Die Zigeunerbaron

Lovely Viennese Operetta
Loosely based on history, this Strauss operetta is set in Hungary under the reign of Empress Maria Theresia of Austria. It is here played in a lake setting with beautiful scenery and very good singers, excellent dancers and lavish costumes. The spoken dialogue (customary in operettas) is full of anachronistic allusions and very funny. A caveat: the whole thing is in German, and spoken and/or sung, especially by the "lower class" people, with such thick Austro-Hungarian accents that it is hard to understand even for a native German speaker.

fun
This operetta is fun. The production is excellent. The singing is good and the acting very good. The singers microphones are not too intrusive, and the subtitles work!

Wonderful to see the range of operetta DVDs (with subtitles) increasing.
Superb use of the lakeside setting. Unfortunately the forehead microphones, instead of being unobtrusive, look like deformities even after you recognise them for what they are. Lovely singing and music, but I've seen a production which made better use of the potential for humour. The plot is a bit too unbelievable (treasure AND a princess in disguise?), and overall less enjoyable than, say, Grafin Mariza. Nevertheless well worth seeing.

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Agatha Christie's Poirot: Series 1 [Blu-ray]

These are the Poirot 50 minute short stories, presented in original broadcast order.
In 1988 LWT (London Weekend Television) would make television history and start producing what would be THE definitive version of Agatha Christie's Poirot to air in 1989!
Now ITV, current owner of LWT programs, went back to the original film elements and remastered them in HD. Yes, there are subtitles.

Agatha Christie's Poirot Series 1 features these 50 minute short stories:

1 1-01 08/Jan/89 The Adventure of the Clapham Cook
2 1-02 15/Jan/89 Murder in the Mews
3 1-03 22/Jan/89 The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly
4 1-04 29/Jan/89 Four and Twenty Blackbirds
5 1-05 05/Feb/89 The Third Floor Flat
6 1-06 12/Feb/89 Triangle at Rhodes
7 1-07 19/Feb/89 Problem at Sea
8 1-08 26/Feb/89 The Incredible Theft
9 1-09 05/Mar/89 The King of Clubs
10 1-10 19/Mar/89 The Dream

While 16mm will never look as sharp as 35mm, if you directly transfer the original 16mm camera film elements they will...

All you have to say for a superlative is "Poirot"
Any POIROT set is just plain GOOD murder mystery. Agatha Christie suspense perfect. David Suchet acting excellence. Combined they make any British Mystery viewer salivate. Add top guest stars in each, SUBTITLES for the hearing and dialect challenged, and kick in some of the best filmed period mystery ever produced. It's what fans have come to expect with Poirot, Agatha Christie, Masterpiece Mystery, and the untouchable as Hercule Poirot--David Suchet.

The Blu-rays and new DVDs are newly remastered and restored to their original U.K. broadcast order. This is wonderful mystery TV, never to get out of date. You WILL love every feature-length episode.

The original 10 late 1930s era episodes (WITH SUBTITLES) in original June-March 1989 order. Period costumes as accurate as the Art Deco sets. David Suchet begins his masterful role as Hercule Poirot with the supporting cast of associate Hastings (Hugh...

WOW!
What a treat 'Poirot' is on BD! I can't believe how clear and crisp the image is on BD. I was a little worried since I had read that this show was originally filmed on 16mm, which is half the size of regular 35mm. Acorn to my approval this time has put a lot of care into the product. I have issues with them for releasing the same product in different packaging three times in about 10 years, but invest in the BD and you will be happy. Everyone knows how good most of these shows are so I will not give that type of review. I own some of the A&E films on SD DVD and there is an extraordinary difference between them and the BD just in contrast alone. The blacks are black and the colors dazzle. I would love some kind of special features, lets get interviews with David and the gang or license some of the BBC stuff that was filmed about the series (found on YouTube), something! Acorn has dropped the ball in that department. If you are on the fence about upgrading, don't be, do it and...

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Transformers Limited Edition Collector's Trilogy (Seven-Disc Blu-ray Boxed Set: Transformers / Transformers 2 / Transformers 3 (+ Blu-ray 3D Version))

What's in the box...
Each movie is in its own case, with the standard art inserts, and contains Disc 1 for each title. What you're getting when buying this is just the movies themselves. For a simple person like me who doesn't enjoy watching the 'Bonus 13 Extra Hours of Phenomenal Special Footage', I found this set to be exactly what I wanted.

Spec's For This Item.. Thanks James
The 7-Disc Limited Collectorfs Edition Blu-ray Trilogy includes all three films in high definition,
Transformers: Dark of the Moon in high definition 3D, more than 10 hours of bonus material,
as well as a plaque of movie images signed by director Michael Bay. Disc specifications are as follows:

"Transformers (2 Disc Special Edition Blu-ray )"

Disc 1:

¡Feature film in high 1080p definition
¡Audio: English 5.1 Dolby TrueHD, French 5.1 Dolby Digital and Spanish 5.1 Dolby
¡Digital Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese
¡Commentary by Michael Bay

Disc 2:

Our World
¡The Story Sparks - Steven Spielberg discusses his love for the franchise and early concept art for the film. Explores how the writers adapted the cartoon into a live action movie and why Michael Bay is the perfect director for the film.
¡Human Allies - A look at how the actors...

Nice pack but miss extras
It's a nice package, only thing I miss are the 2nd disc of extras of every movie, I thought it came with those.

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Worship Band Workshop: Roadmap To A Skilled Team

Good for training or encouraging
I purchased this as we are just starting a worship band at our church. It gave some good insights to me, who plans the services. I have passed it on to band members. It can be viewed in installments. Some segments are intended for specific instruments. Other segments are for the entire band. It was an encouraging reminder that you don't need a full band to get started.

Perfect place to start when building a band
Paul is a great worship leader and his folks put together a great tutorial on starting a worship band. I wish we would have used this earlier in our ministry.



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ef ~ A Tale of Memories: Complete Collection [Blu-ray]

So excited this is coming out as a set!!!
I have been waiting for this set since 2008, this is an amazing series. It's short but they cram a lot of content into each episode. The japanese voice actors are awesome but i'm excitied to hear it dubbed in english.

Plot Summary: The anime revolves around two protagonists, Hirono Hiro and Asou Renji. On Christmas Eve, Hirono Hiro meets a girl named Miyamura Miyako who was chasing a purse snatcher. Hiro later finds out that Miyako also goes to the same school as he does and they start hanging out together. This made Hiro's childhood friend, Shindou Kei, feel left out. Kei then tries to compete with Miyako for Hiro's affection and a love triangle ensues. The anime also tells the story of Asou Renji. Renji meets a girl named Shindou Chihiro at an abandoned train station. He soon learns that Chihiro suffers from a type of amnesia where her memory span only lasts for 13 hours. He also discovers Chihiro's dream of writing a novel, but she has never been able to fulfill that...

A great anime finally released in English!
I watched this anime a long time ago and it's one of the great ones out there! Like Clannad, it's based on an original visual novel game, "Ef-A Fairytale of the two." It's romantic and psychological. The only thing I don't really like is the sort of "darkness" present in this anime. But I guess that's why the show is so great. The ending is good too, but I won't spoil it. I'm mostly looking forward to hearing the new English dub with many actors I've seen in previous animes released by Sentai. Nagisa Furukawa from Clannad and Haruko Kamio from Air will voice Miyako. Ryou Fujibayashi from Clannad, Ayu from Kanon and Yuri from Angel Beats doing Kei's. Greg Ayres who voices Sunohara from Clannad doing Hiro's. Mizuzu from Air will do Chihiro's voice, Fuko Ibuki from Clannad will do Mizuki's voice, and Yoshino Yusuke from Clannad playing Kazuya's voice (correct me if I got his name wrong). I'm so excited that I know how the characters will sound like before the anime, but too bad we have...

Beautiful Show! Superb English dub!
As you may know from hearing about this series, it is bittersweet. The plot flows great so that there is no boring times(except maybe one scene but I think it emphasized emotion)since this is a 12 episode series. Each of the main characters get some screen time and to show there character. The animation is very unique, its not very moving as in active motions but was very good. I felt an emotional/lifestyle connection to the 3 main characters. Some scenes in the story reminded me of some american drama stuff, but they were ten times better which increased my liking to this series.

