Sam & Janet

Starring:Ryan Brown (II), Jennifer Ferguson, Gary Busey, Anna Beck, Blake Wolney, George Back, Shawn Jefferson, Vanessa Altshuler, Verna Vaughan, Mark Martello, Angela Erwin, Lauren DeBrus, Fawnda McMahon, Jeff Kerr (III), Karen Magirowsky, Nissy Carter, Billy Georgianna, Max Cieminski, Leah Snyder, Emily Coughlin
Director: Rick Walker (III)
Studio: Monarch Video
Product Type: DVD

Roughnecks - The Starship Troopers Chronicles - The Complete Campaigns

Average customer rating:

Only lost one star since the series NEVER ENDED - they stopped 2 episodes short and quit making them
Awful animation, poor physics shouldnt be allowed!
Great
quickfas's review
Roughnecks Rocks

Roughnecks - The Starship Troopers Chronicles - The Complete Campaigns
Starring: Nicholas Guest , Clancy Brown , Tish Hicks , Thomas Wagner , and Irene Bedard
Director: Andre Clavel (III) , Sean Song , David Hartman (III) , Alan Caldwell , and Jay Oliva
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0009I8QI6
Release Date: 2005-07-05

Amazon.com

The Complete Campaigns is a four-disc compilation of the Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles series that was originally released on eight DVDs: The Pluto Campaign, The Hydora Campaign, The Tophet Campaign, The Tesca Campaign, The Zephyr Campaign, The Klendathu Campaign, Trackers (including the four bonus episodes), and The Homefront Campaign. While Paul Verhoeven's dark, satirical adaptation of Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers seriously strayed from the novel, this Verhoeven-produced TV series--part sequel, part remake, all CGI animated--hews closer to the spirit of the novel, a space-age twist on a World War II battle adventure. Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles is a series of military skirmishes and assignments on a variety of fronts, such as Bug City, water-dominated Hydora, the desert planet Tophet, the jungle planet Tesca, fiery Klendathu, and good old Earth.

The episodic nature works perfectly within this framework, and the mix of Marine grit ("No retreat, no surrender!"), military jargon, and understated melodrama give a feel somewhere between the steely seriousness of an old-fashioned war comic book and the spectacle and romance of a Japanese anime space opera. The CGI animation is less ambitious than in such feature films as Toy Story, but it's one of the most impressive examples of the animation made for TV. The detailed designs, rich textures, 3-D modeling, and awesome sense of scale (not to mention the pumped-up action and whiplash speed of the bug army) give it the look of an impossibly sophisticated video game, with the rat-a-tat editing and soaring camerawork of a Hollywood movie. The budgetary shortcuts are evident in moments of blurring and jerking, but overall it's startlingly effective. The PG-level violence may not be appropriate for younger viewers, but it's aimed at an older crowd and has won a loyal adult following.

The packaging is very convenient (a shelf-space-friendly four discs in Thinpaks), but unfortunately, serious Roughnecks fans will want to hold onto their old discs. Cramming the eight discs of content plus bonus episodes (granted, Trackers was a short disc) onto four single-sided discs apparently left no room for the producer/technical commentary tracks that accompanied most of the previous discs. The only bonus features are photo galleries and a fold-out illustration. --Sean Axmaker, David Horiuchi

Beyond Roughnecks at Amazon.com

Listmania: The Military in Space
More Films from Paul Verhoeven
The Book

Stills from Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles (click for larger image)

Customer Reviews:

Only lost one star since the series NEVER ENDED - they stopped 2 episodes short and quit making them.......2007-07-04

I own this and frankly it is pretty good if you liked the starship troopers movie (first one primarily since it follows that line, not the second and pretty cool one in the fortress).

This is very well animated, and the HUGE and ONLY problem is that the series never finished - the plug was pulled TWO EPISODES SHORT OF THE END. The bugs get to earth and start attacking, then we find out that they are taking over people, and we just found a way to strike back and BAM job's done series over.

I would recommend renting - this is not the kind of series you will watch over and over, or buy and resell, but it is worth the watch and is very good overall.

Awful animation, poor physics shouldnt be allowed!.......2007-07-04

Like my title says, even when the technology was new, this looked god-awful. I'm a hardcore fan of the books as well as the movies, but this is just garbage. No extras, nothing. Plus you have to watch these guys and other objects bounce around, defying all physics. It looks worse than Captain Planet (the late animated crap)

Great.......2007-06-27

This is a great DVD box set. It has the whole season including some of the extra shows that were created when the series was taken off the air. If you liked the show you will love this collectible box set. Just be aware that if you buy the box set you will not get the extra behind the scenes footage found in the individual campings found on DVD. If you like me and just enjoy the show, this box set is one easy payment and is one nice box set!

quickfas's review.......2007-05-15

These are great animation movies I really enjoy them. The content about bugs this could be ture. what if the bugs was organied we would be out number.

Roughnecks Rocks.......2007-05-13

I really enjoyed this series. I like the humor and action. I couldn't stop watching it. I also like the stuff that you find out about the bugs and why Rico was assigned to instuctor Zim. I just really enjoyed this series, is one of the better animations shows i've seen.

Forrest Gump (Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

Heartwarming, deep and very, very funny. Forrest Gump is the Ultimate Movie.
Forrest Gump a hero for our times
Forrest Gump
a spiritually and intellectually bankrupt enterprise
Forrest Gumpism

Forrest Gump (Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition)
Starring: Joe Alaskey , Sam Anderson , Geoffrey Blake , Charles Boswell , and Michael Burgess
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00003CXA2
Release Date: 2001-08-28

Amazon.com essential video

The Academy Award winner for Best Picture, Best Director Robert Zemeckis, and Best Actor Tom Hanks, this unlikely story of a slow-witted but good-hearted man somehow at the center of the pivotal events of the 20th century is a funny and heartwarming epic. Hanks plays the title character, a shy Southern boy in love with his childhood best friend (Robin Wright) who finds that his ability to run fast takes him places. As an All-Star football player he meets John F. Kennedy; as a soldier in Vietnam he's a war hero; and as a world champion Ping-Pong player he's hailed by Richard Nixon. Becoming a successful shrimp-boat captain, he still yearns for the love of his life, who takes a quite different and much sadder path in life. The visual effects incorporating Hanks into existing newsreel footage is both funny and impressive, but the heart of the film lies in its sweet love story and in the triumphant performance of Hanks as an unassuming soul who savors the most from his life and times. --Robert Lane

Customer Reviews:

Heartwarming, deep and very, very funny. Forrest Gump is the Ultimate Movie........2007-07-04

The sweetest of love stories, philosophically profound, deep as the ocean and light as a feather... and very funny. Forrest Gump is the ultimate movie in so many ways, there are so many sides to it. It's predominantly a `serious' film about a dim headed, yet good hearted southern boy and how the absence of a dysfunctional ego and a simple sense of honor and integrity enables him to flow through life effortlessly, like the metaphor of the white feather we see at the beginning and the end of the film.

Forrest Gump is a masterfully written and directed tale that punctuates deep philosophical substance with a good deal of humor -the scene of Forrest and Bubba scrubbing the floor with toothbrushes while Bubba enlightens Forrest on the details of `shrimping' is just too funny for words. There's never been a film like it before or since. It ingeniously weaves the history of a generation into the script, taking scenes from the Vietnam war, JFK, the 60's protest movement and flower power, and onward into the age of AIDS. Actual film clippings from various historical events are cleverly edited to enable Forrest to step into them and interact. Wonderful Stuff... it's kind of a nod to the `Wonder Years'.

As richly entertaining as Forrest's life is, and as very funny as many of the scenes are, it's still the character of Forrest that carries the move. He's impossible not to like. You become significantly invested in his life. You share his heartbreak as Jenny repeated shuns the open heart he offers her. And you admire his quiet acceptance of 'what is'. His lack of self consciousness - devoid of the myriad games and manipulations that most people of `greater intelligence' display -his simple open heartedness and sense of personal integrity which he carries through life are inspirational. This clearly is a story that shows the ultimate triumph of virtue over the complex dysfunctions of the mind. Jenny plays out a sad character... always looking somewhere else for love, although she finds it on her death bed And Lt. Dan is just an awesome character. His 360 degree turn through what life deals him is as inspirational as Forrest's.

The closing scene is the most memorable for me... the feather floats in the random breeze, as Forrest muses about predestination vs random existence: " I think it's both... both happening at the same time." - which leads me to believe our beloved Forrest isn't as dumb as he's portrayed.

Forrest Gump a hero for our times.......2007-06-28

Forrest Gump is a greatlook at the 60s and 70s. Tom Hanks is the most likable actor from his generation. Forrest Gump may seem dumb but he mostly makes sense. Forrest Gump has a good heart and guts, his life is a good full life. Forrest Gump is one of the best characters in movie history. This movie is everything its supposed to be.

Forrest Gump.......2007-06-27

It is one of the greatest movies than I've ever seen BUT it doesn't have spanish subtitles.

a spiritually and intellectually bankrupt enterprise.......2007-06-15

This movie celebrates one of the worst possible perspectives on life and does it by exploiting all of the good will and energy of music of the Woodstock generation. Think about it: Tom Hanks portrays a pure innocent who presumably is to be seen as an American Buddha -- detached from everything except pure love. Meanwhile, Robin Wright Penn is portrayed as an idiot because she invests herself in silly causes such as opposing the Vietnam War. We are manipulated into sympathizing with the figure who remains utterly detached from life instead of the figure who cares about the world around her.

Meanwhile, we are further manipulated by a soundtrack carefully assembled so as to have us associate all the good feelings and hopes connected to the songs with what we are watching: a phenomenal bit of film making that successfully transposes the audiences associations with the highest ideals of the sixties and seventies on a film that belittles commitments to those beliefs.

This is a truly insidious, reactionary piece of work. At the end of the movie, "Nashville," Robert Altman cleverly decries the ease by which an audience can be seduced into acquiescing to feel-good nihilism by having everyone leave the theater singing "You may say that I ain't free, it don't worry me." with gospel abandon. The raves that the movie Forest Gump got proves Altman's point.

No one can deny that this movie is a well made film with some sweet and wonderful performances. But, at its core, it is spiritually bankrupt. While it is not as powerful a film as "Triumph of the Will" and the "philosophy" it attempts to manipulate the audience into buying isn't as remotely evil as that of Leni R's patrons, it is nonetheless of that ilk -- a successful attempt to bypass the audience's frontal lobe.

Forrest Gumpism.......2007-05-13

My boys asked me for this. They loved it. It is on TV all of the time but they still wanted the video.

Average customer rating:

"What happens if a car comes?" "We die."
Awesome
The Notebook
My favorite movie!
Unforgettable Summer Romance

The Notebook (New Line Platinum Series)
Starring: Tim Ivey , Gena Rowlands , Starletta DuPois , James Garner , and Anthony-Michael Q. Thomas
Director: Nick Cassavetes
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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The Notebook
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ASIN: B000683VI4
Release Date: 2005-02-08

Amazon.com

When you consider that old-fashioned tearjerkers are an endangered species in Hollywood, a movie like The Notebook can be embraced without apology. Yes, it's syrupy sweet and clogged with clichés, and one can only marvel at the irony of Nick Cassavetes directing a weeper that his late father John--whose own films were devoid of saccharine sentiment--would have sneered at. Still, this touchingly impassioned and great-looking adaptation of the popular Nicholas Sparks novel has much to recommend, including appealing young costars (Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams) and appealing old costars (James Garner and Gena Rowlands, the director's mother) playing the same loving couple in (respectively) early 1940s and present-day North Carolina. He was poor, she was rich, and you can guess the rest; decades later, he's unabashedly devoted, and she's drifting into the memory-loss of senile dementia. How their love endured is the story preserved in the titular notebook that he reads to her in their twilight years. The movie's open to ridicule, but as a delicate tearjerker it works just fine. Message in a Bottle and A Walk to Remember were also based on Sparks novels, suggesting a triple-feature that hopeless romantics will cherish. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Behind every great love is a great story. Two teenagers from opposite sides of the tracks fall in love during one summer together, but are tragically forced apart. When they reunite 7 years later, their passionate romance is rekindled, forcing one of them to choose between true love and class order.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:2 Commentaries --Director Nick Cassavettes --Novelist Nicholas Sparks
DVD ROM Features
Deleted Scenes:12 Deleted Scenes
Documentaries:Nick Cassavetes Profile Featurette Author Nicholas Sparks Featurette Locating "The Notebook" Featurette Casting Noah and Allie featurette
Other:Widescreen & Fullscreen versions on one disc Rachel McAdams Screen Test
Theatrical Trailer

Customer Reviews:

"What happens if a car comes?" "We die.".......2007-07-02

A must have! This is by far one of the best movies I've ever watched. After witnessing a few scenes from this movie I just had to go out and buy it and I don't regret it!

"The Notebook" breaks away from the typical kind of chick flick and adds a touch of humor. The movie adds more focus to the character's first Summer together, unlike the book which I found to be quite a snoozer. Also, the character's personalities seems more realistic and have more depth to them as you will discover during their heated arguements. Noah's personality is so dreamy and you can't help but fall in love with him over and over again.

I found many differences between the book and movie, but I won't spoil it for you if you haven't seen either. :3 This movie definately allows you to take a step back and appreciate the relationship you have with your loved one.

Awesome.......2007-06-27

Excellent movie ! A wonderful story about soul mates, soul mates for life. It will bring tears of happiness and sadness. Definitely a feel good movie.

The Notebook.......2007-06-27

I rented this and decided it was one I could enjoy again and again
I figured the story right away which was good as it made it more enjoyable

My favorite movie!.......2007-06-22

I'm glad I finally got to buy this movie, it is one of my favorites. If you want to know what love could do to somebody and how powerful can be just watch this movie and you'll see what love is all about...

Just to let you know make sure you have a box of tissue handy, or maybe two haha!

Unforgettable Summer Romance.......2007-05-31

`The Notebook' is a sweet romance with a compelling story. The appeal easily develops with freewheeling dating scenes and revelations which unfold lovers sorting out priorities that hit so close to home. A bitter-sweet romance, the film is a beautiful tale of two sweethearts who come from completely different backgrounds but live in the same Southern town during the early forties.

Noah (Ryan Gosling) is from a dirt poor family and works as a logger for forty cents an hour. Allie (Rachel McAdams) belongs to the Southern aristocracy. She has private tutors for every class and most of her whims satisfied. It is love at first sight for Noah who spots Allie at a carnival and jumps between her and her chosen date from the platform of a Ferris wheel. Once he has her attention, he threatens to let go and fall to the pavement if she won't agree to date him. From there his colorful presence challenges every route she's ever known. They each bring a measure of deep beauty to each other: He recites poetry, and she creates paintings. All the oddball adventure he presents from lying down in the middle of a street to dare the traffic, letting go in a torrential rainstorm, to dancing in the street provide those defining moments that demonstrate how strangely people act when they are in love. As the summer ends their lives are disrupted: She is forced to go to Sarah Lawrence College in New York, and soon later he is drafted to fight in Europe during World War II. They split ways and find different lovers, but their relationship is truncated, especially when Allie's manipulative mother (Joan Allen) intercepts Noah's letters that are meant for her.

`The Notebook' is told from the point-of-view of "Duke" (James Garner) who reads the story of Noah and Allie to a beloved nursing home resident (Gena Rowlands) suffering from dementia. I kept thinking as they sit on a park bench in one scene that the story is retold in a manner not entirely different from 'Forrest Gump'. Duke narrates the story, and we come back to him and the woman until the two stories meet and have meaning.

Besides solid, absorbing performances by Gosling and McAdams, Garner softens the edge of the story as narrator, and Allen and Rowlands are easily captivating as Allie's complex and emotional mother and the elderly dementia patient. 'The Notebook' is a pleasing old-fashioned movie that easily plays on our heartstrings and provides a very satisfying viewing experience. (Based on a novel by Nicholas Sparks)

Average customer rating:

Please enter a title for your review
Heartwarming.
"Catch & Release?" I say just let go!
Pretty bad sorry to say
Catch & Release

Catch & Release
Starring: Jennifer Garner , Timothy Olyphant , Sam Jaeger , Kevin Smith , and Juliette Lewis
Director: Susannah Grant
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005JPF3
Release Date: 2007-05-08

Amazon.com

Jennifer Garner's lips grow more Angelina-esque every year. In the romantic comedy Catch and Release, Garner (Alias, 13 Going On 30) plays Gray Wheeler, a young woman whose fiance dies unexpectedly before the wedding, leaving Gray unable to afford her home--so she moves in with her fiance's best friends, Sam (Kevin Smith, director of Clerks and Dogma) and Dennis (Sam Jaeger, Lucky Number Slevin). But the presence of another old friend named Fritz (Timothy Olyphant, Deadwood) leads to the unveiling of a secret: Gray's fiance had a child with another woman. Catch and Release lacks the clear story structure that most romantic comedies are built on, but trades it for a richer sense of the ambiguities of human relationships. Garner, though lovely and personable, is a bit bland--fortunately, she's surrounded by actors with all kinds of edges, including Smith (who shows an unexpected and uncloying earnest side), Fiona Shaw (from the Harry Potter movies) as the fiance's grieving mother, and Juliette Lewis (Cape Fear), who demonstrates once again her powers as a fearless and surprising actress. Catch and Release is an uneven movie, with a remarkably elegant visual style that sometimes clashes with the workmanlike dialogue, but it can't be written off as the same old Hollywood claptrap. Though a happy ending is inevitable, the path it takes has some surprising turns and flashes of unexpected emotional depth.-- Bret Fetzer

Stills from Catch and Release (click for larger image)

Beyond Catch and Release on Amazon.com

More Films from Jennifer Garner
CD Soundtrack
More Romantic Comedies

Customer Reviews:

Please enter a title for your review.......2007-07-04

One of the least engaging movies I've ever endured. It's hard to know how to criticize it when I can't see anything it was attempting. The biggest problems are how little of a sense you get of who the characters are to each other and the cryptic way the plot unfolds without containing any interesting mysteries. As a Kevin Smith fan I don't understand why he thought this movie was worth his time. Even his part didn't make me laugh. I'd give four stars to his commentary track that goes a fair way to redeeming the overall product though.

Heartwarming........2007-07-04

I really enjoyed this movie. I am a Jennifer Garner fan and she plays a great role in this movie. Timothy Olyphant, Sam Jaeger and Kevin Smith are very convincing in their roles as grieving friends even though they share a very odd sort of kinship.

The movie shows the different ways these individuals grief for their deceased friend and how they emerge on the sunnier side of life at the end of the film via different paths.

There are some very funny moments in the film but mostly it leaves you with a very warm fuzzy feeling....even the hubby enjoyed it !

"Catch & Release?" I say just let go!.......2007-07-01

Boy, am I bored. I can't think of anyone who I'd like to recommend watching this, except for some uptight teenage girls. I just finished watching it. The main plot isn't all that bad. It could have had its niche. But the director managed to make a slow-moving,lifeless piece of work which I think most viewers would find it hard to sit to the end. The only thing that got me to watch this in the beginning,like some other viewers,is Kevin Smith. I love to have a chance to see how he acts in other people's movies. But I can only say even with that, the movie is boring like hell.

Pretty bad sorry to say.......2007-06-28

I watched this movie because I'm a Timothy Olyphant fan. My husband and I loved his work in DEADWOOD. And we enjoyed the tv series ALIAS with Garner. However, this film took a long time to get going and then went nowhere and fell flat with a little thud. There was some chemistry with Olyphant and Garner, but it wasn't well-demonstrated. I don't mean to be cruel, but Garner played just about the worst drunk I've ever seen in a movie. That's not her strongpoint. Her wardrobe was hideous. But just getting back to the movie it was not something we'd recommend. We recommended HOLIDAY recently with Cameron Diaz & Kate Winslet - that was adorable. But a couple high points of "CATCH" were Grady's mother coming round at the end and Kevin's character getting together with Juliette Lewis (she WAS great!). As a romantic comedy it was horrible. As a romance it was very so-so. As a drama it was light. I wanted to see something exciting happen with everyone, some windfall of money Grady'd left to all of them, or some sizzling emotional scenes with Olyphant & Garner. Garner does deserve credit for portraying a miss-perfect waspy princess very well. I felt much of the plot was unrealistic. A woman like Gray would never jump into bed with Fritz so fast.

Catch & Release.......2007-06-27

This movie was terrible, It did not hold my interest, there seemed to be no plot to it.. I was bored and wish I had never bought it. A total waste of my money.

Average customer rating:

A Heartwarming Story About Freindship
Great Movie!
wonderful movie
Sweet and Fun
Charlotte's Web

Charlotte's Web (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Julia Roberts , Steve Buscemi , John Cleese , Oprah Winfrey , and Cedric the Entertainer
Director: Gary Winick
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000NA6CPE
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Amazon.com

E.B. White's classic tale gets a Babe-like makeover in Charlotte's Web, a delightful and well-made film that is sure to become a family classic. Directed by Gary Winick (13 Going on 30), the new version eschews the musical numbers of the 1973 cartoon and mixes CGI with live-action animals. Dakota Fanning brings the right amount of chutzpah to Fern, the young farm girl who rescues a runt, Wilbur, from death and visits him every day at her Uncle Homer's farm. But it's Wilbur's friendship with Charlotte the spider (voiced by Julia Roberts) that ultimately saves him from the "smoke house" (a kid-friendly alternative term to the slaughterhouse), for Charlotte's talent for weaving praiseworthy words about Wilbur into her web turns the Zuckerman farm into a tourist attraction. The more tragic elements of the book are handled sensitively by Winick, working from a script by Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich), and Roberts' soothing, maternal voice (who knew it would work so well?) makes it all go down easy. It turns out to be just one of many perfect celebrity voice-casting choices, for the farm animals, voiced by an all-star cast including Oprah Winfrey (the goose), Robert Redford (the horse), Steve Buscemi (Templeton the rat), and John Cleese (the sheep), lend plenty of sharp humor. But it's two corn-hungry crows, voiced by Thomas Haden Church (Sideways) and OutKast's Andre "3000" Benjamin who steal the show. (Ages 4 and older) -- Ellen A. Kim

Beyond Charlotte's Web

Other Children's Book Adaptations on DVD
Charlotte's Web by E. B. White
The Original 1973 Charlotte's Web Cartoon

Stills from Charlotte's Web (click for larger image)

Product Description

The classic story of loyalty, trust, and sacrifice comes to life in this live-action adaptation. Fern (Dakota Fanning) is one of only two living beings who sees that Wilbur is a special animal as she raises him, the runt of the litter, into a terrific and radiant pig. As Wilbur moves into a new barn, he begins a second profound friendship with the most unlikely of creatures - a spider named Charlotte - and their bond inspires the animals around them to come together as a family. When the word gets out that Wilbur's days are numbered, it seems that only a miracle will save his life. A determined Charlotte - who sees miracles in the ordinary - spins words into her web in an effort to convince the farmer that Wilbur is "some pig" and worth saving.

Customer Reviews:

A Heartwarming Story About Freindship.......2007-07-03

My Oppinion: Charlotte's Web is an excellent movie very entertaining for all ages.

About the film: The movie is about a spider who bfriends a young pig and tries to save his life by writing on her web's and the two becomes good friends.

My Oppinion 2: This movie is a great story about friendship. this was a very good film, they didn't change much from the animated version which is great.

f you like this movie then check out the soundtrack to the movie, then the original animated movie.

Great Movie!.......2007-07-03

I loved watching this with my children. They kept rewinding it back to their favorite parts. Dakota Fanning really brings Fern's character to life, and Templeton was hilarious. This movie, taken from the classic by E.B. White, should be both read and watched, for, although most of the main characters are animals, they personify something significant about the human spirit. Some pig, some movie! Enjoy it!

wonderful movie.......2007-07-02

wonderful movie , and great adaptation of the book, great for the whole family, my 2 nieces love it

Sweet and Fun.......2007-07-02

Charlotte's Web, based on the classic tale, is a sweet adaptation of the classic novel. It is becoming increasingly rare that the entire family can sit down together and enjoy a movie together. This is one that is perfect for families to enjoy as the movie dislpays the importance of acceptance, friendship, and sacrifice. The voice work here is outstanding, especially with Julia Roberts as the voice of Charlotte. Dakota Fanning is charming as usual. This is a sweet and fun film well-worth 4.5 stars. Enjoy. My family sure did.

Charlotte's Web.......2007-06-22

Great, great, great! I cried the whole time because the animals are just soooo cute! The picture was colorful, and the community where the town folks lived reminded me of home in Louisiana. Wish I could move to that farm when I retire. All should watch it and learn a lesson from the animals about being different but having the same idea about helping a friend in need.

Average customer rating:

COEN-esque perfection! Or a total nightmare.

The Big Lebowski [HD DVD]
Starring: Jeff Bridges , Steve Buscemi , Sam Elliott , Flea , and Ben Gazzara
Director: Joel Coen
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | HD DVD | Formats | DVD | Video

Comedy | HD DVD | Formats | DVD | Video
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Mallrats [HD DVD]

ASIN: B000O179EK
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Customer Reviews:

COEN-esque perfection! Or a total nightmare........2007-05-29

OK. 1 question; do you like anything the Coen brother's have done? If you don't, do yourself a favor and keep on moving because this is a truly Coen film; dark, loathing, sarcastic (and those are the good points).

Seriously, the Coen's, Joel and Ethan, are a strange pair. I, for one, love their movies, some more than others, but all are entertaining at the least.

This one is truly bizarre. Jeff Bridges IS "the dude". He has a name, but that doesn't matter, because he just wants to be "the dude". Unfortunately, he shares a name with a very wealthy man and gets caught up in a kidnapping, extortion, fraud, baby-making (just watch!), catch-the-guy-that-peed-on-my-carpet (yeah, just watch!), adventure.

All "the dude" does is bowl. His team consists of an overzealous, ex-military (but should still be in the military) Polish born Catholic who converted to Judaism (just watch!) played brilliantly by John Goodman, and a guy that suffers from, well, deafness, stupidity or amnesia (acted well by Steve Buscemi). They have a big match against a team led by a guy that calls himself Jesus, who talks about himself in the first person and I quote, "Don't f... with the Jesus", who is Hispanic but wants his name pronounced like the biblical GEE-zus (John Turturro manages to stand out in this role with only 2 or 3 scenes).

Unfortunately, when "the dude" is mistaken for a rich guy (you'd think the empty apartment would be a tip-off) someone pees on his carpet and he wants to be paid for the damages. It's all downhill from there.

Here, I'll sum it up: Saddam Hussein (obviously pre-GW Bush) works at the shoe counter in a bowling alley in a dream sequence, backdropped by The First Edition's classic "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)"; it's like a bad acid-trip gone terribly RIGHT, somewhat disturbing and utterly hilarious.

One very serious caveat, the movie is rated R for many reasons. There are probably more 4 letter words than other words in this film, somehow an x-rated movie director gets involved in the plot with ubiquitous porn-stars, and, let's just say that "the dude" got to be "the dude" by smoking some stuff that ain't legal and drinking more than any one man should; white russians, which he prefers to call "caucasians", political correctness after all that, WOW!!!

Anyway, if you like the Coen's, I would say particularly, "The Hudsucker Proxy" (1 of my top 5 all time movies) or "Raising Arizona", this is probably right up your alley; sorry, bad pun.

Average customer rating:

Pink Floyd - Pulse
had it for years on lazer disc now finally on DVD
pink floyd in all their glory
excellent
Wow! Almost like being there, but.....

