Reviews (159)

The First Season of a Great and Timeless Series
M*A*S*H the series: Hawkeye Pierce (Alan Alda), Trapper John (Wayne Rogers), Radar (Gary Burghoff), Klinger (Jamie Farr), Colonel Blake (McLean Stevenson), Hot Lips Houlihan (Loretta Swit), Father Mulcahy (William Christopher), and Frank Burns (Larry Linville) are the core of a great cast telling the story of a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, just a few miles from the front in the Korean War, trying to stay sane in an insane situation. Great irreverent comedy, with the early cast.

This VHS set: This is a three-tape set giving you the 24 episodes of the entire first season. I've been watching the reruns on late-night TV for years, and did not realize how much had been edited out of those (to squeeze in more commercials). Now, these tapes bring us the episodes uncut. It's fun watching them and going, "Hey, I don't remember that!" A good buy; a good set of tapes to have on the shelf for rainy (or snowy) days.

It's About Time
It's about time that Fox put out M*A*S*H for the public (and without those stupid subscription/shyster video clubs). Thank heaven for DVD!

M*A*S*H is a brilliant show. Funny, yet touching. I have seen every episode at least 50 times but only in reruns, since I was only four when the series debuted. It was fantastic seeing these episodes uncut. Syndication takes it toll on the series and they cut many of the really funny parts for commericals. Epsiodes like "Chief Surgeon Who?" and "Pilot" show how much talent was in the writing, directing and acting of this excellent show. My favorite is "Sometimes You Hear the Bullet" with a very young Ron Howard.

I plan on collecting every season, just to have a complete library. M*A*S*H is one show I never get tired of. Now, if they would just do the same thing with "I Love Lucy"!

Truly a classic TV show
"M*A*S*H" is definitely one of the greatest shows to ever grace the small screen-I recently purchased the first season episodes on home video-These episodes introduced us to a memorable cast of characters:Captain Benjamin Franklin Pierce aka "Hawkeye",Captain John Mc Intyre aka "Trapper",clueless Colonel Henry Blake,pompous Major Frank Burns,no nonsense head nurse Margaret Houlihan,alias "Hot Lips",myopic company clerk Cpl Walter "Radar" O'Reilly,& the cross dressing Cpl Max Klinger-Ironically,"M*A*S*H" didn't become a top 10 Neilsen favorite until the following season-I didn't realize that the reruns seen in syndication had been trimmed to allow for the airing of more commercials-That was clearly evident when I watched the first batch of episodes-Someone asked if the show was still on somewhere-It's presently seen on cable's Hallmark Channel-Unfortunately,I don't happen to receive that particular station-Thank God I can watch these classic episodes in this format.

The best of M.A.S.H.
The first series is my favourite, so I'm delighted to have it on DVD at last. It contains my two favourite episodes. 'To Market, To Market' is the one where Hawkeye and Trapper steal Henry's new oak desk to swop for medical supplies with a Korean black marketeer ("You know how it is, Colonel, we all look alike"). Even better, my all-time favourite episode " Tuttle" where Hawkeye and Trapper convince everyone that the imaginary Captain Tuttle is a real person. Every episode has a cracking script, and the cast are all wonderful, especially Alan Alda as Hawkeye and gorgeous Wayne Rogers as Trapper (how I adored him, it broke my heart when he left the series). And Maclean Stevenson is wonderful as daffy Colonel Blake, and Loretta Swit is brilliant as belligerent Margaret Houlihan, before they made the terrible mistake of softening her character and turning her into a nice, cuddly person (yuk). I've lost track of how many times I've watched this wonderful series over the years, and now I have it on DVD I can watch it even more.

Where this classic series got started
What can be said about M.A.S.H. that hasn't been said already? Among the longest running and best sitcoms ever made, it stands the test of time despite its very specific setting. The gags still work, the characters are still wonderful, and the show still enjoyable.

The first season is less serious than later seasons, which were not shy about dropping the gags in order to throw serious topics into the mix. The actors, too, were still finding their tone and pacing during this first season. But still, few shows can match these "baby steps." Hilarious from start to finish.

This DVD set is bare bones, though not poorly produced. We get the episodes spread out over three discs (all in a sturdy triple-case) and a small booklet with info on each episode. And that's it. No extras, no commentaries. Just the episodes.

Which is just fine, because the episodes are great. Good, crisp picture far better than reruns, and good sound.

And the bare bones format pays off. With TV-on-DVD sets routinely breaking the $50 to $70 range, $35 sounds pretty darn good. A no-brainer buy for M.A.S.H. fans. ... Read more

Reviews (219)

Nostalgia for children of the 80's
Let's face it. Most of us who rate this movie highly do so because it invokes all those rosy-hued memories of our childhood decade. One only has to bring it up to another Gen-Y-er, or whistle a few bars of the opening theme song, to see eyes light up with recognition amid wistful sighs for a more innocent time.
It is the characters and rich settings that pull this film off.
Leads Barret Oliver and Noah Hathaway are both on the verge of being too beautiful to be boys. They display a rare depth for young actors, Oliver's over-dramatic portrayal being unbelievable only for those who are never around play-acting children. Hathaway's subtle facial expressions are riveting, and he deserves respect if for no other reason than for nearly carrying the entire movie. The breathtaking Tami Stromach as the Childlike Empress was every young girl's dream character before the era of the Disney Princess, and she played her enigmatic role with suitable poise and mystery. Who of this generation did NOT, sometime in their childhood, convene with schoolyard cronies to "play Neverending Story" and then argue about who would "be" the Empress, Atreyu, or Bastian? Obviously these characters strike a chord with kids.
The story bears a somewhat faint resemblance to the book on which it is based, though the original author was so dissapointed with the result that he did not want his name associated with the film in any way. I have read the book, and found it to be rich in imagination, depth, and dare I say it, moral psychology, much of which contrives to be muddy and confusing to very young readers. The film simplifies it rather starkly, but in a way I think is satisfying. Classic themes of identity, of an underdog's triumph, of imagination empowering reality, are clearly emphasized. Complaints that the movie ends halfway through the book are valid, but the truth is that the book almost becomes two stories, with the second half diverging wildly from the pacing and characterization of the first, and to try and fit it all into a two-hour film would have done neither film nor book proper justice.
Special effects were groundbreaking for the time, some more successful than others. I didn't realize until several years ago that Engywook and Urgle were supposed to be tiny gnome-like creatures! I always assumed, even as a child, that they were exactly what they are - normal sized people shot in skewed perspective with Atreyu. It wasn't until noticing that they used different sized props between them and Atreyu that I realized the perspective was actually deliberately forced! Ah well...it was a long way to Lord of the Rings.
A few complaints: some sets seem cramped. The scene in which the "ambassadors" from all over Fantasia approach the Ivory Tower sets it up as an enormous landmark where masses of representatives from every one of the no-doubt vast peoples are to convene, yet when we are given an internal view of the structure, we see a claustrophobic ballroom in which a handful of creatures loiter, and in spite of their various weird and fantastic appearances, we are given no more than a brief glimpse of a few. Costumes of the leads are simple and convincing, though.
Altogether, an enjoyable movie, and one I will definitely show my own children. There are some dark moments for kids not yet jaded by too much modern special-effects violence, so use caution. And please, please, spare anyone else from the appalling sequels...part II had little merit and was vaguely eerie, and part III was not only frankly awful as a film but downright blasphemous from the literary perspective.

Probably the best fantasy movie of all time!
"The Neverending Story" is a great fantasy movie from the 80s about a boy named Bastian (Barret Oliver) picturing a story unfold as he reads it from a book called "The Neverending Story." In this fantasy-filled story, a great land called Fantasia is being destroyed by a terrible enemy called the Nothing. It's up to a boy named Atreyu (Noah Hathaway) to find The Childlike Empress (Tami Stronach) and help her before Fantasia and all its habitants get wiped away completely. Atreyu is the only one that has a chance of rescuing Fantasia because he's a warrior and he doesn't know it yet, but he will make many new friends along the way, including one very special friend named Falkor that happens to be a dragon that looks kind of like a dog.

I'll leave it up to you to watch "The Neverending Story" and find out what happens, but I don't recommend watching it. I recommend buying it instead. A lot of people probably think that "The Neverending Story" is a movie that is only suit for kids, but they're wrong. I used to watch this movie with my mom all the time when I was a kid, and now I'm 21, and I still enjoy the movie just as much now, if not more than I did when I was a kid.

When you or your kids first watch "The Neverending Story," neither of you will probably remember everything about the movie, but what you will remember are the spectacular special effects and the entertaining characters such as Falkor the dragon, a HUGE rock creature, the mean wolf, a giant turtle that has a face that resembles that of E.T., and many other interesting creatures. But trust me, whoever you are, you will want to watch this movie over and over again for years to come and you will learn new things about it every time you watch it.

"The Neverending Story" not only has its special effects and plot working full force for it, it also has great acting and an unforgettable and catchy soundtrack.

"The Neverending Story" is in my opinion one of the best movies that a kid can watch for many reasons, but it's a great movie for ANYBODY of any age to watch, especially if you're a kid at heart. When I say that a movie is probably the best ever made in its genre, I don't exaggerate any, I compare it to all the others that I've seen of its type. Therefore, you know that I really do like "The Neverending Story" a lot! Purchase "The Neverending Story" for yourself or for someone you care about as soon as you can. You won't regret it!

Triumph of human Imagination
Sir Adam got it almost right! Good review, by the way.

This is an awesome story about the importance of the story. Yes, the moral lesson of "The Neverending Story" is the importance of the story itself (and by extension the importance of human imagination). If one has read some of Joseph Campbell's "The Power of Myth" one understands this completely. It is that Native American idea of "he who does not have the stories has nothing."

The key force of destruction in this tale is "the Nothing" literally non-existence or the lack of imagination. The world in which "The Neverending Story" takes place, Fantasia, is a conglomerate universe composed of the dreams and hopes of all people. Every story ever told and every character who has ever lived exists somewhere in Fantasia. So that somewhere in Fantasia, Paul Atreides wanders a desert landscape while somewhere else in Fantasia Alice falls down the rabbit hole.

Fantasia, this conglomerate world of human dreams, is dying. The reason is that people in the real world no longer dream... of anything. It is a very modern tale about the death of the human capacity to, as John Lennon put it, IMAGINE. Without the capability to imagine anything, people become easily manipulated by forces greater than them... this is where the real villain comes in (more about that after the next paragraph).

The main protagonist, Atreyu, is the alter ego of the real life boy who is reading the story. The real life boy, therefore, is filled with imagination, brimming with it, in fact. He exists in a real world where nobody imagines anything anymore. Therefore, the alter ego (in Fantasia) of the real life boy with imagination is a young champion who is trying to save imagination itself and its conglomerate world, Fantasia.

The real villain of the story is, at least from a Christian context, Lucifer, or the Devil himself. He is the "force behind the Nothing" who is attempting the death of all imagination. This explains the creature known as the Morg. As Sir Adam mentioned in his review, this is the major adversary for Atreyu (and the real life boy who is his generator). The Morg is, in his own words, "a servant of the force behind the Nothing." The Morg is, I believe, a demon, or fallen angel servant who has somehow crossed the border into Fantasia and put on the guise of that mythical creature of destruction, the werewolf. The Wolf image is only a guise used by the demon to try to blend in with his surroundings.

Of course, we know who wins in the end. This is a very complex movie and a VERY relevant one to the times in which we are living. I see people around me who are quite literally mental cripples who are incapable of imagination. Without the stories, we are nothing.

Best fantasy of the 80s
I grew up on this movie, but I hadn't seen it in years until I bought this DVD. I view it with and adult's perception now, so it's not as good for me as it was when I was a kid. However, because I can see that kids would love it, I think it still holds up well. Heck, I still like it.

I wish this DVD had more special features, but alas it does not. What really bothered me was that it didn't have a subtitle for when Bastian shouts out a name for the Child-like Empress. I was so looking forward to finally finding out what the heck he shouts out for her name, and I get nothing. But I researched it on the net, and apparently it's "Moon Child." It does sound like that's what he's shouting. But I'm baffled that that was his mother's name (unless he changed his mind further into the film and decided to give the Empress a random name rather than his mother's).

So overall, the movie's good and the DVD is so-so. Great picture and sound quality, but no special features and no subtitle for when he shouts out the Empress' new name. But it's the only one in the series worth buying I think. Well, maybe the second one was ok.

Speaking as an adult
Having only seen this movie for the first time two years ago, I beg to differ with those who claim that it's allure is lost to those not having been exposed to it at an early age. What makes this movie significantly superior to many other such children's films is heartful, caring use of non computer generated special effects. The challenge comes with letting yourself go on the wings or backs of the several beautifully crafted creatures we share this adventure with. It's shabby chic artisty is everywhere to be found including that great Moroder new wavey score. The best film fantasy film since the 80's? Quite possibly. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Lovely , simply charming and heartwarming
This movie touched my mind in so many ways. One thing it brought to mind was that the most important things in life are still free. The cast was excellent and the cinematoghraphy was beautiful. I truely enjoyed this movie. An excellent choice for those who love history with a lot of romance.

Good Entrainment with a Few Flaws
Great Cast with a great story is not always the best combo, but this DVD is a keeper. Audrey Hepburn as Natasha does the best with her multi expressions & cute dialogue during the many courtships throughout the film. Henry Fonda as Pierre comes in a close 2nd, but at 1st he seems out of place, too passive. Later this lack of emotion or evolvement shines forth as he goes though many hardships as a prisoner of Napoleon. Mel Ferrer as Prince Andrei, then Audrey Hepburn's real husband, has the same problem as Henry Fonda, he drifts in & out of character. I believe the problem with the main male actors is that they played it too straight. The woman who played Prince Andrei's 1st wife did the worst, she over acted like a silent movie star. The supporting cast does a great job, specially the actor playing Nepoleon. This is exactly what I think Nepoleon looked & acted like in the early 19th century. The phyical height & size for the French emperor are perfect, & the letting of free opinion to be express, yet at the same time having the over powering will to bring Europe to his knees. Desite the flaws, this version of "War & Peace" will give you a short stroll, with a "to the point" idea of a western classic with great photography & sound. I try not to watch it too many times because I don't want to wear it out.

the Hollywood version
This film is a bit of a mess, but nevertheless very entertaining, mostly because of Audrey Hepburn...her charisma and enthusiasm make up for a lot of the muddled and mixed performances that surround her in this star-studded production of Tolstoy's masterpiece.

Hepburn's then real life husband, Mel Ferrer, does a pretty good job as Prince Andrei and Henry Fonda is Pierre, who despite sounding like "Young Mr. Lincoln", gives a convincing performance, and has several fine scenes. Nino Rota's score is a curious one, as the beautiful Italian-flavored melodies we're accustomed to hear from him are replaced by Russian folk tunes and battlefield music.

Perhaps too many big names and too many writers (6 of them !) made the heart of the book get lost, but this is Audrey's movie, and she's a delight to watch.

Still The Best
This is an appeal to Hollywood, if anyone's listening.
I first saw this film in 1956, when it first opened in the UK.

I've seen it several times since, but all I can get here across the pond, is a second hand video at an extortionate price of nearly £ 40.

Please can we have it on DVD? SOON!

Hello?
Hasn't anyone ever heard of something called DIGITAL RESTORATION? Why must evryone keep waiting for sudios to release all these movies on proper 3- disc sets with a proper restoration. i mean, look what they did to My Fair LADY, it was so well restored that i couldn' tell the difference. even gone with the Wind hasn't had a proper DvD release yet. ... Read more

Description

Joseph Conrad's sprawling masterpiece of the quest for dominion over a backward South American country comes to life in this spectacular production.Featuring an all-star cast. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Archimedes Succeeds
When Archimedes declared that he could lift the earth with a long enough lever,the extent of his endeavors became readily apparent. Joseph Conrad in "Nostromo" attempted much more using the lever of language.He created his own universe with the finest prose that has ever been written.

The BBC attempted not much less converting this perhaps best ever work of literature into film. I congratulate them first for their enormous courage, their incredible endurance, and for their excellent production. After having tried to read this wonderful literary work most of my life, how wonderful it was to relax and through the medium of film have it revealed.

I could criticize this work, but it would be like critizing the dragon for having too many scales, or the elephant for its ugly
trunk. That this work was even finished deserves immense praise. That it succeeds as great entertainment to modest
moviegoers like me, implies that it deserves some critical acclaim. "Nostromo" as a work of literature will last as long as mankind, and I suspect that this movie will too. I am truly thankful for those bold ones so full of love that they were willing to hand us their lives through their work that we might have a blueprint for tomorrow. Their stories are every bit as interesting as the stories they wrote and rendered into film.

Fine, Except for Two Huge Flaws
One of the great shames of Cinema history is that David Lean died while working on bringing Nostromo to the big screen. He was the perfect man for the assignment, given his track record for bringing larger than life stories to audiences around the world. This effort, while commendable on several fronts, lacks the vision and scope that Lean would no doubt have brought to the endeavor.

The usual BBC miniseries apparata are at play here: solid cinematography, script, editing, directing, etc. The problem lies directly in the lap of the casting director (and the Producers, who have the final say in such matters). Two more incompetent actors could not have been conjured up for the crucial roles of Martin Decoud and Antonia Avellanos. I've spent a good part of my life involved in theater, and put simply, Lothaire Bluteau and Ruth Gabriel shouldn't be allowed a job in the most nondescript summer stock company in Amazonian Brazil. They are so inept and so miscast that they bring down the foundations of all scenerey, lighting, etc in their radii. They lack all acting skills. Sans elocution. Sans characterization. Sans any emotion faintly resembling human.

Too bad, because they really do blot out what could have been an absorbing miniseries. Even though Albert Finney is basically reprieving his Geoffrey Firman part in UNDER THE VOLCANO, he is still fun to watch. Claudio Amendola (notice you've never heard of these people?) is a passable Nostromo, though the part demanded a more dimensional, star quality actor. Joachim de Almeida chews the scenery as the nefarious Colonel Sotillo. Colin Firth does a commendable job as Charles Gould, though Serena Scott Thomas as Mrs Gould is another wrong person in a wrong role. A young Julie Christie is what is called for. Serena doesn't have the chops.

It looks indeed like the budget for this series was spent on location work and cinematography. If they'd done the thing on a soundstage in Warwick and spent a bit more on hiring a quality cast, it might have ended up as a worthy representation of Conrad's masterpiece. As it stands, I would imagine that David Lean is rolling over in his grave, every time this less than spectacular attempt is viewed.

BEK

"I will go to any lengths to succeed."
This 5 hour long BBC production of the Conrad novel is set on the South American republic of Costaguana at the end of Nineteenth Century. Costaguana boasts a once productive silver mine, but the republic's troubled political past includes a bloody anti-foreigner phase which resulted in the mine's closure. Now, murdered mine-owner's son, Charles Gould, returns to Costaguana to put the mine back in production. Of course, it is clear that in returning, Gould's determination--while ostensibly driven by the desire for silver--is also fueled by a sense of finishing his father's mission.

Gould (Colin Firth) arrives with his naive new bride, Emilia (Serena Scott Thomas), and for a while, the political climate is one of optimism. The small country is run by a benevolent, democratic governor, and soon Gould's mine is back in full operation with railroads shipping the silver from the mine to the port of Sulaco. However, the political largesse does not last, and before long, numerous factions all want a share of the silver. Everyone demands their tribute--the local bandits, a local priest, various corrupt officials--they all want a share of the silver. After a bloody coup, various factions vie for possession of the mine, and military officers and civilians alike change sides whenever the political winds seem to favour one side over another.

There is a benefit to watching the film "Nostromo" before reading the book--I came to the film with no visual expectations of the characters whatsoever. There are many 'big' names in the cast list. Colin Firth was simply marvelous as the mine owner, Charles Gould, and Brian Dennehy plays a small role as the American Joshua C.Holroyd (the man who finances the entire venture). Claudia Cardinale plays Teresa Voila--the Italian wife of an Innkeeper. Albert Finney plays Dr Monygham-a crippled drunk who managed to survive the last revolution only to face another. I preferred the scenes with Albert Finney sober--or almost so--it's just boring to watch Finney playing yet another role of a drunk.

I found the on-screen romance between Martin Decoud and Antonia Avellanos completely unbelievable. There was no spark between them, and yet we were supposed to believe that Martin returned from France to almost certain death for his love of Antonia. All I saw was a few hysterics, and it all fell flat. This was unfortunate and it did alter my perception of the film overall. Some of the revolution scenes were a bit cheesy too. One of the most interesting aspects of the film, however, was the development of some of the characters over time. Charles Gould wavers when making decisions in the beginning of the story, and he seems just a little unsure of himself, but by the end of the film, Gould has hardened into the ultimate capitalist. Emilia Gould is a giddy bride who metamorphoses into a neglected, unhappy wife. Moynham's character is fascinating. He has no illusions--no faith left, but he still rustles up chivalrous feelings towards Emilia Gould, and she uses these to her advantage. Nostromo is the 'dark horse' in the story. It is not clear at first what motivates him. He seems to be owned by no one--a true free spirit, and not subject to the corrupting desire for silver. Nostromo, in fact, refuses to leave the service of Capt. Mitchell for higher pay from the American Holroyd, and Nostromo boldly states, "you can't buy me." Exactly what characteristics make Nostromo tick--ego, vanity, and pride--develop over time. And it is the story here that makes the film worth watching. All throughout the film--right until the powerful closing scene, I heard the words 'money is the root of all evil' in my head. This production does not have quite the usual standard that I have come to expect from the BBC. While the lush location added to the atmosphere of the story, somehow the film had the feel of a prime time television series. Nonetheless, I was still extremely interested in how the story and the characters developed. Now I shall have to read the book. displacedhuman.

A rant
NOSTROMO is the BBC production of Joseph Conrad's novel of the same title. Set in the second half of the 1800s in the fictional South American backwater of Costaguana, the country's only resource is a silver mine owned and operated by a British entrepreneur. The indigenous people are exploited, naturally.

As the film opens, a local demagogue mounts a popular insurgence against the hated foreigners, during which spasm the mine owner is slaughtered. The storyline quickly moves forward a couple of decades when the owner's son, Charles Gould (Colin Firth), arrives with his wife Emilia (Serena Scott Thomas) to reopen the abandoned mine, make a fortune for the investors, and bring relative prosperity to the local labor pool. Charles is a benevolent exploiter. Gould must accomplish all this in the face of self-serving politicians, greedy army officers turned self-serving politicians, opportunistic banditos, another rebellion, and the disloyalty of a trusted native worker, Nostromo (Claudio Amendola), elevated by Gould to a high level of responsibility. Business as usual in a Third World armpit.

The beauty of the shoot's locations doesn't mitigate the fact that the film is five hours of tedium made possible by a succession of on-screen characters that inspired nothing but yawns.

Somber taciturnity, which was integral to Colin Furth's role as Darcy in PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (1995), renders Charles just a monumental bore. At least Emilia shows some spirit, but she ultimately has no effect on the outcome of anything.

Nostromo, who's apparently so important to the story that the book and film are given his name, is such an uncharismatic, minor player in the first two reels that by the time he becomes the Great Tragic Figure in the last I didn't care in the slightest.

Dr. Monyghan (Albert Finney), the Has-Been physician that lives in a personally more glorious past, and the venomous snake Colonel Sotillo (Joaquim de Almeida), are marginally interesting for the their first few minutes of respective screen time, then become tiresome because they offer no surprises.

The good friend that loaned me NOSTROMO is aware of my opinion, and called it a "rant". Now that I've put it in writing and made it public, perhaps I'll become a Horrid Person. The bottom line is that any nascent kernel of interest I may have had to read the original Conrad novel was smothered by the torpid pace of this TV miniseries evidently padded with ho-hums to fill a predetermined time slot.

So, that rant went well, don't you think?

Pleasent surprise
...it caught my attention. As I continued to watch it I was drawn further into it. It is a long movie, I think about 4 hours but the ending was really surprising. Its a must see movie. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Before making the original Halloween into one of the most profitable independent films of all time, John Carpenter directed this riveting low-budget thriller from 1976, in which a nearly abandoned police station is held under siege by a heavily armed gang called Street Thunder. Inside the station, cut off from contact and isolated, cops and convicts who were headed for death row must now join forces or die. That's the basic plot, but it's what Carpenter does with it that's remarkable. Drawing specific inspiration from the classic Howard Hawks Western Rio Bravo (which included a similar siege on disadvantaged heroes), Carpenter used his simple setting for a tense, tightly constructed series of action sequences, emphasizing low-key character development and escalating tension. Few who've seen the film can forget the "ice cream cone" scene in which a young girl is caught up in the action by patronizing a seemingly harmless ice cream truck. It's here, and in other equally memorable scenes, that Carpenter demonstrates his singular knack for injecting terror into the mundane details of daily life, propelling this potent thriller to cult favorite status and long-standing critical acclaim. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (51)

One of the Top Independent Films Ever
Being a fanatic of John Carpenter, specifically the Halloween series, hearing about this movie made me eager to check it out. I read the raving reviews here on Amazon dot com and decided to take a slight risk and purchase the DVD. Well, I sure was blown away. Movies now a days are never made like this, especially in the way that the characters act. The portrayol of the evil gang members is superb along with the portrayol of the "good guys" in the movie, one in particular being Austin Stoker who plays the main role. This movie is action packed and many parts will leave you shocked. The soundtrack is another great aspect of this film, and way ahead of it's time considering that this movie was made in the 70's. The special features include a very comical interview with Carpenter and Stoker done very recently where some lucky fans got to ask the pair questions regarding this movie along with asking about other John Carpenter classics. Assault on Precinct 13 proves that John Carpenter can make a masterpiece out of a budget no matter how high or low that it is. If you like any work that Carpenter has done then I highly reccomend this film. This is only the second movie he released, but it's deffinatley one of his best.

Lucky 13
Before he scared the heck out of us with the original Halloween, director John Carpenter tried his hand at the action genre, with Assault On Precinct 13. Like Halloween, this movie was made on a shooestring budget, but doesn't let that stop it from being darn good.

A vicious Los Angeles gang called Street Thunder takes over an all but abandoned police station. This, as a group of convicts are being transnsported, awaiting time on death row. Now, a handful of cops must join forces with these criminals, to survive the seige.

The action comes fast and furious. Carpenter makes the most of limited sets and really goes all out. The tension of the film is sustained throughout and played in favor of any real character development. Of course, the infamous, anti-establishment cynacism that Carpenter is known for is ever present. The movie is really like a modern day-in the 70's at least-western. Most of the characters are a tough hombre`s. Strong performances by Austin Stoker as Bishop, Darwin Joston as Wilson, Martin West as Lawson, Tony Burton as Wells, and Laurie Zimmer as Leigh, highlight the film. The climax rivals most gunplay scenes in any of the more recent actioners. Assault is dsated only by its wardrobe and hairstyles but holds up rather well--just the same.

The special edition DVD has a fair amount of bonus material. Most of which, will provide enjoyable insight, into how it all came together. Carpenter provides another straight forward audio commentary for the film. He is low key about it all--but quite candid. The "new" video Q&A with Carpenter and star Austin Stoker at the American Cinematheque is also well done. I wish there could have been a few more participants though. The music score, written by Carpenter is a real treat and it's cool to have it isolated. Both behind the scenes stills and lobby card galleries are here, as is the theatrical trailer, and a couple of radio spots. Not bad if you ask me...

Assault On Precinct 13 may not be my favorite Carpenter film. But it's still worth a look, especially for those keen on the action genre

Before you see the Remake make sure you see the original 1st
Yes it is being remade for release in 2005! But before you go out and see that you MUST see the original. Carpenter's 1st studio film!
Based on Howard Hawks Rio Bravo, it tells the story of a police precinct under siege, where Police and prisoners have to fight side by side in order to survive. Great acting by Austin Stoker and Darwin Joston. Excellent direction and music by John Carpenter. Not to be missed!

A cult action classic from John Carpenter!
A police station in L.A. called Precinct 13 has two police officers, two women and two convicts including a traumatized victim are being trapped by street gangs who are surrounding the place making it a living hell for them. They have to find a way to get out, defend themselves and make those devils go away.

An intense, exciting, gripping action drama classic from John Carpenter which happens to be his second movie after "Dark Star". This movie offers loads of action, brutal violence including a on screen child murder, gunfire, an interesting storyline and cool music by Carpenter.

This movie became a cult classic over the years yet still has a strong following including being one of the greatest action movies in movie history. The DVD here is a nice special edition with great transfer, and cool extras like Poster-and-still gallery, trailer, radio spots and interviews, if you love John Carpenter and action movies then add this to your collection.

There is going to be a big budget remake due out next year with Ethan Hawke, Ja Rule, Lawrence Fishburne, Brian Deheney and John Leguizomo.

Also recommended: Die Hard, Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, From Dusk Till Dawn, The Rock, Con Air, Shaft, The Siege, The Peacemaker, Lethal Weapon, Scarface, Commmando, Passenger 57.

Killer movie, but even better, AWESOME music soundtrack
after everything's been said or written about this movie, that's the one part I felt I must highlight; the music for this movie was credited to Carpenter, and in the DVD format, it just rocks, just gives the speakers a serious workout. For a 1970s movie, or for any decade, for that matter, it's awesome. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Wicked, nasty, delicious fun. Laurence Olivier is a wealthy, veddy English mystery writer. He invites Michael Caine to his elaborate country house, in order to settle some rather unpleasant business between them: Caine is having an affair with Olivier's wife, and she is about to divorce the older man. Olivier, smooth as brandy, suggests that there might be a way the two men can help each other, but what appears to be an intriguing proposition escalates into a deadly cat-and-mouse game. Sleuth boasts a twisty script by Anthony Shaffer, calculated to drive an audience to distraction; and director Joseph L. Mankiewicz (All About Eve) shows a keen eye for the telling detail. But the real fun is watching Olivier and Caine go at each other hammer and tongs, a virtuoso wrestling match between two splendid actors (both were Oscar-nominated, but lost to Marlon Brando in The Godfather). Alec Cawthorne is also quite good as the inquisitive inspector on the case. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Making a game out of real murder...and making it fun.
The idea of a movie with only two actors in it may not sound overly exciting, but when you watch "Sleuth" for the first time, you realize that it couldn't have worked any other way. For many years, "Sleuth" has been one of my favorite movies, and remains so to this day. It is cleverly written and superbly acted by both Michael Caine (my all time favorite actor) and Sir Laurence Olivier.

The tag line "Think of the perfect crime...then go one step further" describes exactly what the movie is all about. Olivier plays Andrew Wyke, an eccentric and revered mystery writer invites Milo Tindle (Caine) over to his mansion over a weekend in order to discuss the terms of his affair with his wife. Wyke is known as a lover of toys, games, and deviously cunning games of trickery that he plays on people. Wyke has known for some time that Tindle has been having an affair with his wife, and that he intends to marry her. Wyke sees an opportunity to unload his wife, without the possibility of her coming back and getting deeper into his pocketbook. Knowing him to be broke, Wyke proposes to Tindle a robbery scheme that will solve both of their problems. Things got a bit awry. What happens next would be criminal to give away, but it is one of the most brilliantly crafted farces I have ever seen in a movie.

"Sleuth" was adapted from the stage play by Anthony Shaffer, and it plays out very much like the play itself. There is one setting, two actors, and lots of dialogue. It works very well, because it wasn't overdone in production. I cannot see how this could have worked with a more elaborate setting or cast. What carries the movie are the performances by Caine and Olivier, which ranks among their personal best (and picking ones from such distinguished careers is hard). Their interaction between each other is riveting, since their characters are so cunning. "Sleuth" was made in 1971, and 30 years on, every aspect of the movie has aged well. It is one of those movies that makes time stand still, and you are unaware that 2 hours has gone by at the end of it. That is the token of a great movie.

The Anchor Bay DVD boasts the best transfer and sound quality of "Sleuth" so far, though the previous versions were also very good (including the VHS, which is rare for older movies). The main supplement is the 20 minute featurette "A Sleuthian Journey with Anthony Shaffer", in which the famous playwright is interviewed on his experiences with the play, the making of the movie, and his interactions with the filmmakers. He is jovial and gives plenty of fun anecdotes throughout the interview. Aside from that, there are talent bios and the usual trailers and TV spots. Considering the age and modest budget, not much in the way of extras should be expected.

"Sleuth" is a rare movie that I can watch over and over again, and I am pleased to see that Anchor Bay did justice to the movie with this excellent (and modestly priced) DVD. An easy purchase for any movie fan.

LABYRINTH MAN
Adapted for the screen by Anthony Schaffer, the author of the play, and directed by one of the legends of Hollywood, Joseph L. Mankiewicz, SLEUTH is the perfect movie for you if you like excellent actors, Laurence Olivier and Michaël Caine for instance, a subtle plot with unexpected twists and a superior cinematography.

I was amazed by the admirable production design of the movie. Laurence Olivier's mansion is a dream come true, every objects appearing on the screen seem to have a priceless value and the rooms, including the cellar, are little museums. Joseph L. Mankiewicz had to nail the audience in some way because SLEUTH is not a play with a lot of characters and could have discouraged the viewer if the director hadn't been such a talent. Another (innocent) trick of Mankiewicz is to film the puppets or the masks as if they were alive, you always have the feeling that the characters are not alone in the mansion.

One can regret that the Anchor Bay DVD presents only a scene access and no english subtitles. The image quality was, in my opinion, rather good, without black or white spots. Sound, on the contrary, could have been better.

A DVD for the smart ones.

"Be sure and tell 'em... it was just...a bloody game."
"Sleuth" stars Michael Caine as the young hair-dresser "Milo Tindle" and Laurence Olivier as an upper-crust mystery writer "Andrew Wyke".

Michael Caine is having an affair with the wife of Andrew Wyke. Wyke invites Milo to his country manor to discuss a plan whereby Milo would "rob" Wyke of some expensive jewels, sell them to a pre-arranged fence in Amsterdam, and get enough money to afford Wyke's wife, thus freeing up Wyke to live with his own mistress (and get the insurance money for the stolen jewels.)

Wyke outlines the complexities of the plan, which involve Milo dressing in different clothes, breaking into the house, blowing up a safe, etc, to make it appear to be a legitimate robbery.

There are many appealing aspects to the movie. First is the character of Andrew Wyke, a famous writer of a series of detective-fiction wherein the main character, Lord Merridew, always outwits the rather bumbling police force to solve the crime. Second is Wyke's hobbies, which run the gamut from an ancient chess-like board game, a jigsaw puzzle that is only a white rectangle, and various assorted collectibles such as a full-sized animated sailor dummy. Wyke's gameplaying attitude is extended to the plan of the fake robbery. The third compelling aspect of the movie is the witty, sparring dialogue between Wyke and Tindle.

Although at first, the two characters try to maintain a slightly forced friendly rivaly, but as the robbery unfolds, it becomes clear that Wyke in fact resents Milo and his wife's affair, and is actually setting up Milo to be killed as a burglar. In a series of plot twists I won't reveal, Wyke humiliates Tindle and sends him away. However, Tindle gets the last laugh, literally, in the end.

A long-time favorite movie of mine, it earned best actor nominations for both Olivier and Caine, and a nomination for director Mankiewicz. The DVD has a 23 minute "interview" by playwright Anthony Shaffer, chapters and a trailer.

St. John Lord Merridew's "Death by Double Fault"
Sleuth is Anthony Schaffer's play of mystery and murder brought to the screen. If you are an Oxford scholar you will have no problem with this film. Others may require a dictionary as this is a very erudite work. You also cannot blink, cough, or let your mind wander for a moment or you will lose your place as to what is happening. I say these things because they are true and because it is one of the most intelligent scripts ever brought to the screen. I can only compare the "Brideshead Revisited" script that was done by John Mortimer to match this production from 1972. Michael Caine was at his best, and although Oliver's performance on screen seems top notch, if you have read anything on the making of this film it was reported that he had trouble learning his lines among other distractions. The SETS on this film are memorable! VERY EXPENSIVE and CUSTOM games are everywhere.The music is VERY atmospheric, from the harpsichord improvs to the old Cole Porter tunes. Unusual in that it features only two men without the mandatory love interest that pervades every American picture but their duels do concern a love relationship with women of mutual acquaintance. Oliver is a mystery writer who has a character, St. John Lord Merridew solve all the plots ala' Hercule Poirot. The play and film are tributes to the classic detective fiction of the golden age of the 1930's. "Where every cabinet minister had a thriller by his beside and all detectives were titled." He uses his talent in mystery to entice and trap Michael Caine (his wife's current lover) in a series of games of death within the mansion meant to scorn and ridicule by upper class methods and put a trumped up pantry boy in his place! Caine turns the tables as Inspector Doppler drops by and makes Oliver believe he is going to jail for murder. Eventually the duels lead Oliver to crack under insults to his manhood and he performs the ultimate deed at the untimely arrival of the real police and sees his world that he created of games end in real life tragedy.

Fun & Games With Two Fine Actors
1972's Sleuth is literally a two-man show, with Olivier and Caine matching each other scene for scene in this lengthy 2-hour, 18-minute story revolving around some rather unusual parlor games.

It's a pleasure to watch these two actors at work (or is it "play"?). I've never enjoyed Mr. Caine more.

It's quite unusual to see a movie with the entire cast comprising just two people! And each of them does a bloody good job of holding our interest till the end.

I would certainly recommend this top-notch tongue-in-cheek murder mystery. ... Read more

Amazon.com

He's a supersuave special agent. He has an arsenal of custom-made high-tech gadgets. Women find him irresistible. James Bond? No, James West, from the fondly remembered genre-bending TV series The Wild, Wild West, starring Robert Conrad as a frontier 007. Posing as "the dandiest dude that ever crossed the Mississippi," West and his partner, master of disguise Artemus Gordon (Ross Martin), foil diabolical plots to, primarily, take over the world. This boxed set rounds up three vintage episodes from the series' inaugural 1965 season. In the pilot, "The Night of the Inferno," President Grant himself recruits West, "the finest underground intelligence officer we have," to stop a revolution. Guest stars include Suzanne Pleshette as the proprietor of, um, a gambling house and Victor Buono as the mysterious Wing Fat. In "The Night of the Double-Edge Knife," Cheyenne Indians are blamed for a series of attacks on railroad workers. Guest stars include Leslie Nielsen (playing it straight as an exiled Army general with a grudge), Katharine Ross, Elisha Cook Jr., and Drew's dad, John Drew Barrymore. "The Night the Wizard Shook the Earth" introduces the villain who would be West's most elusive nemesis throughout the series, the diminutive Dr. Miguelito Loveless (Michael Dunn). That's Richard Kiel, better known as Jaws on The Spy Who Loved Me, as his henchman. --Donald Liebenson ... Read more

Reviews (7)

The West takes on a new look
I remember when I first started watching these (way back when). It was unlike any western I'd ever seen or would ever see. The creativity of this series is phenomenal. The humor is subtle, the action is spectacular, and the gadgets...oh those crazy gadgets...were way ahead of their time. Spielberg probably picked up a few pointers from this one. Just wish I had a train like James and Artemus had. Travel taken to a whole new level of comfort. The movie with Will Smith doesn't even come close to the same level as the series. The movie was just a showcase for Smith. The series is a showcase for creativity at its finest. Guaranteed--you won't waste you money buying these.

WILD WILD WINNER!!
These episodes are very good! They reflect a mass of James West's tools and gadgets and the story lines are done very well! Well written. I'm a big James west fan and will tell you that among all episodes, these are very good and would go well in any Wild Wild West collection.

I know it's crazy...but it's true!
I'll never being tired to see all of wild-wild west TV episodes. Why? Because of Robert Conrad! Conrad was so amazing inthis film...I couldn't imagine the film without him...even Will Smith couldn't replace him for the big screen version. The most important part that I like most is.....when Robert Conrad is Shirtless. Waw....you can see his athletical body and hairy chest of him. Of course...because he's so handsome (when he was young)...it seems that he's the sexiest man that I've ever seen.

WILD, WILD WEST, BETTER THAN THE MOVIE
I LIKE THIS TV SERIES, BETTER THAN THE MOVIE THAT MOVIE WAS A DISASTER IN ALL FRONTS, ROBERT CONRAD IS WONDERFUL, & THE CAST IS GREAT.

An absolute MUST-SEE set of episodes!
I thought all three episodes were really great. They all possess the elements that make watching these volumes an absolute priority. The videos bring out the 007 in West and the master of disguise in Gordon. The episodes are action packed and dig deep into the rare science fiction which is amazingly and marvelously applied to the 1865 setting making "The Wild Wild West" the best western ever. That's just my opinion. Watch the episodes and see for yourselves. ... Read more

Reviews (49)

Four Good Bonds out of Five
MGM's James Bond Collection #2 provides the Bond fan the an assortment of the "middle" Bond movies (On Her Majesty's Secret Service, The Man with the Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me, and Moonraker, along with the first Bond movie, Dr. No), with an assortment of the extra accompliments that DVD lovers have come to expect in the the format: audio commentary, a documentary "Making of" or "Inside," along with original ads and trailers.

For action, Dr. No and Her Majesty's Secret Service are two of the best of the series. The Spy Who Loved Me and The Man with the Golden Gun offer two of the most stylish of the series, with lavish sets and larger than life villians.

This set would have received five stars had it not included "Moonraker," one of the two weak Moore movies (the other being "A View to A Kill") and the Bond producers response to "Star Wars;" however, since "For Your Eyes Only" had been issued on the previous set, that was not possible.

At Amazon's price, this set is a must for Bond, and other action, lovers, and I'd recommend it.

The Best Bond Films All In One Set!
this is probably the best collection of bond films avilable out there! it features:dr. no(the first and one of the best all time bonds),on her majeties secret service (probably one of the best only if sean conery was in it!), the man with the golden gun(a bit goofy but still good), the spy who loved me(definetly one of roger moore's best), and moonraker,(this would have been my favorite bond film except for the bad ending that spoils it all!) of all the other sets, this has my personal favorites. in my opinion there should have had a conery set, a moore set and the dalton/brosnan set but thats not what happened so i'd go with this one! the dvd has all the tailers and other good extras. if you'r gonna bye one of the bond sets, get this one!

The James Bond Collection Vol. 2, VHS
Not a bad collection of Bond material, however, this is a mix of various Bond movies with a variety of leading Bond actors. I recommend looking into the 1996 Collections that have the videos in chronological order and primarily by actor. JAMES BOND 007 Collector's Set, Vol. 1 includes all six Broccoli-produced Sean Connery Bond films, to include a 1995 documentary video. JAMES BOND 007 Collector's Set, Vol. 2 includes all seven Roger Moore films and Timothy Dalton's first film. Although these sets are out-of-print, they are still available as used and collector's sets through Amazon.com's Marketplace. If you're like most fans, you'd prefer to have the movies that include your own favorite "leading-Bond-man"!

The Undertakers Wind and other Stuff
The groundbreaking DR. NO is one of the best James Bond films of the series. Sean Connery's performance is that of the no-nonsense dedicated civil servant entrusted with a "licence-to-kill" when he chooses, where he chooses and whom he chooses. His screen presence alone conveys the physical, intellectual and moral conviction of the character. Connery's portrayal in this film directed by Terence Young seems closer to the literary James Bond created by Ian Fleming. Many elements that distinguish the James Bond series were introduced in this film. The opening gun barrel trademark, "The James Bond Theme," M played by Bernard Lee, Miss Moneypenny played by Lois Maxwell, Ken Adam's distinctive melding of modern and futuristic production designs, Maurice Binder's unique main titles, the "Martinis shaken not stirred," exotic locales, just to name a few are all here. Bond is sent to Jamaica, land of the Undertakers Wind, to investigate the elimination of British field agents and strange signals that have been interfering with the American space program. Joseph Wiseman as DR. NO is one of the best villains of the series. His steel mono-toned performance is eerily unsettling. Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder leaves the most indelible image of the series as she emerges erotically from the blue waters of the Caribbean clad in her white bikini. Along with Felix Leiter and Quarrel, Bond must uncover the trail that all leads to DR. NO's mysterious Crab Key. ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE is the one film closest to any of Ian Fleming's Bond novels. George Lazenby, possessing the physique and physical attributes that fit the role, gives a visually striking and straightforward performance in his only appearance as James Bond. The combined efforts of all the filmmakers and Lazenby's performance of a James Bond with conviction, assuredness and determination make this the definitive James Bond film. The film has a sense of undeniable drive behind it accentuated by Lazenby's no-nonsense approach and the urgency of John Barry's instrumental theme used repeatedly to never let up the pace. If James Bond was ever the dedicated civil servant it is ever so evident in this film. There are intensely choreographed fights of great ferocity, exciting and incredible ski chases, car chases, an alpine battle atop an ice-capped peak and an extraordinary thrilling bobsled chase. There is more action, suspense and emotion packed into this film than any other in the series and Lazenby's hard edged performance, Peter Hunt's direction and John Barry's driving score make it all work. ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE is possibly the best film of the series. THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN contains one of Roger Moore's best performances as James Bond as he injects Bond's virility, worldliness and sardonic wit back into the character in his second appearance as Bond. Christopher Lee's performance as the enigmatic Scaramanga is refreshingly energetic giving the assassin an amiable quality on the surface hiding a darker side beneath. An often-overlooked asset to this film is Maud Adams' performance as Andrea, Scaramanga's beautiful mistress. She brings genuine compassion to the role as the tormented individual who can not escape her master. There is also great location cinematography in this film. We see Bond at the gambling tables at the Casino de Macaoand and witness his solo flight through the uprooted rock formations near Phuket, Thailand to Scaramanga's island. One bit of innovation combing location filming, miniatures and set design was the use of the half-submerged Queen Elizabeth, its hull at a 30-degree angle, scorched and rusted at rest in Hong Kong harbor. Hidden in the bowels of the sunken ship is the headquarters for the Hong Kong station of the British Secret Service. "It's the only place in Hong Kong where you can't be bugged" says a naval officer to Bond. THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN contains martial arts sequences, an imaginative car chase and some very witty dialogue. The music soundtrack by John Barry was re-mastered in stereo. THE SPY WHO LOVED ME is a big-budgeted opulent film with effective screenplay and editing delivering one of the most succinctly structured films of the series. Roger Moore clearly redefined his approach to the role as the good-natured British agent. His Bond is suave, debonair, never condescending and resorts to seriousness only when confronted with malevolence. That was the way he played it for the rest of the series. The globetrotting THE SPY WHO LOVED ME featured a gadget laden Lotus Esprit as its centerpiece and a maniacal villain Stromberg whose immense wealth featured an aquatic empire aimed at global domination. Great action sequences and chases abound. MOONRAKER is one of the biggest films of the entire series. Once again Bond is on the trail of another maniacal villain, Hugo Drax, whose immense wealth has financed the research and production of the space shuttle program. This is also another globetrotting epic that features gorgeous location work in Venice and Rio de Janeiro bringing out the of essence of these exquisite cities. Following his work on THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, production designer Ken Adam returned with some sets reminiscent of the earlier Bond films as well as some completely innovative sets for Drax's space empire. MOONRAKER plays like a compendium of the entire series running the gamut from the serious to the fanciful. MOONRAKER contains many elements to please the diverse tastes of the millions of Bond fans. That is the magic of MOONRAKER. There is incredible action in this film. The free-fall sequence is one of the best pre-title sequences of the series. The boat chase in the South American jungle is truly thrilling. Bond's fight in the Venetian glass museum is a classic. John Barry's score is exquisite and moving, one of his most unique. The dialogue by Christopher Wood is witty and intelligent. MOONRAKER has it all. This Volume demonstrates the versatility and diversity of the world of James Bond.

Excellent Set, but the scalpers want your blood for this one
The studio has just re-released this James Bond set three so don't buy it from the scalpers here wanting two to three hundred plus dollars. Amazon will be selling the new re-release Set three as of November 17th. My advice to you is you can buy all three new re-released sets for under three hundred dollars. The set itself is great. Some of the best James Bond movies are in this set. The picture and sound quality are great and they include many extra features. You can get the new sets for under ninety dollars. If you bought the other sets and didn't get this one, do like me and donate the others to charity and buy the new sets. Makes me feel good about cheating the scalpers out of my money instead of them cheating me out it. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Richard's a blast!
I popped in these tapes after not having used them for a few years, and found that they are still fun. Great cardio workout, and Richard's attitude is upbeat and infectious. The other background exercisers in the tape seemed to have a lot of fun, too. The dance steps may take a few viewings to get down, but I don't find them difficult. These tapes might make for a good warmup for an intermediate or advanced user.

Top Notch
Ok, I bought these against the advice of people here but I'm a Simmons Groupie and didn't have these 3. I just finished the Latin Blast Off and yes, the moves are hard but they need practice to learn. This video is fun, and fast, and the time just flies. I did the best I could with the moves but after a few times I'm sure I'll get it down. Plus, it's loaded with beautiful people with great costumes and makeup, and they are having such FUN....
If you are used to another Richard video and know his normal moves then get this. It may take awhile to get the moves down but doesn't it always? Plus, it's 40 minutes long. I always thought 1 hour was too much and 30 minutes was too short, this is perfect. The aerobic part was about a half hour and then there was a toning session with "cool weights" that you can order from Richard but they are just wrist weights you can buy at any Wal-Mart, or do without until you build your arm strenth up. Great video set.

Too complicated for the uncordinated
I bought these videos because I enjoyed the Sweatin to the Oldies series, but this was not the same at all. I put the Latin dance tape in and was so confused that I gave up in the first two minutes. I continued to watch the entire tape and felt there was no way I would ever learn all the moves and never put it back in. There was poor cueing, you would need to watch the tapes many times first in order to do a first time work out and follow along. Stick with the Sweatin' series.

So Much Fun, You Actually Want to Exercise!
I disagree with the other reviewers. I found the difference between these videos and Richard's previous videos the exact reason why I love these so much. It looks like Richard hired some real dancers for the videos. Not that I have anything against overweight people (I shouldn't), but it is nice to do the exercises while watching some truly attractive people. The outfits they wear are *fun*. Some things in the Latin workout are hysterically funny, like when a woman sitting at a table in the "club" starts to gyrate and dance against Richard. The look on his face is to die for. Not only will you get fit doing these tapes, you will also laugh a lot...if you have a sense of humor.

The music includes songs by Ricky Martin, Enrique, Madonna, Cher, and others. The music on all 3 tapes is phenomenal. You can't help but feel incredibly happy exercising to this music. The cool down sessions are great. The toning segments WORK. I've gone from "I don't want to exercise" to "I can't wait" because these tapes are so much fun and you will see results! Richard uses much more effective moves in these tapes. His cueing is still terrible. But once you do them a few times, you'll have the moves down. And you'll be having so much fun doing them!

I've lost 10 lbs. and one pants size in 3 weeks with just these tapes. Thank you for making me a "mover" again, Richard! And please, make more videos like these!

Shorter, more intense workouts
The workouts in these videos are shorter and more intense than Richard's normal videos, which can be a plus since I don't always have a whole hour to devote to exercise. The Aerobics last about 30 minutes then there is 10 minutes of toning. When I
bought this set is came with wrist weights, but I have stopped using those and just use small dumbbells now instead. The intensity of these videos might appeal to people who have not found his workouts challenging enough in the past, but may be too intense for his target audience, really overweight people.

There are a couple of things that I object to about these videos. They are a little harder to follow than Richard's other videos, and those of you who have tried his videos before know that he really borders on dance with some of his moves. I gave up all together trying to follow the Latin Blast Off. I also object to the way some of the women are dressed in these videos. Richard usually uses real people in real clothes in his workouts. Many of the women in these look like they are auditioning for an adult film, especially in the Latin video. All in all, though, I enjoy the challenging but shorter workouts offered by this set. ... Read more

Description

There are two sides to every story, the saying goes. For Alex Haley, one side was roots, the towering chronicle tracing severn generations of his mother's family. The othe side comes to the screen in Alex Haley's Queen, the remarkable history of a paternal side of the author's family. David L. Wolper (Roots, The Thorn Birds) is the executive producer of this acclaimed adaption of the story Haley was working on when he died. Halle Berry plays Queen, daughter of a slave (Jasmine Guy) and a plantation owner (Tim Daly). During the turbulent decades of the antebellum South, the Civil war, Reconstruction and beyond, she searches for a home in the two cultures of her heritage - and at times is shunned by both. Rejection and hate are no match for her unconquerable will, however. Ann-Margret, Danny Glover, and Ossie Davis are among the many stars of this poingnant, uplifting final chapter of the Haley legacy. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Everyone should see this one!
My favorite movie of all time is Gone with the Wind(I realize it's fiction)and I have to say Queen is right up there with it. I have also read the book, which I should say is also a must read. Queen is non-fiction so I think there are lots of people who would really enjoy it and maybe it would make some see what that time was REALLY like. I love books, movies or anything that has to do with that era. I love to watch it every chance I can.

A great movie, sad, but compelling
I was never aware of the hardships that biracial slaves suffered. I am a fairskinned black woman, so I greatly sympathized with Queen. She was defintely ahead of her time, but she had a hell of a lot of courage. I admire her a lot. Watch this movie. You will never view race relations the same again. END

Good
I saw the movie before reading the book and I must say that the book was more interesting. I think that can be said for most books turned movies because of the detail books allow. However, I don't think the change in character was necessary to the movie to save any time. After all, much the time the book takes to read is due to the detail given to physical features, setting the scene, and describing supporting characters. The visual of film slashes those burdens instantly. On another note, I understand that Queen is the focus of the movie but I feel that more could have been done to develop the characters of people like Lizzie. Her upbringing and personal feelings of insecurity had as much to do with her treatment of Queen as the social order of those days. Even with all this, the movie is touching. The acting was excellent for the most part.

QUEEN
Excellent Movie. A must have. Halle Berry is great in this movie.

I could relate
I loved this movie. Their is still this prejudice against bi-racial people and I can relate. What happened in Queen is what happens now still. Its hard to get accepted. This movie did a good job in showing a bi-racials point of view in the movie Queen. Halle Berry(my fave actress) did an EXCELLENT job in this movie and I was also impressed with the scenery and costumes. It was so real and I think it was an great idea to have an continuing of roots. I would really recommend this movie to anyone who loves movies or tv shows like Dr.Quinn, or historical movies. You don't want to take your eyes off the screen because you want to know what happenes next. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Failure to deliver product
You cashed my check 2 months ago and you still have not sent the video. What is your problem?

Probably the second best way to spend a rainy afternoon
I bought this by mistake, but instead of changing it for the correct title, i watched it and thoroghly enjoyed it.
A great family drama and despite no tipping the velvet scenes this is one i would recommended to everyone, despite a slightly misleading title.

Surviving In The Wilderness
This is a moving story, well produced and enhanced with DVD capabilities. "The DVD feedback option is wonderful for promoting discussion." "The ease of going from scene to scene was a great benefit." Good historical information and author's biography. The kids liked the adventure story. DVD features easy to operate for most. "I liked the way we could go back to different sections, like when they were shooting arrows." "It showed a lot about hunting and building a cabin." "Matt got along with the Indians." Best for ages 8 to 12.

I'll Be Waiting, Pa
Terrific family entertainment and certain to please younger viewers as they relate to the child protagonist, 13-year-old Matt. The young settler has agreed to protect the homestead while awaiting the return of his family but, due to unforseen delays, his short wait turns to months. With assistance from the Penobscot Indians the boy learns the necessary skills to survive and must make the difficult decision whether to continue waiting for his family or depart with the natives as the Maine winter approaches...

I'll Be Waiting, Pa...
Terrific family entertainment and certain to please younger viewers as they relate to the child protagonist, 13-year-old Matt. The young settler has agreed to protect the homestead while awaiting the return of his family but, due to unforseen delays, his short wait turns to months. With assistance from the Penobscot Indians the boy learns the necessary skills to survive and must make the difficult decision whether to continue waiting for his family or depart with the natives as the Maine winter approaches... ... Read more

Amazon.com

There's singing, there's dancing, there's comedy. No, this is not a Broadway spectacle. It's Loretta LaRoche telling you to lighten up, already. This boxed set contains her three hilarious (and enlightening) videos--The Joy of Stress, Humor Your Stress, and How Serious Is This?--which will have you belly laughing, twirling, and tah-dahing! Loretta is a stress-management expert and an adjunct member on the faculty of the Behavior Institute of Medicine, which is anaffiliate of Harvard Medical School. Loretta's message boils down to this: laughter is the best weapon against stress. This set of videos will have you believing as well. An excellent antidote to the hassles of everyday life. --Jenny Brown ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Humor your life
What a wonderful teaching on how not to take yourself so lightly, and how to adapt to the daily stressors that we deal with.

What a riot!
I'm "living" with terminal cancer, and watching "The Joy of Stress" has really made a difference for me. I laughed so hard I thought I'd "broken" something, but the next morning I felt the best I had in months. I suspected I didn't have enough humor in my life when the dog started barking at me when I laughed. She'd better get used to it, as I'm ordering several of Loretta's videos!!!

Great Fun!
She makes the "every day" world so funny. You come away feeling better for having watched her videos.

Humor Your Stress
Envision this - I used this video in my prison classes - Have you ever seen 150 grown men "twirl" when they are mad? She teaches us to keep things simple and funny - a much needed tool in todays living.

Great for heart patients
Loretta is tremendous at making her points. While stress is bad for probably every part of our lives, my expertise is in its affect on heart patients. I have SEEN the program on PBS more than twice and part of it was featured at our Mended Hearts convention in June. I just read somewhere that Amazon is the best site (better than her own) for obtaining the videos. I'm particularly pleased that it is available as the complete set. Now, to go order it! -- Terry Miller, Naples FL ... Read more

Amazon.com

Seven films. Four Bonds. One set. This sprawling collection surveys over 30 years of James Bond skullduggery, from the cold war tensions of the 1960s to the international free-for-all of the present. Sean Connery remains the coolest of the Bonds, a ruthless agent with dry martini wit and a way with the women, and in Goldfinger his steely presence helped forge the Bond formula of tongue-in-cheek wit, wondrous secret agent toys created by Q, and megalomaniac supervillains bent on world destruction. Thunderball upped the Bond ante with the most ambitious adventure--and budget--to date. Roger Moore brought an altogether lighter tone to 007 with Live and Let Die, softening Connery's rough edges with a more romantic persona as the films became even more exotic. After a brief digression into outer space, For Your Eyes Only returned Bond toglobetrotting high adventure and teamed him with his most endearing ally (Topol as a gregarious smuggler). Timothy Dalton made his second and final appearance as Bond in Licence to Kill, the toughest of the Bond films since Connery's early efforts. Though not a fan favorite, it's a sleek, solid adventure with an edge missing from the Moore pictures. Pierce Brosnan is the latest to take on 007's licence to kill, combining the best of Connery's cool and Moore's humor. GoldenEye is the best Bond film in years, a grand globetrotting adventure with lovely Bond girls and a tough new M (Judy Dench). Tomorrow Never Dies doesn't recapture that magic mix of action, gadgetry, and romance, but does feature the first Bond girl to match 007 blow for blow: Hong Kong action superstar Michelle Yeoh. Taken together, this set is a veritable cross-section of the many faces of James Bond. All that's missing is George Lazenby. Do I hear a nomination forset 2? --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (128)

Excellence from MGM
I have just purchased the 7 DVD gift set and am amazed at the overall quality and extras that they contain. The menu screens are fantastic and the picture quality is amazing. Many of these DVD's have been remastered using THX, this is not noted on the actual covers. MGM has chosen to release the DVD's in three waves. The first set has been released, the second and third sets will be released next year covering the entire series. There have been many complaints about Disney's DVD box set and the fact that it contains no supplementary material. The James Bond Gift set contains so many extra's that it becomes almost daunting. There are various Behind the scenes stills, Active storyboard sequences, music videos, Documentaries, Original radio interviews, 007 featurettes, Digital effects reels. Every one of these DVD's has a newly created widescreen master for optimal picture and sound quality. BUY IT!

The James Bond Collection VHS
Not a bad collection of Bond material, however, this is a mix of various Bond movies with a variety of leading Bond actors. I recommend looking into the 1996 Collections that have the videos in chronological order and primarily by actor. JAMES BOND 007 Collector's Set, Vol. 1 includes all six Broccoli-produced Sean Connery Bond films, to include a 1995 documentary video. JAMES BOND 007 Collector's Set, Vol. 2 includes all seven Roger Moore films and Timothy Dalton's first film. Although these sets are out-of-print, they are still available as used and collector's sets through Amazon.com's Marketplace. If you're like most fans, you'd pr