Prehistoric Planet/Allosaurus - A Walking With Dinosaurs Special (1992) Review

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(More customer reviews)When I was a little kid, I used to dream of a world teeming with dinosaurs. I used to imagine what it would have been like when those skeletons I saw on exhibit lived, and how someone needed to play tour guide to that realm and how I should twist the handle. Sadly, no matter how I tried that doorway, it always remained closed, my time machine not quite working the way I would have intended, and dinosaurs were left either in bone formation or in the movies as monsters.
There was never an in-between.
With the creation of the Walking With Dinosaurs series, however, everything began to change and I, still that boy with an interest in that hobby, found myself addicted. The key that separated this series and made it "unique" - a word I try to use sparingly - is in the way the dinosaurs, our main actors and actresses, are portrayed. Instead of turning then into a depiction of a colossal, toothy menace or dryly discussing their lifespan in the way one discusses ancient relics, the series showcases dinosaurs by allowing one to walk with them through their terrain. From the flora and the fauna, the insect life and dinosaurs themselves, a depiction of CGI effects, prosthetics, and of "dinosaur knowing" comes to life. Here, you see the landscape the way it would have been, the animals roaming free and observed naturalistically, and the experience is incredible because it looks so vibrantly realistic.
In Allosaurus: A Walking With Dinosaurs Special, the Allosaurus "Big Al" is showcased as he struggles from the cradle while trying to grow into something fearsome. In sixty minutes, the fifteen years from the egg to the eventual demise it faces are depicted, showing a person that going to the head of the class wasn't easy in that age. Here, other dinosaurs walk as well, and the efforts of one of the top predators of its age seem a tad on the hard side - making me rethink the allure of being the biggest kid on the block. Survival while growing, it is dramatic and enlightening experience, and its pretty interesting how harrowing an introduction can be and how brutal it can be.
For anyone that has yet to watch this series, I'd recommend tuning in as soon as possible and catching up on all those moments you missed out on. I would recommend starting with Walking With Dinosaurs, however, and moving on from there. Still, that is far from being a bad thing. Besides this video that focuses on Big Al and a few of species, other DVDs house other forms of life that are entrancing. Wonderfully fast predators, Megladons swimming the high tides and eating enough to be interesting, and other strange species await you. And they, all the DVDs released thusfar in this series, simply look fantastic.

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Civilisation: The Complete Series (1969) Review

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(More customer reviews)If you have never seen this series before and are interested in art history, you just landed in a honey jar. Clark takes us on a 1,500 year journey through Western Civilization starting roughly at the end of the Roman Empire and ending in mid 20th century. He tells us straight out that his aim was to follow the history of Western European civilization as seen through the eyes of its artists. Why the limitation to only Western European civilization? Apparently, Lord Clark wanted to keep the series to a manageable length. The series is over 13 hours long as it is, and one can only wonder what it would have gone on to become had he included the Egyptian, Greco-Roman, Byzantine, Islamic, Asian, African and Pre-Columbian cultures. The mind boggles. With Civilisation, Clark has done an incredible job of showing us the amazing cultural legacy left by our European forebears. And at the end he reminds us that this is only a fraction of what was actually achieved. You will recognize many of these works. Others will not be so familiar. But they carry the weight of historical significance, and everyone with at least a four year college education should be aware of the general drift of Clark's presentation. He finished this program for the BBC in 1969. It was an immediate success and you can also find the book of the same name which was a popular spinoff of the series. I recommend it also. The series came along in the midst of some of the most tumultuous scenes of civic strife of the last 50 years. Against this background, Clark laid out his thesis that Western civilization has consisted of a series of catastrophes and rebirths. He indicates that our depression over the events of the twentieth century should not lead us into abandoning the cultural legacy which has been bequeathed to us. For example, if the Black Plague of the 14th century were to strike us with the same force it did before, over a hundred million Americans would die. The Thirty Years war devastated parts of Europe even worse than World War 2. And yet, the will to survive and rebuild society was always there. It is a prescient reminder for the current generation of thoughtful people.