Pink Floyd - Pulse
Starring: David Gilmour , Nick Mason , Richard Wright (II) , Guy Pratt , and Dick Parry
Director: David Mallet
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

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

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

( P ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

On An Island
Pink Floyd - The Wall 25th Anniversary (Deluxe Edition)
David Gilmour in Concert
Pulse
Pink Floyd - Live at Pompeii (Director's Cut)

ASIN: B000BTC5LW
Release Date: 2006-07-11

Amazon.com

At long last Pink Floyd: Pulse has arrived on DVD, and Floyd fans already know it's a major cause to celebrate. The original VHS release was a milestone bestseller, but it seemed to take forever for the DVD to arrive, with numerous delays while Floyd guitarist David Gilmour and long-time Floyd producer James Guthrie labored to restore, re-edit, and remix this legendary concert video in 5.1-channel Dolby Surround Sound. The resulting two-disc set was well worth the wait: While the limitations of the original video source are still evident in the sometimes-hazy image quality (Gilmour would later admit the concert should have been captured on film), Floyd fans will unanimously agree that Pulse has never looked or sounded better, and only the absence of group co-founder Roger Waters prevents this from being the ultimate document of Pink Floyd in performance. (Even without Waters, it's easily one of the group's most impressive stage productions.) Gracefully directed with minimal intrusion by veteran music video and concert director David Mallet, and shot on video during Pink Floyd's two-week stint at London's Earls Court Exhibition Centre in October 1994, this 145-minute performance (from Floyd's Division Bell tour) is a sonic marvel to behold. Under a massive arch festooned with then-state-of-the-art laser, lighting, and projection systems, the 1987 incarnation of Pink Floyd (Gilmour, keyboardist Richard Wright, and drummer Nick Mason) and their stellar supporting band kicks off with "Shine on You Crazy Diamond" (a loving tribute to Floyd co-founder Syd Barrett), followed by four tracks from The Division Bell, two from 1987's A Momentary Lapse of Reason, "Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)" from 1979's magnum opus The Wall, and leading into intermission with an absolutely stunning performance of "One of These Days," the timeless opening track from 1971's Meddle.

The centerpiece of Disc 2 is a near-perfect performance of 1974's Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety--reason enough to make this a must-have DVD for even the most casual Floyd admirers. And while no one will ever re-create the sheer magnificence of Clare Torry's original tour de force vocals on "The Great Gig in the Sky," it's safe to say that backup singers Sam Brown, Claudia Fontaine, and Durga McBroom deliver the next best thing, in addition to seamless contributions throughout the concert. After the closing heartbeat of "Eclipse," the concert ends with encore performances of "Wish You Were Here," "Comfortably Numb," and a no-holds-barred, pyrotechnically explosive rendition of The Wall's "Run Like Hell," all showcasing Gilmour's guitar mastery with frequent close-ups of his picking and fret-work as seen throughout the concert. (Like Gilmour, Mason and Wright were never dynamic onstage, and that's true here as well, but their technical precision is fully evident, and while guitarist Tim Renwick and saxophonist Dick Parry are each given moments to shine, bassist Guy Pratt is a worthy substitution for Waters, especially when vocally sparring with Gilmour on "Run Like Hell.")

With beautiful packaging, an 8-page booklet, and menu designs by long-time Floyd associate Storm Thorgerson, the DVDs offer an abundance of bonus features including "Bootlegging the Bootleggers," featuring surprisingly good-quality "boot" video performances of "What Do You Want From Me?," "On the Turning Away," "Poles Apart," and "Marooned." The surreal round-ratio screen films seen throughout the concert can all be viewed independently (still in round format, and several offered in both original and alternate versions). Music videos for "Learning to Fly" and "Take It Back" are included on Disc 1, along with "Tour Stuff" including maps, itineraries, and stage plans for the 1994 tour. "Say Goodbye to Life as We Know It" is a playful backstage video (mostly involving the production staff's ongoing quest for a good pint of beer), and after delivering a heartfelt introduction to Pink Floyd's 1996 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (with Roger Waters and Syd Barrett acknowledged by Gilmour), Smashing Pumpkins leader Billy Corgan joins Gilmour and Wright for a moving acoustic performance of "Wish You Were Here" (directed at Waters, perhaps?). Additional features include album cover art, a photo gallery, and the concert-only audio choice between a 448kbps audio bitstream or a higher-quality 640kbps stream for higher-quality DVD players. The system set-up feature ensures that audiophiles will achieve optimum speaker performance in keeping with Pink Floyd's exacting technical standards. In tandem with the superior concert presentation, these features make Pulse one of the best--if not the best--music DVDs of 2006, guaranteed to satisfy Floyd fans for many years to come. --Jeff Shannon

More from Pink Floyd and David Gilmour

Pulse (CD)

Is There Anybody Out There?/The Wall Live Pink Floyd 1980-81

Pink Floyd--The Wall 25th Anniversary (DVD)

The Division Bell, Pink Floyd

Delicate Sound of Thunder, Pink Floyd

A Momentary Lapse of Reason, Pink Floyd

Live 8 on DVD--Featuring Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd--Live at Pompeii (Director's Cut) (DVD), Pink Floyd

On an Island, David Gilmour

Customer Reviews:

Pink Floyd - Pulse.......2007-07-05

I can only say, Wow this is totally awesome. The sound quality and concert footage gives you the best seat in the house.

had it for years on lazer disc now finally on DVD.......2007-06-22

Saw this show twice in Atlanta. This is a must have. The only thing about this show that isn't as good as the 87 tour is the girl singers. They still are good though. This was the stage and light show that will probally keep David Gilmore from ever touring Pink Floyd again. I don't think they could out do it. Great sound and lots of extras the lazer disc didn't have. You won't miss Roger too bad trust me. This show was history. If you missed it this will get you there. Turn it up and enjoy

pink floyd in all their glory.......2007-06-15

This DVD is definitely a winner...The unique sound of "the Floyd" comes across splendidly here...Video and audio are extra sharp, and the colors and the laser effects are outstanding...get it for yourself.

excellent.......2007-06-13

Disc 1 has great visuals and excellent sound, Disc 2, same but the last 3 songs are great. Well worth the $$$$

Wow! Almost like being there, but............2007-06-12

I bought PULSE on VHS when it first came out a few years ago. I was so excited when I heard it was coming to DVD.....and a little disappointed after my first viewing.

DON'T GET ME WRONG! This is an EXCELLENT performance from one of the most artistic, prolific and enduring rock bands of our time!

The only problem is, the video is not of DVD quality. The original footage was shot on video tape and a DVD tranfer is only as good as the master it was taken from. You can only do so much with a sub-par master tape (remember, this concert was recorded before the age of DVD and video tape was more or less the industry standard at the time).

The redeeming factor of this release is that it's the only way you can get the entire Dark Side of the Moon album performed LIVE! Gilmour, Mason and Wright have proved that they still have what it takes when it comes to musicianship. The only thing that would have made this DVD even better was if Roger Waters could have put aside his differences and been a part of this concert.

The bonus features of this DVD are simply amazing. This is a must-have for any Pink Floyd fan or a music fan in general.

David Gilmour (my personal guitar hero) is amazing to watch. It makes me mad when I have to work hard at playing guitar and he makes it seem so effortless!

Mason and Wright are also given chances to shine (especially the keyboard solo in "Any Colour You Like"!!!!).

When you buy this DVD and get ready to watch it, turn down the lights, turn off the phone, relax, and get ready to be blown away!

The Last Mimzy (Widescreen Infinifilm Edition)

Average customer rating:

A wonderful film adaptation of an even better classic science fiction story
Fun for everyone
A Magical Movie

The Last Mimzy (Widescreen Infinifilm Edition)
Starring: Chris O'Neil , Rhiannon Leigh Wryn , Joely Richardson , Timothy Hutton , and Rainn Wilson
Director: Robert Shaye
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Infinifilm Edition | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Bridge to Terabithia (Widescreen Edition)
The Astronaut Farmer
Ghost Rider (Two-Disc Extended Cut)
Night at the Museum (Widescreen Edition)
Premonition (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000Q66FB6
Release Date: 2007-07-10

Amazon.com

Comparisons with E.T. are inevitable, but the more modest The Last Mimzy is based on the classic short story "Mimzy Were the Borogoves," by Lewis Padgett (a pseudonym for husband-and-wife writing team Henry Kuttner and C.L. Moore), that anticipated Steven Spielberg's extraterrestrial fantasy by nearly four decades. Chris O'Neil and Rhiannon Leigh Wryn give winning, naturalistic performances as siblings Noah and Emma, whose lives are transformed by a box of mysterious objects they find on the beach outside the family's Seattle vacation home. Among its contents is a stuffed rabbit that Emma names Mimzy and becomes quite attached. Noah and Emma are your typical outsiders. He is not good at sports, and she is interested in astronomy and plays the violin. But the objects work wonders on them. Their brainpower increases exponentially, Noah is able to drive a golf ball hundreds of yards, and Emma begins to communicate telepathically with Mimzy, who reveals his true identity and purpose. Rainn Wilson of The Office displays an off-center charm as Mr. White, Noah's New Age-y science teacher, who discovers similarities between Noah's intricate notebook doodlings and ancient renderings of the universe ("This is so out of my league," he marvels at one point), and becomes involved in Mimzy's back-to-the-future quest. Timothy Hutton and Joely Richardson are solid as the understandably confounded and increasingly concerned parents. Michael Clarke Duncan is a menacing FBI agent who, invoking the Patriot Act, arrests the family after Noah inadvertently causes a citywide blackout with one of the futuristic objects. The Last Mimzy may not reach E.T.'s spectacular heights, but as thoughtfully adapted for the screen by Bruce Joel Rubin (Ghost) and Toby Emmerich (Frequency), it is a transporting, idea-rich family film that is free of gratuitous coarse language (save for Mr. White's offhand classroom use of the word "screw") or bathroom humor. --Donald Liebenson

Description

When Noah and Emma Wilder discover a special box on the beach, they open it and unlock an exciting adventure beyond imagination. Inside they find Mimzy, a magical stuffed rabbit along with other mystical toys, which give the children exceptional powers of their own. Able to move objects with their minds and to solve complex equations, these new wonder kids begin to attract the attention of their parents, teachers... and even the FBI. Surrounding the phenomenon of Mimzy is an awesome secret Â¿ one that holds the key to saving the future of all mankind.

Customer Reviews:

A wonderful film adaptation of an even better classic science fiction story.......2007-07-03

The Last Mimzy: And Other Stories Originally published as The Best of Henry Kuttner
This is as close to a perfect science fiction film as anything that Hollywood is capable of: there is no gratuitous violence or promiscuous sex, no swearing and no blood and no death, no explosions or natural disasters or gunplay or swordfights or monsters or aliens or robots or mutants or cyborgs or comic-book-type-superheroes or mad scientists bent on world domination, none of the things Hollywood likes to ruin science fiction with. Instead good acting and flawless direction, coupled with special effects that don't overpower and dominate everything else in the film and a great--not good, but GREAT IN CAPITALS--story and a wonderful little moral message about not losing our fellow feeling for other people, the sort of social consciousness that no one could possibly object to. If you have kids, buy this thing for your kids, then buy another one for yourself. If you don't have kids, buy one anyways. The film is adapted from a 1943 short story written by Henry Kuttner (one of the leading science fiction writers of the day) with his wife, Catherine (C. L. Moore the original Goddess of Dark Fantasy greatest unmitigated literary genius of the early twentieth century) who were then quite popular and influential but have in the decades since fallen into almost complete obscurity. There is a book called "The Last Mimzy" which should be considered the essential companion to the film. The story in the book is similar to, but not identical with, the story of the movie; and there are sixteen other stories in the book, all of them every bit as good (with most of their collaborative work, Ms. Kuttner declined a byline). They wrote hundreds of stories, novels, and film, radio, and TV scripts under dozens of pen names. Perhaps the best is "Fury", from 1947.

Fun for everyone.......2007-06-21

This is the type of movie that's good for kids, but still entertaining for adults.

If you're in you're late 20's like me and remember movies like Flight of the Navigator, then you'll really like this.

Although Flight of the Navigator will seem dated now, The Last Mimzy gave me the same feeling after seeing it, but with excellent special effects.

Overall, a little bittersweet but very engaging. A- from me.

A Magical Movie.......2007-05-09

What we have here is a splendid sci-fi oriented family film good for all ages. Ok, maybe 5 year olds won't "get it" like older kids and adults, but it won't hurt them to watch. It is rated PG. I was really awestruck by the performances from the children, particularly Rhiannon Leigh Wryn, who played Emma Wilder. She had me tearing up more than once during the movie. I don't know how she did it so effectively; she delivered a flawless and highly evocative performance, oozing cute throughout the film. Made me feel like a kid again. So what was the movie about you ask? The two kids find an alien artifact on the beach and it opens for them. It contains some really amazing stuff that nobody is sure about, and the kids try and keep it secret, but slowly they learn more about it and, in the end, find out what needs to be done. The special effects are neat, and the story is interesting. It contains a healthy portion of mystery. If you see it without the intent on slamming the movie and keep an open mind and a light heart, you will probably love The Last Mimzy.

Average customer rating:

This Movie Does No Justice for Ruffian!
Okay for a TV movie
Ruffian, Horse Racing, And The Decade Of The 1970s
The Legend of the Real Life Black Beauty
What About Her Legacy?

Ruffian
Starring: Sam Shepard , Frank Whaley , Jason Douglas , Laura Bailey , and Christine Belford
Director: Yves Simoneau , and David Dwyer
Manufacturer: ESPN Original Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

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

Barbaro - A Nation's Horse
Ruffian: A Race Track Romance
Ruffian: Burning from the Start
Barbaro: The Horse Who Captured America's Heart
The Life & Times of Secretariat, an American Racing Legend

ASIN: B000OCY7KI
Release Date: 2007-06-12

Description

(Sports / Doc) Based on the story of the great filly who was undefeated until suffering a fatal breakdown in a match race against Foolish Pleasure at Belmont Park in 1975 . Only lasting two short seasons on the track, Ruffian was unbeaten through her first ten starts - shattering records at nearly every race. It was the much anticipated 11th race, on July 7, 1975 in front of a packed house at Belmont and a television audience of 18 million viewers, that proved to be her last. Hailed as the battle of the sexes, Ruffian went head-to-head with Kentucky Derby winning colt Foolish Pride, in what became the last match race in professional horse racing. Just short of the one mile marker, Ruffian went down hard with a broken leg, ultimately leaving doctors with no other option than to put the horse to sleep. The next day, she was buried at Belmont and to this day remains the only horse granted that honor.

Customer Reviews:

This Movie Does No Justice for Ruffian!.......2007-06-27

This movie is lame and doesn't do justice for her. Ruffian was an exquisite, wonderful being. I watched her race... it was amazing. I watched the match race... it was horrendous. Why make us relive it? The last 30 minutes of the movie was just as horrible as it was watching it real time.

The best part of the movie was the ending credits where it actually showed Ruffian. (I only saw the movie when it aired on tv.) Maybe the additional clips on the DVD are worth it; not sure. I recommend instead purchasing the book "Ruffian" by Edward Claflin.

Okay for a TV movie.......2007-06-19

This review is for the TV movie, which I viewed. I haven't seen the DVD extras, so I can't rate them. This movie was probably as accurate to the facts as one could expect for a TV movie. It has the usual dramatic device of a protagonist (Nack) who is around for nearly every scene, even though in reality he wasn't. I agree with one of the other reviewers that it's a little disappointing to see horses that look much older and heavier (probably quarter horses) portraying the tall, slender Ruffian, but I suppose it can't be helped, given the limitations of the filming process and budget. Overall, this is worth seeing if you're a fan of Ruffian or horse racing in general. The TV broadcast did include some very short clips of some of Ruffian's actual races. I hope the DVD includes more of that.

As an aside, there are several mistakes in the description of the movie's story on the Amazon product description page. Ruffian isn't the only horse buried at Belmont (she was the first), she was injured well before the mile marker, the date was July 6th, and she didn't fall hard on the racetrack. Also, the second time Foolish Pleasure is mentioned, his name is listed as Foolish Pride. Pretty sloppy on the part of whomever wrote that story description.

Ruffian, Horse Racing, And The Decade Of The 1970s.......2007-06-15

When I heard they were making a film about Ruffian, my first reaction was that I didn't want to see it and relive the emotions I felt back in 1975 while watching the match race on TV.

But by the time the movie debuted on ABC, I decided to watch it and I'm glad I did. Seeing the movie helped put it back in perspective and made me remember the glory of Ruffian and not just the tragic ending.

If you are too young to remember 1975 or weren't born yet, please watch the movie to see the cultural significance of the "He vs. She" match race. It was an indelible part of the 1970s decade, coming on the heels of the 1973 Billie Jean King vs. Bobby Fisher tennis match, and the rise of Women's Lib.

There are a lot of other things about that tumultuous decade that we'd like to forget (such as polyester!), but in horse racing, it was the best decade of all. Three smashing Triple Crown winners in Secretariat, Seattle Slew, and Affirmed; the rise of jockey Steve Cauthen as a household name; women jockeys breaking down the doors of the men-only club; plus Ruffian and other horse racing greats such as Spectacular Bid, Forego, and Alydar.

There are always inaccuracies that plague horse racing movies, and the Ruffian movie is no exception. Workout scenes show Ruffian alone with no other horses on the racetrack. I worked as an exercise rider for 20 years at Thoroughbred racetracks, and believe me, horses don't train alone. There are hundreds of horses on the track galloping and breezing during training hours, which really changes the dynamic of the scene.

The horse they used as Ruffian on the racetrack was a fairly decent representation of the real Ruffian, but the horse they used for the barn scenes looked like a Quarter horse, and just stood there like a nag. I'm sure it was for practical reasons, they needed a quiet horse to put up with all the filming, but I wish the barn-scene horse was more true to Ruffian's looks and personality. Ruffian was an extremely high spirited horse, she kicked up a fuss on a regular basis, and part of her allure and fame was due to her high voltage personality.

Even though in reality Bill Nack's character wasn't there for Ruffian's every move, I don't have an objection to him constantly being in and around the Whiteley barn as Bill Nack helped explain and drive the story. If the story was told from Frank Whiteley's perspective alone, it would have been a near-silent movie as he was cranky and didn't say much in real life.

In the 30+ years since Ruffian died, she has stood the test of time as an all-time great. Sports Illustrated included Ruffian as the only non-human on their list of the top 100 female athletes of the 20th century. The Blood Horse Magazine ranks her #35 in their top 100 racehorses of the century.

Real footage of Ruffian racing is shown at the end of the movie, it's a great addition as she truly was a dynamo. The inaccuracies I stated above don't detract that much from the real story, so I am giving it my top rating.

The Legend of the Real Life Black Beauty.......2007-06-13

My late father worked in horse-racing in NY for 35 years,
and I grew up listening to horse stories. No horse ever
captivated my heart and mind in quite the way that Ruffian did.
She was the real life Black Beauty for millions of little girls,
and the day she died, I walked away from horse-racing forever.
I was seventeen years old.

While the film may not be 100% historically accurate,
it was accurate enough to break my heart all over again
and send me hunting through my drawers to find my old Match Race
pins so I could hold Ruffian one more time while I cried for her.

It was accurate enough to make my best friend scream and grab her own
bad leg (previously broken several times)when Ruffian's leg snapped.
I think Ruffian's story still has the power and the magic to make little
girls everywhere believe that anything is possible, and that they can
truly be Champions like the Magnificent, Tragic Ruffian.
I will be going back to Belmont to visit Ruffian's final resting place
one more time.

Sam Shepard and the rest of the Ruffian "crew" did an excellent job
of portraying both the love and the limitations inherent within
the close-knit support system of the beloved Heroine Filly.

What About Her Legacy?.......2007-06-13

I think the movie was humble, in that it did not credit Ruffian, rather, let the facts speak instead; it did mention at the end, where it listed who went on to do what, that it was the last match race in professional horseracing. However, Ruffian's legacy may be much more: For example, the Wikipedia (where they edit each other's writing mercilessly) article about her recalled that,
'Her breakdown and tragic death led to a public outcry for more humane treatment of racehorses. One result was that medications, such as Lasix for bleeding and corticosteroids for inflammation and pain management, came into common use in racehorses.'
The article goes on with the rather astute observations that,
'While helping the horses in the short term, the increased use of medications at the track had a downside, as many horses were raced while injured. It can be argued that thoroughbreds are becoming more delicate as a result; racehorses today run only half as many starts before retirement as did their counterparts 50 years ago. Some of this effect is likely also due to breeding practices that select for horses likely to have short, brilliant careers--like Ruffian's--instead of the traditional racing career which might have lasted several years. Indeed, Ruffian's bloodline may be considered at least partly to blame for her broken leg; her sire, Reviewer, suffered three breakdowns.'
The movie shows Ruffian's burial at Belmont, also mentioned in Wikipedia, but neither point out that she has been the only horse honored with burial there. ESPN's coverage of the 2007 Belmont Stakes seemed complete, but failed to show Ruffian's grave at the pole or make the connection, upon the occasion of Rags to Riches being the first filly to win in over a hundred years, that their host, ABC, would air the movie Ruffian later that evening, about a filly who was leading to have won at the same Belmont Park, had a foreleg not broken, or anything about her. Certainly the movie, much less ABC, has no responsibility for ESPN or Wikipedia content, so I plead guilty to being a Monday-morning quarterback (I am interested in contributing to Wikipedia, but feel that I would have to return to college in order to wade through all their rules and regulations, etc.).
Yes, I specified 'foreleg,' as both the movie and the article mention her other leg breaking, but which leg is her 'other leg?' The article refers to Ruffian 'thrashing about wildy' coming out of anesthesia, so as to break the cast and her 'other leg' (front, presumably), but the movie only illustrated a running motion with her front legs, breaking the 'other.' Also not shown in the movie is the description in the article of how far/long she ran on after her leg broke, 50 yards, or as one account put it, to the effect that, the ambulance was there by the time she quit running. Perhaps the post-surgery running effort shown was chosen to illustrate this part of her reaction, the story of which may have gotten better over time. Without meaning to criticize the movie or the article based merely upon my own incomplete research, I point out these elements and the others as worth a look, because the running lame and fighting surgery, for example, touched the hearts of the country, I am sure, and are, therefore, important parts of her history/story.
The movie does show Ruffian's grave marker with epitaph paragraph, but in a flash like credits; to read it, I will have to buy this DVD and put it on pause, or else drive up to Belmont Park, in which case I could find out, too, if she is buried at the finish pole or the flagpole, or, maybe they are one in the same. You may also wish to see my Listmania list, 'Great Horse Movies on DVD.'

Average customer rating:

Gettysburg
Historical Referance
For Civil War Enthusiasts...
LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!
Fine depiction of three days of horror and honor...

Gettysburg (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Richard Anderson , Royce D. Applegate , Tom Berenger , Bo Brinkman , and Dwier Brown
Manufacturer: Turner Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Adventure | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Civil War | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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Gods & Generals
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ASIN: B00003CXA6
Release Date: 2004-02-03

Amazon.com essential video

Three days in the summer of 1863, at a place called Gettysburg. Although it received a theatrical release, this four-hour depiction of the bloody Civil War battle was shot as a made-for-television film. But no taint of cheapness or shortcuts should stick to this magnificent picture (well, except maybe for those phony-looking mustaches). Based on Michael Shaara's book The Killer Angels, this film takes a refreshingly slow, thorough approach to the intricacies of battle. In ordinary circumstances, those intricacies might seem of importance only to fans of military strategy or Civil War enthusiasts, yet in Gettysburg they come across as the very stuff of life, death, and unexpected heroism. If the film has a problem, it's that it climaxes too early: the first long segment, detailing the struggle of a "civilian soldier," Union Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (Jeff Daniels), to hold his ground against long odds, is an enthralling piece of moviemaking. Daniels, in a heartbreaking performance, does his best film work. Other cast members include Tom Berenger, Sam Elliott, and Martin Sheen as Robert E. Lee. Richard Jordan, in his final role, gives a powerhouse performance as Confederate general Lewis A. Armistead. Oh, and you can also try to spot Ted Turner, whose company produced the film, as a Confederate soldier. Writer-director Ronald F. Maxwell seems inspired by the gravity of the battle; long as it is, every moment of Gettysburg is informed by a nobility of purpose. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

Gettysburg.......2007-06-12

Gettysburg is a great movie that was inspired by one of the most decisive battles during the Civil War. Ronald Maxwell, the director, hired a historain, James McPherson so help him in making sure the battle scenes were as true as they actually happened in 1863. Gettysburg has three days of fighting along with events that led up to the war making it very gory and action-packed. There is alot of death in this movie but since Gettysburg was one of the bloodiest battles with 50,000 American casualties, the amount of death in the movie is appropriate.
The first day of fighting consists of Buford trying to maintain his position in Gettysburg to make sure that the Union army has the best land position. The second day of fighting is centrally located at Cemetery Hill, Little Round Top, and Culp's Hill. The third and final day at Gettysburg consisted of one of the most famous battles at Gettysburg: Pickett's Charge. This is the day that Lee realizes that he has to retreat due to too many Confederate losses.
This movie is, historically, very correct. The locations of the battles are historicall accurate along with the general's names. Mostly everything in this movie was, in McPherson's eyes, historically accurate. One can learn alot about the Civil War by watching this movie because it shows how the soldiers felt and lived and the effects of war on them. It also talks about past and upcoming issues in the war. This was a great historical movie but also very entertaining and i would recommend it to anybody that was interested, or wants to become knowledgable about the Civil War.

Historical Referance.......2007-05-24

I found this movie to be an excellant composite of historical facts and charactors.
Heavilly based on the book "Killer Angels" by Michael Shaara.

For Civil War Enthusiasts..........2007-04-19

Turner Pictures' "Gettysburg" is the lengthy but fascinating dramatization of Michael Shaara's classic Civil War novel "The Killer Angels." At mini-series length and populated with an army's worth of solid actors, "Gettysburg" delivers the gripping story of the three-day battle as experienced by some of the key personalities.

Among the highpoints:

Sam Elliot as hardbitten Union Cavalry General John Buford, who recognized the value of the terrain at Gettysburg and whose decision to stand there helps bring on the battle.

Jeff Daniels is absolutely superb as Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain of the 20th Maine, a professor at Bowdoin College become a leader of men at war. Jeff Daniels manages to capture both the intelligence and the determination that won Chamberlain a Medal of Honor in the desperate struggle for the end of the Union line at Little Round Top.

Tom Berenger gives a nuanced and conflicted performance as Confederate General Longstreet, Lee's most reliable Corps Commander, who advises Lee against the Battle at Gettysburg and who must overcome his better instincts to execute Lee's orders.

Martin Sheen does his best to deliver as Confederate General Robert E. Lee, but only just fails to capture the charisma and the hidden steel that made Lee such a deadly and successful battlefield commander for so long. Perhaps the best of his performance in this movie is his meeting with his missing cavalry commander, J.E.B. Stuart, after the second day of battle.

The movie was filmed over the actual ground at Gettysburg using properly equipped re-enactors who add much authenticity to the battle scenes. The sharp-eyed viewer will enjoy picking out a number of actors hiding behind more or less authentic period whiskers. The magnificent score adds to the appreciation of what was at stake at Gettysburg, while the prologue and epilogue provide a haunting sense of the harsh fates awaiting many of the key players in the battle.

This movie is most highly recommended to fans of the Civil War who are prepared to overlook some TV-movie production shortfalls for an entertaining and educational dramatization of the Civil War's most fateful battle.

LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!.......2007-04-14

Gettysburg may seem kinda long for most people, but it is defenitley worth the time! I have watched it many, many times over! Civil war buff or not, you need to watch it!

Fine depiction of three days of horror and honor..........2007-03-31

I think the four-hour saga of "Gettysburg" might be one of Ted Turner's enduring positive gifts to the world. This is worth seeing just for the performances of Jeff Daniels as Joshua Chamberlain, the heroic Yankee, and Kevin Conway as Sgt. Buster Kilrain, the non-commissioned officer who saw his worth and gave him confidence. The fact that it was filmed on the actual battlefield (with modern roads, buildings and monuments erased via computer) is a plus. It is a balanced mixture of talk, both brave and brooding, and action, both glorious and gory.

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