Exotic Malice

Classic D'Amato DVD Release Finally!!!
A Classic Joe D'Amato film. Part three of the Orgasmo Nero series. Exotic Malice, real title Sesso Nero finally receives its very over due USA DVD release. Released before my X-Rated Kult DVD on PAL format. The film clocks with a run time of 88mins. Little longer then the PAL DVD, which was 83mins.

Cover art is still wrong. Features cover for another D'Amato film, Papaya, Love Goddess of Cannibals. Original movie cover can be seen in the Beyond the Darkness "Easter Egg" on DVD.

The film has One, let me clarify that, One Special Feature or Extra. Its Deleted Scenes. Again, let me clarify the truth behind that. There actually is Only ONE Deleted Scene. But, now let me clarify again - the so called "Deleted Scene" is NOT from Sesso Nero. Its from another D'Amato classic, Hard Sensation. Also, its not a Deleted Scene from that film. They just took the scene from the film. That is all. Funny thing, besides it not being from the same movie - they didn't even try to...





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Revolutionary Girl Utena, Set 2: The Black Rose Saga L.E.

The Black Rose Saga
The second set of Nozomi's release of Revolutionary Girl Utena is just as good as the first. The video quality is superb, having used the recent Japanese remaster as its source. Lines and colors appear crisp. Motion is fluid and not choppy. The audio is also fantastic. The voices are clear. The music sounds especially beautiful in 5.1.

The case is a solid box with three thinpak DVD cases and a book inside.

Much like with Revolutionary Girl Utena: Student Council Saga Limited Edition Set, my only real complaint is the artwork used for the individual thinpaks and the menus. I understand that Nozomi was trying to make the cases look classy, and for the most part, they succeed. I'm just a little disappointed with the thoughtless rehashing of old and somewhat mediocre artwork. The outer box features two of the twelve beautiful images done for the Japanese Utena releases. I had hoped that they...

could have been perfect,but....
Let's get the bad part of this release out first. I could overlook the sticker on the booklet(that must have corrected a misprint that Nozomi Entertainment had made), but there was a HUGE mistake on the DVDs themselves. When you play the discs(all three of them), the menus say "Student Council Saga" in the background. The episodes themselves are still the correct ones, but the menus are obviously not. Usually, Nozomi's anime releases are top notch and error free, so this was kind of a shock. Hopefully they will be more careful with the third set.

The video quality of this remastered release is as good as on the first set. The extras are awesome as well. :)
My favorites were definitely the interview with Kunihiko Ikuhara, and the booklet. The booklet is full of stuff that a Utena fan(atic) will find interesting. The artwork section is bigger this time(there's both a "Character Art Gallery" and a "Key Art Gallery" included), and is full of promo...

Nozomi keeps up the good work on this gorgeous re-release
This box set corresponds to the Black Rose saga of the story. The packaging features beautiful artwork (don't forget there is another piece of art on the back of the box; it's hidden under a promotional flyer!) and a booklet with interviews and series information. The show: the video is much more crisp than the previous release; the colors are wonderfully vibrant. Some elements were retouched or re-drawn, and a noticeable addition involves what's inside the coffins in the basement of Nemuro Hall! The Dolby 5.1 audio is much appreciated, especially in scenes featuring music, environmental sound effects, and the duels.

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Electricical Safety in the Workplace-The NFPA 70E & You!

Good Product
Seems like a great introduction. I would recommend this to anyone entering the field. This brings out some of the new rules.





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Little Johnny the Movie

Then and Now
It is simply a fun watching an animation of school kids mimicking the adults while smart ass Johnny commented the events well reflecting a brutal meaningless surrounding existence in picturesque Australia changed not much since an original B&W 1967 year anime version.

Today, probably, such a kid ought to be referred to a psychologist with all the records following him upon a life spin and parents could a little to do.

not for kids
do not let kids watch this. this is super funny and if you don't know little johnny jokes then you won't appreciate the humor.

Funny
Best funny movie. I will watch again and again. I love the little Johnny jokes. When is part 2 comming out?

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Saphho's Fire

Sappho's Fire A Real View of Aging Lesbians
This film presents a very honest multicultural view of aging lesbians in New England. Cameo by Roseanne Barr discussing her relationship with Mary Daly. The women share their histories and their expectations for the future.





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Dare To Cook, Chocolate: Colorful & Creative Molding Techniques

DARE TO COOK, CHOCOLATE
I am so pleased with this book! I have been looking for awhile for something that gave instructions for using different colors in molded chocolates and this one had it. It has a wealth of information and I have been like a kid with a new toy going through it, it's exciting. I highly recommned this book.

