September 2nd, 2010 — Four Weddings and a Funeral Tagged Download Four Weddings and a Funeral Online, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Four Weddings and a Funeral Streaming, Stream Four Weddings and a Funeral, Watch Four Weddings and a Funeral Online
“Four Weddings and a Funeral” may not be the greatest movie in the history, but it surely is the best recent romantic comedy I ever saw. The only film that can possibly surpass this delicious one is, perhaps, “When Harry Met Sally …” Maybe tied.
Hugh Grant has starred in many films since then, but his best role is unruffled Charles of this film, who unwittingly finds his care for in Carrie, an open-hearted American played by handsome Andie MacDowell at his friend’s wedding. One miatake is, he foolishly couldn’t realize it before he let her go after one-night stand. But as the number of ceremony goes up (including one funeral), he gradually comes to glance that he threw away the best thing in his life. And while he is wondering what to do, friends around him inaugurate to search for their loyal like, including his acquire brother David, his scared friend Tom, Tom’s sister Fiona, and Charles’s eccentric roommate Scarlet. But where should Charles go? Going wait on to his countless ex-girlfriends? Or, Carrie? But she got already married.
To be just, a cramped abrupt ending of the film damages an entire movie’s strength a bit, but all comedies have to pay the impress to waste the display within an appointed hour. What is incredibly comely about “Four Weddings” is that the characters are all so appealing and exquisite with witty dialogue that you reflect they are not acting at all. Actually, on top of Hugh Grant, many actors are calm associated with the roles in this film even if they got more populality after this film; Kristin Scott Thomas is later to be nominated Oscar for her turn in “English Patient,” but she will be remembered as deliciously aristocratic Fiona. John Hannah made his name approved through the Hollywood blockbuster series of “Mummy,” but composed he is kind-hearted Matthew to those who have seen him recite W H Auden (most touching moment) in “Four Weddings.” This is that kind of film that changes the cast’s life. It happens once in your lifetime.
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With this tall ensemble cast, we have amazing script by Richard Curtis, filled with comic lines uttered by completely believable characters. He does not fail to assume titanic care of minor characters, and give them equally agreeable moments. Explore how Serena, in like with glowing David who is hearing impaired, learns ticket. Trying to heed him, she mixes up “nice” with “mice,” but, you know, when boys and girls are in care for. nothing can discontinuance them from notion each other. Cute.
Brilliantly written, “Four Weddings” is a pleasant model of romantic comedy. If you like this type of movie, you surely will plunge in worship with it; and if you’re not, your mind will be changed honest like mine (I didn’t expected considerable from it, so I didn’t go to theater until the last day) . And the film never forgets the dismal side of life as the title implies. Black thing is one of the cast Charlotte Coleman, who played most unconventional bridesmaid Scarlett, has passed away recently. She is terrific.
This film starring Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell was quite a accepted hit when released in theatres and was nominated for Oscars. The characters are well developed and the supporting cast is terrific. There are many sizable one-liners and the accompanying music is toothsome. I judge this movie one of the best romantic comedies of the 90s. However, MGM has only occassionally produced outstanding DVDs. Unfortunately, this DVD has some artifacts, pixelation, and bare bones divulge. I was disappointed in the visual and sound quality for a film made so recently (within the last ten years) . I would recommend this DVD only if you are a grand fan of this film or don’t inquire quality and rich grunt in your DVDs.
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September 2nd, 2010 — Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Tagged Download Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Online, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Streaming, Stream Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Watch Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Online
I worship the first three Indy films. Like so many others I was greatly looking forward to seeing a fresh one. I idea (or hoped) that the very long time they took to near up with a script meant they were polishing it to a quick-witted shine. After seeing the movie, I enact it was really a long negotiation between Lucas, Spielberg, and Ford, with some of them alive to to fabricate a crappy movie, and some of them not, with the destroy result being crappy, but perhaps not as crappy as it might have been.
