5 comments about The Bodyguard (Full Screen Edition).

1. Rachel Marron, portrayed by Whitney Houston, is a worldwide superstar singer and actress who has millions of adoring fans but one has taken there admirations too far. In a world of glamour and celebrity Marron fights to maintain her career and Frank Farmer, her bodyguard, fights to keep her alive.
   
   Kevin Costner portrays Frank Farmer, a no-nonsense bodyguard hired by the singers associates that struggles with Marron's devotion to her career and her own deluted view that she is invincible.
   
   Houston plays a charachter that paralells her real life, an accomplished actress and singer who is being stalked by an obsessive fan. Bodyguard was to be the big vehicle to launch Houston into a mega film career. Although Houston's performance is commendable for her first film effort, her shinging moments in the film are when she showcases the soundtrack, which is incredible. Costner is strong in his stern, powerful role.
   
   Bodyguard, although panned by many critics, was extremly successful at the box office both domestically and worldwide. The 8th highest grossing film of all time, Bodyguard was financially a success for Houston but her acting performance was ignored by critics. The film has many twists and turns and keeps you guessing. It is not an Oscar worthy performance by Houston, but highly entertaining!



2. Cheesy plot + terrible acting = The worst movie I've ever seen. I'm not surprised it garnered the Razzie Award for the worst picture of the year. On the other hand, the music is awesome.



3. We buy a lot of our DVD's on Amazon.........the deals are great and the selection is amazing.



4. When The Bodyguard came out, everyone was saying it was the best movie ever.
   So it has Costner and Houston.
   I'm not getting it, Costner hasn't been in a good movie in years, and Houston hasn't been in a movie since.
   Don't get me wrong, the movie is pretty good.
   The acting is fine, the story is fine.
   Houston plays a singer who is stalked. Gee, what a creative stretch.
   The ending was good and all in all, it's worth a rental.



5. Who hasn't seen this movie if at all remotely curious, interested or fans of either megastar? The unattainable White Knight and IR relationship that may or may not move beyond confines. Can't imagine in real life, a clean end after such intensity. If you've ever gone there, you can imagine the real deal.

5 comments about Chiefs TV Mini-Series.

1. I enjoyed the fact that the script was well constucted, and the acting was outstanding.



2. Who has the Rights to this movie and why is it not being released!!
   
   In its entirety, it would be a great best sellar.
   
   What are they or who holding out for!!!
   
   Let us all get this movie in DVD!!!
   
   PLEASE, PLEASE release it for all of us fans who remember that great mini-series.



3. I don't know who owns the rights to this riveting and well-acted
   miniseries that aired back in summer 1983 on CBS, but they are crazy
   for not releasing it to DVD here in the U.S.!!--A stellar cast,
   a well-told story, just classic television!!
   It has recently been released in the UK and Germany, but not here!
   What's Wrong with This Picture?



4. Like others, I taped the miniseries CHIEFS when first broadcast and have enjoyed watching it ever since; in fact, last year I burned a copy of my worn old VHS tape into disc since it appears it won't be released anytime soon in region 1. I would suspect there is a contractual reason [perhaps Heston himself? I understand he always thought he gave one of his best performances in the flm...] it has not yet been released.
   CHIEFS is one of those rare films whose story not only spans decades- but which laso stands up well even today with its topical subject matter.



5. I have been looking for this TV mini-series for a while. Saw it back in the 80's.......very suspenseful!!! Wish I could buy the dvd with the full series. Kathy

5 comments about The Arrival.

1. First of two movies on the subject. I have spent much time studying this subject from a more scientific level and can say by reading between the lines there is much mythos icons here. But you will have to dig for them. If that study motivates you the movie rates a 4. If it is entertainment you want it is a 2.



2. right up there with the x-files in terms of paranoia vs reality conspiracy theories and what extraterrestrials are REALLY up to. nice subtext commentaries on envrionmentalism, industry run amok, pollution. nice twist on the traditional post-Close Encounters type creatures too. they walk among us! well, sort of hop, really ;-)a must for any sci-fi fan



3. Charlie Sheen stars as a scientist who discovers a mysterious signal from outer space. After this miraculous discovery, he is laid off and forced to setup a lab at his house using the filched bandwidth from his neighbor's satellite dishes. Soon Charlie rediscovers the signal but also discovers a return signal broadcasting from earth.
   
   This was an intriguing bit of science fiction. I liked the premise, and found myself interested to know the origins of the signal. But I felt the plot (particularly Sheen's character's infiltration of the Mexican power plant) a tad hokey. Sheen's girlfriend was very annoying and the aliens a tad too easy to overcome.
   
   Overall It wasn't bad, but nothing that overwhelmed me. 3 stars. Average.



4. "The Arrival", quite frankly, is near the very top of my most favorite Sci-Fi movies of all times (just behind Star Wars/Star Trek). I won't go into the plot... but trust me... if you like excellent special-effects, you'll find nothing disappointing... as a matter of fact, the beginning scene is a fantastic effect which takes you from a patch of grass and flowers, surrounded by snow and ice, then pulls back (out) all the way to a position in Earth's orbit in a few short seconds (very well done). The story-line is solid, believable, makes sense, and what you might expect IF the events actually were true, and well told.
   
   If you have interests in 'global warming', this'll ring a bell... even though, the cause is fiction (we think) ; ) ... the dialog totally works... the characters all work, and work well together. There are some places for 'comic relief', which all totally fit, without over-doing it. And the pace of the film is just right... not too slow, not too fast. I'll say this... just about the time you first wonder when the sci-fi part is gonna start, it's starts... and how! The music seems to fit perfectly... I especially liked the little Myan flute/vibe piece when Zane is first in his yellow jeep rental, down in Mexico. Short... but it sets the 'feel'.
   
   This film has some elements of a 'who done it', where the viewer is given a series of clues... but no matter how good you think you are, you absolutely will not figure out what's next. It also has what initially looks like a bit of a 'conspiracy theory' happening... and as the film progresses, you begin to realize just how massive and deep-rooted it actually is. The ending... or what you think is the ending, is a surprise, and goes right back to the conspiracy... and how good these aliens actually are.
   
   The locations/scenes/sets/models are excellent, and a complete fit... flawless and quite impressive, especially beneath the power-plant. The distant scene of the power plant in central Mexico looks completely real... right down to the condors slowly soaring on the currents above it.
   
   If you're like me, you really hate it when movies or TV shows don't bother with 'continuity' or double-checking facts. The film's second scene introduces the primary character (Charlie Sheen), who is a radio astronomer. Sheen does a top-notch job of acting... totally authentic and believable... and the astronomical references are right on target.
   
   IMO, David Twohy did a fantastic job of directing. Supporting actors, Lindsay Crouse, Ron Silver, Leon Rippy, and really everyone... all contribute quite well. How this film snuck past me at the box office, I'll never know. But if you are a true Sci-Fi buff, you'll want this one in your collection... it's a film you can pull out when you have friends over, and probably none of them have ever heard of it... but they won't be disappointed (and neither will you). This is one that you could 'risk' showing to friends, without having seen it first, all will enjoy it, and you won't end up with egg on your face. It's not too heavy in the gore-N-guts department... really nothing excessively violent, so kids can probably watch. There's only one brief 'buff scene'... but it doesn't really show much. Probably more than anything else... I'd say several scenes will inspire 'awe'... like jaw-dropping wOw!
   
   Now- when I pruchased my DVD, I was surprised to find that it was actually a two-sided DVD, with "The Arrival II" on side 2 (although, I wouldn't expect it, unless it actually says you get both I & II).
   
   "The Arrival II" was initially disappointing for me... as no one from the first film are in the second. The script is weaker... the acting doesn't seem to work as well, and the plot just doesn't go where you'd think it would logically go. It's almost as if some Hollywood executive woke up in the middle of the night, and said "I got it... we'll do 'The Arrival II', and that'll be way-kewel". But, you get the impression that no one from the first film wanted anything to do with the project. (kinda makes ya wonder).
   
   But- that's not to say it's a bad, or poor film. It does help if you've seen the first one, prior. But it's like the graveyard-shift punched-in, picked-up the ball, and carried it off (and that's all that is really familiar about the film... the alien's ball*). (* As seen in the first film, this is a metal sphere, larger than a softball, but smaller than a basketball... the aliens use it to literally 'wipe a room completely clean'... of everything in the room, and sometimes beyond the room. When activated, it lifts up of the ground, pausing motionless momentarily, then one section slides open emitting light... the sphere begins to spin... a second section opens... then a third. As it's speed increases, it's like it is pulling objects and matter with gravity, and just like in a black-hole, everything revolves around the 'event horizon' until ultimately, it is all pulled into the balck-hole. The same thing happens here, except on a highly localized scale. Finally, the sphere sucks itself out of existance, leaving the room it was placed in completely bare.) The alien sphere's are used twice in "The Arrival (I)"... one of them completely destroys a huge radio-dish in the desert (great effect, too!... you can even see the wind and dust being drawn into the building)(very realistic).
   
