Alizes Blog

The Messenger Description:

• Amazon Sales Rank: #747 in DVD
• Released on: 2010-05-18
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Formats: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 112 minutes

Customer Reviews:

Timeless, powerful, deeply moving.
I have seldom seen a more moving or seamless antiwar film than Oren Moverman’s “The Messenger.” Its Iraq War theme makes it absolutely up to the minute, yet its portrayal of the raw grief that war creates echoes throughout human history. In some ways, “The Messenger” serves as a companion piece to Kathryn Bigelow’s “The Hurt Locker.” “The Hurt Locker” portrays the effect of the Iraq War on combat soldiers; “The Messenger” concentrates more on its effect on the loved ones waiting at home.

Ben Foster, who was so excellent in “3:10 to Yuma” and “Six Feet Under,” exceeds even those achievements as Sgt. Will Montgomery, an Iraq War soldier recovering from grievous physical and psychic wounds who receives the unwelcome assignment of notifying the survivors of soldiers killed in action. Making the assignment even harder is Capt. Tony Stone (Woody Harrelson), a hard-nosed military lifer who commands Montgomery to stick to the script: never touch a survivor, and never express more than the most perfunctory sympathy. Stone, a recovering alcoholic, has his own problems: a veteran of the First Persian Gulf War, he never saw any combat worth the name, and suffers a world of guilt he tries to hide by playing the martinet and chasing every skirt he sees. Meanwhile, Montgomery, who has been jilted by his high-school sweetheart (Jena Malone), starts to develop feelings–totally against the rules–for a young military widow (Samantha Morton).

Featuring sharp dialogue and brilliant performances (including one by Steve Buscemi as the father of a fallen soldier), “The Messenger” is a powerfully moving cinematic experience.

Why is this film overlooked by critics and awards?
With the exception of Woody Harrelson getting nominated for Best Supporting Actor, THE MESSENGER has not been getting the attention that it deserves from the critics and awards. This is the film that should’ve been nominated for Best Picture (Drama) by the Golden Globe Awards. This is the film that should’ve been nominated for Best Picture by the Broadcast Film Critics Awards. With the exception of the Independent Spirit Awards, THE MESSENGER is being grossly overlooked. I think it may be because it is not released by a major distributor. And it is overshadowed by THE HURT LOCKER. To tell you the truth, I have seen both films, and I’ll take THE MESSENGER over THE HURT LOCKER anyday. THE HURT LOCKER was more suspenseful, but THE MESSENGER did a much better job examining the human condition from both the soldiers and the civilians’ point of view. In a way it reminded me of a contemporary version of ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT because it depicted the horrors of the war, and the effects that it had on both the soldiers and their loved ones. I highly recommend this film. It is one of the best films of 2009. One last thing–it is about time Woody Harrelson wins an Oscar for his performance as an actor. He is incredible in this film.

Contrived tale of Army Casualty Notification Unit
*** This review may contain spoilers ***

The job of notifying next of kin by the Army Casualty Notification Unit is an extremely sensitive one. Such a job is not entrusted to just anyone in the military–you have to undergo significant training before you’re assigned to such a specialized unit. That’s why it’s hard to believe that Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery (Ben Foster) would be thrust into the job when he only has three months of enlistment time left. What’s more, would the Sergeant have been chosen since he’s only recently come back from Iraq and may have been traumatized there? As for his training, his commanding officer, Captain Tony Stone (Woody Harrelson), merely throws a training manual in his lap and expects him to learn the job as they go along.

To confess, I’m a bit biased against movies such as ‘The Messenger’ because I find characters who like themselves to be vastly more compelling and believable than those who don’t. In general, characters who don’t like themselves are dull and rarely add to the dramatic flow of the narrative (can you imagine a sad-sack Tony Soprano ever capturing the public’s imagination?). The strategy of the Messenger’s scenarists is to start us off with the two angst-ridden soldiers, Montgomery and Stone, and eventually show how they redeem themselves by overcoming their depressing background and circumstances.

Montgomery is basically a putz who can’t accept the fact that his former girlfriend has dumped him and is now engaged to someone else (how many sad-sack soldiers do you know who would actually show up at an ex-girlfriend’s wedding intoxicated and wearing unwashed military fatigues?). The implication of course is that somehow, due to being traumatized in Iraq, he would end up acting that way. The contrived wedding scene is designed to show Montgomery at his lowest moment–after acting in such a boorish manner, he can now redeem himself by lending a helping hand to Olivia (Samantha Morton), the widow who he recently notified that her husband had been killed in action.

Similarly, Captain Stone also has self-esteem issues. On the surface, his by-the-book demeanor masks a deep self-hatred. This is manifested in his constant skirt-chasing and avoidance of any meaningful relationships with women. The basic question arises: would the Military actually have put someone like Captain Stone in charge of an Army Casualty Notification Unit (i.e. someone so broken and negative?). I would suggest that such a negative character is a complete exaggeration anyway, designed merely to create dramatic scenarios where none would exist truly in reality. But even if such a character existed, he would probably be the last chosen by the military to head a Casualty Notification Unit.

It takes a good deal of time before the central conflict comes to a head between Stone and Montgomery. And that is basically Montgomery believes in being a little more sensitive when notifying the next of kin as opposed to Stone who wants to follow ‘procedures’. That’s about the essence of the conflict between the two principals and when they finally confront each other, it’s not much of a payoff. The sub-plot involves Montgomery trying to start things up with Olivia–his decision to not make the moves on her is designed to show that he’s a ‘good guy’ after all and through his efforts to help her, shows that he’s attained a measure of redemption.

The Messenger also consists of various scenes in which the next of kin are notified of the deaths of their loved one’s. Given the variety of the people we meet, it’s probably the most interesting aspect of the film. Steve Buscemi’s performance is probably the most notable (for better or worse) of these characters, where he strikes Montgomery after being notified about the death of his son, and later offers a rather predictable apology.

I’ve read that the men and women who perform the job of the Casualty Notification Units are dedicated, trained professionals who by the nature of their employment, must set an example by living lives of great integrity (unlike the two troubled malcontents in ‘The Messenger’). The contrived characters of ‘The Messenger’ do nothing to enhance the reputation of these specialized units; rather, their opposition feels artificial, contrived, all part of a plot artifice that calls for the type of conflict one might expect to see in the movies but never in real life. While I have no doubt, ‘The Messenger’ was meticulously researched as to how these Notification units operate, it still feels like it was written by an outsider. ‘The Messenger’ might have gotten many of its ‘facts’ right, but unfortunately I could not believe I was watching a story about real people.

Amazon.com
If the army has a second-worst job (it goes without saying that combat is by far the scariest and most horrific), it has to be the one depicted in director-cowriter Oren Moverman’s The Messenger, which draws us into the lives of the soldiers whose grim duty it is to inform next of kin that a loved one has died in the conflict in Iraq. Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery (Ben Foster, best known for his recurring role in Six Feet Under) has just returned home, injured, decorated as a hero for saving several other soldiers, and only three months from being discharged, when he is assigned to Casualty Notification (described by his commanding officer as “a sacred mission”). Paired with Captain Tony Stone (Woody Harrelson), a tightly wound, by-the-book veteran, Will soon discovers just how excruciating their job is, as a series of wrenchingly powerful scenes shows them delivering the worst possible news to spouses, parents, and others. The responses vary–stunned disbelief, weeping hysterics, becoming physically ill, even spitting in Will’s face–but when Stone and Montgomery encounter Olivia (Samantha Morton), her reaction to being told she is now a widow is so dignified that Will, whose girlfriend (Jena Malone) found another man while he was at war, starts to quietly court her, in defiance of strict army regulations. The acting by those in both major and minor roles is uniformly excellent. Foster and Morton’s scenes together are tender, tentative, and poignant without a trace of cheap sentimentality; and as Stone and Montgomery gradually bond, the former confronts his own demons without the scenery-chewing that has characterized many of Harrelson’s recent roles. Bolstered by a script (by Moverman and Alessandro Camon) that also addresses the difficulty that soldiers in general have after returning home from the war, The Messenger, while certainly not an easy watch, ranks among the best movies of 2009. –Sam Graham

The Box Description:

Push a red button on a little black box, get a million bucks cash. Just like that, all of Norma (Diaz) and Arthur Lewis’s (Marsden) financial problems will be over. But there’s a catch, according to the strange visitor (Lagella) who placed the box on the couple’s doorstep. Someone, somewhere – someone they don’t know – will die. Cameron Diaz and James Marsden play a couple confronted by agonizing temptation yet unaware they’re already part of an orchestrated an – for them and us – mind-blowing chain of events.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1611 in DVD
• Brand: Warner Brothers
• Released on: 2010-02-23
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: NTSC, Widescreen, Color, Subtitled
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, French, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .15 pounds
• Running time: 115 minutes

Features

• ISBN13: 0883929037834
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting thriller (undeserving of so many poor reviews)
My friend and I spent some considerable discussion time trying to find reasons for so many poor reviews for this film. There is one thing we both agree on: The Box is an auditory focused film. In fact, with only minor adjustments to the script, it would make a great radio play. So, unless you are committed to paying a great deal of attention to every word spoken, you are bound to get lost and confused by the complex plot. In these times of short attention spans, this is an obstacle the film makers may not have taken into consideration… Pity, as the film is actually quite original and the story intriguing.

