Hooper

Starring:Burt Reynolds, Jan-Michael Vincent, Sally Field, Brian Keith, John Marley, Robert Klein, James Best, Adam West, Alfie Wise, Terry Bradshaw, Norman Grabowski, George Furth, Jim Burk, Don 'Red' Barry, Princess O'Mahoney, Robert Tessier, Richard Tyler, Tara Buckman, Hal Floyd, Ray Bickel
Director: Hal Needham
Studio: Warner Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Helen Mirren's Elizabeth I could almost be cousin to her Jane Tennison. Like the dedicated detective chief inspector, Queen Bess is not without a heart, but work comes first and any romantic entanglements are doomed to fail. Fortunately, she has her friendships. Directed by Tom Hooper (Prime Suspect 6), this two-part HBO/Channel 4 tele-film begins in 1579. The Virgin Queen has been on the throne for 20 years, but has not married. Her closest relationship is with Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester (Jeremy Irons), whom the council will not allow her to wed. Because Robert wishes to produce an heir, he marries another, garnering Elizabeth's disfavor (and nor is he all that thrilled about her dalliance with Henry, the Duke of Anjou). In time, he'll return to her good graces. As she explains, "Friendship outlasts love and is stronger than love." Then, as his health begins to fails, she'll turn to his stepson, the dashing, if duplicitous Robert Devereaux, the Earl of Essex (Hugh Dancy, the Hooper-directed Daniel Deronda). Meanwhile, Mary, Queen of Scots (Barbara Flynn) plots against her Protestant cousin. Even after Mary makes her exit, plenty of other powerful Catholics will stop at nothing to seize the crown. Marked as much by triumph as tragedy, the role of Elizabeth I has been catnip for many illustrious actresses, notably Bette Davis, Glenda Jackson, and Cate Blanchett. Mirren's multi-faceted portrayal of the queen's golden years is a worthy addition to that canon and Irons is a particularly formidable foil. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Description

Helen Mirren and Jeremy Irons star in Elizabeth I, a two-part HBO Films miniseries event that explores the intersection of the private and public life of Elizabeth I (Mirren) in the latter half of her reign, offering a personal look at her allies, her enemies and her suitors as she struggles to survive in a male-dominated world. Part 1 explores Elizabeth's tempestuous relationship with the Earl of Leicester (Irons) as it survives a French suitor, war, treason, and illness. Part 2 follows Elizabeth through her later years, during which she had an equally passionate affair with the young, ambitious Earl of Essex (Hugh Dancy), who had been raised, ironically, by his stepfather Leicester. In the end, Elizabeth I sheds light on one of the most popular members of the monarchy who held absolute power over everything... except her heart.

Customer Reviews:

A great actress.......2007-07-04

Helen Mirren does a wonderful job of acting in this movie (as well as others). Movie was very interesting - focusing on this time in Elizabeth's life.

The best depiction of Elizabeth I yet.......2007-06-21

I've seen nearly every movie or mini series about Elizabeth I, including some of the classic oldies with Flora Robson and Betty Davis. This HBO production was outstanding. Helen Mirren and Jeremy Irons are riveting to watch. Much better than the recent PBS/BBC series and light years ahead of the movie with Cate Blanchard. And this production sticks closer to the historic records. Any deviation was actually believable. The fascinating life of this woman needs little embellishment. History has already done that. This production gives more insight into the woman herself as a woman coping in a male dominated world at its highest levels. Bravo. I've already recommended it to many others.

God save the Queen.......2007-05-30

This movie is so well done and probaly one of the most historically acurate that I have seen. I watched this after being captivated by Showtime's The Tudors. It was a great caveat to that show. There is not a lot of mention of Mary , Henry VIII's first child but Elizabeth shines. Helen Miren does an outstanding job as queen. I am not sure how accurate the temper tamptrums but after all she was still a woman, a woman that was queen!

Elizabeth I ........2007-05-29

Although I usually don't care too much for history, I really liked Elizabeth I. This movie brought history to life .
The acting was outstanding ! Hellen Mirren was even better in Elizabeth I than in The Queen .
I highly recommend Elizabeth I.

Helen Mirren Offers a Totally Compelling Portrait of Elizabeth I.......2007-05-22

This film is absolutely superb! Helen Mirren's portrayal of the great Renaissance queen is simply mesmerizing. She shows the multifaceted qualities of this fascinating historical figure. She offers a finely-nuanced performance, providing all the subtleties of characterization that make Elizabeth live and breathe in this film. I have seen all of Mirren's magical character work, but her powers here are simply beyond compare. This performance will go down in history as one of the best (if not, THE BEST) of our time. I recommend this wholeheartedly to everyone the world over. Mirren is surely the 21st century's finest actress.

Average customer rating:

fun and inspirational
Super sexy shoes
"I said in these shoes, you must be joking,"
More Conventional Than Kinky, A Tried And True "Feel Good" Formula Works Again--But This Time It's Dressed In High Heels
Fun, heart warming and great soundtrack

Kinky Boots
Starring: Joel Edgerton , Chiwetel Ejiofor , Sarah-Jane Potts , Nick Frost , and Linda Bassett
Director: Julian Jarrold
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

Kinky Boots
Thank You for Smoking (Widescreen Edition)
Babel
The Illusionist (Widescreen Edition)
The Queen

ASIN: B000GFLE1S
Release Date: 2006-09-05

Amazon.com

When you are a tall strapping man who dresses like a woman for a living, finding a pair of sexy but durable shoes can be worth your weight in gold. Lola (Chiwetel Ejiofor)--a drag queen also known as Simon--finds her shoe salvation in straight-laced Charlie Price (Joel Edgerton), who has inherited his father's shoe factory. Unable to pay the bills making traditional loafers and wingtips, Charlie agrees to make Lola a pair of kinky boots that turn out to be so fabulous the pair end up going into business together. They face a few obstacles, such as the bawdy union workers who aren't too keen on taking orders from a drag queen who's more of a man than they are. Then there's Charlie's posh real estate girlfriend, who wants to convert the factory into pricey condos. While the movie doesn't provide any real surprises (or even any scenes as suggestive as its title might suggest), the English film (which is loosely based on a true story) is highly entertaining that will delight fans of both comedy and shoes. --Jae-Ha Kim

Description

Inspired by a hilarious true story, this refreshing, feel-good comedy comes from the hit-making team that brought you CALENDAR GIRLS! For generations, the Price family has made very sensible, very conservative shoes for men. But to save the business from imminent bankruptcy, young Charlie Price turns to an unlikely new creative consultant: a sassy cross-dressing cabaret singer whose outrageous style and wild designs are a breath of fresh air in the stuffy old factory! Fun and original, it's a must-have movie that proves the best way to fit in is to stand out!

Customer Reviews:

fun and inspirational.......2007-06-08

Great fun, music, dancing and a serious undertone, about acceptance and tolerance. Chiwetel Ejiofor has great range and depth, a real delight on screen. Loved it!

Super sexy shoes.......2007-05-14

This is a fun, original movie based (partly) on a true story. The entire ensemble of actors is superb. A stellar performance by Chiwetel Ejiofor leads the way. His performance here is so good it inspired me to search for other Chiwetel Ejiofor films (Red Dust and Dirty Pretty Things are two). When you purchase the DVD be sure to get the soundtrack on CD too. This is a feel GOOD movie. Enjoy!

"I said in these shoes, you must be joking,".......2007-05-13

How come British films seem to do more with less? Chiwetel Ejiofor (Britians Samuel Jackson of sorts) is absolutely spot on in this upbeat, fun movie about trials and triumph. Of all his performances this one is my favorite. Ejiofor paints a realistic and empathetic picture of Drag Queens that will make you laugh and cry. Get out the popcorn, sit back and enjoy because this one is a pleasure over and over again!

