No comments about Robbie Coltrane - Incredible Britain.

5 comments about It! The Terror from Beyond Space.

1. Lots of "Cheeeeesy" 50s fun.
   Unstoppable rubber monsters, helpless women, chain smoking astronauts and the bit that got me the most, rifles, pistols, grenades and a Bazooka in space... Just what every space ship needs!
   A great fun film, not to be taken to seriously.



2. Get the popcorn and turn down the lights! It, the Terror from Beyond Space has relatively high tension, dated electronics and effects (and really dated opinions of the role of women), a decent plot, and a really ugly, heavily-breathing monster. What could be more fun! A rescue mission on its way back from Mars to court marshal its sole survivor, discovers its got more than the survivor on board. Tension abounds as the crew begins to get picked-off one by one. Even Marshall Thompson develops [some] pathos as the tortured survivor having to deal with the loss of his entire crew and no one believing his story. They try everything they can think of to get rid of "It", including small arms, grenades, gas, electricty, a bazooka, a blow-torch, and even an atomic reactor (best line of the film, "Its enough to kill a hundred men!"). Although dated, the film is best [and should be] appreciated in the perspective of its temporal component (i.e., mid-50s paranoia). Once past the comparisons to today's high-fx films (especially 'Alien'), you can really enjoy this short but intense romp into an honest example of a better than average 50s sci-fi B-movie.



3. Something of a trivia question these days - which 50s B-movie inspired Alien? - It! The Terror From Beyond Space probably came too late in the day to get the kind of reputation it deserved in the 50s sci-fi pantheon but it's a lot better than you expect. Right from its atmospheric opening shot of a crashed spaceship on Mars accompanied by Marshall Thompson's fatalistic narration, it sets out its stall - this is going to be played straight and with deadly intent. Aiming more for The Thing From Another World than The Monster That Challenged the World's end of the market, the dialogue and interplay doesn't match Hawks although it has the better critter (and very atmospherically photographed the beast is too), a barbarous Martian who stows away aboard a rescue flight taking Thompson back to Earth to face a firing squad for allegedly killing his own crew. Initial distrust gives way to we've-tried-everything-but-nothing-can-stop-it dramatics, but the film shows some originality at times and offers at least one good shock with the discovery of the first body. It's let down by the characterisation, though. The women may be scientists but they're still expected to make the coffee, while the men show reckless abandon with guns and grenades in a moving spaceship. Yet at a brisk 69 minutes it never outstays its welcome and for my money it's a lot more enjoyable than Ridley Scott's movie.
   
   The only extra is the original trailer.



4. This is a classic 50's sci-fi flick with a great idea for a story.......so great, that the producers of 'Alien' took the original idea and created one of the most memorable monsters in the history of film, 'Alien'! This film is well paced and fun to watch with a good cast. The 69 minute running length won't have you begging for mercy either. Another good Paul Blaisdell monster suit although this one's not as cool as The She-Creature. It's does have some unintentional humor, but don't most of these old films?
   
   The DVD has only a cool trailer as a bonus feature, but the print is in very good shape and the DVD transfer in fine. One note: the statement at the beginning of the feature stating that the film has been modified to fit your TV screen is not true. This is the correct aspect ratio. This has been re-released on a double feature DVD with the superior 'The Monster That Challenged The World'. Not a bad double bill for my money!



5. Yeah, this is a great 50s sci-fi that set the premise for future films. Curiously though, I've read almost all (currently)68 reviews and know one has commented on the aspect ratio of the film. Truthfully I dont know the answer right now either but here goes.
   Widescreen came out in about 1954. This movie is from 1958. Many 50s monster flicks were released in widescreen. Certainly not all were, but I would have thought the producers would have capatalized on that eras widescreen popularity. The question is: is this dvd the wrong format? Their have been many films from this era that were turned into pan and scan even for dvd (definetely laserdisc). It it wasn't shot in widescreen, I'm sure it was all about budget restraints.
   By all means watch it an appreciate the 50s vibe that set a tone to be remembered. I just want to know, should this be widescreen?

1 comments about Modern Marvels - Las Vegas (History Channel) (A&E DVD Archives).

1. You do learn about the history of Las Vegas. In its defense, I think the "Modern Marvels" series intentionally focuses on the makings of objects and buildings. Still, I felt that this only showed one aspect of this famed town.
   
   This work talks about the Flamingo costing $6 million to build and now the town has sites that go up for hundreds of millions. They talk about suites, neon signs, a lack of exits, and the many structures that make the town unique. I was amazed to learn how much Las Vegas views itself as in competition to Disney to the West and Times Square to the East.
   
   Still, as a person that finds people more interesting than places, much was missing. They say nothing about the Rat Pack. They say nothing about the percent of foreigners who fuel the tourism. Celine Dion doesn't come up. "Ocean's Twelve," "Showgirls," and Sade's "Turn My Back on You" video don't come up. They don't mention how Homer and Flanders got polygamously married there. The former mayor is interviewed. You never learn whether Las Vegas residents were progressive enough to vote a woman into office, unlike other large cities that never had a female mayor. They vaguely mention water scarcity in the town. Still, the exponential increase in residents and the growing diversity are never addressed.
   
   Yes, this did make me want to go to Las Vegas. However, the word "decadence" never comes up. The critics of the place are neither interviewed nor acknowledged here.

5 comments about Alaska: Spirit of the Wild.

1. This is wonderful for the family. Super shots of scenery and animals (the latter with good humor as well). Charleton Heston's narration is apt and not overdone (though the volume is a bit low as compared with the otherwise excellent music soundtrack that is Aaron Copeland-esque). A very nice intro to the glories of Alaska, it even includes a bit of history on the Gold Rush.



2. This fine IMAX production really captures the spirit of the Alaska region, though focusing upon the animals and geological features, not the people. Not that people are not interesting (I would not mind seeing a documentary on innupiat), but it is not every day I see a polar bear for instance, so give me a break.
   
   I have seen dumb IMAX movies before. This is not one of those duds. This is the best IMAX production I have ever seen bar none. There was one other IMAX movie about Alaskan explorers, or mountain climbers, something along those lines. It stunk. I don't even remember the title. I had paid the price of two tickets to see it. That was the last IMAX movie I ever paid to watch in the cinema.
   
   The problem with cinema is they want to charge $5, $10, then hit you hard for snacks and drinks of lousy quality. Fine. Then the movie better be awesome. Yet ninety-five percent of movies stink. So I never go to the cinema, and hardly anyone I know ever goes to the cinema. If you are a cinema owner, this is why you are looking at bankruptcy down the road.
   
   In a sea of dumb documentaries, this shines like a lighthouse, showing the way for all those wannabe producers struggling to navigate through the waters of film-making. Very hard-to-get footage. I am not sure how the camera crew got so near to wild predators like wolves and bears. You tell me.



3. If you want to fill your kids with with misinformation about Alaska, this is the movie for you. The scriptwriter apparently flew by the seat of his pants, making stuff up as he went along.
   
   The script says that the famous Iditarod dogsled race originated to commemorate the Gold Rush. Wrong. The Iditarod commemorates a desperate dogsled race against time to transport smallpox vaccine from Anchorage to Nome, where children where dying of the disease.
   
   In another error-filled scene, the script refers to the fiercesome black bear. Clips are shown of wolves, foxes and even elk cowering and running for cover because of a black bear. They were probably running from the camera crew. Wikipedia describes black bears as omnivores whose diet relies most heavily on grasses, herbs, fruits, and mast. They also feed on carrion and insects such as carpenter ants, yellow jackets, bees, and termites, and raid bees nests for honey. They sometimes kill and eat small rodents. They seldom attack other animals unless cornered, threatened, or wounded.
   
   People believe the stuff in these documentaries, especially children. Parents, beware of scriptwriters such as the one who wrote the narration for this film. He was intoxicated with his purple prose and made up his own drama when the real facts weren't conveniently at hand. This guy should be writing soaps, not nature documentaries.
   
   A pox on this movie. Smallpox, if you like.



4. I thought this one was great. Disregard what old "Barbra" said. She cites Wikipedia as her official source for information. I won't even go there. She is obviously confused and probably in her senior years. This is a great fact filled documentary and I highly recommend it.



5. If you have never seen Alaska, see this DVD - We had the opportunity to visit Alaska last year and this is what it is really like!

5 comments about Hawaiian Dreams / WAVES: Virtual Vacations for relaxation.

1. This gorgeous DVD helped me very much with my insomnia, because it just has the sound of the waves and beautiful beach scenes of different varieties-- there's a black sand beach, white sand beaches, scenes of midday and plenty of AMAZING sunsets... all from many different Hawaiian islands. I grew up on Oahu and of course travelled throughout the islands so I think the choices will surprise people who have travelled in Hawaii, are from Hawaii, or who have always wanted the chance to go there. There aren't any hokey touristy vistas (so in some ways it's better than actually being at the famous beaches), or the intense crowds. These are exceptional beach choices that you may have never seen before, but none of the scenes are boring either.
   
   There's just enough to listen to and look at like a lone person in the distance, one bird that waddles into the scene and begins entertaining itself by the waves, or the waters swirling and breaking around rocks so that it begins slowly deepening and then lulling you into tranquility. For anyone who has slept by the sea you know how healthful it can be. Again, I recommend it for someone suffering any health conditions and insomnia as well, like myself, and I've been using it as a background for meditation which I particularly enjoy. You can turn the subtitles on or off which tell you what the names of the beaches are and what island they're on, and you can loop the DVD automatically so that it runs endlessly through all of the scenes. You can skip to your favorite day as well, for instance if you wanted the last day's particularly beautiful sunset. The "Hawaiian Dreams" doesn't have any pop-up ads that I've seen some people write about. Maybe the Zen ones are what they're referring to?
   
   I lucked out b/c I bought it from the director and my first DVD was damaged, maybe in the mail. He immediately replaced it and wished me a Happy Mother's Day. I have to say that he had great customer service and quick deliveries but it's the product that I've really enjoyed. I'm waiting for the Caribbean and will probably buy more beach DVD's. I read that he's doing a nature trail version which I hope is true. I would love a gentle rainstorm DVD too.



2. I bought this DVD along with another as part of an anniversary day. I received and reviewed the DVD with pleasure. The folks that made the DVD did a great job of picking unoccupied beaches and nice locations. Both video quality and sound were excellent. Looks great on a big screen! My only complaint is that they didn't spend longer at each beach, but they did cover every island. Worth the money.



3. I am the producer of "Hawaiian Dreams" and thanks to some customer feedback regarding our web ads and logos between the 'Day' segments, we have removed them from our "New Director's Cuts" as of March 2005 and all future dvds.
   
   However, some recent reviewers are buying used 'original' copies and writing out of date reviews. We guarantee that you will be happy with this Director's Cut from Amazon and that we will refund your purchase with your receipt if you are not satisfied. Simply call our 800 number on the DVD and/or visit our website. Also, if you have an older 'original' copy, we will gladly exchange it free of charge at our website. Your satisfaction is guaranteed with us. Now relax and enjoy our Waves DVDs.



4. I don't know what I was expecting, but this was hardly what I'd call a virtual vacation.



5. Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R31L8D6OPS0TJC SEE for yourself --> VIDEO CLIP FROM DVD <-- CLICK HERE to watch.

5 comments about Being Out There.

1. If you're planning on Cruising, or just wishful thinking, this is the DVD that will answer some questions, bring up others and make you want to sail off to Margaritaville!



2. After reviewing the movie, all i wanted to do was, pick up and go and purchase the boat the I have been dreulling over and set sail. Hopeful that one day I will.



3. if you're looking for a "sailing video" this is not it. It's a fun video without the "nuts & bolts" of sailing/cruising info--lots of clips of scenery and people, with some interviews from other cruisers. Good music, although at times it competed with and distracted from the actual video. The extras with Mitch commenting on the making of the video were fun to watch.



4. This video is mainly interviews with people who cruise. It is not a video-log of a voyage and does not try to give the 'feel' of being on a voyage. Not much is shot underway and a lot of what is underway does not have sound. It has clips of anchorages in Bahamas etc and interviews of cruisers there. It does capture very well the personality of cruising couples/families and could help you decide if you have 'what it takes' for this lifestyle. It very well explains what is the 'community' aspect of cruisers. Great music from someone who has boats and water in their blood.



5. Although done with good humor and having made a good effort to include a good variety of different perspectives, this is still an amateur-produced film. I'm not aware of any competing film that is professionally-produced, though-- comparing to the Pardeys would probably be unfair, since they are much more about nuts and bolts. You never see the film-makers actually sailing-- they seem to use their motor a lot. Maybe they found that there is too much spray to film while actually sailing. The musical interludes, with photo album-type scenes to accompany, drag a bit, and the continuing choruses in the interviews of "freedom... freedom..." and "paradise... paradise..." both get a little old.
   
   It's an honest effort, but it didn't really grip us the way we hoped.
   
   (Please note: this DVD does not have closed captions or subtitles.)

2 comments about Florence: Cradle of the Renaissance.

1. Part of the Museum City Series, Florence: Cradle of the Renaissance is an amazing DVD tour of Italy's cultural center, known for being the epicenter of a cultural rebirth in art, architecture, and philosophy during the 15th century. Taking the viewer on a tour of Florence's most well-known masterpieces, including Michelangelo's David, The Bapistry Doors, Giotto's Bell Tower, the Pazzi Chapel, the Medici and Uffizi palaces, and the Birth of Venus, Florence: Cradle of the Renaissance celebrates both great art and landmark history. A Florence museum guide rounds out this unforgettable voyage, especially recommended for armchair travelers, and surely the next best thing to flying to Florence to see its great treasures in person. 33 minutes, digitally mastered audio & video.



2. This DVD was purchased based in part on the one existing review and its modest price. Regretably, it is entirely disappointing, representing a nearly worthless purchase. The visual images are still photographs which have all the appearance of color illustrations from 1950's and 1960's travel books: they are faded, blurry and the colors are tired and dull.
   
   Most images of art objects, like statues and those of building facades, are so blurry that details cannot be seen. "Motion" in the DVD consists of the camera zooming into these old photos or panning across them, only making the visual quality worse - and the antique automobiles and everyday clothing worn by people in outdoor scenes leave no doubt about the age of the original photos. The narration is equally tired and old-fashioned: simplistic statements about the "dark ages" and the artists sound like they belong in a boring art history lecture from the 1950's and would never stand up to today's more lucid, informed, and balanced interpretations of events and artists. The classical music selections in the background only add distraction to an already poor quality soundtrack.
   
   This DVD is so cheaply produced, it really painful to watch, even though there is a modest amount of useful, factual information included in the narration. In short, don't buy this DVD if you are thinking of using it for instructional purposes unless you intend to put a class to sleep or as an introduction to - or a souvenier of - a trip to Florence. In fact, don't think of buying it at all. With shipping charges included, the lowest price you can purchase a copy for is between $9.00 and $10.00. At this price point, a far better purchase would be the "Florence" DVD from Naxos.
   
   Unlike the DVD under review, the Naxos DVD is nearly twice as long (about 54 minutes) and consists of very high quality, professionally produced color videos of various buildings, sites and historical locations in Florence, accompanied by classical music which is very well chosen to accompany the images. While this DVD has no narration, it does come with a very complete booklet with notes on each "Chapter" (Naxos' choice of words for "Scenes"). This DVD + a good guide book would be more than adequate to prepare anyone for a first vist to Florence.

5 comments about Globe Trekker - Russia.

1. I saw this a couple of days ago. and it was pretty good if you are into the country gave intresting facts and the host is enjoyable. I personally Love the series(globe trekker) they relly give you a feel of how the country is like



2. Having been to St. Petersburg I think some things could have been added about the city and added some more historical places such as Yusopov Palace and Catherines Palace at Pushkin just to name a couple. But at a high level this video was good and the places that were visited were a good choice and the video footage of them were very well done. If you are looking just to get some basic exposure to Russia and little about Russian Culture, then this video is for you. If you have travelled to Russia before and taking in a new city. It is just enough to give you some good sights to see your first few days.



3. I enjoyed the DVD. I found the host to be a bit annoying, as he seemed to make every effort to be funny, which was not necessary. However, I also found the information he imparted to be interesting and quite helpful for someone planning to visit Moscow and St. Petersburg. It gives a taste of life in those cities, including the local people, food, and places they frequent, along with the normal tourist places you would want to see.



4. This is one of the better Globe Trekker Videos. Ian Wright manages to pull this one off by showing us beautiful sights in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The onion domes are a beautiful sight. I cannot wait to explore the Izmaylolsky Sunday Market for old soviet souvenirs.
   
   I really enjoyed the blank expression on the face of the grocery worker when Ian decided to buy some bread. It was priceless!
   
   Overall, this was a great introduction to Russia. A job well done.



5. I showed this to some friends who were in Russia in July and they were most impressed.

5 comments about NOVA: B-29 Frozen in Time.

1. Tip: This video is perfect for a home theater system with great speakers. As the narrator says, the radial engines on this plane are the largest ever built. When the team starts firing them up, turn it up loud-loud-LOUD, loud enough to feel the roar in your bones. It still won't be as loud as in real life, but you'll feel like you're standing there with them cheering, watching this frozen bird come back to life after half a century, and you'll understand in your heart exactly why they're taking on this project. You'll feel like a little kid, just like they do, and you'll wish you were there with them.
   
   I use this documentary every time I teach a class on entrepreneurship. Combined with a Smithsonian magazine article on the salvage operation, it's great for talking about planning, leadership, decision-making, group dynamics, friendship, financing, risk, innovation, entrepreneurial motivations, expertise, and so on.
   
   But...the REAL reason I show it to my class is...well, you'll have to watch it and see. Trust me.



2. I think my son, whom I bought it for, will like it.



3. The impossible dream,the super human task, the will to succeed are only a few words to describe this documentary. Of all the films of this genre, this one left a major impression in my mind. Only since Hillary climbed Mt. Everest, have I seen the will of man so persevere. The finale is worth the wait, trust me. If this type of film is not your preference, make an exception and watch just this one. I don't think you'll be disappointed!!



4. The story of this miraculous aviation discovery is riveting. The amount of money and hard work under the severous of conditions to get this ancient warbird back to civilization is spellbinding. You won't want to miss the ending it is unbelievable.



5. This copy of the NOVA broadcast leaves too much of the original show untold. The original broadcast was rich in description of events and background information and allowed for the dramatic ending to be remembered for a lifetime. Unfortunately the DVD I purchased left too much of the original show out and sped through the events too quickly.
   
   The bottom line is this purchase is a disappointment.

No comments about Passport to Europe with Samantha Brown - Episode 1: Rome, Italy.