The Penalty

Starring:Lon Chaney, Charles Clary, Ethel Grey Terry, Kenneth Harlan
Director: Wallace Worsley
Studio: Unknown Video
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Description
While Lon Chaney has always been acclaimed for his roles in films like "The Phantom of the Opera" and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," his unforgettable performance in "The Penalty" is every bit as powerful.

Chaney became a screen sensation in 1919 thanks to his role as the phony cripple in "The Miracle Man," then blew audiences away the next year with "The Penalty," playing a half-demented crime boss... whose legs were amputated at the knees! This portrayal involved a great deal of pain for Chaney, who performed the role without resorting to trick photography. His legs were simply bent at the knees, then tied back tightly. He played all of his scenes this way, including those that required him to walk about on crutches. It's completely realistic-looking, and truly one of the most remarkable characterizations in film history. The film itself is a powerful crime drama, concerning a scheme to loot the city of San Francisco under the cover of anarachy in the streets!

Amazon.com essential video

Do you know anyone who hasn't seen this movie? A box-office smash when released in 1993, this spectacular update of the popular 1960s TV series stars Harrison Ford as a surgeon wrongly accused of the murder of his wife. He escapes from a prison transport bus (in one of the most spectacular stunt-action sequences ever filmed) and embarks on a frantic quest for the true killer's identity, while a tenacious U.S. marshal (Tommy Lee Jones, in an Oscar-winning role) remains hot on his trail. Director Andrew Davis hit the big time with this expert display of polished style and escalating suspense, but it's the antagonistic chemistry between Jones and Ford that keeps this thriller cooking to the very end. In roles that seem custom-fit to their screen personas, the two stars maintain a sharply human focus to the grand-scale manhunt, and the intelligent screenplay never resorts to convenient escapes or narrative shortcuts. Equally effective as a thriller and a character study, this is a Hollywood blockbuster that truly deserves its ongoing popularity. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Catch him if you can. The Fugitive is on the run! Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones race through the breathless manhunt movie based on the classic TV series. Ford is prison escapee Dr. Richard Kimble, a Chicago surgeon falsely convicted of killing his wife and determined to prove his innocence by leading his pursuers to the one-armed man who actually committed the crime. Jones (1993 Academy Award and Golden Globe winner as Best Supporting Actor) is Sam Gerard, an unrelenting bloodhound of a U.S. Marshal. They are hunted and hunter. And as directed by Andrew Davis (Under Siege), their nonstop chase has one exhilarating speed: all-out. So catch him if you can. And catch an 11-on-a-scale-of-10 train wreck (yes, the train is real), a plunge down a waterfall, a cat-and-mouse jaunt through a Chicago St. Patrick's Day parade and much more. Better hurry. Kimble doesn't stay in one place very long!

Customer Reviews:

Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones deliver towering performances in this gripping thriller.......2007-06-18

Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones deliver towering performances in this gripping thriller.

PLOT SYNOPSIS

Dr. Kimble (Harrison Ford) arrived home one night to find his wife Helen on the verge of death after being brutally attacked by a one armed maniac. Before she died, she was able to make a desperate call to 9-11, so the police arrive shortly after the incident, just in time to find Helen dead. The police notice that Kimble is all scratched up, as though he had just been in a fight or had just murdered his wife himself. Despite Kimble's description of the true culprit, the police arrest him and charge him of his wife's murder. The trial goes badly and Kimble is sentenced to death by execution.

On a prison bus, on his way to the facility that housed the chamber that would eventually kill him, some other convicts attempt to pull off an escape. There is a violent uprising inside of the bus and the lumbering vehicle tumbles down a hill and stops on a railroad track. The oncoming train collides with the bus and creates one of the most spectacular train wreck scenes to ever appear on film. By chance, Kimble, and another convict, make it out of the crash alive and set out on foot to escape the law enforcement personnel who are sure to appear once they learn about the disaster.

Unfortunately for Kimble, the federal marshal who is put in charge of the operation is none other than Sam Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones), who is completely determined, quick-thinking, and efficient. He is unbendingly bound to his duty and will stop at nothing to catch his man. This is revealed in the famous tunnel scene, when Kimble points a gun at him and says "I did not kill my wife," Gerard retort is the cold "I don't care."

Since Kimble has already been convicted and sentenced to death, his chances of resurrecting any kind of life are exceedingly grim. He can either hide out for the rest of his life, or try to lead law enforcement to the real culprit. In order to accomplish the second option, Kimble would have to investigate himself, and somehow, based on the scant evidence at his disposal, somehow find the criminal. But can he do it before the brilliant Gerard closes in on him?

ACTING

Tommy Lee Jones' performance is one of those performances that won, and actually did deserve to win the Oscar. Every second of Jones' performance is absolutely convincing. It is rare that an individual's character can be developed so fully in a two hour film. He is more than the stereotypical, "success at all costs" law enforcement office. From his persuasive scowls when he hears of Kimble's successes, to the tone of his voice when he barks orders and makes observations, his performance alone is enough to watch this movie several times.

Harrison Ford logs in another solid performance. Over the course of the last 30 years, Ford has been one of the most consistent actors of all time. The Fugitive is actually one of his better roles. He plays the part of Richard Kimble to near perfection.

It is not uncommon to see two huge stars on one film at the same time, but it is uncommon that they perfectly fit the characters that they are asked to portray, and it is nothing short of a rarity that they interact in such a memorable fashion as they did in the fugitive.

The more minor actors are nothing special, but they are not bad either. Jerome Krabbe played a respectable Dr. Charles Nichols,, with his hair parted neatly to the side and his somewhat nerdy smile, he represented what most Americans picture when they imagine a highly educated doctor. Joe Pantoliano played Cosmo, Gerard's assistant. We get a lot of sarcasm in a high pitched voice, and that is what Pantoliano is known for. It added some extra entertainment and made the mechanical law enforcement machine slightly more human-like.

SO DOES IT THRILL?

How does the fugitive stack up against other thrillers? Most thrillers, even some successful ones, have a small amount of tension causing elements. The movie-makers work with a somewhat limited script, and get as much thrill as they can on two or three suspense-provoking fundamentals. Sometimes these movies do an excellent job at thrilling us, and leave us satisfied. The producers, directors, and actors of the fugitive did not need to stretch out every possible element for cheap thrills, the script, which took years and million dollars in development, thrills the audience on multiple levels. Even mediocre actors would have turned this script into a nail-biting experience, the super performances by Jones and Ford only make it even better.

This one is definitely a classic in its genre. If you still haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and check it out.

Nice job!.......2007-05-10

I rec'd the dvd in a timely manner and in good condition. Thanks!