More Conventional Than Kinky, A Tried And True "Feel Good" Formula Works Again--But This Time It's Dressed In High Heels.......2007-03-26

The British seem to have the market cornered on a particular type of "feel good" film. In these films, a down-on-his-luck protagonist or group must face the inevitability of their current lifestyle predicament and do something completely unorthodox in order to survive. There is a certain wackiness, however, with what they choose. It's by embracing this unknown and unpredictable new world that our heroes will find redemption, success, and learn to live again. From stripping steelworkers, to gardening prisoners, to calendar posing matrons, to marijuana growing widows, to a coal mining brass band--these films share a formula that rarely varies, but usually succeeds on charm if not originality. The other thing these films have in common is that they are "inspired" by true stories. (And let's make the distinction, they aren't "based" on real life. The films are not factual, they take an idea from the real world and transform it into a very fictional format!) "Kinky Boots" is one of the latest incarnations to join this particular sub-genre of British comedy.

Inspired by a real event, "Kinky Boots" tells the story of Charlie Price. Having grown up in the luxury men's shoe business, he is drawn back into the factory when his father passes away. Never particularly passionate about working for the family company, he is now in charge of everything. But everything isn't much! He discovers that the business is failing, the accounts have dried up, and that his father has kept the crew going fulfilling orders that don't exist. After all but giving up, he is inspired by a lovely young worker (of course!) that apathy isn't an answer--he must find a new niche market. A random encounter with a drag queen, thus, sets a new course in motion. Outrageous Lola, the cabaret performer in question, storms the factory--and all must deal with prejudice, change, and teamwork. Can they pull together and assemble a new line of sexy female shoes for men? You'll just have to check it out to see.

Playing Lola, Chiwetel Ejiofor has received many accolades for his "against-type" performance. Again proving a dynamic versatility, Ejiofor is fast becoming one of our more interesting and unexpected actors. He invests Lola with a strength of character, a dignity, and a sassiness you would expect--but more fascinating is the layer of doubt underneath. No less important, and less often talked about, is Joel Edgerton as Charlie. As the film's lead, we are really following his journey here--and Edgerton is a compelling and likable protagonist. If we aren't rooting for Charlie (despite Ejiofor's more colorful character) then "Kinky Boots" would fail. But, luckily, I did root for him.

Of course, there was never much doubt in my mind what would transpire. "Kinky Boots" moves forward with such predictability, you've seen it all before. However, even lacking a certain originality, there is an undeniable charm that the performers bring to the piece which make it worth a look. In fact, I'm confident that this tale will win over all but the most cynical of viewers--such is the nature of "feel good" cinema. About 3 1/2 stars, I'm rounding up because I liked the film despite myself. KGHarris, 03/07.

Fun, heart warming and great soundtrack.......2007-03-04

It's a lot of fun, with a slightly predictable plot, but a feel-good movie often does. The character of Lola is fun, and the soundtrack is really a plus. It is completely safe for kids, and teaches a good message of don't judge a book by it's cover, although younger than 10 just might not get it (although maybe 10 year olds now do know what a drag queen is). The characters are all believable, and flawed, but all mean well.

Average customer rating:

Still The Best
Noisy Ghost
Deception Is the True Horror
It knows what scares you...
Great horror film... Creepy book...

Poltergeist
Starring: Craig T. Nelson , JoBeth Williams , Beatrice Straight , Dominique Dunne , and Oliver Robins
Director: Tobe Hooper
Manufacturer: Turner Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

Poltergeist II/Poltergeist III
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Jaws (30th Anniversary Edition)
Stephen King's It
The Haunting

ASIN: 0792833201
Release Date: 2000-01-28

Amazon.com

What a combo! Tobe Hooper, the director of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, teamed up with family-oriented producer Steven Spielberg to make Poltergeist. The film is about a haunted suburban tract home in a development very much like the Arizona one in which Spielberg was raised. (Because it came out the same summer as Spielberg's E.T., it was tempting to see both movies as representing Spielberg's ambivalent feelings about childhood in suburbia. One was a fantasy, the other a nightmare.) Spielberg also cowrote the screenplay, which taps into primal, childlike fears of monsters under the bed, monsters in the closet, sinister clown faces, and all manner of things that go bump in the night. At first, some of the odd happenings in the house are kind of funny and amusing, but they grow gradually creepier until the film climaxes in a terrifying special-effects extravaganza when 5-year-old Carole Anne (Heather O'Rourke) is kidnapped by the spooks and held hostage in another dimension. Though not nearly as frightening as Hooper's magnum opus, or the original A Nightmare on Elm Street, which came along two years later, Poltergeist is one of the smartest and most entertaining horror pictures of its time. --Jim Emerson

Description

This awesome supernatural thriller stars Craig T. Nelson and JoBeth Williams as a California couple swept up in a wave of horror after sinister spirits invade their home and kidnap their child. Year: 1982 Director: Tobe Hooper Starring: Craig T. Nelson, Jo Beth Williams, Beatrice Straight

Customer Reviews:

Still The Best.......2007-06-23

When this film came out in '82, my mom saw it and said I couldn't see it. I was 8 and my mom had always let me watch PG films, but not this one. I now wanted to see this so bad. Anyway, I went to my dad's that weekend and he asked if I wanted to see it. I said yes, of course, but he said I had to call my mom and ask if it was o.k. with her. I never called her, of course, and told him she said yes. Off we went to what would become the only movie that almost made me pass out.
I was so hyped about this movie and excited, once it began I was sucked in, mesmerized and horrified. Once it got to the scene where the scientist tears his face off, I began to hyperventilate like I was on a roller coaster ride, I was so into the movie. My dad elbowed me and I snapped out of it and came back to reality. I looked around me and everyone was laughing at me. It was GREAT!
The film is exceptionally well acted and directed(whomever directed it-Spielberg or Hooper-is still to this day in question). Excellent special effects for '82 and they still hold up. A great musical score by the late great Jerry Goldsmith, just top notch all the way. The sequels didn't fare as well, they got worse and worse, however, the original is still to this day, the best haunted house/ghost story EVER. Check this film out and have a blast.

Noisy Ghost.......2007-05-19

If your family wants to watch a good scary movie, then Poltergeist is my best recommendation. Poltergeist dose include violence, sex, blood and guts, or drugs. The story in poltergeist goes like this. An ordinary family moves into an extraordinary house with a big problem. Every night at 12:00A.M. The family's daughter, (Carroll Ann), gets up and talks to something inside the T.V. .Now the T.V. is like a portal for the ghost to get in. Every night at 12:00, the daughter gets up, talks to the ghost, and goes back to bed ...then one night. The ghost gets out and captures Carroll Ann, and terrorizes the family. Now it's up to a team of ghost hunters and the family to put the geist to rest while trying to get their daughter back. Can they cast the spirit out or will they be scared out.

I thought this movie was really good because it reminds me of an experience I had once. You see me, my dad, and my step mom were living in this apartment once and I saw a ghost. It was hard to make out what it looked like because it was oozing with ectoplasm. The only thing I could make of it was that it was a boy. He looked like he was from the 18hundreds. The scary thing about this though was that I was somehow able to communicate with it. I said hi to it. It didn't respond it just waved, I asked where he came from and he said he lived in Europe. We talked and talked and talked until he told me to kill myself so me and him kid play and be friends for ever. I told him no and I started crying. Another good thing about this movie was that it was a classic scary movie , and again it was scary with no blood or guts. If your kid wants to watch a scary movie but the ones he or she wants to watch are all rated R or he or she chickened out watching the grudge then poltergeist is the movie for them. I mean the movie isn't that scary but it has it's moments, and it's very entertaining. I'd recommend this movie to children at least six years old. I would not recommend this movie to people who are blood thirsty. Anyways it's up to you to find out if what I say is true. Make it a good movie or not the choice is yours.

