Wholesale and Distribution Movie Reviews

One thing that has made the series fun to watch is that we have only been watching two episodes at a time. Each episode is full of action, and watching them all at once would probably be less enjoyable. These episodes were originally shown one episode a week back in the 1930's. Each episode ends at a cliffhanger, so you really want to see the next episode. It is interesting to imagine the millions of people that went each week to the movies to see each episode.

We have finished watching the first serial, Flash Gordon - Space soldiers, are enjoying this series now, and look forward to watching the following, Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe. At this rate, it will take almost a year of to watch the series. What a great way this is to enjoy time with the kids. I think it is great that a movie series over 60 years old stands up so well.

The only reason to give it 4 instead of 5 stars is that the print used has little specks and a few sound glitches that might have been cleaned up with modern digital techniques. By the way, to clear up any confusion from the reviews, this product ASIN=6305773904 contains all the original episodes. It is not an edited version.

The problem is... the joke only goes so far. The brilliance of a John Waters, for example, lies in his ability to do more than deliver a mock-up: His camera falls in love (albeit in a perverse way) with his actors. Take, for example, the picnic scene in "Polyester". You just know that Waters was both laughing and wiping a way a tear when Edith Massey said "Purr, purr Francine." It's cute, it's campy, it's dumb... and, best of all, it's simple. There's no BS. It's the kind of thing that just HAPPENS during a take and you yell "print it!" Spontaneity is what made "This is Spinal Tap" great, as a second example. Here, unfortunately, there is no element of surprise. You get it immediately and, about halfway through the film, you are left thinking "How much farther can this go... and why?" By the last fifteen minutes, I was looking at my watch as much as the screen.

I would've given the flick four stars had I not seen Miike's better work (e.g., "Fudoh", "Audition", "Visitor Q", etc.) When he plays it straight, he's one of deadliest horror directors... and perhaps the best ever at inspiring REAL terror in an audience. Part of what makes "Katakuris" funny is that it is so different than these other productions in every way save outrageousness. At the same time, as a functional piece, it is reflexive, self-indulgent and a little boring. When, at the end of the film, the mountain erupts with a flood of claymation lava, you have to say to yourself, "Of course this was going to happen." "Happiness of the Katakuris" is one long spew of molten magma, cliché after cliché shoved up the wazoo. If you like that sort of thing, you get it in spades here.

I would have given the "Katakuris" three stars had the DVD not been defective. Is it just my copy, or is there a serious problem with the final tracks of this film? Pixellation, skipping, stopping and starting, jumping over to the commentary track... it was all going on. A film like this had to be made, but it doesn't need to be bought. My library would be just fine without it.

Recommendation: Rent. [You and your troll doll will have oodles of fun watching this film, particularly if you put on your propeller beanie, grab a hula hoop and dump a packet of pop rocks down your throat.]

The predicament is funny itself. But the story telling is uniquely impressive as it effortlessly switches between melancholy romance, adventure, horror, mystery, singing, dancing, flying, some interesting claymation with weird creatures, crooks impersonating members of the british royal family, and even a volcano. It's like watching several different threads of the movie simultaneously, but somehow Miike holds it all together.

As typical of Japanese cinema, there's even a very positive moral to the story, making this bewildering mess quite a bit of fun to watch for the entire family. Get your hands on this hilarious film if you can.

I'm not sure really what to say about this except that it's very very good and I think you and everyone should see it at least once. My favourite moments... in the cafe where Fred drinks raw egg while Janet impersonates various movie stars at another table. And at the preview of their first film together, they kiss for a LONG time, and Janet shrinks down blushing into her chair. There are others, just can't remember them at the moment. And the last part is very touching of course. Loved how Grandma couldn't take the bright lights.

I liked the producer better in this one than the Garland version as well. He seemed to have more character and wasn't so goony looking.

The colour quality of the video is admittedly terrible, but I have heard that the DVD version is a restored one and much better and easier to watch. I have not seen it myself to compare for certain.

Well, I've said my piece. This is the version to see. Don't bother with the other ones - they can't hold a candle to this one.

Do you only have 30 minutes a day for a workout? Then, this might be a great solution. Karen has created a variety of mix 'n match workouts. All you do is select the day of the workout. If you are used to working out for an hour, you might have to combine two days.

Monday (Cardio & Lower Body Strength): This is an interesting combination of small cardio segments that seem to increase in intensity. You end the workout with a short floor routine and some stretches.

Tuesday (Yoga Strength): Karen shows you how to get the most out of each move. She will work your body into a finely tuned fitness machine. Compared to other 45-60 minute yoga workouts I have, this seemed to be a very quick workout for me, so adding 40 minutes of walking will take this to a new level. You can do the walking before the yoga and it will warm your muscles so you can go deeper into the stretches.

Wednesday (Cardio & Abdominal Strength): Aerobics workout in which you start with a warm-up routine, then move into more energetic moves. I thought the "bunny hops" were kinda cute. It is like using a jump rope without the rope. Karen is a bundle of high energy and takes you from simple moves to complex routines that not only challenge your body, you have to stay very aware and the footwork is very creative. The aerobics workout is followed by floor routines for abs. Some stretching at the end.

Thursday (Upper & Lower Body Strength): You start with the cardio workout and then work your way into using weights while standing. Lots of upper body work and then you go to the mat and continue working out your upper body. The cool down has some lower body stretches.

Friday (Abdominals & Yoga Stretch OR Yoga Strength): You start with Abdominals and have to get to you mat very quickly. In fact, you might want to be flat on your back with the remote in hand before you even start. Karen seems to be famous for jumping right into the workout, so this is something you have to be aware of. There is no explanation before each workout. The explanations are all during the workouts and the instruction is refined and you make the most of each move. The Yoga workout is on an oriental carpet and is quite a beautiful routine due to the carpet, the music and the lighting, wood floor, etc. This is my favorite section on the DVD. Karen's black cat-suit type outfit also sparkles. This section of the workout is sort of magical and relaxing. I'd like to see more workouts like this! An entire DVD of stretching routines would be bliss. (If you love this section of the workout, you might also enjoy YOGASCULPT.)

Saturday (Cardio & Upper Body Strength): Again, you start with an aerobics routine. You will notice the "swimming" from a workout she did with Elle Macpherson in "Your Personal Best." Karen definitely seems to have a lot of "signature moves" which make her routines easier to do in the long run. Your body knows how it is supposed to move and it is very satisfying to find moves you have learned in other Voight workouts. Karen is quite creative and always seems to be in a state of constant change because she makes up new moves in addition to the old ones, so you really have to focus. Her workouts are as much for the mind as the body. Cardio Circuit Energy Boost is followed by the weight workout you did on Thursday.

Sunday (Yoga Stretch): I started with this routine. It has a nice flow and there are plenty of creative poses. The stretches do seem designed for the very slim as there are some poses in which you literally twist yourself into a pretzel. Never fear, there are only a few of those poses and you can work your way to that level of flexibility.

Tools: hand weights, yoga mat, two blocks and optional foot stool.

Karen presents each workout in a no-nonsense style. She gets right to working out. So, have all your equipment ready to go. You won't have time to go find your yoga mat, weights or block once you start the workout. For the most part, the footwork wasn't too fancy, but there are a few times I just went back to walking until I could figure out the routine. If you are used to aerobic workouts and want a new challenge, Karen will give your mind a workout too. She has a friendly instruction style and a pleasant voice.

Karen Voight has always been an inspiration to me. Her workouts really motivate me. If you enjoy this workout, you might also want to try: Ultimate Circuit Training. It also has B.L.T. on a ball workout, so you don't have to buy the additional DVD.

"Sleek Physique" is a fun DVD to use every now and then for a complete week. It gives you a break from trying to figure out which workout you are supposed to be doing. Karen does the organizing for you. This is perfect to take with you on vacation so you don't get out of your workout routine.

This DVD has previews of other workouts and links to Karen's
website so you can purchase exercise equipment. Throughout this workout, Karen has a workout partner.

~TheRebeccaReview.com

This video is the perfect mix that is recommended for a workout schedule - weights, cardio, and stretching. If you've ever tried the Self Magazine "Self Challenge", this is the perfect video to accompany. It's everything the challenge recommends on one DVD!!

Thanks to Karen Voight (and Jennifer Kries), I have a completely new body that I hardly recognize and it only took 1 year (I was almost too far gone!!)

Once the company gets your credit card number, they put you on an automatic mailing list. You start receiving more of their collection, and the box has no invoice, just the tape. If this happens to you, look carefully at your next credit card bill. You may have gotten the first one at a bargain price via those seductive TV ads, but they charge full price for each of those.

You also have to research the web site on the box to find return information. If you don't do it within 30 days, you're sunk. When you do call to cancel, you get a hard sell to buy more products, and you have to insist to get taken off the list.

It's too bad this business practice leaves such a bad taste in your mouth, as the product is pretty good. So enjoy, but be careful.

I give it two stars because it's interesting on a technical level and intriguing on a "What were these guys smoking?" level, but still unwatchable. This movie is truly for people with no taste--people who only like weird things for the sake of their being weird--people who quote philosophers they don't understand, or laugh at jokes they never even got. If Tron had no story whatsoever, I would give it a 4-star review based on technical merit alone, and that's why I give Tom Thumb two.

The movie won several obscure awards. It opens up with beautiful claymation full of vivid colors, and a really cool Huxley reference. Babies in jars, a fly that perches on some machinery above a conveyer, then gets its head cut off in a gear and contaminates a jar. Things were looking really good. Then 75 seconds in we fade to the title, and things go downhill FAST. There are a couple real people slowed down to the jerky framerate of the claymation. There is no dialogue, just grunting. There is just no plot whatsoever. Tom is cast out and wanders around some unepxlained places, some sort of factory, wherever... grunting at the things he sees. It's downright painful. His mother dies. He wanders around some more. His father dies. More wandering. I made a big effort. I tried to give it a chance. I watched the first 40 minutes with a friend (we're both big digital animation fans), and that was hard work. This is the only movie I own that I could not sit through the whole thing.

Take The Nightmare Before Christmas, remove the plot and all but one unsightly character, make it jerky enough to give you a headache, and you have Tom Thumb.

There is a short film on the DVD called "The Saint Inspector," which is mostly just an obease clay man atop a pole being poked and prodded by a thing with a collapsing telescope for a head. That was at least entertaining, but it still managed to be slow and dull, while only four minutes long. The Tom Thumb feature is 70 excrutiating minutes.

I've got nothing against weird or low-budget flicks. My friends look at my 100 DVD's and say, "Man, why do you have so much dumb stuff?" Maybe my idea of good offbeat movies is a little mainstream... Being John Malkovich, Dr. Strangelove, Run Lola Run, Taxi Driver, Tree's Lounge, every Kevin Smith / Tarantino film, staples of anime like Wicked City... I even get a kick out of lame stuff like Dolomite, Shock Corridor, Rocky Horror and Chesty Morgan flicks.

The character of Flash, himself, is a bit mellower maybe. In the first chapter, he's often restrained by Zarkov from impetuous action, and there's less of that this time around. And Emporer Ming while still intent on destroying the Earth seems to, when things are going his way, be much more interested in watching his favorite dancing girl perform than in anything else. Unfortunately for him, our hero Flash keeps distracting him from his fun.

Another key figure this time around is Sonja, the ice princess, and is she ever the ultimate ice princess!

Also notable is the use of Liszt's "Les Preludes" as background music. Combined with the noisy rocketships, the music adds immeasurably to the enjoyment of the action.

The Flash Gordon serials are absolute fun to watch, and better watched one chapter at a time.

I began to get depressed while watching this video, and actually began to be really put off (for the first time) by the fact that her act is so much about ripping to pieces mostly women in her own chosen fields (comedy, music, fashion, and acting). While she at one point signals her awareness of this in her act (and blames the media for it), this doesn't seem to excuse her entirely. But after the formal show this video present outtakes from it, and she redeems herself utterly. Bernhard seems less soulless and monstrous (and much funnier) when she can give and take with an audience and break down the fourth wall, and there are some routines (especially one about Linda Evangelista fixing her watch) that are absolutely hilarious. I fastforwarded through the songs and even some of the bits of the main show, but I replayed the outtakes several times.