The Box is based on a 1970 short story “Button, Button” by Richard Matheson (also the author of the celebrated “I Am Legend”). A financially overextended middle class couple receives a package containing a box with a button. A strange and grossly disfigured man later visits their house and explains should they choose to press the button, they will receive $1mil, tax free. The drawback? Someone they do not know will die. The couple’s actions following the man’s visit, as well as the consequences of their actions, constitute the meat of the story. The why’s and the who’s are mostly explained, though some questions are purposefully left for each viewer’s imagination to tackle. The performance is satisfactory from all leads, except Cameron Diaz. She overacts in every scene, to the point of becoming a distraction. Her casting played a major part in my downgrading the rating to 3.5 stars.

If you feel you can ignore Diaz and focus on every word of dialogue, you will be rewarded with some original thinking and a somewhat creepy film. I was entertained.

Thoroughly enjoyable sci-fi thriller…..
I really didn’t know what to expect from this movie considering the fact that Richard Kelly’s last movie, “Southland Tales,” kind of left a bad taste in my mouth. But upon the finished viewing of his latest film, “The Box,” I think he has returned to the form that made me fall in love with “Donnie Darko.” What a totally cerebral experience. A movie that jumps from a military experiment gone array to a noir thriller to a bout of existential looks at the causes and effects of free will and finally to a bit of theological looks at life after death. This movie completely and unequivocably held my attention throughout as any great director can do with a fantastic story. I’ve read quite a lot of reviews that just bomb this movie due to its confusing plot but I, for one, believe that this is highly enjoyable cinematic experience. I couldn’t recommend this movie more.

A Mystery That Will Push Buttons
“The Box” is one of those films where a lot of adjectives are necessary. It’s taut and suspenseful, but it’s also metaphysical, ponderous, cerebral, unexplainable, and above all, preposterous. It goes in all different directions, sometimes caught up in circles, sometimes taking detours, sometimes going completely off course. It’s a bizarre, unpredictable story of intrigue and paranoia, continuously twisting and turning, pushing the limits of comprehension with a slew of seemingly unrelated concepts; we begin with a button and a suitcase full of money, but this soon gives way to spiritual quandaries and sinister science fiction subplots, the latter of which involves radio signals from Mars, physical disfigurements, and hordes of mind-controlled drones with bleeding noses. There’s even an ongoing social experiment, which could be indicative of a morality play.

Based on Richard Matheson’s short story “Button, Button” and its 1986 “Twilight Zone” adaptation, “The Box” takes place in Richmond, Virginia in 1976, and I honestly don’t know whether or not that’s a significant plot point. We meet Norma and Arthur Lewis (Cameron Diaz and James Marsden), a cash-strapped suburban couple who awaken one morning to find a plainly wrapped package left at the front door. Inside is a black wooden box topped with an encased red button. Neither one knows what to make of it until receiving a visit from the mysterious Arlington Steward (Frank Langella), who, for as yet unknown reasons, is missing the left side of his face. If the Lewis’ decide to unlock the box and push the button, he explains, two things will happen: They will be given $1 million dollars in cash, and someone they don’t know will die.

Will one of them push the button? It’s not as if they couldn’t use the money. Norma, a literature professor, learned that her school will no longer provide free tuitions for children of the faculty, which doesn’t bode well for her son, Walter (Sam Oz Stone). She also has a severely damaged foot in need of repair. Arthur, a NASA scientist involved in the creation of a Mars camera, is no longer being considered for the astronaut program because he failed the psychological exam. But the fact remains: Their financial security will come at the expense of ending someone else’s life. Norma tries to reason that it may be a death row inmate. Arthur tries to reason that it may be their neighbor or a baby. Heck, it may even be himself or their son. How well does she know either one of them? How well do they know her?

I’m not going to reveal whether or not the button gets pushed. I will say that, from this point on, the story ventures into even stranger territory, befuddling itself with inexplicable paranormal occurrences, gateways that may or may not lead to salvation, deeply rooted scientific conspiracies, motel rooms with maps pinned to the walls, secret wind tunnels, and a brief discussion of Sartre’s vision of hell. Who is Arlington Steward? Who are the people walking around with nosebleeds? If the box is capable of being programmed, then why are there no mechanisms inside it? What’s the significance of a murder that has a man on the run? Does Arthur’s Mars-related research have anything to do with what’s going on? Does Norma’s damaged foot?

As to whether or not all the above questions are answered, I’m not entirely sure. Writer/director Richard Kelly clearly has his own ideas about logical story patterns and how they should be followed. And yet, there is something to be said for creating a sense of apprehension out of nothing at all; if you can engage the audience in spite of a cumbersome plot, if you can keep them hooked by continuously building tension, then you’ve made a successful film. “The Box” may be a confusing mess, but it’s also one of the most absorbing mysteries I’ve seen all year. The plot can be deconstructed any number of ways, but I suspect we’re not supposed to learn so much as experience. And we do. For a film that’s neither believable nor understandable, that’s quite an achievement.

The ending unfolds in yet another display of twisted logic, and it culminates in a final shot that brings up an entirely new series of questions. What’s the message “The Box”? That damnation can only be avoided by resisting temptation? That humanity must be willing to sacrifice for the greater good in order to survive? That existence as we know it is just a temporary state and death is a period of transition? Or is it that there isn’t a message at all, that the whole thing is just an exercise in psychological thrills? I know Kelly is aiming for something here, but unfortunately, I have no idea what that might be. No matter - what I appreciated most was the film’s ability to build suspense and maintain an air of mystery. That must count for something.

Amazon.com
Director Richard Kelly has crafted yet another evocative, spectacular, maddening film guaranteed to provoke passionate love-it or hate-it responses. Though far more straightforward than his previous cult favorites, Donnie Darko or Southland Tales, The Box is crammed just as full of stunning visuals and ambiguous metaphysics. Norma and Arthur Lewis (Cameron Diaz of Charlie’s Angels and James Marsden of X-Men) find a plainly wrapped package on their doorstep one day. Inside is a strange box with a large, red button–and if they press that button, explains a courtly but alarming-looking gentleman (Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon), they will receive a million dollars… and someone they don’t know will die. This is but the starting point for an increasingly creepy tale, featuring eye-popping wallpaper, spontaneous nosebleeds, allusions to Jean-Paul Sartre, overly attentive library patrons, boxes of water, warehouses full of light, and a bell-ringing Santa Claus standing in the middle of a road. Some of it makes sense, some of it doesn’t, but the person who’s going to love this movie won’t care. The Box’s true power lies in the slow accumulation of dizzying hypnotic images and a tangible sense of unease and anticipation. Kelly aspires to capture the beauty and terror of existence on film; even if he doesn’t succeed–and every viewer will have to decide that for himself or herself–his sheer ambition is remarkable. –Bret Fetzer

Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail Fullscreen Edition Description:

After a high-speed freeway chase puts Madea (TYLER PERRY) in front of the judge, her reprieve is short-lived as anger management issues get the best of her and land her in jail. A gleeful Joe (TYLER PERRY) couldn’t be happier at Madea’s misfortune. But Madea’s eccentric family members, the Browns (DAVID and TAMELA MANN), rally behind her, lending their special “country” brand of support. Meanwhile, Assistant District Attorney Joshua Hardaway (DEREK LUKE) is on the fast track to career success. But Hardaway lands a case too personal to handle – defending young prostitute and former drug addict Candace Washington (KESHIA KNIGHT PULLIAM) – and asks his fiancée and fellow Assistant District Attorney Linda Holmes (ION OVERMAN) to fill in on his behalf. When Candace ends up in jail, Madea befriends the young woman, protecting her in a “motherly” way as only Madea can.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2268 in DVD
• Brand: LIONS GATE HOME ENT.
• Released on: 2009-06-16
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish
• Dubbed in: Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds
• Running time: 103 minutes

Customer Reviews:

“Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes To Jail” is great!
“Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes To Jail” is great! This is how the story goes: After a high-speed freeway chase puts Madea in front of the judge, her reprieve is short-lived as anger management issues get the best of her and land her in jail. A gleeful Joe couldn’t be happier at Madea’s misfortune. But Madea’s eccentric family members the Browns rally behind her, lending their special “country” brand of support. Meanwhile, Assistant District Attorney Joshua Hardaway is on the fast track to career success. But Hardaway lands a case too personal to handle - defending young prostitute and former drug addict Candace Washington - and asks his fiancee and fellow ADA Linda Holmes to fill in on his behalf. When Candace ends up in jail, Madea befriends the young woman, protecting her in a “motherly” way as only Madea can.

The cast led by Tyler Perry (back in his roles as Madea / Brian / Joe), Derek Luke (as Joshua Hardaway), & Keshia Knight Pulliam (as Candace Washington) is great! The directing and story and screenplay by Perry (who also produced) (who also produced and directed and wrote the stories and screenplays to “Madea’s Family Reunion” (2006, also starred as Madea / Brian / Joe), “Daddy’s Little Girls” (2007), “Why Did I Get Married?” (2007, also starred as Terry), “Meet The Browns” (2008, also starred as Madea / Joe) & “The Family That Preys” (2008, also starred as Ben), he also wrote and produced “Diary Of A Mad Black Woman” (2005, also starred as Madea / Brian / Joe) is great!

