L.A. Story

Starring:Steve Martin, Victoria Tennant, Richard E. Grant, Marilu Henner, Sarah Jessica Parker, Susan Forristal, Kevin Pollak, Sam McMurray, Patrick Stewart, Andrew Amador, Gail Grate, Eddie De Harp, M.C. Shan, Frances Fisher, Iman, Tommy Hinkley, Larry Miller, Anna Crawford, Samantha McCoy, Thornton Simmons
Director: Mick Jackson
Studio: Live / Artisan
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com essential video
Steve Martin wrote this film as a meditation on both love and Los Angeles (and then-wife Victoria Tennant). He plays a L.A. TV weatherman who finds himself conflicted about what to do with his life, both professionally and personally. As he works his way through a couple of relationships (including a very funny one with a frisky Sarah Jessica Parker, who talks him into colonic therapy), he discovers a L.A. freeway sign that gives him romantic advice. It helps him realize what he knows intuitively: that the British woman he is attracted to (Tennant) is the one he should pursue. A big cast (and lots of cameos) have fun with this witty (if slight) material and director Mick Jackson adds visual pizzazz. --Marshall Fine

The War That Made America - The Story of the French and Indian War
Average customer rating:

A great documentary on an overlooked war.

Enjoyable to watch

Understanding The French and Indian War

Amazing

Docudrama Finally Done Right

The War That Made America - The Story of the French and Indian War
Starring: Larry Nehring , Shane Callahan , John D. Bert , Douglass Bowen Flynn , and Alex Coleman
Director: Eric Stange , and Ben Loeterman
Manufacturer: Pbs (Direct)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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When the Forest Ran Red (Special Edition)

The History Channel Presents The War of 1812

George Washington's First War: The Battles for Fort Duquesne

The War That Made America: A Short History of the French and Indian War

The History Channel Presents The Revolution

ASIN: B000E1MXZ0
Release Date: 2006-02-28

Description

What if the French had won? Almost 250 years ago, French and English armies clashed in the primeval forest of western Pennsylvania as they struggled to control the most important piece of real estate in 18th century North America. The army that controlled the forks of the Ohio, a confluence of mighty rivers that would one day become Pittsburgh, held the gateway to the entire continent. Native Americans boldly tried to manipulate the balance of military power between the English and the French. It was the French and Indian War, and an inexperienced Virginian soldier named George Washington, serving under the British flag, learned battle-scarred lessons that would indelibly shape his life.

Customer Reviews:

A great documentary on an overlooked war........2007-07-03

They hit all of the high points in the struggle between France and Britain for the new world. They do an excellent job of summarizing the conflict through dramatizations. Very interesting and easy to follow as well. They do leave out numerous details and skirmishes, however they do a wonderful job covering the war in a reasonable amount of time.

Enjoyable to watch.......2007-05-21

For a non-native American like me, this is my first touch about this history. On the whole, it's pretty smooth, well-organized and detailed. The actors/actresses in this film perform well and get the job done.

Although the French are outnumbered by the British in that period, they allied with the Indians and defeated the British many times. The British first got the support from the colonists by treating them with respect. Then, they realized they need to respect these Indians as well and thus turned the tide of this war. Finally, the British won the war and the French were dispelled out of the North America. The British, however, didn't manage this territory well after winning the war. Their policy favored the Indians but didn't fit the interest of the colonists, which ultimately brought on the Revolution War.

I think the chapters of the French and Indian War are well set in this film. I enjoy the whole watching very much. The impact to the Revolution War, however, seems not thorough enough for me. It's kind of rush, in my opinion. It would be good to have more discussions or deeper analysis for the linkage.

This film is definitely a must-have for anyone having interest in the American history. In addition, the perspectives of Indians are well described. They are not that bad as barbarians, but have their own ways of living and believing.

