Ben-Hur

Starring:Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Haya Harareet, Stephen Boyd, Hugh Griffith, Martha Scott, Cathy O'Donnell, Sam Jaffe, Finlay Currie, Frank Thring, Terence Longdon, George Relph, AndrÃ© Morell, Emile Carrer, Aldo Silvani, Duncan Lamont, Stella Vitelleschi, Noel Sheldon, John Le Mesurier, Raimondo Van Riel
Director: William Wyler
Studio: Warner Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com essential video

Ben-Hur scooped an unprecedented 11 Academy Awards® in 1959 and, unlike some later rivals, richly deserved every single one. This is epic filmmaking on a scale that had not been seen before and is unlikely ever to be seen again. But it's not just running time or a cast of thousands that makes an epic, it's the subject matter, and here the subject--Prince Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston) and his estrangement from old Roman pal Messala (Stephen Boyd)--is rich, detailed, and sensitively handled. Director William Wyler, who had been a junior assistant on MGM's original silent version back in 1925, never sacrifices the human focus of the story in favor of spectacle, and is aided immeasurably by Miklos Rozsa's majestic musical score, arguably the greatest ever written for a Hollywood picture. At four hours it's a long haul (especially given some of the portentous dialogue), but all in all, Ben-Hur is a great movie, best seen on the biggest screen possible. --Mark Walker

Description

The numbers speak volumes: 100,000 costumes, 8,000 extras, 300 sets and a staggering budget in its day the largest in movie history. Ben-Hur's creators made it the best, the greatest Biblical-era epic ever. Charlton Heston brings a muscular physical and moral presence to the role of Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish nobleman in Palestine whose heroic odyssey includes enslavement by the Romans, a bold escape from an embattled slave galley, vengeance against his tormentors during a furious arena chariot race and fateful encounters with Jesus Christ. Heston's charismatic performance brought him the Best Actor Oscar; the winner as 1959's Best Picture with the legendary William Wyler earning his third Best Director trophy, the film won a total 11 Academy Awards -- a tally unequaled until 1997's Titanic set sail.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:Commentary by Film Historian T. Gene Hatcher with Scene Specific Comments from Charlton Heston
Documentaries:New Documentary: Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema - Current filmmakers such as Ridley Scott and George Lucas reflect on the importance and influence of the film 1994 Documentary: Ben-Hur: The Making of an Epic Hosted by Christopher Plummer Directed by William Wyler - 1986 Emmy Award-nominated documentary featuring the last interview with Wyler before his death
Featurette:Ben-Hur: A Journey Through Pictures - New audiovisual recreation of the film via stills, storyboards, sketches, music and dialogue
Other:The 1925 Feature-length Silent Version of Ben-Hur with a stereophonic orchestral score by composer Carl Davis. Vintage Newsreels Gallery Highlights from the 1960 Academy Awards Ceremony Theatrical Trailer Gallery
Outtakes:Screen Tests: Leslie Nielsen and Cesare Danova Leslie Nielsen and Yale Wexler George Baker and William Russel Haya Harareet Hair and Make-up Tests

Customer Reviews:

Two great films on this dvd collection........2007-06-25

The second and more recent one from 1959 is really slightly better as it looks a little more authentic than the '25 version (see my amapedia review for more on the '59 version). By more authentic I mean that in one scene in the '25 version a lady is romancing a man and she has a ridiculously 1920's hairstyle (probably to appeal to contemporary audiences). This is all that takes away from an otherwise brilliantly done silent film starring Ramon Navarro as Judah Ben-Hur. The scenes where Judah is taken away from his mother and sister by the evil Messala (Francis X. Bushman) are poignant and memeorable. I understand part of this movie was shot in Italy. Very good use of Christ as a (supremeley important) supporting character in this film and nice scenes early on of the lady playing the Virgin Mary as well.

Ben-Hur (1959).......2007-06-25

One of MGM's finest widescreen spectacles, involving thousands of extras, over 300 sets (including a life-size replica of a Roman hippodrome) and a cadre of stunt coordinators, this massive production nearly bankrupted the studio when first produced. But the payoff was equally grand: Heston's Oscar-winning performance and a hefty box-office gross validated the costs of operating on such a vast canvas. It is also epic filmmaking at its best, featuring a mesmerizing escape at sea and the most thrilling, heart-poundingly authentic chariot race ever seen on film--at 20 minutes, no less! Majestic in scale, yet sensitive in its portrayal of a vengeful man touched by his encounters with Christ, "Ben-Hur" is a monumental entertainment directed with unwavering commitment and faultless taste by old pro William Wyler.

Ben- Hur.......2007-06-13

This is a great movie. Everyone should enjoy this classic.

Ben-Hur.......2007-05-19

Yet another childhood classic. wonderful actors and actresses. Very exciting and a bit emotional.

Loved it!.......2007-05-15

Everything I expected. I love this film and it was wonderful to have it in letterbox and without commercials!

Average customer rating:

Two great films on this dvd collection.
Ben-Hur (1959)
Ben- Hur
Ben-Hur
Loved it!

Ben-Hur
Starring: Charlton Heston , Jack Hawkins , Haya Harareet , Stephen Boyd , and Hugh Griffith
Director: William Wyler
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000056BP4
Release Date: 2004-06-01

Amazon.com essential video

Description

After his boyhood friend Messala's fanatic loyalty to Rome makes him a powerful enemy, Judah Ben-Hur is found guilty of an attempted murder he did not commit. His family is banished and he is enslaved on a warship. Through his ferocity in a raging sea battle, he is able to escape and become a horse trainer. To exact his revenge, Ben-Hur decides to compete against Messala in the Roman chariot races. They race, locked in a battle to the death. Barely surviving, Ben-Hur forsakes the sword for Christ and finally finds redemption. Winner of a record 11 Academy Award, including Best Picture and Actor (Charlton Heston).

Customer Reviews:

Two great films on this dvd collection........2007-06-25

Ben-Hur (1959).......2007-06-25

Ben- Hur.......2007-06-13

This is a great movie. Everyone should enjoy this classic.

Ben-Hur.......2007-05-19

Yet another childhood classic. wonderful actors and actresses. Very exciting and a bit emotional.

Loved it!.......2007-05-15

Everything I expected. I love this film and it was wonderful to have it in letterbox and without commercials!

Essential Classics - Dramas (The Maltese Falcon / Citizen Kane / Ben-Hur)

Average customer rating:

Tremendous value and three classic films!

Essential Classics - Dramas (The Maltese Falcon / Citizen Kane / Ben-Hur)
Starring: Essential Classic Dramas
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( E ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Drama | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Essential Classics - Romances (Gone with the Wind / Casablanca / Doctor Zhivago)
Essential Classics - Musicals (My Fair Lady / Singin' in the Rain / Gigi)
Essential Classics - American Musicals (The Music Man / Meet Me in St. Louis / Seven Brides for Seven Brothers)
Essential Classics - Family Films (The Wizard of Oz / The Goonies / Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory)
The Graduate

ASIN: B000MV9O4A
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Amazon.com

This four-disc set, part of Warner's Essential Classics series, collects three truly classic films--The Maltese Falcon, Citizen Kane, and Ben-Hur--in one inexpensive package. The drawback is you don't get the bonus discs of the movies--one in the case of Citizen Kane, and two each for The Maltese Falcon and Ben-Hur (which still needs two discs just for the movie)--so if you're a documentary junky or if you simply have to see the earlier versions of The Maltese Falcon, you'll want to stick with the individual releases. But this set does include the commentary tracks, shorts, photo galleries, and other material that was on the movie discs of those sets, and best of all, they have the great remastered pictures of the previous releases. So if you just want the movies looking better than ever with some bonus features thrown in for good measure, the price per movie makes this set an attractive bargain. --David Horiuchi

Description

Disc 1: THE MALTESE FALCON Disc 2: CITIZEN KANE Discs 3 & 4: BEN HUR

Customer Reviews:

Tremendous value and three classic films!.......2007-05-30

I recently purchased this dvd collection, and am very pleased with it. This collection contains the film-only discs from the multi-disc releases of Maltese Falcon, Citizen Kane, and Ben Hur. All have top-notch video and audio quality, and they all have very interesting alternate commentary tracks. If you want all the extra features for these films, you should buy the discs separately. If you are primarily interested in the films and commentaries, then this is a great way to get all three for a very reasonable price.

Average customer rating:

Good off color humor.
Cult Coolness
What...are kidding me?!
Surprisingly good!
One of my all time favorites

The Hebrew Hammer
Starring: Adam Goldberg , Judy Greer , Andy Dick , Mario Van Peebles , and Peter Coyote
Director: Jonathan Kesselman
Manufacturer: Comedy Central
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002WZTQQ
Release Date: 2004-11-16

Amazon.com

A cross between a Kosher Shaft and Airplane!'s shameless gag machine, The Hebrew Hammer is an unabashed burlesque about a streetwise Jewish private detective (a "circumcised dick" in his own parlance) named Mordechai Jefferson Carver (Adam Goldberg). Once ostracized by Gentile children, Mordechai has become a much-feared defender of Jews, so extreme that even the militant Jewish Justice League tosses him out. Until, that is, JJL leader Chief Bloomenbergansteinhal (Peter Coyote) and his lovely daughter Esther (Judy Greer) recruit him to take on the wicked Damien (Andy Dick), a snippy anti-Semite who murders Santa Claus in order to turn Christmas into a Jew-hating holiday. Written and directed by Jonathan Kesselman, this sporadically funny feature is based on a funkier short (included on this DVD) of the same name. The cast is better than the generally obvious material, and Nora Dunn (as Mordechai's mother) and Mario Van Peebles are very good in supporting roles. --Tom Keogh

Description

THE HEBREW HAMMER stars Adam Goldberg in the title role of this holiday farce as a handsome Orthodox stud and man of action who is called upon to save Hanukkah. When Santa Claus' evil son Damian (Dick) is pushed over the edge by his father's liberal policies, he murders the Christian patriarch and, stepping into the vacated role, launches a nefarious worldwide campaign to eradicate the Jewish Holiday. The Hammer joins forces with Esther (Greer), the gorgeous daughter of the chief of the Jewish Justice League to topple Damian and save Hanukkah for future generations.

Customer Reviews:

Good off color humor........2007-05-23

The Hebrew Hammer is a great comedy central film for those who know how to laugh at themselves and those who know how to take a joke. Adam Goldberg stars as Jewish version of Shaft/Dolemite endeavoring to save the holiday of Chanukkah from destruction at the hands of an evil Santa Claus (Andy Dick), with assistance from the head of the Kwanzaa Liberation Front (Mario Van Peebles). Hillarious.

Cult Coolness.......2007-01-19

Oi Gevaldt!!! Just a Hoot ... if you like it ethnic ... If you like it on Rye Bread ... If you ever had a doting mother ... The Hammer hits on so many levels!

What...are kidding me?!.......2007-01-10

How could you not own this movie?! If you are reading this review, then you are already spending too much time on this decision... just spend the damn money and buy this movie. You probably already own Airplane, Undercover Brother and Space Balls. There's always room for a bit of Kosher filmwork in any growing collection of fine filmwork.

Surprisingly good!.......2007-01-04

This film was surprisingly good! I got it as a joke and found it was hysterical and right on. I have shared it with many friends.

One of my all time favorites.......2006-09-10

I knew I would love this movie after the first scene: Jewish kid goes to Catholic school, where other kids are opening shiny Xmas presents while all he has is a plastic dreidel. The teacher gives a syrupy speech about "tolerance", while snotty kids tell him his "People" are going to Hell. Then along comes ol' Santa and steps on his dreidel!

The whole "Jewish at Christmas" thing resonates for someone raised Jewish in the 50's in a small town. That was why I loved this movie. Who else has ever expressed what that felt like? This movie is about "Us"...but it's not about pogroms or the Holocaust ... it's actually FUNNY!

This movie pokes fun at every cliche imaginable. It spoofs Moshe Dayan, superhero flicks, the coke-dealing superfly genre, old fashioned detective flicks, 70's Black Panthers with huge Afro's, the "Jewish Media Conspiracy", silly SF movies, and of course the Jewish Mom. It is not for the politically correct or culturally squeamish. You might miss some of the jokes if you aren't well versed in Jewish or Yiddish culture. Watch it with a Jewish friend who can tell you what "Shalom aleichem", "G-d" and "sheket b'vakashah" mean. (it really means "shut up").

Average customer rating:

this is a CARTOON
Homage to a classic
SINCERE BUT SECOND RATE

Ben Hur
Starring: Charlton Heston , Duncan Fraser (II) , Scott McNeil , Gerard Plunkett , and Tabitha St. Germain
Director: Bill Kowalchuk
Manufacturer: Good Times Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 5552515994
Release Date: 2003-02-25

Customer Reviews:

this is a CARTOON.......2007-06-30

I was dissappointed because it wasn't the real Ben Hur movie with Charlton Heston (not the cartoon). But we decided that instead of wasting the shipping sending it back...we would watch it. Besides the magic - special effects type stuff (lightning zaps from the cross) and the female angel- I like it better than the hateful, bloody "real" movie for my children. Charlton Heston sounds too old for the part.

Homage to a classic.......2003-05-13

This new animated adaptation of Ben Hur, has but one thing to recommend, namely the voice of Charlton Heston. It is delightful to hear his distinguished voice as he reprises his oscar winning role.

The animation is rather on the crude side by disney standards but as long as you don't watch this expecting too much you won't be dissapointed. Having a running length of 75 mins however liberties have to be taken with the plot as it progresses quickly from scene to scene, although it is supposed to be the most faithful version of Lew Wallace's tale to date.

Highlights include the sea battle and ofcourse the chariot race sequence which are enhanced through cgi but yet again they are only short segments.

Of the other voice actors none are distinguished as already commented upon by the above reviewer, but that doesn't matter much as Heston carries the movie and makes it more accesible for a young audience. It is particularly nice to see the role of Christ expanded upon from what we see of him in previous versions.

DVD features though few are nice as we see heston talking behind the scenes although he looks extremely unwell and frail.

Over all this new animated tale is a small treat for fans of Heston and the story of Ben Hur.

SINCERE BUT SECOND RATE.......2003-03-25

The latest film version of BEN HUR is an animated retelling that emphasizes the novel's original subtitle: A Tale of the Christ.

Charlton Heston reprises his Oscar© winning 1959 film role as the voice of Ben (and also narrator).

Sadly, the animation is second rate and nowhere near the quality of "Prince of Egypt." The voice work is not particularly imaginative with the exception of Heston who is more emotional and worldly wise than the blandly drawn young hero. Still, there's an admirable bravery to the provocative enterprise; after all, it's about a Jew on the road to revenge who stumbles across a forgiving Christ. How radical is that?

Limited extras include brief statements from a somewhat haunted looking Heston who, oddly, speaks almost without emotion or expression.

Average customer rating:

Great way to start your collection of Best Pictures

Eighteen of the best movies of all time

Best Picture Oscar Collection - fantastic present

good deal but not in collectible condition

This is a great deal; looks like they fixed the problems,,,

Best Picture Oscar Collection (18-Pack)

Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Lawrence of Arabia (Limited Edition)

ASIN: B0007KXRZI
Release Date: 2005-02-08

Customer Reviews:

Great way to start your collection of Best Pictures.......2007-02-03

This is the set of 18 Best Picture winners on DVD that Warner Home Video controlled the rights to as of Feb. 2005, and spans the time period 1929-1992. Some of them hold up over time, and others were given the award because of technical achievements that no longer seem important. I'll go through each one and give my opinion:

Broadway Melody of 1929 - This was the first "talkie" to win the award. The screenplay is a mediocre love story, but the song and dance numbers are good. There's even a musical number in Technicolor - "Wedding of the Painted Doll".

Grand Hotel - Won in 1932 and contained a great ensemble cast about the personal lives of guests in a fancy Berlin hotel. This is a great one that still is worthy viewing today.

Mutiny on the Bounty (1935) - Probably the best of all the pictures about the famous mutiny. Still good viewing today. An odd aside - all of the nominees for best actor that did not win were from this film - Clark Gable, Franchot Tone, and Charles Laughton.

The Great Ziegfield (1936) - After the Hays code was fully in effect, the personal aspects of Ziegfield's life had to be modified for the screen. Still, a great movie with a great performance by William Powell as the famous showman.

The Life of Emile Zola (1937) - One of those period pieces that just didn't grab me. It is a very skillfully done film, very artistic, and Paul Muni gives a tremendous performance in the title role. It's hard to believe the articulate and gentile Emile Zola is being portrayed by the same actor who was equally convincing in "Scarface".

Gone with the Wind (1939) - This movie charts the life of a Southern belle who always wanted what she didn't have and took for granted what she did have as she lives through the Civil War and reconstruction. It is the most popular film of all time and probably the biggest money-maker if you factor in inflation. It was shown in movie theatres until it made its TV debut in 1976.

Mrs. Miniver (1942) - This is a good film, and it has great acting, but it is one of those films that probably won because of the times. It depicts how the British coped while under seige during World War II as experienced by one British family headed by Mrs. Miniver.

Casablanca (1943) - This one probably won because of the wartime theme, but it is a great piece of moviemaking that just gets better with time. The chemistry between Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart just oozes off the screen. It's more what's not said than what is in this film. The fact that Bogart didn't win best actor was one of the great injustices of all time.

An American in Paris (1951) - Of course the point of this film not the plot, it is Gene Kelly's dancing, which is fabulous as always. It inspired the quickly thrown together and even more popular "Singin In the Rain".

Around the World in 80 Days (1956) - A fun adventure, David Niven is great, and how they got all of those stars to play bit parts I'll never know. However, it really doesn't hold up as a great movie 50 years after the fact.

Gigi (1958) - The academy award winner in the year of my birth just does not inspire today. There are a couple of good songs, but not many. Plus the screenplay is antiquated and outright campy by today's standards.

Ben-Hur (1959) - One of those great Bible-era epics of the 50's. Even though it is a story on a large scale, it is all of the small scale stories going on that make it great - revenge, love, loyalty, loss.

My Fair Lady (1964) - One of the great musicals starring Rex Harrison in one of his greatest and most amusing roles. Nobody did stuffy British low-key comedy like Rex. He was robbed when it came to best actor, but fortunately the Academy rectified the situation a few years later.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) - Jack Nicholson is a rebel confined to a mental institution. When he doesn't conform, the evil nurse Ratchett has him lobotimized. A great film that will stir emotions even today.

Chariots of Fire (1981) - I personally love this film about the 1924 Olympic games and the conflict between God, country, and conscience seen through the eyes of two men - one a Christian who wants to be a missionary, the other Jewish who wants to be an insider in British society. It's a love it or hate it kind of film - either you find the internal struggles of these men compelling, or you'll find it torture to sit through.

Amadeus (1984) - Another of the modern era Oscars where you either love the message and love the film, or it puts you to sleep. I really loved this one too, partly because Mozart has always interested me, and partly because Salieri was such a ridiculous creature thinking he could best God by destroying Mozart. Didn't he ever realize that the fact that he recognized Mozart's talent before everyone else did was a talent in itself? If you can't build Microsoft yourself, then the next best thing was to have bought stock in it in 1975.

Driving Miss Daisy (1989) - The story of a wealthy elderly woman and her driver from 1948 up to the mid-70's. In spite of the difference in their races and the place - Georgia - they have much in common and slowly become friends. She is Jewish and he is Black in a time and place that wasn't ordinarily welcoming to either group of people. This is a sentimental favorite of mine, plus there's some good comic one-liners in it too.

Unforgiven (1992) - A different kind of Western in which Clint Eastwood wins his first award for Best Director. Eastwood is out to avenge the scarring of a prostitute in return for money when the justice the sheriff metes out on the offending cowboy is just not satisfactory to the prostitute or her friends. Eastwood plays an ex-criminal widower trying to make a go of farming when this assignment lands in his lap. In the end, he doesn't have a hard time finding his "inner killer". A really great film. Who'd have thought in 1965 that Ramrod Rowdy Yates had it in him?

This package is a good value at eleven dollars per Oscar winner, especially when you consider one of those Oscar winners is Gone with the Wind. Plus it has a good sampling of Oscar winners from all genres up to 1992. Depending on how you feel about the more modern Oscar winners (post 1965) that are usually slower, more thoughtful films, you may or may not feel the same. To me the only real dud is Gigi.

Also note that if you buy this set, "Studio Classics Best Picture Collection", and the new "Best Picture Collection", you'll have 29 of the soon to be 79 best picture winners. Not a bad start on your collection.

My only real complaints are that there have been four changes that should be incorporated into the pack to really make it complete as of Spring 2007 based on what is available, although it might require a price increase.
1. Ben-Hur is now available in a 4 disc special edition that includes the silent version of the film.
2. Cimarron, Best Picture 1930-1931, was released on DVD in 2006 by Warner Home Video and should be included.
3. After this pack was released "Million Dollar Baby" and "The Departed" won Best Picture for 2004 and 2006, respectively. These films are not included.
I'm really just pointing out minor flaws because, compared to all of the other studios, Warners has done the best job of putting all of the Best Picture winners they control into one attractively priced package.

Eighteen of the best movies of all time.......2005-09-26

This set contains 18 Best Picture winners from the Warner Video library. A few of them are fairly basic, with limited extras (Broadway Melody, Grand Hotel), while others are multi-disc deluxe editions (Gone with the Wind, Ben Hur). If you're looking to get your collection off to a start, with some of the all-time classics, I haven't seen a better boxed set than this one.

Best Picture Oscar Collection - fantastic present.......2005-09-21

This made my father very happy - has all the golden favourites and is great value.

good deal but not in collectible condition.......2005-06-11

It's a bunch of oscar winning movies from warner brothers with a great discount. but collectors beware of this set :

1. First of all, most of the items are not sealed. many of them looks like new, but some are not brand new, at least look like used!
2. I talked with 3 persons who purchased this item. all of them had complains about ruptures at the edge of some boxes which had caused with a blade or a sharp instrument.
3. there is not a huge outer box. only a wrap around all items.

after those negative points, lets say that, all of the DVDs are the best releases of each item. my word is, it's a good deal but don't expect to receive all of them in collectible condition! I don't want to blame warner but it seems that some of these DVDs are clean returned to market items!

This is a great deal; looks like they fixed the problems,,,.......2005-05-28

I purchased this set when the price was $140. However, I did not get Casablanca or Cuckoo's net SE's, but after I contacted AMAZON twice and waited for a while, they corrected the problem to my full satisfaction! I have never been happier with their service!

But, this is a great set because it has 18 of the best picture winners.

It has some of the best ones, and all the discs are the top of the line editions! way to go!!!

Now, if they could opnly get the last three best picture winners on DVD, I'd have them all!

Best Picture Oscar Collection - Adventures (Ben-Hur / Around the World in 80 Days / One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest / Mutiny on the Bounty / Unforgiven)

Average customer rating:

Single disc is a no-no for two movies out of five

Best Picture Oscar Collection - Adventures (Ben-Hur / Around the World in 80 Days / One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest / Mutiny on the Bounty / Unforgiven)
Starring: Best Picture Oscar Collection
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Best Picture Oscar Collection - Drama (Amadeus/Casablanca Special Edition/Driving Miss Daisy/The Life of Emile Zola/Mrs. Miniver)
Studio Classics - Best Picture Collection (Sunrise / How Green Was My Valley / Gentleman's Agreement / All About Eve)
The Deer Hunter (Universal Legacy Series)
Hello, Dolly!
Casablanca

ASIN: B0006V6TOY
Release Date: 2005-02-08

Customer Reviews:

Single disc is a no-no for two movies out of five.......2005-02-15

All the dvd's here if bought individually would amount to far more than is sold at this price. All the dvds are also excellent quality and in the case of Around the World in 80 Days it is even the 2 disc special edition. The one bad thing about this set and the only bad thing probably is the dvd of One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest which is the single disc edition with widescreen and full format on two sides, this is disappointing considering there is a very nice 2 disc special edition available and could easily have been included in the set. There is also an Unforgiven 2 disc special edition which also is replaced in this set by the single disc version. Therefore if you care about having such things as "special features" than I suggest you not buy this set. However if you love collecting movies than this and the 2 other Warner Brother's oscar collection sets (drama, and musicals) is a must for you.

THE WARLORD with Charlton Heston (The War Lord) (O Senhor da Guerra) (High Quality Import Edition-NTSC format-Region 1-Playable in North America)(Adventure)

Average customer rating:

A true and graphic depiction of the time

THE WARLORD with Charlton Heston (The War Lord) (O Senhor da Guerra) (High Quality Import Edition-NTSC format-Region 1-Playable in North America)(Adventure)

Manufacturer: Classicline
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
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Soldier Blue

ASIN: B000I3LX2S

Product Description

Brand new, factory sealed, fully licensed DVD manufactured in Brazil. NTSC format. Playable on any North American DVD player. High quality widescreen color image. Original English dialog with optional subtitles in Portuguese. Portuguese subtitles do not appear unless turned on and they can be easily turned off. The following is a review which appears in Amazon for the VHS edition. "I think this is one of the best-ever medieval war films. Charlton Heston's role (Chrysagon Delacroix) is almost perfect: Rosemary Forsyth (Bronwyn) is mysterious and gorgeous. Bors (played by Richard Boone) is taciturn, rough and also unforgettable. Draco (Guy Stockwell, Heston's insanely jealous younger brother) is my favorite character. Other than a few visual (technical) gaffs - like arrows bouncing off the siege tower draw bridge, and using modern-looking recurve bows - the armor and weapons and fighting is very satisfying. The mixture of Christianity in the presence of the old unforgotten Celtic religion is a tense ingredient that adds depth to what is essentially a simple story of "boy meets girl" and keeps her, even when his world turns against him over it."

Customer Reviews:

A true and graphic depiction of the time.......2007-03-21

Over the years I have bought this movie several times as it really brings the life and times of its characters into full view. This has an exceptionally strong cast and will be watched and enjoyed by any history buff.

Best Picture Collection - Epic Dramas (Casablanca/Gone With the Wind/Ben-Hur)

Average customer rating:

Three 5 Star Treasures To Enjoy... Better Buy Is Each Separately

Best Picture Collection - Epic Dramas (Casablanca/Gone With the Wind/Ben-Hur)
Starring: Humphrey Bogart , Ingrid Bergman , Paul Henreid , Claude Rains , and Conrad Veidt
Director: Michael Curtiz , William Wyler , and Victor Fleming
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Classics | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Citizen Kane
The Ten Commandments (50th Anniversary Collection)
Gone with the Wind (Four-Disc Collector's Edition)
Night at the Museum (Widescreen Edition)
The Devil Wears Prada (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000087EYC
Release Date: 2003-03-04

Amazon.com

Ben-Hur
Ben-Hur scooped an unprecedented 11 Academy Awards ^® in 1959 and, unlike some later rivals, richly deserved every single one. This is epic filmmaking on a scale that had not been seen before and is unlikely ever to be seen again. But it's not just running time or a cast of thousands that makes an epic, it's the subject matter, and here the subject--Prince Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston) and his estrangement from old Roman pal Messala (Stephen Boyd)--is rich, detailed, and sensitively handled. Director William Wyler, who had been a junior assistant on MGM's original silent version back in 1925, never sacrifices the human focus of the story in favor of spectacle, and is aided immeasurably by Miklós Rózsa's majestic musical score, arguably the greatest ever written for a Hollywood picture. At four hours it's a long haul (especially given some of the portentous dialogue), but all in all, Ben-Hur is a great movie, best seen on the biggest screen possible. --Mark Walker

Casablanca
A truly perfect movie, the 1942 Casablanca still wows viewers today, and for good reason. Its unique story of a love triangle set against terribly high stakes in the war against a monster is sophisticated instead of outlandish, intriguing instead of garish. Humphrey Bogart plays the allegedly apolitical club owner in unoccupied French territory that is nevertheless crawling with Nazis; Ingrid Bergman is the lover who mysteriously deserted him in Paris; and Paul Heinreid is her heroic, slightly bewildered husband. Claude Rains, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, and Conrad Veidt are among what may be the best supporting cast in the history of Hollywood films. This is certainly among the most spirited and ennobling movies ever made. --Tom Keogh

Gone with the Wind
David O. Selznick wanted Gone with the Wind to be somehow more than a movie, a film that would broaden the very idea of what a film could be and do and look like. In many respects he got what he worked so hard to achieve in this 1939 epic (and all-time box-office champ in terms of tickets sold), and in some respects he fell far short of the goal. While the first half of this Civil War drama is taut and suspenseful and nostalgic, the second is ramshackle and arbitrary. But there's no question that the film is an enormous achievement in terms of its every resource--art direction, color, sound, cinematography--being pushed to new limits for the greater glory of telling an American story as fully as possible. Vivien Leigh is still magnificently narcissistic, Olivia de Havilland angelic and lovely, Leslie Howard reckless and aristocratic. As for Clark Gable: we're talking one of the most vital, masculine performances ever committed to film. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Three 5 Star Treasures To Enjoy... Better Buy Is Each Separately.......2006-09-11

This review refers to the "Best Picture Collection - Epic Dramas: Casablanca/Gone With the Wind/Ben-Hur (Warner DVDs)

Three of the most wonderful films ever made, all packaged together would make a beautiful gift for the film lover. And there are so many editions of these films to choose from. Depending on how much of a fan, or collector you are, and how much you are willing to spend, you can find 2 disc special editions, deluxe collector's editions with all kinds of goodies, and I think I even saw a 4 disc set for one of them. Phew, that could add up. So in this set you have the three basic films, all beautifully transferred with some features(see individual film detail pages)for fans to peruse. And if you are interested in these editions as opposed to the more expensive and fully loaded ones, your best bet would be to buy them individually.Amazon is out of stock of this set, and the lowest price here from an outside merchant is higher then buying the three separately. The only one in stock from Amazon at this time is Ben-Hur, but even with buying Casablanca and Gone With The Wind in New Condition from an outside merchant, and even with the shipping charge, it will still come out to be a much better deal at this time. Prices do change, so you may want to compare for yourself. You may also want to compare prices on the many "special" editions available. So I do consider this package a 5 star package, just not the best deal(hence, my 4 star rating).

Here is a little about each film and the transfers:
"BEN-HUR", the story of a Jewish Prince who's life paralells that of Christ, is an epic saga that takes him from a nobleman, to a galley slave to a hero. The film won a record breaking 11 Academy Awards in 1959, including Best Picture, Best Director(William Wyler), Best Cinematography, Best Actor(Charlton Heston) and Best Supporting Actor(Hugh Griffith). This record was unmatched for nearly 40 years, when in 1997 "Titantic" burst onto the scene.

It is a wonderful story, and has something for everyone. The cast includes some of the greats from the 50's. Look for Jack Hawkins as Quinas Arrius the Roman whose life is saved by Judah Ben-Hur, Stephen Boyd as Messala, Judah's boyhood friend who turns on him,Martha Scott and Cathy O'Donnell as his beloved mother and sister, and Haya Harareet as Esther, the woman he loves.

This 1959 classic epic has received a superb treatment of the transfer to DVD. The picture, color, clarity and sound could not be any better if this film was made yesterday. It is presented in the original widescreen, and what a view. You won't miss a bit of the academy award winning cinematography. The chariot race, the sea battle,the splendors of Rome and all the glorious and immense sets will just have you in awe. The wonderful technicolor on this DVD is a stand out compared to some others of this era(there were a couple of occasions where there was some sort of greenish tint, but in the background and did not interfere with the view). The great music, dialogue and all surrounding sounds are crystal clear.

"Gone With The Wind"
How fortunate we are to be able to view this incredibly wonderful film,remastered to the way it was seen in 1939. Scarlett, silhouetted, standing on the red clay of Tara, in the beautiful sunset, swearing she "will never go hungry again", the streets of Atlanta with the thousands of wounded confederates, the ball gowns, Mammy's big eyes,Atlanta burning,the cotton fields, all in the glorious technicolor it was first seen in.

For those that Are seeing it for the first time, you will love the drama,romance,adventure and history of the South during the Civil War era. All the famous characters, Margaret Mitchell gave us, are skillfully acted by Vivien Leigh(Scarlett),Clark Gable(Rhett),Leslie Howard(Ashley),Olivia De Havilland(Melanie) Hattie McDaniel(Mammy),and let's not forget the wonderful Butterfly Mcqueen(Prissy) who uttered the immortal, "I don't know bout birthin no babies, Miss Scarlett".The film won the Best Picture of 1939, along with 9 other Oscars, including one for Hattie McDaniel(Best Supporting actress), making her the first African American in Academy history to recieve the honor.

CASABLANCA....The name alone conjures up visions of World War II, Clandestine meetings, Romance and Exotic places.This film has all that and more. To sum up this wonderful story: it is the eve of WWII, the Nazi's are moving their way across Europe, forcing thousands to flee. Many find their way to Casablanca, Morocco, which is under French rule and as of yet is unoccupied by the Nazi's. Most are looking for exit Visas to get to America but it is easier said then done. Victor Laszlo(Paul Henreid)and his wife Ilsa(Ingrid Bergman)are among those people and it's harder for him then most. He is on the Nazi's most wanted list for leading the Czech Resistance. Rick Blaine(Humphrey Bogart)is his best hope.

