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Ghostbusters (1984)

And the answer is absolutely YES!

I won't get caught in the main synopsis of the movie, I'm guessing you know the story and the actors. If not you should be asking your self where have you been the last twenty years or so...now lets get into it!

Video Quality on this release is in full 1080p using the MPEG-4 codec on a BD-50 (50 gigabyte dual-layered Blu-ray Disc). This is a great catalog release. It is so refreshing to see a studio not attempt tweaking the original image with digital noise reduction and edge enhancement. This is a faithful to the source transfer. Clarity and resolution is where this transfer shines, all the little signs, switches, knobs and so forth are all clearly defined displaying an excellent depth of field. Colors are nicely saturated and accurate displaying good natural hues.

As for the Bonus Materials: these are presented in Standard Definition 480i and High Definition 1080i with Dolby Digital 2.0 sound.

* BD-Live Keep in mind that BD-Live requires the user to be on a "Profile 2.0" capable Blu-ray Disc Player and connected to the Internet to access online content via the studio (in this case Sony). Once online you can access content such as downloadable trailers for other Sony Blu-ray Disc release upcoming and already available. Title specific content in this case is actually included. 2 different Ring tones are available which are just dialogue from the film. Standard rates apply to get these I'm sure, nothing is 100% free these days.

* "Cinechat" This BD-live application allows viewers to chat with friends and family while watching the film. A easy to understand tutorial is included.

* "Slimer Mode" is a Blu-ray exclusive feature that is using Bonus View which requires the user to be on a "Profile 1.1" or higher capable Blu-ray Disc Player. If you are capable of it, this is worth the time to watch all the way through. A neat "Ghostbusters" border frames the film while it's playing; at the same time a Picture-In-Picture track plays interview clips featuring the cast and crew looking back at the production. It is complemented with additional still photographs and behind-the-scenes video. A pop-up trivia track is also inserted into the mix, showcasing interesting facts about the film and its shooting locations.

* "Blu-Wizard" A BD-Java feature that will allow viewers to create their own play list of special features by selecting only those of interest. Once activated, a pop-up marker indicates when that particular feature is available to view.

* Audio Commentary Director Ivan Reitman is joined by co-writer/actor Harold Ramis and associate producer Joe Medjuck. It is unfortunate that they weren't able to update the commentary (originally recorded in 1999 for the DVD release) with thoughts from Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, or Sigourney Weaver. This is very informative track but unfortunately it comes across as dry. Opcional subtitles are included.

* "Scene Cemetery" (9 minutes SD) This is a collection of 10 deleted scenes that while fun to see in their own right aren't missed in the film.

* "1984 Featurette" (9:45 SD) This is a fun vintage featurette shot for the original 1984 release. Featuring behind-the-scenes footage and short interviews with cast and crew talking about the various aspects of making this beloved movie.

* "Cast and Crew Featurette" (10:53 SD) -This is a short 11 minute featurette originally recorded for the 1999 DVD release.It is a collection of interviews with Ivan Reitman, Dan Aykroyd, and Harold Ramis talking about the film and its impact in general.

* "SFX Team Featurette" (15:22 SD) This is a panel discussion with the original F/X team.They discuss their experience of working on the film.

* "Multi-Angle Featurettes" (SD) This is broken into three sections: "Spook Central Exploding" (2:49), "She's A Dog" (2:00), and "Crossing the Streams" (1:23). Here you can watch the rough video and animation work in before-and-after stages from three particular scenes.

* "Storyboard Comparisons" (SD) Also broken into three sections: "Slimer" (2:13), "Dogs Drag Dana" (2:09), and "Atop Spook Central" (2:04). you can watch the hand-drawn storyboards and compare them to the film's finished cut.

* "Ecto-1: Resurrecting the Classic Car" (15:37 HD) Sony and the filmmakers had the hero car restored to its original glory for the promotion of "Ghostbusters: The Video Game". Interview clips include Dan Aykroyd and the talented crew of people who worked on the refurbishment of the 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor Ambulance. The real treat is seeing the process of breaking down the car and building it back up to look better than it ever has. Once it is restored Dan Aykroyd was invited to see the Ecto-1 in all it's glory and it is a pleasure seeing the genuine joy he displays at being reunited with the old girl.

* "Making of Ghostbusters: The Video Game" (11:18 HD) A promotional fluff piece for the video game has the cast and creators sharing their thoughts about the game and its storyline. Brief clips of the video game are interspersed throughout. The game looks like a fun trip down memory lane. The graphics look authentic to the "Ghostbusters" films.

* "Ghostbusters Garage: Ecto-1 Gallery" (HD) This is a beautiful slide show highlighting the restoration process, whilst Elmer Bernstein's music plays in the background.

* "Ghostbusters: The Video Game Preview" (1:43 HD) Simply this is the trailer for the now available video game.

* Theatrical Trailers (HD) A collection of previews in HD `The Da Vinci Code: Extended Cut,' `Close Encounters of the Third Kind,' `Men in Black,' `Fired Up!,' `Paul Blart: Mall Cop,' `So I Married an Axe Murderer,' and `You Don't Mess With the Zohan'.

Hope this was useful.

At the end if you ask me this si a must have!

I received the DVD a few days earlier than expected, and in an unexpected way.

There was a knock on the door, it was maybe 2 in the morning. I don't really remember. I slowly got out of bed and peeked through the doorhole to see who it could possibly be.

It was Bill effing Murray. Dressed up as a ghostbuster. When I opened the door, he clicked a remote to turn on a stereo boombox he had with him. Ghostbusters theme blaring, he starts dancing. 70's disco style.

After "WHO YOU GONNA CALL," he held the DVD case up to my face and paused the song. I was silent, he lowered the case and put it in my face again.

"Ghostbusters?" I asked.

He started the music again, put the dvd down on my doormat, took the boombox and danced away.

