54

Amazon.com

Saturday Night Fever it's not--call it more like Sunday Morning Leftovers. This portrait of the legendary Manhattan disco and its colorful cofounder, Steve Rubell, plays like the outtakes of a much more interesting film--where's the sex, the drugs, the classic disco music? (It shouldn't surprise viewers that Miramax and writer-director Mark Christopher had a falling-out over the final cut of the film; Miramax prevailed.) Considering that the essence of Studio 54 was about the rich and beautiful, it seems a bit unwise to focus on the poor and only-somewhat-beautiful, namely Shane (Ryan Phillippe), a Jersey boy who gets taken in by the razzle-dazzle of the disco era. Crossing the river, Shane finds another, more exciting life at Studio 54 as a shirtless bartender, and soon finds himself partying with the crème de la crème--and smitten with comely soap star Julie (Neve Campbell). The permutations of the story are familiar; if you've never seen VH1's Behind the Music documentary take on Studio 54 you'll find this film enjoyable, but unlike that exhaustive portrait, too many elements are missing. Most of Phillippe's performance seems to have ended up on the cutting-room floor (although his chiseled torso gets maximum exposure), Campbell's role is basically a glorified cameo, and Breckin Meyer and Salma Hayek, as Phillippe's only true pals, are wasted. The one true gem of the film, though, is Mike Myers's take on the late Steve Rubell, an inspired high-wire performance that balances humor and tragedy without ever giving in to camp or pathos. Had this been a more well-received movie, he'd be remembered come Oscar time--his drunken proposition of Philippe is a minor treasure. The soundtrack does feature some unknown chestnuts and a few new remixes, including an inspired disco version of--believe it or not--Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind." --Mark Englehart

Description

Hot Hollywood stars Mike Myers (AUSTIN POWERS 2: THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME, WAYNE'S WORLD), Neve Campbell (WILD THINGS, SCREAM 1,2&3), and Salma Hayek (WILD, WILD WEST, DOGMA) give must-see performances in this provocative look behind the bright lights of the hottest nightclub ever! When Steve Rubell (Myers), the mastermind behind New York's infamous STUDIO 54 disco, plucks young Shane O'Shea (Ryan Phillippe, GOSFORD PARK, CRUEL INTENTIONS) from the sea of faces clamoring to get inside his club, Shane not only gets his foot in the door ... but lands a coveted job behind the bar! By following Shane's rapid rise from naive busboy to the notorious nightspot's sexy main attraction, you're allowed an unforgettable look at the spectacular rise and fall of Steve Rubell's decadent empire! An entertaining hit that pulses with the best dance music of the era, 54 is not just your ticket inside this legendary place ... it places you at the very epicenter of the greatest party on Earth!

Customer Reviews:

54 - INTERESTING; HOWEVER, I WAS HOPING FOR MORE........2007-08-16

All in all, I think this is a good movie. If you were old enough to know about Studio 54, then probably, you wanted to see the club for yourself...especially if you were into disco. I can't believe I was in New York several times when 54 was going strong, and I didn't try to watch the crowds from a distance. My friends were afraid to go out at night. Geez!

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT.......2007-07-09

Having been in NY during the Studio 54 era, I recalled much of what I remembered in the film. Thirty years down the road, it still has a special memory for me. On our wedding day my husband, who is Swiss, and went there. I was going to show him a night on the town NY style.Having proudly displayed our new wedding bands, they let us in for free! It was glorious. Yes, we are still happily married and the DVD is part of our wedding memorabilia. I thought the acting was great in the film. The music and capturing the world of difference between New Jersey and New York was classic. We, my husband and myself had a good time viewing it. The best is my daughter's comment, "You and dad were there on your wedding day?" Now, it really is just a memory, but, a fond one at that.

54.......2006-11-04

I, have yet to watch this movie. As, it's still in it's factory shrink wrap. I'm sure the quality is excellent.

Butchered for your protection.......2006-03-23

Trying to make a film concerning Studio 54 for a mainstream audience is a really bad idea. It's just not possible to do it and actually stay truthful to the climate of that era. Gays had a lot more influence on that scene than the film lets on. From what I understand, the original director's cut was gutted by Miramax before the film was released it and it shows. Other than Mike Meyers portrayal of Steve Rubell, there's hardly a gay character in sight. There's some very good actors in the film and their talents are simply wasted. Thank goodness the good music helped me get through this drivel. Anyone with a taste for fine filmmaking need not bother with this cinematic mistake.

54.......2006-03-13

THANK YOU FOR MY MOVIE. IT ARRIVED ON TIME AND WAS IN GREAT CONDITION.

Average customer rating:

Ultimate Latin Jazz
The olympus of latin music.
Exquisite
Nada como esto
DON'T BE A SUCKER !!!

Calle 54
Starring: Arturo O'Farrill , Rolando Guerrero , Joe Gonzales (IV) , Jim Seeley (II) , and Matt Hilgenberg (II)
Director: Fernando Trueba
Manufacturer: Miramax Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005OSLN
Release Date: 2001-11-13

Amazon.com

In Calle 54, Madrid-based filmmaker Fernando Trueba explores the wide and wonderful world of Latin jazz: a hybrid genre that fuses the clave, samba, flamenco, merengue, and other rhythms from Africa, the Iberian peninsula, and the Americas. The film's Spanish title takes its name from Sony Music Studios located on 54th Street in Manhattan, where a who's who of musicians were filmed and recorded. They range from Brazilian bombshell keyboardist Eliane Elias and enigmatic Argentine tenor saxophonist Gato Barbieri, to the fiery rumba group Puntilla y Nueva Generacion. The music and musicians of Cuba and Puerto Rico dominate this documentary, and the most touching scene is the emotional father-and-son reunion of Cuban pianists Bebo and Chucho Valdés, who were separated by Fidel Castro's revolution. Sadly, the film features the last onscreen appearances by the late composer-arranger Chico O'Farrill and the legendary timbales master Tito Puente. Simply put, Calle 54 is a documentary that dances. --Eugene Holley Jr.

