5 comments about Fahrenheit 451.

1. I have watched this movie many times and it never gets old. The cast is super and the story is great. I am sure we will watch this many times in the future. It is a classic!



2. With "Fahrenheit 451" the brilliant French director Francois Truffaut made his first film in color and his only on in English. Based on the science fiction classic by Ray Bradbury, it takes place in the future where a totalitarian government is in place. People are forbidden to read. Houses have huge television screens installed in the walls; the inhabitants of this negative utopia take pills to stay on an even keel. Firemen no longer put out fires but rather burn books because they make people think, make them unhappy and, as one character says, "we above all have got to be alike." The film stars Oskar Werner as Montag, a fireman who hides books in his home and secretly reads among other novels Charles Dickens' DAVID COPPERFIELD, and Julie Christie who plays two characters, Montag's wife Linda and another secret reader Clarisse.
   
   The cinematography is beautiful, particularly the opening scenes with frame after frame shot in different colors of the roofs of houses with huge television antennas. There are no written credits at the beginning of the movie; a man's voice tells the viewer the stars of the movie, the producer, the director et al. The characters read comic strips with no captions. The title of course comes from the temperature that supposedly book paper burns.
   
   According to the commentary that accompanies the DVD version of this film about the making of "Fahrenheit 451" Truffaut used some of his favorite books for the burning scenes: MOBY DICK, Bradbury's THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES, ROBINSON CRUSOE, MADAM BOVARY, VANITY FAIR, OTHELLO, LOLITA, THE CATCHER IN THE RYE, works by Jean Genet, Frank Harris, Kafka, Henry Miller and many others-- and a cook of crossword puzzles in Spanish!
   
   It hardly bears saying that this film is as timely as both local and world news, past and present. Everyone knows that both the Soviets and Hitler burned books. Churches and other institutions, the so-called keepers of morals, along with private citizens in these United States, have led fights to ban books from schools and libraries over the years. Right now a citizen of Gwinnett County, Georgia is trying to get the Harry Potter novels removed from that county's schools. Furthermore, a recent study showed that one out of five Americans-- I believe-- had not read a single book in the past year. The average family, on the other hand, watches dozens of hours of TV drivel each week while many Americans take tranquilizers and other mood-altering prescription drugs on a daily basis.
   
   This fine movie deserves a much-needed revival in these times.



3. Don't touch me, reader!
   
   In this film, Montag, is an up and comer at the local fire-station where books are burned. He has a beautiful wife and a promotion coming up. But he starts to read books and his life falls apart! He becomes anti-social, ruins his marriage, and ruins his career! In this movie there are people that memorize books in order to keep them alive even after they're burned. If I was going to do this I would be sure to memorize the book this was written as to make sure man remembers how dangerous they are! This movie then makes its most important point: all books contradict themselves therefore none of them can be right!
   
   I hate to read so the idea of a world without books is quite intriguing. Let's face it, books are obsolete now anyways. We have pictures and sound and colours! More colours than you can shake a stick at. We have 8 news networks that give us the news! We have movies and TV. Case in point, this movie! It would take hours and hours spread out over days to read this book, but I finished this movie in an hour and a half! It's the same story so tell me in which way the book would trump the movie? If film is so much more efficient than books, why do we still have them? Efficiency is what our society is about.
   
   Think about it, a book is just words on a page. We don't get to see any of the places or people they contain.
   
   People often equate literacy with intelligence which is mad. If a person watches a documentary about the Roman Empire they will learn all about it in an hour or two. Have you ever seen the book, The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire? It's thousands of pages spread out over several books! It would take years to finish it. Therefore, it will take a reader years to learn about Rome while a non-reader will know all about it in a couple hours. Let's say it takes the reader 2 years to read about Rome, the non-reader can watch a documentary a day after work or school and learn about 730 subjects by the time the reader has finished with Rome!!!!!!!! Therefore a watcher is exponentially more intelligent than a reader.
   
   The argument this movie makes about books is quite intriguing especially considering our age of terrorism. People read books and they put bad thoughts into their heads; many people have been killed because of certain books, why shouldn't we burn them? There have been so many books that have caused problems throughout the ages, if we could burn every copy of them the world will be safer, more peaceful place! There are fairy stories meant to stir up hatred towards science, and as for science books, they are wonderful, but obsolete now that we have the Discovery channel. There are Novels which are lies, they are filled with people and places that never existed, or things that never happened in places that do exist.
   
   People read books and get depressed; they miss out on time that could be spent with their friends, or at social activities. If you read books and don't watch TV you will be a social misfit. You won't have anything to talk about because you will not know who won American Idol, or who got kicked off the island. TV gives you news as it is happening; newspapers give you the news after it's happened. Therefore, newspapers are obsolete by the time they are printed. I'm not saying books were always bad, they're just obsolete now. Why use ancient technology like the written word? We wouldn't use records now that there are CDs, or VHS tapes now that we have DVD would we?
   
   I think the fact that the author wrote this as a book first and then had the movie made was a stroke of genius. It merely proves the point he was trying to make, moving pictures are vastly superior to words on a page.
   
   Books are about the past, what's already happened. Moving pictures are about the present the future, what we will become not what we have been.
   
   Habent sua fata libelli.



4. I am having a hard time rating this movie. It's not that the movie was bad, but it did absolutely nothing for me watching it. As a matter of fact it bored me. Fahrenheit 451 had no action, it wasn't particularly thought provoking, it hardly had anything to make it even look or feel like a science fiction movie. It might have came from one of Ray Bradbury's most popular stories, but the movie version just didn't do much.
   
   If you are into action you can forget it. There is no action in this movie. I am not kidding. The most action you see is a strange looking fire truck driving around or maybe someone defying gravity by sliding UP a pole. As a matter of fact even if you are not a big action fan this movie will likely bore you to tears. I don't know how else to describe it. I had a very hard time sitting down and actually watching this movie. You can forget looking for any cool tech in this movie. About the only thing I saw that was remotely interesting was a tiny scene where people were using rocket packs to fly around. Too little too late if you ask me.
   
   Usually when a movie doesn't have any action it has a good plot or story to keep the brain juices flowing. Well... it didn't. As a matter of fact I think the whole concept of a society without books happens to be impossible. I mean how could a society with all of its laws, structure and knowledge possibly exist if that knowledge isn't written down so the next guy can learn it? I know this is one of Bradbury's 'what if' stories, but it certainly doesn't translate well to film. Even in spite of that Fahrenheit 451 doesn't really hit the mark as a thinking person's movie. With all of its bad stuff I do admit the acting is good and the movie is very stylish for its time.
   
   Ultimately I can't recommend this movie. I couldn't even sit through it without stopping the movie several times to take a break from it. The sad thing is the movie has good cinematography and great acting. All of the basic ingredients are there but it just doesn't mix right. I suppose some of you might really like it and there are scenes that had me watching with open eyes. However I can't recommend this movie in its current state.



5. "Fahrenheit 451" would be an ok movie if it was not based on such a good book. The movie, based on a book by Ray Bradbury with the same name, is about a world in which reading is not permitted, books are all banned, people are engulfed by their TVs (not that far-fetched anymore huh?!) and firemen start fires.
   
   Montag is a fireman and has been living the life he is expected to life, carrying out the job he is expected to perform and conforming nicely to a society that controls, bans and censors. His life is turned upside down when he meets Clarisse and he is compelled to read a book. The book deals with conformity, television and the complete absorption into technology.
   
   The movie also shows, although not as well as the book, the damage this has done to human relationships. The movie is ok but it is missing two vital parts: Faber and the mechanic dog. You are better off reading the book.

5 comments about FernGully - The Last Rainforest.

1. I remember watching this show practically all the time with my older sister when I was growing up. I always enjoyed it, and I still do to this day. The animation is great (I absolutely LOVE the intricate detail of the rainforest), the actors are great (especially Robin Williams and Tim Curry), and the music is spectacular. Overall, FernGully is an A+ movie.



2. The DVD Fern Gully has long been a favorite in my household. Both children, now in college, enjoyed it and still do. This recent purchase was a replacement copy. The message of "Fern Gully" becomes increasingly more important as we continue to defile this planet: conservation, respect, friendship. Not only does it have several interwoven life message but the overall story is well-written and executed. The characters are lovable. The beauty of this movie is undeniable: vivid colors, attention to detail, beautifully done and just simply a lovely story well presented. We all watch it for enjoyment, entertainment. The messages are everlasting. This is a worthwhile purchase.



3. I honestly don't know why people like this movie so much. The animation is poor, the songs are just dreadful(acid rain falling down like egg chow mein-seriously!!), and the story is extremely one sided. All destruction is portrayed as being bad. There is only one line in the film that suggests that there needs to be a balance between creation and destruction. The portable lumber mill is just ridiculous; that is not how forests are cleared. If you want to teach children about the horrors of clear cutting, explain it to them in a logical way. If you want to teach them the importance of environmentalism, show them "Princess Mononoke."



4. This is a great movie for children. Teaches them about ecology and ways to save the planet.



5. (Note: I do not own this version. I am commenting on the movie itself.)
   
   When I was young, many movies like this were quite popular - especially if you were of the female persuasion. Samson and Sally, Seabert the Seal, The Little Fox - all titles running alongside each other and carrying the same message: FOUR LEGS GOOD! TWO LEGS BAAAAHHHD!! - and Ferngully is no exception - it just happens to be drawn a little better.
   
   The title alone should be a red flag; Ferngully the *last* rain forest. This 'film' was released during the height of the "OH NOES! WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF FORESTS!" especially pertaining to the rain forest. At that time (much like the 'new and improved' global warming) scientists were concerned that - because the rain forest regulated the atmosphere (somewhat true, though this was partly debunked as most forests effect the atmosphere) - destruction of the rain forest would cause the world to blow up, catch on fire, roll around in broken glass, and become a smack-addicted solar prostitute. One should note that these forests were being cut down because certain countries were developing that needed land, lumber, and the sale of lumber to feed their families.. but we all know that hyoomans are teh eavils so it doesn't matter... as long as I can have MY Starbucks.
   
   Anyways... this movie pretty much encapsulates the insane spirit of the neo-hippie movement of the 90's. Cute little fairies and animals are happy and dancing in their magical forest of love and cheap pot when a bi-polar aspie bat who is a massive fan of cranial intrusion falls out of the sky. Crysta (the protagonist and head burnout)is both amused and disturbed by the sing-song way Batty communicates when he does too many whippits and decides to make batty her chuaffeur, as she is way too stoned to fly.
   
   Meanwhile, some greedy corporation ( also see D:< ) decides that trees attract hippies and begins to cut them down and turn them into sawdust. When this fails to bring down a blue skinned green mulleted twink from the sky to share in their bear-on-bear action, they call Tim Curry. Still in gelatinous form after a long night of drinking and trying to avoid RHPS thespian trannies, Curry awakes to a clear cut forest. This is good, for it will allow Tim to find all of the Purple Nurple Liquid Roller Mellow Rainbow Sunset Snoopy Redhair that he was promised in return for showing up to this crap movie. He rejoices by sexually molesting our ear-holes.
   
   One day, while rolling around in her own filth and enjoying a tab of liquid sunshine, Crysta falls in curious with [INSERT DISNEY SENSITIVE-YET-STRONG UNREALISTIC EXPECTATION HERE...we'll call him Dudebra]. Luckily for her, Dudebrah has always fantasized about a sexual encounter with a macro otherkin and also falls into curious with Crysta. Unfortunately, the contact high of fairy-licking made Dudebra shrink, thus eliminating the possibilities of fully realizing his macrophilia. He is then introduced to all of Crysta's commune friends who descend upon him in a cloud of armpit crystals and pure unadulterated lust.
   
   After several hours, Crysta realizes that she is out of shrooms and goes to search the forest for some more. During this outing, the second half of her high kicks in, leading her to hear the trees crying. Lost and confused in the forest, Crysta collapses. Three days later, her family finally locates the commune where she has been staying and immediately take her home - away from the temptations of drugs, art school, and cutting. Oh yeah - and she can make vines grow from her hands and heal flowers with her mind. They end up defeating Tim Curry with magic ivy +5 of holy smite, grow back the forest with love (although seeds work just as well) then go back to being the petal-wearing freegan commune hippies they were to begin with.
   
   FIN.
   
   
   
   The art looks like it was spit out of every other animation mill of the early 90's. The songs are terribly dated, the propaganda is EXTREMELY OBVIOUS, and the plot has so many holes you could strain pasta through it.
   
   I gave it two stars because it's a great movie to put on a party for pure WTF responses.

5 comments about Maxx: Original Series.

1. I never write reviews on Amazon - but after doing a random search to see of this was on DVD I stumbled across all of these other reviewers asking for a DVD release. I loved this series. I read the comic and I watched the show. It had this creepy vibe going that hooked me instantly. The animation was so stylized and the voice acting so fitting to the original comics that I made sure never to miss an episode when it originally aired. In fact I taped it, but over the years my copy got so wore it out that parts of it were hard to watch. So I eventually tossed the tape out, foolishly thinking it would make it's way to DVD someday. If it ever gets released I would definitely purchase a copy and recommend it too my friends.



2. Adding my voice to the clamor calling for an official unedited DVD release is my pleasure. The Maxx is te best written TV show I have ever seen. This is animation at it's finest.



3. Oh how I wish this would come out on DVD. My wife and I both loved this show, and I still joke with her sometimes about it by asking her "Got any toast?" Funny thing is we've never watched an episode together. I would love to watch all of them again, but can't see spending any dough on old used VHS tapes.



4. I never read the comics, but when this show aired I was immediately drawn to it. It looked different than any other animated program before or since. So much so that images from the show have been ingrained in my psyche even though I have not seen one frame of the show since it originally aired on MTV in 1996. The writing was better than 99% of the (live action)sitcoms and dramas on television and the character dialogue was more sophisticated. I cared about the characters, which is rare for animated fare. It was an all around great show which deserves to be released on DVD as lesser cult classics have already been.



5. 3 stars just because it's missing so much content. However, I did manage to get the entire series and burn it to a dvd so, that's at least a plus. But this VHS is missing a lot of content. Hopefully MTV releases an official DVD of The Maxx. Until then I've got a copy : )

5 comments about Master of the World.

1. Great Sci Fi for its era, still holds up pretty well for the initiated, but the Playstation generation might not get it.
   
   Lets have the DVD please, we've waited long enough!



2. I consider this movie to be an old-fashioned adventure movie of the highest order. I could write a mini-novel about all the high points of this movie...but I think the actors said it best: "I believe he's convinced you his ship is magical........He has! He has!....it is MAGICAL!". This movie deserves to released on DVD ASAP!!!



3. I watched this as a kid and loved it. The special effects aren't as great anymore, but still a great story. I re-read the Jules Verne books that it's based on with my son who was interested in airship. So it was fun to see again. These Verne books are online for free.



4. Just watched the movie on TCM. I watched it because I am a fan of Vincent Price, but the actor who kept me interested was the man at the ship's wheel. Is that Richard Harrison? His strong and muscular physique was one of the most exciting pieces of scenery in the movie. Once in awhile I saw his handsome profile. He was one hunk of a man in his day....



5. Terrific movie with another fine performance from Vincent Price. Also an early appearance of Charles Bronson is an added treat.

5 comments about Thumbelina.

1. I cannot tell you how many times I've watched this movie. When I was little I would beg my mother to put on this movie. I would sing and dance to the songs, and even now, when I'm a teen and our VHS has long since worn out, I'll still humm them to myself and remeber all of the fun I ahd because of Don Bluth's version of 'Thumbellina' I can honestly say this is one of my all time favorite movies



2. If you like fairy tales you'll love this. It's full of kid friendly songs and moral lessons. I'm personally well known within my family unit for my rendition of the "thumbelina" song. I've pretty much got the chicken, bull, and goat voices down pat. I was my mother's ring tone for a while. . . but anyway. . . this is a sweet movie about love conquering all, and spanish frogs. Enjoy.



3. My girls love princess movies and we had not heard of this one. It is a lot of fun and a had cool music.



4. Thumbelina is a wonderful movie based off Hans Christian Anderson's tale, no improvisions. My mother bought me the tape when I was 6 years old, and I was immediately blown away by it! It was a heart-moving tale about a tiny girl in a big world who gets kidnapped by singing toads and journeys to find her way home. Thumbelina also gains courage, and finds friendship and love along the way. Especially when she falls in love with the Fairy Prince Cornelious.
   
   I was also very touched by the mother-daughter love expressed between Thumbelina and her mother. The old woman wanted a child for so long and was so happy she received Thumbelina in a flower and loved her with all her heart. The pain the two of them suffered of missing each other when Thumbelina was kidnapped. It would make me cry a lot. It's like the bond me and my mother shared.
   
   Another thing that I loved about Thumbelina was that it had a mixture of action, drama, and comical moments along with romance, which makes it perfect for kids and adults. The songs were another part I loved! They were so much fun to sing to, I would sing them all the time, even now at age 20 I still do sometimes! lol My favorite songs were "Let me be your wings" and "Soon."
   
   Thumbelina is one of teh best films ever, even now as a young adult, it is still an enjoying part of my life. I highly recommend this because it is not a kids movie only. It is a classic tale with a moral that we all need to follow. No matter what size you are, there is no limit to what you can do, as long as you have faith in yourself. That is what will make you cherish it forever.



5. I ordered it for my granddaughters and they loved the movie. I received it promptly and in great condition.

5 comments about Star Wars Trilogy (Special Edition).

1. What can I say about this set that hasen't already been said. If you are a fan of the movies and don't own episodes 4-6 then I highly recommend buying this. The bonus 4th disc is a very nice touch. I found this set alot cheaper at a local retail store for around $40.



2. Star Wars ranked number 15 on the AFI's top 100 list of Amberican films. It's been the inspiration of countless film-makers, writers, video game programmers, and peopel who dream of becoming the "next George Lucas".
   
   It's a simple story of good vs. evil and Imperialism vs. Rebellion, a boy's coming of age, and the power of the spiritual in a universe that makes a big show of techneological force. But somehow it has come to mean much more than that.
   
   The making of Star Wars was part genius and part luck, and I've read the making of books to prove it. Part of you wants to say that George Lucas would have made a masterpiece no matter what and another part of you looks a the rough cut of the film and knows it could have been just another space fantasy film, but all rights should have been. No matter how it got made, Star Wars is a perfect example of what can go right in a film to make it transcend its genre.
   
   The cinematography is wonderful. The editing is long where it needs to be, short where it needs to be. The acting is endearing (if silly and cheesy at times). The characters are archtypes, not stereotypes. The special effects are the best of what stop-motion can accomplish, legendary. The music is my pick for the greatest movie soundtrack of all time (and I've listened to it plenty). The script may not be shakespeare, but it's still great stuff. Everyone can relate to these characters, and many feel almost as if they knew them themselves. A lot of people love Han Solo. As for me, Luke Skywalker was always my hero.
   
   I think inside of most people there is a hero who longs to make a difference in the world, to fight against evil and triumph with their friends to thunderous applause. Everyone wants to be that hero of a thousand faces. George Lucas gave us the ability to see that hero on the big screen, as never before.
   
   You could write whole books about the influence that Star Wars has had on the space fantasy genre, blockbuster movies, and people around the world. Countless debate has gone back and forth on continuity, expanded storylines, what characters, books, and films influenced the film's making, and of course, whether the widescreen, unaltered, or special editions are the best way to watch. People will even argue whether or not the three prequels should be considered part of the official story and Star Wars Universe. But for all that, the original Star Wars stands on its own, as a cinematic achievement and a cultural one, and as a doorway that opened countless imaginations.
   
   The story is universal. It has been told many times before. A young boy dreams of becoming a hero and fighting against evil, with the help of a mentor he rescues a princess and saves the day. I think deep down just about everyone loves this story. This movie isn't perfect. No movie is.Someday this story will be told better. But for now, Star Wars is the definitive space fantasy for the entire planet.



3. The original, history-making Star Wars trilogy is a worthy investment for anyone's library. The digital update makes for a more intense experience. The background disc is so loaded with information and stories, you feel as if you were there from conceptualization to final edit. Don't miss out on this. Get your own copy before it's on EBay for hundreds of dollars!



4. This review is for all ORIGINAL Star Wars fans (I was 14 when it was released). This is what WE have wanted all along. The original Star Wars movie we saw in 1977 (no "Episode IV - A New Hope" in the crawler - never thought I'd get to see that again). This is the untampered with version, no computer generated alterations to the visuals and storyline, no special sound, no special format, but ALL THE ORIGINAL FUN!!! The quality of the DVD is actually quite good. Much better than your old VHS versions you've worn out. Take it from "one of you"...you WILL love this DVD. (Those who hate this DVD are the ones who think it's cool that a young Anakin replaced the old Anakin in the "special edition" of ROTJ...unbelievable!). And by the way...get it right once and for all people...the argument isn't "Han shot first", the truth is "Greedo never shot".



5. Look i just wanted to rate this product. it was great. i shouldn't have waited so long to buy it but then i had the VHS version till about a few months ago. the DVD set has an awesome bonus disc that contains a documentary about the struggles George Lucas had just making star wars happen. Theres only one difference i noticed in the film between the VHS version and the DVD versions and thats Hayden Christensen, His inclusion does make sense i suppose but it still feels out of place. the rest is gold.

5 comments about Island of Lost Souls.

1. 1933 saw the release of two seminal horror films based on H. G. Wells novels: one is `The Invisible Man' and the other is `Island of Lost Souls' based on Wells' `The Island of Dr. Moreau.' The latter was released from Paramount, the Hollywood studio better known for its entertaining films like Star Trek series today, but the central topic in `Lost Souls' is much darker and more disturbing than you expect even now.
   
   Except for some minor points, the film is faithful to Well's original story, in which one Edward Parker (Richard Arlen) finds himself stranded on the small island after the shipwreck. Perhaps you already know the secrets of Dr. Moreau (Charles Laughton) and his `House of Pain' so I skip that part, but the film still has powerful moments when its shows its strange islanders and rituals about the way the doctor rules the place. Oh, and don't forget the vivisection scene.
   
   What is really impressive is Charles Laughton as Doctor Moreau, conducting a series of `experiments' and hiding a sinister plan of making the first human-animal in the world behind his gentlemanly face. Compared to him, Richard Arlen's Parker looks too uptight and uninteresting, but that is how the story is meant to be.
   
   But the real treasure of the film is Kathleen Burk as The Panther Woman, who is alarmingly sexy even by today's standards. If I were Parker, I would be very slow to leave the island. Bella Lugosi also appears `Sayer of the Law' with heavy make-up. His character is the antithesis to the Count that made him famous, but you can easily recognize him due to his distinctive mannerism.
   
   The film's pace is slow and the soundtrack is too sparse, but `Island of Lost Souls' is full of foreboding atmosphere that is still fascinating.
   
   IMDb says the film includes Allan Ladd and Randolph Scott (both not credited) as `Beast,' but I couldn't find them. Where are they?



2. worth the price for the the Lugosi scenes alone. Laughton makes for a great god-like sadist, ruling over his island with sadistic glee.
   light and shadows blend to make for a creepy atmosphere. one of the great unsung non-Universal horrors of the thirties.



3. These are two of the greatest classic horror movies, as good as anything Universal put out besides The Mummy and Bride of Frankenstein. Each of these has been copied many times in later years, and every copy has been a pale shadow of these brilliant originals. I'd love for them to get fancy releases with loads of special features, but failing that PLEASE somebody release this wonderful two-fer.



4. Universal has now released almost ALL of its classic films on DVD, especially in the horror genre. Sadly though this is still to make an appearance despite numerous calls for it from dedicated fans. Was this dvd ever released? well Ive never seen a copy of this one shown on Amazon so we must have to presume it was either a very limited release by a non-universal label or that the release was cancelled.
   
   Anyway, Universal has released it on videotape before so theres certainly source material so come on Universal and put us fans out of our misery!!!



5. This was released a year before the production code went into enforcement, and it shows! There are things and suggestions of things here that the filmmakers would never have gotten away with once the Breen Office began imposing its iron fist on Hollywood. H.G. Welles, who wrote the novel on which it was based, was reportedly disgusted by it, but this is still one of the very best fantasy pictures of the early sound era, easily standing alongside 'King Kong' and Whale's 'The Bride of Frankenstein' as the very cream of the crop.
   
   That it is still unavailable on DVD is a crime.
   
   After more than 70 years this remains an exciting and involving picture with a number of unexpectedly poetic moments. The atmospheric camera work by Karl Struss is pretty sophisticated for the time, the art direction is great, and the makeup, while primitive, is still creepy and effective, with lots of disfigured faces looming eerily out of the darkness. It also has a brisk pace, cramming a lot into its brief running time.
   
   In a movie that already has a lot of things going for it, Charles Laughton is one of the best. He gives a magnificently droll performance here, lending the picture a great deal of class. Laughton alone would be enough to give the film a strong recommendation - he's a joy to watch, and, cracking a nasty little smile at the most inappropriate moments, one of the best mad doctors to perform perverted experiments in the history of cinema, hands down. Bela Lugosi, in a minor role, also stands out as the Sayer of the Law. ("Are we not men?" No, not quite.)
   
   Again, it really sucks that only the inferior (VERY inferior) film versions of this story are available on DVD. Somebody needs to get on the stick, or else go straight to the House of Pain.

5 comments about Robot Wars.

1. Metal against metal. Blow upon blow. Powerful arms reach out to grab and choke, electrifying lasers light up the sky as they ricochet off solid plates of steel.
   The ultimate battle between metallic giants begins when a malicious foreign dignitary hijacks the last mega-robot on Earth, the MRAS-2, and threatens to unleash its crushing powers against the people of the Eastern Alliance. There's only one force magnificent enough to stop the MRAS-2, a MEGA-1 robot hidden under the city. It's up to renegade pilot (Don Michael Paul), his engineer (James Staley) and a brilliant archaeologist (Barbara Crampton) to revive the MEGA-1 and re-establish world peace.
   Will the MEGA-1 be able to survive the onslaught of the new robot and its superior technology? A phenomenal battle lies ahead...



2. This is a very good movie I recomend it for sci-fi lovers of all ages.The only bad part is at the begining when your sitting through the credits,of course you can always fast-forward through that.The movie is 106 minutes long,and is rated pg.



3. This is a very good movie I recomend it for sci-fi lovers of all ages.The only bad part is at the begining when your sitting through the credits,of course you can always fast-forward through that.The movie is 106 minutes long,and is rated pg.



4. I've seen hundreds of Sci Fi/Horror movies over the years. This is one of those you'll wonder whether you've watched it or not a few years down the road. You just can't remember.
   
   All in all, I figure it's still better to watch a so-so Sci Fi/Horror movie than "Dances With Wolves" or "Evita". This movie will end up being non-memorable, but it's preferable to being in a coma.



5. If you read my comment in the other one star review, you'll notice that I said that this movie was pretty dumb and dissapointing.
   
   The box claims that this is a sequel to Robot Jox, but I think it's more of a ripoff. It's got bad acting, weak script,
   
   Anyway, even Barbara Crampton and some fx from Dave Allen could not save this. If I were you, I'd probably steer clear from this and just get Robot Jox. It's much better. I'm pretty sure the late Albert Band would rather be remembered for I Bury the Living, Doctor Mordrid, Prehysteria! 1-2, or even Ghoulies II than this.

5 comments about Cinderella (The Wonderful World of Disney).

1. This is one of the greater musicals I grew up with. I sang along with it, I had it on VHS and I even had the album, once upon a time. But long since had it been missing from my collection, I was shocked and amazed to find it here, and it had everything I remembered. From "My Own Little Corner" to "Impossible", the songs bring back great memories of singing with old friends. The film is a wonderful sing-a-long for those who often do find themselves enjoying sing-a-longs.



2. Growing up, Cinderella was my favorite fairy tale and this version is the best! Whitney Houston and Brandy are both flawless in their singing, and the rest of the cast is great as well.



3. Thsi movie was better than the original and the remake. This movie brings together different ethnicities to come as one big project. many people who gave this product reviews are so used to seeing a all white cast that then think this was too much. It wasn't too much it just wasn't what you wanted to see! A blonde, blue eyed, caucasioa perosn like Britney Spears or Jessica Simpson is what you wanted to see not brown skinned goddess like Brandy Norwood who can out sing them both vocally if it came down to it! It's a shame to see that racism is still alive and well even when the bleniding of the ethnicities was supposed to open peoples eyes and get them to see this production in a new light! People who have previously reviewed this movie say that Brandy cannot act do you really thing Rodgers & Hammerstein would have picked her if she couldn't again because she wasn't some caucasian movie starlet she just in their eyes didn't match up well she was and will alwys be the best Cinderella thsi production has ever seen hands down! This is a classic that I wil show my kids so that they can see you achieve anything even when you have your doubters!



4. I ordered a movie from this seller May 23, 2008 and never received the product as of June 23, 2008.



5. Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Cinderella" was originally written in 1957 as a television showcase for Julie Andrews. That original live broadcast was seen by an estimated 107 million viewers. The charming musical's reputation was nearly destroyed by an embarrasingly amateurish 1965 TV remake featuring Lesley Ann Warren. It is this version, unfortunately, that was videotaped and shown on TV for several decades. Richard Rodgers obviously took leave of his senses, since he was executive producer of the 1965 remake. Oscar Hammerstein II died in 1960. If he had still been alive, the 1965 remake, which has all the charm and professionalism of a First Grade School Play, would certainly have killed him!
   Nearly forty years after the original 1957 TV presentation came this 1997 candy-colored remake. It's all very attractively staged by director Robert Iscove and choreographed by Rob Marshall ("Cabaret," "Annie," "Chicago"). Kudos to Whitney Houston for insisting on "rainbow colored" casting. Many reviewers have commented on this version's interracial cast. Some love it, some are confused by it, some can't get past it and just enjoy the show. I say this: 1). Fairy tales exist in a realm beyond such petty things as racism and other assorted prejudices. 2). It seems fitting that a major Rodgers & Hammerstein production DOES AND SHOULD feature a multiracial cast who don't talk about it, and simply act and sing the story as they should; since moving beyond racism and other assorted prejudices is a MAJOR plot point in both Rodgers & Hammerstein's "South Pacific" and "The King and I." If the multi-racial casting here still bothers you, please listen to the song
   "Carefully Taught" from "South Pacific."
   But, back to the subject of this particular "Cinderella": There are several musical interpolations and alterations here. "The Sweetest Sounds" from Richard Rodgers' 1962 musical "No Strings" has been added as a rather fitting introductory duet for Cinderella and The Prince. A cynical song by Rodgers And Lorenz Hart (Rodgers' partner prior to Oscar Hammerstein) titled "Falling In Love With Love" is added for Bernadette Peters, in a particularly nasty turn as an emotionally abusive Stepmother. There is a noticeable shift in star power here, too. Whitney Houston's Fairy Godmother rules here. She brings plenty of DIVA POWER to her role; perhaps too much. Houston always gets the last word and also the last song (a forgotten Rodgers & Hammerstein ballad titled "Music In You.")
   Caught between the star power of Houston and Peters, AND the charismatic sex appeal of Paolo Montalban as Prince Christopher Charming, Brandy Norwood does project a certain wide-eyed innocence as Cinderella, but she projects very little else. Being a pop music Princess, Brandy does not have a musical theatre voice, which the role definitely requires. Her speaking and singing voice barely registers above a faint whisper. Super-Sexy Montalban (who does have a beautiful, legitimate "theatre voice") carries her through the lovely duets "Ten Minutes Ago" and "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful?" The thrill of "Impossible/It's Possible" is lost amidsts all the CGI Special Effects used to affect the magical transformations. Whoopi Goldberg as the Queen and Jason Alexander as Prince Christopher's valet Lionel do manage a few moments of real comedic sparks. But I found myself missing the simple, black and white, genuine charms of the original 1957 production.
   Thankfully, however, the 1997 remake almost erases the stench left by the 1965 version. You should be pleased, delighted, and/or entertained by both the 1957 and 1997 versions. Let's just hope the 1965 version, that real GOD-AWFUL 'amateur production", remains buried forever in a dark and lonely place.

5 comments about Batteries Not Included.

1. Matthew Robbins's *Batteries Not Included is a charming little science-fiction heartwarmer produced by Steven Spielberg. Penned by Mick Garris and with help from Brad Bird (The Incredibles, Ratatouille), it's the tale of a small tenement's fight for survival against corporate greed. As the opening credits roll to some divine swing courtesy of James Horner, we're shown vintage photographs of New York City and of Frank and Faye Riley (real-life Hollywood power couple Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy), owners of Riley's Cafe on the ground floor of their brownstone.
   
   Lacey, a greedy real estate developer, has hired some local goons led by Carlos (Michael Carmine) to buy out the remaining residents (the rest of the block has already been bulldozed in anticipation of new construction). This includes Frank and Faye, who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, fellow friends Muriel and Sid, washed-up prize fighter Harry, Mason the artist, and Marisa, a pregnant single mother. They have nowhere else to go, so they band together against Lacey's thugs, who delight in harassing them and in further damaging the already-dilapidated building.
   
   Frank and Faye are the main focus; it's obvious that Faye is suffering from Alzheimer's disease. She has a very shaky grip on reality, frequently confuses the past with the present, and requires a high degree of supervision. But it's obvious from her bearing and her no-nonsense tone that Faye was (and is) a force to be reckoned with. She frequently asks about the whereabouts of her son Bobby, whose absence is explained near the film's finale. When Sid and Muriel take the buyout money and move to Jersey, Frank is heartbroken, knowing that he'll be unable to care for Faye by himself. Tandy can be a little over the top at times, but it's obvious that she enjoyed the role. Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy are the reason you should rent this film; their tender love for each other despite the setbacks of age, illness, and adversity are inspiring, more so because they were married for over five decades.
   
   Enter a miracle: high-tech spaceships make their way to Frank and the other residents after a tearful prayer, and assist them with fixing and rebuilding. The special effects by ILM (Lucas's Industrial Light and Magic) are delightfully low-tech in contrast to our current age of CGI overload. The spaceships are quite obviously puppet models that were transposed into the shots, although they do have their own unique personalities.
   
   However, Lacey is less than thrilled with the new developments (his building permits are set to expire within days), and tries to hasten the building's demise, leading to some scenes of violence and tension between the residents and the developers.
   
   This is more a feel-good drama than a true science-fiction piece. It was originally slated to be used as part of Spielberg's Amazing Stories - The Complete First Season series, but Spielberg liked it so much that he decided to make it into a full-length feature film. The set design is particularly noteworthy as all of the buildings were sets, since the producers were unable to find an existing property that met their criteria (there is some information included about the making of the film).
   
   James Horner's marvelously retro swing score is heavily in the style of Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey, and made Faye's dementia and recollection of WWII very poignant (Faye asks at the table, "Whatever happened to General Eisenhower? You hardly read a word about him anymore"). To be honest, this was the first swing / Big Band soundtrack I ever remember hearing, and it stuck with me two decades later as my love for WWII music has spread to include Frank Sinatra's Columbia records, Harry James, and Big Band leaders.
   
   Although *Batteries Not Included may not have a heavy dose of action, or suspense, or "serious" drama, it does have a strong ensemble cast, a great soundtrack, decent special effects and is a heartwarming tale of trust and faith that the whole family can enjoy. It would have been nice if more extras had been included besides the original trailer and some behind the scenes still screens, but it's still a joy to see this once again.



2. I really enjoyed this movie. There is some truly good acting involved in what could have easily been no more than a silly movie. I leaves you with feelings much like those engendered by Anne McCaffery. You're pretty darn sure there are no dragons of Pern, but you really, really wish there were. Well worth the price. Parents and kids (very much including teen-agers) can watch this movie together.



3. This movie has a bit of everything in it. Drama, humor and anything else you can think of that delights you. Of course Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy were the best anyway and wouldn't have done anything that they did not consider to be total entertainment. There are too few movies anymore that are of this class. Violence now seems to be all anyone makes anymore. Not the case here. Just wonderful entertainment and something okay for children to watch too.



4. This Movie tugs at my heart cause I had just become separated from my spouse when it came out and I didn't have enough money to pay the electricity but I had a movie voucher for the theater up the street so I was able to retreat there for a few hours of Peace on a snowy day in Memphis.
   
   This was a fine film with the great husband wife team of Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy. Miss Tandy plays a woman beset by alzheimers and Mr. Cronyn is her set upon husband who tries to keep them in their home of 40 years as a unscrupulous developer tries to tear the building down to build a yuppie haven.
   
   Little living robots settle in the building and untimately help the residents push back the evil developers and save their homes.
   
   The special effects were pretty neat and are the best part of the story. The plot after a promising beginning begins to wear thin after a while and the movie drags when the little UFO's aren't around.
   
   There are a few laughs and some cute moments. Overall a nice movie to watch with the kids but there is some rough language in places.



5. Jessica Tandy reminded me of my Grandmother. It's a sweet movie that all will love.