The Omen

Starring:Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, David Warner, Billie Whitelaw, Harvey Stephens (II), Patrick Troughton, Martin Benson, Robert Rietty, Tommy Duggan, John Stride, Anthony Nicholls, Holly Palance, Roy Boyd, Freda Dowie, Sheila Raynor, Robert MacLeod, Bruce Boa, Don Fellows, Patrick McAlinney, Dawn Perllman
Director: Richard Donner
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Former animator Tim Burton (Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, Batman, Mars Attacks!) made his feature directorial debut with this delightful comedy, coscripted by the late Phil Hartman (who also appears briefly as a reporter). Wisely, they keep the story simple so as to concentrate on the characters: Pee-wee's most prized possession, his shiny new bicycle, is stolen, and he sets off on an obsessive cross-country journey, determined to recover it. Pee-wee's awkward and childish attempts to be cool and mature ("I meant to do that!!") are hysterical, as when he tells his girlfriend (Elizabeth Daly): "There's things about me you don't know, Dottie. Things you wouldn't understand. Things you couldn't understand. Things you shouldn't understand.... I'm a loner, Dottie. A rebel." Look for Saturday Night Live vet Jan Hooks in a hilarious bit as a tour guide at the Alamo. And beware of Large Marge! --Jim Emerson

Customer Reviews:

Hillarious and classic.......2007-06-27

This movie can be enjoyed by a person of any age. There are so many memorable moments and funny lines.

"What do you want to be when you grow up?".......2007-06-24

"What do you want to be when you grow up?"
I'm sure most of us have been asked this question at some point. And some of us, in our infinite wit, replied that we weren't planning on growing up, thank you very much. But how many of us meant that?

It looks like Pee Wee Herman did. Part insanity, part compassion, and all exuberance, he combines the wants of a child with the ability to actually get these things that adults possess. A breakfast-making machine built out of everything under the sun, a basement for holding secret meetings, and an absurdly wonderful bike, among others. But one day that bike of his disappears, and Pee Wee sets out on a wild goose-chase to get it back.

When this was shown in my high-school class, some of the kids found certain parts awkward - such as Pee Wee rolling around with Francis, with the spoiled child in the nude - but the creepiness in such scenes just melts when you realize that Pee Wee Herman is not an adult. He is a child, as much of one as we ever were, and he has managed to retain the innocence that many of us lost.

(As a bonus, you get some neat commentary from the directors and the music to boot. How's that for a good deal?)

My Good Friend Pee-Wee!!!.......2007-06-07

Jesus, this is a cult classic. Man-child Pee-Wee Herman loses the most precious thing in the world to him, his bike, and sets out on an adventure to find and reclaim his lost possession. The oddball humor mixed with Tim Burton's surreal directing give this flick an otherwordly flavor. And the characters, man: Francis, the spoiled rich kid; Mickey, the escaped con; Satan's Helpers; Mario, the magic store owner; Amazing Larry ("Do you have something to say, Amazing Larry?!?!?"; these are but some of the many goofy people in the life of Pee-Wee. Above all, the climax is the best part of the movie, the escape from the Warner Bros. studio lot being perhaps one of my favorite pieces of cinematic comedy.

pee wee makes it big.......2007-05-31

This is pee wee's crowning achievement and a movie which should last for years.. Paul reubens character was something truly extraordinary - an odd eccentric quirky man-boy.. His mannerisms are what make him so interesting.. and the gadgets in his home are like the fantasies a child might dream up.. He made even me want to be pee wee herman when i grew up.. while in retrospect that might be disturbing.. it was the truth for many children of the 80's..
Pee wee's big adventure follows pee wee in search of his lost bike.. it is hilarious and restores faith in the possibilities of creating a comic gem..

pea wey.......2007-04-12

pea wey iz a grate moovy, it iz goood, and i lik it. it iz mie favrit moovy evr maed in the wrold. in facct i luv it becuz it iz adventiris, becuz thee guy swingz froom a rop abov a lak and goz on his bicicl. fun and exitng.

Average customer rating:

The best PG-13 movie ever made
Guerilla Youths Fend Off Soviet Communist Invasion.
First movie with a Pg-13 rating. . Ive listed what special features the new version has below.
WOLVERINES !!
Red Dawn Revisited

Red Dawn
Starring: Patrick Swayze , C. Thomas Howell , Lea Thompson , Charlie Sheen , and Darren Dalton
Director: John Milius
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0792838041
Release Date: 1998-02-04

Amazon.com

The Ronald Reagan 1980s were all about going back to the future--rewriting the past to better suit Reagan's upbeat vision of the present. So, Sylvester Stallone's John Rambo (a psychotic, shell-shocked Vietnam vet in the original film, transformed into a flag-waving hero in the sequel) was able to go back to Southeast Asia and "correct" history by decisively (and single-handedly) winning that messy ol' war on behalf of America. Red Dawn is a paranoid cold-war cautionary tale that presents us not with a rosy alternative past, but with an ominous vision of the future, metaphorically plopping a piece of Russian-occupied Afghanistan into America's back yard. In this celebration of the Second Amendment, storm troopers from the Evil Empire descend upon the inadequately defended United States and hold America hostage. Stealthily avoiding the invaders, a motley group of red-blooded, small-town, gun-toting teenagers go underground to form the Wolverines, a guerilla resistance squad dedicated to making those Russkies rue the day they parachuted onto U.S. soil. It's a darn good thing those kids had the right to keep and bear arms, huh! Written and directed by macho filmmaker John Milius, the self-described "Zen fascist" who also cowrote Apocalypse Now, as well as the horrifying shark story Robert Shaw tells in Jaws. The cast includes Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson, Jennifer Grey (a few years before she and Swayze took up Dirty Dancing), Charlie Sheen, Powers Boothe, Harry Dean Stanton, and Ben Johnson. Red Dawn was a commercial success, although audiences invariably split into two camps, finding it either patriotic or appalling. Whatever your verdict, the film remains a telling reflection of its era. --Jim Emerson

Description

Red Dawn opens with one of the most shocking scenes ever filmed; on a peaceful morning, through the windows of a high school classroom, students see paratroopers land on the varsity football field: the invasion of the United States has begun! As their town is overrun by foreign nationals, eight teenagers escape to the mountains. Taking the name of their high school football team, the Wolverines, they wage unremitting guerrilla warfare in defense of their parents, their friends and their country. Powerful, chilling and absolutely gripping, this outstanding film features some of today's most popular stars, including Patrick Swayze (Ghost), Charlie Sheen (Platoon), C. Thomas Howell (The Hitcher), Lea Thompson ("Caroline in the City"), Jennifer Grey (Dirty Dancing) and veteran actor Harry Dean Stanton (Alien). When it comes to thrilling entertainment, Red Dawn wins the war with a vengeance!

Customer Reviews:

The best PG-13 movie ever made.......2007-07-04

I first watched "Red Dawn" on HBO as a kid. The patriotism that it instilled drove me to join the US Army. The scenery is amazing, the plot line sufficient, and the characters are amazing. Rarely will you find a movie that commands the presence of so many key characters. From the mayor's patriotically weak son, the first generation Mexican-immigrant boy with the will to fight for the country he loves, to the stereotypical "good 'ol boys" who ultimately instill the futility of war in an enemy commanding general, you're forced to realize all that America has to offer to a potential occupational force.

This is a must watch for anyone who displays a yellow ribbon, believes in the American way or is just up for a movie that spans the gambit of American values and determination.

Guerilla Youths Fend Off Soviet Communist Invasion........2007-06-30

_Red Dawn_ (1984) is an excellent film by John Milius (also famous for _Apocalypse Now_ (1979) and as an anti-gun control law advocate) which came out in 1984 when Ronald Reagan was president during the height of much Cold War hysteria. The movie is about a joint Soviet and Cuban invasion of the United States. The movie asks us to imagine the following scenario: "The Soviet Union suffers worst wheat harvest in 55 years. Labor and food riots in Poland, Soviet troops invade. Cuba and Nicaragua reach troop strength goals of 500,000. El Salvador and Honduras fall. Greens party gains control of West German parliament. Demands withdrawal of nuclear weapons from European soil. Mexico plunged into revolution. NATO dissolves. United States stands alone." Following this scenario the Soviet communists invade the United States, crossing the Bering Strait, while Latin America rises up from the South and attacks. The movie takes place in a small Colorado town where a band of high school students (calling themselves the Wolverines) must work together to fight off the Soviet threat. As guerilla forces these students move up into the mountains where they continually wage war against the Soviet invaders. Their hometown becomes compromised and they must fend off the Red Menace. The movie is interesting in that it shows how the people and in particular the youth must rise up and fend off tyranny. It is to be noted that the brave bands who form together are not members of the army but are ordinary citizens. In this respect, the movie is to be commended.

The movie begins with an ordinary day at high school. While their history teacher is discussing the ancient military tactics of the Mongol hordes (eerily foreshadowing things to immediately come), who repeatedly invaded Europe in ancient times and thus forced the people to fend off their menace, a group of Soviet paratroopers suddenly land on the school grounds. The teacher goes out to meet them but is quickly gunned down. Thus, begins the ensuing struggle, which we later learn is merely a part of World War III, the invasion of the United States by communists. A band of students must join together to fight them off, while their parents remain in the town. The students head for the mountains where they live, periodically returning to the town for supplies. Later, we are to learn that many of their parents (particularly the ones who were viewed as trouble-makers) were sent off to re-education camps. As with the Soviets in Russia, these euphemistically named camps are nothing more than torture and death camps. The students must hunt for food, relying on ancient Indian lore and making use of the Indian rite of drinking the blood of a slaughtered deer to attain its powers. Throughout the year the students begin to fight off the Soviets using guerilla tactics against them. The students call themselves "the Wolverines", which one Soviet notes are "small vicious animals". Thus, begins the war with the imperialist Soviet menace. It should also be noted that the mayor of the town collaborates with the Soviet invaders and gives over the names of dissidents in exchange for his life and security. Thus is the way with all politicians. One of the extraordinary facts about this film is that the people involved can no longer rely on the government to fend off tyrants for them. Thus, it is necessary to take up arms and fight for their homeland themselves. In this spirit, the original frontier tradition of the American revolutionaries lives on in these brave bands of freedom fighters. To see how the movie resolves and how freedom is won back from would-be tyrants you must watch it for yourself.

Of course, this movie has been greeted with the usual chorus of detractors and naysayers who claim that it is "right wing propaganda". Such latter-day Soviet apologists simply fail to see the horrors innate within Soviet power. It is unfortunate that today many would gladly witness the ideals upon which America was founded perish rather than to stand up and fight for them. However, this is the situation in which many Americans exist today.

This movie is highly recommended and is certain to entertain. While it does feature fighting and bloodshed which may horrify the squeamish (it was the first movie to receive a PG-13 rating), the message from it is a positive one. Freedom does come with a price, and that price must often by won by standing up to tyranny.

First movie with a Pg-13 rating. . Ive listed what special features the new version has below........2007-06-22

Red dawn is a classic 80s movie from writer director John Milius. Milius also co wrote the screenplay for the brilliant Apocalypse Now which he shared an oscar nomination with Frances Ford Coppola.
I also learned this was the first movie to get a Pg-13 rating from the mpaa after public outcry of the violence in pg rated movies such as Indiana Jones and the temple of doom, and Gremlins.(movieweb)
I own about 1200 dvds and i actually do not have this one, so i will splurge and get this new collectors edition. I've listed some info below about the new version i found on the internet hopefully it helps. Thanks for reading.

