Reviews (30)

Beverly Hills 90210 is one of my favorite shows!
This video is a must for anyone who loves 90210.It gives bits and pieces of the first two seasons, which brings back happy and sad memories of the characters.The video also talks about the character's feeling about graduating from high school and about leaving each other.If you have graduated or going to graduate from high school, this video will make you feel sad as you recall high school experiences.The saddest scene is at the end when they are looking at the sign that says, West Bev 93 and are staring at it.This is a video that you will love to own about all of the 90210 characters!

90210 is the best show on television!
I am a big huge Beverly Hills, 90210 fan! It's the coolest show on FOX, it even has a great soundtrack too. I watch the show all the time and all the actors are good. It's still a good show even though if it's been on for awhile. For those of you 90210 fans you can catch 2 episodes on FX every weekday at 4:00 and 5:00 (I think).

The sadness of 90210 ending
It is such a shame that 90210 had to go off the air. It was my favorite show ever since i've been alive. I will miss Luke Perry alot on T.V. I recorded almost every episode they made so at least the memories will stay with me forever. All I hope is that they make another show just like that. It really feels good to watch a great show and have the characters go through some of the same issues you might be going through. It was a great show and they did a great job. 90210 will be in memory forever...

Huge Fan from Brazil
I'm a huge, huge fan of BV 90210 from Brazil and I have never missed an episode of all ten seasons. I really look forward for their release on DVD!!! Beverly Hills 90210 definitely needs to be on DVD ASAP! I still watch the show everyday! Maybe this is the third time!!! But I NEVER get tired of it! I REALLY LOVE THE SHOW! I wish they would come out with all the DVDS soon.

90210 big fan!
i want to buy this video but with some of the reviews ive seen im not sure if i still want to. but i was young when the show started so i never watched it untill about the begining of 2004. see i really think luke perry (dylan mckay) is so hot so i started watching it and my dad records it every week day and on sat and sun. i love it so much! i wish they would come out with all the DVDS! season 1/10 cuz i would buy them all. i need to catch up with the early days. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The saga of Felicy King, Gus Pike, and Avonlea finally ends
When Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote about Sara Stanley and her King cousins in "The Story Girl" and the "Golden Road," her readers came to understand that the high and mighty Felicity King was fated to marry Peter Craig, the hired boy on her father's farm. On the television series "Avonlea," (a.k.a. "Road to Avonlea"), the character of Peter Craig was phased out but the idea of the fate of Felicity (Gema Zamprogna) clearly remained the same, although now with Gus Pike (Michael Mahonen), a young fisherman who arrives in Avonlea and decides to stay, smitten with young Felicity and in awe of school teacher Hettie King (Jackie Burroughs). However at the end of season six Gus was believed lost at sea, and when the show came to the end of its seventh and final season, it was necessary to bring their story to a resolution.

The two pivotal episodes are collected on "Return to Me." First up is "Return to Me," which finds Felicity only a few days away from her wedding to Stuart McCrae (David Ferry), the local banker. But then she gets a mysterious phone call that sends her and Aunt Hetty in search of Gus. Amazingly, they find Gus alive in South Carolina. He was not killed in the shipwreck, but he did lose his eyesight. Both Felicity and Hetty insist that Gus has to come home to Avonlea, but he stubbornly refuses. However, there is no way Gus can stand up to two women who are not only more stubborn than he is, but who are the two that he cares most about in the world.

The grand finale is "So Dear to My Heart," where Gus returns to Avonlea and stuns the entire King family. But now the question is whether Felicity will go through with her wedding to Stuart. Meanwhile, in the wake of the disastrous cannery fire, Jasper (R.H. Thomson) and Olivia (Meg Ruffman) have decided to leave Avonlea, which infuriates Hetty so much that she refuses to attend Felicity's wedding. However, this is the final episode of this beloved television series, which means that everybody is going to end up at this wedding (yes, that means everybody including you know who).

Gus being blind is a bit melodramatic for my tastes, but there is such a thing as destiny and the sight of Felicity running through town in her wedding dress to drag Aunt Hetty to her wedding certainly makes up for that. There is really no better final storyline "Avonlea" could have had to bring everything to a close.

A fitting end to a amazing series...
Road to Avonlea~Return to Me, features two episodes from the poplular Disney series Avonlea. Return to Me features two episodes, So Dear to My Heart and Return to Me. Two of the last episodes of Avonlea. In these last two episodes Felicity is engaged to be married to a man named Stuart, when she learns that the love of her life, Gus Pike, is alive. She travels to South Carolina to find him. She then convinces Gus to return to Avonlea with her. A grand wedding takes place in which many characters return to the show. Sara Polley redeams her role as Sara Stanley after a couple years of absence from the show. As well as characters such as Racheal Lynde, Davy and Dora, and Ms Stacy from the Anne of Green Gables Series. This episode is a much have for any fan of the TV show Avonlea or Anne of Green Gables! ... Read more

Description

Should an aging father move in with his daughter, or stay loyal to his retirement home friend? ' 'Devilishly Funny' ' - The L.A. Times. ' 'Something for the entire family to enjoy.' ' (New York Newsday) ... Read more

Reviews (1)

I have directed hundreds of videos and this one is the best
This is a powerful video and the best one I have ever directed. You are really going to love this video. You will be dancing in your house and wear the tape out. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Both Felicity King and Aunt Hetty meet young Gus Pike
If you have read "The Story Girl" and "The Golden Road" by Lucy Maud Montgomery, then you know that the fate of Felicity King was that despite her snobbish pretensions and lofty pretensions, she would end up marrying the poor boy who worked on her family farm. In these two episodes from early in the second season of "Avonela," Felicity is introduced to the fork in the road that awaits her, but while the title of the tape is "Felicity's First Date," she is not the character who unites these two episodes:

"How Kissing Was Discovered" begins with Janet King's Great-Aunt Eliza coming for a visit and turning the King household upside down. Meanwhile, Alec discovers that playing cricket is not as easy it was when he was a younger man and Felicity (Gema Zamprogna) has her eye on a young cricket player on the visiting team. After all, she is now all grown up (she is almost a teenager) and has decided it is time to receive her "first kiss." However, Sarah and Felix have made a new friend in Gus Pike (Michael Mahonen), a young sailor recently arrived in Avonlea and looking for work. Alec lets Gus stay in his barn and while Felicity will not give the boy the time of day, it is clear that he finds her rather interesting.

In "Aunt Hetty's Ordeal" the pivotal relationship between Gus Pike and Hetty King (Jackie Burroughs) begins. Given how Hetty treats Sara, Olivia and everybody else in the extended King family, you have to worry about poor, uneducated Gus. The problem is that everybody in Avonlea knows to take Hetty King with a grain or salt. But Gus thinks everything Aunt Hetty says is carved on stone tablets and when Hetty makes a heated offhand remark to the young man it has significant repercussions.

The title of this episode has a couple of meanings. At first we think "Aunt Hetty's Ordeal" is that Muriel Stacey, who has been appointed school superintendent instead of Hetty, is coming for a visit. Hetty thinks it is an inspection, but, of course, it is no such thing. But that does not stop the old hens in town from ruffling Hetty's feathers. Reminded that kids flocked to be in Miss Stacey's school, Hetty goes out to the cannery to recruit and reels in Gus Pike. He can neither read nor write, smokes and plays the fiddle, but he wants to learn and this touches Hetty. Gus had been a minor character in previous episodes, and "Aunt Hetty's Ordeal" is where he starts becoming more important to the show in general (and Felicity King in particular). This is also the point where Hetty King, who tended to be a bit insufferable for my money, started to thaw, because the big difference between Gus and Sara, is that Gus is not family and Hetty ends up opening her heart to him.

These episodes continue the transition from Lucy Maud Montgomery's novels to more original storylines (although clearly Gus Pike replaces Peter Craig in "The Story Girl" and "The Golden Road"). Note: Do not try to figure out how Hetty King and Muriel Stacey are contemporaries and where this all fits in with the Sullivan Productions of the "Anne of Green Gables" books. Hetty has supposedly been teaching forever at Avonlea School and Anne was teaching there a year or two after Miss Stacey. "Avonlea" had a proud history of bringing back both characters and actors from the "Anne" movies and this is just another nice example of the practice.

A WONDERFUL film!
This has two episodes from the 2nd season of ROAD TO AVONLEA which include HOW KISSING WAS DISCOVERED and AUNT HETTY'S ORDEAL. They are two of the best episodes I've ever seen and I recommend this to ANYONE who loves ANNE OF GREEN GABLES or ROAD TO AVONLEA! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Peg Bowen helps Felix, but dad comes to take Sarah home
I do not think Lucy Maud Montgomery ever came up with a more maddening creation that Hetty King (Jackie Burroughs), the self-appointed moral judge of the King clan in Avonlea. Aunt Hetty is in the thick of things for both of the first season episodes of "Avonlea" collected on this third of four videos, "Magical Moments":

"The Witch of Avonlea" is Peg Bowen (Susan Cox), who lives in the woods smoking her pipe and doing whatever she wants with no concern for what the good folks of Avonlea think or say. When Felix King (Zachary Bennett) finds himself unable to spell anything during the class spelling bees because he is so afraid of Aunt Hetty, his nightmares convince him she might be a witch. So he goes off to visit Peg, who gives him a "magic" stone. His confidence restored, Felix wins the school spelling bee and moves on to the next level of competition. If you do not know that he is going to lose the magic stone before the contest then you must be totally unfamiliar with the rules of children's fiction. Meanwhile, the dreams of Felicity (Gema Zamprogna) have their own comeuppance, as events take her down a peg at the same time that Felix enjoys his moment in the sun.

The important episode here is "Nothing Endures but Change," which finds that Blair Stanley, Sara's father, has been acquitted of the scandalous embezzlement charges that forced him to send his daughter to live with her mother's relatives on Prince Edward Island. Blair arrives in Avonlea ready to take Sara (Sarah Polley) back to Montreal, at which point everyone of Sara's King relatives absolutely freaks. None, of course, as much as Hetty, who announces she will not give the child up to her father. Hetty has always blamed Blair for not only taking her sister Ruth away but in living a decadent life (of travel) that resulted in her death (she caught tuberculosis at home in Montreal). Hetty also has a few things to say about what appears to be happening between Olivia and Jasper Dale, which only makes you wonder how Alec ever managed to get away from Hetty's all encompassing powers. Sara wants to say goodbye to all her friends and attend the upcoming skating party she has been looking forward to, but her father wants to get out of Avonlea and as far away from Hetty as quickly as possible. Sara cannot abide the thought that two of the people she loves most in the world cannot even talk to each other civilly, and so she hatches up a plan to force their reconciliation. But these two stubborn adults cannot admit for a second that the other cares as much for Sara as they do, which only means that fate is going to have to take a hand to make things right.

For me the chief charm of "Nothing Endures but Change," certainly the loftiest sounding title in the series, is enjoying Hetty King getting her comeuppance a few times. She really is such an intolerant woman for somebody who does so many unforgivable things. However, her redemption is still down the road, coming in the form of Gus Pike. It is in his unflinching admiration and respect, that Hetty King is finally confronted with a true mirror of her life.

Amazing example of a growing family @the turn of the century
Beautiful two episode tape depeicting the King family's trysts and triumphs at the turn of the century. These episodes were taken from the "Road to Avonlea" television series based on the popular works of Lucy Maude Montgomery. A true and simple tale of an unconfident boy whom enters a spelling Bee, and wins! The latter tale, "Nothing endures but change" tells again of the King family when their beloved and bewitching cousin, Sara Stanley, is taken from Prince Edward island by her father, but runs into an ill-fated accident, which may be the end of our young Sara. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The trials and tribulations of Rachel and Marilla in Avonlea
I subscribed to the Disney channel just to get to "Avonlea," and even if you have not reading the novels and short story collections of Lucy Maud Montgomery on which the series is "based" you can still enjoy this excellent family series. "Gift of Friendship" is the second of four video tapes from the first season of the series, and contains two episodes featuring the recurring characters of Rachel Lynde (Patricia Hamilton) and Marilla Cuthbert (Colleen Dewhurst), who we first met in the "Anne of Green Gables" mini-series.

