Reviews (103)

Masterpiece!
If you somehow missed this one, do yourself a favor and make time available in your schedule for viewing this masterpiece from director Bernardo Bertolucci! Nine academy awards, including Best Picture [1987], only gives partial credit to this magnificently epic and absolutely unforgettable true story. It is the story of Pu Yi, who at the age of 3 comes to the Imperial Dragon Throne to become the Last Emperor of China. His whole life is spanned in this film, from his childhood, to his ultimate fate as an unskilled gardener in the streets of Bejing. Throughout this film we are treated to a cinematic feast for the senses, so rich in detail and imagery, you will be compelled to see it again as soon as possible (I saw it again the very next night!). You will have felt the full range of emotions from having experienced this movie, and few others in recent memory have mesmerized me so totally in an almost 3 hour (164 min) time span. Truly one of the greatest films of all time! Masterpiece!

Bertolucci's Last Epic!
By that I mean with great respect! Bernardo Bertolucci is known for such cinematic extravaganzas as 1973's LAST TANGO IN PARIS and 1977's 1900; and to add to his credits, 1987's Best Picture winner THE LAST EMPEROR!

A film of major diversity. An Italian director (Bertolucci), a predominately Chinese cast including frequent costars John Lone and Joan Chen, British actor and seven-time Oscar nominee Peter O'Toole, an American producer named Jeremy Thomas, and distributed by an American studio, Columbia Pictures!

John Lone is the title character, Chinese emperor "Henry" Pu-Yi, who became the last Emperor of China at the age of 3, and would be the "Lord of Ten Thousand Years!" Nothing would prepare him for the change that would eventually occur when he is forced into abdication, forced into retaking his kingdom, and forcing him to attempt suicide after his arrest and capture by Chinese and Russian communist troops after World War II. Eventually, after serving his time for conspiracy, he released from prison and lives out the rest of his life in 1967 -- as a simple gardner.

Imagine. From Emperor to gardner, totally heartbreaking! Heartbreaking is the fact that it cost him EVERYTHING! His wife "Elizabeth" Wan Jung, played with grace by the gorgeous Joan Chen; his kingdom and his freedom. But, you can't simply hate the guy! He is, of course, a man who was spoiled by his servants and soldiers as a child.

The film has both an epic scope and an excellently-written character story. (Though most historians believed that the film embellished on certain facts, like Pu-Yi's homosexuality.) It is played competently by an Asian cast and a wonderfully witty Peter O'Toole, who should have been nominated for Best Supporting Actor that year, as the Emperor's patient tutor Reginald "R.J." Johnston.

Needless to say, I cried at the very end of this film! I LOVED that scene between the elder Pu-Yi and a little boy who appears to be just like the Emperor as a child. And the symbolic message this film taught with the cricket in the jar, as the little boy opens the jar to reveal the insect (by then, Pu-Yi has magically disappeared). An epic film with a heart (like my PRISONER OF WAR)!

Winner of all 9 of its nominations including: Best Picture - Jeremy Thomas, producer; Best Director - Bernardo Bertolucci; Best Adapted Screenplay - Bertolucci and Mark Peploe; Best Cinematography; Best Art Direction/Set Decoration; Best Costume Design; Best Score; Best Sound; and Best Film Editing.

THIS FILM IS APPROXIMATELY: 2 HOURS AND 40 MINUTES.

But well worth it!

great film, awful dvd
I had the misfortune to buy this BEFORE I read the Amazon reviews and discovered that the DVD looked awful-a particular injustice for a film that won Best Picture. It's only 17 years old; there are films from the 30's that look great on DVD! I see though that in the U.K. they released a 2-disc version with commentary and both the original theatrical cut as well as the director's cut. I assume it's also restored and anamorphic and can only hope that we get an American version soon. The movie gets 5 stars, even at 219 minutes. The DVD gets 1 star, so that averages out to a generous 3.

Breathtakingly Beautiful, Decadent and Misconceived.
I revere every Bertoluccifs work tremendously, and this lavish film is no exception.
I was completely mesmerised by the view of the Forbidden City, beautiful period costumes of the Emperor and the Imperial family with which the director says he really cared about the historical accuracy to recreate as well as other things.
The historical accuracy is, however, not necessarily applied to the part of which Japan was involved. The foundation of Manshu-koku, (Manchukuo is the Chinese word) and the restoration of the Manchu Emperor Pfu Yi, and the alleged atrocities made to the Japanese Imperial Army, namely, gRape of Nankingh, etc. It is so because both Bernaldo Bertolucci and the producer Jeremy Thomas seem to have truly believed in the auto-biography of Pfu Yi, gFrom Emperor to Citizenh that written for propaganda purpose, and the Frank Caprafs U.S. propaganda film; gThe Battle of Chinah at their face values.
First thing is first, Chinese Communistfs gbrainwashingh undeniably exists. In the same year this film first came out, 1987, gFrom Emperor to Citizenh was re-published by Oxford University Press with new comprehensive general introduction and chapter introductions by W.J.F. Jenner, the translator of the original 1964 gdeliberately restricted editionh published by Foreign Language Press, BeiJing.
Jenner explains; gThe special consideration shown Pfu Yi and other high-ranking Manchukuo(sic), Japanese, and Nationalist officials cannot be regarded as typical of Chinese prison conditions. These were all people of potential value in winning over others in future, and political considerations saved them from the harsh justice that many lesser figures received.h And, Jenner continues, Pfu Yifs gsuccessful thought reformh which made him gusefulh and able body to work like other ordinary people, that Bertolucci praises vigorously, was, in fact, gsomething of ritualh. Pfu Yifs fourth wifefs account of his incapableness of looking after himself, even after his release of 1959, reveals some part of the truth.
His fifth and final marriage to a well qualified nurse was garranged by the Chinese Peoplefs Political Consultative Conference and the Communist Partyfs United Front Department. [cccc] He was even protected from the Cultural Revolution by Chou En-laifs intervention, and the local police kept Red Guards away. [cccc] Pfu Yifs presentation to foreigners as a living advertisement for the Peoplefs Government and the Communist Party began in 1956, while he was still in prison; and after his release he was often required to meet foreign visitors to China.h Those facts show that Pfu Yi was not successfully remolded@into an ordinary citizen after all, but made a perfect gmouthpieceh of the Communist Party Propaganda Department.

Bertolucci may never have read this revealing version of the Pfu Yifs gauto-biographyh. (In fact, the book was re-written before it was published in 1964 by Communist Propaganda Department writers based on the gconfessionsh Pfu Yi and Pfu Chieh had made in the prison as outcome of gbrainwashingh.)
But, in any case, the directorfs knowledge on the so-called gRape of Nankingh is awfully wrong.
He believes; gThe Japanese killed 300,000 Chinese people in *2 or 3 days* in Nanking.h (How did he think it was possible as the matter of reality?)
In fact, however, the *200,000* civilian refugee in Nanking were well protected by the Japanese Army and decrease of the number never recorded by the gobjectiveh foreigners of the International Committee of the Nanking Safety Zone, who, by the way, are assumed by many people including scholars as gthe witnesses of the Rape of Nankingh. They, on the contrary, recorded *increase* of the population to 250,000 within a few weeks after the capture of the city. No one saw such barbaric massacre except the Chinese propagandists and, actually, some members of the Committee who were hired by the Chinese Nationalist Party as international propaganda agents. Some ordinary Chinese people (genuine citizens of Nanking) even condemned the Chinese soldiers for the wrong-doing in Nanking.
Apart from gRape of Nankingh, the gnewsreelh in the film Pfu Yi and his co-inmates had watched is full of errors and, I dare to say, pernicious propaganda.
The planes that bombed Shanghai International Settlement and killed thousands of civilian was actually the Chinese. (Page 352 of The China Year Book 1938, edited by H.G.W. Woodhead, North China Daily News) And, the gexecutionh scene of the Chinese civilian is, I am sure, taken from the famous propaganda film by Frank Capra; gThe battle of Chinah that shows, in fact, the executioners are the Chinese Nationalist Party Army. Because of the fact the scene was gtrimmedh to ghideh the true identity of the executioners, I think Bertolucci did know they were using propaganda material.
What I do not know is their purpose. It may have been to get permission to make the film in Beijing under ghawk-eyeh of the Communist Party authorities they might have pretended to be pro-communist. In either way, this filmfs authenticity was sullied and that is very a shame.

Still, to me, this special edition is very interesting as a resource to understand the Cultural Revolution and the nature of brainwashing because it includes first-hand interviews of aging Pfu Chieh and the real life prison governor. Only one thing I would desire is subtitles, for the sake of clarification of the dialogues spoken by non-English speakers.

Good movie.... Awful DVD
Enough comments have been made on the movie so I'll just tell you my opinion on the DVD edition. It is one of the worst DVD transcription I have ever saw. I really had the impression to watch a DivX. Do I need to tell more about the resolution? Only the english soundtrack is available (I wish the movie had been shooted in Chinese or Mandarin but that's not the point) and no subtitles. The DVD presents the director's cut which makes the movie 3 and a half hour instead of 2 and a half. The theatrical version is not available on the DVD... Otherwise there is no additionnal material. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

"Little Colonel"
Charming Shirley Temple vehicle, with Lionel Barrymore as the irrascible grandfather, gruff and blustering but with a soft spot for Granddaughter, Shirley. Bill Robinson is at his best, or should I say, wonderful as usual as the old faithful family retainer and the dance rountines between him and Shirley are alone worth watching the movie for. Great family fare, touching in spots and easy on the eye as well.

A Cool Shirley Temple Movie!
I am a very devoted Shirley Temple fan.When I was in a video store one day, my dad picked out Our Little Girl(Shirley Temple) out for me...and I loved it,( black and white). My seacond Shirley Temple Movie was The Little Colonel. It is a touching warm hearting film that should be treasured in a Shirley Temple fan's video collection.The movie is about a little girl who is be coming friends with her grandfather. Her grandfather has a bad mood to Shirley's mother because she married her true love.Besides it also about two robers who want Shirley's dad's money, then Shirley leads her dad to the scene and those robers go to jail. This is a very clean movie, no stuff of today's world. You should buy this movie- you won't regret it!

Exciting and cool!
Shirley plays a young girl named Lloyd Sherman in this movie.
Lloyd's mother and grandfather haven't spoken to each other since a fight involving Lloyd's southern mother and her yankee husband (it was in the 1870's and lloyd's grandfather was a confederate soldier.) So when Lloyd's mother and father move into a cottage very close to her grandfather's house, it's up to Lloyd to bring them back together in a time of crisis.
Also starring Lionel Barrymore as Lloyd's grandfather.

Shirley's at it her Best!
This is one of Shirley's best pictures ever! It features America's most famous dance scene, the staircase and it features Lionel Barrymore, Drew Barrymore's grandfather. Funny and touching film! 2 thumbs up!

THE LITTLE COLONEL
EXCELLENT MOVIE, EXTREMELY FAST SERVICE! GREAT SELLER!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Finally, a perfect video from GOOSEBUMPS.
Great! Well done to all the actors. The story wasexcellent,Slappy was scary, the dummies were freaky and scary. Some ofit left me thinking, how DID they get the dummy in the water freshner. I just loved Slappy, he's awesome, scary and funny. I hated Zane, though. Just like the book, thats the way I really like it. I also recommend The Haunted Mask 1 and 2, Night Of The Living Dummy 2. A definite buy for all GOOSEBUMPS fans.

It is a horror movie for younger kids and just as scary
That was so cool.The only reason I read the book was because of the movie.They are nothing alike all they used were the same names but the movie is a lot smarter and scarier.It is the story of a guy who has a lot of dummys in his attic but his newest one is brought back to life by his kid.She learned her leason because the dummy came to life and scaried the heck out of her and her brother and cousin.The coolest part was when slappy the dummy turned Zane the cousin into a dummy. It was the coolest ever buy it for sure.

The dummys 3`rd
THIS MOVIE WAS GREAT!I JUST DON`T UNDERSTAND HOW SLAPPY WAS BLOWN UP IN THIS ONE,AND IN BRIDE OF THE LIVING DUMMY HE`S IN ONE PIECE!?BUT ANYWAY,IT`S GREAT!

slappy's scartastic
when I first saw this I was surprized.Surprized with fear.I never thought that night of the living dummy 3 was so scary.Slappy was scary and boosy just like in the book.But I had thought that more that one dummy would be brought to life not just one[Rocky or Rocko].I loved the part were Slappy propped himself up on the table then Zane told him to kick him and Slappy did,but after Zane turned around."YOU DIDN'T SAY PLEASE AND SO THEY WANT TO PLAY PRANKS ON EACH OTHER",are my favorite lines that Slappy had said.

GOOSEBUMPS ROCKS!!!
This movie was great! The part i don't undeerstand is how at the end of this movie slappy blows up, and in the bride of the living dummy slappy is in one peace? It was good anyway! I recomend bringing night of the living dummy and don't go to sleep to video! ... Read more

Description

A teenage boy, a set of rollerblades and an interschool athletic rivalry are the ingredients for a whiz-bang comedy sparked by astounding feats of skating pyrotechnics. Year: 1993 Director: Rob Bowman Starring:Shane McDermott, Seth Green, Brittney Powell ... Read more

Reviews (52)

A good time... to the EXTREME!
I grew up in Cincinnati, so in the Fall of 1992, when I heard that a major motion picture was about to start filming near my neighborhood, I jumped at the opportunity to witness a talented filmmaker at work.

While parts of "Rain Man", "Traffic", and the underrated "The Public Eye" (Joe Pesci) were filmed in Cincinnati, "Airborne" was the first big-budget movie filmed entirely on location in the Queen City (aka Cincinnati, Ohio).

"Airborne" tells the story of Mitchell (played by newcomer Shane McDermott), a California surfer boy, that is sent to Cincinnati to live with his aunt (the DELIGHTFUL Edie McClurg), uncle (the very funny Patrick Thomas O'Brien), and cousin (Seth Green from "Austin Powers").

Mitchell quickly realizes that he's not in California any more. Ha! Sounds like "The Wizard of Oz", doesn't it? Well, the similarities stop there.

Mitchell was the "cool guy" in school back in California, but now that he's attending school in Cincinnati, he is teased for his radical clothes, his tubular hairstyle, and his surfer lingo. When Mitchell hears about an opening on the roller hockey team, he sees this as an opportunity to win over his fellow classmates. Using his surfer know-how, and his charming Californian ways, Mitchell quickly becomes the hero of the team, and begins to attract the attention of the team captain's girlfriend. UH OH!

When the captain finds out about his girlfriend's extra curricular activities, he challenges Mitchell and friends to a death-defying Roller blade race down "Devil's Backbone". Mitchell agrees to the dangerous challenge - anxious to impress his new love, and settle the score once and for all with his arch nemesis.

"Airborne" is an accurate portrayal of what life is really like in Cincinnati. When I was in high school, many disputes were settled with a challenging Roller blade race (although, in my day, they were roller SKATES), or at the bowling alley.

Filled with exciting stunt sequences, witty dialogue, and a breakthrough performance by Seth Green, "Airborne" is sure to please the extreme sports (and Cincinnati) fan in all of us!

Simply a great movie!
Airborne is truely a great piece of cinema. The young and the old alike should enjoy this movie. If you judged this movie just by looking at the cover you would assume that Airborne was just a mindless rollerblading movie. It's not! True there is rollerblading and the end of the movie focuses on a rollerblade race, but the rollerblading is just a "backdrop" to the film. Airborne mainly focuses on an out-of-town kid from California who tries to make the best of a bad situation while he stays with his cousin in Ohio. In doing so he becomes close to his cousin and falls in love with a girl who is a town local. He also makes some enemies during his stay in Ohio. Can he win the love of the girl he longs for? Can he make friends of the people that bully him in school? Can he survive the harsh winter in Ohio!?! Well, you'll have to rent or buy the movie to find out!

AWESOME!!!!
BEST MOVIE EVER!!!!!! I have watched this movie hundreds of times and i never get sick of it. Rollerbladers shreding down "Devil's Backbone", crazy pranks and the ocassional jack black thrown in there really makes for a funny movie. I love the story about a sufer that ends up in Clevland, smack dab in the middle of a snow storm, booya! Mitchell tries to fit in but the guys dont seem to buy it but the ladies sure do. Snake also has a 1.1 GPA. Always a good time with the sufer dudes, but dont forget the po dunk ghetto kids and then the preps. Hockey is the sport, Wylie's dad drives a zambonie. Wrong goal surfer dude, BAP!, gets creamed and then some. Sand in the locker, wet tp and some iching powder can't hurt the mahurushi. So Mitchell gets his blades and then tears up the city making friends as he goes along, then aaaawww, there is the love of his life, better show off, oops cracked my skull, lets go look at plants and flowers, you better know your stuff because its a test. Ladi dodi, its time to depants some preps...hmmm. Crazy sufer kids!! DEVIL'S BACKBONE, its a race to the death with only one thing on their minds, who gets the chicas, nope, first team to get three across the line wins. Sucka!!, sufer dude rules the air and shows off his incredible talents by flying through the air making sure to pose for the camera and eventually throwing king prep into the water. The end

A rather intermittent experience with Moral Fiber
For all of you 'nay-sayers' I got two words for you: Moral Fiber. Yes, you heard me correctly. That is what Airborne provides, my friends. You may think I am a mentally deficient human-being for enjoying this movie, but lend me your ears. If you look at it from my perspective you will see a whole new world of Airborne.

Quite frankly this movie is one of the most allegorical movies I have ever seen. This movie is so intellectually jampacked with references to the second World War, I nearly wet myself during the first showing. For example, Micthell is the U.S., and those bullys are the Japanese. Seth Green's character is obviously the British, and I will take a venture to say that Jack Black's character is probably the French.

The bullys also represent the Germans. I spent myriad hours examining the movie, and I can't truly identify who Hitler is meant to be. I watched to the whole movie in reverse and discovered in scene 36, where Mitchell's toliet paper is sabotaged (this represents the German invasion of France, duh!)that the bully's say 'Axis freedom, down with the Allies'. If you play it in reverse you will see as well.

The roller hockey game where Mitchell pulls down the bully's pants clearly represents the Battle of Normandy, where the Allied troops stormed the beaches. The race down Devils Backbone is obviously the final battle of WWII in which the underdogs won.

I have one minor quibble: the guy who won the race. ...? By the way, the man who made the analogies with Jack Black and shining after a shower- you are right on my good sir.

I hope you see the movie in a different light with my guidance.

Do the words "Best Movie Ever" mean anything to you?
this movie has made me wanna be a better man. Mitchell is in a word "bangin" and jack black shines like my skin when i'm out of the shower. the one chick is doable and i find the rollerblading action extreme. the special effects were out of this world. i would recommend this movie to anyone looking for a good time. if u like this movie, be sure to view "the monster squad." ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Now isnt that him???
The first time I saw this movie ,someone told me that there is actually a scene in which Mario Lanza does indeed appear.... after about the third time, I think I found it....It is the scene in the cathedral after the King dies and the Prince is singing "I'll walk with God". Not the close up, mind you, but the very long wide angle shot. That said, regardless of why Lanza was fired or quit or got too fat(All stories that go around).This is a delightful old fashioned film. Edmund Purdom does an admirable job(especially of the dubbed songs)in a really tough turn.Ann Blyth is a perfect Kathy and the supporting cast is among the best.What a hoot to see Richard Anderson and John Ireland as the leaders of the rival corps. I dont suppose they could really sing either,but...
An all around good time!

Beautiful music...Heartbreaking Story
I will not recap the story behind this beautiful musical....other reviewers have done this well. All I want to say is be prepared to be delighted by the music and destroyed by the ending of the story. No matter how many times I've seen The Student Prince I end up a whimpering mess at it's conclusion. Very bittersweet and all too real, impossible love situations destroy me. That look on Ann Blyth's face, as the Prince she loves but cannot have visits her one last time, haunts me well after the film concludes, at which time I'm crying like a baby. In fact, as I write these sentences I'm crying again!! Too bad that Mario Lanza was not given the acting role (for whatever reason). We do get to hear his glorious singing voice dubbed with actor Edmund Purdom doing a credible acting job. But it is the radiant Ann Blyth (with her own beautiful singing voice) that steals the show for me, and I'm a gay man!! I only hope the DVD will follow soon.
Recommended for all lovers of romance. Have the tissues ready for the ending.

Mario's Voice and Edmund's Body
Mario Lanza was slated to star in this great movie. Unfortunately, he gained a lot of weight and was replaced - not just directorial differences, but Lanza's eating/drinking were taking him over - a sad by-product of fame for some. Edmund Purdom is not Lanza but he does make a handsome prince. When I first saw the close-ups, I noticed that the synching wasn't quite in-synch...but one soon forgives and forgets. This is a lovely story with outstanding music - in all, a delight.

excellent musical.
"The Student Prince," with Ann Blyth and Mario Lanza is a wonderful and beautiful film. I so enjoy it. It's colorful such a great fairytale and some of the best songs. Mario Lanza and Ann Blyth are great actors abd singers. The costumes and scenery deserve a award. A must see film well worth watching many times.

Lanza Was Right... the Directing is Terrible!
This is the worst film to feature Lanza in any way. Lanza and the Director just couldn't get along and I can see why. The Director has poor Edmund walking his wooden way through this film while incongruously opening his mouth and emitting all of the unrestrained passion of Lanza's voice. Lanza wanted to play the Prince evolving from a disciplined Prussian into a passionate lover. The Director would not allow the metamorphosis. Lanza would have been great in this role, but he just couldn't tolerate what he thought (correctly, I believe) was the absurd juxtaposition of the sometimes sentimental other times pleading or romantic music/lyrics... with the Director's insistence that the lead be played almost devoid of emotion. It was Director vs. Mario and the result was that this is the film marks the beginning of the tragic end of Lanza's painfully brief career. ... Read more

Reviews (107)

Stunning
This may be the best Shakespeare film ever made. In 1942, Laurence Olivier delivered a jingoistic, stylized wartime production of "Henry V" that nonetheless stood as the standard interpretation. Nearly fifty years later, Kenneth Branagh's film appeared not only as a powerful and amazingly accessible recasting of the text, but a serious examination of the nature and the costs of the war that was Henry the Fifth's only real achievement.

Although studded with a fine array of subsidiary characters, "Henry V" is essentially a one-man play, and Branagh's performance informs and naturally influences all of the rest. His character has most of the lines, and he delivers them with a refreshing naturalism and candor that re-infuses the humor into the funny bits and cuts a lot of the potential for stilted jingoism out of the patriotic and warlike ones. If the real Henry's delivery of the St. Crispin speech was anything like Branagh's, it's no wonder the English won.

Slogging through the mud and rain of Harfleur and Agincourt with Branagh is a masterful supporting cast, including the incomparable Judi Dench as Mistress Quickly, Brian Blessed as a marvelously solid Exeter, and Ian Holm, wonderful as the irreverent and sarcastic Fluellen. On the French side, Paul Scofield's King is weary and indecisive rather than weak and mad; Michael Maloney's Dauphin is entertainingly arrogant, and Emma Thompson delivers a small but charming performance in playwright-broken English and much better French than Shakespeare likely spoke. Tying it all together is Christopher Ravenscroft, who invests the herald Mountjoy with a sympathy that extends to both sides, and a phenomenal showing by Derek Jacobi as the earnest, mocking and informative Chorus.

"Henry V" was released and went to video before the heyday of production for DVD, and as such, a "deluxe edition" has not been produced- this disc contains no making-of documentaries, no in-depth interviews with the cast, no online screenplay. But at least in this case, that's all for the best. The film is stunning enough on its own to need no such accompaniment, and its magic is thereby undiminished.

Oh, for a muse of fire...
For a first effort at feature-film direction, now-veteran director/writer/actor Kenneth Branagh provided an astonishing introduction to his many talents in filmmaking with his 1989 production, 'Henry V'. There is a gritty realism brought to the screen in this production that combines in dynamic and interesting ways with the Shakespearean dialogue and situations. The battle scenes are some of the best in cinema for depicting the kind of royal and knightly battles. A special commendation goes to cinematographer Kenneth MacMillan, art directors Martin Childs, Norman Dorme, John King, and costume designer Phyllis Dalton for combining elements of stage and screen together to complement the story perfectly without overpowering it. Indeed, the picture won the Oscar for Best Costumes; Branagh was nominated for Best Leading Actor and Best Director. The film and crew were nominated for and won many other awards as well.

One of the problems of Shakespeare on the silver screen is that the situations, settings, and acting often ends up somewhat contrived. That rarely happens here, because of this remarkable team.

The principle writing credit of course goes to William Shakespeare, but as is always the case, the play is recast to make the film medium more natural for the story. Kenneth Branagh is the one credited here, and has shown himself several times after this film as a master of adapting Shakespeare faithfully to the screen.

The play itself is one of Shakespeare's history plays -- remember the broad three categories of Shakespeare: history, drama (some say tragedy), and comedy. Like most of the history plays, there is creative license taken with the actual history, as it is invariably adapted to make the present regime look good, credible and more legitimate. This explains why Richard III in Shakespeare is far more villainous than in actual life; in Henry V, the country had a great and (for the period) uncontroversial hero - the last king of England to be acknowledged the dominant power in Britain and in France, succeeding in unwinnable situations, and, as befits a good historical hero, dies young before he has the chance to destroy his image. The play has always been popular in times of national crisis - see Olivier's production of Henry V during World War II depicting the king as a national saviour against continental foes.

The action of the play and film turns on the legitimacy of Henry's rule in France (an issue still for Elizabethan audiences, as Elizabeth was crowned with supposed rights to France). The French are depicted as haughty and disdainful of the young king (interesting how some things don't change), and the battle lines are drawn. The film here sets the stage for a far more ambiguous justification for war than is often depicted in the play, leaving the viewer wondering if, for all the glory of the battles, was there a real point, or was it legalistic/diplomatic trickery?

There is also the interesting scene with the conspirators against the king, unmasked as the forces are about to depart for France. Cambridge, Scrope and Grey are exposed, but the dialogue and acting hints as a more intimate relationship with Henry V - possibly this references obliquely the rumours of homosexuality, or at least bisexuality, in the historical Henry.

The players are excellent here, from Branagh himself as Henry V, and Brian Blessed his strong right arm Exeter. Paul Scofield (Thomas More in 'A Man for All Seasons') plays the ancient French king, Charles VI, and his son the Dauphin is played by Michael Maloney. This is, on the whole, a rather 'young' film, as Branagh himself was not yet 30 at the time of production, and most of his aides and friends in the play are similarly young, save for a few senior advisors. Emma Thompson, a staple in Branagh's films, plays the only significant female role, the princess Katherine, to whom Henry will be wed. Her part is almost entirely in French. Her maid, Alice, is played by Geraldine McEwan (perhaps best known from 'Mapp & Lucia').

The famous speeches here are preserved; Branagh does a fantastic job with his spirit-raising monologue for the troops prior to the battle of Agincourt, on Crispin Crispian day. The speech on horseback in the early seige of Harfleur, 'once more into the breech!' is also remarkable. The lines delivered by all the actors are done with care and precision - Exeter's report to Henry at the opening ('tennis balls', said with great sneer) and to the French party ('scorn', said with so much scorn the word need not be spoken) are but a few examples of this.

The film expands upon the play's use of Falstaff's companions as a comic relief, by incorporating what would be flash-back scenes from events in the Henry IV play cycle, premonitions of events currently in the play. Robbie Coltrane turns in a good performance as Falstaff; look for Judi Dench in a minor role as the Mistress, and a very young Christian Bale as the boy.

The music for the film is triumphant, foreboding and dark. This is a wonderful score produced by Patrick Doyle, known for work on other Branagh films such as 'Dead Again' and 'Much Ado about Nothing', as well as other films such as 'Indochine' and literature-based films like 'Gosford Park' and 'Great Expectations'.

Derek Jacobi, veteran Shakespearean, portrays 'Chorus', the narrator of the action, one who casts the right spirit from beginning to end, and appears throughout. There are few Shakespearean asides done by the actors here (a few under-the-breath comments that might qualify), but Jacobi's role is always directly to camera, directly to us as the spectators. The ending portrayed by Chorus is both victorious and tragic, much as the cycle of history must be.

This is a glorious film.

Great Film, Less than Great Transfer
Kenneth Branagh's splendid Henry V is the best Shakespeare film of the last forty years. Unfortunately, the picture quality of this DVD is only so-so. MGM really needs to do a better job than this.

"Cry Harry! England! And Saint George!!!"
Kenneth Branagh is truly inspired. As both the director and lead actor he is simply superb. Of all the Oscars this was nominated for, including Best Actor and Best Director for Branagh, all it walked away with was Best Costume Design. The costumes are great, by the way. But what makes this film work is the authentic emotional element that all the actors bring to their roles. Tears fall, hearts soar, and blood flows! This is easily my favorite film from director/actor Kenneth Branagh. There is a huge cast of name actors, such as Ian Holm, Judi Dench, and Emma Thompson, and all acquit themselves with honorable performances worthy of singular recognition. There are complex tracking shots and finely tuned film editing, all adding to the immense grandeur that envelopes this film. It is easy for me to recommend this outstanding Shakespearean adventure. If you love Shakespear, this film is an absolute necessity for your collection. Thank you.

This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England....
From various reference sources, in brief, here's the historical background both to Shakespeare's play and to this film. Henry V, the eldest son of Henry IV and Mary Bohun, was born in 1387. An accomplished and experienced soldier, at age fourteen he fought the Welsh forces of Owen Glendower; at age sixteen he commanded his father's forces at the battle of Shrewsbury; and shortly after his accession he put down a major Lollard uprising and an assassination plot by nobles still loyal to Richard II . He proposed to marry Catherine in 1415, demanding the old Plantagenet lands of Normandy and Anjou as his dowry. Charles VI refused and Henry declared war, opening yet another chapter in the Hundred Years' War. His invasion of France served two purposes: to regain lands lost in previous battles and to focus attention away from any of his cousins' royal ambitions. Henry possessed a brilliant, strategic military mind and defeated the French at the Battle of Agincourt in October of 1415. By 1419 he had captured Normandy, Picardy, and much of the Capetian stronghold of the Ile-de-France.

By the time the Treaty of Troyes was signed in 1420, Charles VI not only accepted Henry as his son-in-law but passed over his own son to name Henry heir to the French crown. Had Henry lived a mere two months longer, he would have been king of both England and France. However, he had prematurely aged because of having lived the hard life of a soldier, became seriously ill, and died after returning from yet another French campaign. Catherine had given birth to his only son while he was away but Henry died without ever seeing the child.

The historian Rafael Holinshed, in Chronicles of England, summed up Henry V's reign as follows: "This Henry was a king, of life without spot, a prince whom all men loved, and of none disdained, e captain against whom fortune never frowned, nor mischance once spurned, whose people him so severe a justicer both loved and obeyed (and so humane withal) that he left no offence unpunished, nor friendship unrewarded; a terror to rebels, and suppressor of sedition, his virtues notable, his qualities most praiseworthy."

It would be a disservice to compare and contrast this film with the version which Laurence Olivier directed 45 years earlier. Each has its own unique strengths and both are worthy of high regard. When Shakespeare's play and this film begin, newly crowned Henry V (Branagh) attempts to resolve animosities between England and France. When those efforts fail, he and a small army invade France and defeat the French troops at Agincourt. Branagh brings to the role exceptional energy and dramatic impact, most evident in two scenes: when he delivers his St. Crispin's Day speech just before heading into battle and then afterward as he rides amidst the carnage, carrying a dead boy across one shoulder. The resources and technologies for special effects available to Branagh were far more abundant than those available to Olivier. Branagh makes the most of them, recreating the gore and grime of Agincourt with a series of indelible images. (I suspect that Mel Gibson carefully studied the tracking sequence when preparing to film Braveheart.) The acting throughout is first-rate, notably Paul Scofield (King Charles VI), Judi Dench (Mistress Quickly), and Ian Holm (Captain Fluellyn). Sir John Falstaff does not appear in this film version (as he does in Olivier's) and scant attention is paid to the "corrupting influences" in Prince Hal's "decadent" youth. Branagh focuses primarily on the human dimensions prior to and following the magnificent military victory at Agincourt. It is also a pleasure to observe Branagh's interaction with Emma Thompson in her role as Katherine. The "word games" courtship scene is delightful.

This is a visually stunning and emotionally stimulating tribute to Henry V and his warriors, of course, but also to the country which produced such men:

This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle,
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
This other Eden, demi-paradise,
This fortress built by Nature for herself
Against infection and the hand of war,
This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in the silver sea,
Which serves it in the office of a wall
Or as a moat defensive to a house,
Against the envy of less happier lands,-
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England.

(Richard II, Act II, scene 1) ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Both the televison pilot and the first Fleisher cartoon
Volume 1 on "TV's Best Adventures of Superman" has the first and last episodes of the syndicated television series starring George Reeves that ran from 1952-1957. "Superman on Earth" (Episode #1), written by Richard Fielding, tells the story of how the infant Superman was rocketed from the dying planet Krypton to Earth, where he was raised by a kindly couple, the Kents (renamed Sara and Eben for some reason). When he grows up Clark Kent gets a job as a reporter at the Daily Planet, a great metropolitan newspaper, while Superman makes his first appearance and rescues a man from a dirigible. Then in "All That Glitters" (Episode #104), Superman's friend, Professor Pepperwinkle, has figured out how to transmutate base metal into gold. Of course, crooks force the professor to make lots of gold for them, but it seems the professor has an even bigger secret. He knows how to turn any man into a Superman. This final episode, directed by George Reeves and filmed in color, was written by Robet Leslie Bellem and Whitney Ellsworth. Phyllis Coates plays Lois Lane in the pilot while Noel Neill had the role from the second season on, Jack Larson is Jimmy Olson and John Hamilton rules as Perry White. As a very special treat, in between these two episodes is the first Superman cartoon by Dave Fleisher, which was nominated for an Oscar in 1941. The cartoon provides a brief explanation of Superman's origin (this time he is raised at an orphanage), and then we are introduced to what would be the standard format for this cartoons: Lois Lane goes off on an assignment, gets into big time trouble, and is rescued by Superman. Clearly, this first volume is the one to have if you are only going to have one Superman tape in your collection (the "Superman and the Mole Men" two-part episode/movie would be the second).

Wish these were still on TV...
This is it! That great first episode when Superman comes to Earth. Great fun, good fiction, campy directing. Who could ask for more. There is a cartoon between 2 George Reeves episodes. The cartoon is clever but not nearly as much fun.

Must see television !
This stuff is the basis of the 50'S! Reeves was the #1 hero of his generation. You should see this historical footage. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Yipes!
This is VERY loosely based on Book One of John Galsworthy's "The Forsyte Saga". The story is so altered from the original that it's barely distinguishable, aside from the fact that the main characters are Soames Forsyte, Irene "Herrinford" Forsyte, and Phillip Bosinney. Despite being set in 1880s London, there is no real sense of the period, and no one really has an English accent--but that's the least of the film's woes. In the original book and subsequent mini-series adaptations, Irene is a beautiful, free-spirited woman who wants to marry for love. She is forced into marriage with Soames Forsyte, who is an extremely repressed individual who loves her but cannot express it. Irene does not have any feelings for Soames, which makes the one-sided love affair all the more heart-wrenching. Here, in this film version, Irene seems not to mind Soames at all. She smiles and laughs and actually seems to enjoy his company during their courtship. She then inexplicably rejects his proposals of marriage, even though she seemed to be pretty well taken with him. Later she begins to drift away, but even then it isn't the coldness that comes through in the novel. Irene remains the focus of the rest of the film, which does borrow some plot elements from the original work, but it deters greatly towards the end. Like Irene, Soames is not quite the character that Galsworthy described, though he is given a few chances to exhibit that Forsyteian preoccupation with property. His treatment of Irene is somewhat believeable; he has a formalness around her, as though dealing with a valuable object, but he does not show that underneath it all he really loves her. The film is lacking in scenes with the entire Forsyte clan. This is possibly the most damaging to the film, since just about every Forsyte has something unique and entertaining to give to the story. If you like old period films, this one is worth a look. But if you are a fan of the books and/or the mini-series, it's not.

MGM costume drama at its best
THAT FORSYTE WOMAN is the film of part one of John Galsworthy's "The Forsyte Saga", and stars Greer Garson and Errol Flynn in two of their finest performances.

Irene (Greer Garson), reluctantly marries Soames Forsyte (Errol Flynn) a charming and genteel man. After the marriage, however, Soames shows his true colors; cold, controlling and manipulative.

Two years go by, and Irene's niece (Janet Leigh) introduces her to her beau, an architect (Robert Young). Without knowing it, Irene and the architect begin a torrid love affair that ends in tragedy..........

Stunning Oscar-nominated costumes and lush, plush sets abound in this engrossing film. Very good indeed.

A classic MGM film
"That Forsyte Woman" is the type of movie that MGM is known for-- a first rate cast, good script, excellent scenic and costume design, and top notch direction.

An adaptation of a classic novel, MGM legend Greer Garson is cast as Irene, a piano teacher who not only marries well-to-do lawyer Errol Flynn, but also into his family, the Forsytes.

At first, all seems like a perfect little Victorian era marriage, however there is a dark side to Flynn's character. Ms. Garson ends up falling for her niece's fiancee, a young architecht, played by Robert Young. Garson tries to stop Young's pursual of her, however, they both succumb to their love. When niece Janet Leigh learns of the affair between her aunt and fiancee, she does a deed that will bring turmoil to the good Forsyte family name. The film co-stars Walter Pidgeon, as Leigh's black sheep father, and Harry Davenport, as Leigh's grandfather, patriach of the Forsyte clan.

The film is a jewel in the crown of MGM and deserves a place in the classic film library of someone who appreciates Hollywood greatness.

Errol Flynn Acts
Offered his choice of the two heroes in this lavish MGM soap opera, Errol Flynn demonstrated his integrity by opting to play the unsympathetic role of Soames Forsyte. He does some really memorable work portraying the Victorian "man of property" who unwittingly loses his wife because he can't see her as anything more than a possession. In the Galsworthy novel, we only see the wife through Soames' eyes, but she is made into the protagonist of the movie, with motivations noble enough to suit tedious Greer Garson, who ends up yet again with Mr. Miniver, Walter Pidgeon. There is also, you should be warned, a poisonously bad performance by Robert Young as a dashing, dreamy architect (the role Flynn wisely refused). But from the first images of the tortured characters emerging from the Technicolor fog, this is a gripping and intelligent film. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

This tape is a collector's item.
This tape is more of a "must have" for Jerry Seinfeld fans or diehard SNL fans. For others, you may want to think twice before spending good money on this one. That is only because of the length, a mere 32 minutes (and that includes the video company's opening credits). The comedic skits and comedy bits are very good. I believe this originally aired in 1992, a couple of years BEFORE the TV show "Seinfeld" hit its prime. Jerry's fans will like this tape a lot. Especially the "Superman" sketch and the "game show" sketch (where the contestants answer questions, using Jerry's trademark delivery style). Again, if you're a fan of anything "Seinfeld," grab it while you can. It already seems like a collector's item to me. If you're an SNL fan, be aware that the only skits on this tape (except for the opening bit, before the monologue) are the ones in which Jerry appear. The episode's other skits are not included. For fans of both Seinfeld and SNL, definitely purchase it.

Highly enjoyable. Jerry at his Jerry-best.
This is a very enjoyable video if you are a Jerry Seinfeld fan. It starts with a sketch (4.10 minutes) with Phil Hartman playing Clinton and Dana Carvey playing Brown. They are talking about a political debate they are about to have.

Then comes Jerry Seinfeld's monologue (6.1 minutes), which consists of some material any fan will be familiar with because it is also covered in his book SEINLANGUAGE and in his stand up act I'M TELLING YOU FOR THE LAST TIME (available on VHS and DVD). My favorite part of this bit is when he talks about the water at the edge of the runway at La Guardia Airport. I know exactly what he is talking about; it is kind of freaky to be in a plane going down a runway that ends at a body of water. Jerry suggests that they put piranha in the water to make the experience even more pleasant.

"Stand Up and Win" (8.26 minutes) is the first sketch we see Jerry in. In this sketch, Jerry is the talk show host of a game that tests contestants' knowledge of commedian catch phrases. Jerry gives a question, and the guys have to answer with a "Jerry" response. Also in this sketch are: Dana Carvey, Rob Schneider, and Adam Sandler.

"Make You Think" (6.28 minutes) has Jerry as an exasperated high school teacher. His students are incredibly dense as he tries to teach them about World War II. I really enjoyed this sketch because one of my favorite SNL alumni is in it, Ellen Cleghorn. And Jerry makes a very good teacher, if only his students weren't so dumb (one student being Chris Rock, and another being an even-skinnier-than-usual David Spade).

Probably the best part of the video is "Superman" (4.32 minutes). In this sketch Jerry plays the man he will always be famous for wanting to be: The Man of Steel. Jerry as Superman is being interviewed on the radio by a radio personality played by Phil Hartman.

"Goodnight" (1.31 minutes) is just the standard "Thank you for watching, Goodnight" thing that all SNL hosts do after the show with the cast standing behind them. Apparenlty Annie Lennox was the musical guest that night, because she is in the crowd.

I'm not exactly sure what the original air date was, but it was obviously in the very early 90s - probably 1992 or 1993. And my only complaint is that I believe that they failed to include all sketches that made it into the original airing. .

Other than that, what Jerry fan could ask for more? The Patron Saint of Mr. Average playing Superman. This is why we love him.

A real classic - collector's item
If you can still get your hands on this one, do it. This features Jerry at his younger comedian days along with the talented crews at Saturday Night Live. See how his nothingness evolved into His Royal Nothingness.

Disappointing for a Seinfeld fan.
Except for the monologue, it had some pretty weak material, I thought

This is great, Seinfeld on SNL.
This video is awsome. Jerry does his act, and hosts the show. If you like SNL and Jerry this is the video to buy. In one part of the show Jerry is a teacher of a slow-witted class. Where he tries to teach history. After he gets a couple of stupid anweres he gives up on the class. Chris Farley also stars in this episode. The video is also very inexpensive. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Only for the die-hard fan
As a devoted fan of the Wonder Years, I must say that I was disappointed in this video collection. Not only is the quality poor (fading in and out, scratchiness, etc.) but there are only two episodes per video (on this one and on vol. 1). I appreciate the early episodes, but they definitely made a mistake by passing up some of the gems of the later seasons ("The Lake"/cara episode, "Goodbye", anything with Becky Slater...and of course, the 2-part series finale). Unless you're desperate and this is truly your only option, I would recommend holding out until something better comes along.

My review
The episodes on this video both really make you think. Not only are they both amusing, they also capture your heart. "My Father's Office" is a father-son episode, in which Kevin goes to work with his father and uncovers a few mysteries of the life of his father. He learns a few reasons why his father is the way he is. "Angel" is a funnier episode than the first, but it still manages to have a moral at the end and make you think. In it Karen, Kevin's older sister, has a new boyfriend, that Kevin discovers is cheating on her and Kevin tries to find ways to get rid of him. So if you're a Wonder Years fan, I reccommend you add this great video to your collection!

A fabulous trip down memory lane!
The Wonder Years is a show about innocence in a time not so innocent. The naration parallel to the beautiful script and hilarious acting, make the trip down memory lane a lot easier to swallow. Which, I assume, is it's initiative. As for these two episodes, the first is a must see. For those who had a father figure, this is a must see. It may make you want to reconsider the relationship with your son, or daughter. The other episode is another classic in a very classy t.v. show that will hopefully teach you as much as it has taught me about myself and my past. ... Read more

Amazon.com

While 2003's Daredevil was a conventional superhero movie, the 2005 spinoff, Elektra, is more of a wuxia-styled martial arts/fantasy flick. Elektra (Jennifer Garner) has returned to her life as a hired assassin, but she balks at an assignment to kill a single father (Goran Visnjic, ER) and his teenage daughter (Kirsten Prout). That makes her the target of the Hand, an organization of murderous ninjas, scheming corporate types, and a band of stylish supervillains seeking to eliminate Elektra and tip the balance of power in the ongoing battle of good vs. evil.

As the star of Alias, Garner has proven that she can kick butt with the best of them, and some of the visual effects are impressive, but the action sequences tend to be anticlimactic, and there's not much to the story. Fans will notice numerous references to Frank Miller's comic books, but there's very little resemblance to Miller's cold-blooded killer (Elektra with an agent? Elektra referring to herself as a "soccer mom"?).

Is Elektra better than Daredevil? Not really, even with the distinct advantage of having all Garner and no Ben Affleck. That could be the spinoff's greatest disappointment: after Spider-Man 2 raised the bar for comic-book movies, Elektra lowered it back to Daredevil's level.Directed by Rob Bowman (the X-Files movie), and featuring Terence Stamp as the mysterious mentor Stick, Will Yun Lee (Die Another Day) as the chief villain, and NFL-player-turned-mixed-martial-arts-champion Bob Sapp as the immovable Stone.

DVD features
Ben Affleck's much-rumored cameo is one of the deleted scenes on the Elektra DVD.It's a one-minute throwaway, and while he's supposedly appearing as Matt Murdock (who romanced Elektra in Daredevil), the barrage of celebrity gossip makes it impossible to see him as anything other than Jennifer Garner's real-life boyfriend.There's also a making-of featurette, which is mostly promotional hype other than a few interesting effects shots; four editing featurettes; and Jennifer Garner's videotaped message to ComicCon.--David Horiuchi

More on Elektra

Elektra: The Album (Soundtrack CD)	Elektra: The Movie (Comic Adaptation)	Frank Miller Comic Books
Daredevil (Director's Cut) (DVD)	Jennifer Garner stars in Alias (DVD)	More Superhero DVDs

... Read more

Reviews (163)

Not bad
I don't understand when people complain about Elektra being trashy. Com' on, you know you're watching a comic character, a character written from comics, how intellectual do you want the movie to be?

I love the trashiness of the movie.

More like E-Suck-tra...
This was one of the crappiest movie I have ever seen in the history of movies. The boss fights were stupid, the final boss, stupid, The tatoo guy that was supposed to be TOTALLY sweet died way way way too easily. She had this stiff pissed look the entire movie which just made me fell Stiff and pissed. I think the only part I found entertaining was how they died, If you want to laugh get this movie, if you want action(which is what you expect from this movie) Go try Samurai Champloo.

good dvd release but worst superhero movie i've ever seen
I'd never seen this movie in big screen, but one of my friends told me it was an average movie. when the dvd released, I Bought to put it near my daredevil DVDs (special 2 discs edition & directors cut), oh my... when i watched it... it was not an average movie but one of the worst superhero movies i've ever seen. too much lies! terrible actings and a boring story! not comperable with daredevil in any way, daredevil was a five star movie but this can hardly get one star! its just like one of jackie chan recent and cheap movies with a TV Worthy picture and special effects. it's not even worth to rent. don't be fool by the beautiful and kind of sexy photo on the cover of dvd! don't buy it even you are a super hero DVD Collector

Good acting , silly story
I was surprised that someone like Jason Isaacs would appear in a movie like this... special effects are very good, but still, the story wasn't very good. Goran Visnjic did a great job, excellent. But I don't know...watch it if you want to have some fun.

A Different Concept ?!!/ Disappointing and Medicore!!!!
I personaly am a comic book fan and can tell you from experience that the comics of Elektra are way better. The movie was somewhat weak with barely any action scenes!!! The only good part of the movie was Jennifer Garner which put some flavor into the movie and was in fact perfect for playing the part of Elektra!!! I place all blame on marvel who basically focused too much on setting up for the sequel and less on the action!!! This movie had so much potential but in the end it was barely amusing!!! If you want the truth the only reason I gave this movie 3 stars was because, of pitty and Jennifer Garner!!! It was a nobel effort but there are way better movies than this!!! The special features aren't that special either and not worth buying the movie over!!! Some hardcore Elektra fans will have a special place in their hearts for this movie!!! Don't buy this movie because of Jennifer Garner, if you want to see more of her just watch Alias/ or buy the first season!!! Marvel used to be about making comics and pleasing their main fan group, but now they have turned into a bunch of corporate business investors trying to make a profits!! The movie "Hulk" was even worse than this, which makes this look good!!! If you are looking for good movies from marvel here are some suggestion:

Spiderman
spiderman 2
X Men
X Men 2
The Punisher
Daredevil
The Incredibles

I hope Marvel is wise and makes more movies like the one's listed above!!! I suggest you rent this movie first to see if you truly want it!!! If you are a action fan like me you will probably not like it!!! Better luck on the sequel!!!

-Anonymous ... Read more

Reviews (259)

Who Ever THought of This Film was an Insane Genius
Whomever came up with the concept for this film needs very serious mental evaluation; A love story about a guy with scissors for hands? But perhaps we will put that aside for now becasue the movie is simply stupendous. Edward ScissorHands is one of my all time favorite movies, I assume this goes for many others as well, becasue i have never found someone who didnt like this movie. It appeals to the strange geek inside us all who just wants to be accepted for what he is. For an overview of the movie read the summary amazon has provided, i will talk only about the dvd. THe extras are quite neat with commentary tracks, production art, and best of all some old Burton shorts. Vincent is a great clayamtion thing about a kid trying to be vincent price, it reminded me of beetlejuice, visually. Frankenweenie is kinda dumb and boring, but its about a kid who brings his dog back to life. THe image clarity is fantastic, as is the sound on this disc. It has some really cool animated menus too. So go buy it. You might wanna see it first though becasue it is pretty strange. Bottom line is if you like Burton films, you will love this one. (I still have a little trouble seeing that kid from the breakfast club as a bad guy, but whatta gonna do?)

fantastic DVD, even better movie
Edward Scissorhands is quite simply the best fairy tale never told. This is Tim Burton in his eccentric prime, and his presence is palpable in every arena of this beautiful and personal film. The inventive art direction is perhaps the most memorable aspect of that presence, most notably in the pastel palette that covers everything from the ingenius solid-color costumes to the quaint neighborhood/town our characters inhabit.

The genius of this movie is more far-reaching than that. Everything fits seamlessly together--from Danny Elfman's quirky score to Stefan Czapsky's meticulous camera work to an entire cast full of nuanced performances... the list goes on and on. While this film's acting gem is Diane Weist in the role of the sweet and overly altruistic mother, Johnny Depp plays the titular role in a beautifully understated performance. Similarly, Winona Ryder wonderfully (and blondly) embodies young beauty and Alan Arkin turns in a comedic yet touching performance as the sometimes-overbearing father. The ensemble cast is flawless, complementing the quirky but ultimately realistic tone.

Perhaps the best aspect of this movie is that it achieves its goals with amazing subtlety--the overt themes of "being different", family, and (let's not forget) love are constantly driven into cliché these days, but Edward Scissorhands accomplishes it all with a snip, not a stab.

This 10th Anniversary Edition DVD is everything this movie deserves--insightful commentaries from Tim Burton AND Danny Elfman and an interesting featurette, along with the concept art, trailers, TV Spots, and scene selection we've all come to expect. (The Interactive 3-D Menus are priceless!)

This is just one of those positively timeless, life-affirming movies that belongs in everyone's collection.

A true work of art!
This has certainly got to be one of Burton's most imaginative creations. I can't remember a movie be that puzzlling, and yet so interesting and fun. Only Jonny Depp could prouduce such a voice, and performance. And that hair! Well, that was just the final icing on the cake. Let's face it. It's not easy to act the part of a lonly anodroid,and especially one that looked on with curiosity one moment and hated the next. Horror king, Vincint Price does a good job too as Edward's maker. Who is despreat for companionship. I laughed, I cried, then I laughed some more. All in all, this is not that bad of a movie.

A Beautiful Movie
I first saw this movie not so long ago and I fell in love with it. It is a beautiful story with very sad moments as well as exciting ones. Burton and Depp make a great team. This is one of the most moving movies I have ever seen. It tells the story of Edward (Depp), a person created by an inventor (Vincent Price)who passed on just before he had a chance to amputate Edward's scissorhands. Edward lived alone in a castle until sweet-hearted Avon lady Peg Boggs(Dianne Wiest)comes and takes him to her home to live with her family. A must see for Tim Burton fans and anyone who enjoys a magical time watching a movie. I have recently bought this DVD and I love it. I give Edward Scissorhands two big thumbs way up and 100 stars. I hope my review has helped you.

masterpiece
i just realised that "Edward Scissorhands" is one of my favourite films. it has so much power. Tim Burton's storytelling, it is magnificent. his imagination is so great. the way he portrays his characters is so unique. every character is very distinct. like characters in his other works: Jack Skellingon, Ichbod Crane, Edward Bloom, Betelgeuse. now let's talk about the acting. johnny depp was magnificent. you could sense his emotion, even though he barely talks, as he portrays a lost, innocent, confused child. his make-up is excellent too. yes, he does look like a freak. but he looks good. and Winona Ryder. she's such a good actress. and can you say "pretty?" and oh! the set design and cinematography. the use of colour to expose the contrast between the two worlds. the pastel versus the dark castle. and the town! oh my. it is a dreamland. did you know that it is an actual neighborhood in Florida? one more thing. Danny Elfman's score is superb! ... Read more

Reviews (65)

Another Carroll Ballard Classic...Fly Away Home is stunning!
As a longtime admirer of Director Carroll Ballard, I was thrilled when the Special Edition of "Fly Away Home" was released on DVD. I wish Anchor Bay had done the same treatment to Never Cry Wolf. But this film is a classic for all ages. Its parallel story to the real life Bill Lishman is more than entertaining, it tugs at one's heart. And Anna Paquin is stunning as Amy as she is in every film.

FLY AWAY HOME is also an environmental manifesto because it calls attention to the need for less development and more care for our habitat. I've rarely seen any comments along these lines and if you watch the movie closely, you'll realize that this is a call for change in scraping the land off and piling up huge neighborhoods and industry. It is testimony to the need for conservation in all countries.

Finally, Fly Away Home is a family film that breaches the silliness that too many youth movies have evolved to. This movie treats younger viewers with intelligence, not like an etcha-sketch.

I believe anyone with heart and soul will enjoy this movie for it will touch both.

Great Family Movie with Stunning Cinematography
This film has much of what perfect family films should have. Anna Paquin gives a quietly perfect performance as a girl whose mother has died, leaving her to go live with her estranged, and somewhat strange, father. Jeff Daniels plays the free-spirit, gruff, eccentric, semi-recluse inventor who is Anna's father. The awkwardness upon her arrival is almost tangible. What saves her, and the father-daughter relationship, is an orphaned family of Canada geese. Anna's character finds them in a patch of woods being developed into a subdivision or commercial complex, they imprint on her (Conrad Lorenz, the ethologist who figured out imprinting, would love this movie), and she has to teach the goslings how to be geese.

The lessons go well until Fall, when it's time for the young but full-grown geese to start thinking about migrating. How does a pre-teen girl teach young geese how to fly? She gets her eccentric inventor of a father to . . . well, I won't give everything away. Let's just say that this story has its ups and downs, but has a happy, but realistic ending. In the meantime, the process of teaching the geese to fly in the film leads to some incredible cinemagraphic sequences. The viewers get a bird's-eye view of geese flying, and feels as if the geese are right next to them.

Is this a complex, mulit-layed film full of sophistication and sub-plots? No way! This is a straightforward film about bonding and love - father-daughter bonding and love, as well as human-animal bonding and and love. "Fly Away Home" is a great movie to have at home and pull out on a rainy day to watch with your kids, from about age four up.

This movie makes my dad cry
And it's not just him. This movie came up amongst my friends in college and every female in the room said that their father KEPT watching this movie and they ALWAYS cried. Sort of brings a whole new meaning to the phrase "empty nest."

This movie is about Anna, who, after her mother's death in a car crash (Anna was also in the car), is sent to live with her slightly eccentric inventor father in Canada. He means well, but he just makes absolutely no sense to Anna. It is an exagerated case of "my dad is so weird" that any teenager can identify with. Meanwhile, the idea of a teenage girl is so foreign to her dad that the more he tries to bond, the more she stomps away.

Into the story comes a band of orphaned Canadian geese that Anna nurtures. They imprint her as their mother, so she more or less trains them. The only problem is that they must fly south for the winter, and Anna is their only role model. Luckily, she has a dad who builds space shuttles for fun. Suddenly, he has a way to connect with her and she has a reason to trust him.

Though it sounds sort of hokey, this movie that never delves into complete pathos. Instead, it is frequently quite funny and always touching. If you are looking for a father's day present, this is ideal. Just make sure to keep some tissues handy.

The Birds
This drama about a father/daughter relationship showed some promise in the beginning with a couple of tense scenes, but unfortunately the movie became more and more predictable and uninteresting as it went along. The main plot is about a 13 year old girl (Anna Paquin) whose pets consist in a bunch of baby geese. Problem is, as the geese grow up they will have to find their own way and fly away, so the girl and her father (Jeff Daniels) try to help the birds and end up guiding them to a safe place. Basically a feel-good-movie, "Fly Away Home" lacks dramatic tension, surprising situations and a solid plot. As it is, this drama is just a piece of harmless fluff with some pretty images and lots of boring scenes that seem endless and repetitive. The acting is competent and Carroll Ballard`s direction is equally decent, but overall this cinematic experience is way too lifeless, patchy and predictable. Children may like it, though, still this is nothing more than a cliched and unconvincing family movie.

Well-intended but not very challenging.

Young girl and dad help young geese fly south for the winter
The story of "Fly Away Home" is fairly predictable, in that we know full well that young Amy Alden (Anna Paquin) is going to persuade her father, Thomas (Jeff Daniels), to come up with a way of teaching a flock of adopted goslings how to fly and get them to a winter refuge in North Carolina. But predictability is not always a deterrent to a film being enjoyable or even inspirational, and you have to pity someone who cannot enjoy watching a bunch of baby geese running after Anna Paquin, convinced that she is there mother and therefore responsible for imprinting on them what they need to learn to survive. Besides, for what is ostensibly a children's film this one opens with a rather shocking scene, where we see a fatal car accident during the open credits while listening to a gentle melody. If there is anything that indicates this is more than your usual predictable children's film, this would be it.

If there is a flaw in "Fly Away Home" it is that the relationship between daughter and father takes a back seat to the story of the geese, so that the pathos that exists there is almost lost in the flapping of wings (but there is a nice moment and a good line when the father tells his daughter why he know what she can do it). They two have been estranged by distance (he returned to Canada while his wife and daughter lived in New Zealand), and living together is not improving things. He is an eccentric artist and inventor who cannot figure out how to connect with a living human being until the geese that come between them bring them together.

Fortunately, dad is spared the role of being the villain, because there are land developers at both ends of the flight and a wild life officer who knows what the rulebook says about domesticated geese. But those are just minor hurdles to the idea of flying 600-miles in four days in an ultra-light plane for Amy to lead her geese to their promised (wet) land. Yes, the idea that the clock is ticking and that bulldozers are ready to roll in North Carolina is all a bit much, but then there are moments, like when the ultra-lights and geese fly through the skyscrapers of Baltimore than just about take your breath away.

I was not aware until after I watched the film that director Carroll Ballard and cinematographer Caleb Deschanel had previously collaborated on "The Black Stallion," but that certainly makes sense because both films are perfectly willing to let pictures exist without dialogue. The other commonality is that "Fly Away Home" is another film that adults can enjoy just as much as the kiddies. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A pioneer of America's first frontier came to life every week for years--now you can relive his adventures with Daniel Boone: Premiere Episode. In "Ken-Tuck-E," Fess Parker as our national hero must take territory from the natives in order to prepare for war with the British.Along the way, we meet his family, friends (including Ed Ames as Mingo), and enemies as "Dan'l" fights, talks, and sings his way through scrape after scrape. Though some of the characterizations might offend modern sensibilities, if viewed in context the show can be seen as respectful (except possibly to the British and raccoons). This classic episode shows why Daniel Boone stayed in living rooms for so long--charm and adventure go a long way in this country. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (10)

THE DAYS OF YESTERYEAR
As several have said, Fess Parker was a better Daniel Boone than a Davy Crockett. Oh well, he was Davy only four or five times, and Daniel about SIX YEARS. Practice does make