5 comments about Cars (Widescreen Edition).

1. Lightning McQueen, a hotshot rookie race car driven to succeed, discovers that life is about the journey, not the finish line, when he finds himself unexpectedly detoured in the sleepy Route 66 town of Radiator Springs. On route across the country to the big Piston Cup Championship in California to compete against two seasoned pros, McQueen gets to know the town's offbeat characters including Sally, a snazzy 2002 Porsche, Doc Hudson, a 1951 Hudson Hornet with a mysterious past, and Mater, a rusty but trusty tow truck, who help him realize that there are more important things than trophies, fame and sponsorship. The animation in this movie is gorgeous, and the story brings a smile to your face, and you can't help falling in love with all of the colorful characters. This is movie is worth seeing.



2. If this movie goes down in price, definitely get it on Blu-Ray. On a regular DVD you'll probably just see better detail and brighter colors. But on the Blu-Ray version I could make out textures on surfaces of the people/surroundings that I never saw before.



3. I and many other car guys have watched this one with subtle enjoyment. There are plenty of little car related gags in the film that are lots of fun to notice when they come up. You can get this one for the kids, and you can enjoy it for yourself too.



4. I was excited to receive this product and it didn't disappoint. Great Price! MONEY WELL SPENT! Thanks. (=



5. I loved this movie when it came out. Had purchased a copy when it went on DVD, watched it many times, with the family, until it started to freeze up too many times. Now on blue ray, not only still a cute movie, awesome graphics.

5 comments about Raging Bull [Blu-ray].

1. it's a classic, haunting film that gnaws on you.
   
   a horror film without any monsters, painful to watch the boxer live his life.



2. Now, THIS is what a blu-ray disc should be! Great movie. Excellent transfer. Jammed with special features, including three excellent audio commentaries and about two hours worth of documentaries about making the film.
   
   First rate product.



3. Wonderful quality & Very Fast Shipping ~ 5 star seller ~ would buy from again ~ THANKS!!!



4. THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST MOVIE I HAVE EVER SEEN. DENIRO AND PESCI ARE FANTASTIC. A+



5. Raging Bull is probably the greatest movie about a boxer ever made. Jake Lemotta was NOT one of the nicest or smartest middleweight champions of all time, but Robert De Niro made the character understandable but not sympathetic. The picture is now more stunning that ever for home viewing in blu-ray. I give it my highest recommendation.

3 comments about More Than a Game.

1. This documentary is about five talented basketball players. The main character LeBron James leads the team. Their goal is to make it to the State Championship, then win the championship game. The school LeBron James went to was St. Vincent Mary High School in Ohio. I liked the ending when Lebron James and his team won the championship. More than a Game was released on October 2nd in select theaters. I would rate this movie four stars because it is interesting for me to see LeBron play basketball as a teenager. I would recommend this flim to anyone who enjoys watching sports or NBA Basketball.
   By Doodnauth Chandebal



2. The title More Than a Game is more than a little cliché, and the most basic summary of this documentary's premise does little to refute that initial impression: the story of five inner city youths who forge something beyond friendship while pursuing their high school hoop dreams. But the journey of the "Fab Five" who made up the core of the St. Vincent-St. Mary basketball team in Akron, Ohio earlier in the decade is not exactly your average sports saga, filled with extraordinary characters and equally extraordinary circumstances that Hollywood could craft no better in any feature script. Any filmmaker blessed with such serendipitous narrative riches would be content to simply recount the not-so-tall tale, but director Kristopher Belman takes it an added step: bringing the larger-than-life back down to a universally relatable scale.
   
   Figures hardly come more larger-than-life than LeBron James, the Fighting Irish alum who (as the world over has come to know) first caught national sports media attention during his high school stint and has since become one of most celebrated and recognizable stars in all of sports, let alone in basketball. With the knowledge of James's ultimate NBA fairy tale fate, the temptation would be to focus the film solely on his rise, but his story is duly treated as but one of the threads borne out of what was originally the "Fab Four"--James, "Little" Dru Joyce III, Willie McGee, and Sian Cotton, whom we see in some rare home video honing their individual skills and team chemistry from way back when they were pre-teens. Playing in the Amateur Athletic Union, the quartet lived up to the "Shooting Stars" team name, building on their local Ohio successes to shock observers in a national tournament down in Florida; however, the four's first taste of national success will turn out to be just shy of complete victory.
   
