The Boxer (Collector's Edition)

Starring:Daniel Day-Lewis, Daragh Donnelly, Frank Coughlan, Sean Kearns, Lorraine Pilkington, Niall Shanahan, John Wall (II), Maria McDermottroe, Carol Scanlan, Kate Perry, Andrea Irvine, Joan McGarry, Theresa McComb, Catherine Dunne, Kerrie Duggan, Sharon Dunne, Derbhla McClelland, Oliver Maguire, David McBlain, Emily Watson
Director: Jim Sheridan
Studio: Universal Studios
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Yet another potent (although critically underrated) drama from Jim Sheridan and Daniel Day-Lewis, the Irish director and British star (respectively) of My Left Foot and In the Name of the Father. The story focuses on Danny Flynn (Day-Lewis), a promising boxer who had been imprisoned at age 18 for associating with IRA terrorists. After serving a 14-year sentence, he returns to his Belfast neighborhood at a time when local IRA leader Joe Hamill (Brian Cox) is attempting to negotiate a peace treaty with the British. Despite having no further interest in IRA rivalries, Danny finds himself at the center of political and emotional turmoil when he is reunited with his former girlfriend Maggie (Emily Watson, of Breaking the Waves) who, in Danny's absence, married another IRA man who is now in prison. A strict, unwritten law forbids relationships with the wives of IRA prisoners, but as the former boxer channels his energy into reviving a neighborhood boxing gym, the attraction between Danny and Maggie proves irresistible. This gives a strategic advantage to a militant IRA rival who opposes the peace treaty, drawing Danny back into the bitter and potentially deadly struggle between warring IRA factions. Emphasizing the emotional complexities that arise between Danny and Maggie, this powerful, superbly acted drama demonstrates a sharp understanding of the deep-rooted fears and loyalties that fuel the "troubles" in Ireland, where peace seemed to finally (if tentatively) be achieved in the summer of 1998. Offering a deeper understanding of the Irish conflict, this Universal Collector's Edition DVD includes a full-length audio commentary by director Sheridan and producer Arthur Lappin; an alternate ending and deleted scenes; the original theatrical trailer; and Fighting for Peace: Inside The Boxer, a documentary featurette about the making of the film. --Jeff Shannon

Jane Austen Collection (Sense & Sensibility / Emma / Persuasion / Mansfield Park / Pride & Prejudice / Northanger Abbey)
Average customer rating:

Wonderful stories

BBC Jane Austen set

very good productions

great gift for women

A worthwhile collection for any Austen fan!

Jane Austen Collection (Sense & Sensibility / Emma / Persuasion / Mansfield Park / Pride & Prejudice / Northanger Abbey)
Starring: Irene Richard , Tracey Childs , Diana Fairfax , Peter Woodward , and Bosco Hogan
Director: Rodney Bennett , John Glenister , and Howard Baker
Manufacturer: BBC Warner
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Pride and Prejudice - The Special Edition (A&E, 1996)

Emma (A&E, 1997)

Middlemarch

Jane Eyre (BBC, 1983)

Mansfield Park (1999)

ASIN: B000244FFU
Release Date: 2004-08-24

Amazon.com

The socially restricted lives of 18th-century women hardly seems like a subject that would inspire dozens of 20th (and 21st) century adaptations--but the brilliant novels of Jane Austen are flush with sparkling dialogue, razor-sharp wit, marvelously realized characters that range from adorably sympathetic to grotesquely comic, and--above all--ingeniously intricate plots, which arrive at a seemingly inevitable happy conclusion yet keep you seized with suspense every inch of the way. The Jane Austen Collection pulls together six BBC miniseries from 1971 through 1987, one for each of Austen's much-beloved books.

Unsurprisingly, the gems of the lot are also the best of the novels: Pride and Prejudice and Emma. Pride and Prejudice, expertly translated to the screen by novelist Fay Weldon, skillfully chronicles the ups and downs of the sensible but quick to judge Elizabeth Bennet (the adorable Elizabeth Garvie) and the snooty Mr. Darcy (played with an imperious scowl by David Rintoul). Any adaptation of Emma rests firmly on its central character, and Doran Godwin wonderfully captures Emma Woodhouse's resilience, determination, and exasperating self-satisfaction. Definitely the funniest of Austen's novels, Emma's satirical humor is perfectly balanced with romantic yearning, and this 1972 version succeeds delightfully.

Persuasion, though more melancholy in tone, has a wonderfully sympathetic heroine in Anne Elliot (played by the graceful Ann Fairbanks), who once turned away the man she loved but is given the chance, seven years later, to set things right. Sense and Sensibility suffers from comparison to the star firepower and cinematic sweep of the 1995 movie with Emma Thompson (a must-see for any Austen fan), but the dueling characters of gracious Elinore and headstrong Marianne, two sisters struggling with fallen fortunes, make for enjoyable viewing in this 1981 adaptation. Mansfield Park has perhaps the dullest hero and heroine of any Austen novel, yet the story zips along, powered by some of Austen's most outrageous supporting characters, here brought to deliciously comic life by Anna Massey and Angela Pleasence. Northanger Abbey satirizes gothic romances and the overheated imaginations that loved them; but though the tone is more broad and melodramatic than most of Austen, this 1987 adaptation suits the novel and rounds out this very satisfying boxed set. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful stories.......2007-06-13

I received this collection from my children who know that I am a Jane Austen fan. The DVD's are outstanding. There are several episodes of each story, so you can break them up if you want to - for instance, Pride and Prejudice is comprised of 5 separate episodes and requires both sides of the DVD. The adaptations are excellent - the characters are well fleshed out and believable in the ir roles. If you are a Jane Austen fan, you will love the adaptations, since they follow Ms. Austen's original story lines much more closely than some of the popular movies do. You can recognize lines from the books. Get them - you won't regret it!

BBC Jane Austen set.......2007-05-26

The BBC productions are good, but dated. It doesn't matter, however, if you are a Jane Austen fan.

very good productions.......2007-05-07

I have enjoyed these movies very much. It is interesting to see the older versions.

great gift for women.......2007-04-10

I have given this set to:
Sisters in law
nieces
grand daughters

Jane Austen was one of the greatest love story novelists and women LOVE her. I like her use of English words we don't use anymore scruple and repine for example

A worthwhile collection for any Austen fan!.......2007-04-05

This BBC boxed set has all of Jane Austen's works in one collection. As always the BBC adaptations are one of the most faithful to the novels upon which they are based. The version of Pride & Prejudice was my favorite of the collection. The actress who portrays Ms Eliza Bennett plays her role with wit, charm, and a vulnerability that is juxtaposed against the actor who plays the proud, arrogant Mr Darcy. Persuasion is also well-made, and the story of love lost and found is told poignantly with good performances by the two leads. The version of Emma here is the most faithful I have comes across of other adaptations, but I did not like the lead actress' portrayal of Emma, she seemed too stuffy, and even cold [compared to Kate Beckinsale's and Gwyneth Paltrow's performances in other versions]. This version of Sense and Sensibility was also very true to the novel, but both the main leads appeared plain and washed out [I much preferred Emma Thompson's and Kate Winslet's performances in a different version]. Finally, the version of Northanger Abbey here was truly a departure from the other DVDs in this collection, and that is quite understandable given that Jane Austen did write it in the style of a Gothic romance [whilst still poking fun at the English upper class].

All in all, its a worthwhile collection for any Austen fan, and its good to watch them and compare the scenes to the ones in the books.

Average customer rating:

Best Film Ever, Test Of Wills & Character.
The bridge on the river kwai
Enduring classic
"A benchmark for war films" ? I hardly think so!
Tour de Force for William Holden

The Bridge on the River Kwai
Starring: William Holden , Jack Hawkins , Alec Guinness , Sessue Hayakawa , and James Donald
Director: David Lean
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Lawrence of Arabia (Limited Edition)
The Great Escape
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On the Waterfront (Special Edition)
Patton

ASIN: B00004XPPC
Release Date: 2000-11-21

Amazon.com essential video

Director David Lean's masterful 1957 realization of Pierre Boulle's novel remains a benchmark for war films, and a deeply absorbing movie by any standard--like most of Lean's canon, The Bridge on the River Kwai achieves a richness in theme, narrative, and characterization that transcends genre.

The story centers on a Japanese prison camp isolated deep in the jungles of Southeast Asia, where the remorseless Colonel Saito (Sessue Hayakawa) has been charged with building a vitally important railway bridge. His clash of wills with a British prisoner, the charismatic Colonel Nicholson (Alec Guinness), escalates into a duel of honor, Nicholson defying his captor's demands to win concessions for his troops. How the two officers reach a compromise, and Nicholson becomes obsessed with building that bridge, provides the story's thematic spine; the parallel movement of a team of commandos dispatched to stop the project, led by a British major (Jack Hawkins) and guided by an American escapee (William Holden), supplies the story's suspense and forward momentum.

Shot on location in Sri Lanka, Kwai moves with a careful, even deliberate pace that survivors of latter-day, high-concept blockbusters might find lulling--Lean doesn't pander to attention deficit disorders with an explosion every 15 minutes. Instead, he guides us toward the intersection of the two plots, accruing remarkable character details through extraordinary performances. Hayakawa's cruel camp commander is gradually revealed as a victim of his own sense of honor, Holden's callow opportunist proves heroic without softening his nihilistic edge, and Guinness (who won a Best Actor Oscar, one of the production's seven wins) disappears as only he can into Nicholson's brittle, duty-driven, delusional psychosis. His final glimpse of self-knowledge remains an astonishing moment--story, character, and image coalescing with explosive impact.

