Clinton & Nadine

Starring:Andy Garcia, Ellen Barkin, Morgan Freeman, Michael Lombard, John C. McGinley, Brad Sullivan, Alan North, Bill Raymond, Mario Ernesto SÃ¡nchez, Nancy Giles, Helen Davies, Julio Oscar Mechoso, Anthony Correa, Jay Amor, Helen Hanft, Thomas A. Carlin, Carlos Cestero, Shawn McAllister, Rafael Guzman, Alfredo Ãlvarez CalderÃ³n
Director: Jerry Schatzberg
Studio: Lions Gate
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Product Description
When Clinton (Andy Garcia) sets out to avenge his brother's brutal murder, a clue leads him to Nadine (Ellen Barkin), a call girl with an attitude who escaped the killers. She's looking for nothing but peace and quiet, but she can't deny her attraction to Clinton, and soon the sparks erupt into a torrid affair

Another clue takes Clinton to Dorsey Pratt (Morgan Freeman), a wealthy lawyer with mysterious ties to South American Rebels. Pratt won't help, and tries to scare off Clinton.

Undaunted, Clinton pursues his leads to Costa Rica, where he discovers Pratt's true involvement as a ruthless arms dealer and almost loses his life.

He escapes with Nadine and prepares for the blazing finale to his fight for justice.

System Requirements:

Running Time 95 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Bridge to Terabithia (Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

You have not stumbled into Narnia--don't believe the trailer
Watch this movie
I preferred the Wonderworks version
a potentially epic movie that was very badly made, should have been done as "big fish" was
A remarkable film

Bridge to Terabithia (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Josh Hutcherson , AnnaSophia Robb , Zooey Deschanel , Robert Patrick , and Bailee Madison
Director: Gabor Csupo
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Night at the Museum (Widescreen Edition)
Ghost Rider (Two-Disc Extended Cut)
Eragon (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Charlotte's Web (Widescreen Edition)
Happy Feet (Full Screen Edition)

ASIN: B00005JPL5
Release Date: 2007-06-19

Amazon.com

Based on Katherine Paterson's young-adult novel and filmed in picturesque New Zealand, Bridge to Terabithia has lessons to impart about empathy and self-expression, but the tone is never heavy-handed. Jesse (sleepy-eyed Josh Hutcherson, Zathura), a fifth-grade loner, lives in the country with his parents and four sisters, including pesky May Belle (Bailee Madison), who adores him. His strict father (Robert Patrick, The Terminator 2) works in a hardware store. Money is tight and classmates make fun of his hand-me-downs, so Jesse finds refuge in running and drawing. Everything changes when two writers and their daughter Leslie (wide-eyed AnnaSophia Robb, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) move in next door. Leslie is faster than all the boys, which initially puts Jesse off, but the two soon bond over their love of make-believe. In the forest, they find a creek that can only be crossed by rope. Leslie names the land on the other side Terabithia, where they imagine themselves rulers of the kingdom. Jesse and Leslie also connect with their unconventional music teacher, Ms. Edmonds (Zooey Deschanel, Elf), who encourages their creativity. Despite the tension at home, Jesse's personal life is finally coming together when the unthinkable happens. Will he revert to his anti-social ways or will he grow from the experience? Though aimed at all ages, pre-school students may find Terebithia's creatures frightening. For grade-school kids and up, however, there's much to savor in this smartly written, sensitively acted film. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews:

You have not stumbled into Narnia--don't believe the trailer.......2007-07-06

This is a coming of age movie, and as that succeeds well. However it is NOT a fantasy movie as portrayed in the trailer: the fantasy elements only make up about 10 minutes of movie time.

Take your pre-teens, not your younger kids looking for a good fantasy.

Watch this movie.......2007-07-05

I am a teenager so I watched this movie with my little brothers and sister, but it turned out being one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. It drew me in really quickly and the young stars did an incredible job of acting. At first I didn't really like this movie (I couldn't stop crying for nearly half an hour) but in the end I thought it was really amazing.

I preferred the Wonderworks version.......2007-07-05

The two main complaints about this film seem to be that a) it's depressing and b) the marketing campaign mislead audiences. Well, yeah. It's based on a book, and if they hadn't been faithful to the book's plot, there would have been just as many people complaining bitterly. So in a way, the filmmakers were in a double bind. That said, at least separate the film from the way it was marketed. Give the marketing people two stars and a spanking, since they led lots of people to think the movie was a lighthearted fantasy - but can we try to examine the movie on its own merits?

Many children and young adult classics feature a death, either of an animal or a human. Particularly if the book is a Major Award Winner, it doesn't just show how fun it is to be a child but grapples with serious issues. That's partly why it won the award and acclaim in the first place. The Narnia books are far from lighthearted fantasies either, although they can be read that way. They, too, examine friendship and betrayal. But they are set in a magic land, while "Terabithia" is set in the real world.

The actors in the new version of "Terabithia" all do a fantastic job, particularly the young ones, like Bailee Madison as Jess's spunky younger sister. The movie's storyline stuck so closely to the book that the invented scenes felt a little out of place. Perhaps that when it deparated from just showing the developing of two children's friendship, and put in special effects, it felt false. Even if they were brief, they seemed out of place, like the movie makers were trying to placate their young audience, who would presumably be unhappy without special effects.
The montages also grated on me, because they were so Hollywood and unnecessary. Why must every movie character break into an impromptu song and dance routine? And why did the treehouse have to look like set designers were competing for an Oscar? I don't know if kids still make treehouses anymore, but mine as a kid sure looked primitive in comparision.

In conclusion, it's a lot better than most kids' movies today - with nary a fart joke - but that's not saying much. There's no cussing or drinking, but there is the aforementioned death, which may upset sensitive viewers. I'd recommend talking over the movie with your kids afterwards if they seem upset.

a potentially epic movie that was very badly made, should have been done as "big fish" was.......2007-07-05

now having read the book, i expected to be seeing something along the lines of "Big Fish" or "Hook"..... full of vast fantasy visuals, heartwarming moments and the tear jerker ending.... unfortunately this one really didnt deliver like the others were able to.

the audience was conned into thinking this was the "never ending story" meets "chronicals of narnia". and if done correctly (or atthe very least with an extra half hour of fantasy world), it would have been both visually stunning and one to leave you with a warm feeling in the heart.

...unfortunately it was very badly adapted and as a result EXTREMELY dissapointing. and it fell short on both points

the fantasy aspects consisted of only 20 minutes (generously approximated) of footage spread throughout the middle of the movie in short 3-5 minute incriments.

they simply did not put enough emphasis on the fantasy aspect as you would be led to believe by all the press, and even the disney channel's "commercial break, behind-the-scenes" stuff only focused on the fantasy of it without giving the audience a fair chance to save the 7 bucks.

all they needed to make this movie to the top of the pack was an extra 30 minutes of fantasy footage and a "sensitive content" warning to spare families from the transformers movie fiasco of the 1980's (when the kids left the theater early, crying at the death of optimus prime)

now, it gets credit for following the book fairly closely, but it was without explaination,

they seemed to put in the key elements of the book without giving any exlaination as to why things were the way they were (ie: the teacher bringing him on the spontainious field trip).....they should have made up sometihng like "the kid had been failing and this was extra credit..."etc. instead of making it a sketchy, grey area, uncomfortable situation. in the book there was no question.

i had to explain alot of things to my finacee who had not read the book, and both of us were dissapointed with the whole movie. i was expecting something more along the lines of "big fish" or "hook"

but all we got from it is a potentially epic movie that really was badly made

and a distrust causing me to pay an extra $2 to rent a movie before purchasing it

i only gave it 2 stars for the actual meaning behind the book/movie

A remarkable film.......2007-07-05

I watched "The Bridge to Terabithia" on a whim with my wife and daughter with little foreknowledge of the plot. I'd never read the Newbery Award-winning book by Katherine Paterson, and I'd seen only one trailer for the film, which left me with the impression it would be a Narnia knock-off. It's not.

