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 intellectual development.

Engaging and Educational
The American Experience is an excellent series on PBS. In my opinion, Malcolm X: Make It Plain, is one of the best of the entire series. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A MUST HAVE FOR JORDAN FANS
One Word: Bestsportsvideoever.

Awesome highlights from his early years. The dialogue from this video and the calls of the announcers will stick in your head. If you play basketball, Every time you touch a basketball you will try to immitate highlights from this video. If you are a Michael Jordan fan, you absolutely MUST have this video. If you aren't a Michael Jordan fan, you still should have it. Best sports video I have ever seen. If you are a Michael Jordan fan, you will not be able to take this tape out of your VCR.

AIR JORDAN'S BEST VIDEO BY FAR!!
This is easily the best NBA video around.I wasn't sure at first but when I watched Jordan's gravity defying dunks and shots it blew me away!It has got more spectacular highlights than any other NBA video I have ever seen.It starts off with Jordans childhood on the baseball field,then his brilliant college days,then to the best stuff...his early days in the NBA where he earned lots of awards.Made before he stunned the world by leading the Bulls to a double three-peat,this tape captures the glory days of both slam-dunk contests,his injury and how he came by it to become the best player ever,all his dunks,lay-ups and game winners,his success in the olympics in L.A,and his own commentary on what it was like to be such a star performer.There is also some footage of his greatness at golf aswell.Only one dissapointment,not enough footage of his All-Star games.I ordered this over-seas because Britain dosent sell NBA videos.Also great service from Amazon.Buy this if you are an NBA fan and want to witness the greatest player ever...AIR JORDAN!

THE BEST SPORTS VIDEO EVER !
This is the number one selling sports tape of all time.

I used to watch this tape everyday and I know the hold tape

by voice threw. This is not even my tape when I moved from

my old neighborhood I kept his Jordan tape from my friend.

Even if you don't like Jordan you will find youself captivated

by his work ethic abilities and achievements. This tape is

addicting you will find yourself watching it late at night for

no reason. This tape can also inspire you to workout or if

you want to get hype for a local church tournament.The piano

part at the very begining is also nice. MICHAEL JORDAN COME FLY

WITH ME THE BEST SPORTS VIDEO EVER .I hope they put this classic

on DVD!

The Best Jordan Video of All
I have seen almost all of the Michael Jordan videos yet Come Fly With me is special. This is the only video that captures the essence of Michael Jordan in his prime. Jordan was definitely most breath-taking to watch when he consistently went for the daring lay-ups and the spectacular dunks. This video was filmed before Jordan was a world icon and doesn't contain all the scrutiny and controversy that is present in such videos as Above & Beyond and Air Time. If you are all about the highlights, this is your video.

My favorite Michael Jordan video
I have a few Michael Jordan videos and "Come Fly With Me" is definitely my favorite. Just about the whole video is full of awesome highlights. "Come Fly With Me" starts out by telling of how Jordan grew up playing basketball and baseball, then it gets to the good stuff. It shows footage from some of his college games all the way to the 1988 All-Star Game and Slam Dunk Contest. It tells about his injury at the beginning of the 1986 season and how he rebounded from it and became an even better player. You'll also hear a lot of insight from Michael's parents and even see some highlights of him playing golf in the offseason.

If you're a Michael Jordan fan and you like seeing a lot of highlights that only Jordan himself could make, then you need to get "Come Fly With Me." It probably has more dunking and other gravity-defying highlights on it than any other Michael Jordan video out there. ... Read more

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This animated time-travel adventure features a stellar cast and is a delight for kids and adults alike. When Matt, a black teenager, has to go on a class field trip to the museum of Martin Luther King Jr., he thinks that he'd rather play baseball. But the trip turns into an exciting adventure when he and his best friend, Randy, who's white, are sent back in time to meet Dr. King.

The story is also remarkably moving, as Matt and Randy learn what Dr. King did for humanity, and come to see him as a real person, not a historical figure. Matt and Randy experience segregation firsthand when they aren't allowed to eat on a train together. Together, they witness the bus boycott, the Birmingham riots, and the "I Have a Dream" speech. They discuss the theme of "non-violent resistance" with their new friend Martin and the work of Ghandi in India. As King tells Matt, "We must meet hate with love. It will take time, but somebody's got to start." Authentic historical footage blended with animation make this an excellent choice for teaching kids about the legacy of Dr. King. --Elisabeth Keating ... Read more

Reviews (26)

"Pick of the Month" of Good Housekeeping Mag., Feb. 1999
Good Housekeeping Magazine has selected this video as their "Pick of the Month". I have not seen it, but would love to take a look at it as something to possibly share with my six-year-old and her first grade class. GH writes: "Coinciding with Black History month is the debut of this appealing, made-for-video movie, a child's-eye look at the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. "OF,M" combines animation and documentary footage of the civil rights leader to tell the story of two boys who magically travel back in time and meet King at various points in his life. The production features the voices of such stars as Angela Bassett, Danny Glover, Whoopi Goldberg, James Earl Jones, Susan Sarandon, Oprah Winfrey, and LeVar Burton as King." This sounds like a potential winner to me!

Good Movie, but too Intense for young children
My 6 year old daughter came home very upset after viewing the movie at school. The movie is very intense and portrays ALL White people as bad! The real life footage is too deep for young children to assimilate. If you let your kids watch the Simpsons, then they will enjoy the Cartoon Characters. As an adult, I did enjoy the movie, though I would never have let my child watch it without being present to explain everything. She said MLK touched her heart, but she now has nightmares because she is so upset about him being killed, and ALL white people being so very mean. I think this movie would be more appropriate for 6th graders and up.

A gem!
This is an excellent educational video. I agree with other reviewers that it is not appropriate for young viewers. However, as a fifth grade teacher, my students were fully capable of handling the presentation and the discussions that we had before and after.

This video truly encourages children to think about the choices they make. Not only does it make Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. someone a child can relate to, but it explores the idea that one person can make a difference. It urges children to stand up for the right thing even when it is difficult.

yuck
I've been forced to watch this film every year for the past five years at school. This movie is probably the stupidest thing to ever grace the Earth. If you are going to teach kids about the civil rights movement than do it right, show them a documentary or a realistic film. This movie is a real joke and the characters suck.

Informative and Interesting for my 4 yr old
I watched this on DVD with my 4 yr old son. He was VERY interested and really liked the movie. He understood immediately that the show was NOT saying that all White people are bad, that in fact skin color is a very silly thing to judge people by.

It was refreshing to see a show on the Civil Rights movement that did not show The Selfless and Heroic White Man coming in to save and protect the apathetic and helpless minorities, but instead portrayed the courage and determination of the people who had engaged in the struggle for freedom for years... centuries.

It gave was a good portrayal of the attitudes and realities that made the Civil Rights struggle so difficult, desperate, and dangerous. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

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

Description

Adapted for the screen from the autobiography he wrote with Alex Haley's assistance, Malcolm X is a stirring portrait of the man whose life has become a rallying cry for millions. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A Great Portrait of a Man
A truly well crafted documentary where excerpts from Malcolm X's autobiography and footage of his speeches drive the narrative. This is about as close to capturing the spirit of Malcolm X as well as the cultural climate in which he operated as you can get. There is no obtrusive narrator or newsperson offering up their slanted view of Malcolm X here. Archival footage is used to flesh out the scenes Malcolm X desribes in his autobiography, from his childhood to Boston, Harlem, Birmingham, and Mecca. There are also numerous vintage interviews with with Betty Shabazz, Elijah Muhammad,Philbert X, Ella Collins Little, James Farmer and many others. From the opening of the film with Billy Holiday's STRANGE FRUIT to Ossie Davis' eulogy, this is truly the film to watch if you want to see Malcolm X's incredible journey to becoming El Hajj Malik El-Shabazz and the impact he made upon America and the world.

Straight, no chaser
This is raw (in all senses of the word) footage of Malcolm X without much narration. Reading the biography will help put everything into context. But once you're familiar with what's going on, it becomes all the more fascinating. Enjoy.

"Malcolm X-His own Story" Great Hit
Malcolm X ( Denzil Washington)starts as a bad boy and finally gets caught steeling and goes to jail. In jail he meets a guy who is a strong follower of Alijah Muhhamed. He sees the light and becomes a speaker for them when he gets out of jail. The movie is great and slows down a little in the end. I recommend it to anybody who wants to see a great movie about Malcolm X.

The Real Malcolm X
This is an outstanding documentary... mostly all film footage of Malcolm X in his own words. He pulls no punches in his indictment of the slavery/segregation experience of the black people at the hands of the white power structure. With equal moral force, he indicted the NOI leader for his sexual affairs. After his pilgrimage to Mecca, he had a new vision of how white people could overcome their evilness. Knowing that he was soon to be killed, he stood his ground and spoke his truth even as the bullets ripped through his body. He was truly an Islamic teacher and visionary of the first order. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

There are many remarkable things about the documentary 4 Little Girls. Spike Lee's striking, beautifully realized film is a cinematic lesson of what kind of material is better suited to the documentary format. In his first documentary, Lee shares an attribute of Ken Burns: the major event in his documentary is not seen on camera. Except for four quick glimpses of black-and-white autopsy photos, the picture stays clear from the bombing. Lee remains with the faces, the girls' friends, families, and the historic figures of the era. They've all grown up since the bombing but their memories haven't faded.The vital facts of the case are certainly here: the troubled history of Birmingham, the court proceedings, friends' last run-ins with the girls. What touches us deeper though are those witnesses telling us of living through the core era of segregation and bigotry: a father explaining to his child why she can't have a sandwich in a cafeteria and a woman offering up tears of past events. There's even an interview with George Wallace, the prince of segregation, that belongs in a David Lynch feature.Lee's film asserts the bombing energized the civil rights movement and when the voice of America, Walter Cronkite, echoes those sentiments, you believe he may have it right. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (21)

America's Embarrassment . . . . Where were you?
Spike Lee has struck a cord in this classic work. Poignant portrayals of racism in 1964 as 4 Little Girls are brutally murdered in the Birmingham church bombing by the KKK. I was 4 years old living in an all white community in rural Ohio. I didn't even know these things were happening and I am embarrassed and outraged at the ignorance and stupidity of those involved. The scars the community and a nation carried from that moment on will last a lifetime for those who lived and relived the beautiful memories and the horror of the deadly event in the interviews provided in this documentary. The pain, sorrow and powerful message will affect the lives of anyone who views this picture. This should be required viewing for all school aged children so we can work to eliminate hatred and encourage a celebration of diversity in America.

4 Little Girls superb documentary
Spike Lee's 4 Little Girls was briefly released to theaters in 1997 to qualify for Oscar contention as Best Documentary. It was first broadcast nationwide on Home Box Office. It is a remarkably clear-eyed telling of an incendiary tale--how four young black girls, ages 11 to 14, were killed in a 1963 bombing in Birmingham, Alabama.

I hesitate to compare 4 Little Girls to Schindler's List, and yet it has that same quality of being a restrained, dignified recounting of an emotional incident. Spike Lee had been wanting to tell this story since before he became a noted filmmaker, and Lee brings all of his remarkable talents to bear. The movie is not flashy, just quietly gripping.

Lee frames the incident within the bigger picture of the Southern civil rights movement, particularly as it took place within an inflamed Birmingham. We see the town's police commissioner, Bull Connor--described by one interviewee as "the dark spirit of Birmingham"--keeping order in town while driving a tank painted white, an image that is sure to bring gasps to those who aren't familiar with the full story (which, I humbly admit, included me). And we see a repentant Gov. George Wallace, dragging a reluctant black colleague on camera so that Wallace can introduce him as "my best friend in the world." (Notably, the "friend" looks quite unconvinced.)

It is that Wallace footage that might seem the most showy in a documentary otherwise bereft of editorializing. But it seems right to include the footage after seeing how the segregationist tactics of Wallace and others led indirectly to the deaths of Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, Addie Mae Collins, and Cynthia Wesley. Using little more than home movies and interviews with surviving family members, Lee brings the dead girls back to life and shows us that, when racial stereotypes are accepted and even honored, individual tragedies are the result.

Mostly, the story is told through simple, heartbreaking facts. Chris McNair tells us of the day he had to explain to his daughter Denise how she was taken by the aroma of a cooking hamburger at a lunch counter but could not eat there because she was black. And the film comes full circle by pointing out the inexplicable resurgence of black church bombings in the 1990's.

Most of the victims' relatives, understandably, become quite emotional on-camera. It can't have been easy to reopen these old wounds, but 4 Little Girls makes you grateful that they endured their pain to do it. I only wish the movie had been up for Best Picture, as it is worth a dozen L.A. Confidential's.

4 Little Girls is rated TV-14 for violence, brief nudity, and racial epithets.

Great, but.....
Having been to Birmingham numerous occasions and having met Mr. Chris McNair (who is now a county commissioner) as well as Carolyn McKinstrey, who also appears in this film (she was a survivor of the church bombing), I pretty much knew the story, but was pleased with the way it was told. A really fascinating segment for me was seeing the actual home movie of Denise Mc Nair and a couple of the other girls. Good job Spike. This is by far his best film.

The DVD extras are very good, particularly the pathetic interview with the notorious George Wallace uncut. Poor Ed (see the film and you'll understand that last statement).

Only minor complaint is that there isn't a scene selection on the DVD. You'll have to watch it all the way through. Also, it would be nice if some mention was made of Johnny Robinson and Virgil Ware (the two little boys who were also killed on that fateful Sunday, which is another story waiting to be told).

But that aside, it's great that Spike did this while so many of those who were around to remember all this are still alive. This is history that needs to be seen.

a great documentary
I'm actually watching the special features on this disc right now, and the "making of" special is as well done as the film. This is a powerful and moving film about people before, during, and after a great tradedy. The stars of this film are the parents and friends of these children.

One of the most startling things is an interview with violent segregationist George Wallace. Much like Micheal Moore handing the mike to Charleton Heston, the rope is handed over, and Wallace just hangs himself with it. Like Heston, he is old and outdated, illogical and mostly just old. You look at this old old man and you feel a strange pity, because he is so old and small and insignificant.

Absorbing and heart-rendering...
Spike Lee's _Four Little Girls_ is a masterpiece of continuous stream interview documentary of a period that Birmingham would like to forget, but with which it has yet to come to terms. No holds are barred in the recounting of the 1963 Sixteenth Street Church bombing, which forever changed the face of the Civil Rights struggle in the U. S. By interviewing the remaining family members, Lee brought home not only the human suffering of the surviving families, but made the world wonder what universal loss we all experienced in the deaths of these 4 little girls.

I had the honor of attending the world premiere of this film in 1997 at the invitation of the McNair family at the historical Carver Theatre in Birmingham, Alabama. Seeing the historical film footage of places I knew myself as a child in that city, seeing the anguish again on the face of dear friends as they recount identifying their dead daughter, and knowing the effects this tragedy has had in Birmingham and elsewhere in the 40 years since it occurred made this much more than a historical documentary for me.

Its effect will be the same for you as well, I think, and well worth having this film as part of an American non-fiction collection. ... Read more

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The A&E Biography of Nelson Mandela tells, in clear, complete, and exciting detail, the story of the man who dedicated his life to the struggle to end the domination of the black race by the whites in South Africa. Through interviews with colleagues and scholars and wonderful historical footage, we learn both about Mandela's amazing life story and the sweeping transformation that his nation has undergone.

The son of a tribal chief, Mandela was groomed for leadership in the countryside, far from urban racial tensions.When he ran away to Johannesburg as a young man, he was shocked by the violent inhumanity of apartheid, the government-enforced policy of racism.He soon became involved with the African National Congress (ANC), which was working to overturn this unjust and oppressive system.In response to their campaign of civil disobedience and sabotage, he and other ANC leaders were arrested, tried and sentenced to life imprisonment on Robben Island, South Africa's Alcatraz.

Against all odds, Mandela continued to fight apartheid from inside one of the world's harshest prisons, himself becoming a universal symbol of freedom.His release, after nearly three decades, electrified both his country and the world. At age 75, he was elected president in a landslide victory.It was Mandela's iron will and unshakable belief in the inevitability of his cause that made it possible for a man once imprisoned as a dangerous traitor to lead a nation. --Laura Mirsky ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Greatest Freedom Fighter of all Time!!
Nelson Mandela is probably known as one of the greatest freedom fighters of all time as wonderfully told and illustrated on this A&E Biography.It's a must see!!Nelson,we all love you!! ... Read more

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The neo-pop divas of the late 20th century may have turned up the glamour, and a few even introduced formidable technical prowess, epitomized by Mariah Carey's seemingly helium-induced falsetto (the bane of canine fans everywhere) or Celine Dion's breast-beating, stentorian climaxes.Yet only a few verses from an earlier, charter member of the first-name-only club provides instant perspective: when Ella opened her mouth, that perfectly pitched, luminous voice could leap octaves without breaking a sweat, its tonal purity and immaculate phrasing creating that illusion of "effortlessness" achieved only through true artistry.

Writer-director Charlotte Zwerin performs similar sleight of hand with this beautifully composed documentary, originally produced for public television's American Masters series.Created nearly four years after Ella Fitzgerald's death, Zwerin's film uses the lush voice and superb repertoire of "the First Lady of Song" to provide continuity while assembling convincing, if composite, narrative quotes gleaned from various interviews. The latter are noteworthy given the singer's lifelong modesty and insistence on privacy. Archival footage of early performances, as well as later television appearances, capture Ella's pilgrimage from Depression-era New York, through her discovery at the Apollo Theater and subsequent emergence as a swing vocalist and on to her long career as a matchless pop and jazz stylist.

Tony Bennett is a sympathetic narrator, while added affection and insight are provided through interviews with some of the myriad jazz titans that accompanied her. Yet, ultimately, it's Ella's music, generously featured throughout, that proves most eloquent. As one of her definitive Gershwin favorites put it, "'Swonderful." --Sam Sutherland ... Read more

Reviews (11)

ELLA WAS AND STILL IS THE FIRST LADY OF SONG
Something To Live for is filled with some of the best moments in popular music, I really enjoyed the duet with Frank and Ella ''the lady is a tramp'', she was one of the best, this dvd
is informative and enjoyable, if you're a fan of jazz or just getting into it this dvd is a must, THE FIRST LADY OF SONG
will be missed but never forgotten.

Ella, the BEST
Many things have been written about Ella Fitzgerald. She is my darling. I have been enjoying Ella's voice and swings for many years now and I just cannot get enough. This video has brought Ella much closer to me. It is extremely well done and most enjoyable. My only wish is to have seen her singing "Love for Sale" live (I wish that was on the video too). Anybody will be moved by this Grand Lady's story and voice. Ella is eternal.

"SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR" IS ELLA'S VOICE!!!!!
Luckily I was able to see Ella In Concert numerous times throughout the 70's and 80's and was honored to have her autograph two L.P.'s by her limousine after a concert she gave at the Junior College I attended at the time in 1972!! Ella was kind and gracious and that quailty plus her brilliant artistry really come throught and shine in this stunning documentary of her life and career!!! Tony Bennett is the perfect choice to narrate this American Masters production and his love of Ella comes through and adds alot of soul to the special. Performance footage is ultimately what becomes breathtaking to experience here and when Ella sings the classic "Something To Live For" it is breathtakingly beautiful and completely haunting. The use of concert footage from the various stages of her career show that Ella found joy in sharing her gift with her audience and songs like "For Once In My Life" become life experiences that become emotionally engrossing as well as being technically brilliant. This American Masters special is a keeper so anyone who loves Ella get this one fast as this is the best available on this wonderous and gifted talent!! BRAVO ELLA!!!

a must all the way
can't ever say enough about Ella Fitzgerald She is truly one of the Greatest Voices that I have ever heard.this DVD Captures so many elements of Her&you can't ever get enough once you are listening too Her Range&the way She handles the material.Highly Enjoyable.Classy like the Lady Herself.

Musically, smooth as silk.
I grew up watching Ms. Fitzgerald in the glass-shattering "Memorex" commercials which are included in this DVD. Even at that age her voice was something to behold. The quintessential Ella moment comes three minutes into the DVD- after the credits- as she flawlessly renders the torch song "Lover Man" dressed in basic black. This documentary captures Ella's golden era- before the various medical problems. As was mentioned earlier the documentary itself has gaps, as certain years and decades are skimmed over and not all scenes are identified or captioned. But music and singer are stunning, showing a buoyant, incredibly shy woman, beautifully full of figure, whose silky voice positively resonates. There are also clips of a 1979 interview from Andre Previn and marvelous recollections from her bandmates- including one who remembers her being able to break into song on the tour bus and silence all of her fellow musicians. (The song heard is Duke Ellington's "Azure Mood"). The TV show clips are what you really want to see: performances with Nat "King" Cole, Bing Crosby, Mel Torme', Dinah Shore and Joan Sutherland, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and most memorable a parry-and-thrust duet with Frank Sinatra on "The Lady Is A Tramp" from his 1967 special. A platinum time capsule of a timeless perfomer. ... Read more

Amazon.com

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

Reviews (5)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

a great speech
the power of mr king's words are timeless.they have shaped and influenced the world.it's a shame that to often only the excerpts of the speech are ever broadcast.the whole speech needs and deserves to be heard.the man had a vision for a better future for all.he has left a life lasting impression on me.this video is history and will last thru the end of all time.a must have for all people that respect human life.

Most effective speech ever
I have heard reference to this famous speech many times over the years but I had never seen the entire speech. After seeing the entire speech for the first time it was easy for me to conclude that this is the best speech ever given by any public speaker with respect to: -sense of urgency created -references for all stakeholders -appropriate emotion and sincerity -skillful use of voice (tone, inflection)

I recommend this speech to anyone who is interested in seeing a very skilfull speaker. In addition, the subject matter of the speech is moving and relevant to many of the issues facing America today. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good solid film
Jesse Owens is a Hero.he stood Hate in the Face&Looked it down and was a Champion not only of Sport but of Human Rights.Dorian Harewood a Good Actor who i have seen in countless films does a solid job here.

Great story... is it all true?
I am a major fan of Jesse Owens, and this film is definitely for fans. Dorian Harewood portrays Jesse very well, but almost in a god-like perfection. Of course, biographies are supposed to emphasize good qualities, but this film leaves you wondering if Jesse Owens had any bad ones. Still a very good film, and an excellent way to introduce people who don't know about him to a great role model, a great athlete and world class human. ... Read more

Product Description

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

Reviews (3)

Aunt's review
In black and white throughout and this turned off my nephew from the beginning - "It's for grown-ups." (Although I realized the older sports clips might be in black and white, and had told him so, I was surprised that parts of the video did not change to color - the box was in high color and does not state that the video is B and W.) Overall content is good with a motivational story line and a marvelous collection of the high spots that show the range of Jordan's immense talent. A great item to add to or to start a collection. Just not a good video to grab a child's interest.

The way basketball was meant to be played
A ballet on the basketball court. It motivates you to do your best. The art of dunking reaches a new level.

Exciting action, thought-provoking message!
I use this video as a basis for instructing motivation, values, and goal setting. And the action shots are phenomenol! MJ turns basketball into a ballet... ... Read more

Reviews (1)

boxings best champions
It takes you inside the life of a champion.It show you the way a champion is living and give you a rear chance too see the best boxers in the world put their titels on the line.It`s weary exciting and i do belive any boxing man will enjoy this series of the champs of the world.. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Classic Hoops!
to Me this was the last of Great Baseketball.what happen to fast Breaks&Running?? Teams just don't move like this anymore.Magic Johnson is the Baddest Player I've seen over the past 20 years to me.Him&The Lakers were something else to see back in the day.Enjoyable from start to finish.Magic was like ALL-State you knew you were in Good Hands.Magic is one of the Greatest Ever&this Video will showcase that&More.

Still showtime...
I have this one since 1994, and I watch it from time to time and I always get the same good feeling. An outstanding video for all the fans and no-necessarily-fans of the NBA and Magic. Extremely well filmed and narrated -voice of Danny Glover-, this is much much more than just a sports video. I have it on "my golden shelf". If you are a lover of the game or just curious about it or about him, you can't miss this one.

It's Showtime!
Earvin "Magic" Johnson is without a doubt one of basketball's greatest players and one of the greatest winners of his era! This video has some of Magic Johnson's greatest plays and achievements. Follow Magic Johnson as he wins a high school, NCAA, and NBA championship in a four year span, including his legendary performance as a rookie in game 6 of the '80 NBA finals. Follow him in his first historic meeting with Larry Bird in the '79 NCAA championship! Watch Magic run the fast break in showtime fashion from his days with the Lakers making spectacular passes like he can only make! From 1980-1991 (eleven years) Magic has been to the NBA finals nine times and won the championship five times. See how Magic helped revitalize a once dying NBA into one of the most successful franchises it is today. If you are a basketball fan, then this is the film for you!

Magic is Magic
Magic Johnson is the greatest to ever play basketball. I haven't seen this video, but I've seen Magic playing and I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy seeing him destroying every defense in the league as he always did.

MAGIC!
EXCELLENT VIDEO about the BEST and most amazing basketball player ALL-TIME! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Produced as the title segment to a six-part series, this 90-minute documentary traces the evolution of jazz from its 19th-century origins in New Orleans's Congo Square, where slaves first introduced American listeners to the complex rhythms and earthy textures of African music.How that cultural diaspora combined with European and American folk, classical, and popular styles to become jazz, "America's classical music," is an oft-told tale, but it's handsomely served here by an intelligent script shaped by veteran jazz journalist Chris Albertson, and a well-chosen array of performances:Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Willie "the Lion" Smith, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, Jimmie Lunceford, Charles Mingus, Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Sarah Vaughan, and Gil Evans all appear, representing as complete a pantheon of major innovators and influences as could be hoped for.Period footage, including both stills and rare film clips, and interviews with musicians and scholars round out a portrait equally appropriate for hard-core jazz fans and novice listeners looking for a point of entry. --Sam Sutherland ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Fantastic Overview of Jazz
The best 90-minute look at jazz you can imagine. I used this in my music class and the kids were engaged all the way. Interviews are to the point and fun, clips are great. Hard to imagine a better succint treatment of the history of jazz. Highest recommendation!

This is one great video of golden era jazz.
The samplings are wonderful[esp. Willie the Lion Smith and Sarah Vaughn],but the commentary does justice to all the included muscians as well as the history of jazz in general.I could watch this video ten times in ten days and not get tired of it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

You know how it goes. You hear about what a sensation someone likeJosephine Baker was in her prime (in her case, the 1920s and '30s), how she pushed boundaries in such delicate areas as race and sex, how she boththrilled and scandalized Paris with her exotic dancing and personalbehavior. You have all these loose strands of legend and random fact, yourcuriosity is running high, and then you hear that a feature film is being made about the very subject. You watch, andthen wonder: what was the big deal about Josephine Baker? The problem withthis 1991 TV movie is the same as with a number of HBO films from the 1980s and early '90s: it isn't particularly well written, the production looks rushed, and the entire point is obscured in a whirl of biographicalmaterial that doesn't sufficiently develop into insightful, organic unity. WhatThe Josephine Baker Story does do, however, is provide a referencepoint from which to begin an appreciation of Baker's life. A poor,African American girl from St. Louis, Baker found fame and wealth in Europe as a dancer whose partially nude, unbridled performances invoked wit, sexual liberation, and passion--without, somehow, seeming vulgar orobscene. As Baker, Lynn Whitfield gets into the uninhibited spirit of things,free with her body and enthusiastic about re-creating many of hercharacter's performances (yes, the famed Banana Dance is a highlight). Thefilm superficially suggests that Baker was celebrated as an expressiveartist, a healthy force of nature rather than a lewd exhibitionist, but itdoesn't go far enough down that road to tell us why she matters. Somewhatbetter is the script's contrasting emphasis on Baker's celebrity overseasand her second-class status as a black woman in America. In the end, thefilm's real accomplishment is underscoring how racism truly determines thecourse of an individual's life, and the way Baker understood that both from the vantage point of a refugee and a victim. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Probably wouldn't have worked with kiwi fruit
THE JOSEPHINE BAKER STORY is a fast-forward, 2-hour plus life synopsis of the celebrated black entertainer from 1917, when she was eleven and running from murderous racial violence in St. Louis, to her death in 1975 in Paris. Lynn Whitfield stars in this HBO production.

The film manages to catch the key points of her life: early vaudeville gigs in the U.S. as a very young girl, notoriety as an exotic dancer in 1920's Paris, rise to major world stardom in the late 20's/early 30's, disastrous return to the U.S. entertainment circuit in the late 30's, French Resistance war hero, a near-fatality from peritonitis, entertainer of U.S. troops in North Africa, post-war civil rights champion back in the U.S., loving mother of a dozen, adopted, multi-racial children on her French estate, financial destitution in the late 60's, and resurrection in the 70's with the help of Prince and Princess Rainier of Monaco.

Since TJBS covers so many decades and events in such short a time, much is lost: the marriage to her first and third husbands (Willie Wells and Jean Lion respectively), her brief film career, her stint as a Red Cross nurse after the Nazi occupation of Belgium, her many legal imbroglios, her late-life relationship with American artist Robert Brady, and her presence in the 1963 Washington D.C. civil rights march led by Martin Luther King. Sometimes the viewer feels shortchanged, as when the scene shifts from late 30's New York to wartime France to 1942 North Africa in the blink of an eye. (Don't go to the kitchen for that pastrami sandwich and beer - you may miss something.)

The gorgeous Whitfield is sparkling as Josephine, who's always driven to rise above her skin color, and, during different periods of her life, either manipulated or manipulative, selfish or generous, and insensitive or loving. And HBO doesn't shrink from depicting Baker's most notorious and exotic routine, the Jungle Banana Dance, in which she performs naked except for a girdle of bananas around her loins. We're talking full-frontal, topless, nudity here (which scores high in my book, Male Pig that I am).

Perhaps the best feature of the movie is its emphasis on Baker's relationship, from 1926 to 1936, with the Sicilian Pepito Abatino (Ruben Blades), who styled himself a "count" and served as Josephine's lover and manager. If the script is to be believed, it was his persistent effort and canniness that transformed Josephine from a simple cabaret dancer to world class star by pushing her to diversify her talent. In any case, the majority of the Web bios of Baker that I've read don't give Abatino the credit he's apparently due, much less even mention him at all.

David Dukes is excellent as jazz bandleader Jo Boullion, Josephine's fourth husband, who separated from her in 1957 after ten years of marriage, ostensibly due to her extravagant lifestyle and penchant for adopting every homeless child that she stumbled across.

Despite its occasional unevenness, THE JOSEPHINE BAKER STORY is both excellent entertainment and an instructive piece about a scintillating entertainer virtually forgotten by large chunks of the American public.

A magnificent film
This film is fantastic. I have scene this film many times,Yet I never get tired of it.Lynn Whitfield as Ms. Baker is phenomenal, she deserved more than just an Emmy for her protrayal. This movie captures the intricate and eccentric sides of Josephine Baker.

Beautiful Cinamatic masterpiece
There are very few times that a movie can hold a flame to the life of the actual person that is intended to be portrayed but this movie does just that. It gives the ultimate respect and dignity that an artist of this calibur truly deserves. Her life is artfully displayed through from her turbulant rise to fame to her rocky downfall. It is a movie that can be enjoyed on all too many levels and should be marked as an ethereal masterpiece.

a must see
ms.baker broke ground and was an incredible entertainer.it's a shame that she had to make a living overseas but the film shows the ignorance and racist vibes that she had to encounter.lynn whitfield not only does a great job in the lead but she looks good as well.this is history.

Heartwrenching erotic saga
I found "The Josephine Baker Story" to be a very good video biography of the famous yet infamous Josephine Baker. This film brought this erotic icon to the suface for all to see and love. Lynn Whitfield gave a five star performance, and her vivid portrayal of the star indulges ones curiousity about Ms. Baker, this movie is definitely a keeper if I ever did see one. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Could have just bought an AUDIO cassette!
This video is very "skinny" on actual video footage of Malcolm. It's well done as far as the quality of the footage (audio and video), however, you could buy an audio cassette and in some ways get much more for your money. I was hoping for a series of full speeches and interviews but what I got was short clips disbursed between audio played over civil rights movement footage.

My suggestion: rent it from the library and decide for yourself whether it's worth buying.

Superb speaking, good clips, should have been more
Malcolm X was as close as the 20th century gets to a master of all the aspects of rhetoric, from tight logic to raw power of delivery, and from shrewd audience analysis to deep pathos. These speech clips give you a chance to see why. Several major speeches are represented, and there are especially good clips from the Jesse Gray rally and from his probably-best-single speech, "the Ballot or the Bullet" (Audubon Ballroom March 29 1964). Editing is smooth and intelligent -- and excessive, because there could easily have been 20 instead of 10 minutes out of "Ballot or Bullet", and there is only one clip from one of his many speeches on Islam, where at least three would be needed to represent the major periods in his thought. His speech against the draft and against enlisting is excellent, also; for a good example of how fine he was at extemporaneous work, see his replies to television interviewers.

There are a couple of speeches overlaid with nostalgia footage, but those may have been ones for which no visual track was available; some background hiss and rumble suggests they were originally recorded on audio tape.

Clips generally don't suffer much from internal cuts and are usually clearly labelled. This would be a five star tape if there were just twice as much of it -- which there should have been. Bring out volume II!

Good Material (short video)
For people looking for archival footage of Malcolm X -- this is a good start. The video features film and audio of the great leader Malcolm X -- mostly as excerpts from some of his famous speeches. While the video is great because it is packed solid with Malcolm X and no supplementary nonsense, it is very short, at 41 minutes -- the film will end long before you want it to. I can't say this video gives a great overview of Malcolm X, but it is definately good to have if you've never seen him in video or heard some (parts) of his speeches. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

The greatest basketball player of all time gets an appropriate clip reel in this 45-minute documentary, which was originally released in the IMAX format. While you can't simulate IMAX's 80-foot-high screen in your living room, you can still get the thrills and awe-inspiring footage of this tribute to one man's talent and endurance. Much of the original footage was shot during the 1997 NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz. With great behind-the-scenes footage and terrific game material, the film gets close to Jordan in practice and on the court. And the film includes a number of greatest hits, including his commercials and most memorable dunks. Still, while there are intriguing interviews with everyone from former Bulls coach Phil Jackson to professional Jordan hanger-on Bob Greene, this film seems a little self-serving at times (Jordan's company coproduced it). Also, some key voices from that team are conspicuously absent, including Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and Ron Harper. In the end, however, it's all about the highlights--and Jordan's career (and his NBA finale) was one long one. --Marshall Fine ... Read more