Like Lean's Lawrence of Arabia, The Bridge on the River Kwai has been beautifully restored and released in a highly recommended widescreen version that preserves its original aspect ratio. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews:

Best Film Ever, Test Of Wills & Character........2007-05-06

This unique film had everything you could want except romance. Action, suspense, special effects, an intruiging story, themes, cinematography, diection, & locales. This is the story of a Japanese POW camp in Burma in World War two. Commanded by Colonel Saito {Sessue Hayakawa}, the mainly British captives are being used as slave labor for the construction of a railroad bridge that will link malaysia to Rangoon over the river Kwai. The Japanese commander's life depends on it's successful completion. Colonel Nicholson the British commander is a stickler for rules & when Saito declares that officers will work as well as enlisted men, he sites the Geneva Convention restrictions on officers doing manual labor. When they refuse to work, Saito has them thrown into ovens, metal containers that bake in the tropical sweltering heat. After much angst Saito relents since the bridge is behind schedule. There's a fine mix of camera shots from all possible angles showing the grinding heat draining the overworked & malnurished men, as well as breathtaking panoramas. Above all positives of this excellent film were the performances by all concerned. Alec Guinness as Col. nicholson was beyond "PERFECTION." He totally absorbs the characters essence & then manifests it. I can't think of any actor who deserved his/her OSCAR more. William Holden is also superlative in his scenes, as were stern Sessue Hayakawa & the enigmatic Jack Hawkins. The destruction of the bridge & train was a one shot chance done very well. I saw this film on TV as a young boy. Now seeing it again on DVD, it was as enthralling as ever. Buy it, you won't be disapointed.

The bridge on the river kwai.......2007-04-02

Classic movie and glad it finally came on DVD

Enduring classic.......2007-03-26

This enduring classic is (loosely, very loosely) the story of the WW2 POWs used to build the Thai/Burma railroad. The larger war becomes a personal battle between 3 forces: The Japanese soldiers looking for labor led by Colonel Saito, the British soldiers looking to serve as prisoners as dictated by the Geneva Convention led by Colonel Nicholsen (Alec Guiness winning an academy award) and the commandos looking to destroy the bridge led by Naval officer Shear.

The morality (or more specifically madness) of war is adressed in the movie. The pointless nature of armed conflict reads true today, as do issues of handling prisoners. The movie's a long one, but one of the few that justifies the added time. Every piece is indeed required in this classic.

"A benchmark for war films" ? I hardly think so!.......2007-03-19

How Amazon could rate this as a benchmark is beyond my understanding. This movie is so far removed from the reality of the episode that it is an insult to the troops who endured the events. Perhaps it would be best if Amazon relied on combat veterans to critique war movies.

Tour de Force for William Holden.......2007-02-27

This is movie is an excellent WWII prisoner of war film. I was enamored immediately and for the entire length of this film. William Holden is perfect as an American POW caught in the middle between a mission dreamed up by his British companions and desire to sit the war out. Director David Lean is the master.

King Boxer (aka 'Five Fingers Of Death')

Average customer rating:

MASTER OF THE IRON FIST !!
A classic finally gets its due

King Boxer (aka 'Five Fingers Of Death')
Starring: Lo Lieh , and Tien Feng
Director: Cheng Chang Ho
Manufacturer: Weinstein Company
ProductGroup: DVD
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The 36th Chamber of Shaolin
The One-Armed Swordsman
My Young Auntie
Above the Law
Shanghai Express

ASIN: B000MM0LE6
Release Date: 2007-06-19

Customer Reviews:

MASTER OF THE IRON FIST !!.......2007-07-03

Kudo's to the Weinstein Company for releasing this Kung Fu classic on DVD.The audio and video restoration that went into this DVD release is absolutely incredible and Martial Arts fans won't be disappointed."King Boxer" is presented in it's Widescreen format and enhanced for 16x9 television's.The films colors are incredibly sharp and vibrant and the mono sound is clear and crisp.The video transfer of "King Boxer" is the absolute best version I have ever seen and fans of the Kung Fu genre will be amazed by the quality of this release.Sound options include original Mandarin and English dubbed version and choice of subtitles.The special features are an added bonus,specially the Trailer Gallery.This movie has it all,non-stop action,fierce fighting and plenty of blood.Watch the magnificent Lo Lieh as he masters the Iron Fist technique and exacts his revenge."King Boxer" is five star entertainment at it's very best!!

A classic finally gets its due.......2007-06-19

King Boxer (aka Five Fingers of Death) came out in 1973 and is a classic example of a Shaw Brothers kung fu film - a genre they helped pioneer and perfect with this movie being one of the finest efforts from this time period. It also has the distinction of being the first kung fu film to be released in the United States, just ahead of Bruce Lee's equally influential Enter the Dragon. In the 1980s, it inspired filmmaker John Carpenter to make Big Trouble in Little China and more recently was a huge influence on Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill movies.

The filmmakers maintain just the right level of pacing with very short lulls between action sequences. Let's face it - we're not watching King Boxer for its thoughtful characterization. That is not to say that this film is not well made or doesn't take itself seriously because it does, but it is hardly Shakespeare either. Director Cheng Chang Ho employs sudden zoom in and outs and even the occasional freeze frame during many of the film's dynamic fight scenes. This is a beautifully shot movie with expert use of the 2.35:1 widescreen aspect ratio with superb compositions of every frame. The use of shadows for dramatic effect in one scene, and a brief fight that takes place at sunset that looks like something right out of 1950s Technicolor era, is part of the reason why this film is so revered among kung fu film fans.

