The Patsy

Starring:Jack Albertson, Norman Alden, Ina Balin, John Carradine, Hans Conried, Scatman Crothers, Richard Deacon, Gavin Gordon, Neil Hamilton, Phil Harris, Nancy Kulp, Buddy Lester, Peter Lorre, Del Moore, Henry Slate, Everett Sloane, Lloyd Thaxton, Keenan Wynn, Ned Wynn
Studio: Paramount
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com essential video

James Cagney thrills in a rare (and limber) song-and-dance performance as composer-entertainer George M. Cohan. This nostalgic biography is told in flashbacks, covering Cohan's formative years becoming Broadway's brightest star and touching upon his loves, musicals, and artistic triumphs. Director Michael Curtiz (The Adventures of Robin Hood) offers Cagney ample opportunities to invent an utterly charming performance in what is practically a one-man show. If you've never seen Cagney as a hoofer, you're in for a treat: his dancing is as dynamic as anything else he's ever done on screen. --Tom Keogh

Description

A nostalgic view of the golden era of show business and the man who made it glitter--George M. Cohan. His early days, triumphs, songs, musicals and romances.

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding Warner's DVD edition .......2007-07-04

The merits of this film are well known - James Cagney's legendary performance, superb direction by Michal Curtiz, a great supporting cast and outstanding production values. As a wartime valentine to American patriotism, the film was a total success but what makes this DVD set so special is the generous extras with which Warner Brothers have presented one of their most famous films. Try this for starters:

- a detailed documentary on Cagney presented by Michael Fox full of clips and including comments from his daughter and Joan Leslie, among others.
- a detailed documentary on the film itself and a commentary to be played with the film by the pleasantly spoken Rudy Behlmer. Behlmer had access to the daily production notes and he tracks the filming in minute detail.
- a superb short film starring Cagney with Ann Sothern but showcasing little Margaret O'brien. Cagney plays a family man who imagines the effect of an air raid on his daughter if they lived in parts of the world which were being bombed, unlike America. The short is more powerful than any number of war films which came out of Hollywood during this period and O'Brien is extraordinary.
- audio outtakes and rehearsals from the film's soundtrack

This is only part of what is here. It is overwhelming and any purchaser could not fail to become an expert on the film after viewing/listening to all the extras. This DVD is outstanding value.

Yankee Doodle Dandy.......2007-06-25

Exuberant slice of Americana is Cagney's show entirely, netting him his only Oscar (even after all those gangster roles!). The actor actually began his career as a song-and-dance man, and here he gets to prove it, in a series of rousing, nostalgic numbers that keep the rich Cohan legacy alive. Walter Huston (John's dad, Angelica's grand-dad) stands out in a sterling supporting cast playing George's loving Dad. Good enough to watch any old time, but a must for Independence Day.

Cagney at his best.......2007-03-27

I've been a fan of this exuberant movie musical since I first saw it at the age of ten. Cagney is wonderful playing song and dance man George M Cohan. His energy and enthusiasm are contagious. I always get a lift when I watch this film. Granted, it's an idealized look at George M Cohan. But as pure escapism, this is WWII Hollywood at its best.
This two disc collection is a gem. The special features are interesting and fun, but I bought it so that I could watch the movie, and marvel again and again at Cagney's well deserved Oscar winning performance. Yes, it's a flag waving, patriotic spectacle. And what's wrong with that?

Fun movie for the whole family!.......2007-03-03

This is a great movie! I grew up watching this and was so happy to find it on DVD. I can now enjoy it for more years and introduce a new generation to the Cohans.

Yankee Doodle Dandy.......2007-01-12

Love this Old time favorite. James Cagney is just marvelous in this movie.

The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 1 (Buck Privates / Hold That Ghost / In the Navy / Keep 'Em Flying / One Night in the Tropics / Pardon My Sarong / Ride 'Em Cowboy / Who Done It?)

Average customer rating:

Laughing all the way....
Classic comedies
Great collection
Enjoyable films, great price, questionable disc quality
The Best of Abbott and Costello, Vol. 2

The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 1 (Buck Privates / Hold That Ghost / In the Navy / Keep 'Em Flying / One Night in the Tropics / Pardon My Sarong / Ride 'Em Cowboy / Who Done It?)
Starring: Bud Abbott , Lou Costello , Dick Powell , Claire Dodd , and Patty Andrews
Director: Arthur Lubin , A. Edward Sutherland , and Erle C. Kenton
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 2 (Hit the Ice / In Society / Here Come the Co-Eds / The Naughty Nineties / Little Giant / The Time of Their Lives / Buck Privates Come Home / The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap)
The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 3 (Abbott & Costello Go to Mars / Abbott & Costello in the Foreign Legion / Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein / Abbott & Costello Meet the Invisible Man / Abbott & Costello Meet the Killer / Comin' Round the Mountain / Lost in Alaska / Mexican Hayride)
The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 4 (Abbott & Costello Meet Dr. Jekyl & Mr. Hyde / Abbott & Costello Meet the Keystone Cops / Abbott & Costello Meet the Mummy / Abbott & Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld / Abbott & Costello Meet the Monsters / The World of Abbott & Costello)
The Adventures of Ma & Pa Kettle - Volume 1
The Marx Brothers Collection (A Night at The Opera/A Day at The Races/A Night in Casablanca/Room Service/At the Circus/Go West/The Big Store)

ASIN: B0000WN0PA
Release Date: 2004-02-10

Description

Get ready for big laughs with Abbott and Costello, undeniably the most popular comedy team of all time! Now, the classic films of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello are available on DVD in this hilarious collection.

The wildly popular comic duo has entertained audiences since 1931, conquering vaudeville, radio and the silver screen in nearly 40 films. Enjoy these side-splitting hits like Buck Privates and Hold That Ghost in this collection of eight full-length features. The Best of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello: Volume 1 will have you laughing out loud again and again!

One Night in the Tropics (1940)
Bud and Lou get mixed up in a "Love Insurance" scheme.

Buck Privates (1941)
The duo accidentally enlists in the U.S. Army to avoid getting arrested!

In the Navy (1941)
Bud and Lou are sailors bound for duty on the high seas in this musical comedy.

Hold that Ghost (1941)
The boys inherit a haunted house formerly owned by a mobster.

Keep `Em Flying (1941)
Bud and Lou enlist in the Army Air Corps and get caught up in a love triangle.

Ride `Em Cowboy (1942)
The duo head to the Lazy S ranch to hide after Lou accidentally proposes to an Indian girl.

Pardon My Sarong (1942)
Bud and Lou travel to the South Seas where Lou is mistaken for a legendary god!

Who Done It? (1942)
The boys are suspected of murder while being targeted by the actual killer.

Customer Reviews:

Laughing all the way...........2007-06-30

I remember some of these movies from when I was a kid (okay, I'm dating myself but I don't care). "Hold That Ghost", which is the reason I bought this collection, has some of the funniest bits EVER captured on film. No "off color" language or jokes -- just lots of laughs. The exchange after Joan Davis runs into Lou Costello and knocks him down STILL makes me laugh out loud. If you like "funny" -- this is your ticket.

Classic comedies.......2007-06-24

It may be hard to believe nowadays, but Abbott and Costello were once one of the biggest box office draws at the movies. In the early 1940s, their movies were among the tops in terms of tickets. Nowadays, they seem to be mostly forgotten except by fans of old movies, which is too bad. Their movies may not be the best comedy ever written, but they are all pretty fun. Volume 1 of The Best of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello features their first eight films.

One Night in the Tropics is their screen debut. They are actually just secondary characters who contribute little to the plot (involving some romantic mix-ups) but are brought in to lighten things up, with among other things, their "Who's on First" routine. Next up is their first starring feature and the first of their three military comedies, Buck Privates. In this one, they accidentally enlist in the army while trying to avoid a cop who later turns out to be their drill sergeant.

The next of their "service comedies" was In The Navy, in which they assist a famous singer who is trying to become a regular Joe by becoming a sailor. The final service comedy is Keep `Em Flying, which puts them in the early Air Force.

The pair inherit a supposed haunted house on Hold That Ghost. It actually used to belong to a mobster, and some of his loot is still in the place, attracting other hoodlums. In Ride `Em Cowboy, they wind up on a dude ranch. Pardon My Sarong is something of a takeoff on the Hope/Crosby Road pictures, with the two winding up on a tropical island. Finally, in Who Done It?, they are entangled in a murder mystery at a radio station.

There is a very structured approach to these movies: Universal Pictures obviously wanted these churned out quickly (some were out within a couple months of the start of shooting!) and they used plenty of contract players: for example, three movies have Shemp Howard in small parts and Dick Foran in bigger parts. All the movies are pretty short (they range from 78 to 87 minutes). They all have a romantic subplot involving other characters and (with the exception of Who Done It?), they all have several musical numbers, some featuring big names like the Andrews Sisters and Ella Fitzgerald.

At the core, however, are Abbott and Costello, more particularly Lou Costello who forms the comic heart of these stories. They are the same characters in every story: Bud is the fast-talking con man and Lou is the not-so-bright coward with an almost child-like approach to the world. There is plenty of physical comedy, but they are at their best when the two are just talking.

It'd be a bit much to call these films classics, but they are entertaining and they would probably amuse kids as well as adults. I suppose it's also technically inappropriate to call this The Best of Abbott and Costello when it actually is just their first eight movies, but at the same time it is true: this collection does show them in top form.

Great collection.......2007-06-15

Except for "One Night in the Tropics", these are some of Abbott and Costello's most entertaining films. One of my very favorite A@C films, "Ride 'em Cowboy" is marred by the dreadful dream sequence. What makes it more frustrating is to read from sources that other comedy scenes (which sound funnier) were filmed but rejected including extended bits of business with the poker sequence. The rest of "Ride 'em Cowboy" however more than makes up for the dream skit. This dvd set is a great buy for the cost.

Enjoyable films, great price, questionable disc quality.......2007-05-04

While I don't think I'll ever grow to be a *huge* A&C fan, as I've been seeing more and more of their films, I've grown to genuinely like them and to really enjoy watching them, even if I personally don't find them as consistently hilarious and personally endearing as some of the other great comedians of the era. But for this price, and for this many films in one collection, how could anyone go wrong?

'One Night in the Tropics' (1940) is actually a star vehicle for Allan Jones (best-known for his roles in the Marx Brothers' first two MGM films), Nancy Kelly, Robert Cummings, Peggy Moran, and a few other secondary characters. It's an enjoyable movie, but nothing really classic or memorable. A&C are actually the most interesting characters and steal the show, even though their comedy routines are detached from the plot and they're just trotted out as periodic comic relief. They're also not really playing very sympathetic characters in this one. It seems like one of those films that's watched more for the historical interest than for genuine entertainment value.

'Buck Privates' (1941), their first starring vehicle, is considered a classic, though here too they often seem to be relegated to supporting comedians and pushed to the back burner in favor of the romantic subplot. The same holds true in their other two service comedies, 'In the Navy' and 'Keep 'Em Flying' (also from 1941). While all three of their service comedies are genuinely enjoyable and funny, they would have been even stronger and funnier if all of the superfluous musical numbers and the romantic subplots with boring characters we don't really care about had been cut out. They were funny and talented enough to carry a film on their own without being forced to play second-fiddle to secondary characters! The weakest of these three is 'Keep 'Em Flying'; overall it just seems disjointed and inconsistent, and like they'd run out of top-notch material to mine after already doing their first two service comedies. (These service comedies also feel, in hindsight, like subtle propaganda just in case the U.S. really did enter WWII, what with the "Isn't the Army/Navy/Air Force great and fun?" theme.)