   So- I guess my bottom line is... for sure... buy "The Arrival". If "The Arrival II" happens to be on the other side... great. But I wouldn't buy the "Arrival II" on it's own merrit. It's better than most of 'made by the sci-fi channel' for TV movies... but is like weak tea compared to the first Arrival.



5. This is an old movie with a good story line. Because I am used to seeing more fantastic and realistic special effects circa 2001 to the present, a movie made in the 20th century which would have been rated five stars, nowadays rates only 2 1/2 stars

5 comments about Paula Abdul - Cardio Dance.

1. Excellent workout..this one will maker you sweat..Paula keeps you moving..excellent easy-to-follow picture in picture instuctions.
   I use this at least twice a week...would recommend if you love to learn dance sequences..



2. It's useles for beginners. It does not show step by step. Even when I slowed down the speed of the DVD, I still could not follow her dancing. What a waste of money.



3. It took a while to learn the moves -- this is definitely the most choreographed exercise video I've done. After two or three shots at it, it started falling into place. The moves are funky and pretty demanding when they've built to a full routine, and Abdul is really professional and smooth in her delivery. Her dancers were also very good. They could even follow her directions, which were totally useless. She'd say we're doing a step left, step right and it would turn out to be a complex combination of steps, turns, dips, arm movements, you name it. But the workout is fun and before you know it you're doing the toning exercises and cooling down. It's one of my favorites now.



4. This DVD did not play on my Macintosh. I'd give it zero stars if I could.



5. I've had this video for about a year and I work out to it very frequently. The reason? The steps are fun, Paula's energy is infectious and the routine at the end is really fun. It's an awesome way to get your heart rate going and burn fat. I have every type of workout video that there is. Some are too simple in the way that they wouldn't burn enough calories to be worth your time. Others are so hard you dread doing them. Paula is just right.

5 comments about BUCKTOWN (DVD MOVIE).

1. Fred Williamson is cool as ever-- though the character he plays, Duke, is an ex-football player-- okay, not much of a stretch..

   Still, you can't front on the action that takes place when Duke takes on the corrupt police force in his old hometown--

   The cast includes several blaxploitation regulars: The sheriff, played by Art Lund, also menaced Williamson as a crooked cop in BLACK CAESAR.

   Bernie Hamilton went on to play STARSKY & HUTCH's police boss Captain Dobey, and he shows up here as a longtime Bucktown resident who spends too much time at the local bar that Duke's brother owned before his death..

   Pam Grier is more subdued in this piece, not the "kick-behind-chick" of most of her roles.. But golly, is she fine as ever..

   Thalmus Rasulala (Blacula, What's Happening) is Duke's big-city hustling pal Roy, who recruits a gang of cronies to give some payback to the redneck cops who terrorize the black residents of Bucktown. Among the cronies is "Hambone", played by future ROCKY star Carl Weathers.

   After Duke, Roy and the gang send the crooked cops running (and violently so), they unofficially take the place of the cops in running the protection scam-- Duke is reluctant, but Roy revels in his newfound power. For the moment, Roy and Duke come to a compromise, as Roy promises not to "lean" on the townsfolk like the cops did..

   But Roy's over-zealous henchmen could care less about being civil, as they roughhouse everyone who crosses their path, including Grier and Hamilton, the latter of whom is brutally beaten-- Next on their hit list is Duke, as he and Grier are assaulted in his home.. That sets the stage for Duke to get some long-coming revenge, assisted by a local boy who becomes his sidekick..

   The showdown between Duke and Roy is long and bloody-- and satisfying...

   Amidst all the mayhem in this film, some sly social commentaries are made: The kid who befriends Duke is a hustler wannabe, and has a precocious knowledge of all the nightlife vices in Bucktown-- "Girls, gambling, we got it all!"

   Also, the audience is introduced to the cold reality that Black political corruption and criminality is just as dastardly as when it is done by Whites-- turning the tables on the traditional source of inner-city social ills in post-civil-rights-era America.




2. this film worked really well.Both The "Hammer"&Pam Grier get down to Business here.it's so sad at how they didn't get there Props back in the day because films like this Showcase how tight they were on screen&they always had alot of Great Action in the films.Pam Grier still Blows My Mind She is SuperBaddd!!



3. As a soul cinema fan, it is hard for me to criticize this film, which unites two Afro-American icons, Pam Grier and Fred Williamson. Still, I must confess my disappointed feelings after watching "Bucktown," a rather mediocre film, considering those two fantastic leads.

   "Bucktown" is a corrupt town where the corrupt cops donimate. Now Duke (Williamson), after his brother's suspicious death, comes back to this hometown (in a "Ger Carter" way), only to find himself trapped in between the hostile police and beautiful Aretha (Grier). Reluctantly he decides to stay there because of legal problems, and to manage the local bar. As (expectedly) the love between Aretha and Duke develops, the local police begin (expectedly) to show their true colors.

   The film is given a unique twist here; Duke calls in his old buddy Roy (Thalmus Rasulala, regular of blaxploitation genre) to wage a war against the cops, but the result turns out worse than he hoped. The film tries to provide a new point of view on this genre, giving a picture of a conflict between blacks, but it seems the film doesn't know how to end this awkward situation.

   Though the film is far from perfect, it keeps on going with a good pace, and Williamson as always shows his charismatic presense effectively though Pam Grier as a result is pushed aside to a minor role despite of her previous successful roles in "Coffy." My verdict is, "Bucktown" is not a terrible film as some critics label it, but it is, I must say, strictly for fans of this genre.




4. What can I say, I'm bias, why... not because this was another of those "black" films everyone thought should be made but because I actually had a small bit part in it. Yep, stood out there in the cold of Platte City (MO), with about 16 other extras. Saw the open call for extras on the bulletin board at school and answered the call. Hey, no money, no true fame, but at least my segment didn't get tossed to the cutting room floor and it was fun "being in a movie"



5. `Bucktown' is fill with some exciting drama. The plot is relatively original, Duke (played by Fred Williamson) comes to a town to bury his brother who died. His brother owned a bar called The Alabama. This particular town is a mini, sleazy, version of Vegas (the actual city used for the filming seems to be Kansas City, Mossouri,) a town that attracts low rent tourists because of its gambling and prostitution. It's going to take a while for Duke to settle his brother's estate, so he hangs around town and reopens his brother's bar. After two of the town's cops come in and expect a percentage of the proceeds from the bar's receipts, he realizes that the entire town is run by a corrupt, white, police force. He won't stand for it, so he calls in his big city friend Roy (Thalmus Rasulala) to come to town with some thugs to kick some ***. The crew comes to town and they make short work of the brutal white police force. Duke is quite grateful for the help but things take a different turn once Dukes friends takes over and become the new law enforcers and are worse than the rednecks ever were. Williamson must stand up to the group, which includes his childhood best friend (their final one-on-one confrontation is pretty vividly brutal).
   
   Pam Grier does play a supporting role in here and it's some of her best acting. She really does appears more classy and tasteful in this film. I know you guys want - and are accustomed to - seeing her breasts every 10 minutes, but I found it a nice change of pace to see her in a more graceful light. Carl Weathers does play a small part as one of the enforcers convincely and Thalmus Rasulala also did a terrific job in his role but Fred Williamson owns the film and he's pretty effective.
   
   `Bucktown' is recommended to all blaxploitation fans and for those who are looking for action, integrity, and grittiness.

5 comments about Charlie's Angels - Full Throttle (Full Screen Special Edition).