   And, like most lives, that bittersweet experience reflects the greater journeys followed in More Than a Game. Given the presence of James, one expects this to be a film full of triumphs, but what make those resonate even more strongly in the end are the relatable setbacks, obstacles, and shake-ups that occur along the way. In fact, falling into that last category are two people who will come to complete the "fab" family and help lift the entire unit to new heights, Romeo Travis and "Little Dru"'s father, Dru Joyce II. But long before those heights, each initially enters the basketball picture under less than ideal circumstances: Travis in sophomore year at St. Vincent-St. Mary's, where his surly demeanor quickly clashes with the core quartet, who had just led the school to a championship the previous season; Joyce II in junior year, who takes over the head coaching position from a decorated predecessor despite minimal experience. How the four manage to evolve into a "Fab Five" and, above all else, a family of six headed by Coach Dru proves not so much a result of their hard work on the hardwood than of the growth they each must undergo as people.
   
   The film's structure reinforces that latter point. Instead of going the standard route of going through each person's background at the top, Belman gives the individual histories at appropriate, organic moments within the overall narrative. While this approach does mean that some events early in the film unfold without a complete familiarity with or understanding of all of the players, spreading the stories out pays off in a couple of respects. Instead of blurring into a muddle, it allows each person to have their time to shine and their respective stories breathe and remain clear to the viewer. But even more effectively, the backstories are used beyond mere exposition to illuminate certain key events that affect the group as a whole--further underscoring the greater idea of how various circumstances seemingly centered on one person can cause repercussions for the collective. Chief among these developments, of course, is the hysteria and hype that arises around James after he is featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, suddenly catapulting midwestern high school hoops into a nationally televised arena. The film admirably does not downplay any of the well-documented dramas and tensions that then sprung forth from James's literally overnight fame, but instead of wallowing in sensational celebrity scandal, Belman keeps these developments in their proper perspective in regards to the bigger picture: how they affected the entire group and what they all aimed to accomplish.
   
   That is an example of how and why More Than a Game works--showing the grounded, real-life terms and consequences of an increasingly surreal chain of events. Only a select few people can completely relate to being blessed with natural athletic ability and talent at such a young age; even fewer still would relate to being suddenly thrust into the media spotlight and scrutiny. But underneath that gloss and glamour is the classic tale of boys growing into men, of people learning the importance of the greater group glory over the individual shine, with the distinctly drawn personalities of each of the five offering a fairly diverse set of entry points for the viewer to understand and relate. Ironically enough, in balancing his attention between everyone on the team, Belman offers deeper, uncommonly intimate insight into the film's marquee name; one is a witness what is perhaps James's most critical, formative period through the eyes of those who not only knew him best, but had a huge hand in shaping the superstar "King James" so familiar to sports fans today. But if lifting-oneself-from-a-hard-knock-childhood-through-big-dreams is fairly commonplace film fodder, More Than a Game's trump card comes in an arc that is not as commonly told and even more empowering: the story of Coach Dru, as the film is just as much about him coming into his own. If James's story confirms the prevailing contemporary notion that one's opportunity for success comes--and then passes--only while one is young, that of the elder Dru counters that, rather poignantly proving that one does not have to settle for comfort and complacency, for one's true calling and self-actualization may not arrive until later in life.
   
   That statement may make More Than a Game sound pretentious, but such weightier ideas are delivered in a very accessible and entertaining package. The Fab Five make an affable and appealing, funny and fun group, and Belman accordingly has fun, fighting the trap of talking head-and-news-clip documentary monotony and keeping the film visually dynamic. Beyond some snazzy (but not overdone) graphic work that gives the documentary staples of old photos and newspaper headlines some motion and flair, Belman also manages to lend some variety to the basketball footage, with each pivotal game edited and presented in their own subtly distinct way; for instance, some visual repetitiveness is avoided by simply not shooting scoreboards in the same way. Belman even has a little fun with the standard closing "where are they now" text cards without resorting to overwrought editorializing or labored stabs at profundity.
   
   While it certainly helps to be familiar with the game of basketball and a fan of the sport to enjoy More Than a Game, it is far from necessary. Basketball is what brought the Fab Five and Coach Dru together and was and remains a shared passion, but the game is almost incidental to the larger idea: not only that those from not exactly the most privileged of backgrounds can indeed dream and succeed, but that one doesn't necessarily do it by oneself. Not looking out for number one but instead always looking out for each other is what made Coach Dru and the Fab Five what they were as a team, who they have become as people today--and why their story and this film are so richly moving and inspirational.



3. Very good story about 4 kids from different backgrounds growing up together in Akron, Ohio and how basketball brought them together and taught them about teamwork and about values. Even though the hype is about Lebron James, this story is as much about the others as about him (although there are some great basketball scenes).
   
   The movie really lets you know what is in the kids, the coaches and the fans minds and it puts them together well. After the end of the movie you realize the roles all the people
   played in making a champion.
   
   Being an avid basketball fan and following Lebron James though his high school career, I found it entertaining but I think my wife liked the movie even more than I did and she's never watched a basketball game in her life.

5 comments about The Biggest Loser: The Workout - Boot Camp.

1. This was the first Biggest Loser exercise DVD that I ever bought and also my favorite. It has 3 levels where level 1 is 20 mins, level 2 is 15 mins and level 3 is 10 mins. Levels 1 and 2 incorporate bursts of cardio to elevate your heart rate and burn more calories. In level 3 a resistance band is used, although you can use weights too. The cooldown incorporates yoga moves that make you feel great after a workout. What I love about this DVD is that you can select what workouts you want to do and the order of those workouts. Personally, I love to do level 2, then 1 then 3.
   I should say that the former contestants in this DVD are sometimes a little off in terms of their form or what they're supposed to be doing and that could be a little distracting. However, after doing the workout several times, you know what you're supposed to be doing so you end up ignoring that.



2. This is a good tape for toning up and building endurance. I use this tape every day and my results speak for themself.



3. I am not a person who enjoys exercising... at ALL. I am a busy homeschooling mom with 9 children, but after loosing 30 lbs last year I decided I really wanted to 'tighten' :-) So I picked this up at a local store, after being inspired by the Biggest Loser show, which I have not watched before this season. All I can say is WOW I must be SO out of shape even with all the little people I carry around because after one attempt at doing HALF of the first part of the beginner segment, I hurt so bad I could hardly climb my stairs to go to bed. I hurt terribly for 3 days. 2 weeks later I decided to try again, this time doing half of the reps, but doing each exercise and walking in place while I waited for the next exercise. I have found I am not nearly as sore, but really break a sweat, I am working on building up to full beginner status. This is the most amazing workout, it keeps me WANTING to exercise.. a new concept for me... And I love Bob as the trainer, he's motivational, funny, strong, and makes me want to be strong.



4. Love these DVD's! I just got the regular shipping and it came in about a week (maybe a little more). Very happy with the service and product. Thank you.



5. I LOVE this video!! It definitely exceeded my expectations and helped me drop the last 5-pounds I was looking to lose, did it in 2-weeks with the video!

5 comments about Cars [Blu-ray].

1. Lightning McQueen, a hotshot rookie race car driven to succeed, discovers that life is about the journey, not the finish line, when he finds himself unexpectedly detoured in the sleepy Route 66 town of Radiator Springs. On route across the country to the big Piston Cup Championship in California to compete against two seasoned pros, McQueen gets to know the town's offbeat characters including Sally, a snazzy 2002 Porsche, Doc Hudson, a 1951 Hudson Hornet with a mysterious past, and Mater, a rusty but trusty tow truck, who help him realize that there are more important things than trophies, fame and sponsorship. The animation in this movie is gorgeous, and the story brings a smile to your face, and you can't help falling in love with all of the colorful characters. This is movie is worth seeing.



2. If this movie goes down in price, definitely get it on Blu-Ray. On a regular DVD you'll probably just see better detail and brighter colors. But on the Blu-Ray version I could make out textures on surfaces of the people/surroundings that I never saw before.



3. I and many other car guys have watched this one with subtle enjoyment. There are plenty of little car related gags in the film that are lots of fun to notice when they come up. You can get this one for the kids, and you can enjoy it for yourself too.



