5 comments about Star Wars - Episode I, The Phantom Menace (Widescreen Edition).

1. Why have I waited Till August of 2008 to rate the 3 Prequils? Because I am sick and tired of Everyone who THINKS they are a Star Wars Critic or Fan,Bashing Star Wars and George Lucas. Now to the Review.. Ok I admit Episode I was the Weakest of the 6 Films, but for a reason. If you are Looking at each film Individually then you are cheating yourself. George set out to do what he always wanted to do, tell the story of.... Not Darth Vader, But Anakin Skywalker. To do that you have to go to the Beginning. His Youth. AS a Slave Boy, What molded him? What led the Jedi to him? If all you are Looking for is an Action Thriller Movie you are in the Wrong Place. Yes Jar Jar was Silly, Yes In Fact Dumb. But Take Him for what he is "an Idiot" Used Almost Exclusively for Episode I. However The Plot lines and the Story are what were important in the Prequels. Obviously Special Effects are going to rule any Star Wars Movie. as they do in all 6. Darth Maul Everyone Says was so Cool they should have kept him around. All I hear is He was "too cool to Kill Off" and I say " He Really was Cool, But he Served his Purpose. His Character needed to Be killed off ....For the STORY" and as George always says "Story First" Next. Liam Neason as Qui-Gon GIn was Essential and The Overall Story was Pivotal AS a Beginning To (NOt Darth Vader) but Anakin's Origin's . WE See his Incredible ability to Love.(Which Will lead To his Ability to Hate). WE see His Intuition with the Force, the POdrace and the Space battle were all controlled by the force(and Darth Sidious) Nothing will happen to his prize. The Movies make Sense the more you read into them.
   Why were they not as successful as the Original Trilogy? People Come up with a Million and one Excuses. The real reason is The Original Trilogy - Nobody EVER saw anything like that before. A Million Movies came out since, each one outdoing the next, people got Spoiled. Now Star Wars When the Bar was set so high- Nothing could have met the expectations people had. So when 3 Great movies came out each one better then the last, people who were already Spoiled weren't getting the Undeliverable Movie they wanted. They were let down."What it isn't better then Perfect?" That is the Reason.



2. The Star Wars Episode 1 dvd was in gerat shape. The cover had very slight wear and tear but also in good condition. My overall interaction with this seller was great. Great!
   
   Thanks!



3. I got this item in great condition for a great price. I love the star wars movies and you can get them here for a great price.



4. This entire movie, except the end, was mediocre. I wish he didn't go back and do 1, 2, and 3 but he did and we have to live with it.



5. Nowadays, it is hard to find someone who has not seen the Star Wars movies. If you are one of the lucky few who escaped the Phantom Menace's hype attack during its theatrical release, there is no reason to waste your money and time now to ruin your fond memory of Episode 4 & 5, unless, that is, you are under 8 years old, which is the target audience of this movie. Enough said.

5 comments about The NeverEnding Story.

1. Only a died in the wool grump could possibly dislike this engaging fantasy movie ,based on Michael Ende's novel of the same name .It is imaginative and thoughtful.It revolves around a young boy named Baslian -played by Barret Oliver-who lives with his Dad (Gerald Mcraney)who gets on his case for Basilan's constant daydreaming .He is bullied at school and desperately misses his mother who has recently died .One day he cuts school and wanders into a mysterious bookshop where he picks up a book entitled The Neverending Story and as he begins to read the book the events in the story come to life.
   The key figure in the tale is a child like Princess (Tami Stronach).She is ill and fears that if she dies her land ,the land known as Fantasia , will be taken over and its essence destroyed .She sends a young warrior Atreyu (Noah Hathaway) to find a cure for her lingering illness.What menaces Hantasia is a plague of "nothing".The people of the land are losing hope and forgetting their apirations and Fantasia is dying as a result.Atreyu's journeyings bring him into contact with all manner of weird and wonderful creatures ,and gradually Basilian becomes sucked into and becomes part of the story himself.
   The tale with its state of the art for its era)animation ,puppetry and prostetics owes a great deal to Alice in Wonderland and ,in some sequences to the science fiction classic The Day the Earth Stood Still. with traces of The Wizard of Oz and The Dark Crystal .The special effects team of Brian Johnson (Alien )and Bruce Nicholson (The Empire Strikes Back)create menacing swamps and spooky wooods on a Bavarian sound stage which arte easily the equal of Industrial Light and Magic and are a vital part of a movie which is excellent for children but which also has a vital message for adults .Yes -this is a message movie folks .The warning is clear among the fantasy and charm-it warns of a generation that has turned its back on imagination in favour of media in which everything is laid out on a plate for the audience .It si apen of praise to then power and importance of the imagination .Our imaginations are under threat -amd if that does not worry you ,it sure as Gehenna should!
   
   The message here is a tad simplistic but overall it is a bold ,and daring movie with something to say
   
   It remains ,still,among the best movies of its era



2. This film effected me in a way that no other ever did as a child. When I saw it recently for the first time as an adult, I now appreciate the film now more than I did before. A fantasy that speaks to human nature and the thoughts of child and man alike. May I also add that the special effects here were at times beautiful and blow a lot of the modern fake looking computer graphics out of the water. Film makers should think about looking back into expensive animatronics and stop motion. It is better in my opinion.



3. This movie is charming. It has fantasy elements, real life childhood struggles and a real personable touch. If you are an avid reader you will relate to the lead character in this film. While I did not experience the bullying the lead character did as a child I definately related to his love of books and the escapism they represent. It's a thrill that this movie really puts you back in touch with, in only the way a child can experience. That is probably my favorite part of this film. Books were exciting worlds as a child, complete mysteries to be revealed; this movie captures that and brings it to life in a fantastic way. I thought it was clever and charming and very entertaining, fun for all. I still enjoy this film all these years later.



4. The NeverendingStory is a children's classic film. At least in my mind it is. I remember growing up watching this movie, and how science fiction movies today that has that same premise in mind wants to make magic just like the Neverending Story like the Spiderwick Chronicles. No movie can compare to children's novels like the Chronicles of Narnia, but there is something still magical of the Neverending Story, and how it can touch each and every one of us at some time in our lives. I just have fond memories of this movie.



