The Trial

Starring:Max Buchsbaum, Raoul Delfosse, Suzanne Flon, Arnoldo FoÃ , Jess Hahn, Max Haufler, Thomas Holtzmann, Billy Kearns, Fernand Ledoux, Elsa Martinelli, Jeanne Moreau, Anthony Perkins, Madeleine Robinson, Jean-Claude RÃ©moleux, Romy Schneider, Naydra Shore, Carl Studer, Akim Tamiroff, Maurice Teynac
Studio: Delta
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com essential video
Orson Welles's 1962 take on Franz Kafka's nightmare comedy stars Anthony Perkins as a twitchy K, a man accused of a crime that is never specified. The story has been filmed several times over the years, but not quite with the air of noir fable Welles brings to it. Beginning with an unexpected prologue in which Welles, in voiceover, tells a haunting parable while we look at artwork by pioneer pinscreen animators Claire Parker and Alexandre Alexeieff, The Trial is one surprising and visually startling chapter after another. The sense of an unrelieved, labyrinthine passage through an incoherent world--in which a very real but determinedly unclear guilt dogs poor K--is merciless but compelling to see, and resonates profoundly with Welles's obsession with the power and nature of illusion. A cast heavy on female icons from the '60s includes Jeanne Moreau, Elsa Martinelli, and Romy Schneider. Welles favorite Akim Tamiroff is also on hand, and Welles himself plays the Advocate. --Tom Keogh
Description
Welles applied his directorial style to Kafka's landmark 1925 novel about Joseph K., an office clerk who gets arrested without being told why. The film concentrates on the atmosphere of K's world, accompanied by the dreamy musical leitmotif. The sets are typical Welles baroque, massive structures.

Includes an introduction by Tony Curtis and the original theatrical trailer for Orson Welles' "Compulsion".

Amazon.com

Bob Fosse's sexy cynicism still shines in Chicago, a faithful movie adaptation of the choreographer-director's 1975 Broadway musical. Of course the story, all about merry murderesses and tabloid fame, is set in the Roaring '20s, but Chicago reeks of '70s disenchantment--this isn't just Fosse's material, it's his attitude, too. That's probably why the movie's breathless observations on fleeting fame and fickle public taste already seem dated. However, Renée Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones are beautifully matched as Jazz Age vixens, and Richard Gere gleefully sheds his customary cool to belt out a showstopper. (Yes, they all do their own singing and dancing.) Whatever qualms musical purists may have about director Rob Marshall's cut-cut-cut style, the film's sheer exuberance is intoxicating. Given the scarcity of big-screen musicals in the last 25 years, that's a cause for singing, dancing, cheering. And all that jazz. --Robert Horton

Description

Winner of six Academy Awards(R) (2003) including Best Picture, and starring Academy Award nominee (Best Actress, CHICAGO) and Golden Globe winner (Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy, CHICAGO) Renée Zellweger (BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY), Academy Award winner (Best Supporting Actress, CHICAGO) Catherine Zeta-Jones (TRAFFIC), Academy Award nominee (Best Supporting Actress, CHICAGO) Queen Latifah (BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE), Golden Globe winner (Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy, CHICAGO) Richard Gere (UNFAITHFUL), and Academy Award nominee (Best Supporting Actor, CHICAGO) John C. Reilly (GANGS OF NEW YORK) -- CHICAGO is a dazzling spectacle cheered by audiences and critics alike! At a time when crimes of passion result in celebrity headlines, nightclub sensation Velma Kelly (Zeta-Jones) and spotlight-seeking Roxie Hart (Zellweger) both find themselves sharing space on Chicago's famed Murderess Row! They also share Billy Flynn (Gere), the town's slickest lawyer with a talent for turning notorious defendants into local legends. But in Chicago, there's only room for one legend! Also starring Lucy Liu (CHARLIE'S ANGELS).

Customer Reviews:

Shallow and Frivolous .......2007-06-28

After many years of wanting to see this film, I finally got a chance to view it. I like musicals and loved Moulin Rouge, so I thought I'd give this one a try. However, after viewing, I was a bit puzzled at all the fuss and acclaim this movie received and continues to receive.

Chicago, while visually stunning and artistically impressive (in that the actors did their own singing), is a shallow, cynical, superficial, and unsympathetic story. Most movies rely upon story and plot for their strength; not so Chicago, whose only redeeming quality is the song and dance they put on.

The main problem with the story is that there are virtually no sympathetic main characters. To take that a step further, the main characters are all frauds, and the story's message is shallow. The two somewhat redeeming characters, Roxie's husband and the woman who is hanged, are both pretty much invisible and discarded in the film. Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly are both in jail for murder, and both have hopes and dreams of making it, being a big star, and having people adore them, so they call upon a slimebag attorney, Billy Flynn, to help them out. Roxie and Velma take turns lying and deceiving each other so they can get the fame in Chicago. Roxie openly admits she cheated on her husband, is oblivious to the fact that he's spent his life savings to get her a lawyer, and uses every trick in the book (including pretending that she has an illegitimate child) to ensure that she is the center of the newspaper headlines. Velma is a conceited fame-hungry snob who bribes the prison ward and only sucks up to Roxie when she realizing she is losing the fame war. From here we have a battle over popularity, as the two think of shenanigans to steal the headlines from each other. Who will win out? Who cares.

The message basically projected in this film is that its legitimate to whatever it takes to get ahead in this world--lie, cheat, steal, commit adultery--and, in fact, it might make you a star!

Are we are suppose to root for two back-stabbing, deceitful, murderesses who walk over people just to get their claim to fame all because they can sing and dance? Or how about a double-crossing, pompous, lying, money-hungry lawyer looking for the next damsel charged with murder? No thanks. I say throw them all in jail.

Watching this film, I found it mystifying how so many people and critics could love this movie so much. Granted the story's plot has probably changed from the musical version on stage, but the movie version falls quite short of its glowing reviews. Moreover, how could this film have received six Oscars in 2002? I liken the Oscar committee of 2002 to the gullible Chicago citizens in the film, falling over and swooning at something that puts on a little song and dance. Maybe Chicago was the Academy Award's apology for Moulin Rouge not getting any Oscars the previous year.

If you want to see a musical that is vastly superior, has heart, style and substance, and better acting, see Moulin Rouge.

Chicago IS jazz hot!.......2007-06-08

One of the best musicals of all time. Rapid paced, great story line, great actors, fantastic scenery... I can't say enough about everything this musical has going for it!!! A definite for your collection.

Loved it -- Fantastic Music and Great Cinematography.......2007-05-17

This is one of my very favorite movie musicals. The songs are so great and so much fun!

My favorite part about this movie though, is the way in which it constantly cuts back and forth between simultaneous shots of what the characters are doing in the "movie" version and what they are doing in the "stage" version of the story. It is this symmetrical blending of the two arts that really appeals to me, and the cinematography is very well done.

Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellweger, Richard Gere, John C. Reilly, and Queen Latifah all put on award-winning performances. I was especially impressed with Gere's and Reilly's performances. (Lucy Liu's small part was nice simply because she is so gorgeous, LOL, but she really is only a brief side character.)

