G - DVD

Get Smart Season 2

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Still getting smart 5 out of 5 stars.
10 of 10 people found this review helpful.

Smart. Maxwell Smart. The dumbest spy in the world, who fights on behalf of the forces of goodness and niceness, and succeeded in making democracy vs. communism a lot more entertaining. And the second season of spies, lies and kookiness only gets funnier, with Don Adams and Barbara Feldon continuing to save the free world.

Don Adams is Agent 86, Maxwell Smart, a not-so-bright spy with an endless arsenal of strange devices and odd sayings. The bumbling spy at a top-secret government agency called Control, which tirelessly works to keep the free world free. He's accompanied by his capable partner/love interest Agent 99 (Barbara Feldon), and overseen by the long-suffering Chief (Eward Platt) who puts up with Smart's constant mistakes.

The second season starts off rockily, with KAOS reprogramming Hymie to murder the Chief, and soon they step up their attacks against CONTROL: KAOS's new leader Siegfried (Bernie Kopell) kidnaps the Chief, and Max responds by kidnapping KAOS's top assassin... unfortunately sparking off a bunch of revenge kidnappings, until nobody is left at either organization.

As the season goes on, Max encounters new obstacles and plots against the free world -- he fakes his death, impersonates a safecracker, goes to Casablanca, tries to solve serial killings in the tropics, works in a circus, suffers amnesia, and is pursued by an evil big game hunter, a la "The Most Dangerous Game."

And what's more, and 99 have to deal with art thieves, submarines, mummies, beauty pageants, Arab princes, mouthy KAOS parrots, CONTROL being closed down, smiling killers, bronze paint, the Choker, going to jail, and a seductive woman who may be the dismantlement of Hymie.

The important development of "Get Smart's" second season is that Max finally gets a regular nemesis. As Holmes had his Moriarty, so Max has his Siegfried: a heel-cracking German with an exuberant sidekick, and a catchphrase of his own ("Ve don't ____ here!"). Siegfried isn't in every episode, but he crops up often enough to be worth noting.

Basically, the second season polishes up the kooky spy antics of the first, with more slapstick antics, delightfully weird problems (Max as head of the CONTROL workers' union?), and movie homages ("Goldfinger," "The Most Dangerous Game," "Casablanca"). Not to mention those wonderfully improbable gadgets ("Why hide a tape recorder in a camera and a camera in a tape recorder? Why not just take pictures with the camera, and record with the recorder?" "Because my mind doesn't work that way, that's why!").

Don Adams is the heart of the series, with his quirky face, nasal voice, odd body language and confident catchphrases ("And loving it!"). Max is not your usual inept spy -- he's confident that he's suave and competant, and somehow this carries him through to the end. Barbara Feldon plays a wonderful straight woman to Max's goofiness, while Edward Platt is just wonderful as the long-suffering Chief.

As for the new characters: Kopell is hysterical as "Zigfried," an excitable Germanic KAOS agent who is constantly thwarted by Max, which tends to upset him. David Ketchum is introduced as the aptly named Agent 13, an unlucky guy who is always hiding in tiny unpleasant spaces (garbage cans, freezers).

"Get Smart" didn't get smarter in its second season, but it definitely got better, especially with the introduction of Siegfried. Definitely a must see, for fans of spies and madcap comedy.

Get Smart - Season 1

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The old spy in the spoof trick! 5 out of 5 stars.
15 of 15 people found this review helpful.

Smart. Maxwell Smart. The dumbest spy in the world, who fights on behalf of the forces of goodness and niceness, and succeeded in making democracy vs. communism a lot more entertaining. With the comic trio of Don Adams, Barbara Feldon and Edward Platt, this hilarious spy spoof is still funny today.

