The Peacemaker

Starring:George Clooney, Nicole Kidman, Marcel Iures, Aleksandr Baluyev, Rene Medvesek, Gary Werntz, Randall Batinkoff, Jim Haynie, Alexander Strobele, Holt McCallany, Michael Boatman, Joan Copeland, Carlos GÃ³mez (II), Armin Mueller-Stahl, Slavko Juraga, Aleksandr Peskov, Dejan Acimovic, Harsh Nayyar, Matt Adler, Tamara Tunie
Director: Mimi Leder
Studio: Dreamworks Video
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

It seems that thrillers these days--even good ones--are all about scene-chewing bad guys, cute retorts fit for the Dennis Miller show, and one big special effect to end the movie. Well, something like The Peacemaker, the first feature film from DreamWorks, puts the record straight. Here is an expertly paced thriller with a sensible villain, smart instead of cute dialogue, and a focus on action instead of special effects. It's not original, just solid. It's the second of these energetic and effective thrillers that writer Michael Schiffer (Crimson Tide) has penned. The White House Nuclear Smuggling Group tracks down 10 stolen nuclear bombs after a suspicious train wreck in Russia. The acting head of the department (Nicole Kidman) and her military field officer (George Clooney) are off to Europe to track down the bombs. Instead of a Gary Oldman-Bruce Dern madman, The Peacemaker's heavy is an unknown Romanian actor (Marcul Iures) playing a Bosnian rebel who works passionately and quietly. This may be a popcorn movie, but it uses the ripe emotions of the Bosnian War to create tension. This is the best film vehicle yet for the overwhelming charisma of George Clooney as a quick witted, generally warm Oliver North type who will seek deadly vengeance without pause. He's matched very well by the professional polish of Nicole Kidman who is showing great flexibility in dividing her roles between serious and fun fare. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews:

superb thriller, excellent acting.......2007-06-11

This is a good, fun film. The action is fast, the story intricate enough to support multiple viewings, and the chemistry between Kidman and Clooney is believable - indeed, you cannot take your eyes off them. Kidman is a credible White House bureaucrat, rather green but energetic and self confident. Clooney is an ideal military man: he sees a goal and gets there, but he more or less follows orders and hierarchy. Then there is the espionage world, with its practices and networks, this time for the purchase and transport of a nuclear weapon. Somehow, every moment is suspenseful and believable, which these days is food for thought.

While it is not particularly original, it is truly wonderful for passing the time and stimulates the imagination to learn about government, if you wish. I have watched this many times with enjoyment.

Recommended.

nice triller.......2007-01-28

The Peacemaker is a thoughly entertaining thriller, primarily directed to focus more on the action and less on the underlying Political plot. It features a rather intense relationship between Clooney and Kidman, who both put in stellar performances. The action sequences are exciting, Clooney in particular manages to capture every aspect of his confident character.

While the plot is quite strong it still resembles the typical American plot of the predominantly good America versus the predominantly bad East. However even taking this into consideration, the Peacemaker is a very strong movie, small on Political message and reality but strong on action and suspense.

How do you stop a terrorist who has no demands?.......2007-01-11

A distraught Bosnian piano teacher named Dusan Gavric (Marcel Iures), whose wife and daughter had been shot down before his eyes by Bosnian Muslim snipers in war-divided Sarajevo, intends to ignite a stolen nuclear bomb around the U.N. building in New York in revenge for that atrocity...

Nuclear weapons specialist Dr. Julia Kelly (Nicole Kidman) and US Special Forces Colonel Thomas Devoe (George Clooney) try to stop the psycho...

Clooney, convinced that United States educated half the world's terrorists, plays a talented soldier who takes great liberties to get what he wants including heavy bribes and savage beatings... With that cool, suave and dashing look that makes women swoon, Clooney demonstrates great sense of humor with his performance, and looks pleasantly cold as hell during high action sequences... His unexpected reactions get on Kidman's nerves so easily...

Kidman looks lovely as the anguished scientist who wants to save the world, struggling tightly against her self-doubt ...

Mimi Leder definitely proves that she's a commanding presence behind the camera... She shows how to move more effectively the camera creating tension throughout the hijacking of the warheads, Vienna's exciting car chase, the flight of the three US Air Force helicopters ordered to return to Turkish airspace, the truckload of the bad guys hanging over a cliff, and the tracking of the missing warhead on Manhattan's crowded streets...

The music is great... It follows the action well and elevates the dramatic suspense throughout the show...

good dvd.......2007-01-04

It is a good merchandise very low price. It a great opportunity to collete all those movies that can t bee fond in any store.

I Loved This Movie.......2007-01-04

I thought this was a very good movie and it provided a lot of action, besides who doesn't like a movie with George Cooney in it? I'm not one of them. This is another man who gets better with age, not only in looks, but acting. Nicole Kidman did a great job too. This was one of her better films since the Interperter. I would highly recomment this movie.

The Corruptor (New Line Platinum Series)

Average customer rating:

Yellow Fever, ha ha ha.
good movie
Gripping Cop Flick
an amazing premise action movie
If all bad cops could be this good!

The Corruptor (New Line Platinum Series)
Starring: Yun-Fat Chow , Mark Wahlberg , Ric Young , Paul Ben-Victor , and Jon Kit Lee
Director: James Foley
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Replacement Killers
The Big Hit
Bulletproof Monk
The Yards - Director's Cut (Miramax Collector's Series)
The Truth About Charlie/Charade

ASIN: B00000JGNP
Release Date: 1999-09-14

Amazon.com

Nick Chen (Chow Yun-Fat) is not your average New York cop. Working in Chinatown has its multifarious cultural nuances and its fair share of ubiquitous enticement, both of which are reflected in detective Chen's weary face. He had to get into bed with the highest echleons of the Chinese Mafia as a way of augmenting his own career, while maintaining a semblance of control over the dime-a-dozen hoods who proliferate on this turf. To make matters worse, he now has to break in rookie detective Danny Wallace (Mark Wahlberg), who has asked to be assigned to the Chinatown division. Apparently Wallace is infatuated with all things Chinese, or is suffering from "Yellow Fever," as his fellow colleagues would have us believe. Chen, not one to suffer fools gladly, takes young Wallace under his protective wing, oft-warning the shady powers of the neighborhood not to sink Danny into their sordid pool of corruption. But before he knows it, both he and Wallace are caught in a deadly ring of double-crosses, shady-dealings, murders, and car chases. And all of this under the suspicious eye of Internal Affairs.