Understanding The French and Indian War.......2007-05-01

"The War That Made America - The Story of the French and Indian War" is a fascinating documentary on the French and Indian War (also known in Europe as the Seven Years War), mostly focusing on George Washington's role in the war. It is more like a movie than a documentary, using extensive reenactments of events with many actors playing some of the important figures of the war, most important being Larry Nehring as George Washington. The actors will sometimes break the fourth wall; look directly into the camera and address you, the viewer. Instead of this being a distraction, I actually felt that it quickly engrossed you, made you more than a viewer of the movie, but a participant in the events. Academy Award-nominated actor Graham Greene (who's ancestors are the Ohsweken Indians) narrates the film though out. The film starts out with the Washington witnessing the cold blooded execution of a French soldier by Tanaghrisson, the Ohio Seneca known as the Half King. This triggers events that quickly spiral out of control to start a long campaign of forested skirmishes (not a lot of full scale battles like the European wars at the time) as the French and British fight for control over North America (mostly from modern day northeastern Canada to western Pennsylvania and parts of Ohio). In the film Washington learns a lot of the craft of war that he will use later in the American Revolution. But it is more than that, the basic message is that the French and Indian War was not just a prelude to the War for Independence, it was it's own distinctive war with it's own causes. The film also discusses a major factor in the war, the Indians. The Indians were playing both countries for years, mostly as information brokers. They were thought of as evil Godless savages, but in truth they were only doing what they had to do to keep their people alive, and their women slaves were actually treated pretty well. But they were victims of racist attitudes of the whites, and the British sending the Indians blankets with small pocks germs on them was especially mean, an incident that most would like to forget. This is a great movie, I whole heartedly recommend it.

In a side note there is the book "The War that Made America: A Short History of the French and Indian War" by Fred Anderson. It's a great book that expands on the movie. It's also recommended.

Amazing.......2007-02-22

This pbs film series is very well done and I learned much by watching it. I am a Social Studies teacher and I wish I had the time to show this entire film to my classes.

A must see for all historians, teachers, and history buffs of this time period.

Docudrama Finally Done Right.......2006-08-18

The five stars are the reward for something so simple that it is a wonder it hasn't been done more often. The historical characters in this production actually speak,and for more than just a few sentences! The mix of reenactment, historical sites and 'talking head' narration, has been effectively done in other productions such as "Liberty!","Franklin" and "John Adams", but here, in contrast to those efforts, the major characters, Washington, Braddock, get a chance to speak at greater length, and not just reciting their correspondence. This makes the story more interesting and move along with much greater ease. The pacing is good; it seldom drags the way some history presentations do. The casting is good, the uniforms are adequate (buffs will spot some budget related errors)and the story gets the respect it deserves. Washington's role in starting the first 'world war' and its crucial contribution of experience to his role in the American Revolution, should be more widely known. This edition should help. We can only hope other historical subjects will get a similar treatment

Average customer rating:

The Gospel Road
The Gospel Road
Excellent film
Surreal Johnny Cash Art Flick Twist to the Jesus Story...
The Gospel Road by Johnny Cash

The Gospel Road
Starring: June Carter Cash , Johnny Cash , Kris Kristofferson , Larry Lee , and Paul L. Smith
Director: Robert Elfstrom
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Man in White

ASIN: B000E8N8SE
Release Date: 2006-02-28

Description

Johnny Cash, the legendary Man in Black, telling the story of Jesus Christ as only he can tell it ? from the heart with no compromises!! Cash stars in, sings, and narrates this timeless tale of faith, courage, and one man's selfless acts of kindness and charity. Featuring original songs by Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, and Kris Kristofferson, and written and produced by Cash, The Gospel Road is his most passionate labor of love. Join country music's greatest star on this inspirational journey.

Customer Reviews:

The Gospel Road.......2007-03-10

Our church showed this movie in the mid '70's. Several years ago I was able to 'win' a copy (VHS) on e-bay. When the DVD came out I HAD to have one. Wonder when or if they will re-release the "soundtrack" on CD? I have it on vinyl. (NO record player now)

The Gospel Road.......2007-02-18

Johnny Cash takes the truth of Christ's life and death and makes a very sensitive and touching movie that is bound to draw people to the person, Jesus Christ,the only thing that makes sense in this sad and lonely world.

Excellent film.......2007-01-09

The film is very moving and can be given an excellent for the story. As it was filmed in the 1970's the pictures are a little wierd compared to what we used to seeing in today's cinema but the film is still a good one.

