Amazon Prime Movies

[Orema]

From Amazon.com freelance reviewer, Sam Graham...

It's not hard to see why the History Channel declined to air The Kennedys after members of America's "royal family" objected to the series' more salacious aspects. To be sure, there are plenty of them: drug habits, mobsters, election fixing, enough philandering to shame Tiger Woods, bad behavior ranging from cynical manipulation to outright cruelty… and Marilyn Monroe. But it's not as if these things haven't been covered at length elsewhere. And in any case, this is hardly a documentary; the eight-part miniseries, which spans the years from just before World War II to 1968, has been variously described, including by the filmmakers themselves, as "history through personality" and "a Greek tragedy," with a dose of hagiography added for good measure. The emphasis on the personal approach (commingled with major political events like the Bay of Pigs debacle, the Cuban missile crisis, and the forced integration of the University of Mississippi) is something of a mixed blessing. On the one hand, there's something appealingly juicy about being privy to the private conversations of this very public family; but at the same time, the dialogue created for such scenes is often on the nose ("Men can't say no to me," Monroe says as she tries to seduce Robert Kennedy), melodramatic, and risibly portentous ("I've never been so happy in my life," says Jackie Kennedy to her husband… as Air Force One lands in Dallas on November 22, 1963).

The complete absence of Edward Kennedy--who is never mentioned, let alone seen--is peculiar; sisters Kathleen, Eunice, and Jean are also nowhere to be found. That leaves the primary focus on paterfamilias Joseph Kennedy Sr., wife Rose, sons Jack and Bobby, and Jackie, and the portrayals of these near-mythic characters are among the best ever filmed. Tom Wilkinson plays Joe as a thoroughly ruthless, imperious kingmaker who, after his own and eldest son Joe Jr.'s presidential ambitions are ended (Sr. was fired from his post as British ambassador after disagreeing with President Franklin D. Roosevelt's war policies, while Jr. died in combat), forces the reluctant JFK to enter politics. As Jack, Greg Kinnear beautifully conveys the late president's humor, charisma, and compassion, while Barry Pepper is a revelation as the rebellious but strait-laced and dutiful Bobby, whose principal responsibility seems to be cleaning up after his older brother's many sexual indiscretions (Katie Holmes's long-suffering Jackie is a bit of a cipher, as was the first lady in real life). That these and other performances, including Diana Hardcastle's Rose and Don Allison's Lyndon Johnson, are in the service of material better suited to a soap opera than a serious drama hardly matters; any way you look at it, The Kennedys is compulsively watchable and never less than entertaining.

[Orema]

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/The-Target/dp/B006GLLTL6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408578454&sr=8-1&keywords=the+wire"]Click here to view The Wire at Amazon.com[/ame]



From Wikekpedia: The Wire is an American crime drama television series set and produced in and around Baltimore, Maryland. Created and primarily written by author and former police reporter David Simon, the series was broadcast by the premium cable network HBO in the United States. The Wire premiered on June 2, 2002, and ended on March 9, 2008, comprising 60 episodes over five seasons.

Each season of The Wire introduces a different facet of the city of Baltimore. In chronological order they are: the illegal drug trade, the seaport system, the city government and bureaucracy, the school system, and the print news media. The large cast consists mainly of character actors who are little known for their other roles. Simon has said that despite its presentation as a crime drama, the show is "really about the American city, and about how we live together. It's about how institutions have an effect on individuals. Whether one is a cop, a longshoreman, a drug dealer, a politician, a judge or a lawyer, all are ultimately compromised and must contend with whatever institution to which they are committed."

Despite only receiving average ratings and never winning major television awards, The Wire has been described by many critics as one of the greatest TV dramas of all time. The show is recognized for its realistic portrayal of urban life, its literary ambitions, and its uncommonly deep exploration of social and political themes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wire

Parental discretion is advised.

[Orema]

September 1
"Anastasia"
"Ferngully: The Last Rainforest"
"Hugo"
"Mike the Knight"
"Wild Kratts"
"Every Witch Way"
"Young Sherlock Holmes"
"The Good Wife" Season 5
"An Officer and A Gentleman"
"A Simple Plan"
"Californication" Season 1-7

September 2
"The League" Season 5

September 5
" All is Lost"
"Tumble Leaf" Season 1B

September 8
"Spaceballs"

September 12
"Grace Unplugged"

September 15
"Defiance"
"The Duchess"

September 22
"Blue's Clues" Season 6
"Winx Club: Beyond Believix"
"Broad City" Season 1

September 23
"How I Met Your Mother" Season 9

September 24
"Grimm" Season 3

September 26
"Transparent

September 27
"Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa"

September 30
"Justin Bieber: Never Say Never"
"Degrassi" Season 13

[Orema]

Amazon Prime Instant Video Finally Comes to Android in Amazon Update

Google Link to Amazon App

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-com-Prime-Instant-Video/dp/B00N28818A/ref=pd_rhf_eebr_p_img_1"]Amazon Link to Prime Instant Video App[/ame]

[Orema]

Coming to Amazon Prime in October 2014

[HoldMeSteady]

Almost finished watching all of Alpha House and finished all of Transparent. Both are highly enjoyable.

[SleepyButch]

I am watching the HBO series Rome. I'm just finishing Season 1 and will be on to Season 2. It's actually pretty good if you like Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, Cleopatra, and the Roman empire type stories, which I do.