The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King
Director: Peter Jackson
Average Customer Review:
Theatrical Release

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Editorial Review

With The Return of the King, the greatest fantasy epic in film history draws to a grand and glorious conclusion. Director Peter Jackson's awe-inspiring adaptation of the Tolkien classic The Lord of the Rings could never fully satisfy those who remain exclusively loyal to Tolkien's expansive literature, but as a showcase for physical and technical craftsmanship it is unsurpassed in pure scale and ambition, setting milestone after cinematic milestone as the brave yet charmingly innocent Hobbit Frodo (Elijah Wood) continues his mission to Mordor, where he is destined to destroy the soul-corrupting One Ring of Power in the molten lava of Mount Doom. While the heir to the kingdom of Men, Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), endures the massive battle at Minas Tirith with the allegiance of the elf Legolas (Orlando Bloom), the dwarf Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) and the great wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen), Frodo and stalwart companion Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) must survive the schizoid deceptions of Gollum, who remains utterly convincing as a hybrid of performance (by Andy Serkis) and subtly nuanced computer animation.

Jackson and cowriters Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens have much ground to cover; that they do so with intense pacing and epic sweep is impressive enough, but by investing greater depth and consequence in the actions of fellow Hobbits Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd), they ensure that The Return of the King maintains the trilogy's emphasis on intimate fellowship. While several major characters appear only briefly, and one (Christopher Lee's evil wizard, Saruman) was relegated entirely to the extended-version DVD, Jackson is to be commended for his editorial acumen; like Legolas the archer, his aim as a filmmaker is consistently true, and he remains faithful to Tolkien's overall vision. If Return suffers from too many endings, as some critic suggested, it's only because the epic's conclusion is so loyally inclusive of the actors--most notably Astin--who gave it such strength to begin with. By ending the LOTR trilogy with noble integrity and faith in the power of imaginative storytelling, The Return of the King, like its predecessors, will stand as an adventure for the ages. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (1035)

The end of the affair

The marathon conclusion to Peter Jackson's epic adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy trilogy is, like its predecessors, a spectacle of the first order. The balance of its 210-minute running time is weighted in favor of breathtaking battle sequences, but THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING (2001) and THE TWO TOWERS (2002) laid a firm foundation for the relationships that bind and divide the characters, and it's hard to imagine anyone going into this film without having seen its predecessors. As the story opens, the fellowship of humans and fantastic beings dedicated to ridding Middle Earth of the ring of power forged by the Dark Lord Sauron has been sundered. Human prince Boromir (Sean Bean) is dead, and gentle hobbits Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) are making their painful way to the blasted land of Mordor, where the ring was forged and where it can be destroyed. Their guide, the cringing, duplicitous Gollum (Andy Serkis), has kept his promise to lead them safely through dangerous lands, but Sam suspects the creature - which once possessed the ring and was warped, body and soul, by its malevolent influence - is plotting secretly to murder them and take it back. Fellow hobbits Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd) remain in the custody of a group of ancient, walking trees, while wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen), elfin archer Legolas (Orlando Bloom), belligerent dwarf Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) and dispossessed king Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), the rightful ruler of Gondor, are recovering in Rohan, where King Theoden (Bernard Hill) has just led his people to victory against Mordor's army of mutants, beasts and monsters at Helm's Deep. But Aragorn must unite the diverse people of Middle Earth against Mordor if its dark forces are to be beaten back. After Pippin and Merry are reunited with Aragorn's group, Gandalf and Pippin set off for Gondor's capital, Minas Tirith. There Gandalf finds that Denethor (John Noble), one of the line of stewards meant to mind Gondor's throne until the rightful king returns, has no intention of relinquishing his power. Meanwhile, Gollum shows his true colors, unjustly casting the loyal Sam in a bad light and then leading Frodo into the lair of a giant spider. Jackson wraps up the strands of Tolkien's complicated story with alacrity, and despite its length, the film only starts feeling as long at the end - or, more correctly, ends. Serious fans of the novels will be prepared for the serial codicils, but the uninitiated are likely to think the film is over several times before it actually is.

Last of Three Parts to the Greatest Fantasy Ever!
`The Return of the King' is the third movie of the three-volume novel, `Lord of the Rings' by philologist J. R. R. Tolkien. This fiction is one of the most influential popular novels of the 20th century. Other bases of big motion pictures such as `Ben-Hur' and `Gone With the Wind' can't hold a candle to it as it had an influence far beyond its role as the basis for a movie script. For starters, `Lord of the Rings' has had a large and growing readership from its original publication in the mid 1950s to the present, while I suspect practically no one reads Lew Wallace's `Ben-Hur' any more and few people have recently read Margaret Mitchell's `Gone With the Wind'. Another `Lord of the Rings' offspring is the whole `Dungeons and Dragons' role playing games phenomenon. This game originally appeared a few years after the second blooming of `Lord of the Rings' popularity in 1965, when the books were published in paperback by Houghton Mifflin in response to a pirated copy published by Ace. This is when I first became enraptured by the stories of Middle Earth.

It is impossible to speak of any one of the three movies as part of a trilogy of three independent works related by common characters, location, and history. `The Lord of the Rings' is a single novel which was serialized in three volumes published over two and a half years in the mid 1950's. When the three titles are published in a single volume, it is not hard to see that the work is really not much longer than `Gone With the Wind' and it is certainly shorter than some notable novels such as `Atlas Shrugged'. One virtue we did get from the division into three titles by Tolkien is that Peter Jackson had a valid basis on which to split a single story into three long movies totaling close to 10 hours of viewing time.

Like the movie version of `The Fellowship of the Ring', the `Return of the King' movie leaves off some important chapters. And, unlike the Tom Bombadil / Barrow Wight episodes in the first volume, the deleted `Scouring of the Shire' chapter in `Return of the King' created what was virtually the only real criticism of the movie, because the drama of `the scouring' was left out of the events between the celebrations in Gondor over the defeat of Sauron and the departures at the Gray Havens. So, we get a half-hour of celebrating and saying good-bye. Not too much in relation to the previous nine and a half hours, but a bit tedious in the context of a three hour movie. So, for the three of you who are reading the books for the first time, you have a great `lost' event to look forward to in reading `The Fellowship of the King'. As with the earlier two movies, Jackson has actually improved on virtually every scene he has touched. One of the very best scenes from `Lionheart' is Wallace's exhortation to his troops before their most important battle. Jackson has two such scenes in this movie, and each is both more powerful than anything Tolkien put into words and that Mel Gibson put onto the screen.

One of the easily most important parts of the `Return of the King' book is the very long historical appendix which lays out the major events of the first three ages of Middle Earth. One of the most satisfying aspects of both `The Lord of the Rings' movie and book is the sense of the great depth of history. The appendices show that the history of the One Ring just scratches the surface, as Isildur wrested the ring from Sauron (see the opening scene of `Fellowship of the Rings') at the beginning of the Third Age. There are two earlier ages of Middle Earth from the time of the birth of the elves to the end of the first war with Sauron. It is a knowledge of this history which tells us why a ranger from the distant north is an heir to the throne of Gondor and why Denethor, the Steward cannot be King. One thing which amazes me is that no movie reviewer has noted the fact that Arwen and Aragorn are very, very, very distantly removed cousins, since it is quite possible that Elrond was the brother of Aragorn's great,....great grandfather. This is because Elrond and brother Elros Tar-Minyatar were given the choice of immortality as a half-elf or very long life and a homestead on the island of Numenor, removed from the sorrows of Middle Earth. Elrond chose immortality and `exile' to Middle Earth'. Elros chose long life on the Eden-like island. Another thing which seems to have escaped comment is the notion that kingship and right to rule can only pass from parent to child. It is amazing how quietly people accepted this undemocratic notion, although it would have been entirely logical to a mid-20th century Englishman.

This appendix contains a great many other bits of miscellany. The most important for the movie is the story of the love between Arwen and Aragorn, which is not in the main narrative.

This history is easily one of the most elaborate fictional histories created to date. Other fantasy histories such as Robert E. Heinlein's future history (in which he predicts the turmoil of the 1960's with amazing accuracy) is tiny in comparison.

Truly great ending to the greatest fantasy cinema, ever. One of my favorite questions about movie fantasy is musing over what was the second greatest cinematic fantasy after `The Wizard of Oz'. This great ten-hour movie makes that question an almost trivial query about third place.

Excellent and Emotional Conclusion to a Great Trilogy
I saw Return of the King on opening night and I was blown away by it.Once again Peter Jackson perfectly captured the spirit of JRR Tolkien's epic trilogy.The atypical beginning, featuring the origin of Gollum set a very in-depth tone for the movie.As Frodo and Sam move closer and closer to the fulfillment of the Quest, their friends move to battle the armies of Mordor in the city of Minas Tirith.As with the other two films in this trilogy, there are moments of great action, high adventure, stunning emotion, fine humor and pure movie magic.THe lighting of the beacon's is one such moment.As the theme for Gondor blares, the camera follows the fire as it warns across the country to the kingdom of Rohan.Merry and Pippin once again add in a more mature humor, while the actors once again give masterful performances.The battle of Peleanor fields is a great scene filled with fantastic images and high emotion, while it is balanced by a small intimate scene where Gandalf describes the undying realms to Pippin when it appears that they are going to die.The only problem I really had with the theatrical release was that the palantir in Minas Tirith was overlooked and I felt it would be better if Gollum simply fell over the edge as in the book and not struggle with Frodo.The ending leaves out scenes from the book where the Shire has to be freed, but the movie does not feel it's loss, and the bittersweet ending is beautiful.There will never again be movies such as these and I'm glad I was able to witness their brilliance on the theater screen and the dvd releases. ... Read more

Asin: B00005JKZW

The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers (Platinum Series Special Extended Edition)
by Elijah Wood
Average Customer Review:
DVD (18 November, 2003)
list price: $39.99 -- our price: $29.99
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Editorial Review

The extended edition of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring was perhaps the most comprehensive DVD release to date, and its follow-up proves a similarly colossal achievement, with significant extra footage and a multitude of worthwhile bonus features. The extended version of The Two Towers adds 43 minutes to the theatrical version's 179-minute running time, and there are valuable additions to the film.Two new scenes might appease those who feel that the characterization of Faramir was the film's most egregious departure from the book, and fans will appreciate an appearance of the Huorns at Helm's Deep plus a nod to the absence of Tom Bombadil.Seeing a little more interplay between the gorgeous Eowyn and Aragorn is welcome, as is a grim introduction to Eomer and Theoden's son.And among the many other additions, there's an extended epilogue that might not have worked in the theater, but is more effective here in setting up The Return of the King.While the 30 minutes added to The Fellowship of the Ring felt just right in enriching the film, the extra footage in The Two Towers at times seems a bit extraneous--we see moments that in the theatrical version we had been told about, and some fleshed-out conversations and incidents are rather minor.But director Peter Jackson's vision of J.R.R. Tolkien's world is so marvelous that it's hard to complain about any extra time we can spend there.

While it may seem that there would be nothing left to say after the bevy of features on the extended Fellowship, the four commentary tracks and two discs of supplements on The Two Towers remain informative, fascinating, and funny, far surpassing the recycled materials on the two-disc theatrical version.Highlights of the 6.5 hours' worth of documentaries offer insight on the stunts, the design work, the locations, and the creation of Gollum, and--most intriguing for rabid fans--the film's writers (including Jackson) discuss why they created events that weren't in the book. Providing variety are animatics, rough footage, countless sketches, and a sound-mixing demonstration.Again, the most interesting commentary tracks are by Jackson and writers Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens and by 16 members of the cast (eight of whom didn't appear in the first film, and even including John Noble, whose Denethor character only appears in this extended cut).The first two installments of Peter Jackson's trilogy have established themselves as the best fantasy films of all time, and among the best film trilogies of all time, and their extended-edition DVD sets have set a new standard for expanding on the already-epic films and providing comprehensive bonus features.--David Horiuchi ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Widescreen
• Box set
• Dolby
• DTS Surround Sound

Reviews (1927)

Better than the first. Still part of single great work.
`The Two Towers' is the second of the three movies capturing the novel, `Lord of the Rings' by philologist J. R. R. Tolkien. This is one of the most influential popular novels of the 20th century. Other bases of big motion pictures such as `Ben-Hur' and `Gone With the Wind' can't hold a candle to it as it had an influence far beyond its role as the basis for a movie script. For starters, `Lord of the Rings' has had a large and growing readership from its original publication in the mid 1950s to the present, while I suspect practically no one reads Lew Wallace's `Ben-Hur' any more and few people have recently read Margaret Mitchell's `Gone With the Wind'. Another `Lord of the Rings' offspring is the whole `Dungeons and Dragons' role playing games phenomenon. This game originally appeared a few years after the second blooming of `Lord of the Rings' popularity in 1965, when the books were published in paperback by Houghton Mifflin in response to a pirated copy published by Ace. This is when I first became enraptured by the stories of Middle Earth.

It is impossible to speak of any one of the three movies by themselves as they do not in the usual sense of the word form a trilogy of three independent films related by common characters, location, and history. `The Lord of the Rings' was a single novel which was serialized in three volumes published over two and a half years in the mid 1950's. When the three titles are published in a single volume, it is not hard to see that the work is really not much longer than `Gone With the Wind' and it is certainly shorter than some notable novels such as `Atlas Shrugged'. One virtue we did get from the division into three titles by Tolkien is that Peter Jackson had a valid basis on which to split a single story into three long movies totaling close to 10 hours of viewing time.

Unlike the movies of the first and third books, almost every major scene of the book `The Two Towers', is captured in the movie. The chapters of Merry and Pippin with Treebeard and the Ents are shortened a bit. Seems as if the Ents are much too slow for 21st century cinema. One thing the movie did get wrong in its promotional artwork is the suggestion that the two towers of the title were Orthanc and Baradur, the fortress of Sauron. Actually, the second tower of the title is Minas Morgul, the city of Gondor, originally named Minas Ithil, but renamed when the Nazgul captured it several years before the start of the events in `Lord of the Rings'. Minas Morgul plays a much bigger role in the middle of the story than does Sauron's stronghold. Part of this change of tower may be due to the fact that some of the action involving Minas Morgul was moved to the third movie, `The Return of the King'.

The only piece of action I really miss is the role of Fangorn in the defeat of the besiegers of the Hornburg. And, in one of the very rare Peter Jackson additions to the story, I thought the skirmish between the Rohrrim / Aragorn and Saruman's warg riders was great cinema action, but just too much of a replay of Gandalf at the bridge in Moria, where a principle character is thought to have been killed and lost.

I have read `The Lord of the Rings' at least 10 times, and the story of Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli from the banks of the Anduin to the victory at the Hornburg is by far one of my favorite parts of the novel. Treebeard comes in a close second, as he is a part of the same ancient history of Middle Earth to which only the faintest hints are given in the stories of Fangorn, The Old Forest by the Shire, and Tom Bombadil. Basically, Bombadil and the Ents stand for what is most worth saving from the evil of Sauron. This innocence is something that is tainted even in the sheltered lives of the Hobbits.

In contrast, after about the third or fourth reading, I often became anxious to get through the chapters about Frodo, Sam, and Gollum as quickly as possible. One of the greatest of Jackson's accomplishments in the films was to breath life into the characterization of Frodo Baggins, who always seemed to be to be something of a wimp, drawn along by the inexorable hand of fate. Sam, on the other hand, was pursuing the quest entirely out of love and grit. Another great service of the movie was the realization of Gollum. I think that Gollum's implementation may be about as close as we will come for a long time in seeing a computer generated character be nominated for an Academy Award for acting.

Even though `The Two Towers' is the middle third of a very long three part movie, it really has a much more satisfying ending than `The Fellowship of the Ring'. One starts to see how it may be possible to defeat the great evil challanging all the good guys in the story, but of course, the difficulty of Saruman's defeat is just a way of showing that defeating Sauron will be just that much more difficult.

The second of the great three part classic!

The book is better
But this said, I believe that there couldn't be a better movie.It captures the epic sweep and the pain and turmoil as Frodo and Sam approach the cracks of doom.It was fantastic.The filming was beyond scope.The characters were perfect.

Once again Jackson captures the brilliance of Tolkien
THe Two Towers is the second part of Peter Jackson's acclaimed adaption of JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.The Journey continues in this movie.Beginning with beautiful scenic shots of the moutains of the Middle-Earth, the Two Towers has climactic battles, struggles of will, moments of pure joy and beauty.Frodo and Sam continue to scratch their way to Mordor, pursued not just by agents of the Dark Lord but by Gollum, slave to the lust of the ring.Meanwhile, Merry and Pippin have been captured by Uruk-Hai and are hunted by Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli.The hunt takes Merry and Pippin to the center of Fanghorn Forrest in the company of the Ent Treebeard, a 14 foot tall walking talking tree.The 3 hunters fall in the Rhohirram under the command of Eomer (Karl Urban), a culture of horse lords threatened by the evil wizard Saruman, with their king Theoden (Bernard Hill) enchanted by Saruman's agent Wormtongue (Brad Dourif).Now on horseback, the 3 hunters encounter a resurrected Gandalf the White, now with power over Saruman. They ride to free Theoden, where they encounter Theoden's beautiful and strong niece Eowyn (Miranda Otto).Taking his people to the safety of Helm's Deep, Saruman sends his hordes after the king and in an impressive night battle, the Rohirram are aided by a contingent of Elven warriors (the biggest deviation by Jackson from the book). Meanwhile, Frodo and Sam encounter Faramir, the brother of Boromir on their way to Mordor led by Gollum.While our heroes triumph at Helm's Deep, and Saruman is defeated, the menace of Mordor grows greater as Sam and Frodo move closer to the fulfillment of their quest. I found The Two Towers to be a beautiful and profoundly moving film.The affects were amazing and the ability of Peter Jackson to combine live action, computer graphics and minature shots make this a great film.Once again, this movie should have won an Academy Award and the fact that it didn't is almost a crime. ... Read more

Asin: B00009TB5G
Subjects:  1. Feature Film-action/Adventure   

28 Days Later (Widescreen Edition)
by Cillian Murphy Naomie Harris
Director: Danny Boyle
Average Customer Review:
DVD (06 August, 2003)
list price: $27.98 -- our price: $25.18
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Editorial Review

The director/producer team that created Trainspotting turn their dynamic cinematic imaginations to the classic science fiction scenario of the last people on Earth. Jim (Cillian Murphy) wakes up from a coma to find London deserted--until he runs into a mob of crazed plague victims. He gradually finds other still-human survivors (including Naomie Harris), with whom he heads off across the abandoned countryside to find the source of a radio broadcast that promises salvation. 28 Days Later is basically an updated version of The Omega Man and other post-apocalyptic visions; but while the movie may lack originality, it makes up for it in vivid details and creepy paranoid atmosphere. 28 Days Later's portrait of how people behave in extreme circumstances--written by novelist Alex Garland (The Beach)--will haunt you afterward. Also featuring Brendan Gleeson (The General, Gangs of New York) and Christopher Eccleston (Shallow Grave, The Others). --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Widescreen
• Dolby

Reviews (631)

This movie had zombies?
There were zombies in this flick? All I remember is the sheer beauty of this film. Seriously, the one thing that was horribly overlooked was the beauty of it all. You don't need to analyze every frame to find this either.

There are many instances within the film where it is clearly evident. The Monet-like imagery of the flowers after the grocery store run, the camera angles and music while they are on the deserted highway, the plane viewed through the trees, a red dress that gained its own theme song only to swoosh across the screen for a few seconds, and the final scene where HELL is spelled upside-down out on a green hillside only be read as HELLO later.

All of these, and more, captivated my attention throughout the horror of the movie's entirety. These images were produced so well I bought the movie just to see them over, and over, and over again.

Good First Half
The zombies are fast.

It's true that in Danny Boyle's 2002 film 28 Day's Later the crazed, flesh eating villains aren't technically zombies.In fact, Boyle has gone to great lengths to qualify them as humans infected with a virus known as RAGE.Yet, to this reviewer at least, the differences seem moot.In traditional zombie pictures, and in this film the creatures are mindless, they carry a real zeal for human flesh, they have a predilection for turning everyone else into their like, and they are fairly easy to kill.Whether the creatures are the living dead so to speak, or infected by an incurable virus doesn't make much of a difference.Though the zombies here, seem updated from their filmatic ancestors.

These zombies are fast.

Traditional zombies are a slow moving lot.Having been rotting in their own graves for untold years, their reanimated flesh is a little atrophied, causing them to move at a slow, sluggish pace.This has always been a helpful plot point for the heroes in zombie films, for they are easy to run away from.In fact, the means by which zombies generally kill their victims is through sheer numbers.Boyle has circumvented this convenience by allowing his monsters to run at normal human speeds.It is an excellent update to the genre, giving the ability for more scares.

Man, I dug the first half of this movie.Well, except for the very, very beginning.The opening scene gives us the origin of RAGE, with a bunch of Clockwork Orange inspired monkeys.I've never really dug origin scenes in zombie flicks.I think it's much scarier to just have the zombies running around eating brains, without any reason for their existence.Origins, generally, just seem dumb.And here, with the infected monkeys being freed by some Green Peace types doesn't really inspire any other feelings.Though, I suspect it was another move to plant this film outside the zombie track.

But after the dumb origins scene things get really good.We've got a naked guy named Jim (Cillian Murphy) hooked up to various tubes in a hospital bed.I always like it when there is a bit of male nudity in a flick, since there is always so much of the female variety.Anyways, Jim gets out of bed and wanders the streets of London.There are plenty of shots of Jim (fully clothed now) walking by big famous London monuments without another soul around.It seems London has been vacated.It is creepy and effective.

In a bit, Jim clamors into a church figuring to find some sanctuary, or at least have a few questions answered.What he finds is a bunch of dead folks piled up.In a good holy crap moment, Jim says, "Hello" to find a couple of the dead guys not so dead and jumping up.From there until the second half of the film, it is a constant run from the zombies.

The zombies really work in this film.They are fast, furious, and vicious.Jim eventually teams up with some other survivors and they set about trying to figure out what to do.Boyle really does a great job of adding tension to the film and keeping the scares up.

Then the film changes.

The group is rescued by a gang of all male military types, living in a compound.Turns out the military types are a bunch of psychos and the film turns from being a zombie flick into being a stranded-in-a-compound-with-a-bunch-of-psycho-military-types kind of film.To make sure we know this is no longer a zombie flick, a big group of zombies launches an attack on the compound only to be massacred with machine guns and land mines.

This half of the film, I don't dig nearly as much.Zombie flicks always have trouble filling out their whole hour and a half time slot.Even with a good introduction of characters, and a slow build to zombie free-for-all there is still plenty of filler time.Here, the filmmakers seem to have decided that they might as well dump the zombies and give us some other tension filled concoction.But, there isn't really enough time to develop the military end of the story and it feels wrong.

It's too bad too, because that first half was really promising.
[...]

GREAT EOW (End of World) movie!
I loved this movie.I am a huge EOW movie and book fan and have seen or read most of them.This one ranks at the top.It's based in England and makes the dudes from the "night of the living dead" movies look like circus clowns.This movie is hauntingly scary, well written, are realistic in terms of EOW scenario.You'll be on the edge of your seat as survivors are chased from safety by victims of "the rage".The desolate human-less landscape and brooding soundtrack add to the great mood this EOW movie portrays!

Animal rights activists free a group of infected chimpanzees to horrifying results in this speculative sci-fi horror effort from Trainspotting director Danny Boyle. Waking from a coma in a deserted London hospital 28 days later, bicycle courier Jim (Cillian Murphy) takes to the deserted city streets in a state of mystified confusion. Joining forces with another group of survivors following a terrifying encounter in a seemingly abandoned church, Jim soon learns the truth behind the deserted streets and the menacing creatures that lurk in the shadows. It's soon revealed that the chimpanzees had been harboring a deadly virus that sends its victims into a furious, murderous rage, and in the days following the initial exposure, the entire population was nearly wiped out due to the resulting homicidal rampage. Is there still a glimmer of hope for humanity - or has the deadly "rage" virus found its way to foreign shores and infected the entire planet? ... Read more

Asin: B00005JMA8
Subjects:  1. Horror   

Catch Me If You Can (Widescreen Edition)
by Leonardo DiCaprio Tom Hanks Christopher Walken
Director: Steven Spielberg
Average Customer Review:
DVD (24 August, 2004)
list price: $14.99 -- our price: $11.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

An enormously entertaining (if somewhat shallow) affair from blockbusterdirector Steven Spielberg. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Frank Abagnale, Jr., adazzling young con man who spent four years impersonating an airline pilot, adoctor, and a lawyer--all before he turned 21. All the while he's pursued by adedicated FBI agent named Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks), whose dogged determinationstays one step behind Abagnale's spontaneous wits. Both DiCaprio and Hanks turnin enjoyable performances and the movie has a bouncy rhythm that keeps itzipping along. However, it never gets under the surface of Frank's drive to losehimself in other identities, other than a simplistic desire to please his father(Christopher Walken, excellent as always), nor does it explore the complexmechanics of fraud with any depth. By the movie's end, it feels like one ofFrank's pilot uniforms--appearance without substance. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

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Reviews (350)

Cash Me If You Can
A well polished film based on the true story of a con-artist who for a time outsmarted the allmighty F.B.I. in his forgery and circulation of false cashier's checks.

The film is a light drama surrounding the character of Leonardo DiCaprio who finds himself on his own at an early age.He soon learns that he has good skills in being a con-man and forging checks to get paid. He continues this scam for years but the F.B.I. under an agent played by Tom Hanks is on his tail.The U.S. being too hot, he soon goes in hiding in France to continue his life of crime.

This is a great film in every sense.It is a touching drama but remains on the humorous note throughout the film.DiCaprio played his role very well as did Christopher Walken as his father.Tom Hanks essentially played himself as always but at least his mediocre acting skills did not tarnish the film in anyway as his character was as rigid as Joe Friday.This is a good film to watch by the entire family: check it out!

SPIELBERG AND DICAPRIO SHINE
This is a very good movie, with great acting from Leo,
and great directing from Spielberg! A very interesting
true story, you won't be disappointed with this one!

CRIME DOES PAY
While watching this excellently made movie, I found myself wondering "How can we feel sorry for this character?He's a pathological liar; how can we like someone who has stolen over 4 million dollars, and doesn't know how to live HIS life?"In spite of Leonardo diCaprio's smooth performance, I didn't find myself feeling sorry for his character. Since this is based on a true story, other things became evident:the ineptness of the FBI in the pursuit of this con artist; the gullibility of hundreds of people who could accept this baby-faced boy as a doctor, lawyer, co-pilot; Steven Spielberg still knows how to make a movie great even when it's subject matter isn't.With that said, you should enjoy the capers of this brilliant young man as he goes from life to life and ultimately ends up becoming a millionaire by helping the government find others like himself.Hmm..crime might pay?Christopher Walken is very good in his Oscar nominated role as Leo's father, a con man in his own right; Jennifer Garner pops up in a brief role as a very high class hooker; Amy Adams is fine as Leo's love interest and almost bride; Martin Sheen shines as Amy's romantic father; and of course, two time Oscar winner Tom Hanks shows why he's one of the finest actors of our generation in his role as the fiercely determined, if somewhat ineffective, Carl Handratty.John Williams contributes a somewhat Mancini-ish score that adds to the caprice of the film.While I can't admire Frank Abagnale Jr.'s activities, the movie is a good example of cinematic artistry. ... Read more

Asin: B00005JLSB
Subjects:  1. Feature Film-comedy   

Spirited Away
by Miyu Irino
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Average Customer Review:
DVD (15 April, 2003)
list price: $29.99 -- our price: $22.49
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Editorial Review

The highest grossing film in Japanese box-office history (more than $234million), Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away (Sen To ChihiroKamikakushi) is a dazzling film that reasserts the power of drawnanimation to create fantasy worlds. Like Dorothy in The Wizard of Ozand Lewis Carroll's Alice, Chihiro (voice by Daveigh Chase--Lilo in Disney'sLilo & Stitch) plunges into an alternate reality. On the way totheir new home, the petulant adolescent and her parents find what they thinkis a deserted amusement park. Her parents stuff themselves until they turninto pigs, and Chihiro discovers they're trapped in a resort for traditionalJapanese gods and spirits. An oddly familiar boy named Haku (Jason Marsden)instructs Chihiro to request a job from Yubaba (Suzanne Pleshette), thegreedy witch who rules the spa. As she works, Chihiro's untapped qualitieskeep her from being corrupted by the greed that pervades Yubaba'smini-empire. In a series of fantastic adventures, she purges a river godsuffering from human pollution, rescues the mysterious No-Face, and befriendsYubaba's kindly twin, Zeniba (Pleshette again). The resolve, bravery, and loveChihiro discovers within herself enable her to aid Haku and save her parents.The result is a moving and magical journey, told with consummate skill by oneof the masters of contemporary animation. MPAA Rated: PG ("Some scary moments") --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Features

• Animated
• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Widescreen
• Dolby

Reviews (670)

A gorgeous film that truly spirits away
If Bilbo had a human cousin, it would be Chihiro, a sullen girl who, a la Bastian in THE NEVERENDING STORY, falls into a dangerous world that reminds one of Jim Henson's "Labyrinth."Like Sarah, Chihiro, initially sullen and refusing to accept change (a move to a new city), must rescue loved ones, in this case her parents, from a mysterious all-powerful magician and shape-shifter, the demon Yubaba (who would get along famously with Aku from "Samurai Jack.")Like Jareth in "Labyrinth," Yubaba takes the form of a bird and seems obsessed with babies, in this case her own.Chihiro must find a way to disenchant her parents after they eat the sacred offerings for the spirits and turn into pigs a la THE ODYSSEY.While Chihiro's parents blithely muck about in the pigpen unaware that they may be turned into bacon, Chihiro gets work at the bathhouse with a boy named Haku and a girl named Lin, who makes Chihiro seem like Little Miss Sunshine.Clearly, Yubaba's never heard of child labor laws.She doesn't mind torturing frog- and slug-people who work at her "high-class" bathhouse for spirits and dmeons.But Yubaba's own baby...ah, that's a different story.But Yubaba's baby seems to like Chihiro...

Chihiro doesn't know who to trust--the boiler-man Kamaji?Lin?Haku, who Lin says is "Yubaba's henchman"?Chihiro is forced to confront a world outside her own small existence, and in doing so releases the true beauty of her spirit, particularly when she helps the wounded Haku in dragon form."What's going on here?" Lin asks.Kamaji replies, "Something you wouldn't recognize.It's called love."But even Lin begins to come around, scolding a mysterious spirit called No-Face: "You lay one finger on that girl, you're in big trouble!"

The visuals of the bathhouse transport the audience to a truly wondrous world.Get "Spirited Away."

A Masterpiece of Animation, with a dubious dub
"Spirited Away" is the film that first turned me on to the work of Hayao Miyazaki.The first time I saw it was as a weekly arthouse feature at my local cinema, and I was blown away by the beautiful storyline, appealing characters, and sweeping animation and musical score.At the time, I thought that Pixar had done a fantastic job with the dubbing.

A couple of years afterwards, I bought the DVD and watched the original Japanese version, and have never felt the same about the English dub.While the vocal performances are quite good, the writing manages to muddle and stink up the original dialogue.Sometimes the changes are subtle: "god" in the original becomes "spirit" in the dub (I admit to knowing no Japanese; perhaps the Japanese word is the same for both?).Other times, it's more blatant.Disney seems to have felt the need to dumb this film down ("Americanize" it, if you will) to the point where they added explanatory dialogue to fill in what in the original were great moments of silence.Obviously I can't tell you what they are without disclosing spoilers, but some of the mysteries of the film are ruined by this "over-dubbing," and more than one transition is destroyed by it.

Fortunately for us, we have DVD technology; and this particular release is excellent, in that it gives us the dubbed version in addition to the original Japanese with its own set of more literal subtitles.These subtitles sometimes go too quickly, but this film is so beautiful that it bears repeated viewings anyway.Highly recommended DVD release.

Wonderful
I saw this movie for the first time this weekend, and I was blownaway. This is a wonderful story - it has everything I love about Wizard of Oz and Labyrinth, the crazy creatures in the alternate magical world, the coming-of-age of the protagonist, a great emotional punch - with superb animation and direction. I highly recommend this movie. It's beautiful. ... Read more

Asin: B00005JLEU

XIII
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (14 October, 2003)
list price: $13.98 -- our price: $13.98
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Features

• Enhanced

Reviews (173)

Great CD, so little credit
I live half an hour from Cleveland, Ohio (where Mushroomhead is from.) and even people where I live don't know who Mushroomhead even is. This is just one of those musical masterpieces that hit deaf (Or especially picky.) ears. I have listined to this CD perhaps 50 times and the powerful lyrics, the vivid imagery it produces and the suprisingly good quality suprised me. This is one of those CDs that can listin to every song and not ever say: "That was a pretty stupid song." as I recall loving every track on the CD. If you want good music you don't have to turn to MTV (A religion for many.) but simply buy XIII, destined to someday become a Cleveland classic.

. . . And so on . . . and so forth . . .
I remember when I first saw these guys, it was back some years ago on Mtv2, and I saw their "Solitaire Unraveling" video. Even though at that time I didn't listen to any kind of metal music I still liked them. About a year later I heard about the thirteen album coming out, and I really hadn't heard a single song except for solitaire unraveling, and took a chance. This cd opened up the "doors of metal and good music" to me. These guys don't get the full credit they deserve for their music. If I asked someone if they knew who Shroom was, most likely they wouldn't know, but thats their loss. But if I asked someone who Slipknot was, more likely than not, they could identify them. I'm not bagging on slipknot or anything I just think Mushroomhead is a better band altogether.
Other great bands to check out are Mudvayne, Disturbed, Lamb of God, Fear Factory, and of course Meshuggah.

MRH's best
Nu-metal? No, this really isn't nu-metal. It's a mix of industrial, SOME nu-metal, goth, techno, and a lot of others. It can't really be labelled as nu-metal. MRH's album 13 is very good. Destroy The World Around Me and the title track ALONE are worth buying this album! Other favorites are Kill Tomorrow, Sun Doesn't Rise, and Mother Machine Gun. I saw these guys live last year, and they kicked ass! You must own this album.
Ratings:
1. Kill Tomorrow 5/5
2. Sun Doesn't Rise 5/5
3. Mother Machine Gun 5/5
4. Nowhere to Go 4/5
5. Becoming Cold 5/5
6. One More Day 4/5
7. Dream Is Over 4/5
8. War Inside 5/5
9. Almost Gone 5/5
10. Eternal 4/5
11. Our Own Way 5/5
12. Destroy the World Around Me 5/5
13. Thirteen 5/5
... Read more

Asin: B0000DD55O
Sales Rank: 20642
Subjects:  1. Alternative Metal    2. Pop    3. Rock   

Damnation
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (22 April, 2003)
list price: $17.98 -- our price: $14.99
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Editorial Review

Damnation is a complex and often acoustic album that demonstrates beyond question Opeth's high regard for the sweet harmonies and post-psychedelic atmospherics of '70s rockers such as Camel, Steve Hackett, and, especially, Barclay James Harvest. Which isn't to say this is a retro album; the aforementioned bands have been left out of rock history to such a degree that it's as if they never existed at all. Then there's Opeth's own pedigree. Steeped in the bloodier aspects of metal, singer Mikael Akerfeldt has no time for sweet love or fanciful flights of fantasy; he's trapped in post-relationship depression, drowning in loneliness and regret. His voice drifts beautifully over and under the band's dark folk and hypnotic soft-rock progressions, as chiming twin guitars that recall Wishbone Ash drop casually in and out. This music is intense and often moving—even without the shouting. --Dominic Wills ... Read more

Reviews (187)

Hahahhahaaha
It's pretty funny how the reviewer below broke the cd with his OWN BARE HANDS. I mean, man that just counts for sum'thn ya know. Oh man Opeth is too "intlectual" for ya? My good man, allow me to point you in the direction of Britney Spear's Greatest Hits! (My Prerogative). I trust that you will find it exactly to your liking :)

Now to the album itself. It's mainly a diversion from Opeth's other work. A great introduction to the bands softer side by people who haven't heard about them. However, I must say that it's the quickest to get monotonous and boring. Though it's a good cd, it's not in my list of recommendations. Here's much anticipation to their next album.

Reviews On Bad Music Impeed My Chance To Find New Bands
I am new-comer to Amazon, but not good music.

I thought it was a great idea that other peoples reviews and recommendations(to include amazon.com's) may lead me to new
exciting music similiar to my taste. Tt is a big world, right?

Well I was lead to this piece of garbage for an album!

I really cant express in words how horrible this album is
so i'll just say i broke the cd in half with my bare hands!

it gave me more gratitude to break the cd than to re-sell it!

I guess I can lead out this review by saying. If you psuedo-intlectual wanna-be's that cannot immediately find something
entertaining about a cd don't analyze it untill you can come
up with enough material to justifiy giving them 5 stars.

Maybe the worst of this guys...
Good music, but really boring. Intresting CD but really repetitive.
Try it only if you're a fan...if not, try the oldies. ... Read more

Asin: B00008OLYN
Subjects:  1. Death Metal/Black Metal    2. Pop    3. Prog-Rock/Art Rock    4. Progressive Metal    5. Rock   

Razorblade Romance [Bonus Tracks]
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (28 October, 2003)
list price: $13.98 -- our price: $13.98
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Reviews (138)

Complete tripe straight from Bovine University
< sarcasm >The album art is incredibly dreamy, and the song titles/lyrics make me swoon.I haven't heard music this good since Depeche Mode's huge heavy metal hit "Personal Jesus".< /sarcasm >

I can't believe that anyone would call this any sort of metal...well...perhaps tin...but it is no British steel.This music is so gay that I'm surprised it isn't part of the "Queer As Folk" sound track.Maybe it is.If it is, then I stand corrected.

Him Kicks A$$
Another Great Album From Him Your Sweet Six Six Six Is The Best Song On Here I Have Heard Rumors That Danielle Lionelly Is Quitting The Band I Hope Not I Really Wish His Infernal Majesty (H.I.M.)Will Relase Another Album This Year Come To Tennesse So I Can See A Him Show

Hoho!
Ok, this may the most commercial album Finland has ever produced besides The Rasmus...this is pure sh**! ... Read more

Asin: B0000DJYO6
Sales Rank: 5582
Subjects:  1. Finland    2. Goth Rock    3. Pop    4. Rock   

Figure Number Five
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (06 May, 2003)
list price: $16.98 -- our price: $16.98
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Reviews (53)

Another AWESOME cd from the best band ever!!!
Three years ago i fell in love with the Swedish band Soilwork. I was bored with the images of metal being brought on me such as Slipknot and others. The song "Natural Born Chaos" came to me in a videogame soundtrack. The whole style of the band is right along my alley. Dark lyrics, kickass guitar solos, melodic keyboards, and the fast paced style it is all pulled together in. That makes for the best band ever. All of this aside, I fully admit I had no doubts when i set down my sixteen dollars for my newest Soilwork fix a year ago. It has everything you could want from a Soilwork cd and much more than you can imagine. The guitar solos are cranked up by Wichers and Frenning, Speed puts more darkness into the lyrics, Ranta makes the drums more obscene, Karlsson has a much more spacy rhythm going on keyboards, and Flink of course adds more depth to the bass. I am crazy about this cd as you can see! Figure Number Five is one of those "no filler" cds that people listen to beginning to end without skipping. (F*** them if they actually do skip) Listen, I'm gonna cut this short: If you're a fan of bands such as Amaran, In flames, and Children of Bodom, and in your pitiful and shi**y life spent in a black hole that you have not even heard of Soilwork, TURN OFF THIS COMPUTER, GET OFF YOUR LAZY ASS, AND GO BUY THIS CD!!!!! (Trust me, I know what I'm talking about)

Well, I Liked It!
Alright, so it's a bit more accessible than other Soilwork albums... Half of it is sang in clean vocals, and many of the aongs have a verse-chorus structure.... But it's still good. To me, it's just as intense and pounding as "Natural Born Chaos", sometimes even moreso because of its basic drumming patterns and straight-forward sound. Just because mainstream kiddies get a hold of this doesn't give old fans a reason to abandon this band. If you really listen to it, it'll grow on you. After hearing the more technically-inclined "Natural Born Chaos" and listening to this, I was skeptical... But it came to grow on me, I can't get the choruses or rhythms out of my head. Believe me, this is a cd that will be in constant rotation in your stereo or car. If you're a fan of the older material, you most likely won't enjoy this. But if you're willing to let this grow on you, check it out at all costs.

The guitars and drums both are more focused on songwriting this time around. Rhythms are more straight-forward, and it seems like the presence of the band is more powerful, and a lot of the guitars follow a power-chord structure. Speed uses his clean vocals more here, but he still has his signature semi-growl on songs like "Figure Number Five".

1. Rejection Role- One of Soilwork's most-played songs. Has a bold, strong chorus, and some great solos. 5/5

2. Overload- More keyboard-oriented with some industrial samples. Speed's vocals are strong, and a pounding rhythm accents the chorus, which will stick in your head for weeks on end. Another strong song. 5/5

3. Figure Number Five- Shows a return to the ferocity of "Natural Born Chaos". Fast, brutal... Oh yeah! 4/5

4. Strangler- A faster song, and a bit more aggressive. The lyrics are great, and the chorus here is great as well. A typical song, but it has its moments. 4/5

5. Light the Torch- A scorching riff leads to a headbanging passage, and retains an aggressive but catchy feel through the whole song. Another promo single from the album. 5/5

6. Departure Plan- A pseudo-ballad?! Ah well, it comes off great in my opinion! The keys so a great job of backing the melodic guitars and desperate chorus. A nice departure from the other songs, with Speed using his clean vocals coupled with acoustic guitars through the whole song. 5/5

7. Cranking the Sirens- My favorite song! A totally addicting chrous with a crunchy verse. A very strong song, this will stick in your head for weeks. 5/5

8. Brickwalker- Solid rhythm... A normal song, nothing too special, but very catchy with exceptional drum work. 3/5

9. The Mindmaker- Another song that sounds like it could have been on "Natural Born Chaos". A bit more technical than the other singles on the album, and sums up thw album pleasantly. 4/5

10. Distortion Sleep- A slower song with amazing guitar melodies backed by the bleak synths. Amazing lyrics, as well as a very nice chorus. 5/5

11. Downfall 24- This song didn't really do much for me, it sounds a little bit TOO mainstream, although that was the aim, undoubtedly. But a nice chorus is here. 3/5

Some may complain that this albun is "too much of the same song", which is understandable. But I personally think that this is a gem in the field of metal, and shows that Soilwork can experiment in being mainstream but still be true to themselves. Highly reccommended.

SWEDEN METAL/POWER ROCK INVASION CONTINUES
WHAT CAN YOU SAY WHEN A BAND WINS THE GBBMA ALL ROCK CATAGORY AND SETS RECORDS FOR SONG IN THE TOP 40? ALL 1,466 MEMBERS CAN'T BE WRONG! REGARDLESS OF FOUNDATION REJECTION ROLE, DEPARTURE PLAN, DOWNFALL 24 ETC.WERE ALL GOOD POWER ROCK/MELODIC MENTAL SONGS. NOW LETS SEE - THAT LEAVES THE REST OF THE CD. DAMN - IT'S ALL GOOD. ... Read more

Asin: B00008WJ8E
Sales Rank: 65606
Subjects:  1. Death Metal/Black Metal    2. Heavy Metal    3. Metal    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Scandinavian Metal   

Places for Breathing
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (20 May, 2003)
list price: $10.98 -- our price: $10.98
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Reviews (64)

A diamond in the rough
Revis had a song on the Daredevil soundtrack in 2003 by the name of Caught in the Rain. A very catchy song, it became one of my favorites, then kinda faded away. I am angry that I did not look into purchasing this CD when I first found out about this band. This is one of the most balanced CDs I have heard in a while, from the upbeat "Caught in the Rain" to the powerful "Seven" to a bonus instrumental at the end of the last song. By the way, this album has 11 tracks, not just the 4 displayed by Amazon's page.

I highly reccomend this album to anyone who enjoys modern rock at all. If there is only one band within modern rock you enjoy, it should be Revis.

REVIS, I AM VERY SAD.
To start off, this band is simply amazing. Their music just lifts me up and makes me feel something that I have never experienced before in music. They have this meloncholy, joy of emotion sound that I have never heard in a band before. I just can't describe it. And whats more interesting, is that this band only has one album. I should be saying the word had because I feel that Places for Breathing will be their only album. I don't even know if the band is even together anymore (Their fan site sure isnt telling me crap because nothing is updated). Places for Breathing, which is their most recent and only album came out on May 20th, 2003 and that is a hell of a long time for such a talented band to go on without writing for so long. The last post on their fan site is two years old and their most recent concert was in april of 2004!!! I just want to know what went wrong. Were they dropped from their label and then never played again. Did they slit up? Did a member die? I guess I would just simply like to know what happened thats all; find some resolution. It is honestly, distressing to not know.

Anyway, thats life I guess. It's just sad thats all. Such a good band could of had so much more going on for them. But if its going to be this one album that will be apart of their legacy, then it's one damn good album. But I will still always leave room for hope. It would just be nice to keep your FANS updated. Revis, to me, you are everything that music and good songwriting should be. Thank you.

ONE OF A KIND VOICE
simply fantastic. please dont download the songs and buy this cd! wheter it being used on ebay or brand new! the songs are just too good to download! these guys have a very UNIQUE sound to them and is a must hear. Spin, Your Wall, City Beneath, Living rooms are just a few BAD ACE songs on this cd! dont listen to those other FCKR'S! if you love (or even like) good rocking music with a constant acoustic sound and some badass vocals, then this cd is what your dreaming of! please trust me! ... Read more

Asin: B0000996HX
Sales Rank: 35013
Subjects:  1. Alternative Metal    2. Pop    3. Post-Grunge    4. Rock   

Fallen
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (04 March, 2003)
list price: $18.98 -- our price: $13.49
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Editorial Review

The Daredevil soundtrack provided a nice boost for this previously unknown quartet from Little Rock, Arkansas. Evanescence’s songs "My Immortal" and the imposing "Bring Me to Life" are clear standouts in the film, mainly because they work so well with the dramatic, eerie undertones of the storyline. They reappear here on the band’s debut, alongside a selection of similarly brooding tracks that evoke pensive artists like Tori Amos and the Cranberries. Vocalist Amy Lee has the kind of voice that can cause weeks of insomnia, but on songs like "Tourniquet" and "Haunted" she belies the music’s sinister mood with evenhanded spirituality, thoughtfully letting some light shine through the tempest. --Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (2280)

I hate this band!
This is not music. This is just another cash in on emotions. The vocals on this album are so anoying. What's with the song of My Immortal? That song could be used for something else, not for a band like that. This album talks about Suicide. That's something no one wants to listen to. Amy Lee can't sing even if her life depended on it. If you want good music, then I suggest Pink Floid's The Wall instead.

Breath of fresh air at first,.... yes... but that was then
I give it four stars because it isnt perfect in my book. When I first heard this band back in 2003, I was like,,, wow,, something new with a good sound and great lyrics. I will give Amy that, really knows how to write lyrics from the soul. Her vocals on the album,, great. Vocals in a live show,, not as perfect, but hey,, she runs around and exhausts herself, so what can you expect? With Ben Moody no longer in the line up and writing with Evanescence, I'm not sure they will survive to be honest. Between Ben and Amy they created the Evanescence sound and style. Lets see what this new character has. For now he is nothing more than Ben's puppet really. I can sit and play all the songs off this album, so if I can be turned into a trained monkey to play them, pretty much any guitarist can. For the bands sake, he had better hope that he can write or will they call up Ben and say, hey write for us... LMAO. My guess about their future,, well it doesnt look good from here, but then again, he may just suprise us with his talents, one never knows. Now as far as the comments made about they are pop and not really goth. NO THEY ARE NOT GOTH by any means. They were origianlly signed to a christian lable. Ben has done work on the sounds for Passion of the Christ and the ex-keyboardist which I cannot remember his name at the moment is a Grammy winner pianist/vocalist doing Christian music. As far as the poppy sound, yeppers its there, but with Ben's guitar riffs they make it not as poppy as it would have been if he wouldnt have made them as hard and crunchy, not a metal or deathcore or goth guitar, but still a solid guitarist with good original style I will give Ben that. I am not here trying to put down this band, Amy, nor Ben. The album is what it is. It is well done, the production was done purposfully for the radio. If anyone out there has the origianl Origin they know that most of Fallen is nothing more the redos from Origin. So in a sense, these songs are old as dirt by now. Buy it if you wish, you will dig it, but if you are really into true metal and true Goth, you will not like it Im sure. ENOUGH SAID!

What?
Amy Lee I like how shes not all over talking off her clothes to be popular, but her singing sounds like a Soap Opera I am sorry to say, I like some of the lyrics yes there good, but the band all together's not good. I like how she makes her own clothing also. But I am sick and tried of people labeling this band Goth. Goths are long time gone or older now..Like in the 50s-80s...If you want real gothic music then listen to bands such as Dead Can Dance,Play Dead, Joy Divison, London After Midnight,Dreadful Shadows,Bauhaus..They were goths. Goth is not a bunch of people wearing makeup no you got them wrong..I am only 15 and I know whats real goth and real punk and real music..You may not argree with me But thats ur option and you can say whatever you want to..I am not telling you to stop listening to this band or anyting I am just speaking my mind in a nice way dont say its a mean way or anything cause I am not like that. Go ahead and contine liking this band. ... Read more

Asin: B000089RVX
Subjects:  1. Alternative Metal    2. Chamber Pop    3. Goth Metal    4. Pop    5. Post-Grunge    6. Rock   

Life Is Killing Me
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (17 June, 2003)
list price: $18.98 -- our price: $18.98
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Editorial Review

Still proving that gothic metal need be mordant and humorless, New York's Type O returns with their sixth album of misanthropy, high drama and perversion with tongue planted firmly in cheek. Towering frontman Pete Steele is still the band’s focal point and his lyrics are more grotesquely hilarious than ever. Musically, Life is pretty accessible, eschewing much of the brutal, thrashy heaviness of Type O's early material. "(We Were) Electrocute" is a sleek, electro-pop homage to 1980s New Romanticism that showcases Josh Silver's funeral synth lines. The adrenaline-fuelled soft-rock rush of "I Like Goils" comes on like Andrew WK in a vampire cape. And "Less than Zero" finds Type O Negative revisiting one of their more surprising influences, the Beatles, as a sitar cuts through the eerie gloom. --Louis Pattison ... Read more

Features

• Explicit Lyrics

Reviews (140)

eh
With 1999's World Coming Down, Type O Negative trimmed the humor from their sludgy goth-metal. The result was a deep, well-done record - the best of the catalog. It set the bar high for future releases.

A bit too high, it turns out. Though Life is Killing Me is full of decent songs, the re-introduction of light-hearted material is a detriment to their dark, slow sound.

The best tracks are the two singles, the depressing, World Coming Down-worthy "The Dream is Dead" and the new wave-influenced "I Don't Wanna Be Me."

These songs capture the best elements of TON: smooth, deep-throated vocal melodies with dark-but-catchy backing music. Essentially, when the songwriting is in top form, Type O Negative is slow-motion death metal with keyboards and good singing.

Another high point, though it brings out the band's overrated humorous side, is a cover of "Angry Inch." A song from a John Cameron Mitchell musical, it addresses a botched sex-changed operation in a punk/metal style.

Some other songs fall short of the mark, however. For example, "I Like Goils" is a somewhat catchy but overly homophobic attempt at a joke: "I'm quite flattered that you think I'm cute / But I don't deal well with compacted poop."

Throwing political correctness to the wind can be a great thing, but only when it's done right. To the band's credit, however, this line is kind of funny: "A sexist pig, I guess it's true / I hate all men including you."

The rest of the CD is filled with catchy songs, so it can be recommended to current Type O Negative fans. In the end, though, Life is Killing Me cannot live up to the standards of World Coming Down.

Best TON since Slow, Deep and Hard
Almost gratifying to see the BK and OR fans winging that this isn't real type o negative. I loved Slow, Deep and Hard but Bloody Kisses and October Rust made me cringe. The shoe is now on the other foot eh? Life is killing me drew me in, albeit kicking and screaming, because the songs are so catchy. To me this is Type O Negative goes pop but without selling out. There's some great melodies often surrounded by heavy sabbath/cathedral type guitar and a great production. There's a wide range of aggressiveness on display too, from the very mellow Nettie and Electrocute to Angry Inch which shows Pete can still sound mean and angry when he wants to tho possibly popping a roid in the process. Other stand out songs for me were Anesthesia, Dream is Dead, Don't wanna be Me, A dish.. The instrumentals Thirteen and Drunk in Paris are really the only songs I skip.

Dark Humour and Catchy Lyrics
To give this Album 1 Star is pretty stupid. If you're a fan of this band and respect them, then you'll understand and accept that most, if not all, bands can't stay the "same" throughout their whole career, however long that is. Type O Negative is one of these bands obviously, and they can't keep throwing out the same albums like "Bloody Kisses" or "October Rust". If they did, then you'd probably dislike them for staying the same..so it's a lose-lose situation.

For open-minded fans of this band..this Album really isn't all that different to their previous albums. It still has the dark humour, the catchy lyrics, the fuzzy guitar riffs, and Pete Steele's distinctly deep voice. Like pretty much every Type O Negative album, there are a few songs that are "Filler", such as "Thir13Teen", "I Like Goils", "Angry Inch" and "Drunk in Paris". "Drunk in Paris" is actually kind of amusing the first time you hear it, but gets old fast. The other songs that i mentioned, except for "Thir13Teen", are all pretty fast, punky, type songs. In my opinion, i think they were at their best with the fast, punky, songs on "Slow, Deep and Hard".

The rest of the album, in my opinion, is pretty flawless. Standout tracks would be "I Don't Wanna Be Me", "Less Than Zero", "Todd's Ship Gods (Above All Things)", "Life Is Killing Me", "(We Were) Electrocute", "Anesthesia" and "The Dream is Dead". But the others are all just as catchy, and easy to listen to. I really don't think Type O Negative have changed much, in their sound. If they have at all, then it's definitely not a dramatic change.

I doubt open-minded Type O Negative fans will have a problem with this Album. It's definitely Type O Negative. There is so many good songs on here, and even though it isn't quite their "best" Album, it deserves more than 1 Star. I think for new fans of this band, this is very highly recommended. ... Read more

Asin: B00009PJPT
Subjects:  1. Alternative Metal    2. Goth Metal    3. Heavy Metal    4. Pop    5. Rock   

Nancy Drew: Ghost Dogs of Moon Lake
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (16 November, 2002)
list price: $19.99 -- our price: $18.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

A friend's frantic note sends teenage super-sleuth Nancy Drew on the trail of a mysterious pack of dogs, whose glowing eyes and mournful howls threaten to chase her and her friend away forever. Locals say the ghostly pack are risen from the grave to protect the secrets of their master, Mike Malone, who lies buried next to his beloved dogs. Long dead, Malone, a notorious gangster, once lived in the lakeside cabin recently purchased by Nancy's friend. Now it's up to players, as Nancy Drew, to dig up clues and find a flesh-and-blood answer to the haunting howls in the night.

To solve the case, Nancy ventures into the deep, dark woods that surround Moon Lake. Like a search dog hot on a scent, she hunts down clues. Along the way Nancy meets a variety of characters--all with something to hide--and searches through creepy old houses. Dodge danger, flush out secrets, and solve cryptic puzzles. Interview a cast of suspicious characters and adventure through more than 30 activities to sniff out the truth behind the Ghost Dogs of Moon Lake. ... Read more

Reviews (578)

The Final Scene
I loved Final Scene so much!!!!!!!!!Well if you have never played Nancy Drew be aware there will be alot of traps!!!!!Well Final Scene is really about Nancy and a school reporter Maya Nguyen.The setting is at The Royal Palladium Theatere.I promise you will be hooked to this game,i know because i have solved it.You will never guesswho it is!Most of the rooms have lots of secret passage ways so be aware!Oh yeah they have millions of Secret Passage ways!The music is increidble!The game is timed on the 3 day!Because of the demolition.You have 3 days too find alot of clues well not in real life but in the game!!!!!!!!!Nancy Drew Rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My DDI review!
I have to applaud the creators for the greatest gaming experience I have ever known in my short life!If this was a movie and I was Epert and Roper I'd give it ''two thumbs up''.You as Nancy are vacationing on a tiny island in the San Juan Island chain.But before you can kick up your feet for a relaxing day,Katie,the woman you're staying with's boat is vandalized!Who did it,and how is it tied in with the baby Killer Whale who showed up in the channel?That's the mystery to solve in Nancy Drew:Danger on Deception Island.

Nancy Rocks!!!
Ok I've played and finished all the games and am awaiting the new one.These games are great!!!They are suspenseful and fun for girls 10 & up.The Final Scene is one of my favorites.I reccomend Ghost dogs of moon lake, Secret of Shadow Ranch and I also liked Danger on Deception Island.If you like puzzles and mysteries, you'll like Nancy Drew computer games. ... Read more

Asin: B00006OAQU
Subjects:  1. Computer Games    2. Action    3. Computer software (programs)    4. Kids (Children)    5. Printer Inks (Ink, Toners, Toner, Cartridges, Cartridge)    6. Printers (Printing)   

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Average Customer Review:
Video Game (21 July, 2003)
list price: $49.99 -- our price: $19.88
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic takes place just a few years after the Mandolorian Wars, thousands of years before the events in the Star Wars movies we know and love. Two Jedi, master Revan and his apprentice Malak, led the Republic's forces to victory and pursued the Mandalorians into deep space only to return as Dark Jedi at the head of a huge fleet of Sith warships. Only the Force powers of the Jedi Bastila prevented the Sith from overwhelming the Republic's weakened forces. At the start of the game Malak has usurped control of the Sith by betraying Revan and has attacked the ship carrying Bastila and yourself. In true Star Wars style, the game begins with a bang.

The storyline could have been a standard coming-of-age yarn but is instead a genuinely interesting adventure told with humor, compassion, and respect for the source material. Your character has a mystical bond with Bastila, and the two of you share some kind of connection to the Sith villains Darth Malak and Darth Revan. The game's planet-hopping adventures are driven by your exploration of these connections and how they relate to your larger goal of discovering the source of the Sith's sudden fleet. During your adventure you can explore side quests minor (such as racing swoops or gambling) and major (such as uncovering the fascinating back stories of your companions). Star Wars fans will get a kick out of the rich lore introduced in the game, particularly the Tatooine storyline that reveals the origin and history of the Sand People.

Gameplay is an abbreviated form of Wizards of the Coast's d20 Star Wars RPG game system--anyone who has played Dungeons & Dragons will be familiar with the abilities, stats, feats, and bonuses in this game. The player creates a character as a member of one of three starting classes (soldier, smuggler, scout) and then later chooses a Jedi class (guardian, consular, sentinel). Joining the player's character are other Jedi, warriors, thieves, droids, a wookiee, and even a Mandolorian. Unlike the faceless non-player characters of other games, each member of the supporting cast has an intriguing history and even agenda. Up to two of these other characters can join your character at any time. Depending on who you chose to take with you, new dialogue and even intra-party arguments come into the game (put the Mandalorian veteran with the Republic patriot and you'll see sparks fly). Combat is real-time turn-based, meaning the turns are seamless but the player has the option of pausing the action at any time to issue orders or direct any character to use a certain Force power, ability, feat, or item.

Graphics range from adequate to exceptional. Building and character models are not impressive--about what you get in GTA 3. Lightsaber graphics and environmental effects (like waving grass, clouds, and weather) bring the world to life. Battles are just brilliant, with characters pumping out blaster fire at Jedi who dash, dodge, and even deflect the bolts back toward their assailants. Complete with sounds straight out of the movies, the thrilling combat is pure Star Wars.

All in all, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is a masterpiece of Star Wars gaming. The pacing, balance of action and dialogue, clever puzzles and quests, and loving attention to detail have set the bar very high for role-playing games in general and Star Wars games in particular. Consider this a must-have game.--Mike Fehlauer

Pros:

• Captivating storyline
• Clever dialogue
• Star Wars feel
• True story and dialogue support for either Light Side or Dark Side play
• Brilliant combat graphics
• Fascinating characters (the loyal--and homicidal--droid HK-47 is truly unique)

Cons:

• Occasional bugs in dialogue, movie playback
• Cannot transfer equipped gear between characters while on your ship

... Read more

Features

• Immersive, action-packed Star Wars role-playing experience with customizable and evolving playable characters.
• Choose from nine customizable characters to build your party of three adventurers, including humans, droids, Twi'leks, Wookiees and more.
• Journey spans seven different worlds including Tatooine, Sith world of Korriban, Jedi Academy on Dantooine and Wookiee homeworld of Kashyyyk.
• Build your party and upgrade your equipment in your own starship, the Ebon Hawk.
• Fast paced mini-games -- such as racing swoop bikes, or manning turret guns.

Reviews (448)

KOTOR is the BEST GAME EVER!!!!!!!!!1
This game is VERY, VERY, VERY addicting. You start as either a Scout, Soldier, or Scoundrel but later you can choose what type of Jedi you want to be. During the game you can become a jedi, travel to 8 planets/ships, discover what the Star Forge really is, and uncover the most unbelievable secret in the game. This game is definitly worth the money

Wow! Awesome game.
My friend owns this game, not me. Even still, I am amazed at this game. In two days, I have played it for over 10 hours (it counts). The gameplay is awesome, plot is awesome, and it isn't a game that can be easily beaten. The part that I love the most is that you can choose whether your character will be good or evil, which will affect the game plot. I don't own an Xbox, but after playing this game, I am considering buying one.

Its fun, its just...
This game really is a good time, the graphics are awesome, and the story is great. BUT, I dont like having the XBOX doing the fighting for me.Im a big boy I can defend my self from the evil Sith.This game is really hard too, I suggest you get the guid ... Read more

Asin: B000067DPM
Subjects:  1. Star Wars (Starwars)    2. Video Games    3. Xbox (x box)    4. Microsoft    5. Action    6. Adventure