Rick, American ex-patriot,doesn't stick his neck out for anybody, until he sees Ilsa. His old flame, that mysteriously left him in Paris,("We'll always have Paris"). Rick still feels the sting of that day,but as Ilsa's story unfolds he does stick his neck out for both Ilsa and Victor to help them get away, even though he loves her still.

The music,including "As Time Goes By",("Play it Sam") the characters, and the famous dialogue unforgettable and timeless. Included in this marvelous cast are Claude Rains, ("Louie, I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship"), Peter Lorre,Conrad Veidt and Sydney Greenstreet. It was directed by Michael Curtiz, and won the academy award for best picture of 1943.

The DVD(Warner Bros) is a Pristine transfer. The black and white cinematography with all it's shadows and lights that make film noir so dramatic is crisp and clear.I saw no signs of the age of this film. Ingrid's eyes sparkle as much as her diamond earrings.The sound is perfect.

"Here's looking at you kid"............Laurie

Super Duper Sumos - They've Got Guts (Vol. 1)

Average customer rating:

There are SIX DVD's of this thing?!
they got guts and butts

Super Duper Sumos - They've Got Guts (Vol. 1)
Starring: Matt Hill , Ben Hur (III) , Cusse Mankuma , Richard Newman , and Chantal Strand
Manufacturer: Adv Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Anime & Manga | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Anime | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Super Duper Sumos - Absolutely Flabulous (Vol. 2)
Super Duper Sumos - Deep Sushi (Vol. 3)
Super Duper Sumos - Way of the Phat (Vol. 4)
Super Duper Sumos - Sumo Squeez-O (Vol. 5)
Super Duper Sumos - Big Bottom Bros! (Vol. 6)

ASIN: B00007JZOB
Release Date: 2003-02-04

Amazon.com

Super Duper Sumos is a string of butt jokes masquerading as a children's TV series. Three outsized guys--Pooma, Kimo, and Mamoo--fight evil as "Defenders of the Phat." Ms. Mister and her henchmen Dr. Stinger and Geghis Fangus at Bad Inc. are out to destroy the world. (Where they'll go when it's destroyed is never explained.) In the heat of battle, the Sumos "super-size" and grow even bigger. In flashbacks, they describe being trained by Wisdom San, who talks in a clichéd Borscht Belt accent. The pseudo-Japanese Kimo refers to "honorable this" and "honorable that," while Pooma talks about "my butt" as if it were another character. The endless shots of jiggling cheeks and cracks about butts make this show ideal viewing for junior Adam Sandlers. (Rated suitable for all ages, but inappropriate for children under 10: cartoon violence, vulgarity, brief nudity, ethnic stereotypes) --Charles Solomon

Description

Mamoo, Boomer and Kimo are three eighteen year-old, thousand-pound sumo wrestlers, dressed according to custom in super-hefty-size sumo thongs. In addition to their bulk, they pack ancient sumo powers, which makes the modern world a bit confusing for them. Regardless, when evil threatens, the three flex themselves into a dramatic physical transformation, doubling their size and strength. (If only their heads grew, too!)

Customer Reviews:

There are SIX DVD's of this thing?!.......2004-08-17

OK it's bad enough that I saw this series, but when I search Amazon to review it I find six - yes - six DVD's of this series. That is truly scary.

But getting on to my review, I came across this series expecting Invader Zim to be on instead. (thanks for lying to me, TV Guide Channel) When the opening credits started I was laughing my head off, because I thought the whole thing was a joke. When it kept going into the episode I thought, "Oh...it's a real series."

The show CAN be funny, but unfortunately it actually tries to take itself seriously at points in the story. By the way, the stories are incredibly predictable and follow along the cliche, formulaic plots of the worst animated TV series. They just get repitative and dull after a while. Sure, some times I laugh, but I think I was crying more as I watched this thing.

You'll find yourself laughing AT the show more than with it. The three sumos are politically correct, with a white sumo, a black sumo, and the one asian sumo. The latter likes to throw the word "honorable" around a lot, which made me wonder if the series was being borderline offensive. (didn't that stereotype die in the 60's?) The white sumo uses the same butt joke over and over again...I mean my God! You could make a drinking game out of how many times the word "butt" is used. By the way, the butts in this show are disturbing...they're poorly drawn and don't look like butts, they look like...well...parts of the female anatomy...

Avoid. Bad stories, bad humor, bad character designs, bad every thing. Watch real sumo wrestling on EPSN8 or some thing...

they got guts and butts.......2003-03-14

ok Super Duper Sumos is about 3 Sumos who's master Wisdom San sent them to live in the big city to fight evil as Defenders of the Phat.
Kimo who is into Honor and telling bad jokes, Mamoo who is into truth and cooking, and Pooma who just loves to look at his butt, all 3 Sumos Defend the city from Ms. Mister and her evil henchmen of Bad Inc. who want to blow up the wold.
will the sumos stop them? im not telling.

DVD:

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