Tom and Jerry: Spotlight Collection, Vol. 3

Description

Tom may catch Jerry on occasion but no one really believes the adorable little mouse will come to harm. After all, it would have also meant the end to the most popular and beloved cat and mouse act in show business. This is the third and final Spotlight Collection Volume from the Hanna-Barbera era of theatrical shorts. It showcases 35 classic cartoons - 15 newly re-mastered in their original CinemaScope widescreen format. On any screen large or small, Tom and Jerry remain the friskiest animated adversaries of all time. Catch them if you can.

DVD Features:
Documentary:60 Years of Cat and Mouse: The Tale of Tom and Jerry - The History of One of Animationâ€™s Greatest Teams, Hanna-Barbera - from Early Days to Censorship Controversies to Award-Winning Glory
Featurette:The Karate Guard: the theatrical short released in 2005 that marked Joe Barbera's first return as a writer, director and story board artist on the series since his and Hanna's original cartoon shorts from 1940-58. This also was the last Tom and Jerry short Barbera worked on.

Customer Reviews:

Warner Watchdogs, or just plain Warner DOGS!.......2007-09-14

I was so excited about buying this set until I heard they omitted two cartoons and censored another so...

I'm done with Warner and it's not even funny or comical. Guess I've just about had it with their insipid dvd decisions.

They made a horrible mistake in the way they released Knots Landing, which suffered low sales because of their idiocy and thus, no more Knots. Yes, Warner says 'SCREW YOU TO FANS!'

Now they're not going to put two cartoons on the Tom and Jerry dvd because it offends some people? Well you know what, if it offends those people, they don't have to buy it or watch it.

To tell other people they can't watch it because some hyper sensitive people don't like it is ridiculous. This is a FREE COUNTRY. So, yes, that means Warner is free to do what they want but really, does this mean Warner is saying people are free so long as we all live like and don't offend the super-sensitives? No more freedom of speech, no more artistical integrity.

It's getting to the point where everything offends someone and if you keep cowtowing to those people, everyone is going to have a problem with something and no one is going to get anything. Last night on the news, I saw one town that was so sick of dog barking, dogs are now banned in the ENTIRE TOWN! Well you know what, I don't like Intellectually Challenged people but if we banned them, Warner Brothers would have no one to employ in their Home Video Department.

There are many offensive things that have happened throughout the course of history. I wish we could erase slavery and war out of existence but I don't see that happening and many of the un-pretty parts of history we are able to see now not as a means of imitation but rather to see how our ever changing society has evolved and grown beyond the ignorance of a bygone era. Understand, not allowing people to view what's offensive does not change history or make it go away.

All it does is give other hyper sensitive people more of a reason to try and control what others should or should not be allowed to see and learn for themselves in a FREE COUNTRY.

So Warner, you can keep the cartoons in the vault all you want. Me? I'll keep my money in my wallet.

2 cartoons omitted and His Mouse Friday edited........2007-09-14

Hey everyone, I just got home from buying this set, even though I knew about the 2 omitted cartoons beforehand. Disc one was pre-scratched for my enjoyment of course.
I was shocked to see that they STILL edited 'His Mouse Friday'. The frame has been chopped to omit the big-lipped native prodding Jerry at the end.
Also, wasn't it 'Royal Cat Nap' that had the scene at the end (admittedly disturbing) where Jerry and Nephew are walking and there is the silhouette of a guillotine in the distance cutting off Tom's head? That scene is not here. Excuse me if it is in another cartoon.
Whatever. I gave up on America years ago - so this doesn't surprise me.
Pathetic.

Do not buy, set is heavily censored........2007-09-13

I had every intention of buying this set, but when I read of the 2 cartoons being left off for Political Correctness reasons, I decided then and there that enough is enough. I bought the first 2 sets and got the disk replacements, but won't even consider buying the 3rd until I know that I am getting a complete and uncensored set. I am 45 years old and I will decide for myself what I watch or don't watch. I don't need a nanny at Warner Home Video deciding for me. So, let us put some pressue on WHV and see if we can't keep the sales figures down for this item.

Three strikes and Warners is out..........2007-09-13

Strange that when you insert each disc in this collection you're subjected to a P.C. "the cartoons you are about to see..." warning, then there's ANOTHER warning at the beginning of the documentary, and Warners STILL manages to omit 2 cartoons!?! Even more strange, the featurette includes clips from these 2 omitted cartoons and places them in historical perspective...
And in case you're wondering why the Looney Tunes DVDs get treated better than the MGM cartoons (and why after three volumes of Tom and Jerry they still can't get it right), it's because different divisions inside Warner Bros Home Video handle them. Maybe they can get it together for Tom and Jerry on Blu-Ray...? In the meantime, way to go guys!

What Warner Home Video doesn't want you to see!.......2007-09-13

Note: I am not saying that black stereotypes are acceptable.

Here is the inside information as to why the censoring:
"The Tom & Jerry collections (and all other Warner cartoons - including the Hanna Barbera collections) are supervised by the "Family Department". The POPEYE and LOONEY TUNES dvds are supervised under another department - the classic films department - and they will be uncensored." So these are issued by the wrong division of Warner Home Video.

To see what all the censorship was about I pulled out my "Art Of Tom & Jerry" Laserdisc that Ted Turner released in the previous century . It has all of the classic Tom & Jerry Cartoons!

First let me say that both cartoons excluded from this set have Mammy Two Shoes, but then she is included in about half of the other 1940's T&J cartoons on these DVD sets. So she is not the issue.

The omitted cartoons:

"MOUSE CLEANING" - First let me say that I had to view the entire cartoon until the end to find any reason Warner could have. As Mammy-Two-Shoes arrived back home, Jerry turns a coal shoot towards the living room window. This results in Mammy & Tom being swept out of the house in a coal slide. A black faced Tom pops up & mammy asks if he had seen Thomas, tom realizes that he is not recognized so he shuffles off like 'Step-N-Fetch-it' declaring that he had not seen Thomas. Mammy realizes her mistake & the stereotype impression is gone as Tom runs off.

"CASANOVA CAT" - To impress a female cat, Tom grabs Jerry & blows cigar smoke in his face, giving Jerry a black face. Tom then puts Jerry on a metal plate and holds a flame under it to heat it up. Jerry then commences to tap dancing on the plate. No dialogue, just a dance. What is wrong with dancing? Dancing is a talent.

So that is it. No dice throwing, no watermelon. Mostly just black faced animals (there are black cats) & some brief dialog. In the case of Casanova Cat I don't think any kids would even understand the stereotype of a black tap dancer. Other studios have done worse stereotypes that i can understand excluding. But these two cartoons seem mild, with the stereotypes just brief side-bars to the main story line. A disclaimer with separate menu access would have been sufficient.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

A very good remake; collector's edition is sweet
GREAT COLLECTOR'S EDITION OF THE INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS!
Great New Special Edition of Classis 70's Paranoia
Get INVADED all over again....
DON'T FALL ASLEEP WATCHING THIS MOVIE!!!