Description

A behind the scenes glimpse into the lives of Grammy Award winner Tito Puente and some of the greatest Latin musicians of our times! Experience the passion of Latin Jazz. It is a musical journey that captures the heart and soul of an entire culture. It is an innovative tapestry of sound and imagery, styles and rhythms-from samba to pambiche to flamenco.

Customer Reviews:

Ultimate Latin Jazz.......2007-09-09

Excellent DVD covering the history of Latin Jazz - quality production, excellent performances. Most enjoyable

The olympus of latin music........2007-05-17

This is just the best compilation of latin stars performing some of the most representative mainstreams in current latin jazz music. The film is deep, hot, profoundly touching and absolutely powerful.

Exquisite.......2007-05-14

This DVD has everything -- fabulous music, a chance to learn about the musicians, and beautifully filmed performances rich in color.

Nada como esto.......2007-02-21

Esta es la mejore recopilación de Jazz Latino he comprado 3 copias.

DON'T BE A SUCKER !!!.......2007-01-27

DON'T BE A CHUMP. DON'T PAY $80 FOR A DVD. GO DOWN TO YOUR NEAREST VIDEO STORE AND ORDER OR BUY IT NEW FOR LESS THAN $20. BY THE WAY, THIS DVD IS EXCELLENT. I ESPECIALLY LIKE THE PIECE BY MICHEL CAMILO. EXCELLENT!!

Average customer rating:

Excellent Old Doctor Who
Great campy 3rd doctor serial
Doctor who at it's best
Good story
Inferno

Doctor Who - Inferno (Episode 54)
Starring: Jon Pertwee , Caroline John , Nicholas Courtney , and John Levene
Manufacturer: BBC Warner
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000FQIRXG
Release Date: 2006-09-05

Amazon.com

An experiment gone awry sends the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) to a parallel universe where his friends and companions are members of a fascist regime in this thrilling and popular episode from the long-running British science fiction series Doctor Who. Inferno is the name of a project designed to drill into the Earth's core and release a powerful energy source called Stahlman's Gas; what's yielded instead is an insidious substance that transforms men into monsters. The resulting chaos interrupts the Doctor's travel in the TARDIS and knocks him into an alternate Earth run by a military dictatorship, and where Project Inferno's progress threatens to bring about an apocalypse. This seven-part story arc from 1970 is a high-water mark for the already superb Pertwee-era Doctor, a tense, imaginative adventure that evokes the U.K.'s chilling Quatermass TV productions and movies in its mix of science fiction and horror. Fans will particularly appreciate the opportunities afforded to longtime Who supporting players Nicholas Courtney (as the Brigadier) and Caroline John (as the Doctor's companion Liz) to step outside their usual roles and essay memorably villainous turns as their parallel-Earth selves.

The double-disc presentation of Inferno offers the by-now-standard wealth of extras, including commentary by Courtney, script editor Terrance Dicks, producer/director Barry Letts, and co-star John Levene (Sgt. Benton) and lengthy featurettes on the making of the story and the UNIT brigade during Pertwee's tenure (the latter featuring interviews with much of the supporting cast and crew). A short deleted scene from the episode (featuring Pertwee in a rare second turn as the voice of a radio announcer), a promo film for the BBC Visual Effects Department (which features clips from the Who stories Ambassadors of Death, Caves of Steel, and a missing episode from Doomwatch), and PDF files of the 1971 Doctor Who Annual and Radio Times round out the supplemental features. --Paul Gaita

Description

An unsuccessful trial run with the Tardis console throws the Doctor into a parallel universe where his old friends are rather nasty characters.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Old Doctor Who.......2007-09-08

One of the best of the classic series. Third Doctor at his typical sarcastic and selfish. Plus, the whole alternate universe subplot adds an interesting twist to the story, a twist that's been copied almost verbatim by more "mainstream" series such as Stargate SG1. A great example of the third Doctor's time.

Great campy 3rd doctor serial.......2007-09-02

This is one of my favorite Jon Pertwee serials. (I didn't give it 5 stars because it isn't Tom Baker). It's got everything - campy monsters, UNIT soldiers running around, a mad scientist, embarrassing moments for the Brigadier and for the Doctor too. It's very long, which can be good or bad I guess, I think it's all worthwhile though.

Doctor who at it's best.......2007-05-21

World in trouble and the Doctor is stuck in an alternate time line doesn't get better then this

Good story.......2007-05-18

Having only watched one Jon Pertwee video, The Day of the Daleks, which I found a little boring, I decided to try Inferno. I anticipated either liking it or hating it after one episode. This was to be my last Jon Pertwee story I purchased if I didn't like it. To my surprise, I enjoyed this adventure. The character interactions were entertaining and the alternate timeline characters added to the story. Growing up watching the Tom Baker Doctor Who, it was entertaining to see familiar characters such as Sgt. Benton and the Brigadier. If you never tried the Jon Pertwee series but liked the Tom Baker, you might like this one.

Inferno.......2007-03-30

Apparently, Inferno began life as a much simpler story involving some kind of emergency at a drilling installation, with the Doctor trying to stave off disaster. But the story wouldn't stretch to the required seven episodes, so the creative team decided to add a subplot about a parallel world with an even bigger drilling catastrophe going on at a parallel drilling facility. BUT...the story still wouldn't stretch to seven episodes, so the creative team went off and came up with some monsters to terrorize both worlds during the parallel, though slightly different, doomsday scenarios, with still only one Doctor flitting back and forth between parallel realities, trying to please all of the people--even the evil versions of his friends and associates in the alternate world--all of the time.

The result of all this slapping of ideas together is a very exciting Third Doctor story, with some monsters that are never fully accounted for even while they are quite frightening, and a scenario whereby we are to believe that just a teeny bit of careless drilling into the Earth's crust can obliterate the entire planet.

The best part of Inferno is the clever use of the parallel-worlds angle. Having the Doctor get flung violently into a world where not only is the drilling disaster that much more perilous, but where Britain has become some kind of fascist state that disposed of its Monarchy the hard way, is brilliant. The alternate versions of the Doctor's old friends--Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart and Liz Shaw--are puppets of the paranoid, oppressive government, pegging the Doctor for a spy and not believing a word of his story about being from some parallel universe. And it doesn't matter what universe the Doctor is in--no one seems to want to halt the drilling for Stahlman's Gas (a potential new energy source of great value, just ask the rude, arrogant, reckless, overbearing Dr. Stahlman of either universe--with the green goo on his hands that will probably turn him into a monster in either universe, by the way)--meaning the Doctor is hard-pressed to save any of these stubborn dunderheads. A nerdy Government-type named Sir Keith, and some kind of security expert named Sutton try to assist the Doctor in shutting things down before it's too late (depending on which universe we're talking about, since Sir Keith isn't alive in both, and both Suttons are distracted by Petra, Stahlmans' much put-upon assistant(s)), but everything just keeps getting worse. Twice.

I wish there had been some kind of pseudo-scientific gibberish nonsense-explanation spouted by someone--anyone!--for the green goo that occasionally sprays around and hits a scientist, or other poor sod, and begins turning him into a murderous furred killer. In a show known for its technobabble, the technobabble on these Primord beasties is sadly lacking. I don't even think they get called Primords during the show proper; you have to watch the credits if you're going to do alright with that particular future trivia question. And while we're discussing these Primords, they are much scarier in their semi-human form, than later on, when the final transformation produces some rather wonky werewolves with cute noses and teeth that look like they're just going to drop right out of the actors' mouths at any second. The Primords are also more frightening during the eerie location shoots--like when they are fighting the Doctor on top of high towers and catwalks--than lumbering around the main room of the drilling complex. In fact, all the location shooting around the drilling installation has a creepy look to it, whereas some of the studio sets are, of course, a bit tacky (welcome to 70's Who).

So the Primords are genuinely scary much of the time, the parallel world is chillingly effective, and the suspense created by the impending apocalypse, twiceover, make this quite a memorable bit of Doctor Who slapdashery. It shouldn't really work as well as it does, especially since there is so much bickering to fill in the gaps--between two sets of the same pig-headed characters!--but I got hooked on this one as soon as the Doctor found himself in a parallel world that could well prove beyond saving.

Average customer rating:

Great
Inu Yasha vol. 54
Episodes

Inu Yasha, Vol. 54
Starring: Inuyasha
Manufacturer: Viz Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000OCZ2XY
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Product Description

"Two years ago, I gave myself to Miroku, the monk standing before you..."

During their travels in search of Naraku, Inuyasha and the others come upon a village that Miroku once visited in the days before he joined their quest. On that first visit, Miroku helped cure a young girl, and made his usual proposition of asking her to bear his children. But in light of the fact that he has proposed to marry Sango after the battle with Naraku is over, Miroku's past mistakes may have finally caught up with the not-so-pure monk...

Episode 161: "Miroku's Past Mistake"

Episode 162: "Forever with Lord Sesshomaru"

Episode 163: "Kohaku, Sango and Kirara: The Secret Flower Garden"

Bilingual (Japanese & English)
English Subtitles

Customer Reviews:

Great.......2007-07-27

Love Sesshomaru...he makes the series great. To bad there are no more anime episodes.

Inu Yasha vol. 54.......2007-07-08

This is a great vol. of Inu Yasha! The movie arrived sooner than expected and was in perfect condition.

Episodes.......2007-03-24

161 - Miroku's Past Mistake
162 - Forever with Lord Sesshomaru
163 - Kohaku, Sango, and Kirara: The Secret Flower Garden

Ultimate Fighting Championship, Vol. 54: Boiling Point

Average customer rating:

Great UFC Event but the DVD is poor
UFC 54 Boiling Point
Another solid UFC event
St. Pierre is dangerous...
Great fights, poor DVD production

Ultimate Fighting Championship, Vol. 54: Boiling Point
Starring: Jeremy Horn , Chuck Liddell , Randy Couture , and Diego Sanchez
Manufacturer: Studio Works
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000BNTMB4
Release Date: 2006-02-07

Description

June 4, 2005 - Before a sold-out crowd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Chuck Liddell makes his first title defense against the man who handed him his first ever defeat - Jeremy Horn. The undercard features the return of Randy "The Natural" Couture, the UFC debut of The Ultimate Fighter winner Diego Sanchez, and a highly anticipated welterweight match-up between Georges St. Pierre and Frank Trigg. A total of 8 fights.

Customer Reviews:

Great UFC Event but the DVD is poor.......2007-07-20

This is an awesome event. It features one of my favorite fighters in the UFC, Georges "Rush" St. Pierre dominate {literally dominate} Frank Trigg, UFC Legend Randy Couture showing that he is still a top contender in his division, Diego Sanchez proving that he is more than an Ultimate Fighter winner and Chuck Liddell physically overwhelming Jeremy Horn.

Now to the bad news: The DVD is out of sorts as it only features the fight and nothing more as if they are trying to save some time. Luckly the extras save for that but still, needs to be worked on

UFC 54 Boiling Point.......2007-01-04

fight 1: round one kinda weak but round 2 freakin awesome and unexpected.
next few fights kinda weak
last few fights pretty d*mn good!
must have for all ufc dvd collectors.

Another solid UFC event.......2006-03-27

As far as MMA goes UFC constantly puts on great shows with few exceptions and is argueably the premire organization in the world because of it. UFC 54 starts out strong with the prelim bout between James Irvin vs. Terry Martin and finishes strong with the main event between Liddell vs. Horn. There are a lot of great finishes and just some really solid matches across the entire card. My only gripe with the DVD is it isn't exactly full of content outside of the fights. It goes from the tale of the tape straight to the fights without the leading up to it like the DVDs past. That really is a minor flaw when considered how truly great the fights are overall. To someone not familiar with the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) but is interested in learning, I would recommend checking this one out with at least a rental. The fights deserve 5 stars the content 2 maybe even less.

St. Pierre is dangerous..........2006-02-28

Wow, what a sweet knee "no name guy #1" delivered to "no name guy #2" in that preliminary fight, ha! It was mostly luck, but it was still one of the most shattering flying knees I've seen in mixed martial arts.

The action continues with Diego Sanchez in his pay-per-view event debut, Tim Sylvia v. Tra Telligman and an unbelievable fight between Frank Trigg and George St. Pierre. I was actually looking forward to this fight more than the main event. Let's just say that St. Pierre is something else and I think Matt Hughes would be in trouble if they were to meet up again.