"Quarantine at Alexander Abraham's" is one of the best adaptations of a Montgomery short story to the cast of characters on "Avonlea." Standing in for Montgomery's original female protagonist who has to confront confirmed old bachelor Abraham is one of her most beloved supporting characters, Mrs. Rachel Lynde. But this episode is also the first time that Mrs. Lynde takes center stage, which is definitely a treat for her many fans. Mrs. Lynde is put in charge of the boy's Sunday School class and when she finds the young boy who work's Alexander Abraham's farm has gone truant, she heads out to save the boy's soul. Meanwhile, Felix and Sara have run ahead to warn their schoolmate of the impending storm. However, everybody involved is in for a big shock when they all end up in Abraham's home only to discover he has been quarantined because of the small pox. That means this quartet of not too happy individuals are stuck with each other for at least two weeks (to the horror of Felix's mother). Mrs. Lynde decides that she and her two small charges are going to clean the house from top to bottom, no matter what that old curmudgeon has to say, and the war is on.

Next we have "The Materializing of Duncan McTavish," which starts with Sara Stanley not sure she is going to enjoy her first time at the Avonlea sewing circle, since she really does not know how to snow. But then something quite interesting happens. When all the ladies are talking about who had how many beaux way back when, Sara asks Marilla Cuthbert "Did you ever have a beau?" Having endured a lifetime of slurs because she never had a beau after refusing to forgive John Blythe, Marilla defiantly declares "I had one once." In for a penny, in for a pound, Marilla weaves a fantasy about her beau whom she named Duncan, because it is her favorite name, and McTavish, because she sees an advertisement for McTavish Porous Plasters. Everyone is suitable shocked and Marilla cannot imagine what came over her. But as Marilla knows all too well, "if you do wrong, you will be punished for it sometime, somehow or somewhere." Who should arrive in town but Duncan McTavish, to sell his Porous Plasters, and Sara Stanley knows Fate has brought the two former lovers together again. Of course, this is news to the amazed and confounded Duncan McTavish.

Early on with the television series "Avonlea" the idea was clearly to adapt some of Lucy Maud Montgomery's better stories from the two "Chronicles of Avonlea" collections. While something was lost in the translation of "Old Lady Lloyd" from story to television, "Quarantine at Alexander Abraham's" and "The Materializing of Duncan McTavish" are superb adaptations. Plus, you have two of of favorite characters from the Sullivan productions of the "Anne of Green Gables" movies right in the middle of both stories ((Hamilton and Dewhurst were an under-appreciated comedy team when they worked together).

Quality family entertainment!
When our family stumbled upon Tales of Avonlea during it's original Disney airing(1992-96)--we felt like we had struck gold! We purchased 3 of the 4 videos in the prepared set, to add to our family video library, but couldn't find Volume 2--Gift of Friendship--until now, on Amazon Marketplace. Thank you!
The beauty of early 20th century Prince Edward Island sets the stage for lively adventures, and a return to the simple, peaceful life of days gone by. In the first episode of this double feature, young Sara Stanley forges a surprising new friendship, when she and Mrs. Rachel Lind serve as "sisters of mercy together" in unexpected circumstances.
In the second episode, Sara is welcomed into the warm, social "fabric" of Avonlea's ladies' sewing circle--during which a shocking revelation from one of the ladies about a past beau, causes temporary, humorous shockwaves in the town, and also a surprising twist which saves the day.
Each character adds new sparkle and depth to the story, as timeless themes of love, loyalty, friendship, fear and belonging unfold in the lives of these charming Avonlea citizens.

the best tv series
tales from avonlea is the best disney picture ever made

The Entertainer
Having watched this highly-acclaimed show since it's inception in 1990 as a ten-year old boy, I've realized how lucky I truly am to see such fine programming filled with such intriguing plots, unforgettable characters, famous guest stars (Christopher Lloyd won an Emmy for his role in 1992), and touching--but not sappy--moments. My particular favorite episode was when Aunt Hetty went out to "bring in the lost sheep"--and came up with Gus Pike and a HORRENDOUS backache! Unfortunately this series is no longer shown on Disney, but I've recorded almost 40 episodes when they reran some of the episodes in 1996. I promise you this video is worth the money.

Entertaining
Although some of the acting was not as strong as in 'Anne of Green Gables', the two short films presented on the videocassette were charming, and ultimately worth seeing. If you enjoy the Anne series and want more of Avonlea, you will appreciate these films. Not just for children--adults will like them, too. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

An excellent film! A great family friendly show!
This DVD included the first two episodes of "Road to Avonlea" the TV series, or better known in the U.S. as "Avonlea", as aired on the Disney Channel in the 1990's. A touching and family-friendly series about a little rich girl who moves to Prince Edward Island to live with her relatives when her father is accused of embezzlement in his own company. The adventures that this little girl Sara Stanley has with her cousins, (the "King" family) are hilarious and heart-warming! This is definately worth checking out!!

delightful
Excellent for children, found this film to be one you can learn from mistakes,has values presented,happy ending! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Allan Kroeker's Showdown at Williams Creek
Tom Burlinson, of "The Man from Snowy River," and not much else, plays an Irishman who comes to the Northwest Territories to find gold. He befriends an American, and a fellow Irishman, and comes to the titled Williams Creek twice in the span of two years and loses all of his gold- once in an obviously fixed poker game and again when the gold mysteriously disappears off of his American friend after he is killed. By this point, Burlinson has met Scotsman Rhodes, who we find out at the beginning of the film was murdered by Burlinson. The entire film is a flashback (albeit a long one) over Burlinson's life and his run-ins with Rhodes over many years.

Burlinson leaves Williams Creek after the death of his friend and parts ways with his fellow Irishman, traveling with Rhodes to find more gold. Burlinson is shot with an arrow, and left by Rhodes with a rifle in the wilderness. Burlinson makes like "A Man Called Horse" and "Dances With Wolves" and is adopted by some native people, who are offspring of Native Americans and French fur trappers. Rhodes, missing a leg, shows up AGAIN and bilks Burlinson into joining him at a trading post selling watered down whiskey to the "savages." That ends badly, too, with a bloody gunfight, and Burlinson goes back to his native family, a broken man. Quicker than you can say "fool me once, shame on you...," Rhodes, now missing a hand, shows up AGAIN, trapping wolves with a bald pated [fool] who wants to get it on with Burlinson's native wife. Rhodes kills his bald partner, and eventually steals Burlinson's wolf pelts. Burlinson FINALLY decides he has had enough and kills Rhodes. During Burlinson's trial, with TV's Perry Mason presiding, Burlinson's old Irish friend suddenly appears in the nick of time to explain he saw Rhodes steal their gold way back in Williams Creek, but since he could not believe his own eyes, he failed to mention it to Burlinson. Burlinson is found not guilty by reason of he was defending his personal property.

In a perfect world, this would have had a $100 million dollar budget and starred Mel Gibson and Sean Connery in the two lead roles. Burlinson is great in a very poor part (except for some sadly done hair extensions), and it is amazing he has not done much else since "...Snowy River." Rhodes' Scottish accent sounds like a poor Mike Myers impression, and everytime he pops into Burlinson's life, he is missing a limb.

The Canadian scenery is gorgeous, but the director thankfully does not linger over long shots of frosty lakes and evergreen forests. The settings are right, from a squatty little mining camp to large frontier towns. The rest of the supporting cast does their job admirably. Come on, though. I know this was based on true events, but how many times does Burlinson need to be [fooled] over by Rhodes before he finally does something about it? And the video friendly title is also wrong, since the climactic murder occurs very far from the mentioned Williams Creek. The Williams Creek saloon shootout, while very well filmed, is not even a showdown, it is an a group of men shooting at other men.

This is not a bad film, but a flawed one. While I recommend it, it has almost as many strikes against it as it does for it.

This is rated (R) for physical violence, strong gun violence, gore, profanity, some female nudity, mild sexual content, and sexual references. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Cousins, family, mischief, tragedy, life and love in Avonlea
"Avonlea" is a show that is of an impeccably high quality, balancing the line between the worlds of adulthood and childhood that sometimes interlap, sometimes don't, but never cliched, never sterotypical, and always maintaining a high level of fun and mischief. It's real life seen through the eyes of the beautiful town of Avonlea and the large extended King clan, which was created by Lucy Maud Montgomery.

It's a lovely show, no overbearing sappiness, but full of honest and varied sentimentality with incredible actors portraying wonderful characters with idiosyncrasies and quirks (sometimes you love em, sometimes you hate em), yet who still feel as though they could become your best friends. And it's these characters that run the show. They grew, they developed, and they become intensely realistic and beloved people with each passing season.

It's not your average series. Every episode is completely believable, and any of the circumstances that occur, or more often, unravel, feel as though they could occur in your own life. And because of it's intelligence and beauty adults may enjoy it more than they expect, though there's plenty of entertaining material for kids to find enthralling (I know many children who devoured this show, try showing them "Proof of the Pudding", I still find it hilarious). In terms of these videos, my one problem is that they don't have all the episodes on video yet. Otherwise you'll have no real problem taking any of the episodes and watching, since the writing is very throrough in making each episode it's own entity, though the whole series through the years developed numerous intricate plots.

And yet, even with the problems of real life barging through from the very first episode (which deals with embezzlement), there's always a warm glow that you will always find a loving place there. For years I imagined PEI, and these people as though I was there, that's a success for these filmmakers. "Avonlea" is full of love and life and eccentricities and tragedy. Yet with all of it's fans, and acclaim, and ratings, and awards through the years, it's real triumph is the fact that it was endearing and beautiful from the first moment to the very last.

L. M. Montgomery's "The Story Girl" comes to "Avonlea"
When her father is threatened with financial ruin, young Sara Stanley is shipped off to her late mother's relatives on Prince Edward Island. Sara arrives in Avonlea with her Nanny Louisa is tow, only to meet up with the formidable King family, headed by the imperious Aunt Hetty, who also happens to be the local school teacher. "The Journey Begins" is the pilot episode written by Heather Conkie for the "Avonlea" television series. Sara Stanley was a character featured in "The Story Girl," which was author Lucy Maud Montgomery's favorite novel, and its sequel "The Golden Road." Along with two collections of short stories known as the Chronicles of Avonlea, these four books are the material from which various episodes were developed for this series.

What becomes fascinating in this first episode is how the premises of "The Story Girl" are redeveloped for this series. In the books Sara would come to visit her King cousins each summer, heading back to Montreal in the fall. However, the situation needed to be altered so Sara was a more permanent part of the Avonlea community. They could have made Sara an orphan, in the grand tradition of Montgomery's most famous literary creations Anne of Green Gables and Emily of New Moon, but it is important that at least on some level Sara WANTS to stay on PEI. At the heart is one of Montgomery's strongest themes, how a young girl forges bonds of affection with a spinster. Aunts Hetty and Olivia certainly recall Emily's Aunts Elizabeth and Laura and there are strong echoes of that novel in this story.

One of the strengths of this series, in addition to its strong ensemble cast of solid character actors, is the casting of Sarah Polley as Sara Stanley. Polley had already proved herself to be one of the best "child" actresses of her generation before she got this role and she only continues to prove in this episode and the rest of the series. I used to have the Disney Channel just so I could watch "Avonlea" and honeymooned last year on PEI, staying at the "White Sands Hotel." So, it is pretty clear that I am just one of countless millions of enraptured fans. Whether you come from "Avonlea" to Montgomery's novels, or the other way around, just be sure you enjoy both.

The Genesis
Well, folks, this was the episode that started it all--"The Journey Begins". We are introduced at first to the palacious estate in which Sara, her father, and her Nanny Loisa lives. We see how extravagant a lifestyle Sara's grown up in, but she seems nonplussed and untainted about her wealth, though we do detect she's a bit spoiled. But when she and Nanny Louisa reach Rose Cottage and encounter the indomitable personage of Hetty King, sparks fly between the two stubborn ladies. What brings Sara and her Aunt Hetty together, though, is the death of Sara's mother. Hetty softens her attitude toward Sara; and everyone by the end of the episode wants her to stay, making it an easy decision for the happy girl! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Allan Kroeker's Showdown at Williams Creek
Tom Burlinson, of "The Man from Snowy River," and not much else, plays an Irishman who comes to the Northwest Territories to find gold. He befriends an American, and a fellow Irishman, and comes to the titled Williams Creek twice in the span of two years and loses all of his gold- once in an obviously fixed poker game and again when the gold mysteriously disappears off of his American friend after he is killed. By this point, Burlinson has met Scotsman Rhodes, who we find out at the beginning of the film was murdered by Burlinson. The entire film is a flashback (albeit a long one) over Burlinson's life and his run-ins with Rhodes over many years.

Burlinson leaves Williams Creek after the death of his friend and parts ways with his fellow Irishman, traveling with Rhodes to find more gold. Burlinson is shot with an arrow, and left by Rhodes with a rifle in the wilderness. Burlinson makes like "A Man Called Horse" and "Dances With Wolves" and is adopted by some native people, who are offspring of Native Americans and French fur trappers. Rhodes, missing a leg, shows up AGAIN and bilks Burlinson into joining him at a trading post selling watered down whiskey to the "savages." That ends badly, too, with a bloody gunfight, and Burlinson goes back to his native family, a broken man. Quicker than you can say "fool me once, shame on you...," Rhodes, now missing a hand, shows up AGAIN, trapping wolves with a bald pated [fool] who wants to get it on with Burlinson's native wife. Rhodes kills his bald partner, and eventually steals Burlinson's wolf pelts. Burlinson FINALLY decides he has had enough and kills Rhodes. During Burlinson's trial, with TV's Perry Mason presiding, Burlinson's old Irish friend suddenly appears in the nick of time to explain he saw Rhodes steal their gold way back in Williams Creek, but since he could not believe his own eyes, he failed to mention it to Burlinson. Burlinson is found not guilty by reason of he was defending his personal property.

In a perfect world, this would have had a $100 million dollar budget and starred Mel Gibson and Sean Connery in the two lead roles. Burlinson is great in a very poor part (except for some sadly done hair extensions), and it is amazing he has not done much else since "...Snowy River." Rhodes' Scottish accent sounds like a poor Mike Myers impression, and everytime he pops into Burlinson's life, he is missing a limb.

The Canadian scenery is gorgeous, but the director thankfully does not linger over long shots of frosty lakes and evergreen forests. The settings are right, from a squatty little mining camp to large frontier towns. The rest of the supporting cast does their job admirably. Come on, though. I know this was based on true events, but how many times does Burlinson need to be [fooled] over by Rhodes before he finally does something about it? And the video friendly title is also wrong, since the climactic murder occurs very far from the mentioned Williams Creek. The Williams Creek saloon shootout, while very well filmed, is not even a showdown, it is an a group of men shooting at other men.

This is not a bad film, but a flawed one. While I recommend it, it has almost as many strikes against it as it does for it.

This is rated (R) for physical violence, strong gun violence, gore, profanity, some female nudity, mild sexual content, and sexual references. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Great DVD set for a good show.
When Andromeda started I was really sceptical.
I didn't like Kevin Sorbo much, the SFX weren't that great and some of scripts were pretty weak.
But I kept watching and during the first season I started to like the show for one big reason: likable characters.
While I'm still not a big fan of Mr. Sorbo, the other other actors are really great and the writing has (apart from a few episodes at the end of season two) improved.
And of course there's Lexa Doig to look at - which is a really big plus. :-)
While it's still far away from the consistent genius that Farscape shows each week, Andromeda is one of the better TV shows at the moment and this DVD set is really great: picture and sound are good, the commentary is very interesting and the other extras are great too - except for the bloopers. I hope that on the next sets we get some bloopers that feature some of the other actors and not only Kevin Sorbo.

Surprisingly good
Since the main character is from "Hercules", I had my doubts. I picked it up anyway, because Gene Roddenberry's name is on it. I am glad I did.

The show does have some weakness- 1. Special effects are always interesting, but look fake sometimes 2. The premise seems to be a little bit shaky: why would those crew decided to join the idealist Captain? They are obviously not the noble type.

Despite those two flaws, it's still worth watching. The concept is original (in the sense that the variation of classical theme done well), the story is good (I think "double helix", the last episode of Vol 1. is the best so far), acting is adequate. In sum, the series has a promising start. It's certainly not Farscape or Star Trek, but you'll enjoy Andromeda if you like this type of sci-fi shows.

As for DVD itself:
Good-
Many special features (alternative takes were interesting).
Good picture quality
Bad-
No subtitles...

A great beginning
The two hour premiere is one of the best episodes of the Andromeda series. It takes off quick, and even allows for some characterization, which many series seem to miss. Though, as soon as the premiere ends, the series seems as if it is going to be a failure. The third episode, "To Looses the Faithful Lightning," is a ridiculous episode to be put at the beginning of the series. But do know, that episode three isn't at all like the rest of the episodes. Four and five are descent episodes, and they both help illuminate the character of Tyr, the Nietzschean of the crew. If your unsure of the series, be sure to start here, at the beginning.

Very enjoyable!
Great charracters, great set up & premise, fantastic acting and sets. This is a show that I think Gene would have been proud of. Great job to Majel and everyone else involved!

Great series but the interviews?
I am really enjoying what I've seen so far. I now have the first two vols. and I'm really getting into it.

The only problem I'm having is that every interview I've tried to watch within the "extras" section appears to not work. It plays for 20-30 secs and the abruptly stops and repeats from the beginning over and over like records use to do sometimes when they'd skip. :( I purchased the first 2 vols. at one time and this occurs on all interviews on both vols. Any suggestions? hehe

The show? 5 stars
The DVD set? 4 stars due the the afor mentioned problem. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

L.M. Montgomery's "The Story Girl" comes to "Avonlea"
When her father is threatened with financial ruin, young Sara Stanley is shipped off to her late mother's relatives on Prince Edward Island. Sara arrives in Avonlea with her Nanny Louisa is tow, only to meet up with the formidable King family, headed by the imperious Aunt Hetty, who also happens to be the local school teacher. "The Journey Begins" is the pilot episode written by Heather Conkie for the "Avonlea" television series. Sara Stanley was a character featured in "The Story Girl," which was author Lucy Maud Montgomery's favorite novel, and its sequel "The Golden Road." Along with two collections of short stories known as the Chronicles of Avonlea, these four books are the material from which various episodes were developed for this series.

What becomes fascinating in this first episode is how the premises of "The Story Girl" are redeveloped for this series. In the books Sara would come to visit her King cousins each summer, heading back to Montreal in the fall. However, the situation needed to be altered so Sara was a more permanent part of the Avonlea community. They could have made Sara an orphan, in the grand tradition of Montgomery's most famous literary creations Anne of Green Gables and Emily of New Moon, but it is important that at least on some level Sara WANTS to stay on PEI. At the heart is one of Montgomery's strongest themes, how a young girl forges bonds of affection with a spinster. Aunts Hetty and Olivia certainly recall Emily's Aunts Elizabeth and Laura and there are strong echoes of that novel in this story.

One of the strengths of this series, in addition to its strong ensemble cast of solid character actors, is the casting of Sarah Polley as Sara Stanley. Polley had already proved herself to be one of the best "child" actresses of her generation before she got this role and she only continues to prove in this episode and the rest of the series. I used to have the Disney Channel just so I could watch "Avonlea" and honeymooned on PEI, staying at the "White Sands Hotel." So, it is pretty clear that I am just one of countless millions of enraptured fans. Whether you come from "Avonlea" to Montgomery's novels, or the other way around, just be sure you enjoy both. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Lucy Maud would be proud....
The episodes on this video are How Kissing Was Discovered & Aunt Hetty's Ordeal. I loved both of the episodes. They bring tears to your eyes and joy to you life. I loved the beauty of the scenery If you are a fan of Avonlea movies get this one.

Oh, The Places You Will Go!
It's amazing how much I haven't grown up the past 10 years! Ten years ago, I teared up when Gus played his violin for Miss King (even though he "may wreck the King's english) out of appreciation for her care. Ten years later, I still had the same reaction. Some things prove to me that history only becomes history if you let it. Hetty King is a very strict, often irritating, demanding person, but you really can admire her for the 'hidden' love she shows for others. We see Gus' intro during the first episode, this vagabond in dirty clothes kissing the prim and proper Felicity; this is the beginning of their relationship: "Better than kissing my dog", Gus says! Then, we see the emergence of Gus as a motivated, intelligent young man trying to rise above his soiled past while balancing his ideals of a better future. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Andromeda give it a chance
I have a lot of friends into Scifi but for some reason they don't like Andromeda. I tell them give it a chance as even though its can be really campy at times, it can be real good television as well.

Andromeda 1.3 we start to see the crew really starting to work together on the screen. What makes this show work is how comfortable all the actors are with each other.

Each TV series has some shows that are not great. Seinfeld might be expection, but "Music Of a Distant Drum" the first show on the second disc was plain boring. Tyr character didn't get much development in this episode. The lady who takes him in is just plain awful, and her son is no better.

This disc does have 2 GREAT [5] star shows. One "The Mathmatics Of Tears" has simply one of the best action scenes of any Scifi TV show I have seen in awhile. What I love about series TV is the little hints here and there. We all know Becca Valentine has the hots for Dylan and when Dylan is being courted so to speak by a HOT Highguard from the past Becca gives those jealous looks.

Haper 2.0 is simply one termendous. Its was nice to see Harper get a chance to shine. The moment when he goes off on Rev Bem (My personal favorite character) is very emotional. Here they lay the foundation of a main heavy of sorts which the series needed. What Andromeda needs is one anti force that is always causing them trouble every other episode.

I highly recommend this series. The pilot is not great, but once you get passed that it really starts to come into its own as a series and you will start to truly care about these characters. I am already into the Trance-Harper love storyline. Hopefully a bone with be thrown in there later in the series.

More Please
I really like Andromeda and the series is great. The contents are good, but for 2 discs worth of material they only had 4 episodes on them. They need to put at least 6 episodes to a volume if they aren't going to put that much extra material on them. Either that or lower the price of the vol.

Whoo-Eee!
I love this show. I love the campy bits, I love the character conflicts, I love the obvious bits and the ocasional subtle humor. As a show it never takes itself seriously, but the actors are pros and do it right. It's got lots of sci-fi cliches, and it pokes constant fun at trek and hercules. The costumes are awful (motorcycle helmet anyone?) ... but the CGI is intense, the design is beautiful, and the whole thing is seamless. There are lots of extras on these DVD's (bloopers, etc) and the quality is terrific.

I wanna be an AI when I grow up.

Not as good as the first two....
For those who haven't seen Andromeda, it's a great science fiction tv show. These episodes are some of the stronger ones in the first season. I won't comment on them too much since the manufacturer's synopsis is pretty accurate. However, these episodes are all heavily character driven with some focus on the crew members instead of Captain Hunt. The final episode in the set begins a subplot that will mature into an epic storyline. Unfortunately, later seasons would forego these types of complex plots.

This is a solid but unspectacular dvd set. Like the first two sets, these episodes are shown in widescreen format. The picture is free of any grain or image wash. For a tv show, the picure is absolutely crystal clear. The sound is full, although sometimes the background music overwhelms the dialogue. I've found that I have to turn the volume down when watching action sequences. The sound seems to be mastered for a theater presentation rather than a living room. This is not necessarily a negative, since the effects are full and resonate at all levels.

The disappointment in this set is that there are only four episodes. The first two sets had five episodes. Additionally, the extras are not as impressive as the first two sets. Unlike the first two sets, there is no commentary for any of the episodes. While there is a nice image gallery, the bloopers and outtakes only comprise a couple of minutes of footage. The intro to the bloopers ran longer than the actual bloopers and repeated itself twice.

The bottom line is that while the episodes are presented well, the extras and overall content of this set were disappointing. This is especially true when compared with the first two sets. Still a solid set and I would recommend it if you are a fan of the show.

Some of the Best Andromeda Episodes!
Finally, some of the best Andromeda episodes come out on DVD! "Pearls" features some great interactions between Beka and Trance, as well as the always-good John DeLancie as Uncle Sid. "Mathematics of Tears" has THE best fight scene in all of Season 1. No spoilers, but the entire thing is choreographed to an aria from "The Flying Dutchman" by Wagner. "Distant Drum" sets the stage for Tyr's big secret which will be crucial later. Not that great of an episode, but anything that features Tyr is all right by me. "Harper 2.0" is a romp, but shows us the serious side of the normally light-hearted engineer. Harper winds up gaining all of the knowledge of the universe, but someone is after it. Enjoy them all! ... Read more

Amazon.com

John Woo directed this surprisingly lighthearted caper tale for TV as a pilot for a series that never materialized. The forgettable leads--Ivan Sergei, Sandrine Holt, and Michael Wong--play adoptive siblings who have been trained by their father, a Hong Kong crime lord, to be master thieves. Then circumstances pit Holt and Sergei against Wong; the two of them have been co-opted as undercover cops, tracking his big score. The movie doesn't amount to much, but Woo comes through with a couple of terrific, imaginative (and funny) action sequences, including one particularly inventive one that has them literally hanging from the chandeliers. Even Woo diehards may have a hard time swallowing the smirky, callow Sergei as a romantic action lead. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Forgettable.
What do you get when you have John Woo direct a movie in which bloodshed is not allowed, the actors are all terrible Canadian nobodies, and the general feel is that of a TV-show pilot?

That's right, you get Blackjack.

Well, you also get this weak little remake of his 1989 Hong Kong film, but without Chow Yun-Fat and Jacky Cheung.

When will they release the whole series on DVD?
They SO need to release the whole TV series on DVD. Hurry up John Woo some of us were disappointed that the series got cancelled!

Warring: this film [is bad]
Warring this is not a good film. The screenplay is bad, the acting is bad, and about every thing about this film is bad. John Woo is a good director; this is not a good film. Woo's Hollywood success with BROKEN ARROW and FACE/OFF emboldened FOX TV to remake Woo's Hong Kong action comedy hit ONCE A THIEF (1992) for TV. Wath we got was nothing more then a movie that rips off Woo's (good) Hong Kong films (a little bit of HARD BOILED can be seen in the film) with a no name TV movie stars (like Nicholas Lea) who wood bee better off acting in plays or something like that. This film was also to be a pilot for a TV program it looks like they got the ratings in this film [is bad] (you may know that by now, but I hate this film). The story (if there is one) is set in Hong Kong and then in Vancouver but that is all I wath to put to words, the rest is too dumb (or has been used before in the 92 film). Look for the 1992 film. The video is a "Never before Seen R-rated Director's cut", but there is no blood or nothing in it. A much better Woo U.S.A. made film is HARD TARGET.

1997. TV Film. ??? MINS.

Rated R For Violence.

Fun start to an even better series
While I won't call this movie high art, it was a lot of fun to watch. And ignore the...comment. While the show has not yet aired in the States (but will be on many ABC stations next fall), it was turned into a series that was much better, including episodes that satirized everything from Waiting for Godot and the Maltese Falcon to James Bond and X-Files.

Disappointing
Ok let me say that I saw this movie on TV a few years ago and I was intrigued when it was called "John Woo's Once a Thief" because the original (Chinese version, 1990)with Leslie Cheung and Chow Yun Fat is one of my favorite movies. This movie had none of the slapstick laughs and rapport that Cheung, Chow, and Chung had in the original. The acting quality was also very poor. So for all of you seeing this washed out and weak version, do yourselves a favor and see the Chinese version. ... Read more

Description

Volume 1.4 Episodes: "Forced Perspective" - Episode 115 Dylan is on trial! Captured by commandos and taken to Mobius, Dylan is interrogated forhis involvement in the killing of the Mobius leader more than 300 years in the past.Subjected to torture and forced to face what really happened, Dylan must right a wrongdone long ago.

"The Sum of Its Parts" - Episode 116 Dylan and the crew are alarmed when a humanoid robot boards the Andromeda withoutpermission. As the robot learns what it means to be a living being, he begs to become partof Andromeda and escape an oppressive culture of organized machines - the Consensusof Parts.

"Fear & Loathing in the Milky Way" - Episode 117 Still searching for a "big score," Gerentex hijacks the Eureka Maru, taking Harper andTrance hostage. The lost diary of Hasturi is his goal - a find that will bring great fortuneand power. With Reaper, a gruesome and vicious bounty hunter, on their trail, it's aperilous ride!

"The Devil Take the Hindmost" - Episode 118 The Hajira, a primitive race descended from humans, are threatened by brutal slavetraders who want to destroy their peaceful settlement, Serendipity. When Rev Bem gets acall from a Wayist friend in Serendipity, he and Dylan come to their aid and must face amoral dilemma.

Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda Volume 1.4 ($39.98 SRP DVD, $19.98 SRP VHS)contains four complete episodes of the hit series.The DVD edition is presented inAnamorphic Widescreen, and includes the following extras: Character Profile: Rev Bem;Alternate Takes; Image Gallery: Costumes; All Systems University 101: Governments ofthe Systems Commonwealth; Glossary of the High Guard: P - R; TV Promos; Behind theScenes: Alien Make-up; Bloopers; Timeline of the Commonwealth: Conflict & Renewal;Prop & Set Concepts; Production Biography: Jay Firestone and ADV Previews. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Not so good
This show is a pale imitation of other sci fi shows. The episodes in this volume are probably some of the better ones. Of course, that's not saying much. It's a shame that this show continues while good sci fi shows,i.e. Farscape,are cancelled.

Be prepared for disappointment.
The Andromeda DVDs have been somewhat of a disappointment to me, this one, 1.4 more so then the other. The episodes themselves are in wonderful quality and are the main reason I bought the DVD.

However the limited number of episodes on each disk is appalling. And the extras on it, doesn't even come close to making up for the lack of them. The bloopers were short, and were mostly of Kevin Sorbo. The behind the scenes of the alien makeup seemed promising, however was less then five minutes. And then there was the fact that I could never find the commentary for "Fear & Loathing in the Milky Way."

So my advice to you is, if you are truly an Andromeda fan, then this is something for you. But be prepared for disappointment. ... Read more

Description

Volume 1.5 Episodes: "The Honey Offering" - Episode 119 Dylan agrees to transport a beautiful and conceited Nietzschean, Elssbett Mossadim, toher wedding. When the Andromeda is surrounded by warships of an enemy Nietzscheanpride, Elssbett reveals her violent plan of assassination and destruction.

"Star-Crossed" - Episode 120 A passenger ship is destroyed by terrorists, leaving a sole survivor - an android namedGabriel. Rommie is immediately attracted when he's brought on board, and she falls inlove. But soon, Gabriel's true identity is uncovered: he is not a friend and not a survivor,instead he is... the ultimate enemy.

"It Makes a Lovely Light" - Episode 121 Beka puts the crew and the Andromeda in danger by taking the mind-altering drug"Flash" during an exhausting mission to Tarn Vedra, Dylan's lost home. She's an addict,and Dylan must decide how to handle the situation, which grows more desperate by theminute.

"Its Hour Come 'Round at Last" - Episode 122 During routine repairs, Andromeda's memory is wiped out and replaced by an older,backup AI who believes the current crew are intruders. Dylan and the crew can no longercontrol their ship - it now controls them. Suddenly, an attack begins, and thousands ofbloodthirsty Magog are onboard. Is there any way to escape? ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Very solid set that ties pieces together well
I like every episode on this volume, my favorite is a tie between the Flash Episode and the final episoade of the first season. I thought that in the first season the show hit full stride about half way through and contiued on. Star crossed lovers is pretty good also, seeing the more human side to the Rommie character was well done. All things considered, very nicely done and if you like sci fi then you should like the volume. The picture is great, the extras are fine, the menus are very good and the plot can be follwed. However if you have not seen the show before, I would get the first and last volumes of season one so you understand the situation. For all the other Andromeda regulars, you should be please with what you have here. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Peg Bowen helps Felix, but dad comes to take Sarah home
I do not think Lucy Maud Montgomery ever came up with a more maddening creation that Hetty King (Jackie Burroughs), the self-appointed moral judge of the King clan in Avonlea. Aunt Hetty is in the thick of things for both of the first season episodes of "Avonlea" collected on this third of four videos, "Magical Moments":

"The Witch of Avonlea" is Peg Bowen (Susan Cox), who lives in the woods smoking her pipe and doing whatever she wants with no concern for what the good folks of Avonlea think or say. When Felix King (Zachary Bennett) finds himself unable to spell anything during the class spelling bees because he is so afraid of Aunt Hetty, his nightmares convince him she might be a witch. So he goes off to visit Peg, who gives him a "magic" stone. His confidence restored, Felix wins the school spelling bee and moves on to the next level of competition. If you do not know that he is going to lose the magic stone before the contest then you must be totally unfamiliar with the rules of children's fiction. Meanwhile, the dreams of Felicity (Gema Zamprogna) have their own comeuppance, as events take her down a peg at the same time that Felix enjoys his moment in the sun.

The important episode here is "Nothing Endures but Change," which finds that Blair Stanley, Sara's father, has been acquitted of the scandalous embezzlement charges that forced him to send his daughter to live with her mother's relatives on Prince Edward Island. Blair arrives in Avonlea ready to take Sara (Sarah Polley) back to Montreal, at which point everyone of Sara's King relatives absolutely freaks. None, of course, as much as Hetty, who announces she will not give the child up to her father. Hetty has always blamed Blair for not only taking her sister Ruth away but in living a decadent life (of travel) that resulted in her death (she caught tuberculosis at home in Montreal). Hetty also has a few things to say about what appears to be happening between Olivia and Jasper Dale, which only makes you wonder how Alec ever managed to get away from Hetty's all encompassing powers. Sara wants to say goodbye to all her friends and attend the upcoming skating party she has been looking forward to, but her father wants to get out of Avonlea and as far away from Hetty as quickly as possible. Sara cannot abide the thought that two of the people she loves most in the world cannot even talk to each other civilly, and so she hatches up a plan to force their reconciliation. But these two stubborn adults cannot admit for a second that the other cares as much for Sara as they do, which only means that fate is going to have to take a hand to make things right.

For me the chief charm of "Nothing Endures but Change," certainly the loftiest sounding title in the series, is enjoying Hetty King getting her comeuppance a few times. She really is such an intolerant woman for somebody who does so many unforgivable things. However, her redemption is still down the road, coming in the form of Gus Pike. It is in his unflinching admiration and respect, that Hetty King is finally confronted with a true mirror of her life. ... Read more