Deception Is the True Horror.......2007-04-21

What makes this work of Mr. Spielberg's so great is not so much the ghosts and monsters, but the powerful theme that corruption and deception transcend life and death. We meet the Freelings. While Steve and Dianne have their faults (like smoking pot), they are reasonably good parents. Steve shows himself to be a good real estate agent. (He is effective without being obnoxious or pushy, and he is responsible for most of the sales in the area.) One great thing about this movie is that we have a fair amount of time to meet the family and get to know them before the horror begins. Soon afterwards, we start to see objects in the house moving. (Granted, it is strange that under the circumstances no one seems to have mentioned it before, but a movie only has so long to put together a plot.) While nothing really drastic has happened, we get the impression that these moving objects are just the start of something. Later, Caroline (the youngest of Steve and Dianne's 3 children) disappears. But they can still hear her voice. The skeptical (but desperate) Steve and Dianne go to supernatural experts for help. (Drastic situations will make non believers a bit more open minded!) Well, we see more and more ghosts. (Some of a monstrous nature.) And along with Steve, Dianne, Dana, and Robert, we may be asking: 'Why?' The psychic who comes in may be of some help, but her facts are far from straight. At one point she falsely claims that the house is 'clean.' Respecting those who have not seen the movie, I will not give away the ending. But I can safely say that Mr. Spielberg shows us that these horrors are the result of some real down to earth corruption and deception. (Poor Steve UNKNOWINGLY played a part in it.) It would seem that the genius Mr. Spielberg gives us monsters for show, but then reminds us that our own sins of dishonesty, ambition, and moral games are the true horrors in this world. Thank you Mr. Spielberg for raising this point so well. As the great Shakespeare said in his "Hamlet:" 'Foul deeds will rise, / though all the earth overwhelm them to men's eyes.' ("Hamlet" 1.2.281-282).

It knows what scares you..........2007-01-24

Poltergeist (1982) was the first film I saw in theaters that truly scared the bejesus out of me. I remember the event distinctly, as I tagged along with my friend Martin (we were both twelve at the time), who was a real horror aficionado (he was the only kid I knew who had his own subscriptions to Fangoria and Famous Monsters of Filmland), really having no idea what I was getting myself into...co-written and produced by Steven Spielberg (Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark), and directed by Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Lifeforce), the film stars JoBeth Williams (The Big Chill), Craig T. Nelson (Stir Crazy), and Heather O'Rourke (Poltergeist II: The Other Side). Also appearing is Beatrice Straight (Network), Dominique Dunne (The Shadow Riders), Oliver Robins (Airplane II: The Sequel), James Karen (The Return of the Living Dead), and Zelda Rubinstein (Under the Rainbow).

On the surface the Freeling clan would seem your normal, middle class, American family unit living among the suburban splendor of Cuesta Verde Estates. There's the father Steve (Nelson), mother Diane (Williams), and their three children Dana (Dunne), Robbie (Robins), and youngest daughter Carol Anne (O'Rourke). Life proceeds normally, that is until Carol Anne begins talking to the static that appears on the television once the broadcast day is completed. This is soon followed by strange phenomena (inanimate objects moving of their own accord and so on), all of which seems to be localized within the Freeling's home. It's all harmless enough, that is until the old, gnarled tree outside Robbie and Carol Anne's bedroom window tries to eat a family member, followed by an unseen entity absconding off with Carol Anne into another dimension of reality (while no longer present in a corporeal sense, her parents can still communicate with Carol Anne through the television). Unable to comprehend the situation fully Diane and Steven call in a parapsychologist named Dr. Lesh (Straight) in an effort to get their daughter back, who then, in turn, after witnessing the extreme paranormal activity firsthand, brings in a diminutive, clairvoyant troll named Tangina (Rubinstein), who's something of a cross between E.T. the extraterrestrial and Yoda, only a lot less adorable. Once on the scene Tangina reveals Carol Anne has been taken by an extremely powerful and malevolent spiritual entity, one that covets Carol Anne life force dearly, so much so it has somehow managed to transverse its own plane of existence into ours in an effort to shanghai the cherub faced little girl. A plan to recover Carol Anne is formulated, and is successful, but soon the real nightmare begins as the aforementioned malignant spirit pulls out all the stops to reclaim that which it lost...

As I mentioned earlier, this was the very first film I saw in the theaters that really put a good fright into me (the first film I saw that truly scared the hell out of me was Halloween, although I saw that on video tape). In watching the film last night I thought it odd that the film was released with a `PG' rating (back then there was no PG-13 rating), but apparently it was going to be rated `R' until the filmmakers appealed and got it changed. I do remember there being some public concern at the time that this film was unsuitable for the likes of me and my peers given the frightening nature of the material, said concerns eventually redoubling after the films Gremlins (1984) and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) were released, both of which were ultimately responsible for the creation of the `PG-13' rating we've all come to know and love. Regardless, I'm just glad I was in the right place at the right time to see this film in the theater as I did, as it was one of the more memorable experiences I've had during my misspent youth. Watching the film again last night I find I'm able to appreciate it much more than I did when I was younger, specifically in terms of just how well the film was put together. The character development alone is really amazing. The first sequences feature the Freeling household at night, as the family dog wanders the house looking for things to eat. In following the dog, we see all the family members, while they slumber, the last being Carol Anne. Whether we realize it or not, we've just gotten a large hunk of exposition through a relatively simple and efficient visual manner, which is definitely a Spielberg trademark. Spielberg co-wrote and produced the film, but it's also believed by many he was directly responsible for much of the visual appearance, with Hooper basically overseeing the mechanics of shooting that which he was instructed to shoot, by Spielberg. It's also believed Spielberg, who was making the family friendly E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) around the same time, refused to take more credit than he did specifically because he didn't want people to associate such a terrifying feature with his touching, fantasy/adventure drama. This seems entirely plausible, as I do believe Spielberg is something of a control freak, and if he didn't like the way things were progressing under the helm of Hooper, he most certainly would have intervened. I suppose it doesn't matter all that much as the end result was a truly frightening and memorable film, one that will linger in the recesses of your mind long after viewing it...the special effects, provided by Industrial Light & Magic, were spectacular, and still hold up well some twenty five years later, although I will admit the face removal scene looks a bit goofy now. As far as the performances, I thought they were all wonderful, especially in terms of JoBeth Williams, who provides an incredibly strong female lead. I've read some complaints the performances weren't realistic, but really, who knows how one would react in such a situation? To me, it was all the characters could do to hold themselves together during their ordeal. They knew their daughter was still alive and relatively safe (for the time being), and their focus was on trying to get her back. Everything else here worked for me...Jerry Goldsmith's vibrant and appropriate musical scoring, the level of development of the various characters (both primary and secondary), the pacing, the scares, the revelations, the ominous sense of something malignant, the spectacular finale, it all adds up to a remarkably entertaining feature, one definitely worth owning.

The picture on this DVD release, presented in both widescreen anamorphic (2.35:1) and fullscreen (1.33:1), looks sharp and clean, with minor signs of age present (I did see some dust specks in a couple of scenes, but nothing overly obvious). The audio, available in Dolby Surround 5.1 in English, and Dolby Surround stereo in both French and Spanish, comes across strong. Regrettably, there really isn't much in terms of extras other than subtitles in English, French, and Spanish, along with the original theatrical trailer.

Cookieman108

By the way, this film was followed up by a couple of sequels, Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986) and Poltergeist III (1988), both of which were fun, but unnecessary, at least in my opinion. Also, Warner Brothers has hinted at a special edition, 2 DVD set, anniversary release in the works, so if you haven't purchased this film on DVD yet, you might want to hold off.

Great horror film... Creepy book..........2007-01-24

Books are usually better than movies. The same can be said for this one, but not by much. The book added some much needed depth that the film should have used. Another level of creepiness, this time seen from the other realm and it's ghosts.

The film did a great job of keeping it's viewers creeped out with all the horror, ghosts and kidnapping of a Carol Anne. Good special effects, even for an early 1980's film. The crawling meat, the guy ripping the skin off his face, and the climactic ending were very well done. Poltergeist is one of my all time favorite horror films.

I enjoyed the acting immensley. Heather O'Rourke was such an extremely cute child. I can still see her cute image in the Rams football helmet as she slides across the kitchen floor, as she is asking for pepperoni pizza. Fun stuff. JoBeth Williams and Craig T. Nelson played the distraught, frightened parents. Their chemistry together was very believeable.

Tangina plays a huge part in the book, unlike the film where she appears only at the very end, and is only there because she was asked by the ghost hunters. The book has Tangina constantly dream about the "other side" and it's ghostly occupants. She eventually sees 5 year old Carol Anne lost in this other realm, and the dreams takes on another level of realism for her. She know understands that the little girl must be rescued. To make matters worse, she knows that she must confront the guardian of the realm; the beast. A creature who wanders the Freeling family home regularly without being seen. Very cool creepy visual.

I was freaked out on many occasions reading "Poltergeist". The part with the beast and describing it's thoughts and how it is filled with a venomness hates really got to me. The battle between the beast and the psychic Tangina in the other realm is epic. There is even a part in the book where the beast buries his horns in Tangina's eyes. Wow! It would have been great if the film, even slightly, delved into the other relam.

Bottom line, both book and film are great. Both are highly recommended.

The George Eliot Collection (Middlemarch / Daniel Deronda / Silas Marner / Adam Bede / The Mill on the Floss)

Average customer rating:

The George Eliot Collection

The George Eliot Collection (Middlemarch / Daniel Deronda / Silas Marner / Adam Bede / The Mill on the Floss)
Starring: Iain Glen , Patsy Kensit , Susannah Harker , James Wilby , and Julia McKenzie
Director: Giles Foster , and Tom Hooper (II)
Manufacturer: BBC Warner
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

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

The Charles Dickens Collection, Vol. 2 (David Copperfield / The Pickwick Papers / The Old Curiosity Shop / Dombey and Son)
The Charles Dickens Collection (Oliver Twist / Martin Chuzzlewit / Bleak House / Hard Times / Great Expectations / Our Mutual Friend)
The Anthony Trollope Collection (The Barchester Chronicles / He Knew He Was Right / The Way We Live Now)
The Shaw Collection (Pygmalion / The Millionairess / Arms and the Man / The Devil's Disciple / Mrs. Warren's Profession / Heartbreak House)
Jane Eyre (Masterpiece Theatre, 2006)

ASIN: B000M2E32C
Release Date: 2007-04-17

Amazon.com

The George Eliot Collection is a set of five BBC programs based on the works of the 19th century novelist: Middlemarch, Daniel Deronda, Silas Marner, Adam Bede, and The Mill on the Floss.

The 1994 production of Middlemarch juxtaposes morals and money, grand ambitions with petty jealousies, and pursuits of the mind with bodily needs. A handsome young doctor named Lydgate (Douglas Hodge, Vanity Fair) comes to the provincial town of Middlemarch to start a new hospital; a headstrong young woman named Dorothea (Juliet Aubrey, The Mayor of Casterbridge) yearns to contribute to the greater good of the world. These idealists enter into marriages that derail all their intentions and lead them into lives they never imagined. The network of characters in this six-episode program, ranging up and down the societal ladder, create an intricate and utterly engrossing narrative as well as a magnificent recreation of life on the cusp of the Industrial Revolution. The cast, from the largest to the smallest roles, is impeccable. When a scene turns to a character you've only glimpsed before, the precision of the writing (by miniseries master Andrew Davies, Pride and Prejudice) and the vivid performances suck you into the life of this person who seemed like mere background scenery only moments before. The cumulative impact of Eliot's story will leave you gasping at its brilliant balance of romance and reality. Performers include creepy Patrick Malahide (The Singing Detective) and sexy Rufus Sewell (Dark City) among the familiar faces of dozens of inspired character actors. Don't let the literary pedigree of Middlemarch scare you off--the plot is as juicy as a soap opera, with a psychological fullness that makes every dramatic turn all the more gripping.

Daniel Deronda, Eliot's accomplished but underrated last novel, is effectively, often stirringly, adapted for this 2002 BBC production, which was scripted by old pro Andrew Davies (Middlemarch) and directed with wit and subtlety by Tom Hooper (Cold Feet). Set in the 1870s, Eliot's story concerns two strong-willed young people whose self-determination is under attack by legal constraints on their rights to an inheritance. The noble Daniel (Hugh Dancy) is of dubious birth; the fiery Gwendolen (Romola Garai) can't possess her late father's estate because she's a woman. They are sympathetic to one another, but not lovers: Gwendolen is obliged to marry into wealth and becomes an unhappy bride of the scoundrel Grandcourt (Hugh Bonneville), while Daniel must sort out his feelings about the much-maligned "Jewess," the beautiful Mirah. Despite Garai's somewhat questionable casting, this lengthy drama--evenly divided between the two leads--never lags in insight or passion.

The title character of Silas Marner, a member of a strict religious community, is wrongly accused of theft and has no choice but to move to a faraway village. For 15 years he lives alone, hoarding the money he makes from his weaving and gaining a reputation as a recluse, a miser, and perhaps even a witch. Marner's life changes dramatically one Christmas season, when his gold is stolen and a mysterious woman dies in the woods outside his cottage. She leaves behind a child that Marner, to the surprise of the other villagers, takes into his home to raise as his daughter. The arrival of the infant, whom he names Eppie after his mother, transforms Marner. His bitterness evaporates; he no longer cares about his lost money; and he commits himself completely to his adopted child, who grows up into a loving and beautiful daughter. But Marner's happiness may be threatened, because Eppie is really the daughter of the local squire, who was secretly married to the woman whose body Marner discovered. Remarried, but childless, the squire decides he wants to claim Eppie as his own. Ben Kingsley gives a subtle and moving performance as the simple weaver, and a strong cast gives him ample support in this 1985 BBC adaptation of George Eliot's novel. Silas Marner is not particularly complex--it's certainly a more modest undertaking than Middlemarch--but this sentimental Victorian tale, filled with historical detail, potential tragedy, heartless villains, and the redeeming power of childhood, makes for a very satisfying film.

Adam Bede is the very definition of a brash young man. George Eliot's young English country hero is headstrong and arrogant, and sees the world in black and white--not unlike his 18th-century countrymen, living and (barely) breathing by the strict moral code of the day. In this excellent 1991 BBC adaptation, Adam is played by the appealing Iain Glen, who shows he's as comfortable in a sweeping period drama as he is in popcorn fare like Lara Croft: Tomb Raider or the Resident Evil films. Adam is torn by love and commitment, and once he sets his sights on the fetching farmgirl Hetty (Patsy Kensit), he's convinced Hetty's love for his rich acquaintance Arthur is a sham, and uses force to get Arthur to break off their relationship. But what Adam has set in motion, the world will be reeling from for a very long time: in the wake of his impetuous act lie despair, heartbreak, a secret pregnancy, thoughts of suicide, a nd death. And still, the moral order must be upheld. Glen shows Adam slowly but truly growing up, realizing the consequences of his actions. (It doesn't hurt that he ends up with the lovely Dinah, played by the fabulous Susannah Harker of House of Cards and the 1995 Pride and Prejudice--why on earth has this talented young woman not become a huge star?) Viewing the characters' transgressions through 21st century eyes can make some of the plot lines feel remote--nearly unbelievable--but the all-too-human struggles of people trying to do the right thing will always ring true.

Based on her own childhood, George Eliot's The Mill on the Floss gets the deluxe treatment in this eight-part BBC miniseries. Set in 19th century Lincolnshire, the story centers on Maggie Tulliver (Georgia Slowe). Headstrong and undisciplined, she loves her brother Tom (Jonathan Scott-Taylor), but he has his doubts about her. Frankly, he finds his sister exasperating. An uptight, ambitious young man, Tom can't understand why she won't act like a proper young lady. While he's off at boarding school, for instance, she forgets to feed his rabbits and they die. Well-mannered cousin Lucy Deane (Moira Durbridge) is a mutual friend and peacemaker between the two. Over the years, Phillip Wakem (Anton Lesser), another neighbor, will also enter their orbit. Alas, Mr. Tulliver (Ray Smith) and Lawyer Wakem (Philip Locke) are sworn enemies. More studious than her brother (now played by Christopher Blake), teenaged Maggie (Pippa Guard) is drawn to the bright, if hunchbacked Phillip, but her ardor doesn't run as deep as his. Either way, Tom doesn't approve--nor, as it turns out, does Mr. Wakem. Further, as the fortunes of the latter rise, the Tullivers fall so far they lose their mill. But all is not lost. Tom will keep the family afloat when he finds employment with Lucy's father, Uncle Deane (John Stratton), around the same time Lucy's suitor, Stephen Guest (John Moulder-Brown), switches his focus to Maggie. Just when it seems relations couldn't get more tangled, the mill itself provides a neat, if tragic solution. Previously brought to the BBC in 1965 with Jane Asher, this fine, if somewhat stagy 1978 production was followed by a 1997 telefilm with Emily Watson.

Description

The next collection in the successful BBC Classics line comes to life with an assortment of all-star casts in five of George Eliot's beautifully astute literary works, all lovingly portrayed in critically acclaimed productions from the BBC. This 5-disc set includes Adam Bede, Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe, The Mill on the Floss, Middlemarch, and Daniel Deronda.

DVD Features:
Featurette:George Eliot: A Scandalous Life (60 min)
Featurette:Middlemarch-A Reader's Guide (40 min)
Photo gallery

Customer Reviews:

The George Eliot Collection.......2007-05-14

Fabulous! Couldn't stop viewing until I'd gone through all the DVD's.
Very fine adaptations of books by a very fine Victorian novelist.
I highly recommend this collection.

Average customer rating:

sweet Dakota Fanning
Marvellous television
"I loved it" review
Kudos to the sci channel how about a sequel?
Excellent Sci-Fi Series

Steven Spielberg Presents Taken
Starring: Julie Benz , Steve Burton , Eric Close , Catherine Dent , and Dakota Fanning
Director: Michael Katleman , Tobe Hooper , and Jeremy Kagan
Manufacturer: Dreamworks Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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

Alien Invasion | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

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

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

Miniseries | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

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

Television | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

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

The 4400 - The Complete Third Season
Lost Room (Mini-series Widescreen)
The 4400 - The Complete Second Season
The 4400 - The Complete First Season
Surface - The Complete Series

ASIN: B00005JM39
Release Date: 2003-10-21

Amazon.com

Steven Spielberg's alien abduction opus Taken is what happens when you cross-breed Close Encounters of the Third Kind with The Waltons. Obviously flushed with the success of the TV miniseries Band of Brothers, Spielberg's Dreamworks studio has created an equally epic 10-part story chronicling 50 years of habitual abduction over several generations of three American families. Beginning with the most notorious alien cover-up in U.S. history, the 1947 "crash" at Roswell, New Mexico, Taken introduces the "Greys" and the families they routinely abduct, probe, and, in a couple of cases, impregnate over the course of the ten 90-minute episodes. The three families are: the Keys, from which first Russell, then his son Jessie, then grandson Danny, are all abducted; the Clarkes, who are descended from a liaison between lonely put-upon housewife Sally Clarke and one of the Roswell crash survivors; and the Crawfords, the ruthless G-men who are committed to uncovering the purpose behind the alien visitations at any cost.

It's this question that forms the main thread of the story: but even though the Greys' actions are at best ambiguous and at worst hostile, the viewer can't help feeling that after all this systematic abuse of their human test subjects the aliens will in the end present them with a cure for cancer. In fact, Taken is Spielberg at his most touchy-feely: for all its science fiction trappings it's basically a soap opera, lacking the sinister undercurrent of either Dark Skies or The X-Files. Nevertheless, it's an engaging series with decent performances--most notably Joel Gretsch as psychotic Owen Crawford--good special effects, and an engaging enough storyline to make it entertaining, if somewhat disposable, TV. --Kristen Bowditch

Customer Reviews:

sweet Dakota Fanning.......2007-01-31

I just spent the entire weekend viewing taken
and i have to admit it was a very well spent time. The story was very interesting despite what other reviewers said.But I have to say my favorite character was Dakota Fanning (Allie)
She really stole the show from the time she entered the picture.Your heart really went out to this little girl.It started out with an alien craft crash in 1947 and really held your interest all the way threw.It went threw 5 generations of families with a fantastic cast.
and a very moving climax. Dakota even did great job narrating

Marvellous television.......2007-01-17

My wife spotted this on one of the German channels and became a fan, so we acquired the DVDs. OK, the story is pure hokum and the characters can be decidedly odd, ranging from the angelic, wise-beyond-her-years Ally to the villainous Crawford tribe, who are so bad that you have to resist the temptation to boo them every time they appear, as in a traditional English pantomime. But it gets you in. Part of the appeal appears to be that the thing is just so beautifully realised - the contemporary settings seem absolutely perfect - that it's irresistible. You find yourself wishing that that there were really something to it - and perhaps this is the other part of the appeal, something encountered in "The X-Files", that there is something beyond what is officially presented and that it's being covered up. Perhaps there's something in us that enjoys a good conspiracy theory, perhaps because we like to think that the world isn't just a series of accidents and happenstances. Whatever it is, I thoroughly enjoyed this series.

"I loved it" review.......2007-01-17

Whenever Steven Speilberg is involved, you know you won't be disappointed.
I loved watching the series. It pulled me right into the lives of three different families and their encounters with extraterrestrials over a number of generations. I did't want it to end! It is defintely something I would watch again. Also it was fun to see Dakota Fanning at such a young age. It also makes you wonder.....Could there be?.......Hmmmm............

Kudos to the sci channel how about a sequel?.......2007-01-01

After about five years this little gem is still getting rave reviews. I purchased this a few years ago for 90 bucks. I do not buy box sets or season dvd's of any tv show. I never would have thought that taken of all things would make me break down and by a box set dvd but it did . I do not even like Alien movies and I am not into the ex files but I love this mini series because it was well written and acted. You will love this if you buy it but shop around $ 107.00 is a lot.
BY the way I guess I am breaking my rule again I cannot wait for season one of Hero's to come out on dvd when it does it is as good as sold.
I may not love Alien movies but I have a fondness for superhero movies.

Excellent Sci-Fi Series.......2006-11-10

Very well produced series, shows the life of four generations. Including one person who was a world war II veteran and starts to have nightmares about being abducted, people involved in the Roswell incident and the changes in their life after the incident, and afterwards how the heirs of these people are affected by the aliens visit.

Average customer rating:

An extraordinary documentary about loss, hope, and a desire to LEARN
Great Documentary
A Standing Ovation
Accomplishes the impossible
Never again; but always remembered!

Paper Clips
Starring: Tom Bosley , David Smith (XLI) , Peter Schroeder , Dagmar Schroeder-Hildebrand , and Linda Hooper
Director: Joe Fab , and Elliot Berlin
Manufacturer: Arts Alliance Amer
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

( P ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Holocaust | Jewish Heritage | Specialty Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Six Million Paper Clips: The Making Of A Children's Holocaust Memorial
Ushpizin
Mad Hot Ballroom
I Never Saw Another Butterfly
Watermarks

ASIN: B000CMNJF4
Release Date: 2006-03-07

Product Description

In 1998, a group of Tennessee schoolchildren embarked on a class project that would change their lives and impact those of countless others around the world. Responding to a history lesson about the Holocaust, the students began collecting 11 million paper clips (a Norwegian symbol of Nazi resistance) to commemorate each of the lives lost in the concentration camps. As news of the Paper Clip Project spread through the Internet, the children found themselves aided by total strangers in their effort to build a permanent memorial to tolerance and diversity in their schoolyard. Filmmakers Elliot Berlin and Joe Fab document the project in their documentary, PAPER CLIPS, for a moving testament to Margaret Mead's assertion that "a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world."

System Requirements:

Running Time 84 Mins.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

Paper Clips is an inspiring 2004 documentary about a consciousness-raising project that blossomed into something beautiful at a rural Tennessee school. When the principal of Whitwell Middle School sought a program that would teach diversity to a predominantly white, Protestant student body, the notion of focusing on the Holocaust--specifically Hitler's extermination of six million Jews--seemed like an obvious way to go. But understanding what "six million" looks like became a challenge. Thus was born the idea of collecting that number of paper clips at Whitwell as a visual reference.

But then it turned out paper clips actually have, in historical terms, symbolic value where the Holocaust is concerned. In this moving film, one sees Whitwell students dig into research on Germany's genocidal campaign, solicit clips from a variety of leaders and celebrities, and make a name for themselves on the national news. In time, the world comes to Whitwell's doorstep, via unsolicited donations of clips from people around the world, and in a tearful meeting of students and Holocaust survivors. The dimensions of the project, the lessons about prejudice and intolerance, are stunning to watch grow beyond anyone's wildest expectations. This is a great film for families and classrooms to watch together. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

An extraordinary documentary about loss, hope, and a desire to LEARN.......2007-06-21

I purchased this movie last December.