The Couture fight is a good one, as usual. I always enjoy watching "The Natural" do his thing. This guy is the Jerry Rice of MMA at 42 and he continues to impress.

Not to give too much away, but the main event is a bit lackluster. The fight lasts a while, but it's not all that competitive. It's exciting as hell to watch, because you know that Lidell has that "one punch" threat and Horn is a submission magician, but things fall into a pattern early and the flow doesn't stray far from that pattern through to the end.

This is a great set of fights!

Great fights, poor DVD production.......2006-02-18

UFC 54 is packed with high caliber, action packed fights. It seems to feature a little of everything; two of the most brutal knockouts ever, battles that go the distance, one extremely dominating performance in a fight you would assume would be more even, etc. Basically, there isn't one boring fight in the whole event.
The problem with this DVD is that literally everything but the fights is completely cut out. The blurbs on each fighter before the match where their skills and previous fights are talked about (along with a quick word from the fighter on how they see the match going) are gone. I've always found this to be a great way to get some pre-match background on the fighter, and even a way to get a sense of their personality & attitude in some cases. So are the interviews with Joe Rogan afterwards, the announcements of the fighters before the bought, etc. Granted at the end of the day the fight itself is what you want to see, but what is the point of cutting everything else out? I just hope this isn't a trend with the UFC DVD's going forward, that would be disappointing.
Nevertheless, this is still a must own.

Average customer rating:

Absolutely the Worst Fantasy Series Ever
Gorgeous Dan
A segway into the fantasy realm..
Hokey Rubbish and bad acting.
Like Herc & Xena, but better...if that's possible.

Beastmaster - Season 1 Complete
Starring: Jackson Raine , Monika Schnarre , Dylan Bierk , Natalie Jackson Mendoza , and Grahame Bond
Director: Raymond Quint , Ian Gilmour , Catherine Millar , Peter Andrikidis , and Brendan Maher
Manufacturer: Adv Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000APVF8
Release Date: 2003-08-26

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely the Worst Fantasy Series Ever.......2007-02-23

Being too young to had seen the original "BeastMaster" starring the dude from "V" I can't compare the two (nor should the original series really matter in a review of this one), but if it was 1/10th as horrible as the latest "BeastMaster" they should had let it rest in peace. Why do I hate this series so much? For one thing, I can't stand all the cheesy pseudo-historical messes that came out around this time (Hercules, Xena, and this). The acting in all was awful, the actors were by and large hired for their looks, and the writers must had been as well since they obviously had neither talent nor imagination. The lead actor, whom so many women seem to think is just so hunky, looks way to skinny (I can actually count all of his ribs which is something that is not attractive in either gender). The storylines are beyond bad and the actors look as if they themselves want to tune to another channel as they deliver their sorry lines. It's just a very stupid show. The only reason why I gave it two instead of one star is because of the Asian sidekick (whose name escape me). He showed actual talent and charm (certainly way more than the Barbie boy lead whose acting skills are consist of basically standing around trying to make his cheekbones more pronounced) and as someone with an Asian son it's always great to see another Asian actor on the screen. If you're thinking about buying this, check it out on the Sci-Fi channel sometime and see if you can watch it without muting it. If so, then mazel tov and purchase, but if you're like me and want some actual acting and quality storylines and plot then you will have to skip this one.

Gorgeous Dan.......2005-11-24

Well, I haven't bought this boxset, but I'd buy it and all the following seasons just for one reason: Daniel Goddard. He's simply an example of male beauty, pure physical perfection.

A segway into the fantasy realm.........2005-04-26

This was probably the first sci fi/fantasy show I have ever seen besides Star Wars. It happened that I came across it one day as a Sunday morning rerun, and I was instanty hooked all those years ago. Since then, I always hope that reruns will be shown. They did for a while, but then were taken away. Recently Sci Fi on my DISH network showed 8 episodes in a row one Friday and I DVR'd them, and have been watching them again and again.

One very big difference is that there are few big special effects. In the beginning episodes there is a badly done fire monster, but this show has much less of that than Hercules or Xena. I strongly dislike those shows, particularly Hercules, because of that. Beastmaster has more of nature theme to it, and, while I originally was drawn by the half-naked men, I have come to just love the show itself. I don't find Tao annoying at all: I find him adorable. Dar gets waay too much credit :)

I was under the impression that this was shot in New Zealand like the others, but another review says no. Oh well. Daniel Goddard sounds very American to me, and I am American. But I don't care about the actors: I just have loved the show since my first viewing.

I highly recommend it for the fantasy lovers. It's not too over the top, yet it is subtly fantasy/sci fi.

Hokey Rubbish and bad acting........2005-03-09

This series is hokey rubbish, and at the same time it takes itself WAY too seriously, like its High Art, or something.

I started watching it on TV because I went to the same gym as Daniel Goddard, the muscle-bound star who plays Dar. (Cronulla Gym, then when it changed owners, Hotbods at Miranda, both in Sydney's southern suburbs.) Hey, that's right ... Daniel Goddard is Australian. Couldn't you tell from his appalling attempt at and American accent? By the way, Big Dan was a total arrogant *%$# when I used to see him at the gym (1991 - 1996), way before his 'acting' days had begun; he would strut around the place like he was a god, throwing skinny guys off machines that he wanted to use. ("Excuse me, mate, would you mind getting off that, I gotta do a Super Set"). I can imagine what he's like now. So girls, keep giving this !#@* a swollen head with your salavating comments, I'm sure he's soaking it up.

Anyway, back to my review, and some more interesting trivia. This TV show was made at Movie World on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. The Gold Coast is a mixture of Waikiki, Miami and Las Vegas, (but with only one casino). This tends to show through in the general look of the show. Glitzy, fake and arrogant would describe the show's look quite well. The outdoor scenes were shot in the national parks and rainforests behind the Gold Coast, and if you look carefully, you can spot the Eucalyptus trees that make up the rainforest canopy. It looks pretty silly having dark age barbarians running around the Aussie bush.

Which brings me to the reason why Big Dan is the star of the show. Apparently, they needed someone who was an Aussie citizen to be the star, due to our actor's union laws etc. Dan won out due to his body, not his acting ability. Incidently, when I was seeing Dan at the gym (and he must have lived there, as he was there every night I was there, no matter what night it was) all those years ago, he was FAT FAT FAT covering the muscle. He was huge, yes lots of muscle, but mainly fat. He obviously lost a vast amount of weight to audition for this show. He actually looks too thin compared to how he used to be like.

If you want a good fantasy TV series, try Heath Ledger in Roar. Now that is a good show!

Like Herc & Xena, but better...if that's possible........2004-12-28

With the release of Herc and Xena to DVD, I am gladly collecting them. Xena seems like a little more serious and darker show than Herc, so I like it more, despite the fact that I'm a guy. But anyway, so I sit there and watch Herc or Xena and I remember that there's this other show that's somewhat similar in nature (no pun intended) to both Herc and Xena...and that's Beastmaster.

Beastmaster...I remember just checking out this series from time to time when it originally aired. Saw it on the episode guide of DISH Network and would tune in just to see if I could get into it. Unfortunately I couldn't. I found Tao to be bit annoying and quite frankly silly. So I never watched. But like I said, after watching my Herc and Xena DVDs, I decided that I wanted more and decided to give this Beastmaster a try on DVD. I can say happily that it was NOT a mistake. This series is great (when seen from the beginning). I guess my problem was just seeing a few scenes from Season 3 I think.

What makes this series great is that there are season-long story arcs with numerous re-occuring characters that really contribute to some great continuity between episodes. Now this isn't continuity as you would find on Deep Space Nine or Farscape, but continuity more in the way of Stargate SG-1 continuity. Events or character development (mostly with the re-occuring characters) that would occur in previous episodes would be relevant in future episodes. You didn't get this with Xena or Herc. In fact, I really didn't see this with DS9.

For example, Season 1 here basically has one story arc dealing with Dar's long lost love, Kyra, who has been imprisoned by King Zad and his Terrons of which of course leads to Dar's quest to free her. Of course there's your filler episodes in between, but even still they contribute in someway to the over-all arc.

The acting is better than average than your ordinary TV show of this genre. Steven Grives who plays King Zad is excellently cast. One of the better TV villains in quite a while. The excellent casting among the guest stars is also a plus with this series.

A note to Herc or Xena fans, this series is actually more serious than those two. The fight scenes are a bit more graphic and realistic looking, despite the occasional wire-fu moves. And as others have said here, the use of the animals and other guest stars at times do get emotional. I even teared up a time or two.

Special effects are decent. CGI use is pretty realistic as compared to the goofy shots in Xena and Herc.

These DVD sets come in those 6-disc amarray cases which I don't really care for actually, but I guess they're better than those multi-disc digipacks. Technical specs are 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen which is very nice. Image quality is top notch with the occasional grainy dark shot. Sound however is just DD 2.0 which is a shame as this series would benefit greatly with a 5.1 track. But even with that the 2.0 track is quite adequate with ambient sounds coming from the rear channels.

So in summary, if you like Xena and Herc, and want more of the same fantasy genre...don't hesitate to dive into Beastmaster. But shop around for the best price. ;)

Average customer rating:

A sadly dying artform.
5 Minutes worth it?
A simple penguin.
My Aunt Is A Zombie From Hell
Full of Imagination

Creature Comforts
Starring: Julie Sedgewick
Director: Nick Park
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000051YMM
Release Date: 2000-11-28

Amazon.com

Nick Park, who made his reputation with the delightful Wallace and Gromit shorts, won his first Oscar in 1990 with his clever clay animation impressions of zoo creatures. Inventive vignettes of delightfully designed animals are voiced by real-life elderly London apartment dwellers commenting upon their own confining apartments, and children reflecting upon zoo life. The dryly hilarious and sometimes affecting short packs plenty of visual wit in a very British vein into five minutes, but is only one of the delights Aardman Animations studios has to offer in this collection. Two wordless shorts by Aardman cofounder Peter Lord (both Oscar nominees) offer a different kind of physical humor. "Wat's Pig" combines The Prince and the Pauper with The Man in the Iron Mask to contrast the lives of identical twins separated at birth, one grown into a self-centered prince, the other raised in the forest by a particularly talented sow; and "Adam" offers a distinctly comic take on the genesis of humankind. Finally, Boris Kossmehl's angled sets and tilted cameras on the devilishly delicious "Not Without My Handbag," an outrageous take on the living dead and appliance warranties, recalls Tim Burton's early work in its whimsy and stylish designs. This quartet of charming clay animation shorts will enchant children and adults alike with its inventive designs, clever comic sketches, and distinctly British wit. --Sean Axmaker

Description

From the creators of the box office smash "Chicken Run" and "Wallace and Gromit" comes "Creature Comforts," an amazing collection of clay-animation shorts from world-famous Aardman Animations. It's a Zoo's-Who of fun! Clay animation animals comment on life at the zoological gardens in "Creature Comforts," winner of the 1990 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. Then meet "Wat's Pig," the 1996 Oscar-nominated tale of knights and daze involving two brothers one raised in royal splendor, the other by a kindly pig. In the darkly hilarious "Not Without My Handbag," a dear, deceased Auntie makes the ultimate fashion statement she won't stay in Hell without a proper handbag. And lastly there's the story of "Adam" (1992 Oscar-nominee for Best Animated Short Film), a whimsical in-the-beginning tale about a little clay and a lot of imagination.

Customer Reviews:

A sadly dying artform........2005-12-26

A lot of these reviewers seem to be preoccupied with whether these shorts are appropriate for children, never mind that these skits are brilliant. "Adam" seems to be a funny minimalist take on existentialism; it's a wonderful exercise in economy and brainy physical humor. "Wat's Pig" is a lovely prince and pauper tale with some of the prettiest "pop classical" music I've heard in animation, recalling Beethoven's pastoral 6th symphony in mood. The piece has a lot of atmosphere and makes me happy. "Creature Comforts" is deservedly famous for its animated spin on real life dialogue. The Handbag sketch is my least favorite, and to be honest I haven't watched it in awhile. Still, some of these are amongst the very best animated shorts.

