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Complex Epic Fantasy
10th Kingdom On DVD: Even Better Than The VHS
fantasy at its best
The dysfunctional Griffins of Quahog, Rhode Island, invite comparisons to The Simpsons. The testicular-chinned father, Peter Griffin, is a clueless oaf in the Homer mold. "Peter, what did you promise me last night?" asks his long-suffering wife Lois in one episode. "That I wouldn't drink at the stag party," he replies. "And what did you do?" she asks. "Drank at the stag part--oh ho ho, I almost walked into that one," he cackles. Other family members include teenage daughter Meg, a desperate high school social pariah; 13-year-old son Chris, a chip off his father's blockhead; and Brian, the family's sarcastic talking dog. But this series' true inspiration is football-pated Stewie (voiced by McFarlane, who earned an Emmy), who was born to be a Bond villain once he escaped his mother's "ovarian bastille." Family Guy recklessly ventured where The Simpsons feared to tread. In one episode, Meg's one and only friend turns out to be the member of a suicidal cult. In another, Death (voiced by Norm McDonald) becomes an unwanted houseguest. Each episode plays fast and furious with surreal flashes (in one episode, Peter turns his house into a puppet) and pop-culture references and TV, movie, and commercial parodies that invite repeated viewings. Freed from its own family-hour bastille and the whims of dim network executives, Family Guy can be appreciated at last on its own profane, sacrilegious, and irreverent terms. Welcome to the DVD family, Griffins. --Donald Liebenson

"Hey Tom! He's Not a Van, He's Just a Fat Kid!"
Great show, wish it was still around...The show has to be one of the greatest animated shows ever created. I personally didn't find Peter that hilarious, but sometimes his one-liners were hilarious. Lois was alright. Meg and Chris were pretty much just "side characters," but had there moments. Bryan was hilarious, and Stewie was the savior of the show, imo. An evil 1-year old child who wants to take over the world and kill his mom, who couldn't love that? With it's pushing the envelope on religion and politics, it was doomed in USA from the start, however, as we are probably the bitchiest country when it comes to actually talking about religions, odd even though we are supposed to be able to say technically whatever we want.
Simpsons comparison. Without the Simpsons, I doubt this show would exist right now, I'll give everyone that. And there are many connections to be made. But besides, didn't anyone catch that Southpark episode on the Simpsons? They called it right on, the Simpsons HAVE done everything, there is literally nothing more for them to do. It's like reading a brand new book, there is nothing more to truly write about, sure new stories and adventures, but there are no new themes or shocking ideas in them. But anyways, wasn't it the Simpsons latest Halloween episode that kind of stole that whole death thing from Family Guy? Well, probably not, but still, very similar. Anyways, in the past two years, in every Simpsons episode I laugh a maximum two times an episode, and I watch it every week because I'm hoping it will regain some of the "grace" it once had a few years back, but that doesn't look to be the case. While with the worst Family Guy episodes, I find myself still laughing every 30 seconds or so.
Obviously, if you liked Family Guy, get this Dvd, it's awesome!
Awesome Show, Guaranteed to make you laugh for hours at endI believe Family Guy has the potential to surpass The Simpsons, both in popularity and funny-ness. I mean, if people stop being so touchy about racial jokes and all that stuff that got some episodes banned, and give it a real chance for several seasons, they will see the true value of this show.
First of all, just the fact that it has so many references to pop culture is a good enough reason to play it over and over. You don't get all the jokes the first time you watch it, either because you miss the joke while laughing at the previous one, or that you don't know the commercial, movie, event, etc. that the joke is referring to and you don't get it.
Second of all, the jokes are beyond hilarious. I can't find the right word for it. I get belly cramps after every show from laughing so hard. Even though the USA is so touchy about racial, religious, and ethnic jokes, it's impossible to laugh at these! For instance, here's a dialogue (the way I remember it).
Reporter: Now we turn to Ali for the blackie weather forecast. What can you tell us, Ali?
Ali: It's gonna rain!
Reporter: Thank you Ali.
Or that one episode where Peter converts to Jewism so that his son is more successful in school (the episode got banned).
This can go on forever.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS, IF YOU WANT TO GET BELLY CRAMPS FROM LAUGHING, THIS IS YOUR BEST BET. AND YOU CAN PLAY IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND IT'S STILL FUNNY!


