Capresso 153.04 C3000 Automatic Coffee and Espresso Center, with Pump-Auto Cappuccino System
Average Customer Review:
Kitchen
list price: $2,394.99
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Editorial Review

When feeling a little groggy in the morning, or wondering where the coffee measure was tossed, or when dreaming of hiring a personal barista, consider the Capresso 3000. With completely automatic functions and stylish good looks, it fulfills all of these desires and doesn't ask for tips.

Easy to pre-set, the Capresso 3000 wakes up first, warming itself up in preparation for the coffee to come. Just stumble into the kitchen, find a clean mug, and set it down under the adjustable coffee spout. If you're in the mood for a cappuccino, pour some milk into a separate cup, so that it can be steamed while the Capresso brews. Then select the quantity and style of coffee wanted by pressing one button and, about 50 seconds later, the espresso or coffee is steaming in the cup. The milk is ready in another 30 seconds or so.

The Capresso 3000 measures out the correct amount of coffee, grinds it according to specifications, tamps it into the filter, brews the espresso, adds water, for an Americano-style coffee, and then discards the used grounds into an easily removable tray. If you'd like an additional shot, it's ready to go. The milk steamer never runs out of steam, since it's run on a separate system, and the removable water tank holds 96 ounces of water. To insure that the Capresso 3000 always makes great-tasting coffee, it also comes with a water filter attachment, two sample water filters, six cleaning tablets, and water hardness test sticks. Oh, and one more thing--the espresso is superb, with a rich, heady cream that made me think I'd died and gone to Italy. --Julija Gelazis

Editor's note: This item may arrive with water inside from the manufacturer's pressure test. This is a normal occurrence and doesn't point to a problem with the machine. ... Read more

Features

• Measures 14 by 14 by 15-1/2 inches; 1-year limited warranty
• Fully automated, programmable coffee, espresso, and cappuccino maker
• Integrated burr coffee grinder; 96-ounce removable water tank for easy filling
• Programmable timer, coffee strength, and temperature
• Includes water filter attachment, 2 sample water filters, 6 cleaning tablets, and water-hardness test sticks

Reviews (20)

Disappointed
Below is the message I Sent to Capresso. I think it explains it all.They did not reply until i sent them a follow up letter

Dear Madam or Sir:

I was very excited about purchasing one of your Capresso Super Automatic Impressa S series machines. The design concepts and convenience appealed to me. Usually (not always!) the higher priced items tend to be of better quality and your machines definitely fall into the higher priced category. Therefore I assumed they would be of the utmost quality. Boy was I wrong.Rather giddy I took the 45 minute drive down to ******** ******* in Wrentham, MA to purchase an Impressa S7 only to find they had none in stock, but they did have factory refurbished C3000 machines. So in having good luck with other manufactures refurbished products, and assuming your company was thorough in its refurbishing process I was comfortable purchasing one at its $1200.00 price tag. Upon arriving home and opening the package I was rather disappointed. The machine was filthy there was still grounds in it, and the surfaces and catch trays all had dried up coffee and sediment on them. So I read the manual and cleaned the machine the best I could. When I went to set it up and attach the frothXpress I found that the Steam nozzle was missing. Figuring I could call and get one shipped to me Monday I continued on. Plugging in the machine and going through the initial rinse phase I got a message to fill the system and press steam. The system was full of water and beans and the steam half of the machine worked. When trying to make a cup of coffee it would grind the beans and then just dump them into the waste tray. After looking through the manual again and checking your website I decided that the machine was defective and boxed it back up. The next morning I loaded it back in the car and made the 45 Minute ride back to the store to exchange it. After making the 45 Minute ride home with the new unit I was happy to find that this one had the steam nozzle. This one was also filthy. During cleaning of the second unit I found that the used coffee container and aroma protection lid where missing from this one. When I powered up the second unit neither the steam nor the brew system functioned with the system full of water and beans. With this I packed it back up and spent an hour and a half to return it to the store, and did not get another for obvious reasons. Mind you that both boxes appeared to be unopened and factory sealed. With all that I found wrong with both units it makes me wonder if your refurbishing process consists boxing them back up and shipping them out or if the fixed units got mixed with the damaged units. I can not see how a company could ship a filthy machine like that with the health concerns involved.

