Conspiracy

Starring:Kenneth Branagh, Clare Bullus, Stanley Tucci, Simon Markey, David Glover, David Willoughby, Tom Hiddleston, David Spinx, Dirk Martens, Barnaby Kay, Peter Sullivan (III), Ben Daniels, Andreas GÃ¼nther, Ewan Stewart, Brian Pettifer, Kevin McNally, Florian Panzner, Ross O'Hennessey, Colin Firth, Nicholas Woodeson
Director: Frank Pierson
Studio: Hbo Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
On January 20, 1942, with the tide of war turning in favor of the Allies, a small group of SS officers, government ministers, and Nazi officials met near Berlin to decide the fate of Europe's Jews. Based on the only surviving record of that meeting, Conspiracy is a powerful combination of historical reconstruction and speculation that attempts to offer new insights into a pivotal moment in history.

The cast does a marvelous job of fleshing out the documentary evidence to create convincing characters. Kenneth Branagh is especially chilling as SS Chief of Security Reinhard Heydrich, who uses a combination of charm and ruthless power-mongering to gain support for his plans. Colin Firth is fascinating as Wilhelm Stuckart, a lawyer who sees the brutal tactics of the SS as a threat to his own intellectualized anti-Semitism, and Stanley Tucci gives a wonderfully understated performance as Adolf Eichmann.

Amazon.com essential video

Do you know anyone who hasn't seen this movie? A box-office smash when released in 1993, this spectacular update of the popular 1960s TV series stars Harrison Ford as a surgeon wrongly accused of the murder of his wife. He escapes from a prison transport bus (in one of the most spectacular stunt-action sequences ever filmed) and embarks on a frantic quest for the true killer's identity, while a tenacious U.S. marshal (Tommy Lee Jones, in an Oscar-winning role) remains hot on his trail. Director Andrew Davis hit the big time with this expert display of polished style and escalating suspense, but it's the antagonistic chemistry between Jones and Ford that keeps this thriller cooking to the very end. In roles that seem custom-fit to their screen personas, the two stars maintain a sharply human focus to the grand-scale manhunt, and the intelligent screenplay never resorts to convenient escapes or narrative shortcuts. Equally effective as a thriller and a character study, this is a Hollywood blockbuster that truly deserves its ongoing popularity. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Catch him if you can. The Fugitive is on the run! Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones race through the breathless manhunt movie based on the classic TV series. Ford is prison escapee Dr. Richard Kimble, a Chicago surgeon falsely convicted of killing his wife and determined to prove his innocence by leading his pursuers to the one-armed man who actually committed the crime. Jones (1993 Academy Award and Golden Globe winner as Best Supporting Actor) is Sam Gerard, an unrelenting bloodhound of a U.S. Marshal. They are hunted and hunter. And as directed by Andrew Davis (Under Siege), their nonstop chase has one exhilarating speed: all-out. So catch him if you can. And catch an 11-on-a-scale-of-10 train wreck (yes, the train is real), a plunge down a waterfall, a cat-and-mouse jaunt through a Chicago St. Patrick's Day parade and much more. Better hurry. Kimble doesn't stay in one place very long!

Customer Reviews:

Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones deliver towering performances in this gripping thriller.......2007-06-18

Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones deliver towering performances in this gripping thriller.

PLOT SYNOPSIS

Dr. Kimble (Harrison Ford) arrived home one night to find his wife Helen on the verge of death after being brutally attacked by a one armed maniac. Before she died, she was able to make a desperate call to 9-11, so the police arrive shortly after the incident, just in time to find Helen dead. The police notice that Kimble is all scratched up, as though he had just been in a fight or had just murdered his wife himself. Despite Kimble's description of the true culprit, the police arrest him and charge him of his wife's murder. The trial goes badly and Kimble is sentenced to death by execution.

On a prison bus, on his way to the facility that housed the chamber that would eventually kill him, some other convicts attempt to pull off an escape. There is a violent uprising inside of the bus and the lumbering vehicle tumbles down a hill and stops on a railroad track. The oncoming train collides with the bus and creates one of the most spectacular train wreck scenes to ever appear on film. By chance, Kimble, and another convict, make it out of the crash alive and set out on foot to escape the law enforcement personnel who are sure to appear once they learn about the disaster.

Unfortunately for Kimble, the federal marshal who is put in charge of the operation is none other than Sam Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones), who is completely determined, quick-thinking, and efficient. He is unbendingly bound to his duty and will stop at nothing to catch his man. This is revealed in the famous tunnel scene, when Kimble points a gun at him and says "I did not kill my wife," Gerard retort is the cold "I don't care."

Since Kimble has already been convicted and sentenced to death, his chances of resurrecting any kind of life are exceedingly grim. He can either hide out for the rest of his life, or try to lead law enforcement to the real culprit. In order to accomplish the second option, Kimble would have to investigate himself, and somehow, based on the scant evidence at his disposal, somehow find the criminal. But can he do it before the brilliant Gerard closes in on him?

ACTING

Tommy Lee Jones' performance is one of those performances that won, and actually did deserve to win the Oscar. Every second of Jones' performance is absolutely convincing. It is rare that an individual's character can be developed so fully in a two hour film. He is more than the stereotypical, "success at all costs" law enforcement office. From his persuasive scowls when he hears of Kimble's successes, to the tone of his voice when he barks orders and makes observations, his performance alone is enough to watch this movie several times.

Harrison Ford logs in another solid performance. Over the course of the last 30 years, Ford has been one of the most consistent actors of all time. The Fugitive is actually one of his better roles. He plays the part of Richard Kimble to near perfection.

It is not uncommon to see two huge stars on one film at the same time, but it is uncommon that they perfectly fit the characters that they are asked to portray, and it is nothing short of a rarity that they interact in such a memorable fashion as they did in the fugitive.

The more minor actors are nothing special, but they are not bad either. Jerome Krabbe played a respectable Dr. Charles Nichols,, with his hair parted neatly to the side and his somewhat nerdy smile, he represented what most Americans picture when they imagine a highly educated doctor. Joe Pantoliano played Cosmo, Gerard's assistant. We get a lot of sarcasm in a high pitched voice, and that is what Pantoliano is known for. It added some extra entertainment and made the mechanical law enforcement machine slightly more human-like.

SO DOES IT THRILL?

How does the fugitive stack up against other thrillers? Most thrillers, even some successful ones, have a small amount of tension causing elements. The movie-makers work with a somewhat limited script, and get as much thrill as they can on two or three suspense-provoking fundamentals. Sometimes these movies do an excellent job at thrilling us, and leave us satisfied. The producers, directors, and actors of the fugitive did not need to stretch out every possible element for cheap thrills, the script, which took years and million dollars in development, thrills the audience on multiple levels. Even mediocre actors would have turned this script into a nail-biting experience, the super performances by Jones and Ford only make it even better.

This one is definitely a classic in its genre. If you still haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and check it out.

Nice job!.......2007-05-10

I rec'd the dvd in a timely manner and in good condition. Thanks!

Let the Chase Begin..........2007-05-03

Movies based on television shows are frustrating for the creative team behind the adaptation and often prove to be somewhat hit and miss. The reason is because in a TV show the writer/director gets to spread his/her story over the course of multiple episodes or even an entire season. In a movie you only get an average of 2 hours to get your story out, which can cause problems when adapting a television series, whether it be a long-running or short lived show, for theaters because you just don't have the luxury of time. There have been some successful adaptations, "Starsky & Hutch", `Star Trek', `Mission: Impossible', and even `Charlie's Angels' (though I didn't care for either incarnation of the franchise), along with the success there have been those that failed "The Avengers" was lackluster, and "The Dukes of Hazzard" was the most recent, and possibly the worst adaptation I have seen in a long while. In 1993, Warner Brothers felt the calling to try their collective hand at an adaptation, and their choice was the hit TV series "The Fugitive". To assist in the success of their endeavor the WB enlisted top-notch, veteran acting talents Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones, and hired director Andrew Davis hot off his highly successful submarine action film, "Under Siege".

"The Fugitive" tells the story of Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford), who after a charity event arrives home to find an intruder in his house and his wife murdered. After fighting off the intruder, Kimble alerts the police, and upon their arrival Kimble is surprised by the fact that he is arrested for the murder of his own wife. After being found guilty at his trial and sentenced to prison, the prison bus Kimble is being transported by crashes in front of an oncoming train. After being freed by a correctional officer to assist with the other prisoners, Dr. Kimble flees in hopes of tracking down the one-armed murderer and proving his innocence. However, hot on Richard's trail is a relentless U.S. Marshal, Sam Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones), and his team of deputies, who will stop at nothing until their man is caught. Let the chase begin!

Clearly the executives at Warner Brothers made an excellent decision to make this adaptation, and managed to find the perfect cast, writer, and director to pull it off. The cast, led by Harrison Ford (an actor that delivers a terrific performance every time) and Tommy Lee Jones (who was great in this role and was rewarded with the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor), all give excellent performances, fleshing out each individual character and making the movie believable and real to the audience. The story by David Twohy ("Pitch Black" and "The Chronicles of Riddick") is full of twists and turns, with riveting drama and action along with bits of comedy sprinkled about to lighten things up just a bit. The direction of Andrew Davis, though not flashy by any means, delivers a very tight, well-paced manhunt movie that keeps the audience fully engrossed from start to finish, even though they already have a pretty good guess what the outcome will be, based on the source material.

As I stated earlier some adaptations of TV shows to movies work out well and some don't, and the reasons generally stem from what I pointed out in the beginning of this review, but sometimes the results may vary depending on how committed to the project the cast/crew and the studio are. It's nice to see that for "The Fugitive" all parties involved in the making of this picture gave their best, and the fruits of the labor paid off big time, making this movie one of the best TV series adaptations to ever be made.

"The Fugitive" is rated PG-13 for violence and language.

An interesting and entertaining adaptation.......2007-04-15

Hollywood has welcomed several great crime drama films over the years,and one of those films happens to be,by far,"The Fugitive". An interesting and entertaining adaptation of one America's most successful televsion shows,it is always great to see good television shows being adopted into the films--something that this film proves quite well.

Based off a 1960's television series,this film is based in Chicago. Here,Harrison Ford plays Richard Kimble,a man who happens to be very fortunate:he is a successful and respected surgeon,with a large amount of money,good friends,and a beautiful wife whom he has a wonderful marriage with,Helen(Sela Ward). For Richard Kimble,things could not be any better,and Kimble himself is happy with the way that life is working out for him.

But,one night,things change for Richard Kimble and his life--in a negative way. After Richard Kimble comes home one night,he discovers that his wife is being murdered by a one-armed man. And,despite the fact that Richard Kimble is able to put up a good battle against this one-armed man,he is not able to win. Bad turns to worse when "certain evidence" falsely shows that Richard Kimble is responsible for the murder of his wife,and leads to Kimble facing execution on death row.

However,all of a sudden,things change. Once the bus that is carrying Richard Kimble and his former prisoners to the Death Row that they are going to be executed at crashes and ends up on a train track,Richard Kimble is able to escape. Fortunately enough for Kimble,he is able to return to Chicago. From here,Richard Kimble takes advantage of the opportunities that he has to find the evidence that he needs in order to learn more detail about his wife's murder,and to prove his innocence to the United States Marshals and the Chicago Police. But,will Richard Kimble be able to succeed in this,especially with the tight watch that the Chicago Police and the United States Marshals have over Kimble,and an intelligent and obcessed U.S. Marshal named Samuel Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones)leading the investigation to find Kimble?? Only time will tell!!!!

While "The Fugitive" may be very hard to follow and requires close attention to be paid to it,it is still a really good film. The script for this film is as suspenseful as it is entertaining,and makes you wonder what will happen next,with good surprises coming along the way. This film also has a lot of creativity in it,and despite the fact that it is based off of a television show,does a good job at not recycling the show that it is based off of (it is worth noting that a large portion of the events in this film are different from the events that occured in the telvision show)and being original--but at the same,not too original. Also,let me add that Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones do a perfect job at taking on the action in this film,in a manner that makes it entertaining and suitable,without pushing it a mile to being an action film. There is a lot of strong acting to be found here,as well. In Harrison Ford's performance of Richard Kimble,Ford portrays Kimble as a laid-back and intelligent man. He allows this film to have an appropriate amount of drama,balanced out by showing who Richard Kimble is as a person and Kimble's determination to prove his innoncence,while at the same time,bringing who needs to be brought to justice for his wife's murder. As for Tommy Lee Jones's performance of Samuel Gerard,Jones is brilliant in his performance. In his performance,Tommy Lee Jones provides the no-nonsence personality that he brought to the characters that he has portrayed in other films (the role of Agent K in the "Men in Black" films,the role of Travis Lehman in "Double Jeopardy",etc.),and allows this film to have suspense. At the same time,he allows this film's viewers to understand the current status of the both sides of the story that are depicted in this film. Those sides are the side of Richard Kimble,and the side of Samuel Gerard and the men who are assisting Gerard in the search for Kimble. Also,while you will not see Sela Ward throughout most of this film,Ward turns in a strong performance of Helen Kimble. In her scenes with Harrison Ford,Sela Ward provides a lot of compassion and chemistry. This is a contribution to this film being as good and interesting as it turned out to be. At the same time,it helps this film's viewers to take a walk in the mind of Richard Kimble,and know how Kimble feels as they watch Kimble solve the wife of his murder. All of this allows "The Fugitive" to fully come together as the good film that it is,and are good examples of why the film turned out to be as successful as it was.

The DVD for this film has a lot of good bonus features on it,as well. Here,you get a commentary that was conducted with Tommy Lee Jones and this film's director (Andew Davis),profiles of the lead actors in this film (Harrison Ford,Sela Ward,Tommy Lee Jones,Joe Pantoliano,Andreas Katsulas,and Jeroen Krabbe,as well as a profile of Andrew Davis),the list of the awards that found Tommy Lee Jones winning best supporting actor for his performance as Samuel Gerard in this film,as well as this film's theatrical trailer. These are all strong and worthwile bonus feautures. But,what really does justice for the bonus feautures here are these:"Introduction" (this finds Harrison Ford,Tommy Lee Jones,and Andrew Davis discussing the good memories that they have of making this film),"Derailed:Anatomy of a Train Wreck" (this discusses the scene in this film that feautures this film's famous train wreck scene,and how it was put together),and "On The Run With The Fugitive" (this discusses the making of this film,and provides a thorough behind-the-scenes look into the making of it). These are all excellent bonus feautures for any film that is represented on DVD,and give this film the recognition and respect that it deserves.

Overall,"The Fugitive" is an excellent film. If you enjoyed the television show that this film is based off of,and/or you are a large fan of crime drama films,"The Fugitive" is one film that you do not want to miss out on.

One Of The Best Thrillers Ever Made........2007-03-05

Few thrillers remain as consistantly thrilling and exciting as "The Fugitive", the 1993 cinematic adaption of the classic television series. Thanks to a fantastic script, excellent directing and two dynamic leads, "The Fugitive" is a masterpiece in every aspect.

Harrison Ford plays Dr. Richard Kimble (originally played by the late David Janssen in the tv series), a respected Chciago surgeon who comes home one night to find his wife (Seal Ward) bludgeoned to death, and him framed for her murder. Despite his best efforts, Kimball finds himself convicted for murder and facing wrongful punishment by the law.

Not willing to let his wife's murder escape jsutice, Kimball stages a daring escape from a train heading towards a state penitentiary (one of the greatest scenes ever), and becomes the most wanted man in the state.
Put in charge of apprehending him is no-nonsense U.S. Marshall Sam Gerard, who is determined to bring Kimball to justice.

This begins a tense game of cat and mouse that never lets up. Richard manages to evade remais one step ahead of the law and gets closer and closer to finding the true killer, but Gerard will not give up. This leads to one of the most thrillin climaxes in film history.

"The Fugitive" is moviemaking at its best, and belongs in all dvd collections.

Average customer rating:

The Quiet Man DVD
The Quiet Man
Commentary by Maureen O'Hara is wonderful
Our Family's Favorite
perfect

The Quiet Man (Collector's Edition)
Starring: John Wayne , Maureen O'Hara , Barry Fitzgerald , Ward Bond , and Victor McLaglen
Director: John Ford
Manufacturer: Republic Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Classic Comedies | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

All Titles | John Wayne Store | Stores | DVD | Video

1950s | John Wayne Store | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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

Donovan's Reef
McLintock! (Authentic Collector's Edition)
Hatari!
Big Jake
Hellfighters

ASIN: B00006JMRD
Release Date: 2002-10-22

Amazon.com essential video

Blarney and bliss, mixed in equal proportions. John Wayne plays an American boxer who returns to the Emerald Isle, his native land. What he finds there is a fiery prospective spouse (Maureen O'Hara) and a country greener than any Ireland seen before or since--it's no surprise The Quiet Man won an Oscar for cinematography. It also won an Oscar for John Ford's direction, his fourth such award. The film was a deeply personal project for Ford (whose birth name was Sean Aloysius O'Fearna), and he lavished all of his affection for the Irish landscape and Irish people on this film. He also stages perhaps the greatest donnybrook in the history of movies, an epic fistfight between Wayne and the truculent Victor McLaglen--that's Ford's brother, Francis, as the elderly man on his deathbed who miraculously revives when he hears word of the dustup. Barry Fitzgerald, the original Irish elf, gets the movie's biggest laugh when he walks into the newlyweds' bedroom the morning after their wedding, and spots a broken bed. The look on his face says everything. The Quiet Man isn't the real Ireland, but as a delicious never-never land of Ford's imagination, it will do very nicely. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

The Quiet Man DVD.......2007-07-04

The DVD showed up within the time frame in mint condition. I was very satisfied with the service.

The Quiet Man.......2007-06-27

Immortal director Ford directed this Oscar-winning valentine to his ancestral home, a love story that soars thanks to Ford's resplendent shooting and a solid, flavorful performance from the Duke. O'Hara radiates an untamed red-haired beauty playing Wayne's love interest, while McLaglen is a joy as the blustery Red Will.

Commentary by Maureen O'Hara is wonderful.......2007-05-31

The commentary by Maureen O'Hara is wonderful. I've seen this movie many times over the years but never knew the many stories and facts that Miss O'Hara reveals in the two hours of commentary. Her memory is remarkable and her comments are charming.

Our Family's Favorite.......2007-05-28

The Quiet Man (Collector's Edition)
This has been an all time favorite of our family for years. Perhaps because it is set in Ireland, or because we are all of Irish descent; or just because it is just a great story and very well made. In any case it is a movie for the whole family to watch and even though it is a classic, it seems like it was made recently.

It will pull on all of the emotions, bringing out laughter, cheering, and tears. The guys will be drawn by the great male cast, the women by the romance and the children by the fun. It is truly for all genders and ages.

perfect.......2007-05-19

The dvd was new and in perfect condition and arrived in three days. It also contained interviews from the actors and other extras. Well worth the price.

Average customer rating:

A funny movie about a serious subject.
Feel good movies
A feel-good, way-it-oughta-be, movie
wonderful movie
Good fantasy fun

Dave
Starring: Kevin Kline , Sigourney Weaver , Frank Langella , Kevin Dunn , and Ving Rhames
Director: Ivan Reitman
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Satire | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs as Low as $5.49 | The Big DVD Sale | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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

The American President
Sabrina
The Fugitive
French Kiss
Sleepless in Seattle (10th Anniversary Edition)

ASIN: 6304907613
Release Date: 1998-04-29

Amazon.com essential video

A heartwarming story of mistaken identity and idealism, director Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters) takes on the political establishment in this fresh, funny comedy. Kevin Kline (Sophie's Choice, A Fish Called Wanda) plays Dave Kovic, a sweet man with a big heart running an employment agency. Dave happens to be a dead ringer for the current president of the United States, and he hires himself out as an impersonator for parties and mall openings. When the real president has a stroke while in bed with an aide, his ambitious chief of staff (Frank Langella) decides to hold onto the White House by appealing to Dave's sense of patriotism and having him pose as the president. Soon, however, Dave is running the country in a way contrary to what the chief of staff would like, even as he finds himself falling in love with the unsuspecting first lady (Sigourney Weaver). The movie's unbridled optimism is its best asset, and it makes this a pleasant comedy worth seeing. --Robert Lane

Description

Just who runs this country anyway? For comedy fans, the answer is - Dave. Kevin Kline (A Fish Called Wanda, In & Out) and Sigourney Weaver (Working Girl, Ghostbusters) star in this box-office winner about an uncanny Presidential lookalike named Dave, who's recruited by the Secret Service to become a momentary stand-in for the President of the United States. However, things don't turn out exactly as planned and Dave finds himself continuing his masquerade as Chief Executive indefinitely. Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters and 6 Days, 7 Nights) directs and supporting players Frank Langella, Ving Rhames, Ben Kingsley and Charles Grodin supply more reasons to stand up and cheer. Many real-life Washington politicos and pundits join the fun as Dave uses ordinary-guy savvy to deal with the extraordinary responsibilities of the Oval Office.

