Description

Volume 2:"Squeeze/Tooms," "Beyond the Sea/E.B.E.," and "Darkness Falls/The Erlenmeyer Flask." ... Read more

Reviews (4)

good but.....
this is a good boxed set but i dont think they should of put the elinmeyer flasque on the tape. i dont know what it was i just found this episode to be a snooze, which ive never found with the xfiles except for maybe 2 other episodes. toombs and squeeze are two classics that must be seen. E.B.E is probably the third best episode ever. Darkness falls is another great one, this one had some great special effects as well.

More Incredible X-Files Moments From Season One
This second wave of videotapes collects six more unforgettableepisodes from the first season of The X-Files. Although the series is often criticized for focusing far too many of their storylines around alien abductions and UFO sightings, the first three episodes in this collection set a precedent that some of their best and most horrifying stories have nothing to do with life on other planets. In the two-part story "Squeeze" and "Tooms," Mulder and Scully investigate a case involving a murderer who can gain access to his victims through even the smallest spaces. Each victim is found with their liver having been removed by the killer's bare hands. This two-parter is one of the best examples of classic, early X-Files episodes involving a manhunt for what appears to be a supernatural killer. Then we move on to "Beyond The Sea," a suspenseful, yet emotional, episode that centers around the death of Scully's father and its impact on a case involving a madman who has kidnapped two college students and a death-row inmate who claims his psychic gift can help the agents solve the case. It is the first episode to explore the role reversal of the two main characters, with Mulder playing the skeptic and Scully the believer. "E.B.E." is one of the series' first major "conspiracy" episodes where Mulder and Scully find themselves travelling cross-country to track down a truck they believe is carrying an alien life-form. "Darkness Falls" explores the disappearances of several dozen loggers in the forests of the Northwest and the horrifying force behind their vanishing. Finally, the first season finale episode "The Erlenmeyer Flask" is a major puzzle piece to the series' ongoing "mythology" with respect to the government conspiracy involving alien life and UFOs. Not to be missed, this episode marks Scully's first glimpse of alien life, Mulder's greatest proof yet of a mass conspiracy involving human/alien hybrids and government experimentation, and the death of an important figure in the series' history. This collection is definitely not to be missed!

This is the best Box set so far!
I have a few of the box sets and this set is by far the best! All the rest are goo, but there is usually on episode in a set that isn't as good as the rest. In this volume all are really, reaaly, exceptionaly great! The X-files is the best show, so of coarse all of the episodes are good, but I would recomend this. Darkness falls is really cool how all these bugs arekilling people, Tooms and Squeeze are about a freaky guy who eats livers and the rest are cool also. Scully and Mulder both relate well in these episodes, they show how they can trust each other. They are really cool. Monica

Some of the best of the oldies!
This is a great set of videos. If you're into conspiracy, EBE and Erlenmeyer Flask are for you, if you like Mulder and Scully interaction, Tooms, Squeeeze, Beyond the Sea, and Darkness Fall are great, and if you like wierdness, Squeeze, Tooms, and Darkness Falls are good. I really liked the environmental message behind Darkness Falls, and we get to see Scully interact with her family in Beyond the Sea. Each of these episodes all have something great going for them. ... Read more

Description

Chronicling one of the most turbulent eras in Russian history-Napoleon's advance on Moscow, War and Peace captures the essence of nineteenth-century Russia revealing complex stories of love, society and human nature. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A relatively accurate film
I thought this BBC version of "War and Peace" was done well. It follows the book pretty well--making it very long. While it follows the book's story line better than most movies about books, I was a bit disapointed in the lack of scenery in the film. For instance, you are rarely shown an overview shot of the houses, just inside shots of rooms, and during battle scenes you are shown just an open meadow. The movie is also lacking music. The story is great, but there is no background music usual for a movie. That is good and bad, however, because it gives you the feel that it is more realistic. Anthony Hopkins gives a very good performance as "Pierre." I was really happy with the way the story followed that which was in the book. It takes some liberties, but considering time constraints, most are understandable. I think I detected a little anti-communist twist in the British film of the early '70's when Pierre looks out the window at the end of the movie and says, "I wonder what kind of world it will be like in 100 years," (he supposedly said this in 1820)after just talking about his willingness to support a revolution. The book obviously does not have this type of direct foreshadowing to the Bolshevik [sic] revolution of c. 1917. I thought the actors did well, though most were not what I pictured from the book. Overall, I think it was a very good movie. I am glad I purchased it. I would like to see the Russian version too, however.

War and Peace
This version of War and Peace staring a very young Anthony Hopkins is the best film adaption of the novel i've ever seen. I highly recommend this film for any War and Peacr fan.

go to the Russian version
Only Russian could really interpret "War and Peace" correctly. Go to see the film made by Soviet Union at 1967.

Excellent Adaptation
This is an incredibly detailed account by the BBC. The costumes and scenery are very realistic. Anthony Hopkins was fabulous. I highly recommend this movie, but be prepared for the length!

Spetacular
This War and Peace was just wonderful. I saw it many years ago when it was serialized on PBS and just loved it. Because it was thirteen episodes it was able to cover much from the book. It really fleshed out the characters especially the major ones. Unlike the movie version with Audrey Hepburn, Henry Fonda and Mel Ferrer, other important characters have major roles in this production which is critical to the story. The acting was just stupendous. That was the first I saw Anthony Hopkins and just knew he would be a major star. He was perfect as Pierre. I really loved this production. ... Read more

Description

British actor and comedian Michael Palin takes you along on an entertaining journey around the Pacific Rim, traveling by boat, train, plane and helicopter. Meet the Eskimos of the island of Diomede in the Bering Strait. Depart in one of their skin boats for Alaska's mainland, then voyage on to view Russia's westernmost wonders. Visit Japan's legendary Kodo Drummers, a Zen Buddhist temple, and as a contrast, downtown Tokyo. Your itinerary includes the mysteries of China's holiest mountain, a nap in Mao's bed in the Governor's Castle, plus journeys to Vietnam, the perilous Sula Seas, Australia, South America, Mexico and finally full circle back to Alaska.

Titles are: "Alaska and Russia," "Japan and Korea," "China," "Vietnam and the Philippines," "Borneo and Indonesia," "Australia and New Zealand," "Chile," "Bolivia and Peru," "Peru and Colombia," and "Mexico and the USA." ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Available on Region 2 DVD now!
For those of you who can play Region 2 DVD's (Europe, Middle East, Japan), this series is now available on DVD through amazon.co.uk

Palin's excellent followup to 80 Days and Pole to pole
Michael Palin's Around the World in 80 Days (1989) and Pole to Pole (1992), chronicles of his travels across the world, were very amusing and quite educational. Palin returns with a new adventure around the Pacific Rim. He explores the locales not as an expert but as an ignorant traveller in the best sense of the term. You feel as if you're there with him each step of the way, seeing the sights with him for the first time and glimpsing some of the troubles encountered when travelling abroad. While not as grand or hectic as Around the World in 80 Days, Full Circle is a very enjoyable series...

A Great Show!
Michael Palin's Full Circle is a great show that would be a wonderful addition to anyone's video collection. Not only is the tape entertaining, with Palin adding his own humor in, but it's educational as well. It is a set that would please almost anyone.

Need a good travel companion? Here's one!
This series will make you feel as though you have actually travelled the world. There is no hokiness, or fake glossied up pseudo-artistic photography. At the end of it all, you actually feel as though you have been on a trip with Michael Palin, who is one of the most down-to-earth, and "real" blokes one could hope to ever meet (not to mention sporadically hilarious, and unpretentiously so). I have travelled extensively, BK (before kids) and anytime I get itchy feet, I either buy a ticket and go.....or I settle in the armchair and stick a Michael Palin film in. Absolutley marvelous stuff. Spend the money...it's well worth it, several times over. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Another reliably well-crafted, generally engrossing documentary from Ken Burns, Lewis & Clark employs the director's now-familiar approach to his subjects, from its elegant juxtaposition of period illustrations and portraits against newly filmed footage of historic sites to Burns's repertory of accomplished actors to provide gravitas for quotes from the key figures. Granted the formula has become familiar enough to allow parody, but Burns knows how to invest his historical investigations with movement and drama, making this four-hour journey a worthwhile trip.

As narrated by Hal Holbrook, Dayton Duncan's script explicates the agenda presented by Thomas Jefferson to Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, placing it in the context of the young country's gamble in Jefferson's Louisiana Purchase, and the expedition's goals for opening the West. While preserving the heroic scale of the undertaking, Burns also finds time to delve into the politics of the venture and the disparate personalities of the two explorers; in particular, Duncan and Burns look at the career of Lewis, the presidential protégé, his moody demeanor, and hisuntimely death. The film also looks beyond its titular leaders to examine the personalities of their corps of soldiers, their boatmen, and the Indians they met and depended on, most notably their female Shosone guide, Sacagawea. --Sam Sutherland ... Read more

Reviews (39)

Relive one of the greatest journeys of all time
With trips to the summit of Everest now quite routine, there are no more places on the surface of the Earth left to explore. The greatest feat of exploration of the past century was the manned landing on the moon. However, it was more a feat of technology than a voyage of discovery. In the nineteenth century, the greatest feat of exploration in North America was the journey of the corps of discovery, where Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led a small expedition up the Missouri river and over land to the Pacific ocean. Sent by President Jefferson shortly after the Louisiana Purchase, their mandate was to map, gather scientific data on the wildlife, search for a Northwest passage to the Pacific and to make contact with the native American inhabitants. Amazingly, they did all three, being more successful than even the greatest of optimists could have foreseen.
Retracing their journey and interspersed with dramatic reenactments, this tape is truly history in action. With no possibility of relief arriving for years, they were required to live on what they could carry as well as what they could find on the land or obtain from the natives. What was most interesting about the tape is the descriptions of their relationships with the various tribes they encountered. Truly, without the active assistance of several tribes, they would have starved to death or have been forced to turn back. In fact, a Shoshone woman named Sacagawea traveled with them for most of the journey, carrying her infant son every step of the way. It is a tribute to Lewis and Clark that they kept such accurate and honest journals. From them, we can learn what happened, and there is no hint of personal embellishment in their writings. In hearing these accounts, you cannot help but wonder if the native tribes understood that their world had changed forever, and of course not for the better.
I have traveled most of their route by vehicle, and when you move up the mountains, you cannot help but be impressed by how difficult it was for them to move over them by horseback. Keep in mind that they were also carrying extensive munitions, goods for trade and other miscellaneous necessities. Furthermore, there was only one fatality among the members of the corps, and that was most likely appendicitis, something that no medical person on the planet could have successfully treated.
The journey of Lewis & Clark irrevocably changed the social structure of half of what is now the continental United States. This tape is an accurate historical account of their adventure and should be a requirement for graduation from high school.

Ken Burns does it again!
I am a HUGE Ken Burns fan and absolutely love his other works that I've watched: Civil War and Thomas Jefferson. This one is top notch in bringing history alive and all its current signifigance in an enjoyable fashion.

I had read about Lewis and Clark in grade school...everyone has...but it's not until I'm 40 years of age watching these Ken Burns movies do I finally understand the context and the signifigance of the events.

Highlights in this movie for me include:
1) The portrayal of Sacagawea. I am going to have to biography of this strong and fascinating woman to learn more and satisfy my curiousity.
2) The comments by one of the historians named Duncan. At one point his lip is quivering and he is on the brink of tears as he describes Lewis' suicide several years after the journey. I am going to have to find a book or two by this historian on this topic.
3) The DVD extras. There are some interviews with Ken Burns and the making of this DVD that are excellent. After seeing several of his movies I had no idea what Ken Burns was like, his life, his motivation...and these shorts gave me some insight.
4) The beautiful scenery and music.

I watch one of these movies and I invigorates my enjoyment of history and I end up adding 2 or 3 related books to my reading list. If this is your first Ken Burns movie, you'll love it and this is a good one to start with. If you're already a Ken Burns fan, you will not be disappointed. Highly recommended.

I am watching this for the 10th time. At least.
Ken Burns has pulled me into this story like nothing else could have. This presentation combines stories told in a most compelling way, readings from the journals, pictures and paintings, and music in a way that makes the Lewis & Clark expedition come alive. It's an adventure story that transcends time. I was so blown away when I first saw it on PBS that I bought the book, the VHS video, and now the CD/book combo. I am watching it now for the 10th time, and I still cry when I get to Grinder's Stand. My son is now writing a report on Lewis and Clark for school, and he is using this DVD as his primary source. He chose the topic, and it's one of the few stories that has captured his attention other than Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. (Thank you, Ken Burns!) This is a real-life adventure story that is expertly told. (I would love to get the soundtrack that PBS used to sell, but they apparently no longer sell it.)

Visually beautiful with fine narration of an important story
The expedition of Lewis & Clark is one of the great events in American History and is all but unknown today. This wonderful program is a great way to become more familiar with this fascinating story and that great band of explorers (including the woman on our Golden Dollar: Sacagawea). Hal Holbrook is a great narrator and the writing is quite good. The visuals are even better. It is stunning to view and brings some real appreciation to what the Corps of Discovery accomplished. Just taking that boat upstream for so many miles is stunning, let alone all the cataloging they did in the face of a very real struggle for survival.

It is also amazing to see how many vistas Burns and crew were able to find in such a seemingly pristine state. One of the real shocks to me was to understand how nearly deadly the Great Plains were to the Corps because of the lack of wood. Growing up in Michigan with trees everywhere, we take wood for granted. On that expedition, its lack was a real hardship.

While not as dramatic as war and without and the lack of contemporary illustrations requires a different presentation style than Burns normally provides, this is still a visual feast and good solid food for the brain. Worth viewing many times for many reasons.

Don't forget to read Stephen Ambrose's "Undaunted Courage" as well.

PBS Video has a quality control problem
I bought this video as a gift, and so far Amazon had sent me two defective copies. Neither copy will play all the way through on any DVD player we have tried. The problem on both is shortly before "The Portage" begins. I have never had a problem with any other DVD, so I was extremely surprised that PBS Video has failed twice. I would love to be able to give this gift permanently, as the narrative is interesting, and the scenery is beautiful, and I would otherwise give 5 stars. Amazon's customer service also deserves some of the star deductions. I've never had to test the return policies of any other DVD distributors. ... Read more

Amazon.com

What a trio of movies in this boxed set: three of Audrey Hepburn's best performances in three of her best films. In Breakfast at Tiffany's, she is perfectly cast as Holly Golightly, Truman Capote's prevaricating heroine who has forgotten her past to create a more interesting present--and Blake Edwards's film version is both beguiling and sad. In Sabrina she is ideal as the chauffeur's daughter who comes back from Paris looking a lot better than when she left--and attracting the attention of a pair of wealthy brothers: playboy William Holden and stuffy Humphrey Bogart. And in Roman Holiday, her debut and for which she received an Oscar, she is delightful as the escaped princess who slips away from her handlers and spends a day with a reporter (Gregory Peck), falling in love and seeing how the normal folks live. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (14)

A Pefect Trio from my Favorite Actress
Hey, I was just looking to pick up a copy of Roman Holiday, when I found that someone had packaged three of Audrey's best movies together. And I said, "Three?! Thats it??? Why not six? Oh, well...it will have to do." So I upgrade Breakfast at Tiffany's from VHS to DVD, and I finally pick up Sabrina, which, despite a small crush on Julia Ormond, I must admit is superior to the remake.

Its easy to see why Audrey Hepburn has remained such a popular film star, and why so many actresses fail miserably to be the "next" Audrey Hepburn. There was only one actress who combined the sense of innocence, sweetness, beauty, humor, grace and charm into one. And don't we all wish she had made more movies? And don't we all wish they could still make movies like the ones that Audrey starred in? No wonder she's still our favorite!

So, in chronological order...we get Roman Holiday(1953), Audrey's breakout Oscar winner where she guaranteed she would be a star, then her next movie, Sabrina(1954), which cemented her as Hollywood's sweetheart, then Breakfast at Tiffany's(1961), simply one of my favorite movies of all time. I would have liked to have seen Charade, My Fair Lady, and Funny Face included, really I would...will there be a Volume 2?? It would be quite a nice cure for the mean reds. If you haven't fallen in love with Audrey Hepburn yet, then buy this nice set and you will!

One sparkling actress, three sparkling comedies
Audrey Hepburn has been remembered all throughout her career for her beauty, poise, and exceptional presence. Though she did other romantic movies, and other comedies, these three are the most alike in tone -- happy, funny, sad and always, always sweet.

"Roman Holiday" features young Princess Anna (Hepburn) who is being taken through Rome on a boring round of interviews, tours and appearances. After being given a sedative, she wanders out (intoxicated by the drug) into the Roman streets and is found by a struggling American journalist, Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck). The next morning he realizes that the intoxicated schoolgirl is the missing princess. The two of them go on a tour of Rome, where he takes a series of unique photos. But when they begin to fall in love, what will Anna choose -- her duty or her love?

"Sabrina" is perhaps the best of the three. Sabrina Fairchild (Hepburn) is the naive daughter of the Larrabee family chauffeur, hopelessly in love with the playboy David Larrabee (William Holden). But after a few years at a cooking school in Paris, the ugly duckling becomes a swan: She's beautiful, confident, poised, and David instantly falls for her. However, his family has affianced him to an heiress, and so David's brother Linus (Humphrey Bogart) tries to distance her from him. The problem is, Linus is starting to fall for Sabrina himself.

"Breakfast at Tiffany's," while not particularly faithful to the original story, is nevertheless a sweet story. A writer/kept man named Paul Varjak (George Peppard) moves into an apartment building, and befriends a party girl named Holly Golightly. He begins to fall for Holly, though he soon discovers that she has an obsessive older ex-husband, and is planning to marry an extremely rich man. But Paul can see through the gold-digging and commitmentphobia to the woman underneath -- but will she be willing to love him back?

In all three movies -- no matter the character -- Hepburn embodies sweetness and a kind of innocence. No matter how worldly the girl, she always seems to have that wide-eyed innocence. She sparkles, in a way that few actresses can. Her costars Peck, Peppard and Holden play off her wonderfully, with amazing chemistry; Bogart less so, probably because he disliked Hepburn in real life.

The movies are definitely romantic -- one theme they share is love that doesn't come easily, whether the problem is one of the people involved, parents or overprotective staff. There's also slapstick comedy (like David sitting down on champagne flutes and injuring his butt), and more sophisticated comedy (like when Anna and Joe pretend that they were speeding on their way to get married).

Hepburn did a lot of other movies -- some of them theoretically better, like the frightening "Wait Until Dark," the sizzling "Charade" and suspenseful "Children's Hour." But these movies are what people think of her as, and they remain funny, sweet, romantic and thoroughly enjoyable. A must-see for fans, romantics, and those with a sense of humor.

Fall in Love...
If you love Audrey Hepburn and enjoy watching classic love stories of a by-gone era, get this collection. While by no means a definitive Hepburn film collection, it will give you the three most popular (and my personal favorite) DVD's, illustrating the pinnacle of Hepburn's work. If you're not that familiar with Hepburn (where have you been..?!), this is a splendid beginning for a lifetime's love affair with the classically stunning actress who stole all our hearts and made us believe in grand, Hollywood-movie style love. "Roman Holiday" is a Cinderella-type story, except Hepburn is the Princess looking for her average-Joe Mr. Right (and she doesn't do too shabbily with Gregory Peck!). "Sabrina" (this is the best version--but see the re-make with Harrison Ford & Julia Ormond to compare) is Hepburn's rags-to-riches tale come to life with the help of great actors, Bogart and Holden. The story will sweep you off your feet as you watch the tale of young girl who comes to learn the meaning of true love in the most unexpected way (I can only say SO much without giving the story away!). And, of course, "Breakfast at Tiffany's" is a lovely story about a young woman who expends all her energy trying to live a glamourous & fabulous life to hide the fact that she is missing the one thing she wants most (take a wild guess what that is). Even the most jaded of you will leave these movies with a sparkle of romance ignited in you. By no means a "chick-flick" set, this is a collection not to be missed by fans and movie lovers alike. A great set--don't miss it! If you want more Hepburn movies along the same plot lines, check out "Funny Face" (with Fred Astaire), "Charade" (with Cary Grant; this was recently re-made with Mark Wahlberg under the title "The Truth About Charlie") & "My Fair Lady" (with Rex Harrison). To explore more of Hepburn's range in acting, I'd recommend "The Nun's Story" (awesome!), "The Children's Hour" (with a young Shirley MacLaine), and "Wait Until Dark" (super, super film!).

Fabulus!
If you're looking for charming eleguence this is you're stop.Three great class movies in exceltn color.I love all three of them.There witty and amusing.So much fun to watch.Not a wasist of money at all.

How can you not love Audrey Hepburn?
This is one great set. It has two of my favorite Audrey Hepburn Movies (Roman Holiday and Breakfast at Tiffany's.) I would of preferred My Fair Lady over Sabrina, but I am not complaining. Three great movies[at a great price], what a deal. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Wow - what a jump.
Okay, the Breakfast Club is by no means a great movie - as I said in another review of it, its the cinematic equivalent of cotton candy - but whatever, you need that from time to time. Just the same though, its atleast passable as a solid cinematic achievement. 16 Candles is not. It's obvious in 16 Candles that director John Hughes was new to the whole writing/directing thing for the movie is filled with holes, the most prominent one, his obvious desire to fill them all. Let me explain - some characters can just be secondary characters - you dont need to see the depth in a beauty queen at the tail end of the movie when you've spent the entire first 80 minutes of the film portraying her as superficial. Don't get me wrong, its not bad to give a beauty queen depth, but the chances of her suddenly falling in love with a geek 4 years younger than her is not only unlikely, its borderline impossible - Hughes is living in a fools paradise (and continues to do so in The Breakfast Club).

That said, the Breakfast Club is a much better movie, but again borderlines on impossible. This may have been applicable back in the 80's (I dont know, I didn't live in it) but its deffinately not now. I dont think teens have ever been so easily led, openly influenced, and free to give out there hearts as they are in this. Furthermore, some kids just aren't deep - thats reality - this is a movie, and it doesn't reflect that.

Bottomline, Breakfast Club is worth seeing and even buying, 16 Candles is worth seeing if you're a fan of the actors or director. I give 16 Candles a C- and Breakfast Club an A-

A naughty romatic high school comedy with great acting
Let's face it. We all went to high school where the socialites and the jocks ran the school while the rest of us were considered low class. We couldn't get respect at school or at home. The co-central character Samatha played brilliantly by Mollie Ringwald, wants to be sought after by the best looking boy in school and honored at home on the most important day of her life, her sixteenth birthday. The other co-central character Farmer Ted aka The Geek played by Anthony Michael Hall wants to be the high school stud but is hopelessly pure geek. Samatha and The Geek both end up obtaining all they ever dreamed of and more within 24 hours time. Heck of a deal. The movie is really enhanced with the continuous smart ... remarks of Samatha's little brother and the wild and sex crazy Long Duk Dong played by Gedde Watanable. Property and Casualty Insurance claims adjusters best avoid this movie but hey, the kids were only having fun.

I don't think the VHS movie tract is the original film score but I can't that say for sure. I watched the movie the second time with closed captions to catch even more of the jokes. There are plenty of visual jokes as well throughout the movie, too many to list.

An excellent movie that captures the spirit of the 80's!
The Breakfast Club and 16 Candles are both great movies that captures the feeling of the decade. I have watched both of these movies many times and they still continue to provide laughter and entertainment for my friends and I. So if your looking for a great movie to sit down and watch, then I recommend both of these movies!

a really good coming of age 80's film!
really enjoyed it! i must have watched it about 100 times. a good movie which shows how life in the 80's brought a bunch of kids together. my friends and i relate to it too! a must see!

Generation X's theme movie!!!!
A movie for all who grew up in the 80's. Definative a time when parents were to busy to care, and kids to appethetic to think. A must see. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This handsome made-for-television British-American coproduction uses the longer format of the two-part film to explore the characters of Thomas Hardy's novel with an easy pace. After her mother sends her to distant, moneyed relatives, Tess, played by the striking Justine Waddell, grows from naive but willful young British beauty to determined mother to sad martyr. At the hands of "cousin" Alec (the darkly charming Jason Flemyng), a womanizing, self-centered dandy, Tess begins her lessons on the social double standard, made all the more difficult given her own demanding personal code. A blond, blue-eyed, and beautiful gentleman farmer appropriately named Angel (Oliver Milburn) seems to offer Tess her salvation, but her past hovers over her like a curse and even now threatens her happiness. Director Ian Sharp's handsome presentation makes the most of the picaresque British countryside, an often beautiful, sometimes chilly, and at times inhospitable and unfriendly world. If this interpretation is not as gripping as Roman Polanski's 1979 film Tess, it offers a richer, more complex set of characters, and Sharp's earthy palette and subdued cinematic approach creates a vivid world far from the quaint, colorful visions of most theatrical presentations of historical England. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Wonderful film
Tess of the D'Urbervilles is a wonderful film full of breathtaking scenery and incredible acting. A&E did a terrific job (as always) of adapting this classic Thomas Hardy novel, staying very true to the text.
Justine Waddell gives an amazing performance as Tess, a young girl shattered by her cruel fate and circumstance. Oliver Milburn is equally great as Angel Clare, Tess' love interest, and Jason Flemying is the villian we all love to hate. All three give superb performances, but above all Tess and Angel's love is so believable that you hold your breath until the very end, just hoping that they will live happily ever after.
A&E's Tess of the D'Urbervilles is a fantastic adaptation of a fantastic novel, with brilliant acting, directing, and cinematography. I highly recommend it to anyone who appreciates a great love story that actually has some depth (unlike your typical Hollywood Fluff). Enjoy!!

"I must tell you of my past..."
A&E's "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" is an excellent made-for-TV adaptation of the Thomas Hardy novel. A powerful story about the true nature of honor and the futileness of running from one's past, "Tess" is no less relevant today than when it was written over one hundred years ago.

Justine Waddell stars as Tess Durbyfield, an innocent country girl who goes to live with wealthy relatives. After becoming pregnant by her rakish cousin (well played by the smirking Jason Flemyng) and then losing her baby, she attempts to embark on a new life with the upright Angel Claire (gorgeous Oliver Milburn). Fate, however, has no intention of letting her off the hook.

Great performances (especially by Milburn, in a tricky role), lush photography and good production values make this well worth checking out. The plot follows the book fairly faithfully, with only a few minor changes, and the Hardy spirit remains intact. Highly recommended, especially for fans of A&E's Literary Series.

GRADE: A-

compared to the other one
Tess of the d'Urbervilles starred by Nastassia Kinski and directed by Roman Polanski was my favorite film. I'm so sorry to see that you have no room for that one on this website! Even though this one is good, that one would always be better in my heart. I wish it would be sold and kept like a classic.

very good movie!!
I thought this movie was great! The acting in this film makes you feel as if you were there right along side them,feeling the same pain and triumph they are. So if you are a fan of made for tv movies, this ones for you!!

Not THAT great
I'm sorry, but compared to other movies of its kind this movie did not rate high. The romance wasn't there and I barely felt sorry for the girl. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

great historical epic
chief's tells the storey of a small southern area, and the generations of people, the interactions of the towns people affected, and the horrible secret yet to be uncovered
from it's past. charlton heston, brad davis and billy dee williams give stand out performances in this police tale
which spans 40 yr's.

The book was really good too
I just finished reading the book "Chiefs" and decided to try and find the movie and compare the two. I personally think that books are better because movies leave out too much vital information. I recommend Stuart Woods' books to anyone that likes to read.

Great movie and story
The adaptation of the TV movie, "Chiefs", from the novel by Stuart Woods, was superb. The cast from the movie was great, as well. I hope to find more of Mr. Woods' novels made into movies in the future.

Great movie-bring your handkerchief at the end
Movie actually filmed in good 'ol Chester, S.C., although it portrays a Georgia town. My sister and some of my friends cars are props in this movie, filmed near my hometown.

"Well worth purchasing to have in your home library"
One of the best movies I have ever saw and have learned so much from. It is truly an ulterly sensitive drama that is time consuming, tearful and the acting is outstanding !!!!!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The 1950s are fast becoming what the 1960s were not all that long ago. Which is to say that the era that set the stage for the obviously upheaval-heavy '60s is getting its own undressing, and the interlocutors are finding all sorts of fascinating stuff. Historian David Halberstam, who logged time in the era as a journalist and civil rights struggle participant, helped nudge the era's current popularity with his book, which gives this exhaustive six-tape series its name. And given art historian Karal Ann Marling's consideration of the era as the dawn of "visual culture" in her own book on the 1950s, it's fitting that this set is so geared towards the visual. From its coverage of the McCarthy era and the baby boom to its study of the growth of affluence as a national ideal, the set roots many of its themes through the ways 1950s culture came together as a visual spectacle. First there is television ad-mogul Rosser Reeves and the leveraging of the television as a sales machine, then there's Richard Nixon's first career salvage job via television, then there are the running visual (and literary) constructions and interrogations of domesticity, and much more. Also prevalent in the set, though, is the concurrent rise of the "men's magazine" (i.e., Playboy), the then-alluring first edition of the Kinsey Report, and the spread of a manifest culture of desire--which in writing sounds amply intellectual but in viewing is fast-paced, compelling, and easy to engage for long periods of time. Probably most compelling in the set is the way the era's visuals changed society irrevocably--and swiftly. The civil rights era's catapult was due in large part to general citizenry witnessing fire hoses and police dogs trained on children and the astonishing power of Martin Luther King Jr.'s nonviolent resistance. On another level, the visuals also created both a dizzying array of styles,captured here in regard to automobile manufacturers, and the flattening of one style into a de facto standard, captured here in the spreading communist fear, the rise of McDonald's restaurants, and even Elvis Presley. This series is the best up-close focus on the 1950s, making it essential to students of American culture, general history fans, and anyone curious about the tendrils of culture in the United States. --Andrew Bartlett ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Uneven portrayal of 1950s
I lived in the 1950s and it was just great. This show presented too many stuff from a 90s leftist perspective. At the outset, however, there is SOME good to be found in this miniseries: the descriptions of the civil rights movement, suburbanization, the beatniks, television, the fall of Cuba to Castro and the rise of rock and roll are quite accurate, even if you can get by the "teens are rebels" slant.

That, unfortunately, is all the good to be found in this seemingly endless procession of leftist viewpoints. Having portrayed the usual happy image of the decade, the producers seem willing to declare war on this, and they do. They fling us from the frying pan of rock and roll straight into the fire of total liberalism. The producers' goal is clear from the beginning: to portray the 1950s as a horrible decade where everyone was afraid, where people refused to speak out, and where society hated certain things (i.e. sex) that they didn't want others to do when in fact THEY and all their friends were doing it.

The charges that Joe McCarthy created paranoia when there really was no real Communist threat is presented like it always is, even though the Venona Project confirms that there were Soviet spies in the highest branches of the U.S. government who were giving atomic secrets to Stalin. Portrayals of feminism, the birth of the birth control pill and glorification of the Communist idiot Betty Friedan are presented in legthy detail. It doesn't stop there: it gets worse.

(...)

Hugh Hefner, Alfred Kinsey, Betty Friedan and Julius Rosenberg are presented as the real 1950s icons, NOT Dwight Eisenhower, Jonas Salk, Joseph McCarthy or Guy Mitchell when in fact THEY were the real 1950s icons. Steer completely away from this and instead seek out other resources. I might start working on a 50s documentary to show things the way they REALLY were.

Excellent series, one major exception...
First of all, let's get this straight. This is an excellent 300 part video series about America in the greatest decade in history: the 50s. I thought the segments about Jack Kerouac, black athletes like Bill Russell and Jackie Robinson, and the rise of television and suburbs were fascinating. (I study the Washington, D.C. suburbs in the mid-1950s). HOWEVER, there was one major inaccuracy:

I absolutely abhorred the "Burning Desire" tape. America was not so sex starved in the decade as the left-coasters would have you believe. And first of all, what the heck started this? Six words: Sexual Behavior of the Human Male (alias the Kinsey Report). I can't believe this is STILL presented as truth after 55 years even though it has been disproven time and again that the only people Alfred Kinsey interviewed were perverts. I'm sorry America, but 89% of men did not have sex before they were married, 70% did not sleep with hookers, 45% did not sleep with someone else with while being married, 10% were not gay, 37% had not been gay at some point in their life, 75% of couples did not have oral sex, and 50% certainyl did not have sex with animals.

And yet, these distorted facts are presented as TRUTH!!! Idiots.

The raw appearance of a decade known for proper appearances
To many, the sixties cannot be mentioned without prefacing it with the adjective turbulent. However, as can be seen from this tape, in the fifties, the turbulence was there, just subterranean and pressing hard towards the surface. Quite frankly, I do not understand how anyone could be nostalgic for that decade. You see in detail the paranoia against communism milked so well by Joe McCarthy, the incredible hatred blacks faced and how people were so dissatisfied in an era of unprecedented prosperity.
Without a doubt the most moving segments dealt with the civil rights movement in the south and the integration of the schools in Little Rock, Arkansas. No one can look on those scenes of federal troops protecting black high school students from ferocious whites and not appreciate the fact that our society has moved so far beyond that. While saddened, I was proud that there were people in our nation who were willing to do whatever it took to enforce the federal laws under the constitution.
In a point surprising to me, the other segments that moved me most were the ones about the development and testing of the hydrogen bomb. As a weapon, it has no use other than to destroy cities and the scenes of shock waves from detonations would scare the creator herself. It really makes one understand how dangerous those times were.
There were certainly events in the fifties that are not covered in this tape. However, in it, you see all the rawness of the decade, even though so much of it is wrapped in flannel suits and restrictive social mores. It really was a time of difficult but essential change.

The American Dream Unfolds
I've always had a special interest in the decade in which I was born and this six-part video collection from The History Channel, along with the more extensive book upon which it is based, provides an excellent overview of some of the more significant political and social events which defined this post-war decade. It is a marvelous journey back to a pivotal time in 20th Century American history.

In 300+ minutes, it examines topics as widely diverse as the Cold War and Senator McCarthy's Communist witch hunts to the founding of Hugh Hefner's Playboy empire and the Grace Metallious penned ground-breaking novel, Peyton Place.

I highly recommend this wonderful boxed set as a minor course in 1950's history or just for the pure enjoyment of seeing the American Dream unfold.

good overall look at the decade
did you know that Allen Ginsberg died while the final episode of the series was being soudmixed? Mr. Ginsberg appears in the very cool episode called the Beat. spookey. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Throughout his long, wandering, often distinguished career Francis Ford Coppola has made many films that are good and fine, many more that are flawed but undeniably interesting, and a handful of duds that are worth viewing if only because his personality is so flagrantly absent. Yet he is and always shall be known as the man who directed the Godfather films, a series that has dominated and defined their creator in a way perhaps no other director can understand. Coppola has never been able to leave them alone, whether returning after 15 years to make a trilogy of the diptych, or re-editing the first two films into chronological order for a separate video release as The Godfather Saga. The films are our very own Shakespearean cycle: they tell a tale of a vicious mobster and his extended personal and professional families (once the stuff of righteous moral comeuppance), and they dared to present themselves with an epic sweep and an unapologetically tragic tone. Murder, it turned out, was a serious business. The first film remains a towering achievement, brilliantly cast and conceived. The entry of Michael Corleone into the family business, the transition of power from his father, the ruthless dispatch of his enemies--all this is told with an assurance that is breathtaking to behold. And it turned out to be merely prologue; two years later The Godfather, Part II balanced Michael's ever-greater acquisition of power and influence during the fall of Cuba with the story of his father's own youthful rise from immigrant slums. The stakes were higher, the story's construction more elaborate, and the isolated despair at the end wholly earned. (Has there ever been a cinematic performance greater than Al Pacino's Michael, so smart and ambitious, marching through the years into what he knows is his own doom with eyes open and hungry?) The Godfather, Part III was mostly written off as an attempted cash-in, but it is a wholly worthy conclusion, less slow than autumnally patient and almost merciless in the way it brings Michael's past sins crashing down around him even as he tries to redeem himself. --Bruce Reid ... Read more

Reviews (463)

If there was ever an offer you couldn't refuse, it's this!
Francis Ford Coppola and Paramount Home Entertainment held a press conference and street fair in Brooklyn, and yours truly was there! The exciting news, of course, was announcing the release of THE GODFATHER DVD COLLECTION on October 9, 2001! If the preview of the set is any indication, then I must say this will be the crown jewel in any DVD collection!

The three films will only be released together in this set. The Godfather and The Godfather Part III will each be on one disc, and The Godfather Part II will take two discs. The first of the good news? Francis Coppola has recorded full-lenth audio commentaries for all three films!

But wait, there's a fifth disc that will blow your socks off! Check this out -- the bonus disc contains 3+ hours worth of special features, including: > "The Godfather Family: A Look Inside" documentary > "Francis Coppola's Notebook", an inside look at taking the book to screen! > "On Location" with production designer Dean Tavoularis! > "The Godfather Behind The Scenes" 1971 featurette! > "The Cinematography of The Godfather"! > "The Music of The Godfather" -- two featurettes! > "Coppola and Puzo on Screenwriting"! > Storyboards from GF2 and GF3! > "The Corleone Family Tree" character and cast bios! > Academy Award® acceptance speeches! > Photo galleries with captions! > Theatrical trailers! > Filmmaker bios! > Corleone Family timeline, with real-life events mixed in! > Never-seen alternate opening of GF3! > And "all" of the extra footage found in the televised Godfather Saga!

The picture quality looked fantastic -- Coppola's American Zoetrope did a wonderful job restoring the films! From what I could tell, the sound quality was perfect, and the on-screen menus looked great. And the DVD packaging looks very nice.

All three films are in widescreen format with English 5.1 surround sound, French mono, and English subtitles.

Perhaps the only "bad" news I heard was that there were no plans at this point to release the chronological version on DVD. Francis said that the films were meant to be seen with the flashbacks, and I tend to agree. The biggest plus of having The Godfather Trilogy or Epic on tape, or watching The Godfather Saga on TV, was all the extra footage included. Well, the bonus disc in The Godfather DVD Collection contains "all" of the extra footage, and even something we've never seen anywhere before: an alternate opening for The Godfather Part III. Francis didn't give a firm "no" though; he cited technical reasons for not being able to include all the extra footage on DVD: the different scenes are in various levels of production ("they weren't mixed and scored"), making it difficult to add them seemlessly with today's technology. Maybe, but they seemed to be okay in the boxed sets and on TV to me.

Do yourself a favor and order the biggest DVD release of all time!

The Godfather Series: Movies You CANNOT Refuse.
What can one say about The Godfather series? All three films were masterpieces. Classics. Part One told the tale of Vito Corleone played by Marlon Brando--the Mafia Don of a family in the 40's and 50's, which eventually is head by his son, Michael (Al Pacino) in the sequel. Part Two also tells the story of Vito as a young man in Sicily played by Robert DeNiro. In the final installment set about twenty years after the original, Michael's dreams of becoming legit are countered by his trigger-happy nephew (Andy Garcia), along with new and opposing foes that make it impossible to go straight and leave his crime backround behind. To quote Pacino: "Just when I think I'm out, they pull me back in," and countless other lines will be quoted for years to come. The performances are absolutely perfect, the screenplay and direction are superb by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola. What more can I say? You must watch all three to appreciate just how great these movies are. At three hours apiece they would be great fun for a rainy day. Pop them in at 8 in the morning and by 6 you'll be a member of the family. Part One is my favorite. Check out GoodFellas, another one of the best films of all time.

A Classic
Ah, the music, the scenery, the horse's head...

Belonging to a family headed by two German matriarchs who married two Italian guys, watching The Godfather every year or so was a family tradition. I felt like I knew the Corleones and loved them, never mind they knocked off a few people who deserved it now and then. This mixed feeling is what makes the series so fascinating.

The story is really about four men - Marlon Brando/Robert de Niro as Don Vito Corleone, the ultimate old-school mob boss, and his three sons - James Caan a force of nature as hotheaded Sonny, who lives to regret going to his sister's rescue one fateful day; John Cazale heartbreaking as Fredo, who's existence depends on his mother's continued good health after he makes the worst mistake of his life, and, most of all, Al Pacino; bonechilling as Michael, who outlives them all but lives to wish he hadn't.

The first movie has most of the cliches - the Italian wedding, the "sleeping with the fishes" line, the amazing baptism/massacre scene, and Brando's whole performance. The second ostensibly deals with the respective rises of Vito and Michael to power and Michael's gripping cat-and-mouse game with wily old Hyman Roth, but I'll bet what everyone never forgets about this one is what happens to poor Fredo. If Michael hasn't lost his soul by the end of Part I, he's lost it by the end of Part II. Part III was inevitable, I suppose, but there's really nothing else to say. A good movie, yes, but the other two are so great that it's almost an anticlimax.

Coppola's legacy enclosed with others
While the original film ranked #2 on the AFI's list of 100 Greatest Movies (#1 being Citizen Kane), many film buffs, afficionados, and audiences believed that the first Godfather film deserves that #1 spot. How many people do you know who know some of those famous quotes like, "I'm gonna' make him an offer he can't refuse," or "Never take sides against the family again, ever..." A few maybe? Or perhaps you grew up in an Italian family like mine and your father can translate the Italian for you while you watch? Now how many people can quote Citizen Kane beyond, "Rooooosebuuuud...."

Despite the excellence of the first film, it is my opinion that Godfather part 2 delves deeper into the family, more into the two-toned life that Michael Corleone orchestrates between the family business and his family. Nowhere is this more apparent than with the relationship he cultivates between himself and Hyman Roth (wonderful performance by Lee Strasberg), cementing the old adage that you keep your friends close and your enemies closer. On the surface they are friends, behind closed doors they are co-conspirators, between each other they are close friends and confidants. Beneath it all, in the depths of each man's heart, they are mortal enemies, Corleone ultimately the victor. The whole movie is a mounting tension between the two, reaching heights as when Hyman fumes over the death of a great man, Mo Green, whom Corleone had killed in the first film. In the end, Hyman becomes just another victim, mowed down by a Corleone footman.

The court proceedings are shot in a way that transmits the claustrophobia and morose tedium of the justice system back in the days of McCarthyism (the eras align somewhat, both post-war 1950's). The court is crowded, people line the walls, journalists write furiously in the heat of the courtroom, in the background, people walk in and out of the proceedings like is was a Wal-Mart. People speak into microphones, their voices drone in the hollow, sparse room.

And then Michael Corleone has his own brother killed. Many would say this is when Michael gives himself over fully to the title "Godfather." This is actually one of the central themes of the first film, when exactly does Michael become Godfather? The first film has a wonderful moment where, in the family office (the predominant colors are brown and orange), Brando gets out of his chair, moves over to the side of the office, Michael gets up from the couch on the other side, moves to the desk, and sits in his fathers chair. This is when Michael becomes Godfather in my opinion, but Coppola is good enough to give us more moments that question exactly, "When?"

Coppola's film legacy lies within this box set, as does Pacino's, Brando's, Caan's, and Duvall's. DeNiro managed to go off and do other things, his legacy lies somewhere else, but to the aforementioned actors, they have never done another film or role as well as what they did in the Godfather films. You don't realize it until you pop in the bonus disc, but composer's Nino Rota and Carmine Coppola also put their legacy into this film with the music. Who can forget Rota's seven-note theme that opens and closes the film? Carmine Coppola adds a more Italiano flavor to the music in the flashback scenes featuring DeNiro as a young Vito Andolini (a.k.a. Don Corleone in the first film).

There's so much to go over, the least of which is film #3. But the contents of the other three discs justifies the cost, which could actually be higher. But really, this collection is an offer you can't refuse, or do I have to put a gun to your head??

Godfather collection~ a def. 5 stars
personally, I thought Godfather II was the best out of the three films. I loved the fact that the movie kept fading from Michael's reign as Godfather to Vito Corleone's in 1920s New York and his olive oil (wink wink) business. great storytelling on Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Copolla's respective parts in II.
Godfather was a classic, no mistake in that..what's weird is that the movie makes the audience love the mafia...never have I seen the mafia world portrayed from the inside out so unbelievably.
part III was a bit disappointing...really made us want more of Michael Corleone and the rest of the family. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

This superbly acted, mordantly funny romp through 70 years or so of Roman history is one of the best-loved miniseries ever made, and deservedly so. Derek Jacobi plays Roman Emperor Claudius, who reflects in old age on his life and his remarkable family, giving us a history lesson that's unlike anything you learned in school.

The story begins in 24 B.C. during the reign of Augustus Caesar, Rome'sfirst emperor, and ends in A.D. 54 with Nero on the throne. In between, I, Claudius details the scheming, murder, madness, and lust that passed for politics in the early years of the Pax Romana. The biggest worm in the Roman apple is Augustus's wife, Livia (the superb Siân Phillips), whose single-minded pursuit of power shapes the destiny of the Empire. With a carefully planted rumor here and a poisoned fig there, she gradually maneuvers her son, Tiberius, toward the throne, creating an atmosphere of suspicion and treachery that starts Rome on its helter-skelter slide into bloody chaos. Phillips somehow makes us understand this extraordinarily wicked woman. As she ages and her carefully wrought webs begin to unravel, it becomes clear that Livia has been as thoroughly poisoned by her own ambition as her victims were by her carefully prepared meals.

Further acting honors go to George Baker as Tiberius, who resists but eventually succumbs to the destiny forced upon him by his mother, and to John Hurt as a hilarious and absolutely terrifying Caligula. In one breathtakingly tense scene, the mad Emperor performs a dance in drag, then asks Claudius to critique it, perfectly capturing the horror of a world where one wrong word means death, or worse. Jacobi is the perfect Claudius, hiding his intelligence behind a crippling stammer and shuffling around the edges of events--until he finds himself pulled to the very center. His wry comments give shape to the tangled story of his family and help the audience make sense of a dauntingly complex cast of characters.

I, Claudius might seem a little studio-bound to viewers brought up on more recent big-budget costume dramas, but the topnotch cast and the incident-filled plot are more than enough to hold the attention through almost 11 hours of gripping, deliciously wicked Roman follies. This boxed set also includes a documentary entitled "The Epic That Never Was," about Alexander Korda's failed attempt to film I, Claudius in 1937. The film, directed by Josef von Sternberg and starring Charles Laughton as Claudius and Merle Oberon as Messalina, was abandoned unfinished, and it remains one of Hollywood's great lost movies. --Simon Leake ... Read more

Reviews (129)

A true masterpiece
This is quite an ambitious project taken on by the BBC. It covers the reigns of Caesar Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula and Claudius. It is more or less the memoirs of the sagacious Claudius (based on the book by Peter Graves). The series features Derek Jacoby as Claudius, Brian Blessed as the eccentric but magnanimous Augustus and Patrick Stewart as the conspiring Sejanus, head of the Praetorian Guard. We also get some cameos of Livy and Horace to boot!

The film starts before Claudius was born - about 20 years post-Actium. It traces thru enough conspiracies, scandals and debauchery to make modern day soap-operas look tame by comparison. It has its share of femme fatales, between the insidious Livia, the selfish Messalina and the gregarious (to say the least) Julia. It details the ruthless nature of those close to the top, all wanting to wear the purple themselves, or conniving to get their next-of-kin to assume the throne.

The film has the "feel" of a play. The sets are static, there is no incidental music and the movie lacks panoramic views of the architecture of ancient Rome. This is not to say that there is anything wrong with this approach, just that it is not the same type of movie as, say, "Gladiator" or "Spartacus" in this respect.

This is a wonderful, must-see production for any fan or historian of antiquity. The film covers a whole lot of ground (to say the least), but still fits in allusions to numerous historical nuances (such as the defeat of Varrus by Armenius of Germany, as well as the horse that Caligula made into a senator). I would suggest that anyone who wishes to watch this film first read Michael Grant's "The Roman Emperors" thru the reign of Nero to get a backdrop on what is going on. Also, the DVD "Cleopatra," starring Timothy Dalton as Julius Caesar, was an ambitious project which leaves off about 20 years before the beginning of "I, Cladius."

Brilliant, Fearsome; A Great Work of Art
Based on Robert Graves' famous novel, I, CLAUDIUS is the ultimate soap opera, vicious, cruel, manipulative--and this famous English miniseries grabs the attention and holds fast throughout the entire length of its complex tale of ancient intrigue.

The great strengths of I, CLAUDIUS are in the driving pace, sharp wit, and ferocity of Jack Pulman's script and the host of brilliant performers who play it out. Chief among these are Sian Phillips as the calculating, murderous, and unspeakably cold Livia, wife of Augustus; although Derek Jacobi gives a justly famous performance in the title role, it is Phillips who dominates and drives the story with this, the most brilliant performance of her career. But this is not to disparrage the overall cast, which is remarkably fine and includes such noted artists as Brian Blessed, John Hurt, Patricia Quinn, Patrick Stewart, and a host of others.

Like the serpent that appears in the open credits, the story twists and winds--and covers several generations of the ruling family as Rome slips from the republic to royal rule, largely due to the manipulations of Livia, who has few if any scruples in her determination to rule first through her husband and then through her son. Although the look of the film is somewhat dated, it in no way impairs the power of the piece, and I, CLAUDIUS remains one of the handful of miniseries that actually improves upon repeated viewings. Strongly, strongly recommended.

Not Enough Stars in a 5-Star Scale to Give Praise!
"I, Claudius" is, quite simply, a masterpiece of acting, of writing, and of what television can do like no other medium.

Clocking in at eleven hours, "I, Claudius" rips the curtain back from Imperial Rome and shows the savagery, the venality, the evil, and yes, the goodness at work in the court during the early days of Imperial Rome. Tracking a story over several decades, "I, Claudius" tells an epic story of murder, deceit, seduction, and justice that is simultaneously grand and intimate -- the story is simply too grand a scale to be made into a feature film (well, with the caveat that if Peter Jackson can film the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, he can film any epic out there).

Narrated by an aged Emperor Claudius (Derek Jacobi, in a career-making performance), "I, Claudius" starts with the reign of Caesar Augustus (Brian Blessed, delightfully Machiavellian) and his vicious wife, Livia (Sian Phillips, almost stealing the show). Augustus, reluctant to drive a stake through the heart of the Roman Republic, nevertheless seeks to consolidate his power; Livia is fully committed to burying the Republic forever and seating her reluctant son, Tiberius (George Baker) on the throne. Through seduction, wily craft, and generous doses of poison, Livia gets her way. Her parting scene with Augustus is a masterpiece of acting on both sides.

As an aside, the acting in "I, Claudius" more than makes up for an obviously limited budget and virtually no special effects . . . it's like watching a televised play. On-screen violence is nevertheless convincing, and the entire cast hits each precious note with skill. Watch for a young, bewigged(!) Patrick Stewart as the ambitious Sejanus, John Hurt as the deranged Caligula, and John Rhys-Davies as Marcro, Sejanus' second-in-command.

Claudius, born lame with both a twitch and a stutter ("That boy could destroy the Empire just by strolling through it!"), is nevertheless prophesied to save Rome from her bloody fate. As his older, wiser friends repeatedly tell him (usually just before their own murder), Claudius should play up his disabilities in order to stay alive. Which Claudius does, and as an amateur historian he chronicles the lives (and deaths) of so many noble Romans.

Tiberius succeeds Augustus (thanks in large part to Livia's gift with poisons), and as he falls into depths of depravity, Sejanus makes his play for the throne. Caligula inherits the throne from Tiberius, although not as smoothly as he would have liked, and he shows the truth in the absolute corruption brought about by absolute power. Claudius, staunch Republican that he is, nevertheless finds himself on the Imperial throne, a captive of the Praetorian Guard, following Caligula's untimely end. He works to restore the Republic, but such is not to be, and ultimately Nero ascends to the throne.

But on the way, Claudius spins one heck of a tale. Far from the magisterial views of Imperial Rome so often shown in films, "I, Claudius" thrusts us into the courtrooms and bedrooms of the Roman nobility, and it's a captivating, but often ugly, sight.

tedious and boring
first i must explain that i am a longtime student of roman history and the julio-claudinians in particular. my expectations were very high in regard to this series and i was very disappointed. i knew i wasn't going to be seeing a visual spectacle like gladiator, but i expected something to happen. i don't mind the historical inaccuracies for the sake of drama too much. what bothers me is that the characters are nothing like the real people that are recorded in the history books. brian blessed's portrayal (or should i say betrayal) of augustus could not have missed the point any further. he was in fact a stern serious minded man devoted to his work, not the joking buffoon presented here. the pacing reminded me of dark shadows and it was almost as campy. this series is far too english for the subject matter. i give it 2 stars for the handful of good actors who couldn't save this flawed project. watch caligula to get a closer look at what rome was about during this time period.

Great drama
I remember seeing this series on TV many, many years ago when I was still in high school. And was very happy to find it on DVD now. The DVD transfer is very good too. But enough said about that.

If you like British historical drama of outstanding quality or just Roman history, this is a set you ought to buy. The acting and script are spellbinding. I have watched all of the 5 DVD's in three days, which was sth of a marathon watch. There are no weak spots in the acting and it is fun watching a young 'captain Picard' (yes I also love to watch Star trek). The sets are old-fashioned and nothing like the sets of, for instance, productions like Elizabeth.

But who cares about sets and the like if the acting is so good. The whole series breathes 'theatre' and I love it. It brings back the stories from Latin classes in High school. The Gods, Augustus, the Roman empire and all the Roman stories come to life, as seen through the eyes of Claudius. They are living and breathing (and very fascinating) people. No computer tricks and such needed. The script and the acting speak for itselves.

Just buy, borrow or hire the set. Pretend you are not at home in the weekend, do not answer the door or the phone (better still, get it off the hook). And enjoy. ... Read more

Description

Korea, 1950.They were a MASH (Mobile Army SurgicalHospital) unit stationed three miles from the front. Loosely based onreal-life MASH unit 8055, life at the 4077 was often a mix of horror andhilarity. So scrub up and journey back to join the doctors and nursesthat had us all in stitches: Captain "Hawkeye" Pierce, Captain "Trapper"McIntyre, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake, Major Margaret Houlihan, MajorFranklin Burns, Corporal "Radar" O'Reilly and the fashionable Corporal Klinger. Spending time with the doctor has never been so much fun! ... Read more

Reviews (43)

The BEST Season Of M*A*S*H!
The third season of M*A*S*H is by far the best season out of all
eleven of them. This was the year that the show won the peabody
award,the highest award you can receive in television,and
co-producer gene reynolds won an emmy award for directing the episode, "o.r." This is also the year that actors wayne rogers and mclean stevenson left the show. The last episode of the season, "abyssinia, henry" is worth the price of this dvd set alone! Too have that epiosde with the others in this collection uncut and unedited is a M*A*S*H fan's dream come true! All the epiosdes in this season are top notch in my opinion, but the ones too really look for are the following, "the general flipped at dawn", "officer of the day", "o.r.", "alcoholics unanimous", "adam's ribs", "bombed", "bulletin board", "house arrest", "aid station", "payday", "white gold" and "abyssinia, henry". Can't wait for season's four thru six then i'm finished.

Totally agree it's the best season of MASH
I love the mixture of comedy and seriousness that pervades the entire season unlike the more slapsticky first two seasons. Now due to lack of special features on the DVD. Here are some season three bloopers not on this DVD.1) Stevenson and Burghoff laughing at (guest!) Harry Morgan saying "The irish were rotten Indian fighters" and other lines.2)A chorus of "We want something else" from the Adams Rib episode where we see Klinger and Rader sitting side by side humming and Burghoff laughng a bit.3) Another bit with guest Harry Morgan saying "My brother contacted Yellow fever during the digging of the Panama Canal." Trap (Rogers) Says something like "Well you should've called me sooner General" and gets dry mouth saying it.4) A breakout in laughter from Alda and Rogers while licking things in the ep where Radar saves the lamb's life.'

Another classic season
Some consider the third season the show's very best, full of humor but also more boldly playing with serious topics. The actors are really at home in their characters by this point, and the audience knows them inside and out, too. They no longer need to play gags over-the-top to work because we know them so well. And because we know they so well, the serious turns hit home.

Reams have been written about M.A.S.H.; offering accolades would just be repeating what has been said before. Among the most popular sitcoms ever made, the show still stands the test of time despite being a "period" show. The jokes still work, the characters are still charming and feel like old friends, and the show still more enjoyable than most of the shows that have come and gone since.

Like the other sets, this DVD collection is bare bones (though not poorly produced). We get the episodes spread out over several discs in a sturdy triple-case and a small booklet with info on each episode. That's it. No extras. No commentaries. No documentaries. Just the episodes.

And that is just fine, because the episodes are great. Good picture far quality, good sound, and an option to turn off the laugh track are about all we really need.

Even better is the price. Because this is so bare bones, we're paying only about $35 rather than the $50 or $70 so common with TV-on-DVD sets.

A no-brainer buy for M.A.S.H. fans.

I'm not sure which impresses me more...
If you were new to MASH and asked a fan which season best represented the series, most fans would point you towards season 3. By this point the writers and cast had mastered walking the fine line between humour and drama, and knew how to make you laugh while also exploring some of the deeper issues of life. There are a lot of standouts this season, including Hawkeye's craving for Adam's ribs, a supposedly dead soldier that comes back to life, General MacArthur's visit to the camp, and future cast member Harry Morgan's guest appearance as a crazy general. Two of the more serious episodes include a tension-filled prisoner exchange and a trip to an aid station at the front lines.

The one episode that most fans feel define this season is the season finale, where commanding officer Henry Blake goes home. However, I think there might actually be another episode that impresses me more, the oft-underrated "The Consultant." Guest-starring Alan Alda's father, the story revolves around a consultng doctor who shows up to demostrate a new medical procedure, only to become too drunk to operate when the time comes. While the premise could sound like a comedic episode, this is actually a very subtly done drama that shows MASH at its best. The lesson learned here is not one that gets shoved down the viewer's throats (like later MASH seasons), but is so deep yet understated that it'll take a rewind or two with the DVD remote to catch all the implications of the final scene.

By now it's obvious that each MASH season will be a bare-bones set, and maybe that's okay at least for the moment. Each set is affordable, the audio/video quality is above broadcast standards, and viewers can turn the laugh track off. For new and old fans alike, MASH season 3 is definitely a season to check out.

the best M*A*S*H season ever
this is the best season in all of its 11 seasons because it has
lost alot of its charm when mclean stevenson and wayne rogers left the show they were too funny and this season has the best episode ever (abyssinia henry) so go for this set and enjoy the best moments in this amazing show ... Read more

Amazon.com

Real-life spouses John Alderton and Pauline Collins return as C.D. and Clara, the Burns and Allen of Hampstead, in the final six episodes of this beloved, albeit a tad dated, 1975 British comedy. The first seven episodes, collected in the first set, recalled the comically confused courtship of this mismatched but star-crossed couple. In these episodes, C.D., an actor, and Clara, a children's book writer, flash back on their first year of marriage. Not to worry: unlike, say, Mad About You, this is no parsing of the minutiae of husband-wife relations. Clara is even more daft a wife than she was a girlfriend. In the episode "Everything in the Garden," Clara recalls the newlywed couple's first "sage and sorrel" over her insistence on painting everything in the house--and, improbably, the garden--white (except for the ground, which she leaves brown "for contrast"). And while the other episodes don't win any awards for originality (the couple host a disastrous dinner party, Clara is cast in C.D.'s avant-garde film, the couple suffer a series of surprises on their first anniversary), Alderton and Collins have a winning chemistry that gives even the less-inspired episodes a lift. Still, when Clara tearfully bids farewell at the end of the series, it's apparent that they got out while the going was good. At 13 episodes in all, No, Honestly never wears out its welcome. --Donald Liebenson ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Gets off to slow start, then back in the groove
Many of us recall a fine young actress named Pauline Collins, who played the rebellious