Dead or Alive (Unrated Director's Cut)

Starring:Riki Takeuchi, Sho Aikawa, Renji Ishibashi, Hitoshi Ozawa, Shingo Tsurumi, Kaoru Sugita, Susumu Terajima, Ryuushi Mizukami, Hua Rong Weng, Tomorowo Taguchi, Mizuho Koga, Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi, KyÃ´suke Yabe, Michisuke Kashiwaya, Dankan, Hirotaro Honda, Ren Osugi
Director: Takashi Miike
Studio: Kino Video
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
The director of Dead or Alive, Takashi Miike, made his name on the international scene with Audition, a chilling psychological thriller that builds from a quiet start towards a prolonged torture sequence almost too unbearable to watch. But such deliberate pacing isn't typical of Miike, whose movies often assault the viewer with an onslaught of slam-bang action that makes John Woo look like Eric Rohmer. Dead or Alive, his most successful cops-vs-yakuza thriller to date, kicks off with six nonstop minutes of machine gun-paced violence, sex, and slaughter, all set to a pounding heavy-metal beat. Thereafter things calm down a little, though not much. Given Miike's penchant for murky, livid-toned visuals and skewed camera angles, it's not always too easy to work out exactly who's doing what to whom, but the general outline's clear enough. The Tokyo underworld is being torn apart by a turf war between the yakuza gangs and the invading Chinese triads. Ambitious yakuza member Ryuichi (Riki Takeuchi) isn't above playing both sides off against each other in his bid for power, while police detective Jojima (Sho Aikawa), himself none too scrupulous in his methods, is out to destroy the gangs.

Customer Reviews:

MCQUEEN IS GREAT IN SEASON TWO.......2007-04-30

I have seen most of the episodes for season two and Mcqueen is more comfortable in the character of Josh Randall then he was in season one. In fact some of these episodes are more of a comedy than a drama. In Wanted Dead or Alive Steve Mcqueen shows why he was the top box office star of the 60s and 70s. I must buy for a Steve Mcqueen fan.

A great show .......2007-04-15

The Second season was the peak in this short lived show, it lasted for only Three seasons and 94 episodes. After placing 16th out of the best 30 TV shows in the First Season, the Second season placed even higher when it placed 9th out of the best 30 TV shows during the period from October 1959 until April 1960, having 28.7% of viewers, according to the Nielsen rating (The Nielsen rating is the percent of all TV-equipped homes tuned to the program on an average night, as measured by Nielsen Media Research).

The Second season consisted of 32 episodes and they are as follows:

37- Montana Kid 9/5/1959
38- The Healing Woman 9/12/1959
39- The Matchmaker 9/19/1959
40- Breakout 9/26/1959
41- Estralita 10/3/1959
42- The Hostage 10/10/1959
43- The Empty Cell 10/17/1959
44- Bad Gun 10/24/1959
45- The Tyrant 10/31/1959
46- Reckless 11/7/1959
47- Desert Seed 11/14/1959
48- Twelve Hours to Crazy Horse 11/21/1959
49- No Trail Back 11/28/1959
50- Man on Horseback 12/5/1959
51- Chain Gang 12/12/1959
52- Vanishing Act 12/26/1959
53- Mental Lapse 1/2/1960
54- Angela 1/9/1960
55- The Monster 1/16/1960
56- The Most Beautiful Woman 1/23/1960
57- Jason 1/30/1960
58- The Partners 2/6/1960
59- Tolliver Bender 2/13/1960
60- A House Divided 2/20/1960
61- Triple Vice 2/27/1960
62- Black Belt 3/19/1960
63- The Pariah 3/26/1960
64- Vendetta 4/9/1960
65- Death Divided by Three 4/23/1960
66- The Inheritance 4/30/1960
67- Prison Trail 5/14/1960
68- Pay-Off at Pinto 5/21/1960

I am very happy that we only have the Third season left before we own the whole set. I hope the 3rd season will follow soon after this season.

Thank you for reading my review and have a wonderful day :)

Josh and His "Mare's Laig" Ride Again! ! ! !".......2007-04-01

One of the most memorable and famous characters of the '50's Western genre was Steve McQueen's "Josh Randall", who spoke softly (with the Southern drawl he cultivated in his early days roaming around the South, particularly Myrtle Beach, S.C.) and carried a Big Gun, the sawed-off Winchester lever-action rifle then known as the "Mare's Laig". I remember the excitement each week eagerly waiting for each episode of this great Western.
It's release on DVD has been just too long a wait!
One of my fondest childhood memories was the weekend I spent with my Dad, helping him to hand make my own custom-made leather belt rig from scratch for my toy "Mare's Laig" in time for use as part of a Halloween costume when the plastic original proved to be a poor replica.
With all the second- and third-rate wastage flooding the DVD market lately, it's really great to see SOMEBODY bring back such a great actor in this really great Western!

Average customer rating:

GOOD GUYS - BAD GUYS
Pointless 80's Action Hero Drivel - But Fun To Watch!
wanted dead or alive
RUTGER HAUER AND GENE SIMMONS!
wanted dead or alive

Wanted Dead or Alive
Starring: Rutger Hauer , Gene Simmons , Robert Guillaume , Mel Harris , and William Russ
Director: Gary Sherman
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000059PPI
Release Date: 2001-05-08

Customer Reviews:

GOOD GUYS - BAD GUYS .......2007-06-15

The mystery and intrigue sets an excellent pace to figuring who to root for.
Nick Randall, bounty hunter - the hunted deserved everything they got.
Don't mess with his friend or his girl. Or there will be hell to pay.

Malak Al Rahim - made one huge mistake - he messed with both.

Randall was smart enough to make the stake-out and his FBI friend made him. The stake-out was stupid enough to walk into his end.

Really like the loft living area that Randall had and kept his friend's bike there. Ah well, the blonde wig done him in.

Rutger Hauer can not top "Ladyhawk"'s Navarre for a romantic image but his Randall character [and others] "Blind Fury" and "Split Secong" - just prove his acting ability - oh yes, "Bladerunner" [gross] to mention a few.

DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED - great collection for viewing.

Pointless 80's Action Hero Drivel - But Fun To Watch!.......2007-05-11

Wanted Dead Or Alive was one of those out-of-control lone wolf cop movies that came out in droves in the mid-to-late 80s. All these movies (Cobra, Runaway, Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, etc....) aspired to be Dirty Harry. Some succeeded, most did not. Wanted Dead or Alive was Rutger Hauer's turn at playing the vigilante cop living on the edge. Watching it now, this movie is hilarious. Since his role as the terrorist in Night Hawks (Sylvester Stallone & Bily Dee Willams) and his role as the psycho in The Hitcher, Hauer seemed to be lapsing in the tough-as nails roles. Wanted Dead Or Alve does nothing to bring him back. Rutger Hauer is one of those actors that just play a better villian. As a villian, Hauer is creepy, vile, ruthless and cold. As the good guy, just not as believable. The saving grace of this predictable action cop movie is Gene Simmons (KISS) as the evil terrorist. He must have taken notes from Hauer, because he is ruthless and cold. He shoots without flinching. Great role for him. Overall, Wanted Dead or Alive is a fun watch mostly for the nostalgic 80s feel and for Gene Simmons'turn as a psycho killer.

Dig It!

wanted dead or alive.......2007-03-22

I have been a fan of Rutger Hauer since BLADE RUNNER,I think he is a fabulous actor and does justice to any part he is in.Wanted dead or alive is no exception, he gets the bad guys like no one else, i get a real kick of satisfaction as he disposes of each villan.The guy from KISS with the big tongue did a suprisingly good job as the terrorist to. LOVED IT.....

RUTGER HAUER AND GENE SIMMONS!.......2007-03-07

WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE IS ONE OF THE GREATEST
MOVIES EVER MADE! A CLASSIC! RUTGER HAUER IS
AWESOME AS A SECRET AGENT WITH GENE SIMMONS
AS A TERROIST MAKES THIS AN ACTION PACKED
THRILLER WITH A GREAT STORY ACTED AND WELL
DIRECTED THIS IS AN OVERLOOKED CLASSIC! I
HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS IF YOUR A FAN OF THIS
TYPE OF MOVIE! TOO BAD THEY DON'T MAKE THEM
LIKE THIS ANYMORE. HOW ABOUT A SEQUEL?

wanted dead or alive.......2007-01-16

great movie rutger hauer at his best beautifil music score great ending

D.O.A. : Dead or Alive (Unrated Asian Version)

Average customer rating:

D.O.A. : Dead or Alive (Unrated Asian Version)
Director: Corey Yuen
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
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Product Features:

Mild Violence
Uncut Version
English and Thai Audio Options

ASIN: B000NPUJ4Y

Product Description

A number of fighters are invited to DOA, an invitational martial arts contest. They travel to the tournament island by plane, until they have to jump out mid-flight with parachutes, and then have until sundown to reach the main island to be entered into the tournament. Fighters are then pooled against one another in a knock-out style tournament, with the loser of a battle sent home, and the winner progressing to the subsequent round. The plot revolves around four female fighters who begin as rivals, but subsequently find themselves teaming up against another force. Based on the popular video game!

