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The slow green world of plants comes to vibrant life in this installment of the award-winning Eyewitness series. Combining brilliant graphics, crystal-clear footage, and a smooth flow from topic to topic, Plant educates and entertains folks of all ages (even adults!); best of all, it's interesting enough to enjoy again and again. The time-lapse photography of root growth, the interplay between flowers and insects, and the historical vignettes detailing our long dependence on a broad array of plants amazes and delights. Each new image, each new fact inspires kids to ask questions and learn more, results any educator would envy. Like the others in this series, Eyewitness: Plant belongs in every family's video library. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

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The most successful public-television miniseries in American history, the 11-hour Civil War didn't just captivate a nation, reteaching to us our history in narrative terms; it actually also invented a new film language taken from its creator. When people describe documentaries using the "Ken Burns approach," its style is understood: voice-over narrators reading letters and documents dramatically and stating the writer's name at their conclusion, fresh live footage of places juxtaposed with still images (photographs, paintings, maps, prints), anecdotal interviews, and romantic musical scores taken from the era he depicts. The Civil War uses all of these devices to evoke atmosphere and resurrect an event that many knew only from stale history books. While Burns is a historian, a researcher, and a documentarian, he's above all a gifted storyteller, and it's his narrative powers that give this chronicle its beauty, overwhelming emotion, and devastating horror. Using the words of old letters, eloquently read by a variety of celebrities, the stories of historians like Shelby Foote and rare, stained photos, Burns allows us not only to relearn and finally understand our history, but also to feel and experience it. --Dave McCoy ... Read more

Reviews (144)

Excellent Introduction
Ken Burns' Civil War is an excellent introduction to the period, told well with style. It's a documentary, not a history book. It is, however, far more accurate and balanced than other Civil War documentaries (such as the History Channel's Civil War Journal).

To hit on a couple of criticisms in other reviews, slavery as a cause of the Civil War is an argument bordering on the level of a holy war, itself. Recent magazine articles and essays have done a good job of discussing it. The result is that both Burns' view and the "Burns' is wrong, it was all about states rights" views are both simplistic. Burns' documentary does a good job of capturing the Southern view of slavery and abolition but he does over state the view of the north as abolitionist. While there were Southern abolitionists and Southern soldiers who didn't care one way or another, Burns shows quite well that without slavery there would have been no war. (The statement that the South only fought for "states rights" was actually championed in the 1880s. If states rights were the only reason for fighting the war, why did the Confederate Constitution prevent any Confederate state from passing a law against slavery, even if that state wanted to abolish it?)

To the point of Grant being the first Lt. General since Washington, Burns is both right and wrong. Winfield Scott was made Lt. General, but it was a brevet (something a little more than honorary) rank. It was a brevet specifically so that Washington would be the only man to have officially held that rank. This changed when Grant was given the rank.

Fine Film
There's no denying that Ken Burns' sweeping documentary of the American Civil War is a success. Through photographs, modern footage of the places in question, period music, and voices reading primary source documents of the time, Burns conjures up the conflict in all its thrilling drama, bloody tragedy, dark humor, and stirring nobility. Personal and engaging, this film brought a new awareness of American history to millions of viewers. It should be noted that a huge topic such as the Civil War cannot be entirely crammed into one film, however long; this is necessarily an overview, though an excellent and detailed one. (At least the Civil War had a compact number of years to it; Burns subsequently took on huger topics still such as Baseball and Jazz, with less success. His finite films like this one and "Lewis and Clark" are easier to see as a whole.) I have one quibble with this show - I think it oversimplifies the causes of the war. To be specific, it sees only one cause - slavery - and pays no attention to states' rights or economic issues. This is no surprise; his other films have shown us that Burns sees race as the defining issue of our country. Whether you entirely agree with this idea or not, you are sure to enjoy and learn from this epic documentary.

The Civil War - A Film by Ken Burns
This one is superb........well worth the money..it can be purchased for much less at eBay though. Shelby Foote's comments thoughout the film are outstanding. He is truly a southerner and you will enjoy his thoughts relative to the film. I highly recommend the film and will be glad to answer any questions anyone might have regarding the film. You can email me at jimsuz@swbell.net with your questions!

Get the best version
It should be recognised that there are three versions of the series in circulation. The original series itself was released in 3 versions: complete (with varying episode lengths), slighly shortened (to provide similar length shows) and short version (about 1 hour per episode. The slightly shortened version was the one initially distributed on Video and DVD. This is the one that has the wobbly transfer. The new DVD version (2003) is a digitally enhanced full release. Ken Burns returned to the original film to achieve a new hi-resolution transfer and then proceded to digitally clean it up. This is demonstrated in a mini-doco on the DVD. No one questions the quality of the series and with this release the reproduction quality matches it. Ken Burns turned me into a Civil War buff and collector. I still found the series highly moving even after several viewings.

Be Forewarned About This Shamefully Cheaply Packaged DVD
Let me start off by saying the documentary itself is wonderful. Certainly, it may be slightly biased, and woefully short on info about the western campaign, but it is well intentioned and researched, as well as being both thought provoking and entertaining. The presence of Foote helps correct the obvious Northern bias, and I think the film was fairly clear about Lincoln starting out as a moderate on the slavery issue. And let us be fair; no project this ambitious is ever going to be perfect nor satisfy everyone, and this one is far better than most.

But, the DVD packaging is just horrible. The literally paper thin disk container fell apart on the second day that I had it. I have a fairly large DVD collection with many, many box set collections and this is by far the cheapest presentation I have ever encountered. Now, had this been a budget box set designed to be low cost so as to make itself available to the greatest number of people possible, I would accept this. But as you must know, this set is actually quite expensive compared to most box sets. Therefore, the ridiculously flimsy packaging is inexcusable. This series deserves better. I STRONGLY urge you to wait until a higher quality presentation is put on offer. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Good Characterization of Stalin, Bad History
In the past, apologists for Stalin (including many of his victims) said that Stalin was good, but he was surrounded by bad people. This film turns this on its head saying that Stalin was bad, but he was surrounded by good people. Both of these are wrong--the leaders of the Bolshevik Revolution and the leaders of the USSR in the period following the revolution were all up to their necks in blood. Robert Duvall gives an excellent portrayal of Stalin, emphasizing that he, unlike his ranting partner in mass murder Hitler, was soft-spoken and basically uncharismatic. Duvall correctly does not use a "Russian" accented English because Stalin spoke Russian with a heavy Georgian accent. Having said this, the historical aspects of the film are very poor. First of all, Maximilian Schell's portrayal of Lenin is way off base. The Old Bolsheviks like Trotsky, Kamenev, Zinoviev, Bukharin, Ordzhonikidze and Kirov are shown to be basically well-meaning people who got trapped in Stalin's web. This is untrue, they were all involved in mass terror, justifying it in the name of a "higher good". In Solzhenitsyn's "Gulag Archipelago", he points out what a pathetic man Bukharin really was and how he so freely shed tears for the injustice committed to his person, and yet he had no pity on the millions of others who suffered. At the end of the film, Khruschev says that Stalin's crimes ("the millions" he liquidated) had to be accounted for, whereas,in reality, he himself took an active role in the Great Terror.
The film shows very little of what the effect of "Stalinism" was on the average Soviet citizen, with the exception of a scene where Stalin's wife confronts the effects of the mass famine in the Ukraine. The film does not really show the "cult of the personality". It would have been effective if the film had shown how, when Stalin would enter a hall full of people, the crowd would applaud for a very long time because everyone was afraid to be the first to stop clapping. Similarly, towards the end of the film, we see a physician nervously examining Stalin without any mention of the infamous "Doctors Plot" frame-up in which Jewish doctors were falsely accused of trying to murder top Soviet officials which would explain the physicians hesitancy in examing his famous patient.

In spite of the many faults of this film, I have still given it three stars rating because it is important for people to become aware of what this monster did to so many millions of innocent people and who was supported by millions of otherwise good people, both inside and outside the USSR.

Robert Duvall's Masterpiece as Stalin
To tell the truth I would not have recognized Duvall in the role he played as Stalin. Nevertheless he did a masterful job even had the Russian/Georgian accent down to a certain degree. Ive seen this film several times which enabled me to know who all the major and minor characters were. Now I feel I have a better grasp of Russian history during this turbulent period of the revolution and Stalin's reign.
Of course as most films go its not 100 percent accurate but comes close and the viewer will get a lesson of Russian history during the first half of the 20th century. Like the other reviews it hurriedly moves over "The Great Patriotic War" in just a few scenes.
The film will also help reveal that Stalin was worst mass murderer in the 20th century or even of all time which most people assume that honor goes to Adolf Hitler. This is known as the other "holocaust" which is lot less known then the Jewish one of Nazi Germany.
I would highly reccomend the film to any enthusiast of Russian history and see how the Russian people suffered during Stalins reign.

History or Hollywood? STALIN delivers an excellent balance
I agree with Leaming. Any time Hollywood depicts history, there are going to be issues of inaccuracy, artistic license, etc. In the case of the film STALIN, this is mostly due to the need to compress about thirty years into less than three hours. The portrayals of the primary characters are sometimes simplistic and inaccurate, but Bukharin and Kirov's characters (for example) are portrayed so as to accentuate the perception of Stalin as a monster (which is accurate). In other words, the truth is adapted somewhat to generate a dramatic foil. Films are never a substitute for reading the real history, but I find that they often whet an appetite when one did not previously exist. The mini-series PETER THE GREAT with Maximilian Schell in the title role is another great example of a film that generated popular interest in Tsarist Russia. SHOGUN, ROUGH RIDERS, LAST SAMURAI, GLADIATOR, GODS AND GENERALS, SHARPE'S RIFLES -- all are examples of films that prompted people to actually read history. So, take the films for what they are -- all in all, everyone who loves history should encourage this terrific trend in film-making!

nevermind the "purist" reviews - this is an excellent film
This film is historically excellent. What most reviewers seem hung up on are accents, make-up and costumes. Most comment that it is historically inaccurate but give nothing very specific. The film is a broad overview of the life of Stalin and could never include every element of his life. All the important stuff is there: the Revolution, the power struggle between Trotsky and Stalin, Stalin's rise to power, The great famines, The Great Purges, WWII, etc. The film gives great insight into Stalin and the paranoia that he experienced and how that paranoia influenced the way he ruled over the Soviet Union. Sure, many of the other characters were somewhat glossed over, but the film is essentially about Stalin and what made him tick - not about the intricate backgrounds of other revolutionaries and supporters. If you don't come away from the film thinking what a bastard Stalin was, then you simply missed the point. The way that he treated his family, friends and so called counterrevolutionaries is illustrated correctly in this film.

The end of the film brings up a very important question that I think many previous reviewers had difficulty with. Fact: under Stalin the Soviet Union industrialized to levels never seen before. With industrialization, this could enable the USSR to compete in the world on par with the US. It would also lead to the development of a nuclear and hydrogen bomb, on par with the US. The film brings up the critical question of whether or not Stalin was necessary for the USSR. That is a powerful and thought provoking question that one carries away from this film. Any film that lingers and makes you think has merit.

The history channel put out a video on the parallels of Hitler and Stalin. As I was watching it I kept thinking, "Gee, everything in this documentary is in the film Stalin."

Is it a perfect film? No. Is it historically innaccurate to merit throwing it away? Absolutely not... Robert Duvall does an excellent and convincing job of portraying a monster.

Problems abound
To all the reviewers who think Duvall captured the "real" Joseph Stalin, please run to a bookshelf and consult a non-fictional history of the man. The real Stalin does not appear in this sometimes facile, oftentimes inaccurate biography of the Russian dictator. Originally airing as an HBO TV movie, there are an abundance of errors in the script, as well as a host of other problems.

First, the make-up is amateurish and truly detracts from the viewing experience. Duvall's mustache is a clear paste-on job and in several scenes, the left side of the whiskers almost falls off his face. It's comical at times but ultimately becomes ludicrous in the extreme. His wig is also absurd and fake looking. While this might seem a minor criticism, the make up on the other chief characters is equally ridiculous and cheap. The costumes are also inaccurate in many instances. The color of Stalin's uniform at Yalta in 1944 was not yellow, the color of his uniform at Postsdam in 1945 was not blue!

The historical inaccuracies in the movie are continuous. The characteizations are facile, transparent and weak. Of course Stalin was evil incarnate and a paranoid schizophrenic, but the script doesn't bother to delve into the question of why this was so. There is little material about either of his two wives, or his children. All of that is glossed over. Another silly aspect are the abysmal accents that all of the actors

The only reason I give this a generous rating of 3 is because Duvall is a brilliant actor. Though horribly miscast (and made up to resemble more of a circus clown that Stalin), his acting abilities do shine through. But as far as accurate history goes, this movie is a complete joke. ... Read more

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Author Armistead Maupin (Tales of the City) wrote Lily Tomlin's narration for this superb documentary, based on a book by the late Vito Russo, about Hollywood's treatment of homosexual characters in the 20th century. Never pointing a finger at anyone in the film community, The Celluloid Closet presents clips from more than 100 mainstream features (including The Children's Hour, Advise and Consent, The Boys in the Band, and The Hunger) that speak loudly in their respective images of gays and lesbians. The film makes a persuasive case for patterns of sexual mythology in Hollywood, such as presenting homosexuals repeatedly as tragic, helpless figures redeemed only through death or as back-street monsters cavorting in the shadows. Things change, of course, and clips from more recent films by gay and lesbian filmmakers suggest a more vital, diverse, autobiographical approach. There are lots of great interviews with screenwriters (Gore Vidal), filmmakers (John Schlesinger), actors (Tom Hanks, Whoopi Goldberg), and others to enunciate the major themes. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (22)

The Power of Cinematic Image
Based on the book by Vito Russo, written by Armistead Maupin, and narrated by Lily Tomlin, THE CELLULOID CLOSET uses interviews and hundreds of film clips to examine the way in which Hollywood has presented gay and lesbian characters on film from the age of silent cinema to such recent films as PHILADELPHIA and DESERT HEARTS. Throughout the documentary, the focus is on both stereotypes and the various ways that more creative directors and writers worked around the censorship of various decades to create implicitly homosexual characters, with considerable attention given to the way in which stereotypes shaped public concepts of the gay community in general.

Overtly homosexual characters were not particularly unusual in silent and pre-code Hollywood films, and CLOSET offers an interesting sampling of both swishy stereotypes and unexpectedly sophistocated characters--both of which were doomed by the Hayes Code, a series of censorship rules adopted by Hollywood in the early 1930s. The effect of the Code was to soften some of the more grotesque stereotypes--but more interesting was the impetus the Code gave to film makers to create homosexual characters and plot lines that would go over the heads of industry censors but which could still be interpreted by astute audiences, with films such as THE MALTESE FALCON, REBECCA, BEN-HUR, and REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE cases in point. Once the Code collapsed, however, Hollywood again returned to stereotypes in an effort to cash in on controversy--with the result that throughout most of the sixties and seventies homosexual characters were usually presented as unhappy, maladjusted creatures at best, suicidal and psychopatic entities at worst.

The film clips are fascinating stuff and are often highlighted by interviews of individuals who made the films: Tony Curtis re SOME LIKE IT HOT and SPARTACUS, Shirley MacLaine re THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, Stephen Boyd re BEN-HUR, Farley Granger re ROPE, and Whoopie Goldberg re THE COLOR PURPLE, to name but a few. All are interesting and intriguing, but two deserve special mention: Harvey Fierstein, who talks about the hunger he had as a youth to see accurate reflections of himself on the screen, and Susan Sarandon, who makes an eloquent statement on the power of film as "the keeper of the dreams."

Although the material will have special appeal to gays and lesbians, it should be of interest to any serious film buff with its mix of trivia and significant fact. The DVD also includes notable packages of out-takes from interviews that are often as interesting as the material that made the final cut. If the documentary has a fault, however, it is that it offers no "summing up," preferring instead to show only how far the portrayal of homosexuals has come and indicating how far it has yet to go. Recommended to any one interested in film history and interpretation.

Excellent film on so Many Different Levels
Looking at the roles given to gay and lesbian characters in American cinema over the past several decades, "The Celluloid Closet" manages to simultaneously be hilariously funny, educational, and occasionally quite thought-provoking and even tragic. We see gay and lesbian stereotypes being reinforced over and over again, scenes cut from famous films because they hinted at homosexuality, etc.

Although the initial reaction is to sort of laugh at how backwards and ludicrous the intense homophobia of Hollywood once was, there are also reactions from people growing up during those years who talk about the effect of seeing gays and lesbians in films, or the impact of NEVER seeing gays and lesbians in films. Also, as the film progresses, it helps one to see that, although things have gotten SO MUCH BETTER in many ways, they're still so far from being where they ought to be.

This is a great documentary to watch with friends who might question what the big deal is with GLBT issues... why it's even an issue at all. It really helps one to see the importance of how popular media deals with (or chooses to ignore) minority groups and the very real impact of those decisions on people belonging to that minority group. And the fact that it's so darn entertaining makes it a fun, light movie to watch - a real pleasure!

A MUST SEE
The Dvd extras alone are worth the $25.00 Made in 1995 just shortly after Tom Hanks won an Academy Award for Philadelphia (playing a gay man ). The hero of this production however is Lily Tomlin! This movie documentary was finaly made after the wirters & producers got in touch with her. Lily loved this project and got HBO to fund this movie! The basic theme in this movie is to show us how gay people have been portrade in the movies! Gay themes were Taboo! They were always taboo until the late 1960's. (However All movies were made to a strict code up to that point). So all gay themes (during the era of the Code) were between the lines! (This is the humor) After the code was lifted gays were shown mostly as the villians! ( This is the drama) This documentary was one of the best movies of that year!
Is it dated? Not by much! It has been ALMOST 10 years since this was first released! Now we now have on TV "Will and Grace" (but after 7 years and no boyfriend give me a break). The big break in Hollywood was "The Birdcage". The next year was "My Best Friends Wedding" and "In and Out". (all money makers) Earlier that year "ellen" came out on TV but her show was cancelled a year later. In 2004 "The Stepford Wives" remake hade a gay couple. Although gays are more visable now than ever in the movies most of the time they are regulated to the "best friend" for comic relief! Not much of a change! Would I like a gay movie hero? Of course! I would also like to see hollywood remake movies that had they had gay stories to begin with! "The Lost Weekend" "Gentelman's Agreement" "The Childrens Hour" all had gay themes but were rewriiten for straight story lines or toned down! Yes "Fried Green Tomatoe's" is another but there was a kiss!

After YOU VIEW "The Celluloid Closet" watch "Rebecca" "Rebel Without a Cause" and "Some Like it Hot"! You will be laughing!

A 1995 Documentary That is Still Relevant
The Celluloid Closet has been out for nine years and I have only now seen it for the first time. You would think that gay themes and the presence of gay characters would be even greater now, in 2004, than when the documentary was made in 1995, and that it would seem dated. Unfortunately, it does not seem at all dated. The idea of a gay hero is still edgy and daring, and oddly enough, television, rather than the big screen, seems to be taking the lead in featuring gay characters and themes.

The Celluloid Closet is an eye-opening look at how gays have been portrayed in American film. Film clips are interspersed with interviews and commentary by writers, producers, and actors who are gay or have played gay characters. It is interesting to see that people mocking gay men swished and minced the same way 100 years ago as they do today.

A highlight is the deleted scene from Spartacus with Laurence Olivier as a slaveholder in his bath telling his uneasy slave played by Tony Curtis that he enjoys both snails and oysters. Strangely absent in the documentary are any mention of Clifton Webb or Cary Grant.

I will be looking at old (and new) films in a different way now that I have seen The Celluloid Closet.

Excellent Documentary , but a bit too ideological
Celluloid Closet is a well-done, thought-provoking documentary detailing the history of homosexuality in movies. The author(s)
compile a fascinating list of films, many well-known and beloved, and describe how filmmakers, constrained by prevailing mores and production codes, were forced to deal with the subject creatively through innuendo and subtext. It works equally well as a history of film censorship. Only one drawback: the best documentaries are objective, letting the material tell the story, so why interview exclusively archetypal Hollywood liberal, pro-gay-rights activists? It would have been interesting, for example, to hear Charlton Heston's response to Gore Vidal's take on what "Ben Hur" is really about. Instead, we're left hanging by Vidal quoting the director: "Don't tell Chuck (Heston) what it's really about, or he'll die". (or words to that effect) ... Read more

Reviews (16)

The best drinking game since the "Who" Grinch game
First question. How do you bore a hole in the earth and find yourself in a place that has a sky and atmosphere?
If this type of idiotic question intrigues you, you are well on your way to the drinking game of all drinking games.

This movie stars a fossilized Charles Bronson look-alike, (Richard Boone) that spurned us to create several rules that may lend a hand to your drinking pleasure.

For instance, drink every time......

1. you hear the cheesy 70's music go..."da da da, da da da, da da da"
2. you can see a seam in one of the dinosaurs/actors outfits.
3. Boone moves to slap the annoying cave girl.
4. you see the same rubber ptaradactyl going around on the same fan blown string.
5. Boone looks like an ass or a drunk. (If this rule is applied, you may want to have either the ER or a spare stomach pump on standby).
6. a dinosaur roars like an old 50's style Godzilla.
7. Boonta(Wilt Chamberlain) tries not to laugh at Boone's atrocious attempts to act.

8. Blondie (Joan Van Ark) whines.

If you make it through this tri-cathlon of drinking, this movie will be as dear to your heart as it is to mine and Festus'.
Worth it's weight in hops.

Blast from the past.
A good plot and well-developed character highlight this Japanese/American co-production. Richard Boone is particularly good as the cantankerous Maston, a rich hunter who is on the trail of the last tyrannosaurus on Earth. His hell-bent determination to kill this creature forms the very center of the film's story and brings a welcome depth to what could have been a brainless time waster. The other characters are thankfully more than just dumb dino bait. The spfx are very well done for the time(Of course, digital technology has caused leaps in effects work but, a film must be evaluated in the context of when it was made!). All-in-all, this is a graet movie that is as thought provoking as it is entertaining.

A movie that could be more
The last dinosaur is a film about a rich hunter and business tycoon (RICHARD BOONE) who learns of a living T-rex. He sets out to "study it" with a team comprised of a journalist (JOAN VAN ARK), a palentologist, Tribal tracker, and the pilot of a Polar Borer craft to take them under the polar ice to a hidden valley heated by a polar volcano. The team becomes stranded and the tycoon's real intentions become aparent. He plans to hunt and kill the T-rex as the ultimate hunter's prize...no matter what the cost! The 70's filming is apparent as the dinosaurs are Ok for the time period by truely cheesey for today's era of CGI. Acting and plot are good...at times. I would love to see this film remade with the concept and production methods updated. As for the original, if you are a dino movie fan, it's a must see at least once.

BOUGHT IT FOR MY DAD
My dad likes those sci-fi movies and he told me about this movie and how it was played on television once and never again. So, as a Christmas gift, I ordered this for him. He was very suprised when I gave it to him. I watched some of the movie with him and it's so old that I couldn't bare to watch it. I can't stand bad viewing in movies. It was blury and so fake, but my dad enjoyed it. So, if your AN ADULT and appreciate OLD MOVIES I suppose you would like this movie. If you are A TEENAGER OR YOUNGER I highly not recommend this movie to you because it's not up-to-date.

Dinosaurs in the Closet
I thoroughly enjoy watching this type of bad cinema, so when I saw this stinker (re-released during the "Jurassic Park" era), I knew I had to order it for my collection. When my copy finally arrived, I rushed it to the VCR and insisted that my wife watch it with me. My favorite scene is when the eminent Dr. Yamamoto turns around to find that a 5 ton dinosaur has snuck up on him! That scene could have been believable if the dino had surprised Richard Boone, who was convincingly incoherent throughout the film.

My wife's unforgettable scene came near the end, when the U.S. Navy was attempting to retrieve the Polar Borer and crew. "That's Uncle Don!", she screamed in horror. Apparently, while working in Japan, her uncle was offered a bit part in the movie. His fee... third billing on the credits!

This is a fun movie... and it stars Uncle Don! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Did you know that antlers help an animal regulate its body tempature?Have you ever seen how ribs function to accommodate the movement of the lungs? Do you know which animal has the strongest jaws, the most developed forelimbs, the most powerful legs? Skeleton, part of the Eyewitness video series, has these and many, many more facts about the toughest part of our bodies.

Skeleton is an ideal introduction to anatomical science for young viewers. Its visuals are fresh and interesting, its documentary footage is sharp, and Martin Sheen's narration is quite effective. Budding scientific minds will be fascinated by how our skeletons maintain bodily harmony, protect our internal systems, and give us balance and stability. This is another well-done chapter in the Eyewitness series. --Brendan J. LaSalle ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Skeleton...Looking for a little more meat!
Purchased video to use as supplement for History Of Medicine class (4th grade). Was unhappy with the way things of a "mystical" nature were included in the material. I don't understand how the Producers could justify including information on Tarot Cards in the video. After all, we were looking for information on Skeleton's, not an introduction into foretunetelling. Also,I didn't care for the many references to man's "evolutionary" process from beast to man. Again, wasn't looking for a intro. into the Theory of Evolution.

The material that did foucs on the Skeletal System was good, but cluttered with a great deal of unecessary tid bits that took away from the video itself. I ended up turning off the video about 5-7 mintues from the end.

My 4 year old's favorite video! Very educational!
My son loved this video from the moment he spotted it in our local library. He is fascinated with skeletons and this type of educational video. I couldn't believe how much he could comprehend at such a young age, but I attribute that to the excellent job Eyewitness does in producing entertaining and informative videos like this one. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

One-sided view which does not capture the full story.
Although the video does offer an interesting perspective of events leading up to Operation Just Cause, it does not reflect the hatred the Panamanian people had for Noriega and his cronies. I frequently spent time in Panama in the mid 1980s and later was stationed there for three years as a US military officer both during and post-Just Cause and can state that Panama under Noriega and Panama today are two entirely different countries for a good reason -- Noriega harmed his own people, raided public coffers and held the country back from progessing in the international community. There was a lull for two years in Panama post-Noriega as the population experienced a collective sigh of relief. Today, Panama is becoming an economic competitive force in the region and is posturing itself to become the "Singapore of Latin America" - an impossibility had Noriega remained in power. My own informal survey of 300 Panamanians from all walks of life a few years after Just Cause found that the overwhelming majority were thankful for US intervention and removal of Noriega. It is interesting on how little attention is given to US involvement in Panama associated with the building of roads, schools, medical facilities, economic support in the form of loans and grants and knowledge transfer associated with the Panama Canal.

Don't forget. high farenheit degrees in Panama Old Town
As I remember this documentary win an Oscar for best documentary award like Michael Moore did with "Bowling for Columbine" last year. Now thanks to M.M. this category is known.
Don't forget it was prohibited its exhibition around the land of the no free to watch it.
Please edit "Panama Deception" in DVD.

Overly strident, but partially accurate nonetheless
It's unfortunate that this film was so over zealous to make its point, but it is equally unfortunate to see those who would deny what is clearly factual.

Just hours before I read the reviews here I happened to be reading "You Back the Attack! We'll Bomb Who We Want" by Micah Ian Wright who served in the US Army Rangers and participated in the invasion of Panama. Wright states quite clearly what many try to deny. He stood on the roof of a building overlooking a civilian neighborhood that had been bombed by the US and had burned for two days unchecked. And Wright is not the only military witness to confirm that hundreds, perhaps thousands, of civilians were killed by US weapons. Just because the producers of Panama Deception failed to interview these soldiers does not mean they don't exist.

It is also equally harmful to make the debate about this film about Bush or the Republican Party. The issue at hand is post Vietnam War foreign policies which clearly ignore moral principles for unknown ulterior motives. These policies have been carried out by Democrats and Republicans alike. Clinton, for example, had his own fiasco with his support of the sanctions against Iraqi civilians which ultimately strengthened Saddam Hussein's domestic power.

I make these observations as a former US Army Intelligence Analyst who saw the lies under Bush I. But the same lies could have been stated under Clinton. It doesn't matter.

The issue is not so simplistic that films like Panama Deception are "anti-military" or even "anti-American." As Teddy Roosevelt said at one time, "To announce that there must be no criticism of the President . . . or that we must stand by the President right or wrong . . . is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."

Ultimately, that's what this is all about - that we send our troops into harms way and they, as soldiers in combat, invariably end up killing innocents in accomplishing their mission. This is a fact of life. To criticize those who would send them into combat is not an attack on the soldiers, but on the leaders who would abuse them and then refuse to acknowledge what they've done.

When it comes to Panama, I'm not aware of any American leader ever admitting what happened. Furthermore, it is false to say that other nations did not protest. The UN General Assembly did in fact condemn the attack. But the US is the world's superpower and the condemnation ultimately resulted in nothing. This has been the case for well more than a decade, most notably in regards to Iraq.

And just like in so many other military actions, the media, as shown in the video, did indeed play an integral role in creating the perception that US soldiers did not kill civilians and/or that our motives were entirely pure. They used terms like "our attack" or "we captured Noriega" as if all of us were in on the plan from the very beginning. There was no effort made to even create the image that the media were somehow separate from the invasion.

Which brings me to my last observation about this film and its critics. It is often the mistake of those who disbelieve those who challenge US foreign policy to say that these individuals must therefore support the opposing side. Against the invasion? Then you must support Noriega. Against Gulf War II? Then you must support Saddam Hussein. This is childish thinking. It's not about the goal, it's about HOW the goal is acheived. Only a fool would support either of those dictators. What most critics have a problem with is the method by which these men were removed from power - a method that, as the film shows, kills innocents and at least creates the image in the minds of those living outside the US that we have ulterior motives.

Given these random thoughts, some portions of "Panama Deception" have stood the test of time while others fall flat. Watch it and see for yourself. If you can get beyond the strident tone, perhaps this will be the seed that will help you see that not all the military actions of the United States are something we should be proud of.

Agitprop
Samantha, we hardly knew 'ye.

This movie is sloppy anti-American propaganda at best; a joke at worst. There has never been any credible report of mass civilian death in Just Cause, and the absolute highest Panamanian combat deaths I've heard (from NYT) was 500.

Not to engage in post hoc justification, but try to think objectively about the 15 years or so since Just Cause and what we've learned:

1. No one in Panama is agitating for Noriega to return.

2. We returned the Panama Canal, dead on schedule.

3. Noriega has made no claim of some secret CIA-Bush-drug nexus. Those on the left who make such claims sound just like the wackos on the right that talked about Mena Airport during the Klinton years.

4. Most tellingly, no formal call in front of a world judicial body has been made for supposed civilian deaths during Just Cause. If you think that the anti-U.S. folks over in Europe wouldn't love to do that, then you're kidding yourself. Remember that Irish chick (Mary something) at the U.N. who opened an investigation into NATO war crimes in Kosovo? Remember when the International Criminal Court issued a futile injunction just before Angel Breard was executed? Believe me, if 10% of the allegation in Panama Deception were true, the international America-haters, victocrats, bleeding hearts and dictator-huggers would be all over Just Cause like Kerry on an heiress. They're not.

Folks, get a grip. If you want to bash Bush (41 or 43) then, as Nike would say, "Just do it." There's certainly enough out there. No need to manufacture it, like this piece of agitprop.

Panama Deception
I thought this documentary was very well done. It opened my eyes to things I never thought the US gov't would do. I feel the producers did a good job showing all sides and really made me want to continue to watch even though there were a few tough scenes to watch. I would definatley recomend this documentary to everyone who wants to know the truth about what goes on in the gov't ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Good
A surprisingly watchable documentary. Christie is the Audrey Hepburn of supermodels, with all the graciousness and class and poise that Hepburn had, and so is a treat to watch move and talk and walk in CATWALK. When you have big-headed, sometimes nasty supermodels like Linda Evangelista and Naomi Campbell annoying the public, it's nice to have a kind Christie Turlington to prove that just because you're beautiful doesn't mean you can't be humble. It's a shame that Christie was diagnosed with emphysema at age 31. She said smoking cigarettes from aged 13 to 26 is probably what brought it on. It's hard to have much sympathy for the rich, famous and beautiful, but my heart does go out to Christie because she seems such a lovely, lovely person in every way, as CATWALK shows.

Great Supermodel Documentary
The video documentary "CATWALK" is way better then it should be. Beautifully shot, great Malcolm Mclauren soundtrack, all the supermodels. This video stars the freakishly beautiful supermodel Christy Turlington and takes place when Supermodels ruled the world and lived the lives of rockstars (witness some lady telling Christy, "We Love you Christy" on the way to a fashion show.

Christy takes us behind the scenes to a life of a supermodel during the fashion weeks in Milan, Paris, and NYC. She takes us to 5 star Hotels, Nightclubs, and house parties with other supermodels.

Ms. Turlington doesnt show any of the darker sides of the modeling industry, which is the only thing missing from this film. But, this documentary is wonderful journey that show us a side of Christy, Naomi Campbell, and Kate Moss that is rarely seen by the public.

A Must for Fashionistas!
Should I be embarrased to say I found this documentary completely engrossing? From the initial cover shoot at Versace to the closing shots of Christy T. sitting for a Francisco Clemente portrait (it's haunting and beautiful -- he's the artist that did the artwork for the movie "Great Expectations" BTW), I was glued to this movie. The soundrack includes "St. Germain" by Malcolm McClaren, which I love, during the Paris collections. Many parts are beautifully shot in black and white. Some great moments go by quickly: a really funny exchange between Christy and model Veronica Webb, Kate Moss drunk at a club in Milan, behind the scenes at Galliano ("Think Irving Penn, Irving Penn!!"), ALT commenting on the same collection ("This man HAS NO MONEY!"), Christy eyeballing Naomi's gift flower bouquet at the Georges V ("Is hers bigger than mine?"), the whole documentary is full of great stuff.

diverting
An amusing but tepid documentary. I alway thought of Christie as beautiful for sure. But when you see her walk and talk, she is so BLAND. She has to be the least sensual beautiful woman I've ever seen. She has no sensuality. She's kind of nerdy even. She doesn't have any wit. She once said, "I'm known as the nice supermodel. I want to be known as the smart supermodel." Well, she's definitely nice, but in a bland way. And it's funny to see some physical flaws in her in this film. She has ugly feet. Most people's feet flare out toward the toes. But her feet are rectangular shaped, the sides being straight lines. Weird looking feet. And sometimes when she smiles, her lip goes above her gumline, so there's a big gap of gum-space above her teeth. Gross to look at. Anyway, this is over-all a diverting but hardly fascinating film.

FABULOUS...that is, if ur in2 Fashion.
If you're not into fashion scene, steer clear from this one. If you're into the fashion scene or have a curiosity about the world of the supermodels, you'll luv this. Yes, sometimes it gets a bit dull, but some of the behind the scene footage is incredible. Trust me, it's so worth it! If u can find it, buy it. I got my copy from ebay, and believe me I'm holding on to it! ... Read more

Reviews (43)

This is an EPIC COMEDY that redefines its genre!
Tired of bad actors, fake characters, tedious plot devices, and all that "I-want-my-money-back" disappointment?

Tired of newspaper and television news that claims to give you the world as it is, when it's usually selling heartless tragedy, big business, and government ideology?

TIRED OF NOT BEING SURPRISED, EXCITED - SET FREE FROM THE LIMP EVERYDAY IMITATIONS OF YESTERDAY'S STORIES?

If "yes" is your response to any of these, take the word of a film critic and documentary filmmaker with ten years of experience in the documentary and narative film industries: this movie will reawaken your faith in the potential of audio-visual entertainment!

Check all your expectations of boring education, or depressing social, economic, and historic commentary. Forget sarcastic and heartless exploitation and premadonna-esque self glorification. Forget what you know or think about the Documentary Genre and purchase, rent, or go to the theater and see Hands On A Hardbody! YOU WILL LAUGH YOURSELF TO THE FLOOR!

I do not mean to say that there haven't been any worthwhile theatrical or televised documentaries, there have been several. But as technology has significantly lowered the cost barriers of producing reality (and fiction) based audio-visual storytelling, many more creative minds are now apt to try their hand at observing and assembling the settings, situations, and personalities that make up the many nations of the world.

Shot, edited, and produced for under $40,000 by five talented young filmmakers (three of which graduated from New York University's film school), Hands On a Hardbody is a remarkably refreshing, hilarious, and poignant look at the folly and hidden glory of collective human endeavor.

"Ridiculous language," you say. "Hard to believe." - I understand.

Nonetheless, I say this film may be called a sounding trumpet - one of very few that herold a great rebirth for a genre that has, for the most part, grown depressingly and/or disinterestingly stiff. Like an athelete covered head to toe in quick-drying plaster, the prevailing documentary mold has been broken open, and I look forward to witnessing, with great anticipation, as the freed prisoner traverses the earth with great ferocity and grace.

Do what you must to see Hands On A Hardbody and judge for yourself whether or not the ridiculous is something in which to believe.

Go Early to Increase Your Odds!
I've seen this film at Dobie about 4 times now. I love taking someone to see it just to watch their reaction as the movie progresses. HOAHB presents a cross section of East Texas better than if you were to visit the region in person. As a result of the film, the contest enters the Quirky Texas Folklore category along with Ralph the Swimming Pig, Marvin Zindler, Hippie Hollow, and Big Hair: not necessarily the most cerebral or refiined institutions in Texas Culture -- but near and dear nonetheless. Hands on a Hardbody is a classic for everyone and an absolute for Texans. If you're in Austin, see it in Dobie Theatre for a more intimate and decorative experience. Then, get it on DVD or Tape to watch again and to show your friends!

Fun, but very cheaply produced documentry
Worth seeing if like getting insight into the very, Very, VERY common Joe's of the world. These people ar soooo real they would never be cast in a reality TV show! Yep .. that real!

i'm so sorry
it really embarrasses me to be from longview texas with all this crap on video. longview is an odd place to live, it's pretty miserable it's not really a small town feel or that of a city really. it's somewhere in between. any how all this car crazyness attracts attention to a place that really sucks basically. one of my friends fathers is featured on the video, that's pretty wierd honesty. longview is no spectacular place, i wouldn't even reccommend going there.

Somewhere between really sad and really hilarious
This documentary of a competition at a Nisaan dealership in Longview, Texas is one of the funniest things I've ever seen. Though it is a real documentary, the contestants could not be more perfect if they were selected by a Hollywood casting agency. You have your country bumpkins with no teeth, your religious fanatic who loses the truck to praise the Lord, and the "token black guy" who is just great. I would reccomend this to anyone. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Even the ICR rejected ths movie!
Some years back I telephoned the Institute for Creation Research in Santee, California. They told me they no longer advocated the film In Search of Noah's Ark on the grounds it contained too much misinformation. This says a lot when a young earth creationist institute rejects a creationist film for being too misinformative. Those YEC's are so rightfully notorious for misquoting scientists themselves and distorting facts like crazy that for them to reject a creationist work shows how bad the latter work must be.This film leaves one with the totally false impression that archaeologist Leonard Wooley in the 1920's found a flood that covered the entire world. Actually Wooley's discovered flood-remains didn't even cover the entire ancient city he was excavating THUS IT SURE DIDN'T COVER THE WHOLE WORLD! Other misinformation abounds. Forget it!

Best documentary on research into Noah's Ark
This video is great because the information it provides is so important and so hard to find. This video documents any noteworthy research done to find or prove that the Ark of Noah exists on Mt. Ararat. It is a serious documentary loaded with information. The person who wrote that it is a religious cult movie needs treatment. With the same logic, one could call the Old Testament religious cult nonsense (and he basically said that!), and any religions that follow afterwards..Judaism, Christianity, Islam... It is an objective look at historical scientific research which has been serious enough to have been kept in government files. If you're looking for an example, wood was found on barren Mt. Ararat and was taken to a lab to be scientifically analyzed. The conclusion was that a human had worked on the piece of wood and that this wood-type had originated from the land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, exactly where it is supposed to had come from. Along with all the other research described in the video, dating back centuries, if the viewer is a bit intellectual with a scientific mind, one should be marvelled. Compared to the other videos, DVDs, or even books on the subject, this is a superior choice.

Classic psycho-religious camp
This is it -- the famous creationist movie, full of sophistry, misinformation, logical fallacies, and grainy, out-of-focus photography. It was a minor hit, too. It's a classic for the crazy re-enactments and bad, BAD science within. Viva la "Proof by Blatant Assertion"!

It might not be the easiest video to find (try the Video Oyster), but if you can track it down, pair it with PLAN 9 or REEFER MADNESS, and whip out some Kool-Aid and fluffernutters, you've a choice camp party.

Classic Excellent Exciting Documentary
I really liked this movie. it was one of the movies I most remember from growing up - it was one of hte only movies my entire family went to see. The excitement and mystery were captured in the wonderful narrators voice. I look forward to seeing this classic again oon video ... Read more

Description

Science documentary examining the diversity and origins of life on earth. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

like reducing Moby Dick to the first and last 50 pages...
It is rather unclear what the intentions of this grotesquely abridged version of Life on Earth were, but what stands out above everything else is that this two video tape set does little justice to the original series. I had seen several episodes complete while in college and a few years back purchased this edited version--knowing quite well it was edited. But the severity of the cuts was never clear until viewed side-by-side with the original version. It might seem that the episodes were perhaps 30 minutes long but instead they were a full 50 minutes. Given that many of the episodes on this tape are little over 10 or 20 minutes, you can imagine just how much has been lost.

And what did they choose to lose? As another review made clear, the most interesting, the most novel and the most educational elements were discarded leaving a program that is still interesting if nothing else is available, but chopping out almost everything that made this program one of a kind.

The truth is, unlike many of the other fantastic 'life' installments, 'Life On Earth' is quite intellectual, and really oriented toward the college level viewer. That doesn't mean that younger people won't like it, but seeing it next to 'Life of Mammals' for instance, the difference in the target audience is abundantly clear. Unfortunately, almost all the college level material is dropped from the 4 hour version. Comparison to fossils, extensive discussions of evolution, co-evolution, speculations on the adaptive function of certain forms...almost all of this is gone!

I for one am a fan of all Attenborough's work, but 'Life on Earth' is by far one of the most amazing efforts in nature films and probably Attenborough's crowning achievement. It is (as tht title suggests) an overview of the world's natural history, crammed into thirteen fifty minute episodes with beautiful examples of every kind of life from all over the world. In the scope of science/nature documentaries, it is undoubtedly the finest of its kind.

For those who question where they might be able to purchase the entire series, I would suggest checking Amazon's UK branch as the BBC has issued the entire series there (though I don't imagine US machines will play it.)

Warning: this has been severely edited
The original TV series 'Life on Earth' ran for 11 hours in all; this is an edited version, reduced to under 4 hours. Lots of beautiful sequences are still in there, although there are a few odd transitions. If you're used to watching Attenborough on television, this will seem unsettlingly briskly paced.

OK Intro to Hit Attenborough Show
I bought this set from Amazon 4 years ago and watched it. It is an extremely edited version of the 13 part tv series by Sir David Attenborough. I wqs disppointed that most episodes were edited down and many neat parts, such as fossil discussions and habitat discussions, were left out. The complete series on DVD is available in the UK, but, unfortunately, not available in the uS. However, a Chinese DVD business sells the complete unedited series on a DVD set along with Living Planet and private Life of Plants. I recently won a copy of the set from E-Bay and will be getting that soon in the mail.

Life on Earth
The Amazon-UK has this video available in all of its original length and glory. When will we be so lucky? I bought the abridged version out of despersation - it would be good if I didn't know whwat I was missing.

Please release this DVD/Video for the USA.

Find the ORIGINAL
If anyone can find the 11 hour series you have found a masterpiece. What a work of art the BBC and Dr. Attenbourough have created. The Blue Planet is also extraordinary. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Siula Grande Clearly the Star of this Staggering Story
TOUCHING THE VOID succeeds on many levels: it is a film about the power of Nature, the indomitable human spirit faced with survival, and the complexity of youthful delusions of grandeur that can result in tragic conflicts. As written by mountaineer Joe Simpson and Directed by Kevin Macdonald the film is a docudrama, splicing on camera interviews of the three men (Joe Simpson, Simon Yates, and Richard Hawking) involved in the controversial 1985 mountain climbing incident on the Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes with "enacted" episodes by actors Brendan Mackey, Nicholas Aaron, and Ollie Ryall. The incident is well known - an climbing expedition on the virginal West face of the Siula Grande results in a rather routine ascent but on the descent trauma occurs: Joe breaks his leg in a fall and slides into a demonic crevasse while Simon, thinking Joe is dead, cuts the supporting cord and descends to safety alone. The majority of the film deals with Joe's thoughts of his impending death, his struggle to keep attempting to return to safety despite his broken leg and lack of food and water, and his ultimate encounter with the 'void' of the universe which consumes us all at the point of death. The ending is history - Joe does live to tell (and write) this tale. Though docudramas can often be interesting but uninvolving, TOUCHING THE VOID rivets the viewer to the tale by the unrelenting awe of how man is able to struggle against the odds of Nature and survive. There are moments when the utter majesty of Siula Grande is presented as a lady of nature that refuses to be conquered and as such the photography and momentum of the director make this mountain the most important character in the story. Both the real men relating their true adventure on camera and the actors making visual the terrifying reality of the event are superb. Even for folks who shy away from the 'National Geographic-type' films will find this a compelling tale with many overlays about our place as man on the planet and in the universe.

SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST...
This film, based upon the international best seller of the same name, recounts an amazing tale of courage, fortitude, and the will to live, despite dire circumstances. About twenty or so years ago, British mountaineers Joe Simpson and his then climbing partner, Simon Yates, attempted to ascend a perilous section of the Peruvian Andes, Suila Grande, a majestic 21,000 foot peak that was nearly inaccessible. These two intrepid climbers tackled the mountain alpine style and, surprisingly, reached the summit, the first mountaineers to do so.

After reaching the summit, however, tragedy struck on their descent, when Joe, up over 19,000 feet, fell and hit a slope at the base of a cliff, breaking his right leg and rupturing his right knee. Beneath him was a seemingly endless fall to the bottom. When Simon reached him, they both knew that the chances for getting Joe off the mountain were virtually non-existent. Yet, Simon Yates fashioned a daring plan to do just that. For the next few hours, they worked in tandem through a snowstorm, and managed a risky, yet effective, way of trying to lower Joe down the mountain.

Several thousand feet down, Joe, who was roped to Simon, dropped off an edge and found himself now free hanging in space, about six feet away from an ice wall, unable to reach it with his axe. The edge was over hung above him and the dark outline of a yawning crevasse lay directly below him. Joe could not get up, and Simon could not get down. In fact, Joe's weight began to pull Simon off the mountain. So, Simon was finally forced to do the only thing he could do under the circumstances. He cut the rope, believing that he was consigning his friend to certain death. Therein lies the tale. It is at this point in the film that the real story begins.

What happens next is sure to make one believe in miracles. This is an absorbing, beautifully shot film. The story is told in a sort of unique docu-drama style, with actors re-enacting moments in this fantastic, true life tale of survival, while Joe Simpson and Simon Yates narrate what happened on that mountain. It is an absorbing piece of cinema, as it presents a somewhat novel and fresh way of telling this amazing survival story. The cinematography is magnificent, as the film is shot in the Peruvian Andes, where the incident occurred. Moreover, Joe Simpson and Simon Yates do the actual climbing scenes in the film. All armchair climbers will thrill to the sound of their crampons and axes digging into the ice. My only suggestion is that one read the book before viewing the film.

The Triumph of the Human Spirit
"Touching the Void" is a partly re-enacted documentary of a climb of the western face of the Siula Grande in Peru in 1985. The details of the climb make for a fine and gripping film.

The brief details of the climb of Joe Simpson and Simon Yates is that their ascent is relatively straight forward despite the mountain being more technically difficult than they had expected. It on the descent that problems really began. Firstly and, obviously, critically, Simpson slipped on an ice ledge and smashed right leg. The only piece of good fortune being that no bone penetrated the skin. It was thus left to Yates to assist his partner to the base camp.

At this point, matters deteriorated further when Yates was forced to cut their connecting rope when Simpson had fallen over a cliff and was in danger of dragging his partner with him. Yates then proceeded to climb down having realistically left Simpson for dead. However, by a combination of luck and supreme courage, Simpson too made the descent but in a truly battered state. He had, for example, lost one third of his body weight!

Upon the climbers return to their native England, Yates was apparently criticised for cutting Yates loose. Simpson never joined this criticism but only praised Yates for his efforts.

The film is a re-enactment of the heroism of the two climbers. It outlines to all that mountain climbing is a dangerous past time that only the foolish and/or the brave can contemplate. The film should be seen by all if only for the wonderful telling of a story of heroism within a vast, magnificent and unforgiving landscape.

Yup, I'm a wuss - and proud of it
Watching TOUCHING THE VOID, I was reminded of the dangers that face Real Men. This was after I chipped a nail while opening a can of non-alcoholic brew. But, at least my Mommie was sympathetic.

In 1985, two twenty-something Brits, Simon Yates and Joe Simpson, endeavored to climb the 21,000 foot Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes. Climbing successfully to the top was easy compared to getting back down, during which Simpson falls off an ice wall driving a shin bone up through the kneecap and splitting his femur. The only good news is that the skin wasn't broken. As Simon subsequently struggles to get the two of them back off the peak, cruel bad luck and circumstance contrive to pitch Joe into a crevasse. Thinking his friend dead, Simon staggers into base camp and prepares to return home. In the meantime, Simpson, still alive, must either go it alone or face certain death from exhaustion and dehydration. Being "between a rock and a hard place" takes on new meaning.

Since this pseudo-documentary begins with interviews with the real Simon and Joe, the audience knows from the start that the latter lives. But that fact doesn't detract from the nail-biting nature of this superb depiction of dogged perseverance and survival recreated by the climbers' own words paired with a brilliant re-enactment of the story both in Peru and in the Alps in which Nicholas Aaron stars as Simon and Brendan Mackey as Joe. The visual link between the four is seamless because the actors are beat-up and sun and wind-burned to the point of being unrecognizable anyway. The climbing scenes, filmed by Kevin Macdonald at night and during storms as necessary to remain true to the story, are perhaps some of the best you'll ever see.

The only other film that comes to mind which gives real-life testimony to Man's remarkable ability to survive against the most terrible of Nature's odds is the THE ENDURANCE (2002), a brilliant chronicle of Ernest Shackleton's doomed 1914-1916 expedition to the South Pole.

My easy chair and the trashy novels I read for vicarious thrills have never looked so inviting.

Simpson's Void
"Touching the Void" is indeed a remarkable story of survival. Joe Simpson's ordeal is vividly recaptured by director Kevin McDonald. McDonald's rather straightforward style, with the real Joe Simpson and Simon Yates recounting their harrowing experience climbing, and then descending, the beautiful but brutal, Suila Grande, in the Peruvian Andes, works well here. If there is hole in this story, and I think there is, it's in Simpson himself. He's one cold fish, so it's hard to work up a real measure of empathy. You half expect him to quote Nietzsche at some point. No doubt he would tell you this bleak attitude toward life and death is what kept him going. Maybe, but you get the sense that this heroic effort is being told by a mechanical man - and he was that way before Simpson cut the rope. The only time I really felt for Simpson, was when he fell into delirium, and was plagued with memories of a bad song. It's only then that his control slips, and seems human at last. ... Read more

Description

Combining spectacular location sequences and cinema-quality animation, this program takes you to France's most famous and awe-inspiring cathedrals. You'll travel in time back to 1214 to explore the design of Notre Dame de Beaulieu, a magnificent Gothic cathedral shaped by cultural and religious forces. Take a close look at the vaulted arches, shimmering stained-glass windows and dizzying vaulted ceilings. This award-winning program also tells compelling stories of life and death, faith and despair, prosperity and intrigue. Narrated by David Macaulay. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great Look at History for Kids and Adults
David Macaulay's video series has to be one of the best introductions to some of the major architectural achievements in the ancient world. Combining animation with live-action shots of historic sites is a stroke of brilliance as both work hand-in-hand to enhance the viewer's comprehension of the architectural, social, and historical importance of the subjects Macaulay describes. David Macaulay, himself, is a wonderful host on this guide through the ancient world. There are four videos in this series: Pyramid, Roman City, Cathedral, and Castle, and I highly recommend them all.

Edifying!
Next to the Doric temple the structure that most ineffably captures the concept of "purity" is the Gothic cathedral .With their soaring spires and flying buttresses these Gothic marvels incarnate the eternal human yearning for the infinite and the undefinable .This video walks you through the layout of a Gothic cathedral : nave , transept, altar,chapels , the crypt etc. Most of these cathedrals were erected in the late 12th to mid 13th century AD (Chartres c.1194-1221 AD , Rheims c.1209-1290 AD, Amiens c.1219-1269 AD , Bourges c.1195-1255 AD, Notre Dame c.1152-1240 AD & Laon 1153-1223 AD ). To me these cathedrals represent the first stirrings of creative energy in medieval Europe after being shrouded in the Dark Ages for more than 700 years . This same energy and love of learning and adventure spills over into the Crusades and culminates in the Rennaissance .Finally I must mention the animations in this video which liven up some of the human interest stories that went into the construction of these cathedrals : they are cute but a bit overdone . I would have much preferred it if the narrators had spent the extra time going over the finer details of the statuary & architecture at these masterpieces i.e. the aristocratic figures that face the west portal at Chartres .

Outstanding
A wonderful and dramatic telling of the most famous French cathedrals of the Middle Ages. Not only do we learn about the marvels of this architecture in standard documentary style through David Macaulay's narration, but we are also treated to an animated story of the building of the fictional (but representative) Notra Dame de Beaulieu. Exceptional. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Though a little melodramatic, it offers real-life lessons
I don't understand the two reviewers who thought this was a farce. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have tried a variety of Monty's suggestions albeit with well-trained polo ponies. Still, the responses of these horses to my Monty Roberts-inspired methods of getting their cooperation and the whole experience borders on the Zen of the relationship between man and horse. Why am I convinced Monty is right? Because these 6 horses belong to a friend of mine. Not me. They don't have the day to day familiarity to accept me unless Monty is right about everything. My 11 year old daughter is convinced too.

It's called "breaking" horses for a reason. Try it this way
For some reason, we have always taught animals to serve us by forcing and breaking their spirit; pressing them until they give. There's a way to show the horse what you want, and have him learn it for good. Monty Roberts understands this concepts, whether it's people or animal. The video shows how it works. The arguments against his methods will always come from the ignorant. They much prefer compliance through force. Horses have long backs and a willingness. That means they are ideal for work with people, but that use isn't something we are owed, it's a gift. How do you treat your gifts?

Give Me a Break!
Monty has nothing but the best in mind for these horses. I don't care if he is making money from his books and videos. Would anyone do this for free? I doubt it. The critics giving reviews must not be true horse lovers or they would support any non-violent methods for working with these beautiful animals. I wish there were more people in the world who see horses the way he does. Horses are not the mindless creatures people make them out to be and I think Monty's methods prove that.

It is just great
It is amazing what this man can do.

Monty Roberts, an Inspiration
Monty Roberts is a wonderful man. His knowledge streches far. I now know how to respect a horse, I've tried many of Monty's methods. His movie is a must see. He has inspired me to become a horse trainer when I am old enough. Now I will just be me, chewing gum and stuff. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

The *best* documentary on Malcolm I have ever seen
I went to the library, and borrowed 5-6 tapes on Malcolm X. Out of all of them, including the Spike Lee movie, this one is *THE* best. We even showed it at our University twice because it was so good. Includes aspects of the history such as the "Fruit of Islam" and other little tidbits you won't see in the other documentaries!

Not much Malcolm
This is typical of the modern style of documentary. Very little of the actual subject matter -Malcolm X, rarely shows up on his own tape. Instead of showing Malcolm himself speaking, they give us OTHER people telling us what a great speaker Malcolm was. Rather than having Malcolm explain himself, we have a variety of "experts" explaining Malcolm's beliefs. When you finish watching a tape like this, you can't understand what all the fuss over this guy is about. You don't get a sense of his personality or charisma.

Its really annoying how John Henrick Clarke, Joseph X and others are allowed to speak sentence after sentence about Malcolm, but when a clip of Malcolm himself is shown, its often cut after only one sentence.

A much better choice is "Malcolm X: His Own Story as it Really Happened" which was made back in 1972 when the trend in documentraies was to include as much of the original subject mattera as possible.

One of the better M/X documentaries
This is one of the few Malcolm X documentaries that does not require previous reading on the subject to understand what is going on (the also-good "Biography" segment does a good job too). It should , however, inspire you to read some more afterward.

Tedious
A way-too-long, poorly-edited documentary. Incessant, unrelated & generic footage distracted from the subject himself. Like too many other mediocre documentaries, it attempts to reconstruct the entire era on just one video tape, and so waters down the intensity of this very interesting individual. It would have sufficed as a story of a very complex man, and his remarkable intellec