I opened up the DVD case when I got back inside, and on the INSIDE of the SHRINK WRAPPED DVD CASE, I kid you not there was a note that read

"No one will ever believe you. No one buys DVDs anymore."

I got noise complaints from other people in the apartment the next day. I told them I was sorry and wouldn't play my music so loud. Let's face it. No one would believe otherwise.

Excellent DVD. High quality video and audio, and the extras are AWESOME.

Buy Ghostbusters (1984) Now

Well, this isn't packed with special features, but it's sure worth more than two stars. After all, what do you expect for a double-feature (each film is in its own thin-pak case) plus episodes of the cartoon (which it will be great to reminisce while watching, by the way) and a scrapbook at such a low price?

The real treat that home theater enthusiasts and most people with eyes will appreciate is that the transfers have been remastered and are marvelous-looking. That alone makes this a good companion to the old discs (KEEP THE OLD RELEASES because the video commentary from the first Ghostbusters DVD isn't on this new one and the neither are theatrical trailers). e-mail me for a link to comparison pics of the transfer upgrades! Worth an upgrade for home theater enthusiasts and fans of the cartoon (and fans of cool gimmick packaging, too, I guess!).

Read Best Reviews of Ghostbusters (1984) Here

I already have the 25th anniversary blu-ray edition of this movie, but I was wondering if the 4k would really upgrade the video quality which is not that great on the earlier edition, and this newer edition (at $14.99) was cheap enough to experiment with. I do not have any of the very expensive 4k equipment but the 4k is advertised that it will improve a regular blu-ray. Side by side with the earlier blu-ray version, I would say that there is a noticeable upgrade in the foreground of the scene and some shots come out very clear. It is enough of an improvement that I am keeping this one, but don't get rid of your earlier editions because this one does not have any features. The 25th anniversary blu has all the original dvd features plus some forgetable new features such as info on the Ghostbusters video game. So I am keeping them both. Amazon has the unfortunate habit of using all 555 reviews which go back to the dvd version which I find very confusing when I am trying to decide if an upgrade is worth it. As to the movie itself, it is still funny almost 30 years later, which is a testament to all the great actors, writer and the director, so I can't give it less than a five.

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The outside box does say that GB is in fullscreen and GB2 is in widescreen. However, that is a misprint. Originally they did intend to release it this way, but the backlash was so severe that they reversed this (stupid) decision. I guess the box artwork was already printed by this point. Rest assured that the actual movies are BOTH in widescreen and there is not even a fullscreen option. The inside boxes do both indicate widescreen.

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Brüno (2009)

I have to see Bruno more than once, most people probably do too. That's because Bruno is one of those rare movies where you're laughing so hard at some parts you know you're missing the next funny thing. As gay, Austrian fashionista and celebrity-wannabe Bruno, Baron Cohen continues his jaw-droppingly crass and outrageous stealth comedy antics. Purportedly, Baron Cohen has been beaten up while in character, so it only seems fair that he makes his audience laugh hard enough to hurt.

Of course the usual Baron Cohen caveat is in order: yes, its offensive, yes, its gross, yes, there is a LOT of nudity, mostly male. If any of this is not your cup of tea, that's dandy, no hard feelings. If you don't mind the occasional sight of literally bouncing balls in the name of comedy, Bruno is pure gold.

Post Borat fame has probably necessitated that more of this movie be staged, with at least some of the people (a talk show host, the driver of an oncoming car) in on the joke. But scripted or naturalits wickedly funny. And enough of it is genuineincluding Bruno's interview/sex tape with Ron Paul, parents of would-be baby stars volunteering their 12-month-olds to play Nazis, ex-gay ministers, straight-rally wrestling audiences and general bystanders to Bruno's public antics.

Bruno balances the line between social commentary and comedy like a model on a catwalk. As with Borat half the humor comes from people reactings (or not) to the character's outrageous behavior, and half from the eerily apt caricature Baron Cohen creates. Fame-hound Bruno is everything narcissitic, uninformed, vain and with the all-too-common undeserved sense of entitlement that makes up the worst of American pop culture. As with Borat, Bruno learns some life-lessons and grows as a person by the end of the movieas Baron Cohen always seems to want to better his audience, even if he has to beat them over the head with a dildo to do it.

This movie is *clearly* for those not easily offended. It is shocking and hysterical, but I don't think I could allow my parents to go see it.

Sasha Baron Cohen's latest creation, Bruno, makes his way to America to become uber-famous any way he can. And he goes through lots of different attempts on his way. Acting, interviewing celebrities, guesting on talk shows, becoming straight, he tries many methods, each with it's painfully funny result. You'll love the Paula Abdul interview, particularly.

The interactions with people are wonderful, and you will be appalled at what some parents will do to get their children into show business. Just stunning.

There are a lot of shocking/uncomfortable funny moments (be prepared for gratuitous male nudity), and I am no sure how they will hold up for repeated viewings, but in a crowded theater, it was a scream. The ending is worth the buildup, and stick around for the closing song.

I laughed so hard that my face was hurting, and my wife was crying from laughing so hard. It takes a while to recover, but soooooo worth it!

NOT for the kids.

Buy Brüno (2009) Now

After the movie Borat in 2006 Sacha Baron Cohen returned to the big screen in 2009 with another of his characters, gay Austrian (you read that right, it's not Australian) Bruno. 19 years old Bruno is known for hosting what is said to be the most famous German speaking television show outside of Germany "Funkyzeit mit Bruno", a show about fashion and for his flamboyant style. Bruno is doing well in the world of fashion but when he gets fired, his assistant leaves him and his lover dumps him he decides to leave for America in order to become famous by any means.When he comes to America Bruno tries a talent agency to get to stare in a big Hollywood movie and become famous, he unsuccessfully tries to starts a new television show, he does an interview, interviews people and he even tries to become straight amongst other things. He will do anything to get famous and is not ashamed of it which will end up in hilarious situations . Bruno to me was really funny, there were some moments were I laughed, others were I was in shock and others in which I didn't quite know what to think which I think was Baron Cohen's goal with this movie. There is a lot of nudity and other shocking things in this movie so be aware it's not for children and not everyone will like it because of it. Bruno goes far with homosexuality and if you are not comfortable with this then Bruno may not be for you. I have no problem with it at all and therefore enjoyed the movie and thought the character was great.

You may not like what Baron Cohen does but you can't deny his ability to re-invent himself, from his Ali-G character to Borat and others and keep what he does controversial, fresh and interesting . Bruno stands on its own and is not a Borat clone, there are a few similarities but the two are very different while retaining the same style of humor Baron Cohen is known for. If you are easily offended don't watch this, it's a different kind of humor that not everyone can appreciate. When it comes to Bruno it's pretty simple you will either love it or hate it. The rating here on amazon may prove otherwise but it's because of the mix of very positive and very negative reviews, there is hardly any middle ground.

Read Best Reviews of Brüno (2009) Here

I rented Bruno from NetFlix with mixed feelings. I had seen Cohen's other works, including Borat and the Ali G Show, both of which I found deceptively intelligent and political. His ability to make his characters' stupidity an incisive mirror which he holds up to society is mind-boggling. With Borat, I thought this form of comedy had reached it's highest point. I was wrong. Bruno goes further. Some are offended by the gratuitous male nudity. Deal with it. If looking at penises makes you deeply uncomfortable, you probably have issues that run deeper than Bruno. It's true that a lot of the content of the movie revolves around Cohen using his flamboyantly gay character Bruno to make conservative anti-gay types uncomfortable. This can be uncomfortable for the viewer as well, but with the ultimate pay-off of revealing America's deep-seated homophobia and questioning it.

SPOILER WARNING

The film's finale gathers a large number of red-neck cage-fight enthusiasts in an arena for an event hosted by "Straight Dave", Bruno's straight alter-ego. When they get a touching (if gratuitously gay) scene of male-male reconciliation and love, the fans go crazy with disgust. Some of the audience leave, some yell violent hate slogans, some throw drinks at Bruno and his lover. Several of the fans looks shocked and betrayed, several of them comically wearing "Straight Dave" T-shirts they'd gotten for the event. I even saw a few in the crowd who looked like they understood the point that Cohen was making. People who were suddenly more disgusted by the gross display of homophobic violence on the part of the fans than the homosexual love that was taking place within the cage.

While his methods may be questionable, I feel America is indebted to Cohen for his bravery, and that he is one of the single largest contributors to intelligent social commentary through comedy today.

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For those of you who may be "different" or gay and have been hurt, intimidated or shunned by society, you will love this fun-filled jab at your tormentors! As a gay person, I admit to a sadistic thrill out of seeing every single uncomfortable straight person in the film, and those watching it. The hillbilly's, the conservatives, the testosterone-filled and religious nuts all get a taste of their own medicine in this 'Borat-as-a-gay' fun fest.

Some of the scenarios are screamingly funny (the 'channeling Milli Vanilli' scene comes to mind) and you really have to admire the fact that Sasha Baron Cohen is a straight man creating these outlandish situations. So much of it comes off the top of his head, and he has an amazing ability to stay in character.

If you are "offended by male nudity"...then get a life! I saw that phrase SO MANY times in the reviews on here! How many times have you been asked if you were offended by "female nudity"? How many hundreds of movies have you seen with breasts (and "other parts") displayed across the big screen, larger than two-car garages? Did we gasp? Did we run home and complain about how "offensive" it was? I doubt it. Bruno has a penis and we see it, big deal! Well...it DOES have a urethra that talks...but still. He's an unconventional fella...

Why so many Sarah Palin-type Americans chose to view this film anyway, is a mystery. Bruno is UNMISTAKABLY gay on the cover, and they knew he was played by the same guy who was Borat. What were they expecting, a Liberace concert? The truth? Borat was offensive and STRAIGHT and everyone loved it. Bruno is offensive and GAY. And that, apparently, is 'not allowed.'

I say, buy this film. Play it when you're feeling down and it will guarantee you lots of laughs.

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Klown (+ Digital Copy) (2010)

There are several funny movies made in 2012. From a handful I have watched, this one is on Top for laugh-out-loud fun and entertainment throughout. Frank Hvam, a comedian, plays the role of a guy who wants to prove that he could be a good father to his pregnant girlfriend. In order to prove his fatherhood challenge, he decides to kidnap a child to impress his girlfriend that he has good fatherhood potential. Trying not to give away too many Spoilers here. The two of them venture out through the Danish countryside, not conforming to the standards of society. Their friendship is not the normal, and the young boy has a mind of his own with weird sexual encounters. They run around as if they own the world, and trouble is waiting. Some raunchy moments, but many very funny moments. A Good comedy, Acting Performance Superb, and a Great summer movie to get a few laughs. Highly Recommended!

Turns out Larry David is not socially inept, he's Danish. There is an uncanny resemblance between Frank Hvam and Larry and if you enjoyed Curb Your Enthusiasm, you'll like this movie.

The big surprise is that it's from Denmark. Now don't get me wrong. I have nothing but admiration for the Danes. In fact all Scandinavians rank high with me. Just look how well they run their own countries. We should look to them for guidance. Even the food isn't bad, except for the lutefisk. It's just that, until now, I was under the impression that Scandinavians lacked the humor gene. This was not an idle assumption; it was based on the jokes I was told by people from that part of the world. First, a Danish Joke: "We call hamburgers 'russian elevator operators' in denmark. Because they are minced meat as you will be if you let one operate an elevator. Hahahahahahaha." No, I'm not kidding. And the teller was an adult. Really.

Okay, get ready for the second joke. It was told to me by someone from Sweden. "Oh I am so sad, my cousin is dead." "What happened?" "He shot himself." "Oh no, why?" "Because his wife served roast pork and red cabbage for dinner." "That is no reason to kill youself!" "But he had it for lunch."

See. So when I watched Klown, I was not expecting much, which made the laughs all the more surprising. This is a very funny movie. In a very basic, stupid, gross, raunchy way.

There is also a Danish TV series called Klown and the film is obviously a spinoff. Watch both. The sitcom came first. According to an interview with Frankie Hvam(co-star, co-creator and Larry Davidsen clone, he and his partner Casper Christiansen made a list of the 20 most serious social taboos...cannibalism, Down Syndrome, death, physical handicaps, pedophelia, cancer -the usual suspects -and devoted one episode to exploiting each. What's not to love?

For the movie, Hvam and Christiansen use the premise of impending fatherhood to find new, funny and really upsetting ways to poke fun at these and other sensitive social issues. Here's the synopsis in brief: Frankie's girlfriend is pregnant and she fears he is not good father material. Boy howdy. Naturally Frankie wants to prove her wrong, so he and buddy Casper do the only reasonable thing: kidnap her thirteen year old nephew and take him on a canoe trip.

Okay. Yeah it's nuts, but it's not the stupidest thing two adults have ever done, right? Wrong. This is not just a canoe trip. It is a Denmark wide spree of sexual debauchery, drinking and bad behavior that makes American Pie and Weekend At Bernies look like studies by Margaret Mead. Frankie and Casper are going to have one last fling before settling down and the presence of the kid isn't going to stop them. The kid, by the way, is brilliant. Hulking, sulking and bulking. Typical 13 year old lout, but (and again, it's part of the movie's inexplicable charm), likable. Somehow they manage to make it all funny...the kind of funny that sneaks up on you in your outrage and makes you laugh out loud in spite of yourself. It's smart dumb humor that offends and delights simultaneously.

The film is available on Amazon, the TV series on Hulu. If you enjoy broad humor that is not just broad, but actually fresh and funny and takes no prisoners, you'll enjoy both.

I guess now that the Scandinavians have demonstrated they do, indeed, understand the meaning of funny, the Swiss are now, officially, the only people so utterly devoid of humor, they look to Iceland as the comedy center of the Universe. Here are some examples of Swiss kneeslappers. They were painstakingly researched from Swiss internet sites and the one person I know who comes from that place. You tell me if I'm being unfair:

In the year 2200, Switzerland will try to join the rest of the civillized world and tentatively try to open a store on Sundays as well. But first there must be a referendum.

Woman: "A cow died so you could eat that hamburger."

Man: "Next time I will not leave witnesses."

Teacher: "Who was the first man?"

Student: "William Tell."

Teacher: "That is incorrect. It was Adam."

Student: "You didn't say to include foreigners."

Buy Klown (+ Digital Copy) (2010) Now

I have never laughed so hard...but I have a warped sense of humor.. this is not a movie for families or uptight religious types..

Read Best Reviews of Klown (+ Digital Copy) (2010) Here

Klown is one of the raunchiest, crudest, funniest movies I've watched in a long time. This movie is not for everybody. Anybody that is easily offended should avoid this movie. The jokes are foul.

Frank and Casper are married buddies that go on an annual canoe trip. Casper is the slick, charming, cool guy that gets away with everything. Frank is his clumsy, socially inept buddy that says things most people might be thinking, but would never say out loud. One of the few examples that can be mentioned, Casper and Frank belong to a men's book club. Frank tells Casper he hasn't read the book. Casper admits he hasn't read the book either. During the book discussion, Frank pipes up immediately and says, let's get this taken care of immediately, I haven't read the book. The answer is for him to leave the meeting. Frank says, others haven't read the book either. The leader asks who hasn't read the book, Casper doesn't raise his hand. The point, Casper goes through this movie getting away with everything, and Casper manages to admit to the wrong thing all the time.

This is a crude road movie. It isn't funny over the top like The Hangover. It is a more subtle comedy with more graphic humor. After all this is a Danish film, and their sense of acceptable jokes is much further out there than Hollywood. I really enjoyed this film. It is a blending of a scripted film, a documentary, and a television series. The director has taken the best of these styles to make this film.

The two lead actors also wrote the script. They oddly use their real names in the movie. Both men are not afraid to show off their naked bodies or wandering around in whitie tightie underwear. The young boy that played Bo was the butt of many bad jokes. The film is an hour and a half and about the right length. There was enough time to get to know the three males and care about what happened to them.

The film is rated R, and deserves this rating for language, nudity, and drug use. The old Jack Valenti led MPAA would have probably given this an NC-17 rating. There are no two ways around it; this is a very crude film. There are more penis jokes than I've seen in a long time. The film is presented in Danish with English subtitles that cannot be turned off. Younger viewers need not apply to watch this film.

The DVD is chock full of special features. Probably best to watch them after the movie. The alternate opening scene is pretty darn good it is almost a coin toss to use the out take or the one used in release. I really liked the 30 minute episode of the Danish television program Klovn. Apparently there are more episodes of this series. The episode focuses on Frank and his wife. He finds out that she goes to a friend's house to learn how to masturbate. There are other related threads through the episode. The blooper reel is not very good actors flubbing their lines and laughing gets old after thirty seconds. All in all, there is about 40 minutes of bonus materials.

This film is not a date movie, it is ultra-crude. Some of the jokes are cringe worthy, but most are genuinely funny. This is a Danish road movie in a canoe.

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There is something truly appalling about this movie, and yet it is truly hilarious so I guess those two factors balance each other out. I mean, the extreme nature of the comedy here is something that cannot be shaken. From giving his mother-in-law a pearl necklace (don't Google that) to making fun of a young boy's anatomy, this film is full of some of the most obnoxious and explicit moments of `adult' comedy I've seen in a film. I know that I should be repulsed, but I don't think I stopped laughing once. It's extreme, but that's the point of it all. It holds fast to this awkward sense of honesty and so it never feels like it's too much. To be honest, it kind of all works.