I decided to give your company a second chance today Monday, March 07, 2005 by calling your customer support line. I wanted to find a stocking local retailer where I could buy a new Impressa S7 and express my dismay about the problems I had this weekend. I wanted to buy it locally so if I had more problems I could return it to the store instead of shipping it somewhere. The service representative got me locations down in Providence, RI about an hour and fifteen minutes away from me but seemed irritated that she had to do it for me. I had already tried the net but it returned no results. When I started to mention my problems she showed no interest at all and just worked to get me off the phone without addressing any of my concerns for the product. This left me with a bad taste in my mouth and no real desire to spend $1800.00 on a machine made by your company. The People at ******* ******* where professional, courteous, and sympathetic to my problem though there was nothing they could do for me. It is a shame your company is not the same. All this from a company that makes the claim "People and Attitudes Make a Difference!
Once you own a Capresso product we want to make sure that you feel completely comfortable about your decision" on your website. I am pretty sure my comments will not make it under that section of your site but I can make sure that this letter gets posted with every product review location that I find your products in.



Disappointed,

Danny Wilcox

Sent for service twice
After two to three months use the machine has clogged and had to be sent in for service.Clogging seems to occur after the message displays to clean machine with the tablet.After doing that, the trouble starts.When it is working it makes great coffee.Don't seem to get answers on how to fix it myself.They just tell me to send it back.Then I am without it for two to three weeks.The local rep has tried to be more helpful than Capresso customer service.Has anyone else experienced this problem?

Not for Everybody
Owning and living with the C3000 for over a year, I encourage people to try this before they buy.It takes time to learn how to get good results from this machine.Although semi-automatic, I always make the coffees, due to it's many idiosyncrasies.

Pros: Water container and filter system is really superb. System cleaning is very easy, including periodic maintenance.System status / display panel very good and easy to use. Fast warm-up time, auto shutoff feature.

Cons: It is honestly not the best at extracting full flavor from the espresso beans (compared to my Brasilia) - you really need just the right beans for best results & the first shot is always a tosser. Also, since my SubZero keeps my milk real cold, I have to pre-heat my cups with hot water and even then it is tough to steam the milk to a high enough temperature for serving. Noisy when making coffee.Oily beans jam hopper on grinder.

Overall, I use it only to make quick coffees for myself.I certainly would never attempt to impress anyone with the quality of coffee it produces. ... Read more

Asin: B00004SU1R
Subjects:  1. Espresso Machines    2. (Espresso Makers)    3. (Expresso)   

Sangean RS-332 Powered Speaker for RS-330 Clock Radio
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $119.99
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Editorial Review

Think clock radios are inherently boring? Think again. Sangean's RS-332 is a powered speaker and clock radio combo intended to complement Sangean's RS-330 clock radio. When used with the Sangean RS-330, this unit offers stereo sound and complete, dual-alarm, radio-wake-up freedom.

The RS-332 is a model of clarity: its fluorescent blue display is large and intuitively laid out, its two alarms are easy to set, and its sound focuses though a single, natural-sounding speaker--identical in size and timbre to the speaker in the RS-330. Audio feeds to the RS-332 through a supplied 18.5-foot multipin cable, which also allows the RS-332 to serve as alarm 2 for a second sleeper in this dual-alarm system. (You can station one clock on either side of the bed.) Through the connection cable, the RS-332 can operate the RS-330, and vice versa.

Conveniently, the RS-332's radio sets its own presets (12 FM and 12 AM) using Sangean's APS (Auto-Program Setting), and reconfiguring those presets is a simple operation. Unfortunately, there's only six preset buttons, requiring a two-step process (and the equivalent of a shift key) to access presets 7 through 12 in either the FM or AM band.

Clock settings are a cinch, as the RS-332 uses a single button (just out of accidental reach) to toggle through the main clock time and the settings for alarms 1 and 2. Using the RS-330, you can set each alarm to wake with either radio or beeper, and the alarm for the RS-332 gets its own volume knob on the unit's back panel.

The alarm level functions independently of the master radio level, whether you've selected the radio or the beeper for your alarm. This brings a certain freedom in listening--you never have to worry about whether you've left the volume too loud or too quiet for the next day's wake-up. For the alarm, the radio switches to mono reception, rather than stereo, so that the first alarm to go off will not disturb the person whose alarm is set to go off later.

For radio listening, a large side knob handles volume adjustments; you control bass and treble from the Sangean RS-330. The RS-332 has a volume control switch on the back panel. When you switch this on, the master volume knobs for the RS-332 and RS-330 operate independently of one another--you must listen carefully to match the level for balanced stereo sound. When you switch the volume control off, however, the RS-330 controls the master level for both radios, though the alarm levels are still set independently.