Let the Chase Begin..........2007-05-03

Movies based on television shows are frustrating for the creative team behind the adaptation and often prove to be somewhat hit and miss. The reason is because in a TV show the writer/director gets to spread his/her story over the course of multiple episodes or even an entire season. In a movie you only get an average of 2 hours to get your story out, which can cause problems when adapting a television series, whether it be a long-running or short lived show, for theaters because you just don't have the luxury of time. There have been some successful adaptations, "Starsky & Hutch", `Star Trek', `Mission: Impossible', and even `Charlie's Angels' (though I didn't care for either incarnation of the franchise), along with the success there have been those that failed "The Avengers" was lackluster, and "The Dukes of Hazzard" was the most recent, and possibly the worst adaptation I have seen in a long while. In 1993, Warner Brothers felt the calling to try their collective hand at an adaptation, and their choice was the hit TV series "The Fugitive". To assist in the success of their endeavor the WB enlisted top-notch, veteran acting talents Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones, and hired director Andrew Davis hot off his highly successful submarine action film, "Under Siege".

"The Fugitive" tells the story of Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford), who after a charity event arrives home to find an intruder in his house and his wife murdered. After fighting off the intruder, Kimble alerts the police, and upon their arrival Kimble is surprised by the fact that he is arrested for the murder of his own wife. After being found guilty at his trial and sentenced to prison, the prison bus Kimble is being transported by crashes in front of an oncoming train. After being freed by a correctional officer to assist with the other prisoners, Dr. Kimble flees in hopes of tracking down the one-armed murderer and proving his innocence. However, hot on Richard's trail is a relentless U.S. Marshal, Sam Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones), and his team of deputies, who will stop at nothing until their man is caught. Let the chase begin!

Clearly the executives at Warner Brothers made an excellent decision to make this adaptation, and managed to find the perfect cast, writer, and director to pull it off. The cast, led by Harrison Ford (an actor that delivers a terrific performance every time) and Tommy Lee Jones (who was great in this role and was rewarded with the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor), all give excellent performances, fleshing out each individual character and making the movie believable and real to the audience. The story by David Twohy ("Pitch Black" and "The Chronicles of Riddick") is full of twists and turns, with riveting drama and action along with bits of comedy sprinkled about to lighten things up just a bit. The direction of Andrew Davis, though not flashy by any means, delivers a very tight, well-paced manhunt movie that keeps the audience fully engrossed from start to finish, even though they already have a pretty good guess what the outcome will be, based on the source material.

As I stated earlier some adaptations of TV shows to movies work out well and some don't, and the reasons generally stem from what I pointed out in the beginning of this review, but sometimes the results may vary depending on how committed to the project the cast/crew and the studio are. It's nice to see that for "The Fugitive" all parties involved in the making of this picture gave their best, and the fruits of the labor paid off big time, making this movie one of the best TV series adaptations to ever be made.

"The Fugitive" is rated PG-13 for violence and language.

An interesting and entertaining adaptation.......2007-04-15

Hollywood has welcomed several great crime drama films over the years,and one of those films happens to be,by far,"The Fugitive". An interesting and entertaining adaptation of one America's most successful televsion shows,it is always great to see good television shows being adopted into the films--something that this film proves quite well.

Based off a 1960's television series,this film is based in Chicago. Here,Harrison Ford plays Richard Kimble,a man who happens to be very fortunate:he is a successful and respected surgeon,with a large amount of money,good friends,and a beautiful wife whom he has a wonderful marriage with,Helen(Sela Ward). For Richard Kimble,things could not be any better,and Kimble himself is happy with the way that life is working out for him.

But,one night,things change for Richard Kimble and his life--in a negative way. After Richard Kimble comes home one night,he discovers that his wife is being murdered by a one-armed man. And,despite the fact that Richard Kimble is able to put up a good battle against this one-armed man,he is not able to win. Bad turns to worse when "certain evidence" falsely shows that Richard Kimble is responsible for the murder of his wife,and leads to Kimble facing execution on death row.

However,all of a sudden,things change. Once the bus that is carrying Richard Kimble and his former prisoners to the Death Row that they are going to be executed at crashes and ends up on a train track,Richard Kimble is able to escape. Fortunately enough for Kimble,he is able to return to Chicago. From here,Richard Kimble takes advantage of the opportunities that he has to find the evidence that he needs in order to learn more detail about his wife's murder,and to prove his innocence to the United States Marshals and the Chicago Police. But,will Richard Kimble be able to succeed in this,especially with the tight watch that the Chicago Police and the United States Marshals have over Kimble,and an intelligent and obcessed U.S. Marshal named Samuel Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones)leading the investigation to find Kimble?? Only time will tell!!!!

While "The Fugitive" may be very hard to follow and requires close attention to be paid to it,it is still a really good film. The script for this film is as suspenseful as it is entertaining,and makes you wonder what will happen next,with good surprises coming along the way. This film also has a lot of creativity in it,and despite the fact that it is based off of a television show,does a good job at not recycling the show that it is based off of (it is worth noting that a large portion of the events in this film are different from the events that occured in the telvision show)and being original--but at the same,not too original. Also,let me add that Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones do a perfect job at taking on the action in this film,in a manner that makes it entertaining and suitable,without pushing it a mile to being an action film. There is a lot of strong acting to be found here,as well. In Harrison Ford's performance of Richard Kimble,Ford portrays Kimble as a laid-back and intelligent man. He allows this film to have an appropriate amount of drama,balanced out by showing who Richard Kimble is as a person and Kimble's determination to prove his innoncence,while at the same time,bringing who needs to be brought to justice for his wife's murder. As for Tommy Lee Jones's performance of Samuel Gerard,Jones is brilliant in his performance. In his performance,Tommy Lee Jones provides the no-nonsence personality that he brought to the characters that he has portrayed in other films (the role of Agent K in the "Men in Black" films,the role of Travis Lehman in "Double Jeopardy",etc.),and allows this film to have suspense. At the same time,he allows this film's viewers to understand the current status of the both sides of the story that are depicted in this film. Those sides are the side of Richard Kimble,and the side of Samuel Gerard and the men who are assisting Gerard in the search for Kimble. Also,while you will not see Sela Ward throughout most of this film,Ward turns in a strong performance of Helen Kimble. In her scenes with Harrison Ford,Sela Ward provides a lot of compassion and chemistry. This is a contribution to this film being as good and interesting as it turned out to be. At the same time,it helps this film's viewers to take a walk in the mind of Richard Kimble,and know how Kimble feels as they watch Kimble solve the wife of his murder. All of this allows "The Fugitive" to fully come together as the good film that it is,and are good examples of why the film turned out to be as successful as it was.

The DVD for this film has a lot of good bonus features on it,as well. Here,you get a commentary that was conducted with Tommy Lee Jones and this film's director (Andew Davis),profiles of the lead actors in this film (Harrison Ford,Sela Ward,Tommy Lee Jones,Joe Pantoliano,Andreas Katsulas,and Jeroen Krabbe,as well as a profile of Andrew Davis),the list of the awards that found Tommy Lee Jones winning best supporting actor for his performance as Samuel Gerard in this film,as well as this film's theatrical trailer. These are all strong and worthwile bonus feautures. But,what really does justice for the bonus feautures here are these:"Introduction" (this finds Harrison Ford,Tommy Lee Jones,and Andrew Davis discussing the good memories that they have of making this film),"Derailed:Anatomy of a Train Wreck" (this discusses the scene in this film that feautures this film's famous train wreck scene,and how it was put together),and "On The Run With The Fugitive" (this discusses the making of this film,and provides a thorough behind-the-scenes look into the making of it). These are all excellent bonus feautures for any film that is represented on DVD,and give this film the recognition and respect that it deserves.

Overall,"The Fugitive" is an excellent film. If you enjoyed the television show that this film is based off of,and/or you are a large fan of crime drama films,"The Fugitive" is one film that you do not want to miss out on.

One Of The Best Thrillers Ever Made........2007-03-05

Few thrillers remain as consistantly thrilling and exciting as "The Fugitive", the 1993 cinematic adaption of the classic television series. Thanks to a fantastic script, excellent directing and two dynamic leads, "The Fugitive" is a masterpiece in every aspect.

Harrison Ford plays Dr. Richard Kimble (originally played by the late David Janssen in the tv series), a respected Chciago surgeon who comes home one night to find his wife (Seal Ward) bludgeoned to death, and him framed for her murder. Despite his best efforts, Kimball finds himself convicted for murder and facing wrongful punishment by the law.

Not willing to let his wife's murder escape jsutice, Kimball stages a daring escape from a train heading towards a state penitentiary (one of the greatest scenes ever), and becomes the most wanted man in the state.
Put in charge of apprehending him is no-nonsense U.S. Marshall Sam Gerard, who is determined to bring Kimball to justice.

This begins a tense game of cat and mouse that never lets up. Richard manages to evade remais one step ahead of the law and gets closer and closer to finding the true killer, but Gerard will not give up. This leads to one of the most thrillin climaxes in film history.

"The Fugitive" is moviemaking at its best, and belongs in all dvd collections.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - Extended Cut (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

TODO UN WESTERN!!
Second best Sergio Leone western???
The Spaghetti Western at it's very best
A classic, and a great one
this gunman with no name trilogy is immortal

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - Extended Cut (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Starring: Eli Wallach , Clint Eastwood , Lee Van Cleef , Aldo Giuffrè , and Luigi Pistilli
Director: Sergio Leone
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Epic | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Outlaws | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Spaghetti Western | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Extended Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

For A Few Dollars More
A Fistful of Dollars (2-Disc Collector's Edition)
Once Upon a Time in the West
The Magnificent Seven (Special Edition)
Unforgiven

ASIN: B0001GF2DS
Release Date: 2004-05-18

Amazon.com essential video

Clint Eastwood (the Man with No Name) is good, Lee Van Cleef (Angel Eyes Sentenza) is bad, and Eli Wallach (Tuco Benedito Pacifico Juan Maria Ramirez) is ugly in the final chapter of Sergio Leone's trilogy of spaghetti westerns (the first two were A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More). In this sweeping film, the characters form treacherous alliances in a ruthless quest for Confederate gold. Leone is sometimes underrated as a director, but the excellent resolution on this digital video disc should enhance appreciation of his considerable photographic talent and gorgeous widescreen compositions. Ennio Morricone's jokey score is justifiably famous.

Description

By far the most ambitious, unflinchingly graphic and stylistically influential western ever mounted, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is an engrossing actioner shot through with a volatile mix of myth and realism. Clint Eastwood returns as the "Man With No Name," this time teaming with two gunslingers (Eli Wallach and Lee Van Cleef) to pursue a cache of $200,000and letting no one, not even warring factions in a civil war, stand in their way. From sun-drenched panoramas to bold,hard close-ups, exceptional camera work captures the beauty and cruelty of the barren landscape andthe hardened characters who stride unwaveringly through it. Forging a vibrant and yet detached style of action that had not been seen before, and has never been matched since, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly shatters the western mold in true Clint Eastwood style.

Customer Reviews:

TODO UN WESTERN!!.......2007-07-06

Una de las mas clasicas peliculas del oeste nos llega de manos del gran Clint Easwood (el bueno), donde junto con Ely Wallach (el feo) y Lee Van Cleef (el malo), nos dan una de esos grandiosos ITALIAN WESTERNS donde el guion de la pelicula se centraliza en la FIEBRE POR EL DINERO y LA GUERRA DE SECESION AMERICANA; donde la realidad de la vida se muestra tan cruda y violenta (como debio haber sido) y los hombres prueban su valor con el revolver; en muchos pasajes muy cargada de HUMOR SARCASTICO y COMICIDAD; si tu eres novato en los westerns, es un excelente inicio comenzar con este gran filme.

Second best Sergio Leone western???.......2007-05-20

After watching the G,B and U, I knew I had seen the best western ever. Which is saying a lot since I was a western flick junkie and saw all the westerns ever shown on tv and in the theaters.

Then came Once Upon A Time in the West.
Sergio Leone's directing and photography and Ennio Morricone's music had gone from wonderful to magnificent. The storyline was mysterious with the Man with the Harmonica's (Charles Bronson) denouement into a stunning climax with a flashback to him as a boy holding his brother with a noose around his neck,on his shoulders, and the totally evil Henry Fonda sticking a harmonica in his mouth just before Bronson collapses, hanging his brother. Then Fonda's final realization who Bronson is, but to late to avoid his own death.

This flick had a great opening scene with 3 of Fonda's henchmen waiting for Bronson at the train station. Bronson asks where is his horse, and Jack Elam replies: "Guess we are shy one horse". Bronson's reply: "No you brought two too many!" Then the rapid shooting leaving the 3 bad guys dead.

There are many scenes and characters like the opening which transcend the previous HOllywoodized westerns. You feel the dirt and dusty west and you hear it, even the smallest sounds punctuate the scene. The heroes are a bandit (Jason Robard), a previous prostitute (Claudia Cardinale), and the mysterious man with a harmonica and of few words who kills people trying to kill Fonda, saving him for the climax (Charles Bronson). And the most evil Henry Fonda, slaughtering an entire family including the small boy because his cohort says his name.

I truly believe Leone and Morricone designed and created their final western masterpiece with ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST and my favorite.

The Spaghetti Western at it's very best.......2007-05-13

Sergio Leone concludes his "Man With No Name" trilogy with this classic spaghetti western that is a very important mile stone in the evolution of the western movie. By far the most ambitious of the three movies, "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" has Blondie (Clint Eastwood, the good), Angel Eyes (Lee Van Cleef, the bad) and Tuco (Eli Wallach, the ugly) all competing for a fortune in American Confederate gold during the American Civil War.

The film is a masterpiece in film making. It has an European art house style that most then contemporary western fans probably were not used to, so that accounted for it's wild visual style. For example there is crazy camera angles and spinning around at lightning speed making audiences sick from vertigo, which matches the characters frenzied state of mind at the moment.

Clint Eastwood returns as the man with no name, but it would seem to be out of order from the first two films, as he gets his distinctive costume in this film; but that is neither here nor there. Here is he is just as greedy as the others, and his 'good' honor is relative to the other two characters. Tuco is by far the most fun character of the film. While he is the comic relief he is also a lot smarter and tougher, and more complex than most people assume at first; most of his enemies underestimate him, and he is able to take advantage of that. Though both characters are played by Cleef, Angel Eyes is not Colonel Mortimer of "For a Few Dollars More"; here he is ice cold and totally ruthless with no conscience or remorse.

I liked this film for several reasons, mostly all the characters are bad guys, and you have to judge them by the degree they are evil. If there is one flaw it is it's over kill of dragging out the shoot outs, especially the Mexican standoff at the end, also several of the key scenes (i.e. the trip through the desert, the stay at the Union Army prison camp, and the final shoot out) were so long and seriously needed some editing. But all in all, a classic well deserving of it's reputation. I wish there was a 4 1/2 star setting, that is what I think it really deserves, but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt for it's cultural impact.

A classic, and a great one.......2007-05-07

You cannot watch westerns without watching The good the bad and the ugly
Simple as that, this movie rocks :-)

this gunman with no name trilogy is immortal.......2007-04-06

what a treat in lifetime that you could see these great westerns like these trilogy? do i still have to write a long review?

Average customer rating:

TODO UN WESTERN!!
Second best Sergio Leone western???
The Spaghetti Western at it's very best
A classic, and a great one
this gunman with no name trilogy is immortal

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Starring: Eli Wallach , Clint Eastwood , Lee Van Cleef , Aldo Giuffrè , and Luigi Pistilli
Director: Sergio Leone
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Epic | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Outlaws | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Spaghetti Western | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Westerns | Cult Movies | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

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

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

For A Few Dollars More
A Fistful of Dollars (2-Disc Collector's Edition)
Once Upon a Time in the West
The Magnificent Seven (Special Edition)
Unforgiven

ASIN: 6304698798
Release Date: 1998-01-28

Amazon.com essential video

Description

Customer Reviews:

TODO UN WESTERN!!.......2007-07-06

Second best Sergio Leone western???.......2007-05-20

The Spaghetti Western at it's very best.......2007-05-13

A classic, and a great one.......2007-05-07

You cannot watch westerns without watching The good the bad and the ugly
Simple as that, this movie rocks :-)

this gunman with no name trilogy is immortal.......2007-04-06

what a treat in lifetime that you could see these great westerns like these trilogy? do i still have to write a long review?

Average customer rating:

"I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man."
A lesson for us all
There are more important lessons to be learned than death with dignity
Hog of a story
Very good movie, grab a box of tissues.

A Lesson Before Dying
Starring: Don Cheadle , Cicely Tyson , Mekhi Phifer , Irma P. Hall , and Brent Jennings
Director: Joseph Sargent
Manufacturer: Hbo Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | African American Cinema | Genres | DVD | Video

TV & Miniseries | African American Cinema | Genres | DVD | Video

Made-for-TV Movies | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

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

Miss Evers' Boys
A Lesson Before Dying (Oprah's Book Club)
4 Little Girls
Once Upon a Time...When We Were Colored
A Woman Called Moses

ASIN: B0000399WJ
Release Date: 2000-01-25

Amazon.com essential video

On a bright sunny day in 1948, Jefferson (Mekhi Phifer) sets off down the road to go catch some fish; by the end of the movie's opening sequence, he is the one who's been caught, and wrongly accused of the murder of a white shopkeeper. Racial inequality, at the time, is so pervasive in Louisiana that the white defense lawyer's argument at Jefferson's trial is that his client is not worthy of conviction: "You might just as soon put a hog in the 'lectric chair as this," he declares. Outraged by this statement, Jefferson's godmother (Irma P. Hall) does not want her godson to die as a hog. To this end she enlists the reluctant aid of the black community's teacher, Grant Wiggins (Don Cheadle), to teach him to "be a man." As Grant and Jefferson get to know each other (and the viewer gets to know them both), it's not clear which of them needs the lesson more. As in Ernest J. Gaines's award-winning novel, the movie goes beyond the conflict between the races to explore divisions that splinter the black community: education versus religion, dark skin versus light. And, thanks to masterful performances from Cheadle and Phifer as well as a thoughtful screenplay by Amy Peacock, A Lesson Before Dying goes even further, examining what it means to be human and the responsibility a man has to himself and to his community. Originally made for HBO, this adaptation of Gaines's novel richly deserves to be seen by a wider audience. --Larisa Lomacky Moore

Customer Reviews:

"I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man." .......2007-04-09

From screenplay, to cinematography, and most certainly through the exceptional performances, this superb film is a tearjerker you can feel good about - on many levels.

The movie's most compelling quality is its clear-eyed view of racism in America's deep south. The black people we meet all have distinct personalities complete with problems, strengths, fears, disappointments, and ambitions - just like anybody else. They are people first, black people second. Racism, in all of its cruel and unjust stupidity, does not define them; it is simply the water they swim in, the air they breathe. This unbiased neutrality imbues A Lesson Before Dying with real force.

Every life is seen through the lens of racism. Jefferson (Mekhi Phifer) is the purest of victims, Grant (Don Cheadle) is the intellectual wrestling with fight or flight, Tante Lou (Cicely Tyson) is fierce in her belief that self-discipline holds the answer, while the unforgettable Miss Emma (Irma Hall) embodies all we've ever learned about the abiding courage and astounding endurance of black women, still strong enough to love, give, and do what it takes to defend their own.

This is a tough-minded picture that asks a very hard question. Everyone knows Jefferson is innocent, they also know he will be executed. But how can Grant help him die with dignity? Why is that such an important goal - a gift to himself, to Miss Emma, and to the children of the town? This quest touches everyone.

Don Cheadle is always worth watching, he was haunting in Hotel Rwanda. The good news is that his exceptional performance here is one of many that are woven together into a powerful, and very American story. Highly recommended.

A lesson for us all.......2006-04-07

A "Lesson Before Dying" is a powerful and passionate film, so beautifully written and so beautifully acted it is one of those rare exceptions where the film adaptation is better than the book. Mehki Phifer gives a powerful performance as Jefferson, a young man sentenced to die for a crime he did not commit. He truly brings honesty and humanity to a young man who is seen by white society as inhuman. And Don Cheadle brings compassionate and dignity to the teacher who must help Jefferson stand tall.

I can't say enough about "A Lesson Before Dying." The injustice committed will anger you, the fate of Jefferson will sadden you, but ultimately knowing these people and sharing in their lives, and seeing dignity and love rise from the ashes of a cruel and uncaring world make the anger and sadness worth it all.

There are more important lessons to be learned than death with dignity.......2005-09-27

In Louisiana in 1948 a young black man named Jefferson (Mekhi Phifer) makes the fatal mistake of accepting a ride from another pair of young men. When they stop at a local store to get some beer the other men do not have enough money and the white storeowner will not give them credit. Guns are drawn and everybody ends up dead but Jefferson, who is arrested for the crime. Since this is a question of black and white justice in the South before the Civil Rights Movement, Jefferson is condemned to be executed. The fact that he is innocent of the actual killings is not important to this 1999 HBO movie adapted from the novel by Ernest J. Gaines ("The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman"). Nobody is going to save Jefferson from his fate. The focus here is not on justice, but rather on death with dignity.

The key moment is not what happened in the store but rather what is said during the trial, when Jefferson's defense attorney, a white lawyer, seeks to save his client's life by saying that Jefferson is like a hog. That is to say, as a Negro Jefferson is no more intelligent than a hog and not capable of understanding what he is doing, therefore he should not be convicted. The jury, no doubt well acquainted with the practice of barbeque, has no more qualms about having Jefferson executed than they would of slaughtering a hog for a feast. But Jefferson's mother, Miss Emma (Irma P. Hall), and his aunt Tante Lou (Cicely Tyson), are outraged that the boy has been called a hog. So they badger local schoolteacher Grant Wiggins (Don Cheadle), the only educated black man in town, to visit Jefferson in jail and convince him that he is a man and not a hog.

Now, this is certainly an interesting idea. After all, the premise of white supremacy is that Negroes are not human, with the idea that they were property rather than people codified in the U.S. Constitution as well as implicit in the practice of slavery. If Jefferson accepts this characterization, advanced by his own attorney and inherent in the social system in which he lives, then convincing him otherwise is a noble effort. The flaw here is that I was not convinced that Jefferson thought he was a hog rather than a man. Maybe my problem is that Jefferson is played by an actor who is playing a doctor on "ER," not to mention the fact that I reject the idea of racial superiority or inferiority. But since his family accepts the fact that the white justice system is going to kill Jefferson I would be inclined to think he would be of a similar mind and that he would not take his lawyer's simile to heart. However, you really have to accept the premise or else the movie cannot have the requisite transformations at the end.

"A Lesson Before Dying" which won the 1999 Emmy for Outstanding Made for Television Movie, is one of those movies adapted from a novel where I have not read the book but I end up thinking the depth it provides probably fixes a lot of the film's shortcomings. Obviously I think the fault is to be found in Ann Peacock's Emmy winning screenplay, because the performances by the cast and as good as you would expect them to be, but if you buy the story's premise from the beginning then you will not be having a major problem with director Joseph Sargent's film. Given the Civil Rights Movement to come what becomes interesting is not so much the battle by Wiggins to communicate with Jefferson, but the conflict between the teacher and Reverend Ambrose (Brent Jennings) over what is best for the condemned young man. Does death with dignity preclude salvation or does the quest for salvation require acceptance of your fate?

Ultimately, the character who learns the most is Wiggins, as the teacher becomes the student. Wiggins is a college educated black man in a place where few of either color get such formal education. He resists being asked to do this task because it means going backwards, giving up some of his own dignity to go with hat in hand to ask the white men to be allowed to meet with Jefferson. The fact that Wiggins wants to marry a light-skinned Negro woman becomes part of this equation as well, because "A Lesson Before Dying" indicts the schoolteacher for turning his back on his race (indeed, there is a scene where his remarks to his students are as demeaning as those of any of the white characters). By the end of the film life with dignity is the goal.

Hog of a story.......2004-11-15

During the first half of the 20'th century (and before) there were many injustices perpetrated against the negro. Those stories need to be told and understood. This movie tries to tell such a story but failed because it ignored the historical realities. I lived in a place much like the one in the movie in the 50's and was overwhelmed with the liberties the movie took with "the way it was."

First, had anybody white or black been caught with their hands in a cash register with 3 dead people around, they'd have been sentenced to die.

Second, the black people in those days were very poor. There were also poor whites. In the movie, these poor blacks wore cloths from Norstrom's! Not the way I remember it.

THird, there were some powerful white landowners that might have behaved as depicted in the movie. However, I often heard stories of charitable acts to the poor blacks. My father, who owned a grocery stroe, gave them food at Christmas. He forgave numerous blacks when he caught them red handed shop lifting. The cruelty and arrogance of the whites in the movie do not reconcile with my memories. Although I will readily admit such folks existed.

My grandparents had about 20 blacks that worked for them. My mother's nanny was black. I would characterize the relationship as one first of employer-employee, and second as one of affection. My grandmother, and I saw this many times, would be more of a supervisor not a bourbon drinking white ninny. I think my grandmother was more represntative of the way it was than the white woman in the movie. My mother and father tell stories of working right along with the blacks picking cotton.

Fourth, the blacks had a heavy and difficult to understand accent. Living in the west, I often am asked to repeat soemthing I said with my sourthern accent. Similarly, in the south, then negro at that time had a very strong accent...more of a dialect. The movie has them speaking the King's English with a fake accent.

Fifth, the dirt roads in those times were more like two tracks with pot holes, not well manicured packed gravel paths like you would see in a park today.

Again, I truely believe there have been many injustices against the negro. It is unfortunate that this movie could be more historically accurate so that those of us who lived in that era and that location could not be repulsed by the deviations from the truth and more moved by the fundamental stroy.

Very good movie, grab a box of tissues........2004-02-07

This movie was excellent, very sad but realistic about racism and how African Americans were not treated equally in the South. A great line from the movie that sums up the entire film is "when a white man dies, a black man has to pay for it", in summary. No matter who is actually guilty, whether there's proof or not, a black man must die. I don't think I'd want to see this movie again because it was very, very sad, but powerful. A great movie and I'm glad I watched it.

Average customer rating:

"In Louisiana life means life!"
Well done
Death Penalty
Dead Man Walking
superb

Dead Man Walking
Starring: Susan Sarandon , Sean Penn , Robert Prosky , Raymond J. Barry , and R. Lee Ermey
Director: Tim Robbins
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Religion | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account Of The Death Penalty In The United States
Philadelphia (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition)
Mystic River (Widescreen Edition)
Schindler's List (Widescreen Edition)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

ASIN: B00000K0DQ
Release Date: 2000-01-01

Amazon.com essential video

Superbly adapted and directed by Tim Robbins from the nonfiction book of the same name by Sister Helen Prejean, this spiritually enlightened drama is too intelligent to traffic in polemics or self-righteous pontifications against the death penalty. But in examining the issue of capital punishment from a humanitarian perspective, the film urges thoughtful reflection on the justifications for legally ending a human life. Although it features a fine supporting cast, the film maintains its sharp focus through flawless lead performances by Oscar-winner Susan Sarandon as the Catholic nun Prejean, and Sean Penn as the death-row killer she struggles to save. Robbins avoids a biased message, letting the movie examine both sides of the issue instead (R. Lee Ermey gives a fine performance as the grief-stricken father of one of Penn's victims). As the drama unfolds and Penn's execution deadline grows near, Dead Man Walking is graced by compelling depths of theme and character, achieving an emotional impact that demands further reflection and removes the stigma of piousness from socially conscious filmmaking. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Inspired by the true story of a nun's relationship with a condemned man, this provocative examination of crime, punishment and redemption earned Susan Sarandon the 1995 OscarÂ(r) for Best Actress and Sean Penn an OscarÂ(r) nomination for Best Actor. Dead Man Walking is a "fast-moving and absorbing" film filled with "genuine suspense" (Variety) that will leave you awe-struck from beginning to end. Sister Helen Prejean (Sarandon), a compassionate New Orleansnun, is the spiritual advisor to Matthew Poncelet (Penn), a vicious, angry and complex murderer awaiting execution. Her dedication is to help others, like Matthew, find salvation. But as she attemptsto navigate Matthew's dark soul, she encounters a depth of evil that makes her question how far redemption can really go. Can she stave off the fateful day of execution long enough to save Matthew, or will she discover a truth that will rock the very foundation by which she lives her life?

Customer Reviews:

"In Louisiana life means life!".......2007-05-14

Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon have distinguished themselves as two of the best actors of their generation. And in this movie, they both seemed to do it at the same time in the same scenes. This film had the courage to explore issues within issues with guts. For example: Who grieves for the victimizers family? After this triumph why Tim Robbins doesn't direct more often is a mystery. Without a doubt Dead Man Walking is absolutely one of the best cinematic collaborations ever made. BRAVO!

Well done.......2007-04-14

"Dead Man Walking" deals with one nun's struggle to help a convicted death row inmate come to terms with his imminent execution. Writer-director Tim Robbins does something very difficult in this film, he makes us care about the unsympathetic character that Penn plays. Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn dominate the film in every aspect imaginable, they play a complicated chess match at times and eventually become close friends by the end of the picture. The fact that Sarandon and Robbins are openly against the death penalty in real life just adds to this film. Their strong opinion on the subject leads to an unforgettable motion picture that is made well and performed well by the two leads. Of course, no film is 100% unbiased, especially when it comes to such serious issues as these, but I liked it. Features one of the most chilling and realistic scenes of an execution ever to be captured on celluloid. Based on the book by Helen Prejean (the real-life nun, who appears briefly outside the prison during a candlelight vigil scene).

Death Penalty.......2007-04-11

This film affirmed my postition on the death penalty. It is unequaly applied. People without money are often convicted wrongly. Read the book by Sr. Prejean. pax, robbie

Dead Man Walking.......2007-04-06

The movie was suspenseful. The reason I purchased the movie was for a project at school. I very much enjoyed the movie and would recommend it to others.

superb.......2007-04-03

Very good movie. Great acting & plot. Very touching. I am very glad I own this movie. I will watch it very often.

Average customer rating:

Americanized _La Femme Nikita_
Do not waste your time or money, see the original
action, romance a winner
I've seen wayyyy better... even Fonda's hotness couldn't save it
A Surprisingly Very Good Remake: American Style!

Point of No Return
Starring: Bridget Fonda , Gabriel Byrne , Dermot Mulroney , Miguel Ferrer , and Anne Bancroft
Director: John Badham
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Thrillers | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Blackmail, Murder & Mayhem | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Espionage | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Action & Adventure | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

Mystery & Suspense | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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

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

La Femme Nikita (Special Edition)
Heaven's Prisoners
Dead Calm
Single White Female
The Long Kiss Goodnight

ASIN: 6304981627
Release Date: 1998-07-01

Amazon.com

Point of No Return is one of those Hollywood remakes of a European hit in which one can visualize a committee of studio executives sitting around and saying, "Okay, we know what made the original film unique and different and fun. How can we make that same movie and do exactly the opposite?" For-hire director John Badham (Saturday Night Fever) took La Femme Nikita, Luc Besson's undeniably sexy, original, and kitschy French film about a female assassin, and translated it into a calculating, mechanistic American thriller with no distinctive style. Bridget Fonda gamely plays the willowy street punk who becomes a high-society killer, but once that provocative irony is in place, the movie is pretty much a series of by-the-numbers action set pieces. Until, that is, Dermot Mulroney shows up as a love interest; but even that twist can't save this film. You're much better off with the original, subtitles and all. --Tom Keogh

Description

"Bridget Fonda is pure dynamite" (WWOR-TV) as a murderous misfit reprogrammed as a high-tech assassin. Gabriel Byrne and Anne Bancroft co-star in "one of the top thrillers of the year" (ABC Radio Network). Year: 1993 Director: John Badham Starring: Bridget Fonda, Gabriel Byrne, Dermot Mulroney

Customer Reviews:

Americanized _La Femme Nikita_.......2007-06-06

Fun treatment of the French Noir Moderne classic _La Femme Nikita_, without any pretensions of grandeur. This film clearly needs some fine-print in the credits stating "we only did it for the money," but is a much more light-hearted & trendy take on the darker & more brooding French original. They're both excellent films, but PoNR being a better "movie & a pizza" choice while the original is perhaps better reserved for the serious film buffs out there. There's whole fan sites dedicated to this movie, largely due to Bridget Fonda's excellent work in injecting life back into what was essentially a story that had been "sanitized for American audiences" by an idiot-run big-budget Hollywood movie machine. Oh well, you can rarely go wrong underestimating the standards of the American public, but they almost did so when dumbing-down LFN. Fortunately, the actors & director on PoNR did a great job & by giving everything they had, brought an otherwise eviscerated cinematic story back to life. Kudos!

Do not waste your time or money, see the original.......2007-03-06

Do not waste your time or money, see the original. Once in awhile, a remake of a movie from another culture works; for example, Seven Samurai becomes "Magnificant Seven" -- Most of the time, the remake is trash. The original "La Femme Nikita" is a great movie: exciting with a strong political viewpoint; this version is simply Hollywood pablum.

action, romance a winner.......2007-01-21

Bridget Fonda is outstanding in this role. Good mix of action and romance. I have recommended it to several friends and they all love it too.
I also "love Nina".

I've seen wayyyy better... even Fonda's hotness couldn't save it.......2006-12-01

I have never saw the original Nikita merely because its hard to find. I settled with the American remake as a last resort insted. It can't be that bad its got a few legendary actors in it like Gabriel Byrne, Harvey Keitel & Anne Bancroft in it. Not to mention my childhood dream woman Bridget Fonda. Damn is she sexy. But boy was I so wrong.

Anyways, the film is very violent for all the wrong reasons. Has swearing for all the wrong reasons. Even a drug addict like Fonda wouldn't mouth off everytime she opens her mouth. Thats not the girl I fell for. The pace is every sloppy. Its hard to believe how many holes in the screenplay there are for such a simple story. What is the major problem is its lack of plot. You just sit there after her missions not knowing what will happen. Its unpredicable in a bad way. There are no twists off any kind. I found the ending quite stupid. It seemed like an easy way out because the movie was almost at its 2 hour point. After the credits I felt dissapointed.

As for the actors. The beautiful Bridget Fonda puts in a good one in my book. Her blank stares are quite annoying but her sexy angry look works so well for this movie. Gabriel Byrne one of favourites puts in a kind but strict performance as he gradually becomes a father/kinda love interest figure to Fonda. Who wouldn't fall in love with her? The two work well together I'll give you that. R.I.P Anne Bancroft, forever Mrs. Robinson to me, is also scrict but very understanding to Fonda.Its also good to see her in films now that she passed away around 6 years ago I think. Finally Harvey Keitel, good in his early career is very dull at this point but since his playing a character who is dull and coldhearted, lets nothing get in his way, has no attachments and is plain evil works for this movie I guess. You see how generous I am to the actors. I could be mean to them for being in a so-so movie but I like them too much to say bad things about them. Oh did I mention I think Bridget Fonda is sexy.

A Surprisingly Very Good Remake: American Style!.......2006-10-15

I have seen, "La Femme Nikita," and it is a very good film. However, "Point Of No Return," is also a very good film. More importantly, it holds its own very well. One of the main characters is (Bridget Fonda) as the assassin working for a spy agency that you are never really sure about. Are they working in the best interests of the country? Or are they somewhere on the fringe working as a rogue agency within the CIA? Their loyalties are never really delved into. However, one thing is for sure; they are in the business of assassination. And it is the way the agency recruits their assassins that make this an interesting film. [no spoilers]

Enter the main protagonist portrayed by (Bridget Fonda). Fonda has found herself in a very difficult situation [no spoilers]. Moreover, it concerns a matter of life or death. Therefore, she feels compelled to work for this agency: even though she continously wants out of it. (Gabriel Byrne) portrays the agent in charge of her assassinations. He is an unsympathetic character, and you get the feeling that he himself was pulled into the agency in much the same way as Fonda. However, my favorite character is played by (Harvey Keitel), known simply as 'the cleaner'. He is an agent who cleans up the mistakes that members of the agency create. There are some really shocking scenes with him. I highly recommend the film. Don't compare it with the other, they are different, and both deserving of praise. Recommended!

It's All About Dancing: Jamaican Dancehall

Average customer rating:

I will be watching it repeatedly
Hotta fo Yah
Good DVD
Wow...What's all the hype about!?
Informative Dance CD

It's All About Dancing: Jamaican Dancehall
Starring: It's All About Dancing: Jamaican Dancehall Style
Manufacturer: Penalty
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Reggae | International | Styles | Music

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( I ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Dancehall Queen
How Fi Dance Reggae, Vol. 1
Dancehall Boom Dynamite
Third World Cop
Shottas

ASIN: B000BLI5RS
Release Date: 2006-01-31

Description

It's All About Dancing reveals dancehall culture in its truest form. Filmed in Jamaica, this DVD incorporates the best of the local dancehall selectors, DJ's and dancers, almost all of whom are native to Jamaica including Ding Dong, the host. Other star performers featured are Beenie Man, Elephant Man, T.O.K., Mr. Vegas, Voicemail, Macka Diamond, Tanto Metro & Devonte, Tony Matterhorn, Scatta, Richie Feelings, Bogle, John Hype, Ice, Sadik & G-Unit, Latisha and Kiyo (dancehall queens). Together in one "dance-u-mentary," all the key figures of dancehall describe the style, history, language and their personal definitions of dancehall culture. It's All About Dancing entertains viewers by showing the essence of dancehall through interviews and candid monologues inter-spliced with improvisational dance sequences that can teach anyone the basics of the cross-cultural, multigenerational, phenomenon called dancehall.

Customer Reviews:

I will be watching it repeatedly.......2007-05-15

I liked the music even if it was the same beats over and over. And the dancehall queen bonus was good but I think they should have added more of that. The dance instructions were good. Some were too basic.

My major beef with this flick, is the sound. I am usually good with understanding accents but I am totally confused on this one. Thats why I am going to have to watch it several times. I had to turn it up to hear them but still couldn't hear them because then the voices started vibrating in the tv. ugh! Some subtitles would have been great!!

At any rate, this is worth buying!

Hotta fo Yah.......2007-04-09

i luv this DVD. it is truely hot. I love how you can feel the spirit of the dancehall culture. i recommend this for those who enjoy dancing, who want to learn moves or to just have in your collection. its fir-yah!!! luv it.

Good DVD.......2007-02-25

This dvd serves a double purpose.......learnin how to dance and a nice workout....You'll get step by step instruction on how to do the dances....but if you wanna learn more of the latest dances without instruction...then you need to search the underground circuit for titles like "passa passa" or "hot monday" or "dutty fridaze"......but this is a great intro to learning how to dance to dancehall.......it will get you started

Wow...What's all the hype about!?.......2007-02-13

Not Impressed, not even a little bit. I was so excited when I got this in the mail....BUT, very very disappointed after viewing it. I completely mis-understood the purpose of this DVD. I thought it was more focused towards teaching Dancehall style moves. I don't find it the least bit instructional in any way. It looks like some sort of strange aerobics on the beach. I can honestly say I have never seen anyone doing any of these dance moves in any of the clubs within 100 miles of where I live (near DC). Most of the dances are shown in 1 or 2 minute clips. The majority of the DVD is documentary and interviews. (and kinda hard to understand what they are saying)

Sorry for the bad review, but, I don't want anyone else to have the same fabulous expectation of instruction and then be disappointed by this cheaply made disc. (seriously, it is cheap)

Informative Dance CD.......2007-01-26

This CD was great to watch! It showed famous Jamaican dancers doing all the popular dances, old and new. The picture quality was clear and their choice of dancing on the beach was a great move. I was easily able to emulate all the moves and become my own dancehall queen!

Average customer rating:

Childhood memories...
Great Film for history buffs
Excellent Movie, Questionable Disney
Classic filmmaking based on a true story
Review of Disney May 2002 release

The Great Locomotive Chase
Starring: Fess Parker , Jeffrey Hunter , Jeff York , John Lupton , and Eddie Firestone
Director: Francis D. Lyon
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Crime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Adventure | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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

All Disney Titles | Disney Home Entertainment | Stores | DVD | Video

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

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

Davy Crockett -Two Movie Set
Johnny Tremain
Stealing the General: The Great Locomotive Chase and the First Medal of Honor
The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin
Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N.

ASIN: B0000DZTNF
Release Date: 2004-05-04

Amazon.com

Disney's Great Locomotive Chase relates a true Civil War story about the Andrews Raiders, a team of 22 Union spies. In 1862 they snatched a train out from under the normally watchful eyes of Confederate troops based near Atlanta in a daredevil attempt to wreck the track and bridges of the Western & Atlantic Railroad. It was a high-stakes operation with a huge payoff. If they succeeded, they would effectively win the war; if they were caught, they were sure to be hanged. This 1956 feature shores up the suspense of the scheme masterfully. We watch, transfixed, as the relentless Confederate train conductor, William Fuller (played by the all-business Jeffrey Hunter) roars through a bevy of Southern stations hot on the heels of his hijacked locomotive. Will James Andrews (Fess Parker), leader of the Raiders, outrun him? History buffs won't need to keep watching for long, but they'll want to anyway--the portrayal of the Raiders' gumption and against-all-odds heroics pushes the basest, most human of audience buttons. It's not that The Great Locomotive Chase is a simple but well-done film about good vs. evil. Instead, it explores both sides' motives and draws gentle conclusions about honor, and it does so at an invigoratingly high clip. In that way, it's a movie worth sharing with kids 8 and older--there's no blood and only a sprinkling of violence here, but as with all war stories, tragedy plays a prominent role. --Tammy La Gorce

Description

After commandeering a Confederate locomotive, heroic Yankee soldiers known as the Andrews Raiders try to bring about an early end to the Civil War by crippling the Southern railroad network. But their efforts are hampered by the unrelenting bravery of a single Rebel patriot.

Customer Reviews:

Childhood memories..........2007-01-01

I just watched this movie for the first time in probably 15 or 20 years. Although I am far too young to have seen this in its initial release in theatres, this was one of the very first movies that I saw when I was a child. I really did not remember much from the movie--except that it had given me thrills as a kid. I was excited to watch this again with my brother and father.

My father is a Noth Carolina native who moved up north, and that makes me a North Dakota native. This is important because we both tend to lean on opposite sides of the "Civil War fence." Well, this movie is great because it shows respect to both sides. The main premise is that some Northern spies steal a train from the South with the intentions of destroying tracks and bridges. One determined Southern railroad conductor takes personal offense at his train being stolen and follows it doggedly--first on foot and slowly upgrading from there.

You can't really describe the movie beyond the premise without ruining it. However, this is based on a true story--and one that potentially would have impacted the war in a BIG way. This is given colorful Disney treatment, and it is very enjoyable. As mentioned already, you are able to watch this from either perspective and enjoy it because both sides are given equal treatment. Also, it is not just the story of a locomotive chase as it also outlines the beginning of the Medal of Honor.

As for the DVD release, I don't mind that there are not extras. The picture is good, and the movie is what I bought it for--not the extras! Thanks for an excellent film on DVD!

Great Film for history buffs.......2005-10-01

When I was 10 years old ( in 1962 ), I had the good fortune to
ride on a train pulled by the "General." This was back during the Civil War Centennial celebration and believe me, nothing
could have brought the past alive more than this trip!
The movie certainly brings to life this amazing event without
today's graphic violence and gore. In the tradition of Disney
productions, high quality and great excitement are pervasive
throughout. Growing up with Disney on screen and television
made watching this movie a trip down "memory lane." I would highly recommend this wonderful film to anyone interested in
the Civil War or to train buffs.

Excellent Movie, Questionable Disney.......2005-04-22

The movie is outstanding. Fess Parker and the rest turn in excellent performances. This exciting story is based on the true to life incident that took place during the Civil War. From what I have heard there were only a couple minor changes in the recreation of the story. Walt Disney made wonderful movies during the Fifties and Sixties that were great for the whole family to enjoy together. I am ecstatic they are now releasing these movies to DVD. My only complaint is that there seems to be an issue with quantity instead of quality. They seem more interested in releasing a great number of movies than worrying about the condition of them. Now I'm am as anxious as the next person to get all their live action movies out but I hope they start taking the time to realize they need to monitor the quality control. I don't need the extras on this first release. Once they have released all the movies they use to run on "The Wonderful World of Disney" then they can go back and do Platinum Editions. I will be satisfied with just the movie since there are so many more they need to release like "Dr. Syn, alias Scarecrow" and "The Swamp Fox" that I can be satisfied with just the basics but I want the movie to have sharp picture and sound quality. Some of the recent live action movies have been great quality (e.g. Three Lives of Thomasina) and some have been poor (e.g. "The Journey of Natty Gann). I hope someone from Disney is paying attention to Amazons reviews because if they don't they may find their DVDs aren't selling so well. Fortunately this DVD picture and sound quality are nicely restored. There are no extra features.

Classic filmmaking based on a true story.......2005-02-28

It's a real treat to see live-action Disney movies in all their glory, (back when movies actually meant something) unlike the special effects-ridden garbage of today. Of the meager number of films dealing with the Andrews Raid, I find this to be the most realistic portrayal by a long shot.

Review of Disney May 2002 release.......2004-06-05

After two previous releases by Anchor Bay, one would assume this release by the movie producer, Disney, would be the ultimate issue of this film. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Besides having zero....none, nyet....bonus features....not even a trailer, this release is riddled with problems. While the menu and FBI warnings are anamorphic, the movie itself is not. If the transfer had been halfway decent, this would be somewhat forgiveable. However, the transfer is grainy, the color pulses, and edge enhancement is frequent throughout. Certain portions of the movie even appear to be in the wrong ratio....as if the screen were squeezed top to bottom.

Another problem I encountered....and basically the last straw....was the random appearance of foreign subtitles as I watched the movie. Whether this is a problem with all DVD players, I do not know [mine is a Toshiba]....but on a quality product, this should never be a problem on any player.

While the movie is somewhat enjoyable [typical 50's Disney-style drama], I'd avoid this DVD [wish I HAD] based purely on the lack of effort Disney put out in assembling it.

Description

Customer Reviews: