5 comments about Lara Croft Tomb Raider [UMD for PSP].

1. the movie is a new classic. it has all the eliments of a great blockbuster. action, guns, tech gadgets. and a good and evilcombined and a map to a treasure at the end of the movie. it's 007 mixed with indiana jones, but one obvious thing a tough aluring lara croft as the main character... a must for the blu-ray collection!!!!!



2. I've been with Lara Croft since the first Tomb Raider game--the version for Sony Playstation--and I can tell you this is not only a great way to screw up a perfectly good setting and a perfectly good story, but also a great way to screw up a main character. Sure, I believe in evolution; by the time this movie began production, Lara Croft had been the protagonist of every game in the Playstation series FIVE times at this point.
   
   First off, the first game was the only one with this combination: an interesting character, a good plot, interesting dialogue, an interesting script, a music score that works, an interesting setting albeit a not-so-action-oriented one but nonetheless immersive and captivating, mostly non-fictional-type enemies (like birds, bats, tigers, you know, animals of the forest, and a few humans too), a "free-roaming" three-dimensional world, and even good voice acting. This combination was a real development for videogames because, before the first game released in 1996--1995 on another system--not many of these things happened. But, the quality of all of these thing noted here had changed in the sequel games. Some things had just-as-good quality and some things were not just-as-good, depending on the sequel. As a series, the first game was really a push for Lara as a character. It is essential to carry the traits of that character forward into the sequels. But, after five games on the Playstation, if anyone's going to make a movie and call it "Tomb Raider," if anyone's going to depict the titanic "Lara Croft," one must be faithful, regardless of whether or not its writers decide to include the transformations in the sequel games or not--it doesn't matter.
   
   At the heart of things, Lara Croft is the daughter of an English aristocrat. I can't tell you why anyone would ever think that Angelina Jolie, as likable and sexy as she is, would fit this character. Does Jolie even attempt to put on an English accent? No. So then, I guess none of the storylined traits exist, and this film is solely about selling tickets and purifying the entire visual scenery when, in the game, this is not the purified thing. And, in the game, it is Lara who appears sanitary only to prove otherwise, and that this is an important function of the character. In this film, the character Lara Croft may as well have been the daughter of a New York City crack addict, because there is no sharing resemblance to the original game's ideas.
   
   The Tomb Raider game was a genre piece. It was only like the first ten minutes of the first film in the Indiana Jones series--or the protagonist of the old Atari, Activision game Pitfall--but it was more particularly supposed to be like, in plot, a marginally science fiction piece similar to the first ten minutes of The Fifth Element or the last hour-and-a-half of Stargate. The plot of the first game was about a rugged and youthful daughter of a wealthy aristocrat who did not share in the interests of dirty corporate politics, and so her character juxtaposes them. The story did not have Lara hating aristocratic wealth, but rather accepting it because she had been born into it, but with an appetite for adventure and the means to get there, financially, physically, and intellectually. She's the kind of girl who must rather have been an Oxford University student of archeology than a politician like her parents--or whatever they did to make money, probably inheriting it and some titles from the English monarchy as well. It just doesn't make sense to dispose of this past! It's in Lara's genetic makeup. One can't just remove these things and make a good movie starring Lara Croft; it's more than that.
   
   Also is the problem of just plain bad decisions all around about the sanitized visuals and sanitized plot. This film is just an action piece with dopey characters that Lara must avoid. This isn't what Lara started out doing! There were dopey characters, but Lara used to be an educated young woman. In this film, she is just a female Rambo who likes caves. There's no excuse for what she does in this film. It's just stupidity. Too much has been changed and, cinematically, the movie itself is either boring or has too many flaws. It possesses very little of the originality in the first game, a coherent plot involving something better than a bunch of stupid moron-minded humans with the animals of the forest missing, all because Lara's gone and changed into James Bond now. This film is a stupid action piece without a shred of credibility or intrigue, two things that abundantly made the first game so memorable.



3. I give the movie 5 stars as an exciting imaginitive adventure movie.
   But there are issues with the Blu-ray version - which are:
   The movie was not photographically focused with HD video in mind. Sometimes the details are clearly in focus, sometimes the details are only DVD clear. This is better than an ordinary DVD "upconverted" but is not consistently what I would expect from a true Blu-ray quality movie. If you already own the DVD it may not be worth upgrading - but if you don't I think it is worth it for adventure movie fans.
   
   This is based on the original Blu-ray disk release.



4. The film is boring. There's not exciment and no suspense. The plot is like that of a video game. I mean there's nothing original. The worst thing is the special effects. In many scenes, I can see clearly that the settings are fake.



