Evita

Starring:Antonio Banderas, Gary Brooker, AdriÃ Collado, Andrea Corr, Martin Drogo, Gabriel Kraisman, Julian Littman, MarÃa LujÃ¡n Hidalgo, Madonna, Olga Merediz, Jimmy Nail, Laura Pallas, Alan Parker, Peter Polycarpou, Jonathan Pryce, Victoria Sus, Servando Villamil, Venesa Weis, Julia Worsley, Maite Yerro
Director: Alan Parker
Studio: Miramax
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

After more than a decade of false starts and several potential directors, the popular Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical finally made it to the big screen with Alan Parker (The Commitments) at the helm and Madonna in the coveted title role of Argentina's first lady, Eva Perón. A triumph of production design, costuming, cinematography, and epic-scale pageantry, the film follows the rise of Eva Perón to the level of supreme social and political celebrity in the 1940s. Like Madonna, Perón was a material girl (she was only 33 when she died); she was instrumental in the political success of her husband, Juan Perón (Jonathan Pryce). But Eva was also a supremely tragic figure whose life was essentially hollow at its core despite the lavish benefits of her nearly goddess-like status. The film has a similar quality--it's visually astonishing but emotionally distant, and benefits greatly from the singing commentary of Ché (Antonia Banderas), who serves as a passionate chorus to guide the viewer through the elaborate parade of history. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Few times in the history of Hollywood has a film been released with the scope and daring of EVITA! Now, experience this landmark achievement as entertainment megastar Madonna -- in the role of a lifetime -- joins Antonio Banderas (ASSASSINS, DESPERADO) for the year's most talked about motion picture event! Directed by award-winning filmmaker Alan Parker (MISSISSIPPI BURNING), EVITA is the riveting true-life story of Eva Peron (MADONNA), who rose above childhood poverty and a scandalous past to achieve unimaginable fortune and fame. Despite widespread controversy, her passion changed a nation forever! Winner of the coveted Academy Award(R) for Best Song (1996) and 3 Golden Globe Awards (Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Song) -- critics nationwide hailed EVITA as a triumphant must-see masterpiece -- and so will you!

Customer Reviews:

Savior in the Eyes of Argentina.......2007-05-01

Evita is a historically relevant musical about a woman named Evita Peron who, in the early twentieth century, rose to the top and became a significant influence to the people of Argentina. She started her life out on the lowest ranks of society, an outcast in her own right, she slowly rose her way up to become a national figure in the political spectrum. I thought it was a very well made movie with a great deal of historical accuracies incorporated into it. Madonna was an excellent choice for casting. This movie has an excellent entertainment value while also incorporating historical value into it!

Terrific musical.......2007-04-26

Evita is the best contemporary historical musical out there. Madonna shines in this film, as does Antonio Bandaraz. Anyone who doesn't appreciate Evita, obviously doesn't know their history.

My one complaint is that the DVD has NO extra features! There really is no point in purchasing the DVD over the VHS unless you want to be able to flip through the chapters or care about wide screen. I would have liked to see some director's commentary as well as an interview with Madonna. Some historical notes would have been nice too.

Original and flawed.......2007-04-18

Evita is not really a musical. It is an uneasy combination of tableau and opera. There is no spoken dialogue. It is worth seeing just for the great costumes and production values and the exquisite cinematography. Crowd scenes are well staged and exciting. There are also some great dance scenes. With powerful voices and a convincing star this could have been an extraordinary film. However, with the exception of Antonio Banderas, the singing is surprisingly thin and weak. Jonathan Pryce as Juan Peron gives a fine understated performance, but Madonna is miscast: past her prime and out of her depth. The first rule of acting is "look good on screen" and unfortunately she doesn't. Gaunt and sallow, with garish makeup and inexplicably bloodshot eyes, she cuts an unconvincing and depressing figure. As he did in Cats, Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote one great song and a whole lot of junk. Sequences of rock music here and there are jarring and anachronistic.

Great.......2007-04-16

I haven't heard the original cast recording so I can't compare this to it but, I think this is a very good movie/musical. Madonna and Antonio Banderas did a great job! The music is really good.This musical is not as good as The Phantom of the Opera but it is hard to be better than Phantom. You MUST see EVITA!

Banderas and Madonna are in top form in this great film........2007-04-15

This masterpiece of film-making needs re-evaluation since in hindsight it can be seen for the superb and masterful work of art and entertainment that it is. I have now seen the film three times and each time I am amazed that this film has not been recognized widely for its considerable attributes.

How does a director convey the oppressive nature of Fascism in a musical? Alan Parker succeeds wonderfully through his use of a muted brown, beige, black, and vanilla color range. He does it through the wonderful photography of riots, poverty, wealth, militarism, and the signs and symbols of power. The cinematography in this film is great. The art direction is super. The editing is perfect. It is a mystery to me why this film wasn't more appreciated by the public.

I think one reason is that folks don't know history and understand the rise of fascism in Germany, Italy, Spain, and Argentina in the 1930s and 1940s. Peron's brand of fascism was threatening to the oligarchy in Argentina that had ruled a nation of farmers and cowboys and peasants. Thus there is no clear picture of good guys and bad guys in the film. At times Eva's appeals to the poor and underserved, the establishment of her foundation, and her ability to communicate with the masses puts her in the role of saint. However, the extortion of the rich to pay for her charities and thus maintain the popularity of Peron is a shrewed political power play.

