The Prince & Me/Save the Last Dance (Widescreen Editions)

Starring:Julia Stiles, Luke Mably, Ben Miller (II), Miranda Richardson, James Fox, Alberta Watson, John Bourgeois, Zachary Knighton, Stephen O'Reilly, Elisabeth Waterston, Eliza Bennett, Devin Ratray, Clare Preuss, Yaani King, Eddie Irvine, Angelo Tsarouchas, Jacques Tourangeau, Joanne Baron, Stephen Singer, Sarah Manninen
Director: Martha Coolidge, Thomas Carter (II)
Studio: Paramount
Product Type: DVD

The Little Mermaid (2-Disc Platinum Edition)

Average customer rating:

One of the last great Disney Movies
Grandchildren Loved The Little Mermaid
Great Product!
The Little Mermaid (2-Disc Platinum Edition)
Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid (2-Disc Platinum Edition)
Starring: Rene Auberjonois , Christopher Daniel Barnes , Jodi Benson , Pat Carroll , and Paddi Edwards
Director: Ron Clements , and John Musker
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000F8O35U
Release Date: 2006-10-03

Amazon.com essential video

From the moment that Prince Eric's ship emerged from the fog in the opening credits it was apparent that Disney had somehow, suddenly recaptured that "magic" that had been dormant for thirty years. In the tale of a headstrong young mermaid who yearns to "spend a day, warm on the sand," Ariel trades her voice to Ursula, the Sea Witch (classically voiced by Pat Carroll), for a pair of legs. Ariel can only succeed if she receives true love's kiss in a few day's time and she needs all the help she can from a singing crab named Sebastian, a loudmouth seagull, and a flounder. The lyrics and music by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken are top form: witty and relevant, and they advance the story (go on, hum a few bars of "Under the Sea"). Mermaid put animation back on the studio's "to do" list and was responsible for ushering Beauty and the Beast to theaters. A modern Disney classic. --Keith Simanton

Description

THE LITTLE MERMAID, one of the most celebrated animated films of all time -- and winner of two Academy Awards(R) (Best Music, Original Score; Best Music, Original Song, "Under The Sea," 1989) -- splashes onto an exciting 2-Disc DVD with an all-new digital restoration. Ariel, a fun-loving and mischievous mermaid, is off on the adventure of a lifetime with her best friend, the adorable Flounder, and the reggae-singing Caribbean crab Sebastian at her side. But it will take all of her courage and determination to make her dreams come true—and save her father's beloved kingdom from the sneaky sea witch Ursula! Dive into a world of music and adventure in this new 2-Disc Platinum Edition your family will enjoy again and again!

Customer Reviews:

One of the last great Disney Movies.......2007-05-28

Mermaid was one of Disney's last great movies.....before they started trying to spin each classic tale into a 2nd, 3rd movie....each meaningless money making machines.

The Little Mermaid is the Disney version of the Hans Christian Anderson tale. Disney brings it to life with the beautiful Ariel, and a whole cast of loveable characters- Flounder, Eric, Sebastian, Flounder, Skuttle.

Ariel, the youngest of many daughters is bored with life under water and want to explore life on land as a human. She see's a man aboard a boat and falls in love. His name is Eric. When a storm rages, Ariel saves Eric and leaves his ashore. He sees her and can't forget her face. Against her fathers wishes Ariel dreams of life on land. She bargains with the sea witch Ursula to turn her into a human. The price she pays is her voice. She has to make Eric fall in love with her- but she has no voice.
Ursula uses Ariels voice to bring her father to her knees. In the end, she is overcome, and Triton- Ariels father is saved, and let's Ariel go- to become a human.

The music is some of the most creative animated music EVER. From Kiss the girl to Under the Sea, each songs is singable, and unforgettable. Boy and girls alike will love this movie about dreams, courage, and adventure.

Grandchildren Loved The Little Mermaid.......2007-05-17

I bought this for my three grandchildren and they are very, very happy with it and have watched it many times already.

Great Product!.......2007-05-14

The dvd was brand new in the packaging. I would defintely buy from this seller again!!!

The Little Mermaid (2-Disc Platinum Edition).......2007-05-13

Bought this for my wife. She's always loved the story and had been wanting the DVD for a while. When the special edition came out, I grabbed it. The commentaries are great. The history of the story, the animation process, and the cast/crew is wonderful.

Little Mermaid.......2007-05-09

An upgrade to DVD. Wonderful movie to watch, beautiful coloring and music. Ariel can sing the pants off a crab.