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The eminent art historian Sir Kenneth Clark was commissioned to write and present an epic examination of Western European culture, defining what he considered to be the crucial phases of its development. Civilisation: A Personal View by Lord Clark would be more than two years in the making, with filming in over 100 locations across 13 countries. The lavish series was hailed as a masterpiece when it was first transmitted in 1969.

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Coca-Cola - The History of an American Icon Review

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(More customer reviews)It's a trip into the past, to the early days before there was Coca-Cola®. With pictures, advertising, film clips and commercials, we are transported through time to learn more about what steps were taken through the years to make Coca-Cola® one of today's leading soft drinks. The historical background is enhanced with comments from Phillip F. Mooney (Archivist, The Coca-Cola® Company), Frederick Allen (Author, "Secret Formula"), KaralAnn Marling (Pop Culture Historian), and Jan Slater (Professor, Ohio University).
High quality film clips and commercials, many in color, help to tell the story and give us a picture of what life and Coca-Cola® was like throughout the years. Although this documentary ends in the late 1980's, clips from ads of the 1940's through the 1980's are included, such as Mean Joe Greene and never-before seen outtakes from "I'd Like to Buy the World a Coke®". Songwriters Bill Backer and Billy Davis join in to talk about several jingles.
If you are interested in the history of Coke® or if you are just interested in the past, this is an excellent documentary that will definitely hold your attention. The DVD also includes excerpts from several promotional films, commercial jingles and lots of bonus pictures. This is a fine addition to anyone's collection.

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Empires - Holy Warriors: Richard the Lionheart & Saladin (2005) Review

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(More customer reviews)Like a previous reviewer, I found the omissions in this program to be glaring & laughable. If anyone is expecting to get a comprehensive treatment of the Third Crusade, look elsewhere. One is gets as accurate a treatment of history as in "Kingdom of Heaven," which played fast & loose with historical accuracy.
One would get the impression that Richard I was the prime force behind the Crusade, depsite the fact that Barbarossa & the Germans left for the Holy Land a full two years earlier. The program would have you believe that after Barbarossa's death, the German armies simply melted away --- I believe the narrator actually said that most of the Germans "went home." If he meant that "home" was Antioch, then I suppose that is an accurate statement. It was the remnants of the German army (largely decimated by plague) that successfully defended Tyre (left almost unmentioned in this program) against Saladin's forces. Also barely mentioned is Phillip II of France, who played a key role in the political events that unfolded in the Holy Land.
The producers at least mentioned Richard's execution of the 3000 prisoners (following the siege of Acre), but left unmentioned is Richard's complicity in the assasination of Conrad of Montferrat, recently crowned King of Jerusalem, in 1192. The program would prefer to paint Richard as a noble warrior, rather than a political strategist of the first order. The political in-fighting between the Germans, French & English (not to mentioned the already entrenched Crusader States) is a not insignificant part of the story of the Third Crusade, but it goes entirely unmentioned here.
In fact, this program skims the topwaters to such a degree that only a historical neophyte could find much value in it. This program is a big disappointment overall.

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Studio: Paramount Home VideoRelease Date: 10/11/2005

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Last Days on Earth (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)Most people would think of this as depressing..but I found it very interesting. It reminds me that whatever little problems I have going on in my life..it could be worse and they're just not that important in the long run. The interviews were very interesting and the information was well thought out. I loved the CG graphics and explanations and overall just really enjoyed watching this.

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How smart are we as a civilization? Smart enough to control our own destiny and avoid the cataclysms that could end life as we know it? Using state-of-the-art computer-generated graphics and interviews with the world’s top scientists, Last Days on Earth takes viewers inside seven of the deadliest threats to humanity. Some have the power to render us extinct, others can destroy the planet; all could entail the end of our civilization. How likely are they to occur, what exactly would happen if they did, and could we survive?Last Days on Earth goes beyond science fiction to science fact, as it takes viewers on a roller-coaster ride through black holes, intelligent robots, asteroid strikes and deadly plagues. Viewers will journey from the outer reaches of the universe to the inner world of DNA.

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God's Gift DVD & CD (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)ROMEO DID SPECTACULAR!!!! HE AINT LIKE THESE OTHER DUDES OUT HERE SAYING THEY SHOOT PEOPLE. HE TALK REAL. I THINK THE MOVIE WAS GREAT AND THE CD WAS EVEN BETTER. BUT ROMEO MY FAVORITE RAPPER! ROMEO OH ROMEO, U THE BEST RAPPER. THANX FOR MAKING MUSIC FOR THE KIDS AND ADULTS. BYEEEEZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

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Romeo is the admirable, handsome and valued star at the local high school. Along with his best friend Don, Romeo is the co-captain of the summer AAU basketball team. The relationship between the two friends is at an all-time high when Don, uncharacteristically, becomes erratic and mean-spirited. Romeo defends his friend’s behavior until Don’s rage is directed at the one person who supported him. Romeo is now faced with getting Don to seek help while keeping everyone in good spirits.

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NOVA: The Family That Walks on All Fours (2002) Review

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(More customer reviews)I am teaching an introductory course on Biological Anthropology and decided to preview this DVD in hopes it might be suitable for student showing. It is not. It is one of the worst "evolution" and/or gene-focused documentaries I have ever seen.
The movie starts out suggesting this family, in which several siblings walk on all fours, somehow marks a case of "devolution." This is both insulting and ridiculous. 1) this family is unique, but a single generation of abnormality does not evolution make (and it is insulting to suggest this to/of an already stigmatized family) 2) evolution is not a directional process, in any case!
The approach of this movie is generally hodge-podge and dumbed-down (and incorrect in some places). But, what is truly unfortunate, is that there are many well-respected scientists featured in this program, and that what they have to say is often insightful-- their contributions are simply placed on even footing with the aspects of this movie that are not insightful or even reasonable.
Documentaries like this are why many people misunderstand evolution as a process.


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Studio: Wgbh WholesaleRelease Date: 02/13/2007Run time: 56 minutes

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Secrets of Archaeology Review

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(More customer reviews)I agree with others that this is one of the best historical documentaries available, especially on Classical Mediterranean civilizations (Greece, Rome, and others). There are six discs in the series, each disc containing five episodes of 20 minutes, except the last disc which has only two. Although 20 minutes may not sound like much, so much is packed into each episode that they do not disapoint.
Each episode shows historical ruins related to its subject, beginning with maps to let you know when and where you are, and frequently using animation to reconstruct the ruins as they appeared in their prime. The narration uses the pictures as a starting point to discuss the culture and history represented by the ruins. The series frequently provides a fairly in depth discussion of the culture, ordinary life, religion, etc. of the peoples who lived in these locations, not just stories of battles and rulers.
The other outstanding aspect of this series is that it covers a wide variety of cultures, time periods, and geography. It works best where history can be told as the history of individual cities, which is the case in the Mediterranean world (the great majority of the episodes) and also for the Mayans in America.
A good example of the unusual approach of this series is episode two. From the title "Glorious Rome", I was expecting a tour of classical Rome using models and virtual recreations, since good examples of these are now available. Instead, the episode showed only brief shots of the unreconstructed Roman forum, and centered instead on the ruins of outlying Roman cities to show the common culture which existed over the extent of the empire.
Disc 1
1. Pompeii: A City Rediscovered. 79 AD
2. Glorious Rome, Capital of an Empire. 2nd Cent. AD. (Vaison-la-Romaine, Provence, FR; Tindaris and Morgantina, Sicily, IT; Jerash, Jordan.)
3. Pyramids Designed for Eternity. 3rd Millennium BC [Egypt] (Sakkara, Maidum, Dahshur, Giza)
4. Athens: Western Splendor 460 BC (Parthenon, Acropolis)
5. A Place Called Etruria 540 BC (Tuscany, It; It cities: Murlo (Poggio Civitate), Tarquinia, Volterra (San Cerboni tombs), Populonia, Cerveteri, Chiusi, Bologna (Villanova Culture))
Disc 2
6. The Cities of the Pharaohs. 3,000 BC. [Egypt] (Memphis, Luxor, Thebes, Cairo, Alexandria)
7. Egypt According to Cleopatra. 30 BC. [Egypt] (Alexandria - Pharos; Giza - Pyramids; Dendera - Temple of Hathor; Philae - Temple of Isis; Rome - obelisk, pyramid, temple, statue Esquiline Venus).
8. Greek Cities in Italy. 9th Cent. BC. (Magna Graecia: Delphi; Naples; Cumae - Parthenope; Sybaris - Paestum Poseidonia; Campi Flegrei; Pozzouli [Dicaearchia] - Temple of Serapis [Serapium]; macellum - market building Lake Avernus - Virgil, Hades; Sibyls).
9. The Pyramids of the Sun. 1519 AD. [Mexico]. (Aztec - Tenochtitlan; Teotihuacan - Pyramid of the Sun, Temple of the Feathered Serpent, Pyramid of the Moon).
10. The Roads to El Dorado. 15th & 16th Cent. AD. [South America - Peru, Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Cuzco; Columbia - Muisca, Lake Guatavita]. "El Dorado" originally referred to a person--the "gilded man", or man covered with gold dust--not a place.
Disc 3
11. The Lost Cities of the Maya. 8th Cent. AD. (Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras: Palenque; Chichen Itza; Toltecs - Tula [Central Mexico]; Tulum; Colzumel).
12. The Forgotten Civilizations of Anatolia. [Turkey] (Ionian Greek - Aphrodisias; Hierapolis - Pamukkale hot springs; Gordium - Phrygia - King Minos 8th Cent BC; Hittites - Hattusah - 14th Cent. BC)
13. Travels through Greece. 2nd Cent. AD (Corinth; Temple of Venus; Epidaurus - Asclepieion; Phidias's workshop; Olympia).
14. The Ports of the Desert. 1st Cent. AD (Ma'rib - Sabaean Kingdom [Yemen]; Petra - Nabataeans [Jordan]; Palmyra [Syria]). Roman spice trade.
15. Sailing with the Phoenicians. 5th Cent. BC (Phoenicia - Tyre [Lebanon]; Sardinia - Nuraghe, Nora thermal bath; Carthage [Tunisia] - Harbor; Island of the Admiralty; Byrsa citadel)
Disc 4
16. The Roman Empire in Africa. 1st - 4th Cent. AD. [Maghreb: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia] (Volubilis)
17. Ancient Cities Bordering on Latium. 4th Cent. BC (Hernici-Hernicians; Samnites [Samnium] - Apulia; Umbrians)
18. Retracing the Tracks of Hannibal. 3rd Cent BC (Saguntum Spain; Bardo Museum Tunis; Roman Walls; Carthage, Tophet - human sacrifice?) (Not just war - differences in cultural & cultural interchange)
19. Roman Imprint on the West. 3rd Cent AD. [Spain; France (Provence)] (Provence - Orange, Nimes; Spain - Tarragona, Cadiz) (Impact of Rome on Western Culture)
20. At the Court of the King of Kings. 4th Cent BC. (Iran [Persia]) Cyrus the Great; Zoroastrian Hilltop Altars; Susa; Persepolis)
Disc 5
21. Cities of the Sea and Wind. 1st - 3rd Cent. AD. [Tripolitania (Libya)] (Leptis Magna - Emperor Septimis Severus & Caracalla; Sabratha; Oea [Tripoli], Syrtes desert)
22. Secrets of the Island of Minos. 15th Cent. BC. [Greece; Crete] (Minoans, Atlantis, Crete, Aegean Civilization, Arthur Evans - Knossos, Santorini, Cyclades)
23. The Fabulous Centers of Hellenism. 4th Cent BC. [Turkey (Ionia)] (Alexander the Great, Persia, Pergamun, Ephesus - Temple of Artimis, Library of Celsus)
24. Visit of the Sanctuaries of Apollo. 4th Cent. BC. (Delos Island [Greece] - birthplace of Apollo and Artemis; Didyma [Turkey] - sanctuary, temple & oracle of Apollo; Delphi [Greece] - Delphic oracle, pythian games)
25. Sicily: Greek Legacy in the West. 4th Cent. BC. (Battle of Himera; Sicani; Syracuse & Island of Ortigia; Agrigento - Valley of the Temples).
Disc 6
26. Ancient Itinerary in Ionia. 2nd Cent. BC. [Delos, Kos, Rhodes (Greece); Priene, Miletus (Turkey)] (Priene; boulç, bouleuterion; Epicurian School Philosophy-Thales, Anaximenes, Anaximander; Miletus - Hippodamus of Miletus (urban planning); Delos - slave market, foreign temples; Kos - Asclepius Sanctuary, Hipppcrates; Rhodes-Colossus; "Anatolia" - rising sun)
27. Mycenaeans: The Civilization of Heroes. 3rd to 2nd Millennium BC. [Ebla (Syria); Troy (Turkey), Mycenae (Greece)]. (Ebla-Assyrian City north of Euphrates, 17,000 cuneiform tablets; Troy- Heinrich Schliemann; Tiryns-Cyclopean walls, Pausaneus; Mycenae-lion gate; Agamemnon, megaron)


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Item Name: Secrets of Archaeology; Studio:Koch Vision

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On the Waterways Review

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(More customer reviews)"On the Waterways" is a beautifully photographed series. It is also a journey into the realm of small, human stories. The filmmakers were young and took the time to talk to the people who lived along the shores of the places they visited. The stories they tell and the way they are told are not flashy. All of the episodes move along at a brisk pace, but at the same time it feels as though time has slowed down long enough for the viewer to enjoy the ride. This series is almost twenty years old, so there are probably a lot of things that have changed. However, this does not change the charm and the beauty of the scenes. It's a bit like looking at old photographs of a favorite vacation.

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Narrated by Academy Award © winning actor JASON ROBARDS For three years, the Driftwood, a 60-foot motor yacht, and its modern-day band of explorers traveled along 25,000 miles of North American waterways rediscovering the sites and sounds of a continent that has fascinated and challenged adventurers for hundreds of years.Join the crew of sailors and young filmmakers in this 13-part series as they sample the substance, the spirit and the extraordinary stories of people who live along rivers, lakes and coastal waters. Includes the entire 13-part series: The North Atlantic The Western Gulf Coast Florida The Upper Mississippi The South Atlantic Lake Superior The Hudson River & The Erie Canal The Ohio Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Lake Michigan & The Illinois River The Lower Mississippi The Eastern Great Lakes The Mid-Atlantic

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Baadasssss Cinema - A Bold Look at 70's Blaxploitation Films (2002) Review

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(More customer reviews)Being a fan of the blaxploitation genre, I was excited to hear about the DVD release of BaadAssss Cinema. However, upon viewing it, I became very disappointed. First, let me start off by saying that the 56-minute running time does not justify the price being charged for this DVD. Second, this title is anything but a bold look at 70's blaxploitation films. The documentary is organized by years, which doesn't work well. It would have been more interesting and flowed better if it were organized by different styles of blaxploitation films, such as gangster films or horror films, or films featuring strong female leads. The documentary focuses almost exclusively on films starring people who were interviewed, such as Pam Grier, Fred Williamson, Gloria Hendry, Quentin Tarantino, and Melvin Van Peebles. A lot of time is devoted to Sweet Sweetback's BaadAsssss Song, Shaft, and Pam Grier's Foxy Brown and Coffy. There's no denying that these films played a pivotal role in the blaxploitation movement, but why isn't Dolemite included? Is it because Rudy Ray Moore wasn't interviewed? The documentary is astonishingly shortsighted. No mention is made of movies like Abby, the black rip-off of The Exorcist, or Darktown Strutters, or even the Shaft sequels for that matter. Were they left out because the filmmaker thought they were an embarrassment to the genre, or because they are too obscure for the target audience? Lastly, most people interviewed feel that the blaxploitation movement died out around 1976, so the remaining years of the 70's are left out. The only two post 1976 films featured are Original Gangstas and Jackie Brown, both made in the 90's. There is so much missing from this documentary, and the only people who will benefit from it are blaxploitation completists and people new to the genre. If you're looking for information on black cinema of the 1970's, I suggest the book "What It Is...What It Was!The Black Film Explosion of the '70s in Words and Pictures." Unlike BaadAssss Cinema, it features articles with insight and interviews that matter (ironically with many of the same people interviewed in BaadAsssss Cinema). Overall, BaadAssss Cinema fails to make the blaxploitation movement seem important.

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In this groundbreaking documentary from the Independent Film Channel, filmmaker Isaac Julien takes us back to the early 70s and the explosion of blaxploitation films, today one of American cinema's most beloved cult genres. Featuring a wealth of footage from such classic films as Superfly and Shaft, and interviews with such key players as Richard Roundtree, Quentin Tarantino, and Pam Grier, BaadAsssss Cinema gets to the bottom of exactly what helped the blaxploitation genre achieve its revered cult status.DVD Features: Extended interviews with Pam Grier, Quentin Tarantino and others; Letterbox Format; Interactive Menus; Scene Selection

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Air Power (1956) Review

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(More customer reviews)With great excitement I sat down to view this DVD, one of my all-time favorite documentaries. I was extremely disappointed to find, that in my favorite segment: The Liberation of France, the final scene had been cut! It was the best scene in the whole series. The beautiful footage of two flights of Thunderbolts, criss-crossing above the Arch de Triomphe was missing! These documentaries are works of art. You can't cut the last scene of one anymore than you could with Gone With The Wind. What were these guys thinking? I'm returning my set. I refuse to support such insensitive and indiscriminate editing and I urge others to do the same.

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This exceptional six hour documentary, produced by CBS News in conjunction with the U.S. Air Force and narrated by the voice of America, Walter Cronkite, chronicles the impact that the fighting machines of the air had on the outcome of World War II. Follow Hitler's determined attempts to conquer Britain by sending the Luftwaffe over the English Channel to bomb London. Relive the infamous day when Japan's Air Force attacked Pearl Harbor, the D-Day invasion of Normandy and the deadly dogfights in the Pacific theater. Featuring spectacular and rare documentary film footage, this fascinating retrospective also explores aviation's impact on the 20th Century. Culled from over 300 million feet of film and featuring an original score performed by the CBS Symphony. Here are the unforgettable stories of World War II...Air Power.

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Wild America Review

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(More customer reviews)If you are a naturalist and wildlife enthusiast, then this box set is for you. Includes all episodes of all 12 seasons of the high-quality series that first aired on PBS for most of the '80s and early nineties. Some of the production aspects are dated, of course, such as the orchestral arrangements for the soundtrack and haircuts and fashion, but other than that this series is a feast for the eyes and the mind. The footage is very compelling, from close-ups of the animals in dynamic behaviour to panoramic views of all wildlife sanctuaries in America, from Yellowstone, the Rockies, the Everglades, Alaska and much more! Beyond tons of great animal action and sound explanation of their biology and ecology, the series shares practical advice on how to observe wildlife in the outdoors and the importance of conservation.
While I consider this terrific family "edutainment", be informed that there are dramatic scenes of chases and predation that are bloody and often ends with the cute animal being killed and eaten by a predator. While most adult nature enthusiasts understand this is an essential facet of animal life, such scenes could upset young children. In any case, the narration consistently reminds of the ecological imperative of predation and avoids sensationalism, so in fact it might be a good way to introduce your kids to "animal violence".
This is a labour of love and a celebration of wildlife. "Wild America" was a series that always respected the natural world and the intelligence of the audience. Highly recommended!

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Marty Stouffer's Wild America was the first wildlife and nature series to focus exclusively on the wild animals and wild lands of North America. Now for the first time ever, you can own all 12 seasons of the Wild America Specials in one box set. Hosted by award-winning wildlife photographer and premier naturalist Marty Stouffer, the series featured footage of mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and insects throughout the entire continent. Bring the guided journey into your home and witness the vast wonders and infinite diversity of nature first hand, exactly as it was originally shown on PBS. Marty Stouffer's Wild America is a family-friendly series that parents and children can enjoy together as they learn about nature.

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Frontline: Country Boys (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)I first saw "Country Boys" one evening after groggily scrolling through the channels until I got to PBS. There, I found an "docudrama" about two appalachian boys called Cody and Chris, following their trials and tribulations while attending a private high school. So engrossed was I, I watched the next two "installments," staying up past my "bedtime" to do so. Now, of course, I won't have to stay up beause I just ordered this beautiful film on DVD.
"Country Boys" had all the fixin's for being a "pitying" film. That is, it is a film about two poor boys attending a school for the academically struggling in Eastern Kentucky. Cody does not have parents (his father murdered his mother when he was very young.) Chris had an alcoholic father and a mother trying to make it any way she can. But far from pitying its subjects, we get to see not only the dark side, but the bright side, of each boy's life. We get to see not only failures (there are some of those), but successes. You will think about these boys and this town long after the 6 hours of film is over.
What really affected me about the film was that you get a real sense not only of who these boys are, but what the community is like. From the close-knit family that is the David School (the private high school for the acedemically challenged) to Cody and Chris's respective support "networks," you see both the ugliness and beauty that is Appalachia.
This is one of the few films that I have had trouble not thinking too much about after it was over. Now, all I have to do is wait for the DVD to come.


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Filmmaker David Sutherland ("The Farmer's Wife") returns to PBS with a moving portrait of the trials and triumphs of Chris Johnson and Cody Perkins, two teenaged boys coming of age in eastern Kentucky's Appalachian hills. Filmed over three years (1999-2002), the six-hour documentary tracks the dramatic stories of Chris and Cody from ages 15 to 18.

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Hyperspace (2002) Review

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(More customer reviews)This program shows that these two words can, and in fact must be related. Over 3 hours of space related knowledge divided into 6 shows focus on various space themes from the "SETI search program" to "What does a Black Hole look like" to "Will we ever colonize Mars?". Produced with state of the art computer images that enhance the presentation and make it fun, Hyperspace is deeply rooted in scientific knowledge, but doesn't leave out the always present "what if..." - as opposed to many other similar documentaries. Interviews with experts from all around the globe in the different fields covered in the programs make them reliable and informative. Sam Neill hosting takes the viewer by the hand and kindly places him/her inside the video. With his soft, convincing tone he could turn the yellow pages into poetry ;) This has to be the greatest documentary of this kind that I have ever seen. Once you sit down to watch it you will not want to stop. Hope they make another run of six! If you're into space exploration and knowing our universe, you can't let this one pass.

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HYPERSPACE - DVD Movie

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The Powder and the Glory Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm a no-makeup kind of gal, so I was a little skeptical about hearing the story of two women who revolutionized makeup for the modern woman. But the story of two women who built rival business empires and lived their quirky lives just a few blocks from each other (without ever meeting face to face) was irresistable. We all need to know more about women who have "made it" in a man's world. And this video was so masterfully done that by the end I felt I actually knew Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden. I loved the transitional visual, showing a gorgeous face as a blank canvas that changed over the decades as makeup styles changed. The occasional animated sequences were witty and amusing - like little "Betty Boop" interludes. And I learned a lot - a whole lot - about makeup and the whole mystique surrounding it. Hats off to Ann Carol Grossman and Arnie Reisman for putting this fascinating production together.

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The Powder & the Glory tells the story of two of the first highly successful women entrepreneurs in America, Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein. One hundred years ago these women immigrated to the United States and, starting with next to nothing, created what is today the $150 billion global health and beauty industry.

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Haunted Histories Collection: America's Most Haunted Places Review

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(More customer reviews)Haunted History visits Tombstone, Washington, D.C., Savannah, Hawaii, and Chicago to find out the local ghost. Chicago forgets to mention it's most famous ghost, Resurrection Mary but you can find it on the much better dvd Unsolved Mystery's Ghosts Stories. I watched most of the dvds but I found it just too damn boring and most stories seem rushed and could have been fleshed out more. If your a fan of ghost stories I prefer you pick up A Haunting or Unsolved Mystery's Best of Ghost Stories. I believe Haunted History did visit most of all the states just type in Haunted History and a state on Amazon to find if they did your state. The will be releasing this as part of a "mega-set" and i'd recommend that instead if you must buy the set.

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Tour some of America s most haunted destinations, from the remote, beautiful, and enchanting hot spot of Hawaii to the windy city of Chicago, Illinois, where ghosts are said to prowl the shores of Lake Michigan, in this frightening 5-DVD set.Featuring in-depth profiles of the world s scariest stories, the collection also travels to Savannah, Georgia, an elegant Southern city where spirits have been known to lurk in the bucolic façade; the sun-baked desert of Tombstone, Arizona; and the famous landmarks of Washington, D.C. Hear from people who claim to have been attacked by the warrior spirits of long-departed Hawaiians. Learn how the spirit of Abraham Lincoln; the presence of Ulysses S. Grant; and the ghosts of first ladies, military heroes, and famous politicians are still seen and felt in our nation s capital, once called the greatest town for ghosts in the country. And take a memorable tour of one of the Old West s most infamous towns, where history is soaked in blood, and the past lingers on in paranormal ways.The collection includes:Haunted TombstoneHaunted Washington, D.C.Haunted SavannahHaunted HawaiiHaunted Chicago

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Michael Palin - Himalaya Review

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(More customer reviews)Palin seems to have been infected by the mountain air - he absolutely bounds with giddy dleight through this series!
Recently, Palin's most recent travel documentaries have been watched and received with great anticipation, but there is an air of 'tiredness' hanging over them - emphasised more by the fact Palin's first efforts, "Around the world in 80 days" and "Pole to Pole" are being regularly shown now on cable channels, reminding us of his infectious enthusiasm, delight in mixing with the local people and response to seeing new things. By the time he completed "Full Circle," it was clear the travel was beginning to burn him out - and "Full Circle" was a monumental volume of work!
But with Himalaya, I am pleased to say he is back in fine form, he seems to absolutely delight in meeting and chatting with the people of the Himalaya's. He joins in their celebrations, their lives. The editing is superb - the majestic and breathtaking beauty of the landscape a constant reminder to pack one's bags and go! Its also great to see him and his guide hooked up with wireless microphones so now there are shots of them strolling through market places and you get to see more of the people going about their daily business around them as opposed to earlier days when shots of Palin with his guide would have had to been close ups to accomodate the (hidden) microphone overhead. It all adds up to one slick and very entertaining program!
The music is also magical - why isn't it out on CD?!
This maybe the last travel documentary by Palin, but he went out on a magnificent high point - literally I guess! This is defintely the best thing he has been in since "Around the world in 80 days" and I can't imagine anyone not wanting to pack their bags and go and see these sights for themselves after this show! I truly envy Palin and the opportunity he has been given with these shows, but he makes up for that the best travel documentaries ever made - I applaud him and everyone in the making of Himalaya - fantastic!

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Hot on the heels of his adventures in the Sahara, Michael Palin takes on the abode of snow and begins a 2000-mile journey across this mighty and majestic region of Asia. Encountering extremes of wealth and poverty, altitude and freezing cold, he once again brings his unique wit, charm and wisdom to each of 6 episodes. Along the way he encounters, among many others, the Dalai Lama, the Bhutanese Royal Family and the once feared head hunting tribe of the Konyak. While on his travels he passes through Afghanistan, across India to the feared Death Zone near the base of Mount Everest and then onto the Bhutanese capital before arriving in the Bay of Bengal.DVD Features:InterviewsIntroduction

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