XAvenger's stats
- Review count169
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- First reviewSeptember 6, 2007
- Last reviewDecember 27, 2013
- Featured reviews2
- Average rating5
- Review comment count3
- Helpfulness votes2
- First review commentSeptember 24, 2011
- Last review commentOctober 12, 2011
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![Alien [20th Anniversary Edition] [DVD] [1979]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/prescaled/500/500/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/304b2327-370a-41e7-956a-951dd4939472.png)
"In space no one can hear you scream," and in Alien it was the start of a sci-fi horror series. The film is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and looks to be in excellent shape. The colors and black level (there are a lot of them) are clear and concise without any major imperfections or defects marring the image. Overall, Fox has done a fantastic job at making sure this transfer is the best it will ever look. The soundtrack is presented in a newly created Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround soundtrack in English, as well as Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround in French and English. The new 5.1 mix works well within the confines of the film, utilizing both surround sounds and directional effects. Since the soundtrack is more creepy than bombastic, the directional sounds and background noises are often subtle and very eerie. All aspects of the dialogue, effects, and music are free of any excessive hiss or distortion. Also included on this disc are English and Spanish subtitles. Fox has produced a fine batch of extras for this first-ever DVD edition of Alien, starting with a commentary track with director Ridley Scott. This is a fantastic audio track that features Scott discussing multiple stories about the casting, production, and story. Two isolated music tracks featuring composer Jerry Goldsmith's score should please film music fans, while a bunch of deleted scenes/outtakes allow the viewer to see what ended up on the cutting-room floor. Finally there is an extensive still gallery with well over 450 photos and concepts, as well as cast and crew biographies, production notes, theatrical trailers, TV spots, and an eight-page collectable booklet inside the DVD case.
Customer Rating
5
In Space, this movie can make you scream
on October 22, 2009
Posted by: XAvenger
This is one of the best. A superb blending of the sci-fi and horror genres. A mining crew finds a derilict alien ship and unwittingly brings a parasitic alien onboard thier ship.
All of the characters are very well-developed. The crew acts more like everyday people than astronauts, which is one thing that sets Alien apart from other sci-fi films. The Alien itself is one of moviedom's most amazing creation. The Alien looks like something from out of a nightmare. The Alien does not look at all like a man in a suit, but like something inhuman. A truly frightening creation. All of the visual effects are outstanding and still hold up today.
Alien focuses on suspense rather than shock, and it is one of the most gripping movies ever made. The battle against an unknown enemy creates a scary, life and death struggle. The susoense does not let up.
Alien is not a gruesomely violent movie, but it does warrant its 'R' rating.
For horror and suspense in outer space, Alien is the best around by far.
What's great about it: One of the best sci-fi movies ever
What's not so great: Nothing
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Posted by: XAvenger
This is one of my favorite movies.
Ghostbusters follows a team of scientists who become supernatural exterminators. The team cleans up ghosts plauging New York City and come face to face with a monster bent on destroying the world.
Ghostbusters is played for laughs and is one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Dan Ackroyd and Ernie Hudson all do great jobs as the Ghostbusters. The movie also has some nice visual effects, they may look dated but in the mid-80's these were Oscar worthy visual effects. The creature designers did a superb job in creating monsters that were scary enough to be taken seriously but not so frightening that they look out of place in a comedy.
Ghostbusters is a film the entire family can enjoy. Action, fun and laughs all in a single movie. Ghostbusters is one for the ages.
What's great about it: A great comedy
What's not so great: Nothing really
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Criterion produces yet another excellent release of an Akira Kurosawa film with their version of Throne of Blood. The film is presented in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The Japanese soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Mono. It would be accurate to say the film has never looked or sounded better on home video. English subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include a commentary by Japanese cinema scholar Michael Jeck, an essay written by an author who has written extensively about Kurosawa, two different versions of the English subtitles and a featurette on the process of creating subtitles, and the original theatrical trailer. This disc will be of great interest to anyone with a love of cinema.
Customer Rating
5
Shakespeare reimagined by Kurosawa
on October 22, 2009
Posted by: XAvenger
Throne of Blood ranks as one of Akira Kurosawa's finest samurai epics. In this movie, Kurosawa takes the tale of MacBeth and sets it in feudal Japan.
Throne of Blood weaves a tale of suspense, betrayal and the supernatural centered on an ill-fated samurai named Washizu. The legendary Toshiro Mifune gives a hypnotic performace as the tortured samurai Washizu, a man tortured by his own ambition as well as by forces beyond this world.
Direction, writing and set design are tremendous and really draw you into the world of Throne of Blood. The costuming is especially gorgeous. The sets and costumes are all perfectly faithful to the period in which Throne of Blood is set.
There are a few problems with image quality here and there, owing to the age and condition of the source material. Also, I would have liked to have seen a feature of the making of the film and a feature about the era the film was set in. The liner notes are nice, but I would have liked some more information about the making and setting of the film.
Throne of Blood is one of the best films to ever come out of Japan. Watch it for yourself and see why Akira Kurosawa is still regarded as one of the world's best film makers.
What's great about it: One of Kurosawa's best
What's not so great: Some source material issues, not enough extras that I would have liked
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Masaki Kobayashi's stylish horror film Kwaidan comes to DVD with a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1. The Japanese soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Mono. English subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include the original theatrical trailer. Although there are few extras, the quality of the sound and picture on this release continue to show why Criterion is one of the best names in DVD.
Customer Rating
5
A landmark acheivement
on October 14, 2009
Posted by: XAvenger
This is truly one of the finest motion pictures ever made. Kwaidan is based on a Japanese novel of the same name. The movie adaptation tells four stories of the supernatural all set in feudal Japan. Imagine a Japanese 'Twilight Zone' and you have the general idea. It's almost three hours long, but does not feel like a long movie. It moves at a nice pace and draws you into its scary world.
Each tale is chilling without being gory or overly violent, focusing more on story and atmosphere than blood and gore. The set design is truly astounding, each set piece creates the impression of looking into another world without the need for extensive visual effects. In one segment, clouds and the Moon look like the eyes of angry gods glaring at the people below. In another, it looks like the sky itself is on fire.
The acting is as fantastic as the visuals. Each actor is perfectly matched to his or her role and does a superb job as thier respective characters. From frightening spirits to ordinary folk, Kwaidan boasts a diverse and talented cast.
I would recommend Kwaidan to any fan of Japanese movies. This is sure to add prestige to any collection.
I would have had a second extras DVD in this set. Some nice extra features would have been a documentary on the making of Kwaidan, a biography on the author, Yakamo Koizumi and some info of Japanese hisory to put the stories into context. There are some isolated problems with the image quality. You can see grain and lines on the film stock in a limited number of scenes, but this is not persistent.
I would strongly recommend this DVD. Kwaidan is a marvel.
What's great about it: A stunning realization of a classic of Japanese literature
What's not so great: Some isolated source material issues
I would recommend this to a friend!
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20th Century Fox finally does right and delivers to Region 1 customers what Europeans have been enjoying for quite some time before this -- the two-disc Predator: Collector's Edition DVD! Save for packaging and some clips about the Alien vs. Predator knock-down-drag-out flick (which the disc was undoubtedly released to promote), the content is an exact transfer from the Region 2 disc that some region-free savvy customers have already indulged in. For many though, this stuff is all new -- finally, a disc that lives up to the blockbuster film that spawned a series. Also released in a full-screen edition, this disc comes with a superb anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen image and both DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks. The audio tracks have taken a bit of heat in the past for minor annoyances (directional gunfire is a bit off), while the dialogue can be a tad on the soft side, though for the most part, the mix works and delivers where the goods count. Disc one comes with the film and two commentary tracks -- one with director John McTiernan and the other, a text commentary from a film historian and most of the main crew. McTiernan isn't known to be the most engaging fellow on earth, though if you can get past his sullen mood, then there will be plenty to learn from this aging director as he looks back on his second feature. Disc two is packed with extras that every Predator fan will love, starting with the 30-minute "If It Bleeds, We Can Kill It" documentary. With interviews spanning almost the entire cast and crew, the grueling behind-the-scenes tales of the production are fleshed out in extreme detail -- from the catastrophe of the original monster costume (worn by none other by the "Muscles From Brussels" himself, Jean-Claude Van Damme!) to the sweltering heat and jungle infections, it's one heck of a tale and a nice documentary to boot. Seven featurettes are listed in the "Inside the Predator" menu, each ranging from tributes to Kevin Peter Hall (the big man inside the suit) to good old "Painless" -- Jesse Ventura's Gatling gun. With even more sections dedicated to the FX of the film (including some brief glimpses of the first suit -- Ouch!), one deleted and basically unneeded scene for you to chew on, some outtakes, and a flurry of galleries for you to enjoy, there's more than enough extra stuff on this disc to make it worthwhile. Add in the trailer, and you have one massive two-disc with enough on-set interviews and hidden Easter eggs to keep any film buff occupied for an entire afternoon.
Customer Rating
5
Perhaps the ultimate Schwarzeneggar movie
on October 14, 2009
Posted by: XAvenger
This is a great action movie. Exciting and suspenseful.
In this movie, Arnold Schwarzeneggar plays the leader of a special forces unit sent to rescue VIPs captured by Central american rebels. They are then hunted down by an invisible alien (the 'Predator').
The action sequences are fast paced and explosive, making for some exciting viewing. I loved the visual effects for the Predator's stealth field. There's a cool rippling effect so you can almost see him but not quite. The Predator himself looks very cool and very scary, one of the best alien/monster make-ups I've ever seen. The late, great Stan Winston outdid himself with the creature designs in this movie.
There's also Schwarzennegar's trademark oneliners ('If it bleeds we can kill it.'). Lots of action, great visuals, some nice oneliners makes for the perfect DVD if you just want to kick back and watch a fun movie.
The second disc has lots of extras on the production of the movie.
Predator does have violent scenes, but I do not consider it to be sxcessively violent. It does, however, warrant its 'R' rating.
What's great about it: Exciting action and excellent visual effects
What's not so great: Nothing comes to mind
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5
The best of the Mummy movies
on October 10, 2009
Posted by: XAvenger
This is the Mummy movie to watch! Far superior to any sequel or remake!
This version tells the story of the evil Imhotep, a sorcerer cursed by a Pharoh many centuries ago and brought back to life today (meaning 1932 when the movie was made).
Boris Karloff turns in a terrifying performance as Imhotep, the undead villain. There are many truly frightening scenes in this movie, all without being violent or gory. Karloff's fine performance and the superb directing of The Mummy makes this one of the best suspense films ever made.
The extras include a documentary on the making of the Mummy and on the films enduring legacy. Very informative.
There are problems with background noise and some image quality problems here and there. Plus a couple isolated scenes are missing a frame or two, but this will not diminish your enjoyment of the Mummy.
For a true classic of horror and suspense, The Mummy stands the test of time and is still one of the best.
What's great about it: Classic horror from Universal
What's not so great: Some source material problems
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5
Brilliant horror classic
on October 9, 2009
Posted by: XAvenger
This is the movie that set the standard for all Frankenstein movies to follow. It is also one of the true pioneers of the horror genre.
This version tells the familiar tale of a scientist (Dr. Frankenstein) who dared to conquer life and death. Colin Clive's portrayal of Dr. Frankenstein is what set the groundwork for all 'Mad Scientist' characters. He gives an electrifying performance as a driven, but not entirely crazed man. Dr. Frankenstein had much greater depth and complexity than a cliched 'Mad Scientist'. We get to see his family life and learn a few details about his past and what led him to conduct such an extreme experiment. We see him more as a misguided person than a lunatic.
As for Boris Karloff's performance as the monster, this was a briliant performance. The moster looks grotesque and frightening, but Karloff makes the moster sympathetic. He plays the monster not as a villain but as a victim and we really come to feel for the unfortunate creature.
The special effects were state of the art by 1930's standards and some still hold up, particularly the make-up on Karloff. This is the mosty famous monster make-up in movies and he still looks ghastly today.
The DVD extras are all informative and tell the history of not just this movie but of Universal's classic horror movies as a whole.
The only problems stem from the age of the source material. Universal did a great job with the restoration, but this is still a nearly 80 year old movie. There is background noise, some problems with the film stock and a missing frame or two in one scene. Despite this, the DVD is still highly enjoyable to watch.
This is the perfect Halloween movie. Scary and suspenseful but not gory and violent. If you are interested in classic movies, you need this in your collection.
What's great about it: The best Frankenstein ever
What's not so great: source material issues here and there
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5
One of my favorite Marvel super-heroes
on October 8, 2009
Posted by: XAvenger
This movie tells the origin of Dr. Strange, one of Marvel's lesser known and more interesting characters. Dr. Strange does not have the recognition of say Spider-Man or Wolverine but I have always found him to be a fascinating character.
The story begins with Dr. Strange as a brilliant but arrogant physician. The movie shows us why he is so cold-hearted and chronicles his change from heartless doctor to someone who learns to care for his fellow man and who becomes a champion defending people against mystical threats. The plot is very well thought out and tells the story of a Sorcerer Supreme in a way that feels realistic (in the context of the movie).
The visuals are fantastic. There are many exciting action scenes with sorcerers casting a lot of very cool looking spells. The magic sequences are all very well drawn and superbly animated. The animation throughout is very good, a nice blend of cel and CG animation.
I would have liked to have seen a longer featurette on the history of Dr. Strange in comics with more input from Stan Lee, but that's the on;y complaint I have.
After seeing this movie, I want to see more Doctor Strange movies! This would be the perfect beginning for a series. I'd love to see an animated series with Doctor Strange or with the Defenders (A team Dr. Strange led in the Marvel comics. The other memebers included the Hulk, the Sub-Mariner and the Silver Surfer). Disney now owns Marvel comics, so there could be more Doctor Strange in the future.
What's great about it: Grerat animated feature about a great character
What's not so great: Would have liked to see more on the history of the character in the DVD extras
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Posted by: XAvenger
Here is a true classic. Dracula starring Bela Lugosi, the silver screen's finest Dracula.
This version sets the standard for all Dracula movie to follow. The movie is not graphically violent nor does it have any visual effect shots, but it is suspensful. It tells the familiar tale of Count Dracula, a great story of good vs. evil and tells it far better than any of the subsequent Dracula movies.
What makes this movie great is Bela Lugosi. He was the consummate Dracula. His stage presence was phenomenal and when the camera gives a close-up of Dracula's hypnotic stare, you cannot take your eyes off the screen. Lugosi's riveting performance makes this Dracula one of the best horror movies ever made.
The only problem with this DVD is that the source material shows its age. There is background noise and some image problems, but this will not detract from you enjoyment of the film.
An essential addition to any DVD collection.
What's great about it: Best Dracula movie ever made
What's not so great: Some source material issues
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5
Nice blend of military action and comedy
on October 5, 2009
Posted by: XAvenger
This collects the first two Full Metal Panic series: Full Metal Panic and Full Metal Panic Fummofu.
In Full Metal Panic, a young Japanese girl named Kaname Chidori possesses psychic powers and this makes her a target for terrorists. A secret mercenary army sends an agent named Sosuke Sagara to pose as a student in the high school Kaname attends and to protect her. What follows is a great mix of action and comedy. The action follows Sosuke's efforts to protect Kaname from the terroists and has some exciting combat and mecha scenes. The comedy is based on the fact that Souske can only think in military terms and is thus unable to fit in with ordinary society. Lots of hijinks and Kaname is always on hand to try to knock some sense into him.
FMP Fummofu is all comedy and is based on Souske's inability to fit in to normal society.
Both series are very well written and animated and feature some great characters. If you are into mecha but want a series that is more than just mindless robot fights, check out FMP.
Do not watch the English dub under any circumstances. The English voice cast ranges from inappropriately cast to annoying, the Japanese cast is far superior.
What's great about it: Top quality animation and story
What's not so great: English dub
I would recommend this to a friend!
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XAvenger's Review Comments
Relive the unforgettable moments and experience the spectacular adventure of STAR WARS the Complete Saga in a way only Blu-ray can deliver. This incredible collection unites all six Episodes together for the first time in stunning high definition with the purest digital sound in the galaxy. With over 40 hours of thrilling special features, including all-new content created exclusively for this , you can journey deeper into the Star Wars universe and discover more than ever before. Feel the Force of STAR WARS the Complete Saga on Blu-ray!
Overall
3 out of 5
3 out of 5Bad disc - TWICE
By QuoteMe
from Los Angeles, CA
About an hour into Episode II, the disc freezes a bit and seems to skip. Returned to store for a hassle free exchange. The same problem with the new disc at the exact same spot!!!! Haven't had a chance to view all the other discs but what a disappiontment. Question is do I exchange again or simply ask for a refund???? Anyone else have similar problem?
XAvenger
I've had no problems
September 24, 2011
You might want to try sending the discs to 20th Century Fox for a replacement.
I've had no problems whatsoever with any of the movies. Of course, I've plyed them on my PS3.
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Overall
1 out of 5
1 out of 5Good Movie If You Don't Have A Sony or Samsung
By Enchanter
from Trenton, MI
Lots of talk with the First Class movie not working with Sony. It would not work with my Sony BDP S350. Which is NOT 3D. I had to disable the internet connection "Do not allow disc to access internet" or some such. Then I had to delete the data file the Xmen movie had already installed when I tried to watch it the first time. This isn't easy either as it normally doesn't display the stored data in the setup menu. I had to do this by inserting an invalid disc. In this case the digital copy. Then I got the menu to delete the First Class data file. What a pain, I'm watching this now and it BETTER be good, lol. If your not up to this then get the DVD. Hope this helps someone.
XAvenger
October 12, 2011
I have had no problems with watching the Blu-Ray on my PS3 (a Sony player). You may want to update your firmware
+2points
2of 2voted this comment as helpful.
Relive the unforgettable moments and experience the spectacular adventure of STAR WARS the Complete Saga in a way only Blu-ray can deliver. This incredible collection unites all six Episodes together for the first time in stunning high definition with the purest digital sound in the galaxy. With over 40 hours of thrilling special features, including all-new content created exclusively for this , you can journey deeper into the Star Wars universe and discover more than ever before. Feel the Force of STAR WARS the Complete Saga on Blu-ray!
Overall
4 out of 5
4 out of 5Good value for the money. One BRD issue.
By burrisd
from Fredericksburg, VA
As a Star Wars fan I find this a good value for the money. I have a problem with the blu-ray discs, which is in no way a fault of Best Buy. Every single disc seems to enter a pause mode during the movie and then speeds up without audio. I have to stop playing the disc and restart it again. This happens regardless of which blu-ray player I use. Other than that, I would recommend this product.
XAvenger
October 12, 2011
I've had no problems with any of the Blu-Ray discs. I've been playing them on my PS3.
Your firmware may need to be updated.
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