This is the best and most enjoyable stage-musical-to-movie adaptation that I have yet seen, and I highly recommend it. Is it the best movie-musical ever? Probably not, I'd have to vote for The Sound Of Music, but even so, I find myself watching Chicago more often than TSOM. And Moulin Rouge is even funnier than Chicago, but I still love Chicago's songs the best.

Great Musical!.......2007-04-10

This is the musical for people who hate musicals! My kids and I all belt out the words when the songs come--each song is so unique and original. This really is an incredible film--the acting is perfect--I love the casting. Catherine Zeta Jones is so powerful, as is Renee Z. Ruchard Gere is at his best, as well, which was a cool surprise!

Bob Fosse lives on!.......2007-04-02

The dance and music and lyrics of Bob Fosse is still going strong, and it is evident through the big-screen adaptation of "Chicago". Director Rob Marshall stays faithful to Fosse's Broadway intentions, though he does change many things with the way the songs are performed (all songs are sung in reverie settings). Renee Zellweger and Richard Gere are very good when going along with their solos ("They Both Reached for the Gun" is fun and funny), but John C. Reilly, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Queen Latifah steal the show with their dazzling vocals ("Mister Cellophane", "When You're Good to Mama" and "I Can't Do It Alone" are well worth the oscar wins).

This movie is a splendid achievement, and if you don't even like musicals, then you'll probably be surprised at how much you're going to love this film.

Billy Jack 35th Anniversary Ultimate Collection (Born Losers/Billy Jack/ Trial of Billy Jack/ Billy Jack Goes to Washington)

Average customer rating:

Great "Ultimate"Collection!!!
Billy Jack 35th. Anniversary Ultimate Collection is great
Billy Jack Ultimate Review
Billy Jack 35th anniversary ultimate collection
So worth the wonderful memories

Billy Jack 35th Anniversary Ultimate Collection (Born Losers/Billy Jack/ Trial of Billy Jack/ Billy Jack Goes to Washington)
Starring: Billy Jack Ultimate Collection
Manufacturer: Billy Jack Ent.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Billy Jack
The Mechanic
The Master Gunfighter
Matt Helm Lounge (The Silencers/ Murderers Row/The Ambushers/The Wrecking Crew)
Dirty Mary Crazy Larry (Supercharger Edition)

ASIN: B0002QO3BY
Release Date: 2005-09-27

Description

Born Losers: The first film in which the character Billy Jack ever appeared. Tom Laughlin had written Billy Jack back in the 1950's, but couldn't get anyone interested in a film about Indians - half-breed or otherwise. Tom Laughlin toned down the Indian and political themes in order to get Born Losers made. It became a very successful independent film! Billy Jack: The film that broke the mold. Billy Jack was, once again, the largest grossing independent film of all time. People saw Billy Jack 25 times or more than any movie in history until Star Wars. From the karate to the Native American spirituality, to the Freedom School, to the racial tolerance, few films have ever been this successful or stuck their necks out so far. The Trial of Billy Jack: The Trial of Billy Jack not only broke every box-office record for its day, it forever changed the way motion pictures were distributed. It was for the release of The Trial of Billy Jack that Tom Laughlin created the mega-multiple release that included the first-ever use of national TV advertising for a motion picture. Billy Jack Goes To Washington: Perhaps the most controversial film of all. Twenty years before Senators like Bradley, Rudman, Cohen, and Pell quit saying the U.S. Senate is so corrupt it doesn't work anymore, Billy Jack Goes to Washington told a story straight out of the headlines. At the Washington premiere one Senator exploded, vowing to do everything in his power to make sure Billy Jack Goes to Washington was never released.

Customer Reviews:

Great "Ultimate"Collection!!!.......2007-05-26

The Billy Jack series ALL-in-one DVD is fantastic! I know people have complained about: Billy Jack Goes to Washington; BUT IT TOO IS A WELL WRITTEN, WELL DIRECTED, AND A WELL ACTED MOVIE! The problem is, Billy Jack's attitudes of so profoundly mis-trusting governmental authority as in his previous movies is not the same in the Washinton movie. The Washington movie has Billy Jack trusting at least one Senator because of that Senator's relationship with Billy Jack's father before he was found dead( just like in: Mr. Smith Goes To Washington), however if this trust had existed for as long as it was implied, Billy Jack would have called on this Senator's assistance in the previous movies... So its like, 'where did this come from?'. Taken by itself a wonderful remake!!!

Billy Jack 35th. Anniversary Ultimate Collection is great.......2007-05-13

I am very happy with these movies and their quality. It had been a long time since I had seen these. A flood of memories were welcomed. These movies tell an important story that should be watched periodically just as a reminder. The movies have been remastered to a very good quality. Remember what you are buying. These movies are not from yesterday. Be ready to turn down the volume of the motorcycles. They really sound off good in the stereo speakers. Each movie progressively reaches better production and direction quality but I still like the first the best. Enjoy your purchase.

Billy Jack Ultimate Review.......2007-05-01

The only complaint I have about this wonderful box set is on Billy Jack Goes To Washington. I have the DVDs from a prior purchase elsewhere and BJGTW was Widescreen then, too. The sound in one particular scene talking about the National Initiative the sound cuts in and out for a few seconds. It didn't do this on the 2000 Box Set, why is it doing it now? Is there something wrong with the digital transfer? I exchanged it and it still has it, I want to hear the entire movie without reverting to the original box set I have. Can it be fixed? I know it seems minor and insignificant, but, I like the films to be done right.
Otherwise, this is a fine collection of a wonderful film series. It is worth the money. They are suppose to be working on a new Billy Jack movie for release in 2008. Keep up the good work Delores and Tom.
[...]

Billy Jack 35th anniversary ultimate collection.......2007-04-04

I've been looking for theses movies for years. I watched like it was the first time. This is my first purcase from Amazon, I will back to see what other treasures you may have
Thanks
Edwin Klaver

So worth the wonderful memories.......2007-03-09

I turned 40 this year and thought back to the old days with the heroic Billy Jack. I haven't seen it at the video stores and so I decided to look online. I would have paid the same amount just for one movie. Brings back wonderful memories! Great classic to have at home!

Average customer rating:

if really war so then Capote was a man
A Movie about the Making of a Book
More tears are shed for answered prayers than unanswered ones
Watch "Infamous" instead.
True to Tru

Capote
Starring: Allie Mickelson , Kelci Stephenson , Philip Seymour Hoffman , Craig Archibald , and Bronwen Coleman
Director: Bennett Miller
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Period Piece | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Crime & Criminals | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

Good Night, and Good Luck (Widescreen Edition)
Walk the Line (Widescreen Edition)
Brokeback Mountain (Widescreen Edition)
Crash (Widescreen Edition)
The Constant Gardener (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000E33VWW
Release Date: 2006-03-21

