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| 181. Lawrence of Arabia (Widescreen Edition) Director: David Lean | |
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Amazon.com essential video Reviews (278)
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.
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
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.
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| 182. Gabbeh Director: Mohsen Makhmalbaf | |
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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!
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.
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| 183. Five Doctors/King's Demons Director: Rex Tucker, Julia Smith, John Gorrie, Ron Jones (II), Alan Wareing, David Maloney, Richard Martin (IV), Peter Moffatt, Derek Martinus, Fiona Cumming, Joe Ahearne, Derrick Goodwin, Christopher Barry (III), Darrol Blake, Euros Lyn, Pennant Roberts, Michael Leeston-Smith, Rodney Bennett, Timothy Combe, Gerald Blake (II) | |
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Reviews (17)
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. 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.
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| 184. Hogan's Heroes Triple Pack | |
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Amazon.com 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 Reviews (9)
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| 185. All Creatures Great and Small - Series 4 | |
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Description Reviews (6)
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! :-)
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.
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.
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| 186. Monty Python's Flying Circus - Box Set 3 | |
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Amazon.com Reviews (4)
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!
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
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| 187. Danzon Director: María Novaro | |
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Reviews (4)
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| 188. Denise Austin - Hit the Spot:Abs/Buns Double Pack | |
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| 189. The Man with No Name Trilogy (A Fistful of Dollars / For a Few Dollars More / The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly | |
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Amazon.com Reviews (33)
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.
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| 190. Set Me Free Director: Léa Pool | |
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Description Reviews (4)
"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 | |
| 191. The Best of The Simpsons, Boxed Set 2 | |
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Amazon.com Reviews (8)
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| 192. The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (Special Extended Edition) Director: Peter Jackson | |
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Amazon.com essential video Reviews (3438)
"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".
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.
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 | |
| 193. Dracula - Prince of Darkness Director: Terence Fisher | |
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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.
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.
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. | |
| 194. M*A*S*H - TV Season Five - 3 Tape Boxed Set | |
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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. 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!
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.
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 | |
| 195. The Black Candle Director: Roy Battersby | |
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Bridget Mordaunt is a wealthy young woman with a mind of her own and a heart of gold. Intelligent, practical, and fair, she is a no nonsense business woman who has a soft spot for Joe Skinner, a working class, honorable, young man who has broken away from his lazy, trashy family. He works in the factory that Bridget inherited from her deceased father who taught her the business. Unfortunately, Joe Skinner is in love with another young woman, Lilly, a factory worker who has been wronged by Lionel Filmore, the profligate scion of an impoverished member of the gentry. Joe marries Lilly, vowing always to protect her good name and knowing that the child she carries is not his. Bridget's cousin, Victoria, who lives with her and whom she supports, is in love with Lionel, who mistakenly believes Victoria to be the factory heiress. On the day that Victoria expects their engagement to be announced, Lionel discovers that Bridget, and not Victoria, is the heiress. As this threatens to destroy the future that Victoria is seeing with rose colored glasses, Bridget steps in and makes a business deal with Lionel, not knowing just how despicable a blackguard Lionel really is, thinking that by doing do she is ensuring Victoria's happiness. When the disparate worlds of the Skinners and Filmores collide one day, it leaves Joe accused of a murder he did not commit. What happens, as a result, will change the lives of all involved, as that murder acts as a catalyst for a series of events and revelations that will leave none concerned unscathed. No matter what happens, however, Bridget is at the core of this film. This is a film worth seeing if one is interested in period pieces, the novels of Catherine Cookson, or a simply entertaining film with a first rate cast.
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| 196. Vampyres Director: José Ramón Larraz | |
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Amazon.com Reviews (32)
Taking its cue from the lesbian vampire cycle initiated by maverick director Jean Rollin in France, and consolidated by the success of Hammer's 'Carmilla' series in the UK, Jose Ramon Larraz' daring shocker VAMPYRES pushed the concept of Adult Horror much further than British censors were prepared to tolerate in 1974, and his film was cut by almost three minutes on its original British release. It isn't difficult to see why! Using its Gothic theme as the pretext for as much nudity, sex and bloodshed as the film's short running time will allow, Larraz (who wrote the screenplay under the pseudonym 'D. Daubeney') uses these commercial elements as mere backdrop to a languid meditation on life, death and the impulses - sexual and otherwise - which affirm the human condition. Shot on location at a picturesque country house during the Autumn of 1973, Harry Waxman's haunting cinematography conjures an atmosphere of grim foreboding, in which the desolate countryside - bleak and beautiful in equal measure - seems to foreshadow a whirlwind of impending horror (Larraz pulled a similar trick earlier the same year with SYMPTOMS, a low-key thriller which is all mood and very little action, until it erupts into a frenzy of violence during the final reel). However, despite its pretensions, VAMPYRES' wafer-thin plot and rough-hewn production values don't really amount to very much, and while the two female protagonists are as charismatic and appealing as could be wished, the male lead (Brown, past his prime at the time of filming) is woefully miscast in a role that should have gone to some beautiful, twentysomething stud. A must-see item for cult movie fans, an amusing curio for everyone else, VAMPYRES is an acquired taste. Watch out for Bessie Love, star of the silent era, in a brief cameo at the end of the movie. Originally released on DVD by Anchor Bay in incomplete form (29 seconds of carnage were accidentally omitted from one of the climactic sequences), Blue Underground's definitive disc - beautifully presented and packaged - restores all the missing footage to its rightful place. Picture quality is as good as the low-budget film stock will allow, though it's still a little grainy in places, and the mono sound is adequate. Extras include trailers, interviews with Morris and Anulka (both are older and wiser, yet still radiant), and a lively audio commentary with Larraz and producer Brian Smedley-Aston, along with an unexpurgated version of Tim Greaves' much-admired booklet 'Vampyres - A Tribute to the Ultimate in Erotic Horror Cinema', here presented in DVD-ROM format which this writer was unable to access. NB. Blue Underground's DVD includes an insert which replicates vivid artwork for an Italian release print (OSSESSIONE CARNALE), featuring a prominent Techniscope credit. However, the movie wasn't photographed in any kind of scope format, and viewers are assured the disc's 1.85:1 ratio is correct. 87m 29s
In addition to the outstanding efforts of cast and crew, the tight, well-written script is refreshingly new--even from this vantage point of some thirty years hence. Avoiding the usual vampire clichés, these VAMPYRES are really more like ghosts who have some inexplicable but insatiable desire to feed on the blood of the living. They don't have fangs, they can tolerate moderate sunlight, and instead of resting in musty old caskets, they sleep in a wine cellar during the brightest of the daylight hours. They also can eat, drink liquids other than blood, and seem to genuinely enjoy sex. And they even sometimes have sympathy for their victims, a characteristic that may lead to their ultimate downfall. The myth of the vampire has always been regarded as sexual in nature, especially the intimacy of the flesh-penetrating bite on the neck. VAMPYRES carries this metaphor to the extreme, with heterosexual vampiric coitus portrayed as an intensely passionate, rigorous event that includes feasting on the blood of the non-vampiric partner. And the eponymous characters in VAMPYRES don't gently suck from two pricks in the neck; in the midst of sexual passion, they tear open their victims and lap up the crimson liquid with ferocious, writhing pleasure. In short, VAMPYRES is an excellent British erotic horror flick that is superior to most others from its era of origin, and it can even stand up against many straightforward, non-sexploitation horror films. It is well written, well acted, and has high production values throughout--and all this in spite of a low, low budget. Director Larraz and his co-scripters have take an idea that they could play for camp or sheer sexploitation and, instead, deliver a thought-provoking look at indiscriminate and promiscuous sex, physical obsession, and guilt. And on top of that, they still throw in lots of delicious T&A. The DVD from Blue Underground is a great buy. Not only does it present a widescreen restored director's version of this excellent film--transferred primarily from the original negatives--but it also has lots of cool extras. It offers a feature-commentary track with director José Ramón Larraz and producer Brian Smedley-Aston that is both hilarious--due to Larraz's frank use of English colloquialisms--and informative. And there are also recent interviews with Marianne Morris and Anulka Dziubinska, the film's beautiful stars; a lost scene recreated via production stills; U.S. and European trailers; and more. This is a piece of erotic artistic cinematic history that any serious horror fans will want to add to their collections.
It's too bad really, because in the right hands, the story of two vampire seductresses luring passersby to their castle could have been creepy fun. Not enough story, and bad direction make this a "passerby". Current interviews with the lovely female stars prove to be the most interesting part of this package. ... Read more | |
| 197. Best of I Love Lucy Collection 1 Director: Ralph Levy, Marc Daniels, William Asher, James V. Kern | |
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Reviews (1)
The other three episodes might not all be classics, but they are still very, very funny. "Lucy Does the Tango" (Episode #173, March 11, 1957), finds the Ricardos and Mertzes investing in 200 laying hens. All you need to do is hear the situation and you know that Lucy is going to end up with end up with egg on her face. Okay, egg on everything. In "The Freezer" (Episode #29, April 28, 1952), Lucy and Ethel buy a new walk-in freezer. But when they grossly overestimate its capacity, they are suddenly in the meat business. Of course, as soon as you see that walk-in freezer you know Lucy is going to get locked in it. Finally, we have Lucy's legendary encounter with "Harpo Marx" (Episode #125, May 9, 1955), which showcases Lucille Ball's physical comedy in a great scene with the beloved silent Marx Brother. The mirror sequence between the two was apparently a pain to shoot (and reshoot), but worth the effort just to see the two famous "redheads" go at it. ... Read more | |
| 198. Sex And The City - The Complete Fourth Season | |
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Description Reviews (94)
Anyway, that being said, I love this series and I would encourage anyone who has seen a few episodes and wondered what the fuss is about to take the time to watch the show from the beginning. The Writer's Commentary on a few episodes on this DVD is generally not worth the price of the DVDs, in my opinion. He rarely tells us anything we couldn't notice ourselves, however, I had always wondered about the incident where Trey gives Charlotte a cardboard baby, which I understood as a plot device but thought was too tasteless a gesture to be plausible. I should have guessed that the "Cardboard Baby" was based on an actual experience and an example of truth being stranger than fiction.
Carrie(Sarah Jessica Parker)joins a fashion show. Then she and Aidan get back together. They get engaged and she hurts him...again. Samantha(Kim Cattrall)dates a woman named Maria. Then she falls for Richard, her boss. Miranda(Cynthia Nixon)gets pregnant and almost has an abortion. Charlotte(Kristin Davis)gets back together with Trey. They tried to have a baby, but fail. Trey decides not to have a baby. This is the funniest season of "Sex and the City". I can't wait to see seasons 5&6. Enjoy!
The reason why I like SATC is because it give a comedic version on sex and relationships. No matter what happens to your own social life, you can watch SATC and share the same humorous episode of what Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte did, and learn to laugh a upon at your own situations. These six series will be treasured and revisited by me. ... Read more | |
| 199. The Insider (Widescreen Edition) Director: Michael Mann | |
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Reviews (233)
Score: 84/100 Whatever your personal opinions are about The Insider, you must admit that it is a well-made movie. If you dislike it, you can't exactly say that the effort wasn't a large amount for all the cast and crew. Because it was, and you can tell just by watching every minute of this long but rewarding crowd-pleaser starring New Zealand's Russell Crowe, in a performance that got him nominated for an Oscar. The film also earned 6 other nominations, and didn't win one of them, since there was too much competition. A shame, because this is such an intelligent and observing movie that you can't help but be intrigued. This film tells the true story of Jeffrey Wigand (Crowe), a former tobacco executive, who decided to appear on the CBS-TV News show "60 Minutes." As matter of conscience partially prodded by producer Lowell Bergman (Al Pacino), he revealed that, the tobacco industry was not only aware that cigarettes are addictive & harmful, but deliberately worked on increasing that addictiveness. Unfortunately, both protagonists of this story learn the hard way that simply telling the truth is not enough as they struggle against both Big Tobacco's attempts to silence them and the CBS TV Network's own cowardly complict preference of putting money as a higher priority over the truth. It's amazing how well this did with the critics, since it didn't get much attention at the box office or at home-video rental stores. But people, intelligently, liked Michael Mann's thrilling and dramatic film that, if sometimes a little boring for some audiences, manages to deliver first-rate performances from the cast and be memorable and vivid in your mind. The Insider's script is a majorly clever one, it literally blew socks off global viewers for it's pure sense of intelligence, the film was written by Michael Mann (we can't get enough of him) and Eric Roth (his promising co-writer). In short: The Insider is a must-see in all aspects.
STEVEN TRAVERS
Maybe it was something I ate that first time, though, 'cause the second time around, I have to admit, it was pretty riveting. This time out, I found the moral dilemmas facing Crowe's whistleblower and Pacino's muckraker TV producer pretty darn fascinating--despite the fact that I knew how it was all going to turn out. Oh yeah, and I finally got the fact that the title is supposed to be a little ambiguous and that,yes, Pacino's Lowell Bergman character is an "insider" too. Sometimes I'm a little slow, but eventually, if I'm lucky, I catch on. THE INSIDER is a quietly powerful and effective film. Apparently, it didn't manage to convince Russell Crowe to quit smoking, but--as a morality tale and as sheer drama--it's still pretty darn effective. ... Read more | |
| 200. The X-Files - Wave 2 Triple Pack | |
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Description Reviews (4)
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