The english dub shook my thoughts of english dubs. Great cast with a very accurate script.
Greg as Hiro, and Clint as Renji were very very good, it brought up there popularity as both of my favorite actors. People need to open up to understand that these actors expressed there character just like there japanese counterparts. Though I hate other stuff that Serephim dubbed just like everyone...

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Straight Right (Institutional Use)

Unbelievable movie - I was stunned!
This movie floored me. It's not often that a movie affects me like this one did. As a matter of fact, the last movie that had this kind of affect on me, even though it is very different, was The Crow.

At the end of that one, I just layed my head down on my girlfriend's lap and cried - and couldn't stop. I think maybe it was because of what happened to Brandon Lee, but it was actually kind of embarassing, I just couldn't stop.

With this movie, it was just the absolute pain that the protagonist was in, all from not being able to get over the traumatization of what happened to him when he was a child. He starts trying to keep the same thing that happened to him from happening to other kids, but with disastrous results.

I was just rapt the entire movie, watching it unfold, wondering where it would go. And where it did end up going was tragic, but it was also compelling and beautiful. And while I didn't lay in my (now wife's) lap and cry the way I did...

vive le noir
best B noir in a long time. would have been good in black & white. if u like noir and don't mind taking a trip down the rabbit hole pay the toll and take the ride.

straight right; right in deed
if you ever seen a child abused and wanted to teach the person who abuses children a lesson in pain. this movie is for you I hope it inspires people to take the law in their on hands and teach child abusers and wife beaters a lesson the wont forget. buy this film itll make you feel good

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John Holmes Unzipped

Great Holmes flick
Hard to find DVD and love the sex scenes. Good old days porn I grew up with. Very hot chicks





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Forza Del Destino [Blu-ray]

Very enjoyable!
I must disagree with the previous reviewers! OK, there are often strange elements in today's staging of operas. Opera audiences have to live some curious and often annoying conceptions of stage directors. But this production isn't bad! The singers are really world class, and they both sing and act well. Apart form the scene featuring cowboys and indians, I think that the production is coherent and well staged, not least the set design. Picture and sound is beyond praise, as is the playing of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra under the direction of Zubin Metha. To give this disc only one star is a depreciation. My wife and I enjoyed it a lot.

Excellent
This DVD is excellent in every regard. The orchestra and the singing are superb. The production, though slightly modernistic, was faithful to the text and enhanced the overall experience. This DVD deserves five stars.

I am happy for the chance to review this version of La Forza. For a long time, it has had a "one-star" viewer rating --- based on only one reviewer! I fear many potential customers have been scared away from buying it. What was the negative reviewer's complaint? The presence of cowboys and cowgirls in two scenes of the production. But these weren't American cowboys and cowgirls; they were Spanish. The opera is set in Spain. Spain has its own version of horsemen or "cowboys": caballeros. And their appearance in this opera does not violate the libretto or, in my opinion, the intentions of the composer.

try another version
This was my first viewing of La Forza and I will try again with another version. As the first reviewer says, attempts to add color - ie cowboys - when the setting presumably involves Spaniards and Incas - fall flat. In fact this production involves a mishmash of historical references that just complicate an already complicated (not complex) opera. Paradoxically, most of the singing is of the old-fashioed 'park and bark' variety! I'll try another production before I write the opera off completely.

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Poldark: The Complete Collection

Outstanding and now complete, worth it. Like a classic
Poldark is the 1790s. It's British Cornwall delightful; exquisite sets, locations, costuming & dialogue. Robin Ellis is Ross Poldark, and winning awards in the process. Writer, Winston Graham, gives us a sensual look at 18th century life in rural, SW England. It's no wonder the show has been considered one of the all-time great Masterpiece Theatre works. It is timeless, one you will watch repeatedly. Angharad Rees is Demelza Poldark, Jill Townsend is Elizabeth Warleggan, & Ralph Bates plays Geo. Warleggan, the villain of the series. You'll laugh at Jud (Paul Curran.)

Two families become rivals in Series one and continue the same through episodes (called parts on the DVD) filled with suspense, ambition, swashbuckling action, romance, humor, heroics, historical drama, betrayal, and just about any other element of passion and emotion possible by bickering families. A saga you will enjoy, and don't overlook Series One, now discounted to a very affordable value...

Happy It Is Finally On DVD
I absolutely loved watching this series when they were showing it about 15 yrs after it's first airing on our PBS station. So, once it was over I went to the library and read the books. The books were written by Winston Graham (original author of the book of "Marnie" that Hitchcock changed and filmed). There were changes. There had to be, since there were quite a number of novels to cover. But I thought both novels and TV were very good. I learned a lot about England after the war that we Americans call 'The Revolutionary War'. I learned a lot about mining in those days too, and it was fascinating. But of course, the story of the people is the main reason that we watch and read this great series. Americans have to remember how British television differed from American at the time it was made (1975). Much of the time it feels more like a stage play videotaped with a handheld camera. Once you deal with that it is a wonderful experience. It was always hard to wait for the next week's...

Perfect Mother's Day Gift
My parents and I now live on opposite coasts, and I was considering having flowers delivered for mom, it being a few days from Mother's Day. Flowers that'd be dried up and dead in a week. Hmmm. Remembering how much she loved this series when it aired on PBS waaay back in the day, on a lark I checked Amazon, and THERE IT WAS! The whole family would watch Poldark every week, and even I, a snotty teen aged boy at the time, really enjoyed it. The cast and quality of this BBC production was excellent, and the stories had one impatiently waiting for the next episode. I can't wait for her to open her gift-wrapped delivery from Amazon. Poldark will give her hours and hours of enjoyment! Sorry, florist. :)

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The Comic Strip Presents: The Complete Collection

Not Quite Complete, But 39 Episodes Over Eighteen Years: A Must Have For Enthusiasts Of British Humor
Anyone who loves ribald British comedy or wacky parody should appreciate the efforts of the performers from London's Comic Strip Club comedy venue. With their friends and associates, they produced short stand-alone films that have aired for over two decades. "The Complete Collection" brings 39 episodes together. Some are downright hilarious, some are more perplexing. With any anthology series, you will have a variance in the degree to which you will embrace certain stories. For my part, I tend to think the series started rather consistently, but got entirely more hit-or-miss as the years progressed. But it is still fascinating to see how the show evolved in time as it kept up with trends in pop culture and modern entertainment. Many of the cast members from "Absolutely Fabulous" and "The Young Ones" (and many other shows) hailed from The Comic Strip so if you follow British humor, you're likely to see plenty of familiar faces including Jennifer Saunders, Robbie Coltrane, Rik...

Bought the Region 2 and LOVE it!
Love this show so much i bought an extra copy to have as back-up!This has to be one of my better, most valued dvd purchases.So much fun, especially if you are a Rik Mayall fan like myself.Out of all the episodes a good 90 percent are genius with only a few,,,maybe 2 eps being boring.If you are a fan of The Young Ones,French and Saunders, ABFAB and so on, you will love this set, this is where they all got their start!

A Bit of Bloody Brilliant Luck
I've been waiting and waiting for this set to be available for my region, and now it is. Yes, it was well worth the wait. This outstanding set is bursting with the brilliant work known as The Comic Strip Presents. Talk about a veritable who's who from the British comedy scene: Ade Edmondson, Rik Mayall, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Nigel Planer, Peter Richardson....wow. There's not a dud on the set. But my favorite episodes are Mr. Jolly Lives Next Door, Consuela (that Dawn French is something else), Dirty Movie, Five Go Mad in Dorset, and Beat Generation. But for me, Bad News Tour and More Bad News are the real gems. Edmondson, Richardson, Planer and Mayall are a horrible band looking to make it big and failing miserably, and a documentary crew is along for the ride to capture it all on film. I particularly love Saunders' work as Sally Friedman, England's number one "chick" rock journalist.

The "sequel" to Bad News Tour is, of course, More Bad News and that's just what...

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Grindhouse Hotties: Tina Russell: 1970s Girl Next Door

What a great find!!!!
I always wanted to see Tina Russell in "action" and with this DVD I sure did! What was also great was the old time "stag" film look with the lines in the film and the old time 8mm "clicking" sound. I loved it and I want more!





