Sabu

Starring:Tatsuya Fujiwara, Satoshi Tsumabuki, Tomoko Tabata, Kazue Fukiishi, Kenji Sawada, Naomasa Rokudaira, Tatsuo Yamada, Yoshiki Arizono, Keisuke Horibe, Yoji Tanaka, Mayuko Nishiyama, Naomasa Musaka, Hiroshi Tamaki, Ren Osugi, Kenichi Endo
Director: Takashi Miike
Studio: Arts Magic
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Description
Takashi Miike (Full Metal Yakuza, The Black Society Trilogy), one of the most prolific directors in chambara today delivers a haunting tale set in the Tokugawa Era. Framed for a crime he did not commit, Eiji is subjected to the harsh realities of the Ishikawa Island workhouse. Sabu, Eiji's longtime friend, must discover who is responsible for Eiji's incarceration, before prison life consumes him completely. Adapted from the classic Japanese rites of passage novel by Shugoro Yamamoto, Miike uses the work to his own purpose with his usual flair.

STARRING: Tatsuya Fujiwara - Eiji Satoshi Tsumabuki - Sabu Tomoko Tabata - Onabu Kazue Fukiishi - Osue

Directed by Takashi Miike

Description

(Sports) The road to WrestleMania 23 begins at the Royal Rumble, where 30 men compete for a shot at WrestleMania's main event. Superstars from Raw, Smackdown, and ECW compete in one of the most popular events of the year. Starring John Cena, King Booker, Big Show, Edge, Undertaker, Rob Van Dam, Triple H, Batista, CM Punk, Shawn Michaels, Chris Benoit, Test, Randy Orton, Mr. Kennedy, Sabu, Carlito, Lashley, Sandman, Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy, Johnny Nitro, and more.

Customer Reviews:

The Royal Rumble...For the 20th Time!.......2007-06-10

Are you ready to rumble? No, I said ARE YOU READY TO RUMBLE? Well count me in as ready because ladies and gentleman, it is Royal Rumble time. Not only do we have the Royal Rumble match, but we also have a LAST MAN STANDING match and Test vs. Bobby Lashley. Wait let me repeat myself: Test vs. Lashley! Folks, if that didn't make you pumped than I don't know what will. Let's get on with it already.

First up is MNM vs. The Hardys. Mercury is still sporting his Hannibal Lector mask as JR and The King remind us of his defacing. Of course, if that wasn't enough they show us replays of the fatal ladder shot. WILL THE HARDYS PYRO EVER GO OFF AT THE RIGHT TIME? Poor guys, but at least they still have their face. Nitro and Matt start things off. Mercury tagged in and he is attacking Matt's jaw. Of all the body parts to work on guys...but to their credit Matt had a dislocated jaw. Actually I kind of like it. ATTACK THE JAW! Hardys do some double teaming and are in control. Nitro targets Matt's jaw yet again and MNM regain control. Nitro applies a CHINLOCK. Get it..chin-jaw, chin-jaw. Even a double jawbreaker by MNM and I'm loving their offense. Melina is keeping pretty calm unlike her Scott Steiner like tantrum last month. Jeff gets the tag and is going crazy. WHISPER IN THE WIND! The Hardys then try a top rope leg drop and splash combo but Nitro gets his knees up on Jeff's splash. ~INNOVATION~ MNM back in control and it seems like everyone is holding their jaw except Mercury because he doesn't have a face. ROLLUP BY JEFF! To no avail and MNM go back to the double teaming. HOT TAG TO MATT...NO the referee didn't see it. Can we get some security to escort Mike Chioda out of the building? NOW THE HOT TAG TO MATT! Some nice offense by Matt and the match is starting to break down. Nearfalls by both teams lead to the SIDE EFFECT on Nitro. TWIST OF FATE follows as Mercury takes Matt out of the ring. Jeff sneaks in the ~SWANTAN~ and picks up the victory for the faces...at least the team where 100% of their members had a face. This was a very good opener. Although I wish Matt's jaw would have come in to play a little more there is no doubt that these two teams have chemistry. Overall, just a fun match to watch. ***

Up next we have the sole reason many people ordered this event on pay per view. This is also the sole reason that Styles and Tazz showed up tonight. It is Test vs. Lashley for the ECW World Championship. Oh and for those of you at home that don't know, Test is the IMPACT PLAYER. The two icons lockup and Test slaps Lashley only to get speared. Thankfully, Test has decided to wear kneepads tonight. Nice t-bone by Lashley followed by another suplex. Test gets in control via ramming Lashley into the ring post. Armbar draws our first boring chants. Even I think that's unfair. Armbreaker by Test and then he goes back to the armbar. I smell psychology. Lashley back in control with a press slam, WAIT! Lashley can't pull it off because of his arm. BIG..ENORMOUS boot by Test. Test's TKO is blocked and he gets clotheslined out of the ring. TEST TAKES THE COUNTOUT!?!?! There wasn't even time for my dull humor during the match. Okay, well that was a big waste of time. They had an average match going and then the stupid countout finish followed. Not good. 1/2*

With a tough act to follow, it is Mr. Kennedy vs. Batista for the World Heavyweight Championship. I told you: dull humor. Mr. Kennedy is cocky and he has every right to be. Folks, he BEAT THE CLOCK to get here. As Batista hops to the ring, we see THE SIGN GUY. There is some justice in the world. Batista powers Kennedy down to start but Kennedy gets a shot to the knee and an early rollup for 2. Boot by Batista who then suplexes Kennedy. They go to the outside but Kennedy rams Batista's knee into the steel steps. Back in the ring, Batista is in control as JBL verbally abuses Cole calling him a parrot. Kennedy gets another shot to the knee and then goes on to get more shots in on it. Kennedy then puts Batista in his indian deathlock contraption. What do you expect, the guy BEAT THE CLOCK! Kennedy is bleeding from the nose which makes me wonder if he is beginning to lose his face as well. Now I know what they mean when they tell me not to try this at home. Single-leg boston crab by Kennedy who knows he better win while he still has a face. Batista rolls through and gets a small package followed by an attempt for a powerslam but Kennedy slips out. SPINEBUSTER!! Batista can't capitalize because of his knee. They trade shots and Batista pulls off his power slam and Batista STEALS KENNEDY'S GREEN BAY PLUNGE! JBL...Sign Guy...can someone stop this animal? REF DOWN, REF DOWN, REF DOWN! Low Blow by Kennedy followed by a neckbreaker. Kennedy has Batista beat, but no referee. Can we get some security to escort Nick Patrick out of the building? Kennedy goes for a clothesline from the top rope but gets caught. BATISTA BOMB and Batista retains his title. While not setting the world on fire, this match showed two things. Kennedy has improved significantly and Batista can sell somewhat consistently. Decent little match but nothing more. **1/4

WWE Championship time as John Cena faces Umaga in a Last Man Standing Match. This match was setup nicely by their match at New Year's Revolution so let's see what they can do here. The SIGN GUY comes through again with his sign saying: "Umaga...Last Man Eating". They trade blows to start but Umaga gets the advantage by going to Cena's ribs. Outside, Umaga throws Cena into the steel steps. Both men battle in the entranceway and then take it back inside the ring. Umaga is just attacking Cena's ribs to the point where Cena is down for a 7 count. Umaga throws the steel steps into the ring. Cena recovers for a moment and sends Umaga back outside. Cena picks up the steps...the steel steps...and KILLS UMAGA BY THROWING THE STEPS AT UMAGA ON THE OUTSIDE!! Umaga gets back in control via spin kick. Of course, Armando Estrada did massage him after that big spot as well. You think I'm lying? BEARHUG by Umaga. Steps are back into the ring and Umaga sets up Cena against the steps but misses his running butt slam (what do you want me to call it?). Cena follows up by nailing Umaga with the steps. Cena gets caught doing a crossbody and Umaga hits a fallaway slam. Things are looking bad for Cena until he gets his knees up on Umaga and follows up with a BULLDOG ONTO THE STEPS! Cena hits his side suplex. YOU CAN'T SEE ME...FIVE KNUCKLE SHUFFLE...FU...NO! Cena can't pull it off. Cena is busted open and Umaga smells blood. Umaga continues to use logic but then CENA HULKS UP! All that gets him is a samoan drop ~PUN~. Samoan spike is blocked but Umaga rebounds with a headbutt. Umaga misses another headbutt and Cena hits his top rope legdrop. Umaga dies for the second time tonight as he gets blasted with a TV monitor. Cena gets caught again and rammed into the ring post. Armando tells Umaga to lay on the announce table for another massage but Umaga interprets differently and lays Cena on the table. UMAGA RUNS THE ANNOUNCE TABLES BUT MISSES A SPLASH!! That gets a 9 count. Armando whips out his toolbox and looses the top rope so it comes off completely. The intention here is the ~ULTIMATE SAMOAN SPIKE~. It's blocked and CENA GETS THE FU and hits Umaga with the metal turnbuckle. STFU USING THE ROPE! EVEN A MONSTER'S GOT TO BREATHE!!! Umaga gets up so Cena locks it on again. Umaga can't make the 10 count at Cena retains his title. Once again, these two have a very good match. I do feel this is overrated to an extent. Most of the psychology was off as it wasn't Cena's ribs that stopped him from performing moves but rather the weight of Umaga. Nevertheless, original spots and an original ending make this a very good, almost great match. ***1/2

Finally we come to the ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH. Now I am going to do things a little differently. Instead of doing play by play I will just give you my overall thoughts on the match. If I did do play by play, it would be incredibly long (like most of my reviews) and repetitive (Person enters, person gets eliminated). So time to get my analytical face on. First of all, the announce team was very good. It consisted of Cole, JBL, and Jerry Lawler. Mixing JBL and Lawler will always be entertaining. The actual match itself is disappointing for the most part considering the talent involved. There are many periods during the match where everyone in the ring is in pairs trying to eliminate each other. There also aren't many memorable eliminations; the most memorable being Sabu chokeslammed through a table. My final problem is that no one really stands out and shines. That is, until we get to the final four. This is where the match gets turned up a notch. In fact, it even gets better when we get down to just Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker. These two provided us with an insane amount of suspense helped by each having a legitimate chance of winning. With all that said, there still are some fun interactions and Undertaker winning from Number 30 was a nice touch. How do you rate a match like this? Each reviewer has different criteria so I'll just leave you with a closing statement. The 2007 Royal Rumble Match was for the most part dull but had maybe the best final four segment ever.

So there is the 2007 Royal Rumble. We had two matches hit three stars in Hardys/MNM and Umaga/Cena. I guess you could say I underrated Umaga/Cena as many people liked it a lot more than I did. The Royal Rumble match was fun as always but not that great of a match. Then of course Test and Lashley put on their clinic. To finish, it is still the Royal Rumble with a hot opener and a very good Last Man Standing Match.

WWE - Royal Rumble 2007 .......2007-05-08

I recently purchased this DVD for a Easter basket item for my nephew...He loved it. The DVD played excellent...I rec'd it in within the time frame that Amazon said...

WWE Royal Rumble 2007 DVD Review.......2007-04-28

Matt and Jeff Hardy vs. MNM
Rating: 9/10

ECW World Championship: Bobby Lashley vs. Test
Rating: 7/10

World Heavyweight Championship: Batista vs. Mr. Kennedy
Rating: 9/10

WWE Championship Last Man Standing Match: John Cena vs. Umaga
Rating: 10/10

The 30 Man Royal Rumble Match:
Rating: 10/10

I just bought this DVD and it was amazing!

Extras Include:

Rated RKO vs. John Cena and Shawn Michaels

Donald Trump and Mr. McMahon

Todd Grisham interviews the Undertaker and Kane

Royal Rumble 2007 San Antonio ,Tx, Jan.28,2007.......2007-04-23

ROYAL RUMBLE 2007

1.THE HARDYZ V MNM WINNER:HARDYZ 10/10

2.ECW CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
BOBBY LASHELY V TEST WINNER: LASHELY(COUNT OUT) 7/10

3.WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
MR.KENNEDY V BATISTA WINNER:BATISTA 9/10

4.LAST MAN STANDING MATCH FOR THE WWE CHAMPIONSHIP
UMAGA WITH ESTRADA V JOHN CENA WINNER:JOHN CENA 10/10

5.ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH WINNER GETS A WORLD CHAMPION SHOT A WM 23
# 3O ENTRY THE UNDERTAKER DEF #23 ENTRY SHAWN MICHAELS TO WIN ROYAL
RUMBLE MATCH. 10/10

A GOOD PAY PER VIEW. GET IT!!!!!. I GIVE IT A 87-90% RATING!!!!!!!!!!!!

EXTRAS

1.SHAWN MICHAELS AND JOHN CENA V RATED RKO FOR WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

2.DONALD TRUMP AND MR.MCMAHON

3.TODD GRISHAM INTERVIEWS THE UNDERTAKER AND KANE

The year of The Undertaker begins...........2007-04-07

In his entire career before this event Undertaker had never won a royal rumble, but now he can finally join the illustrious list of rumble winners as well as one of the few who went on to Wrestlemania and win the world title. The rest of the card was stacked as well, all three titles that were on the line were retained by their own champions, including a wild brawl between Cena and Umaga...

MNM vs. The Hardy Boys:
Great way to start off the show. I am sorry to hear about Mercury being let go, because matches like these prove why tag team wrestling is the best form of wrestling ever! This match was very fast paced, back and forth action and a lot of tagging in and out. Jeff Hardy is his usual self of unpredictable high flying moves, and yes Melina is still as hot as ever! In the end the Hardy Boys win. 8/10

ECW World Heavyweight Championship
Bobby Lashley [Champion] vs. Test:
I dont know if it was because these two fought three times in two weeks, but this match was just horrible. I never liked Test and Bobby Lashley is still a little too new to be made a champion. This is the match that many people left to go to the bathroom, including me. Bobby Lashley wins, big surprise. 5/10

World Heavyweight Championship
Batista [Champion] vs. Ken Kennedy:
I am glad Kennedy won the Money in the Bank ladder match and he will be champion sometime this year, but this match was just bad too, mostly because of Batista. The crowd was actually solidly behind Kennedy in this one, and Batista just pretty much got owned by Kennedy and his submission skills. Near the end Batista does a Hulk Hogan version of "Hulking Up" and gets the win for the cheap ending. 7/10

WWE Championship
Last Man Standing Match
John Cena [Champion] vs. Umaga:
Sigh, once again Cena remains champ. This match was actually pretty intense, a lot of weapon use such as chairs, steel steps, even the ring ropes as they were broken in the middle of the match! One sick spot saw Cena throw the steel steps out of the ring right into Umaga's face! Umaga then had Cena on the announce table and tried to do a running splash but Cena moved and Umaga put himself through the table. In the end Cena uses the ring ropes to literally strangle Umaga and got the win. 8.5/10

Royal Rumble Match:
Very good royal rumble for the 20th annual royal rumble. A lot of top names such as Undertaker, HBK, Chris Benoit, Rob Van Dam, and others were used. Some highlights include Kane chokeslamming Sabu out of the ring right through a table in a great spot! Others include many old rivals getting to faceoff against each other and of course it came down to HBK and Undertaker. Undertaker won even though the rumble was in HBK's hometown, still a great match. 9/10

Extras include the match where Rated RKO lose the tag team titles to Cena and Michales, as well as Kane congradulating Undertaker for his impressive win, some interesting stuff. This rumble is highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

Black Narcissus
Great movie
Black Narcissus
The End of the World
An Erotic Ghost Story

Black Narcissus - Criterion Collection
Starring: Deborah Kerr , Flora Robson , Jean Simmons , David Farrar , and Sabu
Director: Michael Powell , and Emeric Pressburger
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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All | Criterion Collection | Stores | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00004XQN4
Release Date: 2001-01-30

Amazon.com

Appropriately enough for a picture named for a flower, Black Narcissus exists in a color-drenched, hothouse atmosphere. The setting is a nunnery in the Himalayas, where sister Deborah Kerr has her hands full with an envious nun (the remarkable Kathleen Byron) and a sardonic Englishman (David Farrar). Director Michael Powell and screenwriter Emeric Pressburger, the team responsible for the mid-forties masterpieces A Stairway to Heaven and The Red Shoes, decided to shoot Black Narcissus entirely in the studio, so they could create their own controlled, slightly unreal world. The choice paid off, as both art director Alfred Junge and cinematographer Jack Cardiff won Oscars for their blazing Technicolor work. The climactic sequence--a murder attempt on the cliffs of the cloister--bears special attention, as Powell "set" the sequence to a preexisting musical track, staging it as though it were a piece of visual choreography. Adding a bit of behind-the-scenes tension to the production was the fact that Kerr was the director's ex-mistress, and Byron his current one. "It was a situation not uncommon in show business, I was told," he later wrote, "but it was new to me." --Robert Horton

Description

Plagued by uncertainties and worldly desires, five Protestant missionary nuns, led by Deborah Kerr's Sister Clodagh, struggle to establish a school in the desolate Himalayas. All the elements of cinematic arts are perfectly fused in Powell and Pressburger's fascinating study of the age-old conflict between the spirit and the flesh, set against the grandeur of the snowcapped peaks of Kanchenjunga. Criterion is proud to present Black Narcissus in a new Special Edition.

Customer Reviews:

Black Narcissus.......2007-06-21

Another great success for "Red Shoes" helmers Powell-Pressburger, "Narcissus" is an absorbing, finely acted British melodrama about the secular problems facing a new mother superior in an unfamiliar, potentially hostile new environment. The directors even stirred controversy by developing a subtle yet credible sexual tension between the luminous Kerr and hunky Farrar. Jack Cardiff's Oscar-winning Technicolor photography and Alfred Junge's hand-crafted art design give this film exceptional production values to boot. And Kathleen Byron's celebrated turn as the unhinged Sister Ruth climaxes in a suspenseful sequence that's hard to forget.

Great movie.......2007-06-04

I loved this movie because of the powerful characters and their struggle for doing some good in the world against the evil and the weakness of our human nature. Even though the film was filmed in a studio, due to budgetary constraints, the feel is of really being in some far off land. The story slowly envelops us in the personal struggles of the charters, their isolation and the remoteness of the nunnery. The understated sexual tension builds slowly until the dramatic ending.

Black Narcissus.......2007-05-08

I saw this film many years ago and enjoyed it very much. I still like reading Rumer Godden's books, though some people may consider them a bit dated-she had a good perception of India- I know because I have been married to an Indian for years. The film was an effective adaption of her book of the same name. Most of the cast acted well. The only one I found a bit unconvincing was Jean Simmons-an unlikely Indian. It was not all her fault-they should have toned down that brown make-up and left her natural looks. Many Indians are just as fair. Contrast her with Sabu, who was a real Indian. The settings were so well done-hard to believe the films was not photographed on location.

The End of the World.......2007-05-04

Black Narcissus, based on the book of the same name by Rumer Godden, is about five nuns who seem to go to the end of the world. They are sent to a palace high in the mountains in the Himalayas to start a Protestant missionary. They find themselves in a lonely, cold, wind swept place. The nuns find themselves haunted by memories they can't stop thinking about and a land that calls out to their flesh and their spirits.
Sister Clodagh, the main character, can't stop thinking about the life she ran away from. Everything seems to remind her of the life she fled, of the emotions she was trying to forget and the man she once loved. Like her, the other nuns find themselves trapped inside their minds, trying to deal with the desolate land, with the beauty of the snowcapped peaks and the ancient ways of the native people.
Mr. Dean, the agent of the Old General, is not very helpful. He has long given in to the strange ways of the people and has learned to deal with the erotic women, the green jungle and the rich culture.
The disc holds a ton of great extras, from audio commentary, a 27 minute documentary, a collection of behind the scene pictures and the original theatrical trailer. This is a must for any DVD library.

An Erotic Ghost Story.......2007-02-22

I loved this film, the characters, the setting, what's spoken, and what's left unsaid. Talk about the wrong place to send 5 women (nuns) who are repressing their sexuality...The Women's Palace. It's not the constant winds that haunts these women, but their desires, their regrets, and the memories of this palace that housed concubines in a harem many years ago. Women who had nothing to think about but sex, and waiting for one man to come and fulfill them, and to compete amongst themselves for his attention. The thing that pained them the most was their forced celibacy and endless days of tedium and ennui, sentiments that soaked those walls, so that many years later all these women experience the same longing and desires. Erotic, most certainly, but a haunting ghost story of the first caliber.

Arabian Nights (Universal Cinema Classics)

Average customer rating:

Arabian Nights
We Want MORE Montez
The Most fun you can have in a film.
Entertaining camp classic is enjoyable "sand and sandals" epic...
KNAB, UTAH IN GLORIOUS TECHNICOLOR!

Arabian Nights (Universal Cinema Classics)
Starring: Sabu , Jon Hall , Maria Montez , Leif Erickson , and Billy Gilbert
Director: John Rawlins
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Romantic Adventure | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000KGGJ18
Release Date: 2007-02-06

Amazon.com

Warning: Technicolor silliness ahead, as Universal's nutty series of turban-and-camel movies comes into view. Arabian Nights was the first of these confections, and after it became a big wartime hit it spawned a series of follow-ups, most of them starring some combination of Maria Montez, Jon Hall, Sabu, and Turhan Bey. The story is nonsense, with Hall as a deposed caliph battling his half-brother (Leif Erickson) while remaining incognito amongst a group of traveling players. Montez plays dancing vixen Scheherazade, and her crazy costumes and limited acting range give ample evidence for her later enshrinement as a camp icon. The film's level of seriousness is aptly demonstrated by the casting of Shemp Howard (of the Three Stooges--like there's another Shemp Howard?) as Sinbad; John Qualen plays Aladdin, and vaudeville pro Billy Gilbert plays the leader of the troupe. Coming off best is Sabu, the young star of The Thief of Baghdad and The Jungle Book, whose innate likability is infectious even in these inane circumstances. Arabian Nights probably isn't the most fun of these movies; check out Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves and Robert Siodmak's crazed Cobra Woman, too. They work on two fronts: family-movie fodder and high camp. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

Arabian Nights.......2007-05-25

Excellent movie from the 40's these old movies are the best with great actors, like jon Hall, Sabu,Shemp,and of Course Maria Montez I think she is one of the most Classical Beauty's of a bygone era I love movies with her in them as well as Jon Hall,Turhan Bay check out Allie Baba and the Forty Theives another great one. Everyone should have this movie.

What can I say Wonderful, Great, good plot ,great actors of a bygone era.

We Want MORE Montez.......2007-04-23

This DVD is absolutely gorgeous. The technicolor is so vivid and beautiful-like an early Disney film. I have watched my new copy already three times- it is so much fun to watch on every level. Lovely to look at and the best campy humor to top it off. While I love this film, it is quite tame compared to some of the wonderful excesses that were to follow in this cycle of cult favorite Maria Montez classics.

Thank you Universal for finally releasing one of your classic "Easterns" onto DVD. But please don't stop!! Maria's fans are legion. Her films are some of the hardest to find and most desireable to collectors. Remember of the six films she did with Jon Hall at Universal, only two were ever even released on VHS. The demand is high. Please Universal- give us a "Maria Montez Collection" with the remaining five Easterns. "Cobra Woman" alone is probably the most famous camp classic to never merrit a DVD release.

We want more!

The Most fun you can have in a film........2007-03-11

This is a great film, and they really dont make them like this anymore. It's funny, has some good action scenes and a light hearted story. It's even got Shemp in it. I saw this for the first time yesterday and I enjoyed it so much i went out and bought it.

Entertaining camp classic is enjoyable "sand and sandals" epic..........2007-03-10

MARIA MONTEZ, JON HALL and SABU made some very entertaining Technicolor "sand and sandals" epics at Universal and this DVD restoration showcases them in brilliant Technicolor.

It's strictly Saturday afternoon matinee stuff, nothing to really ponder in the way of complex plots--just the usual good vs. evil with Hall coming to the rescue of beautiful princess Montez in her usual damsel in distress kind of role.

Exquisitely photographed on desert sands, it's exotic fun fare for adults and children with lots of eye candy to keep things interesting. TURHAN BEY is effective in a brief role but it's Montez and Hall who keep the story moving along at a lively pace. Well worth viewing and nostalgic fun for fans of the Universal series starring this trio of stars.

KNAB, UTAH IN GLORIOUS TECHNICOLOR!.......2007-03-02

Universal's first 3-strip Technicolor feature is stunning to behold with Knab, Utah standing in for the Arabian desert. Technicolor is the highlight of this fun film. Inspired by the success of Alexander Korda's THE THIEF OF BAGDAD (1940), this was the start of a very popular series of fantasy adventure films from Universal with the beautiful Maria Montez and Jon Hall. The film is a lot of fun, but it pales when compared to THE THIEF OF BAGDAD, which not only had Technicolor, but one of the greatest musical scores (Miklos Rosza) ever created for a film as well incredible sets and art direction. The earlier film is the true classic of fantasy films, but the ARABIAN NIGHTS is a lot of fun in its own way -- just not a classic.

Average customer rating:

"That's ffolks. Two small "f"'s." = EXCELLENT!
Who Said Roger Moore Can't Act?
One of the worst moderately high budget movies ever
The great film that no one seems to have seen
Not a typical Hollywood thriller

Ffolkes
Starring: Roger Moore , James Mason , Anthony Perkins , Michael Parks , and David Hedison
Director: Andrew V. McLaglen
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Comic Action | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00009AOBJ
Release Date: 2003-08-12

Customer Reviews:

"That's ffolks. Two small "f"'s." = EXCELLENT!.......2007-01-10

I've been a fan of this film since it first aired on cable movie channels here in the US in the early 80's. I still remember some of my favorite lines as, "Cigarette, Kramer?" or the captain saying, "I'm not in the business of making terrorists happy." w/ Kramer responding, "Terrorists are confused. I don't follow politics of any kind, but I do know what I want." And the look in Perkin's eyes right before Moore finishes him off. IMMORTAL!

This movie was well written, scripted and played out by a once in a lifetime cast. Even the "situation" of the bombs and how to diffuse them are totally on the money and not some "hollywood" story.

Moore is fantastic and memorable as ffolkes and will list as one of his best performances. This is a must have film!!

Who Said Roger Moore Can't Act?.......2006-07-12

This is one of the greatest action adventure films ever made. It has so many strong points. The cast and script are far above anything anyone ever expected and unfortunately this film went entirely unnoticed on its release. This is one of director Andrew V. McLaglen's best films thanks to a cast that includes Roger Moore, Anthony Perkins, James Mason, David Hedison, Michael Parks, George Baker and Jack Watson and a superlative screenplay by Jack Davies. What really makes this film work so successfully is how Jack Davies gave each character such depth and distinct and dynamic personality. This keeps the story moving and is as intense and suspenseful as it is entertaining. For instance, David Hedison given what is essentially a minor role has some effective lines bringing his character true realism to the extent that we truly empathize with him making him more than another cardboard figure that he had been relegated to throughout his career. Anthony Perkins turns in one of his best roles and a very villainous and diabolical one at that. Anthony Perkins' character is so unpredictable you just haven't a clue to what he is up to next. He's incredible. But the entire cohesive force that holds this film together is Roger Moore. This is probably the performance of his career, along perhaps with THE MAN WHO HAUNTED HIMSELF. Roger Moore is flamboyant, charismatic and demonstrates a no nonsense tough and hardened side we have never seen. And the best thing about Roger's performance is that he is entirely and thoroughly believable. Every once in a while you have to pinch yourself and remember that this is really not the true life Roger Moore here, he's just playing a character. Roger Moore is that good in this film. The plot too is not standard fare. It has twists and turns and things happen that normally don't happen in your typical action adventure film. You just don't mess with Anthony Perkins in this film. That's all I will say on that. In fact, I don't know what else to say. This really and truly is a good one.

One of the worst moderately high budget movies ever.......2006-05-21

I am not in the habit of giving bad reviews, but this one deserves it. Watching the movie made me wonder if Roger Moore was going to actually say "I'm only doing this for the money".

There are better action movies, better thrillers, and better political commentaries.

Catch this some late night on an obscure cable channel, save your money.

The great film that no one seems to have seen.......2006-01-02

This is a unique film. I agree with my fellow reviewers. The characters are solid and I think the selection of these actors could not be improved upon. There is no wasted dialog, no special effects, no rap music in the sound track. Why it failed to be recognized in the theaters is a mystery, though I suspect it's the "anti-James Bond" approach used in ffolkes. No gadgets, no babes, not a smooth talker in this one, Roger Moore is a much more believable character than 007 ever was. I have never met anyone else who has seen this film. Buy a copy, share it with a friend. Maybe you should buy 2 copies.

Not a typical Hollywood thriller.......2005-10-14

Mention the name Roger Moore to the average moviegoer and they'll most likely immediately associate him with the James Bond franchise. Makes sense to me. After all, Moore took up the mantle thrown down by Sean Connery and eventually made some seven Bond films, beginning with "Live and Let Die" in 1973 and ending with "A View to a Kill" in 1985. I'm partial to Roger Moore because of this very fact. He's definitely my favorite Bond; I enjoy his glib wit, expressions of fear when confronted with daunting situations, and just the way he handles himself onscreen. I never turn down an opportunity to watch one of his films when AMC or another channel runs yet another lengthy 007 marathon. It's natural, considering how much I enjoy his Bond films, that I would seek out other Roger Moore projects. Thanks to DVD, we're starting to see his work on "The Saint" and several other efforts reemerge. I'm still waiting for "The Wild Geese" and, up until a short time ago, I eagerly awaited the arrival of "ffolkes." Finally, I procured a copy and immediately sat down for a watch. I wanted to see if I liked the movie as much as I did ten or fifteen years ago.

"Ffolkes" is the story of Rufus Excaliber ffolkes (Moore, of course, with lower case last name for some reason), a crusty old tar who runs a mercenary security service in his retirement. You could say that this chap is the sort of gentleman businesses turn to when they need top-notch security. You could also say that governments might turn to him as well when faced with threats not easily deterred with conventional forces. And that, my friends, is exactly what happens when a terrorist named Lou Kramer (Anthony Hopkins) hijacks two British oil rigs in the North Sea. With the technical assistance of nerdy looking Harold Schulman (Michael Parks) and a gang of muscle, Kramer rigs the platforms with high explosives and then sends his demands to London. Predictably, the Prime Minister (Faith Brooks) and her cabinet are outraged. The tendency to not negotiate with terrorists, however, places the government in a real bind. Fortunately, certain insurance concerns--quite agitated that the destruction of the rigs could bankrupt the firm--call in Rufus Excaliber ffolkes to save the day. It's the sort of task he and his people relish, as Kramer's carefully prepared plans demand an intellectual as well as a physical response. It's a tough assignment made all the more difficult by the stormy, cold region.

Ffolkes rapidly coordinates his plan of attack with the help of Admiral Sir Francis Brindsen (James Mason). The outfit manages to remove one of the rigs from danger quite quickly and easily, but the second one is a bit harder since Kramer and his thugs float right beside it on a small boat. And Kramer's emotional state is deteriorating as fast as the weather outside. The Nordic crew of the ship, led by Captain Olafsen (Jack Watson), resents their kidnapping by Kramer and constantly irritates the terrorist. This cautious defiance, coupled with the grinding process of negotiating with the British government, soon wears heavily on Kramer. He oscillates between calm and explosive rages, always inches away from the detonator that will blow the rigs sky high. The vast majority of the film takes place on the boat and on the nearby rig, as ffolkes disguises himself as a British naval officer in the hope that he can board the ship as part of the negotiating team and bring the evil Kramer down. Needless to say, the plan doesn't go quite as smoothly as hoped. Can ffolkes and the British government save their oil production facilities in the nick of time? Watch and see.

Moore is great in this movie. He plays a no nonsense sort of guy set like stone in his ways. A misanthrope with a penchant for cats, needlepoint, a love of Scotch, and a loathing for women that runs to the core of his soul, ffolkes makes for an interesting character. As played by Roger Moore, he's hilarious because we immediately realize that this guy is about as far from James Bond as one could get. Less compelling, at least for hardcore action film fans, is the pace and content of the movie. The picture is one of the talkiest action movies you're likely to see, and even when the action breaks out it's not enough to tide over fans of big body counts and massive explosions. There are also several moments of incredulity where the viewer is likely to say, "No way. That would never happen!" But that's o.k. I like Moore so much, and I always enjoy watching Anthony Hopkins go off the deep end, that I forgave the director and writer for not giving us a non-stop action flick. But if you're the sort of filmgoer who eschews character development and tension in favor of cartwheeling bodies and stuff blowing up, you'll likely chafe at the bit with this movie.

I'd like to the give the DVD presentation of the film five stars. I'd like to, but I can't for a couple of reasons. One, nary an extra graces the disc. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Not even a trailer for the film. Ouch! I don't know why "ffolkes" received such shabby treatment, but it's undeserved in my opinion. Second, and probably more germane to the actual film, I didn't enjoy the movie quite as much as I did when I saw it back when I was a younger lad. Like I mentioned in a vague way above, I encountered several unbelievable situations and scenes during my latest trip through the movie. Yet "ffolkes" is still great, still a lot of fun, and definitely worth seeking out not only for Bond fans but Moore fans as well.

Average customer rating:

A Rare Old Classic from the Arabian Nights tales!
ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES (1944)

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Arabian Nights (Universal Cinema Classics)
Thief of Bagdad (1940)
The Black Swan
Quo Vadis
Land of the Pharaohs

ASIN: B000BT8VV0

Product Description

SUMMARY: Ali Baba, son of the Kalif of Bagdad is brought up by the 40 Thieves after his father is killed by the soldiers of Hugalu Khan, who received the necessary information by traitor Cassim. Ali becomes the leader of the thieves and they are fighting for the freedom of his land. Per chance Ali captures the fiancée of Hugalu Khan, who turns out to be his girl friend Amara. After a few misunderstandings Ali uses her wedding day with Hugalu Khan as the day for the liberation of Bagdad. [IMDB Stephan Eichenberg] ++++ DVD FEATURES: This officially licensed release from South Korea is All-Region NTSC Code 0 (playable worldwide) with 4:3 Full Screen display, Dolby Digital Surround Sound in ENGLISH with optional (removable) English, Korean, or Chinese subtitles.

Customer Reviews:

A Rare Old Classic from the Arabian Nights tales!.......2006-12-23

I had a VHS copy of this movie I had taped off the TV a long time ago. I was happy to find this South Korean import--the only DVD of this movie that is possible to obtain. Overall the clarity and quality of tranfer is good. Definately a far better improvement over any VHS version.

The movie itself is full of action and very entertaining, espesially for a 1944 movie. The colors are nice. I noticed that outdoor photography at night tend to be a little dark- probably from the movie itself and the usage of dark filter while shooting in daylight to stimulate nighttime. Other than that, indoor scenes are beautiful and bright as well as outdoor daylight scenes.

Overall, It is not a perfect edition of the movie, but it is the only DVD version of it that I know that is obtainable for a higher price--that is until Universal Studio decide to do a special restoration and release it on DVD sometime in the future?

I rated the movie itself 5 stars, the transfer 3 for missing opening and ending credits.

ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES (1944) .......2006-04-27

aka Al? Bab? & los 40 Ladrones
(Action/Adventure, 1 hr 27 min, Technicolor)
Universal - U.S.A.

DIRECTOR:
Arthur Lubin

CAST:
Scotty Beckett, Turhan Bey, Andy Devine, Jon Hall, Frank Puglia, Kurt Katch, Maria Montez (As: Amara)

COMMENTS:
This Arabian Nights fantasy follows the exploits of the Caliph of Baghdad's son, who runs off into the desert after his father is killed by raiding Mongols.

There he encounters the legendary 40 thieves and watches in amazement as their command, "Open Sesame," magically parts a solid rock wall, revealing a cavernous hiding place filled with treasures.

He is adopted by the thieves, dubbed "Ali Baba," and grows up to be their leader. As an adult, Ali sets out to avenge his father's death and to free his land from the reigning Mongols.

The film is set in the ancient Middle East. Maria Montez stars as Amara, a Baghdad beauty, who is one of the main reasons of the fight between the Mongol Khan Hulagu and Ali Baba.

In this time, Maria demonstrated that she will never accept to do scenes or scene parts against her will. For instance, the director Arthur Lubin tried to convince her of appearing naked inside of a pool, the problem was solved when Lubin accepted to put her in a bubble bath.

Before beginning working in the most popular and commercial movie of its time, Maria said to the media: "According to my horoscope, the name I will have in this movie will not augur me success."

The producers thought Montez wanted to change the name they assigned her and they allowed her to do so.

Average customer rating:

Good laugh
Hard Rock Zombies
Wonderfully Awful
Better than Citizen Cane+ Casablanca
JUST AS BAD, AND GREAT AS I REMEMBER IT BEING...

Hard Rock Zombies
Starring: Geno Andrews , Sam Mann , Mick Mc Mains , Crystal Shaw , and Lisa Toothman
Director: Krishna Shah
Manufacturer: Vintage Home Ent.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare
Redneck Zombies
Nightmare City
Street Trash
The Dead Next Door

ASIN: B0002TVX0K
Release Date: 2004-09-07

Customer Reviews:

Good laugh.......2006-10-29

We saw this movie a number of years ago and were telling the kids about it. They all have seen it and got a good laugh out of it. Not a great movie, but is a good laugh. Halloween is a great time to view it.

Hard Rock Zombies.......2006-06-08

No star for the worst storyline ever!!!!!!
No star for the raunchiest sex scene that occurred between those 2 old people, YUCK! No star for the cheesiest, scenes ever! 5 STARS FOR THE HARDROCK/HEAVYMETAL MUSIC that was featured in the movie. They were songs written by PAUL Sabu and performed by E.J. Curcio( bass guitarist of Silent Rage), Geno Andrews ( a 1970s heartthrob and rock star of the 70s and 80s) Sam Mann and that othe dude on keyboards. E.J. Curcio had a great voice, he brought those songs to life! Paul Sabu is a great musician who writes amazing songs. Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na , Cassie, Street Angel were tremendous, too bad the soundtrack is not available on cd at this moment because the music is the only thing that's good about the movie. There was a scene to the Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na song which featured those guys goofing off, acknolodging their fans and getting people to notice them, and posing for rock concert promotion pics. Plus there was another scene later on performing the same song as Zombies which wouldv'e been perfect for a music video, that plus the other footage. There was also them performing the Street Angel song as Zombies ( substract the scenes with those people running away from who knows what amd replace it with them singing the song through out and you've got another perfect music video.

Wonderfully Awful.......2005-09-05

Yes, there may be something wrong with me, but I love bad movies. The more times you see the crew in the shot the better. We bought this movie at the local supermarket last night and I have never laughed so hard in my life. The music is pure cheese, the plot is hysterical, the acting is downright scary. I even checked it out on imdb and all the actors had to be the director's friends, because they have not acted in anything since 1984 when the movie came out. This movie + alcohol + friends = a fabulous time!

Better than Citizen Cane+ Casablanca .......2005-07-20

The only reason this doesn't get a 5 star review is because, the audio isn't Dolby 5.1, these songs won Oscars!!!
IN THE FUTURE.

Own this movie. Everyone you know will think you the better person for it.

It's shame about the poor audio quality, but you can still get a glimpse of the aural bliss to complicate this visual feast of a movie.

They just don't make them like they used too, eh?

JUST AS BAD, AND GREAT AS I REMEMBER IT BEING..........2004-10-11

Wow...a film I never thought would get released on DVD. Here it is...and oh boy...it's just as lousy, stupid, and ridiculous as I remember it being. Why did I give it 5 stars you ask? Well, call it nostalgia....nostalgia for renting ratty looking VHS tapes from the local "Mom & Pop" video stores that no longer exist. This movie brings back great memories of those wonderful old days when I would rent ANYTHING with the words "zombie", "horror", or "splatter" in the title. The actual movie is crap, the DVD quality is crap...but the memories are great, and forever(now thanks to DVD).

Average customer rating:

Get swept along with the story of the"eel"
Love conquers all!
2nd REVISED REVIEW: Guilt and Redemption
Blame and redemption!
...

The Eel
Starring: Kôji Yakusho , Misa Shimizu , Mitsuko Baisho , Fujio Tsuneta , and Akira Emoto
Director: Shohei Imamura
Manufacturer: New Yorker Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Warm Water Under a Red Bridge
Dr. Akagi
The Pornographers - Criterion Collection
Fireworks
Vengeance Is Mine - Criterion Collection

ASIN: B00005NFY5
Release Date: 2001-08-28

Customer Reviews:

Get swept along with the story of the"eel".......2006-06-30

With a strong narrative, excellent acting, the tone wedded to the redemptive journey of the anti-hero, this a very fine film indeed. The quirky characters - working class philosophers, temper tantrum throwing rich thugs, an eccentric operatic type mad mother - plus the range of life styles that sit cheek by jowl in modern Japan, I relished in this film. One to own. Quite moving.

Love conquers all!.......2006-05-13

One of my favorite actors is K?ji Yakusho. He has a way of melting into his characters and becoming them in a very basic, natural manner. I hadn't realized he was in Unagi, (or had forgotten), so I was pleasantly surprised to witness another brilliant yet subdued performance on his part. Brilliant in 1997's Cure, acclaimed for his role in 1999's Charisma, 2000's K?rei, his brief appearance in 2001's horror masterpiece Kairo, a Jeremy Irons-like duplicitous role in 2003's Doppelg?nger, his resume is one of the best. This was the first non-horror film I've seen of his. In Unagi, he plays Takuro, a white-collar salaryman who works in the city and resides in a small countryside village with his beautiful wife named Emiko. He has a long commute to and from his job and a seemingly dull or uneventful job (although we only get a minimal glimpse of it at the very beginning of the film). On a regular basis, he joins friends, acquaintances and perhaps colleagues to fish the sea on a pier outside of the close-knit village.

Takuro squeezes onto the same train everyday, probably in the same car... well, you get the idea of a regimented lifestyle, but one Takuro seems to willingly get by with. One particular day on the trip home, he pulls an anonymous note from his pocket and reads that his wife has been having an affair, usually whilst he is fishing. I wondered why the movie didn't set the affair to coincide with him being at work, but it makes more sense when you see it. He makes his walk down the narrow road to his home and greets his smiling wife. He ditches his suit , accepts a prepared, boxed dinner (lovingly wrapped) and leaves per usual for much fishing. It's eery to hear Emiko ask "How long will you be gone?" as a viewer because we obviously know what's happening. Takuro doesn't miss a beat and responds that he'll 'be gone as long as usual'. Takuro spends a shorter time at the pier tan usual and bids the others farewell. On the way, he reminisces about the anonymous note; it also mentions what type and color the man arrived in. When he arrives to his home, he does find a white sedan parked and half-covered with brush next to the house. He sneaks around the house to a window and peeks thru the window. What follows is the reason he's sent to prison, where (at another unknown point) he catches and begins to confide in an eel (he's lost all trust in people) which he keeps in a prison fountain with help from a few guards. The guards allow him to keep the eel when his parole officer assumes custody of Takuro upon his release. Takuro begins to reestablish himself by purchasing a rundown barber shop in a tiny coastal town full of interesting characters and soon a mysterious woman enters the town. She brings a mix of disruption, controversy and maybe hope to the residents of the small coastal town and Takuro himself.

To Unagi's benefit (or not), the story is told with an array of styles. It doesn't stray form it's intention to take Takuros plight seriously, but at times, it seemed to go off on a tangent concerning other characters. I believe this was detrimental to bringing Takuro's redemption to fruition. I'm not saying that developing the other characters is a mistake, I'm just saying that in this case it worked against a complete resolution. Hell, for all I know, that could of been the objective all along; for the ending to remain open-ended and unresolved fully. With characters like Akira Emoto's character Tamotsu (Maborosi, Doppelg?nger) as Takuro's level-headed, wise, father figure-type new friend, could conceivably live on past the ending. The film as a whole has that sort of natural feel to it and an uncanny sense of taking place in two different eras. Add a touch of hilarity now and then to ease the dramatic air and this turns out to be a surprisingly solid movie.

2nd REVISED REVIEW: Guilt and Redemption .......2005-05-19

Guilt and Redemption are the pervasive themes of this quirky, disturbing, very fine film from Shohei Imamura. The consequences of the instantaneous loss of control molds this story in the way such life happenstances unfold - slowly - and Imamura knows how to take us with him in this strange tale, pausing here and there for the surreal, dreamlike sequences that can and do alter our perceptions of reality.

Takuro Yamashita (Kôji Yakusho) is a quietly married blue-collar worker who spends some evenings fishing for sport and food, his passive wife Emiko (Chiho Terada) sending him off with boxed lunches. Takuro receives an anonymous letter that states his wife is having an affair while he slips away to fish. Incredulous, Takuro returns early from his nocturnal fishing to find his wife engaged in flagrante and Takuro stabs her to death, then bicycles to the police station and turns himself in for the murder of Emiko. He is imprisoned for eight years and conforms to the rigid life of the incarcerated, his only companion is a pet eel with whom he feels he can communicate.

Here the film's story begins. Upon release from prison, Takuro is placed under the supervision of a kindly priest who helps him start a barbershop, living a quiet secluded life, his only friends being his pet eel and a strange character who has set up a field station to attract friendly aliens from outer space! All is calm until he encounters the disturbed Keiko (Misa Shimizu) who closely resembles his murdered wife. Takuro saves Keiko from a suicide attempt and the priest encourages him to take on Keiko as an assistant.

Takuro is emotionally dead over his guilt for the murder of his wife and refuses to entertain the idea of opening himself to Keiko's affectionate advances. There are too many similarities between the dead Emiko and the frightened Keiko. Yet when all of the forces collide in the climax of the film, Takuro realizes how much of his past is mixed with fantasy/nightmare and, equally, how much his present is dependent on his interaction with Keiko, the priest, his sci-fi friend and the forces who would destroy Keiko and his quiet existence. Though the ending is somewhat marred by an unfortunately Keystone Kops type silly sequence, it suggests that the cracks in Takuro's mental armor may be healed as the possibility for redemption unfolds in a tender way.

There are many levels of interpretation to this fable and to explore each of them would rob the first-time viewer of this little film of the pleasure of the chess game Imamura sets for us. The acting is solid, the night scenes are lovely, and the day scenes are as visually chaotic as the real world in which we live. There could be improvements in the editing, definitely in the musical score and in the camera work. But those are minor blemishes in this film that engages the mind in the challenge of entering a new mode of thought. A strange little film, this, and not for everyone. Grady Harp, May 05

Blame and redemption!.......2005-05-13

The brutal opening sequence schocks even the most indifferentt of the viewers.
This moral defeat affects him seriously and even he is sent to prison by this double crime, he develops a profound and visible transformation in his affective relations.
He will establish a peculiar relation with this eel that will work out as a cathartic device, till the love comes for him to rescue.
Mature and very original film that meant another triumph in Cannes for this wunderkid and loved film maker, who shares with Angelopoulus a very special affection in Europe.
It's time for you to get close to the world of this giant japanese director who has proved his enormous talent with The Ballad of Narayama, Black Rain, Eijanaika and this one.
A favorite and personal Japanese films of that decade.

..........2003-09-30

The Eel is a very enjoyable, often humorous and contemplatively paced (read:slow... but not unbearably so) movie. Apparently Imamura had misgivings about its presentation at (and subsequent winning of the palme d'or) Cannes, amongst the bigger budget fare (which the comments indicate he prefered to his own film... "They should recount the ballots."), but, the comments don't necessarily indicate he thinks it's a particularly bad movie, and it's perfectly normal that artists be dissatisfied with or dislike their own work.

While Imamura's comments aren't entirely baseless, (especially if you're competing with something like The Sweet Hereafter) The Eel still has merits. The acting is well done, the characters are interesting if not particularly sympathetic, and, for the most part, uniquely identifiable (never unbearably 'quirky')... The cinematography is a bit murky (although it may be the transfer) but for the most part the shots are well staged. The soundtrack is effective, but not worthy of special attention. Although, like other reviewers, I found the supposed "themes" especially vague other than what is openly stated in the movie, the vagaries don't really affect the movie, other than some confusion created by the title (really... just because a film seemingly has the pretense of meaning or fails to elucidate it, doesn't set in stone its meaninglessness or meaningfulness nor make it "good" or "bad").

(On another note, although there is some sex in the film, I didn't find it to be an especially "erotic" movie... the packaging seems to be another one of those instances where zealous marketing wizards and mistaken reviewers (both of whom probably walked out after first twenty minutes) collide.)

Amazon.com essential video

Often hailed as the greatest fantasy film ever made, The Thief of Bagdad (1940) was producer Alexander Korda's crowning achievement. Deservedly winning Academy Awards for art direction, color cinematography, and special effects, this Arabian Nights adventure appeals to all ages with its fantastical tale of Abu (Sabu), the little thief who befriends the prince of Bagdad (John Justin) and foils the nefarious plans of the evil grand vizier (Conrad Veidt), who seizes control of Bagdad and covets the princess of Basra (Joan Duprez). From its gorgeous, epic-scale sets to flying horses, magic carpets, and, best of all, Rex Ingram's towering jinni of the bottle, this Thief has all the magic of the tales that inspired it, and vibrant Technicolor brings it all to life in dazzling style. Six esteemed directors worked on this infamously troubled production, but the final result exceeded all expectations, becoming an instant classic that endures to this day. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Difficult to rate.......2007-02-23

This is the first movie ever that I remember seeing. It has been my benchmark for all others since. A great movie in all ways, and well worth watching.

Note especially the curious mix of Islamic and Hindu themes and the interesting bit players and extras who alternate between the two cultures.

Unfortunately the copy of the DVD I was shipped has very poor color registration, and with blue-screen shots used for special effects, this ruins a lot of the most enjoyable scenes (the temple of the goddess for example). Fortunately, the sound is good and much of my enjoyment comes from the dated, sometimes corny but sometimes moving dialogue and the beautiful music (including wonderful leitmotifs) by Rozsa Miklos.

I would like to rate it at 5 but I have to be honest. If you are a perfectionist, you may be (a little) disappointed.

I only wish someone could make movies like this again!!!!!

Arabian Nights.......2007-02-14

I will always find time to watch this movie several times over. The special effects are simple but beautiful without all the computer digital effects junk.

Enchanting fairy tale!.......2007-01-15

"The Thief of Bagdad" is impressive in the shape of the evil magician Jaffar (Conrad Veidt). He plots with lies and magic spells to obtain the kingdom from its rightful ruler the young King Ahmad, and a gorgeous princess from her father...

He falls victim in the end, as all tyrants do (in books and legends) to love and of the common man whom he ignored, here embodied by the little thief (Sabu).

The armies of good and evil, black and white, are superbly realized in both visual and literary terms...

The script is poetic, simply and very beautiful... The costumes of the magician and his men rising and falling like the wings of black birds, attacking suddenly in the night to inflict destruction and create terror...

The radiant hero wears white turbans and robes, and his princess is dressed in pinks and pale blues...

For spectacular scenes it matched all that had gone before, while through its use of color, it brought to life a world such as had not seemed possible before...

With flying carpet and flying white horse, with a giant genie (excellently played by Rex Ingram), with evil wizards, and with the good acting of Sabu and Veidt, "The Thief of Bagdad" captures the quality and true atmosphere of the Arabian Nights...

The 1940 version remains the screen's finest fairy tale!

The Thief of Bagdad.......2006-11-10

A classic of early special effects with a great story,great acting and entertainment fit for the whole family.

A real classic original of a much loved movie.......2006-11-10

The original version is a classic. The quality of the movie and the great story line is a must have for real movie lovers and collectors.

Average customer rating:

Jungle Book (Digitally Remastered)

Manufacturer: Digiview Productions
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Classics | Genres | DVD | Video

Thief of Bagdad (1940)
The Jungle Book
101 Dalmatians (Limited Issue)

ASIN: B0006JKBG8

Product Description

Digitally Remastered - Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book is given the full treatment in this lavish retelling filled with huge sets, exotic animals, a large cast and the incomparable Sabu, starring as Mowgli, the young orphan boy raised by wolves. This version was (and still is) considered by most film historians to be the most faithful and definitive interpretation of this classic story.

TNA Wrestling: The Best of the Bloodiest Brawls Volume 1

Average customer rating:

one of the best wresting dvds out there
TNA at ITs BEST
Uuuugggh.....
Surprised Me
Best of the bloodiest brawls V.1

TNA Wrestling: The Best of the Bloodiest Brawls Volume 1
Starring: Sabu, Raven, Jeff Hardy Abyss
Manufacturer: Total Non-Stop Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

WWE Bloodsport - ECW's Most Violent Matches
TNA Wrestling: The Best of the X Division Volume 1
The Best of Samoa Joe: Unstoppable
TNA Wrestling: The Best of AJ Styles - Phenomenal
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling: Lockdown 2006

ASIN: B000E6ULCM
Release Date: 2006-03-14

Product Description

TNA WRESTLING:BEST OF THE BLOODIEST BRAWLS VOL. 1 (DVD MOVIE)

Customer Reviews:

one of the best wresting dvds out there.......2007-05-05

tna's collection of their most hardcore matches doesn't dissapoint in the least. this is one of the best wrestling dvds i've ever seen, as it combines great hardcore wrestling with some nice high-flying and technical wrestling sprinkled in.

1. raven v. abyss v. monty brown (monster's ball) ~ very short match, but otherwise great. abyss gets powerbombed by raven onto the thumbtacks he brought out (abyss always takes the thumbtack spots it seems), and monty brown wins after pouncing raven through a table. (7/10)

2. america's most wanted v. triple x (six sides of steel) ~ this is absolutely my favorite tag team cage match of all time. all four men bleed, and elix skipper does a sick move, tightrope walking across the top of the cage to perform a hurricanrana onto chris harris. amw win after doing triple x's finishing move onto skipper while christopher daniels was handcuffed to the cage. (9.5/10)

3. abyss v. jeff hardy (falls count anywhere) ~ a decent match between the two, and it made me remember why i still like jeff hardy. he does a nice flip off some structure outside the building onto a table-top abyss. jeff hardy wins, but after the match abyss slams hardy onto some thumbtacks. i've never seen jeff hardy take a thumbtack spot before. (7.5/10)

4. aj styles v. abyss (six sides of steel) ~ awesome match from the beginning, when styles flips out of the cage door onto abyss. aj takes a nasty shot from the cage door. abyss takes out the thumbtacks, but ends up landing in them after aj does a sunset flip powerbomb on him. aj wins after a sytles clash onto the thumbtacks. (8.5/10)

5. raven v. sean waltman(x-pac) (raven's house of fun) ~ weapons abound including kendo sticks and a staple gun. waltman surprised me by putting on a nice hardcore match. some decent table spots during the match. raven wins after throwing waltman onto a fence that breaks sending waltman out of the ring. (7/10)

6. raven v. abyss (dog collar match) ~ this match proves why these two dominate the dvd. some sick table spots are involved, and raven even staples a dollar bill to abyss' head. raven wins by after ddting abyss onto some thumbtacks. (8.5/10)

7. raven and sabu v. jeff jarrett and rhyno ~ not a bad brawl, with raven cutting open jarrett with a pizza cutter at the beginning. sabu shines as usual, and there were some nice chairshots in the match. abyss come out and throws sabu through a table, then jeff hardy comes out and takes out abyss. rhyno and jarrett win after rhyno gores raven through a table as he was about to ddt jarrett. (6.5/10)

8. sabu v. abyss v. rhyno v. jeff hardy (monster's ball 2) ~ a great match with brawling all over the building, some nice table spots including a swanton by hardy and a gore by rhyno. rhyno wins afer doing a piledriver onto hardy off the second rope. (8/10)

9. team 3d(dudley boys) and rhyno v. america's most wanted and jeff jarrett ~ the match began with jarrett and amw spreading out to three sides of the arena, setting the stage for a nice brawl. lots of fighting in the crowd, on the rampways, and elsewhere. some pretty sick spots including bubba powerbombing one of the amw guys onto the floor. team 3d and rhyno win, yet i can't remember how at this time. (7.5/10)

10. sabu v. abyss (barbed wire match) ~ this match was too short, but overall it lived up to it's hype. the ropes were replaced with barbed wire and both men get cut open by the barbed wire (sabu, of course, takes more spots than abyss does). sabu wins by knocking abyss onto a board of barbed wire, putting another board on top of him, and jumping on top. again, too short of a match, but a nice way to end the dvd. (8.5/10)

TNA at ITs BEST .......2007-03-18

Monsters Ball 1
Monty Brown VS Raven VS Abyss
FOR THIS IS THE 1ST EVER MONSTERS BALL THIS MATCH WAS COOL !!!!!!!! 8.5/10

Six sides of steel
AMW VS Triple X
GOOD TAG TEAM STEEL CAGE MATCH 8.5/10

FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE
ABYSS VS JEFF HARDY
I dont care WHAT PEOPLE SAY THIS MATCH RULED!!!! 10/10

SIX SIDES OF STEEL
AJ STYLES VS ABYSS
-GREAT CAGE MATCH AND AJ(AS USUAL) WAS GREAT IN THIS MATCH 10/10

HOUSE OF FUN
RAVEN VS SEAN WALTMAN
- VERY GOOD HARDCORE MATCH, GOOD ENDING...9.5/10

DOG COLLER STEEL CHAIN MATCH FOR NWA TITLE
RAVEN VS ABYSS
BRUTAL MATCH, GREAT TO WATCH, 9.5/10

JEFF JARRETT/RHINO VS SABU/RAVEN A GOOD match 7.5/10

MONSTERS BALL 2
RHINO VS ABYSS VS HARDY VS SABU
GREAT MATCH, HARDYS Swanton Bomb WAS AMAZING!!!! 10/10

6 MAN TAG MATCH
TEAM 3-D/RHINO VS AMW/JARRETT CRAZY BRAWL, 7.5/10

BARBED WIRE MASSACRE
ABYSS VS SABU
BRUTAL!! HARD TO WATCH. TOO bad this match was not LONGER 8.5/10

Uuuugggh............2006-12-16

You know, I like to call myself a wrestling fan, but then I read all these reviews and realize something. Most everyone who's left a review on a wrestling dvd, especially the TNA dvd's, are douchebags. And I hope with everything that I have, that I am not a douchebag.

Surprised Me.......2006-11-24

I thought it was going to be a bunch of guys just hitting a couple a high spots and beating the daylights out of each other. That is it, not much wrestling. I was wrong, there are some great matches on this disk. Sabu versus Abyss is downright brutal to watch. AMV VS. Triple X in the cage is phenomenal. It is a good wrestling match. Elix Skipper does an insane move off the top of the cage. I would buy the disk. Just for those two matches. There are many other good ones on here.

Best of the bloodiest brawls V.1.......2006-09-01

Monsters Ball 1
Monty Brown VS Raven VS Abyss
STAR RATING:***1/4-a really good match for the time it was given

Six sides of steel
AMW VS Triple X
STAR RATING:****1/2-NOT THE BEST CAGE MATCH EVER BUT IMO THE BEST TAG TEAM CAGE MATCH EVER.

FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE
ABYSS VS JEFF HARDY
STAR RATING:***-GOOD BUT NOT GREAT

SIX SIDES OF STEEL
AJ STYLES VS ABYSS
STAR RATING:***3/4-GREAT CAGE MATCH AND AJ(AS USUAL) WAS GREAT IN THIS MATCH

HOUSE OF FUN
RAVEN VS SEAN WALTMAN
STAR RATING:***1/4- VERY GOOD HARDCORE MATCH, GOOD ENDING

DOG COLLER STEEL CHAIN MATCH FOR NWA TITLE
RAVEN VS ABYSS
STAR RATING:***1/4- BRUTAL MATCH, GOOD BELIEVALE NEARFALLS AT THE END.

JEFF JARRETT/RHINO VS SABU/RAVEN
STAR RATING:***- GOOD BUT COULD HAVE USED A FEW MORE WEAPONS

MONSTERS BALL 2
RHINO VS ABYSS VS HARDY VS SABU
STAR RATING:***3/4- GREAT MATCH, HARDYS DIVE WAS AMAZING, THIS MATCH NEEDED 5 MORE MINUTES TO REACH 4 STARS

6 MAN TAG MATCH
TEAM 3-D/RHINO VS AMW/JARRETT
STAR RATING:***1/2 CRAZY BRAWL, BUT NO TABLES?!?!

BARBED WIRE MASSACRE
ABYSS VS SABU
STAR RATING:***-BRUTAL!! HARD TO WATCH. TOO SHORT TO RATE ANY HIGHER.

DVD:

DVD

His Girl Friday / The Amazing Adventure

DVD: White Lotus Cult

Various Artists - Erste Sahne Schlager