For nighttime lullabies, the RS-332 offers a Sleep function. The default setting is one hour, but you can set it anywhere from one minute to six hours by hitting Sleep and adjusting the duration with the tuning (up/down) buttons. Conversely, you can set a countdown timer for up to six hours using a Timer button. The beeper, but not the radio, sounds at the end of the countdown.

You even get to choose different stations to fall asleep to and to wake up to, though both alarms must wake to the same radio station since the radio-alarm defaults to preset 1 of your last-auditioned band (FM or AM). (Linking with the RS-330 permits additional and differing presets.) The snooze bar, which gives you five minutes of sleepy reprieve with every smack, is easy to hit and appropriately wide.

For a winning combination of stylish appearance, alarm flexibility, and pleasing sound quality, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better choice than the Sangean RS-332/RS-330 combo. --Michael Mikesell

Pros:

• Intuitive controls
• Alarm level separate from radio level
• Good-sounding speaker
• Nicely positioned volume knob
• Stately appearance

Cons:

• Limited number of preset buttons requires use of a shift key to select stations 7 to 12
• Display doesn't show time and radio station simultaneously

... Read more

Features

• Designed to be linked to Sangean RS-330 for stereo sound
• Dual alarms and alarm settings
• 4-watt amplifier with single 5-inch speaker
• Auto-Program Setting (APS) stores stations by priority of signal strength
• 30-minute super-capacitor backup system retains all settings

Reviews (4)

Proton Rules!
I've owned the set of Proton radio and slave speaker.The sound is incredible.I have placed them in my bookshelf headboard where they are a perfect fit of form and function.All the controls are extremely workable and well-thought out.But even better is the fact that you can set it and forget it.I awaken to my favorite station, with the music ramping slowly up.I got to sleep using the sleep timer.Depending on which alarm you set, 1 or 2, the sound comes out of different speakers.Here in Texas we get lots of bad storms yet I've rarely had to reprogram my Proton; it holds the settings when the power's off.I highly recommend this unit.

didn't work twice!!
The first one arrived and didn't work.The second didn't either.The fact that today there are only two reviews when last month there were a dozen makes me wonder.

Great sound and ease of use
This is the speaker slave to the Proton RS-332.I keep the master unit in my bedroom as a clock radio.I wanted a radio in the little office next to my bedroom, but I have two computers in there and I liked to listen to an AM station.The AM reception was awful.What to do?I got this speaker unit and hooked it up with the 18' cord to the tuner in my bedroom.I hooked up a Turk AM Advantage antenna to the tuner.The speaker unit has full on/off tuner controls, but since the actual tuner is in the other room, the computer interference doesn't affect the AM reception.What a concept!Works great! ... Read more

Asin: B000023VVG
Subjects:  1. Clock Radios    2. Hi-Fi Stereo (HiFi)    3. Speakers (Conventional)    4. Portable AMFM Radio (Personal AM-FM)    5. Clock Radio (Radios)    6. Accessories (Accessory)   

Toastmaster 289 Snackster Sandwich Maker
Average Customer Review:
Kitchen
list price: $19.99
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Editorial Review

Sleek and compact, this four-section sandwich maker grills two full-size sandwiches or four hot pockets in nonstick cooking compartments. The red light means the sandwich maker is still warming (or grilling); the green light means it's ready (or the sandwiches are). Afterward, its handles latch and the sandwich maker stands on end for easy storage. --Fred Brack ... Read more

Features

• Handles latch and sandwich maker stands on end for storage
• Grills two full-size sandwiches or four hot pockets at once
• Nonstick grids quickly release sandwiches
• Light indicates when grill and sandwiches are ready
• Compact 9-1/4 by 9 inches

Reviews (20)

fun and functional
I bought my little sandwich maker last year, and it's still one of my favorite kitchen gadgets. It's easy to use, a snap to clean, spares you from dirtying a skillet, and once you have it you find more reasons to pop a sandwich inside. It's the best.

Good but doesn't last long
This is not a bad little sandwich maker.The pockets are narrow so the fillings do squeeze out the side.It is easy to clean.Unfortunately, it is not very long-lasting.One of the plastic light covers came off about 3 days after I purchased it.The other one popped off about one month later.I have had it for about 5 months now and the cord apparently has shorted out.I have to wiggle it for five minutes before I can get the sandwich maker to turn on.Since my kids are hooked on the grilled cheese sandwiches I make in it, I will be heading out to buy another sandwich maker.I just don't think it will be this brand again.

Best Cheese Toasties!
This thing makes the best cheese toasties ever!I just spray both sides with non-stick cooking spray after it warms up.Then, I put the bread on, cheese, then another slice of bread.About 4-5 minutes later, I have a tasty cheese toasty!

