Reviews (40)

An Amazing Documentary!!!
WOW!! This is one of the most amazing documentaries on prehistoric life I've ever seen (and I've seen a lot of documentaries on prehistoric life)!

Walking With Prehistoric Beasts starts off 50 million years ago, just a few million years after the extincion of the dinosaurs. In the beginning of the show, the narrator introduces the small mammal called Leptictidium, a swift six foot tall bird called Gastronis, and other beasts. after on, the documentary shows a primitive whale that was 30 tons and four times the length of a great white shark, the planet's largest predatory land mammal (which is interestingly enough related to ungulates like sheep and goats), a two story tall rhino which was the largest land mammal ever on earth, a nasty scavenging hog (one of the most fearsome and ugly creatures in the show), and several other weird, fearsome, and magnificent beasts that once ruled the earth. Later in the documentary, the ice age comes, as well as an amazing and somewhat hairless ape... Man.

I could go on and on talking about this show, but I won't :-). Let me sumarise this amazing five star documentary to you, the reader, in three words: BUY IT NOW!!

Not like walking dinosaurs
Being a major fan of the Walking with Dinosaurs series, I licked this one up fairly quickly. The movie covers many fascinating animals from billions of years ago in a documentary style. While it is entertaining and educational at the same time, I was not nearly as impressed with this follow up. For one, the animals play too much with the audience (i.e. breaking the lense, splashing mud at the camera). While it would increase the idea of realism, it detracts from the seriousness of the documentary. Also, the concept of size is nonexistent. They say something is as big as three elephants, but on the screen, there's nothing to compare it to and it just looks like a little animal But special effects, you say? While some of the animals (like the mammoths) looked very real, others stood out way too much as CGI's (especially the monkeys). The Walking with Dinosaurs team got a bit sloppy here. I realize it's harder to animate animals that represent creatures of today, but I have no doubt the animals could have looked better because, well... I've seen better. My worst complaint about the effects is how, many times, they tried to copy that over-used Matrix sequence, which looks really dorky. Another annoying fact is how everything always goes into slow-motion. This doesn't add suspense, it takes away the excitement of a fast-paced chase and catch. -- All in all, a decent film to watch, but having come AFTER Walking with Dinosaurs and being, in a way, kind of sloppy, it falls short of an excellent movie.

Six-Star film!
I really LOVED "Walking with Prehistoric Beasts," and cannot recommend this documentary enough! This show will appeal to fans of nature documentaries who would like to view a researched but (fictional) account of the lives of ancient mammals. This series starts off at about 65 million years ago with the demise of the dinosaurs, and ends about 30 million years ago, with the demise of the Neanderthals. The animation and animatronics are so well done, so detailed that at times I forgot I was watching computer animation and animatronics. In particular, I loved the scenes with the saber-toothed cats, the hyeanadons and the ancient whales. Oh, and who can forget the andrewsarchus?

The narrator does an excellent job of describing each era, the animal life, the flora and fauna, and the climate change and how it impacts the animal populace. Creatures spring to life on the screen eating, drinking, fighting, dying, and yes even (mating).

Caveats: First: I wish the documentary had gone into a bit more detail with early homo sapiens and Neanderthals. I felt the impact of these early humans on their environment wasn't fully explored. Second: About the only scenes I saw where the animation was left than perfect, was where/when the animals fed. The chewing and eating motions didn't seem quite right. The early chimp-like humans were picking nits. But the nits never seemed to quite make it INTO the mouths. Etc.

Finally, one word of caution, while this did not bother me, some sensitive viewers and young children, might have trouble with repeat scenes of graphic violence, and animal death. Even though its animation, it is very realistically portrayed and no punches are pulled. This is not a movie intended for young children( although mature children will love it). As an example: my mother was quite distressed at the scene in the beginning where the trapped baby chick was being devoured alive by the giant ants (!) As a result, she refused to watch anymore.

Overall, an excellent film, sure to delight those who enjoy speculating on what things were like in the world of prehistory.

Sure, you know of Saber-Toothed Cats...
and the Woolly Mammoth. But how about the Leptictidium? A tiny early mammal. A tiny meat eater the size of a cat, who has to keep clear of the top predator of her time, the Gastornis, a flightless bird as big as a man and just as hungry!
Or how about the Andrewsarchus, a five meter long wolf-like creature with bone crunching jaws over three feet long and related to the whale. In fact it BECAME the whales!
This is a two DVD set. The first holds six amazing episodes about six different periods of Earth's history, from right after the death of the dinosaurs to just before man starts to rule the planet. The second holds lots of fun extras: interviews, TWO 50 minute long behind-the-scene featurettes, photos, fact files and even storyboards.
Really helps fill in that space between dinosaurs and us. A must for any DVD library!

Interesting, visually stunning, mediocre narration.
Walking with Prehistoric Beasts is an interesting series for lovers of natural history.

One would think that someone who does Shakespeare well should be able to get a nature show narration right, but it's obvious that paleozoology isn't Kenneth Branagh's passion, and both here and in Walking with Dinosaurs one sometimes hears that he is reading a badly-rehearsed (and occasionally poorly-written) script. Sir David Attenborough with his authority and enthusiasm would have been perfect for the job, and I was a bit surprised that such a major BBC fronting didn't feature his legendary voice and employed his singular talent in writing nature show narrations.

That aside, I enjoyed it both visually and from the educational point of view, even more so than Walking with Dinosaurs as this is a period of time that we, due to the dino craze, have heard far too little about in the major public channels before (would a film called Eocene Park be a great hit?).

I particularly enjoyed learning more about the origin of whales with the incorporation of the recent fossil findings of the ambulocetus.

Recommended! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Excellent Historical Document on the Papacy
This video is an informative, interesting, well-balanced presentation on the papacy and the events which have surrounded it in the last 2,000 years. The documentary brings the papacy to life and is a wonderful historical document.

A Documentary on the History of the Catholic Church
Originally aired on the History Channel, this documentary takes you through the History of the Catholic Church through the lives of her popes. The decision-makers through the years leave their mark; both good and bad on history. A well balanced presentation with excellent cinematography for a documentary.

Accurate depiction/history of the Popes of the Church
This video starts at the beginning of the Catholic Church and depicts the hard times and periods of martyrdom. Continues to follow the lines of the major Popes through Pope John Paul II. It does talk to the controversies of Vatican II, birth control and other areas of contention with many of the lay members of the Catholic Church. ... Read more

Product Description

The Dogtown and Z-Boys skateboarding video chronicles the overnight impact of the Zephyr team on skateboarding in the early 1970's and the eventual collapse of the team later in the same decade. This video is directed and co-written by skateboard legend-turned-filmmaker Stacy Peralta and narrated by actor Sean Penn. ... Read more

Reviews (73)

Exceptional Documentary
This is an exceptional documentary of a group of guys in blue-collar south Venice Beach, CA that revolutionized skateboarding. As a 50 year old who grew up in Southern California in the mid-60s skateboarding in the "uncool" manner that they portrayed in the first skateboard tournament, I was absolutely mesmerized by the evolution to vertical skateboarder, ie, "airtime".

This film narrated by Sean Penn interviews the members of the Zephyr Surf Shop skateboarding team from the 70s. Sean Penn does an excellent job as voice over and the teammates and shop owners are very honest and forthright in sharing the evolution through the skateboarding where they were first seen, to the urban guerilla boarding in empty swimming pools, to skateboard stardom, and finally to grown-ups.

Many reviewers mention the braggadocio of the participants since the director was also a Z-Boy. Also many complained that they were just a bunch of skateboarders. But I didn't view it that way at all. I found their reporting to be very balanced and in fact, I thought the director somewhat downplayed his stature in the skateboarding world vs. say, Tony Alva. Also as a former skateboarder of a previous generation, I found it absolutely fascinating watching the evolution of the sport. Whether true or not, following that evolution to airborne makes fascinating history. Now, skateboard/wakeboard/surfing/in-line skating have merged into extreme sports. Did these guys invent it? Of course not. But they were substantial in its evolution.

My wife who has never lived outside Southeast US viewed this also and while the subject matter was not familiar, she found it interesting. I recommend this for people wanting to study 70s culture, Southern California or pop culture.

Henry Hester
Although it's been out for a number of months, it took me way too long to get to a theater to see it. I can't tell you how important this film is. As this ground breaking documentary starts to unfold, Stacy and Craig give you a bird's eye view of their 70's concrete playground, complete with historical reasoning for why Dogtown ever existed (and where, exactly, it existed). The editing style is incredible. At one point, Sean Penn makes a verbal mistake yet keeps on going through his description. Any other editor would have cut it and retaped the audio but keeping it in made the whole thing way more real, like Sean was talking to YOU. In addition some of the skaters, in their interviews are "Fast Forwaded" on screen. Very slick way of clipping the bull and getting to the meat.

This movie is a cultural document that should be played in schools, design studios, city halls and to every youngster who ever thought he knew everything about skating, the X games, Bob Burnquist and Tony hawk. Thank God someone caught as much 70s "film" as they did and thank God these guys got this important era of our American culture on DVD. Buy it. Show it to your kids. Make them watch it. Then... take them out, loosen their trucks and make them do berts until they get it down.

Beautiful film
I'm not a skateboarder--I never have been. So my review of this film is from a truly "outsider" position. I'll skip making comments about the wonderful aspects of this film as a documentary about skateboarding, because to me what makes this a truly remarkable work of art has to do with being a documentary about life and truth and beauty and all that.

This movie is about hope. It paints a picture of young kids growing up in an incredibly harsh environment (the film goes out of its way to portray Venice of the early '70's in practically post-apocalyptic images) who see in the concrete wasteland nothing but ocean waves of endless promise. They craft, as artists, a new ballet amidst the rubble. They are obsessed with skating the perfect run, not necessarily to be better than their friends, but just for the sake of perfection. In this pursuit of perfection, I see hope. I see a vision of a recreated world where there are no barriers based on class or empty swimming pools surrounded by fences and patrolled by police. But there's also an irony in the hope, in that the Zephyr boys have an exclusivity about them--they are fiercely elite in their rejection of conventionality.

The story of one of the top two skateboarders, Jay Adams, provides the heart to this film. His story provides a balance to the narrative of corporate greed, which ultimately destroyed the Zephyr team (but which also made the film possible and the story relevent). He is shown as a very young and, though violent and utterly contemptous, innocent boy oozing with natural talent. He's interviewed several times as an adult who, we find out, is doing time for heroin-related charges in Hawaii. Next to the brilliance of the Jay Adams the boy, in Jay Adams the man we see a dark shell of regret and pain. His fellow riders lament the fact that Jay's life is so tragic and unfair--there's a sense of complete injustice "he should have had it all" "Jay's had the hardest life of anyone I know who's still alive" "you only get one shot at this...once it's gone it's gone." So within this movie about beauty and hope, we meet Jay Adams and see tragedy and injustice. There's an absolutely beautiful and haunting scene at the end of the Jay Adams excurses in which the beautiful young Jay, maybe 12 years old, with long sun-bleached hair, is skating in an empty pool and falls on his way down one side. His board continues through the bottom of the pool, up the other side, and straight up into the air about 10 or 15 feet. The scene is in slow motion and freezes the board mid-air. Then, there's a fade to a still of Jay at about 25 years old holding a picture of himself as a cute, innocent boy of about 7. Then another fade to Jay as a hard, broken man in his 30's, with a crew but, what seems to be a black eye and bruised nose, and tattoos running up his throat. Eyes like empty holes. This is the filmmaker's art at its finest. A scene like this says so much more than words ever could.

Some of the reviews on this film have complained that the film was too short--that it left too many questions unanswered. I couldn't disagree more. This film is all about the questions, not the answers. As a Christian, I see this film as a commentary on humanity and our longing for beauty--our hope for a future that includes a recreated world where architecture is no longer purely utilitarian, where there are no longer divisions between north Malibu and the southern beaches. Where everyone has access to a perfect wave. A future in which greed no longer robs us of our innocence, and Jay Adams is once again that strikingly charismatic and beautiful blond-headed boy writing profound poetry with his skateboard, poetry that destroys the walls of violence and drugs and elitism, that opens his soul to ours and ours to him. In the words of U2, a future "where the streets have no name." Our souls groan for a better place, and this film captures that emotion as well as any I've ever seen. This is an amazing film!

GREAT FILM
great film simple as that well edited great story great music and great skating watch it rent it buy it I saw it in theaters three times and have seen it dozens of times on video

Coulda been longer though...
I have to say this movie was quite enjoyable...and that's an understatement. I enjoyed the "punk" editing, the cool photos, and especially the soundtrack (soundtrack shoulda had all the songs!). I wished the documentary dug a little deeper into the crew's backgrounds though (i.e. family life, school [some dropped out of high school], drug use, aftermath of the '70's skateboard craze, etc.). It left me hangin' a bit; so many unanswered questions. I wanted the "low-down"! Too many skeletons I guess...all style, less substance.

Overall it's still a good film (in a flashy "video" sorta way!)... ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great movie
I could identify with many of the thoughts, poems and portrayals in the movie. Being in the life, I could certainly see where they were coming from. They talked about everything from going to white clubs, the art of snapping, vouging (it never died, ..., we started it and we're still doing it). This movie is just great. If you're a black gay /SGL/ homosexual/ whatever-you- wanna-deem-yourself male you MUST watch this movie. I love this film. It'll make you think and laugh and make you proud to be who YOU are.

Great Poetry
Beautifully rhythmic poetry combines with wonderful photographic moments, exceptional dance scenes, and touching autobiographical moments--you really can't go wrong with this exploration of what it means to be black and gay.

Marlon kills the silence!
I always feel better about being Black and gay after viewing TONGUES UNTIED.

Sexual Explosion of Gay Black Male Rights
This film is not for people with delicate constitutions. Desire for acceptance is the underline theme. Too black to be gay. Too gay to be black. Where is my world? Can someone make me happy! It is a modern day tradgedy however this is no Shakespear.

Powerful questions and images
This eye-opening film caused a lot of controversy because of its shockingly strong and threatening images. This may be the most uncomfortable 55 minutes in the world for a straight homophobe, black or white. On the other hand, it can be an true film experience if you're there. ... Read more

Description

This is the definitive story of the making of Fleetwood Mac's Rumours, with specially recorded versions of Christine McVie's "Songbird" and Lindsay Buckingham's acoustic version of "Never Going Back Again."75 minutes.

... Read more

Reviews (41)

An awesome release
While I am one of the more "anti-Rumours" Fleetwood Mac fans (I love the album, don't get me wrong but it's not FM's best work and it is overrated) this DVD is a must have for any true Fleetwood Mac fan. We've all heard the story about the relationships, Stevie and Lindsey, Christine and John, Stevie and Mick, the drugs, etc. but this release goes into what it's all about; the music. It's really great to hear parts of the song such as the background vocals in You Make Loving Fun or the music as in Oh Daddy.
This definitely brought a new perspective on the Rumours album for myself, a die-hard Fleetwood Mac fan.

Fleetwood Mac then and now...
A spectactular review of Rumours and of the group itself, this "Classic Albums" DVD adds to the already sizeable reputation of Fleetwood Mac. The original album alone speaks for itself (certainly one of the top 5 albums of all time) but to now hear all members dissect each song with memories and anecdotes on this DVD made these songs an extremely joyful experience all over again for me.

Listening to the group discuss these classic songs now (these are 1997 interviews), one can still see some of the intense emotions that constituted the making of the album. Whether it's Lindsey Buckingham reminiscing about the making of "Gold Dust Woman" or Stevie Nicks talking about her emotions during the recording of "Go Your Own Way", the viewer gets a true feeling for the emotional committment that each member made during this period. Candid, intense and informal and also with the benefit of 20 years perspective, the producers have added another cornerstone in the ongoing drama that makes this group so popular.

All song selections are also looked at from a sound engineers perspective using the original tapes and a multi track sound board. We see how the vocals were broken down and how the instrumentation fit in...basically how each song was built and what influences were used (i.e. Lindsey Buckingham admitting that he "borrowed" some "textures" from the Bee Gees song "Jive Talking"). Context of the times during these original recordings is a big part of each song's discussion and the mix of interviews with just the right amount of music makes this DVD a pleasure to watch over and over again.

With Fleetwood Mac back out on the road again (for their 2003 Tour minus Christine McVie), the group will undoubtedly get another popularity injection...this DVD shows the group in relatively recent interviews and should show a different generation the "power" of Fleetwood Mac. Highest recommendation!!

Nothing But Rumours
Well what more can be said here than has ! But I must say I would rather listen to the old Fleetwood Mac. Lets face it, all the Fleetwood of later is nothing but more rumours. They all have the same things in common each and every record! Sappy, mysical fakeness, single drum beats as if your hearts going to pop from your chest. On and on Fleetwood Mac goes, when they stop nobody knows! I do know when they should stop! NOW! There is one track I heard the other day and yes I don't know the name of it... "Thank God", but it will be easy to find out. They repeated the line over 100 times! Name that tune! I must admit they did write some great songs, but I don't like hearing other peoples problems on record and I don't see how their music will get someone who is on valuim through the day! Don't Stop about thinking of tomorrow! Trust me I won't. If you want to hear a woman sing, listen to Blackmore's Night, and she don't do coke, Candence Night this woman can sing! And speaking of a great guitar player... Mr Blackmore knows the world and styles of mystical treatments! Guess what? The the Worlds still turning!

eBay, here I come!
Well, I am among those who expected the basic performances along with the documentary, based on the packaging and the song titles listed in the text.

I'm glad so many people like it because that means I will have no trouble selling my copy.

The sound quality didn't impress me, and the "specially recorded" versions of some songs told me only that the members have lost their voices. (offstage: "Sacrilege! Burn him!")

Even the navigation was annoying - click,click, click, click to get to any one song.

Bah!

Good Documentary About a Soap Opera Set to Music
How would you like it if you were breaking up with a spouse or lover, but while you were doing it, you were forced to spend fifteen hours a day with that person for a solid year? Oh and by the way... your former love would be writing publicly about the whole experience! That's pretty much the dilemma the members of the music group, Fleetwood Mac experienced, while making one of the biggest selling rock albums to come out of the 1970s. The history of this album's creation is explored in this episode of Rhino's Classic Albums series documentary, "Fleetwood Mac Rumors". This is an episode of a series, where performers, writers and producers analyze and talk about a classic album they helped create. In this case we get imput from producer Keith Olsen and all the members of the 'Rumors era' Fleetwood Mac.The documentary is excellent in giving us access to vintage film clips and beautiful stills of the band from the mid to late '70s.More importantly the members of the band give detailed stories and explanations of the real life 'soap opera' behind the album's songs. Some of them were funny (the band diving for a huge bag of fake cocaine, that was droped to the floor) or sad (how Christine McVie could barely talk to her former husband, while making the album).The viewer also gets to follow Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood and Producer, Ken Olsen into the original studio and listen to the recordings being broken down by their musical and vocal tracks. We get to hear the intricacies of Mick Fleetwood's expansive drumming style and how John McVie's bass led each song. The tracks also show what an underated guitarist, Lindsey Buckingham really is and the beauty in the stand alone harmonies of Stevie Knicks & Christine McVie. But my favorite part of the documentary is Christine McVie's live performance of the tune "Songbird" at the very same auditorium she used to record it over twenty five years ago. Watching her perform this lovely, but heartbreaking song still sends shivers down my spine! If you are fan of Fleetwood Mac or just plain old rock n' roll in general, then this DVD is not to to be missed! Highly recommended! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Makes You A Believer!
Get ready for your chin to hit the floor!!

Superior presentation of FACTS about Elvis A. Presley from the first minute to the last. Add them all up, then draw your own opinion. Things you are not supposed to know, but now do will make your head spin.

I have watched this video at least 20 times, and now it all makes sense.

The Elvis Files
This film is brilliant. My friend had it on loan eight years ago. We have since been unable to get hold of a copy - but keep searching (that's how good!). If anyone out there can get hold of a copy please e-mail me!!!! Cerian.York@Deeside.ac.uk

this video will make you wonder whether Elvis is alive
This video was very interesting. Although, I have always laughed when people said Elvis Presley is still alive, this video left me wondering whether it could be possible! ... Read more

Reviews (32)

a manipulated movie- while watching question what is natural
This movie was very beautiful and funny. The music was well coreographed also. My children and I enjoyed watching it. Never a dull moment. HOWEVER, upon follow up about the Marula fruit trees, we found that the 'intoxification' of the baboons and other animals was man-induced (see wildwatch.com). It is impossible for elephants and baboons to become intoxicated eating this fruit, though people harvest it for this purpose. There is evidence of other manipulation in the movie (the possible burning of a huge bird condominium). I abhore that people would abuse the animals in these or any other ways.

The real world
This is a great animal video, I have passed it around to my teachers at school and friends are standing in line, the narrator is the same talented guy that did " The Gods Must be Crazy", you will see some scenes from the movie you will remember, a real aborigene trying to fake out an ostrich. The animals all have a grand time getting drunk one day out of the year on fermented fruit, the elephants are knee walking, the giraffe can't hold his neck up and the monkeys are made of silly putty. The baby pelicans that have to do a death march is the low of the movie, nature is as cruel as beautiful, and you see it all here, two thumbs up.

Some staged scenes, but very entertaining
This "Documentary" was produced by the same guy who went on to do "The Gods Must be Crazy".

It is very funny in parts, but for parents who don't want their kids seeing baby birds dying by the hundreds, don't watch the last 15 minutes (I don't mind my kids seeing this, but I thought I'd throw in that caveat)

Like an earlier reviewer, I too thought that nest fire looked set up. There was just no reason for the camera to be focusing on that one drop that happened to start the fire.

Also, that same reviewer pointed out the "drunk scene" was man made, so I checked out the site he mentioned (wildwatch.com), and if you search around the plant section (some plant that start with an m, sorry I forget which).

Here is the relavent text:
"Due to its well-known alcoholic capacities, rumours abound as to the Marula's intoxicating effects on wild animals. While elephants and baboons both relish the fruit, the former would need to consume prodigious amounts of already fermenting fruit for it to have even the mildest impact, and since these huge animals drink up to 160 litres of water a day, there would anyway be a major diluting effect. Interestingly, examination of fresh elephant dung show that less than ten percent of Marula fruits are actually 'processed' in any way - most fruit passes through the digestive tract intact.

Observations on baboons suggest that they prefer fresh Marula fruit and because the pulp is digested and the seeds passed within a 24-hour period, fermentation is impossible. The infamous scene in a popular movie from the 1970s - Jamie Uys' 'Beautiful People', which depicted a troop of obviously drunken baboons in and under a Marula tree, was clearly man-induced and would today be outlawed in terms of animal cruelty."

When I first saw this video, (...) Watching it with the knowledge that it was set up, made it seem rather cruel.

Despite this, I still found this movie very entertaining on the whole.

the best kept secret
I grew up with this movie, and still it remains my absolute favorite. It brings nature close to home, and viewing it should be a requirement for all human beings. Jamie Uys shows that the life of a beetle is no less important than the life of lion, and every living thing has a place on this planet.

Because it has been released on DVD, I will one day be able to show this film to my children, and theirs after them. I recommend this timeless classic to anyone, any age, any time, any place.

Kids Love It
I used to show this movie to the children I worked with in the hospital. We all loved it. The kids couldn't take their eyes off of it and the staff were just as enthralled. This movie is spectacular and wonderfully good fun. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The leopard is a shy, solitary creature, preferring to gaze down at the world from a safe perch high in a tree. But for six months, a National Geographic film crew followed a female leopard and her three cubs in the Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya. Those six months have been condensed into this fascinating hour-long video. Viewers can watch the mother leopard stalk her prey, fend off predators, and teach her cubs the survival skills they'll need when they're on their own. Gorgeously filmed by Richard Matthews, The Secret Leopard also offers revealing glimpses of the game reserve's other inhabitants--antelope, impala, zebras, and cheetahs--as well as breathtaking views of the landscape. --Larisa Lomacky Moore ... Read more

Amazon.com

One man's personal account of his study of pumas--and particularly his relationship with a female he named Penny, "after an old friend"--is incredibly touching. Natural-history filmmaker Hugh Miles lived in Patagonia for two years in Chile's Torres Del Paine National Park. His first-person narration, combined with brilliant photography, makes this video fascinating to watch. Viewers will be treated to all seasons and soft-textured night-vision photography. Ruddy ducks, Chilean flamingoes, hares, wild ancestors of the llama, and little gray foxes are all among the cast of characters on this grand Andean stage. Puma: Lion of the Andes is stylistically poetic, and its clear that the narrator's interest in pumas is not just sentiment but concern for conservation of an important member of a threatened ecosystem. --Cristina Del Sesto ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Everyone should have this film!!!!
Hugh miles has captured superbly the secret world of the Puma. He spent two years filming a Puma he called Penny and as is the majesty of Hughs work he has blended together all the elements of his magic with film and sound to produce a film which is one of the true classics in natural history movie making.Hugh takes us into the world of these most secret of all animals and allows us to observe these most beautiful creatures in all there wild and natural glory. This film is a `must have` in anyones wildlife film collection. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Many folks have heard about the gorilla who learned sign language, butfew have seen the depth revealed in Koko: A Talking Gorilla. In 1977Barbet Schroeder and Nestor Almendros teamed up to explore the world of thisgentle ape and her researcher friends, and the film raises difficult issues,questioning basic assumptions of scientists and skeptics alike. Of vital importanceto both sides of the arguments on topics as diverse as animal rights and artificialintelligence is the question of whether Koko understood abstract concepts in thesame way we do, which is no clearer now than then. The film, though, is careful tofollow the gorilla's entire range of behavior and helps individuals decide forthemselves what was happening behind her eyes. Powerful, thought-provoking, andeven heartbreaking, Koko: A Talking Gorilla is essential viewing for anyoneinterested in intelligence, communication, and the nature of humanity. --RobLightner ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Awe Inspiring!
One word! Awesome! KoKo changes our view about Gorillas. Koko's emotions seem almost human. I found myself laughing and crying, but most of all unable to move from my seat. The scene after KoKo is told about the kitten is heartbreaking, and should make everyone look at animals, especially Gorillas differently. I will never look at a gorilla at the zoo in the same manner. It just makes me sad to think about these incredible, intelligent, gentle, but yet so fierce and wild animals. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

The ultimate jazz record label, lovingly documented.
Well, as a fan of jazz I simply never get tired of this film! This 1997 documentary covers all the bases - the background and perspective of Blue Note's founder, Alfred Lion, the recording session atmosphere, the enthusiasm and dedication of the musicians, Francis Wolff's photographs, Reid Miles' covers and Rudy Van Gelder's sound. If you own the Burns series, this film fills in some of the gaps and corrects some of the misconceptions perpetrated by that series' final few episodes, and it does so without all the constant cloying narration. The director does a masterful job of editing and sequencing the various segments to provide an expert and entertaining balance between interviews and performance footage and between coverage of the label's heyday and its contemporary influence. The performance footage for the most part is electrifying, including period clips of Art Blakey, Horace Silver and Thelonious Monk, the Town Hall concert of '85 (showcasing Freddie Hubbard's virtuosity), and Junko Onishi from '96. There is one b&w clip of a Sonny Rollins performance that is just mesmerizing to watch! (The only soft segment for me is a clip of Cassandra Wilson performing one of her tunes in a "smooth jazz" arrangement - ugh!) The interviews are in a variety of settings and include all the right folks such as Blue Note heroes Herbie Hancock and Horace Silver, session players Bob Cranshaw and Tommy Turrentine, industry figures Gil Melle and Michael Cuscuna, Alfred Lion's former wife Lorraine Gordon (interviewed while taking reservations at the Village Vanguard!)and his widow, Ruth Lion, plus several of Lion and Wolff's colleagues from Europe, who give a valuable perspective on the reception of jazz as high art. The soundtrack is well-crafted and indicative of the range of the label's music with selections from artists well known to Blue Note fans like Joe Henderson, Grant Green, Kenny Burrell, Lee Morgan, Jimmy Smith and Grachan Moncur. This film ranks alongside Monk's documentary "Straight, No Chaser". Highly recommended!

Classic Video
Blue Note is a Dream label to me.the depth&Importance of it is well documented here.so many Great Artists have Made this Label what it is truly in a class of it's own.this is a Jazz Video dream to me.from start to finish everything is special here.

More Great Jazz History That Ken Burns Didn't Cover
This video documents one of the great music labels in the history of American music. Alfred Lion, Blue Note's founder, recorded music that was the real thing, the authentic stuff. No other label in jazz or in any other form of music can boast at accomplishing what Lion and Blue Note were able to do. They were not interested in making hits to attract or pander to a popular audience. This video shows the history of a label in which some of the twentieth century's best musicians could have the freedom to perform and develop the way they wanted. We should be grateful that someone was able to create a space in which such musical expression could take place, and the history of Blue Note is still sadly overlooked for the most part by those attempting to make a definitive statement on jazz history. What it all comes down to is this: Every Blue Note record or CD is worth picking up. You know it will be great. How many other record labels can you say that of?

Where is the DVD version?
Really enjoyable and really historically significant.

The Organic Feeling of Music: The mind and the intellect, the soul and the feeling all got together. This video said it all.

Its about the Beethovens of Jazz, America's original (musical) artform.

But where is the DVD version?

A nice review of the history of the Blue Note Jazz Label
This is quite an enjoyable video that explains the history of one of the most important recording labels in Jazz, Blue Note. From its founding in the 1930's to the late 1990's, this video showcases the founders of the label, to the legendary artists that recorded with the Blue Note label. Legendary performers include John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Theolonius Monk, Freddie Hubbard, Wayne Shorter, just to name a few.

Personal views from the musicians themselves enhance this video and it is captivating to learn how these musicians got together in the studios and collaborated to make some of the best Jazz the world ever heard or will ever hear.

The music is highlighted taking the best of beebop, fusion and avant guarde and is evolved through time. Blue Note has evolved to Jazz's ever changing sphere of music, but its re-releases of classic recordings still (in my opinion) make it the best of the Jazz labels.

This video is highly recommended to all who enjoy the history of Jazz and want to learn something about the evolution of Jazz in the last 60 years. ... Read more

Description

Was there a takeover of the United States by international bankers? In this program you will visit the scene of a crime so perfect that, for thirty years, no one knew it had even taken place.

Join us as we investigate the birth of a criminal conspiracy to rob each and every bank vault in America, all at the same time. This is the true, behind the scenes, story of the birth of the United States Federal Reserve. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent Video-Order this video
This is a must watch video on anyone wanting to learn more about the corruption of the Federal Reserve System. Hosted by Dean Stockwell, he blows the lid off the banking cartel.

You will be able to put two and two together and you will see how american are in slavery of the worst kind. It does not matter what your race his, the banking cartel does not care who they have to hurt to reach there objective.

The average person does not know about this banking cartel because they have a lot of money to influence, politicians, judges, presidents, churches, schools, cable network, radio networks, boyscouts, girlscouts, you name, any orginization that has influence and may teach the public.

Considering the fact the the banking cartel has a lot of money to buy up anyone they want when they create money out of nothing and charge interest on it.

The Solution:
The solution is to stop having these babies come into the system by the use of the Social Security Number.

Next we need education, the word must get out about the corruption.

We need a reform, the system cannot remain like it is without total destruction.

Next we need a revolution, a march of all the people with one common goal and that goal is to slay the beast. Time is running out people and its up to us to make a change. ... Read more

Reviews (39)

A DVD for every single Lynyrd Skynyrd fan there is
This DVD was amazing. I don't know how else to put it. Seeing my favorite and forever guitarist Allen Collins playing those solos with such a great feel and especially look was so heart warming to me...or, well i had the hair on my face and back of my neck stand up. Especially when he plays Free-Bird, the solos and all. And when Ronnie goes..... chaaaaaaannnnnggggge" then the solo starts going. You can hear the crowd saying "chaaaaaaannnggggee" with him. Its awesome. If you are an Allen Collins fan like me. Or even just a Lynyrd Skynyrd fan, I suggest you get the "Tribute Tour" video deal along with "Freebird- The Movie." The "Tribute Tour" Has some video of Allen Collins in his wheelchair after he crashed his car paralizing the upper half of his body almost completly. Which made me cry a little bit seeing my fav. guitarist sitting in a wheelchair just imagining him being there instead of the other guy. But its mainly about how the band goes out around playing the original LS songs.
The sound is pretty good i guess. Well it ain't bad. And the video is good. If you are someone who justs wants a picture perfect video and won't buy this DVD beause it isn't perfect. Then lemme just tell you that you ARE NOT a true Lynyrd Skynyrd fan. I dunno if i am a true LS fan being only 15 yrs of age but i'll tell ya i got pictures and biography of Allen Collins and some pictures of the band hanging on my wall. That's a true LS fan in my eyes. Buy this DVD!! It is TOTALLY worth all the money you spend on it. You won't watch this DVD once...you'll watch it again and again. I am so happy i bought this video. You'll love it, i guarantee that.

A Must For All Lynyrd Skynyrd Fans
Being a long-time Lynyrd Skynyrd fan, I thoroughly enjoyed this DVD! The movie "Freebird - The Movie" really brings back memories and reminds us all of just HOW good Lynyrd Skynyrd was! Besides being extremely talented, the band had a special kind of charisma, that has yet to find it's match. Ronnie Van Zant also had a very unique stage presence, which can all be seen on the excellent concert footage of this movie. The guitar playing of Allen Collins, Gary Rossington, Steve Gaines and Leon Wilkeson was just incredible, as well as Ronnie Van Zants vocals! Lynyrd Skynyrd was a band that made you feel happy and good, but also caused one to stop and think about a lot of issues. It made me feel kind of sad, though, to see their wonderful performance of "Freebird" in California, just a couple of months before their plane crashed. What a loss of talented young people! The "Tribute Tour" is also good. It is quite obvious, though, that it is not really the same band. But, they readily admit that in the film. Johnny Van Zant does a good job singing his brother's songs, and the rest of the band, consisting of some of the original members, play the old hits very well. (And I think it's great that they keep the music alive to this day!) It was sad, however, seeing Allen Collins sitting on the sidelines in a wheelchair during the tribute tour, paralyzed after an automobile accident, especially when one knows what other tragedy he had to go through after surviving the plane crash. All in all, watching this DVD is an uplifting experience, though, and I can still get caught up in the good feeling, that "Lynyrd Skynyrd" gave to it's fans! It's well worth watching over and over again. It is also not a film just for staunch Skynyrd fans...I think anyone who appreciates good music will like it. My 8 year old son is fascinated by it!

Very pleased
I am a Skynyrd fan since the seventies, I bought before this DVD, Lyve from steel town...but I was a little disapointed because it was not the original band members, all you could see was overweight, middle age man playing skynyrd songs.

But this one (specially free bird the movie) is worth buying, for the simple reason that it is the REAL skynyrd members.

The only thing that dissapoints me is when they play my favorite all time song "SWEET HOME ALABAMA", the camera guy I think had a crush with one of the back up singers, because in most part of the song you can only see them singing. What a waste!!

Incredible
This DVD is an absolute treasure. I'd pay a lot more than 12 bucks for the joy of seeing the original band performing 15 songs. Some of the audio/video quality and camera work are sub-par, but overall I was pleasantly surprised. I wish there was more footage available, but be thankful we at least have this. They were so talented, such a kick-ass band. It's mesmerizing, and for anyone who grew up in the 70's, it will get you choked up. The Tribute Tour stuff is worth watching too, as JVZ does a pretty respectable job honoring his brother, and it's nice to see Gary Rossington still rocking. But the real treat is obviously the first half of the disc, where we get to see the original Skynyrd in all their glory, for almost two hours. An essential piece of any concert DVD collection.

Doesn't get better than this...
I would have paid $100 for this DVD 10 or 20 years ago...the performances are classic. In addition you are allowed to see modern Skynyrd behind the scenes. I grew up thinking that these guys were larger than life, but when viewing them on screen humanizes them. The price is right and to see these guys in their vintage days and then see them today is a valuable opportunity. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

CHILLING JOURNEY
Visit with Anne Rice as she takes you on a tour of her life. This tour is unlike any other as you find out about the influences which impacted the "Queen of Terror". Told by friends, family members and an assortment of other characters you are led on a bizarre trip through a diminsion of her life which feels real at one moment and a fantasy at the next.

You are led on this tour with a series of reading from her "Interview with a Vampire." As the narrator shares his story you are transported to Anne's New Orleans. Haunted houses, ghosts, a necropolis, bayou, and surreal images thrust themselves at you. Anne's world is rich in imagination and filled with the macarbre in her native city. All of the experiences which happened to her here and later in life informed her work. Tragedy is turned on its side and flows into triumph.

If her books scare you and shake your imagination then her life story as portrayed in this film will do the same. At times you wonder if this woman herself is not a ghost who has come back to regale us mere mortals with her experiences. Surrender yourself to listening to her tale and embrace yourself in another world which is real but not so real. After experiencing Anne in this film you will develop a greater appreciation for her, her work and the genre of horror.

Excellent Movie
I think the movie was great! A must see for any vampire fan out there. Ann Rice stares in this film so if you love her novels (Interview With The Vampire, The Vampire Armand, The Vampire Lestat, etc etc) then you'll love this movie.

I loved It
It's Definantly Anne Rice!

I loved it
This is all I have to say I loved it, and it

could allmost make you belive in Vampires END

best vampire book
anne rice is one of the best writer of all time.(about vampires that is) this is a very elaborite book and some people many not be able to handle it. you really have to be extremly interested in vamps to read this. END ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent choice for the younger children
My daughter (2yr) has been obsessed with whales and dolphins ever since our trip to Sea World this summer. We checked out some videos at the library for her to watch - but all we found were dry, documentaries that even I found boring. So I took a chance and ordered this video for her. She loves it! We've watched it every day since it arrived at least once. She's even renamed her Shamu doll because of the video.

The video is about 30 minutes and rated for children 3-8. Although, obviously, some of the younger ones like it as well. There are several songs (all very catchy) on the video and they encourage you to sing along with their actions. There is some very interesting information about whales and dolphins as well as several great tricks. I highly recommend the tape - and guessing from the dancing my daughter does every time we watch it, I would say she does too!

My kids love this video: educational and entertaining
THis is a great video about whales and dolphins. Trainers at Sea World talk about whales and dolphins, explaining why they are mammals, how they live in the ocean, etc. The trainers show lots of tricks that they can do, and also have various footage of the narrator and kids giving the dolphins/whales signals. My kids love this video and watch it over and over, even my 1 1/2 yr. old daughter. There is some great music and some great songs on the video and the narrator (Casey) has a lot of great energy. I like it too! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

If anything defined the 20th century as the age of anxiety, it's the cold war with its ultimate no-win nuclear endgame. While conflicts in Korea and Vietnam dragged on, providing the traditional images of modern warfare, some of the conflict's most dangerous battles were invisible--tactical, intellectual, and fought primarily in the minds and war rooms of U.S. and Soviet leaders: Kennedy, Krushchev, Castro, Kissinger, Gorbachev, and Reagan. This 8-volume, 24-episode series, narrated by Kenneth Branagh, is a comprehensive history that examines the key events of the arc of the Soviet Union, from its birth to its fall, and provides a thorough analysis of what was going on behind closed doors. Informed by the stories of 500 eyewitnesses--from citizens and soldiers to historians and statesmen--and strengthened by painstaking reconstruction of archival historical film footage, CNN's Cold War is a heroic undertaking and a sweeping chronicle of the world's most fragile decades. --Susan Benson ... Read more

Reviews (10)

CNN's The Cold War is simply brilliant
Never before have I seen such a comprehensive, absorbing and fascinating look into this era of history. From the early days after World War II, to the final collapse of the Soviet Union, The Cold War details not just the political aspects of the "communist threat", but the social and economic aspects, too. Whether you are a history buff looking for new sources, or just some one who wants to learn about this exciting time, you will completely enjoy The Cold War.

It Is More Than a History of the Cold War.
It is a history of an important period of human experience. The series is well made. Many important events are shown from different view points. If we can all learn from this important period of time, we may be able to minimize loss of lives due to military conflicts and political confrontations.

It is absolutely riveting, reassuring and terrifying.
Although I saw it happen on television and observed many of the changes while in the Soviet Union, the fall of the communist block still astonishes me. Without question, it is the greatest single change in human history that occurred without vast bloodshed. As late as the mid 1980's no one could have conceived of a scenario where the iron curtain would be penetrated with almost no loss of life.
That amazement was revisited as I watched this series of tapes and relived events such as the Hungarian uprising in 1956, the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, the Warsaw pact invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, the crushing of the Polish Solidarity movement in the early 1980's and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1980. The constant tension and mutual fear of annihilation just seemed to be a permanent fact of existence. That is all gone and although it is of necessity rather brief, these tapes tell the essence of how it happened.
Simply put, you cannot begin to argue that you understand the twentieth century without knowing the details of the cold war between the two giant ideological rivals. No one in the United States or Russia should be allowed to graduate from high school without first watching this tape. It is absolutely riveting, reassuring and terrifying at the same time.

Enriching and updating!
I did not hesitate when purchasing this title and everyone around me did enjoy watching all the 8 tapes continuously. I really would recommend to get this title while it is still available! The recent history of the world has been decided by the two super powers and the decisive role was played by the USA and if anyone still doubts it, he/she should watch this fabulously made movie. ....

Best of Cold War description I ever saw so far
I have experienced 15 years of life in east side of the Iron Curtain. Just want to say I really love this picture as I have found it objective enough, disclosing many interesting and important points in West-East diplomacy which were really hard to understand for me so far. Wish all the people watch it as we all could learn more of many mistakes have been done. None is holly - the comunists are unhuman by principal but the americans did many stupid thinks also. This movie shows you a lot of hidden, shadow politics of the era of Cold War. Enjoy it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Dudley Moore stars as the voice of Spin, a world-wandering, animated globe in this edition of National Geographic's Really Wild Animals series. With Spin narrating a journey from the Arctic to the Antarctic and many places in between, the video starts with the tale of a mother polar bear emerging from hibernation with newborn cubs in tow. This sense of kinship runs through the entire presentation, culminating with scenes of a human family researching penguin and whale preservation. Polar Prowl showcases many types of polar wildlife, from arctic rabbits and the South Pole's elephant seals to New Zealand's Snares Island penguins, entertaining as well as informing us as we are treated to several catchy and educational songs. Important keywords pop up on screen as they are defined in a typical example of the video's style--explaining the intricacies of nature in ways that children can understand. --Zachary Lively ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent material for teaching about the Polar Regions
This video was fast-paced, entertaining, and highly educational. My first grade class was mesmerized by the content and I was able to stop and explain along the way. It has also become a winter favorite with my own children, ages 3 & 10. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Good, authentic footage
I've had this movie since right after it came out, and I've probably watched it at least 30 times since. I have yet to see a tornado film that beats this, in terms of "live-action" footage. And to go along with that, as another reviewer mentioned, the film is also very informative, explaining how tornados form, etc. It runs just under an hour, but there is plenty of footage in that amount of time, with many different tornados, even "silent" historical footage shot in the '50s. A steal at this price.

A "must-have"; best tornado footage compilation yet!
My friends and I liked this video so much that I am ordering a copy to replace one I lost last year: a must-have for all tornado buffs. You learn about the guts of a tornado and the clouds that spawn them. Witness the sheer power and grace of tornados, the eerieness of dust devils, the awe of watching a multiple twister storm from the cameras of people from a quarter mile away to riding out being in the damage path itself. I never tire of watching this tape!

It is an awesome video of tornadoes rampaging.
It shows people chasing tornadoes and taping the fury destroy the houses and buildings.It is an on-the-edge type of video! ... Read more

Amazon.com

California produces much of America's food on some of its most arid land, the San Joaquin Valley. How did this happen? The Mercy of Nature tells the story of the politicians and engineers who created the largest system of water works ever executed, providing practically free water to farmers in the basin. Interviews and newsreel footage combine with haunting portraits of the miles of highway and acres of fields to bring the valley's story to life. The machinations of big business to exploit the government, the water, and the land are exposed, as well as the party-killing political atmosphere following revelations of pesticide buildup and cost overruns. Vivid, beautiful, and funny at times, this is a moving tribute to the small-time farmers who were there before the big projects and will remain after they're gone. Like the rest of the Cadilllac Desert series, The Mercy of Nature reminds us of our limits. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Amazon.com

One of the greatest and most memorable moments in the civil rightsmovement occurred when 200,000 people marched on Washington, D.C., on August 28, 1963. Not only was the gathering of so many united people extraordinary, but that day Martin Luther King Jr. stood before the marchers anddelivered his most eloquent and inspiring speech. This video offers the "I Have a Dream" speech in its entirety, as well as footage of the opposition the protesters faced, such as the fire hoses the police in Alabama used to disperse the crowds. The narrator explains that the hoses shot 700 pounds of pressure, enough to strip the bark off a tree. However, the grimness of this era is not the only focus in this video. Dr. King had so much hope and faith in thesuccess of the civil rights movement, and the greatest demonstration of this is in the famous speech. He uses modern metaphors and poetry to get his message out clearly, as when he describes the capitol as having given blacks a check marked "insufficient funds," but he reminds us that they will refuse to believe the bank of justice is bankrupt, that they will cash their check for riches of freedom and security of justice. Throughout the speech he emphasizes his mission: nonviolence as a method of overcoming ("Soul force against militant force") and the importance of walking together as a unified group, and never walking alone. Although the video ends with his death, it still leaves the viewer feeling uplifted with Robert Kennedy's memorial address, pleading with Americans to hold on to Dr. King's views and adopt them as their own. A concise video with one of the greatest speeches of our time. --Samantha Allen Storey ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Content - Thumbs Up; Video - Thumbs Down
I do not remember seeing the entire length of Dr. King's famous "I Have A Dream" speech delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial nearly forty years ago. As I was preparing to speak to a group of high schools students in a program titled AVID --- Advancement Via Individual Determination --- I was excited by the thought of seeing Dr. King's speech. What better example of a leader with an inspiring vision for the future? What better example of someone who put their skills and experience to their highest and best use to fulfill their dream? What better example of someone who gave their life to something of value and significance?

Dr. King did not disappoint me. As I strained to pick out his figure --- nearly lost in a sea of over 300,000 faces crowded beneath the Lincoln Memorial --- I heard the voice that stirred souls to action in tumultuous times. I heard the cadence, rhythm, and volume of it. I heard the phrases rising and falling like waves crashing on the shore. I felt a lump in my throat as I considered the power and importance of the message.

And I wondered if we are already too far removed from this message. Nearly two generations hence, are we closer to Dr. King's dream? Does today's generation understand the price paid for its freedom? Are we cultivating leaders who will rise to the needs of tomorrow? Leaders of character, integrity, vision, action, teamwork, and service? This was the example and spirit I sought to inspire those students.

I was, however, disappointed by the quality and integrity of the video. I was at first surprised to hear Peter Jennings of ABC News narrating the video. As I watched, it became clear the content of the video was an excerpt from a narrative on the life of Dr. King, yet I could find no credit to Mr. Jennings, ABC News, or other source material. It ended abruptly as if it had been hastily or carelessly editted. I found this distracting and disappointing.

If I had an opportunity to select an alternative source for Dr. King's speech, I would select a better one.

Surreal!
In many publications this speech was named the number one speech of the 20th Century. I will not disagree. I have never been able to see the whole speech until now. Dr. King's words ring true 37 years later. Guaranteed to give you chillbumps! A must for any collection!

Outstanding Archival Look at The Dream Speech
The video begins with a brief look at various 1960's era civil rights protests and the violence that often followed such demonstrations. Using footage (much of it somewhat raw) shot during the marches and demonstrations and narrated by Peter Jennings, the montage of video "highlights" of the 1960's civil unrest provides a strong setting for the showing of MLK's "I have a dream" speech at the foot of the Lincoln Monument.

The video does not show the entire speech, but it does present enough to gain a good understanding of its content. Perhaps the single most important reason to watch the video (as opposed to reading a text version of the speech) is to witness King's change in tone, demeanor and style as he reaches the end of the speech. As he begins to call for "letting freedom ring" he abandons his notes and begins to seemingly speak extemporaneously, and the passion in his voice begins to rise. It is a powerful visual, lost in any textual version.

The video concludes with a brief explanation of the assassination and memorial service.