Part Serpico and part Hard Boiled, this film seems at first to be a major departure from director James Foley's previous work. However, Foley has frequently revealed a keen eye and understanding for emotionally complex relationships, especially between teacher and pupil (Glengarry Glen Ross) or father and son (At Close Range). This movie is no different. In fact, Foley's meticulous attention to the relationship between the wise, morally burdened Chen, and the naïve, innocent Wallace morphs this otherwise tedious plot into a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Hats off to Chow Yun-Fat and Mark Wahlberg, whose sympathetic chemistry creates an authentic and deeply personal connection, a factor that proves crucial to the film's poignant, disturbing finale. --Jeremy Storey

Customer Reviews:

Yellow Fever, ha ha ha........2007-01-21

I initially got this movie because I remember watching it some years ago when I lived in Germany and there was a time when my father and I decided to make up the time to swing by faster by renting movies almost every day or every week at least and watching them through; movies I'd never even really heard or seen. Usually they were kung fu movies and such, but every now and then we'd pick up a movie that would seem to pass the entertainment radars for us (when you're an American in Germany, it's REALLY hard to find American movies or their debuts to hit overseas as it takes at least 6 months, if you're lucky, to almost 2 years just for an American movie to come out... can you imagine? While you read on the news that somewhere in California the Matrix has started, you'd have to wait an extra few months just to watch, or something like that-- I just use the Matrix as an example.)

The Corruptor was one of those movies and sadly, we'd ended up watching the movie on DVD because it just never showed up in the bigscreens there. So anyway, I remember watching this movie and thought about how insanely deep this movie was. All the stuff about Chinese gangs, crime, the asian-flare of a metropolis society and how everyone seems not to care-- plus it has Mark Wahlberg who's one of my most favorite hollywood actors. More importantly, it also houses CHOW YUN FAT!!! Not only does it have a favorite actor of mine but has an amazing chinese kung fu actor! Performances from both these actors really stock you in for the vicious ride and twists this movie has for a plot and the action that befits it isn't over the top since the setting is basically China Town.

In a way I wanna say this is like Law & Order meets Shaft, but that's a disheartening comparison except to say that it has the crime story scene with the heart-pounding action of the latter but intensified ten fold. The cinematography is astounding, the characters, protagonist and antagonists, all are a great bunch to watch intermingle with and against one another and it's a really good movie worth the watch; the least to say, own.

Really, if you dig cop movies, this is your hit.

If you dig drama, this movie's your bag.

If you dig action, this movie's your well-given shot.

Seriously top notch stuff and glad I came across it years ago. The fond memory of it being the thing that pulled me back to watch and own it now.

good movie.......2006-09-11

I am stuck between a 3 and a 4 but since the movie was so good, I have to give it a 4. The only reason I give it a 3.5 is because I need my bad guys to be really bad. Then they opened up Chow Yun Fat's character so much I almost forgot about it. Mark Walbergh is good as always. There is a lot of acting going on. When I say acting I am talking about these guys using all the tools. From facial expressions to saying the line just right, the director did a very good job. Movie comes in at about 2 hours but keeps you really into it for almost the entire film. This is by far Chow's best American performance. Make sure you check out The Killer if you are a big Chow fan.

DVD is widescreened with 2 good special features. One has interviews and the behind the scenes is more like a documentary. There is also a commentary with the director james Foley.

Gripping Cop Flick.......2005-11-19

"The Corruptor" is a tough complex crime thriller set among the vicious power grabs by competing tribes in New York's Chinatown. Out to bring them down is decorated detective Nick Chen(Chow Yun-Fat), head of the Chinatown Gang Unit, and the partner that was foisted on him, the apparently green officer Danny Wallace(Mark Wahlberg). Chen is an effective cop but some of his methods are a little unorthodox and occasionally skirt the law. This does not always go over well with the more idealistic Wallace. Yun-Fat is excellent as the tarnished hero and Wahlberg is solid in a role that is not as stereotypical as it first appears. Ric Young is effectively creepy and villainous as the duplicitous gang leader Henry Lee. The film has many plot strands to it and may appear at some junctures to be overplotted. Never fear because these elements come together in the end for a satisfying experience.

an amazing premise action movie.......2005-02-26

Chow Yun Fat and Mark Wahlburg are amazing in this
all I can say is
action action
moving story
see this
see this seriously
it's just as entertaining and interesting as the Replacement Killers
see that one too
I will watch this more times then I can count on my dvd player. rest assured

If all bad cops could be this good!.......2004-05-01

I loved the confrantation that Danny Wallace had with his dad about the contemplation of what to do about turning in his partner Nick Chen .. I won't spoil the quote you have to take it in context of the scenario of the movie. What an impact it made in my life that what I do in my life will be what I live with. I don't know if I over looked the goings on with Nick Chen because after all he was Yun-Fat Chow or that his over looking Uncle Benny's activities was some how a kindness to help May a lost drug addict and prostitute unable to escape her fate he tries to be more then a cop in her heart. The entire movie was tastefully done, story line excellant, directed in a way to make you laugh, cry, sit at the edge of you chair during those action scenes. Not to mention the sound track subpurbly done. I have had always found Yun-Fat Chow a believable actor in all rolls he portray; this movie he stole my heart (more then in Anna and the King).. the ending must be seen to appreciate how to me he was a good cop, with admiration to the writer in whatever message he wanted to leave you at the end. If you thought Mark Wahlberg was exceptional in this roll you should see him in The Perfect Storm and never thought he would play such a sicko in Fear but had me convinced. Lady's don't judge all men by what goes on in this movie but be wise to it's message of common sense. It always amazes me when an actor can play his/her complete opposite. I look forward to watching more of both of these great actors movies. Don't wait to buy THE CORRUPTOR should it go out of print you will regret it! Well I think so. Thanks for listening - Bye. Would welcome your comments too.

Howard Zinn - You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train

Average customer rating:

The Original "Question Authority" Man
A revolution in kindness.
Fabricating History.
Smart, Courageous, and Inspiring
Howard Zinn: You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train

Howard Zinn - You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train
Starring: Matt Damon , Howard Zinn , Daniel Berrigan , Alice Walker , and Marian Wright Edelman
Director: Deb Ellis , and Denis Mueller
Manufacturer: First Run Features
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0007TKOSC
Release Date: 2005-05-24

Description

In these turbulent times, Howard Zinn is inspiring a new generation. This acclaimed film looks at the amazing life of the renowned historian, activist and author. Following his early days as a shipyard labor organizer and bombardier in World War II, Zinn became an academic rebel and leader of civil disobedience in a time of institutionalized racism and war. His influential writings shine light on and bring voice to factory workers, immigrant laborers, African Americans, Native Americans and the working poor. Featuring rare archival materials and interviews with Zinn and colleagues such as Noam Chomsky, YOU CAN'T BE NEUTRAL captures the essence of this extraordinary man who has been a catalyst for progressive change for more than 60 years. Narrated by Matt Damon; Featuring Music by Pearl Jam, Woody Guthrie & Billy Bragg.

Customer Reviews:

The Original "Question Authority" Man.......2007-06-25

I was fortunate to be able to see this film in the company of people who "get it," and within the context of a rare community that "gets it". Zinn's uncompromising challenge to a broken system of Might Makes A Mess is refreshing. Maybe that's because I am otherwise surrounded by people who scapegoat liberals, gays and flag burners (as if that's a big problem anywhere in the U.S.) to balance the moral deficit created by napalm, smart bombs and a government that turns out not to be impartial, after all. It's an uphill battle sometimes. You've heard the arguments, and the people who make them, about how war is good for the economy; brutality and torture are just a part of war; get the terrorists on their own turf before they get us on ours, etc., etc. ad nauseam.

That history repeats itself is discouraging enough, without realizing how mistakes get repeated, as well--re: G.W.B. (alias Whiskey Tango Foxtrot). I just heard on the news that Dick Cheney has declared himself no longer a member of the Executive Branch of government? He has assumed Presidency of the Senate, instead, to circumvent having to provide the Senate with intelligence? Try to figure that one out. In this age of diluted authority, evil intelligence seems to have possessed entire organizations, and individuals are no longer held responsible.

This film is as good a biography of Zinn as you can get. His early romance with wife Ros, and their blossoming partnership were touching. The irony of giving an anti-war speech at the very moment he was being voted for tenure at B.U. was comedic. Levity was sprinkled generously throughout the film. Never an obnoxious zealot, he is a warm-and-human hearted activist. His confrontation with former Boston U. President John Silber was delightfully "in your face".

Co-Director Deb Ellis was present in the hall where this documentary showed, and answered many questions afterward.

Some factoids revealed by Ellis during Q&A:
- Apparently, whether Zinn ever actually sang "America the Beautiful" to the North Vietnamese was questionable.
- Zinn put up a protective barrier between the producers and Ros, but they penetrated his defense by impressing how important it was that she be included in the film. Once that barrier came down, Ros supplied the directors with loads of photographs and ephemera.
- One of Howard's complaints, apparently, was that there "wasn't enough of me in it."

I actually have met at least one person in the documentary, and that was the gentleman who introduced Howard at a B.U. rally near the documentary's end. He happens to be conduct ACLU meetings for the area where I live. The man who brought the film to our little local theater showed up with a box of Howard Zinn-signed "A People's History of America" books, and of course I bought one for my activist niece. I hope she never loses her youthful idealism, the way Howard Zinn apparently has not.

One other anecdote, I watched the Zinn play "Marx in Soho" on the same stage that I saw this film. The cameo appearance of an actor who played that part in "You Can't Be Neutral" was nowhere near as Marx-like as the actor I saw (and interviewed, and had lunch with on the Saturday he came to town), a history professor by the name of Jerry Levy, of Marlboro College, Vermont.

A revolution in kindness........2007-01-22

Sometimes I find the thoughts of Zinn's detractors to be at least as interesting as those of his admirers. Bernard Chapin's negative review was no exception. Chapin holds a world view that our militarists are constantly pushing in an attempt to rationalize their aggression; that is, "foul acts like murder, slavery, and wanton destruction are ubiquitous to humanity, and were committed by people all over the world since the beginning of time" (to quote Chapin's review of Pat Buchanan's "State of Emergency"). There is usually an element of truth to effective propaganda and, no doubt, the Nazis, Genghis Khan, Stalin, child abusers, rapists and others have resorted to similar rationalizations for their own "foul acts." Zinn, on the other hand,
resists the perception management efforts that make war easy. Instead, he's been a tireless advocate for the causes of peace and justice. He's been at the war protests, stood in the picket lines, lectured/written tirelessly, and he's supported groups like "Emergency" that sends doctors into war zones to try to stitch together the bodies torn apart by the "wanton destruction" of Western so-called Civilization.

Zinn himself has directly participated in that destruction. As a World War II bombadeer, he was part of a raid that pioneered the use of napalm. It was an act for which many would have sought some psychologically comforting justification. Zinn instead chose to be honest about the inexcusable barbarity of burning civilians alive, and dedicated himself to resisting the efforts of our warlords. One of his many insights that undercut the narratives of our military establishment is this bit of good news that appears towards the end of the film, Zinn is quoted as saying, "To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness . . . And if we do act, in however small a way, we don't have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory."
It's this reminder, that wanton kindness is just as much a part of our nature as anything else, that is the most subversive message of Zinn's work. It also is the teaching of the Dalai Lama, our mothers, and other people very much worth listening to.

Fabricating History. .......2006-06-01

Few leftist icons are looked upon more favorably than professor and activist Howard Zinn. Like many radical ideologues, he is the darling of students, the professorate, and the glitterati. Indeed, Hollywood star Matt Damon provided the narration for a hagiographic documentary about his life entitled, Howard Zinn -You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train.

"You can't be neutral" is a reference to Zinn's belief that all history is skewed by the mind that conveys it, and that the best historians must be "engaged" in political and societal matters. Therefore, it is non-remarkable when their discussion of events always manages to be harmonious with their worldview. Such a post-modernist outlook is quite popular today, but prevalence is not always an indication of value. Zinn informs viewers that no work is ever completely objective, which then allows him (and other activists) to avoid using research and citations which do not substantiate their pre-determined suppositions.

That no historical account is ever 100 percent objective cannot be doubted, but an automaton's level of clinical impartiality is neither possible nor expected. One commits a black-or-white fallacy by pretending that it is as nothing can ever be 100 percent objective or subjective. Good history doggedly attempts to be unbiased. When it abandons its detachment, any amount of distortion becomes acceptable; history gets alchemized into propaganda. Zinn minimizes his own lack of scholarship in The Peoples' History of the United States by claiming that it was not written with an academic audience in mind.

As a man, Zinn appears to be more celebrity than egghead. He isn't one to quibble over the nature of secondary or primary source materials, he'd rather illustrate his points by quoting lyrics from a Woody Guthrie song. No doubt that the directors of this film ascribe to their subject's view of fairness as not one of the individuals interviewed uttered a single negative syllable about Zinn. Uniformly leftist luminaries like Noam Chomsky, Alice Walker, Marian Wright Edelman, Daniel Ellsberg, and Tom Hayden spent their segments exalting the importance of his impact upon society.

Their depiction of Zinn's personality was most revealing and in keeping with the tendencies of leftists in general. According to his friends and associates, he possesses a "steely anger," and "an endless capacity for moral outrage" which is representative of the whole. Dr. John Ray's key psychological components of the leftist are discernible in Zinn as his need for fame, praise, power, and attention are quite pronounced.