Average customer rating:

Equal to or better than the first
Shrek 2: Possibly the Worst Movie in History (and I didn't even see it)
THE GREATEST!
Very funny and well composed story line
Do not like being forced to sit through other movie previews

Shrek 2 (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Mike Myers , Eddie Murphy , Cameron Diaz , Antonio Banderas , and Julie Andrews
Director: Andrew Adamson
Manufacturer: Dreamworks Animated
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005JMQZ
Release Date: 2004-11-05

Amazon.com

The lovably ugly green ogre returns with his green bride and furry, hooved friend in Shrek 2. The newlywed Shrek and Princess Fiona are invited to Fiona's former kingdom, Far Far Away, to have the marriage blessed by Fiona's parents--which Shrek thinks is a bad, bad idea, and he's proved right: The parents are horrified by their daughter's transformation into an ogress, a fairy godmother wants her son Prince Charming to win Fiona, and a feline assassin is hired to get Shrek out of the way. The computer animation is more detailed than ever, but it's the acting that make the comedy work--in addition to the return of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz, Shrek 2 features the flexible voices of Julie Andrews (Mary Poppins), John Cleese (Monty Python's Flying Circus), Antonio Banderas (Desperado), and Jennifer Saunders (Absolutely Fabulous) as the gleefully wicked fairy godmother. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

Equal to or better than the first.......2007-07-03

This movie was very hilarious. It had the same gags as the first one did, but with many more characters and with a much deeper plot.

This time, Shrek and Fiona are married. They get an announcement from "mom and dad." (That being FIONA's mom and dad) that compels them to journey to the land of "Far Far Away..."

Donkey's back, as is Gingey and the whole crew. Here, we meet Puss, Fairy Godmother, Prince Charming and we get a glimpse into Fiona's true heart.... a glimpse that makes Shrek question his own existence. Honestly, this movie is very well done. The animation is sharp and bright. The motivation and the plot are both believable, even amid the backdrop of purest fantasy.

Who is Fiona's true love? It's no secret that, by the end of the movie, we learn that Shrek is just THA MAN! (Or is that THA OGRE?)

I really enjoyed this movie. I think it has something for every age.

Shrek 2: Possibly the Worst Movie in History (and I didn't even see it).......2007-07-02

Shrek 2 is one of the worst movies in world history, possibly the worst ever. The jokes, parodies and gimmicks were boring, dumb and retarded, and I wouldn't even let myself fall asleep to this movie because I wouldn't want to have a dream about it, God forbid--watching it while awake is bad enough.

Oh, btw, I didn't actually even see this movie--I just knew that it was awful, so I was intent on never, ever seeing it as long as I live.

I liked the reviewer who suggested we should lock this film up in a secret government facility and away from the outside world. A better idea might be holding a special witch trial and burning the Master Print at the stake.

Btw, I HATED the first Shrek, which I actually did see, and I already HATE Shrek 3 and Shrek 4-1000, or 4-1,000,000, or however many of these monstrosities they force on us.

The main reason I hate Shrek so much is the ridiculous premise of the movie--that "looks don't matter", it's all about "love" and "character". Yeah, right. As if 99% of everyone on Earth doesn't marry partly for looks and attraction (as long as you're not living under the Taliban or The House of Saud)??? Duh! OF COURSE looks matter, they've mattered since Helen of Troy, Cleopatra, Marie Antoniette, Greta Garbo, Rita Hayworth, right up to Scarlett Johanssen, Julia Roberts, and "the girl next door".

The moronic, retarded, absurd idea that it's somehow "bad" to like women because they're beautiful strikes me as everything that's wrong with America today--this society is all about denying Reality and living a lie, all for the sake of "getting along", and not "offending anyone". I find the idea that feeling thinking human beings should be prevented from being offended or made to "like people" they don't, by force, to be terrifying. It's literally Orwellian.

The fact that millions of Americans fall for this lunacy, this illogic, frightens me. What is this country coming to?

Please, save us from Shrek, the people who make these sick films, and all the other body snatchers running loose.

THE GREATEST!.......2007-06-28

This Shrek production is FABULOUS! You simply can't improve on PERFECTION. The script, the animation, the MUSIC -- all great. Although I'm not a kid, I thoroughly enjoyed the child-like balance of animated characterizations that took me back some years, but an excellent story line, as well. This is a definite Collector's Item. Everyone, young and old and inbetween, should own SHREK 2. On a scale of 1 to 10, I give it a "12"!

Very funny and well composed story line.......2007-06-27

Love this one too although I think the first one is a little better but this one has a tons of fun also. Watched several times.

Do not like being forced to sit through other movie previews.......2007-06-24

I like this movie, but I'm giving the DVD a bad rating because this DVD forces you to watch two other pixar video previews and does not allow you to go straight to the disk root menu. Nearly all DVD's allow you to either fast forward using your chapter forward button or your menu button so that you can go straight to starting the movie instead of watching other promos. This DVD forces you to sit through Ben Stiller promote Madagascar... which you can handle once, but not over and over and over.

Average customer rating:

This movie rocks!!!
Great Great Family comedy!
Hairdo detention, integration angst, TV dancing competitions, kids who really knew how to tease and one great big campy YES !!!
How is the new movie going to top this?
wonderful!

