Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!: The Complete First and Second Seasons

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!: The Complete First and Second Seasons
Don Messick (Actor), Casey Kasem (Actor), Joseph Barbera (Director), William Hanna (Director) | Format: DVD
607% Sales Rank in Movies & TV: 262 (was 1,853 yesterday)
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The whodunit format was a daring new frontier for an animated series, but the members of the Mystery Inc. team have grown to become authentic popular-culture icons. To solve their newest mystery - finding the most awesome Scooby-Doo DVD ever, with 25 vintage episodes and snackin? good extras on 4 discs - you need only follow this simple clue: you?re holding it!Chuck Jones and other great studio animators sneered at the cheap look and lazy craftsmanship of Hanna Barbera's television cartoons in the 1960s, but there's no question HB's original, 35-year-old Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! is enduringly beloved. The Complete First and Second Seasons includes all 25 stories first broadcast from September '69 to October '71, a growth period in which canine hero Scooby's voice (by Don Messick, who also voiced The Jetsons's pup, Astro) was gradually refined from murky garble to Scoob's more familiar, "Rrroowwrr"-inflected, human-like speech. This set also represents the pre-frills Scooby-Doo: no guest appearances by Don Knotts or Batman, no Scrappy-Doo--just adventure and occasional bubblegum pop tunes by Danny Janssen and sundry co-writers (e.g., "Pretty Mary Sunlite" in the episode "Don't Fool with a Phantom").

Watching all the shows back-to-back reveals evolving complexity in the scripts. Over time, Scooby-Doo's creators added multiple bad guys in cahoots with major villains, and developed sub-plots, backstories, and even appealing allies and friends of Mystery, Inc., a traveling band of young debunkers of supernatural phenomena. Riding around in their psychedelic Mystery Van, preppie leader Fred and his friends--haughty Daphne, brainy Velma, quasi-hippie Shaggy, and Shaggy's best pal, Scooby, an excitable Great Dane--chase down and are chased by alleged ghouls who generally turn out to be venal humans running various scams.

Included here is Scooby-Doo's premiere, "What a Night for a Knight," in which the gang looks into the disappearance of a noted archaeologist and end up in a "haunted" museum. The fun "Go Away Ghost Ship" finds our heroes helping a shipping company daunted by the apparent ghost of pirate Red Beard, while the silly classic "A Tiki Scare Is No Fair" concerns a Hawaiian vacation for Mystery, Inc. disrupted by a witch doctor. --Tom Keogh Read more

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The Bridge on the River Kwai [Blu-ray]

The Bridge on the River Kwai [Blu-ray]
William Holden (Actor) | Format: Blu-ray
79,072% Sales Rank in Movies & TV: 29 (was 22,960 yesterday)
(210)

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Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 06/07/2011 Run time: 161 minutes Rating: PgDirector David Lean's masterful 1957 realization of Pierre Boulle's novel remains a benchmark for war films, and a deeply absorbing movie by any standard--like most of Lean's canon, The Bridge on the River Kwai achieves a richness in theme, narrative, and characterization that transcends genre.

The story centers on a Japanese prison camp isolated deep in the jungles of Southeast Asia, where the remorseless Colonel Saito (Sessue Hayakawa) has been charged with building a vitally important railway bridge. His clash of wills with a British prisoner, the charismatic Colonel Nicholson (Alec Guinness), escalates into a duel of honor, Nicholson defying his captor's demands to win concessions for his troops. How the two officers reach a compromise, and Nicholson becomes obsessed with building that bridge, provides the story's thematic spine; the parallel movement of a team of commandos dispatched to stop the project, led by a British major (Jack Hawkins) and guided by an American escapee (William Holden), supplies the story's suspense and forward momentum.

Shot on location in Sri Lanka, Kwai moves with a careful, even deliberate pace that survivors of latter-day, high-concept blockbusters might find lulling--Lean doesn't pander to attention deficit disorders with an explosion every 15 minutes. Instead, he guides us toward the intersection of the two plots, accruing remarkable character details through extraordinary performances. Hayakawa's cruel camp commander is gradually revealed as a victim of his own sense of honor, Holden's callow opportunist proves heroic without softening his nihilistic edge, and Guinness (who won a Best Actor Oscar, one of the production's seven wins) disappears as only he can into Nicholson's brittle, duty-driven, delusional psychosis. His final glimpse of self-knowledge remains an astonishing moment--story, character, and image coalescing with explosive impact.

Like Lean's Lawrence of Arabia, The Bridge on the River Kwai has been beautifully restored and released in a highly recommended widescreen version that preserves its original aspect ratio. --Sam Sutherland

Stills from The Bridge on the River Kwai (click for larger image)

Beyond The Bridge on the River Kwai

The David Lean Collection

WWII 60th Anniversary Collection

The True Story of the Bridge on the River Kwai (History Channel)

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Swamp People: Season 1

Swamp People: Season 1
Albert " (Actor), Butch" (Actor), The History Channel (Director) | Format: DVD
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Season one of SWAMP PEOPLE takes you on a journey to the bayous and swamplands of America's southern heartland to witness a group of people that live on the fringes of society. They are the swamp people, and their distinct culture has its roots in the early days of America's expansion westward. The descendants of moonshiners, immigrant railroad workers and early settlers, the swamp people have inherited a legacy of self-reliance and anti-establishment values that make them true American originals, hidden from the view of the mainstream. HISTORY follows these swampers through a time of year that is crucial to their survival: alligator hunting season. At its core, this is a uniquely American story of a proud and skillful people fighting to maintain an ancient way of life in a rapidly modernizing world, despite the many perils and trials that stand in their way.

BONUS FEATURES: Additional Footage

DISC 1: Big Head Bites It / Houdini's Last Escape / Troy's Gamble / Cannibal Gator

DISC 2: Forces of Nature / Family Feuds / Swamp Wars / Gator Voodoo

DISC 3: Final Countdown / The Last Battle / Bonus Read more

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Hanna [Blu-ray]

Hanna [Blu-ray]
Eric Bana (Actor), Tom Hollander (Actor) | Format: Blu-ray
259% Sales Rank in Movies & TV: 310 (was 1,113 yesterday)
Release Date: September 6, 2011

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An action-packed suspense-thriller starring Academy Award nominee Saoirse Ronan (Atonement The Lovely Bones) Hanna is “an exuberant chase thriller that pulses with energy!” (Justin Chang Variety) Raised by her father (Eric Bana) an ex-CIA agent in the wilds of Finland Hanna’s upbringing and training have been one and the same all geared to making her the perfect assassin. The turning point in her adolescence is a sharp one. Sent into the world by her father on a mission Hanna journeys stealthily across Europe eluding agents dispatched after her by a ruthless intelligence operative with secrets of her own (Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett). As she nears her ultimate target Hanna faces startling revelations about her existence in a movie critics are calling “exhilarating audacious and boldly original!” (Karen Durbin Elle)Starring: Saoirse Ronan Eric Bana Cate Blanchett Tom Hollander Olivia Williams Jason Flemyng Jessica BardenDirected by: Joe Wright Read more

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Jesse Stone: No Remorse

Jesse Stone: No Remorse
Tom Selleck (Actor), Kathy Baker (Actor) | Format: DVD
154% Sales Rank in Movies & TV: 197 (was 502 yesterday)
(100)

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Tom Selleck reprises his role as Jesse Stone, the anguished and relentless former police Chief in the small town of Paradise, Massachusetts. While in self-imposed seclusion following his suspension from the Paradise Police Force, a mysterious series of related murders in nearby Boston draws Stone back into the fold. Before long, he’s following a crooked path that leads to none other than the city’s most notorious crime boss Gino Fish (William Sadler).

Based upon characters created in best-selling author Robert B. Parker’s Jesse Stone books. Co-starring William Devane and Kathy Baker, Jesse Stone: No Remorse is a trip to Paradise that you will not want to miss! No Remorse, the sixth entry in the made-for-TV series of Jesse Stone mysteries featuring Robert B. Parker's small-town police chief, is another satisfying blend of detective thrills and character drama, anchored by coproducer-cowriter Tom Selleck's typically fine turn as Stone. Picking up shortly after the events of the previous Stone film, Thin Ice, the action finds Stone struggling with suspension from the force and his alcohol issues; intervention from old friend Commander Healy (Stephen McHattie) gets him back on his feet and on the trail of a serial killer preying on young men. Stone and his deputies (Kathy Baker and Kohl Sudduth) uncover a trail that leads them to Boston mob boss Gino Fish (William Sadler), whose secret past may uncover the guilty party. Meanwhile, Stone has to deal with a rash of convenience store robberies that have turned deadly, as well as his ex-wife and relationship issues with his new dog, Reggie. Though the tone is a bit darker than previous Stone features, and the resolution of the convenience store subplot somewhat rushed, the performances, led by Selleck and abetted by an all-pro supporting cast (which includes William Devane as Stone's shrink and Saul Rubinek as the hapless Hasty Hathaway), are engaging, and the direction by Robert Harmon top-notch. Sadly, No Remorse was the last Jesse Stone film to see production during Parker's lifetime, but under Selleck's stewardship, fans can rest assured that Jesse Stone will continue in good hands. The widescreen DVD offers no extras. --Paul Gaita Read more

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The Smurfs Season 2, Vol. 1: True Blue Friends

The Smurfs Season 2, Vol. 1: True Blue Friends
Ral Aldana (Actor), Francisco Colmenero (Actor) | Format: DVD
189% Sales Rank in Movies & TV: 217 (was 628 yesterday)
(18)

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The Smurfs are a group of over 100 bluish, three-apple tall creatures who live in the mushroom homes of Smurf Village. They are led by 543-year-old Papa Smurf (who doesn't look a day over 530). Their lives would be perfect were it not for the villainous Gargamel, a wizard who spends his days trying to capture them to eat, turn into gold, or for other evil reason. Gargamel's cat Azrael adds to the menace, always looking for a smurfalicious snack.. Its Season Two, Vol. 1 of Smurf Adventures, the Emmy-winning animated series [Outstanding Childrens Entertainment Series 1982-83] that delighted Saturday morning cartoon fans for nearly a decade.Beloved in Europe for almost 20 years before they became a toy and marketing hit on American shores, Belgian cartoonist Peyo's industrious and charming Smurfs were a natural choice for Saturday morning TV. Though simplistic by today's animation standards, the quarter-century-plus since their U.S. TV debut has not diminished the key ingredient to the Smurfs' enduring appeal: their unflappably upbeat demeanor, which helps Papa Smurf, Smurfette, and the rest of the clan overcome the schemes of their chief rival, the evil wizard Gargamel. True Blue Friends contains five episodes from the second season: "S-Shivering S-Smurfs," "Turncoat Smurf," "The Smurf Who Couldn't Say No," "The Haunted Castle," and "The Black Hellebore." --Paul Gaita Read more

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Pocahontas (10th Anniversary Edition)

Pocahontas (10th Anniversary Edition)
Irene Bedard (Actor), Judy Kuhn (Actor), Mike Gabriel (Director), Eric Goldberg (Director) | Format: DVD
115% Sales Rank in Movies & TV: 277 (was 597 yesterday)
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All the music, adventure, and colorful fun of Disney's POCAHONTAS come to life like never before in the 10th Anniversary Edition 2-Disc Set. Bursting with all the "Colors Of The Wind," POCAHONTAS tells the story of a free-spirited girl who wonders what adventures await "Just Around The Riverbend." Pocahontas -- along with her playful pals Meeko and Flit -- relies on the guidance of her loving and wise Grandmother Willow when English settlers arrive on the shores of their village. Her chance meeting with the courageous Captain John Smith leads to a beautiful friendship that bridges the gap between two cultures, and changes history. Now fully restored, POCAHONTAS includes the song "If I Never Knew You," and never-before-seen animation seamlessly integrated into the original film. This 2-Disc 10th Anniversary Edition is loaded with spectacular bonus features, all-new games, and soaring Academy Award(R)-winning music (1995 Best Original Musical Score, Best Original Song, "Colors Of The Wind"). Disney's POCAHONTAS is a fun-filled adventure your whole family will enjoy.Disney's take on this historical confrontation between European settlers and Native Americans follows the paths of two future lovers. One is British adventurer John Smith, who travels the Atlantic with the Virginia Company to establish Jamestown. On the shore is Pocahontas, a typical Disney heroine: bright, beautiful, mischievous, and motherless. The two meet in the untamed wilds of America (the first meeting is quite divine), fall in love, and try to ward off the warring factions. It's Disney's version of a Native American West Side Story. Two Disney trademarks do not quite muster up: the villain isn't hissable and the score's only high point is the Oscar-winning "Colors of the Wind." Calling it "historical" is a stretch, but Disney created a very natural look at the two cultures. The Native American characters are handled especially well, and kids should be intrigued by their world; the movie is a far different lesson from the one their parents and grandparents learned. Disney has discovered a few things, though: you don't have to kill to solve your problems, and you can end the film without a happily-ever-after, illustrated by a touching final visual. (Ages 5 and older) --Doug Thomas Read more

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The Smurfs - Season One, Vol. One

The Smurfs - Season One, Vol. One
Lucille Bliss (Actor), Michael Bell (Actor), Bob Hathcock (Director), Carl Urbano (Director) | Format: DVD
104% Sales Rank in Movies & TV: 342 (was 700 yesterday)
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The long wait is over...the Smurfs on DVD for the first time ever! They're finally here! Handy, Hefty, Grouchy, Brainy, Lazy, Smurfette, Papa Smurf and more favorites bring you the greatest show on Smurf - on DVD for the first time ever. It's Season One, Vol. 1 of Smurfs' Adventures, the Emmy-winning animated series [Outstanding Children's Entertainment Series 1982-83] that delighted Saturday morning cartoon fans for nearly a decade. Of course, where Smurfs are, you'll also find evil wizard Gargamel and his cat Azrael - plus monsters, dragons and trolls - keeping our three-apple-high heroes on their tiny blue toes throughout 19 cartoon escapades. Ready for adventure, laughs and enchantment? Abso-Smurfly!

DVD Features:
Featurette
Music Video

Beloved in Europe for almost 20 years before they became a toy and marketing hit on American shores, Belgian cartoonist Peyo's industrious and charming Smurfs were a natural choice for Saturday morning TV; fans who grew up with their popular and Emmy-nominated network run (1981-1990) can now enjoy (and share) the first 19 episodes of the Hanna-Barbera produced series, which are remastered and compiled in this tidy two-disc set. Though simplistic by today's animation standards, the quarter-century-plus since their U.S. TV debut has not diminished the key ingredient to the Smurfs' enduring appeal: their unflappably upbeat demeanor, which helps Papa Smurf, Smurfette, and the rest of the clan overcome the schemes of their chief rival, the evil wizard Gargamel, but also a dangerous bird ("The Smurfs and the Howlibird"), a duplicitous genie ("The Magical Meanie"), and the Tribble-like "Fuzzles" ("Fuzzle Trouble"), and the giant Bigmouth ("Soup a la Smurf"). More benign issues are also handled with the Smurfs' typical can-do attitude, like Harmony's embarrassment over his lack of tunesmanship in "Smurphony in 'C'" or the hubbub caused by the arrival of Smurfette (addressed in "The Smurfette" and "Romeo and Smurfette"). And if the dialogue remains a touch on the corny side (especially the incessant use of "smurf" to replace any number of nouns, verbs and adverbs), it's delivered with good cheer by some of the best names in vocal talent, including Paul Winchell, Don Messick, Lucille Bliss, June Foray, Frank Welker, and Lenny Weinrib. It's unfortunate that the set's supplemental features don't delve further into the Smurfs' long history (or even into the TV series) with any detail; the Emmy-nominated 1982 primetime special The Smurfs' Springtime Special is the chief extra, while Smurfs: The Music Video offers tantalizing snippets of production sketches and promotional footage in a haphazard montage. Previews for DVD releases of Scooby-Doo, Tom and Jerry, and Looney Tunes round out the set. --Paul Gaita Read more

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Bad Teacher (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Bad Teacher (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo)
Jason Segel (Actor), Cameron Diaz (Actor), Jake Kasdan (Director) | Format: Blu-ray
109% Sales Rank in Movies & TV: 341 (was 716 yesterday)
(15)

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As any kid who's ever forcibly shot milk through their nasal passages can testify, the key to a great gross joke isn't so much the content as it is the delivery. The proudly crass Bad Teacher certainly has great big gobs of greasy, grimy potential, chief among them its central performance by an exceedingly game Cameron Diaz, but it occasionally fails to nail the dismount. This film from director Jake Kasdan (Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story) is exactly what the title says: after getting dumped by her rich boyfriend, a lying, cheating, and perpetually boozing middle-school teacher (Diaz) hatches a scheme to con her school out of enough money to pay for cosmetic surgery, while squaring off against the aggressively cheerful teacher across the hall (a very funny Lucy Punch). Lessons are not learned, thankfully. Although the title and attitude recall the effortlessly filthy Bad Santa, Bad Teacher feels more like a spiritual sequel to Diaz's earlier Sweetest Thing, a women-can-be-gross-too comedy that spent more time congratulating itself on how far it was willing to go instead of actually going there. While Bad Teacher certainly has its number of belly laughs and worthy outrages (particularly during a hilariously awkward love scene between Diaz and a nerded-up Justin Timberlake), it's hard not to end up with a general feeling of missed opportunities. Too often, it toes the bad-taste line, when it should be jumping over it with a rocket cycle. --Andrew Wright Read more

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Now and Then

Now and Then
Christina Ricci (Actor), Rosie O'Donnell (Actor) | Format: DVD
110% Sales Rank in Movies & TV: 379 (was 796 yesterday)
(152)

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NOW AND THEN - DVD MovieThis obligatory girls' version of Stand by Me begins with actors Melanie Griffith, Rita Wilson, Demi Moore, and Rosie O'Donnell doing a lousy job of playing adult versions of the film's youthful protagonists. The idea is that this quartet of characters is having a reunion, which serves as a preface to the main story about school chums who make a pact to stay close and supportive through thick and thin. The trouble is that Griffith, Moore, Wilson, and O'Donnell look like they've rehearsed their scenes for no more than a few minutes, and after boring us silly there's little reason to get excited about anything else. Still, it's nice to have a supporting cast that includes Janeane Garofalo and Bonnie Hunt, while among the girls are three young actresses who have been burning up the road in recent years: Christina Ricci (The Opposite of Sex), Thora Birch (A Clear and Present Danger), and Gaby Hoffmann (Strike). --Tom Keogh Read more

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