Amazon.com essential video

There's no getting around a simple, basic truth: watching Lawrence of Arabia in any home-video format represents a compromise. There's no better way to appreciate this epic biographical adventure than to see it projected in 70 millimeter onto a huge theater screen. That caveat aside, David Lean's masterful "desert classic" is still enjoyable on the small screen, especially if viewed in widescreen format. (If your only option is to view a "pan & scan" version, it's best not to bother; this is a film for which the widescreen format is utterly mandatory.) Peter O'Toole gives a star-making performance as T.E. Lawrence, the eccentric British officer who united the desert tribes of Arabia against the Turks during World War I. Lean orchestrates sweeping battle sequences and breathtaking action, but the film is really about the adventures and trials that transform Lawrence into a legendary man of the desert. Lean traces this transformation on a vast canvas of awesome physicality; no other movie has captured the expanse of the desert with such scope and grandeur. Equally important is the psychology of Lawrence, who remains an enigma even as we grasp his identification with the desert. Perhaps the greatest triumph of this landmark film is that Lean has conveyed the romance, danger, and allure of the desert with such physical and emotional power. It's a film about a man who leads one life but is irresistibly drawn to another, where his greatness and mystery are allowed to flourish in equal measure. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (278)

DVD the best looking version yet
Apart from the slightly soft, washed-out picture quality during the opening credits of the movie, the DVD edition of LAWRENCE OF ARABIA is superb. The movie itself is spread onto 2 discs, with the disc break occurs just before Intermission. The Overture, Intermission, and the exit music are all played to a black screen, as per director David Lean's original wish. The picture quality looks as fresh and clean as, quite frankly, any film made in the 90s. In the dramatic shot where Lawrence appears on the far horizon after he rescued his Arab companion, the higher picture resolution of DVD makes it possible for us to notice his tiny figure whereas on VHS tapes or laserdisc it is so small it is almost impossible to see. Anyone who is serious about watching this film should get this DVD instead of any other version in order to appreciate the opulent cinematography and majestic atmosphere of this epic.

The disc has over 100 minutes of old and new documentaries and news footage about the making of the film, plus two well-designed DVD-ROM features (for Windows PC only): a interactive map showing the various journeys undertaken by the real T.E. Lawrence, and a "split-screen" feature that simultaneously plays the movie and shows you text of behind-of-scene information of the particular chapter of the movie that is playing. Since the DVD lacks a second audio commentary, being able to watch the film while reading facts about it is not a bad substitute.

The included "booklet" is a reproduction of the 1961 program given to theater goers, we are told. A nice touch: the disc case resembles Lawrence's diary in the movie.

Arabian Winner
Lawrence Of Arabia is one of the biggest and grandest films ever made. Director David Lean crafted a stunning epic that tells the tale of World War I British soldier T.E. Lawrence. Lawrence joined the various desert tribes of Arabia against the Turks and the desert battle scenes are breathtaking. Peter O'Toole is amazing as Lawrence in what would be a star-making turn for him. Omar Shariff, Anthony Quinn and Alec Guinness provide strong support, but this is Mr. Lean's film through and through. His direction provides sweeping shots of the desert vistas and gives the film its big look, but he also allows the story to flow and we really get inside the complicated head of Lawrence and see his psychological foibles. The film is beautifully transferred to DVD and it brings justice to the film that had previously suffered on video transfers. The movie was a major success as it swept through the 1962 Oscars winning Best Picture and Best Director, but Mr. O'Toole lost out on what would be the first of his of his seven unsuccessful Best Actor nominations.

Conservatives support slavery? This movie makes the case
Hi. My name is Steven Thulen. You might know me from such reviews as "Bowling For Columbine" and "My Life." I am here today to talk to you about "Lawrence of Arabia." While this may shock and astonish you, I will offer a long-winded review without actually discussing this film.

I am that good.

First, a history lesson. In the year 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue. He landed in Haiti and raped the native there, then enslaved them. Later, many Africans were captured and made slaves by white people. White people continued to terrorize other races throughout the latter half of the 19th Century.

Finally, World War I took place. During that war, many people died, including white people. Some people who were too cowardly to serve in the world fled to California, where they became subpar sports writers. Later, World War II took place. In that war, white people dropped atomic bombs on Asians.

Peter O'Toole was probably gay and acted really well in this movie.

STEVEN THULEN
AUTHOR OF "JIMMY KEY: BASEBALL'S BATMAN"
(...)

The Greatest Historical Epic Ever
LAWRENCE OF ARABIA is, without a doubt, the greatest historical epic ever filmed and the crowning achievement of David Lean's career. It's also the film that makes best use of the majestic desert landscape with shots of extraordinary rock formations, dunes, shimmering "mirages," and caravans making their way across seemingly endless sands.

LAWRENCE OF ARABIA tells the story of T.E. Lawrence and his adventures in the Middle East during World War I as he led the Arab revolt against the Turks. It is loosely based on Lawrence's book, THE SEVEN PILLARS OF WISDOM.

Even though there are battle scenes in LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, this film is, first and foremost, a character study of Lawrence who was, by anyone's account, a fascinating figure. Even the battle scenes serve to enhance the character of Lawrence rather than detailing the horrors of war and we see Lawrence's dark, embittered side as well as his heroic one.

Although Peter O'Toole wasn't David Lean's first choice to play Lawrence (both Marlon Brando and Albert Finney were offered the part), I can't imagine anyone else in the title role.

Omar Sharif is impressive as Sherif Ali Ibn El Kharish. Prior to this film, he was a virtual unknown, but LAWRENCE OF ARABIA launched Sharif on a long career that made him instantly recognizable the world over.

Even though O'Toole and Sharif weren't well-known when they starred in LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, the film's supporting case is certainly stellar: Alec Guiness, Anthony Quinn, Jose Ferrer and Claude Raines.

Although I think LAWRENCE OF ARABIA is best viewed on a large theatrical screen, this doesn't mean anyone should pass up the DVD. It's just too good for that, especially the Director's Cut (but do make sure you get the widescreen edition; this film demands it).

Don't watch LAWRENCE OF ARABIA expecting to get a history lesson. Watch it to learn more about the fascinating man who was T.E.Lawrence. If you do, I can't see any way you'll be disappointed.

Read the book, then watch again in awe.
I have seen this masterpiece many many times, but only after reading T.E. Lawrence's book "The Seven Pillars of Wisdom" this year do I now begin to understand. This movie is a product of two of the century's greatest minds, one an author and soldier, the other a film maker. The power of Lawrence's descriptions of the desert matches the great cinematography. No film could fully project the power of the inner thoughts of this most introspective man; for that you absolutely need the book to fill in the gaps. Many of the scenes take on a much deeper meaning once you have read the book in detail. The Columbia Tri-Star two-DVD edition is faultless, something I will always treasure. I find it hard to believe that someday a better movie could possibly be made, but we can hope against hope. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Saturated with color
Wow! The saturated color is thrilling in this naive, if somewhat obscure, movie.

Following backward through the courtship and lives of an old couple, the director presents a tale of passion and verve. The quavery voice of the old man charms as he drifts from chiding his wife at one moment to trekking happily back though time with her. His dotage is both comic and touching. She is well drawn, fulfilling her duties, with a mixture of love and chagrin.

Weaving is the allegory central to this tale, and it is used deftly at many levels: thus the character "Gabbeh". She is both the personification of the carpet which the old couple are washing, as the carpet is indeed representative of the tapestry which their life has become. The word Gabbeh also refers to the kind of course and colorful carpet woven by the Qashqa'i nomads in this story, and the girl, "Gabbeh", is also the woman as a youth. And yet for all this twining, it is a simple story of powerful longing, set in contrast to the breathtaking landscape, and to the daily acts of work and duty. In one scene, the loving and lovelorn uncle, (played by a man known not for acting, but for his talent as a real-life dyer) cries out "Life is color!" Gabbeh replies, "Love is color!"

The longing for love is universal, as is the twarting of it by convention and duty. Well worth seeing, if for no other reason than to get acquainted with a very ancient people, in a very ancient land. But the color . . . wow!

Gorgeous!
'Gabbeh' is subtitled 'Life is Color.' The story is simple, naive even. But don't get the idea that it's boring or lifeless. Passion runs strong in this story which interweaves the Gabbeh, a seemingly coarse and childlike colorful carpet, the love story of the elderly couple who are washing it in a stream and the nomadic life. All this is set against a breathtakingly beautiful landscape. The use of color throughout is amazing!

Colorful, but confusing
"Color represents life". Breath taking landscape views, bright happy colors, which represents a lot of interesting aspects of the film. But the music and the actors voices were a little uncomfortable. Yes, it was an interesting film which shows the tradition of a nomadic tribe in Iran, guided and ruled by the father. Goats and rugs were their representation of survival and values. Gabbeh, being referred to a rug and a young lady is the main point of the film and the story is based on them.

Finally many aspects were very confusing. The film's organization was always going back and forth. They show scenes of the past then the present go back to the past, and just to say that it was making my concentration dizzy! I know that it's shot in a different language, different culture and territory; Although, wonderful teachings were said in the film. For example, the power of love and wanting to be with somebody makes time dissapear. Waiting, regardless of all the obstiacles that can come, at the end your dream con come true. Also the togetherness in which the tribe lived and worked was admirable. Family was always together and the way they represented their life and feelings through their rugs was amazing and time consuming. Don't miss the forgiveness between Gabbeh and her father. If you like something different in many ways this film is for you.

You can only take so much coyote howling...
If you can get past the Old Man's hideously annoying, constant coyote cackle, then you can say to yourself, as I did, "Well, at least the Iranians tried."
The gal's pretty hot, though.

Kinda Bored.....
There are wonderful moments and beautiful scenes in this movie, but the storyline seems to be a bit contrite and boring. I personally don't like this movie too much, especially the howling of the wolf part, kinda silly. But Iran, folks, is such a beautiful country. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

for fanatics only. And no Tom Baker, either.
As a fan who gets off on seeing Daleks, Cybermen, Yeti, the Master, the Brigadier, etc. all in one place, I enjoy "The Five Doctors." But when I think critically about it, I have to admit that it's just not that good, although it certainly has good ideas. And the additional scenes and FX don't paper over the obvious plot cracks (i.e. where Troughton could possibly be in his own time line). Richard Hurndall nearly steals the show as Doctor #1, however. "The King's Demons" has an interesting premise -- involving the Master, a shapeshifting robot, and the Magna Carta -- that unfortunately goes nowhere. I'd rather recommend the original "Five Doctors," but of course it's no longer available. (To be fair, there are a bunch of six-parters they refrained from milking into two-tape sets.)

"The Doctors, wonderful chaps. All of them."
This two tape set is one of the best in the series and a must have for fans of the series. First, we are treated to The Five Doctors, the feature length episode featuring appearances by all five Doctors (unfortunately, it is only footage of Doctor #4, Tom Baker; and a recasting of Doctor #1 by William Hurdnell as William Hartnell had passed away). The story also brings together villians and compnaions in a story that while simple, is certainly a lot of fun. The movie also has the added bonus of new special effects and a dolby soundtrack. This is followed up in tape two by the two part story, The King's Demons. Two part stories were a specialty of the Peter Davison era and this was certainly one of the best. The Doctor and his companions wind up in England as King John is about to sign the Magna Carta. But he's acting very oddly and his champion seems to know what's going on. For the casual fan or the die hard collector, this is one to own.

Filler 2-parter, followed by classic Five Doctors
In The King's Demons, the Doctor, Tegan, and Turlough, interrupt a jousting match between Hugh Fitzwilliam and Sir Giles Estram, King John's champion. The onlookers are astonished but King John seems unfazed, and welcomes them as his demons. But why is he at
Fitzwilliam Castle and not in London to take the Crusader's oath, and what of Sir Geoffrey de Lacey's confusion that he left the king four hours ago in London?

The interior of the castle is superior and I was reminded of Robin Hood movies, and the Doctor shows his usual compassion on Hugh, "Clearly there is a victor and a vanquished. Must blood be shed?" Turlough has a super line, when he, Hugh, and Isabella are chained in the dungeon. Hugh: "Can you not call on Hell [to free us]?" Turlough: "I could, but then so could you, and with a better chance of success, I fancy." Ouch!

While I rate the two-episode King's Demons as good, I must say this. 25-minute two-parters (to distinguish between the 45 minute Colin Baker ones) were limited by their length, which is why I question their necessity. I sometimes wondered what was wrong with deleting a story to make two five parters or make two three-parters. They did that in the Sylvester McCoy years but that's another story.

Speaking of another story, how about that classic, the Five Doctors, and the special edition, to boot? Some scenes have a few seconds added to them, and changing the time scoop to an "Abyss-creature" watery effect instead of a mere black pyramid was a great move. The special effects are a vast improvement over the original.

After a wonderful bit of scenery at the Eye of Orion, where the Doctor, Tegan, and Turlough are resting, the suspense begins with the appearance of a black-gloved figure manipulating controls. Cut to a scene of the First Doctor, played with great William Hartnell-ness by Richard Hurndall, being kidnapped by the Time Scoop. A miniature of the Doctor appears. Hmmm, who around here likes shrinking people? Familiar?

This happens to the Second and Third Doctor, as well as other companions, but a glitch occurs with the Fourth Doctor and Romana II, who are trapped in a time eddy.

The High Council of Time Lords, still led by Borusa, summon the Master to rescue the Doctor from Gallifrey's Death Zone, "the black secret at the heart of your Time Lord paradise" which is "not the most hospitable of environments."

The Cybermen play a major role here, as three squads of them come out. However, they prove no match to the "most perfect killing machine ever devised," the Raston Warrior Robot, who steals the show. It's like killing mosquitoes with Raid.
There's plenty of fabulous dialogue here. The Master tells us why the Doctor is so endeared to fans: "A cosmos without the Doctor scarcely bears thinking about." Something the Beeb should have remembered in 1989.

My favorite Doctor, Jon Pertwee, comes off the best here, "ever so resourceful," as the Master says. He's still the charming, improvising guy with ideas; it's as if he never left the series, and he's a calm counterpart to the strung out Sarah Jane.

An interesting double-entendre is when the First Doctor sees traces of two other Doctors. "Well, well, well, so two of them made it. I wonder what happened to the other." This last sentence spoken in such an acidic tone, might be a reference to Tom Baker's refusal to participate in the story.

And the Second Doctor's solo presence implies that he came here inbetween the verdict and sentencing at his trial--there is a hint of that when he encounters two of his companions.

One goof is the First Doctor's approximation of pi--3.14287. How about 3.14159265, which if I recall, was spoken in the original version of the Five Doctors--I'll have to check on that later. Another is the Cybermen led by the Master--how could they note fail to spot the Doctor and Tegan in the chessboard room upon entering?

A welcome reunion of sorts from some Who alumni, past and present, (they even included some William Hartnell and Tom Baker footage) with old pairings up (Doctor Two and the Brigadier, Doctor Three and Sarah) bringing back fond memories of the past, as well as new pairings (Turlough and Susan). It figures--we see writer Terrance Dicks utilizing his tool of pairing off figures and thus splitting up the story. Is this guy great or what?

King's Demons gets 3, Five Doctors gets 5--overall rating is 4.

watch Kings Deamons first -and then- 5 Doctors
For chronology, watch Kings Deamons first then 5 Doctors. Kings Deamons takes place before the 5 Doctors. "Shall we go the the Eye of Orion next, Doctor" Both of these films are some of the Best Dr. Who's you can see. A lot of Peter Davison stories are blighted with wooden acting and weak script, but these are certainly not among those. King's Deamons is very underrated in my opinion and 5 Doctors is the best Dr. Who of the Davison era(even though it didn't have Tom Baker).

For die hard fans only!
This video is for die hard fans becasue of the many plot holes and campy special effects! To make matters worse there is no Tom Baker at all in this episode! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Hogan's Heroes was a hit from the beginning of its televised run, from the fall of 1965 through the spring of 1971. This boxed set of uncut videos collects six of the best episodes of the venerable Bing Crosby Productions series on CBS television: the pilot (in black and white), three more episodes (in color) from the first season, and one color episode each from the second and third seasons. These shows, with good video transfers and no commercial interruptions, make for some charming, nostalgic, laugh-track-filled family viewing.

All of the denizens of Stalag 13 are present and accounted for: the smirking Colonel Robert Hogan (Bob Crane), commanding officer of the POWs; his German counterpart, the ineffectual, easily flattered (and distracted) Colonel Wilhelm Klink (Werner Klemperer, son of the famous conductor); the bumbling, easily bribed Sergeant of the Guard Hans "I see nussink!" Schultz (John Banner); and Hogan's multinational, multi-ethnic group of heroes: Sergeant Ivan Kinchloe (Ivan Dixon), American radio expert; Sergeant Andrew Carter (Larry Hovis), a dimwitted American nevertheless good with munitions; Corporal Peter Newkirk (Richard Dawson), a British pickpocket and vaudeville performer; and Corporal Louis LeBeau (Robert Clary), a French cook and tailor. (In the pilot, we even get a glimpse of a short-lived Russian character, Sam, whose tailoring duties were taken over by LeBeau.) Filling the remaining American, German, and British roles are a number of character actors, such as Leon Askin, Howard Caine, Bernard Fox, and Sigrid Valdis (erstwhile wife of Crane, and one of Klink's two voluptuous secretaries).

All the set props familiar to baby boomers--the tunnel entrance under the cot, the coffee-pot tap into Klink's office, the hidden periscopes and prisoner-friendly dogs--decorate a consistent narrative from episode to episode: the heroes must pull off an operation that places them in danger, return in time for roll call, and allow Hogan one final, wisecracking conference with Klink. High points of these six shows include the abortive replacement of Hogan by pompous Colonel Crittendon (Fox) and Hovis's hilarious impersonation of Hitler. Although as thoroughly American as a Mae West, Hogan's Heroes embodies the countercultural spirit of its times, and wittily humanizes friends and foes alike. --Robert Burns Neveldine ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Untouchable
It is criminal that the DVDs for Hogan's Heroes have not been produced...perhaps more criminal than the untimely slaughter of Crane himself. There is a plethora of assorted crap and garbage, passing for entertainment, that has been lasered onto DVD. However, the all-time gem remains unsung in the obscurity bin. Brutal.

AVERAGE, AS I OWN ALL OF HOGANS HEROE'S.
I have most of all the hogan's heroes. on 8 tapes that i watched and taped real good when they were on. and there still the best quality. love this show...
never dull. funny. but stupid. I still love them. I watch them when nothing better is on..

I just wanted to correct something...
Although Kinchloe(Ivan Dixon)was called by Ivan as you said, that was in only one episode that I can remember and he was called James in the others. It was probably a mistake (forgetfulness?) since they only said Ivan once. Also, they have used names of others on the show in real life for this; ie: (Robert E.) Hogan. (I haven't seen this in a long time since they stopped re-runs in my area, but I remember this well. It may not be accurate but it most likely is since Hogan's Heroes is a favorite show of mine.)

BEST SHOW EVER
Hogan's Heroes is one of the best shows ever produced, this set of tapes is definitely a must for any hogan's heroes fan. With these tapes you get a glimpse of the greatest moments for each of the major characters in the show. If you have never seen the show this is a good way to begin your addiction, a warning however... there is no "patch" for THIS addiction.

Brilliant videos of Hogans Heroes
These uncut episodes are absolutely brilliant. The episodes included in this three part volume are: 'The Informer' (pilot episode); 'Kommandant of the year'; 'The Great Impersonation'; 'It takes a thief - sometimes'; 'Hogan Go Home'; and 'Will the real Adolf please stand up?' A 'must' for the dedicated Hogan's Heroes fan. ... Read more

Description

The fascinating tales of James Herriot, a veteranarian in 1940's Yorkshire England. When James joins the successful practice of Siegfried Farnon, the adventures begin. Whether it's Siegfried, his brother Tristan, or the mischevious characters and animals of the county, each day brings on a new set of adventures. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

What's all the fuss? This was the best of all the series!
My husband and I have loved the "All Creatures" series since we first became aware of it a few years ago. Series 4 happens to be my very favorite one. One thing bothers me about all the series, however. I am concerned about the care of the animals in the shooting of the scenes. I remember particularly a horse lying on the ground on her side trembling violently. I wondered at the time what they did to that horse to cause such a physical reaction. There are other instances and they are troubling to watch.

Great as usual!
Set after the end of WWII, this series was taped about eight years after the previous series. As one would expect, there are a lot of changes - but the show is still as wonderful as ever. In this series, Carol Drinkwater (Helen) has been replaced by Lynda Bellingham, and although "The Changing of the Helens" (as I think of it) takes some getting used to, Lynda Bellingham is very good. Also, Helen and James have two children now.

Of course, all of the actors look older than before (with the possible exception of Siegfried, who seems not to have aged in 8 years), but it doesn't matter at all. They are just as much fun to watch as ever. (And Tristan is still very, very cute.)

Although all the episodes are great, my personal favorite is called "The Bull With The Bowler Hat". It's wonderful, but I'm not going to spoil it for you - you'll have to buy the series and watch it! :-)

WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT
I AM A FAN OF THE FIRST THREE SERIES. I BOUGHT THEM ALL AND LOVE THEM ALL. THAT SAID, AFTER THE FIRST ABYSSMAL EPISODE OF THIS SERIES I'VE SWORN THEM OFF.

THE NEW HELEN MUST BE A RELATIVE OF THE NEW DIRECTOR IS MY ONLY GUESS. THEY'D HAVE DONE BETTER TO HAVE MOVED A MANNEQUIN ABOUT. HER ACTING IS THAT BAD, WHAT THERE IS OF IT. AND WATCH JAMES AND YOU'LL SEE HE'S AS DISAPPOINTED AS WAS I.

WANT MORE? THE SETS HAVE LOST THEIR FEELING OF REALITY. THE DIRECTION IS FORCED. AND WHATEVER FEELING THE CAST HAD IS GONE, LOST, HISTORY. CAROL DRINKWATER, THE ORIGINAL HELEN HAD IT RIGHT WHEN SHE JUMPED SHIP ON THIS ONE. IT'S A SAD THING TO WATCH A CAST RAVEL BEFORE YOUR EYES TAKING A BELOVED STORY WITH IT, BUT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS EVISCERATED CORPSE OF A SERIES.

OKAY, READY FOR SOMETHING POSITIVE? THE MUSIC IS BETTER. SEE, I'M NOT SUCH A NEGATIVE BLOKE. BUT, PLEASE, FOR YOUR OWN SAKE, SPARE YOURSELF THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF THIS SPUTTERING FAILURE.

New Look, Same Place
Those who've followed the Herriot story from its humble beginnings are in for a surprise! Series 4 opens with a "new" Helen, two little Herriots, no Mrs. Hall and is set some time after WWII. With Series 3 closing on such a powerful emotional note, I had hoped we would follow the fortunes of the cast through the war years and their subsequent return. After such a long period with this group, it took some adjusting to the cast changes. It didn't help that the writers recycled some earlier themes from past programs, and my copy of episode 1 had an annoying scratchy soundtrack. It left me altogether just a little frustrated.

But my disappointment was brief. This series is every bit as powerful as its predecessors. James and family are in the thick of life, dealing with everything from buying a home to attending school concerts to deciding whether to leave the practice. Siegfried is his usual brilliant self, Tristan loafs..ahem, works for the Ministry of Agriculture as an Artificial Inseminator (perfect!), and we are treated to a new vet in the practice, Callum. The bagpipe-playing, haggis-eating Scot soon wins the heart of Tristan's girlfriend while his menagerie of wild pets drives Siegfried to distraction. Even Granville weighs in with an hilarious episode resulting in the typical mess.

Buy this series! Yes, it looks different, and yes, there are some reprised scenes from prior programs, but for my money you'd have to go a long way to equal the acting and quality of writing seen in this entire series. So call the dogs in, gather the kids round and settle down for a tasty treat from the Yorkshire Dales. You won't be disappointed.

Different Air
I love this series. The first 3 series were some of the most entertaining TV I had ever seen. The 4th series however feels very different. James' wife is a lot more timid and seems to more willingly take a back seat to whatever James whats. James seems to be a lot more stern and less happy then in the first 3 series. He's lost some of his innocence which made him so appealing(perhaps due to the war). I was also a little disappointed that Christian isn't practicing medicine in the field. These things aside, still a great series. ... Read more

Amazon.com

What do you do for an encore after confounding the general public with something completely different? Simple: give them more of something completely different, from a semaphore version of Wuthering Heights to the last meeting of the Society for Putting Things on Top of Other Things (you were expecting the Spanish Inquisition?). This three-volume set contains for the first time on video in chronological order the first six episodes from Monty Python's second season. No sophomore slump here. Episodes 14 to 19, which originally aired in 1970, contain the signature Python sketches The Ministry of Silly Walks and The Spanish Inquisition. Also in the Python pantheon are the documentary about the Piranha brothers and their reign of violence and sarcasm, the Architect Sketch, and the scandalous game show Blackmail. While the sketches, filmed bits, and Terry Gilliam animations are enduringly silly, Monty Python's Flying Circus remains a loony marvel in the way it shattered television convention. In Episode 15,a clueless Graham Chapman character is recruited to be the straight man in a sketch, but is not given the punch line. In the same show, the dreaded, but tardy, Spanish Inquisition races to make its entrance before the closingcredits run their course. All three volumes are indispensable for Python completists. --Donald Liebenson ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Avangardists Of Modern Humour
To this day, Monty Python remains THE idol and source of inspiration to humourists all around. »Monty Python's Flying Circus« made the group famous, and it is the best ever to come out, not only from Monty Python, not only from Britain... but humour in general!

Highlights on this tape: »The Ministry Of Silly Walks«, »The Spanish Inquisition«, »Flying Lessons«/»Hijacked Plane (To Luton)«, »'The Bishop'«, »Accidents Sketch« and »Registry Office«.

Own it!

a classic
Well, any Monty Python tape is a classic. This set is no exception. I have also purchased from Amazon the scripts for the Python episodes. The set contains some favourite sketches like the "architect's sketch' and the 'Ministry of silly walks'.This does not mean that out of the three tapes only two sketches are worth mentioning. On the contrary. The set guarantees 3 hours of 'silly laughs' -as the Pythons would put it- and-what's also important- at a good price.

Classic Python!
There are two types of people in this world: those that find Monty Python as the most brilliant comedy that ever was short of the Marx Bros., and those that see Monty Python as just wierd.

Well, if you're the first type, than you must see these videos. They contain many excellent skits like 'Ministry of Silly Walks' and 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers'. Basically just all around classic Monty Python

Splendid
This is an excellent addition to your Monty Python library. It has great skits, which made me laugh most of the time. To enjoy theese movies, you must be a fan of John Cleese and the rest of the group. I advise buying this as soon as you have the time to fill out the order sheet. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Danzon
This movie is worth watching! It has fantastic acting and a great storyline. It about a woman, Julia, and the dance, Danzon. The dance is much like her life, very rigid and controlled. After Julia's partner of many years stopped showing up for their usual dance, she worries and leaves to go find him. Her journey takes her to Veracruz. There she meets many delightful people who try to help her find him. After she has a love affair with a younger man, she leaves to go back home. While she is on her journey, she discovers a lot about herself and who she is. She left not only to find her partner, but to find herself as well. This movie is great for anyone who is willing to take a risk to find themselves!

Great feel good movie with great music.
This movie is not an instructional video but it is possible to learn the basic step for the Danzon from this movie. If you are good at learning by video it is possible to learn more advanced steps by slow forwarding the movie. This movie has some good Danzon dancing & some of the greatest Danzon song's. This movie is not for the young. It is slow paced & romantic. For someone my age, it is excellent. I loved this movie. This movie left me feeling great & happy. It has a good story & Maria Rojo is great.

Enchanting!
This movie is one of my absolute favorites! A must see for anyone who has ever gone in search of a little spice and adventure in their lives! Terrific true to life story, terrific script, terrific acting! If only everyone could be brave enough to leave their droll boring existences long enough to REALLY follow their hearts -- this movie made me want to go hop the next plane to Veracruz and learn the hypnotic Danzon rhythm! The unforgettable characters and the experiences the main character has during her quest for her dance partner will stay in your memory long after you have turned off your vcr!

Veracruz, Maria Rojo, danzon, what else is there?
One of my all time favorites. If you don't have the time to visit the fabulous port of Veracruz, watch this video. It captures the essence of Mexico. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great addition to your workout
I found these tapes to be a great addition to my workout, and am sure you will too. After using them for 2 weeks, I have decided to buy the rest of this series!! Can't wait to get them!!

Great Toning Videos
These are great toning videos. I have them all and love them. I incorporate these with my cardio workouts and have noticed a big difference in the shape & tone of my body! LOVE THEM and highly recommend these along w/ a great cardio workout, great balance!

Hit the Spot Rocks!
I own all of the Hit the Spot Videos and I love using them! Each video has three ten minute workouts that target an area on your body. The ten-minute workouts are easy to commit to,and the workouts are challenging. Because the workouts are targeting specific muscle groups, you will find that your muscles will tire faster, but don't give up! You will really feel how effective the workouts are even after one session. The entire Hit the Spot series is a great supplement to anyone's cardio workout. Denise's perky attidude, the variety of workouts on each tape, and the small time commitment make these tapes a great addition to a fitness library. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Sergio Leone's trilogy of operatic spaghetti Westerns with Clint Eastwood made the former TV star into an international sensation as the scraggly, silent Man with No Name, a wandering rogue with a scheming mind and a sense of humor drier than the dusty, wind-scoured desert. With A Fistful of Dollars, a blatant rip-off of Kurosawa's cynical samurai hit Yojimbo, Leone transforms the Western hero into a crafty mercenary. The follow-up, For a Few Dollars More, teams Eastwood up in an uneasy alliance with Lee Van Cleef in a tale of revenge, but the masterpiece of the set is The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, an epic scramble for buried gold set against the violence of the Civil War. In this film good is a relative term as three criminals make a series of tenuous partnerships broken in double-crosses and betrayals in Leone's epic vision of the American southwest as endless deserts and clapboard towns infested with gunmen. This was a new kind of Western: cynical, violent, stylish, and austere. Eastwood's rough face and squinting eyes fill the widescreen frame in massive close-ups while Leone stages action in bold compositions on empty streets and stark landscapes. The guns ring out in cartoonish exaggeration, and the music, an eclectic, electric mix of buzzing guitar, human voice, and harmonica by Ennio Morricone, sets the whole thing in a world pitched between myth and modernity. Leone's shot-in-Spain trilogy ushered in a flood of Italian spaghetti Westerns, but none hold a candle to Leone's stylish classics. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (33)

Simply Amazing
These three movies bring a completely new spin to the American west. No longer can you think of westerns as movies with the John Wayne like hero who always does what is right. In these movies, Clint Eastwood is nearly as bad as the men he fights. The camera work of Sergio Garcia provide for some tense moments and classic shots that you can't forget. Added with the music of composer Ennio Morricone, these movies began their own genre, the "spaghetti western" and launched Clint Eastwood's career. The shots of Clint squinting into the sunlight, the cut shots combined with the loud and unusual music of Morricone create some of the most memorable moments in film. For anyone that likes Clint Eastwood or just good, intelligent, and captivating action movies this box set is for you.

Clint Eastwood: The Man With No Name - A Trilogy
Clint Eastwood is the "man with no name." Italian director Sergio Leone directed what many believe are to be the Top 3 films of all time! Beginning with "A Fistful of Dollars" (copied from the Japanese samurai film "Yo Jimbo") Clint Eastwood rides into a town with two bosses. "For A Few Dollars More" betters on the first. Includes Lee Van Cleef as supporting actor. Two Bounty Killers team up to kill a common foe: One wronged by Indio, the head bank robber. "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" is the best of the lot, complete with a haunting musical score by Ennio Morricone. Who could forget the shrilling cry in the opening credits? "Ahh-ee-ahh-ee-iii! Wa...Wa...Wa..." The collaboration of Sergio Leone and Ennio Morricone is what makes these films work. "Spaghetti Westerns" don't waste time with the conventional "cowboys and indians." They focus more on the loners, the gunslingers, the bandits. This DVD Trilogy is the DEFINITIVE COLLECTION. Includes original theatrical trailers, bonus footage, behind the scenes, and much, much more! For more film/music greats look for Leone and Morricone collaborating on "Once Upon A Time in the West" (starring Charles Bronson, Jason Robards, and Henry Fonda), "A Fistful of Dynamite" aka "Duck You Sucker" (James Coburn, and "Once Upon A Time In America" (Robert DeNiro, James Woods). These films are the best, the peak in Western Cinemas.

Make Sure You Buy It.
These 3 films were the first 3 westerns I ever watched and boy was I impressed. I never even liked westerns before I watched the famous "Spaghetti Westerns". The acting is great, cinematography spectacular and the music is well-crafted. My only complaint is the clean-up on the pictures during the transfer to DVD but it has little impact on the overall quality and enjoyability of the movies themselves. After watching these 3 excellent and well-written films I watched Hang Em High which was also another excellent western with Eastwood. So buy these 3 films in an affordable 3-pack. Well worth your time and money.

The greatest westerns ever made - all in one box set
Sergio Leone's "Man with No Name" trilogy is classic. It made both Leone and composer Ennio Morricone famous, elevated Clint Eastwood into stardom, and invented the "spaghetti western". Now western fans can own the entire series in one DVD set.

The series begins with A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS, the classic western that introduced us to Morricone's rolling, whistling score that is now associated with the genre; Clint Eastwood's cool performance of the lone stranger who takes down two feuding small town gangs; and Leone's masterful direction. Then we move on to FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE, in which Eastwood teams up with an old army colonel (Lee Van Cleef) to capture the bounty on an escaped prisoner. The series ends with THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY, undoubtedly the greatest western film ever made. Eastwood is flawless, Morricone's score classic, the action terrific, and Leone's direction extraodinary; you are absolutely glued to the TV screen throughout the entire 2 hours and 40 minutes. Cinema lovers everywhere and anywhere will not want to miss out on this excellent collection of the greatest western masterpieces of all-time.

Clint Eastwood at his Best
Three of the greatest westerns of all time. A+++ ... Read more

Description

Nineteen sixty-three will be the year that changes the life of thirteen-year-old Hanna (Karine Vanasse).It's in a darkened movie theater that she first discovers Nana, played by Anna Karina in Jean-Luc Godard's Vivre Sa Vie (My Life to Live).Fa ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Good Foreign Film
This foreign film was really not bad. Set in Canada, the movie was about a young teenage girl, Hannah, who was questioning her sexuality and living with an over-worked mother and somewhat absent father. Hannah is always going to the movies to see a certain film, "Vivre se Vi", about a classy prostitute. The prostitute is Hannah's idol. Later on, Hannah's mother has a nervous break down, so Hannah and her brother run away, where she tests out being a prostitute for one night. This movie was pretty good, I am beggining to be a fan of Lea Pool's films. You should go rent it, if you don't mind subtitles.

Spectacular
In a word, this movie was stunning. All of the performances were great, and the best part was the ending, which gave the film a redeeming quality. It's a must-see.

Excellent Godard clips - buy 'Vivre Sa Vie' instead.
the heroine's search for a personal identity takes the form of striking between opposites - girl/boy, mother/father, film/reality, country/city, Judaism/Christianity, conformity/individuality. This is a rites-of-passage movie as Portrait of the Filmmaker as a Young Woman, with Hanna taking inspiration from the like-sounding Anna in 'Vivre Sa Vie' (and who was also inspired by a great film), while storing up, Wordsworth-like, artistic inspiration from Godard. Pool's hackneyed filmmaking puts Godard's masterpiece in relief, and makes it seem even more miraculous.

First-class study of unhappy adolescence
"Set Me Free", as Lea Pool's "Emporte-moi" has had to be retitled for the benefit of illiterate Americans, is a restrained, beautiful and touching movie. It focuses on Hanna, the teenage daughter of an unhappy working-class couple (expatriate Jewish poet and beautiful Catholic prom queen) living in Montreal in the 1960s. Wandering into a cinema one day, Hanna develops a fixation on Godard's "Vivre sa vie" and models much of her appearance and behaviour on Anna Karina's doomed but glamorously imperturbable Nana. Her only friend is the more upper-class Laura, on whom she seems to have (or does she?) something of a crush, but who in return fancies Hanna's older brother Paul. Meanwhile, the creepy baker seldom misses an opportunity to grope her, and her troubled dad isn't averse to giving her a smack in the face now and then. Well, events roll quietly on, Hanna's mother suffers a breakdown, she and her brother run away from home to Laura's house, Hanna sneaks off to visit her mother and then tries her luck as a prostitute, with unhappy results, especially as she's only 13. But this is not a cautionary tale, nor is it a crime story. It has strong autobiographical elements; Hanna begins to find some potential for hope in her situation when her kindly teacher lends her a cine camera.

"Mouchette" this isn't - Hanna may be poor and suffering from lovelessness and a crumbling family, but her father's touching attempts to make contact with her, by giving her a copy of the diary of Anne Frank and cooking her well-balanced meals, are positive signs. Likewise, Karine Vanasse as the teenaged heroine is not as vengeful and damaged as Nadine Nortier's Mouchette. Vanasse has a rather funny, v-shaped face, with a defiant tilt to her chin and a nice line in Anna Karina impersonations. She's yet another young French actress gifted with seemingly effortless command over her emotions, even if she spends much of the film in a reticent deadpan that is less the Bressonian mask of despair than a blank slate on which any possibility could be inscribed. The rest of the cast are equally good.

"Emporte-moi", as I'm going to persist in calling it, is a lovely film, with a cool soundtrack of classical music and cheesy French rock'n'roll. (Vanasse sings a song over the closing credits with amusingly off-key sincerity.) Francophone Canada can turn out quiet masterpieces when it wants to, and this is the latest. ... Read more

Amazon.com

There are a number of solid episodes in this collection, which includes "Treehouse of Horror," the first Simpsons' Halloween special and one of the best; "Bart Gets an F," in which Bart gets Martin to tutor him and winds up corrupting him instead; "Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish," in which Mr. Burns runs for governor and has a hilarious dinner at the Simpson household on live TV; "Bart vs. Thanksgiving," in which Bart runs away from home after getting in trouble and eats turkey at a soup kitchen; "Bart the Daredevil," featuring a hysterically gruesome appearance by Captain Lance Murdock; and "Itchy & Scratchy & Marge," wherein Marge takes on violence in cartoons--and wins. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (8)

The Simpsons classic epidoses!
How are some reviewers saying these epidoses ain't as clever and funny as the later time? please these epidoses are great and for every Simpsons fan, including me. The Edgar Allan Poe "Raven" skid was great, but my personal favorite is Bart the Daredevil, "I'm the king of the world!..." says Homer after a hilarous mishap occurs, my favorite simpsons moment of all time, don't listen to anyone else, these epidose are brillant!

You can't go wrong with the Simpsons
I purchased this set specifically for the Edgar Allen Poe's, "The Raven," spoof, but the entire set is a great addition to any Simpsons' Fan video library. I recommend highly!

Great classic episodes.
This is indeed a fabulous collection of the earlier Simpsons episodes, most of which feature Bart misbehaving (such as "Bart vs. Thanksgiving" and "Bart Gets an F"). After Bart ruins Thanksgiving for his family, he impulsively runs away and ends up in a homeless shelter. In "Bart Gets an F," it is critical for Bart to pass his history test in order to be promoted to the fifth grade. A Halloween special is also included, along with the political episode where Mr. Burns gets involved in an electoral campaign. Watching these episodes is a true delight for any fan.

Nowhere near Simpsons highlights
Unfortunately these episodes date from the first 2 series, which were nowhere near as clever, inventive, subtle and hysterical as the later episodes. I really wouldn't bracket any of these as SImpsons classics, having seen maybe 200 episodes. 2 Cars In Every Garage is probably the best, marking the first appearance of a 3-eyed fish (a great insight into the surreal humour of the show's authors). Treehouse Of Horror was stylish and also very surreal, especially the first part. Bart Vs Thanksgiving, and Bart gets an F to an extent, falls into the pigeonhole of early episodes characterised by Bart doing somethig 'bad' (and personally I prefer seeing Homer be stupid) and neither are all that engaging, otehr than the superbly constructed Snow Day scenes. I wouldn't bother with this one.

The Simpsons Rule
For these reviews, I like to know what I'm getting. Here are the episodes- Simpsons Haloween Special, Bart Gets An F, Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish, Bart VS. Thanksgiving, Bart the Daredevil, and my personal favorite, Marge VS. Itchy and Scratchy. If I were you, I'd go for Wave three. But these are also wonderfully "delicious" episodes. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

In every aspect, the extended VHS edition of Peter Jackson's epic fantasy The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring blows away the theatrical version. No one who cares at all about the film should ever need to watch the original version again. Well, maybe the impatient and the squeamish will still prefer the theatrical version, because the extended edition makes a long film 30 minutes longer and there's a bit more violence (though both versions are rated PG-13). But the changes--sometimes whole scenes, sometimes merely a few seconds--make for a richer film. There's more of the spirit of J.R.R. Tolkien, embodied in more songs and a longer opening focusing on Hobbiton. There's more character development, and more background into what is to come in the two subsequent films, such as Galadriel's gifts to the Fellowship and Aragorn's burden of lineage. And some additions make more sense to the plot, or are merely worth seeing, such as the wood elves leaving Middle-earth or the view of Caras Galadhon (but sorry, there's still no Tom Bombadil). The only drawback is that the film is now spread over two tapes, but that's a minor inconvenience. The extended VHS edition is the Fellowship video to rule them all. --David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (3438)

An astonishing masterpiece.
Considered both as fantasy adventure and as an adaptation of a beloved literary classic, Peter Jackson's film of "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" sets new standards for cinematic excellence. Everything about this film feels exactly right, from the casting to the screenplay to the special effects. The last are amazing, putting to shame anything George Lucas has come up with, and yet they always serve to advance the story; unlike Lucas, there's never any hint that Jackson is merely playing with his toys. Jackson shows great respect for Tolkien's text, but not slavish devotion. Certain characters--such as the lovable Tom Bombadil and Frodo's poisonous Aunt Lobelia--are missing, and Tolkien would be chagrined to find that the little poems and songs he loved to write are nowhere quoted. But if Jackson gives short shrift to Tolkien's whimsy, he more than makes up for that by giving us Tolkien's intensity, pathos and moral vision absolutely undiluted. Above all, Jackson never forgets that Tolkien's chief emphasis was always on the characters he created. Jackson casts wonderful actors to play those characters and--again unlike Lucas--he actually allows them to give performances. How wonderful to find the great Sir Ian McKellen, a uniquely commanding and charismatic actor, as Gandalf, or the charming and touching Elijah Wood as Frodo. You can go straight down the list--Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn, Sean Astin as Sam, Ian Holm as Bilbo, Cate Blanchett as Galadriel--and find nothing but perfection. This is one of the very few big-budget blockbusters that unqualifiedly deserves its success, and all we can do now is look forward with excitement to the release of "The Two Towers" in 2002 and "The Return of the King" in 2003. Like the books they came from, these three fillms will be cherished by future generations.

The Wonders of Middle-Earth
The fate of Middle-earth lies in the hands of Elijah Wood in the grand fantasy epic "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring". When the forces of evil storm the mystical realm of Middle-earth to reclaim the Ring of the Dark Lord, Sauron, the brave Frodo (Elijah Wood) and the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) embark on a quest to destroy the One Ring that could doom the land. With the help of a fellowship of good friends and powerful allies, Frodo faces incredible dangers and the fierce minions of the Dark Lord. "The Fellowship of the Ring" is an astonishing epic tale of good versus evil. Director Peter Jackson delivers the wonders and emotional intensity of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic with such stunning amazement. The movie includes exceptional performances by Viggo Mortensen, Elijah Wood, Cate Blanchett and Ian McKellen as the wizard Gandalf. It also contains amazing special effects, beautiful backgrounds and a superb music score.

"The Lord of the Rings: the Fellowship of the Ring" is certainly one of the best DVDs of the year. The splendid fantasy adventure is presented in standard full screen format. The DVD has marvelously flawless picture quality and a great 5.1-EX Dolby Digital sound. If special features are a must then this DVD is a welcome addition to any collection. Its supplemental material includes numerous behind-the-scenes featurettes, trailers including a preview of the upcoming "The Two Towers", a music video, DVD-ROM extras and impressive interactive menus. Overall, "The Fellowship of the Ring" scores an "A".

Awe-struck
I'm still reeling from this film! The performances, costuming, props and special effects, direction, and cinematography are astounding. There were times whilst viewing this film when I was on the edge of my seat or grabbing my seat to hold on; times when my heart was pounding; times when I was moved to shed a tear by either sadness or greatness. The movie captures every part of human emotions, wraps them all up, and unleashes them at the viewer at an almost rapid pace; which can, at times, be a bit too much. The Fellowship Of The Ring is a very strong, very powerful, visually stunning, and entirely emotive film. And I give top marks to WETA for the highly notable achievement of creating a thoroughly credible height ratio effect for the Hobbits and Dwarves in regards to the taller races of Middle-earth. Brilliant!

However, as much as I was stunned by this film, the screenplay and adaptions were absolute rubbish! In my opinion, Mrs. Jackson and anyone who worked with her should be fed to the Balrog, along with Peter Jackson himself for allowing it. Their were changes in characters and character, aspirations, and events. Tolkien's dialogue was rarely followed. Some reviewers say this doesn't deter from the story. It does deter from the story! That's exactly what it does. How difficult is it to follow a story and dialogue that has already been written? Editing is one thing and is understandable when approaching a big screen adaptation with time constraints, but arrant changes to a story are not. This I find unforgivable. In addition, no Fatty Bolger playing up appearances in Frodo's new house in Buckland; no Willow The Wisp; no Tom Bombadil; no Barrow-wights; no Rhadaghast The Brown, and very little attention payed to the Hobbits' stealth from and cat and mouse games with the Black Riders in The Shire. In addition, very little of Tolkien's dialogue was covered. The Fellowship Of The Ring is mainly dialogue, and takes place mainly in The Shire. What happened to Peter Jackson's boasting about how closely he was going to follow Tolkien's story? With all its faults, Ralph Bakshi's film follows Tolkien's story and dialogue more closely than Jackson's version does! Jackson is either pandering to his own ego (or his wife's), or just trying to make the film(s) appeal to more people than just Tolkien fans; and the only reason for the latter would be money.

Aside from the above criticism, I was very annoyed by WETA's cheesy computer-generated Cave Troll and Balrog. This garbage belongs in a video game, not an important epic film. What ever happened to employing the talents of real artists like Ray Harryhausen or Jim Henson's Creature Shop? Is it just me, or are today's film makers relying too heavily on computer-generated effects, and using the words "can't be done" or "not within the budget" as a scape-goat to seeking alternative ways of creating effects, like the filmmakers of old had to do?

However all scrutinising aside, The Fellowship Of The Ring is an overwhelming cinematic experience, and one which should not be missed by anyone; with the exception of pre-teens, to whom this film will only terrorise. This is a tremendous Christmas present, and I thank Peter Jackson and everyone involved in its creation for it. It's difficult to believe that there are two more films of this calibre to follow. I look forward to their release, as well as a few more viewings of The Fellowship Of The Ring.

In closing I'd just like to say that Tolkien fans have still not been given a definitive screen version of The Lord Of The Rings. In fact, the only way I believe it would be possible to remain faithful to Tolkien's story and (even edited) dialogue, would be to make a complete mini-series for non-commercial television; basically, a visual accompaniment to the long BBC Radio production. Perhaps one day someone with enough integrity and who cares enough will.

If I could give this more than five stars, I would!!!
"We can make them longer, stronger, better!" When Peter Jackson said this about the extended DVD versions of the films, I'm sure hordes of movie fans disagreed. They were WRONG!! The Lord of the Rings trilogy is quite possibly the best thing that's ever happened to the movie industry, and these extended version DVDs are the best things to ever happen to DVD players. This first installment was great in the theater, but the extended version is better. Several things are explained in greater detail, and you can't tell where new material has been inserted. It's flawless, from the acting to the music to the scenery. I can't say enough good things about this movie. Oh yeah, the extras are nice too.

Will be remembered as one of the best films of all time....
Without repeating the reviews of the rest listed here....I can say that the extended editions add more texture to the story and the documentary DVD's give you more background and understanding of the story.

It made me want to read the books to see what the films couldn't touch upon ...the poetry and descriptions of middle earth are very much on target. I really hope that Jackson gets the chance to do the Hobbit. It would be a crime if it wasn't adapted by him in the very near future. All I have to say to the film makers is ..Lets see the Hobbit before the actors become unavailable to produce the film! ... Read more

Reviews (58)

An okay repersantation worth mentioning
dracula Prince of Darkness, the second hammer horror dracula in the series. starring christopher Lee in an unspeeking role(why?), and the worst actress, Barbra Shelly(I don't know about you but shelly reminds me of my seventh grade teacher). One of the few wide screen hammer films that I could find, its a must have for any hammer collecter. The story isn't bad, four travelers from england are taking a vacation in, of all places, the Carpathian, supposedly to broden there minds. They are abandoned by there coach driver so when a misterios cart comes rolling down the road they decide to take it. But the horses went in the wrong direrction, towards castle Dracula. The servent of the castle, kills one of the travlers and pours blood on the ashes of the count(he ran into the sun in Horror of Dracula). then Dracula stocks helen (the sventh grade teacher(Barbra Shelly). Two travelers get out alive after being confronted by Dracula. They seek the help of a preist who knows how to destroy vampires(a real Van Helsing). They Destroy the count with a bit of the old stake through the heart. a few bad points, no dialog from the Lee, the cute chick doesnt get naked, and Barbra Shelly. It's too bad.

Dracula-Prince of Darkness: A must see for all horror fans!!
This film was first released in 1965 and is certainly worth the 90 minates of running time. Filmed in Techniscope, Dracula-Prince of Darkness is about 4 tourists who stray off their destination of Carlsbad and end up within the walls of Castle Dracula. Christopher Lee and Barbara Shelley provide plenty of scares and keep you on the edge of your seats. Plenty of gore and a very tense scene involving B. Shelley towards the end of the film, make this (in my opinion) one of the scariest Dracula films ever. Although Christopher Lee was disappointed that he didn't have a speaking role, I think (in my opinion) it made him more frightning to watch. The only 2 faults I have with this film is the dialog a little weak at beginning and an extra scene or two could have been used at the end. Never the less, an enjoyable film to watch for all horror fans. Cast: Christopher Lee, Barbara Shelley, Francis Matthews, Andrew Keir, Susan Farmer, Charles Tingwell and Thorley Walters. Director: Terence Fisher

A Hammer classic
Dracula, Prince of Darkness tends to get short shrift from the critics, but it is hard to see why. Director Terence Fisher is on top form, delivering some of Hammer studios' most memorable and fascinating images: Klove's pseudo-Eucharistic ritual to bring Dracula back to life; the staking of a female vampire; the Count's destruction at the film's icy climax. Cast are second to none: Christopher Lee reprising his role as the Count; Barbara Shelley as a repressed Englishwoman-cum-vampire; Andrew Keir as Father Sandor, a rough-and-ready Van Helsing-type. Rest of the crew are top-notch: The atmospheric photography is by Michael Reed; the score is one of studio regular James Bernard's best; and Bernard Robinson's set designs are among his most memorable (the castle exterior was shared with the less impressive but still entertaining Rasputin the Mad Monk in the same year).

I found this film riveting as a child, and it still captivates me today. It certainly belongs in the essential Hammer canon, and is perhaps the finest of the Dracula sequels.

OK, but does not add up to the original
This one is OK for Halloween perhaps, but not the best of them all. Dracula does not even say anything in this film although the evil is quite effective. Only buy this one if you are a die hard fan of the Hammer "Dracula" films. Other than that, renting it at your local video store might be better.

This film may have also been better with the presence of Professor Van Helsing, and that's what also made the first film even better.

Dracula Returns
In 1895 two english couples on a trip in the Carpathians find themselves stranded at an eerie castle. They do not know it but they are at Castle Dracula. Count Dracula's manservent Klove has been waiting for this, it seems his master has been dead for 10 years. One of the guests becomes a victim and reconstitutes Dracula. The next day the other couple go in search of Alan & Helen Kent, Helen has become a vampire and Charles is no where to be found.

They seek the help of Father Sandor and he helps them combat the Count. The final is a thrill when Sandor shoots the ice around Dracula. The Count is consigned to the moat, destroyed by running water. Father Sandor replaces Dr. Van Helsing in this one.
Barbara Shelly gives the performance of a lifetime as Helen Kent. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

My FAVORITE season...
Way, WAY back in the olden days of the early 1970's, when this amazing show premiered, I became an INSTANT and FAITHFUL fan, right to the end of it's run.

When each season became available on DVD, I was delighted at the prospect of being able to collect all the seasons for my own. Both the audio and video quality of the DVD's seems to me to be outstanding in each season's realease.

I was ESPECIALLY pleased to find that "Play All" feature" was FINALLY added on this season's menu. MAN! Having to manually start each episode in season's 1 - 4 was REALLY ANNOYING.
Substantively, season 5 is my favorite, being the year where Margaret FINALLY gives Frank the "boot". I love the way her character is allowed to make huge leaps of personal growth in this series. The only serious critisism of the otherwise completely wonderful M*A*S*H* television series, is the fact that the character of Frank Burns was never allowed equal opportunity for personal growth; I think that if this HAD occurred, Larry Linvile, an AMAZINGLY gifted performer, might not have left the series. I think Mr. Linville's downfall was that he was so incredibly awesome at making Frank Burns, the total Jackass, come to life. The truth is, I've always chaffed at the way they locked his character (as well as virtually ALL other conservatives and/or career military characters who appear on the show) into a farsical, bigoted stereotype; e.g.: "all conservatives are adulterers, liars, hypocrits, stupid, war mongering, greedy, selfish, insensitive, disrespectful, abusive pigs that BLINDLY pledge allegiance to a flag and a country that 'everybody knows' should not have even been involved in Korea." The fact is, all those who call themselves conservatives and serve America in uniform are NOT anything like the Frank Burns character. The writers and directors- the powers that were the driving force behind the series, certainly DID have their little adgenda- and more's the pity. The picture they painted of the way things were then was extremely lopsided; and at times, even slanderous.

Nevertheless, I, being a secure, FREE American, LOVE the series anyway, and will treasure it always. And all you other M*A*S*H fans, don't hesitate to buy this or any of the other seasons curently available. They are top notch quality. Can't wait for season 6 to come out!

M*A*S*H* : Classic TV Programming
It's not neccessary to watch this series from its premiere episodes. This series has become the favorite of legions of fans worldwide and the slapstick humor that was so rooted in each episode is the reason why. Hawkeye, Trapper John, BJ Hunnicut, Colonel Henry Potter, Major Winchester, Henry Blake. These were outstanding comic characters which made this series so enjoyable to watch.

I grew up on this series as a child, forced to watch it with my dad when I was growing up, and now they've released season five. I always resented having to watch this show but I've fallen in love with this this once again. For anyone who hasn't had the oportunity to catch this show, it was the original hospital drama long before E.R. appeared on the airwaves and had more entertainment value than General Hospital.

Was there anything better?
Dude if you would like to experince some of the best humor ever. Notice the experince part. Buy this DVD set. The packaging may not be all that great but who cares? Your getting to relive those classic M*A*S*H episodes all over again. And this time you can watch them when ever you want. Anyways. Best episode on here has to be " Movie Tonight". Its just so funny. Well hope you enjoy it.

OVERRATED
At the same time, Robert Altman's "M*A"S*H" came out. It, too found an audience, and truth be told many who enjoyed "Patton" enjoyed "M*A*S*H". It was just plain funny, and the anti-military theme was subtle. Altman walked a brilliant tightrope between a pro-American and unpatriotic premise. There is no doubt that Altman intended it as an anti-Vietnam movie. It was written by former Communist Ring Lardner, Jr. Lardner had been Blacklisted, and this fact featured prominently in the politics of the film's aura. It was based on a sexy paperback novel about surgeons in Korea. The film was set in Korea, yet made every possible attempt to convey the image that it was actually Vietnam. Many of the movie's set pieces were deliberately Vietnamese in nature and costume, for that very purpose. To the extent that it was unpatriotic, it subtly described "regular Army" officers as unyielding, intolerant Christians, utterly blinded by stupid jingoism. The draftees, however, are funny and attractive as they drink and love their way through a bevy of good-looking nurses, all while saving lives in the style of comic Galahads. Altman showed genius as a filmmaker. The movie avoided real controversy because it was just so darn good.
"M*A*S*H" spurred a television show that ran for years. In the 1970s it played for its time and audience. Re-runs, however, strain its credibility beyond Altman's original themes. Two doctors played the "bad guy." The first was a complete buffoon. Frank Burns was prominently identified as a Republican. He is given zero good qualities. He is ugly, a bad doctor, a coward, a racist and all-around mean SOB who cheats on his wife with Major Margaret Hoolihan, who at least is given some character. She is half-Vixen, half-Fascist, naturally Republican, a patriotic American in the "worst way," who worships the idols of war. Over the years the writers gave Margaret a little development. Very little. Burns was replaced by Major Charles Emerson Winchester, a Boston Brahmin, naturally a Republican whose father "knows Truman. He doesn't like him, but he knows him." Winchester, like Hoolihan, is allowed a touch of humanity when the liberal writers felt charitable, but generally was available for all possible bashing. Two hero-doctors anchor the show by showing their intelligence, medical skills and tolerance as direct contrasts to the war effort. The CIA is lampooned, and a military effort that in reality featured MacArthur's Inchon campaign, perhaps the most brilliant invasion in history, is also played as foolish. In the end, the TV show and the film avoid being really and actually unpatriotic because they do feature an emphasis on the basic goodness of the American spirit under stress, but you will not catch me tuned in to those old re-runs(...)

My Favorite Year
By the autumn of 1976, MASH was beginning it's fifth season, the one where Margaret gets engaged, the last one with Frank. It was also that autumn that I celebrated my 10th birthday, and my parents decided I was finally old enough to watch MASH and other adult tv shows. (How things have changed since those days). I had seen some of the last reruns of the fourth season during the summer of '76, but season 5 was the first season I actually watched regularly. In 1976, the war in Korea had only been over for 23 years, and 1976 was much closer in time to the actual events in Korea than we are today to this particular season of the tv show MASH. That's an odd thought.

Perhaps because it was the first season I got to watch in full, I remember season 5 as THE season. It remains my favorite season, and that year's season premiere, The Bug-out, is still my favorite episode of the entire series.

There are other reasons than my own nostalgia for this to be one of the best seasons -- some really classic episodes like "Movie Tonight" just to name one, some poignant moments, a lack of the "preachiness" that plagues the final 3 or 4 seasons. BJ was still a likable punster and practical joker instead of the grouch he later became, whereas Margaret stopped being so uptight as before. Seasons 5 and 6, in my opion were the peak years, in terms of humor balanced by pathos. ... Read more