At one point, Zinn's perceptions appear utterly astonishing. As a Jew in the Air Force who was sent to fight the Nazis during World War II, he found himself in a position of, what should have been, absolute moral clarity. If ever a person was placed into a position where war was morally just, this was it. However, his reminiscences are confined to indignation over his unit's bombing an enclave of German soldiers. He lamented the action as the men in the French village, "weren't doing anything to anybody"--except defending the boundaries of a genocide state.

Perhaps the best way to sum up Howard Zinn is through words he applied to Uncle Sam: "limited, opinionated and with special interests."

Smart, Courageous, and Inspiring.......2006-04-08

"You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train" is like a cross between "Manufacturing Consent" and "Dead Poets Society." It is smart, courageous, and inspiring.

Howard Zinn: You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train.......2006-01-22

For anyone who loves America, please watch this film about an extraordinary historian and activist. I remember when Howard Zinn was at Spellman here in the Atlanta in the 60s. He has always had the courage to speak out -- frequently when no one else did. As America once more goes to war -- this time for oil and George W. Bush's ego -- Dr. Zinn's voice should and must be heard.

Average customer rating:

Another perspective
Peacemaker - Complete Collection Review
Really Good
A samurai anime that looks cartoonish
Love the series.

Peacemaker - Complete Collection
Starring: Peacemaker
Manufacturer: Adv Films
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ASIN: B000B5IOPC
Release Date: 2005-11-15

Amazon.com

Set during the troubled times between the arrival of Admiral Perry in 1853 and the Meiji Restoration of 1868, Peacemaker (2003) often feels like a prequel to Rurouni Kenshin, but from the politically opposite side. Tetsunosuke "Tetsu" Ichimura initially seems like an anime stereotype: the irrepressible half-pint who wins out through sheer determination. At 15, Tetsu is stubborn and impetuous, but he's wrestling with personal demons. When his older brother Tatsu becomes a bookkeeper for the Shinsengumi, a group of samurai the Shogun organized to protect the capital, Tetsu decides to join the quasi-military corps. His resolute spirit charms fey swordsman Souji Okita, who coaxes iron-willed vice-commander Hijikata into accepting the boy as a page. Tetsu becomes the unofficial mascot of the goofy but deadly ronin of the Shinsengumi: they call him "Puppy Boy," tease him about being cute, and even speculate that Hijitaka keeps him around for sexual favors. As the series progresses and the conflict with the anti-Shogun forces nears, Tetsu must decide whether to avenge his parents, who were murdered by Imperialist agents, or become a "Peacemaker," as his father desired. The spectacularly choreographed battle scenes show just how grueling a trial Tetsu faces.

Many of the characters and incidents in Peacemaker are based in fact, although the filmmakers take considerable liberties and the story rambles. But it's the interaction of the characters that gives the series its appeal: Even the minor samurai feel like credible individuals. Writer Hiroshi Yamaguchi and director Tomohiro Hirata refuse to offer facile solutions to Tetsu's inner conflict, which gives Peacemaker a satisfying depth. The boxed set lacks the many extras--both on video and in print--that were included with the individual discs. (Rated 15 and older: violence, alcohol and tobacco use, nudity, risqué humor) --Charles Solomon

Description

For 15 year-old Tetsunosuke Ichimura, childhood innocence has given way to a blinding thirst for revenge. Haunted by the vicious slaying of his parents, Tetsu joins a group of elite swordsmen to hunt down the rebels who murdered his parents.

Customer Reviews:

Another perspective.......2007-06-24

A large number of anime fans are familiar with Rurouni Kenshin/Samurai X, a fictionalized account of the Meiji Revolution from the Royalist point of view. In Peacemaker Kurogane, we get essentially the same story, only this time from the point of view of the Shogunate - in particular the Shinsengumi guard, several of whom were supporting characters in the Kenshin franchise - and this rather underated historical actioner is an excellent companion piece to it's more famous counterpart.

It follows the story of the real-life Tetsunosuke Ichimora, age 15. After the brutal murder of his parents at the hands of Royalists, Tetsu vows to join the Shinsengumi over the objections of his frantic big brother Tatsunosuke. His life becomes entwined with that of other characters both real and fictional, most notably becoming page to the strict Vice Commander Toshizo Hijikata - who doubts Tetsu will have what it takes when the time for battle arrives; and taken under the wing by painfully young Captain Soji Okita, historically documented to have loved children - who is already beginning to show signs of the Tuburculosis which would soon kill him and perhaps sensing that he doesn't have much time before becoming incapacitated tries to help Tetsu maintain the moral and spiritual innocence that he himself can never get back.

Can Tetsu find his place in the world and strike a balance between Tatsu's potentially emotionally cripling overprotectiveness and the weight on his soul that joining the fight against the Royalists might entail? Will vengeance rule his heart, or will he become a peacemaker as his parents would have wanted him to be?

An anime that any fan of historical fiction should enjoy.

Peacemaker - Complete Collection Review.......2006-11-04

If Rurouni Kenshin left you wanting more feudal-era themed anime, then Peacemaker just might scratch that itch. It's got a good plot, memorable characters, and was beautifully animated by Gonzo. You can't go wrong with the animation studio that also worked on Last Exile, Chrono Crusade, and Samurai 7, among others.

Really Good.......2006-07-26

After previous reveiws it seems I will have to say this again (and I might as well say it for every review)

BOX SETS NEVER EVER CONTAIN ALL THE FEATURES OF THE INDIVIDUAL DVDS

Box sets are an economical way of seeing the whole series so they aren't supposed to give the extra features that you see in the individual DVDs because you are paying less. I would only suggest that you buy the individual DVDs if you are rich, or on a series that you really, really, really like.

Overall I really liked this series. It's a nice little samurai tale in favor of the Shinsengumi. The characters are solid and don't go over that stupid character dominance thing and they stay true to who they are and everything plays out on a realistic basis (which to me is the best thing an anime can do).

To start you out with the first episode, you see Tetsunosuke Ichicmura running through Mibu (I believe) with a sign advetising the Shinsengumi. As he gets to the clan hall he is not accepted by the guards because he is too short. Later, after being mauled by a little pig, Tetsu meets the famuous Soji Okita (to which Tetsu was unaware of). Tetsu said he wanted to join the Shinsengumi to slice and dice his way through the Choshu and send Soji Okita sprawling. As an apology for the rudeness of the pic (still doesn't know who he is), Soji offers to pull some strings with the Shinsengumi so Tetsu could join. They soon get to the dojo and Soji talks to the commander (I'm not sure what he says there). Some stuff happens and Tetsu finds out that who he met earily was none other than Soji Okita as the commence in a dojo battle. Tetsu gets knocked down a little bit but before they could finish the fight, vice commander Higikata steps in, stops the fight and says that Tetsu can't join the Shinsengumi. Later on Soji and Tetsu have a talk and Soji gives him some information about an ambush on Higikata later on in the night. Tetsu goes, views from afar, and the episode ends at Tetsu seing what it means to be a Shinsengumi.

A samurai anime that looks cartoonish.......2006-06-17

I would highly recommend this series to anyone interested in martial arts anime, the Shinsengumi, and those who like their anime with a touch of humor like this show Peacemaker has some few comedic moments but it can be series. Saizo the pig does not actually talk.

Love the series........2006-03-22

I love Rurouni Kenshin I guess I'm a sucker for samuray series even if I close my eyes in the bloody scene, The peacemaker was not what I expected, It was better!! any way if you like more comedy give it try, and if you don't want to keep it you can always sell it. And the reason I gave 4 star is because I don't like bloody scene not because wasn't good.

Average customer rating:

superb thriller, excellent acting
nice triller
How do you stop a terrorist who has no demands?
good dvd
I Loved This Movie

The Peacemaker
Starring: George Clooney , Nicole Kidman , Marcel Iures , Aleksandr Baluyev , and Rene Medvesek
Director: Mimi Leder
Manufacturer: Dreamworks Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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The Jackal - Collector's Edition
Three Kings
Out of Sight (Collector's Edition)
The Siege
Air Force One

ASIN: 078323550X
Release Date: 1999-07-06

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

superb thriller, excellent acting.......2007-06-11

nice triller.......2007-01-28

How do you stop a terrorist who has no demands?.......2007-01-11

good dvd.......2007-01-04

It is a good merchandise very low price. It a great opportunity to collete all those movies that can t bee fond in any store.

I Loved This Movie.......2007-01-04

Average customer rating:

an "overlooked" hard little gem of a western
"chuka" is very good and is very overlooked
enjoyed this movie
Very Unusual Western
Rod As Tough as They Come

Chuka
Starring: Rod Taylor , Ernest Borgnine , John Mills , Luciana Paluzzi , and James Whitmore
Director: Gordon Douglas
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Last Wagon
Seven Men From Now (Special Collector's Edition)
The Last Frontier
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Yellow Sky

ASIN: B0007Y08TW
Release Date: 2005-09-27

Amazon.com

Rod Taylor co-produced the 1967 Chuka and stars as the titular gunslinger whose lonely path leads to a U.S. Army outpost manned by foul-ups, degenerates, and a half-mad, alcoholic commander (John Mills). Surrounded by starving Arapaho Indians clearly getting ready to massacre the fort's inhabitants, Mills' character, Colonel Valois, refuses to yield to Chuka's demand that everyone clear out and allow the Arapaho to take provisions they need to survive. With Valois drunk and unbending, a creepy second-in-command (Louis Hayward) leading a mutiny, a two-fisted sergeant (Ernest Borgnine) defending Valois against any criticism, and the presence of two Mexican women (one of whom has a romantic past with Chuka) who will not be spared during a slaughter, Chuka does what he can to broker a peaceful way out of the dilemma. Directed by Gordon Douglas (The Detective), Chuka is self-consciously arty (camera angles turn up in the weirdest of places) yet dramatically enthralling. Very much an actor's vehicle that, on the one hand, allows the likes of James Whitmore to wallow in mannerisms, Chuka also features several startlingly emotional scenes. Among them is the aftermath of a brutal fight between Taylor and Borgnine, in which their bloodied characters--too exhausted to speak--communicate mutual respect by pawing at each other's heads, like infant brothers. --Tom Keogh

Description

Throughout the West, one name means action: Chuka! Tension builds for soldiers guarding a besieged prairie fort against Indian attacks. Their nerves are frayed and their spirits are dying. But there's a glimmer of hope: the lone gunfighter who's come to help them is the man called Chuka!

Customer Reviews:

an "overlooked" hard little gem of a western.......2006-04-18

rod taylor co-produced this tough little gem of a western and plays the title hero also.
the movie starts like beau geaste in that the army arives at the fort and finds that all are dead and then we flash back to what happened. the cast is first rate and the story is one of the better latter 60's western scripts. above it all is mr. taylor's job as chuka. he fills the screen with his spirit even when not on camara. mr. taylor was one of the most underrated actors of his time and as he would prove later with john wayne in the train robbers he was well suited for western movies . this is one you don't want to miss if you love westerns like i do so give it a try.

"chuka" is very good and is very overlooked.......2006-01-25

i saw this when i was 7 or 8 and was blowen away. it starts like "beau geast" (sorry about the spelling) but it shows you the aftermath and then moves to tell you what happened. taylor produced this fine film as well as stars in it and he is great as a gunfighter with his own problems asked to throw in with an odd range of people to fight off an indian attack on a fort in the middle of nowhere. good action, fine drama, and just a little comedy and that makes this underrated western one for the collection

enjoyed this movie.......2005-09-27

although the movie is " dated " any movie in which the American Indians ( Native Americans or The People ) win is a good movie.

Very Unusual Western.......2005-03-24

Rod Taylor plays a gunslinger named CHUKA (he was raised by a Chuck Wagon cook...and nicknamed chuka boy by the cowboys). He is on the trail during a winter storm and comes across a group of starving Indians. He shares their fire and gives them what little food he has. He leaves and finds refuge at a Cavalry Fort run by John Mills (an ex-British Officer and his SGT....Ernest Borgnine). Also at the fort is his long lost love and her niece. Chuka tells Mills that the Indians are starving and will attack the fort to get food. The plot thickens with other characters in the fort. Not a great movie but very entertaining and a pretty good "shoot-em-up". Worth buying for it's differences from other westerns.

Rod As Tough as They Come.......2004-09-15

A question arises from the movie's prologue, which is actually its epilogue: Did they all die? Then the story begins for this superior Western and gather 'round the campfire buckos, because its a humdinger!

At stake is a doomed outpost of misfit soldiers facing a nation of hungry, irritable Arapahoes, and an unfortunate group of visitors, including two beautiful Mexican ladies and the enigmatic gunfighter Chuka {Taylor). Chuka's duds are so cool, they rival anything Lee Van Cleef ever swaggered in. Late in the film, we are treated to witnessing his fast-draw, and I would say "eye-witnessing", but his draw is so fast, the gun is out before you even have a chance to blink! Taylor is tough as Chuka: his fight with the ape-like Ernest Borgnine literally rocks the timbers of the fort. I could easily imagine the film crew appauding after those scenes were done. Taylor is also incredibly tender in the long-awaited love scene with the Thunderball babe Lucianna Lallapollooza (sic).

This is a very good Western and a must-have for fans not only of Rod Taylor, but Ernest Borgnine and James Whitmore. Their characters are flawed and three-dimensional, but not given to the irritating idiosyncricies that passed for "character development" in later films and television. As the situation becomes more desperate, the interaction between the characters is so good that I felt not only absorbed, but involved in the plot. You might want to have a stash of Sauza Conmemorativo (the Duke's favorite) handy to join the fellas as they try to take a break from contemplating their doomed scenario. One of the best scenes comes near the end, as the tough hombres, now comrades, rouse early in the dead of night just before dawn, to share a sort of communion, confession, and coffee before the grits hit the fan.

I won't give the ending away, but if only one more scene had been added to assure me about the "second choice" I would give this movie 5 stars. Maybe I want too much. As it stands, it adds to my admiration of Rod Taylor. It is so frustrating that some of his excellent performances such as in Darker Than Amber and The Hell with Heroes aren't even available on videotape! I understand his fight scene in the former with body-builder William Smith REALLY rocks. And come on, The Hell With Heroes has Claudia Cardinale in her prime! Let's get more of Rod on DVD!

Average customer rating:

Heston against Palance in a good-looking Western!
Trust an Apache?
Army Scouts & Apache Warriors
Good cast of actors, bad movie
Heston vs Palance should have been more exciting.

Arrowhead
Starring: Charlton Heston , Jack Palance , Katy Jurado , Brian Keith , and Mary Sinclair
Director: Charles Marquis Warren
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
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War Arrow
The Last Wagon
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Distant Drums

ASIN: B0002WZTE8
Release Date: 2004-11-09

Description

Set in Texas, ARROWHEAD stars Charlton Heston as Chief of Scouts Ed Bannon, an arrogant man raised by Apache who hates them with a vengeance. When the new Apache chief, Toriano, returns to his people after schooling in the Eastern U.S., Bannon senses the man isn't trustworthy and does not believe the Apaches will uphold the peace plan they have agreed to. With the U.S. Army anxious to send the Apaches to a reservation in Florida, they hope Bannon will not interfere.

Customer Reviews:

Heston against Palance in a good-looking Western!.......2006-11-10

Any film with Jack Palance as the villain is intense and strong... This great actor is unique and classic in this respect!

His order to his braves: 'There will be no more fighting until Bannon has met Toriano!,' marks a summary of the entire motion picture: Toriano against Bannon!

But who are these two men?

Ed Bannon (Charlton Heston) is the Chief of Scouts for U.S armed forces fighting Apaches in the post Civil War... He despises Apaches: 'Anything Toriano for, I'm against!'

Toriano (Jack Palance) is the son of the Old Apache Chief Chattez (Frank Dekova). He rejects permanent confinement and refuses to accept how his warriors are gathered like cattle in their reservation...

Apache Wars were among the fiercest fought on the frontier... The U.S government attempted to limit their territories and movements...

In the film we learn that an Indian cannot touch, harm or kill a man if he comes unarmed into their encampment; an Apache leader can be mystified through the Great Spirit by ritual drum beat; when an Indian and a white man are blood brothers, the only way to break the bound was for one of the two to die-- This explains why Toriano and Bannon assigned the time and place to meet in a single combat to death at the end of the picture...

The pretty Katy Jurado is Bannon's lover, a young girl, half Indian, half Mexican, who admires Toriano as a true leader...Wanting to serve him, she keeps an eye on Bannon, spying all his moves...

Shot in Technicolor, with good directing and strong supporting cast (Brian Keith in his film debut), "Arrowhead," overcomes as a good-looking Western by the excellent acting of its stars...

Trust an Apache?.......2006-11-04

Not in ARROWHEAD you don't, lessen you're one of those dunderheaded fools who reckon we can trust, and live in peace with, the bloodthirsty heathens. Charlton Heston plays the moody Chief of Indian Scouts, Brian Keith the young and naïve commander of a small unit of cavalry isolated out on the west Texas border sometime in the 1870s, and Jack Palance is college-educated Apache who comes back to the reservation with revolt, and personal glory, on his mind in ARROWHEAD, a cowboys-and-indians western from 1953.

A cowboys-and-indians western with an attitude, it should be noted. Not all that pleasant an attitude, either. The US Government, through Keith, wants to parlay with the Apaches. Heston, who grew up with `em and can read a pony trail or a smoke signal like a native, will have none of it. To Heston - and the movie, because Heston is never proven wrong - the Apaches are treacherous, back-stabbing fiends whose perfidious ways are etched in their genes. He's not a hater, though. In fact, at one point he clears that point up by saying "I don't hate `em, I know `em." Put that in your peace pipe and smoke it! My favorite line in this odd movie, though, is again uttered by Heston when a character he was on intimate terms with dies (after unsuccessfully trying to stab him in the back) by her own hands when she turns her knife on herself. You'd think this movie would be the least little curious about what motivated this sequence of events beyond the "Apache blood" excuse it uses throughout, but no. So, fresh corpse on the floor, fresh corpse of a recently intimate acquaintance, and the movie has Heston say, with undisguised disgust, `There's a dead Apache in here. Get it out.' It's amazing to think that this one came out AFTER "Broken Arrow," the landmark Jimmy Stewart/Delmer Daves film from 1950 that is usually credited with opening up movies to a sympathetic treatment of Native Americans.

A trend that wasn't stemmed much by this pretty much forgotten little oater. If you can get past the movie's mean and narrow point of view it's an alright actioner. Heston plays it with cool authority, gets to keep a couple of fort women on the string, and plumbs absolutely none of the psychological depths his Apache-raised character is filled with (to be fair, the movie doesn't seem much interested in whatever conflicts his character is experiencing, either.) Jack Palance, one of the more sinister actors in movie history, is very effective as the war-minded Apache. Recommended with (no pun intended) strong reservations.

Army Scouts & Apache Warriors.......2005-05-21

This 1953 western movie is an excellent movie for its time and for all time.

The script is based on W. R. Burnett's hardcover novel, ADOBE WALLS, published by Alfred A. Knopf in 1953. The western novel by Burnett is loosely based on the life of Albert Seiber exemplar frontiersman and U.S. Army Scout in Arizona Territory during the Apache Wars of the 1880s. Much of the happenings are true to the time and true also to Al Seiber's life.

Whether one cares for this movie or not, and judging by the first two reviews here they don't, any film of historical background is noteworthy. While it is true the film takes much dramatic license in many ways, if one reads on the west these items are easily spotted and do not get in the way of enjoying the movie.

The setting of the movie is realistic and the use of old Fort Davis adds an aura of authenticity to the location shots. It was acceptable in those 1950 days to have non-Indians portray Indians, and at times Hollywood dared to change history. But in many respects true lore comes through in this movie, for example, the Ghost dance with its expectation of a 'messiah' to lead in the extermination of the white man, and dancing to make the Indians impervious to bullets, and the attempt to dance back the bison and the good times, all have their basis in historical fact.

The plot also involves double dealing by some Apache Scouts, and while most were very trustworthy, a few were not and some ending up being hung. The Apache Kid turned renegade and was able to elude capture, with no white ever knowing how he ended up. Even the attempt to relocate the Apache out of the territory to Florida did in fact occur. So while there is much fiction in this movie, there is also much fact.

If one has some knowledge of the west, or just plain enjoys an interesting movie of the west, the viewer should do 'ok' watching it.

But again, as evidenced by the first two reviews here, a movie sometimes just doesn't meet everyone's expectations.

Good cast of actors, bad movie.......2005-04-16

Heston is grumpy and Palance hateful Indian with a grudge. This seemed like a movie that was made because the actors didn't have a job at the moment and the script was there.

The actors I like but the movie misses. However, in the era it was made we would watch anything so perhaps it filled its purpose.

I'm sure Katy J. and a the entire cast was happy when the filming was over and would like to forget they made the movie.

Arrowhead is in my Heston movie library, however...just for the historical flow of Heston movies.

Heston vs Palance should have been more exciting........2003-11-11

Charlton Heston stars as Ed Bannon in a role the NRA would be proud of. Ed has a fierce hatred for the Apache Indian which dates as far back as his childhood. The movie starts out with Ed killing some go-between Indians who come in peace to relay a message that the tribe is surrendering. Ed belongs to the US Army and is kicked out for the aforementioned action by Captain Bill North, played by Brian Keith. Keith does a great job in his role, at times sounding like John Wayne but never carrying it out quite as coolly or confidently.

Captain North and his men are tasked with taking the Apaches to an Indian reservation in Florida. However, it?s not going to be so easy thanks to Apache Toriano, played by Jack Palance. The Captain thinks he and his men can pull off this feat without much trouble, but can they, without help from Bannon? After all, he's lived with the Apache and knows how they think.

Description

Jack Sikora (David Bowie, Labyrinth), the West's most notorious outlaw, has come to Basin Field to kill a man - a legendary gunslinger named Johnny Lowen (Harvey Keitel, Be Cool). Renowned throughout the territory, Lowen's never lost a gunfight. But after twenty years of adventure and fame, he's returned home to make peace with his long-estranged family and especially himself. Sikora, however, won't let him retire. A cold-blooded killer, he intends to provoke an unwilling Lowen into a duel to the death, a final showdown that will determine once and for all who's truly the fastest gun in the West.

Customer Reviews:

surprisingly good.......2007-05-17

great new story. good acting. if you like westerns, see this one.

Gunslinger's Revenge.......2006-12-01

I liked the storyline and plot, but one of the lead male character's apparent 'voice over' didn't work out too well and is very awkward. Other than this distracting detail, the movie is a decent western with an unexpected conclusion. I was also surprised at how good of a bad guy cowboy David Bowie turned out to be. Bowie is very believable as a gunslinger calling out a legend who is tired of shooting and trying to retire. Bowie gives his Desperado role a unique twist with his unusual style.

Chrissy K. McVay - Author

a touching film.......2006-05-10

This one's quirky, charming, silly and moving. It's not the best Western you'll ever see, but it has its subtle allure and is certainly unique.

My most significant complaint is that Harvey's character did not seem overly concerned when things happen to his sweet barmaid. I fully expected him to fire off at least at that point!

Bowie and entourage were convincingly scary (sunglasses, earrings and all) and the little boy was priceless.

The scenery is gorgeous, of course. The film definitely leaves an impression.

Painful to watch..........2005-12-12

It took me a few minutes into the movie to notice that one of the main characters was an Italian that had to have his voice dubbed. The actor doing his voice couldn't act at all, which made it very painful to watch. Harvey Keitel feels so out of his element. David Bowie should stick to music and forget westerns. What can I say good about his movie? The set was great. It's pretty bad when the Native American actors steal the show from the main characters. What's sad is they had everything together, the costumes, the scenery, the set. I can imagine how much money they spent getting all of this together. It's sad they had such a horrible cast. All of that potential was wasted. I rented this movie and I want my $3.00 back. It was horrible. I should've known with the title "Gunslinger's Revenge". Harvey Keitel has been doing a lot of low-rent stuff lately and hasn't had a decent movie role in years. They used the names of David Bowie and Harvey Keitel to promote this western. Sadly, even that doesn't mean much anymore. Unless you're a real spaghetti western fanatic don't rent this. It falls flat on its face from the start. I'd be embarassed to show this to anyone, even a western fan.

This movie is the WORST..........2005-10-23

I'm a huge fan of David Bowie, Harvey H. and Wesern movies. SO this movie had winner written all over it from where I stood.

What a painful movie to watch. Both Bowie and Harvey looked as though they wanted to be somewhere else. With the notable exception of one tearful scene between Harvy and his Daughter in-law this movie was void of anything that could be remotely called acting.

Not surprising considering there very little story for the actors to leverage off of.

I wanted to like this movie.

Now I know why it was filmed in 1998 and not released in the U.S. for six years.

Save your money and watch it on cable. While it is interesting to watch Bowie try to pull off a southern accent (and he DOES sing Battle Hymn of the Republic) there's very little else going for it.

The Last Castle (2001) / The Peacemaker (1997) (Double Feature)

Average customer rating:

The Last Castle (2001) / The Peacemaker (1997) (Double Feature)
Starring: Last Castle , and Peacemaker
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Video
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Average customer rating:

Childish
What Samurai Anime Should Be
Peacemaker Vol. 1
It stands upon its own
A good series so far

Peacemaker, Vol. 1: Innocence Lost
Starring: Peacemaker
Manufacturer: Adv Films
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Similar Items:

Peacemaker, Vol. 2: Of Swords & Strength
Peacemaker - Gunning for Trouble (Vol. 3)
Peacemaker - Spider's Web (Vol. 5)
Peacemaker - A Path to Destruction (Vol. 4)
Peacemaker - Prelude to Battle (Vol. 6)

ASIN: B0002S648W
Release Date: 2004-10-12

Amazon.com

Set during the troubled times between the arrival of Admiral Perry in 1853 and the Meiji Restoration of 1868, Peace Maker (2003) feels like a prequel to Rurouni Kenshin. Tetsunosuke "Tetsu" Ichimura has sworn to avenge the murder of his parents by anti-Tokugawa agents. He's determined to join the Shinsengumi, a group of ronin (masterless samurai) the Shogun organized to protect the capitol. At 15, Tetsu is brash, stubborn, and impetuous: qualities that bring him into conflict with the iron discipline of vice-commander Hijikata. But Tetsu's resolute spirit charms the effete swordsman Souji Okita, who intercedes with Hijikata: The Shinsengumi warriors conceal their deadly skills behind goofy behavior. Although Tetsu can be annoying, Peace Maker has an historic sweep that is difficult to resist. Many of the characters and incidents are based in fact, although the filmmakers take considerable liberties. (Rated 15 and older: violence, tobacco use, risqué humor) --Charles Solomon

Description

Tetsunosuke was the smallest kid in his village, but witnessing his parents' murder by an evil assassin, he vows to avenge their deaths. Now, at 15, he joins the army to become strong, but he's unknowingly chosen a demonic army! Will he forsake his very humanity for demonic powers? The roads to vengeance and hell may be one-and-the same in Peacemaker.

Customer Reviews:

Childish.......2005-10-28

The synopsis of this series makes it sound like an excellent, intense, adult adventure. However, this show is more like a lame Saturday morning cartoon with some blood. The characters are annoying, and questionable. The story lines aren't very good and the music doesn't match the show one bit.

What amazes me about the main character, Tetsu, is that more than once he witnesses violent and bloody combat and is shocked and disturbed by it yet in the next scene he is ranting and raving about how he is going to be the strongest warrior in Japan and he is going to exact his revenge.

If your interested in watching a serious anime that is actually good, don't watch Peacemaker.

What Samurai Anime Should Be.......2005-09-26

The series starts off with a bang, an obvious glimpse into the future of the young man who happens to be the protagonist. Then before you know the end of the story you are whisked back to the present...
The series is full of fast paced action, great characters and that humor we look for from a good cartoon. Many people compare it to Kenshin, and rightly so. Kenshin is a very good samurai series that came out years before this one, so it is a compliment, and of course it should be compared to things that are similar. The time period and a few of the characters are the same. When I first saw Peace Maker I though it was the same as Kenshin, only Yahiko was the main character, and he had a little bit of Shippo (Inuyasha) in him. It is a more fleshed out character than either, but Tetsunosuke is a more complete human being than both. He never forgets his goals, and his past has shaped who he is to the core. In fact all of the people in this series are well rounded personalities with consistent ideals and personality. It is a more adult series as well. There is more graphic violence, sexual situations, and adult humor in the first disc than there is in the three seasons and movies that make up the Kenshin series. The animation is gorgeous. The color and attention to detail is as good as any I have seen. Even the voice actors are terrific. Among them are Luci Christian (Full Metal Panic!, Gunslinger Girl), Vic Mignogna (Full Metal Alchemist, Full Metal Panic!), and David Born (Mezzo DSA, Chrono Crusade). The story is a tried and true story about dealing with tragedy. It is not a real revenge story as Tetsu has such a gentle heart. Fate, however, draws our hero into conflict repeatedly, and not just with ghosts from his past.
The reason I only gave this volume and box set four stars is because of the extras. The fact that the box comes with manga and not a soundtrack cd is kind of a let down. The music really grows on you, and it is pretty unusual for a first volume box set to be without. There are good trailers, but there is none of the actor commentary we get later in the series, nor is there any of the character profiles that are on later discs.
I highly recommend this series; it is some of the best anime I have seen. There is great action, a good story, lots of likeable characters, good music, and its' lighter moments are funny as hell.

Peacemaker Vol. 1.......2005-08-26

Peacemaker is a strange series at first glance. As some commentaries point out, it is odd to see the Shinsengumi as the protagonists in a series. Unlike Rurouni Kenshin, (where it, in a sense, glorifies the Choshu and the Shinsengumi) the Shinsengumi are the heroes in Peacemaker.

Tetsunosuke Ichimura, the main character, is a 15 year-old who, though a bit obnoxious, has a kind personality. His heart is in the right place, but is torn between his desire to seek revenge and at the same time, not cause bloodshed. He is determined, but sometimes (or rather often), he gets in too deep. He is immature in many ways and has much to learn, but he grows on you as the series progresses.

The show itself follows Tetsunosuke and his quest to join the Wolves of Mibu. It does, however, in good taste, veer off to explore other characters. It can be over dramatic, and the digital effects can be annoying, but it is still fun to watch. The plot has some strange stories, though. I disliked it when it ventured into the parts involving some strange man who looks like a clown and a summoner who controls the dead.

The other characters, Susumu and Okita being the most intriguing, are likeable. I mistook Okita for a woman at first (his mien caught me off guard). Though I don't mean to compare two series, I preferred the Saito Hajime from Rurouni Kenshin.

Overall, even if it has flaws, Peacemaker is a likeable series. The best episode on this disc is the third (I especially enjoyed the part where it shows what happened in the alley, when there was no talking and only music; very well executed). The animation is somewhat lackluster, but the characters are fun to look at. The extras on the fold-out in the case were a nice bonus, too. Give the series a chance, it's likely you'll get hooked like me. (note: I watched it in Japanese with subtitles)

It stands upon its own.......2005-08-22

Evidently, the reviews for this series have turned into a debate over the relative merits of this series and of the Kenshin saga. To tell you the truth, I bought this series because this (and the Mutsu saga, which I adore) got me interested in the period around the Meiji Restoration, and this was just more food to fuel my like of the characters and the period. It really didn't occur to me that our hero Tetsu is the future Kenshin--jeez, I'm confused enough that I thought Kenshin fought on the other side--but that's mostly immaterial. This has good humor, good character interpretation, and a nice mix of violence and thoughtfulness. I reccommend it on its own. Please note that I'm a simple guy who doesn't notice if a show has too much CGI or if an English dub is any worse or better than trying to parse it in my (weak, but extant) Japanese. Have fun and watch it.

A good series so far.......2005-07-27

For starters this is not Kenshin nor does it have anything to do with Kenshin, it just contains events and characters that are based on historical people, clans, and events. Anyone who is famaliar with japanese history knows this. Peacekeeper is very entertaining and the story is pretty good. You have a hotheaded adolescent who wants to join a clan to exact revenge on his parents killer. He has to prove his worth to the clan. There is lots of comedy and a decent dose of violence. The character development is shaping up pretty well. I've only seen the first volume but I quickly ordered the next one. This series is no Kenshin rip-off so far. And seeing where the plot is going and the difference between certain main characters, that are featured in Kenshin, I don't think it ever will. If you like samurai's, then I don't see any reason not to pick this up.

DVD:

DVD List

DVD

DVD

DVD-Rhythm In Your Riffs-Strums,Patterns and Grooves for Acoustic Guitar

Hero

Starman, Vol. 1: Attack from Space/Evil Brain From Outer Spa

DVD: Dance with a Stranger

Urban Gothic - Vol. 2