Reviews (4)

Living Desert Review by James Marchese
Walt Disney's Living Desert is the finest desert nature footage ever produced--the standard. Released in 1953 in full color it took 3 years to make. It has many fine points including a 2:25 breathtaking sequence in which a large female wasp subdues and paralyzes a tarantula with her stinger. Beautiful botanical time lapse photography is also featured. The Best Documentary Oscar was created for The Living Desert and it was the first recipient of the award. What more can I say---everyone young and old should have the opportunity to see this film.

Every library needs Living Desert
Living Desert is the introduction to ecology that every child needs to see. It combines extraordinary footage with entertaining music and intelligent commentary, and probably was responsible for millions of Americans learning to look beyond the obvious barren view of our natural resources. So why isn't a copy of this tape in every public library branch in the country? Why not ask your local library if it wants a copy, and make a charitable (and tax-deductible) contribution to our national common body of knowledge? This is the grand-daddy of nature films.

one of DISNEYS best
i first saw this when it came out, & thought it brilliant that is why i have bought it.of all disneys works next to this is Snow White, again i saw this when it first came out,& it is a pity they have not come(to me anyway) anywhere near making anything as good. the Living Desert I would say to anyone if u have not seen it, then you are missing a lot,not only for the music, but the antics as well.

Excellent
This is top notch! I hope it comes back ... Read more

Amazon.com

A thousand years in 10 hours is an ambitious project, to say the least. But the team at CNN succeeds with its now-typical aplomb, as the team that brought us Cold War shares with us Millennium."We know the history of our own country," narrator Ben Kingsley intones. But this series purports to give us "history from a global perspective, not through the eyes of the West." Using reenactments and impressive computer graphics--used with inspiration for everything from rebuilding the 11th-century Pueblo Bonito to representing Freud's idea of the subconscious--the history of the world for the past 1,000 years is re-created. Each episode covers 100 years, from the 11th century's "Century of the Sword" to the 16th century's "Century of the Compass" to the final 100 years of the millennium in "Century of the Globe."Segmented by time and place, Millennium focuses on five topics in five separate locations in each episode.The wealth of topics is mind-boggling: the spread of Islam,Mongol conquests, the rise of Gothic spires across Europe, Australian Aborigines,the trail of Marco Polo, Black Death, Chinese naval power, the Ottoman Empire, the religious conversion of the Mayans, the Mogul Dynasty, science, slave trade, the Industrial Revolution, to name just a fraction of the stories told. Granted, given the constraints of covering 1,000 years in a mere 10 hours, the video may leave you longing for more, but what a way to whet your appetite for history. --Jenny Brown ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Best series yet, I hope another 1,000 years is made soon.
I am a football coach and not some profeesor, but a video series like this has never been made. Just turn on the VCR and learn why we live the way we do. This video set is by far the best and most enjoyable out there. The facts enlighten even the most naive viewer to the history of the world as it will be seen hundreds of years from now. People only understand the view of religion, culture, and history as that of there own country. This amazing set opens your eyes to facts your history teachers never understood, and does so with the use of great computer graphics to take you back to the age talked about. One can only wait for the wonders of knowledge CNN/TIME will offer in the future. I am waiting for the previous 40,000 years to be made. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Sour Grapes
Fantastic Video, just ignore all the negative crap from Mr. Lister in his "review",...just sour grapes about a missed opportunity or the lack of it, seeded with praise to disguise the whine.

Harlem Globetrotters' History Video
This is the Harlem Globetrotters' officially authorized video history. It is a finely crafted general history that highlights the team's most notable individuals: Abe Saperstein ( the team's creator ), Reese "Goose" Tatum, "Meadowlark" Lemon, Fred "Curly" Neal, etc.
This video history describes the team's origin in Hinckley, Illinois and their trials and tribulations in evolving into a rags-to-riches sports team story. The video contains rare film footage. The video's theme music is well choreographed and cheerfully inspirational.
The video shows some players displaying their unusual basketball trick shooting and trick ball handling and trick dribbling skills. I feel the video should have focused more close up and in depth on these unusual skills. It could have shown a much wider variety of these difficult trick feats for this is one of the primary reasons people are interested in this clowning team.
Since the Harlem Globetrotters created this video themselves you can assume they would paint a rosy red picture and ignore their own inherent faults. The video talks about the racial discrimination they faced in rising to being analogous to the highly beloved "Disney World" of basketball. However this video does not discuss the accusation that the Harlem Globetrotters practice extreme racial discrimination towards Caucasian ( white ) basketball comedy show players. The video cites Bob Karstens as the only white player to play full time for the team. This was for a year and a half during the 1940's when Karstens filled in for Goose Tatum while Tatum was stationed in Europe during World War II. The video doesn't mention that a white man Harold "Bunny" Levitt performed halftime free throw exhibitions for the team for five years during the 1930's. He took on all challengers and made 98% of his shots. The video also doesn't mention that since 1927 the team has had approximately five hundred players on their team but only two were white. It also doesn't talk about the fact that when Peter Press "Pistol Pete" Maravich graduated from Louisiana State University ( LSU ) the Globetrotters offered him one million dollars to travel with them for one year to display his showmanship and scoring skills. Maravich turned down the offer and went to the N.B.A.'s Atlanta Hawks. Although this video gives an excellent interview with "Clown Prince" Meadowlark Lemon it would have been interesting to know how "Meadowlark" would have reacted to "Pistol Pete" Maravich traveling with the team. Maravich could have played on the court only ten minutes and upstaged "Meadowlark" Lemon which theoretically could have made for a very bitter "Meadowlark".
Although this video cites Lynette Woodard as being the first female Harlem Globetrotter it doesn't focus on a recent team star "Sweet Lou" Dunbar. The video also doesn't mention the fact that there has never been a nationally famous white male comedy trick basketball team. It also doesn't discuss the fact that the Globetrotters ban certain pregame and halftime basketball entertainers such as myself ...
Despite the glossing over of their own intrinsic discriminatory defects I would rate this fine Harlem Globetrotters' video history as a MUST SEE for all fans. It is the best video history I have ever seen on them. Although I feel tears come to my eyes and my heart is deeply saddened every time I watch this video ( because I lost out on the opportunity in my lifetime to play with the Globetrotters ) this video is a sheer joy to watch because of the childish, philanthropic clownishness that the Globetrotters radiate!

Incredible!!
you take away all the flash,Dash,&Entertainment Value&See a History of Guys who Simply are Incredible BasketBall Players.a League all there own&something that hasn't been matched with yet.this is not only a Fun Video but also showcases there Fundementals as Players.Enjoy.

After I atched this video I was unstopable on the court
I once borrowed this documentary video of my basketball coach who recomended it for me to watch as I am one of the youngest players in the team and therefor unexperienced in performing tricks and playing the game to have fun,but everything changed after I watched this tape, the ammount of tricks I performed in games made the coach think about putting me in the starting lineup which is a respectable success... ... Read more

Amazon.com

You might be thinking to yourself "Who wants to watch a video about rocks?" You know the answer after seeing DK Vision's Eyewitness: Rock and Mineral. It's 35 minutes of fascinating facts and unbelievably gorgeous photography detailing the ins and outs of rocks, gems, and the earth, especially how we interact with them on a day-to-day basis. From the earliest flint tools to Stonehenge to the Hope diamond, we've had a long and interesting relationship with our inanimate friends, and DK Vision's cool, quirky visual effects help us really appreciate the earth beneath our feet (among other things). It all adds up to a great package that you won't have to be a rockhound to love. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (42)

HILARIOUS!!!!
I've watched this video multiple times both alone and with friends. I've loaned it out to friends, all of whom LOVED it!! If you don't find humor about sex funny, or find skinny women sacred, then this just isn't the video for you. There's no reason to compare it to "The Original Kings of Comedy," too bad the titles are so similar. The humor is totally different. If you're tired of the stale "black people do this" vs. "white people do that" format that's so prominent in the "Kings," try out the "Queens" and get ready for something else instead. Oops, I jumped on the bandwagon and compared the two...but just to say THEY'RE TOTALLY DIFFERENT! Check out the Queens! There's a combination of styles that runs from dry humor to more blatant humor, and from subtle to crude. Enjoy it!

Funny At Times
The "Queens" was a pretty good show. Each of the featured comediennes had her moments...I especially enjoyed Monique's stand-up section. She was funnnnyy! She probably best represented the whole "Royalty of Comedy" idea and complimented the "Kings of Comedy" well because she just got up there and let loose. Adele also gave a good show. The others basically stood up and told some jokes. Adele did a great job of handling herself in those video clips of the three ladies hanging out in Memphis. True, Monique was loud and overbearring -- but it seems like the film editors gave her the most screen shots because she really did give the strongest performance. Truthfully, they could've done without the little video clips -- it kind of reminded me of BET's "Comic View" where they used to (and still do at times) insert little non-necessary skits just to fill out the time slot. But, all in all it was a pretty good show. Worth the money to rent it from the video store, but not worth the late fee if you don't turn it in on time :-).

Too much cussing takes away from the comedy
Loud is right, loud with the cussing!!!
I had been wanting to see this DVD for a while. I really enjoy Sommore and Mo'Nique, but this DVD was a let down. These ladies have no problems discussing just about any topic from spending 5 days in jail, sex, black men, sex, children, sex, marriage, and sex. You also got some behind the scenes footage, which to me was really not necessary. I knew better then to compare this to the Kings of Comedy. I mean why even bother? I knew it would be different, but the titles were similar so I guess that's why people made the comparison. I have no problem with cussing. It just seemed extremely excessive, and it was not funny. That's part of the problem I have with some comics, the use of cussing as a filler to help expand their act. You don't have to cuss to be funny. When I could laugh, I enjoyed some of the jokes, but aside of that, it's not gut busting funny. It's not hysterical. This was a major, major let down. You do not need to use excessive foul language to be funny!!!

Trash
Do yourself a favor and stick with the Kings because this mess is a waste of money. The majority of the jokes are sex related & full of cursing. These things could be excused if they were funny! But this is far cry from it.

The F bomb used too much, FAILURE
seriously. I didn't understand this. This show sucked. It really, really sucked. Every other word was an F bomb and the fat one kept talking about sex and going into detail and it made me shudder. I'd rather staple gun myself in the forehead then see this piece of crap again. I'd give it 0 stars if I could. ... Read more

Description

With ANNE BAXTER, THOMAS MITCHELL, SELENA ROYLE, WARD BOND, BOBBY DRISCOLL. Directed by LLOYD BACON. This heart-wrenching drama was made at the height of World War II, when American mothers and fathers were sending their sons off to battle. In too many cases, these young men never were to return. It opens with a simple declaration: "This is a true story." What follows is the account of five young men named Sullivan. They enjoy a typical all-American small town childhood as they share youthful adventures and mischief. The Sullivans go fishing and boating. They worship in church. They boyishly slide down the banister of their house and squabble among themselves and with others. Their hardworking father tries to set for them a good example. Their mother cooks their meals, cleans their clothes and mediates their differences. The years pass too quickly and the Sullivans become young men. They date and go to dances. One of them falls in love and marries. Then terrible!news comes, on December 7, 1941. The Japanese have launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. America is at war. "Its always been the five of us," one of the Sullivans proclaims. So they join the navy to do their patriotic duty. This is a tremendously moving account of boys grown into men and of honor and obligation, courage and sacrifice. The film is extremely well-acted, especially by Thomas Mitchell as the Sullivans father and Anne Baxter as the bride of the youngest Sullivan. Highly recommended. 113 minutes. ... Read more

Reviews (42)

An American family sends its five boys off to World War II
"The Fighting Sullivans" is the true story of five brothers who died together when their Navy ship, the Juneau, was sunk in the South Pacific during World War II. But only the last act of this 1944 film, directed by Lloyd Bacon, shows the Sullivans at war. Most of this film is pure Americana, following the lives of the boys from their childhood in Waterloo, Iowa. Thomas Mitchell and the marvelous Selena Royle are the loving parents, while the five boys are played by unknown actors: Edward Ryan (Al), John Campbell (Frank), James Cardwell (George), John Alvin (Matt), and George Offerman (Joe). Trudy Marshall plays their only sister, Genevieve. Top billing actually goes to Anne Baxter as the young girl who marries into the family and will be left a widow with a baby in arms. Ward Bond plays the Navy lieutenant who befriends the family when the Sullivans insist that they will only join up if they can serve together. Eventually the Navy relents and the boys get their wish.

Audiences knew the tragic fate of the Sullivans, although the film was originally released as "The Sullivans" and pretty much bombed at the box office. Retitled "The Fighting Sullivans" and re-released, it became a smash hit. The use of unknown actors made the film all the more effective, especially since it refrained from the sort of cliches you would expect. If the scene where the parents learn all five boys have died does not get you, the next scene will: Mr. Sullivan goes off to his job on the railroad and as the train passes the water tower where his boys waved to him as kids, he salutes them. Actually, this film works so well that the final shot, of the Sullivans in uniform striding across the clouds of the afterlife does not seem one whit hokey. There is a documentary available on the Sullivans, which tells how one of the boys survived the sinking before dying in the waters off of Guadacanal. I would not have thought anything could have made this story more tragic, but that bit of information certainly made it worse for me.

True story of 5 brothers who fought & died together in WWII
"The Fighting Sullivans" is a moving tribute and true story of five brothers who served together on the same ship in WWII. The story begins with the birth of each child (including one daughter) and then continues on showing the close and loving relationships in the family through the years. There's one great scene where the father (Thomas Mitchell, who was Scarlet's father in "Gone With the Wind) teaches some of the sons a lesson about smoking -- very funny! One of the sons marries prior to the war and the movie shows some good old-fashioned "courting" (kids today should see what courting is all about!). This is a great movie for the whole family to see (as most movies were back then) with great examples of family togetherness, wholesome values, and the willingness of honorable men to do what is right even if this means that they must "pay the price" as well. Even my daughters, when they were young girls, loved this movie and still quote the line of the brother who tells his family of the girl he wants them to meet and adds, "She's swell!" This would be a great movie to see any time, but especially on Memorial Day or Veterans Day when we remember those who served and gave their all to protect and defend the United States of America.

First step in an interesting American story
The movie makes up for what it lacks in historic facts with it's ability to show the family as they truly were- a close-knit, hard-working Irish American family. The movie is an excellent example of 1940's American war-time propaganda, but is an excellent starting off point for learning more about the Sullivan's story, about their lives,their deaths, and their family, which continues to this day to carry on the legacy of the Sullivan brothers.

Today, the USS The Sullivans (DDG-68) is commissioned United States destroyer working hard to protect the country. The crew is well aware of the brother's story and the ship's motto is taken directly from one of the brother's upon joining the navy as a group- "We Stick Together". Watch the movie, and keep in mind the sailors who are out there today risking their lives in much the same way the Sullivan Brothers did 60 years ago.

Always been a favorite
I saw this movie years ago with my grandmother, and I hadn't seen it in years. Naturally, I wanted to see it again. It begins as the story of a close-knit family growing up. It follows them right into WWII into their untimely demise. A true tear-jerker...and a classic that ranks up there with "It's a Wonderful Life."

Excellent
This movie is great. I first saw it as a kid about 15 years ago, & fell in love with it immeadiately. Even then it made me cry. Everyone should see this movie about 5 brothers who make the ultimate sacrifice. They are mentioned in Saving Private Ryan, but its' a shame that more people don't know about the Sullivan Brothers. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Without the usual wildlife footage (since cameras obviously weren't around millions of years ago), the folks at National Geographic get very creative in the dinosaur segment of this 44-minute video. Using a combination of traditional and stop-motion animation, a paleontologist interview, silent-film stock, and clips from corny dinosaur movies, narrator Spin (planet Earth as voiced by Dudley Moore) tells the prehistoric slice-of-life story of a Hadrosaurus-egg-stealing Struthiomimus member who, in turn, meets an untimely end at the claws of raptors. As the second segment's title suggests, "Creature Features" is framed as a faux horror movie with Moore adopting a creepy tone as he tells of blood-sucking (and regurgitating) mother bats and squirming maggots who metamorphose into flies. By using this format, the episode has it both ways. It uses a spooky façade to entertain the kids, while debunking the very horror movie myths it capitalizes upon. --Kimberly Heinrichs ... Read more

Reviews (3)

My 3 yr. old son loves this one!
We rented this video and my son watched it about 10 times. After we returned it to the store, he kept asking for it so I am here at Amazon.com to buy it for him. He loves "Spin" the narrating globe.

Highly Entertaining
I watched this video with my two sons, ages 6 and 13, and we all loved it! The music, the photography, the animation, the narration and the fun (and sometimes gross) facts make this video well worth it. What an entertaining way to get kids interested and involved in learning more about the world around them!

Really wild animals
My two sons (ages 5 and 3) LOVE this video. Not only does it cover some of their favorite topics- Dinosaurs, bugs, spiders and snakes - but it also includes very interesting, factual and detailed information. And, it makes it fun! Parents will find this interesting as well. It would be a good idea to watch it WITH younger children as some kids may be disturbed by the more graphic/scary dinosaur scenes. Dudley Moore is great as the narrator, and we are planning to get more of National Geographic's Really Wild Animals videos! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Part of HBO's America Undercover series, this fast-paced documentary entertains as much as it informs. By using reenactments, apparent on-camera therapy, and the personal stories of Oscar-winning actress Kim Basinger and football legend Earl Campbell, the filmmakers have produced a video that makes for compelling viewing even for those who have never had so much as a nervous twitch. But for the 23 million Americans (and countless others worldwide) who face the dismaying prospect of brain freeze and body-numbing panic when driving, shopping, or even simply leaving the house, this 49-minute film provides medical information and recovery strategies. Joining Basinger and Campbell are ordinary folks such as the new mom who panics when her husband leaves for work, and the mortgage banker who can drive only half of the trip to see his dying grandmother before stopping the car in utter terror and returning home, defeated. A host of research scientists from places such as Harvard and Yale join practicing counselors in identifying anxiety disorders and describing various treatments, from drugs to "exposure therapy." Viewers get to witness a couple of the film's subjects experiencing the latter. --Kimberly Heinrichs ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wonderfully done!
This film accurately displays the terror and frustration a person living with panic disorder goes through on a daily basis. I found myself encouraged by the stories Kim Basinger and Earl Campbell had to tell in this film. A must see for anyone with panic disorder, a friend/relative of someone with panic disorder, or someone who's interested in mental health. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Patrick Stewart and Don Barrett Create A Magical Experience
Forget all the boring documentaries from NASA and the BBC. From Here to Infinity is as much a work of art as it is science. World premiered at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory before 2000 invited guests, this voyage to the edge of the known universe uses excellent (1994 era) CGI, a fantastic musical score, and the host - Patrick Stewart, whose presence completes a fantastic journey of discovery. This beats anything ever aired on the Discovery Channel or TLC. You must own this video if you love the sky, space or the possibilities of the future. The Geminga segment is worth the price alone - much less a realistic trip down the event horizon of a black hole that takes you to the Andromeda Galaxy! Great experience, don't miss it.

Patrick Stewart Takes Viewers to the End of the Universe
This video won 2 "Best Video of the Year" awards from TV Guide and BIllboard Magazine. Patrick Stewart is your inspirational host as he takes the viewer via edge-of-the-art computer generated imagery through the solar system, the Oort Cloud, a look at Alpha Centauri and the Search for ET. Then director Barrett takes us past the known into the world of supernovas, finally flying the viewer down a wormhole on the way to Andromeda.

This may be this director's best work, although his 1990 classic "The Voyager Odyssey" was rated as the 6th Greatest Documentary ever made, by Entertainment Weekly.

If you love the sky, the stars, the universe, and of course, Star Trek, this video is for you.

A True Marriage of Art and Science
Having followed the work of writer-producer-director Don Barrett for the past 30 years, nothing he's done, not even "The Planets" can quite compare with this. It was originally premiered at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (the only commercial video ever so honored). In 1995 it was awarded Video of the Year by Billboard Magazine and TV Guide. Keep in mind this is the same creative genius whose "Voyager Odyssey" was ranked as the 6th best documentary of all time ("The Greatest Movies Ever Made" - by the editors of Entertainment Weekly). Simply this is a journey from planet Earth to the edge of the known universe with lots of interesting stories along the way. Simply magnificent. The musical score alone is worth worth the price of the VHS. Why Paramount hasn't chosen to make it available as a DVD is a mystery. Don't let another day go by without purchasing a classic you will most certainly treasure.

Ok
The movie was a lot of fun however there are many negatives. Patrick Stewart is fantastic however the graphics accompanied with the documentary were poor. Had there been real pictures / photographs, and more invested in the documentary it would have been better. Borrow it from your library, certainly not worth the purchase.

This one brings Infinity home!
"From Here To Infinity" is one of the best astronomical displays I've seen, short of going to the Adler Planetarium. The Journey begins at home Planet Earth and ends with a return home but with an increased sense of wonder that speaks to the uniqueness preciousness of Life here. I love it, but my autistic son loves it even more. Its combination of breathtaking visuals and classical music never fail to capture his attention and keep him entertained through the full length of the tape. Wonderful stuff. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

joni Eareckson Tada
I loved this movie it was such a great movie, my heart went out to joni and all that she has accomplished.
I just wish i could get this on dvd ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Puts You in the Hot Zone!
I don't believe I can heap enough praise on this video. This is truly an incredible piece of film. I teach comparative physiology at a medium-sized university and purchased this video to show as part of my immunology section. I was expecting a documentary-like video covering the history of Ebola with a few graphic scenes of the 1995 Kikwit outbreak. Instead, I was incredibly surprised and excited to discover that almost all of the film comes directly from Kikwit and was shot during the actual outbreak (i.e., when no one knew how large an outbreak it would become, and when the cameramen themselves were in grave danger). The video follows the efforts of international and Zairian doctors as they work to contain the outbreak. Unlike many similar videos, however, Ebola, The Plague Fighters does not gloss over the social aspects of the epidemic. Rather, the video also documents the upheaval and fear that Ebola causes in the Kikwit community. One particularly human scene involves student doctors who discover the body of a victim, realize they have to do something immediately to protect the community, yet have to deal with the situation even though they lack the proper equipment to safely approach the body. Overall this video provides a unique perspective into modern disease fighting. Literally every scene seems to be more interesting and compelling than the last. Some scenes are graphic, so it is probably not appropriate for young audiences. However, assuming students are warned in advance, I believe that this would be an excellent video to show high school and college students. It is also a must for anyone interested in emerging viruses and epidemiology.

The real story of "Outbreak"
This video is very compelling! I show it each year in my general biology classes (10th graders)and every year several of the students want to discuss the material outside of class. It not only has a lot of good information about the ebola virus itself and how it affects the body, physically, but it also shows the emotional strain put on the victim's families, as well as the thoughts of the doctors working with the patients. I usually show the movie "Outbreak" after viewing this video so the students can see the correlation, and we follow up with a discussion of biological warfare. There are some scenes which are rather grotesque and students who have weak stomachs are warned ahead of time, but the information presented in this video is so powerful that it is one of the students, and my, favorites. To see just how damaging a virus, which is thousands of times smaller than a bacteria, can be to an individual, a region, and a country is stunning, and scary! ... Read more

Reviews (20)

The creature exists!
I am a fanatic of Bigfoot lore and have several books on the subject. I jumped at the chance to buy this video, and it was an excellent production. Leonard Nimoy provides an excellent narrative that flows along well with the five parts in the documentary. There have been too many sightings all over the country for this to be a hoax. It is a primitive form of primate that has yet to be documented. New species are being discovered on a daily basis, even as crowded as our planet is becoming with human population. There is a lot of territory in the Pacific Northwest that man has never set foot on, and still plenty of room for a few thousand of these creatures to roam virtually undetected until one or more of them stumbles upon a camper, hiker or a hunter. This is probably the best documentary I have seen on the subject, covering the Indian lore of Bigfoot, looking at it from a scientific approach through Grover Krantz's analysis, seeing the Patterson-Gimlin film, and even the commercial aspects of Bigfoot in Willow Creek, California. A must see for the Bigfoot fan!

Let's Jump the next plane to the Pacific Northwest!
Ok, so not everyone's enthralled with the Bigfoot phenomena, but let's face it, there are many of us who eat this stuff up! This is the first video I've purchased on the subject and enjoyed it thoroughly (that Patterson video footage is creepy...)! The eccentric Peter Byrne (a former big-game hunter who headed up an expedition called "The Bigfoot Research Project" from 1993-97) offers some interesting views on the Sasquatch subject. Narrator Leonard Nimoy also engrosses you into the subject matter. I most enjoyed Dr. Grover Krantz's (a university professor) theories and views on the Patterson film. There was some footage included from a 1992 sighting which I have some reservations about (two yahoos see a pair of Sasquatch eyeballs peering at them through the foliage). But, overall, a VERY enjoyable 50 minutes and it definitely leaves you hungry for more.

Great presentation
This is one of the first Sasquatch videos I had ever seen. It presents the material beautifully if a little dated. I had to get it for the collection. THis had lots of data, and was narrated well by Leonard Nimoy [ another bonus!!]
its one of the cryptozoology videos you simply have to have!

Well done documentary.
A very good documentary for enthusiasts in the field of cryptozoology. The only reason I give it 4 stars and not 5 is the problems I have with all television documentaries on these subjects, and that is, the film makers simply aren't given enough time to put forth all the information and evidence that is needed to fully complete their argument. One hour minus commercial time is simply not long enough. But make no mistake, this documentary has everything needed to start that argument including a detailed discussion of the legendary Patterson film, analysis of distinct and unique footprints with Peter Byrne and the late Dr. Grover Krantz(both integral to the subject of Sasquatch), as well as historical and a few eye witness accounts. Production values are high as usual with A&E but with an extra hour to present more evidence and accounts, the argument for the existence would have been made much more thoroughly to no fault of the film makers or contributers. I'm sure their hands were tied. Anyone interested may want to try and find a copy of Peter Byrne's book, 'Bigfoot: Monster, Man, or Myth'. It is as good and thorough a book as you will ever read on the subject.

I really enjoyed "Ancient Mysteries: Bigfoot"
I'm not sure if Bigfoot exists, and ANCIENT MYSTERIES: BIGFOOT really didn't convince me either way. I am still open to the possibility that Bigfoot does exist, and the possibility that it is the product of a lot of over-imagination. But that is what I found most interesting about ANCIENT MYSTERIES: BIGFOOT, and the Bigfoot phenomenon itself: the way it provides us with something interesting to "imagine" about. The fun of a mystery is that it is not solved and therefore you can make up all kinds of theories. In other words, to me, it is not so much whether Bigfoot exists or not that is interesting. What I find interesting is what people believe about Bigfoot (I'm not concerned with whether the beliefs are true or not), and ANCIENT MYSTERIES: BIGFOOT provided many interviews with people who shared their beliefs. And, much to my surprise, I found that Bigfoot sightings have been made in all 48 mainland states.

Leonard Nimoy is the absolute perfect narrator of this documentary. His voice conveys the sense of "eerie" and "noir" necessary for this subject. And this video contains some beautiful footage of the forests of the Pacific Northwest, which is where most Bigfoot sightings have occured; all of which I find rather exciting because I live in the Pacific Northwest. ... Read more

Description

Encompassing history, geography, sociology, drama, language, arts, and more, The Story of English takes viewers on an unforgettable journey through the history of the English language.Host Robert MacNeil travels the world to illustrate the language's global influence.Part travelogue, part linguistics, part history, and all fascinating, the series is a unique blend of solid scholarship and engrossing entertainment. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

GREAT
This series treats English seriously and intelligently. It regards English (in all of its forms) as flowers. All different but beautiful. Wonderful historical and cultural info too. I have used this with 6th graders and high school students(grades 9 to 12). Regardless of level there is something for everyone.
The Irish and Scottish sections are first rate.( Did you know that Jimi Hendrix was Irish? Cool. ) I learned more about British English than I thought possible. Shakespeare and Joyce and Mark Twain are treated royally. The section that presents info on the powerful contributions of African-Americans throughout history is superb. Nothing is left out. Etymologies abound!
Run...don't walk to snare this series. I have watched this perhaps 50 times (with and w/o students) since its debut on PBS and know how valuable this tool is for a teacher of English.

ps A very unique feature is that they go to the workplace to hear each variety of English speaker. The common man tells his story and you learn "how" he tells the story. The sub-titles are used to help us make sense of the dialect and "slanguage" as it exists. It is a living oral-biography of the language and the people. This is a loving tribute from start to finish.

pps Don't listen to that mook from the not-so great white north.
He knows not of what he speaks.

Educational, but racist
We watched "Black and White", the tape on Old English to modern English and "Muvver Tongue" in an upper level English linguistics class. I noticed that when persons of color spoke, subtitles were used. When whites spoke, we had to figure out what was being said. Most of us did not understand the Cockney too well. Also, African women were shown bare-breasted and the Australian aborigines were naked. They did not speak. These tapes were done in 1986, not 1886. The implication is that people of color speak English so poorly that it must be subtitled and that showing black women's breasts is necessary for the linguistic cause.

A bit dated, but good educational material.
We have watched most of this series in my History of the English Language class, a master's level class. While it is a bit dated, it is still good material. It deals with the evolution of English from the earlier Germanic languages, offshoots of English (American, Australian, Scots, etc.), English as an international language, and modern (as of early 80's) development in English.

If only it were not a continuing story.
I find that 4-5 of the 9 programs still play well with students. But remember that this series was done before AIDS, computer mice, the laptop explosion, Ebonics and Spanglish, e-mail and the Internet augmented and modified the lexicon. Students consequently quickly spot what's out of date (the style of "rap music," for example) and what's "old-fashioned." The series needs to be revised and updated--or distilled to the essential, "timeless" programs about its changing subject.

Vestatile and Intelligent
The McNeil tapes are an invaluable tool in the teaching of high school English. I have used the tapes in several segments of my American Literature class to introduce topics which are difficult to otherwise grasp. For a unit on etymology, the series forms an excellent discussion of the roots of English and how language changes over time and through political, social and cultural influences. The "Black on White" segment provides a scholarly discussion of black English and allows the speakers of Gullah and Plantation Creole to demonstrate the roots of vernacular black English. That discussion of dialect is a wonderful introduction to Zora Neale Hurston's, Their Eyes Were Watching God, much of which is written in turn of the century Floridian dialect. These films are an investment well worth making. ... Read more

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Mother Teresa became such a saintly icon during her lifetime that many people forgot she was a flesh-and-blood human. But this particularly well done A&E Biography segment examines the temporal reality as well as the good works of the nun who devoted her life to the poorest of the world's poor. The video traces her life from her birth in Macedonia in 1910 to her death--forever entwined with that of Princess Diana--in September 1997, as well as all the milestones in between: her unwavering devotion, even as a child; her founding of the Missionaries of Charity; her work among the castoffs in India's worst slums; and her Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. Interviews with many who worked with her help round out the familiar images--Mother Teresa caressing a dying child; Mother Teresa lecturing a spellbound UN Assembly; Mother Teresa visiting with virtually every contemporary head of state. In the end, the segment underscores how much prayer and utter devotion to God were Mother Teresa's guiding forces, and how the rest of her life's work were merely earthly manifestations of them. It's not surprising that thousands of young women have flocked to Mother Teresa's Spartan order while other orders are dwindling--sources of true inspiration are hard to come by in this day and age, but Mother Teresa is the genuine article. --Anne Hurley ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Not A Review But A Warning
I realize this will fall on deaf ears and hearts. I realize that most people in this country revere Mother Teresa. She had many good things to say. But she also had many many more awful statements, and actions.
My suggestion to all those interested in reading/learning about Mother Teresa is to read EVERYTHING that you can, which would include the criticisms of her work and the way she ran her order and operation in India. Read Christopher Hitchins' work, The Missionary Position. Read what former members of her order, like Susan Shields, have to say about their experiences. Read about the enormous amounts of money that were donated to help the poor, but have not been used at all, and are sheltered from the demanding eyes of the Indian government. Read about her support of the Haitian dictator, Duvalier. Read about sisters in Haiti forced to re-use needles until they were blunt, and the pain that caused their patients. How could such a stance possibly be fulfilling the will of a God of love? Read about her double standard regarding divorce (OK for Princess Diana, not OK for a regular woman in Ireland or elsewhere).
I am a Catholic, and am very distressed that our current pope eliminated the role of the "Devil's Advocate" in the canonization process. The more I learn and read, the more I am convinced Mother Teresa was neither a saint, nor was a she a friend to the poor in Calcutta and elsewhere.
Just READ.

Thorough & Touching Tribute
An excellent example of Biography when the program focused on challenging and intriguing lives - rather than 70s TV stars. This episode comes from a time when Biography was committed to thoughtful and revealing glimpses into the lives of women and men who slowly changed the world for the better. The production offers numerous interviews of Mother Teresa's contemporaries and fascinating video clips of the woman, both in her labors for the poor and among the world's powerful. Her unique spirit shines through, including moments when her overwhelming personality was perhaps not easy to take but was still admirably, relentlessly dedicated to her worthy cause. She was a personal hero of my fiance, Sidelle Rimbaud, who patterned many of her life decisions after Mother Teresa's example of self-sacrifice, and ultimately died in the line of duty. Because of this, I watched the program and was rewarded with a view of one of humanity's most noble spirits. David R. Bannon, Ph.D.; author "Race Against Evil."

A Powerful Spiritual Experience
This is one of the Biography series best. Although it is not up to date, the video is a powerful document of Mother Teresa's life. The interviews with many of her associates within and outside the Catholic Church add a great deal of insight into her work. It shows clips of her speech after winning the Nobel Peace Prize, and the passion she felt over the issue of abortion.
The entire video has a great spiritual air about it, and leaves one feeling that they know a little more about such a great woman.

Summary of Tape
This is a fantastic look at Mother, but it does not cover her passing as another reviewer wrote. It is the old Biography that was released while she was alive and simply repackaged for current sales. The actual video is not up to date. Hopefully the folks at Biography will complete the job soon. If you don't already have this tape it's a definite buy. ... Read more

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The rain forest is a riot of monkeys, birds, flowers, and fruit, and nothing captures it quite like DK Vision's Eyewitness: Jungle.Explore the five zones of the jungle, from the rivers right on up to the high-rise canopy, without risking malaria (or leaving your couch). The vibrancy of tropical life is made vivid by DK Vision's trademark cutting-edge visual style, which features lunching ants and leaping lemurs as some of the many stars in an infinitely graceful ballet. The facts presented by narrator Martin Sheen are fascinating and well-ordered--for example, the word "jungle" is actually a misnomer, applied by early explorers who thought the impenetrable thickness of plant growth on the river banks extended throughout the forest, and used a Sanskrit word (jangala) meaning "dense growth." Eyewitness: Jungle promises attractions for all ages: learning, visual appeal, beauty, and just plain fun. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

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Though Shakespeare is heralded as the world's most influential and admired writer, little is known about the man himself. That didn't stop A&E Biography from weaving together a substantial birth (in 1564) to death (in 1616) portrait from spotty documentation, historical accounts, and interpretations of the master's work itself. It won't give away all the video's surprises to reveal here that Shakespeare was born into privilege, started out as an actor, had an unhappy marriage to an older woman--in his will, he specifically left her only his "second best bed"--and survived the death of his only son, Hamlet. Many of his most complex works came about after the death of his son, including the play named after him. Before Shakespeare died (due to an illness borne of too much pickled herring), he penned perhaps the last thing he would ever write--his own epitaph. It reads, in part, "Blessed be the man that spares these stones and cursed be he that moves my bones." --Jennifer Vogel ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Maybe not.
After whetting our appetites with the observation that little is known about the man behind the plays, the A&E team provides a bland, surprisingly unengaging "5-act" biography of William Shakespeare. As the story proceeds, the producers rely more and more on quotations from the plays rather than on any "extrinsic" evidence. The result is a program that confirms what we already knew, or should have known, all along--the life of William Shakespeare is at best a mere footnote to the life of the plays themselves. Credit the producers for not indulging in this series' customary approach and sensationalizing the records (by claiming Shakepeare was really Queen Elizabeth, etc.). On the other hand, teachers and students of Shakespeare, as well as fans of the Bard, may find it difficult to justify an investment of money in a video this slight when, say, Olivier's "Henry V" or Branagh's "Much Ado About Nothing" are available at a comparable price.

Heads Up for High School Teachers
As a high school teacher, I found the visuals appealing and representative of the period in which Shakespeare lived. However, I ultimately decided against showing the video in class as it states without substantiation that Shakespeare was involved in a homosexual affair with his patron, the earl of Southampton. I suppose someone has taken the style of writing Shakespeare used in his encomiums to his patron as expressions of sexual ardor rather than the sycophantic flattery which was typical in an age when artistic types were looking for deep pockets to support their career. The Bard may have been "kissing up," as we would say nowadays, but it's doubtful it was in the sense the commentator used. I personally didn't feel it was worth opening that can of worms in our introductory lessons, but depending on one's purpose, others might choose otherwise.

Excellent for the time allotted
At the outset let me correct a typo in your own review -- Shakespeare's only son was named Hamnet (after a friend of the family) and not Hamlet, the title character of one of his more famous plays.

I am currently reading the three-volume set of sixty essays entitled "William Shakespeare -- His World, His Work, His Influence". The perspective this gives is that it is impossible to fully appreciate the individual and his efforts without a good feel for the environment in which he worked. That said, this video biography is, in my view, about as good a job as can be done in 50 minutes.

There is really more than enough material for a documentary series. Ken Burns, are you out there?

Shakespeare is a genius
Because of Shakespeare, I am Advanced Placement Literature. I have read all his works and enjoyed them thoroughly. This Bio of him, as with all the others on A&E, is wonderful. He is the best playwrite of the 17th century.

William Shakespear
William shakespear is one of the 20th century's greatest writers. Know world wide he is recognized for many great plays and many pieces of art. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Not Just for Kids!!
My mother and I enjoy watching the Eyewitness videos which are jam-packed full of scientific information and beautiful imagery. Eyewitness Volcano is no exception. It covers some of the basic concepts of Volcanoes from eruption to aftermath. It includes an encapsulated account of the eruption of Vesuvius to the eruption of Mt. St. Helens.

In particular, I like the Eyewitness videos because they give plenty of information, without going into many of the gory details. I only wish they were longer! Suitable for the entire family, and nature-lovers everywhere.

Great for Preschoolers
My four-year old loves this video. I was worried that the content would scare him, but it is well done. It keeps his interest every time he watches it. Eyewitness videos are a great resource for any subject your preschooler is interested in. The dinosaur one has also been a big hit.

Hot Stuff
I've got about fifteen eyewitness videos and this one is one of the very best. (This one, coincidentally, is also my five year old's favorite.) Some of the eyewitness videos are capable of putting you to sleep faster than cheap beer after a twenty hour day, but Volcano won't. The other two eyewitness videos I highly recommend are "Ocean" and "Human Machine." The rocks video is a snooze (I'm a seismo/geologist and it even puts me to sleep). The planets one is OK, though I thought there were about two minor things on it that were wrong. The desert video is kind of a snooze, as well. Bears is a little bit better, but you get tired of seeing the cute and cuddly bears by the end of it--it doesn't hold up well to repeated viewings. Surprisingly, trees is pretty wonderful and keeps your attention to the end. Monsters is another great one. (The little guy loves that one too.) Don't get mammals--they made it using a bunch of stock video, the narraration sucks. But it's definitely better than rugrats. If you have kids, I strongly recommend getting lots of the videos in this series. Buy them a new one a week. It's ten times better for them, than letting them watch the cartoon channel--an activity which will completely rot their brains out. (...) Better to sit kids in front of an eyewitness video, where they learn wonderful things about our beautiful world.

Volcano
This video was great! It showed all about volcanos, some earthquakes. For example, my favorite part was when the orange juice explodes (you have to see the video to get it!). I would definately recommend it. It even tells you about a new island called Luigi? ... Read more

Reviews (71)

Under the spell of unusual words.
In 1996 and 1997, I was a nervous parent watching my daughter compete in the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. Therefore, I had a personal interest when I went to see the Oscar nominated documentary, "Spellbound," directed by Jeffrey Blitz.

Blitz does what every good documentary filmmaker tries to do. He personalizes his subject. By focusing on eight competitors from different parts of the United States, from a variety of ethnic groups, and from different social classes, Blitz engages the audience's interest in the individual contestants. From Angela, the Mexican-American daughter of a laborer who speaks no English, to Emily, the privileged daughter of wealthy parents, we get a close look at the hometowns, the family lives and the personalities of these eight bright and ambitious kids.

"Spellbound" enchants because of its great storytelling, its sharp editing, its humor and its celebration of a piece of Americana. In an age of high-speed computers, digital cameras and PDA's, it is quaint and enchanting to observe children who still regard the written word with reverence. Are the parents too pushy? Undoubtedly. Is there an element of child abuse in putting kids through this torture? Perhaps. However, no matter how you look at it, all of the contenders are terrific kids and Jeff Blitz has done a wonderful job of bringing their stories to life.

Hugely enjoyable documentary...A MUST SEE!
SPELLBOUND is a highly entertaining documentary. My young daughter, and some of her friends, were introduced to the idea of a "documentary" with this film.

It follows eight children who are all headed to the National Spelling Bee in Washington DC. We meet kids from all places (Texas, California, Florida, DC, Pennsylvania, etc.) and backgrounds (children of poor Mexican immigrants, children of wealth in New Haven, etc.) and genders, of course. They are a delightful range of children, and getting to spend a little time with each is a blast. We meet all eight during the first half of the film, and naturally, everyone will be rooting for their favorites and "placing bets" on who will win.

The second half follows their grueling time at the finals. We've seen these kids at their most relaxed, and now we get to see them at their most stressed. We feel for them and sometimes, if we're lucky enough to know how to spell the word, we try to "feed" them the spelling.

It feels like a TV-reality show without the annoying host and without the artificiality of those shows. This is real and this is objective. Either the word is spelled right or it isn't. No "immunity challenges" or eating gross things or letting the audience vote. These young kids (11 to 14 years old, mostly) are totally on their own. We've seen them training and studying (some to amazing extremes) but in the end, it's just them against the word.

The filmmakers found a great slice of children to work with. Emily comes from priviledge in New Haven, CT, and she's bouncy, speaks like an adult, has lots of interests and is both annoying and endearing at once. Nick comes from a seemingly well-to-do Indian or Pakistani background, and his father is driving him to succeed. His dad puts nearly as much time into the prep as Nick does...and he's hired tutors and language experts. You're never sure if Nick is all that interested in winning, but Dad sure is. On the other side, there's Angela, whose Hispanic parents don't even speak English. She lives in a small time and has to be her own motivator. She is doing it FOR her parents, to show them their sacrifices were worthwhile, but she seems more like a "regular" kid her age. Then there's Harry, a manic 12 year old who can't stop talking and bouncing around and making faces. Here's a kid who probably always had a hard time making friends. It looks like he only has a mother on the scene, so no doubt he is troubled on many levels. This bee seems to be a way to keep pouring enough stimulus into his active mind to keep him even slightly calm!

Anyway, as with the best documentaries, we know that things will NOT turn out neat and tidy like in a fictional film. We hope things will go a certain way, but alas, they rarely do. How things DO turnout is another matter, and it's what makes the film fun. In the end, we find that we don't really "care" who wins all that much...we just feel for the kids, and take pride in their achievements and feel bad for their disappointments. And we feel good about the "next generation." These kids, quirky as many are, can be seen as a little slice of what is around the corner for our country...and the weirdnesses of Harry aside, things look pretty good. These are DECENT kids, and capable and joyful and good. It's a shame they can't all win the contest, but they are certainly all winners.

I highly recommend this G-rated film for EVERYONE. I can't imagine one single viewer not being highly entertained and involved in this outstanding movie.

PS: The DVD doesn't have loads of extras, but it does have a "where are they now" section that is WELL worth taking a look at after the film. It just affirms all the good things we feel about these kids.

A good doc.
Spellbound tell the story of 8 of 249 kids at the National Spelling Bee. It's an interesting documentary, even though it's a little slow during the D.C. spell-off. Also Harry, kind of ruined the doc. too. Way too hyper.

Two Thumbs Up from This Spelling Geek
My husband and I are veterans (and champions!) of adult-level spelling bees, so I felt really close to this movie. In fact, the movie had only been on for 11 minutes and I'd already started crying tears of joy when Angela won her regional bee, securing her place at the national Scripps-Howard bee in Washington, DC.

The kids profiled in this movie are fantastic. I found myself rooting for all of them, even the one or two who I didn't really like. I wanted to take little Harry home with me -- his facial expressions and his extended rambling about whether or not he could be considered "talkative" are just hysterical.

The parents are interesting as well. All of them are supportive of their children and have different ways of showing it. Neil's parents (especially his father) are a little intense, and it's easy to see them in a negative light, but when Neil is knocked out of the national competition, their reaction is to be supportive of their son. Nothing wrong with that. April's mother is nutsy, with huge red-framed eyeglasses. She's constantly giggling, "Beeeeee Happy! B-E-E!" April comments that her mother reminds her of Edith Bunker, "because she's kinda dumb."

The competiton is nail-bitingly suspenseful. I found myself whispering the spellings of the words as the kids struggled, hoping they would somehow hear me. A couple of the kids have heartbreaking moments where you can see the anguish on their faces as they struggle to make sense of a word. One girl nearly starts crying; it was all I could do not to cry too!

My one criticism of the movie lies in how they handled the winner of the national bee. First they tell you who won, and only a few minutes later do they show you the winner spelling the winning word. What could have been a superb climax is completely defused. The rest of the documentary stirs up so much emotion, I can't imagine why the filmmakers chose to utterly derail what should have been the climax of the movie.

Overall, however, this is a charming, exciting film -- one that I will watch more than once, and may even purchase for my collection. I imagine that, for most people, this is a "watch it once" film, a curiosity about geeky brainy kids and an odd bit of Americana, and that's fine. Even if you're not a word nerd, watch this film once and see how the other half lives. Even if you think these kids are weird for caring so much about spelling, you're bound to learn something, whether it's how to spell a five-syllable word, or the kind of dedication and diligence a mere 12-year-old is capable of.

As riveting and suspenseful as any film you're likely to see
In the past, I've occasionally stumbled upon ESPN's live coverage of the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee contest conducted in Washington, DC. I never paid much attention because the event never seemed to be all that exciting. However, this 2002 documentary of the 1999 National Spelling Bee is anything but boring.

In the beginning, the viewer is given brief but informative backgrounds on each of the film's eight subjects. The one thing that begins to come across almost immediately is how much these kids care about competing and succeeding and the fact that the parents of each care almost as much (or perhaps even more in some cases) as the kids themselves. Most of the parents spend their free time helping the kids practice spelling words.

We're told early on that nine million kids participate in spelling bees every year and that only 249 will make it to Washington, DC. The fact that these 8 (and the other 241 who are not a focus of the film) have already won numerous local and regional spelling bees within their own states is an accomplishment itself. That one will end up being the best speller out of nine million (and beat the best of the best), is simply amazing.

As the film focuses more and more on the national competition, I found myself becoming nervous right along with the kids and parents, hoping that I wouldn't hear that little bell at the end of a misspelled word which tells the participant that they may now exit stage right as it is all over with. I wanted all eight to win but the one I found myself rooting for the most was Neil Kadakia, a 12 year old Indian boy from San Clemente, California. His dedication, as well as that of his parents (particularly his father, who makes some encouraging and appreciative comments about the USA) was incredible. It is mentioned that Neil and his father studied thousands, yes thousands, of words a day in preparation. I'll not spoil the outcome for those who haven't seen it. Maybe one of the eight wins, maybe they don't.

Moreover, this is a remarkable depiction of dedicated people. Unlike some so-called "documentary filmmakers", director Jeffrey Blitz is content to make a true documentary by allowing his subjects and their surroundings tell the story. Like other great documentaries (Harlan County USA, American Dream, The Thin Blue Line) this is also a great film. ... Read more

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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 ag