Jackie & 36 Crazy Fists

Starring:Jackie Chan, Lau Chan, Chok Chow Cheung, Sheng Chiang, Paul Chun, Hark-On Fung, Feng Ku, Kar Cheung Lau, Kar-Yung Lau, Man Tai Lee, Tony Leung Siu Hung, Michelle Mee, Tsim Po Sham, Kwai Shan, Biu Chan Wong, Shi-Kwan Yen
Director: Jackie Chan
Studio: Xenon
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

Life in Your Head
Watch it for Patrick Wilson
Blackest of Dark Dramedies
Superb film until the ending
Overrated but worth seeing.

Little Children
Starring: Kate Winslet , Patrick Wilson , Jennifer Connelly , Gregg Edelman , and Sadie Goldstein
Director: Todd Field
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Notes on a Scandal
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ASIN: B000N3SU92
Release Date: 2007-05-01

Amazon.com

Kate Winslet operates at a galaxy-class level in Little Children, Todd Field's gratifyingly grown-up look at unhappy suburbia. Winslet is magnificent, in an Oscar-nominated performance, as a stroller-pushing mom who becomes attracted to a passive househusband (Patrick Wilson). Their slow-burning infidelity (Field wisely allows time to pass in this unhurried film) is contrasted with a more sensational subplot, about a convicted pedophile (Jackie Earle Haley, also Oscar nominated) returning to the neighborhood to live with his mother (Phyllis Somerville). Field, who brought his civilized approach to In the Bedroom, uses a deliberately literary style here, including a device with a narrator who sounds as though he's sitting at our side as he reads from Tom Perotta's novel. (The narrator is a superb touch--his cultivated voice distances us from the sloppy passions of the characters.) The film's biggest miscalculation is a self-appointed neighborhood vigilante (Noah Emmerich) determined to make life miserable for the pedophile. But Wilson is appropriately nebulous, Jennifer Connelly solid as his wife, and Haley (child star of the Bad News Bears movies), as the creepy, childlike molester, found himself rediscovered after a long career layoff. There's decent acting here, but Winslet is in a zone of her own, with so much emotional honesty and subtlety of expression that she transforms a good movie into a must-see. --Robert Horton

Description

Kate Winslet, Jennifer Connelly and Patrick Wilson star in the Academy Award nominated film Little Children, the latest work from Oscar-nominated writer/director Todd Field. Based on the novel by Tom Perrotta, Little Children centers on a handful of middle-class suburban parents whose lives unravel in the wake of an adulterous affair.

Customer Reviews:

Life in Your Head.......2007-07-03

"Little Children" captured my imagination. I found the characters fascinating. Each person seemed to be so isolated, living inside their head. Todd Field who directed the bold and dramatic "In the Bedroom" does an incredible job. He and book author Tom Perrotta deservedly earned Oscar nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay. Sarah Pierce played by Kate Winslet loves her daughter, but isn't having much fun at being a mommy or a wife. Her husband has his own private life lurking at internet websites and ordering worn panties in the mail to spur his fantasy life. Both are incredibly isolated. Contrast this to the other couple with Jennifer Connelly playing Kathy Adamson who is lost in her work as a documentary filmmaker and so wrapped up in being a mommy that their child sleeps in their bed, literally creating a barrier between husband and wife. Patrick Wilson, who is also very good in "Evening" with Claire Danes, Vanessa Redgrave & Glenn Close, plays Brad, a young stay-at-home father who has twice failed the bar exam to become a lawyer. He isn't certain he wants to be a lawyer and spends evenings watching skateboarding teenagers. The park where they meet is populated with judgmental urban wives who call Brad the "prom king" because he's a good-looking young father who fuels their fantasies. Marsha Dietlein Bennett in her second film ("Little Manhattan") plays the blonde Cheryl who is hysterical in her chronic put-downs of everyone else. She's the kind of person who really couldn't think of anything nice to say about anyone. Then we meet the sex offender Ronnie who moves back into the neighborhood after two years in prison. Again, we meet a clinically isolated man, unable to socialize, living inside his head. Jackie Earl Haley who was in "The Bad News Bears" years ago and recently in "All the King's Men" earned his first Oscar nomination as well as film critics awards in Chicago, Dallas-Ft. Worth, New York, Oklahoma & the Southeastern Film Critics' Circle. Larry Hedges is the policeman who assumes a vendetta against Ronnie, which climaxes at the film's finale. Noah Emmerich from "Cellular" & "Crazy in Alabama" plays the cop who is also isolated & whose world is falling apart.

This was one of the Oscar-nominated films that never played in our little town. I wanted to see Kate Winslet's Oscar-nominated performance, which earned her fifth nomination. In fact, she had nine nominations at festivals around the country and world for "Little Children," but remained winless. Phyllis Somerville who was in "Swim Fan" does a tremendous cameo as Ronnie's mother, May McGorvey. I was touched by how sincerely both Brad and Sarah loved their children, despite feeling trapped by their roles as parents. The laundry room affair was shocking with its intense explosion of desire.

"Little Children" was excellent because there were no clear good guys or bad guys. It shows everyone living inside dreams in their head while trying hard to cope with the world around them. As a result, it came across as extremely realistic. Enjoy!

Watch it for Patrick Wilson.......2007-07-03

Patrick Wilson is so hot in this, great body, great face. The movie is good too, but I could not keep my eyes off that hot man. Wait til you see him in a pair of swimming trunks. Whoa! Even better, when he is in the raw.

Blackest of Dark Dramedies.......2007-07-01

I'm so glad I saw this without having known anything about the storyline nor having too high of expectations about the quality of the film, because the acting and storytelling here are nothing short of a voyeuristic revelation, and not knowing about it only enhanced the experience.

Kate Winslet first caught my attention in SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, and I rooted for her character there and in TITANNIC. Since then I've watched her career with interest. But it's as though she has risen to a new level in LITTLE CHILDREN. Here she gives a far more nuanced performance as a modern-day Emma Bovary, trapped in a loveless marriage, yearning for romance and passion while saddled with dreaded parental responsibilities. Winslet's performance especially -- as well as the entire movie -- serves as a primer on moral ambiguity and its depiction in art and film. She is so good that you forget you're watching a movie featuring the star of the biggest blockbuster in history and must remind yourself that you're not peeking through the blinds of someone who lives in your neighborhood.

As I watched I was reminded of another subtle mood piece, IN THE BEDROOM, which stays in your memory just as persistently. Afterward, when I looked up the names of the writer and director, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Todd Field had directed both films.

I can see why some reviewers have compared LITTLE CHILDREN with AMERICAN BEAUTY, what with the story about suburban infidelity, the longing for passion and youth and depiction of graphic sex. But in this movie, when the adult characters behave like self-centered LITTLE CHILDREN, their behavior feels more plausible, less comical (despite the documentary-like black comedy of the voice over -- compare with Kevin Spacey's voice over), less naive about consequences, more true to life. And while I love AMERICAN BEAUTY and can watch it over and over, I think LITTLE CHILDREN is a very different film, a better film, but one with an unfortunately more limited appeal.

No, LITTLE CHILDREN isn't a perfect movie. The character of the child molester, despite an excellent performance, is the stereotypical sniveling misfit we expect, rather than a smart and skillful child rapist from the real world, one who knows how to lure his prey with patience and subtle appeal. Jennifer Connelly's character has too small of a role for her considerable talents. And in the real world, the overbearing former police officer's actions would have landed him in jail, or at least with a restraining order, long before the climax. But all of these quibbles are hardly noticeable at all as one is quickly involved in a story that doesn't let you go, one whose moral ambiguity has you rooting for the wrong people, hating the wrong people, and daydreaming for days afterward. Highest recommendation.

(By the way, I would be careful about letting teenagers watch, as this contains explicit adulterous sex scenes, a disturbing masturbation scene (not visible) and nudity that comes unexpectedly.)

Superb film until the ending.......2007-06-28

The acting here is superb throughout, with Winslet the standout in a stellar cast. The human drama keeps you hooked all the way. The ending, though, is a bit of a cheat. You spend most of the film wondering if these two people will run away together. When they finally decide to do so, their plans are undone by basically random events. True, that happens a lot in real life, but in films you like a little more resolution. You never know if they would have gone through with their plans or how it might have worked out. It's still a film very much worth seeing, though, and the Oscar buzz about Winslet's best-ever performance is justified.

Overrated but worth seeing........2007-06-27

A bored housewife Sarah (Kate Winslet) meets a frustrated househusband Brad (Patrick Wilson) at a suburban playground, and the two forge a friendship that quickly grows into more. Meanwhile, the local parent community is in uproar about a convicted sex offender (Jackie Earle Haley) living in their neighborhood.
"Little Children" is another overhyped pompous self-important Hollywood movie that tries too hard to be a profound Oscar-worthy experience instead of just telling a story. Imagine Alan Ball's creations "American Beauty" and "Six Feet Under" but mostly devoid of any sense of humor or irony. Don't get me wrong, it's not all bad. Everybody's acting is great. Cinematography is a pleasure to watch. There are some truly beautiful human moments (Todd Field's movies come closest to actually being great art when he stops trying to make them great art). My favorite part of the movie is Sarah and Brad's sexual relationship. This is perhaps one of the best, most nuanced explorations of lust and desire ever presented on film. Field's problem is that he's drawn to high drama, when his true talent obviously lies in capturing the subtle power of small things and events. By adding unnecessary complications and stakes to the plot, he cheapens his films. Also someone needs to tell serious Hollywood filmmakers that having multiple storylines in your film doesn't automatically make it great. In the case of "Little Children", the characters would be better served to be in two different movies - one dealing with Sarah and Brad's relationship and the other with Ronnie the sex offender. Finally, there is a narrator (PBS' Will Lyman) making unnecessary observations about the characters and their inner life and adding absolutely nothing to the movie - Lyman's emotionless voice could be a cool touch in some other film but here all it does is awkwardly underscore things already made clear by the actors.

Average customer rating:

a must for every girl, young or old....
If you have a daughter--she NEEDS this DVD!
Good movie
The Cutest of Movies
Simply wonderful

Anne of Green Gables
Starring: Megan Follows , Colleen Dewhurst , Richard Farnsworth , Patricia Hamilton , and Marilyn Lightstone
Director: Kevin Sullivan
Manufacturer: Sullivan
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Anne of Green Gables - The Sequel
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The Complete Anne of Green Gables Boxed Set (Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne of Windy Poplars, Anne's House of Dreams, ... Rainbow Valley, Rilla of Ingleside)

ASIN: B00005YNTR
Release Date: 2001-11-13

Amazon.com

This gorgeous adaptation of Lucy Maud Montgomery's classic children's story is well worth watching with the whole family. Produced for Canadian television, it's one of those rare productions that actually sticks to the book and even enhances it through first-rate performances and an excellent script. Set on bucolic Prince Edward Island in the late 19th century, Anne of Green Gables is the story of Anne Shirley, an imaginative and headstrong orphan. When brother and sister Marilla and Mathew Cuthbert decide to adopt an orphan boy to help Matthew work the farm, they are astonished when Anne arrives at the train station by mistake. "What use is she to us?" grumbles the gruff Marilla. "We might be of some use to her," answers Matthew, who has taken an instant liking to the talkative Anne. As Anne grows up, her adventures are both hilarious and moving. It's a delight to watch as she forms a friendship with the beautiful Diana and her admirer--the dashing Gilbert Blythe--then dyes her hair green, cracks a slate over Gilbert's head when he calls her "Carrots," and finds a sympathetic teacher who encourages her to attend college.

Richard Farnsworth is perfect as the shy and gentle bachelor Matthew, who confides to Anne that he never went courting because "I would have had to say something." Colleen Dewhurst delivers a nuanced and powerful performance as Marilla, a seemingly cold-hearted spinster whose no-nonsense exterior conceals a warm heart. And as Anne, Megan Follows strikes the perfect note, maturing from freckle-faced orphan to elegant and poised young woman. --Elisabeth Keating

Album Description

Import only NTSC/Region 1 DVD. Megan Follows, Tony Award-winner Colleen Dewhurst & Academy Award-nominee Richard Farnsworth give unparalleled performances in this critically-acclaimed motion picture, based on the international best-selling novel. Filmed amidst the spectacular scenery of Prince Edward Island, Canada, this Emmy Award-winning production follows the provocative life drama of orphan Anne Shirley (Follows), from her struggles as an adolescent to her triumphs as a young woman. A delicate epic full of wit, style & emotional power. Special features include behind-the-scenes clips, missing scenes, director's commentary, cast bios, previews, Megan Follows' audition. production stills & scene index. 1995.

Customer Reviews:

a must for every girl, young or old...........2007-07-04

I'll tell ya, I don't think that there's a girl alive who can't find some way to relate to Anne Shirley. I recall watching this on WonderWorks as a little girl, and absolutely loved it (and the Anne of Avonlee episodes, which I don't yet own). At one point I had them all on VHS that we'd recorded, but I believe one of my sisters took them when they left home, and I only just got around to buying myself a copy on DVD. And I'm so glad I did, because now I'm sharing my love of this story with MY 9 year old daughter. How special it is to be able to share something one loved as a little girl, with a little girl of one's own, and each able to relate to the story.

If you have a daughter--she NEEDS this DVD!.......2007-06-13

I grew up watching this movie, and read all of L.M. Montgomery's books, and now as an adult I wonder, "What happened to stuff like Anne of Green Gables?" Kids these days, especially girls, don't seem to have any wholesome entertainment that doesn't focus on becoming rich and famous or having the perfect body. If you have a daughter, or a niece, or you yourself just want a nice wholesome movie for a change... buy this movie, you will not be disappointed!

Good movie.......2007-06-12

I watched this when I was little. Very nice, clean movie that keeps you very involved with the characters. Would recommend!

The Cutest of Movies.......2007-06-10

This movie is so wonderful I love the characters they picked to play each of the characters. This is the best movie out of the trilogy the sequel being the second best because both follow the book. This movie had all of my family in tears at certain points and Gilbert Blithe was a definite favorite for us. The scenery is breathtaking and the way the love story plays out is very cute. I would highly recommend this movie as it is a very enrapturing movie filled with the simple, beautiful things in life. And how Anne " with an E " touches the hearts of so many people is so beautiful. It made me want to move to Prince Edward Island tomorrow to live somewhere like Green Gables. Anne of Green Gables has become one of my favorite movies as it sings to the heart of the hopeless romantic.

Simply wonderful.......2007-06-07

This is one of the best adaptations I have ever seen. Sullivan does a great job of bring Avonlea to the screen and making smart choices about what needs to be changed while remaining true to the world Montgomery created.

The casting is perfect - major and minor characters alike are extremely talented. It's amazing to see how Megan Follows plays a 13 year old and a 16 year old, sometimes days apart, and is believable every time. Richard Farnesworth and Colleen Dewherst are magic.

The bonus features are also great - giving you the impression that getting this adaptation so perfect was more luck than craft on Sullivan's part (a perspective proven later when he destroys this "trilogy" with the joke that is The Continuing Story"), but provides an interesting commentary and details fans will really enjoy.

Everything about this film - the cast, the script, locations, costumes - works together. This is the Avonlea Anne fans have long loved.

Average customer rating:

About Time!
Quality is Sadly Lacking
Fantastic and Horrible
Back from the past.
Cagney and Lacey Season 1

Cagney & Lacey - Season 1
Starring: Tyne Daly , and Sharon Gless
Director: Jackie Cooper , Alexander Singer , Allen Baron , Jan Eliasberg , and Georg Stanford Brown
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000NDEXO8
Release Date: 2007-05-08

Amazon.com

Twenty-two early episodes of the breakthrough television series, Cagney & Lacey, are gathered in this Season 1 pack, though these do not include those with early Cagneys Loretta Swit and Meg Foster. Directed by Karen Arthur, written by a female team, and starring two filmic heroes of the feminist movement--Sharon Gless as Christine Cagney and Tyne Daly as Mary-Beth Lacey--the show pioneered on-screen presentation of independent, working women. With Cagney as the career-minded single woman, and Lacey as the mother/wife juggling job with home time, the two detectives serve as foil characters, the way other cop shows such as ChiPs, Moonlighting, or Charlie's Angels starred police with opposing opinions. But where other shows cast the foxiest people possible, Cagney & Lacey relied on character development instead of sex.

That is not to say that Gless and Daly aren't attractive, for indeed they are. Episodic narratives include Cagney & Lacey fighting female spousal abuse in "A Cry For Help"; date rape in "Date Rape"; racism in "Let Them Eat Pretzels," and many other issues targeted in the consciousness-raising feminist movement of the '70s and '80s. Many of the episodes, compared to the lightning fast-paced cop shows airing today, are slow and surprisingly non-humorous. But regardless of the show's occasional descent into tedium, Cagney & Lacey did much to promote the image of the self-made, multitasking woman. The two-part featurette, "Breaking the Laws of TV," starring heavyweights such as Gloria Steinem, critically places the show in TV history by contextualizing what was happening in the women's movement concurrent to the show's airing. Though the show may have its dull moments, it is fascinating to remember how television has changed over the decades. —Trinie Dalton

Description

A ground-breaking show that re-defined its genre, Cagney and Lacey was something entirely new: a cop show featuring two strong and intelligent female detectives, with real lives and real problems--ordinary women doing extraordinary jobs. Now recognized as a true classic, this remarkable show tackles poignant social issues and explores the human side of hard-boiled detective work. Starring Tyne Daly and Sharon Gless as one of the most compelling detective duos of all time, this Emmy Award-winning drama is landmark television at its finest.

Customer Reviews:

About Time!.......2007-07-03

This has been a long time coming and worth the wait. This show was one of the best ever. They dealt with important issues in our society with care.

Quality is Sadly Lacking.......2007-07-02

After receiving a ton of other DVDs of old TV shows, I came to expect a certain "collectible quality" to the discs and packaging. This set is sadly lacking in both areas.

It contains two plain silver discs in cheap dollar-store plastic holders. Both outer cases have the same photo and information on the front. Nothing distinguishes case one from case two. Only the backside is different.

The picture quality has much to be desired. There's a grainy effect, slightly reminiscent of DVDs that Walmart sells for $1. And since they didn't put any money into packaging, the least they could do is give me four DVDs instead of two double-sided DVDs per case.

It doesn't get much cheaper than this, folks. $25.99 for this pile of garbage. Even the thrill of watching Cagney and Lacey again hasn't soothed the feeling of being cheated. I will be very leery of purchasing collector DVD sets in the future.

I'm really surprised that other reviewers haven't taken issue with the poor quality. Being happy to see C&L again shouldn't overshadow the fact that this set is an embarrassment. I'm too ashamed to admit to anybody what I paid for it.

If you care about quality you may be highly disappointed and disgusted with these DVDs. Proceed at your own risk. All I can do is warn you and share my experience.

Fantastic and Horrible.......2007-06-29

Fantastic: As an avid C&L fan, I was excited by this DVD release. This DVD set was no disappointment. I loved watching the episodes again even though I have seen them many times. The DVD quality is very good. I was taken aback by how good the story lines were. It was like I was watching them for the first time. Horrible: One season is not enough! I am addicted again and want more. I would PAY to get the remainder of the 125 episodes and the reunion movies from 1994 & 1995 on DVD. In summary, this DVD set is a MUST HAVE for any C&L fan!

Back from the past........2007-06-27

If you were a Cagney and Lacey fan then you have probably forgotten the shows, so this is like seeing them all over again for the first time. The tough as nails Cagney and the warm, caring Lacey. It was fun seeing them again.

Cagney and Lacey Season 1.......2007-06-27

I think this set is great! I loved the TV show, I used to tape it on Lifetime years ago, when I worked and it was on during the day. I really hope they come out with the rest of the seasons as well. I enjoyed it when they got more involved in the characters life outside of work in the later seasons. More home life, Lacey buying a house, Cagney's alcoholism, and relationship with her father & boyfriends. None of that is in this set, this is truely the beginning. Pretty straight forward police work, some of Lacey, Harvey and the kids, but not much, and it shows the women's interaction with other officers on the force. I like Sharon Gless as the only Cagney in this set. I could not warm up to the other woman who played the character in the first few episodes, I am glad she is not included. Good clean entertainment, not a lot of violence, no gore or bad language. It shows police woman trying to have a career and a private life. Tyne Daly is great as always. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the series in the 1980's!

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
Binding: DVD

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Hud

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.

The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 3 (Abbott & Costello Go to Mars / Abbott & Costello in the Foreign Legion / Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein / Abbott & Costello Meet the Invisible Man / Abbott & Costello Meet the Killer / Comin' Round the Mountain / Lost in Alaska / Mexican Hayride)

Average customer rating:

Great classic comedy!
FUNNY MOVIES
A. & C.::::Vol. 1,2,3
More turkeys than gems
Abbott and Costello on Parade

The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 3 (Abbott & Costello Go to Mars / Abbott & Costello in the Foreign Legion / Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein / Abbott & Costello Meet the Invisible Man / Abbott & Costello Meet the Killer / Comin' Round the Mountain / Lost in Alaska / Mexican Hayride)
Starring: Bud Abbott , Lou Costello , Mari Blanchard , Robert Paige (IV) , and Horace McMahon
Director: Charles Lamont , and Charles Barton
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Classics | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 1 (Buck Privates / Hold That Ghost / In the Navy / Keep 'Em Flying / One Night in the Tropics / Pardon My Sarong / Ride 'Em Cowboy / Who Done It?)
The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 2 (Hit the Ice / In Society / Here Come the Co-Eds / The Naughty Nineties / Little Giant / The Time of Their Lives / Buck Privates Come Home / The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap)
The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 4 (Abbott & Costello Meet Dr. Jekyl & Mr. Hyde / Abbott & Costello Meet the Keystone Cops / Abbott & Costello Meet the Mummy / Abbott & Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld / Abbott & Costello Meet the Monsters / The World of Abbott & Costello)
The Adventures of Ma & Pa Kettle - Volume 1
The Abbott & Costello Show: 100th Anniversary Collection Season 1

ASIN: B00023P4O2
Release Date: 2004-08-03

Description

Includes the following movies,
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein
Mexican Hayride
Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff
Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion
Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man
Comin' Round the Mountain
Lost in Alaska
Abbott and Costello Go to Mars

Customer Reviews:

Great classic comedy!.......2007-06-27

I used to watch these guys every Sunday morning when I was a kid. When I seen they finally came onto DVD and especially 8 episodes per volume, you just can't go wrong for the price. In my opinion, they were the best comedy duo there ever was. Some of their best movies exist within this volume including my favorite, Abbott & Costello meet Frankenstein. I ordered via standard shipping and received them within a weeks time, packaged nicely, and in great condition. If you love classic, clean comedy, then this is for you.

FUNNY MOVIES .......2007-06-06

WORTH THE MONEY
I LOVE THIS DVD, BRINGS BACK LAUGHTER AND MEMORYS AND YOU NEVER GET BORED WITH IT,

A. & C.::::Vol. 1,2,3.......2007-05-22

All the movies were 'clean', no fuzz, no lines, clear sharp pictures. Unlike some other reviews, these DVD's played perfectly with no problems! Definitely worth the money if you're a true Abbott and Costello fan...well worth it even if it's just old comedy you enjoy!!

More turkeys than gems.......2007-05-22

While there are a couple of really good films on this set, the majority of them are sub-par vehicles. These aren't exactly films that would make a big fan out of someone just getting into A&C. At least this set has been updated to have the eight films on four single-sided discs as opposed to the problem-plagued earlier version which had eight films on two flipper-discs, although the main menus, oddly, haven't been updated as well. They're still designed in a way that gives the impression that two other films are on the flip side.

'A&C Meet Frankenstein' (1948) is widely held as a classic, though I personally find it rather overrated. I liked it more the second time I saw it, but I still honestly don't get why so many people feel it's their best and funniest movie. Who knows, perhaps I'd find it a lot funnier if I'd seen it in the original theatrical run or on television as a child. Although I do think that the plot is pretty strong, and of the three monsters, Bela Lugosi's reprisal of Dracula had the most depth.

'Mexican Hayride' (1948) has some fun scenes, such as when Joe (Lou) is getting his entire wardrobe torn off of his body in an attempt to get rid of everything with his real initials and the later scene in the bullring, but overall it's a pretty mediocre vehicle. Its biggest fault is probably that it was originally a book and Broadway show, not a movie script originally written for them, and so didn't really fit even after being reworked to make it an A&C vehicle.

'A&C Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff' (1949) was one of my favorites on here. It's a great murder mystery, complete with some touches of film noir, and leaves the viewer guessing till the very end. Although in spite of the title, there aren't really any elements of horror in here, and Boris Karloff's character is relegated to a secondary character too quickly. There might not be a lot of funny scenes in it, but the great plot makes up for it.

'A&C in the Foreign Legion' (1950) isn't their most memorable, nor is the premise that novel (just how many comedies have had a similar setting?), though there are a lot of good scenes, such as the opening scene in the boxing ring, the auction for the harem girls, and when Bud and Lou are wandering through the desert and having mirages. It might not be as sophisticated as some of their other films, but I enjoyed it quite a bit.

'A&C Meet the Invisible Man' (1951), one of their better entries in the 'Meet' series, is possibly my favorite film on this set. There's a great plot, and the special effects are rather impressive for the era before computer-generated special effects. Though a lot of the gags center around the fact that Tommy (the boxer who is trying to clear his name of a false murder charge) is invisible, I didn't feel that these jokes got predictable or formulaic, since there were so many different jokes to be mined from this premise instead of the same ones over and over again. And how could any movie not be funny when there's an invisible character?

'Comin' 'Round the Mountain' (1951) is pretty weak, not least because, like many of their earliest films, it's cluttered up by superfluous musical numbers (which seem to drag on forever). The movie even starts with one of them, which isn't a good sign. Among the few genuine highlights are Lou's scene with the witch and the effects her love potion has on everyone who drinks it. The spoof of the Hatfield and McCoy feud could have been funnier, but the hillbilly characters just weren't utilised well enough, particularly the pistol-wielding granny, who should have been given more to do. Bud's character also doesn't get a whole lot to do. It's enjoyable enough, just nothing really memorable.

'Lost in Alaska' (1952) is near the bottom of the barrel. I was massively unimpressed by it. What few humorous moments it contains are all in the first half, and even then they're not that hysterically funny. They were really wasted in this one, and it's not even redeemed by a good ending scene. Bud's character also seems like more of a jerk than usual here.

'A&C Go to Mars' (1953) is generally regarded as one of their worst also, but I found it a bit better than its reputation. The Mardi Gras scenes are pretty funny, as are the two guys playing the escaped convicts who end up joining them on the rocket, and the opening scene of Lou with the children at the orphanage is really heartwarming, particularly knowing how much he cared for disadvantaged children in real life. Most of the rest, however, falls pretty flat. The sci-fi bits are badly dated and such obvious products of the Fifties, the scenes on Venus are pretty ridiculous (although the Queen's truth-detectors are kind of funny), and the last third or so of the movie seems really rushed. Those Venusian women must have been really desperate for men if they were attracted to these four guys! (Even Bud, whom I think looked rather handsome in their earliest films, was looking pretty old and tired by this point.) Overall, it's the type of thing that only a young child or someone who first saw this as a child decades ago is apt to find that funny.

All in all, while there are some genuinely good movies on here, and while the other ones all have their moments, this is something likely to be enjoyed more by completists and hardcore fans than new or casual fans. It's a shame A&C weren't given high-quality scripts worthy of their talents more often and had to go through the motions in turkeys like 'Lost in Alaska' and 'Comin' 'Round the Mountain' so often in the later part of their career.

Abbott and Costello on Parade.......2007-05-07

I remember the great antics of Abbott and Costello from the earliest days of my childhood. That's why I purchased the DVDs covering their film career.
I was not at all disappointed with the quality of the transfer from film to DVD; watching the DVDs was very much like watching the films in a theatre. And of course, Abbott and Costello are as entertaining for me now as much as they were back "in the good ol' days."
I would not, however, recommend these great DVDs for young people; this duo was at its best back in the forties and fifties, but they would be considered corny in this day and age. So, if your fifty--or more--by all means, shell out the cash and enjoy the laughable, crazy, and slapstick antics of one of the most famous comic pairs ever in the business. If you happen to be young, unless you have an unusual interest in the the film industry, skip these DVDs for something a little more modern and sophisticated.

Average customer rating:

Great film, interesting commentary
Quirky love story with panache
Terrible!
Heartwarming
Probably the best movie I've seen in the last year...

Garden State
Starring: Zach Braff , Christopher Carley , Amy Ferguson , Jill Flint , and Gary Gilbert
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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

Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (Widescreen Edition)
Garden State
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Closer (Superbit Edition)

ASIN: B00005JNC2
Release Date: 2004-12-28

Product Description

Writer/Director Zach Braff delivers an Oscar®-worthy performance (CBS-TV Chicago) opposite a wacky and endearing (Newsweek) Natalie Portman in this quirky, coming-of-age comedy. Twentysomething, emotionally detached Andrew Large Largeman (Braff) hasn t been home to New Jersey in nine years. Now, as Large attempts to re-connect with a variety of odd acquaintances including his father he decides to risk getting high on the most potent and unpredictable drug there is life! Co-starring Peter Sarsgaard, Ian Holm and Method Man, Garden State is marvelous fun (Rolling Stone)

System Requirements:

Running Time 103 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

Zach Braff (from the TV show Scrubs) stars in his writing/directing debut, Garden State--normally a doomed act of hubris, but Braff pulls it off with unassuming charm. An emotionally numb actor in L.A., Andrew (Braff) comes back to New Jersey after nine years away for his mother's funeral. Andrew avoids his bitter father (Ian Holm, The Sweet Hereafter) and joins old friends (including the superb Peter Sarsgaard, Boys Don't Cry) in a round of parties. Along the way he meets a girl (Natalie Portman, Beautiful Girls) with demons of her own; bit by bit the two offer each other a little healing. Plotwise, Garden State is familiar stuff, a cross between The Graduate and a Meg Ryan movie, but Braff has an eye for goofy but resonant visual images, an ear for lively dialogue, and a great cast. The result is surprisingly fresh and funny. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

Great film, interesting commentary.......2007-07-02

In addition to enjoying this film immensely, one of the things I like about DVDs is the addition of commentary. On this DVD, I found it interesting to learn how Director Zach Braff used different brands of film (Kodak or Fuji) in different homes to get a "cooler" or "warmer" feel. Little details like that make the picture even more enjoyable on repeated viewings.

Quirky love story with panache.......2007-06-06

This is a triumph for Zach Braff who directed, wrote, and also stars as Andrew Largeman who finds that love beats the holy heck out of lithium and assorted drugs bizarrely prescribed by his unfeeling father who just happens to be a shrink. Ladies and gentleman never let your father be your shrink.

I was quite taken with Natalie Portman who plays Sam who turns out to be Large's true love, and such a kinky, quirky, beautiful true love she is. Portman eschews beauty in every scene but manages to be cute and sweet and very emotionally evolved, which I liked. She is of course beautiful and brilliant as everybody knows, but here she tries something different. She strives to be ordinary and slight but with great emotive power. Nice performance.

The sound track which reminded this old guy of something from Simon and Garfunkel, and in fact there is a Simon and Garfunkel tune on it, was the sort of sweet, nostalgia-producing, alternative rock kind of sweet angst sound that lets you know that this is what youth is all about.

Largeman, wanna-be and somewhat successful/somewhat failed actor out on loan, comes home from the big city to rural New Jersey because his mother has died, unaccountable in a bathtub--which can happen if you are a paraplegic. He deals with a childhood tragedy and acquired guilt, meets his old buds, including Mark (Peter Sarsgaard) who is a full time slacker and part time dreamer and consummate doper. Largeman unveils his sidecar mobile--the only thing willed from his grandfather's estate--with its white star on combat green, and tools around town, parties a little and meets quirky Samantha who likes to tell lies as a kind of way to deal with the world. I knew a girl like that, only she knew when she was lying--if somebody caught her. Sam figures it's a tick like Tourette's, and anyway her lies are harmless.

The movie is sweet and mildly comedic with some original shtick, and at times a bit of a tear-jerker. More than anything it's a touching love story, which I can never resist. And, yes, it's very New Jersey like Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi, although no songs by them on the track--not to mention Elizabeth Shue who was a classmate of Braff's in high school.

See this for Zach Braff who put a lot of his emotional life into the film and deserves the accolades he's received.

Terrible!.......2007-06-04

YUCK! I could not make it through the entire 1 hour 45 minutes. After the first hour, I had to stop watching. It was SO bad. It's one of those movies with VERY little plot. I kept thinking that it would get better. . . but it never did. . . . and finally, I just couldn't take it anymore. If you're interested in death, drugs and dysfunctional families, then . . . by all means. . . rent/buy this movie. . . otherwise, Stay Away!

Heartwarming.......2007-05-31

Garden state is an excellent heartwarming film. Zach Braff and Natalie Portman's performances are superb. The cinematography and directing are excellent. The soundtrack is also great (Academy Award Winner for Best Soundtrack). It's a movie that should be viewed more than once to truly appreciate it.

Probably the best movie I've seen in the last year..........2007-04-02

After hearing some buzz & seeing a couple of stellar reviews I decided to rent this movie. I didn't know what to expect, but thought it would be a light romantic comedy and mildly entertaining. Instead I found it alternately heartbreaking and hilarious. I was moved to tears several times, and to side-splitting laughter throughout. It's a wonderfully entertaining and heartwarming film.

Average customer rating:

Breaking Away
IU nostalgia
Buon giorno, Papa!
Breaking Away
They can't make 'em like this anymore.

Breaking Away
Starring: John Ashton , Barbara Barrie , David K. Blace , Hart Bochner , and Dennis Christopher
Director: Peter Yates
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Sports | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

10-12 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Family Films | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Comedy | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Drama | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Kids & Family | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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

American Flyers
Hoosiers
Hell on Wheels
Chariots of Fire (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Rudy (Special Edition)

ASIN: B00003CX96
Release Date: 2002-01-29

Product Description

This charming, Academy Award® winner (1979, Best Screenplay) cycles high on comedy as four friends come to terms with life after high school. When top-notch cyclist Dave (Dennis Christopher) learns that the world's bicycling champions are always Italian, he attempts to turn himself into an Italian, driving his parents (Barbara Barrie, Paul Dooley) crazy. But everything changes after he meets the Italian racing team - an encounter that ultimately leads him and his friends (Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern, Jackie Earle Haley) to challenge the local college boys in the town's annual bike race.

System Requirements:

Running Time 100 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

Peter Yates's flag-waving film stands with To Kill a Mockingbird and American Graffiti as one of the best films about small-town Americana. Steve Tesich won an Oscar for his semi-biographical screenplay about four 19-year-olds who don't know what to do after high school. Dave Stohler (Dennis Christopher) and his three friends--ex-football star Mike (Dennis Quaid), wily comedian Cyril (Daniel Stern), and tough kid Moocher (Jackie Earle Haley)--are doomed to live in the college town of Bloomington, Indiana, where the local kids (nicknamed "Cutters"--a derogatory reference to quarry workers and their blue-collar families) are looked down on by the uppity students of nearby Indiana University.

Stohler escapes into a world of Italian bicycling, picking up the lingo, the accent, and a good share of the talent of his heroes. He is also the scourge of his father's life. The used-car salesman (Paul Dooley) doesn't understand his son's affection for bicycling or, for that matter, his pride in being a "Cutter."

Breaking Away rehabilitates the word heartwarming as Tesich's uncommonly intelligent script gives us well-rounded characters and a potent sense of place. The grandstanding finale--the real life "Little 500" bike race--gives the film a perfect, crowd-pleasing end. However, the film never sacrifices the development of characters for the action. Dooley is especially effective in one of those once-in-a-lifetime roles. The lifelong character actor's place in film history is established with this indispensable performance. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews:

Breaking Away.......2007-07-03

Peter Yates's heartfelt, life-affirming movie will prove a winner for older kids and adults. Christopher is appealingly quirky in the central role and the film showcases the budding talents of future stars Quaid and Stern as two of Dave's buddies. Paul Dooley is outstanding as Dave's bewildered father, a solid Middle American you might actually buy a used car from. Don't miss this one.

IU nostalgia.......2007-05-13

I attended IU and I very much enjoy watching this movie again and again. It was a well written screenplay and adapted well to a movie version.

Buon giorno, Papa! .......2007-04-23

I just watched this movie for the first time in many years, and was just as captivated by it now as I was when I first saw it shortly after its release in theaters. Those who have grown up in small town America will find elements in the film that will take them back in time! I watched the film with my 12 year old, and both of us connected with the story, the characters, and the humor in it. This is indeed a real charmer of a film. I gotta have the DVD for my collection!

Breaking Away.......2007-03-28

We were so pleased to be able to purchase this movie as we could not find it anywhere else. It was in perfect condition in its original unopened wrapping and it came within three days.

They can't make 'em like this anymore........2007-03-03

"Breaking Away" is a true rarity: a feel-good movie that doesn't that isn't silly. Yes, there are plenty of laughs in it, but they're the result of great acting and writing, not the cheap, crude one-liners that litter so many of today's so-called "comedies." And while the movie will tug at your heartstrings, it never spills over into gooey sentimentality or empty pathos.

But I also feel sort of sad whenever I watch "Breaking Away." The small-town downtown where the guys hang out is just a fading memory for most Americans. And are there any old swimming holes anymore, like the quarry that the characters visit? Or have they all been paved over, for "luxury" McMansion subdivisions?

Shut me up! Just watch "Breaking Away" and enjoy it!

Average customer rating:

Baa Baa Black Sheep
Pappy Lives !! Always and Forever !!
Excellent- Hey Boyington- hey Riceball !!!
Baa, Baa, Baa
VMF-214 The Black Sheep Squadron

Baa Baa Black Sheep - Volume 1
Starring: Dirk Blocker , Robert Conrad , Robert Ginty , John Larroquette , and Jeff MacKay
Director: Robert Conrad , Alex Beaton , Jackie Cooper , Philip DeGuere , and Edward Dein
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

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

Baa Baa Black Sheep, Vol. 2
Rat Patrol - The Complete First Season
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The Rat Patrol - The Complete Second Season

ASIN: B0007YMWGY
Release Date: 2005-05-24

Amazon.com

A likable mix of WWII action and light comedy, the first 10 episodes of the NBC series Baa Baa Black Sheep (1976-78) wing their way onto DVD in this double-sided two-disc set. Based on the adventures of Marine Corps pilot Major Gregory "Pappy" Boyington (played in the series by the always dependable Robert Conrad) and his squadron of roguish ace fliers in the South Pacific Theater, Baa Baa Black Sheep benefited from an excellent cast (which included such TV and film vets as Simon Oakland and Dana Elcar, as well as up-and-comers like John Larroquette and Larry Manetti of Magnum, P.I.) and scripts from series creator Stephen J. Cannell (as well as long-time TV scribes like Philip De Guere and Milt Rosen) that offered a enjoyable balance of humor and combat. The blend gets an excellent showcase in the 1976 two-hour pilot, Flying Misfits, which kicks off volume 1; the remaining 10 adventures pit Pappy and the Black Sheep boys against the Axis Japanese in a secret squadron of captured planes ("The Meatball Circus," episode 8), a brainwashed American captain ("Presumed Dead," episode 7), and a tough major (Charles Napier) with designs on commanding the squadron ("Best Three out of Five," episode 3). Fans of the series may question the decision to include only half of the first season's episodes in this set (the 1976-77 season ran for an additional 12 episodes before being dropped by NBC; the series was revived in late 1977, rechristened Black Sheep Squadron, and ran for an additional 13 episodes before being canceled in 1978), but the inclusion of the two-part pilot and interviews with the real Pappy Boyington (who served as the show's consultant and even cameos in the pilot) should appease any concerns. --Paul Gaita

Customer Reviews:

Baa Baa Black Sheep.......2007-06-18

I was very young when Baa Baa Black Sheep first aired, but I loved watching it and have many treasured memories of watching it with my father; who was a Navy fighter pilot during WWII. My father would sometimes be exasperated by the historical inaccuracies that sometimes cropped up, but he loved watching the flying sequences. I remember him laughing at one point and saying, "Those stunt pilots are having a ball!" Now that my dad has passed away, it is deeply rewarding to be able to watch this show again. Sure, it isn't very true to the historical reality, but to me that never really mattered. Robert Conrad will always be Pappy Boyington to me, and the Black Sheep a bunch of misfits and screwballs who became the terrors of the South Pacific!

Pappy Lives !! Always and Forever !!.......2007-05-25

Pappy Boyington has been my hero forever. I was in Jr High when the series came out. You could not force me away from the TV. I have always wanted to own this series so I could watch over and over and over. And I do. This was definitly the BEST prsent I ever bought myself. I could never grow bored watching the Black Sheep.

Excellent- Hey Boyington- hey Riceball !!!.......2007-05-12

Can't wait for the 2nd set to come out!!!

Baa, Baa, Baa.......2007-05-11

What can I say.... awesome. I was so excited to see this come out on DVD. The quality is great and it brought back all the old memories of growing up watching this classic TV WWII series. This is a must have for any red-blooded American guy's DVD collection. Long live VMF-214!

VMF-214 The Black Sheep Squadron.......2007-04-25

If you like Robert Conrad, or WWII stories and/or fighter aircraft, you should like this. I like it mainly, I think because of the flying sequences. It is ostensibly the story of Maj. Greg Boyington and the formation and tour of duty of VMF-214, The Black Sheep Squadron, in the Soloman Islands in WWII. The original Black Sheep members were quite put off by the series and by Greg Boyington's connection with it. While the series presented the Black Sheep as drunks, misfits and womanizers, in actuality, the real Black Sheep were America's sons, brothers, husbands and fathers. They were, in my opinion, heroes, as were most of our WWII combatants. The series is based loosely on their real-life missions, which included two six-week tours. They were the most successful Marine aviation squadron of WWII

M*A*S*H - Season Eleven (Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

good show, bad packaging
M*A*S*H - Season Eleven (Collector's Edition)
MASH - Season 11
M*A*S*H Season Eleven
Its about Time

M*A*S*H - Season Eleven (Collector's Edition)
Director: Hy Averback , Jackie Cooper , Larry Gelbart , George Tyne , and William Wiard
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

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

M*A*S*H - Season Ten (Collector's Edition)
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M*A*S*H - Season Three (Collector's Edition)

ASIN: B000HT3P5G
Release Date: 2006-11-07

Description

As the eleventh season begins, rumors are running rampant around camp. One rumor has everyone believing that Marilyn Monroe is going to pay the 4077 a special visit, while another claims that the peace talks are finally making headway. This second rumor gets Margaret thinking after Charles mentions how a Los Angeles skyscraper had a time capsule built into its cornerstone. Although he thinks the idea is insane, Margaret decides to make a time capsule of her own to bury in camp. "We could put something in the ground to remind people we were here," she suggested. With Hawkeye's help, items from around camp were gathered up for the capsule: a chopper's broken fan belt, Radar's teddy bear, one of Henry Blake's fishing flies, a bottle of Charles's cognac and Father Mulcahy's boxing gloves.

And finally, the gang of the 4077 hears the announcement they've been waiting for:

"This is Robert Pierpoint speaking to you from nearby Panmunjom. It is one minute before ten p.m. We can still hear the sound of nearby artillery. At some point during the next few seconds, the guns should go silent, as the cease-fire officially goes into effect...

There it is. That's the sound of peace."

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Here's an essential addition to the TV time capsule, M*A*S*H's complete final season, including the DVD premiere of the historic feature-length final episode, "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen." Still the most watched television series episode ever, "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" brings M*A*S*H to a richly satisfying conclusion, giving each of its characters dramatic and fitting curtain calls. But the finale shouldn't completely overshadow what was a memorable and multi-Emmy-nominated season. After a decade, Kellye Nakahara, as compassionate and "cute as hell" Nurse Kellye, gets her own showcase episode with "Hey, Look Me Over." Echoing his obsession with "Adam's Ribs" back in season 3, "The Moon Is Not Blue," finds Hawkeye (Alan Alda) determined to secure for the morale-challenged camp a screening of a supposedly scandalous film. In "Friends and Enemies," Col. Potter (Henry Morgan) has the difficult task of confronting an officer, an old friend, who is irresponsibly endangering his men. After 11 seasons, we don't need anyone to tell us yet again that the "good and decent" people at the 4077th "make use of humor as a weapon against war," as a U.N. dignitary observes in one episode. In "The Joker Is Wild," B.J. (Mike Farrell) confirms his status as the camp's reigning practical joker with an epic, "brilliantly conceived" prank against Hawkeye.

Two emotional episodes set the stage for the finale. In "Who Knew?" a nurse's tragic death moves Hawkeye to show what he feels "through the (wise)cracks" and tell those in camp he is closest to that he loves them. In the penultimate episode, "As Time Goes By," Margaret (Loretta Switt) collects camp artifacts, among them, Radar's teddy bear, to put in a time capsule. Finally, after 251 episodes, there is "the sound of peace" in "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen," but not before a traumatic incident sends Hawkeye to a psychiatric ward, B.J. is sent home before he can say goodbye to Hawkeye, Charles (David Ogden Stiers) forms an attachment to a band of Chinese musicians, and Klinger (Jamie Farr) falls in love with a Korean woman separated from her family. That there is no audio commentary for this television benchmark is a major disappointment, but the series eloq