The film, apparently inspired by a television show of the same name, follows two lovable fools who are far too immature for their own good. Frank's girlfriend is pregnant and he's trying to prove to her that he's responsible, but his lack of good judgment leads to some pretty awful results and he winds up kidnapping her nephew in order to prove to her that he can take care of a kid. He takes the boy, Bo, on a `guys weekend' with his buddy Casper, who is not happy about the extra passenger because he feels like it will dampen his chances at getting laid. Traveling by canoe, the two chase High School girls down a river in pursuit of a famed brothel that Casper thinks he can get into. Along the way, Frank grows up (sort of) and Casper shows his true colors (sort of).

The finale pretty much sums up the whole movie; disturbing and repulsive and yet you can't look away or stop laughing long enough to turn the movie off.

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Daniel Tosh: Completely Serious (2007)

4.8 stars

By far the best stand-up performance I've seen since Chris Rock's perfect Bigger And Blacker, this is one hour of extremely edgy yet somehow good-natured comedy. Tosh spares nothing and no one, least of all America in general. And he does it all so slyly, with that engaging grin and flashing eyes that say, yeah, you know I'm right, admit it.

The material here is twenty minutes longer than what the Comedy Chunnel shows from this dvd. They cut a lot of the best, most over the top bits, so it's a treat to see them here. What really distinguishes Tosh is the intelligence and subtlety of some of his lines. He's skewering all of us, and our selfish society, and does it with so much verve and bonhomie that you hardly notice how deep the cuts go.

I enjoy a comedian who can get straight to the heart of things, and Tosh is a master at that already on his first dvd. He's one of the few stand-ups I've seen in years who clearly has the goods in spades, and seems more interested in commenting on his version of the truth than getting easy laughs. He says things that seem so wrong at first, but one quickly realizes what's really wrong is how right he is about our complacency and prejudices.

His new show on CC, Tosh.0, is decent, but goes for easy laughs and is nowhere near as funny as this dvd and his earlier cd. Let's hope the tv stardom doesn't derail his excellent stand-up, and that he doesn't go the Rock route and release only one performance every five years. Truth is at a premium these days, and this guy is poised to be a prime conduit.

Absolutely recommended to any fan of Carlin, Pryor, Hicks, or Rock.

Just watched this free on Prime Instant Video and it was GREAT!!!! I have seen his Tosh.O show a couple times, but never thought that much of Tosh as a comedian. After this I am a HUGE fan. Everything he said was true, but offensive, which is ok. I think most people are too PC these days. It reminds me of "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia", in that they say the things we are thinking, but are "ashamed" to say. I liked how he wasn't afraid to make fun of his crowd, and thought the jokes about the Midwest were hilarious (I live in Missouri). If you like shows like "Louie" or "It's Always Sunny", then you will LOVE this standup special. Give it a try.

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This is so amazing, I did like it better than happy thoughts. Just because you don't find him funny, doesn't mean he isn't, someone you know will find this funny. Would recommend for anyone, unless you can't sit back and just laugh away.

Read Best Reviews of Daniel Tosh: Completely Serious (2007) Here

As random and sarcastic as he is, this uncensored DVD captures Daniel Tosh at the very top of his game! Filmed two years before the bombastic rise of his hit Comedy Central series, "Tosh.0", he is given a mic, an hour of CC air time, and the green light to speak his thought-out, insane mind. Definitely a must-buy for any fan of comedy, :)

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First off, I would have to say that this type of humor isn't for all people. Daniel Tosh can be very crude. But if you like that type of humor, this special will not disappoint. For years, Eddie Murphy's RAW and Eddie Izzard's Dress To Kill were my two very favorite stand up specials. Now I would say Daniel Tosh's Completely Serious takes it's place at number 1. I've watched this special at least 10 times and I always laugh uncontrollably. It just never gets old!

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Evil Roy Slade & Brother's O'Toole - Double Feature (2012)

Okay, before I write any more here, I have to pass on a warning...

Evil Roy Slade makes this a fun little release, but, oh, attaching Brothers O'Toole to it makes you want to find a way to get through the protective Blu coating to scrape off that latter film.

Evil Roy Slade:

ERS was a 1972 TV-movie featuring John Astin as the most wonderfully nasty Westerrn bad guy. It's a funny 90 minutes, with an abundance of excellent supporting talent, including Mickey Rooney, Henry Gibson, and Dick Shawn...and the lovely Pamela Austin. who can make any man's heart beat faster. Basically, the story sets Slade as an orphaned baby in the Old West who even Indians and wolves refused to take in. He grows up not loving anything except his six guns. Until he falls in love with the prim and proper Pamela Austin, that is. At her urguing, he tries to give up his outlaw ways and go straight. John Astin (The Addams Family) had a field day with this role. Video is quite good (ranging from 3.5 to 4.0), but, considering its 1970s TV roots, will never be compared to any recent movies, please bear that in mind. Sound is clear. There are no extras. Movie: 3.5. Video 3.5. Audio: 3.5. Extras: 0. Overall: 3.5

And then we get to the second film on this disc...

Brothers O'Toole:

Now I must disclose I have not been able to sit through any more than the first 15 minutes of this film, but I could not take any more of it than that. Maybe I am wrong in being so negative about Brothers O'Toole, because I have come across a few reviews of the film by fans who rate it highly. I wanted to enjoy it, honestly, but after 5 minutes, then 10 minutes, then 15, I felt the remaining time in my life is much too valuable to use any of it watching it. The video for B.O. is abysmal, looking like a cheaply-made film that has come nowhere near being restored for DVD, let alone Blu-ray. Think bad VHS. Movie: 1. Video rating: 1. Audio: 3. Extras: 0. Overall: 1.5

Being There (2009)

This is my favorite movie of all time. And I don't particularly like Peter Sellers!

It's a slow starter. First time I saw it, I remember being somewhat puzzled by the opening, where Chance is revealed as a very retarded middle-aged man, trained as a gardener, who apparantly has reached his full--and extremely limited--potential. He loses his livelihood and his sheltered place to live when "the old man"--his mysterious benefactor--dies, and the lawyers in charge of the estate evict him.

My first chuckle came soon after, when he tried using his TV remote on a mugger, trying to change the experience into something more pleasant; it wasn't until this point in the film that things began to make sense to me.

Throughout the rest of the movie, scene after scene shows 'Chauncy Gardener' as a complete misfit--and highlights how we human beings, in all our frailty, create ourselves and our world through what we decide to believe. When Chancy speaks, his words are mysterious because they are short and puzzling--when those around him try to make sense of them, they take what he says as metaphors, and read wildly profound meanings in his words.

(This leads to Jerzy Kosinski's purpose for writing the novel, to highlight the foolish way people blindly swallow whatever tripe the media--and our politicians--serve up. IMO director Hal Ashby caught Jerzy's intention with this movie even better than the book did.)

At the same time that people read wisdom into his simple words, Chauncy is fully present and honest in the moment, and the other characters--to whom this is foreign--treasure that, even while they completely miss that Chance is totally clueless as to what's really going on (with one notable exception).

The irony is that those people closest to Chauncy are led by the meanings they insert to personal growth and transformation--even, in a performance that won Melvyn Douglas a well-deserved Oscar, acceptance of approaching death, as just another season in the eternal cycle of life.

Other reviews I've read on Amazon villify the walking-on-water scene, at the end of the movie; I believe they completely miss the point.

Chance has, by chance, walked out on a stone quay in the lake, and doesn't even know that he should be drowning. He slowly bends over, inserting his umbrella into the water, and looks at it with some puzzlement; he is once again demonstrating that his total innocence is protected--and he gives the audience the experience that the characters in the movie have, namely, to read into this enigma of a film whatever meaning they choose to see.

"Being There" is one of my favorite movies of all time, starring Peter Sellers in his last major film role. How Sellers was cheated out of an Oscar is still a mystery to me, as this has to be one of the greatest performances by an actor in the last 40 years. Maybe voters for the Academy Award weren't in the mood for a black comedy, which this show is, or maybe they didn't like its political overtones? Or, maybe they just couldn't give such a serious award to someone who'd played Inspector Clouseau? In any case, this movie was way before its time in style and substance; Academy voters missed the boat. Among other things, they should have asked themselves if anyone else could have played this part so well? Could anyone else have done the blank, languid stares so convincingly? Could anyone else have delivered the dead-pan lines so flawlessly? The answers would have been a resounding, No.

The movie tells the story of a half-retarded gardener, Chance, whom one supposes is the illegitimate son of a prominent business man in Washington, D. C. This occurs in 1979, when the Carter Administration was in its last stages of faded glory. Chance, played by Peter Sellers, is left homeless when the old man dies. He then wanders the streets of the big city in search of his new life. Whatever he has learned has come from watching TV and he uses his remote control to change channels. While roaming the streets of Washington, Chance even tries his clicker in real life situations, which is very funny.

Chance then stumbles upon one of the main power brokers in D. C., a gravely-ill Ben Rand. He is played by Melvyn Douglas who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in this portrayal. Rand's wife Eve, played by Shirley MacLane, falls for Chance and a tawdry affair (on her side) ensues. Later on, Chance becomes a media sensation, of sorts, and appears on late-night TV to present his simplistic views. They're all couched in terms of keeping a garden prosperous which rings a responsive chord with all concerned. Almost everyone takes Chance for a modern day genius when he really is just the opposite. Various private and government security agencies do research on Chance's background and can find nothing. He wears expensive clothes and underwear, dating from the 1930's, that apparently are hand-me-downs from the old man. It's as if Chance suddenly dropped out of the sky, which he practically has.

At Mr. Rand's funeral, the surviving power brokers talk of making Chance the next U. S. President. The closing scene shows Chance stepping out onto a lake appearing to walk on water. Maybe this is to serve as final proof that he deserves the #1 job? As far as I know, no one has ever explained the significance of the scene which is as it should be. As with the best art, it's up to the viewer to decide its meaning.

To me the movie shows the power of television and other forms of mass media in shaping the public mind. Taken to the extreme, a total idiot might be foisted off on the public to hold the highest political office if only he has the right handlers and avoids any whiff of scandal. The biting sarcasm and irony of "Being There" would not appeal to everyone's taste but most thinking adults should be captivated by the story and by Sellers' amazing performance.

Before buying the DVD, I tried to find out either on websites or on the outside of the package, if the hilarious out-takes appear on this recording. These were superimposed over the closing credits in the original version shown in theaters but often do not appear when the film is shown on TV. To my relief, the out-takes are there are and just as hilarious as I remember them.

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This is a wonderful film that I saw theatrically some 30 years ago. This blu-ray is sharp and film like, with muted colors appropriate to the story, but still very nice to finally watch in hi def. Don't expect it to look like a modern day film. I saw several subtle things I hadn't noticed before, because of the sharp resolution.

The extras are nice, but brief. One short scene and one 'extension' plus the alternate (original) ending. Also, there's a promo piece for distributors with Peter and Hal Ashby. Nice to have these, but I'm wondering what happened to all those hours of videotapes of alternates of the whole film that I read about before. Were they poor quality or impossible to find? I heard some crumbled into dust when played back so perhaps they're gone for good.

The making of only has Illana Douglas (granddaughter of Melvyn)who was on set as a youngster. (Where is Shirley Maclaine? Most of the others are, of course, no longer with us.)

A no brainer buy for fans and if you haven't seen it rent it!

A great performance from Peter Sellers and all involved.

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I don't intend to question the movie, which is excellent indeed. My rating is based on the fact, that this so-called "Deluxe Edition" is only a hoax, a bluff package.

The only bonus material are the recollections of Melvyn Douglas' granddaughter (16 minutes runtime, intercut with scenes from the movie) and the trailer.

Sorry, that's not luxurious, but simply ridiculous. Thanks Warner Bros. for another rip-off.

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This is a comedy classic. It is arguably the best film about television ever made. And it is clearly the best film about "the suit makes the man" to the extreme.

And it looks better than it ever has before.

But it could look better. Black levels are poor, with murky grays everywhere, and noise reduction has been over-used. One professional review notes: "the studio applied some aggressive Digital Noise Reduction. The problem is quite severe in some scenes, especially the opening. Film grain freezes in place while the action of the scene moves around it. Detail is mushy, and objects smear when in motion."

The sound is good. You really get the clear-but-clanky presentation of the TV shows that form the backgroun or foreground of many scenes. But beware, for some bizarre reason, the default soundtrack is not the lossless track, but the DD1.0 track. Whose silly idea was that?

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Needless Collection 2

After watching Needless collection 1, I was pumped for the second collection to be released.

However, in my opinion, they flubbed up.

All my reviews are short n sweet. No spoilers either. Here ya go!

Animation was still rockin in quality. No complaints there.

But the story and the ending ha! There were points I was like, huh? Continuity was completely outta whack! The interactions between two of the main characters made absolutely no sense in collection 1, once you see their past in collection 2. It's almost like a different set of people took over on this collection and wanted to convey completely different ideas. And the pace of the story was here and there...which brings me to the ending. Anti-climactic and quick. Haha! I actually laughed when it was done. They lead up to the end fight, big boss battle, DONE!! Ha! No closure at all.

If you seen collection 1 it left you with a nasty cliff hanger. And you been waiting for this puppy. Sorry yall. You'll wish you hadn't seen it if you were watchin for the story!! But if you were watchin for the action...Boom!! Gotcha covered! I gave it a three, jus because I dig anime action. It rates a rent anyhoo. Have fun!!!

Go itty bitty cutsy girl squad!!!

I love having complete collections not only does it save more space on your book case but it also has all the episodes that you can watch again and again. This anime had pretty artwork and i love the plot just wish they made more of this anime.

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This is the climatic finish to the Needless first volume and ironic enough, you could live without ever seeing this. The girl fight in volume 1 was long and drawn out, but one of the BEST anime throw downs EVER! If Paula Dean saw that, she would say, "It's good, ya'll."

But she wouldn't tell her sons to watch this volume. It is clunky, it is listless, really I felt like it was a watered down version of what came previously. In this volume, Satan fights Adam and Priest fights Adam, Cruz's sister is revealed, but none of it sparks like it should.

I will say from a story perspective, this is a stronger showing. The story really saved this; it had me interested and invested until the end. We get to meet priest and Eve in their youth and they are charismatic. Priest especially was very likable.

He had big pink eyes, awww

Well, after the lengthy flashback, the remainder of the story is a bit foggy. First of all, we have a huge crowd watching the fate of the world be decided, but we never really hear from it. We literally don't hear them although we see them. Then suddenly, the crowd is gone. I never wanted the crowd there in the first place; I knew it was too much choreography for this particular production to tackle. And, they didn't. And, they managed to create here one of the most despicable anime characters of our times, ******, and they let *** off with a slap on the wrist. Yes, much like in Spider Man 3, the worst villain skates.

Finale! Needless is a "Wham Bam, Thank you, Sam" Anime. The ending comes super swift. SO fast you almost miss it and forget about catharsis. They show the characters in "the future," but obviously not distant because Cruz is still 13. Well, there is this half done slow motion part and the characters freeze frame off to....I'm not sure what. Needless ends as it lives: one more WTF moment for the road.

This volume is NEEDLESS, yes, but...so is that second slice of pie, that tattoo of Grace Slick on your chest, or that recent bad romance you waited ENTIRELY too long to end .... and you still call them. I say sink your teeth into this sugar laden anime.

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Basically

Needless is an anime that has a lot of sexual references and scenes that could be questionable to people with high morale values but for those of us who just don't care, it's good fun.

Basically if you've followed on from the last volume the group are still fighting in that huge room, needless to say the beautiful girls squadron(As they're called in the dub) are fighting the group and getting into random perverted positions that either show their panties, or in some ways their half covered chests.

Cruz's sister joins the fight as does the guy named Satan, again more fighting in the room, what is it now, like 10 episodes in this room? Anyway this volume does introduce a few flashback episodes that try to explain things and a clash between Satan and Adam Arklight, the whole Adam Arklight vs Adam Blade, and more battles than you can imagine.

It's a good series, just its so perverted at times, I enjoyed it personally and found it funny.

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The battle between Blade's team versus Simeon's Girl Force continues in this second and final collection of this series. If you saw the first half, then you already know that this anime is a action-comedy full of wacky characters, humor, clichés and panty vision fights. Needless is a homage to sci-fi movies, anime, video games and fan services all combined in one package, however there are a few downsides that are notable in its conclusion.

CONS:

The heroes are fighting in Adam's fortress but most of the fights take place in just one floor.

The second ending theme doesn't fit with the cliffhangers at the end of the episodes.

The final episodes are full of back story.

The show in its randomness tries to be serious in the final episodes, and for a comedy THAT never works.

Plot holes.

PROS:

English and Japanese audio.

The second half of "The Secret of Saint Lilly Academy" shorts.

Same fan service, same action and same humor from the first half.

Second Opening.

I enjoyed the first 12 episodes and the first half of this second collection, but the final episodes felt rushed and this is my biggest complaint because it's the same problem MADHOUSE does to most of its anime, just like in Claymore and Death Note Madhouse gave a "1-2-punch ending", where you are left to wonder if that's the manga's ending. Overall unlike many shows out there Needless was full of many unexpected surprises. 4 out of 5.

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The Open Road (2009)

I am a big Jeff Bridges fan and appreciate everything he has done and such, but I didn't feel grabbed by this one at all. Not that there were horrible performances or bad film making, it just had a slew of little things peppered throughout that made me not give this the above average recommendation.

The story follows a minor league ball player (Timberlake) suffering a slump, who has to get his famous big league dad (Bridges) to make a final visit to his estranged and dying ex-wife. Through some poorly staged events, they have to make it a road trip together across several states (instead of flying) to make this union happen. The scenery is quite beautiful in some of the sequences, and it even upstages some of the sparse dialogue as the long-parted kin find a way to re-connect. Kate Mara is the tag-along friend who offers the love interest of Timberlake, but the chemistry never materializes in ways it should have.

The Blu quality is average to below average, with the strong showing being the opening aerial shot of the baseball game (must have used a different camera they usually seem to in those kinds of scenes). Some of the color/contrasts in the open road shots shine nicely, but the amount of indoor and dark sequences show several weaknesses. The 5.1 is uneventful, and the only supplement offers little insight other than some typical fluff. Did not get to the commentary as I could not venture sitting through this twice. Three for the film content and Mr. Bridges (the supporting cast of Steenburgen and Harry Dean Stanton are not present enough to warrant dissecting their screen time). I love road films so maybe this will give you some light entertainment on a slow night.

As Jeff Bridges, to me, has always been one of the most underrated actors of his period--I'm glad to see him finally getting the recognition he deserves. His recent Oscar win for "Crazy Heart" is just a capper on his previous four nominations (The Last Picture Show, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, Starman, and The Contender) which spanned nearly 40 years. Aside from "Picture Show," these films only hint at Bridges' range and I've always maintained that his best work often flew under the radar (Tucker: The Man And His Dream, The Fisher King, the incredible Oscar worthy Fearless, and dare I mention The Dude from The Big Lebowski) and were the true heights of his acting genius. It's only natural that Bridges has settled into somewhat of a comfort zone and "The Open Road" is a film he could do in his sleep. Playing a disheveled and obstinate man in a mid-life crisis has been Bridges' go-to role for several years now and it's on display again in this dysfunctional road trip dramedy.

Justin Timberlake plays a struggling minor league ball player who is distressed to learn that his mother (Mary Steenburgen) is in need of a heart operation. She refuses the procedure unless her ex-husband (Timberlake's father Bridges) comes to see her. Bridges plays a former baseball champion now boozing through his glory years signing autographs and reliving past successes. Needless to say, his relationship with his son is fairly non-existent and suitably strained. Timberlake and faithful gal pal (and former girlfriend) Kate Mara fly out to retrieve Bridges at a baseball convention. Of course, if this were the real world--there wouldn't be much drama to this scenario. But through movie magic and contrived situations, the three are forced into a road trip across country. It's not the least bit believable, but are these things ever? What do you suspect might happen? If I have to tell you, you don't see many movies! There are plenty of confrontations between Bridges and Timberlake, unexpected bonding, mild humor and anything else that might provoke a new understanding between the central characters.

Many people I know have attacked this movie due to Timberlake (this was prior to him appearing in higher profile roles). In truth, he's fine. I appreciated that he actually wanted to do something more low key and small to develop his talent. Bridges is, of course, a reliable trooper. But the movie's secret weapon, to my mind, is the thoroughly charming Mara. I've liked her for years (check out Transsiberian if you haven't seen it), but here she really gets a chance to hold her own. Look, nothing in "The Open Road" will surprise you from a plotting standpoint--but it is an agreeable and amiable diversion. I certainly liked it, but its lack of surprises or originality keep it firmly grounded as a pleasant, but not great, experience. If you are a fan of any of the principles, check this out. Slight and predictable, but fairly engaging nevertheless. KGHarris, 10/11.

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Oscar winner Jeff Bridges try to be the glue in this piece, he tries too hard. His role as a self centered, washed up Veteran Ball player who really does not want to be the responsible one in life. He also is estranged from his son, who he has not kept in touch with for years.

Justin Timberlake shows his acting chops here. in this reviewer's opinion, He needs a few more classes, but he tries hard here. His role as a Baseball player who is in a bad playing slump. His mother (Mary Steenburgen) is refusing a heart operation unless she sees her estranged husband (Bridges). He bring his former girlfriend (Kate Mara) for support.

Bridges states he forgot his wallet, so they drive. The father and son try to reconnect, but each are too hard headed foreach other to let their guards down.

The film is disjointed tale of fathers and sons. There are times it clicked together on so many levels.Then other times, the tempo and the dialog makes this film fall apart. Making this film more of a chores to view

This is the kind of film you want to rent after all your main selections have gone.

Bennet Pomerantz AUDIOWORLD

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Nearly everyone loves Jeff Bridges & Mary Steenburgen of course always they are simply wonderful. Justin Timberlake, however, is sneaking up on super stardom a subtle way. If you'll really watch him in this movie, and in Black Snake Moan, you'll get it. He's chosen parts (or someone has brilliantly cast him and he accepted the parts) opposite Jeff Bridges and Mary Steenburgen in this movie, Samuel L. Jackson and Christina Ricci in Black Snake Moan...to really show his stuff just, wow. I was never a big fan of his music (too old), but he is just wonderful as an actor. And Kate Mara the perfect compliment here. Thank goodness for Netflix for recommending movies for me to watch....otherwise I would've missed this one...so glad I didn't. It's listed as a comedy on Netflix, but really isn't it's a touching story, romantic drama I guess, humor interjected along the way...surprising. I'm buying my own DVD now. Enjoy.

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