5. German director Wolfgang Petersen, the man responsible for the harrowing WWII epic Das Boot, may seem like an odd choice to direct a film adaptation of Michael Ende's children's book, The Neverending Story. However, his knowledge of technical filmmaking and his passion for adventure stories proved to be the perfect combination, as can be seen in this campy classic 1984 film.
   
   The story concerns young Bastian, an imaginative boy who prefers to retreat into books rather than face the harsh truths of reality, as he borrows a magical book from a bookstore and reads it in the creepy attic of his school. All his life Bastian has been bullied by other kids at school and misunderstood by his overly practical widower of a father. But as Bastian's mind absorbs the details of the book, The NeverEnding Story, he finds both escapism and empowerment while reading of a heroic young hunter named Atreyu. Atreyu is a member of the Plainspeople and he was chosen to save his world, Fantasia (in the book the fantasy world is known as Fantastica), from the devastation of The Nothing, a living void which spreads across Fantasia devouring all in its path and leaving nothingness in its wake. As Bastian follows Atreyu's daring exploits, he becomes astonished to discover that Fantasia really exists and that he may be the only one who can save it from oblivion, so long as he finds the courage in himself to do as he dreams.
   
   Since the film's release, it has become something of a family classic, but after almost twenty-five years it's hard to imagine this film having the longevity of the fantasy classics that preceded it. The film is charming and entertaining, but it lacks the heart of films like The Wizard of Oz and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and lacks the sophistication of a film like The Dark Crystal. The film does, however, have some ingenious special effects and some truly bizarre costumes and make-ups, which are at time reminiscent of the first Star Wars film.
   The plot itself deviates from that of the book, but does so in order to make the film accessible to the average viewer.
   With a wondrous array of characters and creatures including a Rock Biter, a racing snail, a fearsome wolf-like creature known as the Gmork, a Luck Dragon named Falkor, and the fragile and beautiful Childlike Empress, it's not hard to see why the film has such great appeal.
   
   Also recommended:
   Labyrinth
   The Princess Bride
   Willow
   The Pagemaster

5 comments about The 10th Kingdom.

1. This is a long children's fantasy movie with at time very uneven acting.
   I think the witch mother-in-law may be the best acxtted part.
   I really enjoyed the movie, but it seemed caught between a cartoon
   and a Disney fairytale reenactment? The trolls are like none I've seen or heard of before. It has an alternate universe type plot with a mirror gateway
   like the classic Alice in Through the Looking Glass.
   I suppose the wolf can have his tail surgically removed in New York, ha, ha...



2. this is a good movie. for a family its 4 hours long maybee more. but this movie is fun. cuddle up under the blankets when u watch this movie it a fun movie made by Hallmark. I got it on VHS but the movie Quality is terrible because the put the whole movie on VHS & VHS 4 hour long dosent get good picture. buying it on dvd would improve the picture



3. I think a lot of people may miss the fact that the corniest parts of the movie seem intentional and add to the fun. This movie isn't meant to be taken seriously! It's meant to be fun!
   
   Great dvd to watch when you just want to relax, be entertained and not think about plot too much.
   
   There are parts adults will like more and kids will like more.
   
   The characters work well together and it's an adventure, love story, and fairy tale with some moral messages along the way. Hard to beat that!
   
   Don't think it's appropriate for really young viewers, but think young teens, maybe even pre-teens, and their parents would both like. There are some sexual innuendos that parents should be aware of, and the scary scenes would probably be disturbing for kids under 8.



4. I have seen this movie (all 7+ hours) probably 8 times! The Tenth Kingdom is full of imagination and fun, and keeps you wanting more after its over. I can't wait to find out if there will be a sequel, the characters are so intriguing that I find myself dying to know what happens to Virginia, Wolfe, and Tony! If you like feel good adventures and fantasy, I highly recommend The Tenth Kingdom.



5. This movie mixed present day and fantasy quite well. You fall in love with the charactors and laugh at the situations they find them selves in. Great to watch over again alone or with someone new to the mini series. imaginative and captivating.
   
   The scene where they are in the city of love is enchanting.
   
   Aside from being quite long for one sitting.

5 comments about Lost: The Complete Fourth Season [Blu-ray].

1. Lost Season 4 finally gave us some answers as to who gets off the island, and some clues as to what the island is all about. During the first 3 seasons we learned about each character. Season 4 ties many of these characters together and develops the characters even further. This series has been pretty incredible since the 1st season. Watching Lost gives you the feeling you are watching a full length movie rather than a TV series. The money spent on the set alone (ie. the airplane wreckage) was more than was spent on many other feature movies.
   
   Lost season 4 leaves you wanting more. Season 3 was difficult for viewers because it felt sporadic. There was not a smooth flow week to week and the weekly schedule was affected. Although there was a writer's strike, Season 4 began and was more consistent week to week. It is nice that there is finally a plan to end the series with 16 episodes each year trough season 6. I empathize with another reviewer that it may seem like a rip-off since there are only 16 episodes instead of 24, but I think the episodes are better and there is obviously some inflation over last year :)
   
   I own the first 3 seasons season 3 on Blu-ray. I am excited to get this season 4 on blu-ray as well. Satellite and Cable TV HD Programming do not do this series justice. They are only broadcast in 1080i and are compressed smaller so they can fit the data down the pipeline. This ultimately degrades the picture significantly. Blu-ray allows the viewer to view this series in 1080p (Through HDMI) and there is a significant difference in the quality of video and sound. Plus it is much more fun to watch the series without interruptions and ads on the screen. I am on the reserve list for this series and as a blu-ray lover, I recommend making the switch to blu-ray, especially with your favorite TV Series LOST!



2. No need for the formulaic breakdown (but thank you for that!) because it doesn't matter if Season 4 ran for 300 minutes or 30 minutes - fact of the matter is, when it comes down to the writing, direction, production, acting, etc., LOST is the best out there. I cannot think of another TV series- or even movie- that comes close. Sure Season 3 sort of hit a slump (in my opinion) but it came back pretty strong this season.
   
   And regardless of how short this season is, LOST is something you end up rewatching a couple of times anyway, again because of the QUALITY of the show (hence the very reason for purchasing the series in the first place, right?) so who cares how much it costs! Because what's the alternative: buy some other movie in its place that you will probably end up only watching once or twice anyway, right? Whereas the LOST series ends up paying for itself because of its replay value!
   
   So if this is the price of great entertainment, I'm in!



