Once Upon a Time

Starring:Cary Grant, Janet Blair, James Gleason, Ted Donaldson, William Demarest, Billy Wayne, Ruth Warren, William Gould, Jack Lee, Mary Field, Christian Rub, Eddie Acuff, William Yip, Hugh Maguire, Dick Gordon, Almeda Fowler, Jing Lin, Esther Howard, Garry Owen, Robert Williams
Director: Alexander Hall
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com essential video

The so-called spaghetti Western achieved its apotheosis in Sergio Leone's magnificently mythic (and utterly outlandish) Once upon a Time in the West. After a series of international hits starring Clint Eastwood (from A Fistful of Dollars to The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly), Leone outdid himself with this spectacular, larger-than-life, horse-operatic epic about how the West was won. (And make no mistake: this is the wide, wide West, folks--so the widescreen/letterboxed version is strongly recommended.) The unholy trinity of Italian cinema--Leone, Bernardo Bertolucci, and Dario Argento--concocted the story about a woman (Claudia Cardinale) hanging onto her land in hopes that the transcontinental railroad would reach her before a steely-eyed, black-hearted killer (Fonda) does. (The film's advertising slogan was: "There were three men in her life. One to take her ... one to love her ... and one to kill her.") Meanwhile, Leone shoots his stars' faces as if they were expansive Western landscapes, and their towering bodies as if they were looming rock formations in John Ford's Monument Valley. --Jim Emerson

Customer Reviews:

My all-time favorite western!.......2007-06-20

I never really cared for westerns until I saw this movie. I became hooked on spaghetti westerns, and in my opinion, this is the best of them all! The storyline is certainly different, and the ending is somewhat of a surprise. The main characters really stand out: Charles Bronson, Jason Robards, Claudia Cardinale, and Henry Fonda. The music is haunting, and that was what really hooked me.

The Best Spagetti Western To Date.......2007-06-12

Once Upon a Time in the West From start to finish,is by far the best spagetti western ever made to date. It Stars Henry Fonda as a ruthless outlaw. Along with a pose' he murders and destroys his way through every town he and his gang enters.He shows his victims no mercy, not a drop of sympathy is in his bones. He'll make your blood run cold. Henry Fonda is at his acting best! You have never seen him like this! He encounters a mysterious traveler who plays a mysterious melody on a Harmonica. The traveler seems to be looking for him. Why? Here's where the real edge of your seat action really happens. Finally time to reveal what everything means. Right down to the mysterious song played on the harmonica by the traveler througout most of the movie.
Since this film was made other westerns that followed, used Itlalian director Sergi Leone's touch, i.e. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly etc.)

BEST of the spaghetti Westerns.......2007-06-08

Sergio Leone made his indelible mark with the three Clint Eastwood films, but this is his best work, even though Clint is absent. Not to worry. "Once Upon A Time" features a wonderful all-star cast. Avoiding the overdone goodguys vs bad guys cliche, Leone casts perpetual goodguy Henry Fonda as one of the sleaziest amoral villains you'll ever see. And Fonda doesn't disappoint in the role. The so-called goodguys are actually not so good, but they're played brilliantly by Jason Robards and Charles Bronson. Claudia Cardinale is striking as the libertine. Even the opening scene focuses on Jack Elam and Woody Strode - two of the best character actors to appear in any Western.

The plot meanders through a number of twists and subplots, requiring the viewer to follow all of the action between gunfights. Leone challenges the conventional concepts of loyalty, friendship, and alliances. Highly recommended.

Formidable, operatic western.......2007-05-30

"Once Upon a Time in the West" is director Sergio Leone's formidable and unique vision of the old west as grand opera. In Leone's work, as in opera, subtlety is replaced by exaggeration, i.e., the villians in his creation are all over-the-top, almost cartoonishly evil while the ingenue/heroine is both pretty and boring to the extreme. The movie's musical score, as in opera, is as important or even more important than dialogue in conveying the story. In fact, words are rarely uttered in this western tale.

I'm not always comfortable with Leone's antagonists and protagonists because the audience never really gets to know or understand them. They are presented more as abstractions of good and evil than they are as fully developed, three-dimensional human beings.

And Ennio Morricone's idiosyncratic score, while elaborate and memorable, sometimes seemed too languid or pretty to suit the violent action in a western. But perhaps Morricone was aiming for irony.

Overall, "Once Upon a Time in the West" is an unusual and gorgeous- looking western very much worth a glance or two.

Poetic and Truly Original.......2007-03-30

"Once Upon a Time in the West" is one of the best films in the Western genre and also the most fun to watch due to its look and style. The movie is directed by Sergio Leone. I'm familiar with Leone's work, but have never seen any of his films. "Once Upon a Time in the West" bares the unmistakable signature of a genius though and I look forward to watching many more Leone films in the future. The film has one of the greatest opening scenes I've ever seen; lasting 13 minutes, the film opens at a train station where three men anxiously await the arrival of the train. They're waiting for someone. After Leone slowly builds the tension (and I don't know about a director that could do it better), the train arrives and a man (Charles Bronson) gets off of it, playing a harmonica. He's supposed to be meeting with a man named Frank, but we learn that Frank is attending to some other business. Soon, the three men there to meet the man are dead; And because of Frank (Henry Fonda, in one of his strongest performances), a family of 4 is dead. Then the young lady set to marry the father of the family, who is actually already married to him, arrives and is shocked to find everyone dead. The police think they know who did it already and are quick to point the finger at Cheyenne (Jason Robards), after all...He left his "signature" there. I don't want to say much more about the plot (and there is much more; The film is 2 hours and 45 minutes)...When you look at all the westerns in the history of cinema (mind you, I haven't seen another Leone film) and say which one you think is "the most well-made," this film has to pop up.
It's not the most entertaining western film (there are long stretches with no dialogue), but it is certainly one of the most suspenseful, colorful (not just in the literal sense), and most compelling of the genre. The performances, especially those of Fonda, Robards, and Bronson are superb. It's also clear while watching the movie how influential it has been on other filmmakers. You can even see more than echoes of this film in "Kill Bill Vo.2." Explaining just how unique a film like this is in writing is difficult, but I recommend that any true fan of cinema see this movie. Any true fan of western movies has probably already seen this movie, but I mean a true LOVER of cinema needs to see this. It's one of the few western movies I can think of off the top of my head that can deservedly be labeled a masterpiece.

