Edge City

Starring:Charlie Hofheimer, Heather Gottlieb, Isidra Vega, Ryan Carmody, Todd Berry, Luis Laporte Jr., Mark Webber (II), Samuel Medina, Jill Horner, Michelle Seabreeze, Christopher Kadish, Bruce Kirkpatrick, Tim Dowlin, Sheana Deeny, John M. Jackson, Paul L. Nolan, Erik Carabasi, Joseph George Pcolinsky, Peter Patrikios, Christopher Mann (II)
Director: Eugene Martin (II)
Studio: Lions Gate
Product Type: DVD

Description

Buff and barely eighteen, Sasha lives outside Athens. At night, he and his friends go to the city to work as male prostitutes. Everyday they endure johns, drug dealers and pimps as they desperately try to survive in a country that is not their own.

Customer Reviews:

Greek Angst.......2007-07-02

"From the Edge of the City"

Greek Angst

Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride

Submitted as Greece's candidate for the Academy Award for foreign film is "From the Edge of the City". It is a film of many layers that appeals to all levels of society. Greece has been known to be homophobic and for Greek viewers this appeared to be a very angry film. Dealing with rent boys, it is easy to see why it has been so controversial especially in the depiction of Russian Greek immigrants. Because they so want to get ahead in society, they are led t a life of crime which includes male prostitution. Together with that are many homoerotic overtones and open discussion of the characters' lives as gay prostitutes
This film is classy especially the way it handles urban disorientation. There is a lot of flesh shown as well as cocaine use and inchoate homosexual activity. It makes you think and s complex but brilliant.
The movie is about those Russian Greeks who returned to Greece after the collapse of the Soviet Union. They are third generation young people trying to find a place in the society of their adopted country. Their lives are explained to us through an interview with one of the youth named Sasha and e tells us how they use drugs and sell their bodies as well as their relationships with their families. Seemingly, it is a Greek documentary about a modern Greek tragedy--in reality it is a hard and brutally honest film.
The cast is made up of mainly street urchins and this satisfies. The cycle of their lives repeats itself over and over. Just because it is set in Athens does not mean that the same thing could not happen anywhere. The poor suburban home setting is perfect and the cast delivers. Some scenes will hit you straight on so this is not a movie for the weak.
When the Soviet Union existed, Greek Khazahkstanis fled to Athens where they attempted to assimilate into the society. Like most immigrants they faced problems and had difficulties. The youth had the hardest time and this is why they turned to drugs and prostitution. They wanted a good life without working to achieve it.
Sasha, the narrator of the film calls himself Rosa Ponds when he is interviewed. He is a handsome youngster but harbors many conflicts.
He and his friends begin committing petty crimes and then move to drugs and hustling. The numerous subplots give the film a sense of wandering and with a little stronger direction this could certainly have been a tighter film. The boys eventually become involved as both victims and perpetrators of abusive behavior but Sasha gives us hope (with his strong behavior that all will turn out well.
The film has a true sense of verismo because the cast is made up of actual street boys. But the boys are eye candy so that makes it an interesting movie to watch. It is self-consciously hip movie about a wasted generation that goes through the usual downward spiral ofsex, drugs and petty crimes.

Very Gritty Portrayal of Young Hustlers, Story Had an Ackward Flow.......2006-10-13

For starters, I just did not get inspired by this film. I didn't like it. I tried to find good in it so I could give it (at least) 3 stars, but no luck. I never connected with any of the characters, not even the lead Sasha. The best part of this production is the Trailer, which led me (and others I am sure) to purchase this film.

The story is referred to as a Greek Version of "My Own Private Idaho", and that is probably correct, though it has been at least 10 years since I viewed "My Own Private Idaho". I recall that one was also ackward, but I also recollect connecting with at least one of the film's characters.

"From the Edge of the City" follows the lives of (mostly) male hustler's. The storyline seems to be all over the place. I did not find myself gripped to the screen - ok, with the possible exception of watching the very hot lead Sasha!

If you are looking for the gay angle in this story (I was, after all, it was released by PictureThis! Home Video) and featured as a trailer on most of their gay releases, it will take you nearly an hour into the film before the topic is dealt with at any level, minus a few sentences here and there. At the point where the film could develop the story of one hustler's emotional connection with a gay man who pays for his services, it fails to do so with any real effort, and even so, there is little time left in the film.

I by no means expected a "Brady Bunch" storyline or a happy ending; I expected neither, and they are not here. After the film, I watched the trailer again, and felt it really did a misleading job of promoting this movie, or maybe the film simply isn't that good?

A few hot scenes, some quality, but overall, far less then I expected. FYI - The film is in Greek and Kazak with English subtitles.

Irredeemable trash........2006-04-28

In both American and European cinema, male prostitutes and drug dealers seem to have become fashion icons. A class of people who were once considered the lowest of the low are now popular subjects for 'edgy', 'gritty' filmaking that tries to capture the pain and misery of such lives.

This film is one such effort, and it is an exceptionally feeble one. Coming from Greek filmaker Constantine Giannaris and set in Athens, it tells of the sordid lives of a group of Russian-Greek immigrants who deal drugs, visit prostitutes and sell their own bodies to older men (whilst maintaining arguable heterosexual status). The film proceeds to tell its meandering and unispired story in the style of a music video or fashion commercial, with a self-consciously trendy soundtrack in the background. The cast is universally appalling, probably due to the fact that they are non-professionals recruited from the very environment the film seeks to document.

I suspect that Giannaris never expected this film to be released internationally. As a result he felt able to indulge in obvious unoriginality. Watch out for a tableau sex scene and fake interviews with the main character, both of which are blatantly lifted from 'My Own Private Idaho'. But whereas Gus Van Sant's film had a sympathetic main character, this film has as its protagonist a stupid, sexist, homophobic loser who it is impossible to like let alone care about. The audience will probably feel a good measure of self-righteous pleasure at his various misfortunes!

Of course, this sort of film always attracts good reviews from the enlightened ones who sadly mistake its depraved voyeurism for art, but don't be fooled. There is nothing compelling, artistic or remotely likeable about this film. I would advise you to avoid it at all costs.

I loathed this film........2006-03-17

This film is an utter waste of time and effort. The subject matter was handled much better in 'My Own Private Idaho', 'Trainspotting' and 'Midnight Cowboy'. There is nothing remotely likeable about any of the characters, so one has no reason to care about them.
I myself am Greek and I assure you Athens is nothing like this, it is a modern, welcoming, pleasant city and this film does our country a grave diservice.
Please do not see it.

'My name is Rosa Ponds'.......2005-12-16

...a repeated comment from one of the interviewees in this strange little film from Greek writer/director Constantine Giannaris. Struggling somewhere between a docudrama and a ethnic drama, FROM THE EDGE OF THE CITY is written and filmed with gritty realism techniques that in the end adds some charm to an otherwise meandering movie.

During the Soviet Union era Greek Khazahkstani expatriates fled to Athens, Greece where they attempt to fit in to the Greek culture and society. But as with most immigrant groups there are challenges to face in trying to find their niche on the outskirts of a major city. The little town where they live is called Menidi and while the adults have learned Greek and found jobs, a group of teenagers who speak a mixture of Russian and Greek want the good things of life found in Athens yet waste away their own lives on roller-blading, petty crimes, cruising, drugs, male prostitution, and sexual and criminal exploitation by the wealthy Greeks: they want the good life without working for it.

The focal person of the film is Sasha (Stathis Papadopoulos) - the one who refers to himself as Rosa Ponds in interview. As with the rest of the cast he is a beautiful young man with many conflicts who seems to be seeking his identity. He and his friends move from drugs to petty crime to criminal involvement with prostitution (of both gay and straight forms). There are many subplots that could use more definition as the film tends to meander about the streets without direction. The boys become involved as both victims and perpetrators of abusive behavior, yet there is something in the nature of Sasha that makes us hope his life will even out.

Giannaris worked with street kids with no prior acting experience, a fact the gives a true sense of verismo to the film. Both the men and women involved are eye candy and while this film is being marketed as a gay movie, there is very little content to rank it as such - as though the Greek homophobia would not condone a popular movie to dwell on that subject.

Nice eye candy for everyone, but not a lot of substance. Keep your expectations low and the movie will satisfy as a study of the problems of immigrants on the periphery of big cities around the world. Grady Harp, December 05

Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 14, Episodes 27 & 28: Errand of Mercy/ The City on the Edge of Forever

Average customer rating:

A Keeper! Best Episodes From the First Season!
Time Space Absolute
I would have saved Joan Collins from the car
Great Drama!
Two Essential Episodes

Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 14, Episodes 27 & 28: Errand of Mercy/ The City on the Edge of Forever
Starring: Star Trek Original Series
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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

Classic Sci-Fi | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

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

Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 17, Episodes 33 & 34: Who Mourns For Adonais/Amok Time
Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 13, Episodes 25 & 26: This Side of Paradise/ The Devil in the Dark
Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 12, Episodes 23 & 24: A Taste of Armageddon/ Space Seed
Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 20, Episodes 39 & 40: Mirror Mirror/ The Deadly Years
Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 15, Episodes 29 & 30: Operation-Annihilate!/ Catspaw

ASIN: 6305910537
Release Date: 2000-07-11

Amazon.com

Of all the Star Trek original series DVDs, Volume 14 will surely remain one of the most popular, for it offers the first-ever appearance of Klingons (in "Errand of Mercy") and the episode many fans consider the finest of all "classic Trek" adventures.

In "Errand of Mercy," war between the Klingons and the Federation is imminent, and it's up to Captain Kirk (William Shatner) to persuade the peaceful, agrarian planet Organia to sign on with the good guys before the Klingons overwhelm the place. Organia is in a strategically valuable position for whichever warring side claims it first, but the Organians don't seem to care. Kirk and First Officer Spock (Leonard Nimoy) make an awfully good pitch for Federation protection, but Organian leaders reject the offer as a tacit invitation to violence, taking little heed of a Klingon invasion and earning the enmity of both Kirk and Klingon Commander Kor (John Colicos). Essentially a Cold War satire disguised as a Federation-Klingon showdown, "Errand of Mercy" is the brainchild of producer-writer Gene L. Coon, who makes a wonderfully convincing case for the absurdity of each side's claim to moral superiority. Highlights include the Butch-and-Sundance banter between Kirk and Spock as they form a two-man Resistance movement. The episode is directed by John Newland, best known as the host of the supernatural television series, One Step Beyond.

"The City on the Edge of Forever" begins with a medical accident that leaves Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) a paranoid madman. Leaping through a time portal to Earth's Great Depression of the 1930s, McCoy causes disastrous changes to history, forcing Kirk and Spock to follow him and undo whatever disruptive action he took centuries before. There, Kirk meets a kindly social worker, Edith Keeler (Joan Collins), with whom he falls in love before realizing her fate is the key to a restored future. A shattering drama, "City" brings out the best in the cast and production teams, looking like a feature film that found its way onto television. The background on this show is equally compelling and sometimes hysterically funny, beginning with a highly fanciful script by Harlan Ellison (including a scene with cast members riding a carousel that passes in and out the side of a mountain) that was either rewritten by series creator Gene Roddenberry or producer Gene L. Coon, depending on who's telling the story. Ironically, Ellison's original version won a Writer's Guild award while the revision captured a Hugo, but the real prize is the episode itself. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

A Keeper! Best Episodes From the First Season!.......2006-10-01

If you are picking which volumes to keep from the first season, this has got to be one of them. We get two of the best episodes from the season here and although the believablility factor is stretched quite a bit on "City...", "Errand of Mercy" is an excellent episode too. In the former, we get a Hugo Award winner and in the latter, we get to meet the Klingons for the first time! Both are great reasons to pick up this volume which represent the best of what Star Trek had to offer from its first season. In "Errand ...", superior beings teach representatives from the Klingon Empire and the Federation an important lesson about coexisting and about settling differences non-violently, something we could all still learn from today too. Overall, the plot is very good as well as the acting.

"City..." has become over the years one of the all-time favourite episodes of all Trek fans and I like it too but I have some trouble accepting some of the dramatic licence that this story expects us to take. For example, when Bones makes his unfortunate leap into the past and changes history, I can't understand why the Enterprise as well as the landing party didn't cease to exist as well. In any case, if you can ignore this one point, the rest of the episode is a real gem.

Highly recommended.

Time Space Absolute.......2006-09-10

The enterprise discovers an ancient portal through time. A surge of energy from the portal hits the enterprise injurying Sulu. The shock wave causes Sulu to go into cardiac arrest. Dr. McCoy is about too hypo Sulu with with cordrazine when another wave hits the enterprise leading too an accidently injection. The cordrazine cause Dr McCoy to have excessive paranoia. McCoy thinks Enterprise members are a ship "of murderers and assassins" and assaults transporter personnel, beams down to the planet, and travels back into time. Spock and Jim beam down and discover the Personal Guardian of the time portal and because the guardian can only play the time scenes at one speed, they are prior in time too McCoy's arrival.
Spock and Jim must repair the history damaged by McCoy and return the enterprise back into existence. Jim and Spock arrive in New York City, in the late 1930s during the depression era. They escape a confrontation with a police officer and manage to arrive at the 21st mission and meet a woman name Edith Keeler.

War is evil. War impoverishes countries. The US maintained a policy of isolationism. America did not share Europe's fascination with death. Could America have remained free without participating in WWII? Spock's computer prediction was wrong. America would have remained free without entering the war. The economic loan defaults would take 10 years to stabilize and another 10 for the companies too rebuild. There would be no US war debt. The free market forces of capitalism would create new wealth.

Life, liberty, and private property inevitable rights would set the groundwork for US prosperity. America would prosper and Nazism like Communism would collapse under the weight of its ideology disconnects. Germany had expended all its resources and did not have the resources fight America. The US had the able to protect itself, if attacked; thus avoiding an offensive war. Spock's computer algorithm was simple, the first country too possess a nuclear weapon would an idol of unprecedented super power. The computer predicted that passive movements would result in losing the arms race, the destruction of Europe, and the Rise of a new Rome. History seems to favor Spock; however, his algorithm was designed to make his version of history preferred.

Spock builds a 21st computer by assembling vacuum tubes in a series creating a mnemonic memory device. The crude computer reveals that Social Worker Edith Keeler was killed in a hit and run car homicide. At that moment the computer burns up. Spock redesigns and stabilizes, the computer and learns that history has suddenly changed. Edit Keeler does not die because McCoy intervenes and saves her. Edit Keeler leads a growing pacifist movement and becomes the President of the United States. German would win the arms race, destroy Europe, and control the world. The change in world events over the next six years would destroy the Federation space programs causing the Enterprise too cease to exist. Edit Keelers became the focus point in time changing history. McCoy was the random element.

McCoy appears and lies sick in the street. McCoy is taken to the Mission, but Jim and Kirk are unaware of his arrival. Keeler is impressed with McCoy and nurse him to health. McCoy falls in love with Keeler.

Kirk romantic intentions for Keeler have been increasing. Keeler stumbles on the stairway but Kirk saves her from falling down the stairs. Spock chastises Kirk believing he may have interfered with time allowing his "fascination for death scenero" manifest.

Jim and Spock prevent McCoy from saving Keeler; events unfold as predicted and Keeler dies in the car accident.

The personal Guardian knew that Kirk and Spock would fix history. We know this because they did not cease to exist. Therefore, the guardian was unwilling to provide an advice or assistance. The past could not be changed by visitors, so the visit to the past was harmless.

I would have saved Joan Collins from the car.......2005-07-21

Let the Nazis have the world, it's a small price to pay to bag Joan Collins.

Great Drama!.......2005-03-05

"The City on the Edge of Forever" is great drama presented during Star Trek's phenomenal run in the sixties. The story was genuine and unique for the time and addressed the issue of time travel quite intelligently..Based on an original story by Harlan Ellison, this wonderful episode starred the beautiful Joan Collins in a sensitive and touching role as Edith Keeler..a social worker who's death has an impact upon history.

The chemistry between William Shatner and Joan Collins works well in this episode and Shatner's acting is very subdued but very effective..He conveys his emotions quite effectively in his closeups! I can understand why this particular episode is considered one of the best in the series! Every time I used to run across it as a rerun I would find myself stopping what I was doing to watch it! Now I have it on DVD and still enjoy watching it! One of my favorite scenes is the close up on Joan Collin's face when Spock was trying to explain what he was trying to buid with all the the tubes and antennas chirping in their bungalow..Her expression is priceless! I loved Joan Collins in this role..I wish she would have done more in this vein..

The Guardian of Forever was a unique design and worked very effectively for the show..It must have been quite a feat putting together all of these props for this show..

I would say I am a true Trekkie in that I have read practically every autobiography written by the cast and all the supporting books on the show..I can say honestly that I have seen all 79 episodes at one time or another in my life but now that they are available on DVD I plan on rewatching them and adding my favorites to my collection!

Also DeForest Kelley was superb in this show! DeForest was a brilliant actor who has made such an indelible impression as "Bones" McCoy..In this episode his frenzied state of mind is portrayed convincingly and his scene with Joan Collins is one of the best in the series in my opinion. This show had it all..great writing..great directing..great acting!!

Two Essential Episodes.......2004-12-04

Kirk & Spock go on an ERRAND OF MERCY to save the planet Organia from Klingon conquest, but find the simple Organians are far from defenseless - or exactly what they seem. This episode introduced the Klingons, who are portrayed through sharp characterization and skillful acting rather than with the smoke and make-up that would be used on later Trek incarnations.
After history is catastrophically altered by a deranged McCoy, Kirk & Spock must go to THE CITY ON THE EDGE OF FOREVER (1930's New York) to set things right, but find their mission intertwined with the fate of a woman (Joan Collins) with whom Kirk has fallen in love. Widely acclaimed as the best Trek of all time, and probably Shatner's finest performance.

Average customer rating:

Edge City - Dancing on the Edge of a Razor
Foul-Mouthed Waste of Time
Great film

Edge City
Starring: Charlie Hofheimer , Heather Gottlieb , Isidra Vega , Ryan Carmody , and Todd Berry
Director: Eugene Martin (II)
Manufacturer: Palm Pictures / Umvd
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video

( E ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00049QR1I
Release Date: 2004-10-19

Customer Reviews:

Edge City - Dancing on the Edge of a Razor.......2007-06-08

Eugene Martin did a fine job of recreating an event that occurred in the Philadelphia area a few years ago. This was a reality show before reality shows came on the scene. The complexity the characters and their relationships with families, each other and between suburban and urban areas was powerful.

Foul-Mouthed Waste of Time.......2006-03-18

By the time we made it to the end of this DVD, we could care less if these unbelievably foul-mouthed teens were all killed in the so-called rumble.

I should say that I went to high school in suburban Detroit, and, let me tell you, real gang rumbles weren't anything like the so-called rumble in this movie. Two teens in our area were killed in real rumbles while I was in high school. I remember one particular time when my whole school of 3,000+ students was on edge (even the teachers were) about a major rumble planned for that weekend. Nobody could concentrate on school. Another time, a friend of mine had a party when his parents were gone and a gang from the City crashed it and did so much damage that it made national news. By the standards I remember about real-life gangs and real teen rumbles, this movie is a joke.

To me, this movie looks like it was done with handheld cameras by some student group, probably college but it could even be high school level. It is obvious that the scriptwriters had little interest in developing any characters so one could learn to care about them in the least. Instead of developing interesting personalities, all they must have been able to think of was incessant reprehensible gutter language. The handheld camera often swirls around so fast it leaves you dizzy. If that isn't enough, the editing is so choppy in places that those random cuts leave you dizzy. Some of the close-ups are so grainy it looks like they must have used an 8mm camera.

If you want a movie about inner city gangsters, I'd say get "187" instead. It is far more professionally done and a far more powerful story. The only reason I could see for buying this DVD is if one collects every teen gang movie made and wanted to add it to their collection. Oh, if you just love to hear endless foul-mouthed teens in movie, maybe you'll like this DVD. For most people, however, especially normal people, this movie is a "PASS IT UP." The ONLY reason I gave it one star is because there is no 'Amazon.com ZERO stars.

[The only reason I watched it was as part of research for an upcoming book on DVD movies about kids and for kids.]

Great film.......2003-05-03

I have not seen the DVD for this film, yet . . . but the film itself is wonderful. For some reason it's always getting compared to Kids and Bully, but don't be fooled -- this is not just a shock fest. Certainly worth the purchase. The writing is particularly amazing.

Average customer rating:

Edge City - Dancing on the Edge of a Razor
Foul-Mouthed Waste of Time
Great film

Edge City
Starring: Charlie Hofheimer , Heather Gottlieb , Isidra Vega , Ryan Carmody , and Todd Berry
Director: Eugene Martin (II)
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( E ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00008RV2L
Release Date: 2003-05-27

Description

Please correct studio information - this is a PALM PICTURES release, NOT Lions Gate - thank you

Customer Reviews:

Edge City - Dancing on the Edge of a Razor.......2007-06-08

Foul-Mouthed Waste of Time.......2006-03-18

Great film.......2003-05-03

Average customer rating:

A Keeper! Best Episodes From the First Season!
Time Space Absolute
I would have saved Joan Collins from the car
Great Drama!
Two Essential Episodes

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 17, Episodes 33 & 34: Who Mourns For Adonais/Amok Time
Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 13, Episodes 25 & 26: This Side of Paradise/ The Devil in the Dark
Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 12, Episodes 23 & 24: A Taste of Armageddon/ Space Seed
Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 20, Episodes 39 & 40: Mirror Mirror/ The Deadly Years
Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 15, Episodes 29 & 30: Operation-Annihilate!/ Catspaw

ASIN: 6305910529
Release Date: 2000-07-11

Amazon.com

Description

"Errand of Mercy," Ep. 27 - Kirk and his crew come face-to-face with the Klingons, and both learn the meaning of war when beings from the planet Organia interfere. "The City on the Edge of Forever," Ep. 28 - Kirk and Spock go back in time to rescue McCoy. Arriving in 1930, Kirk falls in love with Edith Keeler (Joan Collins), only to learn that for time to return to normal she must die.

Customer Reviews:

A Keeper! Best Episodes From the First Season!.......2006-10-01

Time Space Absolute.......2006-09-10