3. Or $66.95. Great season and it will be fun to watch especially when all the seasons have come out. This is one of those shows that is really setup for Blu-Ray. Oh and the new additions this year in characters along with great storytelling really put this series back on top! I was a little disappointed with Michael's character development but hey you can't have everything and we still have to see where they are going with that.
   
   Looking forward to the release too bad we have to wait till December.



4. Though shorter than the previous three seasons of the show (partly due to starting in January, and partly due to the writer's strike), the fourth season of LOST is just as compelling as ever.
   
   In reference to the main "mythology" plotlines, for the first time this season the real possibility of rescue is touched on. Also, a dramatic shift (as a result of the Jack vs. Locke feud) is made in the way the castaways are aligned on the island, and as a result we learn that perhaps Ben Linus has not always been the leader of the Others. Finally, picking up on a seemingly forgotten plot thread of a past season, this season really delves into the notion that the perception of time on the island is not the same perception of time in the outside world.
   
   As for the more personal, dramatic storytelling that LOST has become known for, this season picks right up where season three's shocker ("we have to go back, Kate!) left off, flashing forward into the future instead of back to the past. By doing this, the writers/producers were able to keep the dramatic stories fresh, essentially revealing the future location of certain "Losties" and then filling in the gaps as to how/why he/she ended up at that point.
   
   To conclude, the fourth season of LOST keeps up the show's high-quality tradition of mind-bending plots (this season is heavy on those with the time-altering angle), action/adventure, and compelling drama. By the season finale, when the person in the coffin is revealed (and you will be dying to know how he/she ended up there), the show will have taken on almost a completely new "real time" (perhaps episodes will now flashback from the future?!). Let's just say that it will be a long wait until next January, when the fifth season hits ABC.



5. I've been a huge fan of Lost since the beginning. Sadly I was disappointed in both Season Two and Three, however, Season Four was a complete turn around for the show and I can safely say it is almost as good as the first season. I highly recommend this as a must have to any Lost fan. If you've been looking for answers, this season starts the journey to getting them.
   
   Also, for anyone complaining about the cost, look at it this way: a 2-hr movie on Blu-Ray goes for around $30. Season Four of Lost is 10+ hours. So the film is $15 an hour and Lost is roughly $7 an hour. Stop your whining. If you don't like the cost, don't buy it.

5 comments about The Wolf Man - The Legacy Collection (The Wolf Man / Werewolf of London / Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man / She-Wolf of London).

1. If you love the classic Universal Monster movies..then this is a great DVD set to add to your collection. This set includes all of the quintisential Werewolf movies every fan of the genre should have in his/her collection. For me, The Werewolf movies were the ones I knew the least about..but after watching the films and the DVD extras..I now know everything I need to know about these great classic horror films. As a result..I will probably pick up the Dracula and Frankenstien movie collections as well.



2. As a "baby boomer" these films were made before I was born, but the stories are classic and even more amazing are the special effects. Multi-million dollar extravaganzas can leave something to be desired, but are the films being aired on TV during Halloween now. Halloween is my favorite celebration of the year and these movies are a must.



3. I BOUGHT THIS FOR MY NEFEW AND HE LOVES IT
   HE WAS SO HAPPY HIS AUNTIE GOT THIS FOR HIM FOR HIS BIRTHDAY AND AMAZON WAS THE ONLY PLACE I FOUND IT AND IT SAVED MY LIFE FOR SURE SINCE HE WANTED THIS SO BAD



4. Universal's Wolf Man is one of the three classic horrors from that great movie studio. Although few people consider Lon Chaney Jr. a superior actor, he himself used to boast "The Wolf Man was my baby". As for me I always considered the Wolf Man my personal favorite.
   
   Dracula, Frankenstein and the Wolf Man are almost universally admired as the original films of the classic horror series. From among these three creatures none was considered more sympathetically, or loved more than Larry Talbot. Let's face it, Lon Chaney was the Wolf Man and I think something about the big lug helped create the character so many of us loved so much.
   
   The Frankenstein monster and the count were both portraid by several actors for Universal with some measure of financial success. Can you recall the Univeral studio ever attempting to have the Talbot Wolf Man portraid by any stand in actor? They wouldn't even consider it.
   
   This DVD was the result of an excellent transfer from a good film original and should be added to every collection of classic horror. The other films featured in this box set are also fine works in the UNIVERSAL tradition. This a good set to purchase and well worth the price.



5. These are done is good as you will ever find. Great extras,wasn;t a big fan of werewolf

5 comments about Somewhere in Time (Collector's Edition).

1. This is One of the Rare Enduring Romantic motion Pictures of Our Time.
   
   I Loved it the First Time and I Loved it even more Today.
   
   The Combination of Ms. Jane Seymour & Mr. Christopher Reeve is Heaven.
   ( but then I'm a big fan of both actors )
   
   The Theme Song is Hauntingly Pure and Emotion Pulling, One that no matter when or where I hear the music.....I remember the movie and the feelings,
   I still have in my heart the first time I watched it.
   
   It is a Definite Must See!
   
   In Faith and Hope, God Bless to All :-)
   Christina Rodriguez



2. Somewhere In Time, starring Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve, is the greatest love story I've ever seen. I saw it on the cable channel when it was first released years ago. I had it on VHS and now I have it on DVD. My recent purchase of the movie was to send it to a friend who hasn't heard of it. How could such a touching movie go unnoticed? The actors portrayed the real emotional side of falling in love...and how it feels to lose it. Would you die for someone you truly loved? What mesaures would you take to search for them once you've lost them? Would you close out the world around you and only share it with that one person? If you haven't seen this movie, you have missed out of on jewel. This movie is in the early acting days for both characters but if you didn't know it, you'd thought they were seasoned veterans on the screen. It is a must see movie. If you have or have not been in love, it's a great viewing experience. If you ever wanted to see an example of what real love is, this movie will do it for you. It will touch your heart and even men will cry. Enjoy!



3. I viewed Somewhere In Time on the television. I enjoyed the mystery of it and also the time period. I determined to start a library of movies I enjoyed so I could randomly relax and forget everything. I have done so and am eagerly awaiting the arrival of Somewhere In Time. Touching love story mixed with exciting conflict. Join me, won't you?



4. If you enjoyed this movie upon it's original release, you will be taken somewhere in time yourself. The collector's edition offers behind the scene info previously not offered.



5. "Somewhere In Time" is a classic tale, representative of how two spirits, truly separated, cannot be separated, even by time and space. It seems that few people truly find this kind of love, but once found, it rings quite true. With true soulmates, even death cannot separate the two because the two are one and I feel this movie portrays that kind of love well. Saying some words and signatures on paper can never compare to God truly uniting two souls together as one.
   
   Today, many people run out and get married in order to legally have sex and children, yet they don't share this true union of the souls. As difficult as it is to wait for such a union, there is nothing else that can compare. Even having loved and lost in the past has no bearing on this kind of love. May everyone find this kind of love once in their life before they pass from this earthly plane.
   
   Cal Jennings

5 comments about Star Wars - Episode III, Revenge of the Sith (Widescreen Edition).

1. loved this movie from start to finish.nothing about this movie i did not like and no part of the movie i did not like great movie and so was the first movie but i do not know what happened to the second ond that one was completely off the chart dead.



2. I loved this movie so much I saw it in the theater 5 times. It is action packed and has great visual effects but the script and acting but Vader wans't the best. Oh well, the ending was cool...



3. So the time has come that I review "Revenge of the Sith." As those who have read my reviews for Episodes I and II will know, I do not have much sympathy for the people who continue to claim that these three films have wrecked their lives forever. What life is this that you ever had, Universal 1-Star reviewer, if a few movies you didn't like devestated you THAT much? "George Lucas raped my childhood". Get real... or at least get therapy.
   
   Alright, so George Lucas is a much more creative--and, in all likelyhood, much more intelligent--person than these one-star reviwers who somehow seem to think that they could do what he's done better than he's done, but even HE was facing a tall order in delivering "Star Wars-- Episode III: Revenge of the Sith" to viewers successfuly. Not only was he looking at a fanbase in which many had completely lost faith in him after the previous two films, but he was also releasing a climactic story that brought with it close to thirty years of hype and expectation. (Of course his job was theoretically made somewhat easier in that all the fans who were THAT disatsified with the first two prequels should have learned to lower their expecations by the time the third one came along. In practice, however, some things simply never change.) Nonetheless, against the odds of ever satisfying these people, some of whom literally wanted him in court for the supposed rape of their childhood memories, George Lucas resolved to finish his great life's work... and "Revenge of the Sith" is the final result of that resolve.
   
   As the film opens, it is made clear that the Clone War, which started in the previous segment of the series, are still very much in full swing after of the passage of three whole years. The Seperatists, led by Jedi-turned-Sith Count Dooku (Christopher Lee), aided by General Grievous of the battle droid army (an ILM creation voiced by sound editor Matt Wood), have landed the most devestating blow as yet to the Republic by kidnapping Supreme Chanellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid.) The first 20-25 minute portion of the film deals with the rescue mission headed by Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), and Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), who is now a full Jedi Knight rather than an apprentice. They are now fast friends with a good history of great comradship throughout the war.
   
   While Palpatine is eventually rescued by the Jedi--and Count Dooku ends up removed from the picture swiftly--General Grievous has escaped once again, and so, says Palpatine, the war must continue until he is captured. Meanwhile, Anakin's secret wife, Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman) has gotten pregnant; but good news turns sour when Anakin has what he believes is a prophetic dream of Padme dying in childbirth. He has good reason to suspect that this dream represents an event that will come to pass, as he had a similar experience with his mother several years previously. Simaltaneously, Obi-Wan is sent, based on received intelligence, to get rid of Grievous, who is hiding on a distant planet, once and for all, and Yoda goes to Kashykk, the Wookie planet, to lead another battle, so Anakin gets left alone with Chancellor Palpatine to battle his conflicting emotions and desires. Without divulging any excess information, it is from this point on that the real story, twisted and twisiting, begins.
   
   I cannot emphasize enough that this film, in its every element, dwarfs its predecessors. The space battle that opens the film, through which Anakin and Obi-Wan force their way to rescue the Chancellor, is the gigantic and exciting space battle in the entire series, rivaled in thrills only by the final battle from "Return of the Jedi." And fittingly so: this is the final space battle we are very likely to see in this series. Some have complained about the CGI use, but A)It looks GREAT, completely realistic and B) the battle itself is so exciting and invigorating that one hardly thinks to imagine how it was created while it's happening. (Plainly, I've never understood how CG can bother anyone as much as it has some. It could have something to do with growing up in the '90s and early 2000s, but I don't get what annoys people so much about CGI versus puppets. The Coruscant interiors are often breath-taking, and I don't know anyone can deny that the 2005 digital Yoda isn't WAY more realstic looking than his puppet form. OK, he needed a little more work in 2002, but I'm hardly complaining since he looks so *real* in 2005 that I could reach through the screen and touch him.)
   
   As great as the opening space fight is, the lightsaber battles are even better. In spite of the fact that most of his fight work was done by a double, Christopher Lee commands incredible presence in his one scene as Dooku. It's also a great three way fight, with a lot of clashing swords, tension, and at least one brilliant piece of dialogue delivery from Lee. The ending also puts to shame much of what came before (hint: the long trail of severed body parts throughout this series is taken to a whole new level with a beheading. Like producer Rick McCallum, I greatly appreciate that Lucas had the courage to put this moment in the film.) There are four other saber fights in the film. Of them, Grievous' fight with Obi-Wan is the most fun purely in the sense of great action. Grevious isn't Darth Maul, but it is extremley cool that he fights with four lightsabers at once, and, for that matter, that he is in fact a gravely injured human being cobbled together in a manner similar to Darth Vader. Add to this the resourcefulness of Obi-Wan--who, at one point, can be seen landing Grevious a good blow or two with an Electro-Staff, possibly the *coolest* weapon introduced to Star Wars since the saber itself--and you have a more-than-worthy action sequence before you.
   
