Legacy

Starring:David Hasselhoff, Donita Rose, Rod Steiger, Corin Nemec, Douglas O'Keeffe, Victoria Pratt, Chin Chin Gutierrez, Junix Nocian, Benson Ventura, Naess Verano, Gary Lim, Richard Joson, Mon Confiado, Michele Rogers, Cary Kwasizur, Loni Rose Ann Roxas, Carline Sapp, Joseph Burchell, Leon Miguel, Leo Gamboa
Director: T.J. Scott
Studio: Navarre Corporation/
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

WARNING TO DEAF & HEARING-IMPAIRED PEOPLE...
One Fantastic Flick
Ban both book and movie from all schools
Excellent DVD and appropriate additional features
What more can be said?

To Kill a Mockingbird (Universal Legacy Series)
Starring: Gregory Peck , John Megna , Frank Overton , Rosemary Murphy , and Ruth White (II)
Director: Robert Mulligan
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
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To Kill a Mockingbird

ASIN: B0009X7664
Release Date: 2005-09-06

Product Description

A true motion picture masterpiece, To Kill A Mockingbird is the acclaimed film version of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Harper Lee. Gregory Peck's brilliant, Oscar-caliber performance captures the emotion and conflict of racism, set against the backdrop of Depression-era America. Peck stars as attorney Atticus Finch, a distinguished lawyer in a small Southern town who chooses to defend a black man wrongly accused of raping a white woman. His compassion and courage in the face of the town's unjust rage win him the admiration of his two young children, while setting the stage for a riveting, unforgettable drama.

System Requirements:
Starring: Gregory Peck
Directed By: Robert Mulligan
Running Time: 130 Min.
Copyright Universal Studios Home Entertainment 2005

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com essential video

Ranked 34 on the American Film Institute's list of the 100 Greatest American Films, To Kill a Mockingbird is quite simply one of the finest family-oriented dramas ever made. A beautiful and deeply affecting adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Harper Lee, the film retains a timeless quality that transcends its historically dated subject matter (racism in the Depression-era South) and remains powerfully resonant in present-day America with its advocacy of tolerance, justice, integrity, and loving, responsible parenthood. It's tempting to call this an important "message" movie that should be required viewing for children and adults alike, but this riveting courtroom drama is anything but stodgy or pedantic. As Atticus Finch, the small-town Alabama lawyer and widower father of two, Gregory Peck gives one of his finest performances with his impassioned defense of a black man (Brock Peters) wrongfully accused of the rape and assault of a young white woman. While his children, Scout (Mary Badham) and Jem (Philip Alford), learn the realities of racial prejudice and irrational hatred, they also learn to overcome their fear of the unknown as personified by their mysterious, mostly unseen neighbor Boo Radley (Robert Duvall, in his brilliant, almost completely nonverbal screen debut). What emerges from this evocative, exquisitely filmed drama is a pure distillation of the themes of Harper Lee's enduring novel, a showcase for some of the finest American acting ever assembled in one film, and a rare quality of humanitarian artistry (including Horton Foote's splendid screenplay and Elmer Bernstein's outstanding score) that seems all but lost in the chaotic morass of modern cinema. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

WARNING TO DEAF & HEARING-IMPAIRED PEOPLE..........2007-06-23

AS A DEAF FAMILY, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WATCHING MOVIES, BUT THEY MUST BE CAPTIONED (OR HAVE ENGLISH SUBTITLES). WE RENTED THIS DVD FROM NETFLIX. SURPRISINGLY, THIS CLASSIC WAS NOT CAPTIONED. THAT WAS THE DISAPPOINTMENT. WE ATTEMPED TO WATCH IT ANYWAY, BUT REALLY HAD ONLY A SMALL IDEA OF WHAT WAS GOING ON. IT'S DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND WHY THIS GREAT FILM CLASSIC WASN'T CAPTIONED. THANK GOODNESS THAT NETFLIX IS GIVING US CREDIT TOWARD A DIFFERENT MOVIE. I GAVE IT 5 STARS ONLY BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF OTHERS LIKED THE FILM SO MUCH AND I DON'T WANT TO APPEAR NEGATIVE ABT THE FILM, CAUSE IT WOULDN'T BE FAIR TO DO SO.

One Fantastic Flick.......2007-06-19

This has got to me, in my opinion, the best movie ever made. It takes me back to my childhood. It's poignant, hard-hitting, real and inevitably sad. Life used to be like this.

Ban both book and movie from all schools.......2007-06-16

Why ban them? Then, we might be spared what is possibly the most infantile, ignorant and uninformed collection of negative reviews present on Amazon.

I originally intended to post a review a few weeks ago after I had viewed it on cable, but for some reason I decided to read the negative views (both book and movie) to see why in the world anyone could condemn either. Afterwards, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I decided to laugh, but with an undertone of sadness.

A few examples of the absurd negative comments follow (with my own comments in parenthesis):

"Every copy of this book should be burned and never allowed to be read again." (Ah, the sweet smell of scorched paper around the bonfires. Armbands optional?)

"Yuk! Try to avoid reading this book as much as possible. . . . [I]t is confusing . . . and there is too much information given at one time." (You had me at "Yuk!")

"Thanks to all my friendswho had to tourchure threw reading this disgrace and supporting me in not likeing the book. By the way, DO NOT BUY, because if i find it in your house i won't think to kindly of you." (I tremble in terror and weep in shame at what you would think of my bookshelves.)

"Talk about a bad movie i would only buy it if someone paid me twice it's value to." (I don't think this is what was meant by the "new math.")

And, my favorite: "Do not watch, do not read ... stay ignorant of Harper Lee." (I suspect, young reader, that you have succeeded far beyond Harper Lee.)

Sorry to review the reviews, but now I actually have something serious to say about the movie and book.

Years before the publication of Harper Lee's novel, there was a trial in a small southern Mississippi town in 1945. A black man named Willie McGee was accused of the rape of a white woman. The circumstantial evidence pointed strongly to the possibility that the relationship was forced by the woman. Just as in "To Kill a Mockingbird," such a relationship at the time could not - would not - be tolerated. The case attracted national attention at the time, and after a prolonged series of appeals (spearheaded by former New York Congresswoman, Bella Abzug), a public execution was staged, which was no more than a legally sanctioned lynching. The state's portable electric chair was installed in the courthouse, which was filled to standing room only. Outside spectators climbed trees to gain a look at the execution through the opened windows. (A white Mississippi attorney, Dixon Pyles, also took part in the defense, so Atticus Finch is not without a foundation in fact.)

The Scottsboro trials have been cited as the main inspiration for Lee's novel, but I've often wondered if the McGee trial might not also have played a role. But it really doesn't matter. Fiction is often more suited to tell the truth than history. And the truth is that although many people in the South knew Jim Crow laws and lynchings were wrong, they also knew that if you were vocal about it, you could lose your job - or your life, which is what makes the portrait of Atticus Finch a true profile in courage, a Southern Gothic version of Sir Thomas Moore in "A Man For All Seasons."

But beyond the racial themes, both the book and the movie weave a gentle tapestry of what life in the South was like before air-conditioning, where games were things to be played outdoors rather than in front of computers, a discarded tire was an endlessly renewable resource for entertainment and summers seemed to last forever. (I've lived what I'm talking about.)

What saddens me about the negative reviews such as I quoted above is not their ignorance, but the lack of curiosity they display about our nation's history. I do, however, fervently hope that the young reviewer who urged the burning of all copies of the book is oblivious of the historical events he or she evoked and will someday realize the horror of what such comments endorse.

Ten stars if I could.

Excellent DVD and appropriate additional features.......2007-06-13

This DVD provides clear images and speech. In addition to the complete motion picture, there are a question and answer session by Gregory Peck (Atticus Finch), an interview with the adult Mary Badham (Scout Finch), and other offerings.

What more can be said?.......2007-05-26

What can really be written about this wonderful film that hasn't already been said since its release on December 25th 1962?

One can write that this has to be one of Gregory Peck's greatest performances portraying the memorable Atticus Finch with such believability that Peck attempted time and again to shed "Atticus" as an actor, even as an established one for twenty years, asking for "villain" roles and being turned down until The Boys From Brazil, Atticus Finch was a role made for Gregory Peck as the actor can play the sensitive, caring man of integrity with utter ease and did so for several films following To Kill a Mockingbird, such as "Behold a Pale Horse" (1964) "Mirage" (1965) and "Arabesque" (1966).

Harper Lee's novel addresses many issues for its time including racism and entrenched prejudice against the black American in the deep south before and during The Great Depression and after...as an audience of the film, we are exposed to the necessity of pursuing virtue as human beings and what it really means and how important it is to have basic good manners in one's life; what it means to reach for and practice goodness and have core beliefs and in the end, standing firm by those beliefs against overwhelming opposition. The film also shows us the need to walk a mile in another person's shoes before making any judgements on them, or as Atticus says to Scout... "Until you step inside their skin and walk around a little..."

The magnificent performance of Mary Badham as the irrepressible Scout won her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress only to miss out to Patty Duke in her stunning role in The Miracle Worker Considering both performances, Duke and Badham (both children) should have won a Joint Oscar as both were absolutely magnificent in their respective roles.

When the Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee was published, a somewhat recent bio of the author, Lee was asked about the character, Atticus Finch, and was he based on her actual attorney father, she said that Atticus of course was based on her father, but she embellished and added, creating a new character, a father and man she believed would be the ideal father & human being living under the circumstances presented in the novel.

Despite this film opening forty years ago, the story and performances continue to be a model for present day filmmaking...beginning with a great story, a well adapted screenplay, a director who loves the project thus all in the crew give 100%, and the same basic example of virtue and integrity communicated in the novel and adapted for the screen: compassion, kindness, courage, respect and love.

Truly one of the all time great films of the twentieth century...something to show the children, something to learn.

A Bright 5 Stars.

Double Indemnity (Universal Legacy Series)

Average customer rating:

Double Indemnity
Classic film noir from the great Billy Wilder
It doesn't get any better than this blistering jewel
a great example of the early days of film noir.......
Lust and Greed Lead to Murder

Double Indemnity (Universal Legacy Series)
Starring: Fred MacMurray , Barbara Stanwyck , Edward G. Robinson , Porter Hall , and Jean Heather
Director: Billy Wilder , and Jack Smight
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005JNG5
Release Date: 2006-08-22

Amazon.com essential video

Director Billy Wilder (Sunset Boulevard) and writer Raymond Chandler (The Big Sleep) adapted James M. Cain's hard-boiled novel into this wildly thrilling story of insurance man Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray), who schemes the perfect murder with the beautiful dame Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck): kill Dietrichson's husband and make off with the insurance money. But, of course, in these plots things never quite go as planned, and Barton Keyes (Edward G. Robinson) is the wily insurance investigator who must sort things out. From the opening scene you know Neff is doomed, as the story is told in flashback; yet, to the film's credit, this doesn't diminish any of the tension of the movie. This early film noir flick is wonderfully campy by today's standards, and the dialogue is snappy ("I thought you were smarter than the rest, Walter. But I was wrong. You're not smarter, just a little taller"), filled with lots of "dame"s and "baby"s. Stanwyck is the ultimate femme fatale, and MacMurray, despite a career largely defined by roles as a softy (notably in the TV series My Three Sons and the movie The Shaggy Dog), is convincingly cast against type as the hapless, love-struck sap. --Jenny Brown

Customer Reviews:

Double Indemnity.......2007-06-21

One of the quintessential noir films, Billy Wilder's "Double Indemnity" is a masterpiece of stark atmosphere and carefully stylized suspense. The talented Barbara Stanwyck, a familiar face in the 1940s noir universe, assumes her role with feline deviousness, while "My Three Sons" TV dad Fred MacMurray--narrating the film via flashback--brilliantly plays against type. Raymond Chandler's screenplay sizzles with hard-boiled repartee and the great Edward G. Robinson is aces as always as the dogged investigator hot on the lovers' trail. Sinister, tense, and cynical, Wilder's "Indemnity" is riveting film suspense.

Classic film noir from the great Billy Wilder.......2007-06-10

"Double Indemnity" is one of the first films of the genre that would come to be known as "Film Noir".

The plot is classic film noir - a smug, womanising insurance salesman Walter Neff (played by Fred MacMurray) gets in over his head with a conniving femme fatale Phyllis Diedrichson (Barbara Stanwyck) who wants rid of her boorish husband. Neff must also be wary of a suspicious claims manager at his insurance company Barton Keyes (Edward G. Robinson).

Naturally the story has some dated elements (it was made in 1943) but it still holds up pretty well as entertainment for a modern audience.

MacMurray is excellent in his role as a heel making a change from his usual nice guy roles. He helps make the character sympathetic whereas Stanwycks role has few redeeming features - she really is "rotten". Her turnabout at the end is also somewhat unconvincing. The great Edward G. Robinson steals every scene he's in as the tenacious investigator who has a soft spot for Neff.

The DVD includes a good commentary by Lem Dobbs and Nick Redman with useful insights on the film but it also continually laments the decline of Hollywood, which I think is a trifle unfair.

Like most Billy Wilder films "Double Indemnity" doesn't really have a message - it just provides great entertainment aimed at adults. It also marks a growing shift in the 1940s towards more maturity in Hollywood film-making.

It doesn't get any better than this blistering jewel.......2007-05-30

What else remains to be said about one of the true classics of noir? Fred Macmurry is just right as the sap who thinks he's a lot smarter & sharper than he really is; Edward G. Robinson shines as a dedicated & inexorable seeker of the truth, even as his concern & disappointment for his fallen friend shows clearly; and Barbara Stanwyck scalds the screen as the trashy, blatantly sexy femme fatale with the morals of an alley cat & an icy ruthlessness that stops at nothing -- just look at that cover art! Wrap these characters in moody, bleakly beautiful black & white cinematography, give them a witty, scathing script by Raymond Chandler, and you've got a sordid masterpiece about small-timers whose greedy, self-centered dreams are much larger than their shriveled souls. I can't recommend this film highly enough!

a great example of the early days of film noir..............2007-05-20

DOUBLE INDEMNITY, a 1944 film by Billy Wilder, is one of the most definitive and beautiful examples of early film noir (literally, "black film") at its best. For those of you unfamiliar with the genre of film noir, this was a type of film made popular in the 1940s and 1950s, features very dark cinematography (plenty of shadows intermixed with light), as well as equally dark subject matter. Common themes are murders, affairs and grizzly illegal activity. DOUBLE INDEMNITY is a great example of this style at its best.

Fred MacMurray plays wily insurance man Walter Neff, who finds himself drawn to a beautiful, married woman, Phyllis Dietrichsen, played by the lovely Barbara Stanwyck. Together, they cook a plot to murder her husband, so Walter can make off with the policy money. Of course, things don't go quite according to plan. Enter Barton Keyes (Edward G. Robinson), an investigator who gets wind that "something is rotting in Denmark." Keyes knows that there is something decidedly un-kosher about the whole arrangement between Neff and Dietrichsen, and he is determined to find out where that feeling is coming from.

This film is beautifully acted, directed with great zest, and very, very engaging. Even though some of the dialogue is (delightfully) dated, you are still going to have a great time watching DOUBLE INDEMNITY. There is no question that this is an example of filmmaking, at its best.

Lust and Greed Lead to Murder.......2007-05-15

Late at night a man enters an office building. Mr. Walter Neff is working overtime. Dozens of desks for the clerical workers are void of life. In his office he begins to speak into his Dictaphone about the Diedrickson claim. It all started when Neff went to see about an auto insurance renewal. Mr. Diedrickson wasn't home, but his wife Phyllis was. [The dialogue between them shows Raymond Chandler's skills.] Claims manager Mr. Barton Keyes is skilled in sniffing out false claims. Neff returns to Diedrickson for the auto insurance renewal. Phyllis asks about an accident policy for her husband. Could she get one without her husband's knowledge? Neff explains why she could never get away with it. But Phyllis visits Neff to better explain her wants, and there is a meeting of their minds. [Use your imagination.] Phyllis doesn't like her stepdaughter Lola, and Lola doesn't like her stepmother (there is a reason for this).

Neff explains how insurance companies know all the tricks used to make a murder look like an accident. But Neff impulsively decides to help Phyllis remove an inconvenient husband. [Is this plausible? Like the rain in Los Angeles.] Mr. Diedrickson is concerned about Lola's activities. Neff explains to Phyllis why Mr. Diedrickson must travel by train. Lola also has problems with her boyfriend. Neff plans their surreptitious meeting where they can plot the crime. The film show how they could then check if a doorbell of telephone rang. The murder is cold-blooded and horrible, but off scene. [Did they leave fingerprints on those crutches?]

The actuarial tables are cited to show the encyclopedic knowledge of insurance companies. But Keyes has noticed a discrepancy in this case, and begins to question the apparent facts. Then there is another glitch, something that wasn't foreseen. Daughter Lola meets Neff and tells him some old facts, and some new ones! Keyes surmises how this accident was concocted. There is now great danger for Phyllis and Neff. More surprising complications arise in this story until the shocking ending. [Could a person who murders another be implicitly suicidal?]

One important part of this story is the background of life in 1944 Los Angeles. How much was changed in just twenty years! [There was no mention of war-time rationing or shortages in that grocery supermarket.]

Average customer rating:

Legacy Series DVD better than I expected
AWESOME
Amazon review system 'broken'
incomparable and truly original!
a ragtime fantasy

The Sting (Universal Legacy Series)
Starring: Paul Newman , Robert Redford , Robert Shaw , Charles Durning , and Ray Walston
Director: George Roy Hill
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0009X766Y
Release Date: 2005-09-06

Amazon.com essential video

Winner of seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, Director, and Screenplay, this critical and box-office hit from 1973 provided a perfect reunion for director George Roy Hill and stars Paul Newman and Robert Redford, who previously delighted audiences with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Set in 1936, the movie's about a pair of Chicago con artists (Newman and Redford) who find themselves in a high-stakes game against the master of all cheating mobsters (Robert Shaw) when they set out to avenge the murder of a mutual friend and partner. Using a bogus bookie joint as a front for their con of all cons, the two feel the heat from the Chicago Mob on one side and encroaching police on the other. But in a plot that contains more twists than a treacherous mountain road, the ultimate scam is pulled off with consummate style and panache. It's an added bonus that Newman and Redford were box-office kings at the top of their game, and while Shaw broods intensely as the Runyonesque villain, The Sting is further blessed by a host of great supporting players including Dana Elcar, Eileen Brennan, Ray Walston, Charles Durning, and Harold Gould. Thanks to the flavorful music score by Marvin Hamlisch, this was also the movie that sparked a nationwide revival of Scott Joplin's ragtime jazz, which is featured prominently on the soundtrack. One of the most entertaining movies of the early 1970s, The Sting is a welcome throwback to Hollywood's golden age of the '30s that hasn't lost any of its popular charm. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Legacy Series DVD better than I expected.......2007-07-03

I'd been waiting for a long time for a special edition of this remarkable film, and was disapointed when I read that it that it was the inauthentic "widescreen" version, and that it came with merely a small documentary, and neither commentary nor deleted scenes.

I judged way too quickly.

The cutting off of small parts of the top and bottom of the frame are not dramatic, and having seen both versions of the film, I don't feel I've lost anything here.

More importantly, the documentary is wonderful, including new interviews with Newman, Redford, David S. Ward, Ray Walston, Dimitra Arliss, Charles Durning, and a radiant and remarkably recovered from her stroke Eileen Brennan.

And though I wish there had been commentary, the documentary makes it clear that the script was so tight, there was probably little additional material left to add.

This is one of those wonderful cases where less is better, and I love having it in my collection.

AWESOME.......2007-06-13

ONE OF MY FAVORITE MOVIES OF ALL TIME!

Amazon review system 'broken'.......2007-06-12

Just a caveat to all users reading reviews:
There are 2 versions of this movie on DVD, and Amazon have put all the reviews for both versions together, so you can basically ignore the reviews here and look elsewhere for reviews that distinguish between the two editions currently out.

Amazon are great at customer service and despatch, but terrible at review maintenance.

One version is pan and scan, and the other is listed as widescreen. Good luck working out which version people are reviewing!

incomparable and truly original!.......2007-06-01

THE STING is just a marvelous piece of storytelling. I don't even know where to begin. Since I really don't want to give away too many plot details and ruin it, I will say this: con artists provide some of the best plot scenarios in celluloid storytelling! That is, if the story is as well-orchestrated and seamless as George Ray Hill's take on an unbelievable storyline, centered on two con men (Paul Newman and Robert Redford) seeking vengeance on the head of a mobster (Robert Shaw) who knocked off their colleague. And, that's the only plot element I'm going to reveal. If anything, you should see it for the marvelous Scott Joplin score. You can't replicate this kind of brilliant filmmaking. If you haven't fallen in love with Paul Newman already, you will after you see this!

a ragtime fantasy.......2007-05-26

This movie is a true classic. Everything about it is top notch. The cast is wonderful, the music fantastic, costuming is Edith Head at her best, and the story line just keeps you in your seat. Go to the bathroom before you start the disc, because you won't want to pause till you reach the end and you will want to listen to the music during the credits.
It's pure fantasy, of course. Con men are not white knights using their wits to punish greedy gangsters. They make their livings stealing the life savings of poor widows and selling mixtures of tar and motor oil as blacktop to working people who are just trying to improve their driveways. They charge young couples to take wedding pictures, but don't have any film in their cameras. They are the scum on the social bog and don't deserve anything but long sentences at hard labor.
But- - this movie makes you forget all of that. For a couple of hours, these petty crooks take time out of their dismal lives to get even in the only way they know for the brutal murder of a friend.
Robert Shaw is the ultimate villain. He makes you wish that Robert Redford could really find a way to kill him. He is six shades of mean and seven shades of nasty. He deserves a lot more grief than he gets, but what he gets is delicious.
Every movie lover should get and treasure this disc.

Frankenstein - The Legacy Collection (Frankenstein / Bride of / Son of / Ghost of / House of)

Average customer rating:

Lovingly executed collection of Frankenstein flicks...
Who could ask for more!!!!
He loves dead, hates living
Frank and Bride make it worth it but not for an upgrade
Now I know what it feels like to own Frankenstein!

Frankenstein - The Legacy Collection (Frankenstein / Bride of / Son of / Ghost of / House of)
Starring: Pauline Moore , and Edward Van Sloan
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001CNRLQ
Release Date: 2004-04-27

Description

Feature titles include: The Bride of Frankenstein, Frankenstein, The Ghost of Frankenstein, House of Frankenstein, Son of Frankenstein

Customer Reviews:

Lovingly executed collection of Frankenstein flicks..........2004-05-22

Beautifully done collection of the classic Universal FRANKENSTEIN films. Of course the first two are the best--still chilling and mesmerizing; the subsequent sequels, however, are best only for inducing nostalgic memories of Saturday matinees gone by... Even, so Universal's done a terrific job of collecting and packaging the franchise.

The bonus features are good, too, although the blatant tie-in with the new VAN HELSING movie is borderline obnoxious and can only be forgiven because of Stephen Somers's on eloquent infatuation with the original films.

Definitely a keeper!

Who could ask for more!!!!.......2004-05-16

I can't believe it. For twenty dollars you get five of the classic Universal Frankenstein films! The original, the Bride sequel, the Son of, the Ghost of, and the House of. This is the Boris Karloff collection, but he does not appear in 'Ghost of Frankenstein', the monster is portrayed by The Wolfman himself, Lon Cheney. Also House of Frankenstein is awesome becouse Boris is the mad scientist that succumbs to the monster. As if you need anything else, Bela Lugosi plays Igor in Son and Ghost. These are the classics that we all searched for for years. Now they are all together in an awesome package.

Great price, great movies, and awesome extras. Hear from Boris' Daughter, film historians, and even Clive.

He loves dead, hates living.......2004-05-16

Frankenstein's Monster is probably one of the most misunderstood monster in horror film's history. Wasn't his choice, the Monster was made to be alive. He speaked for himself, "I love dead, I hate living." The Monster wasn't that bad at all, he's just like the Elephant Man, quite sympathetic.

The DVD contains 2 disc (1 single sided and 1 double sided) with 5 classic horror films: four sequels of Frankenstein, and one another film called House of Frankenstein. It comes with quite lots of special features like original theatrical trailers, documentary feature, commentary audio track, original poster and photo galleries, English closed captioned, and other substitles, etc. Surprisingly, both picture and audio quality are quite good & clear. Obviously, they are newly remastered for better clarity.

It also includes an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how these original Frankenstein films inspired director Stephen Sommers on his new movie Van Helsing. I don't feel it's an inspiration, I think Stephen Sommers wants to reuse couple classic scenes to show some authenticity of Frankenstein's monster in his new movie. But it seems it's trying to promote his new movie Van Helsing. Besides that, the true & serious fans of Frankenstein should find this DVD as their MUST-HAVE collectible item.

Frank and Bride make it worth it but not for an upgrade.......2004-05-09

I haven't seen these films since I was a kid. Out of nostalgia sake I picked up this Frankenstein set and was quite pleased. I had forgotten how good Frankenstein was and in particular, how great Bride of Frankenstein was. Those two films alone, make this set a good purchase. In my opinion, the other 3 films are garbage and barely worth a viewing. All of the films and most of the supplemental material on this version have been previously released. If you already own Frankenstein and Bride, I can't see this set being worth your upgrade just to get the other 3, barely passable films. But if you do not own those two, this set makes for a good collection.
The Van Helsing movie looks especially bad to me, and seems like a poor attempt to capitalize on the past legacy of these characters. Stick to the originals.

Now I know what it feels like to own Frankenstein!.......2004-05-03

I missed buying Frankenstein (1931) when it was out 4 years ago and have been kicking myself ever since. Its been selling for $30 or more on ebay and then you're sometimes buying a Brazillian edition(!!!).--

I enjoyed finally seeing the original (twice) and then watching it with the commentary turned on.

I then watched Bride the same way. (okay so I'm a DVD nerd).

This set was a bargain. While I think the first 3 Frankenstein films are REAL Classics I prefer Son of Frankenstein just a tad over the other two for personal reasons.
"Son of Frankenstein" has glaring continuty flaws if one has just viewed the first two movies.
Why is the village that is home to The Family Frankenstein now known 25 years later as the village of Frankenstein rather than the village of Gestadt as in the first two? [There was a signpost which established this in the first movie]

The lab was in an old watchtower (very much destroyed) not next door to the castle.
and so on and so on....

But Basil Rathbone's "Wolf" (Wolfgang von Frankenstein--notice the 'von' has been added) and the character of Inspector Krogh are superb.
Karloff's monster is actually better I think now that he is mute again. [Karloff always belived that the monster having speech in "Bride" was a mistake"].
Lugosi's Ygor is a true villain. He also set the benchmark for Mad Scientist Sidekicks that lives today. [Well you don't see a Mad Scientist's sidekick called Frtiz or Karl!]

Description

Disk 1: *Planet of the Apes ('68)

Disk 2: *Escape from the Planet of the Apes

Disk 3: *Conquest for the Planet of the Apes

Disk 4: *Battle for the Planet of the Apes

Disk 5: *Beneath the Planet of the Apes

Disk 6: *Behind the Planet of the Apes (bonus disc) *Documentary ?Behind the Planet of the Apes? *Planet of the Apes trailer *Beneath the Planet of the Apes trailer *Escape from the Planet of the Apes trailer *Conquest of the Planet of the Apes trailer *Battle for the Planet of the Apes trailer *Planet of the Apes Cross Promotion trailer *TV Spot for Behind the Planet of the Apes *Fox Interactive Presents: Behind the Scenes of the Planet of the Apes game

Customer Reviews:

Hard to rate a mixed bag, but these films are fun nevertheless.......2007-06-07

Like the Airport Terminal Pack (Airport/Airport '75/Airport '77/Airport '79 - The Concord) the "Planet of the Apes" film series widely ranges in quality. ALL of them are fun enough to watch, however, the last two are extremely campy and very poorly made.

Back in the day when producers made sequels, prior to the VCR/DVD era, the films consistently earned less money with each sequel; therefore, less money was spent on each sequel as the expected turnout and revenues would be less. That is not the case today with the VCR/DVD generation wherein if people missed a film in the theaters, they could rent or purchase it later. This meant a larger audience for a film as it would have, in a sense, multiple releases: first would be the actual theater release, then the plain first edition on VCR/DVD within about six months, then followed by a "special edition" the next year, and then a "director's cut", and "special extended version" followed, and so on. This allows for a film to get a larger following; therefore, sequels and prequels have become big business. This means producers put more money into these films now than they did before to pull in not only the established fans of the film series, but also new fans who may have just caught up with the series by renting or purchasing the prior films.

With that having been said it should be no surprise at all that these films range widely in quality and effort as they were before the VCR/DVD era. Below are my ratings for each film and in the correct order of their release (the disk order is NOT correct in the package):

***** Planet of the Apes: An absolute classic sci-fi film with good special effects and set designs (even by today's standards) and solid performances by all, most notably Roddy McDowell who was in all the films and the short-lived TV series, Kim Hunter, and Maurice Evans who had to portray emotions with their voice, eyes and hand gestures moreso than other actors because of the heavy make-up they wear which is outstanding.

*** Beneath the Planet of the Apes: The effects and make-up are still very good and so is the acting, but the storyline is rather bizarre, convoluted, and just doesn't seem to fit with the Apes series real well.

****Escape From the Planet of the Apes: I loved this sequel which reverses the storyline by having the intelligent talking apes back in our present day rather than in their future world. Naturally, this saved the producers lots of money by only having to put make up on only two actors rather than many. The performances are top-notch by McDowell and Hunter who continue their roles from the first two ape films.

Both the "The Conquest of" and final entry "The Battle for the Planet of the Apes" are cinematic disasters for which I give them both **. The make up had been reduced to laughable rubber masks and the special effects consisted of terrible paintings, obvious minatures, and flimsy cardboard sets. Roddy McDowell's performance had become somewhat pedestrian in the title role by these two final films, but his voice and delivery was always pleasant to the ear. These two films do, however, continue the storyline which ends up explaining how Earth eventually became The Planet of the Apes. To me, that's an important part of any sequel and why I gave these films two stars and not one or zero.

The bonus disk on looking over the "Apes" series is hosted by McDowell, who always looked great for his age, and sadly he died shortly thereafter from cancer. This special was done to re-introduce the "Ape" films to a new generation just prior to the release of the Ape films on tape/DVD and the planned release of the remake by Tim Burton (Planet of the Apes (Special Edition) which was surprisingly original and in many ways superior to the original film with Charlten Heston who has a cameo in the remake.

In any event and in spite of the wide ranging quality of these films the entire series is worth owning and the sequels do build on each other and tell a coherent story (not counting the silly second entry into the series even though the third film still builds upon it). I highly recommend this set and the remake by Burton as well.

The Greatest SC-FI Saga Before Star Wars.......2007-04-19

Planet of the Apes is a legendary SC-FI masterpiece, that made film history & was another smash hit for the legendary Charlton Heston and thats not all, it was followed by 4 sequels spanning across time of ape's place on the planet. Planet of the Apes, Beneath the Planet of the Apes, Escape from the Planet of the Apes, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes & Battle for the Planet of the Apes" all 5 classics boxed in one legacy collection to go ape over. The films star Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, Linda Harrison, Ricardo Montalban, James Franciscus & Maurice Evans. If you're a SC-FI fan, this is must have collection.

An amazing collection at an even better price!.......2007-03-01

I can't believe you get all of the movies plus a behind-the-scenes documentary, all for only $25.00! The DVD quality is outstanding, and the movies are timeless. You will not be disappointed if you buy this collection.

All the movies plus a bonus.......2007-02-14

The Planet of the Apes movies were some of my favorites during the Vietnam war years; some I liked better than others, but all of them had a political statement (whether you agreed or not). Racism, the Bomb, mankind destroying itself, it was all there.

I was very happy to be able to find this set, not only for the movies, but for the sixth DVD on the background, from Pierre Boulle's 1963 novel, La planète des singes, through the making of the films, to the final movie; the last DVD is extremely informative and interesting.

I highly recommend this set.

Great Concepts, Great Characters, Classic Moments, Chilling Possibilities.......2007-01-28

I rank the original "Planet Of The Apes" series very high among the plentiful output of science fiction movies of their era. Although the special effects are not brilliant by today's standards (compensated for somewhat by the quality designs of what they were trying to capture, even if the execution seems somewhat hampered in retrospect) and the action sequences are occasionnally rather low-impact, the strengths of the series - a great, thought-provoking and memorable story that weaves through all five movies; solid and impressive characters among both human and ape; a nice job on the photography; and mind-blowing endings to most of the movies; make up for any shortcomings.

The endings have become legendary, especially the finale to the first movie (which I'm certainly not going to give away here, in case anyone reading this is among the 22 or so people on the planet who don't yet know it; they even used to have the final shot on the Cover of one of the editions of the boxed set, for crying out loud). The secrets of the conclusions to "Beneath The Planet Of The Apes" and "Escape From The Planet Of The Apes", however, aren't nearly as well-known by people who haven't seen the movies yet, which is good, because it gives one a chance to have some of the surprises unhampered by foreknowledge. The end moments of "Escape", in particular, are haunting, the kind of thing that can give one chills just remembering it.

It's hard to talk to much about the latter movies in the saga without giving away far too much. The original, "Planet Of The Apes" has Earth astronauts making an emergency crash-landing on an unknown world, where it turns out that apes, not humans, are the dominant species. Captured, the humans - indigineous to the planet but very primitive, in addition to the more scientifically advanced spacefarers - find themselves imprisoned in wooden cages (rudimentary equivelents to the barren metal cages of old, pre-'simulated natural habitat' zoos?). The apes of the world are diverse - there are some who view the human population as mindless beasts without rights, while others are sympathetic to the humans's plight. There is also considerable friction between the three races of apes - gorillas, orangitans, and chimpanzees (notice quite a few real-world parralells yet?).

The series - which continues through "Beneath...", "Escape...", "Conquest Of The Planet Of The Apes" and "Battle For The Planet Of The Apes" (disc 6 in the collection is a behind-the-scenes documentary) has some recurring characters, continues to introduce new ones, introduces new concepts and layers and twists to the concept. By the 4th and 5th entries, the series is admittedly losing some steam, but judged on their own each of those is still a good movie. Great price, too. Any fan of adventure movies, science fiction, or movies that offer volumes of fodder for thought and dream, should consider picking this set of classics up.

Creature from the Black Lagoon - The Legacy Collection (Creature from the Black Lagoon / Revenge of the Creature / The Creature Walks Among Us)

Average customer rating:

3 for the price of 1
Creature From The Black Lagoon
Awesome but Shame on Universal.....
Creature from the Black Lagoon
A Great Set

Creature from the Black Lagoon - The Legacy Collection (Creature from the Black Lagoon / Revenge of the Creature / The Creature Walks Among Us)
Starring: Richard Carlson , Julie Adams , Richard Denning , Antonio Moreno , and Nestor Paiva
Director: Jack Arnold , and John Sherwood (II)
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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The Mummy - The Legacy Collection (The Mummy/Mummy's Hand/Mummy's Tomb/Mummy's Ghost/Mummy's Curse)
The Wolf Man - The Legacy Collection (The Wolf Man / Werewolf of London / Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man / She-Wolf of London)
Invisible Man - The Legacy Collection (The Invisible Man/Invisible Man Returns/Invisible Agent/Invisible Woman/Invisible Man's Revenge)
Dracula - The Legacy Collection (Dracula / Dracula (1931 Spanish Version) / Dracula's Daughter / Son of Dracula / House of Dracula)
Frankenstein - The Legacy Collection (Frankenstein / Bride of / Son of / Ghost of / House of)

ASIN: B0002NRRRY
Release Date: 2004-10-19

Description

For the first time ever, the original Creature from the Black Lagoon film comes to DVD in this extraordinary Legacy Collection. Included in the collection is the original classic, starring Richard Carlson, and two timeless sequels, featuring such legendary actors as John Agar and Jeff Morrow. These are the landmark films that inspired an entire genre of movies and continue to be major influences on motion pictures to this day.

Customer Reviews:

3 for the price of 1.......2007-06-27

I bought this for The Creature from the Black Lagoon. The box set was pretty much the same price as the single video, so i got it. It's pretty-well put together and well, other people have written about the plots. If you want one of the movies, it's worth getting all three.

Creature From The Black Lagoon.......2007-06-09

Another Classic Horror Movie that i saw as a youngster at the old Major Theater in Burbank, ca

Awesome but Shame on Universal............2007-06-08

Usually my intentions with my reviews is more toward the technical end and not the actual movie since most have seen the movies before, or there is usually more attention to critiqueing the movie than how well it was transferred to DVD. If you're like me and love quality over quantity then read on.
The packaging and art is simply spectacular on this collection. The bonus features are awesome!!! With careful attention given to lighting and sound. All of the "living" characters including the creature actors are interviewed. Great job Universal! The overall quality to the actual transfer for the first disc is superb. The print used was in good condition for a movie that old. The Creature walks among us was also tranferred with very good quality but the "Revenge of the Creature" sucks! The compression is very noticable. Shame on Universal for not placing this great movie on a third disc in this otherwise great collection. Instead they tried to fit both movies on the second disc. Naturally there are few bonus features which is understandable. But why sacrifice the quality??? Guys some of us don't want to be reminded about quality throughout the length of a movie. The culprit is the clown that walked into the executives offices and said hey I can fit 2 movies on one disc. Using what is referred to as "VBR" (variable bit rate) will only compress areas that are redundant in the picture and professes to be un-noticable to the viewer...BULL!!! judge for selves. View the first 2 and then watch the third. I do hate the "VBR" compression format.
Manny

Creature from the Black Lagoon.......2007-05-23

Still a great flic! I remember seeing this as a kid. Not just a guy in a rubber suit, they did a good job on this one. The Creature is very life-like even for todays standards of effects. This has a good believable story line as well. In this edition you get the 2 editional movies, to carry on the story. A real classic and a welcome edition to my film library.

A Great Set.......2007-05-20

I was a big fan of these movies growing up watching the friday night creature feature on tv. The first film is without a doubt the best. Some scientists hire a boat to take them down the Amazon River to follow up on native rumors that a prehistoric creature still lives. They find the "gill-man" and start fighting for their lives. The Creature has a simple plan. Kill the men and keep the woman. To their credit, when the crew figures this out, they try to get away as quickly as possible. In the second and third films, you start to wonder why people don't just leave this beast alone. The sequel, The Revenge of the Creature has a lot of action. This time some folks have a great idea to capture the Creature and put him on display in a Florida aquarium. He of course escapes, grabs a girl and terrorizes the eastern seaboard. The third movie is the most bizzare. In The Creature Walks Among Us, some folks have an even greater idea of capturing him, removing his gills, and making him into a land animal. Don't ask why they put him through all of this. Anyway, the DVD set is very high quality and well worth it.

The Deer Hunter (Universal Legacy Series)

Average customer rating:

An American masterpiece
The sleaziest exploitation movie ever made!!!!!!
Good, but really needed editing room help
WORTH WAITING FOR
Not to Be Confused with a War Movie

The Deer Hunter (Universal Legacy Series)
Starring: Robert De Niro , John Cazale , John Savage , Christopher Walken , and Meryl Streep
Director: Michael Cimino
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

Anti-War Films | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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

Platoon (Collector's Edition Steelbook)
Taxi Driver (Collector's Edition)
Apocalypse Now - The Complete Dossier (Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition)
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ASIN: B000AABCU2
Release Date: 2005-09-06

Product Description

A Critically acclaimed tour de force and winner of 5 Academy Awards®, The Deer Hunter tracks three friends whose lives and relationships are forever changed by their experiences in Vietnam. One by one, each man's innocence and courage is tested in the lethal cauldron of war. Robert DeNiro's mesmerizing performance as the group's natural leader set a new standard for dramatic intensity in this searing drama of friendship, tragedy and forgiveness.

System Requirements:
Starring: Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, Christopher Walken
Directed By: Michael Cimino
Running Time: 184 Min.
Copyright Universal Studios Home Entertainment 2005

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com essential video

Winner of five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, The Deer Hunter is simultaneously an audacious directorial conceit and one of the greatest films ever made about friendship and the personal impact of war. Like Apocalypse Now, it's hardly a conventional battle film--the soldier's experience was handled with greater authenticity in Platoon--but its depiction of war on an intimate scale packs a devastatingly dramatic punch. Director Michael Cimino may be manipulating our emotions with masterful skill, but he does it in a way that stirs the soul and pinches our collective nerves with graphic, high-intensity scenes of men under life-threatening duress. Although Russian-roulette gambling games were not a common occurrence during the Vietnam war, they're used here as a metaphor for the futility of the war itself. To the viewer, they become unforgettably intense rites of passage for the best friends--Pennsylvania steelworkers played by Robert De Niro, John Savage, and Oscar winner Christopher Walken--who may survive or perish during their tour through a tropical landscape of hell. Back home, their loved ones must cope with the war's domestic impact, and in doing so they allow The Deer Hunter to achieve a rare combination of epic storytelling and intimate, heart-rending drama. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

An American masterpiece.......2007-06-19

I dont think I've ever seen a film that is more tapped into the American spirit of the time than this film. The film spreads out before the viewer, you can almost smell the soot in the industrial town. The world here lives and breathes. Its masterfully crafted and its beautifully subtle. From the innocence and kinship of small town life to the mania and simmering anger being locked into factory work causes. Its all shown masterfully.
Of course the thing the film explains most vividly is the mental and spiritual damage war inflicts on both the individual and the community. Through the main analogy that runs through the film, it shows how people can get trapped in a cycle of anger and hatred. Reliving old situations over and over and over. This film brings this internal struggle that many soldiers go through into stark reality. It helps the casual viewer understand people who have gone through severe trauma, and how they get trapped in their own minds.
The film is just as relevant today as it was in the 70's. This should be required watching for anyone who is pro-war.
One of the great American films, that despite its intense content, never loses its humanity or love of life.

The sleaziest exploitation movie ever made!!!!!!.......2007-06-09

Amazon should have a rating of minus five hundred stars to make it possible to adequately categorize this one. Well, while the USA was struggling with the social and psychological crises as the effects of their youth both being killed and tricked by the military leaders to into doing some meaningless killing in the Vietnam war, and then coming home to a society that did not want to talk about it or was only critizing their actions; somebody comes up with the perverse idea of using this a background for a totally apolitical and rascist movie that exploits generating banal and sentimental emotions with the cinema-goers.

Although faultlessly made and well acted, this is the single-most sleaziest movie I have ever seen. Had it come out in 2078, it would have been a high-class escapist movie for shallow ladies, much in the vein of the typical "doctor-novel", portraying totally uninteresting characters. And the Vietnam generation would then have passed a long time ago.....but in the late 70`s?????

I am not an American, I am from Norway and I was 19 when this crap came out, but if my family had been hurt by this war, I would have punched the director and the whole cast in their faces for exploiting one of the biggest post-World War II tragedies of the western societies, while families had lost some of their sons and had others ruined their lives forever on the mental plane(read: losing them a decade or two later).

To top it all off, the Asians are portrayed as sadistic and crazy Russian-roulette players (to make the audience feel even much more sorrow for the main characters by creating a terrible enemy to unify against), a phenomena that nobody have found any proof for at all. All lies!

I just can`t believe it and never will do so!! These people behind this movie have no respect whatsoever for others. They certainly made a lot of bread on this emotional porn of theirs. Shame on you!!!

Good, but really needed editing room help.......2007-05-06

The first hour of this 3 hour movie, seemingly meant to build the dramatic framework for the rest of the movie by showing good old boys in their hometown doing all the normal things and does this well enough, but could have been a LOT shorter. I mean a lot shorter. (I also find it amusing that somehow their drive from Penn to the Washington Cascades to hunt seems to take only one night, but that is Hollywood)

The 'middle section' seemed a lot weaker than it should/could have been. It shows them in combat for five minutes, literally, but in a way that you are not even sure what is going on, and have absolutely no idea how they get captured. You have them against all possibility reunited (or maybe they were in the same unit to begin with, it doesn't tell, but that would be even worse as they stopped making regional units with whole famalies/towns in them after the civil war.) It screams plot device. Here, they should have cut a lot less.

It is from their capture onwards that this movie gains strength, and eventually culminates in a very powerful ending.

The plot synopsis above mentions that the Russian Roulette is a symbol for the futility of the war as a whole. After thinking about this, I can not see any real evidence for this in the story.

I would see it again (probably fast forwarding through at least half of the first hour), but not buy it. And I do own Apocalypse Now, Platoon, Full Metal Jacket, and Bourn on the Fourth of July, and think that all of these are better movies. The Deer Hunter has the potential to be almost/just as good and as these other four, the story is strong enough, but the editing severely hampers it, taking it from 5 to 3 stars.

WORTH WAITING FOR.......2007-03-05

This film takes an investment of attention that most modern films do not require. The payoff however is unique and lasting.
In the story we follow a group of friends, some who go off to war in Vietnam, some who stay behind. The characters here are not flashy, but they grow on you as people do in real life. We get closer and closer to who people really are without relying on a hero. Solid performances all around.
The contrast of the mountains and the town and the struggles in Vietnam are startling. In all three places, the mystery of love redefines itself.

Not to Be Confused with a War Movie.......2007-02-27

I love movies, but I've never liked war movies and have generally stayed away from them. Even some of the most acclaimed war movies have been some of my least favorite films. "The Deer Hunter" bills itself as a war movie and points everyone in the direction that it's going to be a war movie. The movie is 3 hours, no one ends up in Vietnam until a little past the hour mark, and they're only there (in the war zone part of Vietnam anyway) for a few minutes. "The Deer Hunter" is not a war movie, but it is a great film with great performances, great direction, great cinematography, and solid, tense script...Several reasons why it probably won Best Picture at the Academy Awards and is on The American Film Institute's Top 100 List (#79). Anyway, it's 1969 in Clairton, Pennsylvania where a group of friends work in the blast furnace of a steel mill before hitting the bars. This day is different for the group...One of them is getting married and three of them are heading out to Vietnam. The group consists of Michael (Robert De Niro), Nick (Christopher Walken), Stanley (John Cazale), Steven (John Savage), and Axel (George Aspegren). The movie's first hour is very well done in the way it lets us get to know the characters, but never seems to rush it. We watch all the guys' drink, while preparing to go to Steven's wedding. We see his Russian mother chase him out of the bar and protest the marriage. We meet Linda (Meryl Streep), Nick's girlfriend who lives with a crazy/alcoholic(?) father and asks Nick if she can move into the house he shares with Michael when they leave. We watch the group of men go deer hunting and then, without warning, the film jumps to a war-ravaged village in Vietnam. Many of the shacks are on fire and Vietnamese women and children are hiding in an underground shelter. A Vietnamese soldier throws a grenade into the shelter, but is killed by Michael with a flame-thrower in one of the most famous shots from the film. Soon, Michael is reunited with Nick and Steven and the group soon find themselves as prisoners-of-war. In the realm of taut, suspenseful scenes in war movies...The scene on the boat is one of the best. There, the Vietnamese soldiers force Steven, Michael, and Nick (separately) to play a game of Russian Roulette. This scene is the most important scene in the film because it parallels with many later scenes. The movie has a strong message and is very entertaining, but I really want to make it clear to people that this is not a war movie. While war does affect many of the people in the film, it only takes up about 25% of the film. De Niro is absolutely incredible (as usual), while Walken won an Oscar for his role and deserved it. Cazale, Streep, Savage, and Aspegren all turn in terrific supporting work. This is a film that belongs in the top 100, because it truly is one of the best films ever made.

GRADE: A

Average customer rating:

A fairly good job at telling the Cherokee story
At last!
Thought provoking
Best film of the betrayal of the Cherokees by US Gov't
An excellent overview of Cherokee history and the Trail of Tears

The Trail of Tears: Cherokee Legacy
Starring: James Earl Jones
Director: Chip Richie
Manufacturer: RICH-HEAPE FILMS, INC.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

Documentary | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

Independently Distributed | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000ELJ3E4
Release Date: 2006-02-01

Customer Reviews:

A fairly good job at telling the Cherokee story.......2007-04-11

This DVD gives a general overview of the story of the Cherokee Trail of Tears. It is a documentary and uses actors to portray some historical characters and you can hear comments from some people who could be termed 'experts' in this area. I liked being able to hear from an ancestor of John Ross and the past leader of the Cherokee nation, Wilma Mankiller, as well as the present principal chief, Chad Smith. Atleast he was the chief at the time of the film.
There were also other university people and Cherokee tribal members who gave some thoughts and anecdotes. The program was hosted by Wes Studi, one of my favorite actors, who did a part of the narration, speaking in his own native tongue, Cherokee! I liked that part. James Earl Jones, who is part Cherokee, does the general narration.
The DVD wasn't quite what I expected, some of it seemed a little low-budget to me, but it's a good overview of an American story that should be told. So I recommend it for that.

At last!.......2007-02-20

At last a really good resource for all of those interested in The Trail of Tears and related issues. This is a must for anyone who wishes to understand more about what the trail really means and the injustice and suffering that it represents. An excellent product that successfully raises awareness about this important period of time - highly recommended. I am not Cherokee or even from the United States but I think that this is a story that we could all learn from.

Thought provoking.......2006-12-13

This was a good movie/documentary. I liked the usage of the Cherokee language because I am studying it and it's nice to hear it spoken in fluency. The mixture of history, scholars, and family oral stories is done well.

Best film of the betrayal of the Cherokees by US Gov't.......2006-12-11

Iam sending all of my relatives a copy. Iam a registered Cherokee (Western-Tahlequah)tribal member. This film is the best I have ever seen. I'am still shocked at how the US Gov't knowingly betrayed us for our land and gold, and put small-pox in our blankets to kill us off. US gov't has never changed. Hearing the Cherokee language spoken was a wonder to me, as I had never really heard it before. This is a best-gold star film.

An excellent overview of Cherokee history and the Trail of Tears .......2006-10-27

This is an excellent film for anyone interested in learning about the history of the tribes that were removed from their ancestral lands.

It is comprenhensive and has some excellent scholars and credible historians providing great detail as to what led to the historical atrocity known as the Trail of Tears.

Many people died during the summer of 1838 and it seemed few cared about this. No one attempted to really stop it which is the sad part about it.

It is believed that at least 4,000 Cherokee Indian people died during the removals to the west. This is a historical fact that few people seem to be aware of.

It is a sad reality that must be faced and restituion is most certainly due to those involved in this genocidal aspect of American history.

I find it almost amazing to know that this occurred less than 200 years ago and that so very few people seem to know or care about what happened. Genocide is ugly but is has a face that will never go away.

The Wolf Man - The Legacy Collection (The Wolf Man / Werewolf of London / Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man / She-Wolf of London)

Average customer rating:

The original "The Wolf Man"
Superb Classic
A Great Collection Of Classic Oldies!
Horror Classic lives on!
the wolf man- the legacy collection

The Wolf Man - The Legacy Collection (The Wolf Man / Werewolf of London / Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man / She-Wolf of London)
Starring: Claude Rains , Warren William , Ralph Bellamy , Patric Knowles , and Bela Lugosi
Director: George Waggner , Stuart Walker , and Roy William Neill
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Horror | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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Frankenstein - The Legacy Collection (Frankenstein / Bride of / Son of / Ghost of / House of)
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The Mummy - The Legacy Collection (The Mummy/Mummy's Hand/Mummy's Tomb/Mummy's Ghost/Mummy's Curse)
Creature from the Black Lagoon - The Legacy Collection (Creature from the Black Lagoon / Revenge of the Creature / The Creature Walks Among Us)
Invisible Man - The Legacy Collection (The Invisible Man/Invisible Man Returns/Invisible Agent/Invisible Woman/Invisible Man's Revenge)

ASIN: B0001CNRNE
Release Date: 2004-04-27

Description

Feature titles include: Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, She-Wolf of London, Werewolf of London, The Wolf Man

Customer Reviews:

The original "The Wolf Man".......2007-06-25

George Waggner's hirsute chiller mounts a tragic tale of fate, obsession, and man's baser instincts--and features one of the most startling transformations ever concocted for film. The younger Chaney had avoided monster roles for years, but created his most memorable screen persona when he finally donned a snout and yak hair. With makeup genius Jack Pierce and a cast of top-notch talent on hand--including Bela Lugosi, Evelyn Ankers, and Ralph Bellamy--the Universal team created an iconic picture that has inspired countless re-visionings. But avoid the sequels: the original "Wolf Man" is the only version worth feasting on.

Superb Classic.......2007-05-25

Wonderful classic featuring Lon Chaney Jr and Bela Lugosi. Chaney's sympathetic performance as the doomed Lawrence Talbot is one of the most recognized performances in the horror industry's genre.

A Great Collection Of Classic Oldies!.......2007-03-28

Every family would do well to add this group of movies to their own collection, especially if you are a fan of Lon Chaney. The acting and special effects of this period are very well-done, even by today's standards...

Horror Classic lives on!.......2007-03-15

Truly a wonderful package set of horror with "The Wolf Man" as Lon Chaney Jr. at his best and a true classic movie that will be remember for ages to come. Get this set for not only for "The Wolf Man" movie, but, for the other movies that come with it as well, which, are truly hard to find by them self...highly recommended!!

the wolf man- the legacy collection.......2007-03-11

just rcve this disc last week along with Frankenstein- legacy collection. Both came thru loose in box and are scratched and freeze up, very dissapointing waste of money.

Average customer rating:

What's the beef, y'all?
this was ok.....
Its not a funny movie but I saw a reason for the movie
not funny, just inane
maybe getting audiences to shell out ten bucks in theaters was the sleaziest punchline of all

The Aristocrats
Starring: Jason Alexander , Hank Azaria , Shelley Berman , Lewis Black , and George Carlin
Manufacturer: Velocity / Thinkfilm
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000C3L2NE
Release Date: 2006-01-24

Amazon.com

Released without a rating and billed as "the most vile, disgusting, and vulgar" film of all time, The Aristocrats is also funny enough to qualify as a minor comedy classic. We say "minor" only because hearing the same foul joke told by 100 celebrated comedians is inevitably exhausting, even though the shaggy-dog gag (a vintage in-joke among comedians, allowing outrageously obscene improvisation, and always ending with the same titular punchline) is also a fascinating litmus test for each comedian's irreverent style. As codirectors and show-biz insiders, veteran comedians Paul Provenza and Penn Jillette (from the comedy duo Penn & Teller) corralled an unprecedented parade of stand-up celebrities (George Carlin, Robin Williams, Drew Carey, Whoopi Goldberg, Sarah Silverman, the South Park kids and many, many more), each telling "the dirtiest joke of all time" in their own inimitable fashion. The sheer volume of vaudevillian vulgarity takes on a life of its own, more fascinating than funny, until Gilbert Gottfried (at a celebrity roast for Hugh Hefner, shortly after the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01) tells what is unanimously hailed as the definitive version of the joke. It's a matter of context, style, and bawdy bravado, and for better or worse, The Aristocrats will endure as a testament to a joke so bad--so uproariously bad--t