Surreal Johnny Cash Art Flick Twist to the Jesus Story..........2006-11-25

This is one strange dramatization of the story of Jesus as narrated by Johnny Cash in his down home, ever cool style, walking along the Galilee or perched atop a high cliff, Bible in hand. Two prominent themes of this Cash version are (1) that Jesus died for all people of all time (especially brought home in the startling crucifixion scene), and (2) that Jesus' journey was very solitary--even when he was amidst crowds. There are very few actors in the film, and even crowd scenes, such as Jesus entering Jerusalem on the donkey, sometimes have no people at all, though they may have a mob of voices heard but not seen.

Those who are sticklers to Biblical chronology and precision, probably would not like this movie, since it employs quite a bit of artistic license and some doubtful interpretations or statements. Also, the movie is weak as an evangelistic film, as it emphasizes the nice, inoffensive pitiable side of Jesus, his healing ministry, love for children, and so on, and largely (but not entirely) skips over sin, need of repentance, repeated confrontation with the Jewish religious leaders, and so on.

Except for brief words from John the Baptist, only Mary Magdalene, played by June Cash, southern accent and all, has a speaking part. The bright blond hair and blue eyes of Jesus are striking, but as the movie obviously doesn't attempt to give a realistic interpretation, those physical qualities only made Jesus stand out in an even more other worldly way apart from his dark-haired disciples, again heightening his separateness, uniqueness. The movie's pace is very laid back, with many scenes of the Sea of Galilee, naked Judean hills (again the aloneness motif), Jordan River, or Galilean hills. The country music adds a nice touch as does Cash's friendly voice.

Because of its uniquenes and artistic liberties, I'm hesitant to recommend it for everyone, but I liked it, if only for the poignant crucifixion scene.

The Gospel Road by Johnny Cash.......2006-11-11

I'm happy this old brilliant movie is available on DVD now. I don't know how many times I watched it yars ago with my youth groupes, and we had chilles every time because it's a gospel narration so touching and profound, and I haven't seen a Jesus character portrayed so close to human reality in another gospel movie. Thanks for this DVD edition.

American Movie Musicals Collection: West Side Story/Fiddler on the Roof/Guys and Dolls

Average customer rating:

Great Collection
Great buy
Buyer Beware!
AMERICAN MOVIE MUSICALS COLLECTION

American Movie Musicals Collection: West Side Story/Fiddler on the Roof/Guys and Dolls
Starring: Marlon Brando , Jean Simmons , Frank Sinatra , Vivian Blaine , and Robert Keith
Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz , Norman Jewison , and Jerome Robbins
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Cabaret
The Music Man (Special Edition)

ASIN: B000ARXF9G
Release Date: 2005-10-18

Description

WEST SIDE STORY: This "brilliant" (The New Republic) film sets the ageless story of Romeo and Juliet against a backdrop of gang warfare in 1950s New York. Directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins and scripted by Ernest Lehman, the film combines Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's unforgettable score ("Maria," "America," "Somewhere," "Tonight") with Robbins' own exuberant choreography to achieve an exhilarating "work of art" (Saturday Review). A love affair is fated for tragedy amidst the vicious rivalry of two street gangs - the Jets and the Sharks. When Jets member Tony (Richard Beymer) falls for Maria (Natalie Wood), the sister of the Sharks leader, it's more than these two warring gangs can handle. And as mounting tensions rise, a battle to the death ensues, and innocent blood is shed in a heartbreaking finale. FIDDLER ON THE ROOF: "An outstanding accomplishment in every category" (Boxoffice), this lavishly produced and critically acclaimed screen adaptation of the international stage sensation tells the life-affirming story of Tevye (Topol), a poor milkman whose love, pride and faith help him face the oppression of turn-of-the century czarist Russia. Nominated for eight Academy Awards®, including Best Picture and Best Director, and featuring such classic songs as "If I Were A Rich Man," "Matchmaker" and "Sunrise, Sunset," Fiddler on the Roof is a universal story of hope, love and acceptance - a "stunning, joyful and jubilant" (New York Daily News) musical masterpiece. GUYS AND DOLLS: Hollywood legends Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, Jean Simmons and Vivian Blain (from the original Broadway cast) are dazzling in this Frank Loesser (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying) masterpiece, unleashing a "spectacular, song-and-dance show that's loaded with entertainment" (New York Journal-American). Featuring hits like "Luck Be a Lady" and "A Woman in Love," this smash film version of one of Broadway's most popular musicals is guaranteed, rip-roaring "four-star entertainment" (New York Daily News). The slickest big-time New York City gamblers, Sky Masterson (Brando) and Nathan Detroit (Sinatra), can't resist making or taking a bet on anything. So when a pretty missionary (Simmons) sets up shop in the neighborhood, Nathan stakes a grand that Sky can't seduce her. But all bets are off when Sky falls madly in love in this romantic musical spectacular that sets the Big Apple afire with excitement!

