Product Description

2 Episodes Guest Star: Sammy Davis Jr Airdate September 20, 1975 and Guest Star Shirley MacLaine Airdate October 4, 1975 ... Read more

Amazon.com

Dogs might chase cars, but only a cheetah could actually catch one. These big cats, the fastest land animals in the world, can attain speeds of 60 miles per hour, if only for short sprints. Still, that's all they need to nab a hapless Thomson's gazelle in Season of the Cheetah, a still-timely National Geographic Video Classic. Following small groups of these lithe, graceful killers as they return to the Serengeti for the spring rainy season, we can see their complicated social life, their struggles with competitors such as (much larger) lions, and their reliance on quick kills for their everyday sustenance. While their situation and numbers have improved somewhat over the years, their fight for life is just as gripping as ever. Add to that the absolutely smashing footage of the Serengeti during and after a storm--the inescapable torrents, the churning clouds, and the eerie light that follows--and you'll find Season of the Cheetah irresistible. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Savannah Showdown
This is a remarkable look at the cheetah.

Hostilities from lions and hyenas are touched upon, but the video's focus is really on the cheetahs' relationships with eachother. We follow three groups through a rainy season on the African savannah - a mother and her cubs who join up with a young female for mutual hunting benefit and companionship, male/female twins who have left their mother but have a year to go before they can be successfully independent, and three young brothers who terrorize them all.

The footage of the three brothers stalking in perfect symmetry is simply unforgettable. You'll be on the edge of your seat when they finally face the twins, with the outnumbered young male's life depending on their mood de jour - and his sister's sexual maturity or lack thereof. This is one of the greats. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Proof that there was a Right Wing Conspiracy.
I first saw this video when I was an Independent voter. My Republican friend showed it to me, saying this would open my eyes. It did. This video, which was produced by Jerry Farwell, shows how far the Conservative wing of the Republican Party would go to get rid of Clinton. In the video, it is claimed that he had a cocaine smuggling empire of 100 milion dollar a month and Arkansas State Troopers were in it. It claims that Clinton had people murdered and the killers where the same State Troopers. Nobody was ever caught! Not a single gram of Cocaine ever entered into evidence! So I asked my friend: Do you mean to tell me that Clinton has Millions hidden somewhere, maybe in Europe? After he categorically said yes, I reminded him that the White Water case was about investigating a $100,000 profit from a land deal, why would he get involved in a very small (for a drug lord) deal like that? At the end, the tape is distributed to Republican and Democratic Congressmen, and they would not touch this fantasy with a ten foot pole. IT is laughable and I am getting a copy. Suffice to say that viewing this BS I chose to become a Democrat.

LARRY NICHOLS' WARNING IS HAUNTING US, TO THIS DAY
Larry Nichols tried to warn us about his former friend, Bill Clinton, who had set him up as the ADFA (Arkansas Development & Finance Authority) lead dog.

This documentary's detractors throw the usual liberal's ad-hominem attacks, filled with invectives....but, they can't refute a single fact.

Once you see this movie, you'll want to see "Waco-The Rules of Engagement".....then, add the Juanita Brodderick interview from "60 Minutes", and you'll have a proper perspective on the man who left us helpless to corporate crooks and Muslim terrorists, while accepting every Chi-Com dollar he could get his hands on in '96.

Propaganda plain and simple.
This notorious video is a hustle that lightened the wallets of thousands of well meaning Christian people.A tissue of lies.As Carrie Rengers, a reporter for the Republican newspaper Arkansas-Democrat-Gazette newspaper said: "Apparently honesty isn't necessary in videos."Her attempts to varify claims concerning the financial and other fanciful allegations here all proved fruitless.(see the October 30, 1994 issue). How can anyone calling themselves Christian condone such wholesale fleecing of worshippers in the name of a political agenda in every way hostile to America's heritage of freedom?

Read "The Hunting of the President" for facts
This Falwell video has long since been debunked as a complete fabrication intended primarily to make Larry Nichols some money.If you are really interested in knowing the facts then read "The Hunting of the President".

Not as funny as I'd hoped
I had heard of this Soap Opera, and was pleased to borrow it from a friend. As expected, all of the "witnesses" had strong ties to the Republican Party. Some of them did a fair acting job though, and deserve credit for this. Although I had hoped for more actual "proof" to sustain my interest. The "proof" presented always relies on what someone said someone else said or did, and that someone else is always a Republican Party flunkie.

I think they should try this again, but have Jim Carrey or Chevy Chase narrate. They may also considering adding a flashy soundtrack to spice it up. Or they might consider finding real jobs and stop spewing this slanderous (...)! And no, I did not vote for Bill Clinton, I just find this type of garbage absurd. ... Read more

Reviews (134)

science, the history of science, and its role in the future
It amazes me that to this day that no science series since Cosmos first aired has come close to illustrating both the scope of human knowledge and its practical purposes in our lives. Every parent with a DVD player should buy this if their children have the slightest interest in the sciences. Your kids will thank you when they're older. Carl Sagan must've had a talent for teaching as any intelligent young student will get something out this series. Cosmos ages well, serving as a springboard into other disciplines.

Watching the series again on DVD, I enjoyed the less-hard science episodes. All thirteen are great. I especially liked:

"The Harmony of Worlds"
"The Backbone of Night"
"The Lives of Stars"
"The Persistence of Memory"
"Enyclopedia Galactica"
"Who Speaks for Earth"

Each of these episodes is rich with history and gives me a new respect for the man as a speaker. Especially the last episode, though somewhat dated as it was written during the Cold War. The sound quality's excellent too.

Note: Science changes so fast, some of the updates may be 'out of date'. The final update, in light of current events, where Dr. Sagan expresses optimism for the future, well it's a bit chilling.

A Vision for All Mankind
After watching COSMOS for the third time, I am continously impressed by the bravery and insight of Dr. Sagan's vision for humanity. COSMOS's overarching theme is an introduction to the natural sciences for the general public. Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics are wonderfully reduced to their core concepts. Dr. Sagan may be the only person I know who manages to explain Einstein's special relativity without algebra. For those amongst the general public who wish to understand just what a four dimensioned universe is, there is no better series today than COSMOS. Dr. Sagan stays true to his populist belief that science belongs not only to the scientists, but to all humanity.

However, anyone with a university degree will probably be familiar with the science Dr. Sagan speaks of. The shining jewel of COSMOS is not its scientific content, but its deeply humanistic message of hope. We have all heard about the cruelty of the so called "real world" and "human nature." But Dr. Sagan shows us that human bravery and intelligence has transformed our world for the better and that our world is what we make of it. In one of the most poignant moments of the entire series, Dr. Sagan describes the human longing for an explanation of the universe as an eternal part of our species. We, citizens of the 21st century, are the first generation of human beings priviledged with some of the answers to the questions that have fascinated our ancestors.

Dr. Sagan also outlines the philosophy and history of science. This is especially essential to today's society in which science has become increasing gadgety. While cell phones, computers, the internet, designer drugs populate every segment of our society, the philosophy of critical thinking, factual analysis and of questioning every statement, the very heart of science remains as rare today as ever. Our present civlization is forever indebited to those brave men and women who choose the pain of truth rather the comfort of lies. For those who ever wondered how we human beings progressed from tribal hunters to technogical beings, Dr. Sagan's documentary provides a riveting account.

Finally and perhaps most importantly, Dr. Sagan's documentary provides a unifying vision for the future of human kind. We have reached a time in the development of our species when the power in our hands is extraordinary. The destiny of our world and our species is fully in the our own hands. We can either use this power to continously squabble amongst ourselves, to fight our pointless wars and to poison our environment with blatant waste and race headlong to self annihilation, or... we can set aside our differences, recognize the fragility of our world and embrace the common destiny of humanity to explore the final frontier. Dr. Sagan does not pretend that this journey will be an easy one; every age and time has had those who would at the expense of our world, stirr up hatred, fear and greed. However, by showing that science is our candle in the dark, Dr. Sagan encourages each one of us to struggle against the irrationality and ignorance inside each of us to literally reach for the stars.

From the beginning of time to the future of our world, Dr. Sagan's account of the struggle of the human mind to attain sentience is highly passionate while at the same time even and objective. Science, he describes, is the ultimate manifestation of our humanity, the quest of starstuff to understand itself.

I am pleased to say that as the light from Dr. Sagan's house continue to pierce the darkness of Ithaca's gorges to inspire me, so too does his visionary work: COSMOS.

the best science documentrary
This is prehaps the most inspiring documentary about the earth and our place within the universe. I have seen the series about a dozen times and its just as interesting each and every time. This would be great material for children learning about the world around them..

+Fred

Very Excellent!
A little expensive but very cool. Carl Sagan was the first man to break the sound barrier and this is his story. Carl also was a swimming contender in the 1968 Mexico Olympics but he felt the sting of defeat and didn't win diddley. We don't like losers, Carl. A famous scientist, Carl died of cancer some years ago because he didn't eat his broccoli. If only he's gone to Denny's every Thursday for their cream of broccoli soup, he would still be alive today.

Portuguese Subtitles ??
More than 250.000.000 people in the world speak Portuguese. Why didn't they made subtitles in portuguese language for Cosmos? I hope that in the next edition, this problema will be solved. How can we show this DVD for children and teens who doesn't speak english yet? This is my only complain about. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

The brutal reality of kids living on the streets of Seattle
Directors Martin Bell, Mary Ellen Mark and Cheryl McCall filmed teenage kids living on the streets of Seattle in this 1985 documentary. These kids are runaway, many of them abused, and "Streetwise" shows us how they live (and you can imagine the meaning you will attribute to the word "live" by the end of this film). These kids sleep till noon and then try to find money by panhandling downtown, turning a trick, or rolling a few homosexuals. The money goes for drugs, which invariably leads to a night of partying, all the while trying to find someplace to stay to survive another day. Not all of them do. All I want to say about this film is two things. First, it makes every Hollywood or TV movie about runaway kids on the street look like a complete joke. Second, I cannot imagine any kid ever wanting to live on the street after seeing this film.

Accurate depiction of "throwaway" youth
Well, the name STREETWISE says it all. This disturbing, heartbreaking and very accurate documentary about street kids is one of the best films I have ever seen. I have seen it many times, but every time I watch it, it blows me away. If you liked MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO, you really need to watch STREETWISE, because STREETWISE is the real thing.

This film was made in 1985 and, as some of the other reviewers have asked, I too am curious about how these "children" are doing now, fifteen years later. Specifically, I want to know who is still alive. That's the kind of film this is. These "characters" get inside your head. How could they not? These kids recite the details of their lives so matter of factly as they go about their business of every day survival in the urban jungle; the "details" of their lives being the most unbelievable, heartbreaking stories of abandonment, prostitution, abuse and neglect. I always come away from this film asking myself, "how could these kids get so short changed so early in life?" Sometimes you get a glimpse of the parents of these children and it's equally horrifying. If I was a suburban mom with kids growing up in the lap of luxury, I would insist that they watch this film. I know people in their 30's who think they're tough, who never had to spend a single day the ways these kids live. These children have EVERYTHING going against them and yet they manage somehow to have simple hopes and dreams. Some of them want a life that other people are just born into. If you grew up in comfort, you'll see some things you may take for granted that these children were never told how to do. One child thinks it's perfectly acceptable that people in love should fight. Another girl has difficulty getting her mom to just buy her some Avon. One boy thinks he can change his personality by changing his hair color.

The most disturbing thought that this film leaves you with is that this is just a microcosmic look at ALL the throwaway children in the U.S. This is a problem that still exists. It's not going away.

I watch this film repeatedly, as it keeps me on my toes. Just when I start to get too comfortable, I remember the reality of the have's and have not's in this country and I am appalled. I recommend this movie to anyone with a pulse.

I was one of the lucky ones.
This documentary is as true-to life as any could ever be. I know because I could very well have been Tiny. I knew her.

I went to elementary school with and lived in the same housing project as Tiny and Lily. I ran into them off and on because of mutual acquaintances, but was not friends with them. I continued on into middle school and rarely saw these girls. I moved out of state for high school, came back to the area after I graduated and shortly thereafter, I rented this movie. I was stunned--not only to see profiled these girls that I had known, but also to see what my life could have--and would have--been. I knew of the abuse these girls suffered (in school kids talk) and how they were throwaways. Unfortunately, where we grew up, this was more common than not. The only difference between Erin and me was that I caught a break and someone who cared reached out to me in time.

I hope and pray that all of the kids profiled in this movie who are still alive, some day, also catch a break. I was one of the lucky ones.

This documentary should be required viewing for training all social workers. Perhaps fewer children would fall through the cracks. In fact, all legislators should also be required to view it so they know who they go to bat for when laws are passed for the protection of children.

Martin Bell's magnum opus...
For those who suspect this film was "scripted" (not surprising in the current age of irony and cynicism) -- drop by Mary Ellen Mark's website (Photographs, do a web search) and click on Books, then "Streetwise," then read the preface and postscript, which reveals quite a bit more about the film. Then think to yourself -- do you know any *professional* adolescent actors talented enough to pull off a scripted version of Streetwise?

It should dawn on you then, that Streetwise is one of a kind. There may have been some hamming in front of the camera, but I'm fairly certain none of this was scripted. I'm not sure what it was competing against that year at the Academy Awards, but imagine if it had won... the film would certainly still be in print (probably restored and out on DVD), and the next generation would have the opportunity to see this important work of art... also, Martin Bell would probably have gotten more work as befits his incredible talents. As it stands, I figure this just may have been too painful to watch for Academy voters... or I wonder if they thought it was scripted too.

Anyway, this film is a "must-see" even if you have to buy an expensive, used copy. Of course I may be somewhat biased... I live in and grew up in (near) Seattle, and have met the director (I was living nearby where "American Heart" was filmed). Still, this is a truly unforgettable film -- it isn't easy to watch sometimes, but you'll be rewarded a hundred times over.

A compelling look at street life in Seattle
This documentary moved me in more ways than one. I viewed it a while ago while attending college. It captures the true essence of street life in Seattle Washington. At the time this documentary was under production I often visited Seattle to see relatives. I was always told about the prostitution that occurred in certain parts of downtown Seattle during those days and I caught glimpses of this while riding the bus downtown. I was not aware of the huge population of adolescents that were living on the streets. Since I was so young at the time I thought most of them were just hanging out in the area. This documentary made it clear to its audience that these kids were having a day to day struggle for survival on the cruel streets where they frequently roamed. This documentary does not shelter the audience from the ugliness that occurs on the streets. It also offers the viewer a chance to get to know the kids as real people with the same hopes and dreams most kids their age possess. After getting know Erin, Ratt, Dwayne, Patty, Munchkin etc. I will never forget them. I hope there is a follow-up documentary on how their lives have turned out since the first documentary aired in 1983. I would like to know if they made it out of the grips of the streets. It's a story that happens all too often in America. It reminds us that children who are abused must have a safehouse to go to so that the streets do not appear to be an option. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This film about Ethiopian distance runner Haile Gebrsellasie, who won gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and is considered one of the greatest runners of all time, is a dramatization that often appears to be a documentary. Beautifully photographed, the footage shot in Haile's native land is often spectacular enough to make you think you're watching a National Geographic special. Haile's young life, such as a scene when his family is listening to a news report about warfare in Ethiopia and a report comes on about the 1980 Olympics, is portrayed with apparent accuracy, but not without a great deal of drama. There are many scenes of Haile running, past wildlife in the countryside or through crowded city slums, and while this gives what must be an accurate idea of him developing his athletic regimen, this is also not terribly dramatic on camera. Eventually, Haile is shown racing in Atlanta, valiantly overtaking all competition; his family back in Ethiopia is shown gathered around a television set, jubilantly watching his triumph. And while there's no denying that this is a touching and inspiring human story, the slow pace of the presentation tends to work against the inherent drama. --Robert J. McNamara ... Read more

Reviews (21)

An Enduring Story
Endurance is not a movie about distance running. While many people, especially runners, would disagree with this statement, a critical look reveals a simple, multi-layered film that deals with the universal story of a hero overcoming hardships and obstacles to achieve a dream.

What makes Endurance most satisfying, however, is that this is no myth. Haile's life is shown from childhood to adulthood through the use of simple, stark images that vividly portray the elements that melded together a man of uncommon focus, faith, and yes, endurance. We understand the how's and why's of Haile's development without being didactically bludgeoned by the director.

The use of Haile and his family as actors lends not only a certain authenticity to the semi-documentary look but also adds an endearing naiveté to the performances. We see people who have actually lived the roles they are playing. And Bud Greenspan's scenes of the 1996 10,000m Olympic final are surely the best filmed running sequences seen in a movie. The directors of Prefontaine and Without Limits, take note.

The musical score is also a wonderful complement to the film. Scenes of unabashed joy, crushing sorrow, and quiet solitude are enhanced, not overshadowed, by a mixture of African and Western music.

While runners saw the movie in droves when it was released, most people did not. Too bad. This is a beautiful film telling a wonderful and true story.

Not a movie about track and field, but..
I agree with a prior reviewer that the movie is not about really about running per se. It indeed is about the triumph of the human spirit as resides in incalcuable proportions in this dimunutive, courageous man from one of the poorest nations on Earth. Having said this, I wonder if only avid runners can truly appreciate his accomplishments (and the film's depiction of his truly poverty stricken, desperate childhood only makes them more awe inspiring). I don't know how to convey to non-runners just how obscenely difficult it is to run 4 minutes fifteen seconds for a mile, much less reeling off six in a row such as Haile did in his world record race. And his Olympic 10,000 meter race in 1996 (shown in the film) may even be more impressive -- maybe the most significant any Olympic track race of all time. His 4 minute 23 second average per mile performance in the heat of Atlanta (not in cool northern Europe where most all distance records are set), run just a few days after a qualifying race, and with no rabbits or pace setters such as in his world record races -- it is mind boggling. Yes, folks, even if you can, such as Haile, run a 3 minute 50 second mile, running 4 minutes 20 seconds or so does not feel like jogging, it does feel like you are running at a high intensity near sprint, and it does take a great deal of mental control and courage not to panic and mentally quit. The film is beautiful, it depicts his life accurately -- and I would recommend it -- but I can't get away from the astounding nature of his athletic feats.

Authentic Ethiopian Culture
Having lived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for 2 years, my husband & I can testify that this is a story which shows so well how people live in Ethiopia. We were thrilled to see the beautiful countryside, the city where we lived and worked, the Ethiopian music and the Amharic language we could only speak "a little". It was a thrilling story and beautifully portrayed. I recommend it to all families, students, & children. It exemplifies the determination of someone who has a dream and also shows the deep respect and love there can be even when there is disagreement.

Oscar bound
This remarkable documentary tells the story of the famed Shackleton expedition, a doomed attempt to reach the South Pole that turned into an incredible (and successful) 2-year fight for survival. Using both archival records and contemporary interviews, the director created an inspiring story of human endurance, courage, and valor.
The world could use a dose of all three of those qualities right now. This is a terrific and timely film.

True portrayal of success against the odds
I happened to hire this video by chance. I didn't know it was coming out. I am glad I picked it, especially as I grew up in the same rural lifestyle in Ethiopia. I was most impressed with the producers' accurate reflection of life in Ethiopia both in the rural area and in the city. They neither cleaned it up for western consumption nor exaggerated any event for dramatic impact. Running to school, helping with farm and other chores at a very young age on the farm, the beggars and crowding in the city were true reflections. I was surprised they were allowed by the local government, and the movie is rich and sincere for this lack of censorship.
On the whole, I applaud the producers for sticking to the rising-against-the-odds theme of presentation. In my opinion his first victory and how he got there is by far the most uplifting example of courage, determination and endurance. This is not to belittle his monumental later achievements, but they were achieved with good coaching, sponsorship and other spoils that come to all champions. Perhaps his later achivements could have been listed in text at the end before the accolade from Runners World.
I hope to buy a copy for my library. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

VHS version is a disappointment compared to the original.
It had been almost 30 years since I saw this in the theater and looked forward to the VHS version. I was somewhat disappointed because it contains too much "discussion" at the expense of some of the great original footage not included on the VHS release. ... Read more

Description

As this landmark series demonstrates, the cataclysmic effects of World War I last to this day. "The war to end all wars" has influenced the Atomic Age and the Cold War, and is now shaping the conflicts in Bosnia and the Middle East. Period film footage and eyewitness accounts powerfully dramatize the horrors of trench warfare and the chaos of political revolution. History comes alive as The Great War reveals how World War I influenced the rise of communism, witnessed the first use of weapons of mass destruction, and provided a fertile aftermath for the rise of Nazism. Through perspectives from all sides of the war, the series shows how violent events early in this century still cast a dark shadow on life today. Titles include: "Explosion & Stalemate," "Total War & Slaughter," "Mutiny & Collapse," and "Hatred and Hunger & War Without End." ... Read more

Reviews (14)

A Great Disappointment
I am a big Great War buff. It's hardly uncommon to find books and documentaries about the Great War, but they're rare enough --especially in the US, where I live-- that I eagerly look foward to every new book, video, or work of fiction about this subject. I'm so happy to find videos about the Great War, instead of just books, that I often cut them extra slack. Given the calibre of the people who produced it and who lent a hand to the production, "Great War" SHOULD be the Documentary to End all Documentaries, but it's not. Fortunately, I was able to watch this video series at no cost from my local library. I would have probably demanded my money back if I had purchased it.

It's done in the "Ken Burns" style of documentary, with voice actors reading from period correspondence, poems, etc. to give a sense of "living history" and illustrate key themes. However, unlike in Ken Burns' documentary about the American Civil War, we rarely if ever learn the IDENTITIES of these letter writers, what have you. So you'll hear a soldier commenting on the war, or an editorial in the Times commenting on the war, but apart from contextual clues, who exactly the voice actors are trying to portray can be very unclear. (This is more frustrating than it sounds.) Not to mention Ralph Fiennes practically ruined the poetry of Wilfred Owen for me with his snooty, disaffected whine.

As other reviewers have remarked, the treatment of how the war broke out, the battles, the Armstice, and everything is between is very cursory. That would be understandable if this documentary was only 2 hours long, but on four video cassette tapes, it just comes across as sloppy and full of broad generalizations. It does indeed concentrate on "politically correct" events like socialism and feminism that are currently fashionable. It's nice to give voice to neglected facets of the war effort, like the female munitions workers or the African-American soldiers who served alongside the French, but I also would have liked some more standard commentary on weapons and battles. For a documentary of such length, it has a very rushed, incomplete feel.

By far the best thing about this series isn't the pastiche of voice actors and images, it's the interviews with famous (and infamous) Great War historians like Paul Fussell and Niall Ferguson. Hearing Fussell et alibi talk with real passion about their interest in the First World War was great, but it hardly justifies buying "Great War."

An extraordinary documentary at all levels
I'll not presume to bore you with too much detail, but as one man's opinion I thought this documentary was extraordinary. It breaks into chapters that both stand on their own and also intertwine into a comprehensive storyline. It offers an excellent beginning to explain in simple terms how the entire conflict began, and never loses the sight that the war is a series of human casualties as well as tactical gains and losses. With a musical score by Mason Daring which can vary from narrative to heroic to absolutely chilling, and many texts readily available for the more serious devotee of the subject, I give this documentary my highest rating. No longer satisfied with checking it out from my local library, I bought it to own, and consider it one of my best intellectual investments. Enjoy!!

Personal suffering not history
This tape series covers the personal suffering of people in the war. What it does not cover is the history of the war, why it happened,or why it unfolded as it did.

A description of endured suffering and false triumph
While we number them, there was really only one world war in the twentieth century consisting, of two outbreaks of intense fighting separated by twenty years of relative peace. Although when you consider the millions who died in the Soviet Union and China in those years, it is difficult to refer to it as peace. As is mentioned in this tape, the horrors of mass extermination started in the first round of fighting, with the first extermination being the Turkish slaughter of Kurdish civilians on their border with Russia.
This is not an easy tape series to watch, not because it shows so much death, but due to the human face it puts on the dirty, muddy men killing each other. The description is split up into sections, some of which examine the attempts of people to cope with something that it was impossible to cope with for long. The most poignant moment is the description of the mutiny in the French army in 1917. After yet another pointless battle where hundreds of thousands died, most of the army simply refused orders to attack. Coming amidst incredible brutality, it was a rather polite revolt. In general, officers were not killed and no one went on a rampage. They simply refused to attack when they understood (correctly) that it would accomplish nothing more than more death.
The fact of the revolt is not what is surprising, the astonishing part is that it took three years before it happened. As you can see from the images on these tapes, the soldiers lived for years in mud, surrounded by danger, dead bodies and excrement. The best that can be said is that it is a tribute to the resilience of the human body that even that can be tolerated for years.
As difficult as it is to face, the true horrors of war must be examined by all of us. There is no magic solution to the end of wars between humans. However, it is true that understanding the consequences is the first step towards deciding that it is a poor alternative to everything else.

Best Documentary I've ever seen
I watch perhaps more documentaries than is healthy, but I do tend to learn a lot. In my many years of watching I've never found a documentary as well done as this. It's entertaining and disturbing at the same time. The use of photographs and voices in this production are put together quite well and by far surpass any other production I've ever seen. I would definately recommend this to even new students of the war, although this is done well enough to impress even historians who have spent many years in study. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

THOUGHT-PROVOKING!
This video delivers on many levels. It was a nice breath of fresh air to see that alternative methods are being proven successful against traditional medicine in the fight against ADD/ ADHD. I say this for today's children, who are all too often the real victims of society's obsession with prescription drugs, processed foods and artifical flavors. I am grateful to the producers of this film for helping return my little boys to the calm, fun-loving and respectful children they used to be.

Thought-provoking!
This video delivers on many levels. It was a nice breath of fresh air to see that alternative methods are being proven successful against traditional medicine in the fight against ADD/ ADHD. I say this for today's children, who are all too often the real victims of society's obsession with prescription drugs, processed foods and artifical flavors. I am grateful to the producers of this film for helping return my little boys to the calm, fun-loving and respectful children they used to be. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In keeping with the enduring spirit of Frank McCourt's phenomenal bestseller Angela's Ashes, this hour-long documentary is literally a family affair. It's really a home movie, directed by Conor McCourt, the son of Frank's brother Malachy, that has been made public for the many fans of Frank's book and Malachy's own acclaimed memoir, A Monk Swimming. That the film has an amateurish quality in both sound and image only enhances its value as a personal document of primary importance to the McCourts themselves but equally interesting for anyone with a fondness for all things Irish. Through interviews and personal anecdotes, we quickly learn that the four surviving McCourt brothers (Frank, Malachy, Michael, and Alphonsus) are a stalwart bunch, having weathered a family history that is quintessentially Irish. Embittered by an uncaring Catholic church and by the absence of their irresponsible father, they lived with their hardy but chronically depressed mother with an equal blend of abject misery and joyful adventure. (At one point, a tearful Frank later describes this lifestyle as "suffering with good humor" when recalling the indomitable vitality of his neighbors in the town of Limerick.) They were "laners," so-called for their residence on the poverty-stricken lanes of Limerick, where your next meal was never guaranteed and the women known as "shawlies" (so named for their dark shawls) were forced to plead to justify their meager assistance payments.

Three of the seven McCourt children died while still very young--"sheer ignorance" being the cause of their preventable illness, according to Frank. Angela never fully recovered from the loss, and her husband's selfish disappearance into a life of perpetual youth left her to persevere as best she could. But The McCourts of Limerick is far from being a chronicle of sadness; indeed, humor is abundant throughout the film, and each of the brothers has a gift for telling wonderful stories from their eventful pasts. What emerges from this heartfelt, highly personal portrait is a sense of lives well lived, of deep, abiding love throughout the hardship and pain, and a rich appreciation for the kinds of people who, as Frank observes, were able to make "poetic statements about their plight." --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Closure
If you are Irish and have already read Angela's Ashes,you must see this video. I have almost become a McCourt Groupie and I really liked this documentry. The film answers some of the questions that I had when I read the book. Have a go at it db

A trip back in time to relive own my grandparents' triumphs!
"The McCourts of Limerick" is a no-holds-barred, raw, yet deeply personal journey back into the youths of the brothers McCourt. The film's cinematography and emotional sincerity made me feel as though I was actually walking hand-in-hand with my grandfather through the streets of his native village. The laughter, tears, sighs and grins of Frank, Malachy, Michael & Alphie remind viewers of how truly tragic the past century has been for the Irish as a community and how, through love and God-given humor, they have triumphed. The McCourt men are true messengers; Their lessons are both informative and entertaining. The film is a must-have for anyone seeking an understanding into the pain and suffering that drives their Irish ancestors to the point of unstoppable determination and benevolence. Long live the Irish gift for telling it like it is! Slainte!

A touching and humerous must-see.
This video provides a peek into the lives of brothers, authors, and story-tellers Frank, Malachy, Mike, and Alphie McCourt. They recount their childhood dreams and poverty-stricken reality in this 90 minute documentary directed and produced by Malachy's son Connor McCourt. This is an extrodinary video that leaves the viewer in tears from both the humorous and heart-breaking tale of four boys struggling in the lanes of Limerick with an dead-beat alcoholic father, a strong and noble mother, and the deaths of three siblings. This is a must-see for fans of Angela's Ashes and A Monk Swimming! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

A man crouches and pokes at what first appears to be a wad of chewed-up pink bubble gum on the ground. "That's what a scab will do to ya, by God," he says, his voice quavering with emotion. The pink wad is brain tissue from a striker shot in the head by a strikebreaker. That's one of the harsh realities of Harlan County USA. Barbara Kopple's documentary camera looks at this forgotten corner of 1970s America, the site of some of the bitterest labor violence in American history. It's hard to believe that some 40 years after the Depression, there were parts of Appalachia that were hardly better off than they were in the 1930s. The care-worn faces of the miners and their families speak volumes. They're the tough, proud faces of people struggling to make a living the way that their parents and grandparents did in generations past. Kopple skillfully weaves archival footage and traditional labor songs through the film to give a historical perspective to the strike against Eastover Mining Company. Above and beyond the labor issues, the film takes a hard look at the living conditions, health issues, and poverty faced by Harlan's residents, the human toll that goes along with the mining industry. The tense confrontations between Eastover's slimy security goons and the unionizers are particularly gripping, with the threat of violence hanging thick in the air. Sometimes ugly, always absorbing, this is an important, enlightening social record, one that serves the highest calling of the documentary filmmaker's art. --Jerry Renshaw ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Great movie..but not the entire story!
The Movie didnt tell much about the people of Harlan County..Henry Ford first exploited the people here at Wallins KY to mine coal to make coke to make his automobiles..untill then the people of this area were totaly self sufficient and didnt need a thing... most spoke several launguages..and were for the most part more educated than the rest of the US...So Henry Ford decided to do us a favor!..Just goes to show you technology isnt always a good thing!..Would have been a nice add in to the movie I think??...I'm in Harlan County..was here during the strike...and remember my grandparents talking of all the battles here in the 30's....This strike was nothing compared to the Days when "Bloody Harlan " got its name...As far as this movie goes?...Just another average strike In Harlan County*S*

The heart and soul what it is to be a coal miner
Produced and directed by Barbara Kopple, the film crew lived with the miners and their families during that period and were able to somehow get into the heart and soul of what it is to be a coal miner.

There are shots inside the mine where I can almost taste the dust and feel the claustrophobic confines. There's a shot of a woman giving a small child a bath in a tin bathtub and promising that when the strike is over, they might be able to live in a house with a real bathtub and running water. There are the miners' wives who are organizing to take a big part in the strike. And there are labor songs sung with the voices of people who really understand what these songs mean.

Most of all though, it is the faces of the people that I will never forget. There are no professional actors here; all these people are real. They are hollow cheeked, with deep lines etched on their faces and rotted which teeth which have never seen a dentist. Some are already victims of black lung disease. Others speak of husbands and grandfathers who died in mine explosions.

All this is mixed with just the right amount of historical footage to give background. There is no annoying voice over, just an occasional line of writing superimposed on the screen to clarify a point or give specific details. The miners and their families speak for themselves, sometimes directly into the camera, other times among each other.

Because of their thick Kentucky accents, I sometimes found it difficult to get every single word of dialog but this actually added to the authenticity of the video. I found myself moved by their plight, and feeling shivers of emotion throughout.

This stands out as an outstanding film and understand why it won an academy award. Recommended.

One of the best documentaries I've ever viewed...
When I told the librarian I wanted to see a video on coal mining, she handed me "Harlan County." I looked at the date - which indicated that the coal miners' strike featured in the movie took place in the early 1970s and I handed it back to her saying, "No, I'm interested in something with more history in it."

A few days later, I felt impelled to return to the library and get this VHS. I sat down to watch it one morning and could not turn it off. It's compelling, intriguing, educational and emotional. I cried several times, watching the struggle and learning more and more about a coal miner's life.

For the last few months, I've been doing research (in preparation for a book on Sears Homes) about Standard Oil's coal mines in Macoupin County, Illinois in the 1920s. "Harlan County" showed archival footage and presented information that showed what a miner's life looked like - through the ages. Duke Power's coal mines in Harlan County, Kentucky were so backwards and Standard Oil's coal mines in Macoupin County, Illinois were so progressive, that I learned more than I ever expected about early 1900s mining techniques.

The story about the man and the mules is something I'll never ever forget. Or the miner's conversation with the New York policeman. Thank God for the director Ms. Koppel, who was inspired to create this documentary! And for her having the wisdom and foresight to record these old miners' reminiscences of life in the coal mines in the early years of the 20th Century.

Suddenly, all the puzzle pieces from my months of book reading and research came together when I saw these old films and heard the miners talk.

I'll be watching it again and again - with my family, too. And I hope every person who uses electricity in this country will watch it, too.

An interesting aside - in the 1920s in Macoupin County, Illinois, one coal miner died (on average) for every 279,000 tons of coal that was mined. Between 1900-1969, 100,000 miners died in this country. Standard Oil's mines (operated from 1918-1925) in Macoupin County may have been the safest mines in the country, but several men died in those mines, too.

In 1918, Standard Oil of Indiana built 192 Sears Modern Homes for their (mostly immigrant) miners in Macoupin County. (The term "Modern Homes" simply meant that the houses had kitchens, bathrooms, running water, central heat and electricity.)

In 1973, Duke Power's miners in Harlan County were still living in shacks with no running water.

Rose Thornton

Real-Life Rancor
Dirt-poor miners struggle (to the death, in many cases) to unionize against the insurmountably evil coal bosses in this Oscar-winning documentary. Watch in awe (no joke) as simple men, women, and children, exemplify the true meaning of chasing the American dream. After watching "HCU," you'll never complain about YOUR job again. Ever.

Not just a strike against the Coal Operators
Not only does Ms. Kopple's work bring to the table the injustice, served daily, in Harlan, but also displays to the viewer the inner politics of powerful, present-day unions. This film should be required viewing for every Rank and File member of a Union. It should also be required viewing for all management and salaried employees. The management will say, "Good thing I got my degree and I'm not down in the hole with those redneck miners. Haw-Haw-Haw!"

The Salaried Employees will respond: I hate my job, I hate my boss, if I could kill everyone in this office, I would; NO---- Not my boss, "like the Nazis", he's only following orders. Not my co-workers---They're only doing their job and trying to lead a healthy life.

Whom then? Who do we crucify? In every management situation there is an overseer and a slave, in every salaried position, there is an overseer and a slave, AND in every rank and file position there is an overseer and slaves.

Rank and File, Unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains, held by your big union and management Overseers!

Jason ... Read more

Amazon.com

Angola Prison in Louisiana is the biggest maximum security prison in the country. This is where the most dangerous criminals go and where parole hearings are a mere formality. A startling 85 percent of all inmates die inside. A small video crew was given unprecedented access to the inmates, of which six were chosen from 5,000 to give a portrait of life in the facility, also known as "the Farm." Two of the men continue the fight to prove their innocence. Two veterans have found redemption in personal transformations, one man as a prison activist, the other as a preacher. Two men prepare for death--one faces execution, the other is being eaten away by cancer. It's unlikely any of them will emerge from prison alive.

What begins as a traditional documentary transforms into an investigation of the human spirit, of hope in the face of hopelessness. We see the parole board pass judgment before the applicant even makes his case and make their decision before the door has closed behind him. Yet this is not so much a work of investigative journalism as a cultural study. What the viewer comes away with is a glimpse into an almost surreal atmosphere best defined by an incongruously chipper clown who wanders the halls on Christmas Eve to cheer up the prisoners in isolation. On the surface this seems like a well-integrated, safe, supportive environment, but under the surface of normalcy is a mix of doom and hope. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Most Amazing, Inside depth, Prison Documentary!!!
It is no wonder this film took the 1998 Best Film documentary by the National Society of Film Critics,Association, and Oscar- nominated for Best Documentary. The Farm is the incredible and heart wrenching story of six inmates at Americas most infamous Prison...Angola, a former slave plantation spreading across 12,000 acres of Louisiana farmland. Do not miss this movie.......you'll have a greater understanding oif how the system works and a sence of darkness of some lifes, and how the heart can cry out. Once you start watching, you won't want to be disturbed. 5***** all the way. Very touching!

The Farm: Life Inside Angola Prison.
This film is free of Hollywood glamour, and you love it for just that reason. It's a great documentary, and definitely worth the price. About 15 minutes into the film you get that weird sensation in your throat, and have trouble swallowing. Everything becomes clear, from now on you'll be a preacher boy just to keep clear of Angola, and anything that could resemble it.

a very powerful documentary
*Add 1/2 of a star to my rating*

I rank this film up there with my other favorite documentaries such as the "Up" documentaries and Bud Greenspan's Olympic documentaries. The film shows that racism is alive and well in our "justice" system. I was particularly moved by the man who says he was falsely charged with rape and the parole board refuses to hear exculpatory evidence about his case. This film will stick with you for a very long time. It's a shame that consevatives who believe that prison is a joke filled with luxuries ignore films like this.

As a muslim, I wish they had shown the presence of Islam at Angola, for that reason I gave the film 4 1/2 stars.

Gripping documentary detailing the lives of six prisoners
The Farm is easily the best documentary I have seen this year. It takes you on an inside look into the lives of six inmates at Angola State Prison. Ironically Angola was a slave plantation, it now is a maximum security prison. Not like other prison documentaries that I've seen. No preachiness. Just Powerful unintrusive film making. Check this out. It's worth it.

Masterpiece of Non-Fiction Cinema
This outstanding look at the prison system was voted Best Documentary of 1998 by the three major critics groups, and it's easy to see why. You simply cannot walk away from "The Farm" without being touched by it. Originally produced for the A&E cable network, "The Farm" went on to deservedly bigger and better things. It belongs in the company of "Paradise Lost...", "Crumb", "The Thin Blue Line", Spike Lee's "4 Little Girls" and "Hoop Dreams" among other recent greats in nonfiction cinema. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Another fine entry from Dorling Kindersley's Eyewitness series. As with their books and computer software, the video clearly presents and dynamically illustrates numerous facts about those beasts from 65 million years ago. Martin Sheen narrates this program that explores what paleontologists have uncovered in the last 200 years (an important find is made every seven weeks on average). Typical fact: Did you know that all the information on Tyrannous rex is attributed to only a dozen skeletal finds? The varieties of illustrations are truly remarkable: computer graphics, animations, Claymation, even wonderful low-tech models. There's so much here that multiple viewings are necessary (and certainly to be requested by the child). It's keen stuff that adults should find as much fun to watch as the kids. The companion book and CD-ROM are also available. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Toddler Delight
I was amazed but would you believe my 3-yr old loves this video? He starts to whine towards the end - hoping to get an encore presentation. There is just enough dinosaur cartoon, special effects to keep him watching. He quotes from the narrative so he is obviously listening too. On the good side, he has learned several dinosaur names and plenty of obscure facts - on the down side, the tape is only about 30 minutes and he is HUNGRY for dino info (but not very patient with the EyeWitness Dinosaur book yet) so we watch it again and again. If you have a young dino lover consider this video in conjunction with the younger DK books (they come in board book style) or the early reading DK books (we bought a fairly simple Level 2 "I can read" to read together).

Kids love them!
The Eyewitness series is an excellent educational video set for children! My two and four year olds love them. ... Read more

Description

A startling and powerful new film derived from 200 hours of footage, stills & heretofore unpublished music from John Lennon's and Yoko Ono's personal collection. A moving and revealing look at a man who was a musician, artist, writer, poet, and whose fame lives on. 104 minutes. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Wow.
A must for any John Lennon or Beatles fan. Narrated by John, a video diary seemingly begun in 1971 continuing into the 80's, talking about his life from a child, to meeting the Beatles, all the madness surrounding that craze, meeting Yoko, his quest for peace. Accompanied by an appropriate Lennon soundtrack. Includes interviews with Brian Epstein, George Martin, John's Aunt Mimi, first wife Cynthia, Julian Lennon, footage of classic performances, as well as the "rattle your jewelry" quote and the first trip to America and press conferences. John dealing with nutty fans camped outside his house. Really had the heart to help these confused and probably broke hippies. John working in the studio. The madness following the "bigger than the Beatles" comment. Strawberry Fields Forever music video. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds and Yellow Submarine. Revolution and the Vietnam War. The public criticism of John's marriage to Yoko. Yoko helping out in the studio while recording "Oh Yoko." The jerk reporters who attended the bed-in. John and George working on "How Do You Sleep." All the walls they came across during their peace movement. Yoko encouraging John's visual art, and it then being taken from the museum for being "pornographic." Tender moments with Sean, and an interview with teenage Sean. Strange, peculiar, foreshadowing to John's tragic murder. "Where there's life there's hope. My work won't be finished until I'm dead and buried, which I hope won't be for a long time yet." There is even a moment where John and Yoko are going through their mail and find a letter from a psychic predicting John will be assasinated, but in March. This movie could not have been done better. It's amazing to learn all these hardships they went through, not just for them, but for peace, for their fans, and they never once gave up. The power of one man. A visual tribute to a hero, a father, a husband, a musician, a leader, and a man. Have your hankies ready towards the end.

Remember John Lennon 1940 - 1980
December 8, 1980 - New York City
"John Lennon, the guiding spirit of The Beatles, dead tonight at 40."

Those immortal words at the end of the movie bring tears to everyone who was a fan of John Lennon. I remember hearing and seeing that news report from a hospital bed at 6 years old. It was and always will be a tragic memory. The man who resurfaced after a 5 year absence with a powerhouse of music destined for new life had been cut short just a few hours after an interview where he said:

"My work won't be finished until I'm dead and buried. And I hope that's a long, long time."

The long time was 2-3 hours.

The movie is an intimate portrait of Lennon's life and legacy. It exposes the chaos behind the myth, as well as the genius behind the man. With all the tales from friends, associates, Paul, George, Ringo, and George Martin on "The Beatles Anthology," this one focuses on Lennon's life in his own words and home videos. Taken directly from the archives of the man himself, there has never been a better documentary on Lennon. From Liverpool beginnings to the end in New York City, watch the boy become a superstar, the superstar into a man, and the man become a legend.

Remember John Lennon 1940 - 1980

Robert Eldridge (...)

I love John Lennon
Upon John Lennon's death in 1980, thousands and thousands of mourners gathered in new york city and wept together. As I watched grown men break down and young girls bawl their eyes out, I could only do the same. The loss of John from this world is too great a loss to bear and the only thing I can do when thinking of it is weep. All we can do now is cherish his legacy, his message of peace and love and his beautiful beautiful music and pass them on to others.

I am a huge, huge, huge Beatles fan. I own every Beatles record and I have a wall in my room dedicated to them. But John...John went past the Beatles. He was a philosopher, a poet, and a brilliant man. He invented the concept of Bagism, one that I completely understand and live by. He was also one of the most if not the most active peace activists and anti-war human beings this world has ever seen. Few have been more passionately against world wide conflict and worked harder for it to cease. And he did play a part in ending one of the most unnecessary wars this country has ever seen.

This documentary successfully captures the essence of John and gives those who did not know him a small glimpse into who he was. I strongly recommend watching this to any Beatles fan or fan of John Lennon. It is a wonderful, poignant film that will provoke tears from you.

LENNON LIVES ON.

Diva.

A Slice Of Lennon Life!
The Beatles,the bed-in's,the recording sessions and life with
Yoko Ono all as seen through the eye's of John Lennon.No distracting quips from guest Beatles-his sons Sean and Julian
and wifes Cynthia and Yoko provide some potent insights into a
legendary artist.What's most impressing is rare personal footage
of Lennon having his way with a silly reporter during the
bed-in and MORE then holding his own with a angry ex-Beatle fan
reporter who accuses him of being a sellout.You also get to see,
very sudtly,how young MALE Beatle fans early on were just as frusterated by their inability to get close to their favorite
foursome as their heart-throbbing female counterparts!It's often
fun and sometimes compelling to see how John casually snubbed his
nose at authority,told people he found offensive wittily where
to get off and how charitable he seemed to be among his friends,
even how lost and crazy a person he was without Yoko at his side.
So you get EVERY side-the good,the erratic,the witty and the angry side of Lennon in this well rounded documentary.This is
a must for fans everywhere!

The short but successful life of a legendary entertainer
Here is the documentary of John Winston Ono Lennon,a singer,songwriter,musician and one of the biggest-selling artists of all-time(the Beatles). Lennon's life began on October 9,1940 in Liverpool. The brown-haired and brown-eyed entertainer stood 5'11,according to the Capitol Records 1964 album,The Beatles Story. His seaman father abandoned him and his mother when he was a child. After his mother Julia,was killed by a drunk-driving off-duty cop,he was raised by his aunt Mimi. Lennon wrote and recorded JULIA with the Beatles in '68,which was a tribute to his late mother. In 1957,Lennon and Paul McCartney,then teenagers,met for the first time. McCartney came to see Lennon's group The Quarrymen. After a brief get-acquainted conversation,John recruits Paul into the group and then Paul's friend George Harrison joins. Pete Best becomes the drummer and the Beatles were born. Best was later fired,replaced by Richard Starkey aka Ringo Starr. Ringo was formerly drumming for Rory Storme & The Texans. In 1962,after countless performances in Hamburg,Germany and their native England,they score big with their countless compositions and recordings. In 1964,they come to America for the very first time,flying into New York's JFK airport. They appear on the Ed Sullivan show. I believe Peter,Paul & Mary appeared that same night. By 1964,the Beatles were the biggest-selling artists and still are today despite the later passings of Lennon and Harrison. The Rolling Stones were becoming very popular then also. In 1963,John and first wife Cynthia Powell,his college sweetheart,welcome their son Julian. When the Beatles toured,Cynthia and Julian were often in tow. In 1966,John angered many fans at a concert by saying the Beatles were more popular than Jesus Christ. This infuriating comment inspired a bonfire in Alabama,where the angry fans placed their Beatles memorabilia into the fire. John later apologized for the comment,not realizing at the time he made it,it would be upsetting. So the Beatles continued recording but quit touring. This was 1966 and in the fall that year he meets Yoko Ono at an art exhibit at the Indica gallery. See my review for John & Yoko-A Love Story to learn about Lennon's later experiences. This film was theatrically released on October 7,1988,2 days before Lennon's 48th birth anniversary. This film features interviews by Powell(she remarried twice since her divorce from Lennon),Ono,Julian Lennon,Sean Ono Lennon(Julian and Sean are John's sons),and longtime publicist Elliot Mintz. This film was directed by Andrew Solt. There's also a soundtrack album with previously released recordings by Lennon and the Beatles,and a book of the same title which basically is the same as the film. ... Read more

Reviews (114)

How do they....DO that?
Since reading "Into Thin Air", I have become a virtual Everest '96 hound, and this is my first quarry. The IMAX team's goal on Everest was to film David Breashear's expedition in that fateful year, focusing primarily on Ed Viesturs, a seasoned climber from the States, and Araceli Segarra, in her quest to be the first Spanish woman to reach the summit. A lot of attention, deservedly so, is paid as well to Jangbu Sherpa, son of Tenzing Sherpa who accompanied Sir Edmund Hilary in his premier trip to the summit.

And watching these climbers was riveting--ascending sheer sheets of ice, yards high, that look as though they are leaning in towards the climber; crossing bottomless chasms by placing an aluminum work ladder from one side to the other, and using it as a bridge; and feeling (in part through the excellent cinematography) the pull the mountain exerts on them to continue on. But I was floored, completely, by the thought of the cinematic team following along, all the way to the top, regardless of the weight and awkwardness of the equipment. For example, in the aforementioned aluminum ladder scene, shots seem to be taken from each side of the chasm. Had they carried that heavy equipment accross that ladder? And, once they came down from such a difficult and draining climb, they still managed to piece together a marvelous film.

The cinematography, once again, is gorgeous. Shots of the mountain convey not only its beauty, but its terrifying danger, as ice and whirling snow tower over the climbers, as a rescue helicopter wavers, uncertainly, as Liam Nelson explains the scientific impossibility of a helicopter to work in such thin air (it does). Seeing the Icefall alone, I think, was worth the price I paid for the video.

Warning: If you get this movie expecting it to be a documentary covering the Adventure Consultants and Mountain Madness Expeditions, chronicled in "Into Thin Air", you will be disappointed. The IMAX expedition was unrelated to the others, and of course the crew could not predict that those expeditions might yield more interesting, if tragic, results. But the teams do interact with each other when it becomes clear that members are facing unexpected danger. I enjoyed "meeting" many of the folks I had read about.

Finally, "Everest", the film, stands on its own. With a terrific story in Araceli Segarra, wonderful images from Utah and Spain as well as Nepal, and a score assisted by George Harrison melodies, it provides a great armchair journey to the top of the world.

The Harsh realities of Everest
This quote from: mkirkland5@email.msn.com from Champaign, IL "totally portrays Everest as your basic summer vacation". A viewer from Santa Barbara, CA. , May 21, 1999 called Everest a "Fantasy flick" IMAX has only extended the far-fetched dream of Everest to the masses of unexperienced people who might be led to think that climbing Everest is not an exceptional feat. I read these reviews before watching the movie and I can honestly say: The only fantasy in the film is the life the viewer from Santa Barbara is living in. Oh my god, where do I begin? This flick is filled with nothing but harsh atrocities and unbelievable camera angles. Camera crews managed to capture portions of the worst disaster in the history of Mt. Everest. This includes the last conversation between Rob Hall and his wife (7 months pregnant) as they named their unborn baby before Hall's untimely death. If that didn't pull at your heart then you don't have a pulse. The team was forced to cross icy crevices over 25 feet in length over a makeshift aluminum ladder pulled together with some blue rope. Beck (part of Hall's party), nearly lost his life. Instead he wound up losing both hands to frostbite, half of his nose, and two of his toes. And they even had the gruesome before and after closeup photos to punctuate. The loss of life of half of Hall's party. The use of oxygen canisters due to the lack of oxygen. The grueling bike training over the desert. You call this your "basic summer vacation"?!? I'd like to know what do during your summer vacations mkirkland! Then again, maybe not. This film is harsh, period. Anyone who says otherwise like the boneheads above are full of it. I really do not appreciate irresponsible reviews. I, like many others, actually read these reviews and use them to judge whether or not to see a flick.

This film explores the depths of the human soul...
I am professional outdoor/aerial photographer from Alaska who has seen grandeur of mother nature which would make most people cry in utter awe. This movie reminds me of spending quality time at Denali (Mt. McKinley) climber's basecamp at 7,300 feet. With 14,000 to 20,320 foot peaks and the constant rumbling of avalanches all around you, you get a sense of "total sensory overload". This DVD is as real as big mountains get when placed onto the big silver screen or your home TV. The "extra" parts to the DVD make it even more worth buying!

This movie is also a godsend for the tourism in Nepal and Himalayan Region. The sheer maginitude of the Himalayas is shown here on this movie is as deep as the human spirt and as tall as the sky. However, to see this visuals from the elevation these climbers see it, you risk AMS, HAPE, HACE, snow blindness, avalanches and/or most certainly death for any small mistake in judgement.

David Breashers deserves a medal of international honour for making such a masterpiece of a documentary. In addition, I wish pay a great tribute to the late George Harrison for making such awe-inspiring and chilling music scores for the backdrop of this movie. If you were moved this movie on DVD, you owe it to yourself to buy the audio CD soundtrack as well. Every you go where Mother Nature shows off her wonders, take the CD with you and get inspired. When you listen to the audio CD, you can visualize the raw beauty of the Everest region and seens from the DVD in your mind.

May the climbers from the 1996 Everest Disaster rest in peace. Also to all potential Everest climbers, you need to learn from these climbers fatal mistakes before you become a statistic yourself. As Ed Viesturs says regarding risk and climbing, "Getting to the top is optional, getting down is mandatory".

My last words for this review are, "Always respect the power of Mother Nature"....and when out in nature "leave no trace"..

Fatal Attraction
The images in this film are absolutely stunning--crisp, colorful, and so real that they barely seem one-dimensional. The deadly beauty of Everest comes through loud and clear: sheer ice falls; huge chasms that must be crossed by way of precarious stepladders flung across them; avalanches; blizzards; subzero degree temperatures; sheer drops on either side of narrow, narrow trails. One can feels frozen and short of breath watching this film.

But the beauty notwithstanding, what especially intrigues me about the film is the obsession that the mountaineers have to scale Everest. Part of the story of the film details the multiple deaths in a party trapped in a storm on Everest's slope. The leader of the party had a seven-month pregnant wife; all the other slain climbers had loved ones they left behind; the survivors placed rescuers--helicopter pilots and other mountaineers--in jeopardy. Is so much death and threat of death worthwhile? Isn't there a certain point where responsibility for others trumps a desire to stand on the "top of the world"? The film doesn't explore these questions, nor the issue of why so many people have such a compulsion to scale Everest. I wish it had, because I found myself both captivated by the mountain's beauty and angered by the wanton disregard for life displayed by the climbers.

A Collector's Item
I have 7 Everest DVD's and this is definitely at the top end of the collection. All the extras on the DVD also make very interesting viewing and you cannot help but feel total admiration for anyone who attempts the Everest challenge, whether it is being a cook at Base camp or oen of the elite that actually manages to reach the summit. I recommend this to anyone old enough to understand it. Great stuff!! ... Read more