King Boxer features betrayal, torture, revenge and even some heroic style redemption thrown in for good measure - all heightened to melodramatic levels making for a very entertaining ride. Our hero has to deal with a devastating injury and his own self-doubts before he can face the bad guys and use the Iron Palm technique to save the day. You soon find yourself rooting for Chi-Hao to win the competition and the cute woman he loves as well. Even though our hero triumphs at the end, it is a terrible cost with friends, family and his mentor dead or horribly maimed all because of a petty rivalry between two martial arts schools.

There is an audio commentary by filmmaker Quentin Tarantino and film critics Elvis Mitchell and David Chute. Love or hate Tarantino, the guy knows his film history, displaying an impressive encyclopedic knowledge of kung fu cinema. For example, he not only talks about how it was the first kung fu film released in America but then rattles off 5-6 other films that came after. This is a very entertaining, information-packed track by three guys who are fans of the film and display a genuine love for the genre. Highly recommended.

"Interview with Chang-Hwa Jeong." He talks about how he got involved with the film. Initially, he found the script to be "common" and studied Chinese history and literature in order to make improvements. He talks about some of the techniques he used to make the action sequences so exciting and visceral.

"Interview with action director Lau Kar Wing." Kar Wing was the kung fu director on the movie and speaks about how he approached the many fight scenes, including the challenge of matching the actor with their stunt double seamlessly.

"Interview with film critic/scholars David Chute and Andy Klein." Chute gives the film a historical context in terms of American cinema including its shocking level of violence at the time. They point out that the soundtrack was a pastiche of music ripped off of other film and that this would often hamper its distribution because of rights issues.

Also included are two trailers and alternate opening sequence that features very crude opening credits.

Finally, there is a "Stills Gallery" with poster and promotional photographs.

Average customer rating:

No Sophomore Slump Here!
Detective Series, Quality of a well made movie
Prime Suspect 2
Prime Suspect 2
Prime Suspect 2 - It only gets better with age

Prime Suspect 2
Starring: Helen Mirren , Colin Salmon , John Benfield , Jack Ellis (III) , and Craig Fairbrass
Director: John Strickland
Manufacturer: Hbo Home Video
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Prime Suspect 1
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Prime Suspect 6 - The Last Witness

ASIN: B0000X2ET2
Release Date: 2004-02-24

Amazon.com

In the first Prime Suspect, Helen Mirren's ballsy woman Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennyson battled the boys club and their sexist barbs to prove herself in a chauvinist department. In Prime Suspect 2, she's assigned to head a racially charged murder investigation in a largely African/Caribbean neighborhood. It's politics as usual in the image-conscious organization, so the superintendent adds to the team black Detective Robert Oswalde (Colin Salma), a sharp but hot-headed investigator who has just broken off an affair with Tennyson. Now Tennyson grapples with her own conflicted feelings while fighting political and public-relations battles both in the media and within the police system itself in the midst of investigating the labyrinthine case. Between the scant clues left to sift, a prime suspect on the verge of death himself, and divisions in her own team that result in a devastating death, Tennyson soon begins to suspect she's been hung out to dry by the department. Screenwriter Allan Cubitt dives into the murky waters of volatile racial and social relations to create an even more complex and compelling mystery in Tennyson's second appearance, and Mirren rises to the challenge to explore the contradictions of an uncompromising cop in a compromising position. --Sean Axmaker

Description

Helen Mirren is Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison in the second season of Prime Suspect. This case involves a death in the Afro-Caribbean community that puts D.C.I. Tennison and the rest of the police force in the middle of a racial controvery.

Customer Reviews:

No Sophomore Slump Here!.......2007-04-24

Prime Suspect 2 is just as well made and compelling as its predecessor. This story was especially interesting because of the race relations angle that was a focus of much of the program. Helen Mirren's Jane is not always a likable character but she seems very very real and the series really showcases what a fine actress Mirren is.

Detective Series, Quality of a well made movie.......2007-03-15

Helen Mirren is the best. I wish I had "discovered" her and this series a long time ago. Great stories without all the trappings of plastic Hollywood series.

Prime Suspect 2.......2007-01-22

Another great movie with Helen Mirren.. Great for detective and crime story fans!

Prime Suspect 2.......2007-01-10

This is brilliant gritty British TV at its best. Every one in the series is excellent, I thoroughly recommend it to anyone who enjoys great acting (Helen Mirren is fantastic) and strong story lines.

Prime Suspect 2 - It only gets better with age.......2007-01-10

The second installment of DCI Jane Tennison finds a story that pursues both the politics and the reality of race relations in Britain. Still battling the "old-boy" network, she is assigned a case that has both political and racial overtones, one that many would be happy if she failed to resolve. As usual, the messy overtones of her personal like intrude into the story.
Following on the success of the first Prime Suspect, this would be just another sequel if it weren't for the compelling story and the performance of Helen Mirren. Driven to succeed against both forces outside and inside the department, she looks for the unpleasant truth against those who would use this tragedy for their own purposes.
Another "must see" this second installment cemented the series as great viewing.

Average customer rating:

Faithfully presented
Best version yet
Not a mini-series but a mini-version of Thomas Hughes' school novel

Tom Brown's Schooldays
Starring: Stephen Fry , Jemma Redgrave , Alex Pettyfer , Harry Michell , and Joseph Beattie
Director: Dave Moore
Manufacturer: Koch Vision
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ASIN: B000MR9C46
Release Date: 2007-04-10

Amazon.com

Tom Brown's Schooldays charts a young boy's first steps towards adulthood as he attends a troubled British school. As Tom Brown (Alex Pettyfer, Stormbreaker) arrives at Rugby Public School, so does the new headmaster, Dr. Arnold (Stephen Fry, Gosford Park, Wilde), a man who intends to stamp out the bullying and drunkenness that sow corruption in the school. Brown and Arnold collide, but Brown's true enemy is the brutal Flashman (Joseph Beattie), an upperclassman who dedicates himself to making Brown's life miserable. The adaptation of this classic English novel is extremely abridged (only 93 minutes, as opposed to the almost four-hour 1971 version) and takes some liberties with the story (Flashman's crimes are much more dastardly here). But the results are strong; though the exposition may feel a bit choppy and episodic, the mixing of storylines leads to an emotionally compelling second half. This version retains the novel's greatest strength, the complexity of Tom Brown himself; far from a cardboard icon of virtue, Brown's character allows for both courage and insolence, loyalty and rebelliousness. But the movie's greatest strength is Stephen Fry's performance; his magnetism, intelligence, and empathy drive Tom Brown's Schooldays forward. --Bret Fetzer

Description

This new adaptation of Thomas Hughes' famous novel tells the tale of a young boy's courage in the face of vicious bullying. Set in Rugby Public School during the mid-1800s, the eponymous Tom transforms from timid, homesick schoolboy to courageous student as he learns to confront his fears, stand up for his friends, and hurdle the obstacles of adolescence.

Customer Reviews:

Faithfully presented.......2007-06-27

I enjoyed this version of Tom Brown. Stephen Fry portrays the compassionate schoolmaster, who attempts to reform Rugby House. A faithful adaptation of the novel.

Best version yet.......2007-04-30

I have seen all the versions available of this story, and feel that this is the finest version yet produced. I enjoyed it much more than the BBC "Materpiece Theatre" series which is much longer. Usually, I prefer a more detailed story, but something did not appeal to me with the "Masterpiece" version. I have a DVD copy from England acted by John Howard Davies & Robert Newton. This is the highly acclaimed version by most from 1951. I guess the appealing qualities about the newest version are the music and filming, and most of all, the acting done by Alex Pettyfer (Tom), Stephen Fry (Dr. Arnold) and Joseph Beattie (Flashman). Supporting roles by Dane Carter (Tadpole) and Harry Michell (East) are also excellent. I recommend this new edition to all interested, especially over the 1971 "Masterpiece Theatre" version.

Not a mini-series but a mini-version of Thomas Hughes' school novel.......2007-04-12

"Tom Brown's Schooldays" was originally published in 1857. Thomas Hughes had attended Rugby School, an English public school for boys from 1834 to 1842, but it seems the title character was based on his older brother George. The book is considered the first in the genre of school novels, spawning a host of imitations during the Victorian era, the most successful of which would be the Harry Potter novels of the 21st century. The BBC did a mini-series version of "Tom Brown's Schooldays" in 1972, where as this 2005 television adaptation by ITV runs only 93 minutes. I was going to say that this was by far the shortest BBC literary adaptation I had ever seen, but it turns out it was by ITV.

The relative short length of this production is especially interesting since it omits the chapters at the start of the novel dealing with the childhood of Tom Brown in his home in the Vale of White Horse. There young Tom spends days riding his pony and leading a happy, carefree existence, before being sent to the living hell of his schooldays. Instead, the script by Ashley Pharoah takes the two major stories that make up the actual school days, Tom being bullied by Flashman and Tom being told by Dr. Arnold to look after young George Arthur, and weaves them together instead of having them comprise separate parts of the story. So in this version Tom Brown (Alex Pettyfer) shows up at Rugby School and immediately becomes the target for the bullying Flashman (Joseph Beattie, and, yes, this is the character that George MacDonald Fraser made the "hero" of his "Flashman" historical novels). Meanwhile, headmaster Dr. Thomas Arnold (Stephen Fry) is trying to reform the rowdy school into a more Christian place, insisting that he will take the students at their word, just like he would a grown man, a policy that Flashman will sorely put to the test.