Customer Reviews:

Great Collection.......2007-01-19

Love all three musicals! Great for those just beginning to build a collection of movie musicals.

Great buy.......2007-01-14

Three really great musical movies in one package, how can you go wrong? A permanent addition to my DVD collection.

Buyer Beware!.......2005-10-25

I returned this boxed set to Amazon for a refund because the 3 films inside are not as advertised on the Sony/Columbia website. All 3 films are supposed to be in anamorphic widescreen, but only 1 of them (FIDDLER ON THE ROOF) actually is. GUYS AND DOLLS is still the same old "letterbox" version, and they put the awful pan-and-scan fullscreen version of WEST SIDE STORY in this box. If you're a collector like me, you will not want to see WSS in pan-and-scan. This film won 10 Oscars--one of them for its innovative widescreen cinematography. This product is not as advertised, and Sony/Columbia should know that they can't pull a fast one like this. Please join me in boycotting this collection until they give us what they promised. Thanks.

AMERICAN MOVIE MUSICALS COLLECTION.......2005-10-22

I purchased this collection ONLY because GUYS AND DOLLS is advertised as ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN 2.35:1 which is NOT correct. The back of the box even gives this erroneous information. This is the same LETTERBOXED (non-Anamorphic) transfer in the original single disc MGM DVD release. This is FALSE advertisement.
WEST SIDE STORY is a 4:3 PAN and SCAN version. FIDDLER ON THE ROOF is correctly advertised as ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN 2,35:1. I know the price is superb for these three classic musicals, but I already own ALL of these in WIDESCREEN, and I really wanted GUYS AND DOLLS with a new ANAMORPHIC transfer. I am planning to return the set. SHAME ON YOU MGM and SONY PICTURES DVD for the attempt to fool the public with this release.

Average customer rating:

Pollo Del Mar
My True Favorite Film
L.A. Story: Whimsical, Funny, and Pithy
Great Movie
Still a hoot!!!!

L.A. Story
Starring: Steve Martin , Victoria Tennant , Richard E. Grant , Marilu Henner , and Sarah Jessica Parker
Director: Mick Jackson
Manufacturer: Live / Artisan
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005QCVV
Release Date: 2001-08-14

Amazon.com essential video

Steve Martin wrote this film as a meditation on both love and Los Angeles (and then-wife Victoria Tennant). He plays a L.A. TV weatherman who finds himself conflicted about what to do with his life, both professionally and personally. As he works his way through a couple of relationships (including a very funny one with a frisky Sarah Jessica Parker, who talks him into colonic therapy), he discovers a L.A. freeway sign that gives him romantic advice. It helps him realize what he knows intuitively: that the British woman he is attracted to (Tennant) is the one he should pursue. A big cast (and lots of cameos) have fun with this witty (if slight) material and director Mick Jackson adds visual pizzazz. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews:

Pollo Del Mar.......2007-03-22

I became entranced by this movie the first time I saw it. My wife and I both love this film on so many levels it's hard to describe. I also have a slight personal connection to this film and Steve Martin. In 1990, during the Gulf War I was stationed at a small airbase in Bahrain when Steve performed as part of the USO tour. He was ghastly ill but still managed to go see the "Tree of Life" in the desert. You'll recall he refers to that during the movie. As an aside it really is amazing, a tree growing in the middle of a desert and has been for several hundred years; but I digress.

It's a cliché, but I think I notice something new every time I watch this movie. I have no idea how long it was before I noticed that the name of the hotel they stayed in was "Pollo Del Mar" or "Chicken of the Sea"!

This is the ultimate love story that even guys will like. Please watch it. You'll thank me.

My True Favorite Film .......2007-02-15

Over the years I've had many discussions about film. I love masterpieces like Citizen Kane, Casablanca, Henry V, Richard III, Lawerance of Arabia, the Seven Samurai, Hiroshima Mon Amor, Bridge on the River Kwai, Gone with the Wind, Rope, Dances with Wolves, Braveheart, Pulp Fiction, Million Dollar Baby, Chaplin's Gold Rush, Horse Feathers, Lion in Winter, American Beauty, Schindler's List, Platoon, Unforgiven, El Mariachi, Godfather, Battleship Potemkin and Doctor Zhivago, but my true favorite film of all time is L.A. Story.

Every line, every scene, every shot and every concept is brilliant. It is not so much a great movie, as a collection of great scenes. But, on a level deeper than judgement, I simply love this movie.

The movie combines dry wit, absurdist situations, comic romance, urban fantasy and honest insights for a completely original film experience. It won no Academy Awards, nor is it likely to appear on any Film Institiute "All Time List," but even though I own four copies of this film (VHS, DVD, DVD 15th Anniversary Edition & iPod), if I come across it on cable I still have to watch. Watching this film has helped me get over setbacks and celebrate good times.

The best way I can explain the subtle brilliance of this movie is to paraphrase it. Let us assume that there is something I could say or do to make you watch this film. Now, let us assume that I have already done it.

L.A. Story: Whimsical, Funny, and Pithy.......2007-02-12

L.A. cares about you. Revelations from a road sign, a Stationary Bike Park, long, sustained booming sounds, earthquakes and heartaches and Valdi's balls. A magical love story, a mystical muse, and a commentary about the contempory madness that is sorta LA, this is a movie you don't want to miss. Steve Martin at his best (and he wrote it!).

Great Movie.......2007-01-05

Big fan of most of the actors in this film: Steve Martin, Victoria Tennant (see also movie All Of Me) Richard E. Grant, Marilu Henner, plus lots of good cameos and a very young Sara Jessica Parker as SanDeE*
Like how the movie seems to both take the plot seriously and still poke fun at itself. Great music, lots of Enya. Highly recommended.

Still a hoot!!!!.......2006-11-10

L.A.Story still packs a punch in its commentary on sex, romance, and a society focused on what you wear, who does your hair, and what could possibly be more important than how you take your coffee. Besides, the music is wonderful!

Average customer rating:

Pollo Del Mar
My True Favorite Film
L.A. Story: Whimsical, Funny, and Pithy
Great Movie
Still a hoot!!!!

L.A. Story (15th Anniversary Edition)
Starring: Steve Martin , Victoria Tennant , Richard E. Grant , Marilu Henner , and Sarah Jessica Parker
Director: Mick Jackson
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
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

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ASIN: B000F3UAEI
Release Date: 2006-06-13

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

Pollo Del Mar.......2007-03-22

My True Favorite Film .......2007-02-15

L.A. Story: Whimsical, Funny, and Pithy.......2007-02-12

Great Movie.......2007-01-05

Still a hoot!!!!.......2006-11-10

Average customer rating:

Good Movie, but what's with the DVD?
New Favorite Monkee
OK film, but commentaries make it worthwhile
Bunch of cheese but aims to please
Great look alikes, but ended bad.

Daydream Believers - The Monkees Story
Starring: George Stanchev , Aaron Lohr , Jeff Geddis , L.B. Fisher , and Colin Ferguson
Director: Neill Fearnley
Manufacturer: New Concorde
ProductGroup: DVD
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Monkeemania: The Story of the Monkees

ASIN: B00005RIY2
Release Date: 2002-01-22

Amazon.com

A made-for-TV movie originally broadcast on VH1, this film bio of the Monkees casts look-alikes as the first made-for-TV rock band (today's equivalent: O-Town). Told in broad strokes that hit the highlights, the film recounts how a TV producer (played by Colin Ferguson) decided to create a TV version of the Beatles by casting cute actors (musicianship was only a secondary requirement) as rock stars for a weekly comedy series. But surprise--producer Don Kirshner (Wallace Langham) was able to manufacture musical hits and the mock band became a rock band with musical ambitions of its own. The actors who play the Monkees look (but don't sound) like their characters, as do actors who were hired to play the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix, among others. Still, with the exception of a little pot-smoking, there's nothing particularly juicy in a tell-all that doesn't tell nearly as much as you'd like. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews:

Good Movie, but what's with the DVD?.......2007-05-27

I saw this movie on VH-1, and I was pleasantly surprised. To be perfectly frank, I thought the movie was going to feature Davy, Davy, Davy, and more Davy (sorry folks, I'm not really a big fan of Davy). I was surprised to learn that Mike had a pretty big part in this. I'm also surprised they included a character of Mike's first wife, Phyllis.

I was very disappointed when I bought the DVD. I had taped it off VH-1 the night it premiered, and then I bought the DVD for a better quality copy. For some reason that I can not begin to figure out, some of the scenes were edited. I had read the rating for this. It was rated PG-13 for drug references, but most of them were cut out. Why they did that, I have no idea.

New Favorite Monkee.......2007-05-03

well, that's what happened when I watched the movie and listened to the commentaries.

Anwyay, it was a great movie, well done, and very interesting. An excellent Bio-drama. I've always been a monkee fan since I was little (during the "revival" in the 80's). I thought I was going to stop breathing when I heard they were putting this out in the summer of 00. LOL. .

Here's my take on the actors potrayal of the mOnkees

Jeff Geddis as Mike Nesmith: Acting: Great. Had the personality, did a good job. People are probably right though when they say he should have had a heavier texas accent. Looks- #1 dead ringer. The only difference was his frame. Nesmith seems to me to be much finer-boned and "scrawnier" than Geddis. But of the four boys, he looked most like his Monkee. Overall a great job in all aspects of potraying Nez.

L.B. Fisher as Peter Tork: I was pleased. Great acting, great potrayal of the REAL Tork (not the one we saw on the show, which was really nothing like his real personality). Looks: Definitely #2 closest look-alike in the show. Great performance. Too bad they couldn't have somehow given him killer dimples. Sigh.. oh well... guess makeup can only do SO much, right?

Aron Lohr as Mickey Dolenz: My favorite potrayal in the movie. Yes, he doesn't look that much like Dolenz, but how easy would it be to find a ringer for Mickey? I mean, come on, Dolenz had one of the most unique faces I've ever seen! You can't really expect them to be able to find a dead ringer. Alot of people complained about the inaccuracy of the hair (season 1 vs Season 2) They say DOlenz should have not been potrayed the whole time in wild curls. I for one am not gong to blame the producers of DDB. I mean, when i was little I thought of Mickey as the "not so good looking" monkee. I now know I was mostly thinking of season 1. His earlier hair style was NOT flattering at ALL. I for one am not going to blame them for not reproducing it. Dolenz's natural wild curls (potrayed in the movie very realistically) were MUCh more suited to that unique face. Anyway, have to say he's #3 in he look-alike ranking. But his acting and potrayal of the Zany monkee is so perfect that you forget his looks and really believe your watching Mickey. Just listen to Dolenz's commentary and you'll see that Lohr got the personality spot on. Sorry Peter, if Mickey had've looked like Lohr, he would have DEFINITELY been my favorite Monkee heartthrob. LOL

Stanchev as Davy Jones. sigh.. That choice is the one thing I wish I could change about this movie. Surely there is SOME cutie short 17 year old (the age Jones actually LOOKED when he was a Monkee) in England that can act as well as Stanchev, and look a whole lot more like Jones. Stanchev did nothing for me. He looked over 30, and as I said, Jones as a monkee could've passed for 17. He wasn't cute at all. You'd think Davy's breathtaking looks (the thing he was so famous for) would be a HIGH priority in casting, but they let us down here. I give him Kudos for replicating Davy's dancing, and that's about it. I guess I got ENOUGH of an impression of shortness from him. too.

So, I reccomend this movie to any Monkee lover or biopic fan. IT's really well scripted, and except for the casting of Jones, it's a great movie anyway. The commentaries are Great. I was always in love with Peter, (to this day I have a thing for killer dimples and a boyish innocent grin) but after listening to all the commentaries and getting an idea of their real personalities, I think I would have enjoyed being around Dolenz alot more. I LOVED his wacky comments, and the way he kept saying "What a great looking kid! Wow, where did they find this kid" in reference to Lohr. LOL one of the other real monkees even said "Mickey must be happy with his casting." Yes, Lohr was kinda hot as the high-energy monkee. Yes, cuter than the Real M.D. But if Dolenz had always had his hair natural, he'd have been alot cuter too, so I'll give him some credit.

OK film, but commentaries make it worthwhile.......2007-04-30

I agonized over what rating to give DAYDREAM BELIEVERS, because while it's fun to watch, it has some serious shortcomings too. To start with some of the positives, it's an enjoyable and decently produced film, and the actors playing the Monkees certainly look and act their parts well. I like too that the decision was made to use the original audio recordings of the group when the actors re-created their musical performances.
However, if you listen to the commentaries on the DVD by the director and three of the Monkees - Peter Tork, Micky Dolenz, and Davy Jones - you discover that there are a lot of inaccuracies in the film. Some are minor, such as showing all four Monkees together almost all the time, when in reality some were absent in certain situations. But some errors are unforgivable, such as taking a moment of major conflict between Jones and Tork, which actually happened, and creating a totally fictional background for it! However, the consensus seems to be that despite the inaccuracies, the overall gist of the Monkees' story shown here is true. Also, at 91 minutes long, there's a rather rushed feeling to DAYDREAM BELIEVERS, so it mostly just hits the highlights.

The interviews of Jones, Dolenz, and Tork on the DVD are interesting too, and give updates on what the three of them have been up to since the Sixties. The film itself is weak on this, and should at least have dealt with the breakup of the group in 1970, rather than tacking on a fictional "happy ending" and stopping there. In sum, thanks to the commentaries and interviews I recommend this DVD, but without them I would hesitate to. So does it really deserve 4 stars? OK, so it's not a CASABLANCA or a 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, but still it's a fun nostaligia trip if you care at all about the Monkees.

Bunch of cheese but aims to please.......2007-03-17

This movie is full of cheese, but cheese that you can enjoy. It even has cheesy characters in it including the bad impersonations of The Beatles and Jack Nickolson. The die hard Monkees fans would be able to spot all the inacuracies, a lot of them being in the scene where they do the video for Daydream Believer. But the biggest inacuracy in the movie is, who in the world is that Van guy? The guys who portray The Monkees do a great job at re-inacting parts from the show. However their personal portrayal of the guys goes as following: horrible Davy, ok Peter, great Micky, and a spot on Mike. Any one would agree that the cheesiest part of the movie is the cheese-filled happy happy happy 60s beach party movie type ending. If you know The Monkees history at all you'd know that the Monkees story didn't end nearly that happy, or happy at all for that matter. The over all movie was pretty good since it did do a good job at telling the true behind the scenes story of The Monkees. All in all if you're a Monkees fan at all and you enjoy cheese then this is a good movie to watch.

Great look alikes, but ended bad........2006-07-23

I began watching the Monkees back in the mid 80's when MTV re-aired their 2 wonderfull seasons. I was hooked. I bought all their albums, books, posters you name it. Anyhow the story played well to what I learned over the years. The actors were perfect. I wish Mike though had been a little more accepting of the situation and just went about there short career as a great way to make a living. But it seemed that his anger passed on over the rest and 2 seasons of The Monkees was all we got. I understand the music issues of wanting to play and to get Kirshner out of there but I really think they could have finished out the decade. The movie shows the Monkees right up to the Movie "Head". What I didn't like was them on the beach laughing like "oh well what a ride but it's over" because it wasn't that way. They did their 33 and 1/3 Revolutions TV show and then Peter split. The movie really doesn't finish up anything. I was expecting to see words on the screen explaing what happens after "Head" and they didn't. Anyone watching this bio would think everything was just peachy after the show ended. I didn't get it at the end there. I did like all the actors like Nicholson and Hendrix. The Beatles were pretty accurate too.

