To Be the Best

Starring:Michael Worth (II), Martin Kove, Phillip Troy Linger, Brittney Powell, Alex Cord, Mike Toney, Ron Yuan, Vince Murdocco, Steven Vincent Leigh, Lelagi Togisala, Mark Ginther, Tom Deters, Aaron Seville, Art Camacho, Helen Miya, Markell Boyd, Randall Shiro Ideishi
Director: Joseph Merhi
Studio: Madacy Records
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

A Woman of Substance Trilogy
A lot of substance, but not a lot of quality
A Great DVD!

Barbara Taylor Bradford's A Woman of Substance Trilogy (A Woman of Substance / Hold the Dream / To Be the Best)
Starring: Jenny Seagrove , Barry Bostwick , Deborah Kerr , Robert James , and Nicola Pagett
Director: Don Sharp , and Tony Wharmby
Manufacturer: Acorn Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000639EL
Release Date: 2002-04-16

Description

A Woman of Substance: Based on Barbara Taylor Bradford's novel, this 1984 miniseries tells the timeless rags-to-riches tale of servant girl Emma Harte. Hold the Dream: This second installment sees the mature Emma heroically trying to maintain her empire. To Be the Best: This is the final chapter in the masterpiece triology of Emma Harte, a bright but impoverished servant girl who rises to become a department store magnate. With Anthony Hopkins, Barry Bostwick, Deborah Kerr, Jenny Seagrove, Liam Neeson, Lindsay Wagner, Stephanie Beacham.

Amazon.com

A Woman of Substance
Determined to ruin the upper-class Fairley family who wronged her, Emma Harte (Jenny Seagrove) aims to become one of the richest women in the world. Although anachronistic for a woman born around 1890, it is exhilarating to watch her think and act like a contemporary woman with the benefits of late-20th-century feminism. In just over five hours, this Emmy-nominated version of Barbara Taylor Bradford's bestselling novel A Woman of Substance traces Emma's life from overworked Yorkshire maid to the triumphant 79-year-old matriarch (Deborah Kerr) of a vast business empire. Married twice, but only truly loving a man she could never marry, Emma devotes herself to building her business empire. Surrounded by a loyal few, including Irishman Blackie O'Neill (Liam Neeson), Emma lives her life as a strong, uncompromising protagonist similar to Gone with the Wind's Scarlett O'Hara in a social environment reminiscent of Upstairs, Downstairs. Her life is a sort of feminist retrospective on the social issues of 1890s-to-1930s England--poverty, illegitimate children, illness, anti-Semitism, World War I, whether to marry for security or passion, the role of women in the workplace, and such--making A Woman of Substance a historical and inspiring film to watch.

Hold the Dream
The love of her life was there all along, she just didn't know it. As sequels go, Hold the Dream is a little like the sequel to Gone with the Wind: it's not devoid of merit, but it's not as captivating or enthralling as the original. Paula Fairley (Jenny Seagrove) inherits and runs the retail empire built by her grandmother, Emma Harte (Deborah Kerr). This somewhat lackluster tale of dutiful, hard-working Harte versus undeserving, greedy heirs set in the rather sterile world of 1980s New York City penthouses and English country manors lacks both its precursor's production budget and inspiring poor-girl-makes-good conviction. On the other hand, the love story between Paula and Shane (7th Heaven's Stephen Collins) manages to transcend the miniseries' weaknesses. Overcoming obstacles, tragedy, and deceit on numerous fronts, Paula remains driven by her sense of duty and business acumen. Finally learning that she cannot live on work and her grandmother's dream alone, Paula slowly warms to the possibility of true love. Her most loyal supporter and lifelong friend Shane helps her see that her own dreams can be the most rewarding. Wonderful performances by Seagrove and Collins make Hold the Dream a heartwarming tale about a powerful businesswoman learning to look beyond the bottom line and accept the love of a man who has loved her in silence her whole life.

To Be the Best
In the close of the trilogy, To Be the Best, Paula (Lindsay Wagner) comes into her own as a woman, mother, wife, and businesswoman. While not as captivating as the first parts of the trilogy, To Be the Best offers a satisfying close to the story and has its strengths, including a standout performance from Academy Award® winner Anthony Hopkins, who plays Paula's chief of security. Thanks to Hopkins's performance, what might otherwise have seemed like a long-lost episode of Dynasty is also part espionage thriller. As Paula gets inveigled into a series of compromising business situations in Hong Kong, it is her dapper and debonair chief of security who repeatedly saves the day. --Tara Chace

Customer Reviews:

A Woman of Substance Trilogy.......2005-09-15

disc #1 was wonderful ... I started disc #2 the same night and was THOROUGHLY DISAPPOINTED.... this #2 started out about 30 yrs ahead.. There was ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ON THE DISC ABOUT EMMA'S LOVER PAUL AND THEY STORY TOGETHER... i watched #3 just because I had it... I WROTE TO THE AUTHOR MRS BRADFORD AND THE COMPANY THAT MADE THE CD... I WANTED A REFUND.... If there is a complete disc 2 out there I never saw it :(

A lot of substance, but not a lot of quality.......2005-04-06

I bought this trilogy on the strength of the 5 star review I had read. To save someone else the disappointment I received, I am writing my first review.
The first of the 3, the title piece, was worth watching and on it's own might rate 4 stars. But the quality of the other two fell off dramaticly and I wouldn't give either of them more than 2 stars. Have our standards changed so much in the last 14-20 years since these were made and first broadcast, or would they have seemed just as insipid to me if I had seen them then, I wonder? I suppose if you have read and enjoyed the books (which I have not) you might have a different opinion. But I found the story rather contrived, the acting mediocre, and the characters underdeveloped and unappealing. Even the love scenes were uninspiring. The worst part, though, I think would have to be the cheesy background music which made it impossible to forget that I was watching a repackaged 80's miniseries.
So buy it only if you are a big Barbara Taylor Bradford fan and can overlook some major shortcomings. This trilogy has certainly not made a fan of me.

A Great DVD!.......2002-12-23

I was so happy when I learn that "A Woman of Substance" series was coming to DVD. These are two great DVD's(while Hold the Dream is okay)The picture and sound on all three movie's is great. My only complaint is why was Lindsey Wagner casted for "Hold the Dream?" The change in the cast hurts this movie. Overall, "The woman of substance" trilogy is must for any fan of the books.

The Best of the Suze Orman Collection (9 Steps/Courage to Be Rich/Road to Wealth/Laws of Money)

Average customer rating:

The Best of the Suze Orman Collection (9 Steps/Courage to Be Rich/Road to Wealth/Laws of Money)
Starring: Suze Orman
Manufacturer: Pbs Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00063MBAI
Release Date: 2004-12-14

Playa Pack (The Best Man/Deliver Us From Eva/Trippin'/How to Be a Player)

Average customer rating:

Playa Pack (The Best Man/Deliver Us From Eva/Trippin'/How to Be a Player)
Starring: LL Cool J , Gabrielle Union , Duane Martin , Essence Atkins , and Robinne Lee
Director: Gary Hardwick , David S. Ward , and Lionel C. Martin
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0006HBZCY
Release Date: 2005-02-01

Average customer rating:

not the best but definetly not the worst
A B Movie But Adds Some Class
Great fighting action

To Be the Best
Starring: Michael Worth (II) , Martin Kove , Phillip Troy Linger , Brittney Powell , and Alex Cord
Director: Joseph Merhi
Manufacturer: Madacy Records
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Release Date: 2003-06-10

Customer Reviews:

not the best but definetly not the worst.......2006-08-19

I actually liked this movie the first time I saw it, but every time I watch it seems to get a little better. The fact is its a typical American martial arts movie that actually is above average in several regards. The story is simple, but actually develops and there is a bit of chemistry between characters. Most of the actors are familiar faces from many other martial arts movies such as Michael Worth (Final Impact, Fists of Iron), Martin Kove (The Karate Kid Series, Shootfighter), Steven Vincent Leigh (Deadly Bet, Ring of Fire), Ron Yuan (Ring of Fire 1 & 2), and Vince Murdocco (Kickboxer 2, Ring of Fire).

The movie has a decent amount of action from beginning to end, with most of the fights taking place in the tournament at the Sands hotel in Las Vegas. There are plenty of tournament fights and most are pretty decent. The only annoyance are the 2 announcers, who seem to describe every punch and kick as it happens.

To Be The Best could have turned out even better if the acting and some cheesy moments were improved upon, but thats typical of these type of films. If you like any of these martial artist actors, lots of tournament action, and flashy Las Vegas, this should be quite a pleaser.

A B Movie But Adds Some Class.......2002-01-19

This is not the "Best" of the kickboxing films, but it is also far from the worst. There is an actual attempt at charactor development as two brothers attempt to work out their relationship with their used up father (Martin Kove) as they compete in a kick boxing tournament.

It stars Michael Worth, Martin Kove, Phillip Troy and Britanny Powell. Worth and Powell are two very good actors. I hope these guys are just not lost in these B fight movies as they both have a lot of talent and charm. Worth is also a very good fighter and I recently saw him in US SEALS 2 and can see he continues to improve in both fields. The rest of the cast is good and there seems to be some chemistry with the leads.

The fights are sometimes lacking choreography excellence but there are so many bloddy fights, you get plenty of good stuff. Has a happy ending for a change too.

Great fighting action.......1999-02-07

Do not look for a particularly meaningful plot. But the action scenes are great, the story is pleasant enough. If you like great kicking and some noble training then you will like this film.

Average customer rating:

The worst I have ever seen!
A poor follow-on to a Woman of Substance

To Be the Best
Starring: Lindsay Wagner , Anthony Hopkins , Stephanie Beacham , Christopher Cazenove , and Stuart Wilson (II)
Director: Tony Wharmby
Manufacturer: Acorn Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000639EN
Release Date: 2002-04-16

Amazon.com

For those who have relished the first two installments of Barbara Taylor Bradford's beloved Emma Harte trilogy, To Be the Best offers a satisfying close to the story. Viewers should begin with A Woman of Substance, in which Emma, determined to ruin the upper-class family who wronged her, achieves her dream of becoming one of the richest women in the world. Next is Hold the Dream, in which Emma's granddaughter Paula inherits her retail empire and struggles to find balance between her high-powered business dealings and her longing for romance. Finally, in the close of the trilogy, To Be the Best, Paula (Lindsay Wagner) comes into her own as a woman, mother, wife, and businesswoman.

While not as captivating as the first parts of the trilogy, To Be the Best has its strengths, including a standout performance from Academy Award® winner Anthony Hopkins, who plays Paula's chief of security. Thanks to Hopkins's performance, what might otherwise have seemed like a long-lost episode of Dynasty is also part espionage thriller. As Paula gets inveigled into a series of compromising business situations in Hong Kong, it is her dapper and debonair chief of security who repeatedly saves the day. --Tara Chace

Customer Reviews:

The worst I have ever seen!.......2005-05-28

When I watched this movie I kept asking myself, what the hell is this? I found it poorly acted, ridiculous and stupid.
What a shame after the other two, those were so good, please do not waste money buying this piece of rubbish!!
It leaves you with a very sour taste in your mouth!

A poor follow-on to a Woman of Substance.......2002-07-28

Being a great fan of the Woman of Substance, I was sorely disappointed in this 3rd entry in a trilogy about the Emma Harte legacy written by Barbara Taylor Bradford.

This is soap opera trash at its worst. The plot devices are weak and quite distasteful: drugs, a prostitute turned shy wife, an over-the-top vindictive cousin/villain. The fight seens are choreographed so badly that I had to laugh. Lindsay Wagner is neither British nor convincing as the Harte CEO, Paula O'Neill, granddaughter of Emma Harte. David Robb as the disappointed husband Shane O'Neill comes across whiney and helpless - a far cry from the supportive, driven and romantic character played by Stephen Collins in Hold the Dream. I cannot figure out why Stephanie Beacham would consent to play such an awful 1-dimensional character as Arabella - the french whore who marries the vindictive cousin at the request of his "loyal" Chinese side-kick. There are a few good moments of activing from Anthony Hopkins as chief of Harte's security. But the plot just doesn't make sense - the robbery at the beginning of the movie is never solved or explained; and why would Paula risk losing the stores by selling her stock knowing that her cousin is out to ruin her?

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

The worst I have ever seen!.......2005-05-28

A poor follow-on to a Woman of Substance.......2002-07-28

Being a great fan of the Woman of Substance, I was sorely disappointed in this 3rd entry in a trilogy about the Emma Harte legacy written by Barbara Taylor Bradford.

A Woman of Substance was a magnificent book and its mini-series is very well done. This third entry in the Harte trilogy is rubbish. Don't waste your time.

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