The music by Aaron Zigman (who also did the music to Perry’s “Why Did I Get Married?”, “Meet The Browns”, & “The Family That Preys” is great! The cinematography by Alexander Gruszynski (who also did the cinematography to “This Christmas” (2007) is great! The film editing by Maysie Hoy (who has been doing the casting to Perry’s films since “Daddy’s Little Girls”) is great! The production design by Ina Mayhew (who has been doing the production design on Perry’s films since “Diary Of A Mad Black Woman”) is great! The casting by Kim Hardin (who also did the casting to “This Christmas”) is great! The art direction by Mark Erbaugh (who also did the art direction to “The Family That Preys”) is great! The costume design by Keith G. Lewis (who has been doing the costume design to Perry’s films since “Diary Of A Mad Black Woman”) is great!

This is an great comedy that is funny and heartwarming at times. This is another hit from Tyler Perry. Madea’s back and funnier than ever.

PERRY SCORES AGAIN WITH MADEA
MADEA GOES TO JAIL

I am a Tyler Perry fan and was completely excited when I found out that this film was going to be his next, based on the great play I knew it would be a great film. So it came to theaters and like I thought it was a hit so I knew the DVD would be excellent. Finally when it came out it was bought for my girl for her birthday and we all had a great time watching it. Perry is excellent at delivering heartfelt films with a bit of comedy thrown into the mix. Like before he succeeds here once again and delivers another marvelous film. Perry once again provides a well crafted drama/comedy that will have you hooked for sure.

There are two different stories going on in this film like most Perry films, this like the others blends both stories very well and even brings them together. One follows Madea and her legal battles as she escapes prisons grasp only to fall prey to it later. This is the comedic side of the film as you know and really makes this movie funny. Then we have Joshua Hardaway an Assistant District Attorney who just landed a case that puts him back in touch with a former childhood friend who he elects to help. Since he didn’t help at one time when she really needed it in their college days he feels the need now. Of course this does not sit well with his fiancé who has a bit of a secret her self. Of course this is the more dramatic side of things and it is classic Tyler Perry, excellent story with these ones.

Perry has always been an excellent writer and this shows exactly why he keeps churning out hit after hit. The script is full of great believable characters and full of emotion which only brings you into it. Of course his direction is great and keeps the movie moving along at a nice pace. Perry himself is great in three different roles and yes they are the same three he plays in all the Madea movies. Of course the lead character Madea is excellent and one of the most fun characters in film history and Perry as usual is brilliant in the role. Then there is Madea’s brother Joe is funny as always especially during the party scene. And then there is Perry with out a get playing Brian who is the family’s lawyer, and a member himself.

Derek Luke is great as Joshua and brings a real feel of emotion to the character and is very believable in the role. Keshia Knight Pulliam is absolutely brilliant as lost cause Candace who feels betrayed by Joshua over an incident [a really bad one] in college that led her to a life on the streets and prostitution. She may very well steal the show as far as the dramatic performances. Ion Overman is great as Joshua’s girl who does not understand his feelings about his former childhood friend. David and Tamela Mann as always are great as the Browns and bring a lot to the comedic side of this film. Every one in this film did a great job and really bring it on this film. But if there is any one who is also up for show stealer it is Sofía Vergara as T.T. who Perry fans may recognize from the “Meet The Browns” film. Her character is the craziest/funniest serial killer of all time, I loved it.

This is one of the better releases thus far and is very much worth your money, this is a great movie. Tyler Perry is a great filmmaker and an even better writer so you should check this out. This is a great film that we all truly liked here at the house so I assure you that you will to. Go out and buy this now or at the very least rent it tonight because you will like it. And for those who are haters just look at the numbers, this is a number 1 hit baby.

Solid Tyler Perry
The antics of Madea in and out of jail are ALWAYS fun to watch, but the story about Candy and her meeting Madea gave this movie the seriousness it needed to be solid. We’re given comedy and something to think about. And Madea does delightfully in jail, whether she’s in class or fighting that big blonde. 4.5/5 stars for a entertaining flick.

Amazon.com
Tyler Perry puts “the shut to the up” to his critics. Madea Goes to Jail is the fourth of his seven films to open at No. 1 at the box office. Even tween faves the Jonas Brothers and their 3-D Concert Experience were no match for Perry and his indomitable Madea, the straight-shooting, Glock-wielding grandma who put him on the map. A prolific playwright, Perry is a consummate showman who knows his audience, and Jail delivers what they expect from him: soul-stirring melodrama, boisterous physical comedy, and inspirational faith-based uplift. What it could use is more Madea, whose name is in the title, but who takes a backseat to another one of Perry’s mis-matched couples; Joshua (Derek Luke), a good-hearted up-from-the-ghetto assistant prosecutor, and Linda (Ion Overman) a lawyer and upwardly-mobile “princess,” who becomes threatened when Joshua is reunited with Candy, a childhood friend turned strung-out prostitute (Omigod, it’s Rudy from The Cosby Show!) Madea makes the most of her limited screen time. Whether scattering unwanted guests from her house, turning the tables on a woman who stole her parking space, or even leaving Dr. Phil at a loss for words, Madea brings it in all her rabble-rousing glory. She doesn’t actually go to jail until the film is well under way, but it’s worth the wait as she protects the incarcerated Candy from the jail’s strapping gang leader. Madea Goes to Jail little resembles the play upon which it is based (also available on DVD), but it comes to the screen audience-tested. Perry is not a flashy film director, but his reliance on close-ups is Tyler-made for the small screen. It is a testament to Perry’s newfound Hollywood clout that he can attract an actor of Luke’s caliber, as well as cameos from Judge Mathis and members of The View. He may joke in interviews about wanting to kill off Madea, but his and her fans needn’t worry. As a judge remarks about Madea early on in Jail, “She’ll be back. She couldn’t stay out of trouble if she tried.” –Donald Liebenson

The Universe: The Complete Season Four Blu-ray Description:

Journey back to the beginning of history on a mind-blowing adventure through space and time.

Using stunning HD graphics, THE UNIVERSE returns in SEASON FOUR to transport viewers past the wonders of our own solar system and out to the bizarre far-flung reaches of the cosmos. From death stars to ringed planets, star clusters to space wars, THE UNIVERSE uses new discoveries and more advanced CGI to help explain the mysteries of outer space. From wormholes to transporters, examine which elements from popular sci-fi movies could really exist; and discover how the universe is awash in all sorts of strange liquids, from oceans of methane to blobs of alcohol floating in space, and even iron rain. Watch and marvel as experts cook up ten ways to destroy the Earth, including blowing it up with anti-matter, hurling it into the Sun, and colliding with another galaxy.

This 3-disc special Blu-ray set features all 12 episodes from SEASON FOUR plus additional never-aired segments.

BONUS FEATURE: Featurettes ‘Meteors: Fire in the Sky’ ‘Comets: Prophets of Doom’

DISC 1: Death Stars / The Day the Moon was Gone / It Fell From Space / Biggest Blasts
DISC 2: The Hunt for Ringed Planets / 10 Ways to Destroy the Earth / The Search for Cosmic Clusters / Space Wars
DISC 3: Liquid Universe / Pulsars & Quasars / Science Fiction. Science Fact. / Extreme Energy

• Amazon Sales Rank: #786 in DVD
• Released on: 2010-02-23
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, Subtitled
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 3
• Running time: 564 minutes

Customer Reviews:

The 4th season is a little disappointing
The first three seasons of this show were really much better than the fourth season. In the fourth season they have gone much more
into speculation and sensationalism with much less real science.
Still, it is interesting and worth watching, just don`t expect too much from it.
Call it three and a half stars.

No joy for your HDTV!
Imagine that you work for the History Channel. Suppose that your job is to put together a DVD set for season four of one of your prestige shows; one that looks great on your HD network and really serves to highlight what an excellent network you have.

If you were this person doing this job would you:

A: Release this DVD set as anamorphic, so that when people watch it on their 47″ screen the image takes up all the screen and looks spectacular.

B: Release this DVD as non-anamorphic so that either people have to see a stretched version where all the planets are ovals instead of spheres (which they aren’t actually, but that’s another issue), or they have to watch it both letterboxed and pillarboxed in order to see everything in the correct aspect ratio?

If you selected B, I think the folks at History might have a job opening for you.

“The Universe”, the TV show, looks great when it airs on History HD and is really entertaining and informative. I love everything about the show, even if this current season focused a bit much on the “gloom and doom” aspects of space and not as much on space science. I have the first three seasons on DVD and love watching them.

But, well, they’re non-anamorphic and that’s just not acceptable. This will, as a result, be the last DVD set of this program that I buy until the folks at History wake up and give the show a proper DVD release.

5 stars for the show. 1 star for the DVD set.

Widescreen Finally!!!
I owned the first three seasons of this EPIC series on dvd and had been disappointed by the double black bars (fullscreen letterbox) presentation of this series. A quick fix was to change your zoom settings on your set or player, but this fix was quite awful in what seems to be lower than a 480i resolution.

This product on Blu-ray is awesome, it contains all 12 episodes of season 4 plus additional never-aired segments presented on 3 Blu-ray discs.
Episodes include:
(Disc 1) Death Stars, The Day the Moon was gone, It fell from Space, Biggest Blasts
(Disc 2) The Hunt for Ringed Planets, 10 Ways to Destroy The Earth, The Search for Cosmic Clusters, Space Wars
(Disc 3) Liquid Universe, Pulsars and Quasars, Science Fiction/Science Fact, Extreme Energy.
Bonus features include; Meteors: Fire in the Sky, Comets: Prophets of Doom.

The Blu-ray release of this series is truly wonderful in full 1920×1080 HD. This is a true widescreen release. The audio is presented in lossless 2.0 Dolby Stereo.

The graphics and special effects can be and most of the time are the best of any production I have ever seen. It stands alone in comparison to anything the BBC, NOVA, The Science Channel, or The Discovery Channel has ever created.

If you are interested in a mind blowing, educational, heavily entertaining piece of eye candy, then do not pass this product up.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel Blu-ray Description:

Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 03/30/2010 Run time: 89 minutes Rating: Pg

• Amazon Sales Rank: #305 in DVD
• Brand: Twentieth Century Fox
• Released on: 2010-03-30
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: AC-3, Animated, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Original language: English, Spanish, French
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish
• Dubbed in: French, Spanish
• Number of discs: 3
• Dimensions: .55 pounds
• Running time: 88 minutes

Features

• ISBN13: 0024543660194
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Customer Reviews:

Blu-ray: Hilarious and fun for the entire family! Solid PQ, lossless audio
When Ross Bagdasarian Sr. created the Alvin and the Chipmunks, I often wonder if he knew at the time of how popular those characters, their music and the animated series would be for American pop culture.

Popular for the music, it was in 1961 when the three went from being puppets to an animated show. Bagdasarian using his stage name Dave Seville, the music composer and father/caretaker of three talented chipmunks who tend to get into a little mischief. The animated series “Alvin and the Chipmunks” is one of those animated series that has been part of the childhood of several generations. An even more animated series continued throughout the ’80s and ’90s.

And as “Alvin and the Chipmunks has been a part of the childhood of children for five decades, for this generation of children, they are now getting acquainted by Alvin, Simon and Theodore through their animated CG films. And what a remarkable success the first film had been for Twentieth Century Fox as “Alvin and the Chipmunks” made over $361 million worldwide (the budget of the film was $60 million).

Needless to say, “Alvin and the Chipmunks” earned their right for a sequel and before Christmas 2009, the $75 million dollar sequel “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel” made even more money than the first earning over $442 million worldwide and now, this popular film which introduces us to the female chipmunks ala “The Chipettes”: Brittany, Eleanor and Jeanette and featuring more star-power providing the voices for the characters.

VIDEO:

“Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel” is presented in 1080p High Definition (Widescreen 1:85:1). Immediately, the first thing that catches your attention is the wonderful CG animation of the chipmunks and how they flawlessly work with the real life backgrounds and props.

Many scenes are shot outdoors and with very good lighting indoors that a lot of the detail can be seen in the trees, the plants, outdoor areas to the pores in the skin of the humans and of course, seeing the fur of the chipmunks with such detail. The film looks absolutely vibrant and detail is very good for this film. Skintones are natural, blacks are nice and deep and I saw no problems with artifacts, DNR or blurring.

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

“Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel” is presented in English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English 5.1 Dolby Digital Descriptiive Audio and Spanish/French 5.1 Dolby Digital. The film is dialogue and music driven through the center and front channel speakers. But there are special effects such as Alvin tossing a Wiimote into the TV, a wheelchair falling off Toby’s car and various sound effects like that. Surround channels tend to utilize the crowd ambiance much more in the film.

But since the film is primarily dialogue and music driven, dialogue is clear and understandable while the music definitely comes alive with the lossless audio soundtrack.

Subtitles are presented in English, English SDH, French and Spanish.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel” features the following special features:

* Munking History: 50 Years of Chipmunk Mischief, Mayhem & Music - (09:20) A special feature on the creation of “Alvin and the Chipmunks” and various clips of the chipmunks in animated format.
* Munk Music Machine - Allows viewers to select only the music-based portions from the film.
* Meet the Chipettes - (8:35) The Chipette voice talent Amy Poehler, Anna Faris and Christina Applegate talk about their characters and how and why Janice Karman created the Chipette’s.
* Rockin’ Rising Stars - (6:20) A featurette about the inclusion of the band Honor Society and singer Charice Pempengco into the film and their experience of working on a film.
* Music Mania - (9:02) The making of the music competition segment in the film.
* Meet the Stuffies - (3:08) The cast and crew talk about their experience working with the “stuffies”.
* Shake Your Groove Thing! with Rosero - (8:59) Choreographer Rosero and crew show off choreography for the song “Shake Your Groove Thing!”.
* Music Videos & Sing-Alongs - Featuring sing-alongs for “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” “We Are Family”,
and “Shake Your Groove Thing”.
* Music Videos - “You Really Got Me” featuring Honor Society & “The Song” featuring Queensberry.
* A-l-v-i-n-n-n-n!!! Album Maker - A feature that allows one to create an Alvin and the Chipmunks (or Chippetes) album maker. Your creations can be saved.
* Music In A Nutshell: Song Trivia - While watching the film, viewers can watch the film with song trivia.
* The Chipmunks: Behind the Squeaking - (9:40) A documentary like featurette about life outside of the movie. Talent and crew talk about their experience of working with Alvin, Simon and Theodore.
* A-NUT-omy of a Scene - (2:39) How the stuffed animals are used for the choreography portions on the film to help guide the animators and the talent.

EXTRAS:

“Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel” comes with a DVD and a digital copy of the film. The DVD is presented in widescreen 1:85:1, English 5.1 Dolby Digital, English 5.1 Dolby Digital Descriptive Audio, Spanish and French Dolby Surround. Subtitles are in English SDH, Spanish.

The digital copy works with portable Media Players and works with iTunes.

JUDGMENT CALL:

I grew up with “Alvin and the Chipmunks” and can easily remember watching the television series during my younger years and have watched a fair share of the anime series on DVD as well, introducing it to my seven-year-old son who absolutely loves the first film.

Sure enough, we watched “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel” and he was laughing and enjoying the film. As for me, I enjoyed the humor of the film and granted, I may not be the intended demographic for this film, but as a parent, watching my son and seeing him enjoy characters that I grew up with as a child was definitely a fun, family moment. In fact, he enjoyed the film so much that we watched it for a second time (along with the wife) and continued to laugh at the jokes and hijinks… “the dutch oven” joke was just hilarious!

I definitely enjoyed the picture quality of this Blu-ray release and how alive the lossless audio soundtrack (especially from the music) coming through my speakers. Needless to say, there are plenty of music featured in “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel” and again, watching my son bop to the songs, I have no doubt that this film will do the same for the children watching this film. Also, for parents, there are plenty of special features and fun sing-a-longs and if you are commuting, you also get a DVD and digital copy of the film as well.

Overall, “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel” was an entertaining film which I enjoyed much more over the first film. The addition of the Chipettes was pretty cool and definitely enjoyed the animation and overall storyline for this sequel. As mentioned earlier in my review, there is a good number of star power in this film and a lot of of music covers. Definitely interesting to see “Chuck” actor Zachary Levi in a more comedic role and also to see Filipino singer Charice Pempengco jamming on the film as well! But of course, the star power behind the voices of Alvin and the Chipmunks and the Chipettes did a wonderful job. For Amy Poehler, Anna Faris and Christina Applegate, the three did a wonderful job.

If you are a parent looking for a fun, family film…you can’t go wrong with “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel” and if you are an adult who grew up with Alvin and the Chipmunks, you’ll definitely enjoy this film as well! Definitely recommended!

My first grader liked it.
It’s a kids movie. My first grader liked it. That’s worth 4 stars. Very high “cuteness factor.” Lots of energy and silly antics, of course (isn’t that expected from Chipmunks?). Appealed to her and she was happy w/ the experience. I thought it was a little long (7 yo got wiggly) and the story was choppy, but I’m an adult, so who cares? We saw it at a dollar movie theater, so I couldn’t feel bad about the value. Might be worth adding to a kids video library, but it won’t be a top ten favorite, in my opinion.

Only the Chipmunks & Chippettes can beat Charice!
The last time Charice came in 3rd in a contest she was 12. The Chipmunks pulled off an upset for a good cause - save their school’s Music Department. I really thought the Chippettes had it for a while. hehehe

Charice representing a rival school sings No One in the contest with the Cippettes singing background - great song! In fact the whole Alvin And The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is great - the little ones in my house play it constantly - great fun.

I like Charice not only for her talent but because she truly is a great role model for our children. She started singing in contests at age 7 to put food on the family table - literally! She has overcome so many obstacles to become successful and she did it the right way - a genuinely good person. For children over age 8, I recommend Charice’s new Pop Album; Charice - Charice’s new single, Pyramid [Featuring Iyaz] is #15 on the Billboard chart this week.

The Chipmunks burst right through the screen in Blu-ray - my kids and I just love it!!!! It is also on Standard DVD: Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (Single-Disc Version) AND Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Enjoy

Amazon.com
Dave (Jason Lee) isn’t exactly the typical father figure with an average family, but he cares deeply about his adoptive chipmunks Alvin (Justin Long), Theodore (Jesse McCartney), and Simon (Matthew Gray Gubler). While the performing life presents its own unique challenges, Dave always does his best to instill a sense of compassion and familial love into his young charges. When Alvin begins to get a little too caught up in his own stardom, Dave reminds him to share the spotlight with his fellow chipmunks, but Alvin gets carried away and ends up inadvertently injuring Dave on location in Paris. Aunt Jackie (Kathryn Joosten) steps in to look after the Chipmunks, but when her wheelchair rolls down a flight of stairs, only her irresponsible grandson Toby (Zachary Levi) is left to watch over the boys. An unemployed video gamer who lives with Jackie, Toby is completely unprepared for the responsibility of caring for the Chipmunks, but he agrees nonetheless. Starting school is not easy for the Chipmunks, and they are the target of bullying from their very first day. But Alvin eventually works his way in with the popular crowd, leaving Theodore and Simon to fend for themselves with little support from Toby. The school principal (Wendie Malick) is one of the Chipmunks’ biggest fans, and when the school’s music department is about to be shut down due to lack of funds, she decides to enter them in a competition that will save the music program. Enter the Chipettes–female chipmunks Brittany (Christina Applegate), Eleanor (Amy Poehler), and Jeanette (Anna Faris), who are seeking their own chance for singing stardom–and the Chipmunks’ dishonest ex-agent, Ian (David Cross), and the stage is set for some serious backstabbing competition. Craziness reigns as the two groups wage a musical war against one another, but in the end it all comes down to a question of what’s more important–stardom or friendship. As in the first Alvin and the Chipmunks movie, the music is strangely appealing despite being performed mostly in falsetto, the characters are cute, the action is comical, and the life lessons ring true. (Ages 6 and older with parental guidance due to some mild rude humor) –Tami Horiuchi

Video Description
From KIDS FIRST!: AAAAlllllvvvviiiin, Simon and Theodore are back in town, and this time they have some competition. The Chipettes! As the brothers get used to school life and try to get over the betrayal of their former agent, Ian, they discover that Ian is up to his old tricks with the Chipettes. It’s up to Alvin, Simon and Theodore to help the girls. That’s not easy to do when the girls just think they are just jealous. It also doesn’t help that the brothers aren’t getting along as well as they usually do. In the end they are reminded that there is nothing as great as true brotherly love. With catchy tunes and darling animation, the chipmunks will steal your heart and have you singing along as you are reminded about the power of love. This DVD is engaging and entertaining for both adults and children although some viewers might not appreciate the bathroom humor such as the bullies doing swirlies. It exhibits cinematographic and musical excellence. KIDS FIRST! Child Juror Comments: The storyline was good. It kept both older and younger audiences entertained. All the younger children and the teens laughed and commented that it was like their everyday life being on film, and parents were able to see it, too. The music was also great. “It’s interesting to see all the songs I normally listen to re-done with chipmunk voices.” I liked the acting, it was really good. I can only imagine how hard it would be to try to talk with something that wasn’t really there like the animated chipmunks.

Thoroughly Modern Millie Product: Thoroughly Modern Millie Sale-$11.99! List Price: $14.98 Amazon Price: $11.99 Click Here To See Amazon Sale Price Add to cart to see low price@ Availability: In Stock Usually ships in 24 Hours Free Shipping Available

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Not only is Thoroughly Modern Millie a zany romantic spoof of the Roaring Twenties, it’s a musical that won an Oscar for Best Original Music Score! Julie Andrews stars as Millie, an innocent country girl who comes to the big city in search of a husband. Along the way she becomes the secretary of the rich and famous Trevor Graydon (John Gavin), befriends the sweet Miss Dorothy (Mary Tyler Moore), fights off white slaver Mrs. Meers (Beatrice Lillie) and hooks up with a lively paper clip salesman, Jimmy (James Fox). In the end it takes a rich and nutty jazz baby like Muzzy (Carol Channing) to unravel all these complications, give a great party, and match up lovers.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2380 in DVD
• Brand: Universal
• Released on: 2003-06-03
• Rating: G (General Audience)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English, Spanish
• Subtitled in: French
• Dubbed in: Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds
• Running time: 138 minutes

Features

• ISBN13: 9780783276748
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Find out why this musical was good enough to go to Broadway
“Thoroughly Modern Millie” is a reminder that once upon a time in Hollywood singing stars made B-musicals. Here is a classic example from the career of Julie Andrews that reminds us her career was not all mega-hits like “Sound of Music” and super-flops like “Star.” Unfortunately for lovers of musicals Hollywood stopped marking movies like this, leaving singing stars with Olivia Newton-John with a smash like “Grease” and a bomb like “Xanadu” with nothing in between. I also have fond memories of “Thorough Modern Millie” because it was a movie that was shown to us in class in high school; the reason why we were allowed this privilege is beyond me, unless we were supposed to get an appreciation of the Roaring Twenties from this film (so why did they show us the original version of “The Blob?”).

Our flapper heroine is Millie Dillmount (Andrews), who has decided to be a “mod” and turned in her long curls for a stylish bob. Her goal in life is to marry her boss and after interviewing several possibilities she hits the jackpot with Trevor Graydon (John Gavin), who hires her as his stenog and calls Millie “John” (as in “Johnny on the spot”). Millie likes young Jimmy (James Fox), who impresses her by inventing a new dance called the Tapioca and being a swell kisser, but he is poor and Millie has her ambitions. Millie’s best gal-al is Miss Dorothy (Mary Tyler Moore), who is sweet, innocent, and has lots of curls.

However, the life of Millie and her friends are caught between two imposing characters. At the hotel for young women where Millie lives there is Mrs. Meers (Beatrice Lillie), who is always looking out for young girls who are “all alone in the world,” like Miss Dorothy, who could be of use to a Chinese White Slavery ring. But Millie also encounters an unstoppable force for life in the person of the irrepressible Muzzy (Carol Channing), who lives the good life at her Long Island “Cottage” estate and pops up at key moments throughout the narrative.

The movie is not a great musical, mainly because it does not have any really great songs (as evidenced by the fact that the current Broadway musical has almost entirely new songs), but it is still great fun. Director George Roy Hill takes advantage of Andrews’ comic flair and the film has great fun with her double takes and comic title cards as Millie periodically comments on the proceedings. The movie does employ stereotypes of the Chinese, but you have to admit these are balanced between the comic relief of Mrs. Meers’ henchmen (Jack Soo and Pat Morita) and the wise old Tea (Philip Ahn).

“Thoroughly Modern Millie” won an Oscar for music and Channing was nominated for supporting role (she won a Golden Globe for her efforts, were clearly tailored to her style). But Lillie is a delight as well and I personally enjoy Gavin’s mock-heroic performance. Moore just has to look sweet, although she does get to say a bad word (!), and Fox is charming although clearly too young for Andrews. Unfortunately the debacle of “Star” pretty much derailed Andrews’ musical career in Hollywood, which is a loss because the comic flair she shows here is the same that she showcased in films like “Victor, Victoria” a couple of decades later. The good news is that the Broadway show will bring this film back to the public’s notice; I am sure that is the reason I have spent the morning watch the film on TV.

Thoroughly Entertaining Millie
Julie Andrews. Carol Channing. Mary Tyler Moore. Beatrice Lillie. What a cast!

THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE (TMM) is a hoot. Director George Roy Hill keeps the pace fast and the mood light. He has Julie Andrews look into the camera often for funny effect. Usually a silent movie card is flashed onscreen when she does this, telling the audience Millie’s thoughts (”Her beads hang straight.”)

The characters are broadly drawn, which makes the movie fun. Beatrice Lillie is the arch-villainess, and her severe makeup and beehive hairdo are hilarious. Mary Tyler Moore strikes the right chord as the virginal Miss Dorothy.

There are several highlights for me: The opening number when Millie changes from ‘plain Jane’ to ‘thoroughly modern’; any time a character has to dance in the tempermental elevator to make it go up or down; “Jazz Baby” with Carol Channing.

About the disc: The print of TMM doesn’t look that good. The movie was released in 1967, so it’s over 35 years old. Some of the special-effects shots (even the wipes and transition scenes) look grainy. The colors could be more vibrant. This is probably the best print in existence, still one wishes the quality were better. The sound tended to ‘peak’ in sections too.

TMM fans will be happy to know that the overture and intermission music have been restored.

TMM is a funny, entertaining, old-fashioned film with great performances. Julie Andrews seems to be having a great time vamping it up. Enjoy it!

“On the FAT side!!!”
Even aside from her once-perfect voice, Julie Andrews has an amazing dry comic gift that is maybe akin to genius, and it never got a better showcase than in THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE. If you don’t get it, you don’t get it, but there are indeed many, many people who cannot even think of her facial expressions when she turns to the camera in this Twenties spoof just before her thoughts are flashed onscreen in intertitles without becoming helpless with laughter, and I confess to be one of them. This is the fullest chance she ever got to strut her comic stuff (especially when she decides to become “positively FATAL!”).

There are many problems in this George Roy Hill spoof: its overlength, its bizarre plot excursions ( Julie at one point announces she has to sing “Trinkt Le Chaim” at a Jewish wedding which she does for no possible reason other than no one previous ever possibly IMAGINED what this song would sound like sung by her), and Carol Channing does overdo it as Muzzy (when she gets shot out of a cannon, you want to duck). But, it has one of the world’s alltime best running sight gags (an elevator that works only if you dance in it), Mary Tyler Moore’s peerless attempt to do the dance known as “the Tapioca,” which practically stops the entire show, and finally Beatrice Lillie’s famously hilarious performance as Mrs. Meers. Casting Lillie, the absolute unquestioned master of dry British comedy, against Julie Andrews was nothing short of inspired, and when Lillie attempts to figure out which of many cups of tea has a sleeping drug hidden in it the movie somes close to comic genius.

Bourne Identity Single-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo Description:

Racing to unlock the secret of his own identity, amnesiac operative Jason Bourne discovers the deadly truth: he’s the government’s number one target, a $30 million weapon it no longer trusts. Academy Award® winner Matt Damon stars in this super-charged, thrill-a-minute spectacular loaded with “non-stop action!” (Bill Zwecker, FOX-TV)

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2100 in DVD
• Brand: Universal
• Released on: 2010-01-19
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
• Formats: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dual Disc, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, French, Spanish
• Dubbed in: French, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 119 minutes

Features

• ISBN13: 0025192059056
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Customer Reviews:

High quality Bourne Identity Blu-ray/DVD combo
I bought all three Bourne Blu-ray/DVD combo movies. All three of them play very well on my Blu-ray player. The picture and sound are fantastic. I cannot find any flaws or problems, and I am so happy to be able to get affordable Bourne Blu-ray movies.

The Bourne Identity (Blu-ray)
Movie - 4.0

I was always reluctant to see these movies because I was unsure of Matt Damon’s ability to star in a spy thriller, until I saw The Departed a couple of years ago. Needless to say, when I finally gave these movies a chance, Damon did not disappoint me one bit as Jason Bourne. As the “setup” or “opening act” to the eventual series I feel the movie did a very good job portraying Bourne as a character who is lost in the machinations of what his superiors had created — the ultimate weapon. It actually reminds me a bit of Rambo and all those other “super soldier” stories where high honchos get greedy, make themselves a weapon of immense power, but then get bitten in the asses BY that very same weapon they’ve come to abuse after so much time. In particular, I really enjoy the growth and gradual re-humanizing of Bourne through his relationship with Marie. The acting, script, and screenplay all feel very genuine and down-to-earth in comparison to a lot of other films of the same genre (consisting mostly of the Bond movies, with the exception of Daniel Craig’s, which are stellar in their own right, but that’s for another review). The only problem I have is the length. I like long movies, as I feel they have greater potential for character empathy or more epic storytelling. Thank the movie gods they made 2 more films, though. Top this commendable story with some great cinematography, shooting locales, and actions sequences, and you’ve got a very entertaining piece of spy thriller here.

Video - 4.0

Universal presents The Bourne Identity in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 using the VC-1 encode. It’s a pretty good transfer overall. Colors and contrast were spot-on for the most part with a good amount of detail in blacks and some very nice vibrancy, especially in scenic shots. However, I noticed quite a few instances of grain and artifacts (lots of them) popping up every now and then, and I think a few shots made colors and skin tones look a tad smudgy, but it’s hard to tell with my limited knowledge on film stock and the technicalities of video transference. Bitrates are steady from the high 20s to low 30s and the non-grainy scenes were sharp and DNR-less from what I can tell. It’s definitely not demo material, but much better than a DVD and other BD transfers.

Audio - 4.5

While the video is good, the DTS-HD track is excellent. Directionality is well-placed with subtle dynamic range and a good deal of LFE during gunfights and car chases. In particular, city-scapes with a lot of background noise do a very good job of creating a wall of sound for the viewer to become immersed in. John Powell’s score is also very well-enunciated to further add a sense of mystery and tension to the film’s pace. I’m especially fond of that whirring sound effect when Bourne starts having flashes of his training instincts kick back in. The DTS-HD track does a great job of having it circle the sound field. It’s almost demo-worthy, though I’d say it’s more or less just a case of the overall sound design not fulfilling the potential. Again, thank goodness for the sequels.

Extras - 4.5

The special features consist of the usual types in commentaries, interviews, and making-of vignettes, though what caught my eye the most were the interview with Robert Ludlum (who unfortunately never got to see his creation on the big screen before his death) and the snazzy looking U-Control feature. It may seem like a silly add-on, but I personally find it to be a every entertaining trinket that compliments the nature of the Bourne franchise very well. It’s like being the head of an espionage group and having this (almost) high-tech, virtual clipboard full of factoids and information to help tell the story as it progresses. It’s probably not as spectacular as I make it out to be, but take that into consideration if you ever try using it. And then there’s the flipper feature. I personally don’t care to have a copy of a movie in SD since Blu-ray obviously blows it away. But if you travel a lot without a Blu-ray player or just want to show your friends the difference in A/V quality, then more power to you. It beats a digital copy, I suppose, though I would worry about how easily prone to scratches and fingerprints the disc would be.

Overall - 4.5

For the “starter” of the bunch, The Bourne Identity is a very entertaining jump into the, then-weakening, spy/thriller genre. It looks really good and sounds great on Blu-ray. Extras are plentiful and entertaining, and you even get a copy of it on SD (minus the BD cover art seen on the Box Set’s version, unfortunately). It’s definitely worth the upgrade from DVD. And while I’ve not seen it on HD-DVD, I would guess the increased bitrate and shift from Dolby Digital Plus to a DTS-HD track is a no-brainer. If you’re not looking to buy the Trilogy Box Set because of its usually outrageous price (thank goodness I had Rewards Zone coupons at the time), then the single release might be a good decision if you’re willing to sacrifice disc art.

Love the movie, Don’t like that it is a flipper
I was a little disappointed that this is a flipper disc. I would have been happier if it was just a Blu-ray with the cover art. I have the standard dvds and wanted blu-ray. The audio is outstanding on my HT. Great price so I can live with it.

The Adventures of Robin Hood Blu-ray Description:

THE SHERWOOD FOREST OUTLAW AND HIS MEN SAVE KING RICHARD ANDMAID MARIAN FROM PRINCE JOHN AND SIR GUY.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #339 in DVD
• Brand: Warner Brothers
• Released on: 2008-08-26
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, Dubbed, Original recording remastered, Subtitled, Full Screen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, French, Spanish
• Dubbed in: French, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 102 minutes

Features

• Aic tale of Sherwood Forest. Robin Hood robs the rich to aid the poor, tries to rid England of Prince John’s tyranny and gain the hand of the lovely Maid Marian.Running Time: 101 min. Format: BLU-RAY DISC Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: NR Age: 012569798397 UPC: 012569798397 Manufacturer No: 1000019042

Customer Reviews:

Flynn’s Greatest on DVD at Last!
The pinnacle of Errol Flynn’s string of swashbuckling adventures…The most expensive film Warners had ever made (until 1938), and in glorious Technicolor, to boot…The film with the most cherished of Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s many film scores…The film that literally set the standard for every ‘Robin Hood’ and ‘Knighthood’ movie since…One of the greatest films, not only of the 1930s, but of all time…THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD is, in EVERY sense of the word, a CLASSIC, and the new DVD edition is LONG overdue!

The story of Sherwood Forest’s favorite bandit had been a movie staple since silent films (Douglas Fairbanks’ acrobatic 1922 version was regarded as one of his finest roles), and the WB, riding high on a string of hits by Fairbanks’ younger and sexier successor, Errol Flynn, knew they had all the elements in place to create a grand entertainment that no other studio could match!

Originally intended for James Cagney, the property had languished for three years, until Errol Flynn exploded onto the scene, and the studio knew they had the actor ‘born’ to play the role. Not wishing to run into legal problems with United Artists, who’d produced the 1922 film, an original script, incorporating elements of “Ivanhoe”, ancient legends, medieval ballads, a popular 19th century stage production, and a bit of Howard Pyle, was written by Norman Reilly Raine and Seton I. Miller (with some uncredited assistance by Rowland Leigh). Casting nearly all of their “British Colony” in speaking roles, the studio brought back Alan Hale to reprise his 1922 role of Little John (an excellent choice, as Flynn and Hale had terrific rapport), casted rotund comic actor Eugene Pallette (Guy Kibbee was the first choice) as a gravelly-voiced Friar Tuck, and Flynn’s LIGHT BRIGADE costar, Patric Knowles, as Will Scarlett (David Niven was unavailable). As the villains, Claude Rains played the fey Prince John, and Basil Rathbone (whose duel with Flynn in CAPTAIN BLOOD was a film highlight) was perfection as the villainous Sir Guy of Gisbourne, Maid Marion’s Norman suitor, and Robin’s arch-nemesis. In the role of Marion, could anyone OTHER than Olivia de Havilland have been cast? Flynn and de Havilland had already done two films together (and would do four more, after ROBIN HOOD), and their chemistry was so perfect that 1930s screen magazines were always hinting of a romance between the two (there wasn’t, despite overtures by Flynn; they remained simply friends, with Olivia and Errol constantly playing pranks on each other).

Not that the production was problem-free; the original director, William Keighley, was axed after the location shooting was completed, as the studio didn’t like his approach to the script and actors; Michael Curtiz, who had ‘made’ a star of Flynn, in CAPTAIN BLOOD, was quickly brought in, adding his sense of drama, lighting (the
‘light-and-shadow’ climactic duel between Robin and Sir Guy was a Curtiz ‘trademark’), and style. Both Curtiz and Keighley would share the ‘Director’ credit when the film was released.

THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD was Warners’ biggest box office hit of 1938, became a multiple Academy Award winner (with the most statuettes of any film that year), and it’s luster has only increased through the years, being named as one of the AFI’s 100 Greatest Films of All Time. This is a classic that TRULY lives up to the term, and is an absolute MUST for your DVD collection!

Brilliant !
There are a small number of films in the history of Hollywood that can actually be considered perfect. “The Adventures of Robin Hood” with the incomparable Errol Flynn is one of them. With over a hundred reviews already, there is little for anyone to add. I will, however, provide a brief summary as to why this film is indeed perfect, a term I use very rarely.

The cast–the greatest of all swashbucklers at the peak of his charm and athleticism, Errol Flynn– Olivia De Havilland, a lovely woman, a fine actress and an ideal partner for our hero–Basil Rathbone, oozing evil from every pore–Claude Rains, conniving and sinister as always–Eugene Palette, a jovial yet formidable Friar Tuck–Alan Hale as rough and ready Little John–and on and on–even the most minor character is just right.

The sets and costumes–absolutely gorgeous–the archery contest is just one of many scenes where technicolour shows its stuff !

The Directors–Messrs. Keighley and Curtiz could not have brought this legend to life more expertly.

The Music–unforgettable Korngold score.

Add all these ingredients and you have true cinema magic !

Warner Bros–the DVD is marvellous, and the extras on the second disc ( detailed in other reviews ) provide more treats for the lucky viewer. What a beautiful job !

So–if you have that dreary Kevin Costner/Robin Hood DVD, throw it on the trash heap, and revel in the real thing ! A triumph !

A “Classic” Restored
Although James Cagney was the original choice, Flynn proved to be the definitive Robin Hood. It is possible but unlikely that a better portrayal of the 12th century folk hero will ever be filmed. The screenplay is based on the works of Sir Walter Scott. The cast is superb. The direction crisp and sure, once Warner Brothers replaced William Keighley with Michael Curtiz. In the latest DVD version, both image and sound are restored to their original clarity. Apparently no expense was spared to give this film production values of the highest possible quality. Although renowned for his indelible portrayal of Sherlock Holmes, Basil Rathbone could just as easily play the villain which he does in this film as Sir Guy of Gisbourne. His climatic sword fight with Flynn allows both to match wits as well as blades as they make their way throughout the castle. This exciting sequence offers probably the best example of the talents of cinematographers Sol Polito and Tony Gaudio. Special credit should also be given to Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s rousing musical score. He also composed the scores for two other films directed by Curtiz and starring Flynn, Captain Blood (1935) and The Sea Hawk (1940).

Given the rapid development of various digital technologies, we now tend to take special effects in films for granted. Almost anything seems possible. Not so 65 years ago when The Adventures of Robin Hood was filmed. Curtiz and his crew had to solve all manner of problems to recreate not only Sherwood Forest but an entire medieval society. What they achieved is stunning. Indeed, forests have played an important role throughout centuries of British literature, from Beowulf to Harry Potter. Being a child when I saw this film for the first time, I was enchanted by the idea of escaping into lush green woods where I could pretty much live the way I wanted to with my friends. Not have a care in the world. I envied Robin Hood and his companions. Many decades later, lush green forests still have for me a special appeal which I really can’t adequately explain. Perhaps it all began with this film.

I am eager to observe the reactions of my grandchildren to the Two-Disc Special Edition. Of course, they will have little (if any) interest in the truly special features which include a commentary by film historian Rudy Behlmer, Warner Night at the Movies (1938) introduced by Leonard Maltin, a new documentary, Welcome to Sherwood (2003), outtakes and the studio’s annual year-end blooper reel, a “Robin Hood Through the Ages” featurette, “A Journey to Sherwood Forest” travelog, another documentary Glorious Technicolor (1998), two shorts: “Cavalcade of Archery” (1946) and “The Cruise of the Zaca” (1952), “galleries” which display historical art, costume design, concept drawings, cast/crew photos, and publicity, and the audio only of “The Robin Hood Radio Show” and Korngold piano session.

However, I expect them to enjoy this film almost as much as their grandfather once did…and still does.

Amazon.com essential video
That’s Errol Flynn looking dashing in the trees of Sherwood Forest in this 1938 swashbuckler about the hero who steals from the rich and gives to the poor. As far as the movies are concerned, Flynn is the definitive Robin Hood, and this Warner Bros. film directed by Michael Curtiz (Casablanca) and William Keighley (Each Dawn I Die) is a pulse-quickener with a perfect actor for every role: Olivia de Havilland as a beautiful Maid Marian, Claude Rains as an evil prince, Basil Rathbone as a snotty Guy of Gisbourne. A colorful, rich film that brings all the familiar, key scenes to life. –Tom Keogh

Amazon.com
Dashing Errol Flynn is the definitive Robin Hood in the most gloriously swashbuckling version of the legendary story. Warner Brothers reunited Michael Curtiz, their top-action director, with the winning team of Flynn and Olivia de Havilland (Maid Marian) and perennial villain Basil Rathbone as the aristocratic Sir Guy of Gisbourne, and pulled out all stops for the production. It became their costliest film to date, a grandly handsome, glowing Technicolor adventure set to a stirring, Oscar-winning score by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. The decadent Prince John (a smoothly conniving Claude Rains) takes advantage of King Richard’s absence to tax the country into poverty but meets his match in the medieval guerrilla rebel Robin Hood and his Merry Men of Sherwood Forest, who rise up and, to quote a cliché coined by the film, “steal from the rich and give to the poor.” Stocky Alan Hale Sr. plays Robin’s loyal friend Little John (a part he played in Douglas Fairbanks’s silent version), Eugene Palette the portly Friar Tuck, and Melville Cooper the bumbling Sheriff of Nottingham. Flynn’s confidence and cocky charm makes for a perfect Robin Hood, and his easygoing manner is a marvelous counterpoint to Rathbone’s regal bearing and courtly diction. The film climaxes in their rousing battle-to-the-finish sword fight, a magnificently choreographed scene highlighted by Curtiz’s inventive use of shadows cast upon the castle walls. –Sean Axmaker

The Powerpuff Girls: The Complete Series - 10th Anniversary Collection Description:

In the city of Townsville, the frustrated Professor Utonium is gathering all the ingredients to make a perfect little girl (sugar, spice, and everything nice). But when his lab assistant, a monkey named Jojo, causes the accidental addition of Chemical X to the mix, the Professor ends up with not one but 3 perfect, powerful little girls. It soon becomes obvious that Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup are not normal girls, they have superpowers and have not yet learned to control. The girls are treated like outcasts because they have inadvertently wrecked Townsville in a superpowered game of tag. To win the hearts of the people of Townsville, the girls are tricked into making a deal with Jojo who plans to take over Townsville. As the girls foil this threat and defeat an army of superpowered monkeys, the Powerpuff Girls learn that with great power comes great responsibility.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4799 in DVD
• Brand: Turner
• Released on: 2009-01-20
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Animated, Box set, Color, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 6
• Running time: 1743 minutes

Customer Reviews:

At last!
Speaking as a 16 year old Canadian male, I can safely say that The Powerpuff Girls was awesome. With its unique animation style, immensely likeable characters, deliciously over the top cartoon violence and razor-sharp sense of wit, this show served as a reminder that Cartoon Network was once great. But unfortunately, to say the series has barely received any worthy home video releases is an understatement.

Until now, that is.

After a few scattered, kid-friendly compilations and a lacklustre first season set, the complete run of the show is at last making it to DVD. Considering that the past home video releases have completely neglected the last three seasons of the show, and that a fair amount of notable episodes from the other three seasons have also been neglected, it’s great to see Warner Bros. is finally giving all of it to us in one handy package.

According to TVShowsonDVD.com, this set will be comprised of 6 double-sided discs containing all 78 episodes of the show and the previously released Christmas special, “‘Twas the Fight Before Christmas”. It’s worth noting that the final episode, “See Me, Feel Me, Gnomey” (notable for being an all-singing episode), has never been broadcast in the States (although it has been broadcast in Canada and the UK), so it will be interesting to have.

If you’re a fan like me, this set is an obvious must-buy. As for those who have never seen the show, it’s easy to get into: just look past the sugary-sweet femininity and you’ll find an incredibly sharp sense of humour.

UPDATE (01-23-09): Okay, so I got my copy. Each of the 6 discs represents one season of the show, and considering the sheer amount of material on each double-sided disc, everything is mastered at a pretty high bit rate. Of course, the episodes are all very lovely looking and sounding, as they’d better be, considering the animation style and age of the materials.

While I haven’t thoroughly looked at the special features, I can tell you something fans might want to know:

“The Powerpuff Girls Rule!!!”, that completely new episode animated in Adobe Flash and broadcast in the States the day before this set’s release, IS included here. You need only pop disc 6, side B into your player and look under the extras section.

So did this set live up to my expectations? Oh, yeah. Still highly recommended, narrowing of classic to clunker ratio in the last two seasons notwithstanding.

A Great Box Set With Few To No Problems
Oh wow I loved, loved, loved this show as a kid! And now every single episode is now in one pretty package!
I was ecstatic when I discovered they were releasing the complete series on DVD, And after I keep checking for a season 2 dvd and nothing came up, I feared that I would never see a powerpuff dvd again! Boy was I wrong!
The series set is a great thing for any powerpuff fan as it’s loaded with extras Including: The Original short that started it all “The WhoopA** Girls” the 2 original pilots from the “What A Cartoon Show” “Meat Fuzzy Lumkins” & “Crime 101″, A load of classic PPG promos, The christmas special “Twas The Fight Before Christmas”, a great all new 30+ minute documentary featuring interviews with Craig, Voice Actors, and other people who worked on the show, a never before seen in the states episode “See Me, Feel Me, Gnomey”, and the all new 10th Anniversary episode (Which was just aired this past monday in the states) “The Powerpuff Girls Rule!!!”
And much more including commentaries from Mojo Jojo and The Mayor.
My only gripes with it are that the DVD’s are double sided (Which is not that big a deal) “The Powerpuff Girls Movie” is not included in the set, and the menus on the DVD are kinda boring and theres a Cartoon Network bug on the menus (Which is also not that big a deal)

But beacuse my gripes are only small little things that don’t really effect the DVD I will still give this otherwise fantastic set a 5 out of 5 as this is one of my faviorte shows of all time! “And So Once Again The Day Is Saved Thanks To The Powerpuff Girls!” THE END

Finally, a proper send-off for the ‘puffs
Here it is in all its glory! Despite the random, haphazard packaging of episodes on older DVD releases with even menu options that were inconsistent, the Powerpuff Girls finally get the royal send-off in ONE PACKAGE.

So who are the Powerpuff Girls? They are the by-product of Professor Utonium’s desire to create girls using sugar, spice and everything nice except things go awry when he accidentally spills “Chemical X” into the concotion. The result: 3 little girls with super-powers. Blossom is their leader who is level-headed in most situations. Buttercup is the Powerpuff who will most likely charge into a fight without regard to consequences. Bubbles, despite her superpowers, is most easily scared and is the most sensitive ‘puff of the bunch.

The double-meanings and creativity of the episodes were a delight and it was something that I used to watch guiltily as a 20-something man. They were downright hilarious, though, so it was hard not to watch. The violence might be a little too much for some parents, but my 5-year old daughter knows that it’s fake and plays it up for the humor that it is. She hasn’t gone around the house bashing things up nor has she exhibited any violent tendencies. Still, parents be warned and decide based on your own lifestyle and viewing choices.

The only minor complaint that I have is that it doesn’t include the theatrical movie, but I’m sure that the lawyers can be well-paid and thanked for that licensing issue. Still, the movie is available for purchase separately, so no harm done.

The other minor complaint is the use of double-sided DVDs which naturally brings the price down, but makes the average parent a nervous wreck in terms of keeping the DVD surface clear of scratches.

Still, it’s nice to finally have the entire TV series out, including the 78th episode never aired in the States. My daughter and I are ready to adventure the complete ‘puffs!

From the Back Cover
In the city of Townsville, the frustrated Professor Utonium is gathering all the ingredients to make a perfect little girl (sugar, spice, and everything nice). But when his lab assistant, a monkey named Jojo, causes the accidental addition of Chemical X to the mix, the Professor ends up with not one but 3 perfect, powerful little girls. It soon becomes obvious that Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup are not normal girls, they have superpowers and have not yet learned to control. The girls are treated like outcasts because they have inadvertently wrecked Townsville in a superpowered game of tag. To win the hearts of the people of Townsville, the girls are tricked into making a deal with Jojo who plans to take over Townsville. As the girls foil this threat and defeat an army of superpowered monkeys, the Powerpuff Girls learn that with great power comes great responsibility. Set includes all 78 episodes plus the holiday special and fans’ favorite extras on six discs.

The Harvey Girls Description:

Musical western about a mail order bride who ditches her bashful suitor and joins a group of women intent on opening a remote whistle stop restaurant.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1834 in DVD
• Brand: Warner Brothers
• Released on: 2001-04-30
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 102 minutes

Features

• Musical western about a mail order bride who ditches her bashful suitor and joins a group of women intent on opening a remote whistle stop restaurant.Running Time: 102 min. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: WESTERN Rating: NR Age: 012569534827 UPC: 012569534827 Manufacturer No: 65348

Customer Reviews:

STUNNING! This HARVEY GIRLS DVD is “Metro-GARLAND-Magic”
Hats off to Ted Turner’s crew and their partners at Warner Home Video for a simply stunning DVD presentation of THE HARVEY GIRLS. The film looks sumptuous. A thrilling example of Technicolor at its most splendid. Although THE HARVEY GIRLS is a thoroughly delightful entertainment, there isn’t much substance to the plot. It seems to hardly matter, as the film’s major virtues are its great score by Johnny Mercer and Harry Warren, superb performances from a great cast, and of course, the peerless Judy Garland.

If anyone else had played the lead in this picture, it would have been long forgotten. This is Judy’s show, all the way, and everything about it is designed to show off her immense talents.
She is at the top of her form here…looking lovely, singing gorgeously, dancing with aplomb, and handling both dramatic and comedic scenes better than anyone else could ever dream to. The biggest highlight of the film is the mammoth eight-minute production number ON THE ATCHISON, TOPEKA, AND THE SANTA FE which ended up winning a Best Song Oscar. This sequence alone is worth the price of the DVD, and the Warner Home Video people give us an extra bonus by presenting the number separately in TRUE STEREO! Astounding!

The supplementary materials are vast and beautifully assembled. The commentary by recently-deceased director George Sidney was fortunately captured for this release, and his thoughts and reminiscences are entertaining and charming. There were four musical numbers intended for this picture which were cut before release. MARCH OF THE DOAGIES and its reprise and MY INTUITION are the three that were filmed, and they are included on this DVD, looking like they were filmed yesterday (actually they look TOO good to have been filmed in this day and age). The one unused song that was recorded but not filmed called HAYRIDE is among the more than 20 pre-recording sessions included on the DVD’s “Sing Song Express”. A captivating opportunity to be present on the Metro recording stages as they laid down these historic tracks. You can hear the starts and stops, the banter and laughter…It’s almost like being there. The disc also includes a trailer.

Hats off to Warner and Turner for a splendid job well done, a VAST improvement from the once-impressive laserdisc release, which is now unwatchable in comparison to this DVD. Add to this the VERY reasonable price of this movie, and it can’t be beat. Now the big question: “When will Warner give us MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, EASTER PARADE and the rest of the golden Garland catalog?” Let’s hope it’s soon. If this DVD is any indication of what those will be like, we are in for a treat.

The powers of wholesomeness
One of the most lavish of 40s MGM musicals, THE HARVEY GIRLS really shows off Judy Garland’s considerable comedy skills, which she rarely got much of a chance to work with, and also shows her off at her absolute most unearthly beauty. She’s terrific here, and she gets a great haunting opening solo from the caboose of a train and a great entrance into town with the famous “On the Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe,” one of the most excitingly staged numbers the Arthur Freed unit ever did (which is saying something). The rest of the film isn’t up to Garland’s level or the level of those two songs, although the hokey plot–about how the upright and starched Harvey Girls bring such an attractive wholesomeness to the Wild West that all the temptations of sin wilt before them–demonstrates pretty much the MGM moral ethos of the time. One added plus: a very young Angela Lansbury, as Garland’s rival for John Hodiak (ugh), looking ravishing in multicolored lace teddies and oversized picture hats.

Judy at her comedic best!
“The Harvey Girls” is my favorite of the MGM musicals. It has everything: a superb star (Judy Garland), a great supporting cast (headed by a young Angela Lansbury, with Ray Bolger and Marjorie Main), fantastic songs (featuring the Academy Award winning “On the Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe”), and a funny plot. Susan Bradley (Garland) decides to marry the man she has been writing love letters to, and travels with the Harvey restaurant chain to a town in the Old West to meet him. When she gets there, she realizes the romantic letters were written by his friend, the owner of the town saloon (played by John Hodiak). Susan decides to join the Harvey girls in setting up the new restaurant. When the town leaders try to scare the Harvey girls away because they are taking business from the saloon, Susan must help keep the restaurant in order. Angela Lansbury shines as the villainous saloon girl, as do Marjorie Main as the Harvey House cook, and Ray Bolger as the local blacksmith.

Amazon.com
Sometimes lively, sometimes pokey, this Technicolor MGM musical inspires mixed feelings in aficionados of the form–except on one point. No viewer will question why “On the Atchison, Topeka, & the Santa Fe” won the best song Oscar for 1946. This is a brilliant, inventive song given an epic staging. Director George Sidney pulls out all the stops for this wowser–even Marjorie Main sings, an eardrum-testing sound. The real-life Harvey Girls were waitresses imported to the far-flung Fred Harvey Hotels, civilizing oases along the railroad lines out west. The fictional Harvey Girls is set in Sandrock, where the traveling waitresses are joined by a sort of mail-order bride (Judy Garland) whose prospective husband is a bust–he’s a roughhewn rancher played by Chill Wills. Garland is in fine spunky form; unfortunately, her romance is with John Hodiak (as the owner of a dance hall), that uninspiring World War II-era lead. The film’s other great Johnny Mercer-Harry Warren song is the unexpectedly melancholy “It’s a Great Big World,” performed in a lovely trio by Garland, Virginia O’Brien, and the young Cyd Charisse. The tall, deadpan O’Brien also does a comic take on “The Wild, Wild West” while shoeing a horse. With kewpie-faced Angela Lansbury as a bespangled dance-hall gal and Ray Bolger high-stepping through a dance solo, there are enough good people on board to keep the wheels a-turning “all the way to Californ-eye-yay.” –Robert Horton