I'm not dissing "The Chronicles of Narnia," which in its way was a remarkable film. But "Terabithia" didn't deserve the CGI-laden marketing campaign it received; far from a fantasy blockbuster, this is a deep and thoughtful movie that places substance over sparkle -- a rare treat in the sprawling field of youth-oriented theater. It ranks up there with one of my favorites, "The Secret of Roan Inish," which accomplished more with no special effects than most family-friendly movies could with a billion-dollar budget.

But I just can't shake "Terabithia" from my head, a fact owed mostly to the performance of AnnaSophia Robb. As Leslie, a spirited young girl with a fiery imagination and endless good cheer, AnnaSophia captured my heart. She's the kind of person you want to know when you're a child and, as my wife remarked midway through the film, she's the sort of young woman you'd be happy to see your daughter grow up to be.

An outsider despite her youthful good looks and family wealth, she finds her perfect match in Jesse (Joss Hutcherson), another outsider who has withdrawn into his art to escape a chilly home life and his own problems at school. Together, they discover a secret getaway that might seem like a fairly ordinary patch of woods to most people; to them, it's a magical world replete with fantastic creatures, hidden dangers and amazing triumphs. It's here the special effects intrude more than accentuate the film; the story would have benefited from a vaguer sense of Jesse and Leslie's own wonder. We don't need to see CGI creatures to believe that these two children do.

The strength here, besides outstanding performances from the two lead actors, is the impact of a story that knows no amount of fantasy can prevent real-life tragedies from occurring. And the tragedy here -- it's hard to write about it without giving it away -- slams into unsuspecting viewers like a sudden kick to the gut.

Parents of younger viewers should be prepared to have a long and serious talk with their children after this movie, but that's not a recommendation to avoid it. "Terabithia" deserves to be seen, discussed and seen again. (Although use some discretion; very young children should wait before seeing this.) My thanks to director Gabor Csupo, as well as writer Paterson, for giving kids something honest and real rather than another serving of high-energy fluff.

by Tom Knapp, Rambles.(n e t) editor

Bridge To Terabithia (Full Screen Edition)

Average customer rating:

You have not stumbled into Narnia--don't believe the trailer
Watch this movie
I preferred the Wonderworks version
a potentially epic movie that was very badly made, should have been done as "big fish" was
A remarkable film

Bridge To Terabithia (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Josh Hutcherson , AnnaSophia Robb , Zooey Deschanel , Robert Patrick , and Bailee Madison
Director: Gabor Csupo
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Night at the Museum (Widescreen Edition)
Ghost Rider (Two-Disc Extended Cut)
Eragon (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Charlotte's Web (Widescreen Edition)
Happy Feet (Full Screen Edition)

ASIN: B000OYCM5I
Release Date: 2007-06-19

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

You have not stumbled into Narnia--don't believe the trailer.......2007-07-06

Watch this movie.......2007-07-05

I preferred the Wonderworks version.......2007-07-05

a potentially epic movie that was very badly made, should have been done as "big fish" was.......2007-07-05

A remarkable film.......2007-07-05

Average customer rating:

Well done all around
Wickedly Entertaining, Shocking
Long, Repetitive and Biased
Works on computer only
Excellent

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Starring: Peter Coyote , Reverend James Nutter , Bill Clinton , Lou L. Pai , and Colin Whitehead
Director: Alex Gibney
Manufacturer: Magnolia
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

The Corporation
Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price
Good Night, and Good Luck (Widescreen Edition)
Smartest Guys in the Room: The Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of Enron
Why We Fight

ASIN: B000C3L2IO
Release Date: 2006-01-17

Product Description

Based on the best-selling book of the same name by Fortune reporters Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind, a multidimensional study of one of the biggest business scandals in American history. The chronicle takes a look at one of the greatest corporate disasters in history, in which top executives from the 7th largest company in this country walked away with over one billion dollars, leaving investors and employees with nothing. The film features insider accounts and rare corporate audio and video tapes that reveal colossal personal excesses of the Enron hierarchy and the utter moral vacuum that posed as corporate philosophy. The human drama that unfolds within Enron's walls resembles a Greek tragedy and produces a domino effect that could shape the face of our economy and ethical code for years to come.

DVD Features:

Available Audio Tracks: English (Unknown Format)
Commentary by: writer-director Alex Gibney (Unknown Format)
Deleted scenes
"The Making of Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room" featuring research footage and exclusive interviews with writer-director Alex Gibney and investigative journalist Bethany McLean
Enron company skits
Enron commercial
Where are they now?: updates on the executives, traders, and whistleblowers
A gallery of Enron cartoons
The original Fortune magazine articles

System Requirements:

Running Time 110 Mins.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

One of the greatest scandals in American corporate history is chronicled in the riveting documentary Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room. Based on the bestselling book by Fortune magazine reporters Bethany McLean and Peter Elkin, and directed by Alex Gibney (who also produced The Trials of Henry Kissinger), the film is an epic morality tale, drawing upon a wealth of insider interviews and archival material to show how Enron, once the nation's seventh largest corporate entity, essentially faked its bookkeeping to report profits that never existed. The corrupt and closely-guarded mismanagement by Enron executives (including Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling, later placed on criminal trial) is revealed through such heinous concepts as "Hypothetical Future Value" (a way of reaping fortunes based on false profit projections) and the use of offshore "shell" companies to hide the massive losses that eventually toppled the company (along with the venerable Arthur Anderson accounting firm) and left 20,000 employees jobless. As a maddening portrait of hubris and white-collar crime, Enron transcends political and corporate boundaries by showing how smart and powerful men grew blinded by greed and brought ruin upon themselves, along with thousands of otherwise innocent victims. For better and worse, it's a perfect double-feature with eye-opening 2004 documentary The Corporation. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Well done all around.......2007-06-20

Well made and interesting documentary, that tells the whole story of Enron from start to finish. Amazing how much free reign businesses have these days, and how greed & corruption can flourish.

Wickedly Entertaining, Shocking.......2007-06-20

This documentary on the collapse of "energy giant" Enron plays out like a gripping crime thriller. Fraud abounds and lies pile upon lies until a business that took decades to build comes crumbling down in a matter of weeks.

Writer/Director Alex Gibney provides a model of documentary filmmaking in this taught story of corporate greed. Using news footage and trial coverage, Gibney avoids the "talking heads" trap that hobbles most documentaries. There are talking heads in this film, the most prominent of which is Fortune senior editor Bethany McLean. As co-author of the book on which the movie is based, McClean offers fascinating analysis on the financial industry and the corporate stupidity that led to Enron's downfall.

But it's the film and sound footage that make this movie a must-see. To hear a flustered Jeffrey Skilling stumble through a non-explaination of Enron's finances and finally call his questioner an "a**hole" is hilarious; sound clips of Enron traders laughing gleefully while engineering California's rolling blackouts are nothing short of chilling.

We've been hearing about Enron now for six years, now. I never understood what exactly Enron did before seeing this film. Now I don't feel so ignorant, as this documentary makes clear that at times Enron didn't know what Enron did. One Enron trader puts it best in saying, "I had a lot of questions about what was going on, but I didn't ask them because I didn't want to know the answers."

Watch this movie and stay for the bonus material. As the Enron convictions continue to roll in half a decade after the fact, "The Smartest Guys in the Room" gives profound insight into the corruption and incompetence leading to the scandal.

Long, Repetitive and Biased.......2007-06-10

The content of this documentary (?) could easily fit in a 30-minute piece. There is an attempt to sensationalize things. For instance, they make a big fuss about the trips made by top execs to Baja, making a tenuous connection to the risk-taking culture at Enron. There is practically nothing of substance. For instance, one would like to know more details about the actual shady dealings that Enron went through, rather than a depiction of trading room banter. Very shallow.

Works on computer only.......2007-05-29

Watch out, this one only runs on a computer & that wasn't made obvious in the description. That's what WMVHD means. If you want the DVD which plays on a regular DVD player, buy the 1-disc set which is actually a valuable one to have. It's a very good story, very enlightening & informative.

Excellent.......2007-05-28

Just can't stop watching this movie again and again. I'll recommend it to anyone.

Average customer rating:

Unless you're a newly hatched pod person...
Improtant issues done well-with reservations
Not nearly as good as Farenheit
guns don't kill people?
is this what liberals have been reduced to?

Bowling for Columbine
Starring: Michael Caldwell , Dick Cheney , Dick Clark , Bill Clinton , and Byron Dorgan
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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

Fahrenheit 9/11
Roger & Me
Super Size Me
Uncovered - The Whole Truth About the Iraq War
The Big One

ASIN: B00008DDVV
Release Date: 2003-08-19

Amazon.com

Michael Moore's superb documentary (following in the footsteps of Roger & Me and The Big One) tackles a meaty subject: gun control. Moore skillfully lays out arguments surrounding the issue and short-circuits them all, leaving one impossible question: why do Americans kill each other more often than people in any other democratic nation? Moore focuses his quest around the shootings at Columbine High School and the shooting of one 6-year-old by another near his own hometown of Flint, Michigan. By approaching the headquarters of K-Mart (where the Columbine shooters bought their ammo) and going to Charlton Heston's own home, Moore demands accountability from the forces that support unrestricted gun sales in the U.S. His arguments are conducted with the humor and empathy that have made Moore more than just a gadfly; he's become a genuine voice of reason in a world driven by fear and greed. --Bret Fetzer

Description

Acclaimed filmmaker Michael Moore (Roger & Me) takes aim at America's love affair with guns and violence in this Oscar(r)-winning* film that "demands attention" (People)! Mixing riveting footage, hilarious animation and candid interviews with everyone from the NRA's Charlton Heston to shock-rocker Marilyn Manson, Bowling for Columbine is a "brilliant" (The Hollywood Reporter) tour de force of filmmaking. *2002: Documentary Feature

Customer Reviews:

Unless you're a newly hatched pod person..........2007-07-02

...you already know that one must consider the semiotics of exclusionism in order to fully understand Michael Moore's witticisms. But let me add that Michael lies routinely -- even under oath. I will start this discussion by arguing that "oligophrenic" hardly seems like a strong enough word to describe Michael. Then, I will present evidence that Michael is unable to support his assertions with documentation of any sort. Once we realize that, what do we do? The appropriate thing, in my judgment, is to clarify and correct some of the inaccuracies present in Michael's canards. I say that because to believe that he is the ultimate authority on what's right and what's wrong is to deceive ourselves. Ancient Greek dramatists discerned a peculiar virtue in being tragic. Michael would do well to realize that they never discerned any virtue in being unconscionable.

Michael's rejoinders are like an enormous barbarism-spewing machine. We must begin dismantling that structure. We must put a monkey wrench in its gears. And we must improve the physical and spiritual quality of life for the population at present and for those yet to come, because Michael has a one-track mind. That's clear. But either Michael has no real conception of the sweep of history, or he is merely intent on winning some debating pin by trying to pierce a hole in my logic with "facts" that are taken out of context. Now that this review is over, I pray that my logic and passion have convinced you that the most myopic personæ non gratæ I've ever seen thrive when the rest of us underestimate the threat they pose or are too weak or unorganized to hold the line.

Improtant issues done well-with reservations.......2007-06-18

There is much to like AND dislike about this movie.

people often dismiss M/M as a leftist, but I think he strikes a balance in this film as an equal-opportunity critic of both the far left AND the far right (note the discussion with Marilyn Manson about Bill Clinton where they both are quite critical of Mr. Bill).

The sections on Canada and gun control are quite deep in debunking the rationales of causes of violence in America. However, trying to compare violence in different countires and cultures (i.e., comparing America's violent past with the fact that Germany has less violence today but was responsible for the Holocaust) depends on relativity and perspective.

The section on blacks, violence, and the media was dead-on target, with Mike and a white professor walking through South Central Los Angeles without anyone trying to harm them, although it would have been interesting if they had interviewed one of the residents about their opinions of the perceptions of their community. The cartoon on violence and race relations was also thought provoking, if a tad simplified (the 'toon omits the fact that blacks DID rebel against our oppression between the slave rebellions and Rosa Parks, although this is not well known among non-historians).

The Charlton Heston interview was ok, except I did not like the exploitation of the picture of the dead six year old Michigan girl who was killed by gunfire and what Mike does with the picture in this scene. This smacks of opporunitist grandstanding of the worst kind, and I would hate to see the reaction of the child's parents to this!

But that is the only thing I really disliked about the film. That aside, it says a lot of things that really need to be said and provokes a lot of thought.

Not nearly as good as Farenheit.......2007-06-07

I expected a little more from this movie after watching Farenheit 911, perhaps Moore has gotten better with time. It's difficult to grasp what point he's trying to make in this film. In one breath Moore says that Americans are afraid of one another and lock their doors every night and behave irrationally, yet in the next he lists crime statistics as being multiple times higher than other countries. So what is the point? Americans lock their door because the crime rate is high, it seems like we're actually being intelligent rather than irrational. The cartoon with the Pilgrams and early America is hilarious and worth the price of admission, but even that winds up being very skewed at the end. I wish Moore would have tackled the problem of inner cities and the rampant gun problem rather than attack the "whites" throughout the entire film.

I am certainly in favor of far stricter regulations and laws regarding gun use, but Moore just seems to touch on way too many points that are disjointed. At one point he attacks the media for scaring us, yet he is a very member of this media and is basically just a reporter himself. There are some very humorous parts and some very intelligent insights, but Moore was definitely more polished by the time he produced Farenheit. I was slightly disappointed overall by this film, but it keeps your interest throughout.

guns don't kill people?.......2007-04-23

This film, flawed as it may be (mostly in the eyes of its detractors), once again must confront the blatantly inane axiom that "guns don't kill people." Guns DO kill people; and the people who use them are the cowards that stand behind them. The American Rifle Murderers and others of their ilk try to hide behind a Second Amendment that is now outdated historically and morally. And their gun lobbying and support have produced not only Columbine but the most recent tragedy in Virginia (2007). MIchael Moore should be applauded and lionized as a humorist with a true grit kick. What he says in this film is played out in this free (to die) society on a daily basis.

is this what liberals have been reduced to?.......2007-04-03

ive seen this movie and was disappointed. i mean ask yourselfs, is this about what really happend at columbine school or is just moore's opinion on a tragic event? id say its mostly moore's opinions on the subject. anyone in their right mind could easily tell ya guns dont kill people, people kill people. obviously moore ignored the students motive for their shootings. if people like moore did real research, they would explain why these two students went over the edge. its easy, they went two far after other students picked on a insulted them from time to time and like any student with low esteem, they decide to do somthing they regret. the problem is people cant get seema to get along with each other and instead call names, which libs would know all about that before they hear someone out. back to the movie, if moore really wanted this to be true, not only would he indeed talk about gun control, but how everyone should treat everyone else. u dont have to like each other, but should respect each other. i understand many might disagree with me on this review, but can i help being open-minded on issues????

Average customer rating:

Fun watch
The same story
A well intended effort...
Very Colorful
The Wiz

The Wiz
Starring: Diana Ross , Michael Jackson , Nipsey Russell , Ted Ross , and Mabel King
Director: Sidney Lumet
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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

7-9 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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

The Wiz: Original Soundtrack (1978 Film)
Claudine (1974)
Sparkle
Cooley High
Mahogany

ASIN: 0783233493
Release Date: 1999-04-13

Amazon.com

Directed by Sidney Lumet (Serpico) and penned by Joel Schumacher (Batman and Robin), this lavish 1978 adaptation of the Broadway hit The Wiz was the biggest production filmed in New York City up to that point, utilizing the newly revamped Astoria Studios and locations around the city. Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, and Ted Ross (reprising his Tony-winning role as the Lion) star in this Academy Award-nominated musical for the whole family.

The Wiz is probably the grandest take on L. Frank Baum's classic tale The Wizard of Oz. The production team created sets with a sense of urban magic and spectacle: a New York subway station literally comes to life, and the massive plaza between the World Trade Center towers is transformed into the Emerald City, featuring nearly 400 dancers with three costume changes. Like all good musicals, the Quincy Jones arrangements are highly hummable long after viewing (especially the funky "Ease On Down the Road" and the inspirational "Brand New Day"). In an era before MTV, the camera stays nearly stationary as Ross and Lena Horne vocally soar through their numbers. Their stage-like performances successfully make the leap to film, making The Wiz a testament to their singing talents and star presence. The then-thirtysomething Ross raised some eyebrows playing the traditionally teenaged Dorothy, but she and her supporting cast (including Richard Pryor as the Wiz) carry the tunes with an infectious verve that will appeal to folks of all ages. --Shannon Gee

Customer Reviews:

Fun watch.......2007-06-30

The first time I saw this move, I was about 9years old. I couldn't completely enjoy it because the monkies scared me. Today I can fully apreciate this film. It has a wide range of soulfull cast and motown music. Sit down with your family and watch this movie with a new mind. Leave Judy Garland (Dorathy) with The Wizzard of Oz, and get ready to dance along with the Wiz.

The same story.......2007-06-13

Only it's in New York, and a few new twists from the Wizerd of Oz. And all the actors are black. great movie!

A well intended effort..........2007-06-10

This movie is really interesting to watch especially if you are a kid. I remember when it first came out. I loved the soundtrack not to mention that the songs stay in your head for a long time afterwards. I especially liked the dancing skits in the movie, even though some are seriously dated and you just laugh watching them.
ONe of my fav. pts is Miss One and her cartoonish friends singing and dancing about The Wiz. Another of my favs. was Quincy Jones and revue doing their different color changing singing/dancing jigs. That was cool to watch.
MJ stole the show with his surprising acting talent. I think Dorothy should have been played by someone much shorter and younger than DR. However, she was strategically given the role to boost the film's rating being that she was in the height of her success at that time. She annoyingly whined her way thru the film. Richard Pryor was really funny as usual.
If you have never seen this movie, you should check it out at least once. It brings back memories and can be fun to watch on one of those days when it's raining out and there's not much going on.

Very Colorful.......2007-05-24

This is also a good movie, I enjoyed watching this movie with my children. They were able to see Michael Jackson before his transformation, they were able to see a lot of the stars back then. I thought it was very educational too

The Wiz.......2007-05-12

One of the best WORST movies ever made! Everything about this monstrosity ("I Can't Win") makes it great. "Ease On Down The Road" anybody? Holy great Bad!

Average customer rating:

Sound of Gold
Neil Young Heart of Gold
Worth It!
Neil Young - Heart of Gold
Like being on stage with Neil and friends

Neil Young - Heart of Gold
Starring: Wayne Jackson (II) , Emmylou Harris , Jimmy Sharp (II) , Diana DeWitt , and Gary W. Pigg
Director: Jonathan Demme
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000F48D00
Release Date: 2006-06-13

Amazon.com

"I just want to play well, share the stage with my friends, give the best I can," says Neil Young before the concert that is the centerpiece of Heart of Gold. No problem, dude. Working with filmmaker Jonathan Demme, Young has come up with a gem--not all flash and bling-bling, but as understated as a single pearl, musically restrained yet emotionally open. Of course, neither Demme (an Oscar winner for The Silence of the Lambs; he also helmed Talking Heads' Stop Making Sense) nor Young would call it "a concert film"; the director describes it as "a dream concert, something that's literally being dreamt by Neil," while the singer-songwriter himself calls it "a multi-level story." Whatever, the project came together in 2005, as Young was finishing his Prairie Wind album (the latest in a string of lovely, country-flavored acoustic recordings dating back to 1972's Harvest) and preparing to debut the music at Nashville's fabled Ryman Auditorium, home of the Grand Ole Opry. The fact that Young had also recently experienced a brain aneurysm might or might not have influenced his decision to film the show, but it certainly seems to have had an effect on the music. He and his band (which, with the addition of horns, strings, and backup singers, including Emmylou Harris, occasionally numbers forty or more musicians) perform Prairie Wind in its entirety, and there is some deeply moving, highly personal material here; in addition to the gospel-tinged "When God Made Me" and the dirge-like "No Wonder," Young sings about his recently-deceased father (the title song), his newly adult daughter ("Here for You"), the guitar he plays that once belonged to Hank Williams ("This Old Guitar"), and even his dog ("He Was the King"). Demme's direction is ideal for conveying the music's restrained acoustic textures, rich backing vocals, and simple, elegant melodies. Shots are held much longer than is usual in such films, and while there are lots of close-ups, there are no gimmicks. This superb DVD package is filled out by a second disc of bonus features, including a variety of featurettes and a solo performance of "The Needle and the Damage Done" from The Johnny Cash Show in 1971. --Sam Graham

Product Description

Academy-award winning director Jonathan Demme beautifully captures Rock & Roll Hall of Fame legend, Neil Young as he prepares and presents the performance of a lifetime with the help of his wife Peggi and friends country star Emmylou Harris, steel guitarist Ben Keith and more at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry.

Customer Reviews:

Sound of Gold.......2007-06-26

In the Prologue of Neil Young's beautiful concert DVD, 'Heart of Gold' key players, which are ample, reminisce over the highlights of concerts past. Each musician is alone except interviewer and camera, and the feeling is eager but laid back. Neil Young himself explains that the people he's chosen for this special concert are friends and not merely studio musicians, setting up a feel that Roy Orbison enjoyed for his magnificent 'Black and White Night' DVD. There is the same sense of intimacy, and, while I suspected a retro act, the scope and splendor of the chosen material is great. Although about two or three songs are familiar hits, he breathed real life into this concert at Reiman Auditorium in Nashville where the acoustics resonate with perfection. Besides a great repertoire of songs, his styles draw from country, bluegrass, folk, gospel, blues, and rock. Each song seems so singularly crafted and find Young switching from guitar to harmonica to banjo to piano. Distinctively, he proves to have many friends who back him up with vocals, brass, guitars, fiddles, and, even, a broom. Misguided casual fans like me are immediately struck by the economy of words that come in a stream on this "Prairie Wind" harvest.

More specifically, theme song "Prairie Wind" opens with words "It's a long road behind me...It's a long road ahead of me." Indeed even with his weathered, tan face he sings enraptured in his own music which translates the wisdom of his years. Whether singing about 9/11 ("Falling off the Face of the Earth") or "King, the best hound dog," ("He Was King") he connects in spare language. At one of his intimate moments he shares before "This Old Guitar" how he acquired the worn guitar he uses onstage from Hank Williams. Highlights are for every song, but "When God Made Me" so eloquently scotches any argument for chauvenism or bigotry known to man. In too few words to measure, he bridges the gap to every gender, race, and creed. Alone with his harmonica he adds to the mellow sweetness with "I'm Still in Love with You" and the lovely, wide-eyed "Harvest Moon". Oddly, "Heart of Gold" and "Old Man" seem anti-climatic, but are marvelous nonetheless. His explanation for the latter song is worth checking out. Seven guitars serenade "Four Strong Winds," (which, incidentally, was one of the tracks on Johnny Cash's last C.D.). Neil Young goes out with big brass on "One of These Days," but not without a couple of intimate moments: One is "Needle and the Damage Done," (which despite the movie warning, doesn't doing anything but deter drug use). Then, I believe, it's "The Old Laughing Lady" that finds Neil on stage to an empty auditorium.

There's little to criticize. Jonathan Demme deserves credit for capturing this "golden" event. While I would have preferred more shots of supporting players, no one will argue about the focus of this film, and many fans may find that assessment all wet. The small auditorium and the silent awe for this performance gives the whole affair the intimacy of Orbison in a nightclub setting. This DVD is a must for fans and the uninitiated alike. (Also starring Emmylou Harris, Ron Keith, Karl Himmell, Chad Cromwell, Larry Cragg, Spooner Oldham, Rick Rosas, Gary Pigg, Diana DeWitt, The Nashville String Machine, et al) (Essential)

Neil Young Heart of Gold.......2007-05-31

Neil Young has a heart of gold when it comes to writting heartfelt songs and performing and that's all here. This video belongs in the Library of Congress as true American Music written by a foreigner...(And Arnold S. should be allowed to run for president...another subject). I love Neil Young, seen him numerous times, loved him since Buffalo Springfield days. I don't care if he is a horrible tipper. This is great product for anyone interested hands down.

Worth It!.......2007-05-08

I have been a Neil Young fan since too long to remember. Stopped going to concerts years ago though: too many obnoxious fans! So if you want that concert experience, and appreciate Neil's music, this is for you. Arrangement's great, with appropriate musings by Neil about his selections. Was great also to see other artists, including his wife, throughout. I highly recommend this video for your collection.

Neil Young - Heart of Gold.......2007-05-07

Liked it so well I kept a copy and ordered another to be delivered to my son and his wife in San Marcos, CA

As a guitar play since 1957, trying to learn each day, I certainly appreciate the chords used and the non-chalant, easy pace of Neil's music.

I further state, that I detest having to listen to the bad language and the vibration of the car parts when auto/((KID - CARRIERS) pass. LEE

Like being on stage with Neil and friends.......2007-04-21

There really aren't enough stars for rating this one. It is filmed with such warmth and intimacy that it is like being on stage playing with the band. The great music speaks for itself, but it is also wonderful to see the way Neil, Pegi, and the others glance at one another, smile at one another, enjoy one another's company and musicianship.
In the added features DVD there is a film diary of the 10 days of rehearsal leading up to the concert. I showed it to some of my middle school students. I wanted them to see how hard professional musicians work, and how, after 40 years of playing these instruments, they still practice every day. It was a good lesson for them.
I can't recommend this DVD highly enough.

Average customer rating:

Just Right for the Generations Who Missed It!
Great set for classroom use
The History of Rock and Roll
Just not as in depth as expected, a let down
More Negatives than Positives

The History of Rock and Roll
Starring: Gary Busey , Iggy Pop , Hugh Romney , Country Joe McDonald , and Ronald Reagan
Director: Obie Benz , Ted Haimes , and Andrew Solt
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002234XQ
Release Date: 2004-06-29

Amazon.com

Serving as an introduction for neophytes and a refresher course for experts, The History of Rock and Roll is a mammoth and, when considered on its own terms, frequently successful undertaking. The series, which was first presented in 1995, consumes some 578 minutes, with 10 episodes (there are no bonus features) spread out over five discs. Its pedigree (executive producers include Quincy Jones, while respected writers Peter Guralnick and Greil Marcus are listed as consultants) is impressive, as is its scope, beginning in the pre-rock days of bluesman Muddy Waters and boogie woogie master Louis Jordan and continuing through the death of Kurt Cobain and the birth of the Lollapalooza festival in the mid-1990s. Along the way, dozens of big-name performers (with the notable exception of the Beatles) are on hand to lead us through the story.

On the minus side, the format--clips of musical performances cut short by a parade of talking heads--while typical of the genre, will frustrate those who come for the music alone. Nor is it likely that anyone who studies such things will find much here that hasn't already been seen. To be sure, there are some terrific moments, like the profile of Bob Dylan (in part 5, "Plugging In"), some cool clips of relatively obscure legends like James Burton and T-Bone Walker (in part 7, "Guitar Heroes"), and rarely seen live bits with Jimi Hendrix, Steely Dan, Iggy Pop (goofing on the Dinah Shore Show in '77), and many others scattered throughout the set. Part 8, which chronicles the '70s, is surprisingly compelling (one forgets how many major artists--Bruce Springsteen, Bob Marley, Stevie Wonder--came into their own in a decade remembered largely for disco and faceless arena rock), while part 9, "Punk," is arguably the most entertaining of the lot.

In the end, it's the lack of complete musical performances that is the set's Achilles' heel. Then again, with their appetites whetted here, perhaps viewers will move on to other, more detailed looks at their heroes--beginning with, say, The Beatles Anthology. --Sam Graham

Description

Ten titanic hours of the greatest rock extravaganza ever! This definitive 10-part documentary covers rock 'n' roll history from its humble beginnings in the '50s to Lollapalooza in the '90s. Fans can experience their favorite rock 'n' roll moments all over again through hundreds of exclusive interviews, classic footage, and unforgettable in-concert performances from rock 'n' roll's biggest stars. A must-own for any rock 'n' roll fan!

Customer Reviews:

Just Right for the Generations Who Missed It!.......2007-04-18

This is a well-paced documentary, appropriately held in the secure embrace and commentary of Quincy Jones who has proven to have the deepest and widest influence on nearly all popular music.

Interviews by key witnesses from the story and event of Rock and Roll add legitimation to the international story that it has become. History at its best, may not so much be performance as it is a passionate retelling and revisiting the story in the hearts and souls of the brothers and sisters who poured their lives into the state of the art of Rock and Roll (including good coverage of Soul and R&B in all of its various expressions).

You get to taste the sights and sounds of the experience, thanks to some choice footage and video, but you get to hear how the pioneers of Rock and Roll impacted the artists that inherited it.

While the material is dated, it gives the essential information right up to the post alternative and pre American Idol age in which we find ourselves now.

Not every artist can be included and at times less significant ones are, but the the mainstream of the story remains in-tact.

For those who are willing to listen to the story and get a substantial take on how the art of Rock and Roll that has touched so many lives, this series will likely be the defining DVD overview of Rock and Roll History until something better comes along.

Great set for classroom use.......2007-01-11

I teach music appreciation and music history at a university. I used this set as research material in preparing my lectures for a class unit and a seminar on Rock and Roll, and have been using brief excerpts for classroom examples for 10 years. I finally had to upgrade from the VHS version when one of the tapes broke from overuse! The commentary from artists looking back on their own history is excellent. I especially like David Bowie, looking like he just left a photo session for GQ, commenting on a clip of himself as Ziggy Stardust. Gene Simmons of Kiss (out of makeup) commenting on his problems with hairspray is also wonderful, as is Alice Cooper (also out of makeup) talking about the notorious chicken event. While someone looking for extended performances will be disappointed, the short clips with extended commentary by people who experienced the events are perfect for classroom use. Every semester I get a couple of students who want to know where they can get a copy, and one of my graduate students in the seminar was so impressed he chose a series of lesson plans based on the set as a final project!

The History of Rock and Roll.......2007-01-04

A great compendium intertwining music and culture. I use this in the classroom and my students love the anecdotes and the music. My high school students see how their personal music tastes fit into the historical development of the medium they love so much. A wonderful addition to any collection.

Just not as in depth as expected, a let down.......2006-08-31

I just finished this series today, and I just don't feel I walked away with any new knowledge than when I started watching the series. It has many stars scattered throughout the film, but none really said anything that was groundbreaking. Big theme, rock is here to stay. Yeah, I got that after tape two. The first 4 episodes in the series (rock & roll explodes, Good rockin' tonight, Britian invades america/america fights back, and Plugging in) did a fair job at looking at the roots of rock. But I got a sense in part two that this was going to get somewhat repetitive. I think it concentrated to much on these basic roots in the first two, and missed many opportunities to highlight the groups and music. The british invasions really again seemed to just highlight groups, but never had much depth in the scenes or development. Episode 5, Sounds of soul, Just don't know why this was in the set. Yes, its was an important development along with Rock, but really a seperate genre. This episode could have been chance to expande on the Beatles, stones, and their development, as well as the who, and Pink Floyd. Yes, they briefly had david Gillmoure in Episode 6, but that was about it. Episode 6 (My generation) was to short, and very superficial, just not much said. Again, the 5th episode could have bridged the gap between episode 3-4 and 6. Episode 7, guitar heros, Just a dissapointment. I don't think it covered much at all. It concentrates on the fact people used electric guitars, rehasing the rise of Hendrix. But it really missed the boat to expand itself as an episode showing how these first bands gave rise to Metal, and the 80's rock and punk. Real dissapointment to not see a tape following this one going into the genre of Hard rock/metal. The have a nice 70's episode 8, again, just vauge. I thought it would have concentrated on the many different branches of rock that came out of the era. It did a fair job at showin how the industry changed, and marketing took off. Episode 9, Punk, Not bad. did a fair job at covering the scene. Episode 10, up from the underground....When did Rap become rock and roll, this tape concentrated over half of it to the rap scene. It did cover MTV, and eventually got to "alternative rock" and briefly mentioned grundge and nirvana, but completly skipped over Hair metal and Hard rock.

In all, I think this series had set high goals, but just missed its chance. they needed naration, more history, more development of the scenes of rock. They over did the roots of rock, then continued to drag in many genres that really are more R & B, and rap, and missed the boat on 80's rock (hair, metal), and not even getting much of the pop scene, or even new wave (new order, Duran duran etc) I guess I must have seen the other "rock and Roll" series that was on pbs by "the experience project" that someone else mentioned in a review (which had a limited release availability I guess). I guess this will spark me to try and see some other series, like the new one on VH1 Heavy, the story of metal, as well as look at the classics like the decline of western civilization I & II. worth a viewing if a friend has this set, but not really worth the buy.

More Negatives than Positives.......2006-08-31

While the scope of such an attempt at compiling the history of rock and roll onto film is an advantageous venture, the producers of this documentary fail at so many different points it's hard to tell if there are any redeeming qualities. For instance, the very minimal mention of The Beatles is abysmal, but that would still better than what we have here, which is nothing. Whatever the issues (legality, no breadth to discussable material, or sheer need to avoid the Liverpoolites altogether, etc) something would be better than simply avoiding the issue altogether, which speaks volumes to rock and roll purists. Note, also, that this diatribe on The Beatles isn't simply my fanaticism coming in to play; they were simply just that good. As a result of their innovations, we now consider making popular music an art form. That had never happened before John, Paul, George, and Ringo! Now, there are many other factual explanations for why this DVD set is inadequate and inept. Another reason this video-log fails miserably is for the simple reason that there is not enough music; there's a lot of talk about music, but not enough of the actual music that we love. This rock piece is supposed to be about the architecture, foundation, and rise of rock and roll. What this DVD set does is talk about what was cool and why it was. There are some valuable aesthetic qualities (seeing the artists performing their hits, for instance). All in all, a beautiful concept that, with brilliance and thought, could have been a remarkable keepsake for avid music aficionados. But, what we got is a rock and roll doc that sorely misses the mark.

Average customer rating:

Sordid Lives-A true Story or fiction?
Don't answer that...just think about it!
Rolling in the Aisle
Sordid Lives
Fell off the couch laughing!!

Sordid Lives
Starring: Newell Alexander , Beau Bridges , Bonnie Bedelia , Earl Bullock , and Delta Burke
Director: Del Shores
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
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Sordid Lives

ASIN: B00003CY27
Release Date: 2003-03-18

Product Description

Get ready for laughs the size of Texas when Olivia Newton-John, Beau Bridges, Bonnie Bedelia and Delta Burke lead an all-star cast in this twisted, white-trash tale "that puts the 'fun' in 'dysfunctional'" (Toronto Sun). The hilariously sordid details about a southern family surface with a vengeance when relatives converge for the funeral of "Grandma Peggy," who died after tripping over her lover's wooden legs! Toss in a couple of feuding, big-haired daughters, a jumpy aunt who just quit smoking, the scorned neighbor from hell, and crazy, cross-dressing "Brother Boy" - and you've got an outrageous "train wreck you can't help but watch!" (Chicago Tribune)

System Requirements:
Running Time: 111 minutes

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

If you've got a taste for big hair, broad Texas accents, and gay rights, this mixture of white-trash comedy and coming-out melodrama is for you. Sordid Lives starts out as chicken-fried farce, as a funeral is prepared for a woman who died when she tripped over her adulterous lover's wooden legs; about midway the emphasis shifts to a drag queen unfairly held in a mental institution and the dead woman's grandson, an actor in Los Angeles who hasn't come out to his mother. The tone shifts wildly, and the humor depends on your fondness for the white-trash genre--if you like it, this will tickle your ribs; if you don't, it'll fall flat as the panhandle landscape. But it must be said that the cast (including Bonnie Bedelia, Beau Bridges, Delta Burke, and Olivia Newton-John) dives right in, no matter how over-the-top their characters get. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

Sordid Lives-A true Story or fiction?.......2007-07-06

This movie is hilarious, and embarrassingly, epitomitses the south, or Bible belt. As many reviewers have said before, if you have ever lived in the south, you will almost certainly see parts of your life in it, or can relate to it. It can be a learning tool for people uncomfortable with homosexuality because it also has good, helpful ideas in dealing with that subject and others.

Don't answer that...just think about it!.......2007-05-29

We have watched this movie about nine times in the month that we have had it. The performances are great, especially Bonnie Bodelia's portrait of a mother in denial. It makes us laugh and cry every time. What more can you want for in a movie? Don't answer that...just think about it.

Rolling in the Aisle.......2007-04-11

A true classic belly laugh. There are so many good laughs in the flim, when I saw it in a theater in Palm Springs I literally fell from my seat and into the aisles gasping for breath. The big name stars are not the film's best assests. Screenplay and secondary characters carry this film throughout. See this one several times and you'll find a new laugh each time.

Sordid Lives.......2007-04-06

Funny, funny, funny. If you're from the South you'll have an example of each character in your life. Hilarious!

Fell off the couch laughing!!.......2007-04-05

Wow this movie was almost as funny as the Bird Cage!! Me and my friends still laugh about this movie as we recite lines from the characters.

Average customer rating:

Great movie
A Dance Historian's Point of View
On the Riviera
On the Riviera

On the Riviera
Starring: Danny Kaye , Gene Tierney , Corinne Calvet , Marcel Dalio , and Jean Murat
Director: Walter Lang
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Ball of Fire

ASIN: B000ND91Z4
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Amazon.com

Just as Love Affair inspired An Affair to Remember and Sleepless in Seattle, Folies Bergère inspired That Night in Rio and On the Riviera. In Walter Lang's Technicolor version, Danny Kaye takes on a dual role previously assumed by Maurice Chevalier and Don Ameche. A master of mistaken identity, Kaye makes it his own. His Jack Martin is an American song and dance man based in Monte Carlo. When playboy aviator Henri Duran (Kaye with French accent) returns from his latest adventure, Martin notices a resemblance. He also notices Duran's neglected wife, Lili (Gene Tierney). After Duran is called away on business, Martin is enlisted to impersonate him for an important function. That gives him the chance to cozy up to Lili--and infuriate dance partner Colette (Corinne Calvet). Duran pays him back with an impersonation of his own. It isn't Twelfth Night, but On the Riviera is an enjoyable diversion. It also represents a family affair, since designer Oleg Cassini outfitted wife Tierney and Sylvia Fine penned tunes for husband Kaye (except for the standard "Ballin' the Jack"). Though considered a minor effort in the canons of Lang and Kaye--the musical was more of an audience favorite than a critical darling--Fox has done right by this long-unavailable title with an interactive press book, featurettes, lobby cards, and a pristine print (heavy on the brilliant blues). Look sharp for future Fosse hoofer (and wife) Gwen Verdon as a dancer and Tierney's famous Laura portrait above Duran's fireplace. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews:

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

This is a great movie. A fun remake of "That Night in Rio with Don Ameche. Danny Kaye is a very verstile entertainer who can sing, dance and act. He really pulls off the double role he plays as an entertainer and a wealthy man who has a reputation as a ladies man. A couple of the songs in this movie harken back to my childhood and enhances the enjoyment of this movie. A must see!

A Dance Historian's Point of View.......2007-06-13

Warner set the standard with well-produced DVDs of classic MGM musicals - 20th Century Fox is up for the challenge.
A lot of love and care went into the making of this DVD. It comes in a slipcase and contains four b/w lobby cards. The picture and sound were superbly restored. By the way, the format is of course 4:3 fullscreen, not widescreen. The extras section includes the trailer, a still gallery and three comprehensive featurettes:

"The Riviera Story" (10 minutes): "On the Riviera" is a remake of "Folies Bergère" (1936) and "That Night in Rio" (1941), respectively. The featurette compares the three films and its stars.

"A Portrait of Danny Kaye" (26 minutes): A biographical look at Kaye's impressive life, featuring, amongst others, his daughter Dena Kaye.

"The Jack of Clubs - Choreographer Jack Cole" (10 minutes): An appreciation of Cole's work (that's been long overdue).

I don't consider the film a great comedy. (If you want to see Danny Kaye at his comical best, get "The Court Jester".) Nevertheless he does a good job in a dull plot that's constructed solely around his persona. The two girls, Gene Tierney and Corinne Calvet, contribute nothing except their lovely looks.
The big plus however, besides Kaye's performance, is the lively and hummable score by Kaye's wife Sylvia Fine and Cole's galvanic choreography featuring the stunning Gwen Verdon. (Verdon was a dancer in a class of her own. Jack Cole, Michael Kidd and her later husband Bob Fosse knew it and made great use of it. She danced for Cole in many shows and films, always receiving solo or centre stage spots. Her work as a dancer can be studied in the films "Meet Me after the Show", "The I-Don't-Care-Girl", "The Farmer Takes a Wife", "David and Bathsheba" (available on DVD), "The Mississippi Gambler", "The Merry Widow" (available on DVD in South America), "Gentlemen Marry Brunettes" and "Damn Yankees" (available on DVD). All of them a testament to her unequalled talent.)

Let's take a look at the five musical numbers:

"On the Riviera": Kaye performs the title song impersonating Maurice Chevalier. A little tip of the hat to the man who originally played Kaye's character.

"Rhythm of a New Romance": A big production number that introduced Gwen Verdon to movie audiences. It starts with a dynamic Can-Can. (Two years later Verdon would do the Can-Can again in the MGM version of "The Merry Widow". This would land her a job in a new Cole Porter musical - called "Can-Can". The rest is Broadway history.)
The number continues with an amazing East Indian dance sequence featuring Verdon and Jack Cole (wearing a Kathakali mask). (Cole studied authentic Bharata Natyam and other ethnic dances and integrated them brilliantly into his style.)

"Ballin' the Jack": This is one of Kaye's trademark songs. It was part of his stage act for many years. Here's a very laid back and sophisticated version.

"Popo the Puppet": A highly imaginative number featuring Danny Kaye and the dancers Gwen Verdon and Ethel Martin in Commedia Del Arte costumes. The droll song received an Oscar nomination. (By the way, look for the similarities between the tambourine players and the tambourine playing doctors in the "Some of These Days" sequence the next time you watch Bob Fosse's "All That Jazz". Fosse admired Jack Cole's work.)

"A Happy Ending": The finale is pure heaven for anyone who's interested in dance history and a rare chance to see almost the entire core of the Jack Cole Dancers together:
There's Cole himself, Gwen Verdon, Buzz Miller (An excellent jazz dancer. He would also work extensively with Fosse (in both the stage and movie version of the "Pajama Game" and in "Redhead"). He was Jerome Robbins' boyfriend.), George and Ethel Martin (They were the most loyal of Cole's dancers and had been working with him since the early Forties. George Martin appeared in all of Cole's Columbia musicals usually partnered with Rod Alexander and Alex Romero. George and his wife Ethel would re-create parts of Cole's original stage choreography for Richard Lester's movie adaptation of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum".)

If you'd like to know more about Jack Cole I recommend to get Glenn Loney's book "The Unsung Genius - The Passion of Dancer-Choreographer Jack Cole". Look for a list of his films under imdb.com.

Thanks 20th Century Fox for helping to keep the legends alive. I hope that you will continue to release rare and forgotten musicals on DVD.

On the Riviera.......2007-06-13

This is probably one of the most underrated movies of all time.
Alright, some of the musical sequences are dated - especially the "Rhythm of a new romance"-number - but the dialogue and the story are still extremely witty and funny. And it's Danny Kaye at his best. Not as brilliant as in "The Court Jester" three years later, but more mature and refined than in "The secret Life of Walther Mitty" (which is a great movie, too!), Kaye gives a wonderful performance as nightclub entertainer Jack Martin ("Ballin' the Jack" and "Happy Ending" are just wonderful). And he plays rich aviator Henri Duran who neglects his wife and only comes to his senses when he thinks that she's betraying him with Martin. Kaye is believeable in both parts.
"On the Riviera" is a very entertaining musical comedy and it makes fun of every glamour cliché ever used in Hollywood.
Highly recommended!

On the Riviera.......2007-06-11

An adorable Danny Kaye movie. He plays two parts a rich playboy and a night club singer/dancer. Danny can not be beat - I especially love his song, "Popo the puppet" - that alone is worth buying the movie!

Average customer rating:

wonderful.......
This Movie Won't Let You Down - Or Leave You Cross
word nerds, unite!
Wordplay is an entertainment secret
Puzzler's delight!

Wordplay
Starring: Chris Astoyan , Jon Stewart , Miriam Raphael , Dan Katz (III) , and Bill Clinton
Director: Patrick Creadon
Manufacturer: Ifc
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000HLDFR2
Release Date: 2006-11-07

Amazon.com

The linguistic ballet of the crossword puzzle and the obsessive minds that wrestle with them are a source of delight in the charming documentary Wordplay. Though there's no story, the movie has a definite hero: Will Shortz, the editor of the New York Times crossword puzzle, universally acknowledged as the pinnacle of crosswords. Shortz comes across as clever but modest; though he's at the top of his particular world, he retains a bemused perspective on that world's limitations. Though speckled with celebrities from former President Bill Clinton to the Indigo Girls, the most engaging interviews are with puzzle creator Merl Reagle (who gives a fascinating on-screen demonstration of how he starts making a puzzle) and the witty and garrulous commentary by the former public editor for the Times, Daniel Okrent. Like many recent documentaries, Wordplay is built around a competition: The American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, an annual event started by Shortz and embraced by people who have devoted an alarming amount of their brain space to filling squares with letters. Though the movie is not as emotionally involving as Spellbound--still the ne plus ultra of nerdy documentaries--Wordplay's window into its particular subculture will be enjoyable to non-crossword fans as well as committed puzzleheads.--Bret Fetzer

Description

Witness the inner workings of Will Shortz, NY Times Editor and NPR Puzzle Master, and his brilliant, entertaining and often hilarious contributors as well as surprising celebrity fans. Wordplay takes us through the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament where almost five hundred competitors battled it out for the title "Crossword Champ" and showed their true colors along the way.

Customer Reviews:

wonderful..............2007-07-05

Since I was very young, I have had a love affair with language. Words are such a powerful form of expression [in writing and verbal communication]. Words are a reflection of our times, as well as our culture. Few people know this as well as puzzlemaster for the New York Times, Will Shortz. He is the man behind the weekly crossword puzzle that appears in the publication and also is heard nationally on NPR, every weekend, with his puzzle quiz. Not only are crossword puzzles great for the mind, but they have a huge following that transcends generations and socio/economic backgrounds. For the first time, we see a more intimate side of Mr. Shortz, his formative years, as well as an annual puzzle competition that I would best describe as the Crossword Olympics. It truly is a competitive sport. There are also great, humorous moments in this film with banter from comedian Jon Stewart, former United States President Bill Clinton, the Indigo Girls and a slew of other fans of Will Shortz and his puzzle.

This film was so well done, and, it will [no doubt] draw comparisons to SPELLBOUND, which follows the National Spelling Bee and the young contestants who intensively study the English language by reading the dictionary, practicing with flash cards and devoting their lives to mastering spelling. WORDPLAY is different in that the first half of the film, I would say, is more focused on Will Shortz, his following of crossword puzzle fans and how the puzzles are created. We even learn about the formula that they must use, as a template to derive the correct number of letters across, as well as down. The puzzles are also reflective of current events, developments in pop culture, policy and politics. They really are a sign of the times. The second half of the film shifts its focus to the contestants pursuing the Crossword Puzzle Championship. It'll have you biting your nails, too. The director really captured the tension and suspense that intensifies as each contestant aspires to be the champion. This is definitely a great film worth watching. You'll walk away feeling that you learned something and also had a good time in the process!

This Movie Won't Let You Down - Or Leave You Cross.......2007-06-12

First we had a movie about Scrabble competitions, now here comes a movie about the ultimate crossword competition - organized by Will Short, master crossword puzzle creator.

This film doesn't quite let us get to know its competitors in the same way the Scrabble documentary let us get to know its enthusiasts. But this film shows a lot more besides the mere competition. It shows who designs many of "The New York Times" crossword puzzles and how the designers attack the problem. You'll learn a lot about crossword puzzle-design you probably didn't know. For example - computer programs generally aren't used. Short and others still do all the work out of their own brains. And did you know every puzzle must be symmetrical?

Then we see several celebrities at work solving a daily puzzle. Bill Clinton might have been more popular as President if he had run the Country as judiciously as he solves a crossword puzzle. He philosophizes as he goes along, saying that a puzzle should be approached in the same way you approach a problem of State - you scan for what you know first - then you slowly work your way out from there.

Jon Stewart attacks a problem as if he were in a hockey game - slapping, cursing, jabbing at the page. At first I thought he was putting on a show of aggression for the camera - but no, that's really his all-out w