1. This movie is just fun; humor and impossible rescues, and the three stars having a great time and showing it.



2. Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle was the crowd pleasing, mindless summer fun we go to the movies for in the summer time. These movies aren't meant to win awards or be realsitic, they are more about having fun and boy did Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle entertain me for two hours. The angels Diaz, Barrymore and Liu all come back to their roles eager and welcome and all three are just as much fun to watch as they were in thr first one. The chemistry between the three is some of the strongest I've ever seen for a trio of women since The Heroic Trio in an action film involing women. Bernie Mac as Bosley steals every scene he's in and it looks like he had tons of fun working on the movie also. I hope they bring him back for the thrid movie. McG is a good action director and sure sometimes the action sequences are unbeliveable but to me it was all part of the fun. Demi Moore was good in her villian role even though she ahd limtied screen time and the always good Crispin Glover is down right creepy as The Thin Man. With plenty of pop culture refences, eye candy and one liners if you want some mindless summer entertainment in the comfort of your own home then this is the movie for you



3. THIS MOVIE WAS GOOD. THIS MOVIE WAS DOING GREAT. SOME SCENES WERE NICE AND IT WAS FUN. THIS MOVIE WAS GOOD QUALITY BUT THE FIRST ONE WAS BEST.
   I ENJOYED THIS MOVIE.



4. It must be nice to remember so fondly the good ole days when all movies were chock full of plot, dialogue, and meaning. Who can forget those sci-fi and horror classics, Ronald Reagan and the chimp classics, or Doris Day masterpieces that were so real, so full of thought-provoking dialogue, and so powerfully driven by their ironclad plots? Must be nice to have such a selective memory. As for me, I know that Hollywood is by and large a crap factory and it's simply a matter of the flavor you choose. If Charlie's Angels Full Throttle is anything it is a harmless bit of cinematic fun. I'm not stupid as some reviewers suggest because I enjoyed it. In fact, I dare say that calling someone stupid because they like something so innocuous is, well, stupid, but I digress.
   I found this franchise and in particular this installment highly amusing, entertaining, and fun to watch and I've seen it a good half dozen times on tv here and there and I enjoy it every time. Bernie Mac is his irascible funny self, Demi Moore plays the villain with relish and joy, the cameos by the Wilson brothers, Crispin Glover, et al are additional cheese, and the ladies do a good job as fun-loving butt-kicking detectives. Let's remember we're talking about an MTV version of a tv show that was little more than an excuse for prime time soft core titillation. Anyone who attempts to argue the strength of the original series is also the same person who will tell you that Playboy is really best enjoyed for the articles.
   If you went into this movie looking for anything other than beaucoup explosions, cartoon action sequences, and painfully corny dialogue than you missed the boat completely. We're talking mindless amusement and not high art and in Hollywood's long history, they've always done much more of the former than the latter if for no other reason than because movies are ENTERTAINMENT FIRST AND FOREMOST. Get over yourself already.



5. I got this as my sisters wanted to see this movie and after watching it myself I truly wish I could get those two hours back. The main story is that the Angels are supposed to protect the boy in the witness protection program since some unknown person or group seem to be killing off certain people in the witness protection program and the information they get points to this boy being next. Of course there is some more to the story but if you're like me you'll probably just won't care what they are after watching thirty minutes of this god awful movie. I like the three main actresses but it's no surprise that there is no talk in the works for Charlie's Angels 3. Spare yourself the money and time and just buy some other action movie that is truly worth it

5 comments about New Orleans.

1. I bought this DVD blindly just because I'm such a fan of Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday and of New Orleans in general. The plot (what there is of it) is clichŽd and uninteresting, but the music is fantastic, and I ended up playing the musical pieces over and over. The entire movie is filmed on a Hollywood soundstage; if you're looking for shots of old New Orleans, look elsewhere.



2. I have always found jazz performances much more captivating live rather than recorded, and although I can't travel back in time and see Louis Armstrong play during his prime, this video is the next best thing.

   The makers of New Orleans did not waste the talents of the musicians, and a good chunk of the movie is concert footage of many of the giants from the golden age of Jazz including Kid Ory, Woody Herman and Billie Holiday doing old standards such as Basin Street Blues and Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans.

   These performances truly convey the joy that enrapt the musicians as they played, and Armstrong in particular, is irresistably charming and funny as usual and appears for much of the film.

   Unfortunately, Holiday is possibly the most wooden actress I have ever seen, but since for most of her comparatively short screen time is spent singing, it isn't a problem.

   I strongly recommended this one to all fans of early jazz.




3. The film itself it trite and inconsequential. Buy this for the music alone. It's a delight to see Louis Armstrong in such a casual environment, with so many jazz legends, not to mention one of Billie Holiday's rare movie appearances. This DVD is honestly a treasure.



4. I am so very glad I bought it, as a person who loves great music and provocative movies, with love as a theme, in all vernaculars (except hip-hop), and a jazz enthusiast at heart it's a love story dotted with great musical contributions from the authentic jazz greats, Louie Armstrong and Billie Holiday to name a few.



5. 
   The movie showcased the ascent of New Orleans ragtime music versus the uptown music. Miralee Smith (Dorothy Patrick) was the young opera singer who, together with her conductor, was attracted to ragtime music, against the wish of her mother and many. Mrs. Smith, to keep her daughter away from ragtime music and its staunch supporter, Mr. Duquesne (Arturo de Cordova), made sure New Orleans had no place for either of them. And in Chicago Mr. Duquesne popularized the music as jazz.
   
   The real draw, of course, lies in the jazz music as epitomized by Louis Armstrong and his Band, Woody Herman and his Orchestra, and the beautiful voice of Billie Holiday, plus the professional musicians playing the cornet, trombone, clarinet, double bass ... . Billie Holiday exuberates a cool confidence with her unique rich voice and her swaying along the melody. Her rendition of Ms New Orleans was impressive, but the most outstanding moment was when she sang fairwell to Storyville and later joined by the chorus of the black folks who were forced to leave New Orleans. Not to mention the solo played by Louis Armstrong and Woody Herman.

5 comments about Black Cat White Cat.

1. This is without a doubt one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. It is so intricate, human, and lovingly bizarre that I don't see how anyone could not absolutely love this movie. You have to bear with it for a bit in the beginning because there are so many characters and the plot is so complex that it takes a few scenes for you to get your bearings. Even during this time, though, the movie is absolutely hilarious. It's even more funny, though, once you realize what's going on. After that, just sit back and enjoy. Without equal.



2. There is no way to summarize the plot of this film, except to say it's what you'd get if you dropped the Marx Brothers into Gypsy culture and stirred it all up. It's wild, crazy, and filled with music and dancing and unforgettable characters (played by real actors and actresses, not Hollywood ken-and-barbie dolls). You either like this kind of thing, or you don't. Astoundingly, some don't. Go figure! For me, it's a joy to watch.
   
   Us poor American-speaking provincials are fortunate to have "Underground" and - recently - "When Father Was Away on Business" on DVD. PLEASE put "Black Cat, White Cat" on DVD, too!! After "Underground", it's my Kusturica favorite.



3. The fastest 129 minutes you will ever spend reading subtitles. I've seen BLACK CAT, WHITE CAT around 10 times now and every time I don't want it to end cause I'm having too much fun.
   
   A brief description of the plot would be the adventures of some Gypsy mobsters, a forced wedding and a guy climbing out of the basement of an outhouse and cleaning himself off with a live duck, but really no description can do this film justice cause it is lightning paced madness from beginning to end.
   
   The coked out mobster singing and dancing at the wedding is one of the funniest scenes in movie history. I love this movie!



4. Well,
   this is my favorite movie ever and I eraised my order form before I checked out the movie. I am bummed. My copy does not work, it has no sound...grrrr. Just remember to check your copy before you get rid of your order form AND the packaging. It is my fault. Oh well.



5. My copy came today, so bad quality, that lots of time no picture, no nothing. Amazon was selling to me a junk, for 34$ Sorry, bc it is a very good movie, but i learned my lesson.

4 comments about The Carol Burnett Show - Collector's Edition / Vol 3.

1. Let Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence & Tim Conway introduce you to some of their favorite episodes and give some back-stage stories.
   
   This wonderful, now out-of-print, Columbia House DVD features two full uncut hour long (50 minutes due to no commercials)shows. All of the original opening & closings are here, as well as the mid-show bumpers! Carol takes questions from the audience the way we remember the original shows. The video has been restored and looks like it was taped yesterday.
   
   Volume 3 shows are:
   
   01/19/74 Guest Star CARL REINER
   
   01/19/70 Guest Star STEVE LAWRENCE



2. someone is being selfish. all other series and collections have whole seasons or more of shows on them. the carol burnett show only has two or three on them. major rip off. im waiting for the season collections.



3. NIELSEN RATINGS 1974 1975 TV SEASON
   
   Here are the season average Nielsen ratings for the 1974-75 television season.
   Only series are included in the ratings.
   The number preceding the series name is the series ranking.
   The network carrying the series is in parenthesis, and the average rating follows.
   
