Kurt and Courtney

Starring:Kurt Cobain, El Duce, Tom Grant, Hank Harrison, Courtney Love, Krist Novoselic, Sam Rubin, Pat Smear
Studio: Fox Lorber
Product Type: DVD

Customer Reviews:

The Met misses with this production of the famous Mozart opera.......2007-06-14

This is a barely adequate production of the great Mozart Opera.

The spare stage settings create little of the "Singspiel" magic that this opera requires.

Franciso Araiza is uninspiring as Tamino but other members of the cast are generally good - Kathleen Battle is appropriately girlish as Pamina, Kurt Moll provides some gravitas as Sarastro, and Manfred Hemm provides some energy and humour as Papageno.

This production never springs to life and after a while one just sits there feeling bored.

Sound and picture quality are OK.

Die Zauberflote.......2007-03-29

I was pleased with the musical performance, though mainly because this opera is one of my favorites. The sets were not all I thought they could be. I was disappointed that I could not find a way to find where I had left off in the playing if I needed to interrupt it for any length of time.

A wonderful production.......2007-03-17

I really thought I was buying the 2007 (I believe) production by the Met. The 2007 production is much more a high tech, mystical presentation, but much shortened. You, or at least I couldn't discover the production year in the flyer, but it doesn't matter. The DVD is certainly worth the money. I now know that the 2007 production is not yet available on DVD.

Brilliant.......2006-11-23

Everything about this performance is simply brilliant. In general, nothing beats live music performances. Having seen the opera live a few weeks ago, I can safely say this is at least as good as the live performance.

Perhaps the greatest performers were the Queen of the Night, Tamino and the orchestra itself. This DVD is truely a gem, and a joy to watch. Highly recomended.

Excellent!.......2006-10-12

I was a little wary of buying this DVD from the negative reviews for it, but after seeing it, I have no idea where those comments were founded. I got this just so that I could see the actual performances after listening to the opera, and I was not dissapointed! This is an exceptional production of the Magic Flute, and well worth it. The orchestra is very good. Here's a character-by-character analysis:
Sarastro is top rate; those low notes he is able to hit is unbelieveable! Kurt Moll is famous for this role as well. I especially like his aria and chorus of 'O Isis und Osiris'.
Pamina is really excellent as well. That Kathleen Battle sure has a great set of pipes! For me, the best part for her was in chapter 35: the sorrowful aria, 'Ach, ich fuhl's, es ist verschwunden' -It gives you chills.
Tamino is great, and I like the sound of his voice.
Papageno is marvelous! He was my favorite even when I just listened to a recording of the opera. He's got a great voice, and very funny. My favorite part is when he plays the magic chimes when he and Pamina are caught by the slaves. It's just fabulous! I also love the last piece where he finally gets his little Papagena.
The Queen of the Night is extremely good! Someone else had said she was awful and slowed down the triples in her one famous aria, 'Der Holle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen', but I thought she was exceptional. It's one of my favorites. I have a lot of them, as you can tell. She's not screechy or anything, and it's just great.
Overall I think this is a grand DVD, and I'm very happy I found it. I would highly recommend it to anybody just wanting to see a great production of Mozart's timeless opera; like I was.

Average customer rating:

This loss is a crime to our musical pleasure
Haunting and Interesting
Spinal Tap Meets True Hollywood Stories
1950s Cinematic Persona Appeals To A Murderer
Low quality documentary work, but this has some essential interviews for Kurt & Courtney aficionados

Kurt and Courtney
Starring: Kurt Cobain , El Duce , Tom Grant , Hank Harrison , and Courtney Love
Manufacturer: Fox Lorber
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Kurt Cobain: The Early Life of a Legend
Love & Death: The Murder of Kurt Cobain
Last Days
Heavier than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain
Journals

ASIN: B00000JS6K
Release Date: 1999-09-28

Amazon.com

Watching a Nick Broomfield documentary (Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer, Heidi Fleiss: Hollywood Madam) makes one not just want to shower, but to scrub oneself raw like Meryl Streep did in Silkwood. Going where even the tabloids fear to tread, the controversial Kurt & Courtney could also be called Courtney and Me. Investigating the apparent suicide of grunge icon Cobain, Broomfield runs into a formidable obstacle, namely Cobain's widow, Courtney Love. She blocked permission for him to use any of Cobain's music and ultimately got the film yanked from the Sundance Film Festival. Can't really blame her, as Broomfield follows the lead of a motley crew of conspiracy theorists, grudge-carrying former boyfriends, and estranged parents who suggest that Cobain was actually murdered at Love's behest. For those who watched bemused as Love reinvented herself as a Hollywood glamour girl, this is luridly entertaining stuff--albeit suspect. How much stock to put in S&M rocker El Duce (where does Bloomfield find these people?), who claims to have been offered money by Love to kill Cobain, and then offers to tell more if Broomfield will buy him a beer? Broomfield paints a much more sympathetic portrait of Cobain. In the film's most touching moment, an aunt plays a tape of a 2-year-old Cobain singing. "He's a prettly loud little guy," she says. These scenes will be nirvana for Cobain fans. --Donald Liebenson

Customer Reviews:

This loss is a crime to our musical pleasure.......2007-05-01

A very strange documentary about the death of Kurt Cobain. Is it a suicide as announced or is it a murder as suspected and asserted by several people and is Courtney the origin of this murder? Quite a few question that are not that easy to answer and actually the documentary does not get to no answer, no final answer and it is maybe better like that. What would it bring into the picture if these hypotheses were true? Nothing. The loss of Kurt Cobain will not be repaired by a police investigation and then a trial. No matter how strange this death was one thing seems to be sure: Kurt Cobain was being pushed into some extreme depression by the castrating and controlling obsession of his wife Courtney. She did get a huge profit out of this death but that could have been a good motivation but it is in no way a proof or a piece of hard evidence. So let's cry and lament and let's hope what Kurt Cobain left behind will be stronger than the loss of his future.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris Dauphine & University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne

Haunting and Interesting.......2006-04-18

Kurt & Courtney is the haunting documentary, about the death of Nirvana guitarist/singer/lyricist Kurt Cobain. Everyone knows the story of Kurt Cobain, but here director Nick Broomfield presents us with a different story.
As everyone knows, Kurt Cobain was found in a greenhouse above the garage of his home in Seattle in April of 1994, dead of an apparent self inflicted gunshot wound. There was a high level of heroin in his system.
Kurt Cobain was married to singer/actress Courtney Love and had a young daughter named Frances Bean. Before seeing this movie I had heard all sorts of conspiracy theories about the death of Kurt Cobain that all went back to the theory that he was murdered by Courtney Love. I always dismissed these because while Courtney Love does appear to me to be a little whacked out on drugs, she doesn't have the appearance of a killer. One of the things that I admired about this film is that it doesn't try to swing your view one way or the other, but instead just tries to give you the straight facts. I'm still undecided on whether I believe Cobain was murdered or not, but this movie does present some interesting facts. Broomfield has meetings with several people during the course of the film; including Courtney Love herself briefly.
First he talks with Kurt's aunt Mary, who believes Kurt commited suicide and talks about the poems she found when he was a kid and some of the recordings he made. We meet a woman named Amy who claimed to know Kurt and Courtney and offers to show Broomfield pictures. Pictures that we never see...Then, in an interesting turn, there's Courtney Love's father Hank Harrison; who has written two books about the death of Kurt and believes that he was murdered, but not necessarily by Courtney. There's Private Detective Tom Grant who has gone bankrupt trying to prove that Kurt was murdered by Courtney, and who claims that someone with that high a level of heroin in their system could not have possibly manipulated a shotgun into their mouth. Problem is, Grant insists this fact even when medical experts say otherwise. In what I believe to be the most interesting turn is El Duce, a singer of an underground punk rock group called The Mentors. When Broomfield introduces us to El Duce, he's drunk and insists that Courtney offered to pay him 50 g's to whack Kurt Cobain. A few days (or weeks) later
El Duce was found dead, hit by a train. Finally, while Courtney is at an awards show Broomfield takes the stage to ask her some questions but is quickly thrown off the stage by the president of the awards, a good friend of Courtney's. I do believe that a lot of the people in this documentary were trying to just get some fame and didn't know Cobain. But there's definitley some interesting evidence presented here. I almost forgot to mention how
Tom Grant actually searched the house that Kurt killed himself in with Kurt's best friend (I forget his name) and belives that the man purposefully made sure Grant didn't search the Greenhouse. This film was set to play at the Sundance Film Festival but was pulled due to pressure from Love's attorneys. Why would Love want this movie pulled so badly? As I said, I don't think everyone here is honest; but I believe at least parts of Aunt Mary,
El Duce, and Hank Harrison's stories. The Nanny interview is interesting too and seems to be true. Kurt & Courtney is one of the most haunting, entertaining, and interesting documentaries in a while and anyone who has ever doubted Cobain's death or just doesn't know a whole lot about it should check it out. Whether this movie steers your opinion one way or the other, it's nice to have some facts.

GRADE: A

Spinal Tap Meets True Hollywood Stories.......2006-04-16

There are some classic hilarious moments in this documentary. The director taking the stage at Courtney's speaking engagement? Hilarious! El Duce? You couldn;t ask for a more bizarre, surreal interview. And then, too, I'll never forget that pity me Kurt clip where he laments that he can't go into second hand/thrift stores anymore, because he's so famous. It ranks up there with that amp that goes to 11. And after seeing this movie a second time, I don't think the director is leaning towards one verdict, because even those who claim that Kurt was murdered, a lot of them are made to look at times dubious. If he wanted to push one side, he would not have included this. Fascinating, with worthy humor.

1950s Cinematic Persona Appeals To A Murderer.......2006-02-20

# 1 -- Did Kurt Cobain, or did he not, inject heroin into both of his arms inside his own home in April of 1994 ? If he did, why would he WANT TO shoot himself ? The issue is NOT whether he COULD do it. The issue is NOT whether some eccentric British researcher cited by Mr. Broomfield (the maker of this film) could stand on one foot while he's stoned on this or that. What IS the issue ? It's that anyone knowledgeable about heroin can tell you that nobody who is on it WANTS to shoot himself / herself at that moment.

# 2 -- Did Mr. Cobain's longtime friend Dylan Carlson, or did he not, take private detective Tom Grant on a tour of the Cobain home in April of 1994 for the purpose of finding the missing Mr. Cobain ? Did Mr. Carlson, or did he not, neglect to show the detective the large room where Mr. Cobain lay dead at that moment ?

Yes or no, please. If both answers are yes, then I would advise Los Angeles residents to be afraid of Courtney Love. Be very afraid. An obscure New York clubgoer got injured many years after Mr. Broomfield completed this documentary.

It is easy to prove, or to convince people with logic, that that strange day in April of 1994 was the first time Tom Grant had ever been in the house owned by Cobain and Love. It is easy to prove that he went there with Mr. Carlson because Courtney Love had paid him to do that with the goal of finding her missing husband. You can hear Mr. Grant make these claims on camera, and I believe him.

When you listen to Mr. Carlson on this DVD, you can tell he's a longtime friend of Kurt Cobain who previously had visited the singer in the house where he showed detective Grant around in April of 1994. Why else would a private detective based in Los Angeles meet up with a stranger to search another stranger's house in Washington state for somebody who ran away from a Los Angeles drug rehab clinic a few days ago ?

When Steven Tyler of Aerosmith moved into a closet - sized Manhattan "apartment" in 1979 to use heroin round - the - clock, would a private eye hired by his girlfriend tiptoe to the door, notice the horrific living conditions and then run away ? That's as ludicrous as the "search" conducted by Tom Grant and Dylan Carlson. They knew before they reached the house that Kurt Cobain was a heroin addict, and Mr. Carlson was familiar with all the rooms where Kurt might be.

I believe Courtney Love knew her husband lay dead in a particular room of "their" house when she hired the Los Angeles - based Tom Grant to travel there with "their" friend Dylan Carlson, who agreed to Courtney's request that they avoid a particular room. I believe Courtney did this to create the false impression that she didn't know the whereabouts or life / death status of her husband.

Ms. Love has expressed admiration for Hollywood legend Joan Crawford. As long as softheaded Golden Hollywood buffs admire the phoniness of that violent, abusive woman, MTV and musical web sites will keep getting bombarded by morbidly depressed poets who hate phoniness.

Tipper Gore and the Christian Right focus on the targets of these grunge people and hiphop people. Do they hate personal hygiene, clothing and food, as Kurt Cobain did, or do they hate the police as his contemporary Ice - T did ? Tipper misses the point.

It doesn't matter who or what these controversial artists are angry at. What matters is that the phony bulldoody embodied by Courtney Love's role models creates the huge market for these "prophets" who scare the hell out of suburban parents. Musical poets have expressed anger ever since Holden Caulfield lashed out at phoniness. To this day actresses whose demeanor remotely resembles Joan Crawford's don't get work in MTV videos or rock & roll films like "Almost Famous."

Hey, Tipper Gore, does Joan Crawford's resolve never to offend moviegoers justify her development of a phony persona that diverts people's attention from domestic violence ? Domestic violence led to Kurt Cobain's death. So he used hard drugs ? So did Nicole Simpson.

If you blame the victim, you're practically inviting more violent people to kill more victims. Please, everyone, don't be stupid enough to use Courtney Love's successful acting career as proof that she is innocent of murder. She plays characters who don't murder. That's acting. Joan Crawford played Baby Jane's totally peaceful, submissive sister Blanche. That's acting.

I'm ready for the next reviewer to slam me. I think I'm gone.

Low quality documentary work, but this has some essential interviews for Kurt & Courtney aficionados.......2005-12-27

This movie is a good companion to Max Wallace and Ian Halperin's two books about Kurt Cobain's death and possible murder (Who Killed Kurt Cobain? and Love & Death: The Murder of Kurt Cobain). Wallace and Halperin are far superior journalists to filmmaker Nick Broomfield and tell a better constructed story, but this movie is worth it for the interviews with Kurt's aunt, with Courtney's father, and with the eccentric alcoholic El Duce (who claims Courtney offered him cash to murder Kurt).

Kurt & Courtney has a very low-budget feel throughout, and it seems as if scenes are thrown together in the order they were filmed, not in a manner to present a compelling narrative. At one point, an essential camera battery fails and the potential for an explosive interview with Courtney is lost. The interviewer frequently antagonized his subjects (private investigator Tom Grant and Courtney's father, among others) and lacked basic research into the backstory. One real low point in the film is an interview of a friend of the Cobain's nanny, who reveals thirdhand "facts" about the case and her own interpretation of the events surrounding the death (when she was nowhere near the family).

Anyone interested in the Kurt & Courtney story should watch this, just for some of the few worthwhile highlights, but this isn't high quality documentary work. The Wallace/Halperin books are essential reading.

Average customer rating:

LoveMaster is unique and extremely funny!!!
Hilarious
Great

The Lovemaster
Starring: George Wendt , Craig Shoemaker , Kyle Thomas , Melissa Pomerantz , and May Quigley
Director: Michael Goldberg (III)
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Craig Shoemaker: Live - That's A True Story!
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ASIN: B00005ABVO
Release Date: 2001-04-10

Description

American Comedy Awards "Comedian of the Year," Craig Shoemaker, stars as himself in this uproariously funny film, which explores the life that led to becoming a stand-up comic. Craig was raised in an all-female household by his belly-dancing mother, pot smoking grandmother, and wore hand-me-down halter tops from his sisters. Out of necessity, he created his alter ego, the embodiment of what every man wants to be, and every woman wants to have--The Lovemaster!

Customer Reviews:

LoveMaster is unique and extremely funny!!!.......2001-03-08

I havew personally seen the "Lovemaster" live at a local comedy club in L.A. He is truely talented and I would compare him to the caliber of Jerry Lewis of old. You won't go wrong with this DVD. Plenty of laughs.

Hilarious.......2000-03-17

This movie was absolutely great. I laughed soo hard. I had borrowed it from a friend and I couldn't wait to find a place to purchase it.

Great.......1999-12-30

Real funny movie with great bits of Craig's act in between. Farrah Fawcett is hilarious as the dream girl. A very funny movie.

Average customer rating:

The Killing Grounds never fails to amaze me
A lethal dose of the seven deadly sins...

The Killing Grounds
Starring: Priscilla Barnes , Courtney Gains , Cynthia Geary , Rodney A. Grant , and Anthony Michael Hall
Director: Kurt Anderson
Manufacturer: Allumination
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00009XN8P
Release Date: 2003-07-22

Description

After the fatal crash of a small airplane in the high Sierras, six greedy strangers clash over a fortune in stolen gold. When four hikers stumble on the treasure and begin hauling it away, two drug dealing thugs come to claim the loot, regardless of who gets hurt. The torturous trip down the mountainside becomes a frightening ordeal as each has his own plans for the gold. No one hears their bloodcurdling cries as they cross the killing grounds at the bottom of the mountain.

Customer Reviews:

The Killing Grounds never fails to amaze me.......2001-03-21

The Killing Grounds is a superior B movie. The Carrot Top Guy is absurd to begin with. Everything he does is so stupid and irrational. But the movie is still super funny if you look at it in a fun way. Watch this movie and see which character you hate the most! One thing to take in to consideration while viewing, is the bass and guitar soundtrack never stops...never. The whole movie is like one giant scene, the mood is stuck. It's epic! GO CARROT TOP!

A lethal dose of the seven deadly sins..........1999-08-31

I guess I should have known what I was getting into when I saw this on HBO late one night.