I usually purchase movies only after viewing them. However, I was fascinated by this story, and purchased the movie without prior viewing.

The documentary is an interesting look not only at the Holocaust, but at relationships between people, and the desire to understand events of history.

In an effort to further diversity education at their school - teachers and administrators at a Tennessee school, along with students, developedh a project to collect 6 million paperclips to represent individuals destroyed by the Holocaust.

The individuals in the film - students, teachers, the journalists who assisted the project - are all absolutely genuine. They are not afraid to show their own judgements and prejudices, and also express why they have felt this way. The innocent perspectives of the students is endearing, and genuinely inspiring.

Yes, this is a deeply emotional film. It is heartbreaking, and amazing. The holocaust surivors who came and shared their stories, shared their tattoo'd numbers...broke your heart and warmed your spirit. But in the same respect the desire of these students and educators to learn and UNDERSTAND - their desire to really GRASP JUST HOW MANY 6 MILLION PEOPLE would look like...is phenomenal. This is a brilliant documentary.

I was also fascinated by the symbolic choice of a paperclip...

I am very glad I purchased this film, it is an amazing story, enlightening. And it gives you a sense of what people can accomplish. Gathering paperclips seemed overwhelming in the beginning, but what the students do, with the help of journalists, family, etc. is phenomenal. I truly get tingles and goosebumps thinking about this film. And was breathless when the journey of the Train car from germany intersected modern history on September 11.

There is much to learned from history.

When one sets out on just such a journey, I believe often, the resources come to us. And I think this story displays how seeking out to accomplish the goal of education brought many people together, and created an example of just what the world lost during the Holocaust.

Each paperclip represented one life, a life with lost potential. Each paperclip was treated with such an endearing respect; handled by someone who thought about the person who might have been...

I believe we should all see this film.

Great Documentary.......2007-05-16

I used this video as an introduction to teach the Holocaust for my Junior Hight students and it was well received by them.

A Standing Ovation.......2007-05-14

Every middle school should own and show this DVD. It is one of the most educational documentaries available today. The students and teachers at Whitwell school deserve a standing ovation for their work, dedication and determination to honor the victims of the Holocaust. I've viewed it three times and still weep.

Accomplishes the impossible.......2007-03-27

This film accomplishes what I used to think was impossible: it's a film about the holocaust that leaves you feeling warm and hopeful when it's over. The holocaust was such a horrific event that any sane person who watches a film about it is usually left with a pit of sadness and pessimism about humanity. How could people treat fellow human beings so badly?

This film fully addresses the sadness and the tragedy of the holocaust. But it shows how students use this even to transform prejudices, bring people together, honor the dead and the survivors, and expand their minds in general.

Buy this movie instead of just renting it. You will feel like a better person after having watched it. You cannot watch this movie too much.

Never again; but always remembered!.......2007-02-10

This film documents the progress of an idea to stop discrimination and prejudice and truly live with tolerance of all people. It shows a rural community in Tennessee,a very unlikely location, who affected history now and in the future. What started out as a project to see how much 6 million of anything - paper clips - could be collected to commemorate the number of Jews who were killed in the holocaust. In the first two and a half years, just over 2 million clips had been collected, but as word of the project spread all over the world, in the next four months they had now collected over 29 million paper clips! A cattle car, from Germany was located, was purchased (with donations of private citizens)was transported and set up on ties which had been set up - all without any cost to the students of Whitwell. The car had been renovated and 6 million paper clips, to remember the Jews and were put on one side of the car and 5 million - to remember the homosexuals, Gypsies, and others - were put on the other side. This project changed the entire town in a very touching way. The images of this film stay with the viewer long after it has ended. A film that can be seen many times without tiring of it. It restored the values and principles upon which this country was founded. A truly outstanding film based on a truly wonderful project. From the mouth of babes....

Average customer rating:

Great Kinetic Movie Making
Great Documentary about Ali's Fight with Foreman
Great Documentary
One of My Absolute Favorite Films
El amor propio y la grandeza

When We Were Kings
Starring: Muhammad Ali , George Foreman , Don King , James Brown , and B.B. King
Director: Leon Gast
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Biography | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

Boxing | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

Documentary | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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

Muhammad Ali - Through the Eyes of the World
Muhammad Ali - The Greatest Collection
Muhammad Ali - The Whole Story
Champions Forever: World Heavyweight Champs!
45 Fantastic Fights of the Century

ASIN: B00007ELEK
Release Date: 2002-11-05

Amazon.com essential video

Decades ago, documentary filmmaker Leon Gast attempted to complete a feature about the 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" championship bout between boxers Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire. Sundry complications, though, held up the project until its release in 1996. It was well worth the delay. From Gast's perspective of modern history, the six weeks Ali and Foreman were forced to spend waiting in Africa for their fight to take place now looks like an important moment in America's cultural understanding of African American roots. In a nutshell, Ali had been stripped of his heavyweight champion title because his opposition to the Vietnam War-era draft had landed him in prison. Reigning champ Foreman agreed to a Don King-promoted match in Kinshasa, but after all parties got there the fight was put off. Gast captures the charismatic Ali, in the ensuing days and weeks, going out among the people and getting to know them while the more reclusive Foreman keeps to his own company. Meanwhile, King brings over black American artists such as James Brown and the Spinners to mix it up with African musicians. The sense of excitement and connection is thrilling, as is the boxing footage of Foreman and Ali finally taking swings at one another in a titanic duel. Writers George Plimpton and Norman Mailer, each of whom was covering the fight as journalists, are on hand to recollect the details. Whether you're a fight fan or not, this is a unique experience and a fascinating insight into America's sense of identity. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Great Kinetic Movie Making.......2007-04-24

Certainly one of the greatest sports movies of all time, and one of my favorites. I can't think of an athlete in public life who has brought me more pleasure than Muhammad Ali. This movie serves as a record of the man and his times, brilliant, funny, charismatic, and athletic.

Great Documentary about Ali's Fight with Foreman.......2007-04-08

I am a huge fan of Muhammad Ali. He had such confidence in himself (at least outwardly) that he taught me how to have confidence in myself. I have been inspired by his strong spirit.

You get a good snapshot of this in When We Were Kings. Ali is heavily favored to be knocked out by George Foreman, who enters this fight against Ali 40-0 with 37 knockouts.

But watch Ali draw strength from the African people in Zaire. Watch him as he focuses on both his training and in the PR for the fight. Watch him mix it up with James Brown in a concert in the days leading up to the fight. Soak in all the eyewitness commentary of Budd Schulberg and George Plimpton and others who were in Zaire.

This is a well made period piece, capturing Ali in the days prior to one of his best nights ever. Excellent!

Great Documentary.......2007-03-27

Great Documentary. It gave us a new perspective about Muhamadd Ali 's personality and all the details behind this fight. Definitely, a collector's item.

One of My Absolute Favorite Films.......2007-03-21

I was going to say that it was my favorite documentary, but it transcends the form and puts its shadow across any type of movie you could think of. "When We Were Kings" is as inspiring as it is educational; the fight between Foreman and Ali will show you a philosophy so profound and so sharp it'll feel as if a glove is making contact with your cheek.
Absolutely stunning, recommended for all - never before has being "up against the ropes" had such awesome effects on my thinking.

