Average customer rating:
- three strikes, you're out.
- Oliver Stone's "Alexander" A Movie Epic Must Have!
- Alexander the Final Cut
- WOW!
- Comments on the Soundtrack only
|
Alexander, Revisited - The Final Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring:
Anthony Hopkins ,
David Bedella ,
Jessie Kamm ,
Angelina Jolie , and
Val Kilmer
Director:
Oliver Stone
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000MGB6NM
Release Date: 2007-02-27 |
Amazon.com
For better or worse (and in this case, it's mostly for better), Oliver Stone's Alexander Revisited should stand as the definitive version of Stone's much-maligned epic about the great Asian conqueror. Following the DVD release of his previous Director's Cut, Stone offers a video introduction here, explaining why he felt a third and final attempt at refining his film was necessary. Essentially, he's using this opportunity to re-create the "road show" format of the Biblical epics of the 1950s and '60s, with a three-and-a-half-hour running time (with an intermission at the two-hour mark) including 45 minutes of previously unseen footage. Stone has also significantly restructured the film, resulting in substantial (if not exactly redemptive) improvements in its narrative flow. Alexander (played in a torrent of emotions by Colin Farrell) is dying as the film opens, his final moments serving to bookend the film's epic story, which incorporates flashback sequences to flesh out the Macedonian king's back-story involving the turbulent battle of fate between his father, King Philip (Val Kilmer) and his scheming sorceress mother Olympia (Angelina Jolie, ridiculous accent and all), who insists that Alexander is literally a child of the gods.
In Stone's final cut, epic battles remain chaotic (although Alexander's strategy is somewhat easier to follow, with on-screen titles indicating left, right, and center during his army's greatest maneuvers) and the ultra-violent battles are more graphically gory than ever (hence their "unrated" status). The animalistic lovemaking of Alexander and his barbarian bride Roxana (Rosario Dawson) is slightly extended (with Dawson as ravishing as ever), and Stone's additional footage also improves the overall arc of Alexander's relationship with his closest generals and male companions, although his most intimate homosexual encounters remain mostly discreet. As Alexander Revisited makes clear, the film's weaknesses remain unavoidable, but Stone deserves credit for recognizing how a longer running time, and more disciplined narrative structure, would bring Alexander closer to the respect it never earned from critics and filmgoers alike. This is unquestionably a better film than it used to be, leaving us to wonder why it took three separate efforts to shape Alexander into its best possible presentation. --Jeff Shannon
Description
Now available is an all new and completely unrated version of Oliver Stone's incredible epic film, loaded with nearly 40 minutes of additional never-before-seen footage, that takes the film to a new level of realism and intensity. Restructured and expanded into two acts with one intermission, Oliver Stone's vision is delivered the way he originally conceived and intended. With the new, unrated and graphic battle scenes and unadulterated sensuality, it's the movie you couldn't see in theatres, now available on DVD for the very first time!
DVD Features:
Introduction
Theatrical Trailer
Customer Reviews:
three strikes, you're out........2007-09-05
MMMM... I don't know what I was expecting. I had only seen the original theatrical release some time ago. Disapointed with that version. I can't see anything remarkably different here. The basic product is flawed and no ammount of rejigging is going to create something amazing. I've seen Farrell in other stuff and he can act, with presence. See "intersection" I think its called, a great little Irish film where he plays a thug, very impressive. Real menace. Shame that was not allowed to come across here.
Oliver Stone's "Alexander" A Movie Epic Must Have!.......2007-08-13
Oliver Stone's "Alexander," I believe, will live on to be the future generation's "Cleopatra." With it's historic storyline, gorgeous sets and costumes, and raw performances "Alexander" is a diamond in the rough. The "diamond" being the historic epic itself and the "rough" being the asinine critics, that have berated the movie from day one. Colin Farrell's take on "Alexander" may have some movie goers wishing for a more dynamic action star, such as Tom Cruise, Hugh Jackman, or maybe even the new James Bond, Daniel Craig? I, for one, could not have been more pleased than to see Colin Farrell taking on this grandiose role and delivering such a heartfelt performance. The scenes with Alexander's mother, played wonderfully by exotic beauty Angelina Jolie, were cleverly done by leaving the viewer wondering just what was going on inside this Barbarian Queen's mind. Val Kilmer surprised me totally in the role of Alexander's father, and did a good job as the savage Macedonian King.
With "Alexander" the viewer receives: Award winning actor, Anthony Hopkins, giving the narrative, monumental sets and exotic locales, fine cast performances, and a historic tale of Ancient Rome that captivates the viewer with it's twists and turns. So, why does SO MANY film goers bash "Alexander?" I believe I discovered the movie's core dislike while discussing it with various people. The issue that came up again and again, was- "I can't believe a man like Alexander The Great was sexually attracted to other men," and "The scenes with Alexander kissing and going to bed with other guys should've been cut," or "It would've been MUCH better, had he not been portrayed as some kind of a gay guy." So, there I had uncovered "Alexander's" thorn. These "movie goers" had went to see, or bought the DVD, for "Alexander" the historic adventurer and King who had a wife and a child, not "Alexander" the historic adventurer and King, who had a wife and child, but also several male lovers! Leave it to Oliver Stone to "tell it like it is" and get in trouble for it! Bravo!!
The DVD is excellent with an enjoyable introduction by Oliver Stone, the newly "revised" and equally entertaining new "director's cut" of the movie, including an `"intermission" at the end of Disc 1. I found the movie excelled in it's story telling and all the performers were cast perfectly. Again, love it or hate it, "Alexander" will one day prevail as a historic epic masterpiece, as did Elizabeth Taylor's "Cleopatra," which in its day was hailed a "major disaster," but is now a much loved movie (with somewhat of a "camp" following) recounting the days of Queens and Pharaohs. For those who are reading this review, and have not seen "Alexander," I recommend this "new director's cut," and for those who have seen it and still disregard it as "overblown Hollywood fodder," I say, "to each his own." My hat off to Oliver Stone, once again, (loved Stone's "JFK!") for bringing the "true" story of Alexander to the screen. It was a very entertaining and incredible journey!
Alexander the Final Cut.......2007-07-24
Dont listen to the reviewers go rent it and see for yourself. It is my personal favorie Epic of all time.
