Streaming The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad Online

März 5th, 2010 by leanna6022388
Streaming The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad Online. Streaming The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad Online.

Movie Title: The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
Average customer review:

The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad is available for streaming or downloading.

Click Here to Stream or Download The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad

This is my all-time celebrated of the Disney entertaining classics; I have seen it countless times, and appreciate it as powerful as the first time I saw it, method wait on when I was 7 years mature. It is a Halloween fixture for me quiet, although I search for it all year ’round. Bing Crosby had a astonishing speaking state, as well as a singing one, and he does colossal things with the character of Ichabod and his tuneful telling of this timeless record, dwelling in Sleepy Hollow; I have that were Washington Irving alive today, he would like this version of his terrific fresh, based on broken-down folk tales and legends of that share of Unique York. I also fancy Toad; J. Thaddeus Toad, Esquire, the Master of Toad Hall, with his dependable friends, Mole, Angus McBadger and Ratty. I have never seen this current classic in such splendor before my DVD version arrived…the colors, the crisp record, the overall beauty of it took my breath away, and I was 7 years ancient again, watching it on the great shroud. Now I can gawk it anytime, and have the same quality as I enjoyed as a child, what a treat! Even if you have a VHS copy, choose the DVD, you won’t fill the dissimilarity!

Disney’s THE ADVENTURES OF ICHABOD AND MR. TOAD is one of the best Halloween DVDs available, especially if you are looking for something to entertain–and spook!–the entire family. There are actually two stories on this film, the first segment being a “telling” of Kenneth Grahame’s THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS. The animation is well done–as are most Disney cartoons from this era (c. 1949) –and the narration by Basil Rathbone is wonderfully literate. Instruct characterizations are done by other actors, however, which detracts from the film’s premise that the chronicle is being “told” by the frail Mr. Rathbone. While this segment is certainly enchanting enough, it is NOT the highlight of the DVD. That honor goes to the other segment….The remainder of the film is a “telling” of Washington Irving’s THE Yarn OF SLEEPY HOLLOW, and it is sheer delight. This classic American ghost tale is narrated by Bing Crosby, who also sings all of the songs and voices nearly all of the characterizations. The script is very actual to the source material, even including–though a petite less subtly than Mr. Irving–the same wry sense of humor. The depiction of the Headless Hessian himself is really spooky, too, though serene gentle enough so as not to dread the exiguous ones too worthy. Lots of fun for traditional and young alike, this, and a mountainous film for the family to gape on Halloween night!Buy,Download, Or Stream The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad! Click HereAlso included on the DVD is the classic Disney engrossing short LONESOME GHOSTS. This one has Mickey, Donald, and Goofy working as ghost exterminators, and one could easily compose the argument that it was the inspiration for 1984’s live-action GHOSTBUSTERS. (Indeed, one of our spicy heroes even utters the line “I ain’t terrorized of no ghosts!”) A loyal hoot, and another broad film to include in the family’s Halloween celebration.If you’re already a fan of the consuming THE Tale OF SLEEPY HOLLOW, you’ll definitely want to include this DVD in your collection. The colors are mighty richer than on the VHS release, and the details are understandably crisper. You’ll leer Ichabod, Bram Bones, that runt coquette Katrina, and the evil Headless Horseman like you’ve never seen ‘em before!

Watch A Little Romance Online

März 5th, 2010 by leanna6022388
Watch A Little Romance Online. Watch A Little Romance Online.

Movie Title: A Little Romance
Average customer review:

A Little Romance is available for streaming or downloading.

Click Here to Stream or Download A Little Romance

This has to be one of the most under-appreciated movies of all time. George Roy Hill had directed two of the best comedies of the late 60s-early 70s, Butch Cassidy… and The Sting. Then he made this gem…

Buy,Download, Or Stream A Little Romance! Click Here

Two lonely teenagers in Paris, a street-wise French boy and a sheltered American girl, both of whom are hiding their genius IQs in order to fit in, fall in love and realize how lucky they are to have found each other. With help from a romantic old con artist (Lawrence Olivier at his best; he should have done more comedy), they run away to Venice to make their love last forever. They have a wonderful adventure, and along the way, Hill pokes fun at American tourists, pays tongue-in-cheek homage to his own great movies, and shows us how beautiful life can be when you’re different.

This endearing tale of young love will bring smiles and tears to both young and old alike. It features two bright, innocent 13 year olds, an American girl and a French boy who fall in love. When her mother disapproves, the pair run off with the aid of an elderly gentleman who take them across Europe for their romantic tryst under the Bridge of Sighs in the ancient city of Venice. Along the way we get to take in the sights of Paris and Verona before finally ending in the magnificient Piazza San Marco and on the gondolas plying the canals of the old city. It features a very young Diane Lane in her screen debut at age 13 and the venerable Lord Laurence Olivier who famously hailed his young costar as “the next Grace Kelly”.

The lovely score by George Delerue won an Academy Award but much of the most memorable music within the movie is actually by Antonio Vivaldi. The loveliest piece, titled “Love’s Not Like That”, which is used throughout the movie to accompany the young lovers is actually the Largo from Vivaldi’s Lute Concerto in D, RV 93.

Buy,Download, Or Stream A Little Romance! Click Here

This 2005 release is the same DVD released in January 2003. The film has been beautifully transferred in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1 (anamorphic), not 1.85:1 as stated at Amazon’s website. Although there are occasional nicks on the print as befits its vintage (1979), it is a generally good and clean transfer with bright, natural colors and crisp images. Sound is a very basic 2.0 mono which although perfectly serviceable does not do true justice to the nuances of the lovely baroque music. Extras are pretty limited. There is an enagaging 7 minute look-back by Diane Lane on the making of the film and her reminiscences of her costars, especially of Lord Larry. There is a single theatrical trailer for the movie (also anamorphic). The rest of the extras consists of Production Notes, awards garnered and a Poster gallery. Even without any extras, the main feature alone is worth the price of the DVD, an unjustly neglected little masterpiece.
Does Wrecking Balm Work?

Watch Father of the Bride Movie Online

März 5th, 2010 by leanna6022388
Watch Father of the Bride Movie Online. Watch Father of the Bride Movie Online.

Movie Title: Father of the Bride
Average customer review:

Father of the Bride is available for streaming or downloading.

Click Here to Stream or Download Father of the Bride

I just saw for the first time ever this movie made in 1950; directed by Vincente Minnelli; and starring Elizabeth Taylor, Spencer Tracy and Joan Bennett. Ms. Taylor was only 18 when she made this film and was frightening and eternally beautiful. She is so petite that she almost could adorn her own wedding cake. The movie, however, as the title implies, belongs to Mr. Tracy who plays her father who cannot bear to see his little daughter grow up and get married. There is a lot of most fathers in Mr. Tracy’s character. He has some great lines and some funny scenes and endears himself to us with his gentle humor– the footage where he gets stuck in his kitchen making drinks and doesn’t get to make a speech about his beloved daughter, just to point out one delightful instance. He is such a bungler– can’t get to Ms. Taylor at the wedding reception to bid her goodbye either.

I did not find this 54 year-old movie dated at all. Some things never change. Love may be eternal and most families the world over act pretty much the same when it comes to seeing their children leave home.

First, a warning: this is the colorized version of this classic black and white film, so avoid it if you’re a film connoisseur. The original black and white version is infinitely superior to this poorly done colorization.

Now, the good news. This film showcases Spencer Tracy’s remarkable acting ability and he delivers a witty and intelligent performance as Elizabeth Taylor’s long-suffering father. Spence has several monologues which are a joy to watch. His acting gift (along with Charles Laughton) is an absolute wonder and it’s always a pleasure to watch him. Joan Bennet is adequate in a supporting role and Elizabeth Taylor is breathtaking as the 18-year-old soon to be wed daughter. Liz’s performance is actually quite good and her interplay with Tracy is especially effective.

Yes, this movie is dated in places, but Tracy’s performance is worth watching the entire movie. He is in nearly every scene and transforms a seemingly average movie into something really special.
Wrecking Balm

Watch Soul Vengeance Online

März 5th, 2010 by leanna6022388
Watch Soul Vengeance Online. Watch Soul Vengeance Online.

Movie Title: Soul Vengeance
Average customer review:

Soul Vengeance is available for streaming or downloading.

Click Here to Stream or Download Soul Vengeance

I’m not kidding - this movie has to be seen to be believed. It’s got love, romance, lust, sex, revenge - in short, all the things that make life worthwhile. Shakespeare doesn’t have anything up on this fine piece of cinema. The strangulation scene makes this whole movie worth it.

My goodness, I’m as white as a turnip, but this movie still moves me in a multitude of ways!! Blaxploitation at it’s finest. Marloe Monte convey’s the despotism and decrepitude of south central L.A. to perfection, a visceral portrayal of what could be considered one of the most ignominious eras in contemporary American culture. The laconic dialogue, consisting in it’s finest moments of archaic “jive talk”, replete with the obligatory “mutha” every ten minutes, realistically portrays the culture and frustration of Charles (Monte) and his prostitute girlfriend as they struggle to ameliorate their lives in an atmosphere of ubiquitous oppression and exploitation by the omnipresent “MAN”. A brilliant concept, brilliant execution, inspired acting…I cannot prase it enough. The sexual tension is as tangible as can be, and the action is incessantly non-stop.
Does Wrecking Balm Work?

Watch Frankenstein Created Woman/The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires Movie Online

März 4th, 2010 by leanna6022388
Watch Frankenstein Created Woman/The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires Movie Online. Watch Frankenstein Created Woman/The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires Movie Online.

Movie Title: Frankenstein Created Woman/The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires
Average customer review:

Frankenstein Created Woman/The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires is available for streaming or downloading.

Click Here to Stream or Download Frankenstein Created Woman/The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires

Anchor Bay has decided to rerelease the films in their Hammer Studios catalogue not individually, but paired up in a series of double features, each set available for the original price of only one film. And to them I extend a hearty thank you … not only for budget reasons, but for the combinations they seem to have decided upon. Stuck together here are a pair of Peter Cushing films, giving us two samples of him at work with two of the characters he is most remembered for bringing to life.

Buy,Download, Or Stream Frankenstein Created Woman/The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires! Click Here

The first film of the two we’re given in this wonderful set comes to us from 1967. Despite the cheesy and rather misleading title, “Frankenstein Created Woman” is a wonderful tale, sporting a simple but excellent story and some marvelous performances from everyone in the cast. Peter Cushing excels, as always, as Doctor Frankenstein (who’s not so villainous this time around), displaying unfailing dedication to his experiments and marvelously dry wit (check out his remarks while being questioned in the courtroom. Classic!). Showing us a softer side of Doctor F, Cushing reanimates the body of a homely, outcast girl, a suicide victim, with the soul of her lover, Hans, a young man executed for a crime he did not commit. Hans went to the guillotine rather than ruin his lady’s virtue and name her as his alibi (as they were spending the night together the night the murder took place), and after finding himself alive again, holds no other thoughts but taking revenge on the real killer(s).

It`s not a complicated tale at all, but the wonderful performances, nice sets, and striking images (such as the opening shot, as the camera looks up at the guillotine blade) make it a very memorable and enjoyable film indeed.

Buy,Download, Or Stream Frankenstein Created Woman/The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires! Click Here

But as much as I did enjoy “Frankenstein Created Woman”, I must admit that I went for this double-feature set for the second film included here, 1974’s “Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires”. In an attempt to inject new life into the struggling series, the folks of Hammer Studios took their Van Helsing franchise to Hong Kong, where they made an unusual film featuring Professor Van Helsing, Vampire Hunter (Peter Cushing, wonderful as ever) fighting more of his undead adversaries in turn of the century China. And believe me, this is one fun movie.

The land is under a terrible curse, as the peasants cringe in fear beneath a brotherhood of seven vampires, led by none other than Count Dracula himself, come all the way from Transylvania (and beneath the mask of a Chinese vampire … and no, Christopher Lee does NOT play Dracula when we see him in his true form at the beginning of the film. I understand that Lee had tired of the role and wished to move on at this point in the series). Van Helsing agrees to use his vampire slaying expertise and come to the aid of a young man named Hsi Ching, and together with Hsi Ching’s six brothers put an end to the Seven Vampire’s reign of terror.

What follows is an unusual half-martial arts/half-British gothic horror story, with armies of Chinese Zombies, Kung Fu fighting, vampire attacks, Kung Fu fighting, scenes of blood letting, and more Kung Fu fighting, until at the very last Van Helsing and Dracula face each other off for one last time (as this would prove to be the final entry to the series). Both goofy and serious at the same time (like the moment when Hsi Ching wipes his fingers off on a falling enemy’s shirt), you`ll be hard pressed to find a more interesting or unusual tale … but at the same time you can’t deny that it’s a well written, well made, and well acted film. The fight scenes are masterfully choreographed, and we even get to see the aging Mr. Cushing himself do a number of impressive stunts.

This double-feature set from Anchor Bay Entertainment doesn’t skimp out on the extras. Though there are no commentary tracks, we still get, with FCW, a nice selection of trailers plus an interesting overview of the entire Frankenstein series, narrated by British actor Oliver Reed. As for Lot7GV, we’re given both the original and American cuts of the film (where basically, for the American version, they left in all the action scenes and cut everything else out), a trailer for the American cut (sporting some [un?]intentionally hilarious narration, and an audio dramatization of the film’s story, read to us by Peter Cushing himself (great to have on while you’re doing housework, though I’m not totally sure what purpose it was originally meant to serve).

So go ahead and give this set a try. You’ll get two great movies for one great price, and you’ll have a pair of excellent films that you’ll want to revisit often and should be sure to share with friends. In addition to this, if you’re a Peter Cushing fan and are wondering where to start, this set would make an ideal beginning to your movie collection.

Carry on Carry on,

MN

Frankenstein Created Woman is one of the better of Hammer’s Frankenstein sequels, an efficient programmer that sees Peter Cushing’s Baron trapping the soul of his guillotined assistant and putting it in the body of his disfigured girlfriend, only for the wronged boy to use her to kill those who really done the crime he was executed for. There’s more build-up than payoff, but its very sedateness (indeed, almost cosiness) is part of the pleasure, and it’s hard not to warm to the Baron’s arrogance and aloofness, whether it be reading in the witness box or casually answering a policeman’s “Do you take us for fools?” with a simple “Yes.” Still, it is remarkable just how well preserved that severed head is after six months…

The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires is a much less successful hybrid combining Hammer horror and mid-70s chop socky movie as Dracula (not Christopher Lee but an inadequate John Forbes Robertson), for reasons never really explained, possesses the body of a Chinese bad guy to control six golden vampires while Cushing’s Van Helsing, on a far from successful Chinese lecture tour, finds himself teaming up with seven brothers and their one sister to rid a remote Chinese village of yada yada yada.. “Black belt against black magic” screams the trailer, and while it’s not as poor as I recalled, the only things going for it are a few okay action scenes and a magnificent display of bosom heaving from Julie Ege in one particularly memorable shot.

But it’s a masterpiece compared to the butchered US version, retitled The Seven Brothers Meet Dracula, which makes it sound like a bad Howard Keel musical. Although the original was far from dialog-heavy, a good two-thirds of the dialog has been dropped completely (in some cases you can still see the actors’ lips moving but no sound emerging). Even more bizarre is the opening two reels, which reuse much of the same footage three times in a row in three separate scenes, hoping that by flipping it around no-one will notice. The end result is a surreal experience that just washes over you.

Although I’d probably not have been tempted to buy either of the two main features, as a double-bill they make for a nicely complimentary package. Anchor Bay’s extras package on the films are good: Frankenstein comes with trailer and TV spots (for its double-bill release with The Mummy’s Shroud - “Beware the beat of the cloth-wrapped feet!”) and an episode of the World of Hamer clip show, while The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires includes both cuts of the film, the US trailer (which the narrator constantly refers to as ‘The Seven Brothers and Their One Sister Meet Dracula’!) and the old LP narrated by Peter Cushing as an audio extra.
Wrecking Balm Reviews

The Final Countdown Streaming

Februar 16th, 2010 by leanna6022388
The Final Countdown Streaming. The Final Countdown Streaming.

Movie Title: The Final Countdown
Average customer review:

The Final Countdown is available for streaming or downloading.

Click Here to Stream or Download The Final Countdown

This film is well written, has an all star cast and has wonderful photography. Filmed well before Top Gun, The Final Countdown has great areial combat/flight scenes and shows the awesome capabilites of the navy’s modern nuclear aircraft carriers and the stressful environment that all aboard have to live with every day.

Kirk Douglass and Marten Sheen show why they were “A” list actors when this film was made. Both gave excellent performances.

The script was well written with the exploration of the ships crew trying to deal with a potential paradox that would effect every person on the planet.

Great acting a good story and super photography of aircraft carrier and flight operations. If you like these features, you will love this movie.

“The Final Countdown” is one of my all-time favorite films, because it has just about everything I like: military hardware, heroism, and history — with a delicious helping of sci-fi fantasy. Off the coast of Hawaii, the modern day USS Nimitz encounters a bizarre storm, which is actually a portal through time. The crew gradually becomes convinced that they have emerged in 1941 just prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor — and that they have the futuristic firepower to stop it. But can history really be changed? Initially, it seems likely! In the highlight scene of the film, F-14 Tomcats go to the rescue of a yacht under attack by Zeros. Survivors, a suspicious Congressman and his assistant, as well as an incredulous Japanese pilot, are brought on board the spectacularly anachronistic aircraft carrier. From there, the mission to change history begins to go awry as paradox-producing events occur. Nonetheless, the Nimitz never falters. And you really anticipate, even as the time portal begins to close, that her guns and aircraft will engage the oncoming enemy. “The Final Countdown” is a wonderful fantasy, very realistically enacted. For a time-travel epic, I like the way all the “loose ends” are neatly tied up. History is preserved, with a sensitive, and I must say, emotional, tribute to the heroes of Pearl Harbor.

Watch Bob the Builder: On Site - Skyscrapers Movie Online

Februar 14th, 2010 by leanna6022388
Watch Bob the Builder: On Site - Skyscrapers Movie Online. Watch Bob the Builder: On Site - Skyscrapers Movie Online.

Movie Title: Bob the Builder: On Site - Skyscrapers
Average customer review:

Bob the Builder: On Site - Skyscrapers is available for streaming or downloading.

Click Here to Stream or Download Bob the Builder: On Site - Skyscrapers

This Bob the Builder On Site DVD shows how skyscrapers are built. My 4 year old grandson likes it very much. It combines animation with real life scenes. It is educational, interesting, and entertaining.

The On Site series is my absolute favorite type of Bob the Builder episode. Viewers are made to feel like they are part of an actual construction crew - watching workers build and getting a sneak peek inside the job site. Interspersed with the usual animation, this is a great video for kids of all ages. The dual imagery makes these videos equally educational and fascinating.

Buy,Download, Or Stream Bob the Builder: On Site - Skyscrapers! Click Here

We learn about the construction process on two types of buildings: a skyscraper and a parking garage. Bob starts right at the beginning by drafting the blueprints and laying the foundation, then onto finishing the top-most floor and installing the elevator system. We see the contractor’s view on each step of the huge process that becomes a skyscraper.

As an added bonus, there is footage of children building their own construction projects from cardboard boxes and craft supplies. What a great (not to mention cheap) project to try with your own children after the video! They can combine their imaginations with what they learned from Bob and his crew and to create their own unique buildings.

Buy,Download, Or Stream Bob the Builder: On Site - Skyscrapers! Click Here

Skyscrapers breaks down the building process into engaging, easy-to-follow stages, incorporating Bob the Builder’s delightful animation and charming characters, along with live action construction site footage. The sky has no limit in this latest title from everyone’s favorite builder!

Watch Ninku/ Yu Yu Hakusho Movie Online

Februar 9th, 2010 by leanna6022388
Watch Ninku/ Yu Yu Hakusho Movie Online. Watch Ninku/ Yu Yu Hakusho Movie Online.

Movie Title: Ninku/ Yu Yu Hakusho
Average customer review:

Ninku/ Yu Yu Hakusho is available for streaming or downloading.

Click Here to Stream or Download Ninku/ Yu Yu Hakusho

This DVD contains two short theatrical movies from the “Ninku” anime series and the “Yu Yu Hakusho” anime series. “Ninku” is about three Ninku (ninja-like) warriors: Fusuke (the bug-eyed boy), Aicho, and Toji. Also part of the group is Toji’s sister Rihoko, played by the excellent Japanese seiyuu Hayashibara Megumi. Thier biplane crashes and when the go to apply for bodyguard jobs in the nearby town, they discover a group of imposters has taken their name.

In “Yu Yu Hakusho”, Koenma-sama (Lord Koenma) has been kidnapped and the randsom demand is the Golden Seal of Enma-sama (King Enma). Botan enlists the help of Yuske and Kuwabara and they are soon joined by the rest of their team — Hiei and Kurama. Now they must rescue Koenma-sama and keep the Golden Seal out of the enemy’s hands.

Since this was not done by FUNimation, the English dub cast of “Yu Yu Hakusho” is different. Not only that, but the English script is such that the characters, especially Hiei, come off different from how they are in the Japanese version. The subtitles for both movies are very readable which is good. No honorifics are used and the Ninku subtitles are especially suspect in spots. The Japanese audio for “Yu Yu Hakusho” is just awful. It was done in *MONO* for crying out loud! What is that about? There was no excuse for this on the DVD.

Bottom line: Two fluff movies which are little more than slightly longer “filler” TV episodes. If you are a fan of either series, you’ll want to check this out for fun. Otherwise, don’t break your neck trying to add it to your collection.

I bought this DVD thinking that it had 2 full length movies on it but what I really wound up with was 2, 1/2 hr. episodes, each randomly chosen from these two shows.

The Yuyu Kakusho Show is very entertaining when you know the whole plot, but this DVD doesn’t give you any background on the story so you can’t truly appreciate it. The episode contained on this disc takes place quite far into the series. It would be more worth your money to buy V. 1 of the series for the few extra bucks because you get something like the first 5 episodes on it..

I hadn’t seen Ninku before I watched this DVD but it seems quite entertaining and I am sure it would be enjoyable if I knew more about the plot, but I don’t.

This DVD is more of a sampler of 2 anime than anything else, and is a waste of money even at it’s low price compared to most anime.

If you want to watch the Yuyu Kakusho Show, it runs on Cartoon Networks Adult Swim, but don’t waste your money on this.

Two good anime shows, one bad, misleading DVD!

The best movie ever is One Piece - The Desert Princess and the Pirates: Adventures in Alabasta

Februar 4th, 2010 by leanna6022388
The best movie ever is One Piece - The Desert Princess and the Pirates: Adventures in Alabasta. The best movie ever is One Piece - The Desert Princess and the Pirates: Adventures in Alabasta.

Movie Title: One Piece - The Desert Princess and the Pirates: Adventures in Alabasta
Average customer review:

One Piece - The Desert Princess and the Pirates: Adventures in Alabasta is available for streaming or downloading.

Click Here to Stream or Download One Piece - The Desert Princess and the Pirates: Adventures in Alabasta

The release of “One Piece The Movie 8 - The Desert Princess and the Pirates: Adventures in Alabasta” (let’s see how much paragraph space I can waste just by typing that) is a significant release for fans of the hit Japanese TV show “One Piece,” which is one of the biggest hits in Japan since “Dragon Ball Z.” Here in America though it’s the most popular series since “Shaman King,” another series that is also less popular then it deserves to be. All things considered, “One Piece” should be more popular then it is. Ever since Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies were released, pirates have been the thing. So a series about pirates, even one that feels more Tex Avery then Johnny Depp, should have been a sure thing.

Buy,Download, Or Stream One Piece - The Desert Princess and the Pirates: Adventures in Alabasta! Click Here

Though I don’t want to get into the whole history of the show, it was basically bought by a company called 4Kids Entertainment (makers of “The Cabbage Patch Kids”) and run through the editing machine so thoroughly, that it showed up on kids TV in a form that made it almost unrecognizable to it’s fans. One of my friends calls “One Piece” his favorite show of all time, and this includes epic masterpieces like “Star Trek” and “Seinfield,” and his reaction to the editing of the show was “I now know what a woman must feel like when she gets raped.” Yeah, that comment may be extreme, but so were the changes to the show. Recently the rights of “One Piece” were given to a company called Funimation Productions, the most known (ironically enough) for making “Dragon Ball Z” popular in America.

Though the company had eight movies to pick from, they decided to start with “One Piece The Movie 8 - The Desert Princess and the Pirates: Adventures in Alabasta” over the first movie. I think the reasoning for this was more political then it was just because it was the latest movie to be made. People are watching Funimation, expecting their first release of “One Piece” to be nothing short of perfection. This movie is actually an odd duck of the movies. It’s simply a retelling of one of the best arcs in the TV show, with better animation and music. Though intentions are good, this makes it feel pretty out of place. It’s useless to newcomers who won’t get whats going on, and fans of the show may appreciate the better animation, but will want to stick with the TV episodes for being more fleshed out.

Buy,Download, Or Stream One Piece - The Desert Princess and the Pirates: Adventures in Alabasta! Click Here

For America though, this may be the release Funimation needed to show the fans what it was going to do differently. As chance would have it, the arc that this movie retells was one of the last arcs to air on 4Kids TV. It was also the worst edited, changing what was one of the emotional climaxes of the show into slush that would embarrass the writers of Barney. The final fight was especially noted for turning one of the shows most intense battles into nothing more then mindless chatter. “One Piece The Movie 8 - The Desert Princess and the Pirates: Adventures in Alabasta” takes what was already an intense story of the show and pumps up the intensity and the violence well above what could even be shown on Japanese TV.

In this sense, it releasing this movie would not only show how different Funimation’s translation of “One Piece” is going to be, but it would also give people who may have only seen the edited TV showing something to compare it to. To prove this point even more, Funimation submitted the movie to the MPAA, where the movie received a PG-13 for “violence and some sexual content.” And violent it is. People who have only seen “One Piece” on TV will notice a difference in the action right away. How much more intense it is. How much blood is spilt. How the characters not only get cut up, but how the comic relief character even gets his skull smashed in with a metal bat. The widescreen adds a bonus to the movie in that the fights are now given more depth and visuals, and it makes the action a highlight of the film.

That said, this is easily the worst “One Piece” film of the bunch. While most of the other “One Piece” movies are stand alone stories, taking one of the most loved story arcs of the TV show and dwindling it down to ninety minutes is a tragedy. The story and characters aren’t developed enough to get emotionally connected to, and we are only truly entertained near the very end of the film, where Luffy has his epic fight with antagonist Crocodile. On top of the shallow condensing, the movie has this annoying habit of stopping the movie with oil painted frames of the same scene. Which…admittingly, looks cool, but comes off as utterly pointless none-the-less. Though I can’t really recommend “One Piece The Movie 8 - The Desert Princess and the Pirates: Adventures in Alabasta,” I don’t think it ultimately matters.

And not because I feel people will say “Screw you, I’m going to buy this anyway,” but because for all my complaints about the movie itself, it does what it sets out to do. That is, it gives us a glimpse at what the show will be like under the arms of a different company, cast, and director. And while the dub for this movie is by no means perfect, it’s a BIG step up from what we’ve seen on TV! I feel “One Piece” fans will watch this with much joy, because they will be watching the show as it was supposed to be seen all this time. For some who’ve been watching it on TV, this will be a revelation to how much better the show should have been, and now looks to be. Once we get the new episodes and movies, I think the importance of this one will slowly disappear, but for now it does what it sets out to do.

How my ratings work:

5 - I really liked/loved it

4 - I liked it

3 - Could’ve been better/worth a look

2 - Just didn’t live up to the potential

1 - Simply aweful

I just saw this movie today with my friends. I’ve been a fan of One Piece for a good while. I’ve yet to read the manga, but I plant to read it some day. This movie has everything you could want: action, comedy, drama, intense battles. I don’t need to go into the plot since it’s mentioned above. The voice cast is outstanding, and it’s cool to see it all uncut (I’ve mainly seen it on tv). If you love One Piece, you’ll love this. If you’re a fan of anime, movies, and pirates, you should love it in general.

Best Reviews Of TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Romantic Comedies

Januar 23rd, 2010 by leanna6022388
Best Reviews Of TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Romantic Comedies. Best Reviews Of TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Romantic Comedies.

Movie Title: TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Romantic Comedies
Average customer review:

TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Romantic Comedies is available for streaming or downloading.

Click Here to Stream or Download TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Romantic Comedies

This is one of 27 sets of four movie packs that Warner Home Video plans to release in the next few years. Their purpose is to introduce classic film to people previously unaware of these films via very affordable bare bones versions of these movies. This status has four very first-rate films, all featuring Katharine Hepburn.
Woman of the Year (1941) - The film that introduced Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy and sparked a long relationship both on and offscreen. Here Hepburn plays an early feminist who goes around collecting causes. Spencer Tracy is the sportswriter that loves her. They marry, but things go downhill posthaste since Kate is really already married to her causes.
Buy,Download, Or Stream TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Romantic Comedies! Click Here
Adam’s Rib (1951) - Ten years have passed and Hepburn and Tracy have mature a bit, but the spark and the chemistry is peaceful there. This time the pair are married lawyers. He is a prosecutor and she a defense attorney. Problems arise when Hepburn defends a woman who shot her husband when she caught him cheating on her and Tracy is the prosecuting attorney in the same case.

Bringing Up Baby (1938) - One of the current screwball comedies. Stars Cary Grant as an anthropologist who gets mixed up with a very dizzy young woman played by Hepburn. The location involves a tame leopard - Baby - and a dinosaur bone buried by a dog - the loyal whereabouts are unknown.
Buy,Download, Or Stream TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Romantic Comedies! Click Here

The Philadelphia Sage (1940) - Reteams Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant as a divorced pair of socialites. Hepburn’s character is about to marry a man of the people who pulled himself up by his bootstraps, and also happens to be one of the most annoying people who has ever lived. James Stewart oddly won a Best Actor award for what is essentially a supporting role. It is especially peculiar when you deem about all of the other mountainous performances in which he was the undisputed lead and he wasn’t even nominated.

The only drawback to this station is that - if you want all the extras - you might want to deem Classic Comedies Collection (Bringing Up Baby / The Philadelphia Fable Two-Disc Special Edition / Dinner at Eight / Libeled Lady / Stage Door / To Be or Not to Be) in the case of Bringing Up Baby and The Philadelphia Narrative. Hepburn and Tracy fans might want to deem The Hepburn & Tracy Signature Collection (Woman of the Year / Pat and Mike / Adam’s Rib / The Spencer Tracy Legacy) . However, both of these sets are considerably more expensive than this basic four-pack, and rude cost is really the point of this dwelling in the first dwelling.

TCM (Turner Classic Movies) could not have chosen four better examples of classic golden-era romantic comedies, and it’s no coincidence that Katharine Hepburn stars in all four. At the same time, it makes you wonder why they simply didn’t call this DVD site the Katharine Hepburn Romantic Comedy Collection. After all, there’s an equally reasonable case to include classics from the likes of Carole Lombard, Irene Dunne or Rosalind Russell. To allow for the bargain label offered, the four films are presented on two double-sided discs. The print conditions are gratefully shapely for the most fraction.

Director Howard Hawks, a master of this genre as well as many others, guided 1938’s Bringing Up Baby (*****) and catches Hepburn and Cary Grant at their zenith in buoyant silly energy and youthful vigor. Amazingly, this wacky 1938 screwball classic was her first trusty foray into farcical comedy, and she makes her exasperating character Susan Vance the definitive madcap heiress. Cross-pollinating the pratfall wackiness of Lucille Ball with the Fifth Avenue glamour of Carole Lombard, Hepburn filters it all through her braying, haughty Modern England manner. Grant is her perfect match as David Huxley, the befuddled, bespectacled paleontologist, who aptly describes his inadvertent relationship with Susan as “a series of misadventures from beginning to kill”. Together, they support up with the breathless accelerate Hawks sets with a hair-brained station animated an elusive research grant, a pet leopard that can only be soothed by one song (”I Can’t Give You Anything But Worship, Baby”), a playful dog with a yen for a missing intercostal clavicle (i.e., a dinosaur bone) and a gallery of droll character actors who design the mistake of trying to accomplish sense of all the shenanigans. The passe supporting cast is incomparably stellar, in particular, May Robson as no-nonsense Aunt Elizabeth, Charlie Ruggles as the likeably pompous Major Horace Applegate and Walter Catlett as the perennially confused Constable Slocum. With the crack timing of the comedy, the movie is filled with fabulous gaze gags, and the bewitching script (written by Dudley Nichols and Hagar Wilde) has an abundance of clever lines and witty asides. Director Peter Bogdanovich, who paid tribute to this film with his partial remake, What’s Up, Doc?, provides insightful commentary on an alternate track.

Hepburn was born to play imperious Main Line socialite Tracy Lord in 1940’s The Philadelphia Epic (*****) . On the eve of her second marriage, Tracy is surrounded by three men who lay claim to her. With whom she ends up is no surprise, but the plod there contains all the biting wit and human insight that one could hope for in what is essentially a drawing room comedy. As Tracy’s ex-husband, the pretentiously named C.K. Dexter Haven, Grant plays the most grounded character in the record, a romantic in cynic’s clothing, watching others earn caught in the scare of commitment and a gauzy haze of indecision. As the third point, a young and refreshingly cynical James Stewart portrays Macauley “Mike” Connor, a tabloid reporter covering Tracy’s nuptials. Connor turns out to be a talented author, which Tracy finds immediately delicate. What is so refreshing about this triangle is that it never reduces itself to some doughty duel to acquire the damsel. In fact, both men have understandable reservations about Tracy’s high-and-mighty stance and her inability to tolerate others’ weaknesses. Further complications ensue with Mike’s unspoken relationship with Liz Imbrie, his smart-mouthed photographer sidekick who of course, pines for him. As you can imagine, it all ties up beautifully, and all these complications approach through with a mountainous deal of humanity thanks to the astounding, sometimes surprisingly edgy dialogue in Philip Barry’s current play and Donald Ogden Stewart’s veil adaptation. It is splendid to say that the rest of the cast is heavenly but overshadowed by the three apt and fully embodied leads. A major piece of the credit for this first-class production needs to go to beneficial filmmaker George Cukor, who is completely in his element here guiding his players to their peak. There is an informative albeit rather involved commentary by film historian and critic Jeannine Basinger.

Having already established the headstrong aspect of her cloak persona, Hepburn added a worldly intellect and beguiling sexual ardor in her portrayal of multilingual political journalist Tess Harding in 1942’s Woman of the Year (****) directed by George Stevens. In her first teaming with lifelong off-screen partner Spencer Tracy, she sets off palpable sparks with the normally taciturn actor, who plays sportswriter Sam Craig working at the same newspaper. Written by Ring Lardner Jr. and Michael Kanin, the space is about the characters’ whirlwind courtship from an immediate sexual attraction to an impulsive marriage, all the while struggling with each other’s priorities. Needless to say, given that it’s a product of its era, it becomes a matter of time before Tess bends to Sam’s will but not until some though-provoking observations are made about sex roles in a basically fractious relationship. However, rather than the droll fireworks generated by their later collaborations, this film treads in unexpectedly sentimental melodrama, especially in the episodes where Tess has to let go of a Greek orphan she wants to adopt and in the climactic scene when she tearfully recognizes her wifely responsibilities as her aunt Ellen marries her father. Smooth, the pair’s familiar bantering occurs when Sam explains the rules of baseball to Tess and in the final feminist reversal as she fails miserably in her attempt at domesticity. Intriguingly, for a Tracy-Hepburn vehicle, it feels great more like her movie than his, and consequently their rapport is not quite up to their normal standard here.

Seven years into their camouflage partnership, Tracy and Hepburn made what is arguably their best worry together, 1949’s Adam’s Rib (*****), the sixth of nine movies they made together. The zingy repartee and old-shoe comfort in their relationship are in fat bloom here as directed by Cukor. Written by the legendary husband and wife writing team of Garson Kanin and Ruth Gordon, the region focuses on a headline-grabbing court case intelligent Doris Attinger, a dim-witted wife who shoots her philandering husband Warren unprejudiced as he is caught with his blowsy mistress Beryl Caighn. Representing the wounded husband is Assistant DA Adam Bonner who is looking for a posthaste conviction of the wife. However, his proto-feminist attorney wife Amanda sees the alleged crime as an act of justifiable defiance and decides to defend the wife. This potentially tense set-up leads to a trial where Amanda sets out to show that a double standard exists for women and that Doris was merely defending her family and home. Adam, however, believes that the law is the law no matter the gender of those fervent and that a slay was indeed attempted. Consequently, the narrative is not so grand about Adam’s inherent sexism as it is about Amanda’s single-minded determination to expose her point even as the case degrades into a media sideshow. Hepburn plays such a convincing litigator that her case actually sounds persuasive at times, and Tracy brings his original combination of sympathy and combustible bluster to a man who respects his wife deeply but becomes increasingly disillusioned with her unlawful stance. As Doris, Judy Holliday delivers in her first famous conceal role, bringing a deeper pathos to the scorned wife than you would seek information from. Tom Ewell plays Warren for the smarmy, sexist cheater that he is, while Jean Hagen expertly plays Beryl as a media-hungry floozy. As the Bonners’ next door neighbor Kip, David Wayne acts rather fey for someone who supposedly wants to speed away with Amanda, but I grunt the advance was intentional to ensure nothing would really threaten the Bonner marriage except the case. However dated some of the sexual politics feel, the film is collected one of the most smartly played of romantic comedies.