Hero

Starring:Jet Li, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Maggie Cheung, Ziyi Zhang, Daoming Chen, Donnie Yen, Liu Zhong Yuan, Zheng Tia Yong, Yan Qin, Chang Xiao Yang, Zhang Ya Kun, Ma Wen Hua, Jin Ming, Xu Kuang Hua, Wang Shou Xin, Hei Zi, Cao Hua, Li Lei, Xia Bin, Peng Qiang, Zhang Yimou
Director: Yimou Zhang
Studio: Miramax
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com essential video

Not an ideal choice for younger kids, this hip and violent animated feature from Disney was nevertheless a huge smash in theaters and on video, and it continues to enjoy life in an acclaimed Broadway production. The story finds a lion cub, son of a king, sent into exile after his father is sabotaged by a rivalrous uncle. The little hero finds his way into the "circle of life" with some new friends and eventually comes back to reclaim his proper place. Characters are very strong, vocal performances by the likes of Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, and Whoopi Goldberg are terrific, the jokes are aimed as much (if not more) at adults than kids, the animation is sometimes breathtaking, and the music is more palatable than in many Disney features. But be cautious: this is too intense for the Rugrat crowd. --Tom Keogh

How good-looking is the DVD restoration of Disney's popular animated film? Take a look at the serviceable but dull film clips incorporated in the plethora of extras and compare them to the vivid gorgeousness of the film presentation. This "special edition" also adds a 90-second song ("Morning Report") that originated in the lavish stage musical. To Disney's credit, the original theatrical version is also included, both restored and featuring two 5.1 soundtracks: Dolby Digital and a new Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mix, which does sound brighter. As with the Disney Platinum line, everything is thrown into the discs, except an outsider's voice (the rah-rahs of Disney grow tiresome at times). The excellent commentary from the directors and producer, originally on the laser disc, is hidden under the audio set-up menu.

The second disc is organized by 20-minute-ish "journeys" tackling the elements of story, music, et cetera, including good background on the awkward Shakespearean origins at Disney where it was referred as "Bamlet." The most interesting journey follows the landmark stage production, and the kids should be transfixed by shots of the real African wildlife in the animal journey. Three deleted segments are real curios, including an opening lyric for "Hakuna Matata." Most set-top DVD games are usually pretty thin (DVD-ROM is where it's at), but the Safari game is an exception--the kids should love the roaring animals (in 5.1 Surround, no less). One serious demerit goes to the needless and complicated second navigation system that is listed by continent, but just shows the same features reordered. --Doug Thomas

Description

Disney's THE LION KING SPECIAL EDITION features an all-new song, "Morning Report," and never-before-seen animation, giving you even more of this award-winning masterpiece -- the greatest animated adventure of all time. An unforgettable story, breathtaking animation, beloved characters, and Academy Award(R)-winning music (Best Original Score, 1994; Best Song, "Can You Feel The Love Tonight") set the stage for the adventures of Simba, the feisty lion cub who "just can't wait to be king." But his envious Uncle Scar has plans for his own ascent to the throne, and he forces Simba's exile from the kingdom. Alone and adrift, Simba soon joins the escapades of a hilarious meerkat named Timon and his warmhearted warthog pal, Pumbaa. Adopting their carefree lifestyle of "Hakuna Matata," Simba ignores his real responsibilities until he realizes his destiny and returns to the Pride Lands to claim his place in the "Circle of Life." Now extensively restored and remastered -- experience THE LION KING like never before, from its magnificent musical opening over breathtaking African vistas to its emotional climax. The all-star vocal talents -- including Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, and Ernie Sabella -- rip-roaring comedy, and uplifting messages of courage, loyalty, and hope make this timeless tale entertainment for all ages.

Customer Reviews:

A must have for any youngster's library.......2007-07-03

This classic story is filled with important life lessons presented with appropriate viewer language. My kids have been introduced to how all life is connected on this planet. It is a great resource for kids to associate how life works between species. The family story is also important. All of this packaged with great songs and enchanting performances from the actors.

the lion king.......2007-05-21

propably one of the best animated motion pictures ever. I hated the addition of the new song, but I believe that was directed towards the younger audiences. Many extras, most i liked to watch

A great Disney movie, for kids AND adults!.......2007-05-12

This is a great story and it's told with very good music intertwined with the dialogue. "The Lion King" and other Disney animated films are good entertainment keeping me occupied on my daily treadmill walks. I find that I enjoy them as much as I did when I was a child.

Excellent Family movie!!.......2007-05-09

I have a 6 and a 2 year old. They love this movie. I've been looking all over trying to locate it for our movie library. The quality of this movie is awesome. The sound effects are great. I notice they've added a few more songs to the movie since it was first viewed in 1994. I was pleased to see that my two year old was not afraid of the hyenas. He thinks that scar is mean. Moreover, he insist on watching it every weekend.

One Feature Length Advertisement In A Series Of Feature Length Advertisements.......2007-04-15

The problem with this movie is the same problem I see in 90% of movies released by Disney. Although I seem to be the only person to notice this, most Disney movies are a beginning and an end with little to no substance in the middle. In this film for instance, Simba is your normal curious, happy and mischevious child just of course, he's a lion who is next in line to become the next king. His father is thrown off the side of a mountain killing him which causes Simba's problem. Led to believe he is the cause he runs into exile. Good way to start an animated Children's movie I think. About 7-10 minutes later he's grown and on his way to reclaim his place. Where the depth of the story should be is put into a short montage instead of showing his feelings and growing up and when he accepts his reponsability you never fully get a feeling of how hard it is for him. And how easily convinced he is to come back is lame in it self. Timone and Pumba are good characters to have an mixed with The Hiena's(however you spell that) make for really funny characters. But the story as most Disney movies sucks and is really just recycled from every other Disney movie. With exception of the Pirates Of The Carribean movies the company really has done nothing I see should give it half the hype it gets. And on a quick side note. Am I the only one who feels like Disney only spits out these movies to create the endless stream of merchindise that makes the weakest of characers a god in the Disney world. I mean, you can buy an action figure of the midget in the Pirate movies and making Snot Rod who appears in Cars for like 1.5 minutes in like 5 diffent toy car forms that I've seen. Disney Movies in General are nothing more than 85 minute long comercials for a slew of cloths, toys and other worthless collectables. The whole reason the Pirates of The Carribean was ever conceived was to advertise a a ride within Disney World. You can say movies like Dogma, Scarface and The Exorcist are evil. But none try to draw your worship and aww harder than Disney. In other words Disney is the real Devil and Watching Disney movies will damn you to HELL!!!-haha. (for real. watch if you want. but if people gonna dog my taste for being more racey I'm gonna spend that judgemental pendelum around and let you think about what could truly be a sin against God. Remember the 1st Commandment and see if Disney isn't trying to go against it with the way it attempts to pound these characters into your and your kid's head so much that it;s as if these movies, merchindise and mouse ears are the worlds greatest gifts to mankind as if Mickey Mouse is Jesus Christ himself reincarnated as a dirty f**kin' rat)

