Black Hawk Down [Blu-ray]

Sony

From acclaimed director Ridley Scott (Gladiator, Hannibal) and renowned producer Jerry Bruckheimer (Pearl Harbor, Armageddon) comes a gripping true story about bravery, camaradarie and the complex reality of war. Black Hawk Down stars an exceptional cast including Josh Hartnett (Pearl Harbor), Ewan McGregor (Moulin Rouge!), Tom Sizemore (Saving Private Ryan), Eric Bana (Chopper), William Fichtner (The Perfect Storm), Ewen Bremner (Snatch) and Sam Shepard (All The Pretty Horses). In 1993, an elite group of American Rangers and Delta Force soldiers are sent to Somalia on a critical mission to capture a violent warlord whose corrupt regime has lead to the starvation of hundreds of thousands of Somalis. When the mission goes terribly wrong, the men find themselves outnumbered and literally fighting for their lives.

Customer Reviews:

Obscene Violence.......2007-09-10

A movie like this promotes violence. People ought not watch this stuff at all. Violence only begets more violence. This country has not benefitted from this battle or others. Let's have movies about peaceful places like Switzerland, which hasn't had a war in over 500 years.

Awesome.......2007-08-01

Takes a great movie, add awesome sound and superb video and you get 1 Great Blu-ray! No Regrets, especially on an older movie such as this.

Its War..........2007-06-27

This movie hasnt delivered the story is ok but it doesnt satisfying and deep
like other films the picture quality is great especially the actionscenes with
all that mud and particles flying arround great sound too.

good but not great or perfect movie.

Black Hawk Down-Blu-ray.......2007-05-28

I'm previewing the Blu-ray version of this film.

Video: picture quality was slightly above average with some grain in dark parts opf the movie. In other part of the movie, the picture appeared really sharp and Hi-Definition-like. Overall quality was good, but not very consistent throughout the whole movie. I viewed this movie on Hi definition projector with 101" screen on the new Samsung BD-P1200.

Audio: Slightly above average

Finally, it's worth mentioning that the image froze only once, but still that seems to be a common and annoying problem with Blu-ray discs. Cleaning the BD with a microfiber cloth help sometimes, but it takes away the fun if you have to take out the BD and clean it, then put it back in the machine and wait for it to load and then you have to go to the selection menu and try to figure out where you were before the disc froze.

great movie, stunning pic quality.......2007-05-13

im sure most of us already know the movie but what comes as a pleasant surprise is the sharpness afforded by the HD transfer. every pore on the face and every bead of sweat jumps right out at you! in fact, anything with texture - war ravaged walls and rocks are all brilliant crisp and tactile. the bonus is the behind-the-scenes making of documentary (pretty long) which is very comprehensive and could be a video on its own. highly recommended.

Star Wars - Episode II, Attack of the Clones (Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

Poor Acting and Dialogue Hurt An Otherwise Entertaining Movie
Enjoyable. Even though It's Politic Heavy.
It's not my favorite, but still very enjoyable.
Attack of the Clones is worth seeing (once)
MST3K Fans Rejoice -- Rifftrax is Here!

Star Wars - Episode II, Attack of the Clones (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Ewan McGregor , Natalie Portman , Hayden Christensen , Christopher Lee , and Samuel L. Jackson
Director: George Lucas
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00006HBUJ
Release Date: 2005-03-22

Amazon.com

If The Phantom Menace was the setup, then Attack of the Clones is the plot-progressing payoff, and devoted Star Wars fans are sure to be enthralled. Ten years after Episode I, Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman), now a senator, resists the creation of a Republic Army to combat an evil separatist movement. The brooding Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) is resentful of his stern Jedi mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), tormented by personal loss, and showing his emerging "dark side" while protecting his new love, Amidala, from would-be assassins. Youthful romance and solemn portent foreshadow the events of the original Star Wars as Count Dooku (a.k.a. Darth Tyranus, played by Christopher Lee) forges an alliance with the Dark Lord of the Sith, while lavish set pieces showcase George Lucas's supreme command of all-digital filmmaking. All of this makes Episode II a technological milestone, savaged by some critics as a bloated, storyless spectacle, but still qualifying as a fan-approved precursor to the pivotal events of Episode III. --Jeff Shannon

Description

The STAR WARS saga continues on DVD with Episode II Attack of the Clones. Anakin Skywalker has grown into an accomplished Jedi apprentice, and he faces his most difficult challenge yet as he must choose between his Jedi duty and forbidden love. Relive the adventure the way it was meant to be seen in spectacular digital clarity, including the climactic Clone War battle and Jedi Master Yoda in the ultimate lightsaber duel. Experience this 2-disc set that features over six hours of bonus materials, and see how Episode II unlocks the secrets of the entire STAR WARS saga.

Customer Reviews:

Poor Acting and Dialogue Hurt An Otherwise Entertaining Movie.......2007-09-09

"Star Wars: Episode I- The Phantom Menace" was one of the most hyped movies of the late 1990s, yet managed to disappoint countless Star Wars fans. With the annoying Jar Jar Binks, a child actor who was in over his head, poor pacing, and wooden acting and dialogue, I was less than impressed, despite being a big Star Wars fan. Apparently, so many others were let down that it somehow resulted in "The Matrix" being lauded as the "new hope" of epic sci-fi, despite that movie falling far short of the standards set by Star Wars. When George Lucas promised (or threatened?) that Episode II would be "Titanic in space", my interest waned even more. However, as the promotional media emerged, my interest picked up again as it appeared that there would at least be some good action sequences. So how did the unfortunately named "Attack of the Clones" fare?

First the bad news, and it's not pretty. The dialogue is, for the most part, not good at all, with some terribly blatant exposition that is not needed at all. The acting doesn't fare well either, generally speaking. Anakin Skywalker(who is now 10 years older) is now played by Hayden Christiansen, instead of Jake Lloyd. Unfortunately, while his efforts are commendable, Hayden obviously is ill at ease in this role, and co-star Natalie Portman exhibits zero enthusiasm during the movie. As these two are supposed to be the "romantic leads", the resulting lack of chemistry cripples the emotional core of the movie. Samuel Jackson's performance as Mace Windu is similarly off, and there is some other poor acting by various bit players. Thus, the weight of the movie ends up having to be borne by the acting chops of Ewan McGregor, Temuera Morrison, Ian McDiarmid, and Christopher Lee, who all do manage to perform in a professional manner. (Of particular note is the initial terse face to face meeting between Obi-Wan and Jango Fett). Still, there are also some lingering pacing issues, most notably related to scenes surrounding Anakin and Padme in the middle of the movie.

The good news is that the movie works on a "macro" level, as far as the over-arching Star Wars storyline and universe are concerned. Helping this aspect are several dynamic action and set pieces, which include a "car chase" in the skies of the city planet of Coruscant, a trip to the rain-drenched water planet Kamino, complete with a faceoff between Obi-Wan and bounty hunter Jango Fett, a spaceship chase through the rings of Geonosis, a confrontation between a couple hundred Jedi and an army of droids, and a massive battle sequence between the Separatist droid army and an army of clones. Topping off the movie is a lightsaber battle involving Christopher Lee's Count Dooku and Yoda.

The movie's primary strength is developing the events which lead to the much stronger Episode III. In the 10 years since the Trade Federation's blockade of Naboo was foiled, a Separatist movement has gained traction among hundreds of worlds in the Republic, fueled by the enigmatic Count Dooku. While Chancellor Palpatine presides over a divided Senate, assassination attempts against former Queen (now Senator) Padme Amidala lead the Jedi to assign Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker to protect her. A bounty hunter's failed attempt on Padme's life leads Obi-Wan to the distant world of Kamino, where he finds a surprising development: an army of clones is being raised for the Republic, as per the orders of a now-dead Jedi Council member. Meanwhile, Padme and Anakin head to Naboo, where Anakin's nightmares eventually lead him to take Padme to Tattoine with him to find his mother. Anakin's search leads him to the Lars homestead, where his mother's husband tells him that the Tusken Raiders kidnapped her. When Anakin finds his mother dying after being tortured by the Sandpeople, his anger results in a wanton act of mass murder. Obi-Wan's investigation leads him to the world of Geonosis, where he discovers that Count Dooku has enlisted the forces of an old foe, among others, to help the Separatists prepare for war on the Republic. With this threat looming, the Chancellor is given emergency powers (proposed in the Senate by none other than Jar-Jar Binks, who is mercifully absent for most of the movie), and the available Jedi scramble to Geonosis to try to stop Dooku. The final 40 or so minutes of the movie manage to make up for the shortcomings liberally sprinkled throughout the proceedings.

Visually speaking, this movie is incredible, albeit a bit artificial looking. The live action characters don't always seem to mesh with the computer-generated backdrops, but the color saturation is brilliant, and sets the tone well. The transfer to DVD was done very well, apparently being a direct digital print. The music alternates between magnificently appropriate, and ridiculously purile. The sound effects are fairly standard Star Wars, although there are a couple of really bizarre and out of place sounds. The DVD release itself has the typical wealth of Star Wars extras, including deleted scenes and trailers. The commentary track is remarkably boring, to the point that a friend of mine actually said it literally puts him to sleep.

It does pain me to give this movie only 3 stars, as I enjoyed it, especially when the Battle of Geonosis erupted. The slow unfolding of the plot to turn the Republic into the Empire is an important arc in the Star Wars saga. But objectively speaking, the acting and dialogue were bad enough to cripple the film in a number of ways, and I have to try to be honest with viewers. If you're a Star Wars fan, you probably should get this, if you haven't already. For everyone else, it will be a matter of whether they can deal with bad acting and dialogue in exchange for the excellent visuals and rich universe the film presents.

Enjoyable. Even though It's Politic Heavy........2007-09-05

I did enjoy this movie. I may be the only person who enjoyed the first a little more but I did enjoy this one. Being a fan I was pumped to see this. I even read a book based on the movie beforehand. The movie is faster paced than the first one but the simplistic nature of the first one really intrigued me.

What I did like about this is the action scenes, a definite upgrade from the first, secondly, the characters (except for Hayden Christensen) really matured with this movie. I loved Liam Neeson in the first but the others made up for the loss. The inclusion of shots like the Death Star and Count Dooku really made this special.

The DVD itself is a definite must have. A busy commentary track, deleted scenes just for this release and plenty of featurettes for your liking.

Definite Must Have.

It's not my favorite, but still very enjoyable........2007-08-29

It's not my favorite, but still very enjoyable.

I enjoyed 'Star Wars' (a.k.a. Star Wars IV: A new hope) when it came out and I was 7 yrs old and I still love all the Star Wars Movies today. My son has loved all the Star Wars movies as well

Attack of the Clones is worth seeing (once).......2007-08-23

I'll start off with the positive. This is a significantly better film than Phantom Menace. That's because Jar Jar is what he should have been all along: a minor character that we see very little of and hear even less.

The action sequences are as good as always. My favorite part is, like usual, the big lightsaber fight at the end. Yoda with a lightsaber may seem out of place to some but he was refered to as a "great warrior" in The Empire Strikes Back. Now we get to see why. And the end is enjoyable (save the stupid R2D2/C3PO "losing my head" skit).

Now for the bad stuff. There are parts of this film that are no where near pleasurable to watch (and these parts take up a big junk of the movie). The most painful thing to watch in this film (for all the wrong reasons) is the "love" story between Anakin and Padme. Hayden Kristen is, I believe, the worst actor in the Star Wars movies (old and new). There is basically no chemistry between Anakin and Padme even though they're supposed to be madly in love with each other by the end of the movie. There are some lines between these two characters that are just embarrassing to quote ("your skin is softer than sand").

The banal dialogue, the worst supporting actor "winner" Hayden Kristen, CGI in basically every scene, the botched love story between Anakin and Padme, R2D2/C3PO's "comic relief", and on and on and on. This film is, at best, a mixed bag. Though it's worth seeing at least once (and some parts more than once), my advice is to buy the first trilogy (if you haven't already), pray that someone someday remakes the prequels, or buy The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

MST3K Fans Rejoice -- Rifftrax is Here!.......2007-08-09

It's Binks-ian fun for the whole family as George Lucas empties the contents of his brain onto film one more time! This go around, the part of the annoying kid is explored more deeply by a new annoying kid, Hayden Christensen, in a performance so jaw-droppingly wooden and laughable it's got to make Keanu Reeves feel pretty darned good about himself. Ewan McGregor returns as that one guy who was once played by that other British guy, and he's apparently become comfortable enough with his green screen acting that he no longer even pretends it matters whether he puts in effort or not. And returning for the role of Padme Amidala is Natalie Portman, looking cute but losing her bid to keep her voice from grinding into her audience's skull like a buzz saw.

All of this would be a RiffTrax dream come true - but making it even dream come true-ier is that Mike and Kevin are joined by none other than Chad Vader, brother of Darth and star of his own colossally successful internet series. It is quite simply a RiffTacular RiffStravaganza!

Letters from Iwo Jima (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

The bad guys aren't really that bad
Not "anti-war" but anti-cliche.
Interesting Struggle
Letters From Iwo Jima
Another fine Clint Eastwood direction

Letters from Iwo Jima (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Ken Watanabe , Kazunari Ninomiya , Tsuyoshi Ihara , Ryo Kase , and Shido Nakamura
Director: Clint Eastwood
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005JPKE
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Amazon.com

Critically hailed as an instant classic, Clint Eastwood's Letters from Iwo Jima is a masterwork of uncommon humanity and a harrowing, unforgettable indictment of the horrors of war. In an unprecedented demonstration of worldly citizenship, Eastwood (from a spare, tightly focused screenplay by first-time screenwriter Iris Yamashita) has crafted a truly Japanese film, with Japanese dialogue (with subtitles) and filmed in a contemplative Japanese style, serving as both complement and counterpoint to Eastwood's previously released companion film Flags of Our Fathers. Where the earlier film employed a complex non-linear structure and epic-scale production values to dramatize one of the bloodiest battles of World War II and its traumatic impact on American soldiers, Letters reveals the battle of Iwo Jima from the tunnel- and cave-dwelling perspective of the Japanese, hopelessly outnumbered, deprived of reinforcements, and doomed to die in inevitable defeat. While maintaining many of the traditions of the conventional war drama, Eastwood extends his sympathetic touch to humanize "the enemy," revealing the internal and external conflicts of soldiers and officers alike, forced by circumstance to sacrifice themselves or defend their honor against insurmountable odds. From the weary reluctance of a young recruit named Saigo (Kazunari Ninomiya) to the dignified yet desperately anguished strategy of Japanese commander Tadamichi Kuribayashi (played by Oscar-nominated The Last Samurai costar Ken Watanabe), whose letters home inspired the film's title and present-day framing device, Letters from Iwo Jima (which conveys the bleakness of battle through a near-total absence of color) steadfastly avoids the glorification of war while paying honorable tribute to ill-fated men who can only dream of the comforts of home. --Jeff Shannon

On the DVDs
Like the film itself, the two-disc special edition of Letters from Iwo Jima is predominantly Japanese in content, and that's as it should be. Disc 1 presents the film in a flawless widescreen transfer, with a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround soundtrack that perfectly captures the film's wide dynamic range. The optional subtitles can be turned off for those wishing to immerse themselves in a completely Japanese viewing experience. Disc 2 opens with "Red Sun, Black Sand: The Making of Letters from Iwo Jima," a 20-minute behind-the-scenes documentary that concisely covers all aspects of production, from director Clint Eastwood's initial decision to create a companion piece to Flags of Our Fathers, to interview comments from principal cast and crew, the latter including Flags screenwriters Paul Haggis and Letters screenwriter Iris Yamashita, costume designer Deborah Hopper, editor Joel Cox, cinematographer Tom Stern, production designer James Murakami (taking over for the ailing Henry Bumstead), and coproducer Rob Lorenz. "The Faces of Combat" is an 18-minute featurette about selecting the Japanese (and Japanese-American) cast of Letters, and how they were chosen through the international collaboration of Eastwood's long-time casting director Phyllis Huffman (who turned over some of her duties to her son while struggling with terminal illness) and Japanese casting associate Yumi Takada, who filled important roles with Japanese celebrities (like pop star Kazunari Ninomiya, who plays "Saigo") and unknown actors alike.

"Images from the Frontlines" is a 3.5-minute montage of images from the film and behind-the-scenes, set to the sparse piano theme of Eastwood's original score. The remaining bonus features chronicle the world premiere of Letters in Tokyo on November 15, 2006. The premiere itself is covered in a 16-minute featurette taped at the famous Budokan arena, where we see the red-carpet procession, a full-capacity audience despite cold November weather, and introductory comments from the film's primary cast and crew, many of them quite moving with regard to the satisfaction of working on a film that helps Japanese viewers come to terms with a painful chapter of their history. The following day's press conference (at the Grand Hyatt Tokyo hotel) is a 24-minute Q&A session covering much of the same territory, with additional testimony from principal cast & crew. Throughout this two-day event, it's clear that Eastwood (referring to himself as "a Japanese director who doesn't speak the Japanese language") was warmly embraced by the Japanese, and that Letters from Iwo Jima had served its intended purpose, reminding us of the horrors of war while uniting both Japanese and Americans in somber reflection, 61 years after the battle of Iwo Jima. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Nominated for 4 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Clint Eastwood's Letters from Iwo Jima tells the untold story of the Japanese soldiers who defended their homeland against invading American forces during World War II. With little defense other than sheer will and the volcanic rock of Iwo Jima itself, the unprecedented tactics of General Tadamichi Kuribayashi (Ken Watanabe, The Last Samurai) and his men transform what was predicted to be a swift defeat into nearly 40 days of heroic and resourceful combat. Their sacrifices, struggles, courage and compassion live on in the taut, gripping film Rolling Stone calls "unique and unforgettable." It is the powerful companion piece to Flags of Our Fathers.

Customer Reviews:

The bad guys aren't really that bad.......2007-09-11

Its not often that Hollywood makes a movie about soldiers experiencing a defeat. Even more rare is a movie about enemy soldiers being defeated by the home forces; American soldiers. Amazingly, it took Clint Eastwood to make such a movie. Released late in 2006 as a companion of the other Eastwood movie, Flags of our Fathers, this is one of the best war movies this decade. Set entirely on the island of Iwo Jima, it examines the defense and conquest of this island by the US military in 1944 as seen from the eyes of the Japanese defenders. The Japanese soldiers are played by Japanese actors; which is exemplary, and their on-screen dialogue is Japanese, another plus of authenticity.

Not "anti-war" but anti-cliche. .......2007-09-04

Okay, so don't expect the intensity of the battle scenes of Saving Private Ryan or the surrealism of Full Metal Jacket Here. Once I got over my pre-conceptions about what a "war movie" was supposed to be like, I was fine. Also, if you like happy/neat endings...this is not the movie for you. What you will find is a war movie in which you care about the characters and feel torn about many of the issues/dillemas presented. You will vacilate greatly over the course of the movie: one moment disgust/shock, the next admiration/reverence. So, if you are up for a non-traditional war movie, and a roller coaster of emotions, give it a spin.

Interesting Struggle.......2007-09-03

What I liked about this movie is that you walk away with an understanding of how life would be if you where put in that situation. I personally have never been in war but the concept of giving your life for war is disturbing. The consideration that factors of pride or that another man can control your life by ordering your death for the sake of cultural pride..... is mind boggling when analyzed objecively.
Anyways... this movie makes you wonder..... and that to me is a good movie.

Letters From Iwo Jima.......2007-08-31

While there were some "slow" areas in the film, it was nevertheless an OUTSTANDING film due to the unparalleled realism of the the actors in their respective wartime roles, providing great insights into the "Bushido" code thinking of the officers versus the thinking of the common soldier. It also showed both positive and negative actions of each side (Japanese soldier versus American soldier), and shows how real leadership inspires the soldiers. The second bonus disk is a great addition to this movie. I highly recommend this 5+ star movie. This was much better than "Flags of Our Fathers".

Another fine Clint Eastwood direction.......2007-08-27

It is a treat to have Clint Eastwood deliver his latest piece of work. "Letters of Iwo Jima" is shot in black and white and it is one of the finest war movies since "Schindler's List" that was made in the same style. It is also a foreign movie, shot entirely in Japanese language. This is a story of WWII in Pacific, made entirely from the Japanese soldier's point of view. These soldiers are just like any other. They are dedicated to their country, their duty to their emperor and honor towards their fellow countrymen. They are lonely, concerned about their families and the the future. Human nature and character trancends any morality tales. Eastwood is not lecturing us here. He is just showing us that no matter where people come from some are noble, some are not; some are decent and some are not. However, Eastwood maanges to make them feel human, strong and vulnerable at the same time. An absolute gem - must see movie.

Average customer rating:

Hoo Boy !!
Better Than The Book
Exciting, political --- a movie with a message.....
"People back home wouldn't buy a ring if they knew it cost someone else their hand"
The Horrible Wars of the 1990's

Blood Diamond [HD DVD]
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio , Djimon Hounsou , and Jennifer Connelly
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

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ASIN: B000MZHW1S
Release Date: 2007-07-03

Amazon.com

Leonardo DiCaprio puts a handsome face on an ugly industry: In parts of Africa, diamond mining fuels civil warfare, killing thousands of innocents and drafting preteen children as vicious soldiers. DiCaprio (The Departed) plays Danny Archer, a white African soldier-turned-diamond-smuggler who gets wind of a large raw jewel found by Solomon Vandy, a native fisherman (Djimon Hounsou, In America) recently escaped from enslavement by a brutal rebel leader. Archer offers a deal: He'll help Vandy find his war-scattered family if Vandy will share the diamond with him. Drawn into this web of exploitation is journalist Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly, Little Children), who agrees to help if Archer will tell her the details of how conflict diamonds make their way into the hands of the corporations who sell them to the Western world. DiCaprio is compelling because he never flinches from Archer's utter ruthlessness; Archer ends up doing the morally justifiable thing, but only because his desperate greed has led him to it. Hounsou and Connelly, though saddled with all the moral and political speeches, rise above the cant and keep the movie's treacherously formulaic plot rooted in human characters. But in the end, the story won't stick with you as much as the dead stillness in the child soldiers' eyes; the horror of African civil strife refuses to be contained by Blood Diamond's uplifting message--and the movie is all the more potent as a result. --Bret Fetzer

Description

An ex-mercenary turned smuggler (Leonardo DiCaprio). A Mende fisherman (Djimon Hounsou). Amid the explosive civil war overtaking 1999 Sierra Leone, these men join for two desperate missions: recovering a rare pink diamond of immense value and rescuing the fisherman's son, conscripted as a child soldier into the brutal rebel forces ripping a swath of torture and bloodshed across the alternately beautiful and ravaged countryside. Directed by Edward Zwick (Glory, The Last Samurai), this urgent, intensely moving adventure shapes gripping human stories and heart-pounding action into a modern epic of profound impact.

Customer Reviews:

Hoo Boy !!.......2007-09-09

When you have anyone like DiCaprio playing a lead in a movie like this then you know that someone was out to lunch in the casting department. Leo's baby face does not fit the character. The beautiful journalist type female is not realistic and screams Holywood too. Awful storyline - too much graphic violence ( have'nt we had enuff ? ), and some bad casting. Another 2 hours of your life wasted if you see this one. Another way you can tell this is bad ? There are 132 of these USED at $5 on AMAZON !! Get it ?

Better Than The Book.......2007-09-08

My job takes me to Africa, and I travel there for pleasure as well, so my B.S.-radar was "on" throughout the film, watching for Western cliches and the liberal drivel that tainted the book. But the movie delivered as both entertainment and is a more reasoned presentation of the problems caused by the African diamond trade.

DiCaprio, Connelly, and Hounsou were all excellent in their roles, but it is definitely DiCaprio as the Rhodesian exile that makes this film compelling. Also, the outrageous chase scenes that many movie-goers are so tired of are well done and more palatable in an African setting where gunfights are a believable occurance. Being stopped at a checkpoint by ten year-olds armed with AK-47s is not Hollywood fantasy.

There remains an underlying message condemning the world's diamond trade. It's a political statement that has some merit, but is overblown (as it was in the book) in identifying its true culprits. DiCaprio's character delivers some lines that give more than lip-service to other reasons for the bloodshed; his dialogue with an American reporter knocks the book's overly-simplistic views back on its heels.

Exciting, political --- a movie with a message............2007-09-05

It is hard not to have some sympathy with the current trend of making political issues palatable by grafting a star and a story on to a real-life cause for concern. Give us a thrilling story, good acting, pretty people to look at, and we can get the message out to millions. In recent years, Nicolas Cage has tackled gun-running ( Lord of War) and George Clooney the Middle East ( Syriana). Now it's the turn of DiCaprio and the illegal diamond trade, which has funded civil wars in Africa.
Very good movie......

"People back home wouldn't buy a ring if they knew it cost someone else their hand".......2007-09-02

I think that this movie is the perfect blend of a documentary and an action-drama. Clearly the intent was to bring to the forefront the issue of conflict diamonds in Africa. But instead of going for a factual film, the creators decided to throw together a group of great actors and a set of interesting sidelines to the story, polishing it into a magnificent jewel. The issue at hand is the brutal slaughtering in several parts of Africa, especially Sierra Leone, related to the control of diamonds. The situation in the movie is best described as TIA (This is Africa), a political mess, where those that govern only want to steal for their own benefit, and where there is no way to help, not even for the peace corps.

Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou) is a fisherman that dreams of his son, Dia, becoming a doctor and moving on to better things. This dream is stopped in its track when the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) comes to his village and brutally slaughters most of the inhabitants. Luckily, Solomon's family escapes, but the RUF captures him and takes him to work on the diamond fields as a slave. Meanwhile, politicians in the industrialized world are aware of the problem resulting from diamonds from conflict zones and there is an agreement not to buy them anymore. The big diamond houses in Europe and the US agree, but you probably know by now that they will go around it in one way or another.

Then there is Danny (Leonardo DiCaprio), who is a local from Zimbabwe that gives arms to different guerrilla groups in exchange for diamonds and then smuggles them to Liberia, from where they can be imported into the consumer countries as conflict free rocks. When he is captured during one of his diamond operations, he is thrown in jail, where he meets Solomon. Solomon was in jail as a result of a raid of the RUF camp, but not before finding a big pink diamond that he hid underground. When the greedy Danny finds out about this, he makes sure that his future path is linked to Solomon's.

Besides the greedy and unscrupulous Danny, and the moral Solomon, who just wants his family back, we have Maddy (Jennifer Connelly), a journalist that is frustrated by the situations she witnesses all around the globe and that wants her work to be effective in stopping the destruction. The three characters go through a journey of self-discovery while everyone around them is out to kill each other for the control of the diamonds. The situation is so bad that the different revolutionary groups kidnap and train children to join them. Seeing the transformation these young minds go through in a short time breaks your heart.

The film definitely achieves its purpose of making people aware of the issues, and even though the story is gut-wrenching and some portions are extremely violent, I think that it was needed to convey the message clearly. What I did not expect before watching this movie was the outstanding performances I was going to witness. This is definitely DiCaprio's best. He even altered his accent to make it sound like a local and he does this very well. But he also has to play a character with multiple facets and that goes through somewhat of a transformation, and his performance really helps to make this believable. I have never heard of Hounsou before, but was impressed by the emotion he put into his role, and I am sure there will be many starring roles for him in the future. Jennifer Connely is the one I expected the best from, and she did not disappoint, since she delivers a performance on par to the one she gave us on excellent "The House of Sand and Fog". This is definitely one of the best releases of 2006, and if you can stomach the violence I believe you will agree.

The Horrible Wars of the 1990's.......2007-08-31

Just as "Missing" captured the horror of the Chilean coup of the 1970's and "Salvador" the 1980's civil war in "El Salvador" in the 1980's, "Blood Diamond" reflects the terror of so-called rebels in Sierra Leone and Liberia in the 1990's.

Leonardo DiCaprio is brilliant as a Rhodesian mercenary caught up in the diamond trade that kept the rebels armed and fighting, with the connivance of the international diamond industry. The film depicts how the rebels kidnapped boys and brainwashed them into soldiers willing to slaughter innocents. What it doesn't show is how girls were also taken, to serve as sex slaves and help bind the boys to their enslavers.

The guerrillas and terrorists of today have obviously not read Che or Regis Debray. The film shows how they could just drive into a village, killing everyone in sight, except those who they kidnapped as slaves and canon fodder. Che wrote that the purpose of guerrilla warfare is to win the hearts of the population. This isn't done by widescale slaughter, and is probably one reason why the rebels in Sierra Leone and Liberia lost their wars.

Kingdom of Heaven (Director's Cut) [Blu-ray]

Average customer rating:

Exceptional Movie
nice one
Pristine
Theatrical edits happen all the time...
Perfect HD Transfer!

Kingdom of Heaven (Director's Cut) [Blu-ray]
Starring: Orlando Bloom , and Liam Neeson
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000ICLRIE
Release Date: 2006-11-14

Amazon.com

It's hard to believe Ridley Scott's handsome epic won't become the cinematic touchstone of the Crusades for years to come. Kingdom of Heaven is greater than the sum of its parts, delivering a vital, mostly engrossing tale following Balian (Orlando Bloom), a lonely French blacksmith who discovers he's a noble heir and takes his father's (Liam Neeson) place in the center of the universe circa 1184: Jerusalem. Here, grand battles and backdoor politics are key as Scott and first-time screenwriter William Monahan fashion an excellent storyline to tackle the centuries-long conflict. Two forward-thinking kings, Baldwin (Edward Norton in an uncredited yet substantial role) and Saladin (Ghassan Massoud), hold an uneasy truce between Christians (who hold the city) and Muslims while factions champ at the bit for blood. There are good and evildoers on both sides, with the Knights Templar taking the brunt of the blame; Balian plans to find his soul while protecting Baldwin and the people. The look of the film, as nearly everything is from Scott, is impressive: his CGI-infused battle scenes rival the LOTR series and, with cinematographer John Mathieson, create postcard beauty with snowy French forests and the vast desert (filmed in Morocco and Spain). An excellent supporting cast, including Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson, and David Thewlis, also help make the head and heart of the film work. Many critics pointed out that Bloom doesn't have the gravitas of Russell Crowe in the lead (then again, who does?), but it's the underdeveloped character and not the actor that hurts the film and impacts its power. Balian isn't given much more to do than be sullen and give an occasional big speech, alongside his perplexing abilities for warfare tactics and his wandering moral compass (whose sole purpose seems to be to put a love scene in the movie). Note: all the major characters except Neeson's are based on fact, but many are heavily fictionalized. --Doug Thomas

On the DVD
The Kingdom of Heaven Director's Cut is truly a DVD set of biblical proportions. If you are familiar with Ridley Scott's excellent, albeit massive, extended DVD sets for Gladiator and Black Hawk Down, you have a pretty good idea of what you are in for with this set. The biggest difference--unlike the Gladiator Director's Cut, which had some nice new scenes that really didn't add much to the film--is that this cut of Kingdom of Heaven is a drastic improvement over the theatrical release. This extensive 194-minute version brings the film back to Scott's original vision, maintaining an impressive balance of history, plot, and believable period reenactments and battle scenes. The best way to describe the improvements on the extended version is the film is now able to breathe a bit more, it's less choppy, and it has stronger character development. In addition to the extended scenes (which now span two discs in a clunky Road Show presentation), there is an exhaustive three-hour, six-part documentary detailing every aspect of filmmaking from the development of the "idea" through post-production and release. Also included are three feature-length commentary tracks, the best being the first with Ridley Scott, writer William Monahan, and actor Orlando Bloom. Included on the original release but missing from this set are the A&E/History Channel documentaries, the theatrical cut of the film, and "The Pilgrim's Guide," the fantastic text commentary which pointed out the historical anecdotes as the film played. Fans of the film and completists will probably want to hold onto both versions. However, those picking up Kingdom of Heaven for the first time need only to look to this definitive version. --Rob Bracco

Description

Among the best directors of our time, Ridley Scott (Gladiator), contributes generously to this extraordinary Collector's Edition of Kingdom of Heaven. Featuring his Director's Cut of the film and hours of fascinating extras ? including a six-part tour from conception to completion of filmmaking ? this definitive set makes what Variety called a "genuinely spectacular" film even more so!

An epic marvel that's as beautifully acted as it is visually awesome, Kingdom of Heaven stars Orlando Bloom as Balian, a Jerusalem blacksmith who has lost his family ? and his faith. But when his father (Liam Neeson) shows him his destiny, Balian vows to defend his country, and in the process, falls in love, becomes a formidable leader, and steps forever into history

Customer Reviews:

Exceptional Movie.......2007-09-01

The extended DVD set is definitely more than worth the price. The acting, sets, and action are exceptional. Its a pity that the studio decided to shorten this movie for the cinematic release. But this extended version does justice to Sir Ridley Scott's brilliant creation. We have enjoyed this version immensely and we cannot say enough good things about it.
Leonor Muller & Jose Muniz.

nice one.......2007-08-10

the BD version had a very nice and clear HD vision, it's really good about the physical side, but I am not quite like the story. it's just like other history movies.

Pristine.......2007-08-06

The blu ray version of this film is pristine! This is the director's cut version and well worth the price! This feature explains the story and background much better than the theatrical version. Plus you get the best possible sound there is. All in all this movie entertains and is historically accurate! Very nice eye candy!!!

Theatrical edits happen all the time..........2007-08-02

Theatrical edits happen all the time, the result often being that we feel a little lost. The story might make an abrupt jump from scene A to scene D, skipping B and C because those scenes just didn't make it into the time budget.

In most cases, I wait to buy the extended version or Director's Cut for that very reason. In this case, though, I'm glad I bought both. Together, they let me see what I believe is the most masterful theatrical edit ever done.

When you watch the Director's Cut, you'll discover a story arc completely left out in the theatrical release. It's not a trivial, throwaway story, either. It's absolutely critical to understanding the context and motivation for Guy de Lusignan's machinations and his obsession with marrying Sibylla.

That the story fell out in the edits does not surprise me. I am awed, though, by how surgically Scott handled things without leaving a glaring hole in the film. He stitched together dialogue, scenes, and transitions seamlessly, removing a line's original meaning while twisting it in the edit, bridging a gap so solidly that you don't notice its absence.

Even -after- watching the Director's Cut, I go back to the theatrical release and see it as its own movie, not just an incomplete, botched studio edit.

If you are only willing to buy one copy of this movie, buy the Director's Cut, by all means. It is worth every dime, and then some. If you're a student of film (amateur or professional, either one,) then I -urge- you to buy both and study them as an exemplar of the "graceful degradation" concept applied to cinema.

Perfect HD Transfer!.......2007-07-29

Although this Blu-Ray edition does not have the supplements as the normal DVD version, it is still worth the buy. If you are just getting into the Blu-Ray family, this movie will make you proud. Not only is the picture & sound quality amazing but the movie itself is great. I have notice not all Blu-Ray movie tranfers are amazing due to which studio is doing the transfers. So far in my experience, 20 Century Fox Blu-Ray movies look the best hands down! And this movie is by that studio. So do not be shy, get out there Blu-Ray family and purchase this film, well worth the Buck!

Average customer rating:

Night Watch
The New BloodLine
Russian Rubbish
Accidents Speak Louder than Words
Unrecognized

Night Watch
Starring: Konstantin Khabensky , Vladimir Menshov , Valeri Zolotukhin , Mariya Poroshina , and Galina Tyunina
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000FFJ81C
Release Date: 2006-06-20

Amazon.com

Night Watch is that rare film that--like The Matrix--is not only visually dazzling but creates an intriguing, seductive, and thrilling alternative world. A young man named Anton, after dabbling in black magic to bring back the wife who left him, discovers that the world is populated by fantastical Others (vampires, shape-shifters, witches, and more) who have chosen sides--Light or Dark--in an epic battle. A truce has been declared; both sides watch the other to ensure the truce is maintained. But a prophecy has predicted that a powerful Other will tilt the balance, and Anton--who is himself an Other--finds himself crucial to the prophecy's fulfillment. There's no question that Night Watch has weaknesses. Numerous plot holes get glossed over by pell-mell pacing, the visual conception of the apocalyptic battle between Light and Dark is curiously pedestrian (a bunch of knights fighting a bunch of guys in fur with swords--what happened to their various powers?), and more--but, much like similar problems with The Matrix, it doesn't matter.

The alternative world Night Watch presents is so rich with possibilities that it takes on a life of its own, both as an imaginative universe and as a vivid metaphor for the moral complexities of our own lives--for example, though the forces of Light claim to be good, their often brutal actions call their virtue into question, and the forces of Dark make some compelling moral arguments on the topic. The movie is so overstuffed with ideas that many don't get fleshed out, but that only contributes to the sense of vitality and unexplored dimensions. Even the subtitles are used creatively. The impending sequels (this is the first film of a trilogy) may--like The Matrix--take all the stimulating possibilities Night Watch raises and drag them into the toilet, but for the moment, this is the sort of electric excitement that blockbuster movies promise but so rarely deliver. --Bret Fetzer

Description

Among normal humans live the "Others" possessing various supernatural powers. They are divided up into the forces of light and the forces of the dark, who signed a truce several centuries ago to end a devastating battle. Ever since, the forces of light govern the day while the night belongs to their dark opponents. In modern day, the dark Others actually roam the night as vampires while a "Night Watch" of light forces, among them Anton, try to control them and limit their outrage.

Customer Reviews:

Night Watch.......2007-09-04

This is an amazing freaky hard to get movie. The actiona nd story line is so awesome. I own 'Day Watch' and it's a freaky vampirish movie. The graphics and actions are great and hilarious. But still have that keeping you on the edge feeling. I tottally thinks it's a must see or must have.

The New BloodLine.......2007-08-26

Whatever you thought was real is not, but Night Watch brings everything into perspective between Good Vs. Evil. This movie wasn't just about Vampires that bite in the night, but it was everything you love about the vampire story rolled into an original movie. Night Watch cinematically was so original, it was like watching the Vampire version of the Matrix. This movie is that good. I'm waiting for the sequel Day Watch was in the North American markets for like a hot minute, and I can't wait to get that on DVD too. The dub of the movie was actually a high quality dub unlike the Anime dubs we know and love, but watching it in its original Russian language, made the movie superior than anything. The acting will blow you away and so will the plot. It will leave you wanting more.

Russian Rubbish.......2007-08-21

Night Watch is about the worst sci-fi action movie that I have ever watched. The story makes no sense. It is about the century old war between good and evil, although I have difficulty telling which side is good. CG was way overdone. The few action sequences are ridiculously derivative. It makes Ultraviolet looks like a masterpiece.

Like others, I got sucked into this for 2 reasons.
1. Hey it is a foreign movie. It took studios a great deal of effort to import it, then it's gonna be good. WRONG! It is beyond my rational understanding why Americans choose to bring over these foreign trash.
2. The movie gets great press reviews and endorsements from Tarantino. It must be good. WRONG! (As a matter of fact, stay away from any Tarantino endorsed movies. 9 out of 10 times, they are garbages.)

Accidents Speak Louder than Words.......2007-08-18

There are creatures amongst us, some light and some dark, committed to a truce to end an otherwise catastrophic form of eternal conflict. Enter the Night Watch, the guardians that keep the Dark in check, and the Day Watch, that do the reverse. Both sides await the coming of a prophesized "other" who will choose his prospective side and shift this otherwise eternal variation of static warfare, however, and the time seems to be coming soon. Enter Anton, a seemingly innocuous man with a love he wants to preserve, who is told that his love is pregnant - that the child is not his - and that the only way his love can be preserved is through the death of an innocent. Reluctantly Anton agrees to this but, in the midst of the witchery, the Night Watch comes in and stops the procedure. In the middle of that, Anton finds out that he is what is referred to as one of The Others; that things are happening around him, that he can see things that were previously unseen and do things in conjunction with either the light or the dark, and that he is changed.
And the story begins building from there.

While the DVD version of the movie isn't very popular, this is actually a really unique take on the world of the supernatural. Vampirism is explained here, shapeshifters are seen, and some of the strangest clashes between Light/Dark cultures are explored by Anton and the characters around him. This makes for a great story that keeps on keeping on, dragging itself deeper and deeper into a world that seems so alien when setting side-by-side with our own. I liked that; there was a lot of time spent building a world inside the world but there wasn't a lot of time spent dumbing it down so a viewer could watch it. It simply is the way it is, it has the rules it has, and the "why" isn't always explained. This, combined with the fact that we see the coming of the other and w also witness how the ripples of one action melds into a forest of other actions, really makes a person watch.
As Anton himself says, "curse" isn't simply a word.

The other thing about the movie is the visuals, which are absolutely mindblowing. Some of the things that happen are simply amazing, either by conflict or by the traversing of something called "the gloom," and then there is the bigger saga that simply looks good while the movie plays out. The whole of the movie looks good, too, from the beginning shots that explain the battle between the forces to series where Anton is simply "looking" at a boy while trying to follow him. Perhaps it was because the movie was Russian or perhaps it was because some people found the format of the tale unappealing - it was more of a chapter than a complete tale, but the chapter was self-contained and told a story all its own - or the unheralded release of the movie made it unappealing. Whatever the reason, this movie should have gotten a lot more acknowledgement than it did because the storyline and the visuals combine to make something grand.

Again, this is a really interesting tale and would be good for anyone that wants something different from the obvious stories set to supernatural tones. The one thing to keep in mind is that the disc is double-sided and one side is dubbed and the other side is in Russian (with subtitles). I'm personally a fan of original language movies so I'm glad I noticed the Russian side of the movie, but I could see how this could confuse (and turn people off to the movie). The disc also comes with an extended ending with optional commentary and "sneak peaks" of the sequels.
It really is worth the watch - and a bit more.

Unrecognized.......2007-08-15

It's pretty annoying when you find a really good film that went straight to DVD, and movies that are worthless actually make it to the big screen. I enjoyed the film, it's not for everyone. (Hence some of the crappy reviews) Full of witches, wizards, Vampires and Others... A battle between Light and Dark, Good and Evil....... I saw the preview for this film on <"Pathfinder" (which was an excellent film as well) and I am thankful that I did. I'm anxious for October 30th to arrive so I can watch the second installment "Day Watch" in this amazing trilogy.

Average customer rating:

Underrated
Excellent movie - great on Blu-ray
Give it a chance you just might like it
King Arthur
King Arthur comes to Life!!

King Arthur (Director's Cut) [Blu-ray]
Starring: Clive Owen , Stellan Skarsgård , Ken Stott , Til Schweiger , and Ray Stevenson
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000MQ58WC
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Description

From the producer of PEARL HARBOR and the director of TRAINING DAY, the Extended Director's Cut of KING ARTHUR explodes onto Blu-ray Disc® in a blaze of hard-hitting action and glory not seen in theaters. Prepare for unsurpassed thrills as history's greatest legend roars to life in this astonishing new format. Now the adventure is longer, grittier and more explicit in this valiant tale of Arthur (Clive Owen), Guinevere (Keira Knightley), Lancelot (Ioan Gruffudd), and the Knights Of The Roundtable. Behold the pageantry and power of every fierce battle in spectacular 1080p, while swords clash and fortresses are pounded in thunderous 5.1 48 kHz, 24-bit uncompressed audio. Catapult your entertainment experience into another realm with Blu-ray™ High Definition!

Customer Reviews:

Underrated.......2007-08-18

This movie was underrated and underseen. A fantastic movie and a very original adaptation of the famed tale of King Arthur.

King Arthur, played by Clive Owen, is charged by the Papal leadership of the Roman Empire to guard Hadrian's Wall. The Saxons are moving toward the Wall. The Saxons are a Huns-like army of barbarians that destroy, pillage and rape what they conquer. The Pope has orders to withdraw from what is present day known as the United Kingdom, without a care for the natives of the area. King Arthur is the pillar of virtue between the proverbial rock and a hard place. On one side is the corrupt, "civilized" papal states of Rome. On the other side is the uncivilized barbaric Saxons. Will King Arthur follow his orders and clear the area leaving the natives unprotected? Or will he stay and fight?

All the normal players of the famed legend is present. The knights of the round table (gallahad, tristan, lancelot, et.al), Gwynevere(grittily played by the ever-beautiful Keira Knightley), Merlin. But whereas previous version of the story takes a more fantastical approach. This movie takes a more historic approach. Let's say the movie isn't just a myth but actually a true story. This is the approach the creators took. The fantasy is gone. And this approach works GREAT.

Like his brother's(Ridley Scott) Kingdom of Heaven, Tony Scott depicts a corrupt Papal nation. Where benevolence is not the states' motive, but rather greed is. And less like Tony Scott's older works(Top Gun & Days of Thunder), but more like his more recent works(Deja Vu), King Arthur is gritty and filmed with a lot of atmospheric effects. Maybe he's learned the use of fog and weather to set the mood from his older brother (think Blade Runner, Alien, and Black Rain). And I'm glad he learned it. You can feel the dank, dreariness of the region.

Like his brother's Kingdom of Heaven, King Arthur has a very cynical view of the Papal Leadership. The Pope, although not present in the movie, leading the Roman Empire at this point, is driven by greed rather than benevolence. The bishop, sent as an emissary by the pope, is depicted as cold and heartless. The Scotts quite obviously have a distrust of the Catholic Establishment. If you are Catholic, don't be offended. If you have studied the Papal States and the Catholic establishment, you know that the Papal States, the vatican and the Catholic establishment haven't always been motivated by virtue, but often times by greed.

The HD translation is good, not great. The problem I have with current HD/Bluray movies is that the movies obviously weren't filmed in high definition. Sure you can see every pore on Clive Owen's face,. But think of when you put your TV setting on 100% sharpness. You get a grainy image with a lot of picture noise. This translation is definitely better than regular DVD, but I can't wait for the day when Hollywood actually films the movies using HD cameras.

This movie is FANTASTIC. If you haven't seen it, SEE IT. If you don't own any version of it, GET IT. IF you own the DVD already? eh...don't bother with this bluray version. You have a good enough copy. But if you LOVE this movie as much as I do, then get the Bluray even if you already own a copy of the DVD.

Excellent movie - great on Blu-ray.......2007-08-06

I really enjoyed this movie. I like it so much, I think I've viewed it 3 times. The picture quality on Blu-ray is excellent! It has a good story, good acting, and lots of great action scenes.

Give it a chance you just might like it.......2007-06-27

If you like movies produced by Jerry Bruckhiemer you should enjoy this movie. I found it a very entertaining telling of King Arthur and his knights. There are no shockers just a good blockbuster. Clive Owen does a good job as do the other Knights in the movie. In fact the other knights make the movie more enjoyable and don't forget about Keira Knightley in 1080p!
The movie looks great on blu-ray some scenes are a little soft but if you watch the sd-dvd you will see the same thing. The sound was good, though I can only comment on the DD 5.1. I am sure the uncompressed track is even better.
Don't go nuts picking it apart just pop some popcorn and enjoy, thats the point of movies after all.

King Arthur.......2007-06-24

Nice movie. Not one of the best out there but I definitely did enjoy this. A somewhat more realistic view to the tale of King Arthur and his legend. It's predictable but the actor / actress were entertaining. Nice picture and sound on a plasma TV.

King Arthur comes to Life!!.......2007-05-13

The Director's Cut of King Arthur on Blu-Ray disc has needle sharp video and a bursting soundtrack. The image is a bit on the dark side but this renders a superb color saturation througout the film. A real exciting story about my favorite legend, to be enjoyed even more in 1080p.
King Arthur - Extended Director's Cut [Blu-ray]

Average customer rating:

Great Movie - something different
Great Movie
great movie
Violent & Boaring Movie
Blood-ray

Blood Diamond [Blu-ray]
Starring: Leonard DiCaprio , Djimon Hounsou , and Jennifer Connelly
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000N0WCLC
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Description

Customer Reviews:

Great Movie - something different.......2007-08-09

Just an overall great flick. I originally saw this on DVD, and then saw it again on blu-ray. Remember something folks, it's not about the disc content, it's about the movie. I remember when I used to be so excited about special features, or a re-release with tons of added bonuses. After a while, it's becomes boring and annoying. It's about the movie.

Great Movie.......2007-07-23

I had my doubts about this movie since I'm not a Leonardo DiCaprio fan, but this is one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. Great story and awesome action sequences. This movie is a must buy for blu-ray owners.

great movie.......2007-07-21

a movie everyone must see. very disturbing that this sort of thing happens. this movie makes me feel bad that im from western society, even though i owe no diamonds of any sort.

Violent & Boaring Movie.......2007-07-15

Gosh how I hated this movie. The biggest problem is that you just don't care what happens to any character in the movie. So what you have left is HD blood and gore. My advice, rent the movie if you must and if you still want to watch it over-and-over, then buy it.

Blood-ray.......2007-07-09

This movie was released for HD DVD and Blu-ray and is available for the same price in both formats. For the same price, the HD DVD had more content, high def audio tracks, full length picture in picture documentary tracks, exclusive extras, and web enabled interactivty. I was able to go on line and see map locations of the conflict locations, take polls on this movie and others, see availble and comming soon movies etc... You definitely get more for your money in the HD DVD version

Average customer rating:

Troy (Director's Cut) [Blu-ray]
Starring: Brad Pitt , Eric Bana , and Orlando Bloom
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000TGGJKU
Release Date: 2007-09-18

Description

Brad Pitt picks up a sword and brings a muscular, brooding presence to the role of Greek warrior Achilles in this spectacular retelling of The Iliad. Orlando Bloom and Diane Kruger play the legendary lovers who plunge the world into war, Eric Bana portrays the prince who dares to confront Achilles, and Peter O'Toole rules Troy as King Priam. Director Wolfgang Petersen recreates a long-ago world of bireme warships, clashing armies, the massive fortress city and the towering Trojan Horse.

Average customer rating:

Underworld

Underworld (Unrated) [Blu-ray]
Starring: Kate Beckinsale , Erwin Leder , Bill Nighy , Michael Sheen , and Scott Speedman
Director: Len Wiseman
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000TGJ80I
Release Date: 2007-09-25

Product Description

In the Underworld, Vampires are a secret clan of modern aristocratic sophisticates whose mortal enemies are the Lycans (werewolves), a shrewd gang of street thugs who prowl the city's underbelly. Noone knows the origin of their bitter blood feud, but the balance of power between them turns even bloodier when a beautiful young Vampire warrior and a newly-turned Lycan with a mysterious past fall in love. Kate Beckinsale and Scott Speedman star in this modern-day, action-packed tale of ruthless intrigue and forbidden passion all set against the dazzling backdrop of a timeless, Gothic metropolis.

Customer Reviews:

Underworld.......2007-08-07

Region 1 only??? BOOO! region free plz... what about us antipodians?
seen the regular dvd, ( 4 stars) liked the theme

DVD:

DVD

DVD