   1. All in the Family (CBS) 30.2
   2. Sanford and Son (NBC) 29.8
   3. Chico and the Man (NBC) 28.6
   4. The Jeffersons (CBS) 27.6
   5. MASH (CBS) 27.2
   6. Rhoda (CBS) 25.9
   7. The Waltons (CBS) 25.7
   8. Good Times (CBS) 25.6
   9. Maude (CBS) 24.8
   10. Hawaii Five-0 (CBS) 24.6
   I I . Mary Tyler Moore (CBS) 24.0
   12. Rockford Files (NBC) 23.8
   13. Kojak (CBS) 23.5
   14. Little House on the Prairie (NBC) 23.1
   15. Police Woman (NBC) 22.9
   16. SWAT (ABC) 22.6
   17. Bob Newhart (CBS) 22.5
   18. World of Disney (NBC) 22.2
   19. Mannix (CBS) 21.7
   20. Cannon (CBS)
   -The Rookies (ABC)
   -Sunday Mystery Movie (NBC) each 21.5
   23. Streets of San Francisco (ABC)
   -Cher (CBS) each 21.3
   25. Paul Sand (CBS) 20.9
   26. Gunsmoke
   -Medical Center (both CBS) 20.7
   28. Adams of Eagle Lake (ABC) 20.6
   29. Carol Burnett (CBS) 20.5
   30. Tony Orlando and Dawn (CBS) 20.3
   31. Emergency (NBC) 20.2
   32. NFL Football (ABC) 19.8
   33. Barnaby Jones (CBS) 19.6
   34. ABC Sunday Movie 19.1
   35. NBC Monday Movie 19.0
   36. Caribe (ABC) 18.9
   37. NBC Saturday Movie 18.8
   38. Wesnesday Movie of the Week (ABC) 18.7
   39. Mac Davis (NBC)
   - CBS Thursday Movie, each 18.5
   41. Smothers Brothers (NBC)
   -That's My Mama (ABC) each 18.3
   43. World Premiere Movie (NBC) 18.0
   44. The Manhunter (CBS)
   -Harry 0 (ABC) each 17.8
   46. Apple's Way (CBS) 17.7
   47. Tuesday Movie of the Week (ABC) 17.6
   48. Petrocelli (NBC)
   -Happy Days (ABC) each 17.5
   50. Lucas Tanner (NBC) 17.4
   51. Six Million Dollar Man (ABC)
   -Movin' On (NBC) each 17.1
   53. Marcus Welby (ABC) 16.6
   54. CBS Friday Movie 16.2
   55. We'll Get By (CBS) 16.1
   56. Adam-12 (NBC) 15.9
   57 The Law (NBC) 15.8
   58. ABC Monday Movie 15.7
   59. Born Free (NBC) 15.6
   60. Sons and Daughters
   - Dan August (both CBS) 15.2
   62. Archer (NBC)
   - Baretta (ABC) each 15.1
   64. Sunshine (NBC) 15.0
   65. Bob Crane (NBC) 14.9
   66. ABC Saturday Movie
   - Planet of the Apes (CBS) each 14.8
   68. Hot l Baltimore (ABC)
   - Barney Miller (ABC)
   - Ironside (NBC), each 14.7
   71. Karen (ABC) 14.5
   72. Get Christie Love (ABC) 14.3
   73. Sierra (NBC) 14.1
   74. Kolchak (ABC) 13.6
   75. Sonny Comedy Revue (ABC) 13.2
   76. Odd Couple (ABC) 13.1
   77. Paper Moon (ABC) 12.5
   78. Nakia (ABC) 11.9
   79. Friday Comedy Special (CBS) 11.2
   80. Khan (CBS) 11.1
   81. Texas-Wheelers (ABC) 11.0
   82. Kung Fu
   - Kodiak (both ABC) each 9.9
   84. The New Land (ABC) 7.9



4. will someone please tell me if the family skits with vicki carol and harvey are on this dvd before i buy it thats primarily my interest

5 comments about High and Low - Criterion Collection.

1. This was one of those marvelous films I discovered by accident. Toshiro Mifune plays a wealthy industrialist whose son is kidnapped and held for ransom. Yes, we've all been down that road before, but this one is paved by the legendary director Akira Kurosawa and that makes all the difference in the world. Taut, exciting and unpredictable, this is a first rate thriller that is not to be missed.



