1 comments about Globe Trekker: Iran.

1. Gives good overview of Iran. Ian is a very good at what he does.
   
   He said he was a vegetarian before going there but then film showed him eating sheep brain (yuk) and meat. He said it is hard to be a vegetarian in Iran. This is not true. I've travelled in Iran and not eaten meat. Definitely do-able.

5 comments about Music in High Places - India Arie (Live in Brazil).

1. Surprising, showing northeast Brazil, black and poor, not the real Brazil but lovely and different.
   Could have more known songs. Good.



2. I am a fan of the entire "Music In High Places" series, so this met my expectations to the fullest.
   
   Watching india.arie perform in these beautiful places is both relaxing and inspiring.



3. the DVD is excellen.INdia arie is really a great performer..with heart and sould..she delivers and you won't/can't be dissappointed..



4. I was determined that this would be a piece of crap for 7 dollars but when i watched this DVD for the first time, i realized it was unlike any other. i was expecting a standard musical perdormance, but like always, India Aire surprises you with a personal and beautiful experience...if you are a devote fan, this is an epic choice.



5. I first came across the MIHP series when my wife gave me the "India Arie in Brazil" DVD for Christmas. I have always enjoyed India's music and musical style, so she figured it would be a good present. It has turned out to be one of the best Christmas presents ever!! I watch it all the time!!!
   
   I was blown away by the sound, scenery and the talent of India Arie. She has an amazing voice and tone that really sits well with me. To me, her voice is 100% pure. Devoid of big time rifts and show-off styles like many of the more famous performers in the spotlight. What makes this DVD great is the fact that India Aire really felt at home in Bahia. She really appreciated the culture, the music and the history of Bahia. She even sang with some of the local talent and let the musicians play with her band.
   
   The way the DVD is produced makes you feel as if you are right there with India, as she just breaks out in a song. I've seen the MIHP "Brian McKnight in Brazil", and I didn't like that one nearly as much as this. For one, the music in McKnight's DVD sounds as if he is in a studio even though he is singing in front of a group of locals. Also, he had the typical American (Wow, you people really live like this...) condescending attitude that Americans take with them when visiting other countries, which was very annoying. As a result of watching both DVD's, I love India Arie more and like Brian McKnight a whole lot less.

5 comments about Missile to the Moon.

1. Missile To The Moon is what you might call the poor man's version of Cat-Women Of the Moon, sans way-out cat-dance. The revamped version with its two younger leads, who are escaped convicts, obviously intended to cash in on the Rebel Without A Cause wave that was going around at the time. Now we get some rock creatures you will almost swear have happy-smiling faces when you see them for the first time. The spacesuits are nothing more than airforce fighter pilot uniforms with snow boots. There is also a spider in this one, but instead of strings, it is a cable that is shamelessly unhidden this time. Whereas Cat-Women had the potential to evoke a feeling of bitter-sweetness, the moon women are swanky and decadent. The Alpha character is played by this Miss Yugoslavia pageant winner--stunning eye candy, but not nearly as sinister as the original Alpha. Because the moon women's costumes are somewhat more revealing and somehow also lend to the ladies more inactivity than the cat-women, this in effect seems to spoil what should have the dreamy ambiance of mystery that was so nearly successfully captured in Cat-Woman. Because the issues of species survival has shifted more towards species dominance, it is also hard to sympathize with the moon women when Leto first reveals their plight. As for the DVD itself, the transfer is respectable. The extras comprise of a pretty nifty collection of behind-the scenes photos. All in all, it is a good purchase--if you can find it used for under 7$.



2. Movies don't stick in your memory for forty years for no good reason. This one just would not go away. Low expectations are wonderfully rewarded. The pre-feminist theme of men as mezmerized breeding slaves in a phony underground lunar playground works to perfection. Matriarchal society never looked so good as with this cast of beauty pageant winners. You too will say, "Yes, my Lido!"



3. Missile to the Moon is a remake(or sequel depending how you look it)of the 1953 Sci-Fi B-movie, Cat-Women of the Moon, The film is about two escaped convicts who stow-away in a rocket ship to the moon with the head pilot, his friend, Steve and Steve's girlfriend June. On the way to the moon, the head pilot dies and tells Steve to meet the queen of the moon maidens. The Earth people meets the moon maidens and discovers one of them wants to marry Steve, and orders her servant girls to kill June with a giant spider. This film is not as exciting but it is fun to watch on Saturday mornings. For those who would rather see the original Cat-Women of the moon, that is alright as well.



4. When a scientist builds a missile that will take him to the moon(thus the title of course), he enlists(more like forces) the help of two escaped convicts to help him pilot the thing on it's journey. Why not? His assistant and his girlfiend happen to stumble aboard as well. After arriving on the moon they discover a civilization of sexy women(who speak English of course) who are running out of air and wish to colonize another planet. Our group finds itself in danger and must escape before they're all killed by the evil new dictator chick. With the help of a sympathetic moon girl, who's gone soft for one of the convicts(of course. There's always one, isn't there?), they try to make their way back to their missile. On their moon trip they enounter giant rock men(guys in styrofoam outfits with no attempt whatsoever to cover up the actors' faces popping out of the costume), a giant spider(any film should get at least one extra star on it's rating if it has a giant spider in it), and oxygen. They also find that standing out in the sun will have the same effect on a human as it would on a vampire. Needless to say that Missile to the Moon is one of those films that will be most enjoyed by the Plan 9 crowd. In fact, I actually like this more than Plan 9 myself. This film is a remake of Cat Women Of The Moon. I really don't understand what the point was to remake a schlock film that was made only six years earlier, and do it just as cheaply. I guess we'll never know. One of the more fun 50s sci-fi films. But the one thing I don't quite get is why with all these woman around, not one guy gets lucky throughout the entire film(then again they weren't given alot of time. But somebody could have at least made it quick). Another thing we'll never understand I guess. It's still fun though!



5. Not a bad sort of film in a cheesy kind of way but I have yet to see a transfer to either vhs or dvd that was of minimally good quality. The editing in the movie transfer looks like it was done with a hacksaw. There are abrupt jumps in the editing of the film and over all the effect vastly diminishes from the viewing enjoyment even of such a cheesy film as this one. My recommendation to everybody who is interested in buying this product is for them to wait until there is a good quality version transfer of this movie.

4 comments about Globe Trekker: Argentina.

1. This DVD is dated as a 2004 release and maybe the DVD was released then but the video was defintely filmed at least five years earlier.
   
   The video is not very helpful and full of false information about the country, particularly the cost of traveling. Justine Shapiro states that it is VERY VERY EXPENSIVE to travel in Argenitna. It was back then when the video was made, mostly in 1997, but now after the devaluation in 2001 Argentina is considered one of the most inexpensive travel destination in the world.
   
   It was shot in 2004 and contains the latest information for tourists, such as the CURRENT price of hotels, food, etc.
   
   If you are interested in visiting Argentina and really want to know how it is NOW I recommend you consider the "Best of Buenos Aires" video on Amazon.



2. Justine Shapiro is really charming and made me laugh in several instances. This video is superbly shot, and even myself, as a local argentine, found it entertaining and informative.
   
   The reviewer before me was too harsh to give it a single star. Just discard any references you hear on the video about prices (for that, look around in travel web sites, and ANYTHING taped will get outdated over time).
   
   Yes, this video was shot back in ~2000 when the country's currency, the peso, was artificially pegged to the US dollar, and neocons were running the country, overvaluating our currency (which as you might imagine caused the exports of anything almost impossible, as everything was cheaper imported rather than locally produced).
   
   After the sad events of late 2001 and early 2002, the local currency was devaluated and that artificial economic policy of "1 peso to 1 dollar" was abandoned. After a brieg period of chaos, the country started recovering and now (2005/2006) exports are booming, job creation is on the rise, tourism is booming, and exports (both agriculture and industrial) are at an all time high. Plenty of factories have re-opened its doors and in some sectors of the economy employers are having a hard time finding people for the positions.
   
   (...) the peso is now at around $3 pesos per US dollar. (...)
   
   (...)
   Hope this helps.



3. Seeing this Globtrekker travelogue again on TV reminded me of how well it portrays the beauty and immense scale of this amazing country. It also superbly communicates the warmth and generosity of its people. Disregard another reviewer's grousings about the economic inaccuracies (yeah, so what?--it's actually much cheaper now to visit Argentina), and just sit back and enjoy sweeping views of Iguasu Falls, the Argentine cordillera, windswept Patagonia, and the Perito Moreno glacier. Justine Shapiro has just the right balance of wonder and wimsy to pull off this travelogue. I especially like her good-humored response to a pass made at her in Buenos Aires, and her imitation of a penguin walk on the beach in Patagonia. This is a real fun video and will make you want to visit this great country.



4. This video was made before 2001 and the economic crash, so they keep talking about how expensive it all is. Not up to date at all. They need to make a new one. However, they do highlight great things to do.

5 comments about Woman In the Moon.

1. Lang made this movie just a few years after Metropolis. There are a few common themes in the two: futuristic speculation, and the central position of love in rather unlikely affairs. I found it different in many ways, though.
   
   First, it stayed closer to Lang's contemporary world. It also did a pretty good job with the science part of the science fiction, down to a realistic portrayal of NASA's Vertical Assembly Building. In fact, Lang's original description of acceleration in meters per second-squared was more accurate then the translated English caption, which used meters per second. Even though the movie stuck closer to Lang's own world, most of the movie has a much more modern look than his better-known Metropolis. The makeup and acting look more natural, at least early on, unlike the exaggerated and iconic posturings throughout Metropolis. And, although the scenes were new to audiences at the time, many Lang's elements have since become the common idiom of more recent films. That scene with the scheming powermongers (cigar-chomping woman included), in their film-equipped board room - it recurred in just about every James Bond movie to date.
   
   A few things didn't work for me, though. I'll let the moon's breathable atmosphere slide, for dramatic convenience. The 1920s pacing got to me after a while: most of the action came in the last 45min of the 2hr 45min movie, and I found some early parts dragging. The one that I just had to grit my teeth and swallow, though, was the quest for gold (yes, that horrendously heavy stuff) as the big reason for going to the moon at all. Well, I guess Lang had to make it understandable in the idiom of the era, but I'm sure he could have done better.
   
   Lang, the actors, and the production grew did quite well, though. Lang's Metropolis was an epic achievement. This movie approaches it, and maybe surpasses it in some ways. See Metropolis first, by all means, but see this one too.
   
   //wiredweird



2. "Frau im Mond" (Woman in the Moon) is a German silent movie of 1929, direct by the great Fritz Lang ("Metropolis" fame), and deals with a trip to the moon. It is not the first to deal with a voyage to the moon -- that honor goes to George Melies 1902 film, "Le Voyage dans la lune" (Trip to the Moon) -- but it is the first to treat the subject realistically. Along with the 1950, "Destination Moon," it belongs to a trio of films which educated the public on space travel, and provided training for future space scientists, aerospace engineers (I was one), and astronauts.
   
   It is based on a novel of the same name, written by Lang's wife, Thea von Harbou. (She also wrote "Metropolis," and it is probably due to her that a strong woman's role was included in the film.) The name of the film, "Woman in the Moon," definitely sounds silly, but is probably a play on the-man-in-the-moon theme. It also reflects the importance of the feminine character to the plot.
   
   The evolution in technical emphasis is very revealing. Melies makes no effort to be technically sound (other that selecting Jules Verne's cannon over the even less plausible anti-gravity "Caverite" of Wells). "Frau im Mond" does make a serious attempt. In fact, its rocket is in many ways more realistic than that of the 20-year-later "Destination Moon." This realism is largely due to the great rocket pioneer Hermann Oberth, who acted as technical advisor. The launch gantry and launch sequence count-down found in the film were prescient. At the same time, there are curious lapses. Too much is made of the point at which the earth and moon gravity cancel each other - there is nothing very special about this point. In particular, it is not responsible for weightless in space. That Oberth would make such a mistake is inconceivable. Perhaps the makers of the film (principally Fritz Lang) believed the public would not buy weightlessness without this plausible, though spurious, explanation. Incidentally, the film was not a great triumph for Oberth. He was to have produced a flying rocket model for the film. His failure to provide one in time hurt his standing as a practical hands-on engineer.
   
   Another gaffe is that the moon would have enough air for humans to breathe. Again, I suspect the makers of the film knew better, but wanted to avoid the complications of space suits. (Would you really want to hide Friede's sweet face in a helmet?) Then there is the "dousing rod" to find water ... enough said! The business about "lots of gold on the moon" is also silly, but here there is a better explanation - or maybe I should say excuse. When one recalls that during the making of this film Germany was suffering great economic hardships, including hyperinflation, the prospect of Germans finding an unlimited source of gold must have been irresistible.
   
   I characterized this film as the middle one in a trio. There are of course other films which might have been somewhat less influential or less well done, but nevertheless contributed to the dawn of the space age. "When Worlds Collide," "Rocketship X-M," and "The Conquest of Space" are three such films. The list would not be complete with including the fine, non-fiction "Man in Space" series of Walt Disney.
   
   This film has something of a cult following, and there are a number of websites devoted to it. One of the best is http://taoyue.com/film/frau-im-mond.html .



3. (4.5 stars, actually)
   
   Fritz Lang is one of my favoritest directors, and this lesser-known film, his final silent, was nothing less than the riveting high-quality product I've come to expect from him. Like a couple of his other films, it does take awhile for the story and characters to be fully set up and for the viewer to be drawn in, but once things do finally start happening, it just gets better and better. Lang loved long films, and just like with a book that runs over the "normal" length, such a film too naturally will take a bit longer in setting up the plot and characters. And since it runs to almost three hours, it doesn't need to get everything and everyone established lickety-split and to have everything wrapped up nicely and neatly in an unrealistic amount of time.
   
   Wolf Helius is a prominent scientist who works in the rocket business and who is deeply interested in space exploration. Professor Georg Manfeldt is an eccentric older friend of his who has been reduced to poverty and disgrace because of his obsessive research into the existence of gold on the Moon. Prof. Manfeldt talks Helius into financing his dream expedition to finally prove his 30-year-old theory right. Helius's best friend and chief engineer Hans Windegger is persuaded to come along too, and Windegger's fiancée Friede, whom Helius also loves, insists she join all of them. The expedition and the preparations for it turn out to be anything but routine, since some rival elements know all about their plans and the belief that there is gold on the Moon. One of these criminals, Turner, also joins the flight. During the flight and after the rocket has successfully landed (despite having a number of potentially serious technical problems), human nature gets the better of everyone, and jealous rivalries, pettiness, and greedy self-interest start erupting right and left. It all builds up to a great ending, made even better by how it's not one of those endings the average viewer could have predicted coming a mile away.
   
   Though it naturally will appear a bit dated today, in an era where space travel is a reality and not a sci-fi fantasy, the space technology actually seems pretty advanced and accurate for 1929. I'd personally consider a lot of the sci-fi films of the Fifties and early Sixties to be a lot more dated. As has been mentioned, the scientific staff consulting for this film did know about some of the things that ended up depicted in a rather unrealistic matter (esp. the fact that people had air to breathe on the Moon!), but it possibly was left that way because the average moviegoer might not have liked the alternate. There are also a number of plotholes that are never resolved or explained, such as just how Helius was knocked out in the taxi when Manfeldt's papers were stolen from him, why anyone is supposed to believe there's gold on the Moon, what purpose some of the people on the flight are supposed to serve apart from dramatic tension between the characters, and what exactly happens to Manfeldt after he finds his gold. Still, relatively minor problems aside, this is one compelling film, one which deserves to be ranked higher among Lang's phenomenal work.



4. Perhaps so soon after Metropolis, you'd expect nothing less than another great silent film from Fritz Lang: especially since this one was not done on a shoe-string budget. But even given that thought, this film exceeded my expectations. It's still a gripping tale with special effects that are fascinating to see and actually have an effect. I found myself wishing that, for one night, I could become a member of the population that saw it for the first time in theaters. What it would have felt like as they were about to land on the moon!!! Obviously, many stories and films have re-used the characters in one way or another - but this original hasn't lost any of its impact on that account.



5. This copy has the full dinner scene which is a bit lengthy for a modern audience. However it does make the film complete.
   
   It is classic, so little else to say. If you are a fan of silents, Fritz Lang, or Science Fiction, this is a worthy addition to have if not to watch.

5 comments about Almost Normal.

1. I just watched this film and found the whole plot rather interesting. The acting isn't the greatest, there isn't enough male nudity (I'm tired of seeing naked women in almost every film I see, but no naked men), but the point of the whole story is well taken. As with most movies involving time travel, I half expect a Borg to pop out of no-where. ;) What caught my attention is the demonstration of how fluid human sexuality can be and how little we really understand about ourselves. Sure, you can turn on PBS and watch the mating habits of almost any other species, but put some humans in there and it's labeled "pornography". Alas, such is the paragon of animals. This is a film most teenagers and most adult should watch so that they can experience a new perspective on human life. There will always be "outsiders" in human cultures, but maybe movies like this will help all of us be less cruel to them.



2. This is quite possibly the worst movie i have EVER seen!
   
   HAHA
   
   EVERYONE! GO TO BLOCKBUSTER AND RENT THIS MOVIE (don't buy it cause once u see it u'll never want to see it again) AND WATCH IT! CAUSE IT'S SOOOOO TERRIBLE THAT IT'S ACTUALLY FUNNY!



3. Ok, so this movie is not really well acted, and could certainly have been edited better and had some more substance in several parts of the story, but all that aside it was actually a neat concept. Imagine, the world has suddenly gone upside down for gays.



4. I got this film without reading any of the commentaries or reviews, and I have to say it was one of the most enjoyable films I've ever seen. The use of local people from Lincoln High School and Nebraska State University made this movie really genuine. Aside from Brad's mom's wigs, I thought the movie was convincing and extremely heart warming. I am sick of seeing the same old campy stuff that's continually shoveled in our faces all the time. My hat's off to the director, producers and all those who VOLUNTEERED to make this film a reality. Thank you for the sacrifice and long live independent film making!



5. An interesting look at how different things would be if the gay world was considered the norm and the straight world was considered abnormal and forced to conceal their true feelings. Very unusal concept. Funny, well thought out production, well written and all the actors are very believable in their respective roles. Great ending. Very enjoyable film. If you want to watch something that will put a smile on your face and make you laugh this is a must have for you. Different from anything I have ever seen. Absolutely hilarious.

1 comments about Rick Steves' Germany & Scandinavia 2000-20007.

1. 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 seven episodes, thirty minutes in length. Imagine three and one half hours in gorgeous Germany and Scandinavia, better get started!

3 comments about Globe Trekker - Australia (Double DVD).

1. a quite typical travel guide for the eurotrash tourist, pulls all the stops for parties, multicutural experiences, politically correct blabber, and little or no geology, science, history.



2. Feature Packed Double DVD contains 4 shows: Outback Australia, Queensland & the Great Barrier Reef, Southeast Australia and Southwest Australia. On these shows they cover Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Alice Springs, Perth, Darwin, and Canberra!!
   
   Unlike other Travel DVD's this is interesting, fast paced, sometimes funny, filled with up to date non-biased information and has some breath-taking visuals!! They always make a huge effort to get to know the people and the culture, provide a little bit of history and show fun things to do in the area for a younger crowd below 30. I would recommend this DVD to everyone interested in Australia! You will definite feel like you're right there as a couch-traveller!!



3. I guess I could not relate to this travel DVD. It offered little travel info. Most of the segments involved tourists and their relations in the cities. There was hardly any information given on huge cities like Sydney and Melbourne. The hotels and things that were shown looked great but did not give names or address. There were few benefits to this program.

5 comments about Discovery Atlas: China Revealed [HD DVD].

1. I have been very happy with my HD DVD purchases so far (> 10 titles), but this is a real disappointment. The picture is soft and it doesn't look like HD at all. I wish I could return it. Don't buy this if you are expecting HD sharpness.



2. I have been to China twice and this is better then being there.



3. I was expecting a little better production than this. With the vast area that is encompassed by China, with its ancient culture and history; one would have anticipated more coverage of that rather than the excessive coverage of the country yokel who seeks his fortune in the big city and the young female olympic hopeful. Also, I have to agree with the other reviewer about the quality of the picture. Perhaps after watching Planet Earth I'm a bit spoiled; but I didn't think this dvd deserved to be advertised as high definition .
   Finally, I wouldn't purchase this dvd if given the chance to do it over again.



4. Overall not bad. But not much scenery of the China's. There are stories about different people. Wished it had more native sceneries.



5. The videography, the production values, and the mellow tones of James Spader, and the HD DVD itself are excellent, but that's it. Call this educational if you want, but its more about polishing up the image of China for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. This documentary reveals startling facts about China as being the world's most consuming nation of raw materials on earth simply because its 1,300,000,000 people have gotten a taste of capitalism and they like it. It features video of a country that for a long time was synonomous with Communist tyranny. Even though the Chinese have made great strides in improving their lifestyles since the Red Guard plundered through the countryside trying to strip away everything cultural and uniquely Chinese, there is still much oppression. Just look at the recent political unrest regarding Tibet. This documentary highlights different families in the "new" China and how they fit in with the rest of the world. I think the producers at the Discovery Channel were sincere in their efforts to present an unbiased look at China, but they look at it with a different set of eyes than I do. I for one thing think that Chinese manufactured goods, while they may be cheap, are substandard and in some cases, dangerous. I still look at the Chinese government as being typical for communist countries, and cannot be trusted. While the Chinese people now have more economic freedom and more opportunities, they are not free, no matter how pretty they try to package it. Dan Casey

5 comments about Over New England - Deluxe 4 DVD Box Set.

1. This is incredible footage of New England, alot in fall and all her glory. You will
   watch this over and over again. The beauty is breathtaking, and what is better
   than a flyover?



2. Don't expect a colorful, scenic view of the northeast. These old TV shows range from mediocre to juvenile. The "Cape Cod" scenes with music (no narration) is probably the best.



3. 4 Disc set-one of the dvd discs skipped and then just froze after about 5 minutes of playtime. I have sent the set back for reimbursement and we'll see how that goes...very dissappointed.



4. This is a nice introduction to New England. The footage is clear and beautiful. I have sent this dvd set to relatives abroad so they can see where we live.



5. This is a great tour of New England. The Cape Cod dvd is the best (you've got to see the whales :) But the whole set is a great exploration of the New England I love. We have friends from England you come and visit and they take these dvds back home to show their friend what they've seen. SO much better then just taking pictures. I highly reccomed this set. A+