Amazon.com

The legendary distance runner Steve Prefontaine blazed across tracks and into America's consciousness before meeting a tragic death in an auto accident at the age of 24.In this tribute to "Pre," narrated by writer Ken Kesey, a number of his contemporaries speak movingly of him as an athlete and a person.After setting high school running records in his native Oregon, Prefontaine went on to the University of Oregon, where as a freshman he began to dominate the American track scene and appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated. He was a distinctive character and archival films demonstrate the charisma and astounding confidence he brought to his sport.His race in the 5,000 meters at the 1972 Munich Olympics is shown in detail, with other runners in the race offering commentary on the gutsy performance of the 21-year-old.Pre didn't win a medal in the race, but as his sister puts it, the race "matured him" and made him determined to win gold at the 1976 Montreal Olympics (which he wouldn't live to do).Though one of the world's best athletes, after college he was forced to survive on food stamps, and he became a spokesman for the plight of amateur athletes. This is a touching look at a brilliant athlete and a charming character who still inspires runners today. --Robert J. McNamara ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Pre!
If you were a runner in the early '70s, Steve Prefontaine was your idol. Give Frank Shorter and Bill Rodgers and even Lasse Viren their due, it was Pre who captured the essence of running as no other ever had or probably ever will. The guy had charisma - loads of it - and a style that grabbed you by the shorts and pulled you around the track with him. Was he America's greatest runner? Probably not, but who knows how good he could have been had his awesome potential not been snuffed. He may not have been the best, but he certainly inspired more runners than any of his contemporaries. The video provides comments and insights from family, friends and athletic rivals, and the footage from some of his races - particularly the 1972 Olympic 5000 meters - is an adrenaline-pumping reminisce of a spirit in American running we may never see again. This video allows the viewer to vicariously experience that fire and magic one more time.

Citius - Altius - Fortius
I purchased this video for my son who is a runner on his high school's track team. I didn't realize that the film would have such an impact on him, in that he has watched it three times already and has shared it with his teammates as well. Prefontaine has become an icon to these runners, an inspiration for them to take their running to the next level. My son is now planning to continue to compete in college: this fall on the XC team and on the track team in the spring.

Will get you through the last miles of a marathon
Once you watched this, just like Pre you'll never ever quit!

An Amazing Runner
As a high schooler who ran cross-country and track Pre was an inspiration. I learned about him around those times. I even cut out a picture of him in a magazine and put it over my bed as an inspiration before every track meet I competed in. This documentary must be real good!! It's a must for any track enthusiast, runner, or any Pre fans. He was an inspiration. If he had lived he probably would have been one of the greatest track coaches of all time like Bill Bowerman was. He's in my top 10 of one of the greatest track stars of all time! What A Runner!!! Thanks.

The Legend Lives On!
I remember watching Prefontaine doing his practice runs around the fields at North Bay Junior High School in Hauser, Oregon when I was a student there. I was aware of his achievements and was in awe of him. It was such a thrill to be able to watch him practice. His is a truly inspirational story. I went on to run long distance myself at his rival school in North Bend, OR. I would have given anything to have half his natural talent. I also watched him in the 1972 Olympics on television and still remember the emotions involved. I will always admire Prefontaine and wonder about the greatness that would have been. Someday Hollywood will do his story right. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

--An experience never to forget--
Seeing this film for the first time was not exactly an easy thing to get through. Watching the torcher at first hand is alot easier to understand then a teacher trying to explain it (not saying they do a bad job). This film gives you an upclose + personal look at life as a prisoner in one of the death camps. It also gives you a tour of some of them, and you'll be surprised how many there were, not only the famous ones like Auswitz. I can't express enough the fact that its not an easy film to get through, but its one that everyone in this world should see, everyone should know what they went through, and everyone should know and be sure to see that something like this will never happen again.
--My Prayers to all those who not only died, but who survived to tell the tale of the Holocaust--

**And i really recomend this film**

History-Social Studies Educator's Perspective
Every history-social studies teacher is given the almost impossible task of describing to students things which we have not personally seen. The challenge of teaching the Holocaust becomes even greater, because most people cannot begin to imagine the horrors let alone the mind that could conceive them. Our challenge as educators is not to just to communicate the concept, it is to provide understanding. Once the process of understanding has begun, our task is then to help students deal with it.

To do this in any real manner is next to impossible. Hollywood has tried to depict the events but falls far short. This is not Hollywood's fault. The Holocaust is too vast, far beyond description, and just how far is in some small way shown in this film.

The footage comes from the official film record taken by Allied Forces in Europe. Labelled "The Death Camps," the film documents not only some of the smaller camps, but some of the other institutions of mass murder. Living survivors, like walking skeletons with terror in their eyes along with the callousness of the Germans is all there. Bergen-Belsen is beyond description.

Auschwitz is not included because it was captured by the Russians. The film record of Auschwitz is, retrettably, scant. The film is in black and white and has precious little narration. Only one clip with a voice recording. The images are as dispassionately shown as possible.

Clearly, this video is shocking and graphic. It is not for the faint at heart, but it is mandatory viewing for any history-social studies educator. Since 1945, there have been more than a dozen attempted genocides. This is a lesson that must be learned if we are going to survive as a species.

This is not just a video. It is a historical archive of one of the greatest horrors the world has ever seen.

You don't know what it was like until you've seen this......
I'm a fifteen year old student in high school and our teacher let us watch a portion of this video after reading Elie Wiesel's "Night". It definately helped me get a better understanding of the death camps. As a student it is hard to understand and believe that this type of inhumane activity happened, but after getting a visual of the mass graves and the diseased, hungry, mistreated people it gave us the right impression. ... Read more

Description

This Academy Award-winning film tells the unforgettable story of Gerda Weissmann Klein and her six-year ordeal as a victim of Nazi cruelty. Rendered in a deceptively simple yet extraordinarily powerful manner, the film explores the effects Weissman’s experience had on the rest of her life. By the end of the war she had lost her parents, brother, home, possessions, and community; even the dear friends she made in the labor camps, with whom she had shared so many hardships, were dead. A journey of survival through one of the most devastating events in the history of mankind. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Story of Courage & Survival
This is one of the most moving documentaries I have ever seen. Gerda Weissman is a most compelling storyteller, you can not help but be moved by her memories. The filmmakers and editors have done a phenomenal job selecting and arranging images and subtle effects to compliment Gerda's words. I show this video on the first day of a college-level Documentary Production class I teach each Spring. Students, who might normally be bored by such a slow paced story of the past, are drawn in by Gerda's presence and courage. At the end of the semester I have the students evaluate all the docs we have screened, One Surivor Remembers always makes the top of the list. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

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

Reviews (1)

SIBERIAN BOY WRESTLERS SHOW THEIR STUFF
LITTLE WARRIORS 2

They're back! Yes, Baikal Films' young superstars of wrestling,
Little Warriors, are back again and ready to rumble. After a
terrific trip to summer camp for some much deserved fun, our boys
are in the gym and training hard. Super slammin' moves are
practiced to perfection and young muscles are strained to the
max, all in anticipation of the season's first big match. This
competition is an impressive one, opening with a handsome parade
of young boy athletes circling the hall and carrying their team
banners proudly. But don't let these smiling, doe-eyed,
rosey-cheeked boys fool you, they're some of Siberia's fiercest
young grapplers. Each one is pumped and ready to deliver a
power-packed performance of flips, slams, and smack-downs we call
LITTLE WARRIORS 2! ... Read more

Description

ACADEMY AWARD, BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT For a few weeks each year, in the depths of winter, senior students at the National Ballet School of Canada are treated to a style of dance that is unlike any other - flamenco. Susana - dancer, teacher and choreographer- comes from Spain with her husband, Antonio Robledo, to introduce the students to the rhythms of another culture; the secrets of an ancient art that speaks of the passion of itinerant gypsies, the songs of Spanish Jews, the ways of the Moors. Beautifully illuminated, with a dynamic visual style that emulates the staccato rhythms of the dance, FLAMENCO AT 5:15 is a thrilling introduction to the most visceral art form. It is a wonderful opportunity for dancers and non-dancers alike to learn what is at the heart of the passionate discipline that is, in Susana's words, "earth and sky and always the contradiction." ... Read more

Reviews (2)

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

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

Amazon.com

This hour-long documentary, written and directed by noted film critic Richard Schickel for the 1971 Public Television series The Men Who Make the Movies, offers a concise, intelligent look at Hitchcock's films. The Master of Suspense himself, who is interviewed extensively here, delights with (possibly apocryphal) stories of his deep-seated fear of policemen, elaborates on the difference between shock and suspense, defines the meaning of "MacGuffin," and discusses his use of storyboarding in designing a film. Clips from many of his greatest films (including North by Northwest, Shadow of a Doubt, The Birds, and the legendary shower scene from Psycho) illustrate his points, often to Hitchcock's own voice-over observations, with narrator Cliff Robertson offering other critical insights. An excellent introduction to the filmmaker Schickel describes as "the great artist of anxiety." --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Exellent Documentary On The Master.
Everyone has heared of the great late Alfred Hitchcock and most people have seen at least one of his movies. Still, if you want to know more about Hitch, like how he remembers the door clanging shut on him in the local jail as a kid and his theorys (actually more than theorys- they are facts cause Hitch would know) on how to build uncontrollabe suspence. Just listen to the baseball theory. This is great for both scolars and those who are just becomeing one of the millions of fans. Take a look.

A Hitchcock 101 for those who aren't familiar with him
This is a very intelligent introduction to Hitch's work. He talks very earnestly about movies he made. Scenes from some of his better pictures are featured. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

I was there too!!!
Hi Amy and all. This is Stacey. Amy and I were there together. Both of us are in the video together. Very good times and it's good we are still here to talk of them. It was at the Capital Center in MD when we saw Priest. Very good video!

I was there!
Amy here. Some of you know who I am. Those were the good ole days. Yes......I am alive and well, and so are my friends. So great to see a video of all the fans, including myself. More videos like this should be made to show the reality of how it was at all the great concerts. Rock on!

This is for you!!
This is by far the greatest 15 minutes ever compiled onto one tape. When I listen to Judas Priest, I imagine myself cutting class, driving in an El Camino with my friend "Trip," complaining about our parents and teachers. This video turns fantasy into reality. If you ever were a burnout Priest fan, this is for you. If you ever wanted to be a burnout Priest fan, this is for you. If you just like lauging at burnout Priest fans, this is for you. If you simply like to laugh, this is for you. I cannot imagine a single open-minded person not enjoying this beautiful film.

Funny as hell!
My sister just got me this for Christmas, no doubt because I was an 80's headbanger. This short tape is simply some videotape taken in a parking lot before a Judas Priest concert in 1986 in Maryland. This is so funny because it shows what metal fans were like back then. These fans are particularly redneck, drunk, stoned and scuzzy. Anyone who is or used to like heavy metal in the 80's should get this. I'd like to know what happened to some of these people - my guess is most of them are dead! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Derek Humphry, author of the book Final Exit and founder of the Hemlock Society, an organization that advocates that terminally ill people should have the right to end their suffering by taking their own lives, hosts this subdued yet inevitably controversial video. Beginning by telling the story of how he helped his first wife to end her own life when her terminal cancer became unbearable, Humphry then moves on to a discussion of the legal ramifications of what he euphemistically terms "self-deliverance." The low-key (and low-budget) presentation, which mostly consists of Humphry delivering a monologue while seated behind a desk in what appears to be his organization's office, then turns to practical advice that many people would consider utterly ghoulish. Make no mistake, this is a tape designed to show people the best way to end their own lives, and watching it can be disturbing, despite Humphry's insistence that he is speaking about very particular circumstances involving the terminally ill (and he stresses that he is not addressing people suffering from mental illness or depression). As unsettling as this all is, anyone seeking out this video for its shock value will be disappointed, as it is, to be honest, utterly clinical and not in any way exciting to watch. Of course, the ethical questions about this entire subject are enormous, as are the legal issues. And while Humphry has the right to present his material, it goes without saying that anyone seriously thinking about such serious matters should be seeking far more wisdom than what could be found on a videotape. --Robert J. McNamara ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Excellent for those needing advice on self-deliverance
In this video Derek Humphry presents his material in a tasteful, low-key manner entirely suitable for such a serious subject. The viewer benefits from his long experience in the field, both his firsthand experience and his wide-ranging research. He clearly presents the steps that can be taken by terminally-ill people in desperate need of a hastened death, and for this many will thank him. The benefits of disseminating this information widely must on balance outweigh the risks of it falling into the hands of those for whom it is not intended. It takes great courage and compassion to do what Mr Humphry has done, and this video is a vital contribution adding to his other pivotal works. Until enlightened euthanasia legislation is passed, many of us will rely on this information plus other new developments in the self-deliverance field, when we ourselves are faced with the misery of a terminal condition.

Final Exit
This video doesn't deserve any stars. I think that it is very sick of someone to make a video to tell old people that it is good to kill them selves when they are sick. Yes, I understand that they are VERY sick and that they are suffering, but to promote sucide is just wrong. and soon it will be spread onto younger kids, letting them think that it is okay to die just because you dont feel well. Things get exagerated over time, this certin topic, I think will be exagerated. And people will be droping like flies!

An excellent tool for self-deliverance
I found this video to be excellent and better than the book itself, because the video shows in detail how to go about the various methods of suicide for the terminally ill. Derek Humphry does a very respectful and tasteful presentation on this serious subject and I personally think what he is doing is a great service to humanity in ending unbearble suffering while at the same time discouraging suicide for emotional reasons, which is clearly stated in the video. The bottom line is it's a very well done video that could help a lot of people.

Unique, expert, clear intro to "self deliverance"ÿ
Makes clear the many possible medical, social and legal misadventures that have occured and how to avoid them. A French friend wishes there were a French version. ... Read more

Amazon.com

As the Nazi war machine marched across Europe and Jews were rounded upand killed, a small town in France became an unlikely haven for the persecuted.The small village of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon, which was inhabited mostly by Huguenots (devout Protestants whose own history involved being persecuted), became a place where families took in Jews and hid them in their houses and on their farms.The villagers risked their lives, and their bravery is evident in interviews with residents who recall the Nazis searching house to house for Jews in hiding.Produced by Pierre Sauvage, who was born in the village while his parents were being sheltered, this documentary is a moving look at ordinary people who performed extraordinary feats.What is perhaps most impressive is how the elderly villagers interviewed on camera seem to think what they did wasn't very heroic at all, but rather a simple expression of their religious faith.It is humbling to hear them describe how it was impossible for them to do anything other than protect their fellow humans from great evil.This edition of the documentary is introduced by Bill Moyers, and also features an interview Moyers conducted with filmmaker Sauvage.--Robert J. McNamara ... Read more

Reviews (4)

8888
I would like to view it again, so can you help me get it
in the PAL version.
Thanks Charles

Deeply moving and challenging film
I first saw this film on TV on a local PBS station several years ago. From that day on I searched in video stores, the PBS station's gift shop in the Philadelphia area (WHYY) and video catalogues to find it. Then, for a paper I was writing on "altruism" I searched the web and came across this film,a copy of which I ordered from Amazon. This is a true story of French people who, while unremarkable in many ways, were extremely remarkable in the way they almost naturally lived out their Christian faith by, along with their neighbors, hiding and helping to protect many French Jews during WWII from Nazi terrors. After seeing this film and reading "Lest Innocent Blood Be Shed, The Story of the Village of Le Chambon and How Goodness Happened There," by Philip Hallie I have pondered what I might do in their place. I can only hope I might be like them, and have asked, "Lord, enable me to be like these people who loved You and others this way - in a real way, when faced with evil and danger." Please view this film and share it with others.

Every church and synagogue in America should own this
Five stars aren't high enough for some movies. This is a masterpiece to savor, watch again and again, share with children, and pass along to generations yet to come. Why can't more movies inspire as much hope and goodness as this one? Buy a copy for yourself; buy another to give to your church or synagogue.

A deeply moving account of simple dedication and love.
Through personal interviews and on site filming, a young Jewish film maker recounts and attempts to analyze the courageous display of love and commitment to essential truth in the French Heugenot village of Le Chambon during WWII. French Protestant Christians, themselves with a history of extreme persecution, shelter five thousand Jews in a village of five thousand. Not one Jew is lost. The mystery of the courageous response, the sacrifice and the success is skillfully laid out in a series of interviews. You won't take your eyes off this film for one minute, you won't go away without tears and you will want to see it again ... and share it! ... Read more

Description

This spirited film offers unique insight into jazz tap dancing as an indigenous American art form. The spirit of tap in its heyday, shown in rare photographs and Hollywood film clips of the 1930s, provides a backdrop for intimate portraits of three surviving "hoofers." Sandman Sims, Chuck Green and Bunny Briggs tell the story of tap as an expression of black heritage and culture. For all dance afficionados, NO MAPS ON MY TAPS is an indispensable historical record of this distinctly American art form. ... Read more

Description

This captivating film focuses on the artistry and style of three of America's leading male tap dancers, Steve Condos, Jimmy Slyde and Chuck Green. Introduced by Gregory Hines, who shares his childhood memories of watching and imitating the tap dance greats at the Apollo Theater, ABOUT TAP features simply staged but bravura performances that display this engaging and graceful art at its finest. The film asks the question, "How does an artist discover his own individual style?" Through their recollections and performances, each of the featured dancers offer a distinctive and highly entertaining answer. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Pure gold for any tap enthusiast
This was one of the first videos I got a hold of when I started tap dancing & I'm still picking up new steps every time I see this video. It is one of the few videos containing the dancing of these greats. All in all, a wonderful display of different tap styles with 3 of the best tappers ever, In my opinion.

must have. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

One of the best documentary
China-A Century of Revolution, is such an interesting documentary. I thought it would be boring. It turned out this was one of few documentaries that did not put me to sleep. Without realizing, I easily sat through two hour of viewing each time. This is a documentary that I could not stop watching until the end. It outlined modern Chinese history in a simple yet understandable manner. It does not contain the detils and background information of many important events - It is an impossible task to include more details in a six hour doucmentary. It does take one through most of the major events in the modern Chinese history and does a good job of it. For people who merely wishes to have a simple understanding of modern Chinese history, this documentary should be the one to watch. For people who wishes to have a in depth understanding of modern Chinese history, this documentary would help to clarify things. Much of the footages are brand new to me. The interviews with the still living government officials and ordinary citizens help to bring dead history alive. This is a must see for any one who is interested in modern Chinese history. I don't normally write reviews. I feel I owe it to every one to write this review. It would be a shame if you miss it.

A documentary benchmark
This is a wonderfully unbiased documentary on the 20th century history of China. It begins with the fall of an Empire and rise of Sun Yat Sen in 1911, and moves onto Chiang Kai Shek and Chairman Mao who are portrayed as leaders who participated in some of the most significant events that define the Cultural Revolution.

I remember Secondary School curriculae that portrays the Nationalist Chiang as the 'good-guy', and Chairman Mao as the 'bad-guy' of chinese 20th century history. However, this documentary remains ambivalent on both of these matters, presenting the facts without bias by the producers. They expertly weave a history with evenhandedness making it impartial and objective to the sometimes very subjective matter that is The Cultural Revolution. The entire six hour documentary spans approximately 70 years, from 1911 (Sun Yat Sen) through to the rule and capitalistic tendencies of Deng Xiao Peng.

While the objectivity of the documentary is laudable, the treatment of the subject matter is nothing short of exceptional. The intention of the documentary is to serve as an overview within a six hour time-frame. It is NOT intended as an in-depth political study of the times! Subsequently, the documentary does not getted bogged-down in too much detail, but simultaneously manages to adequately portray the events that defined 20th century China.

On the whole this documentary is highly watchable, offering historical footage and interviews with those who participated in the Cultural Revolution in one form or another. Any curriculum study of 20th century China would be greatly enhanced by including this documentary. The documentary also serves as a great introduction to China for anyone interested in the country and how it has arrived at being the country it is today.

Monumental doucumentary. Sweeping in scope and detail.
This documentary is excellently produced and I can easily watch all 6-hours of it in one sitting. It is just that compelling and fascinating to see the history of China over the last century unfold and come to life in expert testimony and primary footage of the actual events that took place, even all the way back to a speech given by Sun Yat-Sen.

6 hours is long, and at the same time, it is a very short space to compress a full century of history into. However, this film does it superbly. The dvd splits the history into three eras. The pre-WWII period (Sun Yat-Sen, Japanese Invation, the duel between the CCP and the KMT), the rise of Mao and the Communists, and what the future holds for China and the Chinese. There is ample detail provided about events and people who shaped each era.

If you know nothing about China in the last century, and all the turmoil which occured, I would strongly recommend this documentary. It has no equal in terms of it's broad scope and compelling content, and makes the already intriging story of China in the 20th century come even more alive, and human.

If you already are a Chinese history buff, this film will be interesting all the same.

It is full of rare footage (where else will you get to see Dr. Sun in film? or peasants "struggling" against their landlords?) and audio (I've never heard Madame Mao's voice before this.) that you will probably never see or hear anywhere else. Interviews with those who endured the Cultural Revoution and those who will shape the future of China give the film an intimate touch. Included are: Dr. Li, Mao's personal physician of two decades, Chinese celebrities, peasants, landlords, urban dwellers, students. All love China, but they sweep the gamut from those who hate Mao to those who love him, and what the Communists have done for/to China, and what the future lies in store for them, and the rest of the Chinese people.

Overall, and AMAZING documentary with an incredible scope. Covering one of the most amazing and remarkable chapters of human history, good and bad, this documentary will not dissapoint.

Great, but not quite 5 stars
This is an excellent and exhaustive documentary. The perfect primer for learning the social topography of our increasingly important neighbors to the East.

But it's not a complete masterpiece. It relies primarily on archival footage. And though many of these films are rare, they are almost entirely gleaned from propaganda films. The directors fill in the gaps through interviews, some quite striking for youthful appearence of the elderly intervewees.

It is remarkable for the way it concisely summarizes a complex and brutal history in 360 minutes. But what it lacks is investigative prowess and graphic brilliance.

Granted, China is not the easiest country to conduct an investigation or shoot a documentary in. But I'm left with the feeling that in 5 years, with further liberalization, a 5 star version of this documentary could be made.

Until then, this documentary comes highly recommended.

Far more than a History Lesson...
Wow.

This series consists of six one-hour episodes, and takes you through the beginning of the 20th century up until the present. The story that it tells is so incredibly bizarre and tragic and thought-provoking that at times it was difficult to believe it was all true. The 2nd DVD in particular, which focuses on the reign of Mao, really made me realize how different the Chinese culture is from my own (USA) and what a traumatic history they've had in the past 100 years.

One of the things I really appreciated about this series was how non-judgmental it was. At no point did I feel that the editor or producers had a political agenda. The point was not to demonize the Communists and also not to glorify them. Instead, it simply let you watch the events unfold and let you listen to the people who lived it as they attempt to explain to you (and to themselves) how all of these unbelievable things happened and how it felt to be in the middle of it all.

You could really understand why, after living through Chiang Kai-shek's corrupt Nationalist rule, the people were so eager to follow Mao and to embrace his idealistic vision of a Communist State built of equality and justice. And, too, you could see how the whole thing slowly went off-kilter. As Mao became more and more removed from the day-to-day reality of the peasants, his ideas became increasingly demented. In a sense, he reminded me of Marlon Brando's character in "Apocalypse Now," except that Mao was real and was in the position of leadership of almost one billion people.

By the time the documentary got to the Cultural Revolution (the fourth of the six episodes), it's like you're watching some insane Monty Python-esque satire about revolutions within revolutions. Everyone was overthrowing everyone else, and all in the name of Mao.

Watching this series will do far more than teach you some fascinating history; it will also make you re-examine all your most basic assumptions about how humans think and function. There's one woman interviewed who talks about an old man who was beaten to death shortly before her arrival, because a crowd of youths decided he was a Capitalist. She says at the end of the story that she still can't say for sure if she would have helped in beating him to death or not, had she arrived in time to do so. And this isn't some crazy woman saying this. It's someone perfectly sane and normal who simply got swept up in the times she was living in.

I cannot recommend this series highly enough. ... Read more

Description

A revealing portrait of the nearly extinct "hillbilly" culture, focuses on mountain dancer Jesco White's uphill battle against abject poverty, drug abuse, petty crime and mental instability. In his struggle to live up to his father's legacy as the finest mountain dancer in Appalachia, he leans on Jesus, Elvis Presley, and his wife, Norma Jean.

DANCING OUTLAW has been screened at several major events, including the Sundance Film Festival.

DANCING OUTLAW has won 7 major awards, including: Best Public Television Program, 1992 Emmy Award and the American Film Institute Award. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Tragically hysterical. Or is it hysterically tragic?
It's both. It's "Dancing Outlaw" and it may very well be the scariest film ever made.

Dancing Outlaw" is the true story of Jesco (Jescoe, Jessco?) White, the most ignorant, backward, and flat out insane hillbilly to ever cut a rug on top of a doghouse. Remember all of those jokes about West Virginians? Well, those people exist and Jesco is one of them. Jesco and wife make the average Jerry Springer guest look like Ward Cleaver.

Besides dancing, Jesco likes to pretend he is Elvis, huff paint, drink, and terrorize his pathetic wife (...So I held the butcher knife up to her neck, right? And I said, "Woman! What did I tell you about cooking them sloppy slimey eggs!?") Jesco is obviously mentally disturbed and that will make you feel even worse about laughing at him. Some might find this documentary to be a bit too cruel. However, I got the feeling that the filmakers actually kind of liked Jesco. It is true, though, that a pretty dark view of humanity is presented here. This is very black comedy and the fact that it is real actually just gives it all a tragic significance. There are a lot of Jescos out there. I have never been so horrified and so amused at the same time.

This tape is expensive; too expensive for me. If you have the money, grab it. This movie will be THE cult classic for years to come. I thought it was out of print, but there it is. ... Read more

Description

NO NUKES Video SpringsteenRaittJ Taylor J Browne

The greats of the 1970’s and 1980’s in a rare collaborative feat. As Rolling Stone raved, "The MUSE NO NUKES Concerts of 1979 were a high-water mark of inspiration and optimism...a stunning testimony to the depth of the shared beliefs of the generation which came of age in the sixties." Musicians United for Safe Energy (MUSE) is a group of artists and activists working for a non-nuclear future. Their inspriing collaboration to bring five nights of concerts to Madison Square Garden and to organize a 200,000 person rally in Battery Park City has been distilled into an unprecedented film, documenting forever that elusive moment when artist, audience, and important cause were perfectly in sync. James Taylor and Carly Simon create their unique harmony in ‘Mockingbird’ and ‘The Times They Are A Changing’. Jackson Browne performs two of his most celebrated songs, ‘Running on Empty’ and ‘Before the Deluge’ and Bruce Springsteen brings down the sold out house with ‘Thunder Road’ and ! ‘The River’. Rounding out the extraordinary proceedings are Bonnie Raitt, The Doobie Brothers, Jesse Colin Young, Crosby, Stills and Nash, John Hall and Gil Scott-Heron.

Starring
Jackson Browne • Crosby, Stills and Nash • The Doobie BrothersJohn Hall • Graham Nash • Bonnie Raitt • Gil Scott-Heron • Carly Simon • Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band • James Taylor • Jesse Colin Young ... Read more

Reviews (2)

No Nukes (should be on DVD as well on VHS issued in Holland
The few that wrote a five star comment at this site should be aware of the 3-record album (with booklet). That only part of the songs on the VHS are the same on the records, and vice versa, makes no difference. A pity they didn't make a double cd also, and issue all in Europe (Holland!!!) I keep looking for them.

This is such a find- wish it was on DVD!
This amazing video covers the behind the scenes work of the musicians to put together this concert plus the backstage footage in addition to amazing performances by James Taylor and Carly Simon, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen and countless others. For those who love the whole 70's singer-songwriter era, this is one of those great finds... ... Read more

Description

This humorous and upbeat series shows that history is filled with seemingly unrelated discoveries that are actually connected in the most surprising ways. Host James Burke, the "scientific detective," continues to delight viewers as he explores the effects and origins of inventions and events that shape the modern world. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Connections 2
Aha! The second of the Connections series is available. So is the third, Connections 3...

The entire Connections series is great for the young, inspiring them to intelligent inquiry into science, history and history of technology. Burke, ridiculed by many historians for his somewhat loose connections (historians are a crabby, selfish bunch) none-the-less explains interesting major inventions through a series of... well, connections in history, science and society. He makes much more sense than the historians who don't like him and is therefore correct in all his major points.

So, buy this if you've got a smart kid and want to stimulate him or her to the greater pursuits of the mind.

Good but not excellent.
Connections 2 is good but not excellent. It pales in comparison to the first series. How I wish the original BBC productions of "Connections" and "The Day the Universe Changed", another great program by the same author which aired on TV a few years ago, were available for purchase.

Connections 2 lacks the originality and entertainment value of Connections 1 which used actors to show how events occured. The original Connections entertained while it taught at the same time showing the viewer how great moments in history lead to the accidental discovery of many useful things which in turn led to other inventions. Somehow that joy of discovery that I got from the original is missing in Connections 2.

A huge letdown compared to the first series...
Of all the science and history programs I ever watched, Connections has to be the best program ever. So, when TLC announced a second series, I was excited. This series, however, falls far short of the original.

First, each episode is a half an hour instead of an hour. This rushes the stories a bit.

Second, there was a flow to the whole first series. It was one thread. This was very choppy, and the "connections" felt a lot more forced.

I never got a sense of flow from this edition of the series. I get the feeling James Burke was approached 10 years after the first series, and "couldn't refuse the money". The series, as a whole, didn't seem as well thought out as the first where EVERYTHING seemed to connect. This felt much more scattered.

Mind you, this is still a good series for those interested in science and history. It just isn't "your father's connections". I don't want to be a discouragement. I just want to be clear that if you saw the first series, the second is not the same.

Excellent, as always
James Burke is an incredibly talented, intelligent, gifted individual with an exceptionally clever, dry wit. He presents his facts in a clearly entertaining way. The world-wide production values are astounding.

Watch all "Connections" in the series and "The Day the Universe Changed" as many times as you can. You will be smarter, funnier, and a much better person for it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

With its esoteric sounds and exotic melodies, Arabic music remains a mystery to much of the Western world.A gem of a documentary, Umm Kulthum: A Voice Like Egypt begins to unravel the music and intertwines the life of this tremendous Middle Eastern singer with the history and politics of Egypt, giving a fuller look at a tumultuous time in the changing country.Umm Kulthum was born to peasants and she began singing religious songs to help her family earn money. Her father would dress her in boy's clothing, because he didn't approve of her singing in front of men he didn't know.Despite her country ways, her full-ranged voice brought her to the attention of society and soon she was performing both onstage and onscreen. The lyrics of her songs were poems--one of her most famous is a rendition of "The Rubaiyat." During her later years, she became on outspoken supporter of Nasser and traveled the Arabic-speaking world in support of her government.When she died in 1975, 4 million mourners flooded the streets of Cairo to honor the beloved singer.

This beautifully styled documentary, narrated by Omar Sharif, carefully balances elements so that the video never drags.Long clips of Umm Kulthum singing are interspersed with a dramatized voice-over and shots of the Egyptian countryside.Interviews with writers, journalists, musicologists, folks on the street, a radio commentator, and even Nobel novelist Naguib Mahfouz emphasize the importance of her voice to the people who listened to her. Umm Kulthum: A Voice Like Egypt succeeds in making the singer and the music, and even to a certain extent the politics of the country, accessible to a whole new generation of music lovers. --Jenny Brown ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Where to Get the Music
This video is mostly about Umm Kulthum's social and political importance, which, it turns out, are equal to her wondrous musical abilities. If you want to hear her sing, go to a Middle Eastern grocery or deli that still has a Middle Eastern customer base. Off in a corner or maybe behind the check-out counter, they'll have 20 or 30 of her tapes. They'll be labeled in Arabic, so ask someone there for some good ones. If you're lucky, the person won't say, "They're all good." Of course, they are.

He who has not listened to Oum Kolthum has not heard music
Oum kolthum is the healer of hearts, and the keeper of love. The words that she utters are unreal. After studying arabic for 7 years and living in the middle east, I must say that Oum Kolthum is the greatest singer that has lived on the face of the earth. Their is a legend that She used to stand a meter away from the micrphone so, that it would not explode from the magnitude of her voice. Oum Kolthum is a refecletion of arab women and their romanticism. She truly was Egypt, that is no more. She represented the people against colonial rule and was Egypts strength in times of struggle. But, now we only have as she would say the "Atlall".

Umm Kulthum was an amazing woman!!!
Although this video was not exactly gripping, it portrayed the life and story of Umm Kulthum, one of the greatest Arabian singers of all times. It captured well the impact her singing has had on her country and all of the world. I think that, by learning about Umm Kulthum, one has a window into the spirit and culture of Egypt.

Excellent companion to the book that inspired it.
I saw this film originally when it was presented as a theatrical release and called the distributor to find out if and when it would be released on video. I have also read the book, which has a slightly different title, and found that the video made an excellent companion piece to the book for those who have a limited knowledge of Egyptian music. I love them both!

Outstanding overview
This is a documentary that covers the history of Egypt during the first three quarters of this century through the life of Umm Kolthum. The film depicts numerous changes in Umm Kolthum's life that paralleled changes that took place in the Middle East. From small-time gigs in the country side to the big city; from an outstandingly talented vocalist to a legend that shaped a culture lasting until today and many decades to come; and from a musician to an influential politician. This happens as Egypt experiences two World Wars and numerous battles and wars in the region; British occupation; national revolutions; a Kingdome that turned to a Republic; and three major wars against Israel. The film cleverly displays the history of a nation and a whole region through the life of this monument of a human, Umm Kulthum, with uncompromising brevity and in depth interviews with contemporaries of all walks of life. This film is a must for every Um Kulthum fan, every Arab, everyone interested in the Middle East and its history; and musicians from all over the world. Here is a woman whose musical career spanned all of her life; and whose life still influences ours; and here is a chance to get a factual flavor of Umm Kulthum; who lived with Egypt running through her veins. Um Kulthum experienced many changes in her own life; socially, economically, politically, and personally. One thing remained unchanged, her love for Egypt, this is the essence of this documentary. ... Read more

Description

In the tradition of best selling reality-based programs Cops, Caught On Camera and Incredible Rescues, AIR DISASTERS combines gripping visuals and powerful information. Actual videos of airplane crashes captures the terror and destruction caused when things go wrong in the sky. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Brit Pomposity at its...er...Worst
Lots of dramatic images, just watch it muted. The narrative is merely one long whine, and more often than not misstates details. Shows numerous clips with no explanation or description given. VERY short on details, long on opinion.

Up-to-date and breathtaking clips
A very good video concerning the clips, including military and air shows. I was pleased to see even the current prototypes like the F-22 and the Grippen, which all seemed to have some trouble.
Seeing as most air enthusiasts understand to some extent the causes of air accidents I was pleased to see the actuel errors and causes that make air accidents so terrifying.

I would suggest this video as it shows a great extent of current planes and also the price is very appealing.

Deorganized video
I just bought this one because it was on sale. I do not recommend it because it is VERY deorganized in all aspects of the video. There are many minutes without explanation, there is not a "script" or something. Sometimes you don't know what they are talking about, and I gopt sick of seeing all the times the same footage without comments nor explanation.

Don't waste your money. It is not worth it.

Regards, Alex

I have seen better
The video Air Disasters is not bad for the price, however the more serious Aviation Enthusiast will catch the subtle factual errors through out video. There is good footage though, some I have not seen before. If I may reccomend the Survival in the Skies video box set also offered here at Amazon.com as an addition or alternative choice. This video series produced by TLC is rather accurate and very imformative!!

WOAH!
There is some footage in this tape that will boggle your mind. While it does not have blood and bodies, some of the crashes and collissions will have you ducking in your seat! ... Read more

Description

Isadora Duncan (1877-1927), the "Mother of Modern Dance," was a complex and charismatic rebel who dared to defy Victorian mores through both her art and the way she lived. In this illuminating and gracefully crafted documentary, excerpts from Duncan's speeches, essays and autobiography are interwoven with rare archival photographs, historic film footage and re-creations of twelve of Duncan's dances to provide a balanced and engaging portrait of one of this century's most outspoken and intriguing personalities. Duncan raised dance from mere vaudeville entertainment to a legitimate art form, laying the foundation for today's modern dance.

The first American performing artist to gain international acclaim, she dared to use her choreography to call people to arms, to express the plight of repressed workers and agitate for the freedom of women. The film chronicles the creation of Duncan's dance schools in Berlin, Paris and Moscow; her uninhibited love affairs; the birth and tragic death of her two illegitimate children; and her own famous demise when her scarf met the well of an Italian sports car. ISADORA DUNCAN uses not only Duncan's dances but also her own words to tell her story. The narration, read by stage and film star Julie Harris, is culled from Duncan's speeches, essays and autobiography, prividing a colorful and unsentimental framework for the film. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wonderful bio of Isadora Duncan
I have seen most of the videos available regarding Isadora Duncan, and this is by far my favorite. The video is structured like a Ken Burns documentary with still photos and an assortment of period film clippings supplemented with voiceovers for the primary cast of characters. Julie Harris supplies the voice of Isadora Duncan (a wonderful choice!) and reads excerpts from Isadora's autobiography (My Life). She has a very expressive voice and makes you feel like you are listening to a wonderful storyteller reminiscing about her colorful and exciting life.

Examples of some of Isadora's best-known choreographies are performed by Lori Bellilove and Madeleine Lytton with a background chorus from the Oakland ballet. Lori in particular brings Isadora's choreography alive and makes you think that you have caught a glimpse of the legendary dancer and an idea of why she so fascinated audiences. Wonderful video... the dance excerpts alone are worth the purchase price. Highly recommended! ... Read more