I was always a big Mike fan but that movie really made him look like a jerk. His songs are still my favorites. Too bad "Head" wasn't advertised as a Monkees movie or it may have done better. That's pretty much what killed them. As for this movie it's a great bio of the band and well acted but the end really dissapoints.

Rebel Beat: The Story of L.A. Rockabilly

Average customer rating:

Rebel Beat: The Story of L.A. Rockabilly
Starring: Various Artists
Manufacturer: Betty Vision
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Rockabilly | Oldies & Retro | Rock | Styles | Music

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

( R ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000LV64OY
Release Date: 2007-02-06

American Masters - F. Scott Fitzgerald: Winter Dreams

Average customer rating:

The Romantic Egoist.
A lofty appreciation

American Masters - F. Scott Fitzgerald: Winter Dreams
Starring: Amy Irving , Laura Linney , Bill Sadler , and Campbell Scott
Director: DeWitt L. Sage
Manufacturer: Winstar
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Biography | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

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The Great Gatsby

ASIN: B00005U2FK
Release Date: 2002-02-19

Amazon.com

This American Masters documentary takes a solemn look at F. Scott Fitzgerald's life and literary legacy. While acknowledging his demons (alcoholism, his wife Zelda's mental illness), it only glancingly refers to his and Zelda's infamous antics and notorious partying. Instead, this 85-minute biography looks at the influence of his St. Paul, Minnesota, childhood, where he was the poorest in a well-to-do neighborhood, and the driving ambition that sent him to Princeton, where he never felt he measured up to his wealthier classmates. This obsession with class and money drove his writing and his marriage to Zelda, a socially prominent Southern belle. Weighing in are such literary luminaries as biographer A. Scott Berg and novelists E.L. Doctorow and Ward Just, as well as the usual host of scholars. These experts are balanced nicely with the reminiscences of those who knew the Fitzgeralds more intimately, including former neighbors and Zelda's childhood friends. --Kimberly Heinrichs

Description

American Masters presents an unparalleled portrait of the literary icon, providing an in-depth look at the writer's life and work. 90 minutes.

Customer Reviews:

The Romantic Egoist........2005-01-29

I just viewed this documentary last night and loved it. I must admit that I have not read Fitzgerald's books for many years but treasured the memories which were recirculated by this film. I read Hemingway's "A Moveable Feast" not too long ago and it renewed some of my fascination with this literary master. His writing style is the envy of many and the best thing that can be said about "Winter Dreams" is that it showcases the way in which his life became the material of his stories. It is a pity that he died before realizing the success he would have after 1950, but then, perhaps he would not have had it any other way as the triumphs of his life made him lonelier than his failures.

A lofty appreciation.......2004-01-17

I expected this DVD to have some choice observations about Saint Paul, Minnesota, where the father of some beautiful rich girl (her name and picture are in this DVD, but it was so long ago) told the young F. Scott Fitzgerald that wealthy people like the Summit Avenue crowd did not expect their daughters to marry anyone who was as poor as F. Scott Fitzgerald. This is funny now, in the `if that really happened, how famous would that be?' kind of way, particularly if it happened to someone who is now as famous as F. Scott Fitzgerald, a great writer who was also smart enough to call Hemingway the real thing. Whatever F. Scott Fitzgerald was doing when he went to Princeton, he was not kept there long. Some great schools might have had much greater dropout rates than we are used to now, as a big law school at that time could be expected to flunk out a third of the entering students.

Zelda was from Montgomery, Alabama, where F. Scott Fitzgerald was a young army officer preparing for World War One. People who knew Zelda still remember those days, things they did, a song they sang, that Zelda's father was a judge and called her a hussy when she came home at 2 a.m. while she was still in high school. Waltzing through life was her main interest, but she was wild enough that she would be considered crazy after she became a mother. This DVD has a lot of music and dancing to try to capture the character of those times. Two of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novels have been turned into movies, and scenes from "The Great Gatsby" and "The Last Tycoon" are used to illustrate aspects of his life as well as the content of his writing.

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Nobel laureate Isaac Bashevis Singer wrote often about despair and redemption, the subjects of his novel on which this Paul Mazursky film is based. Ron Silver plays a Holocaust survivor who has moved to Amer