Death and the Maiden

Starring:Sigourney Weaver, Ben Kingsley, Stuart Wilson (II), Krystia Mova, Jonathan Vega, Rodolphe Vega, Gilberto CortÃ©s, Jorge Cruz, Carlos Moreno, Eduardo Valenzuela, Sergio Ortega Alvarado, Karen Strassman
Director: Roman Polanski
Studio: New Line Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com essential video

Roman Polanski's film adaptation of Ariel Dorfman's stunning play about the legacy of torture has more in common with the director's first film, Knife in the Water (with all the latter's unnerving ambiguities about power, sexual transgression, and confused alliances among three people) than a straightforward political parable. Sigourney Weaver (a bit underwhelming in this role, but good overall) plays a former political prisoner in an unnamed South American country that has gone democratic. She is married to a government official (fine work by Stuart Wilson) heading up official inquiries into the practice of torture under the former regime. Still shattered by her experience, Weaver's character seeks safe haven in closets of the cliff-top house she shares with her husband. But when the latter comes home in the company of a seemingly nice fellow (a brilliant Ben Kingsley), she believes she recognizes the stranger as the interrogator who raped her repeatedly in prison. She violently takes him hostage, and what ensues is a hurricane of fury and confusion, as Kingsley's terrified character denies all accusations, Wilson's guilt-ridden spouse can't decide whom to defend, and Weaver turns her psychosexual rage into a weapon of humiliation. Dorfman adapted the screenplay himself, but there's no question that Polanski is leading us down a familiar path of human betrayal and terror that he crossed in such films as Rosemary's Baby, Repulsion, and Bitter Moon. At times stunning in its bluntness and compelling to the last, Death and the Maiden literally takes us to the edge of oblivion, where--in Polanski's films--the hardest truths always seem to fall into a heretofore unknown perspective. --Tom Keogh

Description

A marriage becomes strained when the wife is confronted with a man she is convinced tortured and brutalized her when she was in jail years earlier.

Customer Reviews:

Nice ambiguous ending.......2007-01-25

I don't think Sigourney Weaver was "underwhelming" in this movie at all. In fact, I thought her performance was subtle and, indeed, mesmerizing.

Other folks have done justice to the plot's description. But one must watch the movie to get a feel for revenge, or at least some answers, that Weaver's character is seeking after years of torture inflicted upon her (especially after seeing her so nervous and jumpy in the beginning of the film).

What I like most about the film, and it's a trademark of Polanski's that draw me to his films, is the ambiguous ending. The "good" doctor wasn't killed, good didn't win out over evil, and the end wasn't tidied up, Hollywood-style, just to make the public feel good. It's not the way life works out.

"Death and the Maiden" is definitely one of the most underrated movies of all time and it's worth the time watching. - Donna Di Giacomo

mesmerizing.......2007-01-11

This is one of Sigourney Weaver's best accomplishments as an actor. Her character has to go through so many emotions at the same time. "Death and the Maiden" is definitly a great thriller. It is a 'Who done it' that willkeep you guessing to the very end. Ben Kingsly also does a wonderful job, is he a villian or not? You positively won't know in this pyschological tale of intrigue and suspense.

Weaver magic.......2007-01-10

Sigourney Weaver is one of my favourite actors (same class as Meryl Streep, Catherine Denueve, Elizabeth Taylor) She never dissapoints. She is a versitile actor and one pays attention. This is a highly dramatic film and not intended for sissies. Heavy stuff that keeps you on the tip of your seat all the time. This is real acting. That touch of Roman Polansky is evident which makes this an excellent dramatic film. Not to be missed.

An intense experience.......2006-12-04

Living in a democrasy it is hard to fathom the incredle cruelty of a dictatorship. This excellent film gives us a glimpse of the horrors.
It is an intense drama, with stellar performances from Weaver and Kingsly. It really keeps you nailed to your seat.
Highly recommended

EXCELLENT AND MEANINGFUL FILM: STARS 5+.......2006-08-22

This is one of my favorite films by Sigourney Weaver. I highly recommend it. The setting takes place in an unnamed Latin-American country where the protagonist, Paulina Escobar [Sigourney Weaver] is living in a cliffside house and suffering from the post-traumatic effects of torture by the ex-regime. Her husband [Stuart Wilson] is a government official who has just been named to a commission to investigate torture and other crimes against humanity by the ex-regime.

Enter the antagonist Dr. Miranda [Ben Kingsley] who gives [Wilson] a ride home after his car breaks down on the road. However, Paulina remembers the voice of her rapist-torturer as this very man. She turns the table on Dr. Miranda and gives him a trial in her home, complete with his very own defense counsel, her husband.

The film is done to perfection by Roman Polankski, and I can neither understand, nor figure why none of the actors [Weaver and Kingsley] did not receive an Oscar. It was an Oscar-winning performance by both Kingsley and Weaver. I highly recommend this film, it is outstanding!

Average customer rating:

Good performance. Nothing more.
Wel worth it!
A good show... if you can stand to watch it
Usual quality fare from Maiden...
Stellar Performance

Death on the Road - 2003 Tour (3pc)
Starring: Iron Maiden
Manufacturer: Sanctuary Records
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

British Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

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

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

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

That One Night - Live in Buenos Aires
Different World
The Dio Years
United Abominations
Keeper of the Seven Keys: Legacy World Tour

ASIN: B000LPR6CY
Release Date: 2007-01-30

Customer Reviews:

Good performance. Nothing more........2007-06-29

I am a huge Maiden fan, and I have seen a lot of live DVDs in their name. I was excited when I saw this at HMV a few days ago, I nearly fainted when I saw it! I bought it, and watched it immediately after I got home.

Now, I must say, this is a solid performance. I have the CD version, and even though I don't think this is the one where Bruce is *best* at sustaining and hitting the high notes (I have seen some fan-recorded clips of different dates of the same tour where Bruce Dickinson's voice sounds better), he still does a good job.

However, that isn't the reason I gave this DVD a so-so rating.

The reason I only gave it the 3 stars it got was because of the EXCRUCIATING editing!

I can't believe someone would actually praise the constant camera angle changes every second! Almost every second is a new camera angle change. The average angle change is 3 per second, and it's really nauseating. Just watch "Fear of the Dark", the beginning has this displayed evidently.

The back of the DVD says something like "A stellar quality that puts you RIGHT in the front row". Well it does... as well as the back, the floor, the sides, the balcony, the stage a few times, and a few reactions from the audience a few times, which really pisses me off more than anything, really. What even shocks me more is that Steve Harris (bassist) editied it! He did a good job when he had done the job for "Live in Donnington '92" (or whatever the hell it's called), why not for this.

I am shocked that the band actually likes this shiite editing! LD92 had good editing, this made me feel like a sadist. Someone should really talk to Steve. If he edits the next DVD, I won't buy it.

Other than that the sound is AMAZING. The features are nothing new, but it's OK.

So buy this if you're a Maiden fan.

P.S. Oh and another thing with the editing- was Steve pissed at bruce? Because he took his dramatic re-entrance away during DOD, MAKING IT LOOK LIKE HE ISN'T ON STAGE.

Wel worth it!.......2007-03-30

Great DVD of Maiden's Death on the Road tour. Even though it took quite a while to finally relaese, they prove once again that they are at the forefront of Metal. You will not be disappointed.

A good show... if you can stand to watch it.......2007-03-22

After a year-and-a-half wait for the corrected version (the first run had major technical issues) to be released in the U.S., I finally got to sit down and watch this latest live DVD from The World's Greatest Metal Band Ever. Man, was I ever disappointed. I had heard bits here and there about how people didn't like how (Maiden bassist) Steve Harris had edited the footage, but ordinarily I find it's never as bad as people make it out to be. I was wrong. It's that bad. The whole concert is put together with a rapid-fire pace that might be cool for a video single, but not for an entire live show. No shot is ever held for more than 2 or 3 seconds, except between songs.

If you have the CD's you know this is Iron Maiden in their finest live form, but on the DVD you'd never know to look at them, because you can barely see them.

The bonus stuff on disc 3 is pretty good if you're a Maiden diehard like me, but nothing new, really.

All in all, buy the CD, stay away from the DVD, and join me in waiting not-so-patiently for a DVD release of Live After Death, Maiden England and Live at Donington.

Usual quality fare from Maiden..........2007-03-10

This was an enjoyable show. Great sounding, with a lot of cool visuals going on. The frentic editing pace didn't bug me as much as I was expecting it to, based on other reviews here and elsewhere. I thought that the bonus documentaries really make this DVD. I've been following Iron Maiden since 1984, and feel like these guys are almost distant cousins or uncles or something, and any inside looks at their daily comings and goings on are cherished.
I thought the entire concert was very well played, almost to the point of being too well-planned with no room for any inspired bursts of creativity or mayhem - almost like live theatre. The song selection was predictable, with one or two exceptions being "Lord of the Flies" and "Journeyman" kicking off the encore (neat tempo change from what one expects in an encore).
Overall, this DVD didn't disappoint, though neither does it rank as Maiden's best.

Stellar Performance.......2007-02-26

This is for anyone who hasn't seen Maiden live like myself. It's on par or even better a performance than Live After Death. Its amazing how well the difficult pieces like No More Lies, Dance of Death and Paschendale have been brought to life. The lighting is amazing, the performance is top notch and the editing is way better that Rock in Rio.
Get It Now!!!!!!!

Average customer rating:

Pouffy shirts, great playing.
Three famous string quartets in great sound and picture quality

Death & Maiden / Razumovsky / Bird
Starring: Takacs Quartet , Beethoven , Schubert , and Haydn
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

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

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Deals Over $10 | DVD Blowouts | Stores | DVD | Video

All Blowouts | DVD Blowouts | Stores | DVD | Video

Classical Music DVD Deals | Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

String Quartets 2 3 & 6
Alban Berg Quartett: Beethoven String Quartets, Vol. 3
Gidon Kremer - Back to Bach
Grieg, Chopin & Saint Saens Piano Concertos / Previn, Rubinstein, London Symphony Orchestra
Alban Berg Quartet: Beethoven String Quartets, Vol. 2

ASIN: B000FOR9XM
Release Date: 2006-09-12

Customer Reviews:

Pouffy shirts, great playing........2007-03-13

I love the Takacs Quartet. They are technically brilliant, and have a good understanding of the music. The violist Roger Tapping is my favorite element of this group. He is an outstanding player as are the others, but he really stands out. These are not the cleanest performances, in terms of intonation and ensemble clarity, but satisfying nonetheless.

What really irked me was their ridiculous pouffy pirate shirt getup. They are very distracting. It really takes some getting used to. Oh well, I guess we all have an inner pirate. Yarrrr. I hope Mr. Tapping didn't leave the group over their choice of costume.

Three famous string quartets in great sound and picture quality.......2006-08-24

The Takacs Quartet here performs three famous String quartets:
Haydn's "The Bird", Schubert's "Death and the Maiden", and Beethoven's "Razumovsky," in various rooms of Hopetoun House, near Edinburgh, Scotland. The atmosphere is one of intimacy and beauty, and with beautiful lighting and acoustics in these large rooms, very satisfying.

Before each Quartet is played, the Takacs' members talk about the composer, and features of the work to be played. They are all candid and very down to earth in their presentation. I can tell they really believe the gospel they are preaching, and want the listener to enjoy it just as they do! You can also tell by watching this DVD that the Takacs Quartet members enjoy working together, and smile a bit as they toss phrases and motifs back and forth from instrument to instrument.

As for the performances, everything I hear is excellent. Contrasts are great, but never overdone. Allegros always sizzle with excitement, and the climaxes in slow movements are savored until exactly the right moment. I won't go into movement by movement comparisons, but cannot imagine anyone not being delighted by this disc.

Format is widescreen TV, but there are enough close shots, and the picture is good and clear, even on a small 13 inch TV, like mine.

The Takacs players all appear so friendly and warm in their interviews and are so committed in their playing, I feel like I'm right there with them. Delightful.

Death & The Maiden - String Quartet No 14 D810

Average customer rating:

Death & The Maiden - String Quartet No 14 D810
Starring: Schubert , and Alban Quartet Berg
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Alban Berg Quartet: Beethoven String Quartets, Vol. 2
Alban Berg Quartett: Beethoven String Quartets, Vol. 3
Beethoven: String Quartets 1 - Alban Berg Quartet
Mozart - Famous String Quartets / Gewandhaus Quartet
Haydn - String Quartets / The Lindsays, Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival

ASIN: B000BDIY54
Release Date: 2006-01-24

Description

Alban Berg Quartett provides an exquisite reading of Schubert's expressive "Death and the Maiden" String Quartet. The music strikes a foreboding and bleak vision of sorrow. Also includes documentary footage.

Charlie Rose with Sigourney Weaver; Ben Kingsley (January 20, 1995)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with Sigourney Weaver; Ben Kingsley (January 20, 1995)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Description

Sigourney Weaver discusses her new film Death and the Maiden, her upcoming project Copy Cat, her background as an actor, and some of her favorite roles. Then, Ben Kingsley on Death and the Maiden, his approach to acting, and stage work versus film work.

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Description

First, Brian Lamb, founder of C-SPAN, talks about his attempts to open up the Congress to the use of more cameras, the network's role in the election of the 104th Congress Then, Doug Bailey, publisher of The Political Hotline, discusses the state of the Clinton presidency. Finally, an interview with actor Ben Kingsley about his career and working with director Roman Polanski on his new film, Death and the Maiden.

Charlie Rose with Ben Brantley & John Simon; Ariel Dorfman (June 1, 2001)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with Ben Brantley & John Simon; Ariel Dorfman (June 1, 2001)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose, Inc.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

General | Educational | Genres | DVD | Video

Description

Ben Brantley, theater critic for The New York Times, and John Simon, theater critic for New York magazine, share their picks for the 55th annual Tony Awards which will be held this Sunday night. Then, the novelist Ariel Dorfman talks about his new book, Blake's Therapy, in which Dorfman attempts to play with the readers perception of reality.

Death And The Maiden [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - France ]

Average customer rating:

Death And The Maiden [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - France ]
Director: Roman Polanski
Manufacturer: Films Sans Frontiers
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000FTGOJ2

Product Description

France released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. LANGUAGES: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Subtitles), WIDESCREEN, SYNOPSIS: Although its origin is made too clear by a stage-bound production, this adaptation of an Ariel Dorfman play poses profound ethical and philosophical questions and boasts riveting performances from its cast, representing a highlight in the comeback stage of director Roman Polanski's career. Although this is primarily a three-character piece, Gerardo (Stuart Wilson) is superfluous to a degree, standing in as he does for the audience. Death and the Maiden is really a duet between Paulina (Sigourney Weaver) and Dr. Miranda (Ben Kingsley), and the actors do not disappoint, navigating the peaks and valleys of an emotional roller-coaster ride. A monument to anger and pain, Weaver is electrifying, while Kingsley convincingly portrays lethal cunning as a man literally thinking for his life. If the film has a flaw, it's the visually static aspects of the storytelling. Polanski should have sought more visual ways to open up the play's action (a climactic scene atop a bluff is a welcome relief from the confining one-room setting), but this is a small quibble. Just as a documentary can be compelling as nothing more than a series of talking heads as long as those heads are saying something interesting, so too can a play adaptation work grandly in cinematic form when the source material is this richly rewarding.

Average customer rating:

Death and the Maiden [Region 2]
Starring: Sigourney Weaver , Ben Kingsley , Stuart Wilson (II) , Krystia Mova , and Jonathan Vega
Director: Roman Polanski
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00004VY9W

Iron Maiden - Live After Death World Slavery Tour [Import]

Average customer rating:

I was at this show in Dallas Texas
Wow glad they finally released this on DVD!!!!
MAIDEN!
Basically a VHS-DVD transfer
A DVD copy of the VHS Tape

Iron Maiden - Live After Death World Slavery Tour [Import]

Manufacturer: Conneca Amazonia
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

Iron Maiden: Rock in Rio (2pc)
The History of Iron Maiden, Pt. 1: The Early Days
Judas Priest - Rising in the East
A Matter Of Life And Death
Whitesnake - Live in the Still of the Night (Deluxe) [DVD/CD Combo]

ASIN: B000A6NYY8

Product Description

Track List: Intro: Winston Churchill Speech Aces High 2 Minutes To Midnight The Trooper Revelations Flight of Icarus Rime of the Ancient Mariner Powerslave The Number of the Beast Hallowed By Thy Name Iron Maiden Run to the Hills Running Free Sanctuary Brazilian Import Version

Customer Reviews:

I was at this show in Dallas Texas.......2007-01-29

And I was stunned because W.A.S.P. opened up for them but then when Miaden came out = OH BOY!
The lousest concert ever recorded at the time with OVER 50,000 (YES THAT IS THOUSAND) WATTS OF POWER - AND BACK THEN THEY HAD ME HOOKED AS A SLAVERY VICTIM. LOVED THE 40 FOOT TALL EDDIE THAT CAME UP BEHIND DRUMMER NICKO McBRAIN AT END OF SHOW - THE EYES HAD LIGHTNING SPARKS FLYING OUT OF THEM. TOTALLY AWESOME. I STILL REMEMBER THIS AND I'M 44 YEARS OLD NOW AND THAT WAS 22 YEARS AGO. I only gave it 4 stars because I'm waiting for the Official Release.

[...].

Wow glad they finally released this on DVD!!!!.......2006-12-08

What a gem! This is a must have for any maiden fan!

MAIDEN!.......2005-11-21

This is one the best concert dvds I have ever seen. Forget the video quality...vhs transfer...whatever...this band, video, songs kick A! I love the 5.1 option on this. UP THE IRONS.

Basically a VHS-DVD transfer.......2005-10-05

That's the best way to describe this. The 5.1 soundtrack is synched improperly with the video so the sound and video are off by a bit more than a second. That's REALLY annoying to watch, and if I'm totally honest...the 5.1 really isn't 5.1, its not even much of a sound upgrade from the original stereo soundtrack.

That original stereo soundtrack IS synched properly so at least the concert is watchable. And really, I don't think anyone bought this for the alleged 5.1 soundtrack. They bought it for the dvd format. The extras are nothing special aside from the subtitles which put the song lyrics onscreen, for those of you new to the group who don't know these classics by heart.

The concert itself is nothing short of amazing. The setlist is shorter compared to what they normally play today, but back then there was a Dave Murray guitar solo during the show that didn't make the video so that took up some time as well. Overall its a bit over 90 minutes on the tape, and every song on there is a classic. Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Powerslave? Yes please.

I bought this a couple years ago simply because it was LAD on dvd, and with the full intent of purchasing a proper version once the band decided to release one. Happily the official release is coming sometime soon, as The History of Iron Maiden v2 on dvd promises to offer a great looking and great sounding version of this concert. So should you buy this? Only if you MUST have this on dvd RIGHT NOW..otherwise I would wait for the superior version that should be coming soon.

Anyway, this particular release gets 4 stars from me. 5 stars for the actual show (I saw this tour live, it was amazing), 5 stars for being Maiden, 5 stars for the convenience of dvd, and 1 star because the 5.1 is a cheap ripoff. Average it out, 4 stars.

A DVD copy of the VHS Tape.......2005-08-27

Yes, it's Iron Maiden at their best. But no, it's not official, thus it does not have the quality you would expect from an official Iron Maiden release. I'm not saying don't buy it, because this is a rarity to be sure. What I am saying is that is not an official Iron Maiden release, and I am actually surprised that they have not taken steps to stop the sale of this unauthorized and essentially illegal DVD, which is basically just a DVD recording of the authorized VHS tape. If you see it you will understand what I mean.

The DVD menus are in Spanish, as are the Extras which are basically just a band biography, discography, and a few photos. However, it is the full length film presented on the original VHS tape, and the video and normal stereo sound quality isn't bad. (It certainly looks better than my long since worn out 20 year old VHS tape does now days.) The 5.1 Surround Sound however, is a joke. If this were an official release, I am sure that Steve Harris would have done a proper job of it. But since Iron Maiden was not even involved in this, the production isn't typical of the band at all.

As I said though, this is a rarity, and thus worth the $10.00 I paid for it. Just be aware that since this is not official, it isn't a typical Iron Maiden release.

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

The Rundown (Widescreen Edition)

Sex at 24 Frames per Second: The Ultimate Journey Through

Wind In The Willows - The River Bank And Five Other Stories

DVD: But I'm A Cheerleader

Cheech And Chong - Get Out Of My Room