Hairspray
Starring: Sonny Bono , Ruth Brown , Josh Charles , Divine , and Jason Downs
Director: John Waters
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00006RZ9Y
Release Date: 2002-11-05

Amazon.com essential video

John Waters made his bid for PG respectability with this enjoyably trashy comedy about the racial integration of a teen dance show on Baltimore television in the early '60s. Waters, as always, makes a virtue of junk culture and the powerful emotional forces it can represent as kids vie to get on the show. Meanwhile, a parade of former stars (Pia Zadora, Debbie Harry, Sonny Bono) and pseudostars (Divine, Ricki Lake) cross the screen, playing freakish characters absorbed by thoughts of fame. (Waters himself turns up as a weirdo psychiatrist.) This transitional film for Waters is rough going at times and not as interesting or funny as his later features Cry-Baby and Serial Mom, but it's worth a look. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

This movie rocks!!!.......2007-07-05

Ricki Lake is so good in this movie! This a great movie that makes you wanna get up and dance!

Great Great Family comedy!.......2007-06-23

This movie is probabally one of the best films I have ever seen! It is about an overweight girl named Tracey Turnblad (Ricki Lake) who, like every other Baltimore Teenager loves the local tv dance show the corny collins show. When her mother and father (Divine and Jerry Stiller ) find out her mother is angerd by the obsession but her father thinks it is a finee show with really no problem. When Tracey gets excepted as a dancer her mother loves the attention and publicity her daughter is getting. However with tracey becoming famous she kicks bratty Amber Von Tussle out of the spotlight. Amber, madder than ever starts spreading nasty rumors about tracey. However sweet sweet Tracey doesn't let it bother he. The rest is a hilarious fun comedy about dancing, the 60's and the serious part racial issues in Baltimore. Parents who may know John Water's other films are downright weird and nasty but there is nothing weird or nasty. However there is one scene where the kids are hiding from their parents and run into bizzare beatniks who suggest drugs but link sends a good message by getting him and his friends out of their and says to not do drugs or you's get addicted and get hurt. That's really the only reason it got the PG rating. I think that if the scene weren't in there it would be a G rating. Now for special features there is a nice reunion commentary between John Waters and Ricki Lake. Besides that there is the original trailer also I have not checked it out but the dvd case says there are special features only viewible on a computer. I highly reccomend this to all familys or just people who love fun movies. But parents of kids 7 and younger should watch this with them. So whether you rent it or buy it you will not be dissapointed!

Hairdo detention, integration angst, TV dancing competitions, kids who really knew how to tease and one great big campy YES !!!.......2007-06-13

Hairspray is one of John Waters' more mainstream movies in that it deals with the themes of racial tensions leading up to an integrated Baltimore, teen angst and first true loves, and those incredible dances and dance shows on TV from the late 1950s into the 1960s. Of course, with Hairspray being a John Waters movie, characters become grossly exaggerated for a humorous effect; you get a very funny, playful and harmless cast of both young and older people in Baltimore facing changing times as they try to live their lives as best they can.

Tracy Turnblad (Ricki Lake) is an overweight teenage girl who can shake off jokes about her weight with a type of self-confidence that is truly remarkable. Tracy and her friend Penny Pingleton (Joann Havrilla) enjoy watching and dancing along to The Corny Collins TV Show in Tracy's living room at home; and one day Tracy sets her mind to trying out for the show with some support from her friend Penny. When Tracy does try out on the Corny Collins TV dance show for dancing teenagers, she wins a spot on the council almost immediately! This upsets the stuck up, racist reigning queen Amber von Tussle and her parents (Sonny Bono and Debbie Harry) who make their living running Tilted Acres, a segregated theme park in Baltimore. As Tracy's star rises she also charms the heart of Amber's boyfriend, Link Larkin (Michael St. Gerard). Of course, this means war. Amber and her parents must--I mean, must--find a way to disgrace Tracy so that Amber can remain the star of the show and ultimately win the highly coveted 1963 Miss Auto Show award. Of course, as this all happens, Hairspray pokes fun at the obsession some people had with getting their hair to be as high and as perfect looking as they thought it could or should be.

The movie moves along at an even pace and the action keeps your attention. Look for John Waters himself as the psychiatrist hired by Penny's parents when they find out she has a black boyfriend named Seaweed. Divine turns in quite a performance as both Tracy Turnblad's mother and Arvin Hodgepile, the TV studio owner who could can The Corny Collins Show if it becomes integrated against his will. As if that weren't enough, Ruth Brown plays the role of Motormouth Maybelle, a female record store owner who is a prominent integrationist in Baltimore and who also sometimes judges on The Corny Collins Show.

Overall, the acting exceeds my expectations for a John Waters flick; and the choreography shines in great scenes where large crowds must move about. I won't give away the plot; but if you want to see excellent choreography look not at just the complicated dance scenes they had to manage but also the race riot scene near the Tilted Acres segregated amusement park.

The cinematography works well; and each character is developed nicely as the movie goes along. The casting is flawless, too.

Hairspray earns its keep quite well; it will hold your undivided attention as you howl with laughter all the way through! The DVD also features commentary by John Waters and Ricki Lake.

When it comes down to it, Hairspray manages to do be funny, hold your attention and explore rather serious issues concerning racial tensions, segregation, integration and the first true love each teen inevitably experiences--all at the same time and all in the same movie. That's quite a feat; and I recommend this film for fans of John Waters movies but also for people who enjoy comedies that involve social commentary. Great!

How is the new movie going to top this?.......2007-06-05

Honestly, I don't know.

I first became aware of Hairspray when I was 12-years-old(in the early 90's). It aired on Network television and I can't tell you how much I loved it! The music, the clothes, the dancing, and the poignant message of racial segregation had me riveted.

John Waters is notorious for making campy, sometimes just plain BAD, films. But Hairspray had the right amount of camp and attitude. I've seen the trailers for the new Hairspray film and I just don't see the flash and pizzazz of the original. I think I'll skip the theatre and pop in the DVD.

Fantastic!

wonderful!.......2007-05-30

I loved this movie! Ricki Lake is awesome :) who knew she could dance?!?

Average customer rating:

A funny movie about a serious subject.
Feel good movies
A feel-good, way-it-oughta-be, movie
wonderful movie
Good fantasy fun

Dave
Starring: Kevin Kline , Sigourney Weaver , Frank Langella , Kevin Dunn , and Ving Rhames
Director: Ivan Reitman
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: 6304907613
Release Date: 1998-04-29

Amazon.com essential video

A heartwarming story of mistaken identity and idealism, director Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters) takes on the political establishment in this fresh, funny comedy. Kevin Kline (Sophie's Choice, A Fish Called Wanda) plays Dave Kovic, a sweet man with a big heart running an employment agency. Dave happens to be a dead ringer for the current president of the United States, and he hires himself out as an impersonator for parties and mall openings. When the real president has a stroke while in bed with an aide, his ambitious chief of staff (Frank Langella) decides to hold onto the White House by appealing to Dave's sense of patriotism and having him pose as the president. Soon, however, Dave is running the country in a way contrary to what the chief of staff would like, even as he finds himself falling in love with the unsuspecting first lady (Sigourney Weaver). The movie's unbridled optimism is its best asset, and it makes this a pleasant comedy worth seeing. --Robert Lane

Description

Just who runs this country anyway? For comedy fans, the answer is - Dave. Kevin Kline (A Fish Called Wanda, In & Out) and Sigourney Weaver (Working Girl, Ghostbusters) star in this box-office winner about an uncanny Presidential lookalike named Dave, who's recruited by the Secret Service to become a momentary stand-in for the President of the United States. However, things don't turn out exactly as planned and Dave finds himself continuing his masquerade as Chief Executive indefinitely. Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters and 6 Days, 7 Nights) directs and supporting players Frank Langella, Ving Rhames, Ben Kingsley and Charles Grodin supply more reasons to stand up and cheer. Many real-life Washington politicos and pundits join the fun as Dave uses ordinary-guy savvy to deal with the extraordinary responsibilities of the Oval Office.

Customer Reviews:

A funny movie about a serious subject........2007-06-30

Dave is hired by the Secret Service to double for the president. Mr Kline, as Dave, could impersonate the president very well. Not hard, since he played the president, too. While he is acting as president the real president has a stroke. Dave is rehired to continue his impersonation until the president recovers, 'to protect the office'. He finds that the presidents aides are not really honorable men. He takes over, firing the bad guy and pushing through a bill to 'help the children'. Meanwhile, Dave and Mrs. President are getting along very well. I have to catalog my movies so that I can find the one I want. I'm not sure if this movie is a) Comedy/Romance or b) Drama.

Feel good movies.......2007-05-28

DAVE is a wonderful movie. Anyone who wants to see the tables turned on the crooked politicians in Washington must see this movie

A feel-good, way-it-oughta-be, movie.......2007-05-14

"Dave" was a pleasant enough movie the first time I saw it, in 1993, with the good guys winning, and with superb acting performances by Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, Frank Langella, Ben Kingsley, and particularly Ving Rhames and Kevin Dunn in supporting roles. In a very small role, Charles Grodin does his best work that I've seen him do, and has one of the outstanding lines: "Who DOES these books?" Langella is quite believable as the astute, scheming politico who has never been bested; Dunn develops his character's moral conscience as we watch him on screen; and Rhames balances perfectly his character's initial distrust of the faux-president with his growing admiration of--and loyalty to--the kind of integrity so many of us wish we could find in "the leader of the free world."

When I decided to see it a second time, I viewed it as a movie or literary critic would, and found that it held together structurally, it developed organically, and it balanced some pretty heavy duty themes with good humor and almost-perfect timing. We have nearly worn out the original VHS tape that we bought, watching it whenever we want a "feel-good" movie, especially after seeing or reading about too much national and international news. Each time I watch it, I see more complexity to the character development and to the plot intricacies (which at first seem to be pretty straight-forward but, upon reflection, are not quite so simple).

"Dave" grows on its audience, appealing initially because it does represent what so many Americans would really like our government to be like; but it invites repeated viewing because of its texture, its acting, and so many of its memorable lines. How often, for example, can you imagine laughing at, "I once caught a fish THIIIIIISSSS big!" In the context of this movie, however, it is funny repeatedly while contributing seriously to character development. And how touching is the simple statement near the end of the movie, "I woulda taken a bullet for you," spoken quietly though in turbulent surroundings.

Even the ending, sappy though it may seem to be, holds open a subtle promise for the future when it is viewed in the light of the early political career of the movie's Vice President. "Dave" has risen steadily to become one of my five or six favorite movies, with "8 1/2," "Inherit the Wind," "Rear Window," "Tootsie," and "Blazing Saddles." I heartily recommend it: for a good time, call "Dave." Really.

wonderful movie.......2007-03-11

The stars in this movie do a great job it's like it's for real it's a movie a family could watch and thats something good

Good fantasy fun.......2006-12-20

I disagree with the reviewer who said s/he was apprehensive about all the brief cameos of journalists. Maybe I'm just a news junkie, but I LOVED seeing all the brief clips of the usual pundits and broadcasters supposedly reporting on the events in the movie. It was hilarious! Overall, this film gets an A-, and is one of the funniest, most good-natured political satires I've ever seen.

Average customer rating:

Probably the best foreign film I've ever seen!!!
Can You Say Chinese Historical Soap Opera?
Huge, complex, and contradictory
not essential, but fine viewing all the same
Wow! Huh?

Curse of the Golden Flower
Starring: Yun-Fat Chow , Li Gong , Jay Chou , Ye Liu , and Dahong Ni
Director: Yimou Zhang
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000MRA592
Release Date: 2007-03-27

Amazon.com

Curse of the Golden Flower, a fictionalized historical glimpse into the brutally complicated politics of Emperor Ping's (Chow Yun Fat) reign during the Tang Dynasty, shows the viewer just how far a megalomaniac must go to gain and retain power in medieval China. Lavish sets, massive ceremonial displays, and perversely fascinating battle scenes impress similarly to the special effects Americans have come to love and expect from Chinese action films like Zhang Yimou's previous House of Flying Daggers and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. An intricate plot involving the Emperor's wife, Empress Phoenix (Gong Li) and their three sons, Crown Prince Xiang, Prince Jie, and Prince Cheng, most closely follows the Empress's secret plan to force abdication upon her corrupt husband as revenge for his slowly poisoning her with Black Fungus tea. Opening on the eve of the Chysanthemum Festival, 928 A.D., the Empress obsessively embroiders gold chysanthemums to adorn her army's uniforms while hatching plans with Jai to overthrow the Crown Prince for control of the throne. Meanwhile, a side plot develops as the Emperor's ex-wife and mother to Crown Prince Yu reemerges as Yu's lover. By the time the Festival occurs, family members are pitted against each other in a King Lear-ian web of lies that can only result in demise. The most sophisticated narrative aspect of Curse of the Golden Flower is that as the royal family crumbles, the Emperor's death grip on China remains unwavering. Gorgeous scenes set in the palace and costume design displaying China's upper class decadence cannot fail to entertain. The paradox between good and evil, here, is highlighted by how the Emperor successfully rules despite, and because of, his utter cruelty. --Trinie Dalton

Customer Reviews:

Probably the best foreign film I've ever seen!!!.......2007-06-27

"Curse of The Golden Flower" is an brilliantly done movie and instantly one of my favorites! If I had to choose between 3 great movies where they don't speak English such as Pan's Labyrinth, Passion of the Christ and this, I pick this. This movie could not have been done better in terms of acting, casting, action, gore, and especially visuals. Lots and lots of gold in the palace. Gong Li and Chow-Yun Fat are perfect as the Emperor and Empress. It never bores, and it's even like something Shakespeare would write set in 928 A.D. in China in the Tang Dynasty. You can optionally watch it in English dubs, but I much rather prefer it in Chinese with English subtitles: The way it's supposed to be heard. When I listened to it in English, it was good, but didn't seem quite suitable to the mouthing of the words, like you'd see in Godzilla. {Which is Japan}. It may seem a bit slow in the middle of the story, but quickly goes on, as the story does not feel rushed at all with an awesome moral at the end. It's never confusing and comes together when it's almost over. The result is absolutely amazing...