Cleaning this thing isn't too bad.You just have to wait for it to cool off.I usually let it set, unplugged, for at least an hour because I clean it.A dish scrub brush works MUCH better than a dish cloth.

Storage is pretty simple.Close it, then what I do is wrap the cord around the handle.You can stand it up, which is a good feature it you have limited kitchen storage space. ... Read more

Asin: B00004R92G
Subjects:  1. Small Appliances    2. Electrics    3. Indoor Grills    4. Specialty Appliances   

Selfwolf (Phoenix Poets Series)
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 April, 1999)
list price: $14.00 -- our price: $11.20
(price subject to change: see help)
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Reviews (3)

Masterful, Mysterious, and Wholeheartedly Delicious
Considering that I usually consume books of poetry in one healthy sitting,the fact that I savored this book for almost two weeks stands as partialtestament to its brilliance, intrigue, and genuine understanding of thehuman condition.Halliday writes about experiences which, whilesuperficially banal, actually manage to penetrate both the conventionalmedium of poetry, and the varied audiences receiving his poems.Throughoutthe book he continually pokes fun at himself as a poet and the meaning of"immortality" through writing while also providing us with atragic and beautiful collection of ideas ranging from the traditionallyimportant (divorce, loss, heartache) to the Romantic oddities (Baudelairianpassing of strangers) to the existentially bizarre (urban mediocrity, maleangst, reconstruction of self).This book cannot be ignored by anyoneseriously interested in gutsy, intelligent, witty, entertaining poetry. I'm still stuck with its pungent, admittedly disturbing though remarkablysatisfying aftertaste!

A Pleasure to Read
The best thing about Mr. Halliday's work is that you can see the personal nature of the author in the poems.I can see Mark sitting up late at night writing all of this (Loaded Inflections) and I can understand the relationships he has with his characters (Divorce Dream).Selfwolf isabsolutely believable and devoid of cloying sentiment.His personality ison those pages and to read them leaves me wanting to research volumes onhis thoughts.This book is a lot less like typical poetry and a lot morelike the most interesting discussion you've ever had with that one personwho is intriguing because he won't let you pick his brain.The onedisappointment?I want to know even more.

Where's He Going to Go Next?
many good poems, but there's so much irony in this book that when you get to poems like Tonette the poet sounds like a hypocrite.how'd erma bombeck get into the room?"bad people" is a weird mix of nostalgia,empathy and disapproval but ends up feeling parental (ask your mother) andhence cliche."Other Pages" reads like a page torn from theFrank Bidart handbook "Emotional displays through Typography." and haven't i seen some of these poems before, in Tasker Street?the poetseems to have painted himself into a corner here. ... Read more

Isbn: 0226313840
Sales Rank: 810073
Subjects:  1. American - General    2. Poetry    3. Poetry / Single Author / American   

Liar
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (05 October, 1992)
list price: $13.98 -- our price: $13.98
(price subject to change: see help)
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Reviews (19)

THE LIZARD, greatest live band.....
I am not sure if I like LIAR or DOWN better.Both are solid from begining to end.LIAR is a bit harder and raw, DOWN is more refined (if that word can be used to describe anything about the Lizard!?).Both albums represent the zenith of the Lizard's talent.If you have not ventured down this road and are unsure, do it.You will never look back and see the road the same way again.

A few comments.This was the first Lizard album I ever bought and at the time it was extremely different from the mainstream crap that was playing on the radio at the time.It scary, demented and little did I know that this was the definition of "rock".

After about a year I really understood these guys and I was able to do something about it.Fortunately I live in Chicago.I was able to see the Lizard about 5 times and every time I left a show I was amazed by this band. Tight. Hard. Powerful.Yow.

Yow was the 90's incarnation of Jim Morrison and I mean that only in the sense that he had such presence on stage. He was half drunk, staggering, yelling but always keeping composure.
He had a habit of coming on stage in various states of dress and the most messed up thing he did was come out completely wrapped in duct tape -head to toe.He proceded to rip the tape off as the show progressed.He was just about nude by the end of the show.The guy was insane and we loved every minute of it.

And the rest of the band?I have a hard time trying to think about a better live band.Sims, Denison, Kimball, McNeilly.The power and absolute precision that these guys played was unrivaled.

I somewhat remember a quote by a rock critic in Chicago about the Jesus Lizard, he said that they were "The greatest live band on this and three other solar systems".Nuff said.

Buy it you fool!!!!!
What can I say about Liar?Well, when I first heard it I wasn't too sure, it took a few listens before I could decide whether or not I liked it.At the time I wasn't really into punk or metal (or anything particularly good to be honest) I was just a young teenager who bought what the music industry told people to buy, i.e. mainstream throw-away crap.It began to grow on me and before I knew it I had all their other LPs.Liar became my favourite record, and still is God knows how many years later!Because of this record I found out about Touch & Go, which introduced me to some of my other favourite bands.So it kind of changed my life, as horribly cringe-worthy and cliche as that sounds.
Despite what some may argue, Liar is by far the Jesus Lizard's best and most accomplished work.It is a relentless onslaught of mayhem, noise and nastiness that urinates on the so-called metal bands claiming to be hardcore in the early-90s.Goat was good, really good in fact, but it just wasn't consistent, and nowadays sounds a tad dated.Liar doesn't fall into this trap however it remains powerful and terrifying to this day.If you like this try Scratch Acid (Yow & Wm Sims band before JL), Big Black/Rapeman/Shellac (Steve Albini's various bands), Zeni Geva, Naked Raygun, Melt-Banana, Killdozer, and Dazzling Killmen.

Give me something to stop the bleeding!
The Jesus Lizard had a curiously twisted sense of humor. There's a song on this album called "Rope", where David Yow sings about a guy who is found dead in the woods with a trowel up his *ss. In "The Art of Self Defense" is David Yow howls out the phrase, "A saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad pygmy!!!!", which always brings a little grin to my face. These songs are blazing and incredibly tight, fast-paced hard rock. Nobody rocked out like the Jesus Lizard. I'd say this album is their high water mark, along with Goat. Puss is probably the standout track, and was also released as a split single with Nirvana (Cobain was a big fan). Pour some bourbon down your pie-hole and give this album a listen. Its good. ... Read more

Asin: B0000019J4
Sales Rank: 39330
Subjects:  1. Alternative Metal    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. American Underground    4. Indie Rock    5. Noise-Rock    6. Pop    7. Rock   

Zojirushi AFFB10S Premium Thermal 1-Liter Carafe, Brushed Stainless Steel
Average Customer Review:
Kitchen
list price: $30.99 -- our price: $21.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

This vacuum-insulated carafe maintains and serves any hot or cold beverage at the proper temperature. Press your thumb against a button on the handle, and the spout opens to allow pouring. The carafe's satin-finish, stainless-steel exterior and black plastic accents create a modern, functional appearance. Rinsing the carafe's glass interior with warm water is usually the only cleaning necessary, but swirling a teaspoon of mild detergent diluted in warm water around with a soft sponge or cloth removes stains. The exterior merely needs wiping with a damp cloth. --Fred Brack ... Read more

Features

• To clean, rinse interior with warm water and wipe exterior
• Keeps hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold
• Thumb-button on handle opens spout for pouring
• Fine-threaded twist top with rubber gasket seals in temperature
• 5-1/4 inches in diameter at base by 10-3/4 inches high

Reviews (6)

Keeps Coffee Hot All Day
This stylish stainless steel carafe not only looks good but keeps coffee hot all day long.I bought it to avoid getting a burnt coffee taste from keeping brewed coffee on the burner, but was amazed at the convenience of being able to brew coffee in the morning and still be able to drink it 12 hours later for dinner!Sounds hard to believe, but it is true!As far as cleaning, the instructions state that the lid is submersible for cleaning.The rest of the carafe can be disassembled for cleaning as well if necessary, although the inner lining is glass so cleaning should be done only as necessary and very carefully.

Keeps hot water hot!
So far this has been a great product. I've had it for about 2 months and have used it almost every day to hold boiling water for making tea. This carafe keeps the water near boiling for at least 5 hours. When I leave the water in it for 24 hours, the water is still warm enough for me to make tea with it.

I have never used this item to store anything else other than water; but in theory, you should be able to make tea or coffe the night before and still have it hot in the morning 6 to 8 hours later, assuming the liquid is boiling when you pour it in.

Some of the heat from the water is lost from the initial contact with the carafe, so the liquid you store will always be a little cooler than its intial temperature.

