Wednesday, October 23, 2013

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.

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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!

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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.

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Tuesday, October 22, 2013

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.

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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.





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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...

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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!

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Dare To Cook, Food Carving Artistry: The Basics



Love it
Got it as a present for someone who is interested in food carving. HIgh quality DVD with easy to follow instruction. The pace is good as well - not too fast so you can understand what is being tought.





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Lavender Hill Mob [Blu-ray]



Classic British Caper Film.
This will be a short review, since I concur with the other positive comments on this classic Ealing comedy, as well as the extensive plot summary ( actually a little too extensive for people who have not seen the film ). I gave it four stars only because I consider "The Ladykillers" to be superior.

As always, Sir Alec shines in the lead role, with fine support from Stanley Holloway and Sidney James, years before his "Carry On" fame. The humour here is dark and subtle, and of course there is a delightful "twist" at the end, an Ealing trade mark.

I found the quality of this DVD to be more than acceptable for a 50 plus year-old film. Some of the location scenes in London are interesting, with areas damaged by the "blitz" in World War II still very evident.

So--if you like comedy with genuine wit and style ( very rare today, in the era of teen-oriented gross-out movies ), you will enjoy this one. Recommended.

Black and white heist flick bathed in purple and gold
I'm usually not a fan of movies featuring bumbling innocents trying to do right, brought down by an endless series of accidents and mistakes. The futility of the whole exercise frustrates me, and I can't find any room for humour in the whole endeavor. "The Lavender Hill Mob" nearly falls into this trap, but thankfully doesn't. The reason it doesn't -- and it's a reason I can't go into without ruining the wonderful surprise ending -- preserves the comedy of this delightful little heist movie.

It's a very subdued comedy. The word on the street led me to believe that wacky hijinks and silly shenanigans would be the order of the day. Not true. Actually, there's a lot of quiet dignity here. Which makes the moments of action that much funnier. Alec Guinness as the mob's "boss" Henry Holland, a 20-year vet of the straight and narrow, is a desperate man, but he always does his best to maintain control in stressful situations. He screws up his face, peers (with...

Hilarious, sophisticated Ealing comedy
This is a typically wonderful Ealing comedy starring Alec Guinness as a lowly bank official in charge of transporting gold bullion for the Bank of England. For years he schemes how to steal some of it and finally figures a way: he enlists souvenir trinket caster Stanley Holloway and together they decide to cast their stolen gold into replicas of the Eiffel Tower and ship them to France where they will collect them.

A madcap chase follows involving innocent English schoolgirls on holiday who buy some of the Towers and a stolen police car; the final scene with Guinness in handcuffs is a real beauty. The humor is marvelously droll and sophisticated. This movie represents the famous Ealing Studios at their creative best. The DVD transfer is excellent and an interesting bio of Guinness is included. Definitely worth a watch.

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Monday, October 21, 2013

Marvel Knights: Iron Man & Spider Woman [Blu-ray]



A different kind of comic movie
The Marvel knights stories are not for young children. That being said for the mature comic book fan they are incredible. If your looking for the basic rock-em sock-em stories, you might want to keep looking. The marvel knights stories tend to focus more on character developments and explorations, and less on battles. There are battles which have some epic levels but much more time is spent on examining the mental states of the heroes. My only real complaint is it would be nice if the episodes played as one movie instead of the broadcasted 15 mins with intro's and credits in between each one.





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Julie Darling



A very different film.
This film is very different and has a lot to do with sexual aspects. That's not what makes it a great film, but the whole story bunches it up together. 5/5 stars, check it out.





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Dare To Cook, Food Carving Artistry: Ultimate Creations [Blu-ray]



Enjoy watching it!
I believe I have watched it about seven times. I carved a watermelon for my dad for father's day and he still hasn't cut it. He says it is too pretty to eat.





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Eastbound & Down: The Complete Second Season



Can't Wait for DVD
Admittedly it took a couple of episodes to realize that Kenny could go darker and more screwed up than he was in Season One. Once I got there, it was fun to anticipate if Kenny was going to emerge a changed man. All the twists and turns were hysterical and even though you wanted to smack Kenny upside the head, you couldn't help but cheer him on. All in all, nothing could beat the first season for sheer in your face uniqueness. Season two has it's own charm in the fact that we viewers must journey with Kenny as he keeps some dreams and sheds others. Not so different from real life. The season finale was one that most didn't see coming. What a cliffhanger!

You must get the DVD if you're a hardcore Kenny Powers fan. Can't wait to season two again to discover all the things I missed in the HBO presentation!!

He befriends little people and giants alike, and then makes mortal enemies of them
Belligerent, brash, and completely unhinged- this is Kenny Powers at his finest. If you're not familiar with the show, be warned: This program is not for the faint of heart or the easily offended. If you are not familiar with Danny McBride's perpetual typecasting (I wonder if he's even acting at this point in his career, or just being himself?), watch this show at your own mortal peril. As an FYI, the Blu-ray video quality is superb (and the packaging is hilarious).

Amazingly, the second season of Eastbound and Down manages to maintain the standard of hilarity that the first one established, and even SURPASSES it. This is particularly impressive, considering that this season could not rely upon the crowd-pleasing presence of Will Ferrell, prancing about his BMW dealership in a white wig.

One must be careful, however- if you watch too much of this show in one sitting, Kenny Powers' attitude WILL rub off on you! And you absolutely cannot show up to the office...

LOL
LOVE this show, and originally watched it on HBO. The set has great extras, and was well worth the price (got it on Black Friday deal). This is one series where you can go back to it from time to time to watch, and still REALLY laugh.

