Amazon.com

The unlikeliest cult hit of 2004 was What the (Bleep) Do We Know?, a lecture on mysticism and science mixed into a sort-of narrative. Marlee Matlin stars in the dramatic thread, about a sourpuss photographer who begins to question her perceptions. Interviews with quantum physics experts and New Age authors are cut into this story, offering a vaguely convincing (and certainly mind-provoking) theory about... well, actually, it sounds a lot like the Power of Positive Thinking, when you get down to it. Talking heads (not identified until film's end) includeJZ Knight, who appears in the movie channeling Ramtha, the ancient sage she claims communicates through her (other speakers are also associated with Knight's organization). What she says actually makes pretty good common sense--Ramtha's wiggier notions are not included--and would be easy to accept were it not being credited to a 35,000-year-old mystic from Atlantis. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (315)

Bleeping Great!
The next time you ask the question, "What's the matter?", and get the response "Nothing!" you may have a more descriptive but less solid answer than you know! What the BLEEP do we know?!poses many questions on matter and the nature of reality, yet doesn't pretend to answer them all for you. "Decide for yourself", one of the experts interviewed declared. He proposes that quantum mechanics does not give clear cut answers, but that it "puts responsibility squarely in your lap" to find those answers. "God is", another scientist states, yet interesting questions arise as to how he is perceived. What is God's true nature? Other questions are: "Is what we see and what we remember all there is to reality? How do our thoughts affect us? These questions are dealt with in the film as we are treated to the story of a photographer (beautifully played by Marlee Matlin), who finds herself struggling with her day to day existence and view of life because her painful past experiences color how she sees her present reality. Helping her through tough times, and keeping her "sane", is her friend, Jennifer (played with comic sweetness by Elaine Hendrix). Popping in and out of existence throughout the film is a panel of experts with their special views, and the moving story, served up with great music and brilliant visual effects! Take that trip down the rabbit hole of mysteriousness and come back wiser for it!

Open your mind to the possibility...
...that you may not know everything about life and the world around us...

...that there may be a different way of looking at things, a different perspective, which will transform your life into something much easier, different, and better...

... That there may be a bit of information which you do not possess -- one so simple that it can be conveyed to you by a silly little movie starring marlie matlin -- which you can watch on your very own dvd player in the privacy of your bedroom...

This is that movie, that moment, and that possibility. This movie can open your eyes to a new way of living. And it will, if you open your mind to that possibility. It will do to your metaphysical existence what the dvd "NEW SEX NOW" will do to your sexuality -- deliver you to a realm of existence which you never knew existed, but which is beyond your wildest dreams.

It is shocking to me that life can become so different because of my interaction with the internet; ordering a couple of DVDs from Amazon has changed me so completely, I am amazed.

Revolutionaryand Inspirational!
What the Bleep is an extraordinary film that takes you to the outer reaches of consciousness.It is mind-blowing in its clear presentation of the true nature of reality from both the point of view of physics and the mind: believing is seeing. The movie teaches while it entertains--the bottom line is that the observer and the observed are inextricably entertwined.This holds true in all relationships, including the thorniest relationship of all: love.

The movie, along with Dr. Emoto's startling work with water (which is in the movie) were so powerful for me that I featured them both in Opening Love's Door, my novel that deals with the nature of self-created romantic and spiritual love.

Definitely buy this movie.You will come away with new energy to design and create your own life.

What the Bleep Do THEY Know?
This film, What The Bleep Do We Know, had some interesting concepts and a good premise. It could have been done so eloquently, and yet could have is the opperative word here. Being somewhat versed in quantum theory, I understood some of what was being discussed. However, much of the discussion pertained to elementary concepts and not all of these concepts were presented accurately. It was somewhat "dumbed down" and lacked scientific truth. The "scientists" appeared to be reading off of a contrived script and were not very intelligently arguing the points. This movie raised some interesting and intriguing questions but the theological questioning of god and religion was very biased and had no scientific evidence. Much of the movie misused scientific thought and tried to make it malliable to the presenters view points. Apparently the rabbit hole only skimmed the surface and was ill-constructed...The movie could have been great...But I was fairly disappointed...What the bleep do they know?

Mediocre at its best
If you were hoping form some form of a thought provoking idea here and there about life, preception and the brain function this movie might give a glips of that.However it is not even half as good as I expected it to be and certainly poses no real intelectual, spritual or factual revelations worth making this a worthwhile documentary. The production is mediocre, the theme is noble, but the logical flow and conclusive reasoning behind it is loaded with philosophical and religous falicies and rediculous claims. What is worse is that the interviews with some of the scientists even though start out as interesting (as they introduce certain facts about the brain and perception as it relates to the physical realty around us) but as it turns out all this leads to the puffing up of intelectual egotism of the scientists in bringing forth their foolish beleives and conclusions about life, theology and the meaning behind their existence. It is the formulation of propostrous conclusions about life, religion, existence and reality that go WAY beyond the scope of the facts at hand that really got to me. The heart of this movie is an empty shell of questions that are healthy to ask but certainly not healhty to try to answer to an already confused world. I say skip it and read about quantum physics and the neurology of the brain in NON lamens terms and form your own conclusions. ... Read more

Reviews (160)

A gorgeous film/Sony at fault
This film is a stunningly beautiful masterpiece filled with breathtaking cinematography. The four years of work that went into making it shows during every second of the film. Jacques Perrin and the people he worked with have created a piece of work that is in essence a spectacular gift to the world. Watching birds of various kinds fly gracefully through the air seemingly without any effort is a sight to behold. You feel privileged to be able to glimpse this magical world in which the birds inhabit. Also a treat is watching what the birds do when they are not flying, whether it is Clark's grebes dancing on the surface of a lake or male sage grouse strutting their stuff by inflating their throat sacs and creating weird noises with them or gannets plunge-diving into the ocean to catch fish. The scene involving the sage grouse is quite stunning. At the beginning of the scene, you see sage grouse on a partially snow-covered grassland in Idaho. In the background, you see several flocks of migrating birds flying against a backdrop of mountains. Some of the aerial shots of birds flying are so beautiful that they appear unreal. It is as if a skilled artist had painted the landscapes. There are numerous scenes of flying birds that will take your breath away. I will mention three. The footage of Canada geese flying throught Monument Valley, Utah, is gorgeous. The rock formations provide a breathtakingly beautiful backdrop for the shots of the birds. The footage of trumpeter swans flying over a river in a Southeast Asian rainforest on their way to Vietnam is also incredibly beautiful. When they arrive in the paddy fields of northern Vietnam by flying past a landscape of green dotted with majestic rock formations, your breath is taken away by the beauty that you see onscreen. The footage of the white storks flying over the sand dunes of the Sahara Desert is so incredible that it appears fake. You really have to see it to believe it. There is also a magical shot of the Great Wall of China on a foggy day. It looks so incredible that you may actually think that a master Chinese painter had painted what you see onscreen.

I do have several gripes with the film. First of all, the selection of birds that were shown in the film had a glaring omission. I only noticed one scene showing ducks in full flight. This was the scene of a single male Mallard duck flying through the French countryside and eventually joining a flock of geese over the river Seine in Paris. Why weren't more ducks showcased in the film? Second, the scene where a mother bobwhite quail is nesting in the path of moving farm combines is an unnecessary addition to the film. Third, the scene of the Canada geese drinking water from a broken-down truck is unique, but in my opinion, out of place with the rest of the film. Also, the scene involving the same geese flying over a herd of running mustangs is so fake that its inclusion in the film is almost embarrassing. What is such a shot doing in a film that claims to have no special effects?