GRADE: B+

Once Upon a Time in America (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Haunting and Brilliant.
LONG AND DRAWN OUT
I still say its the best
Great movie...
not a gangster film, but a love story

Once Upon a Time in America (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Robert De Niro , James Woods , Elizabeth McGovern , Treat Williams , and Tuesday Weld
Director: Sergio Leone
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000DI87S
Release Date: 2003-06-10

Amazon.com essential video

This movie has a checkered history, having been chopped from its original 227-minute director's cut to 139 minutes for its U.S. release. This longer edition benefits from having the complete story (the short version has huge gaps) about turn-of-the-century Jewish immigrants in America finding their way into lives of crime, as told in flashback by an aging Jewish gangster named Noodles (Robert De Niro). On the other hand, it's almost four hours long, and this sometimes-indulgent Sergio Leone film is no Godfather. Still, it is notable for the contrast between Leone's elegiac take on the gangster film and his occasional explosive action, as well as for the mix of the stoic, inexpressive De Niro and the hyperactive James Woods as his lifelong friend and rival. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews:

Haunting and Brilliant. .......2007-06-19

This is an unbelievably beautiful story which is multi-layered and textured to a great extent. Yes, it certainly is a gangster movie and it also is a love story; although, one about as politically incorrect as they come. Both aspects of the film are conceptually executed well. I can't say the same thing about many of its technical aspects, however. At 3:45, this movie is far too long and moves too slow. It could easily have been just as good if an hour had been cut out of it. Furthermore, Sergio Leone is no Martin Scorsese. There's an element of amateurism inherent to the production as the reunion of Elizabeth McGovern and DeNiro is rendered ridiculous as he was an old man despite her not aging a day after 35 years.

Once Upon a Time in America is a very unique film as unlike a Goodfellas or Casino it is rich in sentimentality and the effect is mesmerizing but also very depressing. Ennio Morricone's musical score adds to the film's melancholic feel. It's not the type of thing you can see more than a couple of times but there's no denying that it's excellent.

LONG AND DRAWN OUT.......2007-06-13

WITH AN ALLSTAR CAST YOU WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE SUPER. BUT IT'S NOTHING MORE THAN A SLEEPER. THIS MOVIE WAS TERRIBLE! I FELT TORTURED SITTING THROUGH THIS BOMB! DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THIS ONE.

I still say its the best .......2007-05-21

I'll see your "Godfather" your "Godfellas" your "Departed" and your "Scarface" and still beat you every time with "Once Upon a Time in America".

Now outright violence in these types of movies has its place and so does subtly of plot but I think it is only "Once Upon a Time in America" that manages to walk the line between both aspects. It also has something that many other movies, not just mobster movies forget, great charecter development. It has a great cast and a great story to go with it although it can throw people off with the quick pace with which it changes points of view.

If you can't get everything on the first try don't worry watch it a 2nd or 3rd time if you have to that is why god made good movies.

When you finally get it you will be amazed how attached and interested you get in the affairs of David 'Noodles' Aaronson and his friends.

Give it a shot if you like a good movie

Great movie..........2007-05-20

One of the best mob movies ever.. I wish they released this dvd with more features and deleted scenes which would have given us more about the story...Great film.

not a gangster film, but a love story .......2007-05-13

Robert De Niro and James Woods star in this Sergio Leone flick as two Jewish gangsters, "Noodles" and Max, who share a forbidden love for each other that the hyper-macho world they inhabit both creates and scorns. Unable to admit their love, they pursue a series of troubling, violent love affairs (especially Noodles - whose idea of intimacy is rape) with a number of women, whom unfailingly either conform to the stereotypes of the virgin or, more commonly, the whore (the women in this film, oddly enough, are either able to enjoy or forget the times that Noodles rapes them.) By the end of this nearly four hour exploration of unrequited love, Noodles has come to love Max so much that he's unable to take rightful revenge for all the heartbreak and hardship he's caused him. Kudos to Leone, well-known for his tough guy anti-hero films, for having the courage to explore such a taboo subject.

Robert Rodriguez Mexico Trilogy (El Mariachi / Desperado / Once Upon A Time In Mexico)

Average customer rating:

Awesome!
"Boy with camera" grows up
Greatest Trilogy Ever
Loved it!
The best.

Robert Rodriguez Mexico Trilogy (El Mariachi / Desperado / Once Upon A Time In Mexico)
Starring: Antonio Banderas , Salma Hayek , Johnny Depp , Mickey Rourke , and Eva Mendes
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000ASDFI6
Release Date: 2005-11-01

Description

EL MARIACHI: All he wants is to be is a mariachi, like his father, his grandfather and his great grandfather before him. But the town he thinks will bring him luck brings only a curse of deadly mistaken identity. Forced to trade his guitar for a gun, the mariachi is playing for his life in this critically-acclaimed film debut from director Robert Rodriguez. Financed with earnings from a month-long stay in a research hospital, this astonishing action adventure was shot with no second takes, using borrowed equipment and a talented cast of unknowns. The riveting result is a wild bullet-dodging ride through a world of bandido violence, from the suspense of the opening shoot-out to the tragedy of the unexpected conclusion. With little more than a great story and a lot of heart, Rodriguez has created pure movie pleasure, setting new standards for independent filmmaking, and establishing himself as an unquestionable talent. "An enormously entertaining movie." (Roger Ebert, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES). DESPERADO: Antonio Banderas, Joaquim De Almeida, Salma Hayek, Steve Buscemi, Cheech Marin and Quentin Tarantino star in this stylish shoot-'em-up described as a south-of-the-border Pulp Fiction. Director Robert Rodriguez follows up his legendary debut film, El Mariachi, with this sexy sequel about a mysterious guitar player (Banderas) searching for vengeance against the men who murdered his girlfriend. ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO: Leaping back into action, gun-slinging, guitar-toting hero "El Mariachi" is back in town in ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO, as director Robert Rodriguez delivers the epic final chapter of his pulp Western trilogy. Starring Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Johnny Depp, Mickey Rourke, Eva Mendes, Enrique Iglesias and Willem Dafoe ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO is a full-frontal assault.

Customer Reviews:

Awesome!.......2007-06-08

An absolutely terrific box set and a must have for all Robert Rodriguez fans. The Mexico Trilogy is great fun and the box set, with all three movies as well as all special features from the individually sold films, is quite a bargain at only $21. A great buy for sure!

"Boy with camera" grows up.......2007-03-24

Starting with "Bedhead", and traveling through the Mexico Trilogy (sprinkled with a little "Spy Kids" here and there), you can see him educate himself and develop into a talented film maker. And he shares what he's learned with his audience along the way, by including his "Ten Minute Film (and Cooking) Schools".
You get the feeling, watching the special features included with the DVD packages, that he never sleeps, and that he needs to control all aspects of his creations, so that they are HIS and no one elses. This is a fine way to be (think Orson Welles); but I hope he can keep a grip on reality.

Greatest Trilogy Ever.......2007-02-12

I watched all three of these movies. Fantastic. It's your typical shoot'em up movie with a vengeance. Great Price for all three. Does not take away from shelve space. Perfect.

Loved it!.......2007-01-04

Bought it for the second movie - Desperado - which I loved, but ended up loving the first movie - El Mariachi - even more! Even though it's subtitled and in Spanish, it gives the beginning of the story and is campy and gritty, obviously low-budget but it's great. If you like foreign films and anything to do with Robert Rodriguez, you'd love this set of movies and it'd be worth adding to your collection.

The best........2006-11-10

What is there to say... These movies have it all from drama, comedy, action, ect... If you're a dude get it for the action and gun fights, and for you ladies d'uh its got Antonio Banderas for you in there. Anyhoo stop reading this and buy it.

Average customer rating:

good movie
It doesn't get any more gratuitous than this...
AMAZING
Top Of Their Game
Johnnie Depp is the Man!!!

Once Upon a Time in Mexico
Starring: Pedro Armendáriz Jr. , José Luis Avendaño , Antonio Banderas , Rubén Blades , and Miguel Couturier
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000WN140
Release Date: 2004-01-20

Amazon.com

Guns, guns, guns! And a few explosions as bodies fly through the air and crash into tables and fruit stands. Once Upon a Time in Mexico, like all Robert Rodriguez movies, is all about the kinetic kick of high-velocity action. Johnny Depp, blase and whimsical, plays a CIA agent who's drawn guitar-playing gun-slinger Antonio Banderas (long black hair flopping over his face like the ears of a Labrador puppy) into a ridiculously convoluted plot to overthrow the Mexican government. Along for the ride are a craggy-faced rogue's gallery including Willem Dafoe, Mickey Rourke, Danny Trejo, Ruben Blades, and (to balance things out) the smooth, tantalizing complexions of Eva Mendes and Salma Hayek. For sheer trashy fun, Once Upon a Time in Mexico is a step down from its predecessor, Desperado--but Desperado set the bar pretty high. For coherent storytelling, look elsewhere, but for action razzle-dazzle, this is your movie. --Bret Fetzer

Description

Robert Rodriguez returns with the mythic guitar-singing hero, El Mariachi (Antonio Banderas), in the third installment of the El Mariachi/Desperado trilogy. The saga continues as El Mariachi makes his way across a rugged landscape on the trail of Barrillo (Willem Dafoe), a kingpin who is planning a coup against the president of Mexico. Enlisted by Sands (Johnny Depp), a corrupt CIA agent, El Mariachi demands retribution, and the adventure begins. The character, made famous by Banderas, remains a slinger of guitars and guns, a tragic and bloodied hero, but a survivor forever.

Customer Reviews:

good movie.......2007-05-07

I really enjoyed this movie on Dvd. Now I have to for psp for travel.

It doesn't get any more gratuitous than this..........2007-01-03

If gratuitous violence and gore are in your tastes, you will like this one. Johnny Depp's talent as an actor is obvious but that alone cannot carry this one above the blood-spatter and dismemberment. There are some that like such movies, more power to them. If you are on a low-gore diet, you will want to avoid this one.

AMAZING.......2006-11-03

I absolutely loved this movie. Johnny Depp is such a diverse actor and I love seeing him work.

Top Of Their Game.......2006-10-10

Sure this movie is silly. It's over the top and at times confusing. It's highly unrealistic and savagely brutal. It's also my favorite movie ever. The energy, the colors, the characters, the performances, the settings, the editing, the action sequences, the cinematography, the prodiction design...All top notch. Robert Rodriguez hits all the right notes in this gritty, violent psuedo-western; Antonio is the perfect fit in his best part, and Johnny Depp adds one of the most colorful and refreshing characters to a nice ensemble cast(inc. Mickey Rourke and Willem DaFoe). This movie just goes all out in what it's trying to do, and as far as I'm concerned it's more than successful. Some of the best one liners and action sequences you'll find in any movie, period. I'm just waiting on the prequel that details the life of Agent Sands before he came to be involved with this movie. Could be interesting if Depp would do it...

Johnnie Depp is the Man!!!.......2006-08-15

Review disclaimer:
Please note: This movie was reviewed on my PSP, not the DVD. Also, not sure why Amazone has a "fun factor" for this "movie" not game? Confusing!

As said in an earlier review, Johnnie literally steals the scene, every scene he is in. The whole "eye-hole" with a patch, whoa, blew my mind!

I loved this movie! You will too! Why not rent or purchase from this website? Today!

MC White said: Check it out!!!

Average customer rating:

"You tea drinkers! Fleabags! Bootwearers!"
Great Intro to Bollywood
Pretty, and pretty racist
Lagaan is thrilling and moving insight into Indian society and the human soul
An Oh-So-Human Thrust for Identity and Status

Lagaan - Once Upon a Time in India
Starring: Aamir Khan , Gracy Singh , Rachel Shelley , Paul Blackthorne , and Suhasini Mulay
Director: Ashutosh Gowariker
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005U124
Release Date: 2002-01-22

Amazon.com

Would you believe the most enchanting musical of the year is an almost four-hour-long epic about a ragtag group of 19th-century Indian farmers who form a cricket team to take on an arrogant British captain? The old-fashioned Hollywood musical is alive and well in India's Bollywood industry, where the joyful explosion of music and dance and innocent romance abounds in sweeping epics. In this infectious tale of bloodless revolution, the underdog outcasts and oddballs of a fractured village pull together into a unified team to take on the oppressive colonial Brits at their own game. Think The Longest Yard meets The Seven Samurai by way of Rudyard Kipling, with cricket bats, choreographed dance numbers, romantic triangles, and a rousing call to solidarity. There are no surprises, but what spirit, what color, what good fun! --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

"You tea drinkers! Fleabags! Bootwearers!".......2007-05-29

Do you want to see a good movie? One that thrills and moves you? Because here's one for you, and forget about Hollywood for now, this one's a foreign motion picture. At around 3 hours and 45 minutes long, LAGAAN (Once Upon A Time In India) is the loooongest film I have ever sat thru. But, you know, it didn't seem that long at all. LAGAAN is a true movie experience and one which I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who enjoys good movies, period. In its exuberance and full-on commitment, LAGAAN is an unabashed throwback to the cinema of years gone by before sentimentalism and enthusiasm in films became traits to be pooh-poohed and dismissed by the hip and sophisticated audience. And, yes, LAGAAN is a sports movie. And a musical.

The year is 1893. The British Empire controls a wide expanse of India, it's said thru the use of judicious protection racketeering. This is a time when the Englishmen have no qualms in calling the natives "darkies" or "slaves" and ruling them with an iron fist. The desert farming village of Champaner, which lies under the uneasy "guardianship" of Captain Russell's cantonment, has been suffering thru an interminable drought, as "parched eyes scan the sky" in hopes of rain. Despair sinks even deeper for the villagers when Captain Russell (Paul Blackthorne) callously states that, despite the ongoing drought, double lagaan (tax paid out with a portion of the farmer's harvest) would now be required.

But a run-in with the fiery and idealistic villager Bhuvan (Aamir Khan), who makes a dismissive comment about the sport of cricket, influences Russell to capriciously offer a wager: the villagers vs. the British soldiers in a cricket match, with the tax being tripled for the entire province should the Brits win against three years of tax exemption for the province should the villagers prove victorious. Against the counsel of his fellow villagers, Bhuvan takes on the bet. However, contrary to Bhuvan's assertion that cricket was similar to the Indian game of "Gilli-Danda," this British pastime is altogether something new. Now, the men of Champaner have three months to not only prepare for the game of their lives, but to also learn the rules of the sport.

Thanks to Aishwarya Rai, I've been watching Indian cinema for over a year now, and I can say, with good conviction, that LAGAAN is Indian cinema at its finest and most vibrant. Writer/Director Ashutosh Gowariker expertly helms this film and, by weaving an epic storyline with sweeping cinematography and honest acting performances, ends up with a gripping and exciting but still very human drama. Certainly, it's more polished and technically sound than most Bollywood ventures. The protagonists are likable and immensely sympathetic. Actor and producer Aamir Khan comprehends the value of a charismatic leading man and, as the indomitable Bhuvan, he towers over the other characters. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Paul Blackthorne's Captain Russell, the egotistical scoundrel of the film, can only be described by dusting off an old fashioned term, which is "dastardly." In his villainous, one-note tendencies, Russell might as well have twirled his mustache. He's a fun guy to root against. Meanwhile, top supporting actor honors go to the intense-eyed Rajesh Vivek and Yashpal Sharma as, respectively, the brash and half-loony fortune teller Guran (who growls out my favorite insult: "You tea drinkers! Fleabags! Bootwearers!") and the traitorous Lakha.

There's a love story, of course. There's even a love triangle. Newcomer Gracy Singhy is winsome as the plucky and passionate Gauri, who's ever supportive of her Bhuvan. And, as a dancer, she is sublime. Rachel Shelley, with a more reserved part to play in the quietly spirited Elizabeth Russell, imbues her character with a wistful and gentle charm. Both girls are so engaging, it's sad that, for one of them, the ending is bound to be less than happy.

LAGAAN incorporates the best and most exuberant qualities of Bollywood while conforming enough to the western cinematic sensibilities that it becomes accessible for everyone. The songs are heartfelt and well integrated and the dance numbers are lavish and colorful spectacles. Two of the most evocative moments in the film come in the form of songs, as when the villagers prematurely celebrate the onset of rain and, much later, when the villagers, with utter hopelessness sinking in, fervently pray into the night for salvation.

Incidentally, this film had the unlikely result of making me genuinely curious about the sport of cricket (I actually looked up "wicket"). The last third of the movie is entirely devoted to the game itself, as the men of Champaner find themselves contending against overwhelming odds. Now, this was an hour and 20 minutes of cricket, which might be the precursor to baseball but still has its own unfamiliar set of rules. Nevertheless, I was able to follow well enough and became so caught up in the doings that, ultimately, the length of time became immaterial. As one British cricket connoisseur mentions, "Things are certainly beginning to hot up a bit, aren't they?"

Finally, here's how I'll end. This is the movie. An epic tale. An exotic culture. The human condition. Social and racial issues. A defiant stand against oppression. A romance or two. A humorous insult or three. An extended game of cricket. Singing. And dancing. And more singing and dancing. Pure joy. LAGAAN.

Great Intro to Bollywood.......2007-05-12

I saw this movie in tv in Brisbane, Australia somehere in Ausgust 2005.. my 12 yo son loved it and it was his first exposure to Bollywood.. evethough I do not understand how cricket is played.. the movie captivates you, the purity of inetntions, the dances, the presence of a spiritual power that guides the indian collective... sure the political message of the Imperialist racist Englishman is there, though a platonic love between the sister of the bloody captain and the indian boy heroe is displayed... such racisms (from indians to the past english and its reaction, from indians to the english ) is justifiable, yet, I would substract 2 or 3 stars if thats part of a intentional political ad campaign to blame the past colonizers... but well, english were like that (sorry, but thats true), so I am giving the benefit of the doubt and only looking at its artistic value

Pretty, and pretty racist.......2006-11-15

It's a beautiful film, and if you like Bollywood musicals this one has some wonderful choreography. The story is absurd, and probably shouldn't be taken any more seriously than a Gilbert & Sullivan operetta, but even so its version of the Raj is utterly skewed. More importantly, the portrayal of the British "baddies", especially Cpt. Russell, plays on every racist stereotype of an Anglo-Saxon "whitey" (to use the subtitle's term) ever divised. It's a shame Aamir Khan felt that this otherwise-enthralling movie had to cater to the cheapest and most offensive prejudices of his original audience.

Lagaan is thrilling and moving insight into Indian society and the human soul.......2006-11-06

Love story, Bollywood and a moving commentary on the human spirit and compassion this movie has it all! And, for us cricket tragics, capped off with an exciting cricket match with a twist at the end. Dont be put off by the length this is absorbing and easy to watch.

An Oh-So-Human Thrust for Identity and Status.......2006-11-01

"Lagaan" is a masterpiece. The setting, the music, the full range of singing, the craving for love, - all provide stimulating background for the depth of a plot which portrays a strong young man, with failth in himself, and his refusal to be ground under by external forces beyond his control. You, the reader, must step up to the wicket, sooner than you may realize, and defend the slim sticks of your belief in defense of the innate dignity of mankind.

Average customer rating:

The way they were
A People as Most of Them Really Are
Once Upon a Time...When We Were Colored
Great Story
The boring movie!

Once Upon a Time...When We Were Colored
Starring: Al Freeman Jr. , Phylicia Rashad , Leon , Paula Kelly , and Salli Richardson
Director: Tim Reid
Manufacturer: Republic Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0782010539
Release Date: 1999-01-12

Amazon.com

Tim Reid's wonderful film about life in the black neighborhood of Glen Allan, Mississippi, from the mid-'40s to the dawn of the civil rights movement, is thick with terrific, inspired actors and possessed of a mature, limpid visual style. The story is told from the point of view of a young boy raised by his stalwart grandfather and his kind aunt. But the collective tale of a community coming to terms with the risks it must take to fight racism and achieve political rights is equally important and compelling. Beautifully written (based on the autobiographical novel by Clifton Taubert), Reid's vision is rich in scenes of ritual and community that have rarely, if ever, been revealed on film. This is more than just a good movie; it's a watershed event in this nation's cultural history. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

The way they were.......2007-07-04

This is just an excellent look at growing up in rural Misissippi during the Jim Crow era. It follows a boy from the moment of birth until he has to leave the area to further his education. Mostly it centers on the extended family that supports the young man in his upbringing and the strong role models he has. Al Freeman Jr. and Phylicia Rashad are the two main leads with Richard Roundtree in the best performance of his career as Cleve the iceman and down home philosopher. Isaac hayes and Taj Mahal both make cameo appearances. I teach US History and I show this movie every year along with the Ghosts of Mississippi as counterpoints to each other. As I teach in California, most of my African-American students are totally suprised by the content of this movie. As a last note, Polly Bergen is also wonderful in her role.

A People as Most of Them Really Are.......2007-06-22

I think this is a movie that everybody who has not has regular contact with African Americans should see. There isn't really much of a plot, but I wouldn't say that it lags either. Its main benefit for African Americans, especially senior citizens, would be to be reminded of how it was. For the younger ones, it would help 'flesh out' their culture's history. For those whose main 'knowledge' of African Americans is the news and television or movies, this will be a wonderful way to see that no matter what the color, people are, emotionally, basically the same. We all are just trying to make the best of whatever situation in which we find ourselves.

My father had dozens of apartments when integration became the law. When we let in the first black family in a building, virtually all the 'white trash' moved out. Very quickly, we realized that the black tenants were much cleaner and more desirable as tenants. I am also old enough to remember the 'whites' and 'colored' restrooms and drinking fountains. My cousins marched in the South's integration marches. The point is that if everyone saw African Americans as the great majority of them really are, and not as portrayed in the media, there would be much less tension between races. This is a good movie to see them as most of them really are like.

Only three (and a half) stars is due to a lack of a real plot - this shows more like a documentary biography than a drama.

Once Upon a Time...When We Were Colored.......2007-02-07

I thought the story was real and had very positive
meanings. Some of my favorite actors and actresses
are in this movie; their acting skills added beauty
to the story. I enjoyed the film, the history and
life lessons. *****

Great Story.......2006-12-04

I have to admit that this movie started off a bit slow for me, but am glad to say that it is one of the best movies I have seen about the pre-civil rights South. Phylicia Rashad led an all-star Black cast in a moving story of an impoverished, but proud community overcoming the obstacles placed in their way by the majority White community.

This is just a wonderful film. I was brought to tears at the very end when the Black sharecroppers threw their hoes down and quit their jobs rather than be forced to abandon one of their own.

As Roeper and Ebert say, "TWO THUMBS WAY UP".

The boring movie!.......2006-10-21

This was just a boring movie...can't understand the other
review's saying it's good. Wouldn't reccomend it!

Average customer rating:

Kung Fu movie fan
Nice action, less wire work would be nice.
Very good, but not funny.
make sure you get the TRILOGY. I will explain.
ORIGINAL IS BETTER~!

Once Upon a Time in China Trilogy
Starring: Jet Li , Biao Yuen , Rosamund Kwan , Steve Tartalia , and Jacky Cheung
Director: Hark Tsui
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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

Iron Monkey
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The Jet Li Collection
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ASIN: B00008EY6M
Release Date: 1994-06-22

Amazon.com

Once Upon a Time in China
The first of a popular series (six in all) starring the charismatic and athletically adept Jet Li. Li plays legendary folk hero Wong Fei Hong, a late 19th century southern Chinese healer and kung fu master. The story begins with Western powers (American, British, and French) encroaching on the city of Canton. Wong is asked by the Black Flag army to safeguard the town by creating his own militia of kung fu experts. His assistants include the butcher "Porky" (Kent Cheng), a Chinese-American named Bucktooth So (Jacky Cheung), and his westernized "Auntie" Yee (Rosamund Kwan), a non-blood-related childhood friend for whom he holds a special affection. But the Westerners aren't the only problem in Canton. The Sha Ho gang terrorizes local businesses and has begun dealing with the Americans in exporting Chinese for slave labor and prostitution. A down-on-his-luck kung fu master named Iron Vest Yim (Yan Yee Kwan) has decided he needs to defeat Wong to open a school and Leung Fu (Jackie Chan contemporary Yuen Biao), a traveling opera troupe groupie, just keeps getting in the way. This epic martial-arts film showcases Li's amazing fighting and acrobatic skills and established Tsui Hark as a top-notch action film director. The final fight scene between Wong and Yim entails a dizzying orchestration of kicks and punches while teeter-tottering on ladders. --Shannon Gee

Once Upon a Time in China 2
Actor and martial arts maestro Jet Li and iconoclastic director Tsui Hark revisit historical China and legendary folk hero Wong Fei Hung in the second installment to the wildly popular Once Upon a Time in China film series (or better yet, "serials"). The main players include Li as Wong Fei Hung, Rosamund Kwan as his beloved but Westernized Auntie 13, and their clumsy sidekick Foon (Max Mok). China is in a period of political unrest. Dr. Sun Yat Sen is beginning to gain momentum behind his Nationalist party. A Qing minister (played with intensity by skilled fighter Donnie Yen) firmly carries out his job as police enforcer and a crazed cult called the White Lotus Sect has decided to take matters into their own hands by bullying citizens and destroying everything foreign. Wong and his crew find themselves at odds with the minister and the Sect, who have more in common than they initially let on. It all leads to some high-octane action scenes, including an all-out table-stacking and airborne brawl with the Sect (in which Wong uncharacteristically goes a little berserk himself) and a one-on-one matchup between Li and Yen. Tsui juggles the multilayered plot while Li juggles his opponents in a perfectly serviceable epic that is perhaps not as significant as the first Once Upon a Time in China but is solid kung fu nourishment for fans. --Shannon Gee

Once Upon a Time in China 3
Set in the era when China was just beginning to establish relations with Europe, Once upon a Time in China 3 is a mixture of politics, intrigue, broad comedy, and kung fu action. Charismatic Jet Li stars once again as Wong Fei-hung, a legendary Chinese hero who is a doctor, a pacifist, and an amazingly skilled martial artist. Like many Hong Kong films, this movie has a woefully complicated plot: in summary, a kung fu competition not only sparks a bitter rivalry between different martial arts associations, it also becomes the linchpin in an assassination plot. But this leaves out Wong Fei-hung's increasingly romantic relationship with his aunt (played by Rosamund Kwan), the rehabilitation of one of the villain's henchmen, and the introduction of a steam engine to a Chinese factory, among other subplots! Once upon a Time in China 3 is not the strongest in the series--the subtitling is unusually clumsy, the editing is rough, the plot is confusing, and the melodrama is more crudely played than in the other films--but there's still a clear, raw authority to the storytelling that is a hallmark of director-producer Hark Tsui (Peking Opera Blues, Green Snake). Though it seems to have been made in a rush, Once upon a Time in China 3 will still reward devotees of Hong Kong films, and the frequent and wild fight scenes will appeal to action fans. --Bret Fetzer

Description

Three action-packed Jet Li movies in one! Includes Once Upon a Time in China, Once Upon a Time in China 2, and Once Upon a Time in China 3. Starring martial arts superstar Jet Li (Cradle 2 Grave, Lethal Weapon 4). Directed by acclaimed Hong Kong filmmaker Tsui Hark (Black Mask 2, Double Team, Knock Off).

Customer Reviews:

Kung Fu movie fan.......2007-03-06

This is a classic trilogy for fans of Jet Li and/or period Kung Fu. Jet Li is 'wong fei hong', a legend in China. As is common for this genre, there's quite a bit of slapstick humor in the first movie. The second and third movie may seem better if you're not so into the clowning around. As usual, Jet Li's kung fu is truly impressive, although the wired choreography is a little annoying at times.

All in all, well worthwhile for anyone interested in (period) kung fu movies or simply admiring Jet Li's talent!

Nice action, less wire work would be nice........2007-02-07

I love the actual real martial arts displayed by Jet Li and others including Donnie Yen in this 3pack. I am not a big fan of the extensive wire use. They make the movies less realistic. Its an enjoyable 3pack if you are a Jet li fan.

Very good, but not funny........2007-01-10

All three movies in this trilogy, when the martial arts is concerned, are great! Really there are. Jet Li, as usual, performs amazingly.

Alas, the movies also try to integrate some cheap comedy and kitsch romance into the movie, and that doesnt mix well, if you ask me.

But, all in all, worth it's weight in gold. :)

make sure you get the TRILOGY. I will explain........2006-04-03

So I saw on here that people are ripping the OUATIC TRILOGY, and was very dissapointed. So I carefully started looking for all of the reviews and instantly noticed that people are giving bad reviews for the COLLECTION but everybody(except for 1 stupid person)who reviews the TRILOGY has good things to say. So I am here to tell you EXACTLY which version to buy. Most of you will be able to figure out to look at my reviews and see exactly what version I clicked on to review this. The COLLECTION is obviously not the same as this and if you look for the picture for the collection you will see it is different and has chinese characters on it. So look below for my desription on the TRILOGY

OUATIC TRILOGY- this is the version I have. The film print is the only thing to complain about. It looks kinda like movies when you go to the theater, but no real white lines or huge dots so a little better than that. So the picture is not quite as good as say a miramax but the release of the movie in it's original language uncut version is at least a 100 times better. And I am like 99% sure of this but I know that jet li's voice is dubbed in these cause he speaks mandarin btu it is A HELL OF A LOT BETTER than hearing that dumbass from the jet li ollection. And sadly the guy who dub's jet's voice isn't even as bad as the others. But his voice in this one I think may be better than jet's real voice cause it is a lot stronger. But I don't know, it's just that he is the only one where his mouth doesn't always match speech. So the picture and sound in this are VERY VERY good but the main thing is the beautiful widescreen presentation. YOU WILL NOT MISS A THING. And by the way the widescreen, great picture quality, and original language, uncut version is for all 3 of these movies. I honestly could not have been happier with the release of these and actually consider them some of the best ever.

Part 1-----EASILY one of my top 30 or so movies ever. It's funny to look back on this movie now and I like it even more now than when I saw it back in like 1995. And by the time this dvd came out I had studied a lot about the real wong fei-hong, and watching it for the first time in like 8 years I noticed the superb action of course but the story is TRULY EPIC. There is like 8 events that actually happened to wong that Tsui Hark has jet portraying on screen. The real wong's life was a bit more depressing but just like american movies they saved us the trouble of crying through the end and possibly missing an action scene. And it is not like all of these events happened in the same 2 day time frame or whatever it was in the movie, but once again it's a movie and just showing parts of wong's life is easily good enough. Back in the early 40's around 10-20 years after wong's death there were stories written about him in the chinese newspaper. Now people don't buy the newspaper over there for just news but for the continuing stories of their favorite hero's. And since the stories derived from people who actually knew wong, they were a lot more accurate than say a homer piece or stories about the great Julius Caesar. They are not as fantastical but things like his shadowless kick were very popularly known stuff in Canton. And that is very interesting because the fact that he was known for kis kicks shows he is a great martial artist because his style was mainly in fist forms where he was also superior to most. But enough of the wong biography and let's get to the fights. The pre final fight between Iron Robe and wong is one of the best dramatic fight scenes ever. There is so much power being dispayed by these 2 it is truely an unstoppable force. If you can't watch these guys go at it, you need to go watch american nija or something to calm yourself down before you watch this again. Overall I would say that this movie has 4 of THE top 100 fight sces EVER. The kinetic energy of this flick sucks you up to your tv so make sure you strap yourself in and don't get too close or jet li will kick you in the head and you won't even see a shadow it will be so fast! And jet as an actor really showed that he could play this calm and under control healer/MA master to PERFECTION. And I really have to say that Yen Shi-Kwan gives the performace of a lifetime in his portrayal as a man who needs to fight wong to be the best, it's not that he hates him, just to make a living he needs to be the best. Cause even if you are second best which you would think would be good enough, it's not, cause you will still be VERY poor. So iron robe I have seen in fearless hyena and MANY other things, some great some horrible. But Tsui Hark really showcased him and Jet in this movie. Which is kind of a shame in a way which i will get to but after this movie, they have more credibility than ANY chinese star fighting on screen in that time. Now I only have 2 real problems with this film, one certainly bigger than the other.
1.---------If they could have gotten a decent american actor to lead the crappy ones or just showcase him it would have made the film a lot better.
2.---------Yuen Biou was criminally underused in this flick. He has like one flip and gets to throw about 5 punches total. So it is a shame that a guy who is easily in the class and though not as powerful as yen Shi-Kwan, he is certainly just as good of a screen fighter. His athletic skills are shown a little but overall he was not used enough. And obviously Yuen thought this too because he went on to make a Foon movie and it was pretty good. Title is kickboxer(1993). But the showcasing of Kwan and Li comes close to making up for this. So overall a great movie and you are getting the full 134 minute version. And a brief comment on the subtitling job--magnificent!!!!! Easiest I have ever read and very good translations too. Sound quality for this one is average at best, but you can crank it if you want to, it is a must for me cause this is my FAVORITE SONG EVER. And it is pretty difficlt to rival Sabbath, Jethro, Hendrix, Skynard, Zeppilin and the likes. So if these 2 things could have been improved upon, this may be my #1 favorite movie ever.

Part 2-Part 2 is one that gets a A for effort but overall the movie gets like a C. The story is pretty stupid but with a good acting performance by jet and donnie, this is almost acceptable as a movie. But the main thing to watch in this are the 2 matches of donnie and jet(one long one short, both great). The first one is good but leaves you saying NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
Which is exactly what the director was tryign to do. I'm not gonna bother with the story because it revloves around the fights and I would be much more inclined to tell you about those. The final fight in thsi is done in around 6 stages. You can count as I go along now. Someone attempts to stab jet, jet beats verybody up, he beats them all down with a pole this time after his umbrella breaks. Jet fights Kung and his entourage(very long fight). Donnie and jet pole fight, both with 2 STICKS AT A TIME. That part is EASILY my favorite scene in the movie, but still ther are 3 others that rival it. Then the cloth fight was pretty good, but would have gone down as one of the greatest if the build up was not so outrageuosly good.
So once again in this you are gettin gthe uncut version and this one has BOOMING sound, far above average. The subs like the other 2 are perfect, but sadly they still don't translate ANY song's and no fraking signs. Though this is a minor glitch, it does affect the movie.
Also, I do have one big problem with this entry into the series. The guy who plays the immortal kung is only able to show off hsi athletic skills and not his hand to hand. But thankfully in part 3 he was not only able to show his fighting skills but also his good acting skills. I just think that fight could have been better if they would have had some real fighting and not just flying. But nobody could have done it any better than woo-ping.
Part 3-this is a really laughable entry into the series, the the bad guy is so stupid that he is actually kind of funny sometimes. That is in a cheesy american dubbed way, but funny none the less. The first fight scene is pretty good and it involves Wong Kei-Ying, but sadly none of the other scenes were better. There is just too many wires and Tsui obviously had a dream to make clubfoot become this weird footmaster who can like fly whenever he is kicking. But he does do a MUCH better job shwcasing him than he did in #2. So if you just have nothing to do for like an hour and 40 minutes, that is the only way I can suggest it.

So make sure you get the TRILOGY. It is 3 movies on 2 discs and right now amazon has it for 18.99 which seems like a very good price. I got mine for 11.99 at the used store but saw it at best buy for 29.99 so definitely get it as cheap as you can cause you will not be dissapinted.

ORIGINAL IS BETTER~!.......2006-02-05

If you want UNCUT ORIGINAL version, ALWAYS look for ORIGINAL LICENSED Production. NOT US Release. Its a foreign film, it should not be US version to begin with~! HELLO!!!?? Why settle for LESS with US Version where they edit and cut so many excellent scenes especially with Jackie's Fighting Scenes. And US Release ruins the speed and sound as well. I have been collecting JET Li movies both HK and US Release Version for quite some time now. I found HK Version to be MUCH MORE in enjoyable, and HIGHER in Quality. American Market always like to "Americanize" and "Control". Regional Code Regulation thing is one of the example to CONTROL the Market. Why not let everyone enjoy the same HK Original Release move the same way REST OF THE WORLD enjoys it ?? No one makes Hollywood American movies to "French version" or "Chinese Version" ~! This what Americans are doing~! Well, enjoy the cheap "American version" then~! LOL

Average customer rating:

Haunting and Brilliant.
LONG AND DRAWN OUT
I still say its the best
Great movie...
not a gangster film, but a love story

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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Once Upon a Time in the West
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ASIN: B000092T6K
Release Date: 2003-06-10

Amazon.com essential video

Description

Robert De Niro and James Woods star in Sergio Leone's award winning epic about a ruthless criminal empire. The original director's version of a timeless movie masterpiece.

Customer Reviews:

Haunting and Brilliant. .......2007-06-19

LONG AND DRAWN OUT.......2007-06-13

WITH AN ALLSTAR CAST YOU WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE SUPER. BUT IT'S NOTHING MORE THAN A SLEEPER. THIS MOVIE WAS TERRIBLE! I FELT TORTURED SITTING THROUGH THIS BOMB! DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THIS ONE.

I still say its the best .......2007-05-21

Great movie..........2007-05-20

One of the best mob movies ever.. I wish they released this dvd with more features and deleted scenes which would have given us more about the story...Great film.

not a gangster film, but a love story .......2007-05-13

Once Upon a Time in Italy - The Spaghetti Western Collection (A Bullet for the General / Companeros / Four of the Apocalypse / Keoma / Texas Adios)

Average customer rating:

if you like spaghetti westerns... you best be owning this box, yo!
5 classic Spaghetti Westerns given the Anchor Bay treatment!!!
a great collection of spaghetti westerns and all widescreen
Good Collection of Italian Westerns
terrific quality

Once Upon a Time in Italy - The Spaghetti Western Collection (A Bullet for the General / Companeros / Four of the Apocalypse / Keoma / Texas Adios)
Starring: Gian Maria Volontè , Klaus Kinski , Martine Beswick , Lou Castel , and Jaime Fernández (II)
Director: Damiano Damiani , Lucio Fulci , and Enzo G. Castellari
Manufacturer: Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Drama | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B0000YTPF2
Release Date: 2004-02-10

Description

Once Upon A Time In Italy, a generation of visionary filmmakers hijacked the genre of the American Western. Suddenly, standard stories of cowboys and Indians became a hyper-stylized opera of immoral heroes, ruthless action and extreme violence. These startling new films became known as Spaghetti Westerns, and movies have never looked or sounded the same since!

In BULLET FOR THE GENERAL, Gian Maria VolantE9 (of A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS fame) co-stars with Klaus Kinski in one of the most politically daring and viciously intense westerns ever made. The legendary Franco Nero stars in TEXAS ADIOS, a tale of lawmen out for justice where vengeance knows no borders. And Spaghetti Western icon Tomas Milian stars with Fabio Testi and Michael J. Pollard in FOUR OF THE APOCALYPSE, the brutal revenge epic directed by Maestro Of Gore Lucio Fulci. The action-packed COMPAD1EROS brings together superstars Tomas Milian and Franco Nero for the first time ever, along with acclaimed director Sergio Corbucci (DJANGO), a stunning score by Ennio Morricone and a jaw-dropping performance by Jack Palance. Franco Nero returns in the mind-blowing KEOMA, directed by Enzo Castellari and considered to be the last true masterpiece of the entire genre. These five classic films are all presented totally uncut, uncensored and loaded with exclusive Extras for the absolute ultimate in Spaghetti Western mayhem!

Customer Reviews:

if you like spaghetti westerns... you best be owning this box, yo!.......2007-05-13

5 awesome westrns, my personal favortie is 'Bullet for the General" but they are ALLL GOOOOOOD. So c'mon, Vamos a Matar Compañeros!!!

5 classic Spaghetti Westerns given the Anchor Bay treatment!!!.......2007-03-29

If you like Spaghetti Westerns,you'll love this great 5-DVD Box Set from Anchor Bay Entertainment!!! "Once Uopn A Time In Italy" includes beautiful film transfers of "A Bullet for the General","Companeros","Four of the Apocalypse","Keoma" and "Texas Adios" all in the original widescreen ratios!!! Plus some great DVD extras!!! Two thumbs up!!! Five stars!!! A+

a great collection of spaghetti westerns and all widescreen.......2006-05-06

as i have said before i love westerns and i love spaghetti westerns also. the five movies here are among some of the best.the extras for this set are very good and there are plenty of them.
1.a bullet for the general=5 stars
2.companeros=4 stars
3.four of the apocalypse=3 stars
4.keoma=4 stars
5.texas adios=5 stars

Good Collection of Italian Westerns.......2005-06-25

According to British author Christopher Frayling in his biography of director Sergio Leone, in the wake of the international success of "A Fistful of Dollars" the Italian film industry spawned dozens of "spaghetti" westerns. I don't know if the collection represented here are the best of the bunch but they are a decent cross-section of the genre. Though none of these film's approach the masterworks of Leone they, for the most part, distinguish themselves stylistically from Leone's work. What is also interesting is that Franco Nero is the star of three of these entries but shows range by assaying different character types in each of them.
"A Bullet for the General"-Tale of Mexican banditos led by Gian Maria Volonte in a robust performance. Events and the arrival of a mysterious American cause Volonte to question his mercenary mindset. Film has an interesting political bent. Four stars.
"Companeros"-Lighthearted story of Swedish gunrunner(Nero) and Mexican mercenary(Tomas Milian) who form an uneasy alliance to free socialist professor(Fernando Rey) from American prison and bring back to Mexico so he can reveal the combination of an impregnable safe containing a fortune. Film also has a socialist bent but it's not too heavy-handed. Jack Palance has a creepy turn as an American bounty hunter. Four stars.
"Four of the Apocalypse"-This is probably the most enigmatic of the bunch. Film concerns a circumstantial alliance between a card shark, a pregnant prostitute, a drunk, and a man who claims to commune with the dead set in Utah. Though the film contains some poignant scenes there are also scenes of gratuitous violence that to me nullify the film's attributes. Judge for yourself. Three stars.
"Keoma"-Moody film about a half-breed gunslinger (Nero) returning from the Civil War to find his town overrun by the plague and controlled by a despot. Excellent character study and example of Nero's range as an actor. Four stars.
"Texas, Adios"-Probably the film most reminiscent stylistically to Leone but the most conventional. Story concerns Texas lawman (Nero) travelling to Mexico with his brother to apprehend the man who killed his father. Nero is solid but the story is kind of routine. Three stars.

terrific quality.......2005-03-25

If you've been exploring the world of spaghetti westerns at all, you've no doubt come across some pretty poor transfers. Stuff obviously made from worn out, scratched up and dirty film. You often have to be philosophical about it -- if you want to see some of these old movies, it's a matter of putting up with the ragged quality or do without. This set from Anchor Bay, on the other hand, is really something. They have done a fantastic job of restoring and transferring. The extra features are really nice as well -- interviews with Tomas Milian and Franco Nero. None of these movies is going to replace The Good the Bad & the Ugly as my all time favorite movie, but I really enjoyed getting to see them. I highly recommend this set.

Average customer rating:

its adorable
THANK YOU AMAZON!!!
Yay
Finally it's here
The search is over!

Once Upon a Time
Director: Rolf Kauka
Manufacturer: Henstooth Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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Animal Treasure Island
Journey Back to Oz
Jack & The Beanstalk
The Princess and the Goblin
The Last Unicorn

ASIN: B000IU37NE
Release Date: 2006-11-07

Description

ONCE UPON A TIME is an enchanting animated tale about a beautiful girl named Maria and her little blue dog, Bello. When her widowed father remarries, Maria is mistreated by her wicked new stepmother and meddlesome stepsister. One day while walking in the forest, Maria meets a handsome Prince disguised as a hunter. He leaves her with a garnet necklace as a memento of their chance encounter and a symbol of his undying love. Later the Prince announces plans to marry the unknown girl with the garnet necklace. Young maids throughout the land come to the castle with hopes of being selected. The Prince will have none of them. But alas, the necklace has fallen down a well and the two sisters plunge headlong into a magical world beneath the water to retrieve it.

Rolf Kauka, internationally renowned cartoonist and creator of Fix and Foxi, directed this fanciful cartoon musical that has been hailed by critics for its charming story, magical characters and wonderous visuals. The DVD includes a Bonus cartoon short, SYMPHONIE IN MULL starring Fix and Foxi.

Customer Reviews:

its adorable.......2007-03-31

i used to see this movie all the time specially when i m sad or unhappy because it takes me to a nice charming world.its a very good work and i would really like to rate this movie not only by 5 stars but rate it with a million star its amazing and i love it

THANK YOU AMAZON!!!.......2007-02-19

This is the second item I have found here on Amazon that I've been on a search for, for years. My sisters and I LOVED this cartoon as children (it's kind of a strange Euro-version of Cinderella) and like the other reviewer said, watched it on KTLA's Family Film Festivle on Sunday afternoons. My sister has been on a quest to find this for YEARS!!!!! and being very determined she's usually fantastic at hunting things down, but has had no luck w/ this in the past. She even called the station to see if they could help her find it w/ no luck. You can imagine my delight in giving her this after randomly finding it here on Amazon.
I guess this is more of a great big THANK YOU to Amazon than a review (sorry) but since it's been like 30+ years since I've actually seen this cartoon, I'm afraid my memory of it is a little faded (when my very tight budget allows, I'll actually purchase one for myself). My review is in my family's passion for this film based on fond childhood memories, in other words, IMHO it's worth watching!

Yay.......2007-01-16

I watched this movie like crazy when I was young. When it was my turn to pick a movie this is the one that I would pick. I loved it!! I can't wait to enjoy it again with my little girl.

Finally it's here.......2006-11-04

I also saw this movie when I was young (KTLA Saturday morning Family Film Festival with Tom Hatten) and have been trying to get my hands on it for years. I could only find the german version. I loved it and can't wait to watch it with my children. Finally its accesible and afordable. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!

The search is over!.......2006-10-25

This amazing cartoon is one of my absolute favorites. I first saw it in 1982 when I was 9 and was never able to find it again. This sweet wonderful movie has a cinderella/mother goose-like feel to it and has that zany retro animation that I adore. Many people including myself have searched for many many years trying to find a copy of this. I have seen English copies go for as much as $250.00 on auction sites. It's simply amazing that it has finally returned from the lost vaults and is affordable to all. Kids and adults alike will enjoy this cute film.

DVD:

DVD List

DVD

DVD

The Greatest Journeys on Earth: Quebec The Journeys of the Trappers

Delta Force 2: Operation Stranglehold

Murder at Glen Athol (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: The Inspector Lynley Mysteries 2 - A Suitable Vengeance

Freddie Jackson - The Jazz Channel Presents