5. In '01 the immensely popular video game featuring the voluptuous, computer generated Lara Croft was transformed into a major Hollywood film starring the extremely sexy Angelina Jolie, The film `Lara Croft - Tomb Raider' is a slick, tongue-in-cheek action/adventure ala Indiana Jones that succeeds in entertaining its audience with exotic locations, superior special effects, numerous action sequences and the lovely Angelina Jolie to keep the viewer focused. The dialogue is also well thought out containing lots of memorable little quips one can store away for personal use at a later date.
   
   Lots of fun provided for a high energy evening so fasten your seat belts!

1 comments about The Appalachians.

1. A nice PBS piece that helped fill in my understanding of this region of the USA.

2 comments about Ghost Son.

1. Laura Harring is Stacey, who lives in Africa with her husband Mark (played by John Hannah).
   
   She looses him in an accident then finds she is pregnant.
   
   When she has the baby there is a blurred line whether the baby boy is possessed by her dead husband or not.
   
   And here's where it gets disturbing.
   
   *Spoliers*
   
   She breast feeds the baby who sucks so hard it draws blood. But the doctor's can't find teeth when they examine the baby.
   
   She holds it in the shower and the baby plays with her nipple and she has visions of making love under the shower with her dead husband and then notices her baby son is overly excited.
   
   That's the info, it's up to you if you want to see that sort of thing



2. This movie is very strange and extremely boring. The plot was scary as a ROSEMARY'S BABY, and David Lynch's girlfriend was really good in MULHOLLAND DRIVE, but this Lamberto Bava fiasco hasn't got an original idea in even two frames. The hilarious aspect of the film is that the heroinne is called upon to appear nude every five minutes, but Laura Harring must have stipulated that she would run around naked, but nothing could be shown. For the one scene of nudity that does appear, an obvious body double was used. Also odd, is how bad her acting is. Her take on the character is to play her as an aging teenager, always whining and never quite sure what's going on. Lamberto Bava appears to be attempting to end his career as a director. If you want to see a fun and entertaining film by him, check out DEMONS again!

5 comments about Mr. Baseball.

1. Mr. Baseball
   
   Engaging film that tells it like it is about life in Japan for a visiting geijin (foreigner). Whether its navigating a bathroom for the first time to enjoying the wonders of Kobe beef or looking at the abject horror in the faces of your girlfriends parents the first time you meet them. Mr. Baseball hits a homerun. Its also an entertaining movie, arrogant (yet ever ingratiating) Selleck plays an over the hill baseball player shipped off to Japan by his agent. With the help of his new manager and the new girlfriend he meets, he learns how to grow up and fit in, but it isn't an easy learning experience.
   
   While not academy material, this movie holds its own and your attention through out and is full of laughs as well as insight, certainly more then I expected when I picked this one up.
   
   No extras on the DVD other then subtitles.
   
   Enjoy, have a laugh and if you ever lived in Japan, enjoy the memories of that unique experience as they come flooding back.



2. Tom Selleck plays a spoiled, womanizing, washed-up Major League ball player who gets traded to a team in Japan. After a few temper tantrums and childish pranks he realizes that he needs to do more than coast along if his career in baseball is going to survive.
   
   With the help of the coach (Ken Takakura), the coach's lovely daughter and his assigned interpreter he learns to respect the traditions of Japan and its people. He also learns that what you put in is what you get back. In learning he is able to teach the coach and his fellow players to enjoy the "game" of baseball.
   
   This is ONE of my favourite baseball movies. It's witty and light entertainment that offers a glimpse into Japanese culture and the business of baseball. Selleck is believable as a baseball giant. Reviewed by M. E. Wood.



3. Tom Selleck is a baseball player that appears to be at the end of his career when he is traded to a Japanese Team and faced with many challenges to over come is stalling career, womenizing ways, and his basic arrogance. He faces all of his issues and problems and becomes the hero at the end. Couple of surprises here and there, overall a good movie to see, may not be a good one for the library though.



4. this show is an all time classic. you can watch over and over again. love it!



5. A fun and good way to start the ball season. It is good movie for kids and has a wonderful suprise ending. And, of course, its a great story that includes baseball!

5 comments about The '60s.

1. This is absolutely one of my most favorite movies of all time. I can watch it over and over. It has a great cast & really makes you feel like you were there. I have also seen 'The 70's' and I wish NBC would do all the decades from last century.



2. I saw this movie a long time ago on televison & I liked it. But there is no way I'm paying $80.00 for it. Come on people!!!



3. I saw this when it originally aired on TV, and there was a scene (right before the 7 minutes in heaven scene) that showed the family watching the Beatles on Ed Sullivan. What happened to it? It was cut out of the DVD and VHS versions!! The Beatles were a HUGE part of the 60's and should be included!!!! This is a butchered edition!!!!



4. I was impressed with the 70s so I rented this DVD and was sadly disappointed. Apparently, the producers thought Bob Dylan was the only musical influence of that time...not to mention hearing him constantly throughout the movie was beyond annoying. On TV this was four hours long (with commercials) but it just seemed to skim the surface of everything. This had the potential of being something really great but it's just as if they took the actors, threw them in 60s clothes, and threw in some archive footage with a sorry excuse for a story line.



5. I saw this movie on TV several years ago and searched and searched for it before finding it here. I think I paid $12.00 for it. I bought one for my mother last year and paid $60.00. I think the movie is totally worth the price. It'sone of my favorite movies I have seen. I have loaned it to several people who agree with me. I doubt, since it was a made for TV movie that it is in 'bargan bins', if it was I would buy them all for fear of mine getting scratched and destroyed! I think this movie is a must see for middle school aged kids-it's a lesson, sad at times, but that is how our country was! I think it can brings an awareness and show how far many of us have come!

2 comments about Chappelle Show - Season 1, Vol. 1 [UMD for PSP].

1. it says there are all 12 episodes on it... WRONG! there are actually on ly 5 episodes on it. that is why they call it vol. 1... geez! It still is pretty funny though.



2. Chappelle Show - Season 1, Vol. 1 (UMD Mini For PSP) best of DAve!!! I loved it...

3 comments about The Jack Benny Program, Vol. 4.

1. I LOVE all of Marilyn !!!! Espessialy the rare footage of her , like this Jack Benny show !! I am so grateful of this DVD !!! I just LOVED it !!! Marilyn is BEAUTIFUL and BREATHTAKING , like always



2. I love Marilyn Monroe in this dvd of the Jack Benny show!
   Her part is just a little short, but it just seems that way when you want to see more of your fave actress/actor. Other than that, its wonderful and I love it!



3. Very funny and like all the digitally restored videos, the quality of the picture and sound is wonderful!

4 comments about The Marky Mark Workout.

1. I had been looking for this Tape for a long time, so I was very excited to discover that it was available on line. It's fun to see Mark Wahlberg so young and eager when he was just making a name for himself as Marky Mark. The video itself provides a solid workout and who better to inspire one than the Ab-Man himself! I doubt I'll ever look that good in a pair of briefs though!



2. I'm GRATEFUL to own this VHS again. My original was damaged(video taped over the very beginning). I get a GREAT workout at home with Marky Mark and his crew. I'd love to see a Mark Wahlberg aerobics video.



3. I am very pleased with my Marky Mark workout tape. If there was ever anyone who inspired me to start working out when I was younger, it was this guy. They way his body looked back then still impresses me when I look at it today. This was always one of the best workout tapes ever made and I will treasure it for a lifetime. It is too bad Marky Mark didn't continue his fitness career!



4. I just happen to be into BEAUTIFULLY BUFFED GUYS so when THIS GEM became
   available I briefly disrobed in front of my bedroom mirror, took a good
   look at my own body then decided it was too far gone for any workout tape.
   But that didn't stop me from making the purchase, converting it onto a DVD
   then utilizing the zoom feature of my player to get UP FRONT & PERSONAL
   with MR. MARKY. The footage was recorded in the EP mode as opposed to the
   better SP so clarity suffers a bit on the transfer but when everything you're struttin' around is so huge & well defined, the move is a NO-BRAINER. No stone is left unturned here as we get countless angles &
   close-ups of every nook & cranny of the former rap star's marvelous
   musculature. What makes the scenes spring to life is Marky's fabulous
   smile. His message is two-fold- I know I'm hot & I also know this is the
   best damn way to showcase all my gorgeous goods. Oh don't get me wrong he
   knows his stuff when it comes to CRAFTING THE ULTIMATE PHYSIQUE. He puts
   you thru all the paces, warns you about pre-conditioning & the like &
   systematically walks you step-by-step thru each grueling session. You
   just get the feeling that he's an exhibitionist first- trainer second-
   which just happened to sit perfectly well with yours truly. Doubt an
   older VHS title like this will ever make it to DVD so that's why you'll
   need to WORK THE MAGIC yourself. One SCRUMPTIOUS DUDE let me tell ya!
   I even walked over to my big screen TV a couple times & licked it. Go ahead & SALIVATE- YOU DESERVE IT.

2 comments about The Prophecies of the Passion.

1. waken's the spirit and Kindles the Passion of one's faith and Hope in God the Father and the Son, the Christ to the full fillment of the Holy Spirt and Helps gives anwers to those things left unknown about the death of Jesus Christ this is one Film the whole Family should watch...!



2. I thought it was short of information and long on meaningless pictorials.
   
   I gave it 3 stars because what it presents is bare bones basic but accurate. I am a new student of the Bible, and this did not present new information for me. Maybe I just expected too much because I was so enthusiastic about the topic :)
   
   While this is no substitute for reading the Bible, it is a good and accurate start that will hopefully whet your appetite to read more of it because there is more information in the Bible which ties the Old and New Testaments together than this.
   
   I apologize if I sound ungrateful, as I sincerely appreciate their efforts in this great, necessary and somewhat difficult topic. The world could certainly could use more efforts along these lines.

5 comments about Firestarter.

1. This movie was a decent though not perfect adaptation of the book. One problem was it tried to be heavy on star power. The cast includes Drew Barrymore, David Keith, Heather Locklear, Martin Sheen (in a role that Burt Lancaster was to play), George C. Scott, Art Carney, and Louise Fletcher. For the most part, this was not a problem, but can I picture George C. Scott playing a one eyed native American? Wasn't there a good native American to play that role?
   
   The story is more a true science fiction story than a horror story. The government has secret experiments toying with paranormal activity. Two of the guinea pigs fall in love, get married, and . . . no, they don't live happily ever after. They have a daughter, and the government thugs kill the mother and try to kidnap the daughter, until the father intervenes. There are no supernatural evil creatures; just people with abnormal abilities up against bad human beings.
   
   The movie can drag at points. It is not as effective as the book, which is nothing new. It was rated R due to the violence primarily. The acting on the part of Barrymore was not the greatest, either. But I found it an entertaining picture.



2. FIRESTARTER is one of Stephen King's best stories--surreal, yet plausible; both frightening and cheering. Drew Barrymore's performance warms hearts and burns villains. Great story, great movie--perhaps the star performance in Barrymore's career.



3. If you liked the movie called Scanners and if you liked the movie Christine, then you will probably like Firestarter. They are all similar pace wise and have some similar music in the background. I never read the Firestarter book so I can't compare them right now.
   
   The acting is a little unbelievable when it comes to the secondary acting (ie goverment agents that act weird and goofy for no reason), but the main actors do a darn good job for how many takes they were given. Drew Barrymore is mostly realistic, except for two scenes where she seems to be at the end of a long day of shooting. David Keith has those hypnotic eyes and his bonding with Drew was quite good in realism. Freddie Jones has that panic look in his eyes, but he did better in Dune if you ask me. But then with the budget of Dune, you get more Freddie. Martin Sheen has some nice psycho moments and he gets similar screen time in the movie Spawn. Obviously he acts better in West Wing, but then he is pretty young in Firestarter. Art Carney plays an old farmer and he made me laugh a few times. Louise Fletcher has some small scenes on the farm as well, but to see her better, you should see One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest or Star Trek Deep Space Nine. George C. Scott plays a native american and I am not sure he pulls it off totally, but maybe he is half native american or something (they never say). But when George laughs in the movie, you cringe in your heart and you might even thank your lucky stars that George is not your uncle or father either !
   
   The special effects show their age, but for no computer effects, it is pretty nice and poetic as the bad guys get their flaming body suits. Again, if you like the special effects of Christine the movie, then you should be able to handle this movie. The Pyro character in the X-Men movies has similar powers, but I grew up as the sci-fi special effects improved, so I can look past certain laws of physics being broken. However, one scene has Drew Barrymore almost getting run over by a huge truck on fire and I am still not sure how they did that stunt.
   
   I watched the DVD as a rental, but last week I found the VHS tape for one dollar so it was worth it to me to own this flick.



4. Buy the new double collection, it has much better quality. Other than that, this is a great Stephen King adaptation and I would recomend it to King movie fans.



5. I was really, really bored one day and just grabbed something to watch that day. This movie.
   Good story, obviously Stephen King, but as a movie, it dosen't work for me.
   
   The acting felt stiff and the whole movie was too "book-movie".
   I mean that the characters just stand there, doing nothing, because in a book, you have to read the text for the pace to move.
   But in the movie, it's like the characters turn to stone, doing nothing, because it takes such a long time to say a line.
   Especially the scene where the Dad and Charlie are at the old peoples house, the four of them stand outside the front door, and the bad guys are in front of them.
   No matter how much the bad guy talks, talks, talks, talks - nothing happens!
   It takes forever and then FINALLY something happens and it's totally predictable.
   Just stop talking already!!!
   
   The special effects were lame, looked fake and out of place.
   The movie was slooooooooow, you KNEW what was going to happen, but it took the characters FOREVER to do it.
   This movie is also mostly talk, there hardly any action scenes and the few were boring.