Man a Woman & A Bank (Ws)

Starring:Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Paul Mazursky, Allan Kolman, Leigh Hamilton, Tony Lee, Terry Kelly, Nick Rice, Denise Grant, Fernando Antunes, Tibbi Landers, Sharon Spurrell, Annette Marie Dupuis, Robert Forsythe, Ken Chamberlain, Fred Latremouille, Peter Ehrlich, Robert Stelmach, Paul Rothery, Elizabeth Barclay
Director: Noel Black
Studio: Anchor Bay
Product Type: DVD

Product Description

The timeless themes of love and marriage in Jane Austen's superb romantic comedy Pride and Prejudice have captured readers for generations - the novel has sold more than 20 million copies and has never been out of print. Now, A&E and the BBC have brought this beloved classic to life in a compelling production directed by Upstairs, Downstairs' Simon Langton. This stunning production captures the celebrated beauty of the English countryside and its glorious, stately manors. It features lavish costumes and an exquisite soundtrack from noted composer Carl Davis.

Pride and Prejudice is the story of the lively and rebellious Elizabeth Bennet, one of five unmarried daughters living in the countryside of 19th Century England. IN a world where obtaining an advantageous marriage is a woman's sole occupation, Elizabeth's independent manner threatens her family's future. Will her romantic sparring with the mysterious and arrogant Darcy end in misfortune - or will love's true nature prevail?

System Requirements:
Starring: Jennifer Ehle, Colin Firth, David Bamber, Crispin Bonham-Carter, Anthony Calf, Anna Chancellor, Susannah Harker, Julia Sawalha, Alison Steadman, Benjamin Whitrow.
Directed By: Simon Langton.
Running Time: 310 Minutes, Color.
This Film is presented in "Widescreen" format.
Copyright 2001 A&E Television Networks.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com essential video

Jane Austen's classic novel of 1813, Pride and Prejudice, still wins the hearts of countless schoolgirls with its romantic story of Elizabeth Bennet and her Mr. Darcy. Now, the 1996 BBC miniseries is winning over adults, with its faithful adaptation, gorgeous scenery, and superb acting. The essence of the story is the antagonism between Mr. Darcy, a wealthy single man who believes Elizabeth to be beneath him, and Elizabeth, who upon being insulted at a dance by the aloof Darcy refuses to associate with him in any manner. Austen evokes incredible tension with the wit and flirtation of the two characters, and director Simon Langton (who also directed Upstairs Downstairs) successfully translates the repartee and conflict in this six-hour miniseries. Dialogue, for the most part, is painstakingly replicated, except when fleshing out and smoothing for modern sensibilities was necessary. Darcy, for instance, is drawn out, giving his personality significantly more depth. The acting sweeps you away to Regency England: Jennifer Ehle (of Wilde) is convincing as the obstinate Elizabeth, who, despite her mother's attempts to marry her off, spurs the attentions of Darcy. And Colin Firth (of The English Patient) will have women everywhere longing for a Mr. Darcy of their own.

For those who enjoy excellent Austen adaptations such as Sense and Sensibility and Persuasion--this miniseries will round out the ultimate Austen library. For those new to these romantic period pieces, this version of Pride and Prejudice will have you hooked and longing for more. One caveat, however: plan to watch it in an entire day, because very few have the self-control to not watch all six hours in a single sitting. --Jenny Brown

On the DVD
There's a lot to love (and a lot lacking) on the 10th anniversary limited edition. It comes in a tall, embossed green case that's out of place on a DVD shelf but blends right into a library of volumes. The three discs fit snugly in a sleeve, accompanied by a 120-page deluxe companion book. The main attraction, a retrospective documentary, features interviews with key cast members with the sad exceptions of Jennifer Ehle (who played Elizabeth) and Colin Firth (Mr. Darcy), which is bound to disappoint fans. Nonetheless, there are some amusing anecdotes from Mr. and Mrs. Bennet (played by Benjamin Withrow and Alison Steadman), Mary Bennet (Lucy Briers), Mr. Collins (David Bamber), Mr. Bingley (Crispin Bonham-Carter) and Mr. Wickham (Adrian Lukis), who all look drastically different--and younger--without their period costumes and hairstyles. One producer recalls that casting Colin Firth in the role with which his name is now synonymous was not an easy feat: he auditioned having gained weight and dyed his hair blond for another role, looking like "an unmade bed." Even Firth's own brother doubted his ability to pull off the dashing Darcy: "Isn't he supposed to be sexy?"

The special features also include a walking tour of the shooting locations with Lukis and Briers and an A&E Biography episode on Jane Austen that focuses largely on the onslaught of mid-1990s film adaptations of her novels. If it's your first time purchasing Pride & Prejudice, this collector's edition is a nice one to own. But if you already own the movie, you're not missing out on anything here. --Ellen A. Kim

Beyond Pride and Prejudice

So you'd like to... Watch a Jane Austen Novel
So you'd like to... Watch a Charles Dickens Novel
Visit the A&E Home Video DVD Store

Stills from Pride and Prejudice (click for larger image)

Customer Reviews:

Reproduction horrible.......2007-07-03

I will forever love the story of Mr. Darcy and Miss Bennett, but, sad to say, the poor quality of this film made it distracting. I have a beautiful bedside Toshiba television set. The color is superb, yet this film was so colorless. No tone, depth, downright pale. I didn't even bother watching the second disc. It was the price that lured me. If you don't mind colorless, and you just want to hear and vaguely see the story, then by all means ...

Go ahead and buy it--you know you want to........2007-07-01

I'm still not sure why I waited so long to buy this movie--it sat on my wish list for quite a while until I decided to make the investment. If you read the book and enjoyed it, do yourself a favor and do as I did. But to get on topic, in order to properly do the novel justice, a mini-series couldn't have been better. No effort was wasted in the production of this movie, and had it been standard film-length, a lot of goodies from the book and better character development might have been left out. Everything from the clothing to the background music is accurate, considering the time period, and the acting definitely isn't shabby. Another plus: the cast isn't nauseatingly full of gorgeous actors and actresses. The characters are believable, true to their literary counterparts, and seem like people you might find in the late 1700s/early 1800s. And, while on the subject of characters, if you can't stand the "Keira Knightley" Elizabeth Bennet, Jennifer Ehle sticks to her role and the true spirit of Elizabeth. And Colin Firth makes for an excellent Darcy; he seems fit for the 'indignant, better-than-you' rich-man part.

My only complaints really don't deserve to be included, but two things nagged me throughout the film. First, Jane Bennet seemed a little too soft-spoken, even if Jane from the novel was very gentle. Susannah Harker could have put a little more 'umph' into her character but instead gave a somewhat flat performance. Second--something which amused more than bothered me--Caroline, Bingley's sister, looked like a cross-dresser most of the time. Maybe it's just me, but I hope someone else noticed that as well.

Overall, this movie is an excellent buy, and luckily it's been made to watch in shifts as episodes if you can't or don't feel like sitting through all six hours in one run.

Pride & Predjudice with Colin Firth.......2007-06-27

This is my favorite version of P&P. I am a true Jane Austen fan, and having read P&P, Colin Firth is Mr. Darcy through and through. Elizabeth is perfect as well. Mrs. Bennett's performance is outstanding. Great price through Amazon!!! Highly recommend.

As good as I had hoped!.......2007-06-27

This is a fine collection - after all these years I have finally read the book, chased up the film - and loved it for the most part although I thought Elizabeth a bit 'modern' for my tastes. So I had to get the much talked about BBC production. At first I thought Firth (Darcy) almost too remote - but oddly, by the end, was quite moved by the reconciliation of the two main protagonists. An elegant production. Some fine work by the cast, excepting Mrs Bennett who irritated me in a way that wasn't quite as Austen intended. The 'extras' (bios etc) were a little thin on the ground but the whole presentation couldn't be faulted. An excellent buy and well worth having in one's possession. And far from expensive!

One of my Favorite Movies.......2007-06-21

I love P&P, and this is the best version. Most accurate to the book.

Pride and Prejudice (10th Anniversary Collector's Set) (A&E, 1996)

Average customer rating:

Reproduction horrible
Go ahead and buy it--you know you want to.
Pride & Predjudice with Colin Firth
As good as I had hoped!
One of my Favorite Movies

Pride and Prejudice (10th Anniversary Collector's Set) (A&E, 1996)
Starring: Colin Firth , Jennifer Ehle , David Bamber , Crispin Bonham-Carter , and Anna Chancellor
Director: Simon Langton
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Pride & Prejudice
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Emma (A&E, 1997)

ASIN: B000F0UUT6
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Product Description

From Jane Austen's classic novel about the morals and mores of the class system in Georgian England.

The intelligent and spirited Elizabeth Bennet is one of five daughters -- which, during that era, meant trouble: because women cannot inherit, upon her father's death her family's home will become the property of their nearest male relative. Only marriage, preferably to someone wealthy, can ensure her security. But the proud young lady instantly takes offense when Mr. Darcy, a promising newcomer in town, doesn't seem quite admiring enough, and she spurns his advances.

Slowly and painfully, Elizabeth realizes her error, but not before it seems she has lost Mr. Darcy forever.

System Requirements:

Running Time 300 Mins.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com essential video

Beyond Pride and Prejudice

So you'd like to... Watch a Jane Austen Novel
So you'd like to... Watch a Charles Dickens Novel
Visit the A&E Home Video DVD Store

Stills from Pride and Prejudice (click for larger image)

Customer Reviews:

Reproduction horrible.......2007-07-03

Go ahead and buy it--you know you want to........2007-07-01

Pride & Predjudice with Colin Firth.......2007-06-27

As good as I had hoped!.......2007-06-27

One of my Favorite Movies.......2007-06-21

I love P&P, and this is the best version. Most accurate to the book.

Average customer rating:

great movie
One of best love movies ever!!!
Alcoholism
I have always loved this movie!
Fantastic!

When a Man Loves a Woman
Starring: Andy Garcia , Meg Ryan , Ellen Burstyn , Tina Majorino , and Mae Whitman
Director: Luis Mandoki
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6305692572
Release Date: 2000-02-15

Amazon.com essential video

When a Man Loves a Woman is a dumb title (not another classic pop song, please) for a very smart movie. A kind of gender-switch take on The Lost Weekend, it's about a woman (Meg Ryan) whose alcoholism almost destroys her family. That may sound like just another TV movie, but When a Man Loves a Woman is so authentic in detail and emotion, that everything about it seems fresh, urgent, and engrossing. That's because the film is grounded in the actual experience of co-writer Al Franken (assisted by Rain Man scripter Ronald Bass). Franken is best known for his affiliation with Saturday Night Live and Politically Incorrect, and as the author of Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot, and Other Observations. You may recall that Franken is the creator of Stuart Smalley, 12-step programmer extraordinaire. Well, if you want to know how Stuart was born, you can start here. This is no comedy, however. In fact, one of the most painful realizations comes when attractive, "good-time girl" Alice Green (Ryan) and her husband (Andy Garcia) begin to realize how much of a role alcohol played in their marriage and in bringing them together in the first place. The issues and experiences confronted in this movie go far beyond the stuff you see on Oprah. --Jim Emerson

Description

Two of Hollywood's hottest stars, Meg Ryan (SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE) and Andy Garcia (THE GODFATHER, PART III), deliver critically acclaimed performances in this inspiring motion picture hit. As Alice and Michael, Ryan and Garcia are a passionate couple whose once-stable marriage is rocked by her increasing dependence on alcohol. As they strive to overcome this challenge, they discover a renewed sense of love and commitment. Sparked by hope and ignited by riveting star performances, WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN is the must-see hit of the year -- a story of fiery passion -- and the enduring power of love.

Customer Reviews:

great movie.......2007-05-12

Everybody needs to watch this movie is a real life story, that you will learn from it. excellent.

One of best love movies ever!!!.......2007-03-23

I have watched this movie probably 20 times....consider it one of the best love movies ever along with "The Notebook", "The Wedding Date", "Sleepless in Seattle", and some of the oldies. Keep em' coming!!

Alcoholism.......2007-03-09

This movie was wonderful to show to adolescents who are struggling with addictions. What I really enjoyed about the movie, and its portrayal of addiction, was the emotional work involved after the main character left rehab. It showed the struggle to regain normalcy (if there ever was normal within the family). It showed the struggle of learning how to live together sober and how to enjoy life sober. She ended up leaving her husband for a time in order to work on herself before trying to work on her marriage, which was a healthy thing to do. Great movie.

I have always loved this movie!.......2007-02-11

Far under rated! Total BS that both Meg & Andy were not at least nominated for Golden Globes. This is the only movie I actually like Andy Garcia in actually. He seems to play a lot of shady slimy characters which I really do not feel suite him. In this role he was so loving, kind, honest, and devoted. Even with his typical male issues he was still the husband I'd want. Meg did an amazing job as an alcoholic and it's a very difficult and commendable role to take on. Loved the little girls in it as well. The littlest one just takes my heart. Such a sweetie!

Fantastic!.......2007-02-03

This movie is fantastic and it really shows the destructive power of addiction. More importantly, it shows the enduring power of love! I never get tired of this film.

Average customer rating:

Eat Drink Man Woman
Of food, family, & love
Great but subtle.
If you are a foodie, you will love this movie.
A Great Representation of Modern Chinese Family Culture

Eat Drink Man Woman
Starring: Sylvia Chang , Ah-Leh Gua , Winston Chao , Lester Chen , and Wu Chien-lien
Director: Ang Lee
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005JKG1
Release Date: 2002-03-05

Amazon.com essential video

This is not a movie to see on an empty stomach. Writer-director Ang Lee's 1994 Oscar nominee tells a family story about a chef and his three daughters through the meals the chef prepares and serves his family. This touching, dryly funny story of a family coping with personal lives and the way those lives intersect with the family relationships captures a shift in generations in Taipei. The father, a famous chef who has lost his taste buds, still cooks, though he draws no pleasure from eating. His daughters, meanwhile, deal with both the disappointments and surprises of daily living and the way their adult lives compare to the expectations the widowed father had for them. A subtle, amusing--and mouth-watering--comedy of impeccable manners. --Marshall Fine

Description

From celebrated director Ang Lee (The Ice Storm, Sense and Sensibility) comes a movieso visually stunning that it spans the "beautiful balance of elementsmellow, harmonious and poignantly funny" (The Washington Post). This "charming study of love, family and tradition" (Leonard Maltin) "tickles both mind and body" (Movie Reviews UK). Trouble is cooking forwidower and master chef Chu (Sihung Lung) who's about to discover that no matter how dazzling and delicious his culinary creations might be, they're no match for the libidinous whims of his three beautiful but rebellious daughters. A master in the kitchen, Chu is at a loss when it comes to the ingredients of being a father. Every Sunday, he whips up a delicacy of dishes for his ungrateful daughters, who are so self-consumed that they don't see his attempt at showing them lovegastronomically.So, as relationships sour and communications break down, Chu concocts a sure-fire recipe that will bring his family back together: He creates his own love affair to rival his daughters' affections!

Customer Reviews:

Eat Drink Man Woman.......2007-05-29

One of my favorite movies and filmed on location in Tiawan. If you love cooking and find the oriental mind fascinating, you'll love this movie. This is the story of three daughter's relationships with their father and their relationship with food and tradition. Wonderful soundtrack also.

Of food, family, & love.......2007-04-07

The opening scene of this movie is one of my favorites: it begins with the elaborate preparation for a traditional Chinese dinner that can consist of several courses...the accompanying music goes along really well with the flow of food preparation and cooking! That being said, the movie itself has food at its heart, it tells the story of a family of four. The father, Senior Master Chef Chu lives in a fairly large house with his three unmarried daughters [wife is deceased]:the eldest is a repressed Christian convert, Jia Jen who is resentful of her more liberal middle sibling, the middle daughter, Jia Chien, is a rebellious and strong-willed airline executive that is having problems with her love life, & the youngest Jia Ning is a student. All three see their father for their weekly Sunday lunch, more out of obligation than anything else, and the rest of the story deals with how the three daughters find a measure of independence away from the father, and how Master Chef Chu himself finds a measure of happiness in his own life.
In a sense, although the film has a modern context, the values are quite traditional, such as the weekly family dinner which many Chinese families still observe, the notion of filial piety, the practice of unmarried daughters living with their parent/s [still observed in many Asian countries]...and of course, the notion of food bringing families together.
I love the presentation of food in this movie...the dishes are lovingly prepared with consummate skill, and are mouthwatering delicacies worthy of drooling over! It is a movie to watch not just for the great cooking scenes, but also for the deeper themes of family dynamics, and of honoring your elders, whilst still maintaining your own identity.

Great but subtle........2007-01-16

A beautiful movie, with fantastic food scenes. Will make you want to buy a wok. Loses some of the nuances in Eastern family communication. A little hard to understand the cut and dry behavior. But well worth watching, especially if you like "Tortilla Soup" the remake with a Hispanic flavor.

If you are a foodie, you will love this movie........2006-10-19

The food scenes in this movie are eye candy for us foodies. I love cooking and I have never seen food displayed or prepared in a movie as it is in this one.
The story line is charming in its concept of how food relates to our lives and our relationships. The fact that this is a subtitled movie did not bother me at all, because the scenes with the food were so tremendous that I couldn't stop staring.
If you love food you will thoroughly enjoy this movie.

A Great Representation of Modern Chinese Family Culture.......2006-09-05

If you're willing to read subtitles this is an excellent foreign film, set in Taiwan, about the importance of and tight connection between a person's individual identity and his family life in Chinese society and culture. The work, interpersonal, and spiritual lives of four main characters are explored and interwoven with the Sunday dinner table being the terminus at which they all meet and from which we switch characters and depart on the continuing exploration of that person's life. Each of the character's lives would be interesting enough for its own full-length movie; so together they keep you thinking and interested from opening to closing credits. In this masterful cultural portrait of the balanced interplay between life and death, work and love, family and self, food and deprivation, Ang Lee allows us to see and experience the intimate details of a major world culture, which is vastly different from our own in the western world. The popular theme of traditional Chinese culture being impacted by modern life is addressed in a more realistic, not overdone, manner than in many movies, and the multi-generational presentation of interwoven lives makes it more easily understandable and complete. This is a movie that will leave you with a warm smile of satisfaction and deeper understanding of what it is to be a person on this planet.

