5 comments about The Best Caribbean Beaches / WAVES: Virtual Vacations.

1. I enjoyed the dvd and think it will be cool to have in summer (purchased in winter). If it was in HD it would be incredible, but on my 50" screen it is low resolution, so its not as good as it could be. In HD it would be like looking out the window, but because it isn't, it isn't.



2. Work from home and just got this video to give me something to look at besides a blank plasma. The colors and scenes are really great. The video automatically shows various ocean/sands scenes for a few minutes each and then moves to the next scene (not really looping). The sound quality is very good - sounds like the ocean - actually peaceful - not annoying. I like this one and it seems whenever I look up from typing I've got a new scene to look at ... definitely a keeper.



3. Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3UM8QQDBWIR4E Judge WAVES for yourself. SEE a "VIDEO CLIP - 3 TRAILERS" from the Producer of Vols 1-11 of "WAVES: Virtual Vacations." Relax and Enjoy! More clips available online at this link:
   
   http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1203019833&channel=823401072
   
   ALL DVDS available Amazon.com



4. The tape is just what it says, ocean waves, beautiful skies and sunsets, sounds of nature in the backgroud. Makes you want to go to the islands, but if you can't, like me, it's good for pretending. Hey my boyfriend even liked it and he doesn't usually like anything!



5. Caribbean Daydreams - 6 Loopable Scenes / WAVES Virtual Vacations
   I saw one and I buyed all the serie.These DVD after a busy day of smog,cars.hurry are the best relax.Thanks

5 comments about NOVA - Everest: The Death Zone.

1. David Breashears was the director of photography on both this film and the Imax film made the year before. In my opinion, this film was more successful, at least as viewed on VHS on a medium-size old tv. That's probably because the equipment for Imax was so bulky and the filming process so cumbersome that just taking the footage was an accomplishment.
   
   On this video, the purpose of the expedition was to study the effects of altitude on the human body, so it really focused in on the human aspect. As Breashears explains in his book High Exposure, the massive film size in Imax films requires that you not pull in close to a human face, because it will not make a good image when projected on a 7-story screen.
   
   So in terms of home viewing, I really enjoyed this video and thought it helped me visualize the things I have read about so many times. The Khumbu Icefall and the treacherous ladders, the Hillary Step, the summit itself--I could truly feel that I was there. The images were crystal clear and very beautiful.
   
   If I were only going to watch one video to help me get a picture of what a Himilayan expedition looks and feels like, this would be it.



2. Excellent DVD on Everest! Have read a lot of books on the Himalayan Mountains (especially Mt. Everest) and this gives you a beautiful view of the area and what it is like to climb in the Death Zone. A DVD you can watch many times!



3. I guess I am jaded because I watched the IMAX Everest video (which seems to get the best reviews) first and can't help but compare them. Still this video had some good participants i.e. Ed Viestur's and such. Interesting view point but the testing didn't do much for me but provide information. Would have liked more extra's on dvd to. All in all ok.



4. In a word for anyone planning on going high--ominous. The medical realities of making an attempt to climb higher than 8,000 metres are graphically illustrated in this excellent presentation.



5. FASCINATING, PLUS I ORDER FROM AMAZON FOR EVERYTHING I WANT THAT IS AVAILABLE. YOU'RE GREAT!

5 comments about Terminator 2 - Judgment Day (The Ultimate Edition DVD).

1. This ultimate edition of T2 is truly the mega ultimate edition. You have two discs, 1 is the movie and the 2nd is all of the special features, and it takes days to even name all of them, i mean there are three documentaries, 8 teasers and trailers, seperate interviews with the cast and crew, the entire screenplay, 52 chapters of behind the scenes footage, and original storyboard drawings. This is what DVD was made for!
   The first disc can just make this the ultimate edition. You get three versions of the movie, one is the original theatrical version with no extra scenes, the next is the special edition featuring 16 min. of extra scenes, and the extended special edition featuring 18 min. of extra scenes and an alternate ending. Now you can't just get this version, you need a code for it. Go to the special edition menu and highlight "play special edition" then type in 82997, you might have to press enter in between each number, then the "go to theatrical version" option changes to "play extended special edition". Along with the three versions, the DVD has crystal clear picture and 6.1 DTS Surround Sound!!!!!. On the extended versions of the movie, you won't even notice any cut scenes because they are slipped perfectly in the movie. There are also cast & crew biographies that you can access as well as an audio commentary. Now to the 2nd disc. The three documentaries include: The Making of Terminator 2 Judgement Day where they talk about the making of the film, T2 More than Meets the Eye where they talk about deleted scenes and why they cut them, and the last is The Making of Terminator 2 3-D: Breaking the Screen Berrior where they talk about the making of the 3-D terminator ride. Next is the teasers and trailers, there are 2 theatrical trailers, 1 teaser, the T2 special edition trailer, and 4 japenese trailers.
   The next is the storyboards, to access these, click on "data hub". There are many,many original drawings, from the arrivals to the end of the movie. Now for the script, you also have to go to "data hub" for this. You get the entire original screenplay of the movieit is awesome to read what Jim Cameron original had in his mind for T2. Next is the 52 chapters, once again you need to go to "data hub". There are seperate chapters for differnt things, i will name you some. pre-production,screenplay,ommited scenes,special effects,makeup,visual effects,marketing campaign,logo customization,post production,casting,props,and post production. There are many,many more but i can't give it all away. The next is the interviews, you need to go to "data hub" for these. After you choose the interviews, you can see them interview people like James Cameron, Arnol Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, William Wisher,and Robert Patrick. If you own the extreme or normal edition, trash those f***ing pieces of sh** and get the Ultimate Edition, you won't be disappointed!!!!!!!!!!



2. This is one of the rare sequels that not only lives up to but surpasses the original. The music and effects have been ramped up a notch, and the pacing is perfect for the story they are telling here. More importantly, however, the interaction between the characters is just perfectly done and the story has some very deep overtones. The idea of taking your destiny into your own hands is portrayed here excellently.
   
   Speaking more of the minutia of the movie, the role reversal done with Arnold Schwarzenegger's terminator character is a wonderful touch. The idea of a villain reformed is great. Plus the fact that this machine spends much of the movie learning what exactly it is to be human. One particular line at the end is delivered very simply but very poignantly: I know now why you cry, but it is something I can never do.
   
   This movie is the rare one that is effectively action-packed, spectacular, poignant, touching and insightful.



3. It looks and sounds just a bit better than 1991...but not much. No special additional features, not a 'remastering'. But worth the $11 I paid here at Amazon.



4. T2, who hasn't seen T2?
   One of the most amazing movies of all time, it takes everything that was great about the first one and cranks it up by one hundred.
   The action, the story, the acting, pretty much everything is just amazing.
   The FX still look good after all these years.
   The new Terminator is just a bad a$$.
   Easily in my top twenty any day, T2 is a must see for everyone, action fans, sci fi fans, casual movie fans, my parents even liked it and they were into their 70's when it came out.
   You just can't do any better than this. Period.
   HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!



5. I was very pleased with this movie. I received it faster than I expected to and the picture quality was great! I was a little skeptical at first about how it would look in high def since it's almost 20 years old but the transfer to HD was very impressive.

5 comments about Visions of Greece.

1. At the outset, I will admit that I am a philhelene. Nor do I make any apologies for this fact. I absolutely love the ancient Greeks and have always wanted to visit the country. I may or not ever get the chance to do that, but thanks to this video I have a good impression of the topography of Hellas as well as a nice visual of many of the main attractions.
   
   A female narrator guides us through the Greek isles as well as the Grecian mainland on a helicopter tour. All of the days they chose for filming were chamber-of-commerce like gorgeous & sunny days. The beauty of Greece is absolutely breath-taking. The soundtrack is very soothing.
   
   There is one small criticism I have, but it is minor. I would have liked to have seen a flyover of ancient Sparta. I realize there is precious little left of Sparta, but a brief flyover would have still been nice. Again, however, this omission is certainly no reason not to buy the DVD.
   
   Be sure to look at the special features as there is about 1/2 hour of additional footage w/out narration. If you're looking for a visual documentary of the country of Greece, you have found it here!



2. Scenic and educational, and a boon to students wrestling with mythology and ancient history. Extensive bonus footage makes this an exceptional bargain.



3. I have been to Hellas (Greece) several times visiting family. I first saw this on a public television HD channel and bought the DVD as well. It brought tears to my eyes the first couple viewings. The music, narrator, cities, villages and ancient sites are a perfect combination for those that want to see an authentic picture of Hellas. And the best part for me: the island my father is from is one of the featured places!
   
   Note: This DVD is best viewed on a 1080p television. You will be stunned by the experience.



4. The '04 aerial travelogue 'Visions of Greece' is the first of the 'Visions Series' available through Acorn Media Studio. This 2 program, 1 disc set is a wonderfully relaxing and mesmerizing journey over enchanting Greece and the Mediterranean. The vistas are breathtaking, the traditional and contemporary soundtrack inviting and the narration informative and non-intrusive. Just sit back and enjoy!



5. This is a beautiful and breathtaking video . Scenery was out of this world and I am extremely glad I bought it

No comments about Ganges.

4 comments about Rick Steves Italy's Countryside, 2000-2007.

1. You really can't beat Rick Steves for travel expertise presented in a "down home" fashion where the reader (or viewer, in this case) feels like he or she is there and that everything Rick does is replicatable. I liked this DVD so much that I bought several copies for friends who are meeting me in Tuscany this fall. Ideally, this DVD would have included coverage of more Tuscany and Umbria towns. The Amalfi Coast should have its own DVD, as should Sicily (with Sardinia and Corsica). But, all in all, if you're interested in Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast, or Cinque Terre and want something more visual than guidebooks, this DVD is what you need.



2. Particularly valuable are the travel videos to small "Hill Towns" not covered by other travelogues.



3. Has there ever been another travel guide more amiable, more informative, more eclectic and just plain likeable than Rick Steves? This somewhat nerdish but pleasant looking fellow will immediately win the viewer over with his charm, humor and smoothing, layback manner. However what will keep you watching program after program is his consummate knowledge of the sites and people he visits.
   
   While each journey is only 30 minutes in length Rick has a unique talent of synthesizing the many facets that make up a people and place. He leaves no stone unturned in his analysis; historical background, spiritual heritage, cultural underpinnings and political legacy are all equally touched upon to give the audience a fuller understanding of the rural and urban landscape.
   
   However not not an individual to dwell too much on the past, he provides a delightful tour of the markets, music, restaurants and nightlife. The kind of information would really want to know if you're out for a good time.
   
   The production values are also wonderful offering fanstastic visuals that are worth watching even if there where no commentary. Traveling with Rick Steves' is the next best thing to being there.
   
   This particular DVD contains six episodes, thirty minutes in length. Imagine three hours in some of the most scenic countryside in the world; Assisi, Siena, Tuscany and more, better get started!



4. Paying a few bucks to download a lo-fi DRM-enabled video file that requires a custom player program...what's the point?
   
   This is not for me. I'm a 33-year-old computer programmer and I simply see money spent on these downloads as money wasted. I'd much rather preview and purchase a DVD. You know, that format that you can back up and convert to play on any device you happen to own.
   
   These DRM-protected videos? Pfft. I'd rather watch Rick's re-runs on CPTV with no commercials.

5 comments about The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy [Blu-ray].

1. I played this INFOCOM text-only game on my Apple computer back in the 80s and loved it. The English dry-humor really appealed to me.
   
   This version strayed away from the book but remember that Douglas Adams still had his hand in it before he passed away. Even if you are not currently a fan of the movie, this Blu-Ray disk is worth the purchase.
   
   Compared to the standard DVD, the menus are basic and there are fewer special features. I miss the impropability drive option. The film begins automatically after putting it in the player.
   
   There is definite improvement in HD on this film, the special effects are more detailed and you can see features on the actors invisible before (make-up, wrinkles, etc). The sound is great on my 5.1 system!
   
   I think this disk is a worthy upgrade from DVD if you are a fan of the film and watch it regularly. I really think this is a funny film which delivers solid entertainment. My wife and I watch it together at least every couple months. In fact, it was from our watching this movie that I got her to enjoy "Love Actually," (Due to actor Martin Freeman) which you'll have to see to understand my meaning.



2. ...which is why I'm not disappointed that, once again, movie makers were not true to their original source. Movie makers are never true to the original source: why torment yourself thinking it could ever be otherwise? I loved this movie in its own right; though I have to admit I almost abandoned it during the first few minutes, wondering if it was going to be any good or if should I end it now. Happily, I stuck with it - and it was well worth it. And most happily of all, at no point did I think: this doesn't make any sense. Because it made perfect sense; it had an internal coherence and each separate event had an internal logic - which is all you can ask of any movie, no matter how whimsical it might be. It needed no overview to help understand what was happening or why: things just happened, and you either took them at face value or not. Luckily, I chose to take them at face value.



3. The first time I saw this movie I was like what the hell was that. But after the 3rd or 4th time watching it I love it. Some parts are so funny and Zooey Deschannel cant be hotter. This is a very sci fi movie and funny as hell if you like sci fi.



4. THIS IZ PROBABLY ONE UV THEE BEST MOOVIEZ I HAV EVR SEEN!
   MY FAVORITE PART IS WHEN A WHALE STARTS FALLING AFTER THE SHIP GOES AT LIGHT SPEED OR SOMTIN. THEN HES NAMING STUFF LIKE A TAIL, WIND AND THEN HE SAYS, "WHAT IS THIS HARD SURFACE FLYING TOWARD ME VERY, VERY FAST.
   I THINK I'LL CALL IT OU...OUND...ROUND...GROUND! YES THAT'S IT! GROUND!
   I WONDER IF IT WILL BE FRIENDS WITH ME. HELLO GROUND!" AND THEN HE HITS THE GROUND VERY HARD. WHILE THAT IS HAPPENING ALL THAT THE FLOWERPOT IS
   THINKING IS, "OH, NOT AGAIN." YOU'D HAVE 2 C DA MOOVIE THOUGH. IN OTHER WORDS IT IS HILARIOUS!



5. Douglas Adams did indeed write almost all of this script, people who are not aware of Mr. Adams general character may not be aware that he has INTENTIONALLY made every version of Hitchhikers different. The Radio series was first and is different from the books which in turn is different than the BBC TV mini seires and so on and so on. He did this on purpose he has been quoted as saying he did not want to keep retelling the same story he wanted to change things and add new things each time he did the story.
   And for most people that may not work for you, for me as a looong time Adams fan I appreciate his desire. I mean who wants to keep telling the same story over and over again? SO he plays with it, he always has and were he still alive I feel sure he would still be making changes, just to piss so called purists off. Since there truely is no one pure version of Hitchhikers.
   So enjoy, or not that's your choice but don't assume Adams had little to do with this film because you would be wrong.

No comments about Made In Spain.

5 comments about The Langoliers.

1. WOW!!!!
   
   I have this movie recorded on VHS from years ago, it's another Sci-Fi classic. I would have to say that some of the special effects are not the best, but you can't expect a whole lot from a movie this old. I'm actually glad they didn't revise it much for the DVD. I love watching the movie just the way it is. It is however, a very long movie. Most of the previous DVD releases I found were in a 2-disc set. It's nice this one only comes with 1 disc so you don't have to stop in the middle of the movie to change discs.
   
   A MUST HAVE!! It's so old I'm suprized it's still in stock. If you don't get it soon it will be too late. This one isn't going to be around for ever.



2. I was surprised how much I enjoyed this movie. It seems a little lacking in that it is too laid back or something. Bronson Pinchot seems a weird choice, but he totally owns his character. I laughed at his great interpretation. I had read the story before and thought the movie was a pretty good adaptation.



3. I'm not a great King fan, though I've enjoyed several of his works. I originally purchased the Langoliers somewhere on sale on two VHS tapes, and I was transfixed by the idea of the jet passengers falling out of synch with time. Though I'm a real film fan, the acting in this film didn't bother me at all; I thought the plot covered up any shortcomings. This film is obviously not high-budget; I gather it was a cable miniseries to start with. The special effects are perhaps not top-notch, but so what? Did Lock Martin's rubber suit problems in The Day The Earth Stood Still ruin the film? No, of course not.
   
   I bought this on DVD when it came out, and strangely enough, there's still the short gap when the VHS tape gap happened. It's still a keeper for me.



4. Most of the reviews of this film have been less than great. Maybe I'm just a dull person, but I liked it. Good for one of those nights that TV offers nothing, which is getting more frequent.



5. 4.5/5 The best parts of 'The Langoliers' are the acting and the directing. This never feels like a TV show. It feels like a solid theatrical release that is at times, inspired.
   
   This isn't perfect of course, but the only flaws that stick out like a sore thumb are a few odd lines of flat dialogue. This all adds up to about 3 or 4 minutes of drag out of a three hour release. This is important, as 'The Langoliers' is all dialogue, like a stage play. In fact, this could be made into a stage play with little effort. So the fact that the dialogue is almost entirely solid is very important. It is not the best you will ever hear in film, but it is good enough, that top level acting talent will make it great. That is, fortunately, exactly what 'The Langoliers' has in David Morse, Dean Stockwell, and particularily Bronson Pinchot, who deserved an Emmy for his performance. His character stole the show throughout, and his scenes in particular, were the most inspired here.
   
   The directing is fantastic, though my only qualm is that airplanes land with the head pointing up, not down. Also, people have criticized the characters for standing at times too long before taking action. I offer that people really do stand around in shock when faced with a traumatising experience. It never gets drawn out too long, and someone is always there to shake the character into sense. Otherwise, the director and camera people make this feel like a theatrical release at the A level rather than some low budget TV episode. The visual representation is at times inspired at a level of 'The Shawshank Redemption', though particularily surrounding the Craig Toomy character and in portraying an empty world.
   
   The driving point about your enjoyment of 'The Langoliers' sits squarely in the believability factor. It has a particular take on time travel that you must be able to accept, or you will start finding sillyness in the film. It doesn't need to be a true take on time travel, just a creative one IMO, and 'The Langoliers' is creative. This film manages to explain its theories rather well, so true or not, it understands the ideas it presents. Is this as good as 'The Shawshank redemption' or 'The Green Mile'? I have a very hard time making that comparison. It's in a category of its own.
   
   In closing, Bronson Pinchot puts on one of the most fantastic acting performances I have ever seen in a motion picture. Chances are, even if this film is not in your interest, you will appreciate his performance. It's a classic.

5 comments about Michael Palin's Around the World in 80 Days.

1. This was one of the most enjoyable "national geographic" type documentaries that I have ever watched. I am not really into geography. I am not even an armchair explorer who likes to read or watch on subjects concerning new places or unexplored territory. But this was both funny and enjoyable. First of all, the format itself was interesting.. attempting to replicate a fictional journey of a bygone era made the entire subject come alive. The commentary felt "unrehearsed" and this gave the series an air of genuineness. There can be no better way for kids to learn about far off lands and places than Around the World in 80 Days. Kudos to Michael Palin.



2. Michael Palin follows Jules Verne's Fillias Fogg around the world and by the end, you get the feeling you really know Palin. The journey is mesmerizing, funny, interesting and you feel like you're with him every step of the way. The Dhow episode is worth the price. . .At least I think so.
   It's a long series and can be daunting if you try to watch them all the way through. You really have to WATCH to enjoy.



3. I watched this mini-series almost 2 decades ago when it was aired on
   BBC. Today I own the DVD. The world has changed a lot since Palin's
   journey, especially China and India. Some of Palin's comments do not
   reflect modern times. But his adventures will always be relevant
   regardless of time.
   
   I more than agree to all the appreciation this series has received from
   the reviewers here. My only criticism is Palin gives undue importance to
   the traces of british legacy that he observes in the great cultures of
   Egypt, India and Hong Kong. But his down-to-earth attitude and sense of
   humor more than make up for his nostalgia about british empire. And after all he is British.
   
   The challenges faced by Michael Palin are different from those faced by
   Phileas Fogg, but it makes a gripping journey. Overall great concept,
   great presentation and excellent background score.



4. Around the World marks the beginning of Palin's prolific new career as travel host. He is less confident than in some of the later series, but he has an infectious energy that really comes through. Some of the passages overland and on the sea are fascinating looks at anachronistic modes of travel. Palin is maybe the best travel host ever to appear on the tele. He is funny, yet always respectful and always smiling (so important when traveling). His voice over narration is just perfect. Only criticism is that this series is a bit dated - the video quality ain't so great and the places he visits have changed enough since then that it feels slightly irrelevant - but that's only a relative criticism.



5. What happened? This was such a disappointment after the other series Michael did. Here we are forced to spend a long, long, long time at sea, and the days pass in tedium. For this series, air travel was forbidden, so it followed that the journey had to be via boat. And therein lies the problem. There's only so much one can do on a low budget ocean voyage. Somewhere in mid-ocean everything begins to lose its savor, if ever it had any, and then the story gets even worse. Once back on land, the journey disintegrates into a long, long, long train ride across the U.S. This is where Michael spends a lot of time chatting with people who maybe just want to be on camera. One storyteller, a conductor, gets into the act by recounting a not very funny (and quite apocryphal) tale about a fat lady who got stuck in the toilet. And was it my imagination, or does he have more than a little contempt for most Americans... he could hardly have portrayed them in a less favorable light. Sahara and Pole to Pole are terrific travelogues, but this one is a dead end trip. Perhaps Micheal should have quit while he was ahead.