Catherine the Great

Starring:Catherine Zeta-Jones, Paul McGann, Ian Richardson, Brian Blessed, John Rhys-Davies, Craig McLachlan, Hannes Jaenicke, AgnÃ¨s Soral, Mark McGann, Karl Johnson (II), Stephen McGann, Veronica Ferres, Mel Ferrer, Jeanne Moreau, Omar Sharif, Tim McInnerny, Horst Frank, Olivier Pierre, Vernon Dobtcheff, Christoph Waltz
Director: Marvin J. Chomsky, John Goldsmith
Studio: A&E Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Russian history occurs on a sweeping scale, but that takes a bigger budget than A&E can muster. So instead the cable network keeps its treatment of Russian empress Catherine II indoors as much as possible. That allows the camera to linger over the impossibly lovely face of Catherine Zeta-Jones, and the plot to focus on the political machinations of 18th-century Russia. Catherine goes from a bookish teen bride (her husband is the crazy and possibly impotent nephew of Russia's Empress Elizabeth) to the legendary empress who successfully concluded the Seven Years' War with Prussia, conquered Turkey, and put down a rebellion led by a Cossack pretending to be her long-dead husband.

The movie stumbles a bit when it ventures outdoors--it's hard to imagine Russia really conquered the Ottoman Turks with a 12-man army--but sizzles inside. Zeta-Jones conveys both passion and hard-edged ambition as her character transforms herself from manipulated to manipulator. Many of those manipulations occur in the bedroom, and the movie takes some liberties in portraying her union with military leader Grigory Potemkin (Paul McGann); here he's practically a saint, although history remembers him a bit less nobly.

Amazon.com

To call Pearl Harbor a throwback to old-time war movies is something of an understatement. Director Michael Bay's epic take on the bombing that brought the United States into World War II hijacks every war movie situation and cliché (some affectionate, some stale) you've ever seen and gives them a shiny, glossy spin until the whole movie practically gleams. Planes glisten, water sparkles, trees beckon--and Bay's re-creation of the bombing itself, a 30-minute sequence that's tightly choreographed and amazingly photographed, sets the action movie bar up quite a few notches. And in updating the classic war film, Bay and screenwriter Randall Wallace (Braveheart) use that old plot standby, the love triangle--this time, it's between two pilots (Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett) and a nurse (Kate Beckinsale) who find themselves stationed at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, during what they thought would be a nice, sunny tour of duty. Then, of course, history intervened.

For the first 90 minutes of the movie, Affleck and Beckinsale find a nice, appealing chemistry that plays on his strengths as a movie star and hers as a serious actress--he gives her glamour, she gives him smarts. Their truncated romance--the beginning of which is told in flashback so we can get right to the point where he has to leave her to go to England--works, thanks to their charm. They're no Kate and Leo from Titanic (a strategy the film strives hard toward), but they're pretty darn adorable in their own right. Hartnett, as the not entirely unwelcome third wheel, squints bravely but makes only a slight dent in the film. Everyone else in Pearl Harbor--from Cuba Gooding Jr.'s brave navy seaman to Jon Voight's able impersonation of FDR--is pretty much a glorified walk-on, taking a backseat to the pyrotechnics and action sequences that keep the three-hour film in fairly constant motion. But when that action does take hold, Pearl Harbor is quite a thrilling ride. --Mark Englehart

Description

History comes alive in the unforgettable epic motion picture PEARL HARBOR, the spectacular blockbuster brought to the screen by Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay. Astounding visual and audio effects put you at the center of the event that changed the world -- that early Sunday morning in paradise when warplanes screamed across the peaceful skies of Pearl Harbor and jolted America into World War II. This real-life tale of catastrophic defeat, heroic victory, and personal courage focuses on the war's devastating impact on two daring young pilots, Ben Affleck (ARMAGEDDON) and Josh Hartnet (BLACK HAWK DOWN), and a beautiful, dedicated nurse, Kate Beckinsale (SERENDIPITY). PEARL HARBOR is extraordinary moviemaking -- a breathtaking reenactment of the "date which will live in infamy" and a heartfelt tribute to the men and women who lived it.

Customer Reviews:

A failure!.......2007-06-12

When you think about how much money they put into this movie ... and this is what they came up with??? Wow! What a failure.

Failure upon failure.......2007-05-22

It has Ben Aflac (quack) and Alec Baldwin in it. Minus two stars for each of those.

Pearl Harbor.......2007-05-14

Pearl Harbor is one of my favorite movies and I was thrilled with the way I could come to Amazon, order it and have it in my hands in a few days. Great movie and great service. Thanks Amazon.com

Why Bother?.......2007-05-10

"Pearl Harbour" could have been one of the great movies that stick with you for ages after the final credits were run. Although there were some excellent points, the overall movie failed to live up to that potential.

The plot follows to aeroplane-obsessed friends, Rafe McCawley and Danny Walker. Rafe falls in love with a girl Evelyn Johnson, but soon joins the Air Force, where he goes missing. Walker and Johnson end up in Pearl Harbour, start falling in love and then things get more complicated by not only the Japanese military, but also Rafe.

The story rather descends into the mediocre with its amateurish mingling of romance with war. Rather than do one or the other well, it does both appallingly. Unlike other movies that mix genres well, (such as the horror/romantic comedy in Shaun of the Dead), "Pearl Harbour" fails to inspire.

The action scenes were fairly well executed, the CGI being of an excellent quality that enhanced the movie. Cuba Gooding Jnr was also another highlight in his role as Petty Officer Doris Miller. He really was a rare high point in this movie.

For war movie lovers, avoid this one. For romance movie buffs, avoid this one. It was a tragic movie, and not in the good sense.

I tried to watch it with my daughter and best friend........2007-05-01

I honestly did try to watch this movie at one point and just couldn't. It seemed like it dragged on forever and ever. I don't do the long synopsis of movies but I will say this. The story was supposed to revolve around these characters during the attack on Pearl Harbor. That much they got. But I didn't care about the characters, the development really stunk. I found myself rooting for the Japanese pilots, a la MST3K. Drivel doesn't even begin to cover it. The costuming was done well, and the props in the sets well selected, but that's about the only good thing I can say for this movie. Watch it once. This is a movie you'll either love or hate.

Average customer rating:

Amazing sound, good pictue quality
Didnt like the movie content, but it has some good action scenes
great sound!
Best Blu-Ray yet
A terrible film

Pearl Harbor [Blu-ray]
Starring: Ben Affleck , Alec Baldwin , Kate Beckinsale , Colm Feore , and William Fichtner
Director: Michael Bay
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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

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Military & War | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

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The Departed [Blu-ray]

ASIN: B000JVSUS4
Release Date: 2006-12-19

Description

History comes alive in the unforgettable motion picture PEARL HARBOR, the spectacular blockbuster brought to the screen by Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay. Experience the groundbreaking special effects that place you at the center of one of the watershed events of the twentieth century, presented for the first time through the magic of Blu-ray Disc® technology! Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett and Kate Beckinsale star in this real-life tale of catastrophic defeat, heroic victory, personal courage and sacrifice. See the battle as never before in 1080p high definition, while the astonishing 5.1 48 kHz, 24-bit uncompressed audio will make you feel as though you're in the cockpit of your own fighter plane. The unparalleled realism of Blu-ray Disc® technology delivers a breathtaking reenactment of the "date which will live in infamy."

Customer Reviews:

Amazing sound, good pictue quality.......2007-05-12

This is a great movie to show off your sound system. The uncompressed 5.1 pcm is outstanding.

Didnt like the movie content, but it has some good action scenes.......2007-04-11

The back story blows! But of course the Action sequences of the actual battle are what makes this movie worth watching. Who ever wrote the back story should be gutted then burned. What could have been a great movie was ruined.

great sound!.......2007-04-03

Nice video transfer but better sound. Uncompressed 5.1 PCM, the perfect demo disc.

Best Blu-Ray yet.......2007-03-17

I have several Blu-Ray movies, but this one is the best of them all.

A terrible film.......2007-02-19

What were they thinking? Pearl Harbor is nothing more than an attempt to remake Titanic with Japanese Zeroes instead of an iceberg. While not quite "Postman" bad, Pearl Harbor's awful acting, terrible dialog, and overall uninspired dross toward a delicate historical event marks this film as one for the bargain bin next to "Showgirls."

Average customer rating:

Catherine the Great PBS
Be careful about using this one to write your history paper
WAIT A MOMENT....REVIEW THE RIGHT DVD GUYS!!!
Amazon needs to check it's Inventory!
Sadly, A&E seems to enjoy making history into soap operas

Catherine the Great
Starring: Catherine Zeta-Jones , Paul McGann , Ian Richardson , Brian Blessed , and John Rhys-Davies
Director: John Goldsmith , and Marvin J. Chomsky
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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Similar Items:

Russia - Land of the Tsars
Victoria & Albert
Nicholas and Alexandra
Fall of Eagles
Marie Antoinette: A Film by David Grubin

ASIN: B0000524FG
Release Date: 2001-02-27

Amazon.com

Russian history occurs on a sweeping scale, but that takes a bigger budget than A&E can muster. So instead the cable network keeps its treatment of Russian empress Catherine II indoors as much as possible. That allows the camera to linger over the impossibly lovely face of Catherine Zeta-Jones, and the plot to focus on the political machinations of 18th-century Russia. Catherine goes from a bookish teen bride (her husband is the crazy and possibly impotent nephew of Russia's Empress Elizabeth) to the legendary empress who successfully concluded the Seven Years' War with Prussia, conquered Turkey, and put down a rebellion led by a Cossack pretending to be her long-dead husband.

Customer Reviews:

Catherine the Great PBS.......2006-06-07

I have both versions of Catherine the Great, A&E in their version was lacking in many areas and I was dismayed that they turned one of the great people of the world into something trival. The PBS version which with Bruni is exceptional, though with all documentaries and movies time is trunicated and not all history is told PBS does an admirable job and presenting the basic facts.

The documentary was a joy to watch and the scholars from Europe comparing her to other great people fits.

Be careful about using this one to write your history paper.......2006-06-06

Not the Zeta-Jones version, but not the best documentary either. For example, during the documentary I kept wondering why Tsar Elizabeth imprisoned her "son" Ivan, naming her childish and unfit-to-rule nephew Peter as her heir. Then she was so anxious for Peter to have an heir that when none appeared after several years of marriage, she encouraged Catherine (Peter's wife) to have an affair with a young officer so she would get pregnant somehow. If Elizabeth was so very anxious for an heir to solidify her dynasty, why did she imprison her own son?

Answer (from further research): Ivan was not Elizabeth's son, but the son of a previous empress. Elizabeth had deposed the child Ivan and his regents in a coup d'etat.

If this documentary can make, and repeatedly mention, an error of such magnitude . . .

Also, the "period" dancing scene often shown to set a mood has absolutely nothing to do with period dances of the time. In general the costuming etc. is not very good.

WAIT A MOMENT....REVIEW THE RIGHT DVD GUYS!!!.......2006-05-18

There is OBVIOUSLY some confusion here. Amazon.com has somehow gotten the not-so good Catherine Zeta-Jones series mixed up with the EXCELLENT PBS documentary!!! (This happened once before, see my BURN review for the mix-up in formats on that release.)

If you look at the box, you will see that it is NOT Catherine Zeta-Jones, but EMILY BRUNI (who does a wonderful job as Catherine.) This is the PBS documentary, not the Zeta-Jones series!!! Amazon.com needs to fix the mix-up, or a lot of people will be very confused here. This PBS documentary is EXCELLENT, and Emily Bruni is GREAT. So, if you want to order the PBS documentary, I'd suggest you wait until it's finally released to make sure you get the right one...(I'd be pretty upset if I got Catherine Zeta-Jones instead of Emily Bruni.)

The PBS documentary is wonderful, and Emily Bruni is a seductive, intelligent and fascinating Catherine. As for the Catherine Zeta-Jones version...well...she was good in Chicago...

Once in a while Amazon.com does mix things up, it is rare, but it does happen. So make SURE you are getting the PBS documentary,and not the Catherine-Zeta Jones version.

Amazon needs to check it's Inventory!.......2006-05-15

This is not the same Catherine the Great featuring Catherine Zeta-Jones. The person in the picture does not even resemble Catherine Zeta-Jones. This version features Emily Bruni as Catherine and is more of a documentary much like Russia: Land of the Tzars. Dispite this mistake in listing this version featuring Emily Bruni is a wonderful peace of work that I think any true lover of Russian history will enjoy.

Sadly, A&E seems to enjoy making history into soap operas.......2006-03-26

Don't say I hate history, but many movies turn history into soap opera. The way they had Catherine kissing passionatly and really, history never mentions that. Peter was a jerk, but I never read that he and Catherine kissed passionatly; that was a waste of time. The movies talents were wasted. If they want to make a soap opera, they shouldn't do history but something else. All the actors act like they are from NPR. The only thing I have learned (for I stopped watching it half-way) is that the Ottoman turks attacked Russia. A&E made this movie for the money. If you want to learn the non-romantic story of Catherine, read about her instead of watching this trash.

Pearl Harbor - The Director's Cut (Three-Disc Vista Series)

Average customer rating:

A failure!
Failure upon failure
Pearl Harbor
Why Bother?
I tried to watch it with my daughter and best friend.

Pearl Harbor - The Director's Cut (Three-Disc Vista Series)
Starring: Ben Affleck , Josh Hartnett , Kate Beckinsale , Cuba Gooding Jr. , and Jon Voight
Director: Michael Bay
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005Q3TZ
Release Date: 2002-07-02

Amazon.com

Sometimes bigger is actually better. Nearly matching the size of director Michael Bay's ego, this massive four-disc set is a veritable Pearl Harbor archive, and ironically, Bay's film remains the least interesting component. It's a purely conventional Hollywood take on the tragedy, using a clichéd love triangle between two ace pilots (Josh Hartnett, Ben Affleck) and a Pearl Harbor nurse (Kate Beckinsale) as an "intimate" means of spectacularly re-creating the attack that thrust America into World War II. The director's cut adds little to the previous DVD release, apart from authentic R-rated carnage during the Japanese raid, and minor expansion of the Hartnett-Beckinsale romance. Commentaries range from superfluous (Bay and film historian Jeanine Basinger) to highly entertaining (Ben Affleck and costars) and technically informative (primary production team), and a spirited examination of visual effects (with Bay and ILM supervisor Eric Brevig) is guaranteed to fascinate anyone interested in physical effects and CGI. A broad "making of" documentary is noteworthy for one-time viewing, while abundant historical records make this a valuable compilation of definitive materials.

The History Channel's "One Hour over Tokyo" and "Unsung Heroes of Pearl Harbor" provide depth that Bay's movie lacks, and Charles Kiselyak's interactive timeline is arguably the finest feature included, providing an in-depth historical perspective on U.S.-Japan relations. Even a brief reenactment of a Pearl Harbor nurse's journal is moving in a way that Bay's film can only try to be, while the "Interactive Attack Sequence" provides a multifaceted exploration of the entire production process (a highly educational feature for aspiring filmmakers). All in all, these four discs offer an admirable balance between Bay's technically impressive but ill-conceived epic and a thorough, fitting tribute to those who endured hell on that fateful Sunday in 1941. --Jeff Shannon

Description

PEARL HARBOR: THE DIRECTOR'S CUT Vista Series DVD is the most extensive exploration of moviemaking ever presented. Four discs showcase more than 60 new shots in the film and over 12 hours of new special features. There's never been anything like it before. History comes alive in the unforgettable epic motion picture PEARL HARBOR, the spectacular blockbuster brought to the screen by Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay. Astounding visual and audio effects put you at the center of the event that changed the world -- that early Sunday morning in paradise when warplanes screamed across the peaceful skies of Pearl Harbor and jolted America into World War II. This real-life tale of catastrophic defeat, heroic victory, and personal courage focuses on the war's devastating impact on two daring young pilots, Ben Affleck (ARMAGEDDON) and Josh Hartnett (BLACK HAWK DOWN), and a beautiful, dedicated nurse, Kate Beckinsale (SERENDIPITY). PEARL HARBOR is extraordinary moviemaking -- a breathtaking reenactment of the "date which will live in infamy" and a heartfelt tribute to the men and women who lived it.

Customer Reviews:

A failure!.......2007-06-12

When you think about how much money they put into this movie ... and this is what they came up with??? Wow! What a failure.

Failure upon failure.......2007-05-22

It has Ben Aflac (quack) and Alec Baldwin in it. Minus two stars for each of those.

Pearl Harbor.......2007-05-14

Pearl Harbor is one of my favorite movies and I was thrilled with the way I could come to Amazon, order it and have it in my hands in a few days. Great movie and great service. Thanks Amazon.com

Why Bother?.......2007-05-10

I tried to watch it with my daughter and best friend........2007-05-01

Rolie Polie Olie - The Great Defender of Fun

Average customer rating:

RoliePolie Olie cannot disappoint
My 4 year old loves this - especially Gloomius
I have an addicted toddler!
The Great Defender of Fun is GREAT, GREAT, GREAT!
Not in the same spirit as the TV show

Rolie Polie Olie - The Great Defender of Fun
Starring: James Woods , Kyle Fairlie , Joshua Tucci , Kristen Bone , and Cole Caplan
Director: Ron Pitts (II)
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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Rolie Polie Olie

ASIN: B000068MBN
Release Date: 2002-08-13

Amazon.com

The first full-length outing of Playhouse Disney's preschool series is a cartoon-style space adventure pitting Olie and Zowie against the villain Gloomius Maximus, who threatens to cast a dark force of gloom on Zowie's birthday. Using his vacuum tentacles (appropriately named "un-fun-erators"), this pirate of pleasure wants to extract all the fun out of Polieville. "Smiles look better upside down; I feel better when you feel worse," he gloats. When Gloomius casts his Glum Beam on the Polie house, everyone becomes bluesy and snoozy. Will a barrage of giggles thwart Gloomius's plan? Can Space Boy save Zowie's day? This engaging 74-minute movie is sprinkled with so much sweetness (and mirthful music), young viewers will quickly join Olie's efforts as Great Defenders of Fun. Inventive storytelling and supportive dialogue among this family of geometric-shaped, hairless creatures give reason to believe this will be a favorite of Olie fans. Ages 3 to 7. --Lynn Gibson

Description

Get ready for some out-of-this world fun in Rolie Polie Olie's first all-new movie, ROLIE POLIE OLIE: THE GREAT DEFENDER OF FUN, premiering only on Disney DVD and Video. It's Zowie's birthday party, and everyone's preparing for the big event -- until the evil Gloomius Maxiumus arrives! Will Olie be able to protect his sister's party from being "un-fun-erated?" This full-length adventure takes you on a zany ride through the galaxy as Olie, The Great Defender of Fun, his sister, Zowie, and the rest of the gang gear up to save Zowie's birthday and defend Polieville against the perils of gloom.

Customer Reviews:

RoliePolie Olie cannot disappoint.......2007-02-12

I live in Canada and we have this on the television every evening for 30 minutes. Regardless, it's a great DVD to own to watch at anytime.

My 4 year old loves this - especially Gloomius.......2006-10-28

My four year old loves this movie. He thinks Gloomius Maximus is great. He watched it for the first time about six months ago and has been building ray guns to "gloom" and "ungloom" us ever since. It has really engaged his imagination. He pretends about rockets, pirates and robots. It started him asking questions about space and real rockets. One day he even organized his whole pre-school class to play "galaxy" - a game he made up about rockets and planets - while on the playground. He can take or leave the TV show, but this is his favorite thing to watch on TV.

I have an addicted toddler!.......2003-06-06

We bought this DVD in desperation while on a LONG road trip for our 20 month old. We hooked up the laptop and played the DVD for her while on the road and it was a LIFESAVER!! We bought 4 different movies and she wanted THIS one played over and over. It really is a cute movie and I love the Olie family.

I love that the characters always remain positive and "can-do", there isn't any violence (the worst is when Gloomious takes a toy from a child), and it's all about having fun.

Now that we are home, I am limiting her to watching it once a day, but TRUST me...she could watch it completely mesmerized over and over and over....

I am now on the hunt for more Olie movies!

The Great Defender of Fun is GREAT, GREAT, GREAT!.......2003-04-05

My daughter (12 months old) loves Rolie Polie Olie and the Great Defender of Fun is no exception! She loves it and is not at all scared by the character Gloomius Maximus or any other parts of the movie. Even I love this movie! The animation is excellent, graphics are captivating and the color is crisp! Buy it you will not regret it!

Not in the same spirit as the TV show.......2003-03-19

My 4.5 year old LOVES Olie, but finds this movie much too scary. It has a dark side that isn't usually part of the up-beat, happy show we see on TV. I've wondered if this movie and the TV episodes were created by different writers, they're so different from each other. If your child is sensitive to gloom and doom you might think twice before getting this movie.

Armitage - Dual Matrix (Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Could be better.
Not bad for a sequel
Favorite Anime Ever
Not like the OVA series, but not bad either.
Not as good...but growing on me.

Armitage - Dual Matrix (Special Edition)
Starring: Ryôka Yuzuki , Hikaru Hanada , Yuka Imai , Kazuhiro Yamaji , and Jôji Nakata
Director: Katsuhito Akiyama
Manufacturer: Geneon [Pioneer]
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Armitage III: OVA

ASIN: B00006674V
Release Date: 2002-06-25

Amazon.com

This sequel offers little of the Blade Runner-influenced vision of a despotic future that made the original OAV and previous feature so popular. After living peacefully under assumed names on Mars, Naomi Armitage and her husband Ross Sylibus are drawn into a standard anime plot involving a sinister corporation's efforts to create artificial humans. The curvaceous Naomi is actually a "Third," the most formidable type of cyborg. (She's even borne a child, which suggests just how sophisticated her circuitry is.) Naomi takes on the duplicates of her that the evil Demetrius Mardini has created, in a series of gunfights, fistfights, knife fights, and explosions. Despite the film's promising origins, clumsy storytelling and director Katsuhito Akiyama's tendency to stage many of the battles in dim dramatic lighting hurt its impact, as it's difficult to follow what's happening. Rated 16 Up: Graphic violence, violence against women, nudity, profanity. --Charles Solomon

Customer Reviews:

Could be better........2007-06-24

As with the OVAs, I feel that there is not a whole lot to this anime. I feel that is could have been much better with more antagonists to be delt with and the ones already there not so easily delt with. I still think that some people could enjoy it thus the three-star rating.

Not bad for a sequel.......2007-06-21

While not as gritty as the original series, Dual Matrix makes for a good follow up. The animation is crisp and very good. The story was great as well. What got me was some of the extended and drawn out sequences at the end with the evil robots. They just felt too long.

Naomi still knows how to dish it out!

Favorite Anime Ever.......2007-05-12

I am not a real big fan of Anime but my best friend one day showed it to me and i was amazed at how awesome it was. Great story line and stuff. my only true complaint is that they have a different voice actor for the main character in both movies

Not like the OVA series, but not bad either........2005-12-23

This doesn't deserve a 3.5 star average, it deserves at least four. Dual Matrix continues the Armitage story after the OVA series. Armitage is back in Chicago with Ross...but she has a child. An evil scientist wants to find out how Armitage can reproduce so he can build robots exactly like her. In the meantime, he builds two inferior copies that are designed to fight Armitage. The antagonist captures Armitage's daughter and holds her hostage in hopes to get Armitage to comply...guess NOT.

Like the OVA series, there's plenty of action and violence, but what sorta turned me off was the change in animation; it was animated by a computer instead, and you don't feel as emotinally charged for the characters. But other than that, its a solid anime flick, much better than the s*** that the "otakus" drool all over like InuYasha and FLCL. If you were a fan of the OVA series, I suggest you give this a spin in your DVD player.

Armitage rules!!

Not as good...but growing on me........2003-04-29

The first time I saw this DVD sequel to one of the best animes of the '90's on the shelves, I was skeptical. When I saw that Juliette Lewis was doing the voice for super-sexy robot ...Naomi Armitage, my feelings were mixed, knowing her to be a competent actress with a sexier voice than Elizabeth Berkeley (and certainly sexier on screen). When I finally watched it...I was disappointed. And yet...I watched it again, and I liked it a little more, despite the flaws.

As a sequel, it's pretty standard. It acknowledges the events of the first movie (except of course for the funny plot hole of why nobody on Mars recognizes Ross or Armitage when they figured to be such prominent characters in a government conspiracy in the original). The sequel expands (not answers, but expands) on certain questions from the first, like how does a robot have the ability to conceive human children? The action is pretty good, almost as good as the original, and it wrap things up nicely in the end.

The major flaws with this sequel are inherent in the animation. It's just not nearly as good. The animators went a little overboard with the use of CGI for some of the vehicular chase scenes (which were pretty cool, but obviously out of place with the rest of the animation). The panning is far less smooth than in the original, probably another result of CGI...it just doesn't look the same. The character design is updated slightly to give a sense that the characters have matured slightly. The backgrounds and setting aren't all that great either, but...it is mostly on Earth, not Mars. Maybe they just didn't want to go too far with it. There's also a problem in the plot, which is almost a direct rehash of the original, only instead of the government being behind it, it's the big robot-producing corporations that have a lot to lose if robots are allowed to be treated as human. Politics come into play a little more this time around, but that hardly helps the case the plot is pretty much the same. Also, the cliched plot devices of taking the child hostage and of a mother protecting her child is played out in perfect form here. Armitage could take out an entire army to protect her child...and she pretty much does (well...two ultra violent clones of herself, which is pretty much the equivalent of an army...and those clones laugh way too much, you just wanna bash their heads in).

The pros of this movie are that in spite of these little details, it's still a far better sequel than most Hollywood sequels attempt to be. As I said, the action is really good. The extended fight between Armitage and Ross and her two clones is pretty good, especially considering that the clones are more than just programmed soldiers...they seem to have a sadistic side, laughing almost every time they think they're about to kill someone...which was annoying, but it does helping you to hate them. The additional characters like the daughter Yoko and Mouse the Repairman are pretty enjoyable too. Yoko plays out like a typical kid in anime movies, but she's far less annoying than you'd expect. The little twist near the end when we see what makes her more than just an ordinary human is well integrated, especially after the villian made a big deal about not finding anything special about her. Mouse is just funny. The music by Julian Mack is different...still electronic-based, but more orchestral elements are introduced, and the presence of a female voice in the theme is rather interesting.

Amazon.com

As the pirate ship Nirvana visits different worlds, this sci-fi comedy-adventure begins to resemble a mixture of Crest of the Stars and Star Trek, with the robot 7-Zark-7 from Battle of the Planets thrown in. The crew meets Rabat and his ape sidekick on a deserted space station: he introduces the women of the Nirvana to cosmetics, beats up Hibiki, and then departs in "Impossible." The people of the water world of Anpathos worship a mysterious "harvester ship" apparently intent on devouring them--until Hibiki and Jura create a crablike mecha to destroy it. A Christmas party--a holiday unknown to Hibiki, Bart, and Duero--coincides with a visit to an ice comet in "White Love." Vandread offers some so-so computer-animated space battles, plenty of cleavage shots, and some broad comic moments, but these elements never gel into a coherent story. Rated 13 Up: Violence, risqué humor. --Charles Solomon

Customer Reviews:

BEST EVER.......2007-04-20

This is a really good anime. What people say about the voice-acting is true. However, I believe that when they traslate it into english they must change the script a bit to fit lip movments. This means that at times thay say some corny things but that doesn't mean it is bad! I don't care what other people say, the computer-generated stuff is great! And the fast paced battles, EVEN BETTER! It gets my adrenaline goin'! I'm not one for the big robots, but luckily they use them only a little in this anime, I HIGHLY recommend it.

Yay for good anime with bad computer animation!.......2004-08-02

I know that the computer animation is lame, but somehow you get the idea. More akward, but funny and with a bit of innocence too. Two planets. One male, one female, mortal enemies, and cute, colorful characters. Three guys on a spaceship filled with nothing but pretty ladies. Smells indecent but actually turns out to be very clean. Blossoming love from the female side and pride that does not allow for any very lovey-dovey stuff. The only thing that is kind of odd is the fact that Dita resembles Starfire from Teen Titans. This is all I really have to say. Enjoy,enjoy,enjoy!

Rabat arrives, and Jura finally gets to combine!.......2004-03-26

Don't believe what the editor says--this is a wonderful show and one of my top five favorites of all time. The characters are awesome, even the goofy ones like that girl who wears costumes to avoid the men. Meia is a loner with issues, Jura is probably the most beautiful woman on board and knows it, Dita is more like a five year old than a teenager, and Hibiki just wants to fight. Parfet is the know-it-all mechanic, and Duero the doctor is her love interest (they are so cute together!) And BC kicks major ass (you'll see why in the first volume of the Second Stage).

But that is only reducing the characters to one-sentence personalities. They are SO MUCH MORE than that! Jealous, petty, perky, friendly, hateful, angry, loving, silly, exasperating--the list goes on and on. You just can't help but watch, if only to see what they will do next!

And the space battles; while it can be hard to distinguish what is going on sometimes, that is because the computer animation is just that good. The objects in battle move at lightning speed, which is how you would expect them to in zero gravity. After all, it's not like there is air to slow them down. It is this speed that makes it hard for me to follow what is happening at times.

And the machines--all of them--are jaw-dropping. Meia's Vandread (her Dread combined with Hibiki's Vanguard) is modeled after a falcon. It moves at incredible speeds, fast enough to punch a hole right through another ship, and has claws like drills. Dita's Vandread is more of a humanoid shape, and uses a staff that resembles a lightsaber. This staff can be snapped into two pieces and used like twin swords (If you've seen Rurouni Kenshin, think of it like Aoshi using both of his kodachi). And Jura's...well, Amarone sums up Jura's in one sentence. But Jura's Vandread can also put a barrier around an entire planet. ^_~

So, we've covered the characters, the space battles, the machines...ah ha! Voice acting! The voice acting in both versions is unbelievable! However, I PREFER the English dub, as it is even more full of life and the girls don't sound as young. See, in the Japanese version, both Jura and Dita tend to speak about themselves in the third person. That gets old. Besides, their voices in the English version aren't at all screechy or weird.

Next...the art! The animation for this series was done (I believe) by using cels and computer animation. (Correct me if I'm wrong) The colors are bright and fun to look at, which is a plus considering the various designs of the women's clothing. It all looks good! And everything moves smoothly, from the people to the machines in space. It looks so...incredible! Especially when Jura is using her sword. ^-^

I love this series so much and fully recommend it to each and every anime fan!

Introducing Rabat...Jura combines...Christmas Tree in space.......2002-08-02

The 3rd installment of Vandread...we meet a new character, Rabat, who seems to have something against Hibiki...the two get into an altercation during which Hibiki is pummeled...Jura finally gets to combine with Hibiki's Van, but the result leaves her REALLY disappointed, until she finds out what it can do...Hibiki learns that women have the perogative to change their minds at a moments notice...the men learn about Christmas...
The series contiunes the fun from the earlier episodes, while building on the characters. It's definitely a sereies that has kept me curious throughout, and I'm await the closing act with a smile.

Can't go wrong.......2002-05-21

Vandread is a suprisingly good anime series
considering i hadint herd of it till i bought
the first dvd set a wile back (and evey one since).
The voice acting is some of the best I've heard.
The animation (with the exeption of the dated
CG space battle sience) is to notch and the
story is for the most part pretty good. My only
gripe is that after the thired episode the
story kinda shifts any were it pleases makeing
it seem mor like a bunch of side storys than the
main one. How ever thise (side story's) are quite
funny and entertaining.
In the 3 episodes coverd in this dvd. The first
tells of a smooth talking merchant who try's to
sweet talk the wimen of the Nirvana and steal
the Vangard (a transforming robotic mobile siut).
The next you get to see Hibiki and Jura finaly
combind the fighters to creat a new Vandread, the
only thing is that the transfermation leaves Jura
less then thrilled with the finaly product.
And in the finaly one its Christmas time on the
Nirvana and this leaves the men a little dumb founded
due to the fact that thay have never celebrated
Christmas be for. Things get even more complicated
for the men when thay are told thay are sapost to
give presints to people just hours be for poeple
start exchanging gifts.
All in all this is a very solid anime and is worth
a look at. Hope you like it.

National Geographic: Icons of Power - Empress of Ambition, Catherine the Great

Average customer rating:

The Russian Empress

National Geographic: Icons of Power - Empress of Ambition, Catherine the Great
Starring: National Geographic
Manufacturer: Nat'l Geographic Vid
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Wrath of the Tsar
Catherine the Great
Russia - Land of the Tsars
The Cultural History of the Western World
Becket

ASIN: B000MQ58Y0
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Description

Join Icons of Power as we venture into the court of the Empress Catherine the Great and bear witness to epic history and scandals of truly royal proportions. With sweeping cinematography and rich, dramatic reenactments soaked in 18th Century detail, we'll trace Catherine's journey from a humble, impoverished home in Germany to the throne of an empire that spanned two- thirds of the globe. We'll follow the empress to war, to court, and even to bed. From the scorched battlefields of the Crimea to the gilded palaces of St. Petersburg, we'll venture deep into the world of the Empress Catherine - a world of secret trysts and cunning deception, of conquest and glory - and bring to life the characters and events that shaped her reign.

Customer Reviews:

The Russian Empress.......2007-06-24

National Geographic uses a lot of filming techniques that Vince McMahon planned to employ in his XFL. I think this is meant to get fickle viewers into caring about history. The company's historical reenactments aren't as cheesy as History Channel's. Perhaps this is caused by NG using film while HC uses video. The actress playing young Catherine looks like Ashley Judd. Sometimes I stop watching fictional films about 2/3 into them because I get the gist of what's being portrayed. Here, I had to watch the whole thing because I was genuinely curious why Catherine is remembered in history as "Great." The drama surrounding her rise to power was very similar to Cleopatra's. The documentary sometimes uses the term "class warfare." Though Lenin's success 150 years after Catherine is not mentioned, one could see how the class schisms in Russia, even then, would fuel the Communist rise in the 1910s. This program is too long to be seen in an American public school's history class. Besides, little focus is given to Russia in American schools until discussions of the Cold War. Still, if you have an interest in historical women of power, then you should see this.

Average customer rating:

Catherine the Great PBS
Be careful about using this one to write your history paper
WAIT A MOMENT....REVIEW THE RIGHT DVD GUYS!!!
Amazon needs to check it's Inventory!
Sadly, A&E seems to enjoy making history into soap operas

Catherine the Great
Starring: Emily Bruni , Dan Badarau , Paul Burgess , and John-Paul Davidson
Manufacturer: Pbs Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Russia - Land of the Tsars
Victoria & Albert
Nicholas and Alexandra
Fall of Eagles
Marie Antoinette: A Film by David Grubin

ASIN: B000EHQUGC
Release Date: 2006-05-23

Amazon.com

Description

Catherine the Great is a colorful, true story about a young girl, who transforms herself from an obscure German Princess into Russia's most powerful regent. As Tsarina, she is influenced by Western Democratic ideas and does much to strengthen Russia's standing in Europe. She has an astute intellect and is able to survive court intrigue to retain her crown.

Customer Reviews:

Catherine the Great PBS.......2006-06-07

Be careful about using this one to write your history paper.......2006-06-06

WAIT A MOMENT....REVIEW THE RIGHT DVD GUYS!!!.......2006-05-18

Amazon needs to check it's Inventory!.......2006-05-15

Sadly, A&E seems to enjoy making history into soap operas.......2006-03-26

Average customer rating:

A girl given to extremes, and a film without a good ending...
Audrey converting to Judaism
Starts and Stops: A Movie Trying to Find A Story
I really liked it!
Barely 3 Stars Thanks to Tautou's Charms (and Many Costumes)

God Is Great, and I'm Not
Starring: Audrey Tautou , Edouard Baer , Julie Depardieu , Catherine Jacob , and Philippe Laudenbach
Director: Pascale Bailly
Manufacturer: KOCH LORBER FILMS
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Happenstance
He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not
L'Auberge Espagnole (The Spanish Apartment)
Pretty Devils
A Very Long Engagement

ASIN: B0001I54QQ
Release Date: 2004-05-11

Amazon.com

The impossibly adorable Audrey Tautou (Amelie, Dirty Pretty Things) stars in this remarkably vivid portrait of a relationship. Michelle (Tautou), a fashion model, sets off on a spiritual quest in the hope of finding emotional balance. What she finds is a veterinarian named Francois (Edouard Baer, Alias Betty), whose ambivalence about being Jewish leads Michelle to study the faith and consider conversion. The plot sounds heavy, but God Is Great (And I'm Not) is actually a light, fluid movie that's as alert to the thousand tiny ways in which men and women miscommunicate and defeat their best intentions. Michelle's spiritual yearnings are questionable, yet Tautou captures her hunger for something more and makes it real, even if it may also be shallow. The movie stutters, slips sideways and back, and circles around--and in the end, says more about modern romance than a dozen Hollywood romantic comedies. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

A girl given to extremes, and a film without a good ending..........2006-08-30

Audrey Tautou is one of my favorite French actresses, and that is the reason why I decided to watch this film. I remember that before renting "God Is Great, and I'm Not" ("Dieu est grand, je suis toute petite") I thought that if Tatou was in a movie, the movie couldn't be too bad. I don't believe that anymore. She is a wonderful and incredibly charismatic actress, but she can make mistakes, and this is one.

In this film Tatou plays Michelle, a beautiful young woman that works as a model and wants to find the inner balance she lacks in a religion. That is the reason why she goes from being Catholic to Buddhist, and then ponders the idea of converting to Judaism as she falls in love with Francois (Edouard Baer), a secular Jew. The problem is that, after some time, Francois is not "Jew enough" for her, something to be expected as Michelle is given to extremes. That wreaks havoc on their relationship, something that this film shows to perfection.

Now, why do I have problems with "God Is Great, and I'm Not"? Why don't I like is as much as "Amélie", if the plot I just talked about isn't contrived or trite? From my point of view, the reasons are many, but I will save you some time and just point out the more important one, that is that this film seems unfinished. I am not talking about an open ending (like the ending of Rohmer's "A summer tale", a film I love), but rather about the kind of ending that makes you wonder whether the dvd you rented is a fake copy that lacks part of the film you just finished watching. Have you ever felt like that? Then you can understand how I felt after spending more than an hour and half watching this film... Not recommended.

Belen Alcat

Audrey converting to Judaism.......2005-12-04

This movie is very original in that it shows us a star thinking of converting to Judaism. In France, no less. This is not your everyday romantic comedy. I was surprised to see one of my favorite actresses converting to Judaism onscreen. And not some exotic form of Judaism, as with Madonna and Dolly Parton and the Kabballah. Just ordinary Judaism, Baruch attaw adonoi and all that. Don't turn out the lights on Friday night, avoid pork, run of the mill Judaism.

Audrey is cute. I'd go to the synagogue with her if that would make her happy. I'd go to church too, to sit there and hold her hand.

Audrey seems a bit silly when she takes the Bible seriously. Does anyone really believe that nonsense? It belongs on the library shelf next to Greek mythology. Six day creation, a sadistic and vengeful god punishing all future women for Eve's disobedience, a world where extraterrestrials eat psychedelic fruit for wisdom and eat magical fruit for immortality, and create gardeners to slave for them so they don't have to water the trees. What utter nonsense. But Audrey wants to believe in something, apparently, even that.

I didn't understand why Francois broke up with her, if that is what happened. Or why she broke up with him. I didn't really follow what was going on there. I didn't really understand their relationship at all.

But it is a very different movie, for two reasons. One is the presence of cute Audrey. She's about as cute as Audrey Hepburn. The other is that she is interested in converting to Judaism. This movie is worth a look for those two reasons. I can't think of a third.

Starts and Stops: A Movie Trying to Find A Story.......2005-09-18

'Dieu est grand, je suis toute petite' is a little film by Pascale Bailly that spends a lot of time trying to tell a story in bits and pieces with numerous characters, interesting in and of themselves but confusing to the viewer, attempting to keep up with the breakneck speed of this French comedy. The saving grace is the presence of Audrey Tautou and a few other actors whose screen magnetism holds our interest.

Fresh from a breakup with a boyfriend Bertand (Mathieu Demy) top model Michèle (Tautou) is a wreck of a person flirting with all manner of religious outlets (Hindu, Buddhism, Catholicism, etc) trying to find something to make her crazy life make sense. She encounters a veterinarian François (Edouard Baer) who is a secular Jew (non-practicing, closeted, etc) and not only does she fall immediately into bed with him (and a next morning attempted suicide!) she begins to stalk him trying to embrace Judaism - a fact that at first drives François away and then a little mad himself. The manner in which Michèle and François study Judaism and all its graces and restrictions is (I think) the basis for the rest of the story: the filming technique of flashbacks and fragmentary moments and cutesy scribblings on pages are paced to confuse and make this simple story a maze to follow!

Along the way we meet some interesting types including Valérie (Julie Depardieu) who opens her door to her first psychology patient (Thierry Neuvic) and promptly falls in love with him; Ali (Atmen Kelif) who is Michèle's nutty fashion photographer and a number of others. There are funny moments, touching moments, absurd moments, but they are loosely strung together. In the end this is a fun film in which it is a bit trying to connect all the dots! In French, English, and Hebrew with subtitles. Grady Harp, September 05

I really liked it!.......2005-03-08

In my opinion, there are two reasons to watch this film. One, because of Audrey Tautou, and two, if one looks at this as a Jewish genre film. If one has no interest in either, just pass on the film.

As for Tautou, even if the film just had her searching for the best flavor of Jello, it would be worth watching. There just are some actors who have such a screen presence, one could even turn off the sound and enjoy them. Audrey qualifies. She is just so cute and quirky.

As for a Jewish genre film, scholars do look for deeper reasons for the romantic attraction of Jews and non-Jews. This film takes a look at one such situation, and by doing so, makes one think deeper on the subject, if one is inclined to do so. As such, I do think the film shined, as it was interesting and entertaining to watch the couple's relationship unfold.

I really can't argue with a lot of the criticisms of "God is Great, I'm Not". But, for the above two reasons, I really liked it.

Barely 3 Stars Thanks to Tautou's Charms (and Many Costumes).......2004-10-08

Some call it a romantic comedy. For a romantic comedy, however, 'God Is Great, And I'm Not' sounds very strange, isn't it? Well, the contents of the film are not as strange as the title suggests, but the film itself is, I have to say, far from perfect. Not that it is not amusing. Just it feels like going on and on and on....

Now the story is about Michelle (played by lovely, adorable Audrey Tautou), who is in love with a vet Francois (about 10 years older). And the story is ... er, that's it. She is in love with him, and the script describes the various episodes concerning the love relations between the two characters over one year. It borrows the style of a diary presumably written by Michelle, who records every details about her love, her family, her jobs, and ... her love.

So, don't expect the traditional storytelling style. If you need a sense of closure for your film (like 'Happily Ever After' ending), you might as well skip this one and see 'Amelie' again. The relations between the two neither develops nor dissolves. It goes round and round, and perhaps that's the point.

I admit there are several interesting, and emotionally charged moments in the film. Still, it is very demanding to follow the endless 'story' and apparently superficial behaviours of the characters, that of Michelle in particular, but I think that is the film's intention. Michelle considers conversion simply because her Francois is Jewish (while Francois does not demand it, and is not a devoted believer of any religion himself). Michelle's actions are often superficial, or Michelle IS superficial, reading many books about religion.

OK, but what worries me constantly is, by just tracing Michelle and other characters's superficial behaviours, the film itself, which lacks the sure footing to observe them (fondly or detachedly), becomes superficial too. To make matters worse, director Pascale Bailly uses many irritating camera works trying to impress us, such as jump-cuts or voiceovers. Soemtimes the camera floats in the air, rotating to and fro when a more orthodox way of shooting is necessary. Do you need the 'French New Wave' school when you want to see a love romance? I don't think so.

THE ONLY CHARM of the film comes, not surprisingly, from Audrey Tautou. Her character is fashion model, and to justify the setting, she changes her clothes and hairstyles every time she appears on the screen. Even among the repetitous, ultimately boring series of episodes, she continues to enchant us with her acting, and that is nearly a miracle. But we had already seen the real miracle in 'Amelie,' and we need that kind of irresistible magic, which is based on the firm confidence in the time-honoured, orthodox, girl-meets-boy love story.

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Eat My Dust!

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DVD: Sailor Moon S - The Movie (Geneon Signature Series)

Heart Of Glass