Average customer rating:

A Man and a Woman
Monte Carlo Rally brings man and woman together
Warners RUINED a great movie! Dubbing is AWFUL!
Simply beautiful
Classy Lov e Story

A Man and a Woman
Starring: Anouk Aimée , Jean-Louis Trintignant , Pierre Barouh , Valérie Lagrange , and Antoine Sire
Director: Claude Lelouch
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00007G1ZH
Release Date: 2003-03-18

Amazon.com

French filmmaker Claude Lelouch continues to take critical heat for this 1966 international hit, which has been labeled "schmaltzy" and dismissed as overly stylized for its simple story line. While it certainly can't be mistaken for a masterpiece of the French New Wave (Lelouch was left in the dust that year by such wonders as Jean-Luc Godard's Masculin Feminin), A Man and a Woman has a jumpy impressionism that engages a viewer precisely because it cuts against conventional expectations of romance. Starring Anouk Aimée as a widowed "script girl" (working in film production) and Jean-Louis Trintignant as a racer who lost his wife to suicide, the film is really an objective sampling--almost a study--of moments between the time the two characters meet and the point at which they begin to read each other intuitively. Generous flashbacks fill in details on the pair's woeful, recent histories, while endless documentary-like glimpses of Aimée's and Trintignant's characters at work in their highly charged professions become a visual engine for the days passing between measured developments in love. Lelouch is more dryly humane than lush in his approach, though the film strains once in a while for a forced naturalism that can actually be more narcissistic than the most obvious romantic contrivance. Still, A Man and a Woman--in the best sense--is also a movie in love with itself, with its own ability to evoke and conjure and construct dozens of different ways of tracking a relationship in progress. If Lelouch doesn't exactly push open the boundaries of cinema as several of his filmmaking peers did at the time, he certainly enjoys what he's doing. --Tom Keogh

Description

From director CLAUDE LELOUCH (And Now...Ladies and Gentlemen) comes this 1966 classic, a tender, visually exciting film of revitalizing love: a race-car driver (JEAN-LOUIS TRINIGNANT) and a movie script girl (ANOUK AIMEE) share a romance filled with humor and truth, intertwined with the demands of career and parenthood. Winner of OscarsO for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Original Screenplay.

Customer Reviews:

A Man and a Woman.......2007-06-27

A highly popular date movie in the mid sixties, Claude Lelouch's Oscar-winning "A Man and a Woman" may owe its innovative visual style to the French New Wave, but at its heart is a very simple love story, as the title implies. Flashing back and forward in time, switching from color stock to black-and-white, Lelouch tells the tale of these two lovers with stylistic panache and a dizzyingly romantic tone underscored by Francis Lai's lilting, memorable score. Love, as only the French know how to do it.

Monte Carlo Rally brings man and woman together.......2007-06-08

The man and woman of the title have each suffered the trauma of death of partners - killed in separate accidents. The man, father of a young son, lives in a world of motor racing. The woman, mother of a young daughter, is prominent in motion picture production. The drama of the film lies in the emotional and psychological tensions of these two people finding, realising and accepting love a second time. Embedded loyalties and attitudes of the couple are not easy to change. Natural and unscripted dialogue, low-key scenery, and mundane realities combined with the high expectations of the man and the woman give the film a spontaneity and quality that make it a classic of French cinema.

Warners RUINED a great movie! Dubbing is AWFUL!.......2007-05-03

This gem of a movie blooms like a flower, with evocative scenes and music. Or at least it used to. Warner Brothers, in a collossal miscalculation, have RUINED the film by replacing the musical French dialogue with heavy-handed dubbing. OK, some movies work well when dubbed. Jackie Chan and Jet Li films come to mind. Not this delicate, lovely work.

And with all their money, where did they get these awful readers for the dubbing? It's not merely dubbed, it's clubbed. Picture someone sitting at a desk with a microphone, and reading the newspaper for you, dull and flat. Really, it sounds like that. NO LIFE to the dubbed dialogue. Wooden, stiff and flat as a plank. I wanted to watch this movie, I remember loving the film. But I pulled it out of the player, shaking my head and sighing. No kidding, the dubbing is AWFUL!

Now that I know this, I'll keep an eye out for the French version or director's cut. If you've seen this movie, you'll be sadly disappointed by this version. If you haven't seen it, wait, or you'll spoil your experience with this butchered disc.

Simply beautiful.......2007-04-10

If you want something quiet, imported and as personal as alove itself this is the film. An astounding achievment for a low-budget film it continues to inpisre wonder. To me, the ending is what most directors always strive for and the matter of thier dreams. I could die in peace knowing if I'd created such a work.

[...].

Classy Lov e Story.......2007-03-18

A Man and a Woman is truly one of the great film love stories. Claude Leluche is a master at nuances and there is so much in the looks and movements of the characters. The main characters are people I would want to know. It has always been one of my favorites.

Invisible Man - The Legacy Collection (The Invisible Man/Invisible Man Returns/Invisible Agent/Invisible Woman/Invisible Man's Revenge)

Average customer rating:

A great film way ahead of it's time
LAST BUT NOT LEAST.........
Classic
Excellent movie, poor "extras"
two movies dont work for some unknown reason

Invisible Man - The Legacy Collection (The Invisible Man/Invisible Man Returns/Invisible Agent/Invisible Woman/Invisible Man's Revenge)
Starring: Claude Rains , Gloria Stuart , William Harrigan , Henry Travers , and Una O'Connor
Director: James Whale , Joe May , and A. Edward Sutherland
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B0002NRRRO
Release Date: 2004-10-19

Description

For the first time ever, the original The Invisible Man film comes to DVD in this extraordinary Legacy Collection. Included in the collection is the original classic, starring the renowned Claude Rains, and four timeless sequels, featuring such legendary actors as Vincent Price and John Barrymore. These are the landmark films that inspired an entire genre of movies and continue to be major influences on motion pictures to this day.