Collectors Edition DVD

Release Date: July 17th, 2007
Edition: Collector's Edition DVD
Format: DVD
MPAA Rating: PG13
Studio: MGM
UPC: 027616081315
Production Year: 1984
Special Features:
Red Daw Rising - a retrospective look at the making of the film.
Building the Red Menace - what it took to make "World War III"
Military Training - this piece explores the extensive training that the actors had to go through in order to become convincing guerilla fighters
WWIII Comes To Town - This piece goes back to Las Vegas, New Mexico and finds out from locals and extras what happened when 'Red Dawn' came and turned their hometown into the fictional town of Calumet, Colorado and the center of World War III.
Genre: Action

WOLVERINES !!.......2007-06-20

Though some people may think that this movie is far fetched because it depicts teenage men and women taking on a communist invasion, I believe that this is a very good movie.
If somehow something like this did happen I think that it is very likely that there would be civilian freedom fighters, look at past wars and invasions and this happens. If you were in this situation would you set back and let them win or would you take up arms and fight for your family, friends, country and freedom.
This movie brings about a very strong feeling of patriotism ( Something our country needs much more of) and is very good to watch around independence day.
"WOLVERINES!!!!"

Red Dawn Revisited.......2007-05-21

The first time I saw this in the mid 80s I thought it was kind of cool, with great action, and a bit over the top. I never bought it because I just didn't think it was worth owning. Over the years as I have seen this on TV I realized this was worthy of a revisit to my initial opinion. As I have grown in age, I realized these young teens are thrown into a whole different world and their over-acting if you will, is quite honestly nothing more than I think a teen would do when stressed to this point. After all they lose their families and their world is turned upside down. What am I talking about, any adult would over-act as well in this kind of post holocaust situation. Basicly become distraught and over emotional.

So all things considered this movie deserves much more credit than it typically gets from critics. It is a good fictional story. The action and special effects are well done. I finally ordered a copy for my DVD library. Don't wait till you have seen it at least a half dozen times on TV like me. The commercials are to painful for that. You can even buy it with "Navy Seals" in a two pack for less than fifteen dollars. "Navy Seals" is a reasonably good movie as well and for about seven dollars and change each it is a good deal. Navy Seals has Charlie Sheen, Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton, Dennis Haysbert, and several other familiar faces. Good action movie that most people will enjoy. So grab a Big Gulp and a big bowl of popcorn and make an afternoon of it.

Average customer rating:

DVD It Seems Like Old Times
Grodin
Fun Movie!
I don't know why more people don't buy this movie.
Seems Like Old Times

Seems Like Old Times
Starring: Goldie Hawn , Chevy Chase , Charles Grodin , Robert Guillaume , and Harold Gould
Director: Jay Sandrich
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005V5NS
Release Date: 2002-03-19

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An original Neil Simon screenplay makes Seems Like Old Times rise above what would otherwise be a forgettable comedy love triangle. Goldie Hawn (Private Benjamin) plays a good-hearted defense lawyer married to Ira, a politically ambitious district attorney played by Charles Grodin (Midnight Run). The craziness of their everyday lives becomes even more ridiculous when ex-husband Chevy Chase is framed for a bank robbery and seeks refuge with the woman he could never get over. Hawn hides the love of her life under her husband's nose as Chase tries to clear his name. Hawn tries to protect him and Grodin just tries to keep from going insane. A slapstick romance that's very often hit-and-miss, the dialogue saves this comic farce and provides wonderful moments between the three stars. Seems Like Old Times also has going for it winning supporting players and some half a dozen drooling, unruly dogs. --Robert Lane

Customer Reviews:

DVD It Seems Like Old Times.......2007-07-04

This is my all-time movie. I was thrilled to find it on Amazon.
It really WILL make you LOL. Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase
at their very funniest. What a romantic comdey should be,
even the guys like it.

Grodin.......2007-06-05

Charles Grodin was pathetic in this movie. Chevy Chase was hiding under Grodin's bed in ever other scene, but Grodin was too blind to notice. It was so obvious that he was there. Why didn't they get Ray Charles or Stevie Wonder to play Grodin's character? Since Charles Grodin was definitely BLIND in the film. I love the scene at the end when Grodin drives his car and hits a Cow. "I think my leg is broken," he says. Good. Maybe now you won't make any more terrible movies.

Fun Movie!.......2007-05-15

This is my all time favorite Goldie Hawn movie. So glad it was available on DVD. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys 'comedy' movies.

I don't know why more people don't buy this movie. .......2007-03-24

Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn make a great duo. Very funny and pretty clean too. Together they have awesome chemistry. Bird on a Wire is great too if your looking for another great movie of hers.

Seems Like Old Times.......2007-02-17

This movie is a classic, and one of my all-time favorites. Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase are in top form at the height of their careers. Charles Grodin and Robert Guilliame are also terrific in their roles. I highly recommend Seems Like Old Times!

Average customer rating:

The best PG-13 movie ever made
Guerilla Youths Fend Off Soviet Communist Invasion.
First movie with a Pg-13 rating. . Ive listed what special features the new version has below.
WOLVERINES !!
Red Dawn Revisited

Red Dawn (Collector's Edition)
Starring: Patrick Swayze , C. Thomas Howell , Lea Thompson , Charlie Sheen , and Darren Dalton
Director: John Milius
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Road House
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Platoon (Collector's Edition Steelbook)

ASIN: B000PMFS14
Release Date: 2007-07-17

Amazon.com

Description

Customer Reviews:

The best PG-13 movie ever made.......2007-07-04

Guerilla Youths Fend Off Soviet Communist Invasion........2007-06-30

First movie with a Pg-13 rating. . Ive listed what special features the new version has below........2007-06-22

WOLVERINES !!.......2007-06-20

Red Dawn Revisited.......2007-05-21

Average customer rating:

Dune: epic classic, timeless, powerful...
Loved it, but really want the extra-long version.
I don't know why I like this, I just do-
I liked it then and I still like it now, more than ever...
Before there was Star Wars

Dune (1984) [HD DVD]
Starring: Francesca Annis , Leo Cimino , Daniel Bryan Corkill , Brad Dourif , and Linda Hunt
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

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ASIN: B000IONJH4
Release Date: 2006-11-28

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Even more than most of David Lynch's deliberately bizarre and idiosyncratic movies, Dune is a "love-it-or-hate-it" affair. An ambitious, epic, utterly mind-boggling--and, let's admit it, all-out weird--adaptation of Frank Herbert's classic science fiction novel, Dune remains one of the most controversial films in the director's exceedingly provocative career. The story (if Dune can be said to have just one story) is complex and convoluted in the epic tradition; it has

Kyle MacLachlan as Paul Usul Muad'Dib Atreides

something to do with political intrigue and a planet that is home to a precious spice and gigantic sand worms. Think Shakespeare's Henry IV with a dash of Tremors, and set in another galaxy. But despite plenty of strangely whispered voice-overs that explain the characters' thoughts (and endlessly detailed exposition), storytelling is not really among the film's strong points. There are, however, a lot of memorably fantastic/grotesque images, an extraordinary cast, and a soundtrack featuring Toto. I told you it was weird. Among the stars are Kyle MacLachlan, José Ferrer, Dean Stockwell, Brad Dourif, Sting, Kenneth McMillan, Patrick

Sting as Feyd-Rautha

Stewart, Sean Young, and Linda Hunt. --Jim Emerson

DVD features
Melange fans have a lot to be excited about with this impressive edition of Dune, though the "Extended Edition" label is a bit misleading. If you are expecting the mythic 4 hour "David Lynch preferred" version that is rumored to be sitting in a vault, don't get your hopes up. This isn't it. In an attempt to quickly sober spice-fueled giddy fans, producer Raffaella De Laurentiis (daughter of Dino De Laurentiis) immediately reveals in the 'Deleted Scenes' introduction that the rumored 4 hour version is just that; a rumor. What this DVD set does contain is the 2 Hour 17 Minute original theatrical release digitally remastered, available for the first time in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and 5.1 surround sound. The presentation on this edition is a drastic improvement from the original letterboxed release. On the flipside of the DVD

Knife fight!

is the alternate 2 hour 57 minute version cut for television. As many fans know, this 'extended' version was disowned by Lynch, who insisted his name be replaced by that famous Hollywood pseudonym "Alan Smithee;" the name used by directors whose film was taken away and recut against their wishes. There is some new material in the 14 minutes of deleted scenes offering a bit more background into the Bene Gesserit sisterhood, the Kwisatz Haderach prophecy and the Fremen culture and their struggle. All other extras focus on the international production crew of Dune including the design team, special effects, and short documentaries on the miniature models and wardrobe designs. Disappointingly, there are no appearances in the bonus features by any of the original cast or Lynch himself. However, many of the production crew members talk openly about working with David Lynch and his artistic involvement in the visual process. To cap it off, this edition comes in a very stylish and sturdy DVD tin that opens like a keep case. --Rob Bracco

Further Explore the World Of Dune

Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 1)

Dune Messiah (Dune Chronicles, Book 2)

Children of Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 3)

Sci-Fi Action Films on DVD

The Dune TV Series

David Lynch Essentials

Customer Reviews:

Dune: epic classic, timeless, powerful..........2007-06-20

For all those cheese-balls who criticized "Dune" when it came out in 1984, you're a bunch of goobs! I've read all the books, especially the first two books several times. It is a complicated environmental, political, religious, mythological masterpiece from Frank Herbert. The movie was poorly-received in theatres because most folks that went to see it back in the day couldn't stand to sit for more than two hours, never read the books (they are heady and complex), and didn't make much of an attempt to really get into the movie. Likewise, due to having shot way too long a movie, the DiLaurentiis folks had to edit the movie hardcore so it left some gaps.

All-in-all, I was eleven years old when I saw this movie back in the 80's an I understood it just fine. I came to grasp it even more as I read the novels.

The movie is basically about royal families competing against one another for a substance known as "the spice," which represents crude oil on earth. The fremen are a parallel-Muslim-type culture that lives in the desert where the "oil" or "spice" is harvested. Complex politics and intrigue are everywhere.

The acting is SUPERB! Kyle MacLachlan was the best choice is the world to play Paul, Sting was perfect as Feyd, good ole' Kenneth MacMillan was the GREATEST Baron Harkonnen ever, and overall there was an excellent international cast. The costumes, backdrops, scenery, and TOTO SOUNDTRACK were all unforgettable. I'm a huge Toto fan anyway (saw 'em in concert recently)...David Paich, the keyboardist and main songwriter for Toto delivered some music that will give you goose pimples.

I like this extended edition because it shows deleted scenes that add SO MUCH to this movie!!

Dune is quirky at times with some whispering and drawn-out scenes but in general it is so much fun, so heady, so vast, and despite the wild fantasy world we see in it, it seems believable at times. Fun trip. Worth every penny....

It's worth the spice to buy!

Loved it, but really want the extra-long version........2007-06-15

Loved it, but really want the extra-long version.

I don't know why I like this, I just do-.......2007-05-11

I am a huge fan of the entire Dune legacy. The films, the mini series... books (Frank Herbert's- haven't read the son's yet because it always tics me off when something good is dragged out long after the originator is gone... who knows if these books were part of Frank's vision- BUT I digress)

Where was I, oh yeah. Love Dune. Though this version is not true to the book, it has some true merit. You have to remember that it is from the 80s and forgive the effects, but if you are looking for sort of a cliff notes version of the storyline, this is it. Just don't watch it in place the book and go to a book club thinking you know the story.

Besides, you get to see all sorts of actors much younger than they are now, Patrick Stewart, Kyle M, Sting, and that dude from Quantam Leap just to name a few.

Good movie fodder to watch, and who cares what happens next- for he is the Kwisatz Haderach.

I liked it then and I still like it now, more than ever..........2007-05-11

David Lynch's vision and take on Dune may not compare to the book from which it is taken, but as a stand alone movie, both in its theatrical, as well as in its lengthened (directed by Alan Smithee...) version, are a product that can be considered valid.

The story is there, in its essence, the characters are there, although not really all as in the Novel, but then there is really no need for all of them, since it would just complicate an already intricate storyline.

Suffice it to say that this movie, even after all these many years, can still stand a comparison with newer Sci-Fi/Fantasy movies.
The style, the actors, the music and the scenery alone, lend it an aura of mythical proportions and this makes it far more than just another "cult" movie, but rather the vision of a true artist, confronted with a vision of another artist and mixing his own to the latter, and in this, David Lynch truly excels.

The cast includes a very young Kyle MacLachlan, masters of the trade, such as Max von Sydow, Juergen Prochnow, Patrick Stewart, Sian Phillips, Jose Ferrer, Freddie Jones and many others, whose talents are undisputed to give life to so bigger-than-life characters.

For the first time ever, we get both "takes" on the movie on a single, double-sided disc. One, as mentioned before, the Theatrical version, and the second, the lengthened TV version of the same, in 2.35:1 ratio and in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Stereo.

For the price this is a well worthy buy, unless you already own an HD-DVD Player, in which case you may also opt to have that copy, but be warned, that copy only includes the theatrical version.

Before there was Star Wars.......2007-04-15

Some fun facts:
Dune was written and published in 1965
Star Wars was released in 1978
Dune the movie was released in 1984

I first saw Star Wars in the theaters in 1978 and became hooked to the series.
I never watched Dune or read it until recently and this is my take on the whole thing.

When I sat down and watched Dune I was surprised by the cheap sets and poor special effects. Star Wars had this movie beat hands down.
However, when it comes to the story of Dune: it is a great and amazing plot and adventure. I can now see where George Lucas was inspired for Star Wars.

As far as this DVD it has lots of hours of entertainment. You just have to get past some of the cheesy sets and filming.

All in all its a good DVD to have in your collection.

The Complete Omen Collection (The Omen - 1976/ The Omen - 2006/ Damien: The Omen II/ The Omen III: The Final Conflict/ The Omen IV: The Awakening)

Average customer rating:

OMEN
Best Movies Ever.
A Must Have Collection for Horror Fans!
OMEN COLLECTION
The Omen Collection

The Complete Omen Collection (The Omen - 1976/ The Omen - 2006/ Damien: The Omen II/ The Omen III: The Final Conflict/ The Omen IV: The Awakening)
Starring: Faye Grant , Michael Woods , Michael Lerner , Madison Mason , and Ann Hearn
Director: Dominique Othenin-Girard , Jorge Montesi , and John Moore
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000HCO86I
Release Date: 2006-10-17

Description

Episode Description: Disc 1: OMEN (2006) Disc 2 and 3: THE OMEN COLLECTOR'S EDITION Disc 4: OMEN II: DAMIEN Disc 5: OMEN III: THE FINAL CONFLICT Disc 6: OMEN IV: THE AWAKENING

Customer Reviews:

OMEN.......2007-05-06

I purchased this set of films for my husband's collection. He loves to watch the old movies over and over. Most of his were on VHS so he is replacing them with DVDs.

Best Movies Ever........2007-02-18

I am a classic omen fan. These movies are a must have for any true fan.

A Must Have Collection for Horror Fans!.......2007-02-09

It's great when they package a series of films and this is no exception and that's why I gave it four stars even though each film itself is of different quality; therefore, I gave my ratings below for each individual film. These were all mostly chilling films and they do what sequels are supposed to do and that is continue a storyline and not keep repeating the original. Here is my take on each film:

Omen (1976) ***** - Still one of my all time favorite films horror or not. The Academy Award-winning score by Jerry Goldsmith is still very haunting as is the rest of this film. Time has not altered the effectiveness of this great chiller which is enhance by great acting, notably by Greg Peck and Lee Remick, direction and cinematography. Nothing shows age with this film.

Omen (2006) *** - An unnecessary remake, but a decent one all the same with a good cast. It does lack the haunting images and feel of the original and probably a good example of leave well enough alone.

Omen II (1978) ***1/2 - A well-crafted sequel that cleverly continues the story which is what a sequel should do. Damien is growing up and learning of his heritage, power, and potential future and unexpectedly struggles with this much like any teen-ager growing up. The storyline is very convincingly continued here. It's not nearly as haunting and chilling as the original, but it does stand well up against it. Superior acting and an intelligent script save this film from being a typical sequel. While it is predicatable most of the time, the director keeps things moving swiftly. Good popcorn fun, but with a little more substance than most of its genre.

Omen III (1981) **** - The world is introduced to Damien, now an adult and seeking world domination through his company and followers, and we as an audience are introduced to a great actor, Sam Neil (Jurassic Park), in his first starring role. I was greatly impressed with this sequel and Neil's powerful performance filled with chilling charm and menacing arrogance. This film got under my skin more the Omen II, but still less so than the original film. My major criticism with this film is the ending which has several VERY long passages to read at the end in a font and size that is difficult to read. Thank God for the freeze frame function. Live audiences must have went nuts trying to read this in the theater and if they missed it, they'd have to stay to see it again to read faster. Overall, it was a very effective conclusion to the Omen series.

Omen IV (1991) **1/2 - Hey, didn't I just say conclusion in the last review? Well, sort of. This "sequel" is entertaining to a degree, but it does what all too many sequels tend to do and that is rehash the original and contradict it as well (much like "The Grudge 2"). This film is one of those it's so bad it's kind of good (but not that good). This is an example of Hollywood trying to save a money-making franchise, but they are fresh out of good ideas to continue the storyline. Heck, after killing Satan's son in Omen III, that kind of closed the door on things --duh! It's an oddball film that is mildly entertaining, but very pale in comparison to the series' prior efforts.

This whole collection is well worth owning. I can't imagine any horror fans letting this series slip by them.

OMEN COLLECTION.......2007-01-12

WHAT AN AWESOME SET TO ADD TO YOUR PERSONAL COLLECTION!!TRUE HORROR AT ITS FINEST...BETTER THAN SOME HORROR FILMS WE GET NOWADAYS!!PREDICTABLE A LITTLE BUT NOTHING LIKE A GOOD MADE MOVIE SET.MOVIES MADE LATELY JUST DON'T HAVE WHAT IT TAKES..SEE WHERE DAMIEN TAKES YOU AND MAKE YOU FEEL SO VULNERABLE AND NIEVE TO SOCIETY TODAY

The Omen Collection.......2007-01-10

I believe this is a great collection for a great price.The delivery time was also great.Amazon I have nothing bad to say about this collection,I recomend it to everyone that reads this.To be able to watch the segments back to back is real exceptional piece of work.

Average customer rating:

Still a great movie
South of the border - down Mexico way
Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray!
Interesting Mix of Cowboys And Dinosaurs With Spectacular Ray Harryhausen Animation
Cowboys and dinosaurs. Need I say more?

The Valley of Gwangi
Starring: James Franciscus , Gila Golan , Richard Carlson , Laurence Naismith , and Freda Jackson
Director: Jim O'Connolly
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000B1OGD
Release Date: 2003-10-21

Amazon.com

The stop-motion magic of legendary special effects creator Ray Harryhausen is the highlight of this sporadically exciting fantasy-adventure, which pits cowboys against dinosaurs in the Mexican desert. James Franciscus and Richard Carlson star as members of a struggling Wild West show who discover their newest attraction in Mexico--a tiny prehistoric horse. Exploration into a nearby valley uncovers living dinosaurs, including the fearsome "Gwangi"-an allosaur that the circus folk capture for exhibition. But as every creature connoisseur knows, monsters in cages always break free, and soon enough, the beast is on a rampage. Originally developed by Harryhausen's mentor Willis O'Brien in 1942, The Valley of Gwangi feels like a retread of his previous titles, especially 20 Million Miles to Earth, but Harryhausen's effects are spectacular as always (especially the miniature horse), and will please monster fans. Warner Bros' widescreen anamorphic DVD includes a short featurette, "Return to the Valley," in which Industrial Light and Magic animators pay tribute to Harryhausen's influence. --Paul Gaita

Description

A cowboy captures a prehistoric beast and hits on the idea of putting it on show at a traveling circus. The beast, however, has other ideas.

Customer Reviews:

Still a great movie.......2007-05-15

Before technology found the way to improve monster moves, this was the way we saw them. Even with the old methods, the story is still one of the greats.

South of the border - down Mexico way.......2006-06-11

It was the turn of the 20 th century. Champ Connors (Richard Carlson) was putting on a rodeo show. Returning to make a horse deal and to see the girl (Gila Golan) that he did not realize he love was Tuck Kirby (James Franciscus.) Looks like more than one man loved her. However she had a "show must go on" attitude.

Can anyone win her heart? Meanwhile down in the valley, the valley so low, in an environment that was untouched for millennium Gwangi waits. Gypsies warn us not to go there.

We get a good history lesson as many people do not realize that the horse originated in the Americas and migrated to Asia.

There are some staking similarities between this cowboy love story and King Kong. The only major difference is Gwangi (Ray Harryhausen creation) would eat anything or anybody.

Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray!.......2006-03-19

James Fransicus can't act. He tries hard though and that's a good thing. It's fun watching him try and try. But he doesn't matter, just like a preacher matters not in church during the rapture... there is no preacher at that point, is there? And the rapture in the case of Valley of the Gwangi is the last half of the movie when all the cowboys, Fransiscus one of them, gets chased by Harryhausen's dinosaurs. The meanest of these prehistoric nasties is a big purple T-Rex. He's related to Barney, perhaps; I haven't seen that many other purple dinosaurs... But this is no Barney... He's a mean motorscooter and it's just amazing seeing this Rex battle cowboys and one scene in particular that's very, very nice is when the cowboys actually pull off lassoing this big purple brute, sticking him in a cage, and bringing him back "home". Then they take him to town and display him in front of many people (in a bull ring) and he gets mad and breaks free and reeks havoc ala King Kong. Mean Purple Dino even battles a Harryhausen elephant that looks fantastic. There's also a small horse in the film that's the size of a toy, and it's a little corny, but it doesn't matter because of Ray Harryhausen and his awesome stop-motion effects, making this flawed film into one heck of a masterpiece... as Ray does so well.

Interesting Mix of Cowboys And Dinosaurs With Spectacular Ray Harryhausen Animation.......2006-01-20

At first glance you would be possibly right to think that a film like "The Valley of Gwangi", just wouldn't work. Prehistoric dinosaurs mixed up in a western does not appear a very promising combination however this effort set sometime in 19th Century Mexico actually creates a very exciting story that in some ways has shades of "King Kong", to it. It most memorable qualities however are the truly spectacular dinosaur creations of special effects legend Ray Harryhausen. Again as in so many previous classic films such as "The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad", Harryhausen creates some wonderful stop animation monsters with his unforgettable stop motion Allosaurus (long before computer generated monsters on "Jurassic Park"), truly stealing the whole movie once it makes its appearance roughly half way through the feature. The film's highly original western setting I found very interesting that helped give "The Valley of Gwangi", its own distinct look and character. However in common with these types of features "Gwangi", of course includes an exciting and very fiery climax which will also stay in your mind for a long time with its stunning special effects involving the rampaging Allosaurus becoming trapped in a burning Cathedral which will have you on the edge of your seat right up to the finale.

Cowboys and dinosaurs. Need I say more?.......2005-12-13

A terrific minor classic, Valley of Gwangi holds up remarkably well today. Like King Kong, the original Godzilla, and Clash of the Titans, it's a fun film that has stood the test of time.

The special effects are solid. I love CGI monsters, but the stop-motion dinos are top-notch and really cool to watch. The scene where our heroes rope and wrangle a dinosaur is still great fun. This film deserves a place on any monster movie fans shelf.

One question though. Were there really such a thing as Mexican Gypsies? Seriously. I'd really like to know.

Average customer rating:

Is Liev Schreiber Breathing?
I also think that Michael Gambon was the better Bugenhagen.
POINTLESS REMAKE WATCH THE ORIGINAL!
I wasn't scared
Pointless

The Omen (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Predrag Bjelac , Carlo Sabatini , Bohumil Svarc , Liev Schreiber , and Giovanni Lombardo Radice
Director: John Moore
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000HCO87W
Release Date: 2006-10-17

Amazon.com

If you can overlook its glaring redundancy, The Omen is a faithful and well-crafted remake that does adequate justice to Richard Donner's popular 1976 original. It's a completely unnecessary film, given that David Seltzer's original screenplay wasn't even rewritten (as would normally happen with a Hollywood remake), but when viewed with fresh eyes, or by anyone who's unfamiliar with the original, it retains most of the serious, intelligently plotted chills that made Donner's horror thriller a box-office sensation. It skews to a younger audience (of course), with Liev Schreiber and Julia Stiles in the roles originated by Gregory Peck and Lee Remick. As newly-promoted U.S. Ambassador to England Robert Thorn and his troubled wife Katherine, they grow increasingly suspicious that their young son Damien (Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick) may be the devil incarnate. An anxious Roman priest (Pete Postelthwaite) and a freelance photographer (David Thewlis, in the role memorably originated by David Warner) are equally terrified of this Satanic scenario, and Damien's new and eerily protective nanny (played to perfection by Mia Farrow) adds further evidence of Damien's malevolence, as Vatican prophesies of Armageddon are rapidly fulfilled. Director John Moore (who also remade The Flight of the Phoenix) offers a few minor improvements in suspense and gruesomeness (including a more graphically inventive death for a prominent character), but he's also hampered by the weaker presence of Davey-Fitzpatrick, who's not nearly as creepy as the original film's Damien. Otherwise, this copy of The Omen justifies its existence as a worthwhile diversion for stormy-night viewing.--Jeff Shannon

Description

In this chilling remake of The Omen ? that is even more terrifying than the original ? man's darkest fears are manifested as an unspeakable terror is unleashed on the world! U.S. diplomat Robert Thorn (Liev Schreiber) substitutes an orphan for his own stillborn baby in order to spare his unknowing wife (Julia Stiles). But after a series of grotesque murders and dire warnings, the Thorns come to the horrifying realization that their child is the son of Satan!

Customer Reviews:

Is Liev Schreiber Breathing?.......2007-06-08

Once again, the supremely wooden Liev Schreiber essays a role set in the high echelons of government. Playing an update on the Laurence Harvey character in "The Manchurian Candidate" he showed as much emotion as one of those My Buddy dolls that single women keep in their cars to scare away carjackers. Mr. Schreiber is similarly emotive in his update of the role originated by Gregory Peck in the 1976 classic. To attempt to take over a role from the inimitable Gregory Peck is either incredibly brave or incredibly insane. Mr. Schreiber is no Gregory Peck. Audiences accepted Peck as a senior statesman because the man looked the part and certainly had the voice for it. In this version, Liev's Robert Thorn comes by his post of US Ambassador to Great Britain by dint of being the President's godson, and not his own personal charisma or ability. Nepotism is about the only 'update' this 'update' manages, and it's called for, because besides being absent a personality, Mr. Schreiber is too young to have risen so high in the diplomatic corps on his own merits.

Julia Stiles also struggles in her attempt to reprise Lee Remick's role as the doomed Mrs. Thorn. I have always liked Ms. Stiles as one of our most promising young actresses, but this part does not serve her at all. At 25, and looking more like 16 with her round face, despite the matronly hairdos and outfits meant to give her sophistication, she is not credible either, as the wife of an ambassador.

The supporting roles fare better, particularly Pete Postletwaite as the doomed priest, though one scratches her head at the presence of David Thewlis. Mr. Thewlis is a pretty hefty star nowadays & thanks to Harry Potter is well-known even to Americans. His slacker photographer character has a tiny role and could have been played by anybody. The standout is definitely Mia Farrow, having some campy fun as the nanny/guardian. She appears to be the only one having any fun.

Seamus Whatisname as the kid is adequate. Since the poor kid never has any lines but is only called upon to stare at the camera with big blue eyes, he can hardly be faulted for bad acting. He fufills the requirement for a black-haired, pale creepy-looking kid with big blue eyes well enough, though one would think the son of Satan would have a bit more charisma.

I also think that Michael Gambon was the better Bugenhagen. .......2007-05-21

Michael Gambon was better than Leo McKern? I want some of the drugs that you are taking! That is a ridiculous statement. BTW--the remake stinks.
Richard Donner isn't losing any sleep.

POINTLESS REMAKE WATCH THE ORIGINAL!.......2007-05-14

The remake is not as creepy or as good as the original. It is a complete waste of time. This film adds nothing new or does anything better than the original. Why???

I wasn't scared.......2007-05-13

When I first saw previews of the Omen, I thought it looked like a decent horror movie along the lines of the Exorcist. Unfortunately, all the scary moments turned out to be nothing but short little rushed moments of action scenes involving Damien (the child who's Satan) killing people (or trying to kill them) in different ways. There was almost no build up or suspense whatsoever.

Damien didn't really strike me as much of a scary child, either. More like a normal quiet kid who just preferred being by himself. Maybe his acting could have been better too.

I was a bit scared when the dogs that were hanging around Damien suddenly started growling whenever the father entered a room. I guess that's a secret fear I have of vicious dogs.

Overall, I wasn't scared. The movie didn't deliver the type of fear that makes you think about bad things, and instead was just one action scene after another. It was almost like a made for TV movie, the more I think about it.

UPDATE- ONE WEEK LATER-

Okay, I rewatched the movie, and enjoyed it more the second time. A movie that probably deserves closer to four stars. It STILL drives me mad that there's hardly no build-up to any of the scary moments, and that things just "happen out of nowhere". I guess in some cases, such as with the dogs in the graveyard, this can be a very scary thing (especially with the volume on the TV up really out).

The ending was good too. It was very surprising. I also should have mentioned I had never seen the original version from the mid 70's. I guess I should have seen that and compared the two, since almost everyone agrees the original was better.

Oh, another thing about this movie I liked was the same thing I liked in that movie Final Destination 3- I enjoyed seeing "weird" things in the backgrounds of the photos the photographers were taking. You'll see what I mean (I don't want to give anything away).

Oh, and can't forget about the guy who loses his head near the end of the film. Good entertainment there. He must have been a Beatles fan "When I get old I'm losing my head!" Oh wait, Paul McCartney says "hair". Well, the jokes works anyway because I said so. :)

It's not a bad movie to rent if you want to watch something scary for a late Friday or Saturday night.

Pointless.......2007-05-11

The original 1976 film wasn't exactly a classic, in my opinion, so why on earth bother to do an almost shot for shot remake of a mediocre film? Perhaps it is the (mostly American) obsession with the Apocalypse and the End of Time (just read one of those dreadful, poorly written LEFT BEHIND books) that caused FOX to think this might be a money maker. It is slow, boreing, breaks no new ground and is an insult to the intelligence of the audience. A complete waste of time.

Average customer rating:

just one deceiving flaw, but i love it stil
Good Movie
The Hidden Powers...
Holliston Coleman Does a Nice Job
Religious Escapism

Bless the Child
Starring: Kim Basinger , Jimmy Smits , Holliston Coleman , Rufus Sewell , and Angela Bettis
Director: Chuck Russell
Manufacturer: Paramount
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ASIN: B0000541W8
Release Date: 2001-02-13

Amazon.com

When Maggie (Kim Basinger of L.A. Confidential and Batman) comes home to her apartment building one night, she discovers her estranged, drug-addict sister Jenna huddling in the doorway. Jenna promptly abandons her newborn baby with Maggie, who proceeds to raise the child as her own, despite evidence of autism. But as the little girl, Cody, gets older, what seemed to be autism starts to manifest itself in more startling ways. At the same time, a series of child murders are sweeping the city--murders conducted by a mysterious cult with supernatural matters on their mind. Bless the Child starts promisingly, with subdued, creepy scenes contrasted with more outrageous moments like swarms of computer-generated rats. Fans of religious horror movies will enjoy its twist on The Omen, with an angelic child instead of a demonic one--only the child is still pretty eerie. The special effects go a little overboard towards the end. Jimmy Smits (Price of Glory) costars as an FBI cult chaser, and Rufus Sewell (Dark City, Cold Comfort Farm) gives a pleasantly restrained performance as the charismatic cult leader. Also featuring Christina Ricci as a cult escapee and Ian Holm as a Jesuit priest. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

just one deceiving flaw, but i love it stil.......2007-02-16

Bless the Child, love it! I've watched it before many years ago and i was excited to find it on amazon! i had to have it! The only flaw would be the cover shown on amazon is not the one thats on the dvd case, its a diff cover, still exceptional but a lil deceiving. The cover shown is actually inside the case with scene numbering and titles as many other dvds have. other than that still rates a 5 star!

Good Movie.......2007-02-07

I first off wanna say that this movie was well done. Even though the story is controversial, that is, a girl playing what should be a boy Jesus. I thought that was going to turn my interest off when watching the movie. But instead, I was applauding at the effects that used in the movie and the End Times that was thrown into the story to make it more suspenseful. I thought the acting was well done and the lines were good too. But...of course all movies can be chessy with some lines and I like that there wasn't very much. Now, I wanna say that if you look at the movie as a fictional story it plays well. But if you ask yourself the question, "What if Jesus was was born a girl and not a boy?," I think it's interesting but don't let that question make you think that the authors idea was just bad. It's an interesting fictional twist that will never be true but still interesting enough to be a good supernatural suspenseful movie. So there you got it, my review.

The Hidden Powers..........2006-11-14

Although there are some gory moments in this film I did enjoy the triumph of good over evil. I also especially enjoyed the way in which the film depicted the cosmic powers: both good and evil, and how they are associated with earthly events. You see this especially in the last scene of the movie, but it is also depicted in other parts as well. It is a "horror movie with heart".

Holliston Coleman Does a Nice Job.......2005-12-19

It takes a brave person to willingly view a film with a 95% "rotten" rating on the "Tomatometer" but when the cast includes Angela Bettis, Christina Ricci, and Ian Holm you begin to get interested. Then when the same critics are overwhelmingly praising an exercise in excess like the new "King Kong", you begin to wonder if their judgment can be trusted about a film like "Bless the Child". Not that "Bless the Child" is a small independent film, it had a $40 Million budget although there is little sign much of that money actually made it onto the screen; except that the DVD has far more extensive special features than some low-budget production.

Anyway, if you are curious enough to view "Bless the Child" and if your expectations are modest, you should find it a pleasant surprise. Not because of Ricci (who has only two scenes although both are done well). Or because of Holm (who makes an extremely short appearance of little consequence). And not because of Bettis, although she gets a fair amount of screen time and has one especially good scene at the start of the film. And not because of top billed Kim Basinger and Jimmy Smits, who give competent if unexceptional performances.

The real star is young Holliston Coleman (best known as the "Me" in the television movie "Miss Lettie and Me") as six year old Cody. Director Chuck Russell (The Mask," "Eraser") gets a restrained but glowing performance from Coleman as a six-year-old savior sent by God to restore mankind's faith. At the start of the film, a strung-out Bettis brings then 9-day old Cody for a long over-due visit with older sister Maggie, a NYC psychological nurse. Once Maggie starts fussing with the baby, Bettis sneaks out, leaving Cody behind to be raised by Maggie.

At first it is thought that Cody is autistic but when she starts resurrecting dead birds and performing small scale miracles her Aunt Maggie (Basinger) begins to realize that she is something else. Without the right actress and the right level of performance this whole idea would be truly awful, but Coleman deftly alternates between playful and serious, giving the character a believability that has to be seen to (dare we say it) be believed.

The suspense is provided by a self-empowerment guru named Eric Stark (Rufus Sewell), who is actually an agent of the devil and intends to kill Cody if he cannot turn her to the dark side. Stark first appears about midway into the film, which begins to go steadily downhill from that point.

There are a couple of good thrills (including a bedroom full of rats), one great scare (the nanny's face changes suddenly and unexpectedly into that of a demon), and some lame special effects stuff that doesn't work well (Maggie's drive against the flow of traffic). In a cool and perversely funny scene Maggie threatens Eric with a gun and he says, "Are you really going to shoot me? Right here in front of Cody?" Maggie simply tells Cody to close her eyes.

Religious Escapism.......2005-05-02

Coming from a long line of religion themed th

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