Customer Reviews:

A funny movie about a serious subject........2007-06-30

Dave is hired by the Secret Service to double for the president. Mr Kline, as Dave, could impersonate the president very well. Not hard, since he played the president, too. While he is acting as president the real president has a stroke. Dave is rehired to continue his impersonation until the president recovers, 'to protect the office'. He finds that the presidents aides are not really honorable men. He takes over, firing the bad guy and pushing through a bill to 'help the children'. Meanwhile, Dave and Mrs. President are getting along very well. I have to catalog my movies so that I can find the one I want. I'm not sure if this movie is a) Comedy/Romance or b) Drama.

Feel good movies.......2007-05-28

DAVE is a wonderful movie. Anyone who wants to see the tables turned on the crooked politicians in Washington must see this movie

A feel-good, way-it-oughta-be, movie.......2007-05-14

"Dave" was a pleasant enough movie the first time I saw it, in 1993, with the good guys winning, and with superb acting performances by Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, Frank Langella, Ben Kingsley, and particularly Ving Rhames and Kevin Dunn in supporting roles. In a very small role, Charles Grodin does his best work that I've seen him do, and has one of the outstanding lines: "Who DOES these books?" Langella is quite believable as the astute, scheming politico who has never been bested; Dunn develops his character's moral conscience as we watch him on screen; and Rhames balances perfectly his character's initial distrust of the faux-president with his growing admiration of--and loyalty to--the kind of integrity so many of us wish we could find in "the leader of the free world."

When I decided to see it a second time, I viewed it as a movie or literary critic would, and found that it held together structurally, it developed organically, and it balanced some pretty heavy duty themes with good humor and almost-perfect timing. We have nearly worn out the original VHS tape that we bought, watching it whenever we want a "feel-good" movie, especially after seeing or reading about too much national and international news. Each time I watch it, I see more complexity to the character development and to the plot intricacies (which at first seem to be pretty straight-forward but, upon reflection, are not quite so simple).

"Dave" grows on its audience, appealing initially because it does represent what so many Americans would really like our government to be like; but it invites repeated viewing because of its texture, its acting, and so many of its memorable lines. How often, for example, can you imagine laughing at, "I once caught a fish THIIIIIISSSS big!" In the context of this movie, however, it is funny repeatedly while contributing seriously to character development. And how touching is the simple statement near the end of the movie, "I woulda taken a bullet for you," spoken quietly though in turbulent surroundings.

Even the ending, sappy though it may seem to be, holds open a subtle promise for the future when it is viewed in the light of the early political career of the movie's Vice President. "Dave" has risen steadily to become one of my five or six favorite movies, with "8 1/2," "Inherit the Wind," "Rear Window," "Tootsie," and "Blazing Saddles." I heartily recommend it: for a good time, call "Dave." Really.

wonderful movie.......2007-03-11

The stars in this movie do a great job it's like it's for real it's a movie a family could watch and thats something good

Good fantasy fun.......2006-12-20

I disagree with the reviewer who said s/he was apprehensive about all the brief cameos of journalists. Maybe I'm just a news junkie, but I LOVED seeing all the brief clips of the usual pundits and broadcasters supposedly reporting on the events in the movie. It was hilarious! Overall, this film gets an A-, and is one of the funniest, most good-natured political satires I've ever seen.

Average customer rating:

Probably the best foreign film I've ever seen!!!
Can You Say Chinese Historical Soap Opera?
Huge, complex, and contradictory
not essential, but fine viewing all the same
Wow! Huh?

Curse of the Golden Flower
Starring: Yun-Fat Chow , Li Gong , Jay Chou , Ye Liu , and Dahong Ni
Director: Yimou Zhang
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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

Casino Royale (2-Disc Widescreen Edition)
Children of Men (Widescreen Edition)
Pan's Labyrinth (New Line Two-Disc Platinum Series)
Blood Diamond (Two-Disc Special Edition)
The Good Shepherd (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000MRA592
Release Date: 2007-03-27

Amazon.com

Curse of the Golden Flower, a fictionalized historical glimpse into the brutally complicated politics of Emperor Ping's (Chow Yun Fat) reign during the Tang Dynasty, shows the viewer just how far a megalomaniac must go to gain and retain power in medieval China. Lavish sets, massive ceremonial displays, and perversely fascinating battle scenes impress similarly to the special effects Americans have come to love and expect from Chinese action films like Zhang Yimou's previous House of Flying Daggers and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. An intricate plot involving the Emperor's wife, Empress Phoenix (Gong Li) and their three sons, Crown Prince Xiang, Prince Jie, and Prince Cheng, most closely follows the Empress's secret plan to force abdication upon her corrupt husband as revenge for his slowly poisoning her with Black Fungus tea. Opening on the eve of the Chysanthemum Festival, 928 A.D., the Empress obsessively embroiders gold chysanthemums to adorn her army's uniforms while hatching plans with Jai to overthrow the Crown Prince for control of the throne. Meanwhile, a side plot develops as the Emperor's ex-wife and mother to Crown Prince Yu reemerges as Yu's lover. By the time the Festival occurs, family members are pitted against each other in a King Lear-ian web of lies that can only result in demise. The most sophisticated narrative aspect of Curse of the Golden Flower is that as the royal family crumbles, the Emperor's death grip on China remains unwavering. Gorgeous scenes set in the palace and costume design displaying China's upper class decadence cannot fail to entertain. The paradox between good and evil, here, is highlighted by how the Emperor successfully rules despite, and because of, his utter cruelty. --Trinie Dalton

Customer Reviews:

Probably the best foreign film I've ever seen!!!.......2007-06-27

"Curse of The Golden Flower" is an brilliantly done movie and instantly one of my favorites! If I had to choose between 3 great movies where they don't speak English such as Pan's Labyrinth, Passion of the Christ and this, I pick this. This movie could not have been done better in terms of acting, casting, action, gore, and especially visuals. Lots and lots of gold in the palace. Gong Li and Chow-Yun Fat are perfect as the Emperor and Empress. It never bores, and it's even like something Shakespeare would write set in 928 A.D. in China in the Tang Dynasty. You can optionally watch it in English dubs, but I much rather prefer it in Chinese with English subtitles: The way it's supposed to be heard. When I listened to it in English, it was good, but didn't seem quite suitable to the mouthing of the words, like you'd see in Godzilla. {Which is Japan}. It may seem a bit slow in the middle of the story, but quickly goes on, as the story does not feel rushed at all with an awesome moral at the end. It's never confusing and comes together when it's almost over. The result is absolutely amazing...

Here's an interesting fact: Jay Chou who plays Prince Jai also has a singing career and sings the end credits song. This is only his second movie, and an astounding career turn at that to be starring in such an excellent movie. 10/10 by a long shot.

Can You Say Chinese Historical Soap Opera?.......2007-06-24

I've never expected so many twists and turns in this movie's plot, let alone all the backstabbing each character performs upon each other!! No one can trust each other-- it is truly amazing!

The acting is fantastic in this movie. BUT even more amazing is the elaborate set design, phenomenal costuming, make-up, and spectacular cinematography throughout this movie. The only thing that wasn't great about this movie was the plot, which could have been a bit more improved and less soap opera-esque!

Huge, complex, and contradictory.......2007-06-22

It's a stunning visual achievement. Robes, architecture, landscape - it's all vibrant and dramatic. Everything indoors is gold or brilliant color. Ritual, costume, jewelry, even golden makeup all contribute to color that almost screams off the screen. Then, towards the end, the sheer mass of humanity involved (even if CGI) made the "cast of thousands" cliche seem paltry. China has had many things in its history, but first has always been the overwhelming numbers of its populace. For all that, this isn't a movie about its appearance.

It's about revenge, intrigue, honor, and the appearance of honor - sometimes the opposite of honor itself. Year after year, layer after layer of subterfuge accretes, until every loyalty and most disloyaties are torn in multiple directions. It's not just Macchiavellian - old Niccolo wouldn't have lasted until lunch.

The fights, and there are many, mostly lack the setpiece choreography that could have made them memorable. The physical combat is the least of it. Hatred to hatred, face to face, this describes a fight between the characters' inner filth, served up in a golden dish.

-- wiredweird

not essential, but fine viewing all the same.......2007-06-21

'curse of the golden flower' is a movie i anxiously waited to see. after the great 'hero,' and excellent 'house of flying daggers,' i was very excited to at the prospect of a new zhang yimou film.

a lot of the criticism aimed of 'curse' isn't unfounded. the plot is barely there, but 'curse' is more a study of family dynamics, loyalty, betrayal, dishonesty, hidden secrets, quasi-incestuous relationships, maternal love and paternal hatred than a grand and epic film. most of the scenes are confined to the empress' quarters and surrounding palace. only one sequence that i can remember takes place outside the palace--and it's a great sequence (and the only one which really showcases the trademark wuxia acrobatics).

chow yun-fat and gong li are both excellent in their roles of emperor and empress. chow yun-fat is almost frigtening in his cruelty (and i have to say that his salt-n-pepper goatee really works for him. he's an incredibly handsome man--which makes the emperor's cruelty all the more effective) and the ever-lovely gong li is terrific as the slowly-going-mad empress. since it is more a character study, the burden of making the film watchable falls squarely on the the leads and they rise to the occassion, particularly gong li. she does a nice job of evoking the viewer's empathy.

zhang yimou is peerless when it comes to visual artisty. i suspect he blows 1/2 his budget on scenery. he crams so much into each you practically need to hit pause every 10 seconds just to take a look at the feasts that are his backgrounds. as the title suggests, yellow is the color of choice in this film, and he always uses it effectively, even though it sometimes comes close to overwhelming the film.

if there's a problem with 'curse,' it's that does drift a bit into the melodramatic, particularly as all the secrets are 'revealed' and each character's motivations become clear. since it is a tragedy, few people make it to the film's ending, and those deaths are bloody and, for the most part, graphic--particularly the emperor's flogging of his own son. which leads me to believe that the moral of 'curse of the golden flower' is this: don't, under any circumstance, mess with chow yun-fat. he'll knock you into the next decade and not lose a blink of sleep over it. i also found the ending a bit problematic and too vague. it's not that i need all the answers or a tidy bow around it, but the denoument is perplexing at best; and not to mention the score, which at a moment of supreme tragedy, sounds like the ending to an animated disney film. the music is fine on its own, but seems very inappropriate and distracts from the emotional bloodletting you've just experienced.

in short, i enjoyed 'the curse of the golden flower,' but if you're not already a fan of zhang yimou and/or chinese cinema, you could probably just skip this one and go back to 'hero' or 'house of flying daggers.'

(about the R rating -- it seems a bit on the severe side. sure, it's bloody and violent during the last 40 minutes, but no more so than the average episode of '24,' so if you can handle that, you can handle this).

Wow! Huh?.......2007-06-21

Like most reviewers, I agree that this is a visually stunning movie. The plot is heavy on the Shakespeare and as such it leaves much up to the viewer to seek answers to the questions that arise. The acting is well done throughout, especially Gong Li and Jay Chou who portrays the natural son of Gong Li's Phoenix character. According to the special features he is a newcomer to the screen, having made his mark as a pop star. I'm impressed, especially given the high rate of failure in such a career move. Chow Yun-Fat is good but was a bit over-the-top to me, flaring his nostrils and popping his eyes to convey emotion. Still, there is a scene late in the movie that was as hard to watch as I'm sure it was hard to act. You'll know it when you see it and it shows much more accurately why he (along with Gong Li) are such widely acclaimed cinematic actors.
The movie packs a lot in, from the excessively opulent sets and eye candy to the Greek tragedy levels of bloodshed that come at the climax of the film. When it's all said and done, however, I felt a bit letdown at the lack of substance that I took away from the film. The action sequences leaned heavily on huge battles scenes rife with CGI trickery instead of one-on-one duals. Yes, both are jaw-dropping, but I simply prefer the latter. This movie might be your cup of tea and there is much to enjoy from a purely sensory level, but it wasn't as emotionally gratifying as I'd hoped.

Average customer rating:

An epic movie that a must see

Curse of the Golden Flower [Blu-ray]
Starring: Chow Yun-Fat , Gong Li , Ni Dahong , Liu Ye , and Jay Chou
Director: Zhang Yimou
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

General | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

Drama | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Mel Gibson's Apocalypto [Blu-ray]
Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest [Blu-ray]
Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl [Blu-ray]
Casino Royale [Blu-ray]
Planet Earth - The Complete BBC Series [Blu-ray]

ASIN: B000MRA59C
Release Date: 2007-05-29

Amazon.com

Product Description

From the director of Hero and House of Flying Daggers comes the martial arts epic masterpiece whose savage beauty and exquisite elegance has mesmerized and captivated audiences around the world. Set in the lavish and breathtakingly colorful world hidden from the eyes of mere mortals behind the walls of the Forbidden City, a tale of a royal family divided against itself builds to a mythic climax as lines are crossed, trust is betrayed, and family blood is spilled in the quest for redemption and revenge. Starring Chow Yun Fat of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon as the embattled Emperor and Gong Li of Memoirs of a Geisha as his poisoned Empress, Curse of the Golden Flower grants you entry into a dazzling and spectacular world of betrayal, vengeance and passion that will change the way you think of martial arts forever.

Customer Reviews:

An epic movie that a must see.......2007-06-11

This is a great movie. Normally, I am not into these types of film but I am glad I watched it. The film is breathtakingly beautiful, in terms of colors and camera works (same director that made "Hero". This is much better than Hero by far). It is so good that after I watched it on regular DVD, loaned from a friend, I went on Amazon and ordered the blu-ray version.

Gong Li and CYF are the pros at story telling. The movie is very grand and MUST be seen in Chinese audio and English subtitle to get the true feelings from the real actors voices. Although if you opt for English dub, it is very good too.

I am sure this blu-ray version will be fantastic. Will write up how it looks once I get a chance to view it.

Average customer rating:

Excellent Addition to the X-Files History
love it
Love the X Files!
Entertaining enough, but too many open ends for the casual fan
dwan

The X-Files - Fight the Future
Starring: David Duchovny , Gillian Anderson , John Neville , William B. Davis , and Martin Landau
Director: Rob Bowman
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Sci-Fi Action | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Alien Invasion | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Aliens | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

DTS | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video

( X ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Science Fiction & Fantasy | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Television | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

The X-Files - The Complete Sixth Season (Slim Set)
The X-Files - The Complete Fifth Season (Slim Set)
The X-Files - The Complete Fourth Season (Slim Set)
The X-Files - The Complete Third Season (Slim Set)
The X-Files - The Complete Ninth Season (Slim Set)

ASIN: B00005221O
Release Date: 2001-01-23

Amazon.com

The definitive American television series of the '90s comes to the big screen with an anticlimactic whimper. And how could it be otherwise? Why should material so perfectly realized in one medium necessarily translate well into another? The series is crisply and thoughtfully executed in just about every detail, but the heart of its appeal lies in the elegant handling of complicated and evolving ongoing story lines, which is not something movies are especially good at. The big-screen drive for closure cramps the creative style, though it may also help nonfans get a grip on the proceedings. We do get some invigorating thrills and chills, however, and a more satisfying sense of the scale of an all-enveloping human-alien conspiracy than ever before, but there's no more plot development here than in an average two-part season-ending. FBI black sheep Mulder and Scully have been temporarily transferred from the X-Files project to an anti-terrorist unit to investigate an Oklahoma City-style bombing. They uncover a new wrinkle in the Syndicate/Cancer Man conspiracy--basically an attempt to help one bunch of (benign?) aliens fight off another bunch who want to colonize Earth. A spectacular, ice-bound finale thrillingly staged by series-veteran director Rob Bowman offers Mulder (but not a conveniently unconscious Scully) his first clear look at a You Know What, which in some quarters qualifies as an epochal event. Martin Landau offers the agents some crucial clues, and several familiar TV faces (including the Lone Gunmen and Mitch Pileggi's indispensable Assistant Director Skinner) turn up briefly to wink knowingly at faithful fans. --David Chute

Description

Thirty-seven thousand years ago, a deadly secret was buried in a cave in Texas. Now the secret has been unleashed. And it's discovery may mean the end of all humanity.

"The plague to end all plagues"

When a terrorist bomb destroys a building in Dallas, Texas, FBI Agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) are drawn into a dangerous conspiracy surpassing anything they've ever encountered. With the dubious assistance of a paranoid doctor (Academy Award -winner Martin Landau). Mulder and Scully risk their careers and their lives to hunt down a deadly virus which may be extraterrestrial in origin - and could destroy all life on earth. Their pursuit of truth pits them against the mysterious Syndicate, powerful men who will stop at nothing to keep their secrets safe, leading the agents from the cave in Texas, to the halls of the FBI, and finally to a secret installation in Antarctica which holds the greatest secret of all.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Addition to the X-Files History.......2007-06-30

The short and sweet version of this review: If you've watched X-Files and you've never seen this movie, you must! It has a great deal of extended information about various storylines from the television series. In and of itself, it is a great Sci-Fi movie and even if you aren't interested in the show itself, the movie is still a whole movie and can be enjoyed without any previous knowledge about Mulder and Scully!

love it .......2007-06-30

If you like the series then you will like the movie. Mulder is so cute! anyways there is a great Mulder/Scully scene and the movie was done after season 5 i believe and was the right time for the movie. i saw it a long time ago in theaters with my dad. i thought of it the other day and bought it through amazon....its still a classic series. if you are a fan of x-files you must own the movie. even if you didn't watch the series i think you would still like this movie. its a great sci-fi watch! mainly b/c its possible and makes you think..what if? you will never look at bees the same again.

Love the X Files!.......2007-06-12

I loved the weekly episodes of the X Files, so I wasn't disappointed with the movie. This 1998 film version of the Science Fiction series focuses on Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully as they try to determine why a bomb was used to cover up the true reasons the bodies of three firemen and a young boy were found in the wreckage, but they died earlier and in a different location! Dana and Fox soon find themselves tracing a deadly virus with extraterrestrial origins. When Scully is infected with the virus, Mulder races to find her after getting his hands on the antidote.

Entertaining enough, but too many open ends for the casual fan.......2007-05-25

Despite being a big sci-Fi fan, I never got into the X-Files as a kid.
Like most non-fans, I just didn't have the patience for it. The show would hint at a lot, but it seemed very little would actually happen, and instead each show would just tease us a little more.

The reason I decided to watch the movie was because I thought that the movie would probably be designed for a wider audience, have a self-contained story, and lots more excitement and special effects than the TV show.

Well, kind of. There were more explosions and the special effects were a bit more snazzy. And it was very easy to jump right into it and pick up the story without much knowledge of the TV show. But, in typical X-files fashion, it teased a lot more than it delivered, and the ending was very unsatisfying.

To be fair, I realize this was intentional on the film maker's part. And in the director's commentary, the director repeatedly bragged about leaving things vague in order to make them scarier to the imagination. But, is it just me, or does anyone else think the X-files were never all that scary to begin with?

dwan.......2007-05-15

Great movie. My son is collecting all X-file series and movies and he totally loved this movie. received the movie the very next day just as guaranteed

Average customer rating:

An unnostalgic, modern noir spectacle
dvd purchase
Brilliantly Casted Film
A thriller for people who normally don't like thrillers
Unhistorical Murder Mystery

L.A. Confidential
Starring: Kevin Spacey , Russell Crowe , Guy Pearce , James Cromwell , and David Strathairn
Director: Curtis Hanson
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Crime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Murder & Mayhem | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Detectives | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Neo-Noir | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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

The Usual Suspects (Special Edition)
Chinatown
Fargo (Special Edition)
American Beauty (Widescreen Edition)
GoodFellas (Two-Disc Special Edition)

ASIN: 0790734850
Release Date: 1998-04-21

Amazon.com

In a time when it seems that every other movie makes some claim to being a film noir, L.A. Confidential is the real thing--a gritty, sordid tale of sex, scandal, betrayal, and corruption of all sorts (police, political, press--and, of course, very personal) in 1940s Hollywood. The Oscar-winning screenplay is actually based on several titles in James Ellroy's series of chronological thriller novels (including the title volume, The Big Nowhere, and White Jazz)--a compelling blend of L.A. history and pulp fiction that has earned it comparisons to the greatest of all Technicolor noir films, Chinatown. Kim Basinger richly deserved her Supporting Actress Oscar for her portrayal of a conflicted femme fatale; unfortunately, her male costars are so uniformly fine that they may have canceled each other out with the Academy voters: Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kevin Spacey, and James Cromwell play LAPD officers of varying stripes. Pearce's character is a particularly intriguing study in Hollywood amorality and ambition, a strait-laced "hero" (and son of a departmental legend) whose career goals outweigh all other moral, ethical, and legal considerations. If he's a good guy, it's only because he sees it as the quickest route to a promotion. --Jim Emerson

Customer Reviews:

An unnostalgic, modern noir spectacle.......2007-05-27

Curtis Hanson's "L.A. Confidential," based on the third book in a series by James Ellroy, works so well because, unlike most neo-noir films, it's not a homage to the noir films of old. In fact, it was probably the first true film noir to forget about its predecessors since the 1950s, the time period around which the film is set. And it was just what a film noir should be: gritty, tough, unflinching, intricrate, and confounding. Each of the film's leading actors, Guy Pearce, Russell Crowe, and Kevin Spacey, as well as its lead actress, Kim Basinger, felt like they could've appeared in a film noir straight out of the 1940s. It's this unnostalgic, straightforward approach that made "L.A. Confidential" so great.

The storyline had a classic vibe to it: in 1950s L.A., three cops ferret out the corruption beginning to eat away at the police force. How each of them does this differs. You've got your good cop, played by Guy Pearce, a strictly by-the-book wannabe detective and the son of a legendary officer who died in the line of duty. You got your bad cop, Russell Crowe, a violent star on the force, always on the edge and with a particularly nasty dislike for women abusers. Then you have a cop who doesn't quite know where he stands, played by Kevin Spacey, except on the set of TV's number-one hit police drama "Badge of Honor," which he supervises. One of the film's best scenes is when Pearce's character tells Spacey why he became a cop in an effort to convince Spacey to work with him. Afterwards he asks, "Why did you become a cop?" Spacey smiles sadly and sighs, "I don't remember." Picking a favorite of this police trio is hard, because each is perfectly cast: Pearce as an inherently contemptable and ultimately honorable goody-goody, Crowe as an apparent maniac who is smarter than he looks and just trying to do what's right, and Spacey as the pitiful once-cop who's lost his way.

But it seems like when most people remember "L.A. Confidential," they remember Kim Basinger, who won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar. She deserved it. Basinger played a prostitute in high demand because she bears a strong resemblance to Veronica Lake (so does Basinger) - but there's much more to her than just a divine appearance. Similarly, there's more to Basinger than just a fine body, and she proved it here with a surprisingly deep performance, particularly for a supporting role.

With all that said, it's apparent that the film garnered much of its power from its sharp-cut characters. There's no one who is clearly "good" the whole way through, but never once is a character in the grey: they're either good, or they're bad. They are also some of the most realistic and human people ever to appear in a film noir. The movie's script, by director Hanson and Brian Helgeland, finds a seamless balance between its characters and its story, and surprisingly holds very little of the snap, crackle n' pop dialog one expects in a film noir.
Jerry Goldsmith's score was the one homage the film allowed, with the same sort of morose brass you might expect in an old Bogey pic (and which distinctly recalls the same woeful trumpeting of Goldsmith's theme from Roman Polanski's own neo-noir, "Chinatown"). It was one of those elusive scores that adds life to each scene but also expands the film as a whole.

There's something about the look of the film that hangs in my mind. It may be the color scheme, which consists mostly of black but with the occasional surprise vibrance thrown in through a red or yellow. Or perhaps it's the lighting, a bright light that makes what's in front of us perfectly clear and a surrounding black mist that begs the question: what does it hide within its shadows? There is a scene in which Pearce's character pulls up in front of the Nite Owl bar. That scene brings to mind the painting "Nighthawks" by Edward Hopper (which inspired the look of Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner"). Hanson took a very stylistic approach in his directing of the film, and much of that showed through its dark visuals.

It wasn't all darkness, though. One of the film's most memorable scenes involved an attempted interrogation by Pearce and Spacey at a popular club late at night. They corner a mobster dating a girl they believe is a prostitute belonging to a popular company which advertises prostitutes who resemble celebrities, in this case Lana Turner. As Pearce begins throwing out insults at the mobster and especially at his date, we notice Kevin Spacey holding back laughter in the background. "A w---e who looks like Lana Turner is still a w---e," Pearce says. The "prostitute" tosses her drink in his face and he stands there, soaked and incredulous, as Spacey says, "That IS Lana Turner."

It came as little surprise that "L.A. Confidential" wasn't awarded the Oscar for Best Picture, but fortunately critics recognized it as one of the best films of 1997 and, more importantly, of the decade. It wasn't only one of the best films of the decade, but one of the best films ever made, a stylish, gritty, cynical yet realistic noir drama that didn't look back at the classics which inspired it. It didn't need to, because ten years later, we're still looking back at it.

dvd purchase.......2007-03-22

the dvd came in a timely manner, packaged well and I have had no problems with the item. It seems to be in great condition.

Brilliantly Casted Film.......2007-03-09

Kevin Spacey proves that he is a great actor in this one, and he's not even the main character. Guy Pearce's come-out movie showed that he could stand up at the top with the best. Russell Crowe's part is great for him. Really the first movie I say him in, and you can see why he eventually one best actor in Gladiator. James Cromwell and Danny DeVito are perfectly cast in this film. If you like movies set in the 40s, 50s but with an edge with real life drama this is a great movie for you! Jerry Goldsmith's score is breathtakingly brilliant - he should have one the Oscar!

A thriller for people who normally don't like thrillers.......2007-03-09

Devotees of noir & period pieces probably will not be as pleased with this as will the rest of this, but Curtis Hanson apparently decided that putting together a coherent & well-crafted film was more important than remaining faithful to one particular genre or another. Aside from specific historical references (Bloody Christmas, for example), it is quite easy to forget that this is set in 1950's Los Angeles. One could regard this as a shortcoming (it is, nominally at least, supposed to be a period thriller) or as an asset (a really well-told story will trump all other details), depending on one's perspective.

In any case, Hanson and a top-notch cast works with a pretty complex plot and manages to keep all of the balls in the air. I always enjoy a movie where the audience figures out most of the twists before the characters do, because then we get to enjoy watching the unfolding of consequences of decisions made or avoided. Spacey, Crowe & Pearce manage to give us wonderfully ambivalent & complex characters, all of whom are far from being beyond reproach and continue to have some dubious motives right up to the film's conclusion. Personally, I always like a film that deliberately avoids a tidy ending and leaves the viewer knowing that, after the credits finish rolling, the other shoe will eventually have to drop.

I agree with others that Kim Basinger's breathy whispery performances is simply annoying & that she is woefully miscast in this role. Why she got an Oscar for this is almost as big a mystery as any portayed in this film. However, it is not a glaring flaw and is obscured by the stellar performances of the rest of the cast. Top notch from start to finish!

Unhistorical Murder Mystery.......2007-02-21

The film opens in 1950s Los Angeles and introduces the people in this story. There is a pot bust of two minor movie stars, well planned to provide headlines. Some men are arrested for assaulting two policemen, and many officers beat them as summary punishment. Photographs of this create a scandal. The meeting tells how the deal is done: some win, some lose, and justice is done. Standards will be upheld for the future. There are two gunmen who are bumping off Mickey Cohen's gang members. Then there is a slaughter of people at a late-night restaurant. A senseless killing or a planned rub-out?

The police investigate those connected to the people killed at the restaurant. Suspects are arrested, they have to get them to talk about what they did. Various methods are used. They get a lead and find another suspect. Detective White stops another criminal. Then the three suspects escape somehow. They are tracked down and a shoot-out finishes them off. "Shotgun Ed" wins an award for heroism. We see how a reformer politician can change his mind about a highway project. There is a plot to embarrass the D.A. by getting a young actor to meet him. When Detective Vincennes shows up he finds the young actor dead! Detective White follows up on Susan Lefferts and finds something in her Mom's basement. Exley and Vincennes investigate another case. Exley visits White's girlfriend and learns more about her. Vincennes makes an error in judgment, his last. Then pictures are given to White to enrage him. Exley does research on the murdered former cop Meeks who was found in the basement. Exley and White talk to the D.A. and get him to cooperate. Dudley Smith and Patchett may be in cahoots.

Someone calls Exley and White to arrange them to meet at a motel; this is a trap. [All those shots and no one to hear them?] The two detectives hold off their attackers. There is a final resolution to the conflicts at the ending. Exley tells the facts about the crimes, there will be another cover-up, and another award for Lt. Exley. A happy ending? Sensational action masks a weak story.

Scenes take place at night since outdoor scenes would show present-day LA. The film did not create the LA of 50 years earlier. It is loosely based on some real events from that era. One book about the "Black Dahlia Avenger" said newspapers and reporters cooperated in the 1940s, there would be no embarrassing pictures then. The ruling powers wanted new highways, no blackmail was needed. One anachronism was the powered garage door of Patchett. A real history book will give the facts about LA in that time, it would be better than fiction. Is the film better than the novel?

Average customer rating:

As a film and British royal buff
I enjoyed this movie.
Elizabeth.
Visually Stunning "what-if" version of Historic Royal
A great buy

Elizabeth
Starring: Fanny Ardant , Richard Attenborough , Cate Blanchett , Kathy Burke , and Eric Cantona
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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

Shakespeare in Love (Miramax Collector's Series)
Elizabeth I
The Lion in Winter
Dangerous Beauty
Lady Jane

ASIN: B00007AJF9
Release Date: 2002-11-05

Amazon.com essential video

One of the big Elizabethan-era films of 1998, Shekhar Kapur's Elizabeth serves up a brimming goblet of religious tension, political conspiracy, sex, violence, and war. England in 1554 is in financial and religious turmoil as the ailing Queen "Bloody" Mary attempts to restore Catholicism as the national faith. She has no heir, and her greatest fear--that her Protestant half-sister Elizabeth will assume the throne after her death--is realized. Still, the late Queen Mary has her loyalists. The newly crowned Elizabeth finds herself knee-deep in dethroning schemes while also dodging assassination attempts. Her advisers (including Sir William Cecil, superbly played by Richard Attenborough) beg her to marry any one of her would-be suitors to stabilize England's empire. No matter that she already has a lover. The passionate Robert Dudley (Joseph Fiennes) is married, however, and shows he cannot stand up to the growing strength of the Queen. With the help of her aide Walsingham (Geoffrey Rush), Elizabeth strikes against her enemies before they get to her first. But her rise ultimately entails rejecting love and marriage to redefine herself as the indisputable Virgin Queen.

Cate Blanchett's Oscar-nominated performance as the naive and vibrant princess who becomes the stubborn and knowing queen is both severe and sympathetic. Her ethereal, pale beauty is equal parts fire and ice, her delivery of such lines as "There will be only one mistress here and no master!" expressed with command rather than hysterics. As striking as Blanchett's performance is the film's lavish and dramatic production design. The cold, dark sets paired with the lush costuming show the golden age of England's monarchy emerging from the Middle Ages. Rich velvet brushes over the dank stones while power is achieved at any price, and with such attention to physical detail, Elizabeth fully immerses you into its compelling chronicle of pioneering feminism and revisionist history. --Shannon Gee

Customer Reviews:

As a film and British royal buff.......2007-06-16

The movie gets 4 stars for entertainment value. It, however, is a historical piece, and as one that would be so widely viewed, they should have used less 'artistic license' for what was already a fascinating period. The aesthetic qualities of the film are excellent, no doubt, but often foray into some Vegas-style midieval fantasy. Kate Blanchett is a decent Elizabeth, but can not even come close to Glenda Jackson's spellbinding portrayal. Geoffrey Rush as Walshingham is good, but exaggerated. The rest of the cast is so laughably inaccurate, especially the Duc d'Anjou, Dudley and Cecil.

Best way to watch this movie...clear your mind of any notion that the characters portrayed were in any way real historical figures!

I enjoyed this movie........2007-05-27

I enjoyed this movie for many reasons. I loved the story and plot. I was amazed at the costumes and scenery. The actors and actresses were surperb. This movie got me into reading a little bit about the Tudors and why she was called a [...]. Before I started to read about the Tudors, this movie confused me a little bit. When I read a little bit about the time, I understood this movie a lot better. I know that Dudley did not betray Elizabeth and was loyal to her until his death. Elizabeth knew that Dudley was married before Cecil told her. There are many historical inaccuracies in this movie and that started to bother me when I read a little bit of history.

Elizabeth........2007-05-13

Great movie, I could watch this movie many many times. Too bad I gave it away. Could you send me another one?

Visually Stunning "what-if" version of Historic Royal.......2007-05-12

I was almost as much enamored by the stunning visual feel, cinematography and lighting-effects of this film, as the performance by Miss Blanchette. This film ranges in tone: from silly to grave timbres, certainly covering the catharsis of emotion, as well as creating believable characters (with a glaring exception or two: you be the judge) ...this film would round out the many colors in a collector's set of biographical royalty movies. I'm not sure I'd watch it five times a week, but I'd make sure it didn't gather too much dust in my collection.

A great buy.......2007-04-13

This is one of my favorite movies. It is amazing to watch the character visibly grow up from a young frightened girl to the powerful queen whose riegn is called the "Golden Age". The music and costumes are both amazing, the dialogue is witty and the use of historical quotes brings a sense of authenticity to the film. If women such as Elizabeth I, Catherine the Great, or Cleopatra interest you this film will definately be for you.

Average customer rating:

..."YOU WANT ME ON THAT WALL....YOU....NEED....ME ON THAT WALL"...
memorable
A Few Good Men and One GREAT Woman
You can't handle the truth!
Enjoyable Watch which captivates interest

A Few Good Men (Special Edition)
Starring: Tom Cruise , Jack Nicholson , Demi Moore , Kevin Bacon , and Kiefer Sutherland
Director: Rob Reiner
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

Marshall, James | ( M ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores |