COIN-OP TV DVD Volume 4

Coin-Op Does It Again!
I was a big fan of Coin-Op TV Volume 3, and this one continues the tradition of quality programming about the video game culture. Great highlights of video games and past events, but definitely the best feature of this DVD is the audio commentary from Robert Welkner and Hailey Bright. It's only on the DVD, so you gotta get it for that alone. Good stuff, look forward to Volumer 5 and more commentary.

Still going strong
Another addition to the COIN-OP TV DVD series. I have all the other three DVDs and am glad to see the team came out with another. This may just be the best one yet! The interviews, as always, are fun and entertaining, but this time there's audio commentary for every episode! One of my favorite features of DVD is wonderfully exploited here. The behind-the-scenes trivia and factoids just add to and already great value!

Video Game Collecter Item!
I've been a fan of COTV since Rob was skinny, so I had to buy this to add to my collection of video game documentaries. Rob & Hailey go to all the cool insider events in the gaming industry, so watching this makes me feel cool. I hope they re-release all their DVDs on Blu-ray at some anniversary point and maybe it will come with a cool retro gaming toy or something. My parents think I have too many toys anyways, so that may not be a good idea. I should move out already. I'm 40.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Backstage at the Kirov

Great Ballet Documentary Featuring Altynai Asylmuratova and Konstatin Zaklinsky
This film was shot in 1981 and shows what life is like for the professional dancers(and some of the students) at the Kirov Ballet. It is the only documentary that shows us both Konstatin Zaklinsky and his wife, Altynai Asylmuratova, rehearsing together and separately for the principal parts of Swan Lake. Other dancers are also shown, such as Galina Mezentseva. Many classroom scenes are presented and they are very interesting and exciting, showing very difficult combinations and dancers getting very exhausted and laughing about it. I especially enjoyed seeing what happens to Zaklinsky practicing when he gets too tired and falls out of many of his pirouettes; he musters one last bit of energy and completes his pirouettes successfully and throws in the towel. It is nice to see this video finally come to dvd, since it has been on VHS.

Backstage at the Kirov - review for collectors
'Backstage at the Kirov' was one of the first ballet documentaries I ever saw and, like many ballet film collectors, I have long prized my ailing, ancient VHS recording of this classic program. I was delighted to see it made available on DVD, but also cautious - after all, not every transfer of an old film to DVD is a success. So, what's the verdict?

Well, the good news is that this transfer isn't too bad. If you're looking to replace a tired and battered video then don't hesitate to snap up this release. There are just a couple of things worth noting. My main criticism is that the DVD version looks a lot darker than my video copy and I had to adjust the backlighting, contrast and brightness on my TV quite substantially to avoid missing much of the detail in the dimmer scenes.

The overall sharpness of the picture is nevertheless much better than video (as you'd expect!), and the film looks pretty much as it always did. No one has interfered with the voiceovers...

A chance to view the elusive world of Soviet Era ballet
I love this movie! I really enjoy seeing some of the "children" from the theater street documentary grown and dancing as corp members. For any lover of Russian ballet, this video is a "must-have" for your library!

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Striking Truth [HD]

Good Portrait of these Fighters....
I enjoyed this documentary because it really allowed the fighters to tell their story, while providing the historical context of each of their careers along the way. In essence, they captured the fighters' journeys from where they started to reach where they are or were at the time this was made.

This approach was effective at telling the story and keeping my attention. Good video.

Interesting story
This is good look at the early career of GSP and David Loiseau. For whatever reason they discuss and have interviews with the fighters, but you see very little of their UFC fights. It is still a very good look at how easy it is to be derailed from a promising career, the business side of the sport, and dealing with setbacks. lots of good training clips.

Enjoyed Good Documentary
It gives a nice journey into the lives of two amazing fighters and their triumphs and struggles as UFC fighters. It's not easy being a fighter in the UFC -- and that's the truth.

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Crush [HD]

Great movie, Not so great DVD
The Crush; The story of a girl obsessed with a 28 year old newspaper editor who is renting a house above the garage in Seattle. Alicia Silverstone plays Adrian who can't help but be in love with Nick (Cary Elwes). Nick's girlfriend/co-worker Amy (played wonderfully by Jennifer Rubin) feels that Adrian is too attached to Nick. At first Nick is unaware of the crush but when Adrian hurts her best friend;Cheyenne (Amber Benson) and attempts to kill Amy buy locking her in a dark room with a sudden bee infestation he finally figures out that something has to be done. Great movie. Now the DVD: Has only an INCOMPLETE credits list for 3 of the stars and a bunch of trailers FOR OTHER movies. The sound is great, as is the picture.

A predictable, derivative thriller
Some films can easily be described as "x meets y." These usually aren't very good films. In this case, the movie is a blend of Lolita and Fatal Attraction. Nick Elliott (Cary Elwes) is an investigative journalist new in town who needs a place to stay and work, so he ends up renting the guest room of a fairly well-off family in the suburbs. He catches the eye of Adrian (Alicia Silverstone), their gifted fourteen year-old daughter. Her "crush" on Nick develops at a breakneck pace. She pesters him constantly, in person and on the phone, tries to seduce him when they're alone, and becomes insanely jealous of anyone else he spends time with, particularly a female photographer he's currently working with.

Unless you didn't watch any movies in the last twenty years, you can probably see where it's going. As far as thrillers go, Fatal Attraction is probably the most imitated. Malicious, Swimfan, if you've seen any of these you won't be surprised by The Crush. There's a lot...

'The Crush' is an excellent thriller!
As a die hard Alicia Silverstone fanatic, I bought 'The Crush' with high hopes. Although harrassed by the critics, a shocking discovery was placed on my hands: it's an excellent movie. Sexual obsession and childish innocence form as one, creating Darian (Silverstone). Nick (Elwes), realizing the harm headed his way when Darian reveals her "crush", gets caught up in a violent swirl of events that lead to the ultimate finale in which Silverstone's acting abilities shine through. 'The Crush' was no waste of cash and the movie cover is to DIE for! Those glasses...those pouting lips...that evil glare. For true excitement, rent 'The Crush' today.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Fun with Bettas

This Amazing
This video is amazing. I learned so much from watching this. I am defitely ready to grow my own. Thank you for this.





Click to Editorial Reviews

Carbon Nation [HD]

Very upbeat green energy solutions
This documentary is unique in its genre (climate change & green energy) in that it is very positive and solution-oriented. There is minimal alarmism, scant blame, no preaching, avoidance of controversy, and they even claim it doesn't matter whether or not you believe climate change is anthropogenic (caused by humans).

In 80 minutes, they breeze through CO2, climate change, receeding glaciers, water shortage, pine borer beetles, wind energy, solar photovoltaic, ethanol, algae biodiesel, geothermal, carbon sequestration, land use, deforestation, electric cars, electricity storage in car batteries, carbon taxes, green buildings, roof gardens, rain catchment, green jobs, conservation, efficiency, freon, recycling, white roofs, and more.

So much is covered that it is necessarily just a cursory overview. If you listen closely, there's a lot of concepts and a lot of numbers, although they just fly by in a feel-good manner. A few of the numbers (for savings) sounded too...

Positive outlook on ways to slow global warming
I had actually watched this movie in the theater but also wanted to own a copy of the DVD. What I like in particular about this climate-change documentary-style movie, is the positive outlook. The movie doesn't point fingers. Instead it focuses on solutions we can do to help the environment. What I liked is that the solutions are being implemented now, are typically low-cost, and show collaboration at the local level. No matter what level you're at, the movie points out steps you can take to positively impact the environment.

Things To Reduce Carbon Use
Overall a good set of things people can do to curb climate change. The movie is a little over produced, a tiny bit too glossy, and tries too hard to be VH-1 / MTV.

Bill Kurtis (Chicago newscaster, television personality, host of Investigative Reports, and environmentalist) narrates this movie. The film builds nicely from the basics about carbon dioxide and the effect it has on climate, to more complex ideas about how to curb carbon dioxide generation. The film works on the level of showing real tangible things people can do to reduce our dependence on carbon based energy. Where the film doesn't work is trying to be too cool and too slick. I was reminded of the VH-1 pop up video with icons and phrases popping up on screen along with the popping / swoosh noise. Sometimes rough around the edges is better and more impactful.

The content presented was outstanding. If you are a true disbeliever in climate change, then you should pass on this film. On the other hand, if...

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Foam Roller, Workout & Massage - INTERMEDIATE

Great "How To" DVD's
I really like these 3 Foam Roller videos and they are worth every penny!
Having heard of the many benefits of using a Foam Roller, I bought one, and Michaela's 3 instruction videos: The Foam Roller Workout & Massage, which is a Beginner level (note it is the same as Disc 1 of 2 here at Amazon), plus the Intermediate and Advanced - Disc 2 of 2. The Beginner workout is basic and thorough instruction, the moves and positioning explained in detail so that everyone can get acquainted with the roller, regardless of their fitness level. Great cues provided throughout on how to engage your muscles properly and to position so that you get stronger without hurting yourself in the process. I wanted to know just how far you can go with a Foam Roller, reason I bought the INT and ADV, so I found out! I'm thrilled to know that I will likely never run out of moves or ever get bored of training on my mat at home. For now, I look forward to getting stronger and more fit every day with the...

Real Gems
Both this instructor and her Foam Roller DVDs are great finds in the fitness video category. I've worked with literally hundreds of exercise DVDs, each with their pros and cons.I love this beginner workout, "The Foam Roller - Workout and Massage", because it's short enough (30 min), fun to do, the moves feel pretty natural and intuitive, the instructor explains positioning in detail and gives you reminders at every step. If you have a foam roller and you were wondering how to begin, this DVD is a great start. You do get strong fast in your abs, arms, shoulders, and definitely improve your back and leg flexibility. Once you feel you can do this easily, don't hesitate to invest in Michaela's Intermediate and Advanced Foam Roller Collection, also. They are offered at a very reasonable price for the quality of instruction and selection of moves. All three videos are worth adding to your library!

Excellent choice foam roller DVDs
A few months of playing with my foam roller guided by Michaela's "Foam Roller Workout & Massage" (the perfect, basic, "how to" DVD to start with), I've decided that I'm ready for more. The Foam Roller Intermediate & Advanced levels, 2 videos on Disc 2 of 2 - have proven to be more excellent choices. Michaela's thorough explanation of the various movements and her compassionate teaching style (in her lovely, soothing tone of voice), hold great appeal to me. I feel that although I'm working with a video I'm not going to hurt myself because she reminds me "do" and "don'ts". I also feel much progress in terms of ease of movement and greater strength. I'm glad to have bought both INT & ADV levels because I can vary my mat workouts more. There are actually some ADV moves I can and some INT moves that I can't do - yet! - though I'm confident that I will get there. Thank you, Michaela, for your great foam roller DVDs!

Click to Editorial Reviews