Madonna is super in this film. Her acting is not naturalistic because she is playing an over-the-top diva and saint. It is Antonio Banderas who gives us a running commentary thorughout the film that continually grounds the viewer in the facts and the actions in this opera.

One last comment: there are very few songs that have the power of Webber and Rice's Don't Cry for Me Argentina. Madonna's performance is spotless when she sings this from her balcony to the crowd below.

Average customer rating:

Fast, and in great condition
Finally Anamorphic
Pure Adventure Fun On The Highest Level!
Is Anyone Else Having Problems With This Disc?
Lots of fun...

Romancing the Stone (Special Edition)
Starring: Michael Douglas , Kathleen Turner , Danny DeVito , Zack Norman , and Alfonso Arau
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Comic Action | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Romantic Adventure | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( R ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

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

The Jewel of the Nile (Special Edition)
Crocodile Dundee
Crocodile Dundee II
The Adventures of Indiana Jones - The Complete DVD Movie Collection (Widescreen Edition)
Ghost (Special Collector's Edition)

ASIN: B000FO0AA6
Release Date: 2006-08-29

Amazon.com essential video

Director Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump, Contact) had a hit with this 1984 comedy that first teamed Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and Danny DeVito. Turner steals the show from the guys, however, playing a pushy romance novelist who gets stuck among some dangerous figures in Colombia and has only a rumpled guide (Michael Douglas) as an ally. The chemistry between the stars is infectious (the trio went on to make a sequel, Jewel of the Nile, and then an interesting, dark comedy directed by DeVito, The War of the Roses). Zemeckis--whose specialty at the time was creating set pieces of raucous action (as in his Back to the Future)--keeps things hopping with lots of kinetic material. --Tom Keogh

Product Description

When her sister is kidnapped by thugs searching for a priceless jewel in the Colombian jungle, a romance novelist (Kathleen Turner) soon finds her own life filled with cliffhangers and danger. All alone, she sets out to rescue her sister and meets up with a handsome fortune seeker (Michael Douglas) who convinces her to beat the bandits to the treasure.

System Requirements:

Running Time 105 Mins.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Fast, and in great condition.......2007-01-03

The delivery was quicker than expected, and the actual product was in perfect condition.

Finally Anamorphic.......2006-09-24

Eventhough the sound is not upgraded (Dolby Surround), the picture is. Now you can watch this extremely entertaining movie in an anamorphic widescreen. It looks nice and crisp on my 16:9 TV. Same thing goes for the sequel "Jewel of the Nile" except for a better audio sound with 4.0 surround. Hopefully Fox will release a new ANAMORPHIC version of "The Abyss" and "The edge". The latest release of "Young Frankenstein" is now available for the fist time ever in anamorphic widescreen. Audio remains MONO though, unfortunately.

Pure Adventure Fun On The Highest Level!.......2006-09-08

In 1984, when this movie was releashed, movie lovers were in the grip of Indiana Jones (Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was releashed in that same year, the second instalment in the Indiana series), and so this movie was labeld an Indiana Jones clone.
So lets get one thing straight: Romancing the stone is no clone of Indiana Jones.

Romancing the Stone is one of the finest adventure movies out there today. It is fun, exciting and ritmic on it's own way and has captured the hearts of movielovers all over the world.
Michael Douglas plays a man called Jack T. Colten, a guy who is a bit down on his luck and travels around the world. When he meets romantic novelist Joan Wilder (played with lots of fun by Kathleen Turner) in the Columbian jungle, the adventure begins! Being chased by a lot of badguys (including Danny Devito in a hilarious role), the two have a lot of thrills and of course adventure!

The atmosphere in the film is absolutely fantastic and feels great. The movie lifts you up to a level of high enjoyment and shameless fun. Also the music in the film, composed by Alan Silvestri gives the movie much more depth and even more fun! So with stunning action scenes, great humor and a lot of delighted surprises, this movie is a great acquisition in your dvd collection!

The recently releashed special edition of the film has nice extras. Nice features about making the film (a feature of 20 minutes, and three others of all 3 minutes) and a bunch of fun deleted scenes (18 minutes).

So what are you waiting for adventure lover? Go and Romance that stone with all those other lovers around the world!

Is Anyone Else Having Problems With This Disc?.......2006-09-08

I received my first disc and after the DVD loads, it bypasses the menu and starts playing the deleted scenes. I had Amazon replace it, and the new one does the exact same thing.....

Lots of fun..........2006-09-07

Out of all of the movies in the 1980s that were influenced by Raiders of the Lost Ark, Romancing the Stone was arguably the best of the bunch (even if it was written before Raiders) because it managed to successfully blend action and adventure with a good dose of humour that resulted in a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining experience. It also helped Michael Douglas make the jump from television to A-list movie star and shot Kathleen Turner's career into the mainstream.

Douglas' character has the same kind of roguish charm as Indiana Jones albeit with a bit more of an emphasis on the comedy. And like Han Solo, he's a little full of himself and the humour in the film comes when he's knocked off his smug high horse. Turner is an excellent foil to Douglas and Joan makes a credible transformation from meek wallflower to a much more confident and assertive individual - closer to the heroines in her novels. In addition to being quite funny, Turner is also beautiful and smart. The `80s were good to her with a string of hits that included Body Heat and Prizzi's Honor but it was this film that really established her as a movie star.

Romancing the Stone also helped launch director Robert Zemeckis' career who would go on to direct an even larger hit with Back to the Future. He wisely doesn't try to ape Raiders' retro pulp serial approach, instead going for a more contemporary look while capturing that film's more overt comedic moments with broad slapstick that is a little too silly at times but fortunately Zemeckis keeps them to a minimum. The commercial success of Romancing the Stone spawned an inferior sequel, The Jewel of the Nile but the chemistry between the two leads (and DeVito) was used effectively again in The War of the Roses.

There are eight deleted scenes with more footage of Jack and Joan bonding in the jungle, including a bit with her bathing and them falling asleep together in the crashed plane that they wait out the rain in. We also see Joan back in New York telling her editor to publish her new novel based on her adventures in Colombia.

"Rekindling the Romance: A Look Back" features Douglas, DeVito and Turner returning for new interviews recounting, with fondness, their experiences making the movie. By everyone's account, it was a tough shoot with extreme weather and an unforgiving environment with Turner recalling the numerous injuries she endured. This is a nice look back at the movie.

"A Hidden Treasure: The Screenwriter" profiles the movie's screenwriter, Diane Thomas. Douglas was taken with the blend of action, comedy and romance. Thomas tragically died in a car accident. This extra is a nice, little tribute to her.

"Douglas, Turner and DeVito: Favorite Scenes." The three leads pick the scenes that they like the most and they aren't necessarily the ones you'd think (no, not the famous mudslide scene - thankfully).

"Michael Douglas Remembers." The actor talks about the tough time he had making the transition from T.V. to the big screen as an actor. He was a successful producer but it took Romancing the Stone to show that he was a bankable movie star.

Average customer rating:

2 great movies together
80s nostalgia
DVD review
Great to see an old favorite
Romancing the Stone / Jewel of the Nile

Romancing the Stone / Jewel of the Nile
Starring: Michael Douglas , Kathleen Turner , Danny DeVito , Zack Norman , and Alfonso Arau
Director: Robert Zemeckis , and Lewis Teague
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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

The Da Vinci Code (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition)
Ace Ventura Deluxe Double Feature (Pet Detective / When Nature Calls)
The Sentinel (Widescreen Edition)
X-Men - The Last Stand (Widescreen Edition)
Poseidon [HD DVD]

ASIN: B000FOPPEW
Release Date: 2006-08-29

Description

ROMANCING THE STONE SPECIAL EDITION and JEWEL OF THE NILE SPECIAL EDITION are new releases of these hit comic adventures starring Michael Douglas, KathleenTurner and Danny DeVito with never-before-seen deleted scenes and featurettes. The titles are available as a slipcased giftset for $29.98 & $45.98.

Disk 1: Romancing The Stone Special Edition Disk 2: Jewel of The Nile

Customer Reviews:

2 great movies together.......2007-03-11

This DVD set is great, whether you're a Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, or especially a Danny DeVito fan, or if you enjoy action/adventure movies that have a very funny side to them. There is a very sexy romance plot in addition to the adventure theme as well. Good product.

80s nostalgia.......2007-02-05

These 2 films are 2 of the most nostalgic films for me from the mid-1980s. It had been a long time since I watched them, but they remain as delightful today as they did when I first saw them on VHS in the 80s.

Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner portray a pair of quasi-lovers thrown into rather unpredictable circumstances. Danny Devito plays a loveable bumbling bad guy who is out to convince himself that he really IS a bad guy.

The DVDs contain special features which interview the stars today and all 3 reminisce about the making of both films. The story about how the set-prop of the F-16 nearly caused an international incident is comical. There was just one downside to the interviews, and that was that Kathleen Turner (who SIZZLED in the 80s!) has not aged well @ all. I would have never recognized her. Sadly, I believe Danny Devito has aged more gracefully than she has.

If you grew up in the 80s, I would highly recommend that you pick up this DVD set to re-discover why we all loved Kathleen & Mike way back then. If you're young enough that you were not alive when the movies came out in the theatre, then you're in for a big treat. These are 2 of the funnest adventure movies ever made!

DVD review.......2007-01-19

Arrived in good time and perfect condition. Haven't watched them yet as they are a present for someone else.

Great to see an old favorite.......2007-01-03

It was great to see an old favorite on DVD. The bonus materials were great and to see both of the main characters today was great!

Romancing the Stone / Jewel of the Nile.......2006-11-05

I have loved these two movies since I was a little girl and it is so nice to be able to watch them again and again now that they are on DVD. Thank you so much!!!

Average customer rating:

Great Buy
BEAUTILFUL , BRILLIANT A MASTER PIECE !! *****
A Latin Epic if there ever was one.
a movie worth seeing and a must have!
a memorable melodrama

Nosotros Los Pobres
Starring: Pedro Infante , Evita Muñoz 'Chachita' , Carmen Montejo , Blanca Estela Pavón , and Miguel Inclán
Director: Ismael Rodríguez
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

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

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

Ustedes Los Ricos
Pepe El Toro
Angelitos Negros
Cuando Lloran Los Valientes
Dicen Que Soy Mujeriego

ASIN: B000NA6C2M
Release Date: 2007-04-10

Description

Pepe el Toro is a humble carpenter who lives peacefully with his paralized mother, his daughter and his girlfriend. They all join together to fight injustice after Pepe is wrongly accused of murder. Part one in a trilogy of the most revered dramas from iconic Mexican film and recording star, Pedro Infante.

Customer Reviews:

Great Buy.......2007-05-21

This is a great product and was a fast delivery. Would definitely continue buying from amazon as I have for several years.

BEAUTILFUL , BRILLIANT A MASTER PIECE !! *****.......2007-04-19

THIS MOVIE DESERVES TO BE IN THE MOVIE BOARD ALL TIMES FOR THE NEW YOUNG GENERATION, BEAUTILFUL STORIE, GREAT SCRIPT, GREAT PHOTO SHOTS, BRILLIANT PHILMOGRAPY, BEST DIRECTOR HIGEST QUALITY FILM FIVE STAR CLASS, PEDRO INFANTE IS TERRIFIC FROM RAG TO RICHEST; I WAS A KID WHEN I SAW THIS MOVIE IN MY GRANDMAS HOUSE IN THE SUMMER TIME, AND IT WAS OLDER THAN MY GRANDMAS .. BLACK AND WHITE MOVIES CAPT MY ATENTION I REMEMBER CRY , AND CRY WHEN THE STORIE WAS HITING THE DEEPEST ME.. WHAT A LOVE STORIE, I WONT TELL DETAILS CUZ IS A MUST SEE MOVIE OF ALL BEST MEXICAN FILMS CLASSICS TIME... 3 THUMPS WAY UP ! ALL PEDROS INFANTE , "PEPE EL TORO", NOSOTROS LOS POBRES", USTEDES LOS RICOS", TIZOC", KEEP EYES ON "LA TOSTADA Y LA GUAYAVA" TWO TIPSY WOMEN YOU WILL LAUGHFT AND FALL FROM YOUR SIT! PEDRO YOU RE THE BEST! FIVE STARS FILM*****

A Latin Epic if there ever was one........2004-03-06

While western cinema has been gifted with wonderfull epics such as "The Godfather" and recent epics such as the "Lord of the Rings", often foreign films, though usually just as wonderfull, seem to come in singles. It's very rare to find a trilogy of epic proportions outside of the United States, but if there was ever a series of movies by any Mexican directory that can most definately be classified as an Epic, it's the trilogy of "Pepe el Toro" (Pepe the Bull).

Starring the late, great, Mexican actor/musician and songwriter, Pedro Infante, this trilogy tells the tale of a young Mexican boxer that went from rags to ritches and back to rags. This is not your typical cookie-cutter, rags to ritches and back story however, moreso, this is a sublime Shakesperean tragedy that reflects the apogee of Mexican cinema.

"Nosotros los Pobres", "Ustedes los Ricos", and "Pepe el Toro", is one of the finest trilogy of movies ever filmed, and no one, who considers themself a movie buff, should miss it. In true epic fashion, this movie will send you on a rollercoaster of emotions. It will bring you to tears and fill you full of joy, and make you profoundly think about those things in life we take for granted. It has romance, comedy, action, and drama, plenty of gripping, heart pounding drama.

Don't miss this gem.

a movie worth seeing and a must have!.......2003-12-09

I must say i just recently became a Pedro Infante fan, especially after seeing this movie. This is one of the best mexican movies I have ever seen and one of Pedro's best films. Pedro was a tremendous actor and I could see why he was and is so loved. I loved the sequels to it also. a real tearjerker. Pedro Infante still #1...

a memorable melodrama.......2002-04-30

Writer/Director Ismael Rodriguez makes this dedication at the start of this 1948 classic film: "A todas estas gentes sencillas y buenas, cuyo unico pecado es el haber nacido pobres...va mi esfuerzo", and he gives us a story about people caught in the grip of poverty, when their luck goes from bad to worse.

Beautifully photographed in sepia tones in what looks like a soundstage, it stars the wonderful Pedro Infante, and his exquisite interpretation of "Amorcito Corazon" is one of the film's highlights.
A face that will be familiar to U.S. audiences is a young and attractive Katy Jurado, in one of the supporting roles as "La que se levanta tarde".

The plot consists of one calamity after another, but it has humor as well. The two tipsy women, La Tostada and La Guayaba, are hilarious, and it has many light moments and musical numbers.
Though the film might have weaknesses, it has charm and tenderness, and it makes a tremendous impact...it's not a film you're going to forget.
Its parting words, written on the back of a truck, are "se sufre...¡ pero se aprende !" ("one suffers, but one learns !"). The story is about suffering, but it's also about courage and love.

Description

Cristina is the daughter of Mariano, a widower, whose new fiancée doesn't like children. She lives at a Catholic convent school and creates a world of her own ("mundo de juguete") in the school garden. "Nana Tomasina", an old woman who lives close by, takes the lonely girl under her wing. Cristina also befriends Rosario, a novice at the school, believing her to be the ideal mate for her father. Follow the antics and misadventures of this special little girl and the vast array of memorable characters that made this the longest-running telenovela of all time.

Average customer rating:

Very good anime
The essential Sakura Wars - watch this before watching the others!
Sakura Wars!!!!!!!!!

Sakura Wars TV: Complete Collection
Starring: John Howrey , Travis Dean (II) , Robert Pierson , J. Damian Gillen , and L.B. Bartholomee
Manufacturer: Adv Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Anime & Manga | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

Anime | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

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

Sakura Wars: The Movie
Rune Soldier - Complete Collection
Angelic Layer - The Complete Collection
Sakura Taisen - Ecole De Paris
Legend of Himiko Complete Collection

ASIN: B000BKSJI4
Release Date: 2005-12-27

Description

It is the 1920s, and Japan is under attack by demonic invaders. The government has designed sturdy, albeit steam-owered, robot armor suits for the impending battle, but only young ladies with the proper combination of virtue and spirit can pilot the robots successfully.

Customer Reviews:

Very good anime.......2007-06-11

Just when I thought I was going to hate mecha type anime for the rest of my life. Something surfaced and made me a believer. And that something was Sakura Wars. Why this collection isn't over flooded with good reviews? I DONT KNOW!

For starters I never seen or played the video games, so I cannot say anything to those who played the games. And thats good for me because I couldn't expect anything. The story; there is an organization whose sole purpose is to protect the world from a demon threat. That organization is called the flower division.The setting is in Japan in the 1920's but they are very far in technology. They use mechas powered by steam and they're piloted by female pilots. This is not your typical fan service and defenseless bimbos crying out and wearing skimpy clothes for no reason whatsoever. This anime is very mature.

The animation is spectacular in my opinion. I really dont care about the animation involving anything but I noted it anyway. I just feel whats the big deal about the animation. If the animation is good but the story and a few other elements is weak, then animation means nothing. The soundtrack for the opening and ending credits is alright. I really didn't care for the opening that much.

The charcter development is second to Crest of the Stars. I find it impossible to dislike any of the characters. The snobs, geeks, almost manly looking weight lifting buffs are all likable. They spend alot of time helping you get to know the characters. When the Flower divison aren't fighting demons then they plan for a live show or play that they rehearse all day for. I kind of felt some of the story involving the plays dragged a little too long. But I come to appreciate it because it really did help with the overall character development. The action scenes are pretty good but don't come into this expecting high octane, mass casualty deaths, and an incredible amount of gore. This series isn't about that.

I don't feel this anime is for everyone. If you enjoyed Crest of the Stars or something in that ballpark, then you can enjoy this. If your very heavily influenced with lots of action, gore, an in your face straight up plot, and thats it. This anime MAY not be for you. It can be about as fun as watching paint dry.

The essential Sakura Wars - watch this before watching the others!.......2006-03-01

Anyone interested in Sakura Taisen (Sakura Wars) - whether a fan of the games or just interested in the anime - should definitely watch this 5-disc compilation of the entire 25-episode run of the TV series. Be aware, though, that the story told in the TV series is slightly but significantly different from that told in the OAV (and also from that told in the new manga version, which is now being published in English in the USA). I definitely recommend watching the TV series BEFORE watching "Sakura Wars: The Movie", because otherwise the latter won't make much sense to you at all and the TV series provides a tremendous amount of character development missing from the OVA. (Also, I strongly recommend watching the TV series and the movie both before watching "Sakura Taisen: Ecole de Paris", since that particular anime takes place in the timeframe between the series and the movie.)

Note also: the TV series has a lot of emotional heft to it and can get dark, almost somber in places, but I don't think it's much of a spoiler to say that everything works out in the end. HOW it works out, though, you'll just have to watch to find out! :)

P.S. On further thought, I wanted to put in a word here about the alternate-history background of this anime. Sakura Wars takes place in a timeline where steam appears to have become the dominant method of power generation and propulsion (right down to steam-powered telephones!!) and also where technology in this version of the 1920's is up to at least 1990's levels (computerlike machines and some form of virtual reality simulator are seen being used in several scenes, and there is obviously some kind of video technology as well). Also, socially and politically, the 1920's Japan of Sakura Wars seems to be a very different place from the 1920's Japan of our "real" time line - in fact, according to the new English translation of the manga, the characters for the Imperial era "Taisho" used in this series translate to "Broad Truth" in English, not "Great Truth" as in our actual history. Something to be aware of as you watch the show.

Sakura Wars!!!!!!!!!.......2005-11-11

i love this series and i ordered this whole collection on [...] they have awesome stuff there for low prices!!!!!! all about anime!!!!!!

Biography - Evita: The Woman Behind the Myth (A&E DVD Archives)

Average customer rating:

She did it all at 26 ... and died at 33
Not entirely accurate but it's still intriguing.
Beauty and intelligence made her powerful yet loved
*Fantastic* Biography
Admirable attempt, impossible objective: Evita is all myth!

Biography - Evita: The Woman Behind the Myth (A&E DVD Archives)
Starring: Eva Peron , and Biography
Manufacturer: A & E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Evita
Eva Peron
Evita: The Real Life of Eva Peron
Eva Peron: The Myths of a Woman
Biography - Fidel Castro: El Comandante (A&E DVD Archives)

ASIN: B0002V7NSE
Release Date: 2004-08-10

Customer Reviews:

She did it all at 26 ... and died at 33.......2006-04-06

Santa Evita - and why Madonna truly was born to play her. This biography is a case for reincarnation. After Santa Evita died in 1952 ... Madonna brought her back to life in 1997.

Eva Peron was an out-of-wedlock teenager who took the train into Buenos Aires. She went from third rate actress to First Lady. From the day she died she was embalmed and immortalized. An icon Patron Saint of Ambition played by an icon herself (Madonna) years later. This is an honest account of a woman's who had so many demons they influenced Argentine social policy during her reign.

Santa Evita to the poor who adored her. A wicked witch opportunist to the rich. Only Madonna, another Patron Saint of Ambition, could play Evita on the silver screen. Both lead parallel lives ... fatherless 15-year-old daughter who ran to the big city (Buenos Aires) just like a motherless girl who hopped a place to New York at 17. Both women ran off to follow their dreams despite parental concerns. Both politically savvy, ruthless ambition, and a fire in the belly that only fame would satisfy. The similarities continue as you watch this biopic:

Eva started out an actress and became a political force to be reckoned with/Madonna was a dancer who turned to singing
Both were on the cover of Time at 26
Eva was the most powerful woman in South America at 26. Madonna the most powerful recording artist at the same age
Teenage Eva lived in pension rooms in boarding houses living off coffee before becoming First Lady of Argentina. Street urchin Madonna crashed at various friends' places before become the reigning Queen of Pop
Both looked stunning in designer gowns by French haute couture houses in Paris
Both inspire love or hate, no middle ground
Both very misunderstood since a powerful woman who is attractive is more threatening than any alpha male around to both genders
Both did not return to their home towns until they made something of themselves in a big big way - Eva from the balconey of the Casa Rosada, Madonna from the world stages of New York,London, Paris, etc
Both were brunettes who found fame with bottle blonde hair
And finally ...both epitomize the lines in one of the musicals songs: You were just a backstreet girl, hustling and fighting, scratching and biting, High Flying Adored, Did you Believe in your wildest moments - all this would be yours? That you'd become the lady of them all?"

Not entirely accurate but it's still intriguing........2005-03-02

I wished A&E would have had a 90 minute biography segment of Eva Peron instead. Reason being is that there is so much this woman accomplished in such an incredibly short period of time and she aroused such fierce passions that even after her death, mentioning her name would have caused riots and conflicts. But since they didn't this 50 minute biography at least gives us a glimpse into the life of this woman who not only made a name for herself but also became one of the most powerful and controversial woman in history.

This biography traces her meteoric rise from her humble beginnings to becoming one of the riches woman in the world. It includes several photographs and archival film footage. For the most part, the footage is pretty clear, especially during her Rainbow Tour sequence. She looks radiant, glamourous and beautiful. I wish they would have had more footage of her attending to the poor. Apparently there were news camera men with her at all times recording her at her desk or at her many public functions but in all of the documentaries, the same footage is always used. The same goes with the photographs. Being a collector of Eva Peron (I have over 100 books/magazines), I know there are hundreds of awesome photographs of the subject that they could have used but like the archival footage used, it's always the same photos. With that said, this documentary is still an interesting view. It offers some interesting pics of Eva during her years as an actress, revealing commentaries from historians and Eva Peron's friends and rivals, and some haunting photos of Eva's beautifully embalmed corpse in full colour. This is one of the most engrossing biography's in the series. Be warned however, that there is some mis-information and at times it's quite biased but for the most part, it quite factual.

To get an overview of Eva Peron, the good and the bad, I also recommend the Lifetime biography Eva Peron and of course the film musical EVITA, althought the latter should be treated solely as entertainment and NOT as a history lesson since it's extremely inaccurate in places and alot falls under the category of fantasy.

In his excellent book PERON AND THE ENIGMAS OF ARGENTINA, Robert Crassweller wrote of her (after Eva dies):

"Thus she passed from the scene...She was at once admitted to legend and indeed to sacred legend... Behind her she left an amazing amalgam of grief, guilt, mythology, celebration and despair as her friends and enemies sought to adjust to an Argentine world devoid of her central presence... Above all she left a huge space and no successor...

And later on he would write:

..."There would be no second Evita and no pretender to that eminence."

Love her or hate her, one cannot deny the mark Eva Maria Duarte de Peron left in the pages of Latin American history books. The woman was and is a star and her star still shines, just as it did over 50 years ago when she graced the world stage.

Beauty and intelligence made her powerful yet loved.......2004-12-25

Until very recently, the only way a woman could achieve political power was through a powerful man. In many of those cases, those who were able to do so accomplished their task via sexual means. Eva Peron (Evita) was such a woman. Born the illegitimate daughter of a poor woman, she was beautiful and ambitious. Combine this with a significant intelligence and the willingness to go through men until she found the one she wanted, and you have Evita. She finally managed to link up with the rising star of Juan Peron, although unlike some other political marriages, this one was based on a deep genuine affection.
As you can see from the footage on this tape, Evita was glamorous and deeply loved by the majority of the Argentine people. She spent an enormous amount of time and energy in helping the poor, and she had no qualms about pressing the flesh with them. Even though she was advised not to touch people who were clearly very sick, she did not hesitate to hug them. In watching the tape, it is surprising to see her with an extremely elaborate hairdo, wearing expensive jewelry and clothing, yet being adored by people who would not earn the cost of her outfit in their entire lives.
However, as was almost always the case in Central and South America in those times, Juan Peron's power was maintained through the military. It was only the combination of Evita's popularity with the poor and the strong arm of the military that Peron managed to stay in power. Once Evita died in her early thirties, his regime soon collapsed and he was forced to flee the country. Evita's saga after her death was bizarre. A Spanish pathologist spent years embalming her body and after Peron fell, the new Argentine rulers did not know what to do with it. They eventually shipped it to a falsely marked grave in Italy out of fear that it would be a shrine for Peron supporters. However, when Peron came back into favor, the body was returned and buried in a place of honor.
Although she was clearly a second-rate actress, Evita Peron was the biggest female star on the Latin American stage during her time. She was an excellent combination of beauty, intelligence and charm, understanding public relations in a way that no other Latin leader did. This video captures all of that. You may not approve of how she rose to power, but you cannot deny that she wielded it well.

*Fantastic* Biography.......2002-08-26

Personally, I love this biography. I first watched it about two years ago. I think that A&E could not have done a better job at doing this video. It is such a good video that I bought it from amazon.com yesterday. If you are intersted in learning about Eva Peron then I suggest watching this biography.

Admirable attempt, impossible objective: Evita is all myth!.......2002-04-12

"Around no historical figure in modern times are there such complicated myths as those that exist around the figure of Eva, second wife of Juan Peron, best-known by the affectionate diminutive, Evita." So begins the book EVITA: THE REAL LIFE OF EVA PERON. The author, Marysa Navarro, is interviewed in this video and adds, "(Evita) was the woman who invented her own myth, and she was very good at it, because she was an actress, a radio actress. She knows how to pretend to be something other than what she is." So the implication is clear, anyone hoping to remove the myths, and see the woman behind the myths, is going against Evita's wishes. And this is a formidable opponent. Evita was a genius. A genius that, unfortunately, this video (and none I have yet seen) cannot fully encompass.

Robert D. Crassweller, in his book PERON AND THE ENIGMAS OF ARGENTINA, notes that, "(Evita's) brief and dazzling years were so successful because, in good part, she was so profoundly of the ethos . . . but it was the ethos of the old Hispanic Creole tradition . . . (pp. 248)." He further notes that, "All Hispanic life seemed to be concentrated in a series of distant opposites held in very uneasy tension. The vastly rich and the totally poor; the highest of religious ideals and the lowest of conniving practices; unquestioning loyalty and foul treachery . . . a society of disjointed dualisms, lacking any continuum (pp. 27)." The author argues that understanding this concept of extremes, so counter to Anglo-Saxon sensibilities, is key to understanding Hispanic culture. Since Evita lived in and embodied Hispanic culture, any biography of her that does not take this into account is doomed to fall short of an enlightened depiction of her. And that is what happens with this video.

Don't get me wrong; this is an interesting video. What is most interesting about this video is the wide range of people who are interviewed, most of them authors, but a few friends and admirers. These include: a photographer from Evita's modeling days, film star Libertad Lamarque, Tomas Eloy Martinez (author of SANTA EVITA), Lillian Guardo (friend who accompanied Evita on her tour of Europe), historian Felix Luna, and Maria Elena Warner (resident of the "Evita City" housing district, which Evita founded). This wide range of commentators, some pro-Evita and some not, is wonderful. Unfortunately, no one is really given a very long time to talk. It really leaves you wanting more.

Somewhat irritating is the fact that while this video succeeds in dispelling certain myths about Evita (such as the belief that she helped free Peron from jail in 1945, thus ushering him into his first presidential term), it reinforces others. The most notable re-told myths being: the idea that Evita had Libertad Lamarque "blacklisted" from working in Argentine cinema ("Libertad left Argentina for Mexico in 1946... Since the Mexican movie industry was in better shape . . . Libertad Lamarque's films were always shown in Argentina, and she came back frequently to see her family." EVITA: THE REAL LIFE OF EVA PERON, pp. 202); the assertion that Peron was a fascist ("Peronism was not fascism. Some of Peronism's adherents had a fascist outlook and mentality . . . But all this was relatively superficial. No fascist society was ever erected on a mass base of laboring and dispossessed hordes. In its own description, Peronism rejected the Fascist parallel. It was more intimately grounded in the national history and ethos than was any European fascism." PERON AND THE ENIGMAS OF ARGENTINA, pp. 220). Thus this video claims by its title to dispel myths, but it really just perpetuates some.

Interesting and eerie is the fact that never-before-shown footage of Evita's embalmed corpse is included. Evita had been dead several decades at this point, and yet her corpse is perfectly preserved like Lenin's. Unsettling to the North American observer, such an attitude toward death could be seen in light of the "Hispanic preoccupation with death and with the splendor and dignity associated with it (PERON AND THE ENIGMAS OF ARGENTINA, pp. 248)." Again, this cultural distinction is not mentioned by the narrator.

Not surprisingly, it is Madonna herself who seems to grasps the most important aspect of Evita's life and personality: the tradition of polarization. "I became sort of obsessed with her," Madonna confesses in a very brief sound bite, "People I talked to were either completely for her or completely against her. That fascinated me. I wondered, 'What's the truth in all this?'" That 'is' the truth about Evita, that a polarized culture created polarized myths about a polarized woman. For some she is a saint, for others the devil. For those with no concept of the polarities of Hispanic culture, she is destined to be an enigma. Unfortunately, this documentary largely overlooks this vital ingredient.

Customer Reviews:

Great Ending.......2003-12-29

Sakura Wars is about 6teenage girls who perform plays in the imperal capital. Sumire, Ri, Iris, Sakura, Maria, and Kanna. This is the final volume of the tv series. Your better off watching the dubbed cause there girls from france: Iris Maria:Russia Ri:China. This defently a good show to watch.

Average customer rating:

"Que me entierren con musica"

Asi Era Pedro Infante
Starring: Evita Muñoz 'Chachita' , Pedro Infante , Miguel Manzano , Blanca Estela Pavón , and Freddy Fernández
Director: Ismael Rodríguez
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

Nosotros Los Pobres
Angelitos Negros
Pepe El Toro
Ustedes Los Ricos
Sobre Las Olas

ASIN: B000NA1WG8
Release Date: 2007-04-10

Description

A moving documentary chronicling the prolific life and tragic death of Mexico's most revered and iconic classic film star, Pedro Infante. One of 23 titles within the Pedro Infante Collection.

Customer Reviews:

"Que me entierren con musica".......2007-05-06

This is a moving and exquisitely made tribute to the genius of Pedro Infante, a singer and actor who was so natural and convincing, one was, and still is, magically brought into his world by watching him on the screen. Other than a few home movies that show him at rest, director Ismael Rodriguez in this film mostly celebrates him through clips of the many films they did together, and they were surely some of the finest films ever made. There are fantastic scenes from "Los Tres Garcia," "Nosotros los Pobres," "Sobre las Olas," "A.T.M.: A Toda Maquina!," "Pepe El Toro," "Tizoc," and many more. Rodriguez was the most influential director in Infante's career, and there is a clip where Infante speaks of his gratitude for all he has learned from Rodriguez.

Beautifully written by Rodriguez and Ricardo Garibay, with narration by Arturo de Cordova, and music by Raul Lavista, "Asi Era Pedro Infante" has moments that are sheer poetry, and starts by recreating the morning of April 15th, 1957, imagining how many radios were tuned to an Infante song, as he sings "Las Golondrinas." There is film of the actual fatal plane crash site, and then the camera follows the funeral cortege, and then the burial, interspersed with the film clips. Flying was Infante's passion, and he wanted to die flying, and be buried with music playing; his wishes were granted, and at the height of his fame, though through all the accolades and awards, he retained his simplicity: "Un hombre que a la cumbre de la fama, no perdio su sencillez, no perdio su humildad."

The extras include a wonderful piece about Ismael Rodriguez directed by his son, and subtitles in several languages. This is a "must have" for Infante fans, and is one of the 23 films put out by Warner Brothers' 50 Aniversario Edicion de Homenaje for Infante, and will hopefully bring his films to an even wider audience because they include the choice of subtitles.

Average customer rating:

Grace and Steel
Iris as her 10th Birthday!!!!
A Must See Anime!!!!!

Sakura Wars TV - Crescendo (Vol. 3)
Starring: John Howrey , Travis Dean (II) , Robert Pierson , J. Damian Gillen , and L.B. Bartholomee
Manufacturer: Adv Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Anime & Manga | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

Sakura Wars TV - Intermission (Vol. 4)
Sakura Wars TV - Stage Fright (Vol. 5)
Sakura Wars TV - Overture (Vol. 2)
Sakura Wars TV - Curtain Call (Vol. 6)
Sakura Wars TV - Opening Night (Vol. 1)

ASIN: B00009YXB1
Release Date: 2003-08-19

Description

The forces of evil are growing stronger-even Mother Nature has turned traitor and is itching for a fight. The world needs a team of defenders: a dedicated group that will work together in harmony and ace precision; a band that will refuse to give into their petty squabbles and haunting pasts in order to stand strong against the forces of chaos! Unfortunately, all it has is the Imperial Flower Combat Troop... Contains four complete episodes.

DVD Features: an eight-page printed booklet including production sketches; production notes; clean opening and closing animation; character bios; and previews. Spoken Languages: English, Japanese, English subtitles.

Customer Reviews:

Grace and Steel.......2006-03-10

I'm not sure why the DVD release decided t name this set of four episodes as 'Crescendo', since the major story are only develops a bit - a scene in the first episode and a confrontation with Crimson Miroku in the last. What actually unites the episodes is the further development of the characters and their relationships in the individual episodes, and once again, this is where Sakura Wars excels.

The first episode belongs to Kanna and Sumire as a looming typhoon throws them into an argument about where it will fit and what will happen to Sumire's beautiful poster for the Flower Combat Troop's next show. Then a trip to Koubu training camp finds Kohran and Sakura lost in the middle of a volcano eruption. Sakura learns a valuable lesson in sacrifice and the meaning of friendship that will repeat itself in many episodes

Then next episode is one of my favorites. We learn a lot about Iris when her birthday comes and no one in the Troop knows how to celebrate this Western cousin. It is Iris who learns how much her new friends mean to her in an episode that makes even this old man sniffle. The final episode is the battle with Crimson Miroku, in which Sakura and Sumire must learn to work together. Always a struggle when Sumire is involved.

This is an exceptional set of episodes, each one drawing us further into the life of the Flower Combat Troop. It is the personal element that makes these stories compelling. Keep watching!!

Iris as her 10th Birthday!!!!.......2003-12-14

Ok this has to got to be one of the best sakura wars dvds out there. Iris one of my favorite characters wants to have a B-Day Party.. When she was back home in France she had parties alone cause people thought she was dangerous cause of her psicic power... Sakura Decided to throw Iris a very special party for Iris...*VERY GOOD SERIES*

A Must See Anime!!!!!.......2003-12-11

Ok this is by far the best series ive seen so far its got great story line, Animation, and good art work.... But one problem is the disc has trouble reading on a Xbox. I putted in the disc once and it worked 2nd time it got defective. Great series to watch a must see......

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

The Ghost and the Guest

Star Trek: The Original Series, Vol. 5: What Are Little

Martial Arts Masters (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: Assault of the Party Nerds

Die fantastischen Vier - Das Weltraummonster