WOW!.......2007-07-19
Great film. Now I know that some prudes out there find the explicit nature of this movie to "untasteful." Well, let me just say this, "THIS IS A FRINGIN' AWESOME MOVIE!!" Now, to the review. I watched both the theatrical version and the Director's Cut of Alexander, and by far, this is the best. It brings together a somewhat accurate description of the life of Alexander the Great. Now, granted, it's not all accurate, but it's accurate enough for an ancient and classical history buff like me to enjoy it. I particularly enjoyed Jared Leto's portrayal of Hephaetion. Also, the battle scenes are handled beautifully. If you are a person who enjoys movies like Troy or the TV series Rome, I assure you, you will enjoy this movie.
Comments on the Soundtrack only.......2007-06-21
I'm a huge fan of Oliver Stone and I've seen the both the original and final cut version of his epic Alexander. I am only here to comment on the music. I have a prejudice against electronic or synthesized soundtracks for movies set in antiquity, and this is what spoiled Alexander for me - I couldn't get passed the music. I feel that the movie would have been far more successful with a soundtrack using natural instruments and the themes of Vangelis. I know that Stone loves Vangelis and so do others; but for me, I was pulled out of this ancient time in history by the artificial electronic sounds. They weren't powerful enough or heroic enough for my taste, and I tend to like Vangelis in other films. I would have much prefered a John Williams soundtrack if he'd been available, and I think the movie would have been far more successful. The soundtrack sets the tone for the entire movie, oftentimes in subtle or subconscious ways, and for me the music was unable to sufficiently support the largeness of Alexander's life events or the totality of his life as a whole. I expect no one to agree with me here, but I love the largeness of scope in what Stone attempts and I'd like to see him succeed according to the incredible efforts he makes in his films. And believe me, this was a monumental film, and I love that he gave it his all. Despite the score, there were numerous battle scenes involving elephants in warfare that were unforgettable, and the soundtrack was effective at times. Overall, I think this film was even larger in scope than JFK, and that's why I was sorry it wasn't more well received.
Description
Visually spectacular, intensely action-packed and powerfully prophetic since its debut, Blade Runner returns in Ridley Scott's definitive Final Cut, including extended scenes and never-before-seen special effects. In a signature role as 21st-century detective Rick Deckard, Harrison Ford brings his masculine-yet-vulnerable presence to this stylish noir thriller. In a future of high-tech possibility soured by urban and social decay, Deckard hunts for fugitive, muderous replicants - and is drawn to a mystery woman whose secrets may undermine his soul.
Customer Reviews:
Add to Your Collection.......2007-08-28
The ending of this movie is the best. Rutger Hauer is talking with Harrison Ford as he dies. This movie will never age.
Corey Cotta, Author of All of Yesterdays Tomorrows
Details & Features of Blade Runner Final Cut are announced.......2007-07-28
Due for re-release in December, this motion picture is one of the finest science fiction films of the 20th century. Part of this is because it projects a future that could be - the earth as a place with a ruined environment populated by people that couldn't or wouldn't make the jump to one of the more habitable off-world colonies. The other part is because the film questions what it means to be human, and explores the possibly unsatisfactory answers you might get if you could, like the replicants, hunt down your maker and ask him Why am I here? Why must my life end? I'll pretty much let Warner's press release do the talking from this point forward. Basically you have your choice of three different sets - 2-disc, 4-disc, and 5-disc. The discs are described as follows:
Disc 1 - Ridley Scott's All-New "Final Cut" Version of the film - Restored and remastered with added & extended scenes, added lines, new and cleaner special effects and all new 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio. Also included is commentary by Ridley Scott and a host of others that worked behind the camera.
Disc 2 - Documentary - Dangerous Days: Making of Blade Runner - A feature-length documentary revealing all the elements that shaped this cinema landmark. Cast, crew, critics and colleagues give a behind-the-scenes, in-depth look at the film from its literary roots and inception through casting, production, visuals and special effects to its legacy.
Disc 3 - 1982 Theatrical Version - The original that contains Deckard's narration and has Deckard and Rachel's (Sean Young) "happy ending" escape scene.
1982 International Version - Also used on U.S. home video, laserdisc and cable releases up to 1992. This version is not rated, and contains some extended action scenes in contrast to the Theatrical Version.
1992 Director's Cut - Omits Deckard's voiceover narration and removes the "happy ending" finale. It adds the famous "unicorn" sequence, a vision that Deckard has which suggests that he, too, may be a replicant.
Disc 4 - BONUS Disc "Enhancement Archive" - Eight featurettes, image galleries, radio interview with the author, and screen tests for the part of Rachel.
Disc 5 - Workprint Version - This rare version of the film is considered by some to be the most radically different of all the Blade Runner cuts. It includes an altered opening scene, no Deckard narration until the final scenes, no "unicorn" sequence, no Deckard/Rachel "happy ending," altered lines between Rutger Hauer and his creator Tyrell (Joe Turkell), alternate music and much more.
Also included is commentary by Paul M. Sammon, author of Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner and a featurette - "All Our Variant Futures: From Workprint to Final Cut".
2 Disc Edition : Discs 1-2
4 Disc Edition : Discs 1-4
5 Disc Edition : Discs 1-5
The downside of this 2-disc version is that you are only getting the Final Cut version of the film and the documentary disc. You won't get the bonus disc of featurettes, the disc of past releases, and the workprint version of the film. The upside is that the 5-disc version of the film has some expensive packaging and promotional material included that seems to really raise the price of the entire package.
Description
Now available is an all new and completely unrated version of Oliver Stone's incredible epic film, loaded with nearly 40 minutes of additional never-before-seen footage, that takes the film to a new level of realism and intensity. Restructured and expanded into two acts with one intermission, Oliver Stone's vision is delivered the way he originally conceived and intended. With the new, unrated and graphic battle scenes and unadulterated sensuality, it's the movie you couldn't see in theatres, now available on DVD for the very first time!
DVD Features:
Introduction
Theatrical Trailer
Average customer rating:
- pack of cards: history repeats itself
- From the Bottom of the Deck!
- House of Cards is a Great Deal
- House of Cards trilogy
- A great trilogy! You MUST have it!
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House of Cards Trilogy (House of Cards / To Play the King / The Final Cut)
Starring:
Ian Richardson ,
Susannah Harker ,
Miles Anderson ,
David Lyon , and
Malcolm Tierney
Director:
Paul Seed , and
Mike Vardy
Manufacturer: BBC Warner
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00009MGGI
Release Date: 2003-08-26 |
Amazon.com
Connoisseurs of political chicanery will relish House of Cards, the mordantly funny story of Francis Urquhart (Ian Richardson), a British politician with his eye on the top job. Urquhart is the chief whip of the Conservative Party and his job is to maintain party discipline, or, as he likes to say, "put a bit of stick about." This means that he has intimate knowledge of his colleagues' foibles, knowledge that he uses to further his own political ambitions. Aided by his equally ruthless wife and drawing on a network of accomplices, Urquhart forces the prime minister to resign then sets out to discredit each of his rivals for the party leadership. Although it is strongly cast throughout, House of Cards belongs to Ian Richardson. Without his perfectly balanced performance, Urquhart might have become no more than a two-dimensional villain, but Richardson finds exactly the right tone to make his character as attractive as he is wicked. Thanks to Richardson, and a superb script by Andrew Davies, this brilliant political satire is sure to delight anyone who has wondered what might be going on in the darker corners of our democratic institutions.
In To Play the King, Urquhart appears to have everything he wants. He is the prime minister, he has no immediate rivals, and everyone who knows of his crimes is either on his side or dead. But a new challenge arises when the queen dies and the new king (Michael Kitchen doing a perfect Prince Charles) proves to be a thorn in Urquhart's side. Urquhart may be a staunch defender of the monarchy as a concept, but an individual sovereign is fair game if he proves to be a threat. With a Davies script that pokes fun at British politics and the antics of the royal family as well as a terrific cast led again by Ian Richardson, To Play the King maintains the high standard set by House of Cards.
The Final Cut, the last installment of the trilogy, strikes a more somber note than its predecessors. Urquhart has almost overtaken Margaret Thatcher to become Britain's longest serving postwar leader, but the public is tiring of him and there are rumblings of dissent in the Conservative Party. Urquhart and his wife plot to secure both their place in history and their financial future. Once again, writer Andrew Davies has created a satire to relish, one that confirms all of our doubts about the motives of politicians. Ian Richardson's wonderful performance--filled with sly asides and winks to the camera--makes Francis Urquhart as fascinating as he is wicked, and we find ourselves rooting for this terrible man. The world would certainly be a duller place without him. --Simon Leake
Description
Ian Richardson (From Hell, M. Butterfly) leads an all star cast in this malevolent satire of greed, corruption and ambition in the highest realms of government. As Machiavellian monster Francis Urquhart, he schemes and backstabs his way to the top until he is standing on a pile of broken promises, betrayals and the bodies of those who oppose him. Every step of the way, Urquhart lays out his plans with horrifying wit and venomous charm. But the ranks of his enemies are growing, and they intend to bring him down, whatever the price. Brilliantly adapted by Andrew Davies (Pride and Prejudice, Bridget Jones's Diary), from Michael Dobbs's best-selling novel, this satirical trilogy took home a primetime Emmy, a Peabody, two BAFTAs and a Broadcasting Press Guild Award.
Customer Reviews:
pack of cards: history repeats itself.......2007-07-22
very good series. both acted and as an analysis of governments,[and not only british],then,when it was made,and more so now. but then again the author was well connected into the "inner workings". Because of the reaction to the popularity of the first series and the changing of the end i feel there was more of a contrivance to please in the second and third series. the second with it's removal of 'charles' as king and the ascension of 'william' to the throne has a familiar ring to it. In the 3rd series the EOKA Cyprus affair,most who watch would hardly remember the actual history but could compare it with events today. The criticism of British troop behavior in public in Cyprus was correct. I have witnessed first hand that same 'behavior'.
The series reminded me of a dramatic rendering to compare with ANTONY JAY's 'YES MINISTER' AND 'YES PRIME MINISTER' comedic attempts at the same sort of stuff, telling tales out of school. After all Jay was another 'in the know' as the British Prime Minister's son-in-law and Ambassador to DC
From the Bottom of the Deck!.......2007-07-17
What if Shakespeare's Lord and Lady Macbeth had been temporally transported into twenty-first century Britain? They would certainly be reincarnated into the insidious Francis Urquhart and his formidable spouse Elizabeth. In their new personae, 'MacUrquhart' would still be haunted by guilty visions but would shed any qualms about committing murder in the interests of power, and 'Lady MacUrquhart' would waste no more time sleepwalking but sustain her role as the actual but invisible control over the man with titular authority.
The "House of Cards Trilogy," which includes "To Play the King" and "Final Cut," not only portrays such a ghastly scenario, but also demonstrates the disastrous consequences for a post-modern Britain when such a pair first insinuates itself into a position of power and then seizes and maintains an unrelenting grip on that power, even if, in the final analysis, it has to provoke a bloody war to do so. Thanks to Andrew Davies' darkly comedic script, Ian Richardson's brilliant portrayal of Francis, and a splendid supporting cast, the viewer is locked in suspense and held in a state somewhere between laughing and cringing at the political shenanigans, too many of which resound with an uncomfortable ring of contemporary probability.
The humor derives from Richardson as Francis, who ruptures the invisible barrier between illusion and reality by taking the audience into his confidence. In "House of Cards" he does this with such wry wit that viewers are drawn easily into his thrall, so much so that despite their better natures and common sense, they find themselves liking and identifying with this charming unapologetic scoundrel. Somewhere in the middle of "To Play the King," however, they realize, to their increasing horror, that by sharing in his most intimate thoughts, they have actually become co-conspirators in the machinations of Urquhart, who in a literal blink of the eye transforms congeniality into the mesmerizing malevolence of a king cobra. By the time they have become absorbed in the plot of "Final Cut," they are inextricably tied to Urquhart's fate, as on a runaway train. Thus the scenario becomes metaphorical for the public's unfortunate propensity to be seduced by plausible but unscrupulous politicians who draw them into situations that they might not realize are unsupportable until it is too late. The repeated use in "To Play the King" of Urquhart's initials, F.U., illustrates this proposition.
The late Ian Richardson's ability to keep the audience enthralled in the destiny of this despicable rogue testifies to his incomparable subtlety as an actor, who will be sorely missed. The lynchpin of the tale, Richardson is amply supported by an ensemble cast, including Diane Fletcher as his horrific wife; Colin Jeavens as Tim Stamper, his `whip' who wields 'a bit of stick'; Nicholas Grace as Stamper's toadying successor, Geoffrey Booza-Pitt; and Nick Brimble as the sinister Corder. Among Urquhart's memorable victims are Michael Kitchen as the well-meaning king, Susanna Harker as the unstable Mattie Storrin, Kitty Aldrich as the altruistic Sarah, to name only a few. All characters in this cautionary tale are vulnerable to the enticements of power, even those who begin as honest idealists. When Corder informs the nobly motivated Tom Makepeace, who eventually succeeds Urquhart as leader of the party, that "we"--meaning Corder, Elizabeth, and the rest--are "right behind" him, one understands the story's message that all politicians, even those with the best of motives, are liable to being corrupted absolutely by the acquisition of absolute power.
House of Cards is a Great Deal.......2007-07-12
My wife and I had seen the original House of Cards trilogy when first broadcast on PBS in the 90's, and loved Ian Richardson as the evil but charming Francis Urquhart (I think that's spelled right). We'd been meaning to get our own copy of the series, and the issuing of the DVDs, along with his recent death, triggered our order. We just finished watching the entire series, in the space of less than two weeks. We were as anxious to see the next episode as we'd been the first time around. The dialogue is wondrous to listen to - and Urquhart's internal ponderings on the nature of life, politics and passion, and constant asides to the viewer, are often poetic. Richardson's training as a Shakespearean actor is evident in the delivery of every line, but his facial expressions are a revelation. Michael Dobbs, the author of the original novels, was an Parliament insider during the Thatcher years, I believe, and brings realism and unparalleled cynicism to the story (though he didn't do the screenplays). There are shocks and surprises throughout - just when you think things can't get nastier... A final pleasure was that the quality of the DVD recording is excellent; we'd been disappointed with the DVD of the Wilderness Years (the Churchill series of the late 80's), where the audio was almost unlistenable, and the video quality poor. Here, both sound and picture are crisp. Overall, highly recommended - you'll love it, especially at its current price.
House of Cards trilogy.......2007-06-28
The late Ian Richardson plays a charming,suave,gentlemanly snake-in-the-grass....in fact he elevates it to high art.
It is like a modern "Richard III" with all the murder and intrigue that goes with it.Nice to know the USofA hasn't cornered the market on scoundrels in politics.
A great trilogy! You MUST have it!.......2007-06-13
If you like quality stories (like you would see on the BBC) and you like to think and you enjoy a evil villan, this one is for you! The main character is so refined and innocent looking but also so evil - LOVE IT! GET THIS!
Average customer rating:
- LOVE IT!
- BETTER WITH EACH VIEWING
- Highlander3
- A bit of a rehash, but an enjoyable sequel to 1986's "Highlander"
- A true sequal to the original, although the first stood alone.
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Highlander - The Final Dimension (Special Director's Cut)
Starring:
Christopher Lambert ,
Mario Van Peebles ,
Deborah Kara Unger ,
Mako , and
Raoul Trujillo
Director:
Andrew Morahan
Manufacturer: Dimension
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ASIN: B00008QOE5
Release Date: 2005-04-05 |
Description
The last incredible chapter of the thrilling action-adventure series, HIGHLANDER: THE FINAL DIMENSION finds the immortal Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert -- HIGHLANDER 1&2, FORTRESS) destined for a decisive battle with his ruthless eternal enemy, Kane (Mario Van Peebles -- GUNMEN, POSSE, NEW JACK CITY). Pursued across time by his arch rival, MacLeod must make a heroic last stand if he is to rid the earth of the seemingly unstoppable Kane! Packed with intense action and astonishing special effects -- the Highlander's greatest challenge will become your ultimate adventure!
Customer Reviews:
LOVE IT!.......2007-06-28
I've always enjoyed the "Highlander" movies, specifically the swords. I've been fascinated with swords since I was about 5 yrs old. Anyway, it's not a GREAT great film, but it does have a lot of good action in it. I'd recommend it to anyone who isn't scared of a little bit of head rolling, swords swinging, and general fantasy flicks.
BETTER WITH EACH VIEWING.......2007-06-07
When I first watched "Highlander: The Final Dimension" a few years ago, I was disappointed. But after watching the film a couple of more times, I started to warm up to it more. True, its still the worst film in the series, but it is still a pretty good movie. The story is a bit weak due to the fact that the writers pretty much rehashed the plot for the first film. Still, the acting is great, and the battle scenes are pretty dang good. While non-fans will find little to enjoy in the film, established fans will be pleased for the most part.
Movie/DVD Grade: B
Highlander3.......2007-02-20
An interesting and exciting movie. Brings another eposode to the story. Enjoyed it for the action and the detail. Worth watching and owning.
A bit of a rehash, but an enjoyable sequel to 1986's "Highlander".......2007-01-05
Ignoring the events of "Highlander 2," this film picks up 9 yrs after the first. We find MacLeod living with his adoptive son in Morocco and satisfied that he is the last immortal and has the coveted "Prize." Soon he recieves a cognition that more immortals are alive (revived from "death" by an archeological dig) and packs for NYC for a duel with the evil sorcerer immortal Kane.
Made while the tv show was at its peak, this film benefits from the influence of its narrative and production style that had been refined over the years. Most of the characters and their relationships (especially the love interests) are thin and underdeveloped. The movie relies heavily on nostalgia for the 1st film for the impact of its emotional scenes. It also mirrors it's story to the point of being a near remake. The police hunt subplot simply drops out of the picture near the end and the villians were too silly. The special f/x are enjoyable but underused (Kane barely uses his illusions during fights.)
Still, the deja vu and pretention and trickery themes are well handled (though not explored as much as they could have been). Lambert is as appropiately meloncally and good humored as in previous entries, van Peeples is clearly having fun with his deliciously devilish over the top performance, Unger is quite attractive (even more so in the obligatory sex scene, of course), and Mako's dignified presence is, of course, a welcome addtion to the "Highlander" saga. The special f/x were good for there time and still fairly impressive today. The DVD is barebones though, and the picture has not been cleaned up.
The concept of immortals and their eternal battle are not explained in this movie and may leave the unintiated confused. Seeing "Highlander" first or doing a little net research may be required for understanding. Overall, a competent production and a worthy if underdeveloped and rushed sequel to the 1986 film.
A true sequal to the original, although the first stood alone........2006-07-04
This is the Third installment of the Highlander movie series, and it is truly the sequel to the first. Againg, the first movie was never intended to have a sequel, but this one did a better job at addapting the first movies story line. Remember, the second movie (the Quickening) was never really intended to be a sequel and to be a different piece of the puzzle, although it was a calculation that misfired with fans and the box office because it did use sean connery and christopher lambert again. The action is good, and it stays true to the highlander themes. But, this movie essentially is the first one retold again, with the explanation that "oops, I guess there was one more alive", a lame cop out to get a sequel. But, again for the collector, you will need this movie in the collection. It is good as a primer to watch the first one again.
Average customer rating:
- Curiously thin
- Robin Williams
- Wild concept, Unforgettable, DIFFERENT!
- A Dark Underdog Movie Thriller
- Unsung
|
The Final Cut
Starring:
Robin Williams ,
Mira Sorvino ,
James Caviezel ,
Mimi Kuzyk , and
Stephanie Romanov
Director:
Omar Naim
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
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The Night Listener
ASIN: B00079HZOS
Release Date: 2005-03-22 |
Product Description
Omar Naim s The final Cut is startlingly different that a conventional science fiction film. It s a compelling fable that offers a vision of a world where memory implants record all moments of person s life. Post mortem, these memories are removed and edited by a Cutter into a reel depicting the life of the departed for a commemorative ceremony called a Rememory. Robin Willioms power portrayal of Alan Hacman, a troubled Currer propels this character driven story that forces us to question the power of our memories and the sanctity of our privacy.
System Requirements:
Running Time 105 Min
Format: DVD MOVIE
Amazon.com
While it works better as a somber mood piece than a futuristic thriller, The Final Cut posits a unique what-if scenario that some viewers will find fascinating. In a role that calls for his low-key One Hour Photo persona, Robin Williams plays an expert "cutter" who's in demand for his ability to distill anyone's lifetime into a feature-length "rememory" film that highlights the better side of anyone's nature. His profession is made possible by the "Zoe" chip, a prenatal brain implant capable of recording a person's entire lifetime--a technology opposed by a former cutter (Jim Caviezel) and puzzled over by Williams' on-and-off girlfriend (Mira Sorvino). First-time writer-director Omar Naim divided critics with his impressive visual style and lackluster screenplay, which fails to account for the larger implications of the Zoe chip's exploitation. Still, the film contains several intriguing ideas that place it among other sci-fi films like Gattaca, suggesting one of the many potential controversies that await us in a future where ethics and technology are not always compatible. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews:
Curiously thin.......2007-09-07
While the premise for this movie is great--a person carries in his brain a chip implanted at birth that records all experiences throughout his/her entire life--the execution is strangely lacking. When the person dies, the chip is removed and, if the individual's family can afford it, "processed" by a cutter--someone skilled in extracting from the thousands of hours of recorded experience the highlights of the person's life, which are then shown at a "rememory", a memorial service in which the video of this life experience highlights is shown to all mourners.
Aside from the confounding logistics of the cutter having enough time to select highlights from hundreds of thousands of hours of "tape" (for lack of a better term), there is a puzzlingly sparse emotional resonance characterizing this movie. Only very rarely do we see brief moments that capture the most poignant essence of life, or the most emotionally powerful--whether negative or positive. The filmmaker, Omar Naim, could have done so much with this terrific premise and has not. Instead we have a film that focuses on a subplot involving the main character, a cutter (Robin Williams), with a childhood experience that is permanently enmeshed in his memory, a primary plot point involving this cutter processing the "life tape" of a high-powered executive who's apparently hiding dark secrets from his public persona of a charitable man and loving husband, and a former cutter (Jim Caveziel) who, along with heavily tattooed protesters, opposes the entire implant-cutting technology.
If Naim had instead concentrated on the deeper emotional repercussions of what having an implant signifies, this could and would have been an entirely different film--one that could potentially have been immensely rich and satisfying. A rare exception to his running off in the more superficial directions this premise lends itself to is an all-too-brief sequence in which the cutter, Alan Hakman, shows his girlfriend (Mira Sorvino) a short "tape" of "defective" implant recording in which for whatever reason the implant in various people recorded their dreams rather than real life. The results possess this rich, emotionally resonant flavor we really want to see given the great premise.
This could have been a phenomenal science fiction-based drama. Instead we have a disappointing SF thriller that spends too much time on the outer layers and nowhere near enough time and energy investigating how people emotionally respond to this phenomenon--what they feel, not what they have to run from, which instead is the real core of this movie.
Robin Williams.......2007-07-08
This is yet another great non-type cast roles for Robin.The more versatile characters he portrays the better the performance.If you are a Robin Williams fan,you must have this movie,rivoting to the end.
Wild concept, Unforgettable, DIFFERENT!.......2007-05-12
WOW, the first time we watched this, it was UNFORGETTABLE! FINALLY something DIFFERENT in a movie! Robin Williams was excellent and fully believable in such a serious and dramatic role, too. GREAT, suspenseful movie! (NOT for the kids though. It has some really serious and depressing situations and scenes in it).
A Dark Underdog Movie Thriller.......2007-05-02
"The Final Cut", is a great movie. A type of underdog movies that goes unnoticed by the general public, but is greatly appreciated once one discovers it. I believe Robin Williams is a talented serious actor, and does very well in dramatic thrillers.
The movie is a little somber and may move slow to some, but it is an intelligently written piece that will hold your attention. This futuristic piece tells the story of Robin Williams character (Alan Hacman), who is a professional "cutter" (cutter - someone who creates a eulogy-type film highlighting the better side of the deceased lives, cutting out the bad parts in that person's life). Robin's character, Alan is very good as a "cutter" and is very much in demand by many. Many that are powerful and who would not want their secrets to be exposed to the public after their death. Alan (Robin Williams) is hired to create a eulogy-film for a very powerful man, who had secrets to hide.
Alan (Robin Williams) character is a loner, and reminds one of a funeral director. I was captivated by this intense dark thriller that explored the dark side of human nature and how far one will go to obtain information and power.
I agree, with Amazon's description. If you liked movies such as, Gattica, you will enjoy this movie.
Unsung.......2007-04-19
I was wonderfully surprised by this movie. I remember seeing the previews for it 3 years ago but due to a hectic schedule did not see it in the theaters. I wish I had.
The idea behind and the feel of the story reminds me of some of the works of Philip K. Dick. (In the works I've read the ideas of time and reality as well as the use of paranoia have been prominent.) The writer/director is successful in creating not on a very interesting primary character (stunningly played by Robin Williams) but a rich culture surrounding that character. That culture has issues that affect that world as issues such as stem cell research affect ours today.
In the extras the movie makers spoke of the production design as something they wanted to be warm, not cold and futuristic. However, I felt a coldness ... centered around Williams's character. His outward sterility was captivating.
Had I been able to I would have given this movie 9.5 stars for there were 2 elements that detracted from my enjoyment of the movie.
1. The music was, in my opinion, overbearing. I thought it could have been more subtle and given itself plenty of room to grow.
2. James Caviezel's beard was awful. I just wanted to rip it off his face. Even some cheesy '80's Miami Vice stubble would have been better.
Still, a wonderful movie that kept my attention and my interest throughout.
Average customer rating:
- Long overdue DVD release does this movie justice.
- I have wanted to see this movie since it came out earlier
- boring
- welcome back from oblivion
- At last a unique film is restored
|
Dust Devil - The Final Cut
Manufacturer: Subversive Cinema
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
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ASIN: B000HEWGTW
Release Date: 2006-09-26 |
Amazon.com
As noted by Richard Stanley fans, Dust Devil, the feature following his box-office hit Hardware, failed to find release, and when it did, a terrible edit drastically altered the story. Subversive Sinema has now released the director-approved final cut of Dust Devil, in a box set that also contains Dust Devil's working edit, the film's Sergio Leone-like soundtrack, and three riveting Stanley documentaries: The Secret Glory, Voice of the Moon, and The White Darkness. Dust Devil, a horror story based on the myth of a Namibian serial killer, looks more like a Western. Filmed on location in Africa where the murders allegedly took place, Chelsea Field plays Wendy Robinson, a woman, who under duress of leaving her husband, heads out to the desert to accidentally encounter the Dust Devil (Robert John Burke), a mercy killer who slays depressed women to save them from the dark side. According to locals, the Dust Devil is a demon, enabling Stanley's abiding interest in world folk religions to weigh heavily in on the plot, especially when the town's witch doctor visits the beyond to unlock mysteries, or when the Dust Devil displays a box containing his victims' fingers. The documentaries, however, are most exciting. The White Darkness unravels political and social aspects of Haitian Voudon, including the history of American Imperialism in Haiti, as told by skilled priest and priestess, Altes Paul and Edelle. Voice of the Moon shows footage of Afghani rebels in the late '80s, sans narrator, instead beautifully accompanied by native music and poetry, adding Herzogian emotional effect. The Secret Glory pieces together the story of Otto Rahn, an SS officer who thought he'd located the Holy Grail. In all three films, the authenticity of the subjects reign, making it more difficult to buy the magic's fictionalized version in Dust Devil. Dust Devil, though, with its cheesier horror moments, provides a dose of humor to a fairly serious package. --Trinie Dalton
Customer Reviews:
Long overdue DVD release does this movie justice........2007-08-01
Dust Devil (Richard Stanley, 1992)
Dust Devil got very short shrift when it came out, and the liner notes and director bio place all of the blame for that on Miramax. It's getting to the point where I can't remember ever hearing a good thing about Miramax, and I find myself wondering all too often why any director would consider signing with them. In the case of this film, according to the bio, Stanley (Hardware) made his second film, showed it to Miramax, and had them dump it straight to video with no fanfare. Stanley has got his revenge now with a lavish 4DVD set of the film sure to please those who never got a chance to see it upon its release fifteen years ago.
The story is somewhat confusing, and requires extensive narration to make sense of, but seems to go something like this: Hitch (Good night and Good Luck's Robert John Burke) is a drifter who's not a drifter-- he's actually a vessel for the Dust Devil, a demon who preys on the suicidal, helping them to achieve their goals. The Dust Devil's eventual purpose is to release himself from his Earthly prison. His drifting has led him to Namibia, a hardscrabble desert country just west-northwest of South Africa. He encounters a victim there in the first scene of the movie; the next day, the murder is placed in the lap of Ben Mukurob (Zakes Mokae), one of the local constables. Enter Wendy Richardson (The Unsaid's Chelsea Field), a troubled woman from Pretoria on the run from her disintegrating marriage. Hitch and Wendy meet in the small town of Bethany. Wendy's husband (House of Usher's Rufus Swart) and Mukurob, from opposite directions, track the pair to Bethany, but will they be too late to stop Hitch, and will Wendy care if they do?
The movie's main flaw is its acting. While a good deal of the acting is credible, some even quite good, Swart is just painful to watch, and even the great Zakes Mokae sounds wooden during the first half of the movie. Things get better as he goes along, though. Balanced against this is the look of the film, which is stunning. Stanley once again tabbed Steven Chivers, his cinematographer on Hardware, and the two came up with very good results here. It's not an easy thing to make the desert claustrophobic, but the framing of certain scenes manage it. Indoors, of course, it's easier, but they still went to some pretty amusing lengths to make things even weirder. (Mokae clawing his way through sand to get into an abandoned movie theater is a great, great scene.) While it certainly would have been nice if the movie relied more on action instead of explication to get its point across, it's possible, if not certain, to lay the blame for this at the feet of Miramax's hurried butchering-job that passed for editing (the original movie ran two hours, a cut that's never been seen by the public; Miramax's VHS version ran eighty-seven minutes. The original 107-minute director's cut and a 112-minute work print are included in the four-disc set, which give a much better feel for what the original cut must have been like).
A neglected film that deserves resurrection. Check it out. ***
I have wanted to see this movie since it came out earlier.......2007-05-23
I wanted to see this movie but never got the chance to see it in the theaters. I was very glad to see it released out on DVD that I had to purchase it for myself. All I heard when it was released was you have to see this movie to believe it. I was very happy that I did purchase it. I have no "experience" with the director or his other movies. I am the type of person that doesn't really care who directs it or wrote the movie's story. If it a good story, I like it. What I will say about the movie is that it does start out very strange and the story unfolds very odd, but I did like it and it made sense when the movie was finished. It was a very good story I thought and being an "odd movie", made it all the more interesting. I am very glad that I did add it to my DVD horror collection. I do highly recommend this movie all to horror fans.
boring .......2007-03-12
what flick did these folks watch? I read so many good things about this,but what i saw was an overlong snooze fest.i feel ripped off by the 25 bucks I tossed away,so be damn sure you really want it. the extras are way better than the main feature,i gotta stop now,im getting sleepy just thinking about this thing again.
welcome back from oblivion.......2007-01-29
This release says a lot about the amazing times we live in with regard to the huge variety of re-releases of movies, music, what have you, that have been unfairly buried and never got a chance back in the day to reach the audiences they deserved. It's heartening that this film is getting a second chance and has received this level of care and treatment. I enjoyed Stanley's earlier Hardware but didn't think it particularly great and so I never really sought out the earlier versions of Dust Devil; not having seen the truncated previously released edit, I can't directly compare with this new version but I have absolutely no trouble imagining that it was badly butchered. (By the way, this is a much much better movie than Hardware.)
Dust Devil is not in any way a perfectly realized film and Stanley describes himself in a DVD interview various ways where censorship, the budget, shooting schedule problems, and other factors, kept this from being quite what he originally intended, even now with this newly reconstructed 2006 version. But I give this 5 stars anyway because, for all its shortcomings, this film looks and feels like very few others and such a strong personality goes a long way for me in a time where most films feel completely test marketed to death and bled of all difference and idiosyncracies. Stanley mentions that he was trying to recreate in the dust devil figure imagery from a dream he had, and I admit to being a sucker personally for any movie that tries obsessively to replicate dream or nightmare logic or feel. The film studio types who looked at this material and saw a movie that was just not going to connect with the audience they were after and who wound up hacking it to pieces were probably right (unfortunately) about the limited number of people who will appreciate this. This is not going to appeal broadly to the masses of mainstream horror fans: it is too leisurely paced, too lyrical in tone, too interested in the cultural background of the Namibian/South African location, too interested in exploring the emotional quandry of loneliness and despair that the devil finds in his victims. And, bluntly put, there's just not enough violent death here to keep the average bloodthirsty genre fan happy I expect, and some of the horror make up/effects are also a bit substandard. But for any horror devotees who gravitate to more personal and unusual films without needing a high body count (and who understand how a slower pace can work in your favor), you should absolutely watch this (especially if you are also an italian western fan, the aesthetic of which informs this film). Stanley has a fantastic eye and the film is a real visual stunner with many shots that stay in your head long after: genre fans who truly appreciate attention to framing, lighting, and camera moves should respond to Stanley's great work here.
Hopefully, the rediscovery of this film will help to give Stanley a shot at another big narrative film soon and hopefully, he gets the chance to do it as he wants this time.
At last a unique film is restored.......2007-01-19
The film making career of director Richard Stanley has to be one of the Film Industry's most wasted opportunities. Why hasn't this talented director made more films? His two complete films Dust Devil and Hardware are both visions of uniqueness and originality. It is both the Industry and the Film Goer who have lost out big time to the fact that Stanley has only made these two films and was ignominiously fired from a third - the most recent remake of The Island Of Dr Moreau.
Dust Devil was originally released in a severely edited version by its producers and distributors and with no marketing to speak of, quickly left cinemas and went straight onto video. Stanley has restored an approximately 20 mins of footage and the running time of the film is now 108 mins. The restoration is crucial because the initial release saw all the supernatural elements of the film removed, so as to make it a pure serial killer type film. Fully restored to a version as close to Stanley's original vision as is possible, given the passage of time, Dust Devil can finally take its long overdue accolade as a great film in its own right, within the genre of Horror film making.
Set in Namibia, at the time of that country's independence from South Africa, Dust Devil follows the exploits of a murderous, hitchhiking nomad (played by Robert John Burke) who after butchering and dismembering his victims, retains their fingers. This nomad subsequently is revealed to be more than human, and in fact is a 'Dust Devil' from African folklore - a shape shifting demon who preys on the lonely, despondent and vulnerable, and collects their souls to buy his way into an afterlife.
A depressed housewife (well played by Chelsea Field) flees her husband in South Africa and drives into Namibia's desolate badlands, hoping to lose herself in this bleak but beautiful wilderness. However, she is drawn to the Dust Devil and soon finds that there are far worse things than depression and failed marriage to have to cope with.
Hunting this killer, is an ageing South African policeman, superbly played by Zakes Mokae (The Serpent And The Rainbow, A Dry White Season). Before long this policeman learns the nature of his quarry and living somewhat on the edge himself, following the death of his wife and child, realises that he too is a potential victim.
The films narrator is John Matshikiza who plays a Namibian shaman. He it is who advised Mokae's policeman as to the nature of the quarry that he is attempting to hunt down...
Boasting a stupendous score by Simon Boswell, the film is also visually stunning with its Namibian desert locations and real life ghost towns.
All the cast acquit themselves well as the story with its theme of desolation plays out to its grim conclusion. The walls separating reality and otherworldliness are blurred in this film, and the visions experienced by the film's principals seem to meld into real life. Destitute individuals, dying towns, and a barren and stunningly beautiful landscape combine to give a visual feast of a film which lingers long in the memory after having been viewed.
This is a five disc DVD and apart from the main version of the film, there is 115 min rough cut that features sequences that Stanley considered too far gone to actually include in this final cut of the film. Well worth a look though.
Additionally there are two documentaries on another two of these DVDs. one is The Voice Of The Moon which is Stanley's documentary that he filmed while in Afghanistan with the Mujahadin rebels during the 1980s.
The other documentary is The Secret Glory which again made by Stanley, features the story of the quest of Otto Rahn (an SS officer) to locate the Holy Grail.
The last disc though is Simon Boswell's full and magnificent score for Dust Devil.
The main disc of the film though is in 5.1 sound which coupled with these extra DVDs and CD, makes this Region 1 release by far the superior version to go for as compared to the Region 2 DVD which is a single disc and in surround sound only (why?).
For Stanley fans this is an incredible opportunity to see Dust Devil almost fully restored and at last in a format that it deserves. Newcomers to Richard Stanley's work are also strongly recommended to use this set as a starting point in viewing this outrageously underrated director's work. Thankfully though, Stanley is starting to get the recognition that is so long overdue for him, and we may see him make another film in the near future at long last too.
Description
"Heart & Soul" is the first-ever documentary profile of composer/lyricist Frank Loesser, whose Broadway shows "Guys & Dolls," "The Most Happy Fella," and "How to Succeed in Business" are legendary... and whose popular hits from the golden era of Hollywood ("Baby It's Cold Outside," "On a Slow Boat to China," and "Heart & Soul") live on today. Meet the tough-talking, tempestuous but tender-hearted genius behind the some of America's most beloved songs. Hear first-hand from his contemporaries, family, and admirers. See performance clips from the golden ages of Broadway and Hollywood. Savor music that has a special place in audiences' hearts... and souls.
Customer Reviews:
Frank Loesser.......2007-06-27
I've been a great Frank Loeseer fan all my life and when I saw this on TV (I was not aware that a documentary on Frank Loesser existed) I knew I had to have this in my library.
Customer Reviews:
happy i baught it.......2007-05-17
I'll be the first to abmit i'm a suspens junkie! This product was perfect. the third movie had a little more gore than i care for but it was worth it. The package arrived in a timely manner and played well.
What can be said regarding DVDs?.......2007-04-10
My spouse likes the Urban Legend series so we ordered them.
Fading Fast.......2006-02-01
I really enjoyed the first film, it had some interesting killings, some humor and a generally original premise. The second one was not as much fun following the same idea. The third seemed like a really bad low budget mess. I would normally say to just pick up the first film, but since it seems to go for over 20 dollars by itself, you might as well pick up a 3 pack for a bit more. You may end up enjoying the 2 sequels more than I did.
Great Horror flicks.......2006-01-14
The 1st one is Excellent, The Second one is BLAHHHH but funny and fun to watch, the third one is better then the second one but not better then the first one lol
An underrated series of slasher films - the original is brilliant.......2005-10-31
I don't think the Urban Legends series gets the attention it deserves. The quality of the films goes down with each sequel (with the third having nothing at all to do with the first two films), but it's still a darn good trio of horror movies. This is a great buy for those who don't already have all three films (especially the first two) in their DVD libraries.
Most of my high regard for the series is due to the original. Far from being a Scream clone, it is one of the most impressive slasher films of recent years, in my opinion. The suspense is sustained throughout, the identification of the killer is handled superbly, and the ending is well-nigh perfect. A serial killer who constructs his/her kills on urban legends - fantastic. Maybe it's not a wholly original idea, but no film had ever taken the premise to the extreme the way Urban Legend did. Among the talented cast, Alicia Witt and Rebecca Gayheart give particularly impressive performances. Gayheart in particular really expanded her acting repertoire with this film. The less talented cast members, as it turns out, were pretty much the first to be dispatched, and this works out well. It's always nice when a particularly annoying character you expect to have to deal with until the end gets offed in the first half hour. All told, I actually consider Urban Legend to be a much more original, shocking, effective film than any of the Scream movies it is invariably compared to. The final revelations of this film, as I have already mentioned, took me completely by surprise, and that really doesn't happen all that often.
Urban Legends Final Cut is a movie about a movie, basically, and this little twist to the classic horror formula plays out rather well. At the country's most distinguished film-making school, the Hitchcock Award for best student movie is the ultimate accomplishment, all but guaranteeing the winner a quick jump to a directing chair in Hollywood. The protagonist, Amy, decides to break away from her documentary roots and produce a horror movie, one in which a serial killer patterns his murders on urban legends. As Amy begins filming, several of her fellow students are murdered, and eventually the killer comes after her. All told, this is a better-than-average slasher film, combining good acting, great special effects, and an actual storyline that doesn't reveal its most important secrets until the very end. The special effects are pretty good, and there is a nice variety to be found in the urban legend-based murders. The movie has its lighter side, as well, obviously not taking itself too seriously. The movie could be considered rather Scream-like, but it has enough character of its own to succeed in its own right - but it's not as good as the original.
Urban Legends - Bloody Mary was a direct-to-video release that really had nothing to do with the first two films. While the film falls far short of its predecessors, Urban Legends - Bloody Mary isn't all that bad, though. It has some definite weaknesses, but it also has a nice sampling of blood and gore. There are many variations on the old Bloody Mary story, but it makes for classic urban legend fare. Look in the mirror, say Bloody Mary's name three times, and she appears - and then the fun begins. Apparently, a mirror isn't actually required after all, as young Samantha Owens conjures the restless spirit without one after hearing the story of a local girl supposedly killed back in 1969 - and disappears until the next day. Those responsible for Samantha's disappearance start dying, in rather gruesome ways, which makes Sam and her brother David (whom some blame for the murders) exceedingly unpopular at school. By about the second murder, the whole urban legend m.o. is applied rather loosely, but there's still the Bloody Mary connection. Samantha comes to believe that the killer is the ghost of Mary and that she is killing the children of those responsible for her death. There's no denying that Urban Legends - Bloody Mary is an exceedingly predictable little film. Mary's killer might as well have walked around with the words "I did it" on his forehead. There are some decent-sized holes in the plot, as well. Still, I enjoyed this movie. The special effects for Bloody Mary herself are pretty good, and the deaths are reasonably gory (although we sometimes only see the aftermath of them). You really have to judge this film on its own merits, though, as it really has next to nothing to do with the first two Urban Legends movies.
DVD:
- Big Box of Kung Fu, Vol. 3
- Black Belt Theatre: Real Kung Fu Series 6-10
- Blown Away
- Chabara - Long Sword - d
- Chinese Goju by Ron Van Clief Volume 1
- Chinese Goju by Ron Van Clief Volume 2
- Chinese Goju by Ron Van Clief Volume 3
- Chinese Goju by Ron Van Clief Volume 4
- Chinese Goju by Ron Van Clief Volume 5
- Circle of Iron (2-Disc Special Edition)
DVD
DVD