Amazon.com

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

Reviews (128)

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

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

007 Beats the Devil
James Bond goes up against some of the toughest forces of evil in this collection. GOLDFINGER contains a well-balanced level of depth and action leaving one emotionally charged. This is Sean Connery's finest James Bond film. The golden girl, Oddjob's bowler hat, Goldfinger's lethal laser, the Astin Martin DB5 with modifications introduced by Q, and Shirley Bassey's legendary rendition of the theme song belted out over the titles immediately became an integral part of the James Bond lore and remained in the psyche of the public. Production designer Ken Adam and art director Peter Murton gave the production a stunning and lavish distinction. The Fort Knox set and Goldfinger's playroom at his stud ranch was a testament to imagination and achievement. John Barry finally honed his distinctive style to perfection with this memorable score. In THUNDERBALL 007's Astin Martin DB5 returns and so do the evil forces of S.P.E.C.T.R.E. In his fourth film Sean Connery is self-assured, inimitably virile and an infallible James Bond. Adolfo Celi as Emilio Largo devises and implements a plan that ultimately draws 007 to the Bahamas in search of a missing Vulcan jet lost on a NATO training sortie. This is a lavish Bond film where most of the action takes place underwater. What makes the film very memorable is John Barry's rich and esoteric score combined with Lamar Boren's beautiful and picturesque underwater photography. The cover of the THUNDERBALL dvd is very impressive and haunting. LIVE AND LET DIE is the one film in this series that stands out from the rest. It does not even seem like it is part of the series. The character of James Bond as played by Roger Moore was totally revamped in LIVE AND LET DIE. Bond seems to have traded in cigarettes for cheroots. Gone were the "Martinis shaken not stirred," the Dom Perigone, Bond's virility, worldliness and sardonic wit. Instead Bond uses his urbane sagacity and charm to follow the pipeline from New York to a Caribbean island to destroy a drug empire protected by a voodoo legion of hoodlum Mr. Big. LIVE AND LET DIE is a very entertaining film. In FOR YOUR EYES ONLY 007 gets rough as he goes up against an international tycoon on the payroll of the Soviets. This is an action packed film, with picturesque European and Mediterranean locales and a very exciting score by Bill Conti. The sinking of the St. Georges, the attack on Kristatos' warehouse and Bond kicking Locque's car, with Locque still inside, off the cliff were high points that were excellently filmed. LICENCE TO KILL has Timothy Dalton as an avenging James Bond turned rouge agent out to eliminate drug lord Sanchez in Isthmus City. There are many great action scenes on the land, on and under the sea and in the air. The best element of the story line is having Bond place doubt in the mind of Sanchez that henchmen in his organization were plotting against him. The film's greatest asset is Benicio Del Toro's performance as Dario, a Sanchez henchman. GOLDENEYE is Pierce Brosnan's first film as James Bond and seems more like a hybrid of Sean Connery and Timothy Dalton, combing the best elements that each brought to the role. He possesses intelligence, wit, charm and dedication and delivers these with no-nonsense passion and drive. GOLDENEYE is a great looking film beautifully filmed for mood and action. Some of the film's high points are the miniatures by Derek Meddings; probably his best work in the series, the return of the Astin Martin DB5 and Eric Serra's original if controversial score. Serra's interpretation of "The James Bond Theme" over the opening gun barrel trademark is powerful and very innovative. One can not appreciate Serra's contribution to this film unless the DVD is played through a surround stereo system with a good amount of bass and volume pumped up. This boxed set boasts some outstanding graphics. Outstanding!

A GREAT ADDITION FOR ANY BOND FANS COLLECTION
GOLDFINGER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THUNDERBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LIVE AND LET DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LICENCE TO KILL?????????????????????????

GOLDENEYE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TOMORROW NEVER DIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WITH THE EXCEPTION OF LICENCE TO KILL, YOU ARE IN FOR A REAL TREAT IF YOU BUY THIS SET OF 6 OF THE GREATEST BOND FILMS OF ALL TIME.

GOLDFINGER: ARGUABLY THE BEST BOND FILM ALONG WITH THE SPY WHO LOVED ME AND FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, BOND INVESTIGATES AURIC GOLDFINGER WHO TRIES TO TAKE OVER FORT KNOX.

THUNDERBALL: AN EPIC BOND FLICK HAS BOND TRYING TO RECOVER STOLEN ATOMIC BOMBS IN THE BAHAMAS.

LIVE AND LET DIE: ROGER MOORE MAKES HIS DEBUT AS BOND IN THIS STRANGE DEBUT ABOUT VOODOO AND CROCODILES. (DON'T ASK)

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY: GREAT PLOT AND BOND GIRL AS BOND TRIES TO RECOVER A STOLED ATAC MACHINE AND PREVENT THE RUSSIANS FROM GETTING IT.

LICENCE TO KILL: HORRIBLE MOVIE, ONLY WATCH IT ONCE.

GOLDENEYE: PIERCE BROSNAN MAKES HIS DEBUT AS BOND IN THIS THRILLING MOVIE, THE FIRST OF THE 90'S, BOND INVESTIGATES THE THEFT OF 2 HELICOPTERS CARRYING WARHEADS.

LISCENCE TO KILL: BOND AT HIS BEST WITH HIS DEFINITE EQUAL, MICHELLE YEOW AS THEY THWART A NEWSPAPER TYCOOD WHO WANTS TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD.

THAT'S ALL FOLKS, BUY THIS COLLECTION!!!!!!!!!!

bond,james bond
this 7 video set of james bond is the very best on the market with titles like "goldfinger" "goldeneye" and "tomarrow never dies" just to name a few.mgm did a very good job putting this collection together all of the best of james bond. thanks,mgm. ... Read more

Reviews (49)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reviews (28)

An excellent piece of history.
A magnificent piece of work that truly reveals an intriguing piece of this country's history. A true must-see for novices and expert historians. Wonderfully written and excellently directed; while John Jakes has superceded himself in writing this trilogy, the producers have done equally as well in the development of this mini-series.

North and South Book 2
An excellent historical portrayal of life during the War Between the States. The scenes of the Battles are acurately portrayed in this movie. If you ever get a chance to visit some of our Civil War Battlefields, you will get the same idea of how the battles were faught. Friendships and families torn apart by politics of the time.

My next question is When are they going to make a movie from the 3rd book. Heaven and Hell?

North and South Parts 1, 2, and 3
North and South is probably my all time favorite movie. It is an excellent blend of actual historical events and fascinating fictional characters. For those of you who were wondering when they were going to come out with Part 3 (Heaven and Hell), the movie was aired on television in early spring of 1995. It has three parts to it and stars Leslie Ann Down, James Read, and Teri Garbor.

When Will It Be On DVD?
This is one of my favorite CW stories. I loved the books & thought, for once, they were well translted to film (as a TV mini-series)! What I want to know now is WHEN WILL "NORTH & SOUTH" & "NORTH & SOUTH, Book 2" be out on DVD, with some great extras from the stars; Swayze, Reed, Down, et al? I'd LOVE to hear Carridine's take on his evil character!!! C'mon Warner Bros, I WANT MY DVD!

North and South Book 1 and 2
I have to say I loved the whole story, I saw Book 1 and Book 2 again recently. The story between the Hazards and the Mains was wonderful. From the friendship of George Hazard and Orrey Main to the oddness and excentricities of Virgilia Hazard as well and the scheming and lack of scruples of Ashton Main)Hontoon.

I think it is a wonderful story to be enjoyed by all, keep in mind there are some passionate scenes, of course by today's standards that may be a stretch. ... 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

Amazon.com

As with Star Wars, the George Lucas-produced Indiana Jones trilogy was not just a plaything for kids but an act of nostalgic affection toward a lost phenomenon: the cliffhanging movie serials of the past. Episodic in structure and with fate hanging in the balance about every 10 minutes, the Jones features tapped into Lucas's extremely profitable Star Wars formula of modernizing the look and feel of an old, but popular, story model. Steven Spielberg directed all three films, which are set in the late 1930s and early '40s: the comic book-like Raiders of the Lost Ark, the spooky, Gunga Din-inspired Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and the cautious but entertaining Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Fans and critics disagree over the order of preference, some even finding the middle movie nearly repugnant in its violence. (Pro-Temple of Doom people, on the other hand, believe that film to be the most disarmingly creative and emotionally effective of the trio.) One thing's for sure: Harrison Ford's swaggering, two-fisted, self-effacing performance worked like a charm, and the art of cracking bullwhips was probably never quite the iconic activity it soon became after Raiders. Supporting players and costars were very much a part of the series, too--Karen Allen, Sean Connery (as Indy's dad), Kate Capshaw, Ke Huy Quan, Amrish Puri, Denholm Elliot, River Phoenix, and John Rhys-Davies among them. Years have passed since the last film (another is supposedly in the works), but emerging film buffs can have the same fun their predecessors did picking out numerous references to Hollywood classics and B-movies of the past. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (402)

One of the greatest film trilogies of all time
Steven Spielberg directed all three films in the Indiana Jones trilogy and he had help from George Lucas in making these comic-like fast paced action films primed for mainstream success. Taking place between the 1930's and 40's, all three films feature professor and adventurer Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford in the role he was born to play; hard to believe Tom Selleck was originally considered for the role) on various death defying adventures all over the world. The first film, Raiders of the Lost Ark, features Jones attempting to stop the Nazis from getting the Lost Ark of the Covenent. This film is probably the most exciting of the three, with some cleverly imaginitive special effects and all around spookiness. The second film, Indiana Jones & The Temple of Doom, is a prequel which finds Jones and two comrades (a young Asian boy and Kate Capshaw who is Mrs. Steven Spielberg) fighting against a cult who is enslaving Indian children. This film wasn't too well received because of it's surprising violence, but it is my favorite of the trilogy and is loaded with suspense. The third film, Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade, finds Jones trying to save his father (Sean Connery) from a Nazi regime who are hellbent on finding the Holy Grail. This installment is the most comic like of the three, and Ford and Connery are great together. This much hyped about DVD set is definitely worth owning, but the DVD extras are extremely lacking (then again, this is Paramount after all). A fourth film is rumored to be in the works, but until that ever sees the light of day, you should definitely pick up this set.

classic trilogy finally available on dvd
Finally, Indiana Jones has been released to DVD. I'm sure a lot of movie lovers have been awaiting for this as much as the original Star Wars trilogy. First reviews of the films themselves.

Raiders : (10/10). A true movie classic. Harrison Ford added another iconic role to his pedestal along with Han Solo. Every scene in the film, from the classic opening prologue to the opening of the Ark is thrilling. Jones is sent by the US government to stop the Nazi's from recovering the Ark of the Covenant. Karen Allen, as Marion Ravenwood remains THE Indy heroine and Paul Freeman is great as the slimy Belloq. John Rhys-Davies and Denholm Elliot are great support as Sallah and Marcus Brody. They even return for the third movie. Not much more to say here that hasn't been said before.

Temple of Doom: (8 1/2 /10). Not up to Raiders, but still a great, underrated movie. Come on people, this was a great movie!I've always found the constant bashing and dislike for this film to be ridiculous. Some of Indiana Jones's best moments are in this film, such as the minecar chase, voodoo doll fight, spiked room and the final scene on the bridge. True, Kate Capshaw's character, Willie Scott is irritating but the movie has a lot of strengths to make up for her constant screaming. Short Round is amusing and Molaram is a great villain.

For all you haters of the movie; buy the used dvds of Raiders and Crusade somewhere such as E-Bay or a video store. It's not like Temple was THAT bad. Grow up and get a life people,you sound like a bunch of whiny 5-year old kids.

Last Crusade: (9/10). The opening scene with the late River Phoenix as the young Indy is an exciting opening scene. It's nice to learn about Indy's origins this time around as well. Sean Connery's addition to the series was a great idea. The father-son relationship between Ford and Connery is memorable and adds humor and drama to the movie. In fact, Connery's presence is what keeps Crusade from being a sort of-retread of Raiders. This movie is a little too similar to Raiders such as involving Indy racing the Nazi's to find an artifact,Indy meeting up with somebody he has been estranged with, both take place in deserts, similar ending, etc. Also, the Nazi villains this time, while adequate, aren't memorable. They feel like recycled versions of the Nazi's in Raiders. Still, Crusade was a great third installment to a wonderful trilogy.

Bonus Disc: The interviews and makings of- were fun to watch but there should have been more on this disc. Such as deleted scenes. The Godfather and Back to the Future dvd sets had plethoras of bonus material. The lack of bonus material on the set might leave one unsatisfied.

I hope Lucas will bring out the other great trilogy of his on dvd soon.

Hopefully, Indiana Jones 4 will be awesome.

Great set
Indiana Jones has been one of my fave series of movies since I was little. Raiders of the Lost Ark is so great, it's so exciting and I really liked the female lead. I always had a crush on Indiana, and the movies have a great blend of humor, action and adventure. Last Crusade is also excellent, I love Indy's scenes with his father, they're so funny together. I really love the opening scene too, with the late River Phoenix (who was extremely talented, check him out in Stand By Me as a boy). It shows how Indiana became afraid of snakes and how an old rivalry started. Temple of Doom is my least favorite Indiana movie, Kate Capshaw wasn't my fave of the girls and it was kind of strange but I'd still rewatch it, just not as much as the other two. To tell the truth, even if there were commentaries and stuff, I wouldn't listen to them. Sometimes extras are really cool to me and sometimes they aren't, and for most movies I don't really care why the director lit a scene the way he did, or what an actor thinks of how he said his line. These movies are grea and stand on their own. I have the bonus disc though, not the one in the set but the other one that was taped outside the package. I'm not sure but I heard they aren't being sold that way anymore.

Can we call these "classics" yet?
I'm not much of a fan of "Temple Of Doom", but I think "Raiders Of The Lost Ark" and "Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade" are excellent. The 4th disc contains extras like trailers and documentaries (which are really well done -- check out Alfred Molina, the guy with the spiders in "Raiders": funny guy, and now he's Doc Ock in Spider-Man 2). The films all look very good and the packaging is nice as well. It would be nice to have commentaries for the films, but from what I hear Spielberg doesn't like to do them, and they would've just repeated what was in the documentaries on disc 4. Great set, highly recommended.

Aged like a fine wine - but we wanted more DVD extras!!
Far be it for me to presume to evaluate these films. They are seared into my consciousness, as the first was released in 1982, when I was but a wee lad of 12. Harrison Ford and George Lucas were at the heights of their popularities in the midst of Star Wars, and Spielberg was rapidly closing (soon to top the A-list of Hollywood directors). With such a pedigree, it's surprising that Raiders of the Lost Ark did not disappoint. Instead, it remains the gold standard of action movies - fast paced and fun, with wall-to-wall stunts, all the more impressive pre-CGI.

I will, however, make a comment on my impressions upon watching these films again after having purchased the DVD set. The prints are crisp and clean, the sound is clear, and overall the films look and sound fantastic. As for the content - Raiders and Last Crusade are still highly enjoyable. Compared to more recent action series (e.g. the Batman films, the Terminator films), you'll find the Indy movies are more exciting and more fun. Unfortunately, Temple of Doom, which was not well-received even when it was first released, did not age well. The overall feel is ponderous, Kate Capshaw is given little to do but scream, and the action set-pieces border on the rediculous.

Unfortunately, we've waited years for these films to come out in this format, and we expected loads of extras - if not on the Lord of the Rings level, at least on the Star Wars (Episodes I and II) level. This set does not deliver - there are no cut scenes, no footage of premiers or awards ceremonies, no original promotional materials (other than theatrical trailers), etc. There are a few documentaries, which are mostly "making of" features filmed on and around the sets of the films, with some modern interviews/reflections from Lucas, Ford, Speilberg, Ben Burtt, John Williams, and many more. These docs are fantastic - well-written, interesting, and at several hours, very satisfying. But still, having waited 10 years for DVD versions of these films, I would have been willing to wait a few more years to get more of the extras I want. I hope the Star Wars set due out in the fall is more complete! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

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

Reviews (3438)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Description

Before Jurassic Park, there was THE LOST WORLD.At the turn of the century, an expedition led by the brilliant and combative ProfessorGeorge Challenger sets out from London.It is bound for the Amazon, where dinosaursare rumored to survive on a forgotten plateau deep in the jungle.The adventurers findthat the stories are true, but the thrill of discovery is quickly overshadowed by a desperatestruggle for survival.With special effects from the award-winning production team behind the acclaimedWalking with Dinosaurs, THE LOST WORLD brings Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic taleto life like never before.Bob Hoskins (Nixon, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?) stars asProfessor Challenger, and the exceptional supporting cast includes Peter Falk (Columbo)and Tom Ward (Quills). ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Top quality tv movie
The Lost World (2001) is high quality. I spent four hours over two days watching this on tv with all the commercials in between. Of all the movies I've seen on tv in the past few years this is probably the most memorable.

This version of The Lost World reminds me of the 1960 version, obviously due to it being based on the same book, and I knew some major points of the story and seeing them redone with a contemporary style was very rewarding. I love this movie.
It is quite modest and not full of in-your-face visual effects.
The length (given by IMDB at 2 and a half hours) is well used to develop characters and all that stuff. I just watched it for interest and because Bob Hoskins is a cool actor, and all this is my review.

The besf film adaptation ever of Doyle's novel!
If you didn't see this wonderful Lost World minseries A&E did, buy the DVD or video. Or do like I did-buy it after having seen it on A&E. It was spectacular, by far the best film adaptation I have seen of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's novel. No, it doesn't stay true to the novel (face it, few films ever stay true to the novels they are based on), but the differences actually make the story enjoyable and interesting in its own right separate from the novel.

The changes from the novel include the following:

1) Professor Challenger-in the book, he is not at all a likeable character, and is not meant to be, but in the film, they made him more amenable, yet still kept much of his stubborness and self-righteousness. It was a good compromise for the purpose of viewer accetability of a main character.

2) Agnes Clooney-the female member of the team in the film was not in the novel, but is still a welcomed addition. She is a more liberated woman in some ways, but it isn't done over the top so she is beating up savages and shooting up things (she isn't Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, and that type of character wouldn't have fit in this story). Rather, Agnes as a character does fit a woman living in her circumstances in that time.

4) The Demented Reverend-He wasn't in the book either, but I actually think he wasn't a very good addition. I'm kind of sick and tired of this cliched evil missionary character who kills in the name of the lord. Its been done to death. Thought, admittedly, Peter Faulk played this character very well, and did instill in him more soul and complexity than most of these evil missionary stereotypical characters get in most films.

One thing I really liked about this film was how it was an action/adventure story, but it also made you think about what was going on in the story. It had some really good things to say about man's interaction with nature, and preservation of the environment against exploitation. Challenger, towards the end of the film, makes a comment about science often not being accessible to the public at large without it being dressed up a bit as entertainment. This is exactly what this film does in some ways. It presents and entertaining, engrossing adventure, but also presents interesting scientific thoughts about ecology. Just what can happen when man starts mucking about and disturbing the balance of nature?

And the answer to that question wasn't entirely clear in one circumstance. The dispute between Challenger's point of view versus Lord Roxton's view on what to do with the Ape Men in the film. They were both right and both wrong from my view. This really points to the difficult balance between how much we should interfere in nature and how much we should just leave things alone.

I recommend this film very highly to anyone who loves the original novel, or action/adventure stories in general. This film continues A&E's record of excellence in creating film adaptations of classic stories.

Slick, Better-Than-Average Version of Doyle's Classic Tale
The BBC/A&E production of "The Lost World" tunred out much better than I expected, giving us slick storytelling and solid characters with good acting.

THE STORY is 'basically' the same. Well, at first I was worried looking at the cover -- six people apparently looking at the dinosaurs. Six? Yes, the film, based on Conan Doyle's 1912 novel, added TWO extra characters to the original expedition team (misunderstood genius Prof. Challenger, natural-born cynic Prof. Summerlee, newsreporter Edward Malone, adventure-loving hunter Lord Roxton), which are about to reveal the secret of the plateau in the Amazon, and to prove that dinosaurs are still living there.

THE NEW CHARACTERS are one zealous priest and his niece, played by Peter Falk and Elaine Cassidy respectively. They join in Professor Challenger (Bob Hoskins) and his team in the jungle, only to complicate the situation -- deadly dinosaurs, the more dangerous apemen (or the Missing Link) and the "Indians" (so they say).

The addition, in fact, works for the better, getting rid of the annoying elements in the original book, like the patronizing way Doyle treated the natives in the book. And other changes done to the story are justified, but some might find the different tone in the ending (or the modernized answer to Challenger's expedition) slightly anti-climax, compared with the slient version, or Spielberg's "Lost World."

SPECIAL EFFECTS are first-rate, with the convincing images of dinosaurs walking in the jungle. The fierce fight between the humans and the allosaurs is the highlight of the film though some kids find it too horrible. (And parents should be warned that there is a suggested scene of cannibalism). The location is fantastic, showing some of the scenes (like the entrance to the plateau) almost exactly as the book tells us.

In spite of its length (more than 2hrs 30 mins), "The Lost World" keeps on rolling as smooth as "The Jurassic Park," and it makes you think a little about the way we meddle with the nature. It aspires to be more than just a dinosaur movie, and it succeeds well.

Hit and Miss
I was pleased to see a version of this story that had the special effects to back up the concept. However, I think I almost would have rather had a "special edition" of the version with the perfectly-cast John Rhys-Davies than this creationist-basher. The writers used just enough of the standard Creationist arguments to make them sound like legit, but then showed the character (not in the book) as having no answer to the "problems" posed by the staunchly evolutionist scientist. What I'm wondering is why the filmmakers chose a perfectly good (if Darwin-inspired) story to make a pedestal for evolutionist propaganda. It makes it difficult to watch for me, because I am tired of movies and TV portraying preachers as ignorant and uneducated in the way of science, and to use half-hearted attempts at "legitimate" creationist positions in order to make them look even more foolish strikes me as particularly vindictive.

Pros: Good look to the story; great effects. Good cast.
Cons: One of many unfaithful adaptations of the book, NOT widescreen, and certainly the writers had a malicious agenda (as opposed to a simple erroneous worldview). Also, the ape-scat scene was pretty nasty.

The REAL Lost World
This is the Ultimate 'Lost World' Dinosaur movie experience. Had this been released in the theaters it may have been just as big, if not bigger, than the Jurassic Park Lost World. It sets around the much more believable theory, unlike Jurassic Park where the Dinosaurs we're magically recreated by a few droplets of DNA from a Mosquito, something Scientists still admit is physically not possible, And set the Dinosaurs as always living, from the time of their origin, in a remote Plateau deep in the South American Rain Forests, land where No man has lived to see, especially since it takes place in the early 1900's when Planes and Helicopters we're not exaclty accessible. All in all, one of the Best movies I've personally ever watched, and the fact that it was never in theaters makes it even more incredible. Well worth the x amount of dolalrs it costs for the DVD, no matter what format it is in. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The climax to a fine series
The last three Sharpe movies (unless they take a young Sharpe to India or an old Sharpe to his final adventure in South America.) are a fitting close to the series. A lot of loose threads are cleaned up as our characters driven together by Napoleon are finally released into the world without him.

SHARPE'S REVENGE closes out General Calvet, and his trusted servent Gaston, General Ross, Captian Frederickson (one of the best supporting characters in the series) and of course Major Ducos who is the classic foe for Sharpe. It is a story well acted and visually satisfying. In terms of story it is the best of the three. The transformation of Sharpe's wife begins here and is superior to the book as it builds on the previous movie which was an origional story. Since she avoids tempation only by the aid of Harris (who's absence along with Hagman is painful)her failure becomes credible.

SHARPE'S JUSTICE gives us a peacetime Sharpe and Harper trying to adapt to a peacetime life. The loss of Harris is made up to some degree by the return of Caroline Langrishe as Lady Anne ( much more interesting than his French lady )and the addition of Philip Glenister as Truman. I have now seen Glenister in two period pieces of that time (the 2nd being as Hobbs in the latest Hornblower movies)and he seems born to it.

The plot is interesting and different as Sharpe finds himself in a situation and an enviorment that he is unable to cope with. It isn't done as well as it could be, but I think this is due to the script and plot more than the acting. The scenes concerning Sharpe's wife are totally contrived. They are the only reason this set fails to get five stars. As the picture come sans the war the action level is also down, but we expect this so it hurts very little. Worth a watch, just fast forward over Sharpe's wife (unless she is with Lady Anne) after the first viewing.

SHARPE'S WATERLOO is a spectacle and a tough one. It is the most fameous battle in European history and the battle scenes almost steal the entire show. In terms of character development it is grand. Jane finally becomes the full fledged villian of the piece and she and her lover are played to perfection. The Prince of Orange fails the villany test as his errors are mostly of stupidity until the very end.

Harper is actually more interesting than Sharpe in this one, and the return of the team of Harris & Hagman is great ("Prusians ahh"). It is the only one of the Sharpe movies where the battle drives the characters and not vice versa. This is due to Waterloo's place in British history. Waterloo is the star and all of the characters are caught in its pull driven toward Europe's and their own climax.

Quite a finish.

no resolution
anyone looking for an end to the sharpe's series will have to wait, this looks more like a to-be-continued

Sharpe, Set 2
The whole series of Sharpe tapes is adapted from Bernard Cornwell's series of books, which I definitely recommend to people who like the tapes. I enjoy Sean Bean as the "diamond in the rough" hero. He's excellent in the role. There's a lot of excitement in the stories too. The only thing I fault are some of the production values, though I can understand them. There are never enough extras around as soldiers to make me think that this is a real war. I realize that this is to do budget constraints, but I have to keep reminding myself. Even Sharpe's own contingent, which should grow from platoon to company to regiment, doesn't seem to expand. Nor are the actors really scruffy enough--neat haircuts and clean shaven? In the middle of a war? Despite my nitpicking, however, I really do enjoy these historical stories of adventure.

Excellent story that keeps your intrest
Interesting story with very good actin

Brilliant! Historical slaughter at its best!
Sean Bean is so believable you want to jump and the screen and kill the French at his side just for the glory! And some times his English enemies too! ... 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 (126)

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
The second installment in the Indiana Jones, set 2 years before Raiders, finds Indy going after the Shonkara stones and trying to rescue children enslaved by the Thagee Cult. He is joined by young Short Round (Key He Quan) and nighclub vocalist Willie Scott, played very well by Kate Capshaw, the current Mrs.Spielberg. While Karen Allen's Marion Ravenwood was a two-fisted hellraiser, Scott is a pampered indoor brat, and in turn is brilliant, plus her character is quite funny also, as is Short Round. Amrish Puri is a chilling as the villainous cult leader.

Though Temple of Doom lacks Sallah, Marcus Brody, and the Nazis, it is an improvement over Raiders in more than a few ways. To start, Ford is even better as Indy for his character is tested more. Douglas Slocombe's photography is more effective, and John Williams' music score is even more diverse and genius. Temple of Doom is also more creative, emotionally effective, and imaginative. However, it lacks the spectacle of the first film and is far more controversial and violent.This is the movie that created the PG-13 rating.

Dennis Muren's stunning Oscar-winning visual effects match Richard Edlund's effects in Raiders, yet they are not as awe-inspiring or important to the story. Elliot Scott's production design is terrific, and the cult sequences are very intense. The stunts top the ones in Raiders and are really good. The most memorable sequences have to be the mine car chase, the creature feature dinner, the Shanghai nightclub opening, the duel at the cult platform, and the rope bridge finale, incredible. Though Temple of Doom isn't as good as Raiders or Last Crusade it is highly recommended and is one of the best adventure films ever made.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Political Correctness
As stated many times, the second film of the Indiana Jones trilogy is (by far) the darkest of the series. While Raiders was an extremely fun viewing of Dr. Jones having a fistfight with the entire German army, and Last Crusade was a lighthearted quasi-Parsifal with Sean Connery, Temple of Doom is a tense, truly disturbing (at times) adventure that takes place in an underground pit just a few feet above hell. And it's my favorite of the Indy movies.

Harrison Ford is brilliant in the role that he was born to play. Although the character of Indy is shrouded in macho trappings, this IS set in the thirties. So, I don't find the supposed "sexism" to be all that off-putting. Ford's considerable acting skills are greatly tested by Temple. There's a scene where Indy is being tortured by members of the evil Thuggee cult, and the viewer is absolutely disturbed by the scene. A lesser actor would have made this an exercise of pure camp.

Kate Capshaw is, quite frankly, a little annoying as Willie Scott. I don't think it's necessarily Capshaw's fault; her character could have been played by Audrey Hepburn and still would have been irritating. Willie, as remarked by some reviewers, screams her head off during most of the movie. Eventually, you kind of hope the bugs or the lava will finish her off. Still, some scenes with the character work. The opening sequence and Willie's behavior at the palace are charming.

Ke Huy Quan is pretty good as Short Round, Indy's temporary sidekick. Again, it's the character that is a bit distracting, not the actor. Ke Huy Quan is delightful in the poker scene with Indy in the jungle and is much more of a help than Willie could ever be, but some of the scenes of Short Round kicking the poop out of the cult members are a little laughable.

Amrish Puri is wonderful as the awfully evil Mola Ram. This guy makes Belloq look like Maurice Chevalier with such an intensely evil leer and rather septic heart operation procedures. Roshan Seth is also brilliant as the devious prime minister. Both of these fine actors are also in the wonderful movie "Gandhi."

Philip Stone's character is something of a Col. Blimp, yet a very well acted Col. Blimp. I'm sure he probably listens to Elgar while sipping his tea in his bath. The rest of the supporting cast are also excellent: Lao Che and the Indian holy men are very enjoyable, if a bit one-dimensional.

The accusations of the film being racist are, in my opinion, a little silly. Yes, Hinduism is much more tolerant of a religion than Christianity could ever hope to be. As far as I know, there wasn't ever a Kali cult that performed human sacrifices, and it can be easily and convincingly argued that British rule in India was mostly malign. However, stating that all of the Indians in the film are portrayed as weak or devious is like stating that all the Germans in the other two films are portayed as cruel and militaristic. I can understand a person's sensitivity to such things, but since it's an Indy movie, naturally Indy is going to be portrayed as the wonderful savior while everyone else is reduced to being either dependent on him or actively trying to dispatch him. In my opinion, problems do arise when people (typically Americans) see movies like this and take them as real history. For instance, many Americans who have seen Braveheart now consider themselves experts on Scottish history. Occasionally, when I eat Indian food (which is delicious), I hear some bozo talking about eating monkey's brains, as was also stated by another reviewer. I can understand a person of Indian heritage being very irritated by such behavior, but I don't think it's entirely fair to blame the filmmakers for the behavior of some of the more stupid people who watch their movies. Hopefully, in the next Indiana Jones film, Indy will take on the scariest religious cult yet: America's religious Right. I can think of a certain self-righteous someone who could use a few good punches.

To me, this is the best of the series
The opening is my favorite in all movies. My next favorite is the opening for Men In Black. I became a fan of Kate Capshaw when I saw her in this movie. She shows three times the personality of the female leads in Raiders of the Lost Arch and The Last Crusade. She made the movie a standout to me. I enjoy Short Round too. I believe that there is plenty of character development in this movie, and character development in a movie is extremely to me. I honestly don't understand some other reviewer's complaints.

Too Dark,Too Violent,and Too Pointless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By far,The temple of Doom is the weakest in the trilogy of Indiana Jones.It focuses too much on action that there is hardly any room for character development or,more importanly,plot.Overall,watch it if you liked yhe first film.Otherwise,skip it and watch the third film instead. Note:there are two things to note: one,this film is set before Raiders of the Lost Ark,making this a prequel and two:if you have children younger than thirteen,DON'T let them watch this one.This has very graphic violence.The PG rating is a joke!!!!!!!!

Not nearly as good as 'Raiders' or 'Last Crusade'
Watch this movie if you want to pass an afternoon with a bland movie. Kate Capshaw is a great actress but her character was very annoying. Karen Black's strong female lead in 'Raiders' is by far the better of the female leads from the trilogy. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Don't hesitate! Buy now!
This is literally Xena's birth, both as a character and as a new person. It is how we see her for the very first time, and this time she is evil. In her own tv-series we have seen little from har evil past, but it felt so close you could smell it. Here we see what she was like. And it is everything you ever dreamed of. Lucy Lawless does an excellent job in luring Iolaus to fall in love with her and betray Hercules. She almost get's him to kill Hercules, but he regains his sanity just in time to see what's going on.
In the gauntlet we see her first step towards the new life. She saves a child from being slaughtered, and as a concequense she is betrayed by her own army. She has to walk the gauntlet, and nearly dies. But on the other side we see a redeamed and newborned woman. She isn't good yet, but in many ways their betrayal has caused her to become another person. Xena meets Hercules which she again tries to kill, but he disarms her and leaves her lying on the ground. He asks her to join them in the fight for good, but she refuses. Later she reconsiders and saves Hercules and Iolaus from getting slayed. She joins them. Of course Hercules falls in love with her, but they decide to go seperate ways. She in order to find herself, and to find a new purpose in life. But this time it is not a purpose like the one in destiny, namely death. She decides to try and do good, one deed at a time, to try and redeam her past actions. That's the woman we first meet in the series.
After having seen these series I understood Xena even better. So if you're a hardcore nutball like myself, you have to see this. If not, see it anyway. The acting is great, especially from Lucy Lawless and Michael Hurst. It is great action with a touch of sci-fi. For short a must see for everyone who likes action and drama!

Before Redemption
If anyone has followed the Xena series at all, these 3 videos are a must. Seeing Xena before her trip to redemption with Gabrielle, watching the change as she goes from ultimate evil to the Warrior Princess we came to love, the darkness blending into light. Don't pass these up, these are the true legacy, the beginning of Xena.

Great to see the origin
I saw this on TV and loved it. I thought that all three are very good. Seeing this was exciting for me because I watched her series first. Even if you already know about good Xena it is still very interesting. Some people say the 3rd part is corny, I don't agree. You see that Xena is not completely inhuman. In the original script she died in the end so thats where the "Confess my true feelings unless I die fighting Darfus" came from.

P.S. There is a lot of interesting insight in the offical book that goes with this triology.

P.P.S. Herc deserves to fall in love again so I don't think it is corny.

Entertaining
The bad guys are always more appealing than the good guys. This is why the evil Xena, Conqueror of Nations, is more entertaining to watch than the reformed (or, I should say, reforming) Xena, Warrior Princess. This shows the beginning of her rejection of her evil ways with Hercules' help. Of course, in "The Warrior Princess" there is none of this. But events in "The Gauntlet" lead her to rethink her life and ways, leading to redemption in "The Unchained Heart". It's fun to see her as evil in "The Warrior Princess", but, still the consummate warrior, begin to see the error of her ways in "The Gauntlet." "The Unchained Heart" is a bit of a disappointment in that it is the episode where Xena repents. At the end she hits the road on a mission to redeem herself for her past deeds. The episode was still enjoyable, for all that it was a lead-in to her own series. Entertaining.

How a Gauntlet Unchained a Warrior Princess' Heart
In this delicious trilogy of unterror, we see the beginning of the end of Xena,Conquerer of Nations.Thus, the Warrior Princess is born.In an all-too-predictable plot of evil turning good,we are introduced to Xena and her evil ways,how Hercules helped her see the error of her ways,and why she now chooses to fight on the side of the angels(instead of with the angels if she continued her misdeeds.)'Tis a must for all Xena fans,as you see her origin somewhat,and if you currently watch the series, it's a fine example of a character having evolved. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great, and enjoyable for the whole family
I bought this for my 4 yo daughter, she loves it, and watched it over and over. Great camera work. A very balanced blend of science and story telling. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

No frills but a bargain for the money
I agree that the picture and sound quality should have been better. I feel better about the quality of my DVD player knowing that someone else found certain scenes in "Final Chapter-Walking Tall" to be too dark. Also disappointing are the lack of trailers and documentaries, the latter, especially disappointing since these films were loosely based on facts. The packaging is flimsy, hardly protective from dust for the discs, merely adequate. Even so, the set is still a bargain for the money. As one who had the privilege of meeting the real Buford Pusser's mother and daughter and being told the facts, I really don't like Paul Gaita's so-called review and his calling the real Buford Pusser cruel and far from scrupulous. He should at least take the time to get his facts straight before making such statements. He might also be interested to know that the real Buford Pusser did not die in an explosion, but from being thrown from a fast-moving car. His mother went to her grave believing the crash of his Corvette on August 21, 1974 was caused by his being poisoned. Officially, his death was ruled as an accident, caused by drinking and speeding. Curiously though, his mother said that she was prevented from having his body exhumed, which she said would have proven that he was poisoned. Especially strange that there was no autopsy done either, which would have been proof of his drinking or not. She also said she was prevented from having his death investigated any further. I agree that the first film is the best and most factual, but Mr. Gaita needs to get his facts straight before defaming an actual person's character and reputation.

Bufford Pusser walks tall on DVD
I have waited for a long time for the Walking Tall Trilogy to be released on DVD but was not over joyed with the DVD set. First I have to say is that the movies are all outstanding and can be watched over and