Practical Lessons for the Beginner
Great product. Easy to understand using simple tools and techniques. Offers a variety of different ways to make chocolate items and gives you suggestions that you can try on your own. Very helpful and creative.



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Thailand

cool
cool and good info but old. wish it covered more touristy spots. didnt provide enough things that differentiated it from other thai tourist films.





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Casshern Sins: Complete Series (DVD/Blu-ray Combo)

Buy Casshern... Enjoy Casshern...
"Kill Casshern... Devour Casshern..."

The Casshern franchise is one that dates back to the 70's with 'Neo-Human Casshern', with a four episode OVA called 'Casshern: Robot Hunter' later being released.

Then, in 2008, we got Casshern Sins, a totally different tale from the previous "Save the world/humanity!" themes present in the previous series's.

One day, an amnesiac Casshern awakens to a world flooded with Ruin- humans are dying off, unable to reproduce, and the once immortal robots are falling victims to rust. The world is on it's last legs, civilization as we know it is about to be wiped out.

There is, however, an odd rumor going about. If someone devours Casshern, they will regain their eternal life. And so sets off Casshern's journeys into the wastelands on his quest to answer- what happened to the world? Why is he not yet affected by the Ruin? Why does he seem to have a true immortality that even other robots in perfect condition...

Casshern Is A Visual Gem
Anime has come a long way in the past 30 years or so. Casshern Sins is probably one of the top 3 visually enticing animes I've ever seen. I was completely blown away by this show. Casshern is an android that awakens to a ravaged world full of ruined robots and very few remaining humans. He has no memory, but his enemies all want to devour him and are blaming the ruined world on him. He wanders alone trying to discover the truth and find the meaning of existence. The story is slow paced and very methodical. It has a very downtrodden vibe about it. But it's emotionally heavy and very thought provoking.

The animation is unparalleled and the voice acting is also great. The soundtrack fits the mood of the story perfectly. There are lots of interesting characters in this one as well. I am amazed by Casshern Sins. I can't say it's a favorite of mine b/c of the depressing mood of it; I like animes that are more happy. But ignore my personal preference and check it out. Everything...

A Work of Art
Wow, this series was simply amazing from top to bottom. This is definitely what I would call top tier. Every aspect of this show is well thought out and very well produced. The animation and background artwork is astoundingly beautiful with music perfect for each and every scene. The style used throughout is unique in the way it looks on screen compared to other anime. It is just a treat for the eyes. The story is amazing as well. All of the characters are complete and their stories told quite well. The overall melancholy emotion of the show fits well with the scenery and stories we are given to watch play out and are a proper homage to the 70's sci-fi feel to the show. The journey this series takes a viewer on is intense and yet very enjoyable. Overall this series is a treat in all aspects. The crew that put this together definitely get a thumbs up on this one, as their time and effort are visible throughout. Simply stated, this anime, is not just an anime series, but is a true work...

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Teens Beating The Odds

Very Inspiring for teens as well as adults!
I was looking for a video to show my sometimes unmotivated students. I teach in a very poor crime filled part of Chicago and I am blown away at how strong my students are, but sometimes I can see how hard it is for them to cope. Since the standardized test was coming up I was looking for ways to perk them up before the test and I found this awesome video. I can't wait to show it to my students. I truly enjoyed it!





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Polar & Subpolar Climates

Great for homeschool
This was an excellent supplement to our home school curriculum. It is designed for kids to understand. My son actually asked to watch it over again.





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Braveheart / Gladiator (Two-Pack) [Blu-ray]

Awesome bundle at a Great price
There were lots of concerns as to what this bundle was. Taking a chance, I pre-ordered it. It's actually 2 of the sapphire releases bundled together. So if you were to take Braveheart sapphire, remove the paper cover, then take the Gladiator sapphire, remove its paper cover, shrinkwrap the two together, and place it in a single paper cover. This is what you get. You get 2 double disc cases, the movies packaged separately. Not a single 4-disc case. No slim cases.

From what I can tell, the Gladiator version has a copyright of 2010, has a yellow UPC and appears to have the R2 code on the disc itself. This means you also get the re-mastered version, instead of the flawed old one.

Considering Amazon sells each individually for more than the bundle price, this makes a per-movie cost the least I've ever paid for a Sapphire release, and the lowest price I've ever seen for any Sapphire release.

Braveheart / Gladiator (Blu-ray) 2 pack review
I pre-ordered this 2 pack a few weeks ago and just got it today. I know there were a lot of people who held off on pre-ordering this, because it was unclear if this would include the special features of both movies, or if it would be a new packing of just the movies themselves.

I can confirm that the special features are included. It is a 4 disc set and each movie is in its own packaging. They're not in slim packs, either. What you get is 2 discs for each movie, in the original, full size blu-ray package. They come bundled in a slipcover, which is what you see pictured on Amazon's item description.

And at $18.99, this is cheaper than you could buy either movie individually. A great bargain.

Great Amazon Bundle
Just received my copy from Amazon, these are not slim packs but the Saphire discs. In total 4 discs in total, 2 for braveheart and 2 for gladiator. Hope this helps you in your decision.

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Characters, Metaphors & Similes

Roald Dahl and figurative language
I showed this to my 4th grade students after reading James and the Giant Peach. It was a great connection for them to Roald Dahl and the development of his characters. It was only about 15 minutes long, and it was entertaining enough even for my "hard to focus" students.





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World War Ii: 1942-1945 Part Four: A World At War

It is okay nothing I have not ween before
Perhaps I have seen too many world war two films , this seemed a bit worn maybe a different format in any case It was blurry . This is nothing I would like to watch again

6 years of war compressed into 27 minutes!
Even though it was a short commentary to cover so many things that happened during WWII, it was still pretty educational. This is something that will be good to show at a class in History at school, considering nowadays each period of class is not as long as it used to be. But first students will have to learn the geography of it all, as I know
unfortunately there are some would not be able to tell to you where Italy is located.

One of the best
This was one of the best films on WWII that I've seen, lot of facts that I didn't know before, very good narration.

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World War Ii: 1940-1941 Part Three: America & Japan

A greater BALANCE in historical coverage....
The NEW DIMENSION series includes the many crucial contributions which were made by American women and people of color This objectivity adds to (enhances) the overall quality of the collection. I would recommend this product to all who are interested in a great synopsis of this period in world history.





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The Hanging Gardens of Babylon & The Statue of Zeus at Olympia

Great short documentary
This video is educational and entertaining, recommended for students or teachers. Great way to see the world without leaving home or school.





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Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Part 5

Amazing conclusion to an amazing series!
Ok, so to date the final volume of the Funimation release of Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood part 5 has not been yet released, but the entire series finished airing in japan last year, so this is my review of the final chapter of the series.

Ok, I'm one of the rare few folks who started into watching FMA:Brotherhood without having seen the original series at all. To be honest, while I like some shounen series like DBZ, I do find the classic shounen anime cliches and tropes to get a little repetitive and when the original FMA series aired on US TV, I caught a few random eps and it seemed pretty good, but something about the show failed to hook me in. Fast foward to the present and I learned about the new remake series that came out in 2009 and thought 'whats the point?' and was intrigued at the premise that this series follows the manga series faithfully, which was reportedly a much better story than the original anime, which thru no fault of its own, had a very incomplete...

A Satisfying Conclusion
I don't think I can say anything about this series that hasn't been said before, so to make a long story short, this final collection of episodes is nothing short of epic. Quite possibly the most exciting thing I've seen all year.

As a side note, I give props to the English VAs. Emotions really start running high in the final stretch of the story, and the cast gives some stellar performances here.

As far as the actual product goes, the video and sound quality of this Blu-ray is on par with previous releases. If you didn't have a problem with Parts 1 - 4, you won't have a problem here. Apparently the source material wasn't animated in full 1080p, which can be apparent in a few places, but regardless it's pretty solid-looking throughout. The same goes for the packaging: holofoil cardboard keepcase housing an eco-friendly BD case with two discs. Also comes with four more postcards (art cards?) to add to your collection. The inner artwork might spoil the ending for...

EPIC ANIME HAS EPIC ENDING
If your a fan of FMA then watch this, if your a fan of anime watch this, if you like good stories watch this, if your alive watch this, if your dead watch this. Basically just watch this.

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Ukraine

ukraine
again not alot of relevance unless you have been there or are planning to go. Reliving the experience was great and made me appreciate my trip even more.





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Gateway To Addiction

No contrived teen actors !
I previewed Gateway to Addiction to be utilized with students in grades 7-12. Though some of the vocabulary was sophisticated, the narration was down to earth and well-read. The video was 17 minutes long which is perfect because it allows time for a teacher to prep the movie and for discussion/reactions afterwards. If used in the classroom, I would make also explain the research institutions and their reputation (e.g., Columbia University) as well as vocabulary. I would recommend this video for any teaching professional looking for a factual, realistic presentation of the known risk for potential teenage addiction.

Gateway to Addiction - Great Information for Parents & Adolescents
A great documentary with sufficient information, yet short enough to show during a presentation during a class or other event.



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Rome: Military Conquests

Pretty Good
Definitely NOT a deep documentary concerning Roman war, but it is a good overview of the major highlights of decisive battles. Worth the 30 minutes.





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Rogers' Rangers

thumbs up
Very informative segment. The references (journals and logs) used do a great job to support the perspective. The scenery is good and cinematography is much better in this segment than some of the others in this series (modern). My biggest regret is that it in no way long enough to do real justice.





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Gravity Waves: Einstein'S Messengers

Progress since I last learned of Gravity Waves
Okay, so I remember reading when I was younger about gravity waves. They seemed to be almost conjecture with research into them just beginning. So now, in this documentary, I got to see how much progress has been made. I had no idea that a gravity wave telescope existed. Really quite fascinating.





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D Day And World War II

Concise Explanation of D-Day
This short documentary gives a very good background to D-Day. I would recommend it to those interested in WWII. The historical footage shown contrasted with the current beautiful beaches of Normandy present quite a thought provoking contrast. Unlike some D-Day videos, this one does not hide the extreme sacrifice of life.

WWII series
If you enjoy historic war documentaries you will love it. If you do not, you will sleep through it. This has great interviews with people who were there and took part in special operations during the war.



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Lebanon War: 1982

synopsis of invasion of Lebanon
Film is from the perspective of Isreal, biased but factual. Unvarnished depiction of mass destruction of villages, killing of fighters and civilians, and a blitzkrieg through southern Lebanon to Beyrut. PLO fighters expelled from Lebanon, ending the campaign.





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Desert Adaptations/Aquifer Ecosystems

Desert Adaptations Video
I thought this was perfect for my 3rd graders. It would be great probably 3-5 or for EL learners. It has Vocabulary words and definitions that come up on the bottom of the screen when certain vocabulary is being discussed. It has a slower pace just right for younger kids, but it doesn't water things down. I rented it the first time just to check it out, but I plan on buying it. This one is a keeper for my 3rd grade science unit.





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Pearl Harbor & World War Ii

Great
Everybody especially children should watch this. History is the best way to learn about the past and how our soldiers fought the war and in great difference in how our government under Obama is fighting us!

light and fluffy recreation of events.
This docudrama was light and fluffy in it's recounting of the events of 12/7/1941. While it was a good attempt, there are better sources out there to get educated. Perhaps it's good for the intended target audience, which might be grade school children. I'm not sure.



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Korean War: Part 1 June-November 1950

Good effort.
This is a factual and informative documentary on the events leading up to, and the initial phases of, the Korean War. The use of lots of archival footage and photos is a real plus in the presentation, which is otherwise a little dry.

Anyone with an extensive historical knoledge of the Korean Confilct will find it interesting, but won't get anything new - anyone just learning about the conflict will come away with a good overall understanding.

If you're studying about this in history class it is WELL worth watching.

Politics and Generals
Essential information for the beginning of the Korean War (originally referred to as a 'Police Action'). Addresses both political and military information without an in depth discussion or details. The original footage gives a glimpse of the years to follow. Accurate narration that is well presented. Basics for those with no knowledge of the conflict.

Good basic overview
This is a good introduction or review for a class on the Korean War. It worked well in my high school class with about 45 minutes to watch the video and discuss some questions or write a quick essay. Not a lot of content though, so this should not be used alone.

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The Colossus of Rhodes & The Pharos of Alexandria

Great short documentary.
This video is educational and entertaining, recommended for students or teachers. Great way to see the world without leaving home or school.





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Six Day War: 1967

The expansion of Israel
That year Israel launched a preventive war against the main belligerant Arab states (Egypt, Syria and Jordan) destroying their entire air force, tank brigades and decimating their infantries. This resulted in more land acquisition by Israel since its inception giving more secure borders.





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Stars, Light Years & The Milky Way

No. Just no.
I wish that I could throw together 15 minutes of triviality and make a living doing it. But I have ethics that would prevent me from doing so. Draw your own conclusions. This is yet another effort toward the dumbing-down of American kids. It assumes their attention cannot be held for more than a few minutes. Not worth viewing.

info on the size of the universe
This is a great short documentary for people who are new to science of the universe. It doe's a real good job of explaning the real size of the universe. share this with your kids.



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Iran Iraq War: 1980 88

Cliff Notes Version of the Iran-Iraq War
Iran-Iraq War: 1980-88 is a brief documentary that provides an overview of the Iran-Iraq war in which Iraq invaded Iran over oil. This 8 year war claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people many who were civilians. There was prolific use of chemical weapons to include mustard gas and nerve agents. In the end there was no clear victor in this prolonged war as both sides lacked any effective military tactics and strategies.

Saddam Hussein, a ruthless dictator, lead Iraq's military invasion but he lacked military training, was a poor planner, and over-estimated his troops abilities. Additionally, he stretched his forces too thin by giving them too many objectives. Hussein was also known to execute generals who would retreat.

Hashemi Rafsanjani became the acting commander-in-chief for Iran do to his ability to simplify complex tactics. Realistically though the majority of Iranian fighters were poorly trained although they were more innovative than Iraqi...





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The Spanish American War: Birth Of A Superpower (New Edited Version)

Great Introduction Video
This was a really good video for introduction to the Spanish-American War. I used this video with my 10th grade American History students to introduce the war. The video provided a nice overview of the main events and kept my students attention with a better than average mix of actual footage and reenactment. The length was perfect for introducing the topic at approximately 20 minutes.

If you don't know . . .
If you don't know the political/military/colonial significance of the Spanish American War, this is an excellent 'learning video.' All aspects are simply explained and offer one other venues to follow. The information is well and logically presented. For those who do not know the beginning of the US involvement within the context of colonialism, this video presents the early sentiments of the post Civil War (US) era. The visual images and the narration combine for an interesting documentary. Well worth the time and offers those who would choose to know more with questions to be answered!

Excellent teaching tool
I also used this for my 10th Grade American History as well as an AP History class. It gives a great overview of the war and the actual footage is an added bonus.

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Journey Into Life: Human Reproduction

Very old footage
The recent date on this video must be the US distribution date, 'cause it was made in England in maybe the early 90's judging by the titling, music and imagery. There's some cool information in it, though it's very short - about 28 minutes as I recall. So please be advised before you spend the cash.

Good
I'm an educator and this is a wonderful video to show in class with the exception of the live birth part. I had to skip it for my science class.

Great summary from conception to delivery
This video contains the basics from conception to delivery of a new human being. Great medical knowledge explained in plain words with help of microscopy and digital graphics. Good source of visual information for anyone with interest on biology and human development in just 30 mins.!

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Roman Feats Of Engineering

I liked it!
Great info on some of largest Roman structures, aqueducts, baths, and roads. The documentary also goes over the importance of each in making Rome what it was.





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South Africa

Yet another Euro-perspective of Africa
This film does a good job of showing the geography but that's about it. I didn't learn anything from this film that WIkipedia or a GoogleMap could have shown me. The cultural and historical analysis is shallow and somewhat inaccurate. It gives a very rosy view of the people living there and completely disregards the complex history of colonization. It glorifies European conquerers and leaves out the many kingdoms that existed upon their arrival. If you want to learn about South Africa beyond the beautiful coastlines, stay away. This film falls short, no substance, no reality, and no detail.

A bit whitewashed
This short film is worth seeing for a basic introduction to a very complex country. It's a sweeping overview, and as such, is necessarily shallow. Nevertheless, a good starting point for getting oriented.

It's intended to present a positive view of the country and there are indeed many wonderful features of the land and culture. The one aspect that is simply inaccurate in the film is the portrayal of native rural life as "thriving". Yes, many people live in rural areas and practice their traditional way of life to some extent. But this is in the context of devastation. A post-colonial and post-apartheid legacy of shattered communities, unemployment, crumbling, ill-equipped schools, and an HIV epidemic belie the image of happy natives content in their rondavels.

By ignoring this aspect, the film misses one of most inspiring features of modern South Africa, the fact that the people are facing these challenges with courage, energy, and some degree of unity.



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The Great Whales

great but brief cover of many great whale species
a great but brief cover of many great whale species including the sperm and blue whales which are not covered well in most other shows





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Yellowstone Wolves: Territoriality & Clan Behavior

Beautiful photography
This short film was obviously designed as a teaching tool for school children. Even so, the photography is beautiful and the film very interesting. This film is work watching if you love wolves and Yellowstone.

An Epic Story of the Yellowstone Wolf Clans
I watched this video as part of the research required for my novel. The production is top notch, giving the viewer a window into the lives of the wolf clans who make their home in Yellowstone. An epic story is conceived as we follow the Druid wolf clan and their rivals, the Sloughs. I can't recommend this educational and highly entertaining film enough.



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Russian-Afghanistan War: 1979-89

Brief Overview of the Russian-Afghanistan War
Russian-Afghanistan War: 1979-89 is a brief documentary that provides an overview of the war in which the Soviets invaded Afghanistan to stop the spread of Islamic fundamentalism. The Soviets were ill prepared to fight a hit and run guerrilla war. Afghanistan is a mountainous country with rough terrain that is difficult to travel. Additionally, the Soviets brought heavy weapons which were not easily transported and not very mobile. On the other hand the Mujahedeen used weapons that were old yet very mobile and light which made them great for fighting a guerrilla war. Thousands of Afghanis volunteered to fight against the Soviet invaders. Rebel leader Ahmad Shah Massoud taught the Mujahedeen how to improve their fighting effectiveness by going from unorganized hit and run attacks to more effective and well organized attacks and ambushes. The Soviets were placed on the defensive. Massoud was an effective guerrilla fighter who defeated the Soviets in 9 campaigns. Even though the Soviets...

A Decent 20 Minute Documentary
This is a good summary of the Soviet Afghan conflict. It's good for those who know nothing about the conflict. It's not an in depth documentary.



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Yosemite: Inspiration For Conservation

Interesting and inspiring.
The film was very eye-opening and well-done. Very concerted effort by the powers that be to preserve this beautiful area.





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Wwi: 1917-1920

Disappoiting
WWI, 1917-1920 spends too much focus on racism. A program for the politically correct. For those looking for real historical view, a big disappointment.

Great Classroom tool!
This video is perfect in both content and length to use in my history classroom. It reinforces information I need my students to know and holds the attention of my students.



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Washington At Valley Forge

Washington At Valley Forge
WASHINGTON AT VALLEY FORGE
1VHS,
10 MINUTES.

INTRODUCES YOUNG VIEWERS TO THE BACKGROUND AND MAJOR EVENTS OF THIS CRUCIAL PERIOD IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
IT EMPHASIZES HOW IMPORTANT GEORGE WASHINGTON'S LEADERSHIP WAS IN ENSURING THAT THE COLONIAL ARMY WOULD WIN THE ERVOLUTIONARY WAR AFTER THE CRISIS.
(from tha back cover of vhs tape)





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Wwi: 1890-1916

Decent overview but flawed presentation and biased
This video is simply a broad overview of the "War to End all Wars" i.e. World War 1.
One must be aware that this series does not make any attempt to be objective the obvious slant towards the Triple Entente Powers is glaring and unneeded.
Also the Triple Alliance i.e. Central powers are not even fully mentioned as this series omits Italy from the Central Powers listing.
It is important for any new student of history to understand that the Triple Entente Powers (UK, France, & Russia) concluded an additional secret agreement with Italy, effectively nullifying their membership in the Triple Alliance (Austria-Hungary, Germany, & Italy) in exchange for the right to steal lands from Austria.

Good Introduction to WWI
I used this in my classroom to introduce WWI and the students were both informed and entertained. The length was appropriate for a single class, followed by a short discussion of what was seen.



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Tecumseh

Great overview of a great Indian Warrior
This is a good overview of the Indian's life. My 11 year old watched it to collect more information for a report and it kept her attention and told her a couple of things she had not read like there are at least 3 cities named after Tecumseh. I would have liked more info about his early life and the background of his parents. Overall a good short video.





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True Whispers: The Story Of The Navajo Code Talkers

Thank you. Ah-hyeh-heh.
The video wasn't an in depth documentary, but i was grateful for what had been made. I think we went far too long saying far too little about OUR people and OUR contributions in every conflict. Considering our history with the United States and newcomers, i think most would've expected us to turn a blind eye. However, we have a culture of warriors, love of our homeland, way of life and our families too. It's shameful there were so many people unwilling to acknowledge and appreciate that at the time.

Well worth watching
This was an excellent and balanced presentation of who the Code Talkers were and how they were instrumental in helping us win the war in the Pacific. Well worth watching about another element of WW2 history that was unknown until a few years ago. (Another WW2 piece of history that has only fairly recently become well known and honored is the Tuskegee Airmen.) Watch True Whispers and enjoy.

Brief recap of the history of heroism
This was a brief recap of the gallantry of group of people who gave their all for an America that was never really square dealing with them. It is the story of pride of purpose and individual dignity when faced with a challenge.

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World Reborn, A

A worthwhile series
This is the concluding episode of a six-part series called *Renaissance*, although there are only four offered here, and it looks as if each episode has been chopped down from its original 55 minutes to 28 (probably to accommodate college and high school courses). The series was made for PBS sometime in the `eighties, I think. It was at the height of the postmodern critique of white Western culture and knowledge, and there is a bit of white Western defensive anxiety perceptible in Ian Richardson's introductions to the episodes. Nevertheless, it's a well-made portrait of what most mainstream historians regard as the accomplishments of the Renaissance. Very little of what wasn't so accomplished about it is addressed. For example, the series is structured around five archetypal figures: the dissenter, the warrior, the artist, the prince, and the scientist. I couldn't help but wonder: Where is the witch? Or even the witchfinder, if a whole episode on women would be just too much to...





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Rigoletto

A WONDERFUL & CREATIVE NEW TAKE ON A CLASSIC !!!
This is an easy review: this is a great performance by all!
1) A new modern production and staging that truly works. Think Chicago and Al Capone ( mafioso) for the setting. Act One a Casino or club. Act Two a tenement house etc.
2) Add an excellent vocal and Acting cast.
3) Emma Matthews is a great Gilda with a lovely sound and a expert technique and she can act!
3) Alan Opie gives a magnificent portrail both vocally and histrionically. He is no Leonard Warren, Robert Merrill or Tito Gobbi; but again, who is today. He is wonderful.
4) Paul O,Neil is a fine Duke. He won't erase memories of Pavarotti, Kraus or Bjoerling but they are no longer with us except in recordings and DVDs. O'Neil can go a little bit around the pitch in the Passagio but it's a live performance and it happens infrequently. His general sound is lovely, lyrical and masculine.
5) Excellent and detailed directing by Elijah Moshinsky.
6) Experienced conducting by Giovanni...





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Two-Step Moves & Patterns Volume 7 (Shawn Trautman Dance Instruction)

Moves & Patterns - Vol 7
Moves and Patterns Vol 7--Trautman/Frye present a bounty of graceful and cool moves in this DVD. Guys will particularly enjoy the challenge they are given in this material with what my dance partner and I call the SHINY RED BALL move. Ever seen a little kid's reaction to some beautiful, bright, shiny object--big eyes, ooohhs and aaahhs? That is the look we get from people watching this move; and, quite frankly, sometimes it even wows us into staring and ooohhing!

As always, with Trautman's video instruction, the moves are presented in easy to master sections where the leads are broken down and presented in painstaking detail from multiple angles. You work the individual pieces at your own pace and then go back and add on the next section. And, the bonus section of this DVD is really packed. Trautman demonstrates how to link moves presented in earlier volumes of this DVD set onto the back end of SHINY RED BALL to create longer, more interesting, and customizable...





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Yom Kippur War: 1973

Sneak attack and overwhelming blowback.
The Arabs; Egypt, Syria and Jordan launch a surprise attack against Isreal on its holiest day, Yom Kippur (the day of Atonement) intending to regain Palestinian territory and even annihilate Israel. The Isrealis respond swiftly, methodically and brutally. Interesting historical documentary.

Yom Kippur War - A very good short on the last major Israeli war
After watching New Dimensions other shorts on the major Israeli wars with their Arab neighbors, this is a must see too. This documentary covers the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria as major belligerents against Israel and although Egypt had surprised the Israeli Armed Forces during what was supposed to be ceasefire period and made considerable advances into the East Bank of the Suez Canal in the Sinai Desert, the Israelis again displayed their awesome war-fighting capabilities with superb leadership and training against greatly outnumbered war machines and troops and that the Arab nations in the Middle East are essentially poorly trained, poorly led and even with good Soviet made equipment just cannot stand up to any well trained and well led force.

Israel probably still maintains a moments notice capability to beat their Arab neighbors back. Please see the other New Dimensions short on these Arab-Israeli wars: "The Six Day War"



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Tcm Greatest Classic Films: Shakespeare

Great Set!
My rating is based on the films themselves and the value of this set Vs. buying these films separately. My rating is not based on the packaging ;)

FYI: Buyer Beware :(
The content I rate Maximum stars ****, however I give one star due to the packaging, which barely stacks all four disks on top of each other. The top disk barely fits on to the DVD case post. I had to purchase a seperate case holder, which holds four disks seperately, which of course adds to the over all costs in purchasing this product. As before with the Sony TOHO release, the company (this time Warner Brothers)pulled a "fast one" on it's customers. Any amount of money that you spend, no mater what the product or service may be, it is an investment.
This form of "DVD holder" destroys that investment quicker. The same can be said of the DVD holders which have significant areas missing (or punched out) in either the front or back (or both)of the case. When a customer makes a purchase, that producing company receives money to invest back into it's enterprise so that it can make a profit. It should "NOT" do so in a disrespectful manner to it's customers.If I had known of the...



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Naruto Shippuden: Set Seven

Whats up with the decrease in eps?.
First off, Im a huge fan of the naruto shippuden episodes. I collect all the box sets. But what is Viz Media doing with these box sets. The episodes are great but the quality of the box sets keeps getting worse and worse. First they completely change them, and now the new box sets dont even have the names of the episodes that are on the cds, and worst of all. They originally started with 13 eps per box set, which was great. But then they went down to 12 eps, and now its down to 11 eps in the new 7th box set. Pretty soon it wont even be considered a box set if they keep cutting down the eps like that. Anyway, Im sure the box set is gona be great, but Im very dissapointed with only 11 episodes. Thats one short box set if you even wana call it that.

Best boxset and arc so far. SPOILER FREE REVIEW
First things first.This boxset only contains 11 episodes,these are ep77to88.But there is no need for concern as this boxset is the greatest set of episodes so far. The first episode starts with a bang as Hidans terrifying powers are revealed and shikimaru tries desperatly to stop Hidan from killing everyone in his squad.There is a shocking and crucial event in the early episodes that shapes up for a truly epic battle in this boxset.NOW for those people who are wondering why there are only 11 episodes in this set i will explain my thoughts.Episodes 72 to 89 are original material from the manga episodes 90 to 111 are filler mixed with some original material.In my opinion viz media know some people do not buy filler arc and so release one original episode (89) with the next box set of filler.True fans do not want to miss an episode in their collection and therefore will buy the next boxset.Getting back to my original review this boxset is ESSENTIAL as there are so many amazing moments in...

A little lacking but still a good box set
For a person who has watched the series since episode one, I found that I really enjoyed this arc. This set inculdes 11 episodes, which is a little disappointing since their is normally 12-13 episodes, and no significant extras. The extras are a very scarce compared to the first four box sets and I don't really feel that the omakes themselves should have been considered an extra when they're already attached to the episodes. Their are also some production sketches, the English credits, some storyboards, and some advertisments for other VIZ products. The acting on both the English and the original Japanese tracks are well done, so if you enjoy one over the other you'll enjoy it, and both are included on the disc despite Amazons description saying their is only the Japanese voices. Subtitles are also included for the Japanese track. The only Problem I can honestly say I had with the box set is the case and the amount of episodes. To me, and I have felt this way for box sets 5 and 6 as...

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Buster Keaton Short Films Collection: 1920-1923 (Three-Disc Ultimate Edition) [Blu-ray]

Great shorts in HD, sharper than the DVDs, but could still use some restoration.
The films = *****
The Blu-ray Disc = ****

First off- this is grade A+ Keaton material here. If there is just one Buster Keaton set you want to get, this is it! The king of physical technical humor is at his prime here, and houses are one of his main characters in many of these movies.

Kino claims "Newly Mastered in HD from 35mm archival elements" and four titles have been digitally enhanced, but the enhancement didn't go far enough in restoration. In THE BOAT you still see frame shifts (a basic video stabilization process would fix this), contrast flicker and nitrate deterioration. Kino does make the statement that too much restoration alters the original film too much. CONVICT 13 appears to be 50% 16mm film source.

With that said, i decided to cue up the old ART OF BUSTER KEATON DVD set from Kino to do a true comparison to this Blu-ray release and not rely on my memory. The first thing I noticed was how much softer the old DVDs were to this...

AMAZING SET!!!!!!
I am going to get the negatives out of the way first...yes the footage that has been found over recent years from Hard Luck, Day Dreams, Convict 13 and The Love Nest are not present on this edition. But that aside there is new footage on The Haunted House (When Buster is running away from the cops in the woods and is shot at...there is extra footage here that I have not seen before) and there are some really beautiful-newly presented prints e.g One Week and Cops.

I have the Masters Of Cinema collection of Keatons short films so if I ever fancy having a gander at the final gag at the end of Hard Luck I will do but I get the same, if not more enjoyment out of watching the blu-ray edition.

This set visually is far far far far... better than any set out there the quality of the prints is astonishing, whether the print is from a good source or not, they still look brilliant. The music accompanying the films are brilliant, I really like the new organ scores by Ben...

Buster Keaton shorts - 5 Stars
Five stars for Buster Keaton's shorts presented together in one 3-DVD set and in chronological order. It's nice to have a quick reference to Buster's shorts as the Art of Buster Keaton scattered the films over 10 DVDs so that you could not just pop in a DVD and watch the shorts in succession. However, Kino does leave a bit to be desired as you're led to believe that there is no available ending to Hard Luck. The Art of Buster Keaton, "Keaton Plus" DVD includes the ending of Hard Luck (explained in Mr. Mular's review). I had hoped that films like The Electric House, Day Dreams and Convict 13 would be improved, but no improvements to these films, although the enhanced films are nice. Everything here, other than the "visual essays" is available on The Art of Buster Keaton (shorts), Industrial Strength Keaton (Seeing Stars, Character Studies) and Lost Keaton (Why They Call Him Buster). The new material here, the visual essays, gives interesting details of the films and many of the other...

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