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (Collector's Edition)
Starring: Brooke Adams , Maurice Argent , Joe Bellan , Veronica Cartwright , and Tom Dahlgren
Director: Philip Kaufman
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000QQJ3Q0
Release Date: 2007-08-07

Description

When filmy spores fall from space and take root in San Francisco, the city is beautifully transformed by spectacular and exotic flowers. But these lovely extraterrestrial blossoms have gruesome plansfor their earthly admirers: to slowly clone their bodiesand then dispose of the originals! "A first-rate suspense thriller" (Newsday), this sci-fi adventure is a "chilling" (Leonard Maltin), "dazzling" (The New York Times) and "stunning" (Cosmopolitan) thrill ride that will send your pulse rate soaring! From a brilliant screenplay by Academy AwardÂ(r) nominee* W.D. Richter, filmmaker Philip Kaufman directs an all-star cast that includes Donald Sutherland, Jeff Goldblum, Brooke Adams and Leonard Nimoy. With its mesmerizing style and awe-inspiring special effects, Invasion of the Body Snatchers is "a classic of the genre" (New York Post) a terrifying tale that "literally chills the blood" (The Hollywood Reporter)!

Customer Reviews:

A very good remake; collector's edition is sweet.......2007-08-27

As other reviewers have noted, this is an excellent remake of the 1956 original, with superb casting, great performances, excellent direction and cinematography. Veronica Cartwright and Jeff Goldblum (and Spock - Leonard Nimoy!) are very good in supporting roles. Cartwright in particular is just excellent (see her also in "Alien"). And Sutherland and Adams give believable, sympathetic performances in the leads. The scene towards the end when "Amazing Grace" starts playing on bagpipes along the waterfront... well, suffice to say it's tremendously effective and emotional. This film speaks volumes about the evils of social pressure and conformity, while managing to scare the be-jeezus out of most viewers. Definitely worth having in your collection of sci/fi DVDs! I'll leave you with one final line from the film: "It eez a caper!" "No, it's a rat turd!" :-)

GREAT COLLECTOR'S EDITION OF THE INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS!.......2007-08-22

i have recently saw the new movie THE INVASION starring nicole kidman and daniel craig a third remake of the invasion of the body snatchers.i wont spoil this third entry on my thoughts for now for those who havent seen it yet,so lets move on to the 1978 invasion of the body snatchers,directed by philip kaufman and starring donald sutherland,brooke adams,jeff goldblum,veronica cartwright,leonard nimoy.with special appearances of don seigel,kevin mccarthy and robert duvall.an intense remake of the 1956 classic of the same name based on jack finney's novel.while the 1956 version is far more superior the 1978 version runs close behind with added different twists to the story.the new 2007 collector's edition gives this 1978 small gem the red carpet treatment with better sound and crystal clean print better than its previous release in the late 1990's,with added bonuses on the making of the 1978 film.the question is..is it worth the upgrade?........ the answer is yes!everything you want to know about the 1978 version is right here in this worthwhile package 2 disc set.a great addition to any collections of sci fi.now back to the 2007 INVASION film,the third remake is a (im sorry im falling asleep(yawning)let me get some sleep and ill finish this review another time zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Great New Special Edition of Classis 70's Paranoia .......2007-08-16

I loved this Film from teh first time I viewed it about 5 years ago. Everything is perfect the cast the pace the atmosphere. The New Special Edition is very nice with some small little documentaries on the makings of the film. And just to point out that french title on the cover art on the amazon listing is NOT on the package for some odd reason they got a image of the french/multi lingual release not the US release. I can't tell if the new DVD is better looking than the older release but it is a dual layer disc where as the older release was a flipper WS on one side Pan/Scan on the other, so it should be a bit better in the picture dept enhanced for 16:9 displays. SIDE NOTE:This title is currently under distribution from FOX who for some odd reason doesn't distribute their MGM titles very well. Ever since they were releasing the MGM titles such as Fiddler on the Roof and even the more recent S.E. of Showgirls the titles were very hard to find at first even on any store shelves. In fact FOX couldn't even get online sellers to give the correct street date for the Release of Invasion of the Body Snatchers some are still saying it isn't to be release until Spet 11th. FOX is about to release a bunch of MGM Midnite Movies titles coming in the next month or so. Hopefully these titles will not be hard to find and that someone at FOX will get these titles in stores at a faster pace.

Get INVADED all over again...........2007-08-13

People keep asking me, is this movie worth the double dip?? My reply is YES!!!! I have been waiting for months to receive my copy of this rerelease Collectors Edition and it was worth the wait.

The story needs no recap, everyone in the world should know the story by now. However the special effects are awesome (that man/dog hybrid still works today and the space flowers at the beginning look very organic and real) and the acting is top notch. My favorite performance in the movie is Veronica Cartwright as Nancy. The movie also is still very scary and intense once the action gets going.

The picture on the DVD is a lot cleaner and sharper than the old disc. The widescreen framing appears to be correct, the old version seemed more zoomed in and the credits were slightly cropped off on the sides of the screen.

The sound also has more boom and clarity to it. Those pods hatching sound as creepy today as they did in the theater in 1978.

The extras while not excellent, are pretty good. Wish they would find more stuff for the Blu-Ray version, if they ever release one.

As for the Blu-Ray DVD, Yes I would definitely triple dip for that one if the picture is outstanding and true Hi-Def.

DON'T FALL ASLEEP WATCHING THIS MOVIE!!!.......2007-08-13

The 1978 remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a perennial classic that absolutely terrified me as a child and still holds up after nearly 30 years and is one of the best and rare examples where a remake actually surpasses the original ala John Carpenter's The Thing. Director Philip Kaufman crafts a suspenseful science-fiction masterpiece about the dehumanization of humanity by investing in the personalities of very emotional human characters that break the mold of two-dimensional cookie-cutter stereotypes. Donald Sutherland and Brooke Adams have a genuine chemistry with great supporting roles by Jeff Goldblum and Veronica Cartwright. Adding to the eerie atmosphere we also get a very creepy and surreal performance by Leonard Nimoy as a pseudo-intellectual psychologist that will completely alter your perception of Mr. Spock forever.

I had the pleasure of watching this film again late at night after an exhausting day of work which is the perfect state of mind to be in. Struggling to keep myself from nodding off I could relate even better to the characters and their conflict by forcing myself to stay awake, not because the film is dull or boring, heavens no, but because as a child I believed, however irrational it may seem, that if I fell asleep watching this film that I too would be transformed and replaced by a pod. Funny how the innocent superstitions of childhood can resonate in our subconscious after so many years.