Don Adams is Agent 86, Maxwell Smart, a not-so-bright spy with an endless arsenal of strange devices and odd sayings. The bumbling spy at a top-secret government agency called Control, which tirelessly works to keep the free world free. He's accompanied by his capable partner/love interest Agent 99 (Barbara Feldon), and overseen by the long-suffering Chief (Eward Platt) who puts up with Smart's constant mistakes.

Together with 99 and the Chief (and his faithful dog Fang), Max battles the forces of badness and rottenness -- namely, the anti-Control called KAOS. Among the enemies the Control agents face: the dwarfish "Mr. Big," the fashion forces of evil, spy college, violinists, lethal toys, the Orient Express, fat Arabs, vampires, a likable killer robot, a Chinese mastermind called the Claw, and explosive paintings. And that's only the start...

"Missed it by that much!" Maxwell Smart's catchphrases and goofy confidence made him the perfect antidote to the suave James Bond, especially since he never has enough money and his gadgets don't work very well. Unlike Bond and similar movie spies, Max succeeds out of luck and bumbling more often than not, but he still succeeds.

The comic timing is a little awkward at the very beginning, but rapidly gets its footing. Most of the comedy comes from the endless spoofery -- Max is the most inept secret agent in history, and he still faces off against all sorts of cartoonish villains with overly elaborate plans. The dialogue becomes progressively funnier as time goes on: "I may never get to play with the Philharmonic, but on the other hand, is Leonard Bernstein licensed to kill?"

The political clime of the mid 1960s is all over the series, especially in the form of KAOS. But fortunately they don't get preachy -- KAOS is merely a big evil organization, no more. A few of the references are dated, but most of the humor remains intact. (And fans of political correctness should skip episodes about the Claw and the Indians, funny as they are).

Don Adams is the heart of the series, with his quirky face, nasal voice and odd body language. Hard to tell how he could keep a straight face throughout many of the lines he says ("And loving it!"). Barbara Feldon plays the straight woman to Max's goofiness, while Edward Platt is just wonderful as the long-suffering Chief, who always seems on the edge of either melting down or exploding.

Decades after it was made, this clever spy spoof is still gutsplittingly funny. You'll roll around on the floor, laughing yourself sick... and... loving it.

Editorial Review:

30 Episodes on 5 DVDs

1950s TV's Greatest Shows Featuring: The Jack Benny Program / Dragnet / The Burns and Allen Show / The Lone Ranger / The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet ... North / The Life of Riley / Racket Squad

Amazon Price: $24.99 List Price: $24.99 Usually ships in 24 hours Amazon Marketplace: 6 new & used starting at $18.95

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

The Golden Age of Television lives again with this treasure-trove of TV favorites . DIGITALLY RESTORED ON DVD!!! JACK BENNY, BURNS and ALLEN, Eve Arden in OUR MISS BROOKS, RED SKELTON and OZZIE and HARRIET will keep you laughing . DRAGNET'S Sergeant Joe Friday, MR. & MRS. NORTH and RACKET SQUAD will keep you guessing who-done-it . You'll deep-sea dive into danger with SEA HUNT and ride with THE LONE RANGER and Tonto on another thrilling adventure of the old west and more!!! This collection of "family-friendly" programming includes 4 complete TV shows on each of the 3 DVDs - 12 shows in all - 5 hours of viewing fun!

DVD #1

The Jack Benny Program 10-31-54 "How Jack Found Mary" w/ Jack Benny . Dragnet 09-09-54 "The Big Crime" w/ Jack Webb . The Burns and Allen Show 10-09-52 "Free Trip to Hawaii" w/ George Burns and Gracie Allen . The Lone Ranger 12-29-49 "Cannonball McKay" w/ Clayton Moore

DVD #2

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet 02-13-53 "Valentine Show" w/ Ozzie & Harriet Nelson . Sea Hunt 1956 "Mark of the Octopus" (pilot) w/ Lloyd Bridges . The Red Skelton Show 01-25-55 "Trailer home" w/ guest, Mary McCarty . Suspense 06-29-54 "The Hunted" w/ Ward Bond

DVD #3

Our Miss Brooks 05-13-55 "Here is Your Past" w/ Eve Arden . Mr. & Mrs. North 12-05-52 "The Comic Strip Tease" w/ Richard Denning and Barbara Britton . The Life of Riley 04-24-53 "Riley's Operation" w/ William Bendix . Racket Squad 02-28-52 "Hearse Chaser" w/ Reed Hadley

Gilligan's Island - Two on a Raft & Home Sweet Hut (TV Premiere)

Amazon Price: List Price: $5.98 By: Warner Home Video Amazon Marketplace: 9 new & used starting at $1.59

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Gilligan's Island: The Great Opening 5 out of 5 stars.
10 of 19 people found this review helpful.

I brought this DVD so i would see if i wanted the Season 1 Dvd! I loved it and right now im been lent the Season 1 Dvd so im watching it! This Dvd however is so great! This show is SO Funny! Bob Denver plays Gilligan Great! Skipper is indeed the big teady bear everyone says he his! And Ginger is the kind of women who would be discribed as 'Magically Charming' probely because of the music that accomponies her apperance's with Gilligan! 'Two on a raft' is a great pilot, It really shows you what to expect in later episodes! and as for 'Home sweet hut'...well its good too! But not as good as 'Two on a raft'! Its all laughts 'here on Gilligans Island!'

waste of money 3 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

I bought this item at the same time I purchased the complete three seasons of Gilligan's Island. I opened this product first, and then the box set. I found out that these two episodes are included in the Season 1 DVD package. If you are getting this DVD to see if you want to get the whole season, then I'd say it's not such a waste of money (but heed the prior poster's comments warning about the cheap packaging). This product was released AFTER the Season 1 box set, so there should have been some notation that these two episodes were also included in the Season 1 box set. I was under the impression that these two episodes were separate from the box set. As I have opened the product now (but haven't watched it), I'm stuck with it, unless I can sell it or perhaps donate it to some charity. If you intend to buy either Season 1 or entire three-season collection of Gilligan's Island, don't bother with this DVD, unless you're getting it for the sake of being a collector. I don't think it's worth it.

Gene Simmons - Family Jewels - Season One (Signature Series Collector's Set) (Amazon.com Exclusive)

Amazon Price: List Price: $44.95 By: A & E Home Video Amazon Marketplace: 10 new & used starting at $12.00

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 28 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

"Rock god, Demon or Dad? Who says you have to choose?

Take an unprecedented look into the (surprisingly normal) life of a rock ‘n roll icon with GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS. The new real-life A&E family series steps into the home of the legendary, tongue-wagging rocker demon of KISS and Shannon Tweed, former Playmate of the Year, actress, model and mom. Gene and Shannon have been happily UNmarried for 23 years and have no plans to get married anytime soon. Their kids, Nick and Sophie, are surprisingly charming, well-behaved teenagers dealing with the trials and tribulations of adolescence, even though Mom and Dad are like no one else’s parents on earth. Yes, Gene is a world-famous rock star and multi-media magnate, but he’s also the kind of dad who brings Gatorade to his daughter’s soccer games and stands in the front row of his son’s rock band when they play gigs.

Get to know a side of Gene that he has kept hidden from the world at large until now, and see how the most non-traditional family in America manages to make normal life work under the oddest of circumstances.

In this very special Collector’s Edition you’ll find:

• 2 DVDs with all 13 episodes of season one of Gene Simmons Family Jewels.

• 1 DVD with a feature length presentation of BIOGRAPHY: GENE SIMMONS

• 20-page hardcover family photo album with photos personally selected by Gene as well as his commentary.

• A bonus CD with two unreleased songs from Gene Simmons’ upcoming MONSTER: THE GENE SIMMONS BOX SET due to be released in 2007.

• The never-broadcast pilot of Gene Simmons Family Jewels

• The unseen ""couch interviews"": entertaining one-on-one conversations that reveal the family dynamic

• ""Behind The Makeup" featurette: a look at life as a KISS frontman.

• Hilarious but not-ready-for-prime-time Bloopers and out-takes from Gene Simmons Family Jewels, season 1

• Gene's History of Rock n Roll: his own insights on the truly great and influential musicians

• The Lost Songs featurette

As a special bonus, this Collector’s Edition includes an exclusive music CD featuring two previously unreleased, never-before-heard songs from the man himself -- songs only available here! Accompanying the songs is commentary from Gene -- a letter describing the history of these two tracks and the thought processes behind their development. A required addition to the collection of any Gene Simmons or KISS fan, this DVD set should not be missed. "

Gene Simmons Family Jewels: The Best of Seasons 1 and 2

Amazon Price: $8.99 List Price: $12.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: A&E - Model: AAED77305D Amazon Marketplace: 44 new & used starting at $2.12

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Best Show Ever... 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The DVD is GREAT...Best Show Ever...The DVD arrived on time and in great condition...***** stars from me :)

The GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Being a big fan of KISS, it is awesome to see the life of my idol unfold in front of T.V. cameras. The best of DVD allows new comers to see why this show ROCKS!!!!!! I am sure that after watching this show you will know why Gene says it is good to be him.

Editorial Review:

Eight top-rated episodes from seasons 1 & 2 Studio: A&e Home Video Release Date: 04/01/2008 Run time: 176 minutes

Gilmore Girls - The Complete First Three Seasons

Amazon Price: List Price: $179.98 By: WB Television Network, The - Model: D70070D Amazon Marketplace: 11 new & used starting at $56.95

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 25 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

A very atypical mother-daughter relationship is at the center of Gilmore Girls, a comedy-drama that immediately set itself apart from the herd with smarter-than-smart dialogue and an endearing mix of whimsical comedy and family drama. Set in the Capra-esque burg of Stars Hollow, where everybody knows everyone and eccentrics abound, Gilmore Girls was less a mother-daughter show and more of a screwball buddy comedy in which the two buddies happened to be parent and child. Pregnant at 16, Lorelai (Lauren Graham) left her rich parents to bring up her daughter Rory (Alexis Bledel) on her own terms; when Rory herself turns 16, Lorelai wants to send her academically gifted daughter to the prestigious Chilton school. The catch is, Lorelai can't afford it on her own, and rather than let Rory go without, the elder Gilmore girl brokers an uneasy truce with her parents (Edward Herrmann and Kelly Bishop), who finally get a chance to bond with their granddaughter while financing her education.

It sounds like a premise potentially fraught with angst and trauma, but in reality Gilmore Girls was one of the freshest, airiest, most enjoyable shows to air on the perpetually melodramatic WB network, critically praised once viewers got hooked on its unique brand of humor. Rory's growing-up adventures, including her acclimation to snooty Chilton and romance with townie dreamboat Dean (Jared Padalecki), gave the show a teen-friendly feel, but Gilmore Girls was anchored in the adult by the luminous Graham, a brilliant comedic leading lady who could turn dramatic on a dime and never break stride. The show's hallmark was its rat-a-tat, whipsmart dialogue, delivered perfectly by Graham and Bledgel, as well as a host of wacky supporting characters who would go on to become invaluable cast members. The first season allowed the show--and its lead actresses--to bloom gracefully and establish a deep, humorous rapport that lent itself perfectly to weekly travails both comedic and dramatic.

Love was in the air at the beginning of the second season of Gilmore Girls, as both Gilmores found themselves in the midst of perfect, giddy relationships--or so they thought. Lorelai (Lauren Graham) had accepted the proposal of English teacher Max (Scott Cohen) and was excitedly planning her first wedding; Rory (Alexis Bledel) was back on happy footing with townie hunk Dean (Jared Padalecki) after a dust-up near the end of season one that prompted a mini-break for the teen twosome. However, series creator Amy Sherman-Palladino had anything but smooth sailing on the horizon for her heroines, giving Lorelai a severe case of cold feet and Rory a major distraction in the form of Jess (Milo Ventimiglia), the bad boy newly arrived in town. Soon, Rory found herself extremely attracted to Jess, while Lorelai rekindled the flame of passion that once burned long ago with Rory's father, Christopher (David Sutcliffe), who made his way back into her life despite a girlfriend in the wings.

After the minor romantic speed bumps of the first season, the introduction of actual conflict into the second season of Gilmore Girls helped give the happy-goofy atmosphere of Stars Hollow a decided tension, as Rory tangled with her emotions over Jess and began the first tiny steps away from her good-girl persona. The episode "A-Tisket, A-Tasket," centered around the annual town auction of picnic baskets, was a wonderful portrait of Rory's conflicting adolescent feelings for both Dean and Jess. However, it was Lorelai's simmering chemistry with former flame Christopher, only hinted at in the first season, that gave the show its energy as well as its heartbreak, culminating in the stellar season finale "I Can't Get Started." But lest you think Gilmore Girls was centered only on romance, the second season also gave the expansive ensemble cast many hilarious moments, ranging from the hallway politics of Rory's private school to the town antics that shaped the Gilmores' daily lives. Through it all, the appealing Bledel and the radiant Graham exuded wit, charm, and a way with snappy patter not seen since the golden days of '30s screwball comedy.

In the third season, senior year meant some surprising changes, as both Lorelai and Rory wrestled with their pasts in order to figure out what the heck they were going to do with their futures. In the wake of finding out that her relationship with Rory's dad was not to be rekindled, Lorelai endured a variety of suitors as she attempted to keep her life on an evil keel--not easy when her former flame's girlfriend was pregnant (and clueless), her former fianci shows up unexpectedly, and her beloved inn suffers some unforeseen damage. If it was minor drama for Lorelai, it was full-fledged soap opera for Rory, who broke up with longtime boyfriend Dean in the wake of her attraction to the moody bad-boy Jess, only to find her new relationship fraught with difficulties. Add to that the pressure of getting into college (Harvard or Yale?) and stressful senior class politics at the snooty Chilton private school, and it's a wonder she still had time to crack wise at breakneck speed with her mom and the rest of Stars Hollow. The center of Gilmore Girls was the Rory-Dean-Jess triangle, which played out with surprising sensitivity and not a bit of sadness; it all came to a head in the episode "They Shoot Gilmores, Don't They?" in which Rory and Lorelai's quest to win a dance marathon ends in tears and break-ups. The year's teen drama did have a tendency to put the adults on the back burner, but the luminous Graham made the most of her character's dilemmas, whether gauging her growing attraction to diner owner Luke (Scott Patterson) or wrestling with her parents' continuous meddling. While it is hard to pinpoint a specific compelling story arc for this season, that doesn't mean it wasn't filled with the charm, smarts, and rapid-fire dialogue that made Gilmore Girls one of the brightest shows on television. Stellar supporting turns from Liza Weil as Paris, Rory's friend and nemesis by turns, and a pre-O.C. Adam Brody, as a band member who falls for Rory's best friend Lane (Keiko Agena), also punctuated the drama of the season with great comedy. --Mark Englehart

Gilmore Girls - Pilot (TV Premiere DVD)

Amazon Price: List Price: $5.98 By: Warner Home Video Amazon Marketplace: 4 new & used starting at $8.75

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Gilmore Girls Pilot Premire 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 5 people found this review helpful.

It was so cool to see them when they started the show.

Must Have! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 5 people found this review helpful.

For all you Gilmore Girls Fan's, the pilot episode is a must have for your collection! Even if you have the whole set of season one then I would still say go for it.

Warner Brothers' "TV Premiere DVD" Series - Cheaply-Made & Over-Priced 2 out of 5 stars.
1 of 4 people found this review helpful.

This is not a review of this specific title, but rather of Warner Brothers' "TV Premiere DVD" series as a whole. I would like to make you aware of my issues with features that are apparently prevalent in ALL of the titles in this series, based upon my purchase of one of these titles ("The Flintstones - The Flintstone Flyer").

Although the list of issues below was written specifically for The Flintstones DVD, I highly suspect that most (if not all) of it applies to this and all of the other titles in the "TV Premiere DVD" series. Be sure to check out The Flintstones page to see the photos that I uploaded which better illustrate the packaging and disc printing issues mentioned below.

-- The disc does not come in a plastic case, but rather in a cardboard sleeve which opens on the side. I've purchased $1 public domain DVDs from no-name companies that came in plastic slim cases, so it's appalling that a $6 DVD from a big-name company would be done so cheaply. Also, the sleeve has a hole at the top in the center where the peg would go for it to be hung on a rack like an action figure or toy. The hole has been edited out of the promo photos that Warner Bros. gave Amazon to display for the DVDs.

-- The text on the disc is very faint and hard to read - another way Warner Bros. skimped on production costs.

-- The cheapness doesn't stop at the packaging. The DVD does not contain a menu, not even a plain one. Because of this, there's an interesting glitch that happens if you let the DVD play past the episode. You see, after the episode plays, it goes to a FBI Warning on title 3, which then goes to the non-existent menu, so the player just hangs on a black screen.

-- They were even cheap in the placement of the chapters marks, which are placed every ten minutes (0:00, 10:00, and 20:00) no matter if it makes sense in the episode content for one to be there or not.

-- From what I've read, most (if not all) of the titles in the "TV Premiere DVD" series were originally released on VHS and/or laserdisc, with these DVDs being done from the VHS and laserdisc masters. The quality of The Flintstones DVD definitely appears to be better than VHS, so either it came from a laserdisc master, or not all of the titles were done from old home video masters.

Although at first I didn't mind paying $6 for one 26 minute Flintstones episode, that was before I knew that the DVD didn't even come in a plastic case. Now that six dollars really seems like a rip-off.

Warner Bros. "TV Premiere DVD" Series (10 titles)
* The Flintstones - The Flintstone Flyer
* The Jetsons - Microchip Chump
* ER - Pilot
* Babylon 5 - The Gathering
* Taboo - Tattoo
* Gilligan's Island - Two on a Raft & Home Sweet Hut
* The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest - Escape to Questworld
* Gilmore Girls - Pilot
* The Waltons - The Foundling
* Kung Fu - Pilot

The Girls Next Door - Seasons 1-4

Amazon Price: $83.99 List Price: $119.92 Not yet released By: Twentieth Century Fox

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Editorial Review:

Beyond Girls Next Door

Girls Next Door Workout

Girls Next Door - Season 2

Girls Next Door - Season 3

Stills from Girls Next Door (Click for larger image)

Get Smart (Widescreen) (Limited Edition 2-Disc Set w/Exclusive Shoe Phone Packaging + Digital Copy) (DVD) (2008)

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Features:

• 2-Disc Widescreen Edition
• Digital Copy of Film
• Exclusive: Shoe Phone Packaging

Editorial Review:

Steve Carell is in CONTROL as Maxwell Smart, the novice agent often out of his depth but never out of options in this action comedy pitting him against the nuclear scheme of the evil spy group KAOS. Anne Hathaway partners with Max as ever-capable Agent 99. And director Peter Segal ("The Longest Yard") guides his stars (including Dwayne Johnson and Alan Arkin) through the dangerous realm of molar radios, multifunction pocketknives, exploding dental floss and more. "'Get Smart' works as an action film and it's very funny." (Richard Roeper, At The Movies With Ebert And Roeper). This exclusive packaging includes the 2-Disc Widescreen edition of "Get Smart" in a limited issue shoe phone packaging and digital copy of the film for your PC or laptop!