   Oustide of this, it really is hard to decide on a favorite lightsaber duel in this film. Mace Vs. Darth Sideous allows Sam Jackson one more opportunity to be the baddest purple lazer-wielding Jedi in the galaxy, and shows of Ian McDiarmid's acting skills superbly, winding up one of the most exciting sequences in the whole series. But I really have to give the props to intercut face-offs of Darth Sideous and Yoda, and Obi-Wan and Darth Vader. I seem to remember reading some criticism around the time of the film's release about the decision to have Sideous and Yoda's duel placed directly alongside Anakin and Obi-Wan's, but from the moment it began, I thought it was a brilliant sequence: at the same moment in time as two friends turned bitter enemies are fighting each other, the ultimate forces of Good and Evil in the Galaxy are facing off. It's a superb idea... and it looks great, too! Not only do we have the two greatest and most epic sword fights in the series, but there is a visually amazing segment in which Sideous begins hurling objects in the Senate room at Yoda; this is worth seeing not only for the incredible tenson and the struggle for domination between these two characters, but also because Ian McDiarmid hams it up deliciously opposite his "little green friend" in shot after shot. He's like a kid playing with a new toy--and that approach could not be more appropriate than it is. Tiny Yoda is, at times, like a toy in Sideous' palm.
   
   So the action is great, but what about the other elements? As I keep saying, this movie completely dwarfs its predecessors in all areas. Ian McDiarmid, in the role of Darth Sideous, is likely to be the first actor to jump out at you as being absolutely brilliant. McDiarmid is a Royal Shakespeare Theatre actor, and he performs with all of the excellence associated with such qualifications. While he eminates the role of a ruthless villain in some scenes, perhaps his greatest triumph is the scene at the opera (not kidding-- a scene in a Star Wars movie that takes place at an opera) where he begins to cajole Anakin into joining him with the implicit promise that he can teach Anakin how to save Padme from certain death. Apparently, McDiarmid's unusual, crackling tone has more to do with a soar throat than anything else, but either way it enhances an already excellent scene. Elsewhere, he slips chillingly back into his Emperor voice (to wit: "I can FEEL it.")
   
   I am confident that almost every reviewer who posted here with praises extoled Ewan McGregor's excellent take on a younger Obi-Wan. His range--from silly, completely over-the-top humor, right to utter pain and disapointment--has to be seen to be believed. It is that brilliant and moving a performance. He is certainly one of the greatest young acting talents we have today-- even if just for his uncanny ability to chanel Sir Alec Guiness' role minus 20-30 years near PERFECTLY. Elsewhere, Frank Oz manages to leave the viewer wondering that he has never broken into an acting beyond all those muppets; his voice performance is stirring and, again, dwarfs what he has done in past installments of this series. Samuel L. Jackson shifts admirably between his stoic and battle-ready sides. While he actually gets to *act* MUCH more in this installment, he is not as memorable as in Ep. II. He shows off his range at times, but he doesn't have the opportunities, as in previous pictures, to reveal his personality, and that's part of being in a *series* of movies: you're probably going to be more memorable when you first revealing your personality than later on when everything has been established.
   
   Natalie Portman has surprisngly little to do, all things considered, but makes the viewer feel her character's emotions with all the necessary weight. She really nails her last scene with Anakin, especially considering the wordy dialogue, and the scene in which she and Anakin are staring out of their windows, looking in each other's direction, says it all with no words and a lot of artistic excellence from all involved.
   
   Hayden Christensen. Hayden, Hayden, Hayden. It's hard for me to believe that so many can absolutely cruficy him for his work in this series. To some, he will be forever "wooden"-- if these people were to ever admit otherwise, they would lose their pride, it seems. The truth is, however, that, perfect or not, he nails the role of someone who, blinded by and consumed with power and greed, turns against his friends, against the principles he has lived for his entire life, and is brimming with an agony of conflict that eventually must overflow. From tender scenes of love to thunderous outbursts of anger and darkness, he rarely misses a beat. It's hard to believe that anyone could wood behind any of his work in this film. He improved greatly from Attack of the Clones (where, again, he seldom missed a note where it counted), and is now able to play a completely three-dimensional, inherently tragic figure. Kudos to him! He has an uncanny ability to role off virtually the most flourid lines Lucas can conncot for his character.
   
   Elsewhere, some say the film was predictible... DUH! We've already seen parts 4-6, so we know what has to happen, at least at the most basic level. It's predictible for us, but it wouldn't be for someone coming to the series with no prior exposure generations from now, beginning logically at the point of Episode *1*. The bottom line is that it simply isn't fair to hold predictibility against this or any of the Star Wars prequels. For today's audiences, it was an inherent problem. However, George Lucas is a great storyteller, so he was able to overcome this. The storyline of this movie is strong-- it keeps suspense going, and is well-paced and believable within the context of the Star Wars world. The characters are well-drawn, with strong motiviations for their actions; what, other than the unmatched power of love, is likely to turn one to the ever-present Dark Side of the Force? Ultimately, this whole series is a masterwork of storytelling, whatever else it may or may not be.
   
   "Revenge of the Sith" certainly has imperfections. The acting isn't perfect, the dialogue still triggers a shake of the head from time to time, but it is a wonderful and tragic film taken in total.
   
   W.O.



4. this is an enjoyable movie, and has the best action scenes of any of the six star wars movies.
   
   unfortunately, the really poor acting by everyone except Ewan McGregor is distracting, to say the least. it's almost like the actors were coached to be mechanical, unfeeling, and boring (this especially applies to the much flamed Hayden Christiansen, who deserves it). unlike every other character, i think that McGregor actually pretends that he cares about the things he's saying: this is acceptable acting.
   
   overall, this is probably my second favorite Star Wars movie (behind Empire) due entirely to the action scenes. Empire is the best because Harrison Ford shines and because the characters seem much more human.
   
   this movie is not a complete waste of time to watch, in my opinion.



5. *Contains Spoilers*
   
   In my review for Star Wars Eprisode I: The Phantom Menace I wrote how the light and bright Phantom reflected the time in which it was released. 1999 was the dawn of the new Millennium and hope and freshness abounded during what was something of a short golden age for Western Society. If The Phantom Menace was a movie for its time, then 2005's dark and desperate Revenge of the Sith was also a movie of its time and for today. As the world stands on the edge of global despression and we continue with uncertain wars and the face the prospect of ever more sophisticated and outrageous terrorism many of us are feeling a sense of despair - Revenge of the Sith reflects that sense of despair and unease really quite profoundly. This film transends the Star Wars myth and becomes tome for today.
   