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The movie started with a bit of promise (other than the infantile CGI prairie dog) . I’m not as offended by the nuclear fridge scene as many are, because I know those mock towns weren’t built at Ground Zero (or they would have been vaporized) . They were built at a distance to think the conclude of the blast on places some miles from the explosion. So while it’s not credible for Indy to survive being tossed around that worthy, he didn’t exactly survive a nuclear explosion. Some of the other early scenes, such as those where Indy is actually discovering something, are also satisfactory.
Still…
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About halfway through the movie, despite my eager desire to like it, I realized it fair wasn’t working for me. No suspense. No genuine sense of urgency or trouble. Grievous stakes. Too many marginal or pointless characters. Too mighty cartoon nonsense going on, far less believable than anything from the previous films (the dreary monkey vine swinging, Marian’s idiotic tree-driving stunt, the multiple waterfall drops…none of it scary, none of it remotely convincing, or even fun) . Marian’s long-awaited titanic content was one of the biggest, flattest duds in film history. She shows up and spends most of the rest of the movie objective tagging along with a dazed grin on her face like she was honest grateful to be there, a flaccid dishrag compared to the character from the first film. Not Karen Allen’s fault…she was honest thrown in for nostalgia’s sake, and was poorly written. Mutt was actually not a abominable character, but I don’t need or want him to be Indy’s son. Is there any worse cliche in fiction than the Son He Never Knew He Had? I realize Spielberg and Lucas are fascinated by father issues, but I’m not. And then there’s the whole point of the movie…the skull and the aliens…ehhhh. Who cares? The finale was a muddled jumble of flashing lights and wind that meant nothing and evoked nothing but tedium. Remember at the demolish of the previous films, where the characters actually seem to behold that something unbelievable has happened, were even shocked, or traumatized objective a tiny bit (okay, not so mighty in Crusade, where they hastily shake off any aftereffects and devolve into slapstick and lose all interest in their surroundings) . Not this time. The giant flying saucer takes off, and Indy and his massive crew of sidekicks commence cracking jokes.
I’m inclined to blame Lucas for most of this mess. He’s made a habit of lapses of taste and judgement since…hmm…”Howard the Duck”?
I don’t want to notice this movie again, and I don’t want to enjoy it. I hope they don’t do another, because these guys have proven they no longer have what it takes.
What a mess this movie was. Honorable to gape Indy again but you can command from the inaugurate that Lucas had approval over this script after rumors he threw out so many better scripts out the window (Frank Durapont anyone? ) .
Indy surviving nuclear blasts, Rodents coming up from the ground and grinning at the camera, Shia LaBouf swinging from vines in a jungle with Monkeys and hardly any Marion. She barely has anything to say.
Then you regain the ending which comes out of a different movie.
Suspending Disbelief is one thing but you gotta check your brain and taste at the door for this one.
Lets hope they don’t do any spinoffs with Indy’s kid.
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September 1st, 2010 — Living Landscapes: Earthscapes - Bali Tagged Download Living Landscapes: Earthscapes - Bali Online, Living Landscapes: Earthscapes - Bali, Living Landscapes: Earthscapes - Bali Streaming, Stream Living Landscapes: Earthscapes - Bali, Watch Living Landscapes: Earthscapes - Bali Online
I recently went to Bali on my honeymoon, so when I saw this was coming out on blu-ray I couldn’t wait to survey it and potentially revisit some of my well-liked locales. After viewing it, I couldn’t be more disappointed with this sorry raze of money. For starters, it is under 48 minutes long, not the 60 minutes that Amazon and the package advertise. Apparently the photographers who shot this video felt is was only important to go to approximately 3 places on the whole island and shoot all of their footage there. Clearly they went to the Bali Bird Park and shot at least 15 minutes of footage there of various birds (without giving any credit to the park), thereby misleading the viewer into thinking that these birds are unprejudiced randomly roaming the island. An additional 20 minutes of footage showed various dragonflies and butterflies…arresting. They advertised that the video includes footage of one of the most breathtaking sights on all of Bali, the Tanah Lot temple. In total there is about 8 seconds of footage of it during the beginning and kill credits. There is no footage at all of any of the resort areas, cities, Ubud, the volcanoes, or anyplace else recognizeable. Some of the background music is Balinese, but most of it is muzak garbage. All in all, whether you are a prior visitor to Bali or hoping to become acquainted with this astounding island, this video will do nothing but disappoint. Avoid it at all costs.
This is a resplendent film – the high definition brings me proper help to my streak there a few years ago. I don’t want narration or education I wanted the experience serve of being there. When I found this blu-ray I was hopeful that it would teach that kind of experience.
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It makes my living room become Bali and I can step benefit into the lush jungle, ocean and heavenly countryside instantly when I establish this on. It makes my mammoth used flat hide tv something of beauty rather than a kind of frosty, sizable ‘thing’ on the wall.
I’ve got quite a few of these living landscape DVDs for this very reason. they’re cheap enough so I can bring a variety of ‘feelings’ to my home. It calms me down and picks up my spirit to study these and impartial have them on in the background. I fancy them.
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August 24th, 2010 — Four Brothers Tagged Download Four Brothers Online, Four Brothers, Four Brothers Streaming, Stream Four Brothers, Watch Four Brothers Online
I remember catching the trailer for this and being intrigued by the cast and the region. After leaving the theater, the movie unruffled hasn’t left me. The acting, top to bottom, was exceptional, especially the chemistry between ‘the brothers’. The action scenes were astonishing with some of the most awesome cars chases and shoot-out scenes I’ve seen. John Singletion is definitely an excellet and still-growing director who has outdone himself with ‘Four Brothers’. Why are their comparisons between ‘Boyz In Tha Hood’ and ‘Four brothers’? Two totally different movies. BITH is a coming of age movie, FB is about bonds and sacrifice. Well worth a multiple explore and a must have if you’re into action and/or crime dramas whether you’re a teenager or not.
Bobby Mercer (Impress Wahlberg) drives into his childhood Detroit neighborhood, returning home to bury his adopted mother, Evelyn (Fionnula Flanagan, “The Others”) . At the funeral, he meets up with two of his three other brothers; Jeremiah (Andre Benjamin of Outkast fame), now a family and business man, and Jack (Garret Hedlund) . Evelyn was the foster mother for hundreds of kids and adopted Bobby and his brothers when no one would have them. After the funeral, they return to her house and win their fourth sibling, Angel (Tyrese Gibson), sitting on the porch. Soon, they learn that Evelyn’s death, during a convenience store robbery, may have been more than a simple case of being in the evil situation at the base time. An used childhood friend, Green (Terrence Howard, “Hustle and Amble”, “Smash”), now a detective, warns them against taking matters into their acquire hands. But lift matters they do, and they inaugurate to investigate, leading them closer and closer to a local gangster, Victor Sweet (Chiwetel Ejiofor, “Dirty Handsome Things”, “Melinda and Melinda”) .
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When you read the synopsis of “Four Brothers”, or hear about it, each of the elements seems to say “Huh? That won’t work. That can’t work.” But combined, and married to qualified acting, agreeable writing and honorable directing by John Singleton, the film is a surprisingly effective dramatic anecdote.
The key to the film’s success is that it is R-rated. I don’t necessarily need to perceive an R-rated film every time I go to the movies, but if the film is about four men trying to fetch the person who killed their mother, on the mean streets of Detroit, an R-rating will allow the filmmaker to be more realistic. In this age of PG-13 dismay and action films, something gets lost. In a fright film, I question to view some blood. In a PG-13 terror film, you aren’t going to watch a lot. In an R-rated action film, I inquire of to gape some violence. “Brothers” is all the more realistic because Bobby and his siblings throw some punches, people find hit by bullets and they utilize some R-rated words. They grew up in the slums of Detroit. I wouldn’t interrogate them to say “Gee, I’m sorry for that” or something equally as innocuous. And because the account centers on their quest to salvage a killer, some violence is to be expected. And delivered. Noteworthy like the unique R-rated “Wedding Crashers”, filled with rating appropriate humor, I applaud this fresh trend to scream films with deliver appropriate ratings rather than trying to tailor the teach for a kid-friendly (or a teenager grand) rating. Filmmakers should stand by their vision and not allow it to be changed to meet an artificial rating.