Average customer rating:

Thrilling
Should be a classic
Faith and freedom
Classic
A Great Hero Story

Braveheart
Starring: Alun Armstrong , Stephen Billington , Mhairi Calvey , James Cosmo , and Brian Cox
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Accessories:

Rob Roy
Braveheart
Man Without a Face
Braveheart: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Braveheart (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B00003CX95
Release Date: 2000-08-29

Amazon.com essential video

Mel Gibson's Oscar-winning 1995 Braveheart is an impassioned epic about William Wallace, the 13th-century Scottish leader of a popular revolt against England's tyrannical Edward I (Patrick McGoohan). Gibson cannily plays Wallace as a man trying to stay out of history's way until events force his hand, an attribute that instantly resonates with several of the actor's best-known roles, especially Mad Max. The subsequent camaraderie and courage Wallace shares in the field with fellow warriors is pure enough and inspiring enough to bring envy to a viewer, and even as things go wrong for Wallace in the second half, the film does not easily cave in to a somber tone. One of the most impressive elements is the originality with which Gibson films battle scenes, featuring hundreds of extras wielding medieval weapons. After Eisenstein's Alexander Nevsky, Orson Welles's Chimes at Midnight, and even Kenneth Branagh's Henry V, you might think there is little new that could be done in creating scenes of ancient combat; yet Gibson does it. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Thrilling.......2007-06-11

How do you know that a movie is good? When you watch it over 1o times and get the same feeling as you did when you first watched it. This is definately thrilling ,none other like this. Mel Gibson is at his best in this movie.

Should be a classic.......2007-06-10

Twelve years and this film still holds up remarkably well. Mel Gibson, in my humble opinion, is a wonderful filmmaker. I remember being blown away in the theatre at what he was able to pull off. Seems the Mad Max films taught Gibson well. There are definite paralles to Wallace and Max. The fight for freedom is always a good fight and despite the gory end, Wallace was truely victorious. Highly recommended.

Faith and freedom.......2007-05-22

Braveheart is obviously a great movie, evidenced by the reviews you can read here.

As I watched it with my son last week, I was struck by the role that faith plays in the story. In the opening scenes, Longshanks is described as a pagan king. Several characters pray and engage in other solemn religious rituals. Steven the Irish even has conversations with the Almighty, and believes he was sent by Him to protect Wallace. And Wallace believes that too. Before Wallace's torture, he prays that God will allow him to die well. His prayer is answered.

I reflected that this has been a theme in several projects that Gibson has been associated with. Patriot, We Were Soldiers, Signs, The Passion of the Christ.

I like most of the movies I've seen Mel in. This one is no exception.

Classic.......2007-05-12

This movie is phenominal. The story, music, and cinematography are all amazing. If you love medeival times, this is a great pick. It is gorry, but it represents war in that day very well.

A Great Hero Story.......2007-04-28

A Great Hero Story

In this life, the "good guys" very, very seldom win.

But by the Grace of the LORD Most High God, let them Die Well.

*****************

My only other comment would be, "Never let History get in the way of a good story."

The Wild Bunch - The Original Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Bloody eye candy
The Wild Bunch
It's all been done before.
Not As Advertised-
Much more than just a violent film...

The Wild Bunch - The Original Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Alfonso Arau , Ernest Borgnine , Elsa Cárdenas , Albert Dekker , and Emilio Fernández
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000BT96CS
Release Date: 2006-01-10

Amazon.com essential video

One of the best action movies ever made, in a cleaned-up print restoring crucial parts of the story. No cavalry ever rode in with more epochal impact than the Wild Bunch in the legendary opening scene. Their steel-eyed leader, Pike (William Holden), and his robbers in stolen army uniforms help an old lady across the street, and then spark a massacre led by Pike's old crony Thornton (Robert Ryan), sprung from jail to hunt down his old gang. In just a few minutes, Sam Peckinpah sets the scene--a dusty Texas town in 1913--sketches a dozen vividly individualized characters, and choreographs one of the most realistic, influential, brilliantly photographed shootouts under the pitiless sun. The cast is superb (even Ernest Borgnine!), the dialog crackling, the bitterly ambiguous moral of the story hard-earned. It's the deeper, dark flip side to 1969's Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Consider buying the letterbox Wild Bunch, the review collection Doing It Right, and the Peckinpah bio "If They Move... Kill 'Em!" --Tim Appelo

Description

Outlaws on the Mexican-U.S. frontier face the march of progress, the Mexican army and a gang of bounty hunters led by a former member while they plan a robbery of a U.S. army train. No one is innocent in this gritty tale of of desperation against changing times. Pump shotguns, machine guns and automobiles mix with horses and winchesters in this ultraviolent western.

Customer Reviews:

Bloody eye candy.......2007-07-03

This bloody extravaganza made Sam Peckinpah's reputation. A kind of fantasy of machismo set along the Texas-Mexico border around 1913--yes, very late for a Western--The Wild Bunch has thrilled adolescent boys and twentysomethings for almost four decades. The slowmo shots of horses falling awkwardly, of bodies squirting blood as they fall off of roof tops or cliffs, of tough hombres talking tough while they grab loose women and bottles of booze replete with numerous other bits of acrobatic mayhem amid some fantastic scenery makes this a non-cerebral feast for the eyes. The stars, William Holden (Pike Bishop), Ernest Borgnine (Dutch Engstrom), Robert Ryan (Deke Thornton), Edmund O'Brien (Freddie Sykes), etc. are first rate and on form. The plot is a variant of the old "one last job" story which begins with Pike's not-quite over-the-hill gang doing one last bank robbery.

Needless to say something goes wrong. Interspersed between the opening credits we see Pike's gang ride into town dressed as members of the US Army Calvary. On roof tops are some rascals and scallywags with rifles, missing teeth, and murderous gleams in their eyes. They are led by Deke Thornton, who it turns out is working for the railroad. What follows is a good old fashioned shoot 'em up of rather unlikely proportions as Pike's gang exists the bank with bags of loot, dodging and slinging bullets with abandon.

Turns out...well, no I won't say because I don't want to spoil the surprise. Suffice it to say, they need to do another job, this one a good old-fashioned train robbery with a few tricks and extras, like blowing up a bridge and running a locomotive at full throttle backwards. And then across the border into Mexico and some fun and games with Mexican generals, senoritas, banditos and such.

Been there, done that. But Peckinpah's colorful yarn has a few things you might not have seen before, and some of those things that you have seen, he did first and better. The Mexican color with a lot of authentic-looking extras doing authentic-looking Mexican activities was good. The fact that the Spanish spoken was not translated (and didn't need to be translated) was good. General Mapache (Emilio Fernandez) as the drunken, power-hungry warlord bandito was good. The kids feeding scorpions to the ants and then burning them was good. Edmund O'Brien as a degenerate Gabby Hayes kind of character was a hoot and a holler. But mostly this was about grim-faced men, toughened by long hours in saddle under the hot sun who, after decades of outlawing, finally ride gloriously into that last battle. Next stop: boot hill.