Customer Reviews:

A great film way ahead of it's time.......2007-06-13

The Invisible Man is way ahead of it's time. H. G. Wells was way ahead of his time. This film while not a perfect adaptation is still the best version that has been released. A great science fiction film with effects that still hold up.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST................2007-02-22

The Invisible Man Legacy collection is a great buy. These films don't get the credit they deserve. At least the 3 Invisible man entries are well worth your time and money. Hey it's Universal,I love them all!

Classic.......2007-01-13

If you are a fan of the classic horror film then this is a must.The special effects are suburb for their day and the film quality is very good.
All of the Legacy Collection Sets are worth the cost and i have them all.

Excellent movie, poor "extras".......2006-09-17

For those who enjoy classic monster movies, this series will delight and amaze you. The special effects, particularly in the original movie, were incredible for the time, and easily contribute to the staying power of The Invisible Man. Claude Rains performance, especially, is incredible and easily overshadows any other performance in the sequels.

For those like me, however, who were hoping for the extras to detail the processes that went into making the movies, be prepared for a possible disappointment. They seem to concentrate more on the life of James Whale and the fact that he was a homosexual (and how noble that made him) in Hollywood at the time then they do in speaking about the films and what went into making them. I dont really see what the man's sexual orientation had to do with it; had it been a biography of him, I could understand.

All in all, a good collection!

two movies dont work for some unknown reason.......2006-09-07

All these movies are good classics, but the problem is that Universal Studios' dvd transfer is horrible. two of the movies in this boxset dont even work and freeze when ever you play them. and its not just with this item, but also with some other legacy boxsets (including the one from hammer that are owned by universaL STUDIOS. either universal doesnt know how to transfer old movies onto dvds, or im just seeing things.

The Bette Davis Collection, Vol. 2 (Marked Woman / Jezebel / The Man Who Came to Dinner / Old Acquaintance / What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Two-Disc Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Excellent Collection of Bette Davis Classics- It's Volume 2 Darling!
Volume 3
Bette Davis Part 3
The Bette Davis Collection Vol. 2
Great actress, great set

The Bette Davis Collection, Vol. 2 (Marked Woman / Jezebel / The Man Who Came to Dinner / Old Acquaintance / What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Bette Davis , Miriam Hopkins , Gig Young , John Loder , and Dolores Moran
Director: Vincent Sherman , William Wyler , and Lloyd Bacon
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000EU1Q40
Release Date: 2006-05-30

Amazon.com

Bette Davis's long career as a Warner Bros. contract star is crowded with decent movies, so it's no surprise that Vol. 2 of The Bette Davis Collection is about as strong as the first such DVD bundle. Even so, it strays from the classic years by including the latter-career What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, also made at Warner, and an entire disc given to a new feature-length documentary. The earliest title here is 1937's Marked Woman, a tart vehicle from the busy period following her first Oscar. Bette plays a clip-joint girl recruited by D.A. Humphrey Bogart to rat on a Lucky Luciano-style mob boss. Here Davis spits and sparks like a young dragon, so electrically "on" that other actors sometimes look a little afraid of her.

Jezebel is one of the best-remembered of Davis's performances, and the second of her Oscar wins. Something of an audition for the Gone with the Wind lead (of course she didn't get that part), Davis plays a scheming New Orleans belle whose headstrong behavior brings grief to fiancé Henry Fonda--and eventually to herself. This was the first time William Wyler directed Davis, and the intensity of their collaboration (and affair) is visible. The Man Who Came to Dinner, while a fun movie, is not a Davis vehicle; she takes a distinctly supporting role to Monty Woolley's deliciously nasty re-creation of his Broadway triumph. He plays the famous writer Sheridan Whiteside, waylaid by a cracked hip in the home of some squares in small-town Ohio.

Old Acquaintance (1943) is a trademark Warner "women's picture," with Davis and Miriam Hopkins as childhood friends who become rival writers in adulthood (the John Van Druten play was later remade as Rich and Famous). Hopkins has the showier role, but Davis shines by contrast. Davis and Hopkins hated each other in real life, which must have been good preparation for Davis on What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, her epic showdown with Joan Crawford, filmed as both actresses found their careers well into eclipse. The two former screen queens were not friendly and had never worked together, but their inspired casting in this Grand Guignol tale resulted in a surprise box-office smash. Robert Aldrich brought his smart sensibility to the story of two showbiz sisters living a grotesque existence well out of the public eye. The movie has become a camp classic in the years since its release, a phenomenon acknowledged by the disc's commentary track featuring veteran female impersonators Charles Busch and John Epperson ("Lypsinka"). The set also includes a bonus disc of supporting short documentaries and archival footage.

Stardust: The Bette Davis Story is a feature doc that gives a thorough cruise through Davis's life and career, with an emphasis on the warts-and-all side of biography (an admiring Susan Sarandon narrates). It's well paced and heavy with good clips, although it does render some the supporting bios on the Baby Jane bonus disc redundant. --Robert Horton

Description

A seven-disc set of Marked Woman, Jezebel, The Man Who Came to Dinner, Old Acquaintance, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Two-Disc Special Edition, and the 2005 documentary Stardust: The Bette Davis Story. With expert commentaries, new and vintage documentary profiles, new and vintage featurettes, and more.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Collection of Bette Davis Classics- It's Volume 2 Darling!.......2007-04-25

I, like many other die-hard Bette Davis and classic movie buffs, have awaited this release mainly for the DVD debuts of, "The Man Who Came To Dinner" and "Old Acquaintance," both great Davis films. I was very pleased to see that the film "Jezebel," which was Davis' calling card for the role of Scarlett O'Hara in Selznick's "Gone With The Wind" had undergone a beautiful job of remastering! The "2 disc Special Edition" of the ultimate pairing of legends Bette Davis and Joan Crawford puts icing on the cake with "What Ever Happened To Baby Jane?" I wasn't too familiar with "Marked Woman," however, it's an interesting film and is a nice addition to the set. Also included is the 2005 documentary entitled, "Stardust; The Bette Davis Story," which shines some light on Davis' career -and some nice footage of her classic films.

"Marked Woman" (1937)
Mary Dwight (Bette Davis) works as a hostess at the Club Intime run by ruthless gangster Johnny Vanning (Eduardo Ciannelli). When one of her "clients" is murdered prosecutor David Graham (Humphrey Bogart) questions Mary but she won't cooperate and Vanning is acquitted. When Mary's sister Betty (Jane Bryan) is killed by one of Vanning's thugs she decides to spill the beans and is beaten into disfigurement. At her bedside all the witnesses agree to testify.

"Jezebel" (1938)
Set in antebellum New Orleans during the early 1850's, this film follows Julie Marsden (Bette Davis) through her quest for social redemption on her own terms. Julie is a beautiful and free spirited Southern belle who is sure of herself and controlling of her fiancé Preston Dillard, (Henry Fonda) a successful young banker. Julie's sensitive but domineering personality--she does not want so much to hurt as to assert her independence--forces a wedge between Preston and herself. To win him back, she plays North against South amid a deadly epidemic of yellow fever, which claims a surprising victim.

"The Man Who Came To Dinner" (1942)
Sheridan Whiteside, (Monty Woolley) an eccentric and acid-tongued radio lecturer, is disabled on the doorstep of a prominent Ohio family and must remain confined to the unwilling family's home for a few days. Discovering what he believes to be problems within the household, Sheridan ("Sherry") discovers his leg is fine. Bribing the doctor to declare him unfit to leave for a few weeks, Sherry hatches a plot to fix all of the household's problems, including his loyal secretary Maggie Cutler (Bette Davis) who has just discovered her true love Bert Jefferson (Richard Travis). Lots of fun here with great performances by the entire cast which also include Ann Sheridan, Billie Burke, and the wonderfully comic Jimmy Durante.

"Old Acquaintance" (1943)
Established serious author Kit Marlowe (Bette Davis) inspires hometown pal Millie Drake (Miriam Hopkins) who writes a trashy novel published with Kit's help. Millie's husband Preston (John Loder) leaves her. Ten years of trashy novels later Millie tries to reconcile, but Preston is marrying another. Millie accuses Kit of husband stealing. Later Kit learns of Millie's daughter Diedre's (Dolores Moran) affection for Rudd, (Gig Young) whom Kit was thinking of marrying. Kit blesses their union and makes up with Millie.

"What Ever Happened To Baby Jane?" (1962) -2 disc Special Edition-
Two aging film actresses live as virtual recluses in an old Hollywood mansion. Jane Hudson, (Bette Davis) a successful child star, cares for her crippled sister Blanche, (Joan Crawford) whose career in later years eclipsed that of Jane. Now the two live together, their relationship affected by simmering subconscious thoughts of mutual envy, hate and revenge. Spiteful pranks and bitchy dialogue make this one a jewel in the "Crown of Camp!"

"Stardust: The Bette Davis Story" (2005) -documentary-
Covering the early and later parts of the legendary star's vast film career, "Stardust" captures the allure of Davis in her early films and goes on to show her courage and in-your-face attitude which mesmerized her fans and made her a box office draw even in her golden years. Some of the material can also be seen on Disc 2 of the `What Ever Happened To Baby Jane" DVD, however, there is enough in "Stardust" to make it a nice addition to the set, as well.

A rumored "Bette Davis Collection: Volume 3" is supposedly in the works and set for release this year, however, nothing official has been announced of the titles to be included or the date of release. Hopefully a box set entitled "The Joan Crawford Collection: Volume 2" will accompany Davis third box set release -there's a lot of Crawford classics still awaiting a DVD release, as well. But until then, enjoy this "Volume 2 collection of Davis classics, it will sit well next to your Volume 1 set of your Classic DVD Library.

Volume 3.......2007-04-06

Volumes 1 & 2 are fine. Some suggestions for Volume 3:
-"Beyond the Forest" (camp noir classic with immortal line: "What a dump!" All those viewers who've only heard the line parodied in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" could hear the original source! King Vidor's direction is full of mood and evocative of German expressionism.)
-"Dangerous" (Davis' fresh, dynamic performance in this film resulted in her first Oscar for Best Actress. Isn't that enough reason to release it? Far better than her performance in "The Star")
- "The Little Foxes" special edition (this film is one of the greatest filmizations of a stage play & deserves a special edition. The current DVD release doesn't have a single extra on it! A shame! A 2-disc DVD is called for!
- "The Old Maid" (far better than "Old Acquaintance", this is one of the best soap opera tearjerker period piece women's films. Davis gives one of her most sensitive, vulnerable performances and ages quite realistically in this film.)
- "In This Our Life" (another camp classic with Davis playing a bad girl to the hilt. John Huston's direction is colorful.)
- "Juarez" (although Davis has a small part, the film is historically interesting and as the Mexican Empress Carlota, Davis gives a vivid portrait of a woman going mad.)

Bette Davis Part 3.......2007-04-03

Parts 1 & 2 are fantastic, but when are we going to get Part 3.

The Bette Davis Collection Vol. 2.......2007-02-23

I love this collections - it is a wonderful addition to my 'Bette Davis Library'.
Regards

Great actress, great set.......2007-02-05

Among the great movie actresses of the first half of the Twentieth Century, there was arguably no one better than Bette Davis. Although good-looking, she didn't really have the same great Hollywood beauty that other well-known actresses had. Her greatness came from much more from pure talent than from appearance; in fact, some of her best roles were rather unflattering. Volume 2 of the Bette Davis Collection showcases five of her roles in a variety of genres: gangster film, Southern romance, comedy, "woman's" picture and horror.

The first movie (chronologically speaking) is Marked Woman, which fits right into the classic Warner Brothers gangster movies, albeit with a female protagonist. Davis plays Mary, a "dancer" for a nightclub run by a crooked mobster. Ambitious and independent, she is comfortable enough with her career as long as it finances her sister's college education. Eventually, things go sour and she is forced to make some hard choices. Humphrey Bogart has a supporting role as a noble D.A.

Nex is Jezebel, sometimes described as Davis's consolation for not getting cast in Gone With the Wind. As the rebellious Julie in antebellum New Orleans, she has some similarity to Scarlett O'Hara, but is generally different. Her efforts to defy the customs of Southern aristocracy - culminating in her wearing an inappropriate dress to a ball - costs her dearly. Henry Fonda plays her fiance who comes to find her renegade ways too much. Davis would win an Oscar in her role; ironically, this movie actually preceded Gone With the Wind in the theaters.

The Man Who Came to Dinner is an adaptation of a stage comedy. Davis plays the personal assistant to an arrogant writer who comes to dine in the house of a fan and winds up confined there after an accident. Davis plays a significant but smaller part in this ensemble comedy which is still quite amusing.

Old Acquaintance tells the story of two friends over the course of twenty years. Davis is a literary author who is well-respected; Miriam Hopkins has lesser skills but churns out the best-sellers. Often times they are more rivals than friends, as Hopkins sacrifices all for hollow success.

Finally, there is What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, which co-stars Davis's real-life rival, Joan Crawford. Davis plays Jane, a former child star in the days of vaudeville. Crawford plays her sister, who was a successful actress until being crippled in an accident. Now Crawford is being tormented by her sister. Davis's version of Jane is wonderfully crazed.

There is a boatload of special features in the set, including one disc that has Stardust: The Bette Davis Story, a sometimes cheesy but generally informative biography that shows that even if Davis was a great actress, she was not a very nice person. There are shorts and mini-documentaries on the films, along with commentaries on Jezebel, Old Acquaintance and What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? This final movie also has a whole disc of bonus features including a second biography of Davis. All the movies are either four or five-star quality, so the set as a whole merits five stars. If you are a Davis fan, this will be a delight to watch; if you're unfamiliar with her work, this set is a good place to start.

Average customer rating:

A movie for everyone
Kinda inspirational
For the nerd in all of us...
a nerd finds love
Train Man and Hermes - A Love Story

Train Man : Densha Otoko
Starring: Takayuki Yamada , and Miki Nakatani
Director: Shosuke Murakami
Manufacturer: VIZ Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Linda Linda Linda
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ASIN: B000KN9FAS
Release Date: 2007-02-06

Amazon.com

A supposedly true combination of a romance and a Pygmalion story, Densha Otoko began as an on-line tale that captivated audiences in Japan: there's a novel, a TV show, and a manga series, in addition to this feature. The title character is a textbook otaku, an anime and video game nerd who divides his time between the electronics stores in Tokyo's Akihabara district and the computer in his cluttered room. One day on a commuter train, he prevents an obnoxious drunk from bothering a pretty girl. She sends him a set of Hermès teacups as a thank-you and a tentative romance begins. Train Man has no idea how to behave with a girl, so an on-line posse tells him how to dress and what to say. Ultimately, his example inspires them to go out into the world. Director Masanori Murakami effectively uses a split screen to create the on-line community. Takayuki Yamada makes a wonderfully maladroit Train Man: when he calls Hermès for the first time, he holds the phone as if he were about to commit seppuku. Miki Nakatami infuses Hermès with a winning mixture of gentleness and independence. This touching romance will delight Gen-Y and -Z members, whose lives are bound to the Internet. (Unrated, suitable for ages 13 and older: minor violence, alcohol and tobacco use)--Charles Solomon

Description

Computer engineer Otaku (the Japanese term for "geek") is an average young man, dressed in unstylish clothes and dorky glasses. But as luck would have it, he encounters a pretty young woman on a commuter train and saves her from a lecherous molester, falling in love with her at first sight. A few days later he receives a thank-you message from the woman along with a set of Hermes teacups. Having never had a girlfriend or received a gift from a girl in his life, Otaku seeks out his pals on his BBS website for advice using his codename Train_Man (Densha Otoko): "How should I ask her out?" Deeply interested in Train Man's first love, his BBS pals eagerly supply him with advice. Encouraged by their support, Train_Man undergoes a total makeover for his first-ever date with "Hermess". Little does he know that he is about to ignite an Internet phenomenon...

Customer Reviews:

A movie for everyone.......2007-05-12

A wonderful, sweet movie, with superb performances by Takayuki Yamada and Miki Nakatani. Unlike American romantic comedies which culminate with the two main characters getting together in bed, this film focuses not only on the awkwardness and difficulties of first love, but the impact one person has on the live of others. As Train Man's fellow chat-room members (who are invisible to him) help him and cheer him on, we the viewers see their own lives change as well, as they gain courage to move on and become better human beings.
As a Japanese film, this story works well. If Hollywood gets hold of it and Americanizes it, like they did with 'Shall We Dance?' it will be ruined!

Kinda inspirational.......2007-05-07

This is a very entertaining little film. I loved it. It's honest and clean. No sexual overtones which really just kinda gave it a pure sweet feel.

For the nerd in all of us..........2007-04-23

For those of us whose hobbies make us social outcasts and misfits, Train Man comes has a light at the end of the tunnel. This movie has the hearwarming message that yes, it's ok to be otaku! ^___^ Honestly, after reading the books from tokyopop I thought the movie would bomb but it is refreshingly nice! At the end I was a little teary eyed myself. Nerds can find love too.

a nerd finds love.......2007-04-01

The Train Man spends his days either working in the back of an office building aiding his fellow employees with his computer skills or wandering the shops in Akihabara purchasing anime and manga paraphernalia, video games, and other things that otaku enjoy. Living in his parent's home, the Train Man is ensconced within the safe confines of his fandom, but he is far from content. At 22 years old the Train Man has yet to have a girlfriend and in fact feels that he is undeserving of a woman's love. However, one day upon the train his humdrum life changes completely.

After purchasing a few random anime knickknacks, the Train Man boards a train and is soon humiliated by a couple when they notice the items that he has purchased. Yet, it is on this same train that the love of the Train Man's life boards. Of course, being painfully shy, the Train Man does not approach the woman, but when she is later accosted by a drunken salaryman, played by the abrasive Osugi Ren, the Train Man comes to the woman's aid. Although terrified of the larger man, the Train Man stands his ground and defends the woman who has already grasped his heart.

In order to thank the Train Man, the woman asks for his address and soon sends him a couple of Hermes tea cups. Having no real life friends to turn to, the Train Man does what a number of other otaku do: turn to the Internet for help. On a message board, seven people come to the Train Man's aid, including three otaku who hang out everyday at a manga café, a lonely nurse who cannot get over her boyfriend, a shut-in, or Hikikomori in Japanese, a person who has basically cut themselves off from the world and generally pursue their hobbies in their home while being supported by their parents, and a husband and wife whose relationship is on the rocks. With the aid of these individuals the Train Man pursues his romance. However, can the Train Man truly rely on others for the pursuit of his own happiness?

I was honestly reluctant to watch this film at first mainly because I thought the story was quite hackneyed: nerdy guy meets beautiful girl and lives happily ever after. However, Train Man escapes this cliché because of the sympathetic if pathetic figure cut by the actor Yamada Takayuki. Certain scenes in which the Train Man, Yamada's character's name of the message board, talks to Hermes, the name the Train Man gives the woman of his dreams on the message board, on the phone or in person are almost painful to watch because his nervousness is almost palpable. I found myself both encouraging and cursing the Train Man in my mind when he was trying to take the relationship to the next level. Also, I think that the interaction amongst the message board members was quite humorous and well done. Also major kudos to the caster for casting Nakatani Miki in the role of Hermes. Nakatani, although very attractive, is not as stunning as Ito Misaki who played the role of Hermes in the televised version of Train Man. However, Nakatani's character is incredibly sweet and one can easily feel why the Train Man becomes so enraptured with her. A fun film that pulls at the heartstrings, Train Man does a wonderful job reviving a threadbare genre. Since the film is based on a true story, one wonders if a number of nerdy Japanese guys have come to the aid of woman being harassed on trains since its release?

Train Man and Hermes - A Love Story.......2007-03-29

Based on a true story, "Densha Otoku (literally translated as "Train Man")" is the kind of romance that could only happen in Japan. Partly due to the ubiquitous nature of 2-channel, a country-encompassing internet chat board that puts things like MySpace and YouTube to shame. Partly due to the otaku, a style of unsocial misfit that could only be cultured in the group-based society of Japan.

I should say ostensibly based on a true story. Although the real Train Man and Hermes have never been identified, the origin of the phenomenon is a fact. What is known for sure is that, a poster known as Densha Otoku started a thread on 2-channel telling about how he helped a woman on a train who was being harassed by some drunk salaryman. In gratitude, she sent him a set of teacups from Hermes department store, which would be the equivalent of Saks Fifth Avenue or Harrods in London. Thinking that the value of the gift is far greater than the service he performed, Densha Otoku sought advice from his fellow otakus on 2-channel on what to do. And the legend was born.

There have been many adaptations of the popular story, starting with a book that reproduced the 2-channel posts, then a comic book and a TV series. This movie, starring Takayuki Yamada and Miki Nakatani, presents the whole story and does an excellent job showing the fairy tale nature of the romance. Densha Otoku is not a bad guy, just socially awkward and someone who never really learned how to relate to women. His moment of bravery is nothing daring, and he is no hero, but the small gesture of protection is just what is needed at just the right moment. Miki Nakatani, a mid-level pop star in Japan, is perfect as Hermes,. She is not a great beauty, just a sweet woman who seems to have had her share of bad luck with men, and is willing to give a nice guy a chance.

Aside from the two leads, much of real charm of "Densha Otoku" are the 2-channelers themselves. Swept up completely in the story, they swarm the fashionable districts of Tokyo, studying up on English tea and fashionable places to buy suits and go to dinner, all so they can give the best advice to our wayward hero. Showing the isolated nature of modern Japan, a husband and wife are both equally involved in the internet events, all though neither one realizes that their partner is also online. Hiding under the masks of screen names, so many modern Japanese people lead secret lives on 2-channel, and it took the story of Train Man and Hermes to break them out of their shells and get them back into the living world.

I'm glad to see "Densha Otoku" get an English-language DVD release. This is a film that I had admired for some time, and it was always a shame that I couldn't share it with my non-Japanese speaking friends and family.

Average customer rating:

Goldthwait's tender side

Sleeping Dogs Lie
Starring: Melinda Page Hamilton , Bryce Johnson , Geoffrey Pierson , Colby French , and Jack Plotnick
Director: Bob Goldthwait
Manufacturer: First Look Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Notes on a Scandal

ASIN: B000MGUZD4
Release Date: 2007-04-10

Description

Amy is a seemingly normal young woman, adored by her parents and in love with her fiancé. Their future seems perfect until he proposes that they share their deepest, darkest secrets from their past with each other...things they have never shared with anyone. When Amy finally reveals her secret, everything will fall apart. A funny and perceptive dark comedy, "Sleeping Dogs Lie" explores the absolute virtues of honesty in every relationship.

Customer Reviews:

Goldthwait's tender side.......2007-06-29

For a film from Bob "Bobcat" Goldthwait, there is a sweet, human warmth underlying the story, which may be somewhat surprising for those more familiar with "Windy City Heat" and "Shakes the Clown". Shot on a budget more suited to a student's senior project, with help from Goldthwait's and producer Marty Pasetta's friends, borrowed equipment, props and wardrobe, and often on "found" locations, and in HD video, there is a feeling to the film that the intent was to get this film made, even if it never even made to to DVD or theaters. Goldthwait mentioned, in his remarks at the screening at Sundance 2006, that he expected to be showing this to his friends at home, not as a selection for the drama category.
Melinda Page Hamilton carries the film, portraying her character, Amy, deftly and eliciting sympathy and understanding from the viewers. Jack Plotnick, playing her tweeker brother, provides the tension and the undercurrent of family dynamics required to clarify Amy's persona.

Average customer rating:

Confusing Advertising
Cry in the Wild vs A Cry in the Wild
Amazon erred and blamed me
Great classroom movie
cry in the wild

Cry in the Wild
Starring: Dion Anderson , Tom Atkins , Megan Follows , Taylor Fry , and Jack Kehler
Director: Charles V. Correll
Manufacturer: Allumination
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD