The Order)

Starring:Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, Colin Farrell, Michael Clarke Duncan, Jon Favreau, Scott Terra, Ellen Pompeo, Joe Pantoliano, Leland Orser, Lennie Loftin, Erick Avari, Derrick O'Connor, Paul Ben-Victor, David Keith, Frankie J. Allison, Joe J. Garcia, John Rothman, Jim FitzGerald, Casey McCarthy, Louis Bernstein (II)
Director: Mark Steven Johnson, Joel Schumacher, Brian Helgeland
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

Excellent :)
"That woman deserves her revenge... and we deserve to die."
Vol 2 is better
kill bill vol. 2
A Letdown

Kill Bill, Volume 2
Starring: Larry Bishop , Sonny Chiba , Sid Haig , Samuel L. Jackson , and Gordon Liu
Manufacturer: Miramax Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005JMUA
Release Date: 2004-08-10

Amazon.com

"The Bride" (Uma Thurman) gets her satisfaction--and so do we--in Quentin Tarantino's "roaring rampage of revenge," Kill Bill, Vol. 2. Where Vol. 1 was a hyper-kinetic tribute to the Asian chop-socky grindhouse flicks that have been thoroughly cross-referenced in Tarantino's film-loving brain, Vol. 2--not a sequel, but Part Two of a breathtakingly cinematic epic--is Tarantino's contemporary martial-arts Western, fueled by iconic images, music, and themes lifted from any source that Tarantino holds dear, from the action-packed cheapies of William Witney (one of several filmmakers Tarantino gratefully honors in the closing credits) to the spaghetti epics of Sergio Leone. Tarantino doesn't copy so much as elevate the genres he loves, and the entirety of Kill Bill is clearly the product of a singular artistic vision, even as it careens from one influence to another. Violence erupts with dynamic impact, but unlike Vol. 1, this slower grand finale revels in Tarantino's trademark dialogue and loopy longueurs, reviving the career of David Carradine (who plays Bill for what he is: a snake charmer), and giving Thurman's Bride an outlet for maternal love and well-earned happiness. Has any actress endured so much for the sake of a unique collaboration? As the credits remind us, "The Bride" was jointly created by "Q&U," and she's become an unforgettable heroine in a pair of delirious movie-movies (Vol. 3 awaits, some 15 years hence) that Tarantino fans will study and love for decades to come. --Jeff Shannon

Description

With this thrilling, must-see movie event, writer and director Quentin Tarantino (PULP FICTION) completes the action-packed quest for revenge begun by The Bride (Uma Thurman) in KILL BILL VOL. 1! Having already crossed two names from her Death List, The Bride is back with a vengeance and taking aim at Budd (Michael Madsen) and Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah), the only survivors from the squad of assassins who betrayed her four years earlier. It's all leading up to the ultimate confrontation with Bill (David Carradine), The Bride's former master and the man who ordered her execution! As the acclaimed follow-up to the instant classic VOL. 1 -- you know all about the unlimited action and humor, but until you've seen KILL BILL VOL. 2, you only know half the story!

Customer Reviews:

Excellent :) .......2007-06-18

Uma Thurman, swords, kung-fu,& Quentin Tarrentino ... how can you go wrong?

"That woman deserves her revenge... and we deserve to die.".......2007-06-01

All grown men have a little boy in their heart that still surfaces every now and again...some fellows more so than others, and it's always so much fun to go back. That is one of the many reasons I enjoy having a son waiting to greet me when I come home from a day of work or a long business trip. On the flip side, Quentin Tarantino gets to go back to being a boy every time he goes to work, and I say good for him.

The Kill Bill movies are a potent effusion of likely all the things Quentin grew up with. Westerns, Kung-Fu movies, Samurai movies and other action films that helped mold and create his robust imagination. Now, he can take the ideas that inspired him as a child and make them even better for the next generation of action-craving bloodthirsty little children. Kill Bill volume 2 is more than a derivitive tribute film, it is an elicitation of massive nostalgia, excentuated keenly by incredible dialogue. Other than function well as a conclusion to the series, it is actually quite different from Kill Bill volume 1 in a few ways. Kill Bill volume 1 contained mostly introductions, followed by bloody action as Beatrix Kiddo took on and took out Vernita Green, O-Ren Ishii, Go-Go Yubari and of course the Crazy 88 (yes, all 88 of them). But in Kill Bill volume 2, I felt like those were merely the supporting villains as Kiddo takes on the more resourceful and profound antagonists in this film; Elle Driver, Budd and of course Bill himself. The sequel, unintentionally perhaps as the two were written and filmed together, possesses more depth than the first part. There is more room for dialogue and that is of course a great thing because outrageous and unlikely dialogue is one of Quentin's strengths, and it serves here to make the characters even more unearthly and super-hero-like then in the first film.

Overall, in volume 2 we get to see how Beatrix learned her skills and we learn more about the relationship between her and Bill. It all leads up to an often criticized climax between Bill and Beatrix. Between the dialogue and David Carradine's performance, the climax helped me enjoy this film a bit more than volume 1. So, if you prefer action and violence you will like the first movie better, but if you just so happen to get caught up in the characters along the way and have an appreciation for the kind of concentrated cultural yearning crossed with mythical level characters that only a Tarantino film can deliver, then Kill Bill volume 2 is a great cap to the two films. For me, simply put, together they make one amazing movie.

Vol 2 is better.......2007-05-27

You've seen vol 1 and thought do I really want to sit through another 2 hours of swords and kung-fu? Well vol 2 is the much better film, so the answer is yes.

Curiously enough although Vol 2 is longer, it seems to have a tighter construction. Some of the chapters are breath-taking, perhaps because they are shorter. The Pai-Mei chapter is simply marvellous. Uma Thurman gets her training with Pai Mei and Bill tells her "remember no sarcasm, no back-talk at least not for the first year or so, gonna have to let him warm up to you"! The Pai Mei chapter ties a lot of things together as well.

Oh yes in vol 2 we get to see Bill for the first time. David Carradine is great, very cool, and occasionally seems to become Kwai Chang Caine again all these years later.

I'd recommend seeing Vol 1 first, although it isn't quite as essential to do this, as it is to watch vol 2 after watching vol 1.

This is fabulous entertainment made by a master film-maker and I strongly recommend it.

kill bill vol. 2.......2007-04-19

i tend to bounce back-and-forth in my mind as to which half of the "kill bill" story i like better. as of writing this review, i'm going to have to go with "vol. 2", perhaps just because it's the one i've seen more recently, but i'm thinking there's more to it than that, so i'll try to get to those points instead.

first off, this really is like splitting hairs, picking which volume is better. now, believe all of those who point out how incredibly different the movies are because they are absolute night and day, but equally good and, more importantly, equally enjoyable.

i guess the one and only edge that i'd have to give "volume 2" is that the character's you get to spend time watching in this half (alongside the Bride, who is just as awesome here as in "vol. 1") are just more in-tune with what i like to see. for example:

-i LOVE the character of Bill, and found the scenes between he and the Bride to be among my favorite ever "ex-lover" face-off's in all cinema. they're is certainly a nastiness to the scenes, but you can SEE the two of them still deeply caring for another, despite themselves, esp. upon the conclussion of their showdown. it is just excellent.

-Michael Madsen's Bud is quite possibly the most difficult character to not like in any movie ever. despite his actions toward the Bride (no more detail. don't want to ruin anything in case you haven't seen it.), you just can't help but kinda feel for the guy. i mean, a dude that has to take junk off his boss, clean up nasty toilet water at a [...]-hole strip bar, then go home to his El Paso trailer to sit alone and listen to Johnny Cash records just kinda screams "feel bad for me" even if we really don't wanna. Bud is awesome, and i like having more of him, so yet another nod to "vol. 2".

-Pei Mei is freakin' awesome, esp. if you love the old kung-fu movies that the "kill bill" series was so lovingly created to replicate. awesome!

-Elle Driver is my absolute favorite member of the divas, so her being more prominant in this half alone makes me love it, love it, love it! just EXACTLY what a "bad guy" bad girl should be, man. all this, and the revelations made during the throwdown between she and the Bride just makes that fight (and the conclussion of said fight) SO much cooler it's just insane!

there is one more character in this movie that i thought was a really neat addition, but to talk about this is to REALLY ruin the movie, so just in case, i'll let you guys decide who you think belongs in this fifth spot.

overall, "kill bill" start-to-finish is outstanding in everyway, but i wanted to yack about "volume 2" today, so that's that. thanks for reading and enjoy!

A Letdown.......2007-04-03

I liked the first volume, despite the fact that it was mostly plotless, because it was very pretty in all its carnage. Volume 2, however, spends a lot of time on a plot that bothered me more and more when I thought about it. In the end, I found it overly simplistic and irritating (trying not to give anything away here). I kept waiting for a twist that never came. While the first volume was mostly fluff, a lot of style with no substance, it was enjoyable as that at least. The second volume has more plot, but this does not end up as more substance. But in the second volume, the time that is spent on the plot takes away from the style and we end up with two and a half hours which are not very enjoyable.

Average customer rating:

Bold Film Noir for the 21st Century
More an homage than a movie
A director's indulgences turn a fine novel into an auteur's dream gone bad
Worth Seeing.
Was there another book of the same title....

The Good German
Starring: Jack Thompson , John Roeder , George Clooney , Tobey Maguire , and Cate Blanchett
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000OY8NBK
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Amazon.com

Despite its flaws, The Good German is a welcome gift for every film lover who laments that "they don't make 'em like they used to." Steven Soderbergh's affectionate, knowing tribute to the black-and-white melodramas of Hollywood's golden age may lack the emotional depth and romantic passion of Michael Curtiz's Casablanca--the 1946 classic it intentionally emulates--but as Soderbergh approximates Curtiz's studio style, he delivers a shimmering, shadowy reminder that movies can be enjoyed for the sheer pleasure of their craftsmanship. Once again serving as his own cinematographer (credited as "Peter Andrews"), Soderbergh went to great lengths to technically and aesthetically re-create the look and feel of a Curtiz production, and Joseph Kanon's source novel (adapted by Quiz Show screenwriter Paul Attanasio) provides a twisting plot set around the historical Potsdam conference in post-World War II Germany. An American military journalist, Capt. Jake Geismer (George Clooney) is in rubble-strewn Berlin to cover the event, and is quickly drawn into a murder plot involving his appointed driver (Tobey Maguire), an old flame-turned-wartime prostitute (Cate Blanchett) and her missing husband, a scientist who possesses pivotal secrets coveted by Americans and Russians in a pre-Cold War bid for power.

Violence, sexual content, and salty dialogue make it clear that this R-rated drama is a brashly contemporary homage to films of a bygone era, and not a slavish attempt to copy the past. This yields mixed results in terms of the film's overall appeal; it's gorgeous to look at, but the plot and performances exist in a vacuum, and the entire film feels oddly disengaged from any sense of genuine human emotion. It's probably fair to say that Soderbergh had more fun making the film than most people will have watching it. And yet, as Clooney's character is repeatedly beaten and deceived on his path to cynical enlightenment, The Good German has many qualities that make it recommendable, not the least being the pleasure of following a talented director as he indulges his penchant for bold experimentation. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Who knows what American journalist Jake Geismer (George Clooney) expected to find in postwar Berlin? Peace, maybe. Or at least a story. But certainly not Lena (Cate Blanchett), his beautiful, embittered one-time love. And not the trail of secrecy and deception that leads from Lena to the scheming young corporal (Tobey Maguire) who's her new lover...and to a murder no one seems interested in solving. Except Jake. Steven Soderbergh directs three of today's top talents in this zigzag thriller that's both an atmospheric homage to 1940s filmmaking and a deft modern film noir. The Good German is "haunting and hypnotic, it's pure moviegoing bliss" (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone).

Customer Reviews:

Bold Film Noir for the 21st Century.......2007-07-03

In my view, this was one of the better DVD's of 2006...both in plot and
photography. The black and white visuals are stunning and compare well to
to many film noir films of the 40's. True, the characters are not as bold and dramatic as THE THIRD MAN...and perhaps that is the point...there are no gigantic Wellesian figures in this movie. Everybody is tainted and everyone has an agenda and everyone exists in a shade of grey. Therefore, the film is quite realistic and Cate Blanchett could not be better.

More an homage than a movie.......2007-07-01

There's times where I don't really care for Steven Soderbergh movies. Traffic I felt was a compelling if overlong drama that had an aura of self-importance, like it was intentionally made to be one of those "important" films. The Good German sometimes feels like the same way: like it wants to be a classic noir film although the intent of course was for it to feel like a film that would've been made at RKO in the old days. While there's some things that feel out of place and just a genuine feeling of sluggishness, it's still a good homage to a classic time period.

Jake Geismser (George Clooney) is in Berlin covering the Potsdam Conference with Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin and President Roosevelt. He meets driver Tully (Tobey Maguire) who's a nice guy until he's left alone in where he becomes a scheming, violent firebrand. His girlfriend is prostitute Lena (Cate Blanchett) who of course has to be Geismer's ex. But the name "Emil Brandt" pops up which gets everyone riled up and a murder happens which gets Jake investigating on who the culprit is and what's so important about Emil Brandt.

I will say this: this film has the perfect 1940's feel, from the shadows to the staging, the overdramatic music and it's even presented in full-frame. Even if you don't like the movie, you got to admit they nailed the feel. As far as acting, we do have Clooney and Blanchett who almost were born to be in black and white with Blanchett looking the best. Only misstep was Maguire since he's not really menacing so much as he goes into temper tantrums. If he did this performance in Spider-Man 3, that movie would've benefited. He even rabbit punches a girl in this just so the filmmakers can let you know this guy's tough. Classically trained actors just needed to look at you to know he's not one to cross; Maguire has to actually be given something violent to do.

The problem with the movie as a whole is that it's just...kind of boring. It's as if more attention was paid to the look than the script. Casablanca was talky sure but at least it kept your interest. This feels like you're just checking the time code a lot wondering how long the movie's been on. But if you're one that prefers the old movies, you'll probably like this although a sex scene that would've got cut feels odd while there's tons of language to get thrown around. But, as far as a great B&W movie is concerned, Good Night and Good Luck is definately a better pick.

Either it's to preserve the "magic" of making the movie or just simply make special features unavailable until a bigger Special Edition is announced, it's really bare-bones. Unless you're a die-hard fan and have to own it, go ahead and buy it but for others, either rent it and test the waters or just wait.

A director's indulgences turn a fine novel into an auteur's dream gone bad.......2007-07-01

The Good German, the novel by Joseph Kanon, is a first-class thriller that makes some serious points. The Good German, the movie by Steven Soderbergh, isn't and doesn't.

Books and movies are different animals, and a fan is naive to think that the strengths of one can always be translated into the other. Director Soderbergh, in my view, in order to achieve two objectives doesn't even try. The first, notable only if the viewer hasn't read the book, is to change substantial elements of the plot and the characters for what seems no greater purpose than to create star roles for George Clooney and Tobey Maguire and "acting moments" for the two of them and Cate Blanchett. He also seems, as so many Hollywood factory philosophers seem compelled to do, to want to make obvious points about how awful some government actions can be, how hideous "end-justifies-the-means" activities are and how noble is the average guy, played by a Hollywood star lead, of course, in resisting all this. But much, much worse, Soderbergh has used The Good German as a toy. He has said he wanted to make the movie in the style of the old Forties movies. For the most part he shot everything on stage sets, used the old camera lenses, insisted on boom mikes for sound recording and played with the harsh light contrasts familiar from movies like The Third Man and the B-level noirs photographed by John Alton. He even was his own cinematographer and editor (under pseudonyms). What he came up with is a stilted drama so harshly lit that the movie is unpleasant to watch. The movie is a collection of deep, deep contrasts that give washed-out brightness, dead white faces and shadows so black anything might be happening. This must have been great fun for Soderbergh to create but it's hell for the movie viewer to sit through for nearly two hours.

The story, set in Berlin in 1945 when the Potsdam Conference is just starting, is hugely visual. There are desperate civilians everywhere, GIs living high, bombed-out ruins, war criminals being hunted by both the Soviets and the Americans, not to punish but, if they were rocket scientists, to bring back home. Intrigue and corruption bubble just below the rotten surface of the city. And Jake Geisner, played by George Clooney, finds himself up to his neck in intrigue when he spots a former mistress, Lena Brandt (Cate Blanchett) and is assigned a GI driver, Patrick Tully (Tobey Maguire). Then a GI is murdered, which leads Geisner into some dangerous situations and some moral conflicts. Unfortunately, among all the specious changes Soderbergh makes in the story-line, the worst is the conclusion. Instead of a satisfying bit of justice served up with irony, as in the book, we have an irrelevant bit of knowledge tossed at us that serves no purpose but to create another acting moment for Clooney and Blanchett.

For me, even if I hadn't read the book this movie would have been a disappointment. It's an auteur's dream of a director's Hollywood clout, but gone bad. If Soderbergh doesn't get his act together soon, he'll wind up as a cautionary tale of talent being indulged, corrupted and wasted. I can't think of a movie of his I've seen since Out of Sight and The Limey that did much for me. Amid the Berlin debris, however, is the performance of Cate Blanchett. She looks awful in Soderbergh's unforgiving lighting and it's obvious at times that she's trying to channel Marlene Dietrich. Still, when she finally settles down into the part Blanchett gives a fine performance.

The DVD is bare-bones. Make sure you wear sunglasses if you watch it. For those who like to read thrillers and are intrigued with Germany right after the end of WWII, you won't do better than Ross Thomas' The Eighth Dwarf. And for those who want to see how dramatic lighting can really be used, try The Third Man or some of Alton's noirs.
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Worth Seeing. .......2007-06-24

I really think that Cate Blanchett's performance here is as good as anything I've seen lately. She is incredibly impressive as Lena and her passion for the role has a powerful effect on our enjoyment of The Good German. As for Clooney, he is believable as Jake Geismer and makes a solid contribution. The only important actor here I cannot be as positive about; although, perhaps I'm the only person who remains completely unimpressed by Tobey Maguire. I was surprised by how discordant his efforts were. He reminded me of that phrase that acting is not "acting" as he was "acting" or seemed to be intentionally playing a character. I felt that his Tully was contrived and quite bizarre. He stood out like spoiled sauerkraut among this ensemble, and detracted from the movie's worth. The plot itself was riveting and it kept you focused in every scene as if it were a classic piece of 40s noir, but, at its root, the storyline was rather fantastic. The US occupation government in Germany was a little too clueless to be as sinister as they are depicted here. My willingness to suspend belief was strained, but I still found The Good German to be entertaining.

Was there another book of the same title...........2007-06-18

...or was this badly re-invented tripe the best that Soderbergh could do with Kanon's novel? Lena, the female lead of book/film - rape victim and NOT a prostitute - is converted from a war weary, emotionally vulnerable yet stable and admirable lead into a vague, emotionally dull, unstable Gestapo informant by way of Marlene Dietrich impersonator. Tully, the character about whom little is known yet all action centers around, is turned into a noir caricature, who is entirely unsympathetic and loathsome. Jake, the central character and lead, is (in the novel) always a step and thought ahead of the other characters and of the action; in the novel, he seems to be the last person in the know.

Noir as a genre can and should be explored in modern cinema, but all this film seems to show is how bad parody and caricature can make even the most incidental wartime story appear. Cinematography aside (which was the only thing commented on favorably by the majority of critics), this was the second worst Soderbergh film I've sat through. It may be time for SS to temporarily, or perhaps permanently, disassociate himself from Clooney.

The Hustler (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

The Hustler
Fast Eddie Delivers...
Packaging looks like a Larry Flynt mag
'The Hustler': Dark, hip, classic
Do The Hustle: Newman Makes Fast Eddie Felson A Hollywood Legend

The Hustler (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Starring: Paul Newman , Jackie Gleason , Piper Laurie , George C. Scott , and Myron McCormick
Director: Robert Rossen
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000O77SPO
Release Date: 2007-06-12

Amazon.com essential video

Paul Newman shines as cocky poolroom hustler "Fast" Eddie Felson in Robert Rossen's atmospheric adaptation of the Walter Tevis novel. Newman's Felson is a swaggering pool shark punk who takes on the king of the poolroom, Minnesota Fats (a cool, assured Jackie Gleason in his most understated performance). After losing big and crashing into a void of self-pity, Eddie meets down-and-out Sarah (Piper Laurie in a delicate performance), an alcoholic blue blood who's dropped into Eddie's world of dingy bars and seedy poolrooms. Eddie regains his confidence and attracts the attention of a shifty, calculating promoter, Bert Gordon (George C. Scott at his most heartless), who offers to bring Eddie into the big money--but at what cost? Rossen brings his film to life with the easy pace of a pool game, giving his actors room to explore their characters and develop into a razor-sharp ensemble. Eugen Schüfftan earned an Academy Award for his shadowing black-and-white cinematography, as did art directors Harry Horner and Gene Callahan for their deceivingly simple set designs. Even in the daylight this film seems to be smothered by night, lit by the dim glow of a bar lamp or the overhead glare of a pool-table light, an appropriate environment for this tale of one man's struggle with his soul and his self-esteem. Newman returned as an older, wiser, cagier Felson 25 years later in Martin Scorsese's Color of Money. --Sean Axmaker

Description

Paul Newman heads a superb cast featuring Jackie Gleason, George C. Scott and Piper Laurie in the riveting film that received an Academy Award(r) nomination as Best Picture of 1961 and brought all four of its Oscar(r) nomination. Newman (Best Actor nominee) is electrifying as Fast Eddie Felson, an arrogant, amoral hustler who haunts backstreet pool rooms fleecing anyone who'll pick up a cue. Determined to be acclaimed as the best, Eddie seeks out the legendary Minnesota Fats (Gleason, Supporting Actor nominee), who's backed by Bert Gordon (Scott, Supporting Actor nominee), a predatory gambler. Eddie can beat the champ, but virtually defeats himself with his low self-image. The love of a lonely woman (Laurie, Best Actress nominee) could turn Eddie's life around, but he won't rest until he beats Minnesota Fats, no matter what price he must pay. Voted one of the year's ten best by "The New York Times" and "Time," and distinguished by 2 Academy Awards- Cinematography, Art Direction-Set Decoration (B&W), The Hustler is a dazzling cinematic triumph.

Customer Reviews:

The Hustler.......2007-06-28

A gritty, atmospheric picture about the tense world of high-stakes pool, Rossen's "The Hustler" features some of Newman's best work-to-date. "Fast Eddie" may be a young virtuoso with a pool cue, but his maturity hasn't caught up with his moves, and he learns some hard lessons in pool and life from Minnesota Fats, played to cool perfection by the late, great Gleason. Scott also stands out as a ruthless backer, and Piper Laurie does a sad, sensitive turn as a lonely woman on the fringes who falls under Eddie's spell. Though Newman was Oscar-nominated, he'd have to reprise the role twenty-five years later (in "The Color Of Money") to win the statuette. I prefer this, his original outing.

Fast Eddie Delivers..........2007-06-14

The Hustler is a crucial film in Paul Newman's career. It launched him into the Hollywood stratosphere and marked the beginning of an incredible run in the 1960s, with movies like Hud, Cool Hand Luke and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Newman became a movie star but acted like a character actor, creating one memorable character after another. Arguably, The Hustler is where he really came into his own, delivering a powerful performance as small-time pool hustler Fast Eddie Felson.

The first disc includes an audio commentary by actor Paul Newman, daughter of director Robert Rossen, Carol Rossen, editor Dede Allen, actor Stefan Gierasch (who played Preacher), assistant director Ulu Grosbard, film critic Richard Schickel, and writer/producer Jeff Young. Allen says that they shot and edited the film in New York City which the studio did not like because they wanted to keep closer tabs on the production. Rossen says that before her father optioned the book, Frank Sinatra wanted to adapt it but couldn't figure out a way to do it. Gierasch and Newman talk about how they were cast and recall filming anecdotes. Each participant is interviewed separately and then edited together in this decent track.

"Trick Shot Analysis" allows you to watch the film with pool expert Mike Massey analyzing five pool sequences or on their own. He tends to describe what we're watching but does explain some of the tactics on display in the movie.

New to this edition are three retrospective featurettes. "Life in the Fast Lane: Fast Eddie Felson and the Search for Greatness" includes new interviews with Newman, Laurie, Dede Allen and others. Newman speaks passionately about the film and tells an amusing story about researching his role.

"Milestones in Cinema History: The Hustler" examines the film's legacy. Newman admired Rossen for allowing them to experiment in the moment. He also recounts a story about how he got hustled by Gleason.

"Swimming with Sharks: The Art of the Hustle" explores the gambling aspect as well as the con aspect of the film. A pool champ demonstrates some impressive trick shots and defines some key lingo of the sport.

Carried over from the previous DVD edition is "The Hustler: The Inside Story," a retrospective featurette that provides a historical context and how Rossen wanted to comment on society with this film. It also explores the film's origins, casting and various aspects.

"Paul Newman: Hollywood's Cool Hand" is an A&E biography episode on the actor that examines his life and career with many of his contemporaries talking about him.

"How to Make a Shot" repeats the "Trick Shot Analysis" extra on the first disc.

Also included are trailers for eight of Newman's films and two trailers for The Hustler.

Finally, there is a "Still Gallery" with a collection of behind-the-scene photographs, promotional stills and ad campaign material.

Packaging looks like a Larry Flynt mag.......2007-06-12

Seriously, do you think they could have chosen a different title font?

'The Hustler': Dark, hip, classic.......2007-06-11

Paul Newman has been around so long and is so extended as a personality -- we see him most frequently on salad dressing labels -- that there's a danger of forgetting his genius.

Anyone in need of a refresher should cue up for Fox's double-disc rerelease of "The Hustler." This was Newman's breakthrough film, a startling piece of lowlife lit built around the fictional pool-shooting punk Fast Eddy Felson. George C. Scott, Jackie Gleason and Piper Laurie turned this 1961 drama into an actors showcase. Every other line found its way into the nation's pool halls and stayed there for decades.

Robert Rossen directed with style, daring and street smarts, in striking black and white.

This DVD appears to have the same video and audio as the last Fox release, in 2002. No big deal -- there is almost no apparent wear and the widescreen images look handsome overall, a little pale here or murky there. The DVD also ports over the extras from '02, including a group commentary in which Newman participates.

New to the set are three featurettes about the movie, actors and pool shots. Newman is interviewed on camera, sharp but hunched over and hoarsely whispering a lot. The heavy lifting is done by Piper Laurie, who has excellent recall of the New York production. (Newman and Laurie both were in their mid-30s. Rossen called them "kids.")

Fox deserves credit for upgrading the title at a fair price, but owners of the previous disc probably should wait for rerack on the A/V. There is a fair amount of repetition in the shotgun marriage of old and new extras.

Do The Hustle: Newman Makes Fast Eddie Felson A Hollywood Legend.......2007-04-06

Let's face it, what can I possibly say about Robert Rossen's exquisitely hard-edged classic that hasn't been said before? "The Hustler" is an astounding and uncompromising drama that seems as fresh today as it did 45 years ago. So often we'll look back at the classics--and, as is appropriate, they might seem dated. Times change and that is reflected in cinema. "The Hustler," though, is one of the rare films that was so sophisticated, so intelligent, and so honestly raw--that its power has not been diminished by the years. Set in a very unglamorous world of pool halls and back rooms, "The Hustler" is a testosterone fueled excursion into the life and pursuits of one of Hollywood's most notorious anti-heroes--Fast Eddie Felson. Nominated for eight Oscars, this refreshingly adult film cemented Paul Newman's status as one of our greatest actors.

The story of "The Hustler" is surprisingly simplistic. A brash young pool shark sets his sights on defeating one of the game's greatest players--Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason, at his best). But getting up on Fats isn't enough--no, he wants to crush his opponent. Eddie's naked and uncompromising drive eventually becomes his undoing as his winning streak turns to defeat. Despondent and broke, Eddie aligns with an equally desperate love interest. Sarah, played by Piper Laurie (never better), is a bitter alcoholic who has given up on life. But her complicated romance with Eddie seems to hint at the possibility of new hope. Eddie, however, can't change his spots overnight and an encounter with an unscrupulous manager (George C. Scott) just might get Eddie a second chance at Fats. For good or for bad, it seems Eddie is destined to go down that road again.

Paul Newman imbues Eddie with much cockiness, bravado, arrogance, ambition, and even desperation. In my opinion, it is Newman's best and most multi-layered performance. This (along with "Hud") celebrated Newman as a new type of leading man--someone you could like and despise at once. Morally questionable, perhaps even amoral at times, Newman was not afraid to be despicable. While only Oscar nominated for this film, ironically he won roughly 25 years later for reprising Eddie for "The Color of Money." Laurie, Scott, and Gleason all picked up Oscar nods as well. The film is impeccably acted and beautifully filmed. Not just for those with an interest in pool, "The Hustler" is a searing drama that stands as a deft character study of a man figuring out what is important after all.

While the Collector's Edition seems to be handsomely packaged as a two disc set, whether or not it's worth the upgrade from the Special Edition seems a bit suspect. Both have widescreen presentation, commentary from Newman and "Time" film critic Richard Schickel (among others), and features on "How to Make The Shot" and "The Hustler: The Inside Story." This new addition adds four featurettes--"Life in the Fast Lane: Fast Eddie Felson and The Search for Greatness," "Milestones in Cinema History: The Making of The Hustler," "Swimming with Sharks: The Art of the Hustle," and "Paul Newman: Hollywood's Cool Hand." So it's a judgment call whether or not you feel these extra shorts will add to your viewing experience. If you don't own the film, then it's a no-brainer! Either way, "The Hustler" is a true classic. One of Newman's best (if not best) performances make this gritty and timeless drama a must own DVD. KGHarris, 04/07.

Swiss Family Robinson (Vault Disney Collection)

Average customer rating:

Knew I could find
Swiss Family Robinson (DVD)
One Of Our Family's Favorite Classic Stories
Talk about a CLASSIC!!!
Excellent Family Movie

Swiss Family Robinson (Vault Disney Collection)
Starring: John Mills , Dorothy McGuire , James MacArthur , Janet Munro , and Sessue Hayakawa
Director: Ken Annakin , and Jack Hannah
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005RRG7
Release Date: 2002-05-07

Amazon.com

The Disney touch is all over this grand, colorful version of the Johann Wyss adventure of a European family set off for the new world of New Guinea. The film opens on a ship jostled and torn by a raging storm while a family struggles to make it through alive. Tossed into a reef near a deserted tropical island, father John Mills takes charge and the family soon turns their island prison into a veritable paradise. Their multilevel tree house, built in record time, is complete with running water and a working pipe organ scavenged from the ship, while their grand yard is abloom in English roses. As a tale of hardship and pioneer pluck, the tale is pure fantasy, but as entertainment it's energetic and appealing. The island is impossibly populated by ostriches, zebras, lions, and elephants, a private zoo that delights the youngest boy and offers plenty of comic relief. The two older brothers discover even wilder life when they rescue the prisoner of oriental pirates (led by hard-bitten Sessue Hayakawa). There's little real danger anywhere in the film--even the climactic battle with the pirates is a cartoonish affair, with coconut bombs and nonlethal booby traps, until the final desperate, deadly moments. Hardly a faithful adaptation of the novel, but a lush, beautifully photographed film and an entertaining adventure safe for all ages. Dorothy McGuire costars as the proper, worry-prone mother. (Ages 5 and older) --Sean Axmaker

Description

One of Disney's biggest and most fondly remembered hits, the spectacular screen version of the literary classic SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON is full of breathtaking South Seas scenery, hundreds of exotic animals, and treacherous pirates. This heroic tale chronicles the courageous exploits of the Robinson family after they are shipwrecked on a deserted island. Using teamwork and ingenuity, they skillfully overcome the obstacles of nature and transform their new home into a "civilized" community. But the ultimate challenge lies ahead when a band of cutthroat pirates threaten to destroy the Robinson's Makeshift paradise. Capture the thrills, romance, and fun of this unforgettable Disney film!

Customer Reviews:

Knew I could find.......2007-06-04

My son loved the movie Swiss Family Robinson when he was little. I have looked for it previously in stores but could not find. I knew we could find it on Amazon. I have told my grandchildren about the movie and the adventures the family has on an island. I got this movie for my son for Father's day so he can share it with his children. The movie is funny, adventurous, and shows so much ingenuity when the family needs shelter. It is a good family movie all will enjoy.

Swiss Family Robinson (DVD).......2007-06-01

This is a great movie. I bought the DVD To ensure my Grandchildern had a chance to see this Movie.

One Of Our Family's Favorite Classic Stories.......2007-05-11

This DVD contains Disney's adaptation of the original book, Der Schweizerische Robinson, written by author Johann David Wyss, in 1812. It is one of the finer works of Disney, in my opinion. The story of this family's struggles and determination, difficulties and joys is good watching (and good reading) for every member of the family. One of the most delightful aspects of this work is the emphasis placed upon good character, family values, and self-reliance. I recommend this movie to everyone...

Talk about a CLASSIC!!!.......2007-05-10

You can't go wrong here! My siblings and I LOVED this movie as kids. I bought it for my son and daughter when they were younger and again, they LOVED it and watched it (and quoted it) repeatedly. I am now buying it for my young (7ish) nephews to enjoy. Probably my favorite no-cartoon Disney flick of all time!

Excellent Family Movie.......2007-04-03

This is an excellent movie. I am so glad I purchased it for my son. I got it for his birthday 7 and at first he didnt really have an interest in watching it, but he was home from school sick one day and we watched it and I couldnt tear him away. He loved it! Its adventure, imagination, and fun all rolled into one.

Average customer rating:

Compelling Battles, a Social Conscience, & a Different View of France's Liberation.
Not an Epic - but still a good movie
They were so so days.
worth owning, a war movie that tackles racism and cultural questions
Flawed, but very good overall

Days of Glory (Indigenes)
Starring: Jamel Debbouze , Samy Naceri , Roschdy Zem , Sami Bouajila , and Bernard Blancan
Director: Rachid Bouchareb
Manufacturer: Weinstein Company
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Letters from Iwo Jima (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Breach (Widescreen Edition)
The Last King of Scotland (Widescreen Edition)
The Good German
The Painted Veil

ASIN: B000NVT0RU
Release Date: 2007-06-12

Description

(War/Action) Set during WWII, North African soldiers enlist in the French army and battle their way across Europe to liberate the "fatherland" and confront discrimination.

Customer Reviews:

Compelling Battles, a Social Conscience, & a Different View of France's Liberation. .......2007-06-30

Director Rachid Bouchareb made "Days of Glory" to draw attention to the plight of men from France's protectorates and colonies who served in the French military during World War II but who were denied their pensions after 1959, because their countries had won independence from France. The film is very politically charged in France, where its title is simply "Indigenes", meaning "natives". It inspired President Jacques Chirac to finally address the pension inequities. Bouchareb doesn't hide his agenda or his bias: The North African soldiers in the film joined the French army mostly for money, occasionally for opportunity. They fought valiantly and loyally to free France from German occupation. They were stifled by discrimination and quotas during the war and discarded afterward. The specific events and characters in the film are fictional, though some French towns were, indeed, liberated by regiments of mostly North African soldiers.

In 1943, France's African Army recruits soldiers from Algeria, among them a young shepherd named Said (Jamel Debbouze), and from "goumiers" in Morocco, including Yassir (Samy Naceri), who hopes to make enough money for his brother to marry well. In 1944, the 7th Algerian Infantry Regiment, under the command of French "pieds-noir" Sergeant Martinez (Bernard Blancan) and Arab Corporal Abdelkader (Sami Bouajila), win France's first victory against the German army in Italy. They arrive in Marseilles to much fanfare, where their marksman Messaoud (Roschdy Zem) begins a relationship with a French woman (Aurelie Bouab). Abdelkader is increasingly frustrated with the lack of promotion and "liberte, egalite, and fraternite" for African soldiers, inspiring a minor civil rights movement. But the war goes on, and the Regiment will be the first French in Alsace, as they attempt to hold the Germans off until the Americans arrive.

"Days of Glory" won't pack the political punch for Americans that it does for French, but this is a terrific war movie. It tells a World War II story that we haven't seen before, and it features two of the most compelling battle scenes I've ever seen: Flushing the Germans out in mountainous Italy elucidates the fear of the soldiers in their first battle and the utter randomness of who lives or dies. The defense of the Alsacian town is in some ways the opposite, as we know the soldiers well by this time and hope they will survive. The four North African leads represent diverse types: Unsophisticated Said's boyish devotion to his Sergeant, mature Messaoud who is not savvy enough to see the hypocrisy around him, mercenary Yassir whose dedication to his comrades grows, and idealistic Abdelkader who hopes their service to France will advance the position of North Africans. Viewers inevitably sympathize with those most like themselves, but those characters involve us emotionally in the events. In French and Arabic with optional subtitles.

The DVD (Weinstein 2007): "The Making of Days of Glory" (24 min) interviews the director, producer, and writer Olivier Lorelle about researching the film, bringing the story of their ancestors to the screen, and shedding light on the role of North African troops. The cast discusses their preparation and characters. Subtitled. "The Colonial Friend" (8 min) is an animated film by director Rachid Bouchareb about the experience of Senegalese infantrymen who fought for France and met a worse fate than the North Africans. The animation style is a unique, eye-catching black-and-white. No dialogue. English and Spanish subtitles are available for the film.

Not an Epic - but still a good movie.......2007-06-25

I would not call this movie an epic, not by a long shot. It is good, yes, the acting in fact is very good - but it is no "Saving Private Ryan".

Much of the fighting is small scale, still good, but not to the beach assault scenes that we have come to expect of great WW2 movie epics. The story to be told, is certainly political, and while it is difficult to get emotionally attached or close to any of the characters in the movie you find yourself angered at the manipulation and lies that are used by the French Officers to coerce and cajole the Algerians to blindly continue the fight for their beloved France.

My only criticism of the movie would be that I found it extremely distracting that one of the main characters, Sai`d (actor Jamal Debbouze) went through the entire war with his right hand stuck in his jacket pocket and I kept wondering why? I later found out that Debbouze, lost the use of his right arm in a childhood accident. But surely, in a war movie such as this you would be able to find ample opportunity to write into the script a reason that would adequately cover such a wound - other than just having the arm super-glued into an army jacket pocket??? I mean to take nothing away from Debbouze's skill as an actor, because I thought he did a great job in the part as Sai`d in this movie, I just think it a shame that rather than allowing me to focus on the character he portrayed so well, my attention was constantly drawn to his damn right hand in that damn pocket!!

They were so so days........2007-06-22

The movie is incoherent. The acting is stiff, not convincing.
There are two touching scenes in the whole DVD. One is where an Algerian soldier stepped on a case of fresh tomatoes and said to his French captain "If tomatoes are not given to everybody, then nobody will get one".
The second is where another Algerian soldier rushed to a room and tried to carry his wounded French captain away from the house while the Germans were entering it. They ended up being killed by the German anti-tank gun. Had the soldier just run away by himself and left his commander behind, he would have had escaped death.
The film is good in term of anti-racism. It is worth renting not buying.
Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers, the Longest Day, the Lost Battalion, Gettysburg and Gods and Generals are still the only titles on my list of Best War Movies of All Times.

worth owning, a war movie that tackles racism and cultural questions.......2007-06-21

I like war movies, i glanced at the box in the video store, quickly misinterpreted what it was about and rented it.

From this fortunate mistake came an interesting and worthwhile experience. For i knew nothing about the colonial French army in WW2 and this is an excellently done movie, that not only informs but motivates and interests me in the topic as well.

Usually movies with an deeply felt political or social point, loose the film making quality, sacrificing it for the bigger emotional point that the authors wish to get across. It is rare for a movie to have good historical knowledge-it's often twisted to fix predispositions, good film making technic-character development, coherent plot, and good filming, and a deep political point or as this movie does tackle currently hot button topics. "Z" and "The Battle of Algiers" and "Hell in a Very Small Place" are the only other movies quite like this one that i can remember, combining war with political and social commentary and not loosing sight of the need to present the film technically well.

The big point is explained in the "making of days of glory", the usual dvd additional features, for once worth watching and much better than the usual shovelware. That is for those French citizens today of North African (or Sengalese) descent to relearn the sacrifices their grandfathers and great-grand fathers made in liberating France from the Nazis. As a second point, for those French citizens of European descent to be more aware and thankful for the few remaining ex-colonials soldiers in their midst before they die, and to acknowledge that those people in their lives from Africa have long ago paid in blood for their right to be there and to be genuine Frenchmen.

The movie is about racism, judging a person by the color of their skin or the culture of their parents without making any attempt to hear their stories, to see what they have done, where they have come from or what they believe. The movie in a rather nice but complex way shows several ways that racism twists and distorts human relationships. It is also good to see the arena as something other than the US, for racism is not just an American problem but a human one.

The scene with the tomatoes. Only white French troops are given them, the North Africans and Sengalese are not. But as the movie points out, bullets don't discriminate, they indiscriminately kill anyone wearing a French uniform. The scene with the ballet dancers, culture is deeply embedded in us all and we can only see it oftentimes when it grinds into another one and the differences are made obvious to us. When the main character mounts the box and tells the soldiers that both France and the colonials must change, there is a veiled reference to the post-WW2 colonial wars of independence that make the issues of the movie so complex and difficult to understand. When you see the violence with which the sargent responses to the knowledge that he is a son of a Berber women, you can (as all good movies do) feel both his shame and the surprise of the other man at his comment being so hated when it was offered in deep and understanding sympathy. And that is the great value of learning with movies, the visceral, the emotional impact of images and a story told with them. Now i can, and probably will, look into the issue with more reading, but this is an excellent place to learn something about a neglected and important time in recent history.

Pieces of the movie are very attractively done, the uniforms-baggy North African turbans and robes with sandals, in the French winter (how can anyone live in this cold?, a point echoed in me). The fear, the brotherhood of warriors, the French white women plus the Berber soldier and the way society seems to conspire to destroy their relationship, the way some of them steal from the dead. The movie is full of unique and moving pieces that will make it a movie worth owning and watching again, there is too much going on, too many new connections for the viewer to make to be satisfied with a single pass through it.

I think that this movie is a genuine contribution to the ongoing dialogue between not just the European colonial powers and their African colonies, but between Islam and Christianity, racism and cultural conflicts. I need only remember that Augustine was called names because he was small and dark, for Monica was a Berber, to remember that Christianity is not European, not in origin nor in extent. I can hate and fear Islam as the greatest competitor of my faith, but that does not mean that every Muslim is my personal enemy, nor does it mean that i can't respect and honor them for their good deeds.

it is a worthwhile experience, not only for the excitement and passion but for an analysis of the deeper and more important issues that it tries to teach and push us into. thanks to all involved in making this movie and making it available to me to watch

Flawed, but very good overall.......2007-06-16

As a military history buff, I must first say that I am pleased that a film was made at all about this subject, which is little known by most people,especially Americans. World War II was the swan song of the old "Armee D'Afrique", the French colonial army that was similiar in many ways to the British Indian Army of the Raj. Since the vast bulk of metropolitan Frenchmen were under German occupation, or in German POW camps as a result of the defeat in 1940, the bulk of any French Army had to consist of the North African Regiments, from Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia, along with Senegalese and other colonial troops.
Anyone who has read the book "France, Soldiers, and Africa" will not be surprised by the events depicted in this movie; the treatment of the "native" troops was often shameful and ungrateful, despite their sacrifices on the battlefield, for a country that most had never seen.
The acting I believe was generally good, but the characters were not as fleshed out as I would like; perhaps as result of the number of major characters portrayed. The first set piece battle scene had large numbers, but was weakly drawn, and not that coherent; the final action scenes were better, in my opinion. Uniforms and equipment seemed to be reasonably authentic, but a mention of the U.S. 37th Division was incorrect; the 36th Division would have been correct, but I nit-pick.
Could the film have been improved upon? Yes, but the fact that was done at all, and reasonably well, made it well worth my time.

Average customer rating:

Sentimental, But It Works!
The key to enjoying this movie...
Good Show
A Big Hit for the Elementary School Boys Crowd
Could have been better...

Memphis Belle
Starring: Matthew Modine , Eric Stoltz , Tate Donovan , D.B. Sweeney , and Billy Zane
Director: Michael Caton-Jones
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
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ASIN: 6304936362
Release Date: 1998-05-27

Amazon.com

If you've never seen an aviation movie before in your entire life, you'll be blissfully ignorant of the fact that Memphis Belle shamelessly (and yet gloriously) incorporates just about every cliché in the flight-movie handbook. If you're a big fan of aviation movies--especially movies about World War II bomber crews--you'll be glad that the genre's clichés have been handled with such professional flair. As it follows the crew of a B-17 bomber on its final and most dangerous mission over Germany, Memphis Belle may be little more than a slick and highly authentic presentation of familiar thrills and characters, but it's a rousing piece of entertainment. Featuring an ensemble cast of fresh faces who've since enjoyed thriving careers (including Billy Zane, Sean Astin, Eric Stoltz, D.B. Sweeney, and Harry Connick Jr.), the movie exists as a fitting tribute to the men who fought and often died in the air over hostile territory. It's the Hollywood version of a 1944 wartime documentary made by legendary director William Wyler (whose daughter served as one of this film's producers), and as such it's a bit contrived and melodramatic. And yet, this exciting movie is almost certain to grab and hold your attention, offering an honorable reminder of the bravery and integrity that were crucial ingredients of any bomber's crew. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Sentimental, But It Works!.......2007-06-17

1990's "Memphis Belle" may be sentimental, corny, and cliched, but as a movie about bomber crews flying dangerous routes over Nazi Germany, it works wonderfully well. Only the most cynical of viewers will failed to be moved by its simple but effective story.

"Memphis Belle" is based on the story of a real-life B-17 about to finish 25 combat missions, after which its crew will be eligible to rotate home from the war in Europe. Their final mission will be a daylight run over Dresden, a heavily defended target. An ensemble cast headed by Matthew Modine as the sober young pilot-in-charge goes through its flight preparations, while a series of short vignettes introduces the viewer to the individual members of the crew. The stand-out young cast includes Eric Stoltz as a radio operator with aspirations of being a poet; Tate Donovan as the cocky, attention-seeking co-pilot; Billy Zane as a bombardier who is about to pay a price for living a lie; DB Sweeney as the flak-happy navigator; and in a superb cameo, jazz musician Harry Connick, Jr, as the tail gunner. Connick, by the way, does a impressive job on an improvised version of "Danny Boy" early in the movie.

The action involving the aircrew is nicely balanced by a subplot on the ground, as a war-weary Bomber Group commander (earnestly played by David Straitharn) must reel in a cynical public affairs officer (John Lithgow). Their confrontation provides context to what is happening to the Memphis Belle in the air.

The final mission turns into a nightmare of flak, enemy fighters, casualties, and mechanical failures, as the crews ends up nursing a stricken bomber towards its home field in England. The final minutes of the movie should leave no viewer unmoved.

This movie is highly recommended to those looking for an entertaining and fairly realistic movie on the bomber campaign against Hitler's Germany.

The key to enjoying this movie..........2007-05-21

...is to realize that, although no single plane and crew experienced everything that's shown happening to the Memphis Belle in this film -- and certainly not on a single mission -- nevertheless, everything that is shown undoubtedly happened to many, many planes and crews during the long bombing campaign in the European theater. To watch this movie is to get a small taste of the fear, tragedy, and triumph experienced by those brave men (and boys).
Several years ago, I stood in my back yard and watched a vintage P-51 Mustang (the "little friends" of this movie) roar overhead at low altitude on its way to an air show at a nearby airport. I was stunned at the raw power of that 60 year old aircraft, which made today's small Cessna-type aircraft seem like mosquitos in comparison. Watching "Memphis Belle", I couldn't help but feel that the 40s were in some way the peak of manned flight. Today we have supersonic or hypersonic flight, and are beginning to see pilot-less combat aircraft. It seems to me that none of them compare to those big, lumbering, steel and plexiglass B-17s and their young, inexperienced crews.

Good Show.......2007-03-24

I liked this movie. The airplanes in this movie are getting rare, and I like the historical aspect of the movie. We should all remember what those men did for our freedom. I would not have wanted to be in their shoes. I am thankful to be an American!

A Big Hit for the Elementary School Boys Crowd.......2007-03-23

We purchased this DVD for our friends' son's 7th birthday. He is obsessed with airplanes. He usually fast-forwards movies to get to any scene with a fighter jet. This is his favorite movie, so of course he loved the gift. We haven't been able to find it locally for sale, only for rent. I would recommend this to anyone who has a son/nephew/etc who is into airplanes.

Could have been better..........2007-02-23

I wish I could give this movie a better rating but I saw it on cable a little while ago and it set me thinking. My problem is that the movie is a bit too prosaic and formulaic. It suffers from a weak script. Most of the crew are the clean-cut, all American boys from the movies of the war era and, as such, they lack definition, individuality and some credibility. The song by Harry Connick seems like a gratuitous addition. Having said that, it was good to see some of the old warbirds in the air and the movie gains life when the mission actually begins.
I took my Dad to see the movie when it was in the theaters. He was an waist gunner on a B-17 in 1943 and I was interested in his reaction. He said he'd seen most of the instances portrayed except the mid-air collision. He also managed to tell me a few more things over the years before he passed: like the time a plane blew up on the ground while being loaded for a mission or the time their tail gunner bailed out after the plane was hit and the communications link was shattered. He also saw men fall to their knees in tears out of fear of the upcoming mission. Anyone who has stood in a B-17 and seen the thin sheet aluminum and bracing that was their protection will realize how naked these men must have felt. They deserve a grittier and more nuanced homage than this film gives them.
It's not that it's a bad film; it's better than the juvenalia of the more recent Pearl Harbor but lacks the strength that made the series Band of Brothers so exceptional.

The Hunt for Red October (Special Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

Like, so 80's
The hunt for Red October
Excellent Movie
Cold war movie
The Hunt is OVER ... for a great Submarine Thriller!

The Hunt for Red October (Special Collector's Edition)
Starring: Sean Connery , Alec Baldwin , Scott Glenn , Sam Neill , and James Earl Jones
Director: John McTiernan
Manufacturer: Paramount
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K-19: The Widowmaker

ASIN: B00008K76U
Release Date: 2003-05-06

Amazon.com essential video

Before Harrison Ford assumed the mantle of playing Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan hero in Patriot Games, Alec Baldwin took a swing at the character in this John McTiernan film and hit one to the fence. If less instantly sympathetic than Ford, Baldwin is in some respects more interesting and nuanced as Ryan, and drawing comparisons between both actors' performances can make for some interesting postmovie discussion. That aside, The Hunt for Red October stands alone as a uniquely exciting adventure with a fantastic costar: Sean Connery as a Russian nuclear submarine captain attempting to defect to the West on his ship. Ryan must figure out his true motives for approaching the U.S. McTiernan (Predator, Die Hard) made an exceptionally handsome movie here with action sequences that really do take one's breath away. --Tom Keogh

Description

Based on Tom Clancy's bestseller, directed by John McTiernan (Die Hard) and starring Sean Connery and Alec Baldwin, THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER sweats with high-tech anxiety and the tension of men who hold Doomsday in their hands. A new technologically-superior Soviet nuclear sub, the Red October, is heading for the U.S. coast under the command of Captain Marko Ramius (Connery). The American government thinks Ramius is planning to attack. A lone CIA analyst (Baldwin) has a different idea: he thinks Ramius is planning to defect, but he has only a few hours to find him and prove it - because the entire Russian naval and air commands are trying to find him, too. The hunt is on!

Customer Reviews:

Like, so 80's.......2007-06-24

This is a really good yarn, but the film adaptation is marginal - Connery and Baldwin are real, compelling, and entertaining, but the other actors leave much to be desired. Some really good shots of underwater scenes, and a good suspense level, but the acting could add a lot to this film.

The hunt for Red October.......2007-05-27

Connery at his best. A fantastic film. Definitely an owner movie.

Excellent Movie.......2007-05-02

I can't stand Alec Baldwin, but he did well in his first major motion picture. Sean Connery was good as he always is. I liked everything about it. The music is good. The special effects don't match these days, but I can live with it. A very dramatic, well acted movie I think.

Cold war movie.......2007-02-18

This is a great movie about the cold war with excellent casting and directing. I had read the book so when I first saw the movie I was a bit dissapointed from the fact that some of the important factors were underplayed in the movie. However this movie really grew on me and it is really entertaining.

The Hunt is OVER ... for a great Submarine Thriller!.......2007-01-21

I just finished watching the Hunt for Red October for the jilienth time... It had occurred to me that I never have written a review for this great movie here at amazon.com... I have reviewed the great WWII movie Das Boot, the hilarious Operation Petticoat, I have even put together two different lists about submarine books and submarine movies but incredibly I have not written a review about this great movie! I remember the first time I saw this movie when it came out in movie theaters and thinking, "Wow! How did Clancy know that, I thought that was classified?" I served on submarines in the `70s and considered myself very informed about submarines. This is a great Cold War yarn that will keep you on the edge of your seat - If you want to see a first rate submarine thriller then Hunt for Red October is a sure bet!

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Best TV Series Ever
Miami Vice - Season 3
Best Season
A Flawless season!
Down for the Count Part 1: Best Episode of the Series

Miami Vice - Season Three
Director: Vern Gillum , Gabrielle Beaumont , Bill Duke , Michelle Manning , and James A. Contner
Manufacturer: Universal Dist. Corp. (MCA)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000MLWQ6S
Release Date: 2007-03-20

Customer Reviews:

Best TV Series Ever.......2007-05-14

No competetion when MIAMI VICE is in... It has always been and will always be my most favourite TV Show. "A Must Buy" for any TV Series Collectors...

Miami Vice - Season 3.......2007-05-09

Awesome addition to my collection!!!!!!!!! Worth purchasing and highly recommended. Fast shipping from Amazom --- very pleased with this company.

Best Season.......2007-04-25

This is Miami Vice's best season - at least to me. The stars, music and Testerosa all come to together for insiteful and consistent episodes each week. And I appreciate the improved packaging so I don't have to flip DVD's to watch more. Any Vice fan needs Season 3.

A Flawless season!.......2007-04-16

I am new with this show since I never watched it in the 80's since I was pretty young. I bought the first 2 seasons and I thought they were cool and sexy but didn't make me say "that was awesome". They were sometimes cool yet cheesey. This season however is 100% cool with great stories, great drama and top notch car chases and shoot-outs. There's even so many appearances by well known actors that it's hard to list them all.

You have Wesley Snipes as a pimp, Bill Paxton as an undercover cop, Helen Bohen Carter as a doctor Crockett is dating who just happens to do drugs behind his back, Steve Buscemi, Charles S. Dutton, Willy Nelson, Liam Neeson, Viggo Mortensen, Benicio Del Toro and Brad Dourif. There's also drama when a member of their team dies. Larry is killed by boxing promoters while undercover as a boxer/trainer and it's made to look like a drug overdose. Crockett and Tubbs have to clear his name so he's not remembered as a junky. Forget the new movie, it's lame and dead in the water next to how entertaining and well done the show is.

Down for the Count Part 1: Best Episode of the Series.......2007-04-13

This was the season I was waiting for it has the best episode of the series. Down for the Count Part 1 is my favorite episode. It has some of the best music and fine acting by John Diehl. He's the heart and soul of the episode. I highly recommend getting this season.

20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

excellent
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Great Movie!
Great !
??

20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (Special Edition)
Starring: Kirk Douglas , James Mason , Paul Lukas , Peter Lorre , and Robert J. Wilke
Director: Richard Fleischer , and Charles A. Nichols
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005JKU0
Release Date: 2003-05-20

Amazon.com essential video

The swashbuckler genre bumped into science fiction in 1954 for one of Hollywood's great entertainments. The Jules Verne story of adventure under the sea was Walt Disney's magnificent debut into live-action films. A professor (Paul Lukas) seeks the truth about a legendary sea monster in the years just after the Civil War. When his ship is sunk, he, his aide (Peter Lorre), and a harpoon master (Kirk Douglas) survive to discover that the monster is actually a metal submarine run by Captain Nemo (James Mason). Along with the rollicking adventure, it's fun to see the future technology that Verne dreamed up in his novel, including diving equipment and sea farming. The film's physical prowess is anchored by the Nautilus, an impressive full-scale gothic submarine complete with red carpet and pipe organ. In the era of big sets, 20,000 Leagues set a precedent for films shot on the water and deservedly won Oscars for art direction and special effects. Lost in the inventiveness of the film and great set pieces including a giant squid attack are two great performances. Mason is the perfect Nemo, taut and private, clothed in dark fabric that counters the Technicolor dreamboat that is the beaming red-and-white-stripe-shirted Kirk Douglas as the heroic Ned Land. The film works as peerless family adventure nearly half a century later. --Doug Thomas

Description

Climb aboard the Nautilus ... and into a strange undersea world of spellbinding adventure! Kirk Douglas, Paul Lukas, and Peter Lorre star as shipwrecked survivors taken captive by the mysterious Captain Nemo, brilliantly portrayed by James Mason. Wavering between genius and madness, Nemo has launched a deadly crusade across the seven seas. But can the captive crew expose his evil plan before he destroys the world? Disney's brilliant Academy Award(R)-winning (1955, Best Art Direction and Best Special Effects) adaptation of Jules Verne's gripping tale makes 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA a truly mesmerizing masterpiece!

Customer Reviews:

excellent.......2007-06-27

What else can you say about a movie with James Mason and Kirk Douglas set beneath the sea. Excellent story, effects, acting etc......

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.......2007-06-25

Rich rendering of the classic Jules Verne tale by Walt Disney was, at the time, the most costly picture ever made, and it shows. The re-mastering of this beloved fantasy adventure is visually breathtaking, with vibrant colors popping off the screen unlike films half its age. Veterans Lukas and Lorre are solid, and Douglas is amusingly over the top as Ned (he even sings!), but the brooding Mason inhabits Nemo like a second skin, carrying the movie. Imaginative and exciting, "League" does full justice to its venerable source, and constitutes top family viewing.

Great Movie!.......2007-06-07

Amazon had what I wanted and the movie was just terrifc! My husband loved this movie when he was a child and I was so pleased Amazon had it to purchase! We got the movie well before it was promised!

Great !.......2007-05-25

This book is the first science fiction I read as a child. The first time I watched this movie I was about 10 years old. Since then till date, I have not forgotten a single scene or dialogue of the film. This is a superb film and quite advanced technically, for it's time. James Mason is the perfect Captain Nemo!

?? .......2007-05-14

The service of Amazon was supberb for THIS item, however, Im STILL waiting for the book I ordered at the same time.

Average customer rating: