Actors & Directors
- David Hurwitz (II)
- Susan Brady
- David Lereaney
- Madeline Kahn
- Frank Langella
Run time: 225 min.
Price: $29.95
Review Kurt Vonnegut's Monkey House, Boxed Set / Acorn Media:Kurt Vonnegut's Monkey House relies on the same successful strategy behind Ray Bradbury Theater and The Twilight Zone: great stories and decent acting, which win out over big-budget production values every time. At first glance, Monkey House seems just like any of those Canadian productions that air on the Sci-Fi channel late at night, but don't let the inevitable synthesizer soundtrack and Vonnegut's cheesy intro narration fool you. Each story is culled from the short works of a master writer in his prime, guaranteed to amuse and to make you think. Name actors like Ally Sheedy, Madeleine Kahn, Frank Langella, and Jon Cryer deliver convincing performances under some pretty unusual circumstances; split personalities, disembodied heads, and romantic tangles with artificial intelligence are just part of the fun. For viewers familiar with Vonnegut's Welcome to the Monkey House and Wampeters, Foma, and Granfalloons, some of the rewrites for television can be puzzling or disappointing (although some, like "Epicac," work quite well). And if you're looking for action-packed, effects-laden sci-fi, this series might not be for you; some of the best stories could take place right here, right now, and feature monsters no more bizarre or unearthly than the human being next door. But thanks to Vonnegut's capable imagination, one realizes how that familiar neighbor can really be more alien than any creature from outer space. -Grant Balfour.
Release date: 1996-06-06
Run time: 360 min.
List Price: $79.99
Price: $113.00
Review Bradshaw on Family Secrets Set / Bradshaw Cassettes:
Actors & Directors
- Hilary Carroll
- Robert De Lint
- Corey Sevier
- Neil Denis
- Jessica Lucas (II)
- Tatiana Maslany
Run time: 900 min.
List Price: $149.95
Price: $124.99
Review Silk Road 2 (6pc) (Coll Box) / Central Park Media:
Release date: 1994-08-31
Run time: 180 min.
Price: $39.95
Review Frugal Gourmet - Original Recipes (Six-Volume Boxed Set) / Mpi Home Video:
Release date: 1995-04-04
Run time: 300 min.
Price: $89.98
Review Voices & Visions Vol 03 Box Set / Unapix Consumer Products:
Release date: 2001-11-20
Run time: 531 min.
List Price: $44.98
Price: $97.97
Review The Dirty Harry Collection (Dirty Harry/Magnum Force/The Enforcer/Sudden Impact/The Dead Pool) / Warner Home Video:Five-count 'em, five-chances to wallow in the shoot-first, ask-questions-later ethos of San Francisco cop Harry Callahan, who became a signature character for actor Clint Eastwood. The first one, Dirty Harry, is the best, a Don Siegel film in which Harry flouts rules about police brutality to capture a serial killer. In Magnum Force he tracks rogue cops and utters his "Do you feel lucky, punk?" speech. In The Enforcer he gets a female partner (future Cagney and Lacy star Tyne Daly). Sudden Impact featured him tracking a female serial killer and offered a new catch phrase: "Go ahead. Make my day. " And The Dead Pool, aside from offering a smart little chase involving a radio-controlled model car, brought him face to face with Liam Neeson. You can't ask for much more firepower in one box than this. -Marshall Fine.
Actors & Directors
- Ruta Lee
- Roy Roberts
- Lawrence Dobkin
- Dan Tobin
- Pat Cardi
- Rhys Williams
Run time: 135 min.
Price: $24.98
Review Marvel's Mightiest Super Heroes Gift Set / 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment:The Mighty Thor There was some amazing, classic animation for superhero cartoons done as far back as Max and Dave Fleisher's Superman series of the early 1940s (echoes of which can be found in Batman: The Animated Series). Those were done for the big screen; by the mid-1960s, superhero cartoons were being brought to television, and some of Marvel Comics' biggest heroes-Captain America, Spider-Man, Thor, and the Incredible Hulk-were the stars. Unfortunately, television didn't have much in terms of cachet-or production values-at the time, and all four heroes suffer for it. Between Odin's ever-changing looks (Thor's father rarely manages to keep the same face-let alone the same outfit-from shot to shot) and the over-the-top dialogue, it's hard to follow whatever semblance of plot was scripted. On the two episodes here-"Enter Hercules," in which the Norse God of Thunder battles his equally brawny Greek cousin, and "Battle of the Gods," in which Loki enlists the Enchantress and the Executioner to defeat Thor-the animation is minimal. It looks as if only a couple dozen pictures of the main characters were drawn; for the most part, this is a series of stationary illustrations with voice-overs and plenty of narration. -Randy Silver Sub-Mariner This vintage 1966 cartoon features Marvel Comics' king of the deep, the Sub-Mariner. In the first story, "Atlantis Under Attack," the sacred trident of Neptune is stolen and all signs point to Namor's trusted grand vizier, Lord Vashti. In disbelief, Namor follows Vashti's trail to the carnivorous sea forest while the real thief, his archenemy, Attuma, lies ready to attack the city. The second story, "To Conquer a Crown," opens with a military demonstration by Atlantis's munitions expert, Namor's cousin Biera. [+]When the citizens protest the apparent warmongering, Namor calls on Biera to explain that the arms are for defense only. To the prince's surprise, the treacherous Biera turns on him and challenges him to a duel of strength for the throne. Namor accepts, not knowing that Biera holds the ultimate weapon. Each story is divided into three six-minute serial-type segments. The animation is minimal, restricted mostly to camera zooms and moving limbs and mouths, punctuated by Batman-style sound effects ("Wham!"). Other heroes in this series include Iron Man, Spider-Man, Captain America, the Hulk, and Thor. -David Horiuchi Spider-Man Spider-Man comes across the best of the four, though part of that might be because Spidey's geeky alter ego, Peter Parker, looks and sounds remarkably like Bill Gates. On the two episodes here-"The Kilowatt Kaper," a run-in with Electro, and the self-explanatory "The Origin of Spider-Man"-the animation is minimal. It looks as if only a couple dozen pictures of the main characters were drawn; for the most part, this is a series of stationary illustrations with voice-overs and plenty of narration. -Randy Silver.
Release date: 1999-03-30
Price: $19.98
Review Machines of War: Sea (5pc) / Simitar Ent.:
Actors & Directors
- Arlene Golonka
- Natalie Smith
- Tobey Maguire
- Angelina High
- Lisa Inouye
Run time: 500 min.
Price: $89.95
Review Magic Knight Rayearth Memorial Box Set / Anime Works:
Actors & Directors
- Great Britain's Express Steam
Run time: 275 min.
Price: $59.95
Review Great Britain's Steam Locomotives (5pc) / Goldhil Home Media:
Release date: 1999-11-09
Run time: 600 min.
List Price: $79.98
Price: $149.99
Review CNN's Millennium Boxed Set / Turner Home Ent:A thousand years in 10 hours is an ambitious project, to say the least. But the team at CNN succeeds with its now-typical aplomb, as the team that brought us Cold War shares with us Millennium. "We know the history of our own country," narrator Ben Kingsley intones. But this series purports to give us "history from a global perspective, not through the eyes of the West. " Using reenactments and impressive computer graphics-used with inspiration for everything from rebuilding the 11th-century Pueblo Bonito to representing Freud's idea of the subconscious-the history of the world for the past 1,000 years is re-created. Each episode covers 100 years, from the 11th century's "Century of the Sword" to the 16th century's "Century of the Compass" to the final 100 years of the millennium in "Century of the Globe. " Segmented by time and place, Millennium focuses on five topics in five separate locations in each episode. The wealth of topics is mind-boggling: the spread of Islam, Mongol conquests, the rise of Gothic spires across Europe, Australian Aborigines, the trail of Marco Polo, Black Death, Chinese naval power, the Ottoman Empire, the religious conversion of the Mayans, the Mogul Dynasty, science, slave trade, the Industrial Revolution, to name just a fraction of the stories told. Granted, given the constraints of covering 1,000 years in a mere 10 hours, the video may leave you longing for more, but what a way to whet your appetite for history. -Jenny Brown.
Actors & Directors
- Susaye Coton
- David Heffernan
- Quincy Jones
- Coolio
- Raymond Maldonado
- Ronnie Foster
Price: $129.00
Review Songs in the Key of Life / Rhino / Wea:The making of Stevie Wonder's 1976 double-album masterpiece Songs in the Key of Life-still his linchpin work-is entertainingly recounted in this Classic Albums documentary on the 20th anniversary of its release. Interviews with Wonder and the musicians and technicians involved revisit many now-classic songs like "I Wish," "Sir Duke," and "Isn't She Lovely" (which includes a vocal appearance by Wonder's then-infant daughter, Aisha, who two decades later discusses her contribution). The record's lasting influence is brought up by producer Quincy Jones, keyboardist Herbie Hancock, and the rapper Coolio, who had a smash hit in 1995 with "Gangsta's Paradise," a reworking of Wonder's "Pastime Paradise. " Reuniting with the musicians, Wonder runs through some of these classic tunes, one of several highlights. -Kevin Filipski.
Release date: 1990-11-28
List Price: $79.98
Price: $99.90
Review Dark Shadows Vol 45-48 / Mpi Home Video:
Release date: 1999-01-01
Run time: 420 min.
List Price: $79.95
Price: $99.95
Review Battle for the Skies - The History of the Royal Air Force / Superior Promotions, Inc.:
Release date: 2000-01-18
Run time: 180 min.
List Price: $34.98
Price: $199.99
Review Speed Demons (3pc) / Unapix / a-Pix Ent.:
Actors & Directors
- Mark Daniels
- Charles Nemes
Run time: 180 min.
List Price: $49.95
Price: $95.00
Review France - The Visit (3 Pack) (2000) / Homevision:A series of private tours throughout the cultural and historical landscape of France, the most visited country in the world. The series is a co-production of La Reunion des musees nationaux and Montparnasse Productions.
Actors & Directors
- Joy Grdnic
- David Workman
- Steve Bulen
- Jay Bacal
- Brad Garrett
- Joe Leahy
Run time: 368 min.
Creator: Michael J. Sullivan
Price: $49.98
Review Transformers - First Season Collector's Edition / Rhino Entertainment Company:The 1985 series Tatakae Cho Robot Seimetai Transformers ("Fight Super Living Robots Transformers") was a U. S. -Japanese coproduction, written in America and animated in Japan. Based on a line of robot toys from Takara-licensed to Hasbro in America-that could be reconfigured into cars, trucks, planes, etc. , it spawned numerous sequels and a feature. Civil war rages on the planet Cybertron between the virtuous Autobots and the evil Decepticons. Both sides launch crews into space to find new energy sources, but the ships crash on Earth and are buried in lava. When the robots awaken four million years later, the Decepticons, led by the dictatorial Megatron, want to drain the planet of its resources, enslaving or destroying mankind. The Autobots ally with humanity and befriend oil-rig worker Spike Witwicky. The Saturday morning-style cheat of cutting to a logo, rather than animating transitions, and the frequent pauses for commercial breaks make for very choppy storytelling. [+]The designs of the robots are interesting but lack the graphic sophistication of Yoshiyuki Tomino's Gundam Mobile Suits. The animation is very limited, and the choreography of the battle sequences lacks the panache of Tomino and other more talented directors. Like Robotech, Transformers will appeal most strongly to adults who watched the show as kids: it's remained popular through Web sites, role-playing games, fan fiction, and a lively trade in the original toys. Serious students of anime will find this early series of historic interest. Unrated; suitable for age 6 and up: Robot vs. robot violence. -Charles Solomon Earth is the battleground, control of the Universe is the prize, and the only defense is an army of Autobots able to transform into massive fighting machines as powerful as their enemy—the deadly Decepticons. This special collector's edition VHS set contains all 16 episodes: More Than Meets The Eye Part 1 More Than Meets The Eye Part 2 More Than Meets The Eye Part 3 Transport To Oblivion Roll For It Divide And Conquer Fire In The Sky SOS Dinobots Fire On The Mountain War Of The Dinobots The Ultimate Doom Part 1 The Ultimate Doom Part 2 The Ultimate Doom Part 3 Countdown To Extinction A Plague Of Insecticons Heavy Metal War All episodes are in chronological order and digitally remastered from original 35mm negative.
Release date: 1998-10-06
Run time: 312 min.
List Price: $59.99
Price: $180.00
Review Vietnam: The Soldier's Story Box Set / Buena Vista Home Video:
Release date: 1999-12-21
Run time: 92 min.
Price: $24.98
Review The Tibetan Book of the Dead (Boxed Set) / Wellspring Media:One copy each of The Tibetan Book of the Dead: A Way of Life and The Tibetan Book of the Dead: The Great Liberation.
Actors & Directors
- Travel the World By Train
Run time: 600 min.
Price: $99.98
Review Travel World By Train (10pc) / Geneon [Pioneer]:
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Kurt Vonnegut's Monkey House, Boxed Set, Bradshaw on Family Secrets Set, Silk Road 2 (6pc) (Coll Box), Frugal Gourmet - Original Recipes (Six-Volume Boxed Set), Voices & Visions Vol 03 Box Set, The Dirty Harry Collection (Dirty Harry/Magnum Force/The Enforcer/Sudden Impact/The Dead Pool), Marvel's Mightiest Super Heroes Gift Set, Machines of War: Sea (5pc), Magic Knight Rayearth Memorial Box Set, Great Britain's Steam Locomotives (5pc), CNN's Millennium Boxed Set, Songs in the Key of Life, Dark Shadows Vol 45-48, Battle for the Skies - The History of the Royal Air Force, Speed Demons (3pc), France - The Visit (3 Pack) (2000), Transformers - First Season Collector's Edition, Vietnam: The Soldier's Story Box Set, The Tibetan Book of the Dead (Boxed Set), Travel World By Train (10pc)Top headlines: Q&A: Policing School Shootings: A disturbed 14-year-old wounds four before killing himself in Clevelandjust another spasm of violence in another bloody year for Americas schools. How to spot trouble before it opens fireand the ongoing debate over blame for a cycle that just wont stop. ›23:25 11 Oct, Thu Drugs: Meet Mexicos Suspected Queenpin: Sexy, stylish and female. Meet Mexicos unlikely druglord suspect. ›22:00 10 Oct, Wed Pick the perfect car for your family: Walk into a dealership and ask to see the new-generation family car, and you might receive a puzzled look. That's because today's family cars are no longer one-size-fits-all. ›16:23 1 killed in W.Va. chemical plant blast: One worker was killed and a second injured in an explosion at a Bayer CropScience plant that shook an area west of Charleston. ›11:37 Ansen on Lars and the Real Girl: Its not smutty, its not snide, its not creepybut what is it? ›16:02 12 Oct, Fri Car hits Playboy Mansion twice: One man appears determined to crash the party at the Playboy Mansion. ›10:20 28 Aug, Thu Real Estate: Keeping Tabs On 'This Old House': Now in its 28th year, 'This Old House' has helped transform dozens of houses. But what does it really cost to be part of this DIY club? ›17:21 9 Oct, Tue Detroit: Behind the UAWs Striking Ways: The unions strategic mini-strikes against Chrysler and GM struck a chord with members and fear among management. Is Ford next? ›00:16 11 Oct, Thu Now hear this: Don't remove earwax: The gooey, golden stuff that builds up inside your ears should stay there, according to newly released national guidelines on earwax removal. ›12:48 Top celebrity-owned vineyards: We tour 10 of the world's finest wineries that just happen to be owned by celebrities, including those by Francis Ford Coppola, Sam Neill, Mario Andretti and Gerard Depardieu. Could a Brangelina Sauvignon Blanc be far behind? ›21:53 GOP considers delaying convention: Republican officials say they are considering delaying the start of the GOP convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul because of Tropical Storm Gustav, which is on track to hit the Gulf Coast early next week. ›02:40 Boeing union recommends strike: Machinists union leadership has called for a strike after deciding Boeings final contract offer isnt good enough. ›20:50 1 in 10 Native American deaths alcohol related: Almost 12 percent of the deaths among American Indians and Alaska Natives are alcohol-related more than three times the percentage in the general population, a new federal report says. ›17:44 28 Aug, Thu Gellman: A Letter to a Bigot: What I want to say to a person of prejudice. ›22:12 12 Oct, Fri Hirsh: Democracy's Strange Bedfellows: The champions of democracy often share an overly romantic view of how quickly it can flower in hostile soil. ›16:56 11 Oct, Thu Gustav intensifies, threatens Caymans: Gustav was upgraded to a hurricane on Friday as it pulled away from Jamaica and headed toward the Cayman Islands. ›21:27 How the Amazons lost cities worked: Researchers explain how an urban culture flourished 1,500 years ago in what are now the overgrown jungles of the Brazilian Amazon. ›18:00 28 Aug, Thu Gross: Banks Claim the Credit Crisis is Over. It's Not.: Banks insist their credit problems are over. Why on earth do investors believe them? ›21:31 9 Oct, Tue Video: As Gustav heads to Gulf, New Orleans prepares for worst: Aug. 28: Louisiana has lined up 700 buses and set aside space for nearly 80,000 evacuees in preparation for a Hurricane that may be on track to directly strike New Orleans. NBC's Mark Potter reports.(Nightly News) ›22:59 28 Aug, Thu Georgia to sever ties with Russia: A Georgian Foreign Ministry official says Georgia is to recall all diplomatic staff from its embassy in Moscow because of the Russian military presence in Georgia. ›16:01 4th inmate captured in N.M. jailbreak: A fourth inmate who escaped from an eastern New Mexico jail has been captured, authorities said. ›21:16 Al Gore's Nobel Patrol: A vigilant fan of the former veep keeps watch as the Nobel Committee announces its peace prize. ›15:10 12 Oct, Fri Report: Oxygen bottle burst on Qantas jet: Air safety investigators confirmed Friday that an exploding oxygen cylinder ripped a gaping hole in a Qantas jet's fuselage mid-flight last month, but said they were no closer to solving the mystery of why the tank failed. ›15:47 Will Knicks Scandal Affect Cablevision?: Jimmy Dolan's sports empire is a humiliation. Does that make him unfit to run Daddy's cable company? ›00:00 15 Oct, Mon |