Amazon.com

Bolstered by an Oscar®-caliber performance by Philip Seymour Hoffman in the title role, Capote ranked highly among the best films of 2005. Written by actor/screenwriter Dan Futterman and based on selected chapters from the biography by Gerald Clarke, this mercilessly perceptive drama shows how Truman Capote brought about his own self-destruction in the course of writing In Cold Blood, the "nonfiction novel" that was immediately acclaimed as a literary milestone. After learning of brutal killings in rural Holcomb, Kansas, in November 1959, Capote gained the confidence of captured killers Perry Smith (Clifton Collins, Jr.) and Dick Hickock (Mark Pellegrino) in an effort to tell their story, but he ultimately sacrificed his soul in the process of writing his greatest book. Hoffman transcends mere mimicry to create an utterly authentic, psychologically tormented portrait of an insincere artist who was not above lying and manipulation to get what he needed. Bennett Miller's intimate direction focuses on the consequences of Capote's literary ambition, tempered by an equally fine performance by Catherine Keener as Harper Lee, Capote's friend and the author of To Kill a Mockingbird, who served as Capote's quiet voice of conscience. Spanning the seven-year period between the Kansas murders and the publication of In Cold Blood in 1966, Capote reveals the many faces of a writer who grew too close to his subjects, losing his moral compass as they were fitted with a hangman's noose. --Jeff Shannon

Description

In November, 1959, the shocking murder of a smalltown Kansas family captures the imagination of Truman Capote (Philip Seymour Hoffman), famed author of Breakfast at Tiffany's. With his childhood friend Harper Lee (Catherine Keener), writer of the soon-to-be published To Kill a Mockingbird, Capote sets out to investigate, winning over the locals despite his flamboyant appearance and style. When he forms a bond with the killers and their execution date nears, the writing of "In Cold Blood," a book that will change the course of American literature, takes a drastic toll on Capote, changing him in ways he never imagined. Stellar performances from Hoffman and Keener, as well as Academy Award® winner Chris Cooper (Adaptation) are why critics are calling Capote a "must-see movie."

Customer Reviews:

if really war so then Capote was a man.......2007-06-15

The film Capote is for me a masterpeice. I don't waste my time reviewing a film that has not earned five stars. Why should I? The only time I would do that is when a film with no redeeming qualities at all was number one at the box office and that is rare,if ever an occasion. First of all the acting of the man playing Truman Capote, Phillip Seymore Hoffman is some of the best art of acting ever produced. Stella Adler is having an orgasm in her grave, I hope. Secondly the casting was brilliant right down to the school girls in Danny Birk's school. The only thing I think might have been misleading is that Truman Capote visited this town in Kansas two weeks after the murders but that is irrelevant. I've had the pleasure to drive through Kansas and that Capote even picked this place to write a book about says alot about his eye for the reality that was America in 1959. After he wrote that book he was nothing other than a standard guest on the Merv Griffin Show and nothing more. But I think people were jealous of him because he wasn't affraid to portray America as it really was and still is. He died a lonely, alcoholic, drug addicted homosexual. Those were his own words. But he died showing us a picture of ourselves that few of his intelligence and talent have the courage to do. And I would bet that sometime in the future such circumstances will happen again and when they do there will be a man who gives his physical and mental self to tell the story for the rest of us to learn something. I hope so. Kevin Bodenhammer Berlin Germany

A Movie about the Making of a Book.......2007-06-13

This film is based on a small period of time in the life of American writer Truman Capote. He is a well respected (yet full of himself) writer who becomes fascinated with two men who murder a Kansas farm family of four in cold blood. The effeminate Capote is both entranced and attracted by one of the killers, and he is able to relate to the man's difficult childhood.

But Capote uses these men to sell a sensational story. He lies repeatedly to the confined criminals about his progress with the book (he does not represent the men in writing as sympathetically as they may have hoped), and his friend (the venerable writer of "To Kill a Mockingbird" Nelle Harper Lee) rebukes him for caring more about the project and the attention he receives than the prisoners.

To be honest, I found the film to be pretty boring, and Capote's accent hard to decipher. I give it 3 stars because the acting is superb, but the storyline is less than mesmerizing.

More tears are shed for answered prayers than unanswered ones.......2007-06-09

Mid 1950s and Truman Capote was a well known writer in high society New York following the success of his novella Breakfast at Tiffany's. After that, as is well documented, a sighting of a small article in the New York times about a sinister, rural murder in a remote Kansas town led to bizzarre, captivating and emotionally tortuous events that created a masterpiece and ultimately broke the writer. This superlative movie tells that story.

Capote, a man with a fragile ego and a gregarious desire to be entertaining, and be loved, travels to Kansas with his erstwhile friend Harper Lee (soon to have her own literary success with 'To Kill a Mockingbird). A measure of his vanity occurs in a scene on the train when he pays a porter to effusively praise his work in front of Harper. Initially, the locals are suspicious of this small, reedy voiced celebrity author, who claims to want to write an investigative report on the crime: 'it's from Bergadorf' Capote explains when he sees a policeman staring at his lavish scarf. However he ingratiates himself, first with the head investigator, and then the two murderers themselves - especially Perry Smith, who Capote develops a quasi-erotic bond with and discovers he shares a number of traits with his own background: 'I sometimes feel like we grew up in the same house, he went out the back door, while I went out the front,' Capote explains when asked if he has fallen in love with Perry Smith. Describing Smith as a 'goldmine', Capote arranges for a lawyer to defer their sentence so he can visit the men in jail, getting them to relinquish notebooks and reveal their story, piecemeal, so Capote can write what he forsees will be the book of the decade - a completely new genre, the non-fiction novel. Over the next months Capote divides his time between two completely different sides of America: the dark netherworld of lonely Kansas, where the men languish in a grim jail, and the bright lights of Manhattan, where his readings of early drafts of his book - titled 'In Cold Blood' are greeted with standing ovations from the literati. Capote develops a great bond and affinity with Smith, but knows that to publish his masterpiece, he must be executed. Masterfully, and cynically, like the smiler with the knife, he gets Smith to declare his version of the events of the November 1966 murder, while at the same time denying that the title really is 'In Cold Blood' - a title which neatly encapsulates Capote's dilemma, as well as the killers' motivations. As the film develops, the ego and talent - both genius and monstrous - of Capote is revealed. He dangles the promise of further legal help to Smith so he can continue writing the story, but knows all along that this will be ultimately relinquished. He is so wrapped up in his own issues that he cannot bring himself to congratulate Harper Lee on the launch of Mockingbird, and when he faces the harnessed killers about to be executed, he still sees himself as centre stage: 'I can't imagine what you men must think of me' - 'You haven't been foremost in my mind recently' replies Richard Hickcock, Smith's accomplice. Capote pulls it off - the masterpiece gets written, but the price was paid. As the end credits confirm, he was finished - as a writer, as a man. He never completed another book and died of alcohol related ilnesses in 1984.

The supplementary documentary on the DVD reveals Capote to be one of most fascinating American writers of the 20th Century - that rarity, a great artist and a full scale personality. On his deathbed, he declared there is only one TC, there will never be anyone like him again. Indeed. As 'Capote' shows, probably no other writer last century has pushed the limits of morality so far to get what they needed for their art.