Here's an interesting fact: Jay Chou who plays Prince Jai also has a singing career and sings the end credits song. This is only his second movie, and an astounding career turn at that to be starring in such an excellent movie. 10/10 by a long shot.

Can You Say Chinese Historical Soap Opera?.......2007-06-24

I've never expected so many twists and turns in this movie's plot, let alone all the backstabbing each character performs upon each other!! No one can trust each other-- it is truly amazing!

The acting is fantastic in this movie. BUT even more amazing is the elaborate set design, phenomenal costuming, make-up, and spectacular cinematography throughout this movie. The only thing that wasn't great about this movie was the plot, which could have been a bit more improved and less soap opera-esque!

Huge, complex, and contradictory.......2007-06-22

It's a stunning visual achievement. Robes, architecture, landscape - it's all vibrant and dramatic. Everything indoors is gold or brilliant color. Ritual, costume, jewelry, even golden makeup all contribute to color that almost screams off the screen. Then, towards the end, the sheer mass of humanity involved (even if CGI) made the "cast of thousands" cliche seem paltry. China has had many things in its history, but first has always been the overwhelming numbers of its populace. For all that, this isn't a movie about its appearance.

It's about revenge, intrigue, honor, and the appearance of honor - sometimes the opposite of honor itself. Year after year, layer after layer of subterfuge accretes, until every loyalty and most disloyaties are torn in multiple directions. It's not just Macchiavellian - old Niccolo wouldn't have lasted until lunch.

The fights, and there are many, mostly lack the setpiece choreography that could have made them memorable. The physical combat is the least of it. Hatred to hatred, face to face, this describes a fight between the characters' inner filth, served up in a golden dish.

-- wiredweird

not essential, but fine viewing all the same.......2007-06-21

'curse of the golden flower' is a movie i anxiously waited to see. after the great 'hero,' and excellent 'house of flying daggers,' i was very excited to at the prospect of a new zhang yimou film.

a lot of the criticism aimed of 'curse' isn't unfounded. the plot is barely there, but 'curse' is more a study of family dynamics, loyalty, betrayal, dishonesty, hidden secrets, quasi-incestuous relationships, maternal love and paternal hatred than a grand and epic film. most of the scenes are confined to the empress' quarters and surrounding palace. only one sequence that i can remember takes place outside the palace--and it's a great sequence (and the only one which really showcases the trademark wuxia acrobatics).

chow yun-fat and gong li are both excellent in their roles of emperor and empress. chow yun-fat is almost frigtening in his cruelty (and i have to say that his salt-n-pepper goatee really works for him. he's an incredibly handsome man--which makes the emperor's cruelty all the more effective) and the ever-lovely gong li is terrific as the slowly-going-mad empress. since it is more a character study, the burden of making the film watchable falls squarely on the the leads and they rise to the occassion, particularly gong li. she does a nice job of evoking the viewer's empathy.

zhang yimou is peerless when it comes to visual artisty. i suspect he blows 1/2 his budget on scenery. he crams so much into each you practically need to hit pause every 10 seconds just to take a look at the feasts that are his backgrounds. as the title suggests, yellow is the color of choice in this film, and he always uses it effectively, even though it sometimes comes close to overwhelming the film.

if there's a problem with 'curse,' it's that does drift a bit into the melodramatic, particularly as all the secrets are 'revealed' and each character's motivations become clear. since it is a tragedy, few people make it to the film's ending, and those deaths are bloody and, for the most part, graphic--particularly the emperor's flogging of his own son. which leads me to believe that the moral of 'curse of the golden flower' is this: don't, under any circumstance, mess with chow yun-fat. he'll knock you into the next decade and not lose a blink of sleep over it. i also found the ending a bit problematic and too vague. it's not that i need all the answers or a tidy bow around it, but the denoument is perplexing at best; and not to mention the score, which at a moment of supreme tragedy, sounds like the ending to an animated disney film. the music is fine on its own, but seems very inappropriate and distracts from the emotional bloodletting you've just experienced.

in short, i enjoyed 'the curse of the golden flower,' but if you're not already a fan of zhang yimou and/or chinese cinema, you could probably just skip this one and go back to 'hero' or 'house of flying daggers.'

(about the R rating -- it seems a bit on the severe side. sure, it's bloody and violent during the last 40 minutes, but no more so than the average episode of '24,' so if you can handle that, you can handle this).

Wow! Huh?.......2007-06-21

Like most reviewers, I agree that this is a visually stunning movie. The plot is heavy on the Shakespeare and as such it leaves much up to the viewer to seek answers to the questions that arise. The acting is well done throughout, especially Gong Li and Jay Chou who portrays the natural son of Gong Li's Phoenix character. According to the special features he is a newcomer to the screen, having made his mark as a pop star. I'm impressed, especially given the high rate of failure in such a career move. Chow Yun-Fat is good but was a bit over-the-top to me, flaring his nostrils and popping his eyes to convey emotion. Still, there is a scene late in the movie that was as hard to watch as I'm sure it was hard to act. You'll know it when you see it and it shows much more accurately why he (along with Gong Li) are such widely acclaimed cinematic actors.
The movie packs a lot in, from the excessively opulent sets and eye candy to the Greek tragedy levels of bloodshed that come at the climax of the film. When it's all said and done, however, I felt a bit letdown at the lack of substance that I took away from the film. The action sequences leaned heavily on huge battles scenes rife with CGI trickery instead of one-on-one duals. Yes, both are jaw-dropping, but I simply prefer the latter. This movie might be your cup of tea and there is much to enjoy from a purely sensory level, but it wasn't as emotionally gratifying as I'd hoped.

Average customer rating:

An epic movie that a must see

Curse of the Golden Flower [Blu-ray]
Starring: Chow Yun-Fat , Gong Li , Ni Dahong , Liu Ye , and Jay Chou
Director: Zhang Yimou
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000MRA59C
Release Date: 2007-05-29

Amazon.com

Product Description

From the director of Hero and House of Flying Daggers comes the martial arts epic masterpiece whose savage beauty and exquisite elegance has mesmerized and captivated audiences around the world. Set in the lavish and breathtakingly colorful world hidden from the eyes of mere mortals behind the walls of the Forbidden City, a tale of a royal family divided against itself builds to a mythic climax as lines are crossed, trust is betrayed, and family blood is spilled in the quest for redemption and revenge. Starring Chow Yun Fat of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon as the embattled Emperor and Gong Li of Memoirs of a Geisha as his poisoned Empress, Curse of the Golden Flower grants you entry into a dazzling and spectacular world of betrayal, vengeance and passion that will change the way you think of martial arts forever.

Customer Reviews:

An epic movie that a must see.......2007-06-11

This is a great movie. Normally, I am not into these types of film but I am glad I watched it. The film is breathtakingly beautiful, in terms of colors and camera works (same director that made "Hero". This is much better than Hero by far). It is so good that after I watched it on regular DVD, loaned from a friend, I went on Amazon and ordered the blu-ray version.

Gong Li and CYF are the pros at story telling. The movie is very grand and MUST be seen in Chinese audio and English subtitle to get the true feelings from the real actors voices. Although if you opt for English dub, it is very good too.

I am sure this blu-ray version will be fantastic. Will write up how it looks once I get a chance to view it.

Average customer rating:

Director's Cut coming!!!
A good addition to the epic film category
One of the better war movies
An (almost) great movie
HOW DO YOU DISCRIBE EXALINTS

Troy (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Julian Glover , Brian Cox , Nathan Jones , Adoni Maropis , and Jacob Smith
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002Z0EYK
Release Date: 2005-01-04

Amazon.com

There are many reasons to recommend Troy as a good ol' fashioned Hollywood epic, especially if you've never read Homer's The Iliad. Dispensing with Greek gods altogether, this earnestly massive production (budgeted at upwards of $200 million) will surely offend historians and devoted students of the classics (for them, there's the History Channel's Troy). But there's politics aplenty in the grand-scale war that erupts when Trojan prince Paris (Orlando Bloom) makes off with Helen (blandly beautiful German model Diane Kruger), wife of Spartan ruler Menelaus (Brendan Gleeson), whose brother, the Greek king Agamemnon (Brian Cox) prods him into enraged retaliation. Greek warrior Achilles (Brad Pitt) brings lethal force to his battles (and there are many of them, mostly impressive), and his Trojan counterpart, Paris's brother Hector (Eric Bana), adds even more buffed-up beefcake to a film so chock-full o' hunks that there's barely room for Peter O'Toole (doing fine work as Trojan king Priam) and even less for Julie Christie, appearing ever-so-briefly as Achilles's melancholy mother. The drama is nearly as arid as the sun-baked locations (Mexico and Malta) that stand in for the Aegean coast, and many critics suggested that Pitt (who valiantly tries to give Achilles some tormented dimension) was simply miscast. But when you consider that Wolfgang Petersen also made The Perfect Storm, there's nothing wrong with enjoying Troy as a semi-guilty pleasure with a touch of ancient class. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Brad Pitt picks up a sword and brings a muscular, brooding presence to the role of Greek warrior Achilles in this spectacular retelling of The Iliad. Orlando Bloom and Diane Kruger play the legendary lovers who plunge the world into war, Eric Bana portrays the prince who dares to confront Achilles, and Peter O'Toole rules Troy as King Priam. Director Wolfgang Petersen recreates a long-ago world of bireme warships, clashing armies, the massive fortress city and the towering Trojan Horse.

DVD Features:
Easter Eggs
Featurette:3 Featurettes: 1.In The Thick of the Battle: Discover how Troy's epic battle sequences were created--from thousands of warrior-extras training in the scorching heat of Mexico to fierce, one on one duels to the death. 2.From Ruins to Reality: Explore how the ruins of ancient Troy were unearthed, and how Troy's production design magicians created their own version of this breathtaking, legendary city. 3.Troy: An Effects Odyssey: The secrets of Troy's stunning visual effects are revealed--fro
Photo gallery:Gallery of the Gods: Take a computer generated, 3-D tour of Mount Olympus and meet the fabled Gods of Ancient Greece
Theatrical Trailer

Customer Reviews:

Director's Cut coming!!!.......2007-05-03

This news is about a month old as of this writing, but DavisDVD reported on April 3rd that director Wolfgang Peterson is getting $1M and his chance to go back and put out his definitive version of this historical epic film, much like Ridley Scott did with Kingdom of Heaven and Oliver Stone with Alexander.

Apparently, this new cut will be about a half-hour longer and be much more violent along with more sex. (Rubs hands together...)

It'll probably be released on home video in Sept. 2007.

A good addition to the epic film category.......2007-04-17

I know I learned all about Greek history and mythology in high school, but that was too many years ago so I didn't know what in this movie was true to history and what was altered. Maybe my ignorance helped me enjoy the movie more than some. I thought the battle sequences were well done and the costuming excellent. Some of the characters didn't have much to do, while others we were given a good amount of depth to understand their motivations. Peter O'Toole owned the screen in his scene with Achilles asking for his son's body to be returned. Brad Pitt did a nice job with Achilles. The only complaint I have is the nihilistic way the character was written became a little irritating to deal with as the movie went on. Brian Cox is his usual nasty self as Agamemnon and it would have been nice to see Brendon Gleason have a bigger role as Menelaus.

My biggest trouble with Troy is the almost 3 hour length. It didn't need to be that long. A few scenes cut out or shortened would have made a tighter movie. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Troy and would recommend it.

One of the better war movies.......2007-03-18

If you are looking for a great rendition of Homers tale the Iliad then dont bother with this movie. If you are looking for an entertaining movie about warfare during the time of the Greek city states then this is right for you. Not like many other Hollywood war movies where all the good guys live at the end and are able to defeat armies many time their size with little problem...cough...cough...Lord of the Rings. This movie is somewhat realistic where you have the good guys as your fighting soldiers and the higher ups numb or fighting for corrupt or concealed motives (if they are actually fighting at all). The losses of warfare are apparent as some of the more noble and likable characters in the movie lose their lives. It leaves the viewer of the movie wondering if the cost of that war was worth the sacrfices.

An (almost) great movie.......2007-03-09

If I could give it 4.5 stars, I would. For the most part, I thought Brad Pitt was an excellent Achilles, although there were a couple scenes where he spontaneously forgot how to act. The battle-scenes are impressive and the personal dual between Hector and Achilles was very well-done: I'd never seen such a well-choreographed fight with spears.

O.k., so they had to condense ten years of war into two weeks (or whatever), but what can you expect for a 2 hour movie? The Trojan Horse is somewhat underwhelming (but I guess that's to be expected since you know how the story ends).

As long as you're not a Homer purist, then "Troy" will not disappoint.

HOW DO YOU DISCRIBE EXALINTS.......2007-03-09

THIS IS THE BEST OR 1 OF THE BEST THAT WAS EVER SENT

Average customer rating:

Love it!
You will enjoy this!
wonderful
A childhood memory comes back to life
Classic Almost Ruined By Poor Transfer...

Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella
Starring: Ginger Rogers , Walter Pidgeon , Celeste Holm , Jo Van Fleet , and Stuart Damon
Director: Charles S. Dubin
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005RYKY
Release Date: 2002-01-02

Amazon.com

A guilty, guilty pleasure, perhaps not one a left-wing feminist should be admitting to in public. Female boomers should recall yearly TV reruns of this Rodgers and Hammerstein production, featuring such delights as "Impossible" and "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful?" It may appear a bit stark to younger viewers, but part of the charm of this 1964 network TV special, a remake of the live 1957 telecast originally built around Julie Andrews, is its utter simplicity. An extremely young Lesley Ann Warren and Stuart Damon (of General Hospital fame) are joined by Ginger Rogers, Walter Pidgeon, and Celeste Holm. Warren is all sweetness and innocence without a hint of saccharine artificiality, while Damon is a clear-eyed romantic. This very handsome love story is a bit of an oddity, but worth owning just for the memorable score. --Rochelle O'Gorman

Customer Reviews:

Love it!.......2007-05-30

I have been looking for this video for a long time. The music in it is addictive and I can't get the songs out of my head! I especially enjoyed the bonus feature, with the actors telling how the show was made, and why they were chosen.