Reviews (1)

Great Detail on Russian Culture!
Rarely is there a movie which a Russian historian can watch without identifying cultural and historical errors. However, Brother Jon King of Gonzaga College High School, one of the foremost authorities on Russian history, feels that this film displays a genuine historical account and a detailed view of the Russian Culture.

The writers and producers of this film obviously did their homework. Throughout the film, small statements and manerisms from the characters help to make the story more Russian.

I would have given the film five stars, except for one difficulty. The detailed attention to Russian culture can come accross as bazarre to someone who isn't familiar with the background of that time period. That is the reason why this movie was not substantialy profitable for NBC.

One notable success, however, was the producer's ability to take a primarily Russian, German, and English cast and create a movie that is well interpretted by Americans. The actors did a supurb job on accents. All the German and Russian actors were clear and characterizable as Russian.

Above all, the attention to costume, and especially political divisions in Russia, made this movie enjoyable. If you have an interest in Russian Culture and History, you must watch this film. If you are looking for a well done film that is different from the average film, give it a try. ... Read more

Reviews (50)

All but One of Bruce Lee's Greatest
What can I say. I love this box set. It features information on Bruce Lee including a disc that contains the biography of his life. It has Fists of Fury, Chinese Connection (which has the best nunchaku scenes in my opinion), Return of the Dragon, and Game of Death (which really only the ending has Bruce Lee in original footage. If you look close you'll notice alot of other scenes are taken from other movies when Bruce Lee is actually Bruce Lee).

Considering it lacks Enter the Dragon which was probably Bruce Lee's best movie. And that none of the movies have extra features or the original chinese audio tracks, I stil give this box set a 4! I think it is an excellent buy!

A definite must buy for any Bruce Lee fan.
This is the most complete Bruce Lee DVD set you can ever own. This collection plus Enter the Dragon will make your Bruce Lee DVD collection complete. You will have all of his films. Collection contains remastered movies, cleaned up and sharp looking. Other DVD releases by lesser companies offer horrible image quality but not Columbia. Enter the Dragon is owned by Warner Brothers, otherwise it would have been included in this DVD kit. On the down side, the DVD collection offers just the movies and nothing else. There's no bonus materials on any of the DVDs. I guess you can consider the documentary DVD a bonus. There's five DVDs in total and in my opinion worth every penny. Summary: IMAGE QUALITY (A+) Bruce Lee's films have never looked better or so new, SOUND (B) mono only, . It would have been nice if they had redubbed all the movies for this release in Dolby Digital 5.1.

5 Stars for Bruce Lee 0 for this DVD set!!
I have to strongly agree with the previous review...and in fact because these are sooo scratch filled, poorly dubbed , missing footage junk...I investigated and found that in the UK they have a great set with original language and subtitles , made from original film without edits and poor saturation and other contrast anomolies that mar this crappy set. The only problem is you need a PAL converter to play the UK sets....BUT ....I found on eBay the 30th anniversary collection from Korea and just received it....at about twice this price...but oh my the package is amazing... a beautiful book....bound like a wedding album...and the movies? The transfers are STUNNING....plus they have bonus interviews , trailers etc....
After watching the Korean edition ....I put this set back in and it really made me sick...really poor quality....and for an Icon like Bruce Lee? If he were alive he would kick the butts of the profiteers at the company issueing this garbage!

The Dragon is Back!
This DVD collection is a must-have for your home. It's well done and hard core!

ALWAYS stay with ORIGINAL
Why American production make HK movies look so cheap? First of all, they cut off so much scene, second of all ruin it by making look acting so dumb by English Dubb. For ANY of HK movies, ALWAYS stick with ORIGINAL LICENSED HK RELEASE. Be careful with cheap imports, boots though. THREE STARS for BRUCE. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Au Resevoir!!! Darling, add this DVD to your collection
If you are not familiar with E.F. Benson's series of Mapp & Lucia books, you are in for a real treat. This series brings to the screen the wonderful personalities and eccentricities of the cast of characters who inhabit the village of Tilling On The Sea. Competing for the reigning title are Miss Mapp and Miss Lucia. I have read the novels and can say that the rendering for the screen is perfect. The flavor and fun of the books are fully preserved. This is a must have for fans of British social comedy.

I had both series one and two on VHS, and was thrilled to find that series one was released on DVD, as I am moving away from tape media. Now, my only question is, when will series two be released on DVD.

faithful adaptation of Benson's beloved Lucia
These two discs contain five episodes of a faithful 1984 British television adaptation of one of EF Benson's comic novels. The book is set in a seaside village during the 1920s, where social butterfly Mapp is loathe to part with her hold over Tilling's residents when proto-diva Lucia comes to town. The tortured machinations of the two women is very funny and, as usual, the sets and costumes are lovely.

The dvd set is ultra-minimal! Not even cast and crew info. Nothing.

Delightfully Delicious!
Set in 1930 in the English Cotswolds, this 1984 production (which is presented on two boxed sets with five 50-minute episodes per set) is a slightly quirky British drawing-room comedy revolving around two domineering women, both used to being "top dog" in their respective communities, who end up residing in the same small village of Tilling. Miss Elizabeth Mapp is the current resident, whose position at the centre of her small society is threatened by the flash, air-assuming newcomer, Mrs. Emily Lucas ("Lucia", as she prefers to be called).

Geraldine McEwan (Mulberry, Barchester Chronicles) is impeccably cast as the wealthy, elegant, widow Lucia, a woman with a strong personality and a flair for the dramatic. Her vocabulary is peppered with the Italian, a language in which she is only too happy to let others think she is fluent. She provides (at least initially) a little spice, excitement, and mystique for the villagers in humdrum Tilling. But she is also a woman who knows well how to get what she wants, and her grace, smiles, and impeccable manners belie a shrewd and cunning mind.

Mapp (Fawlty Towers' Prunella Scales) is a somewhat dowdy, unwealthy spinster, not to mention an insufferable busybody. So it is no wonder she is less than thrilled that Lucia, having decided to leave her home in Riseholme for pastures new, has set her sights on Mapp's terrain. But Mapp, though lacking Lucia's elegance, wealth, and marital status, is not willing to relinquish her position without a fight. Watching the episodes (which are serial in nature) is a bit like watching a game of chess between unequals. In essence, each woman, with an abundance of outward grace and politeness, seeks to establish (or reassert) her position by bringing the other down a peg or two. Lucia is clearly cleverer and at times seems to toy with Mapp as a cat does with a mouse. But Mapp is nothing if not determined and we wonder is she will, after all, succeed in toppling the grand Lucia.

As for a few of the other characters: Lucia is joined by her devoted friend Georgie (Yes (Prime) Minister's Nigel Hawthorne), a rather effeminate, toupee-sporting chap who enjoys painting and petit point. She is also adored by Quaint Irene, a trouser-wearing, cigar-smoking, eccentric local artist who doesn't hesitate to speak her mind and thoroughly enjoys watching the sparring match between Mapp and Lucia. There's also the gruff, masculine, and perennially intoxicated Major Benjy, whose habit of summoning servants with a bellowing "quay-hi" does not endear him to them. Mapp's closest friend is a dowdy and rather timid woman named Diva, to whom Mapp is less than kind at times.

In conclusion, albeit a tad quirky at times (like the time the two rivals get swept out to sea on the kitchen table!), I would recommend this series to anyone looking for a delightful, relaxing, and gently humorous drawing-room comedy. It is dialogue-based (as opposed to physical) comedy. In other words, if you're looking for pratfalls, action, hard laughs, or a fast-paced, in-your-face comedy, then you'd best look elsewhere. The pace here is leisurely, the dialogue is deliciously witty and intelligent, and the humour wonderfully subtle, with often as much conveyed through body language--be it the raising of an eyebrow, the sharp intake of breath, or the tensing of a muscle--as through words itself.

One of the best British comedies ever
I'm a fan of the E.F. Benson books that form the basis for this series. The highlight of my trip to England a few years ago was visiting the charming town of Rye (called Tilling in the Lucia books), where Benson lived and this series was filmed. But I must say that I like the TV production, thanks to the inspired comic performances, even more than the books.

In particular, Geraldine McEwan (also in Barchester Chronicles) is exquisite. Her little comic mannerisms are absolutely hilarious, and she makes the character endearing in a way that I never thought possible. Again, "inspired" is the only appropriate word.

The same with the much-missed Nigel Hawthorne's Georgie. Absolutely perfect casting. And Prunella Scales (of Fawlty Towers fame) bites into her less-sympathetic role of Mapp and does not let go until she wrings every last laugh from it. As is particularly true for British series, the supporting cast is also excellent at bringing their own eccentric characters to life in just a few brushstrokes.

I was very much looking forward to the Mapp and Lucia DVD, because I had not seen this series since it was televised in the mid-1980s. I'm happy to say that the DVD quality is excellent, and my opinion of the series has only elevated through time. Many British comedies have come and gone in the years since Mapp and Lucia, but it remains the most delightful, in my book.

As other reviewers have mentioned, the series is also highly addictive, so we Mapp and Lucia fans -- you'll be one too after you see this -- are eagerly awaiting the release of the second part of the series on DVD. Please, Acorn Media/Granada (who released this DVD), make haste!

A delightful step into a small English world
E.F. Benson's _Lucia_ novels are brought to life in a beautifully photographed series which features the talents of some terrific actors. Scales, McEwan, and Hawthorne are outstanding in portraying the petty bickering that propels small town society. The costumes of the time period (especially those worn by Lucia) are magnificent; the breezy humor and devilish plotting will delight the viewer. ... Read more

Description

The extraordinary life story of Cecil Rhodes is told across the vast panorama of Africa, from his days as an impoverished young prospector to his rule of half a continent. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

As we now know it was, whether we like that or not.
So much has been written against white Rhodesia, it's history especially, that I was all the more curious about this series. I remember initially avoiding it when it played on our local PBS station. But I finally sat down and watched this series through in one sitting wondering at times the reasons for making this program. Cecil Rhodes as portrayed in the films came across unsympathetic; possessive, suspicious, power driven are a few of the adjectives I could attribute to this portrayal by actor Martin Shaw. But I was riveted at the same time. You see, this Rhodes was also charismatic, visionary, even messianic. And very determined to grasp and mold another country regardless of the costs even to himself. This film does show racial prejudice with all it's "warts" towards all non-English living in Rhodesia including the Dutch/Boers. It also captures the beauty of that part of Africa as all these people must have lived it. Vast and unspoiled places are so hard to envision in the 21st century. One does not have to like a film's subject to feel it is well done and this film is very well done. Rather than disliking this man, I came away from this film wanting to know much more about Cecil Rhodes. Perhaps that is the success of any historical portrayal. It leaves one intrigued, unsatisfied, and intent. I recommend it to anyone willing to examine the birth of a nation and the human costs it extracts. Rhodes himself died relatively young of a heart ailment; a condition about which he knew and knew further that had he chosen to live a quieter life in the English countryside he might have lived much longer. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Following the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro's trusted comrade Ernesto Che Guevara found himself becoming a bureaucrat. Seeking a return to action, Che eventually traveled in secret to Bolivia in 1966, hoping to foment a revolution on the South American mainland that would spread throughout all of Latin America. This documentary, which relies greatly on a journal Che kept during his time in Bolivia, as well as interviews with contemporaries who fought in the hills with him, provides an insightful look at his thoughts during the last year of his life. Che's apparent intent in Bolivia was, of course, to copy the success of the Cuban Revolution, but the words of his journal, as read in the documentary, betray his increasing hopelessness. His band of guerrillas was tiny and hungry, often more concerned with killing birds for food than with any principles of global revolution. According to those who appear on camera tospeak of Guevara's final days, it seems the peasants were terrified of gettinginvolved. Tracking Guevara's movements through the Bolivian mountains, thedocumentary proceeds at a leisurely pace, but it also provides a great deal ofinformation about Guevara's final days, leading up to his execution by Boliviantroops acting, some say, under the direction of the CIA. --Robert J.McNamara ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great footage of Che's final journey
Following the Bolivian trails where Che fought his last battles is quite moving. This documentary wore me out both emotionally, and in some strange way, physically.

Included in this film are photos of Che's original diary. Also included were interviews with people who met him during the Bolivian struggle. The most impressive interview was with a village schoolteacher who had a conversation with him moments before his execution.

Not the best book around
Che Guevara's legacy goes way deeper that what the book makes it to be. The book is obviously written by a westerner who does not respect this figure of history a whole bunch. Try other books written by more serious writer to find out the real story of Che. Long live Che.

Ernesto Che Guevara, The Bolivian Diary
Excellent. This one cut deep. Not only the facts about Che, but the people interviewed were extremely interesting. Hint: read the english subtitles fast. Some subtitles obscured by the film color but not too bad. I recommend this film to anyone interested in Che. ... Read more

Reviews (63)

The epic sense of the life
Andrei Rubliov is the masterpiece of Andrei Tarkovsky. I 've watched very carefullly all his works, and Andrei contains the quintessential thought of this unique film maker.
What Tarkovsky made with this film may be one the most overwhelming and haunting achievemnts in all the story of the world cinema.
Rubliov is a icon painter who after an important fac, decides not continue in that office.
The powerful of the barbarian invassion into a church, where he acquires the human experience gets far away the world, he isolates and becomes in a wanderer.
The unforgettable images that appear before the viewer are of a trascendental poetic beauty never seen before and even now.
All the journey along the Russia of XVI century is a reflexive gaze of the human condition , the sense of the life and how dealing with it, the unsaid code of one must behavior humanly, even in inhuman conditions, facing the world, with his singleness, its little moments of joy, his infinite sadness and its miseries.
The opening sequence in which the fall is shown before us, is a original metaphor of how facing with the failure; and is depicted with such kind of beautiness that mesmerizes you. No other film n the story, with the exception of the ending of A man escapes from Robert Bresson reveals with so frehness and vitality the epic sense before the life.
When Rubliov knows this teenager, in the final chapter, and faces with him the huge challenge that implies to make the asgned mission, turns back çRubliov and it invites him to keep on going in his mission or the moira term greek, his place in the universe, his meaning in this brief stage in the world.
This superb masterpiece, has countless remarkable sequences, the dialogues are feed of a blissness and poetic raprure without a drop of effectism.
When the mission is completed, and everybody celebrates the fact our young hero remains alone and Rubliov will gather with him and will tell wisdom words that I must not tell.
This is the goal of the artist; he must go to the forrest and seek the mushrooms; the people will be just waiting from the safe place for him; and no matter how dangerous or hazardous be the journey; they only expect for your bag. They will consume these gifts; but the creator must seek them.
Tarkovsky was in the middle of the creative universe (remeber his father Arseni Tarkovsky was a poet)in 1966; the script has an inner mytical force ; and every bit of this film is sublime, perfect.
Tarkovsky showed what many film makers haven't been able to do; express with a camera such landscape of images, in all his whole meaning.
Andrei Rubliov will be always a landmark ; an eternal triumph ; a epic statement that will be with all of us till the end of our lives.
And even more.

Revelation in Contemplation
I had never seen a Tarkovsky film before "Andrei Rublev", but I intend to see more. This film was *very* different, but very good, and I was moved by it on many different levels.

Set in Russia in the early 15th century, this film is based on the life of Andrei Rublev, an icon painter and arguably Russia's first great artist. It's told in a series of vignettes that don't always focus on Rublev; many times he is either a background observer or not involved at all. He is a device that Tarkovsky uses to tell a grander tale, a tale about art, life, humanity, history, faith, good, evil and other philosophical ideas that most filmmakers fear like the plague. This film is much more than a historical epic, it is a work of art, and possibly more than that a path to enlightenment.

Like many of the greatest directors, Tarkovsky is more than just a filmmaker. He is an ARTIST, possibly more so than any director I've ever encountered. For example, most directors use techniques like music and editing to elicit specific emotions from the audience, but Tarkovsky uses few to no manipulative devices. Scenes are typically wide, sweeping, epic shots, which often linger for up to several minutes. The viewer is allowed to absorb the situation and the imagery, to internalize them and let them sink into the subconscious. If one is still and contemplative, one will enter into a dialogue with the film and begin to experience it on a higher level.

The film lacks a tightly knit plot, and there's no pat morality tale. Rather it is LIFE, boiled down to its essence. Scenes feel real, and often play out in real time according to the rhythm of life. Characters will sit and wait, and we wait with them. Incidents unfold in real time, with no cuts and nothing edited. Tarkovsky uses the natural world a great deal. For instance, a character will chance upon the carcass of a snow-white egret mired in the swamp, or a somber procession will scale a snowy embankment where the mud has bled through like a pair of weeping eyes.

It's a work of art, I've established that, but I also love the historical setting. Fifteenth century Russia was grim and unforgiving. Orthodox Christianity was the official religion, but paganism was still commonplace. Boyars, kings and princes frequently skirmished with one another. Tartars from the south took advantage of the regional instability to sack villages and cities. Plague and sickness were rampant, and the vast majority of people lived in abject poverty. But the so-called "Dark Ages" were nearly at an end. Art and ideas from West were steadily infiltrating the East. Rublev himself was inspired by a Greek painter named Theophanes, a relationship depicted in the film. Tarkovsky captures the period perfectly in "Andrei Rublev", and to me it seems like the next thing to being there.

Having said ALL that, I cannot in good conscience recommend this film to most people. Here are all the reasons a modern filmgoer probably would not like "Andrei Rublev": it was filmed in black and white; it's old (originally released in 1966); it's long (the unedited Criterion release is nearly 3 and a 1/2 hours); it's in Russian with subtitles; at least one animal was brutally killed during the filming (for which there is NO excuse - shame on Tarkovsky); scenes linger for several minutes without cuts or editing; it's arty (though not pretentious); it's very difficult to understand; it requires repeated viewings and you may never fully "get it"; it's told in a series of vignettes with only a loose overarching narrative; etc., etc. If none of that scares you off, you should definitely check it out, because it's a real gem.

RUINED BY ANIMAL CRUELITY
I was really looking foward to this film as i have enjoyed SOLARIS, THE MIRROR and many other russian films so much. Everything you,ve read about the magnificents of this film is true,it is one of the most striking,poetic and beautiful looking films ive seen period, however i must say thatiam utterly repulsed by the three barbaric acts of animal torture , Seeing a cow running around its enclosure after being set on fire, a horse fall down some steps , breaking its leg and then have a spear shoved through its throat
and a dog being beaten to death and watching its final twitching
make this film ultimi unwatchable ..is this art??is this excusable??Do you think this is okay? these are the most repulsive and distrurbing scenes i have ever seen in a movie. I DO NOT SUPPORT THIS I DETEST ANIMAL CRUELTY/TORTURE, ESPECIALLY SIMPLY TO MAKE A FILM.....im shocked that so many of your reveiwers did not mention this..Please , someone tell me i wrong and that these scenes did not really happen for real
and its all trickery..

THE Russian epic with striking imagery (1966)
Andrei Rublev is probably the greatest looking film of all time. It was shot on a Konvas (you can pick one up on Ebay for $1000) and film students will be stunned by what has been achieved in terms of cinematography with such an old and dated 35mm motion picture camera. It is inspirational in terms of film-making and this is the core reason why you should watch the film. If you are interested in Kino Art then Andrei Rublev can probably lay claim to the greatest art film ever made. If you are looking to experiment with Tarvoksky, then Andrei Rublev is not a bad place to start.

Like most of Tarkovsky's films, Andrei Rublev is extremely artistic, conjectures much on the human condition, metaphysics and Russian life - that all seem to have some hidden meanings that contains the film's truth that Tarkovsky expounds on - namely the wickedness of men and the temptations that they face. It is also about triumph of the will and the nature of man. This is all done via the "narrative" and the look of the film. Tarkovsky mixes moments of dialogue about the metaphysical (a doctrine that would continue to be a theme in all of this other films giving a sense of what was to come - especially the intricateness of Stalker, Solaris), arrestingly simple and slow cinematography (his trademark water shots), complex action sequences (there are full scale battles like from a Kurosawa movie) and visionary set designs (15th century villages, towns and cities). This is Tarkovsky's biggest film ever (and quite possibly the biggest Russian film ever).

The premise is complex. Andrei Rublev, a monk with the gift of painting, is invited to paint churches around the country and in Moscow. Between travelling from job to job he encounters - monks who have lost their faith, monks with too much faith in themselves, fools who are imprisoned for their beliefs, Wicca festivals (the pagan ceremonies of St. John's night), murder, torture (the Russian crucifixion), death, error, the sacking of towns by the Tartars (the sacking of Vladimir), vows of silence and of course the most striking final piece of the film - the making of the bell (the casting of the bell). Characters appear and disappear (a cinematic technique found in The Thin Red Line), but there is also a lot of hidden imagery (every time you watch it you find something new), in particular scenes of novice monks putting dirt on their cheeks which makes no sense at the time yet later on we seen Andrei put the same dirt as a stain on a church he has painted because of the bureaucratic blinding of artists (an extremely violent scene of which there are many. As a note: Andrei Rublev happens to be an extremely violent film and there are several disturbing scenes. Also a scene where a horse falls down a stairs was cut because of animal cruelty but this has been restored for the DVD). All of these scenes are done via several chapters that each tells a story in which Andrei Rublev is present either as the central character of focus, a participant or an observer. If you pay close attention to the chapters you will realize that the themes of each chapter are contained in all the chapters. Tarvoksky plays with the audience in so many ways that you can only hope to watch the film again and again until you make ALL of the connections. You will likely not see a more striking film for imagery. The ending is obviously what got Kubrick working on his trip scene in 2001. Tarkovsky returned a nod by filming Solaris.

Andrei Rublev is shot in monochrome although the ending does a little Wizard of Oz for us. The story is divided between two discs. You have 86 minutes in the first disc and 99 in the second for a grand running time of 185 minutes. This DVD is PRICEY but this is Kino Art at its finest and worth every penny. The extras are many and there are some very important historical interviews about Tarkovsky. However I will say that DVD is totally unsuitable for Tarkovsky's films and possibly you will do better to watch a widescreen video or even better a 35mm print of the film in the cinema next time it comes to town. Even though the transfer is sublime for a 1966 picture (a Russian one at that) and there has been a lot of digital correction, the DVD produces artefacts on nearly all of Tarkovsky's films because of his complex imagery, but this is just quibbling and is not the fault of the DVD producers. Tarkovsky has simply exceeded the limits of what DVD mpeg compression can handle, even after this film is spanned over 2 discs... and that says a lot about the quality of this man's vision.

Kino Art does not come much better than Andrei Rublev.

Excellent, but slow paced and not for everybody.
This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film. This film, like many of Tarkovsky's movies are slow-paced. This may bore some, but Tarkovsky viewed many his films as a form of art as opposed to entertainment.

Most people like movies that entertain, but not all films do that. I am a longtime fan of Russian cinema and find this to be a good example of "art house" cinema.

This movie contains some scenes that some persons may find unsettling. There is a scene where a man kicks a dog to death, a scene of a horse falling down a set of stairs breaking its leg, and another where a cow is on fire. There is also nudity.

The film itself was banned in the Soviet Union, but later released in a heavily cut version. The film has many religious references and quotes from the Bible. (The subtitles on the Criterion Collection DVD use the King James Version for translation of the Bible which is my favorite.)

The film follows the story of real life 14th-15th century icon painter Andrei Rublev. Not knowing too much about him, I cannot give a clear comparison between the film and his life. The movie is well photographed and has an excellend full color sequence at the end of the film showing his acutal paintings.

The Criterion Collection DVD has numerous special features.
Interview with director Andrei Tarkovsky, Improved Subtitles, A timeline showing events of Russian history, and the works and life events of Andrei Rublev and Tarkovsky. There is also a partial length audio essay during certain chapters on the DVD track that conform with the scenes the narrator is talking about.
The booklet lists these tracks so one would not need to view the whole film to search for the commentary. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Covering the entire 20th century in one video series is an ambitious project, but one that Peter Jennings and ABC News are up to. In The Century: America's Time, a 12-part documentary on six videotapes that is a companion to the book of the same name, Jennings guides us through a century of technology and advancement like no other. As he says in his introduction to episode 1, "Seeds of Change," "Unlike previous centuries where leadership was defined by royalty and other rulers, the 20th century more than any other was shaped by the will and actions of the common man." The series is a sweeping presentation of the United States of the 1900s and tries to encompass a mind-boggling amount of history. And while at moments the videos may leave you longing for more, Jennings does an excellent job of creating smooth segues between disparate pieces.

The first episode, for instance, begins with the influx of immigrants at the turn of the century and touches on Jim Crow laws, moving pictures, planes, Henry Ford, the sinking of the USS Maine, child labor, suffragettes, the Panama Canal, imperialism, and more, right up to the beginning of World War I. The archival footage is stunning and interviews with historians, veterans, journalists, POWs, politicians, authors, celebrities, and common people help bring the past to life again. Mickey Spillane discusses the speakeasies of the 1920s; Dennis Hopper talks about Easy Rider in the '60s; Tom Wolfe reads from The Bonfire of the Vanities for the episode on the '80s. Eudora Welty, E.L. Doctorow, Martin Scorsese, John Updike, Pat Buchanan, Oliver Stone, Stephen E. Ambrose, among many others, lend their voices to this documentary. Yet, despite the great names, at times the pictures and people are allowed to speak for themselves, without intrusive narration--the stark images of the Challenger explosion or the sad words of a political activist mourning the death of his partner to AIDS are more powerful because of it. This chronological tale (with the exception of the last episode, "Then and Now," which is arranged thematically) is an insightful and poignant reminder of all the marvels--and tragedies--of America in the 20th century. --Jenny Brown ... Read more

Reviews (19)

A fascinating documentary of a fascinating century
I love history. It fascinates me, but especially American history, especially the 20th century. This school year, I have taken a unique, new course at my school, titled: 20th Century World. As a teaching tool, my teacher has shown the movie for each decade whenever we've started that decade as our next unit. Even the kids who usually sleep through class sit and watched it with great interest. It makes you feel like you're there. For example, yesterday we watched the video for the 80s. Through the segment about AIDS and gays, my entire class was sitting there saying, "Ohmygosh, I never knew it was that bad." or "That is so sad." Through every decade, The Century: America's Time has offered a personal touch to every event, instead of making it boring. Every event mentioned on this documentary has affected our life today, and this documentary actually makes you think about how it has.

Video Survey of U.S. History, 20th Century
This video, The Century, America's Time, hosted by ABC
's Peter Jennings, served me well as a U.S. History high school teacher. The reason I liked it so much was because it brought to life in short, 10 minute summaries, key events of the twentieth century. Hosted by Peter Jennings, it had a much more contemporary feel to it than similar historical summaries. The narration was snappier and held the attention of my students better than let's say a PBS or other History channel type visual documentary. It supplement's any Twentieth Century U.S. History course because it capture's the emotional context that a text-book cannot reveal. I found my students had a much better grasp of the times when I supplemented the text with these visual snapshots of key events during the century. Because key events are broken down into 10-20 minute segments, it lends itself to the attention span of classroom students and instruction very well. Most documentaries go on for 45 minutes straight on one topic. This was extremely well done. If I had only 1 video series to pick from to capture the flavor of the twentieth century, this is the one I would buy!

great series. but...
it's not available on dvd? In a few years, if I want to show my kids this documentary, I'm going to have to pull out a machine that is almost obsolete.

Great educational stuff
We play the entire seventies tape for our 5th and 6th year secondary school students, and we and the students are really enthousiastic.
We had to buy a recorder that can play the American type videos, but it was really worth it.

Completely enthralling view of history
History can be an incredible story, and in this documentary it is told with gusto, excitement, and great poignancy. Using clever and creative editing, a captivating musical score, excellent archival footage, and Peter Jennings' masterful narration, The Century: America's Time is captivating from start to finish. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Excellent for Sr Programs and Learning in Retirement SGs
The Art of the Western World video series is excellent up to 1945. We are using it for the second time for USF (University of South Florida) Senior Programs for students in their 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s. Picture and sound fit well together, and provide a lot of "Aha" experiences for people who have visited the sites, or seen the sculptures or paintings in art museums. The videos, shown in about 26 minute segments provide a super basis for discussions, and for subsequent visits to art museums.

art of the western world
I have viewed three comprehensive art history video series preparing to send six weeks in Europe. This was the best.
The selected material is representive,the research well done.the filming and background music pleasing. I have seen many of the included works in museums and look forward to seeing them with my newly acquired acumen.The modern art section is a little pc and the woman who intimates that western art is built on the exploitation of the female nude is off-the-wall. The section on Florence was my favorite because of its beauty and importance as the epicenter of western culture. No, this is not a boring series except for those who favor Michelob over Michelangelo.

A good solid effort
I found these videos pretty good and not in the least boring. Michael Wood and the production team have done a solid effort in presenting such a vast topic in the time allowed. The areas covered are well presented, intelligently commented upon and comprehensive. Well worth seeing a few times.

This is a good series.
We watched this video series during the last two terms in my Art History class. Yes, alot of people appeared to be asleep, but if they are anything like the students at my school, that wasn't the fault of the video. I thought they were very interesting and filled in alot of the gaps in my art history knowledge. I liked how they had mini-slide shows of works with some music playing in the background. It was especially nice in our lecture hall with the surround sound system.

Idiotically Boring
We watched this video for my Humanities class. I do have to say these videos are extremely boring. From my observation over a third of the class was sleeping. If you feel like showing these videos, make sure you are fully awake. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This boxed set contains six episodes of The Simpsons: "There's No Disgrace Like Home" (the Simpsons shock each other at a shrink's office);"Life on the Fast Lane" (Marge takes bowling lessons from--and nearly is seduced by--Albert Brooks as a French bowling pro); "Bart the General" (Bart plays Patton in his effort to beat bully Nelson Muntz); "Moaning Lisa" (Lisa's jazz hero, Bleeding Gums Murphy, is introduced); "The Crepes of Wrath" (Bart is a foreign-exchange student and winds up as a slave in France); and "Krusty Gets Busted" (Sideshow Bob frames Krusty the Clown for robbery in order to take over his show). --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (14)

OK, OK, OK, LIKE CHAUCER
The Simpsons will be seen in a hundred - a thousand - years, as emblematic of the best of American television of the twentieth century. Matt Groening's creation supercedes all animation rivals, utilizing the form to express the surreal truths of family life, of dysfunctional reality, of the American Dream. The Simpsons is often associated with the Flintstones, the counter-Disney hit animation series of the revolutionary Sixties, but in fact it has much more in common with the vision of The Honeymooners of the Fifties, or the anarchic moods of the Kraft Theater or The Twilight Zone - all of which it remorselessly parodies. If it has a weakness, it is the obviousness of its homages and references. Compositionally it steals weekly from Hitch, from Scorcese, from Tarantino, from John Doe. But that in itself is a wry commentary on the vomitory excesses of our pop-drenched society. In short, The Simpsons is TRUE. It seems, well, chronically uroscopic ... but its depictions of suburban prejudice, lethargy and threat are cautionary markers for our times. Groening deserves more credit than the corporate-Emmys allow (The Simpsons has won many): his observation of the dark side of our bloated Somatized culture is nothing short of Nobel class. I recommend this three-episode volume as a sampler of the whole. This dates from the early (early Nineties) era. As it developed, the series became more graceful and precise. In this set is mocks us: by 1999 it skewers us. Thank you, Matt Groening, Dan Castellaneta (Homer, among many roles - and a genius), Nancy Cartwright (Bart), Yeardley Smith (the wondrous oracle Lisa), Julie Kavner, Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer et al. And also (can we forget him?) in loving memory of the greatly gifted Phil Hartman (Troy McClure). Oh, and those many, many, many dedicated animators ...

Welcome to the wacky world of the Simpsons!
This is the very beginning of Matt Groening's masterful creation of the unique yellow-skinned family and their craziest adventures in the surburban fantasyland full of many different characters who come and go, each with his or her own colorful personality and background. Once a rather anonymous tabolid cartoonist, Matt Groening had accelerated rather rapidly to superstardom over ten years with his famous cartoon family and now he is producing a snappy new science fiction series called "Futurama", which would be looking up with a bright future as well! So - long live the Simpsons and the Futurama!

boaf rap
boaf boaf stallion boaf please don't shine that light in my eyes boaf slaughter boff cakes and sausage boaf taco and bru haha.
Jashua come say hello to your mother.

The Best of the Simpsons: Boxed Set 1
Yes, if you are a died-in-the-wool Simpsons fan like I am, then you definitely need this product. Not only do I recommend it because it's hilarious, but it comes with lots of interested facts on the Simpsons inside of the box. But, just because I'm totally crazed about the Simpsons, I'd say something like that, but anyway, if you are a die-hard Simpsons fan, you must get this set now!

Good, but maybe not the best
If you're a true blue (or yellow) SIMPSONS fan (like me) then you'll have to get this set just to be complete. However I think the show was funnier after they got the dog and Homer got stupider and less angry. If you feel the same way you might want to consider volumes 2, 3, and 4. Still and all this ain't a bad deal. I like "There's No Disgrace Like Home" (Homer: "When will I learn? The answers to life's problems aren't at the bottom of a bottle . . . They're on T.V.!") ... Read more

Amazon.com

This three-volume set of six Simpsons episodes is more treat than trick, but a decidedly mixed bag. Anyone expecting a collection of just the "Treehouse of Horror" episodes will be disappointed. Volume 1, containing "Treehouse of Horror III" and "Treehouse of Horror V," delivers "the terror and foul horror" we've come to expect from these eagerly awaited annual Halloween broadcasts. "III" pays homage to the "Talky Tina" episode of The Twilight Zone (an evil Krusty doll tries to kill Homer), King Kong (Marge is the beauty who attracts giant beast Homer), and Night of the Living Dead (Bart unwittingly unleashes a reign of zombie terror). "V" is even more frightfully funny. No TV and no beer make Homer go crazy in "The Shinning" ("You mean 'The Shining,'" Bart corrects. "Shh, you want to get sued?" he is reprimanded). In a nod to Ray Bradbury, Homer is sucked into a time vortex and "alters the future in ways you can't even imagine" (Ned Flanders as "the unquestioned lord and master of the world"?). Last on the menu is "Nightmare Cafeteria," in which Principal Skinner and Lunchlady Doris cook up an unsavory solution to the school's overcrowding problem. Volume 2 strays from Halloween for two classic Sideshow Bob episodes, "Black Widower" and "Cape Feare." Kelsey Grammer is in fine voice as Sideshow Bob, whose evil plans are foiled by Bart. To be charitable, the episodes on volume 3, "Bart Sells His Soul" and "Lisa the Skeptic," would be more appropriate for a collection of The Simpsons' religious-themed shows. --Donald Liebenson ... Read more

Reviews (15)

A must have for Simpsons fans
This is a hilariously entertaining set of videos that center around the Halloween specials, such as "The Shinning." This is where Homer turns crazy when he discovers that television and beer are unavailable at the creepy hotel. Other classic episodes are included, which are guaranteed to make you laugh out loud.

Simpsons Go Hollywood
The Simpsons Go Hollywood is the newest video collection composed of classic Simpsons episodes in a wave of recent releases, in honor of the Simpsons 10th anniversary. Included in this boxed set are such memorable episodes as Marge Vs. the Monorail, A Streetcar Named Marge, both halves of Who Shot Mr. Burns?, Bart Gets Famous, and Krusty Gets Kancelled. This video collection is a must have for any Simpsons fan!

the best show ever
the simpsons by far beat every TV show out there

Halloween?
This was a wonderful video set for Simpsons fans, but if your buying it for the halloween episodes don't. There are only two actual halloween episodes in this six episode set. The other episodes are good though as well. I only wished that they would have put all halloween episodes in the set.

WHOO-HOO!!!!!!!!!!
This boxset is absolutely brilliant! It contains 6 of the best scary-ish episodes from the simpsons,and contains one of my all time faves,Treehouse Of Horror 2! With the exception of Bart Sells His Soul(4/5) these all et 5/5 and you coouldnt get a much better boxset if you tried! FAB! There's no 'Doh' about it! ... Read more

Reviews (55)

They fought and never look back
Fatal Fury the movie is one of a kind anime mix with a video game. Street Fighter is still the other anime that I like because bringing the favor into the character is wonderful. Terry is the calm, street fighter, Andy is stressed out because of Mai, Joe acts like a bonehead and Mai is a bit pighead sucking up to Andy to protect her. When one of the pieces of "Armor of Mars" was founded by "Laocorn" he plans to use all six pieces to become a god. Not only that his twin sister Sulia asked Terry to help her brother to be free of the cruse. Terry and his team went on to find the armor to prevent Laocorn to be controled by the armor. Fatal Fury action, drama,and some comedy to impress the fans. Special apperances by Kim Kapwhan, Duck King, Billy Kane and others from FF2. What makes also makes this movie special is the song "Oh Angel" at the credits. sounds romatic.

If you like Anime, But this Movie!
After Fatal Fury 1: Legend of the Hungry Wolf, and Fatal Fury 2 this third installment was a welcome addition to the series. Picking up where the second left off it takes our heroes into the hardest fight they have encountered yet; an new emerging mad man equipped with the armor of Mars.

Despite dragging a little bit in the middle this movie has high paced action mixed in with great directing calls by Masami Obari. With a plot worthy of a Greek Tragedy, Terry Bogard yet again struggles with both the finding of a new love and the struggling question of why he fights. Is it because he knows no other life or because he protects those around him? Subtle innuendos like that run through the movie and help to make it what it is. A story of four incredible fighters in a quest to help a complete stranger save her brothers' life and quite possibly his soul.

High paced figths, well thought plot, and well designed characters both good guy and bad guy alike, this is well worth adding to your video collection.

Do You REally Want Anime? Buy This!!!!!!
For those old that remeber animes like Robotech or maybe relative new animes like Evangelion or Magick Knight Rayearth, well they are great But this Fatal Fury Anime is The God Of The Animes, Mixes all Adventure,Action,Martial Arts,SciFi Power Battles, and a Great Story, Indiana Jones wold be Jealousy if he saw at this anime and the adventure story in it, and the personality of the characters is very well made comparated to the game story, if u are a fan or not of Fatal Fury Games u will Love this DVD, last to add is that if u are smart and wannna keep a great video Anime in your DVD colection u will buy this for sure

IF only Hollywood could be this good
It is pretty much a solid fact that most Video Game movies tend to suck. Even in the Anime world there are some that are at best Mediocre, however despite some criticism this is truely one of the better action Anime videos available, as well as Video Game inspired.

The story is that Terry Bogard, Andy Bogard, Joe Higashi, and Mai get recruited by this frightend girl Sulia to stop her Brother Lalcorn from gathering the armor of Goddamous, and ancient God back in the Days of Alexander the Great. Throughout the movie they search for clues as other Warriors get taken out in the meantime. Eventually the four of the Square off against Lalcorn and his Henchmen in an action packed finally.

This movie did what hollywood could not, capture the essence of the video game inside the movie and create an incredible story around it. To date from my personal viewing the only other Anime series to date that has done this task was Street Fighter 2V. If you are just getting into Anime, or an Action Anime fan than this is a title to check into.

Awsome anime
When I first got this movie I had thought I was some kind of sequel to Street Fighter but I was wrong. Fatal Fury was 1 of the best I've seen. This is my second best anime next to the Street FighterII series. Kids who can't really watch a PG-13 movie or R I suggest you shouldn't watch this because there are some blood and gore scenes and a hott shower scene. I hope this was helpful. ... ... Read more

Reviews (43)

A better set than Volume 2
This set is better than the last one, and as someone who owns the previous sets I'm very much anticipating this one. From Russia With Love, although not my personal favorite, is a classic OO7. Octopussy is pretty good itself. Diamonds are Forever is another great one. You Only Live Twice is rather underrated in my opinion. The Living Daylights is also underrated since Timothy Dalton was unlike most Bond's before him, but he still packed a punch when it counted (especially in the action scenes). A View To A Kill, some call it the worst but I don't agree with that, because it's got a great opening sequence. This set can't be as good as the first, not much can since it had three of my favorites For Your Eyes Only, Thunderball, and Goldfinger. But every Bond collection is worth getting, the extra features on each are outstanding, even for a Bond film I really never cared for known as Man With The Golden Gun has a great feature about the stunts of the films. The commentaries are usually informative and they are always filled with the insight of the pressure of making a Bond film. The trailers are usually fun to watch because, like a lot of older films, people really didn't know how to make trailers back in the day and they are fun to watch how much the give away and how everyone claims to be the best Bond ever. Each Bond have a descent promotional feature and some of good documentaries on the history of OO7. So I highly recommend these sets for all fans.

The collection completed
Finally, the last six James Bond movies have been re-released (or will be re-released rather) on VHS and enhanced DVD. This set includes The Living Daylights, Diamonds Are Forever, You Only Live Twice, From Russia With Love, Octopussy, and A View to a Kill. Unfortunately, this set is perhaps the weakest one of the three gift sets. While From Russia With Love is generally regarded as a Bond classic, the other five titles are hit-or-miss (either you'll love it or you'll hate it). The Living Daylights is a great spy story, but some fans hate Dalton's Bond. Similarly, Connery is a fan favorite but YOLT and Diamonds are lackluster to some in terms of his acting ability and plotline. If you're a genuine Bond fan, by all means grab this set, each of these films is worth viewing at least once (and the DVD's throw in great extras, I'm told). Casual fans wanting a guaranteed thrill should just get From Russia with love.

James Bond Collection Vol. 3, 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"!

Great Collection, but buy the new set
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 what the scalpers here want for just this one older set three. 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.

Bond NO.3
The third collection of the James Bond series has some of the best of the films, and in contrast, some of the not-so-good films. Starting off with DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER with Sean Connery as Bond, this one is somewhat lacklustre in comparison to the early 007 films, but there's still some fun to be had with some cool car chases through Vegas and an ensamble of menacing villians. The second entry into the Bond franchise, FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE is brilliant entertainment taken from Ian Flemming's best novel. Everything clicked in this one after the sometimes shaky DR NO (Due mostly to the increase in budget), from Connery's commanding performance, to some gripping action and the late, great Robert Shaw as a ruthless assasin. Gadgets, cool action and the entry of Q, played by Desmond LLewelyn. Masterfully constructed, FRWL is one of the greatest films ever made.
Following Roger Moore's long list of films, Timothy Dalton made his debut as the charming secret agent in THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS. While the action is impressive, the film falls short of having any meaty villians. But Dalton is much closer to the mark with the character of Bond in Flemming's books. His performance, restrained at times, is a more cold portrayal than Moore. OCTOPUSSY is one of Roger Moore's better films, but John Glen's ham-fisted direction leaves the film with little in the way of inventive action. Last but not least, YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE. Connery is good, but not up to his usaul standards. This collection, while impressive, is perhaps best suited for hard-core fans rather than action buffs. ... Read more

Description

From Alan Ball, the Oscar(r) winning writer of "American Beauty", comes a series that digs where others fear to tread. When a bus kills Nathaniel Fisher, owner of the Fisher & Sons Funeral Home in Los Angeles, the tragedy casts a pall on the homecoming of his prodigal son Nate. Together with with mother Ruth, brother David and sister Claire, they must address the family business, and the many more personal matters that arise when your life is Six Feet Under. ... Read more

Reviews (127)

frantic fan
This has to be one of the best series ever made for television. It follows the everyday lives of a family run funeral home. It has a great cast. Micheal C. Hall is great as David Fisher. Peter Krause is also great as Nate Fisher, who has come home after the untimely death of the Fisher patriarch, Nathanial Fisher, Sr., only to find out that he has been left half of the business in his father's will. Rachel Griffiths shines as Brenda Chenowith, a far cry from the role she played in the movie "The Rookie" last summer. Claire Fisher is played by Lauren Ambrose. I had seen her in the movie "Psycho Beach Party" and this show solidifies her talent. The character I enjoy the most is the role of Ruth Fisher, the mother, brilliantly played by Frances Conroy. Her expressions alone leave me laughing hysterically one minute, touched and tearful the next. I have watched this show from it's beginning and was hooked. I suggest that anyone who hasn't seen this series buy this DVD along with the future seasons I'm sure will follow. You will not be disappointed!!

Best TV script ever.
Sorry my title mimics that of others, but that's what I've been saying about it for a long time.

Like the Sopranos, this is a series the hype for which I didn't give in to orginally. Then I saw some reviews by one of my favorite Washington Post critics that teased me. So I watched, probably close to half way through the first season. It hooked me instantly.

First, as others point out, the acting is incredible. My spouse and I are wondering each episode who's the best actor. In one of the DVD episodes tonight, I felt it was Frances Conroy (Ruth) who I usually do. I've always been in love with Lauren Ambrose (Claire). All right, I have many friends with daughters older than she. What I mean is, I envy the kid. She's got a great future with her acting talent (and her expressions which will break you up!) The others are all fabulous too. Jeremy Sisto (Billy Chenowith) really does convince you that he's absolutely nuts...a change from his portrayal of Jesus in a TV movie a few years ago! And I've never seen his sister Brenda (God help me, I can't think of the actress's name) slip into her New Zealand accent. Again, they all vie for best actor/actress each episode!

There is an uncannily good mix of humor and drama. That's why I say it beats anything else on the tube. If I thought of getting rid of HBO, it's this series...and maybe The Wire...that would keep me. For months in advance my wife and I talk about the coming season; we can't wait for it.

It's risque without being gross. The gay issue is intelligently handled. Oh, and I've always wondered if Peter C. Marshall (David) and Matthew St. Patrick (Keith) were straight in real life. Among the extra features of the DVD set is that you learn that they are.

Another feature of the DVD set is the discussion among all those responsible for the opening sequence and theme music. Then there's the discussion with cast members as to their favorite scenes. (My favorite is also Lauren Ambrose's, when she's lethargic about being in love. A gem!)

It's a fabulous series that can't be beat. Well, my inlaws wouldn't like it. And don't show it to any of your guests or relatives who are prudes. I got in trouble with some family members at the beginning of one in the second season. And some of the gay scenes while, again, not gross, are threatening to people not accustomed to gay scenes. But it covers oh so many subjects you don't normally see covered...too many to even mention here. The scripts are brilliant, the acting the best. And the added benefits of the DVD series are well worth the cost of the set, in addition to having those superb episodes to watch again and again. They'll never bore you, believe me.

Another gem from HBO ...
American Beauty and Twin Peaks rolled into one, this series offers black humor, twists and turns and more character development than the first three seasons of Sex and the City. I will not go into detail as many reviewers have already done so. Only one thing: What's with that price? I bought it in Europe with four different language soundtracks and subtitles for only EUR 39.99 ! I would suggest boycotting until the price gets lowered, but die-hard fans will buy it anyway. I must admit, it's still worth it :-)

HBO broke the mold, when they made Six Feet Under
Six Feet Under is one of HBO's outstanding programs, as well as others such as Sex and the City and The Sopranos. The Complete First Season features a 4 disc set of all First Season episodes including "Pilot", and special features including a 15 minute special on the making of the title sequence and a exclusive preview with interviews from the cast on seasons 1 and 2. Six Feet Under is brilliantly casted featuring: Peter Krause, Michael C. Hall, Frances Conroy, Rachel Griffiths, Lauren Ambrose and Richard Jenkins along with others.

The disc features the following episodes:
Disc 1:

Pilot
The Will
The Foot

Disc 2:
Familia
An Open Book
The Room
Brotherhood

Disc 3:
Crossroads
Life's Too Short
The New Person

Disc 4:
The Trip
A Private Life: Finale Part I
Knock, Knock: Finale Part II

Buy this! You'll be glad you did! HBO at its best!

Another diamond series on HBO
Six Feet Under is one of those shows that will suck you in and become highly addictive by the end of the first episode. The show revolves around the Fishers who operate a family owned funeral home. All of the characters stand out and develop greatly on this show. Sometimes you will watch this show and you will laugh up a storm other times you will watch it and the emotion makes you want to cry.

Six Feet Under is written by Alan Ball and he directed American Beauty. American Beauty is one of my favorite movies and there are a few similarities in between both. When I say similarities I mean that both American Beauty have a great sense of dark humor and great drama. I found both of Alan Ball's works to be one that make you sit back and reflect on life. After watching American Beauty you look around for the beauty of things on earth and in life. The same applies with Six Feet Under but questions are brought up like "Why do we have to die". I liked American Beauty and I felt right at home with Six Feet Under.

The characters in this show are relatable and even though they have a different way of making a living I still found them relatable. The main characters I would say are Nate, David, Ruth, Claire, & Nate Sr. Of course they are the Fisher family who own the funeral home. Another few huge character on this show are Brenda and her brother Billy. Of course there are other big characters but I can't name everyone.

In the pilot episode the Nate Sr. dies in a horrible bus accident and he has to hand over the funeral home to his two sons Nate and David Fisher. Even though he his dead Nate Sr. watches over his family and communicates with his family. Alot of the scenes he appears in are hilarious. Oh ya did I mention he is dead! His sons both have good developing characters who are very different in their own ways. David Fisher is a cool character who is very businesslike and is also gay. He has a boyfriend named Keith is a cop. You will find there relationship evolve as the season goes on. The other brother Nate, has never worked a day in the funeral business because he left for Seattle to pursue his own life. Nate is a pretty cool character but his world is in a blender with the passing of his father and his relationship with his newly met girlfriend Brenda. His girlfrend Brenda in my opinion is the star of the show. She is full of crazy/cool energy and always has an appetite for sex. You never know what to expect with her character. The mother, Ruth Fisher is kinda of a control freak who seems very depressed, worn out, and saddened over the loss over her husband. She snaps very quickly and she is too a memorable character. Finally the Claire Fisher is another cool character. She is the youngest of the bunch and she is a teenager in high school. She is somewhat of a loner but she has alot of character and she is far from ordinary. She drives a freakin hearse to school!!! Enough about the characters I can't spill everything out or I will spoil the season for you.

I know what your thinking. Your like well ok thats great Adam but you know what, if I come home with this the wife will have my head on a platter. I will admit it is pricey but I think Six Feet Under is a great enough show to where the quality over shadows the price. It is on HBO so there is alot swearing, sex and other stuff you would never see on regular television. I think HBO produces great television shows. Just watch The Sopranos, Sex & The City, Oz or many of there other series. You know it is quality and they are great television. Well guess what Six Feet Under plays on that same field. I find it to be my 3rd favorite television show behind 24 and the Sopranos.

Well let me conclude by saying you will be satisfied with Season One of Six feet Under. I haven't seen the other seasons of this show but I will definetly be buying Season 2 when it is released in June. If you like quality acting, drama, and dark humor give this show a shot. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Seven Deadly Sins - 1962
This is an awesome classic!!!

In the 'sloth' segment I saw the most beautiful body on earth. I was a twenty year old college student when I viewed this movie at the Times Fine Art theater in Milwaukee in 1962.

Her name, I believe, is Danielle Aubry. I have made love to women with gorgeous... but Danielle is still #1 even after all these (40) years.

There are also some socially redeeming qualities about this film but I forgot what they were.

GM ... Read more

Amazon.com

Winky Dink cartoons, popular in the 1950s, are now interactive. This set features a "magic screen": a piece of heavy clear vinyl that clings to 27-inch television screens--it can be cut to fit smaller screens, but those with larger sets won't get full screen coverage. Also included are special crayons, soft cleaning cloth, and the first volume of Winky Dink and You all enclosed in a plastic carrying case. Viewers simply trace an onscreen object and watch as it becomes a vital tool in defeating the dastardly Harem Scarem. Don't tell the kids, but viewer drawings don't actually determine the course of the action--they simply fill in blank portions of the animation. While artwork wipes easily away from conventional television screens, the advisability of encouraging children to write on televisions and other household furnishing is debatable. This compilation contains nine episodes featuring Winky Dink, his dog Woofer, and the villainous Harem Scarem. Whether Harem Scarem is corrupting the King, disturbing the music of the spheres, or stealing precious gems, the collaborative efforts of Winky Dink, Woofer, and young viewers ensures that good will prevail. (Ages 3 and older) --Tami Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Get fun for the young and young at heart!
I was a huge WINKY DINK AND YOU fan as a kid and was so excited to see that this simple, but simply wonderful interactive set was back for today's generation of kids! All you do is put a piece of plastic (provided in the kit) on the TV screen and following the cartoon character's instructions, you draw something, like a line, that becomes a bridge that magically becomes integrated into the cartoon! The crayons and magic wipe (also in the kit) enables kids do two interactive pieces easily in each cartoon, and there are 18 cartoons in each volume. It's perfect for kids ages four and up. Even a video-obsessed 14 year-old-friend of my daughter thought it was real "cool." The lunch box-type kit is easy to transport, making it great for anyone, including babysitters going to their jobs, to carry it! Anyone who remembers Winky Dink (and his catchy theme song) will be ecstatic that he's returned. Anyone who doesn't know Winky Dink and Woofer and Harum Scarum should! This is great!

Winky Dink Revisited
I was a fan of this show 1st time around (50+ years ago) and was happy to see this release on DVD. I bought it for my wife whose parents were too cheap to shell out the 50 cents for her at the time. She had to have the Winky experience...the bliss of drawing on the TV screen! The 60's version completely escaped me because teenagers didn't do Winky, so these episodes were completely new to me. What was missing was Jack Barry's (50's) cornball antics. I must say, I was disappointed that the second Bonus Episode was faulty: it played the soundtrack of Episode One over the out-of-sync Episode Two. Also Ed Wykhoff's commentary feature was non-functional on my DVD. Otherwise, it was a thrill!...

Who knew crayons on the TV screen could be so much fun?
The concept is simple: Two cartoon characters have adventures on TV, and you have to help them by drawing on the screen. This kit includes the plastic overlay to protect your screen, a cleaning cloth, 6 crayons, and a video with 9 adventures. Other videos are available.

Who would have guessed that such a simple concept would be so much fun? Our 4 year old loves it. We're looking forward to inviting over friends so she can play again with them.

A must-see for all ages
We bought this video with memories of Winky Dink from growing up in the fifties. Our four children, ages 5 through 14, are wild about it, and that's quite an accomplishment for all of them to enjoy the same thing. It's very easy to use and fun for all. For anyone who wants to go back in time to the early days of television and share this nostalgia with each other and with new generations, this video is a MUST!!! We are going to buy several copies to give as gifts and even to save for our grandchildren!!!!

New Winky Dink Lover
Though I am not of the winky dink gernrations (they were aired in the 50's and later in the 70's, I am only 16) my parents were, and stubmbled across this rare gem. Since reciving the kit, I have used it for babysitting, and have found not only do the kids love it and beg for more, but they keep on wanting me to come back, and each time watch Winky Dink again and again! Thank you Winky Dink!!! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent balanced account
I borrowed this video from a library and watched it with several Vietnamese from Hanoi who were studying overseas and had experienced the war in the North. They thought it gave a very balanced account of events even though it had been made by Americans. I later used the series when teaching Vietnamese History at Asmara University and at a South Korean university. I found it excellent.

Very well done. Good histoical content.
As stated above. Tops in category ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Thoroughly revolting...
While it is true many women have left the convent and religious life, very few I am sure begin their "new" lives seeking utter debauchery like this. Kristin Scott Thomas offers another pallid portrayal which adds little to this sappy melodrama, guising itself as a "woman's story". Save your money and order "Come To The Stable" or "The Song of Bernadette".

BREAKING OUT OF CELL WALLS
For sixteen years Sr. Gabriel lived a cloistered life in a convent. Her family consisted of an order of elderly nuns. A pesky young novice becomes infatuated with her but Sr. Gabriel knows that God will take care of such an annoyance. Life in the order is safe, comforting and routine.

God does have a way of breaking one out of his/her comfort zone. In this case Sr. Gabriel is forced to confront the outside world as she is summoned to help her pregnant sister-in-law. Her dutiful brother committed suicide and now left his sister with quite a mess to handle. Sr. Gabriel enters into the world of grief, squawking children, hideous dress and hairstyles, a hysterical sister-in-law and the family mill which is about to go under.

Kristen Scott Thomas gives a superb performance of a nun coming to grips with her faith and the various emotional and spiritual turbulance that she finds in both worlds. Sr. Gabriel finds out that one's cell can be stifling. Her other self, Anna, discovers a world that is cruel, painful, and frightening but at the same time filled with joys that she never experienced before. Body and Soul deals with a woman's need to make peace within herself and become a whole woman in the midst of the chaos surrounding her.

The great mystery is can this woman do it? Is she replacing one cell wall for another? This is an entertaining film that gives you great insight upon the temptations that plague all of us.

Something Different
I sat absolutely mesmerized through the first two tapes of this series. I thought it was one of the most intriguing "different" stories I had ever watched. Kristin Scott Thomas was wonderful in the lead role and the story line was fascinating. But sadly, I was disappointed with the third part. (Don't read on if you haven't seen it). I found it completely unbelievable that she would make her focus to get laid. Being a nun all those years, I could not accept that she would throw herself at a man who treated her like dirt. It was not in line with her character at all. Not believable. However, I still recommend this series. Its not typical in any way and therefore enjoyable.

Body and Soul - BBC 1993
Just received the video tapes of Body and Soul. This is a must see for Kristen Scott Thomas fans-new and old alike. Everyone in this production did their roles proud. Kristen Scott Thomas was absolutely radiant in her performance, and there is no denying why her "star" has risen. Not only can she act, and act superbly, but she has the capacity to take you in with her smile, the tilt of her head as well as her eyes. I had to view all 3 tapes in one sitting, as I just had to see what was going to happen next. She was convincing as the young nun yearning for more than the convent could offer, and yet ever so afraid of her feelings. Buy this series....you'll love it.

Wondrously memorable, KST's nuanced performance is a delight
In this extraordinary story of a woman's crossover from one world to another, Kristin Scott Thomas's performance is astonishing. The chemistry between Sister Gabriel (KST) and her sister-in-law (Amanda Redman) is very satisfying to behold. A stunning cast throughout... There are so many delightful moments in this mini-series that it is a must-see (and own) for KST fans. Soulful throughout... ... Read more

Amazon.com

Astronomer and all-around scientific hero Jeff Morrow (he of the stone face, Cro-Magnon brow, and heavy voice of dire intonation) discovers a new celestial body that suddenly changes course and slams into the Pacific Ocean off the Mexican coast. Meanwhile a mysterious white light takes over the body of lab director John Emery, who becomes the eyes and ears of the UFO when it emerges days later as a skyscraper-sized robot. Morrow and his crew--including his beauty-with-brains girlfriend, Barbara Lawrence; wisecracking sidekick, George O'Hanlan; and computer, SUSIE, which whirs and blinks but offers little real help--leap to the rescue, but not before the Mexican air force takes on the giant in a scene reminiscent of King Kong. Director Kurt Neumann, best known for the original The Fly, gives this low-budget sci-fi thriller an impressive scope, sending the striking, austerely designed giant robot (a walking battery with piledriver legs) marching across a B&W widescreen frame like a relentless tank and punctuating the drama with an impressively chilling A-bomb blast. Though hardly a classic, this is one of the more interesting alien invasion movies of the paranoid 1950s. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (25)

A delicious alternative for standard 50s SF
"Down here we have half the atomic secret... we convert matter into energy... up THERE, they have the other half... they convert energy in matter!" So intones John Emery as a half-alien possessed, dying scientist in KRONOS. You can read about the plot and actors in the other reviews (esp. George "Jetson" O'Hanlon), so I thought I'd just throw in some noteworthy points about this movie -
1. The cinematography is great - you have some shots worthy of Conrad Hall's work on Outer Limits.
2. Irving Block and Jack Rabin - two of the creative minds behind Forbidden Planet - did a lot of the production and model work and they did a lot on limited money.
3. The monster - a giant electrical energy-sucking battery that pulverizes everything with its motive power units - has to be seen to be enjoyed.
4. You really, really get the feeling that this thing is alien in purpose and thinking. This is not some guy in a rubber suit standing in for the communist threat.

Terrific widescreen DVD of underrated 50s SF thriller
Far more intelligent and absorbing than your typical giant-rampaging-monster-on-the-loose flick, Kronos is one of my top picks for 'most underappreciated science fiction film,' possessing one of the more ingenious SF concepts of the 1950s (see also Monolith Monsters), as well as one of the decade's coolest, ahead-of-its-time alien invaders. The cast includes familiar genre stalwarts Jeff Morrow (Creature Walks Among Us, The Giant Claw), John Emery (Rocketship X-M, The Mad Magician), and Morris Ankrum (zillions of B-westerns and SF flicks), with Barbara Lawrence (Oklahoma!) as the lady scientist/love interest. The moody B&W cinematography is by Karl Struss (Island of Lost Souls, The Great Dictator, Mesa of Lost Women), and the curiously Angry Red Planet-like score is by Paul Sawtell and Bert Shefter (too many genre credits to list). Competently directed by B-film veteran Kurt Neumann (The Fly, She Devil), the film unfolds like a mystery, building slowly at first, adding a few plot twists, then really kicking in with the appearance of the colossal metallic "energy collector", subsequent scenes of devastation, and final assault on Los Angeles. The always-imaginative if chronically underfunded Jack Rabin-Irving Block-Louis DeWitt effects team (World Without End, War of the Satellites, Atomic Submarine) gets a major assist from 20th Century Fox budget dollars this time out and it shows, particularly in the design and execution of the monolithic robot itself and the scenes of mass destruction, effectively realized through the clever orchestration of miniatures, animation, mattes, stock footage, and spacey sound effects. The script may not always hold up to intense scrutiny (why don't the aliens just send their device to suck energy directly from stars?), the science is more comic-book than Isaac Asimov, and it's almost impossible not to think "George Jetson" every time George O'Hanlon (GJ's voice on TV) opens his mouth; but if this was in Technicolor it would be revered today as one of the SF greats (just compare this to the extremely overrated "classic" This Island Earth some time).
The Image DVD presents the film in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, and while the source print exhibits some light speckling throughout, the brightness, contrast, tonal values, sharpness, and detail are uniformly excellent. A middling-quality trailer and 16 chapter stops are the only extras, but this is still a must-have for any serious collector of 50s science fiction, especially at the recently-reduced price. I'll probably be sorry I said it but, in the right hands (James Cameron? Darren Aronofsky?), a modern remake of this could kill!

KRONOS: A Should-be 50's Sci-Fi Classic!
Being a fairly new collector of 50's Sci-Fi, I just finished watching "KRONOS: Ravager of Planets" and it was excellent! Starring Jeff Morrow of "This Island Earth" fame and written by Irvin Block (Forbidden Planet), KRONOS has above-average effects for it's genre and the story is very good. The giant alien machine/robot from outer space, known only as "KRONOS", is a fresh idea thrown into the mix of 50's classic invaders-from-space type films. If you enjoy collecting classic b&w 50's Sci-Fi, then KRONOS is an excellent addition to your DVD library. I only wish the DVD special features contained more. The Theatrical Trailer, Scene Selection and Feature Movie are the only options on the DVD. Anyway, it's still an enjoyable and fun classic Sci-Fi flick. Get one for yourself today!

Kronos: A Short Film In Feature Length Clothing
Sorry, nostalgia alone isn't enough to save this turkey of a movie. Yes, the basic premise is interesting and original, but it lacked development. In fact, it apparently lacked an editor! KRONOS is a prime example of a "padded" film. It is 80 minutes long and stretched thin to fit. Unfortunately a lot of B movies from the 50s suffered from the same problem.

An example:
A helicopter with two researchers takes off. We see lots of footage of the helicopter in the air. Then we see a coastline. Then the copter. Then the coastline again. Then the researchers in the cockpit looking around. Then the ocean and more coastline. The researchers point to something. The copter turns. We see rocks in the ocean. The copter turns again. The researchers finally figure there's nothing to see. The copter turns around again and heads for home.
So the filmmakers have burned up a good 4 minutes of the movie with a sequence that 1) doesn't have a point, and 2) doesn't resolve anything or add to the movie, and 3) makes you grateful for the fast forward feature of your remote control. Unfortunately there are many such sequences in this film.

I won't even get into the cheesy special effects - let's just say they're good for a chuckle. Also had to laugh at the scientist who is "possessed" by the alien life force...is it me or does this guy look like a psychotic Walt Disney?

Watching (and fast forwarding through) the film, I had a nagging thought that the makers of KRONOS could have pared the film down to half its running time and shown it as part of a double bill with some other edited-down flick from the same era. Would have been a vast improvement.
PS - another reviewer mentioned that an interesting remake could be culled from the concept of KRONOS. Actually, that may be true! The underlying idea is pretty interesting, hence the two star rating.

Crush! Kill! Destroy!!!!
A titanic robot from outer space invades earth, attempting to absorb all of our electrical energy. The press names it KRONOS after the mythical titan. Seemingly unstoppable, this juggernaut stomps it's way across Mexico, squashing all in it's path! Airplanes are pulled into it and explode like the models they are! All weapons are useless, as even the dreaded A-bomb only serves to make Kronos stronger! Can it be defeated before depleting us of all electricity? Can super-egghead Jeff Morrow and his team of labcoats find the answer in time? Or, will Kronos flatten us under it's mighty piston legs?? An absolute must-see flick for any true 50s sci-fi addict like myself... ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Beware of cheap imitations
"Diva" is one of my very favorite movies -- I distinguish that term from "film." It has a wonderful combination of a suspenseful plot (based on a detective novel by Delacorta,( who, I believe, has a Lolita complex illustrated by the young Vietnames girl), pop-art imagery, and a thoughtful theme (the increasing mechanization/depersonalization ) of modern classical music. A beautiful mixture of film noir, nouveau vague, and Hollywood thriller, with a self-deprecating sense of humor.

BEWARE OF THE OTHER DVD VERSION (with the gangster portrait on the box). IT HAS HORRIBLE SOUND WHICH IS FATAL FOR A MOVIE CONTAINING OPERATIC AND CLASSICAL MUSIC.

Run, Jules, Run!
I first saw this film in high school and was immediately impressed with it. I've rented it innumerable times and am glad it's finally made it to DVD. The premise is somewhat ridiculous, but if you see the film as an operetta in itself, then it makes sense. The plot interweaves three stories quite skillfully: the first thread involves the obsessive love that Jules, a delivery man, has for an opera singer (the Diva), and the lengths he will go to in order to possess her (or at least to capture her amazing voice). The second tale involves two cut-throat Japanese agents who will do anything to nab Jule's bootleg copy of the Diva singing (as she refuses to be recorded and thinks that music should be an emphemeral experience). And the final intrigue that provides the weft and woof for this movie is that of an underground sex slave ring and the Paris police department's attempts at apprehending the crime lord in charge of it.

All the characters in the movie were quite well-developed, except for that of the title character, the Diva, played by Wilhelmenia Fernandez. She is in real life an American opera singer, and as such I probably should not have expected so much from her as an actress. Nonetheless, her lackluster performance did not sabotage the great work by Frederic Andrei, who was superb as a naive, lovestruck Jules. Other notable performances were given by Richard Bohringer, the fabulously enigmatic Gorodish, the Zen-man with an answer for everything; and Thuy An Luu, his incorrigible, shoplifting girlfriend. I also loved the slapstick humor provided by the crime lord's two henchmen.

Diva is an all-around enjoyable film that capitalizes on the sense of sound in the same manner that "Like Water for Chocolate" culled from the sense of taste. You will hear a certain aria over and over again from this film, but the music that will actually stay with you is a haunting piano piece by Erik Satie (when Jules and Cynthia are in the park). I highly recommend this movie, especially if you liked "Run Lola Run."

As wonderful now as it was then
When I saw DIVA in the theaters, back in 1982, I knew I had witnessed something incredibly special. And for years it had kept a warm spot in my heart and mind. When I heard the DVD had been released, I was afraid of two things: 1) that the transfer would be a disaster and 2) the film would be terribly dated.

The not-so-good-news first: while superior to the earlier DVD release (which I had never seen, but heard about) the film suffers a little from some muddy sound, and at the worst times: during the operatic performances. Yet, the chase scenes have incredibly crisp sound. But I can't let that spoil the fact that the movie has held up incredibly well after 20+ years. While the fashions are of a by-gone era, everything else holds up perfectly. The plot, the direction, the performances are all as engaging as anything that's come out in recent years. Younger viewers may feel that this is a little old-fashioned, but I doubt it. This is a great film that has a little bit of everything: drama, love, comedy--and the strangest villains in cinema history! Give DIVA a chance.

A Thrilling Visual Poem
Diva is poetically visual as it displays a cinematically stunning experience, which renders one speechless with its sublime cinematography. The story begins with a postman, Jules, who is absorbed by opera as he tapes an opera singers performance. Unknowingly Jules has been observed by two peculiar men followings him in order to try retrieve the recording. In addition, a woman who is murdered has placed a tape recording in Jules's postman bag, which will add more problems for him. Diva is a superb cinematic experience that will visually intrigue as much French New Wave did during the 60s and 70s as it often produces new and interesting ways of displaying cinema.

cult film - no question about it
Diva is very intriguing with it's two parallel plots. The first time I saw this movie I was a bit confused and to this day I wouldn't know how to properly categorize it. It's a bit of a crime story, a bit of a romantic drama and has got lot's of great music.

But even if the movie had no plot and the acting was absolutely terrible (which it isn't), you could still just sit back and enjoy the music and the pictures (the lighthouse scene is absolutely gorgeous). Thuy An Luu is very tantalizing and a joy to watch, especially skating around Gorodish's warehouse / home.

Vladimir Cosma's piano sequences like the "promenade sentimentale" are masterpieces in their own right and I highly recommend the soundtrack.

I've seen this movie many times in the theatre. Owning this DVD is the next best thing to the real experience on the big screen and this was one of the first purchases I made after getting a DVD player. ... Read more

Reviews (211)

Stellar Acheivement
The 1996 film "Hamlet" directed and starring Kenneth Branagh is by far the best film adaption of the play! Even though its 4 hours, you hardly notice it because of how much is going on. His acting job is superb, as are Julie Christies as Gertrude, Derek Jacobi's as Claudius, and Kate Winslet as Ophelia (a role much better than her overrated one in "Titanic'). But what's really amazing is Kenneth Branagh's direction. He is such a genius and everyone involved with the movie should have gotten Oscars. Also, what I liked were the great visuals. Elsinore is so cool, especially the main hall with the mirrored doors and checkered floor. Plus he changes the play very subtlely, such as putting Claudius in a confessional for the praying scene or having him and Polonius watch Hamlet deliver the "to be or not to be" speech from a one-way mirror. I've heard Branagh say that he didn't want his movie to be gloomy and infatuated with death and deciet like the other films are. Instead it's a celebration of life and love, and adventure. END

Superior to all other versions.
Kenneth Branagh's version of Hamlet combines lush and breathtaking visuals with the complete, unabridged text of Shakespeare's masterpiece. In other versions of Hamlet, such as the ill-cast Mel Gibson film, the play is mistakenly cut down to a "more reasonable" two-hours-or-less atrocity. The unexpurgated method allows for the inclusion of important scenes that, if removed, take away from the overall effect of the drama. Despite its length of more than four hours, the film keeps the viewer entertained until the startling last scene. The stunning visuals can be attributed to the rarely used 70mm film on which the play was captured and the exceptional set design involved. The play is actually done in a 19th century motif, a unique departure from other versions of Hamlet. Impressive costume design add to the remarkable images in the film. The star-studded cast includes Derek Jacobi as Claudius, Kate Winslet as Ophelia, and Branagh, himself, as Hamlet, all parts delivered with brilliant authenticity. Other well known actors such as Robin Williams, Charlton Heston, and Billy Crystal also appear in small, but equally well-implemented roles. Some argue that Branagh's execution of the part was overdone, but it fits perfectly within the film and is, therefore, quite believable. The acting is overall a big plus to the end effect of the film. Beautifully executed in an outstandingly well-calculated manner, Branagh's film made Hamlet more accessible to modern viewers and will certainly remain popular for a long time to come.

Excellent Film
Kenneth Branagh's "Hamlet" works so well on the big screen because the guy has a knack for Shakespeare, acting, directing, and knowing what "modern" audiences wanted out of a Shakespearean play. He takes the tale of Hamlet, prince of Denmark, and transports it to more of a modern setting (well, more modern than the 16th century). He assembles an all-star cast that includes Kate Winslett, Charlton Heston, Derek Jacobi, Billy Crystal, Jack Lemmon, Robin Williams among others in this adaptation of Shakespeare's classic.

Although 4 hours in length (mainly because every word in the play is inserted in the script), the stunning effect of the play is extraordinary. The backdrop for the ghost of Hamlet in the opening scene, the mirror used when Hamlet (Branaugh) is making his "To be or not to be" soliloquy, the palace in which Hamlet and Laertes fight, and the snowy landscape in which Fortenbras and his men arrive are all instances of using scenery and directing to update this version of the play.

Although the setting and interpretation of what Shakespeare intended are left in doubt, the movie itself is visually stunning and the acting is great. Although Branaugh hired a few American actors to take on some of Shakespeare's characters (for instance, Robin Williams plays Osric and Billy Crystal plays one of the gravediggers), there "American" accents are hardly noticed in the film.

As an educator, I also think this is a fantastic version to use as a resource for a study of the play. Because the dialogue is accurate to the play, it works well. Also, this version seemingly makes the work of Shakespeare easier to understand. (Although, as a warning, there is one scene with Winslet (Ophelia) and Branaugh (Hamlet) that is definitely "adult" in nature).

Overall, a great gamble by Branaugh to update Shakespeare's work into his own insight. There is also a few extras on the VHS version: interviews with many of the cast members as well as a behind the scenes about the movie.

Also recommended: Hamlet (Mel Gibson version)

Great Film for learning
This film is a great tool to be used within a classroom to reinforce Shakesperian lessons. The film presents one of the best adaptations to Shakespeare's original work. Awesome production!

Good.
This version of 'Hamlet' starring and directed by the one and only Kenneth Branagh is a joy to watch and might be the best version of the famous play. It follows the play word by word, so one has to read it and understand it fully to understand the film. Better than the Mel Gibson 'Hamlet'. ... Read more