4. I was excited to receive this product and it didn't disappoint. Great Price! MONEY WELL SPENT! Thanks. (=



5. I loved this movie when it came out. Had purchased a copy when it went on DVD, watched it many times, with the family, until it started to freeze up too many times. Now on blue ray, not only still a cute movie, awesome graphics.

5 comments about The Biggest Loser Workout: Cardio Max.

1. I barely got through level 1! When i finished I was sweating like crazy and I never sweat. This video is definately going to have me bikini perfect by next summer!



2. This is not a normal DVD in home workout, you sweat! and the next day you can really feel it, its great!!! I like to follow this with the body sculpt for a complete workout!



3. This is my second Biggest Loser workout DVD and I think I might be hooked on them. The Cardio Max is just what it promises--your heart will get pumping and the sweat will start pouring as you move through a variety of cardio exercises.
   
   Level 1 is led by Bob Harper and he does a great job of teaching the movements and encouraging you along. The cast's form isn't always the best--watch Bob not them!--but its nice to know there are other people working alongside you. Level 2 is a quick 10 minutes with Jillian Michaels. Its tough because she moves FAST, but the exercises get changed up quickly so the time flies by. I gave the DVD only 4 of 5 stars because Level 3 wasn't really a Level 3 to me. Compared to Jillian's Level 2, Kim Lyons' Level 3 was like a cool down. Its nice to add 10 more minutes to the workout, but it isn't any harder than the other two levels. Which maybe I shouldn't complain about...
   
   All in all--a great DVD that keeps me excited about working out.



4. I waited and waited before I bought this workout dvd, I finally bought it and I was glad I did it is wonderful, especially the 10 mintues with jillian and kim I would recommend this to everyone who likes to workout.



5. I didn't really expect to actually work me the way it did. Its really difficult at first, but keep at it and it gets easier. Bob keeps you interested enough to keep at it. I loved it.

5 comments about The Biggest Loser: The Workout - Weight Loss Yoga.

1. This is the first workout video I've ever stuck with through all of the "levels" in the last 15 years of working out at home! I started from a very low level of physical fitness, so I'm going at a slower pace than "recommended." (The DVD recommends to do the workout 4-5 days per week, with 2 weeks per level). I'm using it 3 days per week (as I'm sore enough that I need a rest day in between), and have done 3 weeks per level - but I'm finishing Week 8 now and next week will be my last week on Level 3 before I move to the Maintenance level. The changes in my strength and flexibility are measurable and quite frankly, amazing to me. This workout isn't easy, but it builds my confidence more than the huffing-and-puffing cardio style workouts. I'm dripping sweat by the time I'm done, yet feel completely relaxed. In just this past 2 months, my balance has improved, my strength has increased by what feels like leaps and bounds, and I can now touch my toes! I haven't been able to touch my toes in years! I'd say this workout is geared towards beginners, as the moves are doable even by "big people" like me. Even though the people in the video are all former Biggest Loser contestants/winners, it's nice to see them shaking and struggling through some parts just like I do (except for Ally! Man, she is a MACHINE! Go pink team!) Bob Harper is encouraging (though whenever I'm doing the Awkward Airplanes in Level 2, I typically curse him as a sadist). 8 weeks into using this DVD, my motto is now, "I live for corpse pose!" I can't say enough good things about this workout. I believe that someday I'll be saying that it changed my life.



2. I have been looking for a yoga video for over two years. I have gotten about 4 or 5, because they get great reviews but the workouts are so boring, too long and i don't do them. I have done this one twice in two days, it is that good! I love this video and skipped to week 5-6 because I wanted a hard workout and have done yoga for years, it was perfect. I loved how fast paced it was, and the ab workout is the best too.
   I got this dvd for my brother who just had back surgery b/c I am sure that the week 1-2 will be modified enough for him to start working on building a strong core and recovery.



3. I'm new to yoga (new year's resolution) and I'm so glad that I picked this one as 1 of the 2 yoga DVDs I got. I would have never guessed that I could get so sore without having to use any weights, no crazy cardio etc...just my body "and Bob", heh. I'm doing this 2-3 times a week, in rotation with other Biggest Loser trainer DVDs. I WILL be in swimsuit shape by June :)



4. I've never purchased a Yoga video before and wasn't sure what to expect but I love it. It's a great workout! I'm sweating like crazy by the time I'm done and I just love Bob!



5. I have been doing yoga, off and on, for over ten years. Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised that this DVD actually taught me a new pose (awkward airplane...great for your core). I have been to many different yoga classes and have watched many yoga videos and DVDs, but this is the first DVD I found that incorporates light weights and a medicine ball into practice. I like the additions of the weights; it keeps the workout fresh.
   
   As previous reviewers have noticed, going from plank to downward dog endlessly can be boring, but it's so good for your abs, and I hate crunches.

5 comments about Whip It.

1. Much more fun than I was expecting, `Whip It' is the equivalent of girl power personified by the coming of age inevitableness of life. With a sharp and witty directorial debut by Drew Barrymore (who doesn't just LOVE her?), and a great cast (seriously, this ensemble is better than nearly every ensemble SAG chose to nominate), `Whip It' is a whole lot of fun; period.
   
   The film revolves around a young and awkward teenager named Bliss. Her mother is controlling and her father avoids confrontation at all costs. Bliss is a social outcast (as is made clear in the opening scene, she only has one friend) who is longing for something that makes her even slightly happy. That is when a stroke of odd luck places her in the right place at the right time. She catches a glimpse of happiness in the form of roller derby chicks. After attending her first match, and officially declaring the roller clad females her new heroes, Bliss is persuaded to try-out for the team. She smudges her age and lies to her parents and soon becomes the new `it' girl on the roller derby circuit.
   
   Bliss Cavendar by day, Babe Ruthless by night.
   
   I really like Ellen Page. I really think that she is headed places. Between her Oscar nominated turn in `Juno', her stunning (and quite different) turn in the previous years `Hard Candy' and now her memorable and touching performance here she has really proven she has range and is not just a one-trick pony (as some tried to make claim to after her `Smart People' performance proved to be very similar to her `Juno' one). She finds a real soul in Bliss, exploiting (in a good way) everything that makes her, and her alter-ego, so special.
   
   Really, it is the acting (and Drew's brisk direction) that makes this film a must see.
   
   Mrs. Harden is always in top form for me and I really enjoy watching her act, so she was a delight for me. She breathes life into a clichéd character (very clichéd when you think about it) and makes her feel fresh and new. Alia Shawkat is splendid as Bliss's best friend Pash, and the nerdy Carlo Alban is effective, even if the film isn't really interested in him. Landon Pigg is a stock boyfriend, but he has this boyish charm to him that makes him endearing even if he is rather unattractive. Jimmy Fallon and Andrew Wilson really make the most of their characters (Fallon is especially funny) and Daniel Stern is sweet and tender as Bliss's father (the scene in the van in particular is a subtle yet heart tugging moment of paternal affection).
   
   And then you have all the roller derby ladies!
   
   Kristen Wiig, Eve, Drew Barrymore, Zoe Bell and especially Juliette Lewis are all in top form. Wiig delivers her lines with a soft and affectionate tone that makes her feel like a real person (and that mother/daughter talk in the car was especially effective, endearing without every coming over sappy and out of place for the films humorous direction). Barrymore demoted herself to slapstick sidekick, but she is HILARIOUS! Lewis takes the cake for me with her ferocious take on Iron Mavon, Babe Ruthless's arch nemesis. She appears like a stock villain in the beginning, with a little extra kick to make her pop out at you, but as the film progresses and she has her confrontation with Bliss you really see the other side to this woman, and remarkably Lewis was able to evoke a real sense of painful anger in her voice.
   
   Like I said, this ensemble is stellar.
   
   There are some plot holes. It strikes me as rather ridiculous to conclude that Bliss could attend all those games without her very strict mother ever catching on. Sure, she lied and had some alibis in the beginning, but she was out a lot and late at night, so it didn't really make sense. The general plot point of Bliss alienating herself after finding something `new' seemed a little `been there done that', as did her conflicts with her mother, but they are forgivable. The love interest side plot was a little predictable and kind of silly, but I like the directorial flourishes (the love scene in the pool, while `strange', was engaging and interesting to watch) found within it.
   
   In the end I was very satisfied with this film. I give it a very high B (B+ even) and strongly recommend it for any fan of the genre or the cast. It is sweet, funky, witty and ultimately full of enough to win you over completely.



2. Teen drama and quirk lovers, this one's for you.
   
   Bliss (Ellen Page) lives in dead-end Texas working at the local, home-of-the-Squealer BBQ joint. Her mother (Marcia Gay Harden) knows her daughters tickets out of town include beauty and brains and she promotes this via beauty pageants. Bliss hates this endless parade while her younger sister grabs hold of it. (Begin teen drama.) One day Bliss discovers the big, wild world of Roller Derby and embraces the idea that she can be her own hero. So, she grasps her new dream. (Intensification of teen drama.) Bliss becomes Babe Ruthless, finds her special niche, adds new life to the "We're Number 2!" Hurl Scouts -- slackers of the Roller Derby world, and meets her nemesis on wheels. Bliss embraces the one thing that makes her feel alive, meets the guy of her dreams and then discovers that the big beauty pageant is on the same day as the final Roller Derby face off. (Explosion of teen drama begins here.)
   
   The drama is predictable but the characters are fun and the sports anti-hero concept is fresh. The Roller Derby action keeps the film speeding over film obstacles. My favorite parts of the film all included coach Razor (Andrew Wilson) and his hilarious, dry delivery. Pure entertainment with some laughs and a few feel good, awww moments.
   
   Notes for parents. Teen drinking is an issue, however, there are consequences. One sexual conversation is especially verbally graphic in a scene where Bliss helps gross out her friend so she vomits.



3. Roller Derby. I can easily remember turning on the television and watching the Los Angeles T-Birds. Personally, I didn't know if this was a true sport or if it was like wrestling and it was just sports entertainment. But I was hooked. Not sure if it was the blonde women with poofy hair throwing other women out of the rink or that one person who didn't look should be on the rink, actually kicking butt. Needless to say, that roller derby has had its following for decades and now here we are with a film based on a character who takes part in roller derby competitions.
   
   "Whip It" marks the directorial debut by actress Drew Barrymore ("E.T.", "50 First Dates", "The Wedding Singer", "Charlie's Angels" films) and is an adaptation of the novel "Derby Girl" by Shauna Cross, a fictionalized book of skating with the TXRD Lonestar Rollergirls.
   
   The independent film was released in theaters during the fall of 2009 and now makes its Blu-ray and DVD debut. The Blu-ray edition comes with a second disc which contains a digital copy of the film.
   
   VIDEO & AUDIO:
   
   "Whip It" is presented in 1080 High Definition (Widescreen 2:40:1), AVC @ 36 MBPS. The film sports vibrant colors with the Hurl Scouts green outfits, while amber lights shine on the roller derby rink. You can see details in the surroundings, especially injuries ala bloody noses to bruises. Even the tattoos on Kristen Wiig are seen much clearly on HD. Skin tones are natural and blacks are nice and deep. Everything is visible from the freckles of Pash, to the sweat and tears of Bliss and the other girls during competition or the more emotional scenes of the film. I will say that at first, I thought this was a period film shot in the '80s but you realize that the film focuses on Bliss living in a very small town.
   
   There is a fine amount of grain in the film and I didn't notice any compression artifacts, banding or any sign of DNR. A solid Blu-ray release in terms of PQ from Fox.
   
   As for the audio, "Whip It" is featured in English 5.1 DTS-HD MA and Spanish, French 5.1 Dolby Digital. The film is front and center channel driven. Dialogue and music are both crystal clear but there is minimal use of surrounds. You can hear crowd ambiance and the women racing on the rink and hitting the side rails and hearing the skates but its not immersive as I would have hoped but still, the film is not all about the roller derby and there are plenty of dialogue scenes and music-driven scenes that are very clear, with some songs having a nice kick of bass. A pretty interesting soundtrack as well from '80s 38 Special's "Caught Up in You" to music from the Ramones and the Breeders.
   
   Subtitles are in English SDH and Spanish.
   
   SPECIAL FEATURES:
   
   "Whip It" comes with a digital copy of the film and comes with a few special features:
   
   * Deleted Scenes - (16:14) Included is an alternate opening and eight deleted scenes.
   * Fox Movie Channel Presents Writer's Draft: Shauna Cross of "Whip It" - (3:04) A short featurette with an interview with novel and screenwriter Shauna Cross about "Whip It".
   * Whip It Soundtrack Spot - (:32) A promotional for the "Whip It" soundtrack.
   
   
   JUDGMENT CALL:
   
   "Whip It" may seem like a film about roller derby and the antics that go behind-the-scenes of the sport but truthfully, the film has many layers. From a coming-of-age film, a relationship movie and a girl power film, there are a good number of things going on in this film that there is far much more to enjoy than expected.
   
   I have to admit that Drew Barrymore's directorial debut definitely shows promise. The actress has starred in so many films since she was a child and has worked with a good number of quality director's, I had no doubt that she would do a pretty solid job.
   
   Part of the challenge of "Whip It" is bringing together this wild bunch of characters that the character Bliss associates with and then bringing this other side of her life as a teenager from a small town, having an overbearing pageant mother and working at a fast food restaurant while trying to maintain her friendship with her high school friends and then finding love. Definitely not an easy task for Barrymore but one thing she does have is the original author Shauna Cross involved with the screenplay and she has a talented actress in Ellen Page in the main role.
   
   At first glance, I didn't know if Page can pull of such a role but as she did with "Juno" she manages to pull of Bliss very well for "Whip It".
   
   As for the other supporting characters, personally I don't if roller derby lifestyles are similar to what is depicted in the movie. As much as I do enjoy Barrymore's directorial debut, her role as Smashley Simpson is a bit too much while I do feel Kristen Wiig manages to pull off another solid supporting role like she has done in "Extract" and Juliette Lewis still does a great job in portraying the bad girl. Marcia Gay Harden and Daniel Stern (who plays Bliss's father) also do a good job as the parents of Bliss.
   
   As for the Blu-ray, the picture quality for the film was very good and the lossless audio was satisfactory but it would have been great to have it a bit more immersive via use of the surround channels. And it would have been great to have audio commentary by Barrymore and Shauna Cross or even a featurette on how the talent prepared for the film or even Behind-the-scenes footage. I felt the special features were a bit short for this Blu-ray release. But as for the film, "Whip It" is an entertaining, humorous and a solid coming-of-age, feel-good style of film. And again, although roller derby does play a big part in this film, "Whip It" is not an all out sports movie. The film has many layers to it and fortunately, the solid performances definitely made this film enjoyable.
   
   Overall, "Whip It" is a solid directorial debut from Drew Barrymore and fine performances by Ellen Page and its supporting cast makes this film better than expected.



4. this was so cute. It is about this little girl who is forced to be in beauty pageants but likes to roller derby. Her mom just wouldn't understand so she takes the senior bingo bus to Austin. It is so cute and reminds me of being a teenager back in the nineties and early 2000's. Alot of good music by dolly parton , the ramones and .38 special. Drew Barrymore did a great job acting and directing in it (playing a dopey skater girl who is forever getting disqualified)



5. My daughter and I go see a new movie every single week. This movie is one of our favorites for 2009!! Ellen Page was perfect for the role, and Drew Barrymore is wonderful. After seeing the movie three times (in the theater), I'd say the father was my favorite player. Great film!!!! Especially for a person like me who really did go see real "banked track" roller derby with my own father years ago!

5 comments about Jillian Michaels: Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism.

1. I really like this workout. I can see the results after doing it a couple of times a week for two months. Jillian is great!



2. This is a serious workout! It includes a warm up, 4 tough circuits involving both muscle toning and aerobic / cardiac training, and then a cool down. It is not beyond the capacity of a beginner, and yet it is still very challenging for the highly experienced and fit. Jillian is unrelenting, and at times can be condescending. However, the workout is worth it (and there is an option for just music!). You are guaranteed to sweat and feel it the next day...and the day after...



3. I bought this dvd after doing the 30 day shred and no more trouble zones. This is a killer. I've been doing it for 2 weeks, I have already lost 5 lbs. This is a crazy hard workout. I recommend this to anyone that wants to see results. This will get them for you.



4. Working out with Jillian is awesome! If you are ready for hard work....and ONLY if you are ready for hard work, then buy her DVD's. I have all of them and LOVE each one! None are the same at all, and each will kick your butt! However...YOU need to make that happen. It's your intensity that will make it work. So if you are a "fluffy trainer type" person, then you probably won't like Jillian.Although she does talk about beginner moves and promotes doing the easier moves if that is what your body is telling you what to do. She also helps encourage you to give it your all. She just a "tells it like it is kind of gal" and helps push you to be your best. No half assing it. It's YOUR workout she says...you buy the DVD, you do the work. Each of her DVD's have different routines, but the message is the same if you want your outer shell to be hot, then you also need to work on your inner shell, your mind & nutrition have to be in the game with you as well.
   
   Jillian Rocks! Great intense workouts in all her DVD's and in her Biggest Loser DVD's. Good Luck to you!



5. I have been doing the 30 Day Shred for about 2 months now and have seen great results (have lost about 15 pounds and a lot of inches). When I get tired of doing the Shred or want to mix it up a bit, I'll do the Banish Fat, Boost Metablism DVD. I really enjoy that there are no weights involved and that it is mostly cardio. I find the exercises fun, and I'm able to get through the entire DVD without having to stop, which is nice. Of course Jillian still kicks my butt and I'm left panting and sweating!
   
   I really enjoy doing this DVD and I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who is looking for a fun but challenging workout.

5 comments about Jillian Michaels: No More Trouble Zones.

1. Five days into using this DVD, I can already tell my body is changing. Jillian really put together an intense DVD, full of moves that are going to kick your butt into shape. This is really not for true beginners (plank rows?! REALLY? I have to do HOW many?!), but I thought it was awesome. When you've finished it, you really have a true sense of accomplishment. An hour of intense, crazy stuff leaves you sweaty, hot, and feeling like a million bucks. BUY THIS.



2. This is a tough workout. But Jillian is very encouraging and motivating, and she is not too perky like so many fitness instructors. The workout consists of basic but extremely effective exercises. There's no crazy jumping around, and you don't get frustrated if you're not flexible enough or quick enough to pay attention to the moves. But you feel the burn. Oh my goodness. But it's worth it because every time I get through this workout, I feel amazing. Jillian is my hero.



3. Phew! This workout is just what I needed. After 3 years of dragging myself to the gym sporadically, I decided to start working out at home instead. I picked up this DVD after reading online reviews and WOW! I'm feeling good! I have been working out more consistently than ever, and I'm definitely seeing results. Jillian incorporates "old-school" mat work (stuff I remember seeing my mom doing at Gloria Stevens in the 70s) and weights into a dynamic routine that will have you pouring sweat and cursing (always a good sign).
   
   I appreciate a good challenge (see my review of "10 Minute Solution: Fat Blasting Dance Mix") and this workout is perfect for that. After having this DVD for a couple of months, there are still things I have to really push myself to do, such as the plank exercises, and every time I put the DVD on I say "I'm going to do this even better today than I did the last time".
   
   I love Jillian, she is good at explaining form and she's a great motivator. However, one caution is that she doesn't seem to count reps. It doesn't bother me, but you may find that annoying if you like to stick to an exact count. And if you are the type who needs to rest a bit between circuits, be advised that this workout is basically nonstop and not for the faint of heart. The goal is to burn as many calories as possible, so once you get on the Jillian train the next stop is not for about 40 minutes. That is one of the many reasons I like this workout--I know that it is effective and I'm burning calories and fat. If you decide to get this DVD, you will not be disappointed!



4. I've done a lot of strength-training before and the first time I did this, I was gasping for a break. But as time went on, it got easier but it doesn't broach challenging. It's a great addition to a rigorous workout and I bet if anyone is looking to lose weight or tone up quickly, this on top of some serious cardio and good diet will get you there in no time.



5. I've done a lot of workout DVDs and Jillian Michaels' are by far my favorites. I don't need to lose a lot, maybe another 7-10 lbs, but really wanted to tone up. I started with her 30 Day Shred and just received her No More Trouble Zones, which I did for the first time yesterday. OMG! I have NEVER felt the effects of a workout like this, and I LOVE it. My obliques are even sore, which is so reassuring that I've actually worked them! I was dripping sweat by the end. I can't wait to do it again!! And I am excited to see how I'll look and feel in a few weeks. HELLO SUMMER!