2. Akira Kurosawa's 1963 film, High and Low (Tengoku to jigoku; aka Heaven and Hell) followed his 1961 and 1962 classics, Yojimbo & Sanjuro. Adapted from Ed McBain's novel King's Ransom, the black and white crime thriller tells the riveting two-part story of a wealthy businessman, Kingo Gondo (Toshirô Mifune), who attempts to gain control of a Yokohama company, National Shoes, while executives are greedily divided over shoe quality. Meanwhile, ruthless kidnappers mistakenly abduct the child of Gondo's chauffeur, believing it is Gondo's son. Gondo is then faced with a moral dilemma: do the honorable thing, pay the ransom and lose the company, or proceed with the company buyout and lose another man's child. As the film's title suggests, this is a film about the rich and poor in 1960s industrial Yokohama. The second part of the film follows an elaborate investigation as police attempt to locate the missing child, the ransom money, and the kidnapper. The film concludes with Gondo confronting the kidnapper face to face, and the ending is anything but predictable. The film includes Kurosawa regulars Kyôko Kagawa, Takashi Shimura, and Susumu Fujita. The black and white cinematography is crisp.
   
   The Criterion Double Disc Special Edition of High and Low features a newly restored high-definition transfer with original four-track surround sound; audio commentary featuring Akira Kurosawa scholar Stephen Prince; a 37-minute documentary on the making of High and Low, created as part of the Toho Masterworks series Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create; rare video interview with actor Toshiro Mifune, conducted by TV talk-show host Tetsuko Kuroyanagi; a new video interview with actor Tsutomu Yamazaki, who plays the kidnapper; theatrical trailers from Japan and the U.S.; and and a booklet featuring a new essay by critic Geoffrey O'Brien and an on-set account by Japanese film scholar Donald Richie.
   
   G. Merritt



3. Leave it to Akira Kurosawa to make an exciting police procedural film that also manages to be a powerful social comment. Based on Ed McBain's novel, KING'S RANSOM, this is the story of the kidnapping of a little boy and the eventual citywide manhunt for the mysterious criminal behind it. It is the story of the appropriately named Kingo Gondo (translation: "Big King"), the richest man in town, and the devastating effect the crime has on him and his family. Moreover, it is both a sharp-eyed portrait of Japan circa 1962 and a timeless study of human nature.
   
   In stark, gorgeously photographed black-and-white, Kurosawa uses the then-new widescreen process better than just about anyone, and he gets memorable performances from his cast, notably the great Toshiro Mifune as Kingo amd Kyoko Kagawa as his wife, Reiko. The couple's gradual deterioration in their huge house on the hill overlooking the city brings an almost Shakespearean quality to the story. The haunting sense of tragedy behind the events elevates HIGH AND LOW above most other cops-and-robbers movies. As for the suspense--well, Hitchcock couldn't have done it better. (Hitchcock was a great admirer of this film.)
   
   Kurosawa is mainly known for his epics set in feudal Japan (RASHOMON, SEVEN SAMURAI, YOJIMBO), but this modern crime story is one of my favorites of all his works. Highly recommended.



4. Akira Kurosawa keeps impressing me with the scope of his abilities and "High and Low" was just another example. This story seems to start out somewhat clumsily. After all, we certainly HOPE this movie isn't about creating a better woman's high heel. But just as we sense a movie along the line of "Executive Suite" might be coming into view, we suddenly switch gears and then switch them again. We find ourselves in the midst of a suspenseful morality play. We are given an examination of so many aspects of life and society in such a compelling manner that it's hard to categorize just what kind of a movie "High and Low" is. It's safe to say that there is something in this movie that will appeal to just about every film buff who doesn't shy away from Black and White movies, Post WWII films, or watching foreign movie with subtitles. It is a movie that is worth watching again to see what all you missed the first, second or third time through. A great cast headlined appropriately by Toshiro Mifune just adds to everything else that this movie brings.



5. From a simple detective story, Kurosawa builds a supreme masterwork that certainly overpasses the limits of thriller. Insight humour, suspense, social commentary happen throughout this superb film.
   
   The drama turns around a ransom by mistake of the young son of a wealthy businessman, who decides if he will pay or not the agreed payment. But meanwhile Kurosawa displays his endless genius and exquisite cinematography.
   
   A pyramidal movie and certainly one of the most extraordinary films of the Sixties.