Den of Lions

Starring:Stephen Dorff, Bob Hoskins, Laura Fraser (II), Ian Hart, David O'Hara, JÃ³zsef Gyabronka, Andrew McCulloch, Tania Emery, Philip Madoc, Attila Szatmari, Sarah Ann Schultz, Zita GÃ¶rÃ¶g, Nabil Massad, Robert Willox, Athina Papadimitriu, Billie Kaman, Ãgnes BÃ¡nfalvy, Ãkos HorvÃ¡th, Mark Urban, Mike Kelly (III)
Director: James Bruce
Studio: Dimension
Product Type: DVD

Product Description

Inspired by love, sold in desperation, bought in passion and stolen in greed: this priceless masterpiece has played a pivotal role in the lives of everyone who has owned it.
As he settles into his new job at an American prep school, an art teacher (Thomas Gibson) is approached by a reclusive historian Cornelia Engelbrecht (Glenn Close, Sarah, Plain and Tall) who believes he alone will appreciate a secret treasure she has long guarded-an unknown Vermeer painting. Although Richard is overwhelmed by its beauty, he doubts its authenticity. How could such a masterpiece be hidden for centuries?
Drawing upon a lifetime of singularly focused devotion to its history, Cornelia reveals the secrets behind the mystery of Girl In Hyacinth Blue. From the moment three centuries ago when an impoverished Dutch artist painted the beautiful image of his daughter seated at an open window, the legendary masterpiece has been admired, coveted and pursued by its owners-from impoverished farmers to a wealthy society woman (Ellen Burstyn). All forever entwined in its legacy and unknowing participants in its future.
Based on Susan Vreeland's best-seller, Brush With Fate traces the history of a masterpiece that has changed many lives, but still has a greater secret yet to reveal.

SPECIAL FEATURES :

Full screen version

Digitally Mastered

2.0 Dolby surround

Production Notes

Cost and Credits

System Requirements:
Running Time: 98 Minutes

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Very good movie.......2007-04-19

The acting was great and for the most part the book was kept in site.

Beautifull.......2007-02-20

Georgeous movie which inspired the whole family. Our son, (16 yrs old) is in IB art class, spent the whole evening checking the facts about Jan Vermeer and Dutch paintings.

Made From The Book, 'Girl in Hyacinth Blue'.......2006-02-20

Based on the Bestselling book by Susan Vreeland, this is an excellent portrayal of the historical passing of an unknown and unseen painting by a famous artist. The author brought the painting's path to life by depicting the owners through centuries of time.

'Girl in Hyacinth Blue' was a finalist for Book Sense Book of the Year in 1999. It has become part of the curriculum for many schools and universities. I was privledged to meet Susan Vreeland and saw this film as a private theater viewing during a literary festival in Dahlonega, Georgia. Vreeland's novels have been translated into 25 languages.

In Brush with Fate, the woman who lost the bid for the painting when it was up for auction was 'Magdalena', the girl in the painting and daughter of Vermeer, but now grown and poor. She wished to buy it back, but could not afford it. This is evident in the hard version, but Hallmark edited some scripting to allow for time. Also edited were scenes of the illicit affair to make it more for family viewing.

The film was shot entirely in the Netherlands. Although Vermeer was an actual painter, he only painted about 40 canvases. Magdalena was not one of the them, but rather a figment of the author's imagination, and depicted extremely well in the film version. It shows the influence of art upon those who appreciate art.

Vreeland focuses on bringing art to life through its alleged history. Her inspiration came after viewing artifacts in a museum and wondering how many hands and lives it went through to get to its current place.

According to the Vreeland, Glenn Close was the one who suggested the near-sighted Cornelia to be the excentric she portrayed. In the original book, Cornelia was 'Cornelius', but when the movie was made the producer could not find a suitable man to play the part, thus it was changed to be played by Close.

I thought this movie was superb. Excellent cast, excellent script. The author was present and got a standing ovation, after which she took questions and answers.

Worthy of purchase. I bought the book.

Gail Gupton, author "Seekers of Truth" and "The 31-Day Diet of Spiritual Enlightenment".

Johanes Vermeer, painter.......2004-05-31

The painter Johannes Vermeer really excisted round 1650 in the Netherlands. Actually he is a famous painter. The painting was a fantasy, but in his style of painting people. The story is also a fantasy. But by choosing this item the film shows a good impression of our Dutch history. A real good performance and historical checked details.
I saw in my city, the same place Vermeer used to live years ago, the scenes.
But is is very sad that the movie never came to The Netherlands, We re not able to see it.

Brush With Fate.......2004-05-27

Excellent story. Costumes and setting depicting Vermeer's life in Delft was surpurb. Was there a 'lost' Vermeer painting? Story leaves one thinking it was very possible. Each episode of what happened to the painting was very feasible.

Average customer rating:

A triumph!
Nowhere to Go But Up
Well of course *I* liked it
For Viewers-It Brings You "Down" and Gives You "The Shaft"
Much better than I expected! Really got surprized!

The Shaft
Starring: James Marshall , Naomi Watts , Eric Thal , Michael Ironside , and Edward Herrmann
Director: Dick Maas
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

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

The Wyvern Mystery
Strange Planet
Ellie Parker
The Hamiltons - After Dark Horror Fest
Under the Lighthouse Dancing

ASIN: B00008RUYS
Release Date: 2003-05-20

Amazon.com

Naomi Watts had not yet been put through the paces with David Lynch or The Ring when she made this 2001 thriller about an elevator with a malevolent spirit. It's essentially an English-language revamp, by the Dutch director Dick Maas, of his very fun 1983 movie The Lift. Set in pre-9/11 New York, in a fictional 102-floor high-rise, it's yet another lesson in why man should never tamper with combining computer chips and human tissue. Unfortunately, this lesson is pretty dull, cramped by stilted dialogue and a plodding pace. There's one great action sequence with an elevator car racing upward as its floor drops out, and Dan Hedaya, Ron Perlman, and Michael Ironside lend their indelible mugs for some character-actor juice. Watts provides a bit of playfulness, but it would take Mulholland Drive to unlock the more compelling part of her personality. The Shaft finds her still on the ground floor. --Robert Horton

Description

When the express elevator in the 102-story Millennium Building begins to malfunction, the management sends in a mechanic to solve the problem, but not everyone is happy about it - especially the elevator. After several of New York's finest are killed, the government, fearing terrorism, seals off the building. Now it is up to the mechanic and a reporter (Naomi Watts) to face an enemy whose bloodthirst is only met by its unpredictability...an enemy that is determined to fight off any intruder looking for the dark secret that lurks in the belly of THE SHAFT.

Customer Reviews:

A triumph!.......2006-06-24

A masterpiece which gives me renewed hope for my own script about eldritch events in a men's can called "Urinal of Terror," and its sequel, "The Haunted Break Room."

Nowhere to Go But Up.......2006-02-17

"The Shaft" is definitely one of the dumbest movies I've ever seen. The premise about an elevator with demonic powers is just plain silly. It's difficult to believe that someone actually pitched this idea to a studio, and it was green-lighted. It's as bad as any desperate attempt by Irwin Allen to make a disaster movie back in the 1980s.

The dialogue is so laughable and the acting is so wooden, it's amazing that Naomi Watts's career survived. I have been a big fan of Naomi Watts ever since I saw her in "King Kong" and "21 Grams." I'm glad I saw those films before seeing this one on a late-night cable channel.

While "The Shaft" is a stupid movie, it's not without its redeeming qualities. There are some good if gruesome special effects involving the elevator decapitating a security guard and the elevator racing to the roof of the building with its passengers meeting their doom.

And since everything seems to be played tongue-in-cheek, the filmmakers don't expect us to take any of it seriously, so we can laugh at this movie without claiming that the humor is unintentional.

My complaint is not that the humor is unintentional, only that it is unfunny and flat.

Well of course *I* liked it.......2006-01-19

I say this a lot, but man ya gotta wonder what a lot of the most negative reviewers were thinking when they decided to watch the movie about the murderous elevator. It's corny, you say? Cheesy? Silly? It is really? Geez, thanks for the input. You'd hope that people would be expecting, nay, wanting something cheesy when they rent the killer elevator movie, but apparently this isn't necessarily the case.

So, obviously, 'The Shaft doesn't work as a straight horror film, but it is quite delightful as a camp horror film. I'm not 100% certain how we're supposed to take this film. It's definitely at least a horror-comedy but it might be an out and out parody. Personally, I get the impression that it is intentionally ambiguous as to its true nature in an attempt to appeal both to the pure camp crowd and the utterly indiscriminate horror fans. No matter what the case, I found it quite entertaining. Whether or not you'll like the film is a tougher call. I suspect the best way is just to ask yourself if the idea of a haunted elevator is amusing to you or not. If it is, go see this movie right now.

Sadly, this movie doesn't have as much elevator action as you'd anticipate. Certainly, it has it's share, perhaps enough for an 80-90 minute film, but this thing is like 110 minutes and really emphasizes the investigation. Now this stuff is still pretty cool and all, but we need more flaming death elevator. I also think it's cute how this movie is as long as it is, and yet it hardly explains anything. There are basically 3 questions you might have: Why are the elevator's sentient? Why do they have magical powers? And why do they wanna kill people? The film only answers the first question, and while I doubt they could've made intriguing answers to the next two ones I think it's funny that they don't even try.

This movie has more people you might've heard of than you'd expect for an direct to DVD horror film. It's got a then unknown Naomi Watts, Ron Perlman, Dan Hedaya, Edward Hermann and Michael Ironside. (Even if you don't know those names I bet you'll recognize some of the actors when you see them.) The performances are generally pretty over the top, as well they ought to be, and really bolster the amusing dialogue. (Also, Watts is pleasant to ogle, as usual. More so than usual, as a matter of fact.) A few of the deliberate jokes are almost painful, but it's got plenty of funny lines, regardless of whether they were all intended to be funny. Also, there's comes a point where if you say a single word enough times (in this case 'elevator', obviously) it becomes funny for no apparent reason. I also enjoyed the insensitive references to terrorists and the shots of the WTC. (This film was shot shortly before 9/11)

I also like that this film is a bit more juvenile and cruel than your average horror film. It's great that Maas kills a dog in the film. People always flip out when you hurt or kill an animal in film and I've always hated that reaction. It's loose enough this way that when the adorable little girl goes near the elevators, I actually believed that she might get wasted.

This movie is full frame, for some reason. What sorta company releases a film in full frame alone in the year 2003? They shouldn't be releasing them like that at all until all the stupid full framers just convert. This is especially annoying since this movie was apparently shot in 2.35:1 unlike most cheap horror films which are merely 1.85:1 and don't suffer nearly as much from being cropped. But oh well, I doubt it had any fantastic cinematography that I missed out on due to this. Also, the only extra this comes with is the trailer. It's a good one however. If you weren't excited to see the movie about the evil elevator before, you will be. Very soon. In fact, the trailer makes the movie look like it's gonna be more awesome than it is.

Well that's it. 'The Shaft' is just good campy fun. I'm surprised it's not better known than it is. This sorta wackiness if the kinda thing camp film lovers dream about. Ah well, maybe in a couple years...

Grade: C+
(Note, grades on camp films and good-bad films are generally pretty meaningless from me. I've never come up with a real system for it. Suffice to say I enjoyed this a lot.)

For Viewers-It Brings You "Down" and Gives You "The Shaft".......2005-08-09

Before Naomi Watts became a big star from excellent performances in excellent films like "Huckabees", "Mulholland Drive", and "21 Grams" she was delivering excellent performances in a lot of garbage movies like "The Shaft". And while her performance here does not save the movie, it does elevate (bad pun intended)it to a viewable level.

The only other reason to watch this thing is as yet another example of the film-making phenomenon that big is not only not better, but much worse. Which is probably related to the human interest angle in journalism, where a large disaster cannot sustain interest as long as the same story on a smaller more human scale.

For those who don't already know it, "The Shaft" or "Down" is Dutch Director/Writer Dick Mass's remake of his 1983 classic "De Lift". One posted comment about the original says: ".... looks technically proficient, with fine color texture, smooth cinematography ( by Marc Felperlaan ) and tight editing ( by Hans van Dongen ), elements that help to maintain a high level of suspense. The story clearly echoes Jaws, with its obsessed hero and corrupted authority figures, who would rather disguise the truth than face it. Despite this movie being his debut, many of Maas's personal trademarks are also already in place: quick pacing, sadistic gore effects modified by edgy humor, mild satire on bourgeois preoccupations, and broadly etched supporting characters".

Apparently the title "Elevator" was already taken and "Lift" was too European so he was left with two very stupid titles for the remake, with which the distributors have experimented to no positive effect.

In the 1983 version, the elevator of an Amsterdam flat (another European term) misbehaves badly. The elevator begins trying to crush, suffocate and decapitate passengers. Fearless mechanic Felix does battle with the seemingly haunted machine. But the anti-technology twist is that the elevator has developed a mind of its own due to an experimental 'biochip'. Felix is assisted by a magazine reporter named Mieke de Beer ( wasn't that the name of Scotty's German pen pal in "Eurotrip"?).

The original was shot in just 30 days with a very limited budget, this constrained the production resulting in an intimate story, viewers identified with the characters and this greatly enhanced the suspense level. This time someone gave Maas a lot of money and he pumped up the production; moving it to New York, adding tons of unnecessary effects, making the elevator absurdly powerful, and geometrically increasing the size of the cast. The Amsterdam elevator was deadly but in ways that a malfunctioning elevator could be deadly. The new elevator is like a cross between a James Bond story and a poor 1950's science fiction film.

Not surprisingly the human interest wheels fall off immediately. If you ignore your strong impulse to bail you will see decent performances from Watts and the from various character actors who populate the cast.

Unfortunately for Mass, he choose New York City for this 2001 movie and deviated from the original by throwing in some misdirection about terrorists being behind the elevator accidents. There is even a line about the first bombing of the World Trade Center. Apparently this was embarrassing enough to insure that there was no theatrical release.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

Much better than I expected! Really got surprized!.......2005-06-23

I had this DVD in someway and I used to think that it's a cheap movie, so I'd never watch it till tonight that I felt watching a cheap short movie. and I got surprized! This was good, really good. it's not a cheap movie, Although the scenario could be more reasonable but overall it was very good. Actings, directing, production, Visuals, scene design, everything was very good. some new famous horror movies like "THE RING" are not more reasonable than this. although It's good to mention this is rather an action movie than Horror! cause it's not that scary. I'd decieded to sell my DVD after watching it and now I'll keep it. anyway Still I can't recommand this movie for buying at that expensive price. but It's really worth to be rent!
some words about the DVD! It's a dual-layer but simple DVD. menu is very primitive. there is no special features but a trailer. and the movie presented in Fullscreen which makes you feel watching a TV production at first minutes. I think this movie deserves a better DVD release!

Average customer rating:

gotta like Dorff
a totally unbelievable screenplay
den of dorff
Den of Yawns is more like it

Den of Lions
Starring: Stephen Dorff , Bob Hoskins , Laura Fraser (II) , Ian Hart , and David O'Hara
Director: James Bruce
Manufacturer: Dimension
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Crime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Thrillers | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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

Steal
Where the Truth Lies (Unrated Theatrical Edition)
The Ice Harvest (Widescreen Edition)
8MM 2 - Unrated and Exposed
The Matador (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B0009UZGLE
Release Date: 2006-03-07

Description

This high-stakes espionage thriller comes loaded with the Hollywood star power of Stephen Dorff (BLADE, COLD CREEK MANOR) and Bob Hoskins (WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT, MONA LISA) in a pulse-pounding story about the dark side of organized crime! Even after the fall of the Iron Curtain, the Russian mafia continues to create havoc in Budapest under the rule of "Godfather" Darius Paskevik (Hoskins). In jumps Mike Varga (Dorff), an undercover FBI operative who works to infiltrate the mob and gain Paskevik's confidence -- but also falls for the Godfather's young and sexy daughter Katya! With the Russian government and the FBI on his back and his love for Katya caught in the crossfire, Mike's life is on the line as his loyalties are stretched to the limit!

Customer Reviews:

gotta like Dorff.......2007-02-06

Stephen Dorff plays an undercover FBI agent who gets sucked into the Russian Mafia by gaining the trust of the big daddy mob boss (played by Hoskins). I have to tell you I had a hard time getting the image of Hoskins chasing Roger Rabbit out of my mind for most of the movie. I just couldn't separate him from that character and the Russian mob guy (horrible accent included). Yes, there were a few unbelievable scenes (even cheesy at times).
But I love Stephen Dorff as an actor so I was able to overlook some of the shortcomings of this film. My advice is, if you're not a big Stephen Dorff fan, then you probably won't like this movie very much, because it offers little else at times. If you ARE a Stephen Dorff fan, then you will probably really enjoy this movie, because as a previous viewer said (it shows a lot of sides to Dorff) and his character is much more multidimensional compared to some of his other films.
I bought it and am keeping it.

a totally unbelievable screenplay.......2006-04-13

since when the fbi would also take the role of world policeman? they could be on total authority over other foreign countries's legal and justice systems? there are d.e.a. coorperated with the s. america's countries' anti drug forces, but since the fbi could only play a domestic role in the land of the broken dream, how could they get involve and interfer other countries' affairs internationally and put all other countries police forces under their leash? totally stupid scenario. lousy plotted screenplay.

den of dorff.......2006-04-04

i thought this was a really good movie.VERY well acted...especially by Dorff. This is Dorff's kind of role.He shows the good,the bad,and the kind-hearted,caring,sexy self that is ALL DORFF !! I LOVE this guy !!!!

Den of Yawns is more like it.......2006-03-26

Stephen Dorff (Blade, FeardotCom) in another horrible movie stars as Mike Varga, an American FBI agent who goes under covers...not under the covers...undercover with the Russian mafia's "Marlon Brando", Darius played by Bob Hoskins (Unleashed, Roger Rabbit) in the stupidest way imaginable. Dorff gains Hoskins' trust. David O'Hara (The District, Made) whos Irish is playing Freko here or whatever his name was who is Russian and who is Darius' right hand man and who doesnt trust or think Dorff is who he really is. The lovely Laura Fraser (A Knight's Tale, Vanilla Sky) is alright here (she's done better) plays Katya, Darius' Daughter who Dorff falls in love with during the process. Ian Hart (Enemy of the State, Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone) who is wasted plays Rob who is Dorff's friend within the FBI. The action sequences are weak, the acting is even weaker and the suspense and surprises arent that great although I did think Dorff actually killed Hart. Speaking of Dorff and Hart I think this is the first time in a long time they've worked with one another. Both of them starred way back in Backbeat where Ian Hart played John Lennon and Stephen Dorff played Stu Sutcliffe. Although the Russian women in this movie are hot hot hot! This movie isnt. Though if you wanna see Bob Hoskins kill some guy with a poolstick this is the ticket for you otherwise steer away. Also starring Zita Gorog (8MM 2, Underworld movies)

Average customer rating:

Awesome Bible Adventures Set (5 DVDs)

Manufacturer: Made in the Shade
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

bible stories
characters brought to life
virtues and values taught
family oriented
truths revealed

ASIN: B000NILE72

Product Description

Witness Jesus' amazing miracles; escape the fiery furnace with Daniel; see Samson's super-strength! See the stories of Noah, Lot, David, Joshua, Moses, and others. Ten powerful Scripture stories will captivate your kids---and teach them important lessons about living for God. Five DVDs.

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

Love Actually (Widescreen Edition)

Life in the Fast Lane

Jungle 2 Jungle [1997]

DVD: Don't Say a Word/Unfaithful

Otto's Ottifanten - Beach Boys