Madagascar

Exceptionally good
A few BBC wildlife programs are average but the majority are good, very good or exceptionally good. In my opinion "Madagascar" is in the highest category. The series was eighteen months in the making with some difficult and dangerous moments for the cameramen, including a platform high in the trees to film red ruffed lemurs, and the hair-raising nocturnal filming of fossas in the final show. The programs cover both the beautiful and the bizarre, including shell squatting spiders, pygmy chameleons little bigger than ants, Labord's chameleon that lives for only 12 weeks, fish that swim upside-down, giraffe-necked weevils, and lemurs that eat bamboo containing levels of cyanide that would be lethal for other animals. A big plus is that in addition to the fauna and flora we have stunning aerial photography of the varied and spectacular landscapes of the island - mountains, rainforests, rivers, coasts and arid areas.

David Attenborough (as good as ever) provides the narrative,...

Great footage of an island paradise
This is a 3 part series, of course there are Lemurs and Chameleons, the most prolific of Madagascar's fauns.
But there is also interesting birds, insects, a tortoise, and a curious blind fish that swims upside down!
Filmed is stark reality blu-ray and narrated off camera by David Attenborough (he does appear briefly at the very beginning and end) it is a great addition to any nature/bbc collection.
The extras are also worth watching, interesting is The Giant Egg, which chronicles Attenboroughs now 50 year old excursion to the island with vintage film clips and newer ones too.

A fascinating document of a seldom filmed corner of the Earth
Judge Russell Engebretson, DVD Verdict -- "This BBC-produced wildlife documentary, narrated by David Attenborough, was filmed over a period of eighteen months. Spanning only three one-hour episodes, Madagascar is far more modest than the epic Earth series, but still delights. Two episodes, "Island of Marvels" and "Lost Worlds" are on Disc One. Disc Two includes the third episode, "Land of Heat and Dust," and a pair of extra features -- "Attenborough and the Giant Egg," in HD, and "Lemurs of Madagascar," in standard definition. Each episode explores a different area of Madagascar. Lemurs are the stars of the show, found all over the island--from the desiccated south to the tropical coasts, and the mountains between. In one area, golden bamboo lemurs subsist on a diet of cyanide-laced bamboo leaves; other lemurs cross razor-like mountaintops to reach precious pools of water; while another species deftly navigates through a forest of thorn-covered trees. Although a fertile area for...

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Green Lantern: Emerald Knights [HD]

This is the Green Lantern fans have been waiting for
I saw an advance screening of this movie at Wondercon this weekend and there is legitimate reason to be excited about this. I have to admit that I was not impressed by Green Lantern: First Flight, the last DC Animated movie featuring Green Lantern, but they have really redeemed themselves in this one. This is 5 different stories (based off of classic Green Lantern comic issues) told as war stories by Hal Jordan (voiced by Nathan Fillion of Firefly fame) before they face a huge threat. Each of the stories focus on different members of the Green Lantern Corps and really show off the diversity that is so great about Green Lantern stories. The stories of the first Green Lantern and of Kiliwog both excelled in dramatizing how, despite the awesome power of the ring, courage really is a Green Lantern's greatest asset. The story about Mogo was based on a comic by Alan Moore and really drove the point home about how different Green Lanterns can be. I really hope DC continues to make...

Tales of the GL Corps!
Green Lantern: Emerald Knights

I got to see the entire animated film before its release date and listen to Bruce Timm discuss this great film, the best I've seen in the DC Animated universe.

And that's really saying something. I loved the latest Wonder Woman film with its emphasis on battle and the honor of the Amazons. I thrilled to the Red Hood and Batman's quest. But this film takes the best qualities of these and transforms them into a "GL Corps" that is really great.

Not to give too much away, but the film is broken down into an anthology format. Hal Jordan is explaining to his new recruit while they're hanging out on the Planet Oa, recharging their rings for a battle against Krona (which happens near the end of the film).

Some of the stories include when Kilowog (a tough drill sergeant who puts new GLs through the paces and anyone who doesn't measure up is a "Poozer") was himself a recruit and has to put up with a drill instructor...

"In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight, ya friggin' bastards!"
That bump of cynicism suggests that GREEN LANTERN: EMERALD KNIGHTS, DC's latest animated original movie, was released predominantly to prep movie goers for the upcoming live action film. And yet it also services those like me who used to read the TALES OF THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS comic book and also those who long for a peek at the larger canvas promised by the Green Lantern mythos.

Our main man, Hal Jordan, is featured here but he's not the big draw or even the central character. Instead, our point-of-view character is the teenager Arisia, the Green Lantern Corps' newest recruit. EMERALD KNIGHTS is an anthology film, the backdrop of which is that the Lanterns have gathered en masse to await the impending arrival of Krona, one of the Guardians of the Universe's most ancient and deadliest foes. As they cool their heels, the Lanterns (but mostly Hal Jordan) regale an overwhelmed Arisia with stories plucked from the Green Lantern Corps' rich history.

We eavesdrop as...

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Windows XP Basics Part 1 - 3rd Edition

a step-by-step guide for the computer shy
As promised, this instructional DVD provides a gentle introduction to using a Windows XP computer.

Ideal for adult education and public libraries, this program is designed for 'computer shy' adult learners who want to learn basic computer operations in the comfort and privacy of their own homes.

This program is actually also pretty fun to watch!

More advanced computer users may pick up some tips and tricks but this program assumes no previous computer knowledge and does not bore and/or confuse viewers with technical jargon and things they don't need to know.

The goal of this program is to get the adult learner up to speed with using a Windows XP computer in just under an hour.

This DVD can be played on desktop and notebook computers that have a DVD drive but looks best on a TV.





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Darien Gold presents The Original Pilates Advanced Mat Repertoire and more

Good instructional video
This is a great video to watch and learn how to do the advanced variations of the classic Pilates sequence however, I thought it too fast to follow as a work out. I consider myself an intermediate Pilates practitioner and I found that by the time it took me to position myself for the next exercise, the instructor was almost ready to move onto the next. Be advised that only the advanced variations of sequence are shown--there are no beginner/intermediate modifications. The workout as a whole is about a half-hour long. It is followed by a reformer session. This is not something I know a lot about so I cannot comment. The initial sequence seems to be repeated immediately after, which I found strange. I didn't watch any more than that. Overall, I recommend the first thirty minutes of this video.

By far the best pilates video you can get on demand
If you want a real Pilates workout that sticks to the original exercises I highly recommend this video. Other videos tend to add their own twist to Pilates, but to me the original exercises are perfect and are so hard to accomplish, so why change it. Darien's form is perfect and the video shoots give you a clear view. This is an advance video so the exercises do happen at a fast peace but you can always pause it.

Thank you Darien for such an awesome video. I wish the "Mat 2" was On Demand as well, but I ordered the DVD. Can't to get it!

Beautiful. This is the real deal.
This is a high-production value, fast-paced, absolutely legitimate rendition of the original Advanced Pilates Matwork. (I taught Pilates for seven years, and took from teachers who were two generations away from Pilates himself.) This is fabulous.

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The Emerald Diamond

You don't even have to be Irish OR a baseball fan to enjoy this
What makes this truly special, to me, is that it's ultimately about the triumph of the human spirit. Baseball wasn't even a cult sport in Ireland not that long ago. Gaelic football and hurling are the national pastimes there, while soccer ranks a solid third in popularity. Baseball? Not even a blip on the radar when a group of young men decided to try organizing it as a club sport in the 1990's.

"The Emerald Diamond" is at its core a story about how a few guys with a dream of playing a game totally foreign to their homeland are able to persevere through limited success and even more limited funds to create something with its own stark beauty, like Ireland itself. You can just see the love of the game and the pride these men have in playing it, especially those representing their country. This really matters to them, and Fitzgerald has created a film that viewers just can't help being drawn into...it's a VERY human story.

An absolutely worthy DVD to own,...

Interesting and entertaining
A solid documentary. Very entertaining to watch the team's eveolution. What some guys will go through just to play the game. Irish pride shines throughout.

FUN AND INFORMATIVE
Well made and fun to watch,even if you are not Irish this film will get you thru your off season baseball jones

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The Real CIA: Enemies, Secrets and Spies (Institutions)

Not the video in the package
I received the item in good condition. Packaging was adequate and the product was in good condition. The Label on the DVD cover was what I ordered and the Label on the DVD matched the product that I ordered. I put the DVD in to watch the show and it was the completely wrong program. It was a show called The Show of Force: Preemption Directives. I am in the process of returning this item but there was no seller contact information in "my account" section, so I have no other choice but to let other buyers beware of their order, there is a lack of quality management. If I am contacted and this problem is fixed I will update this review to reflect that service.

UPDATE: I am leaving the above comments up so that future customers can get the whole story. My money was refunded and the matter was handled very quickly and professionally. I would do business with this seller anytime. It would have been better to receive the correct item the first time, so four stars will be my final...





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Is Modern Israel a Fulfillment of Bible Prophecy?

Insightful thoughts on modern Israel.
It is a little boring, like any debate, but excellent info. Gives understanding of two positions.on modern day prophecy. I recommend it.





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