This DVD of the film is amazing. The picture quality is stunning. The transfer is amazingly clear. The sound quality is rich and clear. Several extras are included. They are well worth viewing. The Behind-the-Scenes featurette is a pleasure to watch. It explains very well the process that was used in filming the birds and all the effort that went into making the film. We learn that the white pelicans became sick during the airplane flight from France to Senegal. We also learn that the footage of the film showing snow geese flying through snowy weather in the Adirondacks in New York State was improvised when bad weather conditions forced the film crew to abandon a staged scene of geese hunting. Watching the cute baby birds at the beginning of the featurette, especially when they are running with ultralight planes on the ground, is an absolute delight. In one shot, you can see that baby white storks demonstrate the same weird neck-bending, beak-clapping behavior as adult white storks. The narrator of the featurette makes a few mistakes. He pronounces "Adirondacks" as "A-DIR-on-dacks" instead of "A-dir-ON-dacks". The last part of the featurette is about the filming of white storks flying over the Sahara Desert. The narrator mistakenly refers to the storks as "swans" at least twice.

I highly recommend the film and its DVD. Your view of birds will be forever changed by watching this film. Anyone who has had a chance to watch this film has been incredibly lucky. As you know, the film only received limited theatrical release in the US. Sony released the film in American theaters only in the summer of 2003. This was months after it was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary. This makes absolutely no sense. Also, Sony did a huge disservice to the film by not running any ads on American TV for it. The people who run Sony should be ashamed of themselves.

Sublime cinematography
WINGED MIGRATION is filmmaker Jacques Perrin's stunning documentary study of bird migration. My wife and I left the special studio screening exclaiming, "How'd they do that!?"

The film begins along a minor waterway in Europe as a flock of geese begins its annual migration north to its summer breeding ground. It then cuts to other locales around the world as other species of large birds - usually cranes, swans, and storks, but also gannets, loons and others - begin their respective journeys. In all cases, the captioning identifies the species, their start points and destinations, and the miles between the two. Occasionally, Perrin makes the point more spectacularly by superimposing the flying flock on an image of the Earth taken from near-orbit. Voice overs are kept to a minimum.

Except for New York (with the WTC still standing), Paris, and a dismal industrial wasteland in eastern Europe, the flocks are shown flying through unpopulated landscapes both varied and magnificent: beaches, ice fields, Monument Valley, northern tundra, open oceans, snow-covered mountains, Asian farmlands, forest-enclosed lakes, deserts, and tropical rainforests. The sunset and weather (blizzards, fog, thunderstorms) provide dramatic backdrops. Then, at journey's end, the birds are shown in their summer habitats - usually steep, dramatic cliffs or rock-strewn shores with sea-ravaged margins.

But certainly the most eye-popping camera work is with the bird formations on the wing. The apparent vantage point of the lens is among the flock, with individual birds only an arm or hand-length away above, below, or to the side. I mean, you're RIGHT THERE! You'd think they'd have to be computer animated models. But a disclaimer at the film's beginning states that no special effects were used in the filming of the birds.

While Perrin emphasizes the round trip to, and the stay in, the breeding grounds, he doesn't gloss over the dangers. The viewer watches as individual birds fall victim to animal predators, human hunters and poachers, and industrial pollution. Some circumstances are heartrending, as when a disabled bird is surrounded and overcome by predatory crabs on an African beach.

Before concluding back at the same waterway and with the same flock of geese which began his documentary, the filmmaker makes a digression at first seemingly inconsistent with the title, i.e. with flightless Emperor penguins in the southern hemisphere. Of course, they use their wings to swim a couple hundred miles.

WINGED MIGRATION is a film to remind us that the real world can be just as spectacular and amazing as any one of the mega-budget, FX-laden, mindless thrillers dished out to the masses. It's wonderful.

Let's appreciate birds
Too many people have taken the time to bash this exquisite and wonderful film that celebrates the avian life on earth. I, for one, take offense to their lies and misleading "facts". First of all, there are TWO bird-hunting scenes in the film. One takes place in the Adirondack Mountains of New York and involves snow geese and the other takes place in a marsh somewhere in EUROPE and involves greylag geese.

Second, to obtain the spectacular footage for the film, the birds shown in the film HAD to be IMPRINTED. Otherwise, it would have been impossible to film them up-close on their migration routes. Which wild birds do you know of that would let filmmakers fly close to them while they are flying their migration routes? Answer that, critics of the film!!!!

Third, the birds were taken to a wildlife sanctuary in Normandy, France, after the filming was over. They are taken care of by seven workers.

This film is GORGEOUS and all bird lovers should see it. Ignore the people who feel compelled to bash it.

After having read Errol Fuller's book "Extinct Birds", I felt lucky and honored to be able to see up close and personal today's birds in wonderful flight. Fuller's book contains illustrations and descriptions of so many EXTINCT birds that it saddened me. Watching "Winged Migration" has uplifted my spirits. Man has caused the extinction of at least 75 bird species since the year 1600. Be glad that a small percentage, but wide variety, of today's bird species are captured on film for your viewing pleasure and for posterity. If passenger pigeons, which once numbered in the BILLIONS, were still alive today, I have no doubt that footage of their SPECTACULAR mass migration flights would be included in this film. Such footage would make the starling flight footage in the film look puny in comparison.

Stunning Vistas, Typically French
Fantastic landscapes, complete with the obligatory French swipe at America. The one and only scene in the film which depicts wild birds being shot out of the air by hunters takes place in, you guessed it...

According to the film's credits:

"The hunting scene was filmed in North America, on sites where it takes place every year."

As if the sport of bird hunting is somehow limited to North America, or was introduced to the world by North America.

And Duck L'Orange isn't a French dish?

At least for me, the swipe detracted greatly from this otherwise wonderful film.

Very nice!
The images of the birds flying were so lovely....I really liked this video, as I love birds, but I have to admit, in the middle of the DVD, I was a bit bored. Beautiful video, just not for someone who likes exciting films, but over all, very good. I would reccomend "Winged Migration" to everyone who likes bird watching or calm, peaceful movies. ... Read more

Reviews (148)

A new breed of dinosaur documentaries
This DVD is refreshing. Unlike other dinosaur documentaries, this one presents the subject of dinosaurs from a "Wild Life Documentary" perspective. You feel as though you are watching a typical safari documentary on lions and other wild life. The commentary is no different. The scenes are no different. The only difference being you are watching dinosaurs! The producers managed to pull it off very well. At times the realism is very striking and you feel as though you are actually watching real live dinosaurs in their native habitats. Notice I said "At times"? Well, having a real good eye for detail is sometimes not the best thing. I can see that sometimes the dinosaur computer animation overlays of some of the dinosaur scenes do not have enough contrast and look unnatural compared to the surrounding natural scenery. Most people will not notice this but I do. For me this minor detail makes it difficult for me to get totally immersed in the film. This is one reason why I didn't give this movie more than 4 stars. I did not notice this with any of the underwater scenes. They look completely real to my eyes. Also many of the other scenes look completely real, showing that the producers of this film have the talent to pull off the realism, but failed to do so in some of the scenes, especially with the Tyrannosaurus scenes. This dinosaur is very impressive, but the contrast on the computer animation of this creator is probably the worst of all. His image badly needs more contrast. Its such a minor detail. And its easily fixed. With a little more contrast its image would look more natural compared to the natural scenery. I'm sure its simple for the film makers to go back to the computer program and adjust the contrast of the image to make it match its surroundings better.

I would have gave this film 1/2 of a star more IF the computer animation overlay sequences always had correctly adjusted contrast to match the natural scenery. And an additional 1/2 of a star if there were a few more exciting scenes added. There is one scene were this huge sea dinosaur jumps out of the water and gulps down a large land walking dinosaur. This scene is startling. It will make you jump and clap. Exciting stuff. A little more of this and this DVD would be much more entertaining.

The second DVD that comes in this set is very nice. It shows how everything was done and is quite entertaining. This DVD gets 4 1/2 stars!

Better even than Jurrasic Park!
I ordered this title from Amazon based primarily on the customer comments I'd read about it in this section (a process which has failed me a couple of times in the past, unfortunately). The fact that it was worth over $25 (this is substantial especially for destination countries like the Philippines, where we also have to contend with high shipping rates) also prompted me to pursue a cycle of ordering it, then cancelling, then reordering it, and so forth - until I finally decided to "bite the bullet". Needless to say, and as one may see from the 5 stars I gave it, it was a choice I never regretted since...

"Walking with Dinosaurs" is a visually brilliant piece of documentary work, combining a dazzling array of computed-generated imagery and animatronics. The 2-disc set comes with bonus pictures such as PIP, a "making-of" featurette and subtitling. The main feature is divided into 6 main chapters, with each focusing either on a particular period (e.g. Late Triassic in "New Blood") or type of creature (i.e. a pteranodon in "Giant of the Skies", ocean-dwellers in "Cruel Seas").

What can I say? It's a visually breathtaking experience, presented ala a National Geographic or Discovery Channel special, actual documentary. Some scenes are very graphic (i.e., when the velociraptor was feasting on a newly-hatched diplodocus, when a baby diplodocus was accidentally killed by the spiked tail of a stegosaurus). Some where hair-raisingly shocking (e.g. when the hige sea creature came out of nowhere to grab the unsuspecting raptor-like dinosaur). It's simply amazing, especially for one such as I (and I believe millions of other people) who grew up with a wide-eyed fascination for dinosaurs. It's like seeing them for the first time (check it out - the T-Rex' saliva even splashed onto the camera lens! Ughhhh....:)

Trust me, you have to get this. As an avid DVD collector (I have over 200 titles, including some of the better animal documentaries such as those by IMAX), I'd consider this a top 10, "must have".

The first "Walking With"...
With 230 minutes and bonus features this two disc set is a must if you enjoyed any of the other "Walking With..." series. From the very first dinosaur to to the very last, the show explores the changes to the world and evolution of the dinosaurs to keep up. Frankly, two of the shows don't even FOCUS on dinosaurs, but on the sea reptiles and the flying reptiles. It could of used more dinosaurs.
There is a 50 minute "Making Of" documentary in the second disc and about 29 minutes of behind-the-scenes picture-in-picture footage spread through-out the first disc. The behind-the-scenes footage tells you how they did the effects, why they picked certain locations and why they made the dinosaurs do what they did. Some of the behind-the-scenes footage is also shown in the "Making Of", so there is some overlap.
Interesting, but much of the information was already well known and covered by older shows or children's books. And, yes, lots of babies seem to die. A lot. THAT is nature, but maybe not something younger viewers should be exposed to in so many scenes.

Magnificent Epic!
Walking with Dinosaur; is a SPECTACULAR movie featuring different kinds of dinosaurs. The movie is done in a documentary style, like those nature shows you've seen on television. They used computer animation to bring the dinosaurs to life; and let me tell you that they look incredibly realistic. The movie is broken down into a series of episodes featuring a different dinosaur in each one of them. The narrator, Mr. Kenneth Branagh (sorry if misspelled) did in excellent job and just added to the immersive story telling! I felt like a child listening to a wonderous bedtime story. I laughed at the funny parts and felt sad during the tragic parts of the stories. The movie is very long and is complimented with beautifully orchastrated classical music. The movie is about three hours long and I still wish it was longer; because that's how much I loved watching WWD! Adults and children will like it! And although dinosaur behaviors are all hypothetical, the scientists explaining their theories sound pretty valid and logical. If you enjoy nature shows or love dinosaurs, you should add this movie to your collection! Walking with Dinosaurs is a Magificent Epic!

Just phenomenal; as real as any animal documentary ever made
We bought this for my (almost) 5 year-old son who has already forgotten more about dinosaurs than I'll ever know. I have worked in the elearning world with programmers who make 3-D animations of industrial equipment, and I have to say I am just amazed at the quality of the work in this series. The dinosaurs just plain look like they are alive today. It looks as real as if they were shooting elephants in Africa.

PROS
* Presented in story style of real animal documentaries: Each of the six episodes follows a small number of dinosaurs for a period of time; we learn about their relationships with each other and their environmental struggles

* "Making of" bonus DVD is a treat for older viewers interested in seeing how the episodes were made. THERE WAS A LOT OF INTERACTION WITH PALEONTOLOGISTS DURING THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS THAT ADDS TONS OF CREDIBILITY AND REALISM TO THE END PRODUCT.

* Animations as real (or better) than Jurassic Park

* Comprehensive focus on different periods (Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous) of the dinosaurs and wonderful background on the different climates and geology of these periods

PURCHASING RECOMMENDATION
Anyone, young or old, with an interest in dinosaurs should get this. There may be some parts that frighten young viewers, so parents should screen it first and be with kids during the kids' first viewing. BUT THIS IS PHENOMENALLY ENTERTAINING AND EDUCATIONAL FOR EVERYONE. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The first gymnast to ever score a perfect 10 at the Olympics was Nadia Comaneci. From a small town in Romania, Nadia (Leslie Weiner, in her only feature film role) rose to international stardom. Under the coaching guidance of Bela Karoli, she pushed herself with the will of a champion. This movie does a wonderful job of showing how hard gymnasts must work as well as showing how much they must give up in their personal lives in order to achieve success. After winning three gold medals at the 1976 Olympics, her life spins out of control when Bela is removed as her coach. For the first time in her life she is on her own, she is the object of jealousy from her teammates, and her weight is out of control. She seeks out her former coach and asks for his help. Together they put Nadia back on the winning track. A family film with a lot to offer, Nadia shows in a credible way the highs and lows of celebrity. The gymnastics portions are terrific. A must if there's a budding gymnast or gymnastic enthusiast in your home. Made in 1984 for television. (Ages 5 to adult) --Peggy Maltby-Etra ... Read more

Reviews (43)

Where's the rest of the movie?
I bought this VHS for my daughter, who is starting gymnastics lessons on the fall. While it was a good introduction to gymnastics for her, I can't help but feel really cheated. There is a LOT missing from this VHS version! There are scenes that abruptly cut off without explanation. There is a nice scene in the beginning where Nadia meets another little gymnast, they do an impromptu gymnastics routine together and lie on the mat and talk. That entire scene was cut out, so you're left not even knowing that they are friends. The was a lot more missing - more towards the end, that I realized after the film was over. I'm not sure why they didn't just release the film in its entirety, but it left the viewer with a feeling that character development was rather shallow, and it was more like a quick after-school special than a "bio", which is what the original version was. I would suggest waiting for this to eventually reappear on cable, rather than buying this version if you want something complete.

From what I've seen, it's pretty good
I saw a small part of this movie on the Internet, and from what I saw, it was pretty good. I just wish I could see the whole movie!

The gymnastic sequences were very well done, although some of the editing was pretty bad.

If you can get your hands on this movie, than I think you should see it, because it deserves to be seen.

Good!
I remember watching this movie about Romanian Gymnast Nadia Comaneci when it first aired on TV and for a made for TV movie it was pretty good though some scenes were a bit rushed but I'm disappointed to hear that that when they put the movie on video they edited it and cut things out but maybe someday a restored version will be released on DVD. I see that there is some complaints that this movie didn't cover her comeback and her move to America but that is because this movie was made before her comeback and her move to America so that is why it's not mentioned in this but maybe someday an updated movie will be made about her.

Good Film
I saw this movie when it was on TV and loved it! My sister and I taped it and must have watched it over 100 times! We knew every routine, every line, etc. Then I went to College with tape in hand and taped over it on accident. I was absolutely devastated until I found it on-line! I am so excited to get this movie back in my hands again. I read that this is an edited version, but I think that'll be ok.

Decent portrayal
I felt the movie could've used a little more gymnastics action, and a little more of Nadia's come back from adversity. Also, little Teodora reminds me of another past Romanian star, Alexandra Marinescu. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Effective documentary on the obesity-fast food epidemic
Morgan Spurlock's Super Size Me follows in the tradition of Michael Moore (in fact, there are, at times, uncanny echoes of Moore's style) as a muckraker who knows how to fuse serious ranting with nice dollops of humor to drive home his point(s).

In this film he targets the fast food industry--in particular, McDonald's--to show how the "McDiet" eaten on a regular basis can lead to horrifying health problems. He does this by committing himself to a 30-day nothing-but-McDonald's-food diet, three meals a day, and while prior to the onset of the diet his blood chemistry is clearly healthy, at the end of the 30-day "binge", things have taken an extremely alarming turn for the worse. The doctors who monitor him are shocked by the startling change and advise him to stop the diet immediately.

Along the way the viewer is treated to a sizeable number of interviews including, among others, of lawyers with clients suing the fast food industry, health officials, school officials, average Joes who eat the stuff regularly, and one obese man who undergoes extreme surgery--gastic bypass--to relieve him of his terrible symptoms.

At times the film dives into disturbingly unpleasant images. For example, the man undergoing gastric bypass surgery is interviewed prior to the surgery, and then the film actually shows details of the surgery itself, specifically focusing on the massive amount of fat that is extruded from the patient. In another scene, Mr. Spurlock is sitting in his car eating a McDonald's lunch and after 20 minutes of ingestion, he suddenly regurgitates what he ate--also shown in detail.

These are probably unnecessary, but the filmmaker is obviously making a point. Luckily there is abundant humor here as well, of the Moore-ian ironic type, interspersed with the serious material so well that the viewer is almost constantly entertained.

Much better than one might think, this is an excellent addition to the documentaries that pave the way for change. In fact, a mere six weeks after the film was initially screened, McDonald's discontinued its Super Size policy.

Definitely recommended.

Entertaining and scary
In "Super Size Me," Morgan Spurlock takes on the fast-food industry by combining Sixty Minutes-style reportage with reality television. The backbone of the film is Spurlock's experimentation on himself by eating nothing but fast food for a month. His progress from slim vegan to depressed, bloated meat-eater with elevated cholesterol and seriously impaired liver function is intercut with interviews, jokey animations and other flashy filmmaking devices that do nothing to contradict his underlying, serious point: many Americans are literally eating themselves to death.

That this film is worth noticing is proven by the number of critics, mostly on the right wing, who have lined up to take potshots against it. So Spurlock might have exaggerated, even cheated to make his point about how fast-food chains are contributing to America's obesity epidemic. Any fool can see that there's an agenda behind this film. The facts are incontrovertible, however: sixty percent of American adults are overweight. Obesity is now the second leading cause of preventable death. Major food manufacturers spend billions of dollars a year promoting their largely unhealthy products to the most vulnerable American consumer: children. This documentary should be mandatory viewing in all schools.

Did Someone Say, "Supersize???"
This movie is an accurate depiction of what most Americans LOVE to eat & it shows in more ways than one. Morgan Spurlock gives a tremendous look at the McDonalds chain & how the US seems to gravitate towards the Fast Food chain in all areas. He travels all over the US to get customer's opinions as well as Grammar & High school students/cafeteria servers,etc. It's a wonderful presentation of how diet is reflected in what we eat on a daily basis & how it effects our bodies & minds.

He starts out being in great shape, having tests done (blood, cardiovascular--you name it, he had it done!). Three different dr.'s take his case, plus a nutritionist as well. All the results were better than normal. So he starts out on this binge of eating ONLY what's on the McDonald's menu for a month. If anyone suggests to Supersize, he has to say yes! AND he does!

Breakfast, lunch & dinner all from McDonald's. In a matter of over a week, his body has changed. The more he eats, the more he craves. It's the sugar that gives him the "high" & once that drops, he's useless. His girlfriend (whom doesn't eat any meat whatsoever), is against this, but stands by him. After roughly 2 weeks, he is depressed, followed by mood swings, heart palpitations occur, some chest pains, headaches, etc. Nothing good by any means.

Going back to have more tests done by the Dr.'s who are watching him closely, they all say the same thing: "You should stop, your liver has damage. This could cause more if you continue. You might in fact have done damage to your heart, which might cause problems in the future. If something happens to you, please call us immediately & there will be help ASAP". More and more bad news.

He just is dreading eating another meal, but for the duration of this month, he continues to eat this. It literally is a struggle for him in the end, but he doesn't quit no matter how horrific the test results are. He's determined.

There is a part where he consults his mother (via phone) & for a few minutes I was convinced he would stop. The next scene you ask? YES, he is eating another burger. Seems to go for the value meals best.

By the time the end of the movie arrives, he has gained almost 25 lbs., cholesterol has risen from roughly 165 (?) to 225 & the fat count is way above what it should be. Dangerous levels. The sugar intake is unbelievable. I won't give away the ending because it ruins it. Just an amazing documentary & well done. A lot of humorous parts, to which it displays how clueless Americans really are. Two girls think that suing the McDonald's co. for making them overweight is going to get money, well think again! They chose to eat it! Didn't see any arm twisting going on.

Please go see this true & factual movie. It's worth every penny you spend & then some! It changed how I look at fast food--don't eat much myself, but now that I've seen this movie, won't at all. It's a real eye opener. Encourages exercise & healthy diet.

This is on my "A" list of movies to buy. A treasure you'll want to share w/ others. I know a few people that should see this!

a must-see for any American!
This movie was very entertaining and educational at the same time. I highly recommend it! It can also serve as great inspiration to start eating a healthy diet and exercising more!

Entertainment At His Best!
Before this I've only seen one documentary and that was "Bowling for Columbine." "Super Size Me" is a documentary very different from "Bowling for Columbine" but I gave both of them five stars. This documentary is more comedy then seriousness and humor, because it was made on one of the funniest news reports ever. Two overweight girls who claimed that McDonald made them fat, which is just silly because everybody knows how bad fast food is for you, and they had the choice of eating their food or not. "Super Size Me" is more funnier then some COMEDIES that came out this year, including "Envy" and "Garfield." When a light comedy is better than hardcore comedies, you know that you have a hit on your hands.

The movie was made by Morgan Spurlock, who after hearing about he lawsuits against McDonalds, decided to try something out. He went to see many health doctors, found out that he was in great condition for his age, and then went on a new diet. He could only eat McDonalds food. Three meals a day, and he has to try everything that is on the menu at least once. He could only eat McDonalds food, so that means he can't have vitamins or anything like that. He also has to get the larger "super size" if he is asked. That is a must. The diet will last for thirty days, and throughout he will get advice from different kinds of doctors, as well as us getting treated to interviews from these doctors. His vegan girlfriend Alex begins to worry about Morgan during his entire diet, and how he's changed. At the end of the "child's dream" you'll see the changes that Morgan encountered physically and mentally, and if any of it is permanent.

It is hard to write a plot for a documentary, because you don't want to give too much away. You don't want to describe what happens at the end, and what is proven, and you only want to describe, in this case, what the man is like, and what he intends to do. The movie showcased him eating the food in different states. He travels, and he shows what is different at all the different McDonalds around America. We also get a "taste" at the obsetity of America, and which states are the fattest. He provides enough background information for us to understand why he is doing what he is doing. "Super Size Me" is one of the most intriqing looks at the weight of America, and it could be an early contender for an Oscar next year. The next documentary that I hope to see is "Fahrenheit 9/11" which should be a very different idea.

ENJOY!

Not Rated, but should be close to PG-13 for brief strong language and some thematical elements. ... Read more

Amazon.com

All the confusion, pain, despair, and even hope of the men and women who served in Vietnam is captured in Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam. Read by dozens of actors such as Harvey Keitel, Matt Dillon, and Kathleen Turner, these letters show a more human story of the war than we see in most media outlets and reveal real people in real situations trying to explain or understand. The footage, some newsreel, some shot by the servicemen and servicewomen, reveals a tension between the soldiers' actual experiences and the presentation their loved ones received from television. The soundtrack weaves the songs of the 1960s with the readings to create a compelling aural snapshot of the time, which complements the video exceptionally well. While it's not a "feel-good" movie, the viewer does get a sense of the indestructibility of human dreams. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (35)

Grabs you by the heart and mind and doesn't let go.
I originally saw this film on HBO, and, like another reviewer, recorded it for repeat viewing. My copy has long been unplayable, as I have watched and shown it over and over. I'm thrilled to see it's available here. I think it's the most powerful film I've ever seen - documentary, "indie" or commercial. The work that went into making this film by the Vietnam Veterans' Theatre Group is amazing. They reviewed and edited literally miles and miles of news footage, gathered letters home from families and friends, and in some cases were even able to link up the letter with film of the soldier who wrote it. The eloquence of the young soldiers and nurses will break your heart, and the increasingly haunted look in their eyes as the war wears on will stay with you for a long time. Couldn't I give it 10 stars???

Spectacular Movie with Awesome Footage and Quotes!
This video is a wonderful one. It successfully displays how the Vietnam War was when it was. The music and the footage and the letters all pulled together made this a non-boring, yet exciting informational movie! My favorite part of the movie was all the great quotes. A friend and I pick up funny quotes and like to use them just for fun. This movie had a TON of excellent and short catchy quotes that made the movie entertaining. One of my favorites is "Home is where you DIG it", it's kind of funny, yet kind of saddening, depending on how you look at it. I got so much from this movie. It shows the good times and bad times during the war. It was funny, and moving, and almost tear-jerking. I was glad that I watched it. And everything about the movie is real, so it's great to use for school papers or just to watch. I learned a lot about the Vietnam War from this movie and even would like to see it a couple more times :)

Wow! Fact is Better than Fiction
I watched this movie yesterday in my AP American History class and the entire room was silent throughout the whole production, unusual for a group of teenagers during the last few days of school.

I have seen other Vietnam movies (Full Metal Jacket, Apocalypse Now,) but none rivals this one. It's just a hauntingly beautiful film.

I could easily give this movie five stars based solely on a single scene in which "Useful Phrases in Vietnam" comes up on the screen amidst a swarm of helicopter gunships. The shot transitions inside a "Huey," we're told, on a "Search..." and "Destroy" mission. Looking just over the door gunner's shoulder, Mick Jagger and the Stones start going away on "Gimme Shelter," the flighty chords pairing perfectly with the erratic, panicked movement of the choppers. As Jagger goes into the second verse, Bill Couturie cuts to a video of soldiers conducting a "Zippo Raid." The result is nothing short of cinema art, every bit as psychologically evocative as the famed opening scene of Apocalypse Now, and that story was made up.

See this movie. It applies now more than ever.

Sound Track
This was one of the best and realistic war movies I have ever seen. I was speechless as I watched in Histroy Class.

Does anyone no the sound tracks that were used in the movie, or to be more specific, the one at the start.

Painful, Sad, Beautiful
This is perhaps the greatest movie ever made about the Vietnam War, and probably one of the greatest ever made about *any* war. I am disappointed that there seems to be no DVD version, a deficiency that I hope will be corrected soon.

I first saw this film when it first aired on HBO, and I taped it then. That was a long time ago. I don't know where that tape is anymore.

I was part of the generation depicted in this film. I did not go to Vietnam. In the draft lottery back in the day, my birthday was picked way down the list. That made my mom very happy. It left me with mixed emotions. I didn't support the war back then, but I would have gone if drafted. In some ways I feel guilty that I never went. And in some ways I am grateful.

Watching this movie will make most viewers, of whatever age, grateful that they did not have to experience any of that. I would not want my children to experience such horror. We can play "what if" as much as we want - what if we had sent more troops, what if we had not held back. None of that matters now.

This movie shows the tragedy of that war, that era, to full effect. It teaches lessons that folks in positions of authority seem unwilling or unable to learn.

It is embarrassing to note that the majority of "chicken hawks" among the policy makers in the US government right now are of my generation - the generation depicted in this film. It's enough to make one despair.... ... Read more

Amazon.com

This majestic, French-made film wishes viewers a "latcho drom"--a safejourney--as it follows the roots of the Rom, traveling people better known as Gypsies. Stunning and evocative, it transcends language and culture, bringing together the best elements of National Geographic-style documentary and music video in a kind of anthropologicalMTV. Using only music and image, without any steady characters or plot, award-winning director Tony Gatlif (himself of Rom descent) tells a compelling story of Rom migrations from Northern India to Europe and the rest of the world. Beginning with a gathering of lavishly dressed nomads singing across the harsh deserts of Rajasthan, viewers are transported through the lush oases of Egypt into the ghettoes of Turkey, from the muddy lanes of Eastern Europe through lush French fields to the windswept coastal cities of Spain. Every step of the way, there are hypnotic reminders of the harshness and beauty of the Rom lifestyle: the rhythms of labor pounding into vibrant dance, the songs of Turkish flower sellers merging with the plaintive political satires of a gray-haired Romanian violinist. Music is everywhere--children barely able to walk dance alongside great-grandmothers--and covers all styles and subjects--from the wintry strains of an Auschwitz lament to a flamenco devotional in a Spanish shrine to a festive Dixieland number that borrows as much from New Orleans as from northern India. And wordless stories abound, told in the smiles of strangers waiting for a train or in the frowns of rifle-toting farmers come to evict travelers from their land. --Grant Balfour ... Read more

Reviews (25)

An enthralling glimpse into a hidden world
If you've ever been interested in learning about Gypsy (or more accurately, Rom) culture and history, this is the film for you.Made by Tony Catlif, himself a Rom, the film (the title means "Safe Journey," a serious blessing in this culture) takes the viewer on the same path travelled by the gypsies themselves a thousand years ago. It begins in India, showing a gypsy band in a desolate spot, telling their own story in dance and song. He travels ever westward, through Egypt, Turkey, Eastern Europe, France, and finally Spain, where the stunning beauty of gypsy flamenco dance and music will hold you spellbound. There is no dialog: Catlif lets the lyrics of the songs, the language of the dances, and the unforgettable faces of the gypsies themselves tell the story. You'll feel like you've been given a brief but magical tour of a mysterious, rarely seen world. Gypsies have always been persecuted and ostracized; this film, made by one of their own, gives them a voice in their own language. END

Stunning
The film Latcho Drom is a unique product, which is more like a 2 hour long music video, showcasing gypsy music (and sometimes dance) from all around the world. This is an amazing way of seeing the common treads that unite Roma (or gypsy) culture in all parts of the world, but also how these people have adapted to their surrounding by adopting bits and pieces of local traditions. This is also finally, a positive and maybe even objective look into Roma culture, free of stereotypes and prejudice. For fans of "Deep Forest", one of the songs from the film, the one from Slovakia, was sampled for one of their pieces on "Boheme." This film has rapid beats and heel-taping rythms, but also sad and melancholic songs and laments. Some images will make you want to get up and dance, while other can move you to tears, for example the old Roma lady singing about gypsy persecution at Auschwitz during WWII. A true pleasure to watch and listen to. I just hope there would now be a Latcho Drom 2 to explore the other regions of the world where Roma culture flourishes, but which were not included in the film.

extraordinary!
one of the most beautiful films of the past 20 years, almost shocking. what an extreme pity the film is not available on dvd so that it can be projected in home theater settings----a visually spectacular film on a large screen.

not a documentary in the usual sense in that there is no script or text, no interviews. the story is told wholly through gorgeous visuals and incredible music----and it is not any less informative for that fact! furthermore, by beginning in india and moving its way circuitously west to spain, one hears in sequence the transmutation of the musical styles---an obvious and simple yet truly amazing cinematic structure.

the sensitive viewer will absorb the pathos of rom people without difficulty. not a film for literalists, however, or those who need their cultural experiences explained to them. in this way the film is also very french.

Should be on DVD
Others have amply described this film. I just want to note that it would be great on DVD, because unlike most documentaries, the production values are on a par with Hollywood feature films. It's shot in 35MM wide screen, beautifully staged and lit, with a high quality digital audio track. Seen on the big screen it has immense impact because it transcends the documentary genre.

Greatness
When I first saw this video I could not belive it. It is truly beautiful, the music captivating and soulful. Although I was stoned out of my mind (high as a kite) I really new this was greatness and went out to pursue the soundtrack. It is one of my favorites to this day. I'm patiently waitng for the DVD release because let's face it video cassettes blow....cassette... wow, is that how youreally spell cassette.... weird man..... wierd. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

ELVIS AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME
ELVIS PRESLEY SHOWS HIS GREAT SHOWMANSHIP IN THIS CONCERT FILM FROM 1972. THE FILM FEATURES IBTERVIEWS AND LIVE PERFORMANCES OF
" SEE SEE RIDER ", " LOVE ME TENDER ", " A BIG HUNK O' LOVE ",
" BURNING LOVE ", " LAWDY, MISS CLAWDY ", " POLK SALAD ANNIE ",
" CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE ", " YOU GAVE ME A MOUNTAIN ",
" PROUD MARY ", " BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER ", " AN AMERICAN TRILOGY " AND MORE. IT ALSO FEATURES CLIPS OF THE ELVIS OF THE '50S'. THIS TAPE SHOWS ELVIS IN REHEARSALS AND IN JAM SESSIONS AS WELL. IT'S AN EXCELLENT TAPE WITH MANY SPLIT - SCREEN IMAGES THAT WERE WAY AHEAD OF THEIR TIME IN 1972. THIAS IS ELVIS'S SHINING HOUR. BUY IT TODAY ! "

Excellent Document Of Elvis's Later Years
"Elvis On Tour" captures a loose, energetic King on the road. It features dozens of innovative split screen shots of Elvis. Whether he's making a quip or showing off his karate moves, this is Elvis at his peak.

"Elvis On Tour" is much looser than "That's The Way It Is". He does not seem nervous like he did on the previous tape, and he adds extra flare to the songs that he performed in the previous outing. Elvis's voice is in its greatest shape ever here. He delivers a powerful, intense vocal performance on "Bridge Over Troubled Water", then gives a gentle reading of "Funny How Time Slips Away". The rockers are also extremely good. Elvis gives electrifying versions of "A Big Hink O' Love" and "Lawdy, Miss Clawdy", plus a good version of "I Got A Woman". Closing this magnificient video is a beatiful rendition of "Can't Help Falling In Love".

I do have one gripe however. On the "Lost Performances" video, there are several performances filmed for this video that should've have been included. These songs are a powerful "Are You Lonesome Tonight", "I Can't Stop Loving You", "All Shook Up", "Release Me", "Teddy Bear"/"Don't Be Cruel", and a stunningly beautiful "How Great Thou Art". However, this truly is a must - have. Elvis is truly at his finest hour, his last moment of glory before sinking into the pits of drugs and fatty food.

There are only 3 Elvis "live" videos!
There are only three released videos filmed of Elvis "live" during performances. This is one of the three and the only one to show the King on tour. For that reason, it is to be treasured. But not only for this: it also shows Elvis performing his early seventies numbers, and his interaction with the audiences of that time. Every appearance by the King is moving, shows his character and his mischievous nature and most of all - shows every new generation of fans what it was like to see the one and only King of Rock n Roll perform. Why this is not on DVD baffles me. Although re-editing of the movie would make it tighter, the live performance segments make up for everything! Hey, MGM/Turner, whoever! please, do you have any plans for this to be on DVD ? Are there any more Elvis performances locked away in a vault that you could put on DVD ? Elvis fans all over the world are a growing force and would LOVE to see more of the real Elvis - trust me, these performances are nothing like the inane Elvis movies which are so readily available! THIS is the real reason they called him the KING!!

Awesome, not to be compared with Thats the way it is
I have seen some interesting reviews so far about horrible video taping and even some 'Elvis is decline' comments. This movie is a documentary, basically cameras following Elvis around on tour. This is not taped in Las Vegas. In Vegas, Elvis did 2 shows a day with no travel. When on tour, it was night after night of traveling from City to City, show after show. There are not 2,000 fans in the audience, more like 12,000-21,000 depending upon the city. He attitude between shows in Vegas and shows on the road are understandably different. A little less polished, a little more raw, and on ocassion a lot more powerful. I love the Vegas shows, but if you want to see Elvis 'on tour' this is the ONLY way to get close. I doubt I'll ever experience anything quite like it again, but I'll always have this video. The video does not portray very well what a concert is like, the highs and lows that happen from beginning to end. Again, it is the closest thing we have to remember by. As for Elvis going down hill, this was not long after Thats the way it is and just before Aloha in January of 1973. Had I named this movie, it would have been 'Elvis Unleashed'. Its a shame we don't have one those tour shows available from end to end.

king on tour
great docu film,....new versions of unreleased songs
seeing what his life was like..during the 70's

a highly appreciated movie ... Read more

Reviews (25)

The most moving work I've seen on the Holocaust
I originally bought "The Last Days" in the form of a used video & I quickly replaced it with this DVD from Amazon. I want this documentary to last throughout the years so my children can watch it when they're older. I was reluctant to write a review b/c words no doubt will fail to express how touching this film is. As the Holocaust survivors relive their stories, I couldn't help but feel a human connection. The most powerful moments are the survivors going back to Auschwitz with their grown children. Survivor, Renee, brings her rabbi son which is a testament that the Jewish people have not lost their faith despite all they have been through. I recommend this film to teach and enlighten.

Must See!
This is a very powerful film, and it is no surprise it won the 1998 Academy Award for Best Documentary. The first-hand accounts from five Hungarian Holocaust survivors and several witnesses, plus a Nazi doctor who performed experiments on Auschwitz inmates, are very moving. One of the survivors even meets face-to-face with the Nazi doctor who was in charge of the clinic where the survivor's sister was experimented on and eventually killed. Their meeting left me chilled. I've read numerous books and have seen other documentaries on the Holocaust and this film is a must see!

The DVD version offers other features such as a Steven Spielberg introduction, outtakes and behind the scenes footage, a survivor's photo gallery and a production photo gallery.

Holocaust - Our pain and embarrasment to be humans
Warning : This documentary will make you weep. A couple of people (out of millions who got killed during the holocaust) that survived the Holocaust (in other words the embarrasment of all humans who could do something to prevent it) will pinch you from the room you'll be watching them into their lives. You'll find yourself inside the Concentration camps, you'll lose everything you ever had. You'll be a Jew...
But then you'll get liberated by U.S.A., and then even though bad memories and sad realities will haunt you - You're FREE and HAPPY despite it all.

Nazi's hated Jews so much. And after all what Nazi's did to all Jews and Humanity I find it extremely difficult to hate them too even though I feel that Nazi's to my eyes when I see them on TV are as Jews were to them in WWII.

You must watch this documentary! It is a must. Especially for people who protested against American and British Policy about war. If U.S.A. goes into war - understand and be very sure that they do that only for one reason : LIBERATING and REKINDLING the lives of the oppressed, hopeless people. This is what makes U.S.A so PROUD and the rest of us so honored to know that in case we're treated unfairly we have someone watching over us. America on Earth and God from Above.

Decent enough footage
I watch this film with the sound turned down, it's the only way to escape the incessant whine of narration and pathetic hatemongering zionist slime.
Defects aside, this film is a strong testament to the collective will of the German people to knuckle down amidst mounting defeats at allied hands (...) and see to the task at hand.
Most would view Hitler's stalwart attitude towards jewry in these last days as mere revenge for the defeat their global network of lies brough upon his flock. Those of us who are open enough to see past the hollywood glitter undoubtedly recognise the leaders undying will to serve his people and more importantly his nation.
He knew he was defeated yet he battled on where the fighting was needed most!
Disgustingly exaggerated death figures abound and as always the jews take all the glory, little to no mention at all of POW's, communists, slavs or even homosexuals who outnumbered even the outrageous supposed jewish deaths.
Take it with a pinch of salt, some good footage and a little factual info.
Make up your own minds people.

there is a glaring typo in the amazon.com review
the word 'superkommando' should be 'sonderkommando' :

sonderkommando were the jews who were forced to work the ovens and dispose of the dead. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The definitive screen adaptation of Henry James's The Turn of the Screw, the 1961 production of The Innocents remains one of the most effective ghost stories ever filmed. Originally promoted as the first truly "adult" chiller of the big screen (a marginally valid claim considering the release of Psycho a year earlier), the film arrived at a time when the thematic depth of James's story could finally be addressed without the compromise of reductive discretion. And while the Freudian anxiety that fuels the story may seem tame by today's standards, the psychological horrors that comprise the story's "dark secret" are given full expression in a film that brilliantly clouds the boundary between tragic reality and frightful imagination.

In one of her finest performances, Deborah Kerr stars as Miss Giddons, a devout and somewhat repressed spinster who happily accepts the position of governess for two orphaned children whose uncle (Michael Redgrave) readily admits to having no interest in being tied down by two "brats." So Miss Giddons is dispatched to Bly House, the lavish, shadowy estate where young Flora (Pamela Franklin) and her brother Miles (Martin Stephens, so memorable in 1960's Village of the Damned) live with a good-natured housekeeper (Megs Jenkins). At first, life at Bly House seems splendidly idyllic, but as Miss Giddons learns the horrible truth about the estate's now-deceased groundskeeper and previous governess, she begins to suspect that her young charges are ensnared in a devious plot from beyond the grave.

Ghostly images are revealed in only the most fleeting glimpses, and the outstanding Cinemascope photography by Freddie Francis (who used special filters to subtly darken the edges of the screen) turns Bly House into a welcoming mansion by day, a maze of mystery and terror by night. Sound effects and music are used to bone-chilling effect, and director Jack Clayton, blessed with a script by William Archibald and Truman Capote, maintains a deliberate pace to emphasize the ambiguity of James's timeless novella. The result is a masterful film--comparable to the 1963 classic The Haunting--that uses subtlety and suggestion to reach the pinnacle of fear. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (66)

The greatest ghost story ever filmed
Jack Clayton's superb film version of Henry James's novella THE TURN OF THE SCREW is unquestionably the most faithful rendition of James ever brought to the screen: the film retains not only all the famous ambiguity of the novella but also all the beauty as well as all the suspense and horror. Deborah Kerr gives the performance of her life (with the exception only, perhaps, of Sister Clodagh in BLACK NARCISSUS) as the beautiful and hysterical governess brought to a gigantic mansion to care for two odd children, who may or may not be communing with the ghosts of Kerr's predecessor and the manor's manservant. The uncertainty as to whether the ghosts are real--or products of the governess's repressed fears and insecurities--is the famous crux of the James novella, and beautifully translated into the film. There are teasing moments of narrative uncertainty, such as the classic sequence in the schoolroom, that capture all the mystery of the original source, and the great sequence with Kerr trying to restrain a hysterical Flora from joining what looks to be the ghost of Miss Jessel out by the manor's lake in the pouring rain is authentically creepy.

Another classic chiller
This black & white movie starring Deborah Kerr is truly chilling. Without the use of blood, guts or special effects the film has a creepy quality that makes you watch every dark corner for an unexpected scare. Shadows and haunts weave in & out of the lives of two children (brother & sister) left to the care of hired help. When Miss Giddens (Kerr) comes as governess to care for the children she soon discovers she has competition for the attention and affection of the two youngsters. As she confronts dark forces she attempts to unravel the sinister influence from their innocent hearts and minds. Her only hope is to save them before they are lost forever.

Scream if you want to see this on DVD ASAP!
Coming from a generation that considers the Scream movies to be pretty scary, I honestly think that this film should be essential viewing for all slasher movie fans. The high school horror crap so readily churned out appals me when I watch a film like The Innocents, and I'm reminded what a good scary movie is really like.

Although I'm not 100% sure about Deborah Kerr's performance in The Innocents, it certainly didn't tarnish my respect for this film. Miles and Flora are played by two outstanding children, who truly are stars. Miles' character was just the most eerie thing I've witnessed in a movie for a long time - he indeed had the air of an innocent, but there was definitely an adult, almost sexual side to the boy. Very creepy.

The lighting effects, multitude of mirrors and spooky Miss. Jessel filled me with fear from the moment I started watching this - and I was hooked until the closing credits. My favourite part of The Innocents was the governess's bizarre dream sequence - spinechilling stuff.

I'll be sure to recommend this film to all my friends in the hope that it'll get the recognition it deserves. More of this style of psychological horror please Hollywood - if I'm subjected to another bad teen horror movie I will not be responsible for my actions.

The devinitive version of "The Turn of the Screw"
Without doubt, this is the definitive version of Henry James' "The Turn of the Screw." The acting of Deborah Kerr as the governess is superb, as are the performances of the actors playing the two posessed children. Filmed in atmospheric black-and-white, this is one film that deserves the full DVD treatment. My only reservation is with the title. While appropriate, it should have retained the title as given by Mr. James. Five stars!

STILL SCARES AFTER MORE THAN FORTY YEARS!!!
The Innocents, featuring an excellent performance by Deborah Kerr, is a perfect example of why less can be so much more when watching a psychological thriller. Even after forty years this masterpiece still delivers the thrills and scares. The Innocents not only makes the viewer think, but it provides many jolts which will keep any seasoned horror/suspense buff on his or her toes. This film is definitely worth seeking out, although, unfortunately, it has yet to appear on DVD. ... Read more

Reviews (122)

A poetic story about love and family
"Sarah, Plain and Tall," by Patricia MacLachlan, received the 1986 Newbery Medal, a distinguished honor in the world of literature for young people. The honor was well deserved. "Sarah" is a warm, moving story.

"Sarah" is a story told in the first-person by Anna, a young farm girl who lives with her widowed father and younger brother, Caleb. Anna's father sends by mail for a prospective new wife: Sarah, a woman from the Maine seacoast. As the story unfolds, Sarah arrives on the farm and gets to know the family.

MacLachlan writes in a simple but poetic style that expertly conveys the emotions of her characters. MacLachlan is wonderful at catching the details of farm life, which the reader discovers along with Sarah. I also like the way MacLachlan evokes the Maine coastal landscape through Sarah's dialogue. There is a subtle suspense to the story: will Sarah decide to stay and become a part of the story?

I won't give away the ending. But I will say that "Sara" is a gentle and compassionate book for readers of all ages.

I may be a kid, but I have big thoughts!
Sarah, Plain and Tall is about a girl named Anna who's mother dies from giving birth to Anna's brother Caleb. Leading a very lonely life, Anna's father has no choice but to remarry. So, he puts an ad in the paper. A few days later, he gets a reply from a lady named Sarah Wheaton. She wants to take the place of Anna's mother. When Sarah arrives, Anna and Caleb can't help but noticing how very sad Sarah is. "I love the sea." she says. Will Sarah stay? With 4(and 1/2)stars what do you think? Read this book to find out!

Boring, Terrible, Not Good At All
"Sarah, Plain and Tall" is a short and boring book. I, an eleven-year-old boy, had to read it for Accelerated Reader, and as the story progressed it became worse and worse. I thought Sarah's letters to her brother in Maine sounded like letters a four-year-old would write to their parents from camp. The book might have been better if it had been told by another character in the story, such as Caleb or Papa. I would never recommend this book to anyone, unless they are absolutely desperate for AR points. I am very surprised that it won the 1986 Newbery Medal. No offense to the author.

Review Of
This book was a book that I did not care for. The plot was poorly developed. There is very little detail. The story goes nowhere fast. My last comment is the book is too short. If you're a person who likes short books basically about the colors blue, gray, and green, and your between the ages of 7-10, knock yourself out.

Sarah, Plain, and Tall
Sarah came to the prairie, from Maine, to marry Papa (Jacob Witting). At firs it seemed like alot to us (Caleb Witting,and Anna Witting,or Jacobs childern) to have a new mother, years after our born mother had died.

These are the words of the spirt filled, child, Anna Witting.
Her mother died the day after her younger brother, Caleb Witting was born.To Caleb a mother was a mystery, unit Sarah came into there life. ... Read more

Reviews (67)

Spectacular account of the event that deffined the era
No words can describe how wonderfully this film has captured the moment in the event which defined the Hippie Movement, which amazed the world by truley and fully living up to its catch phrase: "Three days of peace, love, and music", and which made those who did not attend wonder what they were thinking.
The music, first and foremost, is truley wonderful. Spectacular performances by CSN, Joe Cocker, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Ten Years After, Richie Havens and so many more. I most especially enjoy watching Joe Cocker's rendition of "With A Little Help From My Friends". His voice and the energy which radiates from him as he performs is truley mesmerizing. And of course who could forget Jimi Hendrix famous performance where he tore up his guitar with his captivating version of the National Anthem. I also love Country Joe's performance of "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die-Rag". A wonderful performance, it truley captivates the peace and love of the event as, toward the end of the song he encourages the audience to stand and sing to end the war...and the majority of the 500,000 or so audience members stand and sing along.
But it's not just the music that make's this film wonderful. The film show's the organization of the event, the building of the stage etc... We meet the people who made the event possible. And when the people begin to enter the site without paying for tickets....and the producers realize how much money they've lost...they shrug it off and say that they don't mind because the event and the people loving eachother and sharing everything is such a beautiful thing...and that the money doesn't matter. Do producers of rock concerts (or producers of anything for that matter) ever say that money doesn't matter these days? It truley shows what a wonderful generation it was. The audience is beautiful as well, everyone being themselves, everyone having a good time and sharing the experience that was the last bang (and what a bang it was) for the Hippie Movement.

3 Days at Yasgur's Farm
The Woodstock Festival was a defining for the counterculture movement. The young hippies showed a nation that they could exist together in a peaceful, communal state. The Woodstock documentary captures the essence of those three days on a farm in upstate New York. We see hippies skinny-dipping, the locals looking around in amazement on the deluge of people who descending on their quiet, little town, kids, cops and others are interviewed and of course we see the music. From Richie Havens' opening things up with "Freedom" to Jimi Hendrix's defining "Star Spangled Banner", we are treated to a 60's rock who's who. Joe Cocker, Santana, CSN&Y, John Sebastian and Sly & The Family Stone particularly standout and we get bonus material not in the original release from The Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin and others. Director Michael Wadleigh's film won a deserving Best Documentary Oscar and a young Martin Scorcese was an editor on the film. Some of the acts are woefully dated and long forgotten, but Woodstock is an impressive snapshot of a memorable moment in our history.

A Document of a Feeling
It's inevitable that arguments will take place, as they do in these reviews, about what the meaning of Woodstock really is -- many have evoked peace and anti-vietnam sentiments and a great social movement, while others take a more mocking tone and dismiss it as a kind of upper middle class fantasy camp, a sewing of the oats before beginning corporate life.

Not having been alive in the 60s, I only know what I've read and been told by those older than myself, but I'd guess that the first assessment is a bit idealistic, while the second is unfair, and that the truth is "somewhere in between," to fall back on the cliche.

What the film does successfully document, I gather, is what it felt like to be young and hippie and excited about music and social protest and all the things Woodstock at least appeared, at the time, to represent. The feeling is what's embodied in the filmic techniques, the scenes chosen, and the performances themselves, and this makes Woodstock a successful documentary.

The 60s were many things, and no film could capture all of them. Actually, in spite of the fact that it allows itself to get very much caught up in the excitement, I think the film has its moments of ironic distance and sobering reality, such as the port-a-san scene (particularly the extended shot of the average joe cleaning the things).

For a good counterpoint, I recommend the Isle of Wight festival film, which captures the darker, more selfish side of the hippie generation.

Beautiful and dirty
Although I was a teenager soon after this concert, I somehow never got around to seeing the moving until this year. (I guess concert films don't get screened frequently on terrestrial TV.) So over the years I've become more familiar with the triple LP of the movie and, of course, the many posters the rock stars in heroic poses that dominated the early 1970s -- i.e. the Who's Roger Daltrey, Jimi Hendrix and Ten Years After's Alvin Lee.

Despite the mud and the squalor, this is an extraordinarily beautiful film, with the screen often breaking up into two or three segments. (Note on the closing credits the name of Martin Scorsese on the production team.)

It's well worth contrasting this movie with the DVD of the 1970 Isle of Wight festival. Only a year separates the two concerts, but the late 1960s idealism of Woodstock gets replaced by prototype British vandalism. The Who perform at both concerts, and make an equally good account of themselves. Daltrey's emotional delivery of 'See Me, Feel Me' helps to explain why 'Tommy' became such a phenomenon in America. Hendrix also performed at both, but his meandering solo at Woodstock was not of the highest standard.

The other highlight of the show was Santana, a Latino band only just beginning to establish themselves in California at the time. As others have noted, the drum solo by Mike Shrieve is impressive for one so young. As with the Who, Santana's album sales will have multiplied as a result of their Woodstock performance.

It's interesting how many great acts weren't at Woodstock -- e.g. Joni Mitchell (despite her song about the concert!), the Doors, Bob Dylan or the Stones. The first two clearly realised how important these festivals were in the breaking of artists into markets, and so they appear on the Isle of Wight DVD.

For most of my life, Woodstock has been a set of static images, largely taken from the cover of the album. But as this film reveals, there is so much more imagery than pictures of beautiful women bathing in the lake. Quite apart from all the idealism of passing whisky bottles and reefers around, of sliding in the mud, the film shows the flip side: of people queuing in the mud to phone home, of helicopters rescuing the sick, of helpers cleaning toilets, and of barefoot stragglers looking for a pair of shoes amid a post-concert site that looks more of a wasteland than the trenches of the First World War.

Enjoy it in all its glory and all its grime.

Woodstock
Woodstock was a great documentary. It had everything from split screen to wonderful music. The sound was great. So many bands in only 3days. It was a time where skinny diping and doing Pot and acid was ok and understandable. Police were not filling the jails with people who did drugs and broke laws. They were letting them be free and discover peace. Woodstock is something that will go down in history as a time of love and peace and understanding. In the end it was more then just the music it was the love and the way freedom brought it. ... Read more