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A trip into the perilous state of Chiapas in southern Mexico is taken in this documentary, which focuses on the Zapatista National Liberation Army and its mysterious leader, Subcomandante Marcos. The narration notes that The New York Times has referred to the struggle of the Zapatistas as the "world's first postmodern revolution," and there is a remarkably surreal air at times. At one point Subcomandante Marcos is filmed while posing for the French fashion magazine Marie Claire, yet there can be no denying that the residents he champions are extremely poor. The interviews with farmers who fear they will be murdered by government troops are moving, and a press conference in which tape recordings of death threats are played is disturbing. The film's director, Nettie Wild, has a definite point of view and notes stoically that a memo from American bankers may have inspired the violence directed against the local rebels by the Mexican government. The background of the rebellion in Chiapas is told concisely with most of the film consisting of atmospheric footage showing life in the troubled and violent region. The film crew was itself threatened by right-wing paramilitary death squads, and the paranoia that is an asset in such an environment is tensely translated via filmed encounters with government troops. --Robert J. McNamara ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Not bad but could have been better...
This video is for everyone: hardcore supporters of the Zapatistas and for those who know next to nothing on the struggle. It details the history and cause of the uprising in Chiapas but leaves much out of Marcos' personality. If you'd like to know more of his agenda you'd be better off reading his speeches in the internet. I also liked the way the documentary depicts the culture of those living in Chiapas.

A too gringo vision of Chiapas
I saw this movie without previous warning, following the advice of intellectuals' reviews seemingly to the left of US political arena. I can only admire the camera of Netie Wild's. The best part of this documentary is undoubtly the photography, to which Chiapas geography and people contributed generously. Most of the interviews are well-conducted and some just missed the point entirely. In some passages of the film, the title of this review becomes embrassingly obvious. Wild demonstrates why in Latin America many social movements don't often trust pseudo-progressive artists and intellectuals. In her unsuccessful effort to surgically separate the armed movement from the communities, Wild's film becomes amateurish. For instance, she forces the script to describe the Zapatistas as cold-hearted when dealing with the displaced communities from Tila, after attacks from paramilitary groups. In her efforts, she provokes the Zapatistas into turning untrustful of hers. No wonder! Nobody who has been into Zapatistas communities in Chiapas could believe this side of Wild's story. In the end she forces herself into pretending to be an "objective" observer, while in a few parts of the movie you can see she really loses her coolness in front of the camera. In the end, this is a barely accurate vision of Chiapas, told by a typical USian (born in the US, "Americans" are all those born in the Americas) with a mentality of a charity tourist.

A Place Called Chiapas
This film serves as an excellent presentation in summarizing the Chiapas plight. While it has been criticized, which I don't believe is justified, Wild and team weaves factual events - regardless of your viewpoint - to provide a unique perspective. Chiapas is closer than you think and while Mexico shares in this predicament, it is a real problem as oppressed people eventually gain the courage to say Basta!!!

An informing documentary about the Zapatista uprising
I found this documentary to be essential to my understanding of the indigent peoples' movement for independence and recognition in Chiapas and other parts of Mexico, under the leadership of Subcomandante Marcos. I really think that Nettie Wild did a great job of making this documentary. Although she is a zapatista sympathizer like most of us, she was very brave in showing the other side. There was a part where the rich ranchers told how the Zapatistas had taken their land. However, it was hard to feel bad for them when they were sitting in a very nice parlor with nice clothes, food, and educated manners, and the children, adults, and elderly of Chiapas are accurately pictured as almost naked, starving, homeless, terribly undereducated, etc. Although it is hard to agree with everything Marcos says and does, there is no doubt he is a brave and good human being and this film captures both parts of him - the actor who knows how to play the media just like his readers to get what he wants, as well as the human and indigent rights champion who is fighting for an awesome cause - very well. It contains exclusive interviews with him and many other leaders in the movement, as well as some heart-breaking interviews with the people of Chiapas themselves. It is important to the understanding of the situation in Chiapas, just as much as Marcos' book "Shadows of Tender Fury" and other correspondence by him is. If you want an accurate and moving look at the problems in Chiapas, this film is a must to watch. I recommend finding a library to rent it from as I did or waiting until the price goes down, but if you have the money now it is worth it, because this documentary is invaluable in its originality, source of information, and inspiration.

Please See This Film!
I was fortunate enough to see this film at the Castro Theater in San Francisco. i highly recommend it because it is not only a facinating look into the life of the Maya in the highlands of Chiapas, but there are very rare interviews with Commandante Marcos. a HUGE THANKS to Nettie Wild for being a woman of great courage and compassion! May Peace be restored to Chiapas. ... Read more

Description

In Dream of Light, the celebrated director of The Spirit of the Beehive, Victor Erice, achieves the miraculous: a direct look into how an artist creates. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

slow down poetry see deep soul (or how to lose your marble)
if the artist this film follows wasn't my favorite living artist i am not sure i would be as enamored by it

perhaps not, but then i loved Erice's "spirit of the beehive" as well

and the way this thing floats into poetic revery is completely compelling

my friends fell asleep, but

i've seen it numerous times and it keeps growing

Charming and Haunting Portrait of the Artist
It is very difficult to capture on film what a painting is about. You cannot really show what goes through a painters mind while he paints all you can really show is the physical act itself and so movies about painters at work are largely unsatisfying. What makes this film watchable is a couple of very simple things: the painter Antonio Lopez Garcia's personality, and Victor Erice's camera which finds poetry in every thing it looks at. Antonio Garcia Lopez comes across as a master craftsman, an utter perfectionist who would like to paint a Quince tree in his backyard but its not just the tree itself that fascinates him but rather the way the light hits it at a certain time of early afternoon. He begins painting in October and the weather quickly turns foul and the light that he so desires to capture vanishes with the seasons before he can finish so after weeks of work he abandons the idea of capturing that elusive light. He then begins again this time concentrating not on the light which is too unreliable but the tree which he draws with a pencil in painstaking detail going so far as to have a painter friend hold single leaves in place while he draws them. It is interesting to see Antonio Lopez Garcia work but what really gives the film a charm is the various people who stop by and the casual chat we hear between painter and friend, between painter and admirers, between painter and family. Also as he works on the painting a group of remodelers are doing some work on the interior of the house and Erice follows their progress as well. The films charms are modest really but there is something magical that builds and by films end you cannot take your eyes away from it. One particularly striking scene calls attention to the fact that this film is a work of art about a work of art: at night we see the shadow of a movie camera on its tripod against a wall as it films some Quinces that have fallen to the earth and begun rotting. The painter has attempted to capture the tree at its most beautiful and failed and yet Erice finds his beauty and poetry in the solitary and perhaps futile attempt to capture or preserve anything from the inevitable decay of time. I think the painter and the film maker have very different kinds of sensibilities and yet that is what gives the film its interest. It is not a mere documentary recording of a painter at work but a film maker commenting in his own signature way about artistic and natural processes(and all of his signature touches are here, Spirit of the Beehive fans will recognize this as the same haunting sensibilty that made that great film). So there is charm and there is depth here. One of the most memorable scenes has the painter lying down and holding a favorite object, a crystal, which he turns and marvels at as it catches the light, that most elusive and magical of all things to a painter, in different ways. He is lying down so that his wife, also a painter, can paint him. Antonio Lopez Garcia comments that perhaps after so much time working on this painting she should start again even though the painting looks nearly finished. His own frustrations and feelings of futility perhaps surfacing. After a while he falls asleep and the crystal drops from his hand and rolls over to his wife at her easel. He seems to exist in his own world, so too his wife in hers. They are each equally meticulous and equally immersed in their own work. Each life Erice seems to silently say with his camera is a separate entity and narrative immersed in its own mystery.

masterful portrait of a master artist
To put this simply, this is the best video portrait of an artist either contemporary or past. The film follows the great contempoary Spanish painter Antonio Lopez-Garcia as he paints a Quince tree in his studio backyard. No frills, no acting. This film is absolutely absorbing. The director has wisely done away with background music and other distracting frills - only the distant city sounds of Madrid in the background. The film explores Lopez-Garcia's legendary intricate working methods as well as his conversations with family, friends and admirers. Required viewing for any painter, especially. Very highly recommended. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

In 1996, composer, producer, and guitar legend Ry Cooder entered Egrem Studios in Havana with the forgotten greats of Cuban music, many of them in their 60s and 70s, some of them long since retired. The resulting album, Buena Vista Social Club, became a Grammy-winning international bestseller. When Cooder returned to Havana in 1998 to record a solo album by 72-year-old vocalist Ibrahim Ferrer, filmmaker Wim Wenders was on hand to document the occasion. Wenders splits the film between portraits of the performers, who tell their stories directly to the camera as they wander the streets and neighborhoods of Havana, and a celebration of the music heard in performance scenes in the studio, in their first concert in Amsterdam, and in their second and final concert at Carnegie Hall. The songs are too often cut short in this fashion, but Buena Vista Social Club is not a concert film. Wenders weaves the artist biographies with a glimpse of modern Cuba remembering its past, capturing a lost culture in music that is suddenly, unexpectedly revived for audiences in Havana and around the world. Wenders makes his presence practically invisible, as if his directorial flourishes or off-screen narration might deflect attention from the artists, who do a fine job of telling their own stories through interviews and music. It's a loving portrait of a master class in Cuban music, with a vital cast of aging performers whose energy and passion belie their years.--Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (113)

So much talent. The spirit of music in the raw!
After all that's been said about the Grammy award winner album by Ry Cooder, I had to watch this superb documentary. They were right, this film deserves, also an award. Reknown musician and singer Ry Cooder sits back as Dream Team coach and lets this long forgotten talents of cuban music tell him naturally their stories, like Ibrahim Ferrer's recording debut at age 72 or Compay Segundo's 90 year old romance intentions. The heartwarming side of this film probably is the chance that this very talented singers and musicians have to fulfill every musician's dream concert: full house attendance at the legendary Carnegie Hall and Amsterdam. They also get to know the Big Apple and display child-like innocence and awe. One of the mayor acheivements of the film is how Wim Wenders blends the cuban studio and city shots with the actual concerts in N.Y. and Amsterdam. This is Not a concert though. All the songs are blended with interviews or Havanna scenaries.The video quality is very good, but don't expect IMAX or so. The sound quality is impecable and there are some extras (a couple of full songs). If you want an experience beyond ethnic music (which is great) but into ethnic discovery (which is grater) buy this gem.

LIVING LEGENDS
Directed by the german director Wim Wenders, THE BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB has received the 1999 best european documentary award. And please, take my word for granted, this movie deserves it. And more. Forget Martin Scorsese's THE LAST WALTZ and visit THE BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB !

In 1998, the well-known american guitarist Ry Cooder decides to go to Cuba and to record his new CD with cuban musicians. After a few days in the island, he discovers that a certain number of the musicians who made the Cuban sound of the 1930's and the 1940's are still alive. Hypnotized by these legends like Ibrahim Ferrer and Compay Segundo, he produces the record THE BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB with these old guys and organizes two concerts with them, one in Amsterdam and the other at the Carnegie Hall, in New-York.

These concerts, along with the studio sessions in La Havana, are the spine of the movie. Interviews with the members of this one-and-only record group in their homes, visits of the heart of La Havana are also going to capture your heart. I'm not a specialist of central america music but I was profoundly moved by these old timers who are certainly the fathers of a great part of what we are listening today.

One can also feel the respect of Wim Wenders before these men and women who have preferred to stay, poor and forgotten, in their beloved island, rather than to seek fortune in the U.S.A.

Oh yes ! I forgot. The music and the songs are wonderful. Extras are great, so is the quality of the images and the sound. Attention DVD Empire : it's a widescreen format (1:66). Overall, the DVD deserves the perfect 5.

A DVD for your library.

Quit grousing, it's fun and great music!! Share discographys
I was "introduced" to the Latin music by my Brazilian neighbor, but give Ry Cooder his due folks. Most of these marvelous Cuban musicians would still be only memories of your Grandparents had Cooder and Wender (sp)? not put the recordings and DVD together. Documentary or concert tape? who cares? I loved the music and since I've never been to Havana or Cuba, the video section of Ry and his son putting along on their motorcycle thru the city's streets to the recording studio were wonderful background for me.
Am I going to quit searching for Cuban / Latin music because I "found" Buena Vista Social Club? Hell no... I'm looking for more!! Does Ry Cooder's steel guitar work blend in with the Cuban sounds? Ahhh... Who cares? How much Gerry Garcia / Jimi Hendrix crap did we have to listen to... to get to the meat of their talent?
Give it a rest folks.. Or better yet- share some of the discographys of your favorite Latin players, young and old!!
THAT would be really fun!
But quit whining

The tapestry of life through their music
A previous writer's comment, "The movie needs a story, a thread going all the way through," illustrates a major difference between North American and Hispanic thinking. While those of northern European descent tend to think and talk in a more or less linear fashion, as if following just one thread, Hispanics tend to think and talk as if weaving a tapestry of many threads. This film captures perfectly the tapestry effect in that you are not aware that a story is being told until the final scene at Carnegie Hall, when the impact, and the import, of the entire picture becomes crystal clear. You have to be comfortable with not knowing exactly where you are to handle this kind of exposition. If this is not a story of excellence forgotten and rediscovered, I don't know what it is. These people give me hope; their lives tell so many important stories! If I can create half the beauty in my old age as they do and have done with their music, I'll consider myself successful and fulfilled, indeed.

Musically Solid
The film captures the live peformance of the wonderful musicians that were featured on the CD. From this perspective it is well worth owning. The ability to see Compay Segundo and Eliades ochoa perform Chan Chan live ,for example, is incredible.

The documentary style and the scenes of streetlife in Havana are also very colorful and entertaining,

However I must agree with some of the other reviewers that there is something off about Ry Cooder. I respect him for bringing this wonderful music and these artists the recognition they deserve but his attititude on film does seem strange and his guitar playing does not fit with some of the tunes. At one point he is performing with Rueben Gonzalez , the great Cuban pianist, and he sounds so out of place. In fact Gonzalez looks up from the keyboard with a look on his face that seemed to me to be saying."what are you doing?"

I guess Cooder might have made the choice to let the music of Cuba speak for itself and just be content to film it but he chose instead to feature himself too frequently for my taste.
That aside , this is still a fine documentary and a must for anyone who enjoys latin music. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

I was so surprised how my baby loves this video:
When I saw the video for the first time, I thought "This is so boring" My son is very alert & into details so I thought he will not like it, but he stares at it without paying attention to anything else.
It is my baby's favorite since he is 5 months old & he is 11 months now & I still have to put it on every day. I guess is the music together with the drawings, colors & spanish language etc...

LOVE IT!
My Daughter absolutely loves this video. I bought it for her when she was 8 months and she was just captivated by the catchy and fun songs and simple colorful animation. She gets so excited whenever it comes on that she will actually sit and watch it for the full 1/2 hour. She just loves to bounce and dance to all the songs.

For entertainment more than education
The sound quality of the video is not good enough to understand all the words, (a big drawback for a foreign language video), and ours also came with no book to help with this problem. The images are 2 dimensional graphics, but are bright and fun. The music is actually quite catchy, light and rhythmic. Most importantly though, my 2 year old triplets love it!!! They dance to it and enjoy the cute images.

It's terrible - BUT my child LOVES it!!!
The worst sound quality you've ever heard - the most primitive animations ever created... BUT my one year old stares at the screen and smiles and laughs and points and WILL NOT MOVE FROM HIS SEAT until it is over. We bought this as a set with two cassette tapes, a songbook and a video when he was 4 months old and he has been captivated ever since. He will not watch anything else on TV but when this comes on he will stop whatever he is doing and watch for the full half-hour. I'm not sure if he is learning anything, but the video has been a lifesaver if he is crying (it stops immediately) or if we have to put him down for a minute (he won't budge.) There must be subliminal messages in it! I highly recommend it for YOUR sanity, if nothing else! I'll keep you posted to see if he actually has learned any Spanish!

Nice try
There are some good things here, and it's definitly better than nothing at all, but really - aeroplano? Try avion. Please watch the aglicisms. The goal is spanish, not spanglish. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Jorge Zanada's documentary on the Argentinian Tango
"Tango: Our Dance" refers to the people of Buenos Aires for whom the Tango is much more than a dance. It is a ritual imbued with great sensuality and style. Director Jorge Zanada is not offering up an extended music video, because this documentary looks at how the Tango fits uniquely into the culture of Argentina focusing on the elements of passion and machismo contained within the dance. Robert Duvall makes a "special appearance" in this film which is in English with Spanish subtitles. "Tango Bayle nuestro" won the Golden Precolumbian Circle Best Documentary Award at the 1989 Bogota Film Festival. Ultimately, this film is more about culture than it is about dance per se.

docu with real tango
Finaly a documentry with real danced Argentine tango with normal people, realy improvising on the music. Not everything I like in this video, there is a part with Ballroom tango and a choreographed dance (orgenised by an american program for latino's) that misses the point, but I like realy the end, a ballet , but it is beatifully danced in real Tango stile, that means heavy, down to the ground.

Real Tango
Somewhat overwrought in its politics, but this film does put tango in its cultural context. This film shows ordinary people dancing the tango and talking about the dance they love. It contrast the real tango in Buenos Aires and the acrobatic tango you see in shows. This film is insightful and passionate and beautiful and sad, much like the tango itself.

Marvelous Docu-commentary on "real" Milonga style Tango.
I was bemused by another review of this film which asserted "an inebriated Robert Duvall portrays an aging gigelo, pandering to old ladies."

Duvall's portion, a very small portion, merely relates his reasons for visiting Argentina, to learn Tango at it's cradle of inception. The interview is obviously in a hotel room, where he speaks compactly about his love and interest in Tango. He "plays" no part. He does not dance.

This video is no more than an amazing documentary and cultural commentary on the "Milonga" style of Tango; it's past, it's future and simply dazzling performances of now aging non-professional stars of Tango, who are passing the torch of this cultural heritage of Buenos Aires on to another generation. There is an inate sadness in the interviews of the older "Asfalto" Milongueros, the dancers, who see this dance form slipping into disuse, in favor of the European and American style; something that the, the old timers, cannot relate to. Backed by excellent music and stunning exhibitions by "Portenos", this film is a "keeper", to be played over and over again, for it's dance, it's music, it's form and the shear enjoyment of Tango.

One of Duvall's greatest films.
As a tango instructor at an Arthur Murray studio in East Islip, New Jersey, Duvall commands the viewer's attention with his cynical, jaded, bored, and slightly inebriated portrayal. Ripping off infatuated elderly ladies who only want to be young again so they can dance with him, Duvall's conscience never begins to get the better of him. Then a new instructor is hired - a younger, more attractive Mason Williams. Watch the fireworks and fancy footwork as these two gigolos compete ruthlessly for the attentions of their elderly clientele. You must see this one! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Latin dances have always been popular in ballrooms, and now with thepopularity of Latin pop-music artists, they're favorites in nightclub dancing.Nancy Hays and Greg Gale introduce you to three Latin dances--rumba, cha cha,and salsa. Hays is an accomplished dancer who exudes the excitement of thedance. Her partner Gale, who does the step-by-step instruction, is more amatter-of-fact, no-frills instructor, teaching the footwork simply,systematically, and from different angles, though without much warmth orpersonality during instruction. With each dance, Gale teaches a few basic stepsclearly, then puts them together and leads a practice session with music (wherehe loosens up and conveys the enjoyment of the dance). You'll learn enough inthis 60-minute tape to enjoy yourself on the dance floor performing the basicsteps of all three dances, though you won't get the technique andcharacteristic, flamboyant style. --Joan Price ... Read more

Amazon.com

Salsa is a hot Latin dance attracting dancers worldwide. Thisintermediate, bilingual (English and Spanish) video builds on the introductorymoves from Volume I and teachesan 8-turn combination, the wrap, the walk, and styling tips. The husband-and- wife instructors teach the steps well and convey the flair of the dance. Eachtime you learn a few moves, you practice the combinations to music. In onesegment, they demonstrate how to add your own style. They include plenty oftechnique tips for leading and following effectively. All instructions andexplanations are presented in both English and Spanish, which slows down thevideo somewhat. It's not a problem when you're busy practicing the moves as youlisten, but it gets slow when they're standing still explaining something in twolanguages. This 65-minute video will increase your skills and enjoyment ofsalsa. --Joan Price ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Great Basics
If you are a novice and looking to learn the correct technical way, these videos (Vol I & II) are structurally sound and easy to understand. These videos are introductory, so if you already know the basics, perhaps this isn't for you. But don't knock them because you weren't smart enough to read the description and look for more information about the videos from the web or the instructors' website. They are clearly labeled basic. That's why they are titled "A Taste of...."

If you're a beginner, these are for you.

Salsa Instruction Starts Here
For those who wish to learn salsa through videos, this is the one for you. True, there are excellent intructional videos in the market; but without a strong basics, all those fancy moves shown in more advanced videos will not work for you. The dance instructors give you enough tips and alert you of common pitfalls so you can start dancing with proper form and style.

Terrible! A waste of time and money!
Along with Volume 1, I found A Taste of Salsa-Volume II a waste of my time and money. I purchased both of these videos together based on the praises in another persons review. I have learned my lesson! I'm assuming these 2 "instructors" rated the videos themselves. I found them far from impressive. For the price you pay you learn very few moves. They spend more time on long, drawn out explanations than anything else. I would not recommend buying this video. If you must, my copies are for sale 2nd hand!

The Real Street Dance.
I got a great beginning to my Salsa experience with this video. After practicing some of the combinations after seeing this video and Volume 1, I started to have fun right away.
If you want to start on the right step and never started before, this video is a "must own".

Waste of time and money
My expectations were dashed when I watched this video. The couple spends an eternity describing simple moves in English AND Spanish. It wastes precious time going over the same moves repeatedly. I would recommend Josie Neglia's videos; they have a bigger bang for the buck. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

the scale
on a scale of 1 to 9 stars, with 9 stars being the best ... Read more

Reviews (69)

Best mini-series I have ever seen!
I recently watched North and South, and I was swept away into a time period that is such an important part of our American history. I feel that we often forget about the way our country was once torn apart. This depiction of what the North and South were like in the mid 1800's was excellent. I enjoyed it immensely and enjoyed Book II as well.

Great Mini-Series but C'mon Bring it on DVD
This is one of those events which mixes great drama, sex appeal and down right fun on the small screen. After 17 years and 3 mini series with top calibre actors including James Read, Patrick Swayze, Wendy Kilbourne, Jonathan Frakes, Jimmy Stewart, Johnny Cash and Hal Holbrook, this mini-series helped bring back an interest in the Civil War. Shot on location throughout the real South, the story involves the relationship of two friends, one a Northern factory owner and the other, a Southern Plantation owner. The story has everything you want to keep you intrigued, greed, sex, action, comedy, history, friendship, deceit. Book 1 takes you through the friendship build up of Read and Swayze and the lead up to the Civil War. Book 2 takes us through the Civil War as Read and Swayze take sides against each other as opposing generals. The third book and the least entertaining was shot nearly 10 years after the second book and offers the reconstruction of the country and the expansion to the West. Most of the original cast is back minus Swayze who opted to stay away after he had a semi-successful big screen career going. Like I said, it is a great mini series and I hope that the powers that be will bring it out in a 3 volume set on DVD, it certainly deserves it.

Simply EXCELLENT
North and South by far has to be the best TV miniseries of all time. The saga of the Hazard and Main families is set against a back drop of a fairly young country about to be divided by civil war.

The series begins with Orry Main (Patrick Swayze) of Mount Royal, South Carolina setting off to go to the Military Academy at West Point. On his way he rescues the very beautiful Madeline Fabray(Leslie-Anne Down) from a buggy accident and a snake. After taking Ms. Fabray to her destination, he is back on his journey to West Point. Another character that Orry meets on his trip is George Hazard(James Read) and they soon become life long friends. North and South follows both Orry and George during their time at the Point, the Mexican War and after. There is an all-star cast too many to mention.

This first installment of the North and South Trilogy follows the lives of both Orry and George and their respective families through the period leading up to the Civil War. North and South written by John Jakes is the best historical fiction book I have read and this Miniseries has stayed true to form. Because of the historical correctness I would say that this movie has enough appeal for those men that can't get enough of Civil War history or even general war history. The main characters in this are fictional, however there are references to historical figures like Lincoln, Grant and Lee to name a few. However there is certainly plenty of appeal to women, namely Swayze and there is an excellent love story as well. That being said I definitely recommend seeing this miniseries as well as North and South Book Two: Love and War.

simply the best mini series I've seen
I found it outstanding because it had an all star cast.It help me get a better outlook in the history of the south and the north.I always look forward to seeing it on the television.

It's Key-det Bent, an' He's from Joe-Jah, SUH!
Don't forget the villans, the men and women you just love to hate
(or is it hate to love?). Ashton must've been JR Ewing's grand ma. Kirstie Alley as Virgilia...I must say, did she take her acting lessons from someone's ex-wife for that role or what? ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Disappointed
This is a one hour long documentary that friviously combines homosexuality with totalitarian propaganda. Cannot be compared to "Strawberries and chocolate"

Fascinating true-life story of tolerance and acceptance
A fascinating true-life story of how a determined troupe of drag performers in a "model socialist town" in macho Cuba not only made a name and a business for themselves while operating a nightclub cantina and providing locals with great entertainment, but became accepted as a part of the fabric of daily life in modern Cuba. A compelling insight into a Cuba most Americans don't know exists, with a Spanish music soundtrack to die for.

An insight into a rarely seen aspect of life in Cuba.
I've been to Cuba a number of times, and I find this documentary informative and exciting because, like "Strawberries and Chocolate," it shows a side of Cuban society the ordinary visitor is unlikely to see. Here, in a large-scale housing development for construction workers and their families just outside of Havana, a popular Saturday night form of entertainment is a variety show put on by a group of amateur performers -- in drag! Their costumes are colorful and sexy, and their lip-syncing and movements convey an intensity and variety of emotional interpretation that create a moving rapport with their audiences. What makes the film especially affecting, though, is the interweaving of interviews with the performers, who in "real" life engage in a variety of occupations, and with family members who have struggled to understand and accept this aspect of the lives of a son, a brother, even a father. It is a revelation to see this occurring openly in a country that only recently frowned on any manifestations of homosexuality.

A little something for each of many interests.
This documentary is a treat! It has something about the internal politics of Cuba. It has something about being poor in an urban setting. It has something about the lives of drag queens. It has something about Latin American culture and mores. And it is all tied together in a neat and charming package that is moving, funny, sad, and thought provoking. I loved it. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

"Mad" about John Travolta and Dustin Hoffman!
"Mad City" focuses on John Travolta as Sam Baily, a museum security guard who loses his job due to budget cuts. Sam pretty much has a normal life, has a wife and kids, etc. Sam decides to talk to his boss Mrs. Banks (Blythe Danner) about getting his job back, but Mrs. Banks told Sam time and time again that there was nothing she could do about it. So, in one fell swoop, Sam pulls out a shotgun as a result in getting his job back. Sam not only holds Mrs. Banks hostage, but a group of schoolchildren as well. The film also focuses on Dustin Hoffman as Max Brackett, a local TV news reporter who just so happens to be inside the men's room at the museum and listening in on what is happening in the lobby between Sam and Mrs. Banks. Brackett listens to Sam's story about Sam not meaning for any of this to happen and such. And Brackett decides to give Sam's story a heroic spin as the days go by...and the film goes on from there. I own the DVD of "Mad City" and its features were all right. This is sort of a sad film for John Travolta's character because of his position in the film. "Mad City". A film that is nothing short of intense. A great film with two great powerhouse actors.

Heartfelt Drama with a Shakespeare Ending
As an audience we can not help but feel compassion for Sam Bailey (John Travolta) as he unexpectedly brings himself from one terrible situation to a worse one. Holding a museum tour hostage, he makes one thoughtless mistake after another, all the while being observed by News-Anchorman, Max Brackett (Dustin Hoffman). Through this overnight ordeal, Brackett befriends the criminal as we learn a lot about what life dumps on us and how we deal with it. A superb performance by John Travolta in which I believe to be the best of his career.

Great Suspense!
This is a great suspense movie.

Gives a realistic view of how the media circus sometimes go to far.

Hoffman and Travolta are marvelous in this film.

It's a mad, mad, mad world
This satirical movie starts innocently enough, with Dustin Hoffman (Max Brackett) doing a "controversial" story on a local criminal. Brackett has been relegated to small-town duty after embarassing the network star, Kevin Hollander (played brilliantly by Alan Alda). Sam Baily (Travolta) has been fired after working as a guard at a museum. He lives paycheck to paycheck and has a family to support.

To get his boss to listen to him, he makes the decision to take a gun with him to capture her attention...a gun and a bag full of dynamite. The movie is wonderful, not for the twists and turns, but for the performances and nuances. A number of times, Brackett could take a risk and end the situation, a situation he basically created himself out of his own greed. In the end, this movie has great commentary on how the media goes overboard in its coverage. This movie may be more relevant today than when it was made.

Excellent farce of a hold up
It epitomizes the media circus following the armed hold up of a museum with children. Certainly a comical look at terror attacks is a much needed relief in this day and age of color coded alerts. Costa Gavras of "Missing" fame sugar coats the ordeal with satirical portrayal of liberal and conservative neonazis fishing in troubled waters; while extracting a remarkable performance from Dustin Hoffman and John Travolta. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

not as intristing as you would think but still entertaining
not as fasanationg or amazing but it is presented as a intristing maner Warnign: view before buying ... Read more

Reviews (71)

More like one king, two princes, and one sucker
Bernie Mac is undeniably THE king of comedy in this movie, his set smokes all of the others. That's not to say that the other's aren't funny. D.L. Hughley is really funny, especially when talking about how black people and white people view work. Steve Harvey sort of MC's the concert and does like two 10-15 minute sets that are decent. The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars is that I really didn't think that Cedric the Entertainers set was funny at all. It's a good thing Spike Lee didn't open the film with him because I probably would have shut it off. The funniest part of the whole movie is hearing Bernie Mac's views on child raising, it's just simply hilarious. Bernie comes from the old school of child rearing where it's ok to give a kid an @ss whippin'. Anyway, this is definitely worth buying just for Bernie Mac's set alone, but D.L. Hughley and Steve Harvey do a good job as well...a good addition to any comedy collection.

Almost a classic
The Original Kings of Comedy is not a movie per se; rather, it's an assortment of comics doing, well, comedy. Steve Harvey is the emcee, and he is joined by Cedric "The Entertainer", D.L. Hughley, and Bernie Mac. They each do an exceptional job of bringing their own comedic style to the stage, and I don't want to really go into the specifics because that would be giving away too much of the movie.

So why didn't I give it five stars? Because there was one problem: part of D.L. Hughley's routine. Sure, his jokes were funny as ever, but we all know damn well that several of those jokes were the same jokes he told a year before (or a year later, depending on when this movie was taped) in his HBO special "Going Home". And I don't mean similar jokes, I mean EXACT jokes. Although the jokes are still funny, you can't help but ache for more new material. I've noticed that with a lot of black comedians. (I'm black too, so that's not a racist remark.) For example, several of Chris Rock's jokes from his HBO special "Bigger & Blacker" were the same jokes given during his monologue when he hosted Saturday Night Live in 1996...minus the profanity, of course. I think that kind of pattern isn't good to follow. I mean, how would you feel if you bought a new album from your favorite artist and discovered that the exact same songs from the previous album are on there? (Are you listening, Jesse Powell?)

This is still a good video, so add it to your collection.

A
this movie is hilarious. you should buy it or even rent it. i cant garantee you'll like it. dont listen to them haters hatin on this dvd. yeah, i agree that maybe its none too smart to make fun of your own culture, but its still funny. it would still be funny if any body from another race made fun of thier own culture. well anywayz this is a good movie. but its not as funny as the latin kings of comedy.

The King of the Stand-up Comedy DVDs
The first time I saw a blurry picture of Steve Harvey in a magazine I thought I was looking at a young Richard Pryor. My mistake, but besides that, I wasn¡¯t too far off; at least they¡¯re in the same business of making people laugh. Harvey, who is more or less the MC of the show, introduces the other comedians while adding in his own jokes along the way. I love that Harvey is so proudly ¡®old school¡¯ and dishes out critique at the ever-so-annoying unenlightened Hip Hop artists; Original Kings of Comedy came out in 2000, but four years on, Harvey¡¯s observations are truer than ever.

Obviously everyone will have his or her favourite comedian, but for me, the weakest link was by far DL Hughley. Maybe the younger crowd will like him more, but to me he seems more pretentious than the others. Unlike them, Hughley isn¡¯t self-effacing or self-deprecating, which to me is an essential quality for a comedian, because to be able to laugh at oneself is Basic Comedy 101. He¡¯s the first one on stage and to me he just sounds a lot like all the other stand up comedians out there. He lacks presence and charisma, which he probably thinks he makes up for by being loud and boisterous. Don¡¯t get me wrong, some of his jokes were funny, but the other 3 comedians just had a more unique style and flair.

Next up is Cedric The Entertainer: I had high expectations of him, so along with his routine and his backstage banter plus Latin singing warm up in the men¡¯s¡¯ bathroom, I was won over. He's got a real knack for pacing his jokes, that is, he takes his time more than the others. I mean this in a good way. It provides a nice contrast to the rapid-fire laughs of Mac and Hughley. He also plays with language a bit, and like Harvey, is excellent at creating a scene, where his characters and ensuing jokes come to life.

When Bernie Mac arrives I was at first surprised by his thick accent, because I¡¯m used to seeing him in movie roles where he pronounces and articulates his lines more clearly. So admittedly I actually had to switch on the subtitles briefly while I reacquainted myself with his accent. Anyway, Mac is just dynamite. He really is. He¡¯s such a great combination of honesty (especially about himself) and saying what the rest of us don¡¯t dare. And by the way he¡¯s right, it¡¯s not about black or white, we all just do things differently.

So if I disliked Hughley so much, why do I still award the film 4 stars? Come on now, you can¡¯t beat the laughs in this one. The deleted scenes are all great (especially Mac¡¯s) and yes, perhaps Hughley is the weakest link to me, but thanks to him you really do get to see a variety of talent, and besides, maybe YOU will like him. This film by Spike Lee is a heap of fun. I¡¯ve seen other stand-up comedy DVDs, but this one is undoubtedly the ¡®King¡¯ of ¡®em all!

Sickeningly Hilarious!
This film captures stand-up performances from comedians Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley, Cedric The Entertainer and Bernie Mac, and is a non-stop laugh-fest in the highest sense of the term. This review is not going to be a very long one - to be rather honest. The humor, of course, revolves around many taboo subjects like racial stereotypes, sex, religion and other things - if you are easily offended by any of these things, I suggest you avoid this film like the plague, because it is no holds barred! A few of the many hilarious scenes that I consider personal favorites from each comedian:

(1). Steve Harvey does a pretty good job of mocking the characters in the Titanic film who choose to keep playing their violins amidst a major catastrophe. He later goes into detail about why he prefers "old-school" music; particularly old-school R&B, over the hip-hop and rap trends that seem to be preferred by the modern generation. He does an effective job of lambasting rappers, and is absolutely laugh-out-loud hilarious. I was practically in tears from laughing so hard at this. Needs to be seen to be believed.

(2). D.L. Hughley was hilarious too, but like some have pointed out, some of his routines came from other, earlier stand-up specials. Side note: If you can find a copy of his stand-up comedic special entitled "Going Home," pick it up. That performance I believe to be his funniest, and it leaves me rolling on the floor everytime.

(3). Cedric The Entertainer's humor was the least brash of all the four, and has more of a laid-back, subtle charm, which still manages to make you laugh. The whole break-dance scene was funny, as well as his "cruising into outer space" scene, his self-made "martial art style" scene, and others.

(4). Bernie Mac - good lord. He was without a doubt the craziest, most brash, most (messed)-up comedian in this set. Sadistic and intensely cathartic, even. It's only fitting that he would be the last performer. His routine was just a little too much for me - and still is - and I mean that in the best way possible. His takes on kids and how they get (or should get) punished, sex and orgasm, and the "stuttering" kid were just too much - not only was I laughing too hard, but my lungs began to hurt, I nearly lost my voice for a brief period, and I was nearly out of oxygen. The guy was too much! Saying that he cracked me up would be a HUGE understatement.

All in all, recommended for many who want (or need) a major laugh-fest. Sometimes, one of the best ways - if not the best way - to deal with unpleasant situations in life is to be able to laugh at them - as exemplified in this film. If you suffer from chronic asthma, heart disease, and/or are easily shocked - particularly by the things mentioned in the above paragraphs (including loads of profanity) - stay VERY far away from this - you will be digging yourself an early grave. ... Read more

Reviews (49)

Never even heard of this!
I just stumbled upon this movie because there was nothing else on TV that night! It was SO funny! I can't believe I've never heard of it before. I went online and bought the DVD that same night. It's one movie that you'll have in your collection that no one has seen yet! The critics gave it one star in the cable guide, but everyone that I show it to says "This is hilarious!" So, go ahead and buy it. It's great. I'd ignore the reviewer who gave it one star though. You really shouldn't watch (or rate) a comedy when you take life too seriously and don't have a sense of humor. No, it didn't get an Academy Award. So if you don't expect anything more than a good dose of laughter you'll love it!

Help me up from this chair... I can't stop laughing!!
This one caught me by surprise. I've always wanted to see Stewart French in movie and caught this on the satellite one night. I laughed till I cried. I watched it 2 more times that night and then I went online with Amazon and bought the DVD!

Bridgette Wilson and Stewart French do a great job with this underrated dose of comedy! Everyone I've shown this movie to agrees that it has extraordinary "entertainment value"! I have discovered one thing however... it is not to be viewed by everyone. Just a warning - DO NOT show this movie to a couple about to get married!! OOOHHH yeah... The movie watching "comfort zone" can become a little tense if you do!

This was a great movie that I would recommend to all of you with a true "funny bone"! A sense of humor and an open mind about relationships is required when watching this one!

Great humor, all in all a great movie!!
This movie starts off great and ends even better. It's about two best friends who work together writing for a TV show. When one of the friends gets married, he tries to make his friend think about doing the same. So when Seth (French Stewart) meets a young lady named Chelsea (Bridgette Wilson) at the wedding the group is very excited. Chelsea Who happened to be at the wedding is also best friends with the newly married Wife. But problems quickly begin to surface, his new girlfriend seems to want to get married NOW! But Seth has a bit of a problem with comitment. So after a break up things really begin to heat up with pranks and threats of sueing. So the relationship is really of now!! But is it?? A great movie with good acting French Stewart really does a good job!!

Has it's funny moments
First off, if you are engaged or hoping to become engaged, I'd wait until later on to watch this movie as the humor might be hard to find. The plot revolves around a lady who thinks that this guy she has met a wedding is the ONE. While the guy eventually starts dating her, the pressure is put on him to propose to her. She feels her time is being wasted if he won't marry her. As expected, things get ugly. Horribly, vindictive ugly. The kind of ugly you hope no one in real life ever shows, but in a movie can be fairly funny.

wast of your time and money
This is the most disgusting movie I have ever seen.
Nothing funny and happy ending. This film would be made at small cost and wouldn't be worth watching. She has totally stupid ideas and all she thinks of is just let the guy propose to her forcibly. Totally selfish and ridiculous. The only reason that I picked this one was Bridgette Wilson but this was just tasteless and all wrong. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Infamous
I DIDN'T SAW THIS MOVIE BUT I HEARD ALOT OF GOOD ABOUT THIS MOVIE AND IF SOMEONE KNEW WERE TO GET IT, OR SOMEONE HAVE RIP OF THIS VHS PLZ I NEED YOUR HELP 2 GET THIS MOVIE !!!!!
MY ICQ NUMBER IS : 221332508
P.S. I HAVE ALOT MOVIES WITH HIP-HOP CULTURE LIKE WILD STYLE , STYLE WARS .....

No Show
Boring and not much insight. Just a rap film, nothing about the true culture of hip-hop. Some decent preformances, but if you want to really get the real, check out Rhyme & Reason.

Great video
a video such as this tells of RAp then&Now.great interviews with one of the Godfathers of Rap Russell Simmons. also hearing Dr.DRe reflect is tight.Warren G had me rolling.this Brother is making MIllions and Vacuuming his bus? that was a trip.the groupies and tales of fame and the ups&downs of the business is incredible.a must have&see.i enjoyed it all.everybody had something to say.

The best hip hop documentary ever...
This film shows you the up & coming rap stars around that time, but it also pays due respect to the older artists who pioneered the rap game. Great concert footage & great interviews. The segment w/ Wu-Tang Clan is classic.

This is not all that
The only reason I rented this wuz 2 see tha greatest rapper to ever touch a mic, biggie smalls. Dre iz ok also, but its all about tha east coast!! ... Read more

Description

The Flash has fought and conquered many a fearless foe, but James Jesse just may outdo him. When his efforts to murder a private detective are frustrated by Flash, he vows to defeat the superhero. His mad plan is to get at Flash by disguising himself as the crook 'The Trickster.' Will his tricks work or will The Flash foil this villains dasterdly plans? ... Read more

Reviews (10)

the flash 2 was a lot of fun to watch!
the trickster is up to something fiendish. he wants to bannish the flash forever! if you like mark hamill, you'll love this one, because it is one of his best performances yet to date!

The Trickster 2: Revenge of the Flash?
Ok, first let me point out that the Flash is not that great of super hero and the person who plays him isn't that great of an actor. I feel the character that has the most significant role in this movie is the Trickster. He is hillarious! The actor is great, and his character is a great villian. His crazy look in his eyes is really convincing. The movie is pretty good, considering it came from a 2-part episode of the TV series. Overall, the movie is funny, the villian is enticing, and the storyline isn't TOO bad.

It has only one thing going for it..
Mark Hammel's really off the wall performance as the Trickster. In fact he's the only person who does any real acting in the film, the rest of the performers look like they stayed up too late and forgot to have their coffee.

Can't top this
Gleemed from the legendary Flash television show of the 90's. It later was released as a movie in Japan. Top-shelve! I love that red lighting bolt costume. Did you notice that the speedsters in the olympics wore a similiar designed Flash costume?(Minus the lighting bolt.)

Flashariffic
It was a great movie like a 3-d book. The trickster was a great villian nice acting.I recommend it. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

NOT A GOOD MOVIE
Sorry, but this film is rediculous. Casper Van Dien is awful in the role. It's obvious he doesn't know how to act and whoever said Van Dien looked like he did alot of research on the role has got to be out of there mind. It's even a horrible love story, it's often very corny and is horribly photographed. And seventy-five percent of the whole film wasn't even true. He never came on to Natalie Wood and never talked to Pier Angeli after she broke up with him.
To start with: Casper here, portrays the Hollywood legend as if he were some big time macho skirt chaser (as mentioned, in the film he came on to Natalie Wood), looking for trouble. James Dean was not a skirt chaser, he was shy and took his acting seriously. He wouldn't moon the camera (as at the beginning of the film he moons the camera when shooting for "East of Eden"). And when he's at Pier Angeli's house in the film. He turns on some Rock'n'Roll music. Jimmy listened to classical music, with classic singers like Frank Sinatra (not insulting Rock'n'Roll or anything, just noting it). Also, the racing sequences are horrible. It looks more like they're racing at a theme park. And also the film doesn't even cover Jimmys whole life, it didn't cover the years that effected his life. And at the end when the cars collide it's horrible. It shows the hero dead, it's really painful and heart breaking (even if it is pathetic Casper Van Dien) to see the hero die, especially when it's supposed to be James Dean.
As asnother reviewer said, I would recommend the bio-pic starring James Franco, although not totally accurate (but more accurate than this film) it shows James Dean for who he was. James franco is a real gifted actor (unlike Casper Van Dien) he has a bright future ahead if he keeps acting.

An insult to Jimmy!
This film is extremely insulting to the memory of James Byron Dean, and attempts at presenting a "cool-legend" other than how Jimmy actually was. Bad, bad, bad stuff right here. Please, ... Casper? (I can't believe I can't get work acting (I look more like Jimmy than he does), this performance was pathetic and one-dimensional.) For a great and multi-layered portrayal of how Jimmy was check out "James Dean" starring James Franco (a role in which he won several awards). While the TNT film may have some factual slip-ups here and there, it does not romanticize and idealize James Dean. It presents Jimmy as a lonely boy with vast emotional problems searching for acceptance and love. (Which is exactly who he was)...

Pure [junk]
I could play a better James Dean than Casper. I cannot even believe they chose him, I find that so insulting. This movie [stinks] royally and thats that. And for once could we please have an honest hollywood film about his LIFE no fiction added romance.... EVERYONE KNOWS he was bisexual... whats the big deal? I think its okay to make a film about that as well as all the other real things he did and what he delt with. Enough of this low budget trash.

Get Over it CRYBABIES!!!! Good Film , Casper is awesome
I think this is a good film, period!!!! I live in Indiana and I have been a Jimmy Dean fan for over half my life (I'm 36). The point here is that there will never be another James Dean, we all know that, so get over it!!!!! I'd never expect any guy to play Jimmy and capture his whole persona. Jimmy was too talented and special for that to happen. Casper is blond, blue eyed, medium-short height, and pulls off Jimmy's facial expressions and body gestures well. What else can you expect? I think Casper is a fine actor and he does a sensitive thoughtful acting job in the role of James Dean.

For starters, everyone knows Pier left Jimmy for Vic Damone (documented facts here, even Pier said so later). The story of Pier and Jimmy in this movie is considered by most Dean fans to be the true one. Pier's mother pushed her to marry Vic, end of story. Unless you subscribe to the story that Jimmy was gay and their relationship was a farce (for myself, I think the idea of Jimmy being gay is a farce in itself).

Yes this film has flaws. Sal and Natalie are depicted unfairly, but that is a judgement call depending on whose facts you choose to believe. I thought the jibe to both was unessesary. sal was gay and Natalie slept around, but Jimmy was no angel either. It was uncalled for.

Robert Mitchum and Connie Stevens are awesome in this movie as well as Carrie Mitchum (Casper's ex-wife). Diane Ladd was so good as Mama Pierangeli that I wanted to reach through the TV screen and punch her lights out. If you like Dean and are open minded enought to seeing someone play Jimmy, then you may find that you will like this film. It is meant to be an action-drama, not a serious hardcore bio picture. Lot's of cool scenes of Jimmy (Casper) riding a motorcycle and Jimmy's Porche's. The soundtrack can be overbearing at times, like alot of film's nowadays.

Poor Jimmy and Pier, I'll bet they are in heaven right now snuggling. I hope they are together finally.

but the music is good
i have to agree with the other reviewers for the most part this movie stinks. With the possible exception of Robert Mitchum the acting is horrid and the movie very inaccurate. James Dean was not madly in love with Pier Angelli and in fact broke off the relationship with her. In the movie the reverse is true. On the plus side the music, at least the songs by Gordon Waller are excellent if you like mid 50s music or are a Peter and Gordon fan. You may consider buying the soundtrack 'Race With Destiny" if you can find it. I give it 4 stars, fron what i have heard from the movie. ... Read more