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Because of the R-rating, Singleton is able to allow the characters to be legal to themselves. Because Bobby lives in a violent world, he doesn’t have to assume twice about using violence to obtain to his goal. Bobby is a really complex character and Wahlberg does a immense job of conveying the conflicting emotions at work. Green introduces each of the Mercer boys to his partner, Fowler (Josh Charles), as they sit in their car watching each near for the funeral. After Green describes their various criminal records, Fowler is incredulous that Evelyn is regarded so highly in the community. “But, they are all the Dalai Lama compared to what they would’ve been without her influence.” Bobby is clearly affected by his mother’s memory and influence, especially staying in her home, but he desperately wants to bag out the truth. As the oldest of the four boys, he also has to provide protection and leadership to his brothers.
Andre Benjamin is also surprisingly great. Often musicians don’t manufacture the transition to film well (Hello, Mariah Carey? Lance Bass? Justin Timberlake? ), but Benjamin shows some genuine acting ability. He also shows his seriousness for the medium and doesn’t recount during the film, or on the soundtrack. He is a family man with a wife and two daughters to deem about, so he doesn’t participate as speedy in his brothers’ device. But when he becomes linked to the action, he realizes he has no choice and reluctantly participates. Angel and Jack are really Bobby’s henchmen throughout, following him without objection to any corner of the neighborhood.
Terrence Howard does some pleasurable work as Green, but it is a supporting role and, compared to his other work in “Rupture” and “Hustle and Trail”, unremarkable.
As Evelyn, Fionnula Flanagan has the least amount of shroud time, but she manages to instantly swear why this woman was so revered in the community. Before she is shot, she has a brief exchange with a local boy in the convenience store, hasty establishing her character. Later in the film, each of the boys imagines her talking to them. All of these appearances do her as a tough, but kind woman who is only jumpy when someone is pointing a gun at her face.
Chiwetel Ejiofor plays one of the most chilling villains in a long time. Victor Sweet is a vicious man and will prefer anything and ruin anyone he wants. The final scenes inspiring him are particularly memorable, because the outcome is unexpected, yet believable.
Singleton is clearly trying to evoke the feel of gangster films from the 70s; Wahlberg even drives around in an archaic car from this period throughout most of the film. The cinematography is gritty and the soundtrack is filled with songs from this era. All of this adds to the feel of the film, making everything stand out.
But the film is most successful because it doesn’t pull any punches. “Four Brothers” is a gritty, violent, believable sight at the revenge four brothers buy for their beloved mother’s death.
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August 22nd, 2010 — Masters of Horror: Season 1, Vol. 2 Tagged Download Masters of Horror: Season 1, Masters of Horror: Season 1, Stream Masters of Horror: Season 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 2 Online, Vol. 2 Streaming, Watch Masters of Horror: Season 1
Volume II of Season One of Masters of Alarm contains three of the best episodes: Jenifer, Sick Girl, and Deer Woman. All three accomplish for extremely tantalizing viewing, even more so in the Blu-ray format. The pickle these Blu-ray releases presents to the collector is that the extras included on the recent DVD releases, with the exception of audio commentaries, are not included. Typically I would say go with the better record and sound quality, because extras are generally not gracious for more than one viewing. In this case, however, there is a critical omission: Dario Argento’s Jenifer was the only episode to have footage censored at some stage of the production process, and while it only amounts to a few seconds, that footage plus the other Argento extras do recount a considerable loss, given his stature as a filmmaker. That said, the audio commentaries for Jenifer and Sick Girl are quite good; Deer Woman’s commentary suffers from John Landis’ absence. Argento enthusiasts may want to sustain their modern copy of Jenifer if they occupy disc, so, recommended with caution.
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August 18th, 2010 — SpongeBob SquarePants - Who Bob What Pants Tagged Download SpongeBob SquarePants - Who Bob What Pants Online, SpongeBob SquarePants - Who Bob What Pants, SpongeBob SquarePants - Who Bob What Pants Streaming, Stream SpongeBob SquarePants - Who Bob What Pants, Watch SpongeBob SquarePants - Who Bob What Pants Online
…Stephen Hillenburg left, that’s what. I know he never would have allowed episodes this condescending, this noxious, this unclever [if that even is a word] to ever be made. I was surprised by all the sure reviews, because this is definitely by FAR the worst Spongebob DVD ever made. At least Spongicus (the DVD that came directly after this) is watchable and semi-amusing. Here is a list of the episodes featured here an how I rate them on a scale of 0 to 4 stars.:
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*Whatever Happened to Spongebob? : 1/2. This episode, with its painfully ironic title, is expressionless and unfunny. But perhaps what bothered me the most is how unsympathetic and shallow the characters have become– it former to be that deep down, Squidward cared about spongebob, but he wouldn’t admit it even to himself; now he simply loathes him more than anything else.
*Goo Goo Gas: 0 Stars. This has got to be the most intelligence-insulting Spongebob episode ever. The creators seem to assume that the viewers are too humdrum to figure out even the simplest of scenarios, so they need to have it explained to them onscreen. One line in particular, “Spongebob is a baby but Krabs is help to normal? ” made me want to shout for the future of this once gigantic cartoon.
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*The Two Faces of Squidward: 0 Stars. This episode was genuinely painful to notice. I didn’t even manufacture it all the device through.
*Spongehenge: +. Not especially comical or entertaining; has a vague blandness to it.
*Banned in Bikini Bottom: +1/2. Residence and humor are uninspired.
*Stanley S. Squarepants: 1/2. A thoroughly detestable episode that is almost as painful to discover as “The Two Faces of Squidward”.
After Stephen Hillenburg left, there was a period when unusual Spongbob episodes were unbiased sort of decent/okay. It wasn’t until recently that they became indescribably dreadful.
Spongebob needs to fabricate a turnaround soon before it’s too slack.
~~LJB
For some reason I couldn’t fetch this anywhere in the stores, so I was very jubilant to glean it at amazon.com when I was searching for other things for xmas presents. My nehphew, who is the biggest spongebob fan, LOVED it!!! He had told me the title, and like I said was dissappointed I couldn’t pick up it, so it was a delight that I really found him the one he wanted so badly. Thanks! He said it’s a reliable one!
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August 15th, 2010 — American Legends Tagged American Legends, American Legends Streaming, Download American Legends Online, Stream American Legends, Watch American Legends Online
Disney’s AMERICAN LEGENDS is a compilation of several astronomical legends of America’s past, celebrating stories of immense men doing stout (and not so huge) deeds. The selection of stories is attractive, and each has a definitive set in American (and Disney) history. While the stories may be a bit different from what you were told (if you were told them at all, considering most of the heroes are not what one would call politically proper), all in all, it’s an delightful collection that my family watches about once a month.
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James Earl Jones ties the collection together with live action narrartion putting an steady historical context to the proceedings. His delivery and tone strike a balance between serious education and tongue-in-cheek thought.
The first narrative is JOHN HENRY, directed and lead though-provoking by Effect Henn, the animator who brought Jasmine (from Aladdin) and several other major Disney heroes to life. With narration by the tall Alfre Woodard and a stirring rendition of the “John Henry” song by the Sounds of Blackness Choir, the short is proper. From the backgrounds intended to give the feel of folk art and quilting, to the rough animation occasionally showing through (the rough lines haven’t been “cleaned up,” showing the power of the animator’s unusual drawings, and giving it a less “glowing” ogle), JOHN HENRY is a wonderful short, and the distinguished reason Disney released the collection in the first space.
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JOHNNY APPLESEED (originally from MELODY TIME, a compilation feature released in the early 1950’s) is told and sung by Irish tenor Dennis Day. Some nice animation, including some grand stylized moments designed by Disney artist Mary Blair (whose distinctive ogle inspired most Disney features of the 1950’s), plus the substantial “The Lord is Capable to Me” song, gain JOHNNY a nice treat.
PAUL BUNYAN was released as a short in the early 60’s and features the catchy title song sung by the Mellomen. Colossal bass insist actor Thurl Ravenscroft brings Paul’s booming utter to life, and there are some genuinely comic bits based on Paul’s exploits in creating some of our most famed natural landmarks (Pike’s Peak, Yellowstone Falls, etc.) . Paul is definitely not a hero in this day and age, since his claim to fame is massive deforestation. Oh, for a simpler time.
THE Mettlesome ENGINEER is the yarn of CASEY JONES, who really wasn’t very brilliant and gained fame for crashing his stammer into another one. The short itself isn’t very brave (unlike John Henry, who gives his all to display humanity can best machinery; Paul Bunyan, who helped determined the intention for settlement in the West; or Johnny Appleseed, who helped feed hungry settlers), mostly being an excuse to have Jerry Collona (the snarl of the March Hare in Disney’s ALICE IN WONDERLAND) to do a myriad of voices, dreadful puns, and the like. It’s quite interesting in itself, but not at the level of the rest of the shorts.
There are several reviews here who steal umbrage with accurate problems, but they appear to be getting their huge tales mixed up (it was Joe Magarac who melted himself into steel, NOT John Henry), and those who concept the release as bit of shrewd marketing by Disney miss the point that Disney had planned to release JOHN HENRY with other plucky shorts long before the events of 9/11.
While it is somewhat lacking at the destroy, and could have former PECOS BILL (from Effect MINE MUSIC, narrated by Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers) to build a really smashig conclusion, on the whole, the collection is edifying, and quite toothsome.
This is a improbable blueprint for children to learn about American historical figures. My 3 year faded son was continually entertained by the songs and different animation. It is a must have on our Disney list.
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August 13th, 2010 — The Wizard of Oz Tagged Download The Wizard of Oz Online, Stream The Wizard of Oz, The Wizard of Oz, The Wizard of Oz Streaming, Watch The Wizard of Oz Online
Like most baby boomers, I’ve watched this film dozens of times in the past on broadcast TV, then VHS tape, then LaserDisc … but I had never actually SEEN “The Wizard of Oz” until this newly restored DVD came out. It’s an incredible transfer. The sepia-tone Kansas sequences are startlingly engaging and definite, and the Technicolored world “Over the Rainbow” is truly gorgeous. I found myself fascinated by details I had never noticed before: the glittering corn stalks in the Scarecrow’s field; the mirror-like floors of the Emerald City; the polished buttons on the guardsmen’s uniforms. Incredibly, even the individual grains of red sand in the Witch’s hourglass stood out and glistened! All these minor-but-sumptuous visual details served to heighten the magical spell that the film has always woven, enhancing the performances, the legend, and the music.
The DVD extras are a mind-boggling embarrassment of riches. The “Making Of” documentary hosted by the incomparable Angela Lansbury is worth the effect of the DVD alone, but there’s so great more: an international poster gallery, interviews with cast members, deleted scenes, production stills, radio clips, etc, etc. There’s enough material to sustain even the most casual viewer fascinated for hours, and a correct Oz buff will be occupied for days!
If you only bought a DVD player to peep this one disc, it would well be worth the expense. Treat yourself, and descend in treasure with this classic film again … for the first time.
I was objective critized for foisting off the following review of the 3-disk DVD place as a review of the current Blu-ray. I didn’t; Amazon did. As anyone who’s been here for a while will sight, Amazon throws all DVD reviews into the same bucket, regardless of the edition. So don’t blame me.
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Buy,Download, Or Stream The Wizard of Oz! Click Here
I honest got the Blu-ray, and will have some comments on it at the raze.
Buy,Download, Or Stream The Wizard of Oz! Click Here
There’s no need to discuss “The Wizard of Oz” itself, a classic among classics (though I’ll have something to say about its “philosophy” later on) . You probably want to know whether the UltraResolution transfer justifies the pick.
It does. Oh, yes it does.
“The Wizard of Oz” has always looked suitable, one of the better Technicolor films. Unlike “Gone With the Wind”, which was generally shaded and desaturated, and which UltraResolution greatly improved, I didn’t inquire noteworthy enhancement for “Oz”.
Was I ever rotten. I stared with my jaw hanging launch. “Oz” is the best UltraResolution transfer by far — and the others were not exactly chopped liver.
The improvement in detail and sharpness is startling, especially as the recent prints did not seem obviously lacking in either. Even more astounding is the expansion of the tonal scale. Shaded scenes (particularly those in the forest and outside the “witches” castle) are now filled with rich detail. Have you ever noticed how gorgeous the Winkies’ red, white, and gray uniforms are? I hadn’t — until now.
These enhancements combine get the biggest improvement of all — a major revelation of _texture_. The “feltiness” of many costumes is distinct. The burlap of the Scarecrow’s face is now plainly visible, particularly in the close-up where he misstates the Pythagorean Theorem. And the Lion’s costume is a thick pile of fur you want to advance out and stroke. You can spy every last strand of hair.
I’m exaggerating only slightly when I say the improvements of this UltraResolution transfer are not noteworthy less than those from cleaning the Sistine Chapel’s frescos. It’s as if layers of murk and grime — that you never even knew were there! — have been stripped away. Until you plan it, you cannot imagine what this film (that is, the novel camera negatives) _really_ looks like. It’s a shame the people who created “Oz” never got to peep it this design.
The image quality is so high that I often felt as if I were looking through a window at live performers. (Well, almost.) No matter what versions you already have, you won’t be disappointed with this one. I watched it twice in two days, and I might even plan it a third time tonight.
My only quibble is that several matte paintings do not blend properly, because the hues at the join lines do not match those of the scene. This could have been fixed; I suspect it seemed too remarkable work for a minute improvement. (A friend suggested that these sorts of things are left in because videophiles delight in finding them.)
As to the differences between the two- and three-disk sets… The latter includes a packet of novel programs and promotional material of the sort we haven’t seen in 40 years ago. (Remember the 50-cent deluxe programs for road-show films? ) There’s also a state of 10 reproductions of Kodachrome publicity photographs. For this viewer, these extras alone elaborate the higher notice.
The third disk will be of most interest to lovers of all things Oz. It includes a handsomely produced biography of L. Frank Baum (spellbinding enough that you might want to study it more than once), plus all the restful Oz films and a Technicolor Oz cartoon. The existence of these is eminent to anyone familiar with the history of Oz productions, but they’ve never appeared (as far as I know) in any home-video format.
The films are problematic. The two from Baum’s production company are the best — they have style, charm, and imagination. The others are cheesy ripoffs that own miniature relation to the unique book. The Larry Semon — a once wildly-popular but now virtually forgotten cartoonist and laughable * — version is especially depraved, as it is miniature more than a vehicle for Semon’s price of physical comedy. The Baum estate is at least partly to blame — _any_ movie version must have seemed more magnificent than none, especially as the technology to perform a convincing version of “Oz” would not exist for another 15 years.
The film’s opening titles praise the book’s “obedient philosophy”, which seems to be either “You already have everything you need to be gratified”, or “The reply to your problems lies within yourself”. These are not so noteworthy “respectable” as reflections of the hard-nosed “All your problems are your bear fault” and “If you’re not a success, it’s because you’re inactive” homilies that grew out of the mountainous opportunity for personal development and material success this country offered.
I contain L. Frank Baum had something a bit different in mind. “The Wizard of Oz” is a fairy narrative in which magic has no bearing on the issues at the center of the tale. I own Baum wanted to discourage children from fantasizing that magic could be a solution to one’s problems.
So… he has the four principals perform a grueling waddle to the Emerald City, then salvage the wizard is a humbug. (What a shame the blander “spurious”, “fraud”, or “phony” have replaced that exquisite word.) He posesses no magic to supply wit, adore, or grit, which the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion have demonstrated they already have.
Baum’s “correct” is simple — Esteem, wisdom, and courage are what we need to gather through life. No one can _give_ them to us, because we _already_ own them, and all we need to do is drawl them.
“Is that correct? ”
“That’s all it is.”
Now… the examine you’ve been waiting for the retort to… Is the Blu-ray dwelling worth the ticket?
I viewed the Blu-ray on a Pioneer 60″ Pro Kuro, fed from a Sony BDP-S550. I also watched the DVD on the Pioneer (fed from the same Blu-ray player), and on a 36″ Sony 400-series WEGA “improved definition” TV (fed from a Sony DVP-S7000) .
The DVD remains a terrific DVD, and looks terrific on a high-quality 480i monitor. (Recognize the preceding review.) It was, and collected is, a demo-quality DVD.
When played on the BD player, and upconverted to 1080p, the DVD’s image on the Kuro is glorious darn beneficial — the sharpness and detail are at least “acceptable”. But when you play the Blu-ray disk, the image goes from “acceptable” to almost-startling. Two examples… Ticket the enhanced detail and texture in the weather-beaten wood above the WWE’s slow legs. And in the crowd scenes, you can stare (objective about) every Munchkin face. There is virtually no smearing of detail.
So… should you speed true out in a buying frenzy and regain the BD edition? It depends.
The DVD is safe enough for an edifying report on a high-quality SD monitor. But even upconverted, it isn’t apt enough for a _large_ HD exhibit. If you have, say, a 40″ display; your BD player has a superior upconverter (not all do) ; and you don’t sit “on top of” the veil (as I do) ; you might ogle tiny contrast between the DVD and the Blu-ray.
But if you’re a video fuss-budget (as I am) and sit closer than the “experts” recommend (why _shouldn’t_ you? ), you will almost certainly remove the Blu-ray. It’s your call.
A few remarks on the extras… The wristwatch, as the kid in the Ally bank commercial says, is a fragment of junk. The perform shows no particular style, wit, or imagination. And as others have said, “The Dreamer of OZ” is a discouraged transfer, very badly unpconverted to 1080. It is not of acceptable quality, and should have been save on the DVD disk.
I will near abet later (I hope) with some more comments on the sound and the other extras. Forcing yourself to repeatedly scrutinize tremendous chunks of a movie, regardless of its quality, is an ennervating experience.
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August 3rd, 2010 — Barney - Let's Go to the Zoo Tagged Barney - Let's Go to the Zoo, Barney - Let's Go to the Zoo Streaming, Download Barney - Let's Go to the Zoo Online, Stream Barney - Let's Go to the Zoo, Watch Barney - Let's Go to the Zoo Online
If you have a child who loves the zoo.. then this is the video for you. My son loves going to the zoo and he enjoys Barney music so this was a perfect video. I wasn’t distinct if this video had actually LIVE zoo animals or if they were going to employ pretend ones… this is the exact stuff! You witness Elephants, Hippos, Lions and so powerful more. It felt like you were really at the zoo. Barney, B.J. & Baby-Bop took you on the zoo straggle from starting out by buying you a label to getting you a drink of lemonade to big info. about the animals and let’s not forget about the Barney animal songs. It is a assume you won’t be disappointed with.. My 10 & 8 yrs olds inspect it along with my 5 yr ragged!!
My 16 month musty granddaughter loves Barney but the only Barney video she would contemplate was “Snort and Dance with Barney”. We bought other Barney videos that she wouldn’t give the time of day to. When we bought “Let’s Go to the Zoo”, we figured she wouldn’t peruse it either but we wanted to give it a try since she loves animals. She absolutely loves it and we see it many, many times a day. You fetch to peek so many different animals discontinuance up. I know all the words to all the songs. There is unprejudiced something about Barney, Baby Bob and BJ with all of those fantastic animals. If you are not able to obtain to the Fort Worth Zoo, you can explore it all on video. Simply magnificant and highly recommended. I reflect I’ll take another in the event she wears this one out.
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July 17th, 2010 — Uncategorized