Running Time 82 Mins.
Format: DVD MOVIE
Customer Reviews:
THE REAL THING.......2006-03-07
Battleground is not only great filmmaking, it gets you closer than anything i've seen yet on that so-called war. If you really what to know what's going on in Iraq from the words of the people, get under the skin of the place and begin to FEEL something about it, this is a must-see doc.
Day to day in Iraq.......2006-03-04
If you are new to the 'real' Iraq situation this DVD will be very informative. For those who are 'up to date' on issues like the Bush Administration cutting deals with Iraqi paramilitaries to help stabalise the export of oil - this DVD is old news.
Good Film!.......2006-02-23
This film gives good insight on the feelings of the Iraqi nationals about the war there and the American soldiers that are there.
Finding Context in Chaos.......2006-02-16
The 2003 invasion of Iraq was hailed as the most openly accessible war in history. While embedded journalists traveled with U.S. and British troops on the back of Humvees into battle zones, news audiences received on the ground info in real time. The images and information captured by war journos was remarkable in their proximity to conflict but the context of the information was directly framed by what the Pentagon allowed journalists to cover. You either played by the rules and got access or you were left out in the cold.
Battleground, in contrast, is an exercise in capturing the context of the invasion from a truly independent, sober perspective. Opinions of American soldiers and commanders were presented alongside actual Iraqi voices. Montages of Iraqi street scenes link powerful narratives of homegrown debates on the merits of the invasion, the emotional homecoming of a former anti-Saddam rebel forced into exile, a citizen journalist informing people on the dangers of Depleted Uranium, and the inner-workings of American Military strategies for restructuring Iraqi society. This film captures what really happened on the ground in the aftermath of a massive military campaign- without government influence. The absence of framing and ideology is a breath of fresh air in the documentary genre.
The stories captured in this film are unique and immensely informative- all stemming from the micro level. There are no voice-overs staging the flow of information. The plot is recounted by real people who find themselves in Iraq at the beginning of a new history. "Battleground" never attempts to re-write Iraq's past nor does it predict its future. Instead, the filmmakers offer the audience a lucid depiction of context- a crucial processes that was entirely absent from news coverage of the invasion.
Battleground is a must-see for anyone craving a balanced on-the-ground depiction of what really happened in Iraq in 2003. Rich in visual energy and powerful music, Battleground is not over-stylized. It is however, immensely informative, beautifully spontaneous, and an extraordinary example of bearing witness to world events and placing them in context.
Great Documentary.......2006-01-17
If you're interested in learning more about Iraq but don't know where to turn to (between Fox and CNN) than this is the documentary for you.
This is the type of documentary you'll probably watch two or three times and recommend a hundred times. I look forward to more docs from director Stephen Marshall.
Average customer rating:
- X-15 THE EDGE OF SPACE
- Best X-15 footage around
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X-15: The Edge of Space
Starring: Everyone who worked on the X-15 Project
Director: Mark Gray
Manufacturer: Spacecraft Films
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ASIN: B000LP4R44
Release Date: 2006-12-14 |
Product Description
Frequently cited as the most prolific aeronautical test program ever flown, the X-15 pushed the boundaries of altitude and speed as never before. This 3-DVD set presents the most complete collection ever assembled of the X-15 flight program, with rare footage from over 50 (of the 199) specific flights, documentaries, engine testing, suit testing, and more. Over 10 hours of rare material. As always, Spacecraft Films made new, digital transfers of the archival film, and for much of this set the 35mm color film shot of the program yielded stunning footage that looks as if it were shot yesterday. An incredible collection that also includes audio commentary from members of the X-15 project.
Customer Reviews:
X-15 THE EDGE OF SPACE.......2007-05-12
I THOUGHT X-15 THE EDGE OF SPACE WAS A VERY GOOD DVD.
Best X-15 footage around.......2007-01-06
Another great offering from the folks at Spacecraft films. This one suffers a little because it gets a bit redundant on disc two. Basically it's a bunch of footage of launches and landings (there was little else to film since nothing could keep up with the X-15). Spacecraft films should consider doing a DVD set on the lifting bodies. There were 6 different configurations and great footage that hasn't been seen (plus one of the most famous crashes ever). Plus, there is more complete footage of the flights. It would be a little more interesting with the different vehicles and could avoid the redundency of seeing the same configuration (the X-15) over and over. In any event, Spacecraft films is to be commended for their efforts. This is another fine offering and hopefully this company will not only continue with the excellent spacecraft series but will also continue to release these experimental research flight sets also.
Average customer rating:
- Fine documentary and good performances on Side B
- Once again, the good, the bad and the arguably ugly ....
- Most Interesting Stuff!!
- Piano enthusiast
- Concerto performances 5 stars, documentary not as great
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The Cliburn - Playing on the Edge
Manufacturer: Van Cliburn
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Similar Items:
- The Twelfth Van Cliburn Piano Competition - In the Heart
- The Tenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition: Playing With Fire
- The Eighth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition: Here to Make Music
- Rachmaninov: Sonata No. 2; Balakirev: Islamey
- Rachmaninov: Transcriptions, Corelli Variations
ASIN: B00005T5Y9
Release Date: 2005-11-22 |
Customer Reviews:
Fine documentary and good performances on Side B.......2007-06-11
I enjoyed this DVD and especially the performances of Olga Kern. There must be something about going to a live performance of hers (as I've noticed other reviewers comment on) that captivates and somewhat provides us a bias towards her. My wife and I saw her perform the Schumann concerto a couple of years ago with the Utah Symphony and it was one of the highlights of the season - she was quite captivating, and emotive as always.
In the documentary, I especially liked the interaction between the good people of Fort Worth who open their homes to these (dare I say it) eccentric musicians. Worlds apart, they seem to have a common interest through the music and this competion which is of course world reknowned.
I also learned something of the structure of these events, never having competed in one myself (other than state band contest stuff). I especially liked the rehearsal sessions (for the competitors who made it that far) with the orchestra and Maestro Conlon - his patience and thoughtfulness deserved some kind of medal as well.
The Rachmaninoff 3rd on Side B was enjoyable to hear and watch, but for those unfamliar with Kerns 'theatrics' may be a bit much. The Tchaikovsky was also good, performed by Gold Co-medalist Stanislav Ioudenitch, but I just don't find it as interesting as the Rachmaninoff.
I suppose I agree with those who complained about the indexing issues on the documentary and on the liner notes, but I haven't really missed the deficiency of either.
W. Steven
Once again, the good, the bad and the arguably ugly .... .......2007-04-28
Well, this one had some surprises at the very get-go and I must agree with the original 2002 reviewer that the absence of any DVD scene tracking capability whatsoever or even a simple one page clip flyer naming the competitors was a let down. I mean this wasn't some $1.00 DVD kind of thing! The 'packaging', as it were, rather disappointing.
So too, I think far too much time was spent with issues such as poor Stan's [Stanislav Ioudenitch] chronic piano bench woes and the guy, as much as I admire his playing, always seemed to have a cloud over his head with perpetual precipitation. On the other hand to get a gander and hit the freeze button on the DVD remote for that "WOT THE ..." facial expression of juror Claude Frank's face when he watched Andy Russo reach over the piano keys and begin the 'string' plucking 'pizzicato variation' so to speak on a George Crumb piece ["A Little Suite For Christmas, A.D. 1979"] was really something to behold! Claude was at once both mystified and perhaps even secretly yearning to yell out, "Yo, Andy! More cow bell!"
The only thing missing after that one was one of the competitors to launch without any advance notice John Cage's 3 movements of his 4' 33" piece of total nothingness [Ohhh yes! Not a sound for 4 minutes and 33 seconds, the pianist simply observes a watch and then raises and lowers the piano lid at timed intervals to represent the 3 "movements" -- other than that, the "sounds" are what can be either envisioned or "ambient hall sounds" of whatever nature, real or imagined therein] ... and see what flies!
Then there is the business of the twin gold medals between Stan and Olga Kern. The problem with that is whenever the gold medal comes up in subsequent years it's always doomed to be a sort of "Ohhh yes, that was the one where you 'shared' first place with .... " kind of thing. Generally, I think awarding two gold medals is an unpopular move although as I've written previously is there 'any' classical piano competition on the face of the globe where one doesn't see the comment, "X [fill in the name] was robbed!" or, the variation, "Was the jury deaf or merely incompetent?" with regard to just who 'should' have advanced further much less the top spot itself!
On the other hand, the DVD gives a good dose of what the competitors in virtually any well known international piano competition go through including their down moments and frustrations. That is very real and in some cases adds fuel to the fire of those who chronically condemn piano competitions as being everything from "dehumanizing" to "harmful to the psyche of the competitor" although such competition floggers rarely wish to hear that in the reality world of making the classical piano circuit when the competitions are long over, it can be just as vexing and fraught with anxieties and stress as the presented laundry list of purportedly what is 'wrong' with or what 'ails' the classical piano competition system!
The music was good and as others have already reported but then when you talk of the Van Cliburn 'pro' competition or for that matter the Leeds, et al, it is 'expected' to be good, yes? Question is, how one stands up to it as a forerunner of things to come! Not an easy life! And well beyond issues of missed notes, memory lapses, tiredness, clinkers and, bottom line, poor playing for any number of reasons, stress related inclusive. So too, a lesson that competition juries hardly represent the "Burning Bush" and I distinctly recall a Van Cliburn competition spiel by John Giordano in one of the various Van Cliburn DVD's where he quite rightly said that the decision process in fact comes from people who are 'not' infallible! It's a judgment call after all and hence those ubiquitous murmurings and claims, worldwide mind you and in various piano competitions and of whatever genre actually, of who allegedly was "robbed" of competition advancement or indeed even the top spot win itself. But that 'can' and 'does' happen at times! That's life albeit a realistic assessment therein. Is there anything in the universe more enigmatic than the whys and wherefores of a human rendered judgment call? Hey, back to John Cage's 4' 33", I've actually heard some folks say, "Ahhh! The ultimate artistic interpretive [!?] freedom! How refreshing!" Yeah, well, there is also the matter when we return to actual sound of a classic piece taking a composer's work and murdering it outright with that same 'MY interpretive freedom' kind of thing and 'later' for the composer. Sometimes much later ... if at all!
Doc Tony
Most Interesting Stuff!!.......2006-02-13
A most interesting film.
Interesting in that all award winners here (and not just the gold medalists) are very good pianists. It is also interesting as it throws light into the very nature of the ordeal whereby most young pianists nowadays have to go through before they could really launch their career.
Here we could see how some contestents could take the contest with relative ease, and some just couldn't sleep for a number of consecutive nights. There was one who got so nervous that he burned his hands by accident. And the older a contestent gets, the bigger ordeal would the contest become as 30 is the usual limit. And then there is the question of different standards by different jurors and one juror could give a contestent the highest whereas the other could give him/her the lowest score. So, the outcome may not be as fair as it appears at all!
Furthermore, there are a number of practical tips from some of the contestests here as how to deal with such stress-- they could be used for, supposedly, for any kind of examination at all. There are also some suggestions as how to keep yourself in the best shape before you approach the stage, including the use of a hair-dryer! This film will also show you how a not so gigantic or bombastic pianist could appear so like John Wain before the camera...
A lot of interesting stuff particularly appealing to those who intend to or had the experience of taking part in some similar contests...
Piano enthusiast.......2005-02-10
Although this DVD is nice and reveals the efforts put forth behind the scenes, Tchaikovsky's piano concerto has been performed better than that seen on this video. Stanislav Ioudenitch (performer) smeared several notes throughout the concerto. You don't need to be a seasoned pianist or have a trained ear to pick up on several sloppy key strikes. He doesn't really stay with the tempo of the orchestra at times, prefering speed over accuracy. I don't know if he was nervous or had too much adrenalin running through him, but, his hands tremble (noticeably) in sections of the 1st movement. Having said this, I'm unable to play this piano concerto just yet, and he did great for a composition of this magnitude.
Concerto performances 5 stars, documentary not as great.......2004-09-30
The PBS broadcast of the 1997 Van Cliburn Competition was a superior documentary than the one found on the current DVD. The 1997 had more in-depth and more intriguing interviews with competitors than the 2001 one. Not all the 2001 interviews are bad, but a couple of the competitors come off with rather uninteresting personalities (and one pianist's negative attitude really was uncalled for)and too much time is spent on them, while not enough screen time is given to some of the pianists that really interested me. Also, the musical excerpts in the documentary are far too few; brevity of the excerpts is understandable, but what worked quite well in the 1997 documentary was a montage of musical excerpts.
As for the Ioudenitch and Kern concerto performances, these alone were worth the price of the DVD. It's true that both pianists make a lot of facial gestures that could be distracting to the listener watching them, but their performances are worthy of the gold medals they received. These concertos played by these two performers are not available except on DVD (at the time of writing). And Kern delivers a far more interesting Rachmaninov 3rd than Jon Nakamatsu did in 1997.
Average customer rating:
- Greek Angst
- Very Gritty Portrayal of Young Hustlers, Story Had an Ackward Flow
- Irredeemable trash.
- I loathed this film.
- 'My name is Rosa Ponds'
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From the Edge of the City
Starring: Vasias Eleftheriadis , Kostas Gogos , Nikos Kamontos , Anestis Konstantinidis , and Giannis Kontraphouris
Manufacturer: Picture This
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ASIN: B00005MALV
Release Date: 2001-09-11 |
Description
Buff and barely eighteen, Sasha lives outside Athens. At night, he and his friends go to the city to work as male prostitutes. Everyday they endure johns, drug dealers and pimps as they desperately try to survive in a country that is not their own.
Customer Reviews:
Greek Angst.......2007-07-02
"From the Edge of the City"
Greek Angst
Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride
Submitted as Greece's candidate for the Academy Award for foreign film is "From the Edge of the City". It is a film of many layers that appeals to all levels of society. Greece has been known to be homophobic and for Greek viewers this appeared to be a very angry film. Dealing with rent boys, it is easy to see why it has been so controversial especially in the depiction of Russian Greek immigrants. Because they so want to get ahead in society, they are led t a life of crime which includes male prostitution. Together with that are many homoerotic overtones and open discussion of the characters' lives as gay prostitutes
This film is classy especially the way it handles urban disorientation. There is a lot of flesh shown as well as cocaine use and inchoate homosexual activity. It makes you think and s complex but brilliant.
The movie is about those Russian Greeks who returned to Greece after the collapse of the Soviet Union. They are third generation young people trying to find a place in the society of their adopted country. Their lives are explained to us through an interview with one of the youth named Sasha and e tells us how they use drugs and sell their bodies as well as their relationships with their families. Seemingly, it is a Greek documentary about a modern Greek tragedy--in reality it is a hard and brutally honest film.
The cast is made up of mainly street urchins and this satisfies. The cycle of their lives repeats itself over and over. Just because it is set in Athens does not mean that the same thing could not happen anywhere. The poor suburban home setting is perfect and the cast delivers. Some scenes will hit you straight on so this is not a movie for the weak.
When the Soviet Union existed, Greek Khazahkstanis fled to Athens where they attempted to assimilate into the society. Like most immigrants they faced problems and had difficulties. The youth had the hardest time and this is why they turned to drugs and prostitution. They wanted a good life without working to achieve it.
Sasha, the narrator of the film calls himself Rosa Ponds when he is interviewed. He is a handsome youngster but harbors many conflicts.
He and his friends begin committing petty crimes and then move to drugs and hustling. The numerous subplots give the film a sense of wandering and with a little stronger direction this could certainly have been a tighter film. The boys eventually become involved as both victims and perpetrators of abusive behavior but Sasha gives us hope (with his strong behavior that all will turn out well.
The film has a true sense of verismo because the cast is made up of actual street boys. But the boys are eye candy so that makes it an interesting movie to watch. It is self-consciously hip movie about a wasted generation that goes through the usual downward spiral ofsex, drugs and petty crimes.
Very Gritty Portrayal of Young Hustlers, Story Had an Ackward Flow.......2006-10-13
For starters, I just did not get inspired by this film. I didn't like it. I tried to find good in it so I could give it (at least) 3 stars, but no luck. I never connected with any of the characters, not even the lead Sasha. The best part of this production is the Trailer, which led me (and others I am sure) to purchase this film.
The story is referred to as a Greek Version of "My Own Private Idaho", and that is probably correct, though it has been at least 10 years since I viewed "My Own Private Idaho". I recall that one was also ackward, but I also recollect connecting with at least one of the film's characters.
"From the Edge of the City" follows the lives of (mostly) male hustler's. The storyline seems to be all over the place. I did not find myself gripped to the screen - ok, with the possible exception of watching the very hot lead Sasha!
If you are looking for the gay angle in this story (I was, after all, it was released by PictureThis! Home Video) and featured as a trailer on most of their gay releases, it will take you nearly an hour into the film before the topic is dealt with at any level, minus a few sentences here and there. At the point where the film could develop the story of one hustler's emotional connection with a gay man who pays for his services, it fails to do so with any real effort, and even so, there is little time left in the film.
I by no means expected a "Brady Bunch" storyline or a happy ending; I expected neither, and they are not here. After the film, I watched the trailer again, and felt it really did a misleading job of promoting this movie, or maybe the film simply isn't that good?
A few hot scenes, some quality, but overall, far less then I expected. FYI - The film is in Greek and Kazak with English subtitles.
Irredeemable trash........2006-04-28
In both American and European cinema, male prostitutes and drug dealers seem to have become fashion icons. A class of people who were once considered the lowest of the low are now popular subjects for 'edgy', 'gritty' filmaking that tries to capture the pain and misery of such lives.
This film is one such effort, and it is an exceptionally feeble one. Coming from Greek filmaker Constantine Giannaris and set in Athens, it tells of the sordid lives of a group of Russian-Greek immigrants who deal drugs, visit prostitutes and sell their own bodies to older men (whilst maintaining arguable heterosexual status). The film proceeds to tell its meandering and unispired story in the style of a music video or fashion commercial, with a self-consciously trendy soundtrack in the background. The cast is universally appalling, probably due to the fact that they are non-professionals recruited from the very environment the film seeks to document.
I suspect that Giannaris never expected this film to be released internationally. As a result he felt able to indulge in obvious unoriginality. Watch out for a tableau sex scene and fake interviews with the main character, both of which are blatantly lifted from 'My Own Private Idaho'. But whereas Gus Van Sant's film had a sympathetic main character, this film has as its protagonist a stupid, sexist, homophobic loser who it is impossible to like let alone care about. The audience will probably feel a good measure of self-righteous pleasure at his various misfortunes!
Of course, this sort of film always attracts good reviews from the enlightened ones who sadly mistake its depraved voyeurism for art, but don't be fooled. There is nothing compelling, artistic or remotely likeable about this film. I would advise you to avoid it at all costs.
I loathed this film........2006-03-17
This film is an utter waste of time and effort. The subject matter was handled much better in 'My Own Private Idaho', 'Trainspotting' and 'Midnight Cowboy'. There is nothing remotely likeable about any of the characters, so one has no reason to care about them.
I myself am Greek and I assure you Athens is nothing like this, it is a modern, welcoming, pleasant city and this film does our country a grave diservice.
Please do not see it.
'My name is Rosa Ponds'.......2005-12-16
...a repeated comment from one of the interviewees in this strange little film from Greek writer/director Constantine Giannaris. Struggling somewhere between a docudrama and a ethnic drama, FROM THE EDGE OF THE CITY is written and filmed with gritty realism techniques that in the end adds some charm to an otherwise meandering movie.
During the Soviet Union era Greek Khazahkstani expatriates fled to Athens, Greece where they attempt to fit in to the Greek culture and society. But as with most immigrant groups there are challenges to face in trying to find their niche on the outskirts of a major city. The little town where they live is called Menidi and while the adults have learned Greek and found jobs, a group of teenagers who speak a mixture of Russian and Greek want the good things of life found in Athens yet waste away their own lives on roller-blading, petty crimes, cruising, drugs, male prostitution, and sexual and criminal exploitation by the wealthy Greeks: they want the good life without working for it.
The focal person of the film is Sasha (Stathis Papadopoulos) - the one who refers to himself as Rosa Ponds in interview. As with the rest of the cast he is a beautiful young man with many conflicts who seems to be seeking his identity. He and his friends move from drugs to petty crime to criminal involvement with prostitution (of both gay and straight forms). There are many subplots that could use more definition as the film tends to meander about the streets without direction. The boys become involved as both victims and perpetrators of abusive behavior, yet there is something in the nature of Sasha that makes us hope his life will even out.
Giannaris worked with street kids with no prior acting experience, a fact the gives a true sense of verismo to the film. Both the men and women involved are eye candy and while this film is being marketed as a gay movie, there is very little content to rank it as such - as though the Greek homophobia would not condone a popular movie to dwell on that subject.
Nice eye candy for everyone, but not a lot of substance. Keep your expectations low and the movie will satisfy as a study of the problems of immigrants on the periphery of big cities around the world. Grady Harp, December 05
Average customer rating:
- Why No Pamala?
- Where is Pam Grier and why is she gone?
- Amazing film...even the edited version...
- The Lady Vanishes...a sad hypocrisy
- SENSE OF '60s IDEALISM
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On the Edge
Starring: Bruce Dern , Pam Grier , Bill Bailey (II) , Jim Haynie , and John Marley
Director: Rob Nilsson
Manufacturer: KOCH LORBER FILMS
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Similar Items:
- Running Brave
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ASIN: B0006SSP8K
Release Date: 2005-02-08 |
Description
A once-promising runner who was unfairly banned from amateur competition twenty years ago sets out to recapture his lost glory and begins to train for one of the toughest races in America, the Cielo Sea.
Customer Reviews:
Why No Pamala?.......2007-04-05
Well, during a viewing of the outtake of Bruce and Pam's REAL SEX scenes, the major producer died of a heart attack! It could be that the next-of- kin blamed Oh So HOT Pamala for their relatives demise! I'm the guy at the end of the movie, the "Town Thug", who steals the timeclock and throws it in the ocean. I then raise my arms in victory as The End appears and fades to black. I want this scene to be played at my funeral! The chopped-up rest of the movie sucks, though. The death of the producer really caused serious production problems. It could have been a good movie, otherwise. Pam, you're to die for!
Where is Pam Grier and why is she gone?.......2006-02-25
I have been a distance runner for over 20 years, and have run countless marathons and other races, so I enjoy a good running movie. When I first saw this movie, 20 years ago, I thought it was great. It focused not only on the training and the sacrifices we go through to achieve our goals, but on how it affects other aspects of our lives. It takes a toll on the close relationships we have. It's hard for the ones we love to understand the sacrifices we make for that elusive mistress, the marathon. This movie in its original form explored those issues. What they have now is closer to a documentary, than trying to get to the Soul of running. Why did they have to screw up a good movie. Besides, Pam Grier is beautiful in the original version. Find an old VHS copy with Pam Grier and see the difference.
Amazing film...even the edited version..........2005-12-06
I would contend that the first review on this page misses the boat. This new version is re-edited, but NOT for the reasons mentioned. I can guarantee you that the excising of Pam Greir's character from the film had nothing to do with the provocative nature of an interracial relationship. If they were willing to have Bruce Dern sleep with Pam Greir in 1985 (he's a lucky guy btw), then in today's far more open world, it would certainly not be an issue. Her character was removed from the film for one simple, obvious reason...There was no reason for her to be in the movie. Even back when I was young and watched this film, I always thought to myself, "Pam Greir is HOT, but why is she in this movie? She's a completely pointless character that offers NOTHING to the story?" Thankfully, they have removed her, which only makes this even more of a running movie, which I like. The DVD is grainy, and the audio wasn't synched well with the video, but this is an incredible movie made by runners, for runners. God, what a movie....
The Lady Vanishes...a sad hypocrisy.......2005-07-23
The DVD is grainy, with an out-of-sync audio track, but the story is fine, Bruce Dern does a great job. And where is Pam Grier? Every trace of her has been excised from the original movie; her name is not on the dvd box...and a 95 min loses 10 minutes to what purpose? No reviews have suggested the reason for the release of only the sliced and diced version. What had been an R rated film is now...? A real disappointment to me, having seen the movie in the theaters at the time of its release. For a movie that takes issue with commercialism, the willingness to make a "safe" version without interracial romantic plot points, is sad. Pathetic on several levels.
SENSE OF '60s IDEALISM.......2003-12-22
The premise is that of a talented long-distance runner having spoiled his career by naming too many bigwigs in the hierarchy of amateur athletics as having been "on the take". The runner's dad, an old marxist, didn't see the point of pursuing an athletic career, as opposed to struggling in the political arena, despite his son's carrying off his athletic commitment with a great sense of justice and fair-play.
So, the son comes home and competes in a race he isn't supposed to be in & the old man, over time, gains a broader appreciation of human endeavor, as long as it's done with class & honesty.
Maybe a somewhat predictable story, but Dern carries off the loner-hero-runner who would not close his eyes to corruption with great style (kind of Serpico meets Jim Ryun). I always thought Dern was great in roles that express baby-boomer social concern.
Also, Pam Grier is Dern's girlfriend (that's gotta help, eh?).
Rob Nilsson of San Fran directed this & also the excellent "Northern Lights".
Average customer rating:
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On the Edge: The Femicide in Ciudad Juarez
Starring: Steev Hise
Manufacturer: Illegal Art
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Similar Items:
- The Daughters of Juarez: A True Story of Serial Murder South of the Border
- Secrets in the Sand: The Young Women of Ciudad Juarez
- Las Muertas de Juarez
- Desert Blood: The Juarez Murders
- Cosecha de mujeres/Women Harvest: Safari en el desierto mexicano/A Mexican Safari (El Dedo En La Llaga)
ASIN: B000GEIRLE
Release Date: 2006-08-08 |
Description
"It's refreshing to see a film from someone who has great politics and is also interested in making it visually appealing." - SAN DIEGO INDEPENDENT MEDIA CENTER
"[On the Edge] is very good ... Steev Hise obviously knows what he is doing." - ALJAZEERA
"A decent selection of experiments in abstract signal processing that take the music so far from its source material as to be unrecognizable..." - THE WIRE
Initiating a new video activism series on Illegal Art, On the Edge is a documentary covering the brutal murders of over 400 poor young women in the border town of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico - murders that have been repeatedly ignored and unresolved by the police and government over the last thirteen years despite the efforts of family members and activists to obtain justice for the victims.
Rather than provide an easy, murder-mystery-style solution to the crimes, the film sets out to explain the social, cultural, and economic factors that have created a situation where these killings can continue, and go unpunished. In addition to explaining the circumstances, On the Edge situates the Juarez killings in the context of wider political and economic trends, showing the audience that this is not just an isolated phenomenon in one far-off city, but a glimpse at a nightmarish future for much of the world unless something is done to prevent it.
Customer Reviews:
Disturbing and Haunting.......2006-11-30
I live in Oklahoma and I had no idea this was going on. How can over 400 young Mexican women be murdered so casually, yet less than three percent of the murders be "solved?" When you add in the fact that another 4000 are missing, presumed dead as well, the numbers get to be staggering. The evils behind this social injustice are even worse. And they're all accepted, to one degree or another.
Steev Hise considers himself to be an artist who digs around in culture, finding old things that interest him and making them new again. I think he's more of a crusader than he's willing to admit. He keeps himself out of his production and lets the facts and the people involved talk about the murders and the casual acceptance of it. It's going to be interesting to see where he goes next.
The DVD is powerful and shocking. Hise evidently found a number of people who have been talking about the murders for years, seeking some kind of justice, and he allows their passion burn on the screen. More than that, he breaks the film into segments that underscore all the social causes, economic causes, and political causes that have contributed to the deaths of so many. The presentation is well thought out, and well argued.
If you don't know about these murders, you will. Either through this DVD or through two Hollywood movies coming out that touch on the subject matter much more lightly than Hise did. One is an upcoming Jennifer Lopez/Antonio Banderas film.
Even more disturbing is the fact that Ciudad-Juarez may be the model for the coming world as corporations continue to run things and benefits for employees continue to disappear. It's easy to think this is just a horrible thing happening to an economically depressed border town, but it's even worse whe you start thinking this may be the blueprint for the future.
Average customer rating:
- A Keeper! Best Episodes From the First Season!
- Time Space Absolute
- I would have saved Joan Collins from the car
- Great Drama!
- Two Essential Episodes
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Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 14, Episodes 27 & 28: Errand of Mercy/ The City on the Edge of Forever
Starring: Star Trek Original Series
Manufacturer: Paramount
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Similar Items:
- Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 17, Episodes 33 & 34: Who Mourns For Adonais/Amok Time
- Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 13, Episodes 25 & 26: This Side of Paradise/ The Devil in the Dark
- Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 12, Episodes 23 & 24: A Taste of Armageddon/ Space Seed
- Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 20, Episodes 39 & 40: Mirror Mirror/ The Deadly Years
- Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 15, Episodes 29 & 30: Operation-Annihilate!/ Catspaw
ASIN: 6305910537
Release Date: 2000-07-11 |
Amazon.com
Of all the Star Trek original series DVDs, Volume 14 will surely remain one of the most popular, for it offers the first-ever appearance of Klingons (in "Errand of Mercy") and the episode many fans consider the finest of all "classic Trek" adventures.
In "Errand of Mercy," war between the Klingons and the Federation is imminent, and it's up to Captain Kirk (William Shatner) to persuade the peaceful, agrarian planet Organia to sign on with the good guys before the Klingons overwhelm the place. Organia is in a strategically valuable position for whichever warring side claims it first, but the Organians don't seem to care. Kirk and First Officer Spock (Leonard Nimoy) make an awfully good pitch for Federation protection, but Organian leaders reject the offer as a tacit invitation to violence, taking little heed of a Klingon invasion and earning the enmity of both Kirk and Klingon Commander Kor (John Colicos). Essentially a Cold War satire disguised as a Federation-Klingon showdown, "Errand of Mercy" is the brainchild of producer-writer Gene L. Coon, who makes a wonderfully convincing case for the absurdity of each side's claim to moral superiority. Highlights include the Butch-and-Sundance banter between Kirk and Spock as they form a two-man Resistance movement. The episode is directed by John Newland, best known as the host of the supernatural television series, One Step Beyond.
"The City on the Edge of Forever" begins with a medical accident that leaves Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) a paranoid madman. Leaping through a time portal to Earth's Great Depression of the 1930s, McCoy causes disastrous changes to history, forcing Kirk and Spock to follow him and undo whatever disruptive action he took centuries before. There, Kirk meets a kindly social worker, Edith Keeler (Joan Collins), with whom he falls in love before realizing her fate is the key to a restored future. A shattering drama, "City" brings out the best in the cast and production teams, looking like a feature film that found its way onto television. The background on this show is equally compelling and sometimes hysterically funny, beginning with a highly fanciful script by Harlan Ellison (including a scene with cast members riding a carousel that passes in and out the side of a mountain) that was either rewritten by series creator Gene Roddenberry or producer Gene L. Coon, depending on who's telling the story. Ironically, Ellison's original version won a Writer's Guild award while the revision captured a Hugo, but the real prize is the episode itself. --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews:
A Keeper! Best Episodes From the First Season!.......2006-10-01
If you are picking which volumes to keep from the first season, this has got to be one of them. We get two of the best episodes from the season here and although the believablility factor is stretched quite a bit on "City...", "Errand of Mercy" is an excellent episode too. In the former, we get a Hugo Award winner and in the latter, we get to meet the Klingons for the first time! Both are great reasons to pick up this volume which represent the best of what Star Trek had to offer from its first season. In "Errand ...", superior beings teach representatives from the Klingon Empire and the Federation an important lesson about coexisting and about settling differences non-violently, something we could all still learn from today too. Overall, the plot is very good as well as the acting.
"City..." has become over the years one of the all-time favourite episodes of all Trek fans and I like it too but I have some trouble accepting some of the dramatic licence that this story expects us to take. For example, when Bones makes his unfortunate leap into the past and changes history, I can't understand why the Enterprise as well as the landing party didn't cease to exist as well. In any case, if you can ignore this one point, the rest of the episode is a real gem.
Highly recommended.
Time Space Absolute.......2006-09-10
The enterprise discovers an ancient portal through time. A surge of energy from the portal hits the enterprise injurying Sulu. The shock wave causes Sulu to go into cardiac arrest. Dr. McCoy is about too hypo Sulu with with cordrazine when another wave hits the enterprise leading too an accidently injection. The cordrazine cause Dr McCoy to have excessive paranoia. McCoy thinks Enterprise members are a ship "of murderers and assassins" and assaults transporter personnel, beams down to the planet, and travels back into time. Spock and Jim beam down and discover the Personal Guardian of the time portal and because the guardian can only play the time scenes at one speed, they are prior in time too McCoy's arrival.
Spock and Jim must repair the history damaged by McCoy and return the enterprise back into existence. Jim and Spock arrive in New York City, in the late 1930s during the depression era. They escape a confrontation with a police officer and manage to arrive at the 21st mission and meet a woman name Edith Keeler.
War is evil. War impoverishes countries. The US maintained a policy of isolationism. America did not share Europe's fascination with death. Could America have remained free without participating in WWII? Spock's computer prediction was wrong. America would have remained free without entering the war. The economic loan defaults would take 10 years to stabilize and another 10 for the companies too rebuild. There would be no US war debt. The free market forces of capitalism would create new wealth.
Life, liberty, and private property inevitable rights would set the groundwork for US prosperity. America would prosper and Nazism like Communism would collapse under the weight of its ideology disconnects. Germany had expended all its resources and did not have the resources fight America. The US had the able to protect itself, if attacked; thus avoiding an offensive war. Spock's computer algorithm was simple, the first country too possess a nuclear weapon would an idol of unprecedented super power. The computer predicted that passive movements would result in losing the arms race, the destruction of Europe, and the Rise of a new Rome. History seems to favor Spock; however, his algorithm was designed to make his version of history preferred.
Spock builds a 21st computer by assembling vacuum tubes in a series creating a mnemonic memory device. The crude computer reveals that Social Worker Edith Keeler was killed in a hit and run car homicide. At that moment the computer burns up. Spock redesigns and stabilizes, the computer and learns that history has suddenly changed. Edit Keeler does not die because McCoy intervenes and saves her. Edit Keeler leads a growing pacifist movement and becomes the President of the United States. German would win the arms race, destroy Europe, and control the world. The change in world events over the next six years would destroy the Federation space programs causing the Enterprise too cease to exist. Edit Keelers became the focus point in time changing history. McCoy was the random element.
McCoy appears and lies sick in the street. McCoy is taken to the Mission, but Jim and Kirk are unaware of his arrival. Keeler is impressed with McCoy and nurse him to health. McCoy falls in love with Keeler.
Kirk romantic intentions for Keeler have been increasing. Keeler stumbles on the stairway but Kirk saves her from falling down the stairs. Spock chastises Kirk believing he may have interfered with time allowing his "fascination for death scenero" manifest.
Jim and Spock prevent McCoy from saving Keeler; events unfold as predicted and Keeler dies in the car accident.
The personal Guardian knew that Kirk and Spock would fix history. We know this because they did not cease to exist. Therefore, the guardian was unwilling to provide an advice or assistance. The past could not be changed by visitors, so the visit to the past was harmless.
I would have saved Joan Collins from the car.......2005-07-21
Let the Nazis have the world, it's a small price to pay to bag Joan Collins.
Great Drama!.......2005-03-05
"The City on the Edge of Forever" is great drama presented during Star Trek's phenomenal run in the sixties. The story was genuine and unique for the time and addressed the issue of time travel quite intelligently..Based on an original story by Harlan Ellison, this wonderful episode starred the beautiful Joan Collins in a sensitive and touching role as Edith Keeler..a social worker who's death has an impact upon history.
The chemistry between William Shatner and Joan Collins works well in this episode and Shatner's acting is very subdued but very effective..He conveys his emotions quite effectively in his closeups! I can understand why this particular episode is considered one of the best in the series! Every time I used to run across it as a rerun I would find myself stopping what I was doing to watch it! Now I have it on DVD and still enjoy watching it! One of my favorite scenes is the close up on Joan Collin's face when Spock was trying to explain what he was trying to buid with all the the tubes and antennas chirping in their bungalow..Her expression is priceless! I loved Joan Collins in this role..I wish she would have done more in this vein..
The Guardian of Forever was a unique design and worked very effectively for the show..It must have been quite a feat putting together all of these props for this show..
I would say I am a true Trekkie in that I have read practically every autobiography written by the cast and all the supporting books on the show..I can say honestly that I have seen all 79 episodes at one time or another in my life but now that they are available on DVD I plan on rewatching them and adding my favorites to my collection!
Also DeForest Kelley was superb in this show! DeForest was a brilliant actor who has made such an indelible impression as "Bones" McCoy..In this episode his frenzied state of mind is portrayed convincingly and his scene with Joan Collins is one of the best in the series in my opinion. This show had it all..great writing..great directing..great acting!!
Two Essential Episodes.......2004-12-04
Kirk & Spock go on an ERRAND OF MERCY to save the planet Organia from Klingon conquest, but find the simple Organians are far from defenseless - or exactly what they seem. This episode introduced the Klingons, who are portrayed through sharp characterization and skillful acting rather than with the smoke and make-up that would be used on later Trek incarnations.
After history is catastrophically altered by a deranged McCoy, Kirk & Spock must go to THE CITY ON THE EDGE OF FOREVER (1930's New York) to set things right, but find their mission intertwined with the fate of a woman (Joan Collins) with whom Kirk has fallen in love. Widely acclaimed as the best Trek of all time, and probably Shatner's finest performance.
DVD:
- Blue Gate Crossing
- A Ravishing Idiot
- Jailbait!
- Mambo Cafe
- Francesco
- Last Resort
- Severe Injuries
- The Pallbearer
- In the Weeds
- Con Man (aka Cannes Man)
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Johnny Cash - Live at Montreux 1994
Beauty And The Beast - To Reign In Hell / Orphans
Hell Is For Heroes [1962]
DVD: Experiments in Terror
Monteverdi - L'Incoronazione di Poppea / Peter Hall, Glyndeb
