Class

Starring:Jacqueline Bisset, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Cliff Robertson, Stuart Margolin, John Cusack, Alan Ruck, Rodney Pearson, Remak Ramsay, Virginia Madsen, Deborah Thalberg, Fern Persons, Casey Siemaszko, Aaron Douglas (IV), Anna Maria Horsford, Hal Frank, Dick Cusack, William Visteen, James D. O'Reilly, Caitlin Hart
Director: Lewis John Carlino
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
As rites-of-passage films featuring a young man's sexual initiation in the arms of a beautiful woman go, Class (1983) has plenty going for it, not least its attractive cast: Andrew McCarthy as Jonathan, Rob Lowe as Gatsbyish best friend Skip, and Jacqueline Bisset as the beautiful woman who's old enough to know better and just happens to be Skip's mother.

Description

Based on Alex Haley's best-selling novel about his African ancestors, Roots followed several generations in the lives of a slave family. The saga began with Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton), a West African youth captured by slave raiders and shipped to America in the 1700s. The family's saga is depicted up until the Civil War where Kunte Kinte's grandson gained emancipation. Roots made its greatest impression on the ratings and widespread popularity it garnered. On average, 130 million - almost half the country at the time - saw all or part of the series.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary
Documentaries
Electronic press kit
Featurette
Interviews

Customer Reviews:

Roots.......2007-07-03

I have seen this movie a long time ago, and it is still a excellent picture.

Roots.......2007-06-29

I had forgotten how moving this film is! Great acting, well written characters and a shameful recounting of slavery.

Great story.......2007-06-29

What a story, I think it should be in schools,lest it's forgotten.

Roots(Four Disc 30th Anniversay Edition.......2007-06-27

Everyone should own this disc set. It is a good educational tool for children in helping them to understand how wrong slavery was and how much the black race had to suffer for their freedom.The story behind this saga is sad but it also shows the determination of the black race to survive through unbearable times.

Top Mini-Series of All-Time!.......2007-06-26

The stories, the actors, the emotion ... everything about this mini-series in awe-inspiring and just plain inspiring! I'll be watching it over and over again, especially with my kids!

Average customer rating:

One of my top ten most romantic movies ever made!
Not Persuaded by the film
Didn't like at first .. but then I did.
Excellent film!
Superb

Persuasion (1995)
Starring: Amanda Root , Ciarán Hinds , Susan Fleetwood , Corin Redgrave , and Fiona Shaw
Director: Roger Michell
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
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Emma (1996)

ASIN: B00003JRCQ
Release Date: 2000-02-01

Amazon.com

Movie adaptations of Jane Austen's classic novels were all the rage (relatively speaking) in the mid-1990s. Clueless updated Austen's Emma, which was more conventionally adapted in another version (Emma) starring Gwyneth Paltrow. Emma was produced yet again, this time for British television, as were a celebrated miniseries of Pride and Prejudice and this splendid film of Austen's Persuasion. Persuasion is the story of a love that survives eight years of dormancy and the frustrating obstacles of class prejudice in 19th century England. Anne (Amanda Root) is captivated when she meets the dignified naval officer Capt. Wentworth (Ciarán Hinds), but she is advised to discourage his romantic overtures because he has no fortune. They meet again eight years later, but now Capt. Wentworth has become wealthy while Anne's father is in reduced circumstances in the wake of reckless extravagance. A series of circumstances ensue which prevent Anne and Wentworth from expressing their mutual and inevitable love. The film's success depends entirely on the subtle, superb performances of Root and Hinds. The film builds slowly, occasionally leaving you wondering if anything at all is going to happen. When it does, you realize how carefully crafted a film this is, and the final result is grandly rewarding. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

One of my top ten most romantic movies ever made!.......2007-06-22

This less-than-2-hour movie aired on PBS with a great intro by host Russell Baker. I still enjoy that VHS tape I made at the time, but its colors are dark and sometimes the dialog is hard to understand. Not having it on dvd is NOT an option for me. Luckily, it had been over a year since I last viewed this one, and it was better than ever, even better than the 1st time I saw it. Sometimes I see Captain Wentworth as mildly retarded, that he cannot see that Anne obviously has feelings for him. Then I remember he was thoroughly snubbed by her family as well as refused by her, so his hesitancy is understandable. In the 8 years that have elapsed since refusing him, Anne has found herself & her own voice, & is finally able to tell her well-meaning but patronizing friend, "That is not a thing that I want!" I am always so proud of her for going after what she does want, finally. The last few minutes of the film are some of the most romantic ever made.

My top ten: Pride & Prejudice (mini series with Colin Firth), 2)Persuasion, 3)Room With a View, 4)Casablanca, 5)Emma (Kate Beckinsale version), 6)My Foolish Heart, 7)The Terminator, 8)Doctor Zhivago ('65 version), 9)Best Years of Our Lives, 10)Will Penny. Ok, those last 5 shift around a bit sometimes, depending on which old movies I come across. Some of the traditionally favorite ones like GWTW, or Love Story -- there's more anguish than romance there, to me. What are your favorites? Always on the lookout for romantic moments on film. Hey, that could be another top ten, of your Top Ten Romantic Moments on film, which could be altogether a different list!

Not Persuaded by the film.......2007-05-30

Glad I read the book before watching the film. There were scenes from the book that could have been included to make the film story line flow better. The actors/actresses were not as believable and didn't seem to fit the descriptions in the book as well. This adaptation of "Persuasion" was not as good as Ang Lee's "Sense and Sensibility" (with Emma Thompson) nor Andrew Davies' "Pride and Prejudice" (with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle).
If you're not keen on owning this DVD, I'd borrow it from the local library, a friend, or NetFlix before spending money to buy it.

Didn't like at first .. but then I did........2007-05-04

I am a big Austin fan and have seen just about all of her movie adaptatons. At first I found this movie slow and pointless but about 1/2 way through I got excited to see how it would end. The ending makes good sense but could have been more detailed. The movie builds up antisipation and then ends ubruptly and leaves you saying what just happened. All and all this movie is worth seeing if you enjoy other Austin movies.

Excellent film!.......2007-04-26

This is one of my favorite movies. I saw it at the theater when it first came out and then I bought the book. The characters seem like real people that a person could meet.

Superb.......2007-04-18

This is one of the best of this genre, literary adaptations. Highly recommended, great cast especially Amada Root.

Average customer rating:

"What happens if a car comes?" "We die."
Awesome
The Notebook
My favorite movie!
Unforgettable Summer Romance

The Notebook (New Line Platinum Series)
Starring: Tim Ivey , Gena Rowlands , Starletta DuPois , James Garner , and Anthony-Michael Q. Thomas
Director: Nick Cassavetes
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
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The Notebook
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ASIN: B000683VI4
Release Date: 2005-02-08

Amazon.com

When you consider that old-fashioned tearjerkers are an endangered species in Hollywood, a movie like The Notebook can be embraced without apology. Yes, it's syrupy sweet and clogged with clichés, and one can only marvel at the irony of Nick Cassavetes directing a weeper that his late father John--whose own films were devoid of saccharine sentiment--would have sneered at. Still, this touchingly impassioned and great-looking adaptation of the popular Nicholas Sparks novel has much to recommend, including appealing young costars (Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams) and appealing old costars (James Garner and Gena Rowlands, the director's mother) playing the same loving couple in (respectively) early 1940s and present-day North Carolina. He was poor, she was rich, and you can guess the rest; decades later, he's unabashedly devoted, and she's drifting into the memory-loss of senile dementia. How their love endured is the story preserved in the titular notebook that he reads to her in their twilight years. The movie's open to ridicule, but as a delicate tearjerker it works just fine. Message in a Bottle and A Walk to Remember were also based on Sparks novels, suggesting a triple-feature that hopeless romantics will cherish. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Behind every great love is a great story. Two teenagers from opposite sides of the tracks fall in love during one summer together, but are tragically forced apart. When they reunite 7 years later, their passionate romance is rekindled, forcing one of them to choose between true love and class order.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:2 Commentaries --Director Nick Cassavettes --Novelist Nicholas Sparks
DVD ROM Features
Deleted Scenes:12 Deleted Scenes
Documentaries:Nick Cassavetes Profile Featurette Author Nicholas Sparks Featurette Locating "The Notebook" Featurette Casting Noah and Allie featurette
Other:Widescreen & Fullscreen versions on one disc Rachel McAdams Screen Test
Theatrical Trailer

Customer Reviews:

"What happens if a car comes?" "We die.".......2007-07-02

A must have! This is by far one of the best movies I've ever watched. After witnessing a few scenes from this movie I just had to go out and buy it and I don't regret it!

"The Notebook" breaks away from the typical kind of chick flick and adds a touch of humor. The movie adds more focus to the character's first Summer together, unlike the book which I found to be quite a snoozer. Also, the character's personalities seems more realistic and have more depth to them as you will discover during their heated arguements. Noah's personality is so dreamy and you can't help but fall in love with him over and over again.

I found many differences between the book and movie, but I won't spoil it for you if you haven't seen either. :3 This movie definately allows you to take a step back and appreciate the relationship you have with your loved one.

Awesome.......2007-06-27

Excellent movie ! A wonderful story about soul mates, soul mates for life. It will bring tears of happiness and sadness. Definitely a feel good movie.

The Notebook.......2007-06-27

I rented this and decided it was one I could enjoy again and again
I figured the story right away which was good as it made it more enjoyable

My favorite movie!.......2007-06-22

I'm glad I finally got to buy this movie, it is one of my favorites. If you want to know what love could do to somebody and how powerful can be just watch this movie and you'll see what love is all about...

Just to let you know make sure you have a box of tissue handy, or maybe two haha!

Unforgettable Summer Romance.......2007-05-31

`The Notebook' is a sweet romance with a compelling story. The appeal easily develops with freewheeling dating scenes and revelations which unfold lovers sorting out priorities that hit so close to home. A bitter-sweet romance, the film is a beautiful tale of two sweethearts who come from completely different backgrounds but live in the same Southern town during the early forties.

Noah (Ryan Gosling) is from a dirt poor family and works as a logger for forty cents an hour. Allie (Rachel McAdams) belongs to the Southern aristocracy. She has private tutors for every class and most of her whims satisfied. It is love at first sight for Noah who spots Allie at a carnival and jumps between her and her chosen date from the platform of a Ferris wheel. Once he has her attention, he threatens to let go and fall to the pavement if she won't agree to date him. From there his colorful presence challenges every route she's ever known. They each bring a measure of deep beauty to each other: He recites poetry, and she creates paintings. All the oddball adventure he presents from lying down in the middle of a street to dare the traffic, letting go in a torrential rainstorm, to dancing in the street provide those defining moments that demonstrate how strangely people act when they are in love. As the summer ends their lives are disrupted: She is forced to go to Sarah Lawrence College in New York, and soon later he is drafted to fight in Europe during World War II. They split ways and find different lovers, but their relationship is truncated, especially when Allie's manipulative mother (Joan Allen) intercepts Noah's letters that are meant for her.

`The Notebook' is told from the point-of-view of "Duke" (James Garner) who reads the story of Noah and Allie to a beloved nursing home resident (Gena Rowlands) suffering from dementia. I kept thinking as they sit on a park bench in one scene that the story is retold in a manner not entirely different from 'Forrest Gump'. Duke narrates the story, and we come back to him and the woman until the two stories meet and have meaning.

Besides solid, absorbing performances by Gosling and McAdams, Garner softens the edge of the story as narrator, and Allen and Rowlands are easily captivating as Allie's complex and emotional mother and the elderly dementia patient. 'The Notebook' is a pleasing old-fashioned movie that easily plays on our heartstrings and provides a very satisfying viewing experience. (Based on a novel by Nicholas Sparks)

Average customer rating:

Schoolboys In Disgrace
IF only I could decide...
Just one of the Greatest Unknown Films of the 20th Century
Don't forget the music!
Much anticipated!

If... (Criterion Collection)
Starring: Malcolm McDowell , David Wood , Richard Warwick , Christine Noonan , and Rupert Webster
Director: Lindsay Anderson , and Guy Brenton
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Army of Shadows - Criterion Collection
Sweet Movie (Criterion Collection)
La Jetee/Sans Soleil (Criterion Collection)
Ace in the Hole - Criterion Collection
Sansho the Bailiff - Criterion Collection

ASIN: B000OPPAEW
Release Date: 2007-06-19

Description

Lindsay Anderson's If.… is a daringly anarchic vision of British society, set in a boarding school in late-sixties England. Before Kubrick made his mischief iconic in A Clockwork Orange, Malcolm McDowell made a hell of an impression as the insouciant Mick Travis, who, along with his school chums, trumps authority at every turn, finally emerging as violent savior against the draconian games of one-upmanship played by both students and the powers that be. Mixing color and black and white as audaciously as it mixes fantasy and reality, If…. remains one of cinema's most unforgettable rebel yells.

Customer Reviews:

Schoolboys In Disgrace.......2007-06-27

The exclusive private school portrayed in "If.." serves as a scathing metaphor of class and privilege in the United Kingdom. What makes the statement that director Lindsay Anderson is trying to convey more stinging is that he treats his subject matter as dark comedy. What I also found interesting is that Anderson doesn't direct most of his criticism at the school administrators, whose crimes are allowing such a stifling atmosphere to perpetuate. Rather, the worst criticism is directed at the Whips, the sniveling fascist students who are given free reign to terrorize and subjugate their fellow students to the worst kind of torment. It's easy to criticize authority but our worst enemies are our peers who will later become the leaders of our world because that's the way it is. The film is anchored by a mesmerizing performance by Malcolm McDowell who portrays rebel iconoclast Mick Travis. Travis belongs in this stifling environment as much as he needs a hole in the head. Travis serves as everyman and reacts to the inanity around him with a knowing smirk. In one memorably hilarious exchange with a Whip Travis accuses him of serving Coca-Cola to the underclassmen while expecting them to lick his fingers for the rest of their lives. What gives this scene more power is that Travis says it knowing it will subject him to a more severe beating. If you could best describe "If..." I would say it's a dark comedy with dramatic and surreal elements. It would serve as a good double bill with another indictment of English classism, Peter Medak's "The Ruling Class". On a final note will somebody, Criterion or Warner Brothers, release "O Lucky Man" on disc.

IF only I could decide..........2007-06-21

In high school in the middle 1970s we never could get to see this movie but we all owned a copy of the screenplay. Finally I saw the film at a university showing in 1978 or 1979. I hadn't seen it since. From the reviews since 2000 it appears some people in the US had it on VHS or DVD but I don't know how that was possible. I never could find it. I assumed it was being surpressed out of political fear. Anyway, all these years later, I'm still not sure I like how the movie slips the bounds of reality to the point where you're not sure this isn't supposed to be just a fantasy (the vicar in the drawer, the main characters not speaking the last 15 minutes of the movie, the charage across the clean quad that in the previous shot was battle strewn). This shift to fantasy is jarring because up to the last half hour of the movie it is as brutally naturalistic as This Sporting Life (except for the fantasy sex sequence - clearly meant to be fantasy - in the cafe). Am I wrong to find this shift to fantasy an artistic capitulation? Am I the only one who thought the lads burning the stuffed crocodile meant this was all to be seen as something like the collages with pictures from Africa? Nevertheless, I know I'll be watching this DVD many times.

Just one of the Greatest Unknown Films of the 20th Century.......2007-06-18

I first saw "If..." during its original release in the late 1960s in a theater in Pittsburgh. I saw it several times then ...which was not the easiest thing to do as a grad student. Maybe it had something to do with having attended a New England prep school and my brother about to start one.

I have owned a copy on VHS, I own a book with the script and commentary by Lindsay Anderson, and I am ordering a copy of this DVD.

Most reviewers talk about the theme of rebellion due to repressive conditions and such. The concern ... I want to say fear ... that it will trigger more school tragedies is misplaced. What Lindsay Anderson has done is help us explore the challenges that are faced by young men coming of age so that as a society we can learn how to respond to those challenges. Why today do schools still tolerate bullies?

When I saw the movie "Animal House" a few years later, my immediate reaction was that it was an Americanized version of "If..." but with more humor. I am amazed that no other reviewer has spoken of the parallels. I have never read that Landis or the writers of Animal House were even aware of the film. Maybe that speaks to the timeless theme of the film.

This may not be an easy movie for many to watch, but the Missa Lubba soundtrack is unforgetable and continually brings you back into the film.

Enjoy.

Don't forget the music!.......2007-06-10

I have waited years for IF to be released on DVD - I trust that the amazing MISSA LUBA that was used as the sound-track will also get a new release.

Much anticipated!.......2007-04-24

I've been waiting for a release of If... for a long long time, and it is so good to see it will be given the deluxe treatment with Criterion. Lindsay Anderson created a landmark film which captured the talents of a young Malcolm McDowell at his best. You get the feeling that Wes Anderson took his cue from this film when he made Rushmore, but what sets If... apart is the surrealism that creeps into the movie and eventually takes it over, resulting in its wildly hallucinogenic climax. All the extras will make this anxiously awaited DVD a real treat, as hopefully we will be able to get a peek into the mind that created this film. The addition of Thursday's Children certainly makes this deluxe package worthwhile.

Average customer rating:

Are you kidding?!
Skip the Movie; Read the Book!
Even the purist likes it...
Will they get together?!
A breathtaking tale to watch again and again

Pride & Prejudice
Starring: Keira Knightley , Talulah Riley , Rosamund Pike , Jena Malone , and Carey Mulligan
Director: Joe Wright (IV)
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
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Pride & Prejudice

ASIN: B000E1ZBGS
Release Date: 2006-02-28

Amazon.com

Literary adaptations just don't get any better than director Joe Wright's 2005 version of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice. The key word here is adaptation, because Wright and gifted screenwriter Deborah Moggach have taken liberties with Austen's classic novel that purists may find objectionable, but in this exquisite film their artistic decisions are entirely justified and exceptionally well executed. It's a more rural England that we see here, circa 1790 (as opposed to Austen's early 19th century), in which Elizabeth Bennet (Keira Knightley) is one of several sisters primed for marriage, with an anxious mother (Brenda Blethyn) only too desperate to see her daughters paired off with the finest, richest husbands available. Elizabeth is strong-willed and opinionated, but her head (not to mention her pride and prejudice) lead her heart astray when she meets the wealthy Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen), whose own sense of decency and discretion (not to mention his pride and prejudice) prevent him from expressing his mutual affection. They're clearly meant for each other, and as Knightley's performance lights up the screen (still young enough to be girlishly impertinent, yet wise beyond her 20 years), Austen's timeless romance yields yet another timeless adaptation, easily on par with the beloved BBC miniseries that has been embraced by millions since originally broadcast in 1995. Individual tastes will vary as to which version should be considered "definitive," but with a stellar supporting cast including Judi Dench and Donald Sutherland, this impeccable production achieves its own kind of perfection. --Jeff Shannon

Description

One of the greatest love stories of all time, Pride & Prejudice, comes to the screen in a glorious new adaptation starring Keira Knightley. When Elizabeth Bennett (Knightley) meets the handsome Mr. Darcy (Matthew MacFadyen), she believes he is the last man on earth she could ever marry. But as their lives become intertwined in an unexpected adventure, she finds herself captivated by the very person she swore to loathe for all eternity. Based on the beloved masterpiece by Jane Austen, it is the classic tale of love and misunderstanding that sparkles with romance, wit and emotional force. Critics are calling it "Exhilarating. A joy from start to finish" (Carina Chocano, Los Angeles Times).

Customer Reviews:

Are you kidding?!.......2007-06-30

Nothing that happens in this movie makes any sense. It's just a big f***ing ball of bulls***t. If you must watch it, I advise drinking heavily first.

p.s. I thought Conan O'Brien did pretty well as the autistic man who marries the hot blonde. WHOOPS, hope I didn't spoil any surprises.

p.p.s. The douche that Kiera K meets in the beginning? They get married too. SURPRISE!!!!!!!!

Skip the Movie; Read the Book!.......2007-06-29

I count "Pride and Prejudice" among my top-three favorite books...ever. So, I was really looking forward to this cinematic version of it. I was sorely disappointed. In all fairness, two hours just can't do justice to this wonderful novel, but this movie didn't even scratch the surface. And Keira Knightley as Lizzy? Didn't quite work for me. I say don't waste your money. The book is cheaper and will afford you greater hours upon hours of pleasure. I dare say, you'll want to read it again, which is more than I can say about viewing this film.

Even the purist likes it..........2007-06-28

Although I believed the A&E version could never be replaced in my heart due to its true-to-the-book writing, this is a wonderful sweetened condensed version and sparks a great romantic chord. Though I still adore the A&E version and would recommend it to anyone who's never read the book or is, like myself, a purist, this is a great little flick.

Will they get together?!.......2007-06-27

I love it! It doesn't go into as much detail as the first Pride and PrejudicePride and Prejudice - The Special Edition (A&E, 1996) ,then again that was five hours long,and some of the best scences weren't even in the book but whats wrong with that. There are some fantastic scences, spectacular scenery, and Pride and Prejudice is one of the few movies where you are worried if they are really going to get together so it keeps you attention the entire time Knightly plays Elizabeth beautifully and Matthew Macfadyen is the perfect Mr. Darcy. Pride and Prejudice definitly didn't recieve the explosure it deserved.

A breathtaking tale to watch again and again.......2007-06-25

I have not read the book - so I am reviewing based solely on my enjoyment of the film for its own sake. It is a lovely, whimsical, romantic tale that can be enjoyed many times over. I appreciated the refreshing lack of profanity, crudity, and senseless violence that floods today's movies.

Beautiful scenary, well acted - thoroughly enjoyable. I highly recommend this!

Average customer rating:

Darcy has got nothing on Edward Ferrars...
The best of Jane Austen
Very endearing movie!
Chick Flick
Anything by Jane

Sense & Sensibility (Special Edition)
Starring: James Fleet , Tom Wilkinson , Harriet Walter , Kate Winslet , and Emma Thompson
Director: Ang Lee
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
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Emma (A&E, 1997)

ASIN: 0800141660
Release Date: 1999-08-24

Amazon.com essential video

Emma Thompson scores a double bull's-eye with this marvelous adaptation of Jane Austen's novel. Not only does Thompson turn in a strong (and gently humorous) performance as one of the Dashwood sisters--the one with "sense"--she also wrote the witty, wise screenplay. Austen's tale of 19th-century manners and morals provides a large cast with a feast of possibilities, notably Kate Winslet, in her pre-Titanic flowering, as Thompson's deeply romantic sister. Winslet attracts the wooing of shy Alan Rickman (a nice change of pace from his bad-guy roles) and dashing Greg Wise, while Thompson must endure an incredibly roundabout courtship with Hugh Grant, here in fine and funny form. All of this is doled out with the usual eye-filling English countryside and handsome costumes, yet the film always seems to be about the careful interior lives of its characters. The director, an inspired choice, is Taiwan-born Ang Lee, who brings the same exquisite taste and discreet touch he displayed in his previous Asian films (such as Eat Drink Man Woman). Thompson's script won an Oscar, and 1995 was a fine year for Jane Austen all around: Persuasion was made into an excellent picture, and Emma became the spritzy high school comedy Clueless. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

Darcy has got nothing on Edward Ferrars..........2007-07-03

Yes, yes, if you are an Austen fan Mr. Darcy is dashing and bold to be sure, but the quiet gentleness and honorable love of Edward Ferrars for Elinor Dashwood is a delight to partake in, in this adaptation of Jane Austen's "Sense and Sensibility." This film was quite faithful to the book, and the actors and actresses were suberbly chosen, as were the costumes, setting, and dialogue. It's such a lovely story with very good lessons to take to heart, as Emma Thompson (Elinor Dashwood) learns to hope that what is lost, is not lost forever, and Kate Winslet (Marianne Dashwood) learns how sensibility can prevent a broken heart. So, if you are craving the delightful romance, agony, humour, and hope of love in Jane Austen's England, this film will not disappoint.

The best of Jane Austen.......2007-06-30

Anyone watching this show can determine how hard it was for a woman to survive in the pre-industrial England.

I have a preference for 19th century movies and books. This movie did not disappoint me. The actors and actresses all fit so perfectly into their roles. It was like magic to see them perform.

The Dashwood women, Elinor, Marianne and Margaret with along with their mother are forced to leave a life of luxury when Mr. Dashwood dies and they move into a cottage in the country. (Women have no rights to inherit when a man dies.) The money usually is given to the eldest sons in the family. The women must find another means to survive unless the one who inherits is generous enough to allow them to stay on. In this case, the greed of the son's wife overrules the son and the women are pressed upon to leave very quickly.

The oldest daughter develops a romantic interest in her half brother's wife's brother-in-law, but the sister-in-law makes certain that they are separated so that nothing more can develop.

The younger of the two oldest daughters abandons sensible conduct and rushes headlong into folly with a rake.

The two sisters are then taken into London for a season, and the truth is known about both men on their lives. One is already secretly engaged (entrapped is more like it)and the other has proposed to a wealthy woman because of his own bad debts.

Everything works out for the best and everyone gets what they deserve in the end. Life doesn't always look like it works that way, but it probably does. At least this movie inspires me to believe it.

The music in it is outstanding along with all of the beautiful panoramic scenery of England's countryside.

Very endearing movie!.......2007-06-30

I have a preference for 19th century movies and books. This movie did not disappoint me. The actors and actresses all fit so perfectly into their roles. It was like magic to see them perform.

The Dashwood women, Elinor, Marianne and Margaret with along with their mother are forced to leave a life of luxury when Mr. Dashwood dies and they move into a cottage in the country. (Women have no rights to inherit when a man dies.) The money usually is given to the eldest sons in the family. The women must find another means to survive unless the one who inherits is generous enough to allow them to stay on. In this case, the greed of the son's wife overrules the son and the women are pressed upon to leave very quickly.

The oldest daughter develops a romantic interest in her half brother's wife's brother-in-law, but the sister-in-law makes certain that they are separated so that nothing more can develop.

The younger of the two oldest daughters abandons sensible conduct and rushes headlong into folly with a rake.

The two sisters are then taken into London for a season, and the truth is known about both men on their lives. One is already secretly engaged (entrapped is more like it)and the other has proposed to a wealthy woman because of his own bad debts.

Everything works out for the best and everyone gets what they deserve in the end. Life doesn't always look like it works that way, but it probably does. At least this movie inspires me to believe it.

The music in it is outstanding along with all of the beautiful panoramic scenery of England's countryside.

Chick Flick.......2007-06-08

This adaptation of Jane Austen's Sense & Sensibility was an exceptional one. With the starring cast who could hardly go wrong. Enjoy!!

Anything by Jane.......2007-06-04

My favorite movie of ALL TIME!! Anything by Jane Austin is wonderful and Emma Thompson did a wonderful adaptation of this story.

Average customer rating:

I loved North & South!
Amazing
Just as good as Pride and Prejudice
Outstanding movie
Well done, but diverges significantly from the book

North & South
Starring: Daniela Denby-Ashe , Richard Armitage , Tim Pigott-Smith , Emma Ferguson (II) , and Travis Oliver
Director: Brian Percival
Manufacturer: BBC Warner
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000AYEL6U
Release Date: 2005-11-15

Amazon.com

North & South is a splendid, four-hour adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell's 19th century novel about an unlikely, and somewhat star-crossed, love between a middle-class young woman from England's cultivated south and an intemperate if misunderstood industrialist in a hardscrabble, northern city. Daniela Denby-Ashe plays Margaret Hale, forthright and strong-willed daughter of a former vicar (Tim Pigott-Smith) who relocates his family from a pastoral village outside London to unforgiving, largely illiterate Milton, a factory town where John Thornton (Richard Armitage) and his mother (Sinead Cusack), survivors of poverty, rule their cotton mill with an iron hand. Thornton befriends Margaret's father but incurs her wrath for his severity with his workers. What she doesn't notice is Thornton's core sense of responsibility for his employees' welfare. On the other hand, he misinterprets some of Margaret's own actions and intentions. Equally stubborn, the two drag out their obvious attraction over many painful months and events.

North & South's two leads are both very good, though Armitage's brooding, penetrating performance may very well be considered a classic one day. There are other wonders in the cast: Cusack and Pigott-Smith are superb, and Brendan Coyle is memorable as a firebrand union organizer who ultimately becomes an ally to a softening Thornton. The miniseries script by Sandy Welch is a persuasive mix of historical context and character study. Brian Percival's direction is full of moments that linger in the imagination, such as the winter-dream look of a busy cotton mill, with thousands of snowy fibers floating in the air. --Tom Keogh

Description

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:Commentary on Episodes 1 and 4 by producer Kate Bartlett, director Brian Percival and writer Sandy Welch
Biographies:Cast bios
Deleted Scenes
Interviews:Specially recorded interview with Richard Armitage
Production Notes

Customer Reviews:

I loved North & South!.......2007-07-04

I know that some comparisons have been made between North & South and Pride & Prejudice, but I'd have to say that Richard Armitage's portrayal of Mr. Thornton leaves all Mr. Darcys in the dust. And there is so much more to this story than the romance (although the romance is what will have me watching it again and again.)

I read the book subsequent to seeing the DVD, and I am of the opinion that the film really did justice to the novel. And after reading it, I concluded that the casting in the film was perfect; I simply can't imagine anyone else filling the roles of Thornton and Margaret quite so well.

Amazing.......2007-06-27

I saw this randomly on A&E or BBC or something a few years ago, and when I was bored searching on Amazon i was so excited to see it. It really is one of my favorite purchases ever, the best movie to snuggle into at night or on a lazy day.

Just as good as Pride and Prejudice.......2007-06-27

I received the movie yesterday and have watched it 2 times all the way through. This is a wonderful video and worth the price. Today good movies are very hard to find. Alot of women look for a romantic movie but one that has substance to it. North and South has that. Mr. Thornton and Margaret tell a tale of a man and woman who come from two literally different worlds. Their lives collide and you can tell from the moment they see each other that there is a definite attraction.

I think the best part is watching the love unfold - not through sex or innuendo but rather through gentle touching of the hands and looks in their eyes and on their faces.

You fall in love with the characters immediately and become part of their world - you laugh with them and cry with them and you love them.

This is a movie for any woman who has romance in her heart and a man in her life she knows belongs to her. Because that is exactly what North and South epitomizes.

Outstanding movie.......2007-06-25

I can't believe I just found this incredible movie. It is a work of art from the music to the cinematography to the acting. Richard Armitage's performance is a gift. I loved every minute of it.

Well done, but diverges significantly from the book.......2007-06-21

My sister and I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. The acting is top-notch and the adaptation is generally faithful to the book. However, given that I knew that Gaskell was a Unitarian and an early feminist, I knew that one of the early scenes could not have been in the book; Gaskell would never have had her heroine become romantically attached to a man who could behave in that way. Sure enough, when I read the book, I discovered that I was right. This scene is not in the book and the eventual outcome makes much more sense without it. This is the major divergence from the text. The others are minor and don't affect the plausibility of the plot. If you want to know what the false scene is, scroll to the end of the review.

Partly due to Margaret's influence, Mr. Thornton evolves from an employer who resents the workers' demands and can't see their point of view to an employer who begins to try to understand and help them. This is not to say that he does a 180. Rather, he comes to have some empathy for them. For her part, Margaret starts out as a crusader, but when the workers' strike turns ugly, she too starts to see that the moral issues are more complex than she had thought. In a sense, the two challenge each other to take on an enlarged moral perspective. Both Margaret and Mr. Thornton are also changed by having to face serious obstacles. As the story progresses, their growing attraction (first his, then hers) becomes evident. Mr. Thornton, as played by Armitage, is compelling. Margaret is beautifully portrayed by Denby-Ashe. The actors who play Margaret's parents and Mr. Thornton's mother do an excellent job. All in all, this is a very satisfying movie.

(SPOILER ALERT: Here's the false scene. Margaret sees Mr. Thornton beating one of his workers. In the book, Mr. Thornton never physically attacks or even threatens to attack his employees. I just remembered another false note - in the book, one does not get the sense that Margaret's father's college chum is romantically interested in her. In the movie, there's an implication that he might be so interested.)

Introducing Abraham - The Secret Behind "The Secret"

Average customer rating:

Ah yes, 100 channeled beings have all the answers you seek for a mere $34.99
A lot of DVD for the money
You've SEEN "The Secret" - Now an Opportunity to LIVE It!
Great information, buta Abraham does not seem real
Money ! Money! Money!.

Introducing Abraham - The Secret Behind "The Secret"
Starring: Esther Hicks , and Jerry Hicks
Manufacturer: Hay House
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

Metaphysical & Supernatural | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video

The Law of Attraction In Action
The Law of Attraction: The Basics of the Teachings of Abraham
The Secret (Extended Edition)
Ask and It Is Given: Learning to Manifest Your Desires
The Amazing Power of Deliberate Intent 4-CD: Part I: Living the Art of Allowing

ASIN: B000O76WTW
Release Date: 2007-04-20

Product Description

On this inspirational DVD program, Esther and Jerry Hicks present the teachings of the Non-Physical entity Abraham, whom Esther calls infinite intelligence and Jerry refers to as the purest form of love I have ever encountered. The Law of Attraction is never more evident than in the pulse of an Abraham-Hicks Art of Allowing Workshop. And this is one of the years best, The Secret Behind The Secret...so sit back, relax, allow, and attract! Abraham defies explanation. Defies reason. Defies logic. Defies what many call common sense. So forget what you re seeing. And concentrate on what you re hearing. It is the sound of your heart. Beating a little faster and a little truer. It is the sound of Abraham straight up. And once you have heard it, your life will never be the same again. This fascinating DVD, includes segments on the Trilogy, The Meaning of Life and much, much more!

Customer Reviews:

Ah yes, 100 channeled beings have all the answers you seek for a mere $34.99.......2007-06-16

Yet another review I feel compelled to write for those out there who would like to avoid nonsense like this. I must confess, I was an avid Abraham follower for years. I even still listen to their CDs or flip through their books every now and again hoping that what they preach is true. But sadly, it is not. Just to clarify, I think positive thinking, being optimistic and looking on the bright side are all wonderful ways to approach life, but I do draw the line at the concept that we can manifest our thoughts and desires as if we were wishing upon a star. That's just nonsense, as I've discovered, and after The Secret, it's nonsense that seems to be highly in demand.

There's a simple saying that I've learned is rather truthful... 'If it looks too good to be true, then it probably is.' That would most definitely apply to Abraham and just about everything they utter or write. I say 'they' because Abraham is a group of approximately 100 or so beings that Esther channels. I ignored that fact and gave their philosophy the good college try, which is to say that for several years I followed their words dilligently, truly believing that I could manifest whatever I desired. But alas, this is simply not so. Anyone can manifest some of what they want the same way we can achieve goals - through determination, applying ourselves and our energy toward reaching said goals, and by not letting things easily deter us from said goals. However, beyond that, you cannot manifest whatever you desire by sheer force of will, which is what Abraham would have you believe, which is what many people have discovered over the years. Life simply doesn't work that way, and wishing it would will not make it so. Believe me, I wish that weren't the case, which is why I keep returning to their work every so often only to discover that my 'vibration' regarding them is very, very low. Perhaps that's my 'inner guidance system' reminding me that the only thing Abraham is good for is motivation. The rest is absolutely worthless.

And for all the Abraham followers who would respond by telling me that my vibration is simply too low or that I'm attracting this experience, let me just say that once upon a time I truly believed in this and was one of the most positive people you would have ever known, but ultimately it made no difference. Daydreaming is not the way to happiness. More likely, it's the way to true misery as we continually seek what we do not have rather than appreciate all that we do. There's a wise lesson in that for anyone willing to heed it.

This DVD is no different than any of the other Abraham merchandise. Take what they offer with a grain of salt. They are wonderful motivators. That I will not deny. It's when you start taking what they offer seriously that you'll eventually discover that we cannot manifest what we desire through daydreams or vibrational alignment or whatever 'tool' they're pimping these days.

A lot of DVD for the money.......2007-06-15

There are two DVDs of very long interviews with Jerry and Esther and Abraham. There are some profound things that I have not heard anywhere else. It was a good mood lifter for me as well.

You've SEEN "The Secret" - Now an Opportunity to LIVE It!.......2007-06-11

Loved the movie! The Teachings of Abraham have got to be the clearest, most loving, self-accountable interpretation of the Law of Attraction that I have seen. This movie introduces the "mainstream" to the concept of "channeled information" and "non-physical energy" in a way that is easily understood also asks (and answers) some of the big questions that skeptics like myself may have had about the whole thing. It empowers the viewer to recognize that we really can Be, Do and Have all we came here to experience! Peter Beamish pulls it together beautifully! A great introduction to Ester and Jerry Hicks other work!Ask & It Is Given: The Law (Ask and It Is Given)

Great information, buta Abraham does not seem real.......2007-06-11

The information is great!!! No doubt about it. Esther is a great communicator and she answers with great depth and detail the questions being asked. The only thing is that she should have left it as Esther's knowledge and her own answers. Rather than making it seem as if some entity from a higher consciousness named Abraham was being interviewed. The reason I say that is because in a couple of the answers, Abraham asks the interviewer as if Abraham wanted to be sure of the question. That showed hesitation in Abraham, who is from a higher consciousness, on the meaning of the interviewer's questions. Shouldn't Abraham already know the real meaning of the interviewer's question??? Also, some of Abraham's answers were vague (meaning too human) coming from a higher consciousness. For example, animals are happy to be eaten because they've signed up for it before they came into this physical world. In reality though, they run scared from their predators and defend themselves to their last breath. Since animals are in tune with their source as stated in the DVD, shouldn't they know that it is their destiny and just let it happen and be eaten??? What about animals in the slaughter house??? From that point of view Abraham lacks respect for life itself. Even though Esther is a brilliant communicator, introducing Abraham in her work makes her work less believable. Besides Abraham, I think the DVD has a wealth of information, and should be viewed from a point of view in which there is no higher consciousness answering questions.

Money ! Money! Money!........2007-06-05

Some of the information on this DVD is inspiring and Esther is very good at answering questions very quickly (she has years of practise),but the whole thing lost its crediblity when "Abraham" was asked about animals and whether it is O.K to eat meat. Esther gave a very shoddy and biblical reply saying basically that animals that came into this world by choice and one of those choices was to be eaten. Now in the natural scheme of things ,if there was no humans in the picture ,there is a foodchain among animals in the NATURAL environment ,but where do you see anything natural going on in a dreadful factory farms where animals are nothing but meat machines. Are those animals happy to be eaten?. Has anyone seen footage of cows escaping slaughterhouses,running for their lives with absolute dread on their beautiful faces?. Has anyone seen thousands of chickens crammed into cages so small they cant even flap their wings once in their lives?.What about all the animals that are skinned alive so that some braindead drugged model can strut on a catwalk.
If the animals chose to incarnate for that purpose why do they show absolute dread when facing death?.
My answer is they are NOT meant to be eaten.The food chain within the animal kingdom is what it is.But humans have evolved enough where killing animals for food is not needed. It is very sad that the Hicks are spreading this rubbish to large numbers of people ,because like any cult leaders ,they have a lot of influence on their followers. I just hope that people who are on a Spiritual path will realise that compassion is real heart of any teaching and the present moment is the place of the sacred. Animals are part of the interconnectedness of life and they deserve the same respect as any person would. The hicks might be contacting a non-physical entity ,but it certainly is not evolved .Do you sense a real peace when listening to Esther or do you ,like me, think her head is going to start spinning around at any moment?.

Average customer rating:

Equal to or better than the first
Shrek 2: Possibly the Worst Movie in History (and I didn't even see it)
THE GREATEST!
Very funny and well composed story line
Do not like being forced to sit through other movie previews

Shrek 2 (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Mike Myers , Eddie Murphy , Cameron Diaz , Antonio Banderas , and Julie Andrews
Director: Andrew Adamson
Manufacturer: Dreamworks Animated
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005JMQZ
Release Date: 2004-11-05

Amazon.com

The lovably ugly green ogre returns with his green bride and furry, hooved friend in Shrek 2. The newlywed Shrek and Princess Fiona are invited to Fiona's former kingdom, Far Far Away, to have the marriage blessed by Fiona's parents--which Shrek thinks is a bad, bad idea, and he's proved right: The parents are horrified by their daughter's transformation into an ogress, a fairy godmother wants her son Prince Charming to win Fiona, and a feline assassin is hired to get Shrek out of the way. The computer animation is more detailed than ever, but it's the acting that make the comedy work--in addition to the return of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz, Shrek 2 features the flexible voices of Julie Andrews (Mary Poppins), John Cleese (Monty Python's Flying Circus), Antonio Banderas (Desperado), and Jennifer Saunders (Absolutely Fabulous) as the gleefully wicked fairy godmother. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

Equal to or better than the first.......2007-07-03

This movie was very hilarious. It had the same gags as the first one did, but with many more characters and with a much deeper plot.

This time, Shrek and Fiona are married. They get an announcement from "mom and dad." (That being FIONA's mom and dad) that compels them to journey to the land of "Far Far Away..."

Donkey's back, as is Gingey and the whole crew. Here, we meet Puss, Fairy Godmother, Prince Charming and we get a glimpse into Fiona's true heart.... a glimpse that makes Shrek question his own existence. Honestly, this movie is very well done. The animation is sharp and bright. The motivation and the plot are both believable, even amid the backdrop of purest fantasy.

Who is Fiona's true love? It's no secret that, by the end of the movie, we learn that Shrek is just THA MAN! (Or is that THA OGRE?)

I really enjoyed this movie. I think it has something for every age.

Shrek 2: Possibly the Worst Movie in History (and I didn't even see it).......2007-07-02

Shrek 2 is one of the worst movies in world history, possibly the worst ever. The jokes, parodies and gimmicks were boring, dumb and retarded, and I wouldn't even let myself fall asleep to this movie because I wouldn't want to have a dream about it, God forbid--watching it while awake is bad enough.

Oh, btw, I didn't actually even see this movie--I just knew that it was awful, so I was intent on never, ever seeing it as long as I live.

I liked the reviewer who suggested we should lock this film up in a secret government facility and away from the outside world. A better idea might be holding a special witch trial and burning the Master Print at the stake.

Btw, I HATED the first Shrek, which I actually did see, and I already HATE Shrek 3 and Shrek 4-1000, or 4-1,000,000, or however many of these monstrosities they force on us.

The main reason I hate Shrek so much is the ridiculous premise of the movie--that "looks don't matter", it's all about "love" a