Watch "Infamous" instead........2007-06-09

After reading "In Cold Blood" I decided to watch both of the recent films about Truman Capote, beginning with "Infamous" and then watching "Capote". My recommendation to others is to only watch "Infamous". Although it covers very grim subject matter, this movie is very watchable and enjoyable, as opposed to "Capote" which is two hours of artsy misery. Toby Jones really becomes Truman Capote in a way that Phillip Hoffman does not even touch. Jones' Truman draws the viewer in and charms, while Hoffman's performance in "Capote" alienates and repulses to the point that it seems that this actor secretly hates Truman Capote. Also, "Infamous" does a much better job at explaining the story to thise who have not read the book, and giving depth to the other characters than "Capote". Watching "Infamous", the dark parts of the story are thrown into sharper relief by the light and humorous parts, and it cuts precisely to the heart of the matter. Whereas "Capote" just bludgeons the viewer over the head with gritty green lighting, long staring pauses and unrelieved gloom.

True to Tru.......2007-05-17

"Capote"

Outstanding Acting

Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride

There are few words that can fully describe Philip Seymour Hoffman's performance in "Capote". He had the man down pat; from the walk, the talk, the look and within this he gave the performance of a lifetime. He is the bon vivant who is indulged by friends and lovers; he was connected to the rich and the famous. Suddenly he becomes penetrating as he probes the human condition. He the uses his cynicism to get what he wants and exhibits sincere emotion which he used for his purposes. He is cruel when he feels indignation for the sociopath that murdered the Clutter family and then became his muse. He is ambitious with the goal to do something great and the cost is high. With that, he is still a sympathetic character.
Capote, himself, was a character, and Hoffman develops that for us to see. Opposite Hoffman is Catherine Keener as Nelle (Harper Lee) and she is also perfect. She is warm and caring, perceptive and honest.
Together they are the ideal team. With acting like this, the plot almost seems unnecessary but it too is almost flawless. The cinematography evokes the past in its measured beauty and consistent, confident editing.
Watching "Capote" you are sure that you are watching a precious moment of film history. It is a movie that keeps getting better and better with subsequent viewings.
Those of us that were fortunate to have met Capote sat in awe of Hoffman's performance--it was as if Tru never died. But the movie contains a great deal of truth as it shows the tragedy of a man who discarded his own decency in order to write one of the great American works of literature. As he achieves greatness, he is also damned. Capote' contempt for the death penalty for a man who was abominable stabs at us and shows us that inhumanity is not always physically violent.
"Capote" has great assets--the best performance by an American actor in a very long time and some of the most intelligent dialog in recent years. However the movie is misleading. You would think by the title that it is about the life of the author. It is, rather, about the great novel that he wrote and his transformation from wunderkind and jet-setter to a trend-setting talented writer.
The film itself contains no excitement and the courtroom scenes tend to be quite boring but it does show great thought and intelligence with acting superiority.
The movie opens with a ghastly recreation of the crime that caused Capote to write "In Cold Blood". When the scene shifts to New York City and we see Hoffman for the first time as Capote we feel like we are seeing a ghost. As we watch Hoffman, Capote becomes larger than life. In his flamboyance, he is amazing but as he transitions into an investigative author and we go with him, it is if we are now part of each other.
The Clutter murders were and still are extremely unsettling as is the movie. Hoffman has something of which to be very proud and we have a great American movie.

Average customer rating:

Awesome Blu-ray title
IT WILL RAZZLE DAZZLE YOU...
Ersatz

Chicago [Blu-ray]
Starring: Christine Baranski , Colm Feore , Richard Gere , Catherine Zeta-Jones , and Queen Latifah
Director: Rob Marshall
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

General | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

Drama | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

Musicals & Performing Arts | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Casino Royale [Blu-ray]
Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl [Blu-ray]
Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest [Blu-ray]
The Departed [Blu-ray]
The Prestige

ASIN: B000KEG94C

Product description

The winner of 6 Academy Awards® (2002) including Best Picture, Chicago seduces like never before on Blu-ray's high definition disc. Starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renée Zellweger, Richard Gere and Queen Latifah, this "splashy, sexy, knockout" (Rolling Stone) sizzles in this spectacular new format. After committing crimes of passion, nightclub sensation Velma Kelly and spotlight-seeking Roxie Hart both wind up on Chicago's famed Murderess Row. But with the help of slick, defense lawyer Billy Flynn, these notoriously lethal ladies will soon become local legends! Get more than an eyeful of "razzle dazzle" in jaw-dropping 1080p, and experience every sultry, musical nuance with 5.1 48 kHz, 24-bit uncompressed audio. Set your senses free with Blu-ray™ High Definition.

Customer Reviews:

Awesome Blu-ray title.......2007-01-28

This movie has the BEST audio of any Blu-ray movie, and far better than anything HD-DVD can offer. I don't really like musicals, but I wanted to experience the audio for this film and it was simply amazing, the picture was excellent too. Just make sure you have your HDMI cables hooked up correctly!

IT WILL RAZZLE DAZZLE YOU..........2007-01-21

This is a fantastic musical. From the beautifully designed sets, to the period costumes, to the show-stopping song and dance numbers, it will simply razzle-dazzle the viewer. The director and his singing and dancing troupe of stars simply pull out all the stops in this brilliantly executed musical.

The film, which provides a cynical and satirical look at fame and fortune, centers in nineteen twenties Chicago around two murderesses, Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger). Velma, who together with her sister, was a dance hall success, killed her husband and her sister when she caught them together en flagrante delicto. True to the maxim, however, that the show must go on, she goes on stage immediately after dispatching the two lovers, where she is promptly arrested.

Roxie Hart, an admirer of Velma Kelly, is married to Amos Hart (John C. Reilly), a good-hearted, regular Joe, but she longs for tabloid fame and fortune. She begins to have an affair with a man who promises that he could get her a stage gig only to find that he lied just to get her in bed. So, she ends up killing him. Her long suffering husband stands by his little woman as she is trundled off to jail to await trial. There, she meets her idol, Velma Kelly, who finds her hero-worship annoying.

In the jail, Matron "Mama" Morton (Queen Latifah) reigns supreme over the inmates, accepting bribes for favors. Velma Kelly, represented by star defense attorney Billy Flynn (Richard Gere), is in tabloid heaven. Roxie Hart, longing to be in tabloid heaven as well, gets her husband to retain Billy Flynn on her behalf. Before she knows it, she, too, is in tabloid heaven, playing the media like a violin.

The legal profession also gets a cynical slap in the guise of the slimy, fast talking Billy Flynn, who looks for the best selling point rather than for the truth. He understands the thirst of the media for the perfect sound-bite and he gives it to them. Guilty or not guilty, it doesn't matter. What matters to him, as a hired mouthpiece, is the media mileage he can get for his client, as well as for himself. To that end, he is the ventriloquist, and his client is no more than his dummy.

The razzle-dazzle musical numbers move the story along. Catherine Zeta-Jones is terrific, looking impossibly beautiful and showing off her musical theatre background to great advantage with "All That Jazz" and "Cell Block Tango". Queen Latifah is outstanding as the sly and voracious Mama Morton, who goes whichever way the wind is blowing. She also has a show-stopping musical number, "When You're Good To Mama" that is simply memorable. Renee Zellweger, though not a professional singer or dancer, shows that she can sing and dance with the best of them.

The men also shine in this musical. John C. Reilly, as Roxie's long-suffering husband, also has a terrific number, "Mister Cellophane", that is truly heart rending and poignant, as well as metaphoric. Richard Gere gamely rises to the occasion in his first musical, making the slick Billy Flynn character an integral part of the film with his "Razzle Dazzle" number and his tap dancing.

I love this top notch, clever film, finding it hugely entertaining. It deserves every one of its six Academy Awards, including that for "Best Picture". Director Rob Marshall deserves kudos for this brilliantly directed, seamlessly edited, musical masterpiece. While it is a fairly faithful screen adaptation of Bob Fosse's Broadway musical, it has Rob Marshall's contemporary imprimatur on it. It is a film of which he can be justly proud. Bravo!

Ersatz.......2007-01-08

"Captain Kirk, the approaching probe will destroy Earth if we do not respond with whale sound!" "O.K., send them some." "The sounds will be real but it will just be gibberish." "Well people watched `Chicago'; what make you think the probe is any more discerning?"

The plot line by (Maurine Dallas Watkins) is a killer; it is all about the whimsical world of killing. Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) killed her husband and sister. Roxie Hart (Renée Zellweger) shoots her boyfriend Fred Cassely (Dominic West) dead. And a whole bevy of sleazy babes that killed their significant others. They kill a few songs. And the plot was never alive.

It is possible that the play may have had some redeeming social value. However by the time it was hacked up for this movie the only thing of value is the fast forward button. And again just because the movie has the appearance of a play does not give it any virtue.

If you do like murder and music then you may prefer "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (1982)

Average customer rating:

Shallow and Frivolous
Chicago IS jazz hot!
Loved it -- Fantastic Music and Great Cinematography
Great Musical!
Bob Fosse lives on!

Chicago (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Taye Diggs , Cliff Saunders (II) , Catherine Zeta-Jones , Renée Zellweger , and Dominic West
Director: Rob Marshall
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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

DTS | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

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

Moulin Rouge! (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Cabaret
Chicago
All That Jazz - Music Edition
The Phantom of the Opera (Two-Disc Special Edition)

ASIN: B00009RGBS
Release Date: 2003-08-19

Amazon.com

Description

Customer Reviews:

Shallow and Frivolous .......2007-06-28

Chicago IS jazz hot!.......2007-06-08

Loved it -- Fantastic Music and Great Cinematography.......2007-05-17

Great Musical!.......2007-04-10

Bob Fosse lives on!.......2007-04-02

Law & Order, Trial By Jury: The Complete Series

Average customer rating:

Good series,but it has it's problems
Why did they stop after 1 season???
Jerry Orbach's death and uninspired scripts doomed this show
I Knew This One Would Fail
KILLED BEFORE ITS PRIME

Law & Order, Trial By Jury: The Complete Series
Starring: Jerry Orbach , and Fred Dalton Thompson
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

Television | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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

Law & Order - The Fourth Year (1993-1994 Season)
Law & Order - The Fifth Year (1994-1995 Season)
Law & Order Criminal Intent - The Second Year
Law & Order Special Victims Unit - The Third Season
Law & Order - The Fourteenth Season (2003-04 Season)

ASIN: B000E8JO2S
Release Date: 2006-04-25

Amazon.com

There are plenty of things about Law & Order: Trial by Jury, the fourth series and third spinoff (after SVU and Criminal Intent) in executive producer Dick Wolf's popular and reliable franchise, that loyal viewers will find familiar, even comforting. There's the taut, ripped-from-the-headlines storytelling; the Kobe Bryant rape case (in "Pattern of Conduct") and the infamous Amadou Diallo shooting (in "Forty-One Shots") are but two examples among the fourteen episodes in this three-disc set. There are appearances, some of them recurring, by Sam Waterston, Fred Thompson, the late Jerry Orbach (in his final episodes as Det. Lennie Briscoe), and other stalwarts from the original series. There's an SVU "cross-over" episode, and another ("Skeleton") that follows up on the shooting of L & O detective Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin). And then there's the theme music, the intro ("In the criminal justice system")… and that ineffable sound that leads from one scene to another. Yet Trial by Jury also has many aspects that set it apart from the other Law & Order shows. In focusing not on police procedure but on the trial process, it shines a brighter light on the defendants (who in most cases have already been apprehended when an episode starts), the juries (including the selection process, deliberations, and the role of jury consultants), the various lawyers' strategies, and even the judges' personal opinions. All of that leads to some interesting situations, like the scene in "Forty-One Shots" that finds a group of policemen, barred from the courtroom for making a disturbance during the trial of a cop killer, waiting anxiously outside for the verdict. Nevertheless, there are reasons why Trial by Jury failed to connect with viewers, airing for just two months in 2005 before being canceled by NBC. The cast is one of them; for example, A.D.A. Tracey Kibre (Bebe Neuwirth), the lead prosecutor, is tough but not especially likable. More than that, with its predilection for tight close-ups, personal details, melodrama, and such, the series is simply too much like standard nighttime TV fare. Good but not great, Law & Order: Trial by Jury (the set includes a few deleted scenes and a short featurette) will certainly have its adherents, but it falls a little short of its distinguished predecessors. --Sam Graham

Description

The jury is in! From creator Dick Wolf comes the most innovative Law & Order series yet: Law & Order: Trial by Jury - The Complete Series. Partner up with Jerry Orbach, Fred Dalton Thompson and Bebe Neuwirth to explore the judicial system like never before: not only from the point of view of police and prosecutors, but also the defense team, judges, jurors and the defendants themselves. This highly collectible three-disc DVD set contains all 13 original episodes of the entire series, including one never broadcast on network TV! Plus witness exciting deleted scenes, a landmark Law & Order: SVU cross-over episode starring Chris Meloni and Emmy winner Mariska Hargitay, the philosophy behind this unique show presented by the cast members, and powerful guest-star performances from Lorraine Bracco, Peter Coyote and Candice Bergen. You have the right to Law & Order: Trial by Jury!

Customer Reviews:

Good series,but it has it's problems.......2007-06-08

I first became a fan of the Law and Order franchise when I watched the first series of the original.Then came Criminal Intent followed by SVU.I was getting hooked on the real life Crime and Punishment and I wondered why the plug was pulled.Trial by Jury was good,but it had its flaws.I'm more of a fan of the original and SVU.When Dennis Farina was brought in to replace Jerry Orbach,I thought it was a very good decision.But I was sadden Dennis Farina left the series.He and Jesse Martin's character were a good formula.Despite massive cast changes the franchise will survive.There have been a lot of talk the Law and Order franchise is in a big rivalry with the CSI franchise.This would make great TV.I watch Law and Order because I get into the story faster than CSI.When I am writing my novels I watch the Law and Order episodes,it helps with my writers'block.

Why did they stop after 1 season???.......2007-02-14

I was saddened by Jerry Orbach's death as well as most of his fans were. I think that they had a strong cast though and would have been able to carry the show. I think it was a much better show than Law and Order Criminal Intent,which just confuses me. LOL. I wonder if they will bring it back? I wish they would.

Jerry Orbach's death and uninspired scripts doomed this show.......2006-12-24

Trial By Jury failed to live up to its potential. The first few episodes held out the promise of an in-depth look at how the legal system works from all angles, including the jury, but this was quickly altered to a focus on the Bebe Neuwirth character and her investigators. In effect, it became an hour-long version of the second half of the original L&O. Still, the show was interesting and entertaining, and its crossovers with other L&O shows were fun. I enjoyed Neuwirth, both her acting and her character. I wasn't put off at all by her terse manner or cynicism, and I think she had pretty good chemistry with her female sidekick. Some of the storylines did seem to be retreads of stories from other L&O shows, but if the writers could have managed to overcome that trend, and stayed true to the show's original potential, then it might have been another strong entry in the L&O franchise.

I do have to say, however, that even though I liked the show, the fact that its creativity started waning after a few episodes caused me to be less disappointed by its cancellation than I might have been. Jerry Orbach, who was intended to be a regular on the show playing Lenny Briscoe, could have been the sympathetic character this show was missing, but his worsening illness and then death put an end to those plans and probably this show. He was only able to show up during the first two episodes, and even then he looked quite ill. These days, networks aren't generally willing to give a series time to come into its own. If you don't produce ratings in the first half dozen outings, its generally cancellation time.

I'd recommend this DVD for those of us who are dyed in the wool L&O fans, but if you're not in this category, you might not really like this show that much.

I Knew This One Would Fail.......2006-10-17

When I saw the previews for this show, I was ecstatic. It was Lilith and Murphy Brown in a new show. Of course, I'm referring to Bebe Neuwirth and Candace Bergen (I apologize if my spelling is inaccurate. Too lazy to look up the proper spellings of their respective names). So, I eagerly tuned into this new series since I love these two actresses and I love Law & Order. The first episode was okay, but I felt there was simply TOO MUCH going on! It was hard to keep pace with the show. Everyone talked too fast about too many complicated legal things. You had the defense, the prosecution, the judge, the jury, the families of the accused, the defendant...just TOO many people, too much information.

As soon as the episode was over, I said to my boyfriend, "Wow. They are going to have to dumb this down for American people." I'm not saying Americans are dumb because I am one, but this was one show that didn't appeal to the O.C./American Idol generation of TV viewers we have now. You really had to want to stick with this show and give it a chance. It was very fast paced and there was a lot to take in.

Still, it's sad that this didn't last. I would've liked to have seen this show develop, just like the other Law & Order shows have.

KILLED BEFORE ITS PRIME.......2006-10-05

This short lived series in the successful L&O franchise wasn't given enough time to connect with the viewers. While not as emotionally engaging as its predecessors, the series nonetheless offered some gripping storylines, and some superb performances from its regulars and guest stars.
While Bebe Neuwirth's character isn't exactly likeable, she nonetheless brought a strong sense of justice and strength to her role. Amy Carlson as her assistant was a little warmer and added a touch of sensitivity. Kirk Acevedo was understated and sincere; Steve Cohen brought a little more volatility to his role. The guest list was impressive: Lorraine Bracco, Alfred Molina, Angela Lansbury, Annabella Sciorra and others all brought class to the series.
Too bad NBC gave up too quickly; I would've enjoyed more episodes.

Average customer rating:

Jack goes back!
Jack in the Beanstock the Real Story
Better than the fictional version
A cool twist on an old tale
The Real Review

Jack and the Beanstalk - The Real Story
Starring: Richard Attenborough , Bill Barretta , Nicholas Beveney , Honor Blackman , and Roger Blake
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Adventure | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Adapted from Books | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

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

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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

The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns
The 10th Kingdom
The Snow Queen
Snow White - The Fairest of Them All
Arabian Nights

ASIN: B00005UW87
Release Date: 2002-02-05

Amazon.com

This ambitious miniseries begins with Jack's descendant (Matthew Modine) and works its way backward to the story of the original young man and the beanstalk. Because the first Jack used that towering vine to steal a giant's magic goose and harp, an entire world was reduced to poverty and a bloodline was cursed--all Robinson men die in their 40s, and the modern-day Jack is around that age. Fortunately, Ondine (Mia Sara), a visitor from the giant's alternative reality, has a plan. If she and Jack can recover the stolen items in time, they may be able to solve both problems. The made-for-TV movie boasts top stars (including Vanessa Redgrave and Jon Voight) and Jim Henson's Creature Shop's nifty special effects. Although children younger than 10 may find the complex narrative confusing and the implied violence scary, Jack and the Beanstalk is an inventive retelling that adds new life to an old story. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews:

Jack goes back!.......2007-06-08

This was a fun movie that Hallmark Entertainment put out for family TV. The graphics in the modern day "giant land" were excellent and the story takes a surprising twist as the movie goes on (although Jack's friend and advisor turned out to be somewhat predictable). Probably not a good choice for small kids, although my five year old enjoyed it. She has older brothers who watch Star Wars movies and others of that ilk, so this was probably pretty tame for her. The giant and a small amount of insinuated violence might be a little scary for some little ones, but others might do just fine. I give it a B+.

Jack in the Beanstock the Real Story.......2007-05-13

A must see. Story is really intreging and fun.

Better than the fictional version.......2007-05-05

Really.... a must have for the characters, scenery and up to date plot.

A cool twist on an old tale.......2007-03-21

This movie has been a favorite of my family since it first aired. I love how they tie in financial responsibility and an old fairy tale. The twist making the giant the good guy was and showing Jack for the theif he always was is great. I love Vanessa Redgrave's part; her ability to show dignity on screen was clear. Jon Voight's comedic side was also apparent in his role.

That said, the plot is very slow, particularly in the beginning. I also think the ending was a bit abrupt. Personally, I would have liked to see more of the giants world. Overall, though, I would definitly recommend this to families with kids over 8 (younger children may not have the attention span needed for the slow plot).

The Real Review.......2007-03-10

Plain and simple, this is a new take on an old story. It is clever and inventive, though perhaps a little slow moving. There's not a lot of action, and the emotional content is a little lacking, not to mention a ridiculous accent from Jon Voight. And yet I really liked this story. The flash backs shown through different people's perspectives keeps you guessing, and the special effects are well done. This is just a fun tale, though I think it might bore younger children.

Gilbert & Sullivan - H.M.S. Pinafore / Trial By Jury - David Hobson, Anthony Warlow, Colette Mann, Tiffany Speight, John Bolton Wood, Richard Alexander, Opera Australia, State Theatre, The Arts Centre Melbourne

Average customer rating:

G & S fan? Don't miss this one.
Interesting interpretations
Delightful HMS Pinafore
Nice Try But Doesn't Measure Up
Sailing the celebrity seas

Gilbert & Sullivan - H.M.S. Pinafore / Trial By Jury - David Hobson, Anthony Warlow, Colette Mann, Tiffany Speight, John Bolton Wood, Richard Alexander, Opera Australia, State Theatre, The Arts Centre Melbourne
Starring: Gilbert & Sullivan , Warlow , Hobson , Greene , and Opera Australia
Manufacturer: Kultur Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Gilbert & Sullivan - The Mikado / Eric Idle, Lesley Garrett, Richard Van Allan, Felicity Palmer, Richard Angas, Bonaventura Bottone, Susan Bullock, English National Opera
Gilbert & Sullivan - Patience / Douglas, Olsen, Warlow, Australian Opera
Gilbert & Sullivan - The Pirates of Penzance / Kline, Ronstadt, Smith, Routledge, Delacorte Theater (Broadway Theatre Archive)
Gilbert & Sullivan - The Mikado / Reed, Adams, Potter, Masterson, Godfrey, D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
Gilbert & Sullivan - The Gondoliers / David Hobson, Roger Lemke, Australian Opera

ASIN: B000FII2F2
Release Date: 2006-06-27

Description

For most of the 20th century, the D'Oyly Carte Opera performed HMS Pinafore with a companion piece, Trial by Jury. Opera Australia re-unites these long-standing stage-mates with two fresh productions and an inspired cast. While HMS Pinafore was Gilbert and Sullivan's first full-length satirical work and first major international success, Trial by Jury was their first collaboration - the show's outrageous antics made it the toast of London.

In this filmed recording, Anthony Warlow, Australia's musical theatre superstar, is at the helm as both the "right good captain" and the "good judge" too. He is joined by a stellar cast featuring David Hobson, John Bolton Wood and Colette Mann as "dear little Buttercup".

Featuring: Anthony Warlow, David Hobson, Colette Mann, Tiffany Speight, John Bolton Wood, Richard Alexander, Opera Australia Melbourne Chorus, Orchestra Victoria.

Customer Reviews:

G & S fan? Don't miss this one........2007-06-13

First, you must be a Gilbert & Sullivan fan. Given that, you will love this video, in spite of its few shortcomings. This is a video made from a live performance in front of an audience. That actually added to my enjoyment of the video, but it may not be true for you.

I had never seen "Trial by Jury" before and didn't realize that the story is just a vehicle for the music, which is excellent. I wish it had a bit more plot to back up the singing.

"HMS Pinafore" was a joy. I followed along with the libretto in Ian Bradley's book, "The Complete Annotated Gilbert & Sullivan" and discovered some places where the performance didn't match the book and some places where lines had been deleted. The total may have amounted to a dozen lines, none of them crucial. I cannot say whether the book is correct or the performance, so I don't consider that a fault.

The only real drawback to "HMS Pinafore" was the terrible singing performance of Colette Mann, who played Buttercup. She is a very good actress, but does not have a singing voice. She's better than Clint Eastwood was in "Paint Your Wagon", but that's not saying much. Her poor singing was overcome by the very good voice of David Hobson (Ralph Rakestraw) and the tremendous voice of Tiffany Speight (Josephine).

The camera and audio work was also top notch. You don't have strain to catch every word, because all the soloists were wearing microphones. The audio is Dolby 5.1, and the picture is widescreen.

I noticed that Opera Australia has made "Pirates of Penzance" for TV also. I hope to see the DVD on Amazon soon.

Highly recommended.

Interesting interpretations.......2007-05-30

I would love a traditional version of "H.M.S. Pinafore" and "Trial By Jury," but I also love seeing different interpretations that bring fresh life to these old favorites. That's what we have here. I have never seen Little Buttercup so bawdy before and at first I thought "What on earth is going on?" Then I caught the joke and found this new interpretation of her as delightful. Of course she should be a little bawdy... she is, after all, a criminal for mixing up those babies, and she is, after all, on board a ship at night long after she should have gone home.

Seeing "Trial By Jury" presented as a modern day Celebrity Scandal Trial was also a brilliant bit of business. All of the old Gilbert bits were in there, plus some new ones that might be fresh out of any modern tabloid.

Delightful HMS Pinafore.......2007-05-25

Wonderfully performed. I'm glad that I chose it. I have not yet viewed the other operetta, Trial by Jury, but am looking forward to it.

Nice Try But Doesn't Measure Up .......2007-05-20

I am an avid G&S fan and I have seen Pinafore performed several times and this isn't the best one. This is well staged and the costumes are excellent. Buttercup screeches her way through some of the best parts. The Sailors are so busy and there is so much business going on that it is distracting. The real culprit here is the music which has been slowed to a crawl. The patter songs and general sprightliness is missing so this production comes across more like an operatic wannabe, than a true G&S. The music virtually drowns out the singers who suffer from poor ennuciation to begin with. If you are not familiar with the libretto much of the humor is lost.

I had never seen Trial By Jury performed before so this performance was a real challenge since I never could determine precisely what was going on and the Judge came across as silly. The ennuciation was so poor that I never determined exactly what was going on and who had done what to whom.

The other reviewers all found this to be an outstanding performance so perhaps I am being overly critical. To be fair I did enjoy the performance -- can G&S ever be totally bad? I gave it three stars because it is beautifully staged and remains fun -- and a wonderful satire.

Sailing the celebrity seas.......2007-05-17

The main thing I can away with from this twofer is that Anthony Warlow is the most versitile actor singing Gilbert & Sullivan today. On one hand, he is superb as "Pinafore"'s handsome Captain Corcoran, and grotesquely funny as the half-senile judge in "Trail by Jury".

H.M.S.Pinafore - slightly "updated" to make the Pinafore a contemporary of the Titanic, I'll admit I have seen better. It is well sung, and on the whole well done, and perhaps I am being picky. But it is not easy to find a middle ground between romantic comedy, social satire, and a contrived, uncomfortable ending that for me has always been more worthy of Monty Python than Gilbert & Sullivan. Balancing these elements is never comfortable, and this is yet another well-staged version that doesn't quite do it.

Trial by Jury - on the other hand, I wildly applaud this droll and unique production that has had it coming for years. After all, why would half of London concern themselves over an engagement breakup if it were not involving high-profile personalities referred to only by their first names? In this version, Edwin and Angelina are obviously socialites and celebrities, instantly recognizable to all, especially a Paris Hilton-like Angelina (even though the real money belongs to Edwin). In this modern setting, the little quaint Victorian comedy comes wonderfully to life (only another production with 1920's golddiggers came close) in ways that we cqan all recognize and laugh at. In many ways, "Trail by Jury" is the most timely G&S of all, and in this version, looks as if it popped right off the pages of London trabloids. Fantastic.

Average customer rating:

Shallow and Frivolous
Chicago IS jazz hot!
Loved it -- Fantastic Music and Great Cinematography
Great Musical!
Bob Fosse lives on!

Chicago (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Starring: Taye Diggs , Cliff Saunders (II) , Catherine Zeta-Jones , Renée Zellweger , and Dominic West
Director: Rob Marshall
Manufacturer: Miramax Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

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

Moulin Rouge! (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Cabaret
Chicago
All That Jazz - Music Edition
The Phantom of the Opera (Two-Disc Special Edition)

ASIN: B0009X75RO
Release Date: 2005-12-20

Amazon.com

Description

This Razzle-Dazzle Edition is the ultimate CHICAGO DVD Collection and features the award-winning motion picture and brand-new bonus material! Winner of six Academy Awards(R) (2002) including Best Picture, and starring Academy Award(R) nominee Renée Zellweger (Best Actress, CHICAGO), Academy Award(R) winner Catherine Zeta-Jones (Best Supporting Actress, CHICAGO), Academy Award(R) nominee Queen Latifah (Best Supporting Actress, CHICAGO), Golden Globe winner Richard Gere (Best Actor, CHICAGO), and Academy Award(R) nominee John C. Reilly (Best Supporting Actor, CHICAGO) -- CHICAGO is a dazzling spectacle of unparalleled entertainment!

Customer Reviews:

Shallow and Frivolous .......2007-06-28

Chicago IS jazz hot!.......2007-06-08

Loved it -- Fantastic Music and Great Cinematography.......2007-05-17

Great Musical!.......2007-04-10

Bob Fosse lives on!.......2007-04-02

Average customer rating:

Lesson learned or lesson forgotten?
Propaganda and a Witch Hunt to Boot
Interesting but ....
"All of them showing up to the hearing in their...goth glam, isn't going to help Damien's case". Right on.
I guess

Paradise Lost 2 - Revelations
Starring: Michael Moore , Burk Sauls , Damien Wayne Echols , Kathy Bakken , and Jessie Miskelly
Director: Kathy Bakken , Joe Berlinger , and Bruce Sinofsky
Manufacturer: Docurama
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Biography | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

Paradise Lost - The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills
Almost Home: My Life Story Vol 1
Devil's Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three
Brother's Keeper
Murder on a Sunday Morning

ASIN: B00005MKOU
Release Date: 2001-08-28

Amazon.com

Directors Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky return to the scene of the crime with this urgent follow-up to their harrowing 1996 documentary, Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills. That profoundly disturbing film chronicles the tragic and twisted case of three young men--Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley--who were convicted of the brutal 1993 murders of three second graders. The film suggests that perhaps their only crime was dressing in black and liking Metallica. To the townspeople, this smacked of Satanism and marked them as made-to-order suspects. Meanwhile, Mark Byars, the stepfather of one of the victims emerged from the film as a "Why-isn't-anyone-following-up-on-this?" suspect. Revelations, which, for those who missed the first film, efficiently recaps the case, and charts the trio's maddening appeals process (police browbeat a confession out of Misskelley, who has an IQ of 71, after 12 hours of questioning), as well as the efforts of a group of Internet advocates to "Free the West Memphis Three." Byers is back as well, and he is infinitely more terrifying than anything in Book of Shadows, Berlinger's Blair Witch sequel. We learn that Byers had all his teeth extracted in the years after the murders (human bite marks are among the new evidence introduced). We also learn that his wife has since died of undetermined causes. When Byers passes a suspect lie detector test, he exults, "I knew I was innocent." A further mystery is why both Paradise Lost films have not garnered the media attention or sparked the outrage that attended Errol Morris's The Thin Blue Line, which led to the release of an innocent man who was imprisoned for more than 10 years. Both films give new meaning to the concept of reasonable doubt. --Donald Liebenson

Description

Paradise Lost 2: Revelations revisits the 1994 Arkansas murder of three 8-year-old boys and the three teenagers convicted of the crime. A follow up to Paradise Lost, Revelations features new interviews with the convicted men, as well as with the original judge and police investigators. While focusing on advocates who believe the young men are innocent Revelations also includes footage of the stepfather of one of the victims, who some suspect might be involved in the crime.

A disturbing and moving documentary, Revelations is investigative journalism and advocacy at its best. This case, as with the OJ Simpson and Jon Benet Ramsy murder trials, for better or worse, will remain in the spotlight for years to come as an example of America's judicial system gone astray.

DVD Features: Filmmaker Filmographies; Exclusive Photo Gallery; Interactive Menus; Scene Selection

Customer Reviews:

Lesson learned or lesson forgotten?.......2007-04-08

I loved Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills. It had a great message, teaching us how important the notion of "innocent until proven guilty" really is. With that in mind, the sequel to it should have never been made.

The first movie focused on rightfully condemning those who were quick to judge three teenaged defendants, Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jesse Misskelly, as guilty while ignoring the complete lack of evidence supporting this verdict. "Those boys wear black and listen to heavy metal music; they look like they worship Satan; they must have committed the murders," many people thought around West Memphis, Arkansas, the rural, backward community in which the murders took place. Watching the first Paradise Lost, we were shown exactly how absurd this thinking is. Somewhere between the making of that film and the making of its sequel, Paradise Lost 2: Revelations, the films' producers lost sight of that important notion.

In Paradise Lost 2, the filmmakers are essentially judging one of the murder victims' stepfather, Mark Byers, as guilty of the Robin Hood Hills murders without really giving sufficient evidence to back this theory. There seems to be some evidence supporting his guilt (okay, a lot of evidence supporting it), but one can't help but wonder what facts the filmmakers are exaggerating, what facts they are manipulating, and what facts they are leaving out.

Mark Byers is a man who has never officially been a suspect in the West Memphis murders, and frankly there seems to be about as much evidence against him as there was evidence linking the murders to the three defendants who were found guilty of them. Mark Byers' main offense is that he looks like how a killer would look, or that he acts like how a killer would act. Sound familiar? Sounds ironic to me.

The "witches" in the first film were Damien, Jason, and Jessie and the witch hunters were exposed for what they were. In the second film, the monster is Mark Byers and the people chasing him with torches and wooden stakes are we who are ignoring the lesson learned from the first film.

Propaganda and a Witch Hunt to Boot.......2007-04-04

Paradise Lost 2 - Revelations is a poor excuse for a documentary. It never rises above the level of a tabloid. Logic and reason have been discarded in favor of attempting to paint the stepfather of one of the murdered boys as being the real killer. There is all sorts of grandstanding by likes of the unrepentant killers and their ignorant supporters.

A disturbing aspect of this documentary is the fact short shrift was given to 2 of the convicted murderers, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelly both of whom are plain looking. However, a huge amount of attention was paid to convicted murderer Damien Echols. This was done because Echols is quite handsome.

This movie is also a witch hunt. Specifically, it attempts to make the case that the real killer is one John Mark Byers who was the stepfather of one of the murdered boys. There is no attempt at balance here. All sorts of aspersions are cast on Byers without ever attempting to talk to Byers' dentist, doctors or the police officer who cleared Byers of suspicion via polygraph test. The producers of this documentary claim that Byers' wife died under mysterious circumstances. The claim was made that the dead children had bite marks all over them without disclosing that well before the documentary was made, the assertion about bite marks was thororughly discredited. Additionally, the documentary claims that Byers had all of his teeth removed without proof of it. The reality was that Byers had a disease that caused most of his teeth to fall out, but the documentary left that fact out to make Byers look as guilty as possible.

At the beginning of Paradise Lost 2 - Revelations, it was stated that most of the relatives of the 3 victims (who are the real West Memphis 3) did not want to be involved in the making of this production. Given the facts that the first Paradise Lost was horribly slanted in favor of the convicted murderers and also that this sequel was a witch hunt directed at Byers, it appears that the families of the victims showed very good judgment.

Interesting but ...........2007-02-07

Like it's predecessor, this is a fascinating and probing look at a case that continues to rouse many questions and controversies. Made a few years after the original "Paradise Lost", it is interesting to see where the people, especially the accused Memphis Three, had come to, and how they now viewed all that had happened. But a great deal of this documentary is just footage from the first - which is important in giving context - but it means that there is not all that much new content here. But what is there is very good, and very interesting. I just in some ways think it would have been better to have found a way of adding the new material onto the original documentary, turning into a single "extended version". If you watch the two together, chances are you will find this second one just a tad tedious because you will have already seen so much of it before.