Average customer rating:

GOOD GUYS - BAD GUYS
Pointless 80's Action Hero Drivel - But Fun To Watch!
wanted dead or alive
RUTGER HAUER AND GENE SIMMONS!
wanted dead or alive

Wanted: Dead or Alive - Season One
Starring: Steve McQueen
Manufacturer: Bci / Eclipse
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

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Runaway
Blind Fury
The Hitcher
The Blood of Heroes
Extreme Prejudice

ASIN: B000NTPGC0
Release Date: 2007-05-15

Customer Reviews:

GOOD GUYS - BAD GUYS .......2007-06-15

Pointless 80's Action Hero Drivel - But Fun To Watch!.......2007-05-11

wanted dead or alive.......2007-03-22

RUTGER HAUER AND GENE SIMMONS!.......2007-03-07

wanted dead or alive.......2007-01-16

great movie rutger hauer at his best beautifil music score great ending

Average customer rating:

Definitely not Steve McQueen, but probably "wanted"
Reviewing cut version, I think
Couldn't Finish This Movie
eh, this didn't really do it for me
Miike is pure genious....

Dead or Alive (Unrated Director's Cut)
Starring: Riki Takeuchi , Sho Aikawa , Renji Ishibashi , Hitoshi Ozawa , and Shingo Tsurumi
Director: Takashi Miike
Manufacturer: Kino Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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Ichi the Killer (Unrated Edition)
Visitor Q (Sub)
Audition (Uncut Special Edition)
Gozu
Ultimate Versus

ASIN: B00008WJCJ
Release Date: 2003-05-27

Amazon.com

The director of Dead or Alive, Takashi Miike, made his name on the international scene with Audition, a chilling psychological thriller that builds from a quiet start towards a prolonged torture sequence almost too unbearable to watch. But such deliberate pacing isn't typical of Miike, whose movies often assault the viewer with an onslaught of slam-bang action that makes John Woo look like Eric Rohmer. Dead or Alive, his most successful cops-vs-yakuza thriller to date, kicks off with six nonstop minutes of machine gun-paced violence, sex, and slaughter, all set to a pounding heavy-metal beat. Thereafter things calm down a little, though not much. Given Miike's penchant for murky, livid-toned visuals and skewed camera angles, it's not always too easy to work out exactly who's doing what to whom, but the general outline's clear enough. The Tokyo underworld is being torn apart by a turf war between the yakuza gangs and the invading Chinese triads. Ambitious yakuza member Ryuichi (Riki Takeuchi) isn't above playing both sides off against each other in his bid for power, while police detective Jojima (Sho Aikawa), himself none too scrupulous in his methods, is out to destroy the gangs.

Customer Reviews:

Definitely not Steve McQueen, but probably "wanted" .......2006-11-10

Director Takashi Miike not only pushes the envelope open in Dead or Alive...he not only rips the envelope apart...he stomps on the envelope, burns it, spills acid on it, and then shoots it into space.
More than other films of Miike's I've seen, this film goes out of its way to get into your face.
I will try to avoid SPOILERS, but be warned...warned that spoilers won't make any difference. The plot does not make any real difference. It's all in the scene by scene.
Dead or Alive is essentially the story of a police officer and the yakuza he hunts. The yakuza, if I am using the term right, is a Chinese gangster involved in importing drugs into Japan. The Japanese police officer is trying to stop him.
The film begins with a riotous collection of short scenes where pretty much everyone gets it. Hard to think who's left for the rest of the film, but there are survivors. Imagine a film that is mostly the last crazy scene of The Bunch, multiply it by Team America (uncut)'s "times one thousand", and you may start to get an idea of what this film is like.
The film is set in modern Japan that is a Sodom and Gomorrah lookalike. I mean that in the strongest terms possible. This is a direct to video film where anything goes. There is violence aplenty. There is also ample nude flesh (of course it is female flesh, often rubbed directly into the camera's eye). It is more exploitive than, say, Ichi The Killer in its use of women, and at times is offensive if you're not a fanboy who needs a date. The women are more 'victims' than in some other Miike films. Yet, as is the case with this brilliant, prolific director, it ain't quite that simple, either.
Nor is the relationship between the two lead characters, the Japanese police officer and the Chinese gangster, all that simple either. It is not clear what the relationship of the police officer is to the gangsters. He is emotionally separate from his wife (who may be having an affair) and his daughter--he sleeps on the couch and barely talks to either one of them. In fact, they both seem a drain on him.
On the flip side, the gangster is a ruthless fellow, ready to take a chance at commiting suicide in a Russian roulette game, but yet he supports his kid brother in college. He is loyal to his friends, and is most deeply offended when one of his friends betrays him--he shows pretty much the most emotion in the film when he discovers this betrayal.
Both the cop and gangster have their own code of ethics, their own flaws. Although it takes quite a bit to get beyond the violence, once you do there are layers here that are not obvious on the first viewing.
Unfortunately, Miike often seems interested in simply shocking the viewer at times, or at the very least seeing just how far he can go. This fits with the Soddom and Gomorrah theme, but be warned it ain't pretty.
There are also some pacing lapses, and a lot of the violence feels repetitious. The ending, without giving it away too much, is a showdown between the two main characters. It gets, shall we say, very ridiculous, with a humour that was absent from the rest of the film. Whether it works or not depends on you, of course. For me, it worked only in the sense that, like the film, it kept getting more and more extreme.
The reptition, the violence just for the violence's sake, and the pretty nasty exploitation of women are why this film gets three stars instead of more.

Reviewing cut version, I think.......2006-10-21

Now the version that I rented doesn't say unrated dirctor's cut. Amazon lists it for 105 minutes but the credits started rolling at about 94 minutes and the movie finished at 98. I still think I got the story no matter how much the director tried to throw me off.

All sorts of crazy stuff is happening at the beginning but it comes down to a cop trying to bring down a gangster. Riki Takeuchi was about the only thing that I really liked about this movie but it did have some other things to look at. I loved Riki in Deadly Outlaw and Yakuza Demon and while he is great in this, the story is just too freaking weird. It is simple, but there is just too much going on in the beginning and leaves you with a feeling that a bunch of this footage just had no point to it. Sadly, unlike some of Miike's other films, this feels too much like straight to video, which of course that's exactly what it is just like many of Miike's films are.

So the ending was just as crazy as I expected, but it just felt too much like TV and wasn't worth sitting through the whole movie for. I was stuck between a 2 and 3 but there are just enough visual images to keep you interested here.

The DVD I watched that didn't say uncut at the top but had a line about the violence and it was seemed like a cut version. It does have a VERY good picture quality and also very good subtitles. The interview with Miike was extremely informative but short.

Couldn't Finish This Movie.......2006-08-17

I tried for three consecutive nights to make it through this movie and couldn't do it. As the Amazon reviewer noted, it is hard to tell the characters apart, and this adds confusion to the boredom and repulsion. The plot didn't capture me at all, and the so-called sensational action was very predictable and campy. I guess if you're into seeing a woman have sex with a dog, and other defilements, this might be of interest to you.

I love all types of obscure stuff out of Japan, but this falls way short. I advise that you rent before you buy as you may be disappointed by this even if it sounds like it might be in one of your collection genres.

eh, this didn't really do it for me.......2006-05-30

Let me start by saying Miike is a genious.
but this one wasn't that great. The violence was great. The charachters were pretty good. The story was o.k. And the ending was friggin awesome until the very last thing that happens. I thought that that was garbage, but thats just my opinion. There are probably so many people that think thats what made that movie so great. I can see what they're thinking. but... not for me

Miike is pure genious...........2006-04-18

What can I say - I saw an earlier review that said this movie had the best opening and ending of all time - that is pretty accurate. You see a bit (although nothing like Ichi) of the violent excess that Miike wants to give you, but he adds a very touching element that deals with the loss of a close family member (Ryuichi's little brother Toji, and Jojima's wife and daughter) and creates an excellent (albeit intense), emotional plot line that delivers from the first second to the very last.
Classic, brilliant Miike, perhaps one of his best.

Average customer rating:

Great Western Series
They don't make them like this anymore.
Wanted - Dead Or Alive
A Real Classic TV Western
Four Stars

Wanted: Dead or Alive - Season One
Starring: Wanted-Dead Or Alive
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0008FXSSI
Release Date: 2005-06-07

Amazon.com

The uniquely cool talent that propelled Steve McQueen to movie stardom is fully evident in the debut season of Wanted: Dead or Alive. Having just boosted his big-screen potential with a starring role in The Blob, 28-year-old McQueen was reluctant to accept the role of bounty hunter Josh Randall in this trend-setting series; he balked at the demanding schedule and thought himself too contemporary for a Western series, but the producers (including Four Star Productions cofounders Dick Powell and Ida Lupino) were convinced that McQueen was perfect for the role, and the still-struggling actor couldn't refuse a $750-per-week salary. Once committed, McQueen developed Randall into an antihero with conflicting qualities of danger and compassion: With his infamous "Mare's Leg" (an 1892 Winchester rifle with sawed-off stock and barrel) and calm demeanor, Randall maintained his tough-guy image as a mercenary outcast. Capable of attack without warning, he could also be generous to the needy, never seeking credit for his kindness. In these 36 consistently enjoyable episodes (out of a three-season total of 94), McQueen builds the prototype of his later success; he's a man of few words and volatile action, and his expressions (including a mischievous smile) convey quick-draw instinct and an amiable yet potentially deadly ability to fend off all enemies.

Randall was introduced in a March 1958 episode of the Western series Trackdown, and Wanted: Dead or Alive was an instant hit when it premiered on CBS on September 6, 1958. With surprising quirks of character (his "favorite tune" is Chopin's C-flat Nocturne), Randall was a new kind of hero, and Wanted further benefited from quality writing, direction, and familiar guest stars (including first-season appearances by Michael Landon, James Coburn, Skip Homeier, Everett Sloane, and many other stalwarts of late-'50s TV). The season 1 DVDs include a wealth of bonus features, including show history, a McQueen biography, three "series analysis" featurettes," photo galleries, and the A&E Biography segment "Steve McQueen: Life in the Fast Lane" split into six parts. Image and sound quality varies from excellent to average, and three episodes that were badly "colorized" in the 1980s are also included. They're hideous proof that colorization was a bad idea, but they indicate the extra effort that was made to provide features that Wanted fans will surely appreciate. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Own the hit television series that launched the career of big-screen legend Steve McQueen. Josh Randall (McQueen) was not a typical rough-hewn bounty hunter of the Old West; he was a consummate gentleman who always gave half - or even all - of his reward money to charity. He was a man of few words, and he carried a Winchester sawed-off shotgun, which he wore on his belt and fondly called his "Mare?s leg."

DVD Features: Biographies: Documentaries:6-part documentary "Life in The Fast Lane"--an in-depth look at the legendary Steve McQueen Featurette:3 featurettes on the TV series Other:3 colorized episodes Photo gallery:

Customer Reviews:

Great Western Series.......2007-06-25

It's amazing what television used to be able to do with a half hour dramatic series. Steve McQueen's acting style reflected the pacing of Wanted Dead or Alive: lean, straight-forward, no trivialities. McQueen's Josh Randall is truly a classic and memorable western character. Looking forward to season 2.

They don't make them like this anymore........2007-05-21

At long last i have some decent old westerns to watch again.This is one of the best TV westerns and it still is very good even after all this time.As yet i have not watched it all but am watching it bit by bit to prolong the enjoyment until i can get the second series.I don't worry about the mistakes etc but the reproduction is surprisingly good for such an old show.Ihope that series three is commig out as i would like to own all of them.Keep up the good work and if you are a fan of old westerns don't miss this one.Wanted: Dead or Alive - Season One

Wanted - Dead Or Alive.......2007-04-25

You should like this if you like Steve McQueen and are interestred in his early career. It's kind of funny now to watch the state of 50's TV, but Steve McQueen, as Bounty Hunter with a heart Josh Randall, is great to watch, being his usual, seemingly detached self. He was tough when he needed to be, but was not above leaving the bounty behind for the benefit of a needy young widow. The series was, of course, in black and white, and events like fist fights reflect the status of 1950's filmmaking.
A great series, very clear and crisp and great viewing.

A Real Classic TV Western.......2007-04-06

If you watched TV in the 50's and 60's or if you like Steve McQueen then this set is for you. The shows are great and the quality is excellent. I've watched the whole Box Set and have had no problems with playing.
Can't wait for Season 2 and wish more of this type of shows would come out.

Four Stars.......2007-03-29

I have some problems playing the DVDs both on my dvd computer and on the dvd connected with my TV.

Average customer rating:

Wanted: Dead or Alive

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B0009E27FI

Average customer rating:

Superb and moving
A behind-the-scenes look at one of the most successful missions to the Red Planet!!!
The science and engineering behind the Mars rovers

NOVA - Mars, Dead or Alive
Starring: Stacy Keach , Peter Thomas (VI) , and Don Wescott
Manufacturer: WGBH Boston
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000B1OFZ
Release Date: 2004-03-30

Amazon.com

The great PBS science series Nova scores another hit with Mars: Dead or Alive, capturing all the excitement surrounding the Mars rover landings of early 2004. Originally broadcast just as the first of the twin rovers ("Spirit" and "Opportunity") was experiencing temporary communication problems with Earth-bound mission controllers, this riveting hour-long episode chronicles the risky $820 million Mars Exploration Rover (MER) project from design to touchdown, dramatically illustrating (through the use of detailed simulations and sophisticated computer animation) the considerable chances of failure--a nail-biting gamble considering that fully two-thirds of all previous Mars missions never reached their destination. Through rigorous testing and initial failure of the MER parachute system to the celebrated transmission of pristine photos from the "Spirit" landing site, we see just how intensely complex and emotionally involving the missions are, especially for Cornell University astronomer and lead MER scientist Steve Squyres and his devoted team of colleagues at Pasadena's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Careers are on the line as technical problems accumulate, and one feels the same mixture of dread, anxiety, and elation that accompanied the historic return of Apollo 13. A bonus interview with Mars-mission pioneer Donna Shirley puts everything into resonant perspective, celebrating science and the MER missions as an essential human endeavor.

As with all Nova programs, the DVD includes a generous variety of study materials including an interview with Squyres, a detailed look at the anatomy of the Mars rovers, links to a companion website, and a "math activity" feature allowing viewers to understand the aerodynamic variables of parachute design. If you're among those who feel that NASA and MER tax dollars are wasted, this DVD will probably change your opinion. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Inside NASA's risky field trip to the Red Planet.

Two-thirds of all spacecraft previously launched to Mars never reached their destination. Now, in a pioneering and risky mission, twin rovers named Spirit and Opportunity hurtle toward Mars at 12,000 miles per hour, with Spirit scheduled to touch down first. In the final "six minutes of terror" a parachute will open, giant protective airbags will inflate around the lander, and retrorockets will fire for a few seconds before Spirit is cut loose, bouncing its way to what everyone hopes will be a safe landing. To survive, Spirit will have to function perfectly. It will also have to be lucky, since there's no way of knowing when a sharp rock or a gust of wind will ruin your day on Mars. Only then will Spirit be able to roll off the lander and begin its mission as a robot geologist, searching for clues that can tell us whether this harsh and barren planet was ever a place that could have supported life. Join NOVA for a tense and dramatic behind-the-scenes chronicle of the $820 million Mars Exploration Rover (MER) project, developed at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. Beginning a year before launch, NOVA's cameras follow MER scientists and engineers through a gauntlet of potentially fatal problems such as shredding parachutes, punctured airbags, and short circuits, any one of which could scuttle the mission before the rovers ever reach the launchpad. Then, seven months after launch, re-join NOVA and the NASA team in mission control for the final nail-biting minutes of the journey, as Spirit successfully lands on Mars and begins sending back its first spectacular images of the Martian landscape.

Special DVD features include: bonus video segment featuring Donna Shirley of NASA; interview with Steve Squyres; Anatamony of a Rover activity; materials and activities for educators; a link to the NOVA Web site; scene selections; closed captions; and described video for the visually impaired.

On one DVD5 disc. Region coding: All regions. Audio: Dolby stereo. Screen format: Letterboxed.

Customer Reviews:

Superb and moving.......2007-03-30

I won't go into as much detail as others have, but I will say that as an armchair science lover, I was moved by this documentary. It was fascinating to see the level of dedication these people have, and I am amazed that the mission is still ongoing! The animations were superb and told the story very well. I don't think scientists get enough credit and attention. Everyone should see this.

A behind-the-scenes look at one of the most successful missions to the Red Planet!!!.......2005-10-30

+++++

In August 2005, the lead or principal science investigator (or simply, the guy in charge) of the Mars Exploratory (MER) Mission Dr. Steve Squyres, wrote a book about this mission (a mission which is still going as of the date this review was posted). His book consists of three parts: (1) the events that lead to the final decision to go ahead with the MER mission (2) the technical development of the mission and (3) some highlights of the rovers on Mars.

This late March 2004 video on DVD gives an excellent account of the second part of Squyres' book and also includes some of part one and a bit of part three.

If everything on this video is included in this book, then why bother with this video? Answer: three main reasons.

(1) This video has fantastic computer animation that brings what Squires' writes in his book alive.
(2) You get to actually see the two identical rovers or robots (called "Spirit" and "Opportunity") and their components up-close. (The rovers are to be like field geologists examining the soil and rocks of Mars as well as imaging features on Mars and transmitting their data back to Earth.)
(3) You get to see some of the faces of the incredible MER team (made of more than 600 people). You especially get to see a lot of Squyres.

This video has eight scenes:

(1) Introduction (which is a brief preview of the entire program).
(2) A Hostile Environment (includes interesting stuff about the planet Mars and why it's the graveyard for half the spacecraft ever sent there).
(3) Unexpected Problems (that is, technical problems that arose with the rovers and their components during testing.)
(4) Where to Land (the sites where the rovers were to land on Mars had to be above-all safe).
(5) Engineers Prevail (since engineers are more concerned with the practical aspects of the mission).
(6) Time to Fly (the launch of Spirit and Opportunity in the summer of 2003).
(7) Welcome to Mars (Sprit successfully lands on Mars in early January 2004 with some drama and the MER team's reaction).
(8) End Credits.

What is the purpose of the MER mission? Squyres tells us: "I want to go to two places on Mars where we've got good evidence that water was there and I want to answer the question: was this an environment that would have been suitable for life?"

If I had to sum up this video in one sentence, I would have to say that it puts an emotional human face on this robotic mission and does this quite well.

The DVD itself is perfect in picture and sound quality. I found all the extras interesting and informative.

I would recommend after viewing this video to read the above-mentioned book called "Roving Mars" (2005) by Dr. Steve Squyres.

Finally, the only minor problem I had with this video is that it does not mention how long this 800 million dollar mission was to last. The answer is 90 days. Squyres wrote his book 445 days into the mission. And, as I said, this mission is still going on as of the date this review was posted!!

In conclusion, this is a fantastic video with excellent computer animation that puts a human face on the robotic Mars Exploratory Mission!!!

(2004; 55 min; originally aired on the Public Broadcasting Station on their program Nova; widescreen; closed-captioned)

+++++

The science and engineering behind the Mars rovers.......2005-08-28

Mars Dead or Alive tells the story of the two rovers, the Spirit and the Opportunity, that landed on Mars in January 2004 to undertake advanced geological studies and to seek evidence of past water on the planet's surface. This Nova documentary does not cover the mission itself, merely the preparation and execution of the rover project. As such, it will primarily be of interest to science geeks.

As far as I'm concerned, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory is the only NASA-related agency that has any credibility whatsoever nowadays; basically, the only real successes of the past decade or more are attributable to JPL. This documentary is somewhat revealing in regard to NASA as a whole, if you ask me. When you look at the Mars rover project, you see scientists and engineers rushing to meet a deadline, foregoing certain tests because of time constraints, having to react on the fly to unexpected problems, and allowing NASA's "go with what you know" philosophy to trip them up on matters that would seem to be comparatively simple. Here's an example: the Rover missions were initially designed to use the same type of parachute and air bags as that of the earlier Pathfinder mission to Mars. Team members then watched in shock as both of these critical mission components failed miserably in testing. Of course those tests failed - for the simple reason that the new rovers were a good fifty pounds heavier than the Pathfinder. So it is that we see engineers and scientists sweating bullets trying to fix mission-killing problems mere weeks before the deadline, all because they failed to make adjustments according to weight.

I don't mean to criticize the rover team members too harshly, though. They did, as this documentary shows us, really pull together to correct their mistakes and figure out new solutions to unexpected problems - and, as we know, both Spirit and Opportunity landed safely on Mars and did the jobs they were intended to do. Mars Dead or Alive does a good job of posing the challenges to the mission and walking us through most of the process. The rovers themselves are immensely complicated little bots armed with a portable geological lab, stereoscopic eyes, and over a thousand units of delicate hardware. Somehow, these things had to survive a landing on Mars, basically wake themselves up, call Earth, and then ease out onto the surface and begin serious scientific work. Even the choice of landing sites was complicated, for a number of reasons. The scientists dearly wanted to land in Gusev Crater, which they believed could possibly be a dry lake bed, and the engineers had to pulls feats of Montgomery Scott-like proportions to make this possible. The parachute and inflatable bags around the rover had to prove themselves able to withstand the possible winds at that location - and that took some real doing since both components miserably failed their initial tests.

Unless you're a NASA cynic like me (and I hate being such a cynic, as my fondest dream as a child was to work for this very agency), Mars Dead or Alive tells a pretty inspirational story - men and women coming together, plowing through many obstacles, and succeeding in a pretty glorious mission to Mars. The folks at JPL are really the best in the business - still, I think the conditions under which this Mars project proceeded are somewhat revealing of NASA's problematic culture. That, in my mind, makes Mars Dead or Alive a doubly instructive documentary.

Average customer rating:

Doa: Dead Or Alive
Starring: Doa: Dead Or Alive
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000I0RNY8
Release Date: 2007-04-17

Average customer rating:

Top quality Miike
1and2 are great. The third one is horrible.
One Third Of An Excellent Trilogy
Great collection

Takashi Miike's Dead or Alive Trilogy
Starring: Riki Takeuchi , Sho Aikawa , Renji Ishibashi , Hitoshi Ozawa , and Shingo Tsurumi
Director: Takashi Miike
Manufacturer: Kino Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Art House & International | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

Boxed Sets | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

Visitor Q (Sub)
Ichi the Killer (Unrated Edition)
Audition (Uncut Special Edition)
Gozu
Izo (Special Edition)

ASIN: B0000E6FNU
Release Date: 2003-11-25

Customer Reviews:

Top quality Miike.......2006-06-22

Takashi Miike's rapidly expanding oeuvre includes something from nearly every genre (including a family picture and a musical?!). The Dead or Alive trilogy find him with his familiar Yakuza genre, but these films aren't your typical Japanese gangster flicks. Miike's style are all over these films. The opening montage in DOA1 is some of his finest work - eight minutes of rapid fire violence, drugs, car chases, assassinations, and death. Sergi Eisenstein would be proud. The ending is also particularly amazing. How to end a 100% insane yakuza ultra-violent movie? Miike finds the perfect way.

The films are a trilogy in name only. All three stories are completely different, but use the same leading actors. I haven't seen many of their other films, but it's my understanding (from reading Tom Mes's great book on Miike), that these are two of Japan's biggest action stars, working together for the first time. In DOA1, they're enemies. In DOA2, they're best friends. In DOA3, one of them is an android. All three stories are unique and all have interesting qualities. I would agree with the other reviewers that the third is the weakest, but I wouldn't go so far as to say it's lacking in quality. It's reminiscent of Miike's City of Lost Souls.

While the films are available separately, the three disc collection is definitely the way to go. They're all very good films and the first two are definitely among Miike's best work. Be sure you don't accidentally purchase the "R" rated versions. You want the unrated version with all of Miike's balletic, Peckinpahnian violence intact.

These films are known as action movies, but they all have fairly slow middle sections where the characters have time to develop and evolve. Whatever else he does, Miike always tells a good story. Anyone hoping for wall-to-wall action will be disappointed. However, those seeking a thoughtful action picture (or three of them in this case) will enjoy these films. If you think you know yakuza pictures, wait until you see these!

1and2 are great. The third one is horrible........2006-03-17

I liked the first one alot. I liked the two stories that were going on in the movie. Don't be fooled by the title Dead or Alive though. I think of it more of a drama then an action flick.

I thought the second one had a fantastic story. I liked the scenes outside. I think all of the outside shots looked beautiful. Expect very little action though in this one. Its a story about 2 step brothers that havn't seen eachother since they were childeren.

Now for the third one. I liked the story up to a point, and then the movie just ended. It was like they ran out of money and just threw a rediculous end together. The story had a lot of potential and someone ruined it. I don't know what they were thinking. If this one wasn't so horrible I def would have given the trilogy 4 stars.

One Third Of An Excellent Trilogy.......2006-02-03

I was on a real Miike kick when I bought this, and I seriously doubt that anyone could have convinced me to do what I'm about to suggest to you. Don't buy this trilogy, only the first movie is really worthwhile. Two and Final don't compare with the excellence of the first Dead Or Alive (which rates 5 stars). Have you ever seen a sequel, by a director you respect and found that ol' magic just ain't there any more? You sat there, watching helplessly as they tried (and you could tell by watching that they were trying really HARD) unsuccesfully to catch lightning in a bottle one more time. Depressing, yes? Save yourself the pain of watching this happen twice. Better to spend your money on Visitor Q or Fudoh The New Generation. Still, if you've gotta see all three...

Great collection.......2005-04-18

A great collection.. must have for any Miike's fan.. the only complaint is the second DVD of the trilogy, Birds, has some heavily censored scenes.

As for the movies themselves, Riki Takeuchi and Sho Aikawa carry themselves extremely well.. the trilogy presents the conflict between these two characters over a wide range of social, political and futuristic scenarios.. its hard to choose my favorite among the three, all three are awesome have their own rewarding experiences, but I'd narrowly pick the second one, its got a very unique flavor to it.. never expected Miike to be such a sucker for "childhood nostalgia".. somewhat reminscent of Kitano's Kikujiro.

Anyway, I would highly recommend viewers unfamiliar with the Yakuza-related genre of Japanese action-cult flicks to first sample this trilogy before venturing into many other works of Miike (Ichi, Gozu, audition).

DVD:

DVD List

DVD

DVD

Amc Monsterfest: Roger Corman Classics 1

The Arrival

North Avenue Irregulars (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: Empires - The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization

All The Right Moves