   The story of "Revenge" is basically Anakin Skywalker turning to the dark side and embracing his destiny - Darth Vader. However, this film actually belongs to The Emperor, aka Darth Sidious, aka Palpatine. Its Ian Mcdiarmids outstanding performance of Palpatine that is the glue that holds the film together. As Paplatines plot finally falls into place and we understand at last just who The Phantom Menace is, Mcdiarmid totally eats up the screen. From the early scenes where Palpatine subtlely sucks the unsuspecting Anakin into his dastardly plot (look out for a particularly stunning scene between Anakin and Palpatine early in the movie, where Palpatine relays the legend of the tragedy of "Darth Plagueis The Wise" to Anakin. This is possibly the best acted scene in ANY of the six movie Saga) through to the hackling, insane and unbelievably evil Emperor literally trashing democracy itself as he battles Yoda in The Senate, this is Mcdiarmids movie and does he rise to the occasion! This is surely the best Star Wars performance since Guiness in Star Wars and Ford in Empire Strikes Back.
   However, ALL the acting performances are better in this film. Natalie Portman, Hayden Christenson and Sam Jackson deliver much more solid world than they did in Attack of the Clones. The actors clearly relish have more dramatic material to work with, and aside from the occasional poor line here and dodgy acting there, everyones work rises to a better standard in this film.
   
   The film starts with an epic space battle as The Clone Wars reaches its final cresendo. Palpatine has staged his kidnapping and Anakin (now a Jedi Knight) and Obi-Wan Kenobi stage a desperate bid to rescue him from the clutches of Darth Tyrannus (Christopher Lee) and new villain General Grevious. The first twenty minutes is non stop, classic Star Wars action. Look out for the shocking moment when Tyrannus is executed at the hands of Anakins lightsaber - This is the first indication of just how dark this Revenge of the Sith is.
   
   The film for me really picks up when after the opening action when Anakin returns to Coruscant and is reuinted with his wife Padme. He finds out he is to be a father and its at this point he begins to have visions of Padmes death - Which takes us back to his mother death in Attack of the Clones. This sets Anakin on a journey to stop Padme from dying as his mother did. A journey that sees him selling his soul to the devil and desending litterally into hell. For the knowlage to save Padme Anakin must betray his Jedi comrades and become Sith Lord Darth Vader.
   The middle of the film, where Anakin makes his choice to turn to the dark side, is where Revenge of the Sith lifts from just being a great Star Wars film to being a great film in its own right. A slient moment of rumination between Anakin and Padme offers one of the most haunting moments in Star Wars history. As Anakin and Padme connect silently across the bustling cityscape on Coruscant, a silent voice wails in pain. The sun sets on the galaxy and on our doomed lovers and Anakin makes his decision.
   The rest of the film sees the destruction of the Jedi and Anakins appalling betrayal. A pivitol scene between Anakin, Palpatine (now transformed into the warped Emperor we knew from Return of the Jedi) and Mace Windu is really the key scene to understanding just how deep Anakins betrayal was and that he is given the chance to do the right thing, but makes the wrong choice - Leading to the quite shocking death of Mace.
   
   The final part of the movie is where all the loose ends are tied up. From Palpatine becoming Emperor of the Galactic Empire through to the end of the Clone Wars, through to the legendary and long awaited lightsaber fight between Anakin and Obi-Wan against the firey, volcanic, hellish backdrop of Mustafar, through to the birth of Padmes children, Luke and Leia and the death/birth of Padme/Anakin/Darth Vader, Revenge of the Sith delivers in spades. The shocking irony of Anakin himself making his nightmares come true and lashing out at the woman he turned to the dark side to save takes "Revenge" to the level of greek tragedy. The tragedy continues with Anakins downfall at the hands of his former friend and mentor Obi-Wan. The force with which Ewan Mcgregor delivers his parting words to Anakin are just fantastic and you'll find the immolation of Anakin, even if you know its coming, both shocking and moving. Even though at this point Anakin is throughly evil, you'll still feel, through the music and Mcgregors performance, a great sense of compassion for Anakin plight.
   
   So what about the technical aspects of this film? Firstly Lucas's direction is superb. If he was rusty for Phantom and going somewhat through the motions with Clones, then with Sith he definatly rises to the occasion. This is the film he made the Prequels in order to make. This is the tale he's been waiting 30 years to tell. The how and why Star Wars happened.
   Like Lucas and all the actors, John Williams delivers his best Prequel work on this film. Many of his pices of music are by turns operatic and tragic. The music that accompanys Anakin and Padmes silent ruminations, the fall of the Jedi, the disturbing "Godfatheresque" moment of Palpatines triumph as Anakin wipes out the remaining Sepratist leaders and the music that accompanys the battle of Anakin/Obi-Wan and Sidious/Yoda are all notable musical highlights. Listen out at the end of the film and during the credits for pieces of music from "Star Wars" itself - Hinting at the hope to come and taking the movie full circle.
   The special effects, sound effects and costumes are outstanding as ever. The editing from Roger Barton and Ben is much improved on Burtts solo edit for Attack of the Clones.
   
   Reveneg of the Sith is a fantastic contrast to The Phantom Menace. If the colour of Phantom is all greens and blues, this film is all blacks and reds. Where Phantom was light, this film is dark. Where Phantom was goofy, this film is mature. There is, very much a sense of despair and desperation about this film and this contrast actually makes The Phantom Menace more interesting, in my opinion. It doesn't negate all the many problems Menace has, but it at least justifys through contrast the tone that Lucas chose for Epsiode I. Aside from brief chinks of hope with the arrival and splitting up of the twins right at the end of the film, Revenge of the Sith is unremittingly dark. Some scenes, such as the creation of Darth Vader are actually quite disturbing - Hence the 12 certificate.
   
   As far as extras go, Revenge of the Sith is unfortunatly somewhat lacking compared to Menace and Clones. The main documentery Within A Minute is very poor compared to Menaces The Beginning. Aside from that the extras contain the usual film maker commentery, deleated scenes, trailers, web-docs (which are excellent) and music video. But with this DVD its the film that speaks for itself not the extras. So even though the extras are *** affairs, the movie itself is a brilliant *****
   
   Along with The Empire Strikes Back, Revenge of the Sith is my personal favourite Star Wars movie. The visual poetry of the final scenes (first dealing with the mother, then the father, then the daughter and finally the son) is just beautiful. As we arrive at the final scene where baby Luke is delivered by Obi-Wan to Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru and the twin suns set over Tatooine, we come full circle and you'll have to have a heart of stone not to be moved by the sheer beauty, opera and poetry of it all. It may not have been a smooth ride, but this film made the Prequels a worthwhile project.
   
   Thank you George Lucas for the wonderful ride that is the Star Wars Saga.

No comments about Star Wars: The Clone Wars [Blu-ray].

5 comments about Sleepy Hollow.

1. It's pretty sad that it has taken me so many years to finally get my hands on a copy of the DVD. When this first came out, I went with my mom to the theatre and was instantly captivated by the enchanting morbidity of this film. Oh, I had the video for years, but it's just so hard to use video now.
   
   Anyway, I am in love with this movie and its odd inability to be placed in any one genre. I would almost call this a fairy tale, except the only unreality is hellfire and withcraft. But even with all the death and blood and murder there is something positively sweet and even cute about this storyline that is admittedly a far cry from Washington Irving's tale of a funny Halloween prank.
   
   In this tale, the Headless Horseman is no story and prank but a real ghost terrorizing the citizens of a little New England village. Ichabod Crane, still hilariously done by Johnny Depp, is a neurotic cop from New York City sent to investigate the murders. Unfortunately, he is a realist who has no patience for magic and ghosts.
   
   The story is a tight, fun, and thoroughtly satisfying one that is endearing in all its bloodshed with its likeable characters that seem to have jumped right out of a storybook, albeit one that spends the entire plot in overcast gloom. Even the blood, which defies all knowledge of clotting and reality, is fun in its macabre way.
   
   This is honestly one of my sentimental favorites, a deranged fairy tale brought to life.



2. I always liked the story of "Sleepy Hollow," but I felt it was overrated. This movie is a MAJOR improvement. The original story is basically this; Ichabod (an eccentric schoolteacher) comes to town; he falls in love with Katrina Van Tassel; Bram Bones gets jealous; Bram Bones dresses up like the headless horseman to chase Ichabod out of town. This movie changes the story (in my opinion) for the better. Ichabod is a constable who is having trouble with his superiors. (Notably Christopher Lee) They send him to investigate murder in Sleepy Hollow so he can prove his scientific methods for solving crime. (One is at least entitled to wonder if they are hoping he might get killed.) The first thing you will probably notice about Ichabod Crane (now a constable) is that he is A LOT MORE INTELLIGENT than he was in the book. He arrives at Sleepy Hollow and finds them to be clannish. But he does make some friends who are willing to help him. While he is still eccentric, we can see that his methods for solving crime have their logic. Bram is of course jealous when Ichabod has his eyes on Katrina, and the climax (of the original story) is quickly included in the movie. Moving on, Ichabod encounters the Headless Horseman. While he is obviously terrified, he pulls himself together enough to find out what he can. (Even someone who comes back from the dead to kill could be following a pattern and have a motive.) One especially artful moment is when Ichabod is cutting at the 'tree of the dead' and gets a frequent spatter of blood. (Here we are not quite sure whether we should laugh or be frightened.) Without giving the story away, the more Constable Crane finds out, the more scared we can get. (Especially when Depp learns that the horseman is not killing at random and some live person may be controlling him.) Recognition can be VERY SCARY if well done! Poor Depp is also fighting nightmares from his past. (He has nightmares about the murder of his mother, and why he prefers logic and reason over religion.) The climax defines horror, and there is an especially interesting twist. (We are allowed at least a moment of sympathy for the Headless Horseman, who is so well played by Christopher Walken I may add.) Between the phenomenal scenery, the great music, the interesting deviations from the book, the interesting connections between Crane's past and present, the great acting (not only by Johnny Depp, but Christopher Walken and others), the gradual unfolding, and surprise twists, this movie is a masterpiece of horror. Johnny Depp will probably always be known most as Edward Scissorhands and Captain Jack Sparrow. But personally, I think this is his best movie, with "From Hell" a close 2nd.



3. I enjoyed this film from beginning to end. A few minor content flaws, but nothing to make a fuss about and overall, quite enjoyable, especially if you're into Halloween like I am.



4. Johnny Depp plays a fantastic Ickibod Crane! Hes so sketchy and tweeked! Christopher Walken plays a creepy headless horseman! This story is SO much fun and played by some fantastic actors! Its a wonderfully spooky period piece! Watch this updated version of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow!



5. This is a great movie, and it doesn't dissapoint on blu ray. Tim Burton's cinematography is superb as usual, and Depp and Ricci do excellent jobs, as do the entire cast. This must have been a blast to work on this movie with all the talent involved. Buy it and watch it again for Halloween.

5 comments about Jumper.

1. What a great idea for a film but the story did not just fall through it fell all the way to China. Watching this movie made you want to go see the dentist as that would be a better story with a good ending.
   
   If you have two hours to kill watch the Muppets in Space, it was better Sci-fi then this.



2. Time-traveling, teleporting. I've been always kind of a sucker for these sci-fi premises. What would you do if you could teleport yourself to basically any place on the face of the earth? Steven Gould, in his novel Jumper, uses this premise and gives his characters the innate ability to instantly teleport themselves. It is definitely an interesting foundation, however, Director Doug Liman and screenwriters David S. Goyer, Jim Uhls and Simon Kinberg do little to exploit this promising idea, and come up with a movie that takes us through NYC, Rome, Egypt, Tokyo, but ends up going absolutely nowhere.
   
   Hayden Christensen is David Rice, a normal teenager until he finds he's got the ability to teleport himself from place to place when he first "jumps" spontaneously in order to escape his abusive father (Michael Rooker). Having run away, he learns to control his ability and then does, I guess, what every one of us, being a teleporting teenager, would do: go into a bank's vault and get away with several thousands in cash. The good thing is that Jumpers do not have to worry about mingling their own molecules with a fly's, as they can actually hold onto anything: other people, cars, even parts of a building, and teleport to another place arriving safe and sound on the other side with whoever or whatever they were carrying.
   
   David grows up and, by that time, he's already got a penthouse at a luxurious NY building and he's been all over the world. The usual day for him involves having breakfast on top of the Giza's Sphinx in Egypt, spending the afternoon surfing the best waves of the season in Hawaii or Fiji, and having a drink at a popular pub in London while checking out and hitting on the hot babes at night.
   
   Yes, life is good for David, that is, until the bad guys appear. He learns that he is not the only one with that unusual gift and also learns that there is actually a group of people that hunt Jumpers for a living. Roland, played by Samuel L. Jackson, has been following David since he first broke in at his first bank. He is the leader of the Paladins, that particular group of individuals whose only goal in life seems to be killing all the Jumpers and, apparently, this war between Jumpers and Paladins has been going on for hundreds if not thousands of years.
   
   But David doesn't look like he is the type of guy that'd enjoy messing up with other people's lives. Granted, he steals money, but then he is basically a good guy that likes to pamper himself and enjoy a low-profile, big-shot-like life and spend big amounts of money. I'd bet the IRS would nail him before The Paladins would. Ok yes, I guess with time David could get bored of all the indulgences and turn to the bad side; maybe teleport himself right into the Pentagon secret archives and steal some sensitive material and then try to sell it or just give it away to a terrorist organization. I haven't read the book, but I understand that, in the original Gould's novel, there is no Paladin organization and the villains (or at least the guys chasing David), are actually NSA agents who are trying to understand these powers and get them to "good" use. I think Roland says that he works for the NSA, which initially made sense to me, but then, this character turns out to be just an obsessed, fanatical hunter. This is where the movie starts going nowhere. We spend the rest of the time watching Roland following and fighting David, while he drags with him his love interest, Millie (Rachel Blison), around the world. Throw in the appearance of Griffin (Jamie Bell), another paranoid Jumper, and the brief and inexplicable appearance of David's mother (Diane Lane), who's a Paladin herself (!?), and we end up with this 88 minute mess.
   
   There are so many inconsistencies in this movie that it is hard to follow. For instance, I really never bought or understood Roland. What's his motivation? Nobody knows. The movie doesn't stop to elaborate on this issue. Maybe he's jealous because he can't teleport himself, but, in any case, he seems to be pretty much settled as he can travel all over the world and it is obvious that he doesn't depend on commercial airlines schedules.
   
   Roland utters at some point something like: "God is the only one that should have those powers!", and if you consider that the name Paladins has been associated with the highest officials of the Catholic Church, the religious connotation is inevitable. I assume that most religious people don't question what their religion says, they just comply. Liman and company are like that, they don't care. They don't give the Paladins a cause, they just let them hate the Jumpers so much, and then they give us Roland, an overzealous, inquisitorial-like priest whose religion states that its worst deadly sin is teleporting.
   
   Roland is blind for mysterious reasons, but I'm not. If David's mother is a Paladin and she won't kill her own son, why not convince her to enlist David as a Paladin? Paladins can not "jump", so it might be helpful for them to have an actual jumper in the ranks. Why not convince David to partner with him and do something good for the entire human race, or just themselves? Can you imagine the possibilities? This is what saves this movie from the worst rating. I've spent myself quite some time thinking about these, and when movies make me think, I like them. Forget about having David teleporting medical supplies to a disaster stricken, inaccessible region, or having David rescue a bunch of people from the top of a burning building. How about being the world's most feared paparazzo? Jump into a celebrity's home, catch him or her off guard, and get away with some photos that could be sold to the tabloids for millions, or how about just establishing the world's fastest and most effective courier service? Anyway, if I ever come across a Jumper, watch out FedEx!



3. "Jumper" was a film that I enjoyed so much that I went back to see it in the theatre a second time. I'm so glad that I have the great DVD. Doug Liman had directed another favorite of mine, Mr. & Mrs. Smith (Widescreen Edition). In adapting Steven Gould's novel, the current executive producer of TV's new "Knight Rider" series planned for a three-part picture franchise. Hayden Christensen who came to prominence as Anakin Skywalker in Episodes II & III of "Star Wars" and earned a Golden Globe Best Supporting Actor nomination for 2001's "Life as a House" plays David Rice, a young man who can teleport instantly. We learn a back history of war between the jumpers and those out to destroy them, the Paladins. Samuel L. Jackson who was great in S.W.A.T. (Widescreen Special Edition) and got a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for "Pulp Fiction" plays the white-haired Roland who hunts David. David's high school heartthrob is Millie played by TV's "O.C." Rachel Bilson who was also excellent in The Last Kiss (Widescreen Edition). David runs into another jumper played by Jamie Bell who won the British Best Actor Academy Award for "Billy Elliott" and also appeared in Clint Eastwood's "Flags of Our Fathers." Diane Lane has what is essentially a cameo that would be sure to grow if there is a second film. She plays David's mother Mary who is a Paladin. She loves her son, but also has vowed to kill him. Michael Rooker has a great cameo as the alcoholic father William Rice. Oscar nominee Tom Hulce from 1984's "Amadeus" plays Mr. Bowlker. I really enjoyed this non-stop action flick and loved the great effects from the British double-decker bus that suddenly bursts into the desert to the great fight scene that lands Griffin & David in Iraq. This is an excellent film that promises to become a great film series. Enjoy!



4. ...wait, wasn't that Sliders? Okay, not exactly the same, but comparing those two is a good way to show everything that was wrong with Jumper.
   
   The concept is fine, but the execution was sorely lacking. There's no character development because so much time is covered over the course of the movie. We get no insight into the main character's thoughts, motivations, or personality. He comes off as shallow and two-dimensional. He goes from scared kid to conscienceless, arrogant jerk in ten minutes. There's never any question or delving into whether what he's doing is right or wrong (he's a thief, plain and simple) or how he could use his power for good instead of just wasting it. Granted, who wouldn't want to gallivant about the world, carefree, I suppose, but the moral struggle would be very much a part of the character.
   
   Unlike in Sliders, the Jumpers have full control over where they go and when. Still, the TV show format of one or two jumps and an adventure per show would be far more entertaining than this jumbled, boring, barely explained plotline. Then again, this would require character development and plot.
   
   Even the pivotal plot point about the secret organization is boring, focusing on a religious inquisition instead of, oh, upholding the law. Of all the trite and cheesy story lines (scientific experiments, military uses, etc) this is not only the tritest and cheesiest, but also the most yawn-inducing.
   
   Even as a mindless action movie this one fails, unless your aim is to become a brain-dead zombie. The greatest part of this movie was the end, simply because it meant it was over. A huge disappointment, because there were so many elements (his mother, for one) which could have been interesting if they'd done more than scratch the surface.



5. This movie is terrible!! I give this a one star because of the special effects but otherwise this movie sucks. I am more confused than ever after I watched this movie. As with other movies I had hoped they would give histories of the jumpers like how they came about and so forth and the people who kill jumpers and how they came about and so forth. This movie is a tag your it and catch me if you can.