A total let downThey should have used better animations. I bought Baby Van Gogh and Mozart and we have not watched either of them fully. A total waste of money. Check out the DVD's before you buy, its not for everyone.
We LOVE the whole series
Buy this videoLove this video!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


A strong beginning.Storylines range from evil robots to hyena people to serious storylines like the growing relationship between Buffy and Angel that would set up the fantastic second season.
While corny at times, every episode is pure fun to watch and the Scooby Gang are as loveable as ever.
The greatness was yet to come, but this was a strong opening act to the stories that were to come on Buffy.
Buy it and enjoy.
buffy 90210The first season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer was fun and light and airy, it wasn't that dark, it wasn't that dramatic (the only really dramatic episode would be the season finalie "Prophacy Girl"). It was fun and you had a girl who could kick butt and look pretty while doing it.
From the first time Buffy Anne Summers steped on screan the world was a whole lot safer.
The DVD is amazing.I was a Buffy fan when the first few seasons aired, but I always watched them out of order and I didn't have the full effect of the episodes (like the inside jokes and such).
Then last summer I was given a DVD player, and I decided to buy the Buffy the Vampire Slayer - The Complete First Season on DVD to watch with it. After the first episode I was hooked. Believe me once you're done watching it, you'll be back online to buy season 2 on DVD. That is what happened with me. I bought seasons 1-4 on DVD and pre-ordered seasons 5 & 6. There are really good extras included. Especially watch everything that Joss Whedon (the creator or Buffy the Vampire Slayer and co-creator of Angel) has to say about the show. He is a genius.


not just another kid flick
Pixar's best, hands down
Der süsseste Disney Film aller Zeiten!Anschauen und Kaufen lohnt sich!
:-)
Many Greetiings from Germany!

Brighter and more colorful than the other animated insect movie of 1998 (Antz), A Bug's Life is the sweetly told story of Flik (voiced by David Foley), an ant searching for better ways to be a bug. His colony unfortunately revolves around feeding and fearing the local grasshoppers (lead by Hopper, voiced with gleeful menace by Kevin Spacey). When Flik accidentally destroys the seasonal food supply for the grasshoppers he decides to look for help ("We need bigger bugs!"). The ants, led by Princess Atta (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), are eager to dispose of the troublesome Flik. Yet he finds help--a hearty bunch of bug warriors--and brings them back to the colony. Unfortunately they are just traveling performers afraid of conflict.
As with Toy Story, the ensemble of creatures and voices is remarkable and often inspired. Highlights include wiseacre comedian Denis Leary as an un-ladylike ladybug, Joe Ranft as the German-accented caterpillar, David Hyde Pierce as a stick bug, and Michael McShane as a pair of unintelligible pillbugs. The scene-stealer is Atta's squeaky-voiced sister, baby Dot (Hayden Panettiere), who has a big sweet spot for Flik.
More gentle and kid-friendly than Antz, A Bug Life's still has some good suspense and a wonderful demise of the villain. However, the film--a giant worldwide hit--will be remembered for its most creative touch: "outtakes" over the end credits à la many live-action comedy films. These dozen or so scenes (both "editions" of outtakes are contained here) are brilliant and deserve a special place in film history right along with 1998's other most talked-about sequence: the opening Normandy invasion in Saving Private Ryan.
The video also contains Pixar's delightful Oscar-winning short, Geri's Game. Box art varies. --Doug Thomas

Antz
Not Pixar's best, but still funThe story of "A Bug's Life" is mainly about an ant named Flik, who is trying to save his ant colony from the bullying rule of a group of grasshoppers. He enlists the aid of a few circus bugs to help the ants fight the grasshoppers, but eventually, it is Flik's ideas which provide the main inspiration for the colony, and the strongest possibility for their liberation.
There's lots of funny jokes and lots of drama in "A Bug's Life." It's a clever film, but in the end, not a very moving one. When I compare it to the "Toy Story" movies or "Finding Nemo" or (especially) "Monsters Inc," I find that all of those films made me laugh and cry, and most importantly, they made me feel for these digital characters they create. The characters in "A Bug's Life" seem not quite so well developed -- they seem clever, but shallow.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this movie. It's a fun film for my kids and I to watch together, and technically, the animation is pretty amazing. For me, it simply lacked some of the emotional depth of the other movies Pixar made, and so is a slight disappointment when compared to those other movies.
Make sure to watch through the end credits... the bloopers are priceless!
I'm writing this review for "oppressed ants everywhere"!walking-stick, Francis the ladybug and Rosie the spider. (doing
a web of safety in less than 50-- bleh!) Now that "in less than 50--bleh!" is in a outtake starring P.T Flea where he says "Spinning a web of safety in less than 50--bleh!". The other parts of the gang are the "Blueberry" troops, Dr. Flora, Thorny,
Cornelius, Queen, Dim the beetle, Mr. Soil, Tuck & Roll
(the pill bug cannonballs!) and their arch villian Hopper.
Now, in this movie, Flik (Dave Foley) is searching for "oppressed
bugs everywhere" but he can't. So he tries to get help from Princess Dot, P.T Flea's circus lineup ( voiced by Bonnie Hunt,
Brad Garrett, Michael McShane, Madeline Kahn and Denis Leary. ) and the Queen (Phyllis Diller). So that means the sun grows the food, the ants pick the food, the ants keep the food, the ants
eat the food and the people watch the movie.


dog eat dog world
Indipensible masterpiece
Coppola's magnam opus

Undeniably visually accompished, but morally gruesomeIn terms of storyline, however, the movie is little more than horrorshow straight out of the Grand Guignol. The claims that the depiction of violence in the film are "realistic" are nothing short of absurd: unfrotunately for moviemakers serial killers usually keep to the same means of dispatching their victims, but this film (as with others of its period) suggest instead they strain their imaginations to come up with neato ways of offing their victims. Each murder in succession is presented as outdoing the last in gruesome creativity, as if you're supposed to say after each one, "Oooh, that's a cool way to torture someone to death!" as if you were a particularly bloodyminded teenage boy. There's something really creepy about being maneuvered into this position as a viewer that makes you glad that serial killer films like this one went largely out of fashion after the Nineties.
Spacy nails this! Brad Pitt shows us what he's made of
yeah it's that good

Good contemporary Vietnam filmThe battle scenes are fairly well done and you get a glimpse of front line hell, especially for the "lost platoon" that was stranded early in the battle. Also, contrary to what some of the other reviewers have said, you get a better side of the North Vietnamese than you do in some films. The book "We Were Soldiers, Once and Young" was written by the American colonel himself and he portrayed or spoke of the enemy in a well meaning tone, and while its hard to have compassion for the North Vietnamese (they are shooting at American soldiers, after all) you get a tiny glimpse at their lives and thoughts, centering around one particular soldier who writes love letters back home (Mel Gibson's character would later personally deliver his diary and letter to his wife after the war).
The only thing I didn't like about this movie was the scene with the military wives getting their letters back. Now...it wasn't the fact that they had the scenes at all, in fact I was perfectly fine with it - it showed what wives go through and what the time period then was like - however I guess the real problem I had was the pacing. It seemed to slow things down.
But it didn't really affect my thought for the movie too much. I still liked the battle scenes and the characters - in fact, Mel Gibson's character was almost a near mirror of my father. The scene where he explains war to his daughter was almost word for word how my father explained war to me when I was young. They also get military life down fairly well, and I think its good that at least ONE movie out there shows what life is like with a father in the military, and does it in a realistic manner. On a final, unrelated note, I believed "Sgt. McKenzie" was a fitting theme for this movie for its lyrics and meaning.
Overall, a good film about one of the most influential albeit underrated battles in American history.
Great, Great, Great....I thought this movie showed the courage and bravery that our soldiers had. Mel Gibson was incredible, as always. Chris Klein was someone that I thought that I could never take serious, but this movie proved otherwise. He showed me human interest, which I honestly thought I couldn't feel with him in it.
If you want to see a movie with honesty and raw courage, I recommend "We were Soldiers". And if you hate this movie simply because you hate the fact that the Vietnam War existed.... then you didn't really watch this movie. I do not think that war is always the answer, but... sometimes if you love the USA, then you've got to be willing to fight for it.
The Greatest War Movie Ever

