Amazon.com

There's a plug for environmental causes (song lyric: "If there's a place worth saving, this must be the place"), a Darwinian crack aimed at parents, and faux news broadcasts to keep things moving. But most of all there are animals, animals, animals in this 37-minute National Geographic video. If a trip to the South American rain forest isn't part of the vacation plans, this video tour aimed at kids from preschool through grade school will more than suffice. Comparing the forest layers to an apartment building, animated planet guide Spin (Dudley Moore) steps onto an elevator to explore the forest floor on up to the canopy level--meeting tapirs, jaguars, bats, and spider monkeys along the way. Meanwhile kids become familiar with concepts such as echolocation, camouflage, and the equator. Now that's infotainment! --Kimberly Heinrichs ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Very entertaining and educational.
I have a three-year-old who loves this video we borrowed from the local library. He already knows the layers of a rain forest and can name a few animals in each layer. I have a degree in elementary education and truly realize how important positive exposure to new things are to children. He also gets angry at the part where they show the cutting down of trees and tells the man to pick them back up! Hello! Do you need more of a hint? Videos like this are truly benificial to children.

Awesome! Humor Included!
This video is really cool, and fuuny too. Kids can learn a lot from it, all the while being entertained. It's the best quality, the kind you expect from National Geographic. The answer to every question you ever had about tropical rainforests is right here, I can garauntee it. Dudley Moore, the histarical comedian, plays the loveable and always-good-for-a-laugh globe character Spin. A great way for kids 5-13 to learn and have fun!

Humorous Education
The Tropical rainforest has over 1/2 of the earth's animals and plants!Hey I am NOT kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Take a swing around the forest with Dudley Morre as Spin,your favorite globe-on-the-go!40 Min.Hoatzins included. What!!!!!?????Find out in the Totally Tropical Rain Forest! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Without the usual wildlife footage (since cameras obviously weren't around millions of years ago), the folks at National Geographic get very creative in the dinosaur segment of this 44-minute video. Using a combination of traditional and stop-motion animation, a paleontologist interview, silent-film stock, and clips from corny dinosaur movies, narrator Spin (planet Earth as voiced by Dudley Moore) tells the prehistoric slice-of-life story of a Hadrosaurus-egg-stealing Struthiomimus member who, in turn, meets an untimely end at the claws of raptors. As the second segment's title suggests, "Creature Features" is framed as a faux horror movie with Moore adopting a creepy tone as he tells of blood-sucking (and regurgitating) mother bats and squirming maggots who metamorphose into flies. By using this format, the episode has it both ways. It uses a spooky façade to entertain the kids, while debunking the very horror movie myths it capitalizes upon. --Kimberly Heinrichs ... Read more

Reviews (3)

My 3 yr. old son loves this one!
We rented this video and my son watched it about 10 times. After we returned it to the store, he kept asking for it so I am here at Amazon.com to buy it for him. He loves "Spin" the narrating globe.

Highly Entertaining
I watched this video with my two sons, ages 6 and 13, and we all loved it! The music, the photography, the animation, the narration and the fun (and sometimes gross) facts make this video well worth it. What an entertaining way to get kids interested and involved in learning more about the world around them!

Really wild animals
My two sons (ages 5 and 3) LOVE this video. Not only does it cover some of their favorite topics- Dinosaurs, bugs, spiders and snakes - but it also includes very interesting, factual and detailed information. And, it makes it fun! Parents will find this interesting as well. It would be a good idea to watch it WITH younger children as some kids may be disturbed by the more graphic/scary dinosaur scenes. Dudley Moore is great as the narrator, and we are planning to get more of National Geographic's Really Wild Animals videos! ... Read more

Description

Travel to the land "down under" with Spin, National Geographic's animated globe-on-the-go, and learn why the animals of Australia are so darn weird!From leaping kangaroos to paddling platypuses to cuddly koalas, you won't believe the amazing variety of animals that make this island world their home.Here's a wonderful look at these creatures, brought to you by the world's finest filmmakers.Exciting music videos will get the whole family hopping!So, c'mon mate, and explore WONDERS DOWN UNDER -just one of the many Really Wild Animals adventures in this award-winning series. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Very entertaining! Great for all ages.
National Geographic has done a fabulous job of presenting information in a very fun, lively way. This video is full of amusing commentary by the narrator (the kids may not understand all the jokes, but as an adult I appreciate the cleverness). The songs are upbeat and enjoyable. The up-close film footage of the animals is excellent, as you would expect from National Geographic. No matter what your age, you will enjoy this video -- my two-year-old laughs while watching it and I find myself joining the kids on the couch to watch the fascinating animals of Australia.

great fun and full of information
This video includes excellent footage of Australia's amazing animal life: creatures you don't find anywhere else on earth. The songs are fabulous! I taught the Marsupial Rap to my first grade class and they loved it. Kangaroos, Frilled Lizards, Tazmanian Devils, and others will fascinate both adults and children. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Infused with a healthy awe of nature's handiwork, this film is a crash course in physiology. In just 60 minutes the video travels through every inch of the human body, highlighting the various engineering feats accomplished in the course of everyday activity. Tiny cameras expose the forest of taste buds on the tip of a tongue, the cavernous pores in a fingertip, and the eerie clenching action of vocal chords. While the live-action scenes are a bit dated, the visual effects created by x-rays, microscopes, and time-lapse photography are fascinating. --Claire Campbell ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good video but very outdated
I remember liking this video as a child so I was anxious to see it again. It's funny how times change. The old Geographic with their big booming narrator voice and documentary scenes that look like they were staged for the camera just don't do it for me anymore. Some of the scenes are still touching but I would reccomend keeping your memories intact and avoid watching this. It's just not worth your time and any expense.

Not just a documentary, but a work of art
I'll start off by saying that the classic National Geographic documentaries played a vital part in my childhood. I rented them from the local video store so many times that the employees there called me "the National Geographic kid." CREATURES OF THE NAMIB DESERT, THE SHARKS, AFRICAN WILDLIFE--these were to me what SNOW WHITE and THE LITTLE MERMAID were to other kids. What can I say? I was (and still am) a total egghead. (I'll be 21 next month.)

However, I always had a unique relationship with THE INCREDIBLE HUMAN MACHINE. On the one hand, I knew that it was a masterpiece, and was continually compelled to watch it. And yet, something about it frightened me. Its images, like the inside of the esophagus and blood pumping through vessels, were somehow more than I could deal with. As a result, I only watched it a very few times.

Fortunately, I'm much less sensitive now (I've even become an avid fan of horror movies--a complete turnaround from my childhood), and I recently went back and saw THE INCREDIBLE HUMAN MACHINE. And, while it no longer scares me, there is something unnerving about it. In some ways, it's similar to Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (maybe its flip side, since this is an odyssey through INNER space). There's an awe, a scientific/poetic ecstasy to everything. Maybe it's the uneasy feeling that our boundaries as animals have been broken, that we're seeing things that had previously been reserved for the gods.

But why is that? I've seen many other, more technologically advanced (remember, this film is 25 years old) documentaries on the human body, but none moves me like this one. There are several reasons. It's written, directed, and edited with seamless perfection (kudos to Irwin Rosten and Hyman Kaufman) and makes the most of its short running time. At fifty-odd minutes, there's only time to give a thumbnail sketch of each of the bodily systems, and the film does so in a marvelously succinct and resourceful way. But that's only part of it. Far more than just filling us up with facts like most documentaries do, it ventures into the realms of art and philosophy without ever overplaying its hand. It takes the time to present small, incredible images like individual heart cells beating in a petri dish, or an embryo's spine forming, or a zygote expanding and contracting. (Narrator E.G. Marshall compares this last one to an "exploding star," effortlessly linking inner and outer space.) It quotes Shakespeare, Walt Whitman, and Joseph Conrad, while celebrating our bodies through images of world-class athletes and ordinary people. A gymnast performs on uneven parallel bars, a deaf woman hears for the first time, a man in a biofeedback experiment powers a toy train with his mind. Ultimately, the film makes you think about who we are, and marvel that we exist and are capable of so much.

(I was unable to fit this into the last paragraph, but I simply have to give special credit to Billy Goldenberg, whose eerie, pulsating music plays almost continuously through the film and greatly intensifies its emotional impact.)

I could go on about this film for much longer, but I've made my point. So I'll finish on a personal note of triumph. THE INCREDIBLE HUMAN MACHINE has been here all these years; it just took me a while to be able to fully enjoy it. And now I can, and I will for the rest of my life. I hope you buy it and get out of it all that I have.

PS: I wish that National Geographic would issue some of their pre-1975 documentaries on video. Also, with videotape rapidly becoming an outdated medium, they need to reissue their entire catalog (including the pre-1975 stuff just mentioned) on DVD, so the next generation can enjoy these classics. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Who were the Mayans? The answer depends on who you ask. Legend has it that the gods made them from corn. Armchair cultural critics with little more than a page-long encyclopedia entry's worth of knowledge see them as a ritualistic, dynastic people with a strong penchant for boulder hackysack. Take an hour-long tour of Lost Kingdoms of the Maya with host Susan Sarandon, however, and you'll see a culture that defies any handy categorization. Composed of a web of several hundred Central American kingdoms at the height of its powers, the Mayan empire was a cosmopolitan center of art and science that also had a taste for battle.

So what exactly happened to make the Paris of its time suddenly vanish? Puzzle along with archeologists and epigraphers as they try to piece history back together, one building and astrological codice at a time. Don't expect any pat answers, however. While a few educated guesses endure (overpopulation? deforestation? an out-of-control thirst for war?), the true reason for the Mayan fate might be best summarized in the true if not elegant words of one Mayan expert: "Civilization is a complex phenomenon, and we can screw up." --Bob Michaels ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A Fairly Good Documentary
This video was reasonably interesting, especially in its discussion of the Classic Maya Cities of Copan and Dos Pilas. I was somewhat disappointed by the lack of diversity regarding sites covered. Copan is certainly one of the more important Maya cities and it deserved coverage, but what about Tikal, Palenque, Yaxchilan, and Bonampak, just to mention a few others. They also might have considered some coverage of some of the Epi-classic & Post-Classic cities, such as Uxmal, Chichen-Itza, and Tulum; as these sites are also favorite tourist destinations.
The video is also somewhat dated, as so many recent discoveries have since added volumes of knowledge about these amazing people. All in all, it is still a good video that does wet the appetite for more learning about the Maya.

Great overview of Maya
I have seen some educational videos on the Maya, but I believe this is the best one I have come across so far. I was looking for a good educational video on the Maya to prepare a group trip to Honduras. We did an excursion to Copan, and the knowledge from this tape enhanced our experience. Compared to other videos about the Maya, this video was the best in the story telling of the history of the Maya and today's exploration with archeologists. I have been to other Mayan ruins as well, and I am still in awe of their lives and culture. If you plan on going to Copan or any of the other ruins, definately this would be a good video to check out.

Explore the Mayan Civilization...
Take a tour with many brave explorers to the wonderful world of Mayas. Step back in history and explore the forest regions. See where and how the great Mayas lived. Locate lost territories and see facts told from dead human skulls. Picture the large Mayan pyramids and clear forests to uncover lost mysteries. To do all this, buy this fantastic National Geographic special!

---------------------AHMED MASHHOOD------------------------------

Excellent view of the Maya civilization
This is a great video for anyone interested in the mysterious Mayan civilization. The photography and story telling are superb and only make the viewer hungry for more. I would recommend this video for anyone of any age, whether a history buff or just casual viewing. If you are a true history lover you must get this one. It is a real gem! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent introduction to Japan!
Recently, I showed this video to my 6th grade world cultures students and they were really captivated by it. I wasn't sure how they would like it, but they loved seeing the crafts and various artists of Japan. The video is great, because it gives you short pictures of different important people and a real overview of all of Japan's amazing talent. My students particularly liked the fighting puppets.

It was a BIG hit. I would definitely recommend it. We are watching it again next year without a doubt.

This viedo is a beatifully filmed informative documentary.
I saw this beatifully filmed piece on PBS. It selects several artists, ranging from weavers to dancers to sword makers, who have been designated by the Japanese government as "Living Treasures." This documentary describes the artistic tradition each Treasure practices, showing the traditions of some of Japan's near-lost arts. The information presented includes how the art is practiced, the traditions behind it, and some minutes of comment or interview from the Treasurers themselves. I would recommend this video to anyone who is interested in arts, history and tradition, or Japanese culture. There is actually a lot of information and insipration in this program. This video has an overall quiet, peaceful and relaxed feel, gently walking us through the lives and traditions of the Treasurers. I think it would be a wonderful generation-bridge for parents and children to watch together. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This beautiful documentary explores one of the most unusual geographic regions on earth, where water and land life intermingle six months of the year. When rains raise the Amazon river basin into the treetops, fish feed off fruit trees and families hurry to hoist their floorboards above water level. Guided by an expert Amazon biologist, National Geographic's cameras capture in lush color some of the forest's most intimate events: a delicate watson bird protects its chick from an approaching boa, a male "water monkey" releases a cloud of babies from the nest in his mouth, tiny sea turtles dip into the water for the first time. The film also explores the heartbreaking depletion of the area's natural resources, by both natives struggling to survive and outsiders eager to clear land for mass crop production. The endangered Amazon offers a poignant reminder of the fragile interdependency of all creatures. --Claire Campbell ... Read more

Reviews (3)

GOOD INTRO TO THE AMAZON
This video is a good intro into the life of the Amazon. I enjoyed how it balances the strangeness appeal of different creatures in the jungle with the scientific rigour to explain the terrain and the different environments animals and plants face throughout the year (rainy flooded season, dry season, etc.)

I strongly recommend this video for someone planning to visit the Amazon for the first time, just to have an idea of what to expect and to better be able to understand the explanations guides may give during a trip.

Breathtaking
Wonderful images. I could watch this with the volume on mute and just enjoy the scenes. The commentary is great too, though. Very informative without being the least bit boring. A great addition to my collection.

The Flooded Forest
This video is one of the best of National Geographic's video series. It provides a lot of information about the Amazon basin wildlife and though I have seen it many times I still enjoy watching it. It contains information on a wide assortment of creatures as well as the continuous cycle of flooding and draining the Amazon forest goes through. It talks about all sorts of strange creatures that are very exotic and beautiful. I like the way the information is presented as well as the fact that it is very scientifically accurate (I am a scientist). I also like the fact that it closes by talking about how the forest is being changed through cutting the trees and building dams on the river. It provides lots of information in a short period of time and gives a good rounded view at a land that is strange and different. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

A True Teen Movie
Let me tell you, Lucas is one of the best teen movies ever! In an age when people think teens have no feelings, and are sex, and party crazy, it is refreshing to see a film like this. A true gem sbout the joys and pains of growing up. Excellent performances. It is too bad Corey Haim made bad movie choices afterward, because I believe he has talent. Anyway, he wil always have this one. Charlie Sheen, and Kerri Green are also marvelous. Do yourself a favor, and check it out.

A rare example of very good film making
I saw this movie 7 years ago and I thought it was a very
special film,not only because of the script but because of the incredible acting talent on display.
I have to say that those glasses do not flatter Corey Haims features but they were an important part of making the character Lucas more believable as a nerdy,yet highly inteligent young boy.
Charlie Sheen and Winona Ryder are great as Lucas`s protectors against the school bully.

The magic between Haim And Ryder on screen has to be scene to be believed and as I have said before in respect of Corey Haim its a shame that he could not have continued the same standard of acting in his more recent appearances.
Great film buy it or lose something very special forever

Heroes Come In Every Shape and Size!
"Lucas" is a film about growing up. We all can relate to the problems associated with adolescence and puberty, especially the part about wishing we were someone else. This film is about heroes and the unlikely places you will find them. Underdogs can win in the game of life. An excellent movie for young and old alike!

Corey, is that you?
80s heartthrob Corey Haim first tackled the role of supremely dorky outcast Lucas Blyde before THE LOST BOYS and LICENSE TO DRIVE.

Many people are unaware of this, which is understandable. In 1985's sleeper hit, LUCAS, he is minute and scrawny. He doesn't sport the messy bleached and chopped style he did when swooning teen girls tacked his photos on their bedroom walls, courtesy of TIGER BEAT magazine.

During Corey Haim's 15 minutes of fame, I was a tot waddling in diapers. And when Lucas hit theatres, I wasn't even alive yet. But I did see bits and pieces of this movie on the Disney channel when I was about 7 or 8 years old. Only later did I rent the DVD. Is this another teen movie? I think not.

Lucas is super-cheery and super-smart, intellectually above his peers. In fact, he skipped not one, but TWO grades. So he's a 14 year-old sophomore in a typical suburban high school.

The end of the summer, he meets a new girl named Maggie (Kerry Green). If it weren't for his perseverence, he never would have won her friendship. After gawking at her on the tennis court, and after she implies a good 2 or 3 times she'd prefer to be alone, she finally succumbs to his charms. They spend the last two weeks of vacation attending classical music concerts, looking at different types of insects, and cruising the neighborhood in Maggie's car. Maggie finds a friend in Lucas. She even confides in him about her divorced dad and his 19 year-old girlfriend.

When high school officially starts, things change. Lucas is blinded by his infatuation with Maggie. Maggie sees him as a very good friend and nothing more. She's deeply hurt when she sees how some of the jock crowd treats him, humiliating him to no end. One of the exceptions, however, is Cappie, played by Charlie Sheen. "I used to treat him like everyone else does," he laments in the school basement. Cappie changed his ways after Lucus brought him his homework while he was away from school sick. Since then, they've been on friendly terms.

But Maggie isn't attracted to Lucus, who is 1 1/2 years younger than she is. She wants Cappie, but he's got a girlfriend, Alise, played by Ally McBeal's Courtney Thorne Smith. When Cappie and Alise break up (which I saw coming), Cappie turns to Maggie for support and a shoulder to cry on. And a new relationship, much to Lucas's dismay.

Lucas had previously vowed to stay away from the world of jocks and cheerleaders. In fact, jocks and cheerleaders are everything Lucas is not. Before, he deemed their world "superficial." Now, to impress Maggie, he is willing to do whatever it takes.

He wants to be a footballer.

Can he do it? Or will is experience out on the field knock sense into him (figuratively speaking, of course)? Will he win Maggie's love or are they destined for friendship and nothing more?

Watch and see.

I'm surprised that LUCAS received so little recognition. I'm also surprised that Corey Haim tackled the role with such ease, considering that the same boy in LUCAS also starred in a plethora of unmemorable 80s cheese. Charlie Sheen was sexy, subtle, and wonderful. Kerri Green was also fantastic - this movie made me contemplate why she is no longer a Hollywood starlet, being this, along with THE GOONIES, are her only two films worth mentioning. Audiences may expect this comedy to be cheesy and lacking the heart of some 80s classics, yet I'd rank it high on my list. It's got poignant heart and soul and the entire cast gives praise-worthy performances.

A really enjoyible movie
This is just a fun movie. It is one of those movies that you can watch over and over again. It is a heartwarming true 80's movie that I love. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Uncomfortably close to Ben Hecht and Alfred Hitchcock's film Notorious, this World War II drama (based on a novel by Susan Isaacs) concerns a love affair between a spy (Michael Douglas) and a secretary (Melanie Griffith) that goes south when duty turns him cold and pushes her into dangerous, behind-the-lines intelligence work. Liam Neeson plays the gentleman Nazi unwittingly providing Griffith with cover as domestic help. The best parts of the film are the twists and turns in the romance (Douglas is very good at playing a character who can turn off all feeling at will) at the beginning, while the German scenes are less compelling despite such high stakes for the heroine. The climax--taking us back to Notorious whether it wants to or not--is quite gripping, largely due to Douglas's performance. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (44)

Good, but bogged down slightly
This was an enjoyable movie, but unfortunately it had many, many plot holes that made liking it difficult.

A spy-movie-enthralled young woman named Linda Voss ("half Jewish, half Irish") gets a job with a man named Ed Leland whom she suspects is a spy. Before long, they are lovers, but their budding relationship is dashed by World War II. Before you can say "Berlin strudel" she's whisked off to Germany as an undercover operative, to discover secret plans in the house of a handsome and sympathetic Nazi (the always-good Liam Neeson)

One of the problems is Melanie Griffith. She might be good in other roles, but as Voss she fails. Voss comes across as amazingly lucky and none too intelligent, constantly licking her lips in a very distracting way. Michael Douglas is completely convincing as Ed Leland, although he looks slightly embarrassed sometimes. Liam Neeson and Joely Richardson are excellent in their smaller roles.

Second problem is the attitude of the heroes. When Voss does not show up in time for the rendezvous, Leland disregards orders in favor of carrying her to the Swiss Border. Though it may seem heartless, an actual spy would have followed his orders and left Voss to die. In fact, we see the evidently smarter Germans such as Neeson's Dietrich and Richardson's Margrete following their orders despite their personal feelings about Voss.

Watch the movie if you are interested, but do not expect great accuracy.

A good comedy -- a bad war drama
I think I might have enjoyed "Shining Through" more if I'd been drunk. This movie is a fantastic ensemble comedy, but I don't think they were trying to make one! The only redeeming points of the movie were Liam Neeson and Joely Richardson's performances as a pair of Nazis.

Melanie Griffith plays Linda Voss, a young woman of mixed Irish and Jewish ancestry in World War II. Because of her linguistic skills, she's hired as a translator for Ed Leland (Michael Douglas), who works for the government as a spy (he keeps denying it, but she's seen movies so she knows better!). They become lovers, until his work comes between them. But no sooner have they been reunited than a spy is needed to sneak into Germany to find some bomb-related plans.

She's accompanied into Germany by Konrad "Sunflower" Friedrichs (Sir John Gielgud, who looks like he's always thinking "What am I doing in this movie?") and his niece Margrete Von Eberstein (Joely Richardson). Her position as a chef blows up on the first night, and she quickly finds herself hired as a nanny by elite Nazi official Franz-Otto Dietrich (Liam Neeson, Richardson's now-brother-in-law). And now that she's inside his house, she has only a limited amount of time to find the plans.

I don't think the people who made this movie wanted me to like the Nazis more than the Americans, but unfortunately the Nazis are a lot more likeable. Richardson comes across as competant and multifaceted, divided in her loyalties; Neeson comes across as a loving father, a nice sensitive guy (we don't ever hear of him actually doing anything bad!) with big puppy-dog eyes. Frankly it's hard not to like him, especially compared to the insensitive clod Leland. Douglas looks unhappy and embarrassed all throughout the movie, he's as stiff and cold as a pine board, and Griffith's performance is the stuff of nightmares.

It doesn't help that the best description of Linda is "ditzy blonde." She gets all her info about spies from movies, whines when Douglas goes on missions, and thinks she's qualified to be a spy because she can make strudel. (In one scene she runs through a crowded street chanting a secret password out loud!) She also mouths off to everyone in a way that would not be tolerated in a mere secretary (prepare to cringe when she says "My other half's Irish"), and bungles everything spy-related.

I would say this is a movie best shown to young children but there's a fair amount of profanity, violence, and a detailed sex scene. The direction is pretty terrible -- you'd think WWII included only a handful of people. The Nazis have none of the casual amorality that the real people did. There are one or two creepy, freaky moments that work, like the German woman who exults that the house they took from a Jewish family had everything they wanted (even bedsheets with correct monograms), but they're few and far between. If they'd had Dietrich doing something, anything wrong, then it might have worked. There are a few moments of intentional comedy ("That pompous little (butt) ate a raw bird to prove it was edible!") but most of the comedy is totally accidental. ("What's a war for if not to hold on to what we love?" Gaaaaaggg!)

I only can recommend this to fans of Joely and Liam, because they are the only ones who actually have good roles to play. "Schindler's List" this ain't!

Shining Through
If it were possible to give this movie a six star rating, I would. Besides being a GREAT movie, the soundtrack helps push this movie to more enjoyment. Moonlight Serenade, I'll Be seeing You, Goodnight Sweetheart and the main musical score lingers pleasantly in your mind long after the movie ends. I recommend it to all who has ever been in love.

Rips the emotional guts from the book
I have a hard time liking this movie because it made such a travesty of Susan Isaacs' book. The book, as originally written, was a classic ugly duckling-to-swan story set in New York, Washington, and Germany during World War II. Linda Voss, the character played by Melanie Griffith, was a working class girl in love with and eventually married to her gorgeous cad of a boss. She had the brains; he had the social cachet. They move to Washington, she gets a job as secretary to a top intelligence agent (played by Michael Douglas), the marriage founders, and in despair she signs up as an undercover agent. The rest of the movie follows the book's plot fairly closely, although the Douglas character does NOT figure in as a romantic interest until the very end. In the book, he's Linda's unexpected reward--pure gold where her husband was only gold-plated. The movie, by simplifying the story, guts its emotional core and turns a contemporary fairy tale into your basic trite Hollywood production--glitzy but without a heart.

That said, there are some strong performances in the movie. Douglas's stiffness makes much more sense in the context of the book, but doesn't work in the movie as filmed. Griffith is Griffith--you either love her or hate her. Liam Neeson is good, as is Joely Richardson (although the "Mein Gott, you have guts" line is a bit over the top). There are some suspenseful moments in the scenes in Nazi Germany. At times the movie's enjoyable, but overall, it disappoints.

Excellent film, with excellent acting!
I have loved this film since I saw it when it first came out on VHS! In fact, I watched it so many times that I ruined the tape. The story is engrossing, and the acting is top-notch! The obvious chemistry between Melanie Griffith and Michael Douglas made the film so much more realistic. I can't say enough good things about it. I am eagerly anticipating the film's release on DVD so I can add it to my growing collection of excellent films. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A surprisingly engaging story of puppy love and friendship in a teen setting, this film focuses on the title character (Corey Haim), who is nerdy but winningly outgoing. He falls madly for a new girl in town (Kerri Green); since school is out for the summer, he becomes her only friend--until she meets his hunky pal (Charlie Sheen). Meanwhile, Lucas ignores the romantic yearnings of another female pal (Winona Ryder, in her screen debut). Written and directed by David Seltzer, this one is a charmer with substance, featuring strong, open performances by its young cast. It's also fascinating to watch today, more than a decade later, and consider what became of these performers: while Ryder grew to be one of Hollywood's brightest lights, Haim descended into substance abuse, as did Sheen, whose predilection for call girls also made him a talk-show punch line. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (26)

A True Teen Movie
Let me tell you, Lucas is one of the best teen movies ever! In an age when people think teens have no feelings, and are sex, and party crazy, it is refreshing to see a film like this. A true gem sbout the joys and pains of growing up. Excellent performances. It is too bad Corey Haim made bad movie choices afterward, because I believe he has talent. Anyway, he wil always have this one. Charlie Sheen, and Kerri Green are also marvelous. Do yourself a favor, and check it out.

A rare example of very good film making
I saw this movie 7 years ago and I thought it was a very
special film,not only because of the script but because of the incredible acting talent on display.
I have to say that those glasses do not flatter Corey Haims features but they were an important part of making the character Lucas more believable as a nerdy,yet highly inteligent young boy.
Charlie Sheen and Winona Ryder are great as Lucas`s protectors against the school bully.

The magic between Haim And Ryder on screen has to be scene to be believed and as I have said before in respect of Corey Haim its a shame that he could not have continued the same standard of acting in his more recent appearances.
Great film buy it or lose something very special forever

Heroes Come In Every Shape and Size!
"Lucas" is a film about growing up. We all can relate to the problems associated with adolescence and puberty, especially the part about wishing we were someone else. This film is about heroes and the unlikely places you will find them. Underdogs can win in the game of life. An excellent movie for young and old alike!

Corey, is that you?
80s heartthrob Corey Haim first tackled the role of supremely dorky outcast Lucas Blyde before THE LOST BOYS and LICENSE TO DRIVE.

Many people are unaware of this, which is understandable. In 1985's sleeper hit, LUCAS, he is minute and scrawny. He doesn't sport the messy bleached and chopped style he did when swooning teen girls tacked his photos on their bedroom walls, courtesy of TIGER BEAT magazine.

During Corey Haim's 15 minutes of fame, I was a tot waddling in diapers. And when Lucas hit theatres, I wasn't even alive yet. But I did see bits and pieces of this movie on the Disney channel when I was about 7 or 8 years old. Only later did I rent the DVD. Is this another teen movie? I think not.

Lucas is super-cheery and super-smart, intellectually above his peers. In fact, he skipped not one, but TWO grades. So he's a 14 year-old sophomore in a typical suburban high school.

The end of the summer, he meets a new girl named Maggie (Kerry Green). If it weren't for his perseverence, he never would have won her friendship. After gawking at her on the tennis court, and after she implies a good 2 or 3 times she'd prefer to be alone, she finally succumbs to his charms. They spend the last two weeks of vacation attending classical music concerts, looking at different types of insects, and cruising the neighborhood in Maggie's car. Maggie finds a friend in Lucas. She even confides in him about her divorced dad and his 19 year-old girlfriend.

When high school officially starts, things change. Lucas is blinded by his infatuation with Maggie. Maggie sees him as a very good friend and nothing more. She's deeply hurt when she sees how some of the jock crowd treats him, humiliating him to no end. One of the exceptions, however, is Cappie, played by Charlie Sheen. "I used to treat him like everyone else does," he laments in the school basement. Cappie changed his ways after Lucus brought him his homework while he was away from school sick. Since then, they've been on friendly terms.

But Maggie isn't attracted to Lucus, who is 1 1/2 years younger than she is. She wants Cappie, but he's got a girlfriend, Alise, played by Ally McBeal's Courtney Thorne Smith. When Cappie and Alise break up (which I saw coming), Cappie turns to Maggie for support and a shoulder to cry on. And a new relationship, much to Lucas's dismay.

Lucas had previously vowed to stay away from the world of jocks and cheerleaders. In fact, jocks and cheerleaders are everything Lucas is not. Before, he deemed their world "superficial." Now, to impress Maggie, he is willing to do whatever it takes.

He wants to be a footballer.

Can he do it? Or will is experience out on the field knock sense into him (figuratively speaking, of course)? Will he win Maggie's love or are they destined for friendship and nothing more?

Watch and see.

I'm surprised that LUCAS received so little recognition. I'm also surprised that Corey Haim tackled the role with such ease, considering that the same boy in LUCAS also starred in a plethora of unmemorable 80s cheese. Charlie Sheen was sexy, subtle, and wonderful. Kerri Green was also fantastic - this movie made me contemplate why she is no longer a Hollywood starlet, being this, along with THE GOONIES, are her only two films worth mentioning. Audiences may expect this comedy to be cheesy and lacking the heart of some 80s classics, yet I'd rank it high on my list. It's got poignant heart and soul and the entire cast gives praise-worthy performances.

A really enjoyible movie
This is just a fun movie. It is one of those movies that you can watch over and over again. It is a heartwarming true 80's movie that I love. ... Read more

Description

Relive one of the greatest tales of adventure and exploration in history, as National Geographic brings to life the epic journey of Lewis, Clark, their guide Sacagawea and the brave Corps of Discovery across the land that would become the United States. Now, two hundred years after the launch of this ambitious expedition, experience first-hand the danger and breathtaking beauty of the unknown West as it unfolded before the eyes of Lewis & Clark. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

See it at an IMAX if you possibly can!
This is a fascinating re-enactment of Lewis and Clark's original journey, told with Jeff Bridges doing the voice-over but with real actors and the original locations. It is authentic down to the last detail, including such remarkable scenes as the expedition shooting rapids in canoes made from burn-out trees, and pulling their boats by rope over the mountains of Montana.

If you possibly can, though, catch this one in its IMAX version. The movie's story is entertaining enough but imagine it on a screen several stories high - literally larger than lifesize - with a powerful sound system to match. Imagine how much cooler shooting those rapids is in the IMAX form! If you can't find an IMAX, make sure you've got a big screen and turn the sound up. This is history as exciting as it was when it happened the first time.

WMV-HD Disc Is NOT Self Destructing
This is in response to the_digital_dude's comments from July 1. The license will renew after it expires as long as the disc is in the drive. You can copy the WMV file to your computer and play it without the disc being in the drive as long as the license is active. After it expires, you will have to place the disc back in the drive and the license will be renewed. As far as I know, this is the way all of the Imax and National Geographic WMV-HD movies are. Unfortunately, one of the earlier WMV-HD movies, Terminator 2, required an active internet connection to acquire the license. I agree that the digital rights management is confusing to the consumer and really should be documented somewhere on the disc or packaging.

WMV HD is MS _JUNK_!
Please note that this film is terrific and rates five stars all the way! I first saw it in an IMAX theater and then had to have it on DVD. Read the favorable reviews of the movie itself to gain an appreciation of what makes it so great, even though it is regrettably very short considering the huge amount of effort that went into making it. It's a timeless masterpiece for better understanding a cornerstone of the history of the United States. Don't be surprised if you watch it a few times!

This review, however, is of the Special Edition DVD. Disc 1 is the standard movie playable in a regular set top DVD player hooked up to your TV. Disc 2, however, contains a high definition 720p version of the film for playback on a fast computer. At first glance of the DVD cover and the generic instructions included inside, one realizes that a fairly recent and rather powerful PC is required. Okay, for a fair number of us, that's not a problem, and it was not a problem in my case. For those of you with a PC slower than 2.4Ghz, your computer doesn't even meet the minimum requirements.

So, I was fairly excited to see what such high definition playback looked like on my 2.8Ghz PC. I noticed that there was no 1080p version of the film on the disc, as the generic instruction card inside the DVD case indicated, but I later realized that the instructions were indeed that, generic, and simply didn't apply to this particular title. Okay, at this point, the documentation goes from bad to absolute crap extremely quickly.

Putting the disc into my DVD-ROM player began Autoplay. Well, immediately an ActiveX control error appeared and suggested I look at www.wmvhd.com for a solution. Actually, that website couldn't have any less technical support for this problem than if it had been written in Latin with a black pen on a black wall and viewed in pitch darkness. Trudging through the Microsoft website links off the main WMVHD page gives precious little useful information, so after Googling on the problem for a while, I found out that this whole scenario is a Microsoft marketing ploy to sell its five-year-old Digital Rights Management scheme to content providers to eliminate media piracy. Wow, talk about shooting the baby when dumping out the bath water. This DRM anti-piracy product is downright draconian in its implementation.

Setting all ActiveX controls, cookies, and security/privacy settings to the lowest possible did not resolve the ActiveX error, nor did disabling my Anti-Virus, Firewall, or anti-Spyware software. Hunting through the Microsoft Support Knowledgebase came up totally empty. Good grief, is this technology ever poorly documented and supported even in house!

Well, after some more Googling, I finally found a piece of advice in an AV forum to just run the main movie file directly from Windows Media Player, but AFTER running the License Registration executable in the root of the DVD directory. Running licgen.exe doesn't appear to do much at first, but apparently it will authorize the playback of the main movie file by unlocking the key encrypted within it.

Okay, at this point, surely one is thinking "Hey, I finally get to see this movie on DVD in high def on my PC". Well, yes, you do, but here's the kicker: THE PLAYBACK LICENSE EXPIRES IN 9 DAYS!!! While the movie is playing in Windows Media Player and looking and sounding nice and pretty, right-click on the filename in the playlist column on the right of the screen and look at the License information. Sure enough, you'll see that there is a limited duration playback period! What in the world?????? Where was this stated on the DVD packaging anywhere?

Truly pondering if this scheme meant that disc 2 of this special edition amounted to some sort of a self-destructing DVD, I ran the license request executable the next day to see if the playback duration would get reset, but no, it didn't.

Keep in mind that none of these limitations are clearly documented anywhere in the online product description, on or in the DVD box, or even anywhere prominently on the WMVHD website. However, if you dig far enough off of that website into the Microsoft sales information for why content providers should use DRM software, it becomes quickly apparent how very anti-consumer this anti-piracy scheme really is, especially as it concerns limiting the playback options for a movie DVD that is not at all advertised in good faith as having such restrictions.

So, whether or not this High Definition DVD ends up being a frisbie in a week remains to be seen, but the poor support and documentation in getting the movie to run in the first place only to learn that it may be self-destructing is absolutely inexcusable. I wonder for this particular release if National Geographic even fully understands what they are selling here.

Again, the movie content itself is terrific. This MS WMV HD DRM DVD, however, is beyond bizarre.

Save your money
There is very little historical information in this DVD. They omitted the number of persons that began the trip, the number of boats and they did they tell anything about what equipment and goods they took along. It may be interesting for someone who never heard of Lewis and Clark nor heard anything about their journey but for the average person it is boring. There are some good scenes along the way but they are generally out takes that do not fit in with the trip. It appears to have been produced by someone that had little knowledge and little interest about the significance of the expedition. National Geographic can do much better!

Four Stars for Your Viewing Pleasure
The photography is superb, and the action and sound are enough to keep viewers of all ages engaged. As an Imax movie, this is designed for the eyes and ears, and towards those goal, it provides a great experience. Don't purchase this with an expectation of learning much about history, however. While the general course of the expedition is followed, the short length of the film severely limit the needed details to describe the journey. ... Read more

Amazon.com

National Geographic has long established itself as an authority on geography. Its strengths and weaknesses stem from the same emphasis: an educational approach. But its films today reflect a more sensational perspective. Take, for example, Volcano: Nature's Inferno. Released in 1997, it gives viewers a firsthand look at volcanoes around the world, from Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines to Japan's Mount Unzen. Music and lava surge with great effect, but the video lacks the thoughtful narrative that one familiar with National Geographic has become accustomed to and expects. Though the cinematography is dramatic, the story is disjointed. The most obvious themes covered include well-known active volcanoes, the scientists who study them, the history of volcanoes, as well as the history of volcano science. Though Nature's Inferno serves as a precursory volcano survey, it contains, possibly, too much information to adequately explain in 60 minutes. If you're craving classic National Geographic without the hype, In the Shadow of Vesuvius is an in-depth look at perhaps the most famous active volcano in the world and the effect of its eruptions. --Cristina Del Sesto ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great insights
This DVD provides great insights into the Vatican and the role of the pope. This video tells a great story with pictures.

EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO THE HOLY SEE
Gain behind-the scenes access to the See of Peter in National Geographic's INSIDE THE VATICAN. This documentary provides an unprecedented view of the inner workings of the Church, such as the election of a new Pope, enlistment of Swiss Guards, the ordination of Archbishops, the restoration of priceless works of art, and a history of the Papacy and its critical role in the development of Western civilization.

The Papacy has its beginnings with St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles, and leader of the formative Church. He is the first Pope, who ministered the flock in Rome at the time of Nero, and was martyred at Vatican Field in a circus in the outskirts of the city. The disciples recovered his body and buried it in the same field, which became a center of pilgrimage in the ensuing centuries. The exact spot of his crucifixion was preserved by tradition, and is now marked by an altar. Constantine the Great built a basilica at the site of his tomb, which has been replaced with the magnificent renaissance structure of today.
One can see for the first time the original tomb of Saint Peter, which had been lost for centuries and has been rediscovered only a few decades ago, right under the main altar of today's basilica.

Of particular interest are the priceless documents from the last two millennia in the Vatican's Secret Archives. One can see letters from Michelangelo to Pope Julius II, the request of Henry VIII for the annulment of his marriage (this was denied, and led to the formation of the Anglican Church), and even a demand from the Mongol Emperor that the Pope pay homage to him! (Of course, denied.)

Great attention is given into a "normal" day in the Vatican: the restoration of priceless tapestries by Raphael; the cleaning of Bernini's colossal baldachino; meetings of international figures with the Vicar of Christ. In addition, one can see the blessed ministry of Pope John Paul II, a man of great compassion. Particularly moving is footage of his visit to a leper colony in Korea: the Holy Father embraces and kisses these poor souls, not shying from their diseased flesh, but rather sharing with them the love of Christ.

Truly the Gates of Hell have not endured against Christ's Church. The successors of Peter have served the Church, and will continue doing so, throughout the ages. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Ideal for teaching about the Vatican and Papacy
Every teacher of the Catholic faith to young adults and adults should incorporate this DVD into their classes. It is so unusual to see the Catholic faith presented without an agenda -- and this succeeds. Everything is clearly explained and given a historical context. I was impressed with the archival newsreel footage incorporated into the explanation of the papal elections.

Fascinating!
I found this dvd very entertaining and informative. It is a fascinating look into the operations of the most visited place in the world. The beauty and grandeur of the place especially the priceless paintings and artifacts have made the Vatican the most valuable wealth of historical information available. The dvd is great! National Geographic has done a great presentation of the Vatican and great to watch especially if you have never been there. This dvd is a great addition to any dvd collection.

Well researched!
This video is an excellent video to show students, young adults as well as adults who want to know more about their faith and how did the Vatican came to be. I think it is also encourage anyone who is interested or curious about the Cathoilc faith to take a preview of the video. The video decribes how an ordination happens at Saint Peters, what actually goes on during an ordination. The video also decribed a Blessed and is story and how one day, he could become a Saint by the Pope. Finally, once a Pope dies, a new Pope must be elected, the video will cover that as well. The pictures of the Vatican are just awesome. I've been to Rome before, and these pictures just bring back memories. Also, I forgot to mention, the Swiss Guards. The video goes into how one becomes a guard for the Pope and there uniform. You must buy it or at least rent it if you can. The Pope is seen in several frames thoughout the video. ... Read more

Amazon.com

What does a 12,000-pound whale shark eat? Anything it wants--fortunately, plankton will do nicely. National Geographic's The Sharks takes us from Australia to the Red Sea to check out these fish with attitude and the scientists who study them. Sharks' reputation as man-eaters is certainly overstated--fewer than 10 people are killed by them each year--but the daring of the researchers sometimes seems to approach lunacy. Terrific footage of divers petting "sleeping" tiger sharks, teasing great whites from within dive cages, and testing metal-mesh suits by submitting to multiple attacks are riveting and simply scream out, "Don't try this at home!" But ultimately the scientists emerge mostly unscathed, more knowledgeable, and less fearful. In fact, we see the tables turned in Japan, where commercial shark fishermen are highly efficient and turn out meat, leather, and medicine for an eager market. Hey, sharks have been around millions of years longer than we have; pick up this video and learn the seven habits of highly effective carnivores. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Amazon.com

First and foremost, Asteroids: Deadly Impact is a story about how the world could end. Underlying its premise we find the pillars of asteroidal impact theory, the scientists Eugene and Carolyn Shoemaker. The Shoemakers will go down in the books as codiscoverers of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, but their story here is of meteorological sleuthing and, quite frankly, the sheer horror of unpredictable planetary collision. An asteroid slightly more than a mile wide would destroy life on Earth in an unforgiving blast of heat and dust. The funny thing is, there wouldn't be much evidence of this other than a crater (to be mistaken later as volcanic) and a strange mineral called coesite. How do they know? The Shoemakers would say the answer is in the fragments long forgotten. In Asteroids, we follow them from airy theory to cold, hard evidence of asteroids and their deadly havoc on Earth. Hauntingly narrated by Robbie Robertson, this tightly written documentary from National Geographic is as heart-stopping as an "earth-crosser" from deep space. --Jamie Friddle ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Easily the Best On This Topic
It's astonishing that as recently as 1963 the preponderance of opinion was that Meteor Crater was not caused by an impact.

After the last lunar landing impact was established as the overwhelmingly dominant process at work on the lunar surface, but such impacts on Earth were generally still denied.

Despite the fact that the Alvarez theory gained ground from 1980 until the middle of 1994, impact as a common occurence continued to be denied. After the SL9 impact on Jupiter (well covered in this video) the last significant resistance to the K-T impact as the mechanism of extinction for the dinosaurs was swept away. That this catastrophe on another world brought about an overnight change in the sciences was appropriate.

Now there are many impact craters recognized AS impact craters found throughout the world and not just in some comfortably remote location like the Moon or Jupiter. It is now much cheaper to read constrasting views about such events since the anti-impactors' books have appeared in the remainder lists.

Asteroids Deadly Impact is my favorite National Geographic video of all time, and I believe I've seen them all. Perhaps it would be a much better world if people would tune out the daytime (and nighttime) tv garbage and watch stuff like this. Certainly would be worth a try.

"Asteroids" make definite impact
As you might expect, National Geographic scores a bullseye with "Asteroids." Although much of the content has been explored in other specials, the presentation here is nicely done and the material easily understood. Peter Coyote's voiceover work helps to authenticate the very real threat that asteroids pose to our planet. END ... Read more

Amazon.com

This documentary from National Geographic tells the fascinating story of an enormous Japanese submarine that was carrying a cargo of gold to Nazi Germany late in World War II. American torpedo bombers ambushed it and sent the sub to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. Decades later, an American treasure hunter, Paul Tidwell, learned of sub I-52 while conducting research in the U.S. National Archives. Tidwell's original intent was to raise the gold, and he spent years finding investors for the elaborate search and salvage expeditions chronicled in this video. Yet, as a decorated Vietnam vet, he also has a keen interest in military history, and he located American Navy veterans who participated in the sinking of the sub in 1944. The American vets accompanied the expedition to the submarine, and Tidwell later brought artifacts from the wreck to family members of the sub's doomed crew in Japan. The attempt to salvage the gold from the I-52 was troubled, and the documentary is candid in displaying the tensions aboard ship. Deep below the waves, the shattered hull of the submarine is the subject of some magnificent underwater filming, which is full of touches to be expected from National Geographic, such as a stunning close-up of deck guns on the submarine that are now covered with delicate sea anemones. --Robert J. McNamara ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Engaging WW-II Submarine Story
I would have to say this is one of the most interesting lesser known tales from the World War Two. the trajic end of this Japanese Sub and it's journery to rediscover it's last days is truley riveting. Great computer animation reconstruction of events!! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

National Geographinc the wild side
I found this video very knowledgeable and entertaining. I used it to teach a crash course on cetacean behavior to children grades 8-12 and they found it very enjoyable. It is filled with many interesting facts and great photography. It emphasizes the fact that although some cetacean species are "playful" they are wild animals and will react it ways necessary to their society. I would recommmend it to anyone.

Amzing dolphins
This video is excellent. I greatly enjoyed watcing this. You get to learn about all kinds of dolphins. See how they live, mate, and hunt. A must see for all dolphin lovers. Learn and see how intelligent these animals are. They stick together like humans and cooperate. I loved this tape!

DOPHINS
musics and image ... Read more

Description

The Incredible Human Body explores the enigmatic human body, showcasing its abilities -- and its potential -- by using revolutionary, cutting-edge imaging systems and the latest advances in science and technology to go inside the bodies of real people, right down to their stem cells. Following a couple trying to conceive, a professional athlete at the top of his game, and a man with a brain tumor, The Incredible Human Body shares in the personal stories of four extraordinary groups of people and explores the body from the inside out as never before. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Best Geographic Video I've Seen
I gotta say that this is the best National Geographic video I've seen and I have a whole bunch on my video shelf. The animation is fantastic. I'll remember the story of the school teacher and his brain tumor as long as I live. I also liked seeing behind this scenes of thast basketball team as it was something I hadn't seen before. I highly reccommend this video.

Amazon.com.uk have a much better option...
The Human Body is a good theme, but this one is "no-so-good" approach (very rare, because NGS make very good videos). The better documentary I ever seen about it, is the Dr. Winston's The Human Body, from BBC. Only available from Amazon.com.uk (please American Amazon's friends, what do you are waiting). I recommend to wait.....believe in me !.

Below the average
I thought this DVD slightly below an average National Geographic video once there is more personal dramas than scienfic information. However I was moved by the story of a teacher with a brain tumor and his family anxiety.

An Incredible DVD on th