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Bach: The Digital Bach Edition



No, not 5 stars, 500 stars
There's lots wrong with the modern world, from nuclear bombs to nonstop advertising on TV, but this collection makes it all worthwhile - well, perhaps that is a slight overstatement, but it is really marvelous. For many years I lusted after the Bach Gesellschaft edition of Bach's collected works, but its 46 volumes were always well beyond my budget and my space. Now I have them all on a single disc. Anything and everything can be found with a few mouse clicks and can be printed out as small as you like for convenience or as large as you need for use at the keyboard or to aid failing sight. A cornucopia worthy of a king available to the meanest peon - well, there I go again, but this collection makes me realize how inadequate language can be. If you can read music, and you recognize Bach as the closest thing to a credible deity, then you cannot live much longer without this DVD.





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Everwood: The Complete Fourth Season



The Fourth and Final Season Is On It's Way...June 14 2011
The third season of Everwood has finally being released, with music changes of course, but oh well. I guess enough people eventually got out there and bought that set because we will soon be able to buy this fourth and final season of the classic WB drama, Everwood. This season contains the final 22 episodes of Everwood:

A Kiss to Build a Dream On
The Next Step
Put On a Happy Face
Pieces of Me
Connect Four
Free Fall
Pro Choice
So Long, Farewell...
Getting to Know You
Ghosts
Lost and Found
You're a Good Man, Andy Brown
An Ounce of Prevention
Across the Lines
The Land of Confusion
Truth...
All the Lonely People
Enjoy the Ride
Reckoning
Goodbye, Love
Foreverwood Part 1
Foreverwood Part 2

The final season stuck true to the tone that the show had established in previous seasons. Each season had it's own themes though and each can be classified with an overall...

Wonderful Ending!
This is really a wonderful ending to a wonderful series. Too bad it only lasted four seasons. I thought though for the last season, they stuck true to what had worked for Everwood the whole time. The characters are fulfilled and you don't end the show with a huh? How could they end like that? If you have enjoyed the first three seasons I recommend getting this to complete your collection!

The Final Season of TV's "Great American Novel"
Everwood is more than worth your money as one of the finest written and produced family dramas ever to make it to television. I am almost reluctant to use that tag, "family drama," as I fear that for a lot of people, that means a sort of watered-down, saccharine approach to story-telling. Not so for Everwood, creator Greg Berlanti's four-year labour of love. While like any television drama, Everwood has to accelerate the speed at which drama enters the lives of ordinary people, the writers of the show have given viewers a testament to the wonder of human living and loving, in all its successes and failures. Chief among Everwood's great charms is that it treats every generation as having stories worth telling, from grandparents to pre-teens, and not just the "sexy teens" so characteristic of the bulk of the programming on the now-defunct network, The WB (since 2006 merged with UPN to form "The CW").

Truth be told, there is a little bit of slipping toward toward the WB's...

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Patch Adams: Live in Anaheim! The Emporer's New Clothes



Important
For any one wanting to change the world it's a must watch. Watch how you can care for your fellow man. Patch has for ever changed me. Thanks

Luv Patch
Luvd the Robin Williams movie & wanted to hear thee Patch he has so much compassion for what he loves & it shows only wish more Dr's were like him Thank You Patch for your Gift,,,,,



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Heal Neck & Shoulder Pain with Cain Carroll



Excellent therapeutic video for neck and shoulder pain
As a middle aged adult with arthritis in the neck,it seems that I'm forever on the search for effective pain relief.

After a lot of research, trial and error I found a few things that have helped; one is a very solid supplement regiment that includes Curcurmin with ginger and hot pepper and the other is Tai Chi/ Quigong. The Tai Chi came first...basically almost by mistake. I had tried Yoga but hated it. Going to the gym was becoming a practice in pain (literally) and my range of motion continued to deteriorate rather than increase after working out at the gym.

I had heard about Tai Chi and opted to try it...and much to my surprise, found it to be a wonderful source of relief. No, it didn't come about overnight but rather than feeling sore, exhausted and fatigued after a work out, I felt relaxed if not slightly energized after spending the same time with Tai Chi. Additionally, albeit slowly, I noticed very real improvement in my neck and range of motion. Now, I'm...

great video presentation
I got this video to watch on Tv one night when my wife was in pain. She tried it and though painful to get thrum at first she found it helpful in her healing.

Slow and easy
The video has great education. The quality is amateur maybe a little better. Voices fade in an out and there is some bleed over in text on occasion. Still works. Some moves look goofy, but they work.

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Another Perfect World



Review by an Eve Online player
I dislike nothing
I like the fact it mentioned EVE ONLINE, I love that game. It's nothing like the other MMO's, It's not really a second life, It's just so exciting to be a pilot flying freggin space warship.
I would recomend this product to anyone that plays MMO's, they surely would enjoy seeing how others play games, and get a somewhat of a behind the scenes look at what happens.





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Sunday, October 20, 2013

Pain-Free Joints with Cain Carroll



Very enjoyable therapeutic routine with one small personal pet peeve
I purchased this video after watching and trying out the neck and shoulder pain session by the same author. If anything, I like this one even more. As a middle aged person with some annoying arthritis in the neck and spine, trying to remain flexible and in shape isn't always easy. I work out at the gym on a regular basis but often find it irritates rather than helps joint pain (especially the neck which is a big problem area).

After having tried Tai Chi/related in the past, I gave it up for awhile but found my joint issues seemed to stagnate rather than continue to improve so I went back what has worked (this type of routine). However, I've all but worn out some of my other video's and wanted something new. The neck and shoulder was very targeted to my specific problem and after doing it a few times, I opted to buy this video for an overall routine.

