Havana

Starring:Robert Redford, Lena Olin, Alan Arkin, Tomas Milian, Daniel Davis, Tony Plana, Betsy Brantley, Lise Cutter, Richard Farnsworth, Mark Rydell, Vasek Simek, Fred Asparagus, Richard Portnow, Dion Anderson, Carmine Caridi, James Medina, Joe Lala, Salvador Levy, Bernie Pollack, Owen Roizman
Director: Sydney Pollack
Studio: Universal Studios
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

The sinuous world of 1950s Cuban dance halls provides the setting for Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, a "reimagining" that shares with the original movie a deep love of sexy young people pressed tightly together on the dance floor. Fresh from New England, bookish and lovely Katey (Romola Garai, adorable in the charming but little-seen I Capture the Castle) meets a fiery young busboy named Javier (Diego Luna, Y Tu Mama Tambien) at a snooty hotel. Before you can say Tito Puente, the two have found a common language in the sensual swaying of their limbs, despite the resistance of Katey's mother (Sela Ward). It's all ridiculous, of course--the dialogue is atrocious, the characters tortilla-thin, and the politics embarrassing--but that's hardly the point. Luna is dreamy, there's lots of sweaty dancing, and Patrick Swayze makes an appearance--what more can you ask from a movie called Dirty Dancing? --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

Nice movie with a little history lesson.......2007-06-10

Pretty predictable if you watched the first Dirty Dancing. Still some good dancing in this one and it was good for a movie with next to no know actors in it. I found the activities going on during this period in Havana more interesting then the story of the main characters. Good to watch, not good to own.

Videos.......2007-02-27

This was a present for my 17-year-old daughter, who loves to dance. She likes Havana Nights for its spicyness and Spanish flvor. It is a teen-age thing.

Que tonta.......2006-11-27

I understand that Dirty Dancing movies aren't going to be exactly like Citizen Kain. But when you think about the premise, the culture and classist clash of American vs. Cuban dancing, sexuality, and budding romance set during the backdrop of the Revolution, the movie sounds quite promising. I mean, when I heard the premise I thought "This movie was MADE for me," because it has Cuban history and politics, awesome dancing (or so I assumed it would, due to its predecessor,) and, come on, the main character has the same name as me. But I should have realized then that a good premise does not necessarily lead to a good, or even adequate, execution.

I won't summarize the movie as so many others do; if you want a synopsis, look to their reviews. I WILL point out what exactly I found so lacking about it, and why I do not feel it was that good of a movie, even when one considers that it's ultimately just a dance movie. But again one must remember that it was their decision to involve politics in the movie, and in doing so they made themselves fair game--I do not believe in just using a deep political situation just to make a story line seem a little deeper; if it is not handled properly, it is insulting.

First off, the romance. Diego Luna and Romola Garai had definite chemistry, and it is so disappointing when you realize that the movie did not capitalize upon this, and all you're going to see in addition to some very sexually charged dancing is a few hurried onscreen kisses and an implied sex scene. Given their chemistry and the buildup of their relationship, their first kiss could have been so much better, instead of just snuck in during a dance routine--it was so quick I spent many minutes wondering if I had really seen it or not. However, to me chemistry is not the only thing required in an on-screen relationship, and I have no idea to this minute why Javier and Katey fell in love with each other. Katey's personality was developed in the movie sense (she likes classic literature, is a bookworm and rather progressive for her time) and Javier was clearly the "will do anything for his family and feels that Cuba is in need of a change" but I don't really know how those two fit together. Aside from the sexual attraction component, I have no idea what exactly they saw in each other to make their relationship anything more than "He was hot, she was pretty, and she felt sorry for him." Some might argue that Katey was merely attracted to the intensity and freedom of the Cuban lifestyle embodied by Javier, but I ask you: the movie was founded upon the idea of a romance, and what the heck kind of relationship is that?

I would also like to add that the Spanish conversations WITHOUT subtitles were incredibly rude to the audience. I do speak Spanish, but I could not make much sense of the slurred words and to this day I am wondering what exactly Javier and his brother said to each other after the Revolution broke out. Maybe they figured that the audience would not care (pfft, what are politics compared to SALSA DANCING,) but I cared.

And now, the historical components. I will not get into the anachronisms--such as Katey's parents' attitude towards her staying nights with a boy they don't know, and that even Cuba in the 50's could not have been that unrestrained--as there are many who could do that better justice than I (apparently the style of dancing in the movie was unlike what was popular in Cuba at the time.) After all, it is only a dance movie. I can ignore that stuff. But when the movie brings the history to ME I cannot ignore it, and I further dislike it when movie directors assume that their audience is completely ignorant of certain aspects of history and will just assume that "Man, that Batista guy was a jerk; he didn't allow dancing. Hopefully life will be better under this new regime! Who'd they say it was, some guy by the name of Fidel Something-or-Another?" (I am exaggerating; at least I hope that no one is that ignorant.)

And here we get to the backdrop of the story, Revolutionary Cuba. First off, Batista's regime wasn't really shown to be that bad; aside from the story involving Javier's father, it might as well have been that town in Footloose (perhaps a little more violent.) It was like Dictatorship Lite. After Havana falls to Castro and co., the Cubans act happy (which is understandable) but things are otherwise pretty calm, which one cannot imagine is really likely in such a situation.

And then we get to the ending. Katey asks Javier to come to America with her. In a move which my sister has deemed the "stupidest decision in a movie ever," Javier refuses, saying that he has to stay because of the Revolution, which he believes (or wants to believe, anyway) will improve life for him and his people, Batista killed his free-thinking father, viva la Revolución, yadda yadda yadda. I understand that movies don't always have happy endings, but I think that there is a middle ground between "boy and girl live happily ever after" to "girl lives happily ever after and boy gets sent to the gulag after he finds out that Castro isn't exactly the nice guy he claims to be and wow, Batista was a cakewalk compared to this, and has to spend his years in a drawer cell where he would kick himself for his earlier decision if, you know, he could actually kick himself, but drawer cells don't allow that." I truly think that the filmmakers did not anticipate their audience to think this much, which is understandable, but come on--everyone knows that communist Cuba is no picnic, and when Katey says something along the lines of "I know that we'll meet again," I couldn't help but thinking that the only way THAT would happen would be if Javier braves the Gulf and takes up Florida's wet feet dry feet policy. In fact, when I told my friend about the ending he said, "that boy is going to have to stop dancing and learn to convert his '57 Chevy into a boat."

I understand that people at first thought that Castro was fantastic and he didn't reveal his true intentions until later, but the fact remains that Cuba was politically instable and to choose to stay there instead of going to America was still pretty questionable. And then Katey's optimistic "We'll see each other again someday!" was just waaaay too much for me.

So, in short, if you're like me and you can't turn off your brain while watching a movie, this one's going to give you a lot of issues. If you CAN turn off your brain and just enjoy it for what it is--a dance movie--you'll probably like it, though find some things (like the romance) lacking.

Better than the others.......2006-10-24

I bought this movie last year on a hum bug. This movie really surprised me. I really enjoyed it. My daughters love it as well. We watch it constantly and the soundtrack is awesome too.

For the Love of Dancing, Great Lessons! Romantic Story!.......2006-10-16

Choreographed to utter perfection, the love story between two inspiring young characters from different worlds grows through a masterpiece of dancing blended from steps in their special journey together. Beautiful Katey(Romola Garai) finds all the ingredients: to be special, important, wanted and needed in a guy who completes her in the passion for dancing, and wins in a national dance competition that spectacularly surprises her parents and old friends. Her dedication to help Javier yields a bitter-sweet reward as they both get more than they expected in freedom, intimacy, and royalty in the world of great music and rhythm that make their last dance the dance of a lifetime. This movie is truly delightful to watch over and over. The captivating music, creative dance, and wonderful love story all come together in a symbolic journey through life!

Average customer rating:

Very, very good....
Havana: Here's Looking at You, Kid
La Habana of yesterday
a beautiful love story
Plenty of Potential

Havana
Starring: Robert Redford , Lena Olin , Alan Arkin , Tomas Milian , and Daniel Davis
Director: Sydney Pollack
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0783229429
Release Date: 1998-11-17

Amazon.com essential video

When Havana was released in 1990, a lot of reviewers unfavorably compared it to Casablanca, and those comparisons (in addition to audience indifference) turned the film into a box-office disaster. It deserved a better fate, because, while this is certainly no masterpiece, it's an intelligent and lavishly produced film about a chapter of history--the final days of Cuba under the collapsing Batista regime--that remains largely unfamiliar to the American mainstream. It's a compelling political backdrop for the story of a high-stakes gambler (Robert Redford) who comes to Cuba seeking the big score in poker games, following his expectation that high rollers will bet wildly as the Cuban government crashes around their heads. In Havana, Redford meets the wife (Lena Olin) of a Communist revolutionary (Raul Julia) with ties to Fidel Castro, and their attraction becomes powerfully mutual after her husband is presumed killed by Cuban police. What follows, as Cuba falls and Redford's character is forced into a crisis of conscience, is a mini-epic love story with tragic overtones, handled with great skill (albeit lagging pace) by long-time Redford collaborator Sydney Pollack. True, it's not nearly as memorable as Casablanca, but this is a worthwhile film, especially if you're interested in the political upheavals in pre-Castro Cuba. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Very, very good...........2006-11-06

Funny how time changes things. When this movie was first released, I found it boring and impenetrable -- and, yes, a direct rip-off of 'Casablanca'. At the time, I compared it to 'Out of Africa', which I had considered the ultimate Pollack/Redford collaboration, and I wondered what had gone wrong with 'Havana'.

After several re-viewings, I have to admit it - I was wrong about 'Havana'. I now look upon 'Out of Africa' as slow and dull except for Meryl Streep's amazing, jaw-dropping performance, and Redford was horribly miscast in a role that should have required a British accent (and a British actor). As far as 'Havana' is concerned...this is an absorbing and compelling film about the last days of pre-Castro Cuba. The sets are marvellous and seem very realistic, and Robert Redford's performance as the loner poker shark Jack Weil may very well be the best of his career (he should have at least received a Best Actor nomination). Alan Arkin and Raul Julia also deliver solidly in supporting roles. As noted by several other reviewers, Lena Olin is the weak spot -- imagine what a strong female presence, like a Meryl Streep or a Diane Keaton or even a Charlotte Rampling, could have done with this characterization. The lack of real chemistry between Redford and Olin is very, very obvious and does drag down the overall quality of the film a bit. However, the story is compelling throughout -- especially to those interested in political history of the last fifty years -- and the ending ties up things quite nicely. 'Havana' may not be a timeless, great movie, but it is VERY well-done and deserves a reevaluation. It holds up today as one of the better films of the 1990's. Time has been good to it.

Havana: Here's Looking at You, Kid.......2006-07-18

I picked up this movie for no other reason than it was listed in a fat bug-crusher paperback of a DVD/video guide as "Casablanca" transposed to revolutionary Cuba. Well who doesn't like "Casablanca," myself included? So for less than $10, I figured what's the harm if it sucks?

Well guess what-not only does it NOT suck, it's really a pretty dandy little movie, and part of the fun for me at least is teasing out all the "Casablanca" parallels strung throughout. While there's not exactly a Cuban Peter Lorre or Sydney Greenstreet on hand, so much of the source material is reflected here that classic movie fans will find plenty to enjoy.

To their credit, Redford and Lena Olin do NOT attempt at all to mimic Bogart/Bergman, and unlike Rick/Ilsa, Redford/Olin DON'T have the "we'll always have Paris" backstory. They meet and strike sparks on a ferryboat from Miami as Redford comes to the aid of the mysterious beauty Olin as she attempts to smuggle radios in for her fellow revolutionaries. Redford is immediately drawn to her despite his indifference to the political unrest roiling throughout the island. As Bogie put it, "I stick my neck out for nobody."

But the point is that love makes you a better person than you really are, and "Havana" strikes all those notes again with considerable style and visual flair. I suppose that 40+ boomers like myself must admit that it's nice to see actors well past the first blush of youth "hooking up;" this vicarious affirmation for our own never-vanished romantic daydreams is a GOOD thing, I say. Of course it never hurts to have Robert Redford standing in for you either, with Lena Olin ALWAYS more than credible as a woman who could inspire both the desire and abnegation the plot demands.

"Havana" is a gorgeous production as well, sumptuously photographed and staged, with the Dominican Republic convincingly set-dressed to capture the demimonde ambience of Batista Havana. Apart from admiration for the production, you DO take away a good sense of the affronted dignity the Cubans must have felt at having their homeland turned into a slovenly party-dump Disneyland for drunken Gringo Shriners and other ugly Americans out for a sleazy "good time" away from home. I know many would argue that the cure (Castro) was worse than the disease, but let's not get into that here.

Instead, just lay down your $10 and experience again the romance and passion of love rediscovered in a sultry climate in a time of upheaval and danger, where chasing the "big score" doesn't really add up to a hill of beans, and finding what REALLY matters requires you to let it go and feel the echo of that knowledge thunder through your life as you stand on the Florida shores and look South for the ship that will never come in...

La Habana of yesterday.......2006-02-01

This is a good movie portraying the old Havana, similar to the movie "Cuba" (by Sean Connery)showing the casinos, gambling, corrupt officials, motorcycle gangs in leather attire smoking marijuana, kinky shows and of course my favorite, the prostitutes. I wish these days will return. Because I have been in similar places with all of the prostitutes in the world, except in my own country with my own kind. How horrible!

a beautiful love story.......2006-01-25

The Act takes place during the final days of Cuba under the collapsing Batista regime.
A high-stakes card gambler (Robert Redford) comes very often to Cuba seeking big score poker games. On this final trip he meets the wife of a rich Physician allied to Castro. Redford is immediately attracted to her and it becomes mutual after the husband is arrested and presumed killed by the Cuban police. The Love affair will direct the rest of the movie until the Batista regime finally falls in the hand of Castro's revolution.
A beautiful love story combined with with good history scenes of that period in Havana.
The DVD quality is good. If you watch and like this movie than I would highly recommend to you; "The Bridges of Madison County" and "Saigon"

Plenty of Potential.......2005-05-08

Although I can't give this one four stars, I do like the movie for its potential. Casablanca -- definitely not. But this could have been the Caribbean equivalent of "The Quiet American", one of the best movies in twenty years. Subtracting for flawed performance by Redford, some odd lapses in scripting, and pacing, it is still a very good movie. Redford's delivery was often flat. A cynical gambler finds true love (the oft-referred-to comparison to Casablanca), but doesn't look as if he cares all that much (Bogey got good and hammered, Redford acts like he's out of change for the parking meter). Then sometimes his performance sparkles. Some of the editing seemed to give us punch lines after removing the setup lines. I'm sure those cuts were made due to time restraints, but other scenes drag on overmuch and would have made better cuts. Raul Julia's name missing from both opening and closing credits was quite bizarre. Still very much worth watching, and more than once.

Average customer rating:

Rhumba, romance, and chintzy painted backdrops
WEEK-END IN HAVANA
Week End in Havana
HAPPY HOLLYWOOD MUSICAL
It's Just A Fun Film And There's Nothing Wrong With That!

Week-End in Havana
Starring: Alice Faye , Carmen Miranda , John Payne , Cesar Romero , and Cobina Wright
Director: Walter Lang
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
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ASIN: B000BZISUI
Release Date: 2006-02-21

Description

A salesgirl (Alice Faye) threatens to cause trouble when cruise ship runs aground and vacation is ruined. As compensation, she soon gets a free first class Havana holiday with the ship owner's future son-in-law (John Payne) as wall as some unexpected attention from a conniving gambler (Cesar Romero) and his girlfriend (Carmen Miranda).

Customer Reviews:

Rhumba, romance, and chintzy painted backdrops.......2007-02-17

All Alice Faye has to do is sing in her gorgeous full contralto (that is almost a baritone) and you immediately can see why she was 20th-Century Fox's biggest star during the war years: here she transforms a dull song like "Rhumba and Romance" into a little masterpiece while dancing with Cesar Romero and really kicking back. While skimpy, the plot of this very typical Fox musical is fairly efficient: Faye, a Macy's shopgirl, is the last holdout to sign off for liability when her cruise ship runs aground on a sand bar, so an executive of the cruise line (John Payne) has to squire her around Havana to make sure she has a good time. Along the way they run into an incompetent gigolo (Romero) and his spitfire girlfriend (Carmen Miranda, of course, since Brazil and Cuba were considered pretty interchangeable in the minds of 40s America). The costumes by Gwen Wakeling are quite eyecatching, and the lovedly and unusual model Cobana Wright, Jr., plays Faye's rival, and John Payne is at least very handsome; unfortunately the sets and backdrops are pretty chintzy,as was often per usual with Fox, and the songs by Mack Gordon are instantly forgettable. The only thing to really lift this above mediocrity is Faye, who is not much of an actress (though she does have fun with a New York accent), but who sings like a dream.

WEEK-END IN HAVANA.......2007-01-11

THIS MOVIE TAKES ME TO A TIME BEFORE I WAS. ITS A PIECE OF HISTORY AND A LEARNING TOOL.

Week End in Havana.......2006-11-10

Excellent reproduction on DVD - colour is great. Reasonable story line and acting

HAPPY HOLLYWOOD MUSICAL.......2006-09-15

This movie takes you back to the days when Hollywood made Big Bright Splashy Wonderful Musicals! I doubt if these types of films could even be made today because of the costs of creating these colorful huge sets! Yes its a little corny but whats wrong with that? A more innocent time (dont we wish we were still innocent? )when kissing was considered Fantastic!

It's Just A Fun Film And There's Nothing Wrong With That!.......2006-06-17

No WEEKEND IN HAVANA is not one of Hollywood's greatest efforts. And no, this Twentieth Century Fox release can't be compared to the musicals of MGM that were released at the same time. Still, it's one of those time period films that you can't help but enjoy.

John Payne is Jay Williams, a cruise ship executive, soon to be married and engaged to the boss' daughter (Terry McCracken played by Cobina Wright). Days before the wedding one of the company's cruise ships malfunctions and Jay is sent to placate the customers. He's able to make everyone happy except Nan Spencer, the Macy's salesgirl who has saved every last penny for the trip. To make her happy, he arranges for a trip to Havana and surprise: the two fall in love! Of course there are a number of twists and turns but we know they'll get together and we don't feel all that sorry for the boss' daughter. early in the story we know we're not supposed to like her. Viewers meet the hot Cuban singer/dancer Rosita Rivas performed by Carmen Miranda in all her glory and the lovable cad Monte Blanca played by Cesar Romero.

Part of the reason I love this film is it's just fun. The plot line is not complicated and we believe that a story that could easily be tawdry is innocent. The musical numbers may not be as well constructed as rival MGM would have done with the same story, but they still have an irresistible quality. Since most viewers will probably purchase the DVD to enjoy and not to over analyze, a corny story that can at times be a bit zany with musical numbers that are just enjoyable is great entertainment and WEEKEND IN HAVANA will be at home in any such collection.

Average customer rating:

Leave this movie in Havana too!!
Fascinating, Refreshing Cuban Cinema
"When you emigrate, it's best to forget your memories."

Things I Left in Havana
Starring: Jorge Perugorría , Violeta Rodríguez , Kiti Manver , Broselianda Hernández , and Isabel Santos
Director: Manuel Gutiérrez Aragón
Manufacturer: Cinemateca
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ASIN: B0009ZE98A
Release Date: 2005-08-30

Description

Funny, poignant, and refreshing, THINGS I LEFT IN HAVANA sensitively explores the sense of loss felt by immigrants who discover that their dreams come with a high price. Three Cuban sisters come to Spain in search of a better life, but they must contend with exploitation and seduction as they pursue the capitalist dream. Forced by their aunt (Daisy Granados, well-known star of Fidel-sponsored Cuban proaganda features) to work in her fur store, they are each in turn seduced by Igor, a dashing gigolo who barters sexual favors for the freedom in America that exit visas provide.

Customer Reviews:

Leave this movie in Havana too!!.......2005-08-29

I don't think there is anything good I can say about this movie that about three sisters who move from Havana to live with a distant aunt in Spain who runs a fur shop. First, the story is about one sister who wants to act on the stage and I can't say why the other two are in the movie at all.

The lead character, Igor, Jorge Perugorria, creates false passports and has a quest in life to date women from Spain. He becomes romantically involved with Nena, the actress who does get to perform in theatre. And, he is romancing the friend of their aunt.

If this movie depicts some perspective on immigrants hopes and dreams, then I sure didn't see much of that. If the aunt had ideas of exploiting them, I can't see putting them to work in her shop exploiting. When she attempts to marry one off, that storyline remains weak. In other word, characters, other than the main two, don't have any development. Oftentimes you might just wonder "why are you here and how do you contribute to the film?"

The movie was neither poignant, nor humorous, nor moving! To add to that, the Spanish filmmakers tend to use derogatory language toward women. There are sexual situations not suitable for children, or me for that matter. The DVD has nothing more than the movie but trailers and scenes.

So, "Things I Left in Havana" is the movie that SHOULD have been left in Havana. ....MzRizz

Fascinating, Refreshing Cuban Cinema.......2004-05-08

By far the most interesting movie about the cuban immigrant experience out there on the North American DVD market, this movie is refreshing in its artistic clarity. I first saw this film in the 1997 Miami Film Festival and then bought it in europe only to learn about DVD region encoding and the imposibility of viewing it on a region 1 DVD player. By the way the zone 2 DVD is far superior (ie subtitles arent burned into the screen)To the region 1 DVD. That being said, it is a masterful tour de force of the immigrant experience and not to be overlooked.

"When you emigrate, it's best to forget your memories.".......2003-12-09

In the film "Things I Left in Havana", three very different Cuban sisters, Rosa, Ludmilla, and Nena (a budding actress) arrive in Madrid at the invitation of an aunt. The sisters arrive full of hopes and dreams for a bright future. They each want a 'nice life,' but unfortunately, their aunt has some different ideas about what that means. The aunt now thinks she has new employees for her business, and she even begins to plot an arranged marriage. As illegal aliens who've outstayed their visitor visas, the three sisters have little choice but to comply with their bullying aunt's demands.

Enter Igor--a fellow Cuban exile who has some shady business dealings and some playboy habits...

Product Description

Alice is a virginal librarian, cheerful and outgoing, who acts and dresses younger than her age. She rebuffs William, a suitor, because he's insistent on behavior she considers inappropriate: she's a prude. While daydreaming about reliving her life, a white rabbit taps her on the shoulder, and she follows him to Wonderland, where playful animals and people introduce her to her imagination and to pleasure. After encounters with the imperious Queen of Hearts, Alice decides that Wonderland may not be for her, and she longs for William.

Customer Reviews:

A true classic.........2007-01-23

This top-grossing independent film is now available on DVD. "Alice in Wonderland", the first adult musical, has broken new ground. PLAYBOY covergirl, Kristine DeBell, considered by many to be the most beautiful girl in the world, can now be seen cavorting erotically with all the Lewis Carroll characters.

There has never been an erotic film that can come close to the production value of "Alice in Wonderland". It is a milestone in cinematic history, and is most certainly a true collectors item.

A Night in Havana - Dizzy Gillespie in Cuba

Average customer rating:

DIZZY GILLESPIE - A Night In Havana!
FIVE STARS!
Arturo + Dizzy = KingGod:-)

A Night in Havana - Dizzy Gillespie in Cuba
Starring: Dizzy Gillespie , and Arturo Sandoval
Director: Gonzalo Rubalcaba
Manufacturer: New Video Group
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ASIN: B00092ZT4G
Release Date: 2005-07-26

Amazon.com

Part travelogue, part concert film, A Night in Havana is an enjoyable tour through the origins of Afro-Cuban jazz and one of its earliest purveyors, Dizzy Gillespie. Throughout the documentary, Dizzy tours various Cuban festivals of music and dance, smokes cigars with Fidel Castro, and waxes philosophic on his role in introducing Cuban rhythms to bebop, how his horn got turned up the way it is, and, of course, his cheeks. Featuring great renditions of Afro-Cuban jazz classics "A Night in Tunisia" and "Manteca" and guest appearances by Arturo Sandoval and a very young Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Dizzy Gillespie in Cuba is a breezy trip to our forbidden neighbors down south. --Kristian St. Clair

Description

The indisputable founding father of "bebop," Dizzy Gillespie remains one of the most recognizable and popular figures in jazz history. During his heyday in the 1940s, Dizzy was one of the first American jazz musicians to incorporate the electrifying sound of Afro-Cuban rhythms into a big-band setting. Forty years later, the legendary jazz trumpeter was invited to Cuba, the wellspring of his inspiration, to headline the Fifth International Jazz Festival in Havana. The journey, as documented in this star-studded film, was a spiritual and triumphal homecoming for the musical genius.

Customer Reviews:

DIZZY GILLESPIE - A Night In Havana!.......2007-02-07

Just as I expected. But the satisfaction really comes from the content of the DVD. A worthy purchase.

FIVE STARS!.......2005-09-29

The best DVD that i own. Amazing, heartwarming, emotional production that will take you back to the roots of Latin Jazz. Fans of Latin/Afr-Cuban Jazz must have this film. I learned so much about the roots of this most wonderfull music watching this film. Dizzie is absolutley captivating, one of the most generous musicians, a prodigy a grand master of soulfull music. Deffinate in your Latin collections.

Arturo + Dizzy = KingGod:-).......2005-08-17

First to say, that this is not a concert but a documentary movie. With a lot of music thoug. Its really fun to watch two of the worlds greatest trumpeters joke around! A lot of great trumpet playing and cool interwies... A trumpeters best buy this year. >-iii- <0

Average customer rating:

asere cuba en un buen material comico
Odd but enjoyable animated film
Very funny movie but.....
A Brilliant Subtle Political Film
An absolute must!

Vampires in Havana
Director: Juan Padron
Manufacturer: Vanguard Cinema
ProductGroup: DVD
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Things I Left in Havana

ASIN: B00005Y71A
Release Date: 2002-04-30

Amazon.com

The third feature by Cuban director Juan Padrón, Vampires in Havana (1985) is a silly, raunchy spoof of horror and gangster films. Wolfgang Amadeus von Dracula, the nephew of the famous count, invents a formula that allows vampires to endure sunlight--which he tests on his nephew Joseph "Pepe" Emmanuel. It works so well that Pepe is completely unaware of his true nature; he plays jazz trumpet in a nightclub and joins a cell plotting to overthrow a repressive general. Pepe soon finds himself dodging the general's inept henchmen and rival vampire syndicates who want the valuable formula. Drawn in a simple, cartoony style that suggests a cross between the work of Zagrebfilm and the Mad Magazine cartoons of Sergio Aragones, Vampires in Havana offers American audiences a rare glimpse of the work of one of Cuba's leading animators. Unrated; suitable for ages 16 and up: Nudity, sexual humor, profanity, violence, ethnic stereotypes. --Charles Solomon

Customer Reviews:

asere cuba en un buen material comico.......2007-01-11

La mejor pelicula de dibujos animados cubana de todos los tiempos. hay que tenerla.

Odd but enjoyable animated film.......2006-08-01

Watch this after the kiddies are in bed. The plot is strange. Vampires in America (Chicago) and Europe (Düsseldorf) try to gain control over a product that can allow vampires to be out in the sun. The vampires are like old time gangsters. And the war zone is in Havana where the product was made. The professor who made it has a nephew he experimented on who doesn't know yet that he is a vampire. He becomes front and center in the struggle of control of the product. His uncle wanted all the vampires to have the potion free.

The music is fun. Latin and Bop jazz. The animation reminds me a little bit of "Yellow Submarine" but not psychedelic. It is in Spanish so if you don't like subtitles you won't enjoy this film.

Very funny movie but............2005-07-17

For those of you who speak Spanish you might find the English subtitles a little bothersome when they interfere with the animated charater's faces. The DVD menu does not allow you to take them off and they are not set to be all the way down at the bottom of the screen. Other than that, it is a very enjoyable piece of work from director Juan Padron.

A Brilliant Subtle Political Film.......2004-07-27

Wolfgang Amadeus von Dracula has discovered a formula that will allow vampires everywhere to enjoy the sunlight by day. Wolfgang knows that his formula is successful because he has given it to his nephew for many years and the sunlight does not harm him. The nephew, Pepe, doesn't know he is a vampire. Because Pepe is liberated to enjoy the sunlight, he thinks nothing of enjoying his life as an individual (he is a trumpet player with healthy sexual appetite) and as a revolutionary, a member of a group intent on assassinating a right-wing general. He is, in effect, socialism's "new man."

It is significant that Pepe doesn't initially know he is a vampire. By not knowing his origin, he is able to lead his life unaware and unaffected by the personal nature that the formula transforms. Wolfgang (who is in some respects like Marx) intends to make the formula available to all vampires free of charge. The lack of the formula keeps vampires longing for the ability to enjoy sunlight as well as dependent on wealthy elite vampires who provide them with artificial sunlight for a hefty price. In short, the vampires are not truly liberated but must accept bastardized versions of true freedom

Wolfgang's offer to socialize the formula becomes the occasion for the audience to see the true nature of the vampires. Rival vampire syndicates battle each other and with Pepe and Wolfgang to control the formula. The syndicates (representing competing capitalist elite groups) are composed of two factions: one that wishes to repress knowledge of the formula altogether (thus preserving the status quo as well as their financial interests as peddlers of artificial daytime tropical beaches) and another that wishes to merchandize the formula to vampires for profit. In the end, Pepe broadcasts the formula by radio to all vampires, reminiscent of Castro's radio broadcasts to Cubans near the end of the Batista dictatorship.

This animated film is a must see.

An absolute must!.......2001-12-24

"Vampiros en La Habana" is among the funniest movies I've seen. The plot, the language, and the music are remarkable. I have seen it about 10 times and will now buy the video, it is an absolute must!! The characters are candid, witty, downright hilarious at times, and adorable. Don't hesitate, go see it!! get it!! whatever, just don't miss it!

Lonely Planet Six Degrees Series 1: Havana

Average customer rating:

Lonely Planet Six Degrees Series 1: Havana

Manufacturer: Beyond Entertainment Limited
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Lonely Planet Six Degrees Series 2: Mexico
Lonely Planet Six Degrees Series 3: Istanbul
Lonely Planet Six Degrees Series 3: Dublin
Lonely Planet Six Degrees Series 2: Tokyo
Lonely Planet Six Degrees Series 2: London

ASIN: B000LXH4GO
Release Date: 2006-12-14

Amazon.com

"The best way to explore a new city is to connect with the people who live in it. Join jetsetting presenters Toby Amies and Asha Gill on a radical urban adventure as they plug into city after city with the help of its most colourful and clued-in residents.

Havana

Presenter Toby Amies hooks up with fixer Flacco who gains him entrée to a rehearsal for an Afro-Cuban Santeria rite and a seat in the bleachers at a rollicking Havana rodeo.

Street photographer Leslie Sinclair takes Toby on a photographic assignment in the city's cramped camel buses. Surreal artist Damian Aquiles invites Toby to witness how Cubans celebrate the coming-of-age of their daughters by inviting him to his home town to experience a quinze. Toby wangels his way into the studio of hip-hop producer Pablo Herrera to find out why Cubans have had enough of the Buena Vista Socia Club and are now fusing traditional Latin rhythms with American hip hop beats.

Customer Reviews:

Joby Brava: Havana Heat Workout/Latin Dance Instruction.......2007-05-20

This is a great start to Latin dancing for a complete beginner. It's challenging and fun! You definitely won't get bored doing this type of workout and it reaaly does work!

High aspirations, too complicated & stiff.......2006-06-29

This is a quality production in studio w/4 female in shape backup women. It gives options of instruction (alone & w/partner) or workout with chapter choices & also comes in 5.1 surround. There's a bonus 3 min dance of her & the other women dancing & her & a male partner. She seems a little stiff in her dancing even in the bonus.
Instruction (no music): Bachata for 5 min, Salsa for 15 min, Merenge 12 min, Cha-cha/Triple mambo for 11 min.
Workout: 5 min warmup of all maj muscles, 5 min of Bachata, 7 min of Salsa, 5 min of Merenge, 4 min of Cha-Cha, 2 min of cooldown.
I agree w/other reviewers taht the moves were too advanced & having the instruction separate & more boring made remembering the moves harder. Also, the camera zoomed in too much on faces or faces then floatind down so it was very hard to keep up. Even though I own many dance fitness dvds I still couldn't keep up. As just an instructional & practice for say a wedding where you were desperate & short on cash this MAY be an option, but even then... Might be best for those who already took lessons & want a refresher or professional dancers or those who can pick up new dances easily.

A fun workout with clear instruction.......2006-06-06

I enjoyed this workout alot. I do have previous latin dancing experience but the explanations in the instructional section of the dvd were very clear and I even picked up some new ideas for solo dancing. I had fun and got some exercise and got to work on my dancing all at once. I also have her ladies styling dvd which is great. I don't think they have it here but you can search the web for it using her name. Good work, Joby!

Nonfunctioning DVD.......2006-02-28

I paid Amazon $20.00 for a new DVD--this dance one. The DVD does not work. I am really unable to determine if I like it, because I can't see more than a minute of the DVD before it sticks. I am very disappointed with Amazon and the seller of this product.

Latin dance instruction and workout.......2005-07-28

In the instructional portion of this video, instructor Joby 'Brava' teaches four categories of Latin dance: bachata, salsa, merengue, and cha-cha-cha. She spends about 10 minutes on each segment, and they all follow the same pattern. First, you briefly watch Joby and a partner perform the dance while her voiceover describes the origins of that dance. Next, Joby alone teaches the variety of different moves that make up that dance. She starts by demonstrating the move with music, and then without the music, she breaks the move down, teaching it very slowly from both the front and the back. Finally, the music returns, at she encourages you to practice the moves several times with her at tempo. Although Joby's instructions were clear and precise, there were several things I didn't like. First of all, viewing the move from the back seemed unnecessary, as this made the video move along extremely slowly and caused left-right confusion. Secondly, Joby explains how each move is counted, so you need to remember this and be able to follow along--no easy task for those new to dance! I was also surprised by the complexity of some of the moves which Joby selected for this video; the salsa section in particular includes quite complicated foot movements that I found very difficult to replicate. The entire instructional portion is about 45 minutes long.

The second part of this DVD is the Havana Heat workout. Like the instruction, the workout is broken down into separate chapters for the bachata, salsa, merengue, and cha-cha-cha, plus there is also a warm-up and cool-down. The 5-minute warm-up is a combination of moving and static stretches, and then Joby begins the workout with the bachata. Surprisingly, I found this 5-minute segment to be quite boring: the music was very low-key, and the routine seemed to be very low-energy. The Salsa segment (6 minutes) was a bit more upbeat, yet the footwork was quite complicated and the moves repetitive. The merengue section was probably the most enjoyable, as the moves were easier to follow yet still fun; this segment lasted 6 minutes. But then Joby finishes with a short (4 minutes) cha-cha-cha, which I also found to be too complex for my liking. A very brief (1.5 minutes) stretch brings the workout in at just over 20 minutes.

The DVD includes several bonus features: a couples and group performances (Joby is obviously an excellent dancer), a workout without narration option, trailers of three other Natural Journeys videos, and a photo gallery of Joby (I can't understand why Natural Journeys always includes these). Overall, I was disappointed with this video, especially given that I had difficulties following the workout and did not find it to be at all fun. I think that this DVD might be more suited to someone who is looking to learn Latin dance moves for use on the dance floor rather than someone who is looking to use dance for fitness.

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