Question: Is the main character a good character?

Firefly is a sad, sad story of a progressive, well written, well produced show that got booted way before it's time.  Fox television's decision to give the show the worst 'Real Estate' in prime time (Fridays at 8 PM), it's pre-empting by other shows and sports events, not playing the episodes in order and their refusal to promote the show beyond a few commercials surely contributed to it's low ratings.  It was hard to find and confusing to watch.  Never the less, critics praised it, and anyone who watches it (at least everyone I know, including my wife, who is not a Sci-Fi fan) loves it.  This show is a Greek Tragedy.  You could easily say this was the Star Trek for the next Millennium, a sci-fi 'western' that mirrored Gene Rodenberry's idea of 'Wagon Train in space'.  Not to say that the creator, Joss Whedon, was inspired by Star Trek, not at all.  Firefly is more liberal, and more relatable to the real world.  What shines is the cast and the writing.  The ingredients and settings are only slightly out of the ordinary, and in the hands of any average TV creator, would end up being bland and boring.  But the characters in Firefly are so well cast and the episodes so well written, that they stand out as real and tangible people who are cast together on this small ship for a purpose.The story takes place 500 years in the future, where a civil war has just ended and Capt Malcolm Reynolds has gathered together an eclectic crew to take on jobs in an old freighter ship called Serenity, Firefly class.  The ship is one of those So-Ugly-But-Cool, Hang-In-There-Old-Girl, She'll-hold-together, Rely-On-In-A-Pinch Flying buckets that everyone is so glad to see come over the horizon, that it's no wonder Whedon considers it the tenth character on the show.  Always low on fuel, its like the Millennium Falcon in Star Wars, it's destined to become a lovable freighter, and not a high tech ship of exploration.  The difference in characters of the human class is staggering.  You have a Two soldiers, the Captain and his second hand man...err woman, Zoe.  Zoe's husband Wash, who is the pilot.  A mercenary, Jayne, which is a great contrast when played by the muscle bound, 6'2" Adam Baldwin.  A registered companion, Inara.  Kaylee, the spunky young mechanic who loves her ship, but is obviously too young to know better.  A Doctor and his Sister, Simon and River, who are being pursued by the Alliance due to River's extreme mental intelligence.  And to add wisdom, there's Book, a holy man of the time who seems to be searching for himself.  The dynamics of the characters add to instructing personality studies and contrasts.  They find themselves with nothing in common and sometimes, everything in common when they need each other most.  The possibilities of this show are endless and Fox foolishly dropped it without giving it a fair chance.  The DVD contains all episodes including three that never aired.  The sound and picture quality are superb and the bonus features are great.  Everyone should give this show a chance, to see it for more than just the Sci-Fi aspect, more than just the space adventure, but as a study in character interaction as well.  If it gains popularity like the original Star Trek, maybe we'll be lucky and there will be a 'Next Generation' version in twenty years.

Answer: story of a progressive

<hl> Firefly is a sad, sad story of a progressive , well written, well produced show that got booted way before it's time. <hl> Fox television's decision to give the show the worst 'Real Estate' in prime time (Fridays at 8 PM), it's pre-empting by other shows and sports events, not playing the episodes in order and their refusal to promote the show beyond a few commercials surely contributed to it's low ratings. It was hard to find and confusing to watch. Never the less, critics praised it, and anyone who watches it (at least everyone I know, including my wife, who is not a Sci-Fi fan) loves it. This show is a Greek Tragedy. You could easily say this was the Star Trek for the next Millennium, a sci-fi 'western' that mirrored Gene Rodenberry's idea of 'Wagon Train in space'. Not to say that the creator, Joss Whedon, was inspired by Star Trek, not at all. Firefly is more liberal, and more relatable to the real world. What shines is the cast and the writing. The ingredients and settings are only slightly out of the ordinary, and in the hands of any average TV creator, would end up being bland and boring. But the characters in Firefly are so well cast and the episodes so well written, that they stand out as real and tangible people who are cast together on this small ship for a purpose. The story takes place 500 years in the future, where a civil war has just ended and Capt Malcolm Reynolds has gathered together an eclectic crew to take on jobs in an old freighter ship called Serenity, Firefly class. The ship is one of those So-Ugly-But-Cool, Hang-In-There-Old-Girl, She'll-hold-together, Rely-On-In-A-Pinch Flying buckets that everyone is so glad to see come over the horizon, that it's no wonder Whedon considers it the tenth character on the show. Always low on fuel, its like the Millennium Falcon in Star Wars, it's destined to become a lovable freighter, and not a high tech ship of exploration. The difference in characters of the human class is staggering. You have a Two soldiers, the Captain and his second hand man...err woman, Zoe. Zoe's husband Wash, who is the pilot. A mercenary, Jayne, which is a great contrast when played by the muscle bound, 6'2" Adam Baldwin. A registered companion, Inara. Kaylee, the spunky young mechanic who loves her ship, but is obviously too young to know better. A Doctor and his Sister, Simon and River, who are being pursued by the Alliance due to River's extreme mental intelligence. And to add wisdom, there's Book, a holy man of the time who seems to be searching for himself. The dynamics of the characters add to instructing personality studies and contrasts. They find themselves with nothing in common and sometimes, everything in common when they need each other most. The possibilities of this show are endless and Fox foolishly dropped it without giving it a fair chance. The DVD contains all episodes including three that never aired. The sound and picture quality are superb and the bonus features are great. Everyone should give this show a chance, to see it for more than just the Sci-Fi aspect, more than just the space adventure, but as a study in character interaction as well. If it gains popularity like the original Star Trek, maybe we'll be lucky and there will be a 'Next Generation' version in twenty years.

Firefly is a sad, sad <hl> story of a progressive <hl>, well written, well produced show that got booted way before it's time. Fox television's decision to give the show the worst 'Real Estate' in prime time (Fridays at 8 PM), it's pre-empting by other shows and sports events, not playing the episodes in order and their refusal to promote the show beyond a few commercials surely contributed to it's low ratings. It was hard to find and confusing to watch. Never the less, critics praised it, and anyone who watches it (at least everyone I know, including my wife, who is not a Sci-Fi fan) loves it. This show is a Greek Tragedy. You could easily say this was the Star Trek for the next Millennium, a sci-fi 'western' that mirrored Gene Rodenberry's idea of 'Wagon Train in space'. Not to say that the creator, Joss Whedon, was inspired by Star Trek, not at all. Firefly is more liberal, and more relatable to the real world. What shines is the cast and the writing. The ingredients and settings are only slightly out of the ordinary, and in the hands of any average TV creator, would end up being bland and boring. But the characters in Firefly are so well cast and the episodes so well written, that they stand out as real and tangible people who are cast together on this small ship for a purpose.The story takes place 500 years in the future, where a civil war has just ended and Capt Malcolm Reynolds has gathered together an eclectic crew to take on jobs in an old freighter ship called Serenity, Firefly class. The ship is one of those So-Ugly-But-Cool, Hang-In-There-Old-Girl, She'll-hold-together, Rely-On-In-A-Pinch Flying buckets that everyone is so glad to see come over the horizon, that it's no wonder Whedon considers it the tenth character on the show. Always low on fuel, its like the Millennium Falcon in Star Wars, it's destined to become a lovable freighter, and not a high tech ship of exploration. The difference in characters of the human class is staggering. You have a Two soldiers, the Captain and his second hand man...err woman, Zoe. Zoe's husband Wash, who is the pilot. A mercenary, Jayne, which is a great contrast when played by the muscle bound, 6'2" Adam Baldwin. A registered companion, Inara. Kaylee, the spunky young mechanic who loves her ship, but is obviously too young to know better. A Doctor and his Sister, Simon and River, who are being pursued by the Alliance due to River's extreme mental intelligence. And to add wisdom, there's Book, a holy man of the time who seems to be searching for himself. The dynamics of the characters add to instructing personality studies and contrasts. They find themselves with nothing in common and sometimes, everything in common when they need each other most. The possibilities of this show are endless and Fox foolishly dropped it without giving it a fair chance. The DVD contains all episodes including three that never aired. The sound and picture quality are superb and the bonus features are great. Everyone should give this show a chance, to see it for more than just the Sci-Fi aspect, more than just the space adventure, but as a study in character interaction as well. If it gains popularity like the original Star Trek, maybe we'll be lucky and there will be a 'Next Generation' version in twenty years.

Firefly is a sad, sad <hl> story of a progressive <hl> , well written, well produced show that got booted way before it's time.


Question: What is the people film?

It is so darn obvious that George Lucas made the new special editions for kids. The reason (I believe) Han shoots first is to show kids that it was in self defence, and that it's wrong for a good guy to shoot first and kill them if not in self defence.The Jabba scene in ANH is WAY out of place. For one the ROTJ Jabba is far bigger, and remember when Luke said the Falcon was a piece of junk? Well now that we have viewed the Falcon before this scene, it won't have the same impact. There are many other stupid changes in ANH (Like when Han chases the Storm Troppers they go into a dead end, or well, they did, when they see hundreds of other Storm Troopers doing something.)The Empire Strikes Back - despite being the worst of the original trilogy, has the less editing in it. The only parts that made me mad is taking out the "You're lucky you dont taste good R2" quote and the dialogue changed in the Vader/Emperor discussion. Other than that the changes were good.The ROTJ has the worse editing done. The Jabba the Hut music scene - I won't even acknolwedge it's DVD existence. And you all here about Hayden appearing as a ghost at the end and the crappy little shop of horrors sarlacc pit, so I am going to stop rambling on.Think about it, if one day Paul McCartney decided he did not like John Lennon's voice and decided to redub them all and destroyed all John Lennon (singing) CD's from existence, there would be a riot. Star Wars may have just as much as a punch in culture as the Beatles!

Answer: obvious

<hl> It is so darn obvious that George Lucas made the new special editions for kids. <hl> The reason (I believe) Han shoots first is to show kids that it was in self defence, and that it's wrong for a good guy to shoot first and kill them if not in self defence. The Jabba scene in ANH is WAY out of place. For one the ROTJ Jabba is far bigger, and remember when Luke said the Falcon was a piece of junk? Well now that we have viewed the Falcon before this scene, it won't have the same impact. There are many other stupid changes in ANH (Like when Han chases the Storm Troppers they go into a dead end, or well, they did, when they see hundreds of other Storm Troopers doing something.)The Empire Strikes Back - despite being the worst of the original trilogy, has the less editing in it. The only parts that made me mad is taking out the "You're lucky you dont taste good R2" quote and the dialogue changed in the Vader/Emperor discussion. Other than that the changes were good. The ROTJ has the worse editing done. The Jabba the Hut music scene - I won't even acknolwedge it's DVD existence. And you all here about Hayden appearing as a ghost at the end and the crappy little shop of horrors sarlacc pit, so I am going to stop rambling on. Think about it, if one day Paul McCartney decided he did not like John Lennon's voice and decided to redub them all and destroyed all John Lennon (singing) CD's from existence, there would be a riot. Star Wars may have just as much as a punch in culture as the Beatles!

It is so darn <hl> obvious <hl> that George Lucas made the new special editions for kids. The reason (I believe) Han shoots first is to show kids that it was in self defence, and that it's wrong for a good guy to shoot first and kill them if not in self defence.The Jabba scene in ANH is WAY out of place. For one the ROTJ Jabba is far bigger, and remember when Luke said the Falcon was a piece of junk? Well now that we have viewed the Falcon before this scene, it won't have the same impact. There are many other stupid changes in ANH (Like when Han chases the Storm Troppers they go into a dead end, or well, they did, when they see hundreds of other Storm Troopers doing something.)The Empire Strikes Back - despite being the worst of the original trilogy, has the less editing in it. The only parts that made me mad is taking out the "You're lucky you dont taste good R2" quote and the dialogue changed in the Vader/Emperor discussion. Other than that the changes were good.The ROTJ has the worse editing done. The Jabba the Hut music scene - I won't even acknolwedge it's DVD existence. And you all here about Hayden appearing as a ghost at the end and the crappy little shop of horrors sarlacc pit, so I am going to stop rambling on.Think about it, if one day Paul McCartney decided he did not like John Lennon's voice and decided to redub them all and destroyed all John Lennon (singing) CD's from existence, there would be a riot. Star Wars may have just as much as a punch in culture as the Beatles!


Question: How is style?

Hot-shot pilot moves in expensive, cutting edge fighter jets, wide-scenic shots of Tom Cruise on a motorcycle...get "Take My Breath Away" out of your head - we're talking about Oblivion here! While the similarities between Oblivion and Top Gun end at the aforementioned, there is no question that "Maverick" has all the right moves to portray galactic mechanic, Jack Harper in the most visually dazzling film of the year so far.Oblivion opens in 2077 after an alien threat has left Earth a barren wasteland fit only for extracting a few vital resources before humanity abandons the planet altogether to start a new existence on Saturn's largest moon, Titan. Cruise's Harper is a glorified serviceman who supervises and repairs the various resource-extraction devices along with his partner Victoria (Andrea Riseborough). As the two near the completion of their jobs on Earth, Harper begins having visions of his life prior to the mandatory memory-wipe that is required for service-workers. These visions lead him on a chain of events that cause him to question everything he thought he knew about his life.Director Joseph Kosinski creates a vividly rich and nuanced futuristic environment where much of the technology feels like what truly is on the horizon. Kosinski directed 2010's under-rated visual spectacle, Tron Legacy, and it is apparent that he has his finger on the pulse of crisp, sci-fi style. Narrative-wise, Oblivion is a much more complex story than is likely expected. The complexities do provide some depth to the film and force the audience to pay close attention; however, the juxtaposition between the style and the narrative is not smooth. Occasionally, the film is forced into a lull as it tries to tie up its intricate plot points without sacrificing its visual pageantry. This is most apparent in the scenes that develop the sub-plot involving a human resistance leader named Beech (Morgan Freeman) and a mysterious NASA survivor named Julia (Olga Kurylenko).Oblivion's chief attributes are clearly its visual elements. Freeman and Kurylenko's characters are thinly developed and the actors are mostly unremarkable. However, it is becoming more and more apparent that any film that features Morgan Freeman in any role is most likely not a bad movie. Thematically, the film is successful at developing some intriguing ideas about discovery and purpose. The film acts as a subtle homage to familiar films like Alien, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and even Wall-E. Speaking of familiar, the score is oddly reminiscent of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight films. This is simply an observation, but having Morgan Freeman in the film as well certainly makes one wonder if this is some form of statement. Regardless, while some will no doubt be puzzled or dissatisfied with the conclusion, Oblivion mostly works as an epic and visually alluring entry into the science-fiction canon. B+On a side note, seeing the film in IMAX or an XTREME screen is recommended as the film has so much to offer visually. Oblivion is rated PG-13 and runs 125 minutes.

Answer: the style and the narrative is not smooth

Hot-shot pilot moves in expensive, cutting edge fighter jets, wide-scenic shots of Tom Cruise on a motorcycle...get "Take My Breath Away" out of your head - we're talking about Oblivion here! While the similarities between Oblivion and Top Gun end at the aforementioned, there is no question that "Maverick" has all the right moves to portray galactic mechanic, Jack Harper in the most visually dazzling film of the year so far. Oblivion opens in 2077 after an alien threat has left Earth a barren wasteland fit only for extracting a few vital resources before humanity abandons the planet altogether to start a new existence on Saturn's largest moon, Titan. Cruise's Harper is a glorified serviceman who supervises and repairs the various resource-extraction devices along with his partner Victoria (Andrea Riseborough). As the two near the completion of their jobs on Earth, Harper begins having visions of his life prior to the mandatory memory-wipe that is required for service-workers. These visions lead him on a chain of events that cause him to question everything he thought he knew about his life. Director Joseph Kosinski creates a vividly rich and nuanced futuristic environment where much of the technology feels like what truly is on the horizon. Kosinski directed 2010's under-rated visual spectacle, Tron Legacy, and it is apparent that he has his finger on the pulse of crisp, sci-fi style. Narrative-wise, Oblivion is a much more complex story than is likely expected. <hl> The complexities do provide some depth to the film and force the audience to pay close attention; however, the juxtaposition between the style and the narrative is not smooth . <hl> Occasionally, the film is forced into a lull as it tries to tie up its intricate plot points without sacrificing its visual pageantry. This is most apparent in the scenes that develop the sub-plot involving a human resistance leader named Beech (Morgan Freeman) and a mysterious NASA survivor named Julia (Olga Kurylenko).Oblivion's chief attributes are clearly its visual elements. Freeman and Kurylenko's characters are thinly developed and the actors are mostly unremarkable. However, it is becoming more and more apparent that any film that features Morgan Freeman in any role is most likely not a bad movie. Thematically, the film is successful at developing some intriguing ideas about discovery and purpose. The film acts as a subtle homage to familiar films like Alien, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and even Wall-E. Speaking of familiar, the score is oddly reminiscent of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight films. This is simply an observation, but having Morgan Freeman in the film as well certainly makes one wonder if this is some form of statement. Regardless, while some will no doubt be puzzled or dissatisfied with the conclusion, Oblivion mostly works as an epic and visually alluring entry into the science-fiction canon. B+On a side note, seeing the film in IMAX or an XTREME screen is recommended as the film has so much to offer visually. Oblivion is rated PG-13 and runs 125 minutes.

Hot-shot pilot moves in expensive, cutting edge fighter jets, wide-scenic shots of Tom Cruise on a motorcycle...get "Take My Breath Away" out of your head - we're talking about Oblivion here! While the similarities between Oblivion and Top Gun end at the aforementioned, there is no question that "Maverick" has all the right moves to portray galactic mechanic, Jack Harper in the most visually dazzling film of the year so far.Oblivion opens in 2077 after an alien threat has left Earth a barren wasteland fit only for extracting a few vital resources before humanity abandons the planet altogether to start a new existence on Saturn's largest moon, Titan. Cruise's Harper is a glorified serviceman who supervises and repairs the various resource-extraction devices along with his partner Victoria (Andrea Riseborough). As the two near the completion of their jobs on Earth, Harper begins having visions of his life prior to the mandatory memory-wipe that is required for service-workers. These visions lead him on a chain of events that cause him to question everything he thought he knew about his life.Director Joseph Kosinski creates a vividly rich and nuanced futuristic environment where much of the technology feels like what truly is on the horizon. Kosinski directed 2010's under-rated visual spectacle, Tron Legacy, and it is apparent that he has his finger on the pulse of crisp, sci-fi style. Narrative-wise, Oblivion is a much more complex story than is likely expected. The complexities do provide some depth to the film and force the audience to pay close attention; however, the juxtaposition between <hl> the style and the narrative is not smooth <hl>. Occasionally, the film is forced into a lull as it tries to tie up its intricate plot points without sacrificing its visual pageantry. This is most apparent in the scenes that develop the sub-plot involving a human resistance leader named Beech (Morgan Freeman) and a mysterious NASA survivor named Julia (Olga Kurylenko).Oblivion's chief attributes are clearly its visual elements. Freeman and Kurylenko's characters are thinly developed and the actors are mostly unremarkable. However, it is becoming more and more apparent that any film that features Morgan Freeman in any role is most likely not a bad movie. Thematically, the film is successful at developing some intriguing ideas about discovery and purpose. The film acts as a subtle homage to familiar films like Alien, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and even Wall-E. Speaking of familiar, the score is oddly reminiscent of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight films. This is simply an observation, but having Morgan Freeman in the film as well certainly makes one wonder if this is some form of statement. Regardless, while some will no doubt be puzzled or dissatisfied with the conclusion, Oblivion mostly works as an epic and visually alluring entry into the science-fiction canon. B+On a side note, seeing the film in IMAX or an XTREME screen is recommended as the film has so much to offer visually. Oblivion is rated PG-13 and runs 125 minutes.

The complexities do provide some depth to the film and force the audience to pay close attention; however, the juxtaposition between <hl> the style and the narrative is not smooth <hl> .


Question: How adorable son the characters in the video?

This is one of those movies that have lots of little quirky things going on that make it delightful if you're observant.  Even if you need to be hit over the head with a joke, this movie has lots of those too.  Steve Carrell is great, characters are cute and likeable, story is interesting.  Nice, feel good movie for the whole family.

Answer: characters are cute and likeable

This is one of those movies that have lots of little quirky things going on that make it delightful if you're observant. Even if you need to be hit over the head with a joke, this movie has lots of those too. <hl> Steve Carrell is great, characters are cute and likeable , story is interesting. <hl> Nice, feel good movie for the whole family.

This is one of those movies that have lots of little quirky things going on that make it delightful if you're observant. Even if you need to be hit over the head with a joke, this movie has lots of those too. Steve Carrell is great, <hl> characters are cute and likeable <hl>, story is interesting. Nice, feel good movie for the whole family.

Steve Carrell is great, <hl> characters are cute and likeable <hl> , story is interesting.


Question: How is the story?

This is a good film to see. It's hard-hitting and there is a lot of violence. The main character is very cold, calculating and maniacal in his killing.

Answer: This is a good film to see. It's hard-hitting and there is a lot of violence

<hl> This is a good film to see. It's hard-hitting and there is a lot of violence . <hl> The main character is very cold, calculating and maniacal in his killing.

<hl> This is a good film to see. It's hard-hitting and there is a lot of violence <hl>. The main character is very cold, calculating and maniacal in his killing.

<hl> This is a good film to see. It's hard-hitting and there is a lot of violence <hl> .


Question: How did you think about the actor?

I really did enjoy the theatrical release of 'Fellowship' and thought that, along with many others, that New Line was doing 2 different DVD releases of the film to 'cash in' on the fans.I still decided to pick up the extended version, and I feel like it was a good use of my hard-earned money.First of all, the 30 extra minutes are well used, really expanding on the characters and the world of Middle Earth.  I don't really mind the fact that it's on two discs.  It's like the intermission that the epic films like 'Lawrence of Arabia' and 'Cleopatra' had.  It's a chance to stretch one's legs a bit.  It probably would have been impossible to fit the 4 commentaries, the Dolby 5.1 audio track, and a DTS audio track, along with the 3 1/2 hour film without the quality suffering. The picture and audio quality are great because the film is spread out a bit.The actors that were cast in this film are fantastic.  Ian McKellen, Christopher Lee, and Viggo Mortensen are particularly convincing in their roles.The commentaries are a treasure for the film buff or aspiring film maker.  It is facinating to hear 4 different angles on the film.The two discs of documentaries are superb.  I can't recall any DVD release covering the film making process in such detail.  Watching the documentaries makes me admire Peter Jackson even more than before.  He is a man who genuinely admires Tolkien's work.  He is not doing this to 'cash in'.  If he truly wanted to cash in, he could have just gone to Australia or England, found a sound stage and done the entire trilogy using sound stages and CGI. He didn't though.  He filmed the majority of the films on locations in his homeland, New Zealand, and many crews took many months recreating Middle Earth.  Peter Jackson has devoted several years to these films now and deserves the financial rewards that are coming to him.A truly enjoyable adventure and one that I look forward to reliving many times.  This set is one that really exhibits the capablities of the DVD format.

Answer: The actors that were cast in this film are fantastic

I really did enjoy the theatrical release of 'Fellowship' and thought that, along with many others, that New Line was doing 2 different DVD releases of the film to 'cash in' on the fans. I still decided to pick up the extended version, and I feel like it was a good use of my hard-earned money. First of all, the 30 extra minutes are well used, really expanding on the characters and the world of Middle Earth. I don't really mind the fact that it's on two discs. It's like the intermission that the epic films like 'Lawrence of Arabia' and 'Cleopatra' had. It's a chance to stretch one's legs a bit. It probably would have been impossible to fit the 4 commentaries, the Dolby 5.1 audio track, and a DTS audio track, along with the 3 1/2 hour film without the quality suffering. The picture and audio quality are great because the film is spread out a bit. <hl> The actors that were cast in this film are fantastic . <hl> Ian McKellen, Christopher Lee, and Viggo Mortensen are particularly convincing in their roles. The commentaries are a treasure for the film buff or aspiring film maker. It is facinating to hear 4 different angles on the film. The two discs of documentaries are superb. I can't recall any DVD release covering the film making process in such detail. Watching the documentaries makes me admire Peter Jackson even more than before. He is a man who genuinely admires Tolkien's work. He is not doing this to 'cash in'. If he truly wanted to cash in, he could have just gone to Australia or England, found a sound stage and done the entire trilogy using sound stages and CGI. He didn't though. He filmed the majority of the films on locations in his homeland, New Zealand, and many crews took many months recreating Middle Earth. Peter Jackson has devoted several years to these films now and deserves the financial rewards that are coming to him. A truly enjoyable adventure and one that I look forward to reliving many times. This set is one that really exhibits the capablities of the DVD format.

I really did enjoy the theatrical release of 'Fellowship' and thought that, along with many others, that New Line was doing 2 different DVD releases of the film to 'cash in' on the fans.I still decided to pick up the extended version, and I feel like it was a good use of my hard-earned money.First of all, the 30 extra minutes are well used, really expanding on the characters and the world of Middle Earth. I don't really mind the fact that it's on two discs. It's like the intermission that the epic films like 'Lawrence of Arabia' and 'Cleopatra' had. It's a chance to stretch one's legs a bit. It probably would have been impossible to fit the 4 commentaries, the Dolby 5.1 audio track, and a DTS audio track, along with the 3 1/2 hour film without the quality suffering. The picture and audio quality are great because the film is spread out a bit.<hl> The actors that were cast in this film are fantastic <hl>. Ian McKellen, Christopher Lee, and Viggo Mortensen are particularly convincing in their roles.The commentaries are a treasure for the film buff or aspiring film maker. It is facinating to hear 4 different angles on the film.The two discs of documentaries are superb. I can't recall any DVD release covering the film making process in such detail. Watching the documentaries makes me admire Peter Jackson even more than before. He is a man who genuinely admires Tolkien's work. He is not doing this to 'cash in'. If he truly wanted to cash in, he could have just gone to Australia or England, found a sound stage and done the entire trilogy using sound stages and CGI. He didn't though. He filmed the majority of the films on locations in his homeland, New Zealand, and many crews took many months recreating Middle Earth. Peter Jackson has devoted several years to these films now and deserves the financial rewards that are coming to him.A truly enjoyable adventure and one that I look forward to reliving many times. This set is one that really exhibits the capablities of the DVD format.

<hl> The actors that were cast in this film are fantastic <hl> .


Question: How is character?

Although I liked the first THOR, I thought that this one (based on the previews) would be really bad.  My husband got me to watch this one and it wasn't bad.  Not on my favorite movie list but for ladies that want to watch something with the hubby or boyfriend, this is one that will please both.

Answer: Although I liked the first THOR, I thought that this one (based on the previews) would be really bad

<hl> Although I liked the first THOR, I thought that this one (based on the previews) would be really bad . <hl> My husband got me to watch this one and it wasn't bad. Not on my favorite movie list but for ladies that want to watch something with the hubby or boyfriend, this is one that will please both.

<hl> Although I liked the first THOR, I thought that this one (based on the previews) would be really bad <hl>. My husband got me to watch this one and it wasn't bad. Not on my favorite movie list but for ladies that want to watch something with the hubby or boyfriend, this is one that will please both.

<hl> Although I liked the first THOR, I thought that this one (based on the previews) would be really bad <hl> .


Question: How is the production?

I saw the Broadway play and then I saw this movie. I enjoyed the movie even ,more. It was so touching and the acting in it is tremendous. I recommend this to everyone! You will certainly enjoy such a great production.

Answer: it is tremendous

I saw the Broadway play and then I saw this movie. I enjoyed the movie even ,more. <hl> It was so touching and the acting in it is tremendous . <hl> I recommend this to everyone! You will certainly enjoy such a great production.

I saw the Broadway play and then I saw this movie. I enjoyed the movie even ,more. It was so touching and the acting in <hl> it is tremendous <hl>. I recommend this to everyone! You will certainly enjoy such a great production.

It was so touching and the acting in <hl> it is tremendous <hl> .


Question: How is the depth?

After The Return of the King, the epic film genre had the bar set, even if it was a fantasy film based on a novel. No fantasy or epic film can match The Lord of the Rings trilogy, being perfect for a film and its deliverance (even if there are differences between it and the books). Middle Earth was created for us, it felt real, and still does when seeing the films. Now, there are other tales in the world of Lord of the Rings, and they've finally brought to the big screen The Hobbit, the prequel to The Lord of the Rings. Now, if anyone other than Peter Jackson was attached to The Hobbit, it would have failed on every level, as Peter Jackson is the only one who can truly take us into that fantastical world, along with the original crew of producers, writers and the composer (Howard Shore). Now, when it comes to The Hobbit, things are different from The Lord of the Rings. Now some people say that The Hobbit was a little too slow in the beginning, but if you compare the beginning to Fellowship of the Ring, they are the exact same pacing. The script is gold, being filled with funny quips, intense fright, and epic battle sequences. The acting was top-notch, especially when it came to Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield, the leader of the Company of Dwarves. Peter Jackson took the character (to those who've read the book, know he was more of a jerk) and made him a likeable warrior who is haunted by his past, by not being able to save Erebor, or so it seems. Peter Jackson is perfect once again, going back to the world that was pictured for us, and brings it back to life. The visual effects were great, but not as spectacular and "real" as Prometheus. The music was superb, being the classic Lord of the Rings, while adding a new theme from the "Misty Mountains". Now i do agree that making The Hobbit into a trilogy may stretch it thin, but from how An Unexpected Journey turned out, i'm starting to root for more because this place that Peter Jackson has brought to us can only be seen through J.R.R. Tolkien's writing, our imagination, or through the exceptional adaptation that Jackson has done. On par with Fellowship, for kick-starting a new journey that is neither darker, funnier, or lesser in any way.Overall, The Hobbit is a must-see for everyone who appreciates film, likes/loves Lord of the Rings and fantasy, and anyone who enjoys a great ride into imagination.

Answer: The script is gold

After The Return of the King, the epic film genre had the bar set, even if it was a fantasy film based on a novel. No fantasy or epic film can match The Lord of the Rings trilogy, being perfect for a film and its deliverance (even if there are differences between it and the books). Middle Earth was created for us, it felt real, and still does when seeing the films. Now, there are other tales in the world of Lord of the Rings, and they've finally brought to the big screen The Hobbit, the prequel to The Lord of the Rings. Now, if anyone other than Peter Jackson was attached to The Hobbit, it would have failed on every level, as Peter Jackson is the only one who can truly take us into that fantastical world, along with the original crew of producers, writers and the composer (Howard Shore). Now, when it comes to The Hobbit, things are different from The Lord of the Rings. Now some people say that The Hobbit was a little too slow in the beginning, but if you compare the beginning to Fellowship of the Ring, they are the exact same pacing. <hl> The script is gold , being filled with funny quips, intense fright, and epic battle sequences. <hl> The acting was top-notch, especially when it came to Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield, the leader of the Company of Dwarves. Peter Jackson took the character (to those who've read the book, know he was more of a jerk) and made him a likeable warrior who is haunted by his past, by not being able to save Erebor, or so it seems. Peter Jackson is perfect once again, going back to the world that was pictured for us, and brings it back to life. The visual effects were great, but not as spectacular and "real" as Prometheus. The music was superb, being the classic Lord of the Rings, while adding a new theme from the "Misty Mountains". Now i do agree that making The Hobbit into a trilogy may stretch it thin, but from how An Unexpected Journey turned out, i'm starting to root for more because this place that Peter Jackson has brought to us can only be seen through J.R.R. Tolkien's writing, our imagination, or through the exceptional adaptation that Jackson has done. On par with Fellowship, for kick-starting a new journey that is neither darker, funnier, or lesser in any way. Overall, The Hobbit is a must-see for everyone who appreciates film, likes/loves Lord of the Rings and fantasy, and anyone who enjoys a great ride into imagination.

After The Return of the King, the epic film genre had the bar set, even if it was a fantasy film based on a novel. No fantasy or epic film can match The Lord of the Rings trilogy, being perfect for a film and its deliverance (even if there are differences between it and the books). Middle Earth was created for us, it felt real, and still does when seeing the films. Now, there are other tales in the world of Lord of the Rings, and they've finally brought to the big screen The Hobbit, the prequel to The Lord of the Rings. Now, if anyone other than Peter Jackson was attached to The Hobbit, it would have failed on every level, as Peter Jackson is the only one who can truly take us into that fantastical world, along with the original crew of producers, writers and the composer (Howard Shore). Now, when it comes to The Hobbit, things are different from The Lord of the Rings. Now some people say that The Hobbit was a little too slow in the beginning, but if you compare the beginning to Fellowship of the Ring, they are the exact same pacing. <hl> The script is gold <hl>, being filled with funny quips, intense fright, and epic battle sequences. The acting was top-notch, especially when it came to Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield, the leader of the Company of Dwarves. Peter Jackson took the character (to those who've read the book, know he was more of a jerk) and made him a likeable warrior who is haunted by his past, by not being able to save Erebor, or so it seems. Peter Jackson is perfect once again, going back to the world that was pictured for us, and brings it back to life. The visual effects were great, but not as spectacular and "real" as Prometheus. The music was superb, being the classic Lord of the Rings, while adding a new theme from the "Misty Mountains". Now i do agree that making The Hobbit into a trilogy may stretch it thin, but from how An Unexpected Journey turned out, i'm starting to root for more because this place that Peter Jackson has brought to us can only be seen through J.R.R. Tolkien's writing, our imagination, or through the exceptional adaptation that Jackson has done. On par with Fellowship, for kick-starting a new journey that is neither darker, funnier, or lesser in any way.Overall, The Hobbit is a must-see for everyone who appreciates film, likes/loves Lord of the Rings and fantasy, and anyone who enjoys a great ride into imagination.

<hl> The script is gold <hl> , being filled with funny quips, intense fright, and epic battle sequences.


Question: How did you like the audio?

I loved the storyline of this movie.  And the picture quality and audio was GREAT.  But this was some of the worst acting I've seen... from pretty much everyone in the film.  It was distracting to me, and is why I gave it the "4".  I really can't fault anything else.

Answer: audio was GREAT

I loved the storyline of this movie. <hl> And the picture quality and audio was GREAT . <hl> But this was some of the worst acting I've seen... from pretty much everyone in the film. It was distracting to me, and is why I gave it the "4". I really can't fault anything else.

I loved the storyline of this movie. And the picture quality and <hl> audio was GREAT <hl>. But this was some of the worst acting I've seen... from pretty much everyone in the film. It was distracting to me, and is why I gave it the "4". I really can't fault anything else.

And the picture quality and <hl> audio was GREAT <hl> .


Question: How was film?

The negative reviews about crash is mostly non-sense. Crash is one of the best films produced by Hollywood in the last 10 years. I just viewed it for the second time and the movie still felt very intense. The message is simple and clear. No one can judge another human being. Everyone has good and bad. Both qualities will be shown throughout one's life. And racism is so much more than color of our skin. The movie shows that even a mother can be a racist toward her own children. I thought the film dealt with that truth very well. If a person watches this film and learns nothing or feels nothing, that is pretty sad.

Answer: the film dealt with that truth very well

The negative reviews about crash is mostly non-sense. Crash is one of the best films produced by Hollywood in the last 10 years. I just viewed it for the second time and the movie still felt very intense. The message is simple and clear. No one can judge another human being. Everyone has good and bad. Both qualities will be shown throughout one's life. And racism is so much more than color of our skin. The movie shows that even a mother can be a racist toward her own children. <hl> I thought the film dealt with that truth very well . <hl> If a person watches this film and learns nothing or feels nothing, that is pretty sad.

The negative reviews about crash is mostly non-sense. Crash is one of the best films produced by Hollywood in the last 10 years. I just viewed it for the second time and the movie still felt very intense. The message is simple and clear. No one can judge another human being. Everyone has good and bad. Both qualities will be shown throughout one's life. And racism is so much more than color of our skin. The movie shows that even a mother can be a racist toward her own children. I thought <hl> the film dealt with that truth very well <hl>. If a person watches this film and learns nothing or feels nothing, that is pretty sad.

I thought <hl> the film dealt with that truth very well <hl> .


Question: Does the costume design seem excellent?

"Zodiac" is brilliant! One of the best films of the year, thus far. The performances led by Jake Gyllenhaal (as Robert Graysmith, who also wrote the book that inspired the movie), Mark Ruffalo (as Inspector David Toschi, who also served as an inspiration behind the film "Bullitt" (1968) with Steve McQueen) and an impressive Robert Downey Jr. (as Paul Avery) are excellent. The directing by David Fincher (who has also directed "Seven" (1995) & "Panic Room" (2002) is excellent. The screenplay by James Vanderbilt (based on Graysmith's book) is excellent. The music by David Shire (who did the score to "All The President's Men" (1976) is excellent and the use of 70's songs are excellent. The cinematography by Harris Savides (who also did the cinematography to Fincher's "The Game" (1997) is excellent. The film editing by Angus Wall (who also film edited Fincher's "Panic Room" & Fincher's upcoming "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button" (2008) is excellent. The casting by Laray Mayfield (who also film edited Fincher's "Fight Club" (1999), "Panic Room", & the upcoming "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button" is excellent. The production design by Donald Graham Burt (who also did the upcoming "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button") is excellent. The art direction by Keith P. Cunningham is excellent. The set decoration by Victor J. Zolfo (who also did the upcoming "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button") is excellent. The costume design by Casey Storm is excellent. This is Fincher's best film since "Seven", and yes, it is overlong, but it is interesting and it makes you think and keeps you intrigued.

Answer: The costume design by Casey Storm is excellent

"Zodiac" is brilliant! One of the best films of the year, thus far. The performances led by Jake Gyllenhaal (as Robert Graysmith, who also wrote the book that inspired the movie), Mark Ruffalo (as Inspector David Toschi, who also served as an inspiration behind the film "Bullitt" (1968) with Steve McQueen) and an impressive Robert Downey Jr. (as Paul Avery) are excellent. The directing by David Fincher (who has also directed "Seven" (1995) & "Panic Room" (2002) is excellent. The screenplay by James Vanderbilt (based on Graysmith's book) is excellent. The music by David Shire (who did the score to "All The President's Men" (1976) is excellent and the use of 70's songs are excellent. The cinematography by Harris Savides (who also did the cinematography to Fincher's "The Game" (1997) is excellent. The film editing by Angus Wall (who also film edited Fincher's "Panic Room" & Fincher's upcoming "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button" (2008) is excellent. The casting by Laray Mayfield (who also film edited Fincher's "Fight Club" (1999), "Panic Room", & the upcoming "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button" is excellent. The production design by Donald Graham Burt (who also did the upcoming "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button") is excellent. The art direction by Keith P. Cunningham is excellent. The set decoration by Victor J. Zolfo (who also did the upcoming "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button") is excellent. <hl> The costume design by Casey Storm is excellent . <hl> This is Fincher's best film since "Seven", and yes, it is overlong, but it is interesting and it makes you think and keeps you intrigued.

"Zodiac" is brilliant! One of the best films of the year, thus far. The performances led by Jake Gyllenhaal (as Robert Graysmith, who also wrote the book that inspired the movie), Mark Ruffalo (as Inspector David Toschi, who also served as an inspiration behind the film "Bullitt" (1968) with Steve McQueen) and an impressive Robert Downey Jr. (as Paul Avery) are excellent. The directing by David Fincher (who has also directed "Seven" (1995) & "Panic Room" (2002) is excellent. The screenplay by James Vanderbilt (based on Graysmith's book) is excellent. The music by David Shire (who did the score to "All The President's Men" (1976) is excellent and the use of 70's songs are excellent. The cinematography by Harris Savides (who also did the cinematography to Fincher's "The Game" (1997) is excellent. The film editing by Angus Wall (who also film edited Fincher's "Panic Room" & Fincher's upcoming "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button" (2008) is excellent. The casting by Laray Mayfield (who also film edited Fincher's "Fight Club" (1999), "Panic Room", & the upcoming "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button" is excellent. The production design by Donald Graham Burt (who also did the upcoming "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button") is excellent. The art direction by Keith P. Cunningham is excellent. The set decoration by Victor J. Zolfo (who also did the upcoming "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button") is excellent. <hl> The costume design by Casey Storm is excellent <hl>. This is Fincher's best film since "Seven", and yes, it is overlong, but it is interesting and it makes you think and keeps you intrigued.

<hl> The costume design by Casey Storm is excellent <hl> .


Question: How is the quality of the film?

McConaughey has another solid performance.  Interesting story line.  A couple of slow spots throughout, but overall kept me involved.  Kid actors were super.

Answer: Interesting

Interesting story line.

McConaughey has another solid performance. <hl> Interesting story line. <hl> A couple of slow spots throughout, but overall kept me involved. Kid actors were super.

McConaughey has another solid performance. <hl> Interesting <hl> story line. A couple of slow spots throughout, but overall kept me involved. Kid actors were super.


Question: How is the visual effect?

Where to start with this review (Updated Review).I purchased this from Amazon because it had long been rumored that the original production of Dune filmed so much material that they could slice and rescast this movie into several adaptations.  Rumors of a 4+ hour adaptation abound and I have to admit, I saw a very long version of this movie on television but I think they just added commmercials to make it long.  Nonetheless, the promise of getting to see some of the previously unseen footage was enough to make me buy.  An interview on this extended DVD set clears up the mystery that there was never enough footage for 4+ hour version --- however this new release does include never before seen footage.I'll tell you what I like about the original:It made me think.  I was a teen when I saw the original movie and I hadn't read the book at that time.  I must say, this movie in its original form forced me to think and read into characters.When you see the original movie, the director did a phenomenal job of adapting the book to a movie and once you read the book you'll see the hard work that was put into this movie in its original form.  Lynch dropped subtle details into the movie that added to the mythology like small comments on thinking machines and how they were frowned upon etc that really made you wonder about this world.  The Orange Catholic bible etc.  Few movies out there and few directors were so careful to add so many small details to this work.  I don't know if Lynch was ever happy with the production but his efforts came through loud and clear to me.  However, due to the volume of work, the audience had to be an interested audience (this is not a hang your brain at door movie)....you have to watch everything and listen to everything because most things have a meaning.About the Flaws people see with this movie:Many people think its incomprehensible....You have to understand that the book Frank Herbert wrote is genius..  It bespeaks of the second coming of Christ only 10,000 years in the future.  The book is over 500 pages and then there are several additional books written by Herbert in the series that create a whole mythology around the world he created.  This is allot of ground for an audience to cover in a couple of hours.To add to this, you have to be versed in Science Fiction, Medieval Feudal Europe, The Catholic Church, Physics, Politics, Current Events (Intifada issues) & Middle Eastern Affairs, Mecantile Europe, Medieval life at court, and have an open mind & inventive mind and knowledge of several other areas.If you don't care for those topics or don't have time to know something about this, then this movie regardless of how they recast the movie, it will be incomprehensible and I recommend you steer well clear of the books as well.On the other hand, with a bit of reading and an open mind, this movie is reachable to most every 15 year old with a basic Western Education.About this Extended Edition ---The good:Getting the opportunity to see some previously unseen footage is worth the price of admission for this extended edition.  They did a good job in knitting the whole story by reslicing the material.  However, I would definitely call it somebody's else's Dune because the recutting definitely gives it a different feel and flavor.The case is slick and exactly what I would expect for a release to a global fanbase for what could be one of the greatest stories ever told.The extended edition is anamorphic widescreen which is a nice treat.  There are some cut scenes that are nice but no commentary or any nicer features that I could see.  They did have some nice interviews on how they did it, special effects, costumes etc that were a nice contextual extras.Now for the Bad:Some people did not like the original cut of movie and in response the studio, I think, tried to make this rendition more comprehensive by making extended edition in the hopes of engaging a wider audience....the original problem remains -- how to feed 6+ hours of details and content into 2 or so hours.In The old movie Urulan introduces the movie perfectly and then you cut to a simple communication between the "guild" which has them send a navigator to "demand" from the emperor details.  That original introduction was perfect....then you'd cut and see Urulan walk by as the Navigator arrived at the Emperor's palace.  An interraction between the Emperor and the Navigator shed so much light to the original movie and most of the context you need to get through it.In the new adaptation, you start off with an overly long cartoonish explanation that indeed doesn't shed enough light to really state what is at the heart of the problems the imperium faces (details that Lynch expertly peppered into the original with a casual comment here and there already).  Albeit this new intro has some very engaging cartoons, I think its still best to say less and force the audience to think...all the cartoon does is destroy mythology...but don't get me wrong, I appreciate the hard work they did in extending the movie and showing us more.Overall, I think the original movie where Urulan introduces the movie and then the cut to her at court in the original movie is perfect (not to mention that she's gorgeous....gorgeous princess introducing vs voice of some guy?) ---- even the sci fi channel adaptation ends with a beautiful fadeout where Urulan is left alone.  The original can't be beat.On packaging, I would've expected 2 or 3 CDs to go with the gorgesous case for the fans....but instead we get a single CD that you flip to get both versions of the movie.  This should've been 1 original, 1 extended, 1 extras CDs. It seems like they paid for the case and skimped on the CDs...I would've paid $29.99 for better packaging and extras.Overall:Not everyone likes all movies and this one is no different.  I am a believer as other reviewers have noted that Dune is a "love it or hate it affair." Indeed I have found this to be the case.  First you have to get this movie and then you have to apprecite it.  Many people don't even get to the "getting it part" for whatever reason....because they're turned off by sci fi, the graphic gothic nature of some scenes, or don't know about the various topics you have to know about etc.Personally, I think this extended edition is worth buying just for the extra scenes and some of the special featurettes.  I am however, still a huge fan of the original rendition and prefer it to this extended edition, the extended tv edition, and the sci fi channel miniseries.  I'll visit Lynch's Dune over any other to date.

Answer: this movie into several adaptations

<hl> Where to start with this review (Updated Review).I purchased this from Amazon because it had long been rumored that the original production of Dune filmed so much material that they could slice and rescast this movie into several adaptations . <hl> Rumors of a 4+ hour adaptation abound and I have to admit, I saw a very long version of this movie on television but I think they just added commmercials to make it long. Nonetheless, the promise of getting to see some of the previously unseen footage was enough to make me buy. An interview on this extended DVD set clears up the mystery that there was never enough footage for 4+ hour version --- however this new release does include never before seen footage. I'll tell you what I like about the original:It made me think. I was a teen when I saw the original movie and I hadn't read the book at that time. I must say, this movie in its original form forced me to think and read into characters. When you see the original movie, the director did a phenomenal job of adapting the book to a movie and once you read the book you'll see the hard work that was put into this movie in its original form. Lynch dropped subtle details into the movie that added to the mythology like small comments on thinking machines and how they were frowned upon etc that really made you wonder about this world. The Orange Catholic bible etc. Few movies out there and few directors were so careful to add so many small details to this work. I don't know if Lynch was ever happy with the production but his efforts came through loud and clear to me. However, due to the volume of work, the audience had to be an interested audience (this is not a hang your brain at door movie).... you have to watch everything and listen to everything because most things have a meaning. About the Flaws people see with this movie:Many people think its incomprehensible.... You have to understand that the book Frank Herbert wrote is genius.. It bespeaks of the second coming of Christ only 10,000 years in the future. The book is over 500 pages and then there are several additional books written by Herbert in the series that create a whole mythology around the world he created. This is allot of ground for an audience to cover in a couple of hours. To add to this, you have to be versed in Science Fiction, Medieval Feudal Europe, The Catholic Church, Physics, Politics, Current Events (Intifada issues) & Middle Eastern Affairs, Mecantile Europe, Medieval life at court, and have an open mind & inventive mind and knowledge of several other areas. If you don't care for those topics or don't have time to know something about this, then this movie regardless of how they recast the movie, it will be incomprehensible and I recommend you steer well clear of the books as well. On the other hand, with a bit of reading and an open mind, this movie is reachable to most every 15 year old with a basic Western Education. About this Extended Edition ---The good:Getting the opportunity to see some previously unseen footage is worth the price of admission for this extended edition. They did a good job in knitting the whole story by reslicing the material. However, I would definitely call it somebody's else's Dune because the recutting definitely gives it a different feel and flavor. The case is slick and exactly what I would expect for a release to a global fanbase for what could be one of the greatest stories ever told. The extended edition is anamorphic widescreen which is a nice treat. There are some cut scenes that are nice but no commentary or any nicer features that I could see. They did have some nice interviews on how they did it, special effects, costumes etc that were a nice contextual extras. Now for the Bad:Some people did not like the original cut of movie and in response the studio, I think, tried to make this rendition more comprehensive by making extended edition in the hopes of engaging a wider audience.... the original problem remains -- how to feed 6+ hours of details and content into 2 or so hours. In The old movie Urulan introduces the movie perfectly and then you cut to a simple communication between the "guild" which has them send a navigator to "demand" from the emperor details. That original introduction was perfect....then you'd cut and see Urulan walk by as the Navigator arrived at the Emperor's palace. An interraction between the Emperor and the Navigator shed so much light to the original movie and most of the context you need to get through it. In the new adaptation, you start off with an overly long cartoonish explanation that indeed doesn't shed enough light to really state what is at the heart of the problems the imperium faces (details that Lynch expertly peppered into the original with a casual comment here and there already). Albeit this new intro has some very engaging cartoons, I think its still best to say less and force the audience to think...all the cartoon does is destroy mythology...but don't get me wrong, I appreciate the hard work they did in extending the movie and showing us more. Overall, I think the original movie where Urulan introduces the movie and then the cut to her at court in the original movie is perfect (not to mention that she's gorgeous.... gorgeous princess introducing vs voice of some guy?) ---- even the sci fi channel adaptation ends with a beautiful fadeout where Urulan is left alone. The original can't be beat. On packaging, I would've expected 2 or 3 CDs to go with the gorgesous case for the fans.... but instead we get a single CD that you flip to get both versions of the movie. This should've been 1 original, 1 extended, 1 extras CDs. It seems like they paid for the case and skimped on the CDs... I would've paid $29.99 for better packaging and extras. Overall:Not everyone likes all movies and this one is no different. I am a believer as other reviewers have noted that Dune is a "love it or hate it affair." Indeed I have found this to be the case. First you have to get this movie and then you have to apprecite it. Many people don't even get to the "getting it part" for whatever reason....because they're turned off by sci fi, the graphic gothic nature of some scenes, or don't know about the various topics you have to know about etc. Personally, I think this extended edition is worth buying just for the extra scenes and some of the special featurettes. I am however, still a huge fan of the original rendition and prefer it to this extended edition, the extended tv edition, and the sci fi channel miniseries. I'll visit Lynch's Dune over any other to date.

Where to start with this review (Updated Review).I purchased this from Amazon because it had long been rumored that the original production of Dune filmed so much material that they could slice and rescast <hl> this movie into several adaptations <hl>. Rumors of a 4+ hour adaptation abound and I have to admit, I saw a very long version of this movie on television but I think they just added commmercials to make it long. Nonetheless, the promise of getting to see some of the previously unseen footage was enough to make me buy. An interview on this extended DVD set clears up the mystery that there was never enough footage for 4+ hour version --- however this new release does include never before seen footage.I'll tell you what I like about the original:It made me think. I was a teen when I saw the original movie and I hadn't read the book at that time. I must say, this movie in its original form forced me to think and read into characters.When you see the original movie, the director did a phenomenal job of adapting the book to a movie and once you read the book you'll see the hard work that was put into this movie in its original form. Lynch dropped subtle details into the movie that added to the mythology like small comments on thinking machines and how they were frowned upon etc that really made you wonder about this world. The Orange Catholic bible etc. Few movies out there and few directors were so careful to add so many small details to this work. I don't know if Lynch was ever happy with the production but his efforts came through loud and clear to me. However, due to the volume of work, the audience had to be an interested audience (this is not a hang your brain at door movie)....you have to watch everything and listen to everything because most things have a meaning.About the Flaws people see with this movie:Many people think its incomprehensible....You have to understand that the book Frank Herbert wrote is genius.. It bespeaks of the second coming of Christ only 10,000 years in the future. The book is over 500 pages and then there are several additional books written by Herbert in the series that create a whole mythology around the world he created. This is allot of ground for an audience to cover in a couple of hours.To add to this, you have to be versed in Science Fiction, Medieval Feudal Europe, The Catholic Church, Physics, Politics, Current Events (Intifada issues) & Middle Eastern Affairs, Mecantile Europe, Medieval life at court, and have an open mind & inventive mind and knowledge of several other areas.If you don't care for those topics or don't have time to know something about this, then this movie regardless of how they recast the movie, it will be incomprehensible and I recommend you steer well clear of the books as well.On the other hand, with a bit of reading and an open mind, this movie is reachable to most every 15 year old with a basic Western Education.About this Extended Edition ---The good:Getting the opportunity to see some previously unseen footage is worth the price of admission for this extended edition. They did a good job in knitting the whole story by reslicing the material. However, I would definitely call it somebody's else's Dune because the recutting definitely gives it a different feel and flavor.The case is slick and exactly what I would expect for a release to a global fanbase for what could be one of the greatest stories ever told.The extended edition is anamorphic widescreen which is a nice treat. There are some cut scenes that are nice but no commentary or any nicer features that I could see. They did have some nice interviews on how they did it, special effects, costumes etc that were a nice contextual extras.Now for the Bad:Some people did not like the original cut of movie and in response the studio, I think, tried to make this rendition more comprehensive by making extended edition in the hopes of engaging a wider audience....the original problem remains -- how to feed 6+ hours of details and content into 2 or so hours.In The old movie Urulan introduces the movie perfectly and then you cut to a simple communication between the "guild" which has them send a navigator to "demand" from the emperor details. That original introduction was perfect....then you'd cut and see Urulan walk by as the Navigator arrived at the Emperor's palace. An interraction between the Emperor and the Navigator shed so much light to the original movie and most of the context you need to get through it.In the new adaptation, you start off with an overly long cartoonish explanation that indeed doesn't shed enough light to really state what is at the heart of the problems the imperium faces (details that Lynch expertly peppered into the original with a casual comment here and there already). Albeit this new intro has some very engaging cartoons, I think its still best to say less and force the audience to think...all the cartoon does is destroy mythology...but don't get me wrong, I appreciate the hard work they did in extending the movie and showing us more.Overall, I think the original movie where Urulan introduces the movie and then the cut to her at court in the original movie is perfect (not to mention that she's gorgeous....gorgeous princess introducing vs voice of some guy?) ---- even the sci fi channel adaptation ends with a beautiful fadeout where Urulan is left alone. The original can't be beat.On packaging, I would've expected 2 or 3 CDs to go with the gorgesous case for the fans....but instead we get a single CD that you flip to get both versions of the movie. This should've been 1 original, 1 extended, 1 extras CDs. It seems like they paid for the case and skimped on the CDs...I would've paid $29.99 for better packaging and extras.Overall:Not everyone likes all movies and this one is no different. I am a believer as other reviewers have noted that Dune is a "love it or hate it affair." Indeed I have found this to be the case. First you have to get this movie and then you have to apprecite it. Many people don't even get to the "getting it part" for whatever reason....because they're turned off by sci fi, the graphic gothic nature of some scenes, or don't know about the various topics you have to know about etc.Personally, I think this extended edition is worth buying just for the extra scenes and some of the special featurettes. I am however, still a huge fan of the original rendition and prefer it to this extended edition, the extended tv edition, and the sci fi channel miniseries. I'll visit Lynch's Dune over any other to date.

Where to start with this review (Updated Review).I purchased this from Amazon because it had long been rumored that the original production of Dune filmed so much material that they could slice and rescast <hl> this movie into several adaptations <hl> .


Question: How is the  editing?

yes, this film does give you an "insider's view" on the world of wrestling (the steroids, the wear and tear on a body after years of pounding, the party lifestyle).  But all this is really just a back-drop to the human drama.In a up and down career, Rourke reaches the top starring as "Ram" Robinson, a semi-retired professional wrestler who's glory days are behind him.  He is now struggling to pay his bills.  He lives alone in a mobile home.  He has a daughter he hasn't seen in years.  And he has heart disease.Given this reality, he tries to re-establish a bond with his daughter, and also to try to engage in a relationship with a stripper he frequently visits, played by Marisa Tomei (also very good in this movie).  Their scenes together are the best in the movie.  This has to be Tomei's best role in years.  Also, the scenes with Rourke and his daughter (played by Evan Rachel Wood) are realistic and touching.A good film which shows the struggles in life that we all go through as we get older.  Great acting, interesting characters.* Highly recommended *

Answer: yes, this film does give you an "insider's view" on the world of wrestling

<hl> yes, this film does give you an "insider's view" on the world of wrestling (the steroids, the wear and tear on a body after years of pounding, the party lifestyle). <hl> But all this is really just a back-drop to the human drama. In a up and down career, Rourke reaches the top starring as "Ram" Robinson, a semi-retired professional wrestler who's glory days are behind him. He is now struggling to pay his bills. He lives alone in a mobile home. He has a daughter he hasn't seen in years. And he has heart disease. Given this reality, he tries to re-establish a bond with his daughter, and also to try to engage in a relationship with a stripper he frequently visits, played by Marisa Tomei (also very good in this movie). Their scenes together are the best in the movie. This has to be Tomei's best role in years. Also, the scenes with Rourke and his daughter (played by Evan Rachel Wood) are realistic and touching. A good film which shows the struggles in life that we all go through as we get older. Great acting, interesting characters. * Highly recommended *

<hl> yes, this film does give you an "insider's view" on the world of wrestling <hl> (the steroids, the wear and tear on a body after years of pounding, the party lifestyle). But all this is really just a back-drop to the human drama.In a up and down career, Rourke reaches the top starring as "Ram" Robinson, a semi-retired professional wrestler who's glory days are behind him. He is now struggling to pay his bills. He lives alone in a mobile home. He has a daughter he hasn't seen in years. And he has heart disease.Given this reality, he tries to re-establish a bond with his daughter, and also to try to engage in a relationship with a stripper he frequently visits, played by Marisa Tomei (also very good in this movie). Their scenes together are the best in the movie. This has to be Tomei's best role in years. Also, the scenes with Rourke and his daughter (played by Evan Rachel Wood) are realistic and touching.A good film which shows the struggles in life that we all go through as we get older. Great acting, interesting characters.* Highly recommended *


Question: How is one better?

This prooves that a sequel can be better than the original. X-2 really improves on the first film and it finally gives us the Wolverine that we have seen in the comic book. Hugh Jackman did a fine job in the first film but he didn't really fight as well as Wolverine did in the comic. It was great to see him cut threw his opponents with such ease in this film because it makes him more like the comic book Wolverine that we alll loved and admired as kids.The acting and the story were great. I thought the Phoenix/Dark Phoenix Saga hint at the end was cool but I was hoping they would save that story for X4 or X5. I really can't wait to see Gambit in X3. I hope the rumors are true that Christian Kane from TV's "Angel" will play Gambit. Gambit was the only thing that was missing from this film.Please give us a different villain in X3. I always love Magneto but I would like to see the X-men face the Sentinels or a new villain. I hope the Hellfire Club or the Shadow King can appear in one of the next X-men films because they are good villains. The Brood would also be cool.Buy this if you love the X-men and be sure to look for the weird "Wrath of Khan" Similarities.

Answer: sequel can be better

<hl> This prooves that a sequel can be better than the original. X-2 really improves on the first film and it finally gives us the Wolverine that we have seen in the comic book. <hl> Hugh Jackman did a fine job in the first film but he didn't really fight as well as Wolverine did in the comic. It was great to see him cut threw his opponents with such ease in this film because it makes him more like the comic book Wolverine that we alll loved and admired as kids. The acting and the story were great. I thought the Phoenix/Dark Phoenix Saga hint at the end was cool but I was hoping they would save that story for X4 or X5. I really can't wait to see Gambit in X3. I hope the rumors are true that Christian Kane from TV's "Angel" will play Gambit. Gambit was the only thing that was missing from this film. Please give us a different villain in X3. I always love Magneto but I would like to see the X-men face the Sentinels or a new villain. I hope the Hellfire Club or the Shadow King can appear in one of the next X-men films because they are good villains. The Brood would also be cool. Buy this if you love the X-men and be sure to look for the weird "Wrath of Khan" Similarities.

This prooves that a <hl> sequel can be better <hl> than the original. X-2 really improves on the first film and it finally gives us the Wolverine that we have seen in the comic book. Hugh Jackman did a fine job in the first film but he didn't really fight as well as Wolverine did in the comic. It was great to see him cut threw his opponents with such ease in this film because it makes him more like the comic book Wolverine that we alll loved and admired as kids.The acting and the story were great. I thought the Phoenix/Dark Phoenix Saga hint at the end was cool but I was hoping they would save that story for X4 or X5. I really can't wait to see Gambit in X3. I hope the rumors are true that Christian Kane from TV's "Angel" will play Gambit. Gambit was the only thing that was missing from this film.Please give us a different villain in X3. I always love Magneto but I would like to see the X-men face the Sentinels or a new villain. I hope the Hellfire Club or the Shadow King can appear in one of the next X-men films because they are good villains. The Brood would also be cool.Buy this if you love the X-men and be sure to look for the weird "Wrath of Khan" Similarities.


Question: How is extra?

John Carpenter's Halloween is perhaps the most brilliant horror film in the history of cinema. What makes this movie so impressive is the fact that the the filmmakers constructed such an excellent film with such few resources. It is guarunteed to make sleep with the lights on. This DVD in particular is especially good because of the special features. The documentaries are as much fun to watch as the film itself. It most definately worth the buy even if you have never seen it.

Answer: the fact that

John Carpenter's Halloween is perhaps the most brilliant horror film in the history of cinema. <hl> What makes this movie so impressive is the fact that the the filmmakers constructed such an excellent film with such few resources. <hl> It is guarunteed to make sleep with the lights on. This DVD in particular is especially good because of the special features. The documentaries are as much fun to watch as the film itself. It most definately worth the buy even if you have never seen it.

John Carpenter's Halloween is perhaps the most brilliant horror film in the history of cinema. What makes this movie so impressive is <hl> the fact that <hl> the the filmmakers constructed such an excellent film with such few resources. It is guarunteed to make sleep with the lights on. This DVD in particular is especially good because of the special features. The documentaries are as much fun to watch as the film itself. It most definately worth the buy even if you have never seen it.


Question: How is the plot?

Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace is how the Star Wars saga began. The way this movie connects to the others is amazing. We see the young Obi-Wan Kenobi and his master Qui-Gon Jinn. We see the Sith, Darth Sidious and Darth Maul, who revelaed themselve to the Jedi for the first time in a millenia here. We see Palpatine living a double life as the good-hearted Senator from Naboo and as Darth Sidious. We see him manipulate the Senate in order to set his massive plan to take over the Republic into motion. We see the young Anakin Skywalker, who's fate is the evil Darth Vader, but who will eventually bring balance to the Force.Surely these things are enough to win over the Jar Jar haters. The good things in this movie greatly outweigh the bad. The lightsaber duel is suspensful, the space battle is exciting, the Gungan/Droid battle is amazing, the pod race is suspenseful, the special effects are dazzling, the music is moving and the story is intriguing.To know the true story of the Star Wars saga as a whole is to accept the Phantom Menace for what the great movie it is.

Answer: the Star Wars saga as a whole is to accept

Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace is how the Star Wars saga began. The way this movie connects to the others is amazing. We see the young Obi-Wan Kenobi and his master Qui-Gon Jinn. We see the Sith, Darth Sidious and Darth Maul, who revelaed themselve to the Jedi for the first time in a millenia here. We see Palpatine living a double life as the good-hearted Senator from Naboo and as Darth Sidious. We see him manipulate the Senate in order to set his massive plan to take over the Republic into motion. We see the young Anakin Skywalker, who's fate is the evil Darth Vader, but who will eventually bring balance to the Force. Surely these things are enough to win over the Jar Jar haters. The good things in this movie greatly outweigh the bad. The lightsaber duel is suspensful, the space battle is exciting, the Gungan/Droid battle is amazing, the pod race is suspenseful, the special effects are dazzling, the music is moving and the story is intriguing. <hl> To know the true story of the Star Wars saga as a whole is to accept the Phantom Menace for what the great movie it is. <hl>

Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace is how the Star Wars saga began. The way this movie connects to the others is amazing. We see the young Obi-Wan Kenobi and his master Qui-Gon Jinn. We see the Sith, Darth Sidious and Darth Maul, who revelaed themselve to the Jedi for the first time in a millenia here. We see Palpatine living a double life as the good-hearted Senator from Naboo and as Darth Sidious. We see him manipulate the Senate in order to set his massive plan to take over the Republic into motion. We see the young Anakin Skywalker, who's fate is the evil Darth Vader, but who will eventually bring balance to the Force.Surely these things are enough to win over the Jar Jar haters. The good things in this movie greatly outweigh the bad. The lightsaber duel is suspensful, the space battle is exciting, the Gungan/Droid battle is amazing, the pod race is suspenseful, the special effects are dazzling, the music is moving and the story is intriguing.To know the true story of <hl> the Star Wars saga as a whole is to accept <hl> the Phantom Menace for what the great movie it is.


Question: How was the scene?

Ben Affleck can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned.  Despite the bad reviews for several films he's made,  I think he has evolved into a wonderful actor and this film was no different.  Plus, he directed.  It was intense and kept my attention.  Additionally, it was a true story (not just some make believe adaptation of a "true" story), one I did not know had occurred (I knew the other hostages were freed at the 11th hour of President Carter's presidency, by military action from the USA, something Carter was never acknowledged for doing.)  I highly recommend it.

Answer: It was intense

It was intense and kept my attention.

Ben Affleck can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned. Despite the bad reviews for several films he's made, I think he has evolved into a wonderful actor and this film was no different. Plus, he directed. <hl> It was intense and kept my attention. <hl> Additionally, it was a true story (not just some make believe adaptation of a "true" story), one I did not know had occurred (I knew the other hostages were freed at the 11th hour of President Carter's presidency, by military action from the USA, something Carter was never acknowledged for doing.) I highly recommend it.

Ben Affleck can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned. Despite the bad reviews for several films he's made, I think he has evolved into a wonderful actor and this film was no different. Plus, he directed. <hl> It was intense <hl> and kept my attention. Additionally, it was a true story (not just some make believe adaptation of a "true" story), one I did not know had occurred (I knew the other hostages were freed at the 11th hour of President Carter's presidency, by military action from the USA, something Carter was never acknowledged for doing.) I highly recommend it.


Question: How do you like the movie?

It surprised everyone how well this film did at the box office.First Disney film that has had a successful soundtrack in years.I enjoyed the film.  Couple of times I thought I was watching "Pocahontas"  due to the music in two scenes.Beautiful animation.Now, here are the problems I have with this:This film was so successful BUT Disney did NOT release a 3D edition to this?  2013's "Planes" that was not successful at the box office got a 3D blu ray release, but not this huge film?  Makes no sense & beware:  they will release one in the future.I like to watch “Making Of” specials on DVD"s & blu rays, so I wanted to watch this one.  Spoiler alert:  NOT ONE HERE, A MISLEADING BIT.  The bit WOULD have worked for me IF the Making Of actually followed it.  But no making one & I will NOT be watching that on this package again.So, enjoyed the film but disappointed in this blu ray package.

Answer: enjoyed the film

I enjoyed the film .

It surprised everyone how well this film did at the box office. First Disney film that has had a successful soundtrack in years. <hl> I enjoyed the film . <hl> Couple of times I thought I was watching "Pocahontas" due to the music in two scenes. Beautiful animation. Now, here are the problems I have with this:This film was so successful BUT Disney did NOT release a 3D edition to this? 2013's "Planes" that was not successful at the box office got a 3D blu ray release, but not this huge film? Makes no sense & beware: they will release one in the future. I like to watch “Making Of” specials on DVD"s & blu rays, so I wanted to watch this one. Spoiler alert: NOT ONE HERE, A MISLEADING BIT. The bit WOULD have worked for me IF the Making Of actually followed it. But no making one & I will NOT be watching that on this package again. So, enjoyed the film but disappointed in this blu ray package.

It surprised everyone how well this film did at the box office.First Disney film that has had a successful soundtrack in years.I <hl> enjoyed the film <hl>. Couple of times I thought I was watching "Pocahontas" due to the music in two scenes.Beautiful animation.Now, here are the problems I have with this:This film was so successful BUT Disney did NOT release a 3D edition to this? 2013's "Planes" that was not successful at the box office got a 3D blu ray release, but not this huge film? Makes no sense & beware: they will release one in the future.I like to watch “Making Of” specials on DVD"s & blu rays, so I wanted to watch this one. Spoiler alert: NOT ONE HERE, A MISLEADING BIT. The bit WOULD have worked for me IF the Making Of actually followed it. But no making one & I will NOT be watching that on this package again.So, enjoyed the film but disappointed in this blu ray package.


Question: How was the story?

I first saw this film after buying the DVD and I wasn't disappointed. The thing that I loved most about this film was that it wasn't just another "kung fu" film. The story was wonderful and beautifally acted.  I can't understand why anyone wouldn't like this film. I guess "Dude where is my car?" might be your cup of tea.  Can't allow our art to make us think now can we?Ignore the naysayers and purchase this film immediately.

Answer: was wonderful and beautifally acted

I first saw this film after buying the DVD and I wasn't disappointed. The thing that I loved most about this film was that it wasn't just another "kung fu" film. <hl> The story was wonderful and beautifally acted . <hl> I can't understand why anyone wouldn't like this film. I guess "Dude where is my car?" might be your cup of tea. Can't allow our art to make us think now can we?Ignore the naysayers and purchase this film immediately.

I first saw this film after buying the DVD and I wasn't disappointed. The thing that I loved most about this film was that it wasn't just another "kung fu" film. The story <hl> was wonderful and beautifally acted <hl>. I can't understand why anyone wouldn't like this film. I guess "Dude where is my car?" might be your cup of tea. Can't allow our art to make us think now can we?Ignore the naysayers and purchase this film immediately.

The story <hl> was wonderful and beautifally acted <hl> .