It's very enjoyable and in some ways better than the other neck/shoulders. The is one or two small segments with a...

PAIN FREE JOINTS
This is a good gentle exercise video that my husband and I are able to do together. It has helped reduce pain as well.



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Ah! My Goddess: Flights of Fancy Season 2 S.A.V.E.



The best anime I have every seen!!!!
This is by far the best anime series I have ever watched. In fact this is the first anime series I ever bought because it is so good. I watched about 3 time on Neflix and the DVDs I have watched 4 times. Not everyone will share my option but I hope you will give this series a chance.

It's as good as season 1
Keiichi is a very lucky young man. He has 3 Goddesses living with him. One of them is his girlfriend. He becomes an even luckier young man in season 2. The sexiest Goddess yet has come to grant him a wish. Somehow he reaches the Goddess help line again, and the Goddess Peorth comes to grant him his wish. Belldandy is upset with this. She feels that since Peorth has come, she may not have granted Keiichi's true wish. Peorth has certainly thrown a wrench in the works. This season has everything season 1 had and more.

I have loved the Ah! My Goddess series since it first came out with the short OVA. The second season is great. The animation, and soundtrack are both very good. I think the weakest part of this show is the English Dub. There are definitely better voice actors out there. I prefer to watch things in English. I don't like reading subtitles when I'm trying to watch something at the same time. A lot of people prefer the original language with subs. If you're one of...

A great addition to season 1
The continuing anime of a popular Japanese manga series based on the same/similar name. Much better to listen to in original language with subtitles (I prefer) as some humor does not translate when speaking English.
Stories are cute, romantic, humorous, and heartfelt. Progression of main characters featured.

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Mobile Suit Gundam 00 the Movie: A Wakening of the Trailblazer [Blu-ray]



A great end to a series!!!
I would like to first off note that Gundam 00 isn't just a recycled Gundam concept idea as some would have you believe, but it is an idea of just how mankind should learn to get along with itself. The story is amazing, the characters are probably the best in this franchise, and the animation is superb. I even liked the way it was packaged. This Gundam timeline has a lot of messages that have to do with humankind finding a way to come together, and I like that about this Gundam timeline. Even the fact that this timeline is set in the A.D. era just adds to the shows appeal. Even if you don't like Gundam, I think you should at least watch it to see what I am talking about. Having both a DVD and a Blu-Ray version of the movie is great, so if you do have just a DVD player, it won't be an inconvenience to have both in case you do plan to get a PS3 or Blu-Ray player. The DVD version of the movie just has the bare minimum stuff like audio setup, scene select, and two extras (which are...





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Pilates in Motion



Clear, fun and well-produced
I was really impressed with this video. It's great for beginners as well as more-advanced pilates enthusiasts. The production value is extremely high, with a very helpful basic introduction which includes dioramas explaining the basic theory of pilates. Ellie is clear in her instruction, the workout flows nicely, and then hip-hop at the end is a fun way to "wrap" it all together. I would love to see more videos from this duo - especially from Ellie. I was sore for two days after doing it for the first time and still love doing it on a daily basis. MAKE MORE VIDEOS! Highly highly recommend.

well-rounded, fun workout!
I am a stay-at-home mom that has no time for the gym. I LOVE pilates but get bored of the same old mat routine. This is such a great blend of toning and strengthening exercises with the added fun of a great hip hop routine. It uses parts of my brain that haven't been used in awhile- and I'm burning calories!
Highly recommended.

Awesome DVD
I love this workout! The Pilates portion is easy to follow, and not at all cheesy like some other Pilates DVDs I have done in the past. You can follow either beginner or more advanced moves, so it's great for all skill levels. The Hip-Hop portion is really fun as well. Each part is broken down slowly at first, and gradually builds up to a faster pace. Overall, this DVD is a great option for people like me, who prefer to get a great workout at home instead of spending money and time at an expensive gym.

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Cameraman: The Life & Work of Jack Cardiff [Blu-ray]



Extremely Interesting Documentary
I learned much from this documentary, especially the info concerning the application of the original IB Technicolor. Cardiff's explanation of techniques involved in the making of his many films, including Black Narcissus and The Red Shoes is fascinating!

Tribute to Jack Cardiff
This is a great documentary on a brilliant man who consistently delivered stunning visuals in a variety of movie genres.



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POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold [HD]



A movie on movie advertising,marketing, and product placement made with money from advertising, marketing, and product placement
I sat through Morgan Spurlock's The Greatest Movie ever sold with fascination, but when it concluded, I wondered where was the film? Spurlock's idea is ingenious. One that very few people could have dared, and pulled of. He makes a film about the difficulty of finding sponsors to give funding for a project. The film however is the mission to meet with sponsors and advertisers; in other words, this seems like a behind the scenes sort of preproduction of funding your project. The money is going towards the film itself which IS the journey to get the funding. With commercials from official sponsors, one wonders if Spurlock himself is embracing the commercial enterprise. In other words, when does a spoof become to close to the subject it lampoons or critiques?

What I always enjoy about Spurlock, including here, is that even though he may disagree with advertising or the nutritional benefits of McDonalds, he appears for a large majority of his films as quite fair and balanced;...

clever and informative, but boring at times
Generally speaking, one could make a better documentary about product placement in the movies ('product placement' - to make us - gullible and susceptible viewers spend money, and feed the consumerism), having more actual footage to make a better and more thorough point. And, this one seems boring at times.
But, overall, the benefit of it is to make YOU aware that even movies are places for billboards, and commercials do NOT stop when movie starts.
If you clever, and insightful, you probably see for yourself product placement going on already. But, this movie shows a bit how it's done from the inside of the trade.
All in all 3-4 stars. Not great, but not very bad.
Thanks!

Excellent video I enjoy and showed a class of college students
Fantastic documentary that I have watched for my own entertainment and have shown to classrooms of business and marketing students. Morgan Spurlock does a wonderful job of presenting the world of marketing in an educational and entertaining way. I believe it shows a very unbiased approach to the world of marketing. I particularly liked the portions on marketing in Brazil and his interviews with industry experts.

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Sex Play



Pretty crappy
Was not what I expected.
Difficult to figure out content online.
Would not like to offend anyone by recommending it.

sex play
please put dvd in box package so it won;t be seen its cover exposing title name video great and was entertaint



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Disk 1 of 2 - The Foam Roller, Workout & Massage - BEGINNER, INTERMEDIATE, ADVANCED Collection 2 DVDs



Saved my running life
Before I go further, I have to caution potential buyers that the title of the DVD may be a bit misleading. This disc contains ONLY the Beginner series of exercises, despite that the title includes the words "Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced." To get the last two workouts, you'll need to purchase a second disc. For that reason alone, I am deducting one star.

That said, I am a big fan of this entire series. I managed to do absolutely everything wrong at once -- new shoes, longer-than-usual run, uneven terrain, hills, faster pace -- and ended up with an illiotibial band injury. My physical therapist recommended that I begin using a foam roller, and I can tell you, my first session was brutal. Just rolling a bit on the outside of the legs was excruciating, but she assured me that by keeping it up, it would begin to loosen.

To make a long story short, I became hooked on the foam roller, and wanted to learn additional exercises to extend the obvious benefits. Michaela...

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...

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!

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Noir: The Complete Series (Classic)



The Best - Period
'Noir' was my introduction into Anime, and I have been hooked on genre it ever since. The artwork is incredible, the music is mesmerizing, and the voice actors (both the original Japanese AND the English dub) are perfectly suited for the characters. This collection transcends anime - it is a presentation that anyone can enjoy.

Which brings me to the story itself. It is spread out over 26 episodes [each approximately 21-23 minutes long), and it plays like one 11+ hour long movie. With that noted, it can feel 'slow' in some areas (especially early on) - stick with it during those 'slow' areas, because every line, every flashback, adds to the overall building of a story-line that crescendos into a magnificent finale. By the closing episode, you'll not only be satisfied with the conclusion - you'll wish it had never ended.

Be advised, however - if you are one of those who lives only for anime that is chock-full of mecha and fan service, you will be disappointed...

Adult Anime--An Assassination Plot Driven More By Character Development Than All Out Action Mayhem
I'm pleased to see that the 2001 anime effort "Noir" is being re-released in the DVD market after having been unavailable for too long a period. With so much anime product (of vastly varying degrees of quality) hitting the home entertainment arena, it's nice to be able to recommend a piece that has always felt distinctly different amongst its competition. I would contend that "Noir" is a thoughtful, introspective, and moody series driven as much by character as by violent mayhem. In as much, it may not be the top choice for today's most action oriented viewers. Methodically paced and driven by a haunting score, this enigmatic tale will likely hook you or lose you from its earliest episodes. Unraveling its central mysteries like a fine novel, I was instantly intrigued by this show--and, although it wasn't exactly what I expected, I found this to be a top choice for adult viewers looking for a richness and complexity lacking from some other mainstream titles.

Ostensibly a...

A great anime...Every moment counts
Watching Noir is an amazing experience. It's a great mixture of character, mystery, action, music and art direction. The anime has so much going for it:

Great characters:

Kirika--the amnesiac Japanese high school girl who knows nothing about herself except that she's an exceptionally-skilled killer who feels no remorse. She's searching for the answers to who she is and desperately hoping there's more to her than cold killing.

Mireille--a young but accomplished professional assassin living in Paris. She's the hard-edged strategist who prefers to work alone and only begrudgingly accepts Kirika as an assassin partner in hopes that unlocking the keys to Kirika's past will help them find the people who executed Mireille's family when she was a child. Mireille is angry, stubborn and bent on vengeance.

Chloe--A strange third young assassin who shows up half-way through the series claiming to be the "True Noir." She knows more than she's telling,...

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Soul Eater: The Weapon Collection



The best anime ever!!!!!!!!
Soul Eater has got to be the best series that's well drawn, well thought out, and also completely bad-ass!!! In episodes 27-51 Maka, Black Star, and Death the Kid have matured a little in their character development as the plot thickens with the revival of the spider witch Arachne and Kishin Asura. But despite the seriousness there is also the comedy that help keep the series in balance between serious and funny, Excalibur for example! The best part about this DVD is that includes all the elements that every anime should have: laughs, friendship, amazing battle sequences, and most of all a giant robot fight!!!!!!!! I mean what anime wouldn't be complete without at least one giant robot fight thrown into the mix~!
For those who are thinking of buying this DVD you totally should! You won't regret it~!

Weapons, witches and war
First we got Medusa, then Asura the kishin. And in "Soul Eater: The Weapon Collection," we add a new magical supervillain to the Evil gang-- along with a slew of elaborate battle, magical items, insanity, and some disturbing revelations. The ending of the series doesn't match the manga (which hasn't ended yet) but it's a solid wrap-up for the series.

The long-lost witch Arachne (sister of Medusa) rises from the golem and reactivates her old organization, Arachnophobia.And she wastes no time in reactivating her old organization, Arachnophobia, and gathering magic tools that are vital to her plans of spreading insanity. Even worse, Medusa has somehow survived, possessed the body of a child, and is now forcing Crona to do her bidding.