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Fairy Tail: Part 3 (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

One of the best new Series, and in Multi Format
One of the best things about this series is it's mix of action and adventure you get with any good dramatic storyline, with some well placed humour mixed in. Part 3 looks further into the back stories of Lucy, Erza and Loke. A plethora of new charachters is introduced plus some new romance?!? (I won't give too much away). There is a bit of filler with this series, but usually only 1 episode in duration and sometimes you need the filler to break up the story arcs which span several episodes in this series.

I'm well and truly addicted, plus one of the great bonuses with these DVD/Bluray combo packs is to date (Parts 1, 2 and 3) they have been compatible with my Australian Bluray Player. They are Region 1,2 and 4 on DVD and Region A + B on Bluray, and I must say the Bluray is stunning. I'm seriously excited about Part 4 and hopefully my review has been helpful for my fellow Australian, English, European and New Zealand Fans.

Lots of action.
Part 3 is really good. It begins with the Phantom Lord attacking the city of Magnolia, where the Fairy Tail Guild is located. There is a giant magic tower with a giant magic cannon bearing down on the guild. The members of Fairy Tail must put a stop to it before the guild is leveled. After that disaster Erza is hunted down while on vacation. Her tragic past is revealed and she has to make some very hard decisions regarding her old friends, and her new ones as well.

Fairy Tail is still awesome and if you liked the previous 2 volumes you will like this one.

Anime was Good
its came in good condition with no problem it is an excellent anime and it was amazing to watch and see

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Rake's Progress [Blu-ray]

David Hockney's classic Glyndebourne production
Few productions seem so perfectly matched and strike such a perfect balance between the intentions of the opera work and its presentation on the stage as David Hockney's designs for the classic Glyndebourne production of Igor Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress. The measure of the success of the production is that it was first put on at Glyndebourne in 1975 and, as this 2010 performance at the festival shows, it is still delighting and wowing audiences thirty-five years later and will no doubt continue to be revived for many more years. There aren't many productions that have that kind of staying power. A modern artist surely not to everyone's taste, one might expect something relatively avant-garde from David Hockney when called upon to design the set for a 20th century opera, but in reality, his approach almost perfectly mirrors Stravinsky's method of composition for The Rake's Progress. Seeking inspiration directly from the source of William Hogarth original drawings made in the...

A Brillian Recreation
The newest entry into the Rake's Progress line up of DVD's is from Glyndebourne, the house that fielded the first video back in 1975. Of course it is not the same stage since the house was rebuilt and the stage enlarged and seating increased to around 1000. The decision to recreate the 1975 production was, I think, appropriate as Hockney's mise-en-scene captured the essence of Stravinsky's recreation of the 18th century style, his neo-classical style.

The 1975 staging was notable for the beginning of Felicity Lott's career and the debut of Sam Ramey as Nick Shadow. Both are superb and Lott went on to have a major career almost immediately. Ramey bided his time at City Opera inheriting Norman Treigle's roles and eventually landing at the Met. Rakewell was sung by Leo Geoke who is featured into other Glndebourne DVD's, Magic Flute and Don Giovanni. The voice is small and he is best described as adequate. Even so the set is well worth acquiring for Ramey and Lott...

Well done revival of modern classic!
Stravinsky's A Rake's Progress is based on a libretto by W.H. Auden which, in turn, is based on the series of satirical prints by English artist and engraver William Hogarth from1735. In concept, Hogarth's work was the earliest form of "graphic novel" and his artwork is largely pen and ink line drawing. The storyline itself is a pretty easy to follow "morality play". The principal character, the young Tom Rakewell, is a young, good looking free spirit who is attracted to Anne Trulove and wishes to marry her. Anne's father questions Tom's lack of professional determination and displays some paternal hesitancy about Tom's desires. Enter a courier, Nick Shadow, with the news that Tom's all but forgotten uncle has passed away; leaving Tom a great fortune.

Shadow takes Tom to London to sign paperwork to inherit his new wealth but, along the way, Nick introduces Tom to the distractions of the big city; including prostitutes, clothiers and many other earthly sources of blowing his...

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Phantom: Requiem For the Phantom (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Weapons the Arcs
This anime series covers 26 episodes and presents itself through 3 main arcs with some lapses of time occurring between the arcs. The series is a spy action thriller with a deep story that will keep you engaged in this world of mystery and discovery. Twists and turns in a world where the main character is on a quest of identity, self, love, strength, and just about a dozen other things. All the characters feel real and it was just a series that I really enjoyed. I tend to refer to this anime as the modern setting of the anime Claymore. There is not connection between those two anime but I feel like the are on par quality wise but this series isn't as mystical and is better off in the area of plot. Also, I'm not sure what the other reviewer had mention about this being the first season of two. As far as I know this is the only season and it is worth buying. If there is another season let me know!

I will be buying this without a doubt, an amazing anime not to mention having...

Possibly 2011's best action anime series
Anytime you put assassins, treachery, angst and possible romance in a storyline and DO THEM ALL EQUALLY WELL, you've got yourself a winner my friend! I bought this series as soon as it dropped and I absolutely loved it. I already bought the Phantom OVA that was released years ago with just a few episodes and this is basically a better re-telling of that story.

I NEVER compare anime to manga from 2 different series- (#1 it's not the same art form #2 you shouldn't compare moving art to still art). Another reviewer compared Phantom to a title that was released 15-20 years ago, criticizing this series. Comparing one title's anime to another title's MANGA is just plain bad reviewing.

This anime falls in the same category (I guess) as Noir, Madlax etc., but those can't hold a candle to this series. It has way better production quality. It was masterfully animated, excellent English dub, kick-ass action and plenty of likeable characters. The musical score made my...

This is one that will stick with you! An amazing series.
It took me a couple of episodes to get into this series, and it's not one I'll soon forget. It has some of the most memorable - and tragic - figures in Anime. No giant robots or wizards, demons or aliens. This is the story of professional assassins, brainwashed and brutally trained into their profession. We stare with Einz and Zwei, then later add Drei. All three are high-school aged kids, and all are the best at their profession. This is realistic, sometimes heart-wrenching, usually action-packed animation. It's similar to Ghost in the Shell in it's look and feel, only set in modern times with modern weapons. Mob bosses using specially trained assassins to keep other mob families in line. We have unrequited love, brutal assassinations (some are pretty shocking), world-class animation and voice actors, and is one of the best I have seen in ages.

The ending - the real ending - is in the final credits, and it's a shocker. Is it open ended? Not really, but I suppose a...

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Beethoven Piano Concertos [Blu-ray]

excellent in performance, sound and video
This proves to be a worthwhile companion bluray disc to the recent outstanding Thielemann Beethoven symphony set. (see my review.)I am not usually a big fan of combination pianist/conductor set-ups, but in this repertoire, I much prefer this version to the Barenboim set, good as it is.

Buchbinder plays with a much lighter touch than Barenboim, and seems more whimsical.The tempi are considerably quicker. Plus you don't have to watch Barenboim mopping up his perspiration every few bars! I really enjoyed #'s 1 & 3 here more than I usually do, due to his playing sensibilities. I've always been fond of #'s 2 & 5, but I still don't love #4. Buchbinder plays and conducts without a score, a sign of his knowing these concerti inside out. (I'm always skeptical of pianists that need a score in performance.) There just seems to be so much joy in his playing, and this infectiousness is evident in the orchestra members as well.

What can you say about the Vienna Phil. and...

Superior
This blu-Ray recording of the Beethoven piano concertos is a winner. Excellent interpretations of both piano and orchestra, and both of them are conducted such as to compliment with each other beautifully. Buchbinder was perhaps a bit too spritely when he played the piano for his previous Mozart piano concertos on DVD, but here his performance of the piano parts of beethoven's concertos are superiorly well nuanced. The Steinway he was playing on also gave out rich bass sounds, which are crucial for bringing out the atmosphere of the third movement of the fifth concerto.

Particularly well done was the first movement of the fourth piano concerto, which is perhaps the most difficult of all of beethoven's piano concertos for which to play the piano part with balanced nuances and also to complimentarily blend both piano and orchestra parts together. This movement is fiendishly subtle and is very easy to perform with imperfections of interpretive balance! But here this...

A real alternative to the smaller scaled but more dramatic Barenboim set
The predominant impression gained when experiencing this set of performances by Buchbinder is that of affection. This is apparent in every note or phrase that is played, by his interaction with members of the orchestra and also in his whole stage manner which is immensely genial and likeable.

What about the musical detail? Buchbinder has made an incredibly thorough study of these concertos as he explains in the fascinating bonus documentary. This has led him to collect considerable numbers of editions of all of these works including the first editions in Beethoven's own hand. In doing this he has found numerous discrepancies between editions, even in first editions following on from Beethoven's original manuscripts.

Essentially these editorial discrepancies have frequently deleted many of Beethoven's instructions concerning phrasing, tempi changes and dynamics. Those instructions amount to subtleties of expression which imply more freedom than that allowed by a...

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Salome [Blu-ray]

Interesting and musically powered production
There's initially a sense of dislocation then when you view director Nikolaus Lehnhoff's 2011 production of Salome for Baden-Baden, as it has few of the superficial visual reference points that you would normally associate with its biblical Judean setting, and little even of the stylised imagery of moonlight nights and shadows of death suggested by a text derived from Oscar Wilde's beautifully decadent overwrought imagery. This version of Salome however is far from a straightforward biblical tale, but rather an expression of dark sexual pathology, of the fulfilment of dangerous desires, of obsession and lust, a lurid study of the power that those perverse drives confer on both the object and the subject of those desires and how it differentiates men and women.

The fractured, slightly titled landscape here in Salome then suggests a psychological imbalance, while the contrasts that are expressed in the music and the characters are reflected in the textures of the walls and...

disappointing
Oh dear. Being an admirer of both Nikolaus Lehnhoff and Angela Denoke, I had very high hopes for this version of Salome. Alas, I find it falls short.

The set is well described in the review by Keris Nine. It is indeed dislocating, and physically indicative of a world going to seed. But, like the interpretation of the role of Salome, it goes too far. A more settled mis-en scene would be better able to allow the events of the drama to be highlighted.

When Oscar Wilde wrote the play, he was infatuated with Bozy, Lord Alfred Douglas-- the relationshio that led to his trial and imprisonment. It is likely that his infatuation (obsession) was worked out in his play which Strauss set to music pretty well unchanged. So, it is a work dealing with obsessions. But one can be obsessed without being deranged. And this is where this production fails.

Salome is the central character. She becomes obsessed with Jakonaan. To take the two best DVD's I have...

to day SALOME
Charming SALOME with DENOKE, even if her voice does not render perfectly all the difficulties of the part.All the other roles are very corrects and the production is judicious without vulgarity.

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B Gata H Kei: Yamada's First Time Complete Series (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

A Rare Authentic Sex Comedy
Stop me if you've heard this one before, anime fans. A nerdy guy is a giant pervert, and goes to a school filled with voluptuous young ladies. His eventual goal is to get in close with them and score, but he ends up falling for the childhood friend/nerdy one/headstrong one. It's a formula that's been used time and time again, and for some reason, a lot of people seem to not get sick of it one bit. To put it lightly, I am not one of those people. But by taking the formula and replacing that guy with a cute girl, and adding in an extra bit of teen pathos, "B Gata H Kei" rises above the rest to a series that's hard not to recommend.

Yamada is perhaps more perverted than even the boys in her school. Her life goal is to bed 100 guys before graduating high school, and with a whole wave of them wanting to get with her, one would figure that it wouldn't be that hard. But one would be mistaken, because the poor girl is clueless when it comes to seducing men, on account of the fact...

Not bad
This is actually a pretty funny anime with a sexy, naughty side to it. The story revolves around a 15 year old high school student and her quest to achieve sexual relations with 100 different people. However, her insecurities as a virgin, causes her to reject everyones who's asked her out and to search for someone, who's also a virgin, to bestow her first time to. The story revolves around Yamada and her quest to seduce Kosuda while along the way also finding her true love. This is the basic premise for this 12 episodes series. What makes this series funny, to me, are the inner feelings of Yamada and some of her friends. There's a lot of fan service but with no real nudity until the last episode which has two scenes, one in the first half and one in the second. I watched all episodes in Japanese with English subs but did try the English dub for about 10 minutes. They weren't bad but I just found the Japanese ones to be funnier. There were a scene or two that I had trouble reading the...

Great series, great production, except....
I can't add to any of the 5-star reviews in this thread. They pretty much say it all, and for all the right reasons. This a really fun anime to watch.

My only con is the subtitles. One of the other favorable reviews noted that sometimes the subtitles were difficult to see because they were white on a light colored background. The reviewer found them legible otherwise.

Unfortunately, I had to struggle with the "otherwise" scenes too. The font size was too small, the outlines too thin, and the color completely wrong for many of the backgrounds.

I'm one of those eccentrics who likes to watch these anime programs in Japanese with English subtitles. I just enjoy Japanese voice acting more than English dubbing. For this reason I've seen many anime with Japanese audio and subtitle tracks selected. To my eyes, the best combination of properties for subtitles has been:

font size: at least 12pts, as viewed on a 40-inch LCD TV from a distance...

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20 Questions, 100 Answers, 6 Perspectives

Good ideas & perspectives from people with a positive approach to living with dementia (for diagnosed people and care partners)
I borrowed this dvd using the interlibrary loan system. I really wanted to see it because I knew several of the speakers are leaders with cutting edge ideas and perspectives on how diagnosed person and caregiver can continue to live joyful, purposeful life in spite of the disease. Richard Taylor is well known as a diagnosed person who is a writer and speaker about how it feels to have alzheimer's and how people with dementia want to be treated. Al Powers and Bill Thomas are doctors and leaders in field of creating care facilities that provide happy, purposeful, engaging environments, by training staff and counseling family caregivers. Judy Berry opened two care facilities of her own after seeing the untrained care her mother received and the devastating effect it had on her mother's daily life - her facililites are models for true person centered care for people with dementia, and use care approaches which nearly eliminate the use of sedating drugs by understanding the needs of...





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Magifique [Blu-ray]

Magifique is Magnifique!
First of all, this ballet is not related to any classical story ballet in any significant way. It is basically an ultra modern abstract ballet with a clear reference to the ballets of Tchaikovsky, so, you might call it "semi-abstract", as so many abstract ballets actually are. The dancers all wear rather simple leotards and the only other items on the stage are a movable collection of mirrors and portable ballet barres. There are no set interpretations to any part of this ballet, as the choreographer explains in the provided documentary, but we might interpret the mirrors and barres as a focus in some of these scenes on the actual mode of dance, namely, ballet, and not on what is being expressed by the dance. This is also reinforced by a feeling of reaching and striving in these scenes, which reflects a philosophical idea in ballet. For example, a ballet barre is stood up vertically so it becomes a ballet "pole" and a dancer climbs up the pole, as if reaching for greater heights. In...

Interesting concept, but not something I personally enjoyed
Magifique, with music taken from Tchaikovsky's ballets, and choreography by Thierry Malandain, is an emotionally complex ballet executed by fine dancers, but it's not something I would prefer to watch.
It tells the vague story of two boys growing up, set to the innocence and silliness of a children's fairytale. The ballet is very-well filmed, probably the best filmed dance-film I've ever seen.
Personally, I found the use of Tchaikovsky's grand music to be in vulgar taste at times, where the music is outright parodied. I would've much rather watched any of Tchaikovsky's ballets in their original form.
There are some interesting choreographic inventions, though they don't seem to allow the plot to continue. The costumes are minimal, though elegant; a pattern of lines accentuating the upper body.
There is an accompanying documentary, which further explains the vague-ness of the ballet. I'd recommend this to a lover of abstract dance, though not necessarily to a lover...

Magnificent!
Bravo! This disc offers a very unique form of dance and artistic expression!..I took a chance with this and I am glad I did! Beautiful movement that is rendered by very beautiful and captivating dancers.

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Underdog: The Complete Series

More info for the 9 Disc Set
We finally have some sort of description of this upcoming release from SHOUT!Factory. This info was posted on TVShowsondvd.com. Let's keep our fingers crossed this all comes to light!

The long-awaited legendary cartoon arrives on DVD from Shout! Factory this coming January 24th with every episode of Underdog, plus original shorts featuring characters such as Go Go Gophers, Klondike Kat and Commander McBragg. This all comes enclosed in "high-end packaging" with all-new DVD extras that will entice fans to jump on this release! While Shout! hasn't finalized the supplements for the set, the preliminary info sent to retailers (may be subject to change!) shows these bonus items they hope to have will include:
Commemorative book; Bonus cartoons: Tooter the Turtle and The Hunter; Alternate episode openings and closings; Featurette; Commentaries with writer/producer/co-creator W. Watts Biggers, voice actor George S. Irving, producer Treadwell Covington, animation historian Mark...

The most Underdog we'll likely get, but there are some shortcomings...
I had been looking forward to the release of the "Complete Collector's Edition" of Underdog from the time it was announced. And while this set does have quite a lot going for it, there are many aspects that keep it from being the absolute definitive version fans of the show had hoped for.

This set *does* give you every episode of Underdog, Go Go Gophers, and Commander McBragg. You also get 14 episodes of Klondike Kat, 12 of Tooter Turtle, and two featuring the Hunter.

And unlike past Underdog/Total TeleVision Productions DVDs that omitted the original theme songs for the supporting cartoons, this set has them intact.

Unfortunately, this is also where this set suffers from a visual standpoint, as many of the opening sequences were mastered from rather low-quality bootleg video tapes as opposed to the original film elements that the producers were not able to include.

Klondike Kat's two different openings are from a video source, as are the...

I Love the Underdog DVD Set!
I got my advance copy of this, and I have to say that it turned out quite well. There are always problems always inherent in these sorts of things where all of the film elements had to be compiled from different sources. As a result (I'll go through the negative first), some of the opening and closing elements are of a rough bootleg quality, because they are! I supplied them. Somehow, even though these shows had aired endlessly for about 30 years, things got lost. The audio wasn't even transferred on many cartoons, so that we have many cases where audio from bootlegs is supplied to be reconnected with pristine video images.

Now for the positive, this is the most complete Underdog set that has been issued, and that you will probably ever find. Episodes are presented in chronological order and overall are very well. Unfortunately, some of the episodes have the updated titles, but this is very minor considering the excellent picture quality of a lot of these items. And the...

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Matlock: Seasons 1-7

where are seasons 8 and 9
august 9, 2012
i have been an avid matlock fan for years. so, naturally i ordered seasons 1 thru 7 thinking
they would be all inclusive of all episodes.
much to my dissapointment, not all episodes were included! some of which were my absolute favorie. Including episode involving fbi agent ed windgate and another where cliff runs a triatholon.
and many others. where are they?
i am enjoying my seaesons 1 to 7.
sincerely,
jln

Matlock Wins Every Time
Andy Griffith and his very talented co/stars gave us nine seasons of mystery with Southern comfort. Unfortunately,
only seven seasons have been released. The photography, stories, and the down home attitude of Matlock solving
the mysteries with his helpers who not only take us across America, but Europe too. You feel you are part of the
story and mentally help solve the mysteries and help convict the criminals in court. I wish that Matlock could have teamed up with J B Fletcher, Murder She Wrote, to do a mystery movie together. I highly recommend Matlock.
The 1970's, 1980's and early 1990's had some very good series and Matlock was one of the best. Andy Griffith
will always be remembered for his talent and the hours of enjoyment he gave us. Do hope seasons eight and nine
will be released soon.

A little pricey
My dad loves this series, and the set is as described. The only downsides are the price and the fact that we will eventually still have to buy seasons 8 and 9. I was also a little surprised that the set doesn't come in a box or anything; it's just each separate DVD shrink-wrapped into one chunk. I guess you have to pay a lot for excellence. Matlock always gets 'em!

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Garrick Ohlsson Plays Chopin: Art of Chopin [Blu-ray]

very memorable performances
I have owned the Chopin concerti by Demidenko/Kissin with this same orchestra-conductor combo for about a year. They are excellent performances by entirely different style pianists.

A year prior to that recording was this one with Garrick Ohlsson, playing both concerti, and is was coupled with a very good documentary on Chopin "The Art of Chopin". Some reviewers of this dvd-only release complained about the sound of the orchestra. This new bluray release has apparently cleared up that problem, at least using the DTS MASTER AUDIO selection. I found it excellent, extremely full and clear. I did find the orchestral opening of the #1 a bit prosaic, with little jauntiness. However, as the concerto progressed, matters improved dramatically. Ohlsson has a wonderful touch with Chopin, and it is no exaggeration to say that he transports you to another place with his delicate and sensitive playing. Time stands still, at least for me. Concerto #2 is no less impressive.

If...

A finely balanced alternative to the Kissin / Demidenko pairing
In this recording Garrick Ohlsson steers a satisfying mid-course between the exhilaration of Kissin in the second concerto and the reflection of Demidenko in the first concerto which is to be found on a rival issue. Both issues share the talents of the conductor Antoni Wit with the Warsaw Philharmonic.

Whereas the Kissin/Demidenko release offers two very contrasting approaches to performing these two concerti, this issue provides a more balanced approach - not surprisingly as it is the same pianist for both works. Ohlsson is a very experienced Chopin player having won first prize at the Chopin International Competition as long ago as 1970.

Essentially Ohlsson brings a lyrical approach to these concertos in contrast to the bravura demonstrated by Kissin. However this lyrical approach has a firmer and tougher underpinning than the reflective Demidenko so that moments of climax bite harder. His technique is flawless and this uniformity of approach may well be a...



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The Vomit Gore Trilogy

Vomit Gore? More like Vomit Bore!
These movies manage to make both graphic violence and full frontal nudity boring. Add to that some of the most annoying (not creepy, just annoying) sound design in film history and you are left with literally no reason to buy this. It isn't even worth it for the morbid curiosity, I know because I bought for that exact reason. Don't repeat my mistake. Don't buy this movie.

Not a typical movie experience, and certainly not for everyone
Birth of a new genre
Born and raised as a satanist, controversial artist Lucifer Valentine has created possibly one of the most unique trilogies the horror world has ever seen. Lucifer is an emetophile (aroused by vomit) and has transferred his obsession of regurgitation into what is now dubbed as The Vomit Gore Trilogy. The final result of Lucifer's madness is a collection of extremely dark, experimental, and psychologically twisted visions of hell, suffering, and violence.

Slaughtered Vomit Dolls (2006)
If the viewer does not read the back of the DVD cases of these films, its unlikely they would know much about the story just by watching. The premise of the films follows teenage runaway Angela Aberdeen (Ameara LaVey). After being sexually abused by her parents, and then a priest, Angela burns down the church and runs away, turning into a stripper, and later a prostitute. Desperate to eliminate her suffering, Angela makes a deadly pact with Satan. What follows...

Buy it!!!!
Like everyone ive been waiting patiently for the release of this boxset not knowing that mr. Valentine had included a short film exclusive to this boxset. A real suprise. I love releases done by unearthed films and love the vomit gore trilogy so already i knew i was going to buy it. Its a fold out digi pack with the standard disc from all single film releases each filled with great bonus features. Behind each disc is a photo still from each film displaying some nasty or lovely pictures depending on how you feel about said films. I think their great and well placed. The real meat and potatoes tho lies in the bonus disc with the short A perfect child of satan.
A perfect child of satan is a bit of change from what we've experienced with the trilogy. Tho of course its still a powerful and shocking film. Now i wont discuss the plot ill just say that the short was worth the price of the boxset and the extra bonus features included were awesome including a featurette on the infamous...

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Bhopali

Union Carbide - Mass Murderers of Bhopal
5-23-13

This is an excellent follow up documentary of the Bhopal gas disaster that took place in 1984. The producer's of the documentary are showing how the second and third generation Bhopal victims and their families-if any are alive-are struggling with the tragic aftermath of a plethora of health issues, financial problems, and inability to receive much needed medical care and medicines. But the most disturbing facts the movie's producers show us are twofold; the survivors living in Bhopal do not have access to clean water; they have no other option than to use the methyl isocyanate contaminated water that must be pumped daily from the communities water sources. To add insult to injury the environmental pollution and contamination from the explosion of the tank holding the MIC has never been cleaned up by Union Carbide/Dow Chemical Corporation! The murderous factory located in Bhopal is the site of the worst industrial disaster in history and thousands of innocent lives...





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Tancredi

A real Rossini Tragedy
Rossini is best known for a delightful long list of Comic Operas; less well known is the Rossini of Opera Seria. Of the several that I've seen, heard on radio or on recordings, Tancredi is on the top of the list. The present DVD recoding of the Florence May Festival of 2005 is a most satisfactory presentation of this masterpiece. Two of the singers are in really good voice and can handle the difficult and complex Rossini line. Daniela Barcellona as a mezzo in a "pants" role of Tancredi handles the music very well and has a deep rich voice to boot. To me the best singing was delivered by Raul Gimenez as Argirio one of the leaders of the Sicilian city of Syacuse and father of Tancredi's beloved Amenaide. All the rest of the cast are quite good. The production is quite modern but very well done and works well with all the scene changes demanded here. It was really pleasant to see a modern stageing work so well after so many recent disasterous productions in the "modern" mode. The...

Tancredi and Barcellona
We have not had Daniela Barcellona (except for 2 performances of an ill-fated Norma at the Met)in this country. Any fan of Rossini and spectacular mezzo singing will not want to miss this DVD. And the production is spectacular-no Euro trash!

A Beautiful Opera, Gloriously Sung ,,,
... and it gets only meager praise from a couple of reviewers! What, am I a cheap date, musically? Am I too easily pleased? There are thrilling arias, rousing choruses, duets and ensembles as fine as any of the 19th C in Tancredi, Rossini's first 'opera seria' composed at age 20 and premiered in 1813. Tancredi became a Europe-wide success within a couple of years, establishing Rossini's reputation as a serious composers as well as a writer of buffooneries. Some of the best music from Tancredi would become "some of the best" in Rossini's later works as well. Gioachino was, shall we acknowledge, always in a hurry. The final scene of Tancredi must have astonished audiences in Venice, with its simplicity and pathos. The hero Tancredi dies, the music stops, no grand finale, the curtain falls. An alternate "happy ending", using the surprise of an enemy's honest declaration, was substituted By Rossini for subsequent productions in cities that had no taste for tragedy. Giachino was, shall we...

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Story of Ireland

Best TV History of Ireland ever.
Heretofore, Robert Kee's 1981 television History of Ireland was the best of its kind; however, this 2011 history produced by the BBC surpasses Kee's. If you want to know about the real Ireland from the first settlers at the end of the Ice Age circa 8,000 b.c. to the present day, this DVD will cover it all in five hours. For a really comprehensive survey of Irish history, I would also read A History of Ireland in 250 Episodes by Jonathan Bardon.

Thorough reading of history without strong bias
This is a well-researched examination of the internal and external influences that eventually shaped the complicated Irish culture. I came away with a much better understanding of the events that led to the separation of Northern Ireland and the Republic as well as the reasons why they are so distinctly different today. The narration is nicely edited and easy to follow with lots of historical photos along with current footage. The several hours required to view the DVDs is time well spent prior to visiting the island.

Exploring Ireland's History and Myths
Identity is a funny thing. Or not. Contentious issues like religion and politics can be polarizing, as is often the case in Ireland. Irish writer and journalist Fergal Keane appropriately begins his dialogue against a stormy Irish coastline, sea crashing against rocks, with the premise that Irish identity has always been less insular and more international than commonly believed. Historically, the ocean was easier to traverse than overland journeys were; many peoples landed on the island, ultimately creating a complex cultural heritage.

"The Story of Ireland" is an intelligently written narrative, beautifully filmed, and deftly presented by Keane. Ancestors are mentioned: the Uí Néill, Brian Boru, Aoife MacMurrough, Richard De Clare (Strongbow), among others. Many if-onlys are explored: if only the Spanish and Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, had united effectively in 1601; if only the French had landed in County Cork with Wolfe Tone in 1796 ("We were near enough...

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Battlefield Detectives

Educational documentary of battlefield research
New battlefield research will enlighten even the most informed war historian. Evidence discounts myths, previous reports, and reveals new truths. The new look at major fields of war is comprised from detailed searches of historians, real footage, computer generations, geology, archeology, GIS maps, art, dramatizations, military figure interviews, strategists, meteorology, arms & warfare experts, artifacts, oceanography, and even psychiatry.

The History Channel presentation is unbiased, using all forms of entertainment as well as educational methods, not just narration. See old footage, and the present day scenes of where battles were fought. The detective work is intended to find out if history has been true to the reasons for the outcomes of these none battlefields. Myths are vanquished, lies revealed, and victor's names sometimes reversed. It is truly amazing viewing. Even my wife found each episode compelling, and educational.
A must-view set for any war...

Its nothing special
Love the History Channel, Military Channel, and all the documentaries they produce or I wouldn't have bought this DVD in the first place. But my review of this set is that its just 'ok' or maybe a little less, 2.5 stars tops and NOT worth the $40+ price. It isnt that the show isnt well done--the two cable channels mentioned make shows that are addictive for History 'geeks' like myself. But the episodes just don't have much 'juice' or suspense in my view. The big 'discovery' in most episodes is that terrain played a huge part in the battles they review and the outcome of who wins and why (Waterloo & Gallipoli in particular). Its all very well done and the computer graphics they use to recreate the effects of terrain and weather are all fine--they just aren't very 'exciting' to watch in my view. Its just a matter of taste. For me I was a bit diappointed with the show and wouldn't glowingly recommend to others it like I do other documentaries produced by the History Channel, certainly...

Great series
Enjoyed this series very much. I found it informative, enlightening and insightful. I wish there were more episodes made and more programs like this available on Amazon Prime.

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P.D. James: Mind to Murder / Taste for Death

Excellent package
You can't go wrong with any of the P.D. James stories - this was a bargain with 2 stories in one DVD





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Chrome Shelled Regios

A Desolate World
In the far distant future, people live in large, domed moving cities, because the outside air is poisonous and bug like monsters known as Contaminoids wander the earth. Zuelleni is an academic city where pretty much the entire population is made up of students and everything is run by the student council president. Layfon, a teenage boy with a mysterious past, comes to Zuelleni to escape said past. He wants to start his life anew, as a regular, average student. But too bad for him - upon arriving at school for the first day, he is immediately forced into the military arts program. He is assigned to the 17th Platoon, after leader Nina asks for him to fill a recently vacated spot on the team. The rest of the platoon consists of mechanical ace Harley, sharpshooter and ladies man Sharnid, and ne'in operator Felli. However, it is pretty soon evident that Layfon isn't in any need of military training.....

I actually quite enjoyed this series. I'm not really sure why, since there...

A Great Time to Be Had
Chrome Shelled Regios is not a ground-breaking anime as the other reviewers have pointed out, nor it is free from employment of various anime tropes. Nonetheless, as a great writer pointed out a couple of hundred years ago (who could that have been?) 'there's nothing truly new under the sun,' and for me the question is not whether an anime series is entirely fresh in its approach, as much as how does it handle the material it uses. In this sense, I believe Chrome Shelled Regio succeeds admirably. I had a great time watching the show! I watched it twice.

That said, I really wish there was a season two. I believe this is the reason for all the plot threads left hanging. The end of season one left us nicely set up to deal with the plot machinations of this Ignacious character, whoever or whatever he is. There were some rumors on the web that a season two was on the way but those were circa 2010 so I have to assume that, for whatever reason, it was decided not to produce...

Awesome Anime
One of the best animated series I own. Very mpressed with the storyline development, and sequencing. The main characters development throughout the story and the supporting casts development pushed the storyline to the liit and past. Recommended to anyone who is an avid anime lover.

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Illumination Matrix Vol 1: Shifting into a New Dimension

Everything your need to know about The Shift
Wendy Kennedy and Nora Herold deliver easy-to-comprehend brilliance in this truly leading-edge DVD on the changes we will all be experiencing in our already-in-progress shift in consciousness. They de-mystify all of the predictions surrounding 2012, and they answer plenty of questions relating to the personal lives of those in attendance. Shot at the beautiful Ojai Retreat Center in Ojai, CA, Khashyar Darvich has done a wonderful job of shooting, editing, and mixing sound on this DVD. Looking forward to the next one in the series already, I can easily make one prediction for 2012: I will watch this DVD over and over and over...

Profound and Inspiring!!!!!
I'm so excited the DVD will be available soon! I've actually attended the session with Nora and Wendy in Ojai and I was so excited to hear about DVD release! I'm glad others have a chance to 'travel to the new dimension' with Nora and Wendy. The session was very interesting, inspiring and provocative! I thought their speeches and interaction with the audience were extremely powerful. I attended the second session in September too, but unfortunately missed the most recent one in October because of my work.... I'm really looking forward into purchasing this DVD series! Thanks Nora and Wendy and the film crew. Everyone was so friendly. I've got an enormous flow of positive energy once I left the event!!!

Excellent a MUST WATCH!!
I love this so much. Everything they bring is on time, in alignment and so uplifting. Nora and Wendy we so appreciate your work! Thank you!

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Puccini: Tosca

A Thoroughly Tradiitional Tosca
This most recent Tosca to become available on DVD is also one of the oldest, dating from 1973. It is Vai's most recent release, emanating as all of their series of Italian operas are from Japan. It shares with all the previous releases the virtues and failings of this series: good mono sound and somewhat murky visuals. Faults be dammed; this series presents for those who are interested a style that is almost extinct. The vocalism is thrilling, the diction immaculate and the involvement beyond question. Two of the singers had careers in this country for a time. The tenor Flaviano Labo sang for eight years at the Met. If he were around today there would be little trouble casting any number of operas that lyric tenors are only too willing to sacrifice their career and their voice. No, not as large as Del Monaco, but surely more sensitive and musical. I have vague recollections of a ten inich LP from London containing the usual calling cards. Later he turned up in a five act version of...





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An Insignificant Harvey

Show Me. Don't Tell Me.
If you have to explain a joke, it's not a good joke. If you have to tell your audience what the movie is about, it's not a good movie.

Here's the scoop. Harvey is a little person. He's a janitor in a small, Canadian ski resort. He lives in a trailer and life isn't pleasant. One day he's befriended by a stray dog. This, in turn, leads to a friendship/romance with a local stripper. So now Harvey is in foreign territory and isn't handling things well.

This all starts out well enough. Harvey is actually kind of an interesting guy. He has a couple of movie cameras and shoots a lot of film of people in, or passing through, the town. He doesn't kid himself about his prospects as a little person in a small, bust-out Canadian hamlet. So, through the dog, and the stripper, the viewer gets a glimmer of hope for him. We root for him and want to see him realize whatever dreams he might have. But, in the third act, writer/director Jeff Kopas starts to explain, through...

I think I would of enjoyed it more on netflix
It was a good film, but I paid for it so I just expect a little more from the movies I purchase.

AN INSIGNIFICANT HARVEY
Rather a been there, done that with THE STATION AGENT but Film Movement is always on to something and this is touching at times. Where would we be without Film Movement?

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The Pear (Institutional Use)

it is weird
Yes it pretty much sums up the synopsis, weird and kooky, the production levels are pretty amateur, but the concept and performances are great!





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Blackberry Smoke: Live At The Georgia Theatre

Keeping the faith!
I just saw this on TV and it does my heart good to see younger guys keeping this kind of thing alive. Blackberry Smoke are down-to-earth southern boys who love real music and play it really well. It's a trip down memory lane for me - not because I've ever heard these songs before but because of the style and authentic genuine-ness of the music and the look. It takes me back. I don't know if these guys think of themselves as retro. Maybe they do. One lyric says something about being a dying breed of rock and roller (and sadly, I think that's true) but some things should just never die... and this kind of musical experience is one of them.

Serious Southern Rock!
Happened to stumble onto these guys on Palladia. Great Southern Rock! These days with the all the lip synching Lady GaGa's of the world it does my heart good to hear some good old fashioned jamming.

WHERE IS THE BLURAY??????
This concert is fantastic....why is it not available on bluray? I've been watching it in Hi-Def on Palladia all weekend....this is in definite need of blu ray treatment, and I mean NOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

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Cápsulas

A rare film for people that appreciate great cinema
There is a vast river of drug dealing, violent celluloid exploitation films that at one time seemed almost inescapeable if one watched popular cinema from Latin America. I found myself thinking of those films as I watched this one, but what a difference great directing, acting, writing & production values make. There is almost a kind of delicacy here even as we watch the unraveling of cold-hearted & also beautiful lives dancing side by side, inches apart. Sometimes all of this takes place in a matter of moments in the same frame, each action held onto preciously like a secret breath of air. This is not the story of Ozzie & Harriet. It is a confusing mashup. The quality of story-telling makes me think of Days of Heaven. Quite an accomplishment for a film about a very different world with much less fortunate lives. Highly recommended.





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Me and the Mosque (Institutional Use)

Outstanding Documentary
An excellent account of one woman's struggle to come to terms with the increasingly conservative face of Islam in North America. This film conveys the author's increasing sense of isolation from segments of her community but always remains respectful of Islam. Educational and informative- would be a good choice for schools and libraries. Purchase if you can find a copy.

Excellent documentary.
I just finished watching this and was, quite simply, astonished at the number of women who expressed the same things I've been thinking and feeling about the mosque in my local community.

I don't want to be in a separate room, hidden behind a partition, or allowed in a room with men only during non-prayer hours and made to stay on the side of the room where they turn off the lights and the men turn away so their backs are to us.

I've felt isolated, frustrated, angry, sad, and unimportant. Until women and the men who oppose segregation in the mosques step up and speak out, and continue to do so in spite of those who would continue to enforce the segregation by not giving us the choice to do otherwise, nothing will change.



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Monteverdi: The Coronation of Poppea [Blu-ray]

Four Stars Only Despite All its Merits
I am giving this production of one of the oldest operas four stars only with a heavy heart. I believe it is one of the best 'modern' productions of a baroque opera. Thoughtful, intelligent and utterly convincing. The music, singing and dramatic acting are glorious and a real joy. I am usually open-minded towards modern re-interpretations of classical works, but I found the majority of them disapointing. Some even deserve the American coined pejorative term 'Euro-trash'. Well, this work is definitely not Euro trash, however, the director insisted on giving his detractors the opportunity to attack him by his excessive depiction of blood.
Given the story, the sexual and bloody connotations of the Monteverdi masterpiece are understandable and absolutely legitmate. In this production they are both abundant. Whereas I found the sexual gestures a little exagerated, they remained within the tolerable difference of perspective and taste. However, it is the blood scenes that ultimately...





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Going Nowhere

Blows every other non-dual message clear out of the water!
Jac O'Keeffe has hit the proverbial homerun... clear out of the park! Blows away anything else I have ever seen on non-duality. And this is coming from a guy who has been reviewing non-dual books and DVDS for the last several years for both my own website as well as StillnessSpeaksdotcom (In fact, it was Chris Hebard who told me about this amazing DVD).

"Consciousness is perceiving itself. That which has the capacity to be conscious is playing out the capacity... and that is all that is happening." -Jac O'keeffe

I found myself constantly rewinding the DVD because every sentence, indeed, every word Jac speaks is so potent, that I didn't want to miss anything. The DVD starts off with your p.o.v. as if you are looking through a camera len's while walking down a beautiful trail next to the ocean. In the background you hear jac's voice narrate the experience... and point out the inherent impersonal nature of the seeing/experiencing.

"Consciousness is no...

freedom
for anyone on a "non-duality path" this video is profoundly clear and unique in it's presentation...
I highly recommend it..

Want your world rocked?
If you want your world rocked, listen to and read what Jac offers. What she is telling you can't be said, but she says it better than most.

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Shin Do Kumaté Strykerz Fight Series I

Very satisfied!! Worth every dime...
I was very satisfied with the talent of fighters on this video. Out of 10 bouts, 2 were female bouts which I absolutely loved - but all of them were great. The whole video was action packed and included knockouts, TKOs, one arm break, and one shin crack. I didn't expect to see fighters I recognized... Patrick Barry vs. Scott Lighty was one of the best bouts I've seen. The Rick Roufus bout kicked off the video at the beginning and that fight alone was worth buying this video. Felice Herrig was another fighter I recognized. I've never seen Vivian Leung fight before and let me tell you... she was vicious! Like I said - just about all ten bouts were amazing. I highly recommend this video and I look forward to watching the next couple of Shin Do Kumate fight series later this week. Wouldn't mind seeing the whole line up before buying the videos, but if they're anything like Series I then I'm sure I'll be happy. By the way, the bouts on this video weren't from one show. Evidently...





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Puccini: La Boheme [Blu-ray]

"Per richiamarla in vita non basta amore"
The first notes you hear in this 2012 Den Norske Opera production of Puccini's La Bohème are the beeps of a heart monitor on a life support system that Mimi lies attached to in a hospital bed. The beeps take that familiar flatline tone as Mimi breathes her last and doctors rush in to the opening chords of the score proper in a vain attempt to resuscitate her, while Rodolfo looks on aghast, completely lost in his own grief. This evidently isn't a traditional way to start La Bohème, but it is very much a typical Stefan Herheim touch where the standard linear approach is just not an option. As a director, Herheim is clearly interested in getting into the minds of characters whose actions and motivations we can take for granted from over-familiarity, and La Bohème is a very familiar opera. Not here it isn't.

Having established that Mimi dies - which, let's face it, even if you weren't familiar with the opera, her fate is signalled clearly enough by...

Il perché non so!
This La Boheme is a non-traditional production, as those wacky Europeans are wont to do. But it somehow works. Mimi dies in a modern hospital bed before the downbeat, and the entire opera seems to take place in Rodolfo's head. (He's a tenor, so there's lots of space in there.) The cast seems to alternate between modern-day medical personae and their characters in traditional stagings of the opera, almost seamlessly at times.

One bit that I haven't seen before [spoiler alert] is using the same singer/actor as Benoit and Alcindoro (yes, that's often done, but keep with me) AND Parpignol AND the drum major at the end of Act II AND the guard in Act III until he is always on stage. A presence you can't shake. We realize more and more that he's Death. He's Dr. Miracle, the Serpent, a male version of the Loreley. He's Lon Chaney.

Although some of the modern medical scenery and props were a little intrusive, I have to commend all the cast on their total commitment to the...

Brilliant production from Oslo Opera
This version of La Bohème is on the New York Times list of gift ideas as a `Must Have', so what better opera to pick for a first time viewing. If you know the story of La Bohème then you will be somewhat puzzled when the stage opens onto a modern oncology ward with Mimì attached to a heart monitor. But Stefan Herheim is a producer who is intent on making his audience think about an opera and its meaning, and in this version of La Bohème he certainly achieves this aim in bucket loads.

Before even the first notes of the overture have started Mimì dies and Rodolfo is distraught. What follows is a potent mix of now and then, the modern and the traditional Bohème, to Puccini's fantastic score. Yet it is all so skilfully woven together with scene and costume changes taking place before your eyes as part of the opera that there is no confusion, just a deep empathy with Rodolfo as he struggles with his grief at the loss of Mimì from...

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The Conformist [Dual Format Edition[Blu-ray]

one of the 10 best films I've ever seen
What kind of man gets himself in such a pickle that --- on his honeymoon --- he's given a gun and asked to kill a professor he's always admired?

That is the question presented to us at the beginning of "The Conformist," as Marcello Clerici (Jean-Louis Trintignant) sits in a Paris hotel room, waiting for the call that will tell him it's time to kill the professor. If you love movies, the answer --- told in a series of flashbacks, and, on occasion, flashbacks within flashbacks --- will make for one of the most rewarding cinematic experiences of your life.

Let's get the praise out of the way right off. Bernardo Bertolucci --- known to most moviegoers for his Oscar-winning "The Last Emperor" and his down-and-dirty "Last Tango in Paris" --- made "The Conformist" at 29. It is a young man's film, drenched in ambition. It is also Bertolucci's greatest film. Indeed, it is one of the ten greatest films I've ever seen.

My reasons?

First, "The...

Fall of a Fascista
Break out the brass section, the DVD has arrived. This landmark film like fine wine, now that it has been remastered by cinematographer Vittorio Storaro, and presented with color intact in widescreen in Italian and French, emerges as a true classic. The dispicable VHS dubbed panned & scanned version that we have been watching for over 20 years can be "retired". Bernardo Bertolucci's truth is once again on display. This release sparkles with clarity, and we can thrill to the carefully presented imagery and the powerful symbolism.

Bertolucci, under 30 when he directed CONFORMIST, has become a wonderfully gifted and powerful force in cinema; and never more so than in this fledging effort. He must have storyboarded every moment. The film is tighter than a Rolex; no wasted seconds or icons. In this film he began to explore the vistas of sensuality and sexuality that only two short years later would blossom into THE LAST TANGO IN PARIS (1972); and then would spill out all over...

Please, Paramount - or Whoever Has the Rights - Bring This Out on DVD
I just want to add my voice to those asking - pleading - for The Conformist to be released in a subtitled version on DVD. I first saw The Conformist when it was released about 35 years ago, and have had the good fortune to see it a few times since. (At the risk of rubbing salt in the wound of reviewer James Luckard, I did get to see it when it was at the Nuart in L.A. two years ago.) This film is just absolutely stunning in every way - Jean-Louis Trintignant is of course a great actor, but the thing I find so overwhelming with this film is the way the story, the acting, the cinematography, the lighting, the music, everything just comes together so well.

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The New Adventures of Old Christine: The Complete Fifth Season

Another great season!!
Yet another great season of New Adventures of Old Christine!!! I cannot believe those idiots at CBS canceled this show after five seasons. I guess crappy Reality shows are alot cheaper to produce. Anyway, Season Five is another terrific season and if you love Julia Louis-Dreyfuss like I do, you will LOVE all five seasons. I believe Season 2 is still the best season, but all five are great!!

Best Comedies besides All in the Family
What a spectacular comedy series. It should be a crime that it was cancelled. Old Christine is hilarious. I can watch all 5 seasons over and over again, and never get tired!

Great show, bad bad DVDs
I love Old Christine, and I bought the last 3 seasons on DVD (I already had the other 2) I already knew they were just DVD-R
But they don't have subtitles, or closed captioned.
And the presentation is pretty cheap (I don't care about this that much)
But reality is I want to watch this show with non english speakers or hearing impaired, and now I own it on DVD but I HAVE to watch it by myself, and if I want to share it I have to watch it on TV with subtitles, that's just stupid.
If you are going to sell me DVDs like this, (with nothing) make them cheaper paying 90+ bucks for the last 3 seasons is just way to expensive, the first two seasons are cheaper, presentation is better and have everything a DVD needs.
Great show, cheap treatment to it.

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Social Skills: Meeting & Greeting

Great for explaining social interactions and manners to little ones
I use these video series for helping to teach manners to my two year old. He loves watching 'big kids' interact and really pays attention to the explanations that are given. As for the production quality I am very impressed with the quality of the DVD's. For parents they may seem boring but for kids they are exactly what is needed for their understanding. I have most of the videos from this company Spectrum, Bumblebee, and a few from the Jenny McCarthy group (which I like but not as well as the BumbleBee or Spectrum DVD's). Even if your kids are not on the autism Spectrum these videos can be really useful for young children to learn how to model good behavior and use their manners.





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Mozart: Die Zauberflote

Unique staging, faithful to the work, but a little dry
Die Zauberflöte still represents a challenge that has perhaps been neglected in recent times by the major modern revisionist directors in favour of finding new ways to explore the Mozart/Da Ponte trilogy of works - The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni and Così Fan Tutte - so a fresh approach is always welcome. William Kentridge, the stage director for this production of Die Zauberflöte at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan may not have any new ideas about the opera's central theme of light versus darkness being that of man seeking to rise above their baser natures and impulses, seeking enlightenment over obscurantism, or rationalism over superstition, but as an artist, illustrator and animator the South African director does at least approach these themes with a very distinct style of his own.

The period setting chosen appears to be late 19th century, the beginning of the age of technological advancement, the characters dressed to looking like figures from a...

Interesting Magic Flute!
My past experience with this opera has been somewhat mixed. I usually come away feeling as if it is somewhat disjointed, although I love the music very much. This particular production, however, sits very well with me. From the opening, there is a visual metaphor of the film negative, and the feeling that the operatic action is being viewed inside a camera. This interesting idea is leveraged by animations that show the characters actions and thoughts, and provide graphical referents that help tie the various loose strands of the operatic action together.

As for the music, it is performed extremely well by the Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala. It is delightful, lively, and very complimentary to the vocal talents (which are exceptional) of the principal characters. Albina Shagimuratova's Queen of the Night is just excellent, and Papageno (played by Alex Esposito) is a delight to watch. And Genia Kuhmeier's (Pamina) performance of "Ach, ich fuhl's" is just...

Well sung but for me the camera idea did not work
I found the camera idea a bit too clever and it made the production too dark. Yes it is well sung and acted but the Flute is an opera that thrives on magic, colour and costume. There are other productions about, notably by Opera Australia, that bring this most wonderful of operas to life even better and I hope they will soon get a Blu-ray recording. In the meantime I found this better than the Covent Garden production but not by a lot and neither quite meet my aspirations.

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