El amor propio y la grandeza.......2007-03-08

Este es un clásico. No es acerca de boxeo, aunque puede disfrutarse algunos intercambios. Es acerca del valor, del quererse a sí mismo. De buscar con audacia el propio camino. A diferencia de las especificaciones técnicas del DVD, tiene SUBTITULOS EN ESPAÑOL. Pienso usarlo en mis clases de administración para ejecutivos de empresas. Un ejemplo, extremo y NECESARIO. EMOCIONANTE ¡¡¡¡¡¡

Average customer rating:

Wild Things (Unrated Edition) [Blu-ray]
Starring: Donald Churchill , Janet Henfrey , Tusse Silberg , Stuart Wilson , and Karen Young
Director: Rob Walker
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

General | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

Mystery & Suspense | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Patriot (Extended Cut) [Blu-ray]
Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest [Blu-ray]
Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl [Blu-ray]
Mel Gibson's Apocalypto [Blu-ray]
Basic Instinct [Blu-ray]

ASIN: B000PAAJVU
Release Date: 2007-07-17

Product Description

The scheme is far from tame. But whose scheme is it? Assume nothing as you venture beyond Blue Bay's elite beach communities and into the murky waters of the Everglades for a mystery of deceit, sex and greed as unpredictable as a hungry gator. And please, keep your hands inside the boat at all times. Kevin Bacon, Matt Dillon, Neve Campbell, Denise Richards and Bill Murray star in a swamp-steamy thriller about two high school students, the guidance counselor they accuse of rape and the detectivewho knows there's more to the story.

Average customer rating:

Prime Suspect 6
All Helen Mirren Prime Suspect Series which I purchased
Wonderful as always!
Great Way to End
They saved the best for last

Prime Suspect 6 - The Last Witness
Starring: Helen Mirren , Oleg Menshikov , Ben Miles , Robert Pugh , and Clare Holman
Director: Tom Hooper (II)
Manufacturer: Hbo Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

Miniseries | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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

Prime Suspect 5
Prime Suspect 4
Prime Suspect 3
Prime Suspect 2
Prime Suspect 1

ASIN: B0001I56LE
Release Date: 2004-05-18

Amazon.com

Helen Mirren returns in triumph to the role that brought her international stardom, British police inspector Jane Tennison, in the sixth series of Prime Suspect. Tennison finds herself being pressured to retire and responds by seizing a difficult homicide investigation: A young female Bosnian refugee has been tortured and murdered. As the trail begins to suggest connections to war atrocities in the Balkans, Tennison finds herself struggling with resistance from higher up, uncooperative and ambitious underlings, and deeply buried secrets. The strength of Prime Suspect has always been how it merges suspenseful detective work with an intricate grasp of police politics, and The Last Witness is no exception. The plot unfolds masterfully, the program is directed with striking visual style, and Mirren (The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover, Gosford Park) commands the screen. Her authority in this role, honed through five previous series, is unmatchable; the richness of the character--steely, sexy, obsessive, rash, cunning--makes Prime Suspect essential viewing. --Bret Fetzer

Description

It's been thirty years of police work for Detective Superintendent Jane Tennison. She's older, in some ways wiser, still fighting the urge for a cigarette & still fighting the "men only" attitude of the force. Ripe for retirement in the eyes of some. Tennison is still up for a fight, and she'll need all the energy she can muster when she takes on the darker forces of British government in search of a sadistic killer with a guilty past.

Customer Reviews:

Prime Suspect 6.......2007-03-11

I really enjoy Helen Mirren movies. I do have a hard time making out the dialogue, but it is well worth viewing.

All Helen Mirren Prime Suspect Series which I purchased.......2007-03-08

All of them are fantastic - they are in my classic collection and I value them

Wonderful as always!.......2007-02-12

I am on pins and needles for the DVD of Prime Suspect 7!

Great Way to End.......2007-01-17

Ending a series usually goes betraying the characters or their fans. This was the exception, of course HM's acting was impecable but the writing was great, the closest it can get to reality, to human condition and at the same time leaves you with a sense of hope for a very dear character regardless of her flaws and not so wise decisions. Not tragic, not fairy tale, simply positive and realistic and hopeful. As long as there is hope... It will be missed!!!

They saved the best for last.......2006-04-27

Prime Suspect 6 is, without question, the best of the Prime Suspect series. The combination of a stellar cast, a fantastic script, inventive cinematography, and a haunting score add up to one of the more entertaining dramas I've seen, period. Helen Mirren is, as usual, outstanding in the role of Jane Tennison. The character is as strong as ever there is a real depth to her character in PS6, including some great scenes with Jane's father. I recommend this wholeheartedly. If you're a fan of Prime Suspect, and who else would be looking at this, you are going to love it.

I agree that the fact it is not widescreen is a disappointment, but it is still very enjoyable. I believe the UK edition (widescreen) is now out of print, so this is the one we've got. I'm not complaining.

Average customer rating:

Excellent Character Study; 4.5 Stars
A Superb Job By Jim Broadbent
Darkness and Light
Any regrets?
The Aristocrat And The Child Killer--"Longford" Showcases A Fascinating Bit Of British History

Longford
Starring: Jim Broadbent , Lindsay Duncan , Kika Markham , Robert Pugh , and Anton Rodgers
Director: Tom Hooper
Manufacturer: Hbo Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Queen
Notes on a Scandal
The Painted Veil
Miss Potter
The Last King of Scotland (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000NY0YJU
Release Date: 2007-06-19

Description

This HBO Films drama tells the true story of the British Lord Frank Aungier Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford, and his controversial, colorful, headline-making friendship with one of Britain's most notorious criminals, child murderess Myra Hindley. A devout Catholic, Longford often visited prisoners because of his passionate belief in forgiveness and society's need for prisoner rehabilitation. He meets with Hindley - a young woman serving a life sentence for child murders committed with her lover, Ian Brady - shortly after her imprisonment and the visits incite widespread public outrage. Their unlikely friendship ultimately undermined his career and, possibly, her 36-year attempt to win freedom.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary
Featurette

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Character Study; 4.5 Stars.......2007-05-21

This very well made film is quietly effective study of a confrontation between good and evil. Frank Pakenham, the 7th Earl of Longford, was committed to visiting and assisting prisoners. A deeply religious man who sought to redeem the prisoners he visited, Longford became an advocate for Myra Hindley, a woman implicated in one of the most notorious serial murders in recent British history. Hindley, portrayed extremely well by Samantha Morton,emerges as a sly and calculating creature bent on using Pakenham's reputation to her advantage. Pakenham, as portrayed brilliantly by Jim Broadbent, is a slightly otherworldy figure whose apparent naivete derives in large measure from his profound religious commitment. There is nothing dramatic about the confrontation between Pakenham and Hindley. The conflict between good and evil is mundane and depicted unsentimentally. At the end, viewers are left with a strong impression of the strength, and limitations, of good in the face of evil.

A Superb Job By Jim Broadbent.......2007-03-24

Lord Langford was a lot of things in this film, but to me he succeeded at being one of those things more than any other. His crusades and pet causes may have been wildly misguided, but through them he was able to remind our oh so Christian society just how un-Christian they really are. Jim Broadbent goes above and beyond the call of duty in this HBO movie to play Longford as a conflicted, maddening man who learns the hard way that even the most selfless acts of compassion can bite you in the rear end. And when they do there will always be those there ready to pile on to your failures. The film is the nearest of misses for me as it provides a point by point recreation of this piece of lost history. There seemed to be a lack of energy (or perhaps enthusiasm) for the tale being told, a feeling that it was holding back because if it came on any stronger it might offend all the sensible viewers who had tuned in. I also can't help but worry about HBO's movie department as they seem to have fallen into a creative rut, with one movie after another being a based on a true story character evaluation that is dying to be seen as high art. Of course their work is far better than any other network out there, I would just hate for them to become too predictable.

The film starts off many years after the incident in question and shows, none to subtly, that one action in our life can dominate our image forever. Longford had taken on the most undesirable of cases, Myra Hindley (Samantha Morton), child murderer who was scorned nation wide to no end. Pleading and begging day and night Longford tries to win her a second chance. It hurts his career, his marriage, and his public image, but as he says that is "neither here nor there." He believes in the Christian value of forgiveness even if nobody else does. Being a fellow bleeding heart I wanted to like this guy, but he just had too many things going against him. When Myra asks for reading material he sends her his autobiography (why not). He devours knowledge but all the while casting an air as though he only does so so that he can be known for his education. He tries to pose as a man of the people but this particular Lord has some gold plated blood running in his veins that he just can't hide. Then he commits the number one sin in my book and declares war on sex, or more specifically pornography. The longer he campaigns for Myra the angrier the resistance becomes. Is he helping or hurting her? Soon Myra is nothing more than a mass murdering pawn in their game to see who can be crowned holiest of them all. Near the end of the film the story takes a Norman Mailer-ish turn for the worse, at least as far as Longford is concerned, but he sticks to his guns and fights for a little bit of understanding in this heartless world of ours.

I just can't help but notice that these unfortunate events where somebody wrongfully crusades for a prisoners release are very overblown. Plenty of innocent people are murdered by their government and its death penalty but to that we just shrug. Collateral damage in the war against street thugs. So why does an act of compassion enrage us so much? It is worth thinking about as you watch this film. It is neither good nor bad, it has a no nonsense approach which is fine but weighs down the viewing experience. Broadbent's performance, his best in years, is really the number one reason to tune in. ***

Darkness and Light.......2007-03-16

At the beginning of the 20th Century, Progress was the idea that could
not be denied. The material and psychological troubles that had plagued
humankind since the dawn of time were now to be vanquished for good
and those odd medieval ideas about good/evil and the immortality of the
soul were soon to be tossed upon the dustbin of history like so many other
artifacts of the past.

Lord Longford was a man of old fashioned ideas and beliefs.
His conversion to Catholicism lead him to take the teachings of
Christ with absolute sincerity. One of his religious duties, he felt,
was to visit prisoners. This is how he came to meet Myra Hindley.

Ian Brady and Myra Hindley should have been hung for the crimes
they committed between 1962 and 1965. Fortunately or unfortunately
for them - Capital Punishment had been brought to and end shortly
after had been arrested for the Moor Murders. Ian and Myra had
enticed/forced at least 5 children from the Manchester area into their rented car and either taken them back to their apartment or directly
to the Moors - where they tortured the children and killed them -
either way burying their bodies in the Moors.

At their Trial, Ian claimed that he was the actual murderer and that
Myra had ony helped him entice the children into his hands.

Lord Longford meets Myra and comes to believe that she does not deserve
to spend the rest of her life in prison. Myra, evidently, accepts Christ
into her life and Longford is lead to believe that she has truly
repented of all her crimes and should be given a parole date.

As later events unfold, Longford comes to realise that he, for all his
good heartedness, is only human and even his best intentions can deeply
hurt those who have already suffered enough through the loss of their
children. We are left wondering why abject evil flows through the veins
of some to the degree that they do terrible things and why others seek
only to help in the redemption of such apparently lost souls.

More background on Ian and Myra would have helped the film.

Beautifully written, filmed and acted.

Any regrets?.......2007-03-13

What makes Longford work is the focus it has on character instead of history. But it's sparse interest in context also left me wanting more. Almost within a vacuum we see Lord Longford, beautifully portrayed by Jim Broadbent, seek to redeem notorious murderer Myra Hindley, deftly handled by Samantha Morton.

His commitment to her rehabilitation and acceptance of Christ effectivelty ruins his career and name, but this film skips over such internalized psychology, instead presenting a man who is pious to a fault and maybe even mentally unable to recognize his critics. There is, among other themes, an interest in psychological instability, and the myopia of piety.

But the flip side of social hypocrisy is equally relevant. Regarding our own age (Longford begins in the late 60's, concludes around the turn of the century) the advocacy of Christianity by our leaders (Bush) must be taken with a grain (or two) of salt when looking at their record of governance. Men like Lord Longford are rare. He steadfastly stood by his Christian principals. Based on his love and appreictaion for Christ his interest in prisoners was genuine. Only after recognizing the complexity of Myra Hindley, and the ease with which he could be used, does his mission break out of it's vacuum into the wider world.

I honestly was expecting a longer, more historically involved film. Having no knowledge of the Moor Murders, or Longford, when I saw the preview on HBO, I was curious, and thought this would be a 2-part/3-hour piece. It could have been longer, as it is about 90 minutes, and doesn't delve into who the killers were, their motives, the victims, the era, the environment, etc. Nor is there focus on Longford before the crimes. We do see how his relationship to Hindley relates to his wife (the excellent Lindsay Duncan). Their marriage is one of the truly lovely apects of Longford, and offers a key into the man he was. Other than a few scenes (including a terrifc moment at his daighter's book party) his family is cursory, as is the era in England. In this way I did seek more context. There is mention of Longford's family history of mental illness, and no attention is paid to the capture, trial or hysteria of the Moor Murders beyond the jeers Myra Hindley receives throughout the film.

Without hestitaion Jim Broadbent is one of our best actors. He always stands out, and can bring pathos to a clown as easily as dignity and honor to a fool. Samantha Morton, who also has never been bad, takes her mutedness to a woman who may be a callous calculating femme fatale, or maybe a mental wreck or merely an ignorant woman, I'm not sure. Andy Serkis is terrific, in two scenes only, as Ian Brady, her accomplice, and the apparent murderer. But the complexity of Brady and Hindley is a not dealt with here, unfortunately.

The Aristocrat And The Child Killer--"Longford" Showcases A Fascinating Bit Of British History.......2007-03-11

Well, writer Peter Morgan is certainly having a banner year. Having written screenplays that helped win Helen Mirren and Forest Whitaker Oscars (for "The Queen" and "The Last King of Scotland" respectively), he has also penned "Longford." "Longford," first broadcast in the US on HBO, will almost certainly create Emmy buzz for its star, Jim Broadbent, come the end of the TV season. So as you might expect from his previous works, then, Morgan's "Longford" is a literate character study based on real events. The infamous "Moors Murders," a series of child killings that plagued England in the mid-sixties, was the basis for sending Myra Hindley and her paramour to prison. Hindley, played by Samantha Morton, was reviled by the populace--but when she contacted an elderly aristocrat named Lord Longford to visit her, he did. Longford (Broadbent) was an activist for prisoner's rights and sought to reform and redeem the less fortunate. Forming an unlikely, and unpopular, friendship with Hindley--Longford soon becomes a chief advocate in helping her seek parole. The film creates a noteworthy psychological interplay between the two, and demonstrates Longford's commitments to his ideals--even in challenging ethical situations.

I felt, throughout the production, that I was supposed to be drawing relevant parallels to the modern world. But I was never able to take "Longford" at anything other than face value. It's an interesting portrait of a man who championed unlikely causes. It's a look at a bit of British history that is distinguished by one notable individual who stood up for his principles when it was not in fashion to do so. Ultimately, Longford's naivete and guilelessness coexist with his well-meaning nature--and that is his undoing. The film paints a vivd portrait as Longford's credibility suffers through the years and a respected advocate turns into a relic of days gone by. Certainly the film comments on reform and conversion, on the penal system, on sexism, on the nature of criminality, on the corruption of innocence--but these observations aren't particularly revelatory. But, even at face value, this bittersweet character study is worth a look--if for no other reason then for the performances of everyone involved.

Broadbent, as always, delivers. Those who had the pleasure of viewing BBC's "The Street" will note a few similarities between the two Broadbent roles. He seems, late in life, to be embracing idealistic characters that must confront the realities of a modern world. Morton is fascinating as the enigmatic Myra Hindley. Intelligent and well-spoken, she is believable both as a victim and as a murderer. Andy Serkis, as her partner in crime, is just convincing enough to undermine Hindley's claims of redemption--which adds a level of complexity to the proceedings. And Lindsay Duncan is understated and compelling as Longford's saintly wife. All in all, the performances bring this small character piece to life.

As I've said, I appreciated "Longford" for its depiction of an interesting case in British criminality. The larger issue of forgiveness, and who is worthy of it, is a central theme within the film. But while Longford is an admirable character, his notion of forgiveness and his portrait, in general, are of an antiquated naivete that just don't translate to how I view modern circumstances. So while I enjoyed the story of "Longford," it didn't leave me with a "meaningfulness" that I believe was intended. But perhaps I'm just jaded. Still, check it out for nice performances and interesting characters. KGHarris, 03/07.

DVD:

DVD List

DVD

DVD

Maria Callas - Life and Art

Six Feet Under: The Complete First/Second Season

Painted Stallion (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: Barney - Barney's Halloween Party

The Stranger - The Terror Game