I watched the "original director's cut" that runs 145 minutes. At no time was my brain involved, but my eyes couldn't stop watching.

The Wild Bunch.......2007-07-02

Maverick director Sam Peckinpah released this blood-soaked western ballet in 1969, at the height of the Vietnam War, igniting protests over his graphic depiction of violence. Yet some images, like the opening sequence of children watching a nest of fire ants attack a scorpion, have a cruel poetic force. Boasting a powerhouse veteran cast and virtually non-stop action, this mesmerizing film is not for the squeamish, but fans of pure western action and gunplay should cherish this pounding, hard-edged film.

It's all been done before........2007-05-27

The Wild Bunch (Sam Peckinpah, 1969)

I will readily admit that my confusion over the prominence of The Wild Bunch in the annals of film criticism probably stems from my having bought into the hype. When I hear people wax poetic about the movie, one thing always comes to the surface sooner or later--the previously unheard-of level of violence in the movie. Here I was expecting something... different; even the tamest giallo lords it over The Wild Bunch in terms of violence. Mario Bava was doing it years before. What makes Peckinpah's opus so special? Not the violence.

The other thing that seems to come up often is that Peckinpah's version of the west is decidedly different than that which had been offered before, but again I head back to Italy, and this time flog the dead horse of Sergio Leone, whose westerns were riddled with grey areas long before this.

Okay, so Peckinpah was the first guy to do it in America. And it got John Wayne pretty mad. (But, really, he was already mad at Clint Eastwood for the Leone movies.) But from every other standpoint--plot, characters, pacing, cinematography, direction--Peckinpah has done better. (The pinnacle came three years later with Straw Dogs.) It's not bad, but don't go into it expecting one of the greatest films of all time, or you're bound to be disappointed. ***

Not As Advertised-.......2007-04-20

For the third time in 10 years, I have purchased another copy of "The Wild Bunch". And for the third time in 10 years, I have been utterly disappointed. I don't know what all of these other reviewers watched in 1969, but what I watched was a much, much wilder bunch with much more grusome footage at the old Majestic Theater in downtown Dallas. Someone, apparently do gooders, had the film cut back to the bland piece of work that you see in this DVD. Someone should sue Warner Bros. for false advertising. I am still looking for the original film and would pay good money for it, if it even still exists. In the killings in the original film the bodies struck by bullets, immediately went to slow motion as a stream of blood shot from the bullet hole in the beginning murderous scene. There is only one brief shot of this type and the rest, a least a couple of dozen were cut out and are still cut out. Save your money, if you think your getting the original.

Much more than just a violent film..........2007-04-06

This is one of the greatest Westerns ever made. Most people talk about its violence level. The violence here is incredible, and it's still strong and potent today. It shocked the living hell out of everyone back in 1969. It made some people vomit because it was so intense. However, while I do like the shootouts of this film, it's the depth that the characters have that really make this film stand out for me. Some of the speeches Pike gives are quite good, stressing that you stand by a man, and if you don't, you're like some animal, you're finished. Pike and the Bunch lived by these words, and in the end, they died by these words. They lived in a time where your word and your honor meant something, and you lived by a certain code that you tried to stay true to. Nowadays, this kind of message is seen as old fashioned and made fun of mercilessly. It shouldn't be. Despite the Bunch being criminals, they retain their sense of dignity at the end. Even Robert Ryan, Pike's former friend who is now chasing the Bunch, has a dignity as well, keeping his word to the bastard railroad men. But when he's finished with the posse, he stays in Mexico with the locals instead of returning to the US. You don't hate Ryan for what he's doing, and Pike doesn't hate him either. They each just want to live, and they got a job to do. The ending is one of the more poignant and brutal endings ever filmed. The Bunch got their bounty, and are whooping it up with the local whores. Angel had made a deal with them to keep one case of guns for his village, and they agreed. They told the general Mapache that they lost it on the trail. Mapache didn't believe them and accused Angel of stealing it, so the Bunch let him keep it. While the Bunch are drinking and partying, they stop and realise what they have to do. They go back and rescue Angel, not because they have to, but because they need to. They didn't want to abandon their friend. They probably knew they would be killed, and they didn't give a damn about it. I find this extraordinarily moving and quite powerful. After a decade of smug "irony", things like dignity and honor are punchlines. I don't think they are, and I never will. I really like the message of brotherhood and honor here, and I think this is a masterpiece....

Average customer rating:

Propaganda done nicely
Hero with Jet Li
An incredible film
Liked But Didn't Love...
'Rashomon' + 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' = 'Hero'

Hero
Starring: Jet Li , Tony Leung Chiu Wai , Maggie Cheung , Ziyi Zhang , and Daoming Chen
Director: Yimou Zhang
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00030590I
Release Date: 2004-11-30

Description

Master filmmaker Quentin Tarantino presents HERO -- starring martial arts legend Jet Li in a visually stunning martial arts epic where a fearless warrior rises up to defy an empire and unite a nation! With supernatural skill ... and no fear ... a nameless soldier (Jet Li) embarks on a mission of revenge against the fearsome army that massacred his people. Now, to achieve the justice he seeks, he must take on the empire's most ruthless assassins and reach the enemy he has sworn to defeat! Acclaimed by critics and honored with numerous awards, HERO was nominated for both an Oscar® (2002 Best Foreign Language Film)and Golden Globe!

Customer Reviews:

Propaganda done nicely.......2007-06-22

When ordering House of Flying Daggers/Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon I got a recommendation for this film and as the majority of the comments I read were quite favourable, I decided to give it a try. I'm not absolutely dissatisfied with the film as I did like the dresses, colour design, and the visual harmony, however the message of the film, and the whole plot is subordinate to it, is completely unacceptable to me.

The film puts the empire ideal on pedestal, which I know is fashionable nowadays even in wealthy democracies, but we have to see that this film is a clear answer to criticisms about the Tianmen square massacre and the cruel oppression of Tibet. The choice of warring kingdoms versus one big peaceful empire is itself a misrepresentation as it neglected the third most obvious possibility: making peace, which I must agree might not have been an option 2000 years ago at the birth of the Chinese Empire but should be now.

All in all, the film is watchable, not because of its intellectual level, which could hardly be lower, but because it is just beautiful, the actors and actresses look marvellous in their garbs the colours and styles of which always perfectly match (or harmonise with) the set and the background.

Hero with Jet Li.......2007-06-08

Great movie, a classic for all times, done with exceptional grace and style. The story, direction, talent, and cinematography are top notch; a must for any Jet Li fan or fan or martial arts films.

An incredible film.......2007-06-04

The first time I saw this movie I wasn't sure whether or not I thought it was as good as "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", or "House of Flying Daggers". I liked it but it took time to sink in.

By the second time I watched this I loved it. The cinematography is outstanding. The use of special effects are very good, they don't get in the way, but simply add to each scene. The music is good. And the story itself is told in an interesting way.

There is much more, there is a metaphoric use of colors in each scene. And there are plenty of impressive things from warriors so powerful they do battle within their minds, to a wise character named Broken Sword, who fights with just that. All of them have names except the main character, Nameless. And when watching the movie you will understand why.

If the movie has any weakness in my opinion it's that the ending with a couple of the characters is just a bit drawn out and could have been shortened and still retained the same effect.

There is a lot more, but really everyone who likes movies should watch this and see for themself.

Liked But Didn't Love..........2007-05-28

Although I enjoyed this film way better than "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," I didn't enjoy it as much as "House of the Flying Daggers." I'm not a big fan of the far-fetched fighting sequences. I can go along with them to a point, but I can't not question how someone can fight off thousands of arrows with just the long sleeves of their outfit and not only survive, but without a scratch basically too. All that aside, I enjoyed the multiple versions told of one story. And the imagery was really beautiful at times.

'Rashomon' + 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' = 'Hero'.......2007-05-22

The film takes place 2,000 years ago when China was split into seven feudal kingdoms. The tyrannical but shrewd and insightful King of Qin (Chen Dao Ming) who wants to unite seven kingdoms in one powerful country, is the target of three legendary assassins: Sky (Donnie Yen), Flying Snow (Maggie Cheung) and Broken Sword (Tony Leung), accompanied by Moon (Zhang Ziyi), his devoted servant. The titular Hero, the man without the name (Jet Li), who defeated the assassins, receives as an award a unique private audience with the King of Qin in his Royal Palace...

I believe that this is an amazing film which has everything working perfectly: great story which is told in the manner of Kurosawa's Rashômon, romance, action (and what the action it is...), political intrigue, suspense, fantasy - and if this is not enough, 'Hero' is one of the most visually stunning films I've ever seen - Christopher Doyle's cinematography, jaw - dropping use of colors, costume design, Tan Dun's musical score, and artfully choreographed fighting sequences leave you breathless.

Don Knotts 4 Movie Reluctant Hero Pack (The Ghost And Mr. Chicken / The Reluctant Astronaut / The Shakiest Gun In The West / The Love God?)

Average customer rating:

The Ghost and Mr. Chicken
Good Ole Humor
The Ghost and Mr Chicken
An Era sadly gone...
Great movies!

Don Knotts 4 Movie Reluctant Hero Pack (The Ghost And Mr. Chicken / The Reluctant Astronaut / The Shakiest Gun In The West / The Love God?)
Starring: Don Knotts , Liam Redmond , Dick Sargent , Skip Homeier , and Reta Shaw
Director: Alan Rafkin , and Edward Montagne
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00023P4JM
Release Date: 2004-07-06

Description

He's one of the most popular and admired funnymen of all time, a master of comic timing and physical humor. Now four of the classic films starring the delightful Don Knotts are available on DVD for the first time in this fun-filled collector's set.

After catapulting to national fame as the often impossible but ever lovable Deputy Barney Fife on TV's The Andy Griffith Show, Knotts set out to conquer the silver screen in a series of unforgettable feature films. Now four of these hilarious farces are brought together in this amazing collection that keeps the laughs coming.

Customer Reviews:

The Ghost and Mr. Chicken.......2007-05-22

I consider The Ghost and Mr. Chicken to be one of the funniest movies ever made. It is Don Knotts at his best.

Good Ole Humor.......2007-05-17

If you like good ole humor, than these dvds are for you. I remember watching Don Knotts as a kid growing up in the 70's. It refreshing to sit back and watch good and clean humor. Don Knotts and Tim Conway movies are classics.

The Ghost and Mr Chicken.......2007-05-14

You will be very happy with yourself for purchasing this DVD, I know I have been. Watching these movies brought back so many childhood memories. my brothers,sisters and I watched the ghost and mr chicken every time it was on TV. Now that I own this DVD I can watch it whenever I like. It's a GREAT DVD!!!!!!

An Era sadly gone..........2007-04-22

But you can relive it (a much more innocent time) in this set of DVD's. Oh, yeah these would seem hoplessly HOKEY to a modern viewer and to those of us old enough to have seen these when they first come out..but let's just say there a gulity pleasure and leave it at that. A must for any fan of Don.

Great movies!.......2007-04-09

Don Knotts is the best and these are a great deal and excellent quality. We have enjoyed them very much!!

Average customer rating:

Good Family entertainment
a fun family film
Great family film!!!
Surprised by this movie...
If ya like baseball ...you'll love this film!

Everyone's Hero
Starring: William H. Macy , Rob Reiner , Brian Dennehy , Raven (VII) , and Robert Wagner
Director: Dan St. Pierre , Christopher Reeve , and Colin Brady
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000MNOX9E
Release Date: 2007-03-20

Amazon.com

A talking baseball and a talking bat might not be the most likely characters to inspire a personal revelation about perseverance and self-esteem, but in Everyone's Hero it's just those two things that help young Yankee Irving (Jake T. Austin) overcome his reputation as a baseball loser and become a true American hero. A ten-year old spurned by the neighborhood kids because of his repeated strike-outs at bat, Yankee is at a point of personal crisis. A chance encounter with a talking foul ball named Screwie (Rob Reiner) and some time spent with his father (Mandy Patinkin), who's a janitor for the New York Yankees, gives Yankee cause for some serious reflection. When Babe Ruth's famous bat "Darlin'" (Whoopi Goldberg) is stolen by opposing teammate Lefty Maginnis (William H. Macy) and Yankee's father is fired as a result of the theft, it suddenly falls to Yankee and his new friend Screwie to find Darlin' and return her to Babe Ruth before the Chicago Cubs loose the final game of the World Series to the New York Yankees. The combined efforts of Screwie, Darlin', and new friend Marti Brewster (Raven-Symoné) aid Yankee in conquering his own self-doubt and infuse him with the self-confidence and strength to profoundly affect both his family and the entire baseball world. Produced by Christopher Reeve, this CGI animated presentation features a great cast of characters and voice talent, and an important message about the power of perseverance. (Ages 5 and older) --Tami Horiuchi

Beyond Everyone's Hero

Everyone's Hero: The Movie Storybook (Paperback)
More Sports-Themed Family Films

Nothing is Impossible: Reflections on a New Life by Christopher Reeve

Stills from Everyone's Hero

Description

Ten-year-old baseball fanatic Yankee Irving (voiced by newcomer Jake T. Austin) is always the last one picked for sandlot baseball games. But when Babe Ruth's prized bat is stolen during the 1932 World Series, Yankee steps up to the plate to help retrieve it for his beloved idol. He embarks on a wild cross-country journey that teaches him the stuff real heroes are made of, and along the way, Yankee learns the importance of perseverance and the true meaning of friendship.

Customer Reviews:

Good Family entertainment.......2007-07-03

It seems that almost all the "Family" movies put out these days have a 'PG' rating which means you still have to censor it for small children. My wife is a kindergarten teacher and is always looking for actual 'G' rated films that she can show in class without getting complaints from parents or the movie being b-grade, straight to DVD, crap. This movie isn't a blockbuster, but it's very entertaining and safe for everyone. I even laughed out loud at several parts so it can appeal to the whole family. It's a great movie to have in your collection that you don't have to worry about your kids learning bad things from.

a fun family film.......2007-07-03

my oppinion: Everyone's Hero is an outstanding movie and is to be enjoyed by everyone of all ages.

About The film: Everyone's Hero is about a boy's father who is fired by yankee statium because the great babe ruth's bat was stolen on his shift now Yankee the boy goes out to find the thief and redem his fathers name and on the way he runs into a talking baseball and bat who help him out.

This movie was directed produced by the great christopher reeves and his wife. this movie is awesome.

if you liked this movie check out the soundtrack

Great family film!!!.......2007-07-02

A film worth seeing. I especially loved Christopher and Dana's loyal friend Robin Williams whose voice is used for the envious team owner of the Chicago Cubs, Napoleon Cross. Robin at his request is not credited for the role.

Surprised by this movie..........2007-06-10

It was a lot better than I expected. I hadn't seen this at the theater, but my children really loved this. Though the star of the movie would've saved himself a lot of heartache and trouble if he'd delivered it to his dad, but then there would be no story!

A great movie for baseball fans and kids alike. Hopefully, my children will now understand who some of the great historic players are!

If ya like baseball ...you'll love this film!.......2007-06-09

This little film is a little charmer. Thought provoking, endearing, totally wild and entertaining all mixed into one. If you like baseball at all, you'll have a blast... if you LOVE baseball, this film will touch you with the way it weaves history into the game! Great for kids, cool to watch with them and talk about the game! About the game that is and the game that was! There's a reason why it had such a brilliant cast and production team (I mean, c'mon - Christopher Reeve, Dana Reeve (a little gift they left behind), Rob Reiner, Whoopi Goldberg, Forest Whitaker, William H. Macy, Brian Dennehy, Mandy Patinkin, Joe Torre... !! Beautiful in it's simplicity... great characters...GREAT storytelling! Fun fun stuff!

Team America: World Police - Unrated (Widescreen Special Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

I laughed so hard I was exhausted...THIS IS NOT FOR CHILDREN!!!!!
Team America: World Police
Not near as funny as South Park
Team America World Police
This film will be remembered when many others are forgotten

Team America: World Police - Unrated (Widescreen Special Collector's Edition)
Starring: Phil Hendrie , Angie Jaree , John D. Kim , Maurice LaMarche , and Josiah D. Lee
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0007Y08IS
Release Date: 2005-05-17

Amazon.com

An elite U.S. counter-terrorism squad loses a member while decimating half of Paris in the reckless pursuit of Middle Eastern maniacs; a Broadway actor with a traumatic childhood secret is naturally hired to replace him. Oh--and they're all marionettes. South Park maestros Trey Parker and Matt Stone (along with co-writer Pam Brady) came up with this shameless satire of pea-brained Hollywood action flicks and even smaller-minded global politics, so don't expect subtlety or even a hint of good taste. Team America is soon on the trail of North Korea's evil Kim Jong Il, who treats us to a tender song about his loneliness before ensnaring Alec Baldwin and the rest of the oblivious Film Actors Guild (F.A.G. for short) in a plot to blow up every major city on the planet. Just as the mindless squad cheerfully demolishes everything in sight, so do director Parker and company. Throwing punches Left, Right, and in-between, the movie's politics leave no turn un-stoned; there's even time to bludgeon the musical Rent. It's offensive, irresponsible comic anarchy seemingly made by sniggering little boys. Painfully funny sniggering little boys.--Steve Wiecking

Description

In TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE, a group of marionette puppets form Team America, an international police force dedicated to maintaining global stability. Discovering that a power hungry dictator, Kim Jong II, plans to destroy the world and is brokering weapons of mass destruction to terrorists, the team enlists the undercover help of Broadway star Gary Johnston and embarks on a harrowing mission to save the world. Opposed to this, is the Film Actors' Guild, or F.A.G., whose members include puppets representing actors Alec Baldwin, Tim Robbins, Matt Damon, Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn. In spite of the lack of support they receive, the team sticks to their plan of saving the world and putting an end to terrorism.

Customer Reviews:

I laughed so hard I was exhausted...THIS IS NOT FOR CHILDREN!!!!!.......2007-06-29

Offensive and funny in the way that puppets expressing emotions, engaging in violence, having sex without sanction of sacraments and Church, and hurling obscenities can only be. I could not stop laughing the entire time.

I'm somewhere to the right of Vlad the Impaler, so the old right-bashing left-bashing arguments so beloved of South Park Republicans (mostly libertarians) don't carry much truck with me. Rightist hypocrisy and false braggadocio are on full display here, along with over-the-top chuckle-headed nationalism an inch deep and an ocean wide filled with the tears of sentiment and absent boarders of reason. On the flip side, self-righteous Hollywood poltroons are given their full display, and no gasbag disappoints. What is more remarkable is how little the caricature of the puppets differs from the actual spew of their objects. Perhaps that is funniest of all.

This film makes full use of the liberty of comedy, employing and invoking the ancient rights of jesters everywhere to have no sacred cows. If you think of the film seriously, there is absolutely no way you can not be offended. If you enter into the Rabelaisian world of suspension of disbelief and watch the puppets become the morality play within the interior of the melodrama becomes evident. The admonition "That which stimulates our senses but at the same time does not elevate our morals is pernicious" is defeated by the exquisite combination of Rabelais, Satire, Machiavelli, and explosive plasticine. We are better for the distractions of the jesters: let them play on.

Team America: World Police.......2007-05-22

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, however, it's not suitable for children. The sex scene is outrageous! I found North Korea's Kim Jong-il's dialog to be insanely funny! If you have a funny bone, you will like this puppet movie. Definitely a cult movie with hopefully more episodes to follow. Highly Recommended.

Not near as funny as South Park.......2007-05-15

And the politics suddenly go righter-than-right (but still well to the left of Attila the Hun). I thought I'd like it a lot more than I did. There are some funny moments throughout, the sex scene, the puking scene, the Team America Theme Song scene. The plot is not exactly suspenseful, if you say it's a comedy and doesn't need a plot, the comedy is pretty sparse. For the whole film, you're waiting for something really funny to happen, but it never does. Some people complain about 'perceived political content' well hello, it is a comedy about politics, much more so than say, Austin Powers or even Maxwell Smart (remember him?) That would be fine, regardless of what tack it took, if it was a really funny film, but to me it was a wasted opportunity. I'd like to laugh at this film. But I can only laugh NEAR it, it seems.

Team America World Police .......2007-05-03

Team America is a good movie. It helps prople believe that there are heros, and vilians in the world ,but mostly heros hopfully.I highly recommend this book.

By:
Brittany Lockman

This film will be remembered when many others are forgotten.......2007-04-16

Okay. There are over 500 reviews on this and I hardly intend to make much of an impact. So let's keep things simple.

1. Juvenile, gross-out humor. Yes. Utterly and shamelessly. If you have no tolerance for watching a marionette puppet puke gallons of yellowish bile on the screen, then avoid this film. I tried my hardest to hit the fast-forward button on my remote, but I was laughing so hard I couldn't see.

2. Politically incorrect. Yes, in droves. Got a sacred cow? Prepare to watch it turned into a Big Mac before your very eyes. Personally, I found it very refreshing.

3. Inappropriate for children. Some might say inappropriate for adults.

There. That's out of the way. So why did they make it? If any of you recall, Jim Henson, when asked how he became such a success with puppets, replied that he and Frank Oz realized that some of the world's worst, stupid humor was actually very funny if it was delivered by a puppet. Puppets brilliantly facilitate the chasm needed to create a comic character; you have to care about the character, but you can't care too much or a comic character becomes a tragic character. So...

...what do you think happens when most people watch a highly acrobatic pair of naked people performing sex acts? It's pretty painful to watch. Now what happens when you watch TWO PUPPETS having acrobatic sex? It's a RIOT! See, puppets aren't supposed to have sex. They're supposed to say cute things and entertain little kids, not boink like porn stars.

Bottom line: either you "get" the humor or you don't. I can easily see how many people would be disappointed by the film, but it was very groundbreaking in its own way. To not find it funny is not terribly surprising, but to dislike it on the grounds, as many 1-star reviews claim, that it is a right-wing propaganda film has got to be far more preposterous than any absurdity that has made Parker and Stone two of the youngest and most successful comic talents in the past 40 years.

A History of Violence (New Line Platinum Series)

Average customer rating:

A History of Violence (David Cronenberg)
HISTORY OF A GREAT MOVIE
golden violence
A morality tale worth seeing
See It For Harris And A Handful Of Masterful Scenes

A History of Violence (New Line Platinum Series)
Starring: Viggo Mortensen , Maria Bello , Ed Harris , William Hurt , and Ashton Holmes
Director: David Cronenberg
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000CQLZ0Q
Release Date: 2006-03-14

Amazon.com

On the surface, David Cronenberg may seem an unlikely candidate to direct A History of Violence, but dig deeper and you'll see that he's the right man for the job. As an intellectual seeker of meaning and an avowed believer in Darwinian survival of the fittest, Cronenberg knows that the story of mild-mannered small-town diner proprietor Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen) is in fact a multilayered examination of inbred human behavior, beginning when Tom's skillful killing of two would-be robbers draws unwanted attention to his idyllic family life in rural Indiana. He's got a loving wife (Maria Bello) and young daughter (Heidi Hayes) who are about to learn things about Tom they hadn't suspected, and a teenage son (Ashton Holmes) who has inherited his father's most prominent survival trait, manifesting itself in ways he never expected. By the time Tom has come into contact with a scarred villain (Ed Harris) and connections that lead him to a half-crazy kingpin (William Hurt, in a spectacular cameo), Cronenberg has plumbed the dark depths of human nature so skillfully that A History of Violence stands well above the graphic novel that inspired it (indeed, Cronenberg was unaware of the source material behind Josh Olson's chilling adaptation). With hard-hitting violence that's as sudden as it is graphically authentic, this is A History of Violence that's worthy of serious study and widespread acclaim. --Jeff Shannon

On the DVD
On a single disc and with little fanfare, this DVD makes an excellent case for the best extras of the year. Dive into the one-hour-long documentary and learn more about moviemaking than on many a double-disc. The secret lies in director David Cronenberg's (and his usual crew) folksy casualness in showing off the craft, be it makeup (green screens were used), directing (Cronenberg doesn't storyboard), or art direction (the diner set). It also is very funny to hear about "fish Fridays" and how Maria Bello's Uncle Pete became an influence. Even the infamous sex-on-the-staircase scene is diagnosed with candor as stars Viggo Mortensen and Bello act as if there is no backstage camera. There's only one deleted scene, but it's uncommonly deconstructed on why it was filmed and why it was cut (it's a very Cronenbergian dream sequence). A short bit on Cannes is also a delight. So much is here that Cronenberg's smart commentary track is nearly superfluous. Isn't that a nice surprise? --Doug Thomas

More to Explore

The Graphic Novel

Other Graphic Novels that Inspired Movies

David Cronenberg Essentials

Why We Love Maria Bello

The work of Viggo Mortensen

The work of William Hurt

Stills from A History of Violence

Viggo Mortensoe as Tom Stall
Ashton Holmes as Jack Stall and Kyle Schmid as Bobby Jordan

William Hurt as Richie Cusack
Ed Harris as Carl Fogarty and Viggo Mortensen as Tom Stall

Maria Bello as Edie Stall
Director David Cronenberg

Description

An average family is thrust into the spotlight after the father (Viggo Mortensen) commits a seemingly self-defense murder at his diner.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:Director David Cronenberg Commentary
Deleted Scenes:Deleted scene w/director commentary
Documentary:"Acts of Violence" documentary
Easter Eggs
Featurette:"The Unmakeing of Scene 44" "Violence's History: U.S. vs. International Versions" "Too Commercial for Cannes"

Customer Reviews:

A History of Violence (David Cronenberg).......2007-06-28

David Cronenberg's "A History of Violence" has become of my favorite movies of the decade so far. The sex scene between Mario Bello and Viggo Mortensen on the staircase has all but become legendary. Just watching it makes my back hurt. That must have been so uncomfortable but still sexy. The great thing about having this DVD is that you can watch the scene over and over.

The story is very simple but really effective. A man hiding his identity is found out by the thugs he is hiding from, just because of an act of bravery which got him on TV. They come and try to destroy his new life. Really not bad. I don't know why so many people don't like this movie.

HISTORY OF A GREAT MOVIE.......2007-06-23

I loved this movie, i found it riviting. Im not a huge fan of Mortensen but i thought he was fantastic in this, the whole movie spins off of his great performance. I also loved William Hurts performance, he went totally against type, I laughed so hard. My friend recommended this, and i could not look away, i was revited by this movie, from start to finish. Great film, I highly recommend it, and im picky as hells...whom ever game this review an unhelpful is an idiot straight up.

golden violence.......2007-06-04

When you hear the title "History of Violence" you probably think of some kind of documentary focusing on history between people from all over the world. Well, it's not that. This is just a movie that focuses on one family where the wife, husband, son and daughter seem to disagree with each other on many occasions, and in fact, it stretches beyond the family. Some of the scenes were truly unbelievable in a graphic kind of way, such as a certain something that happens on the stairs of the home. The violence actually kicks in pretty heavily towards the end, but without spoiling anything, I'll just leave it at that. It's not a classic film, but it's dark and quiet tone makes it worth watching.

A morality tale worth seeing.......2007-05-29

David Cronenberg is not the first person I think of for an action film. But then, despite the movie's name, this isn't an action film. It's parable about all kinds of violence: violence between parent and child, between children, between husband and wife, between brothers, and of course, good old-fashioned violence against people who disagree with you.

The Stalls are a perfect family. There's hot lawyer wife Edie (Maria Bello), soft-spoken Tom (Viggo Mortensen), and their children: wisecracking teenage Jack (Ashton Holmes) and cute-as-a-button Sarah (Heidi Hayes). Into this perfect family portrait enters violence in the form of bullies at school and thugs who attempt to rob Tom's diner.

It turns out that Tom has an ugly past he's been trying to keep secret. But when Tom violently repels the robbers and becomes a minor celebrity, his past comes back in force.
Carl Fogarty (a snarling Ed Harris), a mobster who wants Tom to "go for a drive," shows up at Tom's doorstep, threatening his friends and family. Things spiral downward from there.

Tom's struggle isn't just about his criminal past. Cronenberg unspools on screen a litmus test of violent scenarios, and then asks the audience each time: Is this okay? The questions start out easy to answer and become increasingly complex. By the time Tom grabs his wife in a violent embrace that turns passionate, we suddenly understand that each person defines their own boundary of when violence is and isn't acceptable. And the morality attached to each act of violence is a fluid thing indeed.

All the actors pull their weight in History of Violence, except perhaps Hayes--she's no Dakota Fanning, but she acts suitably cute (a little too cute). Everyone else is excellent, from Bello's desperate, hurt looks to Holmes terrified/thrilled rage, to the inimitable Harris as a very scary man. And of course there's Mortensen, who infuses every character with a level of depth with a sad glance.

By the time Richie Cusack (William Hurt) appears, the violence at home has come full circle. I'm not particular fond of Hurt, but he does an excellent, frightening job here, as a mobster completely bereft of any moral compass.

This movie poses important questions that challenge American assumptions about violence, similar to how American History X challenged our assumptions about racism. It's in answering those questions that the movie becomes more than action film and transforms into a morality tale worth seeing.

See It For Harris And A Handful Of Masterful Scenes .......2007-05-26

While on the whole, I found this movie mixed on many levels, from logic to some of the performances. However, there are about 8 scenes in here to me that are some of the most compelling in recent memory; The kind you rewatch again and think about days after seeing them. The ones involving conflict or payback are top notch, as are some of the more 'human' ones; But for example, I found the 'bully' stuff kind of 'ABC Afterschool Special'-like, but found the end result of that storyline very satisfying; Also in the like, I found the confrontation between Viggo and Harris(w/goons by his side...)brilliant, but the other end w/Hurt not so much. It was almost like you wished the movie had ended with the more powerful scene, not that the other wasn't creative. It just had less of an impact. I remember thinking after the Viggo/Harris scene that the movie had to be almost over. And I would have to say I felt the story started to drift a little more aimlessly after that paticular sequence. But there's no doubt all involved are highly talented and present an overall powerful film; Harris steals the movie, and Cronenberg proves when given the right material he can really show these younger directors how things are done. Oh, it seems there was also alot more sex than violence in this movie, or maybe just about even.

Average customer rating:

In politics and in war, nothing ever changes
Old Rock of Ages, we've got ourselves another war. A gut bustin', mother-lovin' Navy war.
In Harm's Way with John Wayn
Harm
One of "The Duke's" Greatest War Movies

In Harm's Way
Starring: John Wayne , Kirk Douglas , Patricia Neal , Tom Tryon , and Paula Prentiss
Director: Otto Preminger
Manufacturer: Paramount
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ASIN: B00005ASGD
Release Date: 2001-05-22

Amazon.com essential video

Otto Preminger's sprawling World War II drama packs a lot into its 165 minutes, beginning with the attack on Pearl Harbor (which Preminger re-creates in amazing detail) and ending a couple of years later with America's return to the South Pacific in force. John Wayne and Kirk Douglas star as a career naval captain and his self-pitying commander in the peacetime navy who are thrust into battle when Pearl Harbor is bombed while they are on maneuvers. Minutes into WWII, they are already scapegoated and demoted by the embarrassed military brass. Wayne romances a WAVE nurse (Patricia Neal) and attempts a reconciliation with his estranged, spoiled son (Brandon de Wilde) while Douglas sinks into the bottle after the death of his cheating wife until the American fleet rebuilds and calls upon Wayne to lead one of the initial invasion forces. Henry Fonda makes a brief but commanding appearance as the fleet admiral. Burgess Meredith is a former writer turned witty commander, Dana Andrews a showy but indecisive admiral, and Stanley Holloway a genial Australian scout working with the American invasion forces. Tom Tryon and Paula Prentiss play newlyweds torn apart by the war, and also appearing are Franchot Tone, Carroll O'Conner, Slim Pickens, George Kennedy, Bruce Cabot, and Larry Hagman, among many, many more. Loyal Griggs's handsome black-and-white photography is topped only by Saul Bass's impressive closing credits sequence, a rising cascade of crashing waves and rough surf reportedly paced to mirror the dramatic rhythm of the film. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

In politics and in war, nothing ever changes.......2007-05-30

This grand movie is a sound depiction of the early war in the Pacific. This movie was recently run on local TV. In spite of having bought the DVD earlier this year, and watching it several times, I still watched this TV version. It was released in 1965. Based on a very interesting story (that began on December 6, 1941), and many sub-stories, plus a superb cast, this film is worth seeing.

There were many useful reviews written on this movie. I particularly liked the customer review (#11) by a Ralph Couey. "The movie demonstrates the difference between capable managers in peacetime and battle-worthy leaders in war. The U.S. was caught in that trap in the first year of World War II. Unfortunately, a lot of ships were lost and a lot of sailors died while the bureaucrats were weeded out and replaced with warriors." This situation was essentially the basis for the "battle" between Rear Admiral Rockwell Torrey (John Wayne, surely one of his best roles) and Admiral `Blackjack' Broderick (Dana Andrews). Other reviewers described Broderick as weak and incompetent.

As I watched the TV show I couldn't help think there was a worthwhile analogy between the political events/strategic implications during this war and the political events/strategic implications today and in our recent past.

What follows are some inputs from the movie.

1. The first scene reviewed here is between Torrey and Jere (Brandon De Wilde), his estranged son for the past 18 years. Torrey had just learned his son was on PT duty and he visited him. This first meeting was very strained. Some approximations of their conversation follow.
* Torrey - how do you like PT duty?
* Jere - I don't.
* Torrey - why did you chose it, it is a voluntary assignment?
* Jere - I knew this unit was assigned to Adm. Broderick, and once in this unit, I could be transferred to assist ex congressman Commander Neal Owen (Patrick O'Neal), Broderick's PR man. (Other reviewers described Owen as Broderick's stooge and a publicity seeking ex congressman, with political ambitions after the war). I will be his assistant.
* Torrey - that is just like your mother's family - they could always pull political strings.
* Jere - Adm Broderick has been assigned to handle a very important (and supposedly very secretive) assignment - Skyhook. (Couey commented: "Operation Skyhook represents Operation Watchtower, the drive to recover the Solomon Islands. The Battle of Pala Passage is in excellent representation of the second day of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, when Admirals Scott and Calahagn blocked a far superior Japanese force on its way to deliver the death knell to U.S. forces on the island").
* Torrey - I wouldn't know about that. (About Skyhook)
* Jere - I wouldn't expect that you would. Commander Neal Owen gave me this information. (He should not have done that).
* Torrey - Somewhere in here Torrey commented he would like to throw his son to the fishes.
* Jere - why did you come?
* Torrey - let us just say that I did.
Later in the movie Jere discovers that Owen is a huge phony and his father is the real man. He "quits" Owen and is transferred back to PT duty, and ultimately a reconciliation with his father.

2. This is a luncheon scene between Owen and Jere, early in the movie.
* Owen - my job, Jere, is to see that the information given out to the press corp is good for the general war effort and good for the Navy.
* Jere - and good for Adm Broderick.
* Owen - well what is good for Adm Broderick is good for the war effort and good for the Navy.
* Jere - with a little left over for Neal Owen.

3. This scene is a dinner meeting to honor Torrey in his surprise promotion from Captain to Rear Admiral. The head of Pacific operations (Henry Fonda, who is perfectly cast in this role. He is undoubtedly playing Admiral Nimitz, but this is never defined.) makes this announcement, essentially bringing Torrey out of "purgatory" where he had been sent, unjustly, after Pearl Harbor. "Nimitz" noted that Lincoln had his George B. McClellan who was "a great little organizer, but couldn't make up his mind when to fight", and I have my Broderick. He went on: "Indecision is a virus that can run through an army and destroy its will to win and even to survive." (It seems to me that this is the kind of risk our country is being put in today in Iraq). Faced with this situation Lincoln called in Grant. And "Nimitz" noted: "Torrey, you're going to be my Grant." Broderick wasn't replaced, but Torrey was put in tactical command.
* Torrey - how far can I go?
* "Nimitz" - well you can't kill him, "just get the job done."

4. The next scene showed Broderick and Owens killing time waiting for Torrey's arrival.
* Broderick - I'm not going to take it.
* Owen - I don't think you should do anything hasty. If Torrey flops you can clearly point a finger at Cinc-Pac. If he wins, you're still the overall commander and will get most of the credit.
* Broderick - but I wont know what he is doing.
* Owen - you need a rep in Torrey's camp.
* Broderick - and you're it. You'll be my liaison officer.
* Owen - but I have no front line duty or experience.
* Broderick - now don't crawfish . It was you're idea. Besides a "little forward area duty might be just the thing for you. Think what a combat ribbon or even a Purple Heart in your button-hole would mean to you after the war. It ought to be worth a half a million votes when you run for office." (When I first heard these lines I couldn't help think of John Kerry and his medals from the Vietnam war).

I noted above the superb cast. I would be remiss if I did not add inputs on one more character, Lieutenant Maggie Haynes (Patricia Neal)and a chief nurse. Both Torrey and Maggie are casualties of earlier, failed marriages. Their relationship blossoms while Torrey is still stuck behind a desk. Haynes is mature, supportive, and "mission driven" as she likes Torrey very much and wants him to know it. One reviewer felt Wayne was at his all time best in these scenes. I would say the same for Neal.

All in all a grand story, one that I can highly recommend.

Old Rock of Ages, we've got ourselves another war. A gut bustin', mother-lovin' Navy war. .......2007-03-15

Otto Preminger puts together a great World War II drama, combining action, romance and character development in a sweeping story of the Pacific theatre. John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Patricia Neal lead the cast, which includes both current and rising stars of the day. Supporting actors include Burgess Meredith, Carroll O'Conner, Slim Pickens, George Kennedy, Patrick O'Neal, Dana Andrews, Tom Tyron and Paula Prentiss, just to name a few.

The characters are generally well fleshed out and portrayed convincingly. John Wayne plays a leader at once charismatic and larger than life while remaining soft-spoken and thoughtful, particularly in romantic settings. One of the great scenes is the interplay between Wayne's character, Rockwell Torrey, and Patricia Neal as they discuss their lives over a home-cooked meal. The sincerity of the developing relationship between the mature pair is in marked contrast to the manipulative dinner coordinated by Torry's son (ably played by Brandon De Wilde) for nurse Annalee (Jill Haworth).

The action scenes are generally well-done although the final sea battle intersperses vintage WWII footage with "cans-in-a-tub" special effects - not bad for 1965, but rather "quaint" compared with today's effects.

The film stands up nicely to repeat viewing and is one of those great "pictures for a Sunday afternoon." The musical score is also well done, particularly the end-credit sequence. All in all, it is a great film!

In Harm's Way with John Wayn.......2007-03-15

This was a very good production and a pleasure to have purchased. As always John Wayne is the best of the best.

Harm.......2007-02-16

This is a very dramatic and stirring movie, with a great cast. It is pretty cutting edge for it's time.

One of "The Duke's" Greatest War Movies.......2007-02-16

John Wayne leads an all-star cast in this riveting drama about the American Navy after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Wayne stars as Capt. (later Admiral) Rock Torrey. He is put in command of a rag-tag fleet of ships to search for the Japanese fleet after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Kirk Douglas stars as Commander (later Captain) Eddington, Torrey's exec. officer. Torrey's fleet finds the Japanese and a huge battle ensues. A Japanese sub ends up putting two torpedoes into Torrey's ship, but the ship stays afloat. Nevertheless, Torrey is relieved of his command for failing to sail in a zig-zag pattern. (This sounds a lot like the saga of the USS Indianapolis).

Torrey is sent to work behind a desk after losing his command. While ashore, he develops a relationship with Maggie Haynes (Patricia Neal), a navy WAVE. He also tries to mend his strained relationship with his estranged son Jere (Brandon De Wilde). Jere has developed a relationship of his own with a nurse named Annalee (Jill Hayworth).

Finally, after spending a considerable amount of time languishing behind a desk, Admiral Nimitz (Henry Fonda) gives Rock another chance. He promotes Rock to Rear Admiral and sends him back into the South Pacific as commander of one of the first amphibious operations of the war. Thanks to Rock's ingenuity and some help from his fellow officers, the operation is a success, but not without cost.

I found this to be a very good film. The all-star cast is the strong point of the movie, with John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Patricia Neal, Tom Tryon, Brandon De Wilde, Burgess Meredith, Carroll O'Connor, Henry Fonda, Jill Hayworth, and Paula Prentiss all giving fine performances. The battle scenes are exciting to watch, and the black and white backdrop of the film adds to the realism. However, there are several sub-plots, such as Eddington's involvement with Annalee, which sometimes draw the viewer's attention from the main storyline. But, these are minor, and in no way detract from the quality of the film.

I recommend this movie very highly. John Wayne is at his best in this movie. Although remembered mostly for his roles in Westerns, He made a large number of successful war movies as well, and this is one of his best. Watch this great film and see the American Navy strike back at the Japanese.

Average customer rating:

Connery's Bond Translates Poorly to Japanese
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Only ONE Person We Know Carries This Licence

You Only Live Twice
Starring: Sean Connery , Akiko Wakabayashi , Mie Hama , Tetsuro Tamba , and Teru Shimada
Director: Lewis Gilbert (II)
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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