Planet Earth and the HD Experience

Nature enthusiasts and regular TV watchers alike are all raving about the televised revolution that is Planet Earth. Originally aired in the UK, this entertainment phenomenon, years in the making, has taken America by storm. Imagine the most exciting action sequence you've ever seen on any nature channel and you're not even getting close to envisioning the stunning visual graphics and cinematic excitement that is Planet Earth.

If you didn't have satellite TV or cable when this program first aired, you are truly missing out. This 11-part series was filmed entirely in high definition and spans all of Earth's natural habitats. With the use of 40 cameramen across 200 locations, you will be amazed at the sheer beauty of the rare events that happen across our globe, most of them occurring without our notice...until now. The epic flights of birds heading to warmer climates for the winter. The plight of a hungry polar bear on the hunt for a seal. The psychedelic colors of fish living so far down in the ocean, you never knew they existed. Truly, there is nothing more exciting than watching a shark jump above the ocean to catch a fish mid-air, directly at the camera and in slow motion. All of this on a large screen HD TV, crystal clear the entire time.

The beauty of Planet Earth is its value as an educational resource while remaining a constant source of entertainment. The chase sequences, the fast motion melting of polar ice caps or plant growth in the rain forest, all to a superb soundtrack and seamless transitions. You're learning about the world we live in without even realizing it. Even people who claim to find nature shows boring will find themselves pulling up episodes off their DVRs and watching Planet Earth again and again.

Looking for a good gift idea? Both the BBC version and the American version, narrated by Sigourney Weaver, are available for purchase as a DVD box set. The entire season, available to watch whenever you please. Anyone who receives this gift will have surely heard of this critically acclaimed series, and will truly appreciate such a thoughtful present. Tired of your kids watching the same mind-numbing programming. Want to give them something educational that will keep them glued to their seats? Planet Earth is most certainly your answer. Whether they are learning about hunting habits passed on from mother lion to her cubs or the effects of global warming on Earth's finite resources, your kids are certain to remain entertained for entire episodes and come out having learned more than they realize in the end. You'll never feel guilty about letting them watch TV again, or yourself for that matter!

Whether you are looking to wow guests with stunning footage on your new HD TV, educate your kids, or just spend a couple quality hours by yourself to re-watch your favorite episodes, Planet Earth HD on DVD might be the best purchase you make all year.

Catch Planet Earth in HD on Direct TV. Find out what other top-notch programs you can watch with one of the many Direct TV packages available to you!

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Running With The Firm (2009) - A Light-Hearted View of Cinematic Hooliganism Consumption

Flicking through YouTube a couple of weeks ago, the clever software that makes suggestions on items I may enjoy viewing made the somewhat absurd assumption that I'd be interested in the latest Nick Love offering due out later this year. The Firm (2009). How civilised!

I can still remember the first showing of 'The Firm' on BBC1 back in the early eighties. My only interest in it stemmed from the appearance of Philip Davies as Yeti, leader of a fictitious Millwall mob that specialised in car vandalism and inaccurate football chants that made me giggle childishly throughout. Philip Davies had played a character called Chalkie in 'Quadrophenia' and he was a bit of a hero to me at the time.

The film itself was lousy. It still is. It was on one of those wonderfully insipid TV stations a few months ago and I watched around 20 minutes of it, giggled childishly again and promptly switched over to watch pro-celebrity lawn mowing. It hadn't got any better. I've pretty much forgotten about it until now.

Why Nick Love had decided to carry on riding the wave of footie-thug hysteria was beyond me. Is there really a target audience of young males out there that want to see a fictional re-run of the way their peers used to dress, pull birds and go rucking at the weekend?

I guess there must be. After all, Philip Davies and the rest of the cast of 'Quadrophenia' had enough of an impact on an influential 14 year old that it ultimately led to me wearing uncomfortable suits and a dirty old parka for the next six years.

So are we to expect a rising trend of young men sitting around us at football games with expensive wedged haircuts and Pierre Cardin roll neck sweaters in the very near future? Will we be greeted to new sound bites of football terminology that can be added to the growing list of mugs, strings and being lemon?

Of course we're not!

There will be a definite interest from those who were around at the time and they will doubtlessly enjoy looking back on a misspent youth and a drained wallet that got hammered at Lilywhites once a month. There's also likely to be a bunch of lads who'll go to see it that are sure to undergo a 'wish we were there' experience. A small handful will probably scour eBay for a pair of fawn Farah slacks and a Patrick cagoule.

However, the possibility of seeing multi-coloured armies of young men boarding the nearest Inter-City 125 is as remote as it can possibly be. Although Nick Love's other hoolie-offering, The Football Factory, probably did wonders for the sales of Stone Island jackets, it never really changed much in terms of the amount of trouble we see at football matches.

For my money, I just think kids are slowly but surely getting it right when it comes to spending a Saturday afternoon watching their team play. Meet your mates, have a few drinks, bump in to a few opposing supporters in the pub and swap a bit of harmless banter then watch your team get beat before hitting the town on a Saturday night. It's a bloody good existence that I'd love to be part of in a full capacity. The misses wants me home before dark though. She locks the door on me otherwise.

Prior to the start of shooting his version of The Firm, Nick Love tried to explain his own reasons behind the casual-influenced remake:

"The original Firm was the sole reason I became a film-maker," said Love. "For me, the pull of the casual culture wasn't so much the violence. It was the music, the clothes, the clubs and girls, the swagger and confidence everyone embodied. That's how I see my version of the movie".

Thank God for that! And there was me thinking he was only in it for the money!

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Catch the Best All-Time Movie Remakes on Satellite TV

Why fix something that isn't broken? That, at the very least, seems to be the Hollywood mantra when it comes to remaking classic movies. Everyone likes a movie more when it comes in high definition with high tech special effects, right? Now that the remake revolution has begun, many viewers enjoy catching both the old and the new on satellite TV. The trick can be knowing which are the very best of the remakes, and for which you might be better off just renting the original. In order to best get started, sit down with your satellite TV, and look for these great "new classics," and of course many more in HD.

1. The Italian Job (2003). With the original film starring famous actor Michael Caine in his younger days, this action-packed remake features lots of excitement, gritty style, and lots of celebrities like Mark Wahlberg, Edward Norton, Donald Sutherland and Charlize Theron, just to name a few. For anyone who has ever been stuck in a Los Angeles traffic jam, wanted to take a spin in a Mini Cooper, or just plain enjoyed an action movie, this is likely a top choice for your satellite TV movie night in.

2. The Bourne Identity (2002). Many may not know that this insanely popular Matt Damon movie and its follow-ups are actually derived from a 1988 television miniseries. Try to catch the miniseries on classic satellite TV channels, and then watch the new adaptation on prime movie channels. Haven't gotten enough Bourne quite yet? Stay tuned for follow up movies the Bourne Supremacy, and the Bourne Ultimatum.

3. The Ring (2002). Nobody does horror quite like the Japanese, and Hollywood pays homage with well done (in some cases) remakes starring big name actors and actresses, and top visual effects. For a real thriller and a great scare, watch the Ring with Naomi Watts and Martin Henderson try to writhe their way out of the deadly grip of a cursed child. For even more of a frightening night, try pairing the Ring remake with a satellite TV marathon of other Japanese horror classics, maybe even the original!

4. Ocean's Eleven (2001). It's hard to meet the magic of a Rat Pack classic, especially with Frank Sinatra in the title role of Danny Ocean, but some of today's top talent and top looking leading men pull it off in this highly successful remake. When an ex-con decides to take on Vegas he needs a motley crew of all-star actors to help him out. Find yourself rooting for the "bad guy" in this exciting remake.

5. Casino Royale (2006). The original was a little too light and goofy for the average, thick-skinned bond man, so when the second screen adaptation of the classic Ian Fleming 007 novel came to theaters, the public was properly impressed. Gritty and hard, this movie brought life back into the Bond franchise, and gave a whole new generation a sense of ownership over the colorful character and his daring escapades.

Catch all the best shows, movies, music and more with Direct TV HD. Take advantage of great Direct TV business packages today, and have all the best channels for all your work, rest and play.

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Edward Lifesize Standup - The Ultimate Must Have For Twilight Fans

If you are a diehard Twilight fan, chances are you own all sorts of merchandise and memorabilia from the Twilight saga - from t-shirts to posters and of course the latest DVD of the franchise. But here is one thing you probably don't have yet... an lifesize Edward standup, the ultimate must-have for "Team Edward" fans.

What is a Lifesize Standup?

A lifesize cardboard standup is an actual real size cutout, typically made from cardboard, of a celebrity, cartoon character, or other recognizable figure. Sometimes called standees or just cardboard cutouts, they usually stand between five and six feet tall and have a built-in easel stand in the back so they can remain upright. Standups are ideal for parties, theater props, corporate events, photo ops, as collectibles, or for your own personal enjoyment.

The Edward Lifesize Standup

With the popularity of the Twilight saga soaring, merchandise from the books and film franchise have become immensely popular as well among fans of the series. Standups of the film's leading characters, including Bella, Jacob, and Edward, are the latest must-have merchandise for die hard Twilight fans. Twilight lifesize standups can be used at Twilight-themed parties or for your own use (what Edward lover and Twilight fanatic wouldn't want the dreamy vampire standing guard in their room?).

Where to Find the Edward Lifesize Standup?

As mentioned previously, the popularity of Twilight and parties held solely in its honor has skyrocketed and subsequently, Edward lifesize standups (along with other characters) can be found at most party supply stores that carry other Twilight merchandise and supplies. If they don't have one in stock, inquire about placing an order for one. If local party stores don't have any in stock, you may have better luck searching online party stores; they often have bigger selections and harder-to-find items than brick-and-mortar stores.

Our Twilight lifesize standups are always offered at everyday low prices. Come and see them today. Low shipping, and low prices all the time everyday. Make sure to check out our other standups as well!

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Science Fiction Classics Start Here

Science fiction has long been a favorite subject of Hollywood film makers. Great science fiction movies were being made as early as the 1930s and have provided a solid foundation for modern day science fiction. Let's take a closer look at just a few of these Hollywood Science Fiction Classics.

The Invisible Man was released in 1933 and was directed by James Whale. Based on the H.G. Wells novel of the same name, it tells the story of scientist Dr. Jack Griffin who has invented a serum that makes him completely invisible. However, the serum comes with the terrible side effect of gradually driving its user insane. Under its influence, Dr. Griffin robs and kills a number of people. A very creepy film that starts out with a good deal of humor, but settles in to become deadly serious. The film features convincing special effects for a movie produced in the 1930s.

One of my favorite science fiction classics is Forbidden Planet, directed by Fred M. Wilcox. Released in 1956, this is perhaps the most highly regarded sci-fi film of the 1950s. It tells the story of Dr. Edward Morbius and his daughter Altaira who are the last two remaining survivors of a colonization attempt on the planet Altair-4. It is the year 2200 and a group of scientists on a space mission from Earth have just landed in search of Dr. Morbius and the previous missions crew. They find Dr. Morbius to be somewhat unreceptive to their arrival, as he wishes to remain isolated in order to continue his work studying the numerous remains of a once-flourishing society of Krell which is now extinct. Using Krell technology, Morbius is able to greatly increase his IQ, and in doing so has brought to life a mysterious creature through his own subconscious mind. This is classic 1950s Sci-fi, and introduced what is probably the most popular robot of all-time - Robbie the robot.

Last, but certainly not least, we have War Of The Worlds, based on another H.G. Wells novel of the same name. This spectacular movie was released in 1953 and featured breath-taking special effects that were rewarded with an Oscar. The plot revolves around a meteor crashing near a small town in the California Mountains. However, this is something more than just a meteor with many more having landed around the globe. These meteors are carrying Martians with the intention of destroying the unsuspecting human population. Seemingly unstoppable, they begin to destroy the major cities of the world. All manor of defense, including the Atomic Bomb, are tried without success. Can anything stop this Martian invasion? Easily one of the greatest science fiction movies of the 1950s.

It was classic science fiction movies like these that helped kick start a whole new genre of films that capture our imagination to this day.

Carl DiNello is an Article Author and Blog Owner whose passion is Hollywood history and those movies from the 1920's - 1950's that make up this rich history.

Hollywood Movie Memories... Movies to Remember and Discover!

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Top Movies With Lesbian Or Bisexual Themes to Watch

Seems that it's easy to joke about the quality of films catering to lesbian and bisexual female audiences. Movie lovers may roll their eyes when you mention interest in renting "Claire of the Moon," for example, since critics in the know tend to dismiss it as one to watch. While films with gay and lesbian themes are slowly coming into the mainstream (albeit more through independent companies than the big studios), you can still find some gems in your online rental account if you know where to look. Here are a few suggested tales for your next movie night with the girls.

Desert Hearts: Considered a classic in gay cinema, this beautifully filmed story is set in the late 50s in Nevada. A proper college professor comes to established residence long enough to obtain a quickie divorce and becomes attracted to a brash casino worker. Performances are heartfelt and the story is tastefully done, with an ending that, while ambiguous, seems to satisfy.

The Hunger: A good example of an A-list film with bisexual themes, this chilling horror story features one of the hottest love scenes between two women captured on film. Catherine Deneuve is a vampire who literally sucks the life out of others to maintain her youth. When a specialist in aging research (Susan Sarandon) discovers a patient (and one of Deneuve's victims) rapidly growing old in her waiting room, she is determined to learn the cause. As a result she herself is seduced by Deneuve's charms. The twist ending makes this a must-see!

It's in the Water: An indie film with a growing following, this is a small-town comedy-drama focusing on the power of words, and perhaps suggestion. When a local gay man jokes that the town's water system has turned him homosexual, it sets forth an alarming and sometimes hilarious mass reaction. In the midst of this, a woman comes to terms with her sexual feelings, even researching a number of noted lesbian-themed movies in the process!

So get yourself a bowl of popcorn and turn the lights low. These are just three movies anybody interested in lesbian film will enjoy.

Nenah Drewry writes about lesbian and bisexual issues, including online lesbian dating and dating bisexual women.

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