It doesn't take long for war to break out between Arachnophobia and the DMWA -- first a battle over the Brew, a powerful magical tool that's locked in a strange magical field, and then a full-out military clash between armies. Death...

Another OK Anime....
Not bad, but it just didn't grab me like some do. I do think it's worth a view and having the set does make it better.....

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Volume 1 - The Sword Guy - Samurai Swords Traditional Katana Instruction



The Greatest Martial Art Instruction DVD I've ever purchased
I've practiced martial arts and self-defense for several years now and since I moved away from my dojo in CA and over to MO I haven't been able to yet find a dojo that suits my interests so I began searching for martial art videos that I could train with at home. After searching a little bit on google, I found myself on the sword guy website. [...] I checked it out and had to purchase this dvd immediately. The website is awesome looking and you can really tell someone put A LOT of effort into making it look great. The very same can be said about this dvd. It's done in such a way where anybody with any level of martial art experience can understand it clearly and the video quality is superb. Shihan John McGraugh is excellent at explaining techniques in laymen's terms that would otherwise be difficult to explain to some. To give a brief explanation of what it is included in this dvd, it is of course the first one in the series so this is an amazing introductory dvd for those of you...

Husband Loves
I bought this as a gift for my husband, who is a black belt in iai-do. He loves it as a supplement to his training.

Superior training tape
I am a Rokudan in Isshinryu Karate Do, Shodan in Kodokan Judo and a Shodan in Musu Jikiden Eisshinryu Iaido and a student of Iaijutsu. The instruction by Shihan John McGraugh is well organized, proceeds in a well-layered set of lesson plans and allows me to keep up on moves which I have forgotten from my own training some years ago. It is not my style, but the Japanese is the same and the moves are the same. Outstanding training tape for all Iaido practitioners.

OSU,
Shihan John H. Gagnon

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Bar To Bar 2011: The Greatest Season Ever



Motocross
less talking more racing I figured it would be of all the races instead of a documentary a little dissapointed!!!





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Saturday, October 19, 2013

Summer Night Concert Schoenbrunn 2011



A spectacular summer confection from 2010 built around a starry theme
Prequel:
Please note that this review has been correctly placed by Amazon under the 2010 Summer Concert with Welser-Most conducting and also wrongly placed under the 2011 Summer Concert with Gergiev conducting.
This is not an unusual problem with Amazon where there are similar titles and is beyond the control of reviewers.
Please be patient therefore - however, you may also be interested in the Welser-Most concert with the same overall title which is excellent.

...................................................

The theme of this 2010 concert, conducted at the last minute by Welser-Most, is 'Moon, Planets, Stars' and was originally conceived by Ozawa. When he became indisposed due to ill health Welser-Most took over the whole program and that is what we see on this disc.

The intention was obviously to create a spectacular musical and visual event and this is established right from the start with the VPO on top form with a sparkling and...

Gergiev the Magnificent!
Maestro Gergiev is unquestionably one of the all-time great conductors. His interpretation of the "Pictures at an Exhibition" is the best I've ever heard. The only drawback to the production of the recording was the inclusion of ballet vignettes to the 'Pictures'. Although the dancers were first rate their presence was intrusive. I would have preferred seeing more Gergiev instead.

beautiful
I don't feel qualified to make much of a comment on music, but I do know I really like the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

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The Foam Roller, Workout & Massage - ADVANCED



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!

Less Cellulite plus a great deal more
Praises for all 3 of Michaela's Foam Roller DVDs! I am extremely pleased with these changes in my body since I've started playing with the foam roller: 1) I truly see less cellulite and have almost no pain left when I roll my outer thighs 2) my back and hamstrings feel looser than ever, and I sit taller 3) I have far more strength and muscle tone in my arms and shoulders 4) I've been paying more attention to core muscles as I do everyday activities after realizing that I've never used my core muscles enough before 5) even when I do weight training, walk or do housework, I remember the tips on shoulders and core that I learned from Michaela. Activities driven by core muscles rather then extremities feel a great deal different. Thanks ever so much for teaching me this!

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Priest [HD]



Blade Meets Aliens In Mad Max Land
This visually arresting film is sure to please those looking for a popcorn-y monster movie diversion. The plot's not much to write about (based on a series of graphic novels:Priest: Genesis - Volumes 1-3), but the visual interpretation is at times nearly breathtaking on the big screen (especially in 3D). The priests are a special cadre of warriors commissioned by The Church (the new world's governing body) to hunt down and eradicate vampires in the land. According to the comic book-style animated backstory, they accomplished their mission and were disbanded. But wait, not so fast. Despite The Church's unexplained objections and denials, there may be vampire trouble brewing outside the protective walls of the cities. One priest renounces his vows to save a girl held captive by the marauding beasts.

This is a world that looks like Utah's stark salt flats without life or greenery, but with lots of...

Pretty bad-ass overall
Dont get me wrong...this isnt an amazing display of acting or screenplay or what have you. However, what it definitely was....was bad ass. The imagery and landscapes were cool, the fighting was pretty neat, the characters were approachable, and the weapons were pretty awesome. It's only an hour and a half long, so you arent going to get that finely detailed development of a drama, but do you really need it? Nope. Basically, it's bad asses killing some creepy looking vampires, and feud between Priest and A) the Church (in this case, representing society and government along with the dogma and the deceit that comes with it), B) an old buddy turned nemesis, and C)occasionally with what is basically his sidekick.
I'll avoid revealing too much of the story, as sparse as it is, although you'll basically know what's going on within the first ten minutes or so.
To me,this was a movie made strictly to develop interest in a longer running series of movies, which promise to be even...

Great comic book action flick
I'm sorry, "graphic novel" action film.

All sarcasm aside, "Priest" was exactly as advertised; excellent science fiction action, well suited for popcorn. And I enjoyed the heck out of it.

In an alternate earth, the Church and vampires have been at war for centuries. Technology didn't offer the solution, recruiting and training extraordinary fighters, the Priests, did. And when the church had won, and the vampires were contained in underground reservations, the Priests were not needed. The Church marginalized the Priests, and didn't want to admit that their control was incomplete, so when the vampires escaped the reservation and raided a farm house, they didn't want to acknowledge that the vampires were loose, or that the Priests were needed again. But the settlers killed and kidnapped by the vampires were friends of a Priest.

While Paul Bettany delivered an outstanding performance (of its sort) in the title role, Maggie Q, Karl Urban, and...

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The Foam Roller, Workout & Massage - ADVANCED



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!

Less Cellulite plus a great deal more
Praises for all 3 of Michaela's Foam Roller DVDs! I am extremely pleased with these changes in my body since I've started playing with the foam roller: 1) I truly see less cellulite and have almost no pain left when I roll my outer thighs 2) my back and hamstrings feel looser than ever, and I sit taller 3) I have far more strength and muscle tone in my arms and shoulders 4) I've been paying more attention to core muscles as I do everyday activities after realizing that I've never used my core muscles enough before 5) even when I do weight training, walk or do housework, I remember the tips on shoulders and core that I learned from Michaela. Activities driven by core muscles rather then extremities feel a great deal different. Thanks ever so much for teaching me this!

Click to Editorial Reviews

Friday, October 18, 2013

Outcasts: Season One



A Sci-Fi Series That Struggled With a Great Premise, Got Noticeably Better, And Ended In Eight Episodes
There is no denying the impressive track record of efficient, surprising, and fun science fiction programming that the BBC network has championed. Whether it is the contemporary Dr. Who, the risque Torchwood, the fast paced Primeval, the original Being Human, the intriguing Survivors or any number of other older programs--there really is a bit of everything for fans of the genre. The 2010 series "Outcasts" may be one of the more divisive of recent entries. Upon its television debut, viewers seemed to be instantly supportive or vocally dismissive. As with any TV show, people are going to think what they are going to think--but BBC ended the show after its eight episode first season run due to lack of a significant viewing audience. At once, the decision is completely understandable and somewhat disappointing. There is no denying that the show had some significant flaws, but as the episodes progressed--it seemed to be working itself out. Whether or not it would ever have...

Characters too entrenched in their roles...
In Outcasts, thousands of people have escaped a ravaged Earth and journeyed to the planet Carpathia to rebuild the human race. Eventually, the ships with new colonists stop arriving. This series begins 15 years after the establishment of the colony, with 70,000 inhabitants. Unfortunately, a "plague" killed many of the original children, and the reproduction rate of the colonists is approaching nil. Many of the colonists seem to have a history; in a way, they are 'outcasts" from Earth. In addition, there are outcasts from the colony, who want their revenge on Carpathia.

There are 8 episodes of this series, and it ends abruptly and without any closure to the many story lines. The characters demonstrate little growth and sophistication throughout the show, and a "mind-reading" device introduced in the first episode is then never used to uncover the truth to real mysteries. Go figure.

I had to see this, since I'm a sci-fi junkie. Rather forgettable, but I...

Brilliant but canceled
A brilliant premise, which was well-crafted, but cut short before its time. Some reviews have called the show boring or plodding -- and I contest that. "Outcasts" is a mystery in addition to SF and its slow-boil works to that end. So many people expect thrill-a-minute excitement -- with explosions! and dinosaurs! and ridiculous jump-cut action sequences every two seconds..."Outcasts" is decidedly not that. And "thank goodness", I say.
If you enjoy a 70's style pacing and filmic style, with nuanced performances, by three-dimensional & oft-flawed characters, and carefully-crafted/plausible art direction...this show is for you. If you want a blockbuster show to gorge on popcorn to, well then, look elsewhere.

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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

Breaking Glass [Blu-ray]



Living in the shadow of the mushroom tower
It's 1982 and I'm a teenager stuck in a small town in Southeast Missouri. Then, one fateful night, I saw 'BREAKING GLASS' on a show called Night Flight. This movie, along with 'SMITHEREENS','THE FABULOUS STAINS', and 'LIQUID SKY' completely lead me into the world of art and music I am surrounded by today. I am begging for this movie to be released on DVD in the United States.I know it may only be a silly low budget movie to some, but, it truly reflects everything I treasure about my youth and I can not praise it enough.

Great film. but.....
BREAKING GLASS Blu Ray: im just going to review the blu ray as you can find info on the story anywhere online.. 1st off i love this film..so for me its a 5 star classic.... but because of the lack of extras & the cut of the film i can only give it 3..& that being generous because i love the film!
...the great news is this is region free & the picture is fabulous... miles better than the old dvd.. not perfect obviously, but great colours & detail.. (theres film grain but no more than you would expect for a low budget film) its the best ive ever seen this film look!!.. the audio is uncompressed stereo & sounds fine.. unfortunaly the good news ends there... not one extra (not even a trailer) & its the awful US cut of the film.. so the ending of the film is compleatly missing (making the end not make any sense at all!!)& because of this the song "if only" is missing from the end!!!! & also i noticed the classic bit where phil daniels smashes the jukebox "whatever happened to rock n...

Olive Films, you suck!
As already stated, this long awaited DVD version of a cult favorite was falsely advertised at 104 minutes, the running time of the full movie. I was one of those who owned it on VHS as that was the only option here in the U.S. That print was 94 minutes, with the final 10 omitted. I was considering not purchasing the DVD, but since it was advertised at the full time I decided to take a chance. Maybe that's what Olive Films was banking on. Regardless, they misrepresented this item in a critical way. I admit the film looks good, but it doesn't make up for not including the film's closing scene, which was quite an emotional conclusion. I would return it but it's really not worth the effort. As for the movie itself, it's one of my favorites, a peek into the British music scene at the beginning of the eighties. The songs, the story, and the performances are great all around, however there are no extras (unless you count chapter selection an extra). Since so little effort went into...

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Tenant [Blu-ray]



IT'S ALIVE!
A teen couple waits outside what appears to be a home, but is actually an abandoned mental institution. They wait for a woman to show up and undo the padlock on the outside of the door. They want to make love in the building. They go in and get slaughtered. Cue credits. We are now 28 years earlier. Randy Molnar plays Walter, a doctor at the sanitarium. He is doing unauthorized genetic experiments. His wife, who is pregnant with twins, (girl and boy) wants him to stop. Michael Berryman plays a cannibalistic inmate, or "tenant" as the doctor calls them, from whom Walter extracts fluid for his experiment. A nurse, a rival to the wife, wants Walter to continue with his experiments. Got the plot figured out yet?

We now go back to the present. A van, carrying deaf mute girls has trouble in front of the abandoned asylum...with no cell phone reception due to the rain. One of the girls grew up near there and looks a lot like the aforesaid wife. They break in and...

This...

Couldn't even finish watching this movie
The acting was mediocre. And how is it that the red-headed nurse looks exactly the same almost 30 years later? And the plot was totally predictable. Can I have my $3.99 and two hours of my life back, please?

Not Bad
This movie was ok. It set you up to think it was going to be something really good then out of nowhere it deflates. Very predictable and somewhat dumb. Not worth the price of rental. Should be .99cent

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Amy Winehouse:in Concert 2007



Good performance, available cheaper
This is a good concert film of a great artist. I just want to point out that while used copies here run for $99.99, there is another release of the same concert as "Amy Winehouse - Live in Concert (2012)" (B0087E669A), with copies for sale starting at ~$11. I've purchased both, so I can attest to the fact that these are the same concert released with different packaging by the same label (Immortal).





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Killer Caliber 32 & Killer Adios



Lawrence Of Italia Part 2
Here's a double feature promised over a year ago from Wild East Productions and it was definitely worth the wait. Continuing their Spaghetti Western volumes of the films of Peter Lee Lawrence aka Karl Hirenbach, this pair is much better than their first volume which consisted of Lawrence's later excursions. Up first is 'KILLER ADIOS' -1969 which has the much better title of 'WINCHESTER ONE OF ONE THOUSAND' in this transfer. This film focuses on the gun of the title similar to Director Anthony Mann's excellent 'WINCHESTER 73'-1950 but the similarities stop there. It emerges as a convoluted murder mystery and could have been made in any genre. Director Primo Zeglio directs his scenes in long continuous takes saving the film editor alot of work and which gives the actors alot more to do. The script by Zeglio, Mario Amendola, and Mallorqui Figuerola gives it the tone of an American made western by having less action and also a tom boyish teenage girl usually played by Pamela Tiffan...





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Skateboarding Explained: The Instructional Video



The best instructional skateboarding video out there. period.
Skateboarding. Such a developing sport and lifestyle. Each year the populous of skateboarders grow. Could it be for the thrill, or perhaps the sheer technicality and accessibility of the sport? for any reason, Skateboarding is an exciting activity to be doing. For me, Skateboarding immersed me in a great active outlet in middle school. I also discovered music and art through various skate videos. The only problem for me, and many others who decide to take the challenge of skateboarding is its difficulty level. I remember when learning how to ride a board I would want to learn how to ollie, and follow crappy grainy pictures and short sentence instructions on how to do the trick on websites. I got slowly better but my friends were progressing a lot faster than me. I even got Tony Hawk Trick Tips (1,2 and 3) They helped a bit but I really did not see a vast improvement or feel in my skateboarding ability.
Here I am as a college freshman, I decided to go back where I left off in...

Skateboarding Explained-explained
I started skateboarding way back before they made instructional videos. The basics were always either self taught, friends teaching you, or other kids calling you names like "poser" or much too worse to metion forcing you to learn by the trial and error method which often resulted in a slow learning process. I eventualy became better and learned the tricks as they came along. After years of learning I became a good skater in my local scene.
I havent rode a skateboard in years because I spend my days working or being a father. My kids recently became facinated with my old skateboards, so I wanted them to learn how to ride one. I bought Tony Hawk's Trick Tips thinking they could learn from my childhood hero, This didnt work/ My kids wanted to learn but couldn't stay focused, My wife said they werent interested in it because "they dont get it". I found Skateboarding Explained and it was great. I found my kids to be responsive to the methods of teaching on this video. The tricks were...

Very detailed and the best instructional skateboarding DVD.
From the start of this DVD, Dan MacFarlane gives you the basics of skateboarding in a easy to follow pace. I watched this with my 9yr. old son, who has been trying to learn various tricks on his own. After his first viewing of Skateboarding Explained, he immediately put on his helmet, ran outside, and worked on his Ollie. He easily copied what he saw on the DVD; since all of the tricks are shown in slow motion, and graphics appear onscreen, to guide the viewer where to look, while attempting the tricks. What was funny was my son asked me, for the first time, to get him portable DVD player, so he could watch the DVD outside and practice skateboarding. I may actually to purchase it for him, since this is the skateboarding DVD he truly feels will help him. I've already bought for my son two other DVDs, "Zero To Hero", and "Tony Hawk's Trick Tips", but they did not seem to be as detailed as Skateboarding Explained. Skateboarding Explained already has my son performing his Ollie higher and...

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Disk 1 of 2 - The Foam Roller, Workout & Massage - BEGINNER, INTERMEDIATE, ADVANCED Collection 2 DVDs



Saved my running life
Before I go further, I have to caution potential buyers that the title of the DVD may be a bit misleading. This disc contains ONLY the Beginner series of exercises, despite that the title includes the words "Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced." To get the last two workouts, you'll need to purchase a second disc. For that reason alone, I am deducting one star.

That said, I am a big fan of this entire series. I managed to do absolutely everything wrong at once -- new shoes, longer-than-usual run, uneven terrain, hills, faster pace -- and ended up with an illiotibial band injury. My physical therapist recommended that I begin using a foam roller, and I can tell you, my first session was brutal. Just rolling a bit on the outside of the legs was excruciating, but she assured me that by keeping it up, it would begin to loosen.

To make a long story short, I became hooked on the foam roller, and wanted to learn additional exercises to extend the obvious benefits. Michaela...

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...

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!

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Domino [HD]



A highly enjoyable, whacked-out acid trip of a movie
Imagine that before going to bed one night, you've read a magazine article about bounty hunter Domino Harvey, watched an over-the-top action movie and taken a hit of acid. Your dreams would likely resemble Tony Scott's new film, Domino. The film opens with "This is based on a true story........ sort of", and "sort of" is certainly accurate. If you're expecting a film biography of Domino Harvey, then you will certainly be disappointed with this movie. It's not a biography at all, in fact after seeing the movie you might know less about Domino Harvey than you did before. However, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Rather than delivering another dull overly reverent biopic, Tony Scott brings forth something entirely different. The movie is a mixture of fact and fiction, however there's certainly a lot more fiction than fact. Domino Harvey was a real person who was really a bounty hunter, and died earlier this year. Several other characters in the movie were based on real people. The...

Domino
Domino Harvey (Knightley), daughter of actor Laurence Harvey, was a model turned bounty hunter before her recent death. This is her story (sort of). The story is exaggerated and even retold as new information becomes known. Domino is looking to get away from the 90210 world she has lived in, and joins Ed (Roarke) and Choco (Ramirez) as a bounty hunter. They all work for Claremont Williams (Lindo), bringing fugitives to justice. When Williams gets them all involved in a scheme that involves the mob, a billionaire and $300,000, Domino must find a way to get her and her crew out unscathed.

"domino" is a glorious mess that both works and doesn't work depending upon the moment. Director Tony Scott employs ADD filmmaking to get Domino's frantic story across. The constant quick cuts work against the story, but after a while become bearable. Knightly does an adequate job as the titular character, with great support from Rourke. Ironically, two of the best roles are Brian...

Fully equipped with the attention span of a ferret on crystal meth...
When I first saw `Domino' I was in love. I must admit that I adore Tony Scott's directing style. I remember when I first saw `Man on Fire', I was just blown away by the way Scott could capture your attention so effortlessly. I am a huge fan of his brother Ridley (one of our finest working directors) and while I feel Ridley is the finer director, Tony is working his way up their on his own terms. So to get back to my initial statement, when I first saw `Domino' I was smitten, or in love, whatever I said at first. Upon repeated viewings though, I have found that the film, while fun and explosive and utterly irresistible, is not without flaws; quite a few to be honest.

`Domino' tells the fictionalized story of real life bounty hunter Domino Harvey. Former model and daughter of a famous actor, Domino lived a life of prestige and glamour but she desired something a little more gritty. She resented her money and prominence and wanted to escape it as quickly as possible...

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Taiwan -- The Culture of Tea



Great movie.
Very interesting movie. The host was a little bit annoying but all in all it was pretty good. I love Taiwan!





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Port Aransas, Texas -- Fun on the Texas' Coast



Great show on a great town!
This originally aired on PBS, but is a great overview of things to do in and around Port Aransas. If you haven't been to "Port A" as they call it, you should give it a try. There is plenty to do whether you're into fishing, eating, shopping, or just hanging out in your lounger on the beach. [...]





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Ireland -- The West is Best



I want to go! (Now I went)
This is a clear and concise travel piece. They hit the highlights, were practical and gave out information that travelers need. At the end I had a much better idea of what I wanted to see in Ireland. **** I went to Ireland July 8-18 and found this information very useful!





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Thursday, October 17, 2013

Switzerland -- Scaling the Jungfrau Region ­



Decent... But There Are Better Videos of the Jungfrau Region
I've watched a number of videos of Switzerland's Jungfrau Region including DVDs by Rick Steves (Austria and the Alps), Rudy Maxa (Best of Europe: Beautiful Europe), and the Travel Channel's Samantha Brown (Passport to Europe: Germany, Switzerland and Austria), all of which were professionally made. This video by Joseph Rosendo was made by what I would call an "advanced amateur" meaning that while it was better than your typical home movie, it doesn't quite rise to the level of a professional video.

The good news is that except for a trip to the Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest railroad station near the top of the Jungfrau mountain that is shown in practically every Jungfrau Region video, this video spends most of its time showing things in the Jungfrau Region not seen on any other Jungfrau Region video, including a visit to a goat farm, a street fair, and a parade in a small Swiss village. The host also takes a hike to a hut high up in the mountains. So if you already own a...

Above average travelog
This is a very much above average travelog, excellent for persons who have never visited the Bernese Oberland. Well done.



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