Lovers & Liars

Starring:Goldie Hawn, Giancarlo Giannini
Studio: Madacy Records
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

Never Gets Old
Casablanca
buy it
From a professional
It's a Bogart and Bergman movie, how many stars would you have given it?

Casablanca
Starring: Humphrey Bogart , Ingrid Bergman , Paul Henreid , Claude Rains , and Conrad Veidt
Director: Michael Curtiz , and Scott Benson (II)
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6305736650
Release Date: 2000-02-15

Amazon.com essential video

A truly perfect movie, the 1942 Casablanca still wows viewers today, and for good reason. Its unique story of a love triangle set against terribly high stakes in the war against a monster is sophisticated instead of outlandish, intriguing instead of garish. Humphrey Bogart plays the allegedly apolitical club owner in unoccupied French territory that is nevertheless crawling with Nazis; Ingrid Bergman is the lover who mysteriously deserted him in Paris; and Paul Heinreid is her heroic, slightly bewildered husband. Claude Rains, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, and Conrad Veidt are among what may be the best supporting cast in the history of Hollywood films. This is certainly among the most spirited and ennobling movies ever made. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Never Gets Old.......2007-06-25

What can I say that hasn't been said before about this movie? For those few that have been living under a rock: Casablanca is about Rick a Cafe owner who "I don't stick my neck out for nobody" is his life's motto, and how this motto begins to wreck at him when his old flame (has Ingrid Bergman ever looked better?) comes back into his life.
The movie has it all: Suspence, romance, humor (in spades), and that song!
Watch it, just because it's a classic.

Casablanca.......2007-06-21

No film has embedded itself more firmly in the collective imagination than this captivating, still-unparalleled romance adventure, which epitomizes everything that Hollywood filmmaking--at its very best--strives to be. Was there ever a more unlikely yet perfect pairing than the radiant Bergman and the world-weary Bogart? Portraying the twilight of civilized society in a foreign place, and the rising menace of new world evils, director Curtiz masterfully juggles tragedy and humor, intrigue and action to tell a timeless story rich in personal and political detail. And what an indelible, heart-catching finale! "Casablanca" won Oscars for Best Picture, Director, and Screenplay, and continues to mesmerize on repeat viewings.

buy it.......2007-06-10

you must own this film

and never watch the colored version. ever.

From a professional.......2007-06-08

A look back to Quality and to great talent. I have a friend in the film.
Golden Days in all ways!

It's a Bogart and Bergman movie, how many stars would you have given it?.......2007-06-02

Casablanca, of course, doesn't require a review from me--the entire world knows about it. So I'll make this short and to the point.

PROS:

1. Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid and that darn French Captain Louis Renault (Claude Rains) star. That's two stars right there.

2. Some of the best writing Hollywood (we called it Hollywood in those days instead of Harletwood) ever produced. That's a star.

3. Some of the best music ever mastered for a movie--the world still remembers it a zillion years later. That's another star.

4. When you consider the idea is actually a simple love triangle during World War Two how could it have attained such greatness...well of course anyone who has ever seen it already knows, it was the writing, directing, acting, and music. Oh yes, Peter Lorre stars in it and several others you will reconize such as Sydney Greenstreet. I could go on and on about this movie, take it apart and tell about how great the writing, and acting are, but have you seen how many reviews this thing has? Besides, you all don't need this country boy to tell you about THIS movie. Moving along, that's a star right there, a really low end idea that came out 'great'. Proof once again, if you got the idea, writing, your actors can act, and your director can director, (and a fine song or two) nothing else really matters.

CONS:

1. There are no CONS: in this movie, I can suggest no updating, no changing of script, idea, directing, acting or anything to make it better. It's such a good thing Hollywood had a long list of actors to choose from--I don't think they could have pulled it off without them...I'm watching it again as I write this, that darn French Captain kind-a grows on you, and to think HE turns out to be a sentimentalist to!

I will add one last thing, Casablanca is not a popcorn movie like I usually watch (the old Science Fiction and monster movies). It can not be watched like a regular popcorn movie. No. It's script, acting, directing goes too far for such trival things as simple entertainment. You must listen to each word, study their body language, watch their eyes as you watch the movie. And just remember...this movie was filmed and I believe shown as Casablance was "actually" being invaded by the darkest shadow this world had faced in its' ten thousand years of recorded history...and they almost won.

If I weren't a Christian I would have said you need a shot of gin and a cigarrette...but I am, and most snack foods just don't do credit to this movie. You decide.

So there it is, rated as the second greatest movie ever made, and not one s--t, not one cuss or swear word, not one exploding head and almost no special effects. Casablanca can only be described one way and with one word...Art. Bye!

Average customer rating:

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

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

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ASIN: B00003JRCQ
Release Date: 2000-02-01

Amazon.com

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

Customer Reviews:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Average customer rating:

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

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

Amazon.com

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

Description

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

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

Customer Reviews:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Average customer rating:

A top-notch fairy tale!
Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die!
One of the Greates Movies Of all Time
Great Family Movie
Awesome Parody On Fairy Tales. Cute, Funny & Romantic With All The Classic Fairy-Tale Elements We Love. "As You Wish."

The Princess Bride (Special Edition)
Starring: Cary Elwes , Mandy Patinkin , Chris Sarandon , Christopher Guest , and Wallace Shawn
Director: Rob Reiner
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005LOKQ
Release Date: 2001-09-04

Product Description

From celebrated director Rob Reiner (When Harry Met Sally) and Oscar *-winning screenwriter William Goldman (Chaplin) comes an enchanting fantasy (Time) filled with adventure, romance and plenty of good-hearted fun (Roger Ebert)! Featuring a spectacular cast that includes Robin Wright (Forrest Gump), Cary Elwes (Liar, Liar), Mandy Patinkin (Dick Tracy) and Billy Crystal (City Slickers), this wonderful fairy tale about a princess named Buttercup and her beloved is a real dream of a movie (People)!

Special Features:

Bran-New As You Wish Documentary Featuring All-New Interviews With Cary Elwes, Robin Wright Penn, Billy Crystal, Mandy Patinkin And More!
New Audio Commentary By Director Rob Reiner
New Audio Commentary By Author William Goldman
Exclusive Footage Shot By Cary Elwes During The Making Of The Movie
2 Original Featurettes And More!

System Requirements:

Running Time 98 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com essential video

Screenwriter William Goldman's novel The Princess Bride earned its own loyal audience on the strength of its narrative voice and its gently satirical, hyperbolic spin on swashbuckled adventure that seemed almost purely literary. For all its derring-do and vivid over-the-top characters, the book's joy was dictated as much by the deadpan tone of its narrator and a winking acknowledgement of the clichés being sent up. Miraculously, director Rob Reiner and Goldman himself managed to visualize this romantic fable while keeping that external voice largely intact: using a storytelling framework, avuncular Grandpa (Peter Falk) gradually seduces his skeptical grandson (Fred Savage) into the absurd, irresistible melodrama of the title story.

And what a story: a lowly stable boy, Westley (Cary Elwes), pledges his love to the beautiful Buttercup (Robin Wright), only to be abducted and reportedly killed by pirates while Buttercup is betrothed to the evil Prince Humperdinck. Even as Buttercup herself is kidnapped by a giant, a scheming criminal mastermind, and a master Spanish swordsman, a mysterious masked pirate (could it be Westley?) follows in pursuit. As they sail toward the Cliffs of Insanity...

The wild and woolly arcs of the story, the sudden twists of fate, and, above all, the cartoon-scaled characters all work because of Goldman's very funny script, Reiner's confident direction, and a terrific cast. Elwes and Wright, both sporting their best English accents, juggle romantic fervor and physical slapstick effortlessly, while supporting roles boast Mandy Patinkin (the swordsman Inigo Montoya), Wallace Shawn (the incredulous schemer Vizzini), and Christopher Guest (evil Count Rugen) with brief but funny cameos from Billy Crystal, Carol Kane, and Peter Cook. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews:

A top-notch fairy tale!.......2007-07-03

I first saw this movie well over a decade ago. I thought it was OK, but could only remember a few snippets of it. A friend of mine @ work often talked about it and raved about what a fun movie it was. So, finally, I picked it up and gave it another look.

What I found was that my friend was right: it IS a fun movie. These days, it is also very nostalgic as well (as most 1980s movies are for me). I have a greater appreciation of the love story as well. Now that I'm pushing 40, I have a fuller understanding of just how elusive the "fairy tale ending" really is.

The cast is superb, featuring Cary Elwes as the dashing hero. He has the look and the physical grace to easily pull off the shy young farmhand who transforms into a confident, debonair swashbuckler. Robin Wright Penn is a natural to play the princess; beautiful, a wee bit on the high-maintenance side but with a heart-of-gold beneath it all.

The DVD also includes a bit part by Billy Crystal. Although you'd never recognize him, all of his fans will instantly know him due to his distinctive high-pitched voice and the way he moves. We also get to see the late-great Andre the Giant. Although I've never been into pro wrestling, I'm well-aware of how beloved he was while he was alive. He was a gentle giant, and this film brings out his warm personality.

This is a family-friendly fairy tale. There is mild violence, but it is more cartoon-like than anything else. There is a scene of torture, but it is so absurd as to not cause any children nightmares. If fairy-tale movies represent a genre that you enjoy, then this one is a must-have! Also, people who like this flick are also sure to enjoy SERENDIPITY with Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack. Let the fairy tales begin! Serendipity

Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die! .......2007-07-01

I saw "Princess Bride" in the theatres nearly 20 years ago and lines like that still stick with me. This film version of William Goldman's wonderful novel is one of the best fantasy films around and is a great stock film for families and fantasy lovers as well. We've viewed our copy at least once every 2-3 years since the film came out and doubt we'll really ever tire of it.

One of the Greates Movies Of all Time.......2007-06-28

The Princess Bride became one of my favorite movies when a friend showed it to me at his home.I use this movie as a feel better remedy after a bad day or just to feel good.I love the wry humour as well as the sheer sarcasm that drips from every castle rampart.I recommend this to anyone needing a break from reality.Carey Elwes is Gorgous as Is Robin Wright in her first movie role.Billy Crystal and Carol Kane as Miracle Max and Valerie are brilliant as is the quiet gentleness of the late Andre the Giant as Fessizk and How could I Forget Mady Patinkin as Indigo Montoya "You Killed My father.Prepare to DIE!"

Great Family Movie.......2007-06-27

This is a timeless classic! My husband introduced me to it and now I watch it when he's away. This is great family fun and a really cute movie!

Awesome Parody On Fairy Tales. Cute, Funny & Romantic With All The Classic Fairy-Tale Elements We Love. "As You Wish." .......2007-06-23

In only his 3rd time behind the camera, director Rob Reiner brings Academy Award winning screenwriter William Goldman's "The Princess Bride" to the silver screen, with Goldman himself writing the script. With excellent performances by Cary Elwes, Mandy Pantinkin, Wallace Shawn, Andre The Giant (In pace requiscat), Chris Sarandon and Christopher Guest, special appearances by Peter Falk, Carol Kane, Billy Crystal, Fred Savage Peter Cook and Mel Smith and starring Robin Wright as The Princess Bride, this classic fairy tale never disappoints for all of its 98 minutes (it never feels that long; then again, I was so busy enjoying the movie that I didn't notice the length of the film). I haven't viewed the special features yet, but they promise to be as good as the movie itself.
I recommend this movie to every female out there. You will love it and have your significant others saying "As you wish" to your every word.

The film could pass for a Disney movie, as MGM rarely produces anything this clean in this day and age (virtually no swearing, sex or nudity). A movie the entire family (and especially young couples) can enjoy together.

If I were to remake this film (theoretically speaking, of course), I would take out the bits where the Grandson interrupts the Grandfather every time Buttercup and Westley kiss. Those bits are some of the best.

The film is crammed with memorable lines, from Westley's signature saying
"As you wish" to Inigo's "My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father. Prepare to die." Watch the movie and, I promise you, you will love it.

Rated PG for comic violence.

Average customer rating:

A new look on werwolf movies
Bucharest and Special Effects Soften this Werewolf Film
Excellent Film. Better Than Chocolate.
Blood and Chocolate
Book and Movie Don't Mesh

Blood & Chocolate
Starring: Agnes Bruckner , Hugh Dancy , Olivier Martinez , Katja Riemann , and Bryan Dick
Director: Katja von Garnier
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000OCY7TY
Release Date: 2007-06-12

Amazon.com

When graphic novelist Aiden (Hugh Dancy) travels to Bucharest to research the loup garou legend, he nearly gets devoured in the latest female werewolf film, Blood and Chocolate. In the tradition of Werewolf Woman and Ginger Snaps, Blood and Chocolate stars Vivian Gandillon (Agnes Bruckner), a girl who's forced to face her lupine tendencies in order to discover how capable of loving Aiden she really is. Based on a book by Annette Curtis Clause, the film chronicles the lives of the remaining loup garou who are an extended Romanian family waiting for their pack leader, Gabriel, to select his new mate. His desire for Vivian means trouble when her wish to be with Aiden results in her revealing too much about the clan's secretive lifestyle. In this film, werewolves look fully human until their eyes glow with colored contact lenses while they fly through the air to then land as full-fledged wolves. Gone are the days, apparently, of films showing the transformation in all its hairy, explosive detail. A lack of scenes describing the werewolf metamorphosis make this film more a love story than a monster tale, though two forest gatherings in which the loup garou hunt human sacrifices offer some grizzly satisfaction. Unlike the aforementioned femme werewolf films, Blood and Chocolate features a girl fighting her urge to kill in a bid to unite humans with her brethren, making this movie the most peaceful in its genre. With a tame wolf as protagonist, the potential nightmare is really just a pleasant dream to unite the two disparate worlds. The question is: Do we want that to happen? --Trinie Dalton

Product Description

As a young girl living in the remote mountains of Colorado, Vivian (Bruckner) watched helplessly as her family was murdered by a pack of angry men for the secret they carried in their blood. Vivian survived the attack by running into the woods and changing into a wolf. Ten years later, Vivian is living a relatively safe and normal life in Bucharest, Romania. Vivian spends her days working in a chocolate shop and nights trawling the city's underground clubs, fending off the reckless antics of her cousin Rafe, and his gang of delinquents he refers to as "The Five."

Vivian's life begins to unravel when she has a chance encounter with Aiden (Dancy), an artist researching Bucharest' ancient art and relics for his next graphic novel. Aiden pursues Vivian until she relents and begins to see him, but she can't bring herself to tell him the truth - and lives in fear of showing him who she really is. Even though Vivian has sworn never to kill, she is as much an animal as she is human, and her love for Aiden threatens to cast him to the very wolves who saved her life and who are waiting for their chance to hunt him as prey.

Stills from Blood & Chocolate (click for larger image)

Beyond Blood & Chocolate at Amazon.com

Gothic Horror on DVDs
More from Olivier Martinez
DVDs of "Things That Go Bump"

Customer Reviews:

A new look on werwolf movies.......2007-07-03

Blood & Chocolate is a very good movie it takes a new look on werewolf movies and this movie is awesome.

Bucharest and Special Effects Soften this Werewolf Film.......2007-07-01

BLOOD AND CHOCOLATE (a misnomer at best!) is another in the seemingly endless appetite-for-horror-flicks appeasers. Freely adapted from the Annette Curtis Klause's novel by screenwriters Ehren Kruger and Christopher Landon and directed by Katja von Garnier, this version of the loup-garou legend takes place in Bucharest, Romania and while the corps group of 'night creatures' carrying the mantle of the clan appears small, the group seems more updated in its views of survival in the world of 'normal man' than most: the werewolves are a normal appearing bunch who change into rather elegant wolves through computer generated magic in a manner that removes much of the gruesome element form the film. It helps.

Loup-garou child Vivian (Agnes Bruckner) witnessed the death of her parents at the hands of men in Colorado and escaped to Bucharest where 10 years later she is the next in line to be the 'bride' of pack leader Gabriel (a gaunt appearing Olivier Martinez). Her aunt Astrid (Katja Riemann) with whom she lives had been the first love of Gabriel and a tension is set early in the film about the plight of the pack versus the desire to be a normal human, a tension that will help the resolution of the film's love story. The mysterious, questioning Vivian meets young artist Aiden (Hugh Dancy) who himself has escaped America and his own demons. An obvious infatuation cum attraction occurs and though Vivian admits to warm feelings for Aiden, she knows her affair is doomed: her cousin Rafe (Bryan Dick) and his pack of five discover her tragic near crossover the line of human desire, and the crisis of the story proceeds along the lines of victim and pursuer.

The unfortunate title for the film is clumsily drawn from the negligently important job Vivian has working in a chocolate factory, hardly a comparison for the importance blood plays in the hunt and kill formula that the title supposedly represents. But then it does set up the dichotomy of choice Vivian must make, whether to obey her loup-garou destiny or enter the realm of normal human motivations and desires. Yes, it all gets pretty corny, but in many ways this 'netherworld of monster types' film rises above others in its management of the transformation scenes (actually quite beautiful) and in the acting of Hugh Dancy. In the end it is the chance to see how truly Bucharest as a city really is that makes the movie worth watching. The cast does the best it can with the weak material. Grady Harp, July 07

Excellent Film. Better Than Chocolate........2007-06-28

I watched this film with a modicum of hesitation because it is not really my genre. I was more than pleasantly surprised to enjoy what I consider the best cinematic offering for the year to date. It is a beautiful combination of a "Werewolf in London", the "Bourne Identity" and "Before Sunrise", with Romania providing an exquisite location for what essentially is a very poignant love story, and very tastefully executed, with finesse and class and Romance. The soundtrack is simply first rate, the acting is very capable, with the two very memorable and commanding leads, and the violence is the antithesis to gratuitous. An Avid and very astute reader stated that the film followed the book very well. However, you need not have read the book in order to find this film a truly well done film, with virtually nothing lacking, with the exception of more special features. As of late June, this is the best film of the year, in any genre. After seeing this film, Lace, Chocolate, Romania, the Colorado Rockies, not so much blood, will be all that more appreciated.

Blood and Chocolate.......2007-06-24

Blood & Chocolate [Region 99]

This movie sucked. If you read the book, please save yourself the trauma of watching this!!! The only thing that it did have from the book was the title and the names of characters. It truly traumatized me. My friend said that I sat for 2 1/2 hours saying "what the hell happened? They had the book...what the hell happened?" Needless to say I liked the book and wish I had saved the $9 it cost to watch it in theatre. I should have asked for my money back, but I was too traumatized to think straight.

Book and Movie Don't Mesh.......2007-06-23

Have you ever read a book that you LOVE and then they turn it into a movie that just doesn't seem to match? That's what they did with Blood and Chocolate.
The movie ruined the book, and that's all there is to it.
I LOVED the book, and I had read it more than one time before I had heard that it was being turned into a movie. I was really excited, but then tonight I actually saw the movie.
At the end, for the last 5 minutes, my eyes were open REALLY wide and my mouth was wide open because I couldn't believe what was happening. The ending was almost the complete opposite of the ending in the book...which I happened to like.
If you like the book, don't see the movie.
If you've seen the movie, read the book and then yell at the movie for being so different.

The Phantom of the Opera (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

amazing
Visually stunning but could have been much better
Captivating movie
Nice adaptation BUT some poor performances
Magical Enchantment!!!

The Phantom of the Opera (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Gerard Butler , Emmy Rossum , Patrick Wilson , Miranda Richardson , and Minnie Driver
Director: Joel Schumacher
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
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Similar Items:

The Phantom of the Opera (The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
The Phantom of the Opera (2004 Movie Soundtrack)
Phantom of the Opera: Film Companion
Attila
The Phantom of the Opera: The Original Novel

ASIN: B0007TKNL0
Release Date: 2005-05-03

Amazon.com

Although it's not as bold as Oscar darling Chicago, The Phantom of the Opera continues the resuscitation of the movie musical with a faithful adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's blockbuster stage musical. Emmy Rossum glows in a breakout role as opera ingénue Christine Daae, and if phantom Gerard Butler isn't Rossum's match vocally, he does convey menace and sensuality in such numbers as "The Music of the Night." The most experienced musical theater veteran in the cast, romantic lead Patrick Wilson, sings sweetly but seems wooden. The biggest name in the cast, Minnie Driver, hams it up as diva Carlotta, and she's the only principal whose voice was dubbed (though she does sing the closing-credit number, "Learn to Be Lonely," which is also the only new song).

Director Joel Schumacher, no stranger to visual spectacle, seems to have found a good match in Lloyd Webber's larger-than-life vision of Gaston LeRoux's Gothic horror-romance. His weakness is cuing too many audience-reaction shots and showing too much of the lurking Phantom, but when he calms down and lets Rossum sings "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" alone in a silent graveyard, it's exquisite.

Read our CD buying guide
Those who consider the stage musical shallow and overblown probably won't have their minds changed by the movie, and devotees will forever rue that the movie took the better part of two decades to develop, which prevented the casting of original principals Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. Still, The Phantom of the Opera is a welcome exception to the long line of ill-conceived Broadway-to-movie travesties.

DVD Features
The special edition of The Phantom of the Opera has two major extras. "Behind the Mask: The Story of The Phantom of the Opera" is an hourlong documentary tracing the genesis of the stage show, with interviews of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, director Harold Prince, producer Cameron Macintosh, lyricists Richard Stilgoe and Charles Hart, choreographer Gillian Lynne, and others. Conspicuously absent are stars Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford. Both do appear in video clips, including Brightman performing with Colm Wilkinson at an early workshop, and Crawford is the subject of a casting segment. Other brief scenes from the show are represented by a 2001 production. The other major feature is the 45-minute making-of focusing on the movie, including casting and the selection of director Joel Schumacher Both are well-done productions by Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group.

The deleted scene is a new song written by Lloyd Webber and Charles Hart, "No One Would Listen," sung by the Phantom toward the end of the movie. It's a beautiful song that, along with Madame Giry's story, makes him a more sympathetic character. But because that bit of backstory already slowed down the ending, it was probably a good move to cut the song. --David Horiuchi

More on The Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera (Special Extended Edition Soundtrack) (CD)
The Phantom of the Opera (2004 Movie Soundtrack) (CD)
The Phantom of the Opera (Original 1986 London Cast) (CD)

Evita (DVD)
Andrew Lloyd Weber: The Royal Albert Hall Celebration (DVD)
More Broadway DVDs

Description

Musical Drama based on Andrew Lloyd Webber's celebrated musical phenomenon. The Phantom of the Opera tells the story of a disfigured musical genius (Gerard Butler) who haunts the catacombs beneath the Paris Opera, waging a reign of terror over its occupants. When he falls fatally in love with the lovely Christine (Emmy Rossum), the Phantom devotes himself to creating a new star for the Opera, exerting a strange sense of control over the young soprano as he nurtures her extraordinary talents.

DVD Features:
Additional Scenes:"No-one Would Listen" Approx. 4 Mins.
DVD ROM Features
Documentary:Behind the Mask - The Story of the Phantom of the Opera
Easter Eggs
Featurette:The Making of The Phantom of the Opera in 3 Spellbinding Acts: Preproduction, The Director, Production

Customer Reviews:

amazing.......2007-06-30

This set is amazing! The only thing I wish that was different is that you could get all the non song parts too. Other than that, the songs are wonderful, the music is amazing, and I've learned all the words!

Visually stunning but could have been much better.......2007-06-30

Although I have never seen the stage production, I do own a soundtrack of the original cast. I must say this pales in comparison. The two largest problems with this is that Emmy Rossum can sing but not act and Gerard Butler can act but not sing. Hardly a recipe for something wonderful. Rossum goes through the movie with two expressions, open-mouthed horror and open-mouthed awe. Butler, while he can keep pitch, does nothing close to justice to the incredible songs he has to sing. The actor of Raoul was fairly disappointing as well, not being what one would imagine a young dashing hero to be. The scene of him arriving on a white horse was especially cliched. It didn't help that the fight that follows was pretty unexciting.
That being said, it is a gorgeous looking movie. The sets and costumes are incredible and actually seeing what is happening does clarify some things on the soundtrack. I was let down by the masquerade ball however. Having everyone in black and white didn't make any sense, especially in contrast to the lyric's description of the ball itself. The Phantom in red could still have been stunning without the rest of the costumes being so drab.
All in all I was disappointed. They certainly could have picked better actors/singers to play the leads.

Captivating movie.......2007-06-28

Talk about total obsession, I bought this a year ago and held on to it until I saw the play the other nite, I have to say this is a well made movie, Gerard Butler as the Phantom was absolutely the man for the movie, I cant imagine anybody else playing his part, I saw the clips from the original with Sarah and there's no comparison, Gerard was so powerful as an actor, the way he portrayed the part especially when he was trying to seduce Emmy,sooooooooo sexy, anyway, I give this movie a 5 star.

Nice adaptation BUT some poor performances.......2007-06-23

PROS: For those of you that love the play, this is a great way to enjoy it from home. Emmy Rossum provides a great performance as a very credible Christine Daae.

CONS: It's hard to believe that there was no one better than Gerard Butler to play the Phantom. He just can't sing to save his life. Raoul is also very regrettable.

Magical Enchantment!!!.......2007-06-20

I borrowed a copy "The Phantom of the Opera" (Widescreen Edition)May 3, 2005, 141 minutes Disc-One Set from a Friend and just finished viewing the DVD Tonight!!!! You will want to get the Special Edition, May 3, 2005, Two-Disc Set if you want to view the Special Features which includes Two Major Extras. "Behind the Mask: The Story of The Phantom of the Opera" is an hourlong documentary along with the other Major Extra a 45-minute Making-of the Movie along with some minor extras. I prefer the Special Edition Two-Disc Set over the One-Disc Set where the Special Features are omitted but has only the Theatrical Trailer!!

This 2005 Movie Directed by Joel Schumacher is simply a "Grand Opera Movie" worthy of a 5 Star Rating!!! So, Turn up the DVD Volume and Enjoy!!

If you appreciate the World of Arts and Music you will not be disappointed with Andrew Lloyd Webber's Score!!

Emmy Rossum(Christine)Stole the Show with her Acting and Heavenly Singing Performance!!
Gerard Butler(The Phantom) was the Handsome Phantom with a Good Voice that was Physically Fit allowing his character to be very active in the Movie Opera Play. Gerard's incredible performance of "Music of the Night" was Outstanding and better than Michael Crawford's Voice Bass Notes!!
Patrick Wilson(Raoul)Singing was Good and his Character played the Alleged BoyFriend that was to Rescue Christine from the Evil Phanton!! Supporting Actress Minnie Driver and Miranda Richardson had limited but Solid Roles!!!

The Movie was able to capture the Magical Live Opera Essence with A Wonderfully Lavished Colored Staged along with a complete supporting cast for this Movie Stage Musical!!

This Movie allows the viewer to feel the Musical Opera without actually being at your Local Opera House!!

Magical Enchantment begins in a 1919 Auction at the Paris Opera Populaire when the Populaire VICTORIAN Ceiling Light Fixture CHANDELIER that was damaged long time ago is prepared for lighting before Auction bidding starts where the auctioneer, porters and bidders are present with Two Mystery Bidders???

A Bright Flash of Light!!, like the "Rebirth of a Rising Phoenix from the Ashes" transports the Entire Audience back to the Past in 1870 when the Paris Opera was at its height of Magical Enchantment!!!

The Paris Opera Populaire actually Rises very Slowly and Mystical like a Phoenix before your very Human Eyes until the Magical Live Opera Essence of it's Beauty is fully Transformed and Alive!!!!!

Nothing will replace the Live version of "The Phantom of the Opera" coming to your city but it will be Definitely Easier to Live without until the Live Opera version of "The Phantom of Opera" Arrives!!

Average customer rating:

A Great Love Story
Yummy High Cholesterol '50's Fun!
A Summer Place-DVD
Summer, Sex and Suds
A SUMMER PLACE

A Summer Place
Starring: Richard Egan , Dorothy McGuire , Sandra Dee , Arthur Kennedy , and Troy Donahue
Director: Delmer Daves
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Move Over Darling
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Do Not Disturb
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The Complete Gidget Collection (Gidget / Gidget Goes Hawaiian / Gidget Goes to Rome)

ASIN: B000JU8HBA
Release Date: 2007-02-06

Amazon.com

Think A Summer Place, and you'll probably be humming Max Steiner's wonderfully romantic instrumental theme song, a hand-holding hit in 1959. The movie itself is similarly irresistible, a colorful soap opera about the passions of a pair of dewy-eyed teens and their straying parents. At an island resort in Maine, Sandra Dee and Troy Donahue (the reigning teen idols of the day) fall hard for each other. What they don't know is that her father (Richard Egan) and his mother (Dorothy McGuire), lovers 20 years earlier, have rekindled their affair. Both, inconveniently, have spouses, which is what makes this a soap opera. Lovers of camp will find much to savor in the incredible '50s attitudes, and in the innocence of supervirgin Dee ("Johnny, have you been bad with girls?"). Yet the sincerity of writer-director Delmer Daves, cowriter of An Affair to Remember, comes shining through the corn; and the grown-up affair anticipates The Bridges of Madison County by 30 years. --Robert Horton

Description

Illicit romance take center stage when a wealthy family set off for a summer seaside vacation.

Customer Reviews:

A Great Love Story.......2007-06-27

I really love the actors in this story and recommend anyone,who truly want to be loved to look at this story.It doesn't matter about family situations long as you have a level head in this new reality world,you can over come any given situation.

Yummy High Cholesterol '50's Fun!.......2007-06-13

As a social barometer of the times it may be reading a bit too much into "A Summer Place" to proclaim it as an early ripple in the social tempests still to come in the 1960's. Still those of us alive at that time know that in 1959 it WAS controversial to sympathetically portray adultery and teen sexuality as depicted in "A Summer Place". I remember my high school years (early '70's) and how girls who "got into trouble" would simply disappear and you'd never know what became of them until a classmate told you years later of their waywardness (this was still a VERY rare occurrence here in "flyover country" even then; how things have changed). And of course while adultery and divorce were likewise not quite so prevalent "back in the day," they certainly happened but not without considerable burden of stigma for the convention-defying lovers who tossed everything over for their passion.

So yeah, I do think the sociology of "A Summer Place" is significant but that's really the least reason to see it. Mostly it's just maximum guilty-pleasure FUN and a HUGE blast of '50's nostalgia and "attitude" that still has great charm and luster for receptive movie fans.

Rule number 1 is that you must have full tolerance for what we could now call cheesy acting and intensely overripe melodrama. AND ALSO you must be prepared for the intense full-frontal gumball-vivid Technicolor cinematography of the time. Too many viewers can't see beyond the stylistic conventions of the time a movie was made to appreciate the human story being told; what a pity! Think of everyone you know who just won't watch a movie because it's in black & white, or because it's obviously an old, overcooked Hollywood potboiler. You know what? Many of those are GREAT works of art however (like most art) they require that you make the effort to meet them halfway. Think of them not only as theatrical productions but also as time capsules of the era they were created--because that's exactly what they are. And how fortunate we are now to have such easy access on DVD for our enjoyment now!

But enough of the film theory stuff. "A Summer Place" appeals on many levels; the gorgeous cinematography, the convention-challenging story & script, the VERY effective and well-remembered orchestral score, and let's not overlook the cast. Sandra Dee & Troy Donahue do indeed project a kind of youthful innocence that truly is a thing of the past now, but was common in their time. Dorothy McGuire & Richard Egan give it their all as the reunited Pine Island lovers who cannot resign themselves to half-lives of marital indifference or cruelty. And how about those jilted spouses? You gotta love Constance Ford as the scheming, triple-bitter wife interested only in keeping her husband & daughter under her thumb. Look-the DVD transfer shows how she has make-up "frown lines" painted at the corners of her mouth just in case we don't get the point that she's a sullen, PO'd bitter woman. A Snidely Whiplash mustache wouldn't have been gender-appropriate, would it?!? Arthur Kennedy also gives a GREAT performance as Dorothy's bibulous husband who despite his degraded state still musters considerable self-awareness & ultimately inspires our sympathy.

I described "A Summer Place" earlier as a guilty pleasure, but now I want to back off a little bit in closing. This is not really drama that will shake you fiercely like, say "21 Grams" or "Dead Man Walking," however I confess I AM touched by the underlying sincerity of "A Summer Place" and its intent to provoke--gently--some questioning of the Eisenhower era values that seemed set in stone and indeed WERE a cage of oppression for many. Perhaps your appreciation of "A Summer Place" will be proportional to your level of receptivity to such a re-evaluation. All I know for sure is that you enjoy it half as much as I do, you will like it a very great deal indeed!

A Summer Place-DVD.......2007-05-12

I saw this movie about 20years ago and loved it, but I fell in love with the Theme song and have loved it till this very day. The quality of this movie was fabulous as was the service, no hassles at all, its a pleasure to have my very own copy of this movie. Thanks Amazon.

Summer, Sex and Suds.......2007-05-08

Nowadays novelist Sloan Wilson's a nearly-forgotten footnote to 50's pop culture, but he produced two big bestsellers that were made into iconic films of their time, THE MAN IN THE GREY FLANNEL SUIT and A SUMMER PLACE. Neither picture's a masterpiece, but both are of interest, with SUMMER PLACE having the edge for entertainment value; its tale of angst and lust, senior and junior division, still provides plenty of sizzle. Thanks to the production code, Hollywood danced around sex for years. When films began to address the subject, in pictures like PEYTON PLACE and A SUMMER PLACE, the tone was often breathless hysteria -- there's something of a disconnect when actors coiffed and dressed in high 50's fashion are tossing around Victorian language like "house of ill repute" and "harlot". That said, these movies provide fascinating glimpses of public morality. In today's climate, Paris Hilton's X-rated antics provoke less commotion than Wilson's relatively straightforward adultery and teenage canoodling do here. Attractive performances from Egan and McGuire, nice work from Constance Ford as the embittered, puritanical mother (Angela Lansbury must have been washing her hair that week), and career-defining turns from Troy Donahue and Sandra Dee. As I've said before on this site, Dee's always better than you remember her being. She looks fine here, always maintaining her dignity in a thoughtful performance of material that could easily have turned ludicrous. Throw in a memorable Max Steiner score, a good Warner's DVD transfer, and you've got a great Saturday night movie.

A SUMMER PLACE.......2007-05-06

SUPERB OLD CLASSIC.RATHER DATED IN ITS APPROACH TO EXTRAMARITAL SEX, DIVORCE AND MORALS BUT STILL GREAT NOSTALGIA.

Doctor Zhivago (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Doctor Zhivago
Got exactly what I asked for when I asked for it
Brilliant? Hardly!
Do Not Purchase This DVD!
A Great Update

Doctor Zhivago (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Jose Maria Caffarel , Geraldine Chaplin , Erik Chitty , Julie Christie , and Adrienne Corri
Director: David Lean
Manufacturer: Turner Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Lawrence of Arabia (Limited Edition)
Gone with the Wind (Four-Disc Collector's Edition)
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The Bridge on the River Kwai

ASIN: B00003CX9M
Release Date: 2001-11-06

Amazon.com essential video

David Lean focused all his talent as an epic-maker on Boris Pasternak's sweeping novel about a doctor-poet in revolutionary Russia. The results may sometimes veer toward soap opera, especially with the screen frequently filled with adoring close-ups of Omar Sharif and Julie Christie, but Lean's gift for cramming the screen with spectacle is not to be denied. The streets of Moscow, the snowy steppes of Russia, the house in the country taken over by ice; these are re-created with Lean's unerring sense of grandness. The movie is so lush and so long that it becomes an irresistible wallow, even when logic suffers--like Gone with the Wind before it and Titanic after. Sharif, who achieved stardom in Lean's previous film, Lawrence of Arabia, mostly looks noble, but the supporting cast is spiky: Rod Steiger as a fat-cat monster, Tom Courtenay as a self-righteous revolutionary, and Klaus Kinski and Alec Guinness in smaller roles. Geraldine Chaplin, in her adult debut, plays the doctor's compliant wife. Robert Bolt's screenplay won one of the film's five Oscars, with another going to perhaps the most immediately recognizable element of the movie: Maurice Jarre's romantic music, with its hugely popular "Lara's Theme" weaving in and out of a swooning score. --Robert Horton

Description

Lara inspires lechery in Komarovsky (her mother's lover who is a master at surviving whoever runs Russia) and can't compete with passion for the revolution of the man she marries, Pasha. Her true love is Zhivago who also loves his wife. Lara is the one who inspires poetry. The story is narrated by Zhivago's half brother Yevgraf, who has made his career in the Soviet Army. At the beginning of the film he is about to meet a young woman he believes may be the long lost daughter of Lara and Zhivago.

Customer Reviews:

Doctor Zhivago.......2007-06-27

Based on Boris Pasternak's Nobel Prize-winning novel, David Lean's second masterpiece (after "Lawrence of Arabia") is a sumptuous, absorbing epic in the grand tradition of filmmaking. Sharif and Christie (often glimpsed in adoring close-ups) are ravishing to watch, as Lean turns an earth-shattering moment in world history into high romantic drama. Brimming with unforgettable images of the Russian steppes captured by Oscar-winning lensman Carlo Ponti, Lean's snowy, romantic spectacle is just what the "Doctor" ordered, with marvelous ensemble work by Rod Steiger, Alec Guinness, Tom Courtenay, and Klaus Kinski.

Got exactly what I asked for when I asked for it.......2007-06-08

I forgot my step-dad's 60th birthday and had to overnight/express ship this DVD set to him and it actually ended up working out better than if I had remembered. He has wanted this movie for years because he went to the premier in the 60's on the east coast. He was home when it arrived on a Saturday and he ended up feeling more special because of all of the fuss and the hand delivery by FedEx. The film is stunning, as ever. I borrowed it as soon as my parents had watched it and it held up beautifully on my HDTV (61" screen) which I did not expect. I was highly satisfied with the whole process and the product. I completely recommend using the ticker on items that tells you how soon you can get them anywhere in the country - fabulous little feature. Excellent service.

Brilliant? Hardly!.......2007-05-21

David Lean was in over his head with this film adaptation of the historic book by Pasternak. There is absolutely no justification for this movie to be so long since it hardly touches the complexities of its source. When I saw the film during its original release, I wondered why it was taking so long to get to the point. I never did get the "point". Then again I don't understand all the fuss around "Gone With the Wind" either.

The performances by Shariff and Christie were amazing. By that I mean that it appeared that they were filmed separately performing their roles, then the results were edited together. Talk about no chemistry!

Yes the cinematography is grand, however, the music score is minimalistic.

If you enjoy daytime soap operas, then you might enjoy this film.

Do Not Purchase This DVD!.......2007-04-22

Many scenes have been cut out. I saw the origninal movie when it originaly came out and this is NOT original.

Do not buy this version if you want the original version. I wish I knew where to get the original.

Please advise.

A Great Update.......2007-04-04

This classic looks great in the new format, happy to have it back in our library

Average customer rating:

MUCH BETTER THAN I EXPECTED!
If you like golf and feel-good-pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps movies
This is a Hindu legend, not a golf movie!
A Special Treat
Better than I thought it would be

The Legend of Bagger Vance
Starring: Matt Damon , Bruce McGill , Michael O'Neill , Harve Presnell , and Lane Smith
Director: Robert Redford
Manufacturer: Dreamworks Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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Product Features:

Classic DVD
Exclusive interviews, highlights, and behind the scenes coverage
DVD's main menu allow you to jump directly to the action
Presented in full-screen digital video

ASIN: B00003CXI4
Release Date: 2001-04-03

Product Description

A disillusioned war veteran, Capt. Rannulph Junah (Matt Damon), reluctantly agrees to play a game of golf. He finds the game futile until his caddy, Bagger Vance (Will Smith), teaches him the secret of the authentic golf stroke which turns out also to be the secret to mastering any challenge and finding meaning in life.

Amazon.com

The Legend of Bagger Vance doesn't break any new ground, but with Steven Pressfield's inspirational novel to guide them, director Robert Redford and screenwriter Jeremy Leven have tilled fertile soil with a graceful touch. Redford does for golf what A River Runs Through It did for fly-fishing: the sport is a conduit for a philosophy of living, and Redford achieves the small miracle of making golf a central metaphor that's visually compelling.

Set in Savannah, Georgia, during the early '30s, the story charts the redemption of disillusioned World War I veteran and former golf champion Rannulph Junuh (Matt Damon), who emerges from self-imposed obscurity in an exhibition match against legendary golfers Bobby Jones (Joel Gretsch) and Walter Hagen (Bruce McGill). Having earlier abandoned the socialite (Charlize Theron) who has organized the tournament to promote her late father's spectacular golf resort, Junuh now depends on the support of a young fan (perfectly cast newcomer J. Michael Moncrief) and the mysterious Bagger Vance (Will Smith), a smiling Jiminy Cricket who serves as Junuh's caddy, golf guru, and Socratic angel of mercy.

As Junuh regains the "authentic swing" he feared was lost forever, Redford guides his splendid cast through a spiritual journey that is specific to the discipline of golf and yet potently universal. As always, Redford also conveys his respect for nature and the rhythms of life as well as a sweet nostalgia for simpler times and purer values. With the casting of Jack Lemmon as the film's present-day narrator and elderly version of Moncrief's character, The Legend of Bagger Vance gains even greater dignity and, indeed, the glowing aura of legend. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

MUCH BETTER THAN I EXPECTED!.......2007-05-13

This film received mixed reviews and may not be for everyone. It's a good movie with interesting characters that moves at a leisurely pace...... kind of like golf. If you like golf, you'll probably like the movie. If you don't like golf you still might like it. I don't play and I liked it!

If you like golf and feel-good-pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps movies.......2007-05-13

Not a movie that you have to have to complete your Matt Damon or Will Smith collections but a decent film. It's predictable and trite at times but your wife will enjoy watching it with you.

This is a Hindu legend, not a golf movie!.......2007-02-14

It's hard to believe that not even the Amazon reviewers recognized this movie as an update of the Hindu legend of Arjuna and Krishna. Will Smith essentially plays Krishna to Matt Damon's Arjuna (Randolph Junah -- R-Junah, or Arjuna!). Arjuna was a confused, down and out former warrior who was going into battle during hard times. Krishna's wisdom guided him to his true self and victory. Does the film make sense now?

A Special Treat.......2007-01-04

If you enjoy Will Smith's performances, you're in for a real treat here. He is at his best, which is pretty darned good! The entire cast is excellent and the story is a little gem - even for non-golfers.

Better than I thought it would be.......2006-07-25

Enjoyed this movie. Some good performances with Will Smith stealing the show throughout.

Average customer rating:

Think - Vanilla Sky or Sixth Sense
Second Chance
Imaginative love story that won't

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