1 comments about In the City: In Barcelona.

1. This is for us the first DVD we bought from the "In the City" series.
   Yes it's loaded with information, but requires a lot of selecting.
   There are 3 main categories on the DVD which you have to enter one at a time.
   Once entered there are once again a bunch of categories to be entered on at a time.
   Once you do that you can select "play all" categories of that specific topic.
   Still it would be nicer if you could select "play all" (play entire DVD) right at the beginning.
   Great informative DVD but, due to the large amount of selections you have to make, this will be the only DVD from this series we will have.
   Next time we'll buy a DVD where we can sit back and watch while sipping our coffee (or play when we have guests).
   A real shame, as it could have been so much better with a "play all" for the entire DVD option.

1 comments about Global Treasures Topkapi Istanbul, Turkey.

1. This palace is so unlike other Palaces you might see in Europe and yet it is filled with stuff those places could only copy. This royal home is built around grand gardens as opposed to say French Chateaux which were surrounded by gardens. I hope to return sooner than later.
   Mike Barrett
   Baltimore

5 comments about Futuresport.

1. Subpar plot, substandard dialogue, even lousier editing. Futuresport is a lousy, lousy movie. Just pray that Dean's new television show, Clubhouse will keep him from making turkeys like this movie!



2. I liked this movie, it has Dean Cain which is a major plus. It has lots of action and the game was very interesting. The plot could have been a little better. Loved Wesley Snipes' character. He was great as the leader of the down zone. I would recommend it to any one who loved sports, conflicts and a good fight for what is right.



3. Once upon a time a film whose title was Rollerball; directed by Norman Jewison and superbly starred by James Caan.
   
   Two generations after in 1998 came Future sport, a picture which remains in the middle of the road respect its final intentions. Witch such fragile script and stylized characters where the emotional coordinates are blended with some here and there violent moments, the film does not achieve even a median stature.
   
   The presence of Wesley snipes was the only reason to watch it, but pitifully he was absolutely wasted in a secondary role.
   
   Too much noise and few walnuts.



4. I was pleasantly surprised with this movie. Considering it's a made for TV movie with the same kind of budget you can expect from that kind of production Futuresport really pulled it off. I'm not saying this movie is high drama or an incredible sci-fi epic, but I will say it deserves a little notation in the annals of the genre. I think it bears repeating: This is a made for TV movie, which means the budget was small and there was likely very little time for polish. In spite of this when you combine a good story, good acting and some of the cleanest special effects I have ever seen for a TV movie I get a pretty satisfied feeling by the time I get to the end credits. This is what the newer Rollerball movie should have been.
   
   The plot, though it looks pretty basic on the outside, does have all the elements of good science fiction writing. It's not Gattaca, but it does keep the movie's pace going without resorting to cheap Hollywood tactics. What I like most about the story is that is shows some development with the main characters as well as gives enough exposure to most of the supporting characters for the script to end up being well balanced. The progression of the plot, with its minor twists and turns, keep an otherwise bland premise interesting. The violence is toned down a lot more than what you might expect so I would probably rate it a PG-13 or PG in that regard.
   
   I won't say the acting is Oscar material by any means, but I will say it's better than most movies of this caliber. Wesley Snipes pretty much stole the show in this department. I enjoyed seeing him playing an essentially non-action role. It gives him a chance to stretch his acting muscles more, and that he did. You can tell he was enjoying his role, as were the rest of the actors. Dean Kane of Lois and Clark fame also plays a good lead in this one. The villains felt a little too much on the stereotypical bad person theme. Granted you get some pretty decent motives established at the beginning of the movie. They just didn't feel like terrorist/freedom fighters.
   
   When I say Futuresport's special effects were the cleanest I have seen in a long time I'm not kidding. The digital touch ups they did for the hover boards are outstanding. To see these things gliding around with ease as if they were skateboards (with no skates mind you) is wonderful. The CGI scenes of various cityscapes and whatnot are also very nice and remind me of the stuff you see on Babylon 5. The tech was neat too, especially the guns and cybernetic cameramen. Very cyperpunk I must say. Unlike most TV or cable sci-fi movies you do see enough technology around outside and indoors to give enough for you to believe you really are seeing the 2020's. To sum it up everything went really well on the technical, effects and scenery side.
   
   I'm not going to say Futuresport will win everyone over like it did me. It is after all it's a (everybody say it with me this time) made for television movie. If you can enjoy middle of the road, yet VERY well done, TV production values you should have no problems with this one. I wouldn't call it cyberpunk enough for the diehard fans of the genre, but don't let that stop you from enjoying the lighter side of it either. For the rest of you out there I say check it out, sit back, and enjoy what a good TV movie is supposed to be like.



5. This film has perhaps the stupidest plot that I have ever seen. In a nutshell ... it's 2025, and in only ten years a game called Futuresport (kind of like European Handball on skateboards) has become the most popular sport in the world. Dean Cain's character plays Tre Ramzey, an ex-basketball player who has become Futuresport's biggest star. An organization called the Hawaiian Liberation Organization, backed by the Pan-Pacific Commonwealth, carries out terrorist acts and demands sovereignty for the oppressed state of Hawaii (no joke). In order to end the tensions between the Pan-Pacific Commonwealth and the North American Alliance, and prevent a war, our hero Ramzey proposes to settle the differences over ... a game of Futuresport. Brilliant! If only all the world's conflicts could be settled this way.
   
   Besides the ridiculous plot, this film contains mostly bad acting, pretty weak visual effects, and perhaps worst of all, the cheasiest, most annoying music I have ever heard.
   
   ZERO STARS!

No comments about Video Visits: The Caribbean - Martinique, St. Kitts, Antigua, US Virgin Islands.

No comments about Travel With Kids - London.

3 comments about Video Visits: Discovering Spain.

1. The images shown on this DVD are quite dated, and of a very poor quality. Many scenes are blurred with very questionable color. Often the DVD uses still photos, with the camera zooming or panning to provide 'movement'. If you are seeking a DVD on Spain, try the Rick Steves titles - the quality is far superior, the info better, and even Rick's older DVDs are more current.



2. This is the best way to plan a vacation. Good planning leads to good life long memories.



3. I am always searching for new videos to show in my junior high classroom. This video put me to sleep while previewing it to show to my class. I agree with the poster below: the images are outdated and poor quality. Save your money!

2 comments about Living Landscapes: Rocky Mountains.

1. This series of dvds is a well produced wealth of relaxing opportunitites. The Rocky Mountains title takes me on a virtual vacation to a destination that I may not likely get to see in my lifetime.
   
   I collect dvds of this type, and keep them on as background while I work around the house and while I do creative writing. The visuals are stunning, and the music fits the scenery to enhance the experience.
   
   I have all of the titles of this series, and look forward to more destinations to add to my stock of virtual vacations!



2. One of the reasons I don't watch TV is commercial interference. Plus, I find the on-screen logos and overlaid promotions during a program VERY TACKY. So my TV is used only for viewing DVDs. I do sometimes buy a complete TV series after it's released on DVD -- commercial-free. When DVDs start having commercial interruptions or on-screen logos, I'll simply stop buying them.
   
   I can't believe the folks at Living Landscapes put their logo in every frame of a nature film! It's like having a bit of litter in every scene. Very distracting. They could have put info about the other items in their catalog as a _separate_ viewing option, as most DVDs manufacturers do. That would have been acceptable.
   
   Having written the company to inquire if the on-screen logo indicated I had received a demo or whether the logo could be turned off, a representative responded that the company chose to watermark their product to discourage illegal copying and piracy -- which is understandable -- but if piracy is an issue, wouldn't it be better to simply COPY-PROTECT the discs, so that consumers could enjoy the gorgeous photography unmarred?
   
   Were this product onscreen-logo-free, I would buy the whole series. As it is, I won't be buying any more. Very disappointing, for such an otherwise-beautiful product.
   
   Companies should be aware that there are still folks who appreciate artistic integrity and who refuse to buy products featuring commercial intrusions, especially when it imposes itself upon the beauty of nature.

1 comments about Bob Dylan's New York.

1. I bought this DVD with the expectation that it would have some pertinent interviews with people involved in the NYC ca. 1960's, and would at least see the inside of some of the important places in Greenwich mentioned. This DVD is a home-made thing, narrated by a 3rd class radio host in NYC and some girl who does a walking "Bob Dylan" tour in NY. The girl's voice is absolutely not orator quality, as she has a very annoying nasal tone that makes her hard to listen to. The Disc Jockey rambles on about things that aren't relevant to the Dylan quest, often times not relevant to the conversation between him and the nasal girl. There are no interviews, except for a short one with the disc jockey's wife who merely recounts a time when she met someone famous and announces that their dog's name is Dylan. There are no internal shots of any of the famous buildings. The disc jockey and the girl simply walk about Greenwich and up into Chelsea and stand in front of the building telling stories about it that can be picked up in any brochure. I am sorry I wasted money on this home made faux-paus as I was actually doing research on the Chelsea during the sixties and thought this would have some interesting facts. It didn't. I don't care if the DJ and his wife named their dog Dylan. I barely made it through the entire DVD (2 of them, actually) listening to the girl who should never ever speak in public for an audience. I advise not to buy this poor quality DVD. You'd be better off going online and sending to NYC for some brochures on Greenwich and Chelsea. I'm sure the people who are in this mundane spectacle are nice, and well meaning, but, really, don't waste your money here.Bob Dylan's New York

No comments about Portugal.

5 comments about Aero-Troopers.

1. I recently had the displeasure of having to suffer through this god-awful "movie". Where do I start. With the horrible voice-over narration by Mark Hamill (?) that sounds like he's got a head-cold? With the almost non-existent plot? With the poorly designed and poorly animated characters? I just don't know what the makers of this film where thinking. Everything moves like its in slow motion. If I had to guess I would say this started off a a series of "cut-scenes" for an abandoned video game project that the makers decided that they could savaged by linking the separate cut-scenes together with a few voice-overs. This is what it plays like. It jumps around from one plot thread to the next. Characters are introduced then forgotten about. As one reviewer said, there just is no story flow. If you're looking for an orginal animated feature set far, far away, rent Titan A.E. instead. That's a real movie that was sadly ignored at the box-office. Bottomline - if the cover of this movie actually makes you want to rent it, go for it. But of you look at those characters and can't help but laugh, stay away.



2. I sincerely like this movie, however, the copy received from Amazon.com was in and out of focus, as if filmed on a movie screen for release. Poor quality copy. There are no setting features, special features or any other item to indicate it is a real dvd release. It is not 5.1 sound, not even stereo. Very fustrating to watch due to these many flaws
   Jarvis



3. I am not sure that I saw the movie that the other reviewers saw, or understand their rationale for recommending this film. What I saw made me very sad, some good design ideas executed badly. The nicest thing I can say for the script is that is is free of profanity, otherwise it has all the earmarks of fan fiction written by a ten year old who watched STAR WARS too much.
   
   The lighting and surfacing team seem to think that the best way to represent the real world is to crank the keylight up to 200 and throw in a soft focus filter.
   
   The charecter design is the visual equivalent of GUMBY and I can only think the designer phoned her designs in to a team of chimps in the Amazon. They have no rib cages and bend in strange and wonderful ways...none realistic.
   
   To say the animation is wooden is to insult Pinnocio. The best thing they could have done is to put some CG Strings in so you thought you were watching re-run of some obscure "Super Marionation" series...but then I am am showing respect to Super Marionation.
   
   The animators seem to have never actually seen anything fly and were either asleep in Physics or cut class.
   
   I also watched this movie with my Ten year old son (who wants to be an animator like his father, yes I do this stuff for a living) and we were entertained, but mostly for reasons the producers never intended.
   
   All this having been said I will recommend this film to anyone who wants to see how things, even if well intentioned, can go terribly wrong in a production. I will also say I am buying a copy for my collection, as a cautionary tale for animators



4. I just finished watching this, um, "movie", and I feel that it is my humanitarian duty to warn the viewing public away from this great crime against brains.
   
   Perhaps you saw the cover of the DVD while tripping balls, or maybe you're blind. Whatever your reason for considering this purchase, I urge you to reconsider. But where to begin? The character designs are hideous, and somehow at the same time forgettable. Mark "I Peaked at 20" Hamill provides his standard "Sort of Sounds Like The Joker" performance for at least two characters. The plot is laughable. The editing, if indeed it can be called editing at all, is choppy and inept. AND OH, GOD, THE DIALOG!!! Everybody talks like a third-grader with a thesaurus. Seriously; the Eye of Argon has more believable dialog. And I'm surprised at how ridiculously BAD all the scenery is, especially since they made it so easy on themselves by setting the whole flipping movie in THE BIG EMPTY SKY. I have seen more professional flash files than this on newgrounds. Seriously.
   
   All of this doesn't even consider that the entire concept of the film was lifted wholesale from "Last Exile", which is made all the more infuriating when you consider that Last Exile is *superlative* in every way. I'll tell you what; Amazon sells the Last Exile Box set. If you're jonesing for high adventure set among the clouds, with sassy young pilots dogfighting a mechanical monster with a mysterious past and having snappy dialog on-board cool airships, I PROMISE you that buying Last Exile from Amazon is a much better plan than watching this steaming heap.



5. My boys were so devasted everytime we returned Aero-Troopers to the video store, so we bought our own copy! Master 6 and 4 just love this movie and have fun role - playing the characters out in the backyard and building Lego Nemaclises (sp?). We have bought copies also for their friends, who in turn think it's a cool movie too. A great movie and highly entertaining for young boys!