Update: I'd like to add that these skits can also be viewed for free at the following website, letting you choose your favorites: http://www.atomfilms.com/af/spotlight/collections/aardman/

5 Minutes worth it?.......2005-10-05

I have Creature Comforts on VHS and was considering getting it on DVD. That is until I saw the price. $35.99 for a half hour of animated shorts? This seems a bit extreme to me. I see that it's out of print so that might have something to do with it. The best skit on there by far is the Creature Comforts and it's only 5 minutes long. Hardly worth it if you ask me. Hopefully the original Creature Comforts skit makes its way to one of the Creature Comforts series DVDs as an extra.

A simple penguin........2005-08-18

Fairing only 32 minutes long, I was worried that these shorts would be cheap, unexciting, and overall just a few animals talking about life at a local Zoo. While I had no problems with this, I wanted more ... and guess what? This short DVD provided it. Not only does it give us that unquenchable desire to see British animals talking about life in a Zoo, but it gives us three more additional shorts which only broaden the power that is known as Nick Park. From those little animals to dynamic storytelling to becoming a staple in the stop-motion animation field, you can literally see the impact of these shorts in today's cinema. From just a short 32 minutes, I witnessed the power of Tim Burton (apparently borrowed quite a bit from Park on his film The Nightmare Before Christmas) in a little short called "Not Without My Handbag", the creation of life on this planet (as seen through Park's eyes) and even a little ditty about the Middle Ages. All of these continue to prove that Park was developing powerful filmmaking well before his time.

For those that perhaps haven't been introduced to a show called Wallace & Gromit, I would highly suggest seeing where Park's Claymation has gone from these creative beginnings, but for those that want to see his early efforts (which were rewarded with an Oscar!) , than I suggest Creature Comforts. More of a observation on our society than just some random cartoons jumping on screen, we watch as animals in a Zoo react the same as we would if we were caged daily (as if we aren't already). The short that impressed me the most was "Not Without My Handbag" where the simple misunderstanding of a contract pulled a darkened cloud over a family. It is deeply disturbing, but powerfully imaginative and vibrant. The final short also impressed me with its powerful references to the "Creation". Simply titled "Adam", we watch as this naked man tries to adapt to living alone on a unexplored planet. If the religious references to Adam & Eve weren't blazin enough, we are privy to a final moment where we think "Adam" will finally get the companion that he deserves ... only to find out it is something that nobody expected.

Park has this amazing ability to take images from our day to day society and juxtaposition them into the world of the imaginative and unbelievable. The ability to give these Zoo creatures enough life to feel just like normal humans while being caged behind bars is incredible. I do not believe anyone has come close to recreating the effect that Nick Park has done. The closest that comes to mind is Brad Bird with his recent creation of the superhero family dynamic in The Incredibles. That was smart and enlightening at the same time. That is what Park creates. His animation is not just creatures falling on the floor for young children to react, but instead intelligent, rather symbolic, metaphors about life, which appeal to both children and adults. To create those characters that are able to cross that boundary from children to adult is difficult, but Park seems to have accomplished it with the greatest of ease.

Overall, I thought this was a great introduction to the work of master animator Nick Park. As I patiently wait for his Wallace & Gromit film release, it is fun to revisit his early work and witness a bold new birth of animation. I am surprised more films haven't been released using this style of cartoonery. In a way I am happy because I would hate to see too much over-dominate the Hollywood community, but we need to see more than what has been handed to us in the theaters. With duds like Madagascar and Home on the Range, I would have thought that Park's work would be the logical next step, but I am always wrong. I applaud your work Park, and suggest that anyone willing to laugh, chuckle, and be entertained for a great 32 minutes should check out this DVD!

My favorites from great to least:

1. "Not Without My Handbag"
2. "Creature Comforts"
3. "Wat's Pig"
4. "Adam"

Grade: ***** out of *****

My Aunt Is A Zombie From Hell.......2005-02-24

I have been a big fan of Park's claymation work, and it really broke the mold when the Wallace & Gromit and other works started to hit the screen.

"Creature Comforts" is the best of these, in terms of the supposed interviews with zoo animals. The mountain lion is hilarious, and the creatures all have such human like emotions and even their subtle actions are fantastic.

"Wat's Pig" had its moments, and I also liked "Not Without My Handbag."

There are some others out there I'd still like to find, like the BBC Radio announcer who lives in his studio.

Full of Imagination.......2005-02-03

I love this DVD! The stories are a little odd but I found them all to be entertaining. As previously stated in other reviews this may not be the best choice for children. The title short "creature comforts" is great. The animal voices and interviews give great insight on what animals in zoos might really say if they could talk. "Wats pig" adds a little twist on the traditional prince and the pauper story and gets its point across without using dialogue. "Not without my handbag" is my personal favorite. The story is about a young girl's aunt who loses her soul to the devil through the purchase of a washer but she refuses to rest in peace until she gets her beloved handbag. Last but not least is "Adam" who just cannot seem to catch any luck and resides on the moon alone. I do not think these shorts sit in the same realm as Wallace and Gromit but definitely leave their own mark when it comes to clay animation. If you would like to preview the show creature comforts check comedy centrals listings the show has multiple times all this March 2005.

Average customer rating:

TimeRider
You got it, dude.
Grandmother ?
Good not great
QUESTIONING THE COMMENTARY

Timerider
Starring: Jonathan Barnes , Belinda Bauer , Peter Coyote , Susan Dear , and Bruce Gordon (II)
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
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ASIN: B000059PPC
Release Date: 2001-10-09

Amazon.com

As time-travel adventures go, this 1983 outing is an enjoyable one: a loosey-goosey shaggy-dog story about an '80s kind of guy who gets tossed back to the '70s--the 1870s, that is. Fred Ward plays the hero, a motocross racer who, along with his motorcycle, accidentally rides into the middle of a science experiment and is transported to the Old West. There, he runs into a cast of bad guys that includes some of the best character actors of the period: L.Q. Jones, Tracey Walter, Richard Masur, Ed Lauter, and Peter Coyote. It's your classic fish-out-of-water setup, with Ward as the slightly dippy wise guy who startles the heck out of the cowboys and pioneers of the period with his motorized bike, until he runs out of gas. The movie runs out of fuel as well, but it's an enjoyable ride while it lasts. Notable for its coproducer and cowriter: Michael Nesmith, formerly of the Monkees. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews:

TimeRider.......2006-03-10

I loved this movie from its original release and have looked for it for years. Kicked myself for not buying it from the old VHS video store that had it!!! Does the DVD edit out the scene and storyline of the cowpoke(famous character actor - what is his name?) getting his nose bit off?? If they deleted the copter scene I am amazed they didn't cut this too!!! I want to buy the DVD but what is the point if it is missing crucial stuff!!! Pam

You got it, dude........2005-10-12

Alan Satterfield writes, "it always made me think that maybe he had slept with his grandmother...."

Yup, that's the point. You will also note that his last name is Swann, and hers is Cygne (French for Swan). And he tells her that he's from Los Angeles, and later notes that his Grandmother came to Los Angeles looking for her lover.

Fun film. Totally ruined by the changed ending. Buy the VHS version instead (although some of these have the bad ending as well.)

Grandmother ?.......2005-10-02

Does anyone remember that he was wearing a necklace that his grandmother had given him & that woman he slept with took it from him just before he leaped back to the present from the past ? it always made me think that maybe he had slept with his grandmother....anybody else.... by the way i loved this film & was delited that it came back.... the helecopter scene was a Killer ~! Alan~! P.S. I often wonder if Niclas Cage & Smalls ( The Wart Hog From Hell) as holly Hunter called him in Raising Arizona ...were indeed Brothers...they were both adopted were they not & indeed both had Road Runner Tatoos ...as he was about to blow up he pulled down on the front of Small's shirt & seen the Tatoo..was his look of shock & horror only for the pulled pin or also the Tatoo.... any way!!!

Good not great.......2005-08-28

I first saw this movie when I was in 8 th grade and loved it. Now that I have seen it 21 years later it doesn't quite hold up, but is still entertaining. Some of the lingo Fred Ward uses is down right cheesey, but that is the 80's. The movies is shorter than I remember it too. It was worth the $10

QUESTIONING THE COMMENTARY.......2005-04-07

Did this film merit one? Not really! Jaws got no audio commentary. Why should this flick? Few saw Timerider (at least in the USA) in it's theatrical release. Perhaps it became a hit on cable in late 1983. The dialogue is often silly ("She don't shoot no Dorset! Nobody shoots no dorset") but at least there are no bleeding heart characters in the film and it's mostly a lot of fun.

Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 27, Episodes 53 & 54: The Ultimate Computer/ The Omega Glory

Average customer rating:

"this unit must survive"
One Really Good Episode and One Really Ridiculous One!
Two of the more undistinguished episodes, but interesting
Still fun to watch
Brillant

Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 27, Episodes 53 & 54: The Ultimate Computer/ The Omega Glory
Starring: Star Trek Original Series
Manufacturer: Paramount
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ASIN: B00005J6RE
Release Date: 2001-07-10

Amazon.com

"The Ultimate Computer"
Kirk reluctantly agrees to play along with a Federation test of a new supercomputer, designed by the brilliant Dr. Daystrom (William Marshall, the booming baritone stage actor most famous for Blacula) to run a starship almost single-handedly. It does its job too well, locking the human crew out of ship operations and using deadly force during the Federation war games. Spock and McCoy continue their now-legendary banter about man versus machine while Kirk muses over the obsolescence of his own command. Marshall is excellent as a former-boy-wonder genius banking his reputation on this breakthrough, treating his creation like a son. That's not too far from the truth: designed after his brain pattern, this thinking, reasoning, learning machine carries with it the insecurities and desperation of its creator. The fears of the emerging digital revolution explored in The Ultimate Computer in 1968 remain today: what is the fate of man in the face of technological efficiency? Films from 2001: A Space Odyssey and Colossus: The Forbin Project to Demon Seed and The Matrix have echoed these themes, and this Trek episode--primitive special effects, zero-budget sets, and all--stands up to them quite nicely. --Sean Axmaker

"The Omega Glory"
What is it with Starfleet captains? So many of them become wildly grandiose. Witness "The Omega Glory," in which another starship commander, Ronald Tracey (Morgan Woodward), tramples the Prime Directive by interfering in a long-running conflict between primitive societies, in this case the Yangs and Kohms of planet Omega IV. Siding with the Kohms, Tracey creates an imbalance of power that Kirk works to adjust by arming the Yangs proportionately. The script by series creator Gene Roddenberry is one of his not-so-subtle allegories for the state of the world in the 1960s, specifically our own cold war between nuclear superpowers. So bluntly drawn is Roddenberry's parallel between Omega IV and 20th-century Earth that this is one of the few Star Trek episodes that risks becoming completely absurd after a point. William Shatner (Captain Kirk) takes the biggest risk of all with a passionate, lengthy speech of the sort pranksters like comic actor Kevin Dunn are wont to imitate today. But the fact is that Shatner pulls off such chancy material very well, and certainly does so here. --Tom Keogh

Description

"The Ultimate Computer," Ep. 53 - Kirk stands by helplessly as his ship is used to test an advanced computer that turns out to be as flawed as its inventor. "The Omega Glory," Ep. 54 - Kirk and crew encounter a ghost ship, a madman captain, a deadly virus and 1,000-year-old natives on planet Omega IV.

Customer Reviews:

"this unit must survive".......2007-02-07

In 'The Omega Glory', 'Yangs' (Yankees) on Omega IV, a parallel Earth, take back American from occupying 'Kohms' (communists).

In 'The Ultimate Computer' mathematics genius Dr Daystrom (William Marshall) installs a new supercomputer, the M-5, aboard the Enterprise. It can run a star-ship better than humans, and it's to be tested in war games against four other federation ships. Daystrom is such a genius even Spock can only be of small help to him. McCoy says to Spock, "This is what you'd like isn't it Spock?", "you'd prefer a ship run by computer". Spock replies, "I don't find it preferable" in understatement.

When the war games begin, not only does the Enterprise react faster than the other ships, but the M-5 has shields and weapons set to maximum. The M-5 has malfunctioned. It's taken complete control of the Enterprise and doesn't see this as a game. The enterprise destroys one Star-ship and heavily damages one or two of the others.

Dr Daystrom, - "lecturing to fools, who don't even begin to understand my systems; lessor minds and competitors, building, on my work" - a mad genius it turns out, whose own 'brain engrams' have been used in the creation of the computer, tries to talk the M-5 into disconnecting itself. The talk almost sounds as if it is a man in conversation with his child or even with himself, "this unit must survive", M-5 insists.

Kirk asks M-5 to scan the Star-ship Hood. The M-5 reports there are no life-signs aboard. 'You have murdered', Kirk proclaims, and both the M-5 and Dr Daystrom have a mini-breakdown giving the crew a chance to disconnect the faulty computer.

One Really Good Episode and One Really Ridiculous One!.......2006-12-17

If you are deciding which volumes to keep, this one only just falls under the "nice to have but dispensable" category which is a pity because the first episode, "The Ultimate Computer" is actually one of the best episodes from the second season and comes after a string of mediocre episodes. We get a very interesting premise: "Will computers/technology ever make humans redundant? This similar premise has been visited many times over since in movies like "Terminator", "The Matrix" and "I, Robot" and will probably still strike a chord with viewers many years into the future as well. The acting is very good and coupled with one of the better scripts ever written for Trek make this a very memorable episode indeed.

Now for the downside: "The Omega Glory" is a ridiculous episode which unlike the very similar episodes "Piece of the Action" and "Patterns of Force" in which the virtually identical parallels with Earth history were explained by Prime Directive violations, we are expected to believe that inexplicably, some planet light years away developed the Declaration of Independence word-for-word and have exactly the same flag as the U.S. The two warring factions are also called the Yanks and the Communists! The ridiculous plot and average acting makes this among the 3 worst ever episodes in the entire Trekdom.

I see that Amazon is now offering downloads of individual episodes for about $2 each. It's probably a good way to get around this conundrum and perhaps order the one episode and forget the other one as quickly as possible!

Two of the more undistinguished episodes, but interesting.......2006-11-18

It seemed like every time we met someone from Kirk's academy days, or someone highly respected in Starfleet or the Federation, they were riding the bullet train towards self-destruction. And Dr. Richard Daystrom (The Ultimate Computer) and Captain Ron Tracy (The Omega Glory) joined the long list of such Star Trek characters, in these two episodes.

"The Ultimate Computer" is a decent episode that has good space battle action and suspense. The Enterprise (of course) is chosen to test a new computer designed to be able to completely carry out all the functions of a starship, totally without human assistance. The computer was designed by Daystrom, a brilliant but emotionally unstable scientist-and as mentioned earlier, he fits the same mold as other tragic "Trek" characters, such as Commodore Matt Decker and Ben Finney. Daystrom rides along and supervises the initial installation and tests of the M-5 computer aboard the Enterprise. Also aboard for the tests are only 20 crewmen, including our principles. Not to give the climax away too much, but all this leads to some disasterous results. I've sometimes found Kirk's 'landing party' choices somewhat questionable, and what's unique about this episode is that the M-5 calls attention to this. M-5's 'landing party' recommendations differed from Kirk's significantly, and seemed more logical. Not that this neccessarily suggests that machines should be running starships instead of humans, but it does raise the question-and this question is really the main theme of the episode. And I thought the 'Captain Dunsel' remark by the Lexington commander was pretty strange.

In "The Omega Glory," Ron Tracy is another tragic figure, but he more fits the mold of say, R.M. Merrick from "Bread and Circuses," as a man who deliberately violates the prime directive, and interferes in the affairs of planet Omega 3. Tracy's Federation starship arrives at the planet, and the crew is tragically wiped out by a mysterious disease that was brought back to the ship from the planet. Tracy survives, but is marooned on the surface. He remained unaffected by the disease due to some natural immunization in the atmosphere. Tracy then starts to believe that the planet is a fountain of youth when he hears about the ages of some of the planet's inhabitants. Tracy then gets himself in trouble with the Prime Directive when he takes sides in a civil war on the planet. The Enterprise arrives to investigate the whole situation, deal with the disease, the civil war, and Tracy's interference. This is generally considered to be one of the weaker episodes, but it's watchable.

Finally, these two-episode DVDs are okay if you're only interested in owning two or four episodes, but if you want a whole season or the whole series, it's way more economical to buy the whole-season DVD sets instead.

Still fun to watch.......2006-11-11

Even though the original "Trek" is showing its age and the effects weren't digital. I think they are still fun to watch. The Omega Glory on this set was one I remember the first time I saw. How cool, an "earth-type" planet that had a war we didn't then the shocking ending. Maybe to corny for belief but if you just sit back and don't look too deep these shows still are VERY entertaining.

Brillant.......2005-11-25

Dr Daystrom created the ultimate computer, M-5. Spock observes that M-5 does not think in a logical order. McCoy pokes fun at Spock suggesting Spock has been waiting for the right computer too come along. Spock is somewhat annoy with McCoy. McCoy does not want M-5 access to run the Enterprises replacing a crew of over 300 people; Kirk does not want to stand in the way of progress; and Daystrom push off the Kirks cautionous stance by telling they don't understand the new computer capabilities. After an error in tactical response M-5 manages to kill 51 people in a drill against the Excaliber leaving it too drift lifelessly in space. Daystrom has imprinted his brain engrams into silicon circuitry that runs M-5. McCoy chastises Spock about having faith in M-5. Spock tells McCoy, he acknowledges M-5s efficiency but he does not wish too be a servant of a machine, nor does he believe the machine is a God, and does not believe humans are Gods.

Daystrom begins talking with M-5, as if he is talking with himself. He asks M-5 who will atone for the deaths of the Excaliber? Daystrom reality is one of hyper achievement in an attempt to prove his computer theories are beyond reproach, criticism, or rejection by his peers. M-5 perceptions matched his biological perceptions and a duelistic dialogue between man and machine occurred. Daystrom sees the accident as a training exercise where M-5 must learn like a child, who has m