Ghosts & Witches of Olde England

Starring:Ghosts & Witches of Olde Engla
Studio: Delta
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

To call The Judi Dench Collection a treasure trove is indubitably cliché, but that's so much classier than "Dench-a-Palooza." Essential for fans of the great Dame, theatre buffs, and drama students, this eight-disc set is an embarrassment of riches, with nine BBC productions of classic and original plays, plus three radio plays and excerpts from televised interviews, one of which features her moving rendition of "Send in the Clowns" from A Little Night Music, for which she won an Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical (is there nothing she can't do?). They etch an indelible portrait of an artist with a compelling presence and staggering range. Judi Dench is one of those actors who rarely seem to make a false move, handling wrenching drama, madcap farce, and witty comedy with equal aplomb. John Hopkins' Talking to a Stranger (1966) is a British television benchmark that is mentioned in the same breath as Dennis Potter's masterpieces. Dench won her first BAFTA (the British equivalent of the Oscar) for her role as a damaged sibling in a dysfunctional family. Dench stars as Anya in Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard, a 1962 production translated by, and starring, John Gielgud and, as Madame Ranesvky, Peggy Ashcroft. Ashcroft is a hard act to follow, but Dench pulls it off in a 1981 production in which she assumes the role of the irresponsible aristocrat.

Georges Feydeau's Keep an Eye on Amelie (1973) is a carefree hour in which Dench stars as a coquette who agrees to marry a confirmed bachelor (Patrick Cargill) so he can inherit a million francs. This production is paired on disc 4 with writer Michael Frayn's (Noises Off!) award-winning comedy Make and Break, which unfolds at a trade fair in Frankfort and stars Dench as a devoted secretary to a work-consumed boss. Two powerful dramas comprise disc 8, Going Gently, for which Dench earned another BAFTA as a hospice nurse to two adversarial patients, and Can You Hear Me Thinking?(1990), starring Dench and her late husband Michael Williams (A Fine Romance) as parents whose lives are shattered when their teenage son develops schizophrenia. Ibsen's still potent Ghosts (1981) boasts a stellar ensemble, including Kenneth Branagh as doomed son Oswald and Michael Gambon as Pastor Manders, with Dench as Mrs. Alving, whose respected late husband led a dark, secret life. Anything but, Absolute Hell (1991) is a lost-souls black comedy starring Dench as Christine, the proprietor of a bohemian nightclub in post-World War II London. The cast includes her future Notes on a Scandal costar, Bill Nighy, as a washed-up writer. Stardom in the States came late to Dench. This collection allows her audience to catch-up with these mostly towering performances that established her as one of the premier actors of our time. --Donald Liebenson

Description

Dame Judi Dench is one of the most celebrated stars of stage and screen. She is the winner of an Academy Award(R), two Golden Globes, an unprecedented seven Olivier Awards, and numerous BAFTAs. At the BBC, she has appeared in a dazzling range of material from sitcoms to Shakespeare. This collection contains ten star-studded BBC productions spanning four decades and ranging from the Feydeau farce Keep an Eye on Amelie to Ibsen's Ghosts with Kenneth Branagh, Michael Gambon and Natasha Richardson and Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard with John Gielgud, Peggy Ashcroft and Ian Holm. And tucked away among the bonus features is a 1996 interview in which she sings "Send in the Clowns" from her Olivier-winning performance of A Little Night Music, just one of the many gems in this glorious testament to one of the greatest performers of our time.

DVD Features:
Featurette:Judi Dench: My Favorite Things (1985, RT: 30 min) BBC profile of Judi Dench in which she discusses her passions
Interviews:Judi Dench talks to Richard Eyre (2002, RT 59 min)
Other:Three Radio Plays With Great Pleasure (1991, RT: 44 min) Are You Still Awake?(1994, RT: 15 min) Amy's View (2000, RT: 123 min)

Customer Reviews:

EXCELLENT COLLECTION OF A GREAT DAME!.......2007-07-03

This is an excellent collection of Judi Dench's fine work for BBC Television. It spans her career from the early sixties to the nineties.
You will also get some very nice extras to enjoy.
This is a "must" for every fan of this great actress!

Not quite what I expected.......2007-06-19

I don't need to express how much I like Judi Dench. It would be excessive, and too sickeningly precious.

Although I thought Judi Dench deserved the Oscar for "Notes on a Scandal," (and other past films) this television and radio retrospective is one I could have lived without. It has nothing that remotely comes close to the quality of Ms. Dench's film work.

As for this interminable boxed set of Ms. Dench's dalliances into television and radio, I was never so disappointed. Indeed, to be subjected to two productions of Chekhov's "Cherry Orchard" is enough to free my point of any ambiguity. Simply put, two "Cherry Orchard's" are two too many. Where's my razor blade?

"Talking to a Stranger" was rather more than I could take. Can you say, manic?

The only reason to buy this collection would be for "Make or Break" with a marvelous supporting cast including the great Robert Hardy, (The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Elizabeth R, Edward the King, Middlemarch, Bramwell, and Harry Potter). Then there is, "Absolute Hell" with Bill Nighy, (The Lost Prince, The Pirates of the Caribbean II and III), Francesca Annis, (Cleopatra, Lillie, Edward the King, and Under the Cherry Moon) and another equally well rounded ensemble as "Make or Break." Both TV movies are wonderful.

The poetry readings are a nice touch. They are readings before an audience from several well versed poets. Each poem is read by Mr. Michael Williams and Ms. Judi Dench. Michael Williams (Elizabeth R, and Educating Rita) is Ms. Dench's late husband. He also co-starred with her in "Can You Hear Me Thinking?" in this collection. Despite the fact Williams and Dench are both in it don't expect too much viewing this 'illness-of-the-week-movie.' Its teleplay is short on facts and made with typical stiff British upper-lip for its subject matter. There is one exception. Michael Williams plays his role of father with greater depth of character then Judi Dench does playing mother. It remains to mention, Michael Williams played a minor role in the film "Tea with Mussolini." Sadly, the husband-wife team of the smash-hit sitcom, "A Fine Romance" (1981-1984) had no extensive scenes together in the film. Mr. Williams (a gifted actor by reason of his own ability) died of lung cancer shortly after his final TV film "The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns" on January 11, 2001 at Hampstead, London, England.

Judi Dench's portrayal of an actress in the radio play, "Amy's View," is that of another abhorrent virago to utterly despise. If one likes that sort of thing - or simply worships everything Dench - one can engage in uproarious Bacchanalian festivities. Perhaps that was the point. However, an actress playing an actress behind the scenes is rather a bore these days. Dench plays at being a selfish, temperamental, helpless character always in need. She's never happy with what shes got - no, not even with her own daughter. Yet, she's perfectly content living with a swindler - or so she tries to convince herself. Her character exists in a world of her own making and without any redeeming qualities. Compassion, love, and forgiveness do not exist in her narrow view of life off stage. Hence, the feeling that accompanies an experience of a thespian being indulgent exists in large quantities as one listens.

There is also a ghastly aggrandized installment called, "Ghosts" by Ibsen, starring Natasha Richardson (Patty Hearst, and Widows Peak) and the brilliant Kenneth Branagh (Chariots of Fire [uncredited], Henry V, Dead Again, Peter's Friends, Much Ado about Nothing, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Othello, The Proposition, William Shakespeare's Hamlet, The Theory of Flight, Conspiracy, and Shackleton). Unfortunately, "Ghosts" is a production cooked too long and anything but edible! It is a presentation to the mind in the form of an idea or image of life, which is, in fact, less than anything based in reality. Allow it to be stated, though, it is understood one person's idea of art (whatever the exact definition of art might be these days) can be another person's Grimm's fairytale!

The early interviews with Ms. Dench are charming. Yet, one might wonder about her later interviews before sinking their hard earned pennies into this collection. After all, not all of us live the life of a 'Superstar.' I shall say but this - they are a bit pretentious. One fellow 'board-walker' (acting as interviewer) is befitting those inclined to social exclusiveness, who rebuffs criticism of those considered inferior. His posturing is similar to W.S. Maugham's character 'Mr. Warburton' in Maugham's short story "The Outstation." That interview alone caused me to reevaluate how I view Ms. Dench (the actor) from such a distance. Often distance opens the mind to clarify the difference between falsity and truthfulness. Although I admit I like Ms. Dench's work I do not think I'd care to know her or meet her on the street. No star can sum up the life of anyone on a chance encounter. I've met, worked with (and been around) enough of them to know - ma'am.

Nonetheless, yes Ms. Dench, we know too well how difficult it is to do the work you do. Believe me 'Joe Public' (as you call us) really does understand. Work is work for all of us!

Ms. Dench singing "Send in the Clowns" was brilliant - the TV host sycophantic. At this price, two TV movies, a poetry reading, a song (and a partridge in a pear tree!) from the entire lot, aren't worth it for this Judi Dench fan falling out with the celebrated Dench charm.

With the lack of more recent readings for the BBC such as "Pangbourne," this box set is more like "mother's little helper," - about 40 milligrams forced for several days!

Who knows, I may watch again one snowy night and change my mind - but I doubt it - it doesn't snow where I live!

I don't expect too many positive ratings for this review either. Don't bother please.

Now I feel as if I got my money back - oh how delicious!

Bravissima Judi!.......2007-05-20

Proof that Ms. Dench is one of our finest actresses today. An important set to own and cherish! And as "icing to the cake" her superb rendition of "Send in the Clowns" is included.

Can't help lovin' that dame.......2007-05-14

Absolutely great! Judi Dench is the best of the best, and it's a real privilege to at last be able to see some of her extraordinary early work, along with some of her more recent, highly acclaimed roles as well. The special features are treasures.

The Best of the Best of Judi Dench.......2007-05-06

Fantastic collection of rare Judi Dench films. Keep THE GHOSTS, THE CHERRY ORCHARD (1981) and KEEP AN EYE ON AMELIE. J. Dench is remarkable, excellent dramatic actress and amazing comedienne, as well. Very interesting also the extras.

Spooked The Ghosts Of Waverly Hills Sanatorium

Average customer rating:

Worst. Documentary. Ever.
Very Interesting
Not bad - but not a "horror movie" if that's what you're looking for.
Don't believe the hype
Tis alright

Spooked The Ghosts Of Waverly Hills Sanatorium
Starring: Spooked Productions
Manufacturer: Spooked Productions
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Death Tunnel
Ghost Hunters: Season 2, Part 2
Ghost Hunters - Season 2, Part 1
Haunted Investigators: Volume 1 (Ghost Hunters)
Unsolved Mysteries: Ghosts

ASIN: B000HEVZSK
Release Date: 2006-06-26

Description

This highly acclaimed documentary follows Hollywood filmmakers as they uncover the shocking history within the haunted halls of "The Scariest Place On Earth", Waverly Hills Sanatorium, a monster of a building where it is said over 63,000 people died. Some say the DEAD are still there!

Customer Reviews:

Worst. Documentary. Ever........2007-07-02

This was, simply put, the worst documentary I've ever seen, and that it currently rates four stars on Amazon tells you more about the tastes of its reviewers than it does about the DVD itself. Forty-five minutes into the film, my wife got up and walked out of the room, saying "I can't take one more of these quick cuts or weird sound effects. When is this supposed to get scary rather than annoying?" If you want a documentary to scare you because it is authentically scary, then do yourself a favor and skip this one. Please. I should have taken the Netflix reviewers more seriously.

Ostensibly, this documentary is about the ghosts of Waverly Hills Sanatorium, a hulking building from the 1920s that was first used as a TB hospital and then as a badly run geriatric home until it was closed in 1980. According to the filmmakers, around 63,000 people died in the building during its tenure as a sanatorium, and so there are ample opportunities for hauntings. Except for one problem---a quick search of the Internet reveals that there is no such death statistic. Maybe a few hundred people died of TB in the place, at most, but 63,000 is simply unsupportable. (That number more likely refers to the total number of deaths in Kentucky!) Alas this sense of inflation characterizes much of the rest of the material in the film.

Three of the main sources of information are the new owner, his wife, and his father, all of whom obviously have an agenda trying to trump up business for tours through the big, old, spooky building. The much-hyped "death tunnel" was just an access corridor that allowed for the sheltered (from the elements and from onlookers) transport of materiel and deceased patients. "Actual ghost photos" just reveal pixelated blurs and blobs of light ("orbs") and the "electronic voice phenomena" are laughable bursts of noise and static with suggestive subtitles over screenshots of oscilloscopes. We are told in one of many PowerPoint slideshows which pass for section intros that the orbs seen in some photos "contain the spirits of multiple people"---where did they get this "fact" from? (That the same PPT slides are filled with typos was, sadly, unsurprising.) As for research into the stories behind the stories, we are told definitively that the ghost of room 502 hung herself in 1926. Or was it 1932? Or did she throw herself from the roof? (So much for that research, eh?) And one would have thought that, with all the friggin' video cameras being toted around, at least one person would have captured some pretty unambiguous weirdness on film, if the place was as filled with ghosts as the narrators would have us believe. Alas, this was simply not the case. The directors, aka the Booth Brothers (two British douchebags in cowboy hats and bad facial hair), tried to make this dearth of raw material scarier through the overuse of quick cuts, unsettling camera angles, spooky sound effects, annoying screams, and footage from *Death Tunnel,* their unnecessary horror flick about a sorority initiation inside Waverly. For an audience weaned on *Saw III,* these manipulations probably establish *Spooked* as a masterpiece; for those of us over 25, it just makes it an annoying waste of time. Truly, the only scary thing about this DVD is that most folks have rated it over 1 star.

Very Interesting.......2007-06-07

I really enjoyed watching this dvd because it focused more on the the true facts of Waverly Hills. Some of the previous patients and employees were interviewed and actual pictures that I have never seen on any of the Waverly Hills website were also included. Although there was some poorly taken ghost photography and EVPs that were barely audible included which by all means proved no haunting. I am not saying that Waverly Hills in not haunted but if you really want to believe it is see the episode of Ghost Hunters that made me more of a believer.
It is to bad that no one can make a dvd about Waverly Hills which has so much history and just leave the ghost stories out.

Not bad - but not a "horror movie" if that's what you're looking for........2007-05-18

I didn't HATE this movie/documentary. It was just not well thought out when filming. Editing and interviews were hodge-podge and not very interesting. No real narrator to guide you along. Didn't really "go" anywhere. It was just "here's some information, here's some more, here's some more." It didn't suck - but it wasn't jaw dropping either. More sad, depressing, unfortunate... I wish there were more stories about hauntings and happenings, than what went on there when it was an in-use facility.

Does have some cool photos, but right when you think it's about to get interesting, it'd cut to some former patient saying "No - I never saw that. Never knew that." Total buzz kill..

Don't believe the hype.......2007-05-03

This has to be the most dissapointing DVD purchase of my life. I thought I was getting something genuinely scare that offered real compelling evidence of supernatural activity but instead it was the same old fuzzy orbs, evp that sounds like nothing till a suggestion is put into your head and the odd shadowy figure that again looks like nothung until cropped sharpened and a caption is inserted to suggest what it is. Unbelievable clap trap. I have no doubt that the sanitorium itself is an opressive and scary place to visit but this DVD conveys nothing of that and comes across as less scary than a bad episode of Most Haunted. Big big let-down

Tis alright.......2007-01-14

It is alright. You have to watch this with a grain of salt.

Henrik Ibsen Collection (Hedda Gabbler / Ghosts / Little Eyolf / The Wild Duck / The Master Builder)

Average customer rating:

The BBC Ibsen Collection
What is included?
Great cast for Ghosts

Henrik Ibsen Collection (Hedda Gabbler / Ghosts / Little Eyolf / The Wild Duck / The Master Builder)
Starring: Anthony Hopkins , Denholm Elliott , Ingrid Bergman , Michael Redgrave , and Judi Dench
Manufacturer: BBC Warner
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Noel Coward Collection (BBC)
Becket
Shakespeare Collection (Hamlet 1996 / A Midsummer Night's Dream 1935 / Othello 1965 / Romeo & Juliet 1936)
Hedda Gabler (1981)
The Judi Dench Collection

ASIN: B000PAAK5U
Release Date: 2007-07-24

Description

The Henrik Ibsen Collection features ten star-studded BBC productions of Ibsen's most famous plays, together in one six-disc box set. Considered the father of modern realistic drama, Henrik Ibsen is one of the most important playwrights of all time. His plays attacked the values of the Victorian society in which he lived and were considered scandalous during his lifetime. Yet many of his themes are thoroughly modern today. The Henrik Ibsen Collection features stellar casts in Ibsen's best-known works, including Ingrid Bergman and Michael Redgrave in Hedda Gabler, Judi Dench and Michael Gambon in Ghosts, Anthony Hopkins and Diana Rigg in Little Eyolf, Denholm Elliot in The Wild Duck, Sir Donald Wolfitt and Leo McKern respectively in two extraordinary productions of The Master Builder, and much more. It's a quintessential part of any theater lover's library.

DVD Features:
Other:1 radio play: Peer Gynt (1986) 52'
Other:3 radio plays: Emperor and Galilean (1990) 203' The Pillars of Society (1989) 133' The Pretenders (2004) 170'
Other:2 radio plays: Rosmersholm (1990) 91' A Meeting in Rome (1991) 75'
Other:2 radio plays: John Gabriel Borkman (1974) 83' When We Dead Awaken (1991) 99'

Customer Reviews:

The BBC Ibsen Collection.......2007-05-31

BBC Warner may have excelled itself this time. Proper reviews won't be possible till the set appears, but nearly all of its contents can be indirectly deduced from the advance publicity.

Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) was one of the world's most influential dramatists; not even Shakespeare exerted so far-reaching influence on the drama of his own generation and its immediate successors, in almost every region of the globe. Reportedly, this 6-DVD set will contain either audio (radio) or video (television) English-language BBC productions of almost every play Ibsen wrote between 1864 and his death (the only apparent omission being the 1867 comedy "The League of Youth"). If so, the set will be almost as comprehensive as the BBC Television Shakespeare... and far more consistent in quality.

Taking the plays in order of composition, the set is planned to include:

(a) The last and richest of Ibsen's early historical plays written in the wake of Shakespeare and Schiller, "The Pretenders" (1864), in a first-rate 2004 radio production (Michael Sheen and Gerard Murphy as the rival claimants, Paul Scofield ideally cast as Bishop Nicholas).

(b) The two large-scale complementary verse plays of 1865-7, which are still regarded by some critics as Ibsen's finest achievements: "Brand", in one of the most famous of all Ibsen stage productions (with Patrick McGoohan and Patrick Wymark, 1959, deftly restaged in the TV studio by Michael Elliott); and "Peer Gynt", surprisingly for so visual a play, not in the 1972 TV production (has that been destroyed?) but in a 1986 radio abridgement.

(c) The long historical prose play "Emperor and Galilean" (1873), on which Ibsen labored so long and which he prized so highly (though few critics have agreed with him, and it remains almost the only Ibsen play that has never really proved itself stageworthy in any part of the world), in a 1990 radio production with Robert Glenister as Julian.

(d) All twelve of the modern prose plays written between 1877 and 1899, in the following productions: "Pillars of the Community" (radio, 1989); "A Doll's House" (TV, 1991, with Juliet Stevenson and Trevor Eve); "Ghosts" (TV, 1987, with Judi Dench and Kenneth Branagh); "An Enemy of the People" (TV; the exact production can't be deduced from the company's advance publicity, but perhaps it will be a very free 1980 adaptation with Robert Urquhart); "The Wild Duck" (TV, 1971, with Denholm Elliott, Rosemary Leach, and Jenny Agutter); "Rosmersholm" (radio, 1990); "The Lady from the Sea" (TV, 1974, with Eileen Atkins, Denholm Elliott, and Peggy Ashcroft); "Hedda Gabler" (TV, 1962, with Ingrid Bergman, Michael Redgrave, and Ralph Richardson); "The Master Builder" (two TV productions: 1958 with Donald Wolfit and Mai Zetterling, and 1988 with Leo McKern and Miranda Richardson); "Little Eyolf" (TV, 1982, with Anthony Hopkins and Diana Rigg); "John Gabriel Borkman" (radio, 1974); "When We Dead Awaken" (radio, 1991; here the 1970 telecast might have been expected, had it been preserved).

Of course, these productions won't suit all tastes. Anyone allergic to filmed theatre, British accents, or things Scandinavian in general, should shun them. Many (not all) of Ibsen's plays are (like Sophocles' and Racine's) claustrophobically confined to a small space and a small time; their drama is psychological, not external. If you want non-stop action or a laugh a minute, look elsewhere.

Nearly all the productions are easily a match for any English-speaking audio or video recordings of the plays concerned, though some may question whether the BBC owns a completely satisfactory "Peer Gynt" or "Enemy of the People", especially in view of the strong competition from other sources. First choice for anyone seeking an English-language "Peer" remains, of course, the 1947 Columbia Workshop/Old Vic radio broadcast with Ralph Richardson and Laurence Olivier, now available on audiocassette and CD from various Old Time Radio companies. For "Enemy", we mustn't hold our breath awaiting a DVD of George Schaefer's TV production with Steve McQueen and Bibi Andersson (a Warner Brothers representative announced last year that the company doesn't plan to issue it on DVD, as it would be difficult to market); but many viewers will be equally happy with the 1966 Broadway Theatre Archive production with James Daly.

Other English-language Ibsen DVDs include "A Doll's House" (1959 with Julie Harris) and "Ghosts" (1980 with Dorothy Tutin), both issued (at a price that includes educational performance rights) by Insight Media; "A Doll's House" (1973 with Claire Bloom) from MGM; "Hedda Gabler" (1981 with Diana Rigg) from Koch; "The Master Builder" (1960 with E. G. Marshall) in the Broadway Theatre Archive series; and "The Wild Duck" (1983 with Jeremy Irons; on DVD, to date, only in Region 4). We might also hope for DVDs of Losey's "Doll's House" (1973 with Jane Fonda) and Nunn's "Hedda" (1975 with Glenda Jackson). Among audio recordings, note particularly the 1947 Theatre Guild of the Air "Doll's House" with Dorothy McGuire and Basil Rathbone, and the 1965 Caedmon "Master Builder" with Michael Redgrave and Maggie Smith. But most of these offer alternative rather than superior approaches to the plays in question. Two English-subtitled Norwegian-language DVD sets of "Ibsen on Film" and "Ibsen on Television", containing some distinguished productions, were issued in Norway last year.

Whoever at BBC Warner planned this amazing compilation deserves special praise. We're particularly delighted that room has been found for both versions of "The Master Builder"; this is one of Ibsen's most complex and many-sided works, capable of an extraordinary multiplicity of interpretations, as the BBC's two contrasting productions readily demonstrate. The inclusion of Wolfit's version leads us to hope that his famous BBC 1959 farewell "Volpone" may at last be issued on the general public... perhaps in a Classic English Drama box, with Helen Mirren's "Changeling" (equally overdue for DVD release) and the BBC's various English plays formerly issued to educational institutions by Public Media ("Macbeth" with Porter and Suzman, "Edward II" with McKellen, "The Duchess of Malfi", "The Rivals", "She Stoops to Conquer", "Trelawny of the Wells").

What is included?.......2007-05-30

The product description says "ten star-studded BBC productions", but it only lists six (assuming "master builder" counts as two). I already have one of the ten, or maybe I have five of the ten? So, I ask: What is included?

Great cast for Ghosts.......2007-05-05

I can't vouch for all 6 plays, but the Ghosts is quite wonderful. In stars a younger Judi Dench as Mrs. Alving (brilliant), Natasha Richardson (radiant as the daughter of the "drunk"), Michael Gambon (pre-Dumbledore days) as a first - rate vicar, Freddie Jones (of Dune and Elephant Man) as the father of Natasha Richardson, and a very young Kenneth Branagh as the son. The cast lives up to their star status.

Assuming the other plays are that well done (I think I actually saw Little Eyolf), it is a wonderful introduction to my favorite dramatist.

Average customer rating:

A Disgrace
The Perils of Obedience Revisited
"There's no such thing as a little bit of torture"
Scarier than ghosts...
Abu Ghraib: A Very Public Scandal Revisited In A New Documentary

Ghosts of Abu Ghraib
Director: Rory Kennedy
Manufacturer: Hbo Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

My Country, My Country
Jesus Camp
Pan's Labyrinth (New Line Two-Disc Platinum Series)
Letters from Iwo Jima (Two-Disc Special Edition)
The Last King of Scotland (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000NY0YK4
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Amazon.com

What was perhaps the most disgraceful episode in U.S. military history is examined in director Rory Kennedy's Ghosts of Abu Ghraib. By now there can't be many folks who aren't at least somewhat familiar with what went on at that notorious Baghdad prison in 2003, when U.S soldiers abused and mistreated--some would say tortured--Iraqi detainees (every one of whom was eventually released without charges). Yet while those acts were atrocious and unforgivable, perhaps even more troubling is the philosophy behind them. As Kennedy lays it out, the United States began committing violations of the Geneva Conventions, particularly the ones that prohibit torture, well before the invasion of Iraq and the incarceration of literally thousands of people at the dilapidated Abu Ghraib facility. Employing the kind of linguistic tap-dancing often used by the Bush administration to justify its actions, then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and others defined their captives not as prisoners of war but as "unlawful combatants," opening the door for the use of such "extreme techniques" as nudity and sexual humiliation, "stress positions" (such as standing on a rickety box wearing a sensory-deprivation hood), and intimidation by vicious dogs; while some photos of these activities have been widely circulated before, many of the shots we see here are much more explicit and, since they're in color, considerably more lurid. As for how and why these afffonts to basic human dignity were allowed, it's tough to find anyone actually willing to take responsibility. The guards who did the deeds, several of whom were interviewed for the documentary, say they were under-trained and far too few in number; their superiors say their pleas for additional support were ignored; and while the military brass and government bureaucrats were content to blame "a few bad soldiers" (like Pvt. Lynndie England and Sgt. Charles Graner, both of whom are now serving jail sentences), the suggestion here is that what went on at Abu Ghraib was less an aberration than a manifestation of defined government policy (the fact that no one appears on camera to refute these charges casts some doubt on Kennedy's objectivity). The director's audio commentary and extended interviews are the principal bonus features. --Sam Graham

Description

In this emotionally jarring piece from HBO Documentary Films, award-winning filmmaker Rory Kennedy explores the dark events that occurred in 2003 at Abu Ghraib, the infamous Iraqi prison. Interweaving news and archival footage, unsettling still photos of the crimes, and eyewitness accounts from military personnel and victims, The Ghosts of Abu Ghraib offers new insights into these events. The result is a startling look at how extreme situations can give rise to abusive behavior among soldiers, as well as how the chain of command and even US policy set the stage for these abuses to occur.

Customer Reviews:

A Disgrace.......2007-07-09

I am not sure what is more disgraceful: the soldier's behavior at Abu Ghraib or Rory Kennedy's attempts to rationalize and frame their actions. They knew the law as all soldiers do. The Law of Land Warfare and basic Geneva are taught to every soldier in Basic Training. MPs receive even more training in the subject. I am tired of hearing excuses for their abuses and I am not exactly sure what Kennedy wants to achieve by putting the soldiers on camera. In doing so, they look like the victims of "policy" rather than the prisoners (who largely remain nameless and faceless).

A far better film is the recently released "The Prisoner or: How I Planned to Kill Tony Blair" which tells the story of man wrongly sent to Abu Ghraib and that of his guards (who knew right from wrong).

Kennedy would be well served to go to Iraq to see the day to day stresses that soldiers face and how the majority correctly and morally deal with those stresses.

The Prisoner or: How I Planned to Kill Tony Blair

The Perils of Obedience Revisited.......2007-06-13

Ghosts of Abu Ghraib

This is a horrifying portrait of the ways in which power corrupts people. The documentary uses Stanley Milgram's psychological study, about which he wrote in his article, "The Perils of Obedience," as the point of departure. Milgram hired people to come in and supposedly deliver electric shocks to participants in another room to see the impact of the shocks. What the lever-pushers didn't know was that the people they were purportedly shocking were actually actors being told to scream each time they pressed the lever. The real goal of the experiment was to see how far the lever-pushers would go despite the screaming and loud complaining of the people they believed to be receiving the shocks. The results showed that nearly 100% of the shockers delivered the maximum shock simply because they were instructed to do so by the guys running the experiment.

Milgram's experiment seems to have been brought vividly to life in Abu Ghraib. What this documentary shows is the ways that officers when instructed by the president, Donald Rumsfield, and the chain of command, to use whatever means necessary to extract confessions (no matter how wrong or immoral) did exactly that and then some. And, not only did they do it, they took pictures of it, and apparently enjoyed it.

What this kind of chilling portrait says about democracy, the Bush administration, the reality of Fascism, and the "truth" behind this "war on terror," I will leave to you to decide. But, be forewarned, you might hold a different view than you thought you would by the end of the documentary.

"There's no such thing as a little bit of torture".......2007-06-13

Just looking at video footage of Abu Ghraib prison is enough to set you on edge due to its eerie environment and knowing the sinister past it played under Saddam Hussein's regime. This is how `Ghosts of Abu Ghraib' begins and it sets a tone for the revealing and disturbing information to follow

Using a collection of interviews from military personnel, former prisoners, and selected other authorities, the scandal at this infamous Iraqi prison comes full circle and attempts to explain what actually occurred there, who the players were, and consequences of these events.

First and foremost, the operative word for what happened to prisoners would be `torture'. It's no stretch to realize that methods used in Abu Ghraib were a clear violation of Geneva Convention Accords. To circumvent `official policy', it is interesting how the U.S. Justice Department and other government entities interpreted the status of the prisoners and reworked policy definitions on how to conduct interrogation and torture. One certain area looked at is Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Somewhere down the line, the questionable methods used here were eventually adapted for use in Abu Ghraib. After looking at all the sordid photographs of the prisoners in this program, what is seen looks less like torture methods and more like concentrated acts of humiliation and degradation brought about by the military police guards.

Knowing that U.S. military guards were not properly trained in corrections duties and that somewhere in the scheme of things the Military Intelligence section ending up calling the shots, it makes you wonder if there was anything organized occurring at all at Abu Ghraib. Discretion never seemed to be a foremost concern either due to so many damaging and disgusting photographs being taken and eventually given to the Army Criminal Investigation Division. Once the secret was out, damage control went into full swing. The U.S. government began a campaign of disinformation and deception to protect those at the top and to make scapegoats of many at the bottom. The official explanations of ignorance of these events and then blaming a `few bad soldiers' who did this all on their own are just ridiculous.

`Ghosts of Abu Ghraib', while a really good documentary in my opinion, is also one that is bound to spark disgust, anger, disbelief, and a host of other emotions in viewers. Despite this program showing a very dark and graphic chapter in our military's history and one that is bound to haunt us for a long time to come, I would recommend this program to everyone as a more thorough dissection of the Abu Ghraib scandal rather than what the media revealed.

Scarier than ghosts..........2007-04-30

In a political science class of mine the other day, my professor popped in this film and gave no intro, except to say the title. After the film was over I realized why, because this documentary goes into greater detail then my professor ever could, in way far more telling.

First off, as you can see by the title, the documentary is about the prison camp Abu Ghraib. At first you get an introduction, through soldiers stationed there about the prison, and it's dreary past. This was a former prison used by Saddam after all; however, the focus wasn't on phantasms. In fact, the ghosts are perhaps a forewarning of the abuses we now know of; abuses that, as you find out throughout the film, are even more disturbing then you might have imagined, and once again show how humans can lose themselves in the situation, as these soldiers, who are actually narrating this themselves, did during their time in Abu Ghraib.

What most impressed me was the fact that this documentary was able to gather as many soldiers that worked there, along with a couple of the former prisoners. See at first, I didn't realize the people I was watching talk about the prison, the soldiers, were indeed the one's that were a part of the egregious acts, and you'd never imagine that till the end. Even more disturbing, is how these soldiers, clearly not jailers, were hung up to dry as "a few bad soldiers" when, as the movie shows, torture was a policy from above, not a spontaneous action from below.

Clearly, this film may shake peoples ideas differently based on their political viewpoints; however, I believe that no matter the party, or persuasion, you should watch this film. My only warning is that this film is graphic, so be forewarned. Otherwise, hopefully this excellent documentary will open your eyes, as it did mine, to the situation in Abu Ghraib that we only thought we knew...

Abu Ghraib: A Very Public Scandal Revisited In A New Documentary.......2007-03-15

I'm fearful of treading into politics, but I will attempt to be as nonpartisan as possible. Having just viewed the new documentary "Ghosts of Abu Ghraib" by Rory Kennedy, I do feel that it is one of the better films I have seen lately. And while many will infer whatever political agenda that they happen to subscribe to--either that this film is ridiculous propaganda or that it speaks undeniable and unpleasant truths, I will limit my brief review to the content of the film. What I admired about "Ghosts" is that it is a relatively straightforward presentation by those involved in the incident itself. Filmed with no narration, the actual participants in the event are interviewed extensively. With dignity and candor, they take responsibility for that moment in time--a moment that will follow them for the rest of their lives. There are no histrionics, no excessive drama--the film just examines an event that became a public spectacle. And as a public spectacle, it opened a floodgate of controversy and criticism about human rights, international law, and America's role in being a world leader.

As the American presence in Iraq grew more prominent, Abu Ghraib prison became a holding cell for anyone suspected of having knowledge of terrorist activities. With too few guards and too many inmates, the situation was not ideal. When photos surfaced in the press showing American troops (acting as guards) engaged in humiliation techniques, it ignited much unwanted attention. The Americans directly involved were cast as rogue agents who had gotten out of control. But all maintain they were under specific orders to disorient and humiliate the prisoners to make them more receptive to interrogation. The documentary links their actions as specific sanctioned techniques--and points to a chain of command that was fully complicit in the actions, all the way up to Donald Rumsfeld.

Again, you can draw your own conclusions (in fact, you probably already have) about the political nature of Abu Ghraib. What we are left with, then, are those who were immediately involved, who posed cheerfully in the pictures, and who suffered the consequences. Some seem mystified by the part they played, some less than remorseful, some feel scapegoated--but all are undeniably affected. For those who really dwell on their actions (even if they were under orders), they are haunted by an unanswered question. By helping to strip away someone else's humanity--did they lose some of their own? All politics aside, it's a question that requires some contemplation. "Ghosts" is a worthwhile film, one that brings to light an incident that "shamed" and shocked America. But was that shame based on what was done in Abu Ghraib, or was it a reflection of being embarrassed that it was caught on film? I'll leave that question for you to answer for yourself. KGHarris, 03/07.

Average customer rating:

wow
Definitely non horror-genre
Kill the French
not scary? so?
13 reasons to turn it off...

Thirteen Ghosts
Starring: Tony Shalhoub , Embeth Davidtz , Matthew Lillard , Shannon Elizabeth , and Alec Roberts
Director: Steve Beck
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
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ASIN: B00005UQ9W
Release Date: 2002-04-02

Amazon.com

Cool sets, gory make-up, and frantic energy are given high priority in this glossy remake of William Castle's 1960 haunted-house chiller. The original boasted its "Illusion-O" ghost-viewing gimmick, so this remake's producers--as they did with 1999's The House on Haunted Hill--up the ante on Castle's showmanship by spilling ample amounts of blood, guts, and ghoulish glory. The plot's essentially the same: An impoverished family inherits a luxurious haunted mansion, only this time it's an elaborate, maze-like mechanism of glass, gears, and Latin incantations--"designed by the devil and powered by the dead"--with a cellar full of tormented, undead souls. As the family (including Tony Shalhoub and American Pie's Shannon Elizabeth) enlists the aid of a psychic (Scream alumnus Matthew Lillard) and a ghostbusting paranormal (Embeth Davidtz), this updated 13 Ghosts grows loud and ludicrous, trading shocks for yuks and nuance for nonsense. It's fun, to a point, after which it's just exhausting. --Jeff Shannon

Description

A family inherits an elegant steel-and-glass mansion from a deceased relative. The catch is that along with the house comes a slew of ghosts that can be seen only through special goggles.

Customer Reviews:

wow.......2007-06-01

One word: INFURIATING.

The decision to show the ghosts in spastic, shakily-filmed snatches could have been a good one if it were done differently, but as it stands it's just obnoxious, jerky and in some cases hilariously stupid looking. (I'm looking at you, Jackal. Hold still! His tic makes more sense once you've watched the ghost profiles, but that doesn't make it look any less silly.) Some of the ghosts barely get any screen time--I resorted to backtracking and pausing several times just to get a good look at them. "Shuttle... PAUSE! Shuttle... PAUSE!" becomes second nature within the first 15 minutes. It's a shame, as the ghost designs are quite well done, especially Linda Blai--err, I mean Jackal. (I kid, I really dig that design.)

I admit, the movie starts out with promise. A distinctive comic-book feel, like ideas siphoned from Ghostbusters and poured into a much darker, sexier shell. Within the first few minutes you're treated to nice camera work and visuals, cool machinery, a really scary-looking ghost and several deaths. There is plenty of beautiful cinematography throughout. Certainly not a complete disappointment.

However, this film's runtime is something like 91 minutes. Everything either happens entirely too fast or is not explained enough to follow well, and by the time I was actually interested in what was going on beyond pausing repeatedly to examine the ghosts, roughly an hour had already elapsed. It's difficult to explain the phenomenon, but it's definitely not good.

I fully recommend the ghost profiles in the extras, though. I'd say those are better than the actual movie.

Three stars for the FX budget and the extremely graphic and clever vivisection of the lawyer near the start of the film. (This bit is good enough that I felt a smile creeping onto my face as it happened but was powerless to stop myself.) Also you get to see Matthew Lillard get bashed in the face, which is worth a full star on its own. And I mean that in the nicest possible way.

Definitely non horror-genre .......2007-01-28

No, no, no - this movie is not scary, just horrific and this film does the cast no favours, the cast are good actors, they honestly are, they just had a completely unbelievable script.

It is not scary in the slightest, the ghosts are totally drab, (i've seen scarier budgies) and the story, though a good idea, is played out terribly.
no offense to anyone who likes this film, but i would not recommend this movie at all.

Kill the French.......2006-12-12

Never has there been a better campaign erected against the wearing of sunglasses indoors. Which is a good thing because you can hurt yourself, but like they say, looking cool ain't easy (however, I digress). Like some sadistic Jenga mansion, "Thirteen Ghosts" kept me biting my nails while sitting on the edge of my seat exuding a stench of cold copper sweat. Tightly scripted, brilliantly cast, boldly choreographed, this could be the film that finally solidifies CGI as an essential vitamin of the cinema -- along with sex, violence and pratfalls, of course. If nothing else, it at least tops any of that neo-New French Fusion Wave drivel or whatever you call it like "Amelie" or "Everything is Illuminated." Blecckkkk!

not scary? so?.......2006-10-18

"Thir13en Ghosts" is the second movie made by Dark Castle Entertainment, who brought us the equally chilling "House On Haunted Hill" remake in 1999. This film is a remake of William Castle's 3-D ghost house romp. This movie opens with some real-life "ghost hunters" hunting ghosts in a wrecking yard, the ghost is very violent, lots of people die. We are then introduced into the Kriticos family, which consists of a father, his daughter and son, and their live-in nanny. Living in a cramped little apartment, they are happy when they inherit their uncle Arthur's glass-walled mansion after his death. Little do they know, Arthur was a ghost hunter, and the basement of the house contains sealed rooms that hold twelve assorted ghosts. When the family goes to see the house one evening, they meet a kooky electrician (who is actually a previous ghost hunter who worked for Arthur). And after entering the house, it seals shut, and begins to shift, hallways disappearing and changing, etc. Turns out this glass-walled "house" is a ghost machine, and as the night progresses, the ghosts below are released from their containment.

This is one of those movies that is really flashy, jumpy, and loud. It uses these qualities as scare tactics, and they actually work in this film. The ghosts in the movie were scary as hell, each of them have a bit of a backstory and a name. The ghosts that freaked me out in particular were The Pilgrimess, The Angry Princess, and The Jackal. All of them were scary in their own ways, but out of them all, those ones stood out to me. The setting for the film was great, and the whole house set was magnificent - all the walls made of glass, glass floors, etc. It looked awesome. The special effects were great, especially the makeup used on the unique ghosts, and it had plenty of startling action sequences. The acting was decent, good enough in the context of the movie. And the realtor's death was probably the best in the whole film, very original and gruesome. I liked how they incorporated the "glasses" theme into this movie. In the original 1960 version, you had to wear actual 3-D glasses to see the ghosts. In this movie, the characters must wear special glasses to see them.

Overall, "Thir13en Ghosts" is a good horror movie. It's not necessarily scary, but it's startling on many occasions and the ghosts in the movie were really creepy and unique, I've never seen ones quite like this in a horror film. Don't expect a suspenseful mystery thriller, but if you like supernatural horror movies that are jumpy and flashy, you'll enjoy this. 7/10.

13 reasons to turn it off..........2006-08-04

13 - Monk should stick to Monk
12 - The ghosts aren't scary
11 - Matthew Lillard is annoying
10 - The very first scene says it all (stupid)
9 - There are no real jump scenes
8 - The script is lame
7 - Shannon Elizabeth keeps her top on
6 - The cool house isn't really all that cool
5 - The acting is atrocious
4 - Did I mention that Lillard is annoying?
3 - And so is that little kid
2 - The premise is retarded
1 - You'll regret it if you don't!

Average customer rating:

Great Trip Down Memory Lane With A True Untouchable.
Unsolved mysteries or tall tales?
Pleased customer
Unsolved Mysteries: Ghosts
Unsolved Ghosts!

Unsolved Mysteries: Ghosts
Starring: Unsolved Mysteries
Manufacturer: First Look Pictures
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Unsolved Mysteries: Strange Legends
Unsolved Mysteries: Bizarre Murders
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Unsolved Mysteries: Miracles

ASIN: B0002DRE0O
Release Date: 2004-09-14

Customer Reviews:

Great Trip Down Memory Lane With A True Untouchable........2007-06-30

I just bought this boxed set, and thought it was great. If anyone remembers this classic series, narrated by the unmistakable voice of Robert Stack, it'll take you back. As other members have stated, it's a collection, and is presented as such, showing just the ghost segment of any given show, complete with interviews and re-enactments.

Is it creepy? Creepy, I suppose, is relative. I found it entertaining and fun. If you want a good ghost story that you can sit down and watch with the kids, or just by yourself, I would suggest buying this one. It was a great show, and deserved the DVD treatment.
I also liked the tribute to Robert Stack.
I thought adding that showed real class on the creator's part.
If you are looking for more of the modern ghost hunting, and are an enthusiast looking to pick up hints on how to go about it, I would recommend also buying the Ghost Hunters Seasons One, Season 2 Part One, and Season 2 Part 2.
Don't let the two Season Two DVDs throw you. They're very low priced, and combined, they cost about the same as a full season of any other show, so it's not a rip off.
Hope this helped.
So, go ahead, click the Add to Cart Button.
Grab the family and sit down with some popcorn.
And enjoy some good old family programming the way it used to be.

Unsolved mysteries or tall tales?.......2007-06-16

I love a good ghost story and unsolved mysteries, over the years, has given us tons of them. 34 episodes, 372 minutes plus bonus features, such as commentary for select episodes, means you can spend a whole day watching all the discs. If you wanted to.
The only reason I removed a point is that many of the ghost stories are just that. They're stories without any real facts behind them. For example, in the past few year the tales of murder and death on the Myrtles Plantation has come under attack. There is, for example, no record of many of the events said to have happened there. Many stories are based on urban legend and can't be proven one way or the other.
Also, many of the stories rely solely on the events that happened to one person. Alone, in the dark, by themselves. Get the picture? Sometimes when something goes bump in the night it IS just a cat.
True, many episodes show scientists and engineers trying to solve the mysteries, which is cool, but also many of them have pet theories and ideas that help mold their investigations. The idea, for example, that places have memories that we sometimes trigger, is one of them talked about in the commentaries. That's interesting, but what if it's wrong? Are they weighing the facts correctly or ignoring the evidence that points in a different direction?
I do believe in ghosts. But like alien life forms, which I also believe in, I don't think they visit us as much as we wished them to. Do babies, before they are born, notice us? Do they wonder what the noise is outside their tiny realms? Are ghosts signs of what is beyond our Earth, signs of another stage in our life cycle or just trapped energy from a person's memory?
Tons of fun for a good low price.

Pleased customer.......2007-03-21

This set is so cool! We have thoroughly enjoyed it! The quality of the discs & packaging is excellent. It is impossible to tell it is used. We are very pleased with this set, and will purchase more "Unsolved Mystery" sets in the future.

Unsolved Mysteries: Ghosts.......2007-03-08

I have watched Unsolved Mysteries and love the program. Purchasing the DVD's has enabled me to watch Unsolved Mysteries when I am able. This is definately a must have for anyone that loves to watch Unsolved Mysteries plus there are other episodes also available for purchase.

Unsolved Ghosts!.......2006-11-10

This is my favorite of the Unsolved Mysteries series. You might want to have a few friends with you if you watch this at night. It can give you the creeps. The one about Mr. Gordy is very creepy! I've seen a lot of bad ghost DVD's, but this one want let you down. Worth every penny you pay for it.

Average customer rating:

PBS special: one of the best
5 stars
The Depths of Darkness
A Great Documentary
The shame of the "civilized world" exposed.

Frontline: Ghosts of Rwanda

Manufacturer: PBS Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0007TKI06
Release Date: 2005-05-10

Description

FRONTLINE marks the 10th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide with a documentary chronicling one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century. In addition to interviews with key government officials and diplomats, the two-hour documentary offers eyewitness accounts of the genocide from those who experienced it firsthand. FRONTLINE illustrates the failures that enabled the slaughter of 800,000 people to occur unchallenged by the global community.

Customer Reviews:

PBS special: one of the best.......2007-06-01

I teach a genocide and hate awareness class. As a teacher, this documentary outstrips other videos concerning the atrocities in Rwanda. So many of our kids have seen Hotel Rwanda. Not that it is bad, but it was edited by the director to not be as graphic as it could have been, and many of the key characters were changed, such as Gen. Dallaire into Nick Nolte's character.
The Ghosts of Rwanda interview many key people, from Dallaire to Kofi Annan, to the only American left in Rwanda to Hutu farmers who participated in the killings. It is the most indepth coverage that I can find. I would recommend it to anyone wanting information on the Rwandan genocide.

5 stars.......2007-05-13

If you want to see the Rwandan genocide from an international perspective with interviews ranging from Kofe Annan to Madeline Albright I highly reccomend this documentary. Graphic at times, but always poignant.

The Depths of Darkness.......2007-03-19

This 2 hour Frontline special probes into the depths of darkness in humanity, not just the Hutu's and Tutsi's, but also the UN, the international community and its leaders. I was shocked and dismayed by some of the cold callous acts perpetrated by western governments during Rwanda's hour of need. I use "hour of need" of course as a figment of speech, since this atrocity took place over 100 days.

This video clearly documents the events of the Rwandan Genocide. It interviews key players in the international community as well as those who participated in, and were victims of the Genocide. For the most part, the video shows the Genocide from an outside perspective. It volleys back and forth between all of the killing in Rwanda and the international communities response. The footage of death is deeply saddening. I was only uplifted by the few stories of individuals who risked their lives to save some.

I would have loved to see them make this into a three part special since it does not give the background into the area or the history that led up to such a tension, nor does it explore the colonial legacy that the Rwandans inherited. I was also disappointed that it didn't cover the events that took place after the RPF won the civil war. Understandably, they could not cover all aspects in one film, but and introduction and a follow-up would really help paint a fuller picture of events. Overall, I highly recommend this video, it is hard to watch, but it definitely opened up my eyes to the plight of so many people in Rwanda.

A Great Documentary.......2007-02-11

I watched this documentary on PBS and I must say that it is one of the best ones I have seen in my whole life. And it is extremely disturbing too, because it sadly reminds us of what the human being is still capable of. The murder of almost one million lives in a couple of weeks was a shame for the whole mankind. The international community did nothing to stop the killings, the UN was as always deplorable and the soi-disant civilised world, i.e. the USA, France, UK, Belgium, Germany et alii, did not mind to intervene for political reasons, although at the time the USA had the marines in nearby Burundi. The Clinton administration and Kofi Annan(at the time chief of the peace keeping operations) did absolutely nothing concrete but uttering stupid, useless rhetorical and technical speeches. Not to mention the shameful, coward stance of the Belgian government that panicked and withdrew its troops and citizens. The real heroes were a bunch of canadian and african troops that did their very best to protect the remaining tutsis and moderate hutus and therefore deserve our biggest praises for all their efforts. Again, it is one more appalling moment in the human history. It seems we never learn. Among the scenes that shocked me forever are the sad images of dead bodies being drifted away in a rwandan river and of a little girl, nowadays a lady, being found alive among the dead bodies of her family. This DVD provides a wonderful opportunity to think over the sordid and noxious nature of European colonialism in Africa, after all, Rwanda was a Belgian colony and the Belgian fomented the apartheid between the Tutsis and Hutus through, among other things, the use of ID cards stating their ethnicity. It also shows the dangers of hands-off policies when intervention is morally and rightly justified and required. This is a must-have DVD. Please, let us not allow another Rwanda to happen again...

The shame of the "civilized world" exposed........2007-02-06

A gripping and honest account of the role that the UN, Europe and USA have had in the Rwanda genocide with the cowardliness of their politics more marketing oriented than interested in the humanitarian cause. Any one thinking about voting for the Clintons again should see this, to grasp the real level of leadership they can produce under heat. Not to mention Kofi Annan (Nobel prize winner ???) a real butcher in diplomat's clothes.

Average customer rating:

A fascinating trip to the Titanic
Excellent and informative.
Amazing footage for the shipwreck that is the TITANIC
Ghosts of the Abyss
A nice spiritual successor to Titanic

Ghosts of the Abyss
Starring: Lewis Abernathy , Dr. John Broadwater , John Bruno , Mike Cameron , and Genya Chernaiev
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
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Ghosts of the Abyss: A Journey Into The Heart of the Titanic
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882 1/2 Amazing Answers To Your Questions About The Titanic

ASIN: B0001DMQ6C
Release Date: 2004-04-27

Amazon.com

Even without its original 3-D IMAX presentation, James Cameron's Ghosts of the Abyss is still an eerily elegant tour of history's most infamous shipwreck. Six years after his original journey to the rusting hulk of the Titanic (where he captured footage for his 1997 blockbuster), Cameron returned to the wreckage with actor Bill Paxton, a team of Russian and American scientists, the world's most knowledgeable Titanic historians, and enough state-of-the-art technology to film the most complete and intimate exploration of the ill-fated ship's remains. Astonishing footage, flawless digital animation, and ghostly re-creations of the ship's final hours are seamlessly combined to orient the viewer at an intersection of tragic past and awe-inspiring present, emphasizing more than ever the sheer scale of Titanic's gargantuan construction. Signs of luxury remain, 90 years later, while the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 (occurring here in mid-mission) place this unforgettable journey into resonant, humanitarian perspective. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Walt Disney Pictures and James Cameron, the Academy Award(R)-winning director of TITANIC (1997), present the groundbreaking cinematic achievement GHOSTS OF THE ABYSS. Joined by his personal friend Bill Paxton (TITANIC) and a team of the world's foremost history and marine experts, Cameron journeys back to the site of his greatest inspiration -- the legendary wreck of the Titanic. During the voyage, you will explore the entire ship, deck by deck, room by room, encountering mysteries that have remained hidden for almost a century. Revolutionary underwater robots were designed and built solely for the purpose of allowing the explorers to peer deep into the remains of the once great ship and bring those surreal and haunting images back to the surface. Loaded with never-before-seen footage, revealing interviews, and innovative DVD bonuses, this unprecedented motion picture event is a must-own companion for anyone who loves TITANIC.

Customer Reviews:

A fascinating trip to the Titanic.......2007-04-06

What made this so interesting was the march of technology - New was a huge light (requiring another ship) called Medussa that was lowered 12,000 feet over the ship. They also had digital recreations on the wreck of the original structure superimposed...

The bridge (among several areas) came to life when they used this digital recreation.

They also brought 2 remotely piloted robotic cameras named Jake and Elwood (Blues Brothers fans I would assume!) that took you into the interior of the ship.

There was some sadness even today when you saw a woman's still laced shoe and realizing that the body was long gone...

This is one DvD that doesn't stay in the shelf long - I have watched it repeatedly.

And I saw the tie in to Cameron's 1997 movie when I realized that this Russian deep sea exploration ship was the same one they used in the 1997 movie...

Excellent and informative........2006-11-08

Excellent and informative documentary. Underwater filming was beautiful. My daughter loved it.

Amazing footage for the shipwreck that is the TITANIC.......2006-05-31

Follow director James Cameron as he dives into the deep ocean dephs to find the famous shipwreck that is the TITANIC. Cameron's film shows footage that has never been seen before. Watch Cameron and his crew dive all the way to the ship that was supposed to be UNSINKABLE. Cameron takes you on a jouney that you will never forget! He and his crew take you to the Grand Staircase, Molly Brown's State Room and other places that have not been seen before. When James Cameron and his crew are exploring the Titanic they end up loosing both of their robots that go inside the ship. They eventully find their robots and return to the surface from exploring the greatest shipwreck of all time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ghosts of the Abyss.......2006-03-23

Great Film. The insertion of people walking the decks once again puts the Titanic in the first person.

A nice spiritual successor to Titanic.......2006-03-10

In the recent Titanic SE, James Cameron during the commentary found that many of the sets and things designed for the deep sea exploring at the beginning looked "pretty darn accurate" to the real wreck. With this film we see just how close the actual ship resembles his recreated luxury liner. For those of you who loved the action stuff, look elsewhere. This is purely for people interested in the history and the sinking of the ship.

Bringing along long-time friend and frequent co-star(out of 5 films, he's only not in 2) Bill Paxton, James Cameron goes down to the infamous ship that crashed and sank in 1912: the Titanic. Using advanced robotic technology, they go farther into the wreck than previously shown, including statesrooms, the central staircase and the elevator. An odd bit of mishap happens and they must mount a rescue attempt of one of their beloved ROV(remote-operated vehicles)which just happens to coincide with another historical event.

One thing that plagues this film, as well as subsequent film Aliens of the Deep, is the people doing multiple variations on "that's awesome!". The images are striking enough, we don't need commentary on them and while acting wise he's capable, Bill Paxton is unfortunately not a good "host" for this event. Easily excitable and fidgety, he's, as he puts it, not used to this stuff.

The images are of course the star and the doomed luxury liner has tons of images. While the ship was probably more striking above water, seeing the detail and craftsmanship 12,000 feet down gives it a different kind of look and it's quite something. Especially when they show you what it looked like in real life such as the promenade deck or where the captain's helm was. Also interspersed with the underwater images is CG videomatics to give you a better understanding(which unfortunately aren't that new, they were in Titanic). Giving it a different look is having live actors shot than put over the images to give the titular look.

Out of the 3 deep sea films he's done(others including Expedition: Bismarck and Aliens of the Deep)Ghosts is probably 2nd after Bismarck. The images here are great but Bismarck did a better job at the exploration part but they're all interesting looks at technology and the loss of life that resulted from it.

Average customer rating:

Final closure to an important chapter in civil rights history
Justice After All These Years
A must own for you fans of Woopi's
Ashes bellow the tapestry!
History portrayed responsibly.

Ghosts of Mississippi
Starring: Alec Baldwin , James Woods , Virginia Madsen , Whoopi Goldberg , and Susanna Thompson
Director: Rob Reiner
Manufacturer: Turner Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Mississippi Burning
The Long Walk Home
The Rosa Parks Story
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ASIN: B00002ND76
Release Date: 2000-01-18

Amazon.com

Rob Reiner, who used to be more interested in personal style as a filmmaker, continues to duck behind bland movies about important ideas with this based-on-fact film about the embattled white prosecutor (Alec Baldwin) who brought racist killer Byron De La Beckwith (James Woods) to justice after 30 years of failed attempts. Charged with the murder of civil rights leader Medgar Evers, Beckwith slimes up the film pretty well via Woods's somewhat showy performance, while Baldwin generously assumes the usual clichés surrounding reluctant heroes. Whoopi Goldberg is at her most stately as Evers's widow. The whole self-important production is dogged by the obvious thought that it might have played better (and to far more people than it did in theaters) on television. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Final closure to an important chapter in civil rights history.......2007-05-11

`Ghosts of Mississippi' is the story based on factual events of the final trial of the man who murdered civil rights leader Medgar Evers in 1963. He was tried twice before but both times the case ended in hung juries. It is also a portrait of enduring patience in the fact that his widow, Myrlie Evers, had to wait 30 years for final justice, all the while knowing that her husband`s assassin remained a free man.

I can't honestly think of too many movies where I have seen Alec Baldwin and Whoopi Goldberg give such impressive acting performances as compared to their work here. They both fit their roles perfectly and it shows. On the other end of the spectrum, James Woods, who also did an outstanding job, is so into his character that it is almost spooky. The way he behaves and delivers his lines just gives the impression that you're looking at total hate and evil personified in a man.

To compliment the acting, the movie moves along at a nice pace and portrays the difficulties of preparing a case that is 3 decades old along with the still unresolved issues of racism still evident in the Mississippi climate. As for the trial itself, this is also a tense atmosphere that adds realism and intrigue to the movie. If I had to make a comparison, and this being based on similar types of events, I would have to say that this film ranks up there with `Mississippi Burning' which is also an excellent movie in its own right.

`Ghosts of Mississippi' is a fine example of solid acting and directing coupled with a strong, thought provoking story. This film is very enjoyable all the way through and I recommend it to everyone.

Justice After All These Years.......2007-02-16

This is one of the best movies I have ever seen, as it has just about everything in it to tug at your heart strings. A very serious movie, which also has a few great humorous moments too. The casting is just about perfect. Every character was very believable. Whoopi Goldberg wouldn't have been my choice to play Merlie Evers, but she did a pretty decent job in the role. I think the movie might have been better with an unknown in the part. Still, I can't imagine anyone doing a better job than Whoopi did. This is an important movie that helps keep alive the memory of the all but forgotten Medger Evers. I have watched this movie 3 or 4 times and I never get tired of it. James Woods is absolutely superb as the militant racist. Alec Baldwin does a great job. All the supporting actors and actresses are believable and do a great job as well. Racists probably won't like this movie, but those of us who have a sense of justice will cheer the fact that a murder conviction against a white man for murdering a black man finally occurred after what was way too long a time. Justice sometimes takes a while. Based on true events, which makes it even more compelling. The movie sustains a continued level of suspense throughout and keeps you interested all the way through. This movie is also more suitable for a younger audience than two other very good movies with similar themes, A Time to Die and Mississippi Burning, which are more graphic and perhaps more troubling to younger audiences.

A must own for you fans of Woopi's.......2007-01-10

this movie is great and its good, I would say in all that this movie is a must too buy, if you are a fan like I am of Woopi's then you must buy this movie. grab this before they are all gone and wont be back in stock for awhile. great movie all thumbs and fingers up, way too go Whoopi... I own this movie as well ans about 15 other movie that Woopi is in go and buy this movie for you dvd collection. tks

Ashes bellow the tapestry! .......2006-11-23

From time the opened veins of the social body are shown with all its awful and merciless reality, some ghosts of the past. A lawyer decides top reopen a case after thirty years. Straightforward movie that possibly falls in the climax punch to make it soar. The earnestness and sobriety of the great filmmakers of the past is evident, although the cast all the best they can to carry on a secure port.

History portrayed responsibly........2006-08-08

Medgar Evers was a key person in the civil rights movement. Though as I remember it, we were not taught much about him during Black History Month.

I remember reading how he encouraged a reporter doing a story on him to focus on the Emmet Till story, because it was an example of the type of justice Black people received in Mississippi. So he was instrumental helping to shine a national spotlight on racism and the resulting violence against Black people including lynching.

His murder cut short his important work as civil rights leader at a time when he was needed most. The movie centers on the journey of his widow to gain justice for him, 30 years after his murder by Byron De La Beckwith. De La Beckwith was played chillingly by James Woods who gave an oscar worthy performance.

The movie from all the news accounts I read while following the case sticks close to what really happened. The performances were excellent especially Whoppi Goldberg and Alex Baldwin.

Baldwin's character is in some ways a metaphor for mainstream americans who, despite trying, are still unable to grasp that the Civil Rights movement was about much more than being able to eat in a white resturant.

I watched this with my mother, on DVD, and when Baldwin's character explains to his children why Evers fought for equality so "Black people could eat in the same reasturants" my mother said to the screen- " We fought to save our children from suffering the unjust fate of Emmet Till."

Baldwin convincingly portrays a person who because of his involvement with this case is forced to confront the overt racism he has always ignored in his family and in himself.

Goldberg portrays the manerisms of Myrlie Evers so perfectly, I had an opportunity to attend a speech she gave, and only then could I fully appreciate the subtle nuances of Goldberg's performance, which was also oscar worthy.

My only real critique was the casting of Yolanda King as Myrlie Evers' daughter. You just don't believe that Yolanda King and Whoppi Goldberg are mother and daughter. Yolanda King looks older than her in every scene. The director either did not try, or could not compensate using makeup, camera angles or digital effects.

I have not seen Yolanda King in anything else but next to Whoppi Goldberg she seems like a bad actress. It is not too bad for the film because she does not have many scenes.

I know from interviews including one he gave with Myrlie Evers on Oprah that for Rob Reiner this film was a labor of love, and this probaly influenced his decision to cast Yolanda King in this part. Many other young actresses could have done justice to this part and been believeable as Whoppi Goldberg's daughter Kimberly Elise comes to mind.

But this one mistake does not take away from the overall amazing quality of this movie - it is a must see.

Average customer rating:

How do you stretch twenty minutes of footage into a ninety minute movie?
Good cheesy fun
john carpenter's ghost of mars
Bloody ,Gorey, Violent, and Alot of Fun (3.5 STARS)
Wow... Carpenter has made another "zombie movie" without zombies!!!

John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars
Starring: Robert Carradine , Joanna Cassidy , Duane Davis , Rosemary Forsyth , and Pam Grier
Director: John Carpenter
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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