The new 2-disc collectors edition DVD is definitely worth replacing the old one if you own it, which seems almost like an analogy of the film itself which is finally presented in anamorphic widescreen with Dolby digital sound and director commentary by Philip Kaufman if you really want to test your insomnia. The second disc contains some nice featurettes like "Re-visitors From Outer Space, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Pod" featuring new interviews with Donald Sutherland, Veronica Cartwright, Phillip Kaufman and screenwriter W.D. Richter who reflect on the lasting appeal of the film and provide some interesting anecdotes about making the film. "Practical Magic: The Special Effects Pod" goes into the the organic photography of the alien spores and "The Man Behind the Scream: The Sound Effects of the Pod" features Lucasfilm's sound guru Ben Burtt who designed and mixed the sound effects after completing Star Wars to create the film's unforgettable and disturbing sound design. "The Invasion Will Be Televised: The Cinematography of the Pod" also goes into the production design and chiaroscuro lighting used to compose the forboding look and mood through light and shadow to invoke dramatic Hitchcockian suspense, and lastly the original theatrical trailer is included as well. There's more than enough material here to keep you awake for hours but should you find yourself feeling a bit tired just remember one thing; no matter what happens... DON'T FALL ASLEEP!

Average customer rating:

Almost a classic
Confused satire
Did you ever think there might be more to life than being ridiculously good looking?
Zoolander
Pimpin' Zoolander Review

Zoolander (Special Collector's Edition)
Starring: David Duchovny , Will Ferrell , Tom Ford (VIII) , Judah Friedlander , and Cuba Gooding Jr.
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00003CXPJ
Release Date: 2002-03-12

Amazon.com

Charge your micro-mini cell phones and whip up some orange mocha Frappuccino, 'cuz Zoolander is on the runway, and you're gonna laugh your booty off! Based on a sketch created by writer-director Ben Stiller and cowriter Drake Sather for the 1996 VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards, Zoolander is a delirious send-up of New York's fashion scene as epitomized by male model Derek Zoolander (Stiller), a dimwitted preener who's oblivious to a Manchurian Candidate-like plot to turn him into a brainwashed assassin. Tipped off by a reporter (Christina Taylor), Zoolander teams with rival model Hansel (Owen Wilson) to foil the poodle-haired fashion designer (Will Ferrell) who's behind the nefarious scheme. The goofy plot's only half the fun; with roles for Stiller's parents (Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara), dozens of celebrity cameos, endlessly quotable dialogue, and improvisational energy to spare, Zoolander is very smart about being very stupid, easily matching the Austin Powers franchise for inspired comedic lunacy. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Almost a classic.......2007-09-10

This movie is 6 years old and I'm just watching it now. I never really had much interest in seeing it b/c I didn't think that it looked very funny.... Well I have rented sooooo many Amazon unbox videos that I had run out of options so I decided to take the plunge and rent it. I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome. It definately was much funnier than I thought and I had a few good laughs. The costumes and hair are hilarious and Vince Vaughn as Zoolander's coal mining brother who didn't say a work cracked me up. There is a great many "cameos" that make the movie worthwhile and even has Paris Hilton in it 2 years before she bacame famous. Will Farrell does an expected funny job as does Owen Wilson. I'd recommend it for when you are sitting home alone or with a buddy w/nothing to do on a weeknight. It isn't "American Pie" or "Blades of Glory" funny but it is definately worth renting.

Confused satire.......2007-09-06

This is colourful but lightweight satire on the inanity of the fashion industry and male models in particular. Unfortunatley the makers apparently regard the film's audience as itself lacking critical faculties and intelligence, so the satire is obvious and inane rather like, um.... the notional male model.

Did you ever think there might be more to life than being ridiculously good looking?.......2007-08-04

Because there's not.

I love this movie more than I can say. Where to begin. Okay, Ben Stiller plays Derek Zoolander, a male supermodel and recipient of the Male Model of the Year Award for three years in a row. The movie begins with Derek being profiled by a TIME magazine reporter the same night that he's going up for his fourth nomination against newbie Hansel, played by Owen Wilson. Now, that Hansel, he's SO hot right now, but Derek is a household name. Who takes home the honors? The newbie. Of course. Then, to top things off, Derek's best friends and roommates die in a freak gasoline fight accident. Crushed and depressed, Derek decides to leave the world of male modeling and go back to his roots. But how long will that last?

Beginning with the MTV awards right down to the final runway walk, this movie is hilarious! First of all, it's so full of celebrity cameos you can't blink or you might miss one. This includes the outrageous (and fantastic) cameo and a half put in by David Bowie. If you wonder why it's a cameo and a half, you'll have to watch to find out. Secondly, I have never seen a satire so completely willing to go anywhere and take any risk while completely making fun of itself at the same time. I mean, Ferrari, Le Tigre, Blue Steel... what more could you want in a male model? I thank TBS for reintroducing this movie into my life, and Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, and Will Ferrell for being so hilarious. When you're in the mood for a laugh, Zoolander will never steer you wrong.

Zoolander.......2007-08-01

This movie is hysterical. I bought it for my sons 13th birthday because they had all caught it on TV a dozen or more times. He and his friends,both girls and boys,quote it and think it is the funniest thing. It is no braniac of a fim but if you are looking to escape and watch something fun and silly this is it.

Pimpin' Zoolander Review.......2007-06-11

This movie is HILARIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I loved it so so so so so so so so so much. It is a great plot, and quite creative. Your an idiot not to buy this movie!!

Average customer rating:

Oh well
I FIRMLY believe this movie proved Tom Cruise COULD actually act !
A Little Disappointed
Legal Thriller
What was Sidney Pollack doing in directing this?

The Firm
Starring: Tom Cruise , Jeanne Tripplehorn , Gene Hackman , Hal Holbrook , and Terry Kinney
Director: Sydney Pollack
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0792164962
Release Date: 2000-05-23

Amazon.com essential video

By far the best adaptation of a John Grisham bestseller, this smart, fast-paced 1993 film--directed by Sydney Pollack (Out of Africa)--offers up the dilemma of a young lawyer whose life is turned upside down when he takes a job at a Southern law firm owned by the mob. Mitch McDeere (Tom Cruise), having just graduated from Harvard Law, is besieged with offers but takes a job, too good to be true, with a small Memphis firm. He and his wife, Abby (Jeanne Tripplehorn), are sucked in by the seemingly close-knit, collegial nature of the firm's partners and the expensive perks that come with the job. His mentor, Avery (Gene Hackman), teaches him the ropes, but Mitch and Abby begin to sense there's something wrong with this idyllic life. When a couple of associates turn up dead, Mitch begins to investigate the history of the firm; and when the FBI asks him to spy on the firm for them, Mitch realizes his life will never be the same and that, if discovered, he, his wife, and his long-lost brother will be in mortal danger. Mitch must use all his talents as a lawyer to outsmart the firm, the FBI, and the mob in order to reclaim control over his life. A very entertaining thriller that engages the audience at a breakneck pace while not taking itself too seriously. It also features some fine writing and strong performances from a large cast of exceptional actors. --Robert Lane

Customer Reviews:

Oh well.......2007-06-25

This is a mediocre film mainly of interest as a stepping stone in Cruise's career. While the screenplay is not bad, Pollack never manages to convince me about evilness of "The Firm" - a law firm serving mafiosi from Chicago. The Firm characters never come alive either as lawyers or as bad guys; their sinister-edness has a cartoonish character rather an an aura of real menace.

By far the best part here was played by Hackman. Great acting - subtle, forceful and nuanced.

Cruise's acting shows the beginnings of the (rather predictable) stereotype that we get to expect afterwards: the (fake) sensitive macho, the signature running with rigid and puffed-out torso and, especially, the inability to feel. When an actor has to simulate feeling rather than actually acting THROUGH feeling, the viewer subconsciously gets funnies in the stomach, like watching a conman trying to persuade others of his honesty. Cruise emotes well but can't convincingly express affection or even sexual interest. he is good at expressing hate, as shown in Magnolia.

The actors, screenplay and the director never achieve a rapport required to convince the viewer - and themselves! - that they have a quality product. Pollack is not the Top Gun kind of guy and he never will be. Oh, well.

I FIRMLY believe this movie proved Tom Cruise COULD actually act !.......2007-03-09

Great Movie ! If You like mystery drama's or if you like Tom Cruise get this movie. He actually PROVES he CAN actually ACT and is really pretty good at it ! Just watching a man fight for his freedom to LIVE and keep his Law Degree and his Wife makes it more than a chic flick. I enjoyed the movie and personally own it ... so i would definately recommend it. U won't know what hit you ! Law and Justice, many grey lines ! A Great rainy evening at home movie.

A Little Disappointed.......2007-02-22

I like John Grisham, but this movie did not follow the book very well and an actor other than Tom Cruise would have been better.

Legal Thriller.......2007-02-21

Almost gave this 4 stars, leaning that way only because of the ending. Seemed slightly improbable, the sudden brilliant legal maneuver the main character makes at the end to evict himself and his wife out of the gangster-fed dillema his life has been thrown into. Then having thought about his brilliance at the Harvard Law School, it reduced the improbability and thus five stars.

This movie does grab you, and pulls you in so that you're always wondering what is coming next. Cruise does good job as well as Hackman.

Have not read the book yet, maybe someday. Still enjoyed the view and if the book is better, it would make a good read as well.

What was Sidney Pollack doing in directing this?.......2007-01-31

The first sign that this movie was going to be well below the book's quality level was the jazzy piano music from the first step. The early scene was a lot weaker than the book's. It continued from there. This did not need to be an R-rated movie, but some Hollywood idiot thought better.

There had been several actresses who received both best actress and best supporting actress (different roles) the same year, and the norm was typified by Jessica Lange in '82, when she lost the best actress but won the best supporting actress. The next actress in that position (Sigourney Weaver, for "Gorillas In The Mist" and "Working Girl" failed to win either. Holly Hunter was nominated in '93 for "The Piano" as best actress, which she won, and this movie for best supporting actress, which I did not believe she was as worthy of.

I like Wilford Brumley, but I cannot think of anything in this movie that is worth recommending to you.

Tom and Jerry - The Spotlight Collection (Volume 1 & 2)

Average customer rating:

Worth the Purchase
A Spotlight of Cuts & Censorship
TOM AND JERRY
Back to a younger time.
Spotlight disaster

Tom and Jerry - The Spotlight Collection (Volume 1 & 2)
Starring: Tom & Jerry Spotlight Collection
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

7-9 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

ASIN: B000ADWDK2
Release Date: 2005-10-25

Customer Reviews:

Worth the Purchase.......2007-07-30

Among our son's DVD collection this is one he truly enjoys. The comedy, music and animation are classic. The bonus material on the cartoons history is educational and the packaging is first rate.

A Spotlight of Cuts & Censorship .......2007-07-13

There are cuts, there is censorship. What more can I say? Looney Tunes were done right. Their Golden Collection series is a template of HOW a cartoon series should be released on DVD. Why not the same for Tom and Jerry??? What's going on over at the WB camp?
Questions - lots of questions!

TOM AND JERRY.......2007-05-13

EVERY THING WAS GREAT EXCEPT VOL 1 OF THE TOM AND JERRY SET ONLY CAME WITH ONE DVD. THE SET CAME WITH TWO.

Back to a younger time........2007-05-12

What can I say? For 2 bits you saw a movie on a Saturday, got a cartoon a feature plus the current serial cowboy movie. Another dime got you a bag of popcorn. Tom & Jerry took me back to those simplier times when I was a kid. They are as funny, and happy as they alway were. My favorites are when Jerry plays the piano, and of course the Two Mousekateers. For a few moments of relaxation, and good fun, kick back, make some popcorn, and watch a couple of these each night. It will improve your outlook and make you young at heart again.

Spotlight disaster.......2007-05-12

Spotlight Collection 1 still contains cuts, there are interlacing problems on some of the cartoons, others are faded, scratched and dirty. For a collection that supposedly is restored and remastered this is just out of order. Warner Bros. exchange programme is a bad joke played on their customers. Don't waste your money on this load of rubbish!

Average customer rating:

More Like Death by Boredom

Diagnosis Murder - Season 3
Director: Lou Antonio , Richard Compton , Terrence O'Hara , Farhad Mann , and Michael Lange
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

Television | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

ASIN: B000VDDDZA
Release Date: 2007-12-04

Customer Reviews:

More Like Death by Boredom.......2007-09-14

This is one astoundingly dull program for the average person. I've tried many times to watch this because my favorite activity is watching TV, since I'm a shut-in (my best friend is my Sony Bravia TV). The characters are just dull - they talk dully, they act with no relish, and it just seems to go on and on. One is actually glad when the show ends.

Average customer rating:

The world is so pale without love
Jerry Maguire
One of my Top Ten All Time
Something for Everyone
One of the great film comedies of the 1990's

Jerry Maguire
Starring: Tom Cruise , Cuba Gooding Jr. , Renée Zellweger , Kelly Preston , and Jerry O'Connell
Director: Cameron Crowe
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: 0800141741
Release Date: 1997-06-25

Amazon.com

One of the best romantic comedies of the 1990s, this box-office hit cemented writer-director Cameron Crowe's reputation as "the voice of a generation." Crowe could probably do without that label, but he's definitely in sync with the times with this savvy story about a sports agent (Tom Cruise) whose fall from grace motivates his quest for professional recovery, and the slow-dawning realization that he needs the love and respect of the single mom (Renée Zellweger in her breakthrough role) who has supported him through the worst of times. This is one of Cruise's best, most underrated performances, and in an Oscar-winning role, Cuba Gooding Jr. plays the football star who remains Jerry Maguire's only loyal client on a hard road to redemption and personal growth. If that sounds touchy-feely, it is only because Crowe has combined sharp entertainment with a depth of character that is rarely found in mainstream comedy. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

The world is so pale without love.......2007-09-07

It's not a masterpiece but it is a very good film not so much for the meaning it may contain but for the images it sends in the audience. First it gives a positive image of sports by showing how one man, one agent can be different from all others in this "industry", and that the main difference is to believe in what he is doing, to believe in what his heart is telling him, to work with his heart and to love the players, the athletes he is working for, he is working with. That emotional, personal and very close relationship is what everyone needs all the time to feel needed, supported. The film shows that this is also the winning method because athletes want that contact and they can recognize that human attitude and they will work for this warmth of the heart, from the heart and in the heart. And what's more this relationship will enable the athletes as well as the agents to face the difficulties life is made of and life brings up all the time. This will mean success to the athletes as athletes and success for both the agents and the athletes financially. What's more the film conveys another tremendously positive image because the agent is white and the athlete is black and their relationship is one of trust, total friendship and confidence, one of love nothing but love and care and that is the right model to send in the public: what is important is not the differences among people but the possibility to establish trusting and loving relationships beyond these differences and accepting them totally.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris Dauphine, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne & University Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines

Jerry Maguire.......2007-07-13

Cameron Crowe's directorial breakthrough (he also scripted) is an infectious comedy-romance buoyed by a star-making turn from Zellwegger, and an Oscar-winning comic performance from Gooding. Young Lipnicki is pretty appealing too, and all provide Cruise with plenty of opportunities to shine. Razor-sharp yet very human satire ends up really warming the heart.

One of my Top Ten All Time.......2007-07-07

Why? It is REAL! The character relationships and interaction are HONEST. We are talking real, raw, genuine emotion! The movie is about making a change in your own character and living with the consequences, good and bad. It is about developing genuine relationships in your life. It is about two men who "mature" through their relationship with each other. Some of the dialogue is now part of our pop-culture. There are some scenes that are hilarious. You will definitely take away a few things from this movie that will be with you forever.

Something for Everyone.......2007-06-27

Hey, we all know JERRY MAGUIRE was a box office hit that put sultry Renee Zellweger on the superstar map and birthed one of the most famous lines in all of cinema. I've seen this little gem upteen times, enjoyed it even more with each viewing, and scratch my itchy head in amazement that I have yet to review it. Suffice it to say the review begins now. . .

Let's bypass the plot and the Big Three (Renee, Tom, Cuba); for me this movie ultimately succeeds by the fantastic performances of several of its second tier players. Jay Mohr is the guy you love to hate as Jerry's backstabbing former boss, Bob Sugar; Bonnie Hunt is the manhater with a heart of pure gold as Renee's sis Laurel. But Regina King tops them all as Marcee, loving and devoted wife of unappreciated and underpaid Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Rod Tidwell. King is a vivacious, voluptuous goddess who absolutely steals every scene she's in, and while she steals it she exudes steamy sensuality. Rod Tidwell is one lucky dude.

So with the strength of its cast and its delightful plot, JERRY MAGUIRE has something for everyone. The Tom and Renee romance pleases the chicks, while the guys get off on the sports drama. Furthermore, sports enthusiasts will thoroughly enjoy all the cameos made by sports celebrities and broadcasters. Bottom line: If you haven't seen JERRY MAGUIRE, by all means see JERRY MAGUIRE. Show me the DVD player.
--D. Mikels, Author, The Reckoning

One of the great film comedies of the 1990's.......2007-05-23

Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) is a sports agent who has an epiphany one day about having "less clients, less money". This soon leads to him getting fired from his agency and he his down to one demanding football-playing client Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr.) and a secretary Dorothy Boyd (Rene Zellweger) who takes the plunge and comes with him.

Jerry Maguire is a great romantic comedy filled with warmth and humour and characters you really care about. Underappreciated at time of release this is actually one of the great film comedies of the 1990's.

Jerry Maguire is perfectly cast. Tom Cruise and Cuba Gooding Jr are simply brilliant and their interplay provides the real highlights of the film - making the most of a brilliant script. The film lags a little bit in the second half and Cruise and Zellweger's romance is not entirely convincing but this is still great compared to most comedies these days.

Sadly, the commentary included on the DVD with the director and his three leads is a waste of time. It is a self-indulgent, back-slapping session of the very worst kind with insights on the level of "I loved that scene", "you were great in the scene", "awesome", etc, etc. Very disapointing as I was interested in gaining some insights on the making of this great film. Hopefully in a few year's time Crowe will produce a proper commentary that befits the film.

The DVD does include a pretend Reebok commercial that is worth seeing with Cuba, but otherwise you could save your money and just buy the one-disc edition.

Average customer rating:

THIS IS A GREAT SPORTS MOVIE!.....AND I DON'T EVEN LIKE BASKETBALL!
Crippled by the music
Hoosiers
Excellent
A great movie

Hoosiers
Starring: Gene Hackman , Barbara Hershey , Dennis Hopper , Sheb Wooley , and Fern Persons
Director: David Anspaugh
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0792843592
Release Date: 2000-02-29

Amazon.com

One of the most rousingly enjoyable sports movies ever made, this small-town drama tells the story of the Hickory Huskers, an underdog basketball team from a tiny Indiana high school that makes it all the way to the state championship tournament. It's a familiar story, but sensitive direction and a splendid screenplay helped make this one of the best films of 1986, highlighted by the superb performances of Gene Hackman as the Huskers' coach, and Oscar nominee Dennis Hopper as the alcoholic father of one of the team's key players. As the drama unfolds we come to realize that many of the characters (including Barbara Hershey as a schoolteacher with whom Hackman falls in love) are recovering from disappointing setbacks, and this depth of character is what makes the otherwise conventional basketball story so richly rewarding. Like Rocky, Rudy, and Breaking Away, this is a quintessentially American movie about beating the odds and rising above one's own limitations. Just try to watch it without cheering! --Jeff Shannon

Description

Nominated* for two OscarsÂ(r) and hailed by Sports Illustrated and ESPN as one of the best sports movies of all time, this triumphant tale of a high school basketball team's long-shot attempt to win the state championship is filled with edge-of-your-seat suspense and breathless excitement! Featuring "fast-break cinematography that catches the pace of the game.

Customer Reviews:

THIS IS A GREAT SPORTS MOVIE!.....AND I DON'T EVEN LIKE BASKETBALL!.......2007-09-01

This is such an inspirational and heart felt film! It is a great sports movie, but so much more. Gene Hackman plays a man hired to coach high school basketball in the small town of Hickory who is dealing with his past mistakes and Dennis Hopper in one of his best character roles plays an alcoholic basketball nut who is dealing with demons of his own. I do not like basketball,but I had no probelm liking this film as it had so many layers to keep me interested. The 2 disc set is very nice with an excellent transfer and interesting extras.

Crippled by the music.......2007-07-18

I recently watched Hoosiers for the first time, which is somewhat surprising since I'm such a big Gene Hackman fan. Unfortunately, even the venerable Mr. Hackman was no match for the colossal awfulness of Jerry Goldsmith's soundtrack for this movie. What the hell were the producers thinking? Nearly every scene is musically manhandled, telegraphing to audience which of two things they should be feeling: maudlin sentimentality or triumphantly "goin' places!". The insufferable bombast of 1980's over-production that begat John Tesh, in particular the gallons of gated reverb assigned to the synthetic drums (this is supposed to be 1952, for crying out loud) ultimately sank this movie for me. Hackman and Hopper both turn in solid performances and the supporting cast is decent, but along with a few inexplicable story turns (we never have the slightest clue why the bitchy character played by Barbara Hershey falls in love with Hackman's Norman Dale, for instance), the dreadful score drops what could have been a four-star movie to a two. I can only assume that tacking a "modern" (at the time) soundtrack onto an otherwise fairly likeable period piece was contrived to drive movie-goers into the cineplex.
In hindsight the overall effect is regretably and awesomely awful.

Hoosiers.......2007-07-06

Deeply felt, tense and exciting on and off-court, this movie benefits from yet another bravura Hackman performance, as a man who must confront his demons and marshal his strengths to redeem himself. Another standout is Dennis Hopper in an Oscar-nominated turn as Shooter, a former player who loves the game, but who's also the town drunk, until Norman jolts him back to help the team. A feel-great movie for the whole family (though best for older children).

Excellent.......2007-06-13

First on the DVD... The score sounded magnificent. The sound in 5.1 is well distributed and rounded. It sounds clear and awesome. The image is just as good. Bright and vivid colors, makes the movie look a lot less older than it is. The extras are all right including the Indiana State Championship game of 1953 (might be 52? don't remember).
On the movie... Well this is one of the best sport movies ever is just perfect. Hackman delivers a perfect performance, truly belivable, as well as most of the cast. The movie is based on a true story wich makes it twice as good.
A very good movie to remeber the importance of discipline and how team work can make ordinary people have extraordinary results. Something we have been missing in pro-athletes this days...

A great movie.......2007-04-05

I love this show.Gene Hackman probably did his finest performance in this show as did Dennis Hopper.A great basketball story that will just make you feel good.I highly recommend this to everyone.

Average customer rating:

Classic stuff!
Ahh the good ol' days of TV
YEAH! Classic T&J takes me back to when I was 5
Great DVD for the price
A mean,stupid cat and a sweet,lovable mouse

Tom and Jerry's Greatest Chases
Starring: Tom & Jerry
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00003JRAJ
Release Date: 2000-03-14

Amazon.com

Classic cartoon fans will delight in the bevy of classic Tom and Jerry animated shorts, each of which ends in the proclamation "Made in Hollywood, U.S.A.," and most of which are from the '40s. Fifteen episodes (totaling more than an hour) are featured. Included are: "The Cat Concerto," "Johann Mouse," "The Little Orphan," "Yankee Doodle Mouse," "Salt Water Tabby," "Tee for Two," "Solid Serenade," "Zoot Cat," "Johann Mouse," "Dr. Jekyll" and Mr. Mouse," "Mouse in Manhattan," "Kitty Foiled," "The Little Orphan," and "Jerry's Diary." It might surprise more mature viewers, with fond recollections of the adventures of the gray cat and the little mouse, how relentlessly violent (albeit cartoon violence) the 'toons are. This video, a collection of chase-centric films, is notably chock full of head bangin', body bashing, poisoning, and all-around disorder.

The absolute highlight are two shorts low on smashin' and high on entertainment: "The Cat Concerto" and "Mouse in Manhattan," the first with Tom as the focus and the second with Jerry. They both involve forays into entertainment, a great soundtrack, and a fun story. The DVD edition adds "The Worry Song" from Anchors Aweigh, the classic showcase of the amazing (and oft-copied) duet of animation and live action, as Jerry dances with the wonderful Gene Kelly. Contrasted with the PC content of today's 'toons, Tom and Jerry is a literal blast from the past--a must for collectors, and for parents comfortable with explaining that Tom isn't really burned to ashes, and Jerry hasn't been beheaded. --N.F. Mendoza

Customer Reviews:

Classic stuff!.......2007-07-07

Our son is but 7 months old but he enjoys the odd cartoon when he is sitting in his chair relaxed. But I cant stand today's cartoons, most of them are really rubbish, they don't have that magical quality as cartoons like this had in my time, today its just weirdness that seems to cater more for the junkie than children. So it was my pleasure to introduce Tom and Jerry for a start.

Ahh the good ol' days of TV.......2007-06-19

I got this for my son who is 4 and it takes me back to watching them when I was around his age. Great quality, great Tom & Jerry choices.

YEAH! Classic T&J takes me back to when I was 5.......2007-06-17

Wow..nothing says 1940 like a good Tom and Jerry cartoon! This DVD is worth every penny. Don't steal it from the internet...purchase it here and do the right thing. These episodes are classic and took me back to my childhood. I had not seen some of these since I was very little and it was fun to explore the animation of the day. The animators from back then really had ability that has since been long lost.

get this DVD. it's worth it!

Great DVD for the price.......2007-06-08

My son is 4 years old and absolutely loves this DVD. He first saw Tom and Jerry on our local cable TV but it only comes on Saturday mornings, so this was a great DVD for him. It has so many short episodes it keeps his attention, especially in the car on long trips. Well worth the money.

A mean,stupid cat and a sweet,lovable mouse.......2007-03-15

If you're a fan of MGM theatrical cartoons,this item is for you. Tom and Jerry has audiences,young and old,cracking up with their hilarious hijinks. Tom meets a pretty girl cat on the beach in SALT WATER TABBY. Jerry takes interest in the girl cat. The same girl cat is seen in SOLID SERENADE. Tom musically woos her via bass fiddle,disturbing Jerry's sleep. Jerry is automatically bounced out of bed on his face and stomach and the rhythm of the bass keeps bouncing Jerry. Tom impresses another female cat(not a glamourous one,though) wearing a "zoot suit" in THE ZOOT CAT. The usually totally silent Jerry speaks one line in the cartoon,"What's cooking,toots?". Tom spoke in the cartoon also,a little more than Jerry. Tom's suit shrinks to the point where it now fits Jerry! Jerry is off to Manhattan in MOUSE IN MANHATTAN,only to be met with disappointment. Jerry was used to apply shoe polish(he ends up in blackface,a scene never seen on some TV stations including Cartoon Network). He even felt light friction of the heavy New York City traffic. So,he's back home with Tom and again in his hole in the wall. TEE FOR TWO features a lawnmower-shorn Tom and his bee-stung mouth(courtesy of angry,intimidated bees). THE YANKEE DOODLE MOUSE was excellent. If I'm not mistaking,it was at least an Academy Award nominee. Tom is a concert pianist in the Oscar-winning THE CAT CONCERTO. Jerry is asleep inside the grand piano Tom is playing on stage and the striking hammers inside awake Jerry. Jerry,angry with Tom,finishes the performance himself and dons a tuxedo in the final scene with the spotlight shining on him. THE LITTLE ORPHAN,another Academy Award nominee,features Tom,Jerry and Jerry's visiting nephew Nibbles playing Thanksgiving scenes and in the final scene,praying before consuming the Thanksgiving dinner. Nibbles eats all of the turkey like a termite! He appears rotund in the final scene. In KITTY FOILED,there's Tom,Jerry and an unnamed canary riding a train set on the living room floor. In the final scene,Jerry and the canary are happily whistling away in the canary's cage. An excerpt of this cartoon became stock footage for LIFE WITH TOM(not seen on this DVD). JERRY'S DIARY contains stock footage from previous cartoons(released before that one). Tom was so furious about many of the statements Jerry wrote about him in his diary. Jerry comes along only to meet Tom who splatters a pie all over Jerry and his hole in the wall. The other cartoons are awesome. I loved them as a kid over two decades ago.

The Mummy - The Legacy Collection (The Mummy/Mummy's Hand/Mummy's Tomb/Mummy's Ghost/Mummy's Curse)

Average customer rating:

all these legacy dvd's are fabulous.
He went for a little walk....75 years ago. And he's still walking.
The Mummy (1932)
A great collection
Not a bad collection

The Mummy - The Legacy Collection (The Mummy/Mummy's Hand/Mummy's Tomb/Mummy's Ghost/Mummy's Curse)
Starring: Dick Foran , Peggy Moran , Wallace Ford , Eduardo Ciannelli , and George Zucco
Director: Christy Cabanne , Harold Young , and Leslie Goodwins
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002NRRQU
Release Date: 2004-10-19

Description

For the first time ever, the original The Mummy film comes to DVD in this extraordinary Legacy Collection. Included in the collection is the original classic, starring the renowned Boris Karloff, and four timeless sequels, featuring legendary action Lon Chaney, Jr. and others. These are the landmark films that inspired an entire genre of movies and continue to be major influences on motion pictures to this day

Customer Reviews:

all these legacy dvd's are fabulous........2007-09-07

while everyone likes the 1st and original mummy....and it was good .....albeit slow and boring. ive a particular fondness for the mummys hand. it was fun and well made, good locations and what mummy movies are and should be about lots of fun i mean watch it at night its kinda creepy. its got george zuccho, cecil kelloway and the main stars, just a great night at home and to watch at halloween. a classic movie from universal and in my opinion the BEST mummy movie of all. go see its fun.

He went for a little walk....75 years ago. And he's still walking........2007-08-04

By 1932, Universal had established itself as Hollywood's premiere house of horror with films like Dracula and the cinematic masterpiece Frankenstein. So, on December 22nd, The Mummy was released to waiting public. Featuring the studio's biggest name, Boris Karloff, The Mummy also reunited veteran actor Edward Van Sloan and David Manners in Universal's latest monster outing, along with Dracula cinematographer Karl Freund, now in the director's chair.

The movie opens at the end of the British Museum's Egyptian expedition of 1921, where renowned archeologist Sir Joseph Whemple, played by Arthur Byron, and his team have unearthed a 3,700 year old mummy along with a large box buried with it. Upon consulting his friend Dr Muller, played by Edward Van Sloan in a similar manner to his role as Dracula's Van Helsing, an expert in the occult, Sir Joseph learns that the mummy, having been identified as Imhotep, a high priest in the Pharaoh's service, was buried alive, presumably for crimes of sacrilege. The mummy is inadvertently resurrected by Sir Joseph's over-eager assistant, played by Bramwell Fletcher, who instantly goes mad at the sight of a 3,700 year old corpse walking away with the Scroll of Thoth, on which the spell that brought him back to life was written.

We flash forward to the British Museum's Egyptian expedition of 1932, where Sir Joseph's son, Frank Whemple, played by David Manners in the same dorky, love-struck schoolboy performance he gave in Dracula, is just preparing to wrap up the year's tour when a strange, heavily wrinkled and very tall Egyptian man, Ardath Bey, played in a superbly deadpan, yet eerie manner by the master, Boris Karloff, bring him a piece of pottery that he claims to have come from the undisturbed tomb of the princess Anck es en Amon, which has been lost for 3,700 years. Frank jumps at the chance to bring something sensational back, so he puts his crew to work digging where Ardath Bey tells him to, and recovers the princess and all the personal effects buried with her. Due to a contract with the Cairo Museum, the entire find must be turned over to the Egyptians for display there.

Meanwhile, Dr. Muller has returned to Egypt with a patient of his, Helen Grosvenor, played in a very dramatic performance by Hungarian Zita Johann. After the museum closes, Ardath Bey is found mumbling a strange incantation next to the body of the princess, which Helen hears all the way across town, causing her to fall into a trance. She blindly heads for the museum where Sir Joseph and Frank see her trying to get in after the museum is closed. When she collapses at Frank's feet, they take her to their house for medical attention, where they are met by Dr. Muller. Sir Joseph and Dr. Muller retreat to the study where Sir Joseph tells the doctor that Helen has been mumbling the name Imhotep. He is alarmed by this, since no one other than the three men who dug the mummy up have ever heard the name. Two of the men being Sir Joseph and the Dr. Muller, and the third man being dead. While the two colleagues are in the study, Ardath Bey comes to the house on previous invitation from Sir Joseph to find that Helen was at the museum earlier. After Dr. Muller questions Ardath Bey, he determines that Ardath Bey and Imhotep are the same person, and it is the undead priest's intention to kill Helen, whom he believes is Anck es en Amon reincarnated, and revive the long dead princess's soul in Helen's body.

The basic story behind The Mummy was not one of evil, but one of sadness. Anck es en Amon had died, leaving her lover, the high priest Imhotep, heartbroken and grief stricken. His plan to read the forbidden text and resurrect her was not out of evil, but out of love. He only wanted a life with the woman he loved, but was buried alive for his crimes and his coffin desecrated so he would be condemned in the after-life as well. In his own words, "No man has ever suffered as I have for you." And it was true.

Eight years later, in 1940, the Mummy was dug up again. This time there were no Scrolls or powerful undead priests. The entire story was begun anew, with Imhotep being replaced by the mummy Kharis, kept alive for 3,000 years by the Priests of Karnak with tana leaf fluid. The Priests of Karnak were led by the high priest Professor Andoheb, played, in a strong creepy performance, by George Zucco, who was also director of Egyptology at the Cairo Museum. The sole purpose of the Priests of Karnak was to guard the tomb of the princess Ananka, who had died in a similar manner as Anck es en Amon in the 1932 classic. In a flashback at the beginning of the movie, it is explained that Kharis was in love with Ananka, just as Imhotep was with Anck es en Amon and tried to raise her from the dead with tana leaves instead of an ancient scroll. Scenes in the flashback were directly cannibalized from the first film, with close ups of Boris Karloff replaced with shots of stuntman Tom Tyler, who plodded along as Kharis, killing all who dared enter Ananka's tomb.

Americans Steve Banning and Babe Jenson, played by Dick Foran and Wallace Ford respectively, stumbled across the legend and, hoping for a sensational find to bring back to New York, enlisted the financial aid of American magician The Great Solvani, played by Cecil Kelloway, to unearth the princess's tomb. Solvani's daughter Marta, played by Peggy Moran, was none too happy about her father giving all their money to two strangers and insisted on going with them.

After the group found the tomb of Kharis, Prof. Andoheb revived the mummy and from then on, Kharis was little more than a supernatural hit man, killing where ever he found tana fluid, placed by the professor's lackey, known only as the beggar. Kharis kidnaps Marta, whom Andoheb tries to make immortal along with himself, but is foiled by Steve and Babe.

In addition to the star of the feature being little more than a priest's enforcer, none of the other performances were all that great. Foran played the standard 1940's tough guy, Ford played the lovable, if goofy sidekick and Moran played the formulaic damsel in distress. There were scared locals who believed in the curse and in the end, the good guys won. This was probably one of the first examples of a studio throwing money into visual effects instead of good acting. The set used for the tomb was very elaborate and Tom Tyler's eyes were blacked out frame by frame to give Kharis a more horrifying look. But when you have a cookie-cutter script, and half decent acting at best, you can only go so far. The Mummy's Hand didn't have a very far reach.

After the dismal venture of the Mummy's Hand, two years later in 1942, The Mummy's Tomb was opened. This one picked up where Hand left off with mostly the same characters played by the same people, with the exception of Kharis, now played by Universal's new golden boy Lon Chaney Jr., fresh off the Wolf Man. The Mummy's Tomb even ripped off the Wolf Man's opening music. Good to see they put time and effort into this one.

Tomb starts out with a much older Steve Banning, reprised by Dick Foran, recounting the story of the last movie to his older sister Jane, played by Mary Gordon, his grown son John, Played by John Hubbard, and John's fiancee Isabel, played by Elyse Knox, in their Massachusetts home. Twelve minutes into the hour long movie, we see some new material with George Zucco reprising, however briefly, his role as Andoheb, passing the mantle of high priest on to Mehemet Bey, played by Turhan Bey, and instructing him to take Kharis to America and kill all the surviving members of the group that took Ananka's mummy back to New York in the last film. Kharis is once again a glorified hit man, and the high priest sets his sights on the film's heroine and plans to make her immortal, along with himself, to stop the Banning bloodline. Wallace Ford returns for a time as Babe Hanson, renamed from Babe Jenson from the last film. Glad to see the production crew was concerned with continuity here. The story of Tomb goes pretty much the same as Hand. The only difference in the tow movies, acting wise, is Lon Chaney Jr. He isn't given much in the way of projecting his character since the mummy is pretty much a secondary villain, but his shuffling gait is a little lass animated than Tom Tyler's was, making Kharis more believable as being an undead creature. The production quality here was almost nonexistent, with the film stealing the Wolf Man's music, and scenes from Hand as well as angry mob scenes from Frankenstein. I wonder if anybody besides Chaney put any effort into this picture at all. The main cast was just as dull as the previous movie, mostly because, with few exceptions, they were the same people. One good point was a very well done, spooky cemetery set. The Mummy's Tomb should have stayed buried.

In 1944, continuing the reign of foolishness, The Mummy's Ghost came to haunt us. And not in the good way. This time the priests of Arkhan, not Karnak, send new leader Yousef Bey, played by John Carradine, to America to find Kharis and return to Egypt with him and the body of Ananka. George Zucco simply can't die, because he's back again as the high priest who passes the mantle of leadership on to Yousef Bey. Does ANYBODY care about continuity at all?

Yousef Bey arrives in Mapleton Massachusetts and finds Kharis, or rather Kharis finds him, after the priest boils tana leaves in the woods. His first victim is local university teacher, Professor Norman, played by Frank Reicher, who was the town coroner in the last film. In his class is Tom Hervey, played by Robert Lowery, who is dating an Egyptian girl named Amina, played by a very lovely Ramsay Ames. Everything happens as it did in the first two movies, except this time Ananka's soul is reborn in Amina who, Yousef Bey intends to make immortal along with himself, but this time it is Kharis who stops him, carrying Amina's rapidly aging body into the swamp where it is presumed the both perished.

Same story as before. The acting was terrible, they ripped of the Wolf Man's music again, apparently, no one could be bothered to watch the previous two films for continuity, and it was the same story with different players. I really didn't like the ending, since they couldn't save the girl. The Mummy's Ghost should have stayed dead.

Alas, the very same year, 1944, The Mummy's Curse was unleashed on fright fans. This one really was a curse.
Somehow, Both Kharis and Ananka were relocated from Massachusetts to THE BAYOU! How that happened is anyone's guess. A group of local Cajun workers are working to develop the swamp where the mummies are buried, and the foreman, Pat Walsh, played by Addison Richards, isn't having any nonsense about mummies slow down his work. He is visited by a man named Halsey, played by Dennis Moore, and his assistant Ilzor, played by Peter Coe,