'Hold That Ghost' (1941) is also somewhat bogged down by musical numbers and a romantic subplot, but at least here those elements don't take up as much time as in a lot of their other early films. The plotline about spending a night in a haunted house and all of the hair-raising things that happen seems a bit cliché today, and the script seems a little weak, but overall there are enough funny moments and interesting twists and turns in the plot to make it worthwhile.

'Who Done It?" (1942), which mixes comedy and a murder mystery, has a very strong script and a supporting cast. What makes this film so funny and tight is that it focuses almost entirely on A&C instead of being cluttered up by some boring romantic subplot and superfluous song and dance numbers. 'Pardon My Sarong' (1942), made in imitation of the popular Hope and Crosby 'Road' pictures of the time, finds them on a tropical island. Although it does feature musical numbers and a romantic subplot, at least the comedy routines are seamlessly worked into the picture instead of seeming more detached from the plotline, and the subplot seems more interesting than usual. 'Ride 'Em Cowboy' (1942) is enjoyable entertainment and has a good script, though unfortunately has the same formulaic feel that a lot of these other films do--musical numbers and a dull romantic subplot that really slow down the story and relegate A&C to supporting characters. Normally I find Westerns boring and dated at best and offensive at worst, but since this is a comedy Western, I liked it. Even the stereotypical depictions of the Native Americans weren't as bad and offensive as they often are in these kinds of films.

Overall, while A&C aren't my top favorite comedians, I do enjoy watching them, and these early films are no exception. And while the songs and romantic subplots slow the pictures down, the boys are great when they're front and center instead of being relegated to supporting players. However, while this may seem like a great price for 8 films, it's not entirely a great deal. Since these are double-sided discs, they're more prone to scratching and malfunctioning. While the first disc played fine for me, I had to go through a number of different copies before finally getting a second disc that didn't freeze up or skip at any point. Would it have taken that much effort for Universal to ensure more quality control on this classic catalogue? And while the extras (trailers and production notes) are much appreciated, these films and this comedy team are famous and respected enough to have merited something more, like audio commentaries or photo galleries. Still, at least they're represented on DVD now, inferior technical quality or not.

The Best of Abbott and Costello, Vol. 2.......2007-04-02

Abbott and Costello's humor is outstanding and timeless. This collection of some of their movies will have you laughing uproariously, and you will watch these movies over and over again, and keep on laughing even after you've watched them so many times that you know what is going to happen next.

Average customer rating:

Gorgeous movie
Mia Farrow sucks
THE GREAT GATUBY
Sam R-M's thoughts on the Gatsby film
Maura Lacey Period 8 Reveiw

The Great Gatsby
Starring: Robert Redford , Mia Farrow , Bruce Dern , Karen Black , and Scott Wilson
Director: Jack Clayton
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000AUHQT
Release Date: 2003-12-02

Amazon.com

This adaptation of the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, scripted by Francis Ford Coppola, puts costume design and art direction above the intricacies of character. It's certainly a handsome try, and perhaps no movie could capture The Great Gatsby in its entirety. Robert Redford is an interesting casting choice as Gatsby, the millionaire isolated in his mansion, still dreaming of the woman he lost. And Sam Waterston is perfect as the narrator, Nick, who brings the dream girl Daisy Buchanan back to Gatsby. No, the problem seems to be that director Jack Clayton fell in love with the flapper dresses and the party scenes and the Jazz Age tunes, ending up with a Classics Illustrated version of a great book rather than a fresh, organic take on the text. While Redford grows more quietly intriguing in the film, Mia Farrow's pallid performance as Daisy leaves you wondering why Gatsby, or anyone else, should care so much about his grand passion. The effective supporting cast includes Bruce Dern as Daisy's husband, and Scott Wilson and Karen Black as the low-rent couple whose destinies cross the sun-drenched protagonists. (That's future star Patsy Kensit as Daisy's little daughter.) The film won two Oscars--not surprisingly, for costumes and musical score. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

Gorgeous movie.......2007-06-28

This movie was lovingly made, and it shows in every gorgeous scene. There are some slow moments, but it's a fine adaptation of one of the greatest novels of all time. Redford was made to play Jay Gatsby, the hopeless romantic, and Mia Farrow is picture-perfect as the fickle Daisy Fay Buchanan.

Mia Farrow sucks.......2007-06-27

While this version of the movie is truer to the novel than the PBS version, some of the Redford/Farrow scenes are hard to watch. My students like the newer version better because the acting is more credible and Mira Sorvino is a "hot" Daisy, but this is closer to the book. We need a third version of this movie with me as director.

THE GREAT GATUBY.......2007-06-12

It reached by even three though only one was ordered.
The order for the cancellation was disregarded.
It resents it very much.
It wants it according to returned goods.

Sam R-M's thoughts on the Gatsby film.......2007-05-29

This interpretation of The Great Gatsby portrayed my view of the setting and of Nick very well. The contrast between Gatsby's house and the Valley of the Ashes enlightened my picture of these places when I read about them. As for the characters, I thought Nick Carraway was performed brilliantly. He was the perfect contrast to self-absorbed high class society and portrayed Nick's sense of quiet akwardness. Tom Buchanan should have been a larger and more intimidating character. It said in the book that his muscles could be seen moving through his clothes and that when he walked into a room he filled the doorway, yet in this movie he appears to be too normally built for a football player. Daisy's character annoyed me, though this may have been done on purpose, and her scenes with Gatsby at his house when they are portrayed "in love" were so cheesy that I could not help but laugh. Overall, however, the movie is a great choice for anyone who is seeking a visual portrayal of The Great Gatsby because it follows the book fairly accurately, though I was not pleased with the absense of Owl Eyes in the film. Samuel Rodgers-Melnick Period 8

Maura Lacey Period 8 Reveiw.......2007-05-29

The movie version of the Great Gatsby was very similar to the book but better. The movie had alot of the same quotes as the book did and allowed you to get a visual representation of what was going on. My favorite character in the movie was definately Jordan Baker. She was most like the Jordan Baker I imagined when reading the book and was cast perfectly for the movie. She was showed how arrogant all of the people in their society were and definately broght the sense of how rich they were to the movie. Nick was cast good too and he proved to be a good actor. The movie is old but yet it seems as if you are watching a fairly new movie. The scenes at Gatsby's parties are very good and really bring out the feelings of the times. Overall, the movie is really worth seeing. It is definately a lot better than the book. If I were to change one thing, I would like to see mrytle be played by a different actress. Other than that though, it was excellent.

Upstairs, Downstairs - Collector's Edition Megaset (The Complete Series plus Thomas and Sarah)

Average customer rating:

DVD and Sound Quality
The best series ever made- not just for period drama lovers !
still great
Poor Production Values
Sadly DISAPPOINTED

Upstairs, Downstairs - Collector's Edition Megaset (The Complete Series plus Thomas and Sarah)
Starring: Patsy Smart , Evin Crowley , Simon Williams , George Innes , and Gordon Jackson
Director: Christopher Hodson , Derek Bennett , and Raymond Menmuir
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000AYEIWC
Release Date: 2005-10-25

Amazon.com

This seminal British television series is just as enjoyable now as when it first aired in the early 1970s. Richard (David Langton), Lady Marjorie (Rachel Gurney), and their son James (Simon Williams) comprise the aristocratic Bellamy family that reside upstairs while their loyal servants--including butler Hudson (Gordon Jackson), cook Mrs. Bridges (Angela Baddeley), and housemaid Rose (Jean Marsh)--maintain the household from downstairs. The series follows the upper-class family's troubles as times change and the ongoing lives of their resilient staff.

Upstairs Downstairs: The Complete Series contains 68 episodes on 20 DVDs, as well as the series retrospective Upstairs Downstairs Remembered: the 25th Anniversary Special. Initially set in 1904, the first season comprises 13 episodes, 5 of which are 5 black-and-white episodes not aired during the first season of the original U.S. broadcast. The second season's 13 episodes cover various relationship problems and an appearance of King Edward VII. The third season's 13 episodes follow the London household through the prewar years (1912-1914). Outstanding cast performances and the dramatic backdrop of the Great War give the fourth season, set in 1914 to 1918, its reputation as the best of the five. Due to limited filming budgets, the war is largely seen through home-front activities. The 16 episodes of the fifth and final season cover the swinging '20s to the stock market crash (1919-30). The episodes of the fifth season are more self-contained than other seasons' and every bit as entertaining. The series ends with Rose locking up the empty house, closing the door on one of TV's most popular and acclaimed shows. Whether you first met the Bellamys and their delightfully enjoyable downstairs entourage in the 1970s or are just getting to know them now, the superb acting and compelling character development will always be the real reason to watch Upstairs Downstairs. --Tara Chace

Also included in the Collector's Edition Megaset is the spinoff series Thomas and Sarah, in which two of Upstairs Downstairs' most colorful characters were given a series of their own: Thomas the chauffer (John Alderton, Calendar Girls) and Sarah the parlor maid (Pauline Collins, Shirley Valentine). The series charted the social and financial escapades of this dubious pair, who lived together without getting married and were as comfortable with con artistry as lawful employment. The tone and quality of these 13 episodes varies from social commentary to light adventure, but at its best Thomas and Sarah could match its illustrious forebear. The first episode starts things off on a smart, satirical note: Thomas disturbs Sarah's carefully fabricated new identity when, to woo her back into his arms, he concocts a new persona of his own. But it's a handful of later episodes that are truly remarkable. In one, Sarah tells Thomas that she's pregnant to forestall his dream of emigrating to America. When he learns that she's lied to him, he enacts a vicious revenge; Alderton's performance is both convincing and frightening. In another, success in the stock market leads Thomas and Sarah to hire servants of their own--with decidedly uncomfortable results (Nigel Hawthorne, The Madness of King George, appears as a stern and rigid butler). The exploration of class is clever, subtle, and insightful. A second season was never produced due to a strike, but this single season remains a fascinating portrait of the Edwardian era, sparkling with superb acting and writing. Collins and Alderton create two engaging, contradictory, and utterly vivid characters, worthy of your time. --Bret Fetzer

Description

All 68 Episodes of the Landmark Series On 20 DVDs! Upstairs, the Bellamy family negotiated the scandals and successes of the English aristocracy. Downstairs, their loyal and lively servants showed far less reserve when confronting the challenges of their lives. Together, their stories made TV magic.When UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS debuted, network executives fretted that the series was not commercial and viewers would switch off in the thousands. More than thirty years later, it is universally recognized as one of the most successful and important shows in television history, seen by over 1 billion people worldwide and the winner of 9 Emmys, a Golden Globe and a Peabody, among many other awards.Take a final journey back to 165 Eaton Place with this comprehensive set featuring all 68 episodes of the unforgettable masterpiece, digitally remastered for presentation on DVD. The collection also includes the rarely-seen retrospective Upstairs Downstairs Remembered: The 25th Anniversary Special.

Customer Reviews:

DVD and Sound Quality.......2007-06-18

Remember that the production of this excellent series was engineered more than 35 years ago. A suggestion - watch on a smaller screen; the lower quality is barely noticeable and does not detract from the excellent performances of so many gifted actors.

If you have the time, watch one disc a day to fully appreciate the character development of the main players. The withdrawal symptoms after viewing the final DVD will be worth the immense number of addictive hours viewing this incredible production!

The best series ever made- not just for period drama lovers !.......2007-05-08

The acting, the interaction between the actors, the atmosphere - there's nothing like it. I escape into a different world every time I watch.

still great.......2007-04-27

What can I say. This miniseries is great even after all these years.
I noticed some of the reviews complaining about the quality but the local PBS station in my area reran it several years ago and the quality was the same. It is a little low grade but if you have ever seen tv shows from the UK made in the '70's they are a little low grade quality to begin with. Besides, it adds to the feel of the show taking place in the early 1900's.

Poor Production Values.......2007-02-03

I can't say I wasn't warned. Other reviewers of this set have remarked on the poor picture quality. However, since I had been re-watching this series on taped VHS cassettes from a PBS broadcast, I assumed that the DVDs would be an improvement. Wrong. I'm sorry I threw away my tapes. I am very disappointed that A&E would have issued this beloved series on such poor quality DVDs.

Sadly DISAPPOINTED.......2007-01-22

After two decades since watching Upstairs Downstairs, I rashly decided to buy the WHOLE set!!!! As I watched the first episodes I realized my memory had played a scurvy trick on me! The melodrama was a bit vulgar and VERY predictable! Later episodes of the set improved, but not by much! It was like watching a biplane that didn't quite make it over the trees at the end of the runway. I hope you won't make the same mistake I did.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Extraordinarily Deluxe Three-Disc Edition)

Average customer rating:

Monty Python and the Holy Grail
The Holy Gail
Holy Grail ++
*****************************They only gave me FIVE stars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Extraordinarily Deluxe Three-Disc Edition)
Starring: Connie Booth , Carol Cleveland , Rita Davies , Bee Duffell , and Sandy Johnson
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000CRQX34
Release Date: 2006-10-03

Description

The Monty Python team are at it again in their second movie. This time we follow King Arthur and his knights in their search for the Holy Grail. This isn't your average medieval knights and horses story - for a start, due to a shortage in the kingdom, all the horses have been replaced by servants clopping coconuts together!

Customer Reviews:

Monty Python and the Holy Grail.......2007-07-04

Perhaps one of the greatest film comedies of all time (certainly for Pythonites), this zany cult classic by the famed Monty Python troupe will leave you gasping for breath and occasionally howling at the hilarious bad taste of certain slapstick sequences. Cleese, Chapman, Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Gilliam, and Jones all play multiple roles, combining non-sequitur humor with bloody duels and other pratfalls that parody medieval chivalry and archaic religious sentiment. Somehow, senselessly silly gags like the encounter with a killer rabbit and the Knights Who Say "Ni!" tickle the funny bone no matter how many times you watch. For brilliant, irreverent lunacy, seek the "Holy Grail."

The Holy Gail.......2007-05-19

A film one can watch over and over. Obsurd yet hilarious. Classic Python at its best.

Holy Grail ++.......2007-01-12

Well, Monty Python's Holy Grail is a gem in and of itself, but this edition has quite a bit of added pleasures (as you probably could surmise from the title). It has an intro that I hadn't seen before - I thought I'd stuck in the wrong video, which I quickly discovered was its intent. There were added scenes in the movie, which I enjoyed.

All around, it's a must for those who adore these guys as much as I do.

*****************************They only gave me FIVE stars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2006-12-31

This is the funniest film of all time. Period. End of discussion. The End. . . oh, alright!! NOT the end! "How could they possibly make it better?", you ask. I answer: 5.1 Surround Sound. AND!!!!: a hilarious - new - beginning to the beginning of the credits of the movie of the film! What more can possibly be written about the sheer genius of this landmark cinematic milestone??? HELL, I don't know!! What I do know is that every time a New, Improved, Deluxe, Magnificent, Refined, Extended, EXTRAORDINARILY UNIQUELY updated version of this movie is released, I WILL be first in line to purchase it. So there!!. . . Oh, and the new HD film transfer is very nice, very nice indeed.

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

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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.

Laurel & Hardy II (Way Out West / Block-Heads / Chickens Come Home)

Average customer rating:

"Two Gloriously Funny Men"
Funny
Two Classic Comic Actors in Three Classic Comedies
Block - Heads
Laurel & Hardy Review

Laurel & Hardy II (Way Out West / Block-Heads / Chickens Come Home)
Starring: Stan Laurel , Oliver Hardy , Elizabeth Forrester , James Finlayson , and Gordon Douglas
Director: James W. Horne , and John G. Blystone
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Laurel & Hardy (Sons of the Desert/The Music Box/Another Fine Mess/Busy Bodies/County Hospital)
The Laurel & Hardy Collection
TCM Archives - The Laurel and Hardy Collection (The Devil's Brother / Bonnie Scotland)
Laurel and Hardy Collection, Vol. 2 (A Haunting we Will Go / Dancing Masters / Bullfighters)
March of the Wooden Soldiers

ASIN: B00079I006
Release Date: 2005-03-15

Amazon.com

The combination of choleric, combustible Oliver Hardy and mild, perpetually helpful Stan Laurel sustained dozens upon dozens of comedies, including the popular Way Out West. What makes this hour-long feature stand out is not just the physical hijinks (of which there are plenty), but the moments of surprising elegance, like a supple soft-shoe duet accompanied by what can only be called cowboy doo-wop. The plot concerns keeping the deed to a gold mine out of the hands of a greedy saloonkeeper (frequent comic foil James Finlayson), but it's just a pretext for gleeful slapstick orchestrations. Laurel & Hardy II also includes the underrated Block-Heads, another hour-long feature which starts out in the trenches of World War I and ends in a 13th floor apartment in New York; domestic strife and even lost limbs become fodder for jokes, yet the movie never feels cruel or ghoulish. It's the lightheartedness of their brutal mishaps that marks their success. Both features are from the late 1930s. An additional short from 1931, Chickens Come Home, features Hardy running for mayor and trying to squelch his past indiscretions, with Laurel as his right-hand man. No matter the circumstances, they wear bowler hats; wherever they go, madcap devastation follows. --Bret Fetzer

Product Description

Way out west (1937)
while trying to deliver the deed for valuable gold mine to the daughter of a dead prospector, stand and Ollie run into her evil guardian, who wants to keep the gold mine for himself. One of Laurel & Hardy s funniest full- length feature film and their only western spoof!

Block-Heads(1938)
Stan and Ollie are first seen as soldiers with the AEF in France in 1917. Stan receives orders to stay in the trench and guard his post while the rest of the company makes a sweeping attack. Time passes indeed, 20 years go by and Stan is seen still faithful to his charge. Stan is finally told that the war is over; he returns home and is reunited with Ollie. It is immediately evident that Stan has not changed, and he is still as big a blockhead as he used to be.

Chickens Come home
Ollie, running for mayor, is blackmailed by an old flame. Illie agrees to meet both his old girlfriend and his wife at the same time. Stan gets cough in the middle and unbridled commotion results.

Critical Acclaim

Way out west 1938, Nominated for an Oscar®

Best music, Score

Block-heads 1939, Nominated for Oscar®

Best Music, Original Score

System Requirements:

Running Time 150 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

"Two Gloriously Funny Men".......2007-06-01

Laurel & Hardy still remain the greatest comedy team of all time . Their material stands the ' test of time" hmdodd/ highland twp, mich

Funny.......2007-04-14

I liked the whole DVD but I was hooked after watching Stan Laurel getting tickled in one of the scenes in Way out West, say no more, just watching Stan in that scene had me in stitches. I have always liked Laurel & Hardy and I would like to own more of these DVD's.

Two Classic Comic Actors in Three Classic Comedies .......2007-03-10

Not much more than the three titles here - the "extras" aren't much - but here we have very fine DVD pressings of top drawer L & H. Some lesser known Stan & Ollie flicks from the non-independent, large-scale studios in the following decade have been released recently, and though they have historical significant and some sporadic fun (if you can supress your "couda-shoulda" button), they only emphasize the often brilliant and heartwarming stuff which really made them famous. We have three examples here: a 1937 trip out West, about one hour long, yet absolutely loaded with inventive gags (though a midnight attempt to hoist Ollie to the second floor of Finlayson's Saloon is badly dragged out) and clever dialogue. Ofcourse, the performances are great, and in Way Out West have the added dimension of music and "magic". While Hardy tries to plot out the rescue of a young lady and her deed to a goldmine, Laurel constantly befuddles his partner with all kinds of reality manipulations - like using his thumb as a lighter!
The next year, they produced a partial remake of their very first "talkie" - it's fun to compare Unaccustomed As We Are from '29 to Blockheads. The later film is far better and contains much pathos. Hardy's wife, who starts off her day reminding her husband that he forgot their anniversary, then returns to find old buddy Stan lounging about, delivers an incredible, drammaticly schizophrenic display - one of the great moments in comedy history. Ultimately, it is typical L & H - Ollie's new found respectability is torn asunder by the well-meaning but completely incompetent Stan, who wrecks his car, his apartment...and his marriage. By the end of the film he flees with his friend from his home and a violent neighbor who believes he is a filanderer.
The 1931 short-subject is an hilarious work - again Ollie is on the threshold of true acceptance in high society, until Mae Busch shows up to upset his political plans, his marriage, and Stan himself in a wild wrestling match outside of her hotel suite. This is perhaps her sexiest performance - and her attitude is all business - she wants her share of the success. Her acting is bit more nuanced than usual - she projects admiration and revulsion of Hardy at the same time.
Side note: I've read of the Spanish-language version of this film and hope that it can become available through this company.

Block - Heads.......2007-02-19

I (Jim McCutcheon) saw this film way back in the 50's and it cracked me up. I have hankered for it for some time and althouh I have matured somewhat (68years) still found if highly amusing, and thanks to Amazon, now have a copy for myself.

I would class it as one of Laurel and Hardy's better efforts.

Cheers,
Jim.

Laurel & Hardy Review.......2007-01-17

Received item in a timely manner. The only reason for 4 out of 5 was my fault in not researching the titles closer. The item was in excellent condition. I will return to this site in the future.

Rumpole of the Bailey - The Complete Series

Average customer rating:

Interesting collection of a long-run series
Even Better than I Remembered
Among the best of the British TV mysteries
Fine Quality and a Good Value
She Who Must Be OBAYED

Rumpole of the Bailey - The Complete Series
Starring: Peter Whitaker , Edward de Souza , Derek Benfield , Ann Way , and Bill Fraser
Director: Brian Farnham , Peter Hammond , and Stuart Burge
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Rumpole of the Bailey - The Lost Episode
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ASIN: B000CRR360
Release Date: 2006-02-28

Amazon.com

Before there was Quincy and The Practice, there was Rumpole. Rumpole of the Bailey is, quite simply, one of the finest television series, and it has served as a model for all law dramas that followed it. Edgy and satirical, Rumpole is based on John Mortimer's books of the same name. A determined and committed criminal defense barrister (whose clients have included three generations of the Timson family, among others) at the Old Bailey (criminal court), esteemed actor Leo McKern portrays the antihero Rumpole. As champion of the downtrodden, the self-righteous Rumpole loves to get in trouble with his wife Hilda, his peers, the head of chambers, and judges, to name but a few. A connoisseur of Wordsworth, cigars, and cheap liquor, McKern's usually disheveled Rumpole belies the character's dry sense of humor and astute skill as a barrister. The upwardly mobile Hilda is played by Peggy Thorpe-Bates, known for her Miss Toliver in Alcatraz Island, and Justice Sir Guthrie Fetherston is played by Peter Bowles, known for his Richard DeVere in TV's To the Manor Born.

Typical of British drama, production values are low while the caliber of scriptwriting and acting is unsurpassed. Rumpole is a rare example of a television serial that is as appealing and engaging on its 10th viewing as it was on its first. A&E's 14-disc megaset includes all 42 episodes from the series' seven seasons, plus the 1982 two-hour special Rumpole's Return, introductions by and an interview with John Mortimer, and other bonus material. --Erik Macki

Description

An immensely popular series broadcast on PBS from 1978 to 1992, RUMPOLE OF THE BAILEY set a new bar for all courtroom dramas to come. Balancing suspense and satire as deftly as the scale of justice, Horace Rumpole tirelessly defends the downtrodden while undressing the upper classes. A timeless mixture of comedy and drama, RUMPOLE OF THE BAILEY was one of television's most celebrated courtroom dramas. Flawlessly adapted by John Mortimer from his best-selling Edgar Award-winning novels, and starring the esteemed Leo McKern (A Man for All Seasons), this 14-disc DVD Megaset™ includes all 42 episodes from the seven seasons of RUMPOLE OF THE BAILEY. DVD Features: Feature-Length Bonus Movie Rumpole's Return; Mortimer's Musings--An Interview with John Mortimer; McKern's Memories with Actress Abigail McKern (Daughter of Leo McKern); Episode Introductions with John Mortimer; Spot the Barrister-Highlighting John Mortimer's Impromptu Appearances; Newspaper Evidence; John Mortimer Biography; John Mortimer Bibliography and Selected Credits; About the Old Bailey; Official Executioners of Newgate Prison; Interactive Menus; Scene Selection

Customer Reviews:

Interesting collection of a long-run series.......2007-06-27

The first couple of disks provide an episode for each year. I'm not sure that I would have picked the same episodes to represent each year, but they do show the development of the main characters, especially Rumpole himself. Definitely worth viewing.

Even Better than I Remembered.......2007-06-12

I hadn't seen this excellant series since it was first shown on public television years ago. I was much younger then, and even though I quite enjoyed it, I don't think I appreciated just how good it was and still is. When I saw that I could purchase the entire series for some 40% off, I couldn't pass it up and I'm very glad I didn't. If you are an anglophile, or even not an anglophile, but are tired of the barrage of mindless mediocrity in entertainment that surrounds us, then treat yourself to hours of truly intelligent, wry, witty and sometimes poignant entertainment. I think you have to be over 40 to fully appreciate Rumpole. Also, I was quite satisfied with the remastering.

Among the best of the British TV mysteries.......2007-05-19

One of the best in a very good field. Leo McKern's performances are flawless and he makes a truly larger than life, Dickensian character come alive. These are less mysteries really than they are a serial comic-dramas. All the characters are wonderfully drawn and many are adverse to the hero while still be sympathetically human.

Fine Quality and a Good Value.......2007-03-24

Picture quality is good. Menu is fine and episodes seem to be organized in chronological order. Nothing about this collection surprised or disappointed me.

I don't know why Amazon doesn't list Leo Mckern as the principle actor - don't worry, this is the version you think it is.

Each episode is introduced by the author of the books, John Mortimer.
With all 42 episodes at about 50 min each, I think it is a pretty good value.

She Who Must Be OBAYED.......2007-03-15

Quick, Funny, Human and to the point. One of the great BBC programs.
Horace is every mans hero.

Average customer rating:

bruce willis you got competition
Mel,Danny and Richard reunite!
Lethal Weapon 2
THE BEST OF THE SERIES
Gibson and Glover reunite for fun cop movie

Lethal Weapon 2 (Director's Cut)
Starring: Mel Gibson , Danny Glover , Joe Pesci , Joss Ackland , and Derrick O'Connor
Director: Richard Donner
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Lethal Weapon 3 (Director's Cut)
Lethal Weapon (Director's Cut)
Lethal Weapon 4
Die Hard 2 - Die Harder (Widescreen Edition)
Die Hard with a Vengeance (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B00004RFFW
Release Date: 2000-06-06

Amazon.com

The series formula started to kick in with this immediate sequel to Lethal Weapon, but that doesn't necessarily make it a weak movie. Joe Pesci joins the fold, Richard Donner directs again, and Mel Gibson and Danny Glover return as LAPD partners, their relationship smoother now that Gibson's character has recovered from his maddening grief over his wife's death. But the reckless Mel and cautious Danny equation, good for a million laughs, settles into place in this story involving a South African smuggler and a new girlfriend (Patsy Kensit) for Gibson. The movie is hardly comfy, though. The last act gets nasty, and a climactic fight between Gibson (who gets the worst of it) and some high-kicking villain is ugly. --Tom Keogh

Description

Riggs wows the pretties of a hotel spa before getting to Getz. Murtaugh receives bad bodywork news from an auto repairman after his beleaguered station wagon sees some Riggs-piloted street action. Plus, feisty Leo shares a newly included scene in which he recalls a suspect's address by complex spins of numbers that, well, no one can tell it like Leo. And no one would follow his lead but Riggs and Murtaugh. It's police procedure, Lethal style. Ant it's yours to enjoy as the duo draws a head on criminals hiding behind diplomatic immunity.

Customer Reviews:

bruce willis you got competition.......2007-05-04

For those of you that are over 17 or grew up watching the die hard movies or were able to see rated r movies when you were three years under age because your parents thought you were mature enough this movie is for you. Do to heavy violencen action seqeunces, occasional language this movie might not be appropriate or may be questionable to children under the age of 17 depending on what there parents or guardian think is appropriate. This is and very old dvd it celebrate it's 7th anniversary in DVD format this year. Since this dvd is old and there are plenty of copies tdue to it's high popularity you probably should not pay more than $25 dollars for a copy of this unless you are bying the whole quadrilogy at once and not just the second film. Try to get this used to if possible and not in new condition because some the copies can be over 25 dollars. Mel Gibson an Danny glover take up there gones again in this action packed seqeul to the original movie. Can young Revis and his partner stop a drug gain from smugglig out of the country find out in this action packed sligtly extended version. If you liked the die hard movies and the robo cops which were good until the fourth installment then they went done hill you will enjoy this.

Mel,Danny and Richard reunite!.......2007-01-24

The success of the 1987 Warner Bros. action film LETHAL WEAPON inspired director Richard Donner to reunite with Mel Gibson and Danny Glover for this first of three sequels which was more successful than the first film. Oscar-winner Joe Pesci(GOODFELLAS,THE SUPER,MY COUSIN VINNY,BETSY'S WEDDING,HOME ALONE 1 & 2) joins the cast as Leo Getz,who is often a nuisance to Sgt. Roger Murtaugh(Glover) and his partner-buddy Martin Riggs(Gibson). Not only that,Roger and Martin tease Leo often as if they were grade school kids. Leo's tagline is "Anything you need,Leo gets!". Once again Darlene Love again plays Roger's wife Trish. The Murtaughs' kids are back as well. The funniest scene in this film,believed by many,is when Roger sits on his toilet in his upstairs bathroom,and a planted bomb inside the Murtaughs' home explodes. In reality,that would have been sad. Patsy Kensit(BLAME IT ON THE BELLBOY) plays Martin's love interest. Great music soundtrack which includes the late George Harrison performing CHEER DOWN during the end credits.

Lethal Weapon 2.......2006-06-16

Saw this movie on HBO and loved it.Rated R for violence,language,some drug use and sexualty.Canada:18A.Not for children.

THE BEST OF THE SERIES.......2006-06-15

I've lost count how many times I've watched this film. Gibson and Glover are excelent but the inclusion of Joe Pesci was the stroke of genius. His "steak sandwich" monologue is a classic. It's hard to believe he became so obnoxious in future sequels.
If you were going to watch only one Lethal Weapon movie, this should be it.

Gibson and Glover reunite for fun cop movie.......2006-05-12

The summer of 1989 was loaded with blockbusters, yet there was only one movie that I really wanted to see more than any other. In a season that saw such blockbusters as a new Indiana Jones movie, the latest Star Trek picture and Timothy Dalton's second outing as 007, the movie that held the most excitement for me was LETHAL WEAPON 2. Not because of Mel Gibson or Danny Glover or a particular love of the original, but because the love interest came in the very lovely shape of the lead singer of one of my favorite 1980s bands (Eighth Wonder) Patsy Kensit.
Truth be told though, there's not much to Kensit's role here, she is there simply as window dressing in the part of a secretary at the South African consulate. The movie as a whole though is a great, fun ride and is easily my favorite of the franchise.
The plot of the movie involves drug smuggling that is being conducted by officials at the South African consulate. Back in the 1980s South Africa was largely an international pariah because of its policy of apartheid. This made it easy to target them as the villains and their position as diplomats provides them with the protective vbeil of diplomatic immunity. As lead villain Arjen Rudd (played wonderfully by British actor Joss Ackland) comments when confronting the Los Angeles police officers "you could not even give me a parking ticket."
Starting with a chase through the night streets of Los Angeles, the movie races from one action sequence to another rarely pausing for breath in what is a classic cop buddy movie. Both Gibson and Glover make a great team and the interplay between them provides for some really subtle humor.
Which brings us to Joe Pesci, whose humor is about as subtle as a sledgehammer in the role of witness Leo Getz - "Whatever you want Leo Getz - get it!?" Pesci is at times annoying and at other times loveable, but he is always funny. Obviously he was also a hit with the audience too as he would return in the third and fourth movie of the series.
As a bonus for Kensit fans like myself - in the scene where Leo is cleaning Riggs house you can hear Eighth Wonder's biggest hit "I'm not Scared" playing in the background. It's a shame they did not have Kensit's character survive until the end as they had originally planned, but I understand that her death leads Riggs to take the dramatic action that he does.
This is my favorite cop movie (alongside "Beverly Hills Cop" and an entertaining way to spend 114 minutes or 118 minutes if you go with the directors cut.
Scenes included in the directors cut includes Leo using numbers to remember a suspects address and Murtaugh getting some bad news from an auto-repair man after Riggs drives his new station wagon up against a guardrail. Pretty standard stuff that I felt did not add anything particularly.
The directors cut also comes with a making of featurette, cast and crew bios and a theatrical trailer. Here's hoping that one day soon Warner will put out an ultimate edition. Director Richard Donner has already done a great commentary track on the original Suoerman movie and a commentary track here would be welcome also.
Recommended.

Average customer rating:

The Last Don II
Delightful Movie
Worthy
Terrible.
Part one was great, this one...

The Last Don II
Starring: Jason Gedrick , Patsy Kensit , Kirstie Alley , David Marciano , and James Wilder
Director: Graeme Clifford
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Mario Puzo's The Last Don
Boss of Bosses
Gotti
Mobsters
Bella Mafia

ASIN: 1573626155
Release Date: 1999-05-25

Customer Reviews:

The Last Don II.......2007-06-09

A very rear view of what the Mafia were like, brutal and stricked. It's not a movie for the faint hearted. A very riveting movie with a wonderful cast.

Delightful Movie.......2007-06-09

I saw this on tv, loved it and got the DVD as a gift! Anyone who loves Mafia movies, this one is for you.

Worthy.......2007-04-26

Kept in suspense every minute. Danny Aiello finally displays his finer talent as the Don. Has the required skill. Kirsty Alley also pulls thru in anguish, pain and doubt toward the Don, the Clericuzio. Jason Gedrick, innocent from the start, a given for the future. Serious family business headed toward the flame. Ruthless to the point, perhaps wiser.
Oops, I was talking about the The First Don, I mean The Last Don 1

Terrible........2006-06-02

Who ever wrote the screenplay for this movie not only didn't bother to read the book, but they didn't even bother to watch the first movie! Don't bother, gang.

Part one was great, this one..........2005-10-01

The main problem with this movie is the music. They have put loud music on top of the dialogues, so often it is impossible to understand what the actors are saying!!!
The plot is ok, although you do not understand why Giorgio would want to leave the job of Don to Crocefisso, and not take it for himself.
Next it is not really clear why Crocefisso came back from Paris at all. If I understood it correctly, at the beginning of the movie Don Clericuzio only said that he missed him. Not that he wanted him back. But, again the music was covering the dialogues, and so I migh have misunderstood.

DVD:

DVD List

DVD

DVD

From Remagen To The Elbe

Sky Dancers - Love Lost Love Found And Other Stories : Video

Charlie's Angels -- Superbit [2000]

DVD: Robert G. Lee "A To Z"

Winning London