Lilo & StitchHalf of the title of the movie, Stitch, is actually Experiment 626, a runaway alien that escaped from the very generic-like Galactic Federation armarda of ships around a generic-like nebula and found a safe haven on the planet Earth. The Galactic Federation takes chase, Stitch finds a friend on Earth, and without too much hard thought, you can figure out how it ends without even touching the DVD. All this action takes place on Hawaii, or what Hawaii represents to Disney, hula skirts, flame throwing, and choice waves to surf. I can't understand why it tries to delve itself into mature topics such as social services, and still has lame kiddie jokes and morales upon morales.
But, for the everyday watcher, he or she will probably love this movie, hate the future incarnations, and find the dialogue very funny. Since Disney doesn't succeed very often with the creation of new movies, you have to give them credit for creating something watchable. You also can give them credit for creating something with a good amount of thought, it doesn't take itself totally seriously, and it recreates characters very well. The DVD is lame, doesn't have very much information within, and has a lot of games. It dodges the topics of how the art was created to resemble Hawaii, instead talking about Hawaii itself.
If you hate Disney, you will still enjoy this film for what it is, and at least find it 7 times better than Brother Bear.
An oddity really. Unlikely heroine But it worksNice music--Elvis. Cute flick
Great movie - but watch the 3 and underWe took the movie away for about 3 months and slowly reintroduced it to her, explaining (while watching the movie)that Lilo was being a baby and that she was whininng because what she did was bad. Also telling our daughter that Stitch was behaving badly.
**Now she can point out when Stitch does something in the movie that my husband and I do not approve of.
Virginia and Tony Lewis (Kimberly Williams and John Larroquette) live in a New York apartment. One day a dog enters Virginia's life. However, the dog is not just any ordinary dog, but Prince Wendell (Daniel Lapaine) changed into a dog by an evil Queen (Dianne Wiest). Soon trolls enter the story along with magic, and the story begins.
Virginia and Tony travel through a magic mirror into the land of the nine kingdoms (with New York being the 10th kingdom. It takes Virginia and Tony little time to realize that the world they have entered has very different rules from their own. Their goal is to find a mirror that will allow them to travel back to their own world, and the quest for the mirror forms the heart of the story.
Along the way both Virginia and Tony, but most especially Virginia, are on a voyage of discovery about themselves. Through a series of vignettes they learn the history of the nine kingdoms, and learn there are mysteries related to that history. One of the most startling revelations is that Virginia and Tony are somehow involved in the nine kingdoms, but it's not until we get well into the movie that we understand the nature of their involvement.
The plot is generally coherent and I had little trouble keeping track of the parallel stories. I admit that there were a few things that confused me when I watched the story in its original television debut, but my confusion was cleared up by watching the DVD version without the commercials and all in one 7+ hour sitting.
The acting talent in this movie is phenomenal. Rutger Hauer plays the Queen's woodsman, with his own poignant story. Warwick Davis is Acorn, a criminal with a tongue-in-cheek character. Ed O'Neil is perfect as Relish the Troll King. Scott Cohen as Wolf took a little getting used to, but once I realized how he fit into the story I enjoyed his antics and characterization. Camryn Manheim makes an interesting Snow White. Ann-Margret brings class to Queen Cinderella. This list is but a fraction of the cast possible by the epic nature of this movie.
The story is an adult fairy tale. There is violence in the movie as well as a number of intense scenes that are likely inappropriate for children below the age of 7 or 8. However, for everyone else this movie is fun and complicated. If you enjoy fantasy, and you can be open-minded about how fantasy is approached, this movie could be perfect for you.