Testament

Starring:Jane Alexander, William Devane, Rossie Harris, Roxana Zal, Lukas Haas, Philip Anglim, Lilia Skala, Leon Ames, Lurene Tuttle, Rebecca De Mornay, Kevin Costner, Mako, Mico Olmos, Gerry Murillo, J. Brennan Smith, Lesley Woods, Wayne Heffley, William G. Schilling, David Nichols, Gary Bayer
Director: Lynne Littman
Studio: Paramount
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
There seemed to be a particular spike in nuclear-war paranoia in the early 1980s, probably having to do Reagan's finger being on the trigger. Whatever the cause, it resulted in two particularly powerful 1983 films on the subject: the made-for-TV The Day After and Lynne Littman's Testament, which had a theatrical release before playing on PBS's American Playhouse. Starring Jane Alexander (and Kevin Costner in a cameo), the film shows what happens to a suburban family in the Pacific Northwest after a nearby nuclear attack. As it turns out, those killed by the initial blast are the lucky ones; Alexander and her family must suffer through radiation poisoning and sickness, the daily diminution of life this causes, and, for Alexander, the eventual deaths of those around her. Quietly powerful and never overstated. --Marshall Fine
Description
In TESTAMENT, an unexpected nuclear strike has occurred and no one knows who did it or why it happened. With her husband away on business, and now unable to be reached, Carol Weatherly must remain strong for the sake of her children. Things take a turn for the worse once food and other supplies become scarce. . The film is directed by Lynn Littman.

The Holy Bible - Complete King James Version - Old & New Testament
Average customer rating:

This is Great!

Owner Sally Recording Sudios Memphis TN

BIBLE DVD IS GREAT!

No Excuse now for not reading the Bible

King James Bible on DVD

The Holy Bible - Complete King James Version - Old & New Testament
Starring: Holy Bible-King James Version
Manufacturer: DVD International
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video
General | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video
General | Religion & Spirituality | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video
Bible | Christian DVD | Religion & Spirituality | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video
General | Christian DVD | Religion & Spirituality | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video
DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Used DVDs | Stores | DVD | Video | Action & Adventure | African American Cinema | Animation | Anime & Manga | Art House & International | Classics | Comedy | Cult Movies | Documentary | Drama | Educational | Fitness & Yoga | Gay & Lesbian | Horror | Kids & Family | Military & War | Music Video & Concerts | Musicals & Performing Arts | Mystery & Suspense | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Special Interests | Sports | Television | Westerns
Christian Contemporary Music | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Holy Bible: New Living Translation - New & Old Testament

The Bible Series Box Set

Holy Bible: New King James Version Old and New Testament

The Bible Collection

The Apocalypse

ASIN: B0000AM6GX
Release Date: 2003-09-16

Product Description

Whether your Scripture of choice is the old or new Testament, the most effective, entertaining program for bringing Bible learning to life is "The King James Version Complete Bible" on DVD. Available for the first time ever, this DVD collection features approximately 70 hours of biblical history from both the Old and New Testaments on two DVDs, including a complete library filled with beautiful images of the Holy Land.

Narrated by Emmy winner Stephen Johnston, the KJV Old and New Testament DVD Bible is your personal video/audio guide through the wonders of biblical history, and includes soft, inspirational music to fulfill the religious ambience.

Stephen Johnston has been a master narrator of the Bible on audio since 1980. His crystal clear, mellow baritone voice provides distinct pronunciation, and easily makes the Scriptures come alive.

Dramatized Narration of The New and Old Testament

Approximately 70 Hours of Dolby Digital Stereo Audio on two DVDs

Synchronized Graphics & Text showing every verse

Widescreen (16x9) and Full Frame (4x3) Display

Interactive Menus that allow direct access to any book or chapter

Optional Playback modes including:

Play a single Chapter

Play a single Book

Continuous Play of the Entire New and Old Testament

No Region Coding

NTSC TV Format

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

This is Great!.......2007-07-01

This is a excellent edition of The King James Verison on DVD! Rather you want to study or just listen to it while your resting, its a wonderful treat and I am glad I have it.

Owner Sally Recording Sudios Memphis TN.......2007-05-13

This is a very good DVD. It is very easy to use and along with the Bible it has some very nice photo presentations. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys The word.

BIBLE DVD IS GREAT!.......2007-02-22

This is a very good dvd, I just ordered it and watched the first 8 chapters of John. Very telling with background effects. Worth the money.

No Excuse now for not reading the Bible.......2007-02-16

People who don't like to read or who can't see very well can now have the Bible read to them. It's a priceless treasure. By the chapter or by the book this allows you to concentrate on the words without turning pages or headaches from tired eyes. I've enjoyed my purchase very much.

King James Bible on DVD .......2007-02-05

Such an awesome way to read and listen to the word of our lord. Anyone who has difficulty reading God's word can benefit from this wonderful product.

Average customer rating:

An End Time Classic
No hype and all truth .....
Very powerful, touching movie
Wow
Excellent DVD, fast shipping. Great seller

Testament
Starring: Jane Alexander , William Devane , Rossie Harris , Roxana Zal , and Lukas Haas
Director: Lynne Littman
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Holocaust | Jewish Heritage | Specialty Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Day After
By Dawn's Early Light
On the Beach
On the Beach
Category 6 - Day of Destruction

ASIN: B00062IDJW
Release Date: 2004-12-07

Amazon.com

There seemed to be a particular spike in nuclear-war paranoia in the early 1980s, probably having to do Reagan's finger being on the trigger. Whatever the cause, it resulted in two particularly powerful 1983 films on the subject: the made-for-TV The Day After and Lynne Littman's Testament, which had a theatrical release before playing on PBS's American Playhouse. Starring Jane Alexander (and Kevin Costner in a cameo), the film shows what happens to a suburban family in the Pacific Northwest after a nearby nuclear attack. As it turns out, those killed by the initial blast are the lucky ones; Alexander and her family must suffer through radiation poisoning and sickness, the daily diminution of life this causes, and, for Alexander, the eventual deaths of those around her. Quietly powerful and never overstated. --Marshall Fine

Description

In TESTAMENT, an unexpected nuclear strike has occurred and no one knows who did it or why it happened. With her husband away on business, and now unable to be reached, Carol Weatherly must remain strong for the sake of her children. Things take a turn for the worse once food and other supplies become scarce. . The film is directed by Lynn Littman.

Customer Reviews:

An End Time Classic.......2007-06-21

This movie is certainly one of the end times classics. While many of the other nuclear war movies focus on the Cold War strategies, survival and rebuilding, this work circles around the emotional journey of one family. Although I recommend all of the nuclear classics like the Day After, Dr. Strangelove and On the beach, this is a different perspective that should be experienced. it is not an action-packed film, but it brings the disaster close to home. rather than seeing the Cold war in terms of statistics, this film helps conceptualize it on a personal level. A must-see! And if you like end time scenarios, I also highly recommend the controversial and shocking Mysteries of the Universe book. Here's the amazon page link: Mysteries of the Universe: A Revolutionary Commentary on UFOs, Aliens, Angels, Pyramids, Bible Codes, Reincarnation, the Antichrist...

No hype and all truth ............2007-06-14

Unlike The Day After and On the Beach, Testament focuses mainly upon how one family (one mother of three, more precisely) lives day by day after a nuclear war. What I liked about this movie particularly is its complete lack of hype and its quietly downplayed mood.

If you've seen the other two, this one is also a must see. If you see this one, the other two are also must sees. :-)

Very powerful, touching movie.......2007-05-09

I first saw this movie on cable in the late 80's and was very touched and moved by it. It has lost none of it's potency to date. Jane Alexander is outstanding as a mother trying to keep her family together and survive the worst horror that could ever happen. What is surprising is the subtle and excellent performances by the kids. I would highly recommend this movie.

Wow.......2007-04-24

This was a difficult movie to watch but it was incredibly moving. It's one of those movies that really makes you think, especially in the times that we are living in today. This movie was made in 1983 but I could see it as a horrific remake looking at all the events that have happened between then and now.

The movie follows a family & town that is dealing with the horrible aftermath of nuclear attacks on the United States. When nuclear bombs go off, communication comes to a complete halt. Throughout the movie you don't know what has happened to other people in the country, who attacked them, or if there is anyone out there who will be able to pull everything back together. It really makes you think about the 'what if?' question and what the world would do if something like this took place. Looking at this movie, it doesn't look like there would be much hope for anyone.

Testament is an incredible story but it is NOT for children or anyone looking for a happy ending or happy movie. It is based on a book that was written and is very similar to a book in the way that the movie progresses.

The acting was excellent and the story very well written. I gave it four stars because there were a few things that I didn't like (example: the mother's character and the priest's scene at the cemetery). Overall though, an excellent movie that I highly recommend everyone watch. It will leave you thinking for days after.

Excellent DVD, fast shipping. Great seller.......2007-02-20

Excellent DVD. This is a retail DVD in like new condition. I would recommend this seller to anyone that might be looking for a Title such as this one. Thank You !!

Holy Bible: New King James Version Old and New Testament

Average customer rating:

Easy Bible Study !!
Very wonderful, NKJV bible on DVD.
Holy Bible: New King James Version Old and New Testament
Astonishing!
the word in eyesight

Holy Bible: New King James Version Old and New Testament
Starring: New King James Bible Complete
Manufacturer: DVD International
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Christian Contemporary Music | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Holy Bible: New Living Translation - New & Old Testament
The Holy Bible - Complete King James Version - Old & New Testament
The Bible Collection
KJV Complete Bible On DVD Deluxe Box Set
Visual Bible - Acts

ASIN: B000AA4F92
Release Date: 2005-10-25

Description

Holy Bible, New King James Version® New & Old Testament offers accuracy, beauty and ease of understanding, and is the preferred translation of thousands of today's most prominent Christian leaders. Features the voices of Tony, Emmy, and Golden Globe Award-winning actors, an original orchestral score and sound effects.

Narrated by Emmy Award-winner Stephen Johnston who has been a master narrator of the Bible on audio since 1980.

o Dramatized multi-voice narration of the New and Old Testament
o Over 70 hours of Dolby Digital Stereo Audio on two DVDs
o Synchronized graphics & text showing every verse
o Widescreen (16X9) and Full Frame (4X3) display
o Interactive Menus that allow direct access to any book or chapter
o Optional playback modes including: book, chapter or continuous play

Customer Reviews:

Easy Bible Study !!.......2007-04-28

It is great to read the bible on my computer screen while someone else is also reading the text and pronouncing all those tongue twisting words. Just good stuff. These DVDs won't disappoint you.

Very wonderful, NKJV bible on DVD. .......2007-01-25

This is a very nice thing. It aids comprehension, for me, to be able to read the text, while also hearing it. The narrator reads along at a good clip, so you can progress thru a chapter quickly. Using this Ive been thru some books Id been putting off reading for years. Nothing probably replaces diligent study of the verses using a study bible, but for a preview, or review, this is great. It is amazing how it all works so well. I might sugguest you get this one, rather than attempt to buy the NT and OT separately, as initially I ordered only the NewTest by itself, then found the OldTest not available, so I had to order this one to get the OT.

Holy Bible: New King James Version Old and New Testament.......2006-06-26

This goes over and beyond. I have two children whom are LD (Learning Disabled) and I got this DVD mainly for them to listen to, Now i can be assured that they are truly learning the word of GOD, becuase they have trouble reading any book, now they talk bible with me, so if anyone has LD children and you want them to learn the word this is a must in any christian library, I LOVE THIS and also with eight kids I can afford this

Astonishing!.......2006-05-19

The New King James Version of the Bible is my favorite version, and Stephen Johnston is the best narrator I have ever listened to. The NKJV is a modern English version of the Bible. Anyone should be able to understand it. I spent almost $200 on a set of 63 Bible CDs once. Those CDs pale in comparison to this DVD collection. This collection is on two DVDs! The Bible is not an easy read, and I am someone who falls asleep if a book does not hold my complete attention. This collection makes reading the Bible easier than ever. You don't just sit and listen to Stephen Johnston read the Bible. There are all kinds of characters in the Bible. Different actors provide their voices to portray those characters! You will listen to one actor provide the voice of Moses, and another actor will provide the voice of Mary. The Bible really comes alive because of those actors. The verses are easy to comprehend because you can read from the on-screen Bible while the narrator quotes each verse. The on-screen Bible is a lot easier for me to read than a regular Bible. There are also photos of Biblical locations. Many of the photos were taken from Israel. I can't imagine how much time and effort went into creating this DVD collection. There are over 70 hours of audio that include sound effects and dramatic music to highlight each reading from a chapter. I have never found one mistake made by the narrator or any of the people involved in this DVD collection. What is the Bible really about? Why do so many people read it? The Bible is about the God who formed the nation of Israel. It's about the creation of man, and the destruction of all life on earth that takes place at the end of time. The Jews became slaves in ancient Egypt. God told them to leave Egypt and settle in the land of Israel. Then, God presented Himself to the Jews as a Man known as Jesus Christ, or the Son of God. That is in the New Testament of the Bible. Many of the Jews did not accept Jesus Christ, and He was crucified by the Romans. Crucifixion wasn't something Jews did to their enemies. The Romans had control of Israel during that time, and they did crucify their enemies. In my opinion, Jesus was crucified by the Romans because His teachings weakened Roman authority. The Jews had a major problem with accepting Jesus Christ as God because He represented idol worship to them. What the Jews don't seem to remember is that God presented Himself to Moses as a burning bush in the book of Exodus. One can easily come to the conclusion that God can present Himself to humans as any form He chooses. God finally chose the body of Jesus Christ as His true form, and anyone that worshiped Jesus Christ was worshiping God. The Jews of today still refuse to worship Jesus Christ because of what they believe. God wanted to be Jesus Christ on earth in order to preach the gospel to that generation of people, and God knew it was necessary to sacrifice Jesus Christ for the good of all people. Anyone that continued to follow Jesus Christ after His death and resurrection was known as a Christian. The Bible reveals every aspect of human nature. Read the Bible if you want to understand human nature. Read the Bible to nourish your soul. Read the Bible to understand God and His plan to save mankind from an eternal death.

the word in eyesight.......2006-01-20

i loved that the bible is now in dvd.not only you hear the Word of God, but you see and understand it.great tool for bible study.i have four version on dvd and this one will be in my library also.to all my brothers and sisters in Christ,make sure this be in your library.

Holy Bible: New Living Translation - New & Old Testament

Average customer rating:

A GREAT DVD
Very useful
Holy Bible: NLT OT & NT by Narrated by Stephen Johnston
Fast reading
Not so great

Holy Bible: New Living Translation - New & Old Testament
Starring: Holy Bible New Living Translation-Comp
Manufacturer: DVD International
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video

( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Christian Contemporary Music | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Holy Bible - Complete King James Version - Old & New Testament
Holy Bible: New King James Version Old and New Testament
The Bible Collection
Complete Bible on CD: New Living Translation
KJV Complete Bible On DVD Deluxe Box Set

ASIN: B0002J4ZQ4
Release Date: 2004-07-27

Description

Holy Bible, New Living Translation® is fast becoming today's most requested Bible translation. Embraced by scholars, pastors and lay leaders, it is impacting lives in a real way, and is now brought to life on DVD. With over 70 hours of dramatic presentation, the NLT New & Old Testament on DVD features a cast of Tony, Emmy, and Golden Globe Award-winning actors, an original orchestral score and sound effects, bringing the major Bible themes and stories alive. Emmy Award-winner Stephen Johnston has been a master narrator of the Bible on audio since 1980. His crystal clear, mellow baritone voice provides distinct pronunciation, and easily makes the Scriptures come alive, in a contemporary, easy-to-understand style. * Dramatized multi-voice narration of the New & Old Testament

* Over 70 hours of Dolby Digital Stereo Audio on one DVD

* Synchronized graphics & text showing every verse

* Widescreen (16X9) and Full Frame (4X3) display

* Interactive Menus that allow direct access to any book or chapter

Customer Reviews:

A GREAT DVD.......2007-05-19

I LIKED VERY MUCH THE DVD I BOUGHT. NOW I CAN HEARD THE GOD'S VOICE IN ENGLISH AND INCREASE MY ENGLISH LEARNING AT THE SAME TIME.

Very useful.......2007-03-15

You can watch and read the Bible on screen or do your work and just listen.

Holy Bible: NLT OT & NT by Narrated by Stephen Johnston.......2007-01-05

This was my 1st Bible on DVD, I do not have an NLT Bible so I can't say if it is word for word. But it does go through fast & I have it, not sorry I bought it but would never buy the NIV King James Version that they show w/ this. I searched the net long & hard & finally found the NIV on DVD word for word & it is so much better. I can actually sit & follow along with my Bible, it really is word for word & no rushing through certain parts like the this one. I lost my bookmark from where I bought this when my PC went down."BUT" it from a place called, "Faith Comes By Hearing." They actually dare you to wear the DVD's out. This one is soooooo much better even though there are no words on the screen just what book your in & chapter but; IT IS WORD FOR WORD ACCORDING TO THE KING JAMES VERSION OF THE "NIV" and has other actors adding to the drama.
The ones that are offered here by Steven Johnston though I think it is wonderful he doing this for us & I used his NLT version daily until I found the one I am using now. His NIV edition it is not word for word & I do not like the hurry up effect you get in either edition. He still give us the Bible on DVD & @ a price we can afford.((I didn't find the one I found in (NIV)here))and if I hadn't found the one I have, I'd have bought Johnston's. But as I said I got lucky searching the web & found the NIV Complete Bible word for word on DVD & it wasn't easy but it's there....the only clue I can give for the one I found is: THE AUDIO BIBLE DRAMA, THE COMPLETE AUDIO BIBLE ON DVD NIV edition; From; FAITH COMES BY HEARING.....Much, Much Better, @ least I think so & I study the Bible daily.......When it comes right down to it if you listen to his or find the one I have either way listening to Bible on DVD is a wonderful break through for all who hunger for the WORD!

Fast reading.......2006-12-01

Indeed, Amazon delivers! At first I was afraid my DVD would never arrive. The estimated delivery date was October 5, but the Brazilian Mail only sent my package on November 28. So, if you intent to bring this item to Brazil through standard mail be prepared to wait and pay a 60% import tax (I recently bought Ilumina Premium using DHL and the delivery was much faster).
Although the narrator's voice is very pleasant, it is fast-paced. This shortcoming was already mentioned in another review and I endorse it. Since the video presentation is rather static, showing the text as an open book, I close my eyes and enjoy the audio (which is fast paced, you don't even notice the narrator's breathing). So, it was an interesting experience, the NLT is very good, and I hope future releases adress the audio speed more carefully.

Not so great.......2006-09-29

A Bible on DVD is a great idea. You get the best of both worlds: an audio Bible read by a professional orator, PLUS on-screen text so you can easily read along.

Unfortunately, this particular DVD Bible leaves much to be desired. First, there's the translation itself: The New Living Translation is adequate; but there are much better contemporary English translations out there. Second, there are the voices: Though the main narrator does a good job; the cast of actors who read the dialogue have annoying voices that quickly get on your nerves; and they tend to "overact" their parts. Third, there's the background music and sound effects: They are distracting, and don't contribute much to one's appreciation of the text. (Plus, the same music is played over and over again; so it gets old pretty quick.) Fourth, there are lots of typos in the on-screen text; the narrator occasionally skips over or misreads words; and the on-screen text doesn't always sync up with the narration (sometimes the narrator gets ahead of the on-screen text; and sometimes the on-screen text gets ahead of the narrator). Fifth, there's the navigation: You can go to the start of a specific chapter; but not to a specific verse. And you can't rewind or fast forward -- you can only skip back or forward by chapters.

All in all, this is not a good DVD Bible. I hope I can find a better one.

The Children's Bible: 25 Tales From the Old Testament

Average customer rating:

rcv
Disappointing!

The Children's Bible: 25 Tales From the Old Testament
Starring: Children's Bible
Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

$5.99 and Under | DVD Blowouts | Stores | DVD | Video

All Blowouts | DVD Blowouts | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Kids & Family | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

General | Children's Music | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Greatest Heroes and Legends of the Bible: Last Supper, Crucifixion, and Resurrection
Greatest Heroes and Legends of the Bible: The Apostles
Greatest Heroes and Legends of the Bible - The Miracles of Jesus
Read and See DVD Bible: Narrated by: Max Lucado, Joni Erickson Tada, Twila Paris, Rebecca St. James, Roy Clark & Others
Greatest Heroes and Legends of the Bible: The Garden of Eden

ASIN: B000H8SFIY
Release Date: 2006-09-19

Description

CHILDREN'S BIBLE * The Creation of the World * Adam and Eve in Paradise * Noah's Ark * The Tower of Babel * The Story of Abraham * Isaac & Rebekah * Esau & Jacob * Jacob and the Stairway to Heaven * Jacob & Rachel * How Joseph Came to Egypt * The Pharaoh's Dream * Joseph & his Brothers * How Moses was Found * Moses & the Burning Bush * God sends 10 Plagues * The Exodus from Egypt * The Ten Commandments * The Dance around the Golden Calf * The Scouts in the Land of Canaan * The Story of Jericho * The Story of Ruth and Naomi * How David Defeated Goliath * Solomon's Wisdom & His Temple * Daniel in the Lion's Den * Jonah & the Whale 136 MIN. COLOR

Customer Reviews:

rcv.......2007-05-31

Waste of time. DO NOT SHOW THIS TO SMALL CHILDREN UNLESS YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH NUDITY. I was shocked when the story of Adam and Eve came on and the figures had thier ya ya's visible.

Disappointing!.......2007-03-24

I was disappointed with this video as the animation is of poor quality and I was shocked that Adam and Eve were shown naked...my kids were watching it (ages 3 and 8) and they were in shock. I usually watch movies before I allow them to see it and felt that I was let down by the title 'Children's Bible' when stark naked figures were shown. Usually, cartoonists cover up Adam with branches and Eve with her long hair. This was not so in the video. The animation was slow and the story told by a narrator was boring. The kids were bored. I will not recommend this to any one! It is a sheer waste of my dollars!

Average customer rating:

Bible Black New Testament Vol 1

Manufacturer: Kitty Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Bible Black New Testament Vol 2
Bible Black 2 Second Sacrament
Bible Black 1
Bible Black 3 Origins
Bible Black 4 Revelations

ASIN: B000NKO6BG

Average customer rating:

Trash metal señores!!
bay area thrash at its finest
Testament Ressurects
Holy Crap
Live and impressive

Live in London
Starring: Testament
Manufacturer: Eagle Vision USA
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Thrash & Speed Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

The Arsenal of Megadeth
Judas Priest - Rising in the East
Live in London
Machine Head - Elegies
Slayer - Reign In Blood: Still Reigning

ASIN: B000BI1YVA
Release Date: 2005-11-01

Description

"Live In London" is the documentation of a dream that long-time die-hard Testament fans have been waiting for: the reuniting of the band's "classic" lineup. Featuring vocalist Chuck Billy, guitar virtuosos Eric Peterson and Alex Skolnick, bassist Greg Christian, and original drummer Louie Clemente (along with Testament & White Zombie alumnus John Tempesta as a second drummer), the band rips through classic Testament fan favorites in this show, shot in London earlier in 2005.

Among the leaders of heavy metal over the past twenty years, Testament have always provided the rock solid proof that great song writing, regardless of genre, will always transcend time. Their crucial contributions to the early thrash metal surge of the mid to late 1980s helped to develop a sound that forever changed the face of heavy music and resonates just as loudly today. With all of their Bay Area peers either calling it a day or drastically altering their sound, Testament has remained a worldwide metal ambassador throughout the 1990's and into the new century.

Tracklisting:
1. The Preacher
2. The New Order
3. The Haunting
4. Electric Crown
5. Sins Of Omission
6. Souls Of Black
7. Into The Pit
8. Trial By Fire
9. Practice What You Preach
10. Let Go Of My World
11. The Legacy
12. Over The Wall
13. Raging Waters
14. Disciples Of The Watch

Customer Reviews:

Trash metal señores!!.......2007-04-18

Hacia tiempo que no escuchaba una coleccion de temas de Trash metal tan bien seleccionados y copnsistentes como esta. El sonido es excelente. la perfomance de los muchachos tambien. Lo importante, es que a lo largo del album, se puede captar la esencia de una trash metal sin concesiones, ni falsos desvios melodiosos. Poder, tenacidad y dos guitarras haciendo cosas muy interesantes sin necesidad que la musica cambie de estilo. Escuchando bandas como Metallica, Megadeth y Sepultura, quienes habian sido catalogadas en su epoca como bandas Trash, debo decir que al lado de estos muchachos parecen un globo desinflado, famelico y patetico. Tomen unas lecciones, volver a los origenes no es amlo de vez en cuando, y en este DVD se encuentra la fuente pura sin alterar del verdadero Trash metal.
Si quieres saber lo que es el Trash metal "Old School", sin contaminar por el paso de los años y las tendencias musicales, compra este DVD, esencial en cualquier coleccion de Trash.

bay area thrash at its finest.......2006-12-30

Having been a testement fan from the start .Legacy , which was there origanal name. played many parties in Dublin CA. This was a treat to watch.. A great band live and they show why on this DVD.Buy this dvd..

Testament Ressurects.......2006-12-13

After some of thier members long time hiatus, at last, the original line up is back and business. Alex Skolnick is still great with his solos....Practice What you Preach, The Haunting, The Legacy, Disciples Of The Watch ....what more can you ask for. Chuck Billy delivers vocals that will be a testament to thier existence, the legacy will always be here....buy this and enjoy DD5.1.....

Holy Crap.......2006-12-10

Testament was probably the best (and the biggest) thrash band to never have an album go "gold" (500,000 copies sold). Some people see Testament as a cheap Metallica rip-off, but while there are some similarities, I think that the band is unfairly overlooked because of the poor production on their early (and best) albums.

Thankfully on this live DVD from 2005, these production problems are non-existant. The DVD is mixed perfectly so that every instrument is audible. This is probably the best aspect of this live set. I think that watching this live DVD and listening to the live CD of the same concert completely changed my opinion on Testament. Take "The New Order" for example, the main riff is awesome, there's no other word to describe it, and that thrash breakdown in the middle is so powerful it rivals anything that Overkill has done in that area. The fact that these other portions of the song are much more enjoyable make Alex Skolnick's solo that much more sweet. A true thrash classic that I overlooked until I heard it here. And it isn't just this song that is helped by the production job, nearly every song here is as good as or better than the studio version. Skolnick stays true to all of his solos, just adding or revising certain areas to take them from amazing to perfection. His guitar tone is unbelievably good as well. Just hearing him shred sends a tingle down my spine.

Eric Peterson's riffing, along with Skolnick's, is so much more brutal as well thanks to the great sound. Check out "Into the Pit," another song that I was indifferent to until I heard it here. The two songs from "The Ritual" are much more enjoyable because the guitars aren't as watered down as they were on said album. Surprisingly, Peterson also has a few leads, such as the first solo in "Sins of Omission" and a short intro lead to Skolnick's towering solo in "Practice What You Preach." Peterson even contributes some black metal screeches, similar to what one would hear on his Dragonlord albums.

John Tempesta does a fine job, as usual, on drums, and it's disappoitning that he has to be replaced in the second half by original drummer Louie Clemente. Clemente is competant, but in thrash "competant" just doesn't cut it. I would rather have had Paul Bostaph or even Nick Barker (both who have played with Testament at some point) come out, but I can't complain too much.

The setlist is another highlight. The band sticks to songs from when Skolnick was in the band (which I see as a positive) and pretty much all of the essential songs are here. The band probably was forced to do two songs from "The Ritual," which would explain the inclusion of relatively unknown "Let Go of My World," but even though it isn't great, it isn't bad either and the production makes it much better than the studio version. Kudos for their addition of their incredible, sadly overlooked ballad "The Legacy." Damn, Skolnick's solo is so good in that one.

I have a few small complaints, though. First off is the editing. The angles are always switching too fast. During Alex Skolnick's solos I want to see Alex Skolnick playing. I don't need to see a close-up of ugly caveman Chuck Billy making faces at the crowd. Nor do I need to see three different views of the drummer. That is only necessary during when he is doing something interesting on drums. And yeah, Chuck Billy is an ugly caveman. I only want to see him when he's actually singing or growling, it gets annoying seeing him play air-guitar on the pole that holds his microphone. His "THRASH, DIE" crap during "The New Order" would have been better left on the cutting room floor as well.

Even so, the concert itself is incredible. It's great to see Skolnick get so into it when he's doing his solos. Even though his main focus is Jazz, he hasn't completely abandoned the genre that gave him his name in the first place, in stark contrast to Vivian Cambell, who mocks anyone who has heard Dio's "Holy Diver" album with the garbage he puts out in Def Leppard. A worthwhile DVD for even mild Testament fans, because hearing this concert gave me a new respect for this band and made me appreciate their contributions to thrash all the more.

Live and impressive.......2006-11-10

From the opening notes of "The Preacher", through the rest of the DVD, this is classic Testament at their very best. I remember well seeing Testament in the late '80s and early to mid '90s, and even a couple times more recently, and this DVD captures the essence of Testatment's live performances.

The DVD is a no frills performance, with little of the extras that have come to be standard fare with many other band's live DVDs, and yet, this is probably one of the best music DVDs I've purchased. The classic line-up featuring Alex Skolnick's shredding guitar work and Eric Peterson's top notch rhythm guitar speaks for itself. Some of the band's best music is to be found here, including the opening song (The Preacher), The New Order, Souls of Black, Into the Pit, Practice What You Preach, Over the Wall, Disciples of the Watch, and several other incredible tracks.

No doubt advances in music technology add to the quality of the sound of the band live, something Alex refers to in the one extra interview included here, but the band clearly still has the chops that made Testament one of the premier Thrash metal bands of an era that included greats such as Vio-lence, Exodus, Death Angel, Megadeth, Forbidden, Anthrax, and Slayer.

This performance stands out as one of the best I've seen on DVD, with great performances from Chuck Billy, Alex Skolnick, and really the entire band. This isn't a 30 camera recording like many of the current bands are using, but you really don't miss all the angles, and I find that less is more here, with each of the band's members represented well. There are some great shots of each of the guys doing what they have done so very well over the years, and shows well just how powerful Testament is and was live. Bluntly put, this DVD shreds, and is a must have for any Thrash metal connoisseur.

Average customer rating:

Good beginning, good acting but ultimately unsatisfying
Compelling Drama from Maverick Writer-Producer
Dark and disturbing look at the 'Death of God'
acting good, plot falls apart
A New Hope

The Second Coming
Starring: Christopher Eccleston , William Travis , Ahsen Bhatti , Lesley Sharp , and Annabelle Apsion
Director: Adrian Shergold
Manufacturer: Shout Factory Theatr
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Religion | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

Miniseries | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

Revengers Tragedy
Doctor Who - The Complete First Series
Let Him Have It
Doctor Who - The Complete Second Series
Othello

ASIN: B00013D526
Release Date: 2004-02-17

Amazon.com

Actor Christopher Eccleston (28 Days Later) is superb as a modern-day messiah in this captivating drama written by Russell T. Davies, author of the original British Queer as Folk series and the lovely Bob and Rose. Eccleston plays Steve Baxter, a mild-mannered, Manchester pub-crawler called one night to his true destiny as the second Son of God. After a couple of convincing miracles, the world looks to Steve for guidance, but he gives mixed signals: on one hand, he calls for a Third Testament to establish a foundation for living in the modern age; on the other, he predicts an imminent Judgment Day. The confusion causes mass mayhem, and Steve's disciples, especially an almost-but-not-quite love of his life (Lesley Sharp), try to make sense of the conflict while preventing devils, in human form, from undermining his mission. Ultimately, Davies's story concerns profound questions about human freedom and choice. --Tom Keogh

Description

In the mini-series opener, Christopher Eccleston stars as Steve Baxter, a man who is found incoherent by the English roadside, mumbling that he's the Son of God. His old school friend, Judith (played by The Full Monty's Leslie Sharp), thinks he's gone mad.

Steve quickly discovers it's not easy to convince everyone that he's the Second Coming, and decides to stage a major event in a soccer stadium to gain the world's notice. A miracle ensues, and he tells onlookers that mankind must write its own Third Testament or face Judgement Day in five days time. Pandemonium develops, inflamed by a full media-circus, as people try to understand what is happening. Excitement, fear, cynicism and violence erupt everywhere, as the drama speeds towards its surprisingly powerful conclusion.

• Written by Russell T. Davies, award-winning creator of the popular Showtime series Queer As Folk and Bob & Rose.
• Program first aired in the US on BBC America in October 2003.
• The ITV airing in Britain outdrew the TV debut of Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me and met with both critical acclaim and controversy.
• Stars Christopher Eccleston (The Others, Elizabeth, Cracker) and Lesley Sharp (Bob & Rose, The Full Monty.)
• Nominated for a mini-series award at the Monte Carlo TV Festival.
• DVD features director's cut which includes additional 40 minutes of exclusive material.
• Presented in original widescreen format.
• Audio commentary by writer Russell T Davis and director Adrian Shergold.

Customer Reviews:

Good beginning, good acting but ultimately unsatisfying.......2007-04-19

As much as I wanted to love another piece starring Christopher Eccleston and directed by Russel T. Davies, I just couldn't get behind this one. Christopher Eccleston is great as ever, anchoring a movie about the second coming of Christ and his best friend Judith (note the rather obvious symbolism in that name) is a great actress as she portrays a woman trying to figure out her newly miraculous old friend.

However, once the plot gets going and Eccleston reveals himself to the world, there's something rather unsatisfying. Setting up a "third testament or judgment day" scenario is just going to invite the producer and writer to make up something that is fairly popular for television viewers. It's either going to be preachy or Everything I Learned I Learned in Kindergartern. In fact, it turns out to be a little bit of both. While Eccleston manages to cope with a character that is both spirit and flesh - divine and confused as hell - there's really not much he has to work with. When gay skinheads confront him at a pub, one wonders why he's so unbearably vague, but then again that was just a scene the writer threw in for a sermon.

Either way, this is the kind of superficial sermonizing that one expects from either Anne Rice or Tim LaHaye. It's pretty obvious that the writers are atheists (or agnostics) and they are trying to advance an agenda. This isn't a deal breaker, but the execution leaves one cold. This is also a shame considering how JMS was so great wrestling with issues of religion and spirituality in Babylon 5 - The Complete Television Series (5-Pack) even coming to some of the same conclusions. Yet where JMS made me think, this series makes me go "eh, so Davies is an atheist. Good for him."

Compelling Drama from Maverick Writer-Producer.......2006-12-24

This 2003 UK made-for-TV movie attempts to deconstruct Western sacred myth, plays around with established religious dogma, and hopefully shakes up people's worldview a bit. The Second Coming does fall flat here and there, but it (mostly) hits the high bar that it's set for itself. This is the kind of thought-provoking drama that US viewers have to import, as most American networks wouldn't touch the subject matter with the proverbial ten-foot pole.

Steve Baxter (Christopher Eccelston) is in every sense a nobody: an ordinary doofy-looking bloke living in Manchester, England, working in a video store. A scene at the beginning of the film establishes his painful lack of success with women, and he's barely begun to work up the courage to approach the one woman who really interests him: his newly divorced mate, Judy (Lesley Sharp). Their just-budding romance is interrupted when out of the clear blue, he's hit with a revelation that he is, in fact, the son of God.

After wandering on a moor for forty days, Steve returns to Manchester and begins announcing who he is. His friends worry that he's gone off his rocker, but he immediately attracts the interest of the Vatican, as well as a handful of demons. To convince people of his divine bona fides, Steve stages a miracle in a football stadium, and once he has the attention of the world's media, announces that humanity has five days to produce a third testament. He doesn't know specifically who'll write it or what form it will take, only that he'll know it when he sees it.

A lot of The Second Coming deals with notions of faith and doubt, belief and skepticism. People's reactions to Steve are shaped very much by their spiritual outlook--not only in his circle of acquaintances but in the world at large. There are wonderful mock news reports of people rioting and protesting and even killing themselves over his revelations, and it all rings very easy to believe, given the current state of the world. Some people react with violence and hysteria, while others completely brush off Steve as a crackpot. It's those people in the middle, not sure of what to believe, whose reactions are the most interesting. Steve's dual humanity/ divinity provides a nice thread throughout the story: he can work miracles, but he's also an ordinary guy who needs to eat and sleep and use the bathroom.

The script (Russell T Davies) is for the most part tightly focused and moves at a fast pace, with good development for all the main players. The dialogue is razor-sharp and thought-provoking and very funny, in a dry, ironic English way. Davies doesn't hold back many punches in his exploration of what's wrong with humanity: greed, apathy and laziness, lack of concern for others, violence, intolerance. Conventional, organized religion takes quite a beating. Nobody is mocked for having faith, but the overwhelming message of the story is that people have to take responsibility for themselves (one excellent exchange of dialogue points out that we don't need a miracle to cure world hunger; people can do that themselves--if they want to). There's also a refreshing emphasis on the importance of free will.

The drama builds nicely to a fairly gut-wrenching denouement, but the final ten or so minutes disappoint. The resolution is apt to anger a lot of viewers, but it's not offensive so much it's pat. The movie spends two-plus hours delving into the complexity and ambiguity of good and evil, then offers a solution that seems absurdly simplistic. Such a terrific buildup deserves a more satisfying payoff.

Another problem is that the demons don't have much to do, apart from sowing dissent. They have a nice, creepy buildup--and their prime mover, Johnny Tyler (Mark Benton) is a multifaceted embodiment of that soul-draining evil, self-pity--but their motives, when revealed, seem tacked-on and spurious. There's a suggestion that their primary modus operandi is fostering despair, but this idea isn't developed to its full potential. There's also a subplot involving Steve's mortal father Frank (Peter Armitage) that serves no purpose except killing off a supporting character; anyway, Steve's otherworldly paternity doesn't add much to the story.

Despite these quibbles, The Second Coming is well worth checking out, particularly for the performances of its cast. Every actor in this production does knockout, class-A work. Eccleston rules the show as Steve: warm, funny, vulnerable, giddy with his new discoveries, overwhelmed by his role and sense of responsibility. He puts across every emotion wonderfully, with terrific body language and expressions, rarely missing a note or overplaying anything. He has a great foil in Lesley Sharp, whose portrayal of Judy is wholly sympathetic: her love for Steve never wavers, despite her doubts about his mission. Again and again, it's Judy who asks the big, important questions, and Judy who cuts through the confusion to find the answers--even when the final truth comes to her at great personal cost. Ahsen Bhatti does good, solid work as Steve's best mate, Pete. In a nice touch, nobody in the cast is physically stunning, which makes a lot of sense given the film's earthy, warts-and-all view of humanity.

The directing (Adrian Shergold) is crisp and economical and incredibly effective, and Murray Gold's modern, edgy score adds a lot of dimension. The look of the film is mostly gritty, urban-industrial realism: dirt and garbage and old buildings and hole-in-the-wall pubs. The production has a distinctive look and feeling and energy that enhances the whole notion of God-among-the-ordinary. The film has a mood and vibe that immediately sells its world to the viewer--not an easy thing to do, but it looks effortless here.

I would recommend this film with only the reservation that some may find the ideas it presents offensive; I'd suggest a rental before a purchase. The ending is a letdown, but there's plenty of strengths to outweigh the weaknesses. If you're looking for a challenging and thought-provoking piece of entertainment, I'd recommend giving The Da Vinci Code a pass and checking out The Second Coming instead.

Dark and disturbing look at the 'Death of God'.......2006-11-16

The Second Coming is a short telemovie written by the screenwriter Russell T. Davies, who is also the main screenwriter for the new series of Doctor Who.

The story begins when a young working class man, Stephen Baxter, dissapears mysteriously for a month, before he returns rambling about being the 'son of God.' At first everyone thinks he has completely lost his sanity, friends, family, and strangers alike. As the sincerity (though not the rationality) of his beliefs become apparent, his friends, family and former girlfriend grudgingly try to accept this rambling mystic back into their fold.

Baxter claims he is Jesus, the perfect fusion of the divine and human. He begins to preach that he is indeed the Messiah and calls everyone to visit a stadium in London to see an upcoming miracle. Drawing out only the most loopy and eccentric, Baxter goes into the stadium but nothing happens; then, a 'miracle' occurs (sunlight appearing in the middle of the night in the stadium) which 'proves' he is who he says he is.

After this he announces there will be a judgement; humanity must come up with a 'Third Testament' or else the world will come to an end. He also claims that hell is full and heaven is empty, and the time has come for a new beginning.

What follows is a dark descent into chaos as demons (led by Satan) possess people and try to bring down the Messiah, most cruelly by possessing those most close to Baxter (including his father and the man who dated his ex-girlfriend) as well as the police charged with protecting Baxter. The world outside also plunges into chaos and violence and indeed the world seems to be coming to an end.

Then, Baxter meets up with his ex-girlfriend. After a brief re-ignition of their romance, she invites him to eat spaghetti. She then confronts him with a dark and hideous truth; the third testament is not about writing a new bible, or a new creation, but is the judgement of humanity on God. The judgement on God for all the evils done through history in the name of religion, as well as the suffering caused to people by the existence of the supernatural, is such that it is better that God never existed at all; hence Baxter's ex-girlfriend puts rat poison into his food and claims he must eat it and die, not to atone for sin but to literally destroy himself, so that religion and all its evils are purged from humanity forever. God must die if humans are to be free, and Baxter's girlfriend claims this is what God himself has planned. At first tempted to destroy her, Baxter uses his omniescence to examine this claim, and finds that she is right. He then poisons himself and this is the end, of Baxter and God.

The series ends with a interview with Baxter's ex-girlfriend. She says there is still evil in the world, but at least now it is only human evil and hence it has a human solution. Because God is dead, there is no need to suffer the much greater evil of religion.

The thesis of this series is quite disturbing and its delivery visceral and shocking. Of course there is also the theological paradox that God cannot actually die, at least not in his own Being (which in itself classical theists have understood as possessing qualities which make it indestructible and eternal). The main point of Davies seems to be more that in our society (Western society at least) God is dead and we have killed him, in large part because we have examined religion in its various forms and found the evil in it to far outweigh the good, and hence it belongs to the dustbin of history and we need to solve our problems using our own efforts, without relying on any divine help. A dark nihilism is implied throughout this series through which we must pass before we can finally be free, and overall the concepts are quite close to those of the radical skeptic, Neitzsche.

We can of course question and reflect on whether it makes sense to say if God exists and if we are better off in a totally secular society which has entirely abolished religion. As Europe and many other Western countries enter a time when Christianity is dying and people are becoming atheists or agnostics or are turning to Eastern religions like Buddhism, it does make sense to ask whether the God of Christian thought, which dominated Europe for 1500 years, is truely dead, and is being replaced by new ways of meaning and transcendance, secular and religious. It is interesting to note that as Christianity has declined, wicca, secular humanism and atheism, rationalism, consumer capitalism, Buddhism and Islam have rushed in to fill the gap, and certainly many people find other ways of filling that 'God shaped hole' in our hearts. In the end, the question is what is Reality, and how can we know and relate to that reality, and whether or not the religious way of doing so is still meaningful in the world as it now is. The answer Davies seems to give is a very strong no, and that answer is stated in the strongest imagery possible Davies can bring to bear using the medium of television.

acting good, plot falls apart.......2006-07-08

I found this to be first an interesting idea for a plot. Jesus Christ comes again as Steve Baxter. Perhaps the most interesting idea was the question on how to understand Steve as 'Son of God'. As in most contempary film, they emphasize his humanity.

It has a interesting but poor plot. In addition, it was over symplistic and disengenious to human experience.

However it did engage me, perhaps because I thought much of the story and the characterization of God/Steve Baxter had high potential, which I hoped at some point would be realized.

As far as being great for discussion: I am not buying that ticket!!

The primary question being, 'Is God the problem?'

Best Line 'Evil is a lazy thing.' Johhny

A New Hope.......2005-10-25

For all the theological babble the premise behind this TV drama is simple. What if God was one of us? Well his son anyway.

I saw this on TV about a year ago, and the fact that I am writing about it now means that for some reason it has stayed with me.

Watch it if you can and make you own mind up.

The Testament Of Dr. Mabuse - Criterion Collection

Average customer rating:

Testament of Dr. Mabuse
Just for one short scene...
Another Lang masterwork!
very impressive and well done
A Fritz Lang Masterpiece -- Deserves Greater Attention

The Testament Of Dr. Mabuse - Criterion Collection
Starring: Oscar Beregi Sr. , Paul Bernd , Henry Pleß , Gustav Diessl , and Paul Henckels
Director: Fritz Lang
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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

Classics | Criterion Collection | Stores | DVD | Video

International | Criterion Collection | Stores | DVD | Video

All | Criterion Collection | Stores | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

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

Dr. Mabuse, The Gambler
M - Criterion Collection (Special Edition)
Dr. Mabuse - The Gambler
The 1,000 Eyes of Dr. Mabuse
Destiny (1921) aka Der müde Tod

ASIN: B0001UZZS6
Release Date: 2004-05-18

Amazon.com

The Testament of Dr. Mabuse is Fritz Lang's sequel to his flamboyant Dr. Mabuse two-part epic of the 1920s, this time adding subtle use of sound to the creepy effects developed for the earlier film. Once a Moriarty-like mastermind, the haggard Dr M (Rudolf Klein-Rogge) has become an autistic asylum inmate who scrawls plans for daring crimes in his cell and exerts an unhealthy influence on his psychiatrist. Inspector Lohmann (Otto Wernicke), the jolly policeman from Lang's M, is puzzled by a series of daring crimes that bear the Mabuse signature, and a gang of thugs take instructions from a shadowy figure who claims after the doctor's death to be Mabuse reborn and is staging a reign of crime apparently designed to bring about the ruin of all law-abiding society.

Though it works best as a textbook thriller, some commentators, including Lang, suggested that the pulp plot was intended to allegorize the evil influence of the Nazi party, with a crime boss who rants like Hitler. The many impressive set-pieces still work, too: the pursuit of a spy through a grinding print-works, an assassination at a traffic light, hero and heroine trapped in a room with a bomb cutting a water main to flood their way to freedom, the persecution of the asylum head by a phantom of his patient, and a last-reel night-time chase. --Kim Newman

Description

Locked away in an asylum for a decade and teetering between life and death, the criminal mastermind Dr. Mabuse has scribbled his last will and testament: a manifesto establishing a future empire of crime. When the document's nefarious writings start leading to terrifying parallels in reality, it's up to Berlin's star detective to connect the most fragmented, maddening clues in a case unlike any other. Fritz Lang's film reunites the director with the character that had effectively launched his career, and Lang puts slogans and ideas expounded by the Nazis into the mouth of a madman, warning the audience of an imminent menace, which was soon to become a reality. A landmark of mystery and suspense for countless espionage and noir thrillers to come, this is the complete, uncut original director's version in a stunning new transfer. The two-disc special edition also includes the alternate French-language version of the film and a wealth of other supplemental materials.

Customer Reviews:

Testament of Dr. Mabuse.......2007-06-21

Completed shortly before Lang fled Nazi Germany, "Dr. Mabuse" is a creepy sequel to his earlier silent thriller "Dr. Mabuse, the Gambler." With all its talk of master plans and a cast of shadowy henchmen taking orders from an authoritarian voice who issues orders from behind a curtain, it isn't that hard to see the parallels to Hitler. A subplot involving a reluctant member of the Mabuse syndicate (Gustav Diesel) who hopes to flee with his lover Lilli (Wera Lieseem) adds another suspenseful dimension and further suggests that Lang put an imaginative twist on his own predicament. (The Nazis, of course, promptly banned the film.) See "Dr. Mabuse" for the mystery, knotty intrigue, and Lang's thrilling, impeccably directed escape sequences.

Just for one short scene..........2007-01-15

For all its excitement, action, fantasy, this film would for me live in the history of the cinema just for one short scene...

It deals with a killing at traffic lights as a driver is shot from a car that has pulled alongside his, the sound of the shot obliterated by the sound of the horns of the other impatient drivers... But Lang never takes us right 'into' the incident...

At the payoff we look down from an overhead angle on the cars packed together at the signals: then they all pull away - all but one, which remains motionless and alone in the middle of the road after the lights have changed... No violence, no blood, is needed for us to be eerily aware that a man who was alive when the lights were at red is dead now they are at green...

Another Lang masterwork!.......2006-11-09

The more I see of Fritz Lang's films, the more and more he grows in esteem for me. This film is no exception. While a sequel to the two-part 1922 film 'Dr. Mabuse: Der Spieler,' it could also be fully enjoyed and understood by one who has never seen the prior film (of quite massive length!), since apart from the recurring title character, it's entirely its own story, with an entirely new set of characters and an entirely new plot. It's not one of those sequels that's a continuation of the events and characters established in the first enstallment, even though it is nice to see the 1922 two-parter first, to have some background information on just who Mabuse is and the kind of trouble he's about to start unleashing again, not to mention just why he's ended up in a mental institution.

This is one of those films that just gets better and better with each repeated viewing, particularly since it seems to start in media res. One comes to have more and more of a full and complete understanding of who all of these characters are, why they're behaving this way, and just what is going on in the opening scenes, as well as some of the ensuing scenes that make more sense after having already seen the film a few times. And the film just gets better and better and faster-paced as it goes on. The basic plot, which has already been outlined by other reviewers, is that Dr. Mabuse, after having spent the past decade in a mental institution, has recently begun unleashing his dangerous plans for world domination, sabotage, and an empire of crime, but no one can figure out just what's going on, particularly since Mabuse dies rather early in the film. Even the criminals he's gotten to do his bidding don't really know just who the man behind the curtain is. And the one man who does know his name and what's going on, the disgraced former up-and-coming cop Hofmeister, is sent away to the same asylum himself and driven insane so that he won't be able to tell anyone, least of all his friend Lohmann, the police inspector. This is a classic crime thriller all of the way through, leaving the viewer constantly wondering what's going to happen next, just who is behind all of this criminal mayhem if Mabuse is dead, and if Lohmann can put an end to this reign of terror before it's too late.

The extras include a gallery of stills and memorabilia, production drawings, a 1964 interview with Fritz Lang (in which he's perpetuating some famous urban legends about himself, such as leaving Germany in the middle of the night with barely any money and never returning until just recently!), a short documentary on the life of Norbert Jacques, the novelist who created the Mabuse character, a 1984 interview with Rudolf Schündler (who plays Hardy), a comparison of key scenes in the original 1933 German version of the film, the somewhat altered French version released that same year, and the dubbed and rather edited American version released in 1952, an audio commentary, and the French-language version. Both the audio commentary and the comparison of the three versions are done by David Kalat, who did the *amazing* audio commentary for 'Dr. Mabuse: Der Spieler,' which was hands-down one of the best audio commentaries I've heard to date. His insights and information were just as wonderful in these two commentaries.

The French-language version comes from a print in less than pristine condition, although given how few copies of this cut are known to survive and that none of them are in great condition, it's just petty and oblivioius to be criticising it for that. This version in particular actually has 3 languages on it--the spoken French, the original Dutch subtitles, and the modern English subtitles in black boxes over the Dutch subtitles (which a number of times are clearly visible anyway). Although the editing on this one isn't as severe as on the 1952 American release, it does change some of the dialogue and axes away the Kent-Lilli subplot to almost nothing, so that the viewer who hasn't already seen the German original wouldn't really understand just what's going on between these two or what Kent's backstory is, just why he's trying to get away from Mabuse's clutches and doesn't want to be involved in crime anymore. The actors used in this version are also inferior to the ones in the original; the only repeat actors are Karl Meixner as Hofmeister (since he was bilingual and therefore able to act in French as well as in German) and of course Rudolf Klein-Rogge as Mabuse. Klein-Rogge's scant lines had to be dubbed, since he didn't speak French. The only actor who didn't seem like a pale imitation of the original was Thomy Bourdelle as Dr. Baum (he even looked like the original Dr. Baum). They were just fleshed-out so much better in the original, with more depth and personality, as opposed to the kind of buffoonish one-dimensional characters they're presented as here. I also thought the original Kent and Lilli were a much more handsome couple than the French Kent and Lilli. It's hard to believe that this was common practice in the early sound era and less expensive than dubbing or subtitling, actually reshooting the entire film with an entirely new cast or, sometimes, making the original cast memorise their lines phoenetically in another language like French or Spanish, in order to have a bigger market.

Lang did so much incredible work, both in the silent and sound era, and both in German and American cinema, that it's hard to narrow down his greatest and most-recommendable films apart from his masterpiece 'Metropolis.' This film, however, easily belongs in a Top 10 list of his best films, one that might inspire a casual viewer to become a big fan or to want to see much more.

very impressive and well done.......2005-02-03

This review is for the Criterion Colelction DVD edition of the film.

"Testament of Dr. Mabuse" know in Germany as "Das Testament des Dr. Mabuse" was Fritz Lang's last movie before leaving Germany to escape the Nazis. It was promptly banned in Germany after it's completion until the end of World War 2.

I think it is one of his best films and is very well done. It follows the case of a policeman invesigating a case and clues lead to Dr. Mabuse who has been in a sanitatium for many years. it is discovered that he was writing a manifesto in his cell and it appears to predict future events

The film has some impressive acting and some very good special effects the best of which is of a fire at a factory with and the footage the smokestacks collapsing is very realisitc.

This is a film that should not be missed.

A Fritz Lang Masterpiece -- Deserves Greater Attention.......2005-01-20

Don't be put off that it is more than 70 years old; don't be deterred because it is in German. "The Testament of Dr. Mabuse" can only be described as awesome -- in the traditional sense of the word. Many early sound motion pictures were talking plays. Fritz Lang, however, truly uses sound in all its aspects. For example, the very first scene creates tension by allowing us to hear only the clanking of a machine. We see people talking, but we cannot hear what they are saying, because they are drowned out by the machine. The viewer knows something is happening, but does not know what. Lang makes effective use of sound throughout. The visuals are amazing, too. We see what a room looks like when illuminated only by a gunshot. We see spectacular fires.

The story may be 70 years old, but it is as recent as today's headlines. Dr. Mabuse, now locked in a mental institution, directs the activities of a terror gang. The gangsters, who are ordinary criminals themselves, cannot understand the purpose of the crimes, which do not appear to be profitable. The point is: the crimes are committed simply to cause terror. Once the population is fully terrorized, the criminal empire can take over. The film was completed weeks after the Nazis took power and not surprisingly, Joseph Goebbels banned the film. Goebbels did allow it to be shown a few years later, after Otto Wernicke was filmed in a new introduction which claimed that the events of the film occured a few years before (i.e., in the Weimar era.) While the film's portrayal of a hypnotic leader can and did describe Adolf Hitler, it also describes hypnotic terrorist leaders today. This story is fresh.

The restoration is outstanding. Although this film is from the 1930s, there is no hissing or popping. The visuals are bright and sharp. Rudolf Klein Rogge, who portrays Dr. Mabuse, does not have much to say, but his whispers will chill you to the bone. This is a masterpiece.

Greatest Heroes and Legends of the Bible: The Story of Moses

Average customer rating:

Great for learning biblical culture
Could have been better

Greatest Heroes and Legends of the Bible: The Story of Moses
Director: Bill Kowalchuk
Manufacturer: Good Times Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | 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

( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Kids & Family | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

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

Greatest Heroes and Legends of the Bible: Daniel and the Lion's Den
Greatest Heroes and Legends of the Bible: Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors
Greatest Heroes and Legends of the Bible: Jonah and the Whale
Greatest Heroes and Legends of the Bible: David and Goliath
Greatest Heroes and Legends of the Bible: The Apostles

ASIN: B00008DDGF
Release Date: 2003-04-01

Customer Reviews:

Great for learning biblical culture.......2007-03-10

I'm not a religious person,so I appreciated how it was told with unbiased theology and how the creators of the dvd contacted a Christian minister and Dr from Jewish Divinity Hebrew school.My kids and I enjoyed it and learned a lot!

Could have been better.......2006-06-11

For such an awesome Bible story, the animation for the crossing of the Red Sea was pretty lame. We know from history that there were at least a million people that crossed this massive body of water, and in the animation you can count maybe 25 people, crossing waist-high water. Other than that, the songs are annoying but the storyline is fairly accurate. The Red Sea crossing, which should have been the climax, was a major disappointment.

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

Sky High

Night of the Blood Beast

Bells of St. Mary's (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: Jerry and Tom

Swordfish