The conflict between Tom and Flashman is at the heart of this version, featuring an escalation of effronteries by the older boy that exceed what is in the novel. Flashman's big crime in the novel was to get exceedingly drunk, and Pharoah's script comes up with bigger and badder things in this version to expedite the villain's demise. The problem is that while I like the way the script makes Flashman's bullying a lot more threatening to a contemporary audience, the twist regarding George Arthur (Harry Smith) changes the ending way too much. Instead of thinking of the lessons that young Tom Brown has learned from his schooldays, I am watching the final credits wondering if this is supposed to be an implicit rejection of George Arthur's Christian idealism. Just because I appreciated some of the major changes in the story does not mean that I do not think there are certain lines you should not be crossing over, and I have to round down because of the line this one crosses at the end.

Young Pettyfer does not have to do much as Tom beyond reacting to the indignities heaped upon him by Flashman and the others and coming to the defense of Tadpole (Dane Carter) and other younger classmates who are the prey of the older bullies. Beattie plays Flashman with great relish, both when he is bullying the little boys and when he lies right to the face of Dr. Arnold. The key performance is that of Fry, who does a nice job of playing restrained anger when he finally lowers the boom on Flashman. My favorite scene is when the good doctor learns a lesson in irony as to what happens when you believe a liar and do not believe someone who is telling you the truth. But primarily "Tom Brown's Schooldays" is about a bully getting what is coming to him, and I hope the kid who terrorized my life when I was the same age as Tom got his own comeuppance sooner or later. At the very least, I would like to believe that Hughes is completely right on that score.

Average customer rating:

The Boxer
"I've lived with your face in silence."
"I'm no killer, but this place makes me want to kill."
Brilliant film, brilliant acting!
THE BOXER - GREAT WITH DAY-LEWIS

The Boxer (Collector's Edition)
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis , Daragh Donnelly , Frank Coughlan , Sean Kearns , and Lorraine Pilkington
Director: Jim Sheridan
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Michael Collins
Bloody Sunday
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Omagh

ASIN: 0783227329
Release Date: 1998-07-08

Amazon.com

Yet another potent (although critically underrated) drama from Jim Sheridan and Daniel Day-Lewis, the Irish director and British star (respectively) of My Left Foot and In the Name of the Father. The story focuses on Danny Flynn (Day-Lewis), a promising boxer who had been imprisoned at age 18 for associating with IRA terrorists. After serving a 14-year sentence, he returns to his Belfast neighborhood at a time when local IRA leader Joe Hamill (Brian Cox) is attempting to negotiate a peace treaty with the British. Despite having no further interest in IRA rivalries, Danny finds himself at the center of political and emotional turmoil when he is reunited with his former girlfriend Maggie (Emily Watson, of Breaking the Waves) who, in Danny's absence, married another IRA man who is now in prison. A strict, unwritten law forbids relationships with the wives of IRA prisoners, but as the former boxer channels his energy into reviving a neighborhood boxing gym, the attraction between Danny and Maggie proves irresistible. This gives a strategic advantage to a militant IRA rival who opposes the peace treaty, drawing Danny back into the bitter and potentially deadly struggle between warring IRA factions. Emphasizing the emotional complexities that arise between Danny and Maggie, this powerful, superbly acted drama demonstrates a sharp understanding of the deep-rooted fears and loyalties that fuel the "troubles" in Ireland, where peace seemed to finally (if tentatively) be achieved in the summer of 1998. Offering a deeper understanding of the Irish conflict, this Universal Collector's Edition DVD includes a full-length audio commentary by director Sheridan and producer Arthur Lappin; an alternate ending and deleted scenes; the original theatrical trailer; and Fighting for Peace: Inside The Boxer, a documentary featurette about the making of the film. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

The Boxer.......2007-01-12

This movie role of a struggling boxer was brilliantly acted by Daniel Day Lewis. It's a love story about a man who wants to move on with his life after being imprisoned physically and emotionally, and a woman who is tied to her past.

"I've lived with your face in silence.".......2006-11-28

After reading a couple of mixed reviews about THE BOXER, I delayed seeing it, and I probably would have skipped it entirely if it weren't for the sterling reputations of co-stars Emily Watson and Daniel Day Lewis. (The latter plays the role of Danny Flynn, a man imprisoned for 14 years for his role in an IRA bombing.)

More fool me. THE BOXER slowly impresses the viewer with its complex storyline, quiet demeanor and subtle dialogue. Watson and Lewis absolutely nail their roles as lovers who were separated at the age of 18, and now find themselves in the awkward roles of adults resuming a teenaged courtship. In a Hollywood film, the two would ultimately hop into bed with a rousing musical score; not so here.

While Watson and Lewis bring uncanny eloquence to their soft-spoken characters, perhaps most fascinating about THE BOXER is the culture of Ireland, specifically the political etiquette and sectarian hatred that each character has to dance around with.

SIDELIGHTS: This film is only nominally about boxing. Oh, and the Dublin flats that stand in for this movie's Belfast projects have since been razed, and upscale apartments now stand there.

"I'm no killer, but this place makes me want to kill.".......2006-08-07

'The Boxer' is a riveting story about one man's struggle during 'The Troubles' of Northern Ireland. The setting is Belfast, where the Catholic and Protestant sections are divided by concrete walls, barb-wire fences, and machine-gun toting soldiers. Danny Flynn, played by Daniel Day-Lewis, is a Catholic former IRA member who is released from prison after serving 14 years. He comes home with the intention of resuming his boxing career, and staying out of trouble. He immediately starts up his old gym, and at first, things are going well. Along with his own training, the gym becomes a sort of refuge for neighborhood kids, and boxing becomes a constructive outlet in an otherwise negative environment. But when the gym starts trying to bring together Catholics and Protestants in the name of boxing, some of Flynn's old IRA comrades think he has gone too far. On top of this, Flynn manages to ruffle more feathers by falling back in love with his old girlfriend, who has since married another imprisoned IRA member. Naturally, in the underworld culture of the IRA, this is a big no-no. Realizing his predicament, Flynn decides to leave for London where he attempts to resume his boxing career. But deciding that no one will run him out of his home, he soon returns to Belfast determined to stand his ground and follow his heart.

This film was right up my alley. I am of Irish descent, I'm a huge boxing fan, and also an aspiring historian. So naturally, a boxing film, set in war-torn Northern Ireland would seem to be my kind of movie. I was not disappointed. The boxing scenes were very well done, and Day-Lewis comes off as a very convincing fighter. He is, in my opinion, one of the best and most under-rated actors in the business. His performance here only reinforced that belief. Overall, the acting in the film was fantastic, with several outstanding performances. 'The Boxer' is simply a great film.

Brilliant film, brilliant acting!.......2006-07-15

I have never seen a Daniel Day Lewis film that wasn't a true piece of art. His acting is brilliant. Every role he plays in is so believable. Being Irish an a huge boxing fan I truly loved this film. It gave accurate information on the turmoil that is to this day going on in Ireland. A must see, even for the non boxing fans.

THE BOXER - GREAT WITH DAY-LEWIS.......2006-06-26

Like all really great actors, Daniel Day-Lewis just keeps getting better and better with age. He seems capable of being in any role and delivering the person he is supposed to be. I was fascinated by the fact that he indeed does box and is quite good at it as well. Doesn't surprise me that he is good because this is a man committed to whatever project he undertakes and gives his all. I have not gone into the actual movie here because so many of the reviews reveal so much of the intensity of this marvelous film. I don't think it would have made it without Daniel Day-Lewis. Why isn't he used more frequently? We are missing a lot of wonderful performances. Very good movie about a very sad situation that unfortunately still exists today in many places in this mixed-up world, and did exist in Belfast, Ireland until a relatively short time ago. Thank God there are people that keep trying to come to some kind of resolution when such problems do exist. This movie goes a long way in trying to give a real overview of everyday life that exists when you are forced to live with violence. Try this film. You'll be glad you did.

The Bridge on the River Kwai (Limited Edition)

Average customer rating:

Best Film Ever, Test Of Wills & Character.
The bridge on the river kwai
Enduring classic
"A benchmark for war films" ? I hardly think so!
Tour de Force for William Holden

The Bridge on the River Kwai (Limited Edition)
Starring: James Donald , Harold Goodwin , Alec Guinness , Jack Hawkins , and Sessue Hayakawa
Director: David Lean
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

World War II | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

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Accessories:

The Bridge On The River Kwai: An Original Soundtrack Recording

ASIN: B00003CX97
Release Date: 2000-11-21

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

Best Film Ever, Test Of Wills & Character........2007-05-06

The bridge on the river kwai.......2007-04-02

Classic movie and glad it finally came on DVD

Enduring classic.......2007-03-26

"A benchmark for war films" ? I hardly think so!.......2007-03-19

Tour de Force for William Holden.......2007-02-27

Average customer rating:

VERY GOOD....AND VERY BELIEVABLE
Brings back memories
Love Story Secondary
A magnetic Asia Argento--heists and true love....
Hidden treasure

B. Monkey
Starring: Asia Argento , Jared Harris , Rupert Everett , Jonathan Rhys Meyers , and Julie T. Wallace
Director: Michael Radford
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Scarlet Diva (Unrated)
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The Stendhal Syndrome

ASIN: 6305744564
Release Date: 2000-03-21

Amazon.com

Director Michael Radford made a surprising about-face from his international hit Il Postino to this grungy British romantic crime thriller. Asia Argento (Dario's daughter and costar of Abel Ferrara's New Rose Hotel) is the title character, a street criminal whose specialty is breaking and entering: "I can get into anywhere." Jared Harris (Richard's son and Andy Warhol in I Shot Andy Warhol) is a bookish, shy schoolteacher with a yen for jazz who becomes smitten with Argento's sexy wildcat. Argento brings a vitality to the supercharged street thief trying to break with her past, but stick-in-the-mud Harris is restrained to a fault and Radford never quite finds the right chemistry to make their union any more than curious. Rupert Everett costars as a smart-mouthed, sleepy-eyed ne'er-do-well whose drug habit puts him deep in debt, and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers is Argento's volatile partner, a jittery young punk on a hair trigger. Radford has more fun with the villains than his ostensible hero; the film bubbles when they're on screen and the movie's single heist scene is a short, sharp, energized shot in the arm to a slowing story. Only Harris sticks out as an impossibly resolute saint who's dedicated his life to a passionate sinner. The conclusion reverberates with echoes of Straw Dogs, as remade by a kinder, gentler filmmaker. --Sean Axmaker

Description

Hot leading man Rupert Everett (AN IDEAL HUSBAND, MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING) stars in a sexy thriller that's all about jealousy, passion, revenge ... and a woman compelled to live her life on the edge! Tired of criminal activity, a wild and beautiful thief named B. (Asia Argento -- QUEEN MARGOT) begins to seek a way out of her dangerous profession. While trying to kick her addiction to crime, she finds love and a stable relationship with a naive schoolteacher (Jared Harris -- I SHOT ANDY WARHOL) ... until the dark secrets from B.'s past begin to creep into her new life! As ex-partners Paul (Everett) and Bruno (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers -- MICHAEL COLLINS) get back in the picture, B.'s harrowing balancing act threatens to come crashing down!

Customer Reviews:

VERY GOOD....AND VERY BELIEVABLE.......2007-04-06

I HAVE BOUGHT SEVERAL DOZEN FOREIGN FILMS SINCE DISCOVERING AMAZON. THE MAJORITY THAT I'VE GOTTEN A HOLD OF STINK FRANKLY. BUT THIS ONE DOES NOT. I LIKE IT SO MUCH I BOUGHT MORE TITLES THAT HAVE THIS ACTRESS ASIA ARGENTO IN THEM. THIS STORY IS VERY BELIEVEABLE, VERY " IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU." IF YOURE THINKING ABOUT IT...DO IT. THE PRICE HAS COME DOWN CONSIDERABLY SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN DEC 06. THE VERY LEAST I CAN SAY IS,
" IF YOU TRY THIS MOVIE AND DONT LIKE IT...YOU PROBABLY WONT LIKE ANY FOREIGN FILM. " TO ME, ITS KINDA COOL LIKE PULP FICTION WAS WHEN IT WAS RELEASED...AND STILL IS. AND EXTRA SPECIAL IS THE FACT THAT ITS IN ENGLISH- SO YOU DONT HAFTA TRY TO KEEP UP WITH THE DIALOUGUE AT THE BOTTOM!

Brings back memories.......2005-12-02

Watching this movie brought something of a bittersweet smile to my face as i was in a crazy on-and-off relationship with a woman just like Asia Argento's "Beatrice" character.

The performances and the soundtrack are top-notch and though the pacing of the film is a bit slow in spots, it's not too much of a detriment to the film and even serves the tension between the leads. the film is, at heart, a romance after all and it'd be a shame if they had rushed things.

If you want to see a neat little portrait of love both on and over the proverbial razor's edge, do yourself a favor and check this movie out

Love Story Secondary.......2005-09-10

This is one of the best movies I have ever seen. It is certainly a love story, but for me this is only important in that love is one of the things most of us look for in life. The deeper search, and this is where Asia'a character starts out, is for a life that is not "frayed at the edges," perhaps another way of saying "whole." What plays out is two people, driven in part, for certain, by their passion for each other, but even more for their passion for authenticity, who deepen themselve, each other and an amazing relationship through that search. It is the insistence of each of these people to fully honor themselves, individually, that causes them to succeed both in their personal quest and in love. It is they way they ultimately honor each other. This is a deep life lesson that is not learned by many, which, perhaps, is why so many reviewers miss it.

What they learn is that when they find themselves, "They Can't take that away from me," as the music that accompanies the credits at the end says.

A fantastic flic. Good music, color, cinematography, acting, editing and other things, too.

A magnetic Asia Argento--heists and true love...........2005-07-21

The right person can help you overcome your self-destructiveness. That's pretty much the moral of this oddly endearing love story/crime story.

The principal character--very strongly and naturally played by a not-at-all-inhibited Asia Argento (ie, lots of nudity). I was very impressed by the other main character, Jared Harris, an actor I had only seen previously as Andy Warhol (I Shot Andy Warhol). He's terrific. His voice is fabulous (something in common with dad, the late great Richard H.) He's a good guy, the clean-cut teacher who cares about his students, law-abiding, gentle, jazz-loving. She's the thief with a soft heart, looking for a reason to leave that life, looking for "family" (her childhood was not chipper). She's got an ersatz family (a dysfunctional one) with Rupert Everett (as a charming, drug-addled thief) and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers (as a pretty-boy, screwed up emotionally thief). They care about each other, but are also violent and volatile with each other.

The teacher gets pizzazz in his life from Beatrice (B Monkey); B. gets stability from him. But the dark elements of her character and her dangerous associates intrude into their lovey-dovey life, and they have to make tough decisions about how to continue together. It's