creatures, and then give it an injection of humor, and sprinkle some Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, some Fantastic Four, and a little Lord of the Rings, and last of all let Neil Gaiman put the finishing touches, you'll probably get Hellboy II or a reasonable facsimile thereof.

Short Attention Span Summary (SASS):

1. Humans and mythical creatures are at it again
2. One crown rules an indestructible golden army
3. Uneasy lies the head that wants to wear the crown
4. All Hellboy breaks loose after a visit from the tooth fairies
5. The Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense sends a gasbag to lead the team into the bowels of New York City
6. Hellboy may be red and angry, but it's Liz (Selma...

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The Cosby Show: The Complete Series (25th Anniversary Commemorative Edition)

The Cosby Show - The Complete, Uncut Series!
Get your laugh on with those combustible Huxtables in The Cosby Show: 25th Anniversary Commemorative Edition!

For 8 hilarious seasons, viewers laughed with legendary comedian Bill Cosby's Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable and the talented cast that portrayed his TV family which at the time mirrored his real-life family as Cosby, too, married his college sweetheart and also had four daughters and one son.

Considered the most popular series of the 1980s, fans were dumbfounded that previous sets of The Cosby Show (from Urban Works Entertainment) were released with such poor treatment. Most notably, Season 1 which contained edited for syndication episodes instead of the original NBC broadcast versions.

Correcting the ills of the previous sets, this complete series release from First Look Home Entertainment features "every episode - original, uncut broadcast versions - from all 8 seasons" (plus...

BUYER BEWARE: EVERY PROSPECTIVE BUYER, PLEASE READ BEFORE BUYING!!!
The Cosby Show: 25th Anniversary Commemorative Edition
BUYER BEWARE: Obviously a fantastic show, but the way in which this product is manufactured and packaged results in problems for the end user (consumer). Be advised that each DVD is not suspended in its own circular, plastic tray, as is typical of discs. Rather, the entire collection is stored in books made of thick, white cardstock that is coated with the various graphics (or printed onto) for marketing. Each page of the DVD storage books contains two horizontal slits where the bare discs are inserted halfway, thus leaving them 50% exposed to the eye when the book is opened. Particles from the graphics that are printed onto each page flake off of the edges of the slits during transit. These particles then stick to the backs of the bare discs and, as slippage occurs, it causes scratches on the backs of the discs, which is severe in some cases. All of this...

5 stars for content 1 star for disc containers
I just received my Cosby show Complete Box Set. The Box itself is heavy and looks like a book. I'm not sure how it stays closed after being opened. The 25th anniversary book which looks to contains the script of the first episode is nice. I was shocked and dismayed to see that the 4 disc containers that contained 2 seasons each was made out of cardboard. If I had known that I would not have purchased the complete series. I don't why Companies that produce complete dvd series sets can't seem to understand that cardboard and dvds don't go together. What's wrong with using dual sided platic slim cases or any other kind of plastic dvd casing or better yet the "steelbook" cases. It wasn't scratched up like the Mash complete collection was but there was black debris from the cardboard on about half the discs. It looks like it can be removed without damaging the discs but it is really irritating. Now I have to go out and buy some dvd cases or storage cases to hold these discs.

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