Finally one that works!
I have paid over $30 for a carafe to keep my coffee hot overnight, only to take it back 2 days later.This one DOES keep coffee hot for hours and hours.The lid could be improved to take apart & cleaned, but the water that accumulates in it when immersed has always drained out for me. ... Read more

Asin: B00004S56U
Subjects:  1. Hot or Cold    2. Accessories   

Psycho (Collector's Edition)
by Anthony Perkins Janet Leigh
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Average Customer Review:
DVD (02 September, 2003)
list price: $19.98 -- our price: $14.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

At last--a great American movie available on video for the first time in its original aspect ratio. For all the slasher pictures that have ripped off Psycho (and particularly its classic set piece, the "shower scene"), nothing has ever matched the impact of the real thing. More than just a first-rate shocker full of thrills and suspense, Psycho is also an engrossing character study in which director Alfred Hitchcock skillfully seduces you into identifying with the main characters--then pulls the rug (or the bathmat) out from under you. Anthony Perkins is unforgettable as Norman Bates, the mama's boy proprietor of the Bates Motel; and so is Janet Leigh as Marion Crane, who makes an impulsive decision and becomes a fugitive from the law, hiding out at Norman's roadside inn for one fateful night. Psycho gets the masterpiece treatment it deserves on DVD, with extras including newsreel footage surrounding the making and release of the movie; an archive of production stills; the special trailer in which Hitchcock (acting as one of the original Universal Studio tour guides) himself leads viewers around the Bates place; credit designer Saul Bass's original "shower scene" story boards; posters and advertising materials for the movie's William Castle-like publicity campaign (No One Will Be Seated After the Feature Begins!); and a 90-minute documentary on the making of the film! What more could any movie fan possibly want? --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Features

• Black & White
• Closed-captioned
• Widescreen

Reviews (342)

A New... And Altogether Different... Screen Excitement!!!
I can't give a whole lot of new information besides what these other 300 reviews have said... except for this movie is a slasher classic.One of the first of it's genre, if not the first successful one of its genre.
Alfred Hitchcock... who's given us such classic thriller hits such as Dial M For Murder(Grace Kelly), Vertigo(James Stewart), and The Birds(Jessica Tandy).Psycho, was loosely based on the true story of the serial killer Ed Gains.Showing us an honest pleasant looking man on the outside... when actually being a whole different person on the inside.
Anthony Perkins who before doing Psycho, was known as the pretty boy in nearly everything he had done up to that time.Showing you the life of a motel owner who is renting out room after room, just living nearby in the most darkest eerie house on the hilltop.Janet Leigh who has had her share of roles in movies such as Touch Of Evil(Charlton Heston), The Vikings(Kirk Douglas) and many more... gave a great small role to Psycho.When you're watching this, you're pretty much thinking she's not going to die she's the star.When next you have the famous shower murder scene, with that screeching music in the background... setting Psycho at it's classic slasher title.
You have a lot of memorable shots and characters in Psycho.The scene where the deputy is walking up the stairs... when you see the old lady, Norman Bate's mother come out with the knife.You watch it feeling like it was you falling down the stairs being plunged with the knife.
In every slasher thriller... you have two elements.You have a murdering serial killer character on screen, who's suffering some kind of psychosis.While at the same time, you have a slashing film with a killer, who's just waiting to stick you with something.Alfred Hitchcock invented both.
Is the movie worth buying? why wouldn't it be.Is this movie watchable a dozen times? I'd say anyone who has seen Psycho has watched it more then once.The DVD collector's edition, the price... none of it can be any more perfect.

"We have 12 vacancies, 12 cabins, 12 vacancies"
Alfred Hitchcock is a legendary director and we get nothing less from him in Psycho.The history of the film is nearly as interesting as the storyline itself.When first released, Hitchcock insisted that no one be seated after the start of the film, making audiences assume that a major plotline occurs within the beginning of the story, and in fact a murder occurs within the first third of the film.
Psycho is the grandfather of horror films; it made way for slasher, suspense films for decades to come.The plotline of Psycho, however, is very simplistic.A woman, Marion Crane, is given the task of depositing $40,000 into the bank.She decides to steal it, however, and goes on the road with it.On her road trip, she becomes tired and stops at the Bates Motel to rest for the night.We are introduced to the young and handsome caretaker of the Bates Motel, Norman Bates.We are taken into Normans world and take on the character's voyeurism as we watch Marion undress through a peephole in the wall.It is here that the infamous shower scene occurs in which the heroine of the film is murdered.The rest of the film is devoted to finding out what happened to Marion, as well as showing a more personal side to the murderer.
Psycho delves into "the nightmarish, disturbing themes of corruptibility, confused identities, voyeurism, human vulnerabilities and victimization, and the deadly effects of money."
One of Psycho's greatest accomplishments is the ability to entice the audience.At first, the audience is sympathetic towards Marion and her situation, until Hitchcock pulls the rug out from under us and kills the main character.We then despise the murderer, Norman Bates, who we eventually become sympathetic towards him and his situation.
There are many great camera techniques that make this film so incredible.First, Hitchcock insisted the movie be filmed in black and white because it would be too gory in color.The use of black and white versus color adds to the ambience of the film.
The greatest feature on this dvd are the special features.A newsreel footage surrounding the making and release of the movie as well as posters and advertising materials for the movie's William Castle-like publicity campaign (No One Will Be Seated After the Feature Begins!); an archive of production stills; the special trailer in which Hitchcock (acting as one of the original Universal Studio tour guides) himself leads viewers around the Bates place; credit designer Saul Bass's original "shower scene" story boards; and a 90-minute documentary on the making of the film.But above all, the most interesting special feature is the showing of the infamous shower scene with and without the music.What a difference!

"He Was Always BAD!" -- (But This Movie Certainly Isn't!)
Ever since first seeing Alfred Hitchcock's masterwork, "Psycho", it has firmly held down a high ranking in my "Top Films Of All-Time" category. "Psycho" began scaring audiences when it first hit theater screens in June 1960, and it's doing the same thing even today, many decades later.

This motion picture has a way of "sucking you in" almost right from the start.I'm not quite sure why, but (for me) when watching "Psycho", I always begin to start squirming in my seat just a wee bit during the film's second scene, when the man with the wad of cash enters Janet Leigh's office. It's a feeling that seems to be inherent to a Hitchcock film.It's probably part psychological on the part of the viewer.Since we know we're seeing a Hitchcock picture, we automatically tend to feel slightly ill-at-ease at almost every turn.Hitch no doubt *knew* his audiences would feel this way, and took advantage of it with a masterful subtleness in much of his direction and in the scripts he ultimately brought to the big screen.

The plot in "Psycho" is relatively simple (so it seems), but in the hands of "The Master" (aka: Mr. Hitchcock), the film takes a drastic turn 47 minutes in, with 57% of the movie still in front of us. I'm sure you know what this "turn" entails.If not, buy this DVD post-haste, because you're one of the very few who evidently has not basked in the beauty of this motion picture.

Between Mr. Hitchcock's inimitable style of direction, and that unforgettable Bernard Herrmann music score, how could this film be anything but what it is -- an unsurpassed horror/suspense icon.

There's a veritable laundry list of memorable moments in the film that are almost instantly recognized as distinct "Psycho" signatures. Such as -----

> The spooky old house on the hill, which seems to be "watching" all that happens below from its lofty perch.

> "Bates Motel -- Vacancy".

> The staircase.

> "Mother" moving past the window.

> Marion's "eye".

> That knife-stabbing music.

> "Cabin 1".

> "Mother...m-m-my mother, what is the phrase? She's not quite herself today."

> Mrs. Bates in the cellar.

> And, of course, that dreaded "shower".

All of these set-pieces add up to the whole that is the magnificence of "Psycho".

The video quality on this non-anamorphic DVD looks exceptionally good for an older (1998) DVD release.You can freeze-frame an image in almost perfect, undistorted clarity anywhere on this disc (which is unusual for non-anamorphic video material), indicating a solid transfer.The image ratio here is the Widescreen OAR (Original Aspect Ratio) of 1.85:1.

The audio you hear comes from Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono soundtracks. It would be great if there had also been a Stereo re-mix done here, so that Bernard Herrmann's always-effective music score could be "expanded" upon in the realm of Stereo (or even a Surround Sound format).Still, this original Mono track does very well for itself.

This single-disc DVD "Collector's Edition" of "Psycho" from Universal Studios does the movie proud. It's brimming over with fulfilling bonus supplements, including a scrumptious feature-length documentary, "The Making Of Psycho", which runs for 1 hour and 34 minutes.This feature is chock-full of useful behind-the-scenes tidbits and goodies that should delight any fan.I particularly enjoyed the interview segments with "Psycho" screenwriter Joseph Stefano. This "Making Of" is one of the best of its kind to ever come down the pike for any DVD release (IMO).It's very nearly a "second" movie on this disc.

But the producers of this Universal Digital Disc didn't stop with just placing on it a terrific and stylish movie-length documentary feature. No, there's a lot more where that came from.The disc also contains:

>> Newsreel Footage: "The Release Of Psycho". -- This splendid bonus, which has a run time of 7:42, is an "Advanced Press Book on Film" (a quote from this newsreel).This feature (I assume) was distributed to theaters around the U.S.A. before the film's widespread initial release in the summer of 1960, to demonstrate, as stated in the newsreel, "the care and handling of Alfred Hitchcock's 'Psycho' ". It's a truly fascinating glimpse into the world of promotional advertising for a major motion picture, circa 1960. This short film looks sensational too.Remarkably pristine and clear.

>> The "Shower Scene" (with and without music).

>> Multiple Photo Galleries, featuring gobs and gobs of great-looking production stills and poster art from the film.

>> "Shower Scene" Storyboards.

>> Theatrical Trailers. -- Including the Hitchcock-hosted "Tour of the 'Psycho' Set" Trailer, which is practically a "mini featurette" all by itself, sporting an elaborate running time of 6.5 minutes! One of the lengthiest trailers I can think of.

>> Some very detailed text-only sections: "Production Notes" and "Cast And Filmmakers Biographies".

Also included is a very handy and informative multi-page, fold-out booklet -- which has Chapter Lists for both the film and the "Making Of" (26 Chapters each), several nice photos, and some very lengthy and informative Production Notes.

Universal has, in my considered opinion, done itself a great disservice via a woeful lack of useful information on the back cover of the packaging regarding this DVD's excellent bonus material. Not a single word is printed on the back (or front) cover telling of the bountiful supplements contained on this disc.

A person who didn't know what a great batch of extras was on this disc might be inclined to skip this release, and wait for (perhaps) a 2-Disc Anamorphic "Psycho" DVD version. (Which, in fact, I imagine *will* be offered up by Universal eventually. However, it would be very difficult, in my view, to top the Special Features contained in this "Collector's Edition".)

This classic piece of cinema deserves to be re-visited a minimum of a couple times per year (possibly more if your nerves can tolerate the abuse). And that's easy to do with this very satisfying DVD on the shelf.Any true collector of horror films that does NOT have this Hitchcock spine-tingler in his/her DVD collection should be "Psycho"-analyzed -- and then pointed in the direction of this Amazon webpage ASAP!*wink* ... Read more

Asin: 0783225849
Subjects:  1. Horror   

Want
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (15 February, 2001)
list price: $9.95 -- our price: $9.95
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Editorial Review

Playful and witty but always subversively literary, Want, the debut book from Seattle poet A.J. Rathbun, manages to bring together Tupac Shakur with the Italian novelist and poet Cesare Pavese to make the lost world of silent movies cohabitate with a love of Kansas--and he makes it all seem natural. Rathbun is a wide-ranging poet whose breathless, big-hearted poems take their time getting rolling. That's part of the power and charm of this collection: it seduces us with its conversational tone and the wide net it casts. And it surprises us with phrases like "In the Italy of your life" or "I'm the type of guy who" as Rathbun makes a casual day with a friend changing his bike tire into an occasion to celebrate the blessed ordinariness of our lives. There's an emotional generosity in these detailed examinations of people, places, and food. Want introduces Rathbun as a distinctive new voice.--James Gurley ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A guy with a "Want" tour shirt
used this book as a college text book.And it was good.Not only that, but the book was worthwhile for teaching creative writing, from a student's perspective.There is so much ground covered here, and the way that Rathbun weaves together so many aspects together is intoxicating.Yes, there's a lot of punk sensibility here, but there's also a real sensitivity to landscapes that echo the poems' sentiments.

Whatever your taste, you're likely to enjoy this book.There's both echo and reverb at various volumes.

I also recommend seeing a live reading by the poet.His energy filled the room when I saw him, definitely tour-shirt worthy.

Wonderful
This book is absolutely perfect. I have favorite poems: Want, The Meanings in More, Need, Infidelity, I'm the Type of Guy, The Pace is Glacial... But I read the book cover to cover when it arrived in the mail (a present long awaited) and each poem feels like a person or destination, their story or map like an imprint on the page that wanders on living when the poem is through. I am in awe. I can't wait for volume II. AJ Rathbun is a talent to watch and his poems are genius.

You wish...
A.J. Rathbun writes the poems that you wish you would have written.

He writes the poems that you wish you would have written after walking home drunk with the certainty that this time it was for real, or the poems that you wish you would have written after she left with your Wallace Stevens, your bootleg cassette of the Clash at CBGB's, and the last third of the Maker's Mark, or, quite possibly, the poems that you wish you had written on the bus to San Francisco as you watched the sunrise burn away the last three years of your life.

These poems are solid.They are real.They are right. ... Read more

Isbn: 0887394280
Subjects:  1. American - General    2. General    3. Poetry