Best DVD
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"When searching on Amazon for this set, you'll notice that there are 2 sets, both with all 8 movies, both with the same number of reviews. What they don't tell you is that the discs are in 4 separate cases, 2 movies in each case. But to be clear on this, the 3 extra discs are just bonus content from the last 3 movies. All of the other movies have the bonus features on the same disc. Now for the OTHER set being sold: This set, with the cover being of the castle, is smaller and more compact. However, this set contains only 8 discs (1 for each movie), with NO Bonus Content discs. Still, any Harry Potter Collection is worth buying. ***UPDATE April 2017***. There's been a little more confusion because Amazon has added a couple other collections and newer Blu-rays of single movie of Harry Potter. Here are the links for the above mentioned collections that I reviewed: "3 Faces of Harry" collection (currently $65 on Amazon) -- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AQNOCZ0/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_0. "Hogwarts Castle Cover" collection (currently $60 on Amazon) -- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005OCFHHK/ref=cm_cd_asin_lnk. Amazon has changed their Harry Potter supply lately. ***If you Search "Harry Potter Blu Ray Collection", it WILL NOT show you the "3 Faces" collection so please use the link that i've provided above***. ***I would also like to make an important note of feedback from readers. It's another collection that is European made and most of the time, the discs are not playable on North American Blu-Ray Players."
"This is a product for the hard core Harry Potter fan!!! To clarify, this product is the "Harry Potter Hogwarts Collection DVD+Blu-Ray" Amazon option "Multi-format" version (I think it is selling for around $150 right now...I got it for $90 as a Black Friday, or was is Cyber Monday?, special!). Included in this Box set: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: 1. Creating the World of Harry Potter Part 7: Story on Blu-Ray. 26: Theatrical/Only Version on Blu-Ray 3D. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2: 27. Creating the World of Harry Potter Part 8: Growing Up on Blu-Ray. 30. Conclusion: With this box set, you get the Blu-Ray, DVD, and (until 3/4/16) digital copy of all 8 movies! As a bonus, you get the 3D Blu-Ray version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow Part 1 & 2, if you have a 3D Blu-Ray player, unlike me...but as I stated before I am a hardcore Harry Potter fan and would like to have those version if ever I do buy a 3D Blu-Ray player and appropriate equipment. This box set pretty much includes every single thing you could get on DVD about Harry Potter! ), and just enjoy the movies, I would suggest just getting the 8 disc Blu-Ray or DVD set that only includes the movies and not all the nifty special features and bonus disc!"
"Glad to finally own a set of the movies top watch when ever I want."
"UPDATE 7/10/2017 - The seller, HomelyStyle, refunded my purchase without me asking, and send another set of the 8-film box set. No matter what I place the DVD in, they skip or are unable to be read. Just know that they refund people so they get higher ratings."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Like all of the movies in the National Lampoon series, Christmas Vacation is hilarious."
"This is a great Christmas movie and will be apart of my must watch movies at Christmas time along with Elf!"
"This is a video we watch nearly every Christmas...you just laugh from start to finish."
"Want a Christmas movie that will keep you laughing and quoting for days and years to come...then just buy this now."
"I NEVER buy a movie, just watch whatever is on, bought this one and loved watching it for the umpteenth time."
"Either you love Chevy Chase or you don’t .... and I do."
"Have a hard copy in case one of the streaming sites goes out of business in 20 years."
"Love the movie buy quality is like regular DVD NOT BLU RAY QUALITY.. Get the dvd quality no difference."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I was worried when it came out it would ruin the book for me, which is also one of my favorite Christmas books, only one I like more is the Night Before Christmas."
"Polar Express is a really good movie for the younger generation, I myself enjoy the movie for an animated movie."
"My five year old thought that the polar express train would come to our house!"
"Nice product just as you would expect but does not include 3D glasses."
"My 4 yr old grandson loves this movie."
"Enjoyable Christmas fantasy."
"I my self to love this movie to."
"Was very disappointed with the condition of the disc."
Best Action & Adventure DVDs
An action-packed, epic space adventure, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the cosmos, where brash adventurer Peter Quill finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I must admit when I heard they were making a movie of GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, I had very low expectations for a film about a bunch of D-listers from the Marvel Universe; ones so far down that many fans had to think for moment to remember where this group fit in the Marvel pantheon of heroes. I am a decades long reader of Marvel comics and love the way GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY allows the cinematic Marvel Universe to go cosmic: the Kree and the Xandarians; the blue skinned Ronan the Accuser, played by Lee Pace, out to lay waste to the Kree; the Nova Corp, headed by Glenn Close; Thanos himself, back from THE AVENGERS and portrayed by Josh Brolin; Benicio Del Toro is The Collector, recently of the latest Thor movie; the Infinity jewels, the decapitated head of a Celestial, and plenty more. But the greatest thing about GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY is the spirit of fun and high adventure it brings back to the summer blockbuster, not to mention some terrific dialogue-"A super hero named Kevin Bacon..." THE DARK KNIGHT, MAN OF STEEL, THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN,the X-MEN movies, along with a lot of other remakes and reboots have been pretty heavy with the themes of revenge, redemption, persecution, and guilt. A lot of fans will argue that a lot of other secondary groups in the Marvel Universe should have gotten their own movie before the GUARDIANS, how about X-Factor, X-Force, Thunderbolts, Runaways and Young Avengers?"
"I’d declared to never watch this because I didn’t think it was necessary."
"In some parts, the actors spoke so softly that the music overwhelmed them."
"WARNING: "Minor" spoilers. Pros: Ensemble Character Development and Personality. Inspired Casting. Chris Pratt as Star Lord. Batista as Drax. I liked Gamora. Witty Script and often hilarious. Colorful production design that will last the test the time. The Second and Third Half is absolutely gripping. Amazing soundtrack and best use of soundtrack as a plot device ever. Brings out the best of the Marvel cinematic universe and formula. CGI is generally great, and the space scenes are elegant, beautiful."
Best Anime
Along the way, Moana (Auli'i Cravalho) meets the once mighty demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson), and together they cross the ocean on a fun-filled, action-packed voyage.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"), voiced beautifully by newcomer Auli'i Cravalho, who teams up with the larger-than-life demigod Maui, voiced by the larger-than-life Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, to resolve the mysterious rift between man and nature and revive the ancient art of wayfinding. Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mark Mancina, and Opetaia Foa'i team up to bring us a soundtrack that deserves at least 10 Oscars. The cast is not only brilliantly assembled; most of them come from Polynesian roots (Auli'i Cravalho is a native Hawaiian, Dwayne Johnson's ancestors are Samoan, Temuera Morrison hails from New Zealand); in fact, the only cast member who is not Polynesian is Alan Tudyk, but only because he voices Hei Hei the rooster."
"The parents don't die and there is no awkward inst-romance."
"Being from Hawaii, I LOVED this movie ( Ala Moana is one of my fav malls lol) Maui’s character is awesome. And Moana is a typical Hawaiian princess. I like the way Moana is a princess but not a princess like Cinderella or Snow White ( eekkk) She’s got a strong spirit and a strong will."
"The movie means alot to me because my first name is Moana and I've been around alot longer than the movie."
"I had to return one that would flash static/fuzzy screen here and there, but the replacement disc plays smooth."
"Great sound track, good story - disney doing what they do."
"5yr old daughter loved this movie."
"Purchased for my 1yr old granddaughter who loves Moana, over and over."
Best Comedy
Includes 25 years of the Three Stooges unique brand of humor with Moe as boss, Larry the middleman and Curly as their foil.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"All the shorts were preserved onto film stock and mastered onto digital formats. Thank you Michael and Grover."
"Shemp is truly hilarious in both starring shorts and supporting rolls. Would have rathered a deluxe 10 disc case or something to hold all of them, but trust me, I'm nitpicking."
"For Stooge fans, this is the whole candy store -- all 190 shorts and 3 bonus disks besides; and at less than 25 cents a film, it's a screaming bargain."
"Best Collection I have ever purchased."
"these guys are great always fun to watch on a sunday afternoon or a holiday just so relaxing."
"1 and was impress how the earliest shorts look as good as new + to have them in order of release we can watch the growth of the stooges thru the years."
"A great complete collection for Stooge fans."
"What a great set of DVDs to watch on a rainy day!"
Best Documentary
Includes: * Episode IV, A New Hope Commentary by George Lucas, Ben Burtt, Dennis Muren, and Carrie Fisher. * Episode V, The Empire Strikes Back Commentary by George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Ben Burtt, Dennis Muren, and Carrie Fisher. * Episode VI, Return of the Jedi Commentary by George Lucas, Ben Burtt, Dennis Muren, and Carrie Fisher. On its surface, George Lucas's story is a rollicking and humorous space fantasy that owes debts to more influences than one can count on two hands, but filmgoers became entranced by its basic struggle of good vs. evil "a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away," its dazzling special effects, and a mythology of Jedi knights, the Force, and droids. Over the course of three films-- A New Hope (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and Return of the Jedi (1983)--Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), and the roguish Han Solo (Harrison Ford) join the Rebel alliance in a galactic war against the Empire, the menacing Darth Vader (David Prowse, voiced by James Earl Jones), and eventually the all-powerful Emperor (Ian McDiarmid). Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker) has been added to a scene in Jedi , Ian McDiarmid (the Emperor) replaces Clive Revill with slightly revised lines in Empire , Temuera Morrison has rerecorded Boba Fett's minimal dialogue, and some other small details have been altered. Toplining is Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy , a 150-minute documentary incorporating not only the usual making-of nuts and bolts but also the political workings of the movie studios and the difficulties Lucas had getting his vision to the screen (for example, after resigning from the Directors' Guild, he lost his first choice for director of Jedi : Steven Spielberg). ), in which filmmakers such as Peter Jackson, Ridley Scott, and James Cameron talk about how they and the industry were affected by the films and Lucas's technological developments in visual effects, sound, and computer animation. Recorded separately and skillfully edited together (with supertitles to identify who is speaking), the tracks lack the energy of group commentaries, but they're enjoyable and informative, with a nice mix of overall vision (Lucas), technical details (Burtt, Muren, Kershner), and actor's perspective (Fisher). There's also a sampler of the Xbox game Star Wars: Battlefront , which lets the player reenact classic film scenarios (blast Ewoks in the battle of Endor! Small extra touches include anamorphic widescreen motion menus with dialogue, original poster artwork on the discs, and a whopping 50 chapter stops for each film.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Definitely worth seeing the original unedited versions of classic films."
"This is just an alert since there seems to be some confusion about a trilogy release with the original unaltered versions along with the special editions vs a trilogy set that only contains the special editions and no copies of the original unaltered versions. The reviews for both sets are merged together... that is why you are seeing people claim that it has the original unaltered versions, and people complaining they do not. THIS set that I specifically clicked on to make this comment on is on the 2004 release which DOES NOT CONTAIN THE ORIGINAL UNALTERED VERSIONS. If you want the trilogy set that contains both the SE and the unaltered versions but no bonus features, make sure when purchasing from Amazon, that the picture is a picture of Darth Vader and Luke clashing with light sabers and the box has a lot of blue coloring."
"Not an issue for me, but I was curious about the less expensive price."
"This does not contain a code for a digital copy like most blu-ray movies you buy physically do."
"The original 3 movies on both Blue Ray (3 disks) and regular DVD (3 disks)."
"I don't think that the original originals can even be found anymore, but the fact that these CGI effects that were really great 20 years ago (or however long ago it was) are still in it."
"Good DVD set, some good extras and the Blue Ray Looks fantastic."
"The only bonus features is an audio commentary that is really just pieces of audio from the documentary of the making of the films, which can be found on youtube."
Best Drama DVDs
season 1 of This is Us.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Somehow, the writers manage to tie all of the different scenes into a universal theme that makes this show stand apart from others. It's a blockbuster, not to be missed, incredibly well written and acted, one for the ages, unique and truly moving series that will impact the way you feel about life. Dan Fogelman, the creator, deserves credit for developing, what in my opinion, is a show like no other. This series is so groundbreaking, that I honestly feel that after all is said and done; it will be remembered as the finest show to ever air on network TV. Everyone involved in this unprecedented, incredible show, deserves credit for setting the bar extremely high, and exceeding all expectations by a mile."
"This is one of the best shows I have ever watched!!!"
"The writers for this show could not do a better job."
"Great way to show reality within the family unit."
"Wish this was free on Amazon Prime, but since it isn't, I spent the $9.99 for the first season."
"In the midst of crappy shows like, "scandal', 'how to get away...:, Here is a quality show about family, and the curve balls we have in life."
"Amazing writing and ensemble performances."
Best Educational
These men created the American Dream and were the engine of capitalism as they transformed everything they touched in building the oil, rail, steel, shipping, automobile and finance industries.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"A great resource for U.S. History teachers!"
"It tells the story of how Mr. Vanderbilt knitted together a railway system for the North east, then Rockefeller manufactured the quality safe kind of kerosene oil used in lamps which ordinary citizens used to light the nation from coast to coast; then adds Mr. Carnegie who's steel girders improved bridges, railroads, and then built skyscrapers in all the big cities across America, to Mr. Morgan who bought out Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse, Tesla's patents on electricity, and used Edison's electric light bulbs and power generating equipment to literally light up america from coast to coast replacing the kerosene lamps. Morgan bought out Carnegie steel to merge other smaller steel companies into U.S. Steel and he created General Electric and finally personally intervened to safe the U.S. Banking system twice: 1893 and 1907."
"For those who appreciate the TRUTH, this series shows what is the reality of the human equation...to succeed, one must use the brain, in a logical, ordered manner, and, NEVER quit, regardless of the assured obstacles that will be encountered."
"Wonderful series about the men who built America and the industrial revolution in America (unfortunately on the backs of the laborers)."
"The references to the western Pennsylvania history regarding the Pittsburgh steel industry, the Homestead works, and how it ties into the cataclysmic Johnstown flood are a must watch for anyone with roots in this area."
"Can't say enough about this one."
Best Exercise & Fitness
Includes 3 sequences designed for specific times of the day: A Morning Practice (18 minutes) to awaken and energize your whole body with easy standing movements; Mid-day Relief from Desk & Computer Work (19 minutes); and a Relaxing Evening Practice (29 minutes) to help you unwind and sleep better.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"All the routines are instructed outdoors in an absolute gorgeous mountain location (Glacier National Park) often standing in front of a lake with the mountains in the background or along a river or among trees along a trail. The camera work usually shows her from head to toe and takes in the scenery in the background. Jane's opening and introduction is separated so you don't have to play that every time before you get to the routine you want to do. Lying Full Body Practice (34 Minutes). Filmed amid large trees on a path/trail. Morning Energy Practice (18 Minutes). Filmed by a river with trees in background. Using the chair as a prop she does standing forward bends, plank, downward facing dog, warrior 1, triangle, and more. She also goes through a relaxing lower back massage technique where you lie on the mat and move your pelvis. Evening Relaxing Practice (29 Minutes). Filmed in front of lake with mountains in background. Jane guides you through a relaxation so peaceful you may have to consciously choose to remain alert or you may drift off to sleep. the DVD is easy to navigate, you get lots of choices of routines and over 3 hours of instruction. This DVD will stand the test of time as there is little about it that will make it appear dated from the outdoor location to Jane's choice of attire. I have collected hundreds of exercise DVDs over the years and this one will be one I will return to many times when I am looking for a slower paced meditative style yoga."
"This is my second Jane Adams yoga practice dvd."
"This Yoga CD is exceptional in that it has a very good selection of Yoga poses divided up into categories that give you the option of what area you would like to work on and it is in an absolutely gorgeous setting at Glacier National Park."
"The three I choose on a regular basis are lying down, improving balance and core strength and flexibility."
"It would have saved me from muscle relaxants and opiates to get me through the extreme flare ups! When I received this DVD, I had been experiencing a nagging 2 week flare up of back pain following a "tent" sleepover with my oldest grandson. At first I wasn't sure I could complete the exercises because of the discomfort I was experiencing, but I took it slow and with each movement and each stretch I began to experience a loosening of the muscles. However, after a day of watching and bouncing around my 5 month old grandson, I began noticing the onset of a flare. My 3 grandboys are sure to grow way too fast, and I want to be able to play with them for as long as they're interested in spending time with me."
Best Faith & Spirituality
From the award-winning creators of Fireproof and Courageous comes War Room , a compelling drama with humor and heart that explores the power that prayer can have on marriages, parenting, careers, friendships, and every other area of our lives.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It is interesting to me how their movies always say the same message about the centrality of family and God in a person’s life, but because of their inventive stories and focus on specific themes each time, they all feel very different. Message movies usually feel like they go at a slower pace than real life because they put the focal points at scenes of emotional release, such as crying, embracing, or bowing in submission to God. War Room, on an artistic level, does not manipulate the pace very much at all and is more plot-driven than emotion-driven, with the exception of two scenes (the wife’s outspoken rejection of the Devil and her husband’s open confession to her—those are NOT spoilers; everyone knows that the movie’ll turn out that way, but the journey is so captivating). After Kirk Cameron’s character becomes a Christian in Fireproof, the marital issues seem like they’ll be solved, except for when he later sees the paper with his wife’s request for a divorce. Here it is a middle-class African American family (husband, wife, 9-or-10-year-old daughter, both parents working good-paying jobs) which is already Christian to a degree, and attends church sometimes, but is growing dysfunctional because of too much emphasis on separate careers. If someone saw Fireproof and was less influenced because of how it manipulated the story through a conversion scene, War Room will hopefully bless those people—those who already consider themselves “people of faith” but still can’t break relational barriers. It has a very balanced approach to prayer, which includes the recognition that it won’t necessarily change another person, but will give the one who sincerely prays an emotional freedom from that level of burden. In one scene where Elizabeth (the wife) believes the Devil is in her midst, Alex Kendrick (director) uses an interesting horror-movie style as the camera circles around the room looking for some enemy in the dark. It reminds me a little of how Steven Spielberg toned down his energetic and fluid camera style for his Lincoln movie, making it much more about the relationships in confined environments. The humorous touches, if you’ve seen their previous movies, are kind of fun, because they’re slightly goofy, often involve a character who’s a little embarrassed, but almost always come at authentic moments."
"She is learning that her battles within her family and her marriage are not physical, but rather spiritual, and now must develop a strategy in order to fight the enemy through prayer. She is being taught by Miss Clara, an elderly woman who prayed to God to send her someone whom she could teach what she had learned through prayer."
"That said, I must mention that this movie promotes prayer as a Means of Grace, that if you pray hard enough, you will be rewarded with something."
"This movie is inspirational and I hope to see more movies like this, and maybe even someday may I be the one writing inspirational scripts like this that become breath-taking movies that encourage and inspire others in their faith in the Lord."
"I take exception with a bit of the doctrine that tries to exalt religious performance (ie, doing good) over trust in Jesus to guide a Christian and affect change, but overall it is a movie that WILL inspire Christians to pray."
Best Fantasy DVDs
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"A list of things to watch out for when buying: -The exterior blue where it says Blu Ray on the outside was the wrong tone, and did not also say Digital HD, vs the real copy which did. -The slipcase artwork paper shows color banding and indicates it is a reprint, not the original printer quality. -The inner guide booklet is clearly reprinted - the words are muddier and less clear - and on cheaper paper. I am returning that copy after I take comparative photos of the two sets, and my second one came directly from Amazon, 100% fine."
"I am always glad to lend my GOT videos to friends, and then I sit back and wait for their phone calls and love the chance to talk with them about GOT and to hear their reactions to story events."
"This has got be one of the best done shows that is available for rent or purchase on Amazon."
"The discs come in a multiple page foldout that is folded and slid into a box that is then covered by the semi-transparent plastic sleeve."
"Shipped quickly and arrived undamaged."
"The new X Files is pretty good, too, but this show manages to keep a lot of plot lines going that are (with a few notable exceptions) at the very least interesting: stab/fuck/stab/quip/stab/tits/run around/stab/quip."
"I have not quite finished this season yet (so I don't know where in the story it ends.). I read the books first and the episodes follow pretty close to the book. If there are only 5 books did they cut the last book in half so that they could make an extra season?"
"The dragons will have to do it all...could be an armagedon ending as almost all the really likable and heroic characters are dead."
Best Foreign Films
Stepping from the pages of Fredrik Backman s international best-selling novel, Ove is the quintessential angry old man next door.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Yes, there is a bit of that; however, it is just the right amount to tell this lovely story and with all the cruelty and suffering in the world today... well, I don't know about you but I needed every sip of it."
"Funny, heartwarming, heartwrenching, everything you felt during the book, you will feel watching the movie. And for those people giving this wonderful movie one star because they couldn't see the subtitles...STOP IT. Mine couldnt, and I contacted Amazon to find out the reason why (turns our my blu-ray is too old a model)."
"Let me stop you right there, as "A Man Called Ove" turns out to be almost nothing like it, and in fact I will say that the movie's trailer is outright misleading. The movie cleverly looks back at the budding romance between Ove and Sonja in a number of flashbacks, and it's not until the very last 15 min. The movie also looks at the importance of neighbors and the immediate community (and even integration of migrants, as the wife of the young family fled Iran and is now completely fluent in Swedish). Indeed, certain parallels are uncanny (grumpy older guy, love for cars (in "Ove" it's a Saab), dealing with personal loss, adjusting to new neighbors, etc. Rolf Lassgard is outstanding in the title role, and kudos also to Barar Pars as the young wife from Iran."
"She LOVED it! Get this book, you will love it."
"I don't claim to be a movie critic but I think this movie is on par with The Notebook and other wonderful bittersweet movies."
"Slowly, the movie opens up Ove's past as he tells lessons from his hard-working father, meeting his wife, losing it all, and encounters with enemies."
"This movie was funny, heart warming, and extremely well done."
"It followed the book well."
Best Horror
Special Features: Deleted Scenes. Inside THE WALKING DEAD. The Making of THE WALKING DEAD. 6 Featurettes: In Memoriam. 601: Out Of The Quarry. Guts & Glory: The Death Of Nicholas. Strength In Bonds. Negan: Someone To Fear. The Face Of Death: Iconic Walkers Of The Season.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It's your standard walking dead season full of drama twisting plot and gut wrenching loss."
"This is another incredible season full of danger and suspense,this season ends with a cliffhanger so you do not find out the results till the first episode in season 7 but I thought the cliffhanger ending was a brilliant idea that made it so you can not wait until season 7."
"I am a regular follower of The Walking Dead (TWD) and enjoy the storyline, brilliant make-up artists and characters (also, brilliant writers who keep it interesting)."
"I have followed every season and they just keep getting better and better."
"::SPOILERS AHEAD:: I love that they introduced the Hilltop, Jesus, Dwight (and giving him a little bit of a backstory and feud with Daryl), how they hinted at The Kingdom, and introduced the Saviors, as well as Negan."
"Fantastic opener."
"The quality of the writing, the production value, is consistant throughout all seasons, and quintessentially Frank Darabont. Andrew Lincoln seemed like he went way out of his comfort zone and deserves a lot of credit for the success of this series."
"Still slightly disappointed that even at that price, it was the most I had paid for one of these Limited Edition sets, yet didn't do anything special like the other seasons' limited editions."
Best Kids & Family DVDs
Harry Potter: The Complete 8-Film Collection (DVD).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"When searching on Amazon for this set, you'll notice that there are 2 sets, both with all 8 movies, both with the same number of reviews. What they don't tell you is that the discs are in 4 separate cases, 2 movies in each case. But to be clear on this, the 3 extra discs are just bonus content from the last 3 movies. All of the other movies have the bonus features on the same disc. Now for the OTHER set being sold: This set, with the cover being of the castle, is smaller and more compact. However, this set contains only 8 discs (1 for each movie), with NO Bonus Content discs. Still, any Harry Potter Collection is worth buying. ***UPDATE April 2017***. There's been a little more confusion because Amazon has added a couple other collections and newer Blu-rays of single movie of Harry Potter. Here are the links for the above mentioned collections that I reviewed: "3 Faces of Harry" collection (currently $65 on Amazon) -- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AQNOCZ0/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_0. "Hogwarts Castle Cover" collection (currently $60 on Amazon) -- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005OCFHHK/ref=cm_cd_asin_lnk. Amazon has changed their Harry Potter supply lately. ***If you Search "Harry Potter Blu Ray Collection", it WILL NOT show you the "3 Faces" collection so please use the link that i've provided above***. ***I would also like to make an important note of feedback from readers. It's another collection that is European made and most of the time, the discs are not playable on North American Blu-Ray Players."
"This is a product for the hard core Harry Potter fan!!! To clarify, this product is the "Harry Potter Hogwarts Collection DVD+Blu-Ray" Amazon option "Multi-format" version (I think it is selling for around $150 right now...I got it for $90 as a Black Friday, or was is Cyber Monday?, special!). Included in this Box set: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: 1. Creating the World of Harry Potter Part 7: Story on Blu-Ray. 26: Theatrical/Only Version on Blu-Ray 3D. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2: 27. Creating the World of Harry Potter Part 8: Growing Up on Blu-Ray. 30. Conclusion: With this box set, you get the Blu-Ray, DVD, and (until 3/4/16) digital copy of all 8 movies! As a bonus, you get the 3D Blu-Ray version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow Part 1 & 2, if you have a 3D Blu-Ray player, unlike me...but as I stated before I am a hardcore Harry Potter fan and would like to have those version if ever I do buy a 3D Blu-Ray player and appropriate equipment. This box set pretty much includes every single thing you could get on DVD about Harry Potter! ), and just enjoy the movies, I would suggest just getting the 8 disc Blu-Ray or DVD set that only includes the movies and not all the nifty special features and bonus disc!"
"Glad to finally own a set of the movies top watch when ever I want."
"UPDATE 7/10/2017 - The seller, HomelyStyle, refunded my purchase without me asking, and send another set of the 8-film box set. No matter what I place the DVD in, they skip or are unable to be read. Just know that they refund people so they get higher ratings."
Best LGBT
The great improvisational comedy team of Mike Nichols and Elaine May reunited to (respectively) direct and write this update of the French comedy La Cage Aux Folles . Robin Williams stars as a gay Miami nightclub owner who is forced to play it straight and ask his drag-queen partner (Nathan Lane) to hide out when Williams's son invites his prospective--and highly conservative--in-laws and fiancée to a meet-and-greet dinner party. May's witty screenplay incorporates some pointed observations about the political landscape of the 1990s and takes a sensitive approach to the comedy's underlying drama.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Agador Sparticus is probably my favorite....I even find myself telling my dog "come on, Gloria..." when we leave the room."
"One of the funniest movies ever made!"
"Even my grandparents love this movie."
"Rented it for my daughter to watch - and she landed up loving it too."
"This is one of my fav flics, funny as hell all the way through, I highly recommend it."
"It's an old movie and one of my favorites, and there are a few moments of inspired comedy in this film that have never been duplicated; based somewhat on the original film, and with a great deal of fun."
"Seems like this movie never gets returned when it is borrowed so this is the second or third copy i had to buy."
"I had already seen it, but I wanted to own a copy and be able to laugh anytime I wanted."
Best Military & War
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Here is some insight into the interviews given to me by the man who conducted the interviews with the men of Easy Company, Mark Cowen…. In 2012, I took a filmmaking class with Mark Cowen, who directed the Emmy nominated, “We Stand Alone Together: The Men of Easy Company”. Mark said that this is the only way he could have gotten access to them and for them to tell their stories for these interviews. Many of the men Mark interviewed had never told anyone about their combat experiences during the war, not even their families. As the camera rolled and the interview progressed, Mark could hear this veteran’s family come up from behind to watch and listen to their loved one relate stories of bravery, of death, of friendship and of pain, which they had never heard. I often think of what Mark Cowen told us that day about his interview for, “We Stand Alone Together: The Men of Easy Company”."
"The last episode, although during the end of the war in Europe, is as emotional for the viewer as a combat episode because you the viewer are letting go of Easy and all the men who fought so valiantly and selflessly. My mom is from Joliet, IL, and Frank Perconte lived in Joliet on my aunt's street."
"As the 101st Abn Div continued it's march through France, Belgium, they participated in the ill fated Operation Market Garden, a British Field Marshal McGomery idea, but was unable to reach it's objective in Holland in time to save the British 2d Airborn Division from being captured."
"The overall objectives were deftly handled with small updates where the men were told of the successes of the soldiers making it off the Utah beach or of the devastating disaster that befell the British 1'st Airborne Division at Arnhem."
"It is based on the true stories of Easy company and it is truly inspiring to see how those men fought during World War II."
Best Music Videos & Concerts
Alastair Sim's tour-de-force performance as the ultimate miser, Ebenezer Scrooge, has almost single-handedly made this beloved version of Charles Dickens' story into one of the best-loved Christmas films of all time.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The ghost of Christmas present shows him the joy of life he is missing, and finally, the ghost of Christmas yet-to-be shows him his fate of man destined to be missed by no one and a lonely, cold grave."
"The audio in the VCI version is superior to the Emerald version, although the VCI version does have a section of audio missing near the end, unlike the Emerald version. Like so many remasterings to wide screen, they have to chop off a great deal of the top and bottom of the picture to make it seem like it is true wide screen."
"I do like the previous versions, the 1935 Seymour Hicks, the 1938 Reginal Owens version and actually the Muppetts Christmas Carol is actually quite accurate with the original book."
"The movie deviates from the book (but what Scrooge movie doesn't) and spends a little too long on the ghost of Christmas past sequences in comparison to the other sequences. Some people may find it slightly grainier than the DVD version because of its sharpness, but it is an old movie."
"However, all blu-ray players can play DVDs, and they upscale the images to look better on an HD screen, up to 1080p. So, while you will have to get a new Blu-Ray player to play HD movies, you can still see all of your current DVDs on the same player, and they'll be enhanced."
"The reviews say it has two discs containing the black and white and colorized versions."
"It's gorgeous, almost like watching an entirely different film."
"This is the best version that I watch every year, but even though the cover picture is in color, the movie is in b&w."
Best Musicals
o The Sound of Music Tour – A Living Story.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon""While The Sound of Music was in tryouts in Boston, Richard Rodgers felt Captain von Trapp should have a song with which he would bid farewell to the Austria he knew and loved. The Lindsay and Crouse script provides the metaphor of the simple edelweiss wildflower as a symbol of the Austria that Captain von Trapp, Maria, and their children knew would live on in their hearts despite the Nazi annexation of their homeland."
"first off let me say that this is the Blu-ray that I bought not the DVD Amazon has a nasty habit of letting people review movies that are watching them on VHS or even on their video streaming service almost never can tell which format they're reviewing I bought the Blu-ray the price was certainly right or this classic this is the first time it's been affordable."
"I love watching this movie when I'm feeling nostalgic."
"This is a real classic and true family favorite."
"It’s hard to beat a classic movie."
"Must have classic movie."
"Beautiful scenery, movie, and old school, great movie."
"Bought this for my kids so they could enjoy a classic movie."
Best Mystery & Thrillers
Featuring hilarious guest stars, including Stanley Tucci, John Turturro and Sarah Silverman, and packed with every episode from all 8 seasons, this 32-disc set includes hours of behind-the-scenes bonus, making Monk: The Complete Series a compulsively essential addition to any DVD obsessive's collection.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Come on, not one DVD cover or insert includes even a list of what episodes it contains, never mind a synopsis of each episode so you can find your faves."
"Tony Shalhoub is masterful in this TV series as Monk, an obsessive compulsive who also happens to be a fantastic detective."
"Love love love Monk!!!"
"I love this series and had to have it in my collection because I have not seen the whole thing!"
"What can I say I love this show."
"Purchased as a gift for family."
"Monk was a great show."
"Am thoroughly enjoying the series, but the DVD quality is excellent as well."
Best Performing Arts
The question on everyone's lips is finally answered as the hugely popular Sherlock returns in three brand new action-packed adventures.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"If you haven't already, DON'T watch the PBS broadcast of Sherlock Season 3."
"It's been a long wait for Season 3 of the BBC's brilliant revival of Sherlock Holmes, with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman returning from their respective movie careers to renew a priceless partnership as a thoroughly modern Sherlock Holmes and Doctor John Watson."
"In a previous review (series 1-2) bluray, I had complained about the sound levels."
"Perfectly cast, beautifully acted, wonderful filming techniques, inventive special effects, compelling story lines and top-notch settings."
"If you have not had the opportunity to watch the BBC's modern version of Sherlock Holmes, you need to treat yourself. The action is incredibly fast; the logic is impeccable but inscrutable at times; and the guy playing Sherlock in superb."
"I love Cumberbatch, I love Sherlock, but this was just so sad :( The first episode was okay."
"In Season Three, as with Seasons One and Two, the writing is superb, the acting is superb, the cinematography is superb, the editing is superb, the musical score is superb--and yet Season Three somehow manages to improve on the first two excellent seasons."
"Excellent *** BOUGHT FOR VA HOSPICE WARD. PART OF A "FILM FESTIVAL" FOR THESE DYING VETERANS."
Best Reality TV
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The Short and Sweet Version: - You'll laugh. - You'll laugh some more. - You'll get to a point where you just can't stop laughing...people will look at your funny but you won't care. Now the long version."
"One of the very funniest shows on TV."
"I laughed harder watching this DVD set on my computer than when I saw them on TV."
"...unbelievably funny....and I hate practical jokes...!.....hours of out loud laughing....moments of expectant terror....but these guys hardly ever cross "the limit"....and hurt feelings or scare people to death.....it's another genre of comedy......try it - you'll love it."
"I love this show its hilarious."
"- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -. Some of the pranks make ya. almost wet your pants."
"I went online and bought the first season because by the time I began to really get into it was the time that tru tv was cut out of my lineup for awhile."
"A gift for a niece with cerebral palsy."
Best Romance
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"A list of things to watch out for when buying: -The exterior blue where it says Blu Ray on the outside was the wrong tone, and did not also say Digital HD, vs the real copy which did. -The slipcase artwork paper shows color banding and indicates it is a reprint, not the original printer quality. -The inner guide booklet is clearly reprinted - the words are muddier and less clear - and on cheaper paper. I am returning that copy after I take comparative photos of the two sets, and my second one came directly from Amazon, 100% fine."
"This has got be one of the best done shows that is available for rent or purchase on Amazon."
"The discs come in a multiple page foldout that is folded and slid into a box that is then covered by the semi-transparent plastic sleeve."
"Shipped quickly and arrived undamaged."
"The new X Files is pretty good, too, but this show manages to keep a lot of plot lines going that are (with a few notable exceptions) at the very least interesting: stab/fuck/stab/quip/stab/tits/run around/stab/quip."
"I have not quite finished this season yet (so I don't know where in the story it ends.). I read the books first and the episodes follow pretty close to the book. If there are only 5 books did they cut the last book in half so that they could make an extra season?"
"The dragons will have to do it all...could be an armagedon ending as almost all the really likable and heroic characters are dead."
"It has cool moments here and there, and a spectacular battle episode, but the rest just doesnt seem up to par for me."
Best Science Fiction DVDs
Star Wars: The Complete Saga will feature all six live-action Star Wars feature films utilizing the highest possible picture and audio presentation.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I just want to start by saying that this is about the 12-disc DVD box set with Darth Vader on the front. While I believe this set was released in 2015, none of the 2011 Blu-Ray edits made it here. The originals (IV, V, and VI) are in their 2004 remastered versions, but my favorite thing about this set is that, on the bonus discs, you get the original theatrical releases of the films. Now, I remember hearing a lot of complaints about the standalone DVD releases (not this one) with this feature saying that it was just the laserdisc version with letterbox format."
"This DVD came on time & works great."
"Can you say about Star Wars good quality."
"The case is made cheaply and broke the second time we got into it."
"It’s Star Wars!"
"Is a review really needed, its Star Wars!"
"I purchased this set as a gift and received the product smashed and broken."
"They glitch, freeze, I get play back error messages."
Best Soap Operas
This Paley Center for Media live event celebrates the 10,000th episode of "The Young and the Restless," the dramatic daytime serial about the socially disparate founding families of Genoa City, Wisconsin.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I have never really watched this Soap, I love Days of our lives, but I found this very entertaining and interesting."
"It was purchased as a gift and party was very happy with it."
"So so...it nees to be updated, but it was Interesting to watch the interaction of the performers....dear Jeanne, so sorry to see her go."
"A great video for y&r fans!"
"My wife and I watch it every day she don't like Victor, but he is the man."
"I've watched it for over 20 yrs and thourely enjoy it."
Best Special Interests
Schoolhouse Rock!, the timeless collection of animated songs that taught an entire generation that "knowledge is power" is on DVD for in this Ultimate Collector's Edition 2-disc set.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Excellent videos."
"My kids love Schoolhouse Rock every bit as much as I did growing up!"
"I loved these, as a kid, on Saturday Morning Cartoon hours."
"I loved these as a kid so took a chance and bought the DVD for my 3yo grandson."
"This was a great flashback from my childhood in the seventies."
"Remembered them from when my children were younger and now I'm getting them for my grandchildren...."
"I'm teaching a citizenship class to 12-15 Bhutanese political refugees who speak Nepali. The scene illustrating the "pursuit of happiness" with the male colonist chasing the female colonist across the screen led to a lot of puzzled looks, but that's a concept that's hard to explain to people who come from class-ridden, authoritarian regimes. When you come from a country ruled from the top by ukase, the idea that a new law is hammered out by so many people is very new indeed."
"This DVD was great fun and was perfect timing for teaching children at school about the presidency."
Best Sports
Stranded in Radiator Springs, a forgotten town on the old Route 66, he meets Sally, Mater, Doc Hudson (Paul Newman), and a variety of quirky characters who help him discover that there's more to life than trophies and fame. There is only one behind-the-scenes feature, a 16-minute cursory but entertaining glance at director John Lasseter's influences (his dad was a car-parts manager), including some of the real-life inspiration for the film such as Michael Wallis's influential book on Route 66 (he also voiced the sheriff).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I remember liking this movie more when it first came out, but my two year old loves it so that's all that matters!"
"LOVE this movie - it is a family favorite!"
"Love this movie, so cute and fun and never boring."
"My little girl loves this cartoon!"
"This is a great children's movie!"
"When I first heard Disney was going to make a movie about cars, I was skeptical."
"Bought this as an additional movie because our grandkids love it so much."
"This is my favorite Disney movie for young kids."
Best TV Game Shows
The 56 cartoons in the set (out of a studio output of over 1,000) were transferred from good prints--which means the viewer can see dust, scratches, and occasional mistakes by the cel painters. Although the erratic selection includes many classics, purists will argue (correctly) that it offers neither a fair representation of the directors' oeuvres , nor anything approaching a coherent history of the characters or studio style.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"3rd & 4th discs are the Looney Tunes All-Stars (Road Runner, Wile E Coyote, Pepe le Pew, Sylvester & Tweety, Speedy Gonzalez, Foghorn Leghorn, Yosemite Sam, Taz, etc)."
"I have the entire gold collection volume 1-6 there were soo many other ones they missed like she was a an acrobats daughter and many many others."
"Superb collection - a good overall taste of a lot of the characters- need to get more when I think about it."
"I like the fact these cartoons were un-cut."
"who doesn't love Looney Tunes."
"All the cartoons I remember."
"If like me you grew up watching these on Saturday mornings then get it and watch them with your kids."
Best TV News Programming
3 out of 4 stars. This PBS-aired FRONTLINE documentary from filmmaker Antony Thomas arrives at a critical time...while the unquestioningly devout are unlikely to enjoy this critique, it seems mostly fair.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I saw this on a PBS show and it was so informative I wanted my husband to see it."
"Gift for Mother in law, she is enjoying!"
"Revealing and very disheartening but obviously not just propaganda."
"I am a practicing Catholic."
"A must have to anybody's library."
"It sounded like it was true and revealing."
"Sucks, only about the problems of the church."
Best TV Talk Shows
The perfect collection for any Red Skelton fan!
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The good news is that these DVDs were produced from the original masters, and the video quality as good as you can get from television shows from the 1960s. HOWEVER, you won't do better than these if you remembered and loved Red Skelton, so enjoy these despite what's missing."
"Red Shelton was one of the three shows I was allowed to watch as a child."
"I have always loved Red Skelton as I grew up and these are shows that I had never seen as they were from before I was born."
"Wonderful Product for entertaining my 87 yr old mother-in-law even with her hearing last."
"Wonderful doing business with!"
"The best of the true American comic icon."
Best Westerns
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The story lines were believeable, stars Robert Taylor and Lou Diamond Phillips did an outstanding job of presenting the story in such a way as to keep you tuning in to see if and how (among other stories within the main story) they would catch the real perpetrators and/or clear their names as to their alleged involvement in the murders of Longmire's wife and her real killer."
"loved the ending of season 3, if I had netflix, I would be able to watch season 4, since they bought the series from the cable channel."
"We also got to see some supporting players that we don't get to see often enough like Jacob Nighthorse, Mathias, Barlow Connally, and the beautiful New Mexico landscape subbing as Wyoming. We get to look forward to guest stars Graham Greene and Nia Peeples (Walker Texas Ranger) this season amongst others I'm sure. This is a show that you have to pay attention to when watching as little clues that are easily missed are scattered throughout that you may not realize have significance until several episodes later."
"Longmire--The Third Season--continues to be an intelligent, sensitive, modern western drama that begs to be watched again and again."
"Exceptional television!"
"I like this guy."
"His sheriff office staff is loyal save one, a confused and handsome young man who takes umbrage to Longmire's ways and needs power to confirm his existence."