Posse

Starring:Stephen Baldwin, Paul Bartel, Stephen J. Cannell, Richard Edson, Pam Grier, Isaac Hayes, Richard Jordan, Big Daddy Kane, Charles Lane (II), Tom 'Tiny' Lister Jr., Tone Loc, Salli Richardson, Nipsey Russell, Woody Strode, Blair Underwood, Melvin Van Peebles, Reginald VelJohnson, Vesta Williams, Billy Zane
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Product Type: DVD

Customer Reviews:

A blade in the dark/Macabre........2006-04-25

This double bill from Anchor Bay is excellent both films are from director Lamberto Bava son of director Mario Bava one of the earliest directors who did gialo films and has influinced other directors like Dario Argento and his son Lamberto. A blade in the dark tells the story of a young composer living in a secluded villa to finish work on composing a score for a horror film that his friend has made but soon finds himself caught up in a nightmare of murder and mystery. Lamberto Bava definently shows his talent behind the camera especialy when he sets up the intense scenes like the one where the killer is in the bathroom or the swimming pool scene which is stylishly made and the death scenes were very gory and bloody. If you liked the films of Dario Argento like Tenebrea or Deep red then you should deffinently check out A blade in the dark. Macabre is a different film from Lamberto and is more like a weird and twisted psychological thriller it is also his debut film, a married woman loses her lover who shes been having an affair with in a car crash that happened to decapatate him she is then traumatised by this incident and gets locked up in a mental institute, when she gets released she soon moves out to an appartment in New Orleans. This film has a shock ending but it doesn't quite work because you probably know whats going to happen unless you haven't read the back of the cover but still it was very wierd and entertaining I highly recomend this drive-in double feature from Anchor Bay it was fantastic.

Everybody's Doing The LamBava!!.......2006-03-26

A Blade In the Dark is a nifty little giallo from Lamberto Bava. It stars everyone's favorite Keanu Reeves lookalike, Andrea Occhipinti. He plays a kind of fictional Claudio Simonetti who's composing a score for a horror flick. He rents a villa for the purpose of writing the score. Then, in the immortal words of Thin Lizzy, "There's a killer on the loose again....A ladykiller on the loose". In the giallo tradition, Andrea becomes obsessed with finding out more about his home's former tenant and where the victims' bodies are.....or if a murder even occured. Andrea seems to keep his cool rather well considering he knows the killer has been in, and committed their crimes inside his home. Lots of red herrings, some brutal killings and a slow and steady pace make for a pretty good flick.
The second on the Bava double bill-Macabre-is an interesting one as well. A horny middleaged woman starts fooling around on her husband. Her and her lover have a horrible car accident while speeding to her home where her son has just died. Loverboy is killed and the lady spends a year in the funny farm. Once out she lives at her old lover's place and starts up a friendship with the blind guy who lives there. The blind guy naturally falls for the woman, but she doesn't seem to be interested in him. He's tortured at night by her sensual moaning, understanably angry that she prefers to get jiggy all alone rather than with him. Truth is, she's getting jiggy with the decapitated head of her dead lover. Talk about getting head!! Meanwhile , she's trying to rekindle her relationship with her daughter. The first three quarters of this film are basically a psychosexual drama. It's not really until the last act when everyone's dirty laundry is in the open that things go more down the horror route. Good film. Kinda slow moving, but not boring and certainly with more balls than anything made today. A good dvd for the asking price.

AWESOME DOUBLE BILL - 2 GREAT SEXY LAMBERTO BAVA THRILLERS .......2006-02-13

Horror fans have never had it better. As pointed out by another reviewer here, obscure and undiscovered gems are popping up on cool collections like this one, thanks to sharp companies like Anchor Bay.

MACABRO is a twisted little erotic thriller based on an allegedly true story. Bava's first feature as director, it shows off his pedigree as a third generation filmmaker, a worthy heir to the legacy of his wonderfully talented and efficient father, Mario.

Set in New Orleans, the film is handsomely produced and beautifully directed. Bernice Stegers is scintillating as a mourning lover with a hideously perverse secret, spending a good deal of screen time in luscious lingerie. Stanko Molnar is endearing as her gentle, blind landlord, a role almost the opposite of the one he plays in our next film.

A BLADE IN THE DARK is something else altogether. As Lamberto Bava has stated in interviews, he's not really big on slasher movies. That said, this movie should be studied by anyone attempting the genre, because Bava nails it, almost to a T.

Whereas American slashers rely on the "imaginative" variety of ways a victim can be killed, this movie is less imaginative in that area, but much more intense for two reasons. The victims are well-developed and unique characters, done up with the greatest care in regards to their make-up and costuming.

A simple shot of Fabiola Toledo bending over a bathroom sink with her pantie-clad bottom exposed is charged with more eroticism than every t'n'a scene from the Friday 13th series strung together. This might seem a crude point, but sex is part of the survival drive, and its psychological effect is an important ingredient in all of the thriller genres. And while costumers of American slashers all seem to shop at Target or Walmarts to fit their lowly budgets, Italian costumers working on even skimpier budgets manage to procure items which look expensive as well as sensational.

In fact every set, costume, camera move and lighting set-up in a Bava film is first class. Like most Italian movies, the style and intelligence displayed from top to bottom blow away comparable Hollywood films, where the bloated budgets go to overvalued stars and an overwrought, hit-or-miss development process.

The only negative to either of these movies is an abrupt and somewhat predictable ending. But the ride along the way is extremely satisfying, with plenty of eye candy, perfectly executed efx, great music and several spill-your-popcorn scares.

The extras on this DVD are also very well-produced, including one which gives much-deserved credit to SCREENWRITER DARDANO SACCHETTI. Sacchetti had a hand in some of the best Italian horror films of the past three decades, including Fulci's ZOMBIE, DEMONS 1 & 2, CANNIBAL APOCALYPSE, HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY, and dozens more.

Fans of Argento, Fulci and the Bavas need to check out Sacchetti's screen credits to see how important he was to the films they love. Kudos to Anchor Bay for including this tribute to the routinely overlooked screenwriter.

A light in the dark.......2003-11-19

There is still light in the dark for us,horror fans,because companies like Anchor bay bring us so fantastic DVDs for so fantastic price,and Amazon.com bring it to our homes.This is two horror films from legendary Italian director Lamberto Bava
for the price of one VHS.
Macabro is very slow film,it can goes faster,gorier,but if you have the right taste and time,it is not bad film.But Bava can make it better,like he did on second film on this DVD,classic giallo BLADE IN THE DARK.If you like films like DEEP RED or TENEBRE,and still not have it enough,even in this "bigger and with more and more special effects films" times,dont waste your time and get it.

Average customer rating:

Good Film Marred by Political Correctness
Western thriller - too long, but good nonetheless
Okay Movie
Riveting
Great movie!

The Missing (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Tommy Lee Jones , Cate Blanchett , Evan Rachel Wood , Jenna Boyd , and Aaron Eckhart
Director: Ron Howard
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00005JMPT
Release Date: 2004-02-24

Amazon.com

Cate Blanchett blazes through The Missing, a new Western directed by Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13). The camera truly loves the planes of her face; even dusty and bedraggled, she radiates star power--which is good, because The Missing needs it. When her daughter is kidnapped by renegade Indians, Maggie Gilkeson (Blanchett) is forced to turn to her estranged father (Tommy Lee Jones, Men in Black, The Fugitive), a man who abandoned her as a child to join an Indian tribe. Together, they pursue a malignant brujo (or witch), who sells young girls in Mexico. The Missing features solid supporting performances from Evan Rachel Wood, Eric Schweig, Aaron Eckhart, Val Kilmer, and feisty young Jenna Boyd as Maggie's youngest daughter Dot, who refuses to be left behind. Despite the cast and some gorgeous cinematography, though, The Missing never finds its stride. --Bret Fetzer

Description

The Missing is the story of Maggie Gilkeson (Cate Blanchett), a young woman raising her two daughters in an isolated and lawless wilderness. When her oldest daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) is kidnapped by a psychopathic killer with mystical powers (Eric Schweig), Maggie is forced to re-unite with her long estranged father (Tommy Lee Jones) to rescue her. The killer and his brutal cult of desperados have kidnapped several other teenage girls, leaving a trail of death and horror across the desolate landscape of the American Southwest.

Customer Reviews:

Good Film Marred by Political Correctness.......2007-03-05

As good as this film is, it would have been much better without the annoying political correct over-sensitivity to Amerindians. This film asks you to believe that renegade Apache Indians, who in the film murder and sometimes torture parents & guardians of pretty teenage girls in order to kidnap an sell these girls as sex slaves in Mexico, would not also rape these girls along the way to the border. In the better-written and more realistic novel "The Last Ride", on which the film is clearly based (though it differs considerably), these Indians did indeed rape and brutally treat these girls. However, in the movie the only attempted rape was by one of the despicable white men helping the Indians. But it's not enough to have also a bunch of despicable white guys in the movie (including most of the soldiers), it's got to have one of the kidnapping Indians save the girl from rape. Worse: right after this rape rescue the indian tells the girl that she is better than this white scum but "you are not better than me." Right. He's part of this vicious girl-kidnapping group of slime-bags but he's better than the victims. Guess we're supposed to think this Indian's got character. Good grief. There was even some sort of a feeble excuse given for this despicable Apache behavior - someone killed their chief. Oh, well, no wonder they're about kidnapping white girls to sell as sex slaves.

Still, if you can stomach this kind of PC bowing toward Amerindians (who, by the way, did have quite a earned reputation for extreme torture - see for eg. the book "The Wild Frontier"), the film is darkly entertaining and original, and it does star the super appealing film goddess Cate Blanchett.

Western thriller - too long, but good nonetheless.......2007-02-09

This is a lovingly made, well acted movie, worth watching. However, it suffers from a) not quite deciding which genre to fall into, and b) being too long at over 130 minutes.
There are echoes of `The Searchers' in the plot.. well, I say echoes, but this is virtually what they like to call these days `a reimagining' of the same story. However the depth of meaning, characters and symbolism from that movie are nowhere near replicated here.
What we do have is a bunch of fine performances by terrific actors, and a degree of authenticity that reminds you what a great director Howard can be.
Blanchett is the mother, whose daughter is abducted to be sold into white slavery, her lover brutally tortured and killed. The army (with a surprise cameo from Val Kilmer) can not / will not help, so she enlists the help of her estranged father - a man who abandoned her when young, and went native with the Indians.
The chase to find them uncovers that the ringleader is actually a `brujo', an Indian witch, and part of the battle is against the brujo's witchcraft.
Therein lies part of the problem of the movie - as good and as well crafted as it is, it has parts traditional Western, part character study, part horror and part plain old thriller - and they are individually interesting, but put all together drag on a little bit too long to be a successful.
Don't be put off, it IS a good movie - just plan a few toilet breaks in the middle!

Okay Movie.......2007-01-04

Original storyline.

Neat mysticism.

Okay movie.

Riveting.......2006-11-10

I have no idea how I missed this in the theaters. This was a fascinating movie with two talented actors, Tommy Lee and Cate Blanchet. The realism was enchanting, from the story line to the environment. The actress who played the younger daughter had me in tears. This movie had something for everyone.

Great movie!.......2006-11-10

I'm partial to Tommy Lee Jones, but he really did an excellent job on this one. Very good story-telling, excellent acting.

Average customer rating:

The music caught my attention as this powerful adult Western in constant suspense...
Great Cowboy Glenn Ford
Excellent mid-50s Adult Western with Glenn Ford
One of Glenn Ford's Best Westerns
Excellent Adult Western

Jubal
Starring: Glenn Ford , Ernest Borgnine , Rod Steiger , Valerie French , and Felicia Farr
Director: Delmer Daves
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( J ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B0007MANYY
Release Date: 2005-04-05

Amazon.com

Despite incorporating elements of Shakespeare's Othello, Delmer Daves's CinemaScope Jubal is the first and least of three Westerns the director made with star Glenn Ford. Although not up to the measure of 3:10 to Yuma and the boldly original (and sadly neglected) Cowboy, it's still a well-above-average Western by a man whose sturdy sense of drama and pictorial ecstasies qualify him as a solid genre filmmaker. Ford plays a drifter who is rescued, then hired as ramrod, by rancher Ernest Borgnine, thereby stimulating the erotic interest of Borgnine's sexy young wife (Valerie French) and the Iago-like resentment of the former top hand (Rod Steiger). A range war and the persecution of a religious sect whose wagon train is camped on Borgnine's land complicate matters beyond the Shakespearean premise. The solid supporting cast includes Noah Beery Jr., Charles Bronson, and Felicia Farr, who would contribute a memorable interlude to 3:10 to Yuma. --Richard T. Jameson

Customer Reviews:

The music caught my attention as this powerful adult Western in constant suspense..........2006-11-10

When a Wyoming cattle king, Shep Horgan (Ernest Borgnine), receives Jubal Troop (Glenn Ford) in his ranch, his presence arouses strong emotions for his attractive young Canadian wife Mae...

Shep, a friendly good-natured husband and the best loved man in the territory, offers his help and trust to Jubal and names him his foreman... Shep was proud of the "sheep-herding friend" who got lost in the blizzard, and came over the pass from Montana, running from "bad luck."

Mae (Valerie French), a rancher's wanton wife, spins the plot by her attentions to the disinterested cowboy Jubal, which further stirs up the surly range rider (Rod Steiger) with whom she had previously been carrying on an affair, unknown to her genteel husband...

Truthful and straightforward, Jubal is caught between a loyal friend and an insistent desirous unfaithful wife who considers her husband's fine ranch a "10,000 acres of lonesomeness."

Mae was not in love with her unattractive husband... She thought she just picked the right guy to patch it up with... She even considered an evil plan in her mind... Maybe another affair, a new love, a murder...

One night, she went crazy... She lied to Shep telling him that Jubal was here in their room, in their bed... She yelled angrily in pain: "I'm sick to my stomach every time you kiss me. Let go of me. I hate you. I hate the way you look at me. I hate every single thing about you. I love him. Do you hear? I love Jube."

In that moment, Mae inflames a torrid fuse of sex, jealousy and revenge which make of Delmer Daves' "Jubal" a rather engrossing piece of adult entertainment...

Glenn Ford was honest in his feelings toward his boss ("Shep made me feel like somebody. Shep gave me a reason for living.") ignoring that he was caught in a net of lies, murder, and uncontrolled passions...

Rod Steiger was exceptional as the sadistic top hand who strongly disliked Jubal's gizzard... Pinky spots Mae's sights on Jubal... His jealous was so great as his strong sexual desire for the ex-lover...

In her film debut, Felicia Far was the radiant and beautiful as the little Rawhider responding to expert handling...

"Jubal" returned Charles Bronson to the West and to the company of director Delmer Daves, with whom he had made "Drum Beat." Cast as a ranch-hand friend of Ford's in the employ of Borgnine, Bronson contributes his natural masculine presence to this psychological Western...

Set against the mountainous fertile valley of the Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, and beautifully photographed in CinemaScope and Technicolor, "Jubal" is a powerful adult Western in constant suspense...

Great Cowboy Glenn Ford.......2006-11-10

Of all the parts he played, I loved Glenn Ford best as a Western cowboy hero. Loved him also in Cade's County on television.

Excellent mid-50s Adult Western with Glenn Ford.......2005-10-17

THE STORY: An injured drifter, Glenn Ford as Jubal Troop, is rescued by ranch-owner Earnest Borgnine, who ultimately promotes him to foreman of his ranch. This stirs up the envy of ranch-hand Rod Steiger ("Pinky") and the desire of Borgnine's young sexpot/discontent wife Valerie French. The latter leads to even more hostility on Steiger's part because he used to enjoy the adulterous attentions of French until Ford came along.

Add to this mix a group of trespassing Mennonites (or perhaps Quakers) who have in their company Felicia Farr, a godly woman that attracts Ford's romantic interests, and Charles Bronson, another drifter who befriends Ford.

WHAT WORKS: For the first hour and ten minutes or so "Jubal" is captivating cinema of the highest order. Borgnine is simpleminded & naive but likable and full of mirth. Valerie French is fully clothed at all times, yet somehow oozes sexuality with every simple glance or word (proving that sexiness involves way more than merely showing skin). Rod Steiger is perfect as the villainous Southerner-turned-Westerner "Pinky." Felicia Farr is an interesting addition to the story: her godly purity attracts Ford just as much as French's adulterous tactics turn him off.

As for the young Charles Bronson, how can you go wrong? And, lastly, Glenn Ford is perfect as the tragedy-laden drifter.

A big bonus is that the film was shot on location with the mighty Grand Tetons as a backdrop for the entire story. These magnificent Wyoming mountains are nothing short of breathtaking!

WHAT DOESN'T WORK: A little after the hour mark a major character buys the farm, resulting in the last half-hour tying up loose ends and somehow losing the yarn's ultra-captivating charm. I'm not saying the ending is bad, not at all, just that it's mediocre compared to the rest of the film. This is the only reason the flick rates 4-Stars instead of 5-Stars in my mind.

Also, although the opening credits score is understandably dated, the rest of the film is not.

CONCLUSION: Make no mistake, "Jubal" is a powerful psychological Western; there's thankfully no Disney-like unrealistic vibe anywhere to be found. It expertly touches on issues of friendship, envy, jealousy, competition, lust, hate, love, and hope. In light of this, I'm genuinely surprised at how underrated "Jubal" is in the Western genre.

Let me add that Jubal is a man of fascinatingly noble character: he amazingly resists the skilled sexual advances of the luscious Valerie French. Kinda reminds me of Joseph and Potiphar's wife.

"Jubal" is a MUST for every person's Western film library.

One of Glenn Ford's Best Westerns.......2005-02-24

Jubal is the kind of adult western that was rare even in the heyday of Western production in Hollywood. A great cast, strong writing, and beautiful scenery makes it that much more enjoyable.

Jubal is a luckless drifter, played by Ford who is rescued from exposure and starvation by wealthy rancher Ernest Borgnine. Borgnine soons put Jubal to work as a ranch hand. Borgnine has a very young and beautiful wife, played by Valerie French. She takes a strong liking to Jubal, which not only complicates his relationship with Borgnine, but further strains his dealings with a jealous fellow ranch hand Pinky, played by Rod Steiger. Things go downhill from there.

Add Felicia Farr playing her normal stalwart Western beauty and Charles Bronson as a friend of Jubal's, and you have the making of a great film. It's way past time that this was on DVD.

Excellent Adult Western.......2005-01-22

Glenn Ford, Ernest Borgnine, and Rod Steiger make the most of this excellent movie. Ford plays a drifter cowboy who is rescued and given work by wealthy rancher Borgnine, who is unaware that ranch hand Steiger is having an affair with Borgnine's much younger wife. Steiger becomes insanely jealous of Ford's relationship with Borgnine, and tragedy ensues. This a very well-written, well-acted Western.

Average customer rating:

Izola's Movie Review: Posse
5 For Trying To Set The Record Straight
A popcorn movie that teaches. We need more like this.
Better than the "editorial review" thinks it is
Brings Old West Back to Life

Posse
Starring: Stephen Baldwin , Paul Bartel , Stephen J. Cannell , Richard Edson , and Pam Grier
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Cowboys & Indians | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

General | African American Cinema | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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ASIN: B000059TGC
Release Date: 2001-05-22

Amazon.com

Mario Van Peebles directed as well as starred in this ham-fisted, 1993 Western with a predominantly African American cast. The story finds a posse of black shooters (with one white member, played by Stephen Baldwin) taking on a racist sheriff and military man, but Van Peebles's effort at mixing convention with hip credentials gets pretty grating. (Tone Loc makes the worst cowboy in film history.) The film is also incredibly sexist, going well beyond the usual frontier-floozy clichés and lapsing into the sort of blatant exploitation one found at that time in rap-music videos. There are lots of cameo appearances from familiar folks willing to support Van Peebles on a project that probably sounded like a mix of experiment and event--Pam Grier, Isaac Hayes, Woody Strode, and the director's father, Melvin Van Peebles. But even they can't help. --Tom Keogh

Description

Mario Van Peebles (Judgment Day), Billy Zane (Titanic) and Stephen Baldwin (Fled) shake up the frontier in this "fast-paced, star-studded, big brawny western" (Janet Maslin, The New York Times)! Filled with gun-blazing, fist-pounding action and co-starring Big Daddy Kane, Blair Underwood, Tone Loc, Pam Grier, Isaac Hayes, Nipsey Russell, Aaron Neville and more, Posse takes a page missing from the history books Â- and unfolds it with suspense, humor and awe-inspiring power! In 1892, a group of mostly black infantrymen, betrayed by their white commander, Colonel Graham (Zane), desert the Spanish-American War. With Graham hot on their trail, Jessie Lee (Van Peebles) leads the men to his hometown, Freemanville, only to find it's also besieged by war Â- a racist war! Lee's attempts to bring justice and freedom to his people make for a brilliant western that's short on words and long on "killer entertainment" (Los Angeles Times)!

Customer Reviews:

Izola's Movie Review: Posse.......2007-03-29

This is a GREAT movie. Not only is it action-packed, it also has a great plot (drama). Mario Van Peeples is perfect for his role.......it was a shocker that Big Daddy Kane could act. It is good to see a Western with African-Americans in it as not all African-Americans were slaves. This is also a good film to add to any movie collection.

5 For Trying To Set The Record Straight.......2006-11-08

For attempting to set the record straight, this film deserves 5 stars. There were towns like the 'dream town' in this movie. Ex-slaves did settle among the Native Americans. And white men did try to steal the land when they felt it had value. Many forget there were Black soldiers who acquitted themselves well in the Spanish American war. This film tries to put a bit of all of this in, and at the same time, tell a story that will keep our attention. Mario, you did well, and I am honored to own this movie. Remember, a movie is only there to tell a story. And I enjoyed Tone Loc, Big Daddy Kane, Tiny Lister, Stephen Baldwin, Mario Van Peebles and the little guy whose name I can't recall at the moment. And, the townspeople? What a colorful group. The scene when they pass the road gang, and you hear the mournful voice of Aaron Neville, absolutely heart tugging. The New Orleans scene? Envigorating. But, why did Father Time have to die. Why did any of the Posse have to die? I would have liked to see them ride again. 'Jesse, they killed Angel'

A popcorn movie that teaches. We need more like this........2003-12-27

Mario Van Peebles "Posse" is a movie with flaws, but it treats its source material with respect. Unlike the shallow and silly "Rosewood" Van Peebles "Posse" gives viewers a clear picture of what life was like for African-American cowboys at the turn of the century. We get to know characters in the story. The production values are low budget, and several roles are miscast, but Van Peebles' heart is in every second of this film. He loves the material and wants us to learn as much about these forgotten black heroes as he has. Part "spaghetti western", part action flick, part historical drama, Posse is a lot of fun to watch. Mario Van Peebles, Billy Zane, Melvin Van Peebles and Salli Richardson in her first role are great. Tis one is worth owining for your collection.

Better than the "editorial review" thinks it is.......2002-10-15

Tom Keogh, whomever he may be, is quite mistaken about the quality of Mario Van Peebles film, which is somewhat more than simply a "black western." Despite the "camp" appearances of several black celebrities, Peebles brings to the film an arresting visual quality and an iconoclastic, unmistakably "dark" [no pun intended] perspective on How the West Was Lost, which is one of the biggest tragedies of American history. The historical background is suitably complex, tieing in references to the Spanish-American War. Although the lead character's gunslinging talents are made too much of, this is far from cliche.

Brings Old West Back to Life.......2002-05-04

Mario Van Peebles Posse' brought a new perspective about the west. This was the first western in many years to feature a predominately African-American cast. Stephen Baldwin was great in his potrayal of Lil' Jay. Very educational movie.

Average customer rating:

Outstanding Value
The Great Tarin Robbery
The first American Movie
Superb quality and great value

Great Train Robbery - 100th Anniversay
Starring: Morgan Jones , Tom London , Gilbert M. Anderson , A.C. Abadie , and George Barnes
Director: Edwin S. Porter
Manufacturer: Vci Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Outlaws | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B0000WN1JA
Release Date: 2003-12-16

Description

This Special Edition DVD contains two versions of the historically significant western, "The Great Train Robbery" (1903) and more classic silent westerns: "The Heart of Texas Ryan" (1916), "Tumbleweeds" (1925) and "The Battle of Elderbush Gulch" (1913) - all enhanced with music and effects tracks. Bonus Features: Video Prologues narrated by Will Hutchins (WB TV star "Sugarfoot")| Bonus Cowboy Poem by Will Hutchins| Movie Selection Menu| Western Previews| Bios| DVD Rom Content: Extended Bios| Weblinks to more information and biographical material. Specs: DVD9; Dolby Digital Mono; 184 minutes; B&W; 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio; MPAA - NR; Year - 2003 SRP - $19.99.

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding Value.......2007-03-09

Of course, everyone (?) knows the reputation of the Great Train Robbery. But the rest of the package contains some gems. Surprising DW Griffith Western, in "Battle...," in the sense that the cavalry does NOT arrive in the nick of time for most of the townspeople, though the stars are saved. The Tom Mix feature is really funny, showing a character who is quite anti-heroic, by Classic Western standards. But the real gem is William S. Hart's Tumbleweeds, which stages an incredible Oklahoma land run, and a stunning ride by 55-year-old Hart.

The Great Tarin Robbery.......2007-03-08

A classic of the start of motion pictures by Thomas Edison that has stould the test of time.

The first American Movie.......2005-01-24

Its hard to believe but this film was made more than 100 hundred years ago,it has to be considered to be a technical step forward for its time. The plot is basicilly a train robbery. It is also the first western. This was a stepping stone for what movies could be, D.W Griffth pushed even farther with the first epic with a Birth Of A Nation.

Superb quality and great value.......2004-02-01

Wasn't to sure what to expect quality wise but on viewing was absolutely delighted.
The DVD features four silent westerns (all classics) with excellent picture quality and suitable accompanying music with orchestra.
Tumbleweeds is the 1939 reissue and has W S HART speaking of his love of the west.
Battle of Elderbush Gulch is an exciting story by D W Griffith.
Heart of Texas Ryan stars Tom Mix.
Two versions of the title film are included.
All the films have short intros, history and bios.

Product Description

Enter the world of a pagan girl in Central Texas. Spend a day with her as she wanders the woods outside her home, undressing and visiting with her two firespinning girlfriends. A montage of erotic scenes set to a musical soundtrack by Fistful of Voodoo which ranges from ethereal electronica to tribal drums and bass.

Customer Reviews:

How bad can it be?.......2007-05-12

OMG, this has to be the worst thing ever made. Don't buy this unless you are desperate to see women. There is nothing erotic about it.

I really enjoyed watching this!.......2005-06-27

No, it wasn't perfect. There was no plot, no dialogue, and no seduction element. It was basically just a couple of very pretty girls caressing and fondling eachother. I would definitely have enjoyed more of a story. But there was also something very fresh about their scenes together that I found highly erotic. It had an originality and creativity so lacking in most girl/girl scenes I've seen on video.

On the negative side, I didn't care so much for the solo-girl scenes, which reminded me of those lame PLAYBOY videos where all the girls do is pose for the camera. Nor did I like all that fire-twirling at the end, which made me feel like I was watching something from an R-rated circus act. But I still enjoyed those several moments when the two very lovely young women kissed and explored eachother's gorgeous bodies! No, it's not a perfect video, but still surprisingly hot nonetheless.

Sensuality all it's own. Very original........2005-04-26

I've never seen anything like Damiana girl. It's a beautiful piece of erotic art sure to appeal to men and women alike. The original soundtrack adds a lovely edge to the passionate scenes. The girls are all very exotic and beautiful and very natural looking in the rustic hillcountry setting. There are plenty of tastefully hot scenes in which the passion is very convincing. The fire spinning scenes are also breathtaking. If you are looking for mindless porn, look elsewhere. If you are looking for an orignal piece of erotic art then I guarantee Damiana Girl will be an excellent choice.

Can't stop watching this movie.......2005-03-28

This movie is a unique genre. It's not porn but it is arousing. Electronic music and African rhythms combined with images of beautiful naked girls, sometimes alone, sometimes intimate with each other. The girls are beautiful, - one redhead, one blonde and one Latina. The scenes with the Hill Country backdrop are entrancing with a kind of autumnal mystic quality which goes well with the music, especially the nighttime fire scenes. The sex is not vulgar. but very passionate. Because the girls are so hot, I would have liked to have seen a few more close-ups, but otherwise this was a very good movie and definitely a welcome additon to my library.

Entrancing.......2005-02-23

This video actually has a story line that supports its erotic aspects. It is more than an in-your-face, senseless hard core film. It's visually pleasing in many ways and the original music really gets you there. For anyone who prefers a longer build up time than the 5 second fade in, for those who like to watch lovely ladies, and for anyone who likes erotica, check this out.

Average customer rating:

Black Fox: The Price of Peace
Starring: Cyndy Preston , Christopher Reeve , Tony Todd , Raoul Trujillo , and Chris Wiggins
Director: Steven Hilliard Stern
Manufacturer: Platinum Disc
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002VENQO
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Average customer rating:

Good Film Marred by Political Correctness
Western thriller - too long, but good nonetheless
Okay Movie
Riveting
Great movie!

The Missing (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Tommy Lee Jones , Cate Blanchett , Evan Rachel Wood , Jenna Boyd , and Aaron Eckhart
Director: Ron Howard
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001977IS
Release Date: 2004-02-24

Amazon.com

Description

Customer Reviews:

Good Film Marred by Political Correctness.......2007-03-05

Western thriller - too long, but good nonetheless.......2007-02-09

Okay Movie.......2007-01-04

Original storyline.

Neat mysticism.

Okay movie.

Riveting.......2006-11-10

Great movie!.......2006-11-10

I'm partial to Tommy Lee Jones, but he really did an excellent job on this one. Very good story-telling, excellent acting.

Average customer rating:

America's Toughest Sheriff Indeed
torn
One Tough Sheriff

America's Toughest Sheriff (Joe Arpaio)
Starring: America's Toughest Sheriff
Manufacturer: Mpi Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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America's Toughest Sheriff: How We Can Win the War Against Crime

ASIN: B000BT96O6
Release Date: 2006-02-28

Description

America's Toughest Sheriff follows the popular and often-controversial law enforcement figure, Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio presides over Maricopa County in Arizona, the fourth-largest county in the U.S. This documentary takes you inside his no-nonsense approach to incarceration. His well-known deterrents include tent cities housing over 1,000 inmates, old-fashioned prison stripes complete with standard issue pink underwear and female chain gangs.

The media-friendly Arpaio has received high praise for his unorthodox methods and purported tax-saving measures. But, not everyone is pro-Joe. Civil rights groups, including Amnesty International, have expressed outrage over jail conditions and complaints of alleged inmate abuse. Others question the staff's potential misuse of stun guns and pepper spray and the practicality of his 3,000 member volunteer posse.

Love him or hate him, Joe Arpaio is toughest sheriff in the West.

Customer Reviews:

America's Toughest Sheriff Indeed.......2007-01-06

This is one great story whether you watch it on PBS, read the book or see the DVD.
Personally I believe America should have more Lawmen like Joe Arpaio.

torn .......2006-08-10

I bought this video because I am a Professor of Criminal Justice. I felt it would be interesting to watch and study as part of a Survey of Corrections course.

It turned out to be very interesting- and somewhat disturbing. My personal and professional sides seemed torn between the content and I could see the same reaction in my students. The discussion that came from watching the video was very productive and beneficial to the class.

However, several students were taken aback by one of the inmates stories and as a Professor I feel I should have made them aware of what the video contained.

Arguable one of the better videos for classroom discussion- if your students can handle the content.

One Tough Sheriff.......2006-07-16

I enjoyed this Documentary on Sheriff Joe Arpaio. I believe in his way of law enforcement, maybe we should have more sheriffs/law enforcers like him. People have a choice in life and if they break the law they should be held accountable for their actions. Keep up the good work Sheriff.

Average customer rating:

Decent film, awful DVD
The Movie is Better than the Book
Caution!
To tackle domestic terrorism
A Small And Forgettable But Decent Frankenheimer Movie

Year of the Gun
Starring: Andrew McCarthy , Sharon Stone , Valeria Golino , John Pankow , and George Murcell
Director: John Frankenheimer
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
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ASIN: B000022TSD
Release Date: 1999-12-21

Amazon.com

In 1978 Italy, anarchy is in the air as the Red Brigades keep the country in a state of terror. Reporter David (Andrew McCarthy) moves blithely among the mayhem; after all, he's an American citizen and untouchable, right? When the manuscript for his political novel, patterned after the Brigades, falls into the wrong hands, it draws the unwelcome attentions of the Brigades, the police, and aggressive American photojournalist Allison (Sharon Stone) and lands David in hot water. Director John Frankenheimer took an overworked plot and made the best of it, though McCarthy is a bit puny as David. As would be expected in a Frankenheimer effort, though, the action segments shine with lithe editing and Frankenheimer's instincts for composition and camera work. The riots and chase segments make use of Rome's cityscape, calling to mind Euro-thrillers of the period. Stone is compelling as the foolhardy photographer, with some torrid sex scenes with McCarthy. Though not on a par with The Manchurian Candidate or Seven Days in May, Year of the Gun is a decent action film that goes a long way toward capturing the political and social chaos that was '70s Italy. --Jerry Renshaw

Customer Reviews:

Decent film, awful DVD.......2007-02-14

This is a moderately entertaining late work from John Frankenheimer. The basic premise - a young journalist writes a novel about the Red Brigade in 1970's Italy, only to have it stolen and mistaken for the truth, causing him and his friends to be hunted for murder - is strong. The film itself is hampered by an obviously low budget and a lackluster leading man, though Stone and Golino are quite good. Even with schlocky stuff like this, Frankenheimer's talent with the camera and his actors shines through.

The DVD, however, is a complete disaster. Many scenes are in Italian, but Sony has left off the original subtitles, as another reviewer mentioned. Scenes going on for five minutes at a stretch become incomprehensible. In addition, though the case says the film is in 1.66:1 widescreen, it is actually fullscreen.

The film is not a masterpiece by any means, but it deserved better treatment than this.

The Movie is Better than the Book.......2004-03-03

This is one of those occasions where the film beats the book.

The greatest enemy of this movie has nothing to do with the film. It has to do with the fact that how many viewers will care enough about Italy and its communist 70's problems.

Dialogue is dialogue unless its written by Ed Wood. The twists in the plot are enough to keep you watching. And you may even be surprised.

Polical films require the viewer to accept some amazing coincidences, the kind of coincidences that occurred in "The Day of the Jacket," which is referred to in this film also.

The film didn't and wouldn't win an award, and who cares who the director is. The novel was thin also, but again, there is no international intrigue, just an American caught in a duplicious situation.

Caution!.......2003-11-09

This DVD does not have english subtitles for the Italian dialogue. Some minor plot points are not clearly expressed because of this (Unless of course you are fluent in Italian). The old VHS versions have the english translations.
The film itself suffers from its flaws. The plot is a bit convoluted but still acceptable. Andrew McCarthy, John Pankow, and Sharon Stone all deliver somewhat lifeless performances. The already bland script is diminished by the poor delivery from the actors, and some questionable editing. The cinematography vacillates between bland and wonderful.
Despite all of its problems, I still manage to like this film. It is a must for any Frankenheimer devotee, also for any admirer of the wonderful Valeria Golino.

To tackle domestic terrorism.......2003-07-25

It is easy to knock this movie for its already mentioned shortcomings (not all of which are that serious). Yes, this is a real life story of the assasination of Aldo Moro fictionalized, courtesy of John Frankenheimer. But this is Italy in the 1970's, so why worry ?
Is there any contemporary U.S. director ready to tackle a domestic terrorism story ? David Lynch, perhaps ? "Matrix" hacks ? Coen Brothers ? I do not see any impulse in the contemporary Holywood to join the events forming the U.S. global
policy approach, just the customary bunk employing Vim Diesel
and his ilk. What a waste of dramatic potential... What a waste of all these writers hopelessly stuck in their cozy "cold war" track. It is all about a formula, isn't it ? It should be about "worldview", intelligent grasp of contemporary affairs, and, above all, about anti-Grisham revolt.. Once we abolish "Grisham" mentality, we edge closer to reality.Can these hacks retool in time, before the whole thing overtakes them because the "political correctness" ?? But I am afraid, the film-music composers will defend Grisham and his ilk to the death. The Cold War of old was good to the film music mainly, and also to writers who tried to emulate Tolkien, because the reality seemed to.
THEY WERE WRONG !!! All except Solzhenitsyn,for he knew what he was after.
My bet is - Clint Eastwood will likely come up with something that smacks of Globalpolitik and is also exciting. And the style will (and should) be ivolving Neo-Realistic amateur actors plus an inspired director combination, just like in Vittorio De Sicca or Lucchino Visconti times. Who needs Tom Cruise, Gwyneth Paltrow, etal., you know what I mean ? I myself could act in a film that means SOMETHING, but then I could not be in a movie where they would make me act phony, right ?
BUT, I watch these phony movies all the time and then I get out of the house and see how true to life they are. Do I dare to ask anyone anything ? They all assume we are on the same wavelength because of the media available to us all. How do I tell them that there is a short-wawe radio service that tells of different opinions, if you speak British English or Australian English or South-African English, not to mention if you speak or understand any other language. You would learn a bit more.

A Small And Forgettable But Decent Frankenheimer Movie.......2001-11-14

I rented this movie merely because I was in the mood for an action movie. "Year Of The Gun" is one of the more passable films that Frankenheimer has made in recent years.

In 1978, Italy is politically divided over the terrorist group The Red Brigades. An American journalist(Andrew McCarthy) is writing a fictional novel about The Red Brigades and the storyline coincidentally presages the actual terrorist plans of the group. The Brigades steal a manuscript of the novel and consider McCarthy to be a threat. As a result, McCarthy is on the run for his own life.

"Year Of The Gun" is a modest and unmemorable but decent Frankenheimer thriller. The acting is mostly wooden and the story has some logic problems. The film also features a very poorly executed bank robbery-sequence. As a Frankenheimer picture, "YOTG" doesn't come close to matching such great films as "Seven Days In May," "The Manchurian Candidate," and "Black Sunday." Nevertheless, "YOTG" actually manages to be one of the more decent thrillers that Frankenheimer has made in recent years. "YOTG" is only slightly inferior to "Ronin." The movie generates a reasonable amount of suspense. The picture also has none of the blatant ludicrousness that has plagued many of Frankenheimer's post-1960s films.

"YOTG" is a forgettable but decent time killer.

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