Share ncduncan60's profile
 
Facebook Twitter
 
 
ncduncan60
 
 
 
ncduncan60's stats
 
  • Review count
    10
  • Helpfulness votes
    17
  • First review
    April 14, 2013
  • Last review
    October 7, 2014
  • Featured reviews
    0
  • Average rating
    4.2
 
Reviews comments
  • Review comment count
    0
  • Helpfulness votes
    0
  • First review comment
    None
  • Last review comment
    None
  • Featured review comments
    0
 
Questions
  • Question count
    0
  • Helpfulness votes
    0
  • First question
    None
  • Last question
    None
  • Featured questions
    0
 
Answers
  • Answer count
    0
  • Helpfulness votes
    0
  • First answer
    None
  • Last answer
    None
  • Featured answers
    0
  • Best answers
    0
 
 
ncduncan60's Reviews
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Superb Collection
on October 7, 2014
Posted by: ncduncan60
Another truly superb collection from Criterion of one of the true giants of Film history. This is one of the best of the Eclipse series collections and is well up to the usual Criterion treatment.
I only wish this collection will someday undergo a full High Definition treatment.
My Best Buy number: 0574708371
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Best of the Best
on September 6, 2014
Posted by: ncduncan60
The first time I saw this I was a few years out of college and though a half generation younger than the actors in the film it already rang true -- ideals of youth will change as life progresses, but true friends share something special. Over the years the message inside this film has done nothing but grow stronger. One of the best collections of actors of this generation with a superbly written screenplay along with one of the greatest soundtracks ever put together.
The Criterion Edition certainly does not disappoint.
What's great about it: Actors, Screenplay, Soundtrack, Criterion at its best
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
One of my All Time Favorite
on April 15, 2013
Posted by: ncduncan60
What and absolute classic comedy. Meg Ryan at the absolute height of her stardom and peaking with Billy Crystal's genius. Outstanding performances from both lead as well as Carrie Fisher and Bruno Kirby.
It's a shame this seems to be one of the last of the truly great Rom-coms which get the belly laughs and the deeper issues almost perfect all the way to the core.
For whatever reason, this barebones bluray with an average Audio and Video is all we seem to be getting. Why this doesn't deserve a full fledged Special Edition with commentaries, extras, with multiple documentaries is above my pay grade.
My Best Buy number: 574708371
What's great about it: Smart, Outrageously Funny, Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal
What's not so great: Barebones bluray
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Stunning Unexpected Movie. Thoughtful Intelligent
on April 15, 2013
Posted by: ncduncan60
Children of Men was a movie that came out of nowhere to grab me by the throat from the first 5 minutes and never let go until the credits finished rolling.
Outstanding achievement in film-making that never seemed to get the respect that it probably deserved like it seems like many films that get pigeonholed as science fiction. There's not enough space battles and explosions for folks that want their science fiction loud and exploding, but it's too far flung for the crowd that want their dramas told straight.
One of my 2 favorite movies of early Bluray releases along with The Fountain. Children of Men is far less difficult story to like than The Fountain, but both make it very hard not to think about what you just watched (and think and think some more).
The Bluray is very well done though suffers a bit from being an early generation production compared to more recent efforts. I wish someone would go back and make a true Special Edition, but I suspect it's small following wouldn't make that financially very sound.
My Best Buy number: 574708371
What's great about it: Plot, Actors, Smart script and great production
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Beautiful Story. Spectacular transition to film
on April 15, 2013
Posted by: ncduncan60
I wish I could give this 4.5 stars because except for one big flaw this was an amazing achievement. This is by far the best Movie version of Les Miserables which either as a book or Broadway makes itself nearly impossible to translate to the screen.
That said and with all the arguments about stunt casting several of the main characters and the directors decision to have the actors sing live for the most part work very well. The only true misfires in the casting was Russell Crowe who just doesn't have the voice needed for Javert and Sacha Baron Cohen even doing the comic take just didn't do much for this viewer. Jackman and Hathaway take their parts to amazing places. Amanda Seyfried shocked me with her part as did Samantha Barks.
A truly enjoyable 2 1/2 hours in the theater as well as this excellent Bluray. The video and audio are superb and will make repeated viewing at home a thrill. The BBY steelbook exclusive is beautiful as well and though I'm not normally a Steelbook collector, this one was a must have after seeing it in person.
I really wish someone would just make a Live Recording of the Broadway Stage play itself with the actual true voices of this play which is one of the best experiences in live theater. I know these do not always translate well to home viewing, but with Bluray possibilities I would love to see something on par with what was done with the Phantom of the Opera in Royal Albert Hall.
My Best Buy number: 574708371
What's great about it: Excellent adaptation, Jackman and Hathaway.
What's not so great: Russell Crowe over his head.
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
The legendary David Attenborough created the epic documentary miniseries Planet Earth, which became his pièce-de-resistance. The program plunges into, and canvasses, virtually every aspect of the global ecosphere, from the mountains to the oceans to the flora and fauna, one subtopic at a time - meanwhile reveling in atmospheric cinematography. By any standard, it qualifies as the most successful nature documentary ever shot, selling millions of copies and winning a host of international awards including four Emmys. Attenborough narrates. This box set contains the entire miniseries as it originally aired, plus numerous bonus features.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Outstanding Achievement
on April 15, 2013
Posted by: ncduncan60
Absolutely a must have for any serious Bluray collector. While it no longer is the must see demo disc and the video has been surpassed, the original Planet Earth release was the gold standard in Bluray's infancy, but was somewhat of a flawed release in that it left out so much material.
This newer Special Edition remedies most of those flaws and adds back the Behind the Scenes Diaries, extra commentaries, much improved audio tracks, several great episodes of "Natural World" including the truly spectacular full hour version of the Snow Leopards of which Planet Earth only excerpted. The bonus material just goes on forever it seems.
David Attenborough never fails to impress with his entertaining narration, but he never stomps on the material like so many of his imitators. The man earned his stripes and he obviously loves his job.
The only possible minor flaw in this release was the the decision to go back to 1080i video as it was originally produced rather than the somewhat flawed fake-1080p of the original release. While there are times where the overall detail is a bit less than the original, this versions improved color saturation, reduced banding, and improved image stability make it overall similar to the 2007 release.
The other issue isn't a flaw, but more of a source limitation. This documentary was started in the early days of HD cameras and was pushing the limits of what was available 10 years ago. With extreme environmental light/dark, hot/cold, underwater, and near black cave scenes this strained the limits of what was possible in the early 2000's. Advances in HD technology make this source material ancient in a sense and no doubt could easily be bested with 2013 equipment, but the years and effort that it took to make this series is unlikely to be ever be re-created in any way to improve the overall heart of this material.
My Best Buy number: 574708371
What's great about it: Attenborough, Video, Bonus material galore
I would recommend this to a friend!
+16points
16of 16voted this as helpful.
 
Customer Rating
3 out of 5
3
Below Average Rom-Com
on April 14, 2013
Posted by: ncduncan60
The best thing I can say is it's a lot better than All About Steve (for those that want the double feature).
It has enough energy particularly from the 2 leads to make it watchable, but it's not in the league with the better Rom-coms. It seems they want to make Hayden Panettiere a younger version of Sandra Bullock, but she is going to need a lot more of a script than this.
Overall average Bluray for the $5 bin.
My Best Buy number: 574708371
What's great about it: Eye Candy, some funny moments
What's not so great: Not enough funny moments from a weak script
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Customer Rating
2 out of 5
2
Not a good Film
on April 14, 2013
Posted by: ncduncan60
Not much more can be said about this botched attempt to make a buck off of Sandra Bullock. The actors are fine, the movie is an awful mess though it has a bit of potential of eventually becoming Drinking Game Cult bad movie some day.
For a very cheap price, the video on the Bluray is at least pretty good. For the Bullock completist only or those who collect "worst movie of a great actors career."
My Best Buy number: 574708371
What's great about it: Sandy looks great
What's not so great: Everything else
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Fun time at the Movies.
on April 14, 2013
Posted by: ncduncan60
Saw this in the theatre first run with a group of mid 20's. The group was split down the middle whether it was a good movie or just a popcorn movie -- fun but forgettable. Time has been very kind to it and some of the hype has fallen away so it can be judged on its own merit and not compared the director/producers previous works.
With a bit of editing and excising the Comic Relief I suspect this could have been a great movie rather than just a good 80's movie.
That said, some of the special effects sequences and battles hold up very well. Kilmer is typical over the top fun and Warwick with a role of a lifetime as the wannabe sorcerer and Protector.
The bluray is pretty good and holds up well considering the source material that apparently were available. Sound is superb and will give you surround and sub a workout.
My Best Buy number: 574708371
What's great about it: Fantasy excess at it's most fun. Kilmer and Warwick.
What's not so great: A bit long in the middle and those little irritating "French" extras
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Great Performances from the Leads, Excellent Blu
on April 14, 2013
Posted by: ncduncan60
Love Hitchcock films early or late -- one of the great filmmakers in cinema history both in Britain and US. The man had his issues, but he did apparently adore his wife, but I'm unsure that the changes made to the facts of his life were truly necessary for the sake of the film.
The performances by both Perkins and Mirren are just superb and are worth the price of the disc itself. The plot makes for an interesting couple hours and the Bluray itself is first-rate.
My Best Buy number: 574708371
What's great about it: Great Acting, Excellent Video on disc
What's not so great: More than a bit fast and loose with the truth
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
ncduncan60's Review Comments
 
ncduncan60 has not submitted comments on any reviews.
 
ncduncan60's Questions
 